Again?!?! You ask me?? Yes. But not out of my house, away from wordpress. I am frustrated with them and have decided to go over to Typepad. So, join me at http://www.prairiemama.typepad.com. Please update your feeds and the links on your blogs.
Tuesday Inspiration will be back next week over at my new home 🙂 See ya on the flip side.
I’m working on some new things, so it’s going to be a bit quiet here for a day or two. I promise, when I come back, there will be LOTS to discuss 🙂 See you soon!
I remember when I was 7 or 8 (my sister, Cristin, wasn’t of dating age quite yet) we had a Family Council about rules. We all sat down, all 7 of us, and talked about what the rules should be and the consequences for those rules. I was very adamant that a rule should be made of NO DATING before 16. Kind of just to stick it to my sister (love you C!). I thought it was a grand rule until I was about 14 and I met this guy, he was a Senior, I was a Freshman, and he LIKED me! Then, I thought it was a really dumb rule and I hated the consequence that went with it – being grounded.
Last night, I did the same thing with my kids. We sat down and made up our rules and consequences. Seth has had a really hard time recently with hitting Jeremy and I. He also has been extremely disobedient and just not nice. I am sure it has a lot to do with a new baby in the house and trying to see how far he can go…but really, it’s wearing on me. So, we talked about how God has rules and how there are good and bad consequences for our actions.
When I asked him what he thought the rules should be he continually said, “Good Rules!”. Yeah ok, but what are those good rules my son?
1. Be kind – no hitting, no yelling, no fighting
2. Leave the cats alone – seriously, this drives me nuts!
3. Obey Mom and Dad
4. Pick up your toys and books
5. Love One Another
The bad consequences are going to your room, going to the power chair (like time-out), and losing money. Now, lest you think I am stealing from my children…we made banks last night and “money” for them. When they follow the rules, they get to earn this money. This money will earn them priveldges, like watching a movie, earning back toys that were taken away, computer time, etc. I am hoping that this will help them learn to be a wee bit more responsible, I know, it’s asking a lot for a 4 and 2 year old!, and that they will start to be more respectful of eachother and us. I’ll let you know how it works!
Speaking of rules being broken…
Mother Nature decided to break some rules and, as I have previously mentioned, it snowed this weekend! None of it stuck, until Sunday night. We woke up to snow, not much, but it was snow. The kids were SO excited. So, we got down all the snow stuff, put it on over their jammies, and they went out to play in the much anticipated snow.
Since Mother Nature was breaking the rules, we decided to break some rules and stay in jammies all day. Ok, the kids stayed in Jammies all day. It was lovely. We had a hot chocolate party complete with zucchini bread cake that I made on Sunday. It was so nice.
It was a good day. The kids in jammies, Libby nursing non-stop, hot chocolate party…what could make it better? Oh, this. And it did.
I have had a really good week and a fantastic weekend, so I have much to be grateful for!
1. My children. Seriously, they make me laugh. Hard. So, we have decided to start recording the really funny things they say. I got this fabulous idea to keep it all here. We started yesterday and already have 2 in our jar. Those two are nutty, that is for sure!
2. Kitchen Gadgets. They are so nice. We eat a lot of salad around here (I mean, A LOT) and love almonds on our salad. So, yesterday Jeremy got a nut chopper that we can chop a bunch at a time and keep them in the chopper. Makes our nut chopping so much easier!
3. Going to visit family yesterday. We had so much fun, eating, laughing and talking with everyone. So much so, that I did not take my camera out of the bag once. So, while Libby got LOTS of hugs and snuggles from her cousins, aunts and uncles (and Meemaw and Grandpa, of course!), I have no photos to show for it.
4. The heater in our home. Sadly it is 39 degrees outside and snowing. Yes, you read that right, it is SNOWING! I’m very glad that I am not outside in that snow.
