Monday, January 28, 2008
This Way Is Still Easier!
AND
I took the seat out of his jeep to wash it. Even though Daddy has shown him a couple of times how to get out of it when I put him in it like this, he never remembers!
Plans In the Works
I have spent this morning looking at.....GULP....first birthday party ideas. That is very hard for me to swallow!!! We have just over two months before our baby turns ONE!
I think we are going to do his party on April 12th. Step one, got the date. Now, I need to do....EVERYTHING else! Unfortunately, I keep thinking "Oh, I have two and a half months" and then I remember that I have five kids, a husband and a household to deal with, so....that really is not that long!
I think we are going to do his party on April 12th. Step one, got the date. Now, I need to do....EVERYTHING else! Unfortunately, I keep thinking "Oh, I have two and a half months" and then I remember that I have five kids, a husband and a household to deal with, so....that really is not that long!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Today.....IT Happened :(
We knew the day was coming and soon, but, as a parent (especially with four kids) you never REALLY want it to.
Andrew did it.
He is walking.
Handsfree.
It is only one to four steps at a time, and still wobbly, but he is doing it. It was SO cute. This afternoon, Daddy and I were doing our normal sitting on the floor trying to get him to walk between the two of us. I don't know who was more surprised, us or him. When Daddy and I started cheering for him he got the biggest smile on his face as he glanced back and forth between us - then he started dancing!
I was able to catch a little of video this evening when it quieted down. Daddy took the older three to Monster Jam tonight, so we are enjoying a quiet evening in. Enjoy the video - sorry it is so long, but Movie Maker did not break the movie down into parts like it normally does when it is uploading.
There is no turning back now!
Andrew did it.
He is walking.
Handsfree.
It is only one to four steps at a time, and still wobbly, but he is doing it. It was SO cute. This afternoon, Daddy and I were doing our normal sitting on the floor trying to get him to walk between the two of us. I don't know who was more surprised, us or him. When Daddy and I started cheering for him he got the biggest smile on his face as he glanced back and forth between us - then he started dancing!
I was able to catch a little of video this evening when it quieted down. Daddy took the older three to Monster Jam tonight, so we are enjoying a quiet evening in. Enjoy the video - sorry it is so long, but Movie Maker did not break the movie down into parts like it normally does when it is uploading.
There is no turning back now!
TROUBLE
Andrew is getting into EVERYTHING lately! I know, it will only get worse! It is still such a cute and curious nosiness - but it gets exhausting having to continuously get him out of stuff! He doesn't really care for sitting in anything that keeps him from getting into trouble. He still loves his jumperoo, as long as you don't leave him alone in it. I have moved it into where the desk is so that when I am working on the computer he can jump right next to me - and I can type with two hands instead of four (he LOVES the keyboard)!
His favorite thing to mess with is the bookshelf. He is CONSTANTLY pulling stuff off of it.
I have moved all of Andrew's toys into his bedroom (they were cluttering the living room. I had to take down the little table next to the guest bed - because he likes to pull it over on himself. I got his room as Andrew-proofed as I could. I pull up the blinds and he has really enjoyed playing in there. The following pictures were taken after I walked into his room to check on him and found him doing this. That box has all of his little shoes in it and is between the crib and changing table (which we don't really use as a changing table anymore). He closed the box, turned it upside down and started chewing on the bottom of it. I am not sure if the box was made in China or not, but it is not painted yet - so lead is not what we need to worry about - I am sure there is SOMETHING in that wood that he should NOT be tasting though!!
If you noticed the books under the crib - we are trying to teach our son through osmosis. We are teaching him the American Presidents and Physics at the same time. Maybe he will be one of those genius two year olds that can rattle off all of the presidents and facts about them WHILE working some physics!
His favorite thing to mess with is the bookshelf. He is CONSTANTLY pulling stuff off of it.
