day #2

Today was much better. Ana only asked to watch a show a few times in the morning, and I even got a nap without her watching TV. There was only a little milk mess in the kitchen when I woke up. (It was totally worth it.)

I'm really trying to focus on replacing screen time with the most important things.

At women's conference Sister Julie Beck talked about priorities. She said there are three categories of things we do each day: the essential things, the necessary things and nice-to-do things.

Essential Things: things that help to bring personal revelation, namely, prayer and scriptures study. (Click HERE for more information on revelation.)

Necessary Things: housework, caring for children, work, meals, church responsibilities, etc. She said if we do the essential things first, necessary things are easier, because we see it has service and as an act of love.

Nice-to-do Things: hobbies, blogging, etc. One thing Sis Beck said is that as we do essential things, then necessary things we will be amazed at how much time we have for the nice to do things.

So, I'm trying to really focus on doing first things first. And its amazing how true I have found this to be over the last couple days. I'm still able to read, and blog, and other things that I just like doing.

So, we're going to keep at it.

day #1

Subtitle: I may have picked the wrong week to start this

Ana was crabby today. Surprisingly, she didn't ask me to all day to watch TV. She just followed me around whining. Or asking to eat a marshmallow. Or saying she was bored. Or running outside in her panties.

I am exhausted.

The day started fine, but I didn't feel very well, and by 4 o'clock, I was ready to lay down for a nap. Or just go to bed for the night.

*Question*
Is it really beneficial going without TV if I am crabby with my kids in its place?

You don't have to answer that.

I did get a lot accomplished. I am amazed at how often I sit at the computer "just for a minute" throughout the day. All day I thought, "I'll just go look this up really quick..." and then stopped myself.

I think it will be good for us. Ana really does not play by herself. Ever. Ever. So, that is my problem. How do I teach her to entertain herself for 10 minutes while I shower? (I didn't shower today.)

Anyway, I am sticking this out. I am determined. Dave took the kids tonight while I did Relief Society visits and now I'm home and he isn't. The quiet is wonderful.

*A question my sister asked when I told her this idea*
Are you punishing yourself?

I am beginning to wonder.

But I am optimistic that over the next few days it will improve. Tomorrow we will go to the park. That will be good for us, I think.

unplugged

We got home late last night from Boise. It was a lot of fun. I was going to upload a bunch of pictures from it, but I'm too tired. I woke up when I moved from the living room couch to my bed, and now I am awake for a few minutes.

Tonight was our ward book club at my house, so instead of unpacking, I spent the day re-reading the book and letting Ana watch TV. She watched a lot of TV.

Usually she doesn't watch quite as much TV as she did today, but she usually watches enough that I feel guilty about it. And when she's not watching, she's sneaking into my room to try to watch or asking me to watch a show, or whatever.

So, tomorrow, I'm unplugging the TV. And turning off the computer.
(At least while the kids are awake. I also have a lesson to prepare for Sunday, and a few other computer friendly tasks - but not while my kids are around.)

So instead of watching Super Why, we'll be doing a nice morning routine. Instead of watching Martha Speaks we'll be playing outside (or inside, if the weather is rainy.)

Instead of facebook, I'll be doing the laundry and the dishes. Instead of looking at random blogs of people I have never met, I'll be making bread or cookies or sorting through papers or a myriad of other things that have been on my to do list that I never get around to doing.

1 week. I'm sure the first few days are going to be a challenge. And who knows what will happen over the weekend when Dave is at home. But I'm committing to this. While we were at my sister's house Ana did not watch one TV show. Granted, she had cousins to play with, but surely there is something that will spark her interest.

Any ideas on activities and tips to get kids to help out with tasks are greatly welcome, but of course, I may not get to reading them. I'm actually looking forward to it.

one year older and wiser too

Its my birthday today.

I've spent the weekend in Boise with my sister. Its always fun to be here. We (along with another sister) went to a movie and out to lunch.

My kids have loved playing in her backyard, even though the weather has been raining.

Dave's been working on the canoe and its looking really good.

I got new running shoes. Yay!

I love long weekends.

optimism

Last week we took Ana in to a surgery center in Twin Falls to get all her dental work done. They put her under general anesthesia and did it all at once: several crowns and fillings. By that afternoon she was feeling mostly normal and the next day she was fine. It all went really well.

