We finally got the landlords to agree to let us get a pet. Of course we have to sign another agreement that any damage done by the pet will be our responsibility and not part of the security deposit. Nothing too bad and we aren't the type to try and get out of something we owe. In fact, that is the only reason they are allowing us to get a pet. They said they know we are responsible and will take care of the property and pet. I'm sure it also was helping that they know were were talking about a kitten and not a dog. : )
On Monday we got Willow. He started as a kitten for my mother but there was a bond between him and Katherine. She spent the night at my mothers to help her watch him on Saturday after mom had picked him up. He followed her around and listened to her which seemed so odd. Then Sunday Willow hung out her for a while so Ava could play with him too. It was just apparent that they loved him and Grammie told us to get the landlord okay and we could keep him.
Not only did she give the girls Willow, she is also going to pay for his shots, neutering (when the time comes) and declawing. All so she knows the girls are safe and Willow will not get sick.
He loves being here. It's weird how he just fits in with us. Seems like he has parts of our personalities too. Definitely a meant to be moment.
Oh and yes, Willow is a boy but Willow is a girly type name. See he's gray and mom named him Pussy Willow but we all just call him Willow. Tried to get the girls to rename him but it was a no go. Besides there was a movie Willow once and that was a boy? : )
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Becoming Sister Wives Book Review
I am a big fan of the show. Fascinated by how women can share a husband and how it all works. Of course I knew I had to read the book when I saw they were writing one.
The book is written by the adults of the family - not a person that they just told their stories to. I always enjoy biographies better when the people write them themselves. This to me could fit into biography since it is about their life as a family.
It starts with Kody writing the preface. Then the wives each get a chapter to talk about how they came into the family. You know, how they met Kody and were courted, how long, etc. After everyone gets to write about that they all start writing about being a sister wife and their relationships with each other. The next section of the book moves to the Family. How they co parent, make decisions, etc. Finally comes the section on being celebrities. How the show came to be, what it has been like being in the public eye and so on. Kody then concludes the book.
I enjoyed being able to read more about the back story. It helps clear up some questions a viewer may have, we learn that they are Mormon Fundamentalists and that it is different from the FLDS church and what we saw on tv with the raids. We even learn how plural marriage is brought together in their faith. Of course I did find some wives more enjoyable to read than others but that may be because I enjoy them more on the show for whatever reason.
Overall the book is a fast read. It took me about a day and a half and that would have been shorter if I didn't have kids and a husband that needed me during that time. : ) I also learned a lot from reading it as I have mentioned a few points above.
Remember the new season starts May 13th on TLC.
* I was not given anything to do this review. I just enjoy the show and borrowed the book from the local library. *
The book is written by the adults of the family - not a person that they just told their stories to. I always enjoy biographies better when the people write them themselves. This to me could fit into biography since it is about their life as a family.
It starts with Kody writing the preface. Then the wives each get a chapter to talk about how they came into the family. You know, how they met Kody and were courted, how long, etc. After everyone gets to write about that they all start writing about being a sister wife and their relationships with each other. The next section of the book moves to the Family. How they co parent, make decisions, etc. Finally comes the section on being celebrities. How the show came to be, what it has been like being in the public eye and so on. Kody then concludes the book.
I enjoyed being able to read more about the back story. It helps clear up some questions a viewer may have, we learn that they are Mormon Fundamentalists and that it is different from the FLDS church and what we saw on tv with the raids. We even learn how plural marriage is brought together in their faith. Of course I did find some wives more enjoyable to read than others but that may be because I enjoy them more on the show for whatever reason.
Overall the book is a fast read. It took me about a day and a half and that would have been shorter if I didn't have kids and a husband that needed me during that time. : ) I also learned a lot from reading it as I have mentioned a few points above.
Remember the new season starts May 13th on TLC.
* I was not given anything to do this review. I just enjoy the show and borrowed the book from the local library. *
Friday, May 4, 2012
May's Focus
This month we are to do loving movement. Nope, not some interpretive dance (unless that's what you want to do) but just getting up and getting moving.
As always FlyLady sets it to 15 minutes a day and gives you a place on her site to log how much you have done. However, why not go the extra 5 minutes if you can. It is suggested that 20 minutes of exercise a day helps women lower their risk of heart attacks.
