Raising Multiples

  • Book: “Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann Wyss

    Before I headed out on my India adventure I started reading one of my favorite books as a kid to the girls, Great Illustrated Classics The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss.  My Mom finished reading the book to the girls while I was away and then watched the movie with them.  Karlie was convinced that she was ready to live on an island in a tree house after reading the book and watching the movie (although she said it would be ok if the pirates didn’t come).

    It has been a lot of fun reading the girls some of my favorite books as a kid.  They love listening and enjoy the adventures the stories take us on.  This book is about the Robinson family that gets shipwrecked on an island.  The family learns to live off the land, build a home in the trees, and their journey.  It is full of great adventures as the family explores their new home.  If you have kids that love being read to this is a fun book for the whole family.  Plus after reading the book you can watch the movie which is always something great to look forward to as well.

  • Book: “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

    The girls and I just finished reading the Children’s Illustrated Classic The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  They LOVED it!  It was a good story with enough of an adventure to keep them asking me to read “just one more chapter tonight, please Mom”!

    The story is about a little girl from India named Mary Lennox.  She was spoiled by everyone and had very little interaction with her parents.  When her parents died she was sent to live with her Uncle in England, Lord Craven.  Her Uncle was a sad man who was still mourning the death of his wife from 10 years ago and really did not want to have anything to do with Mary other then to make sure she had the food and necessities she needs.  Mary learns to love life in England and has grand adventures exploring the manor’s gardens.   As she continues to explore outside, learns how to garden, and meets new friends Mary was able to keep more then one hidden secret that took those living in the large manor by surprise.

    The girls really enjoyed having me read this book out loud to them.  The pictures and story really came alive for them as we processed on through the book.  If you have you girls (or boys) and you are looking for a good book to read to them you should check this one out!

  • Benefits of Gymnastics

    Karlie and Brina ready to try out gymnastics

    Several months ago there was a Groupon for a local gymnastics class for more than 50% off regular price.  We purchased two and gave them to the girls.  They were so excited to start gymnastics.  It was quite humorous watching them the first day attempt to do a cartwheel, handstand and all the other gymnastic type stuff.  It didn’t take long though before they were getting better at the different skills.  Here are just a few ways we noticed gymnastic helping in our girls:

    • Hand – Eye Coordination
    • Boost in Confidence
    • Flexibility
    • Health & Exercise

    Do your kids take gymnastics or other sports?  Have you noticed any positive benefits to the sport?    I included a couple other fun pictures from their first day at gymnastics.  They loved it!

    Brina and Karlie ready for gymnastics….let’s go Mom!

    Karlie trying out the high bar

    Brina doing the bar for the first time (sorry this is fuzzy, it was hard taking good quality pictures on the other side of the glass and with them moving so much!)

  • Book: “When Work & Family Collide” by Andy Stanley

    I recently finished reading the book When Work & Family Collide by Andy Stanley.  The subtitle to this book is “keeping your job from cheating your family.”  Every one of us only has 24 hours in each day, however, there are times when we don’t make wise choices in how we use that time we have been given.  Life has a way of staying busy with work, family, hobbies, ministry obligations and everything else.  When life remains busy we tend to start seeing overlap with our work and family.  As work and family start to collide more often we see what the author calls “cheating on our family”.   You don’t have to be a corporate executive to have work and family collide, you could be a house wife who puts the chores, cleaning, laundry, and other household duties at a higher priority then your family.

    Keeping work and family in balance can be a difficult task, but if we consistently shortchange our time with our family we’ll begin to see the side effects.  Even if the reason we are working so hard is to provide a good life for our family if time is not invested regularly in the each family member you’ll start to notice a negative ripple effect.  Andy Stanley used a variety of great examples from his own life as well as others to illustrate how work and family collide.  For example, if one parent is traveling a lot there will be noticeable consequences on the family over time OR if you have a parent that spends almost all his weekends “at home” biking or hanging out with his friends instead of taking time to enjoy fun activities with his wife and kids eventually the stress will begin to show.

