We Marched for Babies

We walked/marched for babies this weekend! We had a GREAT turnout. I was overwhelmed how many people were there in green! We raised over $3,000. If you didn't get the chance to donate, don't worry you still can!  Here is the link again in case you have not had the opportunity and would like to donate.

 Thank you so much to all those that donated and walked! We appreciate the support to help fight against prematurity in babies!

These are attempts at a first ever cousins photo! You can see how are attempts went. 

Not too shabby? hahaha

Never Fail Ribs

Ribs are hard to cook and I have never been able to master them until now. My prior attempts always ended up dry or tough as leather. BUT I have a found a way to do them that is SUPER easy, SUPER delicious. I guarantee you cannot mess them up, so feel at ease to splurge on a rack of ribs sometime!

Easy Barbecued Ribs

Adapted from Mmm.. is for Mommy

1.5 tbsp sweet paprika (3tbsp) (Edited Feb '12 to say I've also used mild smoked paprika with fantastic results)

1 tbsp light brown sugar, lightly packed (2 tbsp)

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (1/4 tsp)

S&P to taste (about 1 tsp each is what I used)

2 lbs pork (baby) back ribs (6 lbs) - leave the membrane on the ribs to help hold them together

1 cup barbecue sauce (3 cups) (I like Sweet Baby Rays Sweet & Spicy)

Vegetable oil spray.  

In a small bowl, mix together paprika, brown sugar, cayenne and S&P.  Rub this mixture all over both sides of your ribs well.  Arrange ribs in the slow cooker by standing them up against the wall of the stoneware pot, thicker side down and meaty side against the pot.  Pour barbecue sauce over the ribs, cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low (I did 7 hours and they were perfect).  

Such an easy supper just throw them in in the morning and you don't have to worry about them all day! I just cooked these for Mamma, Pappa Bear, and Owen sunday and made some baked potato wedges and cole slaw to go with. 

7 Months Old

 

Our Love Bean is already 7 months old! She has 2 teeth, is eating solids, crawling (a hybrid of up on all fours and army crawling) and loves standing up (with help of course)

discipline

Recently we have been going through a hard time with Rae. She is just naughty-I kept thinking we were doing something wrong. And we were. How is she supposed to know the rules or boundaries if they were constantly changing. I have found schedule is key to help her behavior problems. But, schedule for us right now, seems impossible. I have found that consistency is the only thing that is going to work. If I am not consistent, she will use that to her advantage. Probably thinking, "I got away with it last time." Honestly though, sometimes wouldn't it be easier just to walk away? It would in the short run. . .you will have to face it eventually though.

Right now this is Raelin's "Naughty" Chair. 

What gets you in the naughty chair when your 22 months? Well, it is many things: 

• Hitting 
• Throwing fits 
• Fighting with sister
• Whining 
• If you just need to be taken away from a possible bad situation

A lot of the time I give a warning, whether it is asking them to stop or straight up threaten her. (The threats have just became effective this past week)

I used to try to spank her, that was how I was brought up and it worked back then. I am a big believer in each kid is different. Jo on the other hand once in a great while she will get a spanking and it is more than effective with her.

What gets a now 4 year old in trouble?

• Fighting with sister
• Talking back to anybody
• Not listening
• Crying/whining when you don't get something you want. 
• Trying to "play" parents or grandparents

I asked Jo what are some of the things that get her in trouble. She replied, "Um...when I don't say okay to you." This is true, but she doesn't sit on the couch for that. And you may think that is harsh, I just like a response to make sure they understand and I know that they are listening. I hate being ignored!

Now Jo is a little different. She just goes on the couch when she is naughty. I just tell her to go get on the couch and off she goes. I feel like with her she knows she is wrong and wants to see if she can get away with it.

Sibling Fights are frustrating. Some days the girls cannot do anything without fighting. So what did we do...I put two naughty chairs facing each other and then couldn't talk of touch each other. If one (Rae) kept touching or talking she stayed while Jo got out. Then Rae was like hmm...I better pull it together.

You can say that you have tried this or that. But take a look back and see if you were really consistent. It may take 30-45 minutes to get your point across, but you have to do it. It actually is just exhausting. I have full confidence though that I will have less work in the long run if my kids know what I expect of them. I usually give the girls one chance to fix what they are doing wrong. If they do not fix it by the "1, 2, 3 count", then off they go to the naughty chair. I have full confidence that my efforts will be worth it someday!


I don't believe it is ever too late to start disciplining your children. You need to start now!

Found this little diddy and get a chuckle out of it!