Be our 'Ghost'

We are gearing up for the holidays.

One way we enjoy the holidays is with family movies and foods.

We enjoyed pumpkin yogurts while watching Disney's Blackbeard's Ghost, a favorite childhood movie of mine. I am finding that I just can't wait to share the fond memories and passions of my youth with my son. Certain movies hold a strong sense of nostalgia that I just have to pass along.

Source

This movie has a small element of spook and  a large element of hilariousness.

 Popcorn and candy corn are my Halloween favorite treats that I had to share.

Aren't his socks too cute for words? 

  

What fun holiday treats do you just have to share with your wee ones?

Beautifully Strung

Having Mr. Elskan home certainly creates a lot more space for creativity everyone can enjoy.

Today we played with string, fingers, and paints.

Have you ever tried it?

You should.

It is easy and fun to do!

 Beautiful colors.

 

Mamma and Pabbi's joint effort of string/finger painting.

Masterpieces were produced today.

Masterpieces of Childhood Memories.

Takin' Care of Mamma

A bloggy friend has started up a new series of Posts called

"Takin' Care of Mama." 

What a wonderful idea!

I have decided to follow her lead and include such a series of posts as well.

As mother's we really need to learn to find ways to gather strength and energy so we are better able to care for our wee little ones.

Mama Laurel has her focus on the Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional aspects of her life.

Amen to this!

Check out her goals and progress.

The areas I've decided to focus on:

Spiritual

Emotional

Physical

Mental

Social

In each of these areas,
 I will be setting goals -

simple trackable goals.

Spiritual

I started reading the Bible - namely the Old Testament. I have read through it before and have done lots of localized reading. This time I am taking my time and really focusing on the details: maps, culture, and the struggles of each character.

Emotional

Life can be overwhelming - especially in our family it seems. We seem to be in constant transition which can be very difficult. Recently, our transition has been coping with unemployment and job hunting. So, I am trying really hard to focus on the positives in our daily life. Although, we are unemployed it is wonderful to have Mr. Elskan home and a part of the daily routines. It is wonderful the Lil' munchkin is able to experience father more in his daily life.

Physical

I am really focusing on my caloric intake. With Mr. Elskan being home and able to chef for us, I am able to better focus on what I am eating. I hope to get moving more too. It is difficult with the constant exhaustion but I really want to. In the future.

(photo credit)

Mental

This is an area many mothers may overlook. But it is important that we are still learning, growing, expanding our skills, and increasing our abilities. This is an area that exhausts me: after chores. homeschooling, doing our finances, etc. my brain wants a break. But I have found an ingenious and simple way to increase or at least keep my mental capacities: S*udoku. (and crosswords). As a woman who is dyslexic with numbers and can't stand math I am surprised by the enjoyment I feel for it. It relaxes me and challenges me at the same time.

Social

At times I don't feel social, especially dealing with my chronic fatigue and illness. After a full day I hardly want to do much else, besides vegetate. But a good friend started up a Book Club and I LOVE going to it. Although, it is once a month I make sure to go. On the in between I call my friends and discuss the books. It helps me get through my month.

What are your goals?

How do you keep yourself moving and growing after taking care of everyone else?

Things are Cookin' Now

Lil' Monster has long watched (in his short life) his Pabbi  and Mamma cook breakfast. He has hit the stage for wanting to do things "by myself." Breakfast is one of those things he has wanted to do on his own.

So we gave it a try:

Getting everything pulled together.

Measuring out the Cream of Wheat, and added water and stirred.

Excitedly (despite the look) pressing buttons to cook the bowl of hot cereal.

  Waiting for a few minutes.

Stirring in a little brown sugar

(a rare treat and given for such an accomplishment).

            Wanting to enjoy it with some milk.

And enjoy it he did.

Isn't growing up so fun.

The simple things, that many adults take for granted,
can be so exciting and full of novelty for young ones.

As a mother,

I love my son for helping me to see the world anew and with such excitement and accomplishment.

