Life in the Binder Lane

The Royal Chore Chart

2012-02-17T23:40:00.003-06:00

Here it is. Our current chore system, The Royal Chore Chart. (I was feeling rather Narnia-ish the day I re-vamped our old system, hence the name...)

Our chore system has evolved since we started using one about 5 years ago--I've (somewhat) learned what works and what doesn't work for us, and I'm certainly not against trying something new. In fact, I've been known to switch things up a bit, just for fun. My husband (Mr. Don't-Change-Things-On-Me) loves that about me. Absolutely adores, I tell you. [insert evil laugh here]

First, here are my rules for any chore system...(categorize this as "things I have learned about chore systems and our family)
1. The kids must understand it and be able to accomplish it without my help. (That is, after all, the point, isn't it??) This is, of course, after the initial training period. And don't kid yourself, any good chore system WILL have a training period where it seems like you're doing all the work...quite possibly because you are. (More on that later.)
2. It must be easy and fast for me to maintain or organize. I'm not talking about getting the system set up in the very beginning, because I'm willing to spend a LOT of time doing things right and thoroughly in that department. I'm talking about day-to-day, week-to-week, divvying out the jobs, re-setting the chart, whatever. THAT part must be fast and easy, or I've found I just don't get it done. For example, for one of our (failed) systems, I had to remove chore cards from a plastic packet every day, for each child, and replace them with their new chore cards. It was the every day part that killed me.
3. I must be able to see, at a glance, if the kids have completed their chores or not (assuming they're being honest about it.) For one system, I made a very organized check-list that detailed from room-to-room what was to be accomplished on what days by what child. Yeah. It didn't happen.
4. It must be flexible, but not so flexible that it confuses the kids because there's no pattern to it. A chore system that has no flex to it will kill us. One that has too much flex will get frustrating because no one knows what to expect.
5. It must be fairly easy for me to see what chores each child has each day. We tried each child's packets in their own rooms, but I couldn't ever remember if child #2 was today's kitchen helper, and child #1 had clean-a-toilet duty, or the other way around.

So, now that the rules are established, here's how it's set up...

Our chart is set up for all 3 chore-age children for one week. (The 4th line is set up for future expansion when the Wee One gets old enough to re-stock the toilet paper. For now, I'm supposed to be using that line for my OWN jobs....supposed being the operative word there....) This is what our chart looks like at the beginning of the week, before any chores have been accomplished. (click on photo to enlarge)

Each child has their own line, with 5 spots labeled Monday thru Friday.

Each labeled "day spot" contains a stack of chore cards for that day. Each chore card details the specific chore to be accomplished, and usually has an image to go along with it. Here's Tuesday's stack for my oldest:

What kinds of chores do I put on the cards? It varies. Like a LOT.

Our first attempt at the chore-card system 5 years ago, we included things like brushing your teeth, and putting your pajamas away. Why? Because those were serious tasks for 3- and 5-year-olds.
As they got older, the jobs got harder--I pulled the personal hygiene stuff because they had that down, but added things like vacuuming the living room, emptying the dishwasher, and gathering the trash.
Just recently it seemed like the older kids were getting a LOT of little tasks to do each day, so I decided to mix things up again and just do "Room of the Day" cards. They're actually doing more tasks than before, but it doesn't seem like it to them because their stack of cards is smaller than before. Plus, one walk into "their room" and I know if they've done a good job or not, rather than checking on several different chores around the house.

How much and what kinds of things do I assign to each child?

Although the cards vary from child to child, they can count on a certain pattern. For example, my oldest (age 10) knows she has Reading Time and Math Facts every day. It may seem silly to include these things as "chores", and I really don't consider them as such, but this was a super-easy way for me to make sure she did them. Otherwise, I would forget to remind her, she would forget altogether, and 6 months later we'd realize she can't add 2+9. Anyway, she also knows she has a Room of the Day every day except Wednesday (lighter chores on Wednesdays because of other scheduled activities) and Friday. Just recently (after I took the photos), the Friday Room of the Day was replaced by the Take Out the Trash card, and the Clean the Shop card, the latter being a paid job. I know, a paid job should not be in a chore chart, but it helps us keep straight what days they do what things, and if we need to rearrange, we can. Sue me.
My son (age 7) does not quite take a shower every day (yet...although that time is coming very soon) and he would/could go all week without giving a shower a second thought, so we include the Take a Bath card in his stack on his scheduled shower days. Not really a chore, but again, I don't have to think about it or remind him....usually. He also has Reading Time and Math Facts every day, and a Room of the Day schedule like his older sister. He goes thru spurts of forgetting regular hygiene items (won't his wife love that someday), so I'll throw those cards back in when I see a lag, until it becomes habit again.
My 4-year-old daughter's cards include Take a Bath, Study Awana (for the older two, that is one of their school subjects, so no Awana card for them), and she also has a Room of the Day, although she has the easiest rooms in the house. She is a diligent cleaner, so she was ready for the Room of the Day (especially if I'm not too picky) but I would imagine the average 4-year-old would do better with individual tasks like Restock the Toilet Paper in each Bathroom, and Dust the Stairs (both of which she was doing before.) You'll be amazed at what a pre-schooler can do if trained properly.
I try to only pick chores that they can accomplish by themselves. For example, once I had "Mop the Sunroom Floor" as a chore, but the kids were young enough that I had to fill the bucket, haul it out to the Sunroom, and take care of it when they were done. This doesn't seem like much, but it is just much better if they can be completely self-sufficient, from start to finish. Trust me on this.
Yes, I know, I'm kinda psycho about including clip-art or actual photos on my chore cards. That's just me. (And when we started using chore cards, my kids couldn't read, so they needed the pictures.) A chore method like this will work just as well with hand-written cards. Hand-drawn images or stickers would work, too. I did, this revision, resist the urge to laminate all of the cards...although some of them have already been returned looking like they were dropped into the toilet....

Here's how you run the chart...

Monday morning just before or after breakfast, I move all of the star cards from the front (hopefully they're at the front of each stack, meaning all chores were accomplished) to the back of that stack, for the whole week. I also move the Room of the Day cards to the front. (see rule #2 on ease of maintaining)

Monday Morning--before school and chores

I think about our week and re-arrange, add, or remove cards as necessary. (see rule #4 on flexibility)
The kids know that there are NO VIDEOS OR Wii until their school work AND chores are done for that day. So when their school work is completed, they check their stack and set to work on their own. (see rule # 1 on understanding and accomplishing) This is, of course, after the training period. (Again, more on that later.)
As they accomplish each chore, they move that card to the back of that day's stack. I don't care if they do the chores in order, as long as they get done, and the star is in the front of the stack when they're done. (see rule #3 on checking at a glance)

Wednesday Afternoon--chores are "in-progress"

At any point in the day, I can glance at the chart (which is hung in our hallway just outside the kitchen) and know who is done and who isn't. Because I put the Room cards in front, which are typically the only cards we switch around from week to week, I also can tell with a glance who has what job that day. But even if I had other "switchable" cards in the stack, a quick flip-thru of their cards would easily tell me what jobs they were to do that day. (see rule #5 on easy investigation)

Friday Evening--or at least what it is supposed to look like Friday evening!

Finally, more on the training period...

One thing I can guarantee--ANY AND EVERY chore system will not live up to your expectations if you do not properly train your children to accomplish the exact tasks you are asking them to do. Do not assume they know how to do it. Do not assume they will know how to do it after you show them the first time. Do not assume you will not need to re-show them how to do it several times before they really "get it", or that you will not need to re-show them in 6 weeks when they're testing where the "this is not acceptable" line is.
And for the love of raising the next generation's workforce, PLEASE teach them how to get OUT the supplies they need to accomplish the task, and (more importantly) how to PUT AWAY AND/OR TAKE CARE OF said supplies. Our motto around here is, "The job's not done until the stuff's put away." I said that was our motto, not that we've got it 100% down yet. Know any adults who need this motto stamped on their foreheads. Yeah, me too. (Sometimes myself included.)

FAQ's...

How did I come up with this?

I didn't. It is a modification of Teri Maxwell's Chore Pack System. If you think I'm intense about chores, you should meet this lady. Her book, "Managers of Their Chores."is a great resource and offers an excellent explanation of why chores are important to raising responsible adults.

Where did I get the pocket chart?

It is a 28"x28" mid-sized pocket chart. I got my from Amazon here. Any school supply store should have pocket charts.

How do I come up with chores? What chores are appropriate for different ages, particularly young children?

When we first started a chore card system, which was actually 5 years ago, I thought long and hard about what jobs simply needed to be done around the house. I went room-by-room and wrote everything down I could possibly think of. I mean everything, in specific detail. That list was very long. Then I added person hygiene items and the list became longer. Then I thought about which jobs were critical that the kids, at their various ages, could accomplish. We assigned, tried it, and tweaked from there.

