Kennadi is a HOOT!

 Kennadi is 20 months old now.  Her personality is showing through in full force now.  When she is having her good days or moments she is hilarious.  She makes us laugh all day.  (She still seems to have a lot of ornery moments too though.)  She has a face of many faces!  She can go from the evil eye to the brightest smile in a split second and she pulls all the other in between faces to boot.  She's my rough and tough girl.  She doesn't like wearing earrings-we've lost many a pair from her pulling them out.  She doesn't like her hair done in elastics.  She pulls it out and is left with spikes, so it's better looking undone.  She has found her curious side!  She loves to get into everything...  all day- if she's not attached to my hip she's making a mess.  She loves to open and pour things out, put them on, taste them, rub them on like lotion, just whatever she can imagine.  She loves my make-up, fingernail polish, dish soap, lotion, toothpaste, medicine (I don't know who had the notion that child proof-lids were really child-proof), and cleaning products..... I have to keep an eye on her all the time.  She loves to unroll the toilet paper rolls, and pull out the tissues and wipes from their containers.  Although she makes most of the messes, she is also my child that cleans and listens the best.  Sometimes I'll ask one of the older kids to get me something and Kennadi beats them to it.  She always does what we ask.  She is always picking up after herself and the other kids.  She likes to throw garbage away- especially diapers.  She likes things in order.  She likes to help me vacuum, do laundry, wash dishes, etc.  She still hasn't picked up on saying very many words yet, but she understands everything.  She only says a few words like- Mama, bye, uh-oh, no, Papa, Ganma, Ganpa, baby.  She just recently found that biting is a new way to get what she wants from Kinnli.......  She also discovered she likes to hit her siblings (including Kate) and quickly give them a hug and a kiss and then repeats it all over again.  She loves her sisters & brothers, baby dolls, books, snacking, and being outside.   

 

 Aunt Jackie cuts Kennadi's hair.  She recently cut off the baby mullet and gave her a bob to help thicken and even out her hair. 

 

 

 Kennadi made sure to use each wipe as she pulled it out.

We went to Peter Piper's Pizza in Arizona and she loved riding the carousel. 



Kate is 6 months old

 Kate is 6 months old now or 2 1/2 months adjusted age.  Her face and legs are getting so chubs.  Today, marks the day of her first giggle.  She has such a soft, sweet personality so far.  She is still such an easy baby!  She did catch one cold last month and had an ear infection, but she's done great besides that.  I finally just couldn't muster pumping any longer.  I was only getting a half an ounce total per time and decided it just wasn't worth it anymore.  She eats about 4 ounces per feeding now.  Just last week she cut back waking up to eat 2x at night to just 1x-yahoo.  Not a day goes by that I don't look at her and think of the blessing and miracle that she is!    

 

 We went to Arizona last weekend to spend some time with my sister and her family.  We enjoyed some 75 degree sunshine-AWESOME! 

 

 

One of Kate's first public outings was this Monday for my Aunt Georgia's funeral.  Even though she's still not supposed to be out until May- it was between taking her or leaving her with a babysitter and I'm not ready for that yet. I just had to capture the surprise clothing coordination between Aunt Telila and Kate.



Kale's Bear Award

 

 

 

A shout out for Kale! 

 

 
 
Kudos to and bless those Scout Leaders!  If it weren't for them, my boys wouldn't be advancing in scouts.  Kale received his Bear Award this last week.  He loves scouts and all the things he learns.  It's right up his alley.  He is such a hands-on, outdoors child.  Josh received the pin at the awards ceremony, because I was in Arizona. 

 When Kaden first started scouts, I thought it was kind of weird that the mom's received the pin.  I thought the dad's would because they "should" be doing all the scouting stuff with their sons.  Boy, was I wrong- I now- do believe it is the mom that does the work and rightly so should receive the pin. 

Growing up in a house of all girls, I never really understood what Scouts was all about and what it consisted of.  With three boys, I imagined that I'd delve into it and be an awesome scouter mom.  Nope- Kaden never did get any of his awards sewn on his uniform, but he did complete all the levels and received his Arrow of Light (thanks again to his awesome leaders).  I did try to hot glue his awards on once and that was a failure-popped off at pack night (embarrassing).  So far Kale is still in the same boat, but at least he has a uniform.  Kam doesn't even have that yet, and he's been in scouts for 6 months.  I guess my take on scouts at this point is that it is good for them, but not something I have the time or motivation to put a lot of energy into thus far.  Maybe sometime in the near future- I will jump aboard(and by that I don't mean a calling).   I do want all my boys to receive their Eagle.    

