Got to Make Some Extra Dough!

I really need to find a way to make some extra cash. A job is out of the question since daycare costs would suck my paycheck down the drain.

I'd love to start a preschool, and I think I could if I set it up in the room upstairs, but I don't think I'd have much success starting up in the middle of the school year.

After Baby M is 6 months old I think I could take on some babysitting if they were willing to drop them off at my house

These are some other ideas I had for making some extra cash. I can easily do the photo cards long distance. I'd either email the file or just send them to a local Walgreens near you.

If anyone can help I'd greatly appreciate it! :)

The Stratton House of Learning

The standards for nursery have changed since the last time I associated with it- which was when my Nephew K was going. I was way unprepared for what nursery would be like for the boys, and I didn't prepare them very well either. I definitely appreciate what the leaders have done. I have seen the advantages to having a structured and scheduled environment. And with young kids that sort of thing could only help not hurt. The only problem is that the twins just aren't used to doing activities like coloring and singing. I can't even get them to sit down and watch T.V. for more than 5 minutes. I decided I should try and get them more used to the things they'd be doing in nursery. So three days a week we sit down, and have an hour or so of lessons- I can't think of a better way to describe it.

We start off with some dancing. My goal is to try and get the twins to follow my directions, and do as I'm doing. They are very good at jumping when I ask them to.




Then we watch a movie. We've been watching Leap Frog's The Letter Factory letter's 'A' through 'D'. I try to get the boys to sing along with the songs. They have actually started to say some of the letter sounds.




Then we color. We've been coloring pictures of squares. The boys have both started coloring on their own. Big H was the first and the next day Little H picked it up- and yes, I saved both those papers.




After coloring we do singing time. We sing about 3 songs, and I try to get them to do the actions with me.

When all is said and done we have a snack then we play with toys, and life, in the Stratton home, returns to it's normal self. As normal as we know how to be at least.

Salt Lake City! We'll be Coming Soon!

For some reason or another we've been making a lot of trips to SLC lately.



Don't worry he didn't drive.

Our first trip was a run around to try and save money on a hard drive and some night stands. It seems all the really good deals on KSL end up being in Salt Lake.



So we went to park city for night stands, Sandy for the hard drive and then Riverton to talk to a lady about cloth diapers.

The boys did not like their new riding companion. They don't like the sun in their eyes, but they don't like the window blocked either.



And these two sitting together does not work well at all.



Do you like our improvised sun shade? Before we moved the boys to one side, and the night stand by the window, we had the boys on either side and the night stand in the center. This led to Big H being woken up from a nap by the sun. So this is what we came up with.



Our most recent trip took us to Craig's school, and to The Gateway. I really wanted to take this boys to this fountain sometime this summer. They were scared at first, but they ended up loving it. They also entertained a crowd of people behind us.





We also stopped by Temple Square to see the new display.




I used to love trips up to Salt Lake, but I find them to be a little exhausting now. Perhaps when the boys our older it will be better.

P.S. Craig has started at a nursing school up in Salt Lake called Fortis College. He is really excited about it, and I'm happy that he's happy. I took a tour and it is a very nice little college.

May 14, 2010: What a Carnival!

On Friday I went with my parents to my nephew's school's carnival. Let me tell you, my school carnivals weren't nearly this fancy.







I waited, with my nephew, in line forever to hop on this ride.

He's My Little Helper!

It's been a bumpy road with my nephew recently. He's a great kid and can be such a good help sometimes, but then sometimes he drive me up the wall. Trying to help him with homework makes me want to rip out my hair at times. We were having horribly negative reading sessions, and I knew it was going to start to effect his learning negatively.



Well we recently changed our focus a little. I have tried to plan little lessons for him that focus on areas were he feels less confident. And then when the lesson is complete I shower him with praise- which is almost like ice cream for him. Thankfully it has turned things around for both of his. He's improving and so am I.



*I took these pics of him when he was at our house the other night. I found all my old dishes and such from the kitchen I played with when I was little. This kitchen was given to us by my mom for the grand kids to play with when they are here. Anyway. . .I told my nephew to help me put all my old stuff with the new kitchen, and I couldn't resist putting that little helper apron on him, and snapping some shots.

