So, I read a blog post yesterday about "drops of awesome" and focusing on the positive instead of what you're NOT doing. I was having a tough day and it helped me remember that I was snuggling with my boys and I got the kids to their music lessons etc., I'm doing okay.
This post inspired me to try something I've been wanting to try for SO long. I have always felt like its not worth trying until I have the time I put in I master I (okay, I might have some perfectionism issues), but I tried it and I got through it!! I played Rimsy-Korsakoff's "The Flight of the Bumblebee" from beginning to end. It may have only been a fraction of the speed, but I made it through and I'm really proud of myself! This has seriously been a life long DREAM!
This morning I pushed myself again!! I went out for a run with my sister Brooklyn and got back on the "couch to 5K" program. Felt so good!! Even if it WAS -12 outside. I'm proud of myself!!
I just have to try and get the rest of the day as special for my sweet Kaia (who is TEN years old).
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Remembering Our Civic
“That’s IT!” I yelled at my husband as another puddle of water fell through the sunroof right onto my lap, “We’re getting a new car!!!” We had just had our 1985 vehicle inspected and it had been completely rusted through by the Canadian Winters. Not that the 1990 Civic was “new” in 2002, but it was a WHOLE lot better.
This “luxury” Civic included a few “special” features that are difficult to find on cars nowadays. It had muscle-building steering (no power steering for us), it came with a learning curve (had to learn to drive stick), and it was 100% rust free. It also included the seat belts that strangle you if you get out of the car too fast, an “easily accessible” trunk that opened with the removal of the bungee cord, and air conditioning (that came in the form of a spray bottle and an open window). What could we say? We fell in love.
As we were both full-time students, with our first child on the way, the $700 price tag spoke to us. We were blown away immediately with the change. We could drive the 10 hours between college and home with only 1 fill-up - and the tank didn’t take much to fill. We never had to do any tune-ups or repair anything for the years of our ownership. We felt 100% safe in a car that was completely reliable and loved owning our very first Civic! We have had four more children now and have gone through a whole lot more schooling, but we still look back on that Civic with fond memories and a great love for Hondas! In fact, 9 years later, my husband is still driving a Honda to work every day and wouldn't have it any other way.
This “luxury” Civic included a few “special” features that are difficult to find on cars nowadays. It had muscle-building steering (no power steering for us), it came with a learning curve (had to learn to drive stick), and it was 100% rust free. It also included the seat belts that strangle you if you get out of the car too fast, an “easily accessible” trunk that opened with the removal of the bungee cord, and air conditioning (that came in the form of a spray bottle and an open window). What could we say? We fell in love.
As we were both full-time students, with our first child on the way, the $700 price tag spoke to us. We were blown away immediately with the change. We could drive the 10 hours between college and home with only 1 fill-up - and the tank didn’t take much to fill. We never had to do any tune-ups or repair anything for the years of our ownership. We felt 100% safe in a car that was completely reliable and loved owning our very first Civic! We have had four more children now and have gone through a whole lot more schooling, but we still look back on that Civic with fond memories and a great love for Hondas! In fact, 9 years later, my husband is still driving a Honda to work every day and wouldn't have it any other way.
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| Our Civic with it's previous owner.... ;) |
Monday, January 21, 2013
Please Don't Help My Kids
I read the following article today and thought it really sums up how I have felt many times! I especially hate it when the "helping" adult looks at you like you're a neglectful parent. Enjoy the read!!
Dear Other Parents At The Park:
Please do not lift my daughters to the top of the ladder, especially after you've just heard me tell them I wasn't going to do it for them and encourage them to try it themselves.
I am not sitting here, 15 whole feet away from my kids, because I am too lazy to get up. I am sitting here because I didn't bring them to the park so they could learn how to manipulate others into doing the hard work for them. I brought them here so they could learn to do it themselves.
They're not here to be at the top of the ladder; they are here to learn to climb. If they can't do it on their own, they will survive the disappointment. What's more, they will have a goal and the incentive to work to achieve it.
