Kids Closet...Good Idea?

I make the kids a closet with activities. These are learning activities that I have to help with. Here are a few of them... play dough painting cutting and coloring coloring and preschool books activity books flash cards learning games alphabet blocks Sounds great, right? I am not so sure... For the last week I have been sitting with the kids doing these activities NON STOP!! I am tired and I wish they would play with their toys. Ugh. It would be nice to do one or two activities a day but one every half hour!!?? They seem to cry over these activities more then they did before them. Oh well...

I've ruined him!!

Everyone who knows me knows that I have the biggest CRUSH on Atti.

His GIGGLES melt my heart and his CRIES break my heart.

Yesterday I realized something...

I HAVE SPOILED MY Atti!

He is now DEMANDING, FUSSY, and ARGUMENTATIVE...with ME!

sad...

I guess it's MANNER TIME at the Glick house.

About yesterday's post...

It is 8:30 am. I would like to write in and tell that person what I've done all morning as a mom but I won't. Instead I will blog about it... 6:56 - 2 kids came into my room asking for a banana. I got us and got them a banana to share. I then made eggs and turkey bacon which they didn't eat. The whole time they were at the table they were sward fighting with their forks. Daddy left for work and I had to do damage control to stop the crying. They got down from the table and were coloring together...till they started fighting over colored pencils. I intervened and cleaned up the pencils. We did dot-to-dot pictures (which take forever because we all have to count the numbers 1-100) then the kids started coloring. I folded the little laundry that was left in the dryer to get to my jeans I wanted to wear today and got dressed. Be then Nix was begging me to come color with her and so I sat with her for a few minutes before I did a 5min scrunch and bobby pin with my hair. I was interrupted by Nix screaming that "Atti had poop!" I came in to see that Atti had had an explosion and it was running down his legs. I cleaned it and put him in the bath. While I washed him Nix was crawling all over me and fussing that she wanted a bath. (Well...they had one last night...) I grabbed him out of the bath and of course he screamed. I got their clothes and dressed Atti. Dressing a kid isn't as easy and fast as it sounds especially when you're trying to teach them to do it all by their selves. As I pulled Atti to stand he pulled his diaper off so I had to fix it. He had an ouchie in his foot so we had to sit and look at it and kiss it. Nix took off all her clothes and ran around the house for a little while before I for firm with her and laid her clothes out on the floor. She put her pants on before her undies on purpose so I had to correct that. Then she Put both of her legs in one leg of her pants and went hopping all over. I had to correct that. Now Nix is rolling around on the floor without a shirt saying that she can't get dressed herself and I have to help her. This is my life before 8:30. I have to go because Nix just went to her room and is crying... Turns out she has broken blood vessels all over her neck because she was tryng to open the blinds and somehow got the her head in the string. Now she is hurt and scared. I have a learning movie on for the kids so I have to sit with them and make sure they understand it. Not to mention it's a great time to give them some attention and lovies! Happy 9am! (did I mention that I did all this with a horrible cold and a UTI?) Things to do today...get kids prescription, go to Dr, make lunch dinner and snacks that the kids won't eat, put them down for a nap that they don't want to take, fight them off the TV, fight them out of my room 5 times today, say "do you need to go to the bathroom" all day, change lots more diapers (mostly explosions), break up fights, kiss boo boos, listen to crying every time I need to go to the bathroom because they want in the bathroom, do preschool and circle time, listen to cries to daddy, listen to "I want" all day long. Meanwhile trying to do laundry, dishes, clean and vacuum. Also...I do all this while trying to teach manners, faith, love, and responsibility to the kids...I'm tired just thinking of it!

