A quick jot to say thanks to the moms that gave feedback on schooling and chores for kids. (And the great links I was provided with! I'll be printing off a bunch of chore charts [for me and for the boys] today and see which ones work best for our house)
I also wanted to give a quick update on the pre-half-marathon week. The race is four days away! Man, that went by SO quickly. It seems like just a week or two ago that it was forty days. I haven't been able to run much since I did the nine miles a couple weeks ago. I think I've only gone twice, a four mile and two mile run. Not the best for training to run a thirteen mile course. But, with Elliot and Oakley's birthdays and a couple of their friends' birthdays and other obligations, I either haven't had the time or been to tired to start running at ten at night.
I was planning on running last night, but after I did the payroll for work, I laid down on my bed and fell asleep. So that didn't happen. I set my alarm for 4 a.m. (and 4:30 thinking it would be unlikely that I would heed the earlier one) but went right back to sleep after turning them off. Hopefully I can get off my half-lazy behind tonight and get on my treadmill.
Please pray for decent weather for Saturday, and a safe drive down to Colfax and Lewiston. I don't want to run in super windy or slushy weather....
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Chores.
Yes, I still need to get my dishes done. Don't judge.
I was reading a friend's blog which had a link to another blog, and then I was reading another friend's blog which had another link to a blog... The connective thread among all of these was chores, specifically cleaning. I kept finding more information about how much your children should be helping out at home. Due in part to these blogs, and I promise NOT my laziness, I've come to the realization that I haven't been encouraging my kids to help out enough around the house.
I usually save up a lot of the cleaning to do while the kids nap (it's nearly impossible to get the dishwasher loaded/unloaded while Elliot grabs stuff out of it or tries to climb in!) or after they go to bed for the night. Big surprise! Mommy doesn't get much sleep or quiet time in that way, and is exhausted all the time.
So, starting tomorrow, I'll print off one of the chore charts I found online (well, talk to Phil about it first to see how he feels, and then proceed accordingly) and the boys can start helping out around the house doing things they should probably be doing anyways and possibly earning a teeny bit of allowance while they're at it.
I in no way consider myself a clean freak or maybe not even a neat person, but when I do clean, I like things done in a particular way, so it will also be an exercise for me to let go, and just let things get done.
What are your thoughts on chores and the division of labour?
I was reading a friend's blog which had a link to another blog, and then I was reading another friend's blog which had another link to a blog... The connective thread among all of these was chores, specifically cleaning. I kept finding more information about how much your children should be helping out at home. Due in part to these blogs, and I promise NOT my laziness, I've come to the realization that I haven't been encouraging my kids to help out enough around the house.
I usually save up a lot of the cleaning to do while the kids nap (it's nearly impossible to get the dishwasher loaded/unloaded while Elliot grabs stuff out of it or tries to climb in!) or after they go to bed for the night. Big surprise! Mommy doesn't get much sleep or quiet time in that way, and is exhausted all the time.
So, starting tomorrow, I'll print off one of the chore charts I found online (well, talk to Phil about it first to see how he feels, and then proceed accordingly) and the boys can start helping out around the house doing things they should probably be doing anyways and possibly earning a teeny bit of allowance while they're at it.
I in no way consider myself a clean freak or maybe not even a neat person, but when I do clean, I like things done in a particular way, so it will also be an exercise for me to let go, and just let things get done.
What are your thoughts on chores and the division of labour?
Senior Year Deja-Vu.
Here's the thing: I'm feeling like I'm behind in my parenting. It's very much like Senior year of high school, in my experience. If anyone was like me, that was the time of my life where it seemed all of my friends knew exactly when to have senior pictures done by, send in college applications, fill out financial aid forms, submit essays to get scholarships, and I was always five steps behind. It's not that I didn't care about doing any of those things, I just could never seem to know about things before deadlines and opportunities passed me by.
Fast forward six years or so, (really, it's been almost six years since graduation? That seems crazy!) and I'm in the same boat, but this time, my children are suffering.
There needs to be a class or something, maybe around the time your oldest child is two, that tells you when you need to start looking at pre-schools and regular schools and all that stuff. When to start teaching reading, writing, or even the basics like colours, shapes, numbers and the alphabet.
