Sassafras goes to Homecoming!

Don't you love it when your oldest child causes you a little normal teenage drama and you have to ground her from FB for two weeks, which quickly turns into 4 weeks, and then you spy on her phone conversation and you hear her telling her friends... that she knows you are just protecting her and a few other really sweet things that you can't remember!!!????? Seriously. Love. that! (Thanks Janny, for all the great advice. It worked, see? I owe you!)

Kassidy went to her first Homecoming dance. She looked super pretty and had a great night.

We splurged and she go new jewelry and head band and shoes. She and my neighbors helped sew her dress. It was so pretty and I now have a little obsession with tulle skirts. I also got a neighbor friend to come and spoil her by fixing her hair. And Phew! Am I glad. Because the next day I tried to recreate her hair and....it just wasn't happening...at all. What is up with that? What makes it so stinking hard?

Kassidy and our neighbor friend, Marissa.

This was her date Cody. Super nice, ultra polite, boy. They had a fun evening.

I know in a past post I made a big fuss about how annoying day dates are, but they went on one and had a great time. It wasn't all day so it seemed just right.

Now...on to another REALLY important subject. What the heck is up with the pinning of the boutonniere! WHY. ARE. THEY. SO. HARD. TO. PIN. ON? Kassidy didn't stand a chance of getting it on and you can see the TERRIBLE job I did! Awkward!!! They went back to his house so his mom could get pictures of them (super cute idea) and his mom was able to better pin it. But what is going on with it in the first place!!! Why is there not an invention to make it easier! I mean seriously, it was SO hard. I am not exaggerating.

What do you do when your dyslexic child writes worse than he reads?

Love him more. That's what I do.

And make arrangements with his teacher that these kind of papers aren't sent home anymore. She didn't mean for it to be sent home. Someone else graded it and didn't know of our arrangement that he would only be graded on 5 words...and that they would be which ever random five words he would get right....Except he isn't even getting one right.

My new plan is to only work on five. To ignore every single spelling word but five. His teacher has been great and willing to do whatever I think. And that is what I think.

We bought him this cool "Franklin" tool for like 50 dollars. He types in the word he thinks and it spells it to him correctly. It can also speak it and it can also define it. It is really cool....was really cool.

He broke it. Already. By lugging it around in his backpack. *sigh*.

Yesterday when Rhett and I were reading his book together Bo came up and finished reading the last two words for him. My heart soared. My little Bo is learning to read!!!! My heart broke. How hard it will be when Rhett's younger brother, by 4 years, can out read him.

Rhett was excited that Bo could read. He doesn't get down. I think it is really because he is super smart and VERY competent in other ways. I can't tell you the hours he spends outside working on our old crappy bikes. And he FIXES them!

We NEVER speak academics to him. EVER. We do his homework and encourage him and that is it. I never EVER mention low scores. Honestly....I don't care. I mean of course I care that he is struggling but his scores....I could care less. He is more than his low scores. He is a brilliant, beautiful boy.

I can't wait for his basket ball to start. He is hilarious. He is good and he is big! He should be playing football but I just can't get into that for some reason. But last year on the basketball court I heard a man next to me joke about Rhett (not realizing he was my kid)...."watch out for that kid, he is a bull!" And it is true. When he gets the ball he is just BARRELING down the court like a bull to try to get to the other end. Funny. And probably a bit dangerous.

Rhett's teacher told me a really sad story about reading time. Rhett went and got an enormous book off the shelf and was "reading" it and telling the kids all about it. As if he could read it. Now that breaks a mama bull's heart!

My boys... Nathan made it to 5'6" and a quarter. He's 12. He has a few inches to go and he will be as tall as Corey. I don't think COrey is going to take tha so well.

Found this one of Rhett on my camera. He took it of himself. Goof ball.

Want a present?

Kate is a little cutie pie. She wears me down with her non stop TALKING but she is a cutie pie. (By the way, my parents once rewarded me with a hamster if I would shut up for an hour! A hamster! Hilarious.)

She loves to cut paper. And the she will draw me presents on the cut up pieces. And fold them into these crazily small little packages. And then she tells me to close my eyes and open them.

And they are really. really. small.

Really. small.

And my gimpy, carpal tunnel ruined, man hands, can barely get those little suckers open.

But my present is always worth it. It is her happy, proud, little self smiling when I open it..


She makes me laugh because everyday she tells me..."It's turdy o'clock. Time for Grandma to come!" Ha Ha. turdy. *snicker*

Happy Anniversary! Next anniversary I will have been with Corey as long as I was not with Corey. Weird!

This is what you get when you let your husband HUNT on your anniversary....AGAIN!

I deserve it, don't you think?