Atti: I want my daddy! Me: (Thinking this) I want your daddy too... Today we got the car. Lately we have been getting it once or twice a car whether or not I want to go somewhere. Today I had to get out of the house. Yesterday we all three felt trapped in the house. With the teaser weather on Sunday we all got cabin feaver. So we tried every form of indoor intertainment that I could think of... color pictures, numbers, sing songs, read books, dance time, made cinnamon rolls, watched tv, played with toys, naps...ugh By the time I was out of ideas and annoyed with 2 and 3 year old interraction it was only 3pm. Normally that would be ok but on Moondays Brandon doesn't get home till 8:30pm. What was I going to do for the next few hours with fussy kids? Well...they were in bed before 8. That is why I HAD to get out today. So we got dressed and cleaned up the house and headed out the door. First stop was the dentist to pay a bill, then the library. I thought it was 10 min later then it was so we had to stand in 35 degrees for 10 min. Ok for me but not for the kids. They were acting as if they were having the worst day of their lives even before 11. We got in and they did pretty well. We stayed form 11-12:30. WOW. I found a great one dish healthy meals book and have already thumbed through it all. Can't wait to make a menu. Then we went to the thrift store next to the library and didn't find anything except a really cute pair of shoes for Nix. I didn't buy them because her feet are so wide that I'm afraid they won't fit. Maybe I'll go back. Then we went to Subway. The kids were SO hungry! Atti ate 1/4 of a 12 in! By the time we got home it was almost 2 and the kids and I went down for a nap. Zzzz... Up again at 4ish. We got Beauty and the Beast in the mail fron Netflix so we watched that (they watched it while I cooked and cleaned the kitchen). Dinner is eaten and we read more books. It is now 6:52. Where are you Brandon? I need my break! :) I think I'll send ESP messages that you should get me chocolate on the way home....Hummmm Hummmmmmmmm... Oh yeah I have the car. I have to come and get you. I guess that means that I will have to get my own chocolate.

My philosophy on mothering preschoolers...if you care.

1. This is the best time. 2. Moms make mistakes...the biggest mistake is not owning up to it. 3. There is a time to discipline and a time to love. 4. Now is the time to build a relationship with your preschooler. 5. They learn through example...they learn to do by doing things with you. 6. There is never a wasted day, even pj and Dora day is filled with hugs and tickles. 7. Nutrition is important!! (I won't get into it...) 8. Activities mean a lot to kids...for 2-3 minutes. 9. You always have time to sing ABC and 123 songs. 10. Books are better then toys. 11. Kids need to be dressed and look nice. It makes me and them feel better. (Plus people in public treat you better based off of how "together" you look. 12. You HAVE to do what's best for you and your kids. Don't listen to family, neighbors or even professionals if you know what you should do...just do it. 13. It doesn't matter what you do to have fun...just have FUN! 14. It's important to be firm and constant. You buckle, they buckle. 15. I have learned that you have to separate yourself from the situation a lot. I can be firm or discipline but loving immediately when it's over. Can't hold grudges. I'm not saying that I am perfect at all these things but this is what I want to be. Also all these things work for me...maybe not everyone.

40 Degrees!! Woo Hoo!!

So I took the kids outside to the park today since it's warming up...sorta. Well at least the snow is gone. I bundled them up and they had a blast! I froze but they didn't seem to. We were out for 45 min when we decided that we needed to go home for hot chocolate. What a fun time! On another note...I am on a decluttering rampage!! I feel like I want to get rid of everything and get organizers for all the closets. We'll see how far I get before I get tired. Also I baught diapers for the baby. I ended up getting size small all in one cloth diapers that will fit till the baby is 16 lbs. Then I'll use the ones that I'm using with Atti. They had them for $9 because they are discontinuing that style. Woo Hoo! I also get a wet bag so they threw in leggings for free! $123 total! I figured that we'd have it paid off in less then 2 months. Brandon doesn't know this yet but I'm going to take our old towels and cut them up to use as cloth wipes too. I figure I'm washing poopy diapers...why not poopy wipes? Sounds crazy I know... Atti is trying to potty train and it is going well so far. Whenever I put him on the potty he goes #1 and I'm so excited that he's doing so well. I don't have my hopes up that he'll get it done in 3 months but I don't think he'll wait till he's 3 like Nix.

I can't wait till...

I can't wait till the kids are older because

no more diapers

I won't have to make all their meals

no more morning sickness

no more carseats

no more Dora and Diego

no more fighting them to get their clothes on

no more toothbrush wars

no more crying at night

then I'll have to worry about

boyfriends/girlfriends

I'll never feel a baby inside me

they will drive and worry me

they'll want to watch questionable shows

they'll want to wear immodest clothes

they will lie and way they brushed their teeth but didn't

I think I'm in the best time of my life. Everyone tells me that "It'll get better". I don't know what could be better then this. We have our hard times but I get to color, play games, watch tv, take naps, eat snacks and snuggle all day!

Atti...

On Saturday after I put Atti down for a nap I heard a little fist knocking at his door. I immediately knew that it couldn't be good. I put him back into his crib and told him that he needs to stay there till I get him out. I then heard more knocking at the door. He would not nap. I finally asked him if he wanted to sleep in Nixie's bed and he said yes so that is where he has been napping. So... tonight we turned his crib into a toddler bed and he is sleeping his first night in a big boy bed. Strange to think that my little almost 2 year old is a big boy now. Sad but great in so many ways. I knew that being pregnant Iwould need to help Nix and Atti prepare for the baby. I feel that they are getting closer and playing together a lot better lately and also becomming very independant. I am happy because my biggest fear is that I won't have enough arms for all three...and I won't. I know Brandon fears that too.

