Whatever It Takes

While we were living in Bend, OR I read a wonderful book titled "Organized Simplicity" by Tsh Oxenreider.

It is a great book that talks a lot about how to live an organized simple life in a world that is anything but simple.  I LOVE organized and simple.  Yes, sign me up.  I believe it was that book which spoke about developing a family mission statement.  Just like a company that has a mission statement, the goal is that the family mission statement reflects how the family makes its decisions.  It sounded fantastic.... but we never really got there.

However, we do have a family motto.  It has come about in the past year since becoming a family of five.  It is:

Whatever. It. Takes.

And how that plays out in daily life?!?  It's fantastic.  Today has been a "Whatever. It. Takes." day.

So.... Owen developed a fever on Monday that has persisted through the week. Elijah came home from school sick on Tuesday.  Elijah has strep throat.  And through his new rash, it has just been revealed tonight that Owen had roseola.  Awesome.    

Owen was up most of the night last night.  Elijah... well he's just been home when he would normally be at school.  And Gavin.... he has been stuck in the house all week because you can't really go anywhere with sick brothers.  Except for that HOUR we spent in the tiny exam room at the doctor's office.  With only 2 squinkies to entertain 3 boys.  It was (not exactly) AWESOME.

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Marty got up with the boys at 5:00 this morning and he let me sleep until 6:45.  Fantastic.  His first comment to me was "The boys have mostly watched TV for the past two hours".  

Whatever. It. Takes.

Owen hasn't really eaten all week because he isn't feeling well.... but I found some Gerber Toddler Food that looks kind of like Cheetos for babies.  He ate that for breakfast.


Whatever. It. Takes.

Around 8 or so, after some morning coffee for me, Owen was ready for a nap.  I put him down, the big boys watched more TV and I took a shower.  It was awesome.  


Whatever. It. Takes.

By that point, I had just decided this was definitely the motto of the day... the goal was to say "yes" to whatever the boys ask even though it goes against everything that the American Academy of Pediatrics says is okay.  Seven hours of TV - sounds great to me!  You want to eat muffins all day - go for it... they are gluten, grain, dairy, soy, and sugar free (really, they are.... and pretty tasty, but that is for another post).  

In addition to the copious amounts of television watching that has been going on, today has actually been FANTASTIC.  

The boys spent most of the day in their pajamas.

Except Gavin because on a whim I decided to take away Gavin's pants (literally) and insist he try potty training.  The entire day was a huge success.  Partly because I decided to just put the potty chair in the middle of the kitchen.  Totally appropriate, right?

Whatever. It. Takes.

  

Owen decided to use the garbage can as a walker and he has been walking all over the house. Not sure if that is a positive thing or not... but anyway....

I don't have a photo of Owen walking... but he also learned to climb onto the couch by himself today.  And from the couch he has easy access to my desk.  Uhmmm... not so awesome.  

Gavin let out a little cheer each time he asked "watch more TV?" and I responded with "YES!".

And at one point I found Elijah and Owen (not-so-happily from Elijah's standpoint) reading a book together.  It was super cute.

Yeah for our family motto:


Whatever. It. Takes.

Maybe I need to implement it more often.