So get out there and walk, dance, jog whatever it gets to get you moving again.
As always FlyLady sets it to 15 minutes a day and gives you a place on her site to log how much you have done. However, why not go the extra 5 minutes if you can. It is suggested that 20 minutes of exercise a day helps women lower their risk of heart attacks.
So get out there and walk, dance, jog whatever it gets to get you moving again.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Consistency and Bedtime
That word is both beautiful and frustrating. Being consistent in anything will take work and is not always easy. However it is a must when parenting.
I, like most people, am on Facebook. Daily I see posts (sometimes multiple from the same person) complaining about their child ---- (fill in the blank). They don't listen, they have tantrums at stores, they won't go to bed, etc.
Facebook is an interesting thing. When you post something, you are opening it for comments, ie. peoples two cents. So when one friend talked about bedtime battles I offered help - what I did that worked. She tried it but when it got hard, quit. So the child is still staying up all night and in the bed with the parents. Though both parents say they want their bed back to themselves they are not doing what needs to be done to get it.
As I have written about before I started bedtime rituals from the time I first spotted the kids getting a routine on their own. It was just a matter of tweaking naps so they would be tired at "bedtime". I then got used to getting up at their time in the morning. Eventually we met in the middle and had no issues. Before you start with well that was when they were babies, it's harder when they are older, etc I was the one that started a bedtime for Ryan, my stepson. Justin (hubby) had never had a time for him. I remember getting off work and talking to Justin on the phone and around 11:30 his son was still up. It was easier to let him do what he wanted than do what was best for him and everyone else in the home. It's hard to sleep when kids are still running around, playing, and want attention still. Plus, Justin would take Ryan to day care around 6:30 every morning and it was a struggle.
When Justin and Ryan moved into my apartment with me I told Justin he needed a set bedtime. Ryan was almost 3 and it was a nightly fight. Since he had always been allowed to stay up until he decided to sleep we couldnt start at our desired bedtime. So we started with 11. (Still a fight) Blankets were thrown and crying tantrums came but we sat by his bed to make him realize he needed to stay put. It took a week or so. Then we would up it by 15 minutes when he became used to it and would naturally want to sleep at that time. Eventually we got to the 8:30 bedtime and he would be ready to wake when he had to get up for Daycare and eventually school. It wasn't easy but it was possible. The friends child is the same age, but she used a new excuse that her child was too young and wouldn't understand.
I write this here to hopefully help someone else with ideas and to show it CAN be done. You just have to be consistent and not give in at the first sign of a fight or tantrum. By doing so you may be setting them up to believe that to get their way, throw a tantrum because they will remember it worked before.
I, like most people, am on Facebook. Daily I see posts (sometimes multiple from the same person) complaining about their child ---- (fill in the blank). They don't listen, they have tantrums at stores, they won't go to bed, etc.
Facebook is an interesting thing. When you post something, you are opening it for comments, ie. peoples two cents. So when one friend talked about bedtime battles I offered help - what I did that worked. She tried it but when it got hard, quit. So the child is still staying up all night and in the bed with the parents. Though both parents say they want their bed back to themselves they are not doing what needs to be done to get it.
As I have written about before I started bedtime rituals from the time I first spotted the kids getting a routine on their own. It was just a matter of tweaking naps so they would be tired at "bedtime". I then got used to getting up at their time in the morning. Eventually we met in the middle and had no issues. Before you start with well that was when they were babies, it's harder when they are older, etc I was the one that started a bedtime for Ryan, my stepson. Justin (hubby) had never had a time for him. I remember getting off work and talking to Justin on the phone and around 11:30 his son was still up. It was easier to let him do what he wanted than do what was best for him and everyone else in the home. It's hard to sleep when kids are still running around, playing, and want attention still. Plus, Justin would take Ryan to day care around 6:30 every morning and it was a struggle.
When Justin and Ryan moved into my apartment with me I told Justin he needed a set bedtime. Ryan was almost 3 and it was a nightly fight. Since he had always been allowed to stay up until he decided to sleep we couldnt start at our desired bedtime. So we started with 11. (Still a fight) Blankets were thrown and crying tantrums came but we sat by his bed to make him realize he needed to stay put. It took a week or so. Then we would up it by 15 minutes when he became used to it and would naturally want to sleep at that time. Eventually we got to the 8:30 bedtime and he would be ready to wake when he had to get up for Daycare and eventually school. It wasn't easy but it was possible. The friends child is the same age, but she used a new excuse that her child was too young and wouldn't understand.
