By George I Think I've Got It!

Now you know that just when you think you have the perfect schedule, things change so in no way is this written in stone! It is just what works now!

A few weeks ago I was so distraught at the kids behavior in the afternoon. They were disobedient, fighting with one another and outright loud! They would burst into tears at the slightest provocation. I am sure you guys can relate!

I finally said, that is enough! I am a mom who totally believes in naps, hey, in fact my kids love naps! I just don't like 3 hour naps which keep them up until 10pm every night.

One of my friends sends her daughter to day care and they take an hour nap every day. I asked her when her girl goes back to bed at night. Low and behold it was around the same time as before she had napped! What? Is that so???!

Now I know my son is the king of the power nap. He can sleep for any length of time and wake up happy as a clam. My daughter isn't so blessed! She acts like a girl in full throws of teenagerdom. She moans, complains and begs to be left alone until she wakes up on her own. What do I do with that after an hour nap?

Aaaaaahhhh, the trusted babysitter of our days... The TV of course!

Now before you guys all throw stones at me, hear me out. Since starting school, we have changed our daily routine. We wake up, get dressed, eat and then start school. Can you see what is missing? Morning TV time!!! So I will allow them to gently wake up to their tv fix first thing after nap. It will also allow for me to get a few things wrapped up after nap. Genius!

Now pray that this schedule sticks for awhile as I kinda like it!

I have come to the conclusion that everything written by Patricia Piccolo will be a winner, and this book is no exception!

The story revolves around a boy Eli who visits his Aunt Chip. All the townspeople of Triple Creek have been sucked into too much TV watching and have totally forgotten how to seek joy from books. GASP! Because of the relationship between Aunt Chip and her nephew Eli, the town of Triple Creek learns the importance of reading and how it can effect their daily life.

If you haven't already picked this one up, I suggest that you do so today! It was as much fun to read as it was for my kids to listen!

Fauxhawks before they were cool!

 

I found this picture today while remonising. It was taken in July of 2006. What a trend setter! LOL!

Day 2 of school!

I have read my share of homeschooling articles, talked to many a woman who school their kids and I have done preschool activities with both kids on a fairly regular basis. No schedule, no plan really, just building memories and having fun.

Then I realize that if my dd was only 3 weeks older, she would be going to school as a kindergartner. AAAAACCCCCKKKKK! Since my sweet dh isn't totally sold on the whole homeschooling experience (he doesn't mind me doing it, just something he doesn't want to do!) I have told myself that this year is my pretend Kindergarten. So school it is and it is for real, kinda.

Now I am remembering all of my friends laments about their children bawking at school, discussing real tricks to get them to buy into school and all of their vents about their day. Day 2 and it is HARD!! LOL! Can't school just be a TV program about letter sounds?? Hey, wait, I used that - Letter Factory!!!

Anyhoo, Kylie is loving her school, it is Luke that is making me chuckle. He sits down and follows along and two minutes in he pronounces that "I am done!" And promptly gets up and walks off. I have some fun things for him to do throughout the morning but his little personality is so different than Kylie's at that age. He just makes me laugh.

Pray that I can make it through day 3 ok??

21 Day Challenge...

They say it takes 21 days to make a habit and I need habits! I have let my eating, sleeping and lack of excercise overtake me! Things have gotta change!

So here is my plan.

- Wake up before 6:30 - have some quiet time and coffee and be out the door at 7
- Run - either at the gym or outside (way too hot!!!)
- Go to bed before 10:30pm

My hope is that by excercising, I will want to eat better and drink my water. Then I will get back down to a healthy weight. I just feel blah right now!

I will edit this post daily for 21 days to keep me accountable in my undertakings! Anyone want to join me??

Day 1
- up and out of the house - ran 2 miles, walked 1
- drank my water and kept it in good point range through weight watchers.
- I am dead tired so I now I will be snoozing way before 10:30!
Day 2
- up and awake by 7 - my ds woke up at the same time so no excercise yet! My plan is to go tonight and walk 3 miles after they go to bed.
- drinking my water and eating well!
- I am sooo ready for bed and it isn't even the evening yet!
Day 3
- up and out - ran 2 miles and walked 1 - just trying to get my groove back.
- drank my water and ate well!
- went to bed at 11:00pm - oh well!

What to do, what to do!

Today my fabulous in-laws took the kids for a day. They are going down to Melbourne to pick up Nana (dc's great-grand-mother!)and are spending the day at the zoo. I know they will have great stories to tell upon their return! Thank you Nonni and Poppy!

So while they are gone, I am going to read, spend some time finishing up my homeschool plan for this year and enjoy the quiet! Wait, I still have 7 boys here so quiet is relative.

Hope...

Please enjoy with an open heart!


Oh The Glory of it All- SD from Northland, A Church Distributed on Vimeo.

Silly kids!

A few months ago, Linda shared a video of her girls singing a beautiful hymn. Their voices blended together so well and it just sounded wonderful. My kids watched it over and over again and really enjoyed it.

So Kylie wanted to sing a song of her own. This was totally made up on the spot as you can tell but we had fun none-the-less!

What is this??

Anyone have a clue??

I guess I should add that it is about an inch long and was found under an oak tree.

 

Lazy days of summer...

It has been such a good summer so far. Long days of swimming, playing outside and listening to the daily thunderstorms from the safety of our porch. I caught these pictures the other day when the kids were outside playing. The grass is so green from all of the rain and our kids cheeks are pink after the day at the pool. I couldn't resist!