Thank goodness it's true

Of all the things our phone can do, the thing I should be doing the most with it is reading the scriptures.

I just read Romans chapter 13. I feel peace. I love the language. I love the comfort those words have given me to keep doing good, keep serving my family no matter how back breaking it can be, keep living the gospel no matter what others might say or their opinions.

John and I stand out like a sore thumb within our extended families and in the work place. It takes courage to keep your head up and work hard and take whatever is thrown at you.

Thank goodness its true.

Romans chapter 13 verse 10:

~ Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. ~

♡♥

Teaching these boys

Oh my word. I have just discovered the most incredible thing. Play School's website has free pdf downloads of each of their weekly themes - I'm talking fully detailed learning plans that include all their arts and crafts, recipes, books, songs, and activities that go with their theme. Now if I were a full fledged homeschooler I would say that this discovery was the greatest miracle. But I'm not - I just try here and there where I can to introduce "school" ideas to my little people. I really, really like this though - even if you were a home day carer or kindy teacher this info would be invaluable. It's all there for you to just pick up and use in the one place. Anyway...3 and a half years ago I would not be excited about such bizarre discoveries but that is when Asher entered the world and then everything changed!

Check out http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/sites/playschool/about/weeklythemes/

I would like to follow this each week but I'm not going to be over achieving because some weeks it probably won't happen. A new year is about to begin so there is always a possibility...

My motivation for doing such things are {and in no particular order}:

1. Asher needs stimulation

2. I want my children to be well prepared and not lazy with their brains

3. I want to give them better opportunities then I had.

4. I want to push myself to live up to the responsibility of training a child - not just to expect others to teach them ie school teachers, the world etc. It is my job.

5. I like doing it.

It feels weird to be saying all of this out loud because if I fail/fall off the band wagon it is going to be known. Oh well I'm saying in advance I'm at least going to give it a go.

I ♥ Play School!

Christmas 2013

This is what our Christmas looked like...

The pilot doesn't get a holiday so me and the kids for three hours drove to his work site so that we could spend a few days together. He worked Christmas day and in reality it was only a couple of hours the kids got to see him before they were put to bed. But the other days we were there they got to see a bit more of him. 

Asher LOVES his daddy. They are incredibly close although we are often so far a part. It was nice to make this effort to be together. 

The little guy got to have a turn at the controls on daddy's plane and loved watching it take off. Just being so close to the plane I think was overwhelmingly awesome for

 him. Like Father like Son - the boy loves planes.

With the job comes the somewhat perk of having a luxury campervan to yourself as accommodation. It has a proper fridge and freezer, kitchen sink, microwave, oven and stove, toilet shower, washing machine, built in CD player, digital tv and DVD player. The kids were spoilt with as much tv as they wanted so really we barely left the campervan. Oh and fully airconditioned 24/7 as well. HEAVEN! The boys loved sleeping in the same room as eachother - and giggled and played as they said goodnight only to be surprised to find eachother so close in the morning. They loved it! The baby happily took naps each day as well which was such a blessing. He snoozed in the cool while asher and i watched a movie or played outside. Overall a successful trip! 

Before leaving to see Daddy we had family over the previous day. Sadly Asher was soooo tired and couldn't handle it all with many tantrums happening. But seeing his only cousins is always a highlight ~

Sugar over load. We decorated waffle cones to make Christmas trees ~ it was messy yes and sugary, but making memories and creating traditions are more important. The gingerbread house was a hit - didn't even know John liked ginger bread but he smashed it! Good to know...

The boys wore their Christmas pjs and sadly said good bye to the family....but we will see them soon enough for New Year's!!!

This Season

I have really enjoed Christmas this year ~ it isn't over but I have pondered how much I have enjoyed Decemer. Maybe its because I have little people who are actually able to understand what is going on now and not just a baby. Asher has really loved the season. I have incorporated lots of family traditions to add to the spirit of things. John has been away like usual so doing these things on my own with the boys has been special.

