Elsy’s Stay at Home Mom Blog

I stopped by Sam’s club this morning and found this cool star wars head piece. I walked a bit more and found the body suit for the star wars clone that goes with the helmet.

I first think that went thru my mind was my 4 year old. He has been changing his mind about what costume he wants. It costs about $60 bucks to get the whole set. I spent some money all ready in a different costume he wanted and I am not sure I want to spend more.

But I will keep this in mind and be on the look out for sales. If I find the right price for this costume I may get it for him.

How would it be to walk in another Mom’s shoes? To go thru hard times and heart ache? To feel helpless and unable to take care of our own child the way we want to take care of our little ones?

Something happen to me today when I was at the bank. When I arrived I saw in the parking lot, a lady with a toddler in her arms and her car had a tire off as a tow truck was trying to tow her car. As I passed them into the bank, she smiled greeting me but I could tell she was sad. She looked tired and worn out. The little boy in her arms must of been about 7-9 months old and he looked dirty and had no shoes.

I went into the bank and finished my business. I came out and she asked me for assistance. She went on to say that she needed $10 dollars to finish paying the tow truck driver. I had no cash on me but asked her to wait. I came back with some money but trying not to be intrusive, I started asking her questions. She then again gives me that same sad smile as she tries to tell me how she ended up in that parking lot. This Mom is actually living in a homeless shelter with her husband and baby.  Another homeless woman in the shelter helped her to the storage facility near where she is sharing storage space with to get clothes and shoes for her child.

So here is this woman living in a homeless shelter with her family , standing in front of me asking me for $10.  She is unemployed and is having a hard time finding a job. She continues to say how ashamed she was about asking me for money but I told her what my Dad used to say to me when I was a little girl “There is no shame in asking for help, but there is shame in taking what is not yours”.

I could not help it but try to imagine what I would do if I was in her shoes.  At that point I wished I had lots of money and houses available to me to help people like her. I considered extending my help by inviting her to stay at my house. Not knowing if what she was saying was true or not and afraid of the risk I could possible put my own children at,  I refrained myself. I did give her my number and told her that I could not do much as I handed over $40 but that if she was ever in a situation and had no one to turn to, she could give me a call. I told her that I didn’t know how I could help her but If I could I would.

I saw her get in to the tow truck and drive away.

My heart goes out to those Moms that are going thru a hard time and have little ones that depend on them

The family celebrated Independance Day in our new home. We watched the parks fireworks from the second story deck and loved it.

My parents, my sisters step-son and the five of us all sitting on the deck for the show. It was very nice. My son used the potty once while waiting and I have to say it beats being at the park in the cold and sitting on grass or worse on concrete.

I love my second story deck.

My little boy was great with his potty training. I can say that he got an A+. He was wonderful. He never had major accidents at home or in public. I am very proud of him.

This is what I did:

First I put a side 2 days when I knew I could dedicate myself to hang out with him for the most part of the day. Then, I bought a potty chair to keep in his room as well as a timer to sit Mikey down every 15 minutes. Except on the first day I put a diaper on for his nap. Every 15 minutes the timer would go off and Mikey would sit on the potty. Sometimes he would go and sometimes he would not. At first he did not want to sit but would give in. Towards the end of the day he knew the drill.

The second day it was easier. The first thing he did when he woke up was sit in the potty. The timer was then set for every 30 minutes. During these 2 days he was wearing a t-shirt only. On the 3rd day he got brand new Spider Man briefs and he loved them. So, we made a deal if he wanted to wear them he needed to keep them clean. Over the past 2 months he had about 3-4 accidents toward the beginning but he is now a pro.

Mikey started school at the beginning of this month and he is doing great with going potty at school.

I tried doing this before when he was 2 but he was not ready. He is now 3 and completely potty trained. The first 2 days was the hardest but after that I made sure I kept reminding him about going potty. If a couple of hours had gone by and he said he did not have to go, I would walk him to the bathroom and he would realize that he needed to go.

Overall this was pretty easy, I am getting ready to start with my second child.

One thing that I forgot to mention is that most of the time during the first day Mikey and I were mostly in his room. The second day he was out and about doing the normal things that kids do. After that first weekend when we would go out in public, Mikey would wear a diaper but he never used it. After 2 weeks of that, the diaper came off completely.

