The boy child was roaming the neighborhood with one of his buddies when they found a 20 month old little boy wandering the neighborhood. They collected him and called the police.
The little boy cried every time the police came to take him from the Boy child, so the cops decided he should hold him until they found mom and dad, which was shortly thereafter.
Officer Anderson brought him home in the police car and wanted to let us know what a little hero the boy child was.
Way to go Boy Child!
(I would have put more enthusiasm into the post, but I have just barely managed to keep from taking all his possessions away again this morning due to a failure to cooperate, so...)
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Some Weekends Rule
This 3-day weekend was quite possibly the best weekend in recorded human history. True Fact.
Friday after work, the family headed to my parents' home where my sister and her family were in town from Portland. The 4 grandkids got to sleep out in a tent and the adults all played cards till 1:00 in the morning.
Pretty awesome on the awesome scale.
Saturday morning I got up at 7:00 and went to "Market on the Move" where they "rescue" food from the inevitable trashcan. No-- I wasn't dumpster diving. If produce is picked in a field- say- a cucumber. But the workers pack them in Tomato boxes. Nothing is wron with the food- it's just in the wrong box. Grocery stores will reject the food. So rather than simply tossing SEMI TRUCKS of food in the landfill, they donate the food to Market on the Move. For $10, Market on the Move will let you choose 60 POUNDS of vegetables and fruit.
Pretty awesome, right?
I returned to my parents' place and everyone was eating bacon and eggs and PECAN PIE for breakfast.
No arguing that is pretty awesome.
Sat and chatted, then played cards some more.
Packed up and headed home- then visited with our friends who are moving to Tennessee next week.
Got home and set up Netflix to watch Ferris Beuler's Day Off with the children- fell asleep laying on the floor while the children quoted the movie.
Pretty awesome!
Sunday morning- brewed beer with my dad who has now caught the homebrewing bug. He brought over bagels and deli meat.
AWESOME!
The wife went to a "Beer Brunch" with 20 other gals with the "Arizona Girls Pint Out" group, THEN went to see Fast and Furious with a friend.
Pure awesome.
I went to work and worked at a 40th birthday party where I got to play with Dry Ice. Made a graet party happen for some nice people till like... midnight. Got a $100 tip.
Not. Too. Shabby.
Got up in the morning, took the kids to Aunt Pat's house where they helped her tidy up the place, do some light yard work, and got to drive the golf cart :)
Wife and I went golfing, where I hit a golf ball into a lake. But WAIT! It skipped across the water and landed on the 18th green.
AWESOME!
Went to retrieve the kids and eat brats and swim at Aunt Pat's house.
RIGHTEOUS!
Realized that there was a late baseball game and took the boy child to experience it. The game started at 6:40. This means it will end some time in the 10:00 hour- 2 hours past his normal bed time. This is a bit scary.
I bought 2 cheap seats from a scalper for $10 each. Traded them to another scalper with a $20 bill and got AWESOME seats in the lower level. Then while the boy and I wandered the stadium, we held the door open for a family (the parents were struggling with an infant and a toddler...) The man said "Wow- that was really nice! Want an upgrade in your seats?" we were now sitting in the 3rd row behind the dugout, directly even with 1st base. There was an open seat in the front row and the Boy Child got to hang out there with a couple of 14 or 15 year old boys who graciously explained everything happening on the field to him. (You know how 10 year old boys like being entertained by older boys- so adorable)
At the end of the game, one of the players threw 4 game used batting gloves to the Boy Child. The boy then threw his glove in the dugout and the player signed it, and threw it back with a game-played baseball in it. Boy child saw a little boy who looked like he could use a souvenir so he gave the other kid a batting glove.
I mean seriously, I challenge anyone to beat that weekend.
Signing off from a happy place-
Andrew
Friday after work, the family headed to my parents' home where my sister and her family were in town from Portland. The 4 grandkids got to sleep out in a tent and the adults all played cards till 1:00 in the morning.
Pretty awesome on the awesome scale.
