Something about them sitting and hugging was endearing to me. Perhaps it was the lighting, or the randomness, or the fact that it was just so unexpected. Just another thing to capture on film!
Thanks for listening. :)
11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven
Showing posts with label to raise grade-schoolers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label to raise grade-schoolers. Show all posts
Friday, August 19, 2011
Hallway Randomness
A few days ago after cleaning up breakfast I ran into the 9-year-old girl and Baby Hippo sitting together on the slate floor of one of the hallways. I asked what they were doing. The 9-year-old girl said, "Randomly sitting in the hallway."
Something about them sitting and hugging was endearing to me. Perhaps it was the lighting, or the randomness, or the fact that it was just so unexpected. Just another thing to capture on film!
Thanks for listening. :)
Something about them sitting and hugging was endearing to me. Perhaps it was the lighting, or the randomness, or the fact that it was just so unexpected. Just another thing to capture on film!
Thanks for listening. :)
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Teeter Totter Time!
...courtesy of John, who had the teeter totter installed in the kids' play place while we were out of town. Thanks, John! You're the best.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Creative Deprivation: The Benefits
Some of my kids nag incessantly for money. They say they need sunglasses, because if they don't have them, their eyes will hurt on their trip to Alaska, or if they don't have a new IPOD, they will get too bored during the flight to Alaska, and perhaps get into unexpected trouble. Or... they need new pants because their old ones are too small, or too wrinkled or the wrong cowboy brand.
Then others play the martyr, saying with a sad countenance things like, "No, I don't want to go to the mall with you. I have no money, so what fun would it be," or "I sure wish I could afford these earrings. They're only $10, but I don't even have that much."
My kids seem to think, or hope, that these tactics will work, but they rarely do. I did give into the 14-year-old boy and bought him two pairs of jeans but I told him that they were his birthday present and he shouldn't expect anything else.
Now, let's contrast the above behavior to that of the 11-year-old boy. All of our kids have ample opportunity to earn spending money. The 14-year-old boy has mastered the art of the chocolate chip bar cookie, and sells these at school to awaiting crowds. The 16-year-old girl caters meals to parents who would like a break on a Friday night, and makes quite a bit of money when she's actively involved in this pursuit. These endeavors, however, require time and labor, both of which the 14- and 16-year-old children declined to expend recently. Thus, they went to Alaska penniless.
Now, back to the 11-year-old boy. Yesterday he was pacing around the house with his hands in his pockets, his head down, repeating, "I'm so broke." When Grandma walked into the room, he asked her if there were any ways he could earn money. She said yes, and listed a few very difficult, dirty jobs he could do, with a big paycheck as a reward. One job was to hack down a 20-foot hedge of bushes that had died during the hard freeze last winter, and the other was to sweep an enormous covered patio of a several-months build-up of dust, rottweiler hair and other debris. These were jobs that even I, a seasoned laborer, wouldn't want to do, but the 11-year-old boy rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He finished the brush job in less than half the time we thought it would take, coming to me midway through and stating that he was getting too strong, stronger than metal even, because he had broken the hedge clippers and a screwdriver.
As far as the patio job, there was so much dust created that he had to wrap around his nose and mouth a damp rag in order to complete the job. When I told him I wanted to take his picture, we were standing in the garden area of my mother's yard, a lovely, potted-flower and ivy sitting area, and I raised to camera to my eye, but before I could take the photo, he suggested that we take it in the patio area where he had been working, where the air was still thick with dust. Great idea!
He is now nearly $100 wealthier than when he arrived at Grandma's, stronger, as he pointed out, and obviously pleased with his accomplishments and more confident in his ability to complete a difficult task. I'm grateful he sets such an amazing example to his siblings, bother older and younger. You rock, 11-year-old boy!
Thanks for listening!
Then others play the martyr, saying with a sad countenance things like, "No, I don't want to go to the mall with you. I have no money, so what fun would it be," or "I sure wish I could afford these earrings. They're only $10, but I don't even have that much."
My kids seem to think, or hope, that these tactics will work, but they rarely do. I did give into the 14-year-old boy and bought him two pairs of jeans but I told him that they were his birthday present and he shouldn't expect anything else.
Now, let's contrast the above behavior to that of the 11-year-old boy. All of our kids have ample opportunity to earn spending money. The 14-year-old boy has mastered the art of the chocolate chip bar cookie, and sells these at school to awaiting crowds. The 16-year-old girl caters meals to parents who would like a break on a Friday night, and makes quite a bit of money when she's actively involved in this pursuit. These endeavors, however, require time and labor, both of which the 14- and 16-year-old children declined to expend recently. Thus, they went to Alaska penniless.
Now, back to the 11-year-old boy. Yesterday he was pacing around the house with his hands in his pockets, his head down, repeating, "I'm so broke." When Grandma walked into the room, he asked her if there were any ways he could earn money. She said yes, and listed a few very difficult, dirty jobs he could do, with a big paycheck as a reward. One job was to hack down a 20-foot hedge of bushes that had died during the hard freeze last winter, and the other was to sweep an enormous covered patio of a several-months build-up of dust, rottweiler hair and other debris. These were jobs that even I, a seasoned laborer, wouldn't want to do, but the 11-year-old boy rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He finished the brush job in less than half the time we thought it would take, coming to me midway through and stating that he was getting too strong, stronger than metal even, because he had broken the hedge clippers and a screwdriver.
As far as the patio job, there was so much dust created that he had to wrap around his nose and mouth a damp rag in order to complete the job. When I told him I wanted to take his picture, we were standing in the garden area of my mother's yard, a lovely, potted-flower and ivy sitting area, and I raised to camera to my eye, but before I could take the photo, he suggested that we take it in the patio area where he had been working, where the air was still thick with dust. Great idea!
He is now nearly $100 wealthier than when he arrived at Grandma's, stronger, as he pointed out, and obviously pleased with his accomplishments and more confident in his ability to complete a difficult task. I'm grateful he sets such an amazing example to his siblings, bother older and younger. You rock, 11-year-old boy!
Thanks for listening!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
I Heart Cupcakes!
They're so much better than cakes because you don't need a plate and fork! That's all.
P.S. The mini-cupcake in the 9-year-old girl's hand was baked and frosted by the 9-year-old girl herself. She used recipe cards, a mini-cupcake pan, and a frosting applicator we ordered via myjobchart.com when she had earned enough points. So fun! I want one, too, now!
Next on her list? A cupcake beanie!.....
Even more fun! Thanks for listening. :)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I've told my kids they act like pigs, but never that they look like pigs....
...until now.
The 11-year-old boy frequently does things which he feels are blog-worthy and often requests that I blog about him. It's usually my feeling, however, that the majority of housewives who read my blog won't find his antics useful or interesting, so I often decline. Not so with his latest antic, however. If nothing, it made for some interesting photography.
Here what it looks like when a boy decides to cool himself down with mud, like a pig...
Thanks for the blogging inspiration, 11-year-old boy! Love ya, mud in your ears and all!
The 11-year-old boy frequently does things which he feels are blog-worthy and often requests that I blog about him. It's usually my feeling, however, that the majority of housewives who read my blog won't find his antics useful or interesting, so I often decline. Not so with his latest antic, however. If nothing, it made for some interesting photography.
Here what it looks like when a boy decides to cool himself down with mud, like a pig...
Thanks for the blogging inspiration, 11-year-old boy! Love ya, mud in your ears and all!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
How to Stop Nagging Your Kids
Say the word "nag" and the term wife and/or mother usually comes to mind. According to Webster's dictionary, to nag means "to annoy by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands". Mothers often find themselves having to repeatedly remind children to clean their room, do the dishes, brush their teeth, do their homework, come home on time, drive carefully, remember who they are, and turn off the TV. And yes, this is annoying to them, thus we are considered naggers.
In the past, Saturdays seemed to be the worst of all days for me. Perhaps because I created a to-do list a mile long and because the kids were home to nag, I nagged. And I nagged all of the kids, all day. No wonder they wanted to leave as soon as their chores were finished.
A couple of years ago, though, I read a book that changed things. This book taught me to give the kids a list of chores and to create consequences, both good and bad, that will be realized when the chores are done... or not.
This cuts out the Saturday morning nagging! I simply type my kids chores into myjobchart.com where they can log in and see what needs to be done. Myjobchart.com comes with a point system whereby kids can earn rewards such as a date with Mom and Dad, an ice cream party, a movie night, or even a toy or game. This alone is great motivation to get things done without me having to nag.
However, the teenagers aren't so easily motivated by a juvenile internet job chart and point system. With them, harsher measures must be taken. Their rewards for getting their chores finished include being able to invite friends over and visit friends, use the computer for something other than homework, like Facebook, and getting movie time in the theater downstairs. Again, the consequences can do the nagging so I don't have to.
