Sunday, November 18, 2007
Ponies, Presents and a Party
The Birthday Girl and her proud Momma at school to celebrate her birthday with cupcakes
A special request birthday cake:2 ponies and a golden retriever as cake toppers
American Girl was created for 6 year old girlsThis is Nikki and her pony, Jackson,
complete with book, clothes and tack box
Happy 6th Birthday my sweet Isabella girlRedBox ROCKS
Have you been to a RedBox??? Brilliant idea!!! For just $1/ night, you can rent movies from the lobby of many McDonald's, and return the movie to any other RedBox location...can you say...road trip???
Last night we rented Evan Almighty, and I also highly recommend that. Super cute family movie.
Last night we rented Evan Almighty, and I also highly recommend that. Super cute family movie.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Horseback Riding!!!
How am I going to top this when Isabella's next birthday rolls around??? My friend, Carey, agreed to let me bring Iz, Macy and Ellie, as well as Lisi, Ellie's brother Owen, and all 3 of us Moms, out to her place to enjoy an afternoon with her 12 horses.
Yes, you read that right, 12 horses!!!
I thought we were going out to see, pet and maybe feed horses, but much to my surprise, and delight!, she had 3 horses saddled up in her indoor arena!
We all had SO much fun!!!
Isabella, Macy & Ellie
Yes, you read that right, 12 horses!!!
I thought we were going out to see, pet and maybe feed horses, but much to my surprise, and delight!, she had 3 horses saddled up in her indoor arena!
We all had SO much fun!!!
Isabella, Macy & Ellie
Ellie and Isabella riding on Ruby
Lisi and I on Shorty
Lisi, Isabella, Ellie, Owen, Macy and an 8,000 pound GorillaWhat a hoot!!
Macy & the Gorilla
Isabella and I
Owen the Cowboy and CareyTuesday, November 13, 2007
another Lisi update
I have to say, people that I did not even know read this blog have asked about Lisi's privileges! Guess it strikes a common chord...even those without kids remember the days of having privileges revoked.
So here is the scoop: Lisi continues to have jammies, shoes (including pink crocs) and some art work in her room. YEAH!! She is desperate to get all of her clothes back, and each time she asks, I remind her that is a BIG privilege, and she needs to show me that she can handle it. And each day there is another meltdown. But for the most part, it is pretty much one good meltdown a day, I remind her she will not get her clothes back that day, and then we go on.
Today, however, she must have been really tired or something, but there were MAJOR meltdowns all day.
Like a total meltdown over the shirt I put out for her to wear.
And that was not even 8am!!
So she did lose the privilege of playing with friends at Mom's Group, which, as Jenn pointed out, is as much of a punishment for me as it is for her:(
But we made it through the day, and I am optimistic that she is back on track.
Point to all of this: There really is truth in the notion that kids act out because they have privileges beyond what they can handle. Scale back the privileges, and everything is a privilege, wait (and wait and wait and wait) for the behavior problems to subside, and then gradually add back the privileges as they show you they can handle them.
Woo Hoo to good advice!!!
PS: It is driving Isabella CRAZY that she does not know where Lisi's clothes are! She keeps asking me, and saying, "I promise I won't tell her".
For some reason, that in and of itself, is cracking me up.
So here is the scoop: Lisi continues to have jammies, shoes (including pink crocs) and some art work in her room. YEAH!! She is desperate to get all of her clothes back, and each time she asks, I remind her that is a BIG privilege, and she needs to show me that she can handle it. And each day there is another meltdown. But for the most part, it is pretty much one good meltdown a day, I remind her she will not get her clothes back that day, and then we go on.
Today, however, she must have been really tired or something, but there were MAJOR meltdowns all day.
Like a total meltdown over the shirt I put out for her to wear.
And that was not even 8am!!
So she did lose the privilege of playing with friends at Mom's Group, which, as Jenn pointed out, is as much of a punishment for me as it is for her:(
But we made it through the day, and I am optimistic that she is back on track.
Point to all of this: There really is truth in the notion that kids act out because they have privileges beyond what they can handle. Scale back the privileges, and everything is a privilege, wait (and wait and wait and wait) for the behavior problems to subside, and then gradually add back the privileges as they show you they can handle them.
Woo Hoo to good advice!!!
PS: It is driving Isabella CRAZY that she does not know where Lisi's clothes are! She keeps asking me, and saying, "I promise I won't tell her".
For some reason, that in and of itself, is cracking me up.
