We got Hercules and the Princess and the Frog recently on Netflix. Found out that as much as Lydia loves princess movies, she didn't really care for The princess and the Frog, but she LOVES Hercules. She learned the phrase "damsel in distress" from Hercules.
Today she wanted a towel dress (sometimes she wants a blanket dress) So I warped the towel around her (fully clothed) and tucked it so it would stay up like a dress. Then she went on to play.
I heard her say "I'm a Damsel in Distress". I smiled and said "Are you a damsel in distress Lydia" she turns to me and said
"No...I'm a damsel in this dress" (but "this dress" was pronounced more like dis-dress) seriously, that girls makes me laugh.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Service Auction
A service auction is by far on of my favorite Relief Society activities. I did on in my student ward in ID and it was a ton of fun. Last week we did one for our Relief Society activity in Springfield 3rd ward. It was a big hit too.
Here is how it works.
Everyone (that wants to) writes down what service you want to donate along with your name and number on a card. Everyone got play money and then the auction started. When you have the winning bid, you turn in your money and you get the card with the service and the number of the one providing the service.
People donated things like a month of free piano lessons, help with sewing, FHE treats, breakfast on Conference morning (that one was popular), babysitting, all sorts of stuff. I donated a batch of cinnamon rolls, a glass etching (to be picked by the buyer), and 3 months of free banjo lessons and rental. And all 3 were more popular then I expected. They went for pretty good prices. The one that EVERYONE was bidding on was the free 1 hour massage. People were pooling their money and splitting the massage, and they ended up donating a few more cause it was in such high demand. It was hilarious to see what everyone did to try and get it, and how excited everyone got about it.
It was a fun way to get to know the sisters in our ward, and we all laughed so much. It got a little crazy at times, but it was so fun.
Me, I got 2 free babysitting. Hoping to cash one in this weekend.
Here is how it works.
Everyone (that wants to) writes down what service you want to donate along with your name and number on a card. Everyone got play money and then the auction started. When you have the winning bid, you turn in your money and you get the card with the service and the number of the one providing the service.
People donated things like a month of free piano lessons, help with sewing, FHE treats, breakfast on Conference morning (that one was popular), babysitting, all sorts of stuff. I donated a batch of cinnamon rolls, a glass etching (to be picked by the buyer), and 3 months of free banjo lessons and rental. And all 3 were more popular then I expected. They went for pretty good prices. The one that EVERYONE was bidding on was the free 1 hour massage. People were pooling their money and splitting the massage, and they ended up donating a few more cause it was in such high demand. It was hilarious to see what everyone did to try and get it, and how excited everyone got about it.
It was a fun way to get to know the sisters in our ward, and we all laughed so much. It got a little crazy at times, but it was so fun.
Me, I got 2 free babysitting. Hoping to cash one in this weekend.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The House with 2 windows
Looks like our move in date is for Monday the 27. That was the origional date we set on our paper work, but then we realized that was a Monday, and we'd rather move on the weekend. I called a few days ago to see if we could change the move in date to Friday the 24, but she said they have already scheduled the cleaning and the working around the 27 and we can't change the date. So we get to move on a MONDAY.... yay. It wont be too bad, I think I have everything all worked out as far as getting help, and having meals to eat. The plan is to be all finished packing early Saturday afternoon (which wont be hard, Ive got most of the packing done already, just have the food we will eat this week, a few dishes, clothes, and bathroom essentials. ) and be able to go on a date Saturday evening to relax and get out. Then Sunday dinner with family, and Monday, MOVING DAY.
Yesterday I took the kids over to the new house. I knew we wouldn't be able to go in, but I thought it would be fun for them to see their new yard. We didn't get out when we got there, we just drove past it then turned around and drove past it again. They were installing carpet I think. I saw 2 trucks and lots of tools. So I didn't let the kids get out. We have a nice medium size tree in the front yard that should shade the kids rooms nicely, and a little tiny back yard, which means less to mow. :)
I have packed just about all that I can to the point that if I pack any more we will have to unpack something before we move, and we would be living out of suit cases for a week and a half. So I guess now I get to start the deep cleaning. ...and finding more boxes...
Yesterday I took the kids over to the new house. I knew we wouldn't be able to go in, but I thought it would be fun for them to see their new yard. We didn't get out when we got there, we just drove past it then turned around and drove past it again. They were installing carpet I think. I saw 2 trucks and lots of tools. So I didn't let the kids get out. We have a nice medium size tree in the front yard that should shade the kids rooms nicely, and a little tiny back yard, which means less to mow. :)
I have packed just about all that I can to the point that if I pack any more we will have to unpack something before we move, and we would be living out of suit cases for a week and a half. So I guess now I get to start the deep cleaning. ...and finding more boxes...
