where oh where...

Cameron came up the stairs yesterday morning and I immediately said, "go back down and brush your teeth". Cameron is pretty easy to read - when he has been downstairs goofing off, instead of getting ready for school, he comes up with this certain smile. About 5 minutes later he comes up again - again with said goofy smile - again, I tell him to go brush his teeth! About 5 minutes later he comes trotting up the stairs, grinning away. (You know, some people are worried about the dating years - I can't wait! I am so excited for the day when he likes a girl and hygiene will actually become a priority for him!) This time I say, "Cameron, I can smell your breath from here - GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH!". His response?
"Sometimes in the morning I get mucus that runs down my throat and makes me spit. Sometimes the mucus hits my uvula and makes me throw-up, and that makes me teeth stink. That happened this morning."
What I want to know is, where is this kid headed? Is he going to become a stereotypical used-car salesman or is actually going to do something with his lying creative imagination???

no two flakes are the same...

While I was on the corner, having my morning chat with my girlfriends, one of the more observant girls (read as...the one not listening to my story) noticed some beautiful little snowflakes on the other gals jacket (no, not dandruff). There were REAL snowflakes falling from the sky!! I realize have lived in Utah for the last 16 plus years BUT this is the first time I have ever seen pretty snow. So, here is my glove - you want a closer look, huh? Isn't it amazing?? Suzy, you could just move here and you wouldn' t have to make these anymore!! When I got home, in all of my excitement, I asked Bill if he had ever seen these magical crystals!?!? He (in his 37 years living here) had never seen them either (although, he is terribly unobservant - he would probably need it to fall on his x-box or something to notice). Aren't they cute? I tried to get Chase to pose outside until one fell on him - can you imagine...a cute snowflake on a cute baby?? too much! -
he wouldn't cooperate!

As I was running around looking for something dark, something solid, something that would make an awesome background - this was the first thing that came to mind...my name is Dede, I have a diet soda problem!

put up your dukes...

I use to have a poodle named Muffin.
Cameron reminds me of Muffin.
Muffin was not afraid of any other dogs. If a big German Shepherd came by, Muffin would bark and bark and let the shepherd know who was boss.
When Cameron was in 3rd grade he got in-school suspension for fighting for a 5th grader - he claimed to be sticking up for a friend - he wasn't scared (even though he came home with a bloody lip - which is the ONLY reason I even found out about it!).
Yesterday my friend called to see what Cameron had to say about his walk home. The answer, like always, was NOTHING. (Cameron has learned to never tattle - it has never worked to his advantage!). I called Cameron in to have him tell me about his walk home from school.
Me - how was your walk home?
C - (smiling - he always smiles when he is going to lie) well, there was this one kid who was swearing - he even said the "f" word (which Cameron now knows isn't "fart" - how sad!)
Me - did you get into a fight?
C - well, ya, kinda
Me - what kind of fight?
C - (showing me his best punching moves)
Me - (trying hard to not laugh) did you get hurt?
C - well, it is kinda hard to hurt me. I drink lots of milk.
Me - (really close to loosing the laughing battle) did you hurt him?
C - I don't think he is going to admit that.

Time to take a little break in the conversation. Cameron was 4 pounds when he was born - he is totally proud of this. He is now in 5th grade and weighs 66 pounds (soaking wet) and he is proud of this as well. Here he is displaying his muscles...We talked a little more about this brat kid and apparently he has been bullying the kids on the way home for a little while now (he also enjoys decorating the fences with a sharpie and some choice words). I explained to Cameron that hitting wasn't any better than swearing - Cameron is sticking to his story (without a smile) that he was defending himself! I believe him. This is were Reagan (who out weighs Cameron by about 10 pounds) quickly hops into the conversation saying, "Cameron didn't defend me last week" when this same juvenile delinquent young man was "white washing" him (in case you are like me and don't know what "white washing" means...it is when someone tackles you and rubs your face into the snow)!I told Cameron that I was proud that he was sticking up for himself (because that is how I was raised - right dad - or did I get that wrong too??) and reminded him that you can use your words instead of your fists in most situations and YOU BETTER STICK UP FOR YOUR BROTHER NEXT TIME and...you might want to start doing a few push-ups before you go to bed each night!

2 steps back, 1 step forward...

