I WANT....I WANT...!!!

Today I took the kids to Sam and Abby's dental cleaning appointment. "This should be easy!", I told myself. After all, I wasn't the patient. I can easily watch the younger two while the older two get their teeth cleaned. In fact, they have a lego table which should keep them entertained!! No problem! Or so I thought. I didn't think that for a one hour visit, I would need a diaper bag. My mistake. Mary pooped after the first 15 minutes of being there. It stunk too. I couldn't let her walk around in a poop, letting the poor receptionist be overwhelmed with the fumes and thinking I'm a bad mom for not bringing a diaper! So, as soon as Abby came out from her cleaning, and Sam went in for his, I told the receptionist we were walking to Target and would be right back. Target is in the same strip center. Lucky us!!

We walked into Target and the "I WANTS" started happening. I'm not good with expectant kids. I like pleasing kids as much as the next mom, but I don't want to have demanding kids at the store that hold a tantrum over my head to get what they want.

I remember when my neighbor told me my kids cry like I'm a caver. I didn't understand what she meant right away. She lives across the street and we connect over the phone a lot so we are quite used to the background noises of crying kids. It was during one of our conversations when she heard Ben crying in the background. She explained that she happens to know that I am not one to "cave in" to my children, but my kids cry like I do. Interesting! Why is that? They know I am compassionate and respond quickly to needs...or somewhat quickly. Have I been to responsive? It gave me something to ponder. And something to remember while I'm listening to my son cry over and over that he wanted the Spiderman bubbles.

Mary was demanding for her own set of WANTS but hers didn't escalate and can often be distractable. Ben kept crying for his Spiderman bubbles. He already has plenty of bubbles at home. He has enough Spiderman merchandise too. We don't need them. Also, I'm thinking, I can't buy them anything while they are shopping with me now, because obviously, they think they can ask for stuff and get it and I don't want to start THAT. And once you start crying...forget it. I will not reward tears with a pined for item. I stood my ground like a warrior in battle. I tried many ways to get him to be quiet. These are the times I wish I could threaten a spanking like my parents did, which got us to be quiet immediately. Too bad I don't believe in those.

Certainly I can find a way to control my child in public! At home I have the time out chair. There is no time out in public! I told him that he would go in time out when we got home if he didn't be quiet. Didn't work. I focused back on the diapers we came for and immediately headed for check out. The check out lady was sympathetic. She seemed please I wasn't giving in. She's seen enough of THAT. Then we headed for the bathroom so I could change the poop. I just wanted to get OUT OF THE STORE. But I had to further delay this. He decided to give a two year old fit as a final push to get what he wanted. This was literal screaming and kicking of legs in the cart. I pulled him from the cart and said, "You need to sit in time out here!" I don't know what I was thinking. Like I would leave him with Abby to change Mary's diaper? I don't think so. And he cried louder. Finally I picked him up forcefully (my frustration was getting the best of me) and shoved our way into the bathroom. His screams were now echoing because I hurt him with my grab. None of my reasoning work. He flopped himself on the dirty bathroom floor and I didn't care. I quickly changed Mary's poop, not even bothering to wash my hands afterwards. Gross.

As we were leaving the store his cries died down. When we opened the door to the Dentist, however, his foot got caught and the cries started again. I was so tired of this. Cries sound so much louder in a waiting room. Finally, I said, "Ben, do want to go camping tomorrow? Stop crying!" He was immediately quiet. I know the books say to never threaten something you will not follow up on, but I was at my wits end. But it worked! And I finally had peace. Then I thought of something that I should have thought of before. He loves playing a game called Toontown on the computer. LOVES IT. I decided that his punishment for this episode was to take away his favorite game for the day.

When we came home and he immediately asked for Toontown, I explained why he couldn't play. He threw another fit. That's OK. He needs to start listening to me. He's four now. Shouldn't he be showing a little more self control? I know he's probably tired...but still. Ted was proud of my new punishment. He thinks I can be too soft sometimes. For example, once we thought of this, he now wants to say he can't play Toontown for the day whenever he poops in his pants. Hmmm...I don't really like this. They say to never punish your child for pooping or peeing in their pants. Wouldn't this be punishment? And yet his pediatrician is all for taking away privileges for this. I don't know how I feel yet. I am almost ready to do something more. I feel like he knows what he is supposed to do, but doesn't want to do it. Doesn't he need some pushing? Anyway, that's another topic. I gotta start packing for Eminence. Onward ho.

