I say progress, but I don't know if I really mean it. So far our Hailey Bug has gone in her potty a total of two times. Pee once and poop once. That was a couple weeks ago. She was still taking her diaper off every chance she got, so I decided to give in and attempt to potty train her for real.
I bought some cute like undies in preparation. They were size 2T/3T (she's 20 months) and they were HUGE on her! They basically did not help because they were so big she couldn't even tell when she had an accident in them. I bought her some new ones that are a little smaller, but I can't seem to find any small enough! (Help me out, anyone?) On Monday I started putting her in the underwear (with just a t shirt) and explained to her that she's a big girl now, we go potty on the toilet not in our underwear, blah blah blah, you know. All day long I would tell her every 10 minutes to "Tell Mommy when you need to go potty." And she told me. Right after it happened. Every time.
I have this carpet cleaner spray stuff that's for pet messes that seems to be working well for the that. I went through the whole package of poorly fitting underwear. I have done a LOT of laundry this week.
Tuesday was a little tiny bit better at first. She started to go and told me so she held it long enough for me to rush her to the bathroom where she peed on the floor right next to the potty. Progress. She still has not actually gone in her potty since she's been out of diapers. I put her in a fresh pair of underwear and let her play. She decided to sit on my lap. Feel free to stop reading this paragraph if you are easily grossed out. I reached down to hold her leg and felt something gooey and sticky. I looked at my hand, completely grossed out in my head before I even saw it, and realized it was covered in poop. She had just pooped and the undies were not holding it in. I quickly stood her up and tried to take her to the bathroom while she screamed. She took two steps and like slow motion I watched more poop fall out of her underwear heading toward my carpet!!!! I reached out and caught it. In my hand. Ewww..... I carried it to the bathroom and put her on the potty while I cleaned everything up. She cried the whole time. I didn't get mad at her. I just told her that it was gross and we go potty in the toilet. After that I put her in a pull up and I took a shower!
After that little adventure I had to make it a good experience to sit on the potty again. She was a little apprehensive and I don't really know why. It's not like she even got in trouble for having accidents. We had another family gathering watching as she tried to go, so that made her happy. Anyway, she tried tried to go a couple more times that night. She had an accident almost immediately after exchanging her pull up for another pair of underwear. She hasn't been waking up dry in the mornings, but she has been doing well after her naps. I still put her in a pull up or diaper while she sleeps. I'm not ready to deal with that yet.
We're trying. I'm tired. She's probably frustrated. We are all shut ins. Hopefully this will get better. Soon.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Monday, September 7, 2015
Potty Training Twins Part 2 of a Billion
Isn't it funny how pee, poop, and potty becomes a regular part of a parent's vocabulary? It's funny enough that we talk about it, but even more so when we celebrate it! It seems like it should just be a natural thing to do, but it can become a source of much frustration if it isn't happening when or where you want.
My next... adventure I guess we'll call it, was with Miss Hailey. I caught her in the act. She looked like she was about to poop in her diaper, so I asked her if she wanted to go on the potty and she nodded her head, "yes". I whisked her in to the bathroom and stripped her down so she could sit on her little potty. (This was on Sunday so she was in a very fluffy pink dress which makes sitting on a tiny potty chair slightly problematic.) She was okay for like a second. Then she cried and kept pointing to her diaper like she wanted to go in it. I talked to her about going in the potty and she totally understood and settled down a little. But then... she heard her siblings in the other room having the time of their lives! She no longer wanted to sit, but she was such a good girl and stayed sitting down, all the while practically begging me to let her go play. I brought her a book so she would be a little more okay with staying for a while longer. Soon the whole posse' strolled in to see how it was going. I had to kick the other two kiddos out though because they were super distracting. Hailey made her daddy stay there for moral support while she sat. And sat. And tried to poop. And sat some more. Finally he got really uncomfortable (because he was laying on the floor in the hallway, not because it was family bathroom hour) and decided to go cook dinner. (What a man, let me tell you! So great!) Don't you worry, we sat there for half an hour at least, not even exaggerating. She gave it a good effort and kept pointing to the cup thing that she was supposed to go in and saying "poop" over and over while I excitedly said "Yes! Go poop in there!", but alas, she did not go. And when David told us dinner was ready we gave up for the time being and joined our family for dinner.
I was honestly looking forward to her having a great first(ish) experience. I wanted so badly to be able to celebrate and give her a treat. I wanted her to see and understand what we were talking about and why we sat there- she sat there- for so long. Luckily it was a mostly positive experience, just basically without results. It will happen eventually. Like I said in Part 1 of this potty training journey, I am not trying to rush this. We're taking baby steps! The only reason we did sit there for so long was because I knew she had to go. And she did. Half an hour later. In her diaper.
Sigh...
Let me tell you how I plan to do this. I want to start this slow process out by recognizing, like I did with Hailey, when they are going to go poop and then help them to recognize it also. I don't want to do the whole "try to go potty" thing. That doesn't seem effective to me if they aren't understanding what is supposed to be happening. I want them to be able to recognize when they need to go. Right now they are recognizing as they go or right after it happens. Baby steps. It's progress. And important progress at that. Understanding what is happening with their bodies helps them to be able to start to control it a little bit more. It is still their choice if they want to go on the potty right now. I always ask them if that's what they want to do. These girls are pretty stubborn, so it is going to have to be their choice. I have heard a lot from other moms that going poop in the toilet is harder to teach. That's why I have tried starting with that one. I would much rather clean a wet diaper than a poopy one! And if that's the hard part, why not get it over with? That's the plan anyway. We'll see how it goes.
Read Potty Training Twins Part 1 of a Billion
My next... adventure I guess we'll call it, was with Miss Hailey. I caught her in the act. She looked like she was about to poop in her diaper, so I asked her if she wanted to go on the potty and she nodded her head, "yes". I whisked her in to the bathroom and stripped her down so she could sit on her little potty. (This was on Sunday so she was in a very fluffy pink dress which makes sitting on a tiny potty chair slightly problematic.) She was okay for like a second. Then she cried and kept pointing to her diaper like she wanted to go in it. I talked to her about going in the potty and she totally understood and settled down a little. But then... she heard her siblings in the other room having the time of their lives! She no longer wanted to sit, but she was such a good girl and stayed sitting down, all the while practically begging me to let her go play. I brought her a book so she would be a little more okay with staying for a while longer. Soon the whole posse' strolled in to see how it was going. I had to kick the other two kiddos out though because they were super distracting. Hailey made her daddy stay there for moral support while she sat. And sat. And tried to poop. And sat some more. Finally he got really uncomfortable (because he was laying on the floor in the hallway, not because it was family bathroom hour) and decided to go cook dinner. (What a man, let me tell you! So great!) Don't you worry, we sat there for half an hour at least, not even exaggerating. She gave it a good effort and kept pointing to the cup thing that she was supposed to go in and saying "poop" over and over while I excitedly said "Yes! Go poop in there!", but alas, she did not go. And when David told us dinner was ready we gave up for the time being and joined our family for dinner.
I was honestly looking forward to her having a great first(ish) experience. I wanted so badly to be able to celebrate and give her a treat. I wanted her to see and understand what we were talking about and why we sat there- she sat there- for so long. Luckily it was a mostly positive experience, just basically without results. It will happen eventually. Like I said in Part 1 of this potty training journey, I am not trying to rush this. We're taking baby steps! The only reason we did sit there for so long was because I knew she had to go. And she did. Half an hour later. In her diaper.
Sigh...
Let me tell you how I plan to do this. I want to start this slow process out by recognizing, like I did with Hailey, when they are going to go poop and then help them to recognize it also. I don't want to do the whole "try to go potty" thing. That doesn't seem effective to me if they aren't understanding what is supposed to be happening. I want them to be able to recognize when they need to go. Right now they are recognizing as they go or right after it happens. Baby steps. It's progress. And important progress at that. Understanding what is happening with their bodies helps them to be able to start to control it a little bit more. It is still their choice if they want to go on the potty right now. I always ask them if that's what they want to do. These girls are pretty stubborn, so it is going to have to be their choice. I have heard a lot from other moms that going poop in the toilet is harder to teach. That's why I have tried starting with that one. I would much rather clean a wet diaper than a poopy one! And if that's the hard part, why not get it over with? That's the plan anyway. We'll see how it goes.
