I'm intending for this post to be "educational" and hope to give you a good laugh at my expense.
Last week I reclaimed our school room. I scored some desks off of Freecycle, we had cleaned and decluttered and I was motivated to make our school room a fun, inviting place that the kids would WANT to be in. Bonus for me: all the desks match. Yay!
I've also been reading a lot lately on Autism and three things stood out to me. Behavior modification, sensory satisfaction and structure. So, armed with this grand new information and my imagination, I sat down to several projects last week. I'm passing them on for any of you to use if you think it might be helpful.
First up was our Behavior Modification. Who doesn't like a reward for good behavior or a job well done? I started a token economy. I used some pennies, an envelope decorated in stickers and a spinner. This is how we set ours up.
10 pennies for each kid
1 8 space spinner (you could make one out of cardstock and a brad, or I bought a pack of them for a dollar at Walmart)
The rules were that they had to earn 5 pennies for a break and 10 pennies for a big reward.
1 penny = assignment completed.
2 penny = if the assignment was completed inependently
5 penny = 10 minute break. Use the spinner.
7 penny = small treat (like M&M or animal crackers)
10 penny = 30 minutes computer time, outside play, art project (like painting, playdough)
For the spinner at the 5 penny mark (if needed, you can revert to the spinner if you need chores done, or more school work, or a big, unusual job).
1. 15 minutes educational game on computer
2. Sensory box (tell you about that in a minute)
3. Listen to MP3 player
4. Play a board or card game (Memory, Clotheline, Go Fish)
5. Coloring book
6. Free Play
7. Snack
8. Play outside or free play if inclimate weather
Tokens were paid for 5 and 10 penny activities. 1 token was also paid for crying, physical contact, and frustration violence (hitting table, tearing up paper, kicking furniture).
Now, for the Sensory Diet. Ugh. Ok, maybe this would have worked with some better quality balloons and may I suggest you allow this activity only with supervision like a hawk.
First, I made a sensory box. This is kind of like the I Spy bottles and pillows you see, only they get to use their hands to rake through the contents. I used a medium size plastic drawer, so when we were done, it goes up and away and the little kids actually do not know where I've hid it.
Ingredients:
1 bag uncooked rice
1 bag uncooked each red beans, black beans and split peas
Small, blunt objects laying around the house. I used a marble, flat ended screw, coins, bottle nipple, erasers, paper clips, baby spoon, colored popscicle sticks, dice, small car. Anything you can think of to put in there and can be buried by the rice and beans.
I let them comb through it with their hands. I had to watchful of the 4 years and under set because they had a tendency to throw it up in the air and fill their pockets and try to bury their arms in the box.
Next on the list for the Sensory Diet were stress balls. I read this idea and thought WOW! What a great idea. Ok, not so much anymore. I know the purpose these should be for, but like I said, I think I needed better quality ballons.
Materials:
Quality balloons (probably not something you would get from a Dollar Store)
Flour
Corn Syrup
Rice
Water
Sugar
Empty, dry soda bottle
Funnel
A partner
1. Using your funnel, fill up your soda bottle with about a cup and a half of your desired ingredient.
2. Blow up your balloon. Have your partner pinch the base of the balloon to keep air in while you stretch the opening over the soda bottle's spout.
3. Pour the ingredients into the balloon. Some, like the corn syrup, will flow automatically, but you will have to tilt the bottle so you get some air flow/resistance that allows the ingredient to transfer to the balloon.
4. Remove the balloon carefully from the bottle.
5. Allow the air to slowly leave the balloon and tie it off.
Lessons learned:
First, do not think that funnel will somehow be a good idea using it just with the balloon. Things did not enter a deflated balloon easily, so when I thought I would blow it up and stick the funnel full of cornstarch into the balloon, I didn't account for air leaving the balloon and blowing corn starch all over my kitchen. Or the rice having to be prodded and pulled into the balloon 3 bits at a time. Or the corn syrup oozing out over the balloon because my funnel was cracked and the balloon didn't stretch out (did that 2 times before learning my lesson). Or that sugar is slightly heavier than the funnel it was in and made a huge mess when I fumbled the balloon and funnel together when my fingers and wrists cramped up and dumped sugar all over myself and the floor. Or that once I figured out the best way to get the stuff into the balloon was with the soda bottle and a partner, not to let the air out of the balloon too quickly, or once again, flour was blown all over the kitchen. Also, water and corn syrup do not mix. They separated in the balloon. I found this out after I thought that if I added water to the balloon, like you would if you were filling a water balloon, the cold water separated the syrup and it was heavy on the bottom and squishy on the top.
Lessons learned after the kids got a hold of the stress balls.
Do not let the kid that LOVES the bumpy texture of the rice ball sleep with it. He woke up in a pile of rice.
Do not let them leave the house with the corn syrup filled stress ball because one they throw it at someone or something, it will probably pop and make a huge, sticky mess.
Do not let them take their rice filled stress ball into the tub with them.
Do not let husbands play with the flour filled balloons because the balloons are too delicate for the kind of strength that a husband would use to release their stress with. Be prepared for flour to explode all over your dark green couch.
Teach your children what the balloons are for: they are NOT for target practice, dodge ball, catch, chewing on, or poking with pencils, scissors, nail clippers or toothpicks.
So, there you go. A fun filled day of stress balls, boxes filled with a potential recipe for disaster, and spinners to reward good behavior. Two of the things are working for us anyway, but I think I'm staying far away from the stress balls for now.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
A Homemaker's Day Book
February 27, 2009
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Bitter cold today. In fact, no joke, it was snowing snowballs earlier. They were only a pinhead big, but they were snowballs!
I AM THANKFUL FOR: Maybe this is going to sound a little conceited, but I'm thankful for the freedom to homeschool my children. Its not always a picnic, and I don't want anyone to think we have these glorious days of perfection and my kids are geniuses,but I very much enjoy homeschooling them and spending my days in education and togetherness.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Rotisserie Chicken, rolls and salad. Long day and short on time and the kids NEED to be in bed.
I AM READING: The Secret. Adventures of Lewis and Clark. Valley Forge.
I AM HEARING: Electronic toys doing their sing-songy chirps and noises.
I AM CREATING: 72 hour lap book. Still working on this. Our power is out in the school room, so that is put on hold now.
I AM GOING: To the dump, the thrift shop, the recycling center and grocery shopping tomorrow. We cleaned the basement completely last weekend and so now it's time to get rid of the leftovers.
I AM HOPING: Hey, last week's list of stuff I hoped to get done: GOT DONE!!!!! Oh, my goodness, I'm so proud of myself. *clapping hands excitedly* SO, this week....hmmm.....take a break? Bask in the glorious cleanliness of my house? Watch Jane Austen movies?
AROUND THE HOUSE: Tomorrow we are taking a huge pile of broken furniture and trash to the dump. It just feel so light once all that stuff is gone, organized, picked up, etc. It's good to get rid of clutter.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Remembering the births of my children. I know that pretty much any woman you ask what they remember the most in their life and it is almost always childbirth. Since my baby just celebrated his 1st birthday, so remembering his birth is on my mind this week. Now I'm noticing all kinds of pregnant ladies around and I can't help but feel excited for them and their impending new arrivals.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: We are starting a new unit on Monday centered on the Declaration of
A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU:
Dreaming of Spring
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Bitter cold today. In fact, no joke, it was snowing snowballs earlier. They were only a pinhead big, but they were snowballs!
I AM THANKFUL FOR: Maybe this is going to sound a little conceited, but I'm thankful for the freedom to homeschool my children. Its not always a picnic, and I don't want anyone to think we have these glorious days of perfection and my kids are geniuses,but I very much enjoy homeschooling them and spending my days in education and togetherness.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Rotisserie Chicken, rolls and salad. Long day and short on time and the kids NEED to be in bed.
I AM READING: The Secret. Adventures of Lewis and Clark. Valley Forge.
I AM HEARING: Electronic toys doing their sing-songy chirps and noises.
I AM CREATING: 72 hour lap book. Still working on this. Our power is out in the school room, so that is put on hold now.
