My children have taught me...

Since starting this blog 3 years ago I have learned a lot about being a mother. My children have taught me the ins and outs of parenting and the do’s and don’ts. They have taught me about food, clothing, speaking, sneezing, helping, hurting, all the above and many more. Here are some of the things my amazing children have taught me.

-Bananas are the worlds most perfect food. However, if they are not at the exact ripeness for a toddlers liking, they become a sufficient wall paper paste.

-Dirt IS a food. It doesn’t matter where it came from or how they found it, it is edible.

-Light colored clothing IS NOT AN OPTION.

-Shoes are optional, even in a Buffalo winter.

-Teeth are a weapon, no explanation needed.

-Hugs and kisses make every boo boo better.

-Toddlers drink anything that looks like juice.

-Ants are not a deterrence from eating candy off the ground.

-Chairs WILL be used to reach permanent markers hidden on a high shelf.

-Cars are just large mobile trash receptacles

-A queen size bed is not appropriate for 2 adults, 4 toddlers a growing 7 year old, a cat and a blanket stealing 55lb dog.

-When your 2 year old insists on calling his brother “ASS” it’s because M’s are difficult for him to pronounce. However, “Mom, Ma, Mommy & MOOOOOOOOOOOOM!” come out just fine!

-Favorite toys and blankets MUST be brought with us NO matter what. Nothing like a melt down in the middle of a super market to draw even more attention to us!

-Sippy cups ferment in the heat!

-Wearing mommies shoes make them feel “creative”.

-If drawing on themselves with marker is any indication of how many tattoos they would like when they are older, we are going to have some crazy tatted up boys!

-Yes the dog has teeth and no you can’t pull them out.

-Eating cookies out of the bag or box is fun but eating them off the freshly washed floor makes them taste awesome!

-If an item says “Keep out of reach of children” they seem to want it more.

-Diapers are completely optional when mommy is out of the room.

- (in keeping with the above theme)They can write their names in the snow or on the carpet.

-Peanut butter is a cure all! It also makes lovely wall designs.

-If an adult comes in this house dressed up they will inevitably leave with some sort of goop on them.

-Anything and everything can and will be used as a sword or gun.

-Even if their favorite food is on the table, they want what I am eating.

MOST OF ALL........

My children have taught me to have a sense of humor about most things. If not I would go insane…and take ALL OF YOU WITH ME!

Who ordered the HEAT WAVE????

Who ordered the HEAT WAVE????

Well all I can say is "Welcome to another Western New York Summer!". Within 48 hours it went from 35 degrees to a balmy 87 degrees. You know what this means...Open the doors I'm letting the monsters FREE!

Well, what have the kids been up to? HMMMMM, besides growing like weeds and eating me out of house and home? They have been up to no good of course! Actually, they have finally learned to play together. I don't know the exact moment they became friends but it seemed like all of a sudden. They now run around and play like real kids. Last year I had a panic attack every time I saw them climb the ladder to the swing set. Now, they fly up and down like pros. We put up two new sheds, one for the pool and garden area and one strictly for toys. I know, my children are spoiled but they deserve it. They recently got an airplane. Yes, you read right. -It is actually a teeter tauter that seats 7! I've learned my lesson though, while putting this enormous toy together my children discovered the large box was more exciting then the plane itself.

Austin is almost done with school and is looking forward to spending time in the pool, vacation bible school and Science Museum activities. I am looking forward to some private time with him. I miss my shopping and lunch buddy on our "Nanny Days". I think we both need the bonding too.

Griffin is starting to talk and is becoming a real kid. He says the inevitable "what's that?" "Mamamamammamamama" and "Dadadadadada". He loves to watch Sesame Street(0f course) and seems to have a fascination with books. We have these large books that have big colorful pictures in them and he stares at them for hours. He is not a lover of the outside so I keep his outings to a minimum. I don't think he'll be a big beach baby. The light blue eyes and pasty white skin pretty much prevent that. That's OK, we've created a kids wonderland right here in our yard.

David and I have been working on the garden. He did all the cultivating and I did all the planting. I did a third of what I did last year, only a few of every veggie. I planted herbs this year and I am so excited about that. I can't wait to pull a fresh tomato salad out of my garden with all fresh herbs. Let's pray for a nicer summer than last year!

