Memories of sweet, sweet ducklings

Here is Moby Duck and Webster...

The ducklings that Bug's Grade 3 class raised and released into Memorial Gardens.

Snuggly, Cuddly, Loveable ducklings...

who even napped with the kids and who even peed on one of the sleeping beauties... hee hee

A Tale of Two Duckies

(Bug's 3rd grade class has been raising two ducklings to release into Memorial Gardens in honor of their classmate who passed away earlier this school year. A lot of 3rd grade classes do this project each year but this year, for our family, it has special meaning because of Mathew's passing. Each student takes a turn to bring the ducklings home to care for them during the evening. Tonight was our turn. I thought it would be fun to send a letter back to the class, sharing the details of their visit with us...here is "The Tale of Two Duckies")

Dear Mrs B and our Grade 3 class friends,

We had a lot of fun tonight at Bug's house. Some of his friends came over to meet us - a few kids but mostly grown-ups. Our fuzzy yellow, adorableness (that's duck for 'cute') brought big, joyful smiles to their faces; we think they felt young at heart just to be around us.

Webster spent a lot of snuggle time with Bug's sister, Jellybean. In fact, at one point of the night, she was holding him like a baby, stroking his head and he was soaking up all that love like a sponge.

Bug & I spent a lot of quality time together. Don't tell Webster but, I'm pretty sure I'm Bug's favorite. Close to Bug's bedtime, we were snuggling on the couch and we were both so comfortable with each other that we fell asleep. Well...until I did something to wake us both up; I'll let Bug tell you that story if he wants. He's way better at story telling than I - after all, I am a duck.

Bug shares very nicely. He let us use his tub for swimming, nibble on his fingers, ears, hair and nose. He giggled like a mad man when we did that - guess he likes it. We were glad he liked the way we showed him our affection. (His sister had sparkly things on her ears and neck; we really like sparkly things! :D)

Our room {insert to add: a giant rubber made tote}was always neat, clean and dry; Bug made sure of that. Well...except for when all we wanted to do was play in the water. He let us play & then cleaned up after us. How cool is that?

Bug & his family have pictures of us and I'll bet they will share them if you want {insert to add they will make their grand appearance on this very blog in the next couple of days}.  We had a wonderul adventure here and are looking forward to another adventure with another child from Grad 3.

Keep it real, peeps.
(that's duck for 'bye for now')

Lesson Learned

So, Monday afternoon I looked into my 8 year old son's room and saw that my numerous requests for him to clean his room had not reached his ears. 

Lessons need to be learned and threats needed to have follow through.  While Bug was at school, this mama took a box of big, black garbage bags and cleaned his room her way. He may or may not be thrilled with what he begins to discover are no longer in his possession.

I think the lesson has been learned because the remaining toys have been picked up since AND...his bed has been made every morning before school...

And, side note, Jellybean has been making her bed each morning before school too...Lesson learned x 2!!!  Woo hoo!

Science Fair (Round 1) Pictures

Jellybean's Science Fair...Round One.
She still has a Round Two to go as she won silver at the School level and is going to Regionals.

 The ingredients

 The display...looking all professional and, dare I say, cute and sassy.

Bug's Science Fair project. First one ever.

Magnetizing a nail with a battery.

Adorable...and professional...and VERY nervous...

Choices

Life is full of them, isn't it? Our days are full of them...

I know I daily make right and wrong choices...I just hope that the right outweigh the wrong at the end of the day.

We have been VERY busy in our house with Science Fair projects - two of them. Jellybean did her project on crystallization via Coal Flowers and Bug wanted to show how to make a magnet using a battery, nail and copper wire.  Our choice: to help them to get organized, arrange their thoughts, their processes and then support them in what they had to do after that. 

The Science Fair was yesterday (we won't know who wins until tomorrow) but, there were a few projects where you can tell the parents did the majority of the work instead of merely supporting the children as they learned and worked. That was their choice and I do not judge them for that. Our choice, however, was to make sure our children knew they were supported as they succeeded at what they chose to do.

There were two MAJOR meltdowns this year. Jellybean had one two days before the "big day" as there were daily journals, project reports, single page analyze reports, and the list goes on and on...she became overwhelmed. We could have, and resisted choosing getting right into the midst of what she was doing and take over but...I decided to take her in my arms for a moment, soothed her tears, told her how bright and smart she is and that she is perfectly capable of achieving all she was hoping to accomplish.  I encouraged her and her little brother gave her a big hug and told her I he believed in her.  Bug had his the night before. "What am I supposed to say to the judges? I can't talk to them!" We talked it out, did a few practice runs, hugged, laughed and sent him off to bed to just get a good night's rest.

