Children are an Asset, not a Liability

I picked up a book off the clearance table at the LDS bookstore recently entitled WORK (Wonderful Opportunities for Raising Kids). The author has ten children. We've been trying to get our boys to do chores, and of course it is frustrating, so I wanted some inspiration. This woman's catchphrase is "Children are an asset, not a liability." If you are stressed and your house is a mess, you aren't having your kids do enough. With that in mind, we've been making some changes. This morning I woke up feeling crappy with a bad head cold, sneezing my head off. The house was a total disaster, as it always seems to be on Monday mornings. I felt like curling up on the couch under a blanket and letting the kids sleep. I did not feel like herding them through their morning chores. Well, I decided to offer a small incentive. I told them if they got their morning things done without complaint, quickly, they could have a small prize (I keep thrift store trinkets in a closet). Well, they did! Piano was practiced, scriptures were read, beds were made, dishes were unloaded, floors were swept, etc. The house looks SO much better and I feel SO much better about life! Sometimes our efforts do pay off. When I look at my children as an asset, as helpers, not as hindrances and mess-makers, things change! Of course, getting them to do their chores is still an uphill battle, but my attitude makes a lot of difference, and sometimes I get to experience the payoff, like this morning!

My baby boy is 1!

I can't believe my baby is one! Where did this year go? A year ago, I was worrying about breastfeeding, dealing with a baby who was slow to gain weight. He felt so fragile, and I felt like a first-time mom again; it had been so long since I'd had a newborn! Now he's walking around the house, unwinding rolls of toilet paper and saying "Uh-oh!" Happy, happy birthday, my precious pea! You've brought such love and joy to our family! How could we ever have lived without you?

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Well, our youngest Minnesotan apparently doesn't care much for snow! I bundled him up in his snowpants, jacket, mittens, hat, boots, etc. and took him out and he hated it! We came back in and he loved standing by the sliding glass door watching his brothers. He must be truly a Texan at heart!

As Good As It Gets

Today is a beautiful day--clear and sunny and 57 degrees. Absolutely amazing for November. So I took my baby outside and we sat on the trampoline. I bounced up and down and held him and he giggled. Then I put him in the swing and sang to him and grabbed his toes and he laughed and squealed. And I thought, "This is it. This is as good as it gets. Life is good right now!" I'm thankful for the sunshine and the warmth and my healthy baby and my healthy self and my other three wonderful boys and husband, who are also healthy and doing well. I'm thankful for my parents and in-laws and their continued good health. I'm thankful my husband's employed and my boys go to a good school. I'm thankful for this wonderful country and for my membership in the Lord's church. It's a good day to be grateful.

Trevor Trouble

This is a picture of my Trevor, up a tree literally (he's inside the red circle!). This "Christmas tree" is about 20 feet high. I came outside to see him up there, still climbing! Boys need to be born with a warning label!

Fun Times

The Cub Scout "Cub-apolis" was a big hit, especially since siblings got to particpate. Trevor won the sibling race, and Miles got the most smiles!





We made tie-dye shirts for the whole family. Ron and the boys had to try out a "hippie" look.


My baby has learned how to clap! My other kids didn't do this until they were one! It's so cute, but why does this last little man have to grow up so fast?

Neorenberg Gardens