tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63119326727841866462024-03-14T09:15:42.364-05:00Miss Banana PantsThe adventures and antics of raising toddler boys; and the overall hilarity that is my life.Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-12852199388592442042014-05-12T17:56:00.000-05:002014-05-12T17:56:13.685-05:00This Is Real Life: For The Day After Mother's Day
Husbands are sleeping in today after the exhaustion of doing dishes and taking care of the kids all day yesterday so that their wives could have a bit of a break. The kids have already forgotten the sweet cards and hearty promises to be "soooo good on Mommy's special day" and are back to fighting over Legos at 7:30 a.m. and demanding cereal before Mommy's eyes are even fully open. The honeymoonMichelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-65339243480314989872014-05-10T17:54:00.000-05:002014-05-10T17:55:36.688-05:00Homeschooling for Dummies: What One Day Taught Me
I'm pretty sure the process of homeschooling is just that. . .a learning process for both the child and the adult. It certainly is never a decision that is made lightly and one that needs to come with a lot of thought and research. When my husband and I decided to give it a try, we had been praying and thinking over it for quite a while. It made sense, as we are raising our two boys abroad in Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-63955503125538898812014-05-08T16:13:00.000-05:002014-05-08T16:13:21.641-05:00Learning With BananaGrams
My four-year-old is still getting the hang of his letters. We are practicing with tracing and writing them, and even seeing how many we can find on signs as we drive down the road. He's loving "alphabet activities" lately. During homeschool this week, we decided to build an Alphabet Match-up Game with BananaGrams. Just write the letters of the alphabet on a small card or piece of paper, and Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-47076303291409262192014-05-07T06:00:00.000-05:002014-05-07T06:00:12.846-05:00Redeeming The Time: TAKE A TOUR
Wherever you are, no matter how long you have lived in a location, there are always things that you've never done. We've lived in Nicaragua for one full year this month and have yet to see most of it. This week, we were honored to house/dog sit for some friends of ours who were going out of town on vacation. They live an hour away in the colonial city of Granada. We loaded up our stuff and set Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-81613595079841293362014-05-06T17:52:00.000-05:002014-05-06T17:52:05.053-05:00Raising Kids Abroad: WHEN ROOTS ARE EXPOSED
We received some really sound advice prior to our move to Nicaragua. A few other couples invested quality time in us beforehand to prepare us, as much as possible, to be a family who functioned efficiently though we were about to be uprooted. When all that is familiar is lost suddenly, it can be difficult to transition. Even more so for kids. This was not something I thought of in advance and Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-75199985096768994752014-05-05T01:01:00.000-05:002014-05-05T01:01:45.550-05:00This Is REAL Life: CAN I BE DEPUTIZED??
This is a photo of a mom trying to stay sane while her kids are trying to kill each other in the backgroud.
And so is my life.
If moms (and dads, for that matter) were paid to referee like those who work for the NBA or NFL, then I would understand the constant tattling, tantruming, demanding, screaming, withholding, and general roughhousing that goes along with this game. But this IS NOT Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-23611545420933796872014-05-02T16:45:00.003-05:002014-05-02T16:56:11.028-05:0090-Day Homeschool Experiment
Everyone knows I love a good social experiment. For other times I've embarked upon crazy new fasts or adventures, look into these posts-- 7 Weeks To A More Simplified Life. .
Ever since we've moved abroad as a family, education has been at the forefront of our priorities. There are so many different options out there, but homeschooling was always something we shyed away from. Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-5335275378947562732014-05-01T06:00:00.000-05:002014-05-01T06:00:05.309-05:00KEEP YOUR PANTS ON!! (A Throw-Back Thursday Post)
How I love Throw-Back Thursdays!! The following is a post from 2 years ago, when I was embarking upon the magical world of potty-training. Since I have so many friends with little ones, I thought I would throw it out there for one more good laugh. Enjoy!! :)
I don't know about you, but from the moment the potty-train left the station, it has been nothing but bare butts and one-eyed snake Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-90477981516542218572014-04-30T06:00:00.000-05:002014-04-30T06:00:09.695-05:00Redeeming The Time: ROCK MONSTERSHave you ever looked lovingly at your little monsters long after they've gone to bed and think, Gosh, I could've done more with them today. . . Now do not get me wrong; there are other nights you gaze at their sleeping little bodies and revel in the silence and thank the Lord that you did not kill them that day. I have had many of those days too. Believe me. But more and more lately, I Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-30089218551678800392014-04-29T06:00:00.000-05:002014-04-30T11:30:27.471-05:00Raising Kids Abroad: WHY NICARAGUA?
