I've been potty training Seth this week and it went pretty well. He's wearing underwear most of the time and has accidents about once a day; not the best record, but pretty good. But so far none of those accidents have been on the carpet or the couch. I've only used little bribes like fruit snacks or chocolate chips. But this week we're going to try bigger bribes at the toy store to see if we can get him a little more committed.
Now that my big website deadline has past I'm working on my house more again. I'm finishing the playroom wall and Bob and I are working on refinishing the coffee table and buffet for the front room. I'd like that room to look a little more finished for when my family comes for Christmas.
Ruby and Danny are sick today so we're home from church again. We're really praying that it'll pass by Tuesday when we plan to go to Visalia for Thanksgiving.
I've been reading the conference Ensign lately. Two of my favorite talks are "A Time to Prepare" by Ian S. Ardern and "The Power of Scripture" by Richard G. Scott. I feel like I just don't ever have enough time to do everything I need and want to. I'm always behind on sleep and have headaches because of it. So the talk by Ardern was so good because he listed what our priorities should be: The Lord, family, work, wholesome recreational activities. That was a good reminder. And I liked when he said "I invite us to identify the time-wasting distractions in our lives that may need to be figuratively ground into dust." And since time is so tight for me right now I find myself neglecting my scripture study as I try to get more things done, even though I know that's not how my priorities should be. So Scott's talk about his love of the scriptures was wonderful.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
November 13, 2011
Ruby is one year old! We had a party for her of Friday. We had red velvet cake and red balloons and streamers and we had the Deans over. She got some little people sets that she is loving. She's such a great little girl. She's walking like a pro and she has such a happy personality. But she is also getting some strong opinions and she doesn't let anyone push her around. I'm so thankful for her in our family!
We signed Danny up for basketball. He's going to be on the same team with CJ and Ethan Whittle. It'll be nice to have a carpool for practices. It'll overlap with soccer for a month, so it'll be a little busy for a while. But then Aaron isn't doing a sport (just maybe a basketball class in January) and Rachel's tennis takes December and January off (she just got moved up a level in tennis!). And piano takes December off. I'm looking forward to the break.
We signed Danny up for basketball. He's going to be on the same team with CJ and Ethan Whittle. It'll be nice to have a carpool for practices. It'll overlap with soccer for a month, so it'll be a little busy for a while. But then Aaron isn't doing a sport (just maybe a basketball class in January) and Rachel's tennis takes December and January off (she just got moved up a level in tennis!). And piano takes December off. I'm looking forward to the break.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
November 6, 2011
We went to the Stanleys for a potluck and then trick-or-treating again this year. But this time Ruby threw up after dinner so she and I went home and Bob went trick-or-treating with the group. The kids all had a great time. And we were glad it was Ruby who got sick that night because any of the other kids would have been so sad to miss trick-or-treating. The three youngest have all gotten the stomach bug this week. I hope we're almost over it, but we're still seeing the effects.
I'm just about done with my big website conversion. I was supposed to switch it over yesterday, but I ran into a little snag. So I should be able to finish it up tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to having time to do other things.
This weekend was stake conference. I love going to the adult session. I always learn so much. This time Elder Roberts, I think he's an area authority, told a story about a man who whittles figures at scout camp and has a big impact on all the boys he interacts with. The man said "I can't do much, but I can do this" and has been whittling and impacting boys for years. Elder Roberts challenged us to listen to the spirit to know why he told that story. I loved it. I so want to serve and help in the Kingdom, and I know being a mom is so important, but I really feel like I don't do much more sometimes. So this story really touched me because if there is some little thing I can do that will help I want to do it. So as I was praying and reading after conference I was thinking about this and I felt prompted that the little thing I can do is to pray for others. I can look for needs and keep others in my prayers. I can totally do that! And I know that will have an impact on others' lives. So I'm excited to look for opportunities and needs and listen for promptings for who can use my prayers.
I'm just about done with my big website conversion. I was supposed to switch it over yesterday, but I ran into a little snag. So I should be able to finish it up tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to having time to do other things.