Forever Family

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we believe in being

families forever.

We believe that families can be sealed together for eternity in a

Temple.

This sealing is a bond that will always last, even beyond death.

We believe that children can be born into this sealing,

 if the couple has been married for eternity in the Temple.

We believe that children who are not born (meaning adopted) under this seal can still be sealed into the family forever in the Temple.

I am so grateful for this principle.

 I love my precious boy!

I am not able to conceive children and I am so grateful God has provided for even such as I.

I find much comfort knowing that I can be a forever family

with my husband AND beautiful son.

 

Click on Links to know:

Why Do Mormons Have Temples?

What Are Temple Blessings? 

 

Temples bring incredible blessings to families.

Our son has brought incredible blessings into our lives.

Banned Books - Really?!?!?

I am a mother who wants to teach her children righteousness and to "Choose the Right." I have learned that hiding the world from your children is not a way to teach strength in righteousness. Then again immersing them in the world isn't right either.

However, I do believe in reading and learning as much as possible, then teaching my children learn to critically think and choose for themselves. Children can learn from the examples and choices of characters in books: from the heroes they learn righteous decisions; from wicked characters they can identify evil choices and how to avoid making them. They can learn we are all human, and that we can all find redemption through hard work and the mercy of God.

I find it sad that many people are critical of certain literature so much so that they band together to ban books. Why not read the book and find what you can learn and then teach your child to do the same?

As a lover of literature I do agree there is some smut in books that is not okay to read at anytime. But why ban them? Let there be a choice. There are some books with unorthodox ideas that should still be read. From these you can teach your child what is acceptable and what is not, but let them make choices. If they choose wrong - discuss it with them, and reteach them wise decision making, then let them try again to make good choices. Many books that have been banned have taught valuable ideas and precepts, albeit through difficult settings and materials. Life itself has the same dilemmas. Teach your children to be strong amidst them. They do grow up and will need to function despite these dissident elements in life.
Don't keep your children naïve.
Teach them wisdom!!

Raise strong minded children!

Keys to Success
in raising righteous strong minded literate children:

1. Teach your children your values and beliefs.

2. Supply access to literature.

3. Let your children choose books to read.

4. Teach them critical thinking:
Reiterate your believes and values.
Share your opinions.

5. Help your children to understand and be wise then make good choices.

Don't ban books!

Think for yourself!!

Seasons of Grandmothers

It seems that this is a season meant for

Grandmothers.

Around this time last year we had a visit from

Amma V

(our Icelandic Grandma)

to meet her new grandson.
 

 

Then not long after that Lil' Monster and I moved to SLC to live with

Grandma G

for a little while after Grandpa G passed away.

 

  Well, it must be that time of year again, because Grandma G is coming for a visit!!!!!!!

She is coming for a very special occasion!!

She arrives

Tomorrow!!

We CAN'T WAIT to see her!!

We LOVE Grandma G.!!!

A New Arrival

Today something

VERY

BIG

showed up via the postman.

 What is it?

For ME!?!?!?

 We decided it was time to embark on homeschooling. We have talked for years about our future children's education. We decided that homeschool may be the right path for our family (especially since our life is very transient). We found the wonderful school curriculum via Sonlight that seemed to work best for us. So we have begun with the Pre-School level.

 He is soooo excited that this whole box of goodies is just for him.

Body Book? What's this.

Coming soon to Lil' Monster's life:

An EDUCATION of his very OWN!

Peace amidst the storms

Have you ever been walking along and fallen down so hard?

Most of us haven't since toddler-hood.

 Mr Elskan's first steps.

(circa mid 1970's)

Today we recieved a blow and we have certainly fallen down.

Pabbi has lost his job.

Economic cutbacks by his workplace have created a loss of job for several employees. We happened to be in that cut.

Despite this blow, we are at peace.

We thank God for this.

And we will soon be up and walking as if we had never fallen.

In this we are confident.

Sew Right

Exploring the art of sewing -
with Sport's balls.