As if training 6 kids isn't enough Lynn and I are now going to dog training classes! We decided if we take the time to train the dog correctly the dividends will be very worth it. As we have been learning things and watching the dog respond so quickly to treats and praise , I can't help but correlate everything to training kids. I am realizing more and more how true that statement is with kids as well. I wish I were better at immediate treats and praise with my wonderful kids.
I've read a lot of parenting books lately and I have to recommend Glenn Latham's "power of positive parenting" as one of my favorite. It really is a powerful method to be positive and praise. I wish it were as easy as it sounds. I could relate to one of the moms in the book when she said there was a time when the only praise she could think of for her teenage son was that he was breathing really well! I love that!
I am learning a lot about life, marriage, and parenting and hopefully I will get some of it down before my Kyle turns into a teenager. I had to laugh at Lynn's prayer this morning when he blessed that we could learn to challenge Kyle's stubborness into the right direction.
Right now I am taking one day at a time and trying not to say everything I think like, "do I have to pay for this cap and gown right now or can we wait until it is closer to graduation to see if he is really going to graduate?"
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Back to teaching
I realized my last blog was the night before I ran the half marathon. I'm sure I left you all hanging as to whether I finished the race which I was I haven't written for two months! Well, to diffuse all rumor, I did finish the race and actually had an enjoyable time. It didn't take me quite two months to recover. As to why I haven't written for so long there are lots of excuses but let's sum it up into one word of STRESS. Raising kids is stressful. I'm sure you already know that so I won't elaborate more than that.
I will say that one excuse is that I have started teaching preschool on M, W, and F mornings which has complicated my life even more. I now feel proud of myself if I get breakfast dishes done before dinner time let alone make dinner . I'm not proud of this next story but I will say I am proud of my husband for being so understanding. The other night Lynn got home just in time for the two of us to go to dog training class. I said to him "please tell me you had a late lunch because I don't have anything for dinner?" Unfortunately, the answer was that he didn't have any lunch. I decided to rummage through the fridge and find some leftovers, heat them up and drive so he could eat. As he was trying to eat he finally said "what is this?" to which I responded "chili". I then looked more closely and realized I had heated up plain spaghetti sauce (with meat mind you). So, there is probably one of the worst things I have offered Lynn. I won't open this up for anyone to remind me of the other bad dinners I have offered. Dinner isn't my strong point but I am really good at breakfasts! Too bad Lynn doesn't eat breakfast very often.
Back to teaching. A few weeks into teaching 11 four year olds by myself for 2 1/2 hours I wondered what in the heck I had gotten myself into! Fortunately, I remembered that the beginning of the year is always hard and I am happy to report that things are getting better. I do have a good class but the boys like to challenge me in every way. Kyle goes to the class that starts just before mine. He loves it and it makes it worth it.
I will say that one excuse is that I have started teaching preschool on M, W, and F mornings which has complicated my life even more. I now feel proud of myself if I get breakfast dishes done before dinner time let alone make dinner . I'm not proud of this next story but I will say I am proud of my husband for being so understanding. The other night Lynn got home just in time for the two of us to go to dog training class. I said to him "please tell me you had a late lunch because I don't have anything for dinner?" Unfortunately, the answer was that he didn't have any lunch. I decided to rummage through the fridge and find some leftovers, heat them up and drive so he could eat. As he was trying to eat he finally said "what is this?" to which I responded "chili". I then looked more closely and realized I had heated up plain spaghetti sauce (with meat mind you). So, there is probably one of the worst things I have offered Lynn. I won't open this up for anyone to remind me of the other bad dinners I have offered. Dinner isn't my strong point but I am really good at breakfasts! Too bad Lynn doesn't eat breakfast very often.
Back to teaching. A few weeks into teaching 11 four year olds by myself for 2 1/2 hours I wondered what in the heck I had gotten myself into! Fortunately, I remembered that the beginning of the year is always hard and I am happy to report that things are getting better. I do have a good class but the boys like to challenge me in every way. Kyle goes to the class that starts just before mine. He loves it and it makes it worth it.
Don't tell the kids
I'm not sure what to think of my parenting skills when my 4 yr. old sees me get ice cream out of the fridge during lunch when everyone else is at school and he says, "good idea, we won't tell the other kids that we had some because they will all start begging and bugging us!"
Can you believe that I can actually get a treat out of the freezer and only share with one child? I may be gaining a lot of weight soon so keep an eye on me.
Can you believe that I can actually get a treat out of the freezer and only share with one child? I may be gaining a lot of weight soon so keep an eye on me.
good news/bad news
I'll go with the good news first. Robert's right index finger which he almost severed completely last Saturday splitting wood with a wood splitter looks good (according to the Dr.) According to me, I wanted to throw up! (I will spare you the picture)
The Dr. said ,however ,when he changed the bandage on Monday that he was worried it might be black which meanstthey would have had to amputate it.
The bad news is the day after Robert cut his finger Dallin broke his wrist. Or should I say James helped Dallin break his wrist (not on purpose of course) Let's just say James forgot that he was playing tackle football with his 7 yr. old brother not his team mates!