So last Saturday I had made an extensive list of chores for the dear ones to complete. They knew that they would not be able to invite friends over, play the Play Station or the computer, nor watch movies unless this list was completed. I began work on my chores wholeheartedly, but when I looked out the window, what should I see but the 14-year-old boy doing this...
I immediately felt my nagging adrenaline began to pump through my veins, and I began the process of stomping the down the hall to give him a good talking to. Halfway through my trek, though, I remembered my no-nagging policy. He could play basketball to his heart's content (and maybe if he keeps practicing he will actually make the team this year) and at some point he would remember that he couldn't have friends over (the wish of his heart) until his chores were finished.
So I grabbed my camera, put the strap around my neck and instead of nagging, took pictures of him and some of his siblings...
As you can see above, at the least the 9-year-old girl had started her chores, which included 30 minutes of Baby Hippo babysitting. The twins helped out with their chores, too...
...or not...
Anyway, I never nagged once and eventually he did get everything crossed off his list. It felt great not to have my name be synonymous with "nag", our house got tidied up, he learned a lesson about time organization and I got some fun pictures.
Let's see if I can remember to do this again next Saturday. Thanks for listening!
In the past, Saturdays seemed to be the worst of all days for me. Perhaps because I created a to-do list a mile long and because the kids were home to nag, I nagged. And I nagged all of the kids, all day. No wonder they wanted to leave as soon as their chores were finished.
A couple of years ago, though, I read a book that changed things. This book taught me to give the kids a list of chores and to create consequences, both good and bad, that will be realized when the chores are done... or not.
This cuts out the Saturday morning nagging! I simply type my kids chores into myjobchart.com where they can log in and see what needs to be done. Myjobchart.com comes with a point system whereby kids can earn rewards such as a date with Mom and Dad, an ice cream party, a movie night, or even a toy or game. This alone is great motivation to get things done without me having to nag.
However, the teenagers aren't so easily motivated by a juvenile internet job chart and point system. With them, harsher measures must be taken. Their rewards for getting their chores finished include being able to invite friends over and visit friends, use the computer for something other than homework, like Facebook, and getting movie time in the theater downstairs. Again, the consequences can do the nagging so I don't have to.
So last Saturday I had made an extensive list of chores for the dear ones to complete. They knew that they would not be able to invite friends over, play the Play Station or the computer, nor watch movies unless this list was completed. I began work on my chores wholeheartedly, but when I looked out the window, what should I see but the 14-year-old boy doing this...
I immediately felt my nagging adrenaline began to pump through my veins, and I began the process of stomping the down the hall to give him a good talking to. Halfway through my trek, though, I remembered my no-nagging policy. He could play basketball to his heart's content (and maybe if he keeps practicing he will actually make the team this year) and at some point he would remember that he couldn't have friends over (the wish of his heart) until his chores were finished.
So I grabbed my camera, put the strap around my neck and instead of nagging, took pictures of him and some of his siblings...
As you can see above, at the least the 9-year-old girl had started her chores, which included 30 minutes of Baby Hippo babysitting. The twins helped out with their chores, too...
...or not...
Anyway, I never nagged once and eventually he did get everything crossed off his list. It felt great not to have my name be synonymous with "nag", our house got tidied up, he learned a lesson about time organization and I got some fun pictures.
Let's see if I can remember to do this again next Saturday. Thanks for listening!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Candied Apples
When the 10-year-old boy gets an idea in his mind, it's difficult for him, or anyone else, to forget it. Such was the case with candied apples. He was bent on making them, so he searched my cookbooks and found a recipe in one my grandmother....
...gave me when I was a newlywed at the tender age of 18 called "The Joy of Cooking
". We both learned a lot from this recipe, including what the "hard-crack" stage in candy making is. Everyone loved these apples, including Twin A...
Hope you love 'em, too!
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
a few drops of red vegetable food coloring
5 apples on skewers
Directions
Step 1. Place sugar, corn syrup and water together in a sauce pan on medium heat. Stir until dissolved, then bring to a boil.
Step 2. Cook, covered, for about 3 minutes until the steam has washed down any crystals that may have formed on the sides of the pan.
Step 3. Uncover and cook, without stirring, nearly to the hard-crack stage, 290 degrees F. (The hard-crack stage is when you drop a drop of the candy syrup into ice water and it immediately turns rock hard, such that it can be easily cracked.
Step 4. Add a few drops of food coloring, then transfer the candy syrup to a double boiler to keep warm.
