What a relief!

We have implented a new plan to get our boys to behave. Jacob and Jaron know the value of money and Jonah is learning too. And they get excited when they have some of their own birthday money to spend and I want to help them save more. So even though we don't have a lot of extra to give~a little bit is all it takes to get them excited.

I have learned to let go of my perfectionist ways and let them fold the clothes, empty dishwasher, and so much more of the household chores that I cannot always keep up with. Making it fun for them and exciting to earn money for it. Even if it's only 50 cents to fold laundry they are happy to help. Jonah is asking all day long "mommy can I do a favor?" 

Jacob helps with bigger things like holding the baby when he's fussy or holding his bottle for him to drink while I cook dinner. Jaron is saying "yes ma'am all the time and I didn't even say anything about manners with this new plan. I just told them if they misbehave I have to take money away. That includes arguing, fighting, talking back, pitching a fit and talking ugly.

I have discovered they are so much more willing to help. And they love to empty their piggy banks on the counter and count their coins. So when the bad behavoir happens and we have to take some away....they are not very happy to say the least. It has helped with Jonah's temper tantrums and Jaron is learning to control himself and not wrestle so much.

I hope we are able to keep this up and hopefully this will teach them that earning money is hard work so when we buy things with our money we want to take care of it because we know how hard it was to save for that.

I want to make a chart with each "favor" or chore listed and it's value but this headache will just not allow it to happen. So for now I'll keep my wheels turning on exactly how I want to make it one day soon I'll get it on paper for the boys to see.

Maybe I'll get some sleep tonight....if Justus allows.

Bowling Boys

Monkey Joes!

 The boys had a few days off school last weekend so we went to Monkey Joes and had some fun!
Justus loved this mini school bus....he is standing up all by himself holding on tight. He does that now. Pulling up on the couch and tables. It won't be long he'll be walking.

 Jonah loves basketball....well any kind of ball but the basket ball game was not working so he got creative when I wasn't watching and this is where I found him~INSIDE THE GAME!


Then when I made him get out he went to the baby section and got a pink popper thing that is supposed to push on the floor but he used it to try and reach the basket balls. So smart and creative. I couldn't help but laugh. It was too cute!

Baby Bop!

Staying Organized

Chris and I have always been organized in our marraige and never really liked a mess. So when we started having children things got a little more difficult to keep up that tradition. But after years of struggling with myself and my anxieties I finally learned how to do it.

I used to go behind my first son Jacob and pick up toys he left out all day long and then I got pregnant with Jaron and was babysitting two little girls daily. The messes got bigger but I would have them all sing the "Clean up song" before they left every day.

Then I had Jaron and he was born with a cleft lip and palate that required extra attention and care. So I really didn't care about the mess much that first year of his life. After we got 3 surgeries behind us and Jaron started walking and playing I taught the boys to put things away at bedtime. I never liked the idea of a toy box that you throw everything into one.

We bought plastic drawers for the boys room to organize and sort different items. They have a car drawer, a ball drawer, a train drawer, a track drawer a people/animals drawer, a game drawer, I recently invested in a shelf with nine baskets and we also use those to sort legos and things.

I love being organized with my personal things and I think the boys do to. They always know where to look for something they want to play with.

So now instead of stressing and trying to clean all day long we just clean up at bedtime so we can start our mornings off with a clean house. I have learned to relax and little and the boys always know what is expected. We all work together to clean their room right before bedtime.

How do you get your kids to clean?

October 12th~My Birthday

Thirty one years since the day I was born
My body is older and my feet are worn

I'm married and have 4 boys to raise
I love my life and these happy days

Kisses and hugs morning, noon and night
Even when things don't go quite right

Children love so unconditionally
Even when patience is far from me

Mothering is transforming me day by day
I learn as I go and I like it this way

I couldn't ask for anything more
No more babies I'm happy with four

Blue fish...

we have two or three outfits that we kept since Jacob was a baby and they all look so cute in this one.

Wordless Wednesday

Liquid Gold...getting low

Well I am still nursing/pumping for Justus and my supply is getting low so I have been a little worried. I am trying to eat things and take fenugreek to try and increase it but not sure it's working. My goal is to continue giving him my milk until he's one year old Dec. 1st. But at the rate we are going my freezer supply is almost gone and I am not sure I'll make it. I have been giving him 3 jars of babyfood every day in between bottles.

Oh but one day I gave him infant oatmeal like rice cereal but it's oatmeal not rice. The first time he had it I mixed peaches with it and he puked for 3 hours so I thought it was the peaches. That was a few weeks ago. Well this past thursday I tried to give him some more but I just added water this time and he puked for 3 hours AGAIN! It was awful because after the first vomit his stomach was empty so the remaining 10 times he was just dryheaving puking up yellow stomach acid. He is too little to be going through that much trama. He was dehydrated and I was desperately trying to get him to drink my milk. Finally after hours of puking he slept a little and drank 4 oz. Poor baby...I think he's allergic to something in that stuff. He never pukes with the jars of veggies and fruits.

So anyway.....please pray for my supply to stay adequate enough for him until he's one. I am getting discouraged. I don't want to give him formula.