I AM GOING: To the dump, the thrift shop, the recycling center and grocery shopping tomorrow. We cleaned the basement completely last weekend and so now it's time to get rid of the leftovers.
I AM HOPING: Hey, last week's list of stuff I hoped to get done: GOT DONE!!!!! Oh, my goodness, I'm so proud of myself. *clapping hands excitedly* SO, this week....hmmm.....take a break? Bask in the glorious cleanliness of my house? Watch Jane Austen movies?
AROUND THE HOUSE: Tomorrow we are taking a huge pile of broken furniture and trash to the dump. It just feel so light once all that stuff is gone, organized, picked up, etc. It's good to get rid of clutter.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Remembering the births of my children. I know that pretty much any woman you ask what they remember the most in their life and it is almost always childbirth. Since my baby just celebrated his 1st birthday, so remembering his birth is on my mind this week. Now I'm noticing all kinds of pregnant ladies around and I can't help but feel excited for them and their impending new arrivals.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: We are starting a new unit on Monday centered on the Declaration of
A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU:
Dreaming of Spring
The Comfort of a Blessing Denied
I came across this quote in the February Ensign by Elder George Q. Cannon:
"The Saints should always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by."
Remember that when you may be feeling deprived now of a blessing or ease, it's that Heavenly Father has something much better for you in store. What comfort that brings to me today. I hope it does the same for you.
"The Saints should always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by."
Remember that when you may be feeling deprived now of a blessing or ease, it's that Heavenly Father has something much better for you in store. What comfort that brings to me today. I hope it does the same for you.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sweet One Year
Today Ammon turned one. He's such a sweet and smiley baby. A Mama's boy. All day I have been reminded of moments of the day he was born. It was a 27 hour labor and he was only 8lbs. 2 oz. A lot of you might say that's huge, but after following three 9 pounders, that was tiny to me. It took me awhile to bond with Ammon. I think partly that is because the hospital kept him for almost two hours after I had him, and partly because I was so overwhelmed with having six kids. I felt like Ammon didn't seem to have much personality, but at four months, it started to come though.
I love putting him to bed. He would always lay down awake, coo to me, we'd chat for a few minutes and as long as he had his cloth diaper and a blanket, he was good to go. However, it's not been until the last few DAYS that he's actually started sleeping through the night.
Then came the kisses. I used to be grossed out by slobbery baby mouths, but now, I guess it's not so bad, as long as I have something to dry off with. He made me laugh one day by kissing me, then wiping off his own drool. I love having snuggly babies, and he is certainly one of those. He just seems to melt into you as you hold him.
When he started laughing he sounded like a squeaky toy. He still does, actually. Its so infectious when he laughs. He's such a happy baby, and I find that I make time to sit on the floor and play with him and sometimes don't even realize how much time has passed.
He smiled, laughed, rolled, sat up, crawled and talked all on time. He's standing now at times without even realizing he's doing it, and we've only seen him venture 3 steps, but I'm glad to see he's developing normally. Being the parent of autistic children has made me a nervous ninny in that department.
I love blue eyes and always have, and have always hoped and wished my kids would have blue eyes. All six of my kids have varying shades of brown, and Ammon's happens to be one of the darker ones. I've stared at him and now, I'm not disappointed they aren't blue, as they seem almost like a velvet brown and I suppose one day the ladies will admire him for his dark eyes, just as his mother does.
One year just seems to fly by now and I can't believe when I hold Ammon how big he seems, and yest still so small. I watch him sort toys, put cars in a box, shove toys under furniture and throw stuff at us. I smile at his two fisted way of eating, his complaining when we aren't feeding him fast enough, and his excitement at seeing a cloth diaper (used as burp rags at first, now just a comfort thing to him).
He's been such a blessing to our family. Who doesn't need to smile more, laugh more, play on the floor with cars more? Who doesn't need more snuggles, more drooly kisses, or leg huggers?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Decluttering
Today I just couldn't take the house anymore. Obviously, it wasn't cleaning itself, so I had to step in. I started at about 11:00, and just finished at 9:55 p.m. This was a horrendous job, but now that it's all done, I feel really good. For weeks the clutter had been getting out of control. I kept pushing it back into place, but more and more I was finding broken things, things pulled out of places I had no idea where they came from, the kids had spilled a bag of rice, the cats had gotten into their food, and the laundry was overtaking the basement.
Our basement is sent up in quarters. One half is finished, the other half is a concrete floor and shelves on all walls. There is a back room that we chose to put our food storage into because it had a door on it and no heat. Unfortunately, after we moved in the door came off one hinge and so we just propped it open. This left it open to a certain 2 year old who thought it was a free for all play room in there. Today we got the door fixed, the food organized, the boxes in there organized, and made some more room so all the stuff fit well in there. Bonus: the door doesn't lock, but the latch catches, so I don't think the kids will be getting in very easily.
There is a bathroom down there that we really don't use and it shares a hallway filled with shelves. So we moved down the hallway, sorting, reorganizing and cleaning all the shelves. I moved the cats' litter box and food into the bathroom in hopes it deters the dog from eating all their food. Apparently Missy is too good to jump up onto the freezer or baker's rack to eat. I caught her tonight laying in a bag of food eating instead of getting up on the freezer. Snooty thing.
Then I moved onto the laundry room, which is doubling as a utility room, but it's a large room, so we have more shelves in there, plus our refrigerator and freezer, a baker's rack and an under stairs closet. I got all that cleaned up, laundry is almost done, the shelves are cleared off (I have 1 8 foot empty shelf now!), and the floor swept and scrubbed. The dryer needed to be reattached to the vent.
All this time I'm piling stuff up for Freecycle. Just to put a small plug in here for Freecycle: it's a local online community that posts things to get rid of instead of putting them into a landfill. Everything must be free and is first come, first serve. It's usually in Yahoo Groups, so if you are interested, check on there to see if you can find a group in your area. I had three huge posts on Freecycle today and by tonight almost all my stuff is spoken for. Next weekend we are making a trip to the dump however, since we have some stuff that just can't be recycled.
Then, I moved onto the schoolroom. This has been out of commission for some time. I don't know what exactly happened in here, but it looked like a self contained bomb went off. Papers and books were falling out of the shelves, piled up on every surface, spread out on the floor, and creeping into small hiding places. Since we fold laundry on the table in there, that was taken over by laundry and socks were forming a large army. Toys, beads, school supplies were strewn everywhere. My question: why is it you can spend all day trying to clean up something on one floor and you go upstairs and that floor is trashed?!
So, all that is left to do now is the under stairs closet. I have clothes and linens in there, but that needs a good purging too. Tomorrow maybe or just another day. I think this has done me in for awhile. I do have to say it's been liberating to get rid of this stuff. Things I've been carrying around for YEARS and never used.
Feng Shui says to give away 27 things and move around 27 things. A friend said all she needed was 27 things, someone could have the rest. Tonight, I feel so hyped about all this, I almost considered actually just keeping 27 things and getting rid of the rest. How fast would cleaning be then?!
Our basement is sent up in quarters. One half is finished, the other half is a concrete floor and shelves on all walls. There is a back room that we chose to put our food storage into because it had a door on it and no heat. Unfortunately, after we moved in the door came off one hinge and so we just propped it open. This left it open to a certain 2 year old who thought it was a free for all play room in there. Today we got the door fixed, the food organized, the boxes in there organized, and made some more room so all the stuff fit well in there. Bonus: the door doesn't lock, but the latch catches, so I don't think the kids will be getting in very easily.
There is a bathroom down there that we really don't use and it shares a hallway filled with shelves. So we moved down the hallway, sorting, reorganizing and cleaning all the shelves. I moved the cats' litter box and food into the bathroom in hopes it deters the dog from eating all their food. Apparently Missy is too good to jump up onto the freezer or baker's rack to eat. I caught her tonight laying in a bag of food eating instead of getting up on the freezer. Snooty thing.