 

 

Basketball

While Kate was in the hospital we opted out of football, soccer, and extracurricular activities.  My boys were so excited when basketball season came around and I signed them up to play.  Finally- a bit of time out of the BUBBLE of our house when the light could be shined on them!  A bit of normal life again.  Each of their have been on different nights of the week- Tues., Wed., and Friday.  Josh and I take turns going to their games while the other stays home with the littles, because Kate is still homeward bound until May. 

This was Kam's first year playing basketball and also the first year that our recreation department offered it for 2nd grade.  They get together on Fridays and learn skills for the first 30 minutes and then play a game for the last 30 minutes.  It's pretty hilarious to watch their games, but they've come a long way since the beginning.  Kam started out the season like a watch dog on constant guarding alert-even when his team had the ball:)  I had to remind him several times to move away from his opponent and get open so he could get the ball. 

This was Kale's second year playing basketball.  Last year I put him on the 3rd & 4th grade team even though he was a 2nd grader.  He is a very aggressive player and works hard. He got the ball a lot, and shot a lot.  Some games he even made quite a few baskets.  He needs to work a bit on slowing down and getting better ball control.   I think with time and practice he will be a great player.  He did have one of those embarrassing moments when they switched sides at halftime and he dribbled down and took a few shots for the other team:) Luckily, he didn't make it- but they don't keep score for his age group anyway. 

Kaden has played basketball for 5 yrs. now.  Just last year he started to really love basketball.  He became a pretty good shot- but just not very consistent in games.  He surprisingly hit a few 3 pointers in some of his games.  He was asked last year if he wanted to be on a competitive traveling team.  I'm not a big believer in doing the competitive teams all year long, they take away from the much needed family time that happens in the home (let alone the cost).  But I do believe that every kid needs to have at least one or two activities they can gain self-esteem from and that they love doing.  I think carefully balancing their time by involving them in healthy activities helps to keep them out of trouble when they are older- and it doesn't have to be just sports.  So we decided to let him play on the travel team.  It was a great experience.  Kaden was able to make some new friends and learn some new skills.  He sat the bench more than not though.  He didn't show much of what he could really do-during the games.  He seemed to turn off and put up a wall of self-consciousness.
This year he played basketball non-stop with his friends at home and at recess.  He wasn't asked to play on the travel team again.  We had a little chat about how he's going to have to work much harder, if he really wants to play basketball in high school.  When I watch him play, I can see he's improved a lot.  This season of basketball he played a bit better, but in games he still seemed to put up that dang wall of reservation.  It's hard to sit back and watch him be gun shy when I know he can do it.  He seemed to lack the spirit of aggressiveness.
He had a tournament game tonight, single elimination, and they lost.  In spite of the game, I was so proud of him.  He actually "showed up" for the game and played hard tonight.  He surprised me with skills and confidence I hadn't seen before.
Basketball is the only thing (besides video games...) that he has shown a passion for.  I just want him to be able to make the teams as he gets older, if that is where he really wants to put his effort.  I love living in a small town, because I think one of the advantages are that it is easier to be involved in the high school sports, and activities due to the small numbers.  But just since the good old days when I was in school, things have hit a new level of competition and it seems to start younger and younger.  Kaden hasn't been on the competitive end of things growing up and I worry he's almost to the age where he is too far behind from his peers. He tried out for the 6th grade traveling basketball team a couple weeks ago and didn't make it.  Kaden really is pretty smooth at making baskets.  He participated in the Jr. Jazz Fun Shot competition and he took 2nd place in his grade level.  He will go to Pleasant Grove on March 9th to compete.  Winners from there will get to shoot at a Jazz game half-time.  He is absolutely certain he is going to play for the NBA when he grows up:)  He asked the other night in all seriousness if he could go to college to be in the NBA.  I had to keep a straight face and reply that he needed to go to college to get an education to support his family with and he could play in the NBA on the side. 
To say the least- it will be interesting these next couple of years to see what he ends up doing.  He is a very smart, academic kid and is pretty natural at playing the piano.  He's got several great talents he can pursue and enjoy. 

Kinnli wanted me to take her picture just because...

