The Morning 5

So I must give credit to Nicole(my oldest sister), for the development of the morning five. It is a great way to get your day going for yourself and kids especially if you are a slow starter. I have always been a bit slow to get going in the morning. For as long as I can remember I've had a difficult time waking up. A few have even accused me of being grumpy, I'm not buying it though. I probably would be a great coffee drinker, too bad we'll never know. Without further ado here is the morning five I try and do with my kids:

1. Get Dressed
2. Eat Breakfast
3. Say prayers
4. Brush teeth
5. Make Bed

The list has no particular order we just try and have it done while it is still considered morning hours and I think it sets a good tone for the day. Now the real test for all things in my life is the consistency part, wish us luck cause we need all we can get.

Meal Time

Andrew October 2008 eating a PBJ Sandwich

As a mother, meal time is possibly the worst time of the day. It seems just as you have finished or mostly finished cleaning up from the previous meal it is time to start the whole process again. Like the washer, the dishwasher could be continuously running in homes with little ones. I know it is the time and season and all to soon the season will pass and I will miss it, even long for it. This being said there are some days I just wish we didn't have to eat. Another point along these lines, if you fix a delicious well balanced meal they won't touch it. Peanut butter and Jelly, or a nasty hot dog, they will gobble that up. I know it is just kids and this is the way it is, but sometimes it is all a bit tiring. Well the dinner bell is ringing so I'll be off.

p.s. The picture really says it all. I mean really who gets that messy eating peanut butter and jelly? In the 8 months since the picture was taken the table manners have not improved, not for lack of trying.