I have to get the boys ready by myself in the morning as Bruce is already working by the time I usually get the kids up. When I climb the stairs I call out, "Wake-y, Wake-y. Eggs and Bake-y" as in bacon. Most mornings it will slowly get the boys awake and get a smile out of them.
Last night before Nathan's bedtime, and after the other two were in bed, Bruce, Nathan and I were trying to create an evening poem/saying. We just couldn't think of anything to go with "Sleep-y, Sleep-y" that we liked. We also came up with, "Night-y, Night-y. Sleep tight-y," but Nathan said the saying has to start with "Sleep-y, Sleep-y." Any suggestions? I was never good with creating rhyming poems in school, as evidenced by our attempt last night.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Growing up
Sometimes I think you are with your kids to much to see how grown up or mature they are becoming. Then when you experience it, it gives you a feeling of accomplishment knowing you are doing an okay job at raising your kid.
On Tuesday Nathan had another doctor's appointment in Troy and so we spent some time alone together in the car. We talked about things and Nathan started asking some questions that make me realize that he is pretty smart. It is rare that we can have these one-on-one discussions with his two brothers and his Dad in the house, so it was pretty nice.
He asked me, "Why don't we have a windmill in our yard? We could make our own electric and then you wouldn't have to pay an electric bill." I told him that I don't think they are allowed in town & they were probably pretty expensive to set up. Of course he asked why we were not allowed to have them in town. I told him that there are probably rules against it. He asked why there are rules and I explained that you have to have rules so that one person cannot do something that the entire town dislikes. Then he asked for an example and I can't remember what I told him. He asks how much a windmill costs? I told him that I did not know, but heard they were expensive. He then asked if I didn't have to pay an electric bill, wouldn't that save me enough money to pay for a windmill?
Then he asks, "What would happen if we ran out of water?" I asked what he meant and he clarified that what if all the water towers, wells, lakes and rivers run dry. I told him that if there was still water in the ocean that we might be able to filter it somehow to remove the salt and make it drinkable. That would mean wars would be fought over control of the water. He asked why we can't drink salt water so I had to tell him that I wasn't sure of the scientific reason, but salt water will just make you more thirsty. Then has asks why we just can't drink pop, Gatorade or milk. I told him that pop and Gatorade are all made with water and that if the water is gone, the milk would be too. He asked why. I told him that if we don't have water we will die and so will the cows that give us milk. He started to ask why, when you could almost see it click for him. He said that cows would have to have water to make milk.
He had several other good questions, but those were the two subjects that stuck in my head the most. I was proud of him for asking all these deep questions. Maybe I am not screwing up this parenting thing as much as I think I am sometimes.
On Tuesday Nathan had another doctor's appointment in Troy and so we spent some time alone together in the car. We talked about things and Nathan started asking some questions that make me realize that he is pretty smart. It is rare that we can have these one-on-one discussions with his two brothers and his Dad in the house, so it was pretty nice.
He asked me, "Why don't we have a windmill in our yard? We could make our own electric and then you wouldn't have to pay an electric bill." I told him that I don't think they are allowed in town & they were probably pretty expensive to set up. Of course he asked why we were not allowed to have them in town. I told him that there are probably rules against it. He asked why there are rules and I explained that you have to have rules so that one person cannot do something that the entire town dislikes. Then he asked for an example and I can't remember what I told him. He asks how much a windmill costs? I told him that I did not know, but heard they were expensive. He then asked if I didn't have to pay an electric bill, wouldn't that save me enough money to pay for a windmill?
Then he asks, "What would happen if we ran out of water?" I asked what he meant and he clarified that what if all the water towers, wells, lakes and rivers run dry. I told him that if there was still water in the ocean that we might be able to filter it somehow to remove the salt and make it drinkable. That would mean wars would be fought over control of the water. He asked why we can't drink salt water so I had to tell him that I wasn't sure of the scientific reason, but salt water will just make you more thirsty. Then has asks why we just can't drink pop, Gatorade or milk. I told him that pop and Gatorade are all made with water and that if the water is gone, the milk would be too. He asked why. I told him that if we don't have water we will die and so will the cows that give us milk. He started to ask why, when you could almost see it click for him. He said that cows would have to have water to make milk.
