Creative cheap ways to date your spouse, leaving the kids at home.
You may have time to get away but how to afford a night on the town and someone to watch your kids? A good friend suggested that our families start a babysitting exchange. It has worked out great. They watch our son for a night and then we exchange and watch their son for a night. So this takes care of the kids, now on to the next part, what to do that is fun and reasonably priced. Here is an idea that my husband and I used recently.
When doing our grocery shopping at Costco we periodically buy movie tickets. They are cheaper then paying at the box office and don't have any limitations on when you can use them. When you get up the counter to purchase your tickets it feels like they are free because no cash is exchanged. Rubios fish taco's are on the dinner menu, two are less then five dollars total and very filling. The next stop is Walmart to buy one dollar movie snacks and then on to the theater. Parkway Plaza is the place to find all of these places in one location.
It was a great night out and very reasonably priced. Looking forward to many more fun nights out with my hubby.
Let me know of other creative date nights that you have invented.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Quotes of the Day
Conrad Quotables
San Diego got a good amount of rain this last week and that made for some fun conversations and questions from my inquisitive little boy. Enjoy and hope you all have a great Monday.
Sitting looking out the window at the rain, Conrad looks at me. “Why looking at it?” he says. Slightly confused I inquired with, “why am I looking at the rain?” He said “um, ya.” (it is hard to type in the attitude in his voice with this response but trust me, it was there) “Because I want to!” Was my response. Geeze!
As the rain continued, Conrad was standing out on the patio looking at the sky. “Where does the rain come from Mom?” “ From the clouds, Conrad. The clouds fill up with water and then they start to overflow making rain.” (After this bit of dialogue I attempted to make a rainy day craft with him to better demonstrate where rain came from but my little guy had no patience for that).
Last but certainly not least... “Turn it off Mom, turn it off!” “What, Conrad?” “Turn the rain off Mom” Even with all of our Bible stories and conversation about God, Conrad still thinks that I am the all powerful one.
What kind of activities do you enjoy doing on rainy days. Or for those that have to go out in the rain and work, what did you wish you could do on a rainy afternoon?
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Help
How to Nurture the Helpful Spirit
My son loves to help. Help do the dishes. Help sweep the parking lot (together we keep our apartment complex clean). Help clean the laundry room. Help make the bed. Help cook breakfast. It is all of these helpful events that make my to do list not get completed in a timely manner, or at all for that matter. The dishes turns into washing the floor with all the water that gets displaced, I guess that checks one thing of the list. Sweeping the parking lot means that I end up sweeping together all of my piles twice as my little 'helper' comes behind and does his own sweeping. Cleaning the laundry room entails wiping off shoe prints from on top of the machines, since climbing to the top of them is what he finds to be the most helpful. Cooking breakfast means uncooked oatmeal on the counter as he tries to pour it into the pot.
I love the spirit behind the actions and strive to find a way to not get frustrated with his helpful acts. When completing daily chores that I know my son enjoys being involved in I try to not have a time schedule in mind. It is only when I need to get things done quickly, or in some cases actually get things clean, that I find myself getting testy with my helper. I get creative with the chore and find a way that Conrad can truly be helpful. I have taught him how to hold the dustpan as I sweep up my piles, he gets to start the dishwasher once it is full, and, well, making the bed always seems to turn into a pillow fight. When it comes to cooking I have found that a butter knife is the best way to allow him to cut up the veggies for dinner.
Praise seems to be the key. I guide him through a task with encouragement, pointing out and explanation how to do a job correctly and thanking him for his help. Don't get to caught up with my angelic little helper, he has learned the hard way that some things just have to get done. As he has grown, and we continue to put off potty training, it is Conrad's responsibility to throw away his dirty diapers. This is a task that he does not enjoy but has learned to do when asked. Picking up the toys in his room is another job that is not on the top of his fun list but again, Conrad knows to obey when asked.
Coming alongside your kids and showing them through example is another way that I have found teaches good work skills. I remember growing up and being involved in delivering newspapers through neighborhoods, working at a food co-op and helping watch day care kids. All of these jobs were done alongside my parents and siblings and I have no sense that they were chores. They were made fun with my parents creativity. I also sensed that we had to do these things because we were part of the family.
