Good Nite Moon

My children have always been early risers.  And I have always been one that likes to sleep in past 9am (well at least I used to be like this).   Anyway, almost 2 months ago I just couldn't put up with the fact that my kids were wide awake at 5am (sometimes 4:30am) and ready for the day.  4:30 and 5am is just far too early for me and them.  By 10am everyone was exhausted, included me.

I did some research and found an incredible clock for the kids...well it's not really a clock for them but it for us.  It's a moon by night and sun by day.  You set the time when the moon comes on (come on at 6pm, a hour before we put the kids to bed) and then it switches to the sun at 7am.   It has worked wonders!

Now the kids actually sleep in til 6am or later, and most of the time they play quietly until 6:50 or 7am.  When the sun "comes up" at 7am, Saray shouts "Momma, the sun is up!"  And that is when the day begins.  But if the moon is blue, and if the kids happen to wake in the middle of the night and absolutely need to be checked on (like someone is screaming bloody-murder, etc), we make sure we point to the blue moon and generally they quiet back down pretty quickly.  We try our best, especially now, to refrain from talking and eye contact (tip from "Healthy Sleeping Habit, Happy Child"). 

Anyway, it's a great tool, especially for kids that don't have a real idea on how time works and how to tell time when looking at a digital clock.  Plus, I get at least 4 to 5 days a week where I have at least 30-50 minutes to myself in the morning to have some time with God.   Yeah, so I don't get to sleep in anymore, but I do like the fact that I get to spend some time in the Word and with God, and I am not having to start my running after kids at 4:30 or 5am anymore.  There truly is a time for everything...including sleep and running after the little ones. 

(This clock may look big, but it's hardly bigger then a softball.)
We have it hanging on the wall so both kids can see it.  The only con about the "Good Nite Lite" is that it plugs into an outlet like any other night light, it doesn't have a normal cord like you would find on a lamp.  So we had to do a little "fixin'" to make it work for the twins' room.

Update 2/17/2011:  I got this through Amazon, type in 'Good Nite Lite' and it will take you to the right place.  It is a little spendy (close to $40), but my sanity was worth it...is yours?

Christmas 101

Do you find yourself rushing the entire month of December?  Do you desperately want to rest, relax and enjoy friends and family without feeling the need to spend those last moments at the store buying that perfect gift?

Here are some tips on how I get things done (Thanks Mom for teaching me)..try them all or just a few.  You might find yourself enjoy the Christmas season without ALL that rushing

By the way, you have a little over 11 months to start planning for NEXT Christmas.

Christmas tip #1: Start saving $$ every month for your Christmas gifts. Set a budget on your spending. You don't need to max out your credit cards or empty your bank account for Christmas.

Christmas tip #2:  It's okay to hit those after Christmas sales NOW!  If you use wrapping paper/gift bags, name tags, bows, Christmas lights, etc, you can get them at 50% off starting the day after Christmas. You'll save bundles, if you need bundles. Oh and if you hit the stores early enough on the 26th you can get some good candy for 50% off too (like M&Ms).  But remember, to stick to your budget.

Christmas tip #3: If you have a big family and you usually buy gifts for all the siblings & sibling-in-law, try this instead...draw names.  Nieces and Nephews can draw names too. You'll save a ton!  You could also set a theme, example: board games.  Or you can set a theme like it has to be second-hand (from a garage sale or something - you can get some absolutely fantastic deals at garage sales).  Also, set a price limit, that way you won't feel bad if your brother-in-law spent a $150 on you and you only spent $20 for your sister-in-law.  Not everyone has hundreds of dollars laying around.  

Christmas tip #4: Start your Christmas shopping list now.  Oh, and start shopping now (hitting those after Christmas deals, etc).  If you have a place to store (even if it's under your bed, or in a closet), you CAN start planning ahead.  There's really no need to be shopping on Christmas Eve, especially if you plan ahead.  By the way, it makes it way more enjoyable if you shop a little here and little there, even if it's in the middle of February or July.  Again, be mindful of your Christmas budget (we use Crown Financial's Mvelopes budgeting program).

