Huh?

Have you ever found yourself saying something, and then thinking, "Never in a million years would I think that would come out of my mouth"? Yup, had one of those moments last night.

Coming home from Wednesday night church, the boys were pretty wound up. Aaron had been playing running games and Noah had made a craft using the Ten Commandments on a piece of paper, like a scroll.

So, as my two rambunctious boys were getting very wild in the car, a swatting match ensued, using the "scroll" as a "weapon". Even though it was playful, I don't like those kind of games, especially in the car.

So here's the quote of the night...

"AARON, STOP HITTING YOUR BROTHER WITH GOD'S WORD!"

The Culprit

All kids lie to get out of getting trouble. My 6 year old is no exception. It actually is human nature...avoid punishment at all cost. We work hard to establish trust early in life so that we have it during the horrible teenage years.

Both of our boys, however, are funny. About half the time, they actually admit to wrongdoing. Then I am faced with a quandary. Let me explain...

The cats are finally getting along for the most part. However, their play has gotten quite physical, to the point that I am getting kind of scared. Pumpkin's head is inside Minnie's mouth when they are "playing" and Pumpkin is taking big old bites at Minnie's stomach.
Exhibit A













So this afternoon, I noticed this:

See a bare spot?












and I mentioned it to Noah...

"Noah, I think Minnie has actually bitten a chunk out of Pumpkin's fur this time."

To which my honest little boy said,

"No Mommy, the scissors "slipped" and I cut some of his hair." And he actually brought the chunk of fur to me.

So here's the quandary...

Punish the boy for maiming the cat, or praise him for telling the truth at a moment when he could have actually gotten away scott free.

Here's what I did: First, I began with telling him how proud I was at him for telling the truth that he had hurt the cat and that if he had lied, he would have been grounded (which he has never been, but has heard about it and the idea scares him) for the rest of the week. Instead, he would be banned from using scissors (this is a big deal for him) until school starts and can't touch the cats until Friday.

I actually feel pretty good about the consequences. Last week he did something naughty (I don't remember what it was) and I couldn't think of a punishment to match it and he came right out and said, "Mommy, I thought you said that the punishment has to match the crime." It's weird what this kid actually hears and what things he doesn't.

Sometimes, however, it's hard to hide the truth...

Case in point, a few weeks ago, our little culprit must have gotten hold of a pen.


Can you see it on the lampshade?











How about the window blinds in the bathroom?













I would think a boy as intelligent as my little genius would think to write someone ELSE'S name to his artwork when writing on furniture.

Aaron's Birthday Reaction and a New Gift

I know this week has been somewhat Noah heavy. What can I say...the boy turned six! Deb's post yesterday summed up Noah's birthday party from Sunday and I am quite sure I cannot say much more. So now I want to take another angle...

As I was talking to my sister-in-law at the party on Sunday, she commented that she and my brother realized they had never attended a birthday party for Aaron and several for Noah. I told her I always feel bad because since Noah's birthday is a holiday every year, it turns into a multi-day event, as opposed to Aaron's birthday in October when life is happening. He gets the typical one day little party.

I hope to do better for him this year. I have never been one of those parents that gives presents to the other siblings on a birthday. And true to the course, Aaron sat through FOUR DAYS of Noah getting spoiled for his birthday. He handled it so well, never once asking why he didn't get anything. That's amazing for a three year old. For that reason, I was very happy for his excitement when my parents delivered a surprise for him after Noah's party on Sunday.

They bought a condo a year or two ago and bought bunk beds for the downstairs bedroom. After seeing this report on the TODAY show, they decided to restructure that room for safety reasons. Aaron came out on top in the deal (pun intended). While we were finishing up at the party, my parents and Steve came back to our house and put together the entire top bunk for Aaron. It is so cool. It is only about 18 inches off the ground and has a railing all around.

Until now, Aaron has been sleeping on a mattress and box spring on the floor and the mattress was terrible, squeaking and bouncing and I am quite sure, affecting his sleep. We had been wanting to get him a new bed for quite awhile now. On top of that, ALL of Aaron's clothes were upstairs in Noah's room because there was no space in his tiny bedroom for a dresser.

So I was able to go to Target, get several drawers for under the bed and put them together yesterday. Aaron kept showing up in the living room in different outfits yesterday because he was so excited to have access to his own clothes. Although we have to curb that, his delight was unbeatable.














