8/8/11

Boredom

I read part of an article today by Scott Adams (creator of the comic strip Dilbert) about the importance of boredom.  (I would have read the entire article but it is from Wall Street Journal and they make you pay to subscribe...)

This was as much as I was able to read:
We've won the war on boredom! If you have a smartphone in your pocket, a game console in the living room, a Kindle in your backpack and an iPad in the kitchen, you never need to suffer a minute without stimulation. Yay!
But wait—we might be in dangerous territory. Experts say our brains need boredom so we can process thoughts and be creative. I think they're right. I've noticed that my best ideas always bubble up when the outside world fails in its primary job of frightening, wounding or entertaining me.
I make my living being creative and have always ...

The timing of me running into this little snip-it  couldn't have been better.  Today I have not been feeling my best and I came across it just as I was about to turn on Barney for the kiddos because I didn't want to direct their play time. 

I don't mind some TV or computer/video game time, but I think it should be limited.  I think it is important that kids learn how to entertain themselves.  The majority of their day should be spent creating, playing, and imagining.  

So, instead of turning on a re-run of Barney to buy myself an extra 30 minutes we decided to build a Little People Zoo that Lala the Baby Monster would destroy every two minutes.  It took a little bit more effort, but I know we all got more out of it. 


8/7/11

A Messy Lesson Learned

Our kids usually eat a before-bed snack for two reasons: 
  1. It takes care of any last minute, "I'm hungry" complaints.
  2. They are already conveniently strapped down so I can brush their teeth easily.
I thought that I would give them an 'extra-special' snack.  I was totally happy with my idea of melted marshmallows on graham crackers (we didn't have any chocolate, so only a two-part smore) thinking of how happy it would make the babies.

I obviously did not think the idea through very well.


I had to give both of them a second bath they were so covered!  Not to mention... pure sugar.  It was a long night.  From now on I'll stick to the less messy foods for our late night snack.

8/6/11

"Excuse This House"

Some houses try to hide the fact
That children shelter there.
Ours boasts of it quite openly,
The signs are every where.


 
For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges on the doors;
I should apologize I guess
For toys strewn on the floor.


But I sat down with the children
And we played and laughed and read,
And if the doorbell doesn't shine,
Their eyes will shine instead.


 
For when at times I'm forced to
Choose the one job or the other,
I want to be a housewife...
But first I'll be a mother. 



8/5/11

Aww... that's kinda cute... wait! Eww! Nooooo!

Lawson has started doing the one thing that drives me nuts - taking his diaper off.  The kid loves to be naked!  Sure it is kinda cute seeing him run around the house happy as can be with his little bare bum. 

But then I see the diaper...  

That is when I go into a mental panic.  You would think after two kids the idea of poop wouldn't completely gross me out (confined poop I can totally deal with, its when it is anywhere else: shoes, hands, bathtubs, etc...) - my brain turns to jello and I can't think because I am so overwhelmed with the idea of cleaning it up.  

Luckily, besides a few minor episodes I haven't experienced any true horror stories (*knock on wood*) ... this kid will be wearing onsies until he is potty trained if he keeps it up!

He is going to love me for posting this one day...

8/4/11

Thankful Thursday #1

This is my first week of recording what I'm thankful for, and unfortunately I have to cut it short - it is already very much past my bed time!  But there were three big ones (and another that just happened to be inspired while writing) that I wanted to start off with.

My goal is to do this weekly, with ten a week.  And not to repeat.

1.  God's Love.  
I couldn't start any list of what I'm thankful for without putting this first.  It is the only thing that has gotten our family to where it is today.  We have been blessed and it is only by the grace of God and his guidance that we have.  Even when doubts slip into my mind, I am quickly pointed in the direction to give me the faith I need.  I am just now starting this incredible journey of really trying to seriously seek out a relationship with Him and it is very humbling.


2.  My Husband's Support.  
Whether it be that I want to be a SAHM, start my own business, lose weight, etc.  Lawrence has always been the first to support me and really believe I could do it.  He doesn't bring up all the things that will stand in my way, he just says, "I think you can".  I wish I could say that I have always shown the same amount of support towards him, but I haven't.   I am so thankful that our kids will have this same sort of support in their lives - we all know what holds us back, but we just need that one person who believes we can overcome.  He is amazing and I am so blessed to have him as my husband.  I at first had "My Husband" as my number two - which would be very accurate.   But there are so many reasons I am thankful for Lawrence, so I just decided to name that one quality so I could list him multiple times!

3.  Iced Tea.  (Obviously this list is not in order - I just so happen to be drinking and Iced Tea and decided it needed to be on this weeks list.) 


4.  Being a Stay-at-Home-Mommy. 
We sacrifice a lot in order to do it. But the important part is we are able to. Our kids have no idea that we have less than others but they do know that they always have either their mommy or daddy with them. Always someone who wants to care for them because they love them, not because they are paid to. It truly is a blessing to have less knowing that in the end we really come out with more.


 

8/3/11

Goodbye 35 Lbs!!!

Since the beginning of April I've been really trying to take control of my weight, or more precisely my over eating.  I wasn't eating healthy and I was eating too much of it.  So for the last 4 months I have been successfully losing weight - so far I've totaled 35 Lbs!(That is about what my daughter weighs...)

Unfortunately I don't have too many photos of myself (but of course hundreds of the kiddos) - so the most recent full body from before losing weight is from Lawson's birthday.
This last month has been the hardest!  At the end of June I hurt my knee from running so I had to stay off of it.  Right as my knee was starting to get better I busted my toe (that was about 3 weeks ago and I still can't wear my tennis shoes...).  

On top of that, Lawrence and I celebrated our birthdays so of course there was cake and cookies, and also my mom and one of Lawrence's friends came to visit so there was more eating out than usual.  

Still, from keeping an eye on how much and how often and what I ate, I've successfully lost about 6 more pounds in July!

8/2/11

Goal for August!

It's the 1st of the month, which means it is time to make a goal for myself.
August Goal: 
No Computer While Kids are Awake!
This is something I've always struggled with.  The computer is so conveniently located right in the middle of my living room.  So it is very easy to jump on while the kids have a snack, watch a cartoon, or are busy entertaining themselves.  

But I don't like that.  I would rather that I sit and talk to them while they eat, watch the cartoon too, or play with them!  That is the kind of mom I want to be.  

So, the only times I will allow myself computer access is before they wake up, during nap, or after they are tucked in bed. 

8/1/11

Finnley's Art Show

Finnley has been a coloring machine the last few days!  It is so much fun watching her artistic abilities grow!  All these pictures are of people - if you use your imagination you can see their head, eyes, mouth, hair, legs and arms!  Here are some of her most recent pieces of art: