Christmas Goal Update

Wow! Christmas is just one week away and I am happy to report, that I am very pleased with the success of my goal list and all that we have been doing to enjoy the holidays this year! So, I wanted to give an update!


Play more Christmas music - Thanks to my cousin Ann and Christy for the online suggestions! Both were enjoyed and utilized during some free time in the office. Plus, we turned on the radio more looking for songs and the day after I posted I realized last year I had bought the Noel CD by Josh Groban so we enjoy the hec out of that every time we get in the car! We also found a book with some carols in it and have been practicing. Connor's favorite song is Away in a Manger and Brody's favorite is Jingle Bells! We learned the second verse to Away in a Manger and sing together O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night!! YEAH!



Participate in Advent - Although we never did do the wreath, (On my list for next year!) we have been doing the daily scripture reading and using the themes for the weeks along with a cute calendar that my cousin Ann sent to us! Definite progress here!


Bake more treats - This went well too! I made one of my favorites, those peanut butter cookies with the kiss in the middle, yum yum! I also found a sugar cookie recipe that we really liked and the boys had a blast decorating and eating them too! We are getting ready for our second batch of both cookies and the boys will be decorating edible Christmas trees this weekend too! YUM! YUM!





Pray for our friends and family - Teri actually reminded me in her comment that these can be collected after the holidays and and used in this special way to kick off the year. That is how I heard it first, so let's just say that I will be implementing that in that manner. Honestly we haven't received to many cards yet this year?? Maybe it is the change of address thing?

Make ornaments & crafts - Fun stuff!

Remember those ornaments that you put all those pieces in and then cook? ( I mean little pieces with tweezers!) I remember making those as a kid. It was tedious at times, but they had a blast then wrapped them up for gifts and were so proud! I am so excited that I already ordered kits for next year on sale at Oriental Trading Company with no shipping minimum! They will get packed up with the decorations and if all goes well, pulled out and crafted with love in plenty of time next year!These are fun handprint Christmas trees! I love my little Brody's unique style...red tree, yellow trunk...loves to be different!

Watch a Christmas special with the boys- Luckily this was low on the totem pole because it didn't happen again this year. I might try to buy the special, but right now just couldn't bring myself to shell out the money for it! They have a video they like, very cute called The First Noel and we will call it good with a new one...there is always time for the classics, they aren't going anywhere..maybe next year...maybe not!

So, that's it, all on my list...I just love checking things off! We really have had a great time and have loved starting some new traditions and creating some great memories. We are so blessed. I can't believe there is only one week to go, it sure does come and go fast, doesn't it?

Five Love Languages for my kids Update

YEAH! I finished the book! It was easy to do because it was really good. The concept is simple, but it was packed with information. It was also important to me which always makes the task at hand more attainable.



However there are a few things I learned that I didn't expect. I thought once I figured their primary language, then showed them that daily that all would be right with the world and my boys will grow up feeling secure and loved in their lives and we will move forward into lifelong bliss. Well...maybe...but a few more things to consider that stood out to me....



1) Children still need to see examples of all the love languages so they are able to relate to others as they grow mature. After all, everyone they come in contact with and have friendships and relationships with will not be the same so they need to experience it all!

2) To discipline a child in their primary love language is very counter productive to achieving any goal I might have in mind.



So, my first step in analyzing where they would fall was to simply ask the question and here is how that went.



Me: "Connor, do you know that mommy loves you?"

Connor: "Of course I do"

Me: "How do you know?"

Connor: "Because you tell me all the time."



Me: "Brody, do you know that I love you?"

Brody: Nodded yes

Me: "How do you know I love you?"

Brody: "Because you helped me clean the play room."



So, I thought..."wow this is pretty easy", clearly a words of affirmation for Connor and acts of service for Brod. Slam Dunk!



Then, I decided to take a little question quiz in the back of the book withe each of the boys separately and of course the answers came out different than the above.



Connor's answers ranked like this..

Quality Time - 6

Words of Affirmation - 5

Gifts - 4

Acts of Service - 3

Physical Touch - 2



Brody's were...