In the meantime, they can use the stairs. I want them to tire of their own limitations and decide to push past them and put in the effort to make that happen without any help from me.
It is not my job — and it is certainly not yours — to prevent my children from feeling frustration, fear, or discomfort. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn that those things are not the end of the world, and can be overcome or used to their advantage.
If they get stuck, it is not my job to save them immediately. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn to calm themselves, assess their situation, and try to problem solve their own way out of it.
It is not my job to keep them from falling. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn that falling is possible but worth the risk, and that they can, in fact, get up again.
I don't want my daughters to learn that they can't overcome obstacles without help. I don't want them to learn that they can reach great heights without effort. I don't want them to learn that they are entitled to the reward without having to push through whatever it is that's holding them back and *earn* it.
Because — and this might come as a surprise to you — none of those things are true. And if I let them think for one moment that they are, I have failed them as a mother.
I want my girls to know the exhilaration of overcoming fear and doubt and achieving a hard-won success.
I want them to believe in their own abilities and be confident and determined in their actions.
I want them to accept their limitations until they can figure out a way past them on their own significant power.
I want them to feel capable of making their own decisions, developing their own skills, taking their own risks, and coping with their own feelings.
I want them to climb that ladder without any help, however well-intentioned, from you.
Because they can. I know it. And if I give them a little space, they will soon know it, too.
So I'll thank you to stand back and let me do my job, here, which consists mostly of resisting the very same impulses you are indulging, and biting my tongue when I want to yell, "BE CAREFUL," and choosing, deliberately, painfully, repeatedly, to stand back instead of rush forward.
Because, as they grow up, the ladders will only get taller, and scarier, and much more difficult to climb. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather help them learn the skills they'll need to navigate them now, while a misstep means a bumped head or scraped knee that can be healed with a kiss, while the most difficult of hills can be conquered by chanting, "I think I can, I think I can", and while those 15 whole feet between us still feels, to them, like I'm much too far away.
alameda.patch.com
Dear Other Parents At The Park:
Please do not lift my daughters to the top of the ladder, especially after you've just heard me tell them I wasn't going to do it for them and encourage them to try it themselves.
I am not sitting here, 15 whole feet away from my kids, because I am too lazy to get up. I am sitting here because I didn't bring them to the park so they could learn how to manipulate others into doing the hard work for them. I brought them here so they could learn to do it themselves.
They're not here to be at the top of the ladder; they are here to learn to climb. If they can't do it on their own, they will survive the disappointment. What's more, they will have a goal and the incentive to work to achieve it.
In the meantime, they can use the stairs. I want them to tire of their own limitations and decide to push past them and put in the effort to make that happen without any help from me.
It is not my job — and it is certainly not yours — to prevent my children from feeling frustration, fear, or discomfort. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn that those things are not the end of the world, and can be overcome or used to their advantage.
If they get stuck, it is not my job to save them immediately. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn to calm themselves, assess their situation, and try to problem solve their own way out of it.
It is not my job to keep them from falling. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn that falling is possible but worth the risk, and that they can, in fact, get up again.
I don't want my daughters to learn that they can't overcome obstacles without help. I don't want them to learn that they can reach great heights without effort. I don't want them to learn that they are entitled to the reward without having to push through whatever it is that's holding them back and *earn* it.
Because — and this might come as a surprise to you — none of those things are true. And if I let them think for one moment that they are, I have failed them as a mother.
I want my girls to know the exhilaration of overcoming fear and doubt and achieving a hard-won success.
I want them to believe in their own abilities and be confident and determined in their actions.
I want them to accept their limitations until they can figure out a way past them on their own significant power.
I want them to feel capable of making their own decisions, developing their own skills, taking their own risks, and coping with their own feelings.
I want them to climb that ladder without any help, however well-intentioned, from you.
Because they can. I know it. And if I give them a little space, they will soon know it, too.