I continue to work on passing that same work ethic onto my son and nurturing his helpful spirit so that he grows into a man that is helpful to others and obeys the calling of God in his life.
My son loves to help. Help do the dishes. Help sweep the parking lot (together we keep our apartment complex clean). Help clean the laundry room. Help make the bed. Help cook breakfast. It is all of these helpful events that make my to do list not get completed in a timely manner, or at all for that matter. The dishes turns into washing the floor with all the water that gets displaced, I guess that checks one thing of the list. Sweeping the parking lot means that I end up sweeping together all of my piles twice as my little 'helper' comes behind and does his own sweeping. Cleaning the laundry room entails wiping off shoe prints from on top of the machines, since climbing to the top of them is what he finds to be the most helpful. Cooking breakfast means uncooked oatmeal on the counter as he tries to pour it into the pot.
I love the spirit behind the actions and strive to find a way to not get frustrated with his helpful acts. When completing daily chores that I know my son enjoys being involved in I try to not have a time schedule in mind. It is only when I need to get things done quickly, or in some cases actually get things clean, that I find myself getting testy with my helper. I get creative with the chore and find a way that Conrad can truly be helpful. I have taught him how to hold the dustpan as I sweep up my piles, he gets to start the dishwasher once it is full, and, well, making the bed always seems to turn into a pillow fight. When it comes to cooking I have found that a butter knife is the best way to allow him to cut up the veggies for dinner.
Praise seems to be the key. I guide him through a task with encouragement, pointing out and explanation how to do a job correctly and thanking him for his help. Don't get to caught up with my angelic little helper, he has learned the hard way that some things just have to get done. As he has grown, and we continue to put off potty training, it is Conrad's responsibility to throw away his dirty diapers. This is a task that he does not enjoy but has learned to do when asked. Picking up the toys in his room is another job that is not on the top of his fun list but again, Conrad knows to obey when asked.
Coming alongside your kids and showing them through example is another way that I have found teaches good work skills. I remember growing up and being involved in delivering newspapers through neighborhoods, working at a food co-op and helping watch day care kids. All of these jobs were done alongside my parents and siblings and I have no sense that they were chores. They were made fun with my parents creativity. I also sensed that we had to do these things because we were part of the family.
I continue to work on passing that same work ethic onto my son and nurturing his helpful spirit so that he grows into a man that is helpful to others and obeys the calling of God in his life.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Quotes of the Day
To start of your week on a funny note here are Conrad's most recent quotables.
We were leaving the parking structure at the mall and, being on the second story, we had to drive down the ramp. From the back seat I hear my son recommending that I drive down the ramp carefully. The exact quote "drive careful Mom!".
Along that same vein we were heading out as a family and got to a busy intersection. My husband was driving and, not wanting to get stuck in the middle of the intersection, quickly stops. Conrad, from the back seat, reprimands him to "drive careful Dad!". Kevin quickly claims that he was driving careful. Conrad responds with "no drive careful". Kevin then explains to Conrad what was happening and why he had so quickly stopped. Conrad replies with "sorry Dad, sorry Dad".
Conrad, being an only child, enjoys having my full attention most of the time and follows me around the house throughout the day. As I am getting ready in the bathroom most mornings Conrad is right there playing with something, making me sing happy birthday to him or just standing on the bathroom counter having me save him. It is a game that he came up with. He will stand on the counter, on the bed or the couch and yell out, "falling Mom, save me!". He is never really falling but I dutifully exclaim great alarm and then quickly grab him off of the precipice and save him. No matter what mood I am in or how hurried I am in getting ready for the day I always save him, hopefully giving him the reassurance that I will try and be there to catch him when he falls. Also a good reminder during this game is the other person who saves us. It has been a great way to talk about Jesus and how He saved us.
Have a good Monday everyone.
We were leaving the parking structure at the mall and, being on the second story, we had to drive down the ramp. From the back seat I hear my son recommending that I drive down the ramp carefully. The exact quote "drive careful Mom!".
Along that same vein we were heading out as a family and got to a busy intersection. My husband was driving and, not wanting to get stuck in the middle of the intersection, quickly stops. Conrad, from the back seat, reprimands him to "drive careful Dad!". Kevin quickly claims that he was driving careful. Conrad responds with "no drive careful". Kevin then explains to Conrad what was happening and why he had so quickly stopped. Conrad replies with "sorry Dad, sorry Dad".
