The Routine

So this post is just about what we've been doing,
and how we've made improvements in our daily
lives.

First off... Dmitri and I now have a daily routine.
It's only been a week - but we're both really
enjoying it!
Our day starts when Dmitri wakes up. Once he's
awake, we watch some Playhouse Disney... and
eat breakfast. After breakfast, I load him up in
the jogger, and go walking. Hopefully soon it'll be
jogging... but right now, it's walking.
I used to go walking every morning, and loved it!
But my walking buddy moved, and then walking
became sporadic :( Miss her!!
So I hosed off the jogger the other night {because
I was seriously worried stuff might be living in it,
after sitting on the porch for 3 months, while I was
in UT}. So hosed it off... and started the walking.
I walk for at least 4 miles... but I'm thinking I need
to go a little further. Anywhos... so I walk, and to
make it fair for Dmitri, we always stop at the park
afterward.
The parks been really fun. We've run into some
church friends, and he's made some other park
friends.
The other day, Dmitri was wearing a Thomas shirt,
and there was another boy wearing one. So they
played together... and played cat and store. He had
so much fun!

After the park, we go home and water the plants.
I'm trying my hand at a small garden, and some
plants... again. This time I took some thought into
what I got. I picked flowers that can survive in drought
situations - and can handle some over watering.
Because goodness knows, my watering is not consistent.
I also picked flowers and veggies that need full
sun. Also perfect for me! I need some low maintenance
plants.
But I figure it's a fun job for Dmitri... and he'll get to
see some veggies being born. Finger's crossed at least! :}
So far we've watered everyday. Dmitri enjoys filling
up his water can. And usually he ends up getting soaked
in the process.

So after that, we head inside for 'Dmitri Learning Time.'
I have a little curriculum that I follow, and we do some
stuff on the computer and read some books, that follow
the theme of what he's learning that day.
So far, he is loving it! He's learning so much - and I'm
realizing that he knows a lot more than he lets on.
So that's been really wonderful for both of us!

I have drastically cut down his tv time. We watch a
show in the morning, when we're waking up and
getting moving, and then I'll turn Team Umizoomi on
for him, so I can take a shower... and know he wont
get into trouble while I'm in there!

After that, we turn music on, and he plays while I
do some stuff around the house. Soon after that,
Daniel's home - and we wind down for the evening.

Another thing we've gotten into the habit of... reading
scriptures! I wont lie, our scripture reading was not
really consistent. But thanks to a new challenge in
Primary... and me realizing that scripture time is easy
to fit into our schedule... we're doing good!
We always read books to Dmitri before he goes to bed,
and duh... perfect time for scriptures! So Daniel and I
both go into Dmitri's room, and we'll read a chapter
together. We got the illustrated version of the Bible
and Book of Mormon while we were in UT, so that
helps Dmitri stay involved. Though mostly, he just
plays. The rule is he can do puzzles or something, but
has to stay in a little group with us, while we read.
That's not only been rewarding spiritually... but it's
become such a great bonding experience for us, and
family play time before bed - which Dmitri totally
loves! As do Daniel and I.
I also subscribed Dmitri to The Friend, and we got
our first issue last week. He sat and read a couple
stories with me - and there are some activities I
want to try to adapt for his age, and do that during
Family Home Evening.

With all the efforts we've been making, I feel like
our home feels so happy and wonderful. Dmitri
has not been acting up as much, which I knew he
was doing because he wanted more attention,
and was bored. So now, I check Facebook in the morning,
and then blogs and Facebook again at night,
after Dmitri's asleep.

We've also mostly solved his messy room issue.
I was watching him play one day, and noticed
that he'd dump all his bins out, because he was
looking for something in particular... and dumped
all the bins until he found it. So I bought some
clear bins to solve that problem. Also, my genius
husband suggested moving Dmitri's books to the
higher shelf... which would move his bins down
more.
It has been a great success! He'll get the bin he
needs, and if that requires moving the bin above,
then he'll take them both down - and put back
the one he doesn't need. These bins also have
locking lids - so if they drop... they don't spill
out. Seems like such obvious fixes! Why did I not
think of this before?! :D

So yea. That's what we've been doing. I took
Dmitri to Home Depot with me tonight, and he
fell asleep on the way there. I got a couple hibiscus
plants to add to our yard. So since it was a short
trip, and I had to get eggs and planting pots at
Target, I left him in the stroller and we walked to
Target. Not as far as I thought it was, so that was
a nice surprise! Also, he slept through Home Depot
and Target - so that was pretty awesome :)

Just a couple of randoms... Dmitri said his first
unassisted prayer. Kind of... or I think :}
I was still getting my lunch together, and told him
not to eat yet, because we still needed to say the
prayer. He folds his arms... and mumbles it... but
I heard him say what we usually say, and then
he says a loud "AMEN!" I don't know all he said,
and I'm sure it wasn't right on, but I know that
Heavenly Father knows what he said... and it melted
my heart! Love that boy!

Oh... and this week, he's a frog. He's loving this animal
thing. I am mostly too... mostly :}

And... some pictures of our week!
He rediscovered his little fire truck...
"Fising it"...
He doesn't want to admit he's too big for it ;)
Some of our flowersSome helping handsOur little garden!And a nudey booty!Dmitri had learned the fine skill of spaghetti
slurping... Daddy and Dima, in their houseAnd Dmitri making a Santa beard...!He also put bubbles on his belly, and called
them his belly screen {or belly scream as he
says it:}, like Bot from Umizoomi.
He wasn't happy when we had to wash the
bubbles away, so I made him a faux belly
screen, by outlining the pic on his shirt with
duct tape. Lol he did run into his bed post with this
attempt. Luckily he thought it was hilarious!
Dmitri's new found pleasure....Dmitri said he wanted Mickey for breakfast.
So this is what came of that. His first Mickey
pancakes... and some fruit for decorating!A few nights back, we met some friends at
the park. Dmitri found a nice puddle to jump
in... and I let him. Sigh... he was going to get
a bath anyways... so whateves :}And his shorts got pretty soaked.I also think I need to adopt a 9 year old girl.
We love Yochabelle... and Dmitri loved playing
with her!
You can't tell, but he was flapping his arms too,
and doing whatever actions she did.And the snowman he made today... apparently
he's into money. He is a coin hoarder, so I guess
I already knew that. The snowman got penny
eyes, a coin slot nose... and a dollar mouth...