Put Up Your Dukes!

Last night when Scott got home from work he was goofing around with Elijah and tackled him for a little tickle torture. When Elijah jumped up onto the bed and put up his fists and said, "Put 'em up you old GEEZER, show me what you got!" I thoguth I would wet my pants laughing at the look on Daddy's face!
Now for a serious Elijah story, I am so proud of him!
Elijah is our little baseball player, he loves to play ball. His team was supposed to have practice last night at 6pm. So, on the bus after school one of the other boys from his team said something about practice. Elijah told him, "I don't practice baseball on Wednesdays because I go to church." The other little boy asked him. "What is more important Elijah, church or baseball?" And Elijah told him that Church was way more important. The other boy told him, church is dumb and boring. But Elijah stood his ground and told him "That is not true and I will be at church not baseball today!"
It was a bitter sweet thing for me. Bitter because it is so sad for me to have my children involved in those kinds of conflict but so sweet because I am so very proud that he stood his ground and maybe, that little seed he planted will someday soon make a difference in his friends life!

Strong-willed Sam

I thought I had met all the most stong-willed kids in the world already. After all I have worked with children in many different ways for the past 24 years. I have decided after this very long week with Sam that he wins the most-stubborn-child-in-the-world award!!
OK, so yesterday began like all days do in this busy house, up early trying to get kids ready for the bus, making sure they look like children and not rag-a-muffins...so we are about 10 minutes into our morning routine and Sam starts screaming at the top of his lungs, "I want to get up!" Now he knows all he has to do is come out of his room and say he is awake and then the day will begin for him...WHY WHY WHY he couldn't get that through his cute little head is totally beyonde me! So, I went in and told him that when he was ready to speak kindly to me then he could get up. This launched him into a full fledged tantrum that literally lasted for 2 hours. Finally, he emergered from his room, puffy eyed and grouchy still. He proceeds to tell me, "I'm getting up!" I said, "Sam you need to tell Mommy that you are sorry for being naughty, then you may get up. Are you sorry?" That little turkey told me, "NO" So, I said you need to go back to bed until you are ready to apologize, when your ready mommy will be right here." Guess what? You wont believe it...the next time he came out, I even told him exactly what to say, and my sweet boy raised his little hand and said to me,"um, mommy can I go to my bed and think about this?" ahgahgahg! I let him go, and it was noon before I saw him again, at which time he said as if he just got up and it was 7 am "Hi mommy, I'm sorry. Can I get up" and then he kissed me. What happened? How is it possible for a 4 year old child to have it in him to stubbornly sit in his room for hours just so he wont have to say 'I'm sorry'?? This morning was exactly the same accept that he finally decided at around 10am that he wanted to be happy and part of the fun. I wonder if the fact that my friends little boy is here for the day had any impact on his decision making today. I guess we will know when tomarrow morning arrives. I must stick to my guns. And maybe he will realize that my will is stronger than his...or...I will be in a little white coat that ties in the back by weeks end!!! One way or the other I am sure he will be back to the old routine again soon....

Funny Boy of the Family

All of my children have a great sense of humor. Some more than others for sure. We have a prankster who loves to prank people when they least expect it. Then there is the one that is cute and funny at the same time and as he gets older he is witty with a little sarcasm. But the one that keeps us laughing all the time, I mean belly laughing. Is Elijah! He comes up with the funniest things at the oddest moments. Last night, after dinner I was trying to clean the kitchen so I could go out doors and enjoy my swing. When I heard something fall to the floor. Usually such a sound is immediately followed by "Mommy, I am so sorry" but not last night. As soon as I heard that all too familiar sound I hear the sweet voice of Elijah.."Clean up on isle 2". I lost it! I couldn't stop laughing. How can you lecture someone on 'the importance of using both hands when clearing your place from the table.' after hearing THAT? So, after regaining my composure, I said to him, "please get some napkins and clean it up for mommy, OK?" To which he replied, "I don't have to Mommy, Raven has it covered, with her tongue!" And he ran out the door to play! That's my Elijah, he keeps me laughing.

I Scream You Scream We All Scream for Ice Cream!!!

