Thrown Under the Bus

With small kids, it's always interesting how one will tattle tale on the others.  Or be quick to place blame on an innocent bystander.  Usually, I can decipher who really is the villain and punish accordingly.

Tonight, after all the kids were in bed ( and even though they are in bed, it doesn't mean they can't hear what's going on out in the living room or kitchen.  and it doesn't keep them from giving their own opinion on things) I had a minor mishap in the kitchen. 

A crude innocent curse word came out of my mouth, rather loudly.

From the bedroom I hear:
Jeven:  I didn't do it!! It was Jarrett!

Jarrett:  No it wasn't!  It was Josie!

Josie:  What?!!

Gives new meaning to "sibling rivalry".

Just Keep Laughing

That's the only way to stay sane in my house.

Me:  Could we please have one day with no fighting? 

Jayce:  Probably not.

Me:  Well, someone is going to have to be the bigger person and decide not to fight.

Josie:  I would rather Jayce did that.

Good grief, I love these kids.  I have hardly any hairs on my head, the ones I do have are gray but I love 'em anyways.

Sucky or Super Sunday

My bloggy friend  Green Eyed Momster does a post like this every Wednesday.
Instead of doing a whole post about all the sucky things going on right now, I decided to do this post.  I may make it a weekly thing, I may not.  We'll see how I feel next Sunday I guess!

• Sucky:  My husband is sick.  We all know how much fun THAT is.
  
• Super:  It doesn't seem to be Piggly like
• Sucky:  Our t.v. is STILL in the shop.  It's going on week 4.  
• Sucky:  I'd like to say we've been bonding as a family with no t.v. but turns out, we do very poorly without it.  If just for the fact that late at night, I can't go out in the living room and watch DWTS.  
• Super:  We are getting a dishwasher.  A FREE dishwasher!! 
• Super:  That deserves another super:  A FREE dishwasher!!
• Sucky:  I am going to have to have a procedure done.  In the hospital.  If  you want more details, email me.  But, I'm not going into it here. 
• Sucky:  For some strange reason, I am unable to comment on most of the blogs I read.  If you have not had any comments from me, it's not because I haven't tried!!  
  
• Super:  I had a "conference" done with the online school this past week and found out we are ahead of schedule.  Attendance wise and academic wise as well.  I gave myself a huge pat on the back.
• Sucky:  I am feeling very low right now.  I could go on and on with sucky things but I'm going to stop now.  
• Super:  I am going to try and have a super attitude this week.  I am hoping it will help with my sucky attitude. 

Hope you all have a super week as well!

Pumpkin Patch

Why didn't anyone tell me there's a new editing system that makes posting pictures so much easier?!  I found it by accident and I think I have it figured out!  Yeah me!

So, finally here's the pictures of our day at the pumpkin patch.  Jarrett's preschool class took a field trip and since I home school his siblings, I took them along as well. 

We visited a local orchard/farm.  First stop, the apple trees.  Where each child was allowed to pick one apple off the tree and eat it!  So yummy!

Then, each child was allowed to pick one pumpkin.  Jarrett, Josie and Jayce picked theirs and I got pictures of them with their pumpkins.  Jeven picked one then decided to leave it at the farm.  Not sure why but he was firm on leaving his pumpkin there.  I think he was just too lazy to carry it, actually.

Jarrett with his manageable pumpkin

Josie with hers.

Jayce of course had to find a big one.

You can also see Jeven, with his

pumpkin in the bag.

Next, we went up to the farm stand.  Where they SELL fresh produce.  My kids thought it was a buffet.  I quickly explained that this food was not free and you had to pay for it.  Jeven shove another handful of raspberries in his mouth and said "Ok, mommy". 

It was a fun, fall day.  I am hoping we can go back with Daddy soon.  They usually have wagon rides and the kids like to see the horse. 

Stupid Blogger

I haven't posted in some time. I tried to upload some pictures of the pumpkin patch but my "add picture" icon won't work. And, I've also noticed I can't comment on anyone's blog either. Stupid blogger.

So. We went to the pumpkin patch.
Without pictures, it just seems too boring.

Hopefully, I can try back later and it will work. Who knows!

I also took all 4 kids to see the Toy Story double feature. It cost me $42.50 in admission. I bought snacks at Wally World the day before, spent about $15. So, it was an expensive day. BUT!! We had the entire theater to ourselves!! Me and my 4, my friend and her 2 boys. One man came in with his little girl about half way through the first movie (why would you pay that much to only see part of a movie??) but that was it!! To me, with my personal space issues, it was totally worth it.

I didn't have to worry about the kids talking and disturbing others.

They could change seats as often as they liked.

During the break between the movies, they ran up and down the aisles, something I would NEVER let them do in a full theater.

