I overheard this conversation between Kaden (8) and Kyle (6):
Kaden: I wish I could go to a spa right now.
Kyle: Why?
Kaden: Because they're so relaxing. They put pickles on your eyes. I bet that stings though.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Rain, Rain Go Away
I just read my entry from last July--Summertime Blues. And I felt awful that this also happened to be a blue day too. Is July just like that? I must need to change my perspective. But it is raining outside as I type. I guess it's raining inside too.
I feel overwhelmed. We moved into a new home a few weeks ago. It is so fun to have a bigger home. We have a bigger yard. We have actual closets. We have a two car garage. But truly, we felt guided to move, and to move to Lindon. And here we are. I know we were guided here. Our neighbors are wonderful. The house needs so much updating, but it is wonderful too.
But the kids and I are at a major stalemate. Maybe it's the move? Maybe it's me? Maybe it's both? I had to pull over in the middle of the street today to stop them from fighting. I tried to calmly explain that we don't act that way in the car because it distracts mom from driving and we don't want to get in an accident. I had a couple of kiddos switch spots. Then we continued on to the restaurant for lunch with grandma, which was still rowdy and exhausting. I feel like I can't take them anywhere lately, but I do it anyway because I so desperately want to get out. AHHHH!
Rooms are messy. Laundry doesn't get put away. Toilet paper all over bathroom floors. Toothpaste and spit all over sinks. Legos everywhere. When I remind people of how we treat our house, it doesn't seem to register. I can threaten. I can take away privileges, but no one seems to care. Except me. I get all wound up. Ready to blow. Beyond ready.
Luckily my husband must have known this and he emailed me a link to a great idea.
http://realityfhe.blogspot.com/2013/07/two-simple-words-my-children-must-learn.html
I like this lady. I think we are kindred spirits. I will have to let her know that her post helped me feel like I was not alone in the war after all. I think we will be practicing those special words at my house tomorrow.
I also think I need to lighten up, get a better routine set in this new home, and seek God's help more.
I adore my family. I love my kids so much. And hopefully tomorrow I will show that better than I did today!
I feel overwhelmed. We moved into a new home a few weeks ago. It is so fun to have a bigger home. We have a bigger yard. We have actual closets. We have a two car garage. But truly, we felt guided to move, and to move to Lindon. And here we are. I know we were guided here. Our neighbors are wonderful. The house needs so much updating, but it is wonderful too.
But the kids and I are at a major stalemate. Maybe it's the move? Maybe it's me? Maybe it's both? I had to pull over in the middle of the street today to stop them from fighting. I tried to calmly explain that we don't act that way in the car because it distracts mom from driving and we don't want to get in an accident. I had a couple of kiddos switch spots. Then we continued on to the restaurant for lunch with grandma, which was still rowdy and exhausting. I feel like I can't take them anywhere lately, but I do it anyway because I so desperately want to get out. AHHHH!
Rooms are messy. Laundry doesn't get put away. Toilet paper all over bathroom floors. Toothpaste and spit all over sinks. Legos everywhere. When I remind people of how we treat our house, it doesn't seem to register. I can threaten. I can take away privileges, but no one seems to care. Except me. I get all wound up. Ready to blow. Beyond ready.
Luckily my husband must have known this and he emailed me a link to a great idea.
http://realityfhe.blogspot.com/2013/07/two-simple-words-my-children-must-learn.html
I like this lady. I think we are kindred spirits. I will have to let her know that her post helped me feel like I was not alone in the war after all. I think we will be practicing those special words at my house tomorrow.
I also think I need to lighten up, get a better routine set in this new home, and seek God's help more.
I adore my family. I love my kids so much. And hopefully tomorrow I will show that better than I did today!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Summer Squash with Rice
I love the squash and zucchini coming from the garden. Sauteed with a drizzle of olive oil is my favorite, but this was a fun new way to eat it.
