Crazy week....

Wow, what a week! Christmas is crazy enough but add to that two deaths, one visit to the ICU, and a new child?
So, Tuesday Rylee came home telling us how a friend of hers father had died. This little girl lost her mother three years ago and now her father. Rylee and her cute friends Ashtyn and Rachael assembled and made cookies and cards and delivered Christmas gifts. Friday night I took Rylee to viewing and we lucked out finding her little friend out at the drinking fountain and Ry was able to give her a big hug and tell her how sorry she was. We were able to avoid the actual casket and all the adults-of which we knew no one. I feel so bad for this little girl. Both parents gone at the age of nine.
Then my cute niece, Emily was admitted to the ICU due to complications from her diabetes. She was with us last week recovering from her tonsillectomy. She went home last week Friday and was having such a difficult time eating that her blood sugars went incredibly high. Kambree and I visited her at the hospital yesterday. She was doing better and should be home today.
Add to this that Devree's best friend Jasmine's grandma died. Now Jasmine's grandma isn't you run of the mill grandma, she was raising Jasmine. Jasmine's mom has zero custody (not sure what the story is there-I've head drugs but I don't know) and her Dad lives out in Bluffdale and allows for Jasmine to live part time with grandma. Grandma sees to it that Jasmine gets to church and has always looked out for her. Signing her up for junior jazz, seeing that she gets braces, piano lessons and all in all being her mother. She called me just last week asking if she could pay me for driving Jasmine to basketball practice. (Dev & Jaz have played on the same team for the past five years and I always take Jasmine as grandma has been unable to drive for years. She use to offer to drive but she was so frail even back then that I was afraid to have Devree in the car with her and I insisted on driving.) Her grandma was ninety one.
Devree, Rylee and I attended her funeral this morning. Jazzy has been staying with us since her grandma died Wednesday. Without disclosing too much her home life with Dad isn't the best and Dad's not the most involved parent and without grandma I don't know what this little girl will do. She has incredible young women leaders that love her and we've spent hours talking about how we can help Jasmine and what her options are.
Trust me, if this child goes to live with Dad exclusively she will fall through the cracks. Jasmine is here about two to three nights a week already and almost every other weekend so maybe she'll stay with us? What's a few more days and mornings? What's one more kid running around here?
Okay, confession time here. I'm not the coolest, funnest, most nurturing loving parent on the planet. I never aspired to have so many children under my care. I fought hard the feelings I had to adopt Alex and I certainly didn't imagine myself opening my heart and home to a thirteen year old girl. I'm often impatient and over whelmed. I am not the model of motherhood. And Jasmine may very well decide this is not the place for her. Devree and Jasmine may decide being sisters is not like being best friends. People keep asking what is going to happen and I honestly don't know. I just want her to know she has a safe place to be and that our door is open.
I ran into Nanette (Save A Child Foundation) after the funeral (Jasmine's grandma lives in her ward) and when she heard Jasmine had been staying with us and may stay with us on a more permanent bases, I joked about how at least I wouldn't have to teach her English!
So on to lighter, safer subjects! Alex finally earned all his money for his Christmas shopping. We went out today (nightmare-last Saturday before Christmas) and got it done. He had about $4 left over after buying Kambree's gift and somehow managed to find something for James and I with what he had left. He told me on the way home if he had more money he would buy everyone a present. I don't doubt that.
He was excited to get home and "fold" his presents. Wrapping is sort of like folding...right?
Last night was the Johnson Christmas party. How sad that I only see my cousins once a year. For most it's been two years as last year the party fell during a dance concert and we didn't make it. It was a nice get together. Alex is loving all this celebrating and just soaking it up! He fit right in playing with everyone. I was over Christmas bingo and I was worried he'd get frustrated trying to read the words but he did okay and he loved the little toys he got from the fishing pond. He's coloring in his new color book right now and telling me all about the Incredible Hulk.
Kambree's at work, Austin is with Hayden, Devree is wrapping presents and Rylee is in the tub singing Christmas carols. Jasmine is with family and she doesn't know where she'll land tonight. I just asked her if she doesn't land here, to call and let me know where she'll be staying.
This morning I went to breakfast with two of my girlfriends. Sad thing is that we've been trying to get together for lunch for two weeks and we finally resorted to breakfast at 8:30 am on Saturday. It was a lovely breakfast and right now I should get off the computer and snuggle up in my new knock-off "snuggie" and watch the new movie Jan R gave me all while wearing my new fuzzy pink slippers and then crawl into my bed with my new flannel sheets that Jan B gave me. Oh how I love girlfriend gifts!