The color is AMAZING. They are beautiful and the scent of flowers is filling my kitchen. I especially love the orchid and it's smell. So yummy. Maybe my favorite flower... and flower smell.

By the way...Corey actually PICKED out the day for our wedding. And ever since he became a bow hunter he has been kicking himself!

Here's how the stinker celebrated....

We'll still have a date though. Standard dinner and a movie. My FAVORITE!!!!! I want to go see the new Planet of the Apes.

No one took the bait!

I tired to tease you a little bit yesterday with my comment about not judging each other because they might be driving with a fish bowl in their car. NOT one of you asked me what the heck I was talking about! I was very disappointed. So I guess I will have to tell you anyway because it is too good to waste in my own little head.


I have had the privilege of knowing and befriending one of the most miraculous women and teachers in the whole world. I have so much love for her.


She is my sons 7th grade teacher but before she was that she was my friend and ward member. (Which means she goes to church at the same time as our family.)


She married a equally wonderful man and she has been raising his 6 children plus her daughter. She is FABULOUS.

She teaches the kids super fun things. They do plays, they make mid evil models and dress up to display them, they READ the OUTSIDER!!!! (Love that book) ....They MEMORIZE a 1000 worthwhile quotes! She is funny, she is cute, she is kind. I love her.


She was a teacher in our church once. She told a story about not judging because you never know! The people might be driving the car with a fish in a bowl.

I could be wrong but the way I remember the story is....She was driving somewhere with a fish in a bowl. And people were mad at her and annoyed at her slow crappy driving. But she was like "I can't help it. I have a fish in a bowl!"

And she learned a little lesson about judging. And I love it.

Also...Make sure to read this. It's long but LIFE CHANGING!!!!!! When I was told to read it I didn't because there is just too much to read on the Internet. But really read it.

Discouraging day yesterday...

Bo had a bad time at the dentist. No cavities (let's hear it for brushing! Who knew?). He wouldn't open his mouth and he cried and cried his little scared heart out. I had to bribe him with Pokemon cards and the dentist had to force his mouth open anyway. Weary.

We went to our second Jujitsu class.

He spent a 1/4th of his time resting his hand on the bald Masters head,

a 1/4th of his time falling on the ground after every move,

a fourth of his time TALKING (little chatter box),

and the other fourth learning.

So the learning part was good. The instructer is EXCELLENT. Patient and gentle and kind. And Patient and gentle and kind. And Patient. And patient. And soft spoken. And he seems to understand we are training a little boy riddled with ADD and not just teaching a jujitsu class. I really love him already.

Watching Bo....it is so obvious that he just cannot hold still or stay on task. It breaks my heart. Makes me want to cry. I may not be able to stay and watch anymore. Except he gives me like 10 thumbs up during the whole practice and that turns me to mush. But still...weary.

I don't like walking around feeling like I have to defend myself when it is a little embarrassing when he is wildish. Or rubbing bald heads. I don't like feeling like I have to defend myself that I am a good mother and do believe in discipline and that he just struggles and it isn't my fault or his fault. I hate feeling like that. Weary.

I don't like people looking at him and thinking he is misbehaving without knowing his struggles. Weary.

We shouldn't judge people. They might be driving with a fishbowl in their car.

The Jujitsu instructor taught Bo two rules. He is to do what he says fast and he is to do it his best, so he can learn. He never even once removed Bo's hand from his head. It cracked me up. He would just always tell him that was not respectful. I mean he is really amazing with him. Really amazing. Serious.

Oh well. On a funny note....

The Master was having him do the crab walk. Bo was struggling with coordination and strength. He told us "I can't do it! My butt is heavy!" We all laughed.

And being a big butted girl, I can feel his pain. :)

I love my boy though. I wish all of the rest of the people could see how wonderfully special and loving he is.

I can't get enough of how cute he looks doing his jujitsu....

Energy Smenergy?

I have mentioned before that I like Oprah and some don't but I still do.


I heard another really great tid bit from her show the other day. It was from a Dr. but I missed her name. She had a stroke or something but she was able to feel energies when people would come into her room. (I always only half heartily watch T.V. so I never know the whole story)

She left Oprah a sign that said this...


"Please be responsible for the energy you bring into this space"


THAT IS SO TRUE! We should be responsible for that. We all should be paying attention to that!

And I am going to try to be a good energy for my kids when they are around me!


Like that.

Speaking of energy....that kind of talk always use to seem crazy to me. Then Corey hung a gigantic elk head in our home. And all my good energy left the building. It totally threw me off kilter. I hated it. I was so glad when we found it another home. Then I became a believer of energy.

