Friday Talk (a few days early): The Birds and the Bees

via

I am writing a very serious  post today.  (Although the picture would seem otherwise)

The Birds and the Bees. 

Yikes!

I recently talked to my 8 yo about it.  I had to.  She had heard about it and was asking OTHERS!  Ouch.  My husband and I knew that if she was talking to others about it, we should probably interfere and make sure that she had her facts straight and wasn't broadcasting to everyone around her (that wasn't an issue). 

After I found out that she knew about sex, I had a lot of emotions:
1.  Denial.  What?  My child?  No way.
2.  Fear.  What else is she learning that I am not aware of? 
3.  Anger.  Who told her and took that 'calling' away from me. 
4.  Rash judgement.  Should I pull her out of school and homeschool her? 
5.  Sadness.  My baby is growing up too fast.
6.  Scared.  My baby is growing up too fast in a scary world!

Yesterday morning, BEFORE I found out, I  was driving her to school and I had a feeling that I needed to tell her how much I love and appreciate her. I went on to say that some people may not be good examples at school, but she had the Holy Ghost and that she would be able to know what was right or wrong.

She started to open up a little, saying that a lot of her friends were swearing and when I asked if she did...she said, "NO!"
Oh, that was the least of my worries...little did I know that an hour later, I would find out she knew.

After I found out, I immediately called my husband.  He was good enough to remain somewhat
calm.  He was concerned about where she had heard it from and that she had learned at such a young age.   We knew that we needed to talk to her that night.

In order to prepare for our upcoming discussion, I knew that I needed to have a few resources.   I searched " LDS Forum + how to teach your child about sex" and I was pleasantly surprised by a few of the websites.

The first one: Being LDS gave some great insight. She had a guest blogger who said that she started talking about it to her 3 year old. Nothing too revealing, but just gave a roundabout way of where babies came from. As a side note, I get that. We have done the same thing, especially when I was pregnant with #3. 

The second one: The Golden Seven gave an FHE on it! It was so well put together and well-said. Some of her sources said to start teaching them at age 8 (well, I guess we are there whether we like it or not). She brought up Adam and Eve, Noah's ark and explained that there was a reason that Heavenly Father placed a man and a woman on the earth. Brilliant really. An approach that I never would have thought about, but now that I have it...I want to run with it! (and I did!)

When I was done reading these articles, I still wasn't sure whether I should run over to the school, pull her out and homeschool her until she was old enough to get married.  Yes. Probably not. But that doesn't make these "homeschooling" feelings go away. (Another side note: I have been having some inklings of homeschool for a while now...just don't want to go through with it!)

As a mother, I feel nothing short of a failure. I haven't protected her. I have noticed she hasn't been the 'same' sweet girl and that she has been treating us and her friends differently. I know they grow up, but have I missed something?   I know things change, that I can't keep them cocooned for ever, they hear things...but it doesn't make this feeling any easier.

I also know that there are people around the world that are going through the same thing.  They are scared to death about "the talk".  But as someone who has JUST gone through it and lived to tell, it is going to be ok.  There is a real threat to our homes and our children, but as parents we know how to protect them.  Be open and honest.  They need this more than being sheltered.  They will find out about it anyway, be sure that you aren't holding off because of YOUR uneasiness.

Sex is a sacred thing and it is being thrown around the four walls of a classroom or at the wind during recess. We can't sit back and let our children learn it from someone else. We need to be proactive and be willing to open our mouths and hearts to our children.

Last night went REALLY well.  I used a bit of the FHE lesson and was able to open up a dialogue with her.  We have an "open door policy",  so nothing was off limits.    She was a bit reluctant at first, and she was embarrassed a few times, but we discussed a lot of things and I made sure that she knew NOT to talk to her friends about something as sacred as procreation.

I am hoping that my kids realize that they can come to us when they hear things. Here's to hoping...

Thoughts?

Follow up to addiction

I was just talking to someone about Facebook and how it is destroying families and marriages.  I am not surprised by this at all.  It is a sad world we live in. 

I will say that I was so into being on Facebook and checking up on people and whatnot that finally I stepped back and sort of "snapped" out of it.  I knew that I couldn't do it on my own, so I asked my hubby to change my password...and NOT TELL ME!  :)  I will say that it has been good for me to be off.  I don't spend as much time on the computer and I am able to do other things.  I get on occassionally and I get on under Luke's name once a day and it is fine.  I don't feel like I have to be completely consumed by it. 

I know that many addiction solutions aren't this easy, but enlist the help of loved ones.  (That's why they're called loved ones. :)

Christmas Décor via Pinterest

I love all things Christmas. There is so, SO MUCH to love.
One of the huge, most important small things is the décor.
THE MANTLE:
Such an important part in decorating for Christmas. I realize that many of you may not have one, but don't fret! Anyway, I feel like the fireplace/mantle is the heart(h) of the home. Hahaha!
I like this.  This one may seem a bit intense, but for Christmas, all thoughts of gaudy is thrown out the window.  

via befickle
 
Love the use of green apples! So simple.

via http://deckthehalls-christmas.blogspot.com/
I LOVE (the idea of) this one.  There is something about the garland, lights and sign.

via Thrifty Decor Chick
 
TABLES:

via deckthehalls-christmas.blogspot.com

via everythingfab.com
THE TREE
This skirt is pretty awesome.  I have ideas about this one…

via anwjohnston

via bowerpowerblog.com

via bowerpowerblog.com

WREATHS
I may be dying right now.  I LOVE wreaths.  This first one?  I already have the snowflakes…it’s going to be a very inexpensive craft for me!

via teachcraftlove.blogspot.com
This one?  Beyond words:

via bhg.com

Do you have any ideas you want to share?

