Wordless Wednesday/ Olives

Thinking of others

How do you teach your children to think of others? To put others needs before their own? My husband especially struggles with teaching this life lesson to our kids. “ Why can’t you just share? Just take turns!” is often heard coming from our lips. Most times however, they do apply this lesson and will give ( or at least trade ) willingly.

A particular memory that comes to mind, is of my vivacious daughter Serelle.

At the school they attend, they are given tickets for good behavior. When they collect enough they can cash them in for a prize.

Needless to say, Serelle was really motivated to collect as many as she could. She would rush to open doors for teachers, pick up trash, wipe lunch tables. Her favorite was when she found a $20.00 bill on the ground and turned it into the office.

After she had reached her goal of collecting enough tickets for a reward, she happily informed the teacher that she was ready to pick her prize. They went down the hall to the display case filled with all the prizes. It was full of books, posters, stickers, pencils, and other little trinkets.

I can just image the look of total concentration on her little face. So many choices!

That morning she had informed me that she had collected enough tickets and would be coming home with her prize. I knew she had a new found love of pencils, and figured that is what she would pick.

When she came home, I had not thought to ask her what she had picked, and we fell into our routine of doing homework and having snacks.

When she suddenly jumped up from the table exclaiming “ I almost forgot to show you!” Thinking that she was talking to me, I looked up to realized that she was talking not to me, but her big brother, Drew.

She ran to her backpack, reached in and pulled out a pack of Star Wars stickers. With a shining countenance and great big smile, she handed them to her brother.

“ As soon as I saw these I thought of you and how much you like star wars. I got these for you.”

All those weeks of planning and working, and when faced with a choice, she choose not to think of herself, but her brother.

With this simple act, I was made aware that they are listening. But more importantly they are watching.

I read a quote once that said "The most effective way to teach children is not with words, but with example.”

I am touched by, and grateful for, her loving example to her younger, and in this instance, older sibling.

Halloween

To avoid spending much money on a holiday that is not my favorite, I try to make/create what little decorations I put up. Plus, we are big time Christmas decorators and I tend to feel a little smothered by January, which is another reason I keep it as simple as possible. Another perk this year is that Halloween falls on Sunday, so we won’t be out Trick-or-Treating. I told the kids that they would be shopping from home this year for their costumes for the Trunk-or-treat party
. Which they have interpreted as “ That means Mom will make all our costumes! I want to be a weird clone trooper nobody has ever heard of and is really difficult to make! Thanks Mom!” Noooooooo!!!!!!!
This was last year. The villain from Scream is our neighbor, Drew was home sick. Yes, my absolutely beautiful daughter is the Grimm Reaper. William is someone who wears a lot of camo and flip flops. And Gwen is Cinderella. I made the mistake of making that costume, which quickly made my kids think that I somehow enjoyed it and therefore will make anything they request.

This is a wreath I made from a really boring book by Charles Dickens which made it really fun to rip up.( I do love Charles Dickens though!) The skeletons are printed from The Graphics Fairy. I just cut them out, stuck them in old frames and mounted them on top of the glass ,with removable sticky tabs, of the frames already hanging there. The glitter spiders were $2.00 from Wal-Mart.
source

 I spent a whopping $2.79 on this little vignette. The Boo is from V. and Co. The busts came from the dollar store.
source 
Another print out from V. and Co.
source
LOVE this vignette I found here .

My entryway. Yes those are 4 skeletons hanging by a rope. Everyone thought it was morbid until I said there were 4 to represent each kid. Then it was just so cute.  My owl  trick or treat picture is from Graphics Fairy

















Last years post Trick-or-Treating –Let’s- See- Who- Got The- Most –Candy- But –First- Let –Mom –Pick- Out- All- Her- Favorites –Do- Quality -Control.
Except for Drew. I just wanted to throw in a picture of him to be inclusive.
I do things like that.
This is what the girls and I will making after school today. If I remember the source I will post it.
So, Happy Halloween! See you tomorrow!
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General Conference

This weekend we had the pleasure of gathering together on the off limits nice couch to watch General Conference on the itty bitty computer monitor.

I was once again reminded of the gratitude I feel for living in a time and place that makes this possible. It was much need weekend. To have my chicks gathered round to hear the words of the prophet, and to have that spirit of learning in our home, is something that I will be eternally grateful for. ( As I type this the youngest is bawling about a piece of paper her sister has deemed very important and therefore untouchable, the boys are arguing about who kicked who first, and the Hubby is interrogating us all about the mysterious appearance of marker on the off limits or you die nice couch, so that feeling has quickly evaporated, I mean, struggling to stay present.)

Here we are gathered together taking notes of conference. You should also make note of the size of the computer monitor. That’s right, you can’t see it from how far away I am when I took this picture. But don’t feel too bad for us. We have some rockin’ speakers Andrew found on clearance at Best Buy that can be turned up so loud that all your other senses are dulled therefore you no longer can even think about how small the monitor is. See, that’s just how I am. I can find the meaninglessness beauty in all things.

