Love Jar

ARG!!  

My kids are driving me crazy with the constant fighting, biting, kicking, hitting, pinching, tattling... you get the picture.  

Summer is great, because we all get to hang out together and do fun things, but it is also a time of rediscovering sibling (and parental) dynamics!  

My kids haven't spent this much time together in a year, 

since Aria started Kindergarten!  

And now they're together from morning to night.  

So what's a mom supposed to do about it?  

I didn't really sign up to be a peacekeeper this summer!

Last summer on Pinterest I saw lots of ideas about the "I'm Bored" jar, and I thought that's a nice idea, but I don't hear "I'm bored" very often (probably because my kids are too young to be familiar with that concept, thank goodness!).  But it occurred to me that that idea could work as a "discipline" method, or a way of solving the constant bickering!  

So we made a LOVE jar.

Its chalk full of ways to change gears from fighting to loving (and forgiving). 

A lot of the time kids just need to have their focus shifted if they aren't getting along.  So, we made the list together, and each time I hear the "He bit me", "She punched me", etc. they have to pull a slip out of the jar and do what it says.  I tried to keep things simple because my kids are 3 and 6 years old.  As well, I tried to keep the activities to be self-directed (so I can keep doing whatever I'm working on, as the whining usually starts when I'm in the middle of something!), and a good mix of fun ideas, loving ideas, and some discipline ideas... to keep them on their toes!

Here's a list of what we included:

Hug for one minute

Play badminton

Jump through a sprinkler holding hands

Make a waterslide together, and take turns using it

Clean up Roscoe's room

Clean up Aria's room

Brush the dog

Play Ring Around the Rosie

Hug for two minutes

Time out for two minutes

 Give a high five

Sing "Where is Thumbkin"

Sing "Johnny Whoops"
Sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm"

Dance party for one minute

Say 5 nice things that you like about each other

Pray for each other

 

Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love.

John 13:34

Summer Snapshots

Here's a couple pics from the end of June!

We were spending lots of time outside because it finally was warm enough.  I have discovered a lovely thing... my kids will play quite happily together for long periods of time if I set up the little pool and a sprinkler!  I have enjoyed a few relaxing afternoons dozing, working, reading, playing with my new iphone on the deck while they have fun in the water.

Roscoe loves his dog Ryley.  Ryley's not so sure most of the time what he thinks of Roscoe's love and attention.

One particularly warm day I brought out some tempera paint and we found some shade in the backyard to paint some rocks for our garden.  Now I just need to find some sealant spray to weatherproof the paint... I know I have some somewhere in my house....

 

 I quite enjoyed having the kids paint outside.  It didn't matter how messy it got, and was super easy to clean up!  Yay for summer!

Roscoe loving the alligator pool I bought on clearance at the end of last summer!

Inspiring Moms

I made a new friend today!  Her name is Michelle, and she is a stay at home mom of two who has also started an at home business selling her creative projects.  We got together today for a playdate, because as it turns out, her kids are similar in age to mine.  We had a great time chatting about life, kids, and starting up businesses over a nice cup of tea.  It is so nice to have someone local to share ideas with and "talk shop".  She makes BEAUTIFUL belts for kids and moms.  Check out her stuff at www.inspired-life-designs.com
Another creative friend that I've made since starting my business is Elizabeth, who is also local, but from Kamloops.  I am constantly inspired by how much she has going on in her life!  I don't know how you do it, Elizabeth!  She creates fantastic wraps for mom and babe, and aprons for children, among other things.  See her stuff on facebook http://ko-kr.facebook.com/pages/Bloggy-Mama-Creations/85416270331?sb=0
Another mom I want to highlight is my girlfriend Jenn.  We met in college, as we lived across the hall from each other.  We were instant friends, kindred spirits.  Jenn and her lovely mom, Jan have started a business as well sewing buggy covers and sleep sacs.  You can find their products at www.gomomgoproducts.blogspot.com
One other friend that is busy balancing family and business is my friend Krista.  I met Krista in college as well, and she was always such a dedicated hard working and super lovely person.  She makes hairclips for little girls!  They are super cute!  Her site is www.facebook.com/pages/Kristas-Clips/192595675148
Please check out these amazing ladies and their incredible creations.