Omaha Zoo
Last Friday we 3 Main Girls topped off an already amazing week by road-tripping to the Omaha Zoo with Pastor Lori, Becky, Jaden & Ethan. (And, may I add, God bless Becky for riding in the back with the 4 kids!) We met up with the Young's for lunch, and then went to the Zoo with Lindsay and Reese. Man do I miss them!! I even miss Reese calling me "Grandma".Truly, we were all not even out of the Suburban when Reese hollered out their front window "Grandma!" Some things must never change:)
This was my first trip to Omaha, but it is not going to be the last! Can you believe I was born in St Louis, grew up in Des Moines, and had never been to Omaha??? I only got a quick taste of the city, but I know we would have fun there as a family.
How cool is this octopus???
This is my best attempt to get a picture of the 5 kids together.
Jaden, Isabella, Reese, Lisi and Ethan.
We 4 wild and wacky Moms!
Lindsay, Pastor Lori, Amy and Becky.
I Might Have To Give Cookin' Another Try
I just picked up a great cookbook/ magazine at the grocery store, and I am so excited about it, I just have to share!
It is called Taste of Home Slow Cooker Classics, and it is filled with some yummy sounding slow cooker recipes. Gotta love that!!
I picked it up at Dahl's @ 50th & EP True, for you local friends.
Or www.tasteofhome.com/freeissue
It looks like you can do a 1 year subscription for $10.00. This must be a 'special edition' because it was $9.99, but I am thinking that it is going to be money well spent!
Happy Family Meal Time!!!
It is called Taste of Home Slow Cooker Classics, and it is filled with some yummy sounding slow cooker recipes. Gotta love that!!
I picked it up at Dahl's @ 50th & EP True, for you local friends.
Or www.tasteofhome.com/freeissue
It looks like you can do a 1 year subscription for $10.00. This must be a 'special edition' because it was $9.99, but I am thinking that it is going to be money well spent!
Happy Family Meal Time!!!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Quirkiness R Us!!
So my friend Jen posted a list this week about the "weird, interesting or otherwise oddball quirks" that she has, and encouraged others to come clean with their own..
*wet feet creep me out, and I especially cannot touch my wet hands to anyone's wet feet
*crowds and commotion unnerve me
*'to-do' lists calm my anxieties, and like Pastor Lori, if I do something that is not on my list, I add it to the list so that I can cross it off and revel in the satisfaction of accomplishment
*I love to pick scabs and peeling skin...mine own or someone else's...doesn't matter...creepy, I know
*I am so happy to say that I can now leave the house with my bed un-made!!!
*wet feet creep me out, and I especially cannot touch my wet hands to anyone's wet feet
*crowds and commotion unnerve me
*'to-do' lists calm my anxieties, and like Pastor Lori, if I do something that is not on my list, I add it to the list so that I can cross it off and revel in the satisfaction of accomplishment
*I love to pick scabs and peeling skin...mine own or someone else's...doesn't matter...creepy, I know
*I am so happy to say that I can now leave the house with my bed un-made!!!
Privileges Come, and Privileges Go
This is an update on Lisi, and her bedroom that was stripped clean a couple of weeks ago.
The initial impact was as significant as her initial reaction...there really wasn't one.
Talk about a Mom being beat down as low as she can go!
But I knew I had to stick with it. And in all honesty, with her room stripped clean, there has been no hounding her to clean her room:)
So here I am, on the eve of 2 weeks of Lisi having no privileges, and I am SO happy to report, that it has made a difference! She will probably never have Isabella's compliant personality, but she has been so much more fun to be with, and to parent.
About a week ago, Lisi had been really good for days, and I offered to give her back 1 privilege. Actually, I told her she had earned a privilege, and would she like her books back.
Much to my surprise, what she wanted back was her pink crocs...to keep them in her room!
Done!
But before the clock struck midnight that same night, the pink crocs were back in hiding. That girl just does not know when to give it a rest!!
But she did get them back the following day, and the day after that she got to the privilege of keeping her jammies in her room back...and then taken away before the clock struck midnight.
Unbelievable!
As of tonight, Lisi has all shoes and jammies back in her room, as well as some artwork on the walls:)
And since she is soundly asleep, I think these privileges will last at least until the morning:)
The initial impact was as significant as her initial reaction...there really wasn't one.
Talk about a Mom being beat down as low as she can go!
But I knew I had to stick with it. And in all honesty, with her room stripped clean, there has been no hounding her to clean her room:)
So here I am, on the eve of 2 weeks of Lisi having no privileges, and I am SO happy to report, that it has made a difference! She will probably never have Isabella's compliant personality, but she has been so much more fun to be with, and to parent.
About a week ago, Lisi had been really good for days, and I offered to give her back 1 privilege. Actually, I told her she had earned a privilege, and would she like her books back.
Much to my surprise, what she wanted back was her pink crocs...to keep them in her room!
Done!
But before the clock struck midnight that same night, the pink crocs were back in hiding. That girl just does not know when to give it a rest!!
But she did get them back the following day, and the day after that she got to the privilege of keeping her jammies in her room back...and then taken away before the clock struck midnight.