We made a "manger" and put a little baby jesus in their {we have no baby dolls but i used a small teddy bear, then wrapped it with muslim cloth} Asher has been so atentive to baby jesus, telling his brother to keep quiet so as to not wake the baby, even moving the manger into his bedroom at night so that he can sleep there. This morning when he left for kindy he said "but i'll miss my baby jesus". It has been lovely to teach him about our Saviour's birth. I had wondered if I had been focused enough on the real reason for Christmas but I have seen that I have made an influence.

Our advent calendar is a 12 days of Christ centred Christmas - each morning after breakfast we open a pouch read a scripture about the birth of Christ and then have a treat {chocolate gold coins!}. Each day there is an act of service to focus on such as make a card for a friend, ring elderly grandparents hear about their Christmas as a child, make a treat for someone. I have been trying to do as many as we can that Asher comprehends and it has been nice.

Still with a week til Christmas there's more to enjoy - I'm so glad to know my Saviour lives and I get to teach our children about this, I love the feeling that Christmas brings and no matter your beliefs, the world enjoys happiness at the same time ever year - this is a miracle.

Pictures ~ our baby jesus in his manger, our tree, nativity set, advent flag calendar, Asher's gingerbread house for nursery class at church, asher's baking treats and a Christmas tradition - breakfast for dinner!

xx

Christmas Boxer Shorts!

I love what I made! FIRST time ever making a pair of shorts. I was saying the other day that I do things wholeheartedly and don't skimp on things that I'm passionate about. Well sewing just isn't in that category. Near enough is good enough for me. Thankfully it's only a three year old who's wearing them :)

Don't think I'm all awesome for doing things like sewing....we had scrambled eggs on toast for dinner tonight - so it's not all as dream like as it appears. Always need to point that out!

I'm glad I made these tonight, as it has totally { not really } distracted me from that fact that I'm not at the Taylor Swift concert. I have been listening to RED since the day it came on sale. The boys especially love the whole album. Cranked all day long in the car! Johnny and I went last time she was here but it just hasn't worked out this time around. Totally bummed.

But yay for cute Christmas boxer shorts!

Letting things go

{This post i did last week - thought I'd lost it as the battery went dead as i was typing}

I am trying very hard to just let things go. I have reduced the amount of things in our house that we just do not use including toys and other gifts that were only being kept for sentimental reasons. I have realised that THINGS don't matter.

One thing is my clean obsession which just needs a little more balance.  It is just not that important and I need to let it go. I love being organised and the above picture is worth so much more then a clean and tidy house. Around that table we spent some good quality time on a Sunday morning as a family making memories. There was crying and frustration but there was a family. We completed yet another Christmas tradition of making clay Christmas ornaments. It was fun and the boys loved it ~ including daddy who made an aeroplane for his, second year in a row {from a man with no creative bone!}

The memory making and love shared around that table is worth all the mess in the world - all the other stuff had to be let go!

In the evening we unwrapped our first Christmas book another tradition that's been going for a few a years now, and laughed and played around the tree - it sounds cheesy but that's what we did - disney could have been filiming in the bacground I'm sure.  The feeling in our home was love, happiness and the Spirit. Not everyday has these moments and I am grateful for the days that do. This is a feeling I want our boys to have in their hearts as they remember their childhood throughout their lives.

The other stuff {spotless house, spotless kids, spotless me!} will just need to be kicked to the kerb.

A nice day

This morning has been lovely.

It therefore must go on the blog. I'm not up for making out like everday is lovely. So many blogs suck me in to thinking that. I know that it just aint the truth.

But today - our morning has been nice. Boys woke up, played in the toy room had milk and breakfast. We played Christmas music while cleaning and vacuuming {thats their favourite "chore"} then a little Sesame Street and then outside time planting a GARDEN!

Asher said "just like playschool mum" and he was so happy. He dug and played with the dirt then planted. Jet got into it too - they were loving it. I purposely bought and extra bag of dirt for a "construction" site for Asher's bob the builder trucks. That just made the day.

John would say - just turn the TV on who cares about all this stuff. He is really hands on but for me being pregnant he just thinks it would be easier. I don't know why but I've never done anything {that I feel passionate about anyway} half done. I guess that's a curse as well because I never feel I've done enough. I have to do more to make it the best.

So it's been with my baby boys.

I'm striving to do more then possible and sometimes just like this morning I see it's worth it.

