Educational Website

I LOVE educational websites! My sister just informed me of a new one www.sheppardsoftware.com. It is so fun and addicting! It has all different catagories like chemistry, vocabulary, geography etc... With quizzes and online games that start with beginner and go to expert. This site is for the school age kid (but fun for adults too).

If you want a great site for your little ones, starfall.com is the best!

Coming to a close

As the month is nearing its end, and the experiment is coming to a close, I've realized a few things.

First, no matter how hard you try, you cannot have a rigid schedule for young children. Illnesses, teething, phone calls, weather, visitors, car problems, and so much more make it impossible.

Second, having a flexible schedule really does work! Not only has it given the kids some balance and repetition in their ever changing world, but it is also comforting to them, like their favorite blanket that is always waiting for them when they go to bed. It is also good for me, because I know when I will have time to do certain things. It gives me a bit more drive to get chores done, because if I don't get them done when they're scheduled, there is nowhere else on the schedule where they fit in. I also enjoy that I set aside meditative time and personal scripture time. I have to make time for these things, they are essential.

I would say that so far the experiment has been very successful.

Experiment part 2

So the experiment is well under way. I have a schedule I try to follow. Yes, I said try. I do my very best, but sometimes I don't follow it to the letter. The kids don't seem to follow it that well either. For instance, they keep waking up BEFORE their scheduled wake up time... Yes I even put that on the schedule, and not once has it been accurate.

I must say, though, that putting activities to do with the kids on a list is very helpful. Also, nap time has been a huge success. So far those two things have been the best things to come out of the experiement.

The following is a sample schedule for a Tuesday:

TUESDAY

6:30- Feed baby
7:30- Get up, pray, shower, get dressed
8:00- Get 2 yr old, change diaper, pray, eat breakfast together
8:15- brush teeth, get 2 yr old dressed
8:30- Turn on music, color, art activity, and read books
9:30- Get baby, feed, change and dress her
10:00- Go to pool, playground, library or play group
12:00- Lunch
12:15- Nap Time (check emails, work on business, read personal scriptures, prepare Sunday school lesson, nap)
2:00- Watch a Movie, eat a snack
3:30- Turn on Music, Let 2 yr old play by himself, Make dinner
4:30- Pick up around the house
5:10- Daddy gets home, Dinner time, Scriptures
5:40- Clean up dinner
5:50- Play with daddy time
6:30- Baths, get kids ready for bed, brush teeth, medicine, prayers
7:00- Bedtime for kids
7:15- Mom or Dad go exercise
8:00- Do what needs to get done (emails, business, finances, relaxing)
9:30- Get ready for bed, pray, read
10:00- lights out!

The Experiment

I promised my husband I was going to do it, so here I go....

I'm going to plan a schedule that covers everything 24/7 for one month! It will tell me what time to wake up, go to bed, take a shower, get out of the house, etc... I have very moody children, and nothing seems to work to keep them happy for very long. I've concluded that it must be me that is the problem because I am the one constant in their life. I think the problem with me is that I have never followed a schedule a day in my life. I can honestly say I've never gotten ready for the day the same way ever! I'm just not a scheduled type of a person. My husband, on the other hand, gets ready the same way every single day, almost to the minute.

Here in is the reason for my experiment. I'm going to schedule every minute of my life for an entire month and see if my children are happier, my home runs more smoothly, I"m happier, and if we are all healthier.

The experiment will start August 1st and end August 31st. I'm going to keep a running log of the schedule and it's effects. At the end of the month we will study the data and see if I need to get my act together and become a scheduled person, or if chaos wins...

Change the World

As a mother we have the single most important responsibility in the world. Raising the nations future. That's why I feel so inadaquate at times. Especially on days when I'm low on patience or just plain in a bad mood. I just want to be the best mother I can be, that's probably why when I'm praying at night I ask God repeatedly to help me. I need His help so much.

I'm lucky to have a husband who'd do just about anything for me. He comes home and puts me back together on days that I've fallen apart.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that motherhood is hard. Really really hard. I'm so thankful for all the women out there willing to share advice, stories, and hugs. I think all women need to know they aren't alone, they aren't the only ones struggling from time to time. There are so many good resources out there. I just read a good article called "Motherly Advice" that suggest some books on taking control and managing your home. I love to stumble upon this kind of stuff. I hope that when I share, I'm able to help someone else.

Most of all I just wanted to say "Thanks Mom".