Great quote for a Sunday

Justine and I were watching the 2002 version of The Count of Monte Cristo movie last night. The old Priest jail friend told Edmund something about how to spend the money he was leaving him. He spoke of God. Edmund said,

"I don't believe in God..."


And on his death bed the old friend and Priest replied,


"It doesn't matter....... He believes in you."


I love that. Love, Love, Love.

I love that movie and really need to read the book.

And I really think James Caviezel is beeeeaaaaauuuutiful.

Also....

Today Rhett was helping me take somethings out to the garage and Kate asked me what he was doing. I told her and she said. "Aww. Rhett's a good boy." Little cutie. I also have only met one other child stubborner than her. Her big sister Kassidy. I am in for a ride! Again.

Dear Sons, Love Mom

Dear sweetest sons on planet earth,

You boys are the BEST!!!!! I am so glad you are all MINE!

I have a friend who told me one day that her husband refuses to tell her how he likes her hair best. He won't tell her if he prefers it long or short.

That might not mean much to you,...but to girls...holy cow! To not have to worry about wearing your hair a certain way so your husband will think you are prettier? That would be awesome!

I wear my hair longer because I know your dad likes it that way the very best. As in A LOT. I really want to cut it because I just always throw it in the pony tail any way and I would like a cool style. But I don't cut it because I want dad to think I am pretty.

When you become husbands someday, I think you would be very kind and wise if you would not tell your wife if you like long hair or short hair on her. Then she could be free to do her hair however she wants with no pressure.

Love Always, Your most favorite mom ever.

Don't mess with my boy! He knows the choke hold!

No stinkin' way! You know there is nothing cuter than this kid in a Gi!

(Unless you have your own kid in a Gi, Viki) But little kids barefoot in Gis are DARLING!!!!!!!

So please enjoy these ADORABLE pictures of Bo's first jujitsu class. It may not last long!

My most favorite picture as of late. Look at my boy doing the move! Love it!

Look how good he is being! Just listening to the instructor. Can't wait to find out if the instructor is really called "The Master". Oh, I hope so!!!!

aww...His arms are supposed to be in and not out but the other kid is doing it right because he has taken the class before. So Bo is just learning.

The reason it may not last long is because my friend warned me that Bo's "scholarship" was given under the one condition that I would not have my feelings hurt if Bo was not mature enough to take the class and we were told he could possibly have to wait a bit.

And...sadly, after watching him I won't be surprised if that ends up being the case. He was so stinking cute but he did also get silly and smart alecy. And then he starts to show off.

I think he was a tiny bit tripped out that is was going to be okay to do choke holds and stuff (6 year old boys dream!!!). The teacher was teaching them how to properly do a choke hold and he was practicing on another little boy and Bo told the teacher matter of factly, "You could have killed him."

The "Master" was demonstrating another choke hold. I think Bo is like..."What the crap???? I thought I WASN'T supposed to choke people! Nooo WAYYY!!!!!" *eyes a sparklin'*

When his time was up the teacher came over and said to me... "It's okay".

I thought it was so observant and nice that he would know I was worried about his behavior and that he had it under control. And he did. He handled him VERY well. So did his assistant. They had to work with him because he kept stepping forward instead of back on one of his stances. But they did great with him and I am super excited about it.

Bo knew the moves at later home:

*Attention (Arms down at side, listening)

*Get Base.... (I think it is to step back with one foot and hands up to protect self.)

Ugh! It was so CUTE!! I just wanted to eat it all up.

And just in case Corey reads this....I am SO signing Rhett up! I can really see how helpful it would be for children with ADD because it works on control and discipline (you know, so you actually don't really choke someone during practice). And it seems to be associated with dang good people. ( Judging from the whole three people I met.)

That is one goal I have with Rhett. To keep him rubbing shoulders with good men. I think with his energy level and desire to be doing ALL THE TIME he needs that. Something I have learned about him that is different from my other kids...he NEEDS to be busy all. the. time. And he needs good examples so he stays out of trouble.

I just signed him up with the same basketball coach as last year because the coach is such a kind, gentle person. Goofing around at school, Rhett made a shot at half court, with one arm just flinging the ball! Pretty cool. Also he can take off all the bike tires and fix them. I think that is pretty good! Also Corey just took him on a huge hike where he hiked over 10,000 feet high and 1 miles round trip! That's Corey's plan. Hike them to death and they can do know wrong!

TTYL!

My husband spends at least once a month looking like this....

I had a financial guru once give me this book called The Millionaire Next Door. It said something in there I shant ever forget. The people who are richest (you know, aside form the celebrities etc...) are the people driving the crappiest cars. Yep! That is what it said.