How do I make the cards?

I use Photoshop and print on cardstock (and sometimes laminate), but Word would work, too. Any program in which you can make a box, add text and maybe images, and print, should work. Hand-made cards would work, too. The point isn't to make pretty cards (although that makes me happy) but to create a chore system.

Do I pay an allowance for chores?

Ok, I know that is a loaded question. People have very strong opinions about this topic. I can just tell you what works for us because it makes sense to us, but I'm not out to convince you our philosophy is right and everything else is wrong. Ready? Here we go....
We believe the purpose of chores is to prepare kids for adulthood. As adults, there are things we do because it is our personal responsibility. We don't get paid for them. (Wouldn't it be nice to get paid for brushing our teeth and making sure our clothes make it to the hamper??) But also, as adults, we have the opportunity to take jobs to make money. So.....
Our kids do not get paid for regular chores. They also do not have a choice whether they do them or not. They just do. Well, they just do because they want to play the Wii and watch a video. And eat supper. Just kidding. I feed my kids, don't worry. We don't run a sweat shop around here.
My kids also have two paying jobs--mowing the yard and cleaning the shop. These are things we asked them if they'd like to take on, for pay. We treat it like an adult job. Adult responsibilities, adult pay. If they don't do the job properly, they get sent back to finish or they don't get paid. We had been paying to have our yard mowed the last several years, so we try to treat them exactly like how we would have treated Tyler. They bought their own mower, pay for their gas and repairs, and give us an invoice each month for the same amount we were paying Tyler. When the tire went flat and was un-repairable, they paid for a new tire. We want it to be a real job for them, so when they get a real job with someone else as their boss, they will know how to act and what to expect.
That said, they're still 10 and 7, and we're still their parents, so we take the responsibility of training them and doing certain things they simply can't do. Like picking up the new mower tire from the tire shop and putting it on the mower. What? You thought we made them carry it home on their backs and let them slave away all day putting it on??

Lastly, I thought it might be helpful if you saw some of our chore cards from over the years. I didn't include any of our Room of the Day cards. And before I close, if you're starting or revamping a chore system at your house, remember to consider what you want to teach your kids through the process of chores, and then figure out what kind of system will best do that within your family dynamic.

Lovin' Life

2012-02-08T09:20:00.001-06:00

Ok, so it's been a while since I've blogged. And although I'd love to write an opinion piece about how dumb it is that the Missouri primary doesn't technically determine our delegates, or how surprised I am at the number of God-fearing people I know that don't support Prop 8 in California.....those topics will have to wait for something much more important...photos of my youngest.

Priorities, people.

I just think these are so stinkin' cute....

This girl loves chicken noodle soup. LOVES, I tell you. (Or at least she did on this day. Who knows about next time.)

She also loves...

....reading books
(aka completely destroying books)

...playing on the iPod
(aka messing my iPod up)

...pink milk
(aka mooching off of someone else)

...riding the vacuum cleaner...obviously she really loves this one--just look at that face! She's even drooling!

...and pretty much making a total disaster out of every meal. Hey, when you're 1, that's your job.

...not sure if she enjoys the food or the mess more.

And of course she loves...

...her Daddy.

This girl loves life. And we love her to pieces, too.

The Best Birthday EVER (JOIN ME!)

2011-11-29T11:34:00.005-06:00

In just a few days I will turn 39, but I've already begun to celebrate! (And I hope you'll celebrate with me!) After reading this blog post a few weeks ago, I decided that I would do the same sort of thing, except spread my acts of kindness over the entire week! This started yesterday.

My oldest had an Orthodontist appointment yesterday morning, so on our way we went through the McDonald's drive thru and we paid for the gentleman's breakfast in the car behind us. I'm quite sure that was the most fun I've had in the McDonalds Drive-thru. Ever. And it might have slightly reminded me of TP'ing houses in my high school days...it might have, you know, if I ever did that sort of rebellious thing, which of course I assure you I would never ever admit to. (Surely none of my high school coaches read this blog...)

So anyway, this week I will be completing 39 random acts of kindness (or more) in celebration of my Birthday. I've already completed 4 and it has been a blast! Would you like to join me? I'm inviting my friends and family to help me celebrate by doing something simple, kind, and random in honor of my Birthday! I would LOVE it if you would! If you're game, read on!

In case you need some ideas, I'll list some below, but please feel free to do something as circumstances present themselves, or as God leads. And I've found people are more receptive to kindness if you tell them it is in honor of your (or your friends') birthday. (Sad how we've become so cynical to kindness...but that is another blog post for another time...) In fact, some of the ideas listed below should be accompanied by a note of some sort. This is a business card I've printed to help me:

Lastly, if you wouldn't mind leaving a comment here (or on my facebook post) about what you did, that would make this my most amazing Birthday ever. I'm so excited!

Now, on to the ideas....although some of these require money and some of them time, some require very little of either. Be creative, be generous, and have fun!!

give away balloons
tape some quarters to a vending machine
buy some fresh flowers at the grocery store and then turn around and hand them to the person in line behind you
donate blood
help someone at the grocery store load their groceries into their car (although don't freak them out)
tape microwave popcorn to a redbox machine
pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru
put dollar bills in a few library books
give away hot chocolate or coffee to people working outside (utility/street departments, etc.)
read children a book at a bookstore or the library
leave change on the ground or at a playground for the children to find
hand out bottled water to someone who never gets appreciated (nurses at the hospital, security guard at the mall, etc.)
hand out suckers to children at the mall (ask parent's permission first, of course) OR
hand out stickers to children at the mall (or offer both--gives an option to parents who are hesitant to accept candy from a complete stranger!)
buy a small gift card and immediately give it to someone in that establishment, like the person in line behind you or (if in a restaurant) someone at a table. This is a fun one at department stores where most people are grumpy....no names, but you know....
deliver a hand-written note and snacks to a local police/fire station
take needed items to a homeless shelter
pay for someone else's coffee at Starbucks
tuck happy notes on car windshields wishing people a good day full of God's blessings
take art supplies to waiting rooms (hospitals/Dr.'s offices, etc....would be a good idea to ask them first)
leave quarters at a laundromat
give a phone card to someone in need
give coffee to a toll-booth worker and pay for someone else's toll
deliver candy bars (or something else) to workers in a local business you believe in (like a Crisis Pregnancy Center)
give a car wash token to someone who looks like they need it. :)
Do you know a business that keeps their bathroom really clean? Write a thank-you note and give it to the person in charge of that.
pump someone else's gas at the gas station
feed busy parking meters
let someone else in front of you in line

The fam

2011-11-13T00:50:00.001-06:00

Here we are....new family pic, such as it is. Hey, it's a miracle I made it in FRONT of the camera, and you want all of us to actually be looking AT the camera?? Maybe in about 5 years.

This was taken on ~~the old man's~~ my sweet husband's 40th Birthday. I shouldn't poke fun because I'm not too far behind...but I'M NOT THERE YET....

This was a fun day (despite the depressed husband) and a beautiful day, which you can't always guarantee in mid-October.

Irony

2011-06-08T01:00:00.001-06:00

Going swimming while preparing for a flood. There just seems to be something wrong about that.

Of course Baby doesn't seem too bothered by it.

What On Earth Were You Thinking??

2011-06-02T09:20:00.001-06:00

Since stepping on a nail in the barn, Brother has been taking oral antibiotics--thick, cold, pink stuff that apparently doesn't taste real great. He takes this nasty dose 3 times a day, so he's getting pretty tired of it.

Yesterday, I handed him a syringe of the delightful stuff and he acted like I just handed him a syringe full of pond slime. So I told him if he plugged his nose, he wouldn't taste it.

He didn't believe me.

So I reached up and pinched his nose shut and encouraged him to "just do it." After a little arguing about it, I pinched his nose and said, "Ok, get it done, ready? 1.....2.......3....."

And at that point, he pushed the medicine out of the syringe as fast as he could. He just forgot one thing. HE FORGOT TO PUT THE SYRINGE IN HIS MOUTH.

He has it pointed at himself, but holding it about 8 inches from his face.

He shot it out with so much force it splattered off of his neck and shoulder onto a sizable portion of the floor and THREE walls. I just stood there, baffled by what just happened. He looked up at me, shocked by what just happened.

And although I didn't find the humor of it at the time, now I see...IT WAS REALLY FUNNY!!

Let's just hope he doesn't have aspirations to become a doctor someday....

MAY-HEM

2011-05-30T20:29:00.000-06:00

What did we do in the month of May?

The kids started to mow the yard this year, and although they are doing a great job, it did engulf in flames....ok, not really, but the clutch did burn up and bunches of white smoke started coming out of the back of it while Brother was mowing. That prompted a discussion about fire safety that started like this:

ME: Brother, do you know what to do if your clothing would catch on fire?

