A trip to the library....

I got to feeling much better this evening, so I made a much needed visit to the library tonight. I got my library card (no, I hadn't gotten one yet!) and a few books. I got a book for Kenzie. It was one I read as a child and have continued to love because my neice created a soup named after the book. It was Stone Soup by Christianne C. Jones. We loved acting this book out as we made our soup with her. It was so nice to be able to share one of the books we cherish with Kenzie. I think I will have to add this book to her wish list because she had me read it several times tonight. Then I picked up a couple of board books for Maddie and I to read while Kenzie is at school. I then got a book for me. YES I SAID ME! I don't usually do that, but I decided it was time to approach parenting a little different. I picked up a book called: ScreamFree Parenting The Revolutionary Approach to Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool. by Hal Edward Runkel, LMFT. I will put here what I have learned by reading this book. If you would like to learn some of the stuff here, please see your local library for this book.

(and now that I have more room and light by going to the kitchen, I can do this much faster)

First off, I learned that by me not being permissive all the time, I am doing my children good. Secondly, I learned that I need to be more unflappable when the kids are flipping their wigs. Third I have been searching for someone to show me how it could all be different and through Jesus and this book, I know I will find the happy medium I am searching for. I also learned that I need to stay focused on my children, but not so much that I don't enjoy life for myself. I need to pamper myself now and then (which I currently don't do). I learned to calm myself before approaching a situation that may anger me and then to remain fully connected and stay involved in the situation as I make the children know who is in charge. I also have learned the the leadership role I need to reassume is a calming authority figure in my childrens lives. I will do this and there will be a completely different Mommy by the time I am finished with this transformation.

Now, on to other things, we all know that I am trying to figure out what to do with my house, so with spring fast approaching, I decided to pick up a book on landscaping for me so that I have something fun to do with my time as spring comes into action. I am planning several landscaping projects. (I will be taking my time with them, so I will try and keep you updated as I do them.) Below is a list of the projects and what they will take. Keep in mind I plan on doing all of the work myself and I am only doing it in little pieces at a time.

Around my shade tree in front yard I will put:
flagstone path (I will select and lay the stones myself!
6 francee hosta's
8 gold margined hosta's
10 gold standard hosta's
7 honeybells hosta's
15 small green hosta's
9 krossa regal hosta's
75 creeping phlox
3 planters each containing 6 annuals to add color to the area
and a bench for sitting.

the side of the garage around to the back of the garage:
1 pink spires crab apple (maybe)
2 climbing roses
7 frau dogmae hartop roses
13 anthony waterer spirea
4 maney juniper
6 broadmoor juniper
6 marshall's delight bee balm
8 honeyhock mallow
5 bashet of gold
22 white coralbells
1 trellis
mowing strip to define the flower bed so to speak.

sidewalk/entryway to front porch:
4 william baffin climbing rose
17 little princess spirea
3 sea green juniper
11 moonshine yarrow
34 stella d'Oro daylilly
arbor.

I will like I said keep you posted as I do these projects and they will likely be a continuous work in process, but I know I can do anything I set my mind to. I will be having some help with making my own arbor, trellis, bench and installing the flagstone myself. I want to do this so I can say I did something to make our landscaping look good! More to come at a later time!
Love,
Dawn