A Few of My Favorite Things

I started a gratitude journal a few years ago. I thought I would post a list of some of my favorite things to kick off my rededication to writing in it everyday...

1. The sound of my children playing together

2. Getting everything on my list checked off (Rarely happens, that's why I rarely make lists)

3. Brownies and ice cream...which I can't eat anymore

4. When the socks come out even in the laundry

5. Days when I get to stay home

6. The feeling I have after I've completed a daunting task

7. I Love Lucy...of course

8. Searching the web for fun school ideas

9. Eating a meal without someone begging for a bite

10. The Reach flosser

11. Game Night

12. Eating M&M's one at a time (can't do that anymore either)

13. Cuddling up with Jamie in front of the TV

14. A clean house...I've forgotten what that's like.

15. Disney World...it just makes me feel like a kid.

16. Scrapbooking overnighters at my mom's house

17. Finding a bargain!

18. Learning a new craft...learning how to make jewelry right now.

19. Actually having the right sized battery when I need it (the batteries just died on my cordless keyboard)

20. Getting stains out

21. Taking the perfect picture

22. Eight straight hours of sleep

23. Cold cereal...can't have that anymore either

24. A groomed Sammy

25. Rainy days...if I get to stay indoors

Waffle Full of Love

For 15+ years we have enjoyed heart-shaped waffles for Valentine's Day. Jamie and I got this waffle iron as a wedding gift and it is still giving. I'll be so sad when it dies. It makes great Valentine waffles and St. Patick's Day four-leaf clover waffles. This year the waffles turned out exceptionally pink. Love it! Of course, with my weird diet I couldn't eat any of the waffles. But they were fun to look at and kids love them!

17 Years of Bliss

Jamie and I are celebrating our 17 year anniversary today. We have know each other for 23 years. We first met in middle school. I was in 7th grade, Jamie was in 8th. We had the same gym class. He sat in front of me. I thought he was obnoxious then. I was the quiet goody-two- shoes.

A couple years later he moved into our ward, and my neighborhood. He hung out with my big brother and I got to know him better. Before long we were the best of friends. We were married in the L.A. Temple. Four years later we had Nathan...and four years after that we had Kirsi.

I never would have imagined how great life with Jamie would be. It just gets better and better all of the time. I can't imagine being happier with anyone else!

Happy Anniversary Jamie! I love you!

I Really Love Lucy

I watch a lot of I Love Lucy. I own all of the seasons on DVD. I love that I can find myself laughing even though I have seen every episode a million times! I love that it is good clean comedy--so hard to come by these days! I love that many of my real life experiences can be related to an I Love Lucy episode! I thought I would share one of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes.

In this episode Lucy buys some new furniture without asking Ricky first. He won't let her have the furniture until she earns the money to pay him for it. So, Lucy sews her own dress and gives herself a permanent to save money. The results are hilarious. My favorite line..."It's alright. I've always wanted to look like a chrysanthemum." (Be sure to pause my playlist before you watch.)

"Now I know my ABC's"

Okay, so I've decided that my life is just not interesting enough to post everyday. How much can you really say about cleaning, cooking, cleaning, disciplining, cleaning, grocery shopping, cleaning...?

I have been thinking a lot about my homeschooling techniques lately though, and thought I'd see what kind of feedback I can get about a book I've been reading. The book is called The Unschooling Handbook. Unschoolers have the philosophy that children are born with a natural drive for learning and we need to let them follow their own interests and just gently guide them. In other words, no textbooks, no tests, no grades, little structure...

When I first heard about unschooling, I wasn't feeling it. After reading this book though, it makes sense to me. If you think about your children when they are small for minute...they basically teach themselves to walk, talk, eat...some even teach themselves to read, write, count...so what keeps them from teaching themselves algebra? Well, we stick them in public school and tell them that they only can learn what, when and how the teacher tells them to. That is when the thirst for knowledge becomes stunted--especially if you have a gifted child being taught things they already know.

Anyway, just food for thought. I certainly don't have all the answers. I actually have very few of them. I just want what's best for my kids. Tell me what you think--but be kind. : )

A sampling of unschooling activities---

Fieldtrip to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial

Canoeing

A game of chess

Soccer

Dog training

Arts and crafts

Boy Scouting

Tie dyeing

Sewing

Baking cookies

Making pilgrim hats

Baby-sitting cousin...playing piano with him

Making dog costumes

Building tents like in the King Benjamin story and listening to General Conference

Exploring outdoors after the ice storm

Unloading the dishes with friends

Watching a live show about birds

Playing Monopoly

Visiting a replica of Germany

Riding bikes and scooters

Bowling

Come With Me to Primary...

I'm going to try to post something each day. Today is Sunday...a day of rest. I thought I'd tell you about Primary. I'm in the Primary presidency.

One of the things we started doing about six months ago is making the parents pick the kids up after Primary. I love Primary, but I have to say that I hate having the guard the doors after Primary. Right after "Amen" of the closing prayer, brace yourself! It's a mad dash for the door. Seventy children that have been sitting for three hours come at me, hoping that their momentum and my weariness will get them past me through the door to freedom! I've had a few kids leak out. Some talk their way out. Some follow another family out. Some just RUN.

I have the regulars who try to sneak out EVERY week. The kids are always making up stories to get me to let them go..."My mom is sick today and my dad doesn't know to come and get me...My Dad said I could just go find him...I see my mom over there..." I might fall for some of their stories if it weren't the same kids every week telling them.

Some of the parents don't care whether or not their kids are let loose...some probably would prefer not coming to get them. The purpose behind it is to keep the kids safe. It started after a child was abducted from an LDS church in MA last year. I think it is a great idea, but a little cooperation, please...

Try, Try Again

Okay, so I haven't posted in a very long time. I've never really posted anything of substance. I think I'm intimidated by the many talented bloggers out there (and you know who you are!). But, I have decided that it doesn't matter how lame my postings are. Occasionally I may come up with something clever to say. For the days that I can't think of anything intriguing, I will just post some pictures. I know you all enjoy looking at my beautiful kids!



Now in remembrance of the surprise snow storm today, I thought I would post this picture of my snow bunnies taken 6 years ago. I know! They are beautiful!