Darn responsible kids

The boys and I have been running ragged for quite some time now...  Honestly, it has become our norm.  It's what we're used to. What we expect.

However, there have been little cracks lately. Like Sam telling me for the past 3 weeks that he doesn't want to get out of bed in the morning or go to school because he's so tired. This is my child who LOVES school!

In fact, just this morning, he complained and complained and refused to get out of bed until 10 minutes before we had to leave... Which, of course, then made everything frantic to try to get out the door on time.

So... Tomorrow I don't have school.  I decided to do something I have never done.  I decided that we were going to sleep in and the boys were going to be tardy... Just because.

I almost didn't tell the boys, but then the teacher in me kicked in and I had to make sure they weren't going to be missing any important tests or anything...

And that's when it happened.

Sam complained......and complained... and wouldn't stop complaining. I would make him miss PE...  Even though he was having a sub, what if his teacher left something important... He would have SO much work to make up!!!

And I lost it.

I just couldn't believe he was complaining over the ONE thing he had been asking for EVERY morning for the last three weeks.

And as my brain was exploding... telling him "Fine. Fine. I will get up early but that I didn't want to hear him complain about being woken up early especially when we had stayed up late." (9:30. lol Late for them)...I caught myself.

I realized that I was actually proud.
Proud that I was dangling the carrot and my son still chose the right path (Honestly, not the path *I* wanted tomorrow morning - it's my day off.  I wanted to sleep!)  But still...

This was an easy decision.  This was a why would we be doing anything else? decision...  Because that's how I raised them.

Doesn't change the fact that I wanted to sleep in. *sigh* Here's to responsible kids *glass raised*

Friday the 13th

I'm not superstitious.
I'm really not.

However, I do believe that you should never plan too far ahead and be completely flexible... because things will always ultimately change... no matter HOW much planning you have done.

Todd and I started planning a trip to Alaska two weeks ago.  We had a friend that told us that he could help us out with tickets.

I was hesitant to tell people because that sets plans in stone (the very thing I don't like...).  Todd happily posted it on FB.

Today I learned that what my friend meant was that he could get us put on the waiting list.

That's all well and good... except we don't want our Alaskan trip to be spent in the airport... and since we will go in the summer which is the MOST popular time to go...

We have decided to just bite the bullet and pay for it ourselves.

YIKES!

I feel bad that I was the one with the friend and got us all giddy with excitement to go to a place we both have always wanted to go...

So... here's to believing everything will work out... because I'm not superstitious.
I'm really not.

It doesn't matter how you say it

Sam & My conversation tonight...

Me: do you like the cookies with the pecans?
Sam : I say pea-cans
Me : Pecans. Pea-cans. Tomato. Tomahto. Potato. Potahto. It doesn't really matter how you say it.
Sam: Fart. Fart.
Me : What does that have to do with what we're talking about?
Sam : It's a fart no matter how you say it.

Yes, I am raising boys. SMH!!

Ummm... That's NOT what I said

My son, Sam, is obsessed with practicing his spelling words.
You'd think coming from a mom, who is a teacher, that would be a good thing,
And it is...
Except that Sam is a REALLY good speller!
He has them memorized after looking at the list for maybe 5 minutes.

But he tells me he might forget them while he is sleeping.
So, we practice ...and practice ...and practice some more.

This week his words are ones that have -ar- and -or- sounds.
You know - farm, start, porch, fork,etc.

Well... mid study session Sam decides he needs a drink of juice but doesn't want me to stop calling off words.

So, from the couch, I'm calling off words and he is spelling them.
Then I call off "Horn."

From the kitchen, Sam yells, "PORN??  THAT'S NOT ONE OF MY WORDS!!"

So I shout back "HORN!!!!"
"Oh. H-o-r-n"

Glad I didn't have to explain that one...

Taking on Nature ...and I think nature won

The boys and I went out on Sunday to enjoy the wonderful weather... friends of our had told me about a new "biking and running" trail.  The one we currently go on is paved, so this one (in my head) should be as well.

I loaded the boys bikes up into my car and headed there.  I planned to run while the boys rode.

When we arrive, Sam notices that the trail is pea gravel and dirt instead of paved. (Sam still has training wheels.) I reassured him that the trail looked raked and that it would be fine.

...and it was.... until it wasn't.

About a half a mile in, it turned to woodland. Like dirt bike trails. Like rocks and tree stumps and mud puddles.

