A New School Year Has Begun.....in earnest!!!

Today begins the weekly trek across town for ballet.

It is a two edged sword for me.

I love the consistency all the activities provide for our family……
But I know in about a month or so…..I will be tired of living in the van-at the close of just about every afternoon of the week.

I also struggle with the age-old question: “Are our kids involved in too many activities?” (This year it is two dance classes for Ana, one for Ruth & one piano lesson for Ana a week)

How do you make these kind of decisions for your family?




(Created this post in 5 minutes)

Ahhh...I feel totally ready to tackle our new school year now....

Just got back from a home school group planning session....

Group Field Trips discussed......

New curriculum ideas gone over......

Possible pitfalls addressed.......

Now, I feel ready.


If you homeschool, do you belong to any groups? I haven't joined one every year-some years, quite honestly, it was just too much. But, this year......I am already thankful I did.


In a few months......I might feeling a bit less like tackling school-matter of fact, I am SURE my motivation will flag sometime soon!
(This post took me about 10 minutes for Steady Mom's 30 minutes or less challenge!)

Bedlam……errr….uummm I guess I mean BEDTIME…

It goes something like this at our house:

Along about 7pm, Mommy has a realization… “It’s been a loooooong time since the kiddos got up from their ‘rest-time.’”

(Yes, we are making a transition w/ both of the “littles” out of a true “nap-time.”)

So…..here is what a typical evening might look like in our house after my awareness dawns:

“Ruth & Nat-I’m setting the timer! Anyone who has their jammies on & their teeth brushed gets a story before bed!”

This usually works-usually. But, every once in a while, either one or the other will take a side trip to run careening through the Living Room with a stroller & a doll-baby dangerously close to tumbling headlong on the floor. Or perhaps a better idea that night might be to stop & eat an appealing looking crumb off the floor on the way to the bedroom. Any number of things are good for a distraction!

Ana, meanwhile, being the mature 9 year-old that she is, has gotten herself ready for bed & brushed her teeth-with little or no direction from either parent. (unless she gets distracted by the latest book she’s reading).

If things go well (& no-one has to go to bed without a story), then Nat & Ruth each pick a book from the box-without fighting over the books-or, you guessed it-to bed with no story! (I’m so mean! wink!)

After the stories, though, things really get interesting! (while I am trying to read a “big-girl” book to Ana).

Kisses, hugs, prayer-time with Dad, “tish-tish…..poom-pooms” (don’t ask-I couldn’t explain it even if I tried!!!)

Ruth-potty (sounds simple, right?). Not around here.
Me: “Ruth, how long are you going to be washing your hands?”
R: “Mommy, I am putting water in the soap container for you!”
Me: Thinking: HUH!?!?

R: “Well, the soap is running out!”
Me: “I’ll take care of it in the morning. GO TO BED! NOW!!!”
R: “Ok, Mommy.”

A few minutes later, after going to check on her…..you guessed it-usually NOT in bed yet. Instead, she has chosen then to pick up all the trash on her bedroom floor…..or to organize all her stuffed animals……or she is headed back upstairs ‘cause we forgot her drink. Sigh…..

Then, we have Nat….

Same song-different verse…..employ any/all stall tactics he can think of to avoid going to bed-including the afore-mentioned ones Ruthie likes-the drink, the stuffed animals…..

He also likes to wait a while-then get out of bed, turn on his light & start playing. How’s that for subtle? “Gee….I bet Mom & Dad will NEVER notice that!!” Kids are so funny!

But, tonight he decided to try something new.

He took on “organizing” Daddy’s mail for him.

Yep.

He even managed to somehow get it in his room unnoticed–until the crackling noise of envelopes alerted his unaware parents.
Wish I had a picture…..it was pretty funny.
Boy, was he mad that his little play-time got interrupted!!

In our house-even bedtime isn’t a bore!!! How about you?