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Princess Walk
I found a trick to getting Lydia to willingly go to bed. When I was little my Dad use to give us rides. First there was the horsey ride, self explanatory. Later, when we got older and needed more then a horse for entertainment, came the space ship ride. THRILLER. It was awesome. We'd sit on our launch pad (a pillow) with our knees up by our chest. Dad would do the count down then grab under our knees and fly us all around the house (sound effects and all of course). Then it evolved and on his arms were imaginary buttons we could push mid flight to navigate our course to bed. Later in trying to be creative, the girls got broom rides to bed. I think I was probably too big for this one when it came about, but Marisa remembers doing it. Dad grabs your feet and does a sweeping motion with you, and your hair acts as the bristles....got it?
Well we live in a house with stairs. Space ship rides are out of the question, and horsey rides...well they turn into piggy back rides. One day after prayers Lydia asked for a horsey ride up to bed, and in the spirit of not-wanting-to-kill-the-horse, I quickly came up with an easier (but fun) alternative.
"How bout a Princess Walk?" No explanation necessary for Lydia, she was BORN knowing how to walk like, talk like, and BE a princess. Hands are flexed but down at your side and have a swaying motion as you walk. Then as we go up the stairs we get princess names, usually they are Princesses she has seen on movies, but one day I was Princess Malta. (?) So we have a princess walk and we talk about princess things all the way to bed, it is very...princessey.
She loves it. She jumps up and gets excited about going to bed EVERY time. I'll have Daddy get a video of it sometime.
Well we live in a house with stairs. Space ship rides are out of the question, and horsey rides...well they turn into piggy back rides. One day after prayers Lydia asked for a horsey ride up to bed, and in the spirit of not-wanting-to-kill-the-horse, I quickly came up with an easier (but fun) alternative.
"How bout a Princess Walk?" No explanation necessary for Lydia, she was BORN knowing how to walk like, talk like, and BE a princess. Hands are flexed but down at your side and have a swaying motion as you walk. Then as we go up the stairs we get princess names, usually they are Princesses she has seen on movies, but one day I was Princess Malta. (?) So we have a princess walk and we talk about princess things all the way to bed, it is very...princessey.
She loves it. She jumps up and gets excited about going to bed EVERY time. I'll have Daddy get a video of it sometime.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
not much...
I got a call yesterday morning from Jacob's Landing. They got our file back from Audit, and there were only minor corrections. She said we look good, and to go ahead and put in our 30 days notice. She is sending the corrections back to Audit and we should have our final answer by the end of the week. This is taking forever, but it will be worth it.
Sorry no pictures lately. The flash on my camera is broken, and it is cheaper to buy a new one then to fix it, so It will be a while before we have another camera. IT still takes good out side pictures though. OH and we will be doing family pictures soon. Probably this weekend. Marisa is here from Texas for a while and she is going to take them for us. I'm so excited.
And, Lydia can't decided between going as Giselle for Halloween (from Enchanted, that what she was last year) and a cow boy (with a GUN).
Sorry no pictures lately. The flash on my camera is broken, and it is cheaper to buy a new one then to fix it, so It will be a while before we have another camera. IT still takes good out side pictures though. OH and we will be doing family pictures soon. Probably this weekend. Marisa is here from Texas for a while and she is going to take them for us. I'm so excited.
And, Lydia can't decided between going as Giselle for Halloween (from Enchanted, that what she was last year) and a cow boy (with a GUN).
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
cleaning and packing...yay...
Well we have started the process already. A little early maybe, but that's how we roll. A little bit here and a little bit there chunks away at the big picture and makes the last week MUCH easier. And actually we haven't got the "official" word from the housing weather we got the house or not. Still waiting on it to come back from Audit. But unofficially we have been told that they can't see anything that would keep us from getting it. Anyway we "should" know this week. I said "should" cause the app process is suppose to take 2 weeks, and it's been nearly 4. Shiesh. Its a good thing I started looking for housing plenty early.
It feels so good to get rid of junk though. I'm finding things that have been in the "get rid of" pile from previous moves, and I'm determined to get rid of them this time. The bad part about being 4 1/2 weeks out is then when I get in a packing/cleaning mood there is only so much I can do. There is only so much that we can do with out for a month. ...and there is only so much i can do with my two little helpers...