Quality Time - 7

Gifts - 5

Words of Affirmation - 4

Acts of Service - 3

Physical Touch - 0



Now, in all fairness, we just celebrated their birthdays and Christmas is only a week away so I feel like the gifts scored way higher than they normally would. Reading the text, it is pretty clear that although they love receiving special things and presents, I don't think they put the value on those that the answered showed! Bryan agrees so we are moving forward with the premise that their first and second love languages are as follows....

Connor - 1) Quality Time 2) Words of Affirmation
Brody - 1) Quality Time 2) Acts of Service



I figure if I log it here on my blog it will help me to be accountable and not forget all that I learned from this book.

I would highly recommend it to any parent reading this! I know it is Christmas Eve now as I am posting this, but it would be a great gift idea!

Two of the Best Deals in town!

Deal #1

I am reading The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren and came across this today that really stuck with me. I have heard way more than once that I should be able to give my "testimony" in 1 minute or less! I have been encouraged to write it out and to be honest have never even tried! For someone who talks like me and would have so much to share on the topic, 1 minute seems impossible! But today, I found this in his book and thought it was a brilliant way to do just that...


He was explaining that when you accept Jesus as your Savior...

"You get your past forgiven, you get a purpose for living, and you get a home in heaven."

He proceeded to say that..."No one else can make that kind of offer. Only God can." Since I am always looking for a good deal, how could I pass this up?


Wow!! One sentence that sums it all up for me...that is what I got, what I have, and what I have to look forward to! Bryan always says that I tend to complicate things and I never could of made "it" this simple, but in reality it is.

What a great thing for me to reflect on as I prepare for Christmas this season.

Awesome!

OK, on a lighter topic....Deal #2

A Football hemet made from recycled materials!

Yes, you saw here it first folks!

This son of mine can do all sorts of amazing things with cardboard and loves to create. He made a train with a track recently and a football field complete with goal posts. I told him today that maybe someone will get him a Costco size package of tape for Christmas and he got a huge smile on his face! As the packages start rolling in for Christmas, I'm not sure if he is more excited by the actual package or the contents!

Oh yah..in case you can't see it clearly that is a panther on the side which makes this a Carolina Panthers helmet!

I sure hope he doesn't get tackled in it, but it is darn cute!

Cold and Warm!

Well, a lot of great stuff has been going on around here at the Doeren household!

We got our first Oregon snow and that is, well...interesting. They are reporting that we are supposed to have the worst winter in 10 years, I guess we got here just in time. The roads are full of ice so Bryan was off today and is off tomorrow too. He is hoping to get back to work by Wednesday to get a couple days in before the shop closes for 2 weeks at Christmas. The boys really wanted to make a snowman and we went out today all suited up with the thermometer holding steady at 19 degrees, but the snow just wasn't packing at all. Now it has been a while since I have made a snowman, and it could be the California girl that developed over the last 19 years in southern California, but I was dreadfully unsuccessful. Surprisingly enough, the boys weren't to disappointed, they must be used to me falling short. Praise God for that. I wanted to give at least one fun memory of their first snow here, but of course I didn't have a sled, nor do I know anywhere to take them yet so we improvised. A cardboard box on the driveway proved to be a good time for them and they had a blast just scooting down over and over again! I am so blessed that they can be grateful in most situations. They did ask if we could get a real sled one day just to try it....I'm sure we can manage that!

Speaking of grateful, we went to Target on Saturday with one reason to get the boys some new jammies. They wanted some new toasty warm ones with feet! Well, right away Connor found what he wanted with a sports pair. Brody had a little more difficult time since they usually don't make ones with sheep! He did find a pair of glow in the dark dinosaur ones that he really wanted, but they didn't have his size, not even at the other store in town. So, I convinced him to try the infant/toddler section for a 5T and off we went. Well, we ended up finding the cutest darn pair of sock monkey pajamas and he was beyond excited. The only thing was they were a 4T so we went to the dressing room. He has no room to grow, but they are supposed to be tight for the whole flame resistant thing right???? I couldn't say no with the cute little dance he was doing and when the whole end of the store heard him saying..."I LOVE these jammies mommy!" They couldn't wait to get home so I could wash them and get them all ready for bed! Just look at those smiles! Brody doesn't know it but he is getting a sock monkey toy that he has wanted for a long time for Christmas from Grandma Louise! He will be SO excited!

