Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Updates and Ramblings

This is really long and random, but I wanted to update (and complain) a little...

When I blogged about how healthy my kids have been, Jeremy insisted that I jinxed it. However, my kids were already starting to get sick when I wrote it- that's actually what prompted me to blog about it. So anyhoo, all three kids were sick for about two weeks and missed a week of school. It was pretty exhausting, but it was the first sickness this school year, so I felt pretty blessed for that. I've had the same sickness for about 4 days now, and I can't believe how brutal it is. Last Saturday I was in bed all day and Emma kept checking on me- she told me she would be the mommy and take care of me. Anything I needed, she was anxious to bring it to me. I asked Landon to get me water once and he told me he wanted credit on his chore chart for it. Boys.

Livi has been on an eating strike. One day she bit into something and screamed bloody murder. I thought she bit her tongue or cheek so I looked in her mouth for bleeding and saw that her gums were completely swolen. She's getting four molars at once! Since that day, she hasn't eaten a thing. It's been three weeks. Yup, no food for three weeks. Her speech therapist came over today and when we discussed her babyrexia, she suggested we join their feeding class. Seriously, a feeding class. Who knew. So, I guess in addition to speech therapy, she will now be attending a feeding class. Whatever.

One highlight of our week was watching cute little Whitney. The way the kids doted on her, you would think she was a new puppy. They loved it.




Landon and Emma have been in swimming lessons for the last few weeks. I've had them in lessons before, but with six kids in the class, they never really learned anything. These lessons are just the two of them and so now they are progressing very quickly! Landon is also in Scouts and both kids start soccer again this Saturday. It's busy, but we love it!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Enjoying The View

I was changing Livi's diaper when I saw some deer outside the window. I went to grab my camera, and when I returned, this is what I saw...

What a view!!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Livi's First Hair Cut

I just couldn't take the mullet anymore...



So, we took a little trip to Cookie Cutters...



She didn't cry but she wasn't exactly happy about it...



The end result...



Those curls have a mind of their own. Love it!



Monday, March 16, 2009

The Truth Hurts

Leave it to kids to tell you exactly how it is. As I was sitting on the ground changing Livi's diaper, my beautiful daughter, Emma had some wise words to impart:

"Mom, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but your legs kind of look chubby like Livi's."

Thanks sweetie. After a night of no sleep, taking two sick kids to the doctor, and spending a rare spring-like day indoors doing laundry...you sure know how to make a girl feel good.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Show n' Tell- Chore Chart

My kids have always been good about doing chores. Typically, it's something small, like picking up their toys or clearing the table. I've been wanting them to learn how to do more things around the house, not only to help me, but to teach them things they will need to know later in life (okay, mostly to help me out). Like all kids, they started to complain about how much I was asking them to do, or asking what they would get for it. I decided to give them a weekly allowance, but it still didn't really motivate them. After a while, they would say they didn't want to do the chores because they didn't really need the money for anything, and once I overheard Emma giving Landon a $10 bill because her wallet was too full. I realized that I needed a new reward system.

I found the perfect solution.




These chore charts are so cute as well as functional. They allow the kids to see all of their chores for the day and when they finish a chore, they put it in the pocket. At the end of the night, when all the chores are in the pocket, they move their marker up the ladder towards the reward. The reward is decided together at the beginning of each week. I can't believe how much more motivated they are to spend a day with Dad, or have a play-date, or a new toy.

They check the chart every morning after breakfast and make their beds before school. Then as soon as they get home they start working on the rest. It includes some things they should do anyway- like homework or baths, but it makes them more proactive in doing them. I've also introduced some new things like dishes, laundry and vacuuming. I've never had them as chores before, because I'm pretty anal particular about how I like things done. However, I knew I would need to get over it and let them do it their own way. It has saved me a lot of time doing some of the small things that they are perfectly capable of doing anyway. Plus, I feel like they are learning good life lessons about responsibility and the value of hard work.


Emma folded those towels and put them little piles. I thought she did a great job and she didn't even see me re-fold them before I put them away.

Anyway, I found these at etsy.com, but anyone that is even a little crafty (which I certainly am not) could probably figure out how to make them.

Friday, March 13, 2009

The Pen

I've been really good about not watching the news, but still need to do a better job at reading less of it. This morning, I was reading about Bernie Madoff and his new schedule in jail.

6:00- Lights on
6:30- Breakfast
7:45- TV & Ping Pong
11:00- Lunch
3:30- Recreation
5:00- Dinner
11:00- Lights Out

Is it just me, or does that schedule sound like heaven?

I might need to go steal a pack of gum today...

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Good Bye Brian Williams

I've always been really interested in the news, current events, politics, and economics. I watch The Today Show, The 5:00 & 10:00 news, MSNBC, and Suzie Orman, among others.

Usually Jeremy and I love to discuss politics and current events, but while sharing my views over lunch yesterday, Jeremy informed my overall outlook is too depressing for him. I'm usually a pretty optimistic person, so being perceived as negative wasn't cool.

As we all know, the only thing discussed on the news anymore is the recession, unemployment, and house foreclosures. I didn't realize that hearing nothing but negativity has been worse for me than the problems themselves. I have a great life; my husband provides for our family, I have food and shelter, good health, and a happy marriage. Yet, I've been sucked into the world of doom and gloom.

I have a friend that recently told me she never watches the news. We were discussing the plane that landed in the Hudson River, and she didn't know about it. I thought it was so odd that she doesn't know what's going on in the world around her. But now I'm thinking she's on to something. How was her life any worse off by not knowing that event occurred? Isn't it most important to know what's going on with my husband, my family, my kids, and my friends? Anything else really shouldn't matter.

So, I'm taking Jeremy's advice and I'm no longer going to watch the news. I'm going to submerge myself into Reality TV and People Magazine. Heck, I might even go as far as read a fictional book...maybe even Twilight *Gasp*.

Since Jeremy suggested I do this, he promised he wouldn't make fun of me if the only discussions we have are about Jessica Simpson being fat, or who was kicked off of Survivor. So don't be surprised if a nuclear bomb goes off in Southern Utah and I'm completely unaware.

So long Brian Williams. Farewell Matt Lauer. Goodbye cruel world. I'm heading to the world of make believe where I can be happy.

Ignorance is Bliss.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

W.U.W.M.E?

whats
up
with
my
eye?






a) spider bite
b) ran into chris brown on the street
c) ate non-organic chicken
d) didn't do the dishes to jeremy's satisfaction
e) trying too hard to master a sexy wink