You can't take the boy out of the man!

Hockey Player is 13.  He is growing up.  Just a inch or two shy of being almost or taller than dad.  Looks us in the eyes these days.  If I am barefoot and he is not, I am quickly reminded how short I am becoming.  He has tryouts coming up in a month or so.  His stick broke at the end of the season. 
He doesn't nag.  Daddy O reminds me often.  So finally I sat down with Hockey Player. 

We looked online.  He took me to Hockey Monkey and showed me the sticks he wanted.  I took a chance and went to Ebates and discovered Hockey Monkey was affiliated with them.  Joy of all joys!!  Not only did we discover his preferred sticks clearance, we scored 3% back on Ebates!!  So excited, I was quick to call and Facebook moms of his teammates. 

But that is not what this post is about.  I order online, but not a WHOLE bunch.  Though it is increasing in this season of life.  A huge package showed up at the door.  I kept hollering for Hockey Player to come.  He is entering this season of life where he can be slow to respond to mom.  He is starting to think for himself.  He tries to interpret my calls to determine if he wants to/should actually come.  It is really annoying.  So this particular day, he wouldn't come.  Not with all the cheering and cajoling of his sibs.  They even told him what they had...now guaranteed he might now have heard all the way in the depths of the basement.  But guaranteed he heard some sort of rumble and knew something was up.  Soooo, I yelled down to him, if he didn't get upstairs I was gonna stop the truck as it turned around and drove back by and send the package back with. 

He showed up! And he did this when I suggested returning his box.....

And I realized he is still my "little" guy at heart.  Especially when it comes to his "toys".  

 

He doesn't look all that happy, but that is Hockey Player.  He was posing.

Then Fun Girl got in there with him and they started measuring where they might need to cut the stick. (Aunt Shell, please note:  He is taller than Fun Girl!)

Trying to get a picture and this is what I got.  They were being silly.  However, this is a classic look.  For whatever reason, I seem to capture this expression a lot on film.  It is definitely not the one I am trying to capture!

This is what I wanted to see! 
Success!!!!!

 

 

 

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Easter 2013 ~

We did Easter a bit different this year. 

Hubby and I talked to the Easter Bunny and asked for something a bit different~

Baskets! 

 

Normally, there is a chocolate bunny and jelly beans on the table for each kiddo..

 

The Easter Bunny always comes while we are at church.

 

Starting when we had just one wee one,

Easter Bunny would always leave spring/summer fun behind

instead of candy.

Sidewalk chalk

Bubbles

Water balloons

Pool toys

 

He decided to fill baskets/buckets for the kids.

He respected my desire for just a "little" candy.

 

Each bucket had favorite snacks...

Cheez-its,
Pringles,
personal favorite sweets
Oreos,

the required Chocolate Bunny,
a couple of the kiddos received sidewalk chalk tattoos,

and they all received
Water Balloons!


 

Now I know only 4 children are pictured. 

 And if you are a very observant aunt, this might bother you...

Hockey Player was not left out.

He was working at the church nursery this Sunday while we were at home getting ready

for the big day with Hubby's family. 

We picked him up and joined the family celebration and protected his bucket till we could

present it to him.

 

Cooking Lessons and Trades

I have been out of commission for almost 2 months now.  Though to be honest I have not done a whole lot of cooking for over a year now.  Thanks to hubby's job and the shifts he works....well I tend to teach school and work on any number of things around here (at least till the car accident) and someone else takes on the job of food prep.  One of the tasks that would normally fall on me, but can be delegated else where.  I had to let go of somethings, and well I was comfortable with this one.  I prayed for husband that could cook.  I got one!  I also got a husband that has the patience of saint in the kitchen and he doesn't get flustered by kids and he teaches them well.  Lately, my older two are proficient in the kitchen and I teach by giving them verbal instructions or an older shows a younger. 

This particular day we needed a chicken cooked.  Fun Girl just grosses out over whole chickens.  I do remember being a teenager girl and freaking out about them as well.  Except, my dad wanted me to chop it up and fry it.  That went over like a ton of bricks much to my Dad's frustration.  My kids have it easy.  Just rinse the bird out, make sure nothing is inside, put it in the cookware.

