Sunshine School

In an attempt to get our 5 shy sunbeams to interact instead of cry in a class setting, five of us mothers have started a rotating preschool. One of the mothers named it (Sunshine School) and wrote up a schedule and mini-curriculum for the next four months. Each mother will take a week (Monday mornings) to pick up all the kids, teach, play, hand out a snack and return them home. I was all for it but had my concerns about the first few times simply because we never did get Nathan to go to nursery easily until Hyrum joined him for a couple of months. Then it was time for him to go to Sunbeams and he was ok with that until he found out that Hyrum couldn't go with him. The fit that he threw that first week was unreal! Much worse at a near 4 years old than it had been when he was 2.

The night before preschool I brought the whole family into the prepping of preschool. Levi took the reverse psychology role and kept telling him that he was to young for school, that he would cry and he even bet him that he wouldn't go the next morning. That turned out to be the trick to getting him there.

When he woke up Monday morning he was groggy and whiney and as soon as I mentioned preschool he dramatically collapsed to the floor and started crying. I sat on the floor next to him, rubbed his back and said, "I guess Levi was right, you're to little to go to preschool". He paused for a minute then sat up and stated matter of factly, "No I'm Not!"

He willingly got dressed and packed his backpack with the bare necessities (blankie, Lambie and kleenex) and was ready 15 minutes early. I didn't want him to back out during the wait so I suggested we take videos to show Levi that he really was going to school. About 9 videos later it was time to go.

As soon as the teacher knocked on the door he opened it and marched out without me. He didn't even give me a goodbye hug or look back. He appeared so independent that I wondered what had happened to my separation anxiety driven child. That reverse psychology babble can be powerful, on the few occasions that it works.

Hyrum was sad to be left behind so we put on his jacket and backpack and went to get groceries in our free time. He was so determined to figure out his zipper that he refused to look at me for a picture.

Derby Time

I groan every time one of my boys walks in with that rectangle box containing a block of pine that is supposed to be transformed into a vehicle worthy of racing. We have the tools for the project but it's the battle of technique and design that always get in the way of this being a fun experience. LeRoy seems to think that telling a ten year old to pick up a tool and cut a piece of wood is like telling them to slice through butter so when they get tired of shaving away a sliver at a time the project turns from one of possible fun to just plain frustration.

This year we did it different.

The box sat on the kitchen island for a full 2 weeks. The night before the race Justin mentioned that he needed to get his car done. He drew the shape that he wanted and then sat in near tears at the time it would take to shave his block of wood into his dream car. The next morning, to avoid a meltdown, we made a phone call to our home teacher who teaches shop at the high school and poof, a car was born in the 20 second cut of a band saw. The cut was so smooth that Justin didn't even have to sand it down. At 4:15 he sprayed a light coat of black paint onto his wood and then dug through all my old scrapbook stuff to find some stickers. At 5:00 he carefully placed his stickers, shoved the little nails through each tire, attached the tires to the frame and by 6:00 he had it all detailed so that it would not lean to the left or right and was ready for the races . . . a full hour early! It was the smoothest pinewood derby prep ever.

After each boy registered and received their Pinewood Pro Derby License they began a very long night of cheers, jeers, a few tears and finally awards. Justin took 4th place out of 14 cars. Way to go Justin!

Oh, and he also received his Webelos rank, which I will admit had not one thing to do with his parents help. His leaders walked him all the way through this one. I felt a little guilty as he pinned the mothers pin on my jacket wondering if I should hand it over as a leaders pin instead. And, I didn't realize how tall he is getting until I saw the pictures of him standing next to me.

Legal Driver

For the last 2 months she has been an illegal driver in the emergencies of pick ups and drop offs. But now Erika can drive day and night and without a 21 year old licensed driver in the passenger seat. This will come in handy for our long drive to Texas in the summer.

