Hell has frozen over!

In case any of you wondered when this would happen, I live there so I know. April 6 and we have more new snow. That alone wouldn't be too bad. A little spring snow is expected. Except we haven't seen the ground since the middle of October.

But on to the freezing over bit. Yesterday we had a high of -7, with a wind chill of -20. The kids are so put out. Some spring break!

Spelling Bee Honesty

Clayton participated in the school spelling bee yesterday. A handful of kids from grades 4-6 chosen, by their teachers, have spent every Monday noon hour quizzing each other on spelling to get ready for the big day. I was unable to be there, but Dan was and he related this story to me.

After a few easy rounds, Clayton was given the word "wrong".  He was really nervous (so he told me later) and began spelling quickly "r..o.."  Realizing he had missed the W, but not allowed to begin again, he simply finished the word and waited for the bell to ding indicating he had made an error. But no bell came. "Correct!" the judges said. He stood for a moment, then returned to his seat. Dan was confused, as was the father next to him (Clayton's friend's dad) who gave him a questioning look. Dan said he could see the conflict going on inside Clay's mind, but the bee had moved on.

On his next turn, Clay was given the word "youth". Without missing a beat, he blurted out "u-t-h", then with a big grin took his seat in the chairs reserved for those who have been eliminated from the competition. He was practically there before the bell dinged.  The father again gave Dan a very puzzled look and mouthed, "What was that?"

But Dan and Clayton knew what that was. I am so proud of my little man. His teacher recently told me how impressed she is with his strong moral compass. He doesn't seem to have trouble making those kind of choices to do what is right.

And there's always next year...

Snow, snow, go away!

I worked my first day as an aide sub at the elementary school yesterday. It was a pretty easy start - we watched a movie in the gym for the first hour and a half, then I just meandered around different classrooms basically providing crowd control. Throw in a little recess supervision and, all in all, it was a fairly easy day. I'm sure they won't all be that way...

The only complicated thing was I was in classrooms who also had teacher subs. Talk about mass confusion! They had no idea what I should be doing to help them, most of the time they didn't even know which child I was there for!  Oh well, the little kinks. 

The kids were good about me being there. I was even in Clay's class for the afternoon. I think they secretly liked it, but they would never admit it.

The snow keeps coming. We got more overnight and we are sitting at -17 degrees right now.  It feels like January, so everyone has the blahs. Where is spring???

I've been asked to speak in Stake Conference for the Adult Session. How mothers can teach their children faith at home.  Hmmm....anyone with insights is welcome to comment. 

Good News

Earlier this week I was offered a position on the Educational Assistant Sub list at our Elementary School. This is just the step I need to get on permanently down the road. Yippee! It will also be a much smoother transition back to working, considering I still have Spencer home 3 days a week. I can say yes or no for the next few months, then increase my availability next year.  Big thanks to anyone who was praying for this for me. I really appreciate your support!

And, in other random thoughts, is anyone else out there hating Daylight Savings Time? I much prefer my light in the morning, thanks, since I prefer my children (and myself) in bed at a decent hour. I'm so tired! My circadian rhythms are apparently suffering immensely.  But we shall press forward!

Huge apology

Sorry. I lost my mind. I let my emotions run wild. It was not the right day to blog and, well, TMI error to everyone. I appreciate all the concern and love I felt tho. Maybe that's why I needed to say it. To know how many people really care. I have figured things out. I have a solution. I am making it work.

If I ever need any of you, don't worry - apparently I know how to find you!

Lunch for Mom and Dad

Yesterday the school phoned to inform us that Spencer had won a prize (a major award! lol). We had no ideas what for, but we went down to the Children's Resource Council to find out. Turns out he drew a picture at kindergarten that was chosen as the winner for "What I Love to do with My Family." He won a $20 gift certificate to Smitty's, which shares a parking lot with the CRC. So he called Dad and asked him to come to lunch with us today.

I now realize that this 4th child has pretty much never been to an actual restaruant where he gets to choose his own meal. He was so excited he could hardly contain himself. He even ordered his own orange float. The waitress thought he was so funny she gave him a toonie to put in the prize machine at the front. It was the best day of his life!

And lunch was pretty good too. Thanks Spencer!

This is the pictures, but I can't figure out how to rotate it...

My Life with Boys...

I grew up with sisters, except my little brother who was 13 years younger. so I was gone before he really got involved.  Anyone with sisters knows about cat fights - mean words, the silent treatment, exclusion, maybe someone got their hair pulled or earned a scratch.

I am now a mother of mainly boys - 3 lovely, very boyish boys. I have had to learn that boys fight very different from girls.  Sure, exclusion and cruel words come into it, but boy fights escalate to violence at a much quicker rate. Girls use words and/or silence, boys duke it out.(Side note here: girl fights last forever. Once boys swing it's usually over.)

Last night Clay and Mac got into it over something trivial - lego, I think. Before I knew it, they had each grabbed a cutting board (plastic and flimsy, not hard) off the counter and made their strike.  I pulled them apart and gave them the look. Fast forward one minute: one kicks the other, the other kicks back, one throws a punch at the arm...Mom rushes in and tears them apart, taking one out of the kitchen to cool off.

Meanwhile...

The other was standing on a small step stool through all of this and lost his balance grabbing at whatever was on the counter in an effort to stop his momentum toward the ground.

That item was my deep fryer.

Oil.

Everywhere.

This is the point where mom gives herself a time out while the boys run for cover.

Oh, and dad came in from shovelling the snow in -40 weather.  Not happy.

An hour of clean up and two boys in their beds later we were able to discuss the consequences.

Today there was no school.  First, these lovely boys got to sit with mom and read scriptures about not having contention in the home, loving others like the Savior does and the Golden Rule.  Then they were able to discuss with each other what they each could have done differently last night, as well as come up with a plan for future discipline relating to cruelty and violence in our home. Then they got the talk about what happens to people who can't control their tempers when they grow up.

(Side note 2: making boys talk to each other is almost worse for them than just punishing them. It was a very torturous half hour.)

After the discussion, they were assigned jobs to complete together. Two reasons: first, to make up for the hour I spent cleaning the kitchen floor and counters last night; second, to learn to get along.  Because therein was the catch.  They were not done working til they could work without fighting or biting remarks.

I've never had a cleaner pantry, more folded laundry or beautifully shovelled walks/driveway than I do today.

I grew up a child with sisters.

I am now a mom of boys.

Maybe one day I'll figure this out...