Teen Girls 101

She passed the class today!
She got an A++++ in squealing and freaking out.
I mean totally freaking out!
Our Rainbow Resource order arrived today.
Flutter Nutter was grabbing and tossing anything that didn't look like it was for him. Very interested in his Aunt Shell's treasures. I managed to rescue these for her. Fun Mom came along to rescue the items tossed. The first one she picked up, went flying to the floor with an
"OOOOOOOOOO, there are eyes"
"There are eyes! "
"OOOOOOOOOOO"
"Gross! ! ! ! ! ! !"
Imagine a whole lot of jumping up and down and high pitched squeals.
What she had picked up? Her perch, frog, crayfish and worm to dissect this year.
"OOOOOO, there are eyes! "
"Eyes! "
"It has eyes! "
Even now she is sitting next to me still freaking out and it is 5 hours later.
Yep, onto Teen Girls 201........

It is all a matter of perspective

So my Office Max order arrived 3 days earlier than expected. It arrived less than 24 hours after I placed my order. Totally shocked! I only ordered online, cause the prices were less than in the store. I got to collect Ebates on my purchase and my order was large enough to get free shipping. Who knew it would come from the store just down the street.
Completely thrilled to get a box of school supplies. Yep, school supplies. I am color coding kids this year and didn't want to wait for a better sale and possibly not get the colors the kids had chosen for themselves. ;)
Pulled out the binders. Instructed the kids to decorate their coversheets to slip in the front of the binders. My girls instantly asked me to do the fancy writing they like so much.
Since I was feeling especially maternal and sweet, I agreed. I actually wanted to take a nap. I asked for a foot rub while I did their papers. One agreed to the foot rub. The other supervised me. Flutter Nutter was ecstatic at the prospect of doing school. I wrote his "letters" for him. He got out stickers and began to decorate. right. there. beside. me. Have I mentioned there are times my kids have to do everything really, I mean really, close to me. So close, that Flutter Nutter and I had this conversation:
Me: FN, please don't kick me. (remember he is really close to me)
FN: ok! squiggle, wiggle
Me: FN, please don't kick me.
FN: ok! squiggle, wiggle
Me: FN, stop kicking me.
FN: I'm not kicking you.
Me: Deep breathe, exhale, LIGHT BULB (Thank you, Lord for your heavenly wisdom)
Me: FN, stop wiggling so much that you touch me.
FN: OH, Ok! Scoots over and continues his project.
Totally all about one's perspective.

Happy Birthday Sis!

The celebration started yesterday. Yesterday, I remembered her birthday was coming up. Well, when I remember something, I just better take care of it. This is especially true about birthdays. I remember birthdays a month before hand, the day before. But, I am notoriously very forgetful on the day of the birthday. I have even forgotten my own children's birthdays, to only be reminded when my husband says Happy Birthday! What kind of mother am I ? ? So the kids and I called and sang to her. She was thrilled we had remembered. She did check with us on the the date, wondering if she was mistaken on what day it was. But, hey, I remembered. But what is even better, I remembered today. I remembered when I was at the doctor's office and I could not call. I remembered when I was unable to use the phone. I talked to her two times and didn't remember to say anything.
Tonight, I remembered and I called just to say, "Happy Birthday!". I was soo excited that I remembered, I just had to tell her how proud I was of myself. Because, after all it is HER birthday, but it is really all about me! All about my memory. My success in getting the call made! My ability to make her laugh! And well now it is me posting this wonderful success with all to read!
But in all honesty, I should share the day with her. She has traveled a very difficult road to get this birthday. In 2003, we almost said good-bye till forever. God knows more than doctors. God has a plan for each and every one of our lives. In my sister's case, His plan did not include welcoming her home in the last 7 years. Her heart might click with each beat, but it is a beautiful musical sound. Her daughters are blessed knowing their mom each and every day God chooses to keep heaven's door closed to her. Every birthday is a precious milestone and celebration. But, it is also a chance for me to work the part of the brain that remembers. So it is also a day to rejoice about me and my memory! Hee Hee, so it only seems right that the OLDER sister share her special day with the younger sister, because after all she is only a sister because of me!

So I Um, need to do some shopping

Anyone know where I get a chauffeur outfit. Just the jacket and hat will be fine.
I went to pick up Fun Mom from Apple Bees. Cause, that is where the gang was celebrating after a month of VBS at our sister church. (A month meaning every Wednesday in the month of June). They were running late, so I was EARLY. That is sooo terrible when you are 14, to have your MOM show up early. I encouraged her to wait and get her food to go. She was good natured about leaving, she knew her siblings were sick. She knew Hockey Player was sacrificing big time, by staying awake so I could bring her home. But she very quickly, (without any attitude)deftly told me on the cell phone, "I will be out in just a few minutes. As soon, as my food is ready."

