Meanest mom in the whole world?

This past week I have earned the notorious title of Meanest Mom in the Whole World.  This award was bestowed upon me by my four seemingly lovely children, who may just earn the reciprocal joint award of Whiniest Children and Most-Hard-Done-By Under 10. 

Just how did I manage to vault myself to such a lofty position with so many other loving, well-meaning mothers who have come before me?  Well, unbeknownst to me, this does not require anything more than one simple thing: actual parenting.  Not just being around in the background while your children plan and carry out their own random acts of thoughtlessness, but actually getting up off the couch, turning off the tv, putting down the very exciting and almost finished mystery novel, and getting-down-and-dirty-in-the-trenches parenting.

Some of the steps that have helped me achieve such bleak fame? 
1. Making them not only clean their own bedrooms (and help each other with someone else's things), but giving them other chores around the house which may or may not have been a direct result of their own actions, but simply what needs to be done that day. Oh, and insisting that these chores be done BEFORE going out to play.
2. Requiring that they obtain permission before vanishing into the wide open world outside, compounded by making them stay in for one hour when said permission was not granted and the child was nowhere to be found.
3. Not allowing any of the following amongst them OR their friends (10 extra points there): hitting rocks with tennis rackets at the pool windows, climbing on the garbage dumpsters, climbing the storage shed, riding bikes without helmets, riding bikes onto roads without stopping, street skeleton on skateboards without any protective gear, dropping freezie wrappers on the playground, excluding others, name calling, swearing, truth/dare with sexual intonations, punching, kicking, biting, or any other type of physical violence, and leaving the complex without speaking to their parents.  (Is this a complex with kids 10 and under, or juvie?)
4. Enforcing quiet time for 1 hour every day with no media or friends.
5. Requiring that meals be eaten together, at the table, talking to each other, with no t.v. - and everyone stays until it's all cleaned up.  No inhaling of tiny morsels of food before returning to the chaos that is summer childhood.
6. Asking that the living room be tidy before the television is turned on.
7. Limiting computer/game time to 1/2 an hour a person per day.
8. Signing a 7 year old boy up for the library summer reading program when he had no intention of using his brain once this summer (as you can already decipher for yourself).
9. Waking up an 8 year old girl by at least 8:30 every day with no regard for her "essential beauty sleep".
10. Limiting mini-freezies to 4 per person per day and still insisting that teeth are brushed before bed.  This is also where I should mention that I refuse to take them to 7-11 for a slurpee and penny candy everyday - shock and dismay!
11. Enforcing inside curfew at 8:30 every night whether it's light, dark, hot or cold.
12. Not allowing them to fall asleep to a movie every night, even if it is easier for everyone involved.

I'm sure my nomination list could go on and on and on....I know right now they think they hate me, but one day they'll thank me, right?  To all those who have gone before and survived, promise me that one day the title of Meanest Mom in the World will be removed and replaced with The Mom who Loved Me Enough to Be There, or something of the sort.  I know that's my sentiment exactly, but I guess it too me 30 years to get there.  Only 22 more to go for my own munchkins to start believing it....

The Week in Review

Not a bad start to summer holidays for the first week.  We spent a few days just lazing around, staying up late, sleeping in - then started to lose our minds and had to nail down a summer schedule.  Otherwise, we have kids who think they get to play with their friends and watch t.v. 24/7.  It's been good for all of us.  We try to get out somewhere everyday, and that keeps us sane when we are in such a small space.  This week, due to the heat, we spent a lot of time at the spray parks and went up to Belcarra (the provincial park by the ocean) to wander the low tide beach and play on the park.

I even got up the energy to ride the bike with the trailer down to Rocky Point.  It was a lot of fun.  The little boys ride in the trailer and the older two take their bikes as well.  It wasn't even too bad - until the way home.  Living on a hill is a double edged sword.  If you go out to exercise you are ensured that you get a hill climb at least once in order to just get home.  Unfortunately, when you are pulling a trailer that weighs almost 100 lbs (both kids, all their stuff, and the trailer itself) and the temperature soars to around 30 degress plus the humidity, being on a hill is a curse.  I tried so hard to ride the whole way, but I only made it a few pedals before I gave up and walked.  Of course, that's not much better.  This week we have been talking about the pioneers.  I decided since I never got to do trek this could be my way of sympathizing with those who had to pull handcarts over the mountains. 

Speaking of bikes, the other day the kids came running in to tell me that Malcolm was riding a bike - without any training wheels.  He just picked it up and away he went.  Now he's a biking machine.  He's gone with Dan and the older kids to the beach park twice, and yesterday he even rode all the way up the hill on his way home!  He loves it, and, needless to say, he wants to be outside riding all day.

