Loads of Laundry

The children do their own laundry. Yes. It’s true. And they have for close to 8 months now.

I believe that responsibility is taught. I also believe that having responsibility in the family shows each person’s importance and worth in the family system. We are all important in the Rudnick household. We each are instrumental in our family and its function.

Appropriate chores at an appropriate age mean different things to different people. For us, Rowan and Evangeline can be responsible and success with their laundry.  What does this look like in our home? Enter the laundry steps.

Step 1.  Bring your laundry basket to the laundry room.

• Sometimes they carry it by themselves and other times they help each other carry their baskets. It’s always loud and often giggly.
• Parental guidance suggested – ensure the washer machine is empty and ready for a kid load.

Step 2.  Place all your clothes in the washer machine.

• This usually turns out to be a very interesting game of basketball, especially when Rowan’s doing his laundry.
• Parental guidance suggested – remove any items at this time that are hand wash. Personally, I don’t keep the children in clothes that are hand wash only but the exception may be a holiday dress or tie.

Step 3.  Add detergent.

• Because detergent should handled with care by children (and under supervision) I choose to purchase detergent pods for the children’s laundry. The children are able to throw one pod in for their load. It sets them up for success. I know it’s measured appropriately and that it’s no mess (read: dangerous).
• Parental guidance suggested – take one pod out and place on the washer machine.

Step 4.  Start the wash.

• …and stand in awe of the water and clothes swishing around J
• Parental guidance suggested – choose the appropriate temperature and wash size setting.

Step 5.  Turn over the wash to the dryer.

• I call the children to the laundry room when I know the wash cycle is finished. I remove the clothes from the washer machine and they move them to the dryer. Another game of basketball ensues at this point too especially to add the dryer sheet or dryer ball.
• Parental guidance suggested – put aside line-dry items as you are removing the items from the washer. Hang separately.

Step 6.  Fold the clothes.

• Each of the children is very able to fold their tops, bottoms, and pajamas. They are capable of sorting their undergarments and matching their socks. Who doesn’t love a game of matching!
• Parental guidance suggested – Let go of perfection in light of progress. Folding, with teaching, gets better with each load.

Step 7.  Put the clothes away.

• They each can reach their drawers for each type of clothing and this makes putting their clothes away super easy.
• Parental guidance suggested – Fold and hang the ‘nice’ items to cut down on finding them in the bottom of a drawer and having to iron them.

Is it perfect every time? No. There isn’t much we do that is perfect every time. Is it awesome to see Rowan and Evangeline active in the family, learning life lessons, and taking pride in their work? Yes. And, it’s the opportunity early in life to learn that you’ll have less laundry if you dirty less! Rowan just put that together last week J

40 First Dates

Upon learning that I was expecting I knew that I wanted to be intentional about a few things. One of those intentional decisions surrounded date night with my husband.  We've always gone out, taken babysitters up on their offers, and spent quality time together.  At the time last summer it was not something that we did with scheduled regularity.  With about 40 weeks left in our family before a third child prayerfully arrived we initiated Friday Date Night.

What are the ingredients for Date Night? Friday nights left uncommitted to others + a standing sitter (+ a rain or shine attitude) = Date Night success. 

For anyone beginning a journey of being intentional with their spouse I would offer these encouraging words. It may be hard and you may have discussions or moments that you never intended but you may surprise yourself in the moments of opportunity for fun and joy to abound. In addition to resting in knowing that you love your spouse you will draw closer in remembering how much you like each other too. So whether you head out together for coffee and shopping at Target, you get all dolled up and sip sparkling beverages at a fancy restaurant or you meet friends for dinner....just do it. 

We’re approaching the end of our 40 first dates. Our newborn will hopefully be with us soon.  As this means a break in the ease of running out on a Friday night I know that it doesn't mean the end of our Date Nights.   We love them too much to turn back!  

Sibling Books

You know those items that you never knew you wanted or needed but once you have them you are hooked!? Enter The Big Sibling Book: Baby's First Year According to ME. A Journal, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. I now know that I wanted and needed them! Fab friends gifted us with these treasures (Thank you Jamie, Aaron, and McKenna!) and picked up one for each new big sibling in the house, Rowan and Evangeline.  

What's so great about the book? A lot!

