Clean Up Weekend

I have been exceptionally busy the last couple of weeks with work so I have let the house work slllidddde. Our house is tiny but it is easily destroyed. I am thinking that maybe if I put it in writing out on the blogosphere my motivation and actions will catch up to one other. This is the weekend of redemption. I need to go through toys, summer/fall clothes, organize countless tid- bits of things that have scurried out of the spot. I will try to take before and after pictures and upload so you can know that I am not kidding. Mission Organization and Clean Sweep would have a field day in my home in its present condition. Several people have asked me how do you get everything done. Well yes my family looks presentable but my house is a sight unseen. My husband wants me to involve the boys in the effort more. I know I need to and have tried but it has all fallen off in a ravine. Well anyway I am now leaving to start my mission. I will not be detracted by a cozy couch and novel. I will succeed or my house might eat me!!

Cub Scout Fun

Zeke is a Wolf Scout with Pack 40 in Fulton. He loves it!! I would recommend scouting to anyone. The Cub Scout Program offers excellent opportunities for leadership, educational enrichment, socialization and fun. Zeke loves anything to do with science. He is a very kinetic learner and scouting is centered around hands on learning. The above pictures were taken while waiting for our first parade as a scout. It was on September 20th at the Fulton Railroad Heritage Festival. Elijah also stepped on board the train to take a look around. Stephen was trying to entertain Elijah with the old airplane routine.

Weight meets Reality

OK so in an hour I am teaching the third Weight: The Reality Series!! It is kick off night. Smoothies are made and salad is awaiting it spectacular toppings. I can't wait to meet the new ladies!! I am terrified this particular time because I have been a non follower for about 8 months and gained all of my weight the reality series weigh loss pounds back!!!(excuses include Master Degree Finale, Kid having rough time at school and Crazy Busy Programs at JOB) I lost 30 and have now gained 34!! I have forsaken the time honored researched based principles that I myself teach but no more. I will resume my position on the lifestyle change for the positive ride. I Melissa solemnly vow to eat my apples, and all the other healthy food I purchased last night. I will resist oreos. I will exercise. I will lose the 50 pounds by 30!! So I have now one year and 7 days to meet my goal!!! Well I have to get all of the cold stuff in the car and finish my granny smith apple.. times a wasting!!...By the way today scales read 204!!

Zeke and Homework Fun!!

Number one: This is my first foray into posting a video to You Tube and into a blog, so I am still trying to figure out what all I just did to accomplish this feat!! Number two: We sound like Country Bumpkins, mainly because we are!! Number three: If you are a parent who had a Martha Stewart Mentality of school is going to be full of room mother heaven, fun field trips and learning all kinds of educational wonders, just know that I once too had that dream. I walked with Zeke into K. with hopeful anticipation. We had had a very successful childcare and preschool experience. But with age comes more structure including rules and work. My Zeke is very smart, loving, fun, energetic and creative. He loves finding things especially bugs and things you can only imagine from dirt. He loves playing with friends, riding bikes. He is my precious wonderful boy!! The thing about Zeke is while I was looking forward to this wonderful school experience, he was sad because there are not as many toys in the K. classroom. While he like friends and physical adventures, we found that he does not like to read very much(yet we are working very hard), worksheets turn his attention span off, not talking for extended periods of time is almost impossible. School has been a trial for Zeke in many areas. All parents want their child to succeed. Zeke has had many success and struggles. We work constantly on skills of focus, being on task, organization, reading and math. This video shows how Zeke is making progress during homework time in second grade. It is also funny because it shows him losing focus. But his Mom was pestering him with several questions. We have had a wild ride through school so far. I am sure I will write more about it later...

Barney Addiction

Elijah is now 2 years and 5 months old. He has not paid much attention to TV until about a month ago. He watched Pooh and Tigger with my aunt once a day on Dish. Then my husband bought him a Barney DVD. Why? You may ask. Well I asked the same thing. The DVD was about Animal ABC's and my husband is all about flash cards and reading. (especially since our oldest son has a hard time at it, we are like super prepping Elijah but that is another entry) Anyway, Elijah now has three barney DVDs because you can get them for under $6 and he earns money potty training from my Grandmother. Elijah has said that "he pees for money." It is the truth. He earns money to put in a jar and when he saves enough he gets a prize. You might think this is a odd strategy put it works for us. He is only wearing pull ups at night and if I would cut out the bedtime sippy. We could be fully trained.

Barney goes round and round....My sister is ten years younger than me. So 1992 was my first round of Barney. The second round with Zeke was not nearly as severe as Elijah's current third round. He is in love with Barney, Baby Bop and BJ. He zones in and begs for Barney. Last night he said, Mommy you no let me watch Barney you not my friend. ( He was rewarded with a video after playing outside and eating most of his dinner) I told him that Barney likes it when we are nice and telling mommy that your not my friend is not nice. (rationalizing always gets me in trouble) He said "Barney my friend that's nice." Well the story goes on but check out the picture of Elijah vegged out watching Barney.

Experimenting with Blogs

So here it goes folks.. This is my first entry on this new adventure of the Goodfamily Blog. I hope that we will be able to communicate with family and friends through this new endeavor. We are a family of four. Stephen, Melissa, Ezekiel and Elijah make up the Goodman Family. I am outnumbered by the guys so I thought I would choose a somewhat girlish template to play with. Stephen, I hope you like polka dots (don't worry he will). We have fun and stay super busy. I am concerned with the amount of time I actually have to dedicate to updating this thing. I guess we shall see...