Our friend... the Roku

No more $100 cable bill! Meet our friend, the Roku!

We have never had a $100 cable bill, but many people we know do. We converted from half that amount over a year ago to this little streaming device, the Roku - www.roku.com

No, you cannot access LIVE Jazz games or prime time TV (not that I would want to), but it allows you to connect to your Netflix account for instant streaming to your TV, Amazon on Demand (for more instant streaming movie choices) and other free specialty channels like Hulu, news, radio, and spiritual channels. There are other paid channels one may subscribe to as well.

This past weekend, we had the marvelous opportunity to watch General Conference http://lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng at home because of the Mormon Channel on Roku. Since we do not have any kind of TV access, it was a fabulous experience to view the conference, not just listen to it on the radio.

I like the Roku device vs. standard TV or cable because:

• It forces you to make a choice and look up something worthwhile, rather than scroll aimlessly through bogus channels, looking for something to watch. 
• It takes your monthly bill down to $0.00 after the purchase of the Roku which is as low as $59. (If you want to stream from your Netflix account, you do have your $8/month fee)
• Many movie choices are available to rent without having to run down to RedBox or Blockbuster. Convenience! 
• Entertainment becomes more of a "plan and do", rather than an always-on annoyance.
• The remote is simple and easy to use...less than 10 buttons!! Even kids can figure it out. (Maybe that's not such a good thing) Or should I say, even Mom can figure it out?
• DVD purchases and DVD storage are becoming obsolete. Many of our current DVDs are accessible through these Roku channels. Also, movies can be purchased through Amazon Instant Video to be watched over and over again. No scratched or lost DVD's. No freezing or skipping. It's fabulous!
• It helps a family focus on what's really of worth or valuable to watch. Do you watch the football game "just because it's on?"

Thanks, Roku, for saving us money, giving us options, and allowing a "choice" rather than an "expected".

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Vote for Bushman

Forget Obama, Romney, Perry, and Huntsman...

Vote for Bushman!!

We had a taste of election mania this Fall with our oldest son running for Student Body President. He was nominated by a classmate and made the cuts, taking the election between him and one other boy. The night before his speech and election day, he created a flyer and recruited his sister to help him out.

Well, he made a great run but ended up losing by two votes. The other boy was a Senior. He is an early-graduating Junior. Even though you didn't win, you tried and gained experience. Also, you were a fine example of a good loser and that's a lesson in and of itself!

Involvement in Student Government is an extra bang for college applications, scholarships and resumes. Consider urging your child to take a stab at it.

The next week, the school held elections for House and Senate Student Government. So now, instead of one possible candidate, we have two student government leaders.

Introducing...

7th Grade: Senator Bushman

11th Grade: Representative Bushman

Congratulations, boys, for being examples of integrity, honesty, loyalty and leadership, such that your peers chose you to be their leaders this year. With leaders like you, there is hope for our country!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Swirlin' love in an iPad Session

Lessons from an iPad Session...

 
As I was looking through the pictures on my camera today, I noticed several that a child took of a sibling's iPad session. Yes, it was beneficial to physically see evidence of what Apps they are playing and/or viewing. Not that there's anything on there that I wouldn't approve of. That's the beauty of password protected app downloading! But more than that, it gave me a valuable lesson about my life right now...

I feel like my life is swirling in craziness right now. My mind truly spins with all of the tasks that are placed in front of me, not knowing how I am going to accomplish them. I get overwhelmed and do not handle the stress of the big picture like I should...

The Swirling and Spinning of Life

As I dive in to tackle something, patterns begin to form and organization is hopefully on the horizon...

With action, the swirling turns to patterns and organization

My "Care Bears" are in my life to give me encouragement and support. I could not accomplish all that I do without them...

CareBears = Family and Friends

Keeping on the path, holding tight to consistency, never giving up...are stepping stones to success. Don't forget to enjoy the beauty in the journey...

Stepping Stones of Success

My children are looking to me for direction on how to handle adversity, problems, stress and disappointment. Am I being the example that I should?...

"Should we pull our hair out, too, Mom?"

Even though I don't measure up like I should, I know my family thinks I'm a "Star"!...

Just keep smiling!

