Lori's game

Ok here is a game that I copied from Lori. I had to put it on my blog in order to receive a hand made gift from her. However, I don't think I have 3 people who actually look at my blog. But here it is anyway.

From Lori's Blog: Doesn't it seem like really cool bloggers are always giving things away when they reach significant milestones? (100th post, 1 year anniversary, etc) So here we are, my 200th post. Lucky for me I found this fun game over at Natalie's tonight:

This is how it works..... The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise. BUT, in order for you to leave a comment on my blog, you have to post this on your blog first. (That means that sometime during this year you will send a gift to 3 people as well.) Get it? So, the first 3 people to comment on this post will be the lucky ones.

Cleaner bedrooms

We had a problem. Messy bedrooms. It was constant, it was overwhelming. We seemed to be constantly telling the kids to "clean up their rooms". I struggled with this a tiny bit b/c I could remember being a kid and hating to clean my room. I felt like, "hey, it's my room. If you don't like it, just close the door and don't look at it." I seem to be more relaxed with Trey and Allie b/c they are teenagers. As long as they clean it once a week, they are busier and have more stressful lives than the little kids, and I just felt like cutting them some slack. Maybe because I felt like I was cut some slack when I was a teenager and had a messy room. And I'm not in their rooms as often so it doesn't bother me as bad. ANYWAY.......We were tired of the nagging and listening to their usual response of "I don't want to right now" that we got from most of the kids. So we told them we were going to start grading the rooms each morning and night. You could get a 1-10. At the end of the week, if you had the most points you got a reward. This cut down our nagging during the week and put the ball in their court. We have done it for 3 weeks now and it has worked well with our kids. Sydney won the first week, Connor and Tanner the 2nd week and Sydney won the 3rd week. So far Trey has come in last every week. Hmm....maybe it has something to do with our reward, which is whoever wins gets to decide on the dinner menu for Sunday. If they want they can go to the store with me on Saturday and get a free cookie too.

Sydney's 1st menu: Angel hair pasta (no sauce), green beans and corn bread.

Tanner and Connor's menu: chicken stirfry with NO vegetables and rice

Sydney's menu for tomorrow: homemade pizza, pinnapple and peas with butter.

Their rooms are far from perfect, but at least they are a lot happier to clean and do it because they want to. We'll see how long it lasts......

MORE IS BETTER

Happy days!

The snow that was!

We remember it. We hear about chances of it. But we never get it. That's right....snow. The last few years we have not gotten more than a dusting. But every year we hope. Anytime there is a 20% chance or higher, we get our hopes up. But it seems every year we are disappointed. I don't know which is more appealing to my kids: the thought of going out and playing in the mysterious, fluffy stuff, or just getting out of school. Every year the county builds in snow days and every year we don't get to use them.

This snow was a little more than a dusting, maybe not quite an inch. We'll take it. The first day Allie and the little kids played a some in the dusting we got. They just ran out in their jeans and tennis shoes and didn't last long. Then the next morning we woke to falling snow. I happen to have snow boots and bibs that fit Tanner, Connor and Sydney. So this time we got serious for our little powdery mix. They stayed out much longer and hopefully feel like they weren't jyped this year.

Making snow angels in the dust

Taking mini-snowman on a ride

Building a little snowman seemed to be a good idea

Right before Connor put a mouthful of snow in his mouth he asked: "Is this snow fresh?"

Hot Chocolate time!

These are a few of our favorite things

Happy New Year! Here are some of our favorite things from the holidays:

Trey's favorite: a car given to him by his grandparents.

Every 16 year old's dream...unwrapping a small box with

a car key in it! (the key belonging to his grandmother's

old 2001 Nissan Pathfinder)

Allie's favorite: she had been wanting a guitar for a while and was very surprised and excited to finally get one.

David's favorite gift he made: THE ALAMO. With the help of grandpa, David built his dream of what an Alamo playset should be. The boys got lots of army and Mexican men to play with. As much as they loved it, I think David loved it more.

One of Sydney's favorite things: Finally getting to see and hold baby Afton. (can you see her?)

Tanner and Connor's FAVORITE things were: their Davy Crockett rifles and a George Russel costume (for those who don't know about Davy, Russel is his trusty side kick). True story: Connor recently decided he couldn't be a teacher when he grew up b/c they have to get a flu shot. He told me the other day he figured out what else he could be when he grew up: An indian hunter. I'm not kidding. He received the Daniel Boone series for Christmas and had seen lots of glorified Indian hunting going on, and thought that might be for him. Soooo glad this conversation took place in the privacy of our car and we could explain that American Indians are people just like us and we don't fight with them anymore. He then said "well maybe I could just hunt animals and the Indians could protect me."

My favorite things are family time and traditions:

Trey is 16!

Our #1 son is 16!

Trey (Dwight David Sexton III) is now 16. This is seems very significant to me because this was the age and time of year (Holiday Dance 1985) that I met my future husband. Wow. And within a year of dating him I knew I was in love. Huh? Trey couldn't possibly know what love is at this age, even though I did. Anyway....

- Trey is a great big brother. I think Tanner, Connor and Sydney would be OK if he took care of them from now on.

- Trey is a great friend. I've always admired this about him. He does not care about popularity, or being cool. He just is who he is. He will be the first to include someone being left out, and never talks bad about anyone.

- Trey is a great son. He is always obedient, trustworthy, respectful, helpful and always does what we ask. I cannot remember a time when I have asked him to do something and he has complained in any way. Never a "why do I have to, I didn't make that mess". I mean I can NEVER remember a time this has happened. I have mentioned this before because as a mom of 5 kids I know that this is amazing and incredibly unique to him.

- Trey is a great example to old and young. I am constantly being told be teachers, parents of friends, and acquaintances how remarkable he is and how glad they are to be associated with him.

I say all this because Trey is just special. And he hit a milestone birthday. And because I see in him everyday ways that I can be better.

Happy 16th Trey!

Fantasy of Trees

We enjoyed taking Tanner, Connor and Sydney to the Fantasy of Trees, an annual benefit for Children's Hospital, again this year. They love to do the crafts, eat the cookies, and look at all the trees. Here is a great little tree they found. If only they had a Davy Crockett themed tree.