Simple advise to get you through the holidays...

The Christmas countdown is in warp speed at this point.

Hopefully you all have your shopping done and you are enjoying sitting by your fireplace drinking egg... OR you are out braving the crowds and getting it done now... OR you haven't even started yet and you are waiting to the last minute. 

Either way, here is some fab advise to get you through the next few weeks...

Enjoy!

If you have snow globes and fish watch those kiddos they may get confused!

If you make snowballs.... make sure they don't contain rocks! No really, I am totally serious on this one.

 Make sure to check those tires before you head out on your long trip, you don't want to be stuck out in the cold!

 You know when you go to a party and everyone is pretending to be a wine critic? 

 Lastly.... loosen up a bit. Go ahead and laugh at yourself, and have some fun!

-Sister Pester
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Positive affirmation

It as been a busy couple of weeks in both the Pester and Scrappy households!
Having 5 kids (here and 5 over there), and prepping for the holidays and having visitors does that to you that is for sure.   We are working on some fabulous home organization ideas as well as recipes and classic kid stories so hang on for the ride this is going to be a fun new year.

AND we are working on a shiney new website that will make you go oohhh and ahhhh and make your navigation through our posts, recipes and do-it-yourself guides easier to access and find!

In the mean time, just wanted to leave you with this positive self affirmation.

Say it with me now peeps...

I am a strong, funny, kind and beautiful woman. 

Loved by many, hated by a few.

I stand up for what is right, even when it is hard.

Don't be fooled and mistake my kindness for weakness.

I am a powerful force, a favorite child of God.

Now share this with all your lady friends! Lift them up, don't tear them down. 

Remind them how fab you think they are. :-)

-Sister Pester
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Just a tiny glimpse into my random thoughts.

Just wanted to spread some love and happiness your way!

Nothing makes me smile more than a hand written note... 

(well there is an exception I guess, I hate when you get the notes addressed Dear Mrs. so and so, your child has been having gas issues in class, can you make sure they eat less beans at dinner. Signed desperate for fresh air).

No really it's not what it looks like!  

(My kids say that all the time, especially when playing with toilet paper. Did she say playing with toilet paper? um yeah that is exactly what I think as I pick up mounds of it on the floor, oh and my favorite is when a whole roll is IN the toilet).

Bubba the Giraffe is saying 'Huh?'

(No not at the paper toilet antics.  This often happens when watching me 'attempt' Yoga).

It really perplexes me why he would look at me this way....

Because I think I look like this, below....

Rockin the Momma body after babies doing yoga of course!

(Okay, I lie... I know I don't look like this, I only dream of it).

I really look like this...

(minus the hairy legs... oh heck, who am I kidding, yes, with the hairy legs).

Did you know it looks fabulous on resumes when you put that you stayed home to take care of the children after giving birth.  Stay at home mom is a REAL career booster.

(in case you were wondering that is pronounced Sar-Ca-Sim).

-Sister Pester

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Scrappy Christmas Traditions

We have a couple of traditions in our house for Christmas. The first is, we have two trees. The first tree, which is also the biggest is our "normal" tree. It holds all of our ornaments like Baby's first Christmas, every ornament the kids made at church, you know, all that cutesy stuff. It looks like this...

The other thing I do with this tree is put icicles on it. I used to have beautiful ribbon trailing down the sides, but as our family began expanding, so did the amount of ornaments. So now, we only do the icicles, which I love because they catch the light. Some are glass that I picked up in a neat little shop while Christmas shopping with my Grandma, and the rest are from the dollar store.

Which leads me to family tradition #2. When I was a kid, I had a best friend. Her family had these beautiful houses on their mantle. They collected one a year. I thought that is the coolest thing ever. So, that is what we have done. There have been years that were harder than others where we haven't been able to get a house...but what I love about this tradition, is the kids have ultimately picked out these houses.