5. My son. I know, I just said my children, but he really deserves one of his own today. Every year in our church, the children ages 3-12 give a presentation about what they’ve been learning this year. Today was that day. I have always been so excited to watch my children go up, sing the songs they’ve learned and say their little part. Seth and I have been practicing his part for 2 weeks and singing the songs religiously. So, I was so excited today to have it be the Primary Program! He went up there and promptly decided that he didn’t want to be sitting up there, didn’t like where he had to sit, didn’t want to sing, just wanted to do his part, just wanted his dad, just wanted his mom, he was thirsty, he was tired…it went on and on. Jeremy sat up on the stand with him for a little while, and then was able to go back down. But then Seth kept getting up, coming down into the congregation to be with us, blah, blah, blah. Finally (after bribing him with the promise of Mike and Ikes) he went up and sat down. He sang the rest of the songs…even though he was standing right next to the pulpit and one of the teachers had to keep grabbing him to get him down from a step stool, he really did great. I couldn’t help but laughing. I don’t know how other parents get their children to sit still and sing, mine don’t, and really, I’m grateful for that. He keeps me on my toes and makes me laugh so hard. I love you Bubs!
Winter that is. Today was cold, tomorrow it is supposed to SNOW! GAH! I’m SO not ready for winter! I love fall, I wish it would be for a bit longer. I love the colors and smells of autumn. I love the way it is cooler, but not so cold you need a coat or jacket. I love the way everything is orange and red and just beautiful. Oh, and I forgot to bring my basil inside last night and we had our first frost. So sad…no more fresh basil. WAH.
On the brighter side…Libby had her 1 month check up today, she is 9 lbs. 8 oz. All that good cream that I make! She’s gone from 7 lbs. 14 oz. 2 weeks ago to this! My sweet girl. What a difference a month makes!
Tomorrow we’re off to Kaysville for my nephew’s baptism. I can’t believe he’s already 8! He was born right after I moved to Kansas and in with my brother and sister-in-law. I took care of the older kids when he was being born, and he’s my little buddy (and one of Seth’s very favorite cousins!). So, it will be fun to be with him for this special day, but also to see the rest of my fam! We will also celebrate the birthday of my twin nephews. They turned 12 yesterday. They were born right after I broke up with a guy who completely broke my heart. Seems so long ago…12 years!
I have been sewing and knitting also…pictures to come, promise! 🙂
While you were sleeping, dear Libby, I cleaned the kitchen, made cookies with your siblings, cleaned the kitchen again, played 12 games of UNO, changed the sheets on my bed, folded 2 baskets of laundry (Daddy can put them away), diffused 5 fights between your brother and sister, changed a diaper, switched loads of laundry, and wished you were awake to nurse so I didn’t have to do any of it (except make the cookies and play UNO, that was fun!). After that HUGE poop today, I’m not surprised you are sleeping as well as you are…Oh, and happy one month birthday. I can’t believe it’s already been a month! That is the excuse I will use for making cookies today 😉 You’ll enjoy it in your milk, I’m sure!
We’ll go youngest to oldest…
Dearest Libby,
I love you so much. You are such a sweet baby. Thank you for letting me take a shower this morning. Clean Moms are always a good thing to have. I promise someday, you will totally understand this.
Thank you also for taking a good nap yesterday so I could make myself a new apron. I really love it, and I really love you.
Love,
Mama
My Darling Amelia,
You are so cute and sweet. I love that you love me, but really, you don’t need to scream and cry on my floor (or in my bed) in the morning telling me you’re ready for me to wake up. I promise, I’ll get up as soon as Libby is done nursing, PROMISE!
Also, could you please not hit your brother today? Oh, and if it’s not too much to ask, please don’t lay on Libby today.
Thanks sweetie.
Love,
Mama
Sweet Seth,
You are the funniest boy I have ever met. Thanks for making me laugh everyday. And, while your cousin KC might laugh when you tell her it is “amazing” that you peed in your bed and had to go sleep in Mom and Dad’s bed while they cleaned up your bed…it is not amazing. It is amazing, however, that Mom was able to climb up on the top bunk and get your sheets off and almost get your new mattress pad on without waking up Amelia on the bottom bunk. That, my friend, is amazing.
Thank you so much for cleaning up your mess while I take a couple of minutes to write this blog post. You rock kiddo.
Also, one thing, could you please be kind to your sister today? Remember that she is just 2 and that she doesn’t understand that you have preferences of who you’d like to be? That would be so great.
