I Conquered the XBox!

When Eleanor and her family were here a few weeks ago, Josh and Ethan played Xbox with Jared quite a bit. Today, he asked if he could play Lego Star Wars by himself. It took him more than an hour, but he got through the first level without help (mostly - I'm not much help, even if I wanted to be, lol). When he was done, he pumped his fist in the sky and shouted "I CONQUERED THE XBOX BECAUSE I AM AMAZING!"

(I love how the more intense the battle, the closer to the TV he gets. It makes me laugh!)

The Wonders of Marketing

I'm not sure that my kids understand about commercials. Jared was watching TV the other afternoon and a commercial for the "Scooter Store" power wheel chairs came on. At the beginning of the commercial, they ask a series of questions - Is getting around your house difficult for you? Do you have to ask others for help, especially in the bathroom and kitchen? Have you fallen down in the past 12 months? etc. Jared was very intently and seriously watching, nodding his head after each question. At the end of the commercial he told me that he was sure he needed a motorized wheel chair because he had fallen down before and because he had to ask for help sometimes. Sometimes he cracks me up. 

Bearing One Another's Burdens - It's Not Just About Carrying Heavy Stuff.

There are times that I don't like being a mother. (Gasp! Did I actually just write that? Am I allowed to admit that?!) I mean, I always love being a mother. I love my kids. I love my life. But sometimes the day to day grind wears me down. A lot. The daily battle of getting the kids to clean their rooms, do their jobs, brush their teeth Every. Single. Day. (multiple times!), be nice to one another. I feel like I say the same things over and over again. I know I yell too much.

This morning started out just like usual:
Telling Jared to go get dressed.
Checking on him 5 minutes later, finding him in his bedroom, completely naked, sitting on his floor playing with toys.
Starting to yell, telling him if he wasn't dressed by the time I counted to 10, he was grounded from everything under the sun. Then, telling him he had 5 minutes to have his room clean before he was in big trouble.
Getting distracted, coming back 15 minutes later, finding him sitting on his floor playing with toys.
Starting to yell. Telling him he has 1 minute to get all his cars picked up.
Hearing the baby cry. Going to pick her up, hoping that Jared would get started on his room.
Coming back 5 minutes later, hearing Megan and Jared happily chatting as they finished his morning jobs together.

Wait. What was that?

When I asked Megan why she was helping Jared with his jobs, she looked at me the way only an eight year old girl can, with exasperation and slight eye rolling, an unspoken"duh, mom." "It's called bearing one another's burdens, mom. It's not just about carrying heavy stuff, mom. Sometimes it means helping your little brother pick up his legos."

Megan will be baptized in a little over a month and we've been really working with her during Family Home Evening to make sure she understands what that means, the covenants she'll be making.

Mosiah 18: 8, 10 (18:5 - 11)

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are ^adesirous to come into the ^bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being ^abaptized in the ^bname of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a ^ccovenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Did I mention that there are times that I really love being a mom?

Megan's New Doll

So the other day, I posted on Facebook that Megan thought Kate was her own, personal, live doll. She loves to get her dressed, pick a flower or bow for her hair, etc.

Um, yeah. So today, she took it to a whole other level. During play group today, the girls asked if Kate could sit in the bouncy seat in Megan's room while they played. This is what I found when I went to check on them.

What we've been up to

We recently started an allowance program with the kids. We started a checklist with jobs they were expected to do each day at the same time. Let's just say that my house hasn't been this clean in a looooong time.

We've been playing with LOTS of friends this summer. We have someone over just about every day. Friends make the long summer days go by faster.

We take a lot of naps. As often as possible, for as long as possible (okay, so just Kate and Mom take naps. Megan and Jared read or do puzzles or something else quiet).

Mostly we are working hard at relaxing and at enjoying these long, hot summer days. And trying to not wish the summer away....And we are looking forward to the school year.

It doesn't get much cuter than this!

Asleep in the Pool

Kate was so relaxed in the pool, she fell asleep and just floated around for most of the time.