Hmpf, Imagine, horror of horrors, the mother showing up in the same restaurant as the dear daughter and her friends.

So now my new title is Chauffeur. Not mom or mother, just chauffeur. STAY IN THE CAR, mom. Next she will be asking me to drop her off on the opposite side of church cause she can walk around the building to the door.
Trying to laugh, trying to accept. But that apron string stung a little when it was clipped.

The Good, The Bad, The Funny

It's been a rough 24 hours. It seems we just regrouped from the last 2 weeks and the hubby came down sick, some stomache bug. Threatened him to stay away. I don't like to share ! Then three kiddos came down sick, but a whole different game. STREP! UGH! New toothbrushes all around x2...dr. recommended since we are all so close and everything. For those who need a little help that is 14 toothbrushes in just 2 days. AIY!
Even more shocking is one of the fallen is Hockey Player. Hockey Player never gets sick. That should be a good thing. Except for when the suburban is full of sick kids and we are at the pharmacy 3 hours after the prescription is sent and sit and sit and sit because Hockey Player doesn't seem to have info in their computers. It took 45 minutes for insurance to verify he was on our card. The Bad!
The Funny...all I could do is think Hockey Player needs to get sick more often.
So our other wounded souls are Little Princess and Flutter Nutter. Flutter Nutter seems to have it the worst. Can't sleep, wants a drink and cries cause that hurts worse. I am still wondering who drank out of the water fountain. Everytime someone sneaks a drink from the cess pool of infections (aka water fountain) strep ravages our home. Noone is admitting to the crime. But I know Flutter Nutter will never want to drink from a water fountain again.

Stages

Today, I was noticing the stages of my children. I sometimes get concerned about balancing five children, parenting them according to the stage they are in and the person they are. It is easy to blow it and just say, "all of you to bed" when it is just one or two being annoying. It is easy to be so busy that you don't stop and really look at your child and notice the little things about them. But the past few weeks, I have been noticing.

Hockey Player, well he isn't a child anymore, he isn't a guy/man yet, so he has earned the name "Man Child" and/or "Mowgli". He carries himself taller. He is compassionate and yet firm with his little brothers. He is independent. He will start fixing dinner if he is starving and doesn't want to wait for me. (Not gonna catch me arguing with that.) He offers to mow the yard.

Fun Mom is taking on more leadership/teaching roles this summer. This week she told me working with pre-teens is a big eye-opener. You don't have to do for them like the preschoolers. You just tell them what to do. She told me it was hard getting used to taking a step back and letting them do. Which led into the conversation about parenting and pondering these new observations and applying them to her parents and maybe extending us some grace when we fail to step back when we should with her.

Little Princess is long and leggy. Actually, when the 3 olders grouped themselves around Grandpa and hugged them today, I was astounded by how tall these 3 are! How much they have grown. Little Princess is not quite a pre-teen or tween yet. There is still a lot of little girl still in her. Yet, I know from experience, there isn't much time left of these little girl years. She wants to learn the needle arts this summer. She is taking the task on with much enthusiasm.

Daddy's Buddy has entered the season of right and wrong and justice. He is problem solving. This next year he is going to take on the world. He will start reading and his independent nature will grow another 6 inches with the new skill. Already, independent, intelligent and opinionated he is uninterested in the world of little boyhood. He looks up to aspires to be like big brother the Man Child.

Flutter Nutter still the youngest, the baby. He quite likes the role. He has a Peter Pan complex and doesn't want to grow up. Yet, he doesn't want to be told he isn't old enough. His legs are starting to catch up with his body. He is starting to share his blankets and walk away from them willingly. But still my snuggler. He has learned to do his own seatbelt, a woohoo milestone. Getting in the car is that much easier! Yet, I can see we will need to be changing his nickname soon. He is growing up and away from "Flutter Nutter"... It will be interesting to watch his character develop.

Life's Totem Pole according to Daddy's Buddy

Tonight, Daddy's Buddy explained the order of "best" of the people in his life.
The first best: GOD
The second best: Grandpas
The third best: Dad
The fourth best: Hockey Player
The fifth best: himself, Daddy's Buddy

In an effort to pacify Fun Mom who is offended at being left out,
Girls are the First best because Fun Mom makes cakes, cookies, brownies and sometimes pancakes for us. God and the Boys are second best.