More This 'n That

Today I had 11 children at my house. Yup. 11. Sam- 10 1/2, Jonathon-10 1/2, Katherine- 10 1/2, Abby-8 1/2, Emma- 8, Joe-7, Jacob-5, Ben-4, Abigail-4, Mary 2 1/2, Abby-19 months. Whew! Actually it was fun. The neighborhood kids were over (4) while I was watching my friends kids (3). I think it's funny how I can have 11 kids in my house and have a great time, and at the same time I can have a miserable time with two crabby little ones. Oh well. Kids enjoy being around other kids. Especially in large quantities. I see their excitement build when they get together. I really like kids. I know sometimes it doesn't seem like it after a bad day, but I just love the fun of their imaginations, how they play, how they talk to each other. It takes me back to my youth of creative imagination, little responsibility and the joy of simple activities. Kids see things with the freshest eyes. Everything old can be experienced new again if you look at it with the eyes of a child. So I quite enjoyed my day with all of them. Mostly I just let them be and do their thing.



It also felt good that I was doing my friend a favor...helping her get some valuable office time in at her real estate office. She appreciated it....just as any mom who can get time away from the kids to focus on something important. Like after a good crop day. I feel refreshed. Like I accomplished something. I'm always happy to help a fellow mom to feel that way, because I know how good it feels for me! And as for the neighbors, she was getting her car worked on and needed to pick it up. That's how we got to 11. But I often have 8 because they live right across the street and my house is like an addition to theirs. They come in and out all day long and I love it because my kids are not bored with them around. I never feel burdened by them.

This evening we watched my sister's kids at their swim meet. If you are going to watch one child at a swim meet, it can be quite boring. Each child can swim a max of 5 events and there may be 50 or more. So you are always straining to see and hoping you don't miss their races. With four kids, there is always someone racing! It was a beautiful evening and Ted willingly stayed home with the little ones.

On other fronts, I sold my mini-disc on eBay and got quite a fair amount! I was very happy. On the same day, I bid on a bargain, slightly flawed mini-disc and won! It was much cheaper than I thought I would have to spend. The lid doesn't spring open when you push the button, you have to open it yourself. No big deal. Something I can live with. It came with nothing else, but I have the software already loaded on my computer and I have the USB cord, so I have all I need. Be ready to hear more "sounds" from my house.

Also going on...we're gearing up for our next camping trip. We're leaving Friday for a four night stay at beautiful Eminence, MO. One of my favorite camping spots. We love the spring fed river and will enjoy our annual float trip with the older kids, Sam and Abby. We come with a big group and have a nightly campfire, along with long days on the rocky beach that faces tall bluffs. I'm looking forward to and so are the kids!

What else...Oh yah! Sam came back from Webelos camp and it was so good to see him. I really missed him. He came home liking two more foods than when he left! I knew he would be in a situation of being served a greater variety of foods and I wasn't sure how much he would try them. I think I made some snide comment on a previous blog that he would not come home changed at all...that you don't change a picky eater. But can you believe he is now eating macaroni and cheese and spaghetti!!! I know to most of you this sounds like regular kid fare, but not for my son. He is PICKY! And he came back like two more foods!!! I have two more things I can put on his money. We stopped working around him a long time ago. We have whatever we're going to have and he will fix his own picky plate. But there is nothing like eating one meal as a family. Macaroni and cheese is not exactly my idea of a family meal, but it's a good side dish when he doesn't like the main course.

I had a bad week last week, but things are going better now. I had a yucky conversation with my Principal at my PTO meeting. I was so proud of my very detailed agenda and e-mailed them all in advance. I even opened with a nice prayer....and what does she do? She comes down hard on me in front of my peers about some incorrect dates and how our dates need to stay firm and we can't change them once they are on the "non-tentative" calendar. I was very hurt by the way she treated me (like a child) and felt very unappreciated as a volunteer. I usually get over these things, but not until I've wallowed in it for a while. This one took me a good 2-3 days which is long for me. I had other things go poorly which compounded my "dumps" feelings. I've reasoned with myself that she has a stressful job and I'm not the only one that has been on the receiving side of this treatment. We ended up working it out, but you don't leave without scars. I know her hot topic now, and I'll be sure to steer clear of that area again! It's water under the bridge now, but I was disturbed at how long it took me to get over it. I always over analyze and this was no different. I care very much about what people think. Too much. I'm very conscientious, very planned...to avoid things like this. I take a lot of pride in doing things well. I think that's why this hurt so much. It's not like I thought PTO would be easy, but too me, things like this should not be the focus. It's on much bigger things. Anyway, enough said. I feel better now.

And one last tid-bit. I got to satisfy my cookie cravings. They were so good. Mmmmm. I want to get some more. They are all gone.

