Discipline

Ben scrubbing the tiles with a toothbrush.

Of all our kids, Benjamin has been the one we've had to discipline the most. Or maybe just the one who has gotten caught the most. He does things he KNOWS he is not supposed to do, but does them anyways because he WANTS to. Also, he says things that he KNOWS he shouldn't say, but says them out of anger, disappointment and frustration. Sometimes it's tough being the parent because we have to be sure that they understand that their behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We vary the punishment based on the crime. I honestly can't remember what he did wrong to receive the punishment of cleaning some of the tiles in the bathroom. He admitted, "Mom, this is really hard work!" We have many other consequences for our children's actions like taking away TV, computer, or Wii priviledges, not allowing them to go on a fun day trip or hanging out with a friend, taking away part of or an entire allowance, and there are many more. I sometimes have the kids do a time out, but that is more time for all of us to cool off and not just a punishment. As a parent I feel like I am constantly correctly and repeating myself about the same things. I'm trying to be more positive and looking for the good in my kids. I am looking forward to the future to see how these four kiddos will turn out. Will they listen to our advice? Will they be anything like Allan and I? Will they follow Jesus? Only time will tell the future.

Father's Day



We had a great weekend with family! On Saturday Allan's parent's Flora and Jim came over to visit. Allan's mom always brings some type of Filipino food over for us to warm up and have later for dinner. This time it was Sinagong soup(pictured below). Allan said my picture doesn't look too appetizing, but we all really enjoyed it. Then Saturday we had my parent's over for lunch. Sunday afternnon, Victoria and Nicholas could not wait for us to take them to Super Summer Camp. They are gone for an entire week. This is Nicholas first time and Victoria's third time going. It is sorta strange not having them around. It is less busy, less noisy, and less fun. I miss having them around playing with their younger siblings, but they'll be back in no time and I'll be ready for a break. I had a conversation with Victoria before she left. I asked her if she was okay with one of her who had invited a friend to come. She is friends with most of the girls in her cabin, but she has become closer to one of the girls. I just wanted to know how she felt. She said, "Oh yeah, I am excited that her friend is going because she doesn't know Jesus." Ah, my little girl is so smart, so sweet, and loves the Lord with all her heart, all her mind and all her soul. I was so proud of her response.

Flora's Sinagong Soup with beef, peppers, green beans, bok choy,
potatoes, and the sinagong soup powder/mix. Allan said the picture
doesn't do it justice. We all love it!



My dad and my kids on Father's day. The kids were extra silly
since they had ice cream in their bellies & we were headed off
to drop Victoria & Nicholas at camp.

Allan with his two little girls. I know they look just like him.

Victoria in her cabin "The Fab Flamingos". This is where
she is sleeping for a week. 

Nicholas chose the top bunk and he is in the cabin
"The Mowgli Mob".



Allan relaxing after a long day on our new outdoor loveseat.
I got a great deal on the loveseat, 2 chairs & a coffeetable.
We just took out our jacuzzi and so we needed something to fill the space.
Allan is the best dad to our four little monkeys. I am so blessed to have him
as a husband and a dad to our kids.



The Choice To Homeschool

Victoria & Nicholas are proud of the
puzzle they put together!

The kids working together on a block tower.
No one is fighting yet.....

About a year ago in January of 2010, Allan and I started to pray about and seek out other options for our kid's education. Victoria and Nicholas were in a wonderful private school with loving teachers, great curriculum and overall we liked their school. But I'll be honest, it was tough making the monthly tuition payments. We could probably still do it, but then we would have two more kids that would be entering school in the next couple of years. Public school was our last choice for different reasons. One of the main reasons was we wanted the kids to have a Christian education (both curriculum & the teacher(s) who were teaching our children). So if we weren't going to send our kids to private school then our only other choice was homeschooling. I mentioned it casually to Allan and he said, "Yes, why don't you give it a try for a year." I had thought about homeschooling in the past but thought it was something for other parents who were more patient & had experience in teaching. When Allan asked for me to try it for a year, I honestly started praying that God would figure something else out. Homeschooling couldn't be the answer. I researched it by asking lots of questions to moms who were homeschooling. I checked out books from the library. I read blogs and articles on the internet. The idea of homeschooling started to grow on me. God was giving me answers, but I didn't want to listen. I prayed again, "Lord, please help us to figure out a way that we can continue private school." I was afraid to try something new. I had already committed to coordinating another year at MOMS. How was I going to homeschool my soon to be 2nd and 4th grader while keeping my toddler & preschooler busy? I was amazed at how many people I knew that homeschooled. I started to feel more confident that I could do it. We found a homeschool group (PSP) to belong to that would give us support, accountability, and guidance. I attended a huge homeschool convention during the summer that really solidified our reasons for homeschooling. I'm writing this blog for some friends who have been curious themselves about homeschooling and so they can see if it may be the right choice for their family. Remember this is simply what our family is choosing right now to do with our kid's edcation. There is no right or wrong answer.