Wesley is slowly loosing his status as my favorite child.
He has been teetering for awhile, but it looks as if he is heading downhill.
For instance...
step back: "Mom, I wish you worked all day so I could ride the bus home." (the bus he is referring to is the daycare bus that picks up some of the other kids from kindergarten - and sometimes I wish he could ride it too!)
back: "We need to send Chase somewhere so we can get a dog. A live dog."
forward: "You are the bestest mom in the world."
back: "I didn't hurt Chase THAT hard." (don't mess with the up and coming fav!!)
back: Wes - I will love you if you take me to McDonald's.
Me - what if I don't take you?
Wes - then I won't love you (so, of course, I took him!)
forward: he smiled - oh, that smile gets me!
back: he strategically hid all of his folded laundry under the couch in the front room - I didn't notice until we had company!
back: he wrote his name on the wall again, and blamed it on Chase, again (although the new favorite is a genius, he has only been working on his own name, not Wesley's!)
forward: when he fell off of the kindergarten playground yesterday and hurt his hand, he ran to me and (with his back to his classmates) asked me to kiss his hands!
back: "This is the WORST dinner you have ever made! but, it's kinda good."
back: "Your hair doesn't look so good like that!"
forward: I am kinda running out of the forward steps - case in point!
*note to boys - my favorite child is more like a favorite stage. I love kids in the 2-5 range! Therefore, you have ALL at one time been the favorite kid. I am not quite sure what will be my favorite "stage" once Chase is out of the range, but I suggest you start working now to let it be you your stage! Best of luck - love, mom

with mom...

I asked Chase if he wanted to eat breakfast - his response: ya, with mom.
Do you want to clean you room? ya, with mom.

Do you want to play trains? ya, with mom. Who could resist??He has also "helped" me fold laundry, clean the bathroom and make lunch! Now that he is napping, I am going to redo the laundry and bathroom and go clean all of his slobber off of my mirror!

slippery when wet...

Wood floors can get slippery. Especially when someone has been attacking their baby brother with the squirt bottle.
Thank goodness for thoughtful kids who (rather than grab a towel) will take the time to leave a little note of caution!

me and my pal...

Wesley had a gross wart (and as I type this, I realize I should have taken a picture) on his pinkie toe underneath his toenail. I took him to the pediatrician to get in froze off. She asked me if I told him it would hurt - I looked at her* like she was crazy and said "NOOooo". So, she told him (and told him she would never lie to him - as if that would comfort him now?!). She had me hold the timer, as she tortured him for 45 seconds! I felt SO bad for him - he cried and begged for it to stop - as soon as the doc walked out of the room I (like any guilt-ridden mom would) promised him a toy and a treat and anything else he wanted! After a few minutes he recovered, got a popsicle and we headed out for a treat! The first treat...we went and saw Nana at work! He got to play ball with her and didn't have to take turns with his brothers.
Then we hopped on trax - he was so excited to ride the "train"! We took it to Temple Square (a whole 2 stops - I, of course, had a hidden agenda - I needed to buy something at a store right downtown), got a cookie, and walked around the temple. It was pretty cold and we were in light jackets, so he held my hand, for warmth, almost the whole time (my treat!). After walking around for awhile, we hopped back on the train, said goodbye to Nana and headed for treat #2!
the gas station
one of Wesley's favorite places?!?
We got a drink and went home - he had so much fun he even forgot about the promised toy - until it was time for bed!!

*I love my pediatrician and think she is one of the best around - and I am glad she tells my kids the truth (even if I don't!!)

re-flec-tion: a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration

I mentioned awhile back (here) that Cameron was one of the winners, in his category, in the reflections program. We went to the award ceremony for the next level (15 schools) - Cameron was excited and nervous! He kept saying things like...
some people cry when they don't win
look how many kids are here
& I hope there are still prizes left when I go up It turns out, he didn't go on to the next level, but he did get a participation certificate and chose a little penguin as his prize AND he knows that I am proud of him!! Since it was just the two of us, we decided to get some ice cream on the way home. We were having fun UNTIL he forgot some things about THIS conversation and needed some refreshing! (he now knows about periods too - why doesn't he just ask about Santa - I am prepared for that!!)

ahhhh, peace....

- the boys are back to school -
now, for a few hours a day, it is just me and my little shadow (and by shadow, I mean constant shadow, follow me EVERYWHERE, doesn't know what to do with himself, sweet little buddy!). Anytime I sit down at the computer, he throws a ball at me (in a play catch sort of way) - if I go potty, he is right there cheering me on - if I am loading the dishwasher, he is unloading - if I am folding laundry, he is throwing laundry (which is why I quit on Monday)! It was time for some outdoor activity! I know what he is thinking here...lets see this mama run!oh - no you don't!!! you think it is funny?? guess who is going down for a nap?after one more throw
(it isn't your fault your brothers teach you such naughty things!)

ahhh, peace (until 3:30)

happy 2009...

We brought in the new year with our friends and neighbors last night! We had lots and lots of yummy food (jalapeno jelly - my fav!!)
lots and lots of kids (playing so well together - mostly!)
fun games (ending the night tied - rematch anyone??) giving us the opportunity to see Bill give MJ a run for his money, in his rendition of THRILLER!fun and sparkly fireworks
an AWESOME playlist
and enough peanut m&m's to last me until next year (meaning today!)