My children are by no means stupid, I'm not trying to imply that at all. And they do pretty well on the basics despite the fact I probably didn't start as early as I should have teaching them those things. But it only recently occurred to me (Oliver's fourth birthday) that I've done nothing to really plan ahead for their education, only figuring that the summer before they turn five, we'd look into the local schools.
It seems most of the other kids around their age are already in preschool or will be starting next fall, some of them younger than Oliver. I'm feeling like a slacker. For a kid like Oakley, who loves sitting down and colouring and doing puzzles and reading books, I'm not quite as worried about it, but Oliver doesn't sit still very long to do things like that. He likes to build things and put things together. He's very mechanical about everything he does. I'm worried that he won't do very well in a school-type setting, but I also don't think homeschooling would be a good idea for him either.
I would appreciate any suggestions/tips from experienced moms (and dads.) I've tried, not very hard, but a few times, to sit down with Oliver with some pre-school books but he gets so bored and gets distracted....
Also, any tips about when to look at schools and what to look for.
Fast forward six years or so, (really, it's been almost six years since graduation? That seems crazy!) and I'm in the same boat, but this time, my children are suffering.
There needs to be a class or something, maybe around the time your oldest child is two, that tells you when you need to start looking at pre-schools and regular schools and all that stuff. When to start teaching reading, writing, or even the basics like colours, shapes, numbers and the alphabet.
My children are by no means stupid, I'm not trying to imply that at all. And they do pretty well on the basics despite the fact I probably didn't start as early as I should have teaching them those things. But it only recently occurred to me (Oliver's fourth birthday) that I've done nothing to really plan ahead for their education, only figuring that the summer before they turn five, we'd look into the local schools.
It seems most of the other kids around their age are already in preschool or will be starting next fall, some of them younger than Oliver. I'm feeling like a slacker. For a kid like Oakley, who loves sitting down and colouring and doing puzzles and reading books, I'm not quite as worried about it, but Oliver doesn't sit still very long to do things like that. He likes to build things and put things together. He's very mechanical about everything he does. I'm worried that he won't do very well in a school-type setting, but I also don't think homeschooling would be a good idea for him either.
I would appreciate any suggestions/tips from experienced moms (and dads.) I've tried, not very hard, but a few times, to sit down with Oliver with some pre-school books but he gets so bored and gets distracted....
Also, any tips about when to look at schools and what to look for.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Makes Me Smile.
Sometimes children say odd things, mean things, sweet things. I've been lucky enough to avoid most of the "mean" things for now (aside from kids telling each other it's THEIR toy or that I'm playing with a certain train wrong, etc...) but our life has been rife with curious sayings and changing of words (As very young toddlers, Oliver and Oakley called noodles "noo-noos" and waffles "waff-waffs" and so we still call them that today.) Every once in a while though, they will say something that will just melt my heart or make me laugh...
One of my all time favourites is from about a year ago now, I think. I was heading out with the kids to do errands on a particularly windy day, Oliver was wearing a foam-type construction hat (why not?) and opened the door just as a huge gust of wind went by. His hat started flying off, and amazingly he caught it and said, "Come on hat! Don't be scared!" This is my go-to for cheering myself up.
My favourite thing Oakley has probably ever said, was actually on two separate occasions, the first about a month ago now, and the second a couple weeks ago. The first was when I was curling my hair (very rare!) and Oakley came into the bathroom and told me I was "fancy" and "pretty." Phil has been pretty good about teaching the boys that ladies like it when you compliment them, and so most Sundays as I'm getting ready for Meeting, Phil will ask the boys, "Doesn't Mommy look pretty today?" or something to that effect. The second time Oakley decided to pay me a compliment was when I was getting ready a couple of Sundays ago (it's really the only day of the week I get dressed that early and bother with make-up) and Phil asked Oakley as usual "Doesn't Mommy look pretty?" and Oakley said, "No," long pause, "Mommy's beautiful." (*sigh*) What a sweet boy! He will be trouble with the girls later on, I think. Besides the fact that he already knows how to one-up his daddy in the compliments department, he's got the hair that everyone wants to touch... Oakley spells trouble :)
Elliot doesn't really say much yet, he's fully able of communicating, just not with actual words, but one thing that cracked me up, happened just yesterday: Oliver was petting the cat (a rare time that she came out during the day) and she was enjoying it and making meowing sounds and Elliot was meowing back at her. It was very cute (probably had to be there.)