Read Potty Training Twins Part 1 of a Billion
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Potty Training Twins Part 1 of a Billion
Are there actually twins out there who are potty trained? Or are all adult twins secretly just wearing diapers still? I'm not so sure it can be done... It might be impossible, but I have to try!
When I potty trained Jackson it was like the easiest experience ever! He wanted to be a big boy so badly that he basically potty trained himself. Starting at about 18 months I never had to change a poopy diaper from him again! Miraculous, I know. I have a feeling the twins are going to be a whole other story.
These cute twinners of mine have been very similar in development for EVERYTHING! From crawling and walking to talking and even getting teeth they have been within 3-10 days of each other. I was a little overwhelmed thinking I might have to potty train them at the same time, but they aren't showing the same, uh..., interest? So I'm hoping as soon as I'm finished with one I will be able to start with the other.
Hailey, the oldest of the two (by 18 minutes- semi long story), has shown signs of potty training readiness. She understands what poop is, and don't you worry, she tells me right after she is finished going- in her diaper. She also likes to take off her diaper when she wakes up in the morning or after a nap because it is uncomfortable. (I have cleaned up way too many poop messes because she does NOT want to wear that diaper when it's full.) She will nod her head if I ask if she wants me to change her diaper, and she wants to watch everybody in the family go to the bathroom!
Melanie, my youngest, on the other hand shows none of these signs, except nodding "yes" when she wants her diaper changed. So... that means I think I will be starting with my other sweet girl, Hailey.
They are definitely alike sometimes. They both SCREAMED when I put them on the real toilet. Yeah, I wasn't doing that again. They are much smaller than Jackson was when he was their age and they seemed terrified! It probably looks like a potty for giants when you're that small. So I pulled out the tiny potty chair thing that my son had used like twice- after cleaning poop out of one of those things you never want to do it again! And I figured out a solution for the cleaning problem. I put a baggie inside the "cup" and put a rubber band around the outside so it would stay in place. It can be rinsed for pee and thrown away for the poop! Not a perfect system, but it's the only way I'm doing this. I will transition them to the regular toilet that flushes ASAP! But for now, hopefully this works.
They have both taken turns sitting on the potty just for pretend. No screaming though, which is totally progress! Jackson is my helper and he keeps asking him if they have to go potty haha! But... I did ask him to stop doing that. I don't like that system. I want them to "tell" me (signs, words, or partial words) when they have to go. I'm not potty training myself. Been there done that. I'm trying to train them to recognize when they have to go. I also made sure they know it's yucky to go in their diapers (started telling them that at about 17 months) and now that they know we can talk about how it's important to be clean and dry by going potty like big girls! Those are just a few tips I've learned already. I am also not above bribery so they will be getting small rewards once we have a little more progress. We will make sure they know it's a BIG DEAL!
This is probably going to be a gradual process for both of them. I'm not sure I'm ready to go out and buy big girl underwear yet, but hey, I have a hope for a future without large quantity diaper purchases!
When I potty trained Jackson it was like the easiest experience ever! He wanted to be a big boy so badly that he basically potty trained himself. Starting at about 18 months I never had to change a poopy diaper from him again! Miraculous, I know. I have a feeling the twins are going to be a whole other story.
These cute twinners of mine have been very similar in development for EVERYTHING! From crawling and walking to talking and even getting teeth they have been within 3-10 days of each other. I was a little overwhelmed thinking I might have to potty train them at the same time, but they aren't showing the same, uh..., interest? So I'm hoping as soon as I'm finished with one I will be able to start with the other.
Hailey, the oldest of the two (by 18 minutes- semi long story), has shown signs of potty training readiness. She understands what poop is, and don't you worry, she tells me right after she is finished going- in her diaper. She also likes to take off her diaper when she wakes up in the morning or after a nap because it is uncomfortable. (I have cleaned up way too many poop messes because she does NOT want to wear that diaper when it's full.) She will nod her head if I ask if she wants me to change her diaper, and she wants to watch everybody in the family go to the bathroom!
Melanie, my youngest, on the other hand shows none of these signs, except nodding "yes" when she wants her diaper changed. So... that means I think I will be starting with my other sweet girl, Hailey.
They are definitely alike sometimes. They both SCREAMED when I put them on the real toilet. Yeah, I wasn't doing that again. They are much smaller than Jackson was when he was their age and they seemed terrified! It probably looks like a potty for giants when you're that small. So I pulled out the tiny potty chair thing that my son had used like twice- after cleaning poop out of one of those things you never want to do it again! And I figured out a solution for the cleaning problem. I put a baggie inside the "cup" and put a rubber band around the outside so it would stay in place. It can be rinsed for pee and thrown away for the poop! Not a perfect system, but it's the only way I'm doing this. I will transition them to the regular toilet that flushes ASAP! But for now, hopefully this works.
They have both taken turns sitting on the potty just for pretend. No screaming though, which is totally progress! Jackson is my helper and he keeps asking him if they have to go potty haha! But... I did ask him to stop doing that. I don't like that system. I want them to "tell" me (signs, words, or partial words) when they have to go. I'm not potty training myself. Been there done that. I'm trying to train them to recognize when they have to go. I also made sure they know it's yucky to go in their diapers (started telling them that at about 17 months) and now that they know we can talk about how it's important to be clean and dry by going potty like big girls! Those are just a few tips I've learned already. I am also not above bribery so they will be getting small rewards once we have a little more progress. We will make sure they know it's a BIG DEAL!
This is probably going to be a gradual process for both of them. I'm not sure I'm ready to go out and buy big girl underwear yet, but hey, I have a hope for a future without large quantity diaper purchases!
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Why I Date My Husband
I love my husband, David, very much. I love spending time with him and I love date night! We have now been married over 5 years and together we have 3 beautiful kids who like to take up most of our (my) time. So, I think it is very important that we have time for just the two of us. I am all for the romance and love when David plans something special for us, but he is a busy man. So now that we're basically old pros at this whole being married thing I have taken over a lot of the responsibilities of date night.
Let me back up a bit first. When we were newlyweds it was just the two of us. For the first few months, ok maybe a year, we didn't really want to go anywhere or even hang out with friends much because we just wanted to be with each other. A couple years later kids came along and our time alone has slowly decreased, and group/double dates have gone down even more so, and that's ok. A few years ago when David was called to be in an Elders Quorum presidency we were both interviewed by the 1st Counselor in the Stake Presidency. (If all these words are sounding foreign to you you can look them up here) He gave us some advice that I'll never forget. He told my husband that it was his responsibility to take me on a date AT LEAST once a week. And when the kid(s) is/are there it doesn't count. He even said I could call him if my husband started slacking in that department. Haha!
Fast forward again. We still have date night every week. Sometimes the kids do come out to eat with us, but we make sure to spend time just the two of us as well. Not all of our dates are "out". We have a lot of at home dates after the kiddos go to bed. We feel like the most important thing is to have time together and we usually try to make it time where we can talk. (We haven't been to a movie theater together since I was pregnant with my 1st) Since time alone is so limited we try to make it meaningful- we usually watch a movie or TV together every night, so date night should be something more for us. If that is the only night you two get to see a movie then by all means, go for it!
Back to the part where I have taken over. If you read my post about family home evening you know that I kind of do that. Take over, that is. David knows that we need to have date night and he also likes to have date night. It is just hard for him to come up with creative ideas while he is working. We do usually talk about what the plan for date night is (yes I'm a huge planner too) or who will be planning it. Sometimes though I just tell him that I have it all planned and it's a surprise! Those are usually the ones we both look forward to most.
In our 5+ years together we have had ups and downs about making date night a priority. And let me tell you, those times when it is on the down we both feel it. I get all upset and super girly and feeling neglected which makes me snap at the kids and then feel like a bad mom. It's a vicious chain. As for David, he just doesn't seem to be as full of love as he usually is and he's way more distracted when he is home. We also tend to do our own thing a lot more and don't feel as connected as we should. We usually have a shorter fuse with each other at those times too. So moral of the story is, Kelcie and David need to date each other!
Some of our favorite dates have been:
Chocolate tasting: I bought a few gourmet style chocolate bars (Walmart actually has a nice selection) and a bottle of our favorite sparkling cider. (Apple-grape or something like that.) We took turns tasting and talking about what we like and dislike about each one and chose our favorites. We were also able just to spend some quiet time together and enjoy each other's company. Plus it's chocolate. Duh. There are so many flavors and brands out there that we will definitely do this one again.