I could have easily enrolled both boyboin a daycare and then just be off getting my nails done or something. But what am I learning doing that?

I'm happy I planted a garden today with the two cutest little men you will ever meet.

early mornings

This morning it was cold. Weird. We have been so hot here lately that fans on all night is just what we do. The cooler temp caught us by surprise and woke baby up early. Like 5:45 which some don't find early but for this household it is. I'm lucky { I worked my tail off as newborns to establish good sleepers } enough to have normal wake time as 7am. So with the extra time I decided to do an activity - a Christmas tradition being that we make ginger bread play-doh!  Asher usually isn't into play-doh but this stuff he is! It smells good and feels awesome...for a 3 year old boy anyway.

I don't really know the measurements as I seem to keep adding more cinnamon so its not too wet but the two ingredients are:

1. Cinnamon
2. Apple Sauce

A rough guide is 2 parts applesauce 1 part cinnamon.

I grabbed the sauce from aldi this week and will use the jars for giving the play-doh to friends and family for Christmas. We did this last year and gave to our neighbour and she was so amazed at it {I just thought she must not have pinterest}. We also make ornaments out of the mixture and have last years up at the moment. It's just a matter of using whatever cookie cutters you like, then baking the heck out of them. Use a skewer to make a hole for twine to hang them onto the tree also. You can see some of the ornaments hanging below { they're the dark gingerbread coloured ones }

Other then play-doh making the other fun thing that happened today was this:

Baby number 3!

It was the gender reveal scan but still we opted to keep it a surprise for us and everybody else. I wonder if I will ever choose to find out. I think I like keeping everyone on their toes :)

Today has been a good day xx

November

So we've put up the tree! Daddy briefly was home for a day after 9 days away and left again for another 6 so we squeezed putting up the tree in there. I could havebdone it earlier but wanted the whole family together. Don't be fooled, it ended up being asher watching christmas cartoons while we did the job. I thought baby would destroy my ornaments immediatley but haven't had muchbof a reaction from him. Thank goodness.

We had a Chicken Pox scare with baby this week but all was ok. They've been enjoying the kiddies pool and soccer in the backyard. I think just some insect bites were the culprit.

We went to sizzler again today, new favourite place as the kids are free!

I've been feeling lonely, missing Johnny and feeling like I've got no friends. Such is life with motherhood. It's more that I just don't get a chance to catch up with friends like I used to. That's ok. I need to keep moving and make time for catch ups when I can. Love visiting teaching, it is a great blessing for that short but valuable female interaction.

Just finished making our calendar of events for December. So much to look forward to and we are very blessed to have a nice city to be in at Christmas.

anyway - that was November.
x

On why I don't smack

Hopefully you can read the quote from this book I've been reading on and off...Dr Phil's 'How to raise a Phenomenal Family'. This page made me teary as I felt such peace for making the decision to not smack our children. I had felt it from the beginning but would hear so many differing views from people who I thought had wisdom. Family members, other parents at church and even strangers. Why was I taking their opinion when everything was telling me otherwise.

Asher is high needs when it comes to behaviour. It would be so easy to give him a smack and see an immediate result. Not smacking and expecting the same result is a heck of a lot harder - requiring more restraint, patience, love, understanding - all qualities i would not be able to gain on my own without going through this process. However the main reason for not hitting our children is what Dr Phil explains - we are the ones who protect them from everything so why would we want to hurt them and shame them and expect a positive outcome. I want to have a Phenomenal relationship with my children. I want them always to know I have their back - that they will always have someone when the rest of the world is failing them.

I know other people have a different view, I know other children behave better then mine, I can't judge or assume I know better. I'm learning and doing what my body and heart is confirming is right.

This whole experience is for our own good and I'm glad I'm going through it.

play time

We have had an eventful week to say the least! Me in the emergency and Asher vomiting, LOTS! We are all ok for now though. Because of the vomiting we are home on the Sabbath. Asher misses out on seeing the Primary Presentation. I really like when he gets to watch the Primary children speak in church and sing. He loves seeing them and it helps him focus for once! Sadly we are home...watching movies while he recovers.

