Too Funny!!

I know three posts in one day. I think it's a record!! I recieved this letter from thing 2's teacher and it was so adorable I just had to share.

"Thing two" is coming home with a new hat today. We had a guest reader who made hats for all the children after reading Kiki’s Hats. "Thing two" proudly announced after she got her hat that it was going to help her be a better listener! I told her that she did a nice job listening at school and she quickly told me that she doesn’t listen to mom and dad all the time at home. “I listen to you, but mom and dad not so much.” She went on too tell me all about the sticker chart and the three strikes and you’re out and she has had more than three a lot! She ended by saying that she was so excited about the new hat because it was really going to help her out with listening AND keep her head warm. Precious! (I hope it works!)

Also, we did her screening today and she has made so much progress! I was delighted and am so proud of her! I’m looking forward to sharing the information at conferences! Have a great weekend!

Isn't that funny?? It's an awesome hat too!!! Wow!

I am a luxury item!

Yes indeed, that's what my husband said!

We were discussing how much I do for him and the kids and he made a good point. He can do the things I do but it's so nice to have them done for him. "Your like a luxury item honey. I don't need you, your just nice to have around... does that make you mad?"

No actually it doesn't. I may be thinking in a different way then he attended but I think more wives should be thought of as a luxury item, husbands too for that matter.

We don't NEED to have them in our lives. We are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves. But, isn't it nice to have them around?? It's nice for him that I make his coffee, put his lunch together, and do his laundry, etc... It's nice that he make enough for me to stay home, plows the driveway, mows the lawn, etc...

I might complain about him and feel over worked and underpaid sometimes but I do love him. He might complain that I don't make money, but he loves me too!! I think our "Luxury items" are worth the price ;)

Treat your wives and husbands like luxury items. Take care of them, nurture them... they are very precious treasures.

I found my camera!!!

Do you like my "Good Egg Chart"??
I was driving to daisies yesterday afternoon when it hit me where I put my camera! I called hubby at work and had him e-mail me to look in the basement! Yeah, that's how bad my memory is lately. I knew by the time I got home I would have forgotten.


I was taking pictures of the kids old carseats for craigslist and was interupted. At least it didn't drop out of my pocket at the library or shaws!


Here's a close up of the kids rules. They made up most of them.

The plan I decided on is: You get a sticker for really good behavior, one for following the rules during the day, and one for going to bed well. You get an X if you have really bad behavior. If you fill up your sheet of paper with stickers before the bottom row fills with X's you get to pick out a prize. The papers can be hole punched and tied with ribbon to make sticker books.

Last night turned out great. Thing 2 did get two X marks but she also got 4 stickers. She told daddy last night "I got a sticker when noone else did! Mom IS working on me most right now". I didn't even have words... I just laughed.

It's worth an effort

After everyone calmed down the rest of the night last night went very well. I think thing 2 wore herself out ;) Bedtime was a breeze!

Days of temper tantrums caused me to make a "Good Egg Chart". (I borrowed the name from an episode of Spongebob)

I wish I could find my camera (I had it last but I just cannot for the life of me remember where I put it!!! It's been 2 days... uugghh!) the chart is really cute.

I used a really fun 12 x 12 scrapbook page with a sports / cheer leading theme. Lots of Rah Rah's. I put a square of each child's favorite color on the page. On the top I added a sheet of white paper and used foam letters to spell out "Good Eggs". On the bottom I added the rest of the white paper for the rules. I debated this part but the girls insisted.

I let them write the rules. Of course each girl wrote a rule the other is working on! It surprised me that as much as I try not to say the word "NO" most of their rules started with "NO".
It didn't surprise me that they know the rules that needed to be written down! I just wish they would follow them.

I bought tinkerbell stickers at the dollar store and they are MINE! If they behave I will give them one of my stickers. I'm not generous either, they have to earn them!! If they misbehave they get an x. They each got to put one on for bedtime last night.