The #1 Reason to say "NO" to screen time

The #1 reason , I believe, to say "No" to screen time is to save human relationships- real live human interaction.  AND the relationships and interactions with your children are the most important of all!

 

All too often screen time is used as a cheap and convenient babysitter so we as parents (myself included) can get something done or enjoy some peace and quiet.  As hard as it is to be truly present and put the "To Do" list aside- it is the most important thing we can do for our kids- Give them US, give them Our TIME! 

 

Below I quoted my favorite part of a blog entry from a mother I read a few weeks ago.  Other people are so talented at writing.  They share things I cannot write as well, but that I feel just as deeply.  I think the things she writes not only applies to boys and girls, but to teens, and adults all the same.  Although technology has opened many doors to communication, it has also put up a barrier to true human interaction. 

Here is the link to her full entry:
http://renee-robinson.com/a-letter-to-my-sons-the-real-reason-i-say-no-to-electronics/

When I tell you no to devices, I’m giving you a gift.  And I’m giving me a gift.  It’s a gift of relationship.  True human connection.  It’s precious and a treasure.  And you mean so much to me that I don’t want to miss a second of it.

I want to talk to you when we are out to eat.  I want to listen to your questions.  I want to have training opportunities.  I want to allow space for conversation that can take us deeper.  And if you are always distracted with electronics, well… I might miss those moments.

I could give you all the statistics about how damaging it is to your development, your attention span, your ability to learn.  While all of those are valid reasons to keep electronics away, that is not my primary reason why I say no to you so much.  It’s more than that.  Much more.  I need you to understand this.

When we are together, I want all of you.  The fullness of you.  I want to experience you. Truly experience you.  And I can’t do that with you when there is an electronic device between us. You see it acts as a barrier.  I want to see what brings life to those eyes.  I want to watch the wonder and magic dance across your face as you discover the wonders of this world.  I want to watch you as you figure things out.  I want to watch you process life, develop your thoughts. I want to know you.  I want to know your passions.  I want to watch you as you discover your God-given talents and gifts.  And when you hide behind a screen, I miss out on all of that. And my time with you….well it will be over in the blink of an eye.

I want to guide you into an understanding of life and who you are.  Boys, kids today are starved for attention, true connection and relationship.  I don’t want you to feel starved. That is why I say no.  I know that feeding the desire to play in your device is like giving you candy.  It satisfies for a moment but provides no long term nutrition.  It does more harm than good.

I don’t want to look back when I’m out of the trenches of child training and regret a second I had with you.  I don’t want to merely survive.  I want to thrive in this life with you.  We are in it together.  We are a family.

I can’t bear the thought of allowing you to miss out on the wonders and mysteries of this world. When you are transfixed on a screen, the beauty of this world will be lost to you.  In every moment beauty is waiting to be discovered.  I don’t want you to miss it.

I want you to be comfortable with yourself.  I want you not to feel a constant need to be entertained and distracted.  If you stay behind a screen, you never have to experience just being you, alone with your thoughts.  I want you to learn to think, to ponder life, to make discoveries, to create.  You have been gifted by God in unique ways.  I want those to bloom.  They can’t bloom in the glow of a screen.  They need life, real life, to bring them to light.

I want you to be confident in who you are.  I want you to be able to look people in the eyes and speak life into them.  If I allow you to live behind a screen, you get little practice relating eye to eye.  To truly know someone you have to look into their eyes.  It’s a window into their heart.  You see what can’t be seen in cyberspace.

This world needs more selflessness.  This world needs more connection.  This world needs more love.  We can’t learn these behind a screen.

I want to watch your face illuminated by the majesty of life – not the glow of a screen.

Technology is Zombifying

I read an article tonight that really disturbed me.  Because of the technology boom, it seems in the past 10 years increased "screen time" use has become very prevalent.  As a teacher I've seen the a difference in the way children are "wired" now in comparison to how they behaved in the past.  I can even see the difference in those children who use more screen time at home now verses those that don't.  Their attention spans, focus, way of thinking, behavior, and social interactions seem to be affected by screen time use- and usually not in a positive way.  I've struggled too many times with my own children as I've tried to set sensible boundaries  I've seen firsthand how the Internet and gaming has become an addiction not only for my kids, but for their cousins, their friends, and (I feel  like it's safe to say) most kids in general.  It's not just a problem for kids, but for adults as well. I'll be the first to admit I am easily addicted to and can pass many hours on the Internet. I'm now in a heavy inner debate with the pros and cons of freeing my family from the negative effects of screen time.  Is it healthy and realistic to get rid of all screen time?  Is there a way to set up manageable boundaries without being a hovering, and nagging parent?  Am I able to keep control of their time with busyness of life and six kids?

