New Year, New Life!

I am SO glad 2011 is done. Good riddance. I am ready to start 2012 off fresh and new. I don't really believe in New Year's Resolutions, but my husband and I do take stock in what we have accomplished and what needs to be fixed. Among the things we have noticed is the need for us to get to a healthier state, a routine with structure that works for our family, and more down time for us adults.


Jeremy and I are DONE being unhealthy. We have decided that there is just no getting around the fact we have GOT to shed pounds and we have GOT to get out of the house to do it. Until tax return, we plan to go walking around the park on nice evenings and walking around our dying outlet mall in Olathe for the colder days. When we get our tax return, we are going to pay for a year membership at the Y so that we don't have to worry about any bills for a year. The kids have been begging to go back to the Y, even though it is a drive. I LOVE our Y and have missed it greatly myself. In addition to working out, we are going to start eating better meals for breakfasts and lunches. Dinners we already do pretty good on. I am eager to travel to Gardner twice a month to make fresh pasta with a friend. My mixer, her attachment, kids playing .... yes, totally see this as GREAT times by all. Our goals - Jeremy wants to lose 30lbs by the end of the year and I would like to lose 50lbs.

We need structure in this house! I am STRUGGLING with being an at home mom, a teacher, a wife, and still being me! I realized that our routine we had going prior to Chloe entering the picture has been washed away and I need to come up with something creative and new. So we have started holding Family Meetings every Sunday night. At our meetings, we discuss plans for the upcoming week, any concerns a child has, any activity the child knows about, and above all, showing that  we respect each family member. We started scripture reading & story time every evening at 7pm, unless we have a 4-H event. The kids enjoy reading from the New Testament and I am sure they will enjoy the story time where we pick a book and they read to me every evening. The big change we are making is adding a reward system with the use of marbles. I will post the system at the bottom of the blog for those who are wanting to know more in depth, but basically we have a large jar (Mason Qt jar) for accumulating acts. There is NO removal of marbles from this jar. Then we have 2 small jars (we used Stage 3 baby food) that is for their daily marbles. Here is where they start out with marbles and can gain and lose them. They will get a daily reward if earned and then they can accumulate points for a weekly reward. The kids are VERY excited about this to go into affect tomorrow. We will see how it goes. The entire system cost under $20 for supplies.

You will notice a HUGE change to my blog in appearance. I have separated my blogs out so that those who don't care to read about natural parenting, don't have to ... but ALSO because I am going to start reviewing products and doing giveaways. I have gotten into writing and am making a little money on the side but have decided that I enjoy it so much, I might as well get better with my blog and help other mamas and businesses out. At this time, my reviews will all be from small companies OR work-at-home parents. I have a few that will be starting soon. I will be testing a product and then giving away either a product or a discount from that company. I am very excited about this change. So with our new schedule, we are looking at me having time to myself and ability to play from 8pm to about midnight. Of course, that does depend on Chloe. Jeremy will be getting his downtime from the time he gets done with work until 4:30pm. I am very excited about the prospects. However, if you are following this blog, you will want to follow the other blogs to make sure you catch the updates.

Large Jar (quart mason jar)

To get marbles:

~ All chores done – 1 marble

~ Any time child responds to non-yelling commands – 1 marble

~ Resolving fights on your own – 2 marbles

~ Finishing school work by the end of the day – 2 marbles

~ Finishing school work early & correctly – 1 marble

~ Getting caught being good – 2 marbles

~ More than 4 marbles at the end of the jar each day – 1 marble

~ More than 8 marbles at the end of the jar each day – 2 marble

Personal Jar (Stage 3 baby food jar)

To get marbles:

~ All chores done without being informed – 1 marble

~ Doing an extra chore without being asked – 1 marble

~ Respond to commands without yelling each day – 2 marble

~ Finishing school work early & correctly – 1 marble

Lose marbles:

~ Simple disobedience(not doing what you’re told) – 1 marble

~ Physical attack on sibling – 1 marble

~ Leaving a mark(scratch or red mark) – 2 marbles

~ Drawing blood – 3 marbles

~ Urgent Care trip – 5 marbles

~ Meltdowns – 1 marble

~ Not finishing schoolwork by 4:30pm *exceptions for special days* – 1 marble

~ Name calling – 1 marble

~ Yelling or escalating a fight – 1 marble

~ Interrupting – 1 marble

~ Repeat questions – 1 marble

~ Bad words – 1 marble

~ Lying – 1 marble

~ Stealing – 2 marbles

~ End in thinking time –1 marble *extended time out is more marble*

~ Sent to extended thinking time *bedroom* - 2 marbles

Rewards –

Personal Jar

          ~ 4 marbles at the end of the day – 1 cookie

          ~ 8 marbles at the end of the day – 2 cookies

          ~ Each marble you have at the end of the day you get 1minute of Wii or Computer game time on Saturday – guaranteed! *5 marbles at endof the day = 5 minutes*

Large Jar

          ~ First time Filled *FUN* – movie day, park day, other free events

          ~ Second time Filled *PARTY* – movie theater, pizza party,Monkey Bizness, or other paid events