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Author: Mindy Zeigler

Kids Lunch Choices

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food choices

I thought this would be a good post since school is about to start next week.  Last year my daughter started kindergarten.  I packed her lunch each day but she rarely ever ate it.  I realized that I needed to start giving her choices and let her decide what she would like to pack in her lunch.  I made a key ring full of choices.  Each category is a different color.  Now, she goes through and orders her meal each day.  She knows she has to pick one blue, one green, and one yellow.  Then, the rest are up to her.  This system worked very well for us.

Blue-main dish
Green-vegetable
Red-fruit
Purple-side dish
Brown-dip or sauce
Orange-treat
Yellow-drink

You can download the cards and then print them on paper or cardstock.  I printed them on paper and then laminated them using Jumbo Card Size 2-15/16″x4-1/8″ laminating pouches from www.oregonlam.com.  I punched a hole and put them on a ring.

You can download the cards and the photoshop template here:

Food Choices Template

Food Choices pdf

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All Grown Up

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Ella has been such a big help to me this summer.  She has helped with the housework by vacuuming, mopping, picking up, putting silverware away, folding towels, etc.  Today as I was watching her I teared up a little.  She asked me why I was crying and I told her I was sad she was growing up but very happy to have her help me so much.  I told her that being a mom is hard work and it is wonderful to have her help me around the house.  She said, “Mom, no more tears okay.”           

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Baby Genius

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Yes, Brennen is a genius.  He is only 15 months old and has his own laptop.  He uses it to surf the web for potty training tips and to organize his collection of “The Wheels on the Bus” and other fun mp3s.

Okay, so maybe he’s not quite that smart yet, but he does love to climb on the table and slam the keys on Ella and Preston’s computer.   

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Swimming

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My parents have a swimming pool and we enjoy it all summer long.  I take the kids there to swim two or three times a week.  Occasionally Phil is home from work and is able to go swimming with us.  The kids love it!  This year Ella learned to swim in the deep end and Preston enjoys jumping in with his arm floaties on.  Brennen loves to run around the pool and make me a nervous wreck!  I am glad we are able to spend so much time together by the pool.  I hope my parents never move!

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Alligator Soup

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The other day I made split pea soup.  All my kids have loved this soup in the past but lately if you mention anything green (like peas), they think they don’t like it.  So, when Preston asked what was for dinner, I quickly responded, “alligator soup.”  He was intrigued.  He started eating and asked, “What are the carrots?”  Then he asked about the potatoes and ham.  I told him they were things like alligator tail or toes etc.  He thought my alligator soup was wonderful and ate two bowls full.  I was so glad it worked.

Another great thing that works for him is reverse psychology.  All you have to do is say something like, “I bet you can’t do that” and he is all over it!  I dread the day when these kind of things stop working on him!

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Up All Night

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Last night at 3:00 in the morning, Preston came into our bedroom.  Phil took him back up to bed and tucked him in again.  Then, a few minutes later, Ella was in our room.  I told her to get back in bed.  Then, a little later, I hear a terrible clashing noise that kept going and going.  I finally got out of bed to see what the noise was and Preston and Ella were sitting in the family room playing with the blocks together.  Remember, it’s 3:00AM!!!  I told them to get in bed and back to bed I went.  Why on earth they both woke up at three in the morning and why they decided to play nicely together (normally they would be fighting over the blocks), I have no idea!  In the morning I asked Preston if they went back to bed and he said, “Yes, but first we played with Ella’s angels in her room, and then she read me stories, and then we slept in Ella’s bed.”  Then he showed me the block castle they made.  We were all tired the next day but I thought it was cute how well they played together.  If only they could do that during daylight hours!

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Time Out!

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This weekend I attended Time Out For Women with my mom, sister Mallory, sister Miranda, and sister-in-law Bekah.  It was wonderful!  The guys stayed home with the kids (thank you!) and we spent the night away.  I had so much fun.  One of the highlights of the weekend was when we went to a small cafe to eat lunch before the program started.  When we walked in we saw three presenters, Kim Nelson, Kris Belcher, Emily Watts, and the musical presenter Hilary Weeks at the table next to us!  We were so excited and I finally asked for a photo.  They were so kind to us.  The rest of the weekend just got better from there.  We laughed, we cried, we talked.  I am thankful for this weekend away with the girls in my family and look forward to doing it again next year!

The theme for Time Out was “Sweet Assurance.”  The presenters spent the two days getting us to think about things that we know for sure.  They told us to write them down and try to add to our list.  I don’t know a lot but I do know a few things for sure.

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and takes care of my needs.
I know that my parents, husband, and children love me too.
I know that the spirit of God is real.  I have felt it too many times in my life to deny it.

When you get a second, take some time out and write down some things you know for sure!

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This Little Piggy

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Brennen is now 14 months old.  His new word is “Mah,” or more if you need an interpreter.  Anytime he wants more to eat he says, “Mah, mah” over and over.  Today I was holding him and did “This Little Piggy” on his cute little toes.  When I finished he said, “Mah, mah, mah!”  I think we did “This Little Piggy” at least fifteen times before he had enough!

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A Getaway

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Sometimes the best part about being a parent is getting away from the kids for a few days!  Phil took me to West Baden Springs Hotel this past weekend.  We had a wonderful time.  We spent a few days talking, shopping, eating, hiking, going on a carriage ride, laying by the pool and getting massages.  We also had a good time learning about the history of the hotel.  The trees and flowers were all starting to bloom and Phil spent an afternoon following me around as I photographed all the blossoms.  We had a great time!

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