Enjoying My Kids

Naomi:

She has been a joy these past few months.  Of course there have been moments.  But for the main part.. she is turning into a good friend, helper and mini-me. :)  Such as...

Today she had a well child check.  She was due for 1 booster shot.  She has known this for about a week.  She cried when she first found out.  She has worried about it every day.  Very nearly cursed me (jk) for making the appointment last week.  Finally it came time to go.  She brought her blankie, my 5'3" well developed 11year old.  Her tummy was in knots.  She teared up in the waiting room.  (on a side note, I'm glad I remembered to call my hubby to meet me and watch the other three kids!!!)  We were called back.  She was weighed, her vision was screened and then the traumatic experiences began.

The nurse did the usual questioning.. Naomi answered most of the questions.  We declined all "extra" vaccines.  That still left her with two boosters to be had, one more than she had "prepared" for.  She began to freak.  The nurse explained kids her age do that and then feel silly afterward because it isn't as bad as they think it's going to be.  She said that she would use a topical numbing spray first.. and that Naomi should barely even feel it.  Ya, that wasn't believed.  The nurse went to get the stuff.  Naomi began her "Mommy, mommy, mommy"s... She returned.  Naomi started crying.  I was instructed where to stand, where to place my hands, one in front of Naomi's face so she didn't see.  Oh dear.  Naomi pushed and pulled and, "Wait, Mommy, WAIT!".. The nurse showed her how the spray made her hand feel.  The tears continued.  Her arm was cleaned and sprayed.  "Mommy!"  The nurse gave her the first shot.  Her whole body was tense.  She held her breath. "There, that one's done." the nurse proclaimed. Naomi re-freaked..but in a different way.  "What? That's it?  Oh, I'm a dork"..the second was administered, "really, I'm done?".. Then Naomi was laughing and proclaiming, "I could've done more!".... Sigh, my childhood drama is haunting me.  The physical was humiliating and she didn't like it.  She "really appreciated" being told to stay away from drugs and alcohol.  I really appreciated the doctor not going into "other" ways she needed to "stay safe".  This mommy isn't ready for THAT to be brought up by a doctor!

Jesse:
Man this kid has a hard time with Language Arts.  He CAN do it. It's just getting him to believe he can.  Today was a particularly hard day.  He cried.  He tore his papers.  But, he got it done.  Just in time for daddy to be home.  We sat and talked about his time in school.  Encouraging him that he is doing a good job and can do it!
 Then we talked about gymnastics starting tomorrow.  All of the kids are going.  Jesse said he is hoping they don't make him  do cartwheels.  He said, "I'm too old for them".  Which he quickly followed with, "Remember Winnie the Pooh, I still like him".  :)  "Remember the first one, the movie that Maga has?  I like that when he sings."  So of course I broke out in the "Little Black Raincloud" song.  He sat on the table listening, smiling.  I finished.  He sat there smiling staring at the floor.. a couple minutes later he jumped down and said, "Ok, bye, I'm going to Brett's.  See you at 5!".. Such a funny little guy.

Ethan:
This child.  He captures my heart, and breaks it the most often.  He'll be a strong man.  We're learning how to focus his "stubborn" and "emotional" outbreaks into teaching moments.  Moments to lead him instead of tear him down... it is a big job, but we're believing the promise that it will be worth it!
On the other hand, he is the jester of the house.  It is amazing to see him growing and changing and his sense of humor doing the same.  He makes me laugh.. sometimes I have to hide it!
Sunday we were driving into the hills outside of Estacada to find a good spot for some shooting.  We were having a birthday party for Jesse and he wanted to take a pinata and the new gun and shoot it up!  SO, we were scouting.  As we got higher into the hills.  There was snow.  Ethan pipes up from the back, "Master, there is a lot of snow here.  Are you sure it is safe.".. in a Dug the dog from UP voice.. it was hilarious.  I wish we had a recorder that knew when the kids said something funny.. because that was just one of the MANY things he said.  He often stops working and just dances around.  He is just fun.  I love him.

