Puppy Love

When Xander was in kindergarten he fell in love with a girl named Mei. She was as cute as her name. He repeatedly asked me to invite her over to play. But I kept putting it off. Then she got moved up to first grade (she was too smart for kindergarten) and eventually left the school for bigger and better things.

When Ben was in the first grade he fell in love with a girl named Amelia. One day he found a flower button on the ground and told me, "I'm going to give this to Amelia when I tell her I love her." I think he still might have a crush on her.

Yesterday Max came home and told me that there is a girl in his class that likes him. "How do you know?" I asked. "Because she's always poking and pushing me. She poked me twice today." I guess love must equal violence in his world.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Embarrassing Moment #1,009,988

Today I had lunch with my good friend Kahea. She is a wife, a mother of 5 boys and a nurse. She's so calm and patient - I want to be like her if I ever grow up. She brought her adorable, chubby baby Pono and I brought Evan. We went to Peter Piper Pizza - mostly so Evan could expend some of his endless energy. We chatted about our boys, about school, about life. Every once in awhile I'd go check on Evan - but there were only a few people in the whole restaurant so I didn't worry too much.

Until I saw the flashing lights. And the screeching sound of the fire alarm. And Evan with a his hand posed by the lever to the fire alarm with a guilty look on his face.

Life is never dull with Evan around.

Still obsessed

He caught the fish with his bare hands.

Alexander is still addicted to fishing. Ian has been taking him every weekend. Except for this weekend. I had to take Xander to Urgent Care yesterday because he had a high fever (he has strep). He was stressed out that we wouldn't get back in time for him to watch the Bass Fishing Championship. I'm not kidding.

He is constantly researching online the best places to go. I love that he is so passionate about something but on the otherhand I can only take so much fish talk. You know?

It's times like these that I do wish I had a girl. Or at least someone who likes Project Runway, baking, shopping and Justin Timberlake...

Crumbled like a cookie

I don't feel like I have many talents. I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for me, it's just the truth. I can't sew. I am a medicore scrapbooker. I cook the same 5 things for dinner each week. My house is never clean. The list could go on.

There is nothing I really excell at and really enjoy. Except for baking. I love to bake. Whether it's bread, cake or cookies. I love it. Almost as much as I love to shop or read. I pride myself on my cookies - especially my chocolate chip cookies. They are never over done or flat. And they are always delicious.

Yesterday I helped out in Alexander's class. They were celebrating their aide's birthday and I made my chocolate chip cookies for the occasion. All of the 6th grade classes, their teachers and some other moms were there. Moms that are my friends. So you can imagine my despair when Alexander announced loudly that he "HATED my chocolate chip cookies - they're gross!" in front of all of those people. A group of boys gasped. Heads swiveled to look in my direction.

I felt my face getting hot.

And my eyes welling up.

What was wrong with me? I usually can handle criticism pretty well, but for some reason when Xander said that I felt like the biggest failure ever. Nevermind that at least 15 people came up to me and told me how awesome my cookies were. His one comment clung to my self esteem like that black goo from Spiderman 3. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.

It sucked. And it made me realize that while I try not to care what most people think, it really matters to me what my children and those I love think about me. It matters to me if they don't like my cookies.

Later Xander told me it's not really my cookies he doesn't like, he just doesn't like cookies period.

It really didn't make me feel any better.

Nothing in particular

I am currently driving this beast while my van gets fixed (a teenage boy who shall remain nameless wrecked into it). I hate this thing. It's humungous yet not nearly as roomy as my van. It is impossible to park and takes 1/2 a gallon of gas to pick my kids up from school. It makes me love and appreciate my van so much. I miss you van! I can't wait to be reunited!

Saturday we went to Mattas. It is way far away but it was worth it just for the salsa. Mmmm...Mattas.

Yesterday me, my sisters and sisters in law took my mom out to lunch for her birthday. Ruby got to come too. She looks scared in this picture because I'm not holding her. Later she told me I am her favorite aunt, then I snuck her some pazookie (just kidding - not about me being her favorite aunt but about the pazookie part - I ate all of that myself).

Molly got jiggy with it. I could've cuddled her forever. I know I'm her favorite aunt too.


All of us (minus me) at lunch. We had so much fun.

On another not interesting note, I threw out my back. That's what I get for trying to do squats with weights while yelling at my kids. Next time I'll put down the weights first.

but...

Max and I were going over his sight words for school last night and we got to the word "but". He immediately knew the word.

"Max, if you know the word how come the teacher didn't mark it off?"

Giggling, he replied, "Mom! I can't say that word to my teacher - it's gross!"

And how awesome are his school bus glasses? He wouldn't take them off all day.

