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SherraLifeLesson.com

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Toddlers (& babies)

Tell Santa What You Want

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 By Sherra

Special note: Email subscribers…if you got strange or duplicate emails from me via this site yesterday, my apologies. Our iLashGirls site was hacked on Monday so we had to rebuild a few things from a backup and this affected my site as well. If you left a comment on any recent post and you don’t see it now, please leave another one! I really do want to know what your favorite dream pizza is! Hacking websites…add that to the list of stupid hobbies of people with too much free time. 🙁

Sixteen years later and we still don’t have any idea what The Grunter told Santa he wanted that made Santa look like this…

But it always makes us laugh. 🙂

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Filed Under: Finding the Funny, Toddlers (& babies)

Is it Brown Hog or Brown Log Day?

Monday, February 2, 2009 By Sherra

This day, the 2nd day of February, always makes me laugh.

Well at least it has since 1991.

Because that was the year that EverettEdwardEvan asked me one of my all-time favorite toddler questions.

He came home from his first Mother’s Morning Out program and asked me with all the seriousness an inquisitive two-year old can muster:

“Mama, is today Brown Hog or Brown Log Day?”

It should have been my first sign that he had inherited his daddy’s finely tuned hearing.

So here at the Humpfreeze homestead, 17 years later, we still refer to this special day as Brown Log Day.

Does anyone know…

Did the Brown Log see his shadow?

P.S. Where the heck was this book chocked full of activities when my pumpkin and his tiny twin sisters were little?

I seriously would have spent the $10 bucks so we could have had a Brown Log Day party!

*****

P.S.S. Another GREAT giveaway opportunity over at iLashGirls this week. It’s my personal favorite…FOOD!!!!! Click here to enter to win!

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Filed Under: Finding the Funny, Toddlers (& babies)

Unique Christmas Eve Tradition

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 By Sherra

Merry Christmas Eve to all!

Growing up, we got to open one present on Christmas Eve.

It was very, very, very EXCITING.

All those presents under the tree and we waited in eager anticipation to get to open ONE present early!

I decided to carry on the same tradition with my kids because I remember it so vividly.

I have also come to find out that it isn’t all that unique and I’ve met many people who have the same darn tradition.

I’m guessing many mothers discovered what my mother discovered in the early years with toddlers.

We might have looked a little ratty – I appear to have outgrown my pajamas (unless they were capris).

But let’s be real – who looks great when they pop out of bed at 6:00 am to see what Santa brought them?

But mothers across the land decided the kids photograph better in NEW matching pajamas!!

Ahem. Sort of.

I’m pretty sure we weren’t allowed to come downstairs until Mom fixed our hair too. I think everyone will agree that part of the reason I am the way I am today is because of the childhood trauma of my mother pulling my hair back, exposing my forehead, with no bangs. Hello?!

As we got older, I think it got harder to make us look decent for pictures. We have evidence (that appears to have been tampered with) to prove it. But she still tried.

Bless her heart.

Side note: My youngest sister is not special needs. I think she is the one who tampered with our matching pajama Christmas Eve evidence tradition. She may have creased the above photo trying to destroy the picture.

I think we were not cooperating for the pajama photo shoot. I sense some holiday tension. Those *smiles* don’t look genuine.

Probably got in trouble for making the youngest laugh…I’ll get back to you on that because luckily, my mother will remember in excruciating detail what happened that Christmas Eve as soon as she reads this.

But in spite of the trauma of no bangs and feathered bangs and all the years in between, I continued this adorable tradition with my own children…

Imagine how excited I was when Grandma sent matching Red Flannel pajamas from Cedar Springs, Michigan for the darling twins first Christmas just like the ones we wore back in the 70’s!

Whoa! Check out that startled bug-eyed look Roger Leroy is sporting. Unfortunately it’s genetic. Yet another thing I blame thank my mother for.

Or maybe it was the granny cap pinching her tiny head?

Or maybe not.

Yeah, so the bug-eyed thing is genetic. There’s no denying it…

Scary Baby asked me yesterday if everyone could open ONE present on Christmas Eve.

I immediately said:

Absolutely.

She countered with:

Can it please NOT be pajamas?

Such a silly child – we’re not breaking tradition here!

In honor of Grandma, those new p.j.s are in the warsh right now! 😉

How many of you have this tradition? Or do you have a truly unique tradition to share?

