Family Night

We have a local steak house that has family night on Wednesday nights. Kids eat free and there is a lady that does amazing face painting, also for free. Ainslee loves to go. We went this week and Nolan participated in the painting for the first time. He wanted Thomas, which she free handed from looking at a book we had. The only down side is she starts at 6 so the kids only get to enjoy the creations for a few hours before bed. Ainslee tries really hard to "sleep still" so it looks good the next day, but it never does.

The first test

One the way to school Ainslee was melting over lunch being wrong. We had to go and half way up the street I pulled over. She stopped crying instantly. I started driving and she said, "Tell me again why it is dangerous for you to drive when I cry" I told her it was distracting etc and she said no its not, its because the police will come and take you to jail. Whatever her logic. It totally worked!!! Thanks Dr. Schooner!

Advice from the Good Dr.

Ainslee has this doll named Kristi and it is more alive than you and I. She changes its clothes, feeds it, breast feeds it (thanks to all my friends currently breast feeding REAL babies) puts it in its car seat etc. If things with Kristi aren't just right she freaks out. Kristi is becoming the third child I didn't want. Yesterday I put all the kids in the car and Kristi's seat belt was not on right. We needed to go so I left it as is. Ainslee Freaked out! Yelling, kicking, telling me Kristi wasn't safe. I had enough and calmly took Kristi to the front seat and continued to drive. Needless to say Ainslee went through the roof. She was telling me Kristi was going to die if we got in an accident, and that she wouldn't stop yelling until I buckled her in. I stayed calm and said over and over...it's ok everything is ok (out loud, more advice from the Dr. Calming my self and hopefully the kids). Nolan started YELLING, "Mom, mom lee lee mad at you!" over and over. I wanted to drive off the road! This went on for the ENTIRE 20 minute drive to preschool. I had my appointment with the Good Dr. in the afternoon and she gave me some good car advice I wanted to share.
When I picked Ainslee up from school I told her I had been thinking and the situation we had earlier in the day was not safe. I told her we could get in an accident and mommy needed it calm to drive. Per the Dr. I told her that from now on if things get too loud, if she and Nolan are fighting or if there is too much whining I would have to pull over until it was safe to drive again. Dr. Schooner suggests being prepared with a book, cross word, nail polish, what ever you wish, and calmly with out word, pull over when the situation calls for it. The kids will quickly learn that they don't get to go unless they shape up. She said she did that with her kids until they were in Jr. high. Long road trips what ever. It is a logical consequence, not, "if you don't stop we will go home" or what have you. I am excited to try, as going anywhere from our house takes at least 15-20 min.

Take time to Make time

So I have really been working on taking time to make time. I am really good at doing it for aerobics and that's about it. So here I am making daily schedules and planning out every second of the day. Maybe this way I can blog and keep up. Ainslee is doing soccer and likes it except you have to run, its hot and she gets sweaty. So I am not sure we will be signing up next season. She is enjoying her second year of preschool and is getting really good at writing her letters. Nolan hit a new stage. The WHINING stage. UGH, Jeff is not happy! Nolan has a strong head like Ainslee and in the past has been passive if he didn't get his way. This is no longer the case. He knows what he wants and is very sad if he doesn't get it. He also loves everything. It is sooo cute. He says things like, "I love this my blankey mom" or "I love this my block". He loves all his toys, clothes, food, you name it he loves it. The season is starting to change and I am welcoming the cooler weather. I, yes me, am looking forward to putting on warmer clothes and starting the fire place. Jeff is home earlier and is free to help me get Ainslee from school on days I do hair. Halloween is just around the corner and yesterday we put up decorations. Each year I think, I should have done this myself instead of asking for the kids help. Ainslee and I decorate much differently and were both adamant as to where things should go. We both compromised and the house is very festive. I really like this time of year.