I have moved all of Andrew's toys into his bedroom (they were cluttering the living room. I had to take down the little table next to the guest bed - because he likes to pull it over on himself. I got his room as Andrew-proofed as I could. I pull up the blinds and he has really enjoyed playing in there. The following pictures were taken after I walked into his room to check on him and found him doing this. That box has all of his little shoes in it and is between the crib and changing table (which we don't really use as a changing table anymore). He closed the box, turned it upside down and started chewing on the bottom of it. I am not sure if the box was made in China or not, but it is not painted yet - so lead is not what we need to worry about - I am sure there is SOMETHING in that wood that he should NOT be tasting though!!
If you noticed the books under the crib - we are trying to teach our son through osmosis. We are teaching him the American Presidents and Physics at the same time. Maybe he will be one of those genius two year olds that can rattle off all of the presidents and facts about them WHILE working some physics!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Day Two: Pick Your Battles
Day two of the responsibility chart....
Not as good as day one, but 100 times better than every day before day one!!
I had to remind Bryce several times today of his goal. He still got in some trouble, but I have to find a fine line to walk. If he loses his magnet at the slightest thing he is going to give up, at the same time - I can't let him get away with everything.
I am trying to ignore smaller things that he does and remind him when he does some things. He is trying, I mean REALLY trying. This is his second day/night of him going down for nap and to bed without fighting. That, in itself, makes this all worth it!
Bryce asked me an important question, but the answer is a little tricky. He asked what happened if he could not take a nap. I asked what he meant and he said that sometimes he can lay in bed for a long time and just can't sleep. I can typically tell before he goes down if he "needs" a nap, depending on what time he went to bed the previous night, what time he got up, how he slept, attitude, etc. If I tell him "You don't have to go to sleep if you can't," he will not even lay down long enough to give himself a chance to fall asleep. So, instead I am trying to be very understanding if he is in there, quiet, for a while but is unable to go to sleep. We have not had that problem yet, though.
He DID lose a magnet today. It was this evening when things usually get a little wild and crazy. I HAD to take the magnet because he was warned several times about what he was doing. I did tell him that he could work to earn it back. I am trying to start this VERY LENIENT and we will get less as we get the hang of it.
I am very impressed with him. I am very impressed with our system. It is still early but I have faith. A lot of our problem is that I am exhausted with being a single mom - because I am NOT a single mom!! Daddy's travel schedule is really wearing on us all! I know I am often overly-sensitive because of my lack of a break. I try to remember that. When I get upset and frazzled, I take things worse and it carries over to the kids.
So, on our "one day at a time" mission - I would say we are two for two!!
Not as good as day one, but 100 times better than every day before day one!!
I had to remind Bryce several times today of his goal. He still got in some trouble, but I have to find a fine line to walk. If he loses his magnet at the slightest thing he is going to give up, at the same time - I can't let him get away with everything.
I am trying to ignore smaller things that he does and remind him when he does some things. He is trying, I mean REALLY trying. This is his second day/night of him going down for nap and to bed without fighting. That, in itself, makes this all worth it!
Bryce asked me an important question, but the answer is a little tricky. He asked what happened if he could not take a nap. I asked what he meant and he said that sometimes he can lay in bed for a long time and just can't sleep. I can typically tell before he goes down if he "needs" a nap, depending on what time he went to bed the previous night, what time he got up, how he slept, attitude, etc. If I tell him "You don't have to go to sleep if you can't," he will not even lay down long enough to give himself a chance to fall asleep. So, instead I am trying to be very understanding if he is in there, quiet, for a while but is unable to go to sleep. We have not had that problem yet, though.
He DID lose a magnet today. It was this evening when things usually get a little wild and crazy. I HAD to take the magnet because he was warned several times about what he was doing. I did tell him that he could work to earn it back. I am trying to start this VERY LENIENT and we will get less as we get the hang of it.
I am very impressed with him. I am very impressed with our system. It is still early but I have faith. A lot of our problem is that I am exhausted with being a single mom - because I am NOT a single mom!! Daddy's travel schedule is really wearing on us all! I know I am often overly-sensitive because of my lack of a break. I try to remember that. When I get upset and frazzled, I take things worse and it carries over to the kids.
So, on our "one day at a time" mission - I would say we are two for two!!
Caleb's Stories
I am going to start putting Caleb's stories on here. He has really gotten to where he loves to write stories (so did I when I was his age!). He carries a composition book with him all the time now, I guess just in case he gets inspired!
