Firsts for Sean

My baby is not a little boy any more. He started kindergarten, loves to read and do math, and is actually getting more helpful around the house. (Yes he still is the best destroyer - but at least now he can help clean up the messes he makes).

In February he lost his first baby tooth. He was a little scared when it first came out and not sure if he was supposed to cry or not. But once we got him on the phone to call his Grandma & Bompa and his Nanny and Grandpa he was one proud little boy. Something that Chad and Halle had done multiple times had finally happened to him. He was also pretty excited for his first visit from the tooth fairy.

Sean also wanted to follow in brother's footsteps by trying out basketball. So we signed him up for his first basketball experience. Unfortunately the YMCA totally messed up our paper work. So by the time Sean was placed on a team they had already had one practice and the team is a "left over" team. Only five players - so they all get to play all the game. The coaches have been great but the team chemistry has been hard. Two of the players really know how to play well and have the ball 90% of the time. So Sean gets a little discouraged and bored out on the court. Hopefully next year he'll get a little more aggressive and more focused on the game. But, he is having a great time and thinks he is so cool.

Another first for Sean is with the sleeping arrangements. He and Chad switched beds. And as we have bunk beds it means that Chad is now on the bottom bunk and Sean is now on the top bunk. Again - he thinks this is way cool. He also likes to take all his toys up there now and have his own little play area.

It is fun to see such simple things make my Sean smile from ear to ear.

Showing off his first lost tooth.

So happy to actually have the ball in is hand.

Spiritual Thought

I finally got a hold of the January Ensign to read (Chris usually steals it first and then I can't ever find it). I read a few articles and then was just glancing through when I noticed this quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

"One's life . . . cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free . . .

"Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share They joy!' . . .

"Real faith . . . is required to endure this necessary but painful developmental process."

Needless to say after reading this I felt like someone had just slapped me in the face. I so want to be both faith-filled and stress-free. But after reading this it reminded me of our purpose here on Earth and how all my experiences so far have made me the person that I am. I know I could never feel worthy of living with Heavenly Father again if I got to just "glide naively through life."

I know things are going to happen - that is life! Now I am praying to have the faith to get me through these experiences - and not just take the experiences and trials away.

Date Night With Chad

I had a fabulous day today! It started out with going to a baptism of one of Halle's primary friends. Then I got to play the piano at a wedding. In between the two I snuck a peek at Sean's first basketball game.

After lunch I got to take Chad to a birthday party and then hang out all day with him. I love that Chad! But I'm also at the stage where I am not quite sure what to do with a 9 year old boy. Halle and I do lots of things together because we like to do girly things together and Sean is still a mama's boy and my baby so I still get hugs and kisses from him. But Chad is growing up and not so into his mother smothering him any more. So today was good.

His birthday party was at Roller Valley with a bunch of school friends. It was fun to see this mob of boys use up their energy running everywhere, jumping everywhere and skating, skating, skating. After the party we went to IHOP for dinner. Chad is very into food and loves eating out so it was fun to treat him (I don't mind eating out either). And then we went to a movie at the Garland. Again, since it was his special day with mom I let him pick the treat - he passed up the usual choice of popcorn for a big red slushie. And of course we talked and joked and just enjoyed each other's company. It was a very great day.

Free Pizza - Well Earned

Dinner was divine last night. Free Pizza Hut pizza. Two of my kids had the "Book It" coupons and I have a $20 credit at the Pizza hut store. So dinner was easy, easy, and easy. (I love easy dinner nights.)

But, I do want you to know that the $20 credit was well earned!!!!!

Last month I went to pizza hut - to again redeem my kids' coupons. I wasn't feeling good (horrible head and sinus cold) and just needed something easy to do. So I called up pizza hut to place my order. They said it would take 15 minutes. I waited 20 before I even left my house to get the pizza (we always do carryout - Dave Ramsey would be proud we never waste our money on tips for delivery.)

When I arrived and told them my order I was told it was not ready yet. I was a little disappointed - after all I had given them an extra 15 minutes to get it ready. But I sat down like a good little costumer and waited.

While I was waiting several other people came in to pick up there orders - they all had to wait too. So I wasn't feeling so bad that I was the only one.

I waited and waited and tried to entertain Sean (Chad and Halle had stayed at home with dad). I got a little nervous when I heard the phone order people now telling their phone customers that it was now a two hour wait for delivery.

My hopes picked up when everyone else around me started getting their orders. But, just in case, I asked about how much longer my would be - the answer - just a few more minutes.

