Children and summer

I'm going to tell you a real life sinario, as it plays out in my own home. Picture this last day of school children get on the school bus, only to go to school get there report cards say one last goodbye to there friends and teachers get back on the bus and start back home. They leave at 7:25, and return at 9:25. My son gets off the bus runs to the house with a grocery sack full of pencils, papers,broken crayons and color pencils, half bottles of dried up glue and markers as well as hard eraser that all gets dropped into the entry way. First thing said is can tommy come over to play (insert name of you choice) when you say not today I get I'm hungry is it lunch time yet. As the day continues on I hear I'm bored a dozen or more times, fighting between him and his sister which ends with "when will he go back to school" from the mouth of babes. And that is only the first half day of summer break. I've told my husband that school is like a double edged sword you want them to go make friends, learn, become more independent, and that happens but with that comes attiude, mouthiness, rolling of the eyes, and the inability to entertain themselves, the need to have 10 to 12 children around them at all times to play with. How do we do it. As summer break is fast approaching I've got to figure out a way to mantain my sanity and make summer enjoyable for my children which doesn't include 20 hours a day of t.v., video game and computer. So here is my goals for summer, I'm going to start the super summer Challenge Think up a great number of things my children can do to earn points but keep them learning, and having fun. When they earn a certain number of pionts they will receive a reward. The activities will be a variety of things like reading writing scrapebooking playing outside, riding your bike, playing catch taking the dog for a walk, raking leaves, scooping poop (someone has to do it) cleaning your bedroom, writing a letter to a relative. writing a story, writing book reports, reading to your little sister. With every point earned, they will get a marble and get to keep all the marbles they earn at the end of the summer. Or for my older child I may use like poker chips where he can use them to work on his math, white chip is worth 1 pt, red is 3 pts, blue is 10, green is 15 or 20 whatever we decide to make them, then he can sort them and add them up as he summer goes to see if he is getting close to earning his prize. That is what I'm going to try to do this summer I will keep everyone posted as to how it is going. It's knda like my list that I made last year about things to accomplish over the summer.

Son's and Purity

I have to say that if you have never heard of Hearts at Home It's wonderful. I just got home from there national conference Saturday and I had a great time. I will blog about some of the stuff I learned later. I spend 2 days with my sister who I don't get to see very often just a couple of times a year as well as over a 1000 other women. We were entertained my Ken Davis who is a Christian Comedian and he is wonderful. This is the second time he has been at Hearts at Home. I thought it was the sweetest thing He said I love being here, to hear a whole auditorium of women laugh is like the wind blowing through a chandelier. That was so nice, I think. My hubby and I have already implemented some of the things I learned in the seminars. There is one seminar or workshop that I went to that I wasn't signed up for, that I'm so glad I went to. It was about teaching our son purity, and that particular thing has been laying heavy on my heart lately so I went to the seminar. My son is only 8 but the world today isn't like it was when I was in school. Things start to happen and be talked about by peers way earlier then when I was a child. I try not to be a mother who thinks that's not going to effect my son like negatively. In reality men were created differently from the beginning starting with God creating Adam and Eve and what right do I have to think my son will be different and in a world that has capitalized on sexuality and the visual, I as a mother can't hide my head in the sand. So my hubby and I talked about it and decide that we needed (especially hubby) start a open communication with him so that when he starts having question about bigger things he will be comfortable coming to us to talk about it. My hubby and son had there first Man to Man talk, I just can't believe my baby is growing up so fast. I'm not certain what all they talked about, but my husband said it went well and he even opened up and asked my hubby about some words that he had heard on the bus or in school to find out if they were bad words and why. That makes me so happy, we want both of our children to feel like they can come to us in any situation and talk to us without us being upset. I hate to say it but 8,9, 10 isn't to young to start with the basics, especially in a world when statically some children are starting to have relations with one another as early as 11years old. If we talk with them and educate them maybe they wont feel the need to experiment so early, and wait until they are married. I not believe that it's enough even as christian to simply say to our child God says you have to wait until marriage we have to go deeper.