That next day, as much as I wanted to not go to work so I could go to the Science Fair, I wanted to send my kids a good message. I went to work, grabbed a lunch I could eat in the car and on my lunch break zipped over to see and support my babies.  The responses from the judges were so positive. Bug was told that he presented his project very well and really understood what he was saying! Jellybean's feedback was super positive too! {Tomorrow we find out the results and, to be honest, both kids are hoping they don't win first place as there is a next level to go on to}

I could have stepped in and did a lot more work with the kids than I did but what kind of lesson would that have been. I don't know if our choice was right or wrong, more right or more wrong than what the other parents did or didn't do but I do know that for our children, the decision was right.  They came home with a sense of accomplishment, a sense of overcoming and a sense of consequence to their decisions.

We have a busy house so arranging and organizing time to do these projects has been a challenge for both.  Bug came home the night of the Science Fair, settled into the couch, snuggled into a blanket and asked if he could please just stay there all night. "I was pretty stressed out, guys."

I think it is so funny that, as much as they want to have done well, the best either of the kids wish to have gotten is third because that ensures they will not be moving on to the next level in March. I, personally, think that they have all ready won so much more than a ribbon; they both feel such a sense of accomplishment, of overcoming a, seemingly, hopeless challenge and a job well-done. I am so proud of those kids and so relieved that neither one of them want to do this again, so far, next year... {grin}

Since my last post

There has been a concussion, a change of schools (not due to the concussion), a "could have been broken" sprained ankle that is preventing Jellybean from participating in her volleyball team for about 3 weeks, oh a volleyball team acceptance, a new trumpet player added to the school band, a new drumming student added to Mr Dean's music students, 2 new children added to the Saturday morning swim lessons and a gigantic family potluck planned for when my cousin, Svein comes to visit us this weekend, from Italy.

We also have a real ugly leak in our main floor ceiling that is irritating me and yet, somehow not getting fixed. Me thinks we need to remind the maintenance people...

So speaking of Italy and Svein and family and eating...mmmm eating... {kidding}

In 1 1/2 days (that's two sleeps, people!) I am going to the airport to pick up my cousin and meet him face-to-face for the first time ever! Pretty freakin' stoked about it - pardon my strong wording. :D

We are having the afore mentioned family potluck, letting him drink Canadian beer (this is a special request), perhaps taking him to buy a cowboy hat, he will see my my grandparents homestead and their gravesites and learn as much Canadian culture as he can in 4 days...

Jam packed!

And that being said, I am on my way. Laundry needs done. Grey hairs need covering and a "could have been broken ankle" is needing iced and elevated because I have no way of knowing how to keep that energetic one still for long, duct tape may be needed. {grin}  Oh and a lovely sign to take to the airport saying "Welcome Svein. Yes, this is your crazy family" in Norwegian is needing to be made...

I promise pictures as soon as he leaves. We have 4 days and I am not going to spend any of that time on a computer.  I know you all understand! :D

Because I grew up on a farm that's why!

"Mom, why do you like to catch frogs like boys? Girls aren't supposed to like catchin' frogs..."

We had a lot of fun in the midst of watching/playing a soccer game the other day. We caught frogs and gave them Spanish names. I don't know why they had to be Spanish. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time...because it was funny and made the kids laugh.

He's got da music in him

Bug is always dancing...ALWAYS... and by always I mean always!
 His sister caught him dancing at a wedding ceremony when he thought no one was looking...boy was he embarassed when he knew they had been watching him the entire time.

He dances as he is walking, as he eats supper, in the car...dance, dance, dance. And it doesn't matter if there is music playing or not...it's in his bones...

And the beat goes on

and on and on...

That's what happens in the house of an up & coming 8 year old drummer with a passion for a beat...

...and loud. Yes, he has a passion for loud.

I know many of you know just what I am saying, especially one friend/reader in particular who has a few musicians (boy ones) living in her house. (While you're here, reading, follow the link and pop by her blog. She is a fantastic storyteller with some uber amazing makeagain recipes that will leave your mouth watering.)

Back to Bug, currently he is downstairs drumming away.  He's got a good beat going and is so loud the fish are swimming to his soundwaves...wish I were kidding.  They may have even tried to cover their ears with their fins...(ok ok...they don't have ears).