Good luck to all the Moms that are starting this process for the first time!

I’ve been told good things about this cleaning service called clean freaks. At first I was people were saying cleaning freaks but that. Any ways they are called Clean Freaks and they are local which is nice. Some of my neighbors use them and they were left very impressed.

I visited their site and they have the cutest site. They have a baby girl dressed up like a maid and all! Very cute. I am thinking of checking them out myself. It is always nice to have a spring cleaning here and there from floor to ceiling. It’s one thing to clean your house every so often but with three little ones…. well, things are always left undone.

I find myself short handed between their naps, meal times and just other things that have to get done on a daily basis. Things like laundry versus ceiling fan dusting? Obviously the laundry will always be priority. Anyways I got their number from a friend and they can be reached at (512) 905-6341.

Did I mention that I like the name Clean Freaks. It reminds me of the character Monica in the show “Friends”. Now that girl was a clean freak.

My parents have their birthday in the same month. Dan and I have it the same day! Today, to celebrate our birthdays we decided to take a drive to Dallas. We did stay in Dallas about 5 years ago but we did not really get a chance to explore. Our two oldest children came with us and one of the things that I enjoyed doing was the museums they have there.

Dan and I then came back to the Round Rock area and took the kids to see a movie. After the movie was over the little ones were tired and went home with the Grandparents. That gave Dan and I the rest of the day off which was really nice. We went back to the movie theater and saw a movie we both wanted to see for a while and then had dinner at a nice sit down place.

It was very nice!

The party was a success. Everything was perfect. The kids had lots of fun. The parents seemed very happy and relaxed. The food was great.

Family came from Houston and stayed over the weekend. We cooked for them today and they were very happy. As much as I like to plan parties, I think I am done until December. I have about 5 months of relaxation.

Everything gets crazy again about mid October and right before Halloween. Thanksgiving will be next. Mikey’s Birthday Party will follow. My Dads’ birthday party is before Christmas and Mom’s birthday party is before new years.

Yep, better enjoy it while it last!

My husband was eating at Rudys the other day and got a phone number to this place that rents moonwalks here in Round Rock. The name of the Company is Jump 4 Less and their phone number is 512 818-5111. The deal that I got was a 13×13 moonwalk plus two tables and 12 chairs for $110. The size of the moonwalk is perfect for my toddlers and their little friends. Last time, the moonwalk was big which was nice but not needed. What I did need was more eating and sitting places which did not have.

For Genesis’ birthday I have plenty sitting area outside where parents can eat and watch their little ones as they themselves relax and chat.

I really do like to entertained and want everything to be just right!

This past Monday was Memorial Day and my husband and my brother did not work.  We barbecued and hang out in the back yard most of the afternoon.  The kids had lots of fun in their little pool that my husband bought for them since the one they had last year got messed up. 

Anyways, Monday felt good to me.  I really like having my husband home on weekdays.  Holidays are very special to me for that reason.  I get to spend more time with my whole family.

Did you know that you can get 3 cents off per gallon by using a Walmart gift card at the Walmart gas pump? It does not cost you anything to purchase a gift card but when you use it to buy gas, it saves you money!

Also keep this in mind: in Round Rock gas is $2.17 at the Walmart here. Gas at the Walmart in Rockdale is $2.09. My husband and I take the kids for drives often and if one of our cars needs gas we just drive to Rockdale and use the prepaid gift card and our gas costs us $2.06.

Sometimes keeping an eye out for gas prices also pays. You may see that the gas by the Doctors office is cheaper then the gas at the mall. In that case take the car that needs gas when you go to the Doctors office and fill up.

Small things will make a difference trust me.

In this case by me going to Rockdale and taking our car that needs to be filled up instead of putting gas in Round Rock with the prepaid gift card we save Good Money. Check this out! To start off just by keeping an eye out for cheaper gas I am now saving 8 cents. By using a prepaid gift card I save an additional 3 cents for a total of 11 cents. If my car has a tank of 15 gallons and I fill up twice a week that is savings of $3.30. Monthly saving of $14.85. Yearly Savings of $178.20. And if you have 2 cars that is a savings of $356.40.

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