Family Traditions

My husband loves fireworks! My 2 yr old inherited this trait. We kept the kids up later than usual for the Fourth of July, and took them to see fireworks. It was so much fun. I'm excited that the kids are starting to get old enough that holidays and traditions that we are starting will be memories that they'll always cherish.

Some traditions we have started (and we're still just starting):
Getting a picture with Santa
Fireworks (4th of July)
Easter Egg Hunts
Learning, in depth, about the true meaning of religious holidays
Family Night once a week
Learning the Pledge of Alligence (4th of July)
Calling someone we know in the military and thanking them (4th of July)
Reading together as a family every night
Praying together as a family every night

We will add to these traditions as we get more children, and as they grow older. Traditions are definitely a part of parenthood that is fun and fulfilling.

MomAdvice.com

I was trying to find out if my blog was easy to find if you were searching for it. Well, it's not. But in my search I found a site called MomAdvice.com . Basically it is what I'd like my site to be in my dreams. I love the layout and look of the site, and it is fun and interesting. As for my site, maybe some day.......

MotherNature.com

I was just searching for some advice on diaper rash and ran into a site called MotherNature.com it has this book of home remedies for children with advice for anything you could possible think of. It is excellent information and it also lets you know when you should get your child to the doctor.

They WILL Eat It

One of the hardest things about some two year olds is getting them to eat a nutritious diet. I am no expert on nutrition, but here are a list of things I could get my two year old to eat:

Breakfast
Rice Chex
Blueberry Pancakes
Waffles with jam
Cream of Wheat (add milk, butter, peaches and a little sugar)
Oatmeal (add milk, butter, raisins, and brown sugar)
Side of fruit

Lunch
Meat and cheese sandwich (cut into bite size pieces)
PBJ sandwich (bite size pieces)
Grilled Cheese
Soups (vegetable, chicken noodle, chicken and rice...)
Side of Fruit

Dinner
Homemade Pizza (especially with Italian Sausage)
Grilled Chicken
3 Cheese Tortellini w/red sauce
Chicken Croissants
Fettuccini Alfredo
Barbeque Beef
Spaghetti (finely cut up)
Side of Vegetables

Veggies
Broccoli (steamed w/butter and salt)
Corn on the cob (a favorite)
Steamed Zucchini
Steamed Yellow Squash
Boiled Carrots
Green Beans (will only eat 3 or 4)

Fruit
Mandarin Oranges
Sliced Oranges
Sliced Strawberries
Kiwi
Peeled Apples
Canned Peaches
Canned Pears
Applesauce

This list is not all inclusive, but it does the job for some great ideas that your kid will most likely eat. At dinner, I don't give my kids a choice, they eat what the family eats, or they don't eat. This may sound harsh, but they know I mean business, and it works. Well, when in doubt, microwave some chicken nuggets and pour on the ketchup (you know you've done it!).

Start Early

I love to read to my kids. They LOVE to be read to.

Some of the first books that I read to them were:

Good Night Gorilla
Good Night Moon
The Hungry Caterpillar
10 Little Lady Bugs
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb (Favorite of a 1 year old)

These are just a few, but they are a great start to any new kids home library. I would suggest starting to read to them as early as possible. My 2 year old already knows all his letters, shapes, numbers, colors and so much more. I know this is because he is read to often. The time and effort you put into reading to your kids will benefit them in ways that cannot be measured. It is worth every minute.

Good Books

I like to read. I like to learn about my kids. I like my kids to sleep through the night. There are two books I have found instrumental in helping my kids sleep great.

The first is Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. This book helps you feel empowered instead of guilty about putting your child to bed early. He helps you understand and conquer sleep problems. And he helps you understand why it is so important that your child gets enough sleep. A must read for any parent!

The second book I'd recommend is On Becoming Baby Wise. It is an easy read, and it gives you a very rigid schedule to follow. This is good and bad. Good for a new mom that has no idea how to get her child to sleep through the night, and bad because not every baby is the same. This book WILL help you get your child to sleep through the night if you follow its method. I did not follow it to the letter; I adapted it to my child. It did educate me, and I recommend it to every new mom I know.

My kids sleep 11+ hours a night. And I'm a better mom for it.

Good Ideas

I think it would be fun to share good ideas that help you make it through the day. I know that some days drag on for me just because I don't know what to do with the kids. So I'd like to start with rainy day ideas. Here is a recipe for homemade playdough:

2 cps flour
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 cups water
1 tablespoon mineral oil
food coloring

Mix the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until stiff. Allow to cool, then knead.

This is especially fun for 2-4 year olds. Put a sheet down under the table to keep the playdough out of the carpet. Have fun!