So I'll thank you to stand back and let me do my job, here, which consists mostly of resisting the very same impulses you are indulging, and biting my tongue when I want to yell, "BE CAREFUL," and choosing, deliberately, painfully, repeatedly, to stand back instead of rush forward.
Because, as they grow up, the ladders will only get taller, and scarier, and much more difficult to climb. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather help them learn the skills they'll need to navigate them now, while a misstep means a bumped head or scraped knee that can be healed with a kiss, while the most difficult of hills can be conquered by chanting, "I think I can, I think I can", and while those 15 whole feet between us still feels, to them, like I'm much too far away.
alameda.patch.com
He's sick
Well, after whining all day, Jaymeson finally proved to me that there was a reason. A fever of 103 did the job. Poor thing!!
I haven't been feeling too fantastic either. This morning I've had a wicked bad headache. Heat packs and lying down has helped, but that's not overly practical with five kids.
The girls have been so sweet! As soon as Jaymeson's fever came, Kaia ran and got him a bucket. (His response was, "Thanks!! ... I like you!"). Kienna went and gave him his blanket (and a thermometer), Saryn got him his favorite stuffy (Lightning McQueen). This boy is going to be just fine.
Kaia's also been super sweet telling me to go take a nap and just leave her a list to do and she'd make sure it got done.
So now, after struggling through school and violin/cello practice, we popped popcorn and put on Avatar (Jaymeson's request). I am going to attempt to put Benson down for a nap, so I can do the same... Here's hoping!!
Check out my sweetheart kids!!
I haven't been feeling too fantastic either. This morning I've had a wicked bad headache. Heat packs and lying down has helped, but that's not overly practical with five kids.
The girls have been so sweet! As soon as Jaymeson's fever came, Kaia ran and got him a bucket. (His response was, "Thanks!! ... I like you!"). Kienna went and gave him his blanket (and a thermometer), Saryn got him his favorite stuffy (Lightning McQueen). This boy is going to be just fine.
Kaia's also been super sweet telling me to go take a nap and just leave her a list to do and she'd make sure it got done.
So now, after struggling through school and violin/cello practice, we popped popcorn and put on Avatar (Jaymeson's request). I am going to attempt to put Benson down for a nap, so I can do the same... Here's hoping!!
Check out my sweetheart kids!!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Mommy Date
Nope, it not a birthday party, just me at McDonalds with the kids. Thanks to my mother in law for all the free coupons!! Not one thing that you see on the table needed to be purchased! Fantastic Friday Night with the kids!!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
What happens in the morning???
So, I'm usually up and at it by at LEAST 7:30 in the morning... and without fail, I haven't even had breakfast by 10:30 - usually 11. I just don't get it. What takes me so long to get downstairs and eating?? So, this morning, I took a mental note to write down what on earth happens to me. Apparently the first few hours of my day look something like this:
Get up and set mental "to do" list in your head
Go to the washroom and clean up for the day (weigh myself and sigh - "I'm going to do better today")
Clean bathroom of anything that Jarett left out after getting ready for work
Get dressed, make bed, clean up anything that happens to be out in my room (including sorting any laundry that was folded previous night for kids to put away).
By now, my boys have come in and un-made some of the bed, un-folded some of the laundry and made a mess of the bathroom. (so, I re-fold, re-make and re-sort)
Today, Benson also had a bad diaper and was immediately changed and put in the bath. Jaymeson joined.
By this point, it was around 8:30 - first hour gone.
8:30 is the time I have appointed to wake up the girls if they haven't gotten up yet... so I go and wake them up.
Somehow a hurricane has come through their room since the night before Jarett put them to bed instead of me. So, I ask them to please clean up their room.
Meanwhile, I go back into the bathroom and the boys have dumped all the soap into the bathtub. So, I shower them off and do a once over of them. Dry them off, put vaseline on to keep them from drying up and get them dressed for the day. I make the boys beds, tidy up all new messes in their room, put their pajamas in the laundry and look into the girls room. No girls. No difference in the room, except for made beds.