Mailboxes

Who would have known that giving children there own mailboxes would be so amazing. If you what to reward your children for anything or want to think of something fun for easter maybe get something you can put there name on and call it a mailbox you will be amazed at what it brings out in them. They have come up with the idea that if the wire handle with the ribbon on it is up that they have mail, like a flag on the real mailbox. So when they put pictures or any mail in the others box they put there handle up. Elexis she yells "Mail Call". It's so cute they've spend literally hours and hours creating mail for on another.

We put together this little wall for both of our children it has there Picture at the top a Daily chore chart in a glass picture frame under the picture and then the new mailbox at the bottom.

The chore chart is great also they can mark off the items as they finish and at the end of the day we wipe it clean and it's ready for the next day. The great thing is as they get older and can do more or different chores you can change the list.

The mailbox, It's amazing the House Fairy came to check out the new mailboxes and left a note for each of the children telling them that she was so proud of the work they had done on there bedrooms and if they asked there mom to help them find places for the stuff that wasn't tiddy and clean she would come back and bring them a present for a clean and tidy room. They were so excited that they went right to there rooms and started to tidy them up. I learned about the House Fairy from Flylady.com I love it so check it out. I think it may help motivate my children to keep there rooms clean. The first question they ask my hubby and me is where our mailbox was and so I will have to make up a wall for us. We have a wall for our daughter, but my camera battery has just died and I don't have pictures of hers. I will post some later especially since the chore chart frames she decorated herself, is beyond words. She is 5yrs old and definitly has a style all her own and we let her. We feel like as long as what she wears or puts up isn't inappropriate it's ok. Sometimes she doesn't match well, or something trivial like that and that is o.k with me, as long as she likes it and knows that she is beautiful no matter what.
enough of that. Enjoy the mailboxes.

To Know and Tell

I have been blogging for a year this month, so my question is what made you start your blog?
I started my blog a little bit after you. I had been thinking about for a while a year or longer. I just didn't take the time to learn it, then when my great friend started and was telling me how much fun it was and easy I thought I'm going to do it. My main focus was to give my family who live in all directions a way to see what we were doing over the miles and to be a vessel that God could us.
Question 2
Do you speak another language? If so, why or how did you learn it? I so wish I did. I took Spanish in High School, and a semester in College I remember only a few Spanish words... I can read it better then I can speak it and I don't necessarily know what the words mean, but because I have learned the alphabet in Spanish I can usually say the words!!! Isn't that weird my son thinks I'm the bomb because I can read the words even if I don't know what it's saying. That's love!!!
Question 3
Morning person, or night owl (or somewhere in between)? If I had to pick I would have to say that since my children started school I've become a morning person, all be it a cranky morning person sometimes. When you have lunches to pack and children to get dress to catch the bus by 7:20 you get to the point that even when you could and would love to sleep in you just can't. On Saturdays my hubby and I find ourselves whispering to each other at early morning hours because we can't sleep and we don't want the kids to know we are awake. You know as soon as they hear the littlest noise from moms room your sleeping in morning is over.
Question 4
Do you exercise on a regular basis? I hate to sweat ever, but I know that is the what I need to do to get healthy so I've been sweating (walking on the treadmill) regularly 3 to 4 days a week for 5 to6 weeks. It's only the beginning I'll be doing it for the rest of my life because that is what is good for me and it's good for my children to see it and how important it is.

Bonus Questions
Question 5
If money were not an object what is one thing you would like to do for another person? What my hearts desire is to do for People you can't buy, I want to lift up the people in the world who have been over looked through education or just plain opportunity. There are those who just need to be given a chance in life to prove they have what it takes, so many times we feel the need to just label them with our little label makers and toss them in the trash heap. If money wasn't an object I would do whatever it took to help them prove to themselves and others they have what it takes to make a difference in this world. I would love to buy my mother a house also. She has sacrificed her whole life for all of her children, and she doesn't really have a nice home of her own.
Question 6
What is one of your favorite attributes of our Lord God? His Love we are taught a multitude of things through Gods love for us and if the world could clear away the fog in front of there eyes I think they would be in aw of him.
Have you ever thought about adoption or foster care? I often think of adoption I feel Like my hubby and I have so much love to give that maybe be should adopt.

