Prayer Pail

We started a prayer tradition, threw a little something new in our bed routine.

The boys painted sticks, and made each one beautiful and unique. Then, we gave each one a purpose, either a name of someone dear to our hearts or people in need, such as the hungry, poor, or suffering.

 Each night they look forward to picking a prayer from the pail.

We use this great book of prayers to wrap it up, it offers the best prayers for children...short, sweet, and concise, which is mandatory for their one minute attention span!

 Chase pretends to read a prayer and then concludes with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.....it's pretty stinkin cute!

Baby girl gives the prayer sticks one last blessing!

Amen!

Until Next Time...............

Shade...I'll take it!

When Top Gun announced that he would be off for four days, I started daydreaming of sleeping- in, taking a few long bubble baths, sewing a few curtains, and maybe even using the potty in private, just maybe!

It was all a dream!

I woke up to loud, banging chaos.

What are you doing?

I thought since I had a few days, I would do some repairs on the deck and add a pergola for some shade.

That sounds nice, but with the boys here?

Sure!

No relaxing in a bubble bath for me!

Chase, give me daddy's pencil!

Chase, don't eat the eraser!

Boys stop yelling, it's just a saw.

Chase, get down from there, and go get on some undies.

Heaven's to Betsey....I was worn slap out,

but it was all worth it in the end!

I might not have gotten a relaxing bath, but I get to relax in the shade while watching my monkeys play!

Until Next Time........

Lets Bowl!

Top Gun returned home last night after a six day training, and he was dearly missed by all! We usually tend to have a fun-filled day of quality time to reconnect, today we chose a game of bowling. It was the boy's first experience with bowling, unless you count Gattitown.

Technique first.....

                                                          
                                                              then a little observation.......

                                                              Topped off with a little pep talk........

                                                      and it was on like Donkey Kong!!

                                                          
                                                    Colby man got a strike on his first bowl!

                                       This is a nifty little contraption for squirts to use that don't have quite enough muscles behind the release....Chase loved it! He never watched to see if his ball actually knocked over pins, he was too busy running back, shouting "my turn gin, my turn gin!"

  Josie thought it was all entertaining!

 Chase actually won, but there were no hard feelings, Colby didn't lose...Colbe did!

                                                Chase might have conquered the lanes, but Colby man owned the air hockey competition!

After all the gaming going on, my little players needed a stop at Bops!

Good times!

Until Next Time...............

Respecting Boundaries

It has been evident that positive discipline has definitely instilled self-respect in Colby, and at a high level of maturity for a four-year old.

I purchased Colby a hole punch, and he thinks it is the most magnificent tool ever created. He literally punched holes in leaves for hours today. We were heading out to eat dinner, and he realized his pants didn't have a pocket hole-punch holder, and all things came to a halt!

Mom, I have to change shorts, I need a pocket.

We are leaving, just put it in my bag.

No, I need to keep it close so I can take care of it.

Son, we don't really have time. Let's just go!

He glanced up at me, while fighting back tears of frustration and, grumbled- MOM, YOU ARE NOT RESPECTING MY BOUNDARIES!!!

I'm not going to admit what I wanted to say, but I knew what I had to say in such a teachable moment-
Colby, you are right. Your tool is very important to you and you would like to change into a pair of shorts with a pocket so you can keep up with it, right?

Yes mam!

Okay, go change and then meet us in the car.

Okay!


He climbed in Oddy, buckled up, grinned at me through the mirror, and so proudly proclaimed- thanks mom, for respecting my boundaries!

You are very welcome! Thank you for controlling your anger and communicating so well!

 I was very angry and did what you said- I breathed in my nose and out of my mouth!

God love my exuberant, spirited child!

Until Next Time.....