Yoga Babies

Today the kids and I went to our first kids yoga session. There will be 4 sessions total over break. It was so fun. I really enjoyed seeing the kids maneuver their super flexible (!) bodies into the yoga poses. Many of the poses have an animal name and the instructer had us making the animal sounds to go with it. I think we all loved it. I know we all had fun. What a new and different way to spend our free time :)

Over the weekend I TRIED to take some pictures of the kids to use for our Christmas card. They were all dressed up for the piano recital (Which was awesome. Kevin and I are so proud!). But silly Mommy, kids just want to have fun.

Christmas "Break"

The kids have 17 days off this year. That is a long time. I have some activities planned and of course we have family Christmas celebrations which we all are looking forward to. We had a talk this morning after 3 fight breakups. Here is how it went:

We will NOT be yelling and fighting this whole break. That is unacceptable. We will treat each other with respect and kindness. Even when we are angry. We will do this or I will take away privileges. It would be a big bummer to loose some favorite things while you are on break. Do you understand.

Yes Mommy.

Cross your fingers for me!!

10 on Tuesday

1. I still want to be grateful and celebrate Thanksgiving first
2. I need help with a card idea for this year ....sweet not cheesy
   
3. The kids have made their lists, and aren't they lucky, they are all wants and no needs
   
4. I'm starting to think ahead to Christmas fun, trying not to feel overwhelmed and just feel the joy of the season.
5. Kevin and Hannah had a super time this weekend playing Laser Tag with her soccer team.
6. I was able to spend time with my sweet niece Jane on Sunday.
7. Hannah is going to donate her hair to kids who need wigs. I am proud of her.
8. Kevin and I are proud of the girls also for their GREAT report cards :)
9. Thomas had picture retakes and I hear that he smiled. YAY!!!
10. My yoga coupon is about to run out, but I think I want to continue that me time.
    

The way you wear your H.A.T

I am so thankful for my family. We sometimes scream and yell and get mad at each other. We tickle and hug and love each other too. My kids are silly, smart and crazy. My husband loves us all. We are a good blend of wonderfulness. I treasure every moment. Even the ones that make me want to go back to bed.

I AmThankful

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
...
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church or synagogue meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married ... you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful ... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder ... you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Ten on Tuesday

I have noticed a few other bloggers do this and I think it's fun. So here goes:
10 Things you have been wondering (or maybe not)about us this Tuesday

1. We had Uncle Greg over for pot roast on Monday so the house was clean :)
2. The kids were off of school for voting day
3. We went to the 5 Below store for them to spend their Halloween contest winnings. Hannah picked a webkin. Allison (who won $10) picked Shrinky Dinks, a word search book, and a stuffed animal key-chain. Thomas picked a small transformer and a key car.
4. Kevin and I had a short date night on Saturday (Thanks Dad J!) and we saw 50/50. I highly recommend it.
5. Thomas and the girls too, have been really enjoying playing with the Geo-Trax trains this week. They are all over the living room but I don't mind (mostly). I love to see the imaginations at play!
6. Thomas has been writing his name by himself. It is really cute.
7. Allison is really coming along with her reading. We went to the library yesterday and picked some new books to interest her.
8. Hannah made a little purse out of some fabric scraps and staples. It's pretty cute. I think she should take a sewing class this summer.
9. I feel pretty sore from Monday's yoga. But I feel really good about sticking with it and working on bettering myself. I also really enjoy the classes.
10. I am NOT ready for Christmas music or anything that goes with it. I really feel like Thanksgiving should be a bigger holiday than Halloween. I wish I new how to make it more important.

I think I will think about that at Yoga this week. How can we make Thanksgiving more important to us. I would like us to focus on being thankful this month. Christmas and all the family fun it brings will be here soon enough. :)

Naughty and Nice

While playing super mario with Thomas tonight his guy falls in a hole and this silliness ensues
T: Dammit
Me: Buddy you can't say that, it's a bad word
T: (totally innocent)Well can I say shit?
Me: (biting my cheek so as not to laugh)No bud, that is a bad word too
T: well what CAN I say?

After some conversation we decide on Drat. In the story "Big Pumpkin" the characters say Drat when they can't get the pumpkin off the vine. This is acceptable to him.

I love my son.

Late Night Cacophony

At around 2am, I am sound asleep in the very dark basement. Seemingly all of a sudden I hear:

"MOMMY I NEED YOU!" from Allison somewhere up the stairs.

I sit straight up and yell "Coming!" Then I start to crawl across the bed and over Kevin's legs. I am worried. What could be wrong? Stomach ache? Sore throat? I trip (is it still called tripping when you are crawling?) over Kevin and flip and fall off the bed hitting my leg on the metal frame and landing somewhat on the dog. I yelp. Lucy licks me as if to say "Are you ok?" and also "What the hell?" I then hop up and limp a few steps, partly from the fall and partly from the yoga I did earlier. I run up the stairs and find Allie in the kitchen waiting for me. I look her over and kneel down beside her. What kind of catastrophe awaits? I look up into her beautiful sleepy eyes and ask "What's wrong?" To which she replies: "I had-ed to go potty and wanted you to tuck me back in". She then pivots on her heel swishing those lovely curls around and walks to her room. I stand and straighten my back like an old women. I look at the heavens and let out a long breath (trying to apply some yoga?). Then I follow her to tuck her in and let her know she is loved and safe.

I am a Mom. This is my job.

Logic in the Love

Next week I will be starting a short class called "Love and Logic". Here is what I am hoping to get out of it. 1. A way to help the kids make good choices without us 2. A way to stop the constant arguing 3. I would like to try and stop the bad attitude funk that the kids sometimes get into 4. Consequences for the kids misbehavior that are consistent and appropriate for the behavior.

Maybe I am expecting a lot. I think my kids are smart, silly and lovely. But there are times when they dig their heels in and wont listen to me. I need to regain some control and help steer them to good choices.

I have read some of the book this series is based on. One example in letting them make choices is not to battle. Tell them it's cold outside and it would be a good choice to get a coat and hat on. But then don't chase them around or nag about the coat. When they don't put it on and are cold they will learn to listen to you next time. But how would this play out with a shower? Do you let your kids go stinky??? Even when they have sensitive skin??

I am hoping this will help me make better choices with them. Less Yelling. More hugging. I hope it helps me be a better parent.

Growing Up

This weekend we had a great time in the sand and sun with family. The kids played in the water all day Saturday and even though it was not sunny they were in all day Sunday too. It was so much fun to sit and share some music with Kevin and watch them have a blast. It was also fun to join them in the water and be silly. On Sunday I was getting up to help T come down from the loft when he said "I'm ok, I don't need you Mommy" and I felt my heart break a little.

The girls started school on Tuesday. They came home so excited after their first day. I love that. It's always a good feeling when it goes well. I have watched some of my friends deal with sad kids in the morning and I always feel for them. While telling me about her first day, Hannah told me about all the kids in her class. She mentioned one boy who was new last year and who she has a "crush on". I said "you do huh?" and she said "yep". WOW.

My kids are growing up too fast. I really miss the times when they were little and wanted to cuddle and read together. Yet, watching them now (even though it's a little sad) is pretty exciting too. They are learning so much. They are making new discoveries. I am so proud.