Aww. . .childhood memories.

January 25, 2010: Student of the Week!

Last week my nephew was student of the week in his kindergarten class.



We made him a special poster full of pictures



and on Wednesday I went and read a story to his class.



It was fun to create a memory with him. Especially when I still have memories of my special weeks in elementary school.

December 14 through the 16, 2009: Merry Christmas to all . . .

It appears I may have sent our letter out a little early. We have had a few events happen within the last week.

I started back to work on Monday. I'm currently subbing for the girl I'm replacing- who, coincidentally, replaced me a few months ago- and next Monday I'll officially be working again.

Craig has completed an application for UVU and has also been accepted. We're looking at our options for our financial future, and we're praying daily for an answer to be made clear.

The boys are getting more and more active. They are so close to crawling now, and they amaze us with how much they move.

My sister-in-law went into preterm labor. She started dilating and having contractions early this week. Her original due date was February, but they measured the baby and said she was approximately 35 weeks along. She's in the hospital on bed rest and receiving steroid shots for the baby's lungs.

Dorothy Ann (My Buick) has had some adventures. I backed her off our driveway and into a ditch, and she ruined a spark plug wire by getting a dirt like substance up next to them. Luckily Craig was home to help me out of the ditch. And my Dad, and some electrical tape, helped to fix the shorting out, spark plug wire.

We also received a call about Craig's debit card saying that someone was using his number to purchase gas in Connecticut. Luckily the bank caught it, and everything is being taken care of.

Craig and I are getting ready for Christmas, and the season is keeping our spirits high. Nothing will stop us from enjoying one of the most wonderful times of the year. I heard a quote that at Christmas time we feel emotions that are comparable to those we will feel on the other side of the veil. I believe that to be very true and Craig and I are very grateful for the blessings we have received and the out pour of love and support from friends and family.

God Bless us Everyone!

September 12 and 21, 2009: The Boys Are such good Helpers

A couple Saturdays ago, after receiving my Grandma's Pumpkin party invite, I sat down and started working on our Halloween costumes. Apparently the party will be on the 26th of September which left me with very little time to put things together. Well Little H got fussy so I put him on my lap, and he decided he wanted to help. He was pulling and playing with the tulle. Putting it in his mouth on occasion. It was adorable! He wasn't as into it when we decided to pull out the camera, but we got a couple cute pics.



He loved the tulle so much I gave a scratch piece I had in my drawer. He played with it for a bit and then he threw up on it.

The next day his daddy wrapped it around his head for some cute pics!



The poor little boy had just gotten back from the doctor. The instacare doc said he seemed happy and healthy, but that he might be starting to get a respiratory virus that's been going around. He sounded so horrible that weekend. He was so congested, and he wouldn't drink anything. I'm still yet to find out what the deal is with that boys congestion.


The boys have also been helping me walk my nephew to kindergarten. I took these pics on Monday, but they help me everyday.




Such cute boys!

September 17, 2009: The Boys Take a Fall

I recently decided to quit work and stay home with the boys. And since I'm staying home, and we're living with my parents, I decided to earn my keep by getting my Nephew ready and walking him to kindergarten.



Well last Thursday, upon returning home, I decided to pull the stroller into the house since the boys had fallen asleep and I wanted them to stay that way. We have a huge stroller- as you can imagine- and, instead of asking my mom for help, I decided to try and wheel it in by myself. I took it up the steps front, back, front, back, I then got out my keys, unlocked the door and went inside to set stuff down. I turned around to get the stroller, but it was too late. My parents steps are round and apparently one of the wheels did not make it on the top step all the way. Slowly the stroller started to lean and, before my mind could totally compute what was wrong with this scenario, the stroller fell and tumbled down the steps. There are only two or three steps so it wasn't a huge fall, but my heart stopped. My life flashed before my eyes. Their lives flashed before my eyes, and I ran out to see what the damage was. Both boys were crying, of course,- so much for that staying asleep thing- so I took them inside and showered them with kisses. They both had bumps on their heads, but everything else seemed fine, and within minutes they returned to their happy normal selves.