When she first started driving I was a bit concerned about her gusto confidence that seemed a bit inattentive at times. Then we (Erika and I) were in a small fender bender that was the result of only a brief moment of distraction on the other drivers part. She seemed to learn from that experience that it doesn't take much to lose focus and even a small, slow speed accident can cause major damage. Since then she has calmed down and been a bit more cautious. So, even with all the teasing she is currently getting about people moving now that she has her license, I am comfortable sending her around town. Not quite to Idaho Falls by herself yet but that will come with more time, experience and probably necessity.

Afterschool Snack

Levi's Birthday List

He must think 18 is special or something because this list is longer and more detailed than any Christmas list he's ever given me! My favorite is the "pyramid of fresh chalupas (stacked at least 10 high)". That I can do. The money lists at the bottom . . . hmmm . . . how many Monopoly games could I find at DI?



As I sat at my computer this morning I was a little confused at the website staring me in the face. And then I realized it was for Affliction clothing. Levi is so great at leaving subtle hints.

I've had more than enough whining!

Nathan is the big offender this week. His form of communication tends to run along the lines of a foot stomp, angry eyes, raised eyebrows and a long, drawn out whine followed up with his head thrown back on the verge of a crying meltdown. My sweet pre-Christmas cherub has turned into a ticking I-want-things-my-way whine bomb. I realize that his routine is far from normal living on a holiday schedule with everyone home for two weeks and that he has probably consumed enough sugar to put him into a diabetic coma so I'm trying to be patient. Or it's just trying my patience.

In an attempt to help him replace the whine with reasonable communication, we sat on his bed for a talk. I offered the advice to "Stop. Take a breath. Talk without whining." when things were not going his way. Then we did some role playing.

Me: "You want Justin to put the movie on for you but he tells you that mom said no. What do you do?"

Nathan: (hesitantly) "Stop. Take a breath. But mom, I want to watch a movie!"

Let's try again . . .

Me: "It's time to take naps but you don't want to go to bed. What do you do?"

Nathan: "I don't like to take naps."

Me: (after a little blurb on sometimes we need to do things that we don't want to because they are right, like taking a nap so that our bodies can grow and be healthy) "You want a drink of milk and mom asks you to wait a minute while she finishes changing Hyrum's diaper. What do you do?"

Nathan: "Stop. Take a breath. Talk without whining."

Whew! He finally got it. It has become our saying around the house. Everyone is using it on everyone else at the least provocation.

Justin, Derek, Nathan and I were playing Mario on the Wii, sitting on the two large beanbags. Hyrum kept jumping from bag to bag, landing on my body every other jump. After several attempts at trying to get him to stop, while still focusing on the game, I started to lose it. And then out of my wise Nathan came the advice, in a very strong tone of voice, "STOP! Take a breath. Talk without yelling."

Isn't there some parental scape-clause along the lines of "do as I say, not as I do"? Perhaps "a little child shall lead them" would be a better mantra. Either way, Nathan got it and is, on a good percentage, living it. I, on the other hand, have some work to do.

What's for dinner?

In a very lazy, vacation attitude I announced that we were finishing leftovers for dinner. There wasn't quite enough for everyone, which left the Raman lovers happy.

Then Nathan spoke up, "I don't want Raman. Can I have a salad with carrots and ranch dressing please?"

If Hyrum gets his way he'll be eating "hah dods" or "stills" or "ohh ahss". Hmmm, hotdogs, skittles, and fruit snacks just don't sound that nutritious.

Meals have been very flexible around here for the past week. I'm craving healthy stuff, the older kids are doped up on holiday sugars and the little boys eat somewhere in between. At some point we will get back to our regularly scheduled meal planning but I don't think it will be this week.

The Best Christmas Ever

Nathan was helping me clean up the wrapping paper. While wandering around the room picking up garbage he kept saying the same thing over and over again, frequently pausing to give me hugs. He wasn't really talking to me or expecting a response he just seemed to be verbalizing his thoughts. I quickly grabbed the camera. After his dramatic pause he added a blurb for me. I love the humble wonder and tender love in his expression and words!



I'm pretty sure he means ever instead of never which makes his statement a perfect description

of our Christmas this year.

Erika Jo

had a very full November.

One night she was standing next to me while I was playing the piano and when I looked up I saw this shadow on the wall. We couldn't resist a picture.

