I don't fit in the Mom world

I was in this Facebook group for moms.

The moms got in a fight.

They started a new group for even "realer" moms.

Yall, I can't even. I've had to leave. They are like the mean girls in high school. The clique that thinks they have good friends, but then they go their separate ways and have no people because they burned all their bridges. Then, they turn to Facebook to find friends....literally.

In these groups for the few weeks I paid attention, I couldn't help but feel like an outcast and I must not be in the top percentage of parents. One of them has nicer people and some really good feedback on topics. I have stayed their for now only because there are some pretty funny memes at times. If you know me in real life, I can't pass them up.

Yall, I am not normal (according to other moms).

I.....

• feed my kids breakfast sandwiches (donut sticks, oatmeal creme pies....)
• we don't have chickens in our yard, we buy it from Sam's
• I don't know what gluten is really and we probably eat a ton of it
• We drink water, but we also drink Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper
• I took my kids to the doctor and  (gasp) held them down to be vaccinated
• they got breast milk, but I pumped it into a bottle and when I went back to work, they got formula and you know what....they are FINE 
• I don't hate my husband
• I work, at a job, outside of the home
• I am a Christian
• I get along with my parents
• I don't want to pee in the bathroom with men, I have to share a bathroom with 4 at home and men and boys PEE EVERYWHERE
• We play in mud
• We play without shoes on in the yard and the dog craps out there
• Cloth diapers, are you kidding me? I had the Amazon shipment for four and half years for Luvs
• My children had their butts wiped with cold wipes
• We used bottles with disposable bags
• I pack their lunch in ziploc bags
• We eat lunchables
• We eat chips, corndogs, hotdogs, hamburgers, cheese dip..... BUT we also make them have things of nutritous value and they are not overweight
• I don't cook every meal and never do I make things from scratch
• They eat granola bars....we are that "crunchy" if you will. I am pretty sure the Great Value brand is rolled in sugar and pressed together, but they LOVE them.
• None of my kids have worn boutique anything and putting a Jon-Jon on my boy would have been in our divorce papers I am sure of it
• I use essential oils but because they are amazing and smell good and help my asthmatic allergy children breathe
• I don't like anybody running for president
• I don't have spa days, nail days....if I am not working, I like to be with my family
• I don't shop at Whole Foods, we hit up Walmart and Sam's
• We wear hand-me-downs
• We have spanking spoons galore
• They get Flintstone vitamins
• We use Paw Patrol and Superhero toothpaste
• We don't have the most expensive carseats
• We don't have all access membership passes to have something to do every afternoon, we play outside

You know what though? I have friends that do it all different then me. You know what else? That is ok. It is perfectly fine. The best part....Our kids are healthy, secure and know we love them. 

I could go on and on about what makes me not normal. You know what? People argue about this. I realize there are always opinions, but guess what? Everybody has one. Can you believe there are like knock down drag out behind the computer screen FIGHTS from GROWN women on FACEBOOK about this stuff?

Moms, let's pull it together. Your way is not always better. People have their own reasoning for the way they raise THEIR children. Your way is not the better or best always. There is room for discussion on hot topics, but can it not be done in a respectful manner?

You know what matters??? That kids are healthy, nurtured, and not neglected. It matters that kids have their basic needs met everyday. It matters that they know love. It matters that they have security. Those are examples of things that matter. The other? It is trivial.

Do what works for your family. Love your people and love them well. 

Stop with the judgement. 

Stop with the ridiculing and fighting and bashing. 

Stop with the hatred.

Stop being the Mean Girl who has no friends. 

Get you a good group and surround yourself with those you love and that love you in return. Get support from REAL RELATIONSHIPS and not the unreal world of Facebook. People behind a screen are not reality. Let's stop ripping each other apart. Let's work to build positive relationships. Be transparent. Stop striving to be someone you are not to fit in. 

Show Us Your Life-Cleaning/Organizing

Oh, cleaning. Oh, organizing. Holy Pinterest Fail!