I want him to have these stories and remember how and what he wrote!
Enjoy his stories!
I want him to have these stories and remember how and what he wrote!
Enjoy his stories!
By Caleb
Busy as a bee. NOT AS ME!!!!
I'm as good as a donkey. I'm as bad as a monkey.
I'm as crazy as a goose. I charge like a moose.
I run like a rat. I pounce like a cat.
I'm as weak as a fox. I'm as strong as an ox.
I'm smooth as a frog. I'm as hairy as a dog.
Add it all up and it equals me. Never think of me as a bee!
I'm as good as a donkey. I'm as bad as a monkey.
I'm as crazy as a goose. I charge like a moose.
I run like a rat. I pounce like a cat.
I'm as weak as a fox. I'm as strong as an ox.
I'm smooth as a frog. I'm as hairy as a dog.
Add it all up and it equals me. Never think of me as a bee!
BIg Woods, WI
This is a letter Caleb wrote (I guess as an assignment at school).
Dear Granny and Papa,
This indian countryis alsome! And speaking of indians two naked men came in. They STUNK!!! At least Jack was on a chain or else he would bite the fresh skunks off them. Also we barely made it across the Missisipi River. The ice inside it cracked in half, but luckily we were on the other side of it before the crack. And tonight we are eating cornbread, and rabbit.
Dear Granny and Papa,
This indian countryis alsome! And speaking of indians two naked men came in. They STUNK!!! At least Jack was on a chain or else he would bite the fresh skunks off them. Also we barely made it across the Missisipi River. The ice inside it cracked in half, but luckily we were on the other side of it before the crack. And tonight we are eating cornbread, and rabbit.
Maybe....
Geocaching is not the sport for me. I think I am going to have to be forced to stay inside at all times!
I have poison ivy...
AGAIN...
It is bad enough that I get it all summer, but during the winter the vines don't have leaves. If you saw the tree we hid our cache in (in a previous post) you know it was COVERED in vines. OOOOOPPS!
When I told Paul (who is in LA) he said "well no one else got it, but I am not surprised that you would!" Thanks Sweetie!
Will I ever learn?
Do you think if I have to stay in all the time, the boys will still ALL go? HMMMM....this might be a good plan!
I have poison ivy...
AGAIN...
It is bad enough that I get it all summer, but during the winter the vines don't have leaves. If you saw the tree we hid our cache in (in a previous post) you know it was COVERED in vines. OOOOOPPS!
When I told Paul (who is in LA) he said "well no one else got it, but I am not surprised that you would!" Thanks Sweetie!
Will I ever learn?
Do you think if I have to stay in all the time, the boys will still ALL go? HMMMM....this might be a good plan!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I Wish You Could See Me Now...
I AM DANCING ALL OVER THE HOUSE!!!
I feel as though I live in a different house! It has been SUCH a peaceful day. The BIG test was just given and Bryce passed with FLYING COLORS!! I have said all day, the real test of how hard he was going to work at this would be nap/bedtime. Naptime was a breeze. He ate, went potty, asked for a story and went straight to bed. He went to sleep, got up and got his stickers (his mid-day motivation).
There were a couple of times this afternoon I had to ask him to calm down or quiet down, but I never had to raise my voice at him. I was still dreading bedtime though. That is our absolute worst time of day! It is usually an hour long battle. Tonight, we got home from choir and I went straight in to put Andrew to bed (he fell asleep on the five minute drive home). When I got out of there, I searched the house for Bryce (usually he hears bedtime and runs and hides). I found him, eventually. He was IN HIS BED. He had gone potty, gotten pjs, everything and was in his bed under his blanket. It is 8:15 and ALL of my kids are quiet and in bed.
Seriously, am I at home?
One of his end-of-the-day motivations is that he does not get to sleep with Papa's blanket if he gets in trouble at all during the day. The blanket has been in the living room because I had been using it during the day. Bryce has been coming out in the middle of the night and taking it. I decided to turn it in my favor, and it worked!
Excuse me now - I am going to go sit on the couch eating bonbons. :)
Okay...actually I am going to go do laundry because Caleb has no jeans to wear to school. Such is the life....