Dollar Store Date: This one is always fun because it forces you to really think about your spouse and buy them a gift(s). Go to the dollar store and set a dollar limit or number of items (or just get each other one thing), set a time limit, and shop separately. After the time is up meet back together and present each other with the gifts (and explanations if necessary). Sometimes the gift itself can lead to another date night or extension of the one you're already on! We do this one a couple times a year.
Backyard Camping/Stargazing: We love to camp, but sometimes it's nice just to get outside alone after the kids go to bed. We like to set up a tent and/or air mattress and play games or watch stars together. Once again the quiet is nice! Games are also another go-to quick date night idea because we are both super competitive and they are just fun!
Go for a drive: This is how we find out where things are. We usually get a soda and treat for the ride first. We sometimes go up the canyon , just around town, or to see something specific. We rarely turn on the radio when we are in the car together because we always seem to find something to talk (or argue- did I mention we're competitive?) about. It's nice not to be searching for dropped sippy cups or saying "hey, you guys be nice!" every two seconds.
Trade back or foot massages: I am a big fan of this one. I don't know who wouldn't be. Maybe really ticklish people... Anyway, this also gives you time to connect and talk. Communication is very important, right? Plus it's nice to relax. Set a time limit so no one feels cheated out of a good massage haha!
Creativity counts, but spending time together is the most important. I'd love to hear your favorite date ideas too so please share!
Let me back up a bit first. When we were newlyweds it was just the two of us. For the first few months, ok maybe a year, we didn't really want to go anywhere or even hang out with friends much because we just wanted to be with each other. A couple years later kids came along and our time alone has slowly decreased, and group/double dates have gone down even more so, and that's ok. A few years ago when David was called to be in an Elders Quorum presidency we were both interviewed by the 1st Counselor in the Stake Presidency. (If all these words are sounding foreign to you you can look them up here) He gave us some advice that I'll never forget. He told my husband that it was his responsibility to take me on a date AT LEAST once a week. And when the kid(s) is/are there it doesn't count. He even said I could call him if my husband started slacking in that department. Haha!
Fast forward again. We still have date night every week. Sometimes the kids do come out to eat with us, but we make sure to spend time just the two of us as well. Not all of our dates are "out". We have a lot of at home dates after the kiddos go to bed. We feel like the most important thing is to have time together and we usually try to make it time where we can talk. (We haven't been to a movie theater together since I was pregnant with my 1st) Since time alone is so limited we try to make it meaningful- we usually watch a movie or TV together every night, so date night should be something more for us. If that is the only night you two get to see a movie then by all means, go for it!
Back to the part where I have taken over. If you read my post about family home evening you know that I kind of do that. Take over, that is. David knows that we need to have date night and he also likes to have date night. It is just hard for him to come up with creative ideas while he is working. We do usually talk about what the plan for date night is (yes I'm a huge planner too) or who will be planning it. Sometimes though I just tell him that I have it all planned and it's a surprise! Those are usually the ones we both look forward to most.
In our 5+ years together we have had ups and downs about making date night a priority. And let me tell you, those times when it is on the down we both feel it. I get all upset and super girly and feeling neglected which makes me snap at the kids and then feel like a bad mom. It's a vicious chain. As for David, he just doesn't seem to be as full of love as he usually is and he's way more distracted when he is home. We also tend to do our own thing a lot more and don't feel as connected as we should. We usually have a shorter fuse with each other at those times too. So moral of the story is, Kelcie and David need to date each other!
Some of our favorite dates have been:
Chocolate tasting: I bought a few gourmet style chocolate bars (Walmart actually has a nice selection) and a bottle of our favorite sparkling cider. (Apple-grape or something like that.) We took turns tasting and talking about what we like and dislike about each one and chose our favorites. We were also able just to spend some quiet time together and enjoy each other's company. Plus it's chocolate. Duh. There are so many flavors and brands out there that we will definitely do this one again.
Dollar Store Date: This one is always fun because it forces you to really think about your spouse and buy them a gift(s). Go to the dollar store and set a dollar limit or number of items (or just get each other one thing), set a time limit, and shop separately. After the time is up meet back together and present each other with the gifts (and explanations if necessary). Sometimes the gift itself can lead to another date night or extension of the one you're already on! We do this one a couple times a year.
Backyard Camping/Stargazing: We love to camp, but sometimes it's nice just to get outside alone after the kids go to bed. We like to set up a tent and/or air mattress and play games or watch stars together. Once again the quiet is nice! Games are also another go-to quick date night idea because we are both super competitive and they are just fun!
Go for a drive: This is how we find out where things are. We usually get a soda and treat for the ride first. We sometimes go up the canyon , just around town, or to see something specific. We rarely turn on the radio when we are in the car together because we always seem to find something to talk (or argue- did I mention we're competitive?) about. It's nice not to be searching for dropped sippy cups or saying "hey, you guys be nice!" every two seconds.
Trade back or foot massages: I am a big fan of this one. I don't know who wouldn't be. Maybe really ticklish people... Anyway, this also gives you time to connect and talk. Communication is very important, right? Plus it's nice to relax. Set a time limit so no one feels cheated out of a good massage haha!
Creativity counts, but spending time together is the most important. I'd love to hear your favorite date ideas too so please share!
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
3 ways to do FHE
We have been promised great blessings by our Prophets if we will follow the counsel to hold weekly family home evening. To learn more about family home evening (FHE)- purposes, ideas, resources, etc. go here. Even if you are familiar with the concept and/or practice of holding family home evening it is a great reminder and resource!
David and I started holding FHE as newlyweds- before all these children came along- which established a great foundation and habit for us to actually have FHE when those kids started showing up! In this post I am going to focus on FHE with toddlers as well as general ideas about how to get started.
In the title I promised 3 ways that I attempt to do FHE. I say attempt because, well, you'll find out in #3.
I am in no way perfect at this, but I have seen great blessings come from meeting together and learning as a family on a weekly basis. And now my 3 yr old asks almost daily if it's time for "family 'nevening", so how can I not do it? Okay I won't make you wait any longer. Here goes my 3 ways I tackle the task of FHE.
#1 Choose a Principle to Teach- This is how I usually start. I think of something I want to teach my family. Sometimes I'll ask David, because he does preside over our household, and he'll give suggestions on what he thinks we could learn. It often comes from recent experiences. For example, my kids hadn't been acting very reverent during the Sacrament lately, so I wanted to teach about reverence in family home evening. Sometimes it's less of a Gospel related topic and focuses more on something they could be doing better at home (i.e. sharing or cleaning up toys). Don't you worry though! I always find some way to include Heavenly Father or Jesus by saying something like "this makes Them happy" or "this shows respect and love". The point here is, you can teach anything good in your home and it can relate to the Gospel and be considered a family home evening lesson.
After I have chosen a principle to teach, I then find activities to go along with it. Coloring pages, acting out a story or situation, pictures or printouts easily recognized by small children (i.e. animals, food, family members, etc.) are a few of the favorites at our house. This part of the lesson is usually what you'll refer back to when putting the principle into practice. (While in Sacrament meeting I can remind my kids which animal they are trying to be like to be the most reverent- in case you're curious, it's a butterfly!) So make sure the activity is fun and memorable and any time your kids talk about it TRY to relate it back to the principle being taught. Otherwise you'll have memories of FHEs about sandwiches and butterflies!
In a lesson centered FHE the lesson part usually lasts 5-7 minutes and the activities last anywhere from 5-15 minutes. Obviously with adults and/or older kids you can use the Scriptures more and have discussions, but with toddlers simplicity is key!
#2 Choose Your Activity- This one is basically reverse of #1. First I/we choose an activity and then work in a lesson from there. Last night we really wanted to have a fire and roast s'mores as our FHE activity. Not super Gospel centered, right? Wrong! We made it work. We went up the canyon to have our fire, so first off the kids were obviously intrigued because we were leaving the house for FHE. When you are in the mountains or anywhere in nature it's hard not to be reminded of a loving Heavenly Father and Savior who created this world- and there you have it, the Creation. We taught about the Creation of the world- condensing for little ones. We mostly talked about how each day something different was created, focusing on the mountains, water, and animals. My son proceeded to tell us all about how Heavenly Father loves him and Jesus is in his heart. Awe... so sweet.