BROTHER: (with an "I can't believe you don't know the answer to this question, Mom" look on his face) Uh, take them off?

The discussion didn't get much better when he decided it would be best to run as fast as you can because everyone knows when you blow on a candle really hard it puts the flame out....

We've been going on whole-family bike rides lately, but DH thought the best place for Baby would be in the backpack carrier. I'm not too thrilled about it, but I must say she sure did enjoy herself. (And we have another child bike seat now.)

We (ok, not me) added another swing to the swingset so all 4 kids can go at the same time. There's officially no more room on the swingset, so I guess no more children for us.

The kids had been studying about the Underground Railroad, and earned a trip to the Mayhew Cabin, a stop on the Underground Railroad. We went with some other homeschooler friends and they all had a blast playing there and going thru the tunnel a gazillion times that afternoon.

We saw this brilliant rainbow just to the East of us and the kids wanted to go find the pot of gold. For a while there were 2 rainbows, but of course I wasn't fast enough to catch that on film.

How do you know when you've put off doing the laundry too long? When your children are buried alive by it. Seriously. Drama Queen fell asleep on the floor next to the hamper in our bedroom, and apparently the mountain toppled over on top of her. (She didn't even wake up...although we didn't want her to smother so she got pulled out in short order. Just imagine that coroner's report, "Victim was smothered by a pile of dirty laundry...")

If the kids wake up before me, they will climb into bed with me and I will read them a book. On this morning, I had to get out, but Brother decided he could read one to Baby. Aren't they precious?

How do you know when Chatterbox is driving us all crazy with her non-stop talking?? When your 4-year-old comes to supper like this. Yes, she enjoyed her entire meal in silence...a rare occasion at our house.

The weather was barely 80 and the kids couldn't wait a second longer to get out the Slip and Slide. They played all afternoon and came in with a S-U-N-B-U-R-N. Oops. I suppose any responsible Mother would have thought about sunscreen.

One of the highlights of the end of the school year for our kids is our Homeschool Track and Field Day. This year was no exception. For some reason my kids seem to be particularly skilled in the Sack Jump. Do you supposed there's some life-skill that will translate into??

Officially, my parents are now empty-nesters as my youngest sister got married. Boy does that make me feel old--she was my flower-girl...she was 2 and a half. Yes, I got married when I was 12. (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.)

I got a good picture of my kids at the wedding...I just don't know why people say all of my kids look alike........lol

DH is finally seeing his dream of building a shop become a reality this summer. But he's finding out even when you hire most of it done, there's still a lot of managing that needs to be done.

Brother is playing T-ball again this summer, and loving it. They won their first game, and when I told him it doesn't matter who wins, it's just about having fun, he responded with, "Well, Mom, the other team can just have fun, but I want to win."

And last but not least, our most exciting event of May was when Brother stepped on a nail in the barn and nearly drove it thru his foot. Of course this happened on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, so on Sunday when it kept swelling and the top of his foot felt hot, we took him to the ER. I think he's on the mend now, but he has enjoyed milking the attention for all it's worth. (And yes, this is the nail, although that is NOT blood, it's actually red paint. Looks pretty realistic though, doesn't it!)

And that's been our May. Hopefully June will be a nice, quiet month....although around here the chances of that are highly unlikely. And with the threat of widespread flooding here looming again this year, I'm betting June will be interesting one way or another.

A Happy Home (and Mama)

2011-04-15T17:10:00.004-06:00

Last weekend I went to homeschool conference. This is like the 4th time I've gone and each year I love it more. It is so refreshing to spend two days with some of my best friends, with no children, and learn something in the process! I always glean at least a few new ideas to try either in our homeschool process, or my home. This year, I came home with a whole BUCKETFUL of ideas, thanks to Carol Barnier. And the most brilliant in the bucket is this...... (That's ok, click on it for a closer look if you need to.)

Yes, TIE the scissors TO the spot they are supposed to stay. Nothing makes me more frustrated than when my son cannot find his scissors....and in Kindergarten, you need your scissors A-LOT. So, THANK YOU, Carol Barnier. And not just thank you, but rise-up-and-call-you-blessed thank you! You have made our home and this Mama much happier!

PS: Yes, I have threatened his life if he EVER cuts that ribbon. And we all know how well he likes to cut stuff....

One Year Anniversary

2011-03-28T23:15:00.001-06:00

We are getting close to THE one-year anniversary. WHAT? You don't remember?? Here, let me refresh your memory...

Oh yeah. Remember now? Uh huh.

April 6th of last year was the day my heart nearly stopped when Drama Queen bounded down the stairs with Big Brother sportin' her new haircut.....read about it here if you need a good laugh.

On a side note, sometimes I have to laugh when I think about the things that have NOT freaked me out as much as that one incident.....like Emergency Room visits and massive widespread flooding a half a mile from our home....

Anyway, I recently found this old photo

and had to laugh. I had forgotten about the whole hair-cutting thing that happened when he was like 2, with my sister. Obviously he didn't get to cut it ALL off, but HELLO, this should have been some sort of sign or something! And look, he used school scissors in both incidents....aren't they supposed to ONLY cut paper??

On a brighter note, Drama Queen's hair has grown out nicely, and no one has developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or anything! Just take a look...

And believe me when I tell you, when someone shares their own hair-cutting story with me, I just laugh and say, "Don't worry, one thing is for sure, it WILL grow back."

Why Moms Need A Vacation

2011-03-18T23:10:00.001-06:00

Reason #1: Death-defying acrobatics from a swingset that nearly cause your observing Mama to pass out.
Every family has to have one. You know, the child that keeps the Dr.'s Office in business. I just didn't think it would be our girly-girl, the one who can't leave the house without a skirt on.

Reason #2: Brainy ideas that come from the King of the family.
You know, things like hanging my children over a 20-foot deep cistern so they could see the kind of thing Joseph (of the Bible) was thrown into....or....

....the suggestion that we could save $300 a year on toilet paper if we would buy the cheapy-cheap-o stuff. The stuff that doesn't really qualify as toilet paper. (Tracing paper, maybe. Toilet paper, no.) Don't worry, I checked--we don't even spend $300 a year on toilet paper.

Reason #3: Household messes
I should probably be thinking this is really cute and creative. But this is the phrase that keeps repeating in my head, "Exactly who is going to pick up this mess?"

Reason #4: (Slightly Different) Household Messes
In answer to that last question, I know exactly who is going to be cleaning up this mess.

Reason #5: Not ever being able to leave the house (without the circus.)

I have 4 children. Only 3 can dress themselves, but those 3 insist on dressing like this...

To say the circus has nothin' on us would be a grave understatement...in so many ways.

Reason #6: Dieting.
No photo.
'Nuff said.

You Are Special

2011-03-02T16:10:00.000-06:00

I've realized I don't read enough TO my kids. They have been begging me to do just that. So I've started to read a little to them while they eat breakfast. One time I tried to read to them while I ate breakfast, too....that didn't work.

Anyway, we started with Nate the Great (what? you thought we'd tackle classical literature first??) and I read just until Nate says he figured out the mystery. Then I'd close the book and let them finish the rest in their reading time. I did NOT have to convince them to read on "Nate the Great" days!

This morning we read You Are Special by Max Lucado. I own a lot of children's books by Lucado, but I purchased them before I had kids, had tucked them away, and honestly kinda forgot about them. I think God reminded me they were there. I had forgotten how special his kids books are.

There are books that are good. And there are books that are really good. And then there are books that are really good. You Are Special falls into that category. If you haven't read it, please do. And if you haven't read it to your kids, start. And do it often. Yes, its just that really good.

The Mold You Choose

2011-02-28T00:40:00.000-06:00

My 9-year-old daughter has been asking if she can watch a certain (seemingly harmless and quite common) TV show. We don't have cable or satellite, or even an antennae for that matter, but we do have Netflix and they offer the first season of this particular show as one of their choices. Now, I'm a firm believer that what you put into your mind will eventually come out in your actions, so we try to be very careful what we let our kids watch and listen to. I didn't know much about this show, other than it seemed age-appropriate for my pre-adolescent (or at least it was marketed that way), but decided rather than just telling her "no you can't watch it", the time had come for me to start making a diligent effort to teach my daughter how to evaluate the things she allows into her mind. So we picked an episode and decided we would watch it together, carefully, evaluating the show in the areas of modesty/purity, personal responsibility (taking responsibility for your own actions), respect for authority, treating peers with respect, and if the characters acted in a way that would please God, or not. Neither one of us knew what we might discover, good or bad, but decided we would keep track of both the bad and the good points of the show.

Wow.

