You’d think that with all my children in school for at least part of the day I would be able to resurrect my blog a little easier.
The quads are in kindergarten in the mornings now. I chose morning thinking that I would be a morning person, get them all moving and out the door so I had the rest of the day while they were gone. I had so many things dreamed up for the glorious three hours each morning. I have finished my schooling and can now call myself BYU alumni. Hooray! That’s one thing I won’t be doing during the time kids are at school.
When my kids are in school I will clean the house. You will never find laundry sitting around waiting to be folded or put away. Certainly there will not be any piles of it blocking the walkway to any room or hallway! I will always have clean dishes and a hot home made meal on the table for dinner every day. I will get to grocery shop alone price check and use coupons! I will even have plenty of time to read the labels and avoid the unwanted additives.
That can’t take that long, maybe a week. I do have three hours every day after all, well only two on Fridays. What will I do with the rest of the year? I will paint the house, reorganize and get everything that is not wanted out to DI or good will. I will have the closets usable, even the floors will be used for the organizing of shoes. Bottling the food and harvesting the garden.
I will read books, write, and create all sorts of amazing things! Look forward to a homemade something or other for Christmas. They are coming! I’ve got time for sewing, quilting, painting, nailing, hot gluing, and inventing. In my spare time, I will have to take on a few charities to avoid boredom.
Oh, perhaps it is time I let my body recover from having all those kids. Months of bed rest and birthing quadruplets has done a number on me. Not to forget the countless hours of doing homework to get the degree. I now have plenty of time for ME! Exercise and meal planning her I come! No, wait. A nap! I might take a nap. There’s so much to do I can’t decide. I better make a plan first.
So here I am two weeks into the kindergarten thing. I thought I would work in the walking and exercising while getting the kids to school. It’s not that far to walk. That happened once. Only one time. Instead we are running late looking for homework that has mysteriously disappeared. Why do they send so much stuff home with kindergarteners? What can I do to convince them that I will look at all of their things if they would just wait their turn? Will they ever learn that if you take it out, it has to go back? Maybe if we can find a pathway through the laundry we will find the missing homework. I decided that it didn’t really matter. How much trouble can a kindergartner get into for losing their homework?
We have been driving everyday. I tell them, “Hurry get in the line the classes are going in to the school now!” Then I look at Lily. “Lily, where are your shoes?”
“I don’t know. I can’t find them.”
“You can’t go to school without shoes on.”
“Oh.”
I guess I should have been looking for shoes instead of homework. We have a sharp learning curve here. The next day when I was waking them up for school they said, “We did that yesterday.” And another said, “Again?”
Needless to say, you can not find the floor in our house yet. This is the only thing I have written since my papers for school were turned in. We have not been on time. We have not been walking. We have not been eating homemade delicious and nutritious meals every day. (But dry cereal counts right?) The house is not painted. And none of the Christmas gifts have been completed yet. I didn’t even take a nap yet!
What do I have to show for it? I have been exercising, other than the crisis run for the door to get to school. Friendships have been reconnected. Two blankets have been crocheted around the edges (that charity bit I told you about) A great book is halfway read. Along with the lost shoes, I have lost two pounds and what little of my mind was left.
I am so excited to get on a routine someday in the future. I am much wiser now knowing that three hours is still only three hours, even with no kids around.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Silent auction/fundraiser
In regards to my brother's cancer (which is now stage 4) and the fundraiser we are holding in his honor we are opening the silent auction for anyone who wants to participate.
Please email or let us know in some other private manner (this is a silent auction) if you would like to make a bid. The bidding will end at the dinner (mentioned in the previous posting) on February 5 at 7:30PM with winners announced by 8:00 PM.
When bidding on an auction item please refer to it by listed name (A, B, 16, etc.)