We did manage enough energy to play ashers favourite thing ever at the moment - grocery shop. He loves these grocery pieces so much. He can play up to 40 minutes with these and thats HUGE for this kids attention. They were just from Aldi ... wooden with velcro in between so they can be 'cut' with the wooden knife and chopping block that comes with he set.

This morning I ordered three items at a time to challenge his memory and attention. My instructions went like this
"excuse me, mr grocery man can i please make an order?... i'd like a yellow cupcake, a piece of fish and one slice of toast". He did pretty well as we played for ages and each time i made a new order mixing up the items. There are lots of food items in his shop so its a challenge because he can get distracted. I liked incorporating this element to his play because there was thinking involved. It also gave me many chances to offer him praise as he got the orders right.

I'm working hard to keep up my positive speak to asher throughout the day. Often its negative "dont do that" all day. Hoping to keep more on the positive track :)

Be my rock

Our church has a reguar bi-annual conference for the members who live in our local area this weekend - Stake Conference.  I am particularly looking forward to it this time around as John will be there with me. I believe for the last 2 and a half years he has not attended due to him travelling for work. We won't get to attend the adult evening session together but Sunday as a family we will be there ~ HOORAY! Seriously, this is a big deal.

I remember Stake Conference when I was single, not yet a mother and really just doing my own thing. I'm so glad for friends who at the same time were so dedicated to the gospel as I wanted to be. They would bring note books, so I would too. They would come early get close seats and be ready for the session and then I would as well. I wanted to be ready for the message and I am so thankful I had friends who had the same ideas. We have grown in the gospel together and now can see where that foundation is taking us.

Back then I remember I couldn't wait til the day came when I could attend with my husband by my side. It has really seemed a different path was what Heavenly Father had in store as husband by my side is generally not the case. John is rock solid. Often teased and called 'John the beloved' because of his goodness. But, his career in these early days has meant I really need to rely on the foundation I gained when I was single and hold onto it like its everything.

It is hard going more then a week at a time looking after a toddler and baby on your own with no break. It has been this way since asher was born (and before). I know there are families in the military or other industry who don't have daddy home for several months. That is tragically hard. What I've discovered is those type jobs usually have such a stint and then its eventually back to normal. Aviation is like this year after year decade after decade. Only now have I put Asher in a kindy class 2 days because of how sick I get when pregnant and I thought i'm done! This has been hard. Harder than single life. Thank goodness I had the experiences I had before this time in my life came round.

I'm not tooting my own horn, ( whining more like it ) I just wanted to reflect on the many Stake Conferences I've attended and remember what it did for me. Some of my most powerful memories of feeling the Spirit have been at Stake Conference. I look around and see individuals and families trying to live the gospel, trying to be strong and it fires me up - gets me going and keeps my legs moving forward. I remember not that long ago a husband and wife sharing a speaking assignment at conference in which they said 'after 20 years, all our child rearing and hard work has paid off' (among other things they spoke about). They went on to say that their 5 or 6 kids - I can't remember - all are obedient and good content happy individuals. Talk about fruits of your labours. Obviously this has been 20 years of dedication in all areas of the gospel which as we know includes hard, tiring, enduring WORK... This couples' point was that they're not perfect but they are enjoying life because they stayed true to what they've been taught and now see what it has all meant.

Some Sundays, after a horrible morning (we have afternoon church this year) I sit in the chapel and tears well in my eyes while no one can see because Asher is behaving so badly,Jet is crying and can't be calmed down. I sit there and think what's the point. Why am I even here...

THEN - I think

How about those foundation years when I was single and what they mean to me now.  Clearly these years right this second are some more foundation building. Clearly in 20 years when my children can say 'I know the church is true' this is all going to be worth it and I can then see the fruits of my labour. I have been forced to rely on myself and my testimony, not John's, in order for me to live the gospel and teach our children. What an excellent thing that is for me to go through.

THANK GOODNESS for Stake Conference!

Do you remember these?