So, I waited and waited. Now 40 minutes had elapsed and I still had no pizza. I was going mentally insane and just wanted to go home and lie in bed. Then one of my favorite families walked in the door - It was Kari Ann and her gang. We talked for a few minutes and then I joked about how slow service was and was ready to place a bet on who would get their pizza's first, me or them. Guess what - they won!!!!! I was still waiting for pizza!

Again I asked about where my pizza's were. The answer? They lost the order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was fuming mad and ready to cry - again I'm not feeling well and all I want is to be back in bed. I want to just leave and run to McDonald's but the manager comes over and assures me he can get my order out in 10 minutes and will give me a 20% discount. I trust him. Why not - my family needs food.

So I wait, and wait, and wait again. Apparently 10 minutes in pizza time is really 20 minutes in real time.

Finally I have my pizza in hand and head back home.

Meanwhile my husband is totally worried about me. I have been gone for an hour and a half. (Two hours since I called Pizza Hut.) He's tried my cell phone but can't reach me because it is on vibrate - I haven't thought to call because I am literally going insane with waiting and being sick.

After I told him the whole story my husband was not pleased with the 20%discount. He called the manager up and gave him a few words (Dave Ramsey style - "Is that the best you can do?!") The manager apologized and gave us a $20 credit.

So yes, free food is great - but boy did I earn it for us. Next time I just want my pizza on time!

Too Busy to Blog

I keep trying to make blogging more of a priority - but so many things still keep getting in the way. How does life just get busier and busier?

Now that I am actually sitting down and typing - I can't think of a thing to say.

At least I tried!

The "C" Word Again.

Just when everything seemed to be going well and looking forward to Christmas the "C" word came up again. This time it was my dad announcing the news. In a cruel twist of irony my dad was just diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (the same cancer they thought Chris had).

So I am so sad my dad has to go through this but am grateful I already know a whole lot about lymphoma and know all the emotions my mom and dad are going through. I hope I can help them through this.

His diagnosis was quick. He went to the ER on a Sunday had some testing done on the following Tuesday, got the results on Thursday and even started his first round of chemo on that same Thursday.

My Dad is a total workaholic and always busy. It was hard for him to take some time off work and to feel too crummy to do much but sleep after the chemo. But he also has a lot of gusto and a great attitude and is doing well so far.

I had already resolved to do better at blogging. But now I have even more incentive. I need to keep up on my life so my dad can have something to look forward to while going through all this. So, here is to you dad!!!!! I'll keep the blogging coming.

How Do Your Kids Get Out of Eating Their Food?

I remember not wanting to eat certain things on my plate while I was younger. But at least I was honest about it. I left it on the plate and accepted what ever punishment came with it - early bed, sitting there until I did eat, etc.

Some how Chad has become the master of hiding the fact that he hasn't eaten his food. At first he would very sneakily make his food into very small pieces and then toss them down on the floor. I caught on as soon as I realized how messy the floor was becoming from certain foods Chad didn't like.

After he knew that gig was up he started hiding the food on his chair between his legs. No mess on the floor, but plenty of evidence once he left the table and I started to clean up.

His newest attempt? Sticking it in his pocket!!!!! Yes, the kid is crazy. He loves meat, loves spam, loves bacon, loves deli ham but will not eat just ordinary ham. Before he left the table I checked the floor - the usual mess - and checked his chair -all clean. But as he was standing up while I did the chair check I saw something sticking out of his pants pocket. He had stuffed all the pieces of ham in his pocket. So glad I discovered then and not while in the middle of laundry!!!

What is a mom supposed to do with that? Laugh or throw the book at him?!

Sean is starting to take after his brother now too. I noticed some of my dishes had gone missing (nothing new around my house). I finally found a couple of bowls and spoons strategically placed inside the wood framework of my dinning room table. Unfortunately I found them after the breakfast cereal (oatmeal and cream of wheat) had been there long enough to dry out and start to mold. It was so disgusting I about gagged. I made Sean look at what he had done and more importantly made him smell what he had done - he did not like that.

Tonight Sean was the last one at the table (as usual). I left for a few minutes and came back to see him scooping his dinner into the trash.

Aggh. These things make me so frustrated! I understand that they are not going to like eating everything we have for dinner every single night. But what I really can't stand is the sneaking part - that they think it is okay to not be honest.

What do your kids do? What do you do to encourage them to eat or punish them when they don't?