Thankfully things went much better today.
Nobody got left out of anything and I heard a bit of conference. I think I'll still have to watch most of it again, but it was an improvement.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Lessons
Today I learned, let me clarify, RE-learned, that General Conference makes me grumpy.
I know. That is the exact opposite sentence most moms with blogs will be writing today. I have no doubt that I can learn a lot from them. But this is my reality. I refuse to act as if everything is perfect all the time. Don't get me wrong. I have a wonderful, wonderful life! It's a wonderful life, but it's not perfect.
As the speakers were talking about the roles of mothers in the home being of utmost importance, which I TOTALLY agree with, I was having a dialog---aka irrational argument---with my whining child over how the entertainment provided to keep boredom at bay was too confusing, mostly because said child opted not to read the instructions. I was pretty huffy about the whole thing.
It's become a pattern for me to be entirely irritated with one or all children during conference for behavior that is very consistent with being a child, but in which I feel that during conference they should be able to restrain so I can actually hear part of a talk. Yes, I know I'm being unrealistic and unfair. Doesn't mean that emotionally I don't head down that crazy path every six months. Despite my pep talks to myself to do the contrary.
Sigh.
Hours later, as I sit down to type this out, debating on whether or not this will actually be published, I realize that this was actually the first year all of the children stayed in the room. They were relatively quiet. I really had many opportunities to listen, but I was so hyper sensitive to every last thing, prepared to stop any shenanigans before they became distractions, that I found unnecessary things to be grumpy about. Fantastic. So the kids are getting it and this wakadoodle insists on acting like it will always be a challenge.
Awesome.
Still, there is tomorrow.
Anybody else notice that being a mom is hard some days and you make a ton of mistakes? Kids, I really, REALLY do love you! If I didn't I would have stopped trying years ago.
After the last session ended at 4pm, I told the kids they have two hours to finish their Saturday chores. We were going to Nana's for girl's night, starting at 6pm, during the Priesthood session, but wouldn't be able to go if the chores weren't completed. They weren't challenging chores. Stuff they do every Saturday and 2 hours was more than enough time to get them done.
2 hours came and went. The three boys got their jobs done. Karaia would work for awhile and then jump on the tramp. She decided to use 30 of her minutes putting 10 dishes in the dishwasher, and then played around with the blow dryer while the bathroom sat waiting to be cleaned. It took me about 20 minutes to make the rounds checking everything off and have the boys make adjustments.
Karaia knew she would be able to go. She is old enough that I felt comfortable leaving her at home. But at 6:30 when I was just walking out the door after checking off all the boy's jobs, she ran up and said, "I'm done! I get to go!"
I had to make a hard decision. We've been having more and more situations with Karaia extending the time it takes to complete something we've asked her to do. The dawdling has begun to interfere with other people getting their jobs done and no amount of rewarding or punishment so far seems to make a difference. I decided she still had to stay home. Even though we left late, we had all been working very hard and finished at the scheduled time. I felt uncomfortable rewarding her slacking just because she happened to finish just before we left.
She was so sad.
I was so sad.
I was a hard mom moment.
Still, I would much rather her learn that I mean what I say right now than for me to have to tell her she can't go to Prom, or something like that, later in her life.
Oh, I hope this one sticks.
I really don't want to have to see that sad face again.
I know. That is the exact opposite sentence most moms with blogs will be writing today. I have no doubt that I can learn a lot from them. But this is my reality. I refuse to act as if everything is perfect all the time. Don't get me wrong. I have a wonderful, wonderful life! It's a wonderful life, but it's not perfect.
As the speakers were talking about the roles of mothers in the home being of utmost importance, which I TOTALLY agree with, I was having a dialog---aka irrational argument---with my whining child over how the entertainment provided to keep boredom at bay was too confusing, mostly because said child opted not to read the instructions. I was pretty huffy about the whole thing.
It's become a pattern for me to be entirely irritated with one or all children during conference for behavior that is very consistent with being a child, but in which I feel that during conference they should be able to restrain so I can actually hear part of a talk. Yes, I know I'm being unrealistic and unfair. Doesn't mean that emotionally I don't head down that crazy path every six months. Despite my pep talks to myself to do the contrary.
Sigh.