Then I moved onto the laundry room, which is doubling as a utility room, but it's a large room, so we have more shelves in there, plus our refrigerator and freezer, a baker's rack and an under stairs closet. I got all that cleaned up, laundry is almost done, the shelves are cleared off (I have 1 8 foot empty shelf now!), and the floor swept and scrubbed. The dryer needed to be reattached to the vent.
All this time I'm piling stuff up for Freecycle. Just to put a small plug in here for Freecycle: it's a local online community that posts things to get rid of instead of putting them into a landfill. Everything must be free and is first come, first serve. It's usually in Yahoo Groups, so if you are interested, check on there to see if you can find a group in your area. I had three huge posts on Freecycle today and by tonight almost all my stuff is spoken for. Next weekend we are making a trip to the dump however, since we have some stuff that just can't be recycled.
Then, I moved onto the schoolroom. This has been out of commission for some time. I don't know what exactly happened in here, but it looked like a self contained bomb went off. Papers and books were falling out of the shelves, piled up on every surface, spread out on the floor, and creeping into small hiding places. Since we fold laundry on the table in there, that was taken over by laundry and socks were forming a large army. Toys, beads, school supplies were strewn everywhere. My question: why is it you can spend all day trying to clean up something on one floor and you go upstairs and that floor is trashed?!
So, all that is left to do now is the under stairs closet. I have clothes and linens in there, but that needs a good purging too. Tomorrow maybe or just another day. I think this has done me in for awhile. I do have to say it's been liberating to get rid of this stuff. Things I've been carrying around for YEARS and never used.
Feng Shui says to give away 27 things and move around 27 things. A friend said all she needed was 27 things, someone could have the rest. Tonight, I feel so hyped about all this, I almost considered actually just keeping 27 things and getting rid of the rest. How fast would cleaning be then?!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Homemaker's Day Book
February 19, 2009
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Overcast and cold. I wish it was a little sunnier to help me feel more motivated to get stuff done today. I'd rather just take a nap or read a book.
I AM THANKFUL FOR: Having a car. Having gone two days without one while it was in the shop almost felt like torture.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Fettuccine Alfredo with pine nuts, Egg salad sandwiches with black olives, Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies.
I AM READING: The Secret. Bubbles in Trouble. Still. I can't seem to read very far at any given time.
I AM HEARING: The sweet sounds of children cleaning their room. I'm going to ignore the sounds of them tearing up my living room.
I AM CREATING: 72 hour lap book.
I AM GOING: Grocery Shopping when Curtis gets home.
I AM HOPING: To get a huge list of things done. Clean my room, organize the storage room, the laundry room, the school room, the shed. Clean out the car. Organize the pantry so I can make a decent grocery list. Finish the lap book. Get the car registered. Write in my journal.
What's that saying about making an overwhelming list of something to do means you probably won't be able to get it done? Baby steps, right?
AROUND THE HOUSE: I'm getting frustrated with the one room clean, the other is trashed, system. Why can't they all be clean all at the same time?
I think I'd like to have a flower garden.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Slipping into bed made with clean linens and having just shaved my legs.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Finishing up a Declaration of Independence unit for homeschool, getting back to work on the quilts for the boys.
A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU:There are so many times I look at my older boys and remember what they were like as babies. Its hard to grasp how big or old or different they are getting sometimes. I think this time just goes by so fast, and I miss those days when they were just little guys. Jesse has gotten into that shy, modest phase when any public displays of affection with mom are embarrassing or heaven forbid, he KISSED his mother goodnight. All I see sometimes is the little clingy toddler that used to snuggle with me all evening long.
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Overcast and cold. I wish it was a little sunnier to help me feel more motivated to get stuff done today. I'd rather just take a nap or read a book.
I AM THANKFUL FOR: Having a car. Having gone two days without one while it was in the shop almost felt like torture.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Fettuccine Alfredo with pine nuts, Egg salad sandwiches with black olives, Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies.
I AM READING: The Secret. Bubbles in Trouble. Still. I can't seem to read very far at any given time.
I AM HEARING: The sweet sounds of children cleaning their room. I'm going to ignore the sounds of them tearing up my living room.
I AM CREATING: 72 hour lap book.
I AM GOING: Grocery Shopping when Curtis gets home.
I AM HOPING: To get a huge list of things done. Clean my room, organize the storage room, the laundry room, the school room, the shed. Clean out the car. Organize the pantry so I can make a decent grocery list. Finish the lap book. Get the car registered. Write in my journal.
What's that saying about making an overwhelming list of something to do means you probably won't be able to get it done? Baby steps, right?
AROUND THE HOUSE: I'm getting frustrated with the one room clean, the other is trashed, system. Why can't they all be clean all at the same time?
I think I'd like to have a flower garden.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Slipping into bed made with clean linens and having just shaved my legs.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Finishing up a Declaration of Independence unit for homeschool, getting back to work on the quilts for the boys.
A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU:There are so many times I look at my older boys and remember what they were like as babies. Its hard to grasp how big or old or different they are getting sometimes. I think this time just goes by so fast, and I miss those days when they were just little guys. Jesse has gotten into that shy, modest phase when any public displays of affection with mom are embarrassing or heaven forbid, he KISSED his mother goodnight. All I see sometimes is the little clingy toddler that used to snuggle with me all evening long.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Join the Plumber's Call Club
Over the last few days it seems all the drains in our house have backed up. The toilets wouldn't flush right, the floor drain was plugged, the sinks weren't draining either. After trying Drano (word of advice, it doesn't really work), and some vinegar and baking soda solutions (which didn't really work either), we called in the professionals.
He found toilet paper and a computer modem base. Let me give a big thank you to Joshua, the two year old, for this experience. I've never had this happen until today. How did he even get the modem base to flush?! It was huge...at least bigger than the toilet drain I thought. Another word of advice: the best toilet paper to use is Scott. The worst is Charmin. Apparently Charmin does not break down in water.
This whole experience reminded me of my dad's plumbing call. He was tired of the short toilets in their house that always had to be plunged after every use, so he went and found new toilets. They professed to flush 24 golf balls at a time! He bragged about these toilets for a week, at least. And then his new hair brush mysteriously disappeared. He called me, asking if I had seen it. He called my sister, and she passed it on to her kids. (I was in the clear since none of my kids had been out there in awhile).
In a fashion that would make drill sergeants proud, my sister lined her four kids up in military ranks for questioning. "Where is Grandpa's brush?!" The problem with our genes is that we are all prone to big eyes, so it's not too hard to pick out the guilty parties since our eyes give away all the secrets.
Britney, then about 5 years old, surrendered. Sobbing and pleading, she recounted the ordeal. She had just used the bathroom, but before she could flush, she knocked Grandpa's brush in the toilet. She didn't want to reach in there and get it, but wait! Grandpa said the toilets would flush 24 golf balls at a time! She flushed the toilet and magically, problem solved. The brush was gone and she was in the clear.
Until it bubbled over the next time it was used. Imagine Dad's surprise when the plumber called asking if he had lost a hair brush recently, and did he want it back?
So, we have joined the Plumber's Call for clogged toilets due to items flushed. I didn't feel so bad. He did tell me he had to go clear out a whole army of toy soldiers that were victims of the water torture method. I'd call that inhumane. Poor soldiers.
He found toilet paper and a computer modem base. Let me give a big thank you to Joshua, the two year old, for this experience. I've never had this happen until today. How did he even get the modem base to flush?! It was huge...at least bigger than the toilet drain I thought. Another word of advice: the best toilet paper to use is Scott. The worst is Charmin. Apparently Charmin does not break down in water.
This whole experience reminded me of my dad's plumbing call. He was tired of the short toilets in their house that always had to be plunged after every use, so he went and found new toilets. They professed to flush 24 golf balls at a time! He bragged about these toilets for a week, at least. And then his new hair brush mysteriously disappeared. He called me, asking if I had seen it. He called my sister, and she passed it on to her kids. (I was in the clear since none of my kids had been out there in awhile).
In a fashion that would make drill sergeants proud, my sister lined her four kids up in military ranks for questioning. "Where is Grandpa's brush?!" The problem with our genes is that we are all prone to big eyes, so it's not too hard to pick out the guilty parties since our eyes give away all the secrets.