PS….I just went to check on the little hoodlum (a person who engages in crime-in this case, against Daddy's mail!) right now…..& this is what I found:











PPS....this post took a bit longer than 30 minutes, because, you guessed it-the bedtime bedlams are getting to us!!

Isn't It Funny How A Mom Never Stops Being A Mom?

Remember how I took a little time off a few weeks ago?

& I visited that restored 1880’s town here in CO?

Well, I realized how much I must have missed the kids when I saw this picture I took as I looked them over again a few days ago.

I distinctly remember thinking as I snapped the picture, “Wow! Nat would be in heaven!”
I guess once a mom, always a mom.

But, you know what? I am OK with that.

I missed them……it’s true.

(Psssst…..I had a great time, though-just me, myself & I. *smile*)

(did this post in about 10 minutes)

Tounge Acti0n! ;)

P.S. This post was created in less than 5 minutes for Steady Mom's 30 Minutes or Less Blogger Challenge.

There is Nothing Like A Good Summer Afternoon Thunderstorm.......

(But, then again-I have a secret wish to go on one of those "Storm Chaser" Week Long trips! And, yes, there were tornados in this storm!)

P.S. This post was created in 5 minutes for Steady Mom's 30 Minutes or Less Blogger Challenge.

Diligence........

Goofy me! Why didn’t I think of this before?

My philosophy on teaching diligence has apparently needed some adjusting!

I never knew how hard a child could work until I offered her $5 to get rid of all the weeds in the yard!

Why shouldn’t I pay her to do a job I'd rather skip?

It took her several afternoons of work. Each afternoon after completing her schoolwork, she can be found persistently and carefully checking for weeds in the backyard.

(Next week, it’s on to the flower gardens!)

This post was created in 20 minutes for Steady Mom’s 30 Minutes or Less Blogger Challenge.

Disapointment......

For several reasons, I have been dreading the foray into the world of Webkins….

~One reason is-we are already swimming in stuffed animals at our house-as I’m sure anyone else with three children.
~Another reason is-we all seem to struggle with addictive activities. I know she will probably end up just like her mom & dad one day (who both can’t seem to say “no” once the computer is on!)

But, regardless, Ana was thrilled to unwrap a Webkins on her birthday. (Ahem…..sis-if you are reading this-I promise-I forgive you!)

She & her cousin quickly got to work setting up her account.

& in typical, 3rd Grade logic, set up a password that resembled something like this:

Eyhr aieeujwe;fiu09idnk.

Well, I guess it wasn’t quite that bad, but it was so hard to remember, that she couldn’t log back on to her account later that evening. (of course!)

Oh, the agonies that ensued!

The tears that were shed!!!

(& the laughter the mommy was trying to hold back-only partly successfully, I might add!)

I found myself on the floor in my room, while the company entertained themselves, trying to comfort her wounded soul!

& the blessing that came out of this was that she & I talked long that night about God having what’s best for us, so that we learn the lessons He intends us to learn.

This poem has meant much to me in my times of trials-& I hope that one day, when my kiddos read through all this blog, this poem will mean as much to them as it has to me!

"Disappointment -- His Appointment"
Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose
Is God's better choice for me.
His appointment must be blessing,
Tho' it may come in disguise,
For the end from the beginning
Open to His wisdom lies.


"Disappointment -- His Appointment"
Whose? The Lord, who loves me best,
Understands and knows me fully,
Who my faith and love would test;
For, like loving earthly parent,
He rejoices when He knows
That His child accepts, UNQUESTIONED,
All that from His wisdom flows.


"Disappointment -- His Appointment"
"No good thing will He withhold,"
From denials oft we gather
Treasures of His love untold,
Well He knows each broken purpose
Leads to fuller, deeper trust,
And the end of all His dealings
Proves our God is wise and just.


"Disappointment -- His Appointment"
Lord, I take it, then, as such.
Like the clay in hands of potter,
Yielding wholly to Thy touch.
All my life's plan in Thy moulding,
Not one single choice be mine;
Let me answer, unrepining --
"Father, not my will, but Thine."