A) Cater your event for up to 100 people with the best Dutch oven style dinner (or breakfast) this side the Mississippi! Options include BBQ chicken with potatoes and cobbler, BBQ ribs with potatoes and cobbler, Lasagna and vegetables with cobbler, or Mountain Man breakfast. Valued at over $1000. Starting bid: $500.00
B) Experience the adventure of a lifetime on a trek in the beautiful Grand Canyon, The Tetons, San Juan Mountains, The Lower Paria Canyon, High Uintahs Wilderness, or top Mt. Whitney! Have somewhere else on your bucket list? Your guides will take you and up to four of your friends there during the 2012 season, after the coaching, training, guidance, and support needed to be prepared for such a backpacking trip. Make sure you take a camera! Valued up to $2,000. Starting bid: $300.00
C) Fly over the city in a helicopter with your sweetie, or if you’d rather a buddy. The winner of this auction will enjoy an hour of riding in a helicopter with up to three adults or two adults and 2 children. (Based upon weather conditions and availability. Good through May 31, 2011) Valued at up to $700.00 starting bid $200
D) Wrap yourself or a loved one in a fabulous hand stitched heirloom quilt. Valued up to $500.00 starting bid $50.00
E) These tickets will take you and someone special to the Sarah McLaughlin concert February 14, 2011. $25 towards dinner at Braza and a week of tanning are also included. Valued at $300. Starting bid: $150
F) Take a vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! Beaches, shopping, history, restaurants! This bid will get you 7 nights and 8 days for up to 4 people in a one bedroom unit at Raintree’s Club Regina! Valued at $2079. Does NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE. Starting bid: $300.00
G) Three days of that new car smell will be yours with this rental certificate from Budget Rental Car. (Must be over age 21. Some restrictions apply.) Valued at Starting bid: $50
H) Take a three day weekend with shiny new wheels! (You have to give it back after the weekend. Some restrictions apply.) from Budget Car and Truck Rental of Utah Valued at Starting bid: $50
16) 2 tickets to the Hale Center Theater “A Tale of Two Cities” 3/15/11 at 7:30 and $25 to Salt City Burger starting bid $25
17) Repertory Dance Theater tickets to Dancing the Green Map 3/31/11 at 7:30PM, $40 towards a dinner at Madeline’s Steakhouse, and 2 Log Haven Signature Desserts Value: $100+ Starting bid: $25.00
18) Two tickets to the Utah Symphony, $50 Tiberon Fine Dining, and 2 Log Haven Signature Desserts Valued over $100. Starting bid: $50.00
19) 2 tickets to the Hale Center Theater “A Tale of Two Cities” 3/15/11 at 7:30 and $30 to Asian Star Starting bid $30
20) 2 tickets to the Hale Center Theater “A Tale of Two Cities” 3/15/11 at 7:30 and $50 to Temple Square Hospitality (The Roof, etc.) starting bid: $30
21) 2 tickets to the Hale Center Theater “A Tale of Two Cities” 3/15/11 at 7:30 and 2 free dinners at Rodizio Grill Starting bid: $30
22) 2 tickets to Ballet West Bolero with Chaconne and Sinfonietta April 8th and 9th and April 13th-16th, $25 to Ruths Chris Steakhouse and a pound of Sees Chocolate. Valued at $95.00 Starting bid: $60
J) Want to explore this beautiful state but don’t want to get lost taking a hike in the Wasatch? The winner of this auction will have two guides to help them (the 2011 season between May and September) along with up to 7 friends, and one 3L hydration pack made by Platypus. Valued at over $100. Starting bid: $25.00
K) Want to explore this beautiful state but don’t want to get lost taking a hike in the Wasatch? The winner of this auction will have two guides to help them (the 2011 season between May and September) along with up to 7 friends, and one 3L hydration pack made by WFS Element Gear. Valued at over $100. Starting bid: $25.00
L) $1000 worth of orthodontic work! WOW! Starting bid: $200
M) Need some entertainment at your next kid party? How about an hour of face painting? Valued at $65.00 starting bid: $25
N) A day of pampering awaits you! Eyelash extensions, a color weave and cut, and gel toes valued at over $150. Starting bid: $50.00
O) Feel like a new do? Here’s a hair cut and gel toes for you. Valued at $40 starting
bid: $15.00
BIG raffle prizes ($5):
Romance basket includes: a night at the Holiday Inn Presidential Suite, Dinner for 2, Breakfast for 2, a photo session (unrelated to Holiday Inn) 2 Signature Desserts at the Log Haven, a pound of Sees Chocolates, Sparkling cider and glasses.
The family basket includes: 4 tickets to Bees games during May and June this year, Scales and Tails (Bringing the zoo to you, reptile class with petting worth $150) $25 to Smashburger, $25 to Boondocks, $10 to Leatherby’s, $25 to Fazoli’s, 2 free appetizers and 2 free desserts at Wingers, and a family photo session!
Jazz Basket includes: 2 tickets to a Jazz game, blanket, umbrella, autographed memorabilia, collector Jazz coke bottles, and a family photo session with your family, not with the Jazz. (Sorry.)