And that is because the rich people aren't spending their money. They are not splurging on big and fancy things. The richest people are not those that look the richest. Mostly those that look the richest are just those with the most debt.

So anyway...We own three old cars. All from about 1990. And you know that thing I just told you about the rich people drive the crappy cars? Yeah..... That's totally not us.

Anyways, about once a month Corey has to do fix up work on one of the three crappy cars. It can become quite stressful actually. Today the van broke in the school car pool line. So that was awkward because all the people had to go around me and I wasn't over to the left far enough and they kept hitting driving over the curb on their other side. Ugh!

Corey came and rescued us but we had to go home and then come back with the truck and tow it. Of course Rhett had to come. That kind of thing EXCITES him. He loves stuff like that SO very much. He was quite excited when it was time for Corey to tow us. He rode with me in the van being towed.

And I had time to explain to my young son who will someday be a husband that when he is one, he needs to tell his wife in detail, what to do in regards to being towed or if they are moving furniture. Guys always just expect us to know. I need communication, man!!!

Corey actually complemented me on my "being towed" skills though. And because I am "word of affirmation" I appreciated that. And I guess I did alright because I didn't crash into the back of him. But that can be scary! Just being pulled along for the ride. Through stop signs and intersections.

I'd love to say the reason we drive old cars is because we love Dave Ramsey and refuse to be making car payments. That IS actually part of it. The other part is....new/newish cars are expensive! And apparently we'd rather our kid have straight teeth. (Cause the price of his straight teeth would have bought us a newish car. He OWES us!)

Thanks to all the people who chauffeured me and the kids around today!

Rhett checking out the tools. He loves that stuff so much!

So many wonderful things going on in the cyber world I can barely stand it!

My researcher friend posted this link on FB!



Uhh...LOVED IT! Wish I had done more of ALL of it! Not to late!!!

Go check out her blog. She has lots of good stuff there. her name is Alicia. For my own reference (when I turn my blog into a family book) I put her list on my blog...


"What should a 4 year old know?

I was on a parenting bulletin board recently and read a post by a mother who was worried that her 4 1/2 year old did not know enough. “What should a 4 year old know?” she asked.

Most of the answers left me not only saddened but pretty soundly annoyed. One mom posted a laundry list of all of the things her son knew. Counting to 100, planets, how to write his first and last name, and on and on. Others chimed in with how much more their children already knew, some who were only 3. A few posted URL’s to lists of what each age should know. The fewest yet said that each child develops at his own pace and not to worry.

It bothered me greatly to see these mothers responding to a worried mom by adding to her concern, with lists of all the things their children could do that hers couldn’t. We are such a competitive culture that even our preschoolers have become trophies and bragging rights. Childhood shouldn’t be a race.

So here, I offer my list of what a 4 year old should know.


1.She should know that she is loved wholly and unconditionally, all of the time.

1.He should know that he is safe and he should know how to keep himself safe in public, with others, and in varied situations. He should know that he can trust his instincts about people and that he never has to do something that doesn’t feel right, no matter who is asking. He should know his personal rights and that his family will back them up.


2.She should know how to laugh, act silly, be goofy and use her imagination. She should know that it is always okay to paint the sky orange and give cats 6 legs.


3.He should know his own interests and be encouraged to follow them. If he could care less about learning his numbers, his parents should realize he’ll learn them accidentally soon enough and let him immerse himself instead in rocket ships, drawing, dinosaurs or playing in the mud.


4.She should know that the world is magical and that so is she. She should know that she’s wonderful, brilliant, creative, compassionate and marvelous. She should know that it’s just as worthy to spend the day outside making daisy chains, mud pies and fairy houses as it is to practice phonics. Scratch that– way more worthy.

But more important, here’s what parents need to know.

1.That every child learns to walk, talk, read and do algebra at his own pace and that it will have no bearing on how well he walks, talks, reads or does algebra.

1.That the single biggest predictor of high academic achievement and high ACT scores is reading to children. Not flash cards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers, but mom or dad taking the time every day or night (or both!) to sit and read them wonderful books.


2.That being the smartest or most accomplished kid in class has never had any bearing on being the happiest. We are so caught up in trying to give our children “advantages” that we’re giving them lives as multi-tasked and stressful as ours. One of the biggest advantages we can give our children is a simple, carefree childhood.


3.That our children deserve to be surrounded by books, nature, art supplies and the freedom to explore them. Most of us could get rid of 90% of our children’s toys and they wouldn’t be missed, but some things are important– building toys like legos and blocks, creative toys like all types of art materials (good stuff), musical instruments (real ones and multicultural ones), dress up clothes and books, books, books. (Incidentally, much of this can be picked up quite cheaply at thrift shops.) They need to have the freedom to explore with these things too– to play with scoops of dried beans in the high chair (supervised, of course), to knead bread and make messes, to use paint and play dough and glitter at the kitchen table while we make supper even though it gets everywhere, to have a spot in the yard where it’s absolutely fine to dig up all the grass and make a mud pit.