On top of that, the boys had a blast making a hiding place after the drawers got put into place while I was babysitting.














And best of all, he has taken a nap in his bed for two days in a row (as opposed to my bed) and has slept past 7:00 AM several times this week. Woo Hoo!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a very generous gift and for making everyone in this house very happy!

Hydrangea Week 4

I think it's safe to say that my little hydrangea is going to make it. I know everyone else is probably sick of my weekly Tuesday post about my little plant, but I am enjoying seeing the progress. Go little plant...grow like the wind!

I wonder if it will get any flora this year...and what color it will actually be someday.

Next step is to figure out what covering I need to put around it. Some people say mulch but someone once told my husband that mulch can impede water getting to the roots. I have some research to do next week after we get home.

Here's the latest progress.

Week 1














Week 2














Week 3














This week













Happy Tuesday.

Mystery Plant Week 3

Thanks to Queen Mommy , our mystery plant is no longer a mystery.
It is a confirmed Hydrangea.
And it has shown quite a bit of growth this week.

Exhibit A Week 1














Exhibit B Week 2














Exhibit C This week














I'm so glad I didn't pull it. It may actually be big enough to hide the gas pipe coming out of the front of our house in the next ten years.

Happy Tuesday.

Whirlwind Trip

Spring Break is now almost over. I'm glad we did something memorable, even if It was for one quick night.

We were due to pick up the rental car at 9 AM. Because we don't have a credit card (by choice), we had to use a debit card, utility bill, and pay stub. I had all these things and headed up to the counter.
She opens the utility bill...it's a shut off notice...can't use it. I scrounge the car for the comcast bill, and it works.
Then we move on to my pay stub...it's from more than 30 days ago...can't use it. Now I have to call Steve at work to fax a copy of one of his pay stubs...it takes two tries before it goes through.
Get in the car...can't figure out where to put the key...it's a push button start.
Pull out of the parking lot...car lurching...car to the store...didn't change gears the right way.
At 10:16...we are FINALLY on the road.
3 hour drive was thankfully uneventful.
Played with cousins for a few hours after we got there. I got my baby fix by playing with baby Ronin.
Kira playing "Robot"











Noah was bouncing off the wall after awhile...he just couldn't handle the noise level and the excitement so we decided it's time to head over to the hotel for a swim. So frazzled mommy, two psycho boys, sister-in-law with three kids of her own in tow, bags for her, luggage, blankets, pillows, and inflatable beds all slink into the hotel to check in and relax in the pool. Odin (my nephew) gets stuck in the spinny door...Aaron is already climbing on the luggage carts...I go to check in.
"We don't have your reservation"
OH COME ON!
Apparently, our reservation is at the OTHER Comfort Suites on the other end of the city. I still don't see why
they couldn't just let us stay there.
So, back to the car with everything. Mommy loses it in the parking lot, yelling at a child (one of mine) who was running in a busy street , saying a "bad" word (stupid) in reference to the hotel policiy, which Odin is in shock that Aunt Kristi said.

We FINALLY get to the right hotel and check in. Swimming was fun and relaxing.
I tried to take some pictures but the cameras both fogged up. We did get a shot of the boys (tummy and above that is) when we got back to the room.


Aaron, Odin, Noah











Thankfully, dinner out with 5 kids and slow service at Chili's was calm and successful. It was the only time we got to see Uncle Matt the entire visit.

The weather actually looked pretty good the next morning so we decided to make the zoo a go. But first, Aunt Kristi had to get her "girly fix" by playing with Kira's hair. Kira had just gotten it cut with really cute bangs but she wanted "pretties" anyway so up to her room we went. After some fun, we ended up with goofy...



















but we forgot to take it out and it stayed in most of the day. Good thing I'm raising boys, huh?

The zoo was fun. The kids were happy to just be outside running. Well, actually, running at the beginning, DRAGGING by the end. We did get a couple of cute shots of the group...

in front of the buffalo,






Odin, Kira, Aaron, Noah







and during a snack break.




Aaron, Kira, Odin, Noah, Ronin, Aunt Jenny



A fun but short visit. The boys were as sad as I was when we returned the car this morning.

On the tap for today, naps all around and possibly Open Swim for Noah.

While writing this, I have broken up at least a dozen fights. I AM SO SICK OF THE FIGHTING!!!!!!!!!! I am thinking of just letting them start fighting it out and not putting so much effort into actually getting them to be nice to each other. It seems as if I am the only one who cares about how everyone treats each other. (sorry...venting moment)

Back to reality now.