$2 raffle tickets can win tickets to just about everywhere such as Log Haven, Hale Center Theater, Utah Symphony, Bees Baseball games, Heirloom Restaurant, Café Rio, Rumbi Island Grill, Miller Motorcross, Beans and Brews, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Ballet West, Tiburon Fine Dining, Brighton ski passes, Texas Roadhouse, The Nail Room, Landis Salon, Iggy’s, Homemade sock monkeys, watches, hats, scarves, and more than we can list!
Please email or let us know in some other private manner (this is a silent auction) if you would like to make a bid. The bidding will end at the dinner (mentioned in the previous posting) on February 5 at 7:30PM with winners announced by 8:00 PM.
When bidding on an auction item please refer to it by listed name (A, B, 16, etc.)
A) Cater your event for up to 100 people with the best Dutch oven style dinner (or breakfast) this side the Mississippi! Options include BBQ chicken with potatoes and cobbler, BBQ ribs with potatoes and cobbler, Lasagna and vegetables with cobbler, or Mountain Man breakfast. Valued at over $1000. Starting bid: $500.00
B) Experience the adventure of a lifetime on a trek in the beautiful Grand Canyon, The Tetons, San Juan Mountains, The Lower Paria Canyon, High Uintahs Wilderness, or top Mt. Whitney! Have somewhere else on your bucket list? Your guides will take you and up to four of your friends there during the 2012 season, after the coaching, training, guidance, and support needed to be prepared for such a backpacking trip. Make sure you take a camera! Valued up to $2,000. Starting bid: $300.00
C) Fly over the city in a helicopter with your sweetie, or if you’d rather a buddy. The winner of this auction will enjoy an hour of riding in a helicopter with up to three adults or two adults and 2 children. (Based upon weather conditions and availability. Good through May 31, 2011) Valued at up to $700.00 starting bid $200
D) Wrap yourself or a loved one in a fabulous hand stitched heirloom quilt. Valued up to $500.00 starting bid $50.00
E) These tickets will take you and someone special to the Sarah McLaughlin concert February 14, 2011. $25 towards dinner at Braza and a week of tanning are also included. Valued at $300. Starting bid: $150
F) Take a vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! Beaches, shopping, history, restaurants! This bid will get you 7 nights and 8 days for up to 4 people in a one bedroom unit at Raintree’s Club Regina! Valued at $2079. Does NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE. Starting bid: $300.00
G) Three days of that new car smell will be yours with this rental certificate from Budget Rental Car. (Must be over age 21. Some restrictions apply.) Valued at Starting bid: $50
H) Take a three day weekend with shiny new wheels! (You have to give it back after the weekend. Some restrictions apply.) from Budget Car and Truck Rental of Utah Valued at Starting bid: $50
16) 2 tickets to the Hale Center Theater “A Tale of Two Cities” 3/15/11 at 7:30 and $25 to Salt City Burger starting bid $25
17) Repertory Dance Theater tickets to Dancing the Green Map 3/31/11 at 7:30PM, $40 towards a dinner at Madeline’s Steakhouse, and 2 Log Haven Signature Desserts Value: $100+ Starting bid: $25.00
18) Two tickets to the Utah Symphony, $50 Tiberon Fine Dining, and 2 Log Haven Signature Desserts Valued over $100. Starting bid: $50.00
19) 2 tickets to the Hale Center Theater “A Tale of Two Cities” 3/15/11 at 7:30 and $30 to Asian Star Starting bid $30
20) 2 tickets to the Hale Center Theater “A Tale of Two Cities” 3/15/11 at 7:30 and $50 to Temple Square Hospitality (The Roof, etc.) starting bid: $30
21) 2 tickets to the Hale Center Theater “A Tale of Two Cities” 3/15/11 at 7:30 and 2 free dinners at Rodizio Grill Starting bid: $30
22) 2 tickets to Ballet West Bolero with Chaconne and Sinfonietta April 8th and 9th and April 13th-16th, $25 to Ruths Chris Steakhouse and a pound of Sees Chocolate. Valued at $95.00 Starting bid: $60
J) Want to explore this beautiful state but don’t want to get lost taking a hike in the Wasatch? The winner of this auction will have two guides to help them (the 2011 season between May and September) along with up to 7 friends, and one 3L hydration pack made by Platypus. Valued at over $100. Starting bid: $25.00
K) Want to explore this beautiful state but don’t want to get lost taking a hike in the Wasatch? The winner of this auction will have two guides to help them (the 2011 season between May and September) along with up to 7 friends, and one 3L hydration pack made by WFS Element Gear. Valued at over $100. Starting bid: $25.00
L) $1000 worth of orthodontic work! WOW! Starting bid: $200
M) Need some entertainment at your next kid party? How about an hour of face painting? Valued at $65.00 starting bid: $25
N) A day of pampering awaits you! Eyelash extensions, a color weave and cut, and gel toes valued at over $150. Starting bid: $50.00
O) Feel like a new do? Here’s a hair cut and gel toes for you. Valued at $40 starting
bid: $15.00
BIG raffle prizes ($5):
Romance basket includes: a night at the Holiday Inn Presidential Suite, Dinner for 2, Breakfast for 2, a photo session (unrelated to Holiday Inn) 2 Signature Desserts at the Log Haven, a pound of Sees Chocolates, Sparkling cider and glasses.