Kelly is hosting a link up featuring the topics above. I am really excited to see the ideas.

I am an organizing freak. The other teachers at my school are always harassing me. I never keep papers, but I am organized. So, if it is time for a meeting and I am supposed to have a past paper, I don't, but my calendar looks fabulous.

I teach school. I have twin five year olds in kindergarten. I have a three year old that has just recently started a real daycare (my dad got sick), 2 dogs and a husband. We are very involved in our church. I have a TPT store. I have an ITWORKS side business. Our twins play baseball. Our life is quite hectic most of the time. Organization is a must.

1. The Book.
This thing is the holy grail of keeping my life together. I just cant do electronic calendars. I need paper and colorful pens and markers. If it isn't in here, it isn't happening because I will NOT remember. I absolutely love this planner.

2. The Board and Grocery List
This board gets done every month. Major activities are written here as well as the BOOK. Not all things make it here. This is also my dinner board. I write our meals out based on what is happening that day. Then, I search the pantry and make my grocery list accordingly.

3.Laundry.
Each child has a basket for their clean clothes that I fold. I fold laundry as it comes out of the drier. Eventually, when I can't reach the top of the piles of said baskets, it makes it to the drawers and closets. I can stretch pretty far:)

4. Kitchen.
I just did a major overhaul of all cabinets and drawers. If I have an organized kitchen, breakfast, dinner, and life seems to flow much more smooth.

5.TOYS.
Every toy has a home. There are buckets and bins in the boys rooms. Now, they don't always stay there, but there is a home for them when it comes time to clean. If I step on a lego, it goes in the box in my closet and I eventually give them back. Nothing infuriates me more than legos in my foot.

6. Cleaning.
I do one load of laundry every night and if I am feeling great, I do more. One COMPLETE load gets done daily though. I also clean one room per night (most of the time). If I can keep the main level clean, I am happy. The boys rooms are on the top level and so are all the toys. Nobody is ever up there except us and I choose not to make myself crazy with it.  I dust and keep the bathrooms clean up there once a week. We sweep regularly, but whatever happens up there stays up therex.  I have a love of air fresheners, candles, and wax burners.

Show Us Your Life-Beauty Products

Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner is hosting link ups again. I love these!

So, favorite beauty products.

1. This mascara. It is amazing. Several people thought I bought Younique. Nope, Walmart special.

The link it Target, but you get the point. 

2. Lip and Eye from ITWORKS. I live in Alabama. Your whole entire body gets covered in pollen every time you walk outside. Every morning when I wake up I have black, like I was punched in my sleep eyes and bags that look worse than my 102 year old great grandmother. Anyway, this stuff is black circle/baggy eye gold. I use it daily!

3. One day back in September, I got really hot and I was doing flowers for my cousins wedding. In a moment of weakness, I went and chopped about 8 inches off of my hair. I was a lot cooler, but my messy bun was gone. With summer approaching, I knew that was not an option. So, I started taking Hair Skin and Nails. My hair has grown right at 2.5" in 30 days and it goes off my neck now. 

4. This is a little strange I am sure.....Apple Cider Vinegar. Y'all, my face feels so smooth. It stings a little, but after washing my face every night, I wipe it down with apple cider vinegar. It is so soft. My pores are not visible and my sun spots are lightening. I don't even remember where I read this, but it is wonderful. 

5. Tea Tree Oil Shampoo. So, I use whatever shampoo we have. I add about 20 drops to a bottle and stir it well. I love that tingle of tea tree shampoo, plus my hair smells great, and the head lice letters from school don't terrify me AS bad.
I get all my oils from this place. I do not ingest them. Their prices are amazing. They work wonderfully, and they have ALL kinds of great information online. A nurse practitioner pointed me to them. She has used them for years. I am in no way affiliated with this company, I just love their oils, free shipping, and fast turn around.

I could go on for days with things I love and why. These are my top favorites right now though! 

