Pat on the back

Yesterday was parent-teacher conference. We met first with Nate's teacher, Mrs. Heaton, who had nothing but good things to say about Nate. She's going to try challenging him a little more with harder spelling words. Erik's teacher, Mrs. Workman, hopes to keep Erik motivated. She's afraid he's getting bored. Again she had nothing but praise for Erik. She and I both separately discovered that Erik enjoys reading biographies and nonfiction. We both are going to try to have enough of those types of books around for him. Last we met with Kiersten's teacher, Mrs. Jorgensen. Kiersten is at the top of her class and neither of us could think of really anything to discuss.

I left with all four kids in tow and was walking down the hall when Mrs. Young the principal yelled after me, "Mrs. Leary!" I turned back and she proceeded to give me a very nice compliment. She said that if she had 600 kids just like mine, she would be out of a job and that whatever we were doing at home to keep it up. I was very impressed that she not only new my name, but that she took the time to pay a compliment.

Erik must have also impressed her because last Friday when she ended up substituting his class the entire day, she nominated him for Club 100 (This is where a teacher, aid, etc. nominates kids who were caught doing good that day and they get their names read over the loud speaker and get to go to the office to receive a prize and put their name in a drawing for a bigger prize.)

Later in the day I had a Primary meeting and was talking to a friend who also commented on what good kids I have. I DO have great kids. I don't know exactly what we've done in raising them so far. I do believe kids are born with traits and I also believe they can be molded. Discipline . . . Ty and I have tried to be very consistent and positive. We are also strong believers in natural consequences. I AM BLESSED!

"Paint the fence." -- Karate Kid

Finish staining the fence.

Four months later I FINALLY completed that to-do item. I have to admit I think it looks much better. I was very tempted to leave one slat of fencing unstained just for comparison, but the need for completion took over and I finished it today.

I'm a reading junkie of blogs

I've developed a serious addiction and am in need of some serious intervention. It all began with Angie's blog. Shame, shame on her. I discovered she has posted links to her friends blogs. So by following one of her friend's blogs and discovering who their blogging friends were, soon I was finding high school friends I haven't seen, well, since high school. And it didn't just stop there. I had to read all about them and what they've been up to and browse their family photos, all unbeknownst to them. Shame, shame on me.

"Establish a house of order . . ."

Last Tuesday our stake had a combined enrichment night featuring Marie Ricks, an organizing guru. When I told Tyler I was going to an organizing seminar, he asked, "Why?" I think I'm a pretty organized person but I do enjoy getting more tips and so I went.

• Hurricanes. We all have our own personal hurricanes, complete with names. The key is to keep in the eye of the storm where it is the most calm. Work from the inside out (take care of yourself FIRST).
• Plan on paper. None of us have that great of memory to be able to remember everything down to the minute details. Write it down.
• Have your children return and report on task/assignments they've been given.
• You'll get more done if you go slow, i.e. spend more time planning.
• Get rid of HALF of everything. If you have 20 pairs of shoes, give 10 away. If you have 6 frying pans, give 3 away.
• You cannot teach and train a child when you're in a hurry.
• A child's room is his home. Teach them to keep their room tidy

Marie Ricks's Seven Days to Better Organization
www.houseoforder.com
SUNDAY

Organize for the week

Hold family council and plan next week: who is doing what, who is going where, who needs a ride, help

MONDAY

Prepare

Plan out today: commitments, chores, projects

Deal with paperwork

Fix up your personal desk. Everyone needs a place to think, plan, and work

TUESDAY

Bathrooms and Laundry: get your children to help

WEDNESDAY

Kitchen: clear off counters (it's easier to wipe off a counter that is not filled with clutter), clean out cupboards, condense tools to an area where they are first used

Closets: put like things together

THURSDAY

Budget: cut up cards, buy by the year

Groceries: buy more . . . less often, shop early, shop alone, shop with a list

FRIDAY

Watch children until they obey: keep a low voice, steady eye, and thank them. Tell kids what need to be done. Don't tell them what to do.

Be early: start planning right away when you know about a commitment and it's fresh on your mind. Make phone calls early, prepare dinner early, run errands early. Being early means things get done better.

SATURDAY

Garage: what can we discard, give away, hang up? Get stuff off the floor. Use shelves.

Kids bedrooms should be SIMPLE: do they have too much stuff, teach housekeeping skills

SUNDAY

Review week and plan again

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My Attempt at Organization

I made this binder several years ago and couldn't live without it. Neither could my kids. They refer to it more often than I do to see what's on the lunch menu, to look up a phone number, to find a coupon, to see what chores they've been assigned. It has helped immensely in helping our family run a little more smoothly.

5 miles and counting

The family and I went home to Ferron this weekend. While I was there I went running which is what I normally do when I'm down there simply because mom and dad's house is perfectly situated for great country running. I typically trek past the 1 mile mark, turn around and head back home. This time I got to the stop sign and was feeling so great I kept going. And once you get around that bend and down by the 3 mile mark you might as well keep running because it is the only way home. I even told myself I would walk as I headed up 800 West which is a steady climb all the way. But I didn't. I often talk to myself anyway, but on that hill I kept telling myself I could do it. And I did. I ran the entire 5 miles. It felt great to know that I could complete the Peach Days 10K run my sisters and I are going to compete in next year. Running is definitely more mental than physical.

Side Note: My brother-in-law showed me a great site for tracking your runs. I used to get in my van and map it out that way. I want to know how far I run. Anyway, he showed me http://www.gmap-pedometer.com where you zoom in, find your route, double click along the way, and it will tell you how far you've run. I loved it and can't wait to try it here at home.

I'm grateful for . . .

1. POWER. This morning we woke up to no power and dined on cereal by candlelight. I decided I would make rolls and let the dough rise while the power thought about coming back on. Then I realized I needed to melt the margarine, so I had to improvise a little. Regardless of the inconveniences it makes me realize how fortunate I am to have power and how I take for granted that my lights will always come on and my fridge will always be cold and my microwave will always work.

2. The excitement that exudes from my kids every time we help clean the church, which we did last Saturday. Every three months when the announcement comes that it's our ward's turn to help clean the building, they make me promise to sign up and I always do. Maybe it's not so much the pleasure of helping clean our ward house as the Pop-Tarts they get to eat for breakfast. :)

3. General Conference. I LOVE hearing what prophets and apostles have to say. I LOVE making my own personal commitments to try a little harder over the next 6 months. The talks that spoke to me were from Elder Neil Andersen on faith (Faith is not merely a feeling; It is a CHOICE), Elder David Bednar on meaningful prayer, Elder Jeffrey Holland on angels sustaining us through hard times, and President Thomas Monson on living and loving life now (especially as I think that Kiersten is halfway to leaving home).

4. Internet shopping. Isn't is wonderful to have packages come to your door? And I didn't even have to leave my house.