 

Today is very windy so I have had a biking reprieve and managed to "encourage" everyone to help me clean the house.  We were getting a fairly good layer of grime on everything, so they each got to choose a cupboard and a wall to scrub down, as well as their rooms.  Surprisingly, no one has complained too much yet about not being out with their friends.  I guess sometime spending time with each other is fun too.  They made a "mop day" tent in the living room with Dad's help, and that kept them busy for a while.

I'm not sure you can tell, but Dan's latest garage sale find also makes a terrific corner post for a living room tent. 

Here it is in all of its gigantic glory.  Actually it's been kinda fun.  The kids think it's awesome.  He got it for $10 and it is his dream come true.  Providential in a way, because our other tv was starting to go.  Our neighbor came to help him move the thing down the stairs to our house and he joked to Dan that they have these things now called flat screens.  We know we're technologically behind, but it's the biggest screen we could ever afford right now.  I tell him we'll have to sit on the patio to watch it.  Surprisingly, no matter how big a tv is, you still can't see through kids standing in front...

Well, here's the weekly entries for you:

Seven on Sunday

1. Being home together all summer with no real obligations outside of work.  Lots of parks and swimming and movies and laughter.

2. Having kids around that love to play with our kids.

3. The drop in temperature so we can sleep at night.

4. Having a pool right here.  It's never so good as when the temperature soars and we can run over just to wash the sweat off.  Ha ha.  Dan and Clay are determined to break their record from last year of 3 times at the pool in one day.  They want to go 5.

5. Everyone else's blogs.  I love to see your pictures and hear about your lives!

6. The fact that the lower mainland has embraced spray parks.  There's one in almost every park so we never get bored.

7. Kids who are at the age to play on the park pretty much without assistance.  Dan and I find a nice quiet spot and talk or read and they just run around and wear off energy...Ah! So sweet.

Dan's Funny for the Week

Maybe this is funny because we live by the ocean (not that we've ever found a conch shell), or maybe because we've had to take our toilet off countless times after boys have flushed just about everything, or maybe because almost all of our kids have put the plunger on their head as a hat at one point in time.  Who knows?  Anyway, Madi couldn't stop laughing...

July 1st and Seven on Sunday to kick off Summer Holidays

Another July 1st has come and gone, and we managed to have a pretty good time.  We slept in and enjoyed our morning, then headed down to Rocky Point to check out Golden Spike Days, which is Port Moody's big annual celebration.  They fence off an area in the park and have stands and activities and a stage going on for three days.  There wasn't too much for the kids to do this year, much less than in the past according to others, but we were able to entertain ourselves for long enough.  I think the overcast, rainy weather may have had something to do with the small numbers and dissatisfaction.  Still, here are some pics of us enjoying ourselves....

Lining up for helium balloons, which ended up tied to the umbrella stroller so we always knew where Mom was.

The petting zoo is always a big hit.  Here are a few pics of the kids holding rabbits...

...and chicks.

But the biggest hit of the days was the area where the kids got to use scrap wood, 2x4 bases, nails, hammers, and string to build their very own boats.  We spent a good hour here and no one got bored. 

Then someone found a hand drill and got the idea to make them Canada Day boats...

They've been playing with them all week.  For anyone looking for a really cheap and great family reunion idea, there ya go...

So that was our big holiday.  I worked quite a bit this past week, and Dan picked up two night shifts last night and he's about to head out again tonight.  That's 12 midnight to 8 a.m.  It's a bit of a crazy thing trying to change your sleep pattern like that.  He stayed home from church to sleep today and slept well into the afternoon, but got woken up too many times, so he went back to bed with the kids tonight and just got up again.  He says he won't do that very often again, but we'll see. 

To help keep the house quiet, after we came home from church and had lunch we headed out to Queen's Park in New West.  They have a petting zoo as well as a good park, but we lucked out today because their summer activity workers were there painting faces and making crafts and putting out toys to play in the water park.  Turned out to be a really fun afternoon.  I took pictures on my phone, but of course I have no idea yet how to download them.  I need to find my cord...  Madison got a butterfly on her face, and Spencer was made a pirate. 

And here are my seven for this week:

1. School's out for summer.  Thank goodness!

2. We finally got all of our primary callings filled.  Now things are running a little more smoothly and less skeleton crew.

3. Everyone is healthy again.  No more ulcers.

4. We are forecasted to have 28 degree weather and full sun all week.  Yippee!  Here comes the sun!

5. Dan was getting frustrated with the number of bottles and cans left in the recycle, so he decided to collect them himself.  He even made a route that he does every night.  This week he made $50!  He says it's the summer trip fund now.

6. Clayton bought a $2 nylon kite at V.V. and it is now the hit of the complex.  There hasn't been a lick of wind since, but he and his friends take turns running as fast as they can around the baseball field and passing it to each other like a relay.  It's hilarious to watch, and it wears them all out.