Great Tip to Clean Oven

Here is my stove in all its glory.  Not the prettiest picture, right?

Sprinkle Baking Soda over the entire bottom (and sides if you want). 

Wet and wring out some paper towels.  Place over the bottom of the oven. Leave over night.
Yes, you read that right.  LEAVE IT!

Day 2:  You can see that the grease has soaked through in spots.

Lift up the paper towels and wipe down well. 

Easy peasy!

Pinterest in November- Plan, plan, plan

I would LOVE for you to share and link us with some of the crafts that you made last week.  I'll see what I can do about posting some of mine...if I get around to it! 

This next week, plan your Thanksgiving.  Some of you are lucky enough to have your moms still make your feast (thanks mom!), while others of you are on your own. 
Either way, here are some great ideas to help you with your Thanksgiving get-togethers
1.) FOOD
Dessert:  Why NOT start with dessert, right? 
Women’s Day had some great ideas.  Who wouldn’t want to eat Reese’s PB with choc. cookies?  These look very good..and the kids would LOVE to help you make them.

Pies.  Who doesn’t love a good pie recipe?  I made an apple pie a few weeks ago and it was really good…not as good as a professional, but since it was my first…ever, I was pretty excited!  Here is a link to pinterest: pie, but I’ll include some that look yumm-o to me!
Pumpkin Pie  by Paula Deen
                                                        
and gluten free pumpkin pie

A single pie serving (perfect for the dessert buffet) from our best bites

Apple Pie in THE APPLE-genius!

Mousse pies: from allrecipes.com


And who says you can’t have a dessert buffet? 

Thank you hostessblog for the awesome pic and idea.

MAIN MEAL:  this one is a bit harder to do.  There is SUCH a HUGE range, so I’ll just do the basics.
Turkey.  Who better to learn from than Martha herself? 

Here is another spot to find turkey 101

Stuffinnnnngggg.  I really like stuffiing.  I'm lucky enough to have a mom who prepares a dry stuffing and a wet stuffing.  Both are really good, but I prefer mine a bit drier, with gravy on top.

Since I don't have the recipe of hers...this will have to do:


Sweet potatoes:
These are Butter-Pecan Sweet Potatoes via Martha

Green Bean:
Cranberry Sauce:  Luke LOVES my mom's homemade cranberry sauce, but since I don't have the recipe...Martha (again) will have to do!

ROLLS:  My mom make's THE BEST rolls EVER.  But here is another good recipe ;)
Lion House rolls..yum!


2.) DÉCOR
Centerpieces and table settings from hostessblog

Mantels

from Be Different Act Normal


Isn't this adorable for the kids?

image from fiskars

Anything I am missing?
I'd like to thank Pinterest for all the ideas ;)  Makes me happy. 
Until next week.

Challenge #6 Dresser Drawers

This is such a loaded challenge.  Maybe because I felt overwhelmed when I first read it.  Not only do I have a 7 drawer dresser, but Luke has a 5 drawer dresser, PLUS we have a closet that we overutilize.  Seriously. 

So, I am only doing mine:



Before:  Upper left drawer



After: Upper left drawer

Before:  Upper right drawer

After

Before:  tank top drawer

After:  Tank top drawer

Before: Swimsuit drawer

After:  Swimsuit drawer

Before:  Exercise drawer

After:  Exercise drawer

Before:  sock, slip and nylon drawer

After:  sock, slip and nylon drawer



After: dresser

Challenge #7: The Pantry

Challenge #5: Under the sink

I finished under the sink in about 2 seconds.  It wasn't very dirty, not too much stuff. 
Here's the before:

And the after:

Challenge #6:  Dresser Drawers (yikes!)
This is directly from A Bowl Full of Lemons Blog:
"The primary purpose is to purge what you no longer need, making space for the "new, trendy you".
You get to go through all of you clothes, weeding out the ones that you no longer wear, ones that don't flatter you, if you bought them when you were in high school, aka... "out of style pieces" or any that just doesn't fit anymore. Those will go in your donation box. ONLY KEEP WHAT FITS YOU NOW! I hope we can inspire each other to get our clothing neatly in order!

Her challenge for us

1. Take a "before" picture of the contents of your dresser, exactly as it is now. (We don't have to see the booty drawer, if you dont feel comfy about it!) If you dont have a dresser, find a set of "drawers" somewhere in the house.

2. Now, empty it all onto your bed.
3. Get your 3 boxes (keep, toss, donate) and start separating. Try them on if you have to.
4. Okay, now neatly fold all of the clothes and put them back in an organized fashion.
5. While you are at it, you can clear the clutter on the top of your dresser too... in the same fashion as the clothing sort. Remove everything, give it a good cleaning, and toss what you don't need on there.
5. Easy,peasy... Your done! It was a simple challenge, but gives a great feeling of satisfaction that it was done! Take your "after" picture and come back & share with us!

*This is going to be a tricky one for me!  Hopefully I can get it done, but I also have a 'dresser' in my closet.  Should be easy and may take more than a day to finish.