Play Time Spaghetti

I found this fun activity for toddlers on Pinterest at this website. Such a fantastic idea. Great for practicing some hand-eye coordination.

After a while, it turned into this:

I mean, who doesn't like spaghetti?

Then, it turned into this:

My Sweet Pea thought it was so funny to put the "spaghetti" on top of mom's head. I even forgot that it was there and left it until my Hubby came home. He had a good laugh.

Now, when my Sweet Pea sees the colander she wants to do this activity.

Be Safe When By Yourself

This past Saturday night I was out shopping by myself. A blissful time without the kids and Hubby, right? Well, I was at Harmon's Grocery Store. I had gone in, found all of my needed groceries, paid for them, and walked out having had my normal wonderful experience at my favorite grocery store. But while I was putting my groceries into my trunk this man I didn't know was walking towards me. Noticing this, I picked up my keys and wallet (I had placed them in front of me in the back of my car so I could unload) and stepped around to the other side of my cart. Putting it between myself and this man.

When he got to me he asked, "I locked my keys in my car and my wife is down the street at our storage unit and I was wondering if you were headed in that direction?"

(By the way there are NO storage units near this Harmon's location) I told him, "You know you can go inside to the customer information desk and they will let you use their phone to call a locksmith or someone else to come and get you."

He said, "Well, I don't have any money and wasn't sure if they would let me. . ."

I cut him off and said, "The people here at Harmon's are great and I'm sure they will help you out."

He just turned and walked away. I never saw him enter the store. I went home and called to let Harmon's know what had happened so they could watch out for him in case he tried with someone else.

I thought that this guy was pretty ballsy because I was parked 4 cars from the door, under a light, and there were at least 6 people outside within 50 ft of us. Please, please please be careful when out alone at night. Remember to:

1. Be aware of what is going on around you.
2. Park close to the doors of the store or building you are going into.
3. Park in a well lit area.
4. Never take a stranger anywhere, NO MATTER WHAT
5. If you feel the need, ask the manager to have someone walk you to your vehicle.
6. Lock your doors immediately after you are in your vehicle.
7. Report what happened to the store and if needed, to the police.

Be cautious, even if you think you are in the safest place. You just never know.

Cleared To Do The Fun Stuff!

I never thought that I would say it, but

"I get to do housework again!!"

Yesterday, I was cleared to exercise, lift my little ones, and DO HOUSEWORK. I am definitely not one that likes to do housework. (I don't know many who do) But when I haven't been able to do anything and I have had to watch my house dissolve under filth, I am ready to embark on my Fall Deep Cleaning. Now my Hubby was helping out, but it's just not as thorough as when I do it. Or as quick. (you can probably relate, right?)

So far I have had a wonderful time hugging and carrying my Sweet Pea, I got to do Winsor Pilates AND Walk Away the Pounds-2 Miles, and I vacuumed the whole house. It feels fantastic to be moving again. No more couch potatoe!

Yippeee!!

Courtesy VS Convenience

The hustle and bustle of life swirls around us and there seems to be no clearing in the storm. The storm of kids, work, sports, meals, cleaning and so much more seem to blur our vision in many ways. But at what point in life did it become acceptable to let the storm blur our vision of courtesy?

We wonder why kids these days don’t respect their parents, their teachers, their peers or even themselves. The lack of caring for others is a concern I have seen many have for their kids and their kids friends, but should we really be surprised by their actions?

As adults, with our many forms of communication, we have let courtesy and respect pass us by as well. We have cell phones that let us be in contact with everyone at ALL times. We have iPods that keep us plugged out of the world and into our movies and music. We have iPads, computers, and our “smart” phones that keep us updated and connected to everything. Fifty years ago our parents and grandparents had none of these things, yet they managed to remember the courtesy of calling when they couldn’t make an appointment, or when needing to RSVP, or stopping by when someone needed something. Life was PERSONAL. It was intimate.