Potty Trained...I think. Here's how I did it this time....

I don't really know exactly this time except that she was probably ready. I told her that she can't wear a diaper anymore but if she needed to go #2 I would put one on her. She did great but eventually had to go #2. I told her to sit on the toilet and I would come put a diaper on her. Well she "accidentally" went poo. She has been doing great with a few accidents here and there for 3 weeks now. I noticed that when she does have accidents it's either because daddy tickled it out of her or when she wears undies. I just have her wear little shorts under her pants so it feels different. Weird tricks but they worked. I thought having her potty trained would be all fine and dandy but there are cons with the pros... Pro- save money, she's a big girl, no more wiping poopies! con- having to stop the car and take her potty, the reward system (I hate giving her candy but it works), she drips on the toilet because she won't use a stool. - When her reward jar is empty she knows that she'll be big enough to go without the candy.

Ringworm

Ok so it's ringworm. We think from the cat. I feel so yucky and terrible that Nix has atleast 15 all over her body. We got cream and put it on last night and it itched so badly! I have one on my arm and I woke up scratching it in the night. Poor Nix. I have one concern...since yesterday, they have grown a lot. Makes me wonder if it really is ringworm. Makes me wonder if we need to give her oral medicine. ugh. This is annoying. Now, what to do with the cat. We have paid more for these "free" cats then I ever thought we would.

I love my babies!

Brandon started school last week. I am really excited for him to finish his MBA and then his CPA. Sounds good but it'll take about 4 years. I know that we're looking at a busy next couple of years with his busy and the kids getting into school and sports. I also know that in the next 5-20 years Ill look back and long for days like today. I know that these are the days. The days when I can snuggle and smooch my kids all day long and sont have to worry about treats for school and soccer practice. I can stay in my jammies all day long and I'm still Phoenix's "best friend ever." On hard days I can take the kids to the park and play all day long and they'll think I'm the coolest mom ever. These really are the days. I love my babies through and through. My mom once told me that we were her best friends. She loved being with us and playing with us. My babies are my best friends. I love to tickle and play hide and seek. I love to race around and around the kitchen playing tag. I love the days when I'm not feeling good and we get to lay on the couch and cuddle and watch disney movies all day long. I love this life. Today we played twister then followed it with juice and tortilla pizzas. The kids were so excited that they licked the oven door!! Haha!

We decided to have a little fun today swimming in bins. When Brandon's sister, Arianna, came to visit a few weeks I realized just how country I have become. I was sleeping when she showed up around noon and my kids were running around in their diapers. The kids were so excited to collect eggs and feed the chickens and then they played in the bins and sprinklers in their diapers. I think if I lived in the city I would still let them swim in bins but wearing swimmies. It's nice that out here I seldom have visiters so I don't have to impress anyone. On the other hand..I do miss entertaining and dressing up all the time. Here are pics of our adventure today. While taking these with my old camera I realized how much I miss my nicer broken one. I was thinking that I would servive without it but I don't think I will. :( I know that now I'll have to wait...

So I am not feeling as crazy as I did last week. On Sunday I just realized that its time to buck up and feel better. There were a lot of little things that were dragging me down. I made a FHE chart to make sure that we are having FHE every Monday and made sure to cover all topics. I talked to Brandon and he agreed to help with the lessons. I also picked up my scriptures again after 2 weeks without reading every morning. I feel great! I gave away my rooster because hes been waking me up every morning at 4. That's a story all in itself. Jennie came and got him and my rooster and her banti rooster tried to kill eachother. They were all bloody. She called and told me that she needed to bring him back but Brandon said to butcher him or leave him out for the coyotes. She ended up butchering her banti. I'm now trying to get rid of my dog too. She's good and I love her but I'm not really a dog person. I think she'll be happier somewhere else. So here are a few pics from this week. I made up the recipe for the stuffed zucchini but it was GOOD!

