Or, why my kids think I don’t know anything!


Ever ask yourself, “Why don’t my kids listen to me?” Or “Why don’t they take my advice?” Here’s one idea. It’s a trick question when they ask “Mom, do you know
about such and such?”  When they were young I would say “No, or, I didn’t know that!” I thought I was encouraging their curiosity.  But, with the onset of the teen years I finally realized that by continuing to use that approach they began to think I didn’t know anything!  Which may or may not be correct but at least give me the benefit of the doubt.  I had a wise friend tell me I should say “Yes, I do know about such and such.  What do you know about it?”  I am beginning to use this approach hopefully they will begin to see I do know a little something. 
I just hope the questions don’t get harder or trickier!!!

Today we held our second annual Freedom Challenge.  We all have to make something that represents freedom or America.  Last year Sam won with his Fire Cracker glasses.  This year Jay stole the show with his American Turkey Foot.  Jay told the story that Benjamin Franklin wanted to have the turkey as the national symbol not the bald eagle.  Jay used a turkey foot and tied red, white and blue thread on it.  He won hands down. Every year I am surprised with my family's creativity.  As George S. Patton said "Never tell people how to do things.  Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."

The kids spent the day with our wonderful friend Belinda.  They got to have an art lesson and made homemade dog biscuits for Billy. The biscuits turned out great and Sam declared they “tasted good too!”  You can’t argue with a  recommendation like that!
Dog Biscuits
1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour
2 Tbs. of flaxseed oil
¼ cup of wheat germ
½ cup of beef stock
¼ cup of brewer’s yeast
1 tsp. of salt
1 clove of garlic minced Preheat oven to 400.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Turn
off oven and leave biscuits for 1 ½ hours to dry out.
From the Mitford Series by Jan Karon

I have been helping the kids clean out their rooms, closets and school clothes.  I struggle with the fact the kids wear the same clothes over and over.    I decided my strategy is to not return their shirts once they have been washed.  I put them up in my closet and will return them when "other/new" shirts are worn.  I decided to spring this on the triplets.  Nick was the one who noticed.  He said “Mama, I haven’t gotten any clean shirts from the laundry!”  I told him “I was giving him the opportunity to wear some new shirts.”   Let’s see where this opportunity takes us.
Is there anyone out there willing to share laundry opportunities or ideas?
I’d love to hear from you.

Colorado Wilderness Adventure  2013
1-Husband
3-Eleven Year Olds
1-8 week old puppy
14 hours in the truck (one way!)
Pray for me!!!
We leave early Sunday morning for our property in Colorado. We have a cabin we just don't have water or electricity!!! Each summer we go to “the ranch”.  (That’s what we call our  property. I know it's a stretch!!!)   The kids aren’t allowed to bring toys or electronics.  We play with rocks, sticks and pine cones!!!  We play a mean game of pine cone baseball.  We can bring board games, art supplies, school workbooks and books.  It’s a time for slowing down, enjoying  nature and naps!!!  I’ll write more  when we get back.  

I imagined there would be scheduling issues as the triplets got bigger but I never imagined we’d have to schedule which child sits in the front seat, showers first, whose week it is to clean the bathroom and now who takes care of the puppy.  
Having a schedule for most things eliminates a lot of drama and my having to remember who did what last. For the car, we schedule who sits in the front seat. 
Mondays and Thursdays it’s Nick, Tuesdays and Fridays it’s Hannah, Wednesday and Saturday it’s Sam. Sunday it’s Mama. 
We schedule who takes a shower first.  We only have two bathrooms.  Each month two kids get to go first, one in our shower and one in theirs.  It goes like this Nick and Hannah go first one month, then Hannah and Sam go first the next month, then Sam and Nick go first the next month.  This schedule is posted on our activities calendar. I leave nothing  to memory.
Our bathroom schedule is called “person of the week”.  Weekly one child gets to use the bathroom first; they are also responsible for cleaning the bathroom.  They keep the wastebasket emptied and towels hung up and clean the bathroom.  Person of the week also  replenishes the toilet paper and takes the dirty clothes to the laundry
room.  (This sounds really good on paper.  It tends to lose something in implementation.)  The monthly schedule is on the back of the bathroom door.  I have had to implemented a fine schedule; if I go into their bathroom and find it unkempt I charge the person of the week $2.00 and everyone else $1.00.  This helps keep everyone mindful of the need to help keep the bathroom clean.  
Our latest schedule is the new puppy.  Who feeds him and who cleans up after him. 
I decided it was easiest just to use the same schedule as the car.
I know many families have scheduling issues trying to be in two or three places at once.  So far we haven’t had to deal with that.  We’re just trying to keep clean and get
to where were going hopefully on time.  I’m sure there will be more schedules to come.   Anyone else out there having to schedule who gets to breathe first?

The kids have been be begging for a dog.  They decided on a German
Sheppard.  We found a breeder who had 6 male puppies. Jay said we would go
and "look"  at them today.  I'm thinking yeah right, we're bringing
home a puppy.  You can't just look at them and leave.  We picked out
"Billy" and he now one of us.  We decided that the schedule for taking care
of Billy would be the same as we use for the kids riding in the front
seat.  Nick has Mondays and Thursdays, Hannah has Tuesdays and Thursdays,
Sam has Wednesdays and Saturday, and "Papa" has Sunday!  We'll see how long
it takes before Mama has everyday!!! Anyone wanna place some bets?

We started out this morning at 6:30 a.m.  It was just getting light out so we carried flashlights.  The first thing we notices were the smells of the cars, the next thing
was all the litter.  We decided on our way home we would pick up trash.  It took us fifty minutes.  We had breakfast at Braum's. Um  um good!!!

This afternoon we donned gloves and armed with plastic bags we headed home, after stopping a Braum’s for an ice cream.  We finally had to stop picking up trash about two thirds of the way home.  We picked up five plastic bags full of trash.  I was proud of the triplets they worked hard and wanted to do more.   

Earth Day 2013 Challenge
Tomorrow is Earth Day!  We challenge everyone to do something good for the earth.  Our goal is to walk to and from school.  It’s about 2 miles one way.  We are getting up early and planning to have breakfast at Braum’s, which is next to the school.  How convenient!!!  We may have to hit Braum’s both ways.  Stay tuned to hear our success story.
Let us hear your stories.