Christmas tip #5: Change your thinking.  Yes, your thinking.  We always think in the now; we're a microwave generation.  It's time to think about 11 months from NOW.   It's time to think Christmas 2011.  Plan a little or plan a lot, either way, it will help when Christmas 2011 comes knocking at your door.

There you have it.  There are 5 helpful tips for planning for a more planned out Christmas for 2011.  Keep an eye out for more Christmas tips.  

Christmas Baking with Kids

I tell you what, this Christmas season has been the best, by far.  The twins love the lights, decorations, Christmas tree, presents under the tree (they love shaking them) Christmas music that plays non-stop in the house and van, and the stories I tell about Jesus' birthday, oh and don't forget all the baking!

Joshua goes nuts when we talk about mixing; he knows exactly where we keep the two mixers.  Saray loves it too, she always asked for Daddy or Mommy to make it go "faster!"  They are learning about flour, baking powder, sugar and the other ingredients that may end up in the mix of things.

Well this Christmas season Jer, the kids and I have been baking up a storm around here.  I have lost count of how many different kinds of cookies/goodies we have made.  I can tell you that we have tried 6 new recipes so far, and that does NOT include the normal Christmas baking list. 

What do we do with all those cookies/goodies?  We give them all away, and of course keep a few for ourselves to enjoy as well, but for the most part they go to friends, family and anyone else that God lays on our hearts, like the mail-man, or a person living alone, etc.  It's been a tradition of ours since that first Christmas together.  We absolutely love all the baking and the giving.  We hope our kids will learn to love to bake, give and that they will carry the tradition when they grow up and move on with life.

A few favorites of mine:  Brazil Jubilees (brazil nuts, coffee and hershey kiss on top), Double Chocolate Biscotti (which I have yet to make...better get in it!), Peanut Butter Blossoms, Oreo Balls (a bag of crushed oreos, package of cream cheese rolled into balls and dipped in melted milk chocolate), Peanut Butter Balls a.k.a. Buckeyes (peanut butter, rice krispies, etc, dipped in milk chocolate), Pretzel Rolo Delight (small square or round pretzel, rolo and & m&m), Ritz Peanut Butter Sandwich dipped in chocolate (with add marshmallow creme)....that's just a few!

Here are a few pictures of the twins dipping pretzel sticks (they ended up just eating them).  They also got to enjoy the leftover chocolate from the Ritz Peanut Butter Sandwiches.  THEY LOVED IT!  Grayson on the other hand, did not get any sweets, but he did get sit by and watch the twins make a large mess for Mommy to clean up.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.  Give a little, or a lot, this Christmas!  Jesus is the Reason for EVERY Season.

1 Extreme 2 the Next (in faces that is)

Most of the time this kid is happy...but this one time, I just happened to catch the "sad to happy" transition.  By the way, Merry Christmas!

The Lack of Hair

For being a family of five we sure are short on hair around here.  I personally choose to have short hair due to have that it's easy and manageable.  Josh has short hair cause his hair is still extremely thin, and it's easier.  Gray has short hair cause his hair is finally growing back in.  Jer keeps his hair short cause he is losing his hair, not by his choice.
Saray on the other hand could have long hair but she twirls, pulls and sometimes eats her hair after it gets beyond the 3/4 inch clipper mark.  This time last year we had to clip her hair due to the fact that she had a large bald spot on the side of her head from twirling and pulling it out.
A year later we are still dealing with this issue.  We just clipped her hair again (oh and she HATES getting her hair cut...you think she'd learn...), shorter than Joshua's, due to the fact that she was twirling, pulling and sometimes eating her hair.
It makes me so sad as I would love for her to have longer hair so she could wear hair clips or pig-tails.  But nope, for now I get to wait this out and pray that she outgrows this silly and annoying habit; for now I will deal with the comments about my daughter having short hair and the fact she is often mistaken for a being a boy, regardless of what she wears.

Please, Saray, stop twirling, pulling and eating your hair, you silly girl.

Bath Time, Bed Time and Everything Else in Between

Most of my days are consumed with bath time, bed time and everything else that is related to my kids.   I run from one thing to the next, or from one request to another, I hardly have time to breathe, and that is what's it's like when my kids are HEALTHY!  Triple the work when everyone is sick. 

