Glitter Bottles

Well, it's time to post about another Pinterest project! This was another one for the kiddos! I have seen these pins floating around Pinterest (& have pinned it twice, myself in 2 separate places!) of glitter jars that are a visual aid to help kids "chill out". With the temperaments of my boys,  I decided it was time to give this one a shot! 

When the boys misbehave, it tends to end up being an issue of their actual reaction of being disciplined or their reaction to being frustrated over something that ends up getting them in the most trouble. So, they may have just thrown the Wii remote because they were frustrated with the game and as a result, I may give them a warning, saying "I understand that is frustrating, but it isn't okay to throw the remote." Warning 1. Fast Forward 5 minutes, and the same thing happens again & I have to send one to his room & the whole house explodes in a major meltdown. Screaming, tantrum meltdown. THEN, I can't just let that behavior go. So the child ends up in more trouble over his behavior at being angry/frustrated then for the actual offense. Make sense? It REALLY gets drawn out over here & it is really tough on this mama. Just gonna add that.... But I feel like I am always saying "It is okay to be angry, but it is NOT okay to ACT like that when you are angry." However, I can't say as though I have actually given them constructive ways to deal with their anger either.

So, when I saw these bottles, I thought- GREAT IDEA! 

They remind me of snow globes, but with colored glitter. The idea is that by visually watching the glitter settle, it helps them to focus on something else & calms them when they are angry, frustrated, & sad. By the time the glitter settles, they should have themselves composed.

Here is how we did it- For each one you need:

 a clear bottle (I used those "ICE" flavored water bottles- bought them as a treat for the kids)

a bottle of glitter glue (I used 2 smaller containers from a multipack at dollar tree for each one- but they have larger containers in the $1 bin at Michaels that would've been perfect)

a small vile of fine glitter (look in the kids craft section rather than the scrapping section of Michael's- much cheaper... each vile was $1.29)

clear tacky glue (if you want to slow down the "settling" any more- I skipped this)

 

I filled the bottle about 2/3 of the way full with WARM water. This helps the glitter glue dissolve.

 I had the boys help make them so that they would get pumped about using them when they were done. So they squirted in their glitter glue.... 

 

 And poured in their glitter....

 

 Shook them up...

And were super excited with the results!

 The only thing I am not too pleased with is that a lot of the glitter foams up on the top. Not sure why, but the kids don't mind & they work otherwise! So we'll take it!

 I added some ribbon and a label on the front with a scripture that was relevent... 

"Be angry & do not sin" -ESV Ephesians 4:26

Done! I hope they will be helpful in frustrating times for the boys. So far, they have!

Ramblings on Parenting

Sometimes I wish there was a class on parenting.

Yes, Yes, I know there are actually a ton. But I mean, one class that teaches you all you need to know for every personality type, every situation that will arise, and every age level. And then it all magically sinks in & you implement every strategy without ever batting an eye. And they all work.

Wouldn't that be amazing?!

Well, probably not, because then we'd all be robots. And God made us all differently for a reason. It is just hard to appreciate our differences sometimes.

That is how I feel as a mom sometimes. Okay. A lot. I can't always appreciate my kids differences.

I had an emotional breakdown just this week over it. And last... and potentially the week before too. :) Parenting is just hard. I truly thought when I was younger & had itty bitty children that the toddler years were going to be the hard part & then it would be smooth sailing. What rock was I hiding under?! I have since learned that EVERY age has its challenges. And I think the hardest part for me, as the mom of Jackson & Eli, is that they are SO different from each other. They require different parenting techniques than each other & I feel like I am constantly bouncing from one school of thought to another or else failing all together.

With Eli, I see that he is JUST like me... hot tempered, every little thing is a big deal, and wound so tight he is just ready to pop at any given moment. You would think that by seeing that he is like me, i would be able to relate? Nope. Having those qualities in a tiny 6 year old body means one thing: He is totally illogical. He can NOT chill long enough to be rational or hear anyone else being rational. Makes disciplining & rearing a wee bit difficult.