Well the commotion in the kitchen was absolutely crazy.  Fun Girl is offering to clean the kitchen.  (She despises this chore, only slightly less than laundry!)  Will Hockey Player please prep the chicken??  He doesn't know how.  Fun Girl offers to tell him what to do, standing over his shoulder she gives instructions.  Little Princess runs for my phone to take pictures.  There were like 20 plus pictures on my phone when all was done and over. 

 

Dinner was perfect!

No words needed!

1064.  I love my boy! 

Out of the running for Mother of the Year!

Super Bowl Sunday, I lost any chance of winning the title. 
I went from being aghast and shocked and laughing out of pure shock to grieved and shedding a few tears. 
Again with the whole head injury thing.   I am beyond being able to make decisions. I defer all decisions to hubby. 

Fun Girl asked to have friends over for Super Bowl.  I didn't grasp all the details till the day before and day of...10+ girls invited!  It was all on Fun Girl to do what needed to be done.  The guys went to my in-laws.  Well, all except Hockey Player.  I took him to hang with the 7/8th graders from church.  Little Princess stayed with us at the house and had her own friends over.

Somewhere along the way, I understood the game ended at 9.  Hubby would be home and pick up Hockey Player and all would be good.  I can't keep up with departure times and such to get Fun Girl to work on time much less navigate all the stuff that gets thrown at me during the day.  I have turned into a one thing a day kind of gal.  Get to thinking about too many things, my head hurts, I get tired, I get really tired. 

So back to the party.  My job besides chaperone, is to work on my clutter mess while every one is doing their thing.  I do my job well.  I reduce my mountain by about half.  A beautiful aesthetic improvement to the room.  Hubby comes home. Do you notice?? Do you notice???  Compliments. Winding down.  Chidlren sent to bed.  I am thinking I might just go to bed and how sleepy I am starting to get.  Then the hubby asks me, "Where's Hockey Player?" 

I don't know.  Hubby looks at me really hard. 

Talking about an hour and a half after Hockey Player's party ended.  The kid didn't even call me.  Hubby looked like he was going to blow out of frustration.  He needed sleep.  He needed to go to work.  Called the parents hosting....I made record time to the house.  Stuttered and stammered and slurred through my apologies...

Why didn't HOckey Player call?  Well, one of his friends had just left 30 minutes prior.  He knew we would come.  Just figured we had to wait till all the kids had left our house.  The parents...well they knew what Super Bowl night can be like with a bunch of kids that can't drive.  Figured we were up to our eyeballs in the chauffeur business.    Nope, just brain damaged and forgot one.  I am so glad I had not climbed under the covers yet.  The only thing that could make this story worse. 

Hockey Player totally unphased.  He didn't even remember this was the second time Dad and I had miscommunicated and left him waiting.  He really is too quiet of a kid... he needs to become more of a pest and NOISY...  I feel like pond scum.  I love that boy way to much to forget him.  I am glad I didn't wake to a phone call wondering if all was okay and if we wanted our son back ?!?

Ready for the Big Bumps!

 Remember this post last month?

 

 

Well now, he is free and clear!

Not much of a smile for the camera.

But he is excited and ready for the Big Bumps.

 

 

And what exactly are Big Bumps?  I don't really want to know.

This past weekend, Daddy O and I worked Bingo. 

Hockey fundraisers to help pay for, well, Hockey.

Couple of dads were talking.

Dad One asked if Hockey Player was back. 

Dad Two said yes, and I responded "sorta."

There was a choked back laughter.

See, DaddyO was otherwise busy elsewhere in the room.

I KNEW something was up.

I explained Daddy O told me there was no contact allowed, so Hockey Player got on the ice for a game on Thursday.

 Some how it came out....not sure how.

Hockey Player took a hit in the corner.

Went down, then knocked the other guy down.

DaddyO returned and I tolded him, he was busted....

His response, Just a little bump!

Hockey Player even jumped up and let DaddyO know all was good.

 

Good Heavens Can't Trust the Two of the Them to Follow Doctor's Orders.

 

Cornered Hockey Player the next day and asked about his hit.