Edith Lillian Young

(Ana at a ballet rehearsal earlier this week.)

P.S This post was created in 30 minutes for Steady Mom's Tuesday Challenge!

Protecting Children......

Now, before I start in on this….let me say, for those of you who don’t know me IRL.

I REALLY AM A HYPER-PROTECTIVE MOM! I promise! However, I pick carefully what to be protective about.....

I am just saying this so that the following things I say aren’t taken out of context.

Natty moved out of his crib this weekend.

We knew the MOVE was coming, but when I found him STANDING on the bar of his crib that was next to the wall (& I presume he was preparing to jump into the crib?!? I HOPE that’s where he was attempting to jump!)…….it was evident the time had arrived.

Now, this crib has served us faithfully for almost 9 years (& it was a second hand crib-bought for $60 & redone to match the room).

A lot of love has surrounded that crib.
A lot “one more kiss, Mommy!” has sounded from inside it.
A lot of kids checked on while sound asleep in it……

(OK……I am sure all of you have felt this in some small way-saying your last goodby to the crib.)

BUT…..then the debate began about what to move him into…..

Didn’t want to spend too much.
Didn’t know if we should move him straight into a regular bed (that we already have). But he just seems so little to be in a BIG bed-know what I mean? This is my baby-still in 12-18 month clothes!

So, after spending all Saturday morning at different thrift stores in town, looking for toddler beds, I finally ended up at the mecca of all things necessary for your home-WAL-MART. (Need I say? I’m not a huge fan of Wal-mart, but it’s an evil that’s hard to avoid!)

NOW…..here’s where your philosophy might differ from mine.

I had my hubby put it up & leave the “Child-safety bars" off the sides of the crib.

You know-the ones designed to keep them from falling the “dangerous” 6 inches to plush carpeted floor of his bedroom.

Why would this hyper-protective mom do that?

Because I believe that teaching them where the edge of the bed is on this little tiny toddler bed-is better than teaching him that on the BIG bed he will eventually move into.

I think here in the US- this tendency to protect our kids goes way far & above what is healthy for them.

When we allow our kids some freedoms (like the freedom to fall out of bed)-we can TEACH them about boundaries in a healthy environment.


Society today is so good at protecting children from things that won't really harm them(think about the child-safety isle at your local child super-store) -while letting things like what they watch/see/are exposed to slide. Many of these things might do more damage to them in the end.


What do you think? Have Dave & I lost our minds? Wait. Don’t answer that. ;)
(by the way, he hasn’t fallen out of his bed yet, although I think he was well on his way here!)



P.S. This post was completed in about 35 minutes for Steady Mom's 30 Minutes or Less Blogger Challenge.

Parenting.....a question for us to bat around a bit.

A couple of weekends ago, I took a few moments at church to visit with a friend who is a huge inspiration to me.

This mom has 13 children (all adopted) & has homeschooled them all. (& I’m sure she wouldn’t say she’s a wonder-mom-she’s just a woman on a mission-to rescue as many children as she & her husband can.)

When we first started looking into adoption, this couple was one of the first we sat down with. (of course!)

Anyway, I have needed some advice from someone with more parenting skills than I, & possibly some left-over attachment issues with one of our adopted kiddos.

But, I never expected one thing she said to revolutionize my whole parenting outlook. When I asked her about it later, she couldn’t remember saying these exact words to me, but what I took away from it is this:

“Are we PRO-active parents or RE-active parents?

Wow!

What do you think?

What does this simple question mean to you?

Would it change your approach to parenting? If so, how?

I sure am looking at it differently! I’ll tell you how after you share some of your thoughts!

(This post was created in 10 minutes for Steady Mom’s 30 Minutes or Less Blogger Challenge)

Well, This Was A Delightful Discovery!!!

You know how it is……

When you started out on your parenting venture, you were sure that you would be the kindest, most organized, devoted parent.

Although I still try to be kind, & devoted…..

I have lost all hope of being organized!