The good points? Well, seriously the only good thing was the characters were not immodest, at least in this one episode. I've seen promotional images for this show, and can't exactly say those are the ideal in the area of modesty, but at least this episode posed no problems in that area. That one area. And that's pretty much the extent of the "good" list. And I was even looking for good areas.

The bad? Probably the worst issue was in the area of respect for authority. The show portrays authority figures as idiots who don't need to be respected or listened to, but are disrespected at every turn. Two examples: one of the characters throws a football and hits a teacher in the face (and of course the entire crowd of kids laugh because it is the "disliked" teacher.) Another character grabs the principal's cell phone while he is talking on it, and throws it onto the floor in hopes of breaking it, all in an effort to GET detention. (Yes, you read that right--to GET detention.) Students are disrespecting the authority of their teachers, and teachers are disrespecting the authority of their Principal. Nice.

Continuing with the "bad" list, we witnessed lying, cheating, bullying of other students, a teacher saying he hated his wife (and the students), a girl fighting her conscience (meaning she was trying to FORCE herself to do the wrong thing--pull the fire alarm), and constant "sneaking around" to get done what they wanted to get done. Wholesome.

But probably the biggest red flag of the whole show is the attitude that all of the above is...funny.

Lying? Funny. Bullying? Funny. Hearing a guy say he hates his wife? Funny. Disrespect? Really funny.

Now I know you're thinking I must have watched something like Bart Simpson or South Park, right? Nope--we watched iCarly. Surprised? Maybe. But before you write me off and tell yourself, "Oh, it isn't that bad...." take some time to watch it and really evaluate the subtle themes and messages of the show.

I'd be willing to admit we may have gotten a particularly bad episode, but not out of the ballpark. I doubt I'll watch another just to find out.

Sometimes we forget that the things we watch, listen to, or read actually mold our thinking and our actions. Is iCarly the mold I want my children or myself to come out of? Are there no other choices??

Well....we evaluated another show right after iCarly--Little House on the Prairie. Talk about contrast. In the episode we watched, it was Christmastime and every member of the Ingalls family personally sacrificed for someone else in the family. Mary worked 3 weeks on a shirt for her Pa. Charles slaved away on a difficult project just to make enough money to buy Caroline her present. Laura traded her dearly loved horse with Mr. Olson for a stove for Caroline. And when Pa gave Laura a saddle, she cried. But not because she no longer had the horse to use it on, but because she felt bad her Pa had went to such work for her. SelfLESSness. Now that's the kind of theme I want my kids to absorb.

So you've probably guessed what my kids will be watching at our house. And what your kids watch at yours is completely up to you. Just be informed. Pay attention. Don't assume anything, good or bad. Evaluate for yourself. Please. This is important stuff.

A Good Thing

2011-02-16T00:26:00.003-06:00

This is our first night home in 4 nights. We all went on vacation--the kids "vacationed" at Grandma's house, and DH and I went by ourselves to Hermann, Missouri. You might be asking, "What is in Hermann, Missouri??" Nothing, really. Just some super sweet accommodations (here), but really not much else in the middle of February. And that's exactly what we needed.

Every year we try to take two vacations--one that includes our whole family, the other just DH and myself. I've noticed not many married couples really do this, but boy do I ever recommend it! It is our time to reconnect, to remember why we married each other, to be able to talk without constant interruption, without having to fill a sippy cup, change a diaper, answer 1000 questions. To remember that we were a married couple before we were parents.

Have you noticed how parenting is really intense? It never ends, well, at least in a daily kind of way. You can't "check out" at 5pm and come back to work at 8am the next morning. Nope, if you're a parent (ok, a good parent) you're ON DUTY 24-7. And that's exactly why we need a 3-day (or more!) break.

Is it tough to leave them? Oh my, its one of the hardest thing I do every year. But I do it because it is important to us. It is important for Grandma and Grandpa to get to know our kids better. It is important for our kids to see that OUR world does not completely revolve around them.

And when I get home, I am refreshed enough to want to be a better Mom. A better wife. A better person. Would I realize this without our time away? Probably not. We get so caught up in just doing the next thing...or the next 100 things...that I don't take time to just be quiet and think and evaluate. The proof is in the pudding--I can't tell you how many really good ideas have hatched from our times away. Ideas that have stuck and made our family stronger.

So yes, I need this. Even though my stomach hurts when the non-refundable reservations are made. Even though I'm memorizing the baby's features as I'm rocking her to sleep for the last time the night before we leave. Even when I find myself in a state of panic for the first 5 miles after we drop them off. I need this.

Do you need it, too? Are you a parent? Then yes, you need it, too.

(Yes, even you, Denise!) :)

Slobber fountain

2011-02-10T00:54:00.000-06:00

My lands, this girl can slobber. Click on the photo to see it larger if you don't believe me. I keep thinking this will eventually stop. I mean really, can you imagine this on a first date?? Hopefully we have a while before that, but really! The slobbering has become so constant that we typically keep bibs on her at all times to soak it up. The water-resistant ones are our favorites!

Slobber or not, she's pretty fun to have around, and we wouldn't trade her for anything. Slobber or not, she's a keeper.

When you don't have cable TV...

2011-02-10T00:46:00.002-06:00

...your kids end up doing stuff like this (click on it to see it larger):

Of course a new marker board and new set of markers helped get the creative juices flowing, too.

Hanger Hoarder

2011-01-28T23:29:00.001-06:00

Y'all ever seen the show Hoarders? I got to watch it for the first time just a few weeks ago. Wow. Seriously. After the first 10 minutes I wanted to jump up and clean something out. After it was over, I actually DID jump up and clean something out!

And I've been cleaning ever since. I've never been a "sort-organize-categorize-and label" kinda gal, but I AM NOW!! Actually, we do have one of those nifty electronic Dy-mo label machines, but it is my husband who keeps that thing a-humming. But I'm seriously seeing the benefit of labeling where everything is at, especially with 4 kids who are responsible for putting a certain amount of things away.

So the other day I purged a large bookcase, removing about 1/3 of the books, sorting, organizing, and grouping what was left into reasonable categories. Then I got out the nifty label machine and started printing...."Reference, Scrapbooking, Ministry, Photography...etc." In the middle of the process, Chatterbox sees what I'm doing, rolls her eyes and proclaims, "Oh brother, you're becoming just like Daddy." Hey, I don't think that's such a bad thing when it comes to organization! He's one of the most organized, disciplined persons I know!

So anyway, as I purge and clean different areas of my house, I've come to realize I can be a hoarder in certain ways. Kitchen utensils is one of them. (Sorry, I didn't take a picture of that disaster before I "fixed" it.)

Hangers is another.

Because I realize you can't really determine scale very well in this photo, the bar those hangers are on is above my washer and dryer, and is probably a good 6-7 feet wide. And it is stuffed full. These are just the hangers that don't have anything on them. I still have a ton of hangers in my closet, in DH's closet, and the kids' closets!! Hanger hoarder, yes, I am.

But not for long.

And if you need a little organizational boost, watch an episode of Hoarders. Guaranteed to motivate you...or make you nauseous. Maybe both.

The January 1 Purge

2011-01-02T10:56:00.002-06:00

How does a person accumulate so much junk? They say the average adult moves to a different residence every 7 years. I'm beginning to think a person SHOULD move every 7 years just to purge all of the junk they've accumulated. We've lived here for 18 years, so you can just imagine the amount of junk we have tucked into each and every corner and cranny. Case and point...

New Years Day DH decided it was THE DAY to clean out the entry. Our entry room isn't big, probably about 5' x 8' and contains a large closet with bi-fold doors, a freestanding cabinet and a sink. Here's what we hauled OUT of the entry (including the sink!):

Ok, ok, so the table on the front of the trailer came from the garage. But the rest? Yeah, came from that room. Did I mention it is like 5'x8'?? How does this happen? How is this possible? Worst part was it took us nearly ALL DAY.

DH mentioned something about tackling the den today.....let's hope not! I'm going to need about a week to prepare for that kind of a project!

New Family Photo...kinda

2010-12-21T17:09:00.002-06:00

TA DUH! We have a new family photo!

Ok, so it's not stellar. Let me tell you why. We took this photo OUTSIDE on Thanksgiving Day. If you live around here, you're probably thinking...."Wait, wasn't Thanksgiving Day REALLY cold, like 27 degrees cold, and the wind was blowing like a banshee??" Ah, yes, that was the day. Did I mention we took this OUT-SIDE?? Yeah.

My whole family (extended family, like brother and sisters and parents) all wore black or gray shirts and we took family pictures. It was SUPPOSED to be warm. At least that's what we prayed for. Instead we got the coldest day of the year, I believe. So, you'll just have to put up with us looking like we're freezing our tushes off...and those lovely gray fleece pants on Baby....those were supposed to get pushed up under her cute gray polka dotted dress, but as you can see, she was enjoying the process so much I decided it wasn't worth it.

