So, we decided to take our 'Long Trip' to see Mother and Godfather! The kids know a long trip is code word for videos in the van.
We made the 10 hour trek to visit the Great Grandparents with high hopes of much fun! The picture below was taken around the 10 hour marker. HC isn't asleep as it seems, she just said 'Mommy I don't think we are going to make the long trip. It is too far away.'
I think she was just ready to give up! We told her we would be at Mother and Godfather's house any minute! I don't think she believed us though. When we arrived, we found Mother had a surprise. She has a new puppy named Goldie. The kids were awake then!
They slept in the same bed together for the first time. How sweet.
Then Saturday began with McDonalds of course! We had to get some pancakes before we began fishing!
The fun is just beginning!!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Long Trip
Gone Fishin'
Today we finally did it! We took the kids fishin' with The Godfather. They had a ton of fun!! He really made good on his promise!! The kids were keyed up and had a blast, for about 15 minutes! Then they were hot, tired, hungry and ready to go! Predictable. But the fun outweighed the complaints!
Our participants: The Godfather, Daddy, JB and HC. (Mommy had a yucky cold and was on camera duty!)
'Catching fish is fun Godfather!'
'WOW! We did it! Now put them in the ice chest and lets go home!!'
Thanks Godfather!! You are the BEST!! xoxo
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Happy Mother's Day
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Behavior Chart Update
Well, one week down and we are having success with the behavior charts. That isn't to say that attitude problems do not arise, but we have a quicker recovery rate now. Earlier this week I mentioned we were going to try using charts as a tool to deter tantrums and my repeating my requests over and over with negative results. We decided on day 3 of success we would take the kids and get them a reward - we bought snowcones and celebrated BIG! We told them (even though JB isn't old enough to understand yet) we will give them rewards when we see them doing extra well with their happy hearts. That keeps them guessing but we also can reward as we see they are making big progress.
This week was different. Maybe it caused me to stay on task, maybe the kids needed a visual aide or maybe it was both! I don't know why but this is helping us! In fact, my daughter was having a meltdown over an issue this evening and as I tried to redirect her to another task the meltdown escalated. I told her that she was losing her happy heart and she would lose her 'happy heart star'. Why this works is beyond me, but she started laughing and trying to cooperate. I am amazed to be honest. Our motive is for the kids to obey, even when they do not like the instructions, with a happy heart. We are WINNING! It is working!! We've also begun to tell frequent friends and family, 'Can you see HC's happy heart? Her face is showing you!'. This makes her light up so much with pride (the good kind)! I love that smile - it is a true delight!
We DO let her have her emotions. We are not stifling her feelings by any means. This is really addressing our issue of getting her out of an unnecessary meltdown or tantrum when she isn't getting her way! Hallelujah!! We found a fix! So far so good! Also looking forward to JB joining in with understanding and success. He is just too young for us to know what he understands yet!
Contest
If you are interested in registering for a blog make-over, go to Everyday Mommy . I must warn you that I wanna win this, so give it up now! :o)
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
American Idol & Banana's?
Look out American Idol, HC is gettin' her groove on!
I told you I could eat the WHOLE thing! (Well, that is 1/2 of a 'bana'! "Wook at me mom"!)
Word Filled Wednesday
Wednesday Hero
21 years old from Irving, Texas
2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
October 14, 2004
Louise Vandertulip fussed at her son about his spending. He bought wild, overpriced hats that had flames on them or horns coming out of the top, she said.While in Army basic training, he bought portraits of himself. His mother told him to save his money.She's glad he didn't listen.The hats and the pictures are all a part of her memories now.Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip was killed in Baghdad when his patrol came under small arms fire. Josiah Vandertulip joined the Army right after his graduation from Irving High School in 2002. He spent a year in South Korea before being stationed at Texas' Fort Hood in February. Against his mother's advice, he volunteered to go to Iraq. She told him to wait, to go to college."When he was determined to do something in his heart, he would do it and hell or high water couldn't keep him from it," she said. By going, he knew someone else with a young family could be saved from serving, relatives said.He always had the important things right, Louise Vandertulip said."There's a lot of rest in knowing that he died doing what he believed in and doing what he thought was right," she said. "We have a much more real sense of the cost for the freedom that we enjoy now," said his father, Robert Vandertulip."Josiah was the first brand new soldiers I recieved as a dismounted team leader in Korea. He was one of the Best soldiers I have had the honor to train and work with. He loved being a soldier as much as any guy I have met. He was a great leader in the absence of his superiors. I could always count on him to make sure the mission was accomplished. I watched him change over the year I had him from a goofy kid, to a hard charging soldier."Sgt. Nickolas Faul
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. To find out more about Wednesay Hero, you can go here.