Some Reasons we choose to homeschool:
Having time in the bible with my kids
We get to choose their curriculum
I know what they're learning all the time - from teacher(me) & students(their siblings)
No monthly tuition (we pay for books & other stuff, but it is much less compared to private school)

Unexpected reasons why we like homeschooling:
We can do things in the middle of the day (dr. appts, haircuts)
I don't have drop-off & pickup every day.
We can go on fun field trips that we choose.
We can choose anytime of the year to take a vacation.

Reasons why the kids like homeschooling:
Nicholas likes staying in his pajamas all day or other costumes
Victoria and Nicholas like having lots of time for reading
They like the field trips that we go on.
Victoria was able to be a part of a church Christmas production that had lots of rehearsal time.

Some things that have been hard about homeschooling:
You're with your kids all the time, so you need to be intentional about spending time w/ friends or your husband.
Discipline (siblings fight, kids disobey) It's our job to train them/
Keeping them focused at home
Keeping the little kids entertained (probably the most challenging part for me)

There are lots of other things I like and dislike about homeschooling. I'll be honest. It is not easy. Parenting isn't easy either. Right now, this is our choice to homeschool the kids. We will take one year at a time, but we are committed for the long haul ahead. We are actually trying to get Benjamin into a transitional kindergarten program through a local public school. If it is the Lord's will, he'll get in. If not, I may be homeschooling him or just finding fun activities for a preschooler to do. Wait a minute... I just got a phone call from the administrative assistant that there are two schools with openings!!! Benjamin will be attending a local transitional kindergarten. He'll be able to go to school and receive speech classes as well!! Yea!! What a blessing! As you can tell I'm not opposed to any school choice. I just want what's best for each of my children as individuals and for our family.

Our 1800 mile Adventure

It's been awhile since I've blogged. We got back a few weeks ago from a fun trip to Lake Tahoe. We stayed there for 8 days & 7 nights. Allan found this great deal for our stay at a resort. We had 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a kitchen, another kitchenette, dining room, and living room. It was perfect for our family!! There was an indoor/outdoor heated pool, game room, free laundry facilities and lots of other fun stuff. We were right next to the lake. Of course, we didn't swim in it because the water was cold. We took a day trip to San Fransisco one day and then another trip to Sacramento. In San Fransisco we visited Pier 39 and walked the Golden Gate bridge. In Sacramento, we walked around old town Sacarmento enjoying the old shops. We also went inside the capitol building. It was beautiful inside and out. The kids really liked climbing some of the trees. I'm not sure if they were supposed to or not, but we let them. In between, we did a lot of relaxing, watching tv, playing games, swimming, taking walks, and just enjoying being with each other. In Lake Tahoe we drove around the entire lake. We climbed huge rocks next to the lake which the kids loved. We visited my cousin Mark and his family of seven for dinner. The kids really enjoyed hanging with their kids. We fit all thirteen of us around their dining room table. The kids did amazing on our car rides. We had very little fighting. The only adjustment was going up and down the mountain so many times. Benjamin went crazy because he couldn't get his "ears unplugged". He would scream super loud. Allan and I can't believe we survived and actually enjoyed a long car ride and trip with the kids.They sure are growing up too quick!!  

Our Family at Pier 39 visiting the seal lions.



Nicholas, Victoria and Lizzie enjoying a game of Uno.

We stopped on the side of the road to take pictures
next to the American River.

Our carriage ride through old towne Sacramento

We enjoyed smoothies as we strolled Old Sacramento.

Victoria pumping water outside of the schoolhouse.

Nicholas was the first to enjoy the jacuzzi bath tub.

Benjamin was excited to see the Golden Gate bridge.

Allan is admiring our kitchen in our suite.

Our living & dinig room

The boys already making themselves at home in their room.

I caught Lizzie in our laundry basket
with a wad of gum in her mouth.

I Need the Easy Button!