Hearing "kitchen noises" from downstairs. Um, "GIRLS!!! Did you clean the room??" "Yes" "Okay, could you come and try again??" "But we're eating breakfast!" Sigh. "Okay, just come as soon as you can."
Go back to the kids bathroom and tidy up/mop up the floor from bath. Wipe down counters and sink and make sure the bathroom gets all the way clean since there's already so much water involved. Gather laundry and get all other things gathered that need to go downstairs.
Girls start filing back up (after a few more "gentle" reminders) and work on their room again. I help coach them through it. (Have several silly arguments about who's pair of pants magically jumped out of the drawer, because no one has EVER taken out their own pair - but it's sitting in the middle of the floor...)
By this point, it's around 9:30 or so - another hour is gone.
I head downstairs after the girls and usher them to their school work. I go and sort my new 2 loads of laundry and start one.
Walk over to the kitchen and begin to cry (well, at least want to). Breakfast exploded (one day I'll learn to not let them eat before the room is clean). Begin the clean up of the kitchen. Tempted to get the girls to come and help, but they're actually doing school work now, so I let it slide.
Boys begin to fight over toy. Solve problem.
Girls have questions in math. Solve problems.
Keep cleaning. Find kitchen.
Return to school room and answer more questions. Realize that you're a little short and wonder why. Oh yeah, I haven't had breakfast. Rotate laundry on the way back to the kitchen.
While walking back to the kitchen see the mess of car trax that the boys have pulled out. Help them sort that out so they can have a better track. Get frustrated with the mess faster than normal... Look back at the kitchen and see that the floor is still a disaster. Go back to grab the broom... then remember that none of that mess happened because I had breakfast... and think, I'm not going to be happy if I don't just eat something and finish after.
Now we're at around 10:30 - 11 am.
Of course, now that I'm actually getting to breakfast, this is when the boys come over and ask for something to eat because they're so hungry. Sigh. Oh yeah, you didn't just have breakfast. It's been a couple hours. "Okay, just let me finish cleaning up the floor and then I'll start lunch." Sigh.
This is the point where I get a call from my sweet Mother-in-law who (very sarcastically) says, "Oh good, you're up and at it! Didn't want to wake you." Fortunately, she also had five kids and knows exactly how much of a dream that would be.
Get up and set mental "to do" list in your head
Go to the washroom and clean up for the day (weigh myself and sigh - "I'm going to do better today")
Clean bathroom of anything that Jarett left out after getting ready for work
Get dressed, make bed, clean up anything that happens to be out in my room (including sorting any laundry that was folded previous night for kids to put away).
By now, my boys have come in and un-made some of the bed, un-folded some of the laundry and made a mess of the bathroom. (so, I re-fold, re-make and re-sort)
Today, Benson also had a bad diaper and was immediately changed and put in the bath. Jaymeson joined.
By this point, it was around 8:30 - first hour gone.
8:30 is the time I have appointed to wake up the girls if they haven't gotten up yet... so I go and wake them up.
Somehow a hurricane has come through their room since the night before Jarett put them to bed instead of me. So, I ask them to please clean up their room.
Meanwhile, I go back into the bathroom and the boys have dumped all the soap into the bathtub. So, I shower them off and do a once over of them. Dry them off, put vaseline on to keep them from drying up and get them dressed for the day. I make the boys beds, tidy up all new messes in their room, put their pajamas in the laundry and look into the girls room. No girls. No difference in the room, except for made beds.
Hearing "kitchen noises" from downstairs. Um, "GIRLS!!! Did you clean the room??" "Yes" "Okay, could you come and try again??" "But we're eating breakfast!" Sigh. "Okay, just come as soon as you can."
Go back to the kids bathroom and tidy up/mop up the floor from bath. Wipe down counters and sink and make sure the bathroom gets all the way clean since there's already so much water involved. Gather laundry and get all other things gathered that need to go downstairs.
Girls start filing back up (after a few more "gentle" reminders) and work on their room again. I help coach them through it. (Have several silly arguments about who's pair of pants magically jumped out of the drawer, because no one has EVER taken out their own pair - but it's sitting in the middle of the floor...)