This weekend was stake conference. I love going to the adult session. I always learn so much. This time Elder Roberts, I think he's an area authority, told a story about a man who whittles figures at scout camp and has a big impact on all the boys he interacts with. The man said "I can't do much, but I can do this" and has been whittling and impacting boys for years. Elder Roberts challenged us to listen to the spirit to know why he told that story. I loved it. I so want to serve and help in the Kingdom, and I know being a mom is so important, but I really feel like I don't do much more sometimes. So this story really touched me because if there is some little thing I can do that will help I want to do it. So as I was praying and reading after conference I was thinking about this and I felt prompted that the little thing I can do is to pray for others. I can look for needs and keep others in my prayers. I can totally do that! And I know that will have an impact on others' lives. So I'm excited to look for opportunities and needs and listen for promptings for who can use my prayers.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
October 30, 2011
My websites continue to take up too much time. I work 2-4 hours a day and on Wednesday I even had Bob stay home from work so I could 10 hours that day. My goal is to go live with the site next weekend so this week will be very full of websites too. And then I wish it would go back to how it used to be, but I'm sure I still will have lots of less critical things to get done; so hopefully I can find a good balance between family time and making progress on the websites. I'm so thankful I don't have to work all the time. It must be so hard to have to work all day and then come home and do all the mom stuff. I procrastinated too much over the last several months to make that last little while really busy, but there should be an end to it sometime soon. And I'll just be more careful with my sites to not let it get so bad in the future. But at least I do like working on the websites.
The kids had Thursday and Friday off school for a teach work day and for Nevada day. Thursday we rode bikes to the park and met the Deans and then the kids played together all afternoon. And Friday we went to "The Farm". The kids fed the animals and rode the little train and went in the hay maze. It was a fun afternoon. The Deans met us there and then the kids played together all afternoon.
Saturday was full of sports. Aaron and Danny both scored goals in their soccer games and Rachel did great at her tennis lesson. Bob and I went out to eat on a nice date that night.
The kids got to wear their halloween costumes a few times this week. Monday the Deans had a fun Halloween party. Wednesday was their Halloween parade at school and Thursday was the ward Trunk or treat. This year Danny is s a lego guy, Rachel is Medusa, Aaron was Darth Vader twice and a lion once, Seth was an elephant and then a baseball player and Ruby was a frog.
The kids had Thursday and Friday off school for a teach work day and for Nevada day. Thursday we rode bikes to the park and met the Deans and then the kids played together all afternoon. And Friday we went to "The Farm". The kids fed the animals and rode the little train and went in the hay maze. It was a fun afternoon. The Deans met us there and then the kids played together all afternoon.
Saturday was full of sports. Aaron and Danny both scored goals in their soccer games and Rachel did great at her tennis lesson. Bob and I went out to eat on a nice date that night.
The kids got to wear their halloween costumes a few times this week. Monday the Deans had a fun Halloween party. Wednesday was their Halloween parade at school and Thursday was the ward Trunk or treat. This year Danny is s a lego guy, Rachel is Medusa, Aaron was Darth Vader twice and a lion once, Seth was an elephant and then a baseball player and Ruby was a frog.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
October 23, 2011
Potty training didn't go well this week. Seth's back to having no interest. So we'll wait and try again later.
Aaron had his birthday party yesterday. He had 4 friends over and they played in the backyard and on the trampoline and had a paper airplane contest off the balcony. Bob was awesome at coming up with activities for boys. It was fun, but I think we are going to switch to having friend birthday parties every other year. That way it'll be more special and we can put more work into the parties. The last few we've had have just been more like playdates with cake. And maybe we can do more different fun things to celebrate.
Soccer games started yesterday. I helped in Aaron's class this week. And I took Danny out to lunch.
I'm going to the gym at least twice a week to go to the masters swim class and a spin class on tuesday and friday. And on Thursdays I get up and walk with Jamie the swim teacher and Erica from the swim class. They are both air force families that live near me. I really like them. But they are both pregnant right now so we walk slow. But I like talking with them so I go even though it isn't the best exercise. I'm working 2-3 hours a day on websites. It's a lot more than I want to but I'm trying to get the provo site done before November. I feel like I've had websites hanging over my head forever. I'm looking forward to going back to maybe one hour a day or less, especially with the holidays coming up. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up so I can do that.
Aaron had his birthday party yesterday. He had 4 friends over and they played in the backyard and on the trampoline and had a paper airplane contest off the balcony. Bob was awesome at coming up with activities for boys. It was fun, but I think we are going to switch to having friend birthday parties every other year. That way it'll be more special and we can put more work into the parties. The last few we've had have just been more like playdates with cake. And maybe we can do more different fun things to celebrate.
Soccer games started yesterday. I helped in Aaron's class this week. And I took Danny out to lunch.
