Crayon on the Wall

Sometime last month, I had the Goo Gone out, and I was cleaning a sticky residue from a price tag off of a picture frame. 

Meanwhile, Jarem had headed upstairs to play in his room.  I didn't think anything of it, because Jarem typically isn't a mischevious child.  As I was finishing up, here came Jarem back downstairs calling proudly,  "Mom, I wrote on the walls in my room".  I was shocked because Jarem hasn't ever written on walls before, and he is not one to flaunt it when he does something bad.  I said, "You did what?", and he repeated it again, still with no remorse.

I went up to look and see if he really had.  Sure enough, he had written in two different large areas on his wall with crayons.

Here's one

And this is part of the other...the other bigger picture didn't turn out well.  He was so proud of this turtle he drew and the other things.  I couldn't figure it out.  I told him it was naughty to write on the walls, and he shouldn't be proud.  I asked him why he did it.

He said that he saw the picture on the "Goo Gone" bottle, and he thought he would draw on the walls because we could clean it off with the Goo Gone.  Yes, there were pictures of wall drawings on the bottle, and it sparked the idea for him.  I had never used it for cleaning crayon off walls, but we gave it a try.  It didn't work nearly as well as it claimed, but since he used the washable crayons, we managed to get most of it off.

After he realized that it was a bad thing, he was embarrassed that I was taking pictures.  He didn't want me to show anyone, so here he is trying to hide it.

It was innocent enough that even though I was a little frustrated, I couldn't really be mad at him.  He was so ashamed and wanted to clean it himself.  It made me think how much I've mellowed out since my older ones were his age.  I would have been much more upset then.

Sleepover and Soda Pop

For the first time ever, we let Alex have a birthday sleepover with several friends.  He's never been that into parties, but he knew what he wanted this year.  Lots of pizza, soda, desserts, candy, and video games.  I guess that is what every teenage boy needs.  He invited 5 friends who all came, and they had a really good time I think.

We made sure the food was provided, and they did the rest.  Eric had a good time playing a little rockband and Super Smash Bros with them since he teaches that group at church.  I was glad he was down there supervising, but really they are a great bunch of boys.

Brian showing everyone his big belly after eating dinner...looks a lot like Alex's probably would (still flat).

Everyone just after they finished stuffing themselves

One of the things the boys did was play the game "Generals".  Three of them networked our three computers to play.  This is one of Alex's favorite things to do with his friends.

And, of course, Rockband is always a fun way to play with a group

Matt on the drums

Even Eric did his part

Alex giving it his all

Derek on the guitar

Three singing at the same time

The next morning...they all made it up.  I had to go to a meeting, so Eric made a big country breakfast with eggs, bacon, pancakes, biscuits, etc.  They pretty much ate everything too.  I'm not sure why the chips are still on the table. :)

Alex opening a giftcard from Derek to Aeropostale.  Alex likes shopping there.  Recently, Alex went to a birthday party with over twenty kids from his grade, and he was the only one that brought an actual gift (and felt embarrassed...although I don't think he should have).  Everyone else brought giftcards...I'm told that it's either giftcards or cash for teens these days. 

Brian giving a "Brian look".

Alex getting ready to open the three big gifts from the Howe boys.  I was a little suspicious when they arrived, and felt bad I would miss it.

Boy, do they know this boy well...there's nothing he loves more than soda.

But that's not all, here's another!

And, he hit the jackpot here...7 more 2-liters of soda pop...all different flavors.

I don't think he's planning to share...it's probably the best gift he's ever received! 

A total of (10) 2-liter sodas in all!  What a sugar rush this will be! I hope he drinks responsibly!! :)  Remind me to thank the Howes' mother for the constant state of hyperactivity my son will be in for the next 2 weeks (no, really I thought it was very clever :)).  He now has them safely stored in his "soda cellar".  It's an attic space that opens from his bedroom closet.  It stays nice and cool there in the winter months.

And his last gift, a giant bag of Twizzlers with a giftcard to Wal-Mart.  Another success...I think his friends know him VERY well!

Crazy Day!

