An epiphany

We love homeschooling. Katrina Loves school and begs to be allowed to do school work. Carter loves that he is in core phase and gets to play at learning all day. Tyler... well, that has been a struggle. He does school during school time. But he doesn't love it. He wants me to tell him when and what to do, and does the minimium. He doesn't give me grief or argue. He just wants to be directed. Him and I have talked a lot about the phases, he says he is in love of learning, and I pointed out he doesn't "love to learn."

I was listening to a seminar while getting ready today. It was about adult phases. She made a few interesting points. I've always thought I just needed to jump into my own scholar phase and have really struggled doing this. From her suggestions I realised I need to go back to core phase, get some good core phase books and soon I will be in Love of Learning and move forward from there.

She also said that in love of learning it's not about mission, it's about talents.

**LIGHT BULB**

"Hey Ty- what are your talents?"

This started a great discussion that led to everyone making a list of their talents and things they would like to be talents.

"So how about instead of school, we work on our talents."

Out came the talking globe as one of Ty's talents is geography. Katrina went to the computer with her scriptures to listen to the audio scriptures. Listening is one of her talents. And Carter pulled out the art supplies because coloring is one of his talents.

I think we may be on to something. Developing talents not School.

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Dressed to the shoes....

I love Fly Lady. There was a time in my life, I COULD NOT  manage my house. I suffered from a serious case of CHAOS.  As the children have gotten older, things have become a little more controlled. We have a schedule and I no longer have to do it all alone. As a matter of fact, I do very little. I am a supervisor not a laborer when it comes to cleaning our home.

Yesterday I downloaded some Tjed Seminars. I listened to one called "Home Management." She talked about several tools to help around your house, but the one that struck me was, "get dressed to your shoes." This is the same advice FlyLady gives. I had forgotten. So this morning I did it. I got up, got dressed, and put on my shoes.

My children watched in confusion.

"Where are you going?"

"I am going to be productive."

and I am.

Chores are about done, thanks to my well trained children.
Drapes and blinds are open to let in the sun, if it decides to make an appearance.
Breakfast is eaten. Mountain Dew in hand. (Don't judge me)
Emails are answered.
Blog is updated.
Now I will make my list and get busy with getting productive.

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Conversation over heard...

Carter and Katrina arguing about radio stations while they do chores. Trina is getting ready to go to the temple w the youth group.

Trina yells at Carter-
Carter yells back,"You're going to the temple- you wanna go after yelling at me?"
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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I'm a bad mom....

So I was on the phone with my sister Tammy. I had my headset on and was walking around the house. I went in my room, plugged in my phone, and ended my conversation...

I came out of my room and walked by the living room where Tyler was playing.
"Tyler, you need to clean up this room, ecspecially since you really didn't do that good on your chores this morning."
"Yes I did" He says with a smile and a wink.
"BS" I said back jokingly.
"Are you still on the phone?"
"No, why?"
"Well that would be bad if your sisters heard that you talk to your kids like that."

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Happy New Year

We had a great holiday.

Brady returned home from a business trip the afternoon of the 23rd, and spent the next 2 weeks (almost) home with us. Christmas Eve we had friends over, did tuta-doos, the nativity, and ate lots of food.

Christmas morning was great. Carter got a drum set, Katrina got a play kitchen and Tyler got a gi and Tapout jacket, amongst many other toys, nerf guns, clothes, xbox kinect and lots of board games and books.  

The morning after Christmas I woke up sick. I had a fever, no voice and ached all over. It was Sunday morning and I was supposed to teach Relief Society. I crawled to the phone to call Joanna, got her voice mail. I crawled back to bed thinking I'd try again later. I fell back to sleep and woke up at noon. Church was at 1. So I prayed for strength, and dragged myself to the shower. I survived, and as far as I can remember the lesson went over pretty well. I was sick for 2 more day.

The next few days were spent playing Kinect, computer, eating and watching movies. New Years Eve we went to a friends home for a couple hours and visited with a group of families from the ward. We left there at 10, picked up the sitter and dropped her and the kids back at the house. Then Brady and I went to ring in the new year at the club he Dj's at. The owners were so great. When we ran into them the said, "Hold on we got something for you."  They came back with a bottle of sparkling cider for us, 3 flavors since they didn't know what we liked. Just before 12 they brought us champagne flutes full of cider to toast the New Year. It was a fun night with great friends, though we didn't stay late. We were headed home by 12:30.

Monday morning Brady got up bright and early to return to work. He left just before 8, and came back 15 minutes later. I rolled over half asleep and asked, "You forget something?" "No one is there, apparently I have another day off."

What a great present. One more day with Dad. We walked to Walmart, then to Jack in the Box for lunch, (note: don't ever eat there,) we finished reading Where the Red Fern Grows and used an entire roll of toilet paper as we all bawled our eyes out, followed by hours of board games.

It was a great Holiday. We had an incredible 2010, with huge changes for good in our life. Here's to an even better 2011!

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