Drink more water!

Just because it isn't hot out anymore doesn't mean you don't need as much water now as you did in the summer time. (By you, I mean me.)

I stopped using my Drink More Water app some time ago and got out of the habit of drinking enough water. A few weeks ago I discovered that ALL of us were dehydrated. From a lower milk supply (me), to headaches (Lost Boy), cracked lips (2Flowers), ammonia scented diapers (Oreo),  Lost Boy and I realized that we needed to get on top of hydrating our family!

I've been keeping a pitcher of water on the dining table and forcing myself to gulp down a whole 12 ounce cup of water every few hours. I can already tell the difference for me - nursing sessions result in Oreo getting fire-hosed. And that  means he is getting more liquid in him. Though I have also been letting him have a sippy cup at dinner too (it keeps him busy!). Lost Boy takes care of himself most of the time. Sometimes I fill a 16 ounce cup and put it near him, or check in and ask if he is drinking enough water.

2Flowers is harder. I don't know how much she is drinking. She isn't eating Otter Pops very much anymore because it isn't hot (I justified letting her have several a day by figuring she was getting water into her). She has been asking for juice lately, and we dilute our juice with water (about 50/50) so I know she is getting some water. But while juice is good, it isn't the best option for a long term strategy. I think what I need to do is leave a little pitcher of water and a cup on her Activity Table. Maybe then I could tell how much she was drinking each day?

How do you keep your toddler or preschooler hydrated during the cooler months?

Under the oak tree

Thunk! Clunk clunk clunk.

We've been hearing this daily for a few weeks now. Each thunk reminds me that it is fall. They are acorns dropping onto the roof from an oak tree that spreads its branches over the west side of the house. The tree has been dropping acorns more frequently every week, and the thunks are getting louder so I suppose the acorns are getting plumper.

I never realized how frequently acorns fall off trees in the fall until Lost Boy and I went on a date to a park in late September. I set our picnic blanket up under an oak tree so we could look up into its branches. We like to do this in the summer. But this time we eventually had to move because the acorns falling and hitting us became ridiculous.

Between that park date and living here at Grandpa's house with its exposed beam roof I've learned that acorns fall fast and furious in the fall, especially on windy days.

Whenever one hits our roof I'm momentarily distracted. Then I smile as it rolls down the roof.



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My ambitious goal + Conference Activity Packets

General Conference is this weekend!

I had goal to re-listen to the April Conference talks six times each. I knew it was kind of ambitious. Lost Boy pointed out that I would have to listen to, like, two talks a day to meet my goal. And since I'm not in the habit of listening to any sort of audio on a regular basis (including music) it isn't surprising that I didn't meet my goal.

I still think re-listening to each of the conference talks is a good goal to pursue, but I'm going to change some things. This time my goal is to listen to or read each talk two times (not six).

Obstacles I need to plan for are: how and when to listen to or read the talks. Conference is available everywhere! It is on the web in both audio and text, and therefore available on every computer in our house; it is available through the Gospel Library on our iPad and smartphones; it is printed in the Ensign magazine (which I could buy for less than $2.00 if I don't want to print every talk I think I want to read). The thing is, I still can't hear very well, so if I'm not close to the speakers of whatever device I'm listening to I can't hear it. And if I'm doing anything besides sitting still and listening I don't absorb the content of what I'm listening to very well. Except dishes. I can do dishes and listen, but the distance from the speakers is an issue when I'm washing dishes. But I can't pick up the living room or sort kids clothes.

While I ponder how to make my goal achievable, here are some links to a few great conference activities to help you your kids pay attention during conference:

• The Ultimate General Conference Activity Packet by Food Storage and Beyond (via Pinterest)
• Free Downloadable Conference Booklet from Deseret Book (via Pinterest)
• Conference Packet from Sugardoodle (in English, Spanish, and Portuguese) (via Pinterest)
• General Conference Activity Packet by Mormon Cartoonist (via Sugardoodle)

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