A Little Peace and Quiet... I Beg of You

I wonder what car rides sounded like to my parents when we were growing up. I do remember on long car trips that we would sometimes sing songs. One of my favorites was the Corner Master's Store where you took the person's name and rhymed what they were doing in the store. For some reason my brother was always doing something naughty in the store.

"There was Chris, Chris, giving a girl a kiss,
In the store, in the store
There was Chris, Chris, giving a girl a kiss,
In the Corner Master's Store.
My eyes are dim, I cannot see, I have not brought my specks with me,
I have not brought my spectacles with me."

My boys are not big on singing. Well...Smiley likes to sing and hum but the rest of them do not. When Wannabe, Giggles and Smiley first joined our family I learned that they love hotrods. We would drive in the car and the boys would call out when they saw a hotrod. I taught them that when you see a Volkswagon buggy you say "punch buggy" and then name the color. (Brett beat me today in punch buggies on our ride home from the doctor. He found three and I found two. Shameful...I usually do better than that. I blame it on the anesthesia.)

Unfortunately, the boys have taken to calling out not only buggies and hotrods but other items as well. They shout if they see minis, tractors, and motorcycles. If a vehicle is yellow they call out "bingo". They even call out port-a-potties. The result is a cacophony of sound with kids shouting out words and then arguing over who saw it first.

On Wednesday of this week I could stand the noise no longer and told them they were relegated back to hotrods and buggies.

Blessed silence. For a few moments at least- until the next hotrod came along.

Home at Last

We made a quick trip down to see my nephew Broc and welcome him home from his mission in South Carolina. In some ways the two years seemed very long and in others they seemed to go by in a blink of an eye.

I think back to my own mission sooooooo many years ago and it seems like it was a lifetime ago. Actually, it was half my life ago and half a world away. But even though I have forgotten much of the Russian language, I carry with me many dear experiences that I hope to never forget.

I am so grateful to Broc for his wonderful letters, his great example and for his faithful service. We are so glad that he served his Heavenly Father and we are happy to have him home safe and sound. I look forward to hearing more of Broc's mission, his experiences and the people that he met during the last two years.

Welcome home Broc!

What?

I couldn't wait until tomorrow to post because my mind is full of too many things my family did and said today that made me think, "WHAT?!?"

It started out with Giggles and Smiley. My day always starts with SOMETHING going on between Giggles and Smiley and despite their names the outcome is anything but happy. I called them down for breakfast and Smiley said that Giggles came into his room, pulled on his shirt and stretched it out. Giggles said, "NOOOOO!!!"

PROBLEM: I was up extremely late last night rendering my LIEdar useless this morning. I could not tell which boy was telling the truth.

So I settled for the next best thing. I told them breakfast was only being served for the next 20 minutes and sent them back to their rooms until someone was willing to come forward with the truth. It wasn't long before Smiley came out and told me that he had lied. He admitted that Giggles had not stretched his shirt and that he only said it to get his brother in trouble.

What? The start of a good day means getting your brother in trouble.

Later at dinner I made fried zuccini and red peppers. Red peppers are NOT Sheriff's favorite but then he doesn't like a lot of vegetables. I expected him to eat the two small slices of pepper on his plate. I was unprepared for the drama that followed including the statement that me making him eat the peppers is why everyone hates him.

What? People who eat red peppers are hated by everyone. If you eat red peppers it might explain a few encounters with co-workers and family members you have been wondering about.

On the phone with my husband he told me about ordering pizza at lunch at a job site and then eating the left-overs for dinner. We continued on in our conversation but something nagged at me. I thought about where his job site was in comparison to where he was at dinner and I asked him where the left-over pizza was all afternoon if he had it for dinner. He told me that he left the pizza on the dashboard in the sun. The sun kept it hot all afternoon.

What? So a hot truck is a viable alternative to keeping your pizza warm all afternoon. No need to even nuke it once you are ready to eat it for dinner. (my stomach gurgles even at the thought of it.)

And finally... as we ate dinner I talked with the boys about taking them swimming at one of the rec centers. In fact, two of the boys were already prepared for the evening with their swim clothes on. Several times as Sheriff complained about eating his red pepper I urged him on saying his brothers didn't want to have to wait for him too much longer... they wanted to go SWIMMING. So we finished up with dinner and I told boys to go get ready and get in the car to go SWIMMING.

