Responsibility Week

Every now and then I go on a parenting kick. The first week of April was one of those times. I don't remember what else I did, but I know there was a lot more than the story I'm about to share. My kids used to lose a lot of toys to the Gunny Sack. After a while, he got full and forgotten in my closet. I have a really hard time actually giving my kids things away, so this was convenient for me too. However, it all came to a head when Warren rationally pointed out, "Mom, it's a good thing we have the gunny sack so we can have more toys since you store some for us, too." Ouch. Solution? Sam was having a yard sale to raise money for Relay for Life. So, since the stuff was mine now, I donated all "my" stuff in the Gunny and arranged for a special "night before preview" at which my kids could go and purchase anything they wanted with their own money. And I made sure I paid them the 6 weeks backpay of allowance. And I made sure Sam charged them high prices. (Avery had saved several coins and was the exception: we just had her pay a few coins each time she bought something, but most of it wasn't hers anyway) They bought a lot of it back and chose not to purchase some of it, and nice reminder to me of how little "stuff" is really valued by kids, and adults. The "stuff" they did buy back is now played with very frequently, e.g.: Warren has rollerbladed at least a dozen times since then, more than he ever did in the previous 2 years of owning his rollerblades. I was able to donate over $20 to my brother's Relay for Life funds--through my children :)
I remembered something else about Responsibility Week: my kids missed breakfast once or twice on a school day and Warren had to take his clothes in a bag on the ride to school. Somehow he managed to get dressed before the carpool kids got in the car. And I promise he had his seatbelt on whenever the car was moving. One day when Warren disobeyed and ran back in the house to get dressed when we were supposed to be leaving, he forgot his lunch and I let him. And I didn't take it to school. And he was fine.
This last picture has nothing to do with responsibility week; it is just so funny I had to share. I was walking out of church and saw this in the back of someone's golf cart parked in the lot. Bishop's golf cart, actually. Upon closer examination, I realized it was 2 filtering masks leftover from our ward's alley clean-up the previous day, but really, can you see why I did a double take and still laugh when I look at it?

I Love Creating

These are some of my favorite creations--ones that make me smile when I look at them. I think creating things with my hands and voice is so therapeutic. I want to get the "rest of my life" better organized, so I can really create some more beautiful, permanent works for my home: words on walls, pictures in my empty frames, pictures on my empty walls...

This strawberry bouquet was a Family Craft Day, aka Friday Therapy, creation from April. I had so much fun piping chocolate on those "roses." Really, it was therapy. It was fun to give away, too.

These banners were customs for a wedding planner, and these are the photos she sent me of how she staged them. I loved her idea to hang it on a chair.

This is my latest holiday banner, and I am especially pleased how I photographed it. I've had those flags since last year, when I decided sewing them on to the ribbon was too much work. I felt guilty I had so many unused, which is so my personality. However, I am so proud of myself for thinking of putting them in my old jars, vases and cups for this display. I smile every time when I see it.

Don't You Wish You Were as Cute as Avery?

April 1: Our good friends brought over a bunch of clothes for my girls--truly, I acquire most of the girls' clothes this way, as they seem to be in no short supply around here. They were set in a nice, organized stacks on the couch. Finally Avery could stand it no longer, and put together this fabulous ensemble, complete with fairy wand and shoes. (Avery never wears shoes in the house.) Don't you just want to gather her in your arms and hug her?

Easter Eggs

April 3: Yes, that is egg on Madeleine's face. I think Madeleine was the biggest hidden "egg" of all; the picture below is of her, freshly discovered, in the playhouse at Tutu's. (And yes, Abigail was there, but somehow missed any pictures. She, Avery and Madeleine all wore the same pink hoodie shirt. They were tickled pink to be matching.)

Waiting for Mom to Snuggle

March 29th: It was Avery's night to "snuggle" in my big bed, but I wasn't quite ready to go to sleep when she was, so she waited loyally for me on the kitchen floor wrapped up in a dish towel. (They were a wedding gift, years ago; I bet I never anticipated their use tonight, or tied on to my kids as Super Hero capes) Avery is so dear and sweet. Since she still naps in the afternoon, she is often the last one lying awake in bed, and will come out and join me and Andy in the family room as we work. Like tonight: I was watching old video from our Paris trip and she came and sat on my lap and laughed along with me. Oh she is so dear.