The lesson itself lasted probably 3 minutes, but our outing lasted almost 2 hours. As you can see the principle being taught during an activity centered FHE doesn't take center stage, but the fun family time is so important too! Plus it add variety.
#3 We forgot!- This is a little embarrassing to share because as you usually see on Facebook or hear from me, I have a strong testimony of the importance of family home evening. But.... even I forget sometimes. This is usually realized Monday evenings at the dinner table (we usually have FHE right after dinner on Mondays) a few minutes before everyone is finished eating. My eyes get really big and I kind of hold my breath and give David the "uh oh" look and tell him I forgot to plan FHE. Luckily with little ones we can discuss quick and low prep ideas right there over our last few bites in front of them. (I don't know why, but I kind of try to make FHE a surprise lesson/activity each week- seems more fun!- so we still talk discretely and don't make eye contact with the kids haha) Anyway, when it is super last minute our go-to plan is that David (the presiding priesthood holder in our family) will find a video (usually a Mormon Message) and we'll pop popcorn or break out a bag of candy.
I'm sure once you are well established with your weekly family home evenings that you'll find your own "I forgot" activity! Do what works. Don't "forget" every week though. Not cool.
Bonus Tips
I really do try to make FHE a priority and I start early on Monday planning and prepping for that evening. That way if I need to make, print, or buy something for the activity/lesson I have plenty of time and I don't have to scramble. Low stress that way. If it's stressful you won't want to do it.
Make it a habit. Do it every week and make sure your family expects it. You aren't in this alone. Let your family help remind you and hold you accountable for planning something. Yes it is the presiding priesthood holder's job to make sure your family is holding weekly FHE, but that does not mean you can't help. David works long days and he doesn't always have the time and resources to plan like I do. I do include him and give him opportunities to participate (asking him to tell a story from the scriptures or explain what something means, etc) and decide what to teach. I usually ask him if he has any ideas or feelings about what to teach Sunday night (a whole day in advance so he has time to think/pray). I am also the one with the kids all day, so that gives me more of an opportunity to know what they could use some help with or have a lesson on. David and I usually discuss what we think should be taught- the surprise isn't kept from him :)
Be flexible. Don't go into it thinking that it has to be a certain length of time or all activities have to be completely finished. Sometimes everyone is just done, so end there and if you missed something you wanted to do or teach save it for next week. You also don't always have to have a treat- ours is usually right before bedtime, so a treat isn't practical for toddlers trying to go to sleep soon. If you have teenagers participating though you might consider the treat a bribe haha!
Along with that, keep it simple. Don't try to overload their minds (at any age) with so much that they need to learn or change in their lives. It's a process and we learn line upon line (2 Nephi 28:30) There is always next week!
Use the scriptures! You children can be taught by stories from the scriptures and it is a great way to relate them to our time. It shows how important and helpful they can be to our lives.
Start and end with a prayer. Even if it's only ten minutes between the two, prayer sets it apart as a special time. It also invites the Spirit and teaches your family how to pray.
I definitely have lots of fun and specific FHE ideas that I have used and want to use- I usually post them on Facebook, but let me know if you're interested in detailed blog posts for each lesson or activity.
David and I started holding FHE as newlyweds- before all these children came along- which established a great foundation and habit for us to actually have FHE when those kids started showing up! In this post I am going to focus on FHE with toddlers as well as general ideas about how to get started.
In the title I promised 3 ways that I attempt to do FHE. I say attempt because, well, you'll find out in #3.
I am in no way perfect at this, but I have seen great blessings come from meeting together and learning as a family on a weekly basis. And now my 3 yr old asks almost daily if it's time for "family 'nevening", so how can I not do it? Okay I won't make you wait any longer. Here goes my 3 ways I tackle the task of FHE.
#1 Choose a Principle to Teach- This is how I usually start. I think of something I want to teach my family. Sometimes I'll ask David, because he does preside over our household, and he'll give suggestions on what he thinks we could learn. It often comes from recent experiences. For example, my kids hadn't been acting very reverent during the Sacrament lately, so I wanted to teach about reverence in family home evening. Sometimes it's less of a Gospel related topic and focuses more on something they could be doing better at home (i.e. sharing or cleaning up toys). Don't you worry though! I always find some way to include Heavenly Father or Jesus by saying something like "this makes Them happy" or "this shows respect and love". The point here is, you can teach anything good in your home and it can relate to the Gospel and be considered a family home evening lesson.
After I have chosen a principle to teach, I then find activities to go along with it. Coloring pages, acting out a story or situation, pictures or printouts easily recognized by small children (i.e. animals, food, family members, etc.) are a few of the favorites at our house. This part of the lesson is usually what you'll refer back to when putting the principle into practice. (While in Sacrament meeting I can remind my kids which animal they are trying to be like to be the most reverent- in case you're curious, it's a butterfly!) So make sure the activity is fun and memorable and any time your kids talk about it TRY to relate it back to the principle being taught. Otherwise you'll have memories of FHEs about sandwiches and butterflies!
In a lesson centered FHE the lesson part usually lasts 5-7 minutes and the activities last anywhere from 5-15 minutes. Obviously with adults and/or older kids you can use the Scriptures more and have discussions, but with toddlers simplicity is key!
 |
| Playing the roll of Ammon |
 |
| Coloring the Armour of God |
#2 Choose Your Activity- This one is basically reverse of #1. First I/we choose an activity and then work in a lesson from there. Last night we really wanted to have a fire and roast s'mores as our FHE activity. Not super Gospel centered, right? Wrong! We made it work. We went up the canyon to have our fire, so first off the kids were obviously intrigued because we were leaving the house for FHE. When you are in the mountains or anywhere in nature it's hard not to be reminded of a loving Heavenly Father and Savior who created this world- and there you have it, the Creation. We taught about the Creation of the world- condensing for little ones. We mostly talked about how each day something different was created, focusing on the mountains, water, and animals. My son proceeded to tell us all about how Heavenly Father loves him and Jesus is in his heart. Awe... so sweet.
The lesson itself lasted probably 3 minutes, but our outing lasted almost 2 hours. As you can see the principle being taught during an activity centered FHE doesn't take center stage, but the fun family time is so important too! Plus it add variety.
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| Feeding the ducks has become a favorite. |
#3 We forgot!- This is a little embarrassing to share because as you usually see on Facebook or hear from me, I have a strong testimony of the importance of family home evening. But.... even I forget sometimes. This is usually realized Monday evenings at the dinner table (we usually have FHE right after dinner on Mondays) a few minutes before everyone is finished eating. My eyes get really big and I kind of hold my breath and give David the "uh oh" look and tell him I forgot to plan FHE. Luckily with little ones we can discuss quick and low prep ideas right there over our last few bites in front of them. (I don't know why, but I kind of try to make FHE a surprise lesson/activity each week- seems more fun!- so we still talk discretely and don't make eye contact with the kids haha) Anyway, when it is super last minute our go-to plan is that David (the presiding priesthood holder in our family) will find a video (usually a Mormon Message) and we'll pop popcorn or break out a bag of candy.
I'm sure once you are well established with your weekly family home evenings that you'll find your own "I forgot" activity! Do what works. Don't "forget" every week though. Not cool.
Bonus Tips
I really do try to make FHE a priority and I start early on Monday planning and prepping for that evening. That way if I need to make, print, or buy something for the activity/lesson I have plenty of time and I don't have to scramble. Low stress that way. If it's stressful you won't want to do it.
Make it a habit. Do it every week and make sure your family expects it. You aren't in this alone. Let your family help remind you and hold you accountable for planning something. Yes it is the presiding priesthood holder's job to make sure your family is holding weekly FHE, but that does not mean you can't help. David works long days and he doesn't always have the time and resources to plan like I do. I do include him and give him opportunities to participate (asking him to tell a story from the scriptures or explain what something means, etc) and decide what to teach. I usually ask him if he has any ideas or feelings about what to teach Sunday night (a whole day in advance so he has time to think/pray). I am also the one with the kids all day, so that gives me more of an opportunity to know what they could use some help with or have a lesson on. David and I usually discuss what we think should be taught- the surprise isn't kept from him :)
Be flexible. Don't go into it thinking that it has to be a certain length of time or all activities have to be completely finished. Sometimes everyone is just done, so end there and if you missed something you wanted to do or teach save it for next week. You also don't always have to have a treat- ours is usually right before bedtime, so a treat isn't practical for toddlers trying to go to sleep soon. If you have teenagers participating though you might consider the treat a bribe haha!
