Sing, Dance and SHINE

The stage is a fabulous, fun, and EXCITING place for children to learn about dependability, responsibility, commitments, punctuality, cooperation, patience and work! Two of my children just finished a semester long drama course, culminating in a full length musical production of Fiddler on the Roof. Yes, it was intense. The rehearsals were long and frequent. The hours were tiring, and juggling school, family, rehearsals, friends, sleep, church, basketball, and work was tricky, but the benefits far outweigh the difficulties.  (No flash photography was allowed so this is the best I could do)

Tevye and Lazar Wolf (my son, on the right)

My daughter, during the wedding scene

Involvement in the musical truly forced my children to use their time wisely, picking and choosing what they could handle and what was too much; using every extra minute to finish some math problems or do the assigned reading for English class.

The memories and experiences will be with them FOREVER! They will remember this time in their lives with much satisfaction in accomplishing a great work.

"To Life, To Life..."

"Anatevka, Anatevka"

Farewell...

Old relationships grow, and new friendships are made. 

Patience and tolerance for others is developed.  Being on time is stressed and commitment is expected.

Talents they didn't know they had, blossom and expand. New skills are acquired and the chance to SHINE is encouraged and available.

Leadership opportunities abound and unique experiences are there for the taking. Working with many different people teaches cooperation and problem solving skills.

Yes, the great times with good friends are worth every minute...

Congratulations on a grand performance! Now, life can slow down a little bit, and you can catch up on some much needed sleep!!

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

The Christmas Card

For almost 20 years I have followed in the footsteps of my parents, and grandparents. How is that? I've created and sent out a Christmas Card every year of our marriage. I started doing it because that's what Mom and Dad did. They probably did it because that's what Dad's parents did. However, it's turned into a tradition that is much more than that...

Reason #1: I use the end of the year to write a Christmas letter about our family's doings. This is a great way to preserve family memories, traditions and compile a history for future posterity. The children love to read about themselves and it makes them feel important and part of a legacy. Someday, I hope to create a book of some kind for each of them, displaying the years of the Bushman Family Christmas Memories.

Reason #2: I create this...

 

...so we can enjoy this...

I LOVE hearing from family and friends at this time of year. I LOVE seeing other people's creativity. I LOVE to see the children grown. I LOVE to hear of achievements and adventures. I LOVE to keep tabs on those who I care about. This is one of my most favorite parts of Christmas time. Our children vie for the job of opening the day's Christmas Cards that come in the mail. We LOVE it!

We still have the cards and pictures on the door even though every other inkling of Christmas has been put away. I just don't want to take you down...I love you all too much!

So to those who still send Christmas Cards....Thank you and Stick-to-it! It brings us joy, many months after the tree is taken down and the treats are all eaten up. It helps me keep my tradition live and well, too!

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

Family Fitness "Fun-For-All"

Enough is Enough! Time to make changes to our family's habits! As you know, I love charts! I love tracking progress and having a visual for responsibilities, tasks, to-do's, and such. So, I created a chart. It's our Family Fitness Plan. Right now, four of us are actively involved in the plan, but we're making changes that the whole family will benefit from.

Here's a copy of our plan:

This is a point based chart that rewards you for doing GOOD things. For every glass of water, mark a box and that's one point. For no seconds, that day, one point. You'll see two boxes for exercise - at least 20 minutes per box for two possible points. Sweets has been our family's down fall so if you have a "no sweet" day, five points are awarded if your box is checked. Three boxes for vitamins/herbs/health drink. Two boxes for choosing GOOD snacks, rather than junky snacks. Total up your points for the day and at the end of the week. Whoever has the most points is the winner...they get a special outing with a small treat that doesn't go against their points for that day. Having a winner is a fun thing, but the biggest reason I put this together is to have a system that we're all working towards, to help encourage each other, and to work as a whole for a common goal.

This has been very beneficial for me. I love seeing it right in front of me - all the good choices I've made. It encourages me to continue to make good choices and WANT to strive for health and fitness. I'm also amazed at how well my children have taken to this plan. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of encouragement and push, to get on our way, whatever it may be. For example, it's all good and fine to tell you son, "Drink more water and cut down on your treats", but without a plan to do it and others encouraging and doing it with him, it's about impossible. 

I noticed this with my oldest daughter who is trying to graduate in three years, not four. She had to take an extra PE class via independent study to make the requirements. She chose a jogging class. She had to jog 140 miles to get an A for that portion of the course. She dragged her feet all through the summer, not taking advantage of the nice, warm weather. We knew she was getting close to her deadline so I decided to encourage and do it with her. I got her up one morning and said, "We're going to the gym." For weeks I went with her every day to get her miles in. I ended up hurting my foot so I quit going but she kept it up. She has 25 miles to go and she's now working on it herself. It took that extra encouragement from Mom to get her going. How beneficial it is to work towards a goal with someone else to push and keep you going!