Conrad, being an only child, enjoys having my full attention most of the time and follows me around the house throughout the day. As I am getting ready in the bathroom most mornings Conrad is right there playing with something, making me sing happy birthday to him or just standing on the bathroom counter having me save him. It is a game that he came up with. He will stand on the counter, on the bed or the couch and yell out, "falling Mom, save me!". He is never really falling but I dutifully exclaim great alarm and then quickly grab him off of the precipice and save him. No matter what mood I am in or how hurried I am in getting ready for the day I always save him, hopefully giving him the reassurance that I will try and be there to catch him when he falls. Also a good reminder during this game is the other person who saves us. It has been a great way to talk about Jesus and how He saved us.
Have a good Monday everyone.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day
Sorry followers that I have been out of the blogger world for so long. I got sick and then somehow life got crazy, so here I am back from the crazy.
It is Mother's Day today and I am sitting here alone reflecting on the day (no worries my son is in bed and my hubby is picking up a friend from the airport). I have been through three of these holidays so far and all of them have been very good to remind me of the joys of Motherhood. Thankful that God allowed these little reminders to shine through the hardships of being a Mom. Recently that has been my struggle, seeing more of the bad and not the good, prayer is an amazing thing though and with much of that joy has come. Let me list out some of the ways...
1. Every morning he gets up, walks into the living room and says "I woke up!" with all the energy of those obnoxious morning people, but in a way that I have grown to love.
2. When a fun song comes on the radio or TV he is instantly up dancing and asking me to dance with him.
3. "Play with me" is another one of his favorite sayings.
4. Walking down a path or through the park he is excited to pick up leaves and give them to me, like a special treasure.
5. Whenever someone gets hurt, is sick or not feeling well Conrad has a great concerned expression, cocking his head to the side.
6. The cute way my little guy makes me hold fake flowers while he sings happy birthday to me (even though it is not my birthday).
7. The way that he wants to be exactly like his Dad, shaving, dressing, wearing sunglasses.
8. Conrad waking up and wanting to crawl into my lap and cuddle in the morning.
9. Having a little boy who is learning to share and obey and generally listen - means that all the hard work is starting to stick.
10. God encouraging me to read His word when my son grabs his kid Bible and makes me read it to him.
Thank you Lord for the son that You have given me and all that I continue to learn about myself and You through this adventure of parenting.
For those that are still waiting for that adventure to begin try and not get discouraged, it is a hard road so take this time now to prepare yourself and enjoy your quiet, clean house.
It is Mother's Day today and I am sitting here alone reflecting on the day (no worries my son is in bed and my hubby is picking up a friend from the airport). I have been through three of these holidays so far and all of them have been very good to remind me of the joys of Motherhood. Thankful that God allowed these little reminders to shine through the hardships of being a Mom. Recently that has been my struggle, seeing more of the bad and not the good, prayer is an amazing thing though and with much of that joy has come. Let me list out some of the ways...
1. Every morning he gets up, walks into the living room and says "I woke up!" with all the energy of those obnoxious morning people, but in a way that I have grown to love.
2. When a fun song comes on the radio or TV he is instantly up dancing and asking me to dance with him.
3. "Play with me" is another one of his favorite sayings.
4. Walking down a path or through the park he is excited to pick up leaves and give them to me, like a special treasure.
5. Whenever someone gets hurt, is sick or not feeling well Conrad has a great concerned expression, cocking his head to the side.
6. The cute way my little guy makes me hold fake flowers while he sings happy birthday to me (even though it is not my birthday).
7. The way that he wants to be exactly like his Dad, shaving, dressing, wearing sunglasses.
8. Conrad waking up and wanting to crawl into my lap and cuddle in the morning.
9. Having a little boy who is learning to share and obey and generally listen - means that all the hard work is starting to stick.
10. God encouraging me to read His word when my son grabs his kid Bible and makes me read it to him.
Thank you Lord for the son that You have given me and all that I continue to learn about myself and You through this adventure of parenting.
For those that are still waiting for that adventure to begin try and not get discouraged, it is a hard road so take this time now to prepare yourself and enjoy your quiet, clean house.
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