7. As of this week, when I was offered 6 more work days, I now have enough work to get through the summer comfortably even if I don't get anything else.  Thank you to everyone who thought of us, and most especially to the Lord who knows the end of all things.  Thanks goodness, because I'm pretty sure I'd really mess things up on my own.

And here's a new weekly addition from Dan - The Weekly Funny section.  Enjoy.  The kids have been laughing at it all week. It's a bad copy, but I'll try to find a better one for next week.  In case you can't tell, it's two golfers on the course and the one has the other's underwear in hand...

Seven on Sunday

1. I made my last school lunches for the year tonight.  Yippee!
2. 1 1/2 days of school left, and Dan has to get the kids out the door for both of them!  Ha ha.
3. I have three days of work this week.  I'm not sure why anyone would want to be open Friday after July 1st, or go to the dentist for that matter, but it's hours and I'll take it.
4. Madi and Clay have not gotten the virus Spen and Mac have had all week.  Cross your fingers...
5. My begonias came back after being pummelled by rain just after being planted due to faulty eavestroughs.  They are flourishing to add color to our basically green patio.
6. Dan has been offered quite a few casual shifts lately and that should continue now that it's summer.  It's been interesting patching together all sorts of different days and shifts between us, but it won't last forever.
7.  Madi and Clay have both found a good friend in the complex and they stay busy with them pretty much whenever it is light outside.  It's nice to find kids we don't mind them hanging out with, and with summer here it's great that they have kids to play with and burn all that amazing energy. 

I can't believe summer holidays are here!  We will hopefully be over this little illness before it gets going, as long as the older two stay healthy.  Mac and Spen both picked up viral stomatitis, which is just a fancy way of saying ulcers all over your mouth and throat.  They haven't been eating too much this week, but they've done a lot of sleeping, which means I did a lot of housecleaning and reading. 

Dan was the only one at church today because I couldn't take the youngers and I'm not sure if the olders are contagious.  Apparently this is very catching.  Dan said our primary was down to five kids!  Of course, the three families with the majority of the primary were all absent.  We were home sick, the Halls (who have three) have chicken pox, and the Keelers (who have 4) are home in Raymond.  There were two little boys in Junior and three kids in senior.  That must have been very quiet.  And very boring.  Oh well, summer is upon us. 

Happy summer holidays to all the kids, and good luck to the parents.  Mom and Dad, good luck with the yard.  We wish we were there to help you out.  It sounds from your letter like you've been having quite the adventures.  I'm sure it will all be beautiful in the end.

p.s. Sherron, if you read this, I have not had time to phone but the email address I have for you is not in service.  You can email me at cooperj67@yahoo.com and let me know the right one to use...thanks.

Seven on Sunday

Okay, I guess I have really been slacking.  But it's time to review the positives again and get a better spin on life!

1. All of our kids have had their teeth taken care of, thanks to Dan's work benefits.  Yippee!!
2. I get to go tomorrow and get a few older fillings redone.  Not so yippee, but still good.
3. I actually had rapt attention during sharing time today and knew the idea that came into my head this morning was genuinely inspired, and not just crazy me thinking something up.
4. We had two days of brilliant sunshine this week to break up the monotony of overcast and rain.  It felt like summer!
5. I have a few particular offices that have started to request me through the temp agency.  A nice bit of an ego booster when things are tough in the field.
6. Everyone at home seems to be doing so well - so many thing just falling into place for people who have been waiting, and the excitement continues with another nephew to add into the mix.  Congrats to the Listers!
7. Only two months until we get to drive back to Alberta and see everyone, but who's counting? 

Things that make you go Hmmm....or Malcolm's questions I don't have answers to.

1. Why did Jesus make the skatepark at Town Center bigger than the one at Rocky Point?  Does he like that one better?
2. How does Jesus fly around the planets?  He made them, but he doesn't have wings.
3. How do they make bridges in deep water?  Does someone have to go down there and dig a hole for the bridge to stand in?
4. Why are they called "Mandy-cap" spaces?  (Sorry Mandy, I think he just heard wrong, but we had a good laugh!)

All questions I had to stop and think about.  He is our curious little bee.  Keeps us thinking outside the box, I guess.

So much to say, so little time...

Alright, I have not been the best corresondent lately, as mom and dad will attest to since they have phoned a few times just to make sure we're still alive.  It's funny - I have started carrying my camera everywhere with me in an attempt to take more pictures, but apparently I cannot maitain pictures and a blog.  So this is me trying to update everything based on the pictures I have been taking.  I'll at least get started.  It may take a few posts...

After months of looking at this path that cuts straight up the mountain by the kids school, we finally decided to try it.  Right at the kids playground, it head up at a pretty good incline, and keeps going and going....We climbed for about an hour before reaching any sort of "top". 