Thoughts on the plan: Don't buy and bring home any sweets...it's too tempting!! Cut down on portion size! Get your water points because that alone will help tremendously. Maybe consider more points for exercise? I'm not very motivated by two exercise points when I can get two points drinking more water. Have LOTS of good snacks in the house so there's a wide variety of choices. Now the key is to Stick-to-it! Wish us luck!!

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

Give 'em some "space"

My six your old daughter is homeschooled. She's having a hard time getting motivated about working on her school work. A few weeks ago, she was talking about a desk or her own work space. Light Bulb Moment! This is what she set up...

She's been more excited about doing her work ever since. I find it fascinating that many times our children can answer their own questions or come up with their own solutions to difficulties in their lives. As parents, don't we always want to come to their aid and SOLVE the problem? If we give our children a little space, many times they'll do it themselves. Isn't that what we want for our children...to learn to be independent and govern themselves? Who would have thought that her own "space", a little desk with her lamp and boom-box, would aid in accomplishing her studies? Good job, Babe!

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

It's that Time Again - Part 3

The shredding company just came and picked up my year's supply of documents that need to be destroyed. It's a beautiful thing to be rid of stuff that you don't need anymore! Wow - what a load off your shoulders, no matter what it is, to give or throw stuff away and have less responsibility for "things". I LOVE using a shredding company - no more jammed shredders that can't keep up with the demand. 

So, back to that time again...When we were first married, I had a full-sized filing cabinet FILLED. I had every statement from the power company and each paystub for the last several years, for example. I had file folder after file folder for every payee. It was really ridiculous. I was dealing with paperwork from five years ago which made my life that much more complicated. I've found that RARELY do you need to go back and look something up for years passed. 

Here are a few tips that have helped me be and FEEL organized:

1. Instead of having a folder for each item (power bill, cell phone bill, city bill, mortgage statement, etc.), I have a folder for each quarter. Everything that was paid or pertains to that quarter is placed in that folder. Some categories have a yearly folder - medical receipts, report cards, car maintenance, bank statements, etc. Business expenses are the same way - quarterly folders for most things, yearly folders for some things. Those folders sit on my desk in a rack for easy access all year long. If I have to look back for something, it's right there, ready to go. Once the new year rolls around, all of those folders (already organized from putting things where they belong when they come in) go into a bucket that sits in my office for the next year. I also put the corresponding year's receipts, tax returns, check duplicates - anything that should be saved for record keeping. That way, if I need to get anything out for reference purposes, it is easily accessible.

Folders are easily accessible for use and organization through the year

Most of my 2010 info - ready to sit in a bucket in the closet until next year.

 2. Once next year rolls around, my 2010 bucket will go into long term storage in the deep, dark recesses of our basement under-the-stairs closet. I have six storage boxes down there. When a year ends, I find the oldest box (well, my son finds the oldest box), I dump it out for shredding (see intro), replace the contents with the 2010 bucket, relabel the box, and then my short term bucket is ready for 2011. I don't look through the box that I'm destroying. I just dump it. What am I going to need from 2003? If the IRS doesn't need it anymore, neither do I!!! Now, if for any reason I have to go down to my boxes that are out of sight, out of mind (there's the FEEL of organization that I love), everything is organized for a quick find. Luckily, this doesn't happen very often.

3. Like I talked about in part 2, receipts are sorted into envelopes and then kept for the year in big manila envelopes. If something needs to be returned, a receipt is more easily accessed if they're organized into months. The big envelopes are placed into my short term storage bucket. http://sticktoitcharts.blogspot.com/2011/01/its-that-time-again-part-2.html

Monthly receipts, organized into months and kept together for the year

4. QuickBooks and Quicken are my friends. I use these programs to categorize income and expenses for great reporting and budgeting. Look into using a financial organization program to make your life a little bit easier. Once this is completely updated for the year, we call our accountant and he does all his whiz-bang stuff and files our taxes for us. Through the year, I keep a folder of tax info for that year so it's all in one place. I scan the info for him and send him all the docs he needs. Once the taxes are completed and he send us our final packet, I scan our tax returns so that I have them on the computer in case we need them for a loan or whatever purpose might come up. That way I don't have to go down to outer-darkness to dig them up.

5. Taxes are such a beast then when it's all done, we got out to eat as a family for a "Completed Taxes Celebration". Looking forward to that one!

