Thursday, October 18, 2018

7 Questions - Part 5



DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY GAME RECOMMENDATIONS?  WE GOT QUIRKLE BASED ON YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND LOVE IT!

Quirkle has been a family favorite here for a while and I love that we're moving out of the "toddler games" department and into more family games that we can all enjoy together.  Sometimes Griffin needs to be "partners" with me or Dave but she's following along with more and more and games are one of our absolute favorite ways to spend time together as a family.

Ticket to Ride is one that was introduced to us while at Sky Ranch this summer and it's ridiculously addicting.  Both of the boys completely "get it" and Griffin loves to help place the trains and draw the cards and it's a game that Dave and I love playing as well.  The geography knowledge is an added bonus ;)  I just ordered  this version of the game to give to Dave for Christmas :) Shhhh! Don't tell him! hahaha

I've linked some of our other favorites below...




DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR HELPING SIBLINGS GET ALONG?  YOUR KIDS SEEM SO CLOSE AND I LOVE THAT AND HOPE THAT FOR MINE!

First of all, my kids definitely don't get along well ALL of the time. But I also don't post videos or pictures of them fighting :) I feel like the dynamics between them change pretty much daily (and sometimes multiple times a day!) depending on who's home, who wants to play with who, who woke up on the wrong side of the bed, etc.  When Mason was at camp this summer we figured out that Mason is definitely the "glue" of our three - he's the source of the noise, the cooperative play and about 99% of the bickering :) 

Luke and Griffin are 5 years apart and, for the most part, Luke plays the big brother role very well.  He's nurturing, caring and he dotes on her... although they rarely play together.  Sure, he'll read a book to her, help her build something she's struggling with, etc. but I'm not sure they ever really "play" together.  

Mason and Griffin on the other hand are THICK AS THIEVES.  They're 2 years and 1 day apart and I feel like they are either knee deep in some elaborate play set up getting along beautifully or fighting.  

Mason and Luke are almost exactly three years apart and while they play really well together Luke HAS to be the boss.  If Mason's up for that then they play GREAT and if he's not then it usually falls apart :)  We've said since they were VERY little that Luke plays with toys and Mason plays with people and that plays out in their relationship all the time. 

All that to say... here are some things that we've done/do to help foster them playing together and getting along...

1) Limit screen time
My kids get along the best when they don't have any screens.  Removing TV, Wii, movies, iPads, etc. means that playing with each other (or by themselves!) is their only option.

2) Encourage collaborative/imaginative play
We've always tried to foster them getting along by providing lots of tools for collaborative and imaginative play.  Thomas the Train tracks, Duplo blocks, dress up clothes, etc. 

3) Leave them alone ;)  This one can be hard for me, but when they're bickering/fighting we try to leave them alone and let them work it out themselves.  Obviously we're going to step in at some point but 99% of the time they work things out.  Leaving them alone also applies to leaving them alone and letting them play!  While I do my fair share of activities and crafts and etc. we definitely don't entertain them 24/7 - but they for sure entertain each other!

4) Preach mutual respect.  This is an ongoing battle - but most of the "issues" they have involve touching each others things, getting in each others space, etc.  We try really hard to preach mutual respect... "make sure you knock and ask about going into Luke's room because you want him to do the same for you".


5) Hug it out.  When we do have to step in and intervene in arguments we typically end up making them hug it out.  Or sit on the stairs and stare at each other until they giggle and all the drama is forgotten.  Other consequences can include having to "serve" the other person or having to work on something together. 


WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE?

I don't have a specific routine, but I do have a few products that I love.  I typically wash my face with either  this oil cleanser or  this exfoliating one.  I've used  this moisturizer for years and it's light and doesn't bother my super sensitive skin.  Other than that I don't do a whole lot.  I do an occasional mask and wear  this foundation MAAAYBE once a month.  


DO YOU EVER FEEL "LEFT OUT" FROM THINGS BECAUSE YOU WORK?

I'm not going to lie... it sucks to check your phone after having rough day at work and see that all of your friends and their kids went to the zoo and had a lovely day. hahaha  While that's not necessarily fun, I never felt left out.  I felt like I missed out on things but not left out if that makes sense.  But I've always tried to focus on what I'm "doing" and not what I'm "missing"... great friends in my co-workers, a lot of fulfillment from my job, etc. 

I talked a little bit more about this in the context of maintaining friendships as a working mom last year in THIS POST.


DO YOU LIMIT GIFTS TO YOUR KIDS AT CHRISTMAS?

We do!  There are SO MANY presents coming from SO MANY places and people during December we definitely try to limit.  Typically Santa will bring each kid a "larger" gift and then they each get a stocking filled with smaller things (as well as things they need like socks - hahaha) and then they each get three gifts to open from me and Dave.  It is SO EASY to go absolutely bananas at Christmas time and putting some parameters on it works well for our family. 



ARE YOU GROWING YOUR HAIR OUT AGAIN OR PLANNING ON KEEPING IT SHORT?

I always say I'm planning on keeping it short and then somehow I turn around and it's halfway down my back but this time I'm REALLY planning on keeping it short. 

This was a couple of weeks before I cut it in May...



.... and GONE!



DO YOU HAVE A SUNDAY NIGHT ROUTINE TO HELP PREP FOR THE WEEK AHEAD?

We do!  We call it the "Sunday Reset" and it involves getting the kids rooms 100% picked up and cleaned, making sure all the laundry is put away, uniforms are ready for the week, etc.  I also try to figure out dinners for the upcoming week and make a grocery list because Dave will usually go to the store on Monday since it's typically his day off.  Dave and I will sit down and look at the calendar for the upcoming week and he'll fill in his work schedule and we'll try to figure out logistics for activities/obligations throughout the week.

I've been keeping an ongoing list of questions for upcoming posts - but if you have others shoot me an email or leave it in the comments.  HAPPY Thursday, friends!!!

For other Seven Questions posts you can click  HERE.

PS - this post contained affiliate links... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

13 comments :

  1. I love question/answer posts! And we have got to get Quirkle!

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  2. I love these posts too!! I don’t think I’ve ever played Quirkle. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

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  3. I love your hair short!! You know that because I tell you every time I see you. Hahaha!

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  4. Sagrada is a fun game you might consider: https://www.amazon.com/Floodgate-Games-Sagrada-Board-Game/dp/B01MTG2QY2/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539861899&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=stained+glass+game&dpPl=1&dpID=61HJgEyczyL&ref=plSrch

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  5. I love these posts....thanks for all the time you put into your blog. You are one of my favs to read each day (I have read along for MANY years......thanks)

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  6. I love these posts. We love games and I think I need to check out Ticket to Ride. I love your short hair. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Such a fun post and thank you for links that open away from your blog - I can keep that item tab open and keep on reading.

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  8. Love these Q & A posts! Love your hair short, but I think it's great that you donate it each year! Have a great day!

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  9. I LOVE the idea of Sunday reset! That is basically my laundry day anyway while my kiddos take their Sunday afternoon naps!

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  10. I absolutely loved what you said about missing out some things but being left out as a working mom and focusing on the things we are doing. As a fellow working mom, this is very encouraging. Thank you!

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  11. Do you think Quirkle would be good for a 11 yr?? Tenzi is a favorite at our house.(it’s a dice game)

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  12. Do you have a good recommendation for a husband and wife Bible study to follow? We have date night every Wednesday night after the kids go to bed and thought this would be a great way to spend some of they time. Thanks

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  13. I love your hair both ways, but especially cut a bit shorter. Thanks for sharing your skincare routine. :)

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