We went to Culver's after church yesterday with some friends. Our Culvers is next door to a hotel and some soccer fields. As we were leaving Deacon said, "what is the hotel for?" Noah answered that he is sure they get a lot of business during the soccer tournements.
Deacon thinks for 1/2 second and then says, "would you say then, that this Culvers does the best business of any Culvers because of the soccer fields?"
Noah replied that he thinks they probably do get more business during the soccer tourneys and that he is sure that helps, but that he did not have enough information to say whether or not it did the best of all Culvers locations everywhere.
But that is our Deacon. Always striving for the biggest, tallest, richest, best and oldest!
Or maybe it is all 7 year old boys everywhere.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday Thoughts
1. THINGS I AM LOVING THIS WEEK:
*smart wool socks
*$5 jeans from Target
*my husband
*inspiration and insights from my work friends
*peanut M&Ms
2. ON MY MIND
*Lincoln's speech stuff- so overwelming, so much time
*oppression of women around the world
*project "Hold off the Addition" (alternately titled Closets, Cupboards and Cabinets)
*exercise
*juggling childcare and commitments
*kid stuff- each one has their own things that encourage me and worry me
3. WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
*my weekend off!
*possibly running a 1/2 marathon with coworkers at the end of May (if I can find someone to work for me!)
*Berean's first birthday!
4. ON MY LIST
*project "Hold off the Addition"
*reading (I've made time to read again and I am so happy!)
*take pictures of the kids-it's been awhile!
*bulk cooking day!
*smart wool socks
*$5 jeans from Target
*my husband
*inspiration and insights from my work friends
*peanut M&Ms
2. ON MY MIND
*Lincoln's speech stuff- so overwelming, so much time
*oppression of women around the world
*project "Hold off the Addition" (alternately titled Closets, Cupboards and Cabinets)
*exercise
*juggling childcare and commitments
*kid stuff- each one has their own things that encourage me and worry me
3. WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
*my weekend off!
*possibly running a 1/2 marathon with coworkers at the end of May (if I can find someone to work for me!)
*Berean's first birthday!
4. ON MY LIST
*project "Hold off the Addition"
*reading (I've made time to read again and I am so happy!)
*take pictures of the kids-it's been awhile!
*bulk cooking day!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Deacon and His Future Wife
Last night Deacon told me that I was hot. I explained to him that "hot" wasn't a word that you used to describe your mother. He seemed confused because I had earlier tried to explain to him that when someone called a girl "hot" it meant she was pretty. Noah ruined any progress I had made by coming into the room and saying, "what is the problem? you are hot!"Whatever. Men.
Last week Deacon was complaining about his schoolwork. He wanted to know why it was necessary to learn math etc, etc. I gave him reasons about every job and life in general requiring a person to be able to do basic math. Finally he said, "maybe I will just do what you do mom- stay home with the kids all day and I will just have my wife go to work."
Of course I went on to tell him how much math I use in a day, just taking care of the house, the groceries etc (not to mention my job in which I use lots of math all the time!) and then mentioned that maybe he should let his wife stay home- that would prehaps be the unselfish thing to do.
He said, "I suppose if we had a baby she should be home, otherwise the baby will just want her all day anyway."
I think we will keep addressing these topics as he gets older.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Oooo...Shiny!
Through a series of events I came into possession of a shocking pen. I had mentioned the "pen" to Noah and told him how easy it was to get shocked because it was so compelling and so pretty that you just had to try to activate it.
Over the weekend I was emptying out my bag and came across the pen.
I tossed it in front of Noah, who was sitting at the supper table.
"Oooo..Shiny..." he actually said and reached for it.
All of a sudden he dropped it and got a sheepish look on his face.
"I can't believe I did that, " he said.
The kids wanted to know what was up and I gave them a brief explanation: that pushing the button would hurt.
We prayed for our meal, but I knew the whole time that Roman's fingers were itching.
If there is a button, Roman will push it.
If there is a switch, Roman will flip it.
If there is a crank, Roman will pull it.