Wishing you all a very happy holiday with your loved ones,

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Filed Under: Finding the Funny, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens

Award-Winning Halloween Costumes

Monday, October 20, 2008 By Sherra

Note: Be sure and click on over to iLashGirls after reading this post to enter the Sunday Surprise Giveaway for a darling personalized hooded bath towel! Sponsored by another great Breast Cancer Awareness Etsy shop.

I wanted to give you moms who still have little ones an opportunity to whip up an award-winning Halloween costume for your neighborhood or community contest. You still have plenty of time.

Adult award-winner is at bottom of the post but let’s focus on the kids first.

I believe it should fall to the grandmas of the world to make the costumes. Such a loving act to your grandkids and such a relief to moms like me who become stressed when I have to sew on a button.

Yes, my mother can sew.

Yes, I took Home Economics back in the late 70’s in preparation to become the domestic goddess that I am today.

It’s just that the sewing bug never really stuck after I made that beautiful quilted vest I had to wear when I was a freshman.

Oh yes I did, because part of the grade was that you had to wear what you made to school.

What mean teacher thought of that? I still got an “A” in spite of that vest.

Somehow, I guilted my mother, a non-crafter to begin making costumes for my precious children because even though I can’t sew, I have a serious aversion to the store-bought variety.

I now give you the Killer Bees of 1992…

Bees1992

Poor Wizzy couldn’t even walk so we had to pull her in a wagon.

In 1993 we had a litter of darling dalmatians…

Dalmatians1993

They were like little doggy snowsuits. Grandma was thinking of the wintery Halloweens of Northern Illinois. Lucky for us, it was actually cold that year and our puppies stayed warm in Georgia.

Sticking with the animal theme in 1994…

LionCheetos1994

A lion and two cheetos. At least that’s what the girls told everyone when they asked what they were. “We two cheetos.” Wasn’t that obvious?

The problem with being a fourth child? Well, there’s a list but trying to stay focused on the topic of today – poor Scary Baby has had to wear every single costume her siblings had already worn.

LionRiley

But if we didn’t have family albums by the year and I hadn’t noticed her creative personal touch of adding of my bear feet slippers, I’m not sure we would know that it is Everina and not Everett.

Mom tip #1: If you pick a theme like animals, they are really timeless. The Barney costume and Mutant Turtle things of the 90’s – not so timeless.

After three years of awesome costumes, Grandma lost her momentum and I conceded that I could handle it in 1995 trying to remain grateful for the previous years.

Part of our early Halloween traditions include going over to the local supermarket where they have cookie decorating, games and ample candy all in the quiet convenience of our favorite grocery. Then we head to a Fall Festival at our church where there are more games, pony rides and of course, more candy!

Mom tip #2: I always told them in a very excited voice what they were going to be for Halloween. Because asking a kid what they want to be for Halloween is like taking a 2 year-old to Toys R Us and saying “pick a toy!”
It is over-stimulation and I say…start early…don’t do it!

Of course, I am aware that I have stifled their creativity and any behavior problems I now have (and I have plenty) can all be traced back to their childhood scars of never getting to pick their Halloween costume.

Whatever.

What is quietly amusing about our themed costumes is that when Grandma stopped making them, the kids started winning costume contests at the grocery store.

Mom tip #3: Matching costumes helped me manage them in public just like coordinating clothes did. Again, I plead guilty to squelching their individuality. My mom motto? Do what works…for you.

Alright, back to the winning costumes because that is what you really want to see, right?

I present the Humphreys robots of 1995…

Robots1995

Robots3

Forget sewing but give me a glue gun and a can of spray paint and I go crazy.

I wish I could tell you where I got this idea because I’m sure you already figured out I did not think of it on my own. I’m pretty sure it was a magazine. Or TV. Or a book.

Supply list: Dryer duct, reflectors, outlet covers, stickers and even those little battery-powered Christmas tree light packs for miniature trees all work well for this project.

Add a variety of foil baking pans and a colander from the kitchen section.

Then set everything up at a big table and let the kids decorate their own costumes. See, I didn’t stifle their creativity entirely.

Final touches: Grey sweat suits and spray paint old shoes and milk jugs with silver paint and you are looking at first place winners at Publix!

Robots2

Notice Wizzy couldn’t wait until after the picture to start eating her candy. They won the big pumpkin and a cake from the bakery. Because we would need a sweet dessert after trick or treating?!

First place came with some pressure.

What would they be the next year?

