"No Picture" Moments

What does this picture have to do with this post? Nothing! It's hard for me to post without a picture. Usually pictures prompt me to update the blog. Problem...no pictures. I don't know why that holds me up. Maybe because I know that's what everyone really wants to see. Then I remind myself I'm writing this as a family journal. But then, again, pictures are so fun! My kids can sit in front of the Apple TV all day watching the pictures scroll through. Life doesn't always have a picture to go along with it. Often times I wish it did. I always tell Ben I wish my eyes were somehow connected to a camera. How great it would be to retrieve images for those perfect moments that are too quick to be captured on film (or digital cards.)

Of course, taking a picture would never do justice to so many things that bring me so much joy and laughter. Most of those are the things my children say. I love how kids minds think. They have no inhibitions. I know that won't last long. Teenagers definitely don't fit in that category. Actually, it's muddled. Sometimes they say things that they defiantly should keep to themselves, and then other times getting any thoughts our ideas out of them becomes so unbearable it's like you are pulling teeth. ( Can you tell I have worked with teenage girls.) So for now I will relish in my children's free thinking, speaking, mind, and try to record their thoughts, "sayings", actions, etc.....even if I don't' have a picture, because who knows how much longer it all will last!

Ethan: Sunday Ethan received this paper fish from his music leader, at church. I guess he had been eye balling them during several of her lessons, and knowing how much he wanted one, she finally gave in. He put it in his scripture bag and I figured that would be the end of it; and that the the fish, so wanted and now received, would sit in his bag Sunday, after Sunday...forgotten. Honestly, after he put it away, I had forgotten all about it myself! Later that day, I was trying to catch a few Z's on the couch, and I could hear Ethan making some commotion in our mudroom, and then heard him asking someone for string. Again, in my half asleep state, that was quickly forgotten. That night when I was putting the kids down, Ben said, "Rachel, you have to come see what Ethan did. It's ingenuous!" I looked in his room and there was that paper fish, and attached to it (with tape) was one of my metal barrette clips. The fish laid on a piece of computer paper that he had colored to look like the ocean. "Cute", you say? We'll I'm not done yet. Then I look to see he had retrieved one of his long plastic flashlights and attached string to the end of it, and on the end of the string he had taped a magnet from my magnet board. He had made his own fishing game. So the whole time he was asking his music leader for a fish, it wasn't just so he could have a paper fish. It was so he could recreate the fishing game she had for the kids each week. Guess he figured he could have as many turns as he wanted this way!

Boston: Let me start by saying that Boston has is own sense of style. When we go into a store, he knows what he wants, and it's not always something I would expect. I'm not saying it's not something I like. I LOVE his style. I just don't expect it because I would think, at his age, he would just be drawn to certain colors (like Ethan) or would just follow Ben's style. I'm sure if Ben took him shopping he would brainwash him into Air Jordan shoes and Ralph Lauren shirts. I know Ben dies a little inside when Boston comes home with Converse/Vans, plaid and checked "beach" shorts, and printed t-shirts. I love it, being a California girl, myself. But that's just me. With that said, it's not like he asks to go shopping. I take him to the Gap, and I let him pick out clothes. That's really the extent of it. So, on with the story.

Boston comes home from school yesterday, and after putting his backpack, lunchbox, etc., away, sits at the kitchen table and says, "Mom I want to go to Tilly's." Umm, really? My 7 year old boy is, A. Thinking about clothes, B. Notices other's clothes, and C. Asks those people where they got their clothes? I don't think I every thought about a clothing store until I was in 5th grade, and I'm a GIRL!!! HELLO! So, I go along with it, trying not to break out into laughter, and ask him why he wants to go to Tilly's. I'm thinking that maybe he doesn't even realize it's a clothing store. He then says, "To get some clothes. They have really cool shirts there!" I ask him what kind of shirts, and he says, "They just say cool stuff. Can we go?". I put him off, telling him we have a lot to do that night, and there was no time, thinking he would forget about it. Did he? Nope! He asked again, about an hour later and twice today. Guess we are making a trip to Tilly's and I'm making sure he brings his wallet!

Sophia: Tuesday I am frantically ( I was enjoying the task, but had a time constraint) trying to get some center pieces for a baby shower I was throwing the next day. Of course, in the beginning, I said I would keep things simple; just a few friends gathered to honor two pregnant ones. Who am I kidding? I'm not very good at giving casual parties. I like to spoil. Not sure if that's always a good trait, but I have accepted it. Ok, maybe not. Actually, I have gotten better with the kids. No more handmade cakes (to much time, and not enough appreciation), and handmade invites (they just get trashed anyway). I've realized the boys need no "fluff". So it's just pizza, ice cream sandwiches, games, and "jumper". But girls always need more. This truth is self evident at church. Girls need table clothes, pictures, and flowers when they have a lesson. Boys just stand there with a manual. Wow....I have gotten way off track. Back to me shopping in a frenzy.

So I was in Jo-Ann's going through the fabric section for the centerpieces. Sophia originally wanted to stand on the end of the cart (no bad mommy remarks please), so she could get down freely and feel like a big girl. She was doing great, until we hit the Dora stuff. She kept picking it up and throwing it in the cart. Finally I put her in the cart, and put all the Dora fabric away. She wasn't happy with me one bit, and she started throwing a huge screaming, not looking at me, fit. Luckily, I'm a seasoned veteran, so the stares from fellow shoppers did not phase me. When Sophia is gets in a mood, the only thing that can pull her out is herself. No talking, bribing, smiling, etc, can get her out. So after about 4 or 5 minutes of random yells, and dirty looks (from her), I decided to try and distract her. I rummaged through my purse, and was praising the Heaven's when I found a package of fruit chews hiding in there. I asked her if she wanted them, and she said yes (of course). I told her she had to stop crying because she could choke on them. She said ok, in her whimpering pathetic voice. So there she is eating her fruit chews and about two minutes into it, when I had already forgotten about her little tantrum, she says, "Mommy, Mommy! I'm all better. See I'm all better"! At first I didn't even realize what she was talking about. Then it hit me that she was referring to her crying, yelling, miserable time she had a few minutes ago. Then I realized how we are all alike, old and young. The young just wear their emotions on their sleeves. When we get upset, we might quietly cry, or burst out with other forms of emotion, or maybe just hide out and sulk. But we all recognize when we feel better, but just don't announce it to the world, wanting them to experience our joy of "snapping out of it"! I loved her so much for that great "Ah ha" moment!

Aubrie: So this was probably the most dreadful conversation I have ever had with my daughter. (Remember Ben gave her the sex talk, not me) Picture the whole family sitting at the dinner table doing their highs and lows. Then it's Aubrie's turn, and this is her high; her friend Gracey stood up for her at school. Pretty good so far, huh? I was enthusiastic wondering what transpired, and definitely not ready for what she was about to say. She said that someone said to Gracey that they heard Aubrie and a boy had made out. I about choked on on my food, and looked around quickly to see if the boys were paying attention. The look on Ben's and my Mom's face was indescribable, and I swear you could have heard a pin drop. She continued with the story, without pause, and said Gracey told the person she didn't know where they heard that but they should mind their own business. We didn't know what else to say, besides, "Gracey is a good friend." Of course I'm thinking, "does she even know what that means? Why in the world are 4th graders talking about this?'. Tonight I remembered to ask Aubrie if she knew what "made out" meant. She said, "Yeah Mom. It's like kissing. Gross!" Ahhhhh, music to my ears! (The "gross" part, obviously!)