Britney, then about 5 years old, surrendered. Sobbing and pleading, she recounted the ordeal. She had just used the bathroom, but before she could flush, she knocked Grandpa's brush in the toilet. She didn't want to reach in there and get it, but wait! Grandpa said the toilets would flush 24 golf balls at a time! She flushed the toilet and magically, problem solved. The brush was gone and she was in the clear.
Until it bubbled over the next time it was used. Imagine Dad's surprise when the plumber called asking if he had lost a hair brush recently, and did he want it back?
So, we have joined the Plumber's Call for clogged toilets due to items flushed. I didn't feel so bad. He did tell me he had to go clear out a whole army of toy soldiers that were victims of the water torture method. I'd call that inhumane. Poor soldiers.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Gracious Exit
I wrote about two years ago about becoming the Relief Society President in our small LDS Branch out here in Nebraska. When I got that calling, I was overwhelmed with the enormity of it. Relief Society presidents were responsible not just for the women in the Branch or Ward, but all women within those boundaries. I had never had this calling before, so I had no idea what to expect, except that I wanted to do everything within my power to do it RIGHT. I had never been close friends with a Relief Society president or was so nosy to ask how hard the calling was. I was excited and scared, overwhelmed and happy, worried but ready to get busy. I hoped I could fill the shoes of the previous presidents.
I had some ups and downs and trials. Never having been one to be great in social situations I stressed all the time about offending someone, loosing my place in a lesson, preparing a lesson for Sunday and saying the wrong thing, stepping on someone's toes or not having done enough. I did love how I would get inspiration about someone or something. Sometimes it would come in a dream and other times it would just be a fleeting thought; "I need to call her". I dragged a 20 lb. bag of books and rosters and binders with me every Sunday so I would be prepared for anything should the need arise. I listened to the sisters make comments and tried very hard to read between the lines, wondering "Does she sound happy? Is there trouble at home? Do they need anything? Does she need a friend? What could I do to help her?"
And then some days, after dealing with two autistic children, homeschooling or attempting to homeschool my children, the house was trashed, and dinner burned up, I would fall into bed exhausted, only to wake up at 3:30 a.m., realizing I hadn't prayed that night, or fell asleep during the prayer, or I forgot to call someone when I had been prompted in thought earlier in the day. The guilt of questioning if I had magnified my calling today was overwhelming. Sometimes our activities were cancelled because of weather and sometimes they were only attended by a few sisters, and I would go home and cry. All that work for nothing, I would complain. "Don't take it personal". I heard that over and over. That must have been the lesson I needed to learn with this calling. I took so many things personally. Sometimes I read into comments a little too much and got offended. Sometimes a sister would say something and it was just the thing I needed to hear that helped me pack all my stuff up for Sunday and return. Sometimes my kids looked like we were running a three ring circus and I would be tempted to turn around and head back home 10 minutes after arriving, but I didn't because I knew Relief Society needed me and was where I wanted to be, needed to be, amongst sisters and friends that understood what it was like to stand in my shoes. Sometimes I think they gave me more compassion than I gave them. Sometimes I feel like I learned more than they did, and I suppose that is the purpose of a calling.
After 20 months of preparing for Enrichment nights (one time a month), a monthly newsletter, redoing Visiting Teaching routes, teaching 2-3 times a month, organizing and setting up for activities, calling and praying for sisters, my heart broke when they released me. It was hard to take. Did I offend someone, do something wrong, say something wrong, not do enough, do too much? What? Why? I wanted to say in my perfectionistic mind: NO! I can keep going!!! Don't do this!!! I love this calling!!!!
All they told me was that they felt it had become a burden for me.
I cried and cried some more. I over analyzed. I kept Curtis up way past his bedtime lamenting about being released. I cried again. I felt physically hurt. I felt like I had failed in some way and then I over analyzed again: what could I have done better, more of, how, what, why?
How do I hand this over to the next president? Part of me thought to just dump it in her lap and leave and then go cry some more in my car. The other part of me thought about how I would have liked to have received the torch, so to say, from the previous president. Part of me didn't even want to go back to church.
I remind myself of one of the first lessons I learned in the military:
Keep your military bearing: no emotion, no crying, no breaking of the ranks, and look straight ahead.
There is one word that I try to live up to: Gracious. It means "marked by kindness and courtesy, tact and dignity." This is how I will hand over the presidency. Not with stomping and crying, like how I felt in my initial reaction, but I can hand it over with graciousness in that I learned a lot from this experience and it is now someone else's turn for the lessons. I will look straight ahead. Our eternal progression is what is important and I cannot waste time dwelling on the coulda, woulda, shouldas.
Having had a few days to process all this I've finally come to terms about it. It was becoming a burden. Nothing is a blessing if it feels like a burden. I have too much on my plate at present. Sometimes God hears our prayers before we utter them. I needed a break, just for a little bit anyway.
I thought I would make a list of some things I learned as a Relief Society President and during my presidency:
Prayer is a powerful thing. You would be surprised how your own feelings and the Spirit can battle each other.
Step carefully for what you ask for.
Do not be selfish.
Do not be prideful.
Trust your instincts.
Compassion and charity go a very long ways.
Do not underestimate your friendship or thoughts for someone.
YOU can be someone's answer to a prayer.
You may think that what you just did was not very big or very insignificant, but to someone else it could be monumental.
How you spend your "off time" should be in buidling yourself up, finding fulfillment in your callings and abilities, enjoying your family, children, husband, friends or an occassional pet. Do not get lost in time wasters.
Be open to receive service.
Be quick to be of service.
Complaining, backbiting, mistrust, dishonesty, withholding support, gossiping and rudeness can tear a person down in a single moment.
When you feel lonely, go Visiting Teaching.
Be teachable.
Be grateful.
Ruffled feathers can be smoothed with prayer, apology, or kindness. Be the first to act, not the second.
Smile.
Do not dwell on the past. Look straight ahead. You will be healed in time, but keep your eye single to the Glory of God.
Man is not perfect, but God is.
Loose yourself in your calling.
And, so I make my gracious exit, with very few regrets, and full of hope and well wishes to the next president. What a beautiful thing it is to count blessings, be faithful, and be an instrument in the hands of God.
With love, dear Sisters.
Dawn
I had some ups and downs and trials. Never having been one to be great in social situations I stressed all the time about offending someone, loosing my place in a lesson, preparing a lesson for Sunday and saying the wrong thing, stepping on someone's toes or not having done enough. I did love how I would get inspiration about someone or something. Sometimes it would come in a dream and other times it would just be a fleeting thought; "I need to call her". I dragged a 20 lb. bag of books and rosters and binders with me every Sunday so I would be prepared for anything should the need arise. I listened to the sisters make comments and tried very hard to read between the lines, wondering "Does she sound happy? Is there trouble at home? Do they need anything? Does she need a friend? What could I do to help her?"
And then some days, after dealing with two autistic children, homeschooling or attempting to homeschool my children, the house was trashed, and dinner burned up, I would fall into bed exhausted, only to wake up at 3:30 a.m., realizing I hadn't prayed that night, or fell asleep during the prayer, or I forgot to call someone when I had been prompted in thought earlier in the day. The guilt of questioning if I had magnified my calling today was overwhelming. Sometimes our activities were cancelled because of weather and sometimes they were only attended by a few sisters, and I would go home and cry. All that work for nothing, I would complain. "Don't take it personal". I heard that over and over. That must have been the lesson I needed to learn with this calling. I took so many things personally. Sometimes I read into comments a little too much and got offended. Sometimes a sister would say something and it was just the thing I needed to hear that helped me pack all my stuff up for Sunday and return. Sometimes my kids looked like we were running a three ring circus and I would be tempted to turn around and head back home 10 minutes after arriving, but I didn't because I knew Relief Society needed me and was where I wanted to be, needed to be, amongst sisters and friends that understood what it was like to stand in my shoes. Sometimes I think they gave me more compassion than I gave them. Sometimes I feel like I learned more than they did, and I suppose that is the purpose of a calling.