La La La La, Elmo's World!

La La La La, Elmo's World!

Trying to find activities that will appeal to a 7 year old, 3 two year olds and a 16 month old isn't always easy. In fact, it's quite difficult. I was very excited to learn that Elmo, The Body was coming to The Buffalo Science Museum in March. I figured the triplets would get a kick out of seeing the simulated Sesame Street and Austin would get a kick out of going to The Science Museum. I didn't think Griffin would care much about going but whatever, he could tag along.

David decided to get out of work early on Friday and even pick up Austin from school an hour before his normal time so we could venture over to the museum. All would have been fine, except the triplets decided to not go down for their regular nap and fell asleep 30 minutes before we where supposed to leave. I let them sleep as long as I could but they still got less then an hour. Much to my surprise they where in great moods.

When we arrived at the museum, I have to admit, I was feeling a little stressed. It was probably the unknowing of what was going to happen. If the exhibit was busy, how would we handle ALL 5 kids with a million people????? Well, when we walked in there where less than 20 people walking around. WHEW, what a relief. The boys immediately looked around and all seemed in shock. We set them free and watched as they looked at each station in complete amazement. They looked as if they where actually on Sesame Street. Alex kept saying "Mom, look...come here". Emerson kept saying "OH NO!", which is his shocked statement when he doesn't know what else to say. Maxim ran right up to the steps of the Sesame Street brownstone and rang all the doorbells. I'm not sure but I think he was waiting for someone to answer. Griffin had the best reaction I have ever seen. He stood at the opening of what was Elmo's world. It was a very large reproduction of the TV show, his favorite TV show. He looked like he was . He he was going to cry but in a good way. He stood there for what seemed like forever. Finally he ran in and touched EVERYTHING. Than he sat in a very large bean bag chair and watched Elmo's world. He was happy and so where we.

We spent an hour with the boys learning about the body and all it's functions. We learned about chewing, digestion and even pooping. Yes, EVERYONE poops! The boys got lessons on how to wash their hands and Emerson was fascinated with a display about the circulatory system and how your blood flows. Austin and Alex spent forever in Hooper's store making sandwich's and I think Maxim got in a war with another kid, using the scanners as guns! DAMN boys, will use anything as guns! They just kept running from one display to another. They had a great time and fun was had by the whole Stinner clan. It was the least stressful outing in months!

After leaving Elmo The Body, we ventured around the museum. We checked out all the cool exhibits including the Mummy's, Animals and even the Dinosaurs. They where excited to see the cool bones, WOW, they are such boys. The boys where tired and hungry so we headed home but not before stopping for some crappy fast food and having a "car picnic". It was an amazing day and we ALL survived!

It's a crazy life...

It's a crazy life...

I know, I know...these posts are becoming further apart. I apologize. The boys have kept us incredibly busy lately. Mostly because we are POTTY TRAINING! That's right people, potty training. Alex has been going on the potty inconsistently for about 3 months or so. I think it was more of a curiosity then anything but now, we are getting serious. I think it's a verbal thing. Now that Alex can say "I gocka go potty, mom!", and Max says "Me too",things are getting easier. I actually put them on "POTTY SCHEDULE" and that helps them remember. They know when they have to go for me and are now beginning to verbalize when they NEED to go.

I wish I could say "I'm SuperMOM and this is SO easy". It's not. Max will sit on the potty then stand up and pee on the floor. Emerson tooted and scared himself and is now refusing to go and Alex runs around the house screaming "I PEED", while still going! So let's just say, my house has a lot more air freshners strewn about lately and my carpet cleaner is working overtime.