4.That our children need more of us. We have become so good at saying that we need to take care of ourselves that some of us have used it as an excuse to have the rest of the world take care of our kids. Yes, we all need undisturbed baths, time with friends, sanity breaks and an occasional life outside of parenthood. But we live in a time when parenting magazines recommend trying to commit to 10 minutes a day with each child and scheduling one Saturday a month as family day. That’s not okay! Our children don’t need Nintendos, computers, after school activities, ballet lessons, play groups and soccer practice nearly as much as they need US. They need fathers who sit and listen to their days, mothers who join in and make crafts with them, parents who take the time to read them stories and act like idiots with them. They need us to take walks with them and not mind the .1 MPH pace of a toddler on a spring night. They deserve to help us make supper even though it takes twice as long and makes it twice as much work. They deserve to know that they’re a priority for us and that we truly love to be with them.

I feel like I met a celebrity!

The cute, orphan saving, lady from "Good to be Crazy" responded to me. I felt so special!

Her response made a lot of sense and it made me think....they have thought of everything which made me think obviously Heavenly Father has to be helping them.

Sooooo....... here is her response.

Hi Susan --

Thank you so much for your heart for SixtyFeet. I am so blessed by you!! If you and your blog family really want to help, the best way is through cupcakes. Yep. You heard me right.

We like to buy supplies and needed items in Uganda so we are supporting the local economy -- so when people want to contribute for a specific need, we ask them to fundraise for it.

Our fundraising arm is nothing fancy. Just a bunch of kids. But last year, those little ones raised $60,000 for SixtyFeet. Please check it out and let me know if you're up for this year: www.thecupcakekids.org

Blessings!
Shelly

And I think we should check out her referred site. And then I think we should ponder it and come up with our own ideas on how to make this happen in our own situations. My brain is spinning and I have some plans. I'll share later. I need more time to think about it and decide if I am ready to tackle it!

Until then, read her really great post. I love it.

9/11

10 years ago we lived in kind of an "ify" neighborhood in an apartment in Boise. My husband had a dream job with Micron. Although we had three kids (and possibly pregnant with the fourth) he had just graduated college (again) and this was his first job in his new field. He really, really, like it. Sadly, hundreds of people were laid off shortly after, including us.

I remember waking up, going down the stair and turning on the news for a minute. I was getting ready to drive Kassidy to school. I can't even remember exactly what I saw now but it was the twin towers on fire and the attack. I ran back upstairs to tell Corey who was home for the day. I remember he was sleeping and didn't really believe it was as bad as I was telling him.

As I drove Kassidy to school the newscaster on the radio said the words I will always remember "Ladies and Gentlemen...We are at war!" SHOCK!

Later that day at school, Kassidy had the flu. When I went to pick her up one of the teachers told me that Kassidy being sick helped her so much that day. That she had been walking around in a trance and Kassidy being sick snapped her out of it.

Several times in the next week I remember calling my dad for comfort because I was confused what this all meant. The grocery store was EMPTY and I was hearing they were going to be shutting down, that everything was going to be shutting down. None of that happened.

Instead of shutting down, America "snapped to" and came alive. It was great.

I also remember calling my dad confused. "Am I supposed to hate Muslim people now?"

I had a neighbor who was my friend. She was a few years older than me. A Muslim lady would walk through our street to go to work or the store, I assume. I had never really crossed her path but my friend had, and they would always say hi to each other. After that day on 9/11 my friend chose not to speak to her anymore. My friend was mad at her for what her people did to us. I was astonished.

I remember looking out my window and seeing the Muslim lady walking, the first week after the attack. She was walking down the street in her usual Burqaa. One of my biggest wishes, now that I am older and wiser, is that I would have gone and spoken to her, or walked with her. I am sure it was a very scary time for her as well. I regret that I didn't do that.

I still remember my dads sound voice of reason saying how nuts it was to hate all Muslim people because of the attacks. He was a comfort at that time... to a daughter who thought the world was about to shut down. Love him.

There isn't anything else I can say. I just remember the horrificness (not a word? should be.) of people jumping out of the buildings. The people running through the streets, grayish white, covered in ash. All the stories of suffering and also amazing heroism. I was glued to the TV the whole time as was probably the rest of the nation.

‎I got this off Face Book:
2,997 people died. 411 people risked their lives to save others. At least 200 people jumped or fell to their deaths. 2 beautiful buildings destroyed. 246 people left on an airplane & never got to see home again. 2,997 innocent people left their homes one day & never got to see their families again.