So, that's the gist of my financial organization. Right now, I'm in stage 4 - getting the financial programs completely up to date so we can get our numbers together. Oh, it feels good to get organized first thing in the year. Not only does it get last year squared away, but the new year gets off to the right start, too. Good luck with your tax preparations!

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

It's that Time Again - Part 2

I think of myself as the ultimate record keeper. Not that I want to be... I guess I've learned from prior years, that it pays to be organized and have your ducks in a row. Thus, I keep EVERY receipt. If the receipt does not come out of the gas pump like it's supposed to, I'm the type that will go into the convenience store to get a copy of the receipt. So, how do I organize and keep track of these receipts?

I separate them by month - 2 envelopes per month, one for business transactions, one for family transactions. I'm really good at the beginning of the year to put the receipts in the proper envelopes. When April rolls around, I start to fall apart. By the end of the year, I have a huge pile of unsorted receipts. Solution? My children are the ultimate sorters! :) They sort them into the correct months and then I go through and sort them by business/personal. Last year I recruited several of them to help me. This year, my lucky 14 year old daughter did it for me. What a trooper!

One positive of this exercise, is it's teaching my children to be aware and conscientious about their own finances and record keeping. They bring me all of their receipts, which is a start. At least they don't throw them away! Now, for my oldest daughter, I need to help her come up with an organization system since she'll be leaving home in six months. AAAHHHHHH!!!! I'm not ready for this (the daughter leaving home part)! I'll let you know what I come up with.

So, if you're in your January funk (Suz), sort some receipts and get those finances squared away. Don't wait until the last minute because April isn't going to be any less busy than January!!

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

It's that Time Again - Part 1

January always brings thoughts of tax season, wrapping up the last year's paperwork, getting the accounting software up to date, shredding the paperwork for the seventh year (2003 in this case) and getting all in order for a new year to begin. Being caught up in this yearly project always presents a dilemma - how do you get it done with the children at your feet? It's always more complicated for our family because we have several businesses that we run. Paperwork seems to cover the house for the month of January. Through the years, I've learned to involve my children in helping with this process. 

Children are GREAT envelope openers...

At the end of the year, I have stacks of unopened envelopes...paperwork that you need to keep but don't necessarily need day to day. I turn those envelopes over to my kids. It gives them a project, they feel like they're helping and contributing and it keeps them busy so I can be busy, too.

Look out for important things that may end up in the trash can...

 ...or that accidentally get ripped.

 Good thing for tape!

So, this is part of our "paper all over the place" disaster

This job happily entertained for an hour. Yes, there were a few incidents but they were worth it 'cause I got a lot accomplished without children scattering receipts or whining at my feet. One thing that was interesting - my four year old son took ownership of his job, neatly sorting his papers into a stack. He didn't want ANYONE to touch it or mess it up. Did this give him a little glimpse into what Mom goes through and may he think twice about getting into Mom's paperwork? I think it did! 

I have a lot to share - more financial organization tips and involving/teaching your children about it at the same time.

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

Lessons from the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Part 3

I LOVE the Christmas season. I cherish the traditions and the memories that are made. When I see the excitement on my children's faces for Christmas stories, decorating the tree, eating treats, delivering gifts, going to Grandma's house, wrapping, more eating, or sitting in a dark room with just the Christmas lights on, it brings me back to my own childhood and the amazing joy I still remember feeling. That brings me to my next lesson...

6. The Ultimate Tradition - Simple Fun

Our Christmas Eve tradition is our longest running tradition - going back 35+ years when I was just a little girl. We have a delicious dinner and then act out the nativity story, dressing up and singing songs throughout the event. This is such simple fun but it really brings out the spirit of Christmas and why we celebrate it. The simpleness of the event reminds me of the simple surroundings that Jesus Christ was born into - also, how simple his teachings are so that we can embrace them and follow them. Here's a glimpse of our Simple Fun:

This is tradition - the sister's picture

Loving our Baby Jesus #2 (also the cow)

Our yearly angels (they really are angels year round, too)

Wise Women!

Undressing the cow - so typical!

Our narrator (and brother) with his shepherdess? - sounds kind of sketchy

Not sure what you are...

Thinking Mom's pretty goofy...

Something was entertaining...

Adoring Baby Jesus #1

Someone is always anti so they are made the videographer...

7. It doesn't need to be BIG or cost a LOT to LOVE it
My oldest daughter's favorite gift was a turtle ring. It was a whopping $4.00 on clearance. She LOVES turtles so I knew she would love this. I was right! She told me it was her favorite gift. Wow - a simple ring brings so much joy - who would have thought? She wore it to school and everyone there coveted it, too.

Christmas Morning - The Turtle Ring!