Third Grade

There are so many new and exciting things in my TPT store.
Our curriculum....well, I don't like it. I love teaching how and what my kids enjoy WHILE teaching to the standard. Who likes a scripted curriculum? BLAH!

After years of being forced to follow it to a T, we were finally given the freedom to TEACH. Imagine that. I have enjoyed it so much.

Just a few of my favorite things. New little readers. Foldables. My kids LOVE these. My parents LOVE these. They are easy to make, and pack a HUGE punch with home-school. They are wonderful! 

Check out my TPT store

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sunny-Jae

Baseball 2016

Well, it is officially baseball season.

We are Braves for the season. At home we will still not cheer for the Braves though, but aren't these two Braves cute?

They love baseball. It is the only sport they've played that they love. They love the game. They have watched it with B their entire lives. 

They had an awesome first year of tball and really learned alot from Coach Matt about the fundamentals of the game. 

We are playing coach pitch this year. So far they love it. 

Jude is playing third. Asa is playing second. 

Jude hit an in field home run last night for their first pre-season tournament game. Now we play game two on Wednesday. So, basically we are living at the ballpark. 

That is ok with me, we see lots of smiles! 

Go Braves!

Welcome!

Hello. My name is Jae Skinner. I am a wife to David. I have three boys. I have twin five year olds, Asa and Jude. I have a three year old, Titus. We are currently living at the ballpark!

I am a third grade teacher in Alabama. I love teaching.

We are huge ALABAMA fans. Roll Tide!

We love going to the beach. Destin is our favorite place.

We love our church family.

We have the best friends anyone could ask for.

I blog about all things mom, life, teaching, and whatever else may happen.

I tend to be sarcastic and very blunt!

Happy 3rd Birthday Titus!

How are you three years old already?

Happy Birthday to our:
diaper wearing
diaper loving
3 going on 30 talking
puzzle working
life loving
chuckling
picky eating
smiling
happy
smart
witty
singing
truck and train driving
people loving
kissing
three year old.

We love you Tiny and you bring so much joy and happiness to our lives. You love "my brudders." You have adjusted so well to all the changes our life has thrown at you  in the last month. You weigh 33 lbs. You never forget anything. You can sing any song you've ever heard. You hate the potty. You are perfectly fine wearing diapers until your five. You have been going to the potty at school the past two days and have done fairly well. I'll crack down at Spring Break when we are home for a week. Let's face it, I'll let you pee outside most of the week and you will get the hang of it.

We are having your party on Saturday. You wanted a Paw Patrol party. You love the bouncy house, trains, cars, cooking with the kitchen you got for Christmas, and puzzles. You can work puzzles that Asa and Jude have to think about. You love to be read to. You are strong willed. You love people. You will march right into a room with strangers at church and daycare and come out loving them at the end of the time. You are our outgoing child.

You absolutely hate to be woken up in the mornings. I look at it as payback for the last three years of terrible sleep you've given us. I love your morning hugs and wanting to be held.

 You will always be our baby. Asa and Jude told someone today, "Our baby is going to be three tomorrow." You are quick to tell everyone that tries to get you to potty, "I not a big boy, I da baby." It is cute now, but will not be when you are five.

You have fifty names. Tiny. Tiny Skinner. JoJo. Titus. TiTi. You will randomly tell people a different name each time you see them. The poor older lady in the nursery was so confused the first two weeks of January. Most of the kids in your class at school said, "Bye JoJo" when we left yesterday.

You make us smile. I could sit and watch your antics and love for life all day. You are a cute little pouter too and we get to see that lots. If we ignore you, you get over it rather quickly.

You eat terrible. You live off of cereal, macaroni, french fries and chicken nuggets. You do love bananas, watermelon, black olives and yougurt so I guess that is ok. I buy the foods listed above with the highest iron content, pat myself on the back and am thankful we are off iron supplements!:) Win for momma!

Happy 3rd Birthday, JoJo!