Along with that, keep it simple. Don't try to overload their minds (at any age) with so much that they need to learn or change in their lives. It's a process and we learn line upon line (2 Nephi 28:30) There is always next week!
Use the scriptures! You children can be taught by stories from the scriptures and it is a great way to relate them to our time. It shows how important and helpful they can be to our lives.
Start and end with a prayer. Even if it's only ten minutes between the two, prayer sets it apart as a special time. It also invites the Spirit and teaches your family how to pray.
I definitely have lots of fun and specific FHE ideas that I have used and want to use- I usually post them on Facebook, but let me know if you're interested in detailed blog posts for each lesson or activity.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Not Quite the Old Woman in the Shoe
A lot of parents with one or two children are always asking me how I do it. I have three toddlers right now and apparently my life looks crazy or like I "have my hands full." It doesn't feel that way thought. I'm always telling strangers it looks crazier than it feels. To tell you the truth, it has felt so completely normal.
I only actually had two kids for 18 minutes, and that WAS craziness, but I wasn't the one caring for them at that time. So... I don't even know what it's like to have two, so I can't help you with that transition, sorry. There are plenty of moms out there with a lot more children than I have, but I'll attempt to bring you some insight into my kid craze.
My husband and I are very prayerful with decisions and that includes when to have kids and how to raise them. (3 under age 2 not sounding so insane now right?) I am confident that I would not make it through the day without the Lord's help. He helps me feel peace and comfort when I need it the most. He helps me know what and how to teach my children. He also gives me strength on those tough days (and believe me there are plenty) to press forward and turn it around the next day.
That being said, in all honesty it has been a constant assembly line at my house since we brought the girls home from the hospital. Line up to get your diaper changed, your belly filled, your face cleaned, and your cuddles from mom and dad. Even when we try to teach them something new we try to do it one at a time.
They have grown a lot since then and now I have a 3 year old boy and two 18 month old girls. So yes, toddlers can be "crazy", but now they are able to do things for themselves!
First of all, they can walk and I don't have to carry them everywhere. They are all in "big kid" car seats. (No more infant carriers for these three!) So I just herd them out to the car instead.
The girls still take 2 naps each day and on their second nap my son joins them. Yes, they all sleep AT THE SAME TIME! That is a miracle in and of itself. They are all in bed by 8 o'clock at night and sleep until 7-8 in the morning, which gives us some alone time and allows me to recuperate for the next day.
My son is also potty trained and we said goodbye to those diapers over a year ago which cut down on cost as well as one child I have throw through the changing table line.
They are no longer nursing because, let's be honest, that would be weird at this point... (I am all for breast milk, so don't get rude with me.) They eat regular meals with the family which means I no longer have to make baby food or special meals at random times. And for some reason they think breakfast needs to last about an hour, so I use that time to do things I don't want them getting into while they are locked up in their high chairs.
My son is like the most obedient child ever. I am pretty sure that God knew I'd need him to be that way when He decided to send me two sweet and independent girls at the same time. My girls are also learning what is okay and what is not. Don't get me wrong, they still fight over toys and have a hard time taking turns, but we're making progress.
I put these kids to work! It's not child labor, it's called chores. Now this one takes A LOT of patience, because it really is easier to do it myself for now. But how will they learn? Right now they want to help, so why not let them? They help me with laundry, unloading the dishwasher, and they pick up their own toys and books. This requires a lot of supervision, but I am confident that if they learn now they won't be able to say, "I don't know how" later! And hopefully one day I'll have some real help tackling this mess!
As of this week I will have 3 kids in nursery at church. (a big THANK YOU to their teachers!) Which means David and I can actually pay attention in Sunday school, Relief Society, and Young Men's. We have been counting down to nursery for six months. Hopefully they love it.
They LOVE to go to the store. As long as there is a special cart for them. (Car carts, the "blue carts" that have extra seats, or the giant double seat carts like at Costco) I can take them all to the store every couple of weeks to do my grocery shopping, and despite what the nice strangers at the store say, I am not, in fact, pulling my hair out! Unless we can't find a special cart, then it really can become a nightmare.
So as you can see I actually do leave the house! It is nice sometimes to get out of the house and have a change of pace. With a days notice I can go just about anywhere, to lunch with a friend, visiting teaching, or even camping! Sometimes we get babysitters, but I have learned to take them with me a lot more often.
I definitely have to have "me time." Nap time is great for that. That's why I have them help me clean, so I'm not using my alone time to clean up. I do get to shower and I usually do that during the girls' first nap unless we have to be somewhere, then I get up before the kids do. Which isn't horrible when they sleep in until 8:30- this actually happens sometimes.
I'd like to think I have it figured out, but like I said, I'm not alone in this. I have a wonderful husband who rescues me on those tough days and the Lord is always with me as long as I'm trying. I have wonderful family who love to spend time with them and help with the babysitting. I love my life and I love my kids. I am so grateful Heavenly Father has blessed me with these sweet little ones. Good luck to all you parents with any number of children! Just try hard and pray harder! And when all else fails, Little Einsteins is on Netflix :)
I only actually had two kids for 18 minutes, and that WAS craziness, but I wasn't the one caring for them at that time. So... I don't even know what it's like to have two, so I can't help you with that transition, sorry. There are plenty of moms out there with a lot more children than I have, but I'll attempt to bring you some insight into my kid craze.
My husband and I are very prayerful with decisions and that includes when to have kids and how to raise them. (3 under age 2 not sounding so insane now right?) I am confident that I would not make it through the day without the Lord's help. He helps me feel peace and comfort when I need it the most. He helps me know what and how to teach my children. He also gives me strength on those tough days (and believe me there are plenty) to press forward and turn it around the next day.
 |
| It's not easy to get everyone to look or hold still for a picture though! |
They have grown a lot since then and now I have a 3 year old boy and two 18 month old girls. So yes, toddlers can be "crazy", but now they are able to do things for themselves!
First of all, they can walk and I don't have to carry them everywhere. They are all in "big kid" car seats. (No more infant carriers for these three!) So I just herd them out to the car instead.
The girls still take 2 naps each day and on their second nap my son joins them. Yes, they all sleep AT THE SAME TIME! That is a miracle in and of itself. They are all in bed by 8 o'clock at night and sleep until 7-8 in the morning, which gives us some alone time and allows me to recuperate for the next day.
My son is also potty trained and we said goodbye to those diapers over a year ago which cut down on cost as well as one child I have throw through the changing table line.
They are no longer nursing because, let's be honest, that would be weird at this point... (I am all for breast milk, so don't get rude with me.) They eat regular meals with the family which means I no longer have to make baby food or special meals at random times. And for some reason they think breakfast needs to last about an hour, so I use that time to do things I don't want them getting into while they are locked up in their high chairs.
My son is like the most obedient child ever. I am pretty sure that God knew I'd need him to be that way when He decided to send me two sweet and independent girls at the same time. My girls are also learning what is okay and what is not. Don't get me wrong, they still fight over toys and have a hard time taking turns, but we're making progress.
I put these kids to work! It's not child labor, it's called chores. Now this one takes A LOT of patience, because it really is easier to do it myself for now. But how will they learn? Right now they want to help, so why not let them? They help me with laundry, unloading the dishwasher, and they pick up their own toys and books. This requires a lot of supervision, but I am confident that if they learn now they won't be able to say, "I don't know how" later! And hopefully one day I'll have some real help tackling this mess!
As of this week I will have 3 kids in nursery at church. (a big THANK YOU to their teachers!) Which means David and I can actually pay attention in Sunday school, Relief Society, and Young Men's. We have been counting down to nursery for six months. Hopefully they love it.
They LOVE to go to the store. As long as there is a special cart for them. (Car carts, the "blue carts" that have extra seats, or the giant double seat carts like at Costco) I can take them all to the store every couple of weeks to do my grocery shopping, and despite what the nice strangers at the store say, I am not, in fact, pulling my hair out! Unless we can't find a special cart, then it really can become a nightmare.
So as you can see I actually do leave the house! It is nice sometimes to get out of the house and have a change of pace. With a days notice I can go just about anywhere, to lunch with a friend, visiting teaching, or even camping! Sometimes we get babysitters, but I have learned to take them with me a lot more often.
