Sunday Activity

I thought of a Sunday Activity that we are going to give a try. I will call it "Scripture Theater." Every Sunday we are going to pick a scripture story and act it out or do a puppet show of it. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm having a hard time focusing because Amelia is distracting me with her sleepy and most adorable smiles.

see how adorable she is?

never a dull moment

she was making a "tadpole"

Long jump (we instituted physical activity time a couple weeks ago, and it is the BEST part of our day. We do soccer or dancing or tag or races. It is so good for us in the afternoon.)

 Making an effort to be "in the picture" with my kids.

Classic Grace

For Justin's birhtday we ordered a model rocket, but we had to wait several weeks to get all the accessories, and then nice enough weather to shoot it off. Fun family outing.

My Valentine

The Best Way to Walk through Life is Holding Hands

at Marcie's wedding

our 2nd Date (rice crispy sculpture)

day I received my endowments

I don't know if he will ever forgive me for that.

the night he proposed

trip to meet his family 

Justin is gone this week for work. Man oh man, do I miss him. Things have gone smoothly, but I miss him lots and lots. We get to talk on the phone, but it's not like seeing him or hearing his footsteps, or smelling him, or snuggling up to him. 

I was reading in my journal from the first few weeks we were married, and I was laughing about it...Oh man, I talked about how much I loved him, and wanted to serve him, etc. And looking back now it's like skimming the surface. And those of you who read my blog who have been married much longer must be laughing at me  thinking the same thing. There is so much more depth there. I just LOVE this man. 

A few years ago I read Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. And he describes how one of the main characters feels about his wife. He says that it was horrible arguing with each other because it felt like he was arguing with himself. He didn't know where he ended and she began because they had become one. I loved that, and think of that often. Justin and I rarely have disagreements, but when we do, it's torture, because we are usually one. 

Justin and I didn't date long before we got engaged, but I knew he was a good man, and I could be who I wanted to be when I was around him, and that's why I married him. I knew I was getting a good catch then, but as time goes by, I realize more and more just how special my catch is. 

An Honest Confession

Sometimes I yell at my children... whew. I said it. In almost every case, it's because I am trying to get their attention and have been ignored 6,7, 8 or 30 times... and once in a very long time because I am really angry. But usually my anger takes on the quiet fury form. In any case, I don't believe in raising my voice, and I don't want my children to learn that behavior from me. 

I came across this AWESOME list of alternatives to yelling, and decided to adopt some of them. Some of these are my own. I broke it down into categories for myself, wrote it down a piece of paper and stuck it to my fridge! I am blogging about it because I need accountability. 

Get Their Attention Alternatives:

• Sing a command (make your bed, bus your table, etc,)
• Blow a pretend Trumpet (it's time to get jammies on, please get in the car)
• Clap
• Say it in slow motion
• Say it in a silly voice
• Bang a pot and smile

Stop a Behavior Alternatives

• get up and go whisper in their ear
• Sign it vigorously (we do a little sign language)
• pick them up and carry them away from the situation without saying a word
• Make a very loud and unexpected silly noise (raspberry, yodel) to distract, and then redirect

Blow Off Steam Alternatives:

• Tarzan yell
• scrub something (pan, toilet, floor, etc)
• do crunches
• write down everything you would yell, then tear it up
• Say "I need one minute to think and cool down," then take 10 deep breaths
• Say "I love my _________ (Katie ,Grace or Amelia)" ten times or until I gain composure
• Kneel and pray

Brilliant in the Basics

Live in your home so that you’re brilliant in the basics, so that you’re intentional about your roles and responsibilities in the family. Think in terms of precision not perfection. If you have your goals and you are precise in how you go about them in your homes, youth will learn from you.

-Julie B. Beck

I so needed to hear this today. I need to get back to the basics.

TOnight as I was putting the girls to sleep, I couldn't help but say a little prayer for gratitude. I have the happy family I always dreamed of. SUre we have fighting and yelling, but our family is a happy family.

Katie had the activity for family home evening. She announced pillow fight. Best activity EVER.

if you ever wonder where the pineapple went, don't just assume your husband ate it. It's probably hidden under the 4 year old's bed with the train set and getting moldy.

If you want your kids to think you're the best mom on the planet, make them brownies for no reason. and this picture is not staged at all. Grace didn't even know I had the camera out. she normally won't let me take a picture of her by herself.

who needs toys or a tree house, when the kitchen meets all of your playhouse dreams? Apparently pulling out all the drawers in the kitchen makes a perfect house.

sometimes a girl just needs a rocket.

Being a mother is tough on your heart. It seems Katie and Grace and Amelia are growing faster than I can catch it all and store it in my memory space. I found little rectangular scraps of paper today with Katie's writing all over them. She had spelled all the words by herself. "Booc Marc (Book Mark) for Moom (mom), your Katie." Makes my heart so excited that she is unlocking the world of words, but at the same time my mommy heart is sad because she is growing up, and I am losing that little girl part of her.

Justin left today for business trip. He called me to tell me his plane had landed and told me he loved me before he hung up.
Me: I love you too
Grace: from the other side of the room) I love you three.

Often I go into the bathroom and find "stuff" all lined up on the counter. TOni bought a pink comb and mirror set for Katie for her birthday, and we picked up this plastic purple case that came with a fake straightener from a yard sale. Also included in the "stuff" is an empty perfume bottle, chap stick, and several hair bows. This is Katie's "Little Hair Boutique" and poor Grace is forced to get her hair done every day in the "Little Hair Boutique."

Grace has taken up wearing her swimsuit every day all day so she can do "gyn-asticthssss" (gymnastics). I can hardly stand to be the audience because it is one of the most hilarious things I ever seen. 

THis week I taught the girls how to play bull fighter. My siblings and I used to play Bull Fighter when we were little, don't ask me why. We would get a dish cloth and hold it to the side and say "Torro! Torro!" and then another of us would run at towel pretending to be a bull. Oh so funny. What joy comes from sharing the simple things from my own childhood with my kids. 

what we have been up to...

Katie is always loving on Amelia. She loves her so much.

Amelia's first walk...she doesn't really enjoy being outside. Too bright and doesn't like the wind. SHe'd rather be somewhere dark and cozy.

 In between barfing episodes, we actually got to enjoy some rare sunshine.