Summer Squash with Rice
2-3 cups cooked rice
2 medium squash, quartered then sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
olive oil
salt
fresh ground pepper
parsley
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup shredded cheese
Saute squash and onion in olive oil until beginning to brown. I love it carmelized!
Add cooked rice, sour cream, and cheese. Add parsley and salt and pepper to taste.
We ate it alongside a Caprese salad. Great tastes of the season!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Summertime Blues
Why am I feeling the summertime blues?
June was packed with a stomach bug, fevers, croup, strep, paying $600 for a car to pass safety inspection, and buying a $500 washer (which broke during the stomach bug).
July must be better. It must. There is no where to go but up. Unfortunately we learned yesterday that our furnace and central air system was not the best choice for our home and needs a variable speed motor to help our house cool properly and make it so our pipes don't ice up again. $1000. Before this emergency we were going to be done paying off student loans in September. Now I'm not so sure.
But on the up side, we have $1000 in cash to hand over for the fix. And it will be fixed tomorrow morning. Then we need to hurry and save that tiny emergency fund back up for the next emergency. But maybe it could wait a couple of months. Please.
In all honesty, we have done some fun things this summer.
June was packed with a stomach bug, fevers, croup, strep, paying $600 for a car to pass safety inspection, and buying a $500 washer (which broke during the stomach bug).
July must be better. It must. There is no where to go but up. Unfortunately we learned yesterday that our furnace and central air system was not the best choice for our home and needs a variable speed motor to help our house cool properly and make it so our pipes don't ice up again. $1000. Before this emergency we were going to be done paying off student loans in September. Now I'm not so sure.
But on the up side, we have $1000 in cash to hand over for the fix. And it will be fixed tomorrow morning. Then we need to hurry and save that tiny emergency fund back up for the next emergency. But maybe it could wait a couple of months. Please.
In all honesty, we have done some fun things this summer.
- Family reunion
- Family camp-out (at Grandma's house--so the cooking and facilities were exceptional!)
- Million Dollar Quartet Broadway Show (thanks Dad and Mom)
- Picnics, Sevens Peak outings, Friends
- And we haven't missed Family Home Evening in a good while!
- A great husband and 4 cute kiddies
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Ramblings on Money
Spencer and I started our Total Money Makeover last year. Sometimes it feels like it's taking forever, but we are getting close! When I get impatient about it, Spencer has me review what we've accomplished and it always makes me feel better. We really are going to make it. So here we go. Here is my review since I'm in need of a pick-me-up.
January 2011--We had a goal to do something better with our money that year. (Before then it seemed that we would save up, then have an emergency and spend every penny--this was a vicious cycle.) We wanted to be more prepared for the future--for future emergencies and for retirement, college for the kids, mission funds, and fun stuff too.
February 2011--We read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover (thanks to Dad and Mom). We got super pumped up about budgeting and preparing for the future. The whole point is to get out of debt, save for a rainy day, then save like crazy for retirement. "Live like no one else so later you can live like no one else." The reason we got so hooked on that book is because it's principles are the same that are taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the same principles that our grandparents lived by. AVOID DEBT(or get out of it), SAVE FOR A RAINY DAY, BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.
March 2011--We cancelled our credit cards. (Since we don't want any debt, why would we want a credit card to tempt the fates?) We started living a strict budget. We prepared a spreadsheet that helped us plan all of our monthly bills along with other things that needed to be saved up for like car repairs, Christmas, school supplies, soccer lessons, etc. Once a month I would go to the bank and get out CASH for our monthly expenses and the other things that we'd save for. (I always feel like the bank tellers cringe when I walk in with my list of how I want the cash divied up). I put it in a small file with an envelope for each category. When the cash for groceries is gone, no more trips to the grocery store. No borrowing money from the birthday fund or oil change fund. Then every extra dollar gets put against debt. In March our debt consisted of a hospital bill, car loan, and student loans.
Progress--It is 14 months later and we have paid off the hospital bill, car loan, and are getting rid of student loans in September (cross your fingers)!