I can’t tell you the number of times we have missed appointments, forgotten to take medicine, left special blankets places, & lost shoes, toys, books or clothing. (sometimes all in one day! Ha!)

*Please tell me some of you can relate-or else I might just fall down in a heap & cry!*

But, a few weeks ago, when I went on a weekend get-a-way with my honey (love you, Dear-I know you read this every day!)…….

& I astonished myself by discovering (wonder of wonders)

I do, in fact, still have most of my brain cells intact!

In the course of the weekend, I:

~Kept the bathroom counter organized & free of stray hair pretties flung down by little hands & free of goobery, toothpaste covered toothbrushes.
~Found it easy to keep clothes hung up & put away.
~Never lost my room key.
~Always made it out the door with everything I needed-(I never got that *feeling*-you know that awful feeling the split second after the heavy hotel door slams shut, just barely missing your 2 year-olds fingers!-“doggonit! I forgot to grab the diaper bag!”)

In the interest of full disclosure-yes, these things all DO happen just about every time I travel-but, without the kids-I suddenly seem to have gotten my brain back!

(Breathing a huge sigh of relief that one day, I might not be such a flake…..signing off for the night in 25 minutes for Steady Mom’s 30 Minutes or less blogger challenge!)

My Sins Come Back to Haunt Me…….

Or, “what goes around, comes around……”

When I was a child, I tried some bizarre things to hide food I didn’t want to eat. I think I figured out pretty fast that hiding it under the lip of the plate didn’t work, so I resorted to much more elaborate means.

(My mom, bless her heart, made us eat EVERYTHING on our plates-which today , has made us non-picky adults, but as children made us try all sorts of things to got rid of the food.)

HOWEVER, I made the mistake of telling one of these stories in the presence of my children. (Don’t repeat my mistake, I tell you!)

Last night, the results of this mistake were made clearly evident when I felt something fall on my knee, while it was scooted up under the table, during family dinner-time.

A crispy, half-eaten peanut-butter & jelly sandwich landed unceremoniously on the floor-& promptly broke in half.

The offending party (who shall remain nameless to protect their identity) looked suspiciously innocent (you know that look-“Who, me?” They don’t even need to say anything!)

I pulled the weeks-old sandwich up on to the table, & reached my hand under the table to see what else might have been shoved in the hole where a table leaf should reside (but doesn’t in our table’s case-leaving the space wide open to all manner of possibilities, I guess! Yuck!)

You guessed it! Another sandwich! Or two or three more.

Finally, Dave (my hubby) looked at her (yes, it was one of the girls-Natty is still in a booster & buckled in at mealtimes!) & said, “You get under the table & pull out every piece of food stashed under there!”

This was the pile that finally appeared……After a while of looking at how HUGE the pile was, Dave & I both began to laugh. Imagine how long she must have been doing this!

There is food I recognize from a few months ago, at least!

Yes, this little “food-hiding party” had reached an inglorious end. & I believe the offending child has been sufficiently warned against such activities in the future!

That’s what I get for not being careful who hears my stories!!! (yes, by now I’m sure you have guessed-she learned this stunt from me, her dear mother!)

Have your kids tried things like this? I'm pretty sure some of them have!

This post was created in 25 minutes for Steady Mom's 30 Minutes or Less blog challenge.

Another Project......long overdue

Since we married 11 years ago, I have been collecting recipes-like every good wife….:)

I quickly discovered just shoving them in a drawer wasn’t the best solution for organizing them, so made up my own system of organization!

I purchased some of those plastic sleeves that go in a three-ring binder, & categorized the cards, slips of paper & magazine pages.

It was a cheap & easy fix, but at the time I didn’t realize there were systems like that were beautiful & organized-that I could buy!

I finally found one, & I am thrilled with the fact that I can see all the recipes-instead of having them shoved in a pocket.

I also love that this beautiful book is almost like a scrapbook of all those important family recipes.

How do you store your recipes?


