My big boys

Yesterday I went outside to check on the kids and found all of them (even Ruby--Sally had taken her out) sitting on the curb. I told them I didn't think that was a very good place to play especially since there were little kids with them. They all said okay, I brought Ruby in and continued fixing dinner, assuming they had all moved on to a new location to play. Well, about 20 minutes later a man came to the door, I figured some salesperson since I didn't know who he was. Well, I opened the door and he said, "I just thought you would want to know that your boys are out by the street throwing rocks at cars." I think my chin hit the ground and I politely thanked him. I began hunting down my boys, I was a woman on a mission. I was in the backyard yelling their names and up pops Ben from behind the tiered flower beds. I asked where Jake was and he said he didn't know. We finally found Jake and I explained in my calm yelling voice (is there really such a thing?) that they were in some serious trouble. Jake says, "But Dad did stuff like this all the time!" They have heard many of their Dad's youthful escapades, but none included throwing rocks at cars. I told them as much, and also included that their Dad had also said he was very lucky no one ever did get hurt and that some of the things they did weren't very smart. Jake seems to have conveniently forgotten that part of the story. Then they both proceeded to tell me that it was all just innocent. I asked them, "If it was all just innocent as you claim, why did you feel the need to run as soon as a car stopped?" SILENCE... I seriously couldn't believe MY boys were doing something so awful. I kept thinking, where did my sweet little boys go and could they please come back? I am not ready for this "stage" and just pray it doesn't last too long. My hair is already grey enough, I can't take it! I have told Brian I take no responsibility after they turn 13, they are all his, but I am thinking I need to lower the age a bit. Holy Cow!! I have never had to "ground" my boys, but it happened this week. A monumental point in our lives of the not so good kind. I have a good friend in NY who told me, "Kids are so cute when they are little, you just want to eat them up. And then when they grow up, you wish you had!" One of those days!

Learning life's sweet pleasures

I really wanted to exercise and was having trouble finding the time. With all the kids home for spring break, Ruby was having trouble taking a nap. I finally told Jake just to watch her for an hour while I hopped on the treadmill. I came back in the family room to check on them part way through and found Ruby asleep on Jake's chest. I had so many thoughts...first, that Jake could experience what I consider to be one of the sweetest pleasures in life and second, that Ruby loves Jake and feels secure enough with him to fall asleep. It was a good mom moment, especially after a pretty rough morning. Moments like that put many other things into perspective for me. Jake totally loved it and so did I!

Something to share

A woman from church recently passed away after a long and difficult battle with cancer. Our Relief Society printed one of her favorite poems on the back of the monthly newsletter. I LOVED this poem because sometimes I find myself with a terrible attitude and I need to be reminded to adjust it. The author is unknown, so unfortunately I have no where to place the credit. Anyway, I just wanted to share...

There once was a woman who woke
up one morning,
looked in the mirror
and noticed she
had only three hairs
on her head.

"Well", she said, "I think I'll braid my
hair today."
So she did and she had
a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror,
and saw that she
had only two hairs
on her head.

"Hmm", she said, "I think I'll part my
hair down the middle today."
So she did and
she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed that she
had only one hair
on her head.

"Well", she said, "Today I'm going to
wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did and
she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed there wasn't
a single hair
on her head.

"Yea!" she exclaimed,
I don't have to
fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.
Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,
love generously,
care deeply,
speak kindly...
leave the rest to God.

Life isn't about waiting
for the storm to pass...
It's about learning
to dance in the rain.

A new found love of the bath

Brian and I were very excited about this house because it had a bath AND a shower. And it is a fairly large bath. Well, I thought it was going to change my feelings about bathing forever, but I was wrong. I tried out the big bath and I just really don't love a bath. Now I will stand in the shower forever if I can, but I just get bored sitting in there. Anyway, I sometimes walk past that big bath and say to myself, "What a waste of space!" But I no longer feel that way! Now I have a place to keep kids contained and happy while I take that long shower that I love or do the dishes, or make my bed...the options are endless. What a great discovery! FYI--the bath makes a really great race track! Can't get much better than mom & kids BOTH happy!

Man, I really messed up AND Sally's new doll

Jake decided for his last basketball game he wanted to ask his coach if it would be alright if he played the National Anthem before the game started. So I talked to his coach who thought it would be great and he made the arrangements. Jake practiced lots on his guitar and really had the Anthem sounding pretty good. So we got to his game, got all his equipment set up and he was ready to go. I got seated in the bleachers and Brian says to me, "Do you have your camera?" I was nearly sick! I had forgotten my camera! I hadn't taken a picture of Jake playing all season and now he was going to play his last game AND play his guitar in front of his first "real" audience and I got the loser mom award! I felt awful! Jake played his guitar great and had a great game, he scored 6 points. And although they lost, it was a great game for the whole team. So hopefully he will have another opportunity to play for someone other than his family and blogging audience so I can redeem myself as a mother.

Sally discovered she had a new doll this weekend and dressed her up super cute. Take a look! Looks like her doll enjoyed it as well! She is quite a doll! Who knew "Build a Bear" clothes would sort of fit a 10-month-old?