Have a nice weekend.

I thought it was Spring "Break"

So Noah's Spring Break began today at 3:15. I picked him up from school and we were all in a pretty good mood. The weather was beautiful and we have fun plans made for all next week, including a night at a hotel with a pool that I already paid for online next Thursday. (This fact will be important in a few minutes)

Our van was making some funny noises yesterday and even more today. We have only had it for a year and bought it under unpleasant circumstances at that. It has 102+ K miles on it and we owe for three more years still.

Do you see what's coming?

Oh yeah. After a lengthy discussion after Steve got home about how best to plan out our weekend (we can usually afford one fast meal out a weekend) we decided to use our coupon to Noodles & Company (if you don't know this restaurant, you should, it's wonderful) and as we were driving I started pointing out the noise problems to Steve. About halfway there on the highway, a scary hazard light started blinking and the car was having trouble accelerating. As I was panicking and looking for an exit to get off and turn around, Steve was frantically searching the manual for what the light meant.

When he found it, the description said, "Service immediately" so Steve wanted to take back roads toward home and stop at a diagnostic place on the way back home. It was now 5:45 and the boys REALLY needed to eat so I suggested "Let's at least get the boys home", which we did. Steve left immediately to take the car somewhere and I cooked up some Mac and Cheese for the boys. As the boys settled to eat and I with my bowl of cereal (we're out of food at the moment) Steve calls on the phone, yelling at the top of his lungs "I'M STUCK AT INTERSECTION...THE VAN WON'T MOVE...PEOPLE ARE HONKING AT ME...COME NOW!" It also contained a few profanities but this is a family friendly blog so I won't repeat them.

So I scooped up the boys, and headed out to the car. Noah started SCREAMING "I WANT TO EAT" and he had real tears coming down his face. So I grabbed his bowl of mac and cheese, piled them into Steve's truck (a $1 purchase from my brother about 2 years ago) and headed off to save my husband.

After about 45 minutes later, the boys had had it with being stuck in the car watching Daddy and two police officers in the middle of an intersection waiting for the tow truck, we got the van towed to the transmission place that Steve had just left, cleaned out all the stuff, and left.

We have a lot of decisions to make. We are struggling to make our monthly bills each month so we have no options for purchasing a new vehicle. This is our second minivan that has blown a transmission. We are facing a week of Spring Break and possibly no vehicle. I have paid for a hotel room that I can not get a refund for (travelocity) and we may not be able to use.

I have to let this go for the weekend since they can't look at it until Monday anyway.

Here's the fun part of the story...we are on our way home when we realize that Noah is the only one who has eaten dinner. Aaron had eaten some of his green beans and a few bites of mac n cheese and Steve and I hadn't eaten anything yet. I grabbed the boys so quickly while Steve was yelling at me that I never even put shoes on them. None of us felt like figuring out anything else for dinner.

So,

We drive to the ice cream place less than a mile away and had ICE CREAM for dinner. We did explain to the workers why our children did not have shoes ion and they were allowed to remain.

I was feeling so full after ice cream (since I haven't had a lot of sweets in quite a while) that I asked Steve if it was okay for me to walk home. I felt much better when I got home and Steve was impressed with the good time I made.

We still did "movie night" partially with the boys. We watched "Enchanted". I liked this movie when we saw it in the theater but I am not sure how the boys will like the rest of it tomorrow when it gets scary. We'll see.

So I can only hope that Spring Break has an upward swing soon. Otherwise, it is going to be a rough week.

At least the boys think tonight was an adventure.

Thursday Thirteen Why I Feel Guilty

13. Recap from previous post about this subject- My friend Beth was here for four days. On the way to church last Wednesday night, we hit the drive thru at McDonald's to get food for the four boys, and ended up ordering six kid meals, including ourselves in the mix (six piece nugget and apples with diet coke comes out to 285 calories)

12. Employee came right out at the first window, scowled at me, and told me I was "irritating" her because I had ordered so many meals

11. After posting, several people suggested I call the 800 number...I emailed instead, relating our experience.

10. Got an email from corporate McDonald's saying that the proper people at the local franchise have been notified

9. Two days ago-I received a voice mail from location manager asking to call back

8. I decided to let it go...not really necessary to make a big deal. I just wanted them to work with her on her service skills.