And one more thing...really. Have I told you how much I love the swim team???? I LOVE IT! The kids are having a blast. We had another meet last night and while neither of them placed that well, Abby improved her times from last week and I told them that was the focus. I worked the Bull Pen and was that an experience! Action at it's best!

OK. Time to go. To bed.

This 'N That

Sam's been gone at Webelos camp for 2 whole days now. I'm just starting to miss him. I look over at our keyboard and see his water bottle there and it makes me think of him. With three other kids, I'm kept busy for sure, but you can still miss the presence of that one. I wonder how he is doing. Is he sleeping OK at night? Does he have fears? Is there enough light in his tent at night? Or is he keeping his flashlight on? Is he finding food he likes? I know he won't starve, but he is very picky. People think experiences like this help change a picky eater. They don't. I've sent him two letters... one yesterday and one today. I they make him smile, but not make him miss home.

Today is my first PTO meeting of the new year. I sent out an agenda already to all the members with notes of details we'll discuss. It feels like we are off to a good start. I have a lot to do this summer, but the more I get done, the better the school year will go.

Abby had her first swim meet last night. She did great! She got first in her age group for the backstroke and second for freestyle. She was put in the 9-10 group for a relay and they got third. I think it was a good freshman effort!! I love things that boost their self confidence, but I don't overpraise so much that they think their confidence depends on it. She added to my letter to Sam, telling him about her success at the meet.

I can't remember what I have said here, but my mini-disc does not have one main capability I thought it would. I thought I could record and then upload to the computer. NO. I need a Hi-MD (MD stands for mini-disc) model to do that. So I am putting it back on eBay to sell it, however, I'm keeping the microphone and some discs. It has two days left until the auction is over. I'm hoping I can get a decent amount to go towards my Hi-MD. In the meantime, I've been shopping e-Bay for the Hi-MD. They are not as common on eBay and will take a little longer to shop for. I'm willing to wait.

A Snapshot

What's at the top of my to-do list?
--Get Sam ready for Webelos camp. He leaves this Sunday and he'll stay five nights!! Someone suggesting putting each change of clothes into zip lock bags and label them for each day. Sam doesn't like the idea of writing me a letter so I asked him if he would fill out a questionnaire and he said yes! So now I have to write up a questionnaire and put it in a self-addressed stamped envelope! What a mother has to go through to get a letter! I plan on sending him some letters to let him know how we are doing and a care package. What am I going to do when he goes to college??
--Do final preparations for PTO meeting Tuesday
--Laundry, laundry and more laundry.
--Buy Father's Day cards
--Have kids make cards for Dad
--Practice music for Women's Group Monday night
--Need to work on my PTO slide show
--Need to develop pictures REALLY bad

What have I accomplished?
--Cleaned the Suburban inside and out, scrubbing down the vinyl, vacuuming the seats and floors and washing the outside.
--I have survived two weeks of camp! One Girl Scouts and one Cub Scouts. Managed to find a carpooler for both!
--Wrote up agenda for PTO meeting on Tuesday
--Finished recording the Children's Liturgy CD of music for all liturgies! I still need to do a Lent CD.

What's bugging me?
--Loud, highly charged cries. I will not miss it when they outgrow it.

What's my latest obsession?
--Going to the subdivision pool!! This is my first year of it not feeling like more work than fun! It is like a new lease on life! The kids are more independent and can move about the pool without my help or close supervision. I can actually sit on the edge and hang out! What a huge blessing!

What's been making me happy?
--My mini-disc recorder was delivered yesterday!! I'm so excited! I tested it to make sure it works and all is good.
--The kids being active this summer in many activities. They are having so much fun...and that in turn, makes me happy! Next week it's Vacation Bible School for Abby and Webelos Camp for Sam and then we can rest a little before our long weekend camping trip to Eminence.
--My panini maker. I'm telling you, it's got to be my favorite kitchen appliance. I was able to make sandwiches that pleased everyone. Ted and I had chicken, roasted red pepper, provolone, mushroom and bacon sandwich, Abby had the same but without red peppers and mushrooms, and Sam had grilled cheese. Ben and Mary had eaten earlier because they were hungry. It's like pizza....you can customize to the eater fairly easily.
--The fun afternoons at the pool. We go up after Mary's nap around 3pm and stay through Sam and Abby's swim practice. It works for everyone!

Me Want COOKIE!!