This blog post was created in 15 minutes for Steady Moms 30 Minute Blog Challenge.

I'm Not a Big Fan Of "New Year's Resolutions".....

But, each new year, I look forward to a chance to start afresh.

This year, I decided to try & live more intentionally. To enjoy each moment.

My kids are growing so fast-I don’t want to look back & say, “My house was clean……but my kids were not hugged/loved/prayed for/cared for.”

I don’t want to wake up the morning after the last kid leaves home for good & say, “Who is that guy sleeping on the other side of the bed?”

So, each new day, I am trying to live the moments (yes, even the less than glorious ones) to their fullest.

I started another blog where I ask myself a bunch of questions at the end of each day & try to answer them as honestly as possible. Feel free to go over there if you want, to see what it’s like, but I really only started it for myself, so it’s bare-bones!

But, one of the questions I am asking myself each day is, “Did I say ‘YES’ as often as possible today?”

You know, when the kids ask to get out art supplies, or when they want you to read “just one more book, Mommy,” or when they want to play a game with you…….the requests they make can seem never-ending!

I used to automatically say “no” if it was going to require too much work for myself.

Now, though, I no longer am allowing *that* to be my excuse.

Long story short-the girls have been BEGGING to sleep in the same bed & have a “slumber party” for months. They share a room, but this has, apparently, not been enough “togetherness.”

I have continued to say “no,” because of my own laziness! How terrible!

So, last week, when they asked again, I realized-right before my always ready, on the tip of my tongue, “no,” that this needed to be a “yes.”

And Friday night, they got to do it!

& you know what? It didn’t even turn out to be that much work for me!

(Who knew parenting would be such a learning experience for the PARENTS? I thought we were the ones that were supposed to be teaching, but it turns out, we are the ones doing *most* of the learning/growing!)

*I completed this blog post in about 20 minutes, for Steady Mom's 30 Minutes or Less Challenge. Many thanks to Jamie over there for the idea of my Intentional Living blog! Shout out for her book, too, which I ordered as sooon as it became available & I can hardly put it down- it is so chock-full of good ideas!

Do "accountability groups" do anything for you?

The longer I associate myself with these types of groups, the more I think they are just groups that make excuses for one another, & don’t really impact each other for the positive.

I mean, I have been a member at Weight Watchers since I was 17, & what I have discovered about that is that most everyone there loves to make excuses about why they haven’t lost weight-instead of actually using the group to encourage one another to do better. (No, not everyone-I know-I said “most” of them).

Another group I was part of for a while was ONLINE & it was supposed to be a group that encouraged going to bed early & getting up early.

But, more often than not, people just made excuses for why they stayed up later than they should have & thus, slept in later, too.
“My child was……puking/crying/bouncing off the walls.”
“My hubby is out of town, so my only free time is at night.”-one of my personal favorites I like to use.
“I lost track of the time.”

Everyone in the group would give cyber hugs & say, “Oh, that’s ok. We completely understand!”

Why don’t people say, “What were you thinking?!?! That’s enough of the excuses! GO to bed!”

I mean, that’s what *I* really need.

I know what the basic problem is, but I really don’t know how to fix it.

I have discovered I have no internal motivation to stick to many of the decisions I make. & without it, accountability groups are sure to fail me! I don’t know how it happened, but I can honestly say I have none (well, almost none!)!

People who just exercise because the decided they needed to or decided not to over eat because they no longer wanted to-they just boggle my mind & I look on in jeaousy, wishing I could somehow gain internal motivation.

But, since I have spent my entire life with almost none, I have no idea how to get it.

So, I was wondering what you out there in bloggerland think.

Do you agree with my assessment of what is often lacking in accountability groups?

Any ideas to help me? (other than praying for me, which I am already doing for myself & I would certainly welcome more!)




This post was completed in about 23 minutes as part of Steady Mom's 30 Minute Blog Challenge!

Is This REALLY The Whole Truth? No, not exactly. But, what to do.....I'm not sure exactly.