This is Malcolm, Clay and Madi trekking up.  Madi complained the whole way, but she made it.  Apparently, if you continue on it will go over the top of the mountain and come out near Indian Arm, which is part of Belcarra Provincial Park.  I don't think we're up to that yet.

Here are the kids at the top....

and here's Spencer's final stop.  Dan and I took turns carrying him back down.  As tough as going up was, coming down was way worse.  My legs really hurt!  Also, I was worried the kids would start running too fast and wipe hard on the loose gravel.  So, we can now say we've done it, but I don't think it's on our list of do-overs.

Our stake had a temple activity for the activity day girls last month.  They spent the day enjoying the spirit and each other's company.  This is Madi with two of the girls from our ward - Iliana and Eun-Seo (Yun-Sauw).  Iliana has moved up to YW, but Eun-Seo is one of the only other girls that attends the activities with Madi.  We have very few girls that age.  In fact, Madi is the last girl until Ella, who is 5. 

Madi wanted to include a picture of the poster she won from the book fair.  I tried to take it without the glare, but couldn't manage.  If you can't tell, it's a bear and a dog and it says "Bear Hug".  Quite an exciting day for her.

We were invited to a birthday party for a little boy in our ward.  The family is Spanish, but they adopted their children after ten years of trying.  Madi is sitting here with Juliette (the daughter) and Max, another boy in our ward.  The party was a huge family affair with a barbecue and a magic show and lots and lots of running around.

Someone turned on music from High School musical and I couldn't resist taking a picture of these kids dancing away.  They were all over the deck and the table and having a grand time.

A couple of weeks ago we took a drive out to Golden Ears Provincial Park.  This is a view of Alouette Lake.  It reminded me a bit of Waterton, complete with rocky beaches.

The little boys were fascinated by the water fountain in the stone.  This is a shot of Spencer laughing hysterically because Dan kept shooting the water into Malcolm's face.  Mac is laughing too, you just can't see.

Moss grows like grass out at this park.  It starts on the ground and then creeps its way up the trees, enveloping them in this strange, alien looking fuzz...

We did the Spirea Nature walk and inside the trees it feels almost like you are surrounded by green ghouls with the way the moss hangs off the branches.

Just a couple shots of the kids on a fallen tree. 

On the way home we stopped at Maple Ridge Town Park.  The spray park was on and when we arrived, Dan told everyone to stay dry.  (Let's remember it was also an overcast day, spitting off and on).  Well, staying dry lasted for about 10 minutes, until interest in the park wore off. 

They started playing a game with this water feature.  You can see the red buckets above them.  They fill with water and randomly flip over and pour it out at various intervals.  The kids walked around below them like musical chairs and waited to see who would get hit.  Dan and I just sat back and enjoyed the show.  The best moment was when Mac (you can see him outside of the direct line of fire to the right in this picture) went to stand right underneath a bucket.  I think he was trying to stand where he might not get hit, but Dan thought he was trying to stand in just the right spot to be drenched, so he coached him into it.  When the bucket spilled, he got it all right on top of his head.  He looked up at us and in a very serious voice said, "I did not want to get wet."  Then he grinned and ran away.  An interesting comment since he was already soaked from the waist down.  Needless to say, the most exciting moment for everyone was getting to ride home practically naked.  Luckily, we had extra jackets and hoodies in the car that they put on like pants, and a few blankies to wrap up in.  Good thing we were on the way home!

Now, I know those of you in Southern Alberta have had some good flooding lately.  I was trying to take a picture of the rainstorm we had a week ago.  It was the hardest rain I've ever seen and it lasted about an hour.  Our patio was all water almost up to the door, and our back yard was a lake.  A lot of basement units in our complex flooded (but we were safe!).  It has been monsoon season all of June here.  We have had 2 sunny days since about May 20.  One of those was yesterday.....

....so we made our way out for our first "official" spray park visit, prepared with suits this time.  This is Rocky Point beside Burrard Inlet, about a 10 minute walk from our house.  Mom and Dad walked down to the pier here when they came out.

It has a great water park and a pretty decent park, plus being beside the ocean is always a bonus.  Our 4 were about the only kids enjoying it though.  People still look at us funny because we think it's hot and sunny.  21 degrees is pretty good to me!  I don't know what they're waiting for.  Out here you have to take the sunshine when it comes because a lot of the time it doesn't!

There's a little update on what we've been up to on the West Coast.  Hope this finds everyone well, and I hope the sun has come out for you too.  Like I said, you have to take it when you get it.  It's pouring rain here again today.  Dan's over on the island with his work clients, hopefully not getting to drenched, but I'm not crossing my fingers.  But, I've also learned out here that you just go, even if the skies are gray and wet.  We're getting pretty good at playing and hiking in the rain.  Clothes can always be dried and the shower feels great when you get back, but there's too much to do to just sit inside!