Again? Really?

Why does it take kids so long to learn their lesson? Why do we think we can get away with it when we didn't get away with it the first or second time? And why as a parent do we think they learned their lesson?

If you haven't guessed yet what happened in my day....

No Sydney didn't cut her hair again.

No the girls didn't color their eyes with green magic marker.

No Abby didn't throw Fruity Dino Bites all over the floor.

Oh wait..... YES SHE DID!!!!!

Why am I yelling? Unless you have vacuumed up those little pebbles of fruity goodness you have no idea how long it takes. It takes a long time because you can't use the brush part; it causes the cereal to fling about the room. You have to use the hose, which makes it longer to pick up and causes one to get angrier as they do it.

So for all those out there who are looking for a 2 1/2 year old, I have one for sale, really cheap. Female. Answers to the name of Abigail. Needs a home who will support her cereal addiction.

Of course I'm kidding. Sort of.

Substitute Teacher

Do you remember when at school you would have a substitute teacher? There were always those kids that took advantage of having a sub. Skipping out on class, making noise, saying things while coughing, you know what I'm talking about. Once we even had a set of twins mess around with a sub. It was pretty funny. She couldn't figure out how he kept ending up in the hall.

There were also times we had subs in our church classes. This is what I got to do today. I had the opportunity to sub in my Sydney's class. They are all 5 turning 6. I had 8 little stinkers, I mean cuties.

My day started out great when my sweetie asked if she could sit by me. I said of course, save me a seat. I went in and sat by my girl and looked down the row of kids. 4 girls and 4 boys. Pretty even.

I have come to the conclusion I am mean and have really high standards. No one was listening, I was being tickled and poked, kids kept hitting each other and talking while the leaders were trying to teach. One kid even informed me I have a mustache. Nice. Guess I need to check that out in the magnifying mirror I got for Christmas.

That was only during Singing time and sharing time. Then we went to class where it was just me. These kids were standing on chairs, crawling on the table. They wanted to know where their treat was. Really? A treat? Apparently their teacher brings them a treat every week. Probably to shut them up.

The thing that upset me the most is that my daughter is in this class. I really really hope she doesn't act like this for her regular teacher because that behavior is unacceptable. I couldn't decide if I needed to ground her for how she behaved in her church class. I know she is only 5. But I don't want her to think that is an excuse for being naughty.

Needless to say, I'm not sure I can stand to sub in that class again. Of course maybe next time they won't be so difficult since they know I won't stand for it.

Now I want to apologize to any of the people who was a sub for my church classes and I hope I never treated you that way. Unfortunately I'm afraid I might have. But live and learn. Now I know what our lesson for Family Home Evening will be tomorrow. In the words of Aretha......

R E S P E C T - - Find out what it means to me!!!

When do you start to panic?

I have never really liked being alone. I certainly didn't like it when I was in high school. I always had a friend come stay over. Usually it was my Anna. She's my kindred friend. If I had a sister I would want it to be her. Anyway she was always willing to come babysit me when my parents would go out of town.

Getting married was one of the best things. I have a friend my best friend stay with me every night. How great is that? Well Dave has been traveling alot more this last year and a half, with his SSC position. Which is wonderful for him, but trying for me.

I swear everytime he goes on a trip something happens. I have to take kids to the doctor. Someone or two or three get sick. Once or twice it's been me. Anyway I seem to handle these things pretty good now. I get a little tired and yellie at my kids but for the most part we all come out unscathed.

Last night Sydney asked if she could go outside and ride her bike. We live on a street off by itself with only one neighbor. So pretty safe. I said sure, but stay in front of the house. So off she goes to ride her bike.

The sun decides to go down and I send Noah outside to call her in for dinner. He informs me she isn't out there. What? Go check at the neighbors. I did. Her bike isn't there and it's not at the wheel house either. Ok I'll go check.

So out I go into the now dark street and look around for Sydney and her bike. No where. I look in our garage - not there. I walk over to the neighbors. No - bike. She always leaves her bike on their front lawn so I know she's not there. So I think would she have gone riding around up to the end of the street and into the other neighborhood? Or would she try to ride up the gravel trail to the park? What about riding all over the 20 or so acres across from our house?

When do you start to panic?

I can't find her and she's not answering when I call. I text the neighbors and no response. Where is my sweet little girl? Finally I decide to go to the neighbors house and see if they have seen her. I had walked all over looking for her and calling her name. I had also said a few prayers that I hope Heavenly Father understood because I was panicked and don't think I finished my thoughts or sentences.

So I go to the neighbors where I find Sydney warm and happy playing with their kids. Nice. Her bike? In their garage. Of course they didn't know she hadn't asked to go over there. I was so happy she was ok.

I was relieved and wanted to kill her at the same time. How many times had I done this to my mother? How to you tell them you were so scared, relieved, happy and mad all at the same time? And how do you get a 5 year old to understand? I don't think you can. So I lectured my little one and kissed her and gave her a hug and then yelled at her to clean up her room.

So fortunately on this time of Dave being gone I didn't have to tell him I had lost our child. I don't know if you can come back from that one. I sure felt like a lousy mom. I am so grateful she is ok. But I'm not letting her ride her bike today. I just don't think I can handle it again.

