Wordless Wednesday (from 4/5/11)

Happiness Project: March (Parenting)

Although it's a few days into April, I am finally able to take a minute and capture some of my Happiness Project moments from March.

March was my "Lighten Up" month - Parenting, being the focus. I was purposeful in my reading and have learned and practiced some valuable techniques on my children (I wonder if they noticed!). 

I wanted tools that would help me discipline more effectively, be more patient, and teach me how to love my kids better.

I have concluded, though, that I need to keep this one going for one more month (is that bad that my Love month (Feb) didn't need extended? Poor Joe.)

I have atleast 3 other books I would like to dive into and I just feel like Parenting investigation is worth continuing...I will move onto focusing on Friendship in May instead (sorry Friends!).

In March, I read:

I still need to finish reading for APRIL now :

Most of the books have been very interesting...I think I am actually going to create a book of my own - with all the highlights, key quotes, scripture verses, interesting insights and maybe even include of few thoughts of my own...it's just going to be something I give to new moms - probably something I make on SnapFish maybe..I can't just leave all those markings in each of these books to myself - I want others to gain knowledge too!

My biggest adjustment that I have made, that was consistenly addressed in many of these books is:  Choose your words wisely.

For example, what a difference it makes in a child (for a lifetime) if you choose to speak about the act and not the child.
("That was a bad decision!" vs. "You were a bad girl!")

Funny side note:  I heard a speaker recently (at MOPS) talk about using words to label your children positively...she suggested instead of saying "You don't listen to me!" to say, "You are a child that obeys."...well, guess what Morgan's response was to that new and improved statement...
"I don't want to be a child that obeys!"

See why we're reading a few more books this month!  :)

Another one that I have become aware of is:  Pay Attention.

Because if you don't, they will find another way to get it!  (Let's just say, for example, your  2 yr old is found standing on the kitchen counter opening the cabinet to get out a cookie)

How many times have I been typing away on an email rather than looking at my child when they are talking to me....
I don't want my kids to remember me staring into a phone texting or at computer screen saying, "uh huh, yeah, oh...." 

It's been good for me to have given up FaceBook for Lent...I may even implement a No FB during the day rule after Lent is over...it's too easy for me to disengage and zone out when FB is available to me. (although, I really do miss keeping up with everyone - I feel very "out of the loop" right now!)

Another component of my Happiness Project for March was to Create Memories...one way I have tried to do that is through taking more photos...I implemented Wordless Wednesdays to this blog where I just take a photo of life that doesn't need much explanation...one was of the nebulizer that Jackson had to use for a few weeks (he's fine now - I have given up dairy and it solved the breathing issues for him!), another was the kids and my dad flying a kite on a super windy day while he was visiting...just life...but how quickly it passes by. 
If I don't capture what's going on, I will surely forget.

My last goal of March was to Enjoy Now.  I spent time documenting in my journal some words that described each child (at this point in their little lives).  I tried to take a little longer at bed time with the big kids to tell stories, ask questions and hear about their day.  We went to Michigan to visit my parents and brother while Joey was on Spring Break and those 5 hour car rides to and from were DVD free (because ours is broken) and full of conversation and laughter.  I am enjoying now...most of the time.  (Not "enjoying now" at 4am when Jackson is crying, but...once he's quiet, I even "enjoy now" at 4:01am too)

I guess, I just don't want to stop working on those goals and I definitely feel I just need to finish out those last few books all in one foul swoop.


Here are some journal entries from March (my 1 Sentence Journal is still going strong!)

3.7.11  Had a wonderful lunch with 3 dear friends and ate my last piece of chocolate cake (and any other kind of chocolate for that matter) today - Happy Fat Tuesday!

3.8.11  REALLY hurt my foot today, in so much pain...SERIOUSLY don't have time for this.

3.11.11  I am SO THANKFUL for the many blessings in my life - my husband, my children, my home, my friends and family - wow, what a life I live!

3.13.11   MORGAN  - sweet, talented, smart, promising, loving, passionate, funny, emotional, 4 years old, so watch out!

3.14.11 JAMESON - loving, silly, thoughtful, giving, courageous, fearless, free spirited, determined, self-sufficient, playful and he just turned 2, but we're ready!

3.15.11  Joey struggled going to sleep tonight - saying he feels he's been replaced. (his little brothers take a long time to get to bed).  Maybe in all my efforts to remain equal in all we do (what I did with Joey, I have done my best to do for the rest - pics in the chair, preschool days of week, etc) I have not remained equal in my time...oh the struggles of life with 4 kids!

3.17.11 JOEY - sensitive, insightful, intelligent, loving, emotional, talented, playful and happy.

3.21.11  Morgan told Bubba as he held a box of Samoa Girl Scout Cookies:
"These are the Schmidt RULES"
1. Always SHARE
2. Be Friends
3. Love each other
-if only I'd thought of those myself!  But I'm going to make them House Rules from now on! (not just to get a cookie!) :)

3.25.11  JACKSON - sweet, smiley, happy, a smile that warms your heart and takes up half his face, easy.

3.27.11 Butler going to Final Four!




Other daily/weekly goals that have remained from the beginning (but don't need marked on a check list any longer, because I guess I just do them routinely now)

• OPEN BIBLE
• LOAD OF LAUNDRY
• ICE TRAY
• ONE SENTENCE JOURNAL
• 64oz WATER
• HUG for 6 seconds
• PROOFS OF LOVE

I have not read the Bible EVERY day, I have not written in my journal EVERY day, but when it comes down to it, I am becoming pretty efficient with the day to day (it probably goes hand in hand with baby being almost 5 months old now too).

I still LOVE E-mealz

- still the best thing I have done for our grocery budget and my sanity at dinner time!

What I still have NOT done is track my food intake or play more games....guess I've got another month to work on those!

We'll see where April takes me...I am optimistic about those last few books and I am sure I'll be uploading good insights from them too.

HAPPY APRIL!

Happy 6th Birthday Joey!

Joey is 6 today!

Joey's cupcake with the 6 candle - too bad he couldn't blow it out...the wind took the flame over and over!

Sunday, we celebrated his birthday with many of his friends at Rocky Ripple Park - it was a beautiful day - warm and sunny!

It was "A Science Adventure" - with all kinds of fun activities:

* They made slime (turning liquid into solid)

SLIME!

Marta and mommy

* They decorated their own cupcakes (a little chemistry seeing what colors they could create)

Oh, Morgan....

Lilia's masterpiece of a cupcake

The Chemistry project

* They made Diet Coke Fountains (called nucleation)- we've only got video of that one!


* They hypothesized whether items would sink or float

Sink or Float

* And there was a dinosaur dig!

Dinosaur Dig!

It was a gorgeous day outside!

JJ, our athlete

Smiley Jackson

Jackson enjoying the party!

Messy Morgan and Daddy enjoying the day!

The Merry Go Round at Rocky

Today, on his birthday, I took him lunch and cookies for the class -

Joey eating his cookie with his class.  He got to wear a crown  for his birthday!

Joey wanted Illinois Street Emporium cookies for the treats for his class!

Joey is such a wonderful kid. We can't believe how quickly the time has gone. We are so thankful for him, the gifts and talents he has and his kindness and love for his friends and family -

LOVE YOU JOEY! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Joe, Megan, Joey, Morgan, Jameson and Baby Jackson!

Wordless Wednesday (and did happen on Wed!)