There are so many days that I wish I could push the EASY button and well things would be easy. My kids would sleep in until 8am. They'd all fix their own breakfast and not complain about what's in the cupboard or refrigerator. They would get themselves dressed without being told or reminded 10 times. They'd brush their teeth and wash their faces. They would speak kind words to each other throughout the day. The younger ones would play nicely, take turns, and share the most desired toys. The older two would do all of their schoolwork without complaining. They'd listen to their teacher (me) and follow all directions. They would set and clear the table for lunch and dinner. At dinner, no one would interrupt prayer or mom and dad's conversation. Each of them would use a napkin and the proper utensils during their meal and ask to be excused from the dining room table. At bedtime the older two would help the little ones bathe, get pajamas on, brush their teeth and read books to them.                                                                                            

I would have plenty of time to do all of my chores and errands. There would be no piles of laundry on the couch or unmade beds. The floors would always be swept and there would be no piles of paper or dishes on any counters. I would have time to do photo albums and organize the entire house. I would always look presentable to my husband when he came home (showered, make-up and nicely dressed).

WAKE UP KATIE!!!

So here's what really happens. One of the kids wakes me up by 5:45 in the morning. I make them breakfast except the older two can make easier things like toast and cereal. We usually don't have what they want to eat like pop tarts, candy, and cookies. I have to remind the boys several times to get dressed. Lizzie is only two so I pick out her clothes and help her get dressed if needed. We're lucky if we make it out the door with everyone brushing their teeth, washing their faces, and all hair brushed. Most days someone forgets. Even though we homeschool we are out of our house no later than 8am four out of five days during the shcool week. I am constantly reminding them to speak kindly to one another. Sometimes they play really well together, but that can only last so long when one of them gets irritated by someone humming or someone else wants a certain toy. I think I hear, "That's too hard!" from Victoria or Nicholas commenting on one of their class assignments on a daily basis. I have to remind them that I'm the teacher and they need to listen to my instructions. I sometimes set and clear the table so I can have a quiet room for a short time. Mealtime manners are a work in progress. Bedtime is actually the easiest time of day if both Allan and I are home.

I feel like chores and errands never ever never ever never ever end. I usually have one pile of laundry laying on the couch. Sweeping should happen hourly but there's only one mommy. I still have papers to tackle and dishes to load. I haven't even started on Lizzie's baby photo album or printed any photos of her yet. I do get showers most days, but I definitely look like a typical mom in my blue jeans and hair pulled back. That's my reality! It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm actually thankful because if my life was EASY or perfect I wouldn't have my job as a mom. I love the hugs & kisses I get daily. I enjoy singing, playing, teaching, and praying with my kids. Most days are really tough and I often want to throw my hands in the air and say "That't it!" But when they're all in bed and I can process with Allan the day I feel really blessed for my family, my husband and my life.                                                                                                                         

Benjamin

Benjamin turned 4 1/2 yesterday. We started celebrating all of the kids half birthdays a few years back. They don't receive any gifts. We usually just let them pick out something sweet to eat for dessert. He picked out a red velvet cake.  He is energetic, happy, and lots of fun! I love his smile and curiousity for life. He also gets into lots of trouble for being so curious or because he does things he KNOWS he shouldn't do but wants to see what he can get away with. He really is trying to grow up fast. He says, "When I'm __ years old, I'm going ______." He sees Victoria and Nicholas doing things he can't do yet and it is really hard for him to understand that he can't physically, mentally, or emotionally do what they are doing. He gives everything 110%! We are so glad he blessed our lives on 10/5/2006. Below are a few photos that show off Benjamin's personality.

Benjamin put his blue blankie in the freezer to
cool off. He is waiting patiently.

 

Benjamin passed out in Arizona at my sister in law's house
after a long day of playing.

Benjamin taking a picture of himself. He cracked up
when he saw the picture.

He is always ready for a fight.

This is Benjamin's "I'm up to something" look.

Benjamin being silly.

He is always trying to look tough. This is
the look he gave his opponents when he
played basketball.

Rain is in the Forecast....

Do you ever wish you could forecast your future like the weathermen can forecast the weather? We usually like to know ahead of time when we are going to have rain, sunshine, snow, or wind. Wouldn't it be nice if we could know when the kids would be sick, when the car would break down, or when the computer would get a virus? What would that look like though? Would we react the same way if we knew those trials in our lives were coming? We'd hopefully be prepared, wouldn't we? Even if we are knew exactly what would come, I think it would still be difficult to get through those trials. As I walked through a local park this week I pushed my double stroller through all kinds of branches which fell down from the rainstorm. Storms can cause road blocks and devasations in our lives. How can we get past these trials or road blocks that might stand in our way? Would we rely on God? When we have trials in our life and we have no one to turn God is really the only person we can count on. He's always there. He will always listen and he can give us peace. It is amazing to me how after a storm has come and the storm clouds clear what a beautiful blue, clear sky glistens down on us. We can't forecast the rain, can we. But we can look forward to how much we will change and grow from the storms in our lives.

Here are some very dark clouds that are about to bring rain.



A large branch fell down after the rainstorm at a local park.



A beautiful sky after the rain.