By the way, do you see those feet on Brody? Connor wanted his big, because he wanted room to grow since he is very optimistic in that area!

I see something SHINY!

My husband has a long standing joke with me and says that I "often see something shiny." This is his way of saying how easily I can get distracted and jump from one thing to the next. It makes me feel a little like Dory from Nemo, but I know he is a little bit right too. This morning I was so aware of it as I went to do a simple thing such as getting a box from my bedroom closet to prepare a package to take to the post office. I decided that this big post office trip really needed to happen today, so it kind of threw off our morning getting packages wrapped and cards signed and we were already off our routine. As I headed to the bedroom, here is what happened.....

1) I walked by the boys room noticing that their beds needed to be straightened. They do make their beds, but have added an extra blanket to their bed and it is harder for them, so I wanted them to look nice. Why? I have no idea....it is a feeling of accomplishment, something concrete that screams that I take care of the house! So, I started fixing them when I heard....

2) JAKE!!! Our dog's name being screamed at the top of both their lungs followed by tears could only mean one thing since they were finishing breakfast! Yup, Jake had proceeded to grab Brody's sausage patty right off the plate. So, then I had to kennel the dog, console my youngest child, and cook a new piece of sausage for him.

3) Then since I had already done the other dishes, I went to clean the pan a little to early and even burned my hand.

4) I took out the recycle trash which included the box from the new sausage.

5) Then I headed back down the hall and back to their room at last...While finishing the beds, I noticed that a few books and toys did not make it back on the shelves. Well, since they were giong to help wrap, I could help with that, right?

6) Then I was summoned back to the kitchen to peel a banana for Brody (and backwards I might add, from the end that no one peels from!)

7) While in the kitchen, I noticed the dryer stopped so I checked the laundry that I had going and after folding clothes from the dryer and moving the washed load into the dryer, I realized something...

I was going to blog about this and had to stop the insanity.

So, I got the box!

Can anyone say....Laura Numeroff??? Maybe her next big hit will be,

If You Give a Mom a Minute.

Bon Appetit!

I don't want to give to much history here, so let's just say for the record that I have not made the best decisions when it has come to meal times and getting Connor and Brody to try new things. I could go on and on with the valid reasons why I have made the decisions I have, but what really matters is that we decided to make some changes around here.

I have to say that tonight was a huge milestone for us in the Doeren household. I made dinner, put a little of everything I made on all 4 plates and proceeded through an entire meal without setting a timer, hearing a complaint, or threatening any number of things to change the situation to my favor. In reality, my little ears actually heard from my dear sweet youngest child these words I will never forget..."mommy I want more meatloaf." Let's just say that I have used this move to Oregon as a time of change and have with only a few exceptions been serving the kids what we eat. I have forced them to eat what I felt was a good representation of something new and not once have they asked for more. Once Connor did gag a little back into his plate and Brody told me that one of my meals was "humongous disgusting" but we have moved forward anyway! I have to say they have been handling it pretty good overall though. Tonight, poor Connor had a look on his face like it was one of the yuckiest things he has ever put in his mouth, but he ate all that I put on his plate, (drowned in A-1) without complaining! He even managed to say that he likes it as long it is soaked in the overpowering taste of A-1...I can handle that.

I have explained to the kids that the reason that I am really standing on "my high mother ground" on this point is not because they won't grow or be healthy, it is not an obedience issue, nor a power trip on my part. The real reason is the attitude of ungratefulness that I noticed when a plate full of food was put before them. Now, I know I am not even in the ranks of a "good cook" but some examples are real basic things like macaroni and cheese, chicken, turkey breast, and rice. I am still OK with them having things they don't like, we all do, but to not eat some of these real basic things became unacceptable for that reason. I actually used this line before, probably not the highlight of my mothering career...

"If you want to taste something really gross, I can serve up some dog poop, baked chicken is not gross!"