7. Tonight-I received another message from Andy at McDonald's. I figured I should call him back since he took the time to call twice. I hoped they were nice to the poor girl.

6. I called him back. I started by saying that I don't want anything....just wanted to let them know but I don't want anything bad to happen to the poor girl

5. Manager told me this was a repeat offender and it was the final straw. They fired the poor girl.

4. The manager insisted that he had to somehow "make it right" wanting to know how to make it up to me. I told him I really didn't want anything. I just didn't want to face rudeness at this drive thru again.

3. The manager was determined to give something in return. When I didn't have a clue what to say, he gave his own suggestion.

2. For the next two days, my car will receive as many apple dipper bags as I want for free.

Now, as silly of an appeasement as it may seem, you need to understand. We hit this drive thru several times a week for "burger apples". It is a small price to pay for a healthy snack for my hypoglycemic boy to eat something on the way to school, often ensuring that he will have a successful morning.

1. My guilt has several layers. In one layer, this poor girl got fired. How do you get job after getting fired from McDonald's? In the 2nd, more selfish layer, I am thrilled to be receiving free apples for two days. Noah will not eat ones I cut up because they "turn brown." In the third most selfish layer of all, I am tempted to get quite a few apple bags on each visit to get us through next week's Spring Break. He never said how many apples. We did have six happy meals the day of the incident.

I talked to my sister-in-law who told me not to feel guilty. I don't know quite what to think.

Back when we were in college, Steve used to tease me because I could get free stuff in pretty much any situation. I don't know if I've become more meek or more mature, but it no longer feels right to get something for nothing.

However...

I will be hitting the drive thru tomorrow for my free apples.

Church Embarrassment

We all know the trials of the "PK"s. You know, the kids of the church employees, including pastors, who are the worst behaved kid in the church. Well, Noah is truly a PK to the nth degree. Here's our wonderful experience from church today.

The background: Two of my three groups performed this morning. I direct the Youth Chimes and Ada Chimes. Tone Chimes are a WAAAYYY less expensive and hardier way to create a bell choir. About five years ago, I asked our organist why, if our church was as affluent as it is, we don't have a hand bell choir. Her answer was "Because we don't have anyone to direct it and they are very expensive" So with my big mouth, I said, "What about tone chimes? I could direct it if we had them."

The next fall our church had purchased tone chimes, the same organist had petitioned to have me become a paid staff member and Ada Chimes was begun.

Two years ago, our Wednesday night program for the 4th-8th graders was starting to dwindle. Our numbers were close to nothing and the curriculum left something to be desired. Another mom and I started talking about ways to rejuvenate the program. I suggested a youth chime group as part of the Wednesday program. That fall, Youth Chimes was born. Our core group averages between 11-15 kids every week. We have youth that technically have "aged out" but still return because it is fun. I have come to love the group of young people.

The third group I direct is the Cherub Choir. It is 5 year olds - 2nd grade singers. This is my third year with that group but the first year with Noah in it. This is actually where this big long story begins...and ends. For your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of their performance earlier this year. Noah is the smiling one right with the red collar in front of the microphone.

Noah swore up and down (not literally) that he would NOT be in choir. I kind of downplayed it and when it came to start this year, I just sat him down and began the rehearsal. He has done pretty well, BUT....he has truly acted out the part of the PK each rehearsal.

As you have heard in this and this post, he is an AMAZING singer. That is why I have encouraged him. Plus, his music class at school really leaves something to be desired. (It's really bad). So I have encouraged him to participate.

So this morning was the Cherub Choir's last performance until Fall. My idea was to have them play tone chimes while they were singing. They have been practicing for a VERY long time and sounding pretty good. We spent A LOT of time practicing how to walk with the instrument, how to play it, and especially where to stand after we walk up. In order for the song to sound right, they HAD to be in order.

After our practice this morning, they lined perfectly, as they have each performance all year. As they were walking to the front of the sanctuary to perform, SOMEHOW, they got all goofed up. I realized after they got up there and it HAD to be fixed. So, for me, it felt like hours while I was trying to get them in order while the entire congregation was sitting and watching. AAGGGHHH!!!!!!!!

As they were almost ready, the entire congregation quiet, Noah shouts out "MOM, CAN WE START YET?" I snapped my fingers at him to be quiet (mind you, I was in front of the church) and the congregation actually laughed. I don;t know if they were laughing at me or that I got him under control (which is what a few moms told me afterward) while the whole world was watching. Either way is NOT good.