I feel as though I live in a different house! It has been SUCH a peaceful day. The BIG test was just given and Bryce passed with FLYING COLORS!! I have said all day, the real test of how hard he was going to work at this would be nap/bedtime. Naptime was a breeze. He ate, went potty, asked for a story and went straight to bed. He went to sleep, got up and got his stickers (his mid-day motivation).
There were a couple of times this afternoon I had to ask him to calm down or quiet down, but I never had to raise my voice at him. I was still dreading bedtime though. That is our absolute worst time of day! It is usually an hour long battle. Tonight, we got home from choir and I went straight in to put Andrew to bed (he fell asleep on the five minute drive home). When I got out of there, I searched the house for Bryce (usually he hears bedtime and runs and hides). I found him, eventually. He was IN HIS BED. He had gone potty, gotten pjs, everything and was in his bed under his blanket. It is 8:15 and ALL of my kids are quiet and in bed.
Seriously, am I at home?
One of his end-of-the-day motivations is that he does not get to sleep with Papa's blanket if he gets in trouble at all during the day. The blanket has been in the living room because I had been using it during the day. Bryce has been coming out in the middle of the night and taking it. I decided to turn it in my favor, and it worked!
Excuse me now - I am going to go sit on the couch eating bonbons. :)
Okay...actually I am going to go do laundry because Caleb has no jeans to wear to school. Such is the life....
20 Chances
Bryce has continued to be an angel today. He took a nap wihtout as much as a wimper and actually went to sleep. A few minutes ago he came in and gave me a hug and asked if he gets 20 chances to behave. I told him no - just one. He said he needed 20 chances because sometimes he just can't behave. I gave him a hug and told him that he has proven this morning that he DOES know how to behave - he just needs to think about things before he acts!
Bryce
Bryce is in desperate need of some preschool. He really needs an all day, structured preschool like Isaac went to. But, because we belong to the "left-behind" or "no-one-cares" class (aka middle class) he can't get any. We fall in that unfortunate you-make-too-much-money-for-the-government-to-care and not-enough-to-actually-pay-the-massive-amount-to-send-him-to-preschool category. We are...stuck in the middle!
I cannot afford the cost of preschool, nor do I want to pay that amound when I am home anyway. At the same time, Bryce needs some help! I fear for when he starts school. I fear he is going to be "THAT" child. I fear that we will LIVE in the principals office! I think he will do okay at first. It will be new, he will be out of the house and around friends, he will get that kindergarten leniancy - that leniancy that does not last long and goes straight into trouble. We have hit that wall this year since Isaac started school.
I feel as though I have tried EVERYTHING with Bryce. I thought Caleb was stubborn and strong-willed. WOW!! Bryce takes it to a whole new level ( a scarey level). I was told yesterday by someone ( and I have said something similar before), that they were saving for college for one of their kids and bail money for the other. That is how I feel. I have said before that if he is not in jail by the time he is six, it will be a miracle.
He lies, he steals (from his parents and siblings - nothing in public YET), he throws temper tantrums. There is no punishment that we have found that works. If anything, it makes it worse. If I tell him to go to his room or time out he says no. If I PUT him in his room or time out he comes out. The only way I can keep him in his room is to sit there and hold the door closed - which is kind of hard to do with three or four other kids running around! He would rather have a few minutes of enjoying what he wants to do and getting a punishment than not doing it at all.
This morning we had a talk. I know this has gotten so much worse lately because of Daddy being gone. It is all the time, but so much worse when Daddy isn't here. We are nearing the end of the fourth month of this. There has just been a lot going on and he is having a hard time expressing his emotions.
We have come to an agreement (until he gets bored with it). I asked him this morning if he wanted to start a behavior chart. I explained what it was and that we would set a goal to work towards. This does not work the same for Bryce as it does for a lot of kids. Bryce wants instant gratification. If I tell him he has to wait a whole week or month to see any kind of reward, he will quickly quit. So, this is our plan.
