Squeals and screams

I have a squealer!  Molly is a happy, content baby but she has now started squealing when she wants something...back to my book by the Pearls, Huh!  Anyways, I think she is in a growth spurt right now, because she eats all the time...she squeals when she wants more food and it is so loud, so annoying, and so disrespectful.  She also hollars/squeals/more or less yells at us when she wants something (toy), when she wants to exert her independence, or is not happy about something.  So John started flicking her in the mouth and saying "NO", I am trying to teach her some sign language like "more" and "please" and I say "No" in a stern voice.  She wants to be down, exploring all the time.  She isn't one that has to be held or rocked and she is not real needy, but she KNOWS what she wants!  I blame John...he said when I was pregnant that it would be nice to have a child with a spunky personality.  Well, I believe his wish came true!

My chores

I talk a lot about chores that I give the kids so I wanted to also explain...I do chores too!  Side note...the surprise chore basket is working out great right now. 

So I have a list (once again, I am such list person) of chores to complete and when they need to be done...

I don't think I have ever followed through with this list in its entirety but I am working on it....ever heard of the fly lady...well she is a chore queen and I love reading her website.  I have tried setting a timer and I work at as many chores as possible in 30 minutes.  It really is amazing what you can get done...The flylady's biggest thing is get dressed from head to toe and clean and shine your sink at the start of your day and it will start you off on the right foot.  The sink thing is weird to me because mine keeps getting dirty all day long but making my bed is "my version" of cleaning my sink.  I feel like if I start with making my bed, all goes better. 

Here is my chore list (John don't laugh).  It is posted on my fridge.  And I want to get better in 2010. 

Monday:  Clean both bathrooms, Mop bathrooms, 2 loads of laundry

Tuesday:  Vacuum all carpet, dust mop wood floors, encourage/help kid's with room pick up, 2 loads of laundry

Wednesday:  Check fans/clean fans, Dust whole house, clean glass windows, 2 loads of laundry

Thursday:  Clean window seals/baseboards, 2 loads of laundry, vacuum couch, deep clean kitchen countertops and sink (obviously, the kitchen has to be cleaned everyday)

Friday:  Top of fridge, wipe fridge shelves down, microwave, change sheets on beds, 2 loads of laundry

Saturday:  Straighten garage, sweep back porch, front porch, Dog chores, 2 loads of laundry

Sunday:  Nothing but some meal planning for the next week and maybe some coupon clipping

Then I have a list of things that need to be done at a less frequent basis:

Organize and sort toys
clean oven
clean out closets
clean/straighten linen closet
clean under fridge
replace shower curtains
wash curtains
wash the back porch floor
declutter bookcases in our corner office
sort through scrapbook stuff

Momma's Birthday

It is hard to buy for my parents although they always like anything I get them.  My mom's birthday was on Sunday and the best thing I could think of doing for her was to get our little family together to visit and eat a good meal.  I love to cook and I love to have people over and I especially love to make food that reminds us all of my grandmother!  So, on Saturday night we had my parents and my brother over for a birthday meal.  I made cube steak, gravy, rice, squash casserole, a salad, and sour cream pound cake for dessert.  It was delicious and all recipes were from my grandmother!  My mom doesn't have many family members left.  The only brother she has still living out of three lives in Miami and we don't see them a lot, so I feel like the times we have to share as a family, where I can make something or do something that gives her a sense of family is special to her.  We all loved my grandmother's cooking .  It was a huge part of growing up for me.  I think my mom also really appreciates the fact that I want to carry on my grandmother's traditions and recipes.  Emily and John Daniel both helped make the cake!  I left the present giving up to my dad and brother...my dad got a really cool present for my mom.  It is called a kindle.  It is amazon's digital book.  You download books to this notepad and read the book from it.  It is really amazing!!!  The books are cheaper than buying them, you can enlarge the print, light it up, etc., and you don't have to store a physical book.  They are all kept on this digital notepad.  I am pretty sure that my brother and my friend, Ann need one of these things.....it is the coolest thing for an avid reader!  My mom brought supplies over to do a science experiment with the kids...soooo my mother!!!!  They made a volcano and watched it erupt!  Overall, it was a nice evening!  Happy Birthday Mom!

Being a wife

John and I rarely fight about the big things...money, sex, politics....we mostly fight over communication issues...one of us has not communicated with the other in a positive or beneficial way.  I have been researching for over a year now...MARRIAGE...ways to influence my marriage in a positive way.  I talk with John about these things as well, so he is a willing party and by most of the things that I have posted about him, you can tell he is a very good husband, he takes care of me, he serves me, he loves me....But these are things that I can and strive to do myself to benefit my marriage after a year of research on the subject.