Saturday morning I got up at 7:00 and went to "Market on the Move" where they "rescue" food from the inevitable trashcan. No-- I wasn't dumpster diving. If produce is picked in a field- say- a cucumber. But the workers pack them in Tomato boxes. Nothing is wron with the food- it's just in the wrong box. Grocery stores will reject the food. So rather than simply tossing SEMI TRUCKS of food in the landfill, they donate the food to Market on the Move. For $10, Market on the Move will let you choose 60 POUNDS of vegetables and fruit.
Pretty awesome, right?
I returned to my parents' place and everyone was eating bacon and eggs and PECAN PIE for breakfast.
No arguing that is pretty awesome.
Sat and chatted, then played cards some more.
Packed up and headed home- then visited with our friends who are moving to Tennessee next week.
Got home and set up Netflix to watch Ferris Beuler's Day Off with the children- fell asleep laying on the floor while the children quoted the movie.
Pretty awesome!
Sunday morning- brewed beer with my dad who has now caught the homebrewing bug. He brought over bagels and deli meat.
AWESOME!
The wife went to a "Beer Brunch" with 20 other gals with the "Arizona Girls Pint Out" group, THEN went to see Fast and Furious with a friend.
Pure awesome.
I went to work and worked at a 40th birthday party where I got to play with Dry Ice. Made a graet party happen for some nice people till like... midnight. Got a $100 tip.
Not. Too. Shabby.
Got up in the morning, took the kids to Aunt Pat's house where they helped her tidy up the place, do some light yard work, and got to drive the golf cart :)
Wife and I went golfing, where I hit a golf ball into a lake. But WAIT! It skipped across the water and landed on the 18th green.
AWESOME!
Went to retrieve the kids and eat brats and swim at Aunt Pat's house.
RIGHTEOUS!
Realized that there was a late baseball game and took the boy child to experience it. The game started at 6:40. This means it will end some time in the 10:00 hour- 2 hours past his normal bed time. This is a bit scary.
I bought 2 cheap seats from a scalper for $10 each. Traded them to another scalper with a $20 bill and got AWESOME seats in the lower level. Then while the boy and I wandered the stadium, we held the door open for a family (the parents were struggling with an infant and a toddler...) The man said "Wow- that was really nice! Want an upgrade in your seats?" we were now sitting in the 3rd row behind the dugout, directly even with 1st base. There was an open seat in the front row and the Boy Child got to hang out there with a couple of 14 or 15 year old boys who graciously explained everything happening on the field to him. (You know how 10 year old boys like being entertained by older boys- so adorable)
At the end of the game, one of the players threw 4 game used batting gloves to the Boy Child. The boy then threw his glove in the dugout and the player signed it, and threw it back with a game-played baseball in it. Boy child saw a little boy who looked like he could use a souvenir so he gave the other kid a batting glove.
I mean seriously, I challenge anyone to beat that weekend.
Signing off from a happy place-
Andrew
Friday, May 24, 2013
Hilarious
So a friend who also works with me just sat here and we exchanged "little boy" stories.
Apparently, this behavior is never going to end, considering the behavior or her boyfriend ;)
------
Last night the Boy Child comes home from school, nonchalantly skipping in... "Hi Dad!"
Now, this in itself, though refreshing, is a boy who has basically been grounded for a month.
It IS the 2nd to the last day of school, so I guess I get it- So I ask the Boy, "Boy- do you have any homework? Any missing assignments to finish? Any in-class work you have to complete at home?"
Because, of course, if I didn't ask all 3 of those questions, the assignment would have been overlooked as "WELL YOU DIDN'T ASK ME! It wasn't HOMEWORK! UUUUGhhhhh..."
The reply is "Yes, I found out that I have one missing assignment and my teacher said that if I turn it in I can still get credit. She said she would be at school until 4:00 today"
So, it's now 3:40. I have 20 minutes to get it delivered back to school. Marvelous.
I say "OK, well you better get going and finish it then"
Boy: "Yep."
He then proceeds to go to the kitchen
Me: "Where are you going?"
Boy: "To get a snack. I'm hungry."
Me: "BOY! We have 10 minutes for you to find and finish the missing assignment! You don't have TIME for a snack right now!"
Boy: "But I'm hungry."