I was determined that we would be fine.  I kept encouraging Sam to press forward (I, of course, had a death grip on him because he insisted!!)  Colby was eating it up!  He was jumping his bike and splashing through streams.

About a mile in, we stopped to take a break. I was getting more of a workout than I had planned.

Two guys on their mountain bikes came up from where we were headed.  They looked at me all red faced and then at Sam's training wheels. "First time here?"


"Yeah." I laughed. "What's down that way?"


I think they must have thought I was past the point of rational thought.
"Down there?  You don't want to go that way!! It is MUCH harder than what you just came down.  You should probably go back the way you came."


That was all the confirmation I needed.  I glanced back the way we came and noticed that there were two paths not one. "What's that way?" I asked pointing toward the path we hadn't came from.

"Oh that?  We haven't been on that one... but we think it is a short cut."


"Okay... we'll try it out. Thanks!"


Thinking back... at the beginning of the trail there had been 2 options. The "easy" course that we took... and the "advanced" course (aka "the short cut").

Yep, you guess it!
We ended up going through streams and over tree roots and major muddy pits. Of course Sam couldn't ride through this, so I ended up carrying his bike. (Again, another workout I hadn't planned on!)

When we were back at the car, we were all filthy. Colby was not done though.  He convinced me to head to a trail that we hike all the time.  I agreed on one stipulation - no bikes.  :)

I pulled my camera out instead and sent the boys on a scavenger hunt for wild flowers.  They did a wonderful job of finding them off the beaten path.

They also found this:

They decided that they could definitely hear a Who from Whoville on this!

Despite the dysfunction of the beginning of our afternoon, I was quite please with how wore out we all were... the sure sign of a good day... and seeing their smiles was another sure sign. :)

Not exactly on my bucket list

I don't know how you two do it...
You know the exact moment I am not fully available... whether it be in the bathroom, or on the phone, or (this time) in the middle of mixing cake batter.

Bloodcurdling screams come from you.

I, being your mom, know it's not really serious... so after the scream, I hear the oh-so familiar, "Moooooooooom!"


The "In a minute." response from me is normal...  I am giving you two the time to resolve whatever "pressing" issue you think you can't solve on your own.  I want you to grow...to be problem solvers (like me).

But resolve doesn't come, nor did your calls for me cease.
So, I called you to the kitchen to settle what all the screaming was about.
You round the corner with one eye sealed closed...What is on it?

Gum??
Gum on your eyelashes!!!??


"How in the world do you get gum on your eyelashes???!!"
"What do you mean your brother threw it at you?"


How does that thought process go?  Eh... don't want this gum anymore...  What should I do with it?  Throw it in the trash? Nah. How about at my brother's eye... yeah. yeah. that's the ticket.
I'll give it to you....you two know how to keep a mom on her toes...
I mean, there I was bragging about how I am making you two into these almighty "self-regulated problem solvers" and here I am befuddled.

I mean, how do you get gum off eyelashes??
You think I have that in my bag of tricks? Hmmm... What do I know about getting gum out of things?
Ice?
"How about we rub some ice on your eyelashes?"
"Yes, I know it's cold but what is worse... being a little cold or having gum stuck to your eye?"
okay... that  was worth a shot... a shot that failed miserably, but worth one none the less.

Hmmm... The only other solution I know about is peanut butter...
"Keep your eye closed." 
I snicker as I tell you this because I know without my help you aren't opening that eye any time soon.

"So here I am on a Friday night smearing peanut butter on my son's gum-sealed eye. Yeah... I'm living the life.  I know you all are jealous."
"What? I'm not talking to anyone... I'm commentating."
"Why am I commentating?  Because I already feel like a crazy person"
"Why do I feel like a crazy person... never-mind... I think it is finally coming off."

Yeah... tack this up to another thing I never thought I'd do

Boobie traps, fish, and bears OH MY!

My students and boys are always saying crazy things... things that I think are hilarious at the time, but by the time I sit down to share them with all of you... I have completely forgotten them.

Well... in the last week, I have had a few... and I wanted to share before they have left my brain and are gone forever.

Last Thursday I said to my bestie, Laura, (in front of Sam) "Sam is going to be the crown bearer tomorrow night."
Sam's eyebrows raised. His eyes squinted. Then he shook his head, "Mom, I am not!!"
"Yes, you are Sam... tomorrow. You are going to carry the crown." I replied.
"Yeah... I'm gonna do that. But I'm not going to be a bear!!  I'm wearing a tie... you know that!!"