Unbelievable!
As of tonight, Lisi has all shoes and jammies back in her room, as well as some artwork on the walls:)
And since she is soundly asleep, I think these privileges will last at least until the morning:)
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Money Well Spent
Does spending $$$ within my own home 'count' as spending money???
Either way, the money I have spent with Isabella in the past 24 hours has been well worth it!
She has been begging to go to Build A Bear, and as much as I enjoy it myself, it is expensive, and we have alot of 'Beary special friends'.
In addition to begging to go to BAB, she has been nagging for 'just one more piece of candy' from Halloween.
So how does a MaMa fix 2 problems in 1 solution????
I bought back the Halloween candy!! And I joyfully bought it back to the tune of 25 cents/ piece. It seemed a little pricey when she was handing over those teeny-tiny Tootsie Rolls, and it took all I had not to laugh out loud when she opened up the Hershey bar, broke it into 12 little chocolate rectangles, and counted out 12 quarters for herself! But, hey, goal accomplished!!
AND, once she realized that she still did not have enough to buy a 'friend' at BAB (she made about $15.00 , though!) she offered to clean the playroom and do any other jobs around the house to earn more money!!!
We have never had an allowance for Isabella, but I am thinking that she is ready to handle the responsibilities and reap the rewards:)
Either way, the money I have spent with Isabella in the past 24 hours has been well worth it!
She has been begging to go to Build A Bear, and as much as I enjoy it myself, it is expensive, and we have alot of 'Beary special friends'.
In addition to begging to go to BAB, she has been nagging for 'just one more piece of candy' from Halloween.
So how does a MaMa fix 2 problems in 1 solution????
I bought back the Halloween candy!! And I joyfully bought it back to the tune of 25 cents/ piece. It seemed a little pricey when she was handing over those teeny-tiny Tootsie Rolls, and it took all I had not to laugh out loud when she opened up the Hershey bar, broke it into 12 little chocolate rectangles, and counted out 12 quarters for herself! But, hey, goal accomplished!!
AND, once she realized that she still did not have enough to buy a 'friend' at BAB (she made about $15.00 , though!) she offered to clean the playroom and do any other jobs around the house to earn more money!!!
We have never had an allowance for Isabella, but I am thinking that she is ready to handle the responsibilities and reap the rewards:)
Kudos to Favorite Cousin Heather!!!
Heather was the one who encouraged me to post the challenge I had put to myself to "not buy it" in the month of October, and she is the real winner this month!! By her own admission, although she allowed herself and her family nice dinners out, a trip to Vegas and gifts for others, what she spent on the non-essential 'stuff' this past month was less than $20.00. Way to go, Idaho!! And I personally want to give her a BIG kudos on not buying any magazines this month...if you know Heather, you know this was a test of her will power:) I did not do so well this past month. I thought about the challenge, but caved under the pressure of coupons in my mailbox. I know, I'm bad!! Maybe I will try again in February (Let's be real, too many killer sales in January to put that kind of pressure on myself!)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
A Buck for Huck...plus a million more
$1,063,771.41
That is the amount of money that Mike Huckabee's campaign has raised on-line in the month of October. This amount has EXCEEDED the goal of $1,034,487.
WOW!!!
And how was the goal of $1,034,487 determined???
After the growing momentum following the Republican debate earlier this month and other boosts for Mike Huckabee to be the next President of the United States, he decided to set a (crazy) goal to raise $1 million more than the campaign had raised in the previous quarter.
Of course a campaign needs money, but I think this ginormous goal was to show the MEDIA that Huckabee has supporters, enthusiastic supporters, and that the support is growing.
For a largely grassroots campaign, this definitely makes a statement.
Have I mentioned that I LIKE MIKE???
The challenge is running until midnight tonight....
Will you contribute a Buck for Huck???
That is the amount of money that Mike Huckabee's campaign has raised on-line in the month of October. This amount has EXCEEDED the goal of $1,034,487.
WOW!!!
And how was the goal of $1,034,487 determined???
After the growing momentum following the Republican debate earlier this month and other boosts for Mike Huckabee to be the next President of the United States, he decided to set a (crazy) goal to raise $1 million more than the campaign had raised in the previous quarter.
Of course a campaign needs money, but I think this ginormous goal was to show the MEDIA that Huckabee has supporters, enthusiastic supporters, and that the support is growing.
For a largely grassroots campaign, this definitely makes a statement.
Have I mentioned that I LIKE MIKE???
The challenge is running until midnight tonight....
Will you contribute a Buck for Huck???
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Macy-Baby is HERE!!
I am SO happy to announce that Macy Claire Miller has arrived!
She is daughter #2 for by cousin Chris Miller and his wife, Paige.