Apparently, this behavior is never going to end, considering the behavior or her boyfriend ;)
------
Last night the Boy Child comes home from school, nonchalantly skipping in... "Hi Dad!"
Now, this in itself, though refreshing, is a boy who has basically been grounded for a month.
It IS the 2nd to the last day of school, so I guess I get it- So I ask the Boy, "Boy- do you have any homework? Any missing assignments to finish? Any in-class work you have to complete at home?"
Because, of course, if I didn't ask all 3 of those questions, the assignment would have been overlooked as "WELL YOU DIDN'T ASK ME! It wasn't HOMEWORK! UUUUGhhhhh..."
The reply is "Yes, I found out that I have one missing assignment and my teacher said that if I turn it in I can still get credit. She said she would be at school until 4:00 today"
So, it's now 3:40. I have 20 minutes to get it delivered back to school. Marvelous.
I say "OK, well you better get going and finish it then"
Boy: "Yep."
He then proceeds to go to the kitchen
Me: "Where are you going?"
Boy: "To get a snack. I'm hungry."
Me: "BOY! We have 10 minutes for you to find and finish the missing assignment! You don't have TIME for a snack right now!"
Boy: "But I'm hungry."
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The pain of learning something new
This morning the boy child wanted to make his own breakfast. So scrambled eggs it was.
I am a sunny side up guy, but he sees mommy make scrambled eggs all the time. Whereas I scramble the eggs in a bowl then put them in the pan, mommy cracks the eggs into the pan and scrambled them in the pan.
As I see it, all this does is serve to remove the butter from the bottom of the pan, and allowing the eggs to stock and consequently burn.
Mid - egg cooking, the boy, ON HIS OWN ACCORD, decided to take out the trash. And since it is Thursday he also dragged the trash can to the curb. This is A WIN, right!?
Well it's a win for the ongoing trash struggle, not so much for the eggs.
The eggs were overcooked to a very high degree. I outlined what we learned today and put salsa on the eggs.
Delish!
To sum it up - pre scramble your eggs and do NOT constantly air them in the pan, and do not walk away from food cooking on the stove.
Happy Trash Day my friends!
Oh, the pain part? Yeah, he closed the cheese drawer on his thumb and there was a complete freak out and very much crying . Who knew a little plastic drawer could cause so much pain?! And got raw egg on his shirt. So he had to change. In doing so, the collar of the shirt scratched his eye. More crying and freaking out. Yes. This is the way it goes.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
If at first you don't succeed-
After our removal if items from the boys room on Tuesday, one would imagine he would shape up.
Not so much.
Friday - "Do you have any homework?"
Nope!
That's standard for a Friday though, so it wasn't unusual.
Then- this morning, Mother' Day morning, Wife says "How is that report of yours coming?"
He head drops, eyes looking at the floor.
His teacher said he did not try and needs to add at least 2 more paragraphs. Of COURSE, he didn't bring any of his notes home, so he has to do the research to do 2 more paragraphs.
We arranged a study area so the rest of the family could continue about our day while he works on his project.
Every 10 minutes, he needs something- an eraser, a glass of water, "I'm hungry", bathroom, etc etc
During a break, I go to check the history on the netbook where he was "doing research"...
I think you can probably guess the result. You tube videos of Lego Star Wars.
Suddenly, he feels sick to his stomach and feels like he needs to throw up.
Suddenly, I decide that I will now remove all choice in his wardrobe and sleeping space. He has 3, blue shirts and 3 gray shorts, one pair of shoes. In bed- one pillow, one sheet, one blanket. No extra pillows, no extra blankets, no stuffed animals. I took the posters off the wall, took the amp for his guitar (I did leave the guitar...) removed the extra dresser he didn't need (since the clothes were gone) and the black cushiony chair.
Apparently we ease up too fast. So this week we need to focus on relentlessly trying to keep the boy on task.
He says "I'm an idiot!" of course we say "No, you have the mental capacity to do whatever you want. You make personal decisions to avoid hard work. That's not being an idiot. It's making a choice."
So- Happy Mother's Day, all you moms out there!
Not so much.
Friday - "Do you have any homework?"
Nope!