It was last Thursday morning.  The day started out pretty normal.  The kids were off to school on-time.  I had enjoyed a pretty easy and productive morning.  However, as early afternoon arrived, something was nagging at me.  I hadn't seen my purse all day...where could it be...when did I last see it?  Not in the car, not in the house...where could it be?  Then, I remembered.  The last time I had seen it was at the church activity the night before...I must have left it in the building.  I didn't have keys to the church, and would it still be there?  Surely no one would steal in the church...

I needed to take a deposit to the bank for PTO.  I prepared my deposit planning to stop by a friend's house to borrow her church keys, head to the bank and drop off the deposit, find my purse at the church, and pick up Alex from school.  The deposit was sitting on the passenger seat in a ziploc bag ready to go.  My afternoon of errands would be easy and orderly.

Stop 1: Pick up keys.  Five minutes standing outside talking to my friend was all Jarem needed to take full advantage of having the car to himself.  Jumping over seats and pushing every button (including the locking mechanism)...he was in his element.  He even ended up locking me out of the car with the keys inside, but with a few clever tactics from my friend and I, I made it back into the car with keys in hand.

Stop 2: The bank.  I'm heading towards the bank when I glance over to make sure the deposit is still sitting on the seat.  It's gone!  Where is that deposit?  It was sitting on the seat, I know it was.  Where did it go?  The search begins...under seat, over seat, between seats...no deposit.  Well, with time lost, it is now time to pick up Alex.  Where could it have fallen due to Jarem's climbing escapades? Did I leave the deposit home?

Stop 3: The school.  I pick up Alex who is completely disinterested in helping find the deposit...where is that deposit?

Stop 4: The church. Yes! I find my purse, and I'm out the door. Hmmm...we're near Wal-Mart, maybe we ought to stop and get party stuff for Alex's party tomorrow.  Alex is in agreement.  We head to Wal-Mart.

Stop 5: Wal-Mart.  I had a plan for what to get. I sent Alex in another direction to get something, and he comes back with many items that were not on the mental list!  We're in a hurry. "Fine", I say, "get your candy, egg nog, and popsicles..."  I shouldn't have given in, but I need to get home.  The girls should be home from school by now.

Stop 6: Home.  Yep, the girls made it home.  They have plenty of homework and Jesikah has an atom project due tomorrow of which she hasn't started.  Is the deposit inside the house?  Nope, still no deposit.  Jesikah starts to cry, "Mom, you could go to jail if we don't find the money."  Alex gets interested finally in helping.  We search, search, search for 30 minutes.  It's past 5:00pm, I have a meeting at 6pm that is 20 minutes away.  The kids haven't eaten dinner, and what can I even make for dinner?  I still haven't found the money. Eric is working late.

Amidst all the chaos, Jarem picks this moment to ask his nagging question:
"Mommy, we're going to live forever, right?"
 I take a second to answer him, "No honey, everyone will die someday"
Jarem: (sobbing now) "But I don't want to die and I don't want you to die or anyone to die.  Why does Jesus want us to die?  Why is Jesus' plan for us to die?"
Me: (sitting down and taking him on my lap) "Jarem, we'll all live again together someday.  Jesus made that possible."
Jarem: "But that will be a long, LONG time. I don't want to be dead in the ground forever.  I don't want to die.  Why do we have to die?" (still crying and sobbing)
Me: "Sweetheart, that is just part of what we have to do.  It might be a long time, but we can be together again after we die.".
Jarem: (can't stop crying and sobbing continuing for at least 10-15 minutes more)
I continue trying to comfort him and desperately change the subject.  My heart goes out to him for his question.  He was truly upset that we will die someday.  I can't blame him.  That is a lot for a little 4 year old to swallow.  But, why now, amidst all the chaos, is he asking about dieing.  Is he worried that Mommy is going to jail?

I'm ready to go search the middle school parking lot.  The car is on and I'm in the driver's seat ready to leave.  Alex says, "Tell me one more time where the money was and how it got lost?"  I explain it to him one last time as I'm ready to pull out.  As he is standing in the doorway on the passenger side, his eyes move down and he pulls out a secret compartment under the passenger seat.   And...there's the bag of money!!!  This is a compartment (after owning the van for over a year) I never knew it existed.  It must have slid down when Jarem was wrestling around on the seat.  Whew!  $775 would not have been easy to come up with!!

