Five Question Friday (5QF) - July 8, 2011

1. Do you think cursive writing is overrated? (Schools in Indiana have now voted to take teaching cursive writing out of their curriculum.) I don't think cursive is necessary to be successful, but I do think that taking writing skills out of curriculum is a bad decision.  Even in today's technological society, we still need to be able to hand write some things and also to be able to SIGN your name, and typically, signing means cursive.

2. Do you still use a pocket calendar or notepad or do you keep your info on your smart phone? I use a pocket calendar and notepad as well as a wall calendar, but I also keep family appointments on my gmail calendar.

3. What 3 things would you save if your house was burning down? (family & pets are already safe) My Bible, pearls, & computer

4. Country Mouse or City Mouse, err Person? Country mouse, definitely!

5. If you could pick ANY reality show to go on, which would you pick? The Voice

It keeps going and going and going...

BUT... It's almost done.

Here are the most recent progress pictures!!!

The Hallway

The Girls' Bedroom - Before Clean-up

The Girls' Bedroom - After Clean-up

The Closet in the Girls' Bedroom

Our Bedroom - before clean-up

Our Bedroom - After clean-up but before the final boards are laid

There is an end in sight!!!

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

{Becky}

Pour Your Heart Out Wednesday: Bratty Kids

Have you ever been in a restaurant eating peacefully when all of a sudden you hear a shriek and then screaming?  How about on an airplane when a small child is unruly and their parents are doing NOTHING to control them or in the grocery store when a small child is running rampant through the aisles or screaming bloody murder because their mom won't get them something they want. I recently read an article shared by one of my facebook friends.  Check it out here.  I completely agree with Granderson.


Don't get me wrong, I love kids.  I have two of my own.  But my kids get disciplined if they are misbehaving - granted one is a little too young for that, she usually gets slapped on the boob if she gets fussy. :)  I refuse to be THAT parent who doesn't take care of their kids' bad behavior.


When A misbehaves at the grocery store - unless we're in the checkout lane, I leave the cart and we leave.  If she's openly defiant, she gets her butt swatted (with an open hand).  If she hits someone, we try time out first, but if that doesn't work, she gets her butt swatted (again with an open hand).  If she tells me no, she gets her butt swatted (that's open defiance).  We have also mastered "the look" that Granderson talks about.  We try time outs, but they don't always work.  Most of the time, we only have to start counting and threaten a spanking and that takes care of it.  She knows if we get to 5 she's "in for it".  But you know what, contrary to what the popular thought is on spanking, my kid is a well adjusted toddler who for the most part behaves, comes when asked, follows directions well, and stops when told.  I realize she's only two and we can't spank forever, but I also know that once she understands that we EXPECT good behavior and we WILL discipline bad behavior, she will continue to be well behaved... at least for the foreseeable future.


Linking up with Pour Your Heart out at Things I Can't Say.






That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

{Becky}

Toddler Talk Thursday - Summer Toys

This week's topic is Summer Toys and was suggested by Adelina at 3 Princess' Academy

A's

favorite Summer Toys are:

The Wading Pool and her uncles who play with her...

Buckets and cups (anything she can pour water out of)...

Balls...

Her shopping cart...

Bob & Larry...

Grandma and Grandpa's dog Beau...

Cars and bikes in the driveway...

and her baby sister.

Hope you enjoyed.  Check out more favorite summer toys here.


Future topic: Potty Training Tips

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by. 


{Becky}

Thankful Thursdays {4}

It's that time of the week again.  What are you thankful for this week???  Here's my list.

• Z finished laying the floors today.  Tomorrow is sanding and staining day.  Followed by 24 hours of drying and then sealing.
• We had an awesome 4th of July weekend with the extended family.  The only person missing was Sarah.  She's working for YouthWorks this summer.  Read about her adventures here.
• A has a room of her own to sleep in again, since Uncle Jonathan headed back to Washington, D.C.
• The final Harry Potter movie comes out next Friday!  I can't wait.
• I've started a new blog - one where I post reviews on the books I'm reading.  Check it out here.
• I'm looking forward to checking off some more of my summer bucket list in the next week.
• The poison ivy that randomly showed up on my chest is almost gone.  I have no idea how it got there, and I really don't care, but it really hurt and still does to some extent.  I'll be really glad when it's completely gone.
• I'm finally feeling "normal" again.  I can't believe how much major surgery just puts someone in a "funk".  Most of my restrictions have been lifted!!  I'm still watching my exercise level and also how much I'm lifting, but other than that...

That's all for now.  I'm looking forward to reading your Thankful Thursday posts, so grab the button, link up, and be encouraged.  Thanks for stopping by.

{Becky}



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Project64 - Week 26 (Red)

I know this is a little late, but I just realized I had missed doing this last week... Here's my submission.  Hope you enjoy it.

Find more red here.





That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

{Becky}

Lake Michigan 2011 - Family Day

Here are some of the pictures from our Family Trip to Lake Michigan...

It was chaos trying to get out of dodge... but we finally made it about an hour after we were scheduled to leave...

We saw a rainbow in the clouds on the way there...

 Can you see it?

We got settled on the beach..

Then we played in the sand...

And we played in the water.

Grandma and Grandpa took turns with M, so Mommy and Daddy could swim.

Then we ate dinner...

And took a family picture (minus Sarah).

We finished the day out by visiting the lighthouse at Holland State Park and taking pictures of the Lake Michigan sunset!

All in all it was a great day!  And I get to cross #8 off my summer bucket list!!!


That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by!


{Becky}