SassyKids at Childhood Myths

Celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:57:00 +0000

If you come to this page, we've gone to WordPress:)
Please come join me at my new site:

childhood myths

This link will take you to the blog page. But you can also go to our home page, which is quite cute, and other pages which may be important to tell you about our workshops, books, and other events.
We have the whole enchilada when dealing with Parenting and/or Teaching tips and techniques. Please come visit at our new 'place' and let us know what you think.

we'll celebrate anything!!

97 followers...oh,no!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Hello all my blogger friends!! Over this coming weekend I will be moving to WordPress, and I'm freaking out!!! I just began this blogging adventure at the end of October so I still have quite a learning curve to work with. I am now moving so that all of our website info will coordinate with each other...our workshops, blog, events, sassy kids parties, etc....will all match and fit together.
But, because I am still pretty technologically illiterate, moving from what seems at least a little familiar to me to a totally new atmosphere is very hard! I hope you will join me on this new adventure.

this is what I feel like right now!!

   I had just gotten to 97 followers on Google Friend Connect and now I believe I have to start over:( So...I am hoping that you will join this new site and continue to follow our Childhood Myths blogs. I'm sure most of you remember how excited you were when you reached the 100 follower pinnacle....I was SOOO close. Please help so that I will be ready to plan a giveaway when I reach that peak!
   The new site is childhoodmyths.net for the home page...you can then follow from the blog site. If you have questions for me or ideas that may help me please feel free to let me know by way of comment or email.
   For my FaceBook people, my new site will automatically share the blog with you...but it will not look the same and will not have the Sassy Kids name, but will have the Childhood Myths name instead. Hopefully, you will continue to visit and comment. You have no idea how much your comments mean to me...thank you so much!!
   If anyone from the blog or from FaceBook is interested in having us present a parent workshop...any size, from a few parents, to a classroom's parents, a school, community group, church group...or a teacher workshop of any size, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to present ideas and tips to help make parenting and /teaching easier for any and all groups.
   Any hints you have for us about the blog and how to set it up to be helpful to you, just let us know;)

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Happiness Tuesdays #15

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Happiness Counts!!!
I am beginning Happiness Tuesdays to tell you some things that make me happy and to share with you quotes, websites, and photos to make you happy!

Happiness Tuesdays #15

Here are three things that make me happy:

Last week's happiness was all about Scott's birthday. This week's is all about my mom's birthday!!! She doesn't talk about age, but if you know my age...she is 26 years older than that ;)
My mom is beautiful, strong, independent, social, kind, and busy, busy, busy!! She has always been a role model for many, so today let's celebrate my wonderful mother!!

with her mother and father

in high school

with her mom and siblings

with my dad

with my brother and me...and with my dad

the 4 Horns

with me and F2

with Carl, Dan and Carol, Michelle, Tom, and Gail

with Michelle and Julie

with Chad and Scott

Mom and Carl

with the Finkbeiner family

with the Horn family,
Mom and Carl with the 4 kids

with Diane's family,
with Dan's family,
with both Gail's and Tom's families

Mom and Carl with Chad and Scott

with mom in Feb. 2011

Happy Birthday to the best mom in the world. Love you bunches, Helen Gallimore :)

Another way to preserve memories of a beautiful life...remember to save those photos!!

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Holding on to Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

After F2 and I had been married for about 7 years we were clearing out some old clothing and decided we had way too many old t-shirts. But they all really meant something to us, whether sweet, silly, or downright gross. So F2 cut out the fronts or backs of the shirts and put them into this collage-ish collection, glued onto foam core. It has hung out in the garage since that time...about 35 years. It always makes me smile:)

After F2 died when the boys were in high school, I could not part with any of his stuff for years...see grief during the holidays. F2 had always collected t-shirts. He loved them, all kinds...from trips, from establishments, for cars, for beer, anything was fair game. When he died he had TONS of t-shirts that I couldn't and wouldn't let go of. After 14 years I decided to put these shirts into memory quilts for the boys. Considering that I don't sew...hate it, and don't own a sewing machine...these are definitely a labor of love for my guys. A lovely neighbor sewed the fronts together from my patterns, but the rest was done completely by hand...with sore fingers, but a full heart to show for it.
This one is Scott's:

This is Chad's:

Each quilt is 7' by 7' which means that each one has well over 49 t-shirts in it....you can tell some of the squares have 2 or 4 smaller squares in them. I still have enough to make a quilt for myself, but I can take a lot more time for that. Did you think I was kidding when I said F2 loved t-shirts??? What do you think now??

