Finally....

I have friends that will often tell me about something their kids did that was SO hilarious! Often, a part of me feels like the boring friend and the other part of me is glad that my kids don't do "hilarious" things because it is usually something naughty that the parents think is funny. So my conclusion is that either my kids aren't naughty often or I'm a hard-nose mom. Which should I admit to? :)
But I finally have a very small funny thing. And here it is:

You know those words that you say that really don't sound so bad until you hear a 3 year old say it?! Well, Bret and I occasionally use the word "crap."
Last night Livvy, 3 yr. old, was doing something in the dining room and I dropped something in the kitchen. She jumped and then giggled saying, "Mommy, that scawed the cwaps out of me!"
Translation:
"Mommy, that scared the craps out of me!"

Bret laughed his butt off. I just shrugged, rolled my eyes and joined in. THEN we had a talk with Livvy about it. I know that we shouldn't have laughed, but what can you do?! It was way too funny!

Random Thoughts

Today I've had a lot going on in my mind which is surprising since I haven't had near enough Mt. Dew! I really want/need to put things down so that my little brain doesn't explode.

First of all, I like to check my little Cluster Map showing where people are from that view my blog. I know that mostly I get family and friends here in AZ and UT. But there are some random ones lately and its kindof exciting! :) I know who the New York one is - my sister. (By the way Jen, I didn't do what I said I was going to do this morning. I got sidetracked on the computer) I know who the Aussie is - either Chadwick or Muliau (hugs to you both)!!! But the others have me stumped.
I love people! I love knowing their lives and who they are. So here is my little comment to you "lurkers" - post a comment or send me a little email. :) I'd love to hear from you too!

Now aside from the Map, I've got such random thoughts today so if I'm jumping all over and not making sense I apologize!

And here we embark on the journey that is....
Steph's Mind

Homeschooling. I've been reading a lot of blogs lately of different types of Moms across the country. One concept that we all reach at the point our children start school is homeschooling. Do we trust the "system" or ourselves? Its a big issue for Moms right now. I have my own opinion - we all do. But my overall feelings are that when you do what is right for you and your family, THAT is what is important. Too often we beat ourselves up (and others too) for choices and opinions. There are pros and cons to both sides of this issue. So I am starting a world wide debate. The "Can of Worms" has been opened.

Now mind you that when I say World Wide, I have a very small group of visitors, but feel free to pass my blog on to others who might like to add imput or just get ideas and opinions. Maybe even a good fight as this is a HOT topic! :)

Please post or send me an email as to why either Homeschooling or Public or Private or Unschooling or Ignoreschooling has worked for you. And yeah, that last one was a joke. Don't get all excited thinking that there really was a way to Ignore and school at the same time! :) Yeah, I saw you all get way to happy about that one.

Hopefully I can come up with a unbiased list of pros and cons for those Moms who are just trying to decide what will work for them.

To start it all out, I have a few pros for Public:
* The public schools NEED good parents to get involved to make it better for all children involved.

* There is TOO much emphasise on KNOWING. From day one Babies are constantly measured by how much they know. Homeschooling has become more and more about advancing beyond what the schools can provide. There is beginning to become a segregation for kids who perform above the norm. or below the norm. I like that my children get to deal with others from all walks of life AND all smarts of life. (Personally, I'm not of the smart variety) :)

* I honestly feel that it is OK to be happy in who you are as a kid! Whether that be fast learner, slow learner, or average learner. And life is not all about ABC's.

* I think its important for kids to learn to deal with the world BUT find their own peace. I'm NOT saying to feed them to the wolves to be rapped and murdered. Only that the world IS a yucky place, VERY yucky. They HAVE to be in it. I think its important to teach them to be in it and deal with the unfairness, and rotteness of it but then to be able to come home and have peace and love and joy. They need to KNOW (and I mean really KNOW) how to stand up for themselves and be strong in this world. They can do this by being in school and its a smaller version of the grown-ups.

*I read a post from a Pro School advocate that also mentioned about letting others love your kids. Mommy/Daddy love is great, so is Brother, Sister, Grandparent, etc. But having a teacher or group of teachers is another way for your child to feel love. Yes, sometimes that is not the case. But again, its another learning experience.

There are other ideas roaming through my head right now. Pros AND cons. But this particular blog is getting long and I'd like to hear what others feel. And have it understood that I'm not saying that any parent loves their children more, or will have more brilliant children or anything like that! If you get your feelings hurt, its not my fault I swear! I just want different ideas about each option.