Then there is Jackson. He is SO much like his Daddy. Quiet. Introverted. But a perfectionist with a temper. Because he is quiet though, that temper builds slowly. You never know there has been a problem festering until it literally explodes in your face & you never saw it coming. Once he gets so high in the sky with the anger & frustration, he literally can NOT bring himself back to reality. He doesn't know how to handle it, himself.

So, i know that you are wondering why I am sharing this with you. Well, stay with me... there IS a point. I promise. As I said, I feel like I have been having this inward struggle trying to get things together myself . Trying to see what things I am doing to contribute to the emotional climate around here & I can see that I have fallen into a rut. If I want my kids to learn how to behave when they are angry, then I need to model that behavior. I need to remain calm & show THEM respect if I expect respect in return. If I don't talk to them with respect, then why would they talk to each other with respect? Just because I said so? Nope. You have to walk the walk, not talk the talk. So, I have been trying to be more aware of what characteristics I am emulating that I don't want to emulate. 

And I have been praying about it. A lot. I know that GOD gave me these boys for a reason. He thought I was the best woman for the job, together with Randy. And he gave the boys to each other as brothers because he knew they would be the best suited for each other, in spite of those differences.  Are there other better moms out there? Yes. 
Are there better moms for MY kids? No. 
So, I need to "woman up" & make sure that I am doing all I can to raise these boys in the way the Lord would have me to.  After all, at the end of the day, the most important things our kids will ever learn will come from within the very walls of this house. How to love... Isn't that the root of it all, anyway? Loving God, Loving each other & others, and serving those around us?

And every now & then, I think God shows me that it might be sinking in after all. Despite how hard today was or last week was... You get a reminder that despite the tedious day to day,  the bigger picture is happening. I walked into the school the other day & I saw this on the bulletin board at the front of the school:

I almost cried. In fact, my eyes well up every time I read it. I was beaming with pride. And not because i think we, as parents, did a good job, but because my kid did. He knows how to treat others and is acting on it. He was chosen out of ALL the 3rd grade kids to be the terrific kid based on how he treats everyone. It was noticed by that many teachers & peers.  So proud.
Then I came across this letter in Randy's truck the same afternoon (I have no idea how old this is, but I feel like it is at least a year old based on some spelling & grammar errors)..


He might be quiet, but he has a heart of gold!

Then there's Eli.
A few days ago, Jackson really hurt his arm. I mean, we thought for a little while he might have actually broken it. We iced it for awhile & he calmed down so we didn't go to the emergency room. But the next morning, when i went in to wake Eli for school, he rolled over, sat up & the first thing out of his mouth as he was rubbing his eyes was, "Is Jackson's arm feeling better?"
Melt. My. Heart.
 He was really concerned with his brother's well being. (Which thankfully, his arm was bruised but otherwise fine)
 Eli will share the last cookie crumb with me without me even asking.
He will give Jackson his money to buy something when he wants it.
He is always there for a hug.
 He might be loud, but he has a heart of gold, too!



When i see past the differences, I see that really we aren't all that different after all. We want to love & be loved. Thank the Lord for my sweet boys & my never-a-dull-moment life with them!

ShadowBox Savings

By now, you have probably all heard of Pinterest. It is the most amazing, addictive, yet inspiring place to share & gather ideas on the web. I have "pinned" thousands of ideas! I have also used SO many of them... from recipes to birthday party inspiration, to holiday decor! 

The most recent "pinned & tried" idea I have implemented are these shadowboxes.

 

The kids have each been begging for a different (expensive) electronic & I refused to buy something that I knew they wouldn't have respect for & it would be lost or broken in no time.

 Yet, they kept begging. 

We tried talking about saving their money so they would appreciate it more, but alas, any money they got would burn a hole in their pocket- especially Jackson. Eli is pretty good about holding onto his (until his older brother convinces him "they" need more beyblades or gum or whatever). 

