Dinner Time

I just read my friends blog about trying to get her kids to eat dinner. I started writing a response (comment), but it was getting long, so I decided to make it a blog of mine instead.
Oh how I feel for those that are trying to get their kids to eat!!! I have been struggling with this for SO long now, too, and I HATE it!!!!! But, at the World Wide Leadership training, I got some inspiration (for me, and not because they were talking about how to get your kids to eat... Just because I was thinking about it, etc). I was sick of dinner being an unhappy time. All we did was fight (unless we had pizza...). So, I decided to not care so much about the food. I think it was some comment Elder Holland said about dinner time being together as a family. It definitely wasn’t a good time for our family, and all I could think is, “the kids are going to look back and have bad memories of our ‘family dinner time’”. So, dinner time would now become a family time, not a food time.
I decided that for dinner, we would
1) Slow down: Although we are hungry, we aren’t starving. We don’t have to rush into dinner, and rush eating it all. So, we sit down, have a nice prayer, and then slowly dish things out, and slowly eat. We are calm and discuss the day, have a nice conversation, etc.
2) I don’t talk to them about eating: Before we started this all, I sat down with them and explained that every dinner, they must eat what we serve them, or they do not get any more food that night (treats or otherwise). We had been doing this for awhile anyway, so they knew. And they know—so why keep hounding them during dinner? “If you don’t eat your beans, no more food!” They know it, so I don’t need to remind them. All it does is stress me out! They really aren’t going to eat if I keep freaking out, and they especially won’t LIKE eating if it is a screamfest. (Although if they are eating, I give HUGE praise for doing a good job of eating, just no negative comments)
3) I don’t serve them big amounts: I serve small portions of each thing. Maybe three bites of the main dish, five peas/ veggie (that is five of them, not five bites), two peaches/etc, and a small glass of juice/milk, etc. That way they are not overwhelmed. If they want more peaches, etc, then they must finish the other food (and they know that… and that goes for the milk, too). If they actually liked the meal (miracle) then they may have more.
4) They can sit at the table until we have finished cleaning up: After that, they no more chance to eat. We just take away the plate. No fighting, no compromising with them, just walking away. If they decide to throw a fit, oh well. We ignore it. This happened a few times at first, but really hasn’t happen much since. We actually do our scripture reading after dinner (so they even can have their plate there during that time, too). This wraps up a nice dinner together.
It really has changed everything! They may not eat still, but at least I am happy and they are happy. It is more important to me that we are happy than they eat. Everybody say, they will eventually eat… Right. That is a really annoying thing to hear, but truly, we aren’t starving them, and as long as during the day, we provide them with healthy snacks, and they aren’t gorging on candy, etc, then they will be okay. And, actually, I think they are eating better. It is hit and miss. And I still try and sneak veggies into things (I made an orange banana frizz drink with chopped carrots—they had no idea), and I try to make things they will like, still healthy, etc. But, it truly has been MUCH better. Good luck to everyone, and may the force be with you!

Missionary in training

Good Websites

I found some really cool and fun websites to share with everyone.

www.5min.com is a website that shows HOW to do different things, all videos under 5 minutes. I found a great recipe on there called "The Best Chicken Parmesan Bake" which we made for dinner tonight and was GREATTTT. And it was quick and easy. It has all sorts of different solutions that are shown by video--easier than reading sometimes!

I also get a lot of my recipes from www.allrecipes.com You can search for meals based on ingredients, etc.

This next one, I apologize for the language... www.damninteresting.com Just has really cool info about different interesting things.

If I ever want info on movies I go to www.imdb.com. I can find some good foreign film info there, and then I check them out from the library!

www.poissonrouge.com is really kind of wierd, but cool. It has things for young kids to do on the computer--VERY simple. Not necessarily games, but just click on something and it will make a sound, or etc. Just check it out. Fun.

Another kids site, but for a bit older kids is www.panwapa.com (somehow related to Sesame Street). It is very international and interactive.

