The Henderson Family Chronicles

A lot of my blog is full of crap about my kids. I was telling a story to Heather last night, and suddenly realized I should document the ridiculous things I do as well. So here was my note worthy moment from Thursday: Choir practice was drawing to a close for the night. We are only a few weeks away from our big spring concert. The theme of the concert is Wish Upon A Star, a tribute to Walt Disney. We have a lot of guest soloists performing with us (which we are all bummed about, because no one in the choir was given a chance to audition for solos this time, but that's a WHOLE different story). At this particular practice we had a guest present to critique us, but none of the soloists were there to practice with us. So the director asked for volunteers to sing the solo parts, just for this practice, for timing, and so on. Janna has been picking up the Mary Poppins solo whenever the soloist isn't there, and has been doing a great job with it. So we go through the practice, and...

My kids are full of it. Yesterday was one of those days I should have had a recorder going all day. I should have written some of it down, but I was too busy putting out their fires. Em was destructive. She ran around all day destroying things. My mom said it was for attention, but I know THAT was crap, because I tried to sit and hold and play with her, and she whined the whole time. Nate was...Nate. There are no words for his special spirit. He's creative, and bossy, and anxious, and sweet, and irritable. Huh. Sounds a little like his mom... Anyway, I'm talking about the stuff they say. So here are my quotes, recorded for posterity, and your entertainment: Me: Em, why are you sobbing (in the bathtub, while I wash your hair)? Em: (WAAAAaaaaa) Mom, I am just SOOO BORED!!!! Em: Hey, Nate, do you know what my favorite smell in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD is? Nate: Um, no Em, what? Em: It's LADY BUG POOP! Me: Hey, I said no tv till your rooms are clean. Turn it off and get cr...

Okay, you know everyone parents differently. And you know I see parenting differently. But this lady says what I feel. She has a handful of rules that, to some extent, I have already implemented. It's important to be a good mom, and some do that by doting on their kids all day, listening to every word, every whine, hugging on them for hours at bedtime...Not my style. I feel like boundaries and expectations are HUGE in raising kids. Read the article, I am sure you'll get SOME good idea from it! I am going to write the rules down and post them somewhere, as a reminder to the kids AND to me. Quirky Ways to Get Your Kids to Behave - Parenting.com

In a brief perusal of Pinterest this morning, I spotted something my dear friend Rose had pinned... Live a fabuLESS life: The Mom Challenge Run over there, check it out. Read the first challenge or two (they started about 7 weeks ago). I think it is feasible. I like the idea of one little goal each week, one little thing I can to to improve, baby steps. That's how I roll. and then I can blog about it each week. Well, hopefully. What do you think? Wanna do it too? If I have someone doing it with me, someone to keep up with, and be accountable to, I am more likely to stick with it. Be my buddy, please?

Em is sick. I think our "cold" is making a second round through the family. I think the whole neighborhood has it. I think it isn't a cold, but a mild influenza. And Em has it again. That means: A) No church tomorrow, or we'll have to do the crazy swapping places between Andrew and I at church. B) Lots of whine, some fever induced, and some taking advantage of the extra attention. C) I am exhausted. D) Em fell asleep at 5:00, after barfing and bathing (because barf is what we do in this house, I've told you.), and slept till 7:30. Therefore, she is still awake. E) Because her fever is down (thank you Motrin), and she is still up, and I am making her stay in bed, she is singing. "Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb...Oh there you are Perry Platypus! Long away there were three men from far across the sea, giv'n this land, if they lived righteously....Choose the right, when a choice is placed before you, choose the right, when a choice is...

Me: Wow, Em, you have cute feet. How did that happen? Em: 'Cause I'm growin' up, Mom. Me: Are you going to be all grown up someday? Em: Yup, when my feet are looooong, and my legs are looooong, and my arms are looooong, and my bum is big! Ha. Glad to know that is the measuring stick of a grown-up. Nate has a cold. He isn't very funny right now. He's kind of angry though, and sometimes that's pretty funny too. Good times. No Easter Pics this Sunday, Nat'e's staying home because of his fever. Next Sunday we'll do faux-Easter pics.

Hello, my name is Maren, and I am a perfectionist. A lot of you are too, so I know at least one person who reads this will get it. Some days I wake up determined. I know what I want the day to be like. No, I know what I want my whole life to be like. Who I want to be, and how I want to do my job(s), how I want to magnify my calling as Mom/Wife/Homemaker. And I am excited. I know what I want, and I know how to do it, and I set a plan. I have energy and motivation, because the vision is so clear. You know the plan: Clean the whole house top to bottom, create and implement a daily cleaning plan that basically includes cleaning the whole house every day. Do fun stuff with the kids that challenges their creativity and knowledge, rearrange a room to be more efficient, make something crafty, take a gift to a hurting neighbor, and make a great dinner, always keeping up on the dishes. Today. Tomorrow we'll add to that. And then I start to see flaws, or other things start to make my plan ...

Woa. It's April. Woa. It's been just short of one month without facebook. Woa. I've blogged a LOT. And I haven't missed FB too much, in fact I've been pretty glad every time someone mentions the "evil" of facebook. :) (PS, Facebook isn't evil, but people can act pretty evil on facebook...) I also, however, have not spent less time on the computer. I just spend the time on different projects. I think I'll reactivate. But if you aren't my friend anymore, it's because I know I can talk to you other places. I will keep friends on facebook that I don't see other places. Like my cousins that I never see. (Or my husband's cousins...) And friends from years ago, that live across the country. Maybe. I recently discovered that there are a few of those I won't keep either... Oh, and my best friend, and my sister who live a block or two away. Sometimes it's the only way I get to talk to them! But don't worry, I really liked...