1.  I strive to never talk negatively about John to anyone.
2.  I strive to only build him up in public and at home. (Home is slightly harder for me)
3.  I strive to stop nagging.  This is huge for a man or at least my man.  I have found that even if I am nagging him about something that is important or even emergent, it does not benefit our marriage.  I could nag him about taking out the trash, but really it is not worth it.  I need to either do it myself (which would be the greatest way of being his help meet) or just shut my mouth.  If we miss trash day because he forgot, then he has to deal with that by himself and I am not adding to the problem by nagging.  We may have overflowing garbage, rodents, or smells....but we have a peaceful marriage b/c I did not nag.  I know it is a strange concept but it truly works....the above has occured in our home!  And I am at the point now where I joyfully pull the trash out to the road myself if he forgets because it helps the man that works so hard to provide for my family and it is another way for me to use my muscles a little :)

4.  I strive not to tell him how to do things, his way is not wrong, it is just different than my way.
5.  I ask his permission/advice except when dealing with an issue or concern that has to be dealt with immediately.  In my humble opinion a husbands greatest desire is to be respected.

6.  I strive to let him lead me and strive to obey him....oh the OBEY word...but gosh it takes some pressure off of me!  I seriously have no problem with the fact that I need to obey my husband.  I feel like where ever he leads us, he has to answer to God and the only question that I am going to be asked in the end is did I follow...I don't have to answer to God for leading my family, that is John's job, and boy am I glad that I can just be the willing participant! 

7.  I strive to find ways to serve him...John is actually much better at this than me but in being his helper in life, I want to find ways to make his life easier....ie, ironing his shirt for work.  It really is the little things.  And this means a lot to John! 

8.  I strive to be a happy, joyful, and positive person...a person/woman is much more desirable and nicer to be around when she has a good attitude!  A mother and wife's attitude can change the entire atmosphere of the home!  (this is a hard one)

I am sure there are others but that is all I can think of right now.  The above is hard but it makes marriage work (at least in my short 10 years of experience).  The home is more peaceful, the marriage bed is loving, the kids are happy, the husband feels respected, the wife feels love, and all fits together...I seriously believe that I am to be his helpmeet, I was created to be his helper, lover, friend, and companion...not his equal.  It feels right to me, it makes sense, it takes the burden off of me, and it makes me happy...it truly does!  I also believe it is biblical.....which is what makes it so important....just my humble opinion...

John and I got a very nice compliment the other day...

A girl that I work with, whom we have also spent a little time outside of work with, made a very nice comment about us and our marriage.  I am not posting this to brag, but posting this to say...the ABOVE is why...it really works and shows through.  We have had many struggles, we are sinners, we have dealt with sin, we fail everyday but God, our faith, Grace, and a desire to make it work...is what makes us better.  My friend, who is not a Christian (does not have any religious background at all) said something to the effect..."You seem to really be a beautiful person on the inside as well as the outside, and John seems to be the same way, your family and marriage seem to radiate this and your life seems truly beautiful, not just picture perfect, but really happy."  This girl is my little "project" for lack of a better word.  She is struggling and I cannot wait to tell her why we are happy and also share with her about our struggles.  I am having lunch with her soon so that I can share.  I can't wait to tell her, after 6 years of working with her and building a friendship with her, that it is only by God's grace that we are even still married!  I have prayed for an opportunity to share my faith with her...and I have had moments where I have shared tidbits but I feel like God is prompting me to share more now and I am so excited for the opportunity!

Some this and that

I don't blog for the most part when John is home...he has started really limiting himself to only a few minutes of FSU football web surfing so I limit myself as well...the computer can really be an addiction!

Molly poops all day long!  John and I have both noticed that she poops more than the other two did.  I am blaming it on her totally nutritious, wholesome, non-processed diet that I feed her.  We haven't bought a jar of baby food yet :)  It has been really fun cooking it all by myself!  John has been super supportive and she loves ALL food!!!  But we do get tired of the 6 poops a day!