I found an article giving a bunch of sites for bargain hunters. I haven't tried them all out, but you may like some of them: www.dealcatcher.com www.spendfish.com www.dealnews.com www.techbargains.com www.bfads.net www.dealio.com

I love finding good sites. Let me know if you find any of these useful. And let me know sites you use!

Nachos, anyone?

Kids say the funniest things. I love to add these things to my blog.

Aidan:
*He calls cashews, "nachos".
*Tonight at dinner he said to us, "Hey, look at my mustars (muscles)"
*I gave him some candy and asked if he liked it and he replied, "Tastes like chicken"

Weston:
*Weston had a bag of snack food he had gotten for himself, and I praised him for his good choices (dried mangoes, raisins, and an apple), and he said, "I want to grow up to be healthy and strong."
*When praying he includes, "Bless mommy that she is pretty".
*He also prays that Gordon B. Hinckley and Grandpa Daw will resurrect someday.

And although Brennan doesn't talk, he does a lot of grunts and coos. Those are cute and funny!

The light went off in my head!

I hadn't yet bought those high efficiency light bulbs. You know, those that are twisty? Well, they are a good deal at Costco (9$ for 10 of them), so we bought them and now have thirty in our house. We found a spreadsheet that calculates how much we'll be saving by having them in: over 5 years, with 30 (60 watt) bulbs, we save $2,800!!! Great isn't it?
Also, I finally decided to get my rear in gear! For all those months while I was pregnant, I couldn't clean my house or work out because of my contractions! I got LAZYYYYY! And since it had been so long, it was really difficult after I had the baby to have the desire to do anything. But, finally (after looking at my haggard appearance in the mirror, and smelling my disgusting house) I decided to get going! So, last week I got Scott to clean the carpets... Thank you honey! And I did work as well... I got on my hands and knees and scrubbed the kitchen and dining room floor, I cleaned the kids rooms, vacuumed the house (thanks again, Scott), wiped down walls, and much more. I was so energized and felt so much better about myself. It really helps me feel better when the house is clean. We (thanks Scott) have really tried to KEEP it clean as well. And I started working out. I am really sore, but again, I feel energized. I am becoming more organized and feeling more on top of things. It just is great to be in this mood.
But, of course I am reminded of Mary and Martha, and I must make sure I keep priorities straight. In our home we have the picture my Minerva Teichert, "Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha". We had the World Wide Leadership Conference a few weeks ago, and Stake Conference last week, and I have been reading the Ensign, and through all of this I have had much inspiration to be a better mother and raise up my "army" of boys (three of them!!!). Better scripture study, individually and as a family. (I am including the photo--from my wall in the living room--because my sister wanted to see how it was framed.)
AND (updated) Scott gave me these beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day which always brighten up a house and a life (Thanks Darling!)

Sleep, Hair, and Baths

We are going to do photos this weekend of the boys and (hopefully) the family (dependent on weather...) So, I gave the boys haircuts. This is a photo of Weston before we chopped off the top of his hair--so long!
Aidan is trying to not take naps anymore, but he is still tired so he falls asleep in the afternoon in various strange places. The other day I found him on the stairs!
Brennan is growing and so cute and happy! He is such a joy!

Laugh!

My sweet Brennan did what I can only describe as his first laugh. It was so cute. He was smiling and cooing and then out came a laugh--right as I was taking the picture! I captured it--except the sound of course... But, look at him--can't you tell he was laughing?

Little life moments

I wanted to get on here on cute things that the boys are doing and saying. It is so fun to hear them say funny things. Weston was playing basketball and said to me, "Mom, I'm poofed." (instead of pooped--he thinks saying pooped is potty talk). My dad showed Weston a scar from a surgery on his knee a few months ago. Weston asked Scott, "I wonder if Opa still has a scarf on his leg." And he calls breakfast, "breakpass".
Aidan is saying things that make me laugh, too. But it is just that he is a little boy getting excited. Like the other day when he went around the whole house looking for "pennies". He came into a room and said, "Mom, I need pennies." Then immediately saw one on the ground and screamed, "I found one!!!" It was funnier to actually see it. And today when one of Weston's friends was playing with Aidan's helicopter, Aidan heard him playing, and said, "He has my helicopter!" And then with a very determined look, said, "I am going to go get it!" I wish I could write this with a little boys voice!
They both do funny things. Weston found a thing of heavy string the other day, and while I was not paying attention, strung it ALL over the house. From the table at the top of the stairs, down the stairs, around everything in the living room, and all over the dining room. It looked like a giant spider web!