Do you remember these books when you were little? I think it must have been my mum who bought them for us, she used to love paint by numbers too. I have been looking for this kind of paint with water book for ages - and I finally found it again! I don't know why it wasn't easy to remember where I originally got it from, it's just from any normal grocery store, but this one comes from Woolworths and as you can see only $3. The reason for me going on about it so much is that Asher LOVED it! He realIy isn't into art and craft as much yet but little things here and there he gets into. My all time favourite thing is that there is NO MESS! It's simply water and a paint brush then the colour runs from the pages. He is obsessed with trucks and diggers and with every page comes a new truck to paint. He stayed with this activity for almost an hour the first time we did it. That is an absolute miracle activity in my books.

Another favourite activity in this house are these Disney audio books. They have completely captivated the little guy. I have our stereo in our kitchen so I can just pop one on and Asher just sits there listening and 'reads' along. Again I vividly remember I had one of thse when I was little {It was Duck Tales and I still remember some of the lines}. Seriously, these books give me 10-20minutes of stillness...He just is so compelled and I loved how his imagination is ticking over with it all.

Another idea I've seen is giving them some headphones, they could sit in a quiet corner and really enjoy their special books all to themselves. Something important that I've tried to do is to not be totally disengaged from this activity but to then go back to him after the story isover and ask him to tell it back to me in his own words. That helps his memory and his language skills improve as he describes the storyline.

To get an idea of our routine and how these little 'school time' activities are incorporated in our day, this is how things 'usuallu' go {usually, meaning how I aim for things to go}

7am - Wake up. Milk. Toy room time, Ashers favourite thing right now each morning is playing 'shop' with our pretend food and cash register. If I have the energy and no morning sickness I'm all for pretending with him and being his favourite customer. I'm talking EVERY morning he wants to do this. So sometimes I just cant as baby might need me or I'm lying down dying with sickness.
8am - Breakfast. Clean up.
8:30 - Sesame Street. Sometimes we jump on the Letter of the Day band wagon and remember to focus on that letter throughout the day. Sometimes. But I would like to do it more often.
9am - We get ready to leave the house for the gym {or kindy 2 days} most days its the gym.
11am - Head back from the gym maybe a grocery store stop on the way home. Then its a light lunch while listening to audio books. Jet will then have a nap and then its Asher's special time with mummy in the Toy Room. I play whatever he wants me to as its all about him. This strategu really helps with getting him down for his nap.

12-2pm Nap time. Everyone is out including mummy! Nap time is starting to get harder with Asher but he {usually} will stay in his room at this time reading to himself til he falls asleep. This is a critical time of day for me, like any stay at home mum.
2-3pm - Snack time. Easy to do school time activity, or possibly Ipad time - Play School app only is the preference, lucky he loves it.
3-4pm - Outside play. Soccer, trampoline, water play or we go for a walk.
4:30 - Play School if we have come home in time or the outside play is done.
5pm - Dinner. Then Asher helps with tidy up.
5:30 - Bath time.
6:00 - Milk and Reading, Scriptures
6:30 - Jet off to bed. Then mummy and Asher time, reading and snuggling is the favourite.
7pm - Off to my other job of domestic goddess with clean up from the day and prep for tomorrow. I like to have a bath with candles as often as i can to just wind down.

Like I said this is the aim of each day. John is not around mostly and when he is home he has studies, his calling and continuing work commitments so it can really be one loooong me and the kids only adventure. This routine really works for us and asher responds very well to a regular pattern. Of course we try to go to the library, playgroup or other activites too which will always happen in the morning or afternoon. NEVER AT NAP TIME.

The boy loves volcanoes

Another Pinterest favourite - but I decided I'd try using muffin trays so there was more space for the little explosions.
What I did:
1. Asher helped me pour vinegar into patty cakes then we dropped food colouring in each.
2. Then he poured bi-carb into each muffin tray {lots of spills but doesn't matter!}
3. He knew what was going to happen as we've done variations of this before so thought he'd just pour all the vinegar in at once. I coaxed him to use the little droplet so the 'game' would last longer. He loved it!
4. Then he went on to mix colours at first accidently and then on purpose - 'look mummy, purple!' so we were able to talk about what colours do when combined.

You will see we do most things on top of the kitchen bench - to be out of reach of baby boy. I really don't mind and the clean up is pretty minimal.