Birthdays

I'm so excited our oldest son turned 8 on Friday Febuary 29th, what an exciting day for him. He is so funny he got his fathers funny Jeans, but he was telling everyone he was 2 on Friday it was kinda funny.
I still remember when I was pregnaunt for him and the Doctor told us his due date was March 1st or 3rd I can't remember that so much the part I remember is when my hubby said almost immidiately "wouldn't it be cool if he was born on leap day" I tease my hubby often about that saying "from your lips to Gods ears" becasue sure enough he was born on the 29th Leap day 2000. Back to my point I'm going to post some pictures of his party.

Know and Tell Friday

I have to say I'm not going to reread this and my spell check isn't working for forgive me if there is any spelling errors.
Question 1
Did you eat candy this Valentine's Day? Yes I had one reese peanut butter cup.
Question 2
What is something you do to relax? I use to go to the kitchen an eat something that always seemed to calm me. Now I do a number of things crochet, scrapebook, paint or draw that relaxes me. In the nicer weather I like to sit in the sunroom and read or pray spend time alone.
Question 3
(From Poole's book) What is the best approach for resolving conflict? Conflict handled properly should be a freeing thing for people. I don't min conflict one thing for sure I try to always take time to think and gain rational thoughts about the situation. I try not to approach anyone when I'm tired or its late at night, when your tired you aren't alway thinking clearly, we tend to say things we will regret and or take offense to what the other person is saying weither its valid or not. I try really hard to remember that everyone has there own way of communicating and we don't always use the the same words that others would use, so if something is said that offends me I ask them what do you mean by that I don't completely understand, or I'm slittly offended by that I think maybe I miss understood what you said. I find that if I'm polite they wont get upset because I took them wrong or it I didn't take them wrong they will try to restate what they sid in a more loving way. The true stinks sometimes so we need to handle that true with care. Always give others the bennefit of the dought.
Question 4
(Poole's book again) How would you define "freedom"? (this could probably be a bonus question)
Peace is freedom to me. Jesus gives us peace, and peace to me is knowing that everything is working as it should. Having my house in order is freeing knowing that I could have people over at a moments notice and let them inside the house is a sense of freedom. I think haveing peace is freeing in so many ways.
Question 5
(Poole's book) On a scale of 1-10, how happy do you usually feel? Explain. This is kind of hard to answer, I would have to say on a good day I could be a 8-9, and average day 7-8, On days when I struggle with anxiety it could be anywhere from a 2-5 depending. Most days I would have to say I'm a 7-8, sometimes in our lives where we are today in our happiness is could neve compare to what it was like before so how could we not be a 9-10. Jesus is our ultimate source of happiness so when we are low on the happiness thing spend sometime thinking about the blessings that Jesus has given us and that should lift our spirits.
Bonus Questions
Question 6
If you could choose one "SIN" that you would never have to struggle with for the rest of your life what would it be? Pride would be the one. Pride holds me back because I worry what people will think and if I search deep I'm sure it's a pride thing.
Question 7
What is one thing that breaks your heart? It breaks my heart to think about how my children are missing out on seeing the family bonds from having relatives close by. I grew up very close to most of my aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents, everyone, and it makes me sad to not provide that for my children. It breaks my heart sometimes thinking about how distance and conflict as changed my sister and my relationship from bestfriends who loved eachother more then life, to just loving eachother.

Wordles Wednesday

A friend of mine and I made this afaghan for another friend who was moving it wasn't completely finished but now it is and it is beautiful. Have you ever done a project that you thought I don't know about this well this was one of those and let me say it turned out beautiful. The love alone put into it was all it needed.