Sometimes I look at him and see how hard he is trying not to touch something, but it is as if his hand is not willing to be controlled by his mind.
He grabbed the pen. I told him to go ahead, if he wanted to, but that I was warning him it wouldn't be pleasant.
He pushed it and got a shock.
He laughed nervously.
He pushed it again and got another one.
He laughed.
But did not try anymore.
Deacon tried it.
He was amused.
And tried again.
Lincoln tried it and wanted to keep doing it.
The energy and excitement in the room grew.
This was thrilling, this was dangerous, this was exciting!
Really?!?
Noah and I just thought it hurt.
Apparently, though, we have 3 boys who love to be scared. To get a rush. To feel the adrenaline.
To take a risk.
Great. What next?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
More On Time Management
Here is the link to my friend Jackie's time management experiment. Jackie is also a work part time/home part time mom and I appreciated her insights into her day. I especially liked how she talked about no week being "normal".
That is true, isn't it? I always say, "oh, well this week is crazy because of X, next week will be different." But it isn't true. Last week Noah volunteered at Bible quizzing, I had to do the Valentine's stuff and made my neighbor a meal. This week it won't be those things, but I have an all day class for work, some MD appts and we have ended up spending a lot more time commuting/shoveling due to a snowfall.
It is always something.
On Sunday our pastor preached on Malachi. He talked about tithing our time as well as our money. This was challenging for me to think about. Noah and I place high priority on our volunteer work and our "servant"work. Sometimes I think it is easy to get tired when thinking about tithing, but just like tithing our money, I have renewed confidence that as a Christian I should be tithing my time both in spending time studying the Bible and praying but also in ways of service. There are 168 hours in my week...do I/can I spend 16.8 of them in service/communion to/with God? That is the next question for me to look closely at.
Speaking of time management...my 4 night blitz at work is over, I have had a little sleep and now is the time to tackle household chores with a vengeance!
P.S. Lincoln is doing incredible work with his speech (even his therapist is amazed!) we add an extra session a week in March and hope to see a ton of improvement!
That is true, isn't it? I always say, "oh, well this week is crazy because of X, next week will be different." But it isn't true. Last week Noah volunteered at Bible quizzing, I had to do the Valentine's stuff and made my neighbor a meal. This week it won't be those things, but I have an all day class for work, some MD appts and we have ended up spending a lot more time commuting/shoveling due to a snowfall.
It is always something.
On Sunday our pastor preached on Malachi. He talked about tithing our time as well as our money. This was challenging for me to think about. Noah and I place high priority on our volunteer work and our "servant"work. Sometimes I think it is easy to get tired when thinking about tithing, but just like tithing our money, I have renewed confidence that as a Christian I should be tithing my time both in spending time studying the Bible and praying but also in ways of service. There are 168 hours in my week...do I/can I spend 16.8 of them in service/communion to/with God? That is the next question for me to look closely at.
Speaking of time management...my 4 night blitz at work is over, I have had a little sleep and now is the time to tackle household chores with a vengeance!
P.S. Lincoln is doing incredible work with his speech (even his therapist is amazed!) we add an extra session a week in March and hope to see a ton of improvement!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
In Summary
A few days ago I wrote this post in which I told you all that I was going to keep careful records of what I did over the course of 3 days. In this way, I concluded, I could see areas of wasted time in my life and make sure that my life lined up with what I say my priorities are.
And I did it. Well, kind of.
I made careful records on Monday, but Tuesday and Wednesday ended up being not quite as careful, mostly because we were gone for large portions of the day and I didn't bring my notebook with me, I can recreate it a little, but after reviewing Monday I am not sure that it is necessary.
Secretly I had convinced myself that I was going to find out that I was spending a lot of time on the computer or on the phone or something that I could eliminate.
Here is what I found, however: not much time in my day is being squandered away.
MONDAY-records kept between the hours of 7:00am-10:30pm (after I finished folding laundry at 10 I kept no further records. I probably wrote a blog post and got stuff ready for the next morning)
On Monday I spent 4 hours and 15 minutes away from home. This encompassed speech, swimming lessons, basketball drop off and rockclimbing. During that time I did my sprint runs and my Bible study lesson.