I write this here to hopefully help someone else with ideas and to show it CAN be done. You just have to be consistent and not give in at the first sign of a fight or tantrum. By doing so you may be setting them up to believe that to get their way, throw a tantrum because they will remember it worked before.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Aprils Habit
Almost forgot to post this month. Well for those of you still working with FlyLady, April is Making the Bed. Yep all month you need to make your bed.
First off, face it. The bed is the main focal point in the BEDroom. So making your bed instantly "lifts up" the room. After doing so you may be motivated to work on decluttering and straightening the rest of the room. It can also help you see where things may be amiss in the room.
Since I am 2 weeks behind in posting this you really get a break. : )
If you haven't already make your bed now. Let the kids make theirs and fight the urge to "fix" it for them.
First off, face it. The bed is the main focal point in the BEDroom. So making your bed instantly "lifts up" the room. After doing so you may be motivated to work on decluttering and straightening the rest of the room. It can also help you see where things may be amiss in the room.
Since I am 2 weeks behind in posting this you really get a break. : )
If you haven't already make your bed now. Let the kids make theirs and fight the urge to "fix" it for them.
Something I found today.....
Watch and it makes you think. Wonder. What's with the secrecy? Why is no one talking about this during this election season? They speak of phone tapping and intercepting emails. Why not this? It seems the same. Also consider that Facebook has now signed a document that pretty well eliminates privacy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsDhkPym01k&feature=player_embedded
Call me a conspiracy theorist if you'd like but I'd like to see the answers. It's not like the government hasn't kept information from us before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsDhkPym01k&feature=player_embedded
Call me a conspiracy theorist if you'd like but I'd like to see the answers. It's not like the government hasn't kept information from us before.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
March Update
Yes, I know. It has been almost a month since I blogged anything. Oops.
Well, on March 17th we had my daughters 6th birthday party. It was at Kids Kingdom, which is a place full of bouncy houses. It did get pricey (lucky she is a tax time baby) but we have no room here, no yard and they clean up. Guess that is about fair.
That night I got to see Chonda Pierce and Natalie Grant in concert. Who knew someone would come to our podunk area to perform. After the stress of the day I needed the time out with some friends. We all had an amazing time. Definitely a moms gone wild night.
At the end of March Katherine lost her first tooth. Her adult tooth had fully come out behind the baby one so we had been telling her to wiggle wiggle wiggle. Daddy finally got it out. Unfortunately we didn't have any ones. So she got a 5. Yep she was happy with that. Guess we can always play it off as something that only happens with the first tooth. That night I sneaked into her room and swiped the tooth, replaced it with the money, and sprinkled gold glitter (the tooth fairy's magic dust) from the pillow to the window sill. She loved it and wanted to show everyone the fairy dust. Very glad I remembered that idea from another mommy blog I had read last year.
Well, on March 17th we had my daughters 6th birthday party. It was at Kids Kingdom, which is a place full of bouncy houses. It did get pricey (lucky she is a tax time baby) but we have no room here, no yard and they clean up. Guess that is about fair.
That night I got to see Chonda Pierce and Natalie Grant in concert. Who knew someone would come to our podunk area to perform. After the stress of the day I needed the time out with some friends. We all had an amazing time. Definitely a moms gone wild night.
At the end of March Katherine lost her first tooth. Her adult tooth had fully come out behind the baby one so we had been telling her to wiggle wiggle wiggle. Daddy finally got it out. Unfortunately we didn't have any ones. So she got a 5. Yep she was happy with that. Guess we can always play it off as something that only happens with the first tooth. That night I sneaked into her room and swiped the tooth, replaced it with the money, and sprinkled gold glitter (the tooth fairy's magic dust) from the pillow to the window sill. She loved it and wanted to show everyone the fairy dust. Very glad I remembered that idea from another mommy blog I had read last year.
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| My First time hearing Natalie's music. I bought her cd after the show. Amazing. |
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| Chonda making us all crack up |
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| Katherine stopping to get a drink during her party |
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| Some of Kat's friends at the party though I am not sure exactly which ones these are |
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