A Day With Me

Friday, July 31, 2009

One of Those

It's not like I don't understand. Except I don't think I do. Last night I layed on the couch in the boys' room and talked to Wyatt who had been sent to his room for the night. It was only 7:45. After many days of all the kids misbehaving and many timeouts and spankings, Wyatt had reached my limit of patience and so had been sent to bed early. This all happened while out for a walk to the duck pond after dinner.

It's not like I'm not trying to keep the kids busy and entertained. It's not like I am not playing with them. But somehow despite my best parenting efforts my heart is breaking as my kids continue to disobey and in pretty big ways. At least I think so. But I'm laying there talking/bonding with him. Because I am so sad that he is being punished but being true to my word and emphasizing consistancy I feel forced to endure this punisment as much as him. And I am forced to discipline him when all I really wish is that he would respond to the rewards instead.

If only I could just be their friend. If only I wasn't the one who would shape them for a lifetime. If only I didn't have to be the bad guy. My mind is looping around on all the "if onlies" and I feel desperate.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Our Town Continued

This is so my new favorite place around town. The North Museum.

A science museum filled with reptiles, dinosaur fossils, hands-on exhibits, and a planetarium.

The new air exhibit entertained for an hour.

Kody couldn't stop pounding the sound wave drum.

The kids were mystified by the floating ball.

Although it was Wyatt who shouted and jumped for joy over hearing we would be seeing dinosaurs it was Issac's facial expressions that made me laugh.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Pen Pal Needed

So Bella has been wanting a penpal. I got online to find her one and found that for safety reasons all pen pal correspondances tend to be done through email. And if you want "snail mail" than you typically have to pay an annual fee so that they can screen for safety and keep track of who receives what addresses.

In the end I know that someone I know must know another 7-8 year old girl who wants a pen pal buddy. Obviously the farther away the better. Let me know if you guys have anyone in mind. Thanks.

Not So

Many people don't understand my love of birthdays. It's really quite simple. It is a day that Travis totally indulges me and my every whim and I let him. I can be very selfish and it seems to be okay. And so for one day a year I am in heaven. This year I wasn't quite in that state of mind but it was still an interesting day nonetheless.

My day started like any other and I woke up to pee to find this little surprise. Yes that is Happy B-day written on the toilet paper in green marker. When Bella saw it she thought it was totally hilarious. I have to say I laughed pretty hard considering the time of day and all.

Then in a totally selfish gesture I mopped the kitchen and dining room. Being the summer of forgetting typical routines it has gotten quite filthy. I could stand it no longer and so got on my hands and knees and cleaned it up. Kody hiding since he is pretty sure he will get in trouble for climbing up here. But I thought it was cute how proud he was.

The kids were pretty naughty in the morning and I knew it was just because they were so excited for my birthday. How sweet! And by mid afternoon when I took a happy birthday phone call I heard a cachaphony of noise break out. I quickly ended the call to find Issac at my legs covered in blood. Through a collision he had gotten a bloody nose. He had walked dripping the whole way through the house to me and this his sniveling sprayed blood all over me as well. That is when I found that Bella had been inspired by Dad's idea and did the same on the paper towels in red marker.

After we got that all taken care of we headed to the pool. I love the pool but yesterday a lifegaurd chastised me for not watching my kids as vigilantly as he thought I should. To his defense the pool was packed yesterday and I think he was a bit on edge.

But once Travis got home my bliss started. He started making dinner at my request terriyaki meatballs and rice and corn on the cob. He tucked me into bed with a book my very favorite thing to do. Once dinner was ready we woke the kids from their naps and ate. We had birthday pie because I am not a fan of cake - I don't know why for so many years I didn't think of just asking for pie - and opened presents. I got all new and matching Egyption Cotton bath towels, hand towels, and washclothes for the whole house. I also got a Michael's giftcard from the kids. And last Wyatt got me an IOU back massage. And my day ended perfectly with him following me around the house saying are you ready for your present yet Mom.