Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Kids and bows

My Goofy Kids!
They are so weird and also pretty awesome.

A couple weeks ago I started a little chore chart for them- they get check marks for each job and then a sticker for everyday. That seems to be working well so far and they are mostly excited to help out around the house and work on their reading time with Mom. Daisy doesn't quite get it, but she still likes to be a part of everything because she is a big girl. 
The other day Lucy asked me if I used her Mickey notebook to make a sticker chart and I said yes. She told me, "Oh Mom, how could you?!" in her best dramatic performance, back of her hand over her forehead. Oh dear! 
Speaking of dramatic, last week Lucy slipped on the ice and she cried, "I just can't take it anymore!"

Oh and an update on Boyd: A couple weeks ago I had a parent teacher conference and we talked about Boyd maybe going to a different class because he is so bored and also so he would be able to go to regular 1st grade in the fall (they are supposed to go to kindergarten another year). His teacher had to talk to some people about that and yesterday we talked again. The other kindergarten teacher said it wouldn't be a good idea to change his class right now. But we are going to get the workbook and have us catch up to other class by working on more writing skills and worksheets at home as well as continuing his reading. As far as his social and behavioral skills, he's meeting all of his goals and is doing well enough to be able to move on to 1st grade. I'm really proud of him growing up so much and so fast. The end of the last school year we were still unsure about him going to an autism class or a transitional class and he's done so much better than we ever imagined.

I made another bow the other day and its super cute. I cut 12 7" pieces of ribbon (I was making 2 of them) and put a mark on the center.
Then I folded the ribbon and glued the 2 ends to the center mark (not overlapping).

I glued them all together. First by 2 ribbons across and then stack 3 of those.
Glue on a center button and clippy and there ya go!
The last time I made these I followed a guide that said to sew them, but that way you get so much overlap of ribbon that the center is really tall and chunky, so I just glued them so it would be flatter and I like it better that way.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Another bow

If you want to make this cute bow, better find another way unless you want to burn the shiz out of your fingers. I followed a tutorial from another blog and realized how stupid it is to hot glue something so close to your hand with only a thin piece of material sometimes falling in between. But, here's what I did:
Cut about a 1 inch piece of long material. Tie a knot at one end, twist up the piece and wrap it around the knot while hot gluing it and keep wrapping and twisting the material in a spiral.
Then I swiped a few feathers from my daughter's dress up boa, cut a material circle and glued it on the back.
I glued on a bead for the center and a clippy and there it is...
 Cute as a bug, huh? I think so. I think next time I would cut out a piece of felt in a circle first and then glue the fabric onto that instead of on my hand. Brilliant!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Random Stuff

What have we been doing all day everyday? I don't know, random stuff I guess.

I have been reading Monte Cristo pretty much nonstop and just finished last night. I really enjoyed the book a lot! I just wish I had read it before I saw the movie, and then I would have known that he doesn't end up with his woman. I expected them to get together the entire book and almost the very end when the two of them were talking for the last time she was all "oh I'm so old and ugly now and have to live alone in your old poor house" and he was all "yeah you are, that sucks. But I got myself a hot 17 year old now so, ya know, won't be seeing you again." (Not verbatim). Honestly I was a little disappointed with that one part, but the rest of it was so good! I highly recommend it to everyone if you haven't read it. My next book is Huckleberry Finn just because it is a free book on my phone and I remember liking Tom Sawyer, so why not? After that I will read Mockingjay.

While I was busy reading, I might have neglected my children a tiny bit. Daisy does look a little homeless with her full diaper and stained shirt, but its still a funny picture with her wearing Boyd's boots and playing with Lucy so sweetly.
Boyd has been doing a little better with trying new foods, the most recent being green beans at dinner last night. On an unrelated story, he asked to have his sandwich cut in a circle instead of squares and was really proud of himself and asked me to take a picture of it.
Daisy wants to watch Snow White constantly. She's so cute when she just falls asleep to it on the floor. Daisy's been kind of hit and miss with naps, but I don't mind at all finding her asleep like that just because she's so sweet.
Lucy started up dance class again. She was so excited and this is what she put on for it for me to take a picture of her "best awesome dance moves." She's pretty amazing!

Monday, January 10, 2011

More January goal stuff

Just since my last post I had some new resolutions come up and why not share?
Ken started the "Biggest Loser" competition at his work, and that was a good time for the both of us to get on board. I'm not in it for the huge amount of weight loss or anything, but just because I want to get healthier and in shape. I haven't even been checking the scale at all because honestly the number doesn't bother me, I would just like to reverse that inverse hour glass figure a bit more and have more energy everyday.

I did one class of Zumba and loved it! It totally kicked my butt, but I'm glad I did it even the whole hour. I think I will try to get to a class once or twice a week. Then I have to think of some other exercise to do in between like a workout video or treadmill. I sort of hate running, but its not so bad when I'm watching a show at the same time.

Despite all the great progress Boyd has been doing, one thing that has been getting worse is his eating habits. He just keeps eating less food and less variety all the time. He pretty much survives on 1-2 pb&j's a day. Boyd has weighed the same amount for over 2 years, which is a little worrisome. So anyway, we've been trying to get Boyd to eat more things and try new foods. He absolutely hates it- gags, cries, spits, chokes, hits his face. But, he actually is trying new things, he has to pick one new food at dinnertime or he can't play games. Poor guy, but I'm sure it will get much better soon as long as we stick to it.

I started reading the Count of Monte Cristo and absolutely love it! I've decided that I want to read more books this year. I don't know why I've had a weird chip on shoulder about reading- I guess it comes from high school at having to read books because they told me to and it wasn't supposed to be fun. It is just one of those stupid ideas I had in my head that doesn't even make sense. Better late than never, right?

I also thought I would at saying some things I am thankful for more often. Sometimes I keep a mental note of all the things I want and need to buy. The list keeps adding up longer and longer to where I don't stop to see all the many more things I do have and how wonderful they are. The first thing I will start with is that I'm thankful my family and I have had our basic needs met so easily everyday.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year!

I've been thinking of what my resolutions will be for the year and haven't really come up with anything specific. I guess the best I can do is to do better than before. I hate to waste so much time doing nothing and I just need to have a better attitude about what I do everyday. I have so much to be thankful for and I want to express it more everyday. I've been trying to spend some good quality time with the kids and really enjoy who they are right now. My last baby is trying really hard to be a kid and she's changing so much everyday I don't want to miss it. Daisy loves to sing all day long and says so many words, she is so amazing The other night Ken said something about Boyd turning 7 this year. I can't quite wrap my head around that one either, let alone that he is already 6. He has done so well this year in all areas of life and I'm so excited to see him become a smart, well behaved and happy kid. He's reading really well now and so excited to show everyone. Boyd went right into his new primary class on Sunday and was happy. Lucy is such a funny, smart and sweet girl. Just recently she finally grew out of the crazy screaming phase and does really well to listen and talk with us. Lucy is a great artist, she loves to draw pictures for me everyday and is writing letters so well now. I think she's not too far behind Boyd in learning how to read. I just had to delete what I wrote about Ken so I don't gag anyone with mushy lovey stuff. All I can say is I am so thankful for a great husband who works so hard for our family and takes care of us in many ways. I've got an awesome family and will work really hard to take care of them better and appreciate all the good things about each one.

Happy New Year everyone!