Technically, he's a preschooler now that he celebrated his 3rd birthday, but Klaus is still having difficulty with making it to the potty, so he feels like a toddler to me.
Here are some words to describe this past Sunday morning's adventure. We were just getting ready for church!
Me: Dressing, hair styling, makeup applying, primping.
Klaus: Pooping (no diaper on, not even underwear on, just long footed pajamas--can we say GROSS?!?!), crying, bathing, washing, rinsing, and washing again.
Klaus: Drying, digging (for church clothes, that is), dressing (in underwear).
Me: Packing bags, selecting proper church footwear (for three daughters), hair-doing, teeth brushing, snack preparing.
Klaus: Peeing (in his church clothes!), apologizing, undressing, digging (for church clothes AGAIN!), unpacking bags to find diaper necessities.
Me: Helping children, avoiding meltdowns, finding (him, on the kitchen counter, pouring honey into the mixing bowl), dripping sticky, feeling tired, watching the clock, recognizing we are going to be late, sinking into despair, holding back tears, talking it out, rising above it and NOT letting it get me down.
Klaus: Washing hands, washing face, washing clothes, undressing (AGAIN!), digging for more clothes, dressing (AGAIN!), putting on shoes and coat.
Me: Repacking bags, finishing touches, collecting children, smiling as we FINALLY get out the door! Feeling proud that for such a busy morning there was no yelling, no being snappy, no crying (on my part). Phew!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Resolutions.
I like making New Year's Resolutions. They are goals. And goals are good! To the people who pooh pooh resolutions, I say pooh on you! (Not really, I would never really say that).
In 2012 I lost 35 pounds because I committed to reaching my goal. In 2013 I lost 5 more of those pesky pounds that stuck so tightly to my middle. I broke the 120-pound mark which had been an unbreakable threshold for so long. My family and I also reached the 1-year-mark of eating almost completely vegan.
Last fall a friend from church challenged our young women to list a particular number of goals to reach before their next birthday. The particular number was one less than their future age in years. For example, a girl turning 15 on her next birthday would make a list, "14 things I want to do before I turn 15." Well, since I am a goal-lover and list-maker (and had no kids in the room to distract me), I took up the challenge myself. I had to admit to everyone there my age and show them my list, "35 things to accomplish before I turn 36!" I think I was the oldest one in the room! Weird! My deadline: Dec. 15.
Here's my list:
1. Sew cloth napkins.
2. Fix the minivan.
3. Reach Phase 4 of Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live program.
4. Surprise Matt.
5. Finish the 4 Standard Works (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price).
6. Follow the Spirit.
7. Watch Les Miserables, the new one.
8. Read "The Strait Path."
9. Paint my fingernails green.
10. Play tennis.
11. Dig 2 more garden beds.
12. Reach 115 pounds!
13. Run a 6-minute mile (this was amended to: run an 8-minute mile!)
14. Practice 1 hymn on the piano to perfection.
15. Be joyful.
16. Have a YW Dance Party.
17. Straighten my hair.
18. Finish "Christlike Parenting" by Glenn Latham.
19. Talk with Matt about Christ.
20. Date with Kian.
21. Date with Abby.
22. Date with Ella.
23. Date with Felicity.
24. Buy new diapers (this was amended to: potty train Klaus).
25. Invite someone over.
26. Give more hugs.
27. Do a Personal Progress goal.
28. Listen to classical music.
29. Give a talk at church.
30. Organize family photos.
31. Go to a party.
32. Go to the temple.
33. Blog about the kids 2 times.
34. Enjoy exercise!
35. Don't eat Halloween candy.
I am happy to report I reached 28 of those goals. It took some planning and diligence. I wouldn't have accomplished that many things if I hadn't made the list of goals. That's one reason why goals are good! And can I just say that "Les Miserables" is SO AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL!? I LOVED it! All the time I was avoiding watching it beforehand so that I wouldn't cry during the movie was just missed opportunities for the soundtrack to play in my head.
Okay, back to resolutions.
I've been thinking that for 2014 I need to make some big ones. I feel like I can accomplish something really grand, something amazing, something BIG! I have learned this past year that I still really enjoy running, not fast running, but long distance running. Maybe I could train for a half-marathon like my sister, Anaise, might be doing.
