Maddie, meet Dallas

Maddie got to meet the horses for the first time yesterday. With the weather being so cold, I have kept her indoors pretty much since she was born. Since it was a little warmer, and to be honest, I needed to see the open sky and sunshine, we bundled her up in her little lamb jacket and took her over to see the horses.

Little Strawberry, our pony didn't want any part in it. (I think she knows that means she will be hauling around another squirmy kid soon! LoL) But our curious little (I really mean big) girl Dallas had her nose right in the thick of it. (pun, humorously intended).

At first Dally didn't know what to think....

But she quickly warmed up once she realized Maddie was just another person to love on and get nose scratches from. (even if Daddy has to help, LoL)

Maddie warmed up pretty quickly too. It didn't take long, and she started trying to eat Dallas' nose! Good think 2 month-old's don't have teeth...

For her part, Dallas did a really good job! Maddie just licked away at that furry nose and Dallas stood there and let her. We are so blessed with such wonderful animals and beautiful, amazing little girls!!

Maddie, Meet Dallas...

The "Ultimate" Mom: Family Meetings

Chapter 5: Give Everyone In Your Home What They Want Including YOU!

When I first began this chapter, I met it with more scepticism than concentration. I admit, the title really threw me off. Yeah, it sounds good...but in reality...who lives like that? In my house (and maybe even in yours) when you try to make everyone happy, usually nobody ends up happy. And communication is difficult to come by...either we are "nagging", "whining" or just don't get what it is the other people are trying to say so ultimately it ends in frustration, confusion or indifference.

But as I read through this chapter, I began to realize that this may not be the case. This chapter explains the importance of Family Meetings. Now, my family and I have tried them...and in some cases succeeded. But the problem we have run into is consistency. We have one only when the issues in the family become intolerable and then its more of a lecture than a family meeting.

Here, it describes approaching the family each week! That's right, each week. A chance every week to address issues before they reach that boiling point where we "just cant stand it any longer"! It also suggests that these meetings allow for mutual respect and importance throughout the family. I can see how if handled just right, it would, in fact, allow everyone a chance to speak their needs and address issues among one another in a calm manner, rather than lashing out in the heat of the moment.

It also suggests that adding rituals, fun and appreciation to the meeting will help the family bond ensure more success than treating it like a "business meeting". Set rules and boundaries, use timers if necessary and insist on respect. Don't force participation, but encourage it. Allow time for each family member to speak, and be sure to begin and end with something positive and/or uplifting.

This is something that I have wanted to get my family involved it. I tend to "nag" as I have been told, when in reality I am only trying to convey my needs/feelings about things. I believe a family meeting will be very beneficial to our house hold. We have a very independent and remarkably perceptive 6 year old. I believe she would enjoy the open sharing of a family meeting...and I believe it will help her through her adjustment with a new sibling in the home as well.

One suggestion this book gave, was to have a place where family members write down ideas to cover in the meeting each week. That way issues are not forgotten. I believe I am going to use a jar. I have a peanut butter jar that I can empty (yum!) and clean out to use. We can put a small pad of paper (sticky notes or the like) next to it where we can write it down and place in the jar until the meeting is "called to order". I love this idea, because I tend to forget things rather quickly.

Here is the actions suggested at the end of the chapter:

Chapter Tips:

1. To ensure your "family meetings' do not turn in to "bored meetings" always include time for sharing, for fun and for play!
2. Rituals like "Thank You For's", "Appreciations" and "Chicken Soup For The Soul" moments establish trust and connection for your entire family.
3. The first step to resolving conflict is realizing that often, family members ultimately want the same thing - to feel cherished, appreciated and respected.

Taking Action:

• Choose a day to schedule your "Family Meeting" and decide to enjoy it even if you are the only person who shows up.
• Brainstorm fun family rituals that the whole family wants to try and start using them. (I be sharing this in a separate post)

Does your family use family meetings? What kids of things do you incorporate? How successful are they? Any great stories to share from a meeting? Please feel free to post your thoughts below!

