Tuesday Tip: Bedwetting/Illness quick change

This is something I have been doing since my kids have been in cribs to save myself time, stress and sleep! 

I bought two sets of sheets and two sets of waterproof mattress pads.  Make the bed first using the first mattress pad cover (goes on top of mattress), then following with the fitted sheet, and regular sheet.  On top of that, put the next waterproof mattress pad, 2nd fitted sheet, and 2nd regular sheet. 

When your child gets sick in the middle of the night or wets the bed, you can do this fix in the dark so that everyone can get right back to bed.  And as they get older they will learn to do it themselves!!! 

The reason I posted this today is because this happened just last night.  Brody wet the bed and he knew to pull off the top layers, change his clothes and get a new big blanket out of a drawer in his room.  I didn't even know all this happened until he got up this morning and told me. 

So to add to this, what I have done was put a spare set of jammies, undies and a big comforter in the bottom drawer of his dresser.  He knows it is in there, so if he has an accident, he can change the sheets himself, change himself and get right back to bed, barely interrupting his sleep and not interrupting mine at all :)  Since he is five now, I think this is a fine thing for him to be doing on his own.  Even though it was an accident, it causes him to be responsible for it and hopefully he will have less accidents.  

Here is a picture:  The blue set of sheets are the first set which are over the 1st mattress pad cover.  The white is the 2nd mattress cover, and the orange is the 2nd set of sheets. 

Sledding

As everyone knows, it's been a cold winter.  My kids beg to play out in the snow but it's been way too cold!  Thankfully we've had a few good days to be able to enjoy this snow.  I don't mind being "snowed" in.  It allows me to get things done inside that I haven't been able to do.

Jersey Hill

 Right before my sledding accident :(  Couldn't sit for a week!

This is our unending task...build a snow fort in the cul de sac!  The snow plow dumps the snow at the end of our street creating a snow mountain.  We dig holes in it and make forts in it...then the snow plow comes again and we have to start all over!

 Sledding on the back of the four wheeler.

Sledding at the cabin

 

We use our toy box lid as a sled!

Beachbody

As some of you may know, I have been a Beachbody coach for the last couple of years.  I have mainly done this to meet my own goals and have a discount on their many products.  I have been running challenge groups that have been very successful.  I love seeing people meet their fitness goals.  The challenge groups help keep you accountable and motivated.  I would like to do more of these and increase my customer base so I think I will start using the blog as a way to help me in this.  I don't want to create another blog to do this.  So on this blog you will find many things...things about beachbody, recipes, parenting tips, my own personal thoughts and photos of our family, and possibly doula and photography stuff.  So it's kind of a free for all and I hope you can find things that you need!  I will have all posts labeled such as "recipes", Health and Fitness, Beachbody, Kiddos, etc.  That should help you easily access what you need.  If anyone is still reading this old blog!! 

What is a challenge group?

Basically you sign up for a challenge pack...that is any beachbody work out program and shakeology.  We have  private group on facebook that you would be invited to  join.  There you will receive instructions, motivation, encouragement on a daily basis.  The groups usually last 6 weeks to 90 days with prizes awarded at the end.  You take personal pictures and measurements to help you keep track of your progress.  It's not a requirement to share those! 

My next challenge group will be 21 day fix.
It takes out ALL the guess work. And is designed to help YOU lose up to 15lbs in 21 days- the healthy way. The 21 day fix includes a simple portion control ...eating system with color coded containers. No calorie counting, measuring, tracking points, macros etc! This is something you can stick with and will help you learn healthy eating habits. It even includes a restaurant eating guide and allows for chocolate and wine (in moderation of course). The program also comes with 7- 30 minute workouts. One for each day of the week, with a variety of exercises from cardio, yoga, circuit training and more!!

For the release the program is on sale for $140 and includes...workouts, a full month of Shakeology, meal plan, 7 color codes portion control containers, and a Shakeology shaker bottle! Normally Shakeology alone is $129.99 so this is an AMAZING deal!!