I definitely have to have "me time." Nap time is great for that. That's why I have them help me clean, so I'm not using my alone time to clean up. I do get to shower and I usually do that during the girls' first nap unless we have to be somewhere, then I get up before the kids do. Which isn't horrible when they sleep in until 8:30- this actually happens sometimes.
I'd like to think I have it figured out, but like I said, I'm not alone in this. I have a wonderful husband who rescues me on those tough days and the Lord is always with me as long as I'm trying. I have wonderful family who love to spend time with them and help with the babysitting. I love my life and I love my kids. I am so grateful Heavenly Father has blessed me with these sweet little ones. Good luck to all you parents with any number of children! Just try hard and pray harder! And when all else fails, Little Einsteins is on Netflix :)
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
I will not make two meals!
This blog post is written by request from a friend.
I love to cook, but I refuse to make two meals at dinner time. Between three toddlers and a meat and potatoes kind of husband I try to make one meal that can satisfy everyone. Some of the meals require a little adaptation like only putting broccoli in half of the casserole, but I make it work!
I don't have picky eaters, but I started with them really young. I made their baby food out of steamed and pureed veggies and once they got chompers they ate what we ate (with a little adaptation for some things). Don't get me wrong, they would eat chicken nuggets for every meal if I allowed it, but everyone needs variety and vegetables!
My kiddos do go through stages where they don't like certain foods, which is fine, but I just keep introducing those foods into new meals until they will actually try them!
Some tricks I use to get my kids to eat (especially when they don't want to- weird I know, I love to eat!) are:
1- Put the food on kid sized plates. Bonus points if the plates have dividers so they can clearly see separation with their food. I bought divided plates at Target for like $0.75
2- Let them use a fork. I don't know what it is about a fork, but if my girls can stab it they'll eat it! Haha they aren't crazy I promise. They just feel so big if they have a fork like mommy and daddy and their fingers get less gross.
3- Put small portions (only 2-3 pieces of each food). When my kids see there is only a few pieces it's not as intimidating as a large pile and it is easier for me to see what they are actually eating. Then you can always give them more if they love it!
4-Let them help you cook! Age appropriate jobs like mixing and carrying cans or whatever, but if they help they are a little more invested in the meal.
5- Give them options. David and I don't really agree on vegetable side dishes, so I usually make a main dish with different side options. This way there are usually at least two fruit or vegetable options. I let my kids pick which one they want to eat (or let them try them all if they're interested!).
6- Hold out on the "yummy" stuff. My girls LOVE potatoes in basically any form. So, if they are going through a picky phase or they just aren't eating a whole lot sometimes I will fill their plates with all of the other options for dinner first. After they have either eaten or rejected some of the food on their plates I will then let them have the potatoes or whatever else is most appealing to them. It's kind of an "eat your dinner then you can have dessert" system, only the "dessert" is usually potatoes!
If you are still finding yourself pulling your hair out, here are a few meals my kids will eat. Every time.
Some might be obvious choices, but some of them have a little twist. I also just make up names for the things I make, so don't get too technical when you critique them.
Taco Quesadillas- You know, a quesadilla. Tortillas, cheese, on a griddle/ in a pan. I just add some seasoned ground beef (black pepper, season salt, cumin, paprika, onion powder-or just use a package of taco seasoning) and taco toppings- olives, tomatoes, beans (black, refried, chili, whatever) and basically whatever else you put in a taco (I'm not a fan of warm lettuce though). These are easier for kids to eat than a regular taco because the melted cheese holds everything together and my kids think it's like a pizza because it's cut into triangles! If your kids are dippers you can let them have some salsa, ranch, or even ketchup (yuck! but David and all my kids love it). This whole meal took me like 15 minutes to make. My kids won't eat regular quesadillas with chicken or just cheese, but they devoured these!
Chicken Noodle Casserole- I cook all the ingredients separately, then assemble and heat. I make whatever short pasta I have on hand, cook chicken in a little olive oil with salt and pepper, and steam/boil whichever vegetable I'm feeling that day (carrots, cauliflower, or usually broccoli because I always have a giant frozen bag on hand- use what you like). Layer in a casserole dish: pasta, chicken, veggies, spread 1 can of cream of chicken soup mixed with a spoonful of sour cream over and top with shredded cheese. Bake @ 350 for about 15 min. until heated through and cheese is melted. Noodles are a go to fave with the kiddos, so this is an easy meal I know they'll eat.
Chicken Bacon Alfredo- This is another pasta dish that is super easy, but definitely not on the homemade side which helps it come together quickly. Start by cooking 2-3 strips of bacon. Remove from pan, cool and crumble. In another pot cook pasta (Fettuccine, linguine, spaghetti, angel hair, or even short pasta-very flexible). Cook diced chicken sprinkled with onion powder, salt, and pepper in bacon grease. Add 1 jar of store bought alfredo sauce (my favorite is Prego Homestyle Alfredo) and add about 1 tsp italian seasonings. Add bacon back into sauce. Drain pasta and add to sauce. Mix and top with Parmesan cheese (you can use the green can of shaky cheese or the real stuff- both are delicious). Always great with a vegetable mixed in too.
Teriyaki Chicken with Rice- This is a great slow cooker meal. Just throw in some chicken (can be frozen) 1 jar of Kikkoman Teriyaki Baste and Glaze. (Regular or with honey & pineapple) Brown sugar about 3/4 cup. 1 can pineapple chunks with juice. Cook for 5-6 hours on low. Cook whatever rice you like. Shred the chicken and serve over rice. This meal takes so little effort I love it!
Make Your Own Pizza- For the crust you can use french bread, biscuits (the kind in the tube), thawed Rhodes dinner rolls, or you can use your favorite pizza crust recipe. Top with pizza sauce (buy it pre-made or make your own with tomato sauce, onion, garlic, italian seasonings, black pepper) toppings and cheese. We like to do a bbq sauce chicken pineapple or a ranch dressing with chicken and black olives pizza at our house. I make my own crust and melt butter with garlic powder and italian seasonings to brush on it and top with parmesan cheese- tastes like bread sticks! There are tons of variations for pizza, but you can make it an experience and the kids can eat their creations!
Kabobs - My kids like to watch David and me grill food in the summer and anything that comes to the table on a stick is so fun! You can use any steak, chicken, veggies or pineapple. Let them build their own or pick what to put on theirs if they are too little for sharp sticks. This is a recipe we tried and really like. I only let it marinade for about 10 minutes and it still tasted great! I usually serve grilled meat or kabobs with corn on the cob which is also, apparently, super fun.
And when all else fails...
Breakfast for Dinner- Kids like anything in a fun shape which is really easy to do with pancakes or cut french toast, but for my husband who needs a little something extra to count it as a meal I always make bacon or sausage and eggs. Sometimes I make hash browns, or (super easy) make extra baked potatoes the night before and just chop them up and cook them in a pan with a little butter. Sometimes I go all out and make biscuits and gravy or English muffin breakfast sandwiches. Pair with some fresh fruit and a rare chocolate milk or juice for my sugar deprived children and life is good.
This is my list of go-to meals that I know my whole family will eat and love. You can cook. You can make your family a meal that everyone will eat. And it doesn't have to include chicken nuggets :) Good luck!
Please leave a comment with your go-to dinners and let me know if you try some of mine!
I love to cook, but I refuse to make two meals at dinner time. Between three toddlers and a meat and potatoes kind of husband I try to make one meal that can satisfy everyone. Some of the meals require a little adaptation like only putting broccoli in half of the casserole, but I make it work!
I don't have picky eaters, but I started with them really young. I made their baby food out of steamed and pureed veggies and once they got chompers they ate what we ate (with a little adaptation for some things). Don't get me wrong, they would eat chicken nuggets for every meal if I allowed it, but everyone needs variety and vegetables!
My kiddos do go through stages where they don't like certain foods, which is fine, but I just keep introducing those foods into new meals until they will actually try them!
Some tricks I use to get my kids to eat (especially when they don't want to- weird I know, I love to eat!) are:
1- Put the food on kid sized plates. Bonus points if the plates have dividers so they can clearly see separation with their food. I bought divided plates at Target for like $0.75
2- Let them use a fork. I don't know what it is about a fork, but if my girls can stab it they'll eat it! Haha they aren't crazy I promise. They just feel so big if they have a fork like mommy and daddy and their fingers get less gross.