The family basket includes: 4 tickets to Bees games during May and June this year, Scales and Tails (Bringing the zoo to you, reptile class with petting worth $150) $25 to Smashburger, $25 to Boondocks, $10 to Leatherby’s, $25 to Fazoli’s, 2 free appetizers and 2 free desserts at Wingers, and a family photo session!
Jazz Basket includes: 2 tickets to a Jazz game, blanket, umbrella, autographed memorabilia, collector Jazz coke bottles, and a family photo session with your family, not with the Jazz. (Sorry.)
$2 raffle tickets can win tickets to just about everywhere such as Log Haven, Hale Center Theater, Utah Symphony, Bees Baseball games, Heirloom Restaurant, Café Rio, Rumbi Island Grill, Miller Motorcross, Beans and Brews, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Ballet West, Tiburon Fine Dining, Brighton ski passes, Texas Roadhouse, The Nail Room, Landis Salon, Iggy’s, Homemade sock monkeys, watches, hats, scarves, and more than we can list!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Everyone's Invited!
To raise funds for the my brother's fight with cancer we are having a dinner ($10 each) of dutch oven lasagna, veggie, salad and garlic bread with cookies for dessert.
A silent auction including but not limited to:
A one hour helicopter ride for 4 people (2 adults and 2 children, or 3 adults)
two guided hikes in the Wasatch,
one guided back country trek for up to 5 people,
a catered dutch oven dinner for up to 100 people,
quilts, handmade watches, and more.
We will also have a raffle for great prizes donated from Subway and others. Raffle tickets $2.00 with bonus large item raffle ticket after 20 purchased tickets.
Feel free to invite your friends! We really appreciate any help or donations!!! Thank you!
Saturday, February 5 • 5:00pm - 8:00pm
________________________________________
Location: West Valley Fitness Center Upstairs rooms
5415 West 3100 South
________________________________________
Date: February 5, 2011
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Curtis Bryce Howard Cancer Benefit Dinner
Since you were able to make it through that business, I will give you the funny for the week.
"I wish I had a time machine to go back in time before you gave my pizza away!" Stephen said through his sobs.
"But Stephen, you said you didn't want to eat it. You told me I could give it away." I said to him after about 35 minutes of trying to get him to eat. I took the remnants back from Evan and Marek, they were sharing. Sheesh! You'd think I had teenager boys eating me out of house and home already!
"Here you go Stephen."
"But there's no pepperoni on it! I will not move until you put the pepperoni back on my pizza so I can eat it! I asked for pepperoni pizza!" Followed by loud sobs and tears. There's the kicker. He asked for it but wouldn't eat it.
"They ate them though. I can't get them back. You can eat this or not eat it. Don't cry anymore though okay."
"I won't stop crying until I get my pepperoni back! I won't eat this! I don't want it!"
"If you don't want it, give it back to the other boys to eat."
"NO! I'm hungry! But I don't want to eat THIS!"
He ended up eating it without the regurgitated pepperoni and the other kids just sat quietly listening, hoping they might get the pizza but not complaining when they didn't. For heaven's sake, don't ask for something change your mind and not want it anymore then get mad when you don't have it. It makes it too hard for the mom not to laugh when you're crying.
A silent auction including but not limited to:
A one hour helicopter ride for 4 people (2 adults and 2 children, or 3 adults)
two guided hikes in the Wasatch,
one guided back country trek for up to 5 people,
a catered dutch oven dinner for up to 100 people,
quilts, handmade watches, and more.