There is another blog I really like reading - mud hut mama. I don't know how to insert theseblogs as a link II'm sure I'll be interested in figuring it out one day...anyways she home schools her 2 and 3 year old girls. I love her simple ideas and totally can see what we do here at home as similar. She really just does everyday stuff and has a basic curriculum that she wanted to follow. I've somewhat copied her idea for the boys and its so satisfying to know that I'm actually teaching them.

Well right now its 4:30pm and we have turned the tv on for the first time today. Play school! The best interactive version of home schooling haha :)

Easy as play doh!

Thank you Pinterest...this is just two ingredients:
1.Cheap hair conditioner
2. Cornstarch.
Mix 1 Part conditioner, 2 parts cornstarch. That's it!

I'm still on the no TV wagon and these little things really help. Asher has never been big on playdoh though but the 'cooking' part he loves. Making something with a toddler isn't as a dream all the time I know too well, but the time doing it means a lot to him.

We have an 'older brother hitting the baby' problem in our house and after researching some parental tactics, giving Asher some quality time of his own with mummy is proving the best solution. I know it clearly sounds easy and why did I have to research in order to come up with that answer but I tell you now, none of this business comes naturally to me. I have to work really really hard to get my good mummy juices going. In turn the good behaviour from him is making me want to cuddle him more and give affection more which causes a cylce. I'm enjoing this and hope to not forget it when the next wave of crazy toddler comes out.

Along that train of thought is from the beautiful blog I often read - Memories on Clover Lane. I don't know the blogger, can't even remember how I discovered her {pinterest probably} and I find her so incredible. She has 6 kids and manages to keep her home clutter free - that was the initial draw card to her blog. Now I read it because she speaks so beautifully about motherhood and how precious children are. I read and feel so inspired! So i discovered her main mothering philosophy comes from attachment parenting. Bells went off as I straight away though 'oh no, I'm not messing with my killer sleep routine' - as I have always associated attachment parenting with co-sleeping. From the day I bought Asher home I knew it wasn't for me.

I've now begun reading 'The Baby Book' by Dr Sears. Pretty incredible insight and I'm liking what I'm reading. They still do time out with toddlers and you can adjust the sleeping ideas to your personal needs. I like the suggestions on discipline with love and patience while still ensuring you are not pushed over by a 3 year old. I'm yet to read it all but so far am liking it.

Lots more I could talk about but will save for another day.

Screen Time

I am so paranoid about Asher watching too much TV. To the point where I get a nervous knot in my stomach when I do let him. I have only allowed one program in the morning and occasionally one in the afternoon {usually though it's morning OR afternoon} ....I also am selective with what program I allow it to be. Usually its Sesame Street in the morning and Play School in the afternoon.  Reason being I think they are the most educational and interactive...rather than a mind numbing cartoon.  BUT.....today is the day before we move house {for the sixth time in five years!} and john's on his last day of his 6 day out of town roster. I'm still dealing with morning sickness and weird sleep patterns, the house is a bomb and loads still to do. So I said today is the day you can watch as much TV as you like. By 10am I had had enough and said thats it outside! So we played outside listened to music and then headed back in so baby could nap. I found an awesome new app by Play School which is Asher's new favourite. So again today I let the screen time nazi slide and said yep you can play it. After a while I got restless again with him spending too long on it so I decided we would make muffins together - recipe from a Play School ep...can you tell we're hooked.   Really though I could just let it go and leave him be right?!

Ok well I think much of my point here is that there is lots of things I get nervous knots in my tummy over....TV, nutrition, behaviour, his education...I hope that I can still be like this but more balanced at some point. I need to realise I have a toddler, baby and another on the way. They have been with me full time all while daddy works away out of town. I can only achieve what I am humanly capable of. Anyway there's lots more thoughts I have on this, but thats it for now.

Trying to remember "this too shall pass"

Life as I know it right now means nappy changes, settling squabbles, playground trips, drive thru visits, sitting alone in church with the craziest 3 year old in the ward and then falling asleep as soon as the kids do. But of all this I still prefer this challenge to any other. I am grateful for a messy house and car. I love holding my little ones and teaching them something new. I'm lying down most days as there's another little something in my tummy needing me to take it easy. So while it's hard as anything I'd still choose this any given day.