It's been forever

I don't even know how many people who use to check my blog still do since it has been between 1 and a half to two months since I've blogged. I've had to get a few other things taken care of before I started bloging again. Anyway that isn't the reason I'm blogging today. I was reading some thing on flylady who I love if you haven't experienced her check out flylady.com it's great we love her website. Our house hold hasn't master it but we are learning how to work together as a family. Anyway, I'm like sidetracked city today. I was reading a e-mail I got from flylady about this months mission which is to declutter for 15 minutes a day the whole month which I haven't done, I've read all the e-mail but not done the assignment which is another post, being the ultimate procrastinator out there I actually thought " I should go excersise fo r30 minutes instead of decluttering for 15 min" Is that not the craziest thing I would think of first to get out of decluttering. I could have thought I don't have time, General Hospital is going to be on ( I Love General Hospital it's an addition), I could have said I'll do it later, but no I said to myself I should endure physical excertion for twice the amount of time just so I have a good excuse for not decluttering. I thought that was funny so I'm sharing.

I hope you found this a little humorous.

To Know and Tell

Question 1
1. Who do you wish you could meet?
2. Best food comes from which country? Pizza and Hamburgers are my favorite both of which I try not to eat often
3. If you are familiar with the movie/musical "Grease", what girl character would you be (let's apply this lightly...I know some of the behaviors of the girls was not too nice). This is a hard Question I would have to say maybe Frenchy only because she is somewhat quiet and trys things to find something she would like to do in her life. I'm not realy sure.
4. Would you be more likely to toilet paper someone's house, or would you be the one that has their house toilet papered? I want to say I would be the brave one and toilet paper someone's house in good, clean fun. I wouldn't get Toilet papered I can just sense when somthing is going on and I usually catch the toilet paper-ers in the act.
5. Do you like small talk, or deep conversations? Everyone loves deep conversation, but they aren't alway appropriate, so we tend to do more small talk. I think sometimes we all need to just set still and take the time to have deep conversations. I'm sure in this fast pace society we miss out on a lot of deep conversations.
Bonus Questions
6.Who do you most want to encourage this year? My husband and my Mother
7.If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it? We all have strongholds in our lives, and stuggles recognizing them is half the battle, the other half is surrendering your life to God and letting him lead you in the right direction. If your focus is on God then his Focus will be on helping you over come your struggles.

Know &Tell

Question 1
Which is worse? Being gossipped about or being lied to? Gossip I think for a couple of reasons, your kinda being lied to by a lot of people who don't have the courage to tell you face to face what is being said about you, but they'll tell someone else, and people treat you differently when they have heard or spread things abut you sometimes without even seeing it.
Question 2
I see that a lot of ladies out there in blogville are "Starbucks" gals... What is your favorite "Starbucks" drink? I've never been to Starbucks.
Question 3
Name an embarrassing moment (Make it good).I have moments that I really should be embarrassed but I either stuff it and forget it or think everyone makes mistakes oh well. One time I remember and still think that was horrible I was interviewing for a job at a Soda Fountain/Gift shop. The lady asked me if I new how to make lattes and just a few days earlier I had followed a recipe on making a coffee drink Al a Mode so I continued to tell her how I made my latte which wasn't a latte but I was confused and she never said anything to point out my error and still hired me. I think about it and laugh now as I'm think I was so luck that she hired me.
Question 4
I figure that most of us ladies out there are bargain shoppers and that we find ways to save money, but what is one thing that you don't mind spending your bucks on? I try to buy everything on sale or bargain shop it especially with prices going up. Grocery's are the hardest to bargain shop I buy the sales as much as possible but I don't really use a lot of name brands so coupons don't really help me. I would have to say Groceries
Bonus Questions
Question 5
Is it hard for you to ask some to forgive you when you have wronged them? yes
Question 6
Give one of your best parenting tips...something that you have learned through experience... Consistence is the Key it's the hardest thing to do especially when they are crying or begging every child have there own technique to try to get what they want, but if we make the rule, stick with it, and follow throw with the consequences they learn quickly. Which also goes with Consistent Schedules for adults it make us less grumpy and happier parents to live with. I know that when I am overwhelmed with house work or stuff like that that I haven't consistently stuck with I'm quicker to yell and get grumpy with my children and hubby. So consistency with my chores and schedule helps me to be a happier person for everyone to be around.