Now our lives have been overtaken. We don’t call when we are going to be late, or aren’t going to show up, or to see how someone is doing. We spend our time “posting” or “tweeting” our own lives to everyone. As if we are the most important things in the universe. We SHOULD be in our own homes, but our whole world cannot thrive without those outside our front door. We affect others and others affect us.

We can no longer afford to be the friend that doesn’t show up to help with something without a phone call. Or one of the many people who don’t show up to the party without calling, leaving only 1-2 guests. Or the church leader who makes an appointment and doesn’t keep it and never calls. Or the family member that doesn’t know the struggles of the rest of the family. We can’t afford to be this person.

We are adults. We expect courtesy and respect out of our children. Often these are demanded, but do we demand them out of ourselves?

How have you kept yourself grounded and involved with your neighbors, friends, and family?

Day #5: Going To Bed Alone

It sounds so horrible when said like that. . . "going to bed alone." So isolated, so sad. Maybe that's why little kids hate it so much. I think I will stick to saying it's bed time.

My little Sweet Pea is wonderfully cute and smart. She has decided in the past two days that she wants to sleep on "mamma-dad's bed." I think she figures that if she sleeps on our bed, then we will lay next to her. I have held strong to her going to sleep in her own bed, though. She doesn't like that idea. She knows she has to go down by herself. However, bed time is getting faster with less crying. She is finished wimpering by the time she is on the bed. Yeah!!

October= Bed Times Alone
November= Toilet Training?? maybe.

We'll see how everything goes this month.

Day #3 of a Fabulous Parenting Stepping Stone

I am one of those parents that really likes to cuddle my kids to sleep instead of helping them learn to go down peacefully on their own. Because of this practice, I have had a toddler who would NOT go to sleep without me or my Hubby lying next to her. This was okay in the beginning but developed into 1-1.5 hour put down times. It took SOOO long.

On Sunday, I was completely fed up with Sweet Pea. She was being very difficult and I had my Green Bean needing to be fed. So, I tucked her in, gave her sippy cup to her, and told my Sweet Pea that I was going to sit in the doorway while she went to sleep. She didn't like this idea, but after only a few minutes of me in the doorway, she calmed down and went right to sleep. Since then, I have been doing it every nap time and bed time. It's fantastic. She tells me I have to sit in the doorway now. I hope it continues to work. Wish me luck.

10 Thing You Don't Have To Do After Having A Baby. . .

1. shower every day
2. keep your house spotless
3. feed the rest of your family
4. entertain your kids with something other than movies
5. put your make up on
6. do your hair
7. put your folded laundry away
8. get your other kids dressed
9. remember to change your other diapered children
10. snuggle with your Hubby. (too tired)
    

Watching My Own Surgery

I am excited to say that last week we welcomed Green Bean to our little family. He is wonderfully fantastic. So adorable and I just love the softness of baby skin. Babies are so precious.

The delivery was a scheduled c-section. So, we walked into the hospital at 6 am in the morning and had my little Green Bean by 7:30 am. So quick.

We went in, got me all hooked up to everything (I HATE IV's-they pull), and signed my life away with consent forms. Then another woman came in that was scheduled later, but was laboring really hard. My nurse didn't want me to have to wait until that evening to have my baby so she was really pushing that I go NOW. So, we rushed in before the other lady got all hooked up to everything.

I walked into the Operating Room. That was weird. I climbed up onto the table and then they finished hooking me to everything. Then Anesthesiologist asked me if I wanted to watch. I was surprised, last time I didn't have the option. (they didn't have a mirror) But this time I could watch everything. I definitely chose to watch. I got to see it ALL. The incision, the yanking and pulling, my Green Bean being pulled out, the tying of my tubes, and the stitching up of my belly. It was awesome. I would highly recommend watching. I also think that I didn't get motion sickness because I was watching this time. So much better. I'm so glad that I got to see it.

Anyone else every seen their delivery? Did you like it?

Wavering from the Relief Society Lesson Manual

The #1 reason the First Presidency advises teachers to teach from the Manual:


You get handouts (for a lesson on Eternal Marriage) that say things like this:


The Irresistible Woman

1. Sexual Fulfillment. She meets this need by becoming a terrific sexual partner. She studies her own sexual response to recognize and understand which brings out the best in her; then she shares this information with him, and together they learn to have a sexual relationship that both find repeatedly satisfying and enjoyable.