I hope you always decide for yourself what is an important memory to keep. Other people may have what they think is your best interest in mind....but if I had gotten rid of all of F2's things all those years ago, I wouldn't be able to share these great memory quilts with Scott and Chad.

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Vacation Tidbits :)

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:57:00 +0000

   You all know by now that our family included 2 boys, mom, and dad...yay for us!! When we traveled we used our second-hand Starcraft conversion van. It was an awesome vehicle for cross country travel, well before concerns over gas mileage!! We could put our cooler inside containing juice pouches and drinks, sandwiches, and other snacks. The sandwiches for our family included peanut butter and jelly ALWAYS!! The males in the family had to have their pb and j's. I threw in a couple of bologna or ham sandwiches also. The boys discovered after awhile that the pb sandwiches tended to get soggier than the meat sandwiches so the numbers changed!!
   The seats reclined so the boys could nap in the car, and my passenger seat swiveled so I could sneak back to check on them or redirect their attention once they woke up. I suppose none of that is as safe as is required today, but it made traveling much more convenient. Now to mention the 'unmentionables' - bathroom issues! We were lucky that every one seemed to have quite large bladder capacities...so we didn't have a lot of stops that didn't include getting gas or seeing sights or picnicking(?). BUT, we did have a pee bottle...I know, yuck!! ...however, having 3 males traveling...it did help out. Just imagine who had the lovely task of taking this full bottle into the gas station restroom to empty and wash it out...that would be me!! Gross!
   Our travels have given all of us such great memories. Here are a few more of our trips to the national parks:

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Mammoth Caves in Kentucky

outside Rocky Mt. National Park

Mt. Rushmore

Cape Cod National Seashore

whale watch off Cape Cod

Joshua Tree

Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan

No matter where you go on your family trips, try to relieve the stress so that you can all have fun and enjoy yourselves!!

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Happiness Tuesdays #14

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Happiness Counts!!!
I am beginning Happiness Tuesdays to tell you some things that make me happy and to share with you quotes, websites, and photos to make you happy!

Happiness Tuesdays #14

Here are three things that make me happy:

Okay, this week all three things come under one category:
Scott's Birthday!!!!
My 'baby boy' has a big birthday today, yup...the big 3-0!!
Yikes, how did that happen? So, what makes me happy today?

1) he is independent and responsible
2) he is talented and resourceful
3) he is kind and compassionate

You know I could go on and on...let's just say he is more than I ever could have asked for :) I love you, Scott!!

They grow up so fast..it's so much fun! Enjoy every moment and appreciate every member of your family!

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Want to Visit a National Park???

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Family Vacation talk again :) I hope you're ready!!

Our family loved to travel to our beautiful national parks. They are truly unbelievably beautiful in all different ways. Whether you decide to travel by car or plane, stay in a campsite or lodge, hike or go on tourist excursions----it will be worth your while!! You'll see people of all ages, including kids. The best part is that you can set up what you want to do each day according to your family's needs. Here are some of our favorites:

Yellowstone National Park

watching Old Faithful

squinting in the bright sun...

Yosemite National Park

Ansel Adams-ish Half Dome

the 3 finkbeiner guys!

Grand Canyon

getting ready for a mule ride

Grand Teton National Park

ready to go camping

Mesa Verde National Park

checking out the Cliff Dwellers

Alcatraz..yup, a national park!!

you can actually lock 'em up!!