We are truly blessed with the modern conveniences that we have and I am grateful for the time and opportunity I get to blog and to share my thoughts, however different, with those I love and those of you I may not know, but appreciate all the same.

My Illustrations of Life Project post 1

I love photography. Not only the joy of capturing irreplaceable moments myself, but seeing the moments others have captured.

To be able to look through your camera and really get into the scene.

To be looking for that twinkle in someone's eye.

That laughter filled smile.

That seemingly simple moment of quiet contemplation on your child's face.

They say a good photographer will take thousands of pictures to end up with “the one”. The one that makes you pause. The one that makes you think. The one that draws you in and makes you wish you had been there.

They say that a photographer is an artist that illustrates life through photographs.Instead of with a paintbrush or piano, they are able to capture a song and paint a scene with the click of a button.

That being said. I am in no way talented. Knowledgeable. Or any of those things that are required to be a photographer.

But, if all you need is a camera and a love for photography, than here I am.

I would like to take today. This time in my life, to start my Illustrations of life Project. So, come along if you like. Lets see what moments are out there to capture.

I will try to post a photo a day for the next year. Photos that simply illustrate my view of life around me. It will sometimes be pretty. Other times pretty ugly. Sometimes meaningful. Other times meaningless.

It will be easy. It will be hard. It will just be.

http://theshoppingmama.com/2010/09/crafting-made-easy-with-the-silhouette-craft-cutter-review-giveaway/

THis is a great giveaway!

Beach Wedding

Congratulations sis. Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day.

Checklist for a great party

1. Gather family.

2. Add Sponge Bob decorations.

3. Play the following games:

Water balloon toss, Pin the tail on the donkey, Piñata beat-down, Catch the cream ball in your mouth.

4. Pass out awards and Sponge Bob goodie bags and glow sticks.

5. Dance in backyard with glow sticks.

6. Eat the most yummy dinner of steak and mashed potatoes.

7. Then pig out out on delicious chocolate cake and vanilla ice-cream.

8. Remind Gwen for the 100zillionth time to put on pants. And if that can’t be done, at least some underwear would be nice.

9. Turn 30.

10. Marry this guy. Oh, wait. I did.

Thank you Andrew for surprising me with my very first surprise Sponge Bob birthday party. You created a memory.

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The worst day with someone you love is better than the best day without them.

This is a great post I read over on Mormon Mommy Blogs.com from a fellow Mom that writes for her own blog, www.excitedandconfused.blogspot.com ( not sure how tp link, but def wanted to give her credit!) I love this list because it is exactly what every mom thinks. I laughed at # 4 and 9 because they are so true! If this really is THE top 99 things to do in your lifetime, I am doing pretty darn good.

And if you ever see me out and about and I have snot on my shoulder or am counting to 3, smile and know that i am only accomplishing my lifetime list of 99 things to do before I die.

"Now that I've had my baby (June 4, she's beautiful.), I'm ready to conquer the world! Awhile back I ran into this list of 99 Cool Things to do Before You Die, so I'm ready to start checking items off like, "Skydiving" and "Bungee Jumping" and "Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro." But then that song by The Byrds starts playing in my head. Sing with me now: "To everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn, turn. . ." So I've written a more appropriate list for this season in my life. Which ones have you done? 1. Felt the world shift and change when you held your newborn baby. 2. Thought, "Hey, they didn't tell me about this when I got pregnant." 3. Given away perfectly good pants because they just don't seem to zip up anymore.

4. Walked around with snot on your shoulder and pretended it's normal.

5. Wrestled with a car seat and won.

6. Cursed the makers of really loud annoying toys.

7. Rocked your baby until she fell asleep, and then kept rocking anyway.

8. Gained superhero kissing powers -- you kiss it, it's okay.

9. Learned the art of counting to three, in a loud, patient voice.

10. Avoided swearing like a pirate when a small child stepped on your bare feet with heavy-heeled princess shoes.

11. Dressed up as a butterfly and floated magically around the room with blanket wings.

12. Made a tent out of blankets and chairs and crammed your really large body into it.

13. Learned you really aren't a patient person, but tried to work on it.

14. Listened to really bad, heartfelt, vibrato out-of-control, children's music that for some reason your children love.

15. Succeeded in doing an awesome hairstyle on a squirming, uncooperative child.

16. Decided that bribery really does do the trick.

17. Read a Parenting book and thought, "Do they even have children?"

18. Gotten nothing but lessons in patience and enduring to the end from the past three years of church.

19. Allowed others to think you're crazy as you drive down the road doing the actions to "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed."

20. Smiled and managed not to punch the people without children who give you advice on how to discipline them.

21. Pitied the pioneers, who didn't have movies/television.

22. Thought sadly about landfills, but put it out of your head by remembering what dunking poopy cloth diapers in the toilet is like.

