Easter Family Fun

Saturday was filled with outdoor Easter fun at my parent's house. It was GORGEOUS weather so we spent the whole day outside. I think heaven will be a lot like this- all day with the fam. The only thing missing was my hubby- he was working.

Teona brought her favorite game along- Pickelball. It was super entertaining :) If you haven't tried that game you should!

My mom grabbed my camera and this was a picture she got I loved it :)

Skylee loves her Grandpa J :)

Jaston figured out there was candy in the eggs and was constantly bringing eggs to Mom to open. Isn't that little guy just so stinkin' cute though?

There's my kiddos :)

Easter Egg Hunt- Gotta love all of Jaston's many faces :)

Grandma made a scavenger hunt for the kids to find their Easter toys and they LOVED it!

Grandpa and Jaston

Grandpa took his tree from out front and tipped it upside down and cut notches for stairs on one side, added a slide on one side, put a fun rope to swing/climb on, climbing holds, and handles, and a rope course on one side. Skylee is OBSESSED- she is our little monkey.

She was there most of the day.

Hike

So we decided to go for a hike up above our house a few days ago for a picnic. The weather is GORGEOUS right now and we wanted to enjoy it before the heat wave hits.

Family Pictures!!

Yay! We got our family pictures done by Teria Brooks and she did an AMAZING job. The kids were super ornery (esp the girl;) but they turned out so cute and I am so excited to post them and to get them blown up and FINALLY re-do my livingroom after four years. (Pathetic I know!) If you want to check out her website go HERE

Accentuating the Positive

     So I've been listening to this book on CD called "Whale Done." It is all about having positive relationships in your life. I was really impressed with not only the message it held but the way it was presented. I must admit I love self-help books when it comes to parenting. I remember being so stunned when Skylee was born and realizing that this wasn't something that came with a manual. There really wasn't a "right" way to do it even though everyone had their own "right" that they thought was the way to do it. Needless to say I was overwhelmed. 

    So the message of this book is all about "Accentuating the Positive" and redirecting negative behavior. I love how it presented it because it repeated it over and over again and used it in specific examples in a way that didn't feel like they were drilling it into you. They used it in relationships with spouses, with business associates, and with kids. No, I'm not trying to sell the book I just want to write down some of the key points so when I forget it I can come back and remind myself of the parts I felt were most important to me. I actually have been trying with the kids and I see a difference in them and a difference in the way I perceive the kid's behavior. So here is a few points I got from it:

•  Instead of finding "Gotcha" moments of negative behavior. Look for Positive AKA "Whale-done" moments . (The whole whale thing is based off the way they train the killer whales at Sea-World)
  
• When a negative behavior happens address the behavior that is unacceptable, and redirect  until you can find something positive to focus on.
• You can't wait until the behavior is perfect before you give positive feedback- ANY change in the right direction should be recognized and praised.
• Put your effort/attention into positive behavior
• Try to make the motivation/rewards be a variety and also self-motivating rather than relying on your words of praise to motivate them. - ex "Doesn't cleaning your room all by yourself make you feel good." etc..
• Take the blame- if your spouse does something that you don't appreciate see if you can find a way to take the blame- apologize that you didn't communicate better or realize how you could have been at fault when approaching them. They will be more willing to accept your suggestions.
• Be genuine and truly show appreciation
• Look for ways you can accentuate the good in people

Anyhow, I hope I can add to the list as my teeny memory remembers any. I will need to listen again and try and retain a little more. I mean it's so silly that this is new to me. Doesn't it make sense that people respond better when you build them up rather than put them down? I don't know if it's a cultural thing or what but I know I tend to not really put too much energy into my kids until they do something wrong. They mentioned in the book that basically anything you put your energy/attention into will be a behavior that will be repeated guaranteed. So, I'm going to try this theory for  a bit and I hope it can help me in my life esp in my parenting!

My Friend

We were reading a story on best friends today and I asked Skylee who her favorite friend was. She said her brother, Jaston. I thought that was pretty sweet and that I better document it quick because it probably will be different in an hour or two not to mention in a few years. :)

The Christmas/Birthday List

The past few weeks Skylee has been informing me what she wants us to give her for her birthday or what she wants Santa to bring her for Christmas. A few weeks ago it was a scooter- a big one like Daddy's (she would wear a helmet and be safe) and then it was a car- not a kid one but a big one like Mom's so she could drive. Today on the way home this was her list/our conversation.

Me: Skylee, do you think it would be fun tomorrow night for Family Home Evening to go to the store and get some fun Easter decorations and decorate our window and house?

Skylee: Yes, that's what I want for my birthday, a ladder and a hammer so I can hang Christmas lights myself and make something and I want a kitty.

Me: Oh really?

Skylee: Yeah, and I want play dough, and windows, and doors, and walls and rooftops. Santa will bring me all my favorite things to my room. I need everything you will like all of them. And I want a doggy. And I want letters and a table and a baby and some windows and walls and some stars and some duckies. I'm not going to share any of them because they are all special. My rubber duckies are special forever. 

Me: Wow, anything else to add to your LIST?

Sky: A big bike, seat and a CAR. Those are all I want

Me: What if you had to choose just one?

Sky: No, I want all of them.

I sat out in my drive-way for a minute and was texting myself this conversation so I would remember and the entire time her list is getting longer and longer. Yeah, she has some high hopes and some interesting wishes. So I was thinking well, she will probably forget some of those BUT really this girl doesn't forget ANYTHING ever. Seriously she brings up stories from years ago all the time. She is so funny, I love her imagination and the cute things she says. She sings songs all the time and is a girl through and through :). Sorry for the pics they are from my cell phone today at my mom's. I tried to blow them up but it made them all fuzzy. Anyhow, thought they were cute anyway. We will have to work on her WANTS vs NEEDS list but for now... this is her ever-growing Christmas/ birthday list. (Yes, her birthday is not until July but she informs me all the time what her party will be like- a pinata is a must :)