We went and got this:
It has lots of magnets for responsibilities, rewards, etc. on the back of the board:
Right now his responsibilities are: get dressed, clean room, share, no whining, no hitting, be nice, get ready for nap/bed and go to nap/bed. As he masters these, we will replace them with others, but the are the worst eight right now. We are going to make a treasure chest (to make it more exciting for him, I am going to go to Hobby Lobby and get a wooden treasure chest and let HIM decorate it), Everyday, if he has had a good day and filled that days chart, he will get to get a prize from the treasure chest. He will get to help me get stuff to put in the treasure chest, so he will know there is stuff he wants and likes in it. At the beginning of each week we will set a weekly goal (this weeks is that he wants to play my DS, so if he fills the chart this week - he gets 30 minutes with my DS - which he normally steals!). This will be something like us doing what he wants to do or extra one on one time, things like that. At the beginning of each month we will set a bigger monthly goal. This will be something like a new toy or game or going to the movies, etc.
So far he is REALLY excited about this plan. I know it has only been a couple of hours, but things that normally cause him to break down - he has gladly accepted and moved past. For example, yesterday morning he asked if he could get donuts for breakfast. I told him no, he threw a fit. I told him he would not get them all week - the fit grew much worse. This morning, he asked for donuts again. I reminded him of what happened yesterday and explained why he could not have donuts this week. He did not throw a fit. He went and started playing.
It has been a very calm couple of hours! At this point - I will take all I can get!
I cannot afford the cost of preschool, nor do I want to pay that amound when I am home anyway. At the same time, Bryce needs some help! I fear for when he starts school. I fear he is going to be "THAT" child. I fear that we will LIVE in the principals office! I think he will do okay at first. It will be new, he will be out of the house and around friends, he will get that kindergarten leniancy - that leniancy that does not last long and goes straight into trouble. We have hit that wall this year since Isaac started school.
I feel as though I have tried EVERYTHING with Bryce. I thought Caleb was stubborn and strong-willed. WOW!! Bryce takes it to a whole new level ( a scarey level). I was told yesterday by someone ( and I have said something similar before), that they were saving for college for one of their kids and bail money for the other. That is how I feel. I have said before that if he is not in jail by the time he is six, it will be a miracle.
He lies, he steals (from his parents and siblings - nothing in public YET), he throws temper tantrums. There is no punishment that we have found that works. If anything, it makes it worse. If I tell him to go to his room or time out he says no. If I PUT him in his room or time out he comes out. The only way I can keep him in his room is to sit there and hold the door closed - which is kind of hard to do with three or four other kids running around! He would rather have a few minutes of enjoying what he wants to do and getting a punishment than not doing it at all.
This morning we had a talk. I know this has gotten so much worse lately because of Daddy being gone. It is all the time, but so much worse when Daddy isn't here. We are nearing the end of the fourth month of this. There has just been a lot going on and he is having a hard time expressing his emotions.
We have come to an agreement (until he gets bored with it). I asked him this morning if he wanted to start a behavior chart. I explained what it was and that we would set a goal to work towards. This does not work the same for Bryce as it does for a lot of kids. Bryce wants instant gratification. If I tell him he has to wait a whole week or month to see any kind of reward, he will quickly quit. So, this is our plan.
We went and got this:
It has lots of magnets for responsibilities, rewards, etc. on the back of the board:
Right now his responsibilities are: get dressed, clean room, share, no whining, no hitting, be nice, get ready for nap/bed and go to nap/bed. As he masters these, we will replace them with others, but the are the worst eight right now. We are going to make a treasure chest (to make it more exciting for him, I am going to go to Hobby Lobby and get a wooden treasure chest and let HIM decorate it), Everyday, if he has had a good day and filled that days chart, he will get to get a prize from the treasure chest. He will get to help me get stuff to put in the treasure chest, so he will know there is stuff he wants and likes in it. At the beginning of each week we will set a weekly goal (this weeks is that he wants to play my DS, so if he fills the chart this week - he gets 30 minutes with my DS - which he normally steals!). This will be something like us doing what he wants to do or extra one on one time, things like that. At the beginning of each month we will set a bigger monthly goal. This will be something like a new toy or game or going to the movies, etc.
