Monday, October 10, 2011
Naps
How do I know my just turned 3-year-old still needs a nap?
Because this is where I found him at about 2:30 p.m. on the day I decided he could do without a nap. Why is there a towel trailing out from behind him? Let's just say that I usually make him go potty before he takes his regular nap. Thank heavens he got cozy on the wood instead of the carpet.
Because this is where I found him at about 2:30 p.m. on the day I decided he could do without a nap. Why is there a towel trailing out from behind him? Let's just say that I usually make him go potty before he takes his regular nap. Thank heavens he got cozy on the wood instead of the carpet.
Family Leaving
Keeping it simple:
Tonight we had Family Home Evening or Family Leaving, as Hank calls it. Henry taught the lesson. He came up with his own topic....
Going pee and poop in the toilet.
He taught us all the basics.
Pull down your pants.
Climb up on the toilet.
Do a little shake when you're done.
Close the lid SOFTLY (he has been drilled on this a few times)
Flush.
Wash your hands.
He demonstrated everything to make sure we all understood.
It was a great lesson.
100%
Just before school started we had a FHE all about doing things perfectly... 100%. We talked about things we needed to be better at as a family, then made a list of them and decided we would choose something from the list each month and devote ourselves to doing it perfectly for one month.
We started with reading the Book of Mormon together as a family. Up to that point, we had been in the 50% club. We always had good intentions to read together but about half of the time, the day got away from us and before we knew it we were rushing the kids to bed with hopes that tomorrow would be better.
So, we started off the month with a group huddle; all hands were in the middle and we each made a promise that we were going to do it. We were going to be PERFECT at reading the Book of Mormon every single day for a whole month...100%. We gave a big hoorah and started off.
Well, I am proud to say that we made it. We read perfectly, every day for even longer than a month. We found that for us, reading before dad left for work in the morning was the best time. Occasionally we would miss a morning but without fail, someone would miraculously remember sometime throughout the day that we needed to get in our scripture study. It was never a long reading session and there was often grumbling and frowns, but we did it. Perfectly. 100%.
So, with a perfect month + of family scripture study one may wonder if our home has become a heaven on earth with happy, obedient children and parents skipping around the house, humming primary songs while doing chores without being asked and speaking only the kindest of words in soft, soothing, patient tones. Nope. But there were and continue to be a myriad of tender mercies that have blessed our family. Small and simple things, but tender mercies nonetheless... a child doing a chore without complaining... a happy, even though tired, 2-year-old... a wave of patience for a parent after a long day.
The best part about it is that I don't think we have even begun to scrape the surface of the big barrel of blessings that come with regular family scripture study. Reading together is now a habit and I have no doubt there will be days ahead that the power and protection we receive through consecrating that small amount of time every day will save us.
What are we going to be perfect at this month??? Exercising. Not daily. Not six times a week. Or five. Or four. Just three times a week. A measly goal for some but just right for our family, because after all we are trying to be perfect. 100%.
Tonight we had Family Home Evening or Family Leaving, as Hank calls it. Henry taught the lesson. He came up with his own topic....
Going pee and poop in the toilet.
He taught us all the basics.
Pull down your pants.
Climb up on the toilet.
Do a little shake when you're done.
Close the lid SOFTLY (he has been drilled on this a few times)
Flush.
Wash your hands.
He demonstrated everything to make sure we all understood.
It was a great lesson.
100%
Just before school started we had a FHE all about doing things perfectly... 100%. We talked about things we needed to be better at as a family, then made a list of them and decided we would choose something from the list each month and devote ourselves to doing it perfectly for one month.
We started with reading the Book of Mormon together as a family. Up to that point, we had been in the 50% club. We always had good intentions to read together but about half of the time, the day got away from us and before we knew it we were rushing the kids to bed with hopes that tomorrow would be better.
So, we started off the month with a group huddle; all hands were in the middle and we each made a promise that we were going to do it. We were going to be PERFECT at reading the Book of Mormon every single day for a whole month...100%. We gave a big hoorah and started off.