That's standard for a Friday though, so it wasn't unusual.
Then- this morning, Mother' Day morning, Wife says "How is that report of yours coming?"
He head drops, eyes looking at the floor.
His teacher said he did not try and needs to add at least 2 more paragraphs. Of COURSE, he didn't bring any of his notes home, so he has to do the research to do 2 more paragraphs.
We arranged a study area so the rest of the family could continue about our day while he works on his project.
Every 10 minutes, he needs something- an eraser, a glass of water, "I'm hungry", bathroom, etc etc
During a break, I go to check the history on the netbook where he was "doing research"...
I think you can probably guess the result. You tube videos of Lego Star Wars.
Suddenly, he feels sick to his stomach and feels like he needs to throw up.
Suddenly, I decide that I will now remove all choice in his wardrobe and sleeping space. He has 3, blue shirts and 3 gray shorts, one pair of shoes. In bed- one pillow, one sheet, one blanket. No extra pillows, no extra blankets, no stuffed animals. I took the posters off the wall, took the amp for his guitar (I did leave the guitar...) removed the extra dresser he didn't need (since the clothes were gone) and the black cushiony chair.
Apparently we ease up too fast. So this week we need to focus on relentlessly trying to keep the boy on task.
He says "I'm an idiot!" of course we say "No, you have the mental capacity to do whatever you want. You make personal decisions to avoid hard work. That's not being an idiot. It's making a choice."
So- Happy Mother's Day, all you moms out there!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Birthday Party
My birthday was Saturday. I worked from 6 AM to 12:45 AM.
Sunday, my sweet sweet wife threw a party for me. I asked the girl child to please grab a piece of paper and tell people "please come in" because we didn't want to worry about the doorbell and all.
This was the result:
Because she doesn't mess around.
Sunday, my sweet sweet wife threw a party for me. I asked the girl child to please grab a piece of paper and tell people "please come in" because we didn't want to worry about the doorbell and all.
This was the result:
Good things
To be fair, I neglected to post about 3 weeks ago when we were being treated to several days of the boy child being an absolute angel. He helped with chores, helped his sister with homework. It was a fantastic and magical time. And he deserved the credit which I gave him, but should have shared with you all.
Because- Some Days Rule!
Because- Some Days Rule!
Oh joy.
So, after struggling with missing assignments and hidden "reflection papers" which are what happens when you act up in school LAST week, we get an email from the teacher today about a problem on Friday.
Called another student a "Bitch", apparently.
HOWEVER, he decides that he needs to write a reflection paper about calling someone "the A word"
SO- which was it?
After having what seemed to be an upward trend in making good decisions, the last 2 weeks have been the opposite, obviously.
Since I have committed myself to not YELLING at the child, I calmly discussed with him that he is on grounding until the end of the school year (3 weeks) and that he can earn back privileges. Like clothes.
I chose 5 outfits for the boy- collared polo shirts and nice shorts. These are his school clothes. I also chose 4 school spirit shirts which are his play clothes. The rest are put away. Along with all his toys, electronics, etc.
Do you have a creative way to let your child know that his behavior will have consequences? Or have you seen someone else who appears to do well in this regard? It's tough for us because the girl child does not have these issues, and we are trying so hard to support the boy child.
Recycle bin- not put out, still on the street after I put it out.
Called another student a "Bitch", apparently.
HOWEVER, he decides that he needs to write a reflection paper about calling someone "the A word"
SO- which was it?
After having what seemed to be an upward trend in making good decisions, the last 2 weeks have been the opposite, obviously.
Since I have committed myself to not YELLING at the child, I calmly discussed with him that he is on grounding until the end of the school year (3 weeks) and that he can earn back privileges. Like clothes.
I chose 5 outfits for the boy- collared polo shirts and nice shorts. These are his school clothes. I also chose 4 school spirit shirts which are his play clothes. The rest are put away. Along with all his toys, electronics, etc.
Do you have a creative way to let your child know that his behavior will have consequences? Or have you seen someone else who appears to do well in this regard? It's tough for us because the girl child does not have these issues, and we are trying so hard to support the boy child.
Recycle bin- not put out, still on the street after I put it out.
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