By this point, it's around 9:30 or so - another hour is gone.
I head downstairs after the girls and usher them to their school work. I go and sort my new 2 loads of laundry and start one.
Walk over to the kitchen and begin to cry (well, at least want to). Breakfast exploded (one day I'll learn to not let them eat before the room is clean). Begin the clean up of the kitchen. Tempted to get the girls to come and help, but they're actually doing school work now, so I let it slide.
Boys begin to fight over toy. Solve problem.
Girls have questions in math. Solve problems.
Keep cleaning. Find kitchen.
Return to school room and answer more questions. Realize that you're a little short and wonder why. Oh yeah, I haven't had breakfast. Rotate laundry on the way back to the kitchen.
While walking back to the kitchen see the mess of car trax that the boys have pulled out. Help them sort that out so they can have a better track. Get frustrated with the mess faster than normal... Look back at the kitchen and see that the floor is still a disaster. Go back to grab the broom... then remember that none of that mess happened because I had breakfast... and think, I'm not going to be happy if I don't just eat something and finish after.
Now we're at around 10:30 - 11 am.
Of course, now that I'm actually getting to breakfast, this is when the boys come over and ask for something to eat because they're so hungry. Sigh. Oh yeah, you didn't just have breakfast. It's been a couple hours. "Okay, just let me finish cleaning up the floor and then I'll start lunch." Sigh.
This is the point where I get a call from my sweet Mother-in-law who (very sarcastically) says, "Oh good, you're up and at it! Didn't want to wake you." Fortunately, she also had five kids and knows exactly how much of a dream that would be.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Theory
Well, this year for theory was a HUGE struggle. I had two students doing their advanced rudiments (neither of which took it seriously until the last couple weeks). They would show up without their homework done, not understand the concepts and look at me like I was brilliant when I explained the exact same principle the same way and suddenly they would understand (until next week when they forgot what they had learned). I was worried sick about these two!
My other student was doing basic rudiments, and he really seemed to grasp it and worked hard, but he joined me only half way through the year and I was worried that we had skimmed too much or somehow missed some essential concept.
Well, today was judgment day! The results came in (drum roll please)! 95.5% and 96% are their grades for the Advanced Students and 96.5% for the Basic Rudiments. First Class Honours with distinction!! I am beyond thrilled!! These are HARD exams and I am so proud of my students! Just wish that some of them could get more focused a little earlier in the semester... ahem. I honestly think I am FAR more anxious for my students exams than I ever was for my own.
My other student was doing basic rudiments, and he really seemed to grasp it and worked hard, but he joined me only half way through the year and I was worried that we had skimmed too much or somehow missed some essential concept.
Well, today was judgment day! The results came in (drum roll please)! 95.5% and 96% are their grades for the Advanced Students and 96.5% for the Basic Rudiments. First Class Honours with distinction!! I am beyond thrilled!! These are HARD exams and I am so proud of my students! Just wish that some of them could get more focused a little earlier in the semester... ahem. I honestly think I am FAR more anxious for my students exams than I ever was for my own.
Remember Lot's Wife
My brother-in-law, Josh, posted a talk of Jeffrey R. Holland's called "Remember Lot's Wife". It was fantastic! You can listen to it in byutv.org and I'd highly recommend that you do!!
My favorite quote from it was actually a poem of Robert Browning's
"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life,
for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith "A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half;
Trust God: see all, not be afraid."
Love it!
My favorite quote from it was actually a poem of Robert Browning's
"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life,
for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith "A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half;
Trust God: see all, not be afraid."
Love it!
Monday, January 14, 2013
The Cahoon Bears and the Messy Room
*Any resemblance to "The Berenstein Bears and the Messy Room" are completely on purpose. I love that book and really felt the role of Mama bear here.*
From the outside, the Cahoon house looked fairly neat and well-kept.