I don't know if I have ever been that angry or embarrassed in church before. The performance went off without a hitch after that. As a matter off fact, it was VERY good.

But I still can't seem to let go of it.

When I got his report card Friday, it included a letter from BOTH of his specials teachers about Noah talking too much and showing off for the other kids. The problem is that the naughty kids are the ones who react and then Noah gets the reaction he is looking for, therefore getting in more trouble. He doesn't want to befriend the "good kids" because they don't laugh when he shows off. I don't know how to make him want to impress the "good" kids. He gets more attention the other way. His Kindergarten teacher has told me that the first grade teacher is worried about having him in her class next year. Not something any mom wants to hear. I just don't know what to do.

At the beginning of the year, he was quite aggressive. He would throw things if he got mad and yell when he was frustrated. He does not display any of this kind of behavior anymore. He has improved massively.

I am struggling because, yes, his behavior is SOOO much better, but it still needs to be fixed. How do I continue to praise him for the improvement and yet make it clear that his behavior is still not acceptable. I do not believe he has ADD or ADHD, but there is something in him that needs to be "fixed". The attention seeking behavior is the root of it all. If we could beat that, I think our battle would be won. Have I created these problems in my raising of him? He reminds us A LOT of my brother in so many ways and my brother is one of the smartest guys I have ever known. He also has a successful career and family life. So I know Noah will be successful someday. But I want him to feel successful now, too.

Friday I was crying about his behavior, yet again, in front of him when I realized where some of the biggest frustration lies. I was talking to him and I found myself saying, "The reason I am so sad is that I know what an amazing boy you are, but when you never stop talking and showing off in front of other kids, it doesn't let others see that amazing boy." I think that is the core of my frustration. I want others to see this remarkable kid but that is not what comes out so much of the time.

Wow! What started out as a post about church this morning turned into, yet again, a ramble about Noah. That always seems to happen.

I don't know if anyone is even reading this anymore, but if you are, I would love your feedback. Please comment on this one. I need all the help I can get.

Spring? Really?

My apologies, Matt. This one will be a little wordy...I have a story to tell.

I encountered several signs of Spring this morning.

The sun was out this morning and it's supposed to be in the lower 50's. A heat wave! So of course, the half dozen or so spring/fall jackets that were all over the place last September are nowhere to be found. I REFUSE to buy more. Maybe they'll show up as I prepare for our May garage sale.

Aaron and I needed to pick up a few groceries. As we're driving home, Aaron sees the car wash. He really doesn't like them all that much but they're still a novelty. He says, "Mommy, let's do the car wash". I thought that we might as well and I can vacuum it when we get home. So after I run in and buy a code, we proceed to the car wash. About a minute into it, I start hearing car horns very loud. Then I realize that we're not moving. The next second, WERE RAMMING INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF US. At this point, Aaron is in the back, "Mommy, I'm scared" and all I could think was "Me, too." I can't get out because the big round sponge thing is stuck washing my driver's window over and over and the ramming continues. Finally, I decided the only choice was to BACK OUT of the car wash. I didn't know if this would destroy my tires, but I couldn't think of another choice. I was shaking by this time. After checking for any damage on my bumper, I went inside to ask for a refund for the car wash that has now left tons of suds pouring off the roof of the van. When I told her what happened, the manager actually SCOLDED me for backing out of the car wash. What the *&%^& was I supposed to do? I was still shaking and I still needed to find somewhere else to go rinse off the suds that has now dried on the van. I seriously don't think I will ever go in an automated car wash again in my life.

So we came home to eat lunch and it was so gorgeous out that AA wanted to stay out and play for awhile. I grabbed the omnidroid (that's what my Incredibles boys call the Shop Vac) and started vacuuming. While I was working, AA was climbing around in the bushes that are trying to awaken for spring. When I went to look, I was so excited at what I saw:














Yes, indeedy. I, who have killed pretty much any plant I have ever touched, planted bulbs last fall and they are ACTUALLY SPROUTING. I lovingly cleared all the leaves away just to see how many I could find. I don't even remember what I planted but I hope they will turn into something pretty I can post in a few weeks.

So after a terrifying car wash experience, I came home to the ultimate sign of Spring. I don't think I will put AA down for a quiet time today. I think we need to go back out and play.

Happy Friday!