3- Put small portions (only 2-3 pieces of each food). When my kids see there is only a few pieces it's not as intimidating as a large pile and it is easier for me to see what they are actually eating. Then you can always give them more if they love it!
4-Let them help you cook! Age appropriate jobs like mixing and carrying cans or whatever, but if they help they are a little more invested in the meal.
5- Give them options. David and I don't really agree on vegetable side dishes, so I usually make a main dish with different side options. This way there are usually at least two fruit or vegetable options. I let my kids pick which one they want to eat (or let them try them all if they're interested!).
6- Hold out on the "yummy" stuff. My girls LOVE potatoes in basically any form. So, if they are going through a picky phase or they just aren't eating a whole lot sometimes I will fill their plates with all of the other options for dinner first. After they have either eaten or rejected some of the food on their plates I will then let them have the potatoes or whatever else is most appealing to them. It's kind of an "eat your dinner then you can have dessert" system, only the "dessert" is usually potatoes!
If you are still finding yourself pulling your hair out, here are a few meals my kids will eat. Every time.
Some might be obvious choices, but some of them have a little twist. I also just make up names for the things I make, so don't get too technical when you critique them.
Taco Quesadillas- You know, a quesadilla. Tortillas, cheese, on a griddle/ in a pan. I just add some seasoned ground beef (black pepper, season salt, cumin, paprika, onion powder-or just use a package of taco seasoning) and taco toppings- olives, tomatoes, beans (black, refried, chili, whatever) and basically whatever else you put in a taco (I'm not a fan of warm lettuce though). These are easier for kids to eat than a regular taco because the melted cheese holds everything together and my kids think it's like a pizza because it's cut into triangles! If your kids are dippers you can let them have some salsa, ranch, or even ketchup (yuck! but David and all my kids love it). This whole meal took me like 15 minutes to make. My kids won't eat regular quesadillas with chicken or just cheese, but they devoured these!
Chicken Noodle Casserole- I cook all the ingredients separately, then assemble and heat. I make whatever short pasta I have on hand, cook chicken in a little olive oil with salt and pepper, and steam/boil whichever vegetable I'm feeling that day (carrots, cauliflower, or usually broccoli because I always have a giant frozen bag on hand- use what you like). Layer in a casserole dish: pasta, chicken, veggies, spread 1 can of cream of chicken soup mixed with a spoonful of sour cream over and top with shredded cheese. Bake @ 350 for about 15 min. until heated through and cheese is melted. Noodles are a go to fave with the kiddos, so this is an easy meal I know they'll eat.
Chicken Bacon Alfredo- This is another pasta dish that is super easy, but definitely not on the homemade side which helps it come together quickly. Start by cooking 2-3 strips of bacon. Remove from pan, cool and crumble. In another pot cook pasta (Fettuccine, linguine, spaghetti, angel hair, or even short pasta-very flexible). Cook diced chicken sprinkled with onion powder, salt, and pepper in bacon grease. Add 1 jar of store bought alfredo sauce (my favorite is Prego Homestyle Alfredo) and add about 1 tsp italian seasonings. Add bacon back into sauce. Drain pasta and add to sauce. Mix and top with Parmesan cheese (you can use the green can of shaky cheese or the real stuff- both are delicious). Always great with a vegetable mixed in too.
Teriyaki Chicken with Rice- This is a great slow cooker meal. Just throw in some chicken (can be frozen) 1 jar of Kikkoman Teriyaki Baste and Glaze. (Regular or with honey & pineapple) Brown sugar about 3/4 cup. 1 can pineapple chunks with juice. Cook for 5-6 hours on low. Cook whatever rice you like. Shred the chicken and serve over rice. This meal takes so little effort I love it!
Make Your Own Pizza- For the crust you can use french bread, biscuits (the kind in the tube), thawed Rhodes dinner rolls, or you can use your favorite pizza crust recipe. Top with pizza sauce (buy it pre-made or make your own with tomato sauce, onion, garlic, italian seasonings, black pepper) toppings and cheese. We like to do a bbq sauce chicken pineapple or a ranch dressing with chicken and black olives pizza at our house. I make my own crust and melt butter with garlic powder and italian seasonings to brush on it and top with parmesan cheese- tastes like bread sticks! There are tons of variations for pizza, but you can make it an experience and the kids can eat their creations!
Kabobs - My kids like to watch David and me grill food in the summer and anything that comes to the table on a stick is so fun! You can use any steak, chicken, veggies or pineapple. Let them build their own or pick what to put on theirs if they are too little for sharp sticks. This is a recipe we tried and really like. I only let it marinade for about 10 minutes and it still tasted great! I usually serve grilled meat or kabobs with corn on the cob which is also, apparently, super fun.
And when all else fails...
Breakfast for Dinner- Kids like anything in a fun shape which is really easy to do with pancakes or cut french toast, but for my husband who needs a little something extra to count it as a meal I always make bacon or sausage and eggs. Sometimes I make hash browns, or (super easy) make extra baked potatoes the night before and just chop them up and cook them in a pan with a little butter. Sometimes I go all out and make biscuits and gravy or English muffin breakfast sandwiches. Pair with some fresh fruit and a rare chocolate milk or juice for my sugar deprived children and life is good.
This is my list of go-to meals that I know my whole family will eat and love. You can cook. You can make your family a meal that everyone will eat. And it doesn't have to include chicken nuggets :) Good luck!
Please leave a comment with your go-to dinners and let me know if you try some of mine!
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
What's on the docket?
"What's on the docket tomorrow?"
That is the question my husband asked me one night about 3 years into our marriage that made me think he was "out of his tree." (Both are phrases I had never heard before.)
"You've never heard that? For someone who supposedly loves lists, you should know what a docket is!" David teased me for a while with that one.
If you don't know what a docket is, then I'm going to make you look it up just like I had to when I felt dumb.
I do love lists though. When our family goes camping- or anywhere overnight really- I make a packing list for each person. I have a list of chores for my toddlers that they can check off with stickers. I make to-do lists once in a while just so I can check stuff off when I finish. When I go grocery shopping every two weeks there are 4 different lists I make to get through my meal planning process. Sounds a little excessive, I know. I could basically create a list for everything.
Most of my lists are made on plain old notebook paper. Don't worry, I'll link you to a printable version (see list #4) so you can join me in my organized chaos. Mwahaha! (evil laugh, duh) It really does all make sense somewhere inside my noggin.
While not necessarily always in this order, here are my grocery lists:
1st- I make a list of the days of the week for two weeks that I need meals for, and then later (sometimes after I shop) I'll add in the meals planned for each day. Which I then transfer to my dry erase calendar so everyone can see what's coming up for dinner.
2nd- I make a list of meals that I can make in the next two weeks based on food I have in my pantry and items on sale in the grocery store ads. (I also already have a list made on my computer of all of the meals that I make and add to with each new recipe.)
3rd- I make a list of items that I will be ad matching. I do a lot of my shopping at Wal-Mart because they match ad prices, it's really close to my house, they sell a lot fresh produce, they have most of the same brands-except store brands, and their regular prices are USUALLY better. Plus, once I get home I always plug my receipt into their Savings Catcher and sometimes get extra money back. Sorry for the tangent, but this list makes it easier for me to make sure I don't miss something while I'm at the store.
4th- And lastly I make a grocery list organized into department in the store. It is so frustrating for me to have to go back to an aisle that I already visited just because I didn't see an item on my list. Especially when I have three kids with me. Did I mention I usually take them all to the store for 1-2 hour long grocery shopping experience? Here are two different versions of this system that are great. Here and Here
I also love highlighters. I know, I'm kind of a nerd. They make things fun, clear, and organized. I don't know why you need to know all of this. Maybe you don't. Maybe I just want to give you a little bit of insight into the "organized" part of my life.
My best friend growing up probably doesn't believe that side of me actually exists. She was the one who would come into my crowded and messy bedroom and just accept it. She was the one who could also tell me where my dance shoes were hiding when I thought I'd lost them forever.
The truth is, I LOVE having a clean house. I love lists. I love to be organized. I just sometimes lack the motivation. And that is why I NEED lists. They give me something to check off. They give me proof of some kind of accomplishment.
And luckily I have an extremely motivated husband who can't sit still for even two seconds. He always has to be doing something, making something better. Which makes me want to be doing something. He makes me be a better person. Even if he does make fun of my lists and my lack of knowledge about weird sayings.