She had been napping most of the day so her pony tail was flying all over the place and she had a hoodie on. She made me promise that I wouldn't show what she looked like, just the cool shadow that it made.

After almost 3 months of practices, costume fittings, painting backdrops and a whole lot of goofing off the high school was ready for their production of The Music Man. I was expecting a wimpy high school drama club show but the night quickly turned into a fun, comedic, very well done performance. With the school orchestra in the pit, mounds of enthusiasm from the students, great backdrops that filled the stage and perfectly chosen main character actors the night was a blast. If the final night had not been sold out (which left over 500 people turned away in the waiting area and a blurb in the Rexburg Standard Journal) I would have gone again.

Bri and Erika

There's trouble in town!

Getting the hair ready . . . and brushing out the ratting

Erika was one of the townspeople, which was pretty much a background, fill-the-stage role but she also had a couple of lines and was in two of the dance numbers where the townspeople sing and dance. It was so fun to see her take on a character and really lose herself in it.

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Erika has wanted to color her hair darker for quite some time but has always been hesitant, not only because it's impossible to know what how your hair will take the color but also because of the cost. Her best friend bought a box of coloring and together they did Bri's hair and because it turned out so well Erika took the plunge and bought a box of coloring the next night. She did hold off doing it until family pictures were done in case she hated it but after it was done we wished she had had it done before the picture. We all love it!

November also brought a very big birthday for Erika. She turned 16!!! Her best friend Bri (and Bri's mom) threw a big party for her. They decorated the gym at the church, invited lots of friends, played silly games and ate all of Erika's favorite junk foods. Bri filled her camera with pictures but I haven't downloaded them from her yet. She also had a surprise in each of her classes that day which was fun for me to arrange (some teachers willingly went along with it and embellished the surprise, some act like I was messing up their whole syllabus). She also had a very big first date . . . with her dad. Her young women's leader brought over this cake for her:

By the time November was over Erika literally slept for 2 days. She had been fighting the colds that we were all passing around the family but it caught up with her big time once she slowed down. She didn't hang out with friends, didn't get on the computer, didn't talk on the phone, didn't even eat. She just slept. Once she woke up she realized that a months worth of laundry was piled on her floor and that I was not kidding when I told her that it had to be cleaned up. Her room was beginning to stink. Bri came over again and after an hour in their room Bri came to get me. "You gotta see this, it's awesome! Bring the camera."

I was imagining a spotless room with the sun shining in and lovely music playing. First of all, we probably won't see the sun until next spring. Second, Z103 doesn't play "lovely" music. Third, I couldn't see the floor at all:

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They thought it was so wonderful that Erika was in the bottom of the pile of clothes and I couldn't even tell she was there. She poked her head out, I took a deep breath and smiled and laughed and took pictures and walked out wondering how many years it would take her to clean that mess up. To my astonishment, they came back in about 20 minutes and with 3 baskets of laundry sitting in the laundry room and 2 full bags of garbage by the back door it was a spotless (well, close) room. Why, oh why, didn't I take a picture of that? Oh yeah, I have sworn an oath to not post any pictures of her room until the walls are all finished. Skittles theme, none colors. Posting a picture of a mound of clothes gives nothing away.

Boy Stuff

Justin was cutting the onions for taco soup one night. He couldn't believe that someone has not created a way to prevent crying while cutting onions. I'm not sure if he thought the glasses were to prevent the strong onion odor from burning his eyes or just a coverup for the tears.

This is what entered my sewing room one night. Nathan screamed like I have never heard him scream before. He was very relieved when the pumpking head was removed and Derek's head popped up through the neck of the jacket.

Caytlyn got an ipod touch for her birthday so now the latest game at our house is the mini dance dance revolution type game on her ipod. Has anyone heard of "tired pointy finger" syndrome? Levi has it.

Ralph's ah-ha pose . . .

Nathan's thinking pose . . .

This is his response to any question. He won't pose on demand so we've started asking really random questions just to get him to pose for us. "What's the 6th letter of the alphabet?"