I have exercised for 14 days straight now!  Hopefully it is a habit now!  I am running further than I ever have.  I want to start swimming but have no idea how that will work out.  My friend Harriet has encouraged me to sign up with her for a 5K.  She wants to support me and have fun with it...it is called "Run for the Cookies."  When you finish, you get a box of cookies!  Sounds like my kind of race!  John ran with me today.  He pushed Molly because there is no way in you know what that I can run, breath, and push the stroller.  Last week when I ran the furthest that I had ever run, I could not breath...but I could text...I texted Harriet to tell her so she could celebrate with me....but seriously, I couldn't breath :)  I have always hated running but it does make the work out does go by faster when you are running.  Emily ran/walked the 3 miles with me last week, John Daniel has ridden his scooter, they both have gone with me on their bikes....I love it because it is something we can do as a family.  John is doing a bike race out of town in two weeks with my dad called the Croom.  He also signed up for the RedHills Triathlon again in April.  He is doing P90X...one of those infomercial work out insane videos...it is really insane..but the kids love doing it with him...I say that in the loosest of terms, but they think they are doing it with him.  I came home from getting J.D. from school today, and John had put Molly in her high chair with some cheerios to eat and pulled it into the living room while he worked out.  She was happy as a clam, sitting there watching him sweat, curse, and jump around to his work out :)

So with all that said, I can't seem to get it all in....the things that I want/need to do just don't all fit in one day.  It seems like if I have a really good quiet time, work out...then laundry or dinner go by the wayside...then the next day I do housework but can't seem to fit in a work out or my coupon clipping...it is really hard to balance it all and I can't ever seem to fit it all in.

Thursday, I am co hosting a coupon share called frugally feeding your families...a bunch of us moms are getting together to hear some "pros" tell us how they save money at the grocery store and then we can all share ideas, tips, or strategies.  We have had an overwhelming interest!  I am really excited!  I am on a money saving frenzy right now to pay off debt and build up our savings...I am on a mission!

Reading is not for fun....

Michael and Debi Pearl, authors


Reading is not for pleasure, at least for me. I read to figure something out, to make myself better, to get information. So, I guess this isn't all bad but I just do not like reading for pleasure. I started reading the best seller, The Shack...and didn't even finish it. It's not because it is boring or a bad read...I just don't enjoy it. I really hope that this doesn't rub off on my children...I really do encourage fun reading for Emily in hopes that she is more like my mother or brother and even my dad more recently. I know it makes you smarter and I know it is good for the brain..yada yada..I just don't enjoy it like some people. I like the idea of books...book fairs at the kids' schools get me excited and we have TONS of books in our house, but I cannot tell you how many "fun" books I have started and never finished! The books I read get me info I need, on subject material that I am interested in. For instance, most of the books that I am reading right now are books about child rearing, marriage, spirituality, being a mom, cook books, or organizing/cleaning. Gosh I sound boring! I really have tried...it just doesn't happen. Even, my list of books about the above are ones that I go and come back to. I usually don't just read through it. I pick out subjects that interest me, etc. I am reading a really awesome book right now called "No greater joy". Yes, it is about child rearing...but I can't seem to put it down right now. I have found this couple named the Pearls that are well, amazing! They have three books out that I have read/picked apart. One is on marriage.."Created to be his helpmeet", the others on child rearing..."To train up a Child" and a compilation of letters called "No Greater Joy". They may have more, I just don't know. Now don't go googling them...some of you may freak...they are conservative, Christian, homeschooling, hard core, old-fashioned, plain, and different. I have never read " a self-help book" that makes so much sense! They seem firm but loving, they are rooted in the truth but know what the world is telling us, they are serious yet so funny....their book on marriage and the way she (Debi Pearl) takes you back through scripture and explains how God designed marriage truly made me a better wife and has saved marriages of friends that I know personally...John loves to hear their advice because it all seems so simple, yet modern marriages and modern men and women don't understand....ahhh...the divorce rate!!!

Now I could go on and on...and some may think that I sound like a old fashioned wife that is stuck doing housework and being at home with the kids and you may think that John is this male chauvinist ruling over me...BUT that is so not how it is and not how they teach it to be (and anyone that knows us could most likely affirm that we have a pretty great marriage, rough spots, but pretty great!)....There will be another post coming very soon on some of what I am learning through their books and going back through scripture but I can't post it all tonight. So, no I don't read for pleasure but I LOVE finding simple truths that seem to make so much sense...
Above is a picture of the Pearls...some of what I was saying about them may make sense after looking at their picture.

So, I wasted some time....

I wasted some time tonight but it was fun...

I follow some of my friends on their own blog and tonight I noticed how my friend Vanessa had decorated her blogspot...oooohhh how pretty it was. So I started playing and changed my blogsite all around. If you are one of my followers and my blog post just gets emailed to you, well go to my site and check it out just for fun! I had to take the video spot out due to some trouble with the you tube site. My family videos were being infiltrated some how :) Technology!!!! Anyways, I had some fun and made it look all girly...and wasted some time!!!