2. Recreational Companionship. She develops and interest in the recreational activities he enjoys most and tries to become proficient at them. If she finds she cannot enjoy them, she encourages him to consider other activities that they can enjoy together. She becomes his favorite recreational companion, and he associates her with his most enjoyable moments of relaxation.

3. Physical Attractiveness. She keeps herself physically fit with diet and exercise, and she wears her hair, makeup, and clothes in a way that he finds attractive and tasteful. he is attracted to her in private and proud o her in public.

4. Domestic Support. She creates a home that offers him a refuge from the stresses of life. She manages the household responsibilities in a way that encourages him to spend time at home enjoying his family.

5. Admiration. She understands and appreciates him more than anyone else. She reminds him of his value and achievements and helps him maintain self-confidence. She avoids criticizing him. She is proud of him, not out of duty, but from a profound respect for the man she chose to marry.


The Irresistible Man

1. Affection. He tells his wife that he loves her with words, cards, flowers, gifts, and common courtesies. He hugs and kisses her many times each day, creating an environment of affection that clearly and repeatedly expresses his love or her.

2. Conversation. He sets aside time every day to talk to her. They may talk about events in their lives, their children, their feelings or their plans. But whatever the topic, she enjoys the conversation because it is never judgmental, always informative and constructive. She talks to him as much as she would like, and responds with interest. He is never too busy to just talk.

3. Honesty and Openness. He tells her everything about himself, leaving nothing out that might later surprise her. He describes his positive and negative feelings, events of his past, his daily schedule, and his plans for the future. He never leaves her with a false impression and is truthful about his thoughts, feelings intentions and behavior.

4. Financial Support. He assumes the responsibility to house, feed, and clothe the family. If his income is insufficient to provide essential support, he resolves the problem by upgrading his skills to increase his salary. He does not work long hours, keeping himself from his wife and family, but is able to provide necessary support by working a forty to forty-five hour week. while he encourages his wife to pursue a career, he does not depend on her salary for family living.

5. Family Commitment. he commits sufficient time and energy to the moral and educational development of the children. He reads to them, engages in sports with them, takes them on frequent outings. He reads books and attends lectures with his wife on the subject of child development so that they will do a good job training the children. He and she discuss training methods and objectives until they agree. He does not proceed with any plan of training discipline without her approval. He recognizes that his care of the children is critically important to her.


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For the record, this handout is in NO WAY supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It did NOT come from any source to be found as doctrine.

This was NOT my wards Relief Society Lesson. I was technically not there to actually hear this lesson, but I'm kind of sad I missed it. I can only imagine the discussion in class, not to mention the looks on the sisters faces. I heard all about it afterwards. I couldn't believe the handout. I laughed and couldn't resist the urge to share.

We had a great discussion while making Sunday Dinner about it. I mean, who wouldn't? Just a reminder of why we stick to the lesson manual at church.

Going Green Confessions

I'm all about going green. I would rather pay my bills online. I would rather get all my coupons online. I obviously like to keep up with friends and family online. However, when it comes to shopping, I don't really like to do it online. My sweet Hubby thinks I'm a little funny because he would rather do it online.

I want to go to the store, touch, feel, and smell what I'm buying. And then I want the instant gratification of bringing whatever I just spent money on home. I want it right now! (This is the brat in me) Then to add to it. I would rather spend hours looking at catalogs than staring at my computer screen.

So, here is my Going Green Confession. I get catalogs and LOVE them. I LOVE junk mail too. (my advertising Hubby thinks this is crazy too) I want to read the adds. See the specials and I want it in my hands. Not on my computer screen. It's just not the same joy when it's glowing at me.

I guess, if anyone knows of an easy, cheap way to recycle my catalogs here in Utah, that information would be greatly appreciated. Then maybe I won't feel too terrible about my obsession.