Bright side? We're all in one photo for once! Less than stellar or not, a photo with us ALL in it is still priceless in my book!

The fog is clearing!

2010-12-20T20:31:00.001-06:00

Can't believe it has been June since I last updated here. Sorry, Denise! (Although in my defense you are probably the ONLY person in the world who checks my blog regularly.) For those of you who don't know, I have a good reason for being "out of touch" for a while:

Sweet Baby Girl is now just over 3 months old and is finally deciding life outside the womb isn't so bad. I know, I know, she looks so peaceful here. Yeah, I have to photograph these moments because they are fleeting... I'm not saying she has been AWFUL, but certainly not the easiest baby in the world, or even the easiest baby I've had. I guess as my friend Sheri says, God has a way of letting you know when you're "done". This is certainly the last baby that's coming from MY body...unless God intervenes, of course.
Anyway, the last 3 months have been a whirlwind, emotionally and physically. This whirlwind has left my house disorganized and my kids unruly. Time to reset....everything. So I've been working, little by little, to get everything back in order....

Hair Update

2010-06-08T17:47:00.001-06:00

She requested piggy-tails, so................

.....VOILA! Piggy-tails! Er, ok, maybe more like piggy-nubs, but she was THRILLED just the same!

I also talked to a friend a week ago who told me her kids ate rat poison one time....RAT POISON!! Thankfully they were fine, but wow, makes me think a haircut (even as drastic of one as this) is pretty mild.

Whose Child Is This??

2010-05-28T13:50:00.002-06:00

This morning, she flushed a (rather large) pencil sharpener down the toilet. (And I found out the people at Roto Rooter sure are nice!) But that's a whole different story....

Then this afternoon she flutters into the kitchen requesting (ever so politely) some pink milk. Something on her foot catches my eye. Is that....A TOE RING???

She's 3. Barely.

No one in this house has ever worn a toe ring. No one in this house even OWNS a toe ring.

And yet here she is, proud as punch sporting the little thing, with a gem on top to boot!

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against toe rings. You can just imagine my surprise when my 3-year-old shows up with one. Where did she get it? How did she know it could go on her toe? Why did she think it was cool?

For the record, it was not officially a toe ring. It was a play-ring from their dress-up clothes. But still. It makes me wonder where she gets these ideas...oh wait. I think I know. They must come from her Aunt Mimi!

Why Moms Get Gray Hair

2010-05-03T19:18:00.011-06:00

It was, without a doubt, a Tuesday I will never forget. It started with me having a touch of the stomach flu the weekend before. Tuesday around noon I decided to lie down on the couch for a bit. Chatterbox was doing her schoolwork, and the other 2 were upstairs doing something, and although I didn't know exactly what, I figured, "How much trouble can they possibly get into in 20 minutes?" (Yes, this thought actually went thru my mind....famous last words.)

And really, it isn't unusual for Drama Queen to play for an hour or two upstairs with her babies or Barbies, completely entertaining herself. I should have known better with Big Brother in the mix. But they were quiet, and I really just needed a little rest.

Somewhere between completely awake and completely asleep, I heard the two of them come bounding down the stairs. I opened my eyes to the jolly comment, "Look Mom, we're both ready to go out and play T-ball!" And there they were. Big Brother and Drama Queen dressed in T-ball shirts, boys' shorts, and the biggest, proudest smiles on both of their faces! I'm not completely awake at this point. And I remember commenting on how cute they looked, and thinking, "I don't remember pulling her hair back into a pony tail this morning...Brother must have done it?......Man, he did a REALLY good job getting it all pulled back........." And then it hit me.

That wasn't a pony tail. That was NO HAIR. I'm quite sure my face made an immediate U-turn. I turned to Brother and exclaimed, "DID YOU CUT HER HAIR???????" to which he replied, smiling and proud as could be, "YES!" And when he saw my HORROR, HIS face made an immediate U-turn.

I don't remember clearly what happened next. I do remember freaking out. I sent Brother to his room for fear that I might do something I would regret later on. I called DH and told him he had to come home...IMMEDIATELY. Apparently I acted so freaked out that he thought someone had been critically injured--like thrown out of a window or something. While we waited for him to arrive, all I could think when I looked at her head was, "It's gone. It's ALL GONE! All of it. G-O-N-E." She failed to see the point of the crisis, although she could certainly tell that Mom was freaking out.

Daddy arrived home, and was relieved to find out it was "only" her hair. ONLY HER HAIR????

THAT did not help.

Ready for some pictures???

Drama Queen 2 weeks before the incident:

Drama Queen 2 hours after the incident--before we took her to the hairdresser...who really couldn't do a whole lot:

Long story short...we survived. And found out the reason he cut her hair was because he thought she would get hot with her long hair when they went out to play T-ball. So really, he was trying to do her a favor. I mean really, who wants to be HOT when playing T-ball??? We always tell him that a brother's job is to take care of his sister. And I guess he was, in his own way.

BUT, we've also had a couple of long discussion about what to do when something SOUNDS like a really good idea in your head, but it goes against something else you've been told. When in doubt, ask Mom FIRST.

The funny part is there wasn't a stitch of hair anywhere but in the trash can. Apparently he thought Mom would be upset if he made a mess. Hmmmmm....

In the end, here's what we learned.
1. Silence is not golden. It is suspicious.
2. It is only hair, and it will grow back. It does not really constitute a crisis, although it seemed like it at the time. When you think of the things that COULD have happened, and some of the real trials other families are facing, this was barely a hiccup. (Ok, so DH was right.)
3. It has been a great opportunity to teach our children about their own reasoning skills.
4. DH and I have realized our son is like a lab puppy. If we don't keep him busy, he will find something on his own to do. So we're investing in a building set and a magic kit....or two or more. And I periodically ask him, "Are you going to do something constructive, or do I need to give you something to do?" (aka: a chore)
5. Sometimes, as a parent, you're given no choice in a situation but to deal with it. Ok, I don't like that. I like to be in control! Do you suppose this is training me for when they become teenagers??

Drama Queen, surprisingly, could care less about her hair.
So honestly, the only person that has suffered permanent damage from this whole thing is me. What was damaged? My mental health. But I am recovering.

Oh, and the rest of the week?? Well, Wednesday and Thursday we waged war on a mouse in the house. (That's a whole different story--you don't know how much I HATE MICE IN MY HOUSE. To say they are disgusting would be like saying Brother just gave Drama Queen a little trim.) I bought 12 traps, a bag of coarse steel wool, a roll of screen, and a can of "Great Stuff". Those of you who have waged the same kind of war know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

And Friday we woke up to Brother throwing-up in his bed, and then continuing to throw-up constantly through 4 rooms in his effort to get to a toilet. Including a pit stop to throw up in MY bathroom sink. It was un-be-lieve-a-ble. Sorry, I didn't take any pictures, but I DID measure the throw-up trail--45 feet. FORTY-FIVE FEET OF THROW-UP ON CREAM CARPET. Thank the Lord for my Bissell Little Green Machine. (Although now I think I need a replacement.)

While sucking up the last of the throw-up trail, I told Brother, "You've had quite the week, haven't you!"

He replied..."Yeah, I wonder what will happen TOMORROW!!"

Indeed.

And THAT is why Moms get gray hair...and why my daughter has NONE!

Catching up!

2010-05-03T13:11:00.005-06:00

Wow, my last post was back in December?? REALLY?? Sorry. Looks like we have some catching up to do! Here's what we've been up to in the last 4 months:

Back in February we took a family vacation to a resort that had 3 indoor waterparks! The kids thought it was great...but their favorite part was....

...the 3-person jacuzzi tub in our condo. "3-person??" you ask? Well, look at it, what would YOU call it??

Chatterbox, in a quest to make some extra spending money, decided to sell massage time to the family. Daddy was so proud...and was gladly her first customer!

We eat so many apples at our house (Chatterbox alone will eat 2 apples a day!) that DH decided it would be cheaper in the long run to plant our own orchard. So 4 apple trees arrived via Fed Ex and we planted them....in the snow and freezing cold weather. Hey, they aren't going to grow in a box in the garage!

Drama Queen (sporting her new haircut--see other post) found a new napping spot.

Drama Queen turned 3 in April. I made her cake (a couple pictures down) and Chatterbox, who loves to decorate cakes, decorated her own for Drama Queen. I know, it looks like something from a Dr. Seuss book, but it is covered in 100% love! They ate it the night before the big day with the babysitter while Mom and Dad went out for supper.

DH took JUST the Birthday Girl out for breakfast, as is starting to be the tradition at our house. He said he learned all kinds of things he never knew before!

Drama Queen's cake, in honor of her new hairstyle, was fashioned after herself. (It is actually a Strawberry Shortcake cake pan I got off of ebay.) Looks just like her, don't you think?? When we cut it to eat it, she only would allow us to cut certain parts--had to start with the hat, then go to the shirt, leaving the face, particularly the eyes for the last. She saved the last piece for so long that I finally had to throw it out because it had turned ROCK HARD. (Shhhhh--don't tell her. She doesn't realize I've thrown it out yet.)

In honor of her love of helping Mommy cook, she got some new kitchen toys.

The kids have big plans for the farmers market this year. Here they're helping Daddy plant 6 rows of sweet corn in the field with the rest of the corn. Daddy told them, "If you're going to sell it, you're going to help me plant it!"

...and yes, everyone helped, although Drama Queen's job was just to stand there and look pretty.

My sister is getting married very soon, so I got to help with a Bridal Shower in her honor. Aren't they cute???

For the shower, we (the kids and I...can't you just see DH making these?? HA!) tried a friend's recipe for mini candy dipped apples. Mmmm, they were yummy!!

Finally, we went to an air show and saw my FAVORITE--the Blue Angels. They were AWESOME!

And what do you do at an Air Show once you've gotten bored? Get a quarter and try to squeeze it over your eye and act like a Pirate. Hey, that's not easy for a barely-3-year-old! (And it's not easy trying to explain to her how to do it!)

THAT'S what we've been up to lately. Well, that and a gazillion other things.

Lovin' the SNOW...a little less

2009-12-28T19:57:00.001-06:00

I believe I have reached my snow limit. Can I go back to summer?? 80 degrees sure does sound good right about now. But the kids are still having fun. I'll try to get some photos posted tomorrow!

Lovin' the SNOW

2009-12-14T14:10:00.007-06:00

It is not every year that we get a good snow, not for sledding at least. Typically we might get a couple of inches at a time, but it is gone in a day or two. So when the snow comes by the bucketfull, and actually stays for a while, it is time to call everyone we know and go SLEDDING! This adventure is compliments of our dear friends, the Wrights. Hugs to them for having such an AWESOME hill and being willing to share it with 100 crazy friends on a cold winter day!

Clayton...

I love this one...they are about to run into a bunch of people. (Can you tell??)

Jules and Sianna...

I know, it doesn't look like they're having any fun at all, does it?

Brooklyn...this is about as excited about sledding as she gets. They weren't even moving!
Ah, there's nothing better than friends, snow, and a cup of hot chocolate to finish it off!

Where's the pictures of me?? Hey, someone's got to stand behind the camera! And honestly, there's no other place I'd rather be!

Naughty Fwirl

2009-11-14T21:00:00.005-06:00

See previous post, first video.... This is that "naughty fwirl." And although it is hard to see here, he actually has his head INSIDE the pumpkin. NAUGHTY FWIRL, INDEED!

Documenting the ABC's

2009-11-13T09:29:00.003-06:00

She's been singing this the last couple of days, but wouldn't you know it, when I get out the camera, this happens...

Not one to give up easily, we tried again, with successful results!

Is a 2 and a half year old supposed to "know" their ABC's?? I guess we'll just have to start working on the word "squirrel." :)

Mom the Detective

2009-11-06T15:18:00.004-06:00

I love detective shows--back when we had a TV connected to the real world, that is. My favorite was CSI--the early CSI Las Vegas, when the murder had already been committed and you didn't have to SEE someone getting hacked to death with a hatchet. (Come on CSI--we can use our imaginations, we don't need to SEE those kinds of things. I digress...) So, yes, I love solving a mystery.

Never in my wildest dream did I ever imagine becoming a Mom would automatically make me a detective. I am called on just about every day to "put the pieces together" to discover what really happened 3 minutes ago in the living room. Here's a great example from today, and you see if YOU can figure it out...(don't worry, it doesn't take a rocket scientist!)

I knew it was a BAD sign finding a pile of screws on the living room carpet, alongside the murder weapon...

...and then a miscellaneous piece I've never seen before in my life (aka a trail of blood)...

...ahh, it appears we have found the victim, even though the culprit tried to cover up the murder.

And as I type this, the culprit just walked into the room stating, "Mom, I need a rope!"

Seriously.

Personality to the Max

2009-11-05T08:12:00.004-06:00

Sometimes I forget God can pack so much personality into such a little body. But boy can He! There are so many factors to this photo that show her personality...

1) She's still in her pajamas, which she decides each morning exactly WHEN to change out of them, and typically picks her own clothes. (She's 2, remember? My 8-year-old doesn't even do this.)

2) She has 4 items in her hair--a ponytail, 2 headbands, and a pair of sunglasses. Overkill is her middle name.

3) She has her hands crossed like a prim and proper lady. I'm surprised she doesn't have her legs crossed--she usually does.

4) She has assembled, (and carefully placed) her crew to watch TV (probably a Chester video) with her. She is all about being with people and interaction, although only if she knows you. Apparently she's pretty good buds with these friends.

One thing you should know about our TV watching habits is that they are few and far between. When we had our first child 8 years ago, we decided we had better things to do than watch TV, so we got rid of the antennae (we never had cable or satellite...I live in the boonies, remember?). We did keep the TV and VCR to watch an occasional movie. So when I let the kids watch a video, it is big stuff. Apparently Drama Queen didn't want anyone to miss it!

One of the blessings of being a parent, which I hadn't thought of before I had kids, was being able to watch their little personalities develop. To encourage them in strengths and discipline them in weaknesses is one of the joys of being a parent. (Ok, so not such a joy, the disciplining part...let's call it a privilege, ok?)

Rainbow Cake Adventure

2009-11-04T10:43:00.006-06:00

Chatterbox, a few weeks ago, saw this cake on the internet and decided she wanted it for her birthday. I was thrilled, because compared to the huge castle cake we made last year (that took us 2 days...no joke!), this was going to be EEEEEEE-ZZZZZZZZZ! And for the most part, I was right. I will say it provided a whole ton of fun! Here's what we did...

We made 2 cake mixes, and divided the batter into 6 bowls, then added food coloring to make the 6 colors of the rainbow. I used Wilton food coloring so the colors would be vibrant.

Then we took cookie-dough scoopers and "plopped" random colors into two heart-shaped cake pans.

They will thrilled with their creations, as you can tell...

After baking, we cut the tops off to make them flat, and they looked like this.

Then we stacked and frosted them.

Happy Birthday to you...happy birthday to you...happy birthday.......

What a cool surprise when you cut into this cake and find this!

And if you're wondering how it tastes, it tastes just like white cake. Although I will say it was a little more "crumbly" than normal. Otherwise, it was a big hit!

Closed for the Season

2009-11-02T10:17:00.011-06:00

The kids have officially closed their farmer's market for the season. Actually, we don't have anything left, except for a couple of pumpkins the squirrels are getting into on the front porch. We ended the summer with our pumpkin harvest, which was really a lot of fun and made the kids their most money. Here you can see them...

Picking

Loading

Ready to haul

Washing
Ready to sell!

But now the pumpkins and gourds are all gone, and the kids are making bigger and better plans for next year's market. I'm so glad this has been a good experience for them and that they are excited to do it again! Anyone want to order pumpkins for next year??

The Binders have Crabs

2009-11-02T09:50:00.003-06:00

Yes, it is true. Shocking, I know. Meet one of four...

We actually have had these little critters since summer, but I just ran across this photo and thought I'd share. They have been interesting to have, and not too much trouble at all. They eat just about anything, and not too much of it. Although I will say they are not the funnest pets to have. (My kids still want a puppy.) But they have been a good learning experience and if you want to know anything about hermit crabs, just ask my kids!

Getting Sick

2009-10-28T07:02:00.004-06:00

I already know I am ridiculous when it comes to germs, so don't start with me. But I really hate getting sick. And not so much me, but the kids. We have went through pneumonia twice. Mr. Easy Going threw up in his room last year in the middle of the night, and when I came in and flipped on the light, it looked like a crime scene. No joke. (And my first thought was, "How MANY people have been throwing up in here??) So, when we were exposed to H1N1 last week, the next day I went to Walmart and bought this.

And this isn't even everything. I didn't photograph the new forehead thermometer (which is supposed to be more accurate then the ear one we already have...but I have my doubts about that one...), the new cool-mist humidifier, or the multiples (I actually bought 2 boxes of Mucinex, 2 bottles of Tylenol...etc.) My Mom, after seeing this pile, commented that I forgot to get rubber gloves and Lysol spray, but I already have plenty of those items!