8. Playing the innkeeper is serious business!

"There's no room in mine inn. Here is a 'dable you can 'tay in for da night." He was very proud of his role as innkeeper - providing a place for the Baby Jesus to be born.

He really took his role as innkeeper seriously! Four year olds are great memorizers, too!

9. You're never too old (or young) to sit on Santa's lap!

I love it when my big kids don't think they're too cool to visit Santa!

I love it when my little kids don't cry when they visit Santa!

10. Keep doing what you're doing

My husband likes to give this advice to people when they're on the right track - getting married, graduation, missions, etc. I guess I'll take his advice and keep doing what I'm doing. Why do I bring this up? This year, I asked each member of the family (including myself) seven questions. Their answers were the subject matter for our 2010 Christmas letter. One of the questions was, "What is your favorite Christmas tradition?" At least six people said, "Reading Christmas stories every night in December." Wow - I never realized how much this tradition meant to the family. Every night of December, before bedtime, we read a Christmas story & sing a Christmas song, along with our scriptures and prayer. We laugh and cry and rejoice in the sweet messages of the season. I have collected Christmas books and stories since we were married. We now have two large baskets full. This is one of our favorite books...

"Cracked Wheat for Christmas"

So, we'll keep doing what we're doing! Find what is meaningful to your family and keep doing what you're doing...or in other words, Stick-to-it!

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

Lessons from the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Part 2

I can only spend so much time on a blog post. So, I'm turning one huge blog post into a mini series for my own sanity. Since Part 1, I've been thinking about more lessons learned. I won't delay...

4. Have LOTS of butter knives on hand

Frosting sugar cookies with children is an interesting experience. They are so excited to see all the colors of frosting and the array of sprinkle choices. It is all so tempting! I made the stupid mistake of frosting cookies while my five oldest children were at an activity. That was a big No-No. I was stuck with frosting all of the cookies and trying to maintain order with three little people who were overly anxious to pile as much frosting on their cookie as possible. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE frosting and decorating cookies, to an extent. Give me a plate of six cookies and I'm happy. But a couple of dozen? HELP!!! Lessons learned: Give each child their own plate with one cookie at a time. Give them a separate plate with a small scoop of each color of frosting. Hand them one knife. Children are notorious for licking the knife and putting it back in the frosting. Heaven forbid, but it's true. This way, they lick the knife and put it back in their OWN frosting. Now, for managing the sprinkles...Keep the empty sprinkle bottles! Then, pour a small amount of sprinkles into the empty bottle and give it to your little one. They have SO much fun "sprinkling", but it's under control. Yes, I know...they want EVERY kind of sprinkle. Put a little of everything in one bottle, shake it up and there's a potpourri of it all, ready to be shaken and shaken on top of the mass of sugary yummyness. And note: have extra knives because you always have the "yellow frosting butter knife" licked by your two year old or some other delightful episode occur.

Yes, she looks like an orphan...for the record, this is not typical attire. She just woke up from a nap, having slept in her slip after church. No sense in getting new clothes on to get dirty, messy and sticky, right?

 See, there's the lick...

...and more licks!

She did a great job - no licking No-No's from her

Hooray - they came home and rescued me!

 

Do we really have to frost cookies for Valentine's Day? Not if we remember my motto: "Just because we've done it before, doesn't mean we have to do it again - unless we really want to!"

5. Take the TIME to try something NEW!

This year we decided to make memories and not get caught up in Christmas commercialism. We had a special Christmas celebration over a weekend in December. We rented a little house out in the country for a down home celebration, based around our favorite Christmas book, Cracked Wheat for Christmas. What a fabulous time we had as a family doing things we've always wanted to do but have never done.

Stringing Popcorn

This is sooo fun! If you've never done it with your family, make it a MUST DO for Christmas, 2011. Make sure you double your thread and tie a not at the end so you don't have to constantly re-thread needles. Even the baby of the family tried it and LOVED it!

"Snow" Much Fun
We are not really a "snow family". We don't ski, sled, snowboard, snowmobile, etc. From what I can recollect, we have never had a family snowball fight or built a snowman together. Well, now we have!! This was the next best thing after stringing popcorn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The little kids were so cold by the time the snowman was completed so Dad took them inside. Thus, only part of us are in the picture.

Gingerbread House

Yes, it may seem kind of pathetic, but we have never made a gingerbread house! As part of our celebration, we bought a kit to make things a little bit faster and simpler. It was still fun!

 

 

 

 

Homemade Decorations

We had a great time making paper chains and putting together homemade ornaments. Our little tree looked so beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK - That's enough learned for today! We hope you all had a fabulous Christmas or Holiday Celebration!

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