She has 4 silver crowns. We call these her new teeth.

Today was her follow up appointment. On the way there she said, "Hey! My new teeth match my trophy!" (The trophy she got from dance.)

Now that is being optimisitic.

moment forgotten

I was just reading back over some posts of mine from a few years back.

And I came across THIS one.

Funny, I don't remember that day at all.

What else am I forgetting? Am I forgetting the good stuff too?

I'm glad I am writing this stuff down.

slow day

Today is one of those days when I don't have anything to do.

Anything except clean house, that is. So naturally, I'm not doing anything. Well, I have done some laundry, but that's because we don't have any clean clothes.

We're just having a slow day.

You know, one of those days when you are still in pjs at 1:30. (That's partly because we don't have any clean clothes.) And we go for bikerides in the afternoon. (If the wind stops blowing, anyway.)

Jack is wearing his "red basketball shorts" by request for the 3rd day in a row. And no shirt because when a little bit of milk dripped on his shirt at lunch he said, "take-a my shirt off... because milk is wet."

And his sunglasses, because he's cool like that.

And he's ready for a nap.

busy-busy

Somehow my calendar went from almost empty to very full for the first two weeks of May. (And though I say very full, I'm not even as close to being as busy as any of my sisters with 3, 4, 5 or 6 children to run to and from school, play practices, lessons, sports, etc. But still, its been busy for me.) We've had doctor appointments (Ana's dental work was done today), Relief Society meetings, and dance recitals that have kept me running and my house not-as-orderly-as-I-would-like. (Or course there is also the Lord of the Rings trilogy and facebook's family feud that have interfered with that as well, but whatever.)

But more than the comings and goings, I want to remember:

*How much Ana likes the story of Jesus in the home of Mary and Martha and has asked me to tell it to her the last few nights.

*How great Jack did his first night and his first nap in a big boy bed.

(picture unrelated, but very cute.)

*How Ana said "Mom, I don't want you to be a grandma; I want you to stay my mommy forever!" and gave me a big tight hug.

*How excited Ana was to get her attendance trophy at dance.

*The movie night I had with the kids that started like this:

and ended with Jack standing on the couch throwing pillows at me and Ana.

*How we've been riding our bikes to the park when the weather is nice and that Ana is so good/fast at riding her bike!


Of course, I would rather not remember that Jack has begun throwing temper tantrums during dinner saying, "I don't really want it!" as he pushes his food away or that Ana has started peeing the bed almost nightly after about 6 weeks of staying dry.

But now its time to snuggle in bed with my tired little girl and then off to finish Lord of the Rings!

post mother's day thoughts

Last night Dave asked me that out of all of accomplishments and achievements in my life, what brought me the most satisfaction.

That was easy. There is nothing like being a mother.

Most days I do not feel the endless joy and satisfaction as I clean up the toys for the 15th time, or do the dishes, again, or fold the laundry just to have the kids run in and topple my pile over. Most days when I go to bed, I'm just worn out.

But there are moments when a wave of happiness wash over me and I think,"motherhood rocks."

*Like when I watch Jack doing the same thing Ana did two years ago.

(Ana. May 5, 2008)

(Jack. May 3, 2010)

*Watching Ana sing "Mother, Tell Me the Story" in Sacrament meeting. Just like I did in primary.

*Seeing this face in the backseat of the car:

*Or anywhere for that matter.


*And moments like this:

(Ana helping my mom peel potatoes yesterday)

*Taking Ana for a bike ride on her new big girl bike - just Ana and mommy.

(We ended up having Dave come pick us up because half way through the wind picked up and Ana kept saying "whew! i'm getting tired mommy.")

*And of course, watching a sleeping child.

*And a million other things like Jack wanting kisses for every hurt - including hurt feelings.

After a week full of happy moments, I didn't want a day off for mother's day. I wanted a day "on." I love this little family I have.

back to work

Women's conference was wonderful. My sisters-in-law pretty much rock. I had some wonderful thoughts and insights in to how to make my home a little happier.

For now, I need to make my home a little cleaner.


In other news:

It is my 5 year anniversary today. 5 years! Can you believe it? That seems like such a landmark. Then again, I think "only 5 years?"

In honor of that:

(Christmas 2004, we just started dating.)