Life Lessons

Rehm needed his dress shirt pressed for band competition tomorrow. Guess who just got his first ironing lesson?

This guy. Yep, he just got home from scouts.


He also knew he had to do laundry today so that he would have a clean shirt to iron. His future wife will thank me.

He is very proud of himself.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Finding the Positive

Ruby and Eliza Claire just came downstairs abuzz about the bags Charlotte is making for them. Ruby's is to hold her "detective stuff," and Eliza Claire's is for her "science stuff."

When asked what fabric Charlotte was using I was told she
Had gotten it from my stash. I have a drawer full of fabric specifically for their use. They are free to get anything in it, at any time, without permission.

If they want fabric from my stash they have to ask first. That way I'm sure they aren't using something I have plans for or one of my more expensive fabrics, you know the ones from a quilt store.

The fabric she chose was not slated for a specific fabric - positive. It was from a quilt store - negative. She was sewing on her own - positive. She was making something for someone else - positive. She felt confident tackling a project without help - positive. She disobeyed the rules - negative.



My gut reaction was to get mad and give her consequences. Luckily, I had 10 seconds to evaluate the situation before she got downstairs. I decided it was already sewn and the positives outweighed the negatives and gently reminded her of the rules and complimented her on her work.

Honestly, my fabric is more modern and bright that the stuff they have access to without asking. So my fabric loving self totally understands her choice.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Ready for Softball

Eliza Claire got her uniform today. She immediately wanted to try it on. Her first game is Tuesday. Her team is the dolphins.

I don't know if you can see her socks. They have waves and "dolphins" on them. Given their colors and team name were decided before looking for socks, I thought these were a great choice.



Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

February Quilting Projects

I did get them all finished in February, but just barely.

Block of the Month



Tula Pink's 100 Modern Blocks Club

Flaming Windows



Incarcerated Blossoms



Power Plant



Floral Crossroads





Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

I'll Show You!

This is what happens when you insist on a child emptying the dishwasher when she really doesn't want. Notice the plates on the bottom left and the bowls on the top right. Yeah, that really showed me. Last I checked all the dishes are in the cabinets and the dishwasher is empty. I'm sure this tactic even made the chore take extra time. I wonder if she thinks it was worth it.



Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Palette Expander 3 of 4

Eliza Claire got her palette expander this week. Charlotte had hers removed last week. I found the timing funny. I joked with the girls that the orthodontist was going to sterilize Charlotte's appliance and use it for Eliza Claire. Neither girl thought that was a good idea.






Eliza Claire is our third child to have a palette expander. Ruby will be getting hers in 6 to 12 months. Every single one has a cross bite.

I did learn something new with this go round. Each crank of the appliance pushes the palette by 1/4 mm. A penny is 1 mm thick. We will be expanding Eliza Claire's palette by six pennies, almost a full inch! I've decided that orthodontia is modern day torture.



Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Basketball

I've gotten really lazy about taking sports pictures. Here is Eliza Claire playing basketball.






And here is Ruby entertaining herself while Eliza Claire plays basketball.






Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Way to Go Charlotte!

I'm so proud of Charlotte and her progress with spelling and writing this year. Look at this awesome spelling test.



The cartoon is pretty appropriate for my life. My mother-in-law was nice enough to cut it out for me.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

This Dog!

I love this dog to death, but she sure can get into trouble. It seems to have become a pattern for her to get in trouble if we are not home in the evenings. I can leave her all day and no trouble, leave her in the evening for an hour and trouble city!






This particular night she knocked a stack of mail and papers off the counter and swiped Charlotte's valentine box from school and ate lots of candy.






When Charlotte was inventorying her candy, she realized that Pearl had eaten a small bag of M&Ms. She was so mad at her for eating her stuff, but burst into tears because she thought Pearl would die from eating the chocolate and it would all be Charlotte's fault. I assured her that it wasn't enough chocolate to hurt Pearl and that even if it was it was not her fault.



This bag used to contain a bunch of candy hearts. Pearl seemed to think they were extra tasty.

Jenn

Tsumommy Averted

This weekend there was a major Tsumommy warning. I was this close to completely losing it and unleashing Tsumommy.