Badlands

heading to Sturgis for Bike Week

Sequoia

HUGE trees, beautiful scenery

We always enjoyed what we saw and what we learned on these great family trips!

I'll be sharing more of our favorite places to go as a family unless you all speak up and tell me not to....I don't want to be the dreaded "want to see our vacation pictures?" person!!

Have fun on vacation!
Happy Parenting!
D and C

Vacations - Unplugged?

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:34:00 +0000

We've talked about family vacations, road trips, and tourist traps already, so now here are some suggestions for you about how to enhance the family flavor of any vacation!!

With these little darlin's here, do you really need electronics sticking in your ears or fingers playing with buttons...or is all you need a camera and some fun?
When you're on the road try for an electronics embargo! No matter the age of the child, you need some conversation, play time, and family interaction. So let the kids know that they have a certain amount of time allowed for tech stuff...1 hour, 2 hours, hopefully not too much more than that. That includes all forms of technology: phones, music, DVDs, texts...if it involves a screen or ear buds, it's a part of the embargo. That also includes you!!! If you are texting or scrolling you are excluding your children from interacting with you. Whether they know it or not, that is painful!! Find fun, silly ways to spend this enforced family time. And remember, the driver gets to choose the music...that was always our rule:) But the driver should compromise by including everyone's wishes occasionally. Listening to each other's music can be enlightening..sometimes even scary!! Sharing with each other can lead to appreciating each other more.

   When you have arrived at your destination, TURN OFF your stuff!! Do you really need it? Nope!! Try to believe that you're actually allowed time away from everything and everyone! As you go out and about, leave that phone turned off and leave all other tech items in the car or room. Try to keep it off and only check it when you return to your room, or campsite, at the end of the day.
   Now's the time to engage in all the sights with your family. Have fun!! Ask questions, give them cheap cameras of their own, let them keep a journal to take notes to help them remember what they see. Help them collect tourist maps and brochures, stickers, magnets...whatever reminds them of this fantastic family vacation. Possibly give them $1 a day to either save or spend for some silly little toy or candy. Don't decide to give them more if they whine or beg though...make rules up front and stick with them. It will make the trip a more enjoyable one.

   Coming up next will be ideas for visiting our National Parks! I hope you'll come back:)

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Happiness Tuesdays #13

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:51:00 +0000

Happiness Counts!!!
I am beginning Happiness Tuesdays to tell you some things that make me happy and to share with you quotes, websites, and photos to make you happy!

Happiness Tuesdays #13

Here are three things that make me happy:

1) Sanders Bump Cake - I know it's supposed to be Bumpy...but we've always called it our Bump Cake...used only for birthdays. DEE-licious!
2) Mexican food...let's have a fiesta with burritos, fajitas, Torch Lake dip, and margaritas...hurray:) Or OLE!!
3) People who can laugh at themselves - the whole Torch Lake Group (TLG) does it constantly!!

we giggle in the winter

we giggle in the summer

our kids giggle with, and at, us

we giggle at our Mash party

we giggle at ourselves with our 'boxers' themed spring vacation

Being able to love people enough to let them make fun of you is such a great gift...we have so much fun, never having to worry about hurting someone's feelings! Feel free to make fun of us...but be ready for us to reciprocate :)

Teach your kids to lighten up and enjoy themselves...while having fun with you!!

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Stay Positive!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:08:00 +0000

No, really!!! Stay Positive!!! Put a fake smile on your face until you feel as if the weather really will get better!!
We had 68 degree temp one day, and 2 days later, this:

   This would be very pretty if it were December....

   Two days later and we have 14 degrees this AM with a high of 31...lovely, huh?
   So paste that smile on your face, giggle at the weatherman, and make your own Spring...

Even if you have to buy it at the store :))

Have a great weekend and
Happy Parenting!
D and C

Are You Ready for the Follow-Through?