Well, I am proud to say that we made it. We read perfectly, every day for even longer than a month. We found that for us, reading before dad left for work in the morning was the best time. Occasionally we would miss a morning but without fail, someone would miraculously remember sometime throughout the day that we needed to get in our scripture study. It was never a long reading session and there was often grumbling and frowns, but we did it. Perfectly. 100%.
So, with a perfect month + of family scripture study one may wonder if our home has become a heaven on earth with happy, obedient children and parents skipping around the house, humming primary songs while doing chores without being asked and speaking only the kindest of words in soft, soothing, patient tones. Nope. But there were and continue to be a myriad of tender mercies that have blessed our family. Small and simple things, but tender mercies nonetheless... a child doing a chore without complaining... a happy, even though tired, 2-year-old... a wave of patience for a parent after a long day.
The best part about it is that I don't think we have even begun to scrape the surface of the big barrel of blessings that come with regular family scripture study. Reading together is now a habit and I have no doubt there will be days ahead that the power and protection we receive through consecrating that small amount of time every day will save us.
What are we going to be perfect at this month??? Exercising. Not daily. Not six times a week. Or five. Or four. Just three times a week. A measly goal for some but just right for our family, because after all we are trying to be perfect. 100%.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Random Updates
First day of school:
Not sure where summer went but school started again.
I think having a baby in June made the summer disappear.
Wish we could have played longer but I guess it is back to the grind.
Not sure where summer went but school started again.
I think having a baby in June made the summer disappear.
Wish we could have played longer but I guess it is back to the grind.
Jane's first tooth loss:
It was loose one day,
gone the next.
Ellie babies her loose teeth for months.
Jane wiggled and wiggled her tooth
then had a neighbor pull it out.
Guess she doesn't trust us after all the tooth pulling trauma with Ellie.
It was loose one day,
gone the next.
Ellie babies her loose teeth for months.
Jane wiggled and wiggled her tooth
then had a neighbor pull it out.
Guess she doesn't trust us after all the tooth pulling trauma with Ellie.
Lucy:
3 months old
chubby
content
amazing sleeper
easy going
3 months old
chubby
content
amazing sleeper
easy going
She still likes to be swaddled when she sleeps.3 year old in the house
The little man of the house turned three this week. This one snuck up on me. Thanks to a last minute run to the BYU bookstore (hat and jersey below), the gifts were a hit and he was a happy birthday boy. He kept reminding everyone that it was his birthday and just to add emphasis he often asked, "Is it my birthday?," just so he could hear us say one more time that it was.
I wish I could figure out a way to capture our Hank in words.
He is adored for many reasons.
And feared for other reasons.
He is SOOOO boy from the way he could play basketball/baseball/football/soccer ALL day long,
to the way anything and everything could and probably will become a weapon in his hands.
There is just something about this kid.
He makes us HAPPY.
Happy birthday, buddy.
He is adored for many reasons.
And feared for other reasons.
He is SOOOO boy from the way he could play basketball/baseball/football/soccer ALL day long,
to the way anything and everything could and probably will become a weapon in his hands.
There is just something about this kid.
He makes us HAPPY.
Happy birthday, buddy.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Dedicated to Ryan
This post is dedicated to Ryan.
Our dear friend in Iowa.
The mastermind behind our yard.
The only person who could possibly love this grass
as much as Kyle.
Our dear friend in Iowa.
The mastermind behind our yard.
The only person who could possibly love this grass
as much as Kyle.
Thanks, Ryan!
One day after hydro seed...
One week later...
Today...(two weeks after hyrdo seeding)
The grass no longer grows greener on the other side.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Family Photos
1
2
3
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6....Almost time for a bigger couch.
My dear sister-in-law is a budding photographer and she came over to snap some shots of our family. Of course I am a little biased, but I think she captured some beauties. This is another picture overload, possibly only truly enjoyable for a proud grandparent.
If you have made it this far, you are probably feeling a bit like this...
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