Speaking of my carpet cleaner working OVERTIME...we had, well let's just say...A SITUATION! First some back story, the boys have finally out grown the sink for baths. This is devastating to me since we have given them a bath there everyday since they where born. We finally decided to start using the bath tub upstairs to bathe the 4 little ones every night. The boys LOVE it. They have lots of room and get to have bubbles and play with toys. They can splash and pour water on each other and have a grand ole time. This has worked out perfect so far. Even one person can do the job if you can take the boys out and let them run naked(hey, they are using the potty)until you can quick slap a diaper on. Well, last night we had Chinese food. It was everywhere. I stripped the boys down, except for diapers and let them run upstairs for baths. By the time I got upstairs, Emerson had run back downstairs. I placed Max and Alex in the tub and washed them up. I got them all diapered and changed and still no Emerson. When I finally returned downstairs I smelled the most foul smell, like the monkey house at the Zoo. Following my nose, I came to the living room where I found a bare assed Emerson covered in his own poop, finger painting the floor and the BABY!!!!! That's right, there was literally crap EVERYWHERE. All over Emerson, ALL over Griffin, ALL over my BROWN carpet, BROWN CURTAINS and tan furniture!!!!! I jumped the fence just in time since Griffin had a large chuck heading straight for his mouth! YUCK. I grabbed them both(with Davids help), ran them upstairs and threw them in the tub where they continued to finger paint! I spent the next 2 hours scrubbing my child's feces from every surface in my living room. The good news is Emerson is scared for life from my insane screaming "NOOOOOOOO, that's SH%t!!!!!!" and will probably never do it again. The bad news is I still smell a little hint of it, and I have NO idea where it is! THANK YOU MR. CARPET CLEANER!

So ends another episode of THE STINNER FAMILY CHRONICLES...Que the circus music!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

My children love any excuse for a party! If it's a birthday, we are there. I like to sike the boys up for a party. So days before my husbands birthday we began to prepare. We bought gifts, signed cards and wrapped, wrapped then wrapped again since the boys kept unwrapping all the gifts. We even ran out of tape and had to use address labels. Hey, when your a mom...you improvise. Than came the best part. The making of the cake. Whenever we say "it's a birthday" Alex immediately says "CAKE". Then we say "Let's sing Happy Birthday" and Alex sings, loudly and proudly "CAKE, CAKE,CAKE" to the tune of happy birthday. It's hard to keep 50 fingers from destroying a cake while singing. Oh well, they like cake...what can I say! We made David a strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberry filling with sliced strawberry filling, his favorite. The boys licked every surface the frosting touched. Let's just say everything was covered in frosting and baby spit. The boys couldn't wait for David to get home and decided by unanimous vote that if he wasn't home by 7:30pm they would eat the cake without him. Well, he walked in at 7:26pm and was able to eat with the rest of the family. Combine that with a gourmet breakfast of Daddy's favorites and a lunch out with mommy and it was a good day and Daddy enjoyed his birthday!

Adventures

Adventures

I knew my life would get busier as my children got older but I had no idea just how busy. They have now decided staying in doors is no longer an option. From the moment they wake up in the morning all I hear is "Ina go bye bye". They are very happy to get all dressed and pile in the van on one mission or another. I have actually started venturing out on my own with all 5 kids. Can you imagine that sight? We have done small trips to the drive-thru pharmacy, McDonald's(again, Drive-thru) and even a small adventure to my Grandparents house. They love the adventure of it all. I have yet to be bold enough to venture someplace where they actually get out of the car! That's not entirely true. On the trip to my grandparents old empty house, I opened the backyard gate to a long grassed play world they had never been before. For me it was bitter sweet. The thought of them running the same chain linked fence that had kept me secure from the time I was old enough to toddle was welcoming and calm. I was flooded with emotion as I saw them try to climb the huge trees that I too climbed. Running up and down the ramp(put in for the ailing, now departed dog)reminded me of my grandpa calling me in to eat. Than to actually enter the house that is now empty, made me sad. Sad for myself and definitely sad for my boys who will never know what amazing human beings my grandparents where. I wish they could have known them! None the less it was an adventure and my kids ran around opening every cupboard and drawer. I wish I would have had my camera to catch the momentous occasion, oh well...note to self, bring camera on all Stinner adventures.

Not all adventures take place outside of the house. In fact, most of our adventures are in doors or in the yard. The children have searched the house for all things dangerous and are trying their darnedest to complete all dangerous tasks and give me a heart attack. So far they have climbed up on dressers and attempted to jump off on their new big boy(they are in fact VERY small)beds. They climb the shelving in the living room, clear off it's contents and use it as a bunk bed. I have found kids standing on counter tops and walking out the front door. They now climb the play set with the swings like old pros and even jump from high on the slide to the recycled mulch below. They push each other on their bikes into stone walls and throw buckets of mulch on unsuspecting brothers below(bucket and all). I'm hoping Griffin doesn't follow in his big brothers dangerous footsteps but i have a feeling he is watching...and plotting!

