Makin' It Monday - Vacuuming

 Yes, that is my FOUR-YEAR-OLD vacuuming.... If you meet him, you'll quickly learn that his love language is acts of service. He is a helper. He feels loved when you allow him to help you around the house. The reason I know this is because he is constantly asking to help. He gets hurt when he's not allowed to help. Ever since he was a little more than 12 months old, he has had a plastic vacuum that he would follow me around the house with when I vacuumed. Last week he asked if he could try the "big vacuum".

I said yes.

And he smiled the biggest smile on his face.

And he vacuumed the entire downstairs all by himself with the proudest little "swagger" in his step as he did.

I'm so thankful for my helper - he is such a blessing around our house. He'll make some lucky girl really happy one day. :) Until then, I'll be encouraging his sweet, gentle spirit.

Makin' It Monday

Spring Break is over...

It's so hard to get out of bed....

"Mommy, can't we stay home ONE MORE DAY"....

Just 28 school days left until summer, sweet munchkins....

Makin' It Monday

This past Saturday we had a garage sale....again. You see, we had tried to have a garage sale last weekend, but the weather was NOT cooperative. It had rained and a cold front blew through. It was in a sense the perfect weekend though because my dad and Sherrie watched the kids and I was able to get organized....

But alas, we had not many people, and the people we did have wanted furniture. We had mainly baby girl clothes....and if you say we may need those again, I'll just pray for me...LOL....

So we tried again this past weekend with a little help from a friend. It was a beautiful weekend, and we sold most of our items. The clothes we didn't sell, we are giving to UKFJ to help them get the funds they need to move. It was quite an experience though as it was my first garage sale without my mom. I've learned a few things....

1. Don't bother organizing your clothes into bins according to size, other people don't care and mess up your system.
2. Staple the bags shut that you place matching outfits in so that people can't take them out and NOT put them back
3. Have Jason on watch for the multitude of people who swarm the table at once and all try to pay at one time
4. Start your prices on the high end because everyone wants to talk you down to 50% your asking price! (Even though prices were already low, NO you are NOT buying that really nice jacket for a quarter!!!
5. Have a translator available for all the conversations that are going on about your merchandise and convos around you.
6. Things you never thought would sell, sell and the things you think will sell quickly, you will probably still have at the end of the day...like these jammies....

What are somethings you've learned having a garage sale?

Makin' It Monday

Yesterday was Jayden's baby dedication @ church. I had dressed the kids up cute and had Jayden all ready (he wore Joshie's outfit that he wore when he was dedicated).  I had it all planned out (because us math people are logical planners too)....

We were going to go to first service and "hang out" and then attend second service since that was when the dedication was and neither Jason nor I were ushering or serving in the coffee shop. My dad, his wife, my sister and two neices were also planning on coming down for the special day. Then we were going to go to lunch together and enjoy some family time together.... Of course that's EXACTLY how it went...

Here's how the day ACTUALLY went:

We enjoyed a first half of fellowship during first service. Jason was needed to usher and help serve communion, so he volunteered to help lead the team. He's really good at it and enjoys it, so it's always a blessing for him to be involved. I was needed in the coffee shop for first service, and was going to shut it down for second service until the person running could return. This way I could still make the dedication. Then my sister called.... "Dad locked his keys in the house and mom is at church still. We might be a little bit late..." As I am serving coffee, ringing up books, and introducing myself to some new peeps at church, I text Jason to go get Jayden and the other kids for the dedication. Then I notice a line of people at the front of the church just as Jason is walking into the sanctuary.... I finally have no customers and then I rush over to him and we barely make it for the prayer of the dedication of the babies....

Then my sister calls again... "We can't get in, can you come and unlock it for us?" I drive home to pick up my house keys that has my parents house key on it and drive up to their house to unlock them. I pick up my sister and her two munchkins and we drive down to church to meet everyone else. Dad decides to join us too now that he won't make his meeting on-time (which was a blessing to me). We head out to lunch together....

The kids are cranky and tired from a full day. I want to go to the park with my family, but the kids NEED a nap. We decide to head our separate ways and let the kids get the rest they need before they turn in to little godzillas.... And before I know it - it's Sunday night and I've done NO grading for the school day tomorrow.... Then I remember...