Step 5. Working quickly, dip the skewered apples into the candy syrup and place them on a metal flower holder to harden. If you don’t have a flower holder, you can dip the tops of the apples in chopped nuts, then place them upside down on a foil-covered cookie sheet.
Step 6. Allow to dry and harden.
Enjoy!
Direct recipe link: http://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/2131023/candied-apples/
PSSST! To find great deals on fun stuff to do in your area, go HERE!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
There is nothing I love more than stuff like this...
A note the 10-year-old boy wrote to himself...
...and turned upside-down and zoomed in upon...
Even though he hung it upside down by stabbing the doorknob through it and misspelled prayers, I love it so much! (As he looks over my shoulder at this, he wants all of you to know that he didn't spell prayers correctly because he was tired.)
Thanks for listening!
Today on some of my other blogs...
-365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time: Strawberry-Picking Time!
-life in mexico {and other places} a picture a day: {a desert rainstorm}
...and turned upside-down and zoomed in upon...
Even though he hung it upside down by stabbing the doorknob through it and misspelled prayers, I love it so much! (As he looks over my shoulder at this, he wants all of you to know that he didn't spell prayers correctly because he was tired.)
Thanks for listening!
Today on some of my other blogs...
-365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time: Strawberry-Picking Time!
-life in mexico {and other places} a picture a day: {a desert rainstorm}
PSSST! To find discounted, fun stuff to do in your area, go HERE!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Bedhead
I had a hard time getting the 8-year-old girl to let me take this photo, but once I mentioned giving her money, she cheerfully jumped up off the couch and said, "Sure!"
And today on Whole Food Kids: Chocolate Banana Popsicles!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
When Kids Work Together....
...they sometimes have conversations that go like this...
13-year-old boy: Hey Claire, tonight we had a sweet Mutual* activity.
8-year-old girl: Well, we had a really sweet Achievement Day** activity.
They then proceeded to tell each other about their day. For some reason, I just really love listening to my kids interact with each other, especially if the conversation is between two kids that normally wouldn't share their day because of an age gap.
Kids might not like to help with chores, but besides giving them a strong work ethic, chores can help create a bond that wouldn't exist there otherwise.
What chores do YOU assign your kids that have helped create a bond? I would really like to know.
*Mormon term for a church youth activity
**Mormon term for a bi-weekly activity for girls ages 8 to 11 similar to Girl Scouts
13-year-old boy: Hey Claire, tonight we had a sweet Mutual* activity.
8-year-old girl: Well, we had a really sweet Achievement Day** activity.
They then proceeded to tell each other about their day. For some reason, I just really love listening to my kids interact with each other, especially if the conversation is between two kids that normally wouldn't share their day because of an age gap.
Kids might not like to help with chores, but besides giving them a strong work ethic, chores can help create a bond that wouldn't exist there otherwise.
What chores do YOU assign your kids that have helped create a bond? I would really like to know.
*Mormon term for a church youth activity
**Mormon term for a bi-weekly activity for girls ages 8 to 11 similar to Girl Scouts
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Little Girl's Plea to Her Grandma
My children LOVE to visit their Grandma Patti in the U.S border town where I spent 32 or my 40 years on earth. When I told them that they would be spending two days with her before their trip to the worldwide conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they were so excited. However, once they remembered that she would have to spend her days teaching her fourth grade class across town, they were crest-fallen, disappointed that they would only be able to spend time with her in the afternoons and evenings.
As a way of displaying her emotions and recording a plea to her grandmother, the 8-year-old girl wrote the following note and stuck it to the outside of Grandma's bedroom door....
Unfortunately, Grandma didn't notice this note until after she returned home from school, as it had been placed on the outside of her door, rather than the inside. I'll bet, though, that it will still be stuck to her door when we return from Mexico for our next visit, and the visit after that, and the visit after that.
I can't wait to be a grandma. Thanks for listening. :)
On 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time today:
It's Stop and Go Sign Time! Click the pic to see.
On life in mexico {and other places} a picture a day today:
{a scarf}
As a way of displaying her emotions and recording a plea to her grandmother, the 8-year-old girl wrote the following note and stuck it to the outside of Grandma's bedroom door....
Unfortunately, Grandma didn't notice this note until after she returned home from school, as it had been placed on the outside of her door, rather than the inside. I'll bet, though, that it will still be stuck to her door when we return from Mexico for our next visit, and the visit after that, and the visit after that.
I can't wait to be a grandma. Thanks for listening. :)
On 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time today:
It's Stop and Go Sign Time! Click the pic to see.