I was thinking of an apple tree I saw on a recent drive through the country. It was one huge apple tree in the yard of a small house, it wasn't part of an orchard, it was just there remarkably close to the road. I noticed that around the tree on the ground rotting away laid more apples than I could even count...just left there. At that moment, I realized how easy it is to take for granted what we have in abundance. I wish I could of taken a picture but on my return trip I was unable to locate it, so it will remain in my mind only.

I don't want them to take our full refrigerator, freezer, and pantry for granted anymore. I realized how blessed I am to be able to offer them all this food and so many choices. I know there are mothers around the world unable to meet this most basic physical need for their kids and I knew we had to do better.

I'm sure you are wondering what else was on the magic plate....Turkey Meatloaf, Baked Potato, Applesauce and Corn!

Enjoy your next meal!

Christmas Goals

I woke up this morning already disappointed in the way our Christmas season is going so far. Every year I have great plans and ideas but they never seem to leave the actual planning stage! I decided to write them down this year in the hopes that it will help me to be more accountable to myself and more focused.....

Play more Christmas music - Why don't I do this? I don't have any CD's but one that I don't really like, and I am not one to turn on the radio so I just forget. My poor boys don't know some of the best traditional music, but hopefully this year......

Participate in Advent - Now I know I am already late on this one, (learned that from Teri's blog) it really snuck up on me! My cousin Ann has sent me some information and I am going to do what I can. I did read yesterday some about it but don't have the wreath....that will not discourage me...late and unprepared but we will move forward!

Bake more treats - My friend Christy sent me this great e-mail with all these great recipes and I am determined to try some of them!

Pray for our friends and family - I have heard this great idea to collect all the Christmas cards and spend time as a family when you pray focusing on each one of them. I like this idea because they are cards from people I am real close to and pray for more often, but some of them are people I am only in touch with once or twice a year and what better gift can we offer them but to lift them up in prayer? This one really needs to happen this year!

Make ornaments & crafts - I have wanted Connor and Brody to make ornaments to give away for two years now, it hasn't happened either. Since I am not in my usual homeschool group, I need to come up with a craft or two this year on my own!

Watch a Christmas special with the boys- Last night we saw that Rudolph was playing and we didn't know it until it was to late. We want them to enjoy some of those cute shows we enjoyed as kids, but I always seem to miss them. If anyone catches them coming on, let me know OK???

Well, there was more, but in the hopes of actually making this a success, I need to stop here! I hope that no matter what we can all keep the focus of Christmas real and on Jesus. Some of this stuff is just for fun, I know that and hopefully as I work through my list, I will prioritize those things first that focus on the birth of our Savior!

Now I'm off to see what I can do! Happy planning to all of you!

I've been tagged!

Ok, my first game of blog tag and I feel so honored! The "rules" say that I have to list 6 things that make me happy and pass on to tag 6 other people! I can easily follow the first one, but I don't know how to tag others yet, so I will settle for the first half. If you are reading this, and have not done this round, please feel free to participate and I will enjoy the credit of tagging you, though not officially!

1) My husband and kids ( I would look really bad if I didn't list it, though I agree with Teri that it should be obvious, but there it is anyway!) Actually I really enjoy watching them together, it is a special bond they have and makes me smile.

2) Clean Sheet Day - My husband laughs at me, but I really enjoy this small but special thing. I would wash them every day if it wasn't such a pain to make the bed, and I wasn't worried about the enviornment, and I didn't have to pay for water!

3) Capturing the perfect picture on camera! I LOVE this!

4) Getting a great deal and saving money! - I feel like this is part of my job as a stay at home and feel good when I have spent wisely. Just today I found for $1 at a thrift store a book that I wanted for the boys that new is $19.99, but I had on a wish list for $14.99, $1 even better!

5) Feeling safe - I love being inside a warm car or house when the weather is cold and yucky outside. It is such a great feeling of security and safety for me! I get a lot of that here in Oregon!

6) Finishing a good book - I struggled between putting starting and finishing a good book, because sometimes it is kind of bitter sweet to get to the end, but still a happy time!

Thanks Teri, it was fun!

Have a blessed day everyone!