We will also have a raffle for great prizes donated from Subway and others. Raffle tickets $2.00 with bonus large item raffle ticket after 20 purchased tickets.
Feel free to invite your friends! We really appreciate any help or donations!!! Thank you!
Saturday, February 5 • 5:00pm - 8:00pm
________________________________________
Location: West Valley Fitness Center Upstairs rooms
5415 West 3100 South
________________________________________
Date: February 5, 2011
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Curtis Bryce Howard Cancer Benefit Dinner
Since you were able to make it through that business, I will give you the funny for the week.
"I wish I had a time machine to go back in time before you gave my pizza away!" Stephen said through his sobs.
"But Stephen, you said you didn't want to eat it. You told me I could give it away." I said to him after about 35 minutes of trying to get him to eat. I took the remnants back from Evan and Marek, they were sharing. Sheesh! You'd think I had teenager boys eating me out of house and home already!
"Here you go Stephen."
"But there's no pepperoni on it! I will not move until you put the pepperoni back on my pizza so I can eat it! I asked for pepperoni pizza!" Followed by loud sobs and tears. There's the kicker. He asked for it but wouldn't eat it.
"They ate them though. I can't get them back. You can eat this or not eat it. Don't cry anymore though okay."
"I won't stop crying until I get my pepperoni back! I won't eat this! I don't want it!"
"If you don't want it, give it back to the other boys to eat."
"NO! I'm hungry! But I don't want to eat THIS!"
He ended up eating it without the regurgitated pepperoni and the other kids just sat quietly listening, hoping they might get the pizza but not complaining when they didn't. For heaven's sake, don't ask for something change your mind and not want it anymore then get mad when you don't have it. It makes it too hard for the mom not to laugh when you're crying.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Back to work, goodbye summer!
Welcome back to the school year crazies! My new Tuesday/Thursday schedule goes something like this.
6:30AM switch laundry and start breakfast wake up all kids and get them all dressed. Can't say what the estimated time for this is as it has not been accomplished successfully yet.
8:00 AM missed the bus. Drive Dallas to school by 8:35 (estimated drive time 25 minutes)
9:00 Stephen's school starts (estimated drive time from Dallas's school 25 minutes.)
9:10 AM return home to have potty break and pack a sack lunch for the four. (time:20 minutes)
9:30 leave for computer class. (Estimated drive time: 28 minutes)
10:00 The four's computer class begins.
read a book for my homework - 55 minutes available
11:00 class concludes. Be sure to have potty break! Time: 15 minutes
11:15 feed kids and drive to Grandma's house so she can tend while the rest of us go to the dentist (insert variable here - doctor/dentist/whatever could possibly come up)
get Dallas and Stephen from their schools (refer to drive times mentioned earlier)
Dentist appointment is at noon. Arrive only 15 minutes late :) appointment lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours.
Feed us lunch. Time should now be 2:30 if on schedule, but it is really 3:00.
Drive back to Grandma's house to pick up kids. Wish there was time to say hello, but it took 45 minutes to get in the truck and drive there. Take potty break! leave ASAP.
Remember to pick up prescriptions and a frozen pizza for dinner.
4:15PM Arrive home. Say hi to hubby - give instructions for kids homework and food.
4:30 PM leave for my school pray to be on time to class that starts at 5:00PM.
10:00PM go home (estimated drive time 30 minutes)
10:30PM try to convince Dallas to go to sleep.
11:30PM fall into bed
Goodbye summer. I will miss you!
6:30AM switch laundry and start breakfast wake up all kids and get them all dressed. Can't say what the estimated time for this is as it has not been accomplished successfully yet.
8:00 AM missed the bus. Drive Dallas to school by 8:35 (estimated drive time 25 minutes)
9:00 Stephen's school starts (estimated drive time from Dallas's school 25 minutes.)
9:10 AM return home to have potty break and pack a sack lunch for the four. (time:20 minutes)
9:30 leave for computer class. (Estimated drive time: 28 minutes)
10:00 The four's computer class begins.
read a book for my homework - 55 minutes available
11:00 class concludes. Be sure to have potty break! Time: 15 minutes
11:15 feed kids and drive to Grandma's house so she can tend while the rest of us go to the dentist (insert variable here - doctor/dentist/whatever could possibly come up)
get Dallas and Stephen from their schools (refer to drive times mentioned earlier)
Dentist appointment is at noon. Arrive only 15 minutes late :) appointment lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours.