He had several other good questions, but those were the two subjects that stuck in my head the most. I was proud of him for asking all these deep questions. Maybe I am not screwing up this parenting thing as much as I think I am sometimes.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
D's birthday gift
For Darren's birthday, we got him a Kurio tablet. I was actually wanting to get another Kindle or, even better, an i pad. However, I knew that Bruce would choke if I got an i pad.
Nathan has kind of taken over on the tablet. I happened to overhear Darren asking Nathan once if he could play on the tablet now. Then Nathan tells him to wait. What? I am all for the boys taking their turn on toys, but Nathan telling Darren that he is not allowed to play with his birthday present in the first few days he has it? Nope, not going to fly. I told Nathan that in a couple of weeks, he is allowed to tell Darren to wait his turn, but not right now.
Nathan has kind of taken over on the tablet. I happened to overhear Darren asking Nathan once if he could play on the tablet now. Then Nathan tells him to wait. What? I am all for the boys taking their turn on toys, but Nathan telling Darren that he is not allowed to play with his birthday present in the first few days he has it? Nope, not going to fly. I told Nathan that in a couple of weeks, he is allowed to tell Darren to wait his turn, but not right now.
Clothes mishap
I have often said that Darren & Justin could wear the same clothes - the length is just to short. This past Saturday afternoon Justin asked me if he could take a bath. I told him sure, and so him and Darren hopped into the tub. The like to fill it up and just splash around in the tub. After they got out, they ran upstairs, got their clothes, threw them in a pile and started to dress.
It was some time later when I actually looked at the jeans that Justin had on and I realized that they were Darren's. I called Justin over to me and looked at the tag. Sure enough, they were Darren's. I told him that Daddy must have put the jeans in the wrong pile and that is how they got into Justin's drawer. A few hours after that, I look at Darren and realize that his jeans were hitting him in the middle of the calf practically. When I told Darren that he had on Justin's jeans he told me that I put them away wrong. No sir! I told him that when they threw their jeans in a pile and got dressed, that they grabbed the wrong jeans. He looked like such a dork walking around in flood pants.
It was some time later when I actually looked at the jeans that Justin had on and I realized that they were Darren's. I called Justin over to me and looked at the tag. Sure enough, they were Darren's. I told him that Daddy must have put the jeans in the wrong pile and that is how they got into Justin's drawer. A few hours after that, I look at Darren and realize that his jeans were hitting him in the middle of the calf practically. When I told Darren that he had on Justin's jeans he told me that I put them away wrong. No sir! I told him that when they threw their jeans in a pile and got dressed, that they grabbed the wrong jeans. He looked like such a dork walking around in flood pants.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Acting sick
On Tuesday, Justin got picked up at daycare by Grandma Deb. He got picked up early because it was grandparents day at school, and she was already taking the older two boys home with her. Then Justin came down with a 101.4 fever. On Wednesday, he went to Grandma's because he still had a slight fever and you could tell by looking at his eyes that he did not feel good. However, by the time he got home last night, he was back to his normal self.
This morning as we were getting ready to leave the house, Justin claimed he was sick and needed to go to Grandma's. I told him that he was not sick and that he was going to daycare. He continued to argue with me so I told him that Grandma was helping great-grandma today and would not be home to watch him. Justin then tells me that Bill could watch him since it is to cold for Bill to work. That boy can be to smart for his britches! He was still throwing a temper tantrum when we got to daycare because I would not let him go to Grandma's. He even laid on the floor and bucked for a while. By the time I left, he was fine and eating his cereal.
This morning as we were getting ready to leave the house, Justin claimed he was sick and needed to go to Grandma's. I told him that he was not sick and that he was going to daycare. He continued to argue with me so I told him that Grandma was helping great-grandma today and would not be home to watch him. Justin then tells me that Bill could watch him since it is to cold for Bill to work. That boy can be to smart for his britches! He was still throwing a temper tantrum when we got to daycare because I would not let him go to Grandma's. He even laid on the floor and bucked for a while. By the time I left, he was fine and eating his cereal.
