Parenting Classes.

Our new ward has a parenting class once a month, today was my first time going and it was awesome.  They ask a different sister to teach each month.

Today we got this handout with great reminders.

1. Be consistent

2. Keep it simple

3. Stay Positive {avoid saying no}

4. Don't reason with a child during an escalation cycle

Although Gregg and I are nowhere near perfect parents {in fact we feel like we have been horrible parents this summer with all the building stuff going on} we have always tried to do these things.

I think number one is especially important when it come to bed time.  Kids do well with consistency - it's just sometimes hard to keep to it as parents.  I feel like when I am more consistent with my kids then there is less threatening {which I try not to do anyway - but sometimes when you are not consistent or you start to try to reason with an "emotional drunk" child then the threats start to come out}.

Gregg is really good at number three and not saying "no" just because it is inconvenient for us.  If you stop and think about it a lot of the times we say "no" as parents its because our kids want to do something that might require us to clean up after them or might not be exactly what we were 'planning' for the day {think play dough, using scissors, getting out a game or stopping at the park}.  Really these things normally aren't going to mess up some big 'schedule' we might have for the day, but how often do you say "no" because we don't want to be inconvenienced?  It's something to think about!

Number four is more my strength - we call it being "emotionally drunk".  That is when I turn into a broken record and don't give in or even try to communicate {or reason} with my child.  If you start to try to reason with a child in an emotionally drunk state then they have just won by sucking you into their problem {or tantrum or what ever it is} and you to become emotionally drunk with them.  And you are both in an escalation pattern.

House Update.

The wood floors in the house were installed over the weekend.  The main level is almost all wood floors with a little wood upstairs between the kids bedrooms and the guest master bedroom.  They are a 9 1/2" European white oak. 

We spent a big part of the day cleaning the floors and then covering them.
I gave Truman a roll of tape and put him to work covering the floors by the front door, he did a great job and was entertained for hours.

We also had our cabinets installed and I am thrilled with how they look!

Pictured above is the kitchen.  I did a custom white kitchen with a dark island.  I thought for sure I knew what white I wanted to do but when my cabinet guy made a sample door for me it looked to creamy.  I took that sample everywhere with me to see it in all different lights - I finally decided it wasn't the right white.    I also wanted to make sure I didn't get to bright of a white - then my cabinets would have looked like plastic melamine.  We ended up naming this white "Truman White" and I love it.  {The other white was called "Camille White" and I think we might end up using it in my parents house}.

We knew we wanted a dark island for two main reasons, first to add some contrast and second because the island takes a beating {with little kids sitting up to it in bar stools} so we wanted a color that was easy to touch up.  This is a dark brown-gray with an almost black rub over it.  

 Master bathroom {Gregg's vanity} - I am glad he let me do a white bathroom!

 Here is the master shower all tiled and filled with construction stuff {which kind of makes me crazy}

 We have the best finish carpenter - he is doing all the base and case, framing out the windows and doors and all the casings that lead into different areas of the house {like around the piano room}.  He also built my stair case and all my closet systems.

Office cabinets.

This is a hospitality bar down stairs in the family room.

The exterior was also painted last week.  We have had so much rain {which is so unusual for this time of year} that almost nothing happened on the exterior of the house for 10 days.

The color turned out darker then I was picturing.  I am sure it will grow on me.  They also started painting the trim around the windows {see the windows on the far left} but the color looked purple to me and although purple is my favorite color I was trying to match the bronze windows!  I lost a TON of sleep over the purple looking trim color.  After running around ALL day Saturday trying out new paint colors I finally decided I wanted the color changed - I felt really bad making the guys redo their work. 

Fall football weather.

We had a picnic at the Valais park today and then the kids threw the football with Gregg.

Elder Quinn.

My youngest brother McKay is serving in the Mexico City South mission.  Today he was called as the mission financial secretary. 

You can follow his mission blog HERE.

Baby Nelson.

Today my sisters family welcomed baby Nelson into the world.

9 pounds 1 ounce 20 inches long

I was trying to turn him toward the sunlight when he rolled over and his nose hit the plexiglass - kind of funny.  Poor kid, I had to take a picture first.

He is such a chunk which is so unusually for my sister who usually has relatively small babies {and he was three weeks early}.

Look at that "furry" back!

Here is the rest of the family meeting him.

The kids are so excited to have a baby at home.

#6!

Congratulations Tiff and Aaron.

Fall Soccer.

 It's time for fall soccer and we are super excited.

 The first goal of the season!

He looked over at me with this face!

 Congratulations from dad coach!

 The concentration - I love it.

 Another goal and another congratulations.

 

 Truman's side-line fans!  

Actually, Bodie thinks he is part of the team.

 This was the best side-line throw-in ever, he threw it to himself!

We were missing two kids today so the three boys had to play the entire game, no substitutes and they did great.

Four goals at the first game - its going to be a good season.

School.

Today was the first day of school for Truman and Bodie.

Truman told Bodie "this is how you have to pose for school pictures".

I don't know where he came up with that - but I had to take pictures so we could remember!

 Bodie goes to school one morning a week for two hours.

I can't believe I am sending my two-year old to school - but Bodie needs it.  He needs something special that is his own.  I was telling my mom it's like having a play date once a week, but I don't have to worry about scheduling the play date.  In school they play for the first 20 minutes then they do an art project, have singing time, a snack and then story time.

 Here he is doing "the school pose"

And Truman doing the school pose.

Truman is in a pre-kindergarten program where he goes three mornings a week for two and half hours.  He loves school and is so excited to go again this year.

 Bodie learning to put his name tag on his little cubby and put his backpack away.

 

 He loved his first day and was so happy to tell us all about it when we picked him up.

He feels so big!