My household consists of a wonderful husband, seven children (yes, we are a blended family) plus a foreign exchange student, a dog (welsh corgi) and a skink. It is rarely quiet here and we are quite busy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We have a 6th grader, the lone elementary school student. We have one each in the 11th, and 12th grades plus two in college and one more serving a mission for our church in Uruguay. In the spring of 2008 we began our series of six years of high school graduations in a row.
My passion is my family. They are my focus and bring me a sense of fulfillment. Other interests include writing, gardening, traveling, and now blogging. I am a substitute school teacher and a crossing guard and I recently started graduate work to get my Masters Degree in Education with an ESL endorsement.
My favorite quote is “Good, better, best. May I never rest, ’til my good is better, and my better best!” I don’t know who said it first, but it has become my philosophy on parenting. I try to take any good I see in myself and work with it until it becomes my best. If I learn something new or come across a great tip that helps improve family life I love to share it with others. And I really enjoy when others share their tips with me. My desire is to connect with others that have the same passion about family and parenting that I do.
Kweenmama's Kastle 
March 16, 2008 at 3:25 am
Hi,
I noticed you left a comment on my blog, so I thought I would stop by for a visit. I think it’s wonderful that you are passionate about your family. Over the years that I have been a parent, I have seen a great weakening of family relationships, which is sad, so it’s always encouraging to see parents that strive to raise good kids. May God bless you in all your parenting endeavors.
Blessings,
Carol
March 16, 2008 at 5:53 am
Thank you for visiting! Blessings to you as well.
March 22, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Family first. I like the blog.
Peace,
March 25, 2008 at 2:51 am
I love the quote that is the basis for your blog! It sounds like you have an amazing family! Thank you for stopping by to visit me.
April 11, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Wow, what a blessed family. I would love to have a BIG family, but for now I will take the two I am blessed with and just wait for another!
April 18, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Hi, Kweenmama. Thank you for your nice comment on my blog. I love your blog site, how you focus on your family and your views in life. God bless you and your family!
May 3, 2008 at 12:21 am
Thanks for the comments on my blog – I just started blogging so it was nice to hear from someone!
Looks like you have a wonderful family!
May 8, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Thank you so much for the kind comments on my blog today. I was encouraged by your words. It sounds like you are a great mom and wife, and I hope you have a blessed Mother’s Day! I enjoyed looking at your blog, as well. Great stuff!
May 19, 2008 at 4:46 am
thx for the comment! I really enjoy “meeting” people who provide links to their own blogs, and I’m very glad to have visited yours (I’m sure I’ll be back, too) — very refreshing to find kind of a “kindred spirit” in blended motherhood! 😉
*MWAH!*
Tanya
May 29, 2008 at 7:28 am
Thanks for the nice comment on my blog! You seem to have a wonderful family and I enjoyed reading a few of your entries. Beautiful blog!
Take care,
Minna
June 2, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog! I will take some time to read through your blog!
-Timmy
June 11, 2008 at 5:37 am
Other than my family I’ve never known of anyone else that has heard of or uses Love and Logic. I have found some things helpful, but not everything to be full proof. Is there something from Love and Logic that has helped your family the most?
June 11, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Callie: Not owning the kids’ problems–handing the problem back to them to solve, which helps them to think and problem solve AND gain confidence in handling situations (even bad ones they have created themselves); Showing empathy before giving logical consequences, thus preserving the relationship; and offering choices so that the kids feel they have some control, then they aren’t as likely to protest when you do sometimes have to say no to something.
Those would be my top three tools from Love and Logic that have helped me. There are others, of course. Nothing is full-proof, but it is nice to have some “tools” in place when the kids surprise you with some of their choices.
Thanks for your comments on my blog.
June 11, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Hi K.A.,
You are phenomenal! What a beautiful family! Can you say the updated version of the Brady
Brunch (smile).
Talk to you soon,
K
July 25, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Wow – seven kids! How many were yours and how many were coming into the family from your husband? I am having trouble with two – I give you enormous props!!
August 3, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I have never blogged before and just tried to look at a chat room for info. and was DISGUSTED with the topics and content. So, I googled ‘blended families’ and here you are! I am so impressed with the info. and layout, but one problem, I have never blogged before and only about a year ago, figured out what it was. So, I am, new, and in desperate need of help with my blended family. My husband has adopted my two boys, 7 and 10, and he has a 17 year old girl and 14 year old boy from his first marriage.
August 3, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Oh, and please, no one can six link me or whatever yet. I’d have no idea what to do!! The links sound great though….thank you so much for this site!
August 3, 2008 at 3:51 pm
OK, now I get it, I need to state my issue. With my husband recently adopting our younger boys, it has definitely affected his 14 year old son. They do not live with us or in the same area. So visits are few and far between. My husband has always had a difficult time relating to him (14 yr old). He is much closer to his mom. They are coming down to visit next week, and lately the visits are so strained that he won’t participate in any activities, he just wants to play his PSP or video games. He is now suffering in school as well. And his sister told my husband that he doesn’t have as many friends anymore. Depression? We know that him seeing his dad raising younger boys must hurt, truly when the boys play sports, etc. and the 14 year old hates them. (Sports that is) I am trying hard to help my husband open up to his son and just talk, but he is so nervous. They have a few things in common, but over the past couple of years, they have grown apart. I am hoping this is just the teenage years that we experienced with his daughter, but I don’t know. Just seeking whatever guidance anyone may have. We have spent enough money on books,etc. I thought it time, to talk with the experts. Our peers. Thank you.
August 4, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Michelle,
I have addressed your questions in a post on my blog with the hopes that others will also offer suggestions. Thanks for visiting my blog!
https://kweenmama.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/for-michelle/
August 12, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Hi! Saw a comment you made on our friend Ashley’s blog, and I thought I’d make your acquaintance. It’s so nice to find people passionate about their families, too. I’m going to have to look up Love&Logic… My oldest is definitely showing me I have LOTS to learn about being a mom. 🙂
Cheers,
Alisa
August 28, 2008 at 1:16 am
I realized tonight that I have never added you to my blogroll even though I read your blog faithfully through blogsurfer. You always have the best ideas. I hope it is okay that I added this site and Run the Cat to my blogroll!
January 29, 2009 at 6:42 pm
[…] A Peek Inside the Kastle […]
March 6, 2009 at 5:36 pm
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April 17, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I am thoroughly impressed with the way you welcome everyone to the “neighborhood”. I felt elated to recieve a comment on one of my first posts… ever. Thank you SO much.
I’m a fellow Love & Logic advocate! I’ll enjoy getting to know you via your blogs. Thank you, again, for the warm welcome and outreach.
-Lilly
May 6, 2009 at 1:39 am
I thought you and your daughter would enjoy this.
http://www.tangle.com:80/view_video.php?viewkey=569d94ed84155a658623
October 12, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Ola,
Thx for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I wish you and your best a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Sonia
April 22, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Hi, I came across your site and wasn’t able to get an email address to contact you. Would you please consider adding a link to my website on your page. Please email me back and we’ll talk about it.
Thanks!
Hailey William
haileyxhailey@gmail.com