I always think I need a picture to post on my blog. I haven't really taken any cute pictures lately. On Sunday for our family night we talked about personal responsibility and self-discipline. We created chore charts for everyone (myself and my husband included)! It has been a very good thing. Our kids now seem to sense (on a beginning level of course) that they are responsible for themselves and the things that happen in their lives. We are trying to help them understand that there are consequences for every action. It's hard, as a parent, to stand by and let them fail now, so that hopefully they won't fail later. I think it's one of my biggest weaknesses as a parent, I want them to succeed SO badly that I start micromanaging. The other day Ryan was really dragging in the morning. We were having a hard time getting him out the door and to school (which is only across the street). Scott finally pointed out that he was late for school and that it was his fault because he was ignoring our warnings and suggestions that he was going to be late. He was shocked! He kept saying, "My fault?"
I've also stepped back a litte bit during their piano practice. They do much better when they are "in charge" of practice time. It's funny to me because it seems opposite to logic. They do better when you set the expectation and then let them succeed or fail by their own merits? Weird! As you can tell, I'm still having a hard time digesting the whole thing and effectively making a change.
I also get so frustrated with myself. It's like I can't handle my own success. I was doing so well with the chore charts. We were getting more things done with less struggle, the kids were happier, the house was cleaner. Then Thursday came and I just felt tired and bound. I didn't want to be "tied down" to the dinky little chore chart. I felt tired of being on my kids all the time, tired of always doing something: preschool with Emmy, preschool with Ben, piano practice with Julia, dishes, laundry, etc. So, I sat around and did nothing. It makes me so mad at myself. So mad at myself I could puke! I guess life is about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and trying again. Buck up little camper and drive on!
Tonight was a really fun night. Scott and I went bowling with another couple from our church. We had a lot of fun. Even though I am a HORRIBLE bowler, I have always enjoyed it! A weekly date is a neccessity for every stay-at-home mom of small kids. I always feel so much better about my life when we go and take some time together. It doesn't really seem to matter what we do. It just matters that we're together, and that we aren't talking about the kids or the finances.
Well, I know you don't want to listen to me babble on forever. I just though I'd share some of my thoughts, and hopefully some of you struggle with the same things and feel better to know that you're not alone! I hope everyone has a great weekend!
What do you get when your tired asthmatic two-year old refuses to take a nap? A baby asleep on the couch at 4 pm. He didn't wake up until 6pm, and I have no idea when he went to bed because Scott and I were at the Josh Groban concert. My heart goes out to our babysitter--poor lad!
Emily has started playing tea party with her Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses Dolls. It's really the cutest thing ever. She is the best hostess, she doesn't even have a plate or a cup for herself. She just takes good care of all her guests and makes sure they're happy. She even makes sure to seat couples together. Genevieve and Prince Derek always sit together, as well as Annika and Prince Aidan (Barbie in the Magic of Pegusus)!
She really had a shmorgasbord party. We mom's always want a clear theme and matching decorations, invitations and cake. Emily opted for a Strawberry Shortcake cake, a Disney Princesses tablecloth, and Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses invitations. Oh, well, nothing matched, but she was happy!
We invited eight kids, plus my three who were home. We had a royal tea party and cupcakes. By the time 11:30 rolled around I was very ready for parents to come and get their kids. I guess I'm losing my patience.
This was Ryan the Thursday morning before Spring Break. He knew that Spring Break was coming, his teacher had told him, and he had a hard time pulling himself out of bed to go to the last two days of school before his week of freedom.
Last night Scott and I went to the Josh Groban concert at the American Airlines Center in Dallas! My honey wasn't feeling very well, but he came with me anyway, what a sweetie!
Okay, okay, I know I said I would stop with the whole Emily thing, but then I found this picture. Doesn't she look just like an angel in her beautiful blessing dress. She was named after her Great Grandma Kohler, Aleen "Sally" Braithwaite Kohler. Her name is Emily Aleen. Her proud Great Grandma sent me extra money because she wanted her namesake to have a beautiful blessing dress!
We had a very busy day, and Julia was kind of still recovering from being a sicky. She was SO tired she fell asleep like this on the couch!
I know this is kind of turning into an homage to Emily. So, one more and I'll quit. She hasn't been taking naps lately, but on the 4th she was so tired I didn't know what else to do with her. I had to go in and wake her up around 4 pm so that she would go to sleep at a reasonable time. She just looked so cute, and of course by the time I got the camera she knew what I was up to and I couldn't get a natural looking picture. But it's still cute.
Here she is finally ready to get up and have the rest of her day!
Tomorrow is Emily's fourth birthday! I don't know why, but the same thing happens each year on each of my kids' birthdays. How can she possibly be four already? The time just flies by so fast. I hesitated to post this picture, I do not look very good at all. But it helps me be patient as far as getting pregnant again is concerned. Look at how huge I am!
Here she is, the beautiful result of all that physical toil. A beautiful baby girl with naturally highlighted hair (lucky girl). She is so calm, so peaceful. She loves beautiful things, compliments and hugs from her daddy! She is definately a barbie girl. For christmas I went overboard and got her all 12 of the dolls from the Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses movie. I thought that she wouldn't play with some of them. But she loves and plays with every last Barbie. She conned her daddy into buying her wedding barbie, and she plays with and loves that one too! When they're tiny, it's hard to imagine what they will be when they get older, but looking back she has always been my precious little Emily! Mommy loves you with all of her heart! Happy Birthday my beautiful princess Emily!
There is a lady at our church who does princess parties on the weekend to make a little extra money for her family. Emily got invited to one, and here is the picture. She had a lot of fun. It's all she talked about for the next week!