Even though this has been a hard week there have been things that make me smile. here are a few... My Ameracauna chickens are now laying! They lay the green ones! Kali is doing much better. We now have her as an inside dog and she doesn't run away anymore. She's a great vacuum! Nixie has been so cute lately. She loves to watch Transformers while Ati is taking a nap. She usually falls asleep. A few days ago I really needed a nap and I also needed cuddle time with her so we laid in my bed together. I hugged her and told her that i love her. She said, "Mommy, you're my best friend ever!" Awww! Totally melted my heart especially because this has been such a hard week.

the kids

Today I woks up really feeling badly. I was tired, my back hurt and I've been feeling queasy for a few days. I decided that I would make it a fun day for the kids so that they wouldn't notice how I was feeling. We made tortillas and waffles. YUM! Phoenix has been so interested in writing letters lately. She wakes up in the morning and writes till I get up. I got a few preschool activity books and she will practice a few times a day. I love to see her blossom and prepare for school (in 2 years). A few days ago Nix was eating ham and she said, "Wah dis cum fum?" (She says that 100 times a day!!) I said that id comes from a pig. She said what? I said that they cut the pig up and cooked it so that she could eat it. She said that milk comes from utters, girl cow utters. She then told me that it doesn't come from boy cows though. I asked her what boy cows are for and she said that boy cows are food. haha!! little farmer girl. Atticus is just a total charmer. I have hard time thinking of having another baby because he is such a snuggle bug. I would be sad to have to tell him that I can't snuggle. He loves his baby doll!

Hooray for Poo Poo!

Nixie went poo in the toilet today! Woo Hoo! I think it was because she was in the shower and absolutely hates it when she goes in the tub. After she went she called me in the room and I didn't even have to tell her to go! She said, "Now I get my big surprise! A kitty!" I guess when we get back we'll get a few cats.

In her own words...

me-Phoenix, are you a little crazy? Phoenix-Mama, I'm really crazy! Today I took the kids in for check-ups and vaccinations. I have been nervous about it since I made the appointment so I made Nix's and Atti's for 2 hours later so that I could take one at a time. Well, the Dr wanted to see them at the same time so I was glad that I brought in the stroller. Because Atti has been so sick it was really hard for him. He was so scared. Nix told me that only little boys cry so she was going to be a big girl which I was happy about. Atti was 50% for his height and 68% for his weight. That was funny to me because Nix has always been 100% since she was born. I knew he was smaller then she was at that age though. When it was time to get vaccinations I decided to do Phoenix's first. She wanted a sucker really badly and I told her that she had to get the medicine first. She said that she didn't want a shot but was really brave. I think she was just mad that she didn't want a shot but she didn't really cry. Atti then saw her with the sucker so he cried because he wanted one but I don't think his hurt either. Over all they did great and the nurses commented on it. yay!

All Tuckered Out

Since Brandon has been done till late all week I have been letting the kids stay up. I've also been trying to run and work them more so that they won't notice him gone. So Nix usually doesn't nap but this week she has been falling asleep all over the house. Both of the kids are also eating a lot lately (yesterday Nix ate 1 1/2 pb & j sandwich and then also my salad!) so I think they might be growing too.

Prayers for Atticus

Dear Atticus, We are so worried about you. You have been really sick for 8 days now. You have been throwing up and having diarrhea. We took you in to the Dr. on Thursday and the blood test showed that you were getting over a bacterial infection and that you should be better soon. You're not getting better. 8 days of little eating has made you very skinny. Your bones stick out all over so badly that I am afraid to hold you too tight. Your eyes are sunken in so badly that you look like you havn't slept for days. Your cheekies are gone. You weigh 26lbs when you weighed only one pound less 6 months ago. They say you're not dehydrated because you've been drinking every now and again and I am glad at that. I have never worried more then I am about you. Last night you threw up a few times and I couldn't sleep. Finally I told Daddy that you needed another blessing. (Maybe I should have gotten one too.) Your Grandpa and Uncle Devon helped give the blessing too. It said that you would recover and that your family would learn how to help you. I stayed up for a long time thinking, worrying, crying. I hurt for you, sweet boy. And, through it all you have been such a good boy. You rarely complain and fuss. You really are my "Blue Baby". Please hang in there. If you throw up again tonight I will take you into the Dr. again on Monday. Until then, until tomorrow, please keep blessing you with your big shining eyes and loving smile. Your daddy and I love you very much, Truly Yours, Forever and Ever, Mother

Where's Atti?

Atticus loves to get into things. He is always on the table, chairs, tv, dishwasher, in the dryer and now in the cabinets. I feel like it's a full time job just keeping him out of trouble! Phoenix on the other hand has never been really curious or into things. I remember that she was 18 months before she could get on the couch by herself. But now that she has a teacher....