Ethen Plays!

Ethen has had some great play opportunities lately! Check out the pics that Brianne, his babysitter, sent me! K’Nex – I didn’t even know he liked those… it may be time to get some for home!!!

Apparently he did this one all on his own!!! Way to go buddy!!!Brianne helped with this one!!!You know Ethen was ALL about the T-REX one!!!    

_________________________________

The other morning before work (when he was SUPPOSED to be getting ready to go)… I found Ethen doing THIS…. 

He told me he was “WORKING”… I love that he has a hands free head set on too (of course a toy one!)

This guy is growing up so fast! Man – I LOVE this kid!!!

Financial Responsibility and Young Women

We all know that financial matters are nothing to take lightly. We, as a Young Women’s Presidency, felt that learning to budget, pay bills, file taxes and save money are skills that MUST be taught to the youth. Using the church publications One for the Money and All is Safely Gathered In,  and with the help of an H&R Block tax preparer (to help explain the ins and out of taxes) we decided to help the girls understand the importance of these values!

SO - this past Wednesday for mutual we came up with a game for the Young Women to learn about some financial responsibility. We based it off of the board game “Payday”. When we talked about this game during a presidency meeting we all thought the game would have been enough – BUUUUUUT- once I bought the game I realized it didn’t exactly portray the message that we wanted. The game is based on buying businesses and making deals – along with some gambling. Not exactly appropriate for a church activity.

So we came up with our own! I made cards to cover the board spaces.

 

With Spaces for Payday (everyone’s favorite), grocery shopping, mail days (when the bills come) and TAX day!!!

So of course on mail days they had to get SOMETHING in the mail… and what most people get in the mail is? BILLS!!! Yes, this game is all about budgeting your money and saving for things you want! I had a FUN time coming up with these bills! Waters of Life Water Company! Upon the Rock Realty! Word of Wisdom Health Insurance! Arise and Shine Light Company! All located on Narrow Path Way!!! I think I went overboard with it – but that’s ok!!!

Check out the girls playing!!! Thanks Jenn for the pictures!!!

Kristyn looks engrossed in her budget!

Keara looks a little stressed about filing her taxes!!! Thankfully we had a representative from H&R Block there to help her out when she got stuck!!!

So even though the girls were a little leery about playing this game it turned out pretty good and they seemed to enjoy it! WHEW – Jenn and I both thought this would have been a bust!

As a treat we gave the girls a handout that said “You don’t have to earn a 100 Grand to make a Payday count” then attached a snack sized 100grand and payday candy to it! (sorry no pic – I ate the candy before I could snap a shot of it – DOH!!!)

X-Box Fun

My mom and grandma came down to town and Ethen showed off his skills on the X-Box – so of course EVERYONE got into it!!!

Guess this takes care of our family home evening for this week! LOVE IT!!!

I Will Listen To Mommy

That is the sentence that Ethen had to write this morning! I told him he had to wait for a snack but he didn’t listen and snuck one while I was getting changed for church. He was only supposed to write it 6 times but he decided he wanted to get up before he was finished (after I told him NOT to) so 7 it was!!!

He didn’t like writing sentences much so I’m hoping this new technique will help his little attitude problem.

Being a parent is so difficult! Today in church we had a lesson in Young Women’s talking about being a parent. We as parents have been given a HUGE responsibility to rear our children in a manner that is pleasing to God.

There is a great scripture in Ephesians 6:1-4. This teaches us that children should obey their parents but I think the better message in this is that parents should not provoke their kids to anger. Family life is a delicate balance and as a parent, I’m still learning. I wasn’t born a parent and things that I thought would work – don’t and things that seem unlikely – work.

I know that if I seek the Lord, He will help me. He is, after all, a perfect parent and even he lost 1/3 of his children!

Since My Last

Well as you know I’ve gone back to work. This is definitely a love/hate relationship thing! I love being back at work and feeling like I’m accomplishing more than keeping the dishes done – BUUUUUUUT – I miss my little guy so much!!!

And boy does he voice his dissatisfaction about me working again too!

But he will just have to learn to DEAL – and so will I!

Today CSN – the college Jonathon teaches at – was having a BBQ and our good friends Chuck and Toni Hernandez were cooking it up! 

(They make the BEST tri-tip EVER!)

So we headed out there for some fun in the sun (yes sunblock was applied liberally!)

Ethen had fun playing soccer, Frisbee, football and yes even just jumping from rock to rock! My kid loves to move! Check it out!

My girl – Toni Hernandez – serving it up!!!

I totally loved these next shots… These jumps freaked me out at first but then I chilled out…. can’t help it I’m a mom and all – sheesh!!!

Yes – Ethen jumped from a lower rock onto a taller one – without issue!!! (of course my heart skipped!!!)

Ethen playing with the big kids. This is Nick – Toni and Chuck’s youngest!

I think Ethen is pooped out now!!!

________________________________

After the BBQ Ethen and I headed home. Since I started working again my house has REALLY suffered! So CLEANING TIME!!!

Check out what job Ethen CHOSE (and I do mean chose). He had a choice to vacuum or dust – he chose to vacuum!!!

Well it’s been an… interesting… past few weeks. Hopefully both Ethen and I adjust to me working again.

Hope you all enjoyed your Easter!