It came to a head when I asked two children to pick a chore to help clean the downstairs of the house and both responded with basically "Um, no, thanks."

Yeah, that did not go over well, at all. Luckily I refrained from unleashing Tsumommy and over the course of the next hour or so got the kids to see that it was in their best interest to help out.

It shocking how well my son can vacuum when properly motivated. I told him his vacuuming job would determine how well I drove him to his evening plans. He looked at me dumbfounded and uttered, "What do you mean?" I explained that if he did a mediocre job, I would, too. Meaning, I would not take him the whole way if the floors weren't completely clean. If they were half clean, he'd get half a ride. The look on his face when that sunk in was priceless.

I was thrilled that I refrained from yelling and blaming to get things done. After stewing on the situation a bit I realized that the kids weren't the only ones to blame for their current slobbish habits.

I was also to blame. I had not been holding them accountable for their part. I had made it too easy for them to not clean up after themselves or help out because I had stopped expecting it.

Well, my friends, that has changed. Tonight, I asked Rehm twice to take the garbage cans to the curb. I realized at 10:00 that I had not heard him complete the chore. I texted him and this is what happened.



Yep, I insisted he get up and do it. Forgetting was not an excuse. I didn't care that it was inconvenient, he would come up with another way to make it inconvenient in the morning.

I've also revived the uh oh box, which really isn't a box, it's the top of the refrigerator. It currently contains three backpacks, two pairs of shoes, at least one lunch box, and a couple of other things. Yes, there will be drama in the morning when they realize they have extra chores to do before they can go to school, but I bet tomorrow they put these things away.



I'm glad I took a bit of time to quit bemoaning their poor habits and look at how my expectations were causing the problem. Now to get things back on track around here.

Jenn

Sidetracked

It amazing what an affect me getting sick has on the family. I was out of commission Wednesday and Thursday with a stomach bug or food poisoning. I'm still not sure which.

Ruby had to be picked up early from school on Tuesday because she had gotten sick at school. She never had another symptom and was completely fine. If I got it from her, I would have expected someone else to have also gotten sick in the family. And, I was much sicker than Ruby. I don't know. I guess it doesn't really matter.

What does matter is how much didn't get done awhile I was not well and how long it takes to catch up on everything. The only good result is my husband really appreciates what I do, after having to do everything for a couple of days.

Wednesday morning before leaving for work Michael asked if I needed anything. I told him I needed my dog. Don't get me wrong, I love both of my dogs, but Pearl is the perfect dog when I don't feel well. This is where she stayed pretty much all day Wednesday and until about noon on Thursday.









I'm glad to be feeling better and caught up enough to be back to blogging.

Jenn

I Am Over Homework

Please tell me my kids are not the only ones that come up with every excuse under the sun to put off homework. When I finally force them to do it I'm met with whining, screaming, and tears. It drives me crazy. And of course they swear they need me to help them with their homework. Meaning they want me to sit beside them the entire time they work on it, even when it is stuff they have the skills to do independently.

Of course, if I decide that I'm done fighting this battle and they can suffer the school consequences and don't make them do it, come bedtime they panic because their homework isn't finished. Drama ensues, magnified by tiredness. I hear how if homework isn't finished they will miss part of recess, have to sit at the special do your homework table at lunch, get a conduct code, etc.

When I asked today what we could do to get homework done with out all the drama, I was informed I needed to make it fun! I nipped that in the bud immediately. Nope. Not happening. Not my job. I will be available to listen to them read, answer questions, and help with things they don't understand. I will not be finding ways to make it fun. They can figure that out, it's not my job and I'm not taking that one on. Nope. No sirree. Not me.

I hate homework. There I said it. I know it has a purpose, but the screaming has to stop. I can't take it anymore.

Jenn

Ruby and Rawleighs

Cici, I remembered the Rawleighs tonight. Ruby was hilarious! She kept repeating, "Is it really, really cold or is it burning?"

I told her that Granny would have sworn that Rawleighs would fix any bruise, cut or scrape. She wanted to know how it worked. I told her I didn't know but Granny was usually right about things like this.