That's a relief!  I figure out something for dinner.  Maybe I should just skip the meeting.  It's a church meeting...I don't have to go, but I really should.  Ok, I'm going.  Eric is going to be home later, but he is going to help Jesikah with her project. 

I finally head out to the car.  I'm already going to be late, quite late.  Guess what!?!  I'm out of gas! After a stop at the gas station, I call Eric and ask directions to the church (which is a different building than our regular Sunday meetings).  He gives me directions and I proceed to tell him about my very frustrating afternoon.  He says he's sorry, and we hang up.  I arrive at the church 30 minutes late.  I hesitate to even go in...maybe I should just turn around now.  I finally decide that I'm already here, I just as well stay.  I can quietly sneak in the side door and not make a scene.  So, I do.  The meetings turn out to be very uplifting and bring peace to my frustrating day.  I'm glad I went.

I head out to the car, and as I click the remote to unlock the doors, I see something inside my car.  At first, I thought I had the wrong car but my keys wouldn't open the wrong car.  As I get closer, I can see that there is a bouquet of flowers inside with a note from my husband along with my favorite candy bar and the movie, "UP" (a movie he had talked me out of buying the day before).  The candy bar got eaten right away, which is why it isn't in the picture, and that alone made me feel much better!!!  I was SO surprised and happy that I was nearly in tears.  It was THE sweetest gesture of love. 

And that is not all...this is what I found at home...

Jesikah's completed atom project including report in which Eric had helped her and purchased supplies and last, but not least, a clean kitchen.

I thank my kind and loving husband for making a perfect ending to a far-from-perfect day!

Alex is 14!!!

It's hard to believe that it's been 14 years since I held my first child for the first time.  Wow, has time flown by!

Alex requested that I make cinnamon rolls for his birthday breakfast.  Since he leaves the house at 6:35am, that was a bit of a sacrifice, but I didn't mind doing it for him.  I always get up with him and make his lunch while he eats his daily 3 packets of instant oatmeal.  So, I got up a little earlier and cooked him cinnamon rolls (out of the tube) with some hot chocolate.  Eric got up too, and we gave him his first present, a Star Wars Legos set that we secretly bought while in Disney at Legoland.  It is a limited edition not available in stores or online.  He was very excited and surprised.  He really appreciated us having breakfast with him, and the present too.  He told me thanks multiple times on the way to school.

That evening, we had dinner and opened the rest of his presents.  This is a card from Jesikah...she does not ever attend a birthday party empty-handed.

She drew these Lego guys on the back.  I thought it was very good.

The other side of the card

His next present was a small Star Wars Lego set and some silver coins of his birthyear.  He collects coins everywhere we go, but these were real silver unlike his others.

This was a book that Eric and I picked out called, "Far World".  We thought it looked really good, but that "pretend to be excited" look on his face says it all.  He doesn't like to read though, so that isn't a big surprise.

Now for one of the Lego sets he'd been waiting for...

And a closer look...

Someone else is interested as well...

His most exciting gift however, was the big Star Wars Republic Gunship that he has been begging for for months now (somehow I missed the picture of that one).  He LOVES Legos.  He has been particularly interested in the Star Wars ones lately.  It is a great activity for all the kids to do together and keeps them from playing too many video games.

The cake of Alex's choice: DQ strawberry cheesequake ice cream cake

Look at all those candles, and he did manage to blow them all out!

A closeup of one slice, they were very good!

Halloween 2009

This year, Laura Richards (primary president) put on an awesome church Halloween party!  There were healthy snacks, fun games, and trick-or-treating.  It started at 4:30pm on Halloween, so plenty of time for trick-or-treating afterwards.  Later, we went trick-or-treating with friends too, and enjoyed a very fun, but not too cold, evening.  (I had major formatting issues with this post...don't know why...so there may be a few issues.)

Tessa as a fairy(from Fablehaven), and Jesikah dressed up as Hermione.  Between them, we have Linda Howe, my good friend and Jesikah's primary teacher.

Captain Jack Sparrow petting his rat, and Jarem(as Batman) & Tessa trick-or-treating around the gym

Jarem with his friend, Rose

Me with my "Hairspray" wig along with Captain Jack Sparrow

Alex with friends, (l to r, Emma, Matt, and Nick)

Isley holding Cambry...so cute!