Annah:
Oh dear.  Where to start.  She's my baby.  She's sweet.  She's feisty.  She's funny.  She's TOO much!
Every day is day that I could write a post about her.
Today, she lost a tooth.  Not by her hand.  By her father's.  It was loose.  Too loose.  It was so loose it was brown and maybe her breathe hadn't smelled right for a week.. blech.  So, it was Daddy to the rescue.  After chasing her with a hammer and pliers, he held her on his lap and used a paper towel to hold on.  Then there was blood.  Then there was more "chasing".  Then she sat back down, "crying".  I distracted her by taking pictures.  Then.. it was out.  She was better.  Making funny faces with her toothless smile.  She practiced somersaults into a bridge, for gymnastics tomorrow.  She sat on my lap for a finger clipping.  She sat at my feet to get a neck rub.. for about 2 minutes.  She danced to music... on the movie the rest of us were watching during this whole time of Annah-ness.  She is an attention getter... that girl.  She's craziness wrapped up in a little body of perfected baby childness.  Sigh.

Some soup I made. (Edited)

Taco soup turned wanna be Chili:

1lb. ground chicken
brown it.
Add:
1pckg. Taco Seasoning
1pckg. Hidden valley Ranch mix
1/2 an onion diced.

Let simmer for a bit.

Add:
2c Low sodium Chicken broth
3 cans beans of your choice, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained
(I was emptying my recycling bin and realized I also added two cans of diced toms with green chili's in 'em... you could add regular toms.. or no toms.. I personally like the diced with green chili's cause, ya know.. that's how I roll.)..... (that was the edited part)  :)
1 bottle V8, flavor of your choice.  I go with spicy cause that's how we roll in this house.  But you could go with low sodium if you freak about that kinda thing.

If you wanna think of this as Taco soup, serve over crushed chips, top with cheese, sour cream and tabasco if you roll like we!

If you wanna think of this as Chili.. serve it with some cornbread.

This is a good thing.. right?

I walked in the kitchen to find my recently awakened 6yr old standing "in" the fridge holding the milk carton. She was muttering to herself. So, I asked, what do you need. She finally says, "81%". To which I asked, "What are you looking for?". Apparently she wanted some milk, but when shaking the carton felt it to be quite empty. So, to find out how much was available, she was reading the nutrition facts label on it. I checked, there was no "81%" written anywhere on there. But still, rather clever.. right?
Also, please tell me I'm not raising my children to be neurotic about food by paying closer attention to nutrition facts!

I have a break!!

We are ending our third week of school.
It is going great.
And usually continues to go great well past "normal" school hours.
I found out Ethan and Jesse can both use the same curriculum for Science, History and Art.
That will cut 7hrs out of my week.
I am ecstatic.
Naomi starts band next Tue.
She is playing the flute.
I am thrilled for her.
Ethan is halfway through football season.
He has grown immensely in both his ability and character through this.
Bruce has been able to assistant coach.
He too has grown.
Annah will start gymnastics soon.
This wouldn't be possible but for my dear Tiffy friend who has offered to bring her.
I need to tell Tiffy I'm accepting her offer.
Jesse wants to play guitar.
Uncle David has offered his services.
I hear he's working for Nike.
I wonder how much his services ought to cost.
I have lost more weight.
I have not been dieting.
My diet has changed.
It involves lots of:
Morning Star breakfast sausage (veggie)
Coffee
Peanut butter and Celery
Diet Coke
Fishy Crackers
And that's the main part of it.
Splendid.
I'm sure there was more I could say,
But my break is over.

