MEET CLARENCE: Clarence is the new car Tyler bought a few weeks ago. Many of you know Winston - our little red Saturn. We've had Winston for just over 8 years now and he has served us well and faithfully. Now he's got 230, 000 miles on him and he's beginning to clunk in odd places. So, we figured now was the time to replace him, before inflation hits the roof and our money no longer has value. Clarence is our "new" car - a little gold Saturn (we would never actually buy a NEW car, but he's new to us). We didn't own him 10 minutes before the kids started brainstorming names for him. Now we have to find a "retirement home" for Winston. Can we say "salvage yard?"
TEMPLE TRIP: Tyler and I had the opportunity (translate: Stake assignment) to do Initiatories last Friday morning. Mom came over to the house and got the kids off to school and took care of Lida so we could be there at 7:45 am. It was wonderful!! I love the blessings we receive from Temple attendance. A million thanks to Mom for making it possible...
NO SCHOOL: The kids had Monday, 1/2 of Thursday, and Friday off this week, which means I've been behind in my work all week. Andrew and Katherine enjoyed playing with their cousins on Monday, but Katherine has felt picked on because her friend, Macy, couldn't play every other day of the week. Thursday we had Dental appointments and Parent Teacher Conferences, then we went to the Church and watched Tyler play basketball with the Elders. Do you wonder that I feel stressed?
DATE NIGHT AT LAST: Friday night Tyler and I were invited to go to dinner with some friends and then over to their house to play games. There were six other couples there besides us. We had a great time with our friends - it's the first truly social activity we have had outside of Church since we moved here. We were some of the first ones to leave at 10:50 pm! It was a lot of fun, but we rediscovered that we're not really "party" people. We were so exhausted at the end of the night!! Spending that much time being social really takes it out of me. Of course, it could also have something to do with the fact that I'd been up since 5 o'clock...
NEW CHORES: Yesterday morning Katherine was helping Tyler make breakfast, so Tyler asked Andrew to please set the table. Andrew threw a monumental (for him) fit because it was Katherine's job to set the table this week. Tyler assured him that Katherine would have to clear the table for him, but he wasn't satisfied. Instead he stomped and banged and scowled through the job until Tyler and I were ready to strangle him. So, I was mean and wouldn't let him eat breakfast until he could explain what the problem was. The result is that I ended up revamping our "chore chart." Instead of predictable "weekly" chores, many of the chores are now subject to change at any time according to circumstances. The big message we're trying to send the kids is that the Chore Chart is not the ultimate authority here at home - Mom and Dad are, and we can change things around any time we think it is necessary. The new system is working well, so far. Of course, this is only day two...
ALL OVER THE PLACE: Our little Lida is taking over! As all baby do, I suppose. She is crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything! Tyler bought a folding screen to put in front of the fireplace so that Lida can't burn her hands on the glass. It works great for it's intended purpose, but Friday afternoon she tried to pull up on it, and ended up pulling it down on top of her! She wasn't hurt, but it scared the wits out of her - she was inconsolable for 10 minutes! Very unusual for Lida. So now I must be extra vigilant with her and remember to pick up the dog's food and water when she is down on the floor and keep her from pulling all my cookbooks off the shelf. 
3 comments:
WOW, Lida looks a lot like you! What a beautiful little girl you have. I hope life slows down for you.
I like the chore idea you have goning, I hope it does comtinue to work. What I did for my kids is make a list of everything that should be done weekly and they get to pick which two they want to do for the day (everyday) and then all the rest get done on the weekends. Its works for us. Good Luck!
Holy cow, Rachel! What are you, like a mother or something?! Keep up the good work. As always, you're amazing!
Post a Comment