I am having a hard time with something......

I want to use this blog mostly as an online journal of our family life.

But, there are some things that I just KNOW I shouldn’t put out there for all of bloggerland-hey, really it’s *just* all the internet.

Like:

~Super embarrassing (but cute)things the kids say/do.
~Struggles we are having as parents-but places where we are also seeing some victory.
~Stories that involve other friends/family, but we just aren’t sure if they want it all out there for the “world” to see/read.

I really debate a lot in my head about whether or not this blog is actually an accurate picture of our lives-you know what I mean?

(We aren't like some families either, where stories about certain children can be sort of anonymous-due to the close ages of the children. I mean, if I say, “Child A was reading a book the other day when…..,” everyone knows it HAS to be Ana! Right?! Unless you think R or N might be a child prodigy!)

What do you do if you are a blogger & are partly keeping the blog for posterity?
Do you share EVERYTHING? Do you keep some of it written down in an "old-fashioned" journal?

Thoughts? Opinions?

“Funny Tale” Friday……

(I didn't follow the theme over at FFF this week, 'cause this was too funny to pass up!)

The following story in no way represents any way my brain function. I promise.

One morning earlier this week, after hitting the snooze three times, & debating turning off the alarm, I finally drug myself out of bed.

I, like so many other people in the world, have been TRYING loose weight, & get more healthy. I beat the sun up on this particular morning, but I am not going to tell you what time-or you will surely think I have lost my mind! Ha!

I stumbled to the kitchen, started the coffee, filled up my water bottle & headed to my family room where “The Biggest Looser” DVD awaited my arrival.

After completing my workout, I sat down with my “liquid of life” (that look suspiciously like coffee) to have my quiet time.

About ½ way through my morning Bible reading, I looked down at my feet & discovered this sure sign I *might* need more sleep:



I think I should have gone back to bed……although my mistake might have at least given you something to tickle your funny bone!

Anyone else care to share a tale like mine? Please?!? :)

A New Tradition.......& some good conversation......

Well, as some of you may know-I am really into traditions.

I told a lot of you in this post why I think they are so vital for kids (& for adults).

As I was looking at many other blogs around Christmas, I saw a tradition I KNEW I needed to add.

Guatemala has given me two of my most priceless gifts, & I love to acknowledge the kids’ heritage as much as possible-while remembering they are now AMERICANS!

Guatemala has some of the most colorful handwork in the world, & I just love it-can’t get enough of it.

This tradition required just one piece of handwork I didn’t have. It just broke my heart to have to spend the money-just kidding!

Also, this purchase was my first venture into E-bay.

(Yeah-I know-long overdue! No teasing me, please!)

The purchase?

A Christmas Stocking that I will fill with *little* presents from Guatemala !

Isn’t that a neat idea? If you have adopted internationally (or interracially) how do you “keep culture alive? How important is it to you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, the conversation.

Ana (age 8) had a coupon for a free kid’s meal Chik-fil-A.

Last month, she was “Dancer of the Month” in ballet! (Yes, her mama is proud!)

Anyway, while we were consuming our chicken nuggets (Ana) & salad (me), Ana casually said,

“Mom, I have a problem.”

Me, now thinking, “Oh, man, where is THIS going?!”

Turns out, she wanted to talk about “friendship” problems. One friend wanted Ana to leave out another one. Ana felt left out of a threesome. A friend wanted to start a club that only girls with “A” names can be in.

I remember those days. Uggg…..

Girls are so fickle at that age-well, really until they are out of highschool, if I remember correctly.

Makes me sad, in a way, that she is already going through that.

We were able to figure out some solutions & talk about how friendships can be very challenging.

I know this is par for the course when raising girls.

But, I don’t like it.

However, I am soooo happy she feels free to talk to me about it!

I need her to KNOW that I will help her through this life-that’s my job, & it always will be-know what I mean?

I think we are well on our way. Whew!

(this post was completed in 31 minutes for Steady Mom's 30 minute challenge)