We are all GREAT moms! You have each been chosen for YOUR kids!!! Not mine or someone elses. Heaven knows, I couldn't handle anyone elses kids and WOW, no one would want mine! :) Your babies need you for YOU. That even means your faults too. :) Even if you were perfect, like you want to be, it would be detrimental to your kids. So love yourself and your place in life. Love your kids and screw anyone else! :)
Hugs to you all!

Punching Hearts and Tokens

Ok, so what do you do when your kids are rude and mean to each other?! Ideas would be great because that is what has been going on in our house! "Naw, not Steph's kids,: you think! But alas, tis true. Example:

Last night the kids were watching cartoons downstairs in my "craft" room (which is really only a "closethedoorsoyoudon'tseethelaundry" room or the "Bretjuststicksrandomjunkthere" room). ANYWHO... The kids were watching cartoons until dinner was ready and they fought about what to watch using rude voices and hollaring at each other to be quiet. I finally named a show they've all been wanting to see (yeah for DVR and new cartoons). And then they fought over who sits where.
Elizabeth - "I was sitting there first!"
Jake - "You got up!"
E - "So, I was just getting the remote control."
J - "SO, you GOT UP!"
E - "That doesn't matter, I was there FIRST!"
Mom - "Elizabeth and Jake, come here!"
waiting......
Mom - "I SAID come HERE!!"
waiting...... like if they are quiet, I'll forget that I called them - I'm not THAT old yet!
Mom - "NOW!!!"
They come in. Mom - "Ok, you two are done. Put your stuff away and come sit on the couch till dinner is done."
They go into the craft room, and mind you it is seriously 2 feet from where I am in the Kitchen.
E (talking softly, but not softly enough) - "Jake, you little snot."

Of course, I came even more unglued than I already was. I'm not glued together with super glue, ya know. More like Elmer's glue.
So then they got a lecture. ALL of them! And I hate to say it, but my whole goal was to make them cry. Sad, I know. Not crying cause I was screaming so much, but becasue they feel it in their hearts. So this is what I told them:

Mom - "If Jesus were here right now, would he like to hear how you treat each other?"
Kids - "No."
M - "No, cause he loves you all and doesn't want you talking to each other like that. Does Mommy like to hear how you treat each other?"
K - "No."
M - "No, cause I love you all and don't want you talking to each other like that. Do you like it when someone hits you?"
K - confused "No."
M - "Well, when you say mean things to each other and call each other names and use rude voices with each other, its like you are hitting each other IN THE HEART!!"
K - light bulb moment and starting to tear up
M - "Do you WANT to hurt each other - punch each other in the heart?"
K - tears streaming now. "No Mommy. We LOVE each other."
M - "Then be nice to each other and don't make our house a place with hurt hearts."

The "Tokens" part are these little hearts made out of card stock and the kids have to earn these "tokens" by being nice to each other. As they get tokens, they can "buy" special things. A trip to ice cream with Mom, ect. I implumented this last night. We"ll see if it works!

Luke Days - brings back memories

I've been going through all my pictures of the kids and our "little" family. :) And I found these from when we went to Luke Days in March. Luke is an Air Force Base here by us and they have Luke Days once a year. We LOVE to go and see the Air Show and walk around looking at the different planes and vehicles. Here are some of the photos from this past year:

Luke Days - 3/07

Just click on the photo to see the whole album.

I think that I'M the one who has the most fun. As soon as we walk onto the Base, a rush of memories come flooding into my mind. Growing up, we lived on Air Force Bases and often went to the Air Shows. I'm sure all my siblings remember being so excited to see the Blue Angels or just walk around with our friends, feeling so grown up. I want to share that feeling with my own kids, but then I realize, its not the Air Shows that bring back all the memories, its living on the Base.

I remember how cute all the men in "pickles" were! Or playing with a large group of friends after dark in the streets. I remember going to the BX and the Commisary. The swimming pool in the summer. I remember feeling so priviledged when we went through the gate and were saluted in. Like I belonged to a unique group. We even had ID's so that we could get into the Base, or the stores. The Base was a close community! Everyone understood everyone else because we all had the same background. We all knew what it was like to move, make friends, move again (repeat often). At first it was sad, but then you looked forward to the fresh start every few years.

There is a large part of my heart that is still connected to the Air Force. I get choked up when I say the Pledge of Alliegance or sing the National Anthem. Its embarrasing when I visit my childrens classes and they do the Pledge in the mornings. I'm the only Mom crying. :) I love, admire, respect the men and women serving because we were once there too.