Weeding

My Harvest

(Carol Lynn Pearson)

I did not plant you, true.
But when the season is done,
When the alternative prayers for sun
and for rain are counted,
When the pain of weeding
And the pride of watching are through,
Then I will hold you high,
A shining sheaf above
the thousand seeds grown wild.
Not my planting,
But, by heaven,
My harvest -
My child.

What a sweet poem.

Right now we're going through some "pain of weeding". It's called school work. Oh my. Tears and drama. Not just Alex but with one we "planted" ourselves, Rylee. Between the two of them I think someone was crying at all times during homework time last night. Alex on math-he's on grade level with math but just doesn't have basic multiplication down. Luckily Mr. Patient (aka James) was helping him. Alex sobbed and sobbed but persevered. I learned on the way to school he could have done his math at school today but wanted to have time to do his "sewing". His teacher lets them sew designs on cardboard, they're pretty cool and Alex really gets into it. Funny how this didn't come out until this morning and he missed his reading and English studying last night to get all this math done. So tonight he'll have to make up for what he missed last night.

I was on studying for spelling bee with Rylee. She tries so hard not to cry but tears just leak down her face as she struggles to spell. This morning as we finished up math & spelling and Rylee was sprinkling the paper with her sadness. I explained that her little cousin Sydni is just learning to potty train right? Yes. If she accidentally pees her pants do we spank her? No. Right, because she's little and she's just learning. Rylee you are just learning spelling too. Would you stop spanking yourself? She gave me a slight smile and we moved on. Do I think I've solved her crying issues...heck no! I've given her many of these scenario's some more brilliant than others-over and over!

James and I were talking about our son's vs our daughters and their scholastic outlook. Our daughters are so driven to do well in school and our son's could care less. With the boys it's all about doing the minimum amount and having fun! I told Alex earlier this week that his job is to study and learn. That's his main job-like my job is to be a mom and sell houses. He had conveniently forgotten to bring home his spelling bee study sheet and I was on his case about it. I could tell he felt bad. I asked if he felt bad he didn't study or felt bad that I caught him not bringing home his assignment. He replied "you caught me." See the problem? You need to be more concerned that you didn't study! My girls are like that. They freak out when they leave something at school or at home that they need. My boys just shrug their shoulders and think "Oh, well." How does that happen? I mean, Alex has an excuse, but Austin? We've raised him the same as our girls. Same parents, same environment, same emphasis. Totally different direction. Maybe Alex and Austin can hook up as adults and do a comedy routine or something as brain surgeon and astrophysicist-are not looking like an option.

We've made it through three dance concerts in the last five days. I will post pictures later. I love this part of Christmas time. The concerts. We have two more choir concerts this week and the Johnson Christmas party. I can't believe Christmas is approaching so quickly. Luckily for me I have six more days then most of you as Santa isn't coming until James is home from work so the 30th will be our Christmas Eve with Christmas morning on the 31st.

We attempted to have the Richhart Christmas party last Sunday but it was canceled due to bad weather. Many of our family members live a couple of hours away and of course we had a doosie of a storm. We've rescheduled for January 10th. Yes, that's then next Sunday that Jake and James will be home together. The joys of having husbands work away from home two weeks at a time.

James heads out tomorrow. Boo. I keep thinking about our military families and how long they go without seeing their husbands and dads and try not to feel sorry for myself. It's just two weeks right? It's just this two weeks falls over Christmas. Well, we will just have to shake it off and make the best of it! It's much harder on James than us, we have each other and will still have Christmas parties and celebrations and we'll be spreading Christmas out over a week. He'll be in dreary below zero Wyoming with a bunch of hairy, grumpy men that don't want to work over Christmas either! So if I should feel sorry for anyone, it should be for James...right? Yet, I can't help but feel sorry for all of us!

Well, enough boo-hoo-ing. We are so blessed. And it is not lost on me that we are fortunate to have work, have health, have each other and all the many, many other blessings we have.

Blessing to all of you today!