Feed us lunch. Time should now be 2:30 if on schedule, but it is really 3:00.
Drive back to Grandma's house to pick up kids. Wish there was time to say hello, but it took 45 minutes to get in the truck and drive there. Take potty break! leave ASAP.
Remember to pick up prescriptions and a frozen pizza for dinner.
4:15PM Arrive home. Say hi to hubby - give instructions for kids homework and food.
4:30 PM leave for my school pray to be on time to class that starts at 5:00PM.
10:00PM go home (estimated drive time 30 minutes)
10:30PM try to convince Dallas to go to sleep.
11:30PM fall into bed
Goodbye summer. I will miss you!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Another mystery solved!
Come on! We're late! Hurry. Hurry. HURRY! Oh, wait. Where are the keys? Does anyone know where the keys are? Hey! I can't find the keys! (little to know response from children.) They are all finally in the vehicle, but the keys are missing and they won't help find them. Just as well, they would be making a bigger mess and start playing again instead of helping find them. Then I would have to get them in their seats again. I know I had them just a minute ago. I used them to unlock the door! What in the world could I have done with them?
I search the house, the yard, and check under the truck to see if I dropped them there. No luck. Nothing else is lost - except my memory. Kids are still in their seats waiting patiently. A miracle.
I return to the house and find the back up spare key. We leave - only two hours behind the desired schedule. But we didn't have a set time for meeting people so it doesn't really matter too much. Run errands for a few hours, talk on the phone several times to explain we are late because we couldn't find the keys, and so on.
Three hours later I am telling the kids how I wished we could find the keys. Little to no response from children again. They are relatively nice in the back seat so I figure they really don't know what happened to the keys.
Two hours later I am telling Daddy the keys are lost. Lily laughs and says she found the keys. I turn around just in time to see her enormous grin and her sticky little fingers pull them out of her pocket! She was so proud of herself. Now, if I could just find my purse...
I search the house, the yard, and check under the truck to see if I dropped them there. No luck. Nothing else is lost - except my memory. Kids are still in their seats waiting patiently. A miracle.
I return to the house and find the back up spare key. We leave - only two hours behind the desired schedule. But we didn't have a set time for meeting people so it doesn't really matter too much. Run errands for a few hours, talk on the phone several times to explain we are late because we couldn't find the keys, and so on.
Three hours later I am telling the kids how I wished we could find the keys. Little to no response from children again. They are relatively nice in the back seat so I figure they really don't know what happened to the keys.
Two hours later I am telling Daddy the keys are lost. Lily laughs and says she found the keys. I turn around just in time to see her enormous grin and her sticky little fingers pull them out of her pocket! She was so proud of herself. Now, if I could just find my purse...
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Time flies!
So much has happened since the last post nearly a year ago. Stephen and Dallas are eager to return to school. Stephen's birthday is on the first day of school this year instead of during the summer. I should try to talk to the teacher about that before school starts. Stephen will be nine and has earned (almost) his wolf badge in cub scouts, along with several silver arrows, and one gold arrow. The pack meeting awards "ceremony" will be the day after his birthday. Not just another day for him this year!
Dallas has been doing much better after we found out he has an allergy of sorts to wheat, including products made from wheat like chicken nuggets. He has adjusted to being weird pretty good. I guess that is all he will be doing for the rest of his life - weird kid with a weird family. *sigh*
The kids are not going to kindergarten this year, thank goodness, because their birthday falls after the deadline. Brenden is a little awkward with taking directions and listening to teachers, although he can read small words like bus and stop.(He wrote stop all over the walls and his bed when he learned how) Evan and Marek would do great in school. Both have good attention spans and ability to take directions but Lily would not be ready yet.
She is not very interested in learning her letters, or anything else for that matter. When I wrote her name she started screaming and yelling, “NO!That’s not a flower! Then she promptly scribbled over her name.Yes, she is a diva. Just the other day her brothers were trying to tell me that I need to stop calling her “princess”. (Of course I was not the one who started this. Daddy did.)I asked the boys why.
“She thinks we are her slaves because she thinks she is a princess and you just need to stop calling her that so she will stop thinking she is a princess!” There was one voice speaking but they all agreed, loudly. When I reported to Daddy that night he turned to Lily and asked, “Lily, do you think you are a princess?”