Jesikah with friends (Isley with Cambry on left, Spencer on right)

Alex and Matt are in charge of the beanbag toss.

Alex did keep his hat on for a short time.

My friends, who all knew each other and moved from Arizona, but moved here at different times...

don't miss the amazing lit up Cinderella!

Unique costumes!

Money, Money, Everywhere!

A while back, I told you that I had kind of gotten suckered into being the PTO Treasurer. While it has taken more time than I initially expected, it really hasn't been that bad until recently. On October 30th, our big fall fundraiser was turned in. I spent the entire day Friday, Monday, and part of Tuesday counting money, along with some of the other PTO board. All the money had to be counted twice, once by me, and once by someone else in order to abide by the bylaws. It takes a lot of time!

The school did very well, which means I had a LOT of money to count. We got all the money and then we will pay the cookie dough company 60%. In the end, we grossed over $40,000, which means our net profit will be around $17,000. When I took that $40,000 deposit to the bank, it occurred to me that I maybe should be driving an armored vehicle with Wells Fargo on the side or something. :)

We had to go through each individual envelope and re-check each order form and money collected for errors, which there were several. Then, it was counting the money, etc. On Friday, several of the PTO boards were sitting at my dining room table checking order forms and counting money. These are some pictures from my dining room.

Here are the teacher envelopes

And the first big stack of money...

After the craziness of those few days, I need a very long break from PTO (which won't be happening). I have to say though, I have a lot of respect for all the parents who really went to bat for our school and worked hard in helping their kids sell cookie dough. So many worked hard, and were very generous themselves as well. It made me realize that I could do more.

As much of my time as PTO has taken lately, I don't regret doing it. It has helped me get to know a lot of very generous women who donate much more time than me to help our school. It has helped me get to know the school administration and teachers also, which helps me know what is going on at school, and what issues my kids are facing at school. Even though I complain a lot, I am proud to be part of that organization that does so much service and volunteers their time and their means in support of their children and their school.

Awards Assembly

At the girl's school, they do an awards assembly at the end of every nine weeks to recognize those kids who have done well. It just so happens that each grade is at a different time, so 3rd grade was at 9am in the morning, and 5th was at 2:00pm on October 27th. Well, since it was a Tuesday, I had tennis lessons that morning. Eric was on-call the night before, so he didn't go in to work until later that day. I asked him if he would be willing to go and support Tessa in the morning session while I went to tennis and I would go to Jesikah's that afternoon. He agreed, and took these pictures of her. Tessa was ecstatic to see her dad there.

Here, Tessa is receiving her award for getting straight A's.

Tessa and the boy behind her, Mitchell, were the only two who got straight A's from Mrs. French's 3rd grade class. Mrs. French is standing on the far right (in the crazy outfit). It just so happened that the awards assembly took place during red ribbon week on the day that they dressed crazy. Tessa was so excited to dress crazy that she wore her pants inside out and her shirt backwards with a crazy belt. Jesikah, on the other hand, wore mismatched socks for her craziness. Both socks were white, one with light purple toes and one with light pink toes. Way to be crazy, Jesikah! She thought Tessa was weird for being so crazy, but that is Tessa!

Tessa also received the art award for her class from the art teacher.

Now for the sad part, Mom completely forgot to attend Jesikah's awards assembly that afternoon. It all came out around the dinner table that night...

Mom: Tessa, what was your best and worst thing about today?

Tessa: My best thing was when DAD came to my awards assembly today. It was so awesome!

Mom: (face dropped)

Jesikah: What! Dad came to your awards assembly and NO ONE came to mine! Priya felt sorry for me and took pictures of me since no one was there!

Dad: You didn't go? (to Mom)

Mom: I'm so sorry, I completely forgot.

I felt so bad that I missed her assembly, but my friend, Priya, graciously took pictures of Jesikah on the momentous occasion.

Ironically, Jesikah received the same two awards as Tessa. She received the recognition for straight A's, and the art award. Way to go, girls!

It wouldn't be fair not to mention that Alex also achieved straight A's this nine weeks, but no awards ceremony for middle schoolers! :)