So far he is REALLY excited about this plan. I know it has only been a couple of hours, but things that normally cause him to break down - he has gladly accepted and moved past. For example, yesterday morning he asked if he could get donuts for breakfast. I told him no, he threw a fit. I told him he would not get them all week - the fit grew much worse. This morning, he asked for donuts again. I reminded him of what happened yesterday and explained why he could not have donuts this week. He did not throw a fit. He went and started playing.
It has been a very calm couple of hours! At this point - I will take all I can get!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Caleb's Awards
Caleb got a trophy, a plaque and three certificates at his awards ceremony at school on Friday. He got the trophy for being a Star Reader, the plaque for being an Advanced Reader and certificates for honor roll, and reading. I scribbled out the name of the school, just for safety reasons!
Way to go Caleb - you had a rocky start this year, but you have really pulled it together and got yourself straightened out. We are proud of you!
Our First Geocache
While most normal people were snug in their homes, standing or sitting in front of a warm fire, our family was out in the 26 degree weather geocaching! IT WAS COLD! For those of you reading this that live up north further and that is warm, well pooey on you - I live in ARKANSAS - that is cold!
I digress, Saturday morning we made it our mission to finally go hide our first geocache. We all got bundled up and headed out in the woods looking for the perfect place. We found it, placed the cache and then high-tailed it back to the car. Okay, some of us high-tailed it back to the warm car. Caleb and Bryce went to the playground and froze for a while!
After we hid ours, we went to try and find a few that were at the park by Paul's office. We went intending to find four - and we found all four. Each one of the older three boys "navigated" and found a cache themselves, and then Paul gave me the honors of finding the fourth. The boys are really getting good at reading the GPS on their own. Bryce and Isaac still need a little help reading the distance, but they can follow the arrow well.
This is the bug that we put in our cache:
And here is the frigid family at their hiding spot:
I digress, Saturday morning we made it our mission to finally go hide our first geocache. We all got bundled up and headed out in the woods looking for the perfect place. We found it, placed the cache and then high-tailed it back to the car. Okay, some of us high-tailed it back to the warm car. Caleb and Bryce went to the playground and froze for a while!
After we hid ours, we went to try and find a few that were at the park by Paul's office. We went intending to find four - and we found all four. Each one of the older three boys "navigated" and found a cache themselves, and then Paul gave me the honors of finding the fourth. The boys are really getting good at reading the GPS on their own. Bryce and Isaac still need a little help reading the distance, but they can follow the arrow well.
This is the bug that we put in our cache:
And here is the frigid family at their hiding spot:
New Recipes
I tried a couple of new recipes this weekend. I was not sure how they would turn out and how the kids would be with them. They surprised me (the meals and the kids)!
Friday night we had meatloaf, which was not a new recipe - but one of Paul's favorites. I don't remember where he found the recipe for this particular meatloaf, but it is really good. Andrew LOVED the meatloaf and potatoes and it was SO easy for him to eat! I will have to make a seperate post for that one!
Saturday night I made potpies for the first time. I found this recipe in a Kraft magazine. It was really good! In fact the kids are eating it right now for lunch! Also another one Andrew could easily eat and enjoyed.
Then, Sunday night we had homemade tortilla soup. Paul is a big fan of tortilla soup, so I thought I would try it out when I saw the recipe. REALLY GOOD!! The boys all loved it. They asked if they could take it to school tomorrow for lunch.
I am SO glad I found some more (easy) recipes that the kids all like!
Friday night we had meatloaf, which was not a new recipe - but one of Paul's favorites. I don't remember where he found the recipe for this particular meatloaf, but it is really good. Andrew LOVED the meatloaf and potatoes and it was SO easy for him to eat! I will have to make a seperate post for that one!
Saturday night I made potpies for the first time. I found this recipe in a Kraft magazine. It was really good! In fact the kids are eating it right now for lunch! Also another one Andrew could easily eat and enjoyed.
Then, Sunday night we had homemade tortilla soup. Paul is a big fan of tortilla soup, so I thought I would try it out when I saw the recipe. REALLY GOOD!! The boys all loved it. They asked if they could take it to school tomorrow for lunch.
I am SO glad I found some more (easy) recipes that the kids all like!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
