UFC Fight for the Troops 2! I was there!!!!

                                             Me and Dana White

                                                      Me and Jonathon Britton from Ultimate Fighter

                                                     I was this close to Matt "the Meathead" Mitrion

                                            I hugged Pat Barry! Be jealous!!!

                                           Me and Brian "The Marine" Stan - SO COOL!

While in the field last week I was afforded the opportunity to go back to the rear and attend UFC Fight for the Troops 2 with a few of my guys. What an amazing event! The fighters were so awesome. They came out before and after their fights to mingle with the soldiers, give fighting tips, sign autographs and take tons of pictures. The highlight of my night was getting Dana White to sign my ticket and take a picture with me. The fights were good and the view from where I stood was AMAZING! I got to shake hands with at least 5 fighters and see Chuck Liddel up close. The only thing that would have made it more incredible would be having Jake there with me. It was an event for Active duty soldiers only so he couldn't get a ticket. He was thrilled that I got to meet some of the guys though and I texted him throughout to keep him up to speed. Last but not least I actually made it onto live TV. It was only  for a second or two but I was there and the kids got to see me, which they thought was pretty neat. Its a memory I won't soon forget.

Inspired

Over the course of the last 6 weeks I have finished reading three parenting books. The first was by Dr Kevin Leman and is entitled Have a New Kid by Friday.  It was followed by author John Rosemond adn his book The Well Behaved Child. Topping it all off was The Stay-at-home-Dad Handbook by Peter Baylies. All were really eyeopening but best of all was John Rosemond's book (thanks mom). He really reaffirmed the techniques (in an easier to understand way) that Dr Leman taught.

I was inspired by the books and a friend of mine who recently started a schedule with her boys to put more structure in their day. Jake and I agreed that it will make the days go more smoothly if the kids have somethings to look forward to(so we have some leverage on "encouraging" them to do what we tell them to).

The biggest change is having the TV off for the majority of the day. Although we do watch alot of educational TV the kids tend to play more and have a much calmer day when it is not on.

The kids also helped to strip their room of all but clothes, beds, two stuffed animals each and a basket of books. When they choose to make an unwise decision such as interrupt adults when they are speaking (unless it is an emergency - bleeding, sick, or badly hurt), fighting with each other(includes tattling), or not completing a job when they have been specifically tasked with it they will lose a ticket. They get 5 tickets for the day (to be shared between them) and if at any point they use all 5 tickets they will be confined to their room for the remainder of the day. They are allowed out for meals and to use the bathroom. One will be in our room and the other will be in their room. Once we have these three target behaviors under control we will add others to the list.

We are hoping that this creates a more calm, quiet home. The hard part is actually doing it. The surprising part is that our kids LOVE helping to sort the laundry, make their own beds, dust the furniture, and pick up clothes. Who would have thought that work was so much fun? It also has the added benefits of teaching them life skills and keeping them out of mischief when mom and dad are trying to get daily tasks accomplished.

I'll keep you all posted on how things are going.

Perfect Frosty Day at the Waco Zoo

                                                          Riding the Komodo Dragon

                                                       Baleigh's Favorite Place at the Zoo

                                                                    The Nielsen Boys

                                                       Fascinated by the Male Lion Pacing

Today we got up and headed out to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. We had a blast even though it was only about 38 degrees out. We pretty much had the zoo to ourselves and the animals seemed like they were putting on a show just for us. So much fun.

I'm trying to put together more videos of the kids this year to be able to have something more tangible than just pictures to remember their every changing personalities.

The year in review- out of the mouths of 2 awesome kids

Today I went back and looked at all the things I have posted on Facebook for the last year. I took off all the funny little things that the kids said and compiled them here so that I won't forget the most memorable sayings of 2010. 


June 30th, 2010: Bean said "Are we there yet", "He's touching me", "I hate you Thor" all in the span of 30 seconds- Car trips with toddlers are awesome!

July 10th: Thor said "I want to return Neeka(the cat) to the store because she was just sniffing at my goldfish (crackers)"

August 5th: While driving to Chicago Bean says " Lets Rock and Roll" after a pee break. She's making up for the June 30th comments I see.

August 17th: Thor said: " I was worried about you when you were at PT mommy" Just trying to melt the momma here- it worked.

August: Thor did not want to go outside and play in the mud because as he explained it " I could get caught it the mud and then I would get covered up and die and then I would turn into a rock like a fossile and many years later a paleontologist would find me. " He's reading too many dinosaur books.

August 29th: Bean found my old blackberry and has been walking around for days "texting" This morning she got up and immediately asked "WHERE IS MY BLACKBERRY???"

September: Brought the kids with me on Staff Duty to do some checks. Thor informed me that "the basement with the arms room is creepy"

September 11th: Thor turned my new elastic headbands into giant rubber bands he uses to ambush people. He just shot me and then ran and hid behind the couch. Following in mom and dad's footsteps toward soldiering already. So proud.

September 19th: Picture- Bean wearing pink fuzzy hat, sippy cup by her side, sitting on the kitchen floor with a pan of brownies in her lap and a fork in her hand. Couldn't even be mad.

September 20th: Baleigh is whining- Thor to Baleigh "suck it up Baleigh!"

September 26th: We had soup for dinner and Thor looks up at me and says "You make the best soup ever mommy!"

October:  Baleigh was pretend cooking in her little kitchen and when asked what she was making she said "Jambalaya" - this is one of daddy's favorite meals to make these days.

October13: Jake let Thor "drive" in the empty parking lot at my work.

October: While doing some early Christmas shopping with Baleigh I discovered tortilla chips in her inside jacket pocket. When asked why she had them she said "in case i need a snack while shopping"

October: Thor to Baleigh "you're lame" when asked what that meant he said "it means she's not funny"

December: Baleigh did a handspring off the couch to the coffee table and then exclaimed "i'm  a ninja!"

December: Thor asked to use my glasses because he brain stopped working and he couldn't "read" his book with out some magic glasses.

January: Thor explained to me when I got home that he was finding things that no one wanted and making them into useful things. Then he said "I'm a recycler mommy"

Stay (Bodeans).m4v

2011- The countdown begins

Yesterday I came to the realization (even though I've known for a while) that this time next year I will be deployed. It has made me look at this coming year with a whole different perspective. I am a planner by nature and I love to have everything exactly as it should be. Being gone for a year is going to be a huge adjustment for all of us. I know that Jake and I are perfectly capable of getting through this but my main concern is how the kids are going to deal with it. Although they have no concept of how long a year is I have started to talk to them in very short conversations that mommy will have to take a very long trip in a while. I hope that this in some way helps them grasp what is happening when I actually do leave. I am so thankful that I was placed in the unit that I am in. It wasn't easy having to come to the South when I despise the weather down here so much but it has afforded our family so much time to be together. Almost all of my friends from army school's have deployed once an know when they will be leaving again. I on the other hand have been able to spend this entire last year and the majority of 2011 with my family here in the states. So my new year's resolution will be very different this year that it has been in the past. I resolve to make every day count. Opportunities to go to the park or ride bikes around the block will be taken. Messes can be cleaned up so there is no reason to get upset over finger paint or water all over the bathroom. Pictures will be taken at every opportunity along with as many videos as possible. And at no time will random hugs and kisses be taken for granted. I know it is only  a year but I am sad for the things I will miss. The first day of school, learning to read, all their new friends, and the holidays. So I challenge all of you to appreciate family in a new way this year. I know that I will.