In other news, I found a somewhat solution to the fighting I talked about in the last post--chores. Lots and lots of chores.
If they are busy working for me, they have no time for fighting! And, they unite in their hatred of chores so really, I'm giving them bonding time. And getting a cleaner house for it. "Win win" I say!

Referee

That seems to be my current occupation.

I have a younger brother. I can remember, being at home, alone with him, while our parents were at work. And hating him. Not just being annoyed or aggravated but hating him.

I remember how my mom would say "just ignore him" or "you're older, you should know better". I vowed that when I had kids, I would never say those things. I would always try to be fair and just.

Famous last words!

My kids have been fighting constantly. Over every. little. thing.

It's driving me bonkers!

I do try to be fair. I know how annoying Josie can be. I know she pushes Jayce's buttons on purpose. I know that Jeven loves to destroy Jarrett's art projects and Josie's Barbie house. I know Jarrett keeps Jayce awake at night signing. I know these things but for pete's sake does it mean world war 3 must break out?! Every day?

We punish. What we think is appropriately. We make them apologize. We separate them. We threatened for the fighters to have to sit together with their arms around each other. But, I don't want to force "love". I want them to love each other because they do, not as a punishment.

I know with 4 kids, a small house, and different temperments that fighting will happen. I think the thing that frustrates me the most is the viciousness and meanness behind it all.
And, when confronted, they never, ever, ever take responsibility for their part. It's always the other child's fault.

"Jayce made me kick him!"

"Josie asked for it!"

"He hit me first!"

I just don't know what to do.

Anyone?

For the record, I do not hate my brother. Not at all. I can remember falling to my knees and weeping when he boarded that plane for basic training. I cried at his wedding. I cried when his babies were born. I love him and miss him. (his family lives out of state). I would give anything to have those years back, when we did nothing but fight. We could have had so much fun.

I hate to think of my kids regretting their times spent fighting. But how do I explain that to small children?

Baby Lizards and Ear Aches

We have both here at the Boring Home.

I am the lucky one with the ear aches. Turns out, grown ups can get ear infections! Double ones in fact. Blah. Wouldn't recommend it.
Turns out, it hurts like a sonofa!

Out of my 4 children, we've had a total of 3 ear infections. Josie has had two and Jeven one.
Now, I can understand why babies cry all night when they get one! I got no sleep last night and anxiously awaited the local urgent care clinic to open. My mommy took me. And, no I didn't get a lollipop. Bummer. Bought myself some gummy bears at the pharmacy though!

Meanwhile, we've all been having fun watching our bearded dragon eggs hatch! It took about 8 hours average for one to hatch entirely. We've been watching the eggs regularly. We'd go out, check, and there would be nothing. Then 20 min. later, a head would be out. But then, it would take awhile for it to totally emerge.


They are so cute, no?


We even had one egg that had two babies! Twins!

Here is a picture of the twins, with my husband's working man's thumb for size reference.


So, we now have 13 baby bearded dragons. Anyone need Christmas gifts? We can put a bow on them!!

Irony

I took a picture of Josie doing her handwriting lesson today:



Notice the name of the book?



Originally, she started throwing a fit because she didn't want to do handwriting. Then, when I told her it was illegal to cry while doing handwriting because it's "Handwriting Without Tears", she cried harder. She told me "no one will ever know if I cry!".
So, I took a picture. To send to the proper authorities.

Award!

Wow!! Thanks Green Eyed Momster! I love these things!! I love reading them and filling them out myself.



The rules of this award are as follows:
~Answer the questions below using only one word (it's harder than it seems!)
~Thank the blogger who gave it to you (See above)
~Pass it on to 6 of your favorite bloggers (See below)

So, on with the questions:



1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your hair? Laughable
3. Your mother? Friend
4. Your father? Supportive
5. Your favorite food? Potatoes
6. Your dream last night? Scary
7. Your favorite drink? Soda
8. Your dream/goal? Godly
9. What room are you in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? Stitchery
11. Your fear? Death
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Together
13. Where were you last night? Church
14. Something you aren't? Skinny!
15. Muffins? Orange
16. Wish list item? Money
17. Where did you grow up? Oregon
18. Last thing you did? Cooked
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? On
21. Your pets? Scaly
22. Your friends? Priceless
23. Your life? Wonderful
24. Your mood? Satisfied
25. Missing someone? Brother
26. Vehicle? Caravan
27. Something you're not wearing? Socks
28. Your favorite store? Ross
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When was the last time you laughed? Minutes
31. Last time you cried? Wednesday
32. Your best friend? Husband
33. One place that I go over and over? Walmart ) :
34. One person who emails me regularly? Jennifer
35. Favorite place to eat? Roadhouse

As far as for the others I'd like to pass to:

• Tamara
• Stephanie
• Alexa
• Rachael
• Daisy
• Sabrina