Snow in Salemburg

Here are two more pictures from the beautiful town of Salemburg. One of the Fire Department my husband is a member of. The other, of our church, in the heart of town. So beautiful in the snow. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do :)

Another Snow Day!!!

We were blessed with another snow day here in Salemburg! This one, even better than the last. It was perfect for snowball fights, snowman building, and yes, sledding.

The hard part, was picking which we wanted to do!! Because we NEVER get snow, we dont have the nice warm winter-wear to be able to it all in one day. We would F.R.E.E.Z.E! LoL

We opted for the Snowman!

Yes, that is a Boston Terrier "hunting dog", lol. My daughter and husband crack me up!

Kalynn had such a ball helping me with her snowman. She helped build him, and even ran to the driveway to find rocks for his buttons and eyes. His nose, a small branch off of our tree and his mouth, well, I found a rounded stick off of a weed that worked perfectly. John found some small fence pickets under the porch and grabbed them for the arms. It wasn't until we got inside and started looking at the pictures before he realized Kalynn stuck them in base, lol. I thought it was too cute!

There is my girl in the snow with her signature "thumbs up"! 

And of course, Madison slept, lol.

The dogs had fun too! Here is Angel and Jasmine running through the yard. I swear they ran in circles playing in the snow forever! 

Jasmine was the funniest to watch! She is only a year and a half old and watching her spaz out in the snow was a crack up! She kept laying down in it and shoving her nose down trying to lick it up. Every time she would look up with her tongue sticking out and a pile of snow on her nose! I cant even describe it without chuckling to myself. LoL

Ok...this was a horrible picture...BUT I LOVE HER SMILE! Sorry had to throw that one in there.

The horses weren't as happy about the snow as we were...

You can almost see the pout on Dallas's face...

But we gave them some hay to much on...and that seemed to make them happy.

Here are some pictures we took around town:

The Hay Barn

Grandma's house. The family homestead.

The Lake

The Dam at the Lake

More of the lake. I just love the lake!

Driving Home

The roadside...isn't it pretty!

Downtown Salemburg. The snow had just started to fall.

The first flakes. I just thought that this would be a cool picture :)

 Opps...how did that get there?! And there is Leroy...my husband's target deer. LOL Yes...it is exactly what you see. The joys of being married to a redneck! LoL!

And there you have it. It was a beautiful day! We enjoyed the snow, built a snowman and spent the rest of the day snuggled up on the couch watching movies and the Olympics!

The "Ultimate" Mom: Utilizing Your Community

Chapter 4: How To Utilize Your Community To Raise Your Child Well

This chapter really focused on 2 things. First, Mom's community, and second, expanding your children's sense of community...

It really emphasized on the need that Mom's need for adult companionship, a support system, and the freedom that can come from allowing others to pitch in and help. It talked a lot about how to be a good friend (I'm not really going to get into this, but if you need help, you can always buy the book). It also talked about surrounding yourself with the right kind of people. In this, they provided an exercise to do. You can find it below with directions.

There are millions of people to choose from in this world. Who we associate with can make our days, weeks, months, and years extraordinary or painfully ordinary.

It also talks about expanding your community and sense of self worth with your kids. The book recommends volunteering at shelters, visiting nursing homes, and helping a neighbor/friend. By doing this, you can offer help to others, as well as increase your own self-esteem. A good lesson for children in how to accept others, help people who need it, and feel good about themselves while doing something worth while in the community.

Chapter Tips:

1. Three ways to be an amazing and likable woman is to show interest in others, to share what is in our own heart and to smile often.
2. True "Gems of Friends" are the ones who know how to celebrate our successes in style and dare appreciative when we do the same!
3. Modeling for your child how to be kind, to do for others and to be compassionate is what will nurture their true self-esteem - "people-esteem".

Taking Action:

• Choose one person that you want to spend more time with. Call them up today and make plans to see them sometime in the next month.
• Talk to your children about volunteering. Research and brainstorm possible opportunities for you to contribute as a family.
• If you created your own "Mom Network": which women would you want in your group? What would they be like and how would you help one another? Contact a woman today whom you would like in your group to share your ideas with. Write down the names of women you would like to contact to make it easier.