Sometimes, the old classic standbys are the easiest and best…

ClownsMagician1997

Two clowns and a magician worked. Yes, I did succumb to the store-bought clown suits and wigs.

In fact, the clowns took 2nd place at Publix.

Clowns2

I think it was mom’s custom face painting that won them a big basket of candy and toys.

Whew, that’s five years of ideas and I’m spent. Hope it gives you an idea or two.

I also loved that they are all unisex and not pink or blue. I spent a lot of years with a boy and two girls fighting those stereotypes.

Then I had Scary Baby. And pretty much gave up. But that’s a whole different subject.

Oh, I almost forgot, I told you at the beginning I did have one
adult award-winning costume idea to share.

I know three unnamed young women who hoped to win $100 in a contest in the 80’s for this delightful group costume…

SixPack

One of them didn’t even drink. They all knew PBR wasn’t a very popular beverage. But it was the easiest can to draw on giant poster board. Go figure.

These women went as a six-pack and carried an empty can next to them in hopes they’d find a dream date for the evening.

They won the $100 but had no luck with the dates.

Adapt this idea accordingly. Giant poster board, metallic silver poster board, markers, wire coat hanger and foil for the beautiful pop tops and you’re good to go.

And if you are planning to have children and don’t want a picture of you in your reckless youth to be discovered, I think you should be a six-pack of Sprite. Just a suggestion.

The kids’ animal costumes have been lovingly cared for and worn by neighbors and friends through the years. I’m all about recycling so if you have a little one and need a bee, dalmatian, lion or cheeto costume, just email me and I still have time to loan you a costume or two or three!

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Filed Under: Finding the Funny, Moments, Toddlers (& babies)

Post Coma Baby #1

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 By Sherra

I promised you that I would share something really, really good that came from the crash and the coma…

The good was the beginning of our family that we started just six months after I woke up.

Nine months later, one month and one day before our 2nd anniversary…

In spite of the fact that it was a BIG surprise and I was not and am still not qualified to be a mother…

Our son was born on September 9, 1989.

He turned 19 yesterday.

He was an absolutely delightful baby.

He was a sweet big brother when I brought home twin sisters just shy of his 2nd birthday.

And another darn sister when he was almost ten years old.

He was a babe magnet from his early days.

Grunter1

I won’t reveal the identity of the girls he was surrounded by but hopefully they will enjoy seeing themselves on the internet.

Neighborhood girls were everywhere. Across the street, next door on both sides…

GrunterTwo

Things were a little too easy in those early years. I knew it wouldn’t last.

He was a popular kid and this got him in a bit of “hot water”…

Grunter3

We told him this better be the first, last and only time we find him in our bathtub with five naked girls.

He outgrew the delightful baby stage too soon and things became more difficult.

PhilBillPaul handled some cross-dressing issues well.

Grunter5

Um, yes, that is a swimsuit top. And his sister’s hair bow. It was hard being surrounded by females all day.

I knew he would grow out of it eventually so I didn’t make a big deal about it.

Until he and Roger Leroy started sharing clothes.

Grunter6

But you just have to pick your battles so I let it go.

Side note: She still won’t wear dresses but I’m glad to report he no longer wears them either.

He’s actually very well-rounded, artistic and played different sports through the years.

GrunterFourA

Then we had eating issues.

Maybe you remember The Cocoa Krispie Nightmare?

And hair issues.

Grunter7

This is what happens when the Humphreys children get a hold of hair gel.

And please don’t forget, pot issues.

Oh yes–he used pot right in front of us.

From Barney to Batman, we have loved our Boy through all the great times and the challenging times.

GrunterEight


He graduated from high school
in May and completed his first year of college during his senior year. We are so very proud of the man he is becoming.

Though most days, he is still The Grunter here at home.

We were very excited to see his new haircut last week.

Grunter9

We haven’t seen his eyebrows in at least 5 years!

In honor of his birthday and with his permission, he said I can reveal his real name on the blog.

But I’m going to let Grandma’s card (and Hallmark) do that for me. Because we all share a warped sense of humor and this card is now in my Top Ten of our family card competition…

Grunter10

Come on, that’s funny.

Grunter11

Good one Grandma! Grandad James Everett is looking down and laughing!

Everett James Humphreys…

Grandad Jimbo would be proud of you too.

Happy Birthday Pumpkin!

I love you to the moon.

xoxo

Mom

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Filed Under: Finding the Funny, Love Languages, Milestones, Teens, Toddlers (& babies)

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