I don't mind the adventurous sides of my boys. In fact, I embrace it. I want them to want to explore their surroundings. I don't however want them to do it before they know right from wrong. If God gets this family through in the next 2 years without incident I will truly believe in miracles!

Dear Stinner Children

Dear Stinner Children

Every now and then there are a few things I would like to remember to tell my kids about when they where young. Usually it ends up with me being all mushy and telling them how important they are to me and how much I love them. Well, this isn't one of those postings. This is just a short reminder to my kids about what they where doing at this age.

Dear Children,

Thank you so much for all that you do for me. However, I don't feel the furniture, walls, carpet and steps need moisturising. Please leave the baby cream where it belongs so I may apply it to human beings!

Thank you for feeding Sidney(the dog) your dinner. She is very full now and will show me by puking up green beans all over the living room.

Thank you for using my brand new end table as a drum. The dents, dings and scratches give it character.

Thank you for standing in the window, naked. Now all the neighbors know you are potty training!

Thank you so much for borrowing Austins hand soap and pouring it ALL over the attic, on every surface. The whole attic now has a lovely scent of watermelon.

Thank you for cleaning up the dog poop in the yard. Next time I feel it would be better if we use some sort of shovel or perhaps a bag. Picking it up with your hands is unnecessary.

Thank you for telling me it was your baby brothers who opened up the cookies/candy/crackers that I found the wrappers hidden all over the playroom. I'm not sure how they climbed that high but I'm glad it was the non-verbal kids and not you telling a little white lie.

Thank you for attempting to shave your own head with Daddy's beard trimmer. All though it is time consuming I would prefer to do it myself. It just gives me more time to look at all the lovely bruises on your head.

Thank you for putting your dishes in the sink. However, until you get a little taller and can actually reach the sink it should be left up to someone taller. Milk is very hard to get out of the cupboard.

Thank you for wiping your buggers on the walls up and down the stairs. It shows me they are perfectly normal and no sickness lives here.

Thank you for being so jealous that I am holding another brother that you scratch my arm up like a cat leaving people to believe i am abused!

Thank you for licking the juice from the floor in the front foyer. A paper towel would have been better suited for the job but this was just as affective.

Thank you for the lovely hug in which you wiped your snot/dirt filled face all over my white T-shirt. Again, no infections here!

Thank you for getting my coffee cup off the counter and putting it on the floor where I accidentally kicked it all over the floor. I think it got in EVERY crevice.

Thank you for unraveling every toilet paper role in ALL 4 bathrooms. I don't know why they come like that. I too prefer to have bunched/tore up little pieces of toilet paper.

Thank you for getting into the upstairs cupboard and squirting out a whole BRAND NEW bottle of country apple scented hand moisturizer all over the brown carpet. I too think it was high time I spend 2 hours scrubbing the 3'x4' space up there. Not to mention every floor now smells like fruit!

Thank you for taking your juice cups, bottles and anything else filled with liquid and dripping it ALL over every piece of furniture in this house. At least you are consistent!

But seriously, thank you for trying hard to get into everything and anything you can. You keep my life interesting and I wouldn't have it any other way!

I love you ALL, MOM

Hoppy Easter

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Hoppy Easter

Well Spring has Sprung in WNY. Actually it's been more like Summer. The temperature rose to a balmy 85 degrees on Saturday. What a huge heatwave for the beginning of April. It is almost unheard of. This burst of warm air officially brought the Stinner's out of hibernation. We have spent as much time outside as we possibly could. I never saw such stir crazy kids in my life. It was like we opened the flood gates the second the door opened, 5 kids went running like little mad men in 5 different directions. I love that the triplets are big enough to just play! I no longer have to hover over them. They just do, what they do! YEAH, Spring!

Easter weekend was AMAZING!!!! In fact it was 75 degrees and sunny for the first time since I was a teenager. It also happened to be my birthday weekend, which made it even better. On my birthday(Saturday) it was 85 degrees and I spent the whole day outside with my kids. We where trying to teach Austin to ride his 2 wheel bike, with no avail. Unfortunately he just kept getting frustrated. I'm sure by the beginning of summer, he will be riding the neighborhood like a pro! The triplets have again discovered to dig in the mud and more importantly to bury random things. I just discovered where my gardening gloves disappeared to...UGH! Hey, they are occupied and that's all that matters. Grif is a wanderer. He just walks from end of our yard to the next(yes, still sucking rocks) and taking it all in. I think he likes the freedom of being able to walk.