Happy picked out the barbie one, Scooter picked out the crayola one, and Super picked out the candy factory. This year Scrappy-Doo picked out the train. Next year, we will let Screacher pick out one, this year the key is to keep her as far away from the prized houses as possible :)

Our third tradition is almost the most special tradition of them all. It is our second tree. This is called "The Jewel Tree". You see The Jewel Tree was my Grandma's. She made almost every ornament on it. She used to put it in her room every year, on a circulating white tree....away from all the little Grandkid hands. But we would oooohhhh and aaaaahhh over it every year. My Grandma died from Breast Cancer when Happy was two years old. I got the jewel tree. I remember her making ornaments, she taught my Mom and Aunt how to make them, and my cousins and I how to make them...so now, my Mom showed my kids how to make them...There are four generations of ornaments on this tree.

This tree hasn't been put up every year. For instance, when Super was little, that tree didn't see the light of day for 5 years. But, Scrappy and Screacher are a little more mellow, so the tree is up...and all my kids ooohhh and aaaahhhh over it every year. If anyone is interested in starting a jewel tree of their own, they still sell these ornament kits at craft stores like Michael's.

My Grandma made the first one, my Mom the second, and I made the third.

Scooter made this one.

Tradition #4 is a new tradition. Everyone is doing this Elf on a Shelf thing. As I was pulling out all my Christmas decorations, I found this...

A very old family elf, it belongs to my Mom, so I asked her if I

could keep it...and she said yes...so the kids are very excited what kind of trouble this little elf is going to make. This could make for a very exciting Christmas season.

-Sister Scrappy

What kind of family traditions does your family have? We would love to hear and maybe add to our own! Comment below!

Have you heard of Cimorelli?

If you haven't you MUST go and check them out!

Who are they anyways???

Well they are a family that I know personally and just adore. Year's ago they were just merely a very large family on the swim team that I coached with very talented swimmers. I remember clearly one day Momma Cimorelli pulling up to pick up her older kiddos and I peaked inside her Suburban and I believe I counted no less than 4 carseats. (That was a long time ago).

Now who are they???

Well they are still a family that I know personally and just adore...
And they happen to be the next big singing sensation that is literally exploding on the charts and has a very large Youtube following.

I will tell you, I am not shocked! They were a driven family from the get go. Momma Cimorelli homeschooled them all. In fact she was my inspiration for homeschooling my crew and then it turned into Scrappy's inspiration for homeschooling... She had those kids in sports and theater and all sorts of great stuff. I saw first hand how well rounded they were, how social and friendly and POLITE each and everyone of the kids were that I fell in love with the idea of homeschooling. Then, I lost touch with them (my family moved to Hawaii and back), recently with my Facebook obsession I searched the family name and low and behold they are a singing sensation. I friended some of the older crew and the Momma of course and have told them just how proud I am of them and their achievements...


They just released a new album EP two days ago and it is already #6 on itunes US pop charts!!!

Click on picture to check out the new album!

Here they are doing their thing! Rock it girls!

Here they are at the WIN awards.

Here they are at the Justin Bieber "Never Say Never", premiere.

Here they are in the rapid Bieber crowd. See Justin up on the screen?

Yup... I knew them before they were famous. :-)
Now go and check them out. You won't be sorry.
Cimorelli Website Click Here
Cimorelli on Facebook Click Here
Cimorelli on Twitter Click Here
Cimorelli on Youtube Click Here
Cimorelli on Itunes Click Here to listen and download

-Sister Pester
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Anono-Momma - Mrs. Do-It-All

Years ago when my kids wear younger I was so busy trying to 'do-it-all'.  I was really busy doing Fly Lady, and trying my hardest to organize, declutter and 'Finally Loving Yourself'.  I was also trying to get my five year old to be a bit more self reliant. AKA. not having mom do everything for her.

I was busily getting the house in shape before we left my part time job in the afternoon. I had the machines humming, was swifting away at the dust on the shelves when I told her to go ahead and change out of her play clothes into nicer clothing to go to Mommy's work.  (She had been playing outside all morning and she had more than a bit of dirt on her current outfit.

I then got distracted decluttering a drawer and didn't realize what time it was....

Tick Tock
Tick Tock
Tick....

Next thing I knew, I looked up at the clock and we were due to be at my work in 30 minutes and it is a 40 minute drive with traffic!