Memory Monday

I've decided I need to document some stories, events, funny situations that happened long before I became a blogger. So, I'm starting memory Mondays to write about the past. I have found blogging to be such a great way to keep a journal and I feel a little guilty that I've been such a slacker before blogging so here goes.
The first story I want to share is about Kambree. When Kambree was about 15 years old she needed to have her wisdom teeth removed. We had just gotten her braces off and there wasn't room in her mouth for anymore teeth. Her wisdom teeth hadn't come in yet and were impacted so we needed to take her to an oral surgeon to have them extracted.
Now, I don't know if you can tell from the photo's I post but Kambree has incredible eye lashes. I just goop on some mascara and call it good, where as Kambree takes time to curl her lashes and apply an even amount of mascara to each lash and often does two or three coats. She's even gone so far as to have her eyelashes permed. (Which makes my eyes water just thinking about it!)
So, I'm at the oral surgeons office in the recovery room waiting for her to come out from anesthesia and she slowly wakes up. Her mouth if full of cotton so I can barely understand her, the first thing she asks me is.
Kam: "DoooI ve me leshs?" (Translation: Do I have my lashes?)
Me: What?
Kam: Dooo I ve me leshes. (Or something to that effect.)
Me: Do you have your lashes?
Kam: Nod with big serious, sad eyes brimming with tears.
Me: Yes, you have your lashes.
And with that the flood gates open and she breaks into tears.
Me: Are you hurting?
Kam: No
Me: Are you sad?
Kam: No.
Me: What is wrong?
Kam: (Crying) I don't know.....
The nurse walks by, "Oh, we've got a crier!" and explains that sometimes when you come down/wake up from your anesthesia that you come down/wake up sad, for no apparent reason.
She's really sad, she's just crying and crying. I tell the nurse how she's worried about her eye lashes and the nurse starts laughing.
"Oh, I was admiring her lashes right before she went under and told her I might have to steal them." (She was joking of course!)
I hugged Kam and rubbed her back until she woke up enough to get her wits about her.
I will never forget her sad face with her mouth full of cotton asking me if her lashes were missing.
We then went to have her pain med's filled and I thought she should stay in the car but she insisted on coming in to the grocery store with me. She's pretty groggy still so I've got my arm around her shoulders and she's got one wrapped around my waist for support and we slowly make our trek to the back of the store to the pharmacy. She still has a mouth full of cotton but she's smiling at everyone with this silly grin. In time she asks me with her muffled cotton pronunciation:
Kam: Why is everyone looking at me strange?
Me: Um...because you are grinning at everyone with cotton in your mouth, and you look sort of strange?
Kam: I do?
Wow. It's amazing what medication can do. It left this fifteen year old wandering around the grocery store clutching her mother, grinning like a fool, slightly drooling with cotton hanging out of her mouth. This from a girl that normally won't leave the house with our perfect mascaraed lashes!

Quick Alexism

Alex is so concerned about my illness. This morning during morning prayer he prayed "Bless mom not sick." And just now while heading to his friends to play he kissed my cheek five times and as he was walking away proclaimed:
"Be safe and beeee.......uh.....faithful!"
By the grin on my face he could tell that wasn't right.
"Oh, I don't know....beeee....not sick!"