"My thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways. As the heavans are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts..."

The day is not just about me and my plans. I was frustrated that the day did not go according to MY plan, but I was humbled at the blessings that came out of all the chaos. It's true that there's beauty in the chaos. Sometimes you have to step back and look for it, but when you do, you see a much better day than you could have imagined it. Now I see a day that was blessed because I was able to unlock the house for my dad, I was able to spend some quality time with my sister on the ride back from church, and I was able to meet some sweet new people at church while serving them coffee. I also was able to encourage my daddy, have lunch with my neices, sister and parents. On top of it all, God blessed us with the most beautiful day too... Perfect weather and a gorgeous sunrise in the morning.

I am glad that my day didn't go according to my plans. I would have missed out on some blessings...Instead of getting stressed about it, give thanks for it and find the hidden treasure blessings. :)

Makin' It Monday

Jason and I are huge fans of Supernanny and have used a lot of her techniches since we first had Joshua. We recently decided though to actually write down the rules and expectations we have for our kids since they are learning to read. It kinda helps make them have a little more responsibility. Here's what we did:

Buy a couple of pieces of poster board and some poster markers



Make the title "cute" so your kids will be less intimidated by it.
I'm a teacher, so of course I love to be able to use those creative genes!
Be sure to write large so kids will be able to see it when it's hung on the wall

Decided on how to formally write up the house rules with your husband.
Again, make sure you write large enough and clear so you can read it.
Make simple rules for younger children, but explain in detail later.
Don't make more than ten as it becomes too overwhelming - so be kind of general

Bring all the kids together at a time when they can listen and pay attention.
Explain your expectations and the consequenses of the "rule chart"
Explain why you made it
Have fun

It has made such a difference in our house having the expectations of proper behavior and the knowledge of consequences if rules get broken. I think this is a lot of why having four kids; four and under; isn't as big of a deal as people around us may think. I rather enjoy it - and they aren't a burden at all. God calls children "a blessing from the Lord" and that they are His inheritence. That is true and it's a whole lot easier to remember that when they are not making th ehouse a jungle gym, screaming or throwing tantrus...

Remember though that kids are testy, and they do test the boundries from time to time. Stand your ground and be the parent - they fall back into line quite quickly :)

Hope you have a great Monday - how are you "Makin' it"?

Makin' It Monday

Lemon Essential Oil by Young Living

Today we're at home. We usually have school/work today, but today we don't. There's a flu/bronchitis thing going around and over 20% of my students are out sick...plus teachers....and administrators.... So we're at home - enjoying this extra day off to get some things done.

Today's "Makin' It Monday" is all about flexibility. When I found out that we were going to have no school today, the first thing that ran through my mind was my lesson plans. I've spent so much time perfecting them (sometimes I hate being a prefectionist!) that I don't like changing them. Then I thought about my sweet students and their families. It's okay to have our plans change. In fact, I think it's a good thing every once and a while. It reminds me that I'm not in control - God is. And it also reminds me that He will give me strength for each new day.

To keep my own family from getting this nasty little bug that's been going around, I've been using Lemon Essential Oils on everything. One of my student's gave me the little bottle as a Christmas gift, and it's been the BEST gift ever! I read in an article that it is more powerful than bleach at sterilizing - and it's perfectly safe for my little ones...Not to mention my house smells WONDERFUL after cleaning with it!

To clean your floors (and it's safe for hard wood floors), fill your sink or bucket with a gallon of hot water. Add a quarter cup of vinegar and then 10 - 20 drops of Lemon oil. I thought at first that it would still smell like vinegar - but it doesn't! AND it cleans far better than any other cleaning product I've used thus far. Makes my floors shine.  :)

To make an all purpose cleaner (one that actually takes off those little greasy fingerprints on your dishwasher and stove), fill a spray bottle with water and add 5 - 10 drops of lemon oil.

On the tough smell of little boys missing the toilet, take a paper towel and place a few drops on the towel to get it moist. Wipe directly on the area around the toilet. Scent will last about a week - and the "pee pee" smell won't come back!

In your pantry, or wherever you store your trash can, place a towel moistened with lemon oil near the trash. It will keep even the dirtiest, smelliest things fresh.

Have a great Monday, and stay healthy!