So many people ask us regularly why we chose to live abroad with young children. "Why live away from the comforts of the first world?... Why take them away from friends and family?... Aren't you worried about their education?... What about their health and safety?...Why live without modern conveniences (ie. air conditioning, hot water, reliable electricity, etc)?... Why choose a place where Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-47763245831850646312014-04-28T06:00:00.000-05:002014-04-28T06:00:06.954-05:00This Is REAL Life: MY KID SWALLOWED A LEGO
HE SURE DID.
Last Thursday, the little dudes were playing with Legos, a daily activity that allows me time to surf Facebook in the middle of the day while also answering "LOOK AT THIS MOM" demands every time they build yet another tower. (Exactly like the last one. And the one before that. And. . .well, you get it.)
We had just finished and had put them all back in the container and I noticedMichelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-60555093122609038682013-09-19T16:09:00.000-05:002013-09-19T16:09:46.128-05:00I Blew It Today
And by "it", I mean a category 10 gasket when my son pushed the table, spilling his little brothers dinner all over the floor. There are times when I smile outwardly while I'm raging inside. Today was not that day. I'm afraid I went a little bat-shiz, y'all.
I'd asked him to be careful around the little fisher-price table that they eat on because it shifts so easily. His little brother Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-24673529146402283422013-07-25T23:03:00.001-05:002013-07-25T23:03:20.598-05:00Off The Market
It's amazing the plethora of people that we meet in this fishing village in Nicaragua. Some of the characters feel like their right out of an episode of "Reality Stars of San Juan del Sur". (Yes, TLC, consider this story a pilot episode!) We've met people from every walk of life, every ethnicity, and all are interestingly diverse in personality. There's the Aussie who married an American and isMichelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-37740736748527951572013-07-17T13:57:00.000-05:002013-07-17T13:57:33.004-05:00My Kids are "Imagination-Challenged"
***I've decided to start writing again! I'm so excited, and I hope you are too! I've really missed an outlet to vent, rave, and learn together along this parenthood journey. All my sarcasm is distributed solely to my husband, who doesn't appreciate it nearly as much as my MBP readers! LOL! I will jump right in and will be doing posts this way for awhile; short and sweet and exactly what's Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-39126310481083916202013-06-14T06:00:00.000-05:002013-06-14T06:00:09.406-05:00Dealing with My Mirror Image: The Battle of TWO STRONG Wills
“No Mommy!” My little girl screams, tearing off down the hall. “I don’t want to!” I can hear her trailing off as she runs from the kitchen with something in her hands she can’t bare to part with—it could be her brother’s favorite latest and greatest toy. It could be my phone. It could be anything at this point because she wants it, and she wants it because she shouldn’t have it.
I sigh. I wantMichelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-78626978105107778772013-05-24T00:16:00.001-05:002013-05-24T00:16:25.837-05:00The Little Momma That Could
Let me start by saying, I've been terrible this week! If you weren't aware, I'm from the grand state of Oklahoma and a LOT has been happening over here these last few days. The wind surely does "come sweeping down the plains" and on Monday, it came a blew a bit harder than normal. So much devastation and families in ruins. My family, thankfully, is all intact. We live about 20 miles from the Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-30446855604756445172013-05-17T06:00:00.000-05:002013-05-17T06:00:16.636-05:00"The Best Things In Life Aren't Things"
I am super stoked about today's guest post!! Mackenzie from Raising Wild Things is sharing with us a hilarious realization about life and love. I love when people can see the humor in calamity, and that's exactly what's happened to her. I'm going to let her tell her whole story, and make sure to stop on over to her blog or Facebook Page and give her a LIKE and some Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-25611515667216256842013-05-13T06:00:00.001-05:002013-05-13T06:00:08.949-05:00"Is It Just Me?!"