23. Managed to get the grocery shopping done with one or more children in tow.

24. Put yourself in time out.

25. Given up career opportunities, wistfully, but gladly.

26. Thought, "This is so worth it. I have the best job ever."

27. Thought, "This is so not worth it. I quit." But woke up, fixed breakfast and took care of the kids anyway.

28. Heard your child say, "I love you so much!"

29. Watched with delight as your child lurches around the room with their first dinosaur-like steps.

30. Ignored your dirty house to play ponies.

31. Taught a child to use the potty. (And wanted to start an ad campaign with signs posted above every public toilet that read, "If you can use this, thank your mother.")

32. Tried a home business to make just a little extra money.

33. Actually sewn something, that turned out pretty good if no one looked too closely.

34. Played the choo-choo or airplane game to try and convince your child that food is not evil.

35. Slipped, tripped or twisted on a left out toy.

36. Fished pennies/small toys/anything small out of your child's mouth, while keeping the panic at bay.

37. Lost brain cells while watching a Baby Einstien movie.

38. Wondered where the instruction manual is.

39. Thought that you could improve upon the baby design model by adding three lights on the side of each baby-- one for hungry, one for tired, and one for poopy.

40. Listened with chagrin as your child repeats your favorite adjectives.

41. Crept into their room at night, just to make sure the covers are on and that they're still breathing.

42. Thought while breastfeeding, "No wonder people get breast implants. My shirts actually fit."

43. Laughed out loud at the optimistic "6 weeks after birth prognosis" by your male doctor.

44. Learned that you really aren't a pleasant person with only 2 hours of sleep.

45. Tried to explain why clothing is mandatory.

46. Had to eat your words because, "I would never do it that way," but then you do.

47. Called Poison Control.

48. Left the store without buying anything because your child is screaming.

49. Had to apologize to a stranger.

50. Wanted to petition that handicap stalls also be available to mothers with two or more children under the age of six.

51. Said, "That's not funny," when really, if you weren't the parent, it was funny.

52. Felt extreme anger at another child when they hurt your child.

53. Cleaned up throw up more times than you wish to count.

54. Eaten a soggy cracker.

55. Thought sadly of hungry people as you scrapped your child's uneaten food into the garbage.

56. Threatened to do something awful (and untrue) like leave your child at WalMart, or cut off their toe if they didn't stop misbehaving.

57. Even though you vowed never to say it, yelled, "Because I said so."

58. Not left the house for three or more days.

59. Discussed buying stock in paper towels, wipes and diaper companies.

60. Conversed with other adults about poop, drool, and snot.

61. Thought, "My gosh. My children are the most adorable things in the entire world."

62. Smiled when your kids hugged each other.

63. Thrown away Halloween candy (after fishing out all the chocolate bars).

64. Realized the true use of a timer is not for baking.

65. Thought, "Isn't there at least some period of their lives where they adore me and listen to what I say?"

66. Cried and cried, because you feel like you're just not cut out for this sort of thing.

67. Felt triumphant when your child spelled their name without prompting to your now impressed neighbor / relative / friend.

68. Put on boots, coats, hats, gloves and snow pants and just as you're walking out the door hear a rumbling from your child that indicates severe diaper problems, or having your older child say, "I have to go to the bathroom."

69. Realized that children's books are sometimes written for adults.

70. Had to remind yourself not to talk in a sing-songy, supercalm happy voice when speaking to other adults.

71. Sometimes the only constant in your day is that it will eventually end.

72. Discovered that a really childproof room is empty and padded and only exists in insane asylums.

73. Had to backpedal quickly when you told your child not to do something and they said, "But Mommy, you do it."

74. Dug out a sliver.

75. Been ignored. Over and over.

76. Felt that if you get touched one more time you might have to become a hermit.

77. Laughed (with just a bit of hysteria) at the magazine picture of well-behaved children that put together beautiful crafts.

78. Gotten an unexpected kiss and a hug.

79. Had your heart melt when you hear, "Hold me, hold me."

80. Cleaned up a blow-out diaper, and managed to salvage the onesie.

81. Thought, "Oh, my parents were right."

82. Prayed really hard that you're raising them to be good, thoughtful, happy people.

83. Hoped they won't remember the time you accidentally dropped / forgot about them.

84. Hoped they will remember the times you read stories / sang / played with them.

85. Felt like the Wicked Witch of the West.

86. Given an Eskimo kiss.

87. Felt your heart strings tug when they first let go of your hand to venture off on their own.

88. Pretended you liked something just to get your kid to eat / do it.

89. Wore matching outfits with your kids and thought it was awesome.

90. Tried to keep the car nice by not allowing food, then gave up and tossed food randomly at your children in an effort to quiet them.

91. Heard your child yell excitedly, "Mommy!" when you walk into the room.

92. Caused extreme giggling (on purpose).

93. Vanquished a monster with a spray bottle.

94. Answered "Why?" questions with preposterous and crazy answers but still not managed to stop the "Why?"s from coming.

95. Bought a really padded bra for protection from elbows and other stray limbs.

96. Played the, "I'm going to hide in the _____" version of Hide and Seek.

97. Learned to traverse the kitchen with a small child clinging to your legs and the phone on your shoulder.

98. Told yourself, "This is for her good."

99. Known this is the best and hardest job in the world. (But wished for paid time off)"