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:09:00 +0000

Everyone knows how important follow-through is for tennis, golf, baseball, and bowling, right? Well, what about the follow-through for parenting? Do you follow through with consequences? How about promises? Does your "No" always mean "No"?
Your children, as they grow older, will find it easier to believe you and to trust you if you have been one who follows through in your relationship with them. I know that it's so very hard not to cave in when you see a quivering lip or a big, fat tear...or when they're bugging you to pieces with "Why not, Mommy?"....or when the darlings are throwing that proverbial tantrum in the grocery store! BUT - stop to think what will be most helpful to them for their futures - then harden your resolve, stick to your guns, and follow through with whatever you said!

someone! wants to go back in the pool :)

Your excuses: I get to change my mind if I want to...It's not that big a thing...They'll hate me! Using excuses like these makes the parenting all about you, but the idea of parenting is to PARENT in ways that lead to responsible, independent, productive young people. Your children will appreciate the boundaries you give them when they are older and those boundaries finally make sense to them (honest); but, in the meantime, you need to be their guide and protector and teach them that you mean each and every thing you say to them.

Are you sure this guy's safe??

Setting and keeping boundaries doesn't have to feel stern and angry, but it does need to feel definite. When kids know what to expect and know when you're being serious, it lets them feel secure and happier in your everyday family relationships.

happy and secure guys!!

Can you stand up and be the parent, not the buddy? I hope so! Let me know if you have a question or concern I might be able to help answer. Leave a comment or email me...I'd love to help:)

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Happiness Tuesdays #12

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:56:00 +0000

Happiness Counts!!!
I am beginning Happiness Tuesdays to tell you some things that make me happy and to share with you quotes, websites, and photos to make you happy!

Happiness Tuesdays #12
Here are three things that make me happy:

1) I love the smell of vanilla...sugar cookies, candles, room fresheners. I am sort of a smellophobe; I can't stand some odors. If I walk through the cosmetics area in a department store or (yuck) pass by one of those 'bath' stores at the mall, I almost gag! So the lovely smell of vanilla is always welcome :)
2) Chicken and dumplings...soup or plain...I love the smell of it cooking and the comfortable memories it brings!
3)Which brings me to happy thoughts of Gramma....dill for pickles, raspberries from the garden, her own chop suey, chicken gravy, frosted brownies....lovely! She's been gone since 1968, but thoughts of her are never far away :)

Here's a quote to work with this week:

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
Mother Teresa

Maybe we can all be just a little kinder to each other....

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Tricycles and Training Wheels

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Spring, Spring, yes?? no?? In Michigan you can never really be sure. We all need to take advantage of good weather whenever we see it, but I suppose that's true wherever you live, huh?
Today the temperature might be 45 degrees...

workin' that trike and 'wheels'

Have the kids get out into the fresh air anyway...they love it!
Tomorrow the temp may be 60 degrees...

lovin' riding together

Lighter jackets, but look at those smiles...out of the house, having fun!

riding those bikes to school

When the snow and ice are gone from the streets and sidewalks, off they go to school on their favorite mode of transportation!

riding rental bikes on Mackinac Island

Riding bikes becomes even more fun when the kids are able to rent bikes while on vacation. They can help plan the route, decide where they would like to go, and have fun as a family.

are you ready?

Are you able to let your kids have messy fun??? Some of our most delightful times with the kids....spring puddles!!! F2 and I had always loved walking in the rain and, yes, stomping through puddles...so we just naturally encouraged the kids to enjoy the same process. Here's how it goes....have the kids put on junky (easily cleaned) clothing, get your camera out, and have them speed through any puddles they can find. This is what it looks like:

ahhhh!

Does it look like fun?? So many giggles and shrieks! They LOVE it. They also love the 'skunk stripe' they get up the back of their shorts and shirts :) Water and mud...sounds like boys, right? I'll bet the girls would like it too. And now, for the teachable moment...

When the kids finish riding through the puddles they have a job to do...every time!! They must hose down their bikes and then completely dry them before putting them away in the garage. This becomes a great lesson in how to take care of your things...explanations of what rust can do and how important it is to take responsibility for their own possessions. No slacking or whining allowed...make it fun, so they' ll want to do it again!