After 20 months of preparing for Enrichment nights (one time a month), a monthly newsletter, redoing Visiting Teaching routes, teaching 2-3 times a month, organizing and setting up for activities, calling and praying for sisters, my heart broke when they released me. It was hard to take. Did I offend someone, do something wrong, say something wrong, not do enough, do too much? What? Why? I wanted to say in my perfectionistic mind: NO! I can keep going!!! Don't do this!!! I love this calling!!!!
All they told me was that they felt it had become a burden for me.
I cried and cried some more. I over analyzed. I kept Curtis up way past his bedtime lamenting about being released. I cried again. I felt physically hurt. I felt like I had failed in some way and then I over analyzed again: what could I have done better, more of, how, what, why?
How do I hand this over to the next president? Part of me thought to just dump it in her lap and leave and then go cry some more in my car. The other part of me thought about how I would have liked to have received the torch, so to say, from the previous president. Part of me didn't even want to go back to church.
I remind myself of one of the first lessons I learned in the military:
Keep your military bearing: no emotion, no crying, no breaking of the ranks, and look straight ahead.
There is one word that I try to live up to: Gracious. It means "marked by kindness and courtesy, tact and dignity." This is how I will hand over the presidency. Not with stomping and crying, like how I felt in my initial reaction, but I can hand it over with graciousness in that I learned a lot from this experience and it is now someone else's turn for the lessons. I will look straight ahead. Our eternal progression is what is important and I cannot waste time dwelling on the coulda, woulda, shouldas.
Having had a few days to process all this I've finally come to terms about it. It was becoming a burden. Nothing is a blessing if it feels like a burden. I have too much on my plate at present. Sometimes God hears our prayers before we utter them. I needed a break, just for a little bit anyway.
I thought I would make a list of some things I learned as a Relief Society President and during my presidency:
Prayer is a powerful thing. You would be surprised how your own feelings and the Spirit can battle each other.
Step carefully for what you ask for.
Do not be selfish.
Do not be prideful.
Trust your instincts.
Compassion and charity go a very long ways.
Do not underestimate your friendship or thoughts for someone.
YOU can be someone's answer to a prayer.
You may think that what you just did was not very big or very insignificant, but to someone else it could be monumental.
How you spend your "off time" should be in buidling yourself up, finding fulfillment in your callings and abilities, enjoying your family, children, husband, friends or an occassional pet. Do not get lost in time wasters.
Be open to receive service.
Be quick to be of service.
Complaining, backbiting, mistrust, dishonesty, withholding support, gossiping and rudeness can tear a person down in a single moment.
When you feel lonely, go Visiting Teaching.
Be teachable.
Be grateful.
Ruffled feathers can be smoothed with prayer, apology, or kindness. Be the first to act, not the second.
Smile.
Do not dwell on the past. Look straight ahead. You will be healed in time, but keep your eye single to the Glory of God.
Man is not perfect, but God is.
Loose yourself in your calling.
And, so I make my gracious exit, with very few regrets, and full of hope and well wishes to the next president. What a beautiful thing it is to count blessings, be faithful, and be an instrument in the hands of God.
With love, dear Sisters.
Dawn
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Homemaker's Day Book
February 13, 2009
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Snowing. We have a slow moving front over us and it's supposed to dump 6-9 inches of snow. It's cold too, and the snow is wet. I suppose wet snow is great for making snowmen!
I AM THANKFUL FOR: Antibiotics. It's amazing how good you so quickly after taking them.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Pancakes and sausage for breakfast. Roasted chicken for dinner.
I AM READING: The Secret. Bubbles in Trouble.
I AM HEARING: The Lion King 1 1/2 for the 3rd time this morning!
I AM CREATING: Valentine's Day cards.
I AM GOING: Nowhere. Everyone is sick and there is no need to be out in snow like this. Unless it's for snowball fights or snowman making or sledding.
I AM HOPING: We all get better quickly.
AROUND THE HOUSE: I wish it looked different. I really love the Country Living magazines and their styles in there. I keep wanting to change out the look but my stuff just isn't working the right way. However, I am still grateful for the things I do have. They are worn and loved looking.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Watching snow fall.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Sorting out the storage room in the basement.
A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU: There's a state park out here called Ash Hollow. On Saturday we did a picnic out there since the weather was rather mild. Three significant things about Ash Hollow:
It was part of the Oregon trail to the west. Windlass hill was the highest hill they had to cross before reaching the mountains.
Crystal Lake was their drinking water, but looks like a mosquito-y swamp now.
In the hills and canyons formed out here, there are caves there that were used by prehistoric Indians. They've found fossils of Wooly Mammoths out there too.
Along the road leading up to the Windlass Hill entrance are boots turned upside down on fence posts. They symbolize the many travelers that wore out their boots on the Oregon Trail.
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Snowing. We have a slow moving front over us and it's supposed to dump 6-9 inches of snow. It's cold too, and the snow is wet. I suppose wet snow is great for making snowmen!
I AM THANKFUL FOR: Antibiotics. It's amazing how good you so quickly after taking them.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Pancakes and sausage for breakfast. Roasted chicken for dinner.
I AM READING: The Secret. Bubbles in Trouble.
I AM HEARING: The Lion King 1 1/2 for the 3rd time this morning!
I AM CREATING: Valentine's Day cards.
I AM GOING: Nowhere. Everyone is sick and there is no need to be out in snow like this. Unless it's for snowball fights or snowman making or sledding.
I AM HOPING: We all get better quickly.
AROUND THE HOUSE: I wish it looked different. I really love the Country Living magazines and their styles in there. I keep wanting to change out the look but my stuff just isn't working the right way. However, I am still grateful for the things I do have. They are worn and loved looking.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Watching snow fall.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Sorting out the storage room in the basement.
A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU: There's a state park out here called Ash Hollow. On Saturday we did a picnic out there since the weather was rather mild. Three significant things about Ash Hollow:
It was part of the Oregon trail to the west. Windlass hill was the highest hill they had to cross before reaching the mountains.
Crystal Lake was their drinking water, but looks like a mosquito-y swamp now.
In the hills and canyons formed out here, there are caves there that were used by prehistoric Indians. They've found fossils of Wooly Mammoths out there too.
Along the road leading up to the Windlass Hill entrance are boots turned upside down on fence posts. They symbolize the many travelers that wore out their boots on the Oregon Trail.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
What Do You DO All Day?
I have been reading some blogs of ladies that are mothers to 9-15 children. Huge families! I feel like my 6 would probably be a vacation for them. However, even though I have a large family myself, I'm still so very fascinated by the logistics of a large family. How do they keep up? Spend time with each child? Ensure everyone's needs are met? Mostly I'm looking for some kind of information that will be the magical key in how to raise and keep orderly children, a home, a laundry pile, and remember all the small day-to-day doings. Any family that is homeschooling is a bonus!
I've had some questions, some recent, some old, about how our family operates. Here's some of the queries:
Q. How do you handle being with the same 6 kids day in and day out?
A. Curtis has always been very good about letting me take some time to myself to regroup outside the home. Going to get a soda, picking up a few things from the store, going to a church activity, even just sitting in my van in the quiet on the top of a hill. I may only be gone for 15 minutes to a couple of hours, but that's enough to help me recharge and get re-energized. The times that I feel the best after "taking a break" have been when I've attended a church function and felt edified and enjoyed time with other women all for the same cause and purpose. I think that if my kids went to school I would be lost with what to do all day. At times when I've only had one or two at home with me while all the others are gone for some kind of activity, I really marvel at how easy it comes to me to just have two in my care. Feels like a vacation!
Q. What's your food bill for one month?
A. We don't buy a lot of junk or sugary foods (mind you, sometimes we do splurge on a bag of cookies or french fries), and a lot of stuff I make from scratch. I'm able to keep it around 500.00 a month. About 2-3 times a year I stock up on bulk foods from Sam's Club or Cash Wa and that fills in the gaps. We do not eat like gourmet cooks, but we do not live on hot dogs and mac and cheee.