I'm really hoping we can get a "new" washer and dryer. This set we have now is....well...working...and it's better then nothing. We are going to take some of the money we get from the car and go shopping on craigs list. yippee! Now if I time it just right, we can just get rid of the old ones and bring the new ones straight to the new place. But I'm not holding my breath. I'll just check it every day and wait till I find the deal I'm looking for.
OH, and in other news, Danton went pee on the potty for the first time last week. He has been sitting on the potty on occasion for the last month or so with no luck. Then one evening before bed, his diaper was still dry and I asked if he wanted to go potty. He RAN to the bathroom, and after like 30 sec (or less) he peed on the potty!!!! Yay...well oops, you are suppose to pee IN the potty. We cleaned the seat and his leg and hand and adjusted his aim, and what do you know, he did it again, only this time IN the potty. It was great. ...and we washed hands really REALLY well that time. :)
It feels so good to get rid of junk though. I'm finding things that have been in the "get rid of" pile from previous moves, and I'm determined to get rid of them this time. The bad part about being 4 1/2 weeks out is then when I get in a packing/cleaning mood there is only so much I can do. There is only so much that we can do with out for a month. ...and there is only so much i can do with my two little helpers...
I'm really hoping we can get a "new" washer and dryer. This set we have now is....well...working...and it's better then nothing. We are going to take some of the money we get from the car and go shopping on craigs list. yippee! Now if I time it just right, we can just get rid of the old ones and bring the new ones straight to the new place. But I'm not holding my breath. I'll just check it every day and wait till I find the deal I'm looking for.
OH, and in other news, Danton went pee on the potty for the first time last week. He has been sitting on the potty on occasion for the last month or so with no luck. Then one evening before bed, his diaper was still dry and I asked if he wanted to go potty. He RAN to the bathroom, and after like 30 sec (or less) he peed on the potty!!!! Yay...well oops, you are suppose to pee IN the potty. We cleaned the seat and his leg and hand and adjusted his aim, and what do you know, he did it again, only this time IN the potty. It was great. ...and we washed hands really REALLY well that time. :)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Ditched the Dish
About a month ago we started our free trial of netflix and decided to cancel our Dish. We were finding that we weren't watching as many shows as we use to, and a lot of what we were watching wasn't that great anyway. And I gotta say, we haven't missed it one bit. Ok, maybe one bit, but just one. Football season just started and Mark doesn't have a tv to watch it on, BUT a friend at church just told him about a web site he could watch the games on, so it's all good.
When we had the dish it was on a lot more then I realized. Daddy would come home and we would try to get dinner on and talk about our days, so cartoons would go on to keep kids busy. And it would go off while we ate, then back on again till scriptures and prayers, then back on to watch our shows with out the kids.
Now, yes we have netfilx with tons of movies available on the wii, but it's on WAY less. A couple veggie tales or fragle rock during the day, daddy gets home and he plugs his ipod touch in to the surround sound and we listen to Internet radio, new songs every day. And the kids LOVE it. I learned a new song on my banjo cause I heard one I really loved, so I looked it up and played it, Daddy has more time to play with the kids. When the dancing starts to get silly they start teasing Daddy. As a family and individually we are all happier, just in general. Less yelling, more laughing. It's truly amazing the difference it's made. We can't get any local channels on our tv cause it's an analogue tv and we don't have a converter box or even an antenna. And I don't think we are going to be getting one any time soon. We still have plenty to watch when we want to, but we have found we are more aware of what we are watching and much less tolerant of things that maybe we shouldn't be watching. I think we are more aware of the spirit that it brings into our home. Plus, I love not EVER having to see commercials or adds.
When we had the dish it was on a lot more then I realized. Daddy would come home and we would try to get dinner on and talk about our days, so cartoons would go on to keep kids busy. And it would go off while we ate, then back on again till scriptures and prayers, then back on to watch our shows with out the kids.
Now, yes we have netfilx with tons of movies available on the wii, but it's on WAY less. A couple veggie tales or fragle rock during the day, daddy gets home and he plugs his ipod touch in to the surround sound and we listen to Internet radio, new songs every day. And the kids LOVE it. I learned a new song on my banjo cause I heard one I really loved, so I looked it up and played it, Daddy has more time to play with the kids. When the dancing starts to get silly they start teasing Daddy. As a family and individually we are all happier, just in general. Less yelling, more laughing. It's truly amazing the difference it's made. We can't get any local channels on our tv cause it's an analogue tv and we don't have a converter box or even an antenna. And I don't think we are going to be getting one any time soon. We still have plenty to watch when we want to, but we have found we are more aware of what we are watching and much less tolerant of things that maybe we shouldn't be watching. I think we are more aware of the spirit that it brings into our home. Plus, I love not EVER having to see commercials or adds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)