As we drove out of the neighborhood, however, my friend called and said that the rec center closed at 6:00 on Saturdays (it was 5:50). So I turned around and headed back home promising the boys that we would go sometime next week. We piled out of the car and Sheriff pointed out that Wannabe was less than prepared for swimming.

What? Apparently I hadn't mentioned enough times through the course of dinner or taken his face in my hands to be sure I had eye contact and say, "get your bathing suit on" for he was still in t-shirt and shorts.

Diary of an ADHD Mom

My friend told me the other day that I could write a book. Well I have written a book but that was not what she meant. She meant I should write a book about my kids. Maybe one day I will. Sometimes it is hard to know what things my kids do that are just regular, everyday kid stuff and what is just downright ADHD/ADD behavior. Sometimes it is just a mixed bag.

Living with two kids with ADHD and one with ADD is an adventure to be sure. So many rules, so many restrictions and accommodations you have to make when you have a child with ADHD, let alone two, then add one more. Then mix them together.

Yikers!

Take our trip to the pool on Monday night as an example. Earlier in the day I had warned Giggles about his disrespectful behavior (and really I have had this conversation with him many times before). He had been talking disrespectfully throughout the day and I had said to him that he was really lucky that his family was soooooo patient with him because at some point he was going to come across someone who would not be so patient with him and if he didn't change how he acted he might get a punch in the nose or something worse.

So we got to the pool and as I was sitting and talking with my friend I looked over and saw him across the room at the side of the pool. A couple of teenagers were in the water throwing a ball in the basketball hoop. Occasionally Giggles got the ball and threw it in the hoop. I thought they were sharing.

I thought wrong.

I looked over a few minutes later and saw Giggles kick his leg out at one of the boys' heads.

That got my attention.

I wondered how the teenager would respond. He didn't like it. He grabbed Giggles by the arm and pulled him into the pool. I figured Giggles deserved it for taking a swipe at the kid's head. I wondered what Giggles would do next... would he leave or pursue the situation. I watched (but was ready to respond). Sure enough he got out of the pool and tried to jump on the teenager with his foot stuck out in karate kick fashion. I'm not sure if his body actually made contact with the boy.

Perhaps he did for the teenager responded by bouncing the ball off of Giggles head. Well I was already in motion because it isn't okay to jump on someone even if they are 3 times your size.

So I took Giggles out of the pool.

But that is the nature of ADHD. All he could think of was the fact that he wanted the ball - not... gee this guy is bigger and tougher than me and could crush me, beat me up, kill me.

Nope. Just - I want the ball. ADHD brain.

Of course, like the mean mom that I am I made him apologize to the boys at the end of the night. Terrible aren't I?

Yet my sister brought up a good point. Harness that fearless for the good and this kid will be unstoppable. He might have a busted nose by the time he is an adult but if I can direct him towards good things then she is right... he will have no fear of failure.

Mysteries of the Universe

There are certain mysteries of the universe that I am certain I will never solve during my sojourn her on earth - such as why my husband puts the empty milk carton back in the fridge, why my son always has 3 Rice milk containers open at the same time (and thus runs out of all of them simultaneously), why the day of rest (Sunday) is the day of migraines and why the moment I open my big mouth and brag about my kids one of them is sure to make a liar out of me. :)

But let me backtrack a moment and tell you first about the amazing gift we were given Monday night by our local foster care foundation. Our family along with all the other foster care families in the region were given free tickets to a water park in the area on Monday night. It was a night just for foster families. Every year we are given an opportunity to gather together as foster families somewhere to enjoy time together and just have fun. It was great. Of course I always worry that with so many people it will be hard to keep track of our kids. But they did a wonderful job of staying together and not getting lost as they went down the slides, played in the pool and went around the lazy river. I was soooooo proud.

The next day my friend and I took our kids to a dinosaur museum. I had been so impressed with my boys the night before that I bragged to my friend about how well my boys stay close when we go places.

You're dumb as what? (my mother-in-law always says.)