Q. Have you considered using cloth diapers?
A. Curtis and I had a heated discussion about this when Hannah was about to be born. I really wanted to try them and he did not and actually refused to ever change diapers again if the baby was wearing a cloth diaper. He also warned that they would disappear if he had clean them in the toilet (meaning: flushed down the toilet). I needed the help and I didn't put up too much of a fight. After figuring out the cost and time it would take, plus having two kids in diapers most of the time, it wasn't feasible or affordable. If I had just one or two kids, I would consider it again, feeling I would have time and patience for such things. With 6, I just don't.
Q. Haven't you figured out what causes pregnancy?
A. Yes.
Q. How do you homeschool with all those kids all different ages?
A. We try to get our stuff done in the mornings, but since Ammon was born we have sometimes found it easier to keep the older ones up after 8:00 pm and school until 10 when we don't have little hands and bodies and voices to distract us. I love doing it in the morning, but I've had to be flexible. After a new baby comes, we can't do school in the afternoon because I can't stay awake. Now that Ammon is older and taking an afternoon nap, along with Joshua, we jump at that opportunity to get stuff done when their curious little beings aren't getting involved.
We also do a whole family curriculum. This has helped relieve a lot of pressure of teaching so many individual subjects. The older boys do more in the way of writing and math than Hannah, but I do keep a workbook available for Hannah so she can feel as productive as the boys. She's still learning to read.
Q. Why do you homeschool?
A. Isaac and Jesse completed two years in public school. By the end of the second year Isaa was a mess. We didn't know he was autistic, but a teacher had suggested maybe homeschooling would be a great help for Isaac because he demanded so much one on one time, and she was right. I kept Jesse home because he seemed advanced and was bored at school. This is our 4th year and it's only gotten better. Isaac has had ups and downs, but he's improved. Jesse has excelled. Hannah is just really starting this year and she's getting better, but I think she has some learning disabilities and so it's been a challenge for her. The stress from homeschooling still does not equal the stress of sending them off to school, listening to them peel Isaac off the side of the car every morning and calling every afternoon when he had a meltdown.
Q. What's your schedule like?
A.
6:30-7:30 various people waking up and getting breakfast.
8:00 Curtis to work and chores start
9:00 School starts
10:00-11:30 snack and break and back to work
12:30 lunch
1:30-3:45 naps for babies, older kids finish up school projects and more chores.
3:45-5:30 play time for the kids
6:30 dinner
7:00 baths and Ammon to bed.
8:00 Hannah and little boys to bed
9:00 Older boys to bed, after reading, quiet movie watching or talking, showers.
10:30-12:00 sometime we go to bed, lights out.
12:01 Ammon up for midnight feeding.
Some days feel like Rinse, Lather, Repeat. But the predictability is good for the kids. Meltdowns are getting less and less as we get better about keeping to the schedule.
Q. How much laundry do you have?
A. Too much. I try to keep up on doing at least 2 loads a day. If we miss a day or two, we are quickly up to 7 loads, and even more if we have bedding to wash or towels.
Q. How do you do chores for your kids?
A. I tried several different variations of chore charts and they just were not working. I finally assigned the ABC chores. A: dishes, meal helper, living room, Simeon's helper. B: pet care, trash, bathrooms, Joshua's helper. C: laundry, drinks and silverware, schoolroom, Ammon's helper. The next day the move down a letter (so A is now on B, and B is now on C, etc.)
Q. How do you discipline your kids?
A. I actually had a doctor tell me that for Isaac, we would have to change up our punishments frequently. I might be creative, but I'm not that creative, and especially not in the heat of the moment. This is something that has evolved for us. Unfortunately kids don't come with instruction manuals so it's something that every parent has to figure out. Beating, humilitation, deprivation have never been my favorites, I was not raised like that and so I try not to allow it done for my kids.
We have found worse behavior when we are not consistant with discipline. The kids just don't know what to expect: time out? running laps? letter of written apology?
We do practice an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. "You break it, you either replace it or break your own or pay for it." Time outs in the corner for rude behavior or defiant behavior. Grounding to bedrooms for a couple of hours for out of control behavior (hitting, biting, stealing). Toy removal for fights over objects or teasing. Extra chores for destructive behavior. Play time cut back for chores undone or done badly. Potty language gets them a writing assignment or hot sauce if it's available (haven't had that in awhile though).
Q. Did you set out to have this many kids?
A. No, but we didn't prevent them from coming either. Curtis has always been more of a "along for the ride" type of guy and I've always wanted a large family. I feel lucky I have a husband who allows me the privilege of having all these kids.
Well, hope that satisfies some curiousity. I better get to bed.
I've had some questions, some recent, some old, about how our family operates. Here's some of the queries:
Q. How do you handle being with the same 6 kids day in and day out?
A. Curtis has always been very good about letting me take some time to myself to regroup outside the home. Going to get a soda, picking up a few things from the store, going to a church activity, even just sitting in my van in the quiet on the top of a hill. I may only be gone for 15 minutes to a couple of hours, but that's enough to help me recharge and get re-energized. The times that I feel the best after "taking a break" have been when I've attended a church function and felt edified and enjoyed time with other women all for the same cause and purpose. I think that if my kids went to school I would be lost with what to do all day. At times when I've only had one or two at home with me while all the others are gone for some kind of activity, I really marvel at how easy it comes to me to just have two in my care. Feels like a vacation!
Q. What's your food bill for one month?
A. We don't buy a lot of junk or sugary foods (mind you, sometimes we do splurge on a bag of cookies or french fries), and a lot of stuff I make from scratch. I'm able to keep it around 500.00 a month. About 2-3 times a year I stock up on bulk foods from Sam's Club or Cash Wa and that fills in the gaps. We do not eat like gourmet cooks, but we do not live on hot dogs and mac and cheee.
Q. Have you considered using cloth diapers?
A. Curtis and I had a heated discussion about this when Hannah was about to be born. I really wanted to try them and he did not and actually refused to ever change diapers again if the baby was wearing a cloth diaper. He also warned that they would disappear if he had clean them in the toilet (meaning: flushed down the toilet). I needed the help and I didn't put up too much of a fight. After figuring out the cost and time it would take, plus having two kids in diapers most of the time, it wasn't feasible or affordable. If I had just one or two kids, I would consider it again, feeling I would have time and patience for such things. With 6, I just don't.
Q. Haven't you figured out what causes pregnancy?
A. Yes.
Q. How do you homeschool with all those kids all different ages?
A. We try to get our stuff done in the mornings, but since Ammon was born we have sometimes found it easier to keep the older ones up after 8:00 pm and school until 10 when we don't have little hands and bodies and voices to distract us. I love doing it in the morning, but I've had to be flexible. After a new baby comes, we can't do school in the afternoon because I can't stay awake. Now that Ammon is older and taking an afternoon nap, along with Joshua, we jump at that opportunity to get stuff done when their curious little beings aren't getting involved.
We also do a whole family curriculum. This has helped relieve a lot of pressure of teaching so many individual subjects. The older boys do more in the way of writing and math than Hannah, but I do keep a workbook available for Hannah so she can feel as productive as the boys. She's still learning to read.
Q. Why do you homeschool?
A. Isaac and Jesse completed two years in public school. By the end of the second year Isaa was a mess. We didn't know he was autistic, but a teacher had suggested maybe homeschooling would be a great help for Isaac because he demanded so much one on one time, and she was right. I kept Jesse home because he seemed advanced and was bored at school. This is our 4th year and it's only gotten better. Isaac has had ups and downs, but he's improved. Jesse has excelled. Hannah is just really starting this year and she's getting better, but I think she has some learning disabilities and so it's been a challenge for her. The stress from homeschooling still does not equal the stress of sending them off to school, listening to them peel Isaac off the side of the car every morning and calling every afternoon when he had a meltdown.
Q. What's your schedule like?
A.
6:30-7:30 various people waking up and getting breakfast.
8:00 Curtis to work and chores start
9:00 School starts
10:00-11:30 snack and break and back to work
12:30 lunch
1:30-3:45 naps for babies, older kids finish up school projects and more chores.