I do feel the love, even through the spinning and swirling.  With this love, I can accomplish anything (even if it is just one thing on the never-ending list)!...

Sorry, this one's blurry...I can still feel the LOVE, though.

Who would have thought you could derive such analysis from Care Bears and Painting Apps? Whatever keeps me going for another day!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

The Blessing of the "Odd Ball"

Odd Numbers: 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19...

Birthdays + Odd Numbers = Happy Mama

It all started with my Mama. When we were young, she decided to have "friend" birthday parties on the even years: 4,6,8,10,12. That meant the odd years were reserved for "family" parties. I am a product of my mother so I adopted the same pattern: odd birthday, no friends; even birthday, friends. Simple & straight-forward; the child knows the pattern and doesn't try to talk you into a friends party when it's an odd year.

Oh, the blessings of having three odd birthdays in a row - within five weeks of each other. And, the rest of 2011 (two more birthdays to go) is odd, too.

#17: Easy to please, happy with everything, simplistic and grateful

Sisters decorated for the event

Finally a display case for his autographed Jazz basketball

"I just want a homemade pumpkin cake." Bless you!

Ahhh, Brazilian lemonade. Tradition: Dinner with Mom and Dad.

Happy to get the latest and greatest calculator...Nerd!

Time for a haircut!

#3: Sooooo excited, loved every minute, enthusiastic, full of smiles (and a few frowns)

"That one's Flicka!" Our homemade horse pasture and arena "Flicka" cake, complete with handmade toothpick fencing

What would we do without big sister?

We love horsies! Love the shoes on the wrong feet!

What would we do without yet another big sister?

Our favorite friends: Dora, Boots, Diego and Baby Jaguar

The Bike Assemblers...Thanks, Boys!

#5:So patient, changed clothes 3 times, content, happy to be 5

Outfit #1: How did we get the "open one present in the morning" tradition?

Outfit #2: Ready for Combat!

Basketball Boy #4

Outfit #3: He wanted the skateboard cake - so glad I went store bought this time!

Everyone wants to take out the candles!!!

Whew! Even family parties can be exhausting!! Happy Birthday to my three "odd balls". Thanks for making my life a little bit easier this year. Now, next year will be a different story...it's an even year for 6 of the 8! 

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Sometimes "Childs" just Take that Long!

My daughter was washing her hands in the bathroom, taking what seemed like, forever.
Dad: "Honey, get out of the water."
Honey: "Dad, I'm washing my hands."
Dad: "I know, but you can't take that long, child."
Honey: "Dad, sometimes childs just take that long!"

Thanks for the lesson, babe!

I love this reminder: Sometimes "childs" just take that long! I've had several experiences lately where my children's time-table is not cutting it with my expectations and desires. So, I need a wake-up call from my seven year old to tell me, "Chill out, Mom and let us handle it on our schedule, not yours." 

Examples:

1. He hates reading. What? Let's work on comprehension and see how it goes. Can the love for reading please come a little faster? OK, maybe not LOVE - how about willingness to do it? Please, can we not have a fight every night????

2. She knows how to go in the toilet but just doesn't do as much and as fast as I'd like. But maybe the timing is because I'm not as consistent as I should be. There it is: another thing Mom needs to focus on.

3. Decisions are not made as quickly as I'd like, and once it's made, the decision isn't one I'd have my child choose. Please stay on the path and don't take any detours or scenic byways! But maybe that's the teaching moment; NOT my lectures or pleas.

4. Yes, I know you want to help with dinner, but it will take three times longer to get the meal on the table. Could you please just speed it up a little bit??

5. We've been rearranging rooms at our house. Can we please get our rooms together a little faster? I'm tired of the chaos and disorganization!! 

6. Will the coughing ever stop? Weeks and weeks of everyone coughing drove me crazy! Now, it's a bruised/fractured rib due to the coughing. Hurry and heal, rib, so my child won't suffer any more!

7. I know you're involved in basketball, choir, ACT prep, church, drama, school work, lawn mowing, friends,and extra classes...but could you please clean your bathroom...TONIGHT!!

It all comes down to patience, realistic expectations, and allowing time to be your friend. Don't rush the process...enjoy the moment!

Here's a thought: What about my time frames that don't meet others' expectations? We won't go there now, will we.