“Yeah” giggle and a grin.
“Does that mean your brothers are your slaves?”
“YES!" Big smile and a laugh.Did Daddy correct her? No. Did I correct her? Not really. It’s hard to discipline when you are busy laughing.
I tried extra hard to be strict today. We have finicky eaters that won’t eat much if they don’t want to, and then they are hungry five minutes after we put the food away. (I am sure I am not the only one with this problem, or this reaction when such strictness is involved.) I made blueberry oatmeal pancakes for breakfast. Yummy, hearty, easy, quick, and wheat free. They had a bit of color in them from the berries.
“EEEeewww! What is that?!?!” Came the first voice.
“Oh Gross! I am NOT eating THAT!” Came voice number two. And so on and so on till voice number six agree that the pancakes were not edible. Around 11:30 they started getting hungry enough to try it – almost. I told them every time they asked for food there were pancakes on the table. If they would eat one bite they could also have a banana, etc. This was easy for me to monitor today since I was working on food storage and tamales.
Brenden won the stubborn war again and did not eat anything until about 3PM when I gave in and let him have apple sauce. The others tasted the “Miracle Pancakes” as I decided to call them. It would be a miracle if they ate them and hopefully with the extra oats in them they would miraculously not be hungry until lunch time if they ate them.
Dallas said, “Wow Mommy! How did you get something that looks so disgusting to taste so good? Make these every day!” My lesson for the day – don’t give up, it might turn out good. The tamales I made today were good to me. I left for school before they were tasted by anyone else. They are sure to look disgusting too.
There's so much more going on but my class is starting. I really should tell about our summer adventures. Hopefully it won't be so long between posts next time. Thanks for reminding me to post Karalee!
Dallas has been doing much better after we found out he has an allergy of sorts to wheat, including products made from wheat like chicken nuggets. He has adjusted to being weird pretty good. I guess that is all he will be doing for the rest of his life - weird kid with a weird family. *sigh*
The kids are not going to kindergarten this year, thank goodness, because their birthday falls after the deadline. Brenden is a little awkward with taking directions and listening to teachers, although he can read small words like bus and stop.(He wrote stop all over the walls and his bed when he learned how) Evan and Marek would do great in school. Both have good attention spans and ability to take directions but Lily would not be ready yet.
She is not very interested in learning her letters, or anything else for that matter. When I wrote her name she started screaming and yelling, “NO!That’s not a flower! Then she promptly scribbled over her name.Yes, she is a diva. Just the other day her brothers were trying to tell me that I need to stop calling her “princess”. (Of course I was not the one who started this. Daddy did.)I asked the boys why.
“She thinks we are her slaves because she thinks she is a princess and you just need to stop calling her that so she will stop thinking she is a princess!” There was one voice speaking but they all agreed, loudly. When I reported to Daddy that night he turned to Lily and asked, “Lily, do you think you are a princess?”
“Yeah” giggle and a grin.
“Does that mean your brothers are your slaves?”
“YES!" Big smile and a laugh.Did Daddy correct her? No. Did I correct her? Not really. It’s hard to discipline when you are busy laughing.
I tried extra hard to be strict today. We have finicky eaters that won’t eat much if they don’t want to, and then they are hungry five minutes after we put the food away. (I am sure I am not the only one with this problem, or this reaction when such strictness is involved.) I made blueberry oatmeal pancakes for breakfast. Yummy, hearty, easy, quick, and wheat free. They had a bit of color in them from the berries.
“EEEeewww! What is that?!?!” Came the first voice.
“Oh Gross! I am NOT eating THAT!” Came voice number two. And so on and so on till voice number six agree that the pancakes were not edible. Around 11:30 they started getting hungry enough to try it – almost. I told them every time they asked for food there were pancakes on the table. If they would eat one bite they could also have a banana, etc. This was easy for me to monitor today since I was working on food storage and tamales.
Brenden won the stubborn war again and did not eat anything until about 3PM when I gave in and let him have apple sauce. The others tasted the “Miracle Pancakes” as I decided to call them. It would be a miracle if they ate them and hopefully with the extra oats in them they would miraculously not be hungry until lunch time if they ate them.
Dallas said, “Wow Mommy! How did you get something that looks so disgusting to taste so good? Make these every day!” My lesson for the day – don’t give up, it might turn out good. The tamales I made today were good to me. I left for school before they were tasted by anyone else. They are sure to look disgusting too.