So, I was prepared. Mentally and medicine-ly. And we waited. I figured incubation period is anywhere between 2 and 6 days....

we waited...
...
...
and waited...
...
...
and now that it's been a week, I think we missed it. And I, Miss Borderline Germ-a-phobic, am almost disappointed. I was just ready to get it over with. I mean really, as contagious as it seems to be, you know we're going to get it eventually. And I guess I'd rather have it now than over Thanksgiving or Christmas, or someone's birthday.

So, I guess we'll continue to wait. And if we don't get it pretty soon, I guess we could go back to Walmart and lick the shopping cart handle.

"Going Fishing" is just an excuse

2009-10-18T13:53:00.003-06:00

Neither my husband nor myself really grew up fishing much. And although I like to go fishing, my one requirement is they have to bite pretty fast. Call me impatient, whatever. I might feel differently if (a) I didn't have to keep 3 kids contained, quiet, and safe from drowning, and (b) I didn't have to touch things that smell so bad and are slimy...like bait, moss, and the fish themselves. Don't get me wrong, I can touch pretty smelly and pretty slimy things, but I just don't want it to be part of something that is supposed to be relaxing. Nonetheless, about once or twice a summer, DH announces we are going fishing, so off we go, toting laughable poles and supplies in hand. Rarely do we catch anything...I mean really, did I mention there are THREE kids (under the age of 8) in a METAL fishing boat? "Quiet" does not exist in our world.

But, just look at what we get to enjoy. Fresh air, warm sunshine, and amazing scenery. God's creation at its best! And we get to enjoy it with the people we love most in this world. "Going Fishing" is really just an excuse to experience all of this.

Grandma's Barn

2009-10-13T09:17:00.005-06:00

It is funny how certain photos evoke certain emotions. This photo, which probably means absolutely nothing to most of you, holds a warm, but now bittersweet spot in my heart. This is a photo of my grandma's barn. And although we were never allowed in it because of its instability, it was always a fixture in her backyard. My grandparents, even though they lived on the edge of a little town, had chickens (...and an outhouse! But that is a different story!) When I played in the yard, the barn was always there. When I went to throw the scraps to the chickens, the barn was always there. When I went to help Grandpa shut up the chickens, the barn was always there. The reason why this photo is now bittersweet is because we auctioned off her place this last weekend. This is no longer "her" barn. The yard that I spend many hours playing in, and the garden I helped Grandma and Grandpa dig potatoes in, is no longer theirs. And although I recognize seasons of life come and go, it still makes me a little sad. And in my heart, this will ALWAYS be Grandma's barn.

Time with Daddy

2009-10-06T11:16:00.002-06:00

My DH loves to go on vacation because it is just about the only time of year he can spend (fairly) uninterrupted time with the kids. They love spending time together and this year, little drama queen here got to be pretty lovey-dovey with him. Makes a heart warm to see such love. I think I'll frame this one so when she's a teenager and giving us all gray hair, we can remember she did at one time love us... :)

So Sad

2009-09-11T20:59:00.003-06:00

Ok, so summer is officially over. We are back to school, and the pool has now closed. My kids are so sad. We even went this last weekend even though the water was f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g. (Daddy's comment, while in the water, was, "I don't think I can feel my legs.") Both kids really improved their swimming skills and I believe, with a little bit of heavenly intervention, DS might be able to save himself if he fell into the deep...after the shock wore off. Ok, maybe a lot of heavenly intervention. Anyway, goodbye, summer...goodbye, swimming. We'll welcome you warmly next year!

2009-08-20T15:00:00.000-06:00

Hey, Body, Pay Attention!

2009-08-13T22:40:00.005-06:00

Honestly, getting in shape really stinks. And I really thought I would lose more weight in the process. I'd like to shed this last 20 pounds of insulation my last child put on me. So 6 weeks ago I started jogging every morning, slow at first, but I've moved my way up to 2 and a half miles a day, and increased one whole mph. I've cut 10 minutes off of my 2 mile time. I think that's pretty darn good...ok, I'm still a whole mph away from my goal, but for someone who hasn't been in shape, really, for about 17 years, I feel like I've come a long ways. Now, ask me how much weight I have lost. Go ahead. Ask me....and I'll tell you in the next post. No, just kidding! I've only lost 2 pounds. Six weeks of feet pounding and body sweating, and all I've managed to lose is 2 pounds???? Now THAT is depressing. I figure I'm burning an extra 250 calories a day, so I ask you, where are those calories going?? If it weren't for the health benefits and just feeling better, I think I'd quit. They say it takes 6 weeks to establish a new habit. How long does it take for my body to figure out it needs to quit hanging on so desparately to this excess I have hanging around my waist??

And PS: These are NOT my feet!

Our favorite summer thing

2009-08-10T21:50:00.002-06:00

Ask my kids what their favorite part of summer is. You might think they would say swimming, or playing outside. Nope. It is the Jr. Naturalist program at the wildlife refuge down the road. This once-a-week program has my kids hiking to the top of a "mountain" to feel some dirt, pouring vinegar on rocks, listening for birds, hunting for (and holding) snakes (yes, its true, and I have the pictures to prove it), holding and examining frogs, categorizing clouds, collecting leaves (and snails), and you just might find them all crouched over a little tub of water with a crawdad in it...examining how its gills work. (And this is just a sampling of the things they've done!) They can't wait for it to be Jr. Naturalist night! And to be honest, I think I enjoy it (and learn from it) as much as they do! Now THIS is what learning is all about!

A Corny Thought

2009-08-05T22:46:00.004-06:00

Hey, guess what we did today??? Here's a hint...

Give up? Ok, so you probably guessed it--we put up sweet corn today! This is one of the most fun work days of the year! Grandma and Grandpa come, Aunt J and Uncle D and their kids, and us. (and throw into the mix a hired-man or two) We are SOOO thankful for a wonderful sweet corn crop this year--today we put up more than we ever have and gave a ton away. I love it when we can share something so good! And boy will that taste good in the middle of winter! As for right now, I don't think I need to see an ear of sweet corn for the next month or so. My kids, on the other hand, think this is the most wonderful time of the year! (assuming you throw in a stick of butter and a sprinkling of salt!)

2009-07-31T20:46:00.004-06:00

Teaching a 2-year-old their colors can be a trying experience. But I love this video as it shows what a good little talker she is, plus she's just so doggone cute! (Sorry, I can't figure out how to turn it upright!!)

Potty Training

2009-07-29T08:29:00.003-06:00

We are at it again. Potty training, round (child) 3. And I must say this time has been SOOOOOOOOOOO much easier than the previous 2. And she's even younger than the other 2 when we were trying to train them. Wow, for once in her life, she has been easier than the other 2. The only problem is she has an older brother. And brothers just have a different way of using the bathroom than sisters...especially when you live on a farm in the country. Yep, you guessed it. When it's time to go and she's outside, she pulls off her underware, stands in the grass, and just lets 'er rip. Awful, I know. Actually the first time I caught her doing this, it was HILARIOUS. And I mean really, what am I supposed to do when she has to "go" every 20 minutes and we are working out in the garden? So, I've been letting her go this way--not encouraging it, mind you! But, it is convenient, and I suspect once winter comes, this method will be long forgotten...or at least I hope so!

All-Natural Gardening

2009-07-27T22:08:00.002-06:00

Speaking of gardening (read previous post), here's my budding gardener, in her all-natural state. Ok, ok, before you get the wrong idea, she didn't START OUT this way! AND I DO NOT GARDEN THIS WAY!!! (See me, I'm the one picking beans WAAAAY in the background and please notice I AM fully clothed.) We are in the midst of potty-training at our house. She actually started with a shirt and underware on. She stripped off the shirt when big brother took off his. And the underware got left in the grass somewhere when she decided she had to GO and tried to do it like big-brother does. (which should be a whole other post...hilarious!) So, this is how she ended up. And me, wanting to get thru the green bean rows, decided there are definitely advantages to living in the country.

Eating my words

2009-07-27T21:19:00.007-06:00

You know, words just don't taste very good when you have to eat them. Especially words you threw at your parents as a child. Let me explain. My parents always had a garden, and I even remember for a while, we had 2. And a strawberry patch. And I'm not talking about a little 10 foot by 10 foot garden, I'm talking G-A-R-D-E-N. (Although I do realize everything seems bigger when you're young....anyway...) I, being the oldest of 5, was called on some to help with the garden, particularly snapping beans and podding peas. I can't tell you how many hours I spent in those two endeavors in my younger years. (Although probably not as many as I think I remember.) I repeatedly told my parents I was NEVER going to have a garden. And I meant it.

...fast forward to today...yes, literally today...

Well, I just finished canning my second canner-load of green beans tonight, and have a big picking again tomorrow, so will be canning again. And as I was sitting there watching my gauge register 11 pounds of pressure for 25 minutes, I was actually thinking how thankful I am that I know how to garden, AND know how to pressure can. (This is my 17th year gardening and canning...on my own!) I have two friends who are learning to can this year, and one who has planted her first garden. I applaud them for their effort. And I realized tonight that their struggle to learn is something I have taken for granted.

