Hometown Hero Delivery

Today, we were out the door early to meet up with a couple girls from the troop to deliver our 96 boxes of Hometown Hero Cookies to our soldiers.

First, we unloaded the car.

 Then we headed inside to see a cannon,

 get inside a hummer

 and pack a box with a soldier.

 She told us about how much the soldiers love to get cookies and we thanked her for serving our Country.

Then each of the girls wrote a letter to a soldier to go inside a box.  Skylar is getting help from one of our leaders, Lauren.

 As we were standing around a soldier asked us if we could help build some more boxes.  We were ready to help and got right to work.  We probably made about 100 boxes.

Our assembly line...

Finally, some of the boxes we made.
 

It was great to start the day helping our soldiers.

We went home for lunch and then the kids played outside with the neighbor kids while I worked on the budge and paying taxes.

After dinner, Andrew wasn't being included with the girls playing princess so we played games.  First, we played Candyland and then we played Cadoo.  We just took turns sculpting, acting out and drawing.  We had a great time.  We are continuing to enjoy our electronics fast.  I thought today would be a little difficult since it was a Saturday but since we got out the door so early and then it was nice outside it ended up being pretty easy.

Tomorrow is pancake and cooking day.  Haven't figured out what I am cooking yet but Andrew already said he would be my helper.

Electronics Fast

With mom being sick for so long, we got into the bad habit of watching A LOT of TV, playing on Ipods and playing on the computer.  As I was getting better I tried to wean them back down to a reasonable level.  It just wasn't working - lots of arguing and yelling and temper tantrums.  So Dad and I decided to put everyone on an electronics fast.

Sunday morning it started.  That day each kid asked at one time, "Can I watch a show?"

Nope.

Monday came - Andrew struggled for about 5 minutes in the morning but then was fine the rest of the day.  I just kept saying, "we are on an electronics fast."

Tuesday was a breeze.  No one asked.  No temper tantrums.  Easy to bed.

Wednesday was free sailing.  Lots of toys were coming out, kids were going outside.

Thursday, Dad asked if anyone wanted to watch a show during dinner - either Survivor or Hotel Impossible.  I looked at him to say why? But went with it.  Skylar and I headed off to piano shortly thereafter anyway.

Thursday night was dreadful.  By the time we got home from piano, Andrew was already asleep.  I put the girls to bed but within a few minutes, Skylar was downstairs watching another show with Dad.  At 9:30 she came in and said she was ready for bed so I tucked her back in.  5 minutes later she was complaining she couldn't fall asleep.  At 10 PM, she was disturbing me while I was trying to go to bed.  She then threw a temper tantrum about going to bed. The next 30 minutes was spent either in temper tantrum or complaining she couldn't fall asleep.

Finally, she went to sleep but every 2 hours she was awake - complaining of one thing or another.

Lesson learned - no electronics is awesome!!  Putting electronics back in the diet is not good for anyone.  When we do allow electronics again, it will be a very small diet.

Today, there was no TV again today and especially tonight.  Skylar went right to sleep, never heard a peep out of her.  Cairn is at a sleepover - she is going to get to watch a movie.  I will get a report from her tomorrow about how she slept.