I know – this blog is all about these little NUGGETS – sorry They are what I do – all day every day…  Sunday was the kids primary program. All 4 of our kids memorized their parts and  did a great job. They all sang really well too, These music leaders we have really know how to get the kids singing. I loved the music and I loved that Grandma and Grandpa Netty came to listen and to help me with Ray and Millie since Ben is in the primary. We bribed the kids with a trip to the dollar store if they memorized their parts so we fulfilled the promise for FHE tonight.

Today Ray asked for a piece of bread so I let him have it. 10 minutes later he comes to me with a mouth full and trying to get some help. I put my hand out and he unloaded the entire chewed up piece of bread! gross. and WHY? It’s things like this that make my days long and tiring – I had to clean him and me and then he was still hungry!  His other fit was at 10:30 this morning when he decided that he NEEDED some instant oatmeal. I showed him the empty box. Explained that we didn’t have any. Tried to compromise with other food… nothing worked. I finally found a lone pack of oatmeal in the pantry and life continued. ANYWAY, Raymond mastered the sideways swing at the last soccer practice. He stayed in there for days and loved it. He eventually climbed out  when he had had enough. And he loved pushing Millie 🙂

I think I already documented this but – MILLIE IS A BEAST. This girl is on the go. She won’t stay off the kitchen table. If one of the 8 chairs is not pushed in she finds it and climbs up on the chair and then the table and then demolishes EVERYTHING. If the chairs are pushed in like we’ve been training the kids to do – then she still climbs up but gets stuck under the table and feet dangling and can’t get down. Her other favorite is the BATHROOM. One morning she literally raced me to each bathroom and tried to get in and play in the toilet before I could get the doors shut and keep her out. She is a constant chore when she is awake. SOMETIMES she is a fun chore 🙂 She is usually smiling and excited and loving life… and luckily she does take good naps during the day to give us all a break from the crazy.

This is Millie at church. SOO TIRED. But won’t give in and nap or chill. She is always on the go and throws big fits to get what she wants. I have taken her home from church a few times which is not like me but I felt it was my only option. I have since made it 3 weeks in a row at church so the future is looking up. One of the weeks we subbed in nursery and Millie did great. She would love to be 18 months already and could care less if mom is close by.

Our warm weather just disappeared. BOOOOOO. We have spent more time in the house and in the toy room and in our long sleeve shirts. Millie thinks she is big enough to play now and Raymond is really trying to figure out how to be big and play with Rose and Cali – not just be in the room but be part of the game. Ray also has been going next door to the cousins house. When he gets bored with me or see’s the other kids going he will tell me: “I go to Luca’s?” and then he is out of here. Sometimes he says Lalo’s or Mia’s – He loves playing with all of them. We’ll see how long until Michelle stops inviting him in!

And tonight after a long day/week of fighting and whining and not listening to mom… we implemented the marble system. Good = marble in the jar. Bad = marble out of the jar. Full jar = go to the movie as a family. It seems simple enough. I hope it works. I hope it gives me some leverage and my kids will respond to what I am asking or saying before I reach YELLING status. Because Yelling was starting to be the only way for me to get through to them. I am hopeful and excited to try this out.

There is a little song that I started singing whenever Cali needed to go to the bathroom and thought that she needed me to help her – when she really was quite capable of going by herself! So our compromise – I sing the song while she goes to the bathroom unassisted! The song has carried over and now Rose requests it when she just can’t make it on her own:

You can do it

You Can do it.

You can do it, Yes You Can!

Repeat.

(I don’t think it goes to any particular tune – music isn’t really my thing)

This song has been prominent in our home for 3 years and I’m thinking it will continue with the younger kids. It’s funny to me what things the kids remember and remind you of and request. What things become tradition or the norm as we raise these kids. I’ll keep singing this song as long as it lets me stay at the task I’m doing while my child successfully uses the restroom!