I'm a little worried as I know usually bad things happen in groups of three!
I am thankful I wasn't home during Robert's accident and that Lynn had to take care of it. I was actually getting a massage and told the massage lady that I was going to leave my phone in the car and hope my teenager follows through on what he was supposed to do to earn the money he desperately needs by splitting wood. Right when I got done with my massage I found out Robert was in the emergency room and went back in and told my massage therapist I needed another massage already!
The Dr. said ,however ,when he changed the bandage on Monday that he was worried it might be black which meanstthey would have had to amputate it.
The bad news is the day after Robert cut his finger Dallin broke his wrist. Or should I say James helped Dallin break his wrist (not on purpose of course) Let's just say James forgot that he was playing tackle football with his 7 yr. old brother not his team mates!
I'm a little worried as I know usually bad things happen in groups of three!
I am thankful I wasn't home during Robert's accident and that Lynn had to take care of it. I was actually getting a massage and told the massage lady that I was going to leave my phone in the car and hope my teenager follows through on what he was supposed to do to earn the money he desperately needs by splitting wood. Right when I got done with my massage I found out Robert was in the emergency room and went back in and told my massage therapist I needed another massage already!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Pinewood Derby time!
The smile on Taylor's face says it all. He won 1st place at the pinewood derby this year. Last year they had a raingutter rangatta instead of a pinewood derby and he didn't even make it to the finals. He said "dad isn't very good at helping me with boats but he is really good with cars!" Lynn is amazing when it comes to pinewood derby cars. We had just watched the movie "Down and Derby" last week and had a good time laughing about that funny movie. Lynn didn't have a lot of time to spend helping Taylor but I guess it was enough! Taylor was disappointed when he found out his trophy was made of plastic and not real gold but it is still in a coveted place in his room for him to enjoy. 
Bear Lake 2009
We are so grateful to Lynn's boss for letting us use his boat this year for Bear Lake. It spoiled us rotten. Robert was pretty stressed out when he had to help launch the boat but he did great! No scratches, Craig!
It was different this year to be at Bear Lake without Bob and Vickie, Rick and Teressa, Dave and Amy and kids. We missed them. Grandpa, James made sure Lynn flipped the pancakes the way you taught him too and we made Bear Lake toast. We had fun with some one on one time with Lynn's brother Kent and Janie and their kids. We had a blast and was grateful for good weather. This picture is a bike we rented at the Koa in Garden City where we stayed.
It was different this year to be at Bear Lake without Bob and Vickie, Rick and Teressa, Dave and Amy and kids. We missed them. Grandpa, James made sure Lynn flipped the pancakes the way you taught him too and we made Bear Lake toast. We had fun with some one on one time with Lynn's brother Kent and Janie and their kids. We had a blast and was grateful for good weather. This picture is a bike we rented at the Koa in Garden City where we stayed.
All the kids enjoyed the boat, the beach, and the Koa cabin that we stayed at. We hadn't prepped them as good as we should have about the cabin, however, as they commented they thought it was going to be like Rick and Teressa's cabin in Timber Lakes! No, it was a cabin with enough beds for most of us to sleep on, the other two slept on the floor and that was it! It beat tenting it by far and I loved that there weren'tany mosquitos or flies. We had campfires every night which is my favorite.
We had a blast going to the pickleville playhouse play entitled "the Hanging of Bandito" It was hilarious! I didn't get any pictures of it but it was one of our highlights.
This is a random picture of when you get to the end of summer and you are so bored you start dressing up and being more creative! Thank heavens for Joanna who instigated this but is old enough she doesn't have to dress up.
We had a blast going to the pickleville playhouse play entitled "the Hanging of Bandito" It was hilarious! I didn't get any pictures of it but it was one of our highlights.
This is a random picture of when you get to the end of summer and you are so bored you start dressing up and being more creative! Thank heavens for Joanna who instigated this but is old enough she doesn't have to dress up.
The Big Race
Here is a picture of us after the race. There were around 50 of my family who ended up running in the race.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705317819/Lee-Benson-On-the-run-in-honor-of-Grant.html This is an article written about the race we ran on the 24th of July. I was so proud of everyone. Robert ran the 10k with me and even though he hadn't trained at all was able to go the whole time without stopping. James had to work hard to beat Dallin who we are finding out is quite the jogger! It was a fun day and I was happy to be a part of getting my family in shape as well as honor my nephew Grant (and my dad Grant)
Lynn and Emma would rather ride motorcycles than run!
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705317819/Lee-Benson-On-the-run-in-honor-of-Grant.html This is an article written about the race we ran on the 24th of July. I was so proud of everyone. Robert ran the 10k with me and even though he hadn't trained at all was able to go the whole time without stopping. James had to work hard to beat Dallin who we are finding out is quite the jogger! It was a fun day and I was happy to be a part of getting my family in shape as well as honor my nephew Grant (and my dad Grant)
Lynn and Emma would rather ride motorcycles than run! Iam planning on doing the Provo trail half marathon tomorrow and I am scared and wondering why in the world I caved to actually paying money to run? I can't figure it out but maybe after tomorrow I will.
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