This week's taking action is going to prove a bit challenging. With a new baby at home, and Dad not home much on the weekend to help, finding a place we can volunteer may be tough in this small community of ours. I will have to do some brain-storming. I will also have fun creating my "Mom Network" though some of my Moms may be long-distance, I still think it is good to have great moms to bounce around ideas with :)

Do you have a network of Moms? What kind of things do you do? How do you stay in touch and help one another? Do you and your children volunteer? What do you help with?

Feel free to post your ideas, experiences and thoughts. It is always good to bounce ideas around :)

The "Ultimate" Mom: Wish 100 Upon A Star List

In last week's chapter, I had to come up with a list of 100 things that I want, want to accomplish, or do for myself. This was a really difficult task for me. I only got about a 1/4 of the way and ran out of ideas. So we will have to call this a work in progress (wink wink).

Here we go......

1. Pay off old debt
2. Be a stay at home Mom
3. Get a cross-over (I really need a new car, not John's truck. It works but its not "mine")
4. Learn to speak Spanish better
5. Go on a cruise
6. See the Mayan ruins
7. See the Great Pyramids of Egypt
8. See the Roman ruins
9. See the Sistine Chapel
10. Go to Hawaii
11. Swim with Dolphins
12. Buy more land
13. Learn to pain in acrylic
14. Learn Latin Dance
15. Have a library room in my house
16. Write and publish a children's book
17. Build my dream house
18. Learn how to draw portraits (I can do animals, but not people)
19. Own a book shop (I would love to have a book store like in the movie "You've Got Mail")
20. See a Broadway show in New York
21. Go to a concert (That's right...I'm 30 years old and never been to a concert)
22. Learn to rope better
23. Get another horse
24. See the northern lights
25. Go to Germany to see the old concentration camps
26. Walk an Italian vineyard (Id would be great if it overlooked the ocean)
27. Stay in an English Cottage
28. Go to Ireland
29. Spend a week at the beach with my Best Friend drinking "Umbrella Drinks" (we always said we would)
30. Replace the carpet in my house with floating hard surface flooring
31. Paint the whole house (inside)
32. Refinish my Kitchen
33. Add Cabinets to Laundry Room
34. Get Stand-up Washer/Dryer (high capacity, so I don't have to wash SOOOOOOO many loads each week)
35. Re-build Dog Pens out back (I want my babies living in luxury out there!)
36. Expand Horse Pasture and add a nice barn
37. Have a coffee bar in my bedroom (OMG I WOULD JUST DIE!)
38. Get all of my family pictures from the years hung on the walls
39. Finish my wedding album! (Ive been working on it for 7 years and still haven't finished it)
40. Build a Garage

I obviously have more dreams than money, lol. But I have YEARS to accomplish these goals :)
Do you have a Wish 100 list? What are some of your goals???

The "Ultimate Mom": My Affirmation

In this last week, I have been working on my "Action" assignments. One of which was to come up with at least one affirmation to post up around the house and use daily to keep my focus on my goal of being the best Mom I can be. This was kind of difficult for me believe it or not. I spent the week kind of observing my family, children and myself. I figured the best way to come up with a useful affirmation was to get a good idea of what I want and where I am. This is what I came up with:

"I will be patient with my children, and greet their mistakes with humor and a gentle hand to guide them towards better choices. I will strive to make more smiles than tears. I will be sure to take time out for myself, so that I am happier and more fun to be with. I will set a good example for my husband and children so we will be a stronger, and happier family unit."

I have written this affirmation down on some index cards. One for the bathroom where I get ready every morning. One by my coffee pot (just in case I miss the one in the bathroom in my mad dash in the morning). I will keep one in a note in my phone (always in my pocket) in case I need a gentle reminder during the day. And one next to the bed so I can reaffirm myself at the end of each day.

Do you have an affirmation or something similar that you do each day?? Are you following along with me and do one of your own? Feel free to post yours below! I love feedback and encouragement.