I think that is a direct quote from the Cookie Monster and it is so true for me right now. I just really want some Chips Deluxe Rainbow Cookies. I don't really care for the regular...it's the Rainbow Chips Ahoy that really make me sing. I don't know if it's the fact that you get three big m&m's in each cookie that you can always count on (I'm sure someone does an inspection that makes sure they are all accounted for and placed equidistant from each other). I don't know if it's just the right amount of chocolate in the combination of the chips and m&m's in each cookie. Maybe it's the fact that I hide them and keep them to myself so they are all MINE. But, that's the sad part...I haven't bought any since pre-Lent. I really, really want some now. I think I will buy some at the store the next time I shop. Nothing can really take it's place. Not the fig neuton bars in the same hiding spot...not the caramels left over from a dessert I made a long time ago...not the Hershey bars that are left over from our camping s'mores supply. I really just want a Chips Deluxe Rainbow Cookie. Will I get over them eventually? Will they grow old to me and not hold their illustrious desire some day? Will I move onto another cookie and leave it in the dust like I did to Famous Amos? I don't know. But I think I do know that I'm tired of giving them up. Lent is OVER! Isn't it time to kill the fatted calf and dig in?? I'm sick of trying to be something I'm not, a non-cookie eater. I love my cookies. "C" is for Cookie, that's good enough for me (Cookie Monster).

What's Been Making "Tic" Lately

Yes. I'm back. Life is busy as usual. Busy, but good. The kids finished school and we hit the ground running. Abby went straight into her Girl Scout camp for a week, and this week Sam is at his Cub Scout day camp. Next week he has a five night (overnight) Webelos camp! During all of this, we are squeezing in swim practice for the neighborhood swim team. They walk to swim practice so it doesn't require too much from me. Sam still rides his bike to piano every Tuesday afternoon. I just can't believe I'm at this place. It felt like it would be forever before they could do stuff like this. They are growing and maturing and I love to watch it all happen before my eyes. I just don't want to miss anything.

Yesterday we spent the day at Six Flags and the kids really enjoyed it. At first, Ben and Mary had to adjust to the crowds. Mary didn't want to ride any rides except the train, carousel and the Old Time Cars, but she seemed content to just look at the sites and ride in the stroller. Ben enjoyed the Log Flume, but was too scared to be in the dark for the Scooby Doo ride (after all, he sleeps with his lamp light on!). Abby didn't want to do any roller coasters, but she liked the Log Flume and the Scooby Doo ride. Sam rode the wooden roller coaster, The Boss, with me and that was plenty for him for the day. The rest of his rides were calmer (mine train, Scooby Doo, etc.). He doesn't like rides that take you upside down. It's funny how we are all so different, with our own little fear buttons. Ben and Sam wanted to ride the Tony Hawk spin, but the line was too long. We'll do it another time when it's not so new and in demand.

We were a little surprised at how the day went off without a hitch. We enjoyed something as a family! Success!! I've posted some pictures, but you can see more if you click on the "flickr" pictures to the right of my entry. I've added a lot more new pictures, too.

On to other exciting news, last night I set my alarm at 1:40am. Why would I do such a thing?? To bid on a mini-disc recorder of course!! And I won! It is a Sony MZ-N707 and it came with everything, including 50 mini-discs (too many actually) and a stereo microphone for recording. I am so excited!! I got the bundle for $106 plus $15 in shipping. Now I can post more sound bytes from the homestead, record more music for my PTO slide show, add songs to the CD for Children's Liturgy, maybe record more of my own music, and simply use it as a player and one stop storage for all of my music (I don't have much...but this might encourage me to collect more).

What else...oh yah...one night last week I made another homemade pizza and I liked it so much, I have to share my ingredients. Pizza has to be one of my favorite foods. Mainly because, you can make it whatever you want. I like being creative with my toppings. Here is what I did...I made the dough in the bread maker and rolled out two pizza crusts. Then I rubbed them both with EV Olive Oil and sprinkled them with garlic, salt and grated Parmesan. I've always felt my dough could use more flavor. I then baked them at 475 for about 10 minutes. When they came out I made one for the kids with sauce and cheese and the other one was for us...which is the good part. I had a chicken already cooked and cut up that I wanted to use on the pizza and new that some sort of white, or oil sauce would go best. I found some artichoke pesto that I've been using on paninis and figured it would be a great base. I spread that on the pizza and mixed in a little olive oil to make it less pasty. I then topped it with chicken, roasted red pepper, onions, mushrooms, and pre-shredded "Italian Cheese" (Mozzarella, Provolone, Parmesan, Asiago, Fontina and Romano). It was so yummy!! I will definitely do it again. I wrote it all down so I won't forget.

OK...time to go...Need to get some things done while Mary is sleeping.

Songs by Mary

Mary sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Mary sings Take Me Out to the Ballgame