Another thought that has crossed my mind quite a few times is committing to eating healthy every moment of every day. Sometimes I'll let myself eat a homemade cookie with white sugar and flour even though I know I shouldn't. Sometimes I'll eat some semisweet chocolate chips even though I know they really aren't good for me. Even the "healthy" microwave popcorn is still cooked in oil which I know isn't good for me either. So I could commit to enjoying foods from the following food groups (and nothing else): fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and unrefined sweeteners (like dates and honey). That is how I eat 95% of the time now, but this would be committing to eating that way 100% of the time. I could do it, I know that I can.
Another goal I am committed to already is updating our family's photo albums. I haven't scrapbooked since Abby was a baby! Gulp! I've got A LOT of work to do. I could do it in 2014. I will do it!
What are your goals for 2014? And if you're a resolution-hater, just keep your thoughts to yourself!
In 2012 I lost 35 pounds because I committed to reaching my goal. In 2013 I lost 5 more of those pesky pounds that stuck so tightly to my middle. I broke the 120-pound mark which had been an unbreakable threshold for so long. My family and I also reached the 1-year-mark of eating almost completely vegan.
Last fall a friend from church challenged our young women to list a particular number of goals to reach before their next birthday. The particular number was one less than their future age in years. For example, a girl turning 15 on her next birthday would make a list, "14 things I want to do before I turn 15." Well, since I am a goal-lover and list-maker (and had no kids in the room to distract me), I took up the challenge myself. I had to admit to everyone there my age and show them my list, "35 things to accomplish before I turn 36!" I think I was the oldest one in the room! Weird! My deadline: Dec. 15.
Here's my list:
1. Sew cloth napkins.
2. Fix the minivan.
3. Reach Phase 4 of Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live program.
4. Surprise Matt.
5. Finish the 4 Standard Works (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price).
6. Follow the Spirit.
7. Watch Les Miserables, the new one.
8. Read "The Strait Path."
9. Paint my fingernails green.
10. Play tennis.
11. Dig 2 more garden beds.
12. Reach 115 pounds!
13. Run a 6-minute mile (this was amended to: run an 8-minute mile!)
14. Practice 1 hymn on the piano to perfection.
15. Be joyful.
16. Have a YW Dance Party.
17. Straighten my hair.
18. Finish "Christlike Parenting" by Glenn Latham.
19. Talk with Matt about Christ.
20. Date with Kian.
21. Date with Abby.
22. Date with Ella.
23. Date with Felicity.
24. Buy new diapers (this was amended to: potty train Klaus).
25. Invite someone over.
26. Give more hugs.
27. Do a Personal Progress goal.
28. Listen to classical music.
29. Give a talk at church.
30. Organize family photos.
31. Go to a party.
32. Go to the temple.
33. Blog about the kids 2 times.
34. Enjoy exercise!
35. Don't eat Halloween candy.
I am happy to report I reached 28 of those goals. It took some planning and diligence. I wouldn't have accomplished that many things if I hadn't made the list of goals. That's one reason why goals are good! And can I just say that "Les Miserables" is SO AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL!? I LOVED it! All the time I was avoiding watching it beforehand so that I wouldn't cry during the movie was just missed opportunities for the soundtrack to play in my head.
Okay, back to resolutions.
I've been thinking that for 2014 I need to make some big ones. I feel like I can accomplish something really grand, something amazing, something BIG! I have learned this past year that I still really enjoy running, not fast running, but long distance running. Maybe I could train for a half-marathon like my sister, Anaise, might be doing.
Another thought that has crossed my mind quite a few times is committing to eating healthy every moment of every day. Sometimes I'll let myself eat a homemade cookie with white sugar and flour even though I know I shouldn't. Sometimes I'll eat some semisweet chocolate chips even though I know they really aren't good for me. Even the "healthy" microwave popcorn is still cooked in oil which I know isn't good for me either. So I could commit to enjoying foods from the following food groups (and nothing else): fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and unrefined sweeteners (like dates and honey). That is how I eat 95% of the time now, but this would be committing to eating that way 100% of the time. I could do it, I know that I can.
Another goal I am committed to already is updating our family's photo albums. I haven't scrapbooked since Abby was a baby! Gulp! I've got A LOT of work to do. I could do it in 2014. I will do it!
What are your goals for 2014? And if you're a resolution-hater, just keep your thoughts to yourself!
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