P.S. Why does it seem the only time my children fight is when I am trying to get ready to get them out the door?

P.P.S Why do I seem to feel the need to look at the floor to yell at them if they are on a lower level than me? Do I think they can see the "angry face" and make them listen quicker...

Yes, that is what it is like in our house...at least tonight...Heh, I won't front. Most of my life is great and I enjoy most moments.  I have joy that is limitless but, we have "family moments" like every one else...it's all in the way you handle things right? If you can end a fight with both opposing parties laughing with each other, it is a good moment.

Pie Are Squared

No they aren't; they are round but, that was the theme of today.  Today my baby, my youngest, my Bug turned 8 years old. I know! That's what I thought when I woke up this morning to! Kind of a 'Where in the dickens have the last 8 years gone and who was driving that speeding bus?' Maybe Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock got a hold of my life and turning it into a spinoff of Speed.

So anyway, back to the Pie Are Squared thing... We had a couple of the birthday boy's favorite things: his favorite kind of "pizza pie" and for dessert, his favorite kind of pie.  He has all ready had cupcakes (this past Sunday) with all his buddies and he had a sleepover with one of his best buddies last night.

This boy, this young man, who turned 8 has a heart of gold, whose smile can capture you in a moment where you are frozen in time, whose eyes are so blue, so kind, so innocent, so full of love you can fall into them and never want to leave, a boy who has music locked into the marrow of his bones. He is always dancing, always singing, always drumming...

There was a food theme to his birthday this year.  Jellybean didn't have the money to buy him what she wanted so she scrounged what money she had and bought him a chocolate doughnut. The bride from this past weekend's wedding brought him over her favorite dish as a child, sunomono salad (this but without the crab or shrimp).

Other than that he has birthday money and gift cards to spend, new rollerblades and his buddy who just moved has informed me that he is sending him a tackle box with a couple of hooks. He will be so excited by the gesture and the knowledge that his buddy, now two provinces away, did not forget about him.

What did I tell you!?

The VERY next day! What a roll I am on!!!

Anywho... funny story... (at least when you work for an eye surgeon)

Bug says to me the other day, as I am trying to take a nap: Mom, open your eyebulbs!!!!

Time flies

And I am not even kidding one little bit.  14 days since I have been here heh? Yikes.  Bad blogger!!! Bad blogger!!! Now,if only there were some way I could rub my nose in the blog or something. {grin}

Work has been going great! I am, however, still learning to get and keep myself organized - between kids, their school, B.D. being gone so much, the hours at work, the family tree book I have been working on...there's not much time left but for sleeping.  Little by little, slow and steady...it is all coming together.  Meal plans, grocery lists, cleaning schedules, teaching Jellybean what she can do to help out with supper after school, etc.

Did I mention that the night time incontinence issue we were having at our house just dried itself up? {funny? not funny? my humor is in an odd state of being lately} Shortly after mentioning it a few months ago, it just stopped. No accidents since.  Yay!!!!

It snowed here again a few days ago... yep, snow...disappointing but, it has had its perks. Take for example, this instance that happened on Friday night when Bug and I were on our way home.  He was being goofy and I, joking with him, told him to quit or I would throw a snowball at him...he didn't believe me. I needed to become a woman of my word and BLAMO {cha! look it up - so a word -grin}, down goes the window, to the roof of my car goes my hand, grabbing a nice handful of snow which I then tossed at my son in the backseat and it hit the mark, landing softly right at his neck where it could escape down the collar of his coat... definitely a 3-pointer!!!


I promise it will not be 14 days until my next bloggingness again... I don't want anyone to swat my nose with a rolled up newspaper or anything...yikes! :D

Thank you...?

Today I had a moment of weakness....I almost caved in to a McD's craving....

Anyway, I was having a temporary pity party. Yes, people those do happen in this house and I can freely admit to my part in them (sometimes it takes me longer to admit I am pouting but I do admit it {grin}). I was saying things like 'it doesn't seem to matter what I do, once I get to this weight I can't lose anything more' and things like that. I was speaking doubt & disbelief.

My sweet, dear Bug piped up from his spot at the kitchen table, "Mama, you are NOT fat. You are just a little out of weight, that's all." 

He really has been coming to my "rescue" lately.  Take for example on the way home from our extended vacation last week, B.D. & I were talking and he said, "So, what do you think, chick." Bug let his disgust at that comment be known from the back seat, scolding his daddy, "That's not some chick!  That's my mommy!"