Yesterday I asked a student how she knew an answer.  She answered, "Because I have mental tilapia."




Tonight as my boys are playing in the other room, Colby in a very sinister voice says, "Come. Walk into my boobie trap."
Without missing a beat, Sam replies, "I'll catch you in my nipple trap!"




And that my friends is why my life is consistently filled with joy.

I'll also leave you with a picture or two of where my class spent writing time today... it's not every February day we get 70* weather.

How a stress ball can cause you stress

You see these??

yeah. They are homemade stress balls.
They sell them at my boys school as a fund raiser.

Kids are stressed... I guess they need stress balls, right?
I mean, what's the harm.
Little balloon. Little flour. No biggie, right?

Sure... it's all good.
That is until your son decides to (instead of squeezing the stress ball) stretches the stress ball.

Did you know that stress balls, that are stretched too far, explode? sending flour all over the black interior of your new car??
Yep.
It's true.

Needless to say... I need something a little more than a stress ball right now

Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies.

It's amazing how my children have learned the ability of the underlying jab.

Sam: I was hoping for a puppy for my birthday.  I was told I would be getting a puppy for my birthday.  I didn't get a puppy for my birthday.  I was then hoping for a puppy for Christmas. I didn't get a puppy for Christmas.  I was really hoping I would get a puppy.  What do you think about a puppy?

I told Sam that was his dad's promise... That I  would not be getting a puppy.

Last week, I guess, my ex, R, decided that Sam's "Puppy Monologue" had gone on long enough because I got this picture.

R split the cost of the puppy with his new girlfriend, K.

She has a son as well and they thought it was a good idea for the boys to "share" the dog.

One day in and the 3 boys are arguing whose dog it was.

Sam comes running inside to R and K.

Sam: Whose dog is it??

R: You are all sharing the dog... it is all of yours.

Sam:  Yeah, but whose dog is it when you and K break up???

R: .... uh.....(looking at K and then back at Sam)... it will be your dog.

Sam: okay (smile beaming)

See??... There's that underlying jab...

But the sad reality is that my children don't believe in relationships that last...

There AREN'T words - Post-it Note Tuesday

There's Comet and Cupid and Donner and ...Badger?

Tonight the boys were entertaining each other... basically they were done with wrestling for a while.

So Sam says, "Guess who I am?"

"Rudolf?" Colby guesses.

Sam: "Nope."

Colby: "Comet"

Sam: "Nope."

Colby: "Cupid?"

Sam: "Nope."

Colby: "I give up."

Sam: "Badger."

Colby: "Badger? Who's Badger?"

Sam: "He's one of the reindeer."

Colby & I: "No... no he's not."

...Incessant laughing ensues.

LMFO - Laugh My Fossil Off

This morning I awoke to both of my boys piled into my bed.
This doesn't happen as often as it used to.
It makes me smile that it still does though.

As I lay there, just enjoying waking without an alarm clock, my boys decided that my bed was going to be their archaeological dig site. Sam was doing the digging. Colby was pretending to be the dinosaur bones under the blankets and pillows mounds of dirt.

Sam started digging closer and closer to me.
Before I knew it, Sam grabbed my butt under the covers.
"I found a fossil!!!" he shouted. "It's a big, BIG fossil!"

Yeah... it's not that big! ;)

Things I never thought I'd say - Post-It Note Tuesday

Men... can't live with 'em...~Post it Note Tuesday

One "Special" Silly Bandz

If you aren't around kids much these days, then you might be missing out on the latest craze. They are called Silly Bandz. They are rubber bracelets that when off your wrist take shape of something.


My boys are gah-gah over them. We have to buy them. They trade them with their friends. There are MANY a fights over whose is whose... because they know exactly who gave them which shape! I'm telling you, it is down right C-R-A-Z-Y!

I have to say my love for them diminished after the first down and out brawl.

So, as we are heading down the road today, Colby says from the backseat, "Hey, Mom. I have a special silly band for you."

Me (not exactly enthused, but trying to be for my son) "Oh, really? What shape is it?"

As he drops it into my hand,

"A circle. I picked it out just for you!"

I had to muffle my snicker. Do I dare tell him????