I'm going to the gym at least twice a week to go to the masters swim class and a spin class on tuesday and friday. And on Thursdays I get up and walk with Jamie the swim teacher and Erica from the swim class. They are both air force families that live near me. I really like them. But they are both pregnant right now so we walk slow. But I like talking with them so I go even though it isn't the best exercise. I'm working 2-3 hours a day on websites. It's a lot more than I want to but I'm trying to get the provo site done before November. I feel like I've had websites hanging over my head forever. I'm looking forward to going back to maybe one hour a day or less, especially with the holidays coming up. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up so I can do that.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
October 16, 2011
The boys all went camping this weekend. Bob even took Seth. They went up to Goblin Valley in Utah and met Josh and his boys. They left Friday morning and came back Saturday night. So I just had the girls for two days. It was a great girls weekend. It was fun to give Ruby some time with just the two of us. And I got a lot done when she was napping. And Friday we went and picked up Rachel and took her out to lunch. After school she had practice for the primary program and then that night we had a Wii dance party. Saturday we got up and went on a bike ride. Ruby really liked the trailer and this was the first long bike ride Rachel's ever been on. Then Rachel got to go to Stake Activity Days. They did an awesome job and Rachel loved it. Then we went to Bath and Body works and Uswirl. It was a great weekend.
Ruby is getting to walking really well. She loves to climb up the stairs, but not down. Seth is talking pretty well now. We've tried potty training a few times, but he doesn't seem to get it. We are going to give it a good try this week but if he doesn't show any improvement after a couple of days we're going to drop it again and give it another month or two.
Rachel and Danny both got into the GATE program at Goynes. We're all really excited about that. The school has a really good program. They get to go to GATE three times a week and they are supposed to get some really good field trips too. Their teachers are also really good. They seem to expect a little more than at their other school. Both of their grades have gone down a little this year because they were working the same as they did at the other school. I'm glad they'll have to work a little harder now. Danny also started back at piano.
Aaron is settling into kindergarten really well. He is becoming a good reader. And his tantrums are so much better.
Ruby is getting to walking really well. She loves to climb up the stairs, but not down. Seth is talking pretty well now. We've tried potty training a few times, but he doesn't seem to get it. We are going to give it a good try this week but if he doesn't show any improvement after a couple of days we're going to drop it again and give it another month or two.
Rachel and Danny both got into the GATE program at Goynes. We're all really excited about that. The school has a really good program. They get to go to GATE three times a week and they are supposed to get some really good field trips too. Their teachers are also really good. They seem to expect a little more than at their other school. Both of their grades have gone down a little this year because they were working the same as they did at the other school. I'm glad they'll have to work a little harder now. Danny also started back at piano.
Aaron is settling into kindergarten really well. He is becoming a good reader. And his tantrums are so much better.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
October 9
Last weekend we went to Visalia. Gma Monte and Grandaddy Gene were there and Kristal. We went on Friday and came back Sunday night. It was a nice relaxing visit. The kids were all so happy to see everyone. Seth has been asking every week to go to Grandma's house. I don't remember any of the other kids wanting that so much.
The bummer was that Seth got a stomach bug there Saturday night. Then Rachel threw up all the way home in the van. Then Bob's grandparents came to visit on Tuesday. Bob had been so excited to for them to stay with us and drive around and see things. We cleaned everything in our house several times and they still both got sick. So they checked in to a hotel and we only saw them a few hours a day. And Bob didn't get to take them anywhere.
Rachel tried out for the school play a few weeks ago. As soon as they announced they were doing a play she came home so excited and she knew she was going to try out. That made me nervous. She's never done anything like that. I worried how she'd feel if she didn't make it. But she was so excited. So she tried out and she made it! She was cast as a gnome in a play written by her teacher. She went to practice for two weeks and loved it. But then she came home on Friday with a letter from her school that said there were budget cuts and there would be no more drama teacher at our school. I'm so sad for her. But I'm proud that she did something hard and tried out and hopefully she'll remember that and try something hard again next time. But she's still doing tennis and piano and she's loving both of those.
The bummer was that Seth got a stomach bug there Saturday night. Then Rachel threw up all the way home in the van. Then Bob's grandparents came to visit on Tuesday. Bob had been so excited to for them to stay with us and drive around and see things. We cleaned everything in our house several times and they still both got sick. So they checked in to a hotel and we only saw them a few hours a day. And Bob didn't get to take them anywhere.
Rachel tried out for the school play a few weeks ago. As soon as they announced they were doing a play she came home so excited and she knew she was going to try out. That made me nervous. She's never done anything like that. I worried how she'd feel if she didn't make it. But she was so excited. So she tried out and she made it! She was cast as a gnome in a play written by her teacher. She went to practice for two weeks and loved it. But then she came home on Friday with a letter from her school that said there were budget cuts and there would be no more drama teacher at our school. I'm so sad for her. But I'm proud that she did something hard and tried out and hopefully she'll remember that and try something hard again next time. But she's still doing tennis and piano and she's loving both of those.
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