An Update and Bit of Clarification

I'm three weeks into this new way of eating.  I've lost 8lbs.  My body fat % is down about 2 points.  I haven't been exercising very often, maybe 1-2 times a week.  I have found something I enjoy doing for exercise though. There is a track at the field where Ethan is practicing football.  I've found that walking two corners and one straight away and running the other straight away is doable and even enjoyable!  After the first two weeks of "cleanse" time I began using the weight loss "supplements" that were suggested to my husband as being something to help reach my goal quicker.  This is a short term additive to my diet, whereas the food portion of my diet is a lifelong healthy eating habit I am forming.

I've been waking up earlier getting prepared for school to start.  The first week, 5:30 was easy.  This week 6:30 is as early as I've been up.  There are many reasons and excuses as to why I can't seem to wake up by then.  I'll spare you that and just say it is better than 9:00!  (which is what I was doing 2 weeks ago!)

My house has been clean and continues to get cleaner, due to being up earlier and implementing The Daily 7 technique I talked about in my previous post.

Next week the lessons for the kids school are going to be online and ready for me to set up schedules for.  I'm hoping to go through the mountain of books sent to us and set aside the ones we won't need right away as well as browse through and familiarize myself with the ones we will be using.  I have no idea how teaching 4 kids in different grade levels will work.  I am preparing myself for the possibility of a frustrating and tiring first couple of weeks.  Of course we pray it won't be that way.

I want to share my "second breakfast" with you.  Because, it was delicious and so easy!

Creamy Fruity Oatmeal:
1/2c Oatmeal
2Tbl. Dried Fruit
1c Water
1/4tsp Salt

Microwave on high for 1 minute, stir and heat again for 30 seconds or until water is absorbed.

Add:
2tsp Milk (I used soy)
2tsp Honey

Not only did I enjoy this very much, but it was quick and filling.. until I eat again in two hours!  ;)

Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest?

I've recently found a new blog I really like. It's not the type that keeps you glued to the screen reading for hours and waiting impatiently for the next post.. not that I do that.

It is a daily "chore" blog. Sounds fun huh! :) Trust me, as far as chores go.. this is fun.

She suggests doing 7 daily chores to maintain your house and every day posts a couple of extra things such as, "Get the cobwebs" or "Mop the kitchen". What I love about this way of doing it is that I have no dread. No laying awake thinking about the list of things I HAVE to accomplish tomorrow. Instead, it's like a special surprise waiting for me every day! (I know, the life of a SAHM is full of awe and wonder)

Here is her site.  Totally Together Journal

So, today I was mopping the kitchen floor.  Truth be told that was on the list yesterday... but I had errands.  So, you see this isn't a fix all... just a fun tool.  However, today I still did what would usually be put off until "next" time.  Anyway, back to the kitchen floor.  I have been using a Swiffer Wet Jet mop.  Because it's easy, disposable and fun like those Biore Cleansing Pads.. you get to look at the dirty cloth so you KNOW you got 'er done!  Only problem is, with all of the linoleum in my house, I need to use about 3 of those Swiffer pads to do said cleaning job and not feel like I am just taking the dirt from one room into another.. because, I can SEE that there is dirt on it!

Which leaves me wondering what other options may be more practical, economical, and if possible less toxic than I fear the Swiffer may be.  My choice for today, Bleach.  I know,, so not the best choice for the kids to be licking up.  However, seeing as grocery shopping hasn't yet happened.. it was both practical and economical.  And now my kitchen smells like a swimming pool locker room.  Lovely.

I refuse to use Pinesol.  I cleaned houses and a machining shop and office when I was a teen.. and so the smell brings back thoughts of other peoples messes.. eww.  I also think vinegar falls into that category.  I'm looking into Mrs. Meyers cleaning products,, I use a few already.. and actually looking at that link see that I could have used the all-purpose cleaner for my floor.  I wondered if it would leave it filmy, but perhaps with proper dilution it will simply leave me thinking of my dear friends' Mother who always wears Rose smelling perfume.  Mmmm.

So, what are your suggestions?  What have you found to be tough on grime and yet not on your sensibilities or budget?

Wordless Wednesday: Face-shots!