Yep, words aren't very tasty...but home-grown green beans fresh from a jar in the middle of winter are pretty sweet!

A renewed committment

2009-07-27T21:16:00.002-06:00

Every once-in-a-while I talk to someone who says, "I read your blog." and I always cringe a little bit because I know how LONG LONG LONG it has been since I've updated this thing! Being someone who loves to talk, you would think I could jot down a few thoughts once in a while...right?? I guess time will tell! And for those of you who actually want to read what I have to say, thanks. I'll try to do a better job...but no promises, ok?

Ice Storm Photos

2008-03-10T23:57:00.006-06:00

Found some ice storm photos--see next post for details. (Click on photo for larger image.) This first one is the infamous "flying lesson" tree. It's amazing he didn't land on a branch and get shishkabobbed. Then DH's favorite tree, the sugar maple (with apple tree in background, split right down the middle.) Lastly one of our Magnolias right in front of our living room bay window.

Snow Much Fun??

2008-03-10T22:54:00.007-06:00

This winter has been intense...in more ways that one! We started off with snow the day before Thanksgiving--remnants of which I think has been in my yard ALL WINTER! And then it seemed like it snowed every week--on days I needed to take the kids somewhere. December brought the worst ice storm anyone could remember for these parts, leaving thousands of people without power, including us for almost a week. In the midst of that week, DH decided to climb an ice-covered tree to trim a limb that was dangling over a (dead at the time) power line. The branch he was climbing broke and he fell almost 20 feet, hitting his chest on the steel bucket of the loader tractor half-way down. A flying trip to the ER told us he miraculously escaped with only cracked ribs and LOTS of sore muscles. Easily things could have turned out much worse and we definitely felt God was watching out for him. He was sore for a couple of weeks (and avoided coughing and sneezing at all costs that first week or so), but healed up just fine. He has promised not to climb any more ice-covered trees. This photo is of him and the kids after building a snowman in the front yard (post flying experience). They love to do this (I'm the weenie that stays inside where its warm...watching the baby of course!) and find all sorts of things to make the snowman come to life. They were digging around for a pirate patch to go along, but couldn't find it. Who needs carrots and coal when you have bubba teeth, walnuts, and a plastic nose?

2008-03-10T22:48:00.003-06:00

I rarely get a good picture of DD these days--seems like she either doesn't want to be near the camera, or doesn't remember how to act normal OR natural in front of it. Even here, the smile is a little "cheesy", but hey, the lighting is good, right? For her Birthday she wanted to have a Princess Dress-Up party, so we sent 4 of her friends crowns and a "royal" invitation to come to the "castle" for a "princessity" good time. Cinderella here had a great time, and remarked the party wasn't nearly long enough..."how about they spend the night next time, Mom?" Ummmm, I'm not sure I'm ready for that!

2008-03-10T22:37:00.003-06:00

This past Fall we realized that DS's allergies were serious enough to go see a specialist. This photo is after one "puff" of soybean dust hit his face while Daddy was dumping the truck. Thankfully he must not have inhaled any because he did not have an asthma attack as we expected he might. Soybean dust seems to be one of his major triggers. Since then, he has started on allergy shots, which of course is major trauma for everyone, although he is getting braver every time. Its hard to keep a kid who loves the farm away from the farm allergens! If these shots do the trick, then maybe we won't have to.

Technology Overload

2008-03-10T21:14:00.004-06:00

How many external hard drives can you hook up to one computer anyway? With 3 internal and 3 external currently, I think I've reached my limit. Then add in the laptop. The problem now being I can't remember WHERE I put WHAT! I can't seem to find those cute pictures I took the other day, so this will have to do for now. It was taken back around Christmas time, but oh well, it's cute just the same, right? The true miracle about this photo is that there was no editing needed. Yes, EVERYONE smiled at the SAME time, and ALL were looking AT me (the camera)! These things only happen once in a lifetime, so I'm cherishing this one for a while. :)

2 months old

2007-07-20T19:49:00.000-06:00

My latest project

2007-07-20T19:36:00.000-06:00

I've always said I'd rather give birth than potty train...although that IS creating more of the problem, now isn't it! Anyway, baby #3 entered our family in April, and she has proved to be a sweet little addition to this madness we call home. She is now cooing, smiling, and you will hear an occasional squeak from her. :) She was born with tons of wild black hair that is already changing to blonde. Her siblings think she is just the cutest...and often tell her so.

Oh, and about potty training, I think the little guy FINALLY has the hang of things. Guess what worked....waiting until he was ready.

The Dump

2007-01-11T12:52:00.001-06:00

I love these photos of Daddy and DD (click on photo to see slide show) waiting for the big dump of the water bucket! The kids are so blessed to have such a great Dad that loves to be with and play with them! He's still a kid at heart, and one of the things I love about him!

Pottytraining

2007-01-05T10:56:00.000-06:00

Pottytraining...(insert long sigh here)...I'm convinced that word alone can give hundreds if not thousands of parents cold-sweat nightmares, me included. There are times where I think I'd rather give birth. Of course that's just creating more of the problem now, isn't it! It seems like we've been at this for a year. It's not that he can't do it, it's that he doesn't care. He WILL go in the potty if you put him on it every 10 minutes, but not once, not ONE SINGLE TIME has he actually told US he needed to go. I keep thinking maybe he's not ready, but then I wonder if it's really HIM or ME? Oh don't get me wrong, I'm ready to stop buying diapers and wipes by the cart-full once a week. I'm ready to stop doing diaper duty. But I'm really getting tired of hauling around the "little green machine" to clean up the puddles. My only comfort is that every parent goes through this. Most kids make it through alive. And on the other side, there's the oasis of happiness and harmony, right? (OK, so I've already done this potty-training thing once and I know that's not true.) I guess we have time--he's only 2. I'll just keep buying diapers. After all, my sanity is worth something, right?

Fun (with) Friends

2007-01-03T17:31:00.000-06:00

This is the first year we've actually done something fun for New Years in a long time. We met dear friends of ours in Iowa for an extended weekend of indoor waterpark fun, conversation, and relaxation. And boy did we ever accomplish those things! It's always fun to get away, especially when you enjoy the company so much!

Motherhood Rollercoaster

2007-01-03T16:39:00.000-06:00

I always knew it, people told me, but you don't REALLY realize it until your kids keep you up all night, wake you up too early, and throw up on the open stairs where it overflows onto the shelves of toys stored underneath (this pretty much summarizes my last 24 hours). What is it I always knew? Motherhood is a full-time job. No, that's not even accurate, because full-time is considered 40 hours a week. No, motherhood is a 24-hour, non-stop, roller coaster ride, with lows as low as the highs are high. Part of the problem is there's no one to take over when you've had enough. Oh sure, I can hand them off to my husband, or ship them off to Grandma's house, but I'm still the Mom. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Sure, there are times I wonder what it would cost to sell them on eBay (and no, I wouldn't really do that...yet) but there are times where you want to hug them close and just smell their hair or feel their warm foot on your leg. Times where they actually share or are nice to each other. So I guess if I have to take the bad with the good, then bring it on. I can handle it...I hope!

Gotta Love Cathy Z

2007-01-03T16:29:00.000-06:00

"What do you want for Christmas?" Ah, that dreaded phrase I hear sometimes as early as Thanksgiving. My answer, "I don't know, let me think about it." Well, this year I asked and got something that exceeded my expectations--Cathy Zielske's book, Clean and Simple Scrapbooking, the Sequel. I love it! Honestly, I probably like the layouts in her first edition a little better (don't get me wrong, they're BOTH great!), but her advice and instruction really hits home with me in the sequel. I'm convinced that any scrapbooker can benefit from both of her books! But, then again, I love Cathy's style. Clean, simple, tell the story. I'm a "what's the point" kinda gal, and I think Cathy is, too. I just gotta love Cathy for that!

Computer Literate?

2007-01-03T16:20:00.000-06:00

2007 is here already, can you believe it? I've decided this is the year to join the online blogging community...apparently it helps develop better scrapbook journaling, which is one of my goals for 2007. I can't imagine why anyone would want to read what I've rambled on about, but oh well, here goes nothing!

Today, I thought I got a virus on my computer. It was weird that every time I went to click and type somewhere (like a new web address), the box filled up with dashes. So I started a system scan. Nothing. Hmm, must be one of those new virus's (is that a word?) that they don't have a fix for yet. I just hope it doesn't lock me up before I can get it removed. Then I realized my pile of papers, magazines, and books that can be found just to the right of my keyboard had shifted and was resting on the upper right corner of my keyboard...on a dash. Wow, I wish all "virus's" were that easy to figure out!