And I hear that Chloe is a very happy and proud big sister!!
I hope to have pictures soon....
She is daughter #2 for by cousin Chris Miller and his wife, Paige.
And I hear that Chloe is a very happy and proud big sister!!
I hope to have pictures soon....
Beggar's Night
Isabella in the "fairy costume" she created herself
"Knock Knock"
"Who's There?"
"Isabel"
"Isabel Who?"
"Isa bel broken? I had to knock!"
"Go Hawkeyes!!!"
"Knock Knock""Who's There?"
"Isabel"
"Isabel Who?"
"Isa bel broken? I had to knock!"
"Go Hawkeyes!!!"
"Knock Knock.""Who's there?"
"Hand."
"Hand Who?"
"Hand over the candy!!"
Sweet Sisters
Trick or Treating...Napa Valley style
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Lisi at her cutest
For those of you who continue to talk about how "Stinkin' Cute" Lisi is, this is a picture of when I find her to be at her cutest....
conversations with Lisi
So last night Isabella, Lisi and I are driving home from Sandy & Adele's house, where the kids played with their cat. And this is part of the conversation that transpired...
Isabella: "Mom, do we need to take a tubby because we played with the cat? Or can we just wash hands?"
Me: "Oh, you can just wash hands, if you want."
Lisi: "Ya, I can just wash hands because I pet the cat. And because I picked my nose."
Isabella: "Mom, do we need to take a tubby because we played with the cat? Or can we just wash hands?"
Me: "Oh, you can just wash hands, if you want."
Lisi: "Ya, I can just wash hands because I pet the cat. And because I picked my nose."
Baby Shaylee
We had the pleasure of having Shaylee at our house earlier this week. Bummer that her Mom, Melissa, was sick, but totally our gain to have the best baby on the planet staying with us:)
Shaylee and Lisi
Shaylee and Lisi
Shaylee & Isabella immediately after Iz coming home from school!
Shaylee, Iz & Lisi
Thank goodness Isabella is old enough to be a huge help to me!Thursday, October 25, 2007
Lisi's Therapy Session # 142
Maybe I needed to have 'before' pictures to give the full story. But Lisi's actions, attitude and poor choices have led to her having her room stripped...of everything. No toys, no stuffed animals, 
no pictures on the walls, no books...
...not even clothes in her drawers.
She has lost all privileges.
I am open to all suggestions on how to better parent her.
All stories of how "stinkin' cute" she is will fall on deft ears.
no pictures on the walls, no books...
...not even clothes in her drawers.She has lost all privileges.
I am open to all suggestions on how to better parent her.
All stories of how "stinkin' cute" she is will fall on deft ears.
OATH dinner
Just a few pix from the dinner we hosted for Micaela and friends from Evangel University's Oath Ministry last Monday night. Again, it was our pleasure to have them here, and we are so thankful for the help that they offered for our Fall Family Festival!!
Coop-Dog and Pastor Lori
Coop-Dog and Pastor Lori
Micaela, Joshua and the K-Train
Pastor Lori and her ORIGINAL kidsWednesday, October 24, 2007
My Husband ROCKS!!!
Just a quick post as Baby Shaylee is spending the night tonight so her momma can get some rest and hopefully avoid the sickness that lingered with both myself and Dara for 2 weeks. YUCK!! But totally lucky for me that we get this sweet babe for the night and tomorrow!
Anyway, my husband ROCKS!!! And not just because he did not question my phone call to ask him to set up the pack and play and the swing:)
He got us tickets to see Rob Bell in Kansas City in 2 weeks!!
Woo Hoo!!!
I am not just a Rob Bell groupie, I think I have to admit that I am a Jesus Freak.
Rob is the Teaching Pastor for Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI. I really enjoy listening to his podcasts, and have shared them with family and friends. We also have the entire Nooma collection, and have shared those with family and friends, too. And, finally, if you have met my husband, you have probably been given a copy of Velvet Elvis. Even my 94 year old grandpa got one!!
Needless to say, listening to Rob in person should be AWESOME!!
Pictures of sweet Shaylee tomorrow...
Anyway, my husband ROCKS!!! And not just because he did not question my phone call to ask him to set up the pack and play and the swing:)
He got us tickets to see Rob Bell in Kansas City in 2 weeks!!
Woo Hoo!!!
I am not just a Rob Bell groupie, I think I have to admit that I am a Jesus Freak.
Rob is the Teaching Pastor for Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI. I really enjoy listening to his podcasts, and have shared them with family and friends. We also have the entire Nooma collection, and have shared those with family and friends, too. And, finally, if you have met my husband, you have probably been given a copy of Velvet Elvis. Even my 94 year old grandpa got one!!
Needless to say, listening to Rob in person should be AWESOME!!
Pictures of sweet Shaylee tomorrow...
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