Journal

James has a tradition of taking one child each time he's home out to lunch. This time home it's Rylee's turn. James and Rylee were discussing where she wants to go and Alex asked when it was his turn. Next time Alex. "Good" he said. "I want-a-go Chuck-a-Grandma!" We laughed and laughed. Seriously, I couldn't' make this stuff up!!
Last night was our big annual Relief Society Christmas dinner and I have caught a lovely cold complete with sinus pressure and dry coughing fits. Lovely. I needed to prepare TWO prime ribs. So I walked down the street to my parents to put the second and larger prime (almost 15 pounds) in my Mom's oven in her HUGE roasting pan. My parents have a key less lock on the home and for the life of me I cannot remember the code. My kids know the code. But not me. I rang the door bell. No answer. I called my Mom's cell. No answer. I called my Dad's cell. No answer. (They knew I was coming too!) I am juggling a 15 pound prime on their front porch which has not been shoveled and trying to get them to answer their phones to give me the code so I can get in the door. No luck.
No worries, I'll go through the garage. New keypad and apparently new code. That won't work either.
So I go around back (keep in mind I and the prime I am lugging are making tracks through virgin snow that is above my ankles) open the gate but can't get it to shut behind me. I try-twice-by shutting it hard but this only causes the snow on the gate to spray me. I give up latching the gate. I go through the back door of the garage-because they leave that open for the dog- a big loving white lab who would eat a stranger or lick a friend to death. Luckily no dog in sight. I walk into the garage and see that there is no getting around my Dad's HUGE extended cab truck to get to the door to the house. Luckily the cab is open so I hoist the prime and myself up into the cushy leather seats, put the console up and proceed to scoot across the cab as my phone rings. It's my Dad. Did I need him? It's a little late now Dad! I am sitting in your truck in the garage with a 15 pound prime rib on my lap attempting to get me and it into the house!! He laughs and tells me sorry. Do I want the code's now? Grr...
I manage to get in the house, the prime in the oven, go back out through the front door, trapse back through the snow to shut the gate, go home where I put prime #2 in the oven and then I go directly to bed as my head is just pounding. I can't sleep due to coughing. Great.
Before I left I was going over the schedule for the night with the family. When I told the kids I had a Relief Society dinner, Alex sighed and asked if it was at the table or the bar? Like I was hosting the entire dinner IN our house?? No, Alex at the church.
We have piano and voice lessons on Tuesdays and a recuperating niece who just had her tonsils out staying with us so James was to hold the fort down at home. Austin was coming to help with busing at six. I called about five to six to tell James to bring ice and a sharp knife when he drops Austin off but I'm told it's too late, James has allowed Austin to drive BY HIMSELF to the church. One word-well two, learners permit.
So I went home to get the ice& knife myself and have a few words with the "fun" parent. Alex asked me if I was done when I walked in the door. No I grumbled. You having fun Mom? No, Alex I am not having fun! Then I grabbed the ice & knife and James volunteered to come back with me and get his car as he had seen the error of his ways.
On the way back my rear wheel drive car without snow tires cannot climb the hill to the church. Seriously, this day is getting way to complicated. We take a different route.
I won't bore you with the details of the dinner but sufficient to say, it's OVER!!
(All in all it turned out okay and luckily I didn't have any embarrassing hacking coughing spells while serving! The meat was too done for my taste but no one complained, everyone remembered to bring their dishes, I over scheduled one too many tables decorated, and the entertainment showed up and was marvelous!)
I do need to thank Austin and Hayden for helping so much. This is my third year in charge of this dinner and Austin's third year of playing water boy/table buser. He's a good boy.
After twenty sink loads of dishes and recruiting James to come help clean up-I made it home.
Austin was sharing with James and me how free he felt jumping in the car and driving to the church all on his own. I told him to remember that great feeling as he will not be having it again until April 18th when he turns 16 and is a licensed driver.
When I was doing my nightly pick up and lock up I walked by Alex's room and saw him tossing and turning in his bed. I went to tuck him in.
A: I am sorry for word Mom.
Me: What? What word are you sorry for? (Thinking he must have said a swear word or something while I was gone?)
A: I am sorry for "You having fun?"
Me: Oh, Alex. That's okay. I didn't mean to make you feel bad, it's just not very fun to put these dinners together, especially when I don't feel well. Don't you worry, your words were fine. I was just grumpy.
Good grief. What a day.
Today I feel better-I still have the dry cough but at least the headache's gone-yes the sinus headache and the dinner headache! Hurray!

I hatched an evil plan....

Knowing that my boys both are in need of funds for Christmas gift buying I made a deal with them.
I made a bet that Austin couldn't go one week without saying "Don't tell me what to do." Which is his standard response to EVERYTHING I tell him to do. Actually it's the standard response when anyone tells him anything. It's not in an angry voice or threatening or anything, it's just a quip-y Austin response.
As of tomorrow he will get his ten dollars for making it the whole week. He's come close a few times with "Don't tell me...." but then caught himself.
Alex's word of choice is "man". He says it after everything.
"Hey man!"
"Cool man!"
"Okay man!"
"No way man!"
Honestly? He probably says the word "man" about fifty times a day!! It's especially annoying to me and his sisters as we are NOT men. His bet started Wednesday night.
Thursday afternoon he let the first "man" slip. Since it's only one word instead of a sentence where you can stop yourself before he finishes-like Austin-I just took one dollar off our bet. Within three hours Alex lost the other nine dollars! He teared up a little at "man" number six but pulled it together quickly. We talked about how it's important to be in control of our speech and the habits that can easily over take us. The last "man" he said was because it wasn't worth a dollar to abstain from saying it for six more days. At least he knows the value of a dollar.
"I just work" he told us after the last dollar was gone and James found him a job to do for money.
He has been better however and I don't notice him saying "man" after every word and sentence like before so hopefully my little experiment worked. However, once he had lost all the money he said "Man, man, man!" And "I love Man!" and made up for his 24 hour restraint.
James was appalled at first when he heard I had made bets with his sons (not so much the betting part but to pay them for such a dumb thing!) but then I whispered to him "I'm going to have to give them money anyway for Christmas, I might as well get something out of it!" he laughed and laughed.

