Opportunity

Sometimes my kids just surprise the heck out me. Sometimes is funny. Sometimes it saddens me. I think, "didn't I teach them better than this"? or "Oh wow they learned that from me, oops". Other times I just do not know what to say and just have to walk away and think on it. I have been thinking on this for a few days now.

Some times bed times are crazy. They usually watch some Nick or Disney in their room before going to sleep. If I want them to go to bead early or I NEED them to go to bed early for my sanity and their well being, I will say pick a movie and you can watch it in your room. The other night they were just wound up. It was a movie in your room night.

About 30 minutes into the movie was the first warning...

"You guys need to lay down and watch the movie."

A little bit later...

"Tommy, Timmy, if it was time to play you would not be in bed"

A little more later...

"Alright guys, if I come in here again I am turning your movie off".

Ten minutes later I was maturely stomping into their room saying (gently of course) "OK, goodnight, movie off, you won't obey".

This then started the "NO NO NO we will be good. One more chance. Please PLEase PLEASE" barrage of begging. Then came the tears and then a full blown fit. Of course I was completely calm and composed through it all, you know.


I then again so maturely, yelled at my 8 year old...

"If you don't stop this right now I am gonna have Daddy take this TV out of your room for good".

He immediately stop the crying. Paused and yelled back...

"Fine, but tell him to replace it with a bigger one"!

I did not know what to say. He heard that opportunity and took it. They will not be getting a bigger TV. And I need to think through my threats a little better.

Proof is in the pee

We squeezed alot of "Holiday Stuff" into today. In downtown Carmel every Saturday in December you can see Santa, see real reindeer, and take a horse and carriage ride. There are people caroling on the streets. A man playing the violin. He gives the kids bells and they have a sing along. So it was a very fun time. We were very cold but had the essential cold weather gear to make it through the afternoon.

All of my little ones still believe in Santa. Tommy(8) Trinity(8) Timmy(5) This year there were several questions by the two older of the little ones that showed they are starting to figure it out. I came up with completely logical answers for both the little doubters and they are still convinced. But this will probably be the last year. I almost really messed up one time.

I said "we are going to see Santa today."


And Tommy said "oh we are going to the mall?"


"No we are going to Downtown Carmel"


"But Conner said he was going to see Santa and he went to the mall. So we have to go to the mall."


" No, Santa is Downtown too"


"Huh?!? What do you mean?"


OOOPS!!!! Oh man I new before I even finished the sentence I messed up big time. Okay think fast Kristy. You can do it!!!

"Okay guys alot of kids do not know this but it would take forever for Santa to actually talk to every kid and we could not all fit in one place so he has Helper Santas to be at all sorts of different places and they all report back to him. The real one happens to be where we are going today."

They totally believed me. Especially Timmy the 5 year old. He knows that he gets presents from us, other family, friends, and Santa. So he was really contemplating what he wanted to ask for from Santa. Then its really special.

We waited for 20 minutes in the cold. I do not think they were even aware how cold it was. When we walked into Santa's cottage they were in awe. So excited. Tommy could hardly speak. It was so cute. I could hardly hear him, so I have to figure out what he asked for. Timmy had no problem letting him know what he wanted, a Webkinz lizard. "Okay Santa, will you remember that?" Santa did a quick glance at me and I nodded. "Yes Timmy I will remember" Santa said. Trinity was quiet but shared her wish for Littlest Pet Shop. She did not require confirmation.


I am going to soak it all in this year. No matter how corny it is.


Then we went to see the reindeer. They were cute but the one kept peeing. Timmy said looking at the pee "see they are real".

No deep thoughts on this entry. Tori and the girls got first place at Regionals this weekend. Cheerleading is not what it used to be. They work so very hard. I am so proud of them. On to State this Saturday!!!!

The No Part

One of the best things about children is they do not have "filters" like we develop later on in life. Their thoughts are honest. They can say it like it is. The real answer. Not something they think others want to hear. Or spin it to sound gracious or politically correct.

