Waterpark

I LOVE waterparks! Well, to be honest--I love being outside in the summertime...anything to do with water, my kids and fun--can't beat it! We went last week to Canton with my mom, my sister in law, one of my great friends, 4 little children...Addyson (3), Easton (3), Elle (7), and Rosalie (3). It was so much fun! The kids are all independent enough at this point to ride all of the slides in the Castle area without assistance--so we can just sit back and laugh at them now...which is so much fun. And, Elle likes to take turns taking different people on the bigger slides. My mom is mostly concerned about taking snack breaks and it was such a blessing this time because Easton was able to eat inside the park like a "regular citizen"...in fact--he had TWO bowls of Dippin Dots while we were there!

"The day of Destruction"

Recently, my BFF and her son--who is 4 and good friends with Easton were going to have a sleep over at our house when Elle was in Waco and her daughter was staying at her grandma's. We have done these sleepovers before but not with the boys--only with the girls, so this was a new thing. Easton and Cooper (or Cooter, is what Easton calls him since he can't say his "p's") get along so well and always behave perfectly when they are together. We have left them with the Dad's many times and they both comment that "they were great". So...when the following happened, we were all TOTALLY shocked!!

My friend and I decided to run to the store to get a few snacks and I told Jason that we would be back shortly. We put on a Diego movie for the boys (they last about 30 minutes) and then we waited a few minutes to see how they would behave. They were fine and we left. (btw...I did not tell Jason that we were walking out the door...)

20 minutes later I receive a phone call from Jason asking where I am...he was really upset. I tell him we are at the store and he tells me abrubtly to "get home"...when I laugh a little and ask why, he tells me that the boys have destroyed Elle's room. "What?!"

Holly and I rush back to the house, hoping that this one time, Jason was being dramatic. Well, he wasn't. The boys had decided to go hunting in Elle's room--and to specifically hunt for American Girl doll horses. They threw them up against the walls multiple times and slammed them together. The horses, three of them, were destroyed--legs were broken off, faces snapped off--destroyed. There were holes in the walls, made by little horse hooves...and one of Elle's wooden chairs were broken. All of this occurred in about 15 minutes with Jason sitting in the other room. He said that he heard them being loud--but they always play sword fight and things like that--so they are always loud...but not like that!

As soon as Easton saw my face, he burst into tears and apologized over and over again. I sent him to get his favorite camo rifle (that he carries around with him everwhere) and I told him we were going to break it. He cried and cried. I asked him if there was any purpose behind breaking Elle's favorite toys, and he said no--and I reiterated that then his favorite toy needed to go as well. He was then sent to his room and told that the sleepover was over. After we got things somewhat cleaned up or at least reorganized...I went in to talk to him and to give him a spanking. I told him that he was going to get a spanking because that is the "ultimate" in our house and this was pretty ultimate. I told him that he was in trouble for the bad choice...but worse than that--I asked him if he knew it was bad when he was throwing the toys and breaking Elle's favorite things. He cried and said yes. Then I asked him what he should have done when he realized things had gotten "out of control". He first said he didn't know--but then changed it and said, "go get Daddy"...I was so proud of him. I told him that we all make bad choices and there will be consequences...but when you know you can't handle it--get help. Just ask for it and we will help you!

I wish I could learn that lesson more often too--ya know? I feel like God has to constantly give me that "ultimate" pretty often because I knew better and got myself in further than I could handle! He is always there in my time of need; just like in Psalms 22:5--They cried out to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed...I am NEVER disappointed!

Easton's brush with crime

A few weeks ago, I went to meet my mother in Southlake (where my brother and sister in law live) to hang out at my brothers to swim and wait for them to get back from Cabo. My mom had been watching their daughter and their dog for a few days while they were gone and we thought it would break things up a little to throw in a little play date. Elle had been discussing with my mother how she always has to do everything with the "babies" (what we call Easton and Addyson--they are both three years old) and never gets anything... Of course, I know this is ludicrous, but my mother entertains it by telling her that she can get something at a store and the babies wouldn't get anything...SO--off we go to a little boutique in the strip mall there by my brother's house. Elle picks out a little bag to take with her to Pine Cove while I am entertaining Easton and Addyson. Easton picked up a little bouncy ball (mind you, the ONLY boy item in the Sassy Girls store) with a jet inside of it and points out that he would like it...I tell him that it is cool, but that we will see it next time we are there (a standard answer for our household). We leave with Elle's bag--and my mom makes the comment, "See, you got a present and no one else did." Easton looks up with this really confused face, and says, "Cept' me!" and holds up the ball!!

Are you kidding me?? I took him by the hand and led him back to the register. He handed the ball back to the lady and burst into tears. I told him to tell her that "I stole this. I did not pay for it and I took it anyway." He kept saying, "I'm sorry, Mommy." It was so awful--but I honestly wanted to make an example out of that moment. The lady behind the counter then said, "it happens all the time".

Why must people say things like that when we are clearly trying to teach our children a lesson? Could you just play along and pretend to call the police or something?? :) I mean, she could have at least said something constructive--not "it happens all the time". I can just hear him saying that the next time he wants something and I won't let him have it--"can I just take it? It happens all the time!"