CHRIS

ALLI & FAITH COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL

Tuesday

Well, today seems to be a lot calmer than yesterday when, whatever could go wrong did. On days like that you seem like you'll never make it through, but then, suddenly, it's the next day and you have a new chance to see what adventures will come.

So far today is pretty boring but I'm sure that won't last long as soon as everyone gets home from school and work. Allison is home today because the school kept all the kindergardeners home since the new ones for next year are registering today. She is having fun watching whatever she wants on TV without having to fight w/her older sisters and brother. It's nice to be spoiled sometimes =)

How Clean is Your House?

There's a show that was on Lifetime Network, which I found on DVD at Netflix called,"How Clean is Your House" that I've been watching lately. It is so interesting, but so disgusting. There is a team of two British ladies that go into people's homes that are filthy, I mean FILTHY and help them clean it and give them cleaning tips. 

I watched about 20 episodes and got thoroughly disgusted. You cannot imagine how bad some people's houses are. It also made me vow to myself that I would NEVER let my house get like that. So, since I've watched the shows I have been cleaning and scrubbing almost nonstop. In fact, Kaydee actually called me a clean freak today which, for those of you who really know me is the LAST nickname I would ever have!! LOL!!

The only drawback is cleaning constantly with 5 kids and a hubby who's still set in his slobby ways, which I shared with him until this week, has made me a tad cranky and nagging. Not only am I constantly cleaning, but constantly reminding everyone else to clean up after themselves too, which is making them also cranky . Hopefully I can figure out how to ask a little nicer and pretty soon they'll get the hang of better habits so there won't be so much nagging.

Stubborn is as stubborn does

You know how most parents say, " I hope you have kids that are just like you."? Well, that has definitely happened, 5 times over! For anyone who knows Brian and I, you know that we are two of the most stubborn and hard-headed people there are. Our genes have definitely gone on.

At least once a day one of our girls throws a tantrum about something or other. It's either something they want or something they do not want to do. Now, we do not give in and just try to ride out the storm, but it doesn't seem to be lessening any. We used to think, "Oh, it's just a stage." But now we know it's those stubborn genes that have found their way into our little girls.

Kaydee, Aimee & Allison are smart enough to know that that kind of behavior does not fly out in the world.  All of their teachers, school and church, have said how perfectly they behave , it's just when they get home that they really let it out. Faith, unfortunately, has not learned yet that other people are watching out in the world. On Sunday, right when church ended, I was gathering everyone up when Faith wanted a gift bag that Allison had received from her teacher. I asked Alli if Faith could hold it and she said,"No." So I told Faith she couldn't have it and you would've thought I had stabbed her with the shrieks that followed right there in the middle of the church hallway with everyone watching. 

Until I can really instill to my girls that they don't always get what they want or avoid unpleasant things they do not want to do or eat I will just have to continue to remain calm, walk away and ignore, ignore, ignore.