Loved what my Glenn Beck said about the next day...

"On 9/12 no one in the government had to tell us what to do. We just did it. We went and we found a place to give blood. We went and we gave money. We gathered together. We gathered our family around. We prayed. We were the people that our grandparents were and nobody had to tell us"


Best wishes on this day of remembering.

Wow! Watch out! Unexpected blessings coming my way!!!

I received a call today from a friend who knows of my struggles with Bo (Age 6). My friend works with Bo at school and has had a few exchanges with him. He told me there wasn't a mean bone in his body. I was happy to hear that. Of course I already know that but others don't see it. Bo has so much love to share when he is contained a bit.


My friend runs a jujitsu shop(?), program (?) company (?) group (?). I am not sure what the term is but he owns one.

Honestly, I don't even know what Jujitsu is versus karate or taekwando or any of those things. I do believe martial arts is the general term but all I know is.... the ADD book said material art classes where good for kids with ADD. It teaches them to learn to control their energy....(through wrestling! HA HA!).

And the only other thing I know is that the morning of the day my friend gave me a phone call, my cute little guy was showing me karate chop moves and spins.

And when my friend called me, he said he thinks Bo should take jujitsu. My heart sank a tiny bit because, yeah, I'd love to sign my kids up for all these wonderful programs. But it is costly. But my friend was calling to offer him a scholarship.

He told me when he was a boy his family couldn't have afforded for him to take jujitsu. But the owner let him work it off and that is why he is where he is now. And that he promised he would do the same and he was offering us this opportunity.

This has happened to me before. I don't know why I am surprised since I do believe Heavenly Father answers prayers. But somehow I am still surprised.

I pray....something comes my way to bless my children. I pray...something comes my way to bless them more. It's great!

I am so grateful. Grateful for blessings coming my way and grateful for good people who make them happen. I want to make them happen in others lives. I hope I'm listening.

I have one CONTINUOUS prayer in my heart for my children. One that I ask for all the time in their behalf. I can't share it but Heavenly Father knows it and I pray it will be granted someday. I pray, I pray.

Anyways, My heart gets all mushy gushy thinking about Bo in a little cute white out fit (Gee?) ready to karate chop with bare feet. SO CUTE! CAN'T WAIT! Thanks so much to my friend for the opportunity.

The only thing that deterred me a bit was when I was checking out his website and there was a spot on how to take care of your outfit. And that there is actually a way you can "tap out" of the fight because the other persons out fit is too stinky. And you can get ring worm. Uhhhh.....Can we all say... EWWWWWW!!!!!!!

My friend also had to correct Bo's poor behavior in the hall way. My children attend a charter school that has been accused of being militant. My friend Linda described it perfectly when she said.... "No, we are teaching them to behave like ladies and gentlemen."

They are not supposed to be speaking in the hall way of the school and when they walk they walk in lines with their hands down with no speaking. It keeps order. I love it.

Bo was holding on to the boy in front of him breaking the rules. My friend had to correct him and said "How do we act in the hallway?" And my little lovey dovey just gave him a hug. Melted him.

And my friend told me in regards to teaching and jujitsu, that he can always help a good heart accomplish something. And that's my Bo.

Once again, Thankful! and excited.

We need to do something!

Remember that blog I follow, with the people who are helping the orphans in Africa? The group is currently there visiting and they are taking another trip in 2013. I have sent her a note asking what we can send or do to help.

I don't know if there even is anything aside from money. But I'll let you know. We should do something. I am so unsettled just hanging out in my own blind life. I want to do something. I want you to help me.

Read her blog post. And then let's figure out what we can do.

If you click on her section about the trip it tells more.

What a crazy journey sometimes!

The challenges of earth life!

Aren't they interesting, painful, inspiring, complicated, annoying, all the different things challenges can be.... they are. So many different emotions attached to them.

Through another blog I was led to this blog. It has been really interesting and sad and happy. It is about a man who had a brain hemorrhage and their whole little happy world has been shook up. But they are plugging away and working it out. And there dreams have changed. It is only about 10 days in so if you want to follow its not too late to catch up.

I have been reading a new book on ADD. I have a sweetie pie friend who led me to it and I am grateful for the "you need to be doing some research, girl!" jump she gave me. She didn't say that but she is a researcher and it made me think "are you nuts for not educating yourself on the topic?"...so I am.

So, I have been reading The ADD Answer. Written by Dr. Frank Lawlis. Endorsed by Dr. Phil. Why does that give the book more power? I don't know. But it feels more legitimate.