Six years old!
My middle, baby boy Darren is six today! Six years ago it was about 70 degrees and not the 30 degrees with snow flurries like it is today. He is such a joker. With a little more practice he will be able to tell a joke with a straight face and we will never be able to tell if he is serious or not. Right now he manages to keep a serious face for the most part, but his eyes just sparkle with pure mischief when he tells you one of his jokes or is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. My sister Carla remarked over the weekend that he is able to keep a straight face very well.
When I woke him up this morning, I sung happy birthday to him. I asked him how it felt to be six, he looked at me and said that he felt bigger. Looking at him I couldn't decide if he was being serious or if he was pulling my leg. It is very hard to tell with him....
When I woke him up this morning, I sung happy birthday to him. I asked him how it felt to be six, he looked at me and said that he felt bigger. Looking at him I couldn't decide if he was being serious or if he was pulling my leg. It is very hard to tell with him....
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Hot water
Nathan, like me, loves hot showers - hot enough that your skin is pink when you get out. Since all the males in my house take a shower/bath in the evening, they have to be careful so they do not use all the hot water. Last night Nathan took a short shower (for him anyway) and then Bruce hops in immediately with Darren and runs out of hot water about two minutes into the shower.
When Bruce got out and starting yelling at Nathan for using all the hot water, I suggested turning the thermostat up on the water heater. We had turned the temperature down when we had kids like all the safety experts recommend. My theory was that if Nathan had to turn the temperature up in the shower, that was making the water heater work twice as hard. If the thermostat got turned up, maybe the water heater would not have to work so hard and we would have hot water for a longer amount of time.
As an added bonus, I have been wanting to get Bruce to turn the water heater up. When I would do dishes, I would have the water as hot as it could get, and sometimes that just never felt hot enough to get the dishes clean.
When Bruce got out and starting yelling at Nathan for using all the hot water, I suggested turning the thermostat up on the water heater. We had turned the temperature down when we had kids like all the safety experts recommend. My theory was that if Nathan had to turn the temperature up in the shower, that was making the water heater work twice as hard. If the thermostat got turned up, maybe the water heater would not have to work so hard and we would have hot water for a longer amount of time.
As an added bonus, I have been wanting to get Bruce to turn the water heater up. When I would do dishes, I would have the water as hot as it could get, and sometimes that just never felt hot enough to get the dishes clean.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Terrible Two's? No, Terrible Three's!
You always hear the expression Terrible Two's, but I honestly never thought that age two was that bad. It is when they are three, or more specifically, about three and a half that they can claim the title 'Terrible.' Justin, who is 3 1/2, has been horrible lately. Openly defying everything we say, talking back, sticking his tongue out, hitting people and acting like the rules do not apply to him.
We catch him throwing his trash on the ground and when we make him pick it up, he throws a major tantrum or runs into the other room to hide. Despite us telling him three-four times a day not to climb up on the bar, he does it anyway. When I tell him to do something, I get an angry 'No' yelled at me. When I punish him for something, he sticks his tongue out at me. And he does it in the dumbest way possible. I will already have my back turned away from him and I hear him making a humming sound and so I turn around and see him sticking his tongue out. Really? Don't make the humming noise and you will never get caught!
I know for the most part this is just a phase as he tests how far he can push us, but I really want my sweet Justin back.
We catch him throwing his trash on the ground and when we make him pick it up, he throws a major tantrum or runs into the other room to hide. Despite us telling him three-four times a day not to climb up on the bar, he does it anyway. When I tell him to do something, I get an angry 'No' yelled at me. When I punish him for something, he sticks his tongue out at me. And he does it in the dumbest way possible. I will already have my back turned away from him and I hear him making a humming sound and so I turn around and see him sticking his tongue out. Really? Don't make the humming noise and you will never get caught!
I know for the most part this is just a phase as he tests how far he can push us, but I really want my sweet Justin back.
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