 

 I listed below some quotes that were eye openers and really stuck out to me in this article.  It seems to sum up a lot of how I already feel about technology.  

Here is a link to the full article
http://www.newsweek.com/internet-making-us-crazy-what-new-research-says-65593

In 2008 Gary Small, the head of UCLA’s Memory and Aging Research Center, was the first to document changes in the brain as a result of even moderate Internet use. He rounded up 24 people, half of them experienced Web users, half of them newbies, and he passed them each through a brain scanner. The difference was striking, with the Web users displaying fundamentally altered prefrontal cortexes.

The brains of Internet addicts, it turns out, look like the brains of drug and alcohol addicts. In a study published in January, Chinese researchers found “abnormal white matter”—essentially extra nerve cells built for speed—in the areas charged with attention, control, and executive function. A parallel study found similar changes in the brains of videogame addicts. And both studies come on the heels of other Chinese results that link Internet addiction to “structural abnormalities in gray matter,” namely shrinkage of 10 to 20 percent in the area of the brain responsible for processing of speech, memory, motor control, emotion, sensory, and other information. And worse, the shrinkage never stopped: the more time online, the more the brain showed signs of “atrophy.”

The latest Net-and-depression study may be the saddest one of all. With consent of the subjects, Missouri State University tracked the real-time Web habits of 216 kids, 30 percent of whom showed signs of depression. The results, published last month, found that the depressed kids were the most intense Web users, chewing up more hours of email, chat, videogames, and file sharing.

 Children describe mothers and fathers unavailable in profound ways, present and yet not there at all.

Texting has become like blinking.

The current incarnation of the Internet—portable, social, accelerated, and all-pervasive—may be making us not just dumber or lonelier but more depressed and anxious, prone to obsessive-compulsive and attention-deficit disorders, even outright psychotic. Our digitized minds can scan like those of drug addicts, and normal people are breaking down in sad and seemingly new ways.

Computers are like electronic cocaine (All types of technology-I think-would fit in that statement)

But the research is now making it clear that the Internet is not “just” another delivery system. It is creating a whole new mental environment, a digital state of nature where the human mind becomes a spinning instrument panel, and few people will survive unscathed.

“This is an issue as important and unprecedented as climate change,” says Susan Greenfield, a pharmacology professor at Oxford University who is working on a book about how digital culture is rewiring us—and not for the better. “We could create the most wonderful world for our kids but that’s not going to happen if we’re in denial and people sleepwalk into these technologies and end up glassy-eyed zombies.”

We may appear to be choosing to use this technology, but in fact we are being dragged to it by the potential of short-term rewards.

A 1998 Carnegie Mellon study found that Web use over a two-year period was linked to blue moods, loneliness, and the loss of real-world friends.

Web use often displaces sleep, exercise, and face-to-face exchanges.

And all of us, since the relationship with the Internet began, have tended to accept it as is, without much conscious thought about how we want it to be or what we want to avoid. Those days of complacency should end. The Internet is still ours to shape. Our minds are in the balance.

Favorite Quotes

Some of my most recent favorite quotes.

"In our house, we treat friends like family and family like friends."

"Give me patience,....... but please hurry!"

"Happy girls are the prettiest girls"- Audrey Hepburn


"You are ALWAYS my FOREVER!"

Favorite Foods

When it comes to buying food- we go through a lot!  I haven't even hit the teenage years, and two of my kids are still mainly milk consumers.  I can't imagine what is yet to come.  My kids are bottomless pits and would eat everything in the house regardless of the amount I spent to keep it stocked. In attempt to stick to a budget I try to steer clear of the overpriced snacks, name brand cereals, specialized, pre-made, processed foods, and out-of-season fruits/veggies.  I don't want my kiddos to feel like they are deprived of these things because I tell them "No" more than I do "Yes".  So I decided I would spoil them just a bit by letting them choose their favorite food item and I would buy it for them($5 limit). Their food item can't be junk food (pop, chips, treats, etc.). I do this at the beginning of each month, because by the end of the month the money has dwindled and we are doing good to keep milk, eggs, and bread in the house. 

