A Recipe For. . . . .??

Start with a backyard more dirt than grass, add just enough snow to make mud,


dog sit an extra mutt,

Let Alek talk me into 2 friends staying over:

mix in a little brother trying desperately to keep up w/ the big boys

Add the necessity of this verbal threat: If my ceiling crashes in, I am calling your parents and ya'll R going home

What do I have? Someone tell me, make me laugh!!!

Good Song

I heard this song on Air 1, and the words hit me like a ton of bricks. How satan works under the radar, like sugar in a baby tooth, slowly rotting away and we don't know until it is rotten from the inside out. The sugar turned out to be poison. What about everyting we tolerate on TV, in movies, radio, commericals, video games? The Victoria's Secret commercials? Graphic previews to violent movies?(some previews have scared Aidan to death) Drake making out with 2 girls at once on "Drake & Josh"? Beating cops with my skateboard on the Tony Hawk video game? Everytime Sonic dies on the "kids" game he says damn? Being promiscious will happen, just accept it as normal growing pains and move on? I could go on and on. I feel like I am made out to be a religious nut or a prude for trying to keep my kids from not being desensitized to stuff. I stink at remembering scripture, but I know God tells us not to put unGodly things before our eyes. Who knows human nature better? It is so hard not to things slide with me or my kids these days.

CASTING CROWNS--SLOW FADE

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Close call

Last Sunday, Aunt Carrie came over so we could go look at new houses to get ideas for her bathroom. Jeremy was home with our kids. Alek was running down the stairs in his socks and slipped. He hurt his neck and had to go to ER. He actually hit a really hard bone in the skull right behind his ear, and it affected a muscle in his neck. The doctor said he was surprised to see an injury like that in that place. It wasn't serious, he couldn't be active for a week, but dr. said the more likely scenario would have been for him to hit on his neck or back and injure a disc or vertebrae. I know God had his angels catch Alek that afternoon. . . . he was leaning on the bannister on his right side. . . . he hit the edge of the stair on his left side. . . . Alek is back 100% now. . . . AMEN!

Bragging Rights

Wow, it's been a while since I posted. I just wanted to brag on Alek, my 4th grader. He made the A/B honor roll again. The only two B's he had were 89's. Darn it, missed the A honor roll by a pinch! And his behavior is awesome. I think he has had one mark in his entire school career :-)He's such a little comedian, I am proud he is a respectful class clown!!

Praise

Slaton came by this morning to visit! We talked with him and let him know how much we love him, but these things are what we feel we need to do/not do for him to have some self-motivation. He seems to be in okay spirits, which makes this easier on us, mainly on Jeremy. I thank the Lord for watching over him while ge figures things out on his own. Our God is awesome!

Exceptional Kid Coupons. . . .

Last night was a fun family night for us. I found this really cute "coupon" book--Exceptional Kid coupons. It has all kinds of coupons as a reward. Aidan drew the head of the table out of our reward jar. So he got to pick the menu and dessert, and sit at the head of the table, and it was in honor of what a great job he has been doing finishing his work at school. He thought that was the most AWESOME THING EVER! He was excited all day about it. He picked spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and cucumber slices. Then we watched Kung-Fu Panda w/ popcorn and M&M's. Alek (for staying on the honor roll and picking up after himself at home) drew one that said he gets to pick a family outing on a weekend afternoon. There is a blank spot for me to fill in the $$ limit. So we are going to Jump n Jive on Monday. They really think the coupons are the bomb, I wasn't sure they would be really motivated. It has really creative ones like "present this coupon to stop one parental lecture" or "present this coupon to have cold pizza for breakfast" and "pick a day to sleep as as long as you like". Anyway, it went over so well, I thought I would share and brag on my exceptional kids :-)

Growing Pains

Whew, what a week. It has been a whirlwind, but I can't exactly say why or what I accomplished! Well, we finally had to cut the last apron string on Slate. We have been struggling so hard trying to get him on his own two feet. It's been like me standing on a table and trying to pull up a grown man by sheer force--yeah, not workin'. The only thing in the world he seems to care about is his cell phone and girlfriend. Not a job, gas, family. . . .nothing. So we dropped the blade. Quit paying for his cell. His world has come crushing down. Nevermind he has no job, no money, no gas, no way to pay the rent, etc. He is just frantic about not having his cell service. He just can't imagine why they won't put the number in his name (nevermind we have told him a million times all the gory details of how jobs, money, and checking accounts are required to obtain these things!)

It is a very scary feeling. He called to chew on Jeremy about it from a blocked number. So, by his choice, we cannot get a hold of him. We have to wait to hear from him. Sux. Well, he is going to be 20 in June, so I think he has had enough chances and help from us to get started, and he has not done it. He is still trying the whole batch of excuses and guilt trips he always does--so hard to fend off the evil spells of teenagers--must have invisble shield engaged--help!