One of my all time favourites is from about a year ago now, I think. I was heading out with the kids to do errands on a particularly windy day, Oliver was wearing a foam-type construction hat (why not?) and opened the door just as a huge gust of wind went by. His hat started flying off, and amazingly he caught it and said, "Come on hat! Don't be scared!" This is my go-to for cheering myself up.
My favourite thing Oakley has probably ever said, was actually on two separate occasions, the first about a month ago now, and the second a couple weeks ago. The first was when I was curling my hair (very rare!) and Oakley came into the bathroom and told me I was "fancy" and "pretty." Phil has been pretty good about teaching the boys that ladies like it when you compliment them, and so most Sundays as I'm getting ready for Meeting, Phil will ask the boys, "Doesn't Mommy look pretty today?" or something to that effect. The second time Oakley decided to pay me a compliment was when I was getting ready a couple of Sundays ago (it's really the only day of the week I get dressed that early and bother with make-up) and Phil asked Oakley as usual "Doesn't Mommy look pretty?" and Oakley said, "No," long pause, "Mommy's beautiful." (*sigh*) What a sweet boy! He will be trouble with the girls later on, I think. Besides the fact that he already knows how to one-up his daddy in the compliments department, he's got the hair that everyone wants to touch... Oakley spells trouble :)
Elliot doesn't really say much yet, he's fully able of communicating, just not with actual words, but one thing that cracked me up, happened just yesterday: Oliver was petting the cat (a rare time that she came out during the day) and she was enjoying it and making meowing sounds and Elliot was meowing back at her. It was very cute (probably had to be there.)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Run, run, run...
Today the countdown was at twenty days until my half-marathon.
Training has not been going well, or really, at all. I've still been going to Winter Warriors, but only averaging three to four miles. Still a long way from where I started last year, when five miles seemed like the longest distance EVER, but not good enough to get me ready for thirteen miles.
When we got home from Meeting today, Phil knew I needed to run, so I grabbed a granola bar and changed. I drove out to the Centennial Trail, since it has mile markers and that way I can track my mileage a little more accurately.
On a side note, before I continue with the real story, there's this watch I've really been wanting for a while, and I told myself that if I ran over eight miles, I'd let myself get it. (Thanks to the Thanks for Sharing dollars I'd earned from Macy's.)
So, the first two miles, go okay. A little slow feeling, until I check my time and see I've been running about nine-minute miles, which isn't too bad for me. I did forget my water bottle at home though, and had forgotten to take a piece of gum with me to help keep hydrated, so I was feeling a little dry. The first couple of miles always seem the hardest to me for whatever reason. Once I hit three, I feel like I can run just about anywhere.
About where the three mile marker would be, the trail splits off and to keep going on the Centennial Trail, you have to turn, but there seemed to be a lot of bike traffic that way (and more hills, honestly) so I kept going straight. Little did I know that the trail this way turns into Liberty Lake Trails, which are just as nice, all paved, but do not have mile markers. (Hence, the estimation on my distance based on driving as close to the trail route as possible afterwards.)
I kept waiting and waiting for a mile marker, thinking surely I should've passed one by now! But they never came. I was almost in Liberty Lake at this point, and remembered that a bit onward, there's an overpass for the trail that connects it to the other one on the other side of the freeway and it runs along the river. I thought, I must be close, I'll just run to that, and cross and that'll be my way of turning back around to my car. It was a lot farther than it seems while driving on the freeway, and the trail was starting to turn sharply towards the hills and I realized (after calling Phil) that it would be many more miles before I reached that overpass not counting all the miles I still had to run back. So, I just turned around there, since it seemed a good a spot as any, and as best as I can figure, that was pretty close to the four and a half mile mark for me. (A tip: I do not suggest immediately driving your running route. What took an hour and a half for me to run, took about five minutes to drive...)