From the moment my kids rise I am on the go, period.  There's always something to do, or someone to care for.  There are baths to be drawn, books to read, fights to referee, clothes to be washed, folded and put back in drawers before the laundry bin is tipped over or little hands get a hold and undo the work that has been done, boo-boos to be kissed, kids to hug and kiss....and that is just the tip of the iceberg!   

A mother truly does have to be willing to give and not expect to receive anything in return.  Oh and you must learn to juggle about 10 things at one time, especially when it comes down to meal time.  All of a sudden my kids start fussing and I haven't even thought about dinner, which then leads to a mad dash to the kitchen to prepare a meal for little mouths.  At that very moment everything puts a demand on me: the oven is beeping, the stove top is trying to burn whatever is on the burner, the kids are now screaming and fighting, Grayson is crying cause he's hungry too, and my own tummy is growling, oh then the phone rings. While my whole little world is making loud requests and demands, I am tripping over toys that have found their way to my kitchen (in my own little perfect world, toys would not be allowed in the kitchen, period, especially those with wheels or little balls.) 

Right then and there with all the loud noise and all those iron rods in the fire, I stop, and just breathe in the strength and grace of the Lord.  In the midst of the craziness I am reminded that I am a servant of the Most High GOD and I am doing all this work onto HIM alone.  Wow, am I ever so thankful for the quiet whispers from God.   I am reminded also of the days where I longed for days like these, well maybe not EXACTLY, but I did long for the sound of pitter-patter from little feet running throughout the house and for the little ones to raise and help fill my days. 

Lord, keep that memory of that longing at the forefront of my mind, especially when I am being pulled in several different directions at once and tripping over toys that I just want to throw away that very moment.  What an honor it is to be servant of the Most High God and also to raise little people into men and women of God.  Thank you for your constant strength and grace in my life.  You have given me the greatest, and most challenging job out there, and I realize day in and day out that I cannot do this by myself.   I am so blessed to be called Mom and Servant of God. 

Grayson - 5 months old

Grayson has become such a squealer/screamer.  He squeals whenever he is happy, excited, or being tickled.  I love it!  It makes me laugh every time I hear him squeal.

He is really outgrowing the "little baby" stage and is headed full swing into "baby, headed to toddler" stage.  He is always wiggling when being held, like he's saying, "Let me down, I want to explore my world."  Grayson constantly wants to engage with Joshua and Saray...I don't blame him!  The twins are always doing something and to him it looks like a ton of fun.

What a good little sleeper!   Gray is sleeping from 7pm til 5am, wakes for a quick feeding then is back down til 7 or 7:30am. He takes one two-hour nap every day, and another 1.5 hour nap, along with a 45 minute nap at around 4:30 or 5pm.
The books "Healthy Sleeping Habits, Happy Child" and "Becoming Baby Wise" are packed full of helpful knowledge getting your babies (toddlers, and older) to nap and sleep.   I have learned so much from reading, and re-reading these two books, like just how important it is for infants to get good naps and what sleep actually does for their brains.  And also how to get your kid to sleep through the night, earlier than a year old.  I believe that is why to this day I have 3 good nappers, and night sleepers.   I am a strong believer in sleep training...and no I am not just "lucky", I am a mommy that is willing to train my children, even in the area of sleep.


We just started introducing solids with Grayson a few weeks ago; we've been taking it extremely slow, mostly due to the fact that solid feeding 3 times a day, even one time a day, is added work to my already hectic schedule.  But at the same time, I realize he is ready, there has been no forcing on my part.  So far we have done avocado (mixed with breast milk to thin it a bit), oatmeal, and banana in a teether feeder (which is LOVES).    He so enjoys eating; hopefully that will continue into the toddler years...maybe then I will actually have at least one really good eater!

We've been enjoying some fantastic Autumn days; we've been going to the park on a regular basis, and without coats and hats I might add, and it's Nov 3rd!  The kids (and Jer and I) are loving the extra time outside, especially since we know Winter is right around the corner.

Enjoy this holiday season!
 

Late Autumn day at the park

Loves books already

 

What a great smile!

He loves his Daddy

He loves being able to see what's going on around him...

Funny face.

So happy!

Toes, delicious!

Grayson is generally a happy baby, but this moment he had had enough.

He loves being carried in the Beco front carrier.