I'm so excited to introduce a new friend of mine! This is Nicole from Mom's Wicked Cool Adventshas! She's a spunky chica with a "real-world" view on motherhood! I asked her to open her heart and share something with my brood today, while I'm piling things into boxes and lost in a sea of unending moving supplies. So happy she obliged! I think she touches perfectly on a topic a Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-64238549532396811022013-05-10T08:58:00.002-05:002013-05-10T08:58:44.436-05:00Shinnanigans: A Guest Post
I love having people share little glimpses into their lives. That's why I love this next gal so very much! Meet Kelly from the blog, Shinnanigans! She's a newlywed with wit and humor and a very fresh writing style! I adore when people WRITE like they TALK. You know, as if you were having coffee and they were filling you in on their day as you read their post. That's exactly what you get Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-45047490518977102732013-05-03T15:05:00.002-05:002013-05-03T15:05:45.828-05:00Come Abroad With Us!
I have been so overwhelmed at all the support and encouragement that all of you have shown me since I announced our BIG decision. Moving to a third-world country to do mission work full-time is something I've always dreamed of doing and God has made a way for us to do it as a whole family. For those who have no idea what I'm talking about (shame on you for not keeping up with every little thingMichelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-54639038735908068452013-05-01T06:00:00.000-05:002013-05-01T09:53:05.831-05:00100 Rockin Summer Activities For Kids
I have a new tab on my page that I've been working on for some time. Go ahead. . .take a peek up top! I'm quite proud of all the research that went into this little project! With the Summer almost upon us, I wanted to come up with a solid list of things for me and the little monsters to do this season. (Lord knows, I must keep them entertained or suffer through major "noise pollution"Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-39509493222124052302013-04-16T21:01:00.002-05:002013-04-16T21:01:52.999-05:00If I Were To Write A Book. . .
Funny this should be a prompt in my 30-Day Blog-A-Thon, because that's exactly what I intend to do this coming year.
We are embarking on a new adventure as a family and I plan to document it as best as I can. Many will be able to live it with me just in blog posts alone, but I think that the journey of a sarcastic parenting blogger and stay-at-home-mom turned "missionary" would be quite the Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-49009482535398643582013-04-15T06:00:00.000-05:002013-04-15T06:00:13.919-05:00Too Many Choices??
There I stood in the toy department of Target, with two different Iron Man action figures in my hands. One had the original suit; the other in the new silver suit. Which one had my 5-year-old begged me to get for his birthday just weeks ago?? How could I not remember? With a hundred different options of suits and guns available, how could I have not written this down? I fell into Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-21133060864486804452013-04-02T21:23:00.001-05:002013-04-03T00:15:38.549-05:00Pet Peeves, Please?
First off, let me just note that apparently, blogging EVERY SINGLE DAY is way too much for me. I'm cutting myself some slack because I am trying to keep a clean house, apply for passports, plan, organize, and execute a HUGE benefit garage sale in a week, AND go through EVERYTHING I own to sell it to move to Nicaragua in exactly 60 days. . . .(and that's just the short To-Do List). Bare with me Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6311932672784186646.post-62649164926936589022013-04-01T06:00:00.000-05:002013-04-01T06:00:14.005-05:00Welcome to the Parenting Olympics, Here's Your Bronze Medal
I thought I'd take a quick break from the 30-Day Blog-A-Thon to post a bit about parenting. Cause, well. . .that IS what this whole blog is about. And also because I haven't written my next Blog-A-Thon post yet. So there ya go. We're gonna give you this one instead. :) We'll be back to talking about my "Pet Peeves" tomorrow.
Are you IN on the competition? This "Parenting Olympics" Michelle Clark (AKA Miss Banana Pants)http://www.blogger.com/profile/16081081463084516907noreply@blogger.com3