Before today, I think the farthest I had run was six and a half miles, so I was pretty proud that today I hardly walked at all, kept a steady pace, and still felt pretty good at the end of my run. I walked about a (broken) half mile, but I still count it into my distance, since I needed that to get back to my car. My pre-half-marathon goal was to be able to run about ten miles "comfortably" so I'm really close! I figure if I can run ten, the last three of the race shouldn't be too hard to finish. I'll let you know how that works out ;)
As for my watch, I went to get it after my run, and neither Macy's in my area had it. Big bummer! I did get Phil some cologne he's been wanting for Valentine's day instead, and will start re-saving up for my watch....
Training has not been going well, or really, at all. I've still been going to Winter Warriors, but only averaging three to four miles. Still a long way from where I started last year, when five miles seemed like the longest distance EVER, but not good enough to get me ready for thirteen miles.
When we got home from Meeting today, Phil knew I needed to run, so I grabbed a granola bar and changed. I drove out to the Centennial Trail, since it has mile markers and that way I can track my mileage a little more accurately.
On a side note, before I continue with the real story, there's this watch I've really been wanting for a while, and I told myself that if I ran over eight miles, I'd let myself get it. (Thanks to the Thanks for Sharing dollars I'd earned from Macy's.)
So, the first two miles, go okay. A little slow feeling, until I check my time and see I've been running about nine-minute miles, which isn't too bad for me. I did forget my water bottle at home though, and had forgotten to take a piece of gum with me to help keep hydrated, so I was feeling a little dry. The first couple of miles always seem the hardest to me for whatever reason. Once I hit three, I feel like I can run just about anywhere.
About where the three mile marker would be, the trail splits off and to keep going on the Centennial Trail, you have to turn, but there seemed to be a lot of bike traffic that way (and more hills, honestly) so I kept going straight. Little did I know that the trail this way turns into Liberty Lake Trails, which are just as nice, all paved, but do not have mile markers. (Hence, the estimation on my distance based on driving as close to the trail route as possible afterwards.)
I kept waiting and waiting for a mile marker, thinking surely I should've passed one by now! But they never came. I was almost in Liberty Lake at this point, and remembered that a bit onward, there's an overpass for the trail that connects it to the other one on the other side of the freeway and it runs along the river. I thought, I must be close, I'll just run to that, and cross and that'll be my way of turning back around to my car. It was a lot farther than it seems while driving on the freeway, and the trail was starting to turn sharply towards the hills and I realized (after calling Phil) that it would be many more miles before I reached that overpass not counting all the miles I still had to run back. So, I just turned around there, since it seemed a good a spot as any, and as best as I can figure, that was pretty close to the four and a half mile mark for me. (A tip: I do not suggest immediately driving your running route. What took an hour and a half for me to run, took about five minutes to drive...)
Before today, I think the farthest I had run was six and a half miles, so I was pretty proud that today I hardly walked at all, kept a steady pace, and still felt pretty good at the end of my run. I walked about a (broken) half mile, but I still count it into my distance, since I needed that to get back to my car. My pre-half-marathon goal was to be able to run about ten miles "comfortably" so I'm really close! I figure if I can run ten, the last three of the race shouldn't be too hard to finish. I'll let you know how that works out ;)
As for my watch, I went to get it after my run, and neither Macy's in my area had it. Big bummer! I did get Phil some cologne he's been wanting for Valentine's day instead, and will start re-saving up for my watch....
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Three Things: Shoe Websites.
So, it's probably not a shocker to you that I love to shop for shoes. Unless you're a stranger that stumbled upon my blog, and then it might be, I suppose. If you care nothing about shoes, I suggest you just skip this one...
People often ask me where I buy my shoes, since I seem to have a never-ending supply, and I almost always recommend the following three:
1. Heels.com
I can rarely afford all the shoes I want here, but they have an amazing selection! It's a great website, it the way it's displayed, ease of use, and how you can narrow down what you're looking for. As the name implies, they have pretty much only heels (also some boots, flats, and sandals, but you won't find, say, athletic shoes...) A bonus though: (if I'm not mistaken) 2nd day free shipping.