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Averted or Accomplished? Think Contentment

Handing me an eggroll, my sweet little guy (5 tomorrow!!) asks, 

"Mom, how many points is this?"

Wow, is Weight Watchers consuming the life of my five year old, too?

So I've been using these a lot lately...

...and eating a lot of these...

Although, I prefer "Lightly Salted"

Focusing on Mom makes a lot of other things go down the drain. Like this:

My laundress moved away!

Or, you rely on a three year old to clean the living room:

Love the pillow configuration!

So that's how she does it...stuff it all under the couch

I've come to the conclusion that when Mom makes her well-being a priority, other aspects of home and family life are going to suffer. There is just not enough time in the day to do EVERYTHING. 

I try waking up earlier. Well, I just have to go to bed earlier. I try setting a goal each day to accomplish something that I don't think will get done. Great idea! However, then someone is sick or the dishwasher isn't working or your child's ear gets blasted by a bike pump (story for a later day).

So, what is it going to be today? Is the goal going to be accomplished or averted? Either way, I try to find contentment in what is achieved and avoid looking at the disasters that will just have to be saved for another day. Off to fitness class...

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Scraping: Cool Thing or Fun Thing?

4 year old: "I want to scrape the apples."

3 year old: "I scrape the apples?"

Making gluten-free apple crisp last night was so wonderful 'cause I didn't have to peel the apples! I just purchased two new peelers...I guess I need to buy a couple more; they were in high demand! Either I don't peel apples enough and this is a "cool thing", or cooking together can be a "fun thing". I think both apply. 

Next time, can we please "scrape" onto a paper towel or grocery bag or into a trash can to avoid peels all over the floor?

 More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

"Smell the Roses" and Remember, it's a Purple Shirt!

One of my worst fears is first, having a missing child, and second, 

not being able to remember what they were wearing that day!

Can you relate to this or am I just a bad mother? Truly, with all of the things I need to do and remember, I sometimes have a hard time recalling what my children are wearing that day. Was it a purple shirt or a red shirt? Jeans or shorts? Flip flops or tennis shoes? 

My little daughter taught me some lessons today about observation...

Grandma came to visit this morning. Like usual, when she sees a clean hamper of clothes that needs to be folded, she goes to work. My little lady LOVES to fold clothes when there's someone to fold with, so she quickly went over to assist. Grandma is a great folder but she doesn't know whose clothes are whose, which is understandable. With each item of clothing, she asked our cutie pie whose it was. This three year old could tell her whom each article belonged to, right down to the boxers....and she was correct, every time. It was incredible!

Telling Grandma whom the shorts belong to.

Folding brothers' boxers doesn't phase her. She hasn't moved into the "cooties" phase yet.

Notifying Grandma that she put the shorts in the wrong pile!

To me, a pair of jeans is a pair of jeans. A pink shirt looks a lot like another pink shirt. A pair of black basketball shorts is very similar to another child's black shorts. How is it that a three year old can pinpoint the smallest details and place ownership to them?

Observation...the act of noticing or perceiving. I know little children learn through observation, so how much more could I learn if I were to be more observant? Would I notice that one of my children was having a bad day, is sad or lonely? Would I notice an opportunity to serve? Would I see the blessings instead of focusing on what I don't have? Would I see all of the fingernails that need to be cut or the hair that needs to be brushed? (Well, I don't have a problem seeing those things.) Observing the little things that get overlooked because we don't stop to "smell the roses" will bring more blessings to us individually, as well as those around us. 

And who knows, maybe being more observant will help me recall what my kids are wearing today or tomorrow or next week!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Lose Teeth and Master Money

The note was written on the computer.

This same note was printed and put under her pillow.

The next morning, she excitedly found and read the note.

I forgot to close down the program on my computer.

Of course, she saw the same note on my computer screen.
"It's you!!!", she delightedly exclaimed.

Yes, I am my kids' tooth fairy! The above vignet really did happen several months ago. I can't believe I didn't close down Print Shop where I had written a cute little note to my daughter from the Tooth Fairy. 

I knew she was already a bit suspicious so I freely told her that I am indeed the Tooth Fairy and she was sworn to secrecy.

