trying to keep it simple...

When we get home from church we have lunch and quiet time. Quiet time for the boys is to pick a movie and watch it quietly on the couch. I slowly started noticing that the boys would tend to choose a movie that they had DVRed. This meant someone had to be really good and fast forwarding through all the loud crazy commercials, or we were having battles about movies that we own that are "good" movies...just not for Sunday.


About a month or so ago we had an FHE on what is appropriate for us to do on Sunday. We focused on what we should or shouldn't watch. We pulled out every movie that we own and asked the kids to help us decide which ones were appropriate. I was surprised that as we got into it the kids we decide that this or that movie wasn't a good Sunday movie because of the loud and roudy music, or because it had too many scary parts etc... It was nice to see them not just make quick decisions, but to really think about it. We ended up with a few in the maybe pile. We then went through that pile and voted. If it got enough votes it made it into our Sunday pile. Once we had gone through all the movies I took some white label stickers and my hole punch. I punched out little white dots. Now when the kids go to pick out a Sunday movie all they need to do is look for the white dot on the spine. If there isn't a dot...it isn't a Sunday movie. I love that we don't have to battle over whether a movie is okay or not any more and as for the DVRed movies...we just decided that we wouldn't watch any of them on Sundays...

keeping it organized...

Last year I posted a fun project on POPPIES AT PLAY to help me stay organized during the school year. I just thought I would also show you a new addition to my efforts...


It is a pretty simple addition, but one that has TOTALLY helped keep me on top of things. I bought 3 generic egg timers at Wall-Mart and put each kids name on them. What does this do to help me stay "organized" you might ask...Well...in my house each kid has a zillion things that I need to keep timed! Like 20 minutes of reading, or 20 minutes of piano practice, or time out, or quiet time in the afternoons. I find it totally over whelming when my kids yell..."Mom how many more minutes do I have?" "I don't know!!" I found myself saying back. They would each start at different times, but close enough to each other that I would get confused as to who started when...Now they each have a timer to help keep track of all of the "minutes" of work they have to do.

Simple and easy, yet SO helpful!

1st day...

Well...the first day has come...I am SO glad that I am feeling more like myself so that I could enjoy this day with the boys! They were so excited to start school. Noah even set his clothes out last night on the floor including his shoes and socks...it looked like a little person. ( I should have taken a picture) Noah is starting 3rd grade and Zach is starting 2nd grade! Man has the time flown by. I have such vivid memories of my 2nd and 3rd grade years that it seems strange to me that I have kids who are going to be making these kinds of memories too!


I usually let the boys ride the bus and then I follow the bus to the school. The kids are supposed to go to the big playground until the bell rings and then line up for their teachers to bring them into the school. The only problem with this method is that on the first day of school almost no one knows where their line is. This is why I go so that I can help them find their lines. Noah "already knows Mom!" where his line is so I see just a glimps of him before he heads to his line and I help Zach find his line. Can you tell from the picture below that he is just a tad excited!?!
I hope that they each have a fabulous day. I can't wait for them to come home so we can talk about their day and eat our traditional ice cream cone too!

the princess is 5...

The day after I came home from the hospital it was Bailey girls birthday! She was SO excited to be turning 5 and can't wait to start kindergarten next week. She is totally in love with anything Disney princess and her Strawberry Shortcake stuff. I am so grateful for her sweetness right in the middle of our family! I love my little miss!

(she is also quite the little poser...every time I asked her to smile she would give me this cheesy grin!)

owen...

Well...we are home! I went in Tuesday morning super early for a 6:30am c-section. Everything went as planned and little Owen Travis joined us at 6:54am weighing 8 lbs even and 19 inches long. Other than having a miserable 1st day of feeling sick and throwing up I am feeling better and better each day. Little Owen is so precious! I just love sitting and holding him close! Life with 5 kids is going to be pretty crazy I can already feel it! If we can just make it through the Bailey's birthday tomorrow, the weekend, and the first day of school for the boys I think I just might be able to handle everything else! Wish us luck!

just in time...

Do you remember THIS post from right before Max was born? Well...a new baby means a new blanket! I started this blanket a few months ago, but JUST BARELY finished it tonight! Better late than never I guess. I was determined to get it done before the baby because I knew that it would be a while before I felt like picking it up again! It is the same colors as the rest just a rusty orange for my little Owen!

The hospital called and I am on track to have the baby at 6:30am tomorrow morning via c-section! Wahoo!

forever...

I just realized that I have yet to post the fast exciting news!! My little sister Jenny is getting married! About 4 weeks ago Jenny and Bismarck decided to get married...on August 14th!! They have spent the last weeks pulling a wedding together. I took their engagement photos and designed their announcement within the first week so that they could get them sent out. Last night was her bridal shower and her wedding is next week. I was supposed to have my c-section on the 12th, but moved it back to the 17th so that I could fully participate in the wedding. I am SO happy for them. Bis is an amazing, caring, loving, spiritual person who can keep up with the likes of our Jenny. He has felt like a member of the family for over a year or so. We just can't wait until it is official!

new kits and summer fun...

GG has a new free kit on her site called Playground Pals. It is super cute and hey...you can't beat free! Snag it HERE

My sister is in town for 3 weeks for Jenny's wedding and we have been having fun spending time together.

GG also has a new kit called Goin' Boatin' I had these pictures of Travis' first attempt at water skiing and I think it turned out super cute. The more I have to reach back into 07 and 08 for pictures the more I am leaning towards just digi scrappin them. It is SO easy!