2. Zappos.com
I've only recently made my first purchase from them, but again, a GREAT selection. Unlike Heels.com, they have a wider variety of types of shoes, and the pair I just bought there was a pair of Nike light weight racing shoes and the prices are a little more competitive. They have free shipping both ways (always!) and you can return them up to 365 days after you've bought them. Amazing! I know I'll be using this website a lot more in times to come.
3. DSW.com
Most of their shoes are actually in my price range, which is nice, and you can accumulate points towards discounts, too. Their selection isn't as big as the first two, but they have everything from women's formal to men's casual. The best deal I ever got was from this website, when last year on St.Patrick's day, I got to have 50% taken off everything I bought that day (6 pairs of shoes later....) which was just in time for my birthday :)
4. (a bonus...) Macys.com
I love Macy's in general. Being a card holder I get a lot of discounts and coupons, so I can usually get what I want for a minimum of 25% off, which is always enjoyable. Their site is great for reviews, and you can always return things to the store if it doesn't work out for whatever reason.
Now, the place I buy most of my shoes is split pretty evenly between Macy's and Nordstrom Rack, but unfortunately, NR doesn't have a website, but you can get things there for SO CHEAP! Or, at least, a lot cheaper than they were originally.
Anyways, in case you cared, these are my favourite places to shop, even it's only window-shopping.
People often ask me where I buy my shoes, since I seem to have a never-ending supply, and I almost always recommend the following three:
1. Heels.com
I can rarely afford all the shoes I want here, but they have an amazing selection! It's a great website, it the way it's displayed, ease of use, and how you can narrow down what you're looking for. As the name implies, they have pretty much only heels (also some boots, flats, and sandals, but you won't find, say, athletic shoes...) A bonus though: (if I'm not mistaken) 2nd day free shipping.
2. Zappos.com
I've only recently made my first purchase from them, but again, a GREAT selection. Unlike Heels.com, they have a wider variety of types of shoes, and the pair I just bought there was a pair of Nike light weight racing shoes and the prices are a little more competitive. They have free shipping both ways (always!) and you can return them up to 365 days after you've bought them. Amazing! I know I'll be using this website a lot more in times to come.
3. DSW.com
Most of their shoes are actually in my price range, which is nice, and you can accumulate points towards discounts, too. Their selection isn't as big as the first two, but they have everything from women's formal to men's casual. The best deal I ever got was from this website, when last year on St.Patrick's day, I got to have 50% taken off everything I bought that day (6 pairs of shoes later....) which was just in time for my birthday :)
4. (a bonus...) Macys.com
I love Macy's in general. Being a card holder I get a lot of discounts and coupons, so I can usually get what I want for a minimum of 25% off, which is always enjoyable. Their site is great for reviews, and you can always return things to the store if it doesn't work out for whatever reason.
Now, the place I buy most of my shoes is split pretty evenly between Macy's and Nordstrom Rack, but unfortunately, NR doesn't have a website, but you can get things there for SO CHEAP! Or, at least, a lot cheaper than they were originally.
Anyways, in case you cared, these are my favourite places to shop, even it's only window-shopping.
Monday, January 17, 2011
*Something witty, upbeat, and humorous*
I couldn't think of a good title for this update. That's pretty much all this is: an update.
Re-started Oakley on his potty training this morning. We learned the reason he didn't want to do it before is because he thinks the undies belong to Oliver and the toilet belongs to Oliver. So I went out and found him some teeny boxers (the cutest thing ever, by the way) and brought the little potty back upstairs out of storage. It's been going okay for far this morning...Of course, it's only 9:24 right now, but I'm calling it a success that he even was happy to sit on the potty and read books for fifteen minutes this morning.
He had an accident already, but it was literally three minutes before I planned to put him back in the bathroom to try again, so...
The downside of all this? Elliot is being so clingy and fussy this morning! I don't know what his deal is. I put him back in his bed hoping he would go back to sleep for a bit, and from the sounds of it, he finally gave into his exhaustion. He is very curious about what Oakley is doing in the bathroom.
Oliver was too, and decided that since we were already in there, it would be a good time for him to go as well. I almost got peed on and some books needed wiped down. Gross. The first few weeks of potty training are not my favourite in the world.