3:45-5:30 play time for the kids
6:30 dinner
7:00 baths and Ammon to bed.
8:00 Hannah and little boys to bed
9:00 Older boys to bed, after reading, quiet movie watching or talking, showers.
10:30-12:00 sometime we go to bed, lights out.
12:01 Ammon up for midnight feeding.
Some days feel like Rinse, Lather, Repeat. But the predictability is good for the kids. Meltdowns are getting less and less as we get better about keeping to the schedule.
Q. How much laundry do you have?
A. Too much. I try to keep up on doing at least 2 loads a day. If we miss a day or two, we are quickly up to 7 loads, and even more if we have bedding to wash or towels.
Q. How do you do chores for your kids?
A. I tried several different variations of chore charts and they just were not working. I finally assigned the ABC chores. A: dishes, meal helper, living room, Simeon's helper. B: pet care, trash, bathrooms, Joshua's helper. C: laundry, drinks and silverware, schoolroom, Ammon's helper. The next day the move down a letter (so A is now on B, and B is now on C, etc.)
Q. How do you discipline your kids?
A. I actually had a doctor tell me that for Isaac, we would have to change up our punishments frequently. I might be creative, but I'm not that creative, and especially not in the heat of the moment. This is something that has evolved for us. Unfortunately kids don't come with instruction manuals so it's something that every parent has to figure out. Beating, humilitation, deprivation have never been my favorites, I was not raised like that and so I try not to allow it done for my kids.
We have found worse behavior when we are not consistant with discipline. The kids just don't know what to expect: time out? running laps? letter of written apology?
We do practice an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. "You break it, you either replace it or break your own or pay for it." Time outs in the corner for rude behavior or defiant behavior. Grounding to bedrooms for a couple of hours for out of control behavior (hitting, biting, stealing). Toy removal for fights over objects or teasing. Extra chores for destructive behavior. Play time cut back for chores undone or done badly. Potty language gets them a writing assignment or hot sauce if it's available (haven't had that in awhile though).
Q. Did you set out to have this many kids?
A. No, but we didn't prevent them from coming either. Curtis has always been more of a "along for the ride" type of guy and I've always wanted a large family. I feel lucky I have a husband who allows me the privilege of having all these kids.
Well, hope that satisfies some curiousity. I better get to bed.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Movie Review: Newsies
I love a wholesome, family movie. There's nothing more uncomfortable than squirming in your seat if there is something inappropriate in a movie and trying to decide if its "bad enough" to turn it off or question "did the kids understand it". I don't like having to go through that, so here is another movie that we enjoy as a family.
Newsies- A musical about the 1899 newsboy strike.
Shiloah's Review: My daughter's are in love with the "young Christian Bale" from Newsies. My son loves the manly dancing and singing. We all love the music and the movie.
If you love musicals- you'll love this one!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
There's Nothing Like....
...finding a turd on the floor left by a potty training toddler.
...children who are quiet all day and then grow horns and purple spots when taken to a baptism at church.
....trails of laundry so thick next to the laundry room that you try not to fall and break your neck going to the bathroom.
....finding a dried turd fall off of clothing warm from the dryer because your autistic child still isn't potty trained.
....trying to figure out the mystery funky smell in the Suburban.
....listening to your two year old playing "this little piggy" with her toes while riding in the truck.
....finding mascara painted on the door of the bathroom, the cabinets, and your toddler's face.
....having a big family. I sure do love them, turds and all.
...children who are quiet all day and then grow horns and purple spots when taken to a baptism at church.
....trails of laundry so thick next to the laundry room that you try not to fall and break your neck going to the bathroom.
....finding a dried turd fall off of clothing warm from the dryer because your autistic child still isn't potty trained.
....trying to figure out the mystery funky smell in the Suburban.
....listening to your two year old playing "this little piggy" with her toes while riding in the truck.
....finding mascara painted on the door of the bathroom, the cabinets, and your toddler's face.
....having a big family. I sure do love them, turds and all.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Please Don't Make Me Watch Another Dog Movie
With the crying and the sappy brown eyes and the homelessness and the drool. I cannot take it! We went to see Hotel of Dogs tonight. It was a pretty good movie. Isaac has been hopping up and down to see this movie since McDonalds came out with the stuffed dog toys. Isaac is collecting Littlest Petshop toys, reading dog books, watching every possible dog movie ever made (Lassie is BANNED from this house), and Bella walks on water. The unfortunate thing is that I'm just as into and attached to the dogs as he is.
Side note to tonight's activities. When we got to the movie theater (a two screen theater in the only theater in town), all of Ogallala's 8-11 year old population was in attendence. Hannah and I sat in the middle, while the boys chose the second row of seats, right behind girls they knew. At one time I would have balked at them asserting some independence in the movie theater, now I kind of giggle to myself. There were some tear jerker parts and at the end of it, Isaac rushes up the aisle to me and tells me "I cried." Hannah sitting beside me asked during the crucial parts "Is this part supposed to be sad?"
*Sniff*...oh good grief, I was crying, and half the theater. Even his friend that went with them tonight cried. Jesse, the tough guy, only admitted to crying in one movie: in Star Wars when Darth Vader pushed Princess Leia down...or the mother of her anyway (can't remember her name..Panda Bear, Pandamonium). Wha?! How does that even compare to the sniffles induced by cute, homeless dogs!? Anyway, dog movies: I just can't handle them. And I always check them out cautiously. Anything that makes me feel like I'm going to heave up my spleen from crying so hard is just not worth watching again.
"Oh yeah", my neighbors will say. "You're that one that lost it during Lassie Come Home part 73". I am the one.
Side note to tonight's activities. When we got to the movie theater (a two screen theater in the only theater in town), all of Ogallala's 8-11 year old population was in attendence. Hannah and I sat in the middle, while the boys chose the second row of seats, right behind girls they knew. At one time I would have balked at them asserting some independence in the movie theater, now I kind of giggle to myself. There were some tear jerker parts and at the end of it, Isaac rushes up the aisle to me and tells me "I cried." Hannah sitting beside me asked during the crucial parts "Is this part supposed to be sad?"
*Sniff*...oh good grief, I was crying, and half the theater. Even his friend that went with them tonight cried. Jesse, the tough guy, only admitted to crying in one movie: in Star Wars when Darth Vader pushed Princess Leia down...or the mother of her anyway (can't remember her name..Panda Bear, Pandamonium). Wha?! How does that even compare to the sniffles induced by cute, homeless dogs!? Anyway, dog movies: I just can't handle them. And I always check them out cautiously. Anything that makes me feel like I'm going to heave up my spleen from crying so hard is just not worth watching again.
"Oh yeah", my neighbors will say. "You're that one that lost it during Lassie Come Home part 73". I am the one.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Mr. Paranoid of the Ocean Guy
Since we have an ocean/island theme on here, I had to post this!! Curtis made me listen to this today, swearing it "was so you". (I am not promoting Budwiser beer, but some of these commercials are dang funny). Sorry, I can't figure out how to make this a link, so you'll have to copy and paste it into your browser window.
http://thefuntimesguide.com/photogallery/2004/11/not_willing_to.php
http://thefuntimesguide.com/photogallery/2004/11/not_willing_to.php
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A Homemaker's Day Book
February 4, 2009
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Beautiful day and even prettier night. It was in the 50's today so the kids were outside running the stink off and the windows were thrown open for fresh air. Tonight the sky was clear and the half moon shining brightly. We could see the Little Dipper and Venus. The contrails looked bright as well, almost like several Milky Ways.
I AM THANKFUL FOR: A husband that is willing to do just about anything for me when I'm sick or injured, like staying home from work and keeping up with the house and kids...even washing my hair and shaving my legs for me. He refuses to make playdough to entertain the kids however, but I forgive him.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Roast beef made like a beer brisket. Can.not.wait.
I AM READING: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark. Homeschooling and Asperger's Syndrome.
I AM HEARING: Joshua sitting under my desk singing.
I AM CREATING: Nothing. All things are on hold until I can move my arm again.
I AM GOING: Nowhere. After running around all last week I'm determined to stay home this week and focus on school and cleaning the house.