'Quick!', I yelled.
'Get in the car, we are LATE!!!'.

My five year old scurried to the car as I swiped up my 3 year old from her nap and quickly buckled them into their seats and off we went on the highway to my work.  As I am driving I realize that they had dirt smudges all over them from playing outside, so I quickly grab the wet-wipes from the front glove compartment and cleverly told them we were having a contest to see, 'who can show me the dirtiest wet wipe'.

I thought to myself I am so smart!

They quickly got wiping and had the shiniest faces, arms, hands, legs and feet!

I am in fact Mrs. Do-it-all!

I was excited to see that the traffic was light and we would make it on time.

YES!  That's right... I have it all under control.

Get to my work, unload the kiddos, check them into the on-sight daycare and stroll off to work, in full knowledge that I have done everything I need to do.

When I get done with my job, just a few short hours later, I go to check the kiddos out of the daycare and I am met by the daycare director.  She tells me that she needs to talk to me about a delicate subject.

We go off to the side so that the other parents could check their children out.  And then she says, 'Can you please make sure to put underwear on your daughter before she comes to daycare.  We had a very unfortunate incident where the children were play fighting and your daughters dress flipped up and she was wearing nothing underneath'.

O.M.G.

I apologized profusely and assured her that normally she DOES wear underwear but that she had gotten herself dressed and must have forgotten.

It was at that point that I made a mental 'Note to self'.
Always check your children before leaving the house, for simple things like...

1. Cleanliness
2. Shoes
3. UNDERWEAR!

-Mrs. Do-it-all
(Either Pester or Scrappy.... we will leave you to wonder).
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Blog-Fest-A-Pa-Looza The Progressive Parent

We are always combing the web looking for new and exciting 'things' to not only spice up our lives but yours as well.  We love to blog and we love reading blogs. You can get amazing ideas that you might never have thought of from blogs, some of them written by regular people just like you and me/us.

How about a blog about giving birth and progressive parenting?  This blog might just be up your ally.  Check it out and let Julie know we sent you.  :-)

The Progressive Parent

Written by Julie 
Santa Rosa, Ca, United States

I am a mother, first and foremost. I sing, hug trees, have living room dance parties and have no idea what I want to be when I grow up. I root for the underdog. I care about what is healthy. I write. I do the latter most, usually in pertinence to the former.

We just love our friend Julie who might just be in labor at this very moment with bambino number 4.  She has just started out this new blog and we already love reading her thoughts...

"Well... where IS the beginning? For me, both the blog and the parenting start with giving birth; something I am set to do any day, hour, even minute from now. (And if it's not TMI right off the bat, I'm 40 weeks as of today, I've been 4cm dilated for a week and 3 since two weeks before!) Now, I'm no rookie at this- some may even call me a pro, being that this will be my fourth natural delivery. (I hope.) But each pregnancy & delivery, like each child, is different. Three births does not a master make- I know enough to know I won't know a thing until the labor and birthing begin! So what does birthing mean? The dictionary defines birth as "the process of bearing or bringing forth offspring; any coming into existence; to bear. (which, incidentally, means "hold up under") In my experience, parenting has given me ALL kinds of situations to "hold up under", all of which I want to try and touch on with an open mind here, pregnancy being the literal first. I walk around with my hands "holding up under" my belly all the time these days!"

-Pester and Scrappy
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World of Facebook - Modern Day Sitcom

In this modern day sitcom, 

our actors play out the drama that takes place every single day in the 

World of Facebook....

1) The "Lurker" - Never posts anything or comments on your post, but reads everything, and might make reference to your status if they see you in public.

2) The "Hyena" - Doesn't ever really say anything, just LOLs and LMAOs at everything ...

3) "Mr./Ms. Popular" - Has 4367 friends for no reason.

4) The "Gamer" - Has a virtual farm and diligently plows their fields, Plays Words With Friends (while googling new words to play), is a gangsta in Mafia Wars, is Martha Stewart and bakes virtual cakes and on and on and on..... ALL DAY and NIGHT LONG.