Sunday night she bravely pulled out another loose tooth, on her own.

She pulled me aside and whispered, "Can you come tonight?"

Truth be told, I'm not very good at playing Tooth Fairy. She usually doesn't appear for a few days, sometimes a week. I finally get to the point where I have to email myself a reminder. Is it old age or just so many people to manage that my memory can't hold it all? Hopefully, the latter! As far as the reward, the later I am, the more my kids receive to make up for the tardiness. The usual loot is a dollar per tooth plus a candy bar or some gum; this turns a traumatic experience into a delightful one. 

My niece just lost her tooth and her mother explained on Facebook about her "Tooth Fairy" moment, "The tooth fairy left coins for her to count and keep. When she masters counting them she promised to bring another surprise."

I LOVE this! Use every moment to teach. What a great idea to encourage her daughter to learn money counting skills. She's motivated to practice so the Tooth Fairy will bring another surprise. However, there's one flaw in this logic... the Tooth Fairy has to remember TWICE per tooth, not just once.Oh boy, more remembering.

The Tooth Fairy has not visited my sweet girl yet, so, I'm going to use my sister's idea and get the money counting mastered!

Help your child on her way towards mastering money with the Stick-to-it Money Management System. 

 

See how Tooth Fairy coins and dollars can be turned into big savings over time...that is, if the Tooth Fairy gets with it!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Supervision by A Brain-Dead Mama

"A burger, some fries, a shake to eat;

It will really and truly be a great treat!

So, come and share in all the fun,

But Mom will be there so walk, don't run.

My 14 year old daughter is a delight, a pure joy! 

She is dedicated, responsible, fun, obedient, self-governed, kind, and helpful. I'm confident with her choice of friends and happy with the activities they choose to do. However, that doesn't mean that I'm fine with no supervision, especially when boys are involved!

A few months ago she asked if a group of her friends could go to the local burger 'n shake spot, JCW's. Sure, why not? It's a group of kids, a NICE group of kids...let me know the logistics.

My daughter soon informed me that one of her friends could not go if there was no adult supervision. Of course...why didn't I think of that? "Brain-dead" moment. Brain Dead or B.D. I'm thankful to that mother who took a stand and woke me up a bit. Yes, they're great kids. However, they're still young and especially when the genders are mixed, supervision is best! 

We don't want any of this going on...

 So, I got the privilege of playing supervisor. It really was a fun job...

It's good for our youth to learn about and interact with the opposite gender. Let's just make sure it's at the right time and with the proper supervision. Hopefully, I can avoid more Brain Dead moments in the future...

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!

Sabbath Thoughts: Earth Life vs. College Life

 "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things

whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them"

Abraham 3:25

In one week we celebrated our youngest turning three...

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!

 and sent our oldest off to college. 

Ready to conquer the world!

Quite the contrast! The day came so soon. It seems like she was just little, starting her life of learning and growing. 

1st Birthday - 1994

I've been thinking a lot about the similarities between sending off a child to college, leaving home for the first time, and our Heavenly Father sending us to Earth to gain experience and knowledge. Here it goes...

• We were taught well, prepared to come to Earth, just as she's been prepared for 18 years to leave home.

• We were excited for the adventure....a chance to prove ourselves, use our agency, establish relationships and learn. She is excited for her adventure....a chance to prove to herself that she can do this, a chance to use her agency without Mom and Dad giving their opinions, a chance to gain new relationships, and to learn many new things!!

• I'm sure Heavenly Father was sad to see us go, just as Sam and I are sad to see her go. (Yes, I've texted her several times to tell her she's missed!!) On the contrary, He was happy for our opportunity, just as we are thrilled for her new stage of life.

• Heavenly Father is delighted when we pray, telling Him our joys and sorrows. We are thrilled for any communication we get from our daughter. (She told us she'd call every night...ha ha...we told her she'd be having too much fun to remember her parents)

• When we return home after this life, I'm sure we will be greeted with open arms. When she comes home (even if it's just for the weekend), our arms are wide open, for sure!!!

Oh, if saying goodbye were only as easy on the heart as analyzing similarities between the pre-existence and college life! I guess if it were that easy, it wouldn't matter so much...but it does!

More to Come...but until then, Stick-to-it!