As always, I hosted Easter. I find extreme pleasure in cooking for my family and friends. The kids run around and occupy all the adults and I prepare the food. It's like what my life would be in opposite world. The kids had an Easter egg hunt in the yard. They consumed an ENORMOUS amount of chocolate and enjoyed Easter gifts from the Easter Bunny and their Grandma. They had a special guest make an unscheduled appearance. Yes, Elmo came! My kids are going to think Elmo is a part of our family! Too funny. He stayed a long time and even hung out on the couch and watched tv! WE LOVE ELMO! It ended up being an absolute perfect holiday. BRING ON MEMORIAL DAY, LET SUMMER BEGIN!

Spring???????

Spring?????

I love when we have a random week of Spring in winter. It's rare here but it happens. Last week was absolutely beautiful. 55-65 degrees for four whole days. The boys LOVED it. We broke out the summer toys and played outside. Quite frankly we needed the break from being in the house. We have been redoing our attic and preparing Austin's new room. It was the perfect time to get some fresh air and allow the kids to just RUN! At first the boys where leery. It was like they forgot what to do outside. They seemed afraid to go on the swings or down the slide. They didn't want to step in the grass. And Alex kept asking me "are you here, mom?". I think he was afraid I was going to leave him outside. He picked up leaves, sticks and I saved him in time from picking up a petrified dog turd! UGH, the Spring clean up is underway!

Like I said the boys where leery at first but within minutes they where running like madmen. I realized they are kids now. Last year they where babies. I was so afraid to let them climb the ladder to the swing set or to play in the tree house but they seem to be so stable on their feet that it no longer mattered. This was great since now Griff is older and is running. He was unsure of the terrain at first. He stood straight as an arrow and refused to move. I realized he very rarely wears shoes and that he probably was afraid to walk. When he first got his memento up, he took off. He ran from one end of the yard to the next. He licked rocks and ate a small tree branch in the process but I just chalked it up as minerals he apparently needed in his diet. He even went down the small slide(with coaxing from mommy, of course). Maxim has NO fear. He climbed up and down the ladder like he has been doing it forever. He wanted to know what every single spec was. Emerson was happy to go in and out of the garage pulling out every toy and bike he could find. Austin is the KING!!!!! He plays with his brothers so well now. He organized them in a game of soccer than they where playing a rousing game of tag that lasted for a long time. He loves playing with them, finally.

I know this wasn't really Spring. It was more of an interlude to Spring. It's fine with me as long as I know it is eventually coming. We need the fresh air and excises really badly. I say, bring it on and bring on summer fun in the sun!

St. Patty's Day!

St. Patty's Day!

St. Patricks Day is one of our favorite holidays. Pretty strange since we are not at all Irish. We figured since there is no such holiday for Germans that we would adopt the St. Patty's day holiday for our own! We love the food, the decorating and the party that we throw every year for our family. Corn Beef and cabbage with carrots, potatoes, onions, green beans and ALL the fixins. Me and the kids make green desserts and my mother brings strange dense breads filled with currents and rye seeds. YUMMY!!!!! The boys really got into it this year. Emerson ran around dressed like a Leprechaun for weeks before. I bought him this green hat that is the cutest thing. Emerson is my "accessorizer". He loves hats, shoes, backpacks and gloves. Whoa, don't get me started on the GLOVES!!! The boys helped me make green artsy fartsy cupcakes, which is just regular cupcakes with green swirls. They thought it was cool to swirl in the green cake mix. Austin made decorations at school and the triplets did a shamrock project at home with me. They are so fun now. They love to do art projects and they are very proud of their creations.The boys had fun running around the house eating off everyones plates and I think they ate 10 cupcakes each. Griffin is quiet as always he is content to let Austin and the triplets have all the attention. What a sweet baby.

It was our first family dinner with our new dining room set. I am happy to report it held up great and I loved that we could all sit together finally. Now if we could just speed the addition along we could really throw a big bash. Maybe in a year or so!!!!! Whooo hooo, can't wait!