Aidan loves the baby -- A LOT! Often I find him on top of the poor kid--right in his face (they now have matching booger noses...). He also loves the babies swing and tries to get in when I am not watching. He has learned to "sneak" things--he loves to get into my purse and look for gum. I found him with a whole pack of gum in his mouth once!

Brennan is beautiful. He is already 11 weeks old! He just had a doctor's appointment and he is my FAT baby (compared to the other boys). He is in the 50th percentile for both height and weight! Eleven pounds 10 ounces. I am just so happy about it. I was really worried because he only eats for about 7-10 minutes every 3 hours. I didn't think he was getting anything. But he is nice and big! (I can't believe I will have a child that will actually grow out of his 0-3 month clothes when he is three months!!!!) He is also starting to do things--He started smiling awhile ago, but he is now talking quite a bit (goo, coo, and an occasional "unghhh"). I caught him looking at his fist the other day. Oh the wonderment in their eyes. He is a sweet child and lovely to look at!

Valentine's Day Tag

I've been tagged to answer questions about Scott and me. I love you honey!

How long have you been together? We met in February of 2002.
How long did you date? We got engaged (officially) in May and married in July.
How old is he? Scott is 31 (six months younger than me, and he always reminds me... He loves to say that one day we will go to a movie and when we get tickets he'll say, "One adult and one senior..."
Who eats more? I eat more during the day for sure.
Who said "I love you" first? Scott, while we were "watching" Galaxy Quest...
Who is taller? Scott
Who sings better? Scott, though he'll say me
Who is smarter? Scott. But he'll always say that I am (but he really is)
Who does the laundry? Me.
Who does the dishes? Mostly me, but he does a huge amount of the dishes, too. I empty the dishwasher the majority of the time, and he fills it (I am terrible at organizing the dishes in the dishwasher).
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do.
Who pays the bills? I do, though there are some that is understood that he takes care of.
Who mows the lawn? Scott. I tried once, and failed.
Who cooks dinner? Mostly me, but if it is a steak, he does for sure.
Who is more stubborn? I don't think either of us are more stubborn than the other.
Who kissed who first? Scott kissed me.
Who asked who out? Blind date--His aunt Holly gave him my number (I worked with her) and he was supposed to call me. After about two weeks he finally did.
Who proposed? Scott did, though we had been talking about it for awhile. Actually, at one point he asked me to date only him and I told him no. that night I went to a movie with a guy friend (not a date...) but the whole time thought about Scott and wanted to be with him. So, on the way home from the movie I turned to the guy and said, "I think I am going to get married." The next day I bought a Bride's magazine.
Who is more sensitive? Both. Though he is a Daw, so he is a crier. I am not a crier.
Who has more friends? Me, or at least I think I do.
Who has more siblings? The same. I have 3 sis's and 2 bros. he has 2 sis's and 3 bros.
Who wears the pants in the relationship? We both do, but I am willing to wear a dress and he is not!

Now I tag: Missy, Cousin Jennie, Abby, and Jen from Sugar. Happy Valentines Day!

(Long) Sunday

Today church was cancelled (just like Ali's a few weeks ago) and we had a long Sunday. There was a storm (probably nothing like Ali's though) and the wind was so terrible that there were huge drifts and the Stake Presidency thought it best to not have everyone slip slide their way to church, cause accidents, and then get snowed in. So, we stayed at home watching Gordon B. Hinckley shows (on KSL). Here are some photos of the Herriman snow.





The boys sat at the window watching as Scott used his toy (the snowblower) on our driveway as well as several other neighbors' driveways (kindness, or does he just love his toy?).

Brennan shows his disapproval of the storm. Isn't that the cutest sad face?