There's so much more going on but my class is starting. I really should tell about our summer adventures. Hopefully it won't be so long between posts next time. Thanks for reminding me to post Karalee!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
FOUR YEARS OLD!!!
As the dreaded birthday neared, I decided they don't make diapers for four year-olds. The end has come. We are in potty training mode now. We will have no more diapers on any bum in this house again. Since Friday, I have had four naked four year old kids going on the floor ten times a day, each. I have been getting my exercise for sure! Of course they all want to go at the same time. No, I didn't think to get the little potties all in a row until the first day was over. I thought they would take turns. Ha ha ha ha! We have four toilets, luckily. Not so luckily they are spread out over three floors of the house. I have been running - literally running- up and down those stairs every 20-30 minutes! Whew! I need to catch my breath just thinking about it....
Who would have known I needed to explain better than, "Put the pee pee in the potty or you will be wet. Stink goes there too, okay?"
"Okay mommy!" They all cheered in excited unison. "We're big now!"
Day two Brenden comes to me and says, "These pants are broken! They have a hole in them. I need new pants!" I change his wet clothes and we practice sitting on the potty again. Some time later he returns. "These pants have a hole in them. They are broken! I need new pants! I get wet. I need new pants!" I finally get it and tell him all the pants will have holes in them. He will get wet if he doesn't use the potty. He says, "I need a diaper. I don't want to be wet." (Insert picture of lower lip curled waaaayy out here.) Well, after we figured that out he has done much better. He loves to get treats!
The other kids are progressing alright. Evan is really good and will go without asking or telling me now. I just need to remind him he needs to put his clothes back on when he is done. I will find him running down the hall in the buff. "Evan! Why are you naked?" Thinking oh, no! Where is the mess he got himself out of? "I put pee pee in da podee" then he leads me to it and smiles! I would say he is about done. He doesn't needa treat everytime anymore. Marek can't figure out how to get there in time yet, at least not for the most important part. Lily is still content to sit in the yuck. Eeew!
I thought we had laundry before, ha! I am just glad we have enough toilets to have a spare!
Oh, their birthday was good too. They got lots of books, a great soap mold kit like playdo for the tub, and some puppets. Even though I said we didn't need any gifts. It wasn't too much though. Thanks everyone!
Steve has the day off work tomorrow to help finish off the potty training (hopfully it will be finished after one more day!) Stephen and Dallas have been helping remind the kids and taking them to a far off potty while I was with another kid already. What a lucky mom I am to have such good helpers! Of course, they got just as many treats as the kids did, after all, they went on the potty too!
Who would have known I needed to explain better than, "Put the pee pee in the potty or you will be wet. Stink goes there too, okay?"
"Okay mommy!" They all cheered in excited unison. "We're big now!"
Day two Brenden comes to me and says, "These pants are broken! They have a hole in them. I need new pants!" I change his wet clothes and we practice sitting on the potty again. Some time later he returns. "These pants have a hole in them. They are broken! I need new pants! I get wet. I need new pants!" I finally get it and tell him all the pants will have holes in them. He will get wet if he doesn't use the potty. He says, "I need a diaper. I don't want to be wet." (Insert picture of lower lip curled waaaayy out here.) Well, after we figured that out he has done much better. He loves to get treats!
The other kids are progressing alright. Evan is really good and will go without asking or telling me now. I just need to remind him he needs to put his clothes back on when he is done. I will find him running down the hall in the buff. "Evan! Why are you naked?" Thinking oh, no! Where is the mess he got himself out of? "I put pee pee in da podee" then he leads me to it and smiles! I would say he is about done. He doesn't needa treat everytime anymore. Marek can't figure out how to get there in time yet, at least not for the most important part. Lily is still content to sit in the yuck. Eeew!
I thought we had laundry before, ha! I am just glad we have enough toilets to have a spare!
Oh, their birthday was good too. They got lots of books, a great soap mold kit like playdo for the tub, and some puppets. Even though I said we didn't need any gifts. It wasn't too much though. Thanks everyone!
Steve has the day off work tomorrow to help finish off the potty training (hopfully it will be finished after one more day!) Stephen and Dallas have been helping remind the kids and taking them to a far off potty while I was with another kid already. What a lucky mom I am to have such good helpers! Of course, they got just as many treats as the kids did, after all, they went on the potty too!
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