As you can see she could not hold still for a picture. And yes, her shirt is wrong side out and backwards. I didn't bother mentioning it. She would have just shrugged and told me she didn't care.

Charlotte, later, complained about her carpet burn on her knee from Saturday's basketball game. I told her Rawleighs would fix it right up and slathered some on her,as well.

I told Charlotte that you bought me my can when I went to college. She wanted to know if I would buy her her own can of Rawleighs when she went to college. Then she asked where you could buy it. I told her maybe Websters.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

No Sleep for the Weary and other Sunday Happenings

Ugh! I just left Charlotte's room. She had a horrible time falling asleep tonight. She was stressed over not being able to sleep which just makes it that much harder. She kept falling asleep, snoring or talking, then waking and swearing she had not been to sleep at all, yet. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! We've got to find a better solution.

In the morning I have to decide whether to wake her at her regular time or let her sleep and then freak out when she wakes and realizes she is late for school.

This morning I left everyone the same message in their hearts. I hid them in their seats at the table knowing that everyone doesn't usually sit down to eat breakfast together on Sundays.



Ruby had breakfast first. She came back upstairs with a twinkle in her eye. She snuggled up to me and asked if she really was my favorite. I assured her that she was. She gave me the biggest smile and hug. It was adorable.

All went well until we came home from church and Charlotte found her heart. Everyone just happened to be in the kitchen, Charlotte read hers aloud, to herself. Immediately there were multiple exclamations about each person having that message. Eliza Claire declared that she found hers first so clearly she was the favorite. Ruby informed her that she had found hers before Eliza Claire and was therefore the favorite. I assured them all that they are all my favorites. Luckily, they all took it in good humor and today's message did not backfire.

Ruby's head is looking better today and is bandage free. Still a bit bruised but healing, I just realized that I forgot to put any Rawleighs on it before I sent her to bed. My Granny swore by this salve for everything, but especially bruises. Mom even reminded me today when I talked to her and I still didn't do it.



It was such a nice day that Ruby asked if we could eat dinner outside. She offered to clean and set the table. It was a lovely evening for dining outside. It's a good thing we got that end before the next arctic blast this week.



Eliza Claire has decided that since I am hiding surprises for her that she should hide surprises for me. Being seven she can not wait for me to find them. She always comes to give me a nudge in the right direction. Tonight, she left these treasures for me.



Her note says, "You're my star." She really knows how to make a mom feel special. Maybe, I'm her favorite!

Jenn - the favorite mom

Typical Saturday

My kids went to bed super late last night because if the Toros game. I don't think anyone was asleep before 11:00.

Charlotte had an 8:00 am basketball game. I was not at that game. I was at home with the still sleeping children. And by that, I mean I was also still sleeping.

This was Miss Eliza Claire right before I woke her to get ready for her game.



After basketball games, we had lunch with Grandma and Grandpa. I love having grandparents close by that can come to so many of the kids' activities. They even made it to Charlotte's early game, unlike Charlotte's mother.

Rehm was at the middle school for a band rehearsal. He missed lunch with the family. He was not happy.

This afternoon Ruby and Eliza Claire played with their friend Ellery. This seems to be the new Saturday afternoon norm. The three of them have a lot of fun together.

The kids all found their Valentine's hearts. The girls actually had to do a bit of searching for theirs today. Rehm told me his was too easy today. I explained that given
His tendency toward obliviousness I didn't think I needed to make his difficult. I expected him to complain about today's treat. I was surprised when I saw him walking around later in the day with it on his shirt.




Poor Ruby injured herself this evening. Somehow she managed to walk into a corner wall and cut her head. She had a small goose egg, as well. She is fine. As of bed time it was barely oozing when I changed the bandage. Yes, Cici, I've assessed her for head injury and she is fine.






Ruby is such an interesting child. She really doesn't like to do anything to call attention to herself. This sounds funny given her ability to throw a major fit at any time over anything or nothing. When she gets injured especially she will tell you she is completely gone, even when she isn't. Today she was furious with herself for doing something she deemed to be stupid. Since she thought it was stupid, she would not admit that it hurt, even though it was obvious it had to. It was three or four hours later before she finally admitted her head hurt and let me give her something for it.