5) The "Prophet" - Every post makes reference to God or Jesus.

6) The "Thief" - Steals status updates, picture quotes, and anything that might make them look funny, witty or wise...(and will probably steal this one).

7) The "Cynic" - Hates their life, and everything in it, as evidenced by the somber tone in ALL of their status updates.

8) The "Collector" - Never posts anything either, but joins every group, and becomes fans of the most random stuff.

9) The "Promoter" - Always sends event invitations to things that you ultimately delete or ignore.

10) The "Liker" - Never actually says anything, buy always clicks the "like" button.

11) The "Hated" - Every post revolves around someone hating on them, and they swear people are trying to ruin their life.

12) The "Anti-Proofreader" - This person would benefit greatly from Spellcheck, and sometimes you feel bad for them because you don't know if they were typing fast, or really cant spell

13) The "Drama Queen/King" - This person always posts stuff like "I can't believe this!", or "They are gonna make me snap today!", in the hopes that you will ask what happened, or what's wrong...but then they never finish telling the story.

14) The "Comedian" - This person consistently tries to be funny...but never is.

15) The "News Anchor" - Always updates you on what they are doing and who they are doing it with, no matter how arbitrary

16) The "Rooster" - Feels that it is their job to tell Facebook "Good Morning or Good Night".

*We are not sure where this originated, but thought it was too funny not to share! (We did edit it a bit). Please feel free to share! 

-Sister Pester

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These kept me laughing all week...

Here are a few laughs to share...these have kept me secretly smiling this week when I think back to them...so in my crazy head, I had to go back and find them, so that I could share the smiles with all of you :)

Okay, so this one isn't very nice...but it really hurts when you step on a lego, this is what I might say to Mister next time I am mad...

So, now that I have this great, witty response...ask me what I am doing at the grocery store...cuz I really wanna tell you!

Now that I think about it...I think I agree...

Because you know, everyone wears their pj's at walmart...get it?

This is Mister's Christmas present...LOL...no really, I just might get some, does anyone know how to crochet?

-Sister Scrappy

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Gooey Brownie Cups

Okay, I admit it! I got this FABULOUS idea from Pinterest (click here to see our Pinterest page) and followed the most beautiful picture of the scrumptious brownie to the really great cooking blog Baked Perfection.  I decided to give it a shot. The recipe looked so easy and heck, you really cannot go wrong with brownies!

I made my way to the market and bought all sorts of goodies to put into these brownie cups as I have a bunch of kiddos that have a varying ideas of what is good on chocolate (Persnickety perhaps)...
WHAT?
Yes... snobs!
I will eat anything with chocolate...
I am in fact the opposite.
I am a chocolate glutton.
<gasp>
Yes it is true!

Here is the basic recipe...

Ingredients:

1 box of your favorite brownie mix. (I choose fudge brownies).

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

*I also added coconut to some and also halved skinny pretzel sticks.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix brownie mix in a bowl and spoon into muffin cups (1-2 heaping teaspoons).
3. Bake for 13-15 minutes (check by poking with a toothpick to ensure that it comes out slightly wet).
4. Take brownies out to cool, let centers drop (if they do not drop tap them down with the back of a spoon).
5. Place creamy peanut butter in a bowl and microwave for 45 seconds.
6. Spoon  peanut butter into centers of each brownie.
7. Add your toppings of choice. (example: a few peanut butter chips and a few chocolate chips, or poke pretzel sticks in the center to make a 'campfire').
8. Cool completely on the counter top or place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set.

If you bake these let us know and if you feel adventurous snap a picture and share on our facebook page!
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P.S. The kids, Mister, and I LOVED them!  Be sure to make a double batch, you won't be sorry.

-Sister Pester
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Medical Info Women Should Know about Pregnancy

This goes out to all our soon to be mom's and also our been there done that Momma's!


*If you are a pregnant momma.... don't forget to capture those moments of yourself... even if it is on your cellphone in the mirror!  

*We are not sure who wrote this but had to share because we both found it so funny!

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?

A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q : I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q : What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.

A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q ? : Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college

-Sister Pester

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