Just took a quick break to clean up a poop mess. *Sigh*
I for sure need to go buy Oakley more boxers. I only got one pack of three not knowing if he'd go for them or not... Two are already dirty, and there's bit of time before the first pair is done washing and can be put in the dryer. I guess it's kind of a good thing we caught up a bit on laundry this weekend.
I'm feeling a little the opposite of the "title" of this entry.
For other news, I started working on my dollhouse this weekend. Phil had gotten me this really beautiful dollhouse kit in October (I asked for it) but I hadn't really had the time to do anything with it with all the holidays and whatnot. So Friday night I (with Phil, and then unexpectedly his dad) stained all the shingles, which is a lot more work than one might think, and yesterday afternoon/evening, I painted the pieces for the porch/railing and put those together. Also A LOT more work than it seems. I knew this wouldn't be an easy project and it wouldn't be a fast project, both things I appreciate about it, but I didn't think it was going to be this time consuming. I will for sure be needing Phil's help to put the actual walls and roof together since when I was reading the instructions last night, I had no idea what they were talking about. The writer of the manual assumes you do this for a living and uses all the builder lingo and, well, some of the terms I think I know or could figure out, but I think it will be fun to work on it with Phil and thereby increase the possibility of it actually looking like a house when we're done.
I'll be posting pictures of the finished product at some point, and maybe some along the way if I remember...
I worked some more on my quilt leading up to Christmas, and was taking pictures along the steps, so at some other point, I'll also be posting a blog to have a very rough demonstration of how to do it if anyone is interested.
Happy Monday!
Re-started Oakley on his potty training this morning. We learned the reason he didn't want to do it before is because he thinks the undies belong to Oliver and the toilet belongs to Oliver. So I went out and found him some teeny boxers (the cutest thing ever, by the way) and brought the little potty back upstairs out of storage. It's been going okay for far this morning...Of course, it's only 9:24 right now, but I'm calling it a success that he even was happy to sit on the potty and read books for fifteen minutes this morning.
He had an accident already, but it was literally three minutes before I planned to put him back in the bathroom to try again, so...
The downside of all this? Elliot is being so clingy and fussy this morning! I don't know what his deal is. I put him back in his bed hoping he would go back to sleep for a bit, and from the sounds of it, he finally gave into his exhaustion. He is very curious about what Oakley is doing in the bathroom.
Oliver was too, and decided that since we were already in there, it would be a good time for him to go as well. I almost got peed on and some books needed wiped down. Gross. The first few weeks of potty training are not my favourite in the world.
Just took a quick break to clean up a poop mess. *Sigh*
I for sure need to go buy Oakley more boxers. I only got one pack of three not knowing if he'd go for them or not... Two are already dirty, and there's bit of time before the first pair is done washing and can be put in the dryer. I guess it's kind of a good thing we caught up a bit on laundry this weekend.
I'm feeling a little the opposite of the "title" of this entry.
For other news, I started working on my dollhouse this weekend. Phil had gotten me this really beautiful dollhouse kit in October (I asked for it) but I hadn't really had the time to do anything with it with all the holidays and whatnot. So Friday night I (with Phil, and then unexpectedly his dad) stained all the shingles, which is a lot more work than one might think, and yesterday afternoon/evening, I painted the pieces for the porch/railing and put those together. Also A LOT more work than it seems. I knew this wouldn't be an easy project and it wouldn't be a fast project, both things I appreciate about it, but I didn't think it was going to be this time consuming. I will for sure be needing Phil's help to put the actual walls and roof together since when I was reading the instructions last night, I had no idea what they were talking about. The writer of the manual assumes you do this for a living and uses all the builder lingo and, well, some of the terms I think I know or could figure out, but I think it will be fun to work on it with Phil and thereby increase the possibility of it actually looking like a house when we're done.
I'll be posting pictures of the finished product at some point, and maybe some along the way if I remember...
I worked some more on my quilt leading up to Christmas, and was taking pictures along the steps, so at some other point, I'll also be posting a blog to have a very rough demonstration of how to do it if anyone is interested.
Happy Monday!
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