On life in mexico {and other places} a picture a day today:
{a scarf}
Thursday, March 25, 2010
My First Day Alone With the 4 Under 4, in Pictures
Note: Please imagine all of these events intermittently sprinkled with innumerable breast feedings, diaper changings, and umbilical cord alcohol swabbings throughout the day...
Yesterday was my first day alone as a mother of ten. Here's how it went...
The first thing I did was miss scripture study at 6:45 AM. John was out of town, so I did the night-time thing alone. The 3-year-old boy got up twice to go to the bathroom, and of course, he needed my help, although during waking hours he doesn't, Twin B woke up to have his covers put back on, and the newborn woke up too many times to count to nurse. That, in and of itself, would have been manageable, as I nurse him in bed with me and quickly go back to sleep, but having to get up with all of the other kids made for a busy night.
Although I did miss scripture study, I was pleased that the 5 oldest kids did it without me. I hope they learned something.
While the kids got ready for school, I worked in the kitchen and the newborn slept in the bassinet play yard we set up in the kitchen living area...
He slept until it was time to take the little kids to school. I had always wondered how I would do the trip to the school. I had thought I would have to make two trips from the car back into the house after dropping the kids off, and that is just what I did. I went inside and again placed the newborn in his bassinet, then went back outside to the car to get the 3 three and under. Twin A didn't put up too much resistance...
...but Twin B had a different idea. He would not come forward from the 3rd row of seats...
...nor would he come forward from the fifth row of seats...
I finally had to enter into the depths of the van and retrieve him manually.
Next, I changed the twins into clean diapers and clean sleepers. If you are wondering why I didn't get regular clothes on them, you can click HERE for an explanation.
Twin A then spent some time making a track out of the wet wipe bags that were left out...
...which was fine, because as you'll see later, these, along with the diapers, kept the twins occupied from some time.
Next we had snack time. I let the twins peel their own clementines, as this is one of their all-time favorite activities, thinking that if I placed napkins on the table, they would contain their peels to those...
Didn't work...
Next, I finished cleaning the breakfast mess while the newborn slept...
...and the twins continued their wet wipe engineering feats...
...and the 3-year-old continued with his diaper box engineering feats...
The diaper boxes, however, did not keep the 3-year-old entertained for long, so he made the decision to get out hand-fulls of grated cheddar cheese from the fridge, which spilled all over the floor, which the twins found easier to lick up off the floor then pick up with their hands...
(I promise I only let them do this for about 5 seconds longer than I would have to get this shot...)
I was quite upset with the 3-year-old boy for making this mess, so I told him he had to clean it up. You can see how effective he was...
Twin B also thought he would help, showing equal effectiveness...
After cleaning up the mess myself, I made time to put on my makeup...
(Dang I have a lot of neck wrinkles and am starting to look like I'm 40.)
...and did a little bit of laundry, after which lunch time finally rolled around. I was blessed that someone from church brought over a pot of beans, and I sprinkled the grated cheese over it and served it along with tortilla wedges...
After all of the kids went back to school, the 3-year-old boy talked to the newborn...
...while I, again, cleaned the kitchen...
Next came my favorite time of day. Nap time! After placing the 3-year-old boy and the twins in their cribs, reading them stories, getting them water and saying a prayer, it was time to place the newborn in his co-sleeper...
...and eat lunch myself. For some reason, I fancied a bowl of oatmeal with lots of butter...
After my oatmeal was finished, I took a nap for an hour and a half, as the newborn slept for two hours. Someone must have said a prayer for me because of the cosmic event of all 4 under 4 sleeping at the same for two hours.
When I awoke, I sent the 15-year-old girl to be the mother of the 9-year-old boy for his pack meeting/homemade kite-flying contest...
...and while they were gone, the 18-year-old boy initiated a grilled chicken dinner....
...during which time I helped the 13-year-old boy with math...
When the kids returned home from the pack meeting, I had all of them eat dinner, reminded everyone to clean their assigned dinner chores, reminded them to do their pre-bedtime chores, watched part of Pirates of the Caribbean with them, said our prayers, again placed the 3 three and under in their cribs, read them stories, gave them water, said prayers, and turned off their lights.
Over all, disregarding experiencing the baby blues at the end of the day because my husband wasn't a good enough conversationalist on the phone at 11:00 at night just because he got up at 3:30 in the morning, it was a good day, and easier than I would have imagined it would be. Thanks for listening. :)
On 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time today:
It's Cereal and Pipe Cleaner Time! Click the pic to see.