To help her with feeling like she had made a stupid mistake Charlotte, Eliza Claire and I all told her stories of things we had run into that we should not have. Charlotte, a poll between two doors; Eliza Claire, a wall when sleep walking and a pole on the playground when running; me, a glass door. That did seem to make her feel a little better.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Photos From my Phone

Here are a few pictures from this week that I realize never made it to the blog.



Pearl making her self at home on the couch. She looks very uncomfortable to me. I guess she was too lazy/sleepy to knock one of the pillows in the floor, like usual.


A hidden Valentine's Day heart, with a message tucked inside. These have been a huge hit. Even Rehm seems to like them.


All that fruit was found in the fruit drawer, where it belongs. Unfortunately, it was frozen solid. Ugh! We had this problem several months ago. Michael replaced the thermostat and the problem stopped. I'm thinking a new fridge is in our future.





This is from Wednesday night dinner at church. Ruby doesn't choose to go to choir with her sisters. This week she helped Mrs. Kern make the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the children who don't like the hot dinner being served.

We were short servers that evening so Rehm and I helped serve on the main food line. It is a fun way volunteer with the boy. We get to spend a bit of time together and say hello to many of our diners.



Another Pearl shot. This time curled up in a chair looking more like a cat than a dog. I think she was cold. I need to find her clothes.


I'm not sure who is behind me and why they insisted on this silly picture. I think they were making me a moose.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Another Bad Weather Day

Due to a chance of freezing drizzle all schools in the area cancelled school today. In our area the roads stayed completely dry. Cold, but dry. I'm glad it stayed dry as it allowed me to take care of some errands that really needed to get done and get to my Block of the Month class.

I didn't think I was going to get to go to Block of the Month today as Charlotte was supposed to have a field trip today. She informed me earlier in the week that I had never been on one of her school filed trips but had attended multiple ones for her siblings.

I really thought I had been on at least one, but when she went through the list she was right. Talk about major mommy guilty. Though in my defense, the first two I didn't go on because the twins were not in school yet, the next two were due to limited numbers of tickets as they were going to plays. Last year, I have not excuse for that one. Or if I did have an excuse I forgot what it was.

My poor middle child. I am starting to understand why middle children complain about getting lost in the shuffle. Maybe they really do have a point.

Is it bad that I was excited the filed trip didn't happen today? I really didn't want to miss my class. But I really would have gone on the field trip.

This evening we went to a Toros game. I'd call it minor league basketball but that would be the incorrect term. I don't know what they call the NBA feeder teams. I could look it up, but honestly that would take more effort than I am willing to exert at this point in the evening.

It was nice to go to the game,. It was even nicer to get to visit with friends and see everyone's kids, and to see all the kids have fun together.

Charlotte is feeling much better, finally. She still has the occasional coughing fit but overall is back to her normal self. The antibiotics seem to have done the trick. Tonight is he first time I weeks that I have not spent over an hour in her room helping her go to sleep. I'm thrilled, but apparently, not getting to sleep any earlier because of it.

I spoke too soon. She just came to get me. I'm off to get some snuggles from my girl.

Jenn

Weird Weather, Weird Week, Wonderful Words

The weather has been strange this winter. We have had to late start days and tomorrow will make our third full bad weather day. Today was a delayed start day and it turned out all the precipitation, a trace in most places, ended up well south of us. Tomorrow may very we'll end up the same way. No school and no bad weather. Only time will tells us.

It doesn't help that we had teacher work days Monday through Wednesday of this week. I enjoyed our days off but I was happy to have them going back to school for the rest of the week. That means, my children spent exactly five hours in school this week.




Tonight I found this lovely surprise from one of my children, Eliza Claire. It says: "Before you sew I love you. Love, someone in your family. PS. One kid." Isn't it adorable? I think someone likes her daily Valentines. Today I put their hearts in their lunch boxes. I love that they are feeling special and are learning to do nice things for others in return.

Jenn