Taking a "Teaching Kids Responsibility" Sabbatical...

It's exhausting teaching kids responsibility. After an incident at the Scofield Cabin this summer, I decided our kids were severely lacking in their work ethic. Scott asked Eli and Oakley to simply hold open a garbage sack while he raked all of the leaves into it. There were a lot of leaves and it was taking a long time, but to listen to them complain about how hard it was and how they were tired and how it was taking too long- I determined they were going to learn to work!
I later had a job chart set up and told them they were each going to do a job a day and that they would also be earning allowance. They have been really been wanting a Wii gaming system, so I told them they could save their allowance for one. I've been amazed at the transformation. It is a HUGE pain to have kids to jobs. I have to help them and I usually have to go back later and do it myself the right way. So it's taking twice as long! But the boys have been really good about getting their daily job done. Very little grumbling and I think their skills are getting a bit better. I made a chart for them to track how much allowance they have earned and how close they were to getting a Wii.

After an entire summer of working, they have now earned enough money to buy a Wii. We will be making that purchase soon, just in time for the temperature to take a major dive. It will be great to have some new indoor entertainment for them.
But I'm exhausted from helping to teach responsibility. I'm going to shirk one of my responsibilities as a parent and take a sabbatical from daily jobs for a while... until they're ready to earn Christmas money.

Big Boy Bed = No Sleep for Parents...

Being forced to let Asher sleep in a regular bed has had dire consequences- most notably NOT NAPPING!!! He's at my bedside multiple times a night, so I am exhausted anyway. While in his crib, he took a 3 hour nap. Since he can so easily get out of bed now, he does. He does not nap! He went from a 3 hour nap to NOTHING! I wonder if he was plotting all summer. Could he read my mind? Did he know how I was almost giddy with the thought of Eli being in school from 12:30-3:30, the same time he usually napped? Three hours to myself! I could hardly wait. Almost to the day school started, Asher had to be in a bed instead of a crib. I've tried every intervention I know. Finally I told him he had to stay in his room for "Quiet Time." He didn't have to nap, he could look at books and play with toys. Well, he did everything but that. He completely destroyed his room instead! The first time was a huge mess, but didn't take too long to get everything back into the closet and drawers. The second time, in addition to throwing everything from the drawers and closet he could reach, he also emptied an entire bottle of baby powder all over everything. This about put me in the fetal position in the corner. This kid is killing me!
I'm now looking into a preschool for him in the afternoon. I need a break from the Tasmanian Devil. Will all of this seem funny someday? I'm thinking when he has a son of his own who makes a path of destruction everywhere he goes, I'll get a good laugh of my own finally.

We're Baaaaaaaaaaack...

A couple of weeks ago I finally got my blog printed in a book- hurray! I live in constant fear of some computer disaster and that I will have lost all of my blog before having it in printed form. After having completed this all-too-time-consuming project, I discovered it was not any easier through Live Journal as through Blogger. Since Blogger is free, I'm moving back!I know, I like to make things difficult- but I really think we're sticking with Blogger from here on out...

The Baby Turns THREE!!!...

Asher Maurice Beeson celebrated his Third Birthday with a family party. Grandma Lee Ann came down in the morning. She took the boys to Chuck E. Cheeses with Scott while I got things ready for the party.

Our first use of the giant cupcake pan

Look at all of the loot...

Lake Powell Adventures...

This is why I love Lake Powell...

We spent a week in Lake Powell filled with boating, fishing, and relaxing! Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham, Uncle Kelly and Aunt Julie, and our family were along for the adventure.

Legos were the in-camp entertainment.

The daily schedule usually involved boating for a while and then finding a beach to spend the afternoon at. We would eat, play on the beach, and swim.

Aunt Julie playing catch with the boys.

Julie and Oakley were the LOOKOUT for rocks and other debris that could damage the boat while we were boating in the narrow canyons.

All this fun is exhausting for Asher...