    The author points out that it is important that we become aware of work or activities that are taking too much time away from those we love.  He used the illustration of Daniel.  Although Daniel had some tough times in his life he still insisted on honoring God by not eating the foods sacrificed to idols and openly worshiping God.  Even though from our perspective he may appear to be out of his mind for disobeying the king he had faith that God would take care of him even if he went against the wishes of those in authority.  To bring it back to our day you may have a boss that requires you to work long hours in order to maintain your job.  If you feel the Holy Spirit revealing that you need to spend more time with your family and less at work you may have to make a tough choice.  When you look at it in black and white it appears like an easy solution, however, we may live in fear of losing our jobs, a good paycheck, or something else.

    God doesn’t reveal His will for our consideration.  He reveals it for our participation.

    Your Creator doesn’t define your life by your career achievements or the neatness of your pantry. 

    There’s not enough time to get it all done.  We’re going to say no somewhere, either verbally or through neglect.

    Stay-at-home Moms and Dads can just as easily cheat those around them.  Whether working outside the home or inside the home, there’s a strong tendency to become preoccupied with tasks – agendas and projects and “to do” lists. 

    Work and family will collide, it is how you react and balance it so that each has its place in your life.  We are called to work and be good stewards of the gifts we have been given, however, we are also called to nurture and care for our families. I was hoping for a few more biblical examples of those standing up for their faith and family in the book but otherwise it was a good read.  Is your life in balance?  If not you may want to check out this book just to get you started, it’s a quick read but a great reminder to keep our focus on the priorities in our lives.

    Rate my review & be entered into a giveaway: I reviewed this book for “Blogging for Books.” By rating my review, it allows me to choose another book and enters you in a GIVEAWAY! The rating is a two step process.

    Step 1: Rate my review below (select the number of stars, enter your email, and hit submit).

    Step 2: Check your email account for a message from Blogging for Books and click their link to verify your email.

    Once you rated my review AND confirmed your email, you will automatically entered in a giveaway for this book by WaterBrook Multnomah!!! They will pick one person to receive a copy of the book for themselves! WaterBrook Multnomah will contact the winner directly.

    Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher through the Waterhouse Multnomah.  The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

  • Fresh & Healthy: School Lunchbox Meals

    School Lunchbox Meals

    Part of the problem with doing lunchbox meals everyday is making sure you have a variety of ways to not only keep it appealing but also healthy for your family.  The girls love getting “surprises” in their lunchboxes.  Every once in awhile I will stick something special in their lunches that I find to keep it healthy and fun.

    • Peanut Butter and Homemade Strawberry Jam
    • Fresh Pepper Strips
    • Fresh Green Grapes
    • Gold Fish
    • Cherry Jello
    • Vanilla Yogurt
    • Chocolate Covered Cherries
    • Mrs. Fields Oatmeal Cookie & Chocolate Covered Raisins
    • Pink Lemonade

    Packing lunches for the kids

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week was a tough one in many ways.  I felt like I was being pulled in so many different directions all at the same time.  Several unexpected things came up throughout the week and this week is going to be a big one with all the extra activities going on.  I am hoping this week will still be productive even though I need to cut it back a little with everything that is going on.

    Here is the update on last weeks goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
    2. Read a book to the girls everyday
    3. Have each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week
    4. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    5. Put together a Schedule / Reference Worksheet for Mom – almost done

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday – getting in a habit of staying up too late again
    3. Finish reading When Work and Family Collide by Andy Stanley
    4. Read and listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together). – finished the entire book

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
    3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
    4. Spend 1 hour a day de-cluttering and organizing the house

    Business Goals

    1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
    2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    3. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
    4. Finish 2011 Business Taxes – still at the accountants office

    Ministry Goals

    1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
    2. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    3. Write and Email the meeting notes for our Alms & Legs Ministry Team Meeting

