Ideas from moms/dads out there

We have decided together as a family we set up certain rules to try and "help" our children make smart choices, and keep them out of situations that could be harmful or not constructive for there spiritual growth. The most important thing to me as a mother is to "shelter" my children from the destructive things of the world and do all that I can to teach them to be Christlike, and have a testimony of the Savior. I want them to feel safe in our home, and have an open dialect about all topics.

Just a few simple and not too major rules that we have set up as a family are:
1. No sleepovers (unless mom & dad are going out of town)
2. Chore charts.....or consequences
3. Scripture study as a family in the am before school (it just helps set the mood for the day)
4. Personal prayers at night time.......
5. No bad words (we know what those are)
6. Not to be judgmental
7. No swimming on Sundays
8. Obeying parents (the answer "NO" is not acceptable)
9. T.V. and computer are monitored.
10. No TV before school (this is really hard considering Talmadge wakes up at 5:30, and Lucy 6) this is a work in progress


These are just a few simple rules we have set that we have found are helpful to our children in many ways.....obviously things are always changing and we are learning as we go. If some of these things make my children sheltered well good. To say "Someone's children are going to rebel because you shelter them." I think is a bunch of crap if I can do everything in my power to teach them correct principles and set up ground rules, so that later in life they can understand the importance of them, and gain a testimony on their own, it really doesn't matter what others think about the decisions you make as a couple in raising your children. Scott and I hope and pray everyday for guidance on how to raise our children and what is best for them.

What rules or things do you have set up in your home that can help your children?

Toothfairy's are real!!!!!

We have lost a ton of teeth at our house over the last few months. Zoie took this picture with the barbie holding her tooth. When I downloaded my pictures I found it and just laughed. What a cute concept. She lost her other lower front baby tooth while wrestling with Lucy. She had bread in her mouth when it happened and the tooth was never recovered. I'm thinking it was swallowed in all the chaos. Lucy wrote a note to the tooth fairy explaining what happened and Zoie signed it, making sure the tooth fairy knew it was Zoie's tooth. She was still visited by the tooth fairy and thrilled!!!!

Long time coming

It has been sooooo long since I last posted a blog I just didn't even know where to start, or sort through any pictures. So Grandma L this is mainly for you the pictures are all jumbled up, and a mess but this was majority our summer. We had camping trips ect. but I didn't bring my camera, smart me!
This is a pile of worms Talmadge found after we ran the sprinklers in the back yard for a while, he was pulling them out of the ground like a bird, the worms tripling in size as they stretched
Lots of canning............ the girls were a ton of help.
We finally moved the piano upstairs so the practice time is way more effective with Lucy, and she loves to play! I hope that attitude continues as she gets older.
I downloaded a ton of photos and realized Zoie was not in most of them, she is my little photographer. I had to sensor most of the photos, Scott and I got a real kick out of what she took pictures of, and Talmadge of courser was the guinea pig.
More of the worm collecting
Zoie in all her glory DANCING, she loves to dance next karate is on her list of to do's.
This is a regular occurrence in our home Lucy sits and reads stories to her brothers and sister, they love it and so do I!

She loves her some BRODY!
"I'm a mean pirate guy" so he tells me
Speaks for it's self, happy go lucky, dirty, and eating sand from the sand box
Some pool time, this is where we spent most of the time this summer. We got rid of the boat and put up the pool. Lucky for me we stayed at home and had many pool parties (I have not been feeling good this summer).



This is what I got up to one morning, Talmadge's breakfast. He is not messing around
Cute little Zoie swimming away, she really learned well this summer to swim and was so tan she looked like she didn't belong in our family!


All in all school is here Lucy is in 2nd grade and loves it. She is so shy I never would have known it. Zoie starts Kindergarten and is NOT looking forward to it. She wants to stay home with me, sad but makes me a little happy she doesn't want to leave me yet. I kept her home from preschool she just didn't want to go and I really worked with her on her alphabet but she is a pigheaded one and just didn't want to learn. So I will be curious to see how she does this year. Talmadge is wanting to go to school and is working on spelling and writing his name, his teachers are in for a real treat when he goes to preschool.
This is where Cannon spent most of his time this summer in between the sprinklers and the sandbox. He is so sweet and such a joy to have in our family. If he would only go to a babysitter so I could get away that would be great!!!!!