• Colorful cover art and journal pages.
• Places for the children to draw and express themselves through artwork.
• Check boxes for (funny options) quick responses and answers.
• Stickers to tell stories and express milestones. 
• Questions for the children to answer in short answer and sentence form.
• Interview pages where Mommy and Daddy can dig deeper into their minds to express their feelings and bigger concepts. 
• Documenting who Eva and Rowan are now.
• The smiles it bring to their faces whenever we work on their journal.
• The focus it brings to our Mommy and me time together as we prepare for the new baby.
• The focus it will bring to our Mommy and me time together through the beginning days and first year of having baby at home. 

I'm not a paid spokesperson for this product. But, I do recommend it! If you or someone you know is expecting and there are future big siblings in the picture this is a great addition to the family!

Where We Started

Alan started this blog 'back in the day'. It was before:

• twitter #'s were used,
• facebook groups were popular,
• instagram pics were posted.

Blogging then was some fancy stuff! Ruddys.blogspot's purpose was to get news and photos out all at once to friends and family:

• of where we were, 
• who our children were,
• and what we were all doing.  

We weren't Ballston Babes just yet but it did include All Things Rudnick Family. Have you been with us since then? Do you remember where we started? How we got here? And what's happened since?
Now it's our turn to wonder what's to come.... stay tuned for April 9th!

What a Year

What a year.  What a year - to not capture on the blog. How many moments I missed writing about. How many events that blessed our days, our months, our year have passed by.

My last post was almost a year ago.  Then, I shared about our days. They were cold, sunny, happy and sad. The same can be said for this past year...but are days also remained blessed.

We've had summer days,

work days,

play days,

traveling days,

first-day-of-school days,

spooky days,

thankful days,

anticipated days,

coffee-filled days,

New Year days,

winter days,

and now we are living in expectant days,


so, it's time dust off the dusty blogger.com site and let the blogging (re)begin!

Days

We've had snowy days,

Lead snow captain.

A walk in the state park...heading to the warming hut.

Snow painting.

Snow, it's finally here!

Always in tow.

We've had sunny days,

Sunny days of play in New Jersey.

Seriously sweet.

 We've had happy days,

Play weekend with Ellie and Violet (pictured).

Celebrating with friends!

Caution: Construction Ahead!

We've had sad days,

Rowan and Evangeline with their maternal 1st cousins on their Lolly's side at Great Pop Pop's funeral.

... We are continually blessed with all the days our Lord gives us.  

Captured

 You know that moment when your children are sleeping and all is right with the world? I chose to capture it.

Precious.

 

  

Priceless.

On the 15th Day of Christmas

Merry Christmas, The Rudnicks, 2012

Advent and Christmas are 'so last year' but they are still holding on here on Greenwood Drive.  It's not until after Epiphany that anything decorative comes down in our house.  And this year is no different.  I look over my shoulder now and the Christmas tree is still there.  Since Epiphany is over it's just a matter of getting it done now.  I waited all week for angels to come and take the ornaments off the tree, put away the nativity, and tuck the stockings in storage but no angels came.  So, in my last moments of a decorated home I think back on our joyous Christmas time.  Join me.

A book a night.  We ended each day with our advent reading and then picking a wrapped book under the tree.  A delight.

The children were VERY excited and engaged decorating the Christmas tree.

Rowan's gingerbread train.

Evangeline's gingerbread train. 

My lil'baker

At intermission at a local performance of The Nutcracker.  The children loved it!

Star of her pageant.  She'll always be my star but she actually was the Star of Bethlehem.

The wise guy man.

Poised to open their Christmas Eve pajamas, a Christmas tradition from their Aunt Jill.

Christmas morning, looking at each other's presents.

Testing out their presents

 

Eva and little Eva

This shot is timeless.

A white Christmas

Christmas love!

Ushering to Israel

We saw Daddy off this week for his big trip.  The children took his departure in stride and, to be honest, a lot better then Mommy did.  We love the airport. We happen to be there a lot.  The sights, sounds, and view of the runway are a joy.  This week's trip was no different with the addition that the children were eager to usher Daddy off on his important flight.  Both Rowan and Evangeline wanted to help carry the bags, check-in, and tag bags.

  And Evangeline, always ready for the camera, scooted in for a last snapshot with Daddy.

For more on Alan's adventures follow his Israel trip here.