Fruity dino bites anyone?

You know the favorite cereal you had growing up? You know the one I'm talking about. The one you ate everyday before school for 12 years?

That cereal.

Mine was Honey Nut Cheerios with bananas. I had it every single day for breakfast. It was so delicious. It still is. If I hadn't become lactose intolerant in my old age I would probably still have it for breakfast.

My kids have their favorite cereal too. Noah is following in my footsteps and really enjoys honey nut cheerios. I don't think it's his favorite, he has a few that he loves to eat. Noah, Jacob and Abby love to eat Marshmellow Mateys which are the generic Lucky Charms. It might be because I ate them like crazy when I was preggers with Jake. Noah and Jacob love Tootie Frooties, the generic Froot Loops, and Abby and Sydney love to eat them dry out of a baggie. But the one they all love?

Fruity Dino Bites. That's right the better tasting fruity pebbles. It's so good. So good that Jacob will have 2 bowls in the morning before school. So good that Abby helps herself. So good that instead of asking for help she dumps them all over the floor for easier eating.

Don't they look so delicious like little fruity bits of goodness. I can smell them right now. But she doesn't stop there. She put them on the floor and on the couch. Because what if she wants to be comfortable while she eating?


But Abby loves them so much she is takes off her clothes and rolls around in them. Yep see how she rolled all over in them so the floor had an even distribution.

It takes a really long time to vacuum up fruity dino bites. I am considering never buying fruity dino bites again. But the kids love them so much I think I'll probably give in.

I definately wasn't a happy mom. I sent Abby and her sister Sydney to their rooms. Why Sydney you ask? She is an accomplice. She watched Abby dump the entire supersize bag of cereal on the floor and couches and shelves, and did nothing to stop her. She also didn't come tell me. I caught the two of them wrestling on the floor in them. Fortunately Sydney was still dressed so it's just Abby with the cereal fettish.

So instead of selling my wonderful little 2 year old, I think I'll just put a lock on the pantry door.

One of those days

You know those days where everything seems a little off. Whether it be how something affects you, or feeling grumpy. There are just sometimes those days.

I'm talking about those days where everything you watch on tv makes you extra emotional. The stupidest thing might make you tear up. Of course if your a woman it might be pms. If you are a guy it's probably guy pms. I know you don't think it exsist but it does. And it's by far worse than girl pms.

It can be set off by something someone says. It's probably unintentional but just the same you take it the wrong way. I'm talking about one of those days.

I'm tired of having those days. I don't want to be a nag and yell at my kids and then burst into tears because I yelled at my kids. I've got to figure out a way to handle my stress. Really I have nothing to be stressed about in the scheme of things.

My family is well, my husband has a wonderful job, we paid off most of our debt. Still have the house debt. I don't think those ever go away. Not when you move like we do. Yet I'm still feeling stress.

Anyway today was one of those days. Here's hoping tomorrow is better. Since today was one of those days we are going to Burger King.

The time change

The time change. Every year on the first Sunday of the year our church changes what time we go. Here in Idaho when we moved here we were at 11. Last year we went at 9. This year we moved to 1.

So here is my problem. I'm not really excited to interupt my day at 1. It's Abby's nap time and when we get home it's almost dark. (church is 3 hours). Also I get nothing done in the morning because I'm lazing around the house. There should be no reason I should be late either.

Last year church was at nine, and I didn't even try to be on time. Only if I "had" to. Like a primary program or a talk. Or my parents were here. Once my mom was going to leave me and take all my kids.

I really need to change my atitude and make it one of gratitude year round. I think I'll add it to my resolutions. So this week since I couldn't go last week (had sick kids) I am getting off the computer and going to make some cinnamon rolls and breakfast for the kids. Then we will all get cleaned up and have a bit of a snack, put the roast in the oven and head out the door on time. We can do it.

So I was just given the order for WAFFLES so here I go to make bacon and waffles because, I have to have bacon with everything. I mean it is it's own food group. I just try to limit it to 3 slices and not 6.

What did you say?

Last night I was getting Abigail ready for bed. Dave was at a basketball game and I sent the other kids to get jammies on. So as I took off her dirty clothes, I threw them in a pile of laundry. I hadn't brought her basket back in from the laundry room yet. So she gets on her jammies and says....


Bull****!


What did you say?


Bull****!


Wow. I have been trying very hard to not swear. I've been doing really well too. I usually just get Son of a .... and then trail off. I have also switched to saying crap. My next step is to say poo. You know sort of weaning my self off.


I tried to think when I would have said this in front of her. My last big oops came when I didn't realize she was behind me and cut my finger. I said Son of a ..... But added the last word. She clear as day repeated me. I said yep that's right. Beach can you say Beach. Of course she can. So I dodged a bullet there.


Well I was very disturbed to say the least and I proceeded to get a little angry. Of course she didn't know she had said anything wrong. But sometimes we just react instead of taking time to figure out what is really going on.


Abby what did you say?


She must have known something was wrong because she walked over to her pile of laundry and pulled out a blue shirt and said bull****.

Whewww.... what a relief. So just be aware that if you are wearing a blue shirt, you might get a little offended when my little sweetheart starts swearing at you like a sailor.