If you are a current customer of mine you can order it now through teambeachbody.com. If not, you can order it on 2/17. Challenge group starts 2/24!!! When you order through me you get ME as your personal coach to help you every step of the way AND a spot in my private support groups. Complete this application today to be a part of my challenge group! Spaces are limited!!!! Sign up: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2QT3SC7

To see more about the 21 day fix go to:

https://www.facebook.com/21DayFix

Christmas Break - St Louis

During Christmas break we took a little trip with our closest friends to St Louis to visit the American Girl Doll store and the City Museum.  Since it was 50 degrees that weekend, we also hit up the St Louis Zoo.

 Saige getting her hair done.

 Sumer, Reece, Mady with their dolls.

Of Course the moms had fun too :)

Christmas Pictures

I did a few Christmas shoots over the holiday season.  I managed to get a few of my own kids as well :)

 

This is soooo his personality

 All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth :)

Its only been 6 months!

I think I blinked and it's already been 6 months since my last blog post!  I use to faithfully blog at least once a month but our life has been so crazy this was the first thing to go.  I don't even know if people read blogs anymore??!!  Let me know if you still read it!

The last time I posted it was end of May when we made the decision to continue to homeschool.  Then summer hit and we had the time of our lives!!!  It was the best summer ever.  I will kind of recap what we've been doing from May until now and then do additional posts with pictures of everything. 

This summer we took a nice fun break from all the hustle and bustle of the school year.  We did continue to do reading and writing almost every day with Reece.  She started her 1st grade writing curriculum in the summer  - cursive!  We of course got the pool pass and made it there a few times a week.  In June I watched up to 7 children a day as a back up sitter for several families.  That was nuts!  We got a new toy for the yard - a big Banzai water slide which was given to the kids as a gift from our neighbors who love them like their own grandkids.  Both kids did gymnastics over the summer.  It was really one of the only things they both agreed on and that they could both do at the same time.  They also did swimming lessons for a month. At the end of June through July 4th, I took my best friend Kristy and her two kids (who are also 5 and 6 and girl and boy) to Branson to my in-laws condo.  We had such a great time!  The kids and I went back to Branson alone in August before school started for one last bang of the summer!  Brock pretty much finished the 53 Ford and we went to several car shows. 

This fall Brody started pre k at Sharing Tree preschool where Reece attended.  Reece started full 1st grade at home and also doing Classical Conversations on Thursdays.  It has been so hard keeping up on all our activities and responsibilities!  But everyone is learning so much.  Both kids are still in Awana.  Brody is in his 3rd and final year at cubbies and Reece is in her 2nd year of sparks.  Reece also started taking ballet this fall (as opposed to tap like she did last year).  She loves it! She of course tried out for the nutcracker again this year and got two great roles as Bon Bon and Soldier.  She loved every minute of it and can't wait to try out again next year! 

Another thing that has been going on at our house is a lot of loosing teeth!  Brody lost his first and Reece is on her way to loosing her 6th.  If she loses it before Christmas, she will be asking for her 2 front teeth! 

In September I decided to do something more with photography.  I had been taking pictures for people for a couple of years when they asked.  I absolutely love doing this but didn't really want to do it for a "living".  I wanted to offer something different than the other 50 photographers in town.  So I turned it more into a ministry where the profits are going to families in need.  Families who are adopting, families who have a child with an illness, etc.  I fell in love with taking photos when I was in the delivery room with birth clients and just absolutely love taking photos of families.  I have a couple of sites you can view if you want to check out what I am doing. My facebook page is under Purposeful Photography.  You can also find me under this link

We took the kids to Shedds aquarium for the day a month ago.  2 weeks later I traveled to Chicago alone on the train to visit my childhood best friend for the weekend.  Brock met us Sunday and we all went to the Bears game.  While at home, there was a tornado that went through and destroyed Washington.  We were evacuated at the game and our kids were evacuated at church.  It was pretty scary but fortunately ended well for us and the Bears won in overtime! 

Now that Nutcracker is over, we are looking forward to Christmas and what the new year has to bring!

Bauer photos 2013

Every year we try to get family photos.  Instead of paying someone, I trade off with a friend.  She takes mine with my camera and I do all the editing.  Then I take hers on her camera and she does all the editing.  Works out nicely!!!  Got some great ones this year!

Here's us with the old finished 53 Ford.

There's the beauty with all the missing teeth.  I think all the other teeth loss photos are on my phone :(