Have fun with those kids this spring...don't be afraid of dirt! Hurray for puddles!!

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Spring?? and St. Patrick's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:47:00 +0000

May your heart be light...and keep looking for that Spring!!!

Here is blue sky, but frozen lake remains...

Can you see the poor ducks trying to walk on the ice?? They're wondering if they came back a little too soon!

Ice still here...sea wall shedding....spring??

Do you think green things can grow here yet?? But wait...see the sun is actually shining in the background...ah, signs of good things to come:)

The cherubs guarding the spot where the tulips and daffodils will soon grow....maybe a leprechaun is lurking, waiting for spring also:)

Happy St. Patty's Day to all... find something 'green' to do with the munchkins today. They will love it!!

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Happiness Tuesdays #11

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:11:00 +0000

at J and J's wedding

at J and S's wedding

at A and C's wedding

2) attending colleagues' weddings...just a couple of examples, but they all were special!

A and T's wedding...later

at J and A's wedding

3) When the Torch Lake kids get married...lots of fun!!

at the shower of E and M

at A and D's wedding

Weddings of all kinds are fun, but weddings of special people are...well... special!! They make me happy!

Find what makes you happy and jump in with both feet!!

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Camping with the Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:06:00 +0000

F2 and I camped often, including some backpacking before we had the boys, and we camped a lot with our Torch Lake Group friends when they were 'kidless' also. So we weren't new to the game when we started making the camping a family affair. That was definitely helpful. Taking children camping means putting the focus on them, keeping them involved, and making sure they get enough sleep!!
Some helpful hints?? Make sure your kids can follow your directions without questioning...there are many possibly dangerous situations when you're out in the woods...so little ones need to do what you say. And...you, as the adult, need to pay even more attention to them than you normally do, to keep them safe and happy.

Can you see them?? Standing with Yogi at Jellystone Park! This is a great kind of 'starter' park for camping with kids since it's planned for families. Lots to do, kids' movies at night...Chad and Scott loved it!

This is the tent we most often used when camping. Here, we are camping at a State Park somewhere (no clue where!). Can you see the orange color inside the tent?? That is a sleeping bag! You'll see 2 of these in many of the photos...well-used, and we still have them 25 years later. The boys loved having their very own sleeping bags, but you shouldn't spend more than you need to either. These came from KMart, and have paid for themselves over and over as they were used to make forts at home also!!

Kids gain skills by helping to put the campsite together..according to their ages! Our guys liked to hand us parts of the tent to put together and our cots, too. Loved those cots, but they tended to be exasperating to set up...arghhh! You need to find time for naps when the little ones are sleepy, so make sure you have a place where the temperature doesn't get too warm. I made that mistake once and wound up with a sweaty little boy...scared myself, didn't do it again!!

Is he cute, or what?? Anyway...be prepared for any kind of weather. Early or late summer can be shaky in many parts of the country...at night or early in the morning temps can be far lower than the rest of the day. Having cold, crabby children does not add to the camping experience!

Good Morning, Sweetie-Pies!! We continued to camp as the guys got older...we could go farther and do more things...setting up and taking down the tent more often. Sometimes the boys didn't use the cots, just slept on air mattresses on the floor of the tent...still lovin' those sleeping bags though!

Taking hikes and exploring with families who camped with us was a way to keep the guys entertained. We could teach them some things about nature at the same time. Be prepared for DIRT!! If you're a fussy person, camping may not be for you. All your equipment, clothing, car...everything winds up with a coating of sand, dirt, pine sap and needles. That's if it doesn't rain...yuck!! BUT, all of it was well worth it...all members of the family loved it. Everything could be cleaned once we arrived back home...you gotta let loose now and then :)

Here we are camping with part of the TLG...bh and eh and their daddy in this photo. Think they enjoy the campfire??? Oh, yes, this is always one of their favorite parts of camping. Smells good, feels good, and you can make s'mores!! Hurray!

Camping in the 'piney woods' is such a great family adventure. You can start when the children are very young by taking one night trips and let your adventures grow as your kids do. If you can remember to take pictures along the way...you can take a memory walk through your albums just like I am.