We have a secret Santa elf.....

living amongst us!
I first became aware of him when a cute little note was left on my chair at dinner.
Then this morning HE MADE MY BED!!
I really wonder who it could be??
Alex has no idea. He came down stairs and asked me. "Mom you make your bed?" No I said. "Oh," he shrugged, "Maybe secret elf? You go look Mom." Yep, sure enough a secret elf had made my bed!! How in the world did Alex know that?? But, whootwhoo!! I LOVE secret Santa elves.
On the other hand, I was getting worried that an evil elf had also invaded our home. I could not find Devree's packet of school pictures anywhere. Now not to brag or toot my own horn but I don't lose things. I don't do piles of clutter and I don't stick things in places where they do not belong. I just don't. Yes, it's hard to live with a person like me that is constantly picking up, reminding others to pick up and running things from room to room to place them in their proper place but that's how I am. Often times I am guilty of putting away dishes, tools, and/or homework before the person using these things is through using them. Again, I can't help it. I'm just that way. So imagine my confusing and dumbfound-ness when I couldn't find Devree's packet of pictures. I must have and evil elf in addition to my cute secret Santa elf.
After pulling apart and cleaning every part of my office hutch, looking through my filing cabinet-three or four times-especially the file where I keep all the pictures. I resorted to looking in odd places throughout the house, thinking maybe I had been under some sort of medication, stress or having some out of body experience when I misplaced these pictures.
So just minutes ago, I was putting my wallet, and envelope of Christmas receipts back in my purse and I walked by Kambree's locker. A thought occurred to me, could the pictures be in this deep, dark hole that Kambree claims as her locker? (I had already thoroughly searched Devree's locker-twice-and I must say that those gene's that possess me to tidy up constantly have been loving passed on to this second daughter-why they skipped the first is beyond me!) And low and behold under piles of papers, books, shoes and other Kambree items-there was Devree's pictures! Hurray! I am not going crazy!! (I was beginning to think I was losing it!)
So I guess there is not an evil elf lurking amongst us after all.
In addition to the secret Santa elf. We have someone giving us a sweet Christmas surprise. Someone is giving us a nativity scene one piece at a time. First we got Mary and last night we got Joseph. I don't know if my secret nativity scene elf reads my blog but if they do.....THANK YOU! WE LOVE IT!
Not only is it a fun thing to look forward to each night. Each little figure has a scripture about the birth of Jesus. This morning in our crazy rush to get breakfast, lunches made and the regular morning rigmarole we didn't have time to read scriptures. (We try to get one verse in per person-but usually were short as a certain older daughter who shall remain nameless- is always rushing around-not ready-eating breakfast on the fly.) So, I grabbed Joseph (and Mary because I hadn't read her scripture to the kids yet) and read the scriptures printed on them. Whew! THANKS AGAIN secret nativity scene elf!
Well, kids are home and work is beckoning me....

To the man behind me...

