Out of the mouths of babes.

Today we were driving in the car and the kids were just yelling and screaming.  Greg and I were continually telling the kids to sit down and be quiet so we could talk.  Finally Emma gets right in Greg's face and screams "Dad have you ever read the scriptures?" and Greg replies, "Yes Emma, now sit down and be quiet!!"  to which Emma answered "then why are you so mean sometimes?"  Greg and I cracked up at that point and I politely pointed out to Greg "ooh burn!!"

Sometimes I need these reminders

*Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

*Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

*Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

*Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

*Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned

*Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

*Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

*Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

*Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

*Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

*Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

*Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

*And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.......... ...

Grade Level Schools

So here in Winslow there is a large upheaval about the idea of grade level schools. Let me start by saying when all is said and done I am in favor of grade level schools. But I am not in favor of all of the proposed budget cuts for Arizona's schools.  I have mentioned before that I have a son with Asperger's Syndrome. It is incredibly difficult and painful for him to make and keep friends because of that.  My hope is that with 5-6 classes of 3rd graders all at one school the odds for him finding other children who will be kind and friendly to him will be in his favor finally.  He has really struggled the last three years and I will try anything that can make it easier for him.

That being said I hate the idea of losing teachers either because we cut their jobs entirely or because we cut their pay until they can't afford to work here. I don't love the idea of having my children spread out across town either.  Ethan loves to be driven to and from school everyday.  It is a special time that we get to visit and spend together.  I won't be able to do that anymore because unless they figure something out with this whole space time continuum thing there is no way for me to be at 3 elementary schools at 3:10 everyday.  I suppose they could have staggered release times.  But then you still have the problem of every school having a kindergarten.

I think the biggest problem is our resistance to change.  Hopefully we can all work together and find a way to make this successful for the kids.

Kids say the darndest things

This one is just for fun (scroll down, I have kinda been on a blogfest!  The Christmas Break post has some great pics!)

The other day we were going for a ride and we passed the 9/11 memorial here in town and Ethan and Emma had the following conversation:

Ethan:  Emma when I was 2 months and 2 days old some bad men crashed airplanes into the twin towers and made them completely crash.  A lot of people died in the crash.  And they did it on purpose.

Emma (completely appalled): They should be ashamed of theirselves!

Ethan (a little sad and incredulous): I don't think they are.

I am amazed at how well they grasp what happened that day even though they are so young.  I know adults who are still struggling to understand it.

Shauna should love this:

At church on Sunday, Emma was called to win the FHE lesson to take home and when she heard her name she jumped up and did "spirit fingers"!  LOL  I thought of Shauna at softball cheering "go tigers!"  I am just glad she didn't try and do a kick, she doesn't wear bloomers over her undies at church! :)

New Year's Resolutions

In the time honored tradition of picking out all of the things you don't do well and then publicly promising yourself that from this day forward you will now do them perfectly in order to become the perfect person, I've decided that I too will list my failures and frailties in an attempt to shame myself into being better.

#1 I am going to be organized.  I would say more organized but that would be assuming that I have any organizational skills at all already being employed.  This will be a tough one.  You might think that with my ridiculous obsessive compulsive behaviors this would be easy but you'd be wrong. :)

#2 I am going to be a funner mom.  {Yes I have an English Degree and yes I know that "funner" is not a word but I don't edit your blogs so let it go this time! :)}  I read your blogs and I look at all of the classes, outings, art projects, park days, etc. that you all do with your beautiful children and I feel a little sad for my kids who do none of those things (well maybe not "none" that may be hyperbole.)  But I am going to start.  I know paints are messy, I know play-doh doesn't vacuum out of carpet, I know I am terrified of going out to nice quiet places like libraries with all 4 kiddos but I am going to make an actual effort to do this.

#3 I am going to cook dinner at least 5 nights a week.  My family eats out so much it is absurd!  My children can't drive past McDonalds, Taco Bell or Sonic without asking if "ooo is it time for dinner?"  This hasn't been good for our bank account or our waistlines, so, no more!  I will teach my children to eat at home at the dining room table.  I may be biting off more than I can chew here (pun intended!)

#4 I am going to invite a family over to dinner once a month.  And I will call them on the phone to invite them!  Many of you know that I am TERRIFIED of the phone!  My parents cannot understand this after watching me sit on the phone for hours with boyfriends as a teenager but oh yes, I would rather walk across town in the rain to your house to ask you a question than have to dial the phone and talk to you.  Weird? Yes.  Sorry.

So there they are, my New Year's Resolutions.  Forgive me as I frequently break mine and I swear to never mention any of yours!  Happy New Year!!

Christmas break!

So, long time no post. We really have been up to a lot. Christmas was really great. My brothers were both here for several days which meant several nights up late bowling on the Wii! :) We had our DeWitt family Christmas on the 23rd.  It was great fun and everyone really enjoyed playing together with their marshmallow guns!Any good excuse to shoot each other right? We ended up leaving for Coolidge a day early because the weather said there was a 100% chance of 8 to 12 inches of snow all along the rim. So Christmas eve we had breakfast at Grammies and then rushed back home where Santa had conveniently stopped by because he had heard we were having to leave early. The kids opened presents and then Mom and Dad busily crammed clothes clean or dirty (hey Grandma Green has a washer) into suitcases and loaded kids and car and jumped on the road. We had almost an entire week down in Coolidge which was an amazing break, I could have stayed for a month!! We had our annual Green Family Christmas Karaoke. It was so much fun, like always! Greg's dad was the clear winner, he got a song he didn't know so instead of just fumbling through he decided to just full on rock it out! He was awesome! This year we are preparing in advance, I'm thinking costumes! Ok maybe not. :) We came home relaxed a few days and then I got to go to the YM/YW New Year's Eve party and it was a lot of fun. Now we are back to work and school and real life. But with such a fun break I think we are ready to handle it again! :)