The inside was pretty clean too. The piano was dusted, the dishes were done, beds were always made and the basement was pretty organized (which was quite a feat considering that it was only one small room with all the kids toys in it).
There was just ONE place that was an exception to the general rule of "neat and tidy"... the GIRLS ROOM. It was a MESS!!
If you think this was because of neglect, you couldn't be more wrong. The girls are not allowed to come down before breakfast until beds are made and everything is away.
In fact, even before going to bed, every article of clothing and every toy/book or the like has to be put away.
The fact that the girls room is EVER a mess overwhelms Mama Cahoon daily. Hasn't she taught her daughters enough about putting things away as soon as they're done?? How do they claim that it IS clean when there is still stuff overflowing from underneath their beds and dressers? Can they possibly think that things thrown into the closet won't be seen by Mama Cahoon's searching eye?
So Mama Cahoon would have them clean up their room yet again. "Girls, come and clean up your room. Please don't leave anything out this time. Just put what is yours away and it will be okay."
The problem wasn't so much that they weren't willing to clean up, it's just that when clean up time came around, no one had any belongings. They were only their siblings belongings. And if they were willing to put away anything at all, it would only be if they could see their sisters each moving with the same amount of enthusiasm. In fact, they would spend so much time watching their sisters to make sure that THEY were cleaning, that sometimes, they would forget to clean themselves!
What usually happened was that while the girls argued about whose was what and who wasn't doing their fair share, Mama would start picking things up and putting them away. She'd reorganize the whole closet, and drawers so that they had no excuse as to why they couldn't put things away.
One day (that may have been today), Mama decided that she didn't want this anymore. She looked back on her childhood and remembered a song from "Joy School" and decided to put it to work. (The gunny sack is just a bag that comes and eats up the kids toys/clothes/books etc. that are left out in kids rooms. Once they are "eaten", it will keep all its stuff for a week or two. The kids can earn their stuff back by doing extra chores around the house or choose to give it away.)
Mama remembered the simple brilliance of this plan and she simply called from the top of the stairs "Girls, thank you for cleaning your room! I'm just going to go and get the Gunny Sack and clean up the rest!"
Anyone watching would not believe that these were the same girls that would sit and fight about whose stuff was who's. These couldn't possibly be the same girls who didn't want to work one second longer than any of their other sisters, could they?
Saryn jumped up and saved Kaia's blanket. After all, what would Kaia use to sleep with? Kienna dove in and saved all the American Girl dogs. Kaia ran to save her camera and her bag (which has become an attachment of her arm). The gunny sack was going just as strong. It got all the garbage and the doll shoes and socks and books that were scattered. It was a race between the Girls and the Gunny Sack... but oh, how clean the room looks!
Mama Cahoon just might have to remember her good friend "Gunny Sack" more often! Either way, Mama Cahoon won the battle of the Messy Room today!
From the outside, the Cahoon house looked fairly neat and well-kept.
The inside was pretty clean too. The piano was dusted, the dishes were done, beds were always made and the basement was pretty organized (which was quite a feat considering that it was only one small room with all the kids toys in it).
There was just ONE place that was an exception to the general rule of "neat and tidy"... the GIRLS ROOM. It was a MESS!!
If you think this was because of neglect, you couldn't be more wrong. The girls are not allowed to come down before breakfast until beds are made and everything is away.
In fact, even before going to bed, every article of clothing and every toy/book or the like has to be put away.
The fact that the girls room is EVER a mess overwhelms Mama Cahoon daily. Hasn't she taught her daughters enough about putting things away as soon as they're done?? How do they claim that it IS clean when there is still stuff overflowing from underneath their beds and dressers? Can they possibly think that things thrown into the closet won't be seen by Mama Cahoon's searching eye?
So Mama Cahoon would have them clean up their room yet again. "Girls, come and clean up your room. Please don't leave anything out this time. Just put what is yours away and it will be okay."