A funny thing happened last night after dinner. We were all enjoying the beautiful weather in the back yard playing catch, swinging on swings, etc. When a new and exciting sound filled the air...The music of an ICE CREAM truck! It is so funny how my brother and I looked at each other as if we were kids again, "ICE CREAM!" I said, "no way, it can't be." Then a funny thing happened, my phone rang, and being outside, I decided I technically was not at home, so I didn't answer, right after that, my cell phone rang. So thinking maybe it was an emergency I sprinted in the house to answer it. It was Dominique calling from the street, the only thing he said was, "Can you hear the ice cream truck? Can we get some?" (Even to a 16 year old ice cream is an emergency, especially when served through the window of a truck right in front of your house). At this point I still wasn't sure I was hearing what I thought I was hearing. But sure enough kids came out of houses that I didn't even know had kids living in. Lining up anxiously on the curb, excitedly discussing which ice cream would be best to have. I am not ashamed to admit that I turned to MY MOTHER, yes, I said mother...and said "can I have an ice cream? PLEEEZE." To which she responded, "Philip, go get my purse." WHAT??? Never in my memory do I remember it being that easy to get icecream money from my mother! Age has done good things to her...(heehee) So anyway, I really was joking but she offered the money with a smile and said "my treat!" Yes, I ran to the gate and realized I had forgotten my children and Scott. OOPS! So I yelled for all to join me. How could I miss the opportunity to introduce them to the ice cream truck? The excitement grew as I watched my children giggle as they read all the different choices, and complain that they couldn't possibly decide between them all. After everyone had an ice cream (8) and I paid $5.50, I know I couldn't believe it either! We decided that we would schedule in time each week to meet on the curb for an icecream! Thanks MOM for the ice cream!

sweet success!

YEAH ME! I finally figured out how to import my MEEZ I created, I know it really doesn't look like me but I am wearing purple, my favorite color, and I have a monster cup of coffee!!
Also, I am working on uploading individual pics of the family. It is not what I really wanted, but, it will do. For now anyway.

time to move on to another kid

It is time for me to pick on one of my other kids now!
I am now officially convinced that when kids hit around 16 they suffer severe brain damage! At what point they recover from the brain damage I am not sure, but I will let you all know when recovery begins!
How do you get them to understand that you DO love them, AND believe in them and their dreams. BUT you also want what is best for them??????
To all of you out there who have just emerged from the brain damage phaze of life please HELP me understand! Any parents who have survived this stage? Words of wisom PLEASE!!!!
I love my boy, I really do and for his entire 16 years so far he has been nothing short of a joy to me. But here lately I don't know what is happening, he doesn't like to be home and with the family, he actually got a little lippy with me the other day, I know I couldn't believe it. OK, actually he got a lot lippy and now he is grounded and it not only shocked me but it also broke my heart. No mother wants to see the day their offspring shows the first sign of disrespect. This is not the one of my children I ever thought would act that way. When I said my kids are all Wonderfully Different, I really meant it. They are all 6 very different from each other. Dominique is soft hearted with a tender spirit. He hates conflict and is a major peace maker. He is VERY talented in a lot of things. He is a great skate boarder, amazing drummer, and gifted in art. He is an excellant student, devoted and trust worthy friend. So, it made me sad when he showed this new side to me.
Then the very next day, he went to class at Grand View and locked his keys in the truck, which would be no big deal if it wasn't the 4th time in 3 months...so, Scott went and unlocked the truck for him, (Jodi, if you are reading this, next week when we meet for lunch I am giving you a key to hold onto just in case....

more on Isaiah

So, we found this stuff the other day at Walmart called Activ-On it kind of looks like deoderant. But smells menthol-ish. ANyway it is called a topical analgesic and you roll it on the site of pain, the meds absorb through the skin. It actually helps!! YEAH! I mean it doesn't totally take the pain awway, but Isaiah has noticed a difference and asks me to put it on for him, (anyone who knows Isaiah knows that he would NEVER ask for help in pain!!) Maybe the fact that he doesn't have to put it in his mouth helps too. I am taking him to the doctor on Friday to see what wisdom he may offer us. Until then pray for him that his teacher would be understanding and that he continues to get relief from this new stuff.
Thanks to all who are praying, I do believe our Mountain has begun to Move!!!