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – working on it
    3. Complete our personal 2011 taxes – waiting on the business taxes to be complete
    4. Put money aside for upcoming trips – put a little aside
    5. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – have some of it done

    Here are my goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Connect with each family member at least once a day
    2. Distribute the girls “I Love You” Surprises
    3. Write and mail cards
    4. Put together items for Jake
    5. Print off the Family Calendar, Event List and Information
    6. Meet the girls for lunch at school
    7. Finish reading The Secret Garden and Swiss Family Robinson to the girls

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Finish reading When Work and Family Collide by Andy Stanley
    3. Keep an up-to-date written & photo log all the adventures this week

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
    3. House cleaned and ready for company
    4. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Finish 2011 Business Taxes

    Ministry Goals

    1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
    2. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    3. Take time to talk, listen, and encourage the people I encounter this week
    4. Be a blessing to a total stranger this week

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses
    3. Complete our personal 2011 taxes
    4. Put money aside for upcoming trips
    5. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results

  • Book: “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery

    The girls and I have been trying to spend a few extra minutes every night reading together.  They chose a book to read to me and I have been reading a “chapter book” to them.  We just finished reading the Great Illustrated Classics Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery together. The book is about a little red headed orphan girl named Anne Shirley who comes to live at Green Gables.  Anne is full of life, spirit, and has a vivid imagination.

    The book was fascinating for both of our girls.  Within the first day of starting this book we made it almost halfway.  The girls keep wanting to read just one more chapter.    I like that the Great Illustrated Classics the chapters are pretty short and they include pictures throughout the book.  I often found the girls sitting on the couch flipping through the pages of the book even before it is time for us to sit down and read together.  This is a fun book to read with the kids.

     

  • You Never Know….What You Might Find!

    You never know what you may find in the clearance section at a store.  During a quick trip to BiLo (a local grocery store) to grab a gallon of milk I noticed these two chairs sitting up in the front of the store.  As I was speed walking past them to get the milk and I thought to myself that’s an odd place for two chairs and the second thought was those chairs are pretty cute!  While standing in line waiting to check out they caught my attention again so I got out of line, went over to them and found out they were marked down to $2 (originally priced over $20).  They were the last two chairs and the store was trying to move the final pieces of their seasonal stock.  These are the only 2 chairs I have ever bought in a grocery store but it goes to show you never know what you may find when you go out to get a gallon of milk!

    When the girls got home from school that day I had the two chairs set up in their room.  They were excited and gushing over how “cute” the chairs were.  I didn’t have to ask or tell them which chair was for who they knew instantly, that’s one of the joys of having twins with two very different personalities.  Since then the chairs have been used for reading, watching TV, playing school and many other fun activities.  Each girl has their own chair so their is no disagreements on who got the chair first or who has been sitting in it the longest…..do those types of conversations take place at your house too?!

    The chairs are big enough the girls are comfortable, but small enough they can carry them from room to room.  I love that they have so much personality with the smiling frog and cheerful ladybug!  Sometimes it is worth it to take the extra minute to glance at the clearance section, you might find a something you need or a fun treasure.  Although their favorite place to sit when we read a book together is still on our laps, which is fine with me because someday soon these precious days of them being little girls will be a thing of the past!

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    Lunch box meals for the kids school lunch.

    Our girls are starting to get more efficient in packing their lunches.  Yes, they are a little more generous with the peanut butter or meat on their sandwiches (but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing).  It works best for us if we pre-pack the majority of the items for the girls lunches (and any work lunches) the evening before.  After packing the next days lunches we put them into the refrigerator so we can grab them, pop in an ice pack and go the next day.

    • Ham &  Cheese Sandwich
    • Fresh Green Beans
    • Pita Chips
    • Vanilla or Peach Yogurt
    • Strawberry or Lemon Jello
    • Homemade Applesauce
    • Reduced Sugar Fruit Juice
    • Homemade Cookies

    Homemade applesauce and fresh green beans are one of the girls favorites to take to school.