The problem wasn't so much that they weren't willing to clean up, it's just that when clean up time came around, no one had any belongings. They were only their siblings belongings. And if they were willing to put away anything at all, it would only be if they could see their sisters each moving with the same amount of enthusiasm. In fact, they would spend so much time watching their sisters to make sure that THEY were cleaning, that sometimes, they would forget to clean themselves!
What usually happened was that while the girls argued about whose was what and who wasn't doing their fair share, Mama would start picking things up and putting them away. She'd reorganize the whole closet, and drawers so that they had no excuse as to why they couldn't put things away.
One day (that may have been today), Mama decided that she didn't want this anymore. She looked back on her childhood and remembered a song from "Joy School" and decided to put it to work. (The gunny sack is just a bag that comes and eats up the kids toys/clothes/books etc. that are left out in kids rooms. Once they are "eaten", it will keep all its stuff for a week or two. The kids can earn their stuff back by doing extra chores around the house or choose to give it away.)
Mama remembered the simple brilliance of this plan and she simply called from the top of the stairs "Girls, thank you for cleaning your room! I'm just going to go and get the Gunny Sack and clean up the rest!"
Anyone watching would not believe that these were the same girls that would sit and fight about whose stuff was who's. These couldn't possibly be the same girls who didn't want to work one second longer than any of their other sisters, could they?
Saryn jumped up and saved Kaia's blanket. After all, what would Kaia use to sleep with? Kienna dove in and saved all the American Girl dogs. Kaia ran to save her camera and her bag (which has become an attachment of her arm). The gunny sack was going just as strong. It got all the garbage and the doll shoes and socks and books that were scattered. It was a race between the Girls and the Gunny Sack... but oh, how clean the room looks!
Mama Cahoon just might have to remember her good friend "Gunny Sack" more often! Either way, Mama Cahoon won the battle of the Messy Room today!
Nap time!
Nap time has really been a struggle recently. Mostly because Benson can just get out of bed if I don't stay until I'm asleep. But there are a few helps...
1. He loves his neck being stroked. A nice soft glide of your finger across the back if his neck and he instantly relaxes and his eyes begin to shut.
2. Singing!! Mostly primary songs and lullabies, but almost anything will do.
3. Give him the right company. "Bear" was given to him from Santa. He lights up and hugs it for dear life as soon as you show it to him!
4. Give him his favorite pillow!! My Gran gave all my kids fleece pillows for Christmas and they LOVE them. His is the adorable puppy pawprint one you see in the background!
Do these four things and time it right, and you just might have a sleeping babe in less than four minutes!!! (With luck on your side anyway)
1. He loves his neck being stroked. A nice soft glide of your finger across the back if his neck and he instantly relaxes and his eyes begin to shut.
2. Singing!! Mostly primary songs and lullabies, but almost anything will do.
3. Give him the right company. "Bear" was given to him from Santa. He lights up and hugs it for dear life as soon as you show it to him!
4. Give him his favorite pillow!! My Gran gave all my kids fleece pillows for Christmas and they LOVE them. His is the adorable puppy pawprint one you see in the background!
Do these four things and time it right, and you just might have a sleeping babe in less than four minutes!!! (With luck on your side anyway)
January, thus far - in reverse.
Courtesy of Facebook again...
January 11th - I've decided that "Empty laundry baskets in empty laundry rooms" would be a song that would be just as full of emotion as the original, but it would be far more full of joy!! All I know is that I'm singing it right now and I am extremely happy!!
January 9th - Organizing my Tupperware cupboard with my boys here may not have been the best idea. They just want to take them out and make towers!
January 7th - I love my son, I love my son, I love my son...
January 4th - My husband is hilarious! Just found this text he sent to my sister on Christmas Eve and had a good laugh.
"Tell TM I'm g2g ( that means good to go, but I didn't want to have to type all that so I wrote "g2g" instead, it's kind of an abbreviation of sorts, so that I can cut down on my typing. Otherwise, I would be typing forever! So, to make a long story short, I just say g2g instead of good to go. Life's too short to waste time typing when you don't need to, you know?) Jarett
January 4th - So, we just found a lady bug in our house. Benson is in love... But what do you do with it? Throw it outside and let it die? The kids want to keep it and take care of it until spring. What would you do?!?