Hours later, as I sit down to type this out, debating on whether or not this will actually be published, I realize that this was actually the first year all of the children stayed in the room. They were relatively quiet. I really had many opportunities to listen, but I was so hyper sensitive to every last thing, prepared to stop any shenanigans before they became distractions, that I found unnecessary things to be grumpy about. Fantastic. So the kids are getting it and this wakadoodle insists on acting like it will always be a challenge.
Awesome.
Still, there is tomorrow.
Anybody else notice that being a mom is hard some days and you make a ton of mistakes? Kids, I really, REALLY do love you! If I didn't I would have stopped trying years ago.
After the last session ended at 4pm, I told the kids they have two hours to finish their Saturday chores. We were going to Nana's for girl's night, starting at 6pm, during the Priesthood session, but wouldn't be able to go if the chores weren't completed. They weren't challenging chores. Stuff they do every Saturday and 2 hours was more than enough time to get them done.
2 hours came and went. The three boys got their jobs done. Karaia would work for awhile and then jump on the tramp. She decided to use 30 of her minutes putting 10 dishes in the dishwasher, and then played around with the blow dryer while the bathroom sat waiting to be cleaned. It took me about 20 minutes to make the rounds checking everything off and have the boys make adjustments.
Karaia knew she would be able to go. She is old enough that I felt comfortable leaving her at home. But at 6:30 when I was just walking out the door after checking off all the boy's jobs, she ran up and said, "I'm done! I get to go!"
I had to make a hard decision. We've been having more and more situations with Karaia extending the time it takes to complete something we've asked her to do. The dawdling has begun to interfere with other people getting their jobs done and no amount of rewarding or punishment so far seems to make a difference. I decided she still had to stay home. Even though we left late, we had all been working very hard and finished at the scheduled time. I felt uncomfortable rewarding her slacking just because she happened to finish just before we left.
She was so sad.
I was so sad.
I was a hard mom moment.
Still, I would much rather her learn that I mean what I say right now than for me to have to tell her she can't go to Prom, or something like that, later in her life.
Oh, I hope this one sticks.
I really don't want to have to see that sad face again.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Decisions
I made a lot of decisions today.
I decided once and for all how to do our railing on the deck. Well...more of how to do the posts on the railing. The actual railing part is still elusive.
I ordered the slide for the deck! I know! I barely feel like an adult when I think about it!
Chrissy came over and we talked patterns.
Then, Chrissy helped me peg down some new color combinations for my next line.
It's a nearly impossible task with so many choices available.
What are your favorite color combinations?
I have many, but currently, I like this one, but it didn't have the same feeling when I tried to implement it into my design.
bummer.
I decided once and for all how to do our railing on the deck. Well...more of how to do the posts on the railing. The actual railing part is still elusive.
I ordered the slide for the deck! I know! I barely feel like an adult when I think about it!
Chrissy came over and we talked patterns.
Then, Chrissy helped me peg down some new color combinations for my next line.
It's a nearly impossible task with so many choices available.
What are your favorite color combinations?
I have many, but currently, I like this one, but it didn't have the same feeling when I tried to implement it into my design.
bummer.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wheels n' deals
I had fun introducing my mom to Ikea today. I still can hardly believe she'd never been!
She introduced the kids and I to Sheels, a new store that has a fairis wheel inside. And statues of Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson...I'm not really sure why.
I rode with Karaia and Beckham. They thought it was hilarious when we stopped at the very top and I may have freaked out every so slightly because they were still breathing which made the seat rock a whole millimeter. Heights are not my thing.
Super fun day!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Cutting Cement
On Saturday we rented a cement saw and cut the holes for the posts, marked by the red squares.
 |
| He was pretty proud of himself :) |
We also started cutting into our home to be able to house a ledger board. They didn't get all the way done because the saw stopped working.
 |
| This was definitely a two person job. Kevin held it on his shoulders and Dave guided the blade. |
We better do this for real now 'cause we just cut into our bricks.
Sometimes being a grownup is really weird.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Spring Break
That's what it's been today.
A break!
Nothing planned or scheduled. Minimal chores. Lots of candy eating...for the kids, not me. I was good all day. It was lovely.
I think we might just keep this up for the whole week.
Now for some Easter pictures.
This was on Saturday at the Centerville city egg hunt. All those eggs are picked up in 15 seconds. It's incredible.
We waited until after church to find baskets.
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