Okay enough sarcasm for tonite :-) Seriously, if you can remember to slip Slaton in your prayers, please help us pray for protection over him as he goes through these "growing pains".

Thoughts on Slaton & Alek. . . .

Well, Slaton could only take four months of his mother so he is moving back to Amarillo. He should be here today. His "mom", Mary is a sorry sack of #?!@. Pardon my french! She hasn't done one thing for or with her boys in 9 years, and she couldn't even be a decent mom to him for a few weeks. He is very excited to be back. But he isn't moving back with us. Jeremy told him if he came back, he would not be able to move back into our house, but that we would help him out getting into a place, etc. Alek and Aidan are so excited to see him!!!!

On another note, I am not quite sure what to do or think about Alek. Last year he made alternate in the spelling bee. The morning of, he basically had a panic attack in the car when Jeremy was dropping him off, and begged not to have to go to school in case he had to take someones place. The thought of getting up in front of the whole school had him in meltdown mode. He didn't even study or try to do it, I guess spelling comes a bit easy to him, like it did me. Anyway, last nigt during prayers, he actually prayed not to make it into the spelling bee because he didn't want to get up in front of the kids! I mean, there are kids that try for this and don't make it, and he makes it pretty easily but doesn't want to do it. I was shy like that, and I am not sure what to do to get him over it or make it easier or better. I am afraid he is not trying at things for fear of having to perform or compete, and fear of failng. Examples; swim team, spelling bee, wrestling. I want him to excel and be proud of it, not scared of it. What if it spills over into his school work? Spiritual Life? Anyone have any suggestions?

Aidan quote of the day

We are in the van. Aidan asks me to roll down a window. I said the side windows don't roll down, are you hot? He replies, "yes." I said okay, and reached to turn down the heater. Then Aidan says, "Not like sexy hot, but regular hot." LOVE THAT BOY!!

Conversation of the day with Aidan

Today I asked Aidan if he wanted to get married and have kids when grows up or stay not married. He replied, "Well, I don't want my wife to scream." I didn't know if i wanted to hear the answer to my next question but I asked anyway. "Why would your wife scream?". Well, he said, "When wives have babies they have to scream." Sounds logical to me--LOL

Precious Boys

Alek wanted me to post pictures of his "friends" that he sleeps with on his bed. It sounded wierd to hear him ask,"mom, will you put this picture on your blog?" Alek is getting so big. He doesnt' want me to hug or love on him anymore, and he wipes my smooches off. He farts, burps, and uses deodarant now. Where'd chubby "sweet boy" go? He was so lovy and perfect--that was his actual nick-name. Alek does love to talk, and he does it 90 mph! I can barely keep up w/ his story lines, and he has some doosies, let me tell ya! His favorite thing is to tell me "inventions" he has come up with. I do want to brag--his first 4th grade report card was straight A's. Math was the lowest--90. I am so proud of him!

I don't know if Aidan is going through an age, phase, or if it is just his personality; but he has to have constant attention. "Watch me, see this, do that, I want you to watch me. . . . " If I even blink while I am supossed to be watching him do something, he huffs and says "mom, ur suppossed to be WATCHING!!! Even a video game, he wants Jerm or I to be sitting there watching. I was making him a sandwich the other day and he asked for Miracle Whip on it. He said, and I quote, "Miracle Whip is my most grown-up taste bud so far, mom." How stinkin' funny!! And if I put up Alek, I must put up Aidan or he will let me hear about it for sure!

I can't believe how God has blessed me with such two healthy, precious, onery, smart, energetic and loving boys. I thank Him so many times a day. My life would be so dull w/out them. THANK YOU LORD! JESUS WATCH OVER OUR PRECIOUS KIDS EVERY DAY AND PROTECT THIER HEARTS AND INNOCENCE, PLEASE!

August weekend

My boys, so precious, growing so fast. They mowed this weekend. Now, Aidan was not happy at all. He thought he was being sooo abused! Slaton & Sage started young, too but not at 5yrs. Sage has this big "dr phil" sob thing about how he was made to grow up too fast and Alek & Aidan never had to do anything--uh, because they were in diapers maybe?! Anyway, for those who don't know he is back with his "mom" (I use the term loosely) for good this time. I think it is good for them to help with the chores, and not for money, don't ya'll? I mean, we are a family and we should share in the work w/out getting paid. That's what I tell my boys anyway. Aidan was so funny. As soon as Jerm told him he had to help, too he ran to tattle on daddy by telling me!