...and Eli.



Bathing- Lake Powell style. Jump in the water with a bar of soap and scrub up!

Feeding the ducks.

Asher is a great navigator for Scott.

Hanging out in a cave.

Scott took any chance he could to try and catch a fish.

The striped bass were yummy.

Aunt Julie taught Asher and Eli all kinds of fun tricks with bologna.

Grandpa teaches the boys the right technique for making the biggest splash.

Swimming!

Asher takes a snooze with Grandpa.

We got hit by a quick, hard hitting storm while we were out boating. The waves were higher than the side of the boat and it was really tough trying to get the boat out of the water. When we returned back to camp, the tent had a lot of broken poles and anything left out of the trailer was blown all over and covered in sand. We were just glad we were all safe.

Oakley helps sweep up sand- using a method all his own!

The rainbow after the storm.

A fabulously fun trip! Can't wait to get back...

We're Moving...

...our blog that is. I cannot get Blogger to load to the site where I'd like to print my blog into a book. Getting my blog printed is the whole point of doing it, so our new blog address is:

http://thebeesonbunch.livejournal.com/

I'm still getting it all figured out, so some things may look wacky for a while since I have the computer skills of a knat. There are some duplicate entries since I'm starting all the 2009 blog entries on the new site.

See you at the new blog!

Birthday Celebration in The Magic Kingdom...

For Oakley's 7th birthday I got to take him to Disneyland to celebrate. He had no idea where we were going. I just told him we were going to get up early and go somewhere "really fun" for the day. We had to be out the door by 4:00 a.m. to catch the flight, so we both started out the day a bit sleep deprived. We flew into Los Angeles and caught a shuttle to the Park. Oakley finally figured out where we were going when the shuttle bus, which was called "The Disneyland Express," pulled up.

It was a gorgeous day - almost 80 degrees - and the lines were minimal, usually we could get right on. It was a perfect day to be at Disneyland. The best part was having the whole day to spend one-on-on with Oakley. His favorite rides, which he insisted we go on over and over, were Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Thunder Mountain. Although we did go on Splash Mountain a few times, it was nothing close to the TWELVE TIMES IN A ROW that we went on the ride last time we went two years ago. It was heartwarming to hear Oakley laugh and laugh, a laugh that radiated from his toes.

Oakley's Favorite Ride - Splash Mountain

We caught the last flight out for the night and didn't get home until 1:00 a.m. It was a long, exhausting, fun day. I hope Oakley will always look back at his 7th birthday that he spent at Disneyland with his Mom as one of his favorites.

To Be Immortal...

Last night when I was tucking Eli in, he said, "I wish Jesus could touch me." When I asked him why, his answer was, "So that I could live forever." I was shocked! Eli was actually listening when we were reading the Book of Mormon about when Christ was in America and the three Nephite disciples asked to be able to preach the gospel until the Second Coming. I was sure he was so busy horsing around and fighting with Asher that he didn't hear a word. But he did! He really did! It is some payoff for what seems like an incredible ordeal of trying to read scriptures each morning. Some information is sinking in...sigh...cheer!

Cruise Countdown!

We're going on a cruise! We finally found a great deal and we're leaving 2 February. Oakley asked if we could make a chain to count down the days, so we got one assembled. We're leaving from Miami and I am really looking forward to five days away from home with nothing to do but enjoy time with my husband and boys.

Sun and Snow...

Today is the kind of day that makes me so happy that I get to live in Utah. The snow has just kept coming, coming, coming. I love snow on the mountains, lawn, fields, etc. and NOT on the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots. It has been so warm yesterday and today and all the snow seems to be located on the "Terah Approved Areas" and has melted off of the others.

The boys were finally able to get out and use their outdoor Christmas presents, along with every other outside toy that Scott had so nicely put away in the garage and sheds for winter storage. They never go back in as easily as they come out!

The sun, snow, and 50 degrees temperatures- I love living in Utah!