That is the question my husband asked me one night about 3 years into our marriage that made me think he was "out of his tree." (Both are phrases I had never heard before.)
"You've never heard that? For someone who supposedly loves lists, you should know what a docket is!" David teased me for a while with that one.
If you don't know what a docket is, then I'm going to make you look it up just like I had to when I felt dumb.
I do love lists though. When our family goes camping- or anywhere overnight really- I make a packing list for each person. I have a list of chores for my toddlers that they can check off with stickers. I make to-do lists once in a while just so I can check stuff off when I finish. When I go grocery shopping every two weeks there are 4 different lists I make to get through my meal planning process. Sounds a little excessive, I know. I could basically create a list for everything.
Most of my lists are made on plain old notebook paper. Don't worry, I'll link you to a printable version (see list #4) so you can join me in my organized chaos. Mwahaha! (evil laugh, duh) It really does all make sense somewhere inside my noggin.
While not necessarily always in this order, here are my grocery lists:
1st- I make a list of the days of the week for two weeks that I need meals for, and then later (sometimes after I shop) I'll add in the meals planned for each day. Which I then transfer to my dry erase calendar so everyone can see what's coming up for dinner.
2nd- I make a list of meals that I can make in the next two weeks based on food I have in my pantry and items on sale in the grocery store ads. (I also already have a list made on my computer of all of the meals that I make and add to with each new recipe.)
3rd- I make a list of items that I will be ad matching. I do a lot of my shopping at Wal-Mart because they match ad prices, it's really close to my house, they sell a lot fresh produce, they have most of the same brands-except store brands, and their regular prices are USUALLY better. Plus, once I get home I always plug my receipt into their Savings Catcher and sometimes get extra money back. Sorry for the tangent, but this list makes it easier for me to make sure I don't miss something while I'm at the store.
4th- And lastly I make a grocery list organized into department in the store. It is so frustrating for me to have to go back to an aisle that I already visited just because I didn't see an item on my list. Especially when I have three kids with me. Did I mention I usually take them all to the store for 1-2 hour long grocery shopping experience? Here are two different versions of this system that are great. Here and Here
I also love highlighters. I know, I'm kind of a nerd. They make things fun, clear, and organized. I don't know why you need to know all of this. Maybe you don't. Maybe I just want to give you a little bit of insight into the "organized" part of my life.
My best friend growing up probably doesn't believe that side of me actually exists. She was the one who would come into my crowded and messy bedroom and just accept it. She was the one who could also tell me where my dance shoes were hiding when I thought I'd lost them forever.
The truth is, I LOVE having a clean house. I love lists. I love to be organized. I just sometimes lack the motivation. And that is why I NEED lists. They give me something to check off. They give me proof of some kind of accomplishment.
And luckily I have an extremely motivated husband who can't sit still for even two seconds. He always has to be doing something, making something better. Which makes me want to be doing something. He makes me be a better person. Even if he does make fun of my lists and my lack of knowledge about weird sayings.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
This is My Life
I was a dancer for 17 years. I got to do cool things like be on TV, carry the Olympic torch in Canada, and take classes from world famous dancers and choreographers. I was in fantastic shape. I could eat whatever I wanted. My life was great, but it doesn't even compare to the happiness I have now.
I've been married to my best friend for 5 years now. We have 3 beautiful kids- ages 3 and under- with no intentions of being "done." I say that so you don't have to be nosy and ask :) My wonderful husband David just built our first home with a fantastic view of the Payson Temple and we just bought an SUV. I am a teacher in my ward Relief Society. I have made friends in our new neighborhood. And we are happy. We're living the American dream, right? I sure think so. I mean, I am an American and it has become my dream, so it totally counts.
I am a stay-at-home mom which is a huge blessing that David's job allows me to do that. I am pretty busy with the kids, but I sometimes spread myself too thin with other things. I'm kind of a Jack of all trades. I like to dabble into anything to do with crafts, cooking/baking, exercise, organization, creative date nights and FHE so basically, I am really good at Pinterest. Is that a talent? Good thing I'm not trying to fill out a resume any time soon. I'm not super tech savvy though, so my outlet is Facebook to share the fun things I do. I have a bunch of groups of which I am an admin. (Most are public, so feel free to join!) I post daily workouts and any recipes or projects that I try. It's so fun for me, but the most important thing is to actually be out doing those things! I try to involve my kids as much as possible, although there is the occasional craft being created during nap time, and I know that my most important "fans" are my kids! They are the reason I stay home! They join me for my workouts (or affectionately squealed, "EXERCISE!"), I usually make the fun/cute food for them, I plan our family home evening lessons/activities around them, and I even let them help me plan my dinner menus. Of course, the creative date nights are NOT for them, rather, usually a much needed break to focus on our marriage and relationship.
This all sounds like I'm doing exactly what I should be doing as a "great" mom, right? Good. That is what you get to see on the internet. My blog is called "Positively Seeing Double" for a reason. I am, sometimes annoyingly. very optimistic! I like to see the good in the world and I like to be part of that good. That being said, I do not try to give false expectations to the moms in my bubble, rather I try to inspire, uplift, inform, and help those around me. Anyone who has been to my house knows that I usually have some kind of cereal stuck to my tile floor in the kitchen, laundry strewn about the house because that basket is just so fun to play in, myself not showered until first nap time (if at all), and despite best intentions, dishes up to my elbows basically all the time. Sometimes kids fight. Sometimes your house is a mess. Sometimes someone you love needs you when you feel like you have nothing left to give. The key is to keep trying. Put those you love first, know your priorities, don't be gross, sometimes do things you don't want to do, and just accept that "this is my life." Because when those moments of chaos are over and you can breathe again, you might see something wonderful. Maybe you'll even get to take the credit for it.
I've been married to my best friend for 5 years now. We have 3 beautiful kids- ages 3 and under- with no intentions of being "done." I say that so you don't have to be nosy and ask :) My wonderful husband David just built our first home with a fantastic view of the Payson Temple and we just bought an SUV. I am a teacher in my ward Relief Society. I have made friends in our new neighborhood. And we are happy. We're living the American dream, right? I sure think so. I mean, I am an American and it has become my dream, so it totally counts.
I am a stay-at-home mom which is a huge blessing that David's job allows me to do that. I am pretty busy with the kids, but I sometimes spread myself too thin with other things. I'm kind of a Jack of all trades. I like to dabble into anything to do with crafts, cooking/baking, exercise, organization, creative date nights and FHE so basically, I am really good at Pinterest. Is that a talent? Good thing I'm not trying to fill out a resume any time soon. I'm not super tech savvy though, so my outlet is Facebook to share the fun things I do. I have a bunch of groups of which I am an admin. (Most are public, so feel free to join!) I post daily workouts and any recipes or projects that I try. It's so fun for me, but the most important thing is to actually be out doing those things! I try to involve my kids as much as possible, although there is the occasional craft being created during nap time, and I know that my most important "fans" are my kids! They are the reason I stay home! They join me for my workouts (or affectionately squealed, "EXERCISE!"), I usually make the fun/cute food for them, I plan our family home evening lessons/activities around them, and I even let them help me plan my dinner menus. Of course, the creative date nights are NOT for them, rather, usually a much needed break to focus on our marriage and relationship.
This all sounds like I'm doing exactly what I should be doing as a "great" mom, right? Good. That is what you get to see on the internet. My blog is called "Positively Seeing Double" for a reason. I am, sometimes annoyingly. very optimistic! I like to see the good in the world and I like to be part of that good. That being said, I do not try to give false expectations to the moms in my bubble, rather I try to inspire, uplift, inform, and help those around me. Anyone who has been to my house knows that I usually have some kind of cereal stuck to my tile floor in the kitchen, laundry strewn about the house because that basket is just so fun to play in, myself not showered until first nap time (if at all), and despite best intentions, dishes up to my elbows basically all the time. Sometimes kids fight. Sometimes your house is a mess. Sometimes someone you love needs you when you feel like you have nothing left to give. The key is to keep trying. Put those you love first, know your priorities, don't be gross, sometimes do things you don't want to do, and just accept that "this is my life." Because when those moments of chaos are over and you can breathe again, you might see something wonderful. Maybe you'll even get to take the credit for it.
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| My living room- this is only a small mess compared to normal |
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| My girls reading together after fighting moments before |