Next--After our student loans are paid off, we will save up a big EMERGENCY FUND that will cover at least 6 months of basic expenses. That will feel so good!
Proof--I keep a list of the "emergencies" we have paid for during this money makeover period--we were able to pay for these things with CASH and still work on getting out of debt. This is not to boast, but just to show that it is possible. It makes me feel good for what we've accomplished.
January 2011--We had a goal to do something better with our money that year. (Before then it seemed that we would save up, then have an emergency and spend every penny--this was a vicious cycle.) We wanted to be more prepared for the future--for future emergencies and for retirement, college for the kids, mission funds, and fun stuff too.
February 2011--We read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover (thanks to Dad and Mom). We got super pumped up about budgeting and preparing for the future. The whole point is to get out of debt, save for a rainy day, then save like crazy for retirement. "Live like no one else so later you can live like no one else." The reason we got so hooked on that book is because it's principles are the same that are taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the same principles that our grandparents lived by. AVOID DEBT(or get out of it), SAVE FOR A RAINY DAY, BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.
March 2011--We cancelled our credit cards. (Since we don't want any debt, why would we want a credit card to tempt the fates?) We started living a strict budget. We prepared a spreadsheet that helped us plan all of our monthly bills along with other things that needed to be saved up for like car repairs, Christmas, school supplies, soccer lessons, etc. Once a month I would go to the bank and get out CASH for our monthly expenses and the other things that we'd save for. (I always feel like the bank tellers cringe when I walk in with my list of how I want the cash divied up). I put it in a small file with an envelope for each category. When the cash for groceries is gone, no more trips to the grocery store. No borrowing money from the birthday fund or oil change fund. Then every extra dollar gets put against debt. In March our debt consisted of a hospital bill, car loan, and student loans.
Progress--It is 14 months later and we have paid off the hospital bill, car loan, and are getting rid of student loans in September (cross your fingers)!
Next--After our student loans are paid off, we will save up a big EMERGENCY FUND that will cover at least 6 months of basic expenses. That will feel so good!
Proof--I keep a list of the "emergencies" we have paid for during this money makeover period--we were able to pay for these things with CASH and still work on getting out of debt. This is not to boast, but just to show that it is possible. It makes me feel good for what we've accomplished.
- New wheels and tires for the Odyssey $1600
- Tubes for Kate's ears $600
- Garage door repair $185
- New clothes dryer $360
- New dishwasher $350
- Bed and mattress for kids' room $250
- New mattress for Spencer and I $1300
- Laptop repair $180
- Lawn mower $380
- New clothes washer $550
- Having mad money/blow money--this keeps us sane. We can live tight on everything else, but Spencer and I each get a small amount of money that is no questions asked. Spencer saves his up, but I usually spend it on a good deal at the grocery store or on redoing something at home. It is so fun to have some money budgeted for us to use however we want!
- I hope we are teaching our kids good things about money! Spencer drills them:
- (Spencer) Are you ever going to get a credit card?
- (kids) NO!
- (Spencer) Are you ever going to get a loan for a car?
- (kids) NO!
- (Spencer) Do we borrow money?
- (kids) NO!
- Security! We are preparing for the future. We want to be able to retire with dignity, travel, and be able to do good things for other people. How good would it feel to be able to be ready to help out our parents or loved ones or friends.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Kameron Funnies 2010-2012
"Scooby-Doo, where are you?" (age 2)
"A, B, C, D, E, F, G, 9." (age 2)
"I'm 2 old." (age 2)
Mom: "Did you eat all the bacon?" (age 30)
Kameron: "No, I ate the bacons." (age 2)
"Don't worry Mom, I don't spill things." (age 2)
"Cinnamon rolls make me happy." (age 2)
"Please help me with my math." (age 2)
"If I see a bad guy, I'll rip up his shoes and throw them in the trash can." (age 2)
"Scooby-Doo is strong and my daddy is strong." (age 3)
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