I spent 2 hours and 10 minutes doing school with Deacon (that is average for us I would say).
1 hour and 45 minutes of my day was spent showering, getting ready for the day, nursing Berean, checking email/facebook/blogs. About 15 minutes of that was computer. Berean had a couple long nursing sessions in am and pm. The morning one also included dozing since I didn't have to get up yet.
But here is the worst part: I spent 7 1/2 hours doing domestic chores. 7 1/2 hours of preparing meals, cleaning up after them and doing laundry (I do laundry one day a week, and this was my laundry day). This time also included helping the boys roll and cut out heart cookies, decorating them with the kids and getting them ready for Deacon's basketball practice.
I know the times don't exactly add up, and of course mixed up in there was time I spent trying to get Lincoln to put pants on, bundling the kids up and assisting in their activities and play while I did my stuff. And of course I was being talked to and interacting with them off and on during the day. I do have to say though that because the boys are all pretty independent and Berean naps a lot, there is not as much of my time dedicated to sitting on the floor playing with the kids.
A friend did stop over for awhile, but I was cleaning up/nursing the baby/frosting cookies while she was over. Any other phone calls and stuff were accomplished at the same time that I was making lunch etc.
More impressions to come, but this is a start...and besides, it is time to clean up the kitchen :(
And I did it. Well, kind of.
I made careful records on Monday, but Tuesday and Wednesday ended up being not quite as careful, mostly because we were gone for large portions of the day and I didn't bring my notebook with me, I can recreate it a little, but after reviewing Monday I am not sure that it is necessary.
Secretly I had convinced myself that I was going to find out that I was spending a lot of time on the computer or on the phone or something that I could eliminate.
Here is what I found, however: not much time in my day is being squandered away.
MONDAY-records kept between the hours of 7:00am-10:30pm (after I finished folding laundry at 10 I kept no further records. I probably wrote a blog post and got stuff ready for the next morning)
On Monday I spent 4 hours and 15 minutes away from home. This encompassed speech, swimming lessons, basketball drop off and rockclimbing. During that time I did my sprint runs and my Bible study lesson.
I spent 2 hours and 10 minutes doing school with Deacon (that is average for us I would say).
1 hour and 45 minutes of my day was spent showering, getting ready for the day, nursing Berean, checking email/facebook/blogs. About 15 minutes of that was computer. Berean had a couple long nursing sessions in am and pm. The morning one also included dozing since I didn't have to get up yet.
But here is the worst part: I spent 7 1/2 hours doing domestic chores. 7 1/2 hours of preparing meals, cleaning up after them and doing laundry (I do laundry one day a week, and this was my laundry day). This time also included helping the boys roll and cut out heart cookies, decorating them with the kids and getting them ready for Deacon's basketball practice.
I know the times don't exactly add up, and of course mixed up in there was time I spent trying to get Lincoln to put pants on, bundling the kids up and assisting in their activities and play while I did my stuff. And of course I was being talked to and interacting with them off and on during the day. I do have to say though that because the boys are all pretty independent and Berean naps a lot, there is not as much of my time dedicated to sitting on the floor playing with the kids.
A friend did stop over for awhile, but I was cleaning up/nursing the baby/frosting cookies while she was over. Any other phone calls and stuff were accomplished at the same time that I was making lunch etc.
More impressions to come, but this is a start...and besides, it is time to clean up the kitchen :(
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
They Make Me Laugh
Lincoln has been asking me every morning "Mom, what day it is?" I will tell him, "Thursday" (or whatever). He then repeats it, "mmm...ursday? ok."
I don't know if it means something to him, or if he just likes to ask...
We were at my parent's house the other day and Berean was crawling around and found a small piece of white tissue paper. The next thing we know she had it in her hand and was pretending to wipe her fully clothed butt with it! It was so funny! It floors me that she made the association between the tissue paper and a wipe and then actually decided to demonstrate that she knew what to with it! The boys imitated commercials and super heroes, but never really imitated household chores/tasks.
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