January 11th - I've decided that "Empty laundry baskets in empty laundry rooms" would be a song that would be just as full of emotion as the original, but it would be far more full of joy!! All I know is that I'm singing it right now and I am extremely happy!!
January 9th - Organizing my Tupperware cupboard with my boys here may not have been the best idea. They just want to take them out and make towers!
January 7th - I love my son, I love my son, I love my son...
"Tell TM I'm g2g ( that means good to go, but I didn't want to have to type all that so I wrote "g2g" instead, it's kind of an abbreviation of sorts, so that I can cut down on my typing. Otherwise, I would be typing forever! So, to make a long story short, I just say g2g instead of good to go. Life's too short to waste time typing when you don't need to, you know?) Jarett
January 4th - So, we just found a lady bug in our house. Benson is in love... But what do you do with it? Throw it outside and let it die? The kids want to keep it and take care of it until spring. What would you do?!?
(update: We ended up keeping the ladybug and calling it "Buggy" because that's what Benson always called it. Kept in a jar with food and water for a while until the kids took it out and it flew away. We sure had a LOT of fun with it for about a week though.)
Benson really was SO gentle with the bug. You can hear him saying, "I'n Hold" and "Come on" in this video.
January 1 - Pushed myself a lot this year and went through
a lot of change. Hope to keep moving up and improving. Grateful to be
surrounded by fabulous people who make me want to be better daily.
Today
They say that the best way to start a journal is to start with today and back track later, so that's what I'll be doing... Now, I realize that it's only 12:30 as I start this, but I really am wanting to start writing in my blog more often. I'm thinking that my comments and status updates that I do so often in facebook should be transferred here so that I have a more permanent record. I am just a little selfish and love to get all the comments on facebook that I miss out on in here. I guess I'll just start doing this more faithfully and I might start getting more comments again. (Note to all you blog stalkers that are too shy to leave a note... LEAVE a comment and you'll get more posts!) Either way, here goes! Blog posts daily, coming soon!!
It's been a good day. Overall summary so far would go along the lines of:
Late sleep in (7:30ish). Got up about an hour before the kids doing this. Why are they sleeping in so much?!?
Cleaned up my room/bathroom
While making my bed, Benson woke up and climbed under the covers
.JPG)
Taught bathroom cleaning to Kaia so the girls can start maintaining their bathroom
Boys playing on our new air hockey table - a favorite! (and girls during their "recess")
Finished a Christmas Puzzle - and was missing one piece!
.JPG)
Did homeschooling - Kaia defiantly asking "What will I need to know about decimals in the future for?"
Girls playing barbies and ponies really nicely. (This picture is of Saryn a couple days ago, but she just loves doing these games. She makes up so many things and has an AWESOME imagination. She even has songs that she's made up for them sometimes).
.JPG)
Oh, and the Gunny Sack came - and will be returning soon. Fantastic reaction!! Post on that to follow.
It's been a good day. Overall summary so far would go along the lines of:
Late sleep in (7:30ish). Got up about an hour before the kids doing this. Why are they sleeping in so much?!?
Cleaned up my room/bathroom
While making my bed, Benson woke up and climbed under the covers
.JPG)
Taught bathroom cleaning to Kaia so the girls can start maintaining their bathroom
Boys playing on our new air hockey table - a favorite! (and girls during their "recess")
Finished a Christmas Puzzle - and was missing one piece!
.JPG)
Did homeschooling - Kaia defiantly asking "What will I need to know about decimals in the future for?"
Girls playing barbies and ponies really nicely. (This picture is of Saryn a couple days ago, but she just loves doing these games. She makes up so many things and has an AWESOME imagination. She even has songs that she's made up for them sometimes).
.JPG)
Oh, and the Gunny Sack came - and will be returning soon. Fantastic reaction!! Post on that to follow.
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