Life's joy

A few snippets of activities that make me smile.

The other day we were headed to a park.  Jackson ran ahead while I chatted with my visiting teachers.  I see him frantically pull off his shoes, nearly toppling over as he tugged off his socks, then to my alarm, he pulled his shorts down, stopped for a second and then, just as quickly, pulled them back up, yelled "oops!  I forgot!" and ran off to play.  I hate when I forget when I should pull my pants down :)

Hiking a 'mountain' near our place in Arizona

When in conversation, anytime there is laughing going on, Hallie loves to join.  It is so precious that we can get her to laugh and giggle, just by laughing ourselves.

Lately, when we 'discipline' Jackson asking him to go to time-out or to his room, he yells, "NEVER!!!"  It used to be, "Don't ever say that again!!"  It is hard not to laugh at these slightly inappropriate uses of the phrases, but then I think about our future of dealing with Jackson as a teenager . . . . I'm scared!

Hallie loves to put bows in her hair and get dressed and pick out her clothes.  If her bows ever fall out, she will pick it up and bring it to me (definitely a bow-saver at the park).  She will also bring her shoes to me if they fall off.  She understands where everything should go on the body and 'tries' to put it on.

Jackson is such a fun, silly boy, but he is getting in trouble in Primary.  It breaks my heart because he is a good boy at heart.  He is smart and funny.  He is the only one who can said a full prayer unassisted, but then he gets silly with friends (falling off chairs, touching people, screaming the songs, etc) and won't listen to and/or respond to authority or rules, etc.  I don't know how to help him.  Any advice?

Hallie has been talking up a storm.  We can't understand a single word, but the babblings are fun to listen to.  I love that her expressions are just like we are engaged in a seriously/funny/dramatic conversation, but we have no idea what she is saying.

Who on earth decided it was ok to teach 3 year olds about AGENCY?!?!  Seriously, there are a million other principles of the gospel that should be mastered before that!!  Since a freedom of choice lesson, Jackson keeps saying he wants to make his own choices and gets mad at us if we don't let him. Tonight for FHE we are learning about consequences LINKED to choices.  Let's hope it helps.

Hallie signs milk, all done and please.  She can fold her arms, wash her hair, 'wipe her bum' (in updog pose) and clap.  One day she found a package of candy on the floor (it was Vday . . .we normally don't store candy on the floor) and she brought it to me and with perfect form and intense control she signed, 'more' it was the only time I've ever seen her sign it.  She must have really wanted it! (she didn't get it)

We started a 'chore chart' for Jackson (he has done chores before this, but I wanted a more specific motivating and fun chart).  He has file cards with photos of the chores on it.  I pick one of 4 rewards (candy, money, computer time, TV time) and 5 chore cards for him.

(p.s.  I LOVE that we have a small 'Jackson-size' vacuum.  I think I will always have a small one, just so the little ones can help.  In our dining room there is carpet so we vacuum 3 times a day.  Jackson is REALLY good at it!)
 Jackson picks which 3 chores (of the 5 I choose) he wants to do and then puts each card in the card holder until he reaches the reward (found these old library card envelopes at a garage sale ).

It took me a long time to come up with something that would work for Jackson because he is only motivated by immediate rewards (saving up for something is very difficult for him, but I am hoping the money reward will help him see the harvest of his labors) and he gets bored easily of common motivators.  So the choices really help to make the reward his, the pictures help him say on task, he LOVES putting the card into the envelope when he is finished, and then loves dancing with the reward popcycle stick once he earns it.   Everyday we have 2-3 times where he does 3 chores to earn the reward.

  Also, this keeps him working at the same time I am.  I started a new 'chore' system for myself and it is seriously awesome (and difficult) but awesome because my house stays so much cleaner and I still have time for me and kids too!!  If you are interested I'll share my new found system.   (only for those who are not naturally clean on their own - Alissa- I'm talking to you!)



Dave and I had a bubble blowing contest the other day.  I'm pretty sure it is the first time I've beat him at anything physical (bubble blowing is definitely physical right?) Gotta brag a little :)