His response, "HUH?? What hit?"

Just a little bump.

Told him he was busted.

Couldn't remember knocking anyone else down.

 

I get told to quit making it a big deal.

 

Doctor laughed and shooked his head.

Said he would see us the next day.

Not funny doc.

Just to prove it, I told him we would be at church and not hockey.

Well then maybe Friday.

 

better NOT!

 

 

 

Time flies

 

I was looking for something on my computer and came across this picture of my two oldest. 

Two years ago.

Where has the time gone?

They are growing up way too fast.

One is a Junior this year, the other a seventh grader...

They will be looking at starting college and high school the same year.

Not sure if I am going to be ready for the new season that is coming.

 

Jane, she is a favorite part of my week!

I first met Jane 8 or 9 years ago. 

Fun Girl wanted to learn to play violin.

A friend recommended Jane. 

She even took me to her kiddos lessons. 

Still wasn't too sure about entering the world of music lessons.

I knew in theory, I knew music instruction was invaluable.

But private lessons and the cost of the instrument had me concerned....
well invaluable, means there is a value.

A big commitment.

As always, God has provided. 

Since that day, all but our youngest have gone to Jane for lessons.

Fun Girl started with violin.

Then she added piano as Hockey Player started to play.

Fun Girl has moved on in her interests but to Jane's we go every week.

Hockey Player

Little Princess

Dad's Bud

and maybe one day The Man

Jane's home is one the children adore.

Her yard is something out of the Secret Garden.

Lots to discover,

a tire swing for waiting siblings

daffodils in the spring

cats and kittens lounging in the sun....

in her home...

piles and piles of music...

and she knows where each piece is located.

I believe every she has kept every gift every student has given her.

A testament of the love and respect given to her by all who enter her life.

 

 

Before every recital piece is played, the performer

must stand, tell his name, age, grade and something about him/herself

and the piece to be played.

Meanwhile, siblings are encouraged to get comfortable

and pet the audience.

 

 

garlands of glitter and pizzazz

sparkles and memories

 

 

momentos of a life time of teaching

 

 

When I look around, I can't help but smile.

He is armed and dangerous

This past weekend, I stayed home sick.  It was hockey weekend in OKC. We are still waiting on news if there will be any more tournaments this year. We are short on numbers for a team. Parents are thinking and discussing. So, it was with disappointment, I chose to stay home. It might be the only tournament of the year and I am missing it.

 

Coughing and blowing and sneezing in a car...in a hotel room...not fun, not fun for anybody. 

Definitely is not a recipe for good rest for every one there.

 

So I stayed home.

The girls stayed too.

 

Daddy O did his best to keep me updated.

 

First game, I received multiple texts.

Boys were doing great and winning.

First game was a win!

 

Rest and food and fun

 

Game 2

Daddy O texts with scores.  Then Daddy O calls. He is concerned about Hockey Player. Coach is not putting him on the ice. My first thought is his foot. Daddy O doesn't know. I ask if I should call coach on the bench and he tells me No.

**sigh**

All I want to do is be there, cross the ice, and check on my boy. Coach recently assured me, he remembers the rules.  I pray and wonder.

 

Another phone call Daddy O was able to attract Hockey Player's attention.

Did thumbs up and thumbs down....HP's response ~ thumbs down.

 

Sigh...so far away.

Game is over, we lost and my thoughts are on HP

Daddy O calls and reports in,

Hockey Player says, "My arm feels broken. Like all the other broken bones."

 

Any other time, I would laugh.

 

But he is in another state and I want him home.

Daddy O tells me he has limited mobility.  Hurts to move his hand or hold anything. I suggest (in my mommy way) to skip the ER. All they will do is XRay and confirm.  No bone sticking out so emergency surgery is not required. They will tell us to follow up with our doc.

 

Cha-ching $150 for the hospital.

 

Come home.  Immediate care on Sunday with out doc. We have had so many mis-diagnosises, I prefer for him to discover my kid's fractures...

 

Call one of the other hockey moms and ask, "Is Dad giving me the sanitized version?"

Yes and No.  He missed the hit, cause little brothers were distracting him.

 

I get the story.

