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!"

Potty trained!

Easton is FINALLY potty trained!!! Those of you that know me, know that I have been working with him for over a year on this...well, I mean--I started over a year ago thinking that he was ready and then he was adament that he was NOT ready by refusing to go in the potty and pretty much laughing at me everytime I sat him on it....SO...I kept trying all of the things I was reading about little boys (because my first born daughter was potty trained before her 2nd birthday!) and nothing seemed to phase him! We also had the added excuse to use for him that everytime he was exposed to an allergen --his ulcers would bleed and he would have nasty stools--so he appeared scared to go to the restroom for that reason as well...

It became difficult to know when I was making excuses for him or he was really not ready...but I knew that I was not going to send my child to kindergarten with a pull-up on!! So, we finally mastered the standing up to go pee a while back and that was huge! But, still he would not go poo and would say, "when I get bigger, I will poo poo on the potty"! How frustrating!! Then he would poo at home, but not in public on the potty... Finally, he did it and we have been good to go...he has had an accident or two, but he does notice it now and will be remorseful--where before, he would just walk around in it...NASTY!!!

SO--PRAISE the LORD-no more Pull Ups in this house!! God is so fantastic that He cares enough to walk us through all the stages of our lives...even pee and poo!! :)

Elle is all grown up

I was standing in my parent's bathroom fixing Elle's hair for church on Sunday and we were just visiting when I was just overwhelmed with emotions...my little baby is all grown up. I mean, she is only 7--but she is going into 2nd grade...she is talking about a boyfriend!...and things she wants to be saving up for...she was talking to me like we were peers--not my little girl...I had to leave the room I was so emotional. She came after me and asked what was wrong--she was that intuned with my emotions--(Jason doesn't even catch on to that sometimes!! ) But, we later talked about how proud we are of her and that I was just overwhelmed with that when I was talking to her. She just smiled and said, "Mommy, I am proud of y'all, too!" It was so precious.

I talked to God about it later and was saying that I get it..."don't let another second go by without recognizing what you have...don't miss any of it"

Summer time fun

I cannot tell you how fantastic summertime is for the kids and I. After going full-time this school year, being able to be home with my kids, to just hang out with them at the pool or read books, color, or just sit in the backyard...is such a blessing! Our summer schedule this year has consisted of sleeping late, going every other day to Easton's doctors appointments and then come home to eat lunch before heading to the pool for the bulk of the afternoon. Both of the kids are strong swimmers this year, so I have been able to play with them and then sit by the pool and enjoy an audiobook or two. SO AWESOME!! Then we come home and just hang out. By that time, Jason is home and we are ready to start getting ready for dinner. We have spent a few extra long weekends in Waco instead of coming home early on Saturday--just to be able to take it easy and not rush all the time--which has been nice. I just love that there is some flexibility in our schedule and thank the Lord for this time with my children!! They are growing up so fast.

Seriously AMAZING!

We have recently been going to Dr. Darr for allergy therapy for Easton. It is like he is a new kid now. He is now eating just about everything! He is eating things with milk, wheat, eggs, and yeast--all of which just a few months ago would have either broken him out horribly or caused his ulcers to bleed. It is like we are getting to experience his "firsts" all over again! It is amazing! We are in awe of God's total and complete love for Easton through all of his medical issues all the way up to this time of healing...We just hope that he will never forget all of this that the Lord has brought him through. It has been a long road--but the end result is so awesome to watch!