Today was a tougher day for Tommy and I. We were at each other from 5 minutes after the alarm went off this morning. Tommy is my sensitive one, but at the same time he needs firmness. So, it is a balancing act with him. After 20 minutes of him trailing on my heels and asking

"Mom, can I go to Conner's"?

"No".

"Mom, my home works done, can I go to Conner's"?

"NO".

"Mom after dinner can I go to Conner's"?

"NO!".

"Mom when can I go to ....


I spin around at warp speed. Not screeching but definitely loud I say "Tommy, what part of No do you not understand"?

He thought for 1/2 a second looked me straight in the eyes and answered "The NO part".

Well, that said alot to me. Sometimes, I think we all have a problem with The No Part.

George Washington

Holy Cow!!! I had no idea how long it has been since I blogged. I really like to blog and just ramble on. Then its fun to edit it into something I think people will find amusing. Not that many people read this.

Life has gotten busy now that every one is in school. Taylor is in 11th grade. He has the normal sixteen year old attitude, but other than that he is so awsome. He makes me laugh alot. He is so unafraid of what people think of him. In a good way. He has a project that his class has to present in front of the other students. He said he wanted to dress like George Washington. I gave him a $15 budget and off he went. He and his friend present their reoprts on different days, so they are sharing a costume. They went to Goodwill, Walmart, and the Party Store. Last night at dinner my husband received and email to his phone and the picture below was attached. Needless to say we both laughed pretty hard. It brings a smile to my face every time I think about Taylor in that outfit.





The next time he is completely ignoring me, only takes out half the trash, or leaves 35 gross dishes in his room, I will think of him in that outfit and he may get off a little lighter.

10 things you do not want to hear from your kids!

1. This was due yesterday. (any school project).

2. Just hear me out completely before you say any thing.

3. If I tell you something do you promise not to be mad?

4. One child saying I'm gonna tell mom, and the other child frantically begging
them not to tell mom.

5. Mom, how do you use the carpet cleaner?

6. Does the remote still work if it gets wet?

7. Why is that squirrel eating our chair?

8. Conner's mom (neighbor boy) will be here in a few minutes to talk to you.

9. Timmy's bleeding.

10. SILENCE!!!

Oh my goodness!!!

I have one question. How does someone so tiny do so much damage? Anyone?...Anyone?...

Here is the story. I am up stairs cleaning out drawers. Timmy is down stairs watching Backyardigans. All seems peaceful and calm. Then I hear CRASH!! THUD!! and a kinda POOF!! all in 3 seconds. I yell "what was that"? Then I hear these words..."Oh my Goodness, mom we have a problem". That is not what you want to hear come out of a four year old's mouth.

So what could it have been. The typical options would be, he dropped the milk, or knocked over the toy bucket, or ran into the screen door and took it off the track (happens alot in warmer weather) or even knocked the shelf off the wall while diving off the stairs into a pile of pillows. These are common causes of loud noises in my house.

Okay, so, back to my post crash noise question "what was that"? And his reply was..."the fireplace fell out of the wall. Let me repeat...THE FIREPLACE FELL OUT OF THE WALL!!!

I was just kinda dumb founded. What could that mean. Some ash blew out, he knocked a door off? So I get up to see what happened, and he meant what he said. The fireplace fell out of the wall. There was insulation and ash and the whole front portion of my firplace on the floor of my family room.

As soon as I made eye contact with Timmy he said "well, you see mom, I was...." the rest is still a blur. I just had to laugh. In his mind he had a completely logical explanation. It had to do with his sword and bad guys and his imaginary friend Matt.

A mess like this just had to be looked at for a bit. We had PB&J's for lunch. All while gazing at our lovely mess. I just laughed every time I really thought about it. Only one of my children could accomplish this.

The fire place was not to hard to fix and the ash and stuff just vacuumed up. Two things were learned because of this situation. Timmy will not be using the fireplace doors as a "sword holder" anymore, and I should clean the ash out of my fire place more often.