Road trips that involve camping are a fantastic way to strengthen your family as a unit and to instill the character traits you'd like your kids to have in the future. Have fun whenever you can..they grow up soooo fast:)

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Road Trip, Fun Tourist Traps

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:54:00 +0000

a road trip to Hartwick Pines, Michigan

Last week I let you know how we traveled in the car as a family while the boys were young (Planning Family Vacations). I mentioned giving the guys a chance to stop at some of those "amazing" stops along the roadway. If there are certain stops you know you just can't handle, then be prepared to cover the eyes of the kids who can read the abundance of road signs that advertise them. Be ready to distract and then be firm about your "No." But remember that your trip is a family vacation so the kids need to have some input into what they get to see. When that happens they will be so excited to read every one of those obnoxious road signs (hurray for reading)!
Here are a few of the ones where we've stopped over the years!!

We had so much fun visiting different "stories". Kids loved it!

We camped at Houghton Lake and Higgins Lake in Michigan often. Zubler's is an amazing touristy shop in Prudenville outside the camp area where kids can browse for hours and pick up such delightful things as tomahawks, slingshots, carved wooden anythings, moccasins, ....seriously, almost anything you can think of...so be prepared to limit spending and/or number of items allowed :) More on allowances in the future!

The boys loved visiting the Deer Camp where they could see and feed the deer. Looks like Scott wasn't sure about that deer licking his fingers!!

Do you have a Mystery Spot in your area? They really are fun...based on gravity and difference in perception. Chad was having fun being almost as tall as Dad!

This was a maze built in the forest...with paths formed by ropes! It was actually a little scarier than we thought it would be. Chad and Scott had to stay together and keep within our sight so that we wouldn't freak out. Keep in mind that we were the overprotective types...and proud of it :)

While traveling in the West, we went to Four Corners...the spot where four states actually touch. The 'spot' is on Native American land, so you pay a fee to enter and then there are several little shops if you want to go to them also. We mostly liked the photo opportunity!

Here is Chad riding the 'jackalope' at Wall Drugs...you must have seen the signs for Wall Drugs if you travel anywhere in the western half of the country! It is easy to spend hours here if you do go, so plan on it. There are stores within stores, cafeterias, things for kids to sit on, lots of cool and silly things to purchase...so don't plan on a quick visit, unless you're ready for sad faces!

The guys of the family decided they would pan for gold! Is it a tourist trap...oh, yes! But did everyone have fun? Absolutely!

I hope this encourages you to at least think about stopping now and then just to have fun with your kids. Add a day of travel time if you need to, to make sure the stress of travel with your family can be relieved with silliness and giggles!

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Happiness Tuesdays #10

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Happiness Counts!!!
I am beginning Happiness Tuesdays to tell you some things that make me happy and to share with you quotes, websites, and photos to make you happy!

Happiness Tuesdays #10
Here are three things that make me happy:

1) Blue skies--I know I've said this before, but this is March in Michigan - it needs to be said again :)

Michigan blue sky

Florida blue sky

2) the smell of campfires...mmm

Chad and Scott with Torch Lake Kid, BC

3) beautiful quotations, such as:

"Joy is not in things; it is in us."

Richard Wagner

see...the joy is in us :)

Find what makes you happy, and go for it!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Carpe Diem!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Carpe Diem! Seize the day! That is Chad's motto!

Chad says, "SEIZE THE DAY!!"

What a great way to live...enjoy the day, appreciate the day, actually see the day! What does that mean? What does it have to do with you and your family?

If we could just stop during our hectic days, breathe, and see what is actually around us...amazing children, loving family, our innate knowledge, our ability to marvel and grow...wouldn't we enjoy each day just a bit more?

Scott says, "You can do it!!"

Thinking and doing in positive ways leads to happier days. Do you want to try something new? Then do it...what's the worst that could happen? Jump in to your every day actions with a renewed heart. Be aware of the wonders of each day.