On life in mexico {and other places} a picture a day today:
{a bonfire}
Yesterday was my first day alone as a mother of ten. Here's how it went...
The first thing I did was miss scripture study at 6:45 AM. John was out of town, so I did the night-time thing alone. The 3-year-old boy got up twice to go to the bathroom, and of course, he needed my help, although during waking hours he doesn't, Twin B woke up to have his covers put back on, and the newborn woke up too many times to count to nurse. That, in and of itself, would have been manageable, as I nurse him in bed with me and quickly go back to sleep, but having to get up with all of the other kids made for a busy night.
Although I did miss scripture study, I was pleased that the 5 oldest kids did it without me. I hope they learned something.
While the kids got ready for school, I worked in the kitchen and the newborn slept in the bassinet play yard we set up in the kitchen living area...
He slept until it was time to take the little kids to school. I had always wondered how I would do the trip to the school. I had thought I would have to make two trips from the car back into the house after dropping the kids off, and that is just what I did. I went inside and again placed the newborn in his bassinet, then went back outside to the car to get the 3 three and under. Twin A didn't put up too much resistance...
...but Twin B had a different idea. He would not come forward from the 3rd row of seats...
...nor would he come forward from the fifth row of seats...
I finally had to enter into the depths of the van and retrieve him manually.
Next, I changed the twins into clean diapers and clean sleepers. If you are wondering why I didn't get regular clothes on them, you can click HERE for an explanation.
Twin A then spent some time making a track out of the wet wipe bags that were left out...
...which was fine, because as you'll see later, these, along with the diapers, kept the twins occupied from some time.
Next we had snack time. I let the twins peel their own clementines, as this is one of their all-time favorite activities, thinking that if I placed napkins on the table, they would contain their peels to those...
Didn't work...
Next, I finished cleaning the breakfast mess while the newborn slept...
...and the twins continued their wet wipe engineering feats...
...and the 3-year-old continued with his diaper box engineering feats...
The diaper boxes, however, did not keep the 3-year-old entertained for long, so he made the decision to get out hand-fulls of grated cheddar cheese from the fridge, which spilled all over the floor, which the twins found easier to lick up off the floor then pick up with their hands...
(I promise I only let them do this for about 5 seconds longer than I would have to get this shot...)
I was quite upset with the 3-year-old boy for making this mess, so I told him he had to clean it up. You can see how effective he was...
Twin B also thought he would help, showing equal effectiveness...
After cleaning up the mess myself, I made time to put on my makeup...
(Dang I have a lot of neck wrinkles and am starting to look like I'm 40.)
...and did a little bit of laundry, after which lunch time finally rolled around. I was blessed that someone from church brought over a pot of beans, and I sprinkled the grated cheese over it and served it along with tortilla wedges...
After all of the kids went back to school, the 3-year-old boy talked to the newborn...
...while I, again, cleaned the kitchen...
Next came my favorite time of day. Nap time! After placing the 3-year-old boy and the twins in their cribs, reading them stories, getting them water and saying a prayer, it was time to place the newborn in his co-sleeper...
...and eat lunch myself. For some reason, I fancied a bowl of oatmeal with lots of butter...
After my oatmeal was finished, I took a nap for an hour and a half, as the newborn slept for two hours. Someone must have said a prayer for me because of the cosmic event of all 4 under 4 sleeping at the same for two hours.
When I awoke, I sent the 15-year-old girl to be the mother of the 9-year-old boy for his pack meeting/homemade kite-flying contest...
...and while they were gone, the 18-year-old boy initiated a grilled chicken dinner....
...during which time I helped the 13-year-old boy with math...
When the kids returned home from the pack meeting, I had all of them eat dinner, reminded everyone to clean their assigned dinner chores, reminded them to do their pre-bedtime chores, watched part of Pirates of the Caribbean with them, said our prayers, again placed the 3 three and under in their cribs, read them stories, gave them water, said prayers, and turned off their lights.
Over all, disregarding experiencing the baby blues at the end of the day because my husband wasn't a good enough conversationalist on the phone at 11:00 at night just because he got up at 3:30 in the morning, it was a good day, and easier than I would have imagined it would be. Thanks for listening. :)
On 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time today:
It's Cereal and Pipe Cleaner Time! Click the pic to see.
On life in mexico {and other places} a picture a day today:
{a bonfire}
In This Post...
to raise a LARGE family,
to raise a toddler,
to raise grade-schoolers,
to raise teen,
to raise twins
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