So, I decided we would try these shadow boxes. The idea is that you put a picture of something they want to save for in the frame as a reminder to what they are saving for. And because it is a shadow box, it is wide enough to hold the actual money. Randy took the frames out to the garage & cut slots in the tops for me & then voila... the money dropping began!

Jackson was a bit disheartened that he literally only had the bottom of a jar of change to his name. But, I gave him a roll of dimes ($5.00) to jump-start him & Eli had lost a dollar in the playroom & he told Jackson if he found it, he could keep it. (so sweet!) And of course, it was quickly found! 

Eli is saving for a Nintendo DSi  & Jackson is saving for an iTouch! Hefty choices to save for, but Eli is already $50 on his way from leftover birthday money! :) I am going to start rewarding them in different ways , like rather than going out to lunch or dinner, I plan to offer them the option to put that money into their savings instead if they want to stay home & make a sandwich. When we are at the store & they are begging for a pack of gum or a new beyblade or set of Pokemon cards,  i will offer to buy that OR i can give them them that amount to go into their savings if they would rather. Hard choices sometimes reap great rewards! I am hoping this will teach them that!

** These are the widest 5x7 shadowboxes I could find from Michael's that I got on a BOGO sale... so both frames only set me back $10 total. Sweet!

A Place for the Birdies....

 A Saturday afternoon in May, I let the boys loose with some paint & 2 unfinished birdhouses.

They got down to business...

 And made the birds some really special places to stay!

 We've been bird watching every day since!

I really want a green thumb

This spring, money was (& still is, honestly) really tight. We were on a strict "no extras" budget because my work caseload was very low. I really get the itch to plant in the spring though. I can't help myself. We had NO money for it, but I had saved a little card that my in-laws had given me after I helped plan our niece's wedding back in February. In this little card, was a little stash of money.  What better way to use it than to plant a garden & put some new bushes and things in the yard. 

Off to Lowes I went & came home with plenty to keep me busy!

 I planted a few herbs on the back deck... some "boxwood basil"

 Some sweet mint... mmmm (I've used this one the most!)

 And some cilantro...

 I also planted 2 blueberry bushes in the backyard. I hope in a few years to have enough blueberries to keep Eli happy. He could eat them all day!

 In the garden boxes, we put bell pepper,

 cucumbers,

 and several varieties of tomatoes.

 We also planted squash & zuchinni, but for the 3rd year in a row... this is as good as it gets.

 I don't know what I am doing wrong, but I have already decided that next year, I am planting them in a different spot. Maybe on the other side of the back yard or in the side yard. 

We have already gotten 1 little cucumber off our plant and a few more on their way. And we have have a few cherry tomatoes that are almost ready! 

 

Eli and Jackson LOVE going out & checking on the garden. Eli especially asks about it everyday.

He walks the yard & checks to see if anything else is in bloom. We have watched our new daylilly plants like a hawk waiting for a bloom!

 

And he likes to go around naming all the different bulbs... (honestly he helps ME remember!) We now have an iris growing...

 

And a tiger lilly...

 

And we also have a new wax myrtle and 2 knockout rose bushes (for mothers day!), 2 wigelia, and 4 azaleas.  It is so exciting to see things begin to bloom & flourish!

Big Milestone!

Big news around the Moss house:

Here is your hint....Yep.
You guessed it! Eli is no longer using training wheels on his bike!!

I really think it was more of a confidence thing for him than ability. He liked knowing he wasn't going to fall. But when you have a big brother who wants to get out there & help you....It's hard to refuse the offer! Jackson literally taught him how to ride all on his own. And I think that is so special!

Everything from using the brakes, to putting your foot down so you don't fall when stopping- all Jackson's doing. The only thing I helped with was showing him (in literally one pep talk/take off) that he really could take off all on his own.... He just needed the encouragement to see for himself. And he thought I was holding on to him!

Voila! A new independent bike rider over at our house!

Here's a video of him riding!