I also have a book waiting at the library (I HATE BORROWING BOOKS! I WANT TO OWN EVERYONE SO I CAN MARK IT ALL UP) called Boys Adrift. Cyber world recommended it to me. Somewhere I read about it and it said something about how we send little boys to kindergarten and are frustrated when they don't just sit still and do academic things. And it said that little boys are not always developmentally at that stage. I heard really great things about the book so I am going to read that one too.

I don't always enjoy reading self help books. I have to sort of make myself do it like a chore. I am always glad though for the new knowledge. Sometimes I look at Corey and think....why is it my job to read all the self help (or kid help) books. I want him to read one for once. (he HATES reading) (Hates) (As in NEVER reads) (The kids think he can't) (Rhett told me once that he was just going to be like dad and not read....Pffttt!!!! 1) uh.....let me thing about that for a second.....As long as my body can live and breath you will learn to read. 2) dad can read. He just doesn't.)

The few things I have learned from The ADD Answer so far was the different way the brain works for ADD kids. That frustrates me for them. And hopefully you already know this but people with ADD are just as smart as everyone else (Look at Glenny) it just is a different brain issue.

Another part of the book I loved is this part that the Dr. who wrote it says...

"The major complaint I hear from kids, especially teenagers, with ADD is that everyone focuses on the failures, and they already know about the failures. The worst thing a parent can say to a kid who screwed up is: "Look at what damage you have done. Do you see what you have done? You have wrecked your mother's car." Of course he sees what he had done. He desperately needs you to tell him what to do next. He is a child after all."

That might not "speak" to all of you the way it did me, but for some reason it did.

I have been FORCING, at my own painful expense, Rhett to take piano. He has been at it for more than a year. But it is MY dream for my son to be able to play the piano on his mission. Because of his dyslexia it has been very SLOW going. Symbols are also confusing to people with dyslexia. But I want my children to learn to work hard at something. SO I haven't let him quit. And I have sat with him for every practice coaching him along. And as of late I became his teacher when his real teacher moved.

So in the book it said that "One of the marks of ADD is the persistent failure of a child to conform to expectation, so it is highly likely that your child will be facing more failures than successes-and far more than then average kid does. Therefore it is critical that you, as the parent, prepare for the probable stress and even depression that comes from disappointments and find constructive avenues for your child to have success, in at least one arena of life. Otherwise, you can be sure that your child will find other ways of achieving some means of personal power, and these means may not be in the best interest of your child or the family."

So that made me think of the piano and Rhett. He HATES it. HATES. He is not "getting" it more than he is "getting" it. But I want my dream (I can admit it)! And it is good for him. But every practice feels like a failure to him, I think, because it is very difficult for him. So I decided that he will only practice one song a week. And he will not have to practice for long. I don't want him to continuously be failing at the piano because of his disabilities. But I don't want to give up the benefits it has either. When I told him that he was very happy.

Dr. Lawlis also said "My high school football coach use to say, "Always be moving in a positive direction. Even if you are pushed back a time or two, always move toward the goal, even if it's an inch at a time."

So that is how we are going to tackle piano. An inch at a time. And I feel really great about that.

I am now on Chapter 5 of the book! The medicine chapter. To medicate or to not. The book is pro...not. So confusing but knowledge is power so we shall see!

WOW! Super long and boring post to say"I am reading a book on ADD. "

Just some good family time...

I was reading a friend's blog the other day. She mentioned how she had been advised to not post religion on her blog because it turns the readers away.

So sad that that is the feeling out there in the blog world. I have been following several blogs lately that include religion. They are not of my faith.... but they are about faith. I am uplifted by them. I find hope and inspiration from them.

So if I turn off readers by talking about my religion then there is nothing I can do about it. Because my religion is ME. And I can't be genuine or true without writing about it.

So I hope my blogger friends know that I come in peace. When I write about my religion I never mean to offend or preach or debate. I just want to tell my story. And I want to hear yours. No matter what faith you are or even if you may not be a believer at all. I want to hear you and I want to be heard as well. Aren't we all the same?

A few nights ago, I was a little proud of myself because I mustered up the energy to have FHE*. We haven't had it for a few weeks since my surgery. Rhett was in charge (to pass off one of his church goals) of teaching us about Joseph Smith. Because of his reading dyslexia he showed the pictures he and Justine colored and I read. I was so overcome with the sweetness and truthfulness of the story that I started crying and had to have Corey finish reading. He laughed because there was only one line left.

Here is the super quick version in case you are curious...

"As a young boy in 1820, Joseph Smith wanted to know which church was true. As he searched the Bible for help, he read...

