My 4 Steps to Raising Children

I have been struggling trying to get a grip of being a mother to teenagers.  I have to admit, I wasn't fond of my own teen years.  They were difficult years and I am glad to be past them.  I would never want to re-live those years.  But unfortunately, I feel like I am in a way, re-living them again through my own children.  One thing that I have learned through having teens, is not to sweat the small stuff.  What I mean by that, is anything my twins do at 8 IS small stuff.  I am so much more relaxed with them because I realize these things now.  My poor older kids had it tough.  I sweat about all kinds of small stuff.

As I was preparing to go to the Temple yesterday morning, I was thinking about how much I stress over the teenagers and all they go through.  I used to say that the pioneers had it so much harder than we have it now.  I have changed my mind.  These teenagers have it equally as difficult if not more difficult.  I decided to come up with some steps to parenting to help me focus and not stress so much.  Within about 5 seconds, I came up with the first 3 steps and then Mario suggested the 4th step which is completely necessary.

1.  Love your children unconditionally

2.  Teach them the gospel

3.  Fast and Pray often for them

4.  Trust in the Atonement

So now when I get stressed, I try to remember that stress is not part of my four steps.  That helps me focus my energies. I love each of my children.  They are truly a blessing to me.

Nonnie and Grandma

I have been meaning to blog about Nonnie and Grandma Bay's visit to Tucson in January.  But for some reason, just never got around to it and then forgot.  My parents were able to come visit us in mid December for the twins baptism, then they stayed thru Christmas and then thru part of January because they were going on a cruise to Hawaii that left out of California.  There was no sense in going all the way home to Florida.  Nonnie and Grandma were going on the cruise too so they flew into Arizona a few days before the cruise.  We were lucky to be able to spend a few days with them.

Four Generation picture-January 2012

Four Generation picture-January 2001

Back-to-School

The first day of school is probably one of my most favorite days of the year, especially since all four of the kids are in school.  Here's the first day pics.  Nate was the only one that didn't mind posing. But the other three were pretty good sports this year about pics.  I guess they figured the torture would end soon if they just cooperated.

Trumble Park Elementary

Eric attends Papillion-La Vista South High School

Papillion Jr High School

Happy 13th Birthday Erin!

Our house is always busy in August.  School starts and back-to-back birthdays.  Erin celebrated her 13th birthday on Thursday.  We now have 2 teenagers in the house!

Mario had wanted to surprise Erin with a baby grand piano when we moved into our house.  But he never had time to go look for one.  So we put it off until her birthday.  Eric and I went to look for one the week before with a friend but we couldn't find a good one for a good price.  But one popped up on Craigslist over the weekend.  I emailed and asked some questions about it but before I could arrange a time to see it, the lady selling it, emailed me and said if I took possession this week she would drop the price from $3800 to $2900.  I called a piano technician and he met Erin and I at the home on Monday afternoon.  We decided we better let Erin in on the surprise just in case she didn't like that particular piano.  Erin had no idea where we were going and why.  So that was her surprise when we pulled up into a stranger's driveway and walked inside to see the piano.  The technician told me that I was getting the piano for a steal.  Vivian, the seller, needed to get rid of the piano quick because she was downsizing to a condo and moving out that weekend.  She had bought it in 2001 with the intention of learning how to play again. But she had learned in Puerto Rico and the method taught in the US was so different than what she was used to, that she gave up trying.  The cool part is that Vivian is Cuban.  She was really excited that my little Cuban girl was getting her piano that she was selling well below the value.

The piano was delivered on Erin's birthday.  Then we left for a day at the water park and camping at the Mahoney State Park.  Erin invited Sydney and Makenzie Hettinger to go with our family.  It has been so hot all summer, but on Erin's birthday it finally cooled off and actually was a little chilly for a water park.  But we still had fun, especially in the wave pool.

Sydney made Erin the best chocolate pudding pie I have ever had.  So we sat around our picnic table and sang Happy Birthday with blown out candles (from the wind) on her pie.

I think Erin had a great 13th birthday.  We are all excited about the new piano especially since we have all 4 kids playing now.  I am even thinking of taking lessons again.  We are keeping our old piano (unless one of my siblings wants it) since it was handed down from my parents.  Eric is very sentimental and thinks it needs to stay in the family.  So if no one else wants it, I am sending it with him when he buys his first house.

Happy 15th Birthday Eric

I can't believe that my baby is 15 now. Nebraska allows kids to get their learner's permit to drive on their 15th birthday. If we lived outside of the city limits, (just across the highway) Eric would have been able to drive himself to school.

On Sunday, two of Eric's friends, Ben and Katie, stopped by to bring Eric a cherry pie for his birthday. Both were going out of town this week so they wanted to bring him something early. For his birthday, Eric wanted new clothes, so I took him shopping on Tuesday. He knew he was limited to $100, so he only checked clearance racks and commented that he's been indoctrinated. For his actual birthday yesterday, I made him homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Then he went to the DMV and scored a 100% on his written driving test. Mario took him out driving in his truck. Then we dropped off twins at a friend's house and we went to Jason's Deli on Omaha for lunch. Eric drove the 8 miles home. Mario bought a big grease marker and wrote "student driver" really big on the back windshield. I think that was a great idea because driver's were giving him extra room for lane changes.

We came home and Eric hung out with his friend, Gage until the rest of his friends came over that evening. The had a movie night and just hung out. I didn't realize that Eric liked cherry pie so much. He apparently told the Young Women because we had 2 more cherry pies show up at our home last night.

I think Eric had a great birthday. Each year makes me sad though because it means one year closer to him going off to college. He plans to leave for college as soon as he graduates. That means we only have 2 more birthdays to celebrate with him. He has grown to be such an unbelievable young man. He treats our family well. We all love him very much and I know at least one of my boys wants to be just like him.

First Nebraska Camping Trip

We finally got a some relief from the triple digits and decided to take advantage and go camping. Mario and the boys spent two nights and Erin and I one night. Eric is in Nauvoo for youth conference. He hates campimg anyway. Our good friends, the Hettinger Family joined us too.

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Prank Wars

Eric had a mess to clean up today. Fortunately his brothers volunteered to help. As you can tell, this ward is full of fun youth.

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