Seize the day doesn't have to mean to go crazy and do over-the-top adventures (although it can !). It can mean to grab each piece of each day and appreciate the heck out of it!! Sometimes it's okay to let go of the daily chores so you can make memories with your family. Forget the sparkle from the dusted tables and make some sparkle in your kids' eyes!!

GO FOR IT!!

Seize the day - as a person, as a parent, as a spouse!!

Carpe Diem!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Planning Family Vacations

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:37:00 +0000

Are your family vacations hard or easy, calm or tense, filled with fun or filled with anxiety? I imagine most vacations have bits of all of that, but to increase the possibility of a great vacation, the whole family needs to know what to expect.

family camping

If your kids have good manners, are kind to each other, and listen to what you say --- any kind of vacation can be a dream. But if you have troubles with any of those, family vacations can exaggerate the problems and drive you nuts!!! During vacations, you are forced to spend a lot of time very much 'together', so you have to know how to enjoy each other's company.

Road trips were the easiest and cheapest for us. We traveled during different week long summer trips to Colorado, Utah, Alabama, Canada, and many trips in Michigan.

Our trips involved family interaction all day long. This was before electronic everything and movies on the TV in the backseat. After a few years of traveling, we did get a TV which showed only 3 channels and only while traveling through cities! So we depended on toys...I glued Velcro on the toys so the boys could stick them to the carpeted walls of the van...worked for a while:) We sang silly songs together and spotted the alphabet along the roadways. Of course we had sleeping and snacking when in the car. There were puzzles, coloring books, books to read, and always a "surprise bag" for each boy to be opened on a certain day of the trip.

We usually didn't plan where we were going to spend the night, but we did have to plan stops along the way...you know, the potty break! We often stopped at rest areas for a picnic lunch and to let the boys run around, chase each other, and release some of that steam!!

Remember, as a part of a family vacation, you should be open to stopping at some of those "tourist traps" that the kids want to see. It doesn't matter if you don't want to...it's not about you!! You might actually enjoy the Mystery Spot, The Dinosaur Store, Shell City, or Wall Drugs. We did!! Agreeing to go to these kid places needs to be after they show good behavior, never after you've already said "No". So decide to say "Maybe" until after you can think about it. Once that 'no' comes out of your mouth--NOTHING should change it, especially whining, pouting, or crying...unless you want that behavior to continue every time you say "No":)

This was just a start....ideas to help with family vacations...more to come in the future!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Happiness Tuesdays #9

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:25:00 +0000

2) Florida sunsets...

3) Florida Girls' Week...

what a great group!!

breakfast with Mom

with my mom, isn't she amazing???

Happiness comes from within, but the outside influences certainly can help :)

Go find your happiness!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Do You Believe?

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0000

What do you believe?

   I believe in spirits, angels, joyful energy, and messages from beyond. Do you think I'm crazy?? Probably....but I don't care!!

   After losing my sweetie-pie in 1996, I felt lost....many down days, but holding it together with teaching and my boys. But I did find "messages"----
   As we drove from the cemetery, F2's favorite song played on the radio and has continued to play whenever we needed it: a very sad day, when the 3 of us were together in the car, dropping a son off at college - constantly improving our mood, making us feel like Dad was still with us. The songs still produce joy and contentment in me.
   From here:

rehearsal dinner in 1968

To here:

1996

And beyond!!!

The messages have become stronger. Flickering lights - the one lamp by the couch where I sit continued to sporadically flicker. It drove me nuts!! I tightened the bulb..didn't work, changed the bulb..didn't work, changed the lamp ..didn't work. When someone (a medium, psychic, whatever...so, sue me!) told me that F2 was sending me a message, I was happy!! So...went home, light flickered, I said "Hey!", light no longer flickered! He just wanted to be noticed! Now the dining room chandelier flickers occasionally as we walk through....LOVE IT!!