Sure enough... the second room we went into was packed with kids and parents and within moments as I counted heads - one was missing. I knew exactly where he went and headed to go get him (the dark room with the "stars" in it). Of course when you don't stay in the same room with your mom, the consequence is you have to hold your mom's hand the rest of the time. Smiley wasn't so smiley. :(

Still, we had a good time despite the brief disappearing act.

This is Sheriff and his friend waiting for their turn to see how quiet they can walk across rocks. I thought of doing this test and see what score I would get and then decided against it. My family already makes fun of me for walking as loud as an elephant. Why give them them the scientific proof to back it up?

When we saw these headphones that simulated bat-hearing my boys HAD to try them on. I HAD to send the picture to Brett because bats are his FAVORITE animal in the whole world (and by favorite I mean the animal most likely to make him knock little children out of the way while he screams and runs for cover).

As usual, the favorites are the t-rex and the shark.

But I must remember in the future to be a little more careful when it comes to bragging about my kids and maybe knock on wood or do the Russian 3 quick spits over my left shoulder (just to be on the safe side).

Last Night's Legos

Brett and I are always lamenting over the number of Legos littering the basement floor. I always swear that I will never buy another Lego present again, but when that is all they have on their list for Christmas and birthdays I cave in and the basement fills with more of the teeny tiny pieces that pierce feet and jam the vacuum.

Curse you Lego Factory!!!!

Whatever happened to the good old days when Legos were a decent size, had a reasonable chance of staying together and could not disappear in the carpet to be sucked up by the vacuum to be forever lost? Who is the brain child behind today's Legos?

Well, last night we decided to turn a negative into a positive and have a Family Home Evening competition... I mean activity with Legos.

Each of us took a turn as the judge and choose a category. Some of the categories chosen were house, robot, vegetable, jet, and pizza. The person who chose the category was the judge and the rest were given 3 minutes to build with the Legos in the center of the table. May I say that 3 minutes was not enough (for me that is.)

Here are some of the results from last night:

In the vegetable category:

My lettuce..

no... I did not win.

Wannabe's vegetable garden (note that it has a spy camera)

In the pizza category:

Brett's pizza is being eaten by a creature who is in turn being eaten by Brett.

My pizza... (also pretty sad)

Smiley's pizza...

In the jet category:

Brett's jet...

My jet (I was pretty proud of this one as I managed to score a windshield and a creepy skeleton pilot... until Smiley pointed out that my jet element was on backwards making my jet go in reverse... not so cool)

In the robot category:

Wannabe's robot...

Sheriff's robot...

In the boat category:

Giggles' boat..

Brett's boat...

Judging was very hard as is evidenced by the look on Giggles' face...

It was a great activity and I ALMOST like Legos now. Unfortunately we had to send them back downstairs afterwards where I know they will soon litter the basement floor again. -sigh-

Growing Up

There are days with my kids that I look at them and I am amazed at how quickly time is flying by. Sheriff was just set apart today as 1st counselor in the Deacons Quorum. He also received a calling to play prelude music on certain Sundays in church. That means learning hymns and doing some extra practicing for this big responsibility. I can't believe my 12-year-old will be playing the piano in the chapel! And here I was today freaking out over the thought of having to play in the upcoming Primary program in September. If Sheriff can play in front of the ward then so can I.... I think.

Of course, other days I'm not so overcome with amazement. I wonder why the days feel the same and it is a chore to drag my sorry butt out of bed to start another day that I know will look and sound the same as yesterday and the day before.

Sometimes when Brett gets frustrated with the boys when they have been particularly naughty he'll say, "grow up!" And I watch and wait to see if they magically grow up.

Nope. It doesn't work.

But despite the long days, the frustrating days, and even the days when it is all you can do to hold back the tears, you are sometimes gifted with those moments when a child says or does something to touch your heart that lets you know that all the daily efforts you make are worth it. Like today when Smiley wanted to bear his testimony in church. He didn't end up going up but the fact that he wanted to do it made me feel good inside. Later at home during Family Home Evening we each bore our testimonies (a Fast Sunday tradition in our home) so he had a chance to share his testimony.

So you have those times with your kids when you see that something, somewhere is sinking in and one day they will grow up and leave with all the things you have tried so hard to teach them.

Now whether they use it...