I started this thinking they would earn one for the morning, one for the afternoon / evening, and one for bedtime. After a few mishaps and a few great times this morning I'm thinking that may not work. I think it has to be more immediate. I don't think they grasp the concept of being good all morning!

Wish me luck!!!

sssshhhh... don't tell where I am ;)

I'm hiding in my computer room. Thing 2 is not taking no for an answer, it's been over an hour I'm doing the right things but I'm going cuckoo for cocco puffs!! Haven't raised my voice but I've put her in the thinking chair so many times my arms are sore. I can't believe she has a voice left from saying "please mumma". If she would just listen she would hear that the answer is not no...

Thing 1 is being fairly good, hit her sister for taking a bracelet but other than that really good.

Sunshine is awesome! Homework done, outside time, friendly, shower done, wow!!

OK, I can come out of hiding now it sounds strangely quiet out there and supper has probably cooled enough to eat (shepards pie with leftovers).

Oh, on a good note hubby may be taking me away for the weekend next month! I asked my mom to watch my kids while the temper tantrum was going on... probably not the best time! But crazy woman, she said yes anyway!!! Isn't she the greatest???

trying to achieve peace and harmony....

"And I'd have suceeded too if it weren't for those meddling kids"! Did you reconize that from scooby doo?? Gotta love scooby!!



Honestly, I am finding myself coming out of the darkness of a long drawn out bout of cabin fever. The sun is shining, the snow stuck to the trees looks so pretty.... ah peace and tranquillity.



Then the kids come into the picture. Each is going through "something" right now. Sunshine's problem is add and tv... nothing new!! The goodness shines through when she's reading or has one on one time with either one of us.



Thing 2 is into instant gratification, and begging. No is not in her vocabulary and she will not accept it willingly. "Please mumma, pleeease mumma...." is her favorite chant! Oh, and have I told you she's really loud!! Her problem is settling down for bedtime....Fun times!! Scarcasm aside, she really is fun (most of the time) She is willing to try new things and has no fear of sledding, snow tubing, iceskating.... she's my let's go baby!!



Thing 1... ah my pretty little thing one. Amazingly bright, cute as a button, and as snuggly as they come. Small enough to still carry.... oh, that's part of the problem! I really worry about her. She's extremely moody lately. I'm getting a lot of things being thrown with a dramatic "you don't love me, nobody loves me!" I call her my teradactyl baby. Her temper tantrums are legendary. I don't buy into them but they still occur, more so lately. She also has a problem communicating when she's angry. She just sulks and throw things! She's not into new adventures and seems to have phobia's about public events. She can't stand thinking everyone is watching her do something she doesn't know how to do. Most of the time she's sulking or attached to me like glue.



Most days I just don't know what to do with them. I try my best. I super nanny them the best I can. I wonder some days if I missed something... do they have issues?? Do they need a diagnosis and someone else to train them to be good people??? Will they eventually turn out ok??



OK, so I'm probably just over worrying. I hear these things from other moms too. I know they go through phases. But really, If I can't handle this what am I going to do with three teens??? Lord help me!!!



I often sing the old hymn to myself "One day at a time sweet jesus, that's all I'm asking from you, just give me the strength to do everyday what I need to do". Yes, I have given up and given to God!

Lets see if he'll give me that special ordered patience in 1/2 an hour when the kiddos get off the bus???

beautiful snow day

We were up early snow blowing the driveway. The heater bank was up to hubby's ribs... poor guy.

Our house looked painted with the snow. One swipe of the snow blower leading to the heater bank... so much more to go!!

Looking up into the icicles. I've watched a Christmas story enough to know "Those things have been known to kill people". I couldn't resist.

The sun came out. There is something about the glorious sunshine shining onto the new fallen snow. The world around me feels refreshed and new. A new beginning, I can do anything. I feel truly alive.

Sledding with friends. A perfect way to spend a gifted snow day. This was a rare occasion. Our friends neighbors are away for the week. This is their unplowed driveway. We called them and asked that they don't return til spring ;)