 

HP went to the boards, his hand was on the boards

another player came in broadside to his arm

all legal

but sticks, hits and power

I know in my heart it is broken.

What IT is, is the question.

Wrist

Both arm bones

 

They come home.

Difficulty sleeping...

My boy is stoic and quiet...more so than usual.

He doesn't antagonize his sisters.

I can see the pain in his eyes.

 

At the doctors, he is all quiet and laid back.  Not really giving doc details.  So I step in, that is what Moms do, right?  Doc examines and pulls and not a single word or OW or stop. That is what I get at home.

 

I step in again and tell doc, he is too quiet for his own good.

 

Doc, very politely tells me, "I see him flinching, I know."

 

hmmmph, I guess I need to be still  Really hard to do...my 3.5 pound bag of sugar is hurt.  Did I mention I wrapped my arms around him the night before and cried. Cried and cried until he asked if he could "..go to bed now?"  I see the man he is becoming, but I also see him as 6.5 weeks earlier and 3.5 pounds in a isolette in the NICU.  The tiny bundle my body evicted way too soon.

The tiny boy I sat and covered in prayer and wore my heart on my sleeve for. The tiny baby I fought to bring home with me. I want good for him. I want for him to play hockey if that is what he wants.I want for him to be healthy and whole.

So we go to XRAY.

After XRay we are sent to the procedure room

We are put in an exam room.

I get a little excited, must not be broken.

But doc comes in.

Broken.

Not as bad as it could be considering.

One bone.

Not the wrist.

Not into the growth plate.

Much to be thankful for.

Brace for now, come back during the week to cast it.

Woohoo!  That means he gets to take a couple more normal showers.

Yeah, I love him... I just don't always like to smell him.

He is a teenage boy.

 

 He tries to do his school work this morning.  It is tough, he is right handed and it is his right arm in the cast.  We are getting a lesson in sibling relationships and when it interfere.  Dad's Bud joins us and starts to pester.  I warn Dad's Bud to back off.  But he doesn't know what that means and continues.  He starts messing with HP's arm.  Really?  I warn him.  Then I give HP permission to demonstrate the power of his arm.  Yes, I did.  What else do big brothers do, when little brothers won't back down because they are vying for territory and herd roles of leadership.  Big brothers pop them with their cast and demonstrate they are armed and dangerous and it is best to back down. 

Well Hockey Player didn't whack him.  I grabbed HP's arm and banged it into Dad's Bud's chest a few times until he said ow.  Point made.  Leave your brother alone. He has my permission to settle it.  He won't unless he has to, cause that is the kind of young man he is...

 

Brotherly Force as the last resort.

 

 

 

Pumpkin Patch at home

My children!

Each one is unique.

Each one has their mother's heart.

Each demostrate their individuality in all they do

even when picking their pumpkins. 

Naming is courtesy of my girls!

Left to Right

The Mutant,  The Character, The Alien, Cinderella

HOckey Player,       Fun Girl,       The Man,     Little Princess

 

Boo

Dad's Bud

Pumpkin Patch #3...Last but not least

Favorite glimpses of Autumn.

Taking time to Pause and Enjoy

the Now and Here

It was a beautiful day!

 

 

Another snack break :)

Pumpkin Patch #2...............

After picking our pumpkins

it is time to play!

first stop ~ the air pillow

 

 

When the kids are done playing, the moms will play!

 

 

Trying to not fall on the kiddos!

 

Hubby had fun taking pictures. 

I was trying to jump in the above picture.

But I had the giggles so bad!

I spent most my time on my bottom

Or my knees, trying to get back up!

 

Then it was time for more kiddo time!

 

Fun Girl

 

My dear friend,

 I wish I didn't have to worry about allergies..

I would have jumped on like her!

Doesn't that look like fuN!

 

Little Princess

 

Dad's Bud

 

The Man

 

 

Going down the slide~

Giggling again!

 

Ms. Molly had the perfect idea.

Wish I had thought of it.

She let her son and Dad's Bud

pedal her around the pond!

 

Hockey Player and Joseph

 

Daddy O, Fun Girl and The Man

 

Little Princess with her Daddy