Not enough for you? How about this? Remember those Gold Coins of Respect

reverse side

I made about 500 of them for school, cut each one out individually, wrote on both sides, then took them to the Intermediate School District to laminate them. I put them into the laminator about 7 to a row and about 12 feet in length. When I got home and began cutting them apart again, I discovered this right smack dab in the middle of the project:

Yup, it's an actual, real 4-leaf clover...how did it get there???
LOVE IT!!
Just recently, 2 days before my birthday, I was shoveling my sidewalk (which everyone knows I never do!) because guests were coming. This is the strange shadow I found underneath the snow:

....and closer:

sigh...happy birthday to me :)

It was a part of a wind chime that had been hanging on the porch for over 10 years. It fell off in a light breeze and did not land in the snow-covered bushes, but right where I would find it...LOVE IT!!

Love it!!

My heart, my soul, my spirit fills with love with every message - how could it not be true :)

Believe!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Happiness Tuesdays #8

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0000

2) FRIENDS!

3) Books that bring joy!

Happiness is there for the taking.....Choose happy :)

Happy Parenting!
D and C

Reviving Table Manners

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0000

How important are table manners?

messy at this age is cute, right?

Well, unless you want your 12-year old or 17-year old to look like this...I guess manners are pretty important!! Start early at the dinner table at home...teaching manners normally, encouraging what you want to see and discouraging what won't be helpful in the future.

sometimes "extras" arrive at the table

Kids need to learn how to use utensils properly, even if it's easier on you to let them do it their way. That interaction of passing food and using please and thank you all of the time is an important part of encouraging manners.

practicing out with others

Each time you go out to dinner with the kids, practice, practice, practice! Kids should stay at the table the entire time, and because I'm sure you haven't chosen a fancy restaurant that will take longer than their little 'patiences' can handle, they can join the family in talking. Okay, you do have to make sure you bring your goodie bag, filled with age-appropriate distraction: Cheerios or Kix, raisins, coloring books, puzzles. I'm hoping beyond all hope, and probably not very realistically, that all electronics for both parents and kids are turned off and ignored during dinner. This should be a great family time, learning how to have fun and be polite in a restaurant.

indoors and outdoors

Eating with the Torch Lake kids has been a constant event for our boys. All the kids learned manners appropriate for the occasion, inside manners, outside picnic...older ones were always encouraged to be good role models for the younger ones. Did it always work that way?? Of course not, but that was what we were trying for!

There is always a time for fun :)

the group

Whether at a Christmas dinner or on a trail ride on vacation, we hoped the boys would remember their manners. Being polite to those who serve you is necessary. Can your kids order their meal themselves (after you have given them their choices)? If they learn to speak up and politely answer the server's questions, they will be far ahead of the majority of young ones. Do they say, "Thank you" when their order is placed in front of them? Do you? Remember that you are always the role model, one way or the other.

in Gulf Shores with the group

Our Torch Lake Group has taken many vacations together which involves many meals eaten out. As the kids grew older they were able to be at their own kids' table as long as they were careful with their manners. They loved that idea so much that they usually controlled themselves...notice the usually?? They were our kids, and we have been known to be less than proper at dinner from so much laughing, so we could never be too upset with them. They were definitely chips off the old blocks!! But we were not ever rude to other customers or the staff and neither were the kids. Goofy is good, mean is not!

Kids' table this year

We continue to enjoy each other's company every year. The kids are grown, but they still love having their kids' table.

......and here's to teaching and learning great manners!!

here's to us :)

Manners inside the home translate to manners outside the home, and good manners leave wonderful impressions with those we know and those we don't know. Encourage the best in your children!!

Happy Parenting!

D and C

Little Things

noreply@blogger.com (Diane and Chad) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0000

A most important quote:

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
Robert Brault
Here I share with you some of the 'little things' that are now definitely the biggest things of all....

adorable Chad and Scott :)

Daddy reading to the boys

buddies playing in the sandbox at Torch Lake

family on vacation

it's those darlin' torch Lake kids!!!

All those little things you do with those little people are worth the world...don't waste a moment!! Enjoy and have fun :)

Happy Parenting!

D and C