...that he should ask of God. Acting on this counsel, Joseph went into the woods near his home and prayed. Suddenly, a light shone above him and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. When Joseph asked which church he should join, the Savior told him to join none of the churches then in existence because they were teaching incorrect doctrines. Through this experience and many others that followed, the Lord chose Joseph to be His prophet and to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church to the earth." LDS Official Website

Strange? Not to me.

So anyway after the lesson from an embarrassed and grumpy Rhett, who mumbled all the things he was supposed to say (see? We are totally normal!), we played a memory game on prayer,

and played Joseph Smith's favorite old fashioned stick pull game. It was full of the usual fun and fighting and of course one person has to cry or it isn't any fun. That's what I always say.

I love Kate trying to help Bo pull win...

We also discussed prayer. And how Joseph's prayer was answered and so are all of ours. Even if we don't recognize it. Or like the answer. Or understand. Of feel alone still. Sometimes the answers will be great and sometimes they will be small. And sometimes the answer is to wait awhile. And sometimes the answer is no. (It was when Christ prayed that maybe there would be another way then for Him to be crucified and suffer in Gethsemane) But we just need to trust. And trusting is a choice. If we don't feel like trusting we just need to say we are going to trust anyway and do it. And shun those thoughts of doubt. I have to do that sometimes also.

So Rhett did his teacherly duty and asked the family if anyone would like to share some experiences on prayer that they have had. I thought I'd document for our families sake. And some of them really are like "WOW" that HAS to be an answer to prayer!

Corey was skiing with the wonderful: "Cousin Scott." They were doing jumps in tons of powder snow. Corey had his cars keys in his front shirt pocket. It was the last run of the night and the ski resort was closing. On the jump Corey hit his hand on his pocket and FLUNG the keys out of his pocket and into the DEEP powder snow ....some.where.....out.there.

Of course they couldn't find them. Who could? So they knelt in prayer and found them INSTANTLY!.....No way!!!! Has to be answer to prayer. How else could you get so lucky?

Justine was standing in line at Lagoon amusement park. She had been invited to go with a friend.
Want to know what crazy, EVERYTHING SCARES you TO DEATH looks like.... ??

This is it! She is scared of everything! She is me. Just younger.

Anyway....so of course she is standing in line, SCARED TO DEATH, waiting for a ride that goes high and flip you up side down. She didn't want to go but was too scared to tell her friend. You know...because she is scared of everything.

So she prayed while in line for the ride to get cancelled because of mechanical problems so she wouldn't have to go. That cracks me up!!!!! But GUESS WHAT!!!!!! Right before her turn....the. RIDE. WAS. SHUT. DOWN. FOR. MECHANICAL. PROBLEMS!!!!!!! NOoooo WAY!!!!

Does HEAVENLY FATHER love her or what!!!!!!

Kassidy was walking to our post office box with our mailbox key. She must have been like 10 years old. Of course.....she loses the key. She was distraught looking for it and in tears. My friend drives by and feels prompted to stop and help her. Kassidy finds the key! Miracles, I tell ya!

I was in my bathroom at the cupboard and I had a broken phone in my hand. The other one wouldn't turn on and I couldn't figure it out and it had been frustrating me for like a WEEK! The phone kept saying "handset 2" on it. I had/have no idea what that meant/means.

So I said "Ughhh!!!! Heavenly Father just help me figure out what is wrong with this stupid phone!!!!!" And in my mind came clear as day, the thought to take off the back and plug in the battery. So I did and the phone was fixed. Come on now....ANSWERED PRAYER!

After my surgery I had some pains that were very painful. I have it in my head that I shouldn't pray for help with things like that because the suffering in the world is so GREAT that I should be able to handle a little pain. But after a few days of it I had had enough. Also I was having some other painful issues on top of the normal pain and I was getting super stressed out. So I finally prayed for help. The very next day, when I thought I couldn't take any more, I woke up and the one painful issue was completely gone. Allowing me to deal with the other painful issue that went away soon also! I was SO thankful for help!

Now! Here's the thing. Why would Heavenly Father care to help me fix a silly phone when children are dying or other prayers that are more important go seemingly unanswered. Or not answered the way we want? I don't know! I just don't! But I know that in times of trial and heaartache, that is when we are the most humble and the most teachable. And that is when the spirit can reach us the most. So we just have to trust.

Do I have any readers left? Too much religion? I don't care.

Love you guys.

*Family Home Evening From Wikipedia
Family Home Evening (FHE) or Family Night, in the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, refers to one evening per week, usually Monday, that families are encouraged to spend together in study, prayer and other wholesome activities. According to the LDS Church, the purpose of FHE is to help families strengthen bonds of love with each other as well as provide an atmosphere where parents can teach their children principles of the gospel.*