I AM HOPING: To see Ammon take his first steps soon. He stood up all by himself tonight!
AROUND THE HOUSE: I love Ammon's room. It's the most peaceful, quietest and prettiest room in the whole house. I love to clean it up, even if it's just picking up a few toys and refilling the diaper stash.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: I love taking pictures of stuff. I took a few of the kids tonight and I love catching them off guard, when they look natural and not hamming it up for an audience.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Nothing. Rinse, lather, repeat. Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc.
A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU: This is my grandma at 92 years old. I think her roses are beautiful and I think she looks wonderful for being 92. I miss her. My sister and I used to go spend the night at her house when we were little and play Beauty Shop and Mail Room (table with a blanket over it to make the post office and she'd save up her junk mail for us). In the morning she would make salty fried potatoes and pancakes. She spoke Danish with her sister so we wouldn't her the gossip. I used to beg her to teach me Dane, but she never did, that just wasn't what you did. Her parents immigrated from Denmark. Grandma was a beautiful cake decorator and she was really good at painting. Mom said she could come up with the prettiest things out of old stuff laying around. I miss those days when I was little and hung out with her. There was always time for mushy hugs and kisses and sitting on the porch chatting.
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Beautiful day and even prettier night. It was in the 50's today so the kids were outside running the stink off and the windows were thrown open for fresh air. Tonight the sky was clear and the half moon shining brightly. We could see the Little Dipper and Venus. The contrails looked bright as well, almost like several Milky Ways.
I AM THANKFUL FOR: A husband that is willing to do just about anything for me when I'm sick or injured, like staying home from work and keeping up with the house and kids...even washing my hair and shaving my legs for me. He refuses to make playdough to entertain the kids however, but I forgive him.
FROM THE KITCHEN: Roast beef made like a beer brisket. Can.not.wait.
I AM READING: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark. Homeschooling and Asperger's Syndrome.
I AM HEARING: Joshua sitting under my desk singing.
I AM CREATING: Nothing. All things are on hold until I can move my arm again.
I AM GOING: Nowhere. After running around all last week I'm determined to stay home this week and focus on school and cleaning the house.
I AM HOPING: To see Ammon take his first steps soon. He stood up all by himself tonight!
AROUND THE HOUSE: I love Ammon's room. It's the most peaceful, quietest and prettiest room in the whole house. I love to clean it up, even if it's just picking up a few toys and refilling the diaper stash.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: I love taking pictures of stuff. I took a few of the kids tonight and I love catching them off guard, when they look natural and not hamming it up for an audience.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Nothing. Rinse, lather, repeat. Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc.
A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU: This is my grandma at 92 years old. I think her roses are beautiful and I think she looks wonderful for being 92. I miss her. My sister and I used to go spend the night at her house when we were little and play Beauty Shop and Mail Room (table with a blanket over it to make the post office and she'd save up her junk mail for us). In the morning she would make salty fried potatoes and pancakes. She spoke Danish with her sister so we wouldn't her the gossip. I used to beg her to teach me Dane, but she never did, that just wasn't what you did. Her parents immigrated from Denmark. Grandma was a beautiful cake decorator and she was really good at painting. Mom said she could come up with the prettiest things out of old stuff laying around. I miss those days when I was little and hung out with her. There was always time for mushy hugs and kisses and sitting on the porch chatting.
Mock Chicken Fried Steak
I did a little experimenting in the kitchen last week and came up with this recipe. It was so yummy and not that hard to make! This recipe serves 8.
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 c. sour cream
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
2 eggs
1 c. cracker crumbs
1 c. cracker crumbs for breading
6 T. oil
Mix the ground beef, sour cream, soup, eggs and cracker crumbs together, as if you are making meatloaf. Roll into 1/4 c. balls and flatten. Coat in the cracker crumbs. Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the "steaks" until done in the middle. Serve with milk gravy.
Milk Gravy
3 T. butter
3 T. flour
2-3 c. milk
dash of garlic
1 t. pepper
1/2 t. salt
Melt the butter. Add the flour to make a roux. Let it brown a bit. Add the 2 cups milk and spices and stir until thicken over medium heat. If it's too think add more milk.
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 c. sour cream
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
2 eggs
1 c. cracker crumbs
1 c. cracker crumbs for breading
6 T. oil
Mix the ground beef, sour cream, soup, eggs and cracker crumbs together, as if you are making meatloaf. Roll into 1/4 c. balls and flatten. Coat in the cracker crumbs. Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the "steaks" until done in the middle. Serve with milk gravy.
Milk Gravy
3 T. butter
3 T. flour
2-3 c. milk
dash of garlic
1 t. pepper
1/2 t. salt
Melt the butter. Add the flour to make a roux. Let it brown a bit. Add the 2 cups milk and spices and stir until thicken over medium heat. If it's too think add more milk.
Speaking of Jelly....
Here's a wonderful recipe for Orange-Maraschino Cherry jelly. Tastes like heaven!!! I got this recipe from Shiloah. Both of us have doubled this recipe and had success both times, however do not use the liquid pectin gel as that did not set up at all. When I have made it, I used pint size mason jars and I got about 5.5-6 jars of jelly. These are so pretty when they get done!
2 cups water
1 6 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 pkg. powdered pectin (do not use the liquid gel stuff).
3 3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. finely chopped maraschino cherries
In a saucepan, cook together water, orange juice and pectin until bubbles form around the edge, stirring constantly. Add sugar and cherries; bring to boil 1/2 minute, stirring.
Remove from heat. Skim and stir for 5 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars. Wipe the outside of each jar.
After filling each jar, take a spatula and slide around the inside edges of the jar between the jar and contents. This will remove any air bubbles. Wipe jars again and add lids and rings till hand tight.
Process the jelly in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. Let cool
Makes about 6 jelly glasses.
2 cups water
1 6 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 pkg. powdered pectin (do not use the liquid gel stuff).
3 3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. finely chopped maraschino cherries
In a saucepan, cook together water, orange juice and pectin until bubbles form around the edge, stirring constantly. Add sugar and cherries; bring to boil 1/2 minute, stirring.
Remove from heat. Skim and stir for 5 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars. Wipe the outside of each jar.
After filling each jar, take a spatula and slide around the inside edges of the jar between the jar and contents. This will remove any air bubbles. Wipe jars again and add lids and rings till hand tight.
Process the jelly in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. Let cool
Makes about 6 jelly glasses.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Jelly Biscuit Game
Anyone remember making up games as a kid? I had stuff like Friend and Sherry (hosue), and Table and Chair (sitting under the table eating block sandwiches). You know, boring stuff. Today I talked to the kids about team work and how to be part of a team. This was a lesson following "the art of negotiation". I'm working on trying to teach the kids social skills since the fighting with each other has gotten out of hand. Today was really good and they worked together really well too. Usually Jesse doesn't participate in the games that Isaac thinks up for Hannah to get motivated, but tonight he did, and Hannah came to report to me how they got such a huge job of cleaning her room done in 15 minutes.
They played "The Jelly Biscuit Game" which is also known as "Jelly McJelly". The object of the game is that two biscuits are running around (cleaning) and if the biscuits get "slobbered" on by the jelly, then they have to say "I've been jellied on." Once you've been jellied you become the jelly and the other cleaners become biscuits. Hannah did assure me that no germs were exchanged in the slobbering of the jelly. How this works to clean up a room, I have no idea, but I'm not going to complain since they got their job done, and quickly.
I got a good chuckle out of that.
What are made up games you've played as a kid?
They played "The Jelly Biscuit Game" which is also known as "Jelly McJelly". The object of the game is that two biscuits are running around (cleaning) and if the biscuits get "slobbered" on by the jelly, then they have to say "I've been jellied on." Once you've been jellied you become the jelly and the other cleaners become biscuits. Hannah did assure me that no germs were exchanged in the slobbering of the jelly. How this works to clean up a room, I have no idea, but I'm not going to complain since they got their job done, and quickly.
I got a good chuckle out of that.
What are made up games you've played as a kid?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)