 My kids have absolutely loved doing this.  They think way in advance about what they are going to choose for the next month.  Once I buy it, it becomes theirs and only theirs.  They are so proud of it.  They write their name on it.  They calculate how many days it will last and what days they will eat it on.  Often times they will trade a portion of their item for some of their siblings.    It has been fun to see what they choose and how excited they are when I bring it home.  Some of the things they have chosen are: strawberries, favorite name brand cereals, jerky, hot pockets, chicken-in-a-biscuit crackers, cashews, etc.    I do occasionally buy these things, but just not on a regular basis.  What makes it fun for them I think is that they are the owner's of their favorite food-something yummy to eat on their own. 

Homework

Homework has always been such a struggle at our house.  For the past six years the routine has always been the boys come home, get a snack, and then we do a mixture of chores and homework depending on what they want to do first.  Some days some chores were done and some weren't, other days some homework was done and some wasn't.  Usually there was a fight or tantrum about not having time to play with friends.  It was a battle to get their attention to sit and focus on homework after they had already been sitting all day.  Josh was still at work during that time and my brain felt like it was going to shatter with all the different needs of the kids.  There were times when they complained how unfair life was because one had more homework than another.  There were times when they weren't completely honest and said they didn't have homework because they were anxious to get out the door to play.  There were times when the routine was botched because I just couldn't muster the energy it took to manage it or I already had more than I could do on my plate.  Homework and chores felt like too big of a challenge for the kids to handle in one gulp.      

During this last month we decided to try something new.  We had study time for an hour each evening.  Now the routine is this- the boys get home from school, have a snack , do their chores and then they go play.   We usually try to eat around 5:00, get dinner cleaned up and have study hour from 6-7:00.  Each evening varies a little due to activities or sports. If the activity is early we do it later, if the activity is later we do it earlier.  If the activity only involves one of the kids and a parent we do it without them.   During study hour everyone is doing something educational whether they have homework or not.  They always have reading regardless.  Sometimes the older kids will read to the younger kids for their time.  Kinnli and Kennadi like to be read to or they play with their leapfrog learning toys to keep them occupied. Kinnli also likes to work on her homework or concepts she's learning in preschool.  We check the boys grades online and look for missing assignments.  They empty out their backpacks in front of us so we can go through their papers. 

This system has worked so much better!  They are more focused.  They don't feel picked on, if they have the most homework.  They love that they get more play time after school.  It is more thorough and consistent.  Everything gets noticed.  We are all spending time together in the living room learning.  And the part I like the best is Josh is home (most nights) to help with it all.  He is able to interact and see how the boys are doing with school. I feel like it has become a time that shows our kids- we value education.  Learning doesn't just stop after school.

What was he THINKING?

 

On Friday night Kam fell asleep on the couch. I woke him up and told him to go use bathroom and get in bed.  He is such a heavy sleeper, it took me a minute to get him to budge.  After he walked around in a few circles he headed to the kitchen.  I went to my room to change and left him alone because I thought he was going to get a drink.  While in my room, I heard a strange noise- like a stream of water pelting plastic.  I quickly went in the kitchen and Kam had pulled out the garbage can from under the sink and was peeing into it.  I was startled, but realized if I startled him we would have a mess- pee everywhere.  It seemed so far he had hit the inside of the can so I calmly kept telling him to focus and aim.  To make matters worse the kitchen light was off and his eyelids were halfway closed.  After he finished he went to bed, it didn't even phase him, like it was a normal thing to pee in a garbage can....  I'm pretty certain he wasn't even thinking.  It was close to midnight and I wasn't about to tackle cleaning out the garbage can!  I set it aside, and checked the floor and cupboard doors to make sure he hadn't sprayed them. 

I have to admit I was pretty impressed-as far as I could tell he was a sure fire aim in his sleep.  That isn't the case most nights or even days and that goes for all of my boys!  The job I detest the most is cleaning the boys' toilet (including the floor and wall around the toilet- gross!  It's like they've let go of a water balloon filled with pee and it bounced around and sprayed everywhere.  Hindsight or lesson learned- we should've potty trained them to sit on the toilet, rather than stand. 

Anyways- back to the story, the next morning Kam didn't remember a thing, but he still had to take the garbage out and wash the can.  I won't mention that this isn't the first time this has happened and it wasn't Kam.