Love you bubs,
Mom
My darling,
Oh how I love you. I love that last night, you came home from work, asked if I needed help with dinner and when I replied no, you ran downstairs to play with Seth. Thank you also for making sure I eat my salads. You know I love them, but don’t love making them. I love that after dinner, you mowed the lawn, came inside, played with Seth and Amelia, bathed them, read to them, and put them to bed. All this, so I could clean up dinner and then sit down and lose myself in my book that your Mom sent me.
Also, thank you for letting me sleep this morning and keeping the kids out of our room. You must have known I was up a lot last night with Libby. You are the best.
Oh, and guess what? Libby is 4 weeks old…you know what that means don’t you? 2 weeks baby….
Eternally yours…
To myself,
Please, be a little more gentle with yourself. You don’t have to do everything, and you don’t have to be perfect. Do as much as you can, and know that it will be good enough.
Also, do not berate yourself in the mirror. You just had a baby FOUR weeks ago. And, if you are really feeling so bad about your body, STOP eating handfuls of chocolate chips! Limit your sugar to 1 night a week (if you really have to), and eat the way you know you should.
Be gentle with yourself and remember who you are.
Love,
Self.
Today’s Tuesday Inspriation is my dear friend, Sarah Long. Sarah and I have been friends for 7 years (wow, has it really been that long Sar??). We were both interpreters in the Olathe, KS school district and would carpool to inservices together. She and her husband, Jason, became good friends and remain so now.
Six years ago, when I was very pregnant with Emma, Sarah offered to take my belly photos, and I happily took her up on it. She was just getting started in the photo business, and it is really fun for me to see how she has progressed.
When Seth was 14 months old, we got together with Sarah and Jason and she did our family photos again. And again, she amazed me!
Last August, the kids and I went to visit my folks in Omaha. Sarah and her family, came up to visit. She took lots of great pictures while we were there, and did my kiddo’s photos too!
When Sarah does pictures, it is very rarely the “staged” photos we are all used to. She captures families and children in the moment and helps you to keep those memories forever.
Last November was our most recent photo shoot with Sarah. We were in Kansas for Thanksgiving, and she did the Borchert family photos. It was especially fun for a couple of reasons. First, we went back to Lawrence for the pictures and second, we had an 11 day old baby there!
See, and as if that isn’t enough, she puts the pictures into storyboards also!
Honestly, this woman is amazing, and inspires me to find the joy in life. She has 2 beautiful children, a booming photography business, and is just one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.
So friends, meet Sarah Long, Mama, Friend and owner of Joyful Photography. And, to my readers and friends in Kansas, CALL HER!!! She is AMAZING and does absolutely wonderful work.
Mwah! Love you Sar!
This weekend was lovely. It rained and was cold all weekend, so we stayed inside and had a fantastic time together.
On Saturday, Jeremy and I made applesauce. I can’t WAIT to dig into it, neither can the kids. It was made with Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonathon and Golden Delicious apples. It has a beautiful rosy color, and tastes just fantastic.
We read lots of books, I finshed Amelia’s slippers and started on Seths. Jeremy went to the Priesthood Session of General Conference on Saturday night, so the kids and I started a new tradition. We made apple crisp and Halloween decorations. The apple crisp was YUMMY and the decorations were…well, fun.
On Sunday, we just stayed home, listened to General Conference again, and played games. It was a really nice weekend. Here are some pictures of our activities.
Today, I am grateful for so many things. Here are a few –
1. My loving husband that let me sleep until 10:00 this morning!!! Libby was up all night, and I let him sleep, so he let me sleep this morning. I woke up to a veggie omelet and my children playing nicely. He rocks!
2. Making applesauce yesterday, then tomato basil soup (all ingredients from my garden too!), and apple crisp. It was a YUMMY day!
3. General Conference yesterday and today. I am so grateful that every 6 months, we have the opportunity to hear from the leader’s of our Church and be so spiritually uplifted and edified.
4. And this…they were playing Jeremy and Kim. I love these hooligans. They seriously make me laugh every day. You should have seen Seth putting a diaper on one of the babies. Hilarious!
How about you? What are you grateful for today?
Prairie Mama 