Have I told you guys lately that he is seriously my favorite seven year old?  Like, I am not even kidding! {grin}

First NFL football game

Alternately titled "GO, CHIEFS, GOOOOOO!!!!"

 All access passes (other than field and locker rooms) had these two doing what they wanted to watch the Chiefs make it into the play-offs on Boxing Day.

 But that wasn't the best part of the game for either of these guys...

It was simply the fact that they got to hang out with each other, drink way too much soda pop, eat ginormous stadium hotdogs, and make funny faces at the camera and probably laugh uncontrollably at each other while burping and all that other boy stuff we ladies don't neccessarily want to (or want to admit to) doing...

I uber love hotels

Most times, unless the weather takes a frightful turn - and even then my husband has moved baracades to go around them- he & I drive straight through on long trips. Our 24 hour trips to KC have not been any different but... this time we have Jellybean and Bug with us and we wanted to have a very nice, relaxing time with them.

Hotel there and hotel back! Yeah baby! We searched a bit on the internet and picked two hotels that we liked that have waterslides or play areas so we can get rid of pent up energies in the pool area and make some fun memories.

Here are a couple from the way down...

 Pink panther and Allie the bunny were too tuckered out to play... they got the bed ready for the kids {wink}

Two exhausted, happy, wonderful children!

Road Trip!!!

In our family, we leave ridiculously early on road trips, use as much sleep time as travel time as we can.  This is what it usually looks like in our car...

But I say usually like I don't sleep.  It usually looks like me sleeping in the car and occassionally waking up to capture moments like these but they are much cuter sleeping than I am!

In three days we will be piling back into our car and travelling from whence we came...

National Lampoon's Our Vacation Day 4

Up to right now this vacation has been almost everything we believed for it to be. It has been full of laughter, singing, stories, snuggles and family. As of last night, it was also full of the heart-broken tears of a girl who expected a friendship to pick up right where it left off 5 years ago. It most certainly didn't play out in real life anything like how she had played it out in her head but my dear Jellybean is doing much better after a discussion with her mama, and some words of wisdom and snuggles.

I am enjoying our time; we all are. Jellybean and Bug wake up every morning with our friend's golden lab snuggled up with them, see their brother every day and we are having completely uninterrupted time as a family including having a great night (sans the "friend incident").

Here's to another great day - enjoying our family, enjoying our friends... and I wish the same for you.

Merry Christmas Eve, my friends. Remember: People are the treasure!

(We even get a white Christmas as it is currently snowing here in Kansas City!)

Sometimes

when they fight

I force myself to completely ignore them, hoping to "force" them to work it out.

Sometimes they don't

and I need to get involved and mediate...

and sometimes...

they bring closure to their fights in such a beautiful way...

I'm raising the cuteness factor

{but I may be a tad biased}

Don't say I didn't warn you...

P.S. You may also find yourself succumbing to optical overstimulization - I couldn't make a decision.

Told you.

Signs my children are growing older

My youngest son, Bug, just finished studying for his first school exam EVER.  It is in Social Studies.

Jellybean just spent the evening cleaning and re-organizing her room.  She did a fabulous job! She even threw stuff out and for this de-cluttering mama, she made my heart skip a beat. {wink}

Rush is preparing to go to a kegger.  She thinks I don't know. HaHa!

Jellybean has begun doing her own laundry and has been doing a great job of it - other than banging the heck out of the top of the washing machine, thinking it was broken when all along she simply had not pulled the button out.

Bug has been going through growing pains of his own - with choosing who he should and should not spend a lot of time with, as far as influences.  Yes, some of you might think that at 7 years old there is no way we should be putting that on him and, in a sense, you are correct.  However, we will sit with him and discuss things and ask him questions to see if he thinks they are really people he wants to spend a lot of time with.  We never tell him he can't spend anytime with them but we get our children to decide if they like the person they are, things they do and attitudes they come home with if they spend too much time with particular people and then we get them to figure out if they think they should spend less time with them or not.  I don't think it is ever to early to guide your children into personal accountability. {thoughts?}

Note: I've been quite busy lately - mainly "mind busy" and I notice that I really haven't been my usual funny self.  I've said this before but it was coming back... I don't know if I am feeling pressure to write so I just write and don't worry about what I say or what but I wanna get the fun back in dysFUNctional. {grin}



Anywhoodles, I am going to bed.  Tomorrow begins the start of a new week, new adventures, new projects and new visions... I may need my rest. {wink}