Notes to my children's teachers

Dear Mrs. H,
You are so lucky to have Max in your class this year. He will keep you on your toes and you will never have a dull moment. Like today when you had to scrub green marker off of his face (even though his mother was in the room - filth doesn't bother her). You were so nice about it. I'm so glad that Max has a teacher who doesn't yell - he gets enough of that at home! Even though he seems tough, harsh words can sink him like a bad souffle. It's only the second week of school and he has already grown so much! I don't know if I'm ready for it. So if you see me lurking in the halls it's not because I think you're doing a bad job - I'm just not ready to let go.

Sincerely,

Mrs. T


Dear Ms. S,
You are so lucky to have Ben in your class. What he lacks in motivation he makes up for in personality. He is the sweetest kid you'll meet. Unless you make him mad, then I really don't want to be there for that. But he also has the best sense of humor - you just have to know how to tap into it. I know Ben will have a great year this year - you are one of our all-time favorite teachers. Not only for your teaching style, but because you want each child to succeed. Already this year Ben has started to love reading. THANK YOU!! When you read the BFG to Alex he started to love reading too. It makes me happy that the trend is continuing. Ben can be forgetful, but he has a heart of gold. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Love,

Mrs. T


Dear Mrs. S,
You are so lucky to have Alex in your class this year. He is responsible and hardworking. He can joke but knows when to be serious. Feel free to give him LOTS of extra work. He needs it. Also, if you want to give him the "talk" I wouldn't mind. Just joking. Maybe. Also - the more responsibility you give Alex, the more he shines. He will rise to any occasion if given the chance. Just don't forget to praise him. He thrives on it.

Sincerely,

Mrs. T

Family togetherness

We went to the Lodge last weekend and I must admit we had loads of fun. It's always better being there with my parents. Mom, Evan and I went into town and got the boys lunch and then met them at Hawley lake (where they were fishing, ofcourse). After we realized there was no spoon to eat the coleslaw with my dad carved one out of a tree branch. It was very entertaining to watch. You can take the man out of the country but you can't take the country out of the man.Evan had loads of fun fighting with his brothers. That boy will make anything into a sword. His brothers have taught him well.

Ben and Alexander both need pictures with me for an art project they are doing for school. I love Ben's giggle and for some reason he thought a picture with me was HILARIOUS. On another note, he is reading Harry Potter and loving it. It makes me so happy.

What can be said about this boy? He marches to the beat of his own drummer, that's for sure. He loves to sing. Ian and I got a kick of listening to him sing wrong lyrics all the way home. There's a Killers song that talks about the Nile except Max thinks it says, "annihilate". The boy never fails to entertain us.

The older Xander becomes, the more inept I feel. I'm constantly second guessing myself. And I still haven't given him the "talk" (I know! leave me alone - I'm scared!). During the trip we started calling him "junior". He is so much like his dad. And that's the best compliment I can give him.

I had to add this last picture. This boy brings me so much joy. I can't imagine my life without him. Someone had left 2 stuffed animals at the cabin. It was fun to listen to Evan play with them. When it was time to go he wanted to bring them and I told him, "No, they aren't ours". Then he set them down and said, "I'm going home. I love you so much." and proceeded to kiss them for the next 5 minutes. I loved seeing that side of him.

I love my family.

P.S. Animals seen:

1 snake

68 elk

2 deer (bucks)

lots of fish

1 bunny

1 chipmunk

and LOTS of roadkill!

Year of the girl

This is Molly. She arrived yesterday morning and weighed 9lbs. 6 ozs. She is the third girl baby this year born to a family member. Molly is big, bold and beautiful. I couldn't see her yesterday because we were at the Lodge. And Ian wouldn't come home early. Even though I told him that Molly was crying for me, he still wouldn't leave early.
So today, 10 minutes after we got home, Xander, Tiffany and I went to see her. Xander liked holding her.

Until she started sucking on his hand. Then he gave her back to me. That's o.k.

Because I'm already her favorite aunt.

I can tell.

Peeps

Evan and his peeps.

Can I just say that I love it that Evan has cousins his age?

I love watching these boys play.

By example

Last night I went to check on the boys after they were all in bed. Except Max wasn't. In bed. Having already lost (and then found) one child years ago, my heart immediately started racing. Where the heck could that boy be? I searched his room, searched Ben's room. Searched everywhere and was starting to seriously freak out when I remembered the "fort" the boys built in Ben's room. I looked in there again and lo and behold under Ben's bed was Max. Because where ever Ben is Max is.

There is a strong bond between Ben and Max. Whenever I ask Max a question, he immediately asks for Ben's opinion before answering me. He looks up to Ben. Out of all of my kids, Ben is by far the most patient. Which is probably why Max loves him so much. And Ben likes to play with Max. He doesn't treat him like a younger brother, he treats him like a friend. Yes, they fight and Ben's gets sick of Max's drama, but for the most part they are friends.

Lately I've noticed Max being more patient with Evan. Holding his hand. Helping him get a drink. Taking care of him. Being a big brother. Treating Evan how Ben treats him.

We learn the best by example. I'm so thankful for the example Ben is and has been.