Dear Gentleman Turning Left Behind Me On 9th East,
Although I could have sped through the yellow turn light and allowed you to run the red one, I opted to stop as I have a 15 year old in my car with a learners permit. In an effort to be a good example and a safety conscious parent, I choose to wait for the next green light.
I saw you-in my rear view mirror hit your palms against your steering wheel and then tap impatiently as we waited for the next green arrow. I also could not help but notice as you sped around me (illegally) when we did (2 minutes later) get the green turn arrow the lovely gesture you made towards me with your middle finger.
How becoming of a grown man. What a fine example you were to my young son who aspires to someday soon carouse these very streets.
As luck would have it, you were headed the same direction as we were and we were able to observe you swerve around other cars, screech around the corners and follow much to closely the cars in front of you as you continued down the road.
My son, who also saw your lovely finger salute was trying to convince me to get closer so he could throw the remains of his hamburger at your vehicle. I was tempted. But opted to teach this young bear cub of mine a lesson. As we followed you for a mile or two, watching your erratic and angry driving that got you ONE car length ahead of us, my son and I talked about what an imbecile you must be. And since you were speeding to the Costco parking lot- not like you were rushing to witness the birth of a child, perform emergency surgery or rescue a sick kid from school-chances of you having an emergency/life threatening event/bathroom issues were slim and none. Were you afraid they'd run out of something @ Costco? Please....
My son and I discussed how driving in such a manner didn't really get you anywhere faster, made those around you unsafe or at the very least-feel unsafe, and that you may-if not already-have blood pressure issues, ulcers or headaches due to your raging anger and frustration to the world around you.
Thank you for being such a stellar example of manhood, dignity and respect.
Although we spoke, your actions taught my son more than my words ever could.
Sincerely,
Austins Mom
PS (Throwing the hamburger at your vehicle was tempting-and as my son pointed out, our car could totally blow yours away-yep Infinity G35 vs your mini-SUV type vehicle-but thanks to my mother instincts we did restrain. Next time you may not have a mother in the car or you may run into a hot headed man like yourself. In that event, I hope he has mayo & guacamole on that hamburger, is a good aim and that your sunroof is open!)

Decorating The Tree

I told the kids not to look at me, that I just wanted to get candid shots.

But first we had to pull Devree away from the Twilight series:

Then Kambree gave me this candid pose:

And not to be out done, here's Austins:

And one when he wasn't posing:

Such concentration from Rylee:

Devree finally put down the book:

And Alex:

The final product:

I realized how cool and glowy the tree looked when I turned off my flash so I called Alex and Ry down to pose for more picture. They were happy to oblige as it was bedtime. So here's some cool glowy pics:

Rylee

Alex has such a serious expression

So I asked him to smile a little:

And then I got this one:

So, I dragged everyone back in from homework, book reading, dog toy playing and whatever Austin was pretending to be so busy with and got this one:

Sweet huh?

Alex update

So, I'm sitting in my office and my little niece is sitting on the floor next to me playing barbies. Apparently her nanny had jury duty this morning and my sister called me in a panic. Today is pretty mild in terms of scheduling so Syd can just hang with me. However, I will have to brush up on my little girl hair skills before I take her to lunch with me this afternoon. Her daddy dropped her off and my sister never lets her out of the house without darling hair but with daddy's we're just glad their clothes match!
So last night we put up the tree. Of course everything about this holiday season is new and wondrous to Alex. He asked if we would hang "toys" on the tree. Rylee said, no we put toys under the tree, we decorate the tree. "With toys?" No with ornaments. Alex was puzzled. Apparently everything he knows about Christmas is from watching American made movies and of course ornaments look like toys. When we broke out the ornaments he remarked that none of them were his. I told him I have one for him this year-I give my children a new ornament each year and I always buy them on clearance the year before-but I just needed to find where I put them. However, I told him there were ton's of ornaments so just put up any he'd like.
I thought I had thought this Christmas thing through. I have bought new stockings, had an ornament just for him-somewhere-bought a new little lighted tree for his room, had a nativity for his room and got out the Father Christmas I bought in Ukraine that I've been hiding since we got home. But as I pulled things out I couldn't help notice all the personalized crafts and decorations lacking Alex's name. I'm going to have to get out some paint and fix some things. Alex didn't seem to mind or make a big deal out of it but it sort of stabbed my heart. Rylee was impressed that I had an ornament for Alex. "You knew Alex would be here last year?" Well, I had hoped and fortunately for us, he is here!
I eventually found the ornaments I bought last year and they're little picture frames. I quickly put everyone's picture in their ornament and Alex was so pleased to put HIS OWN ornament on the tree.
I took lots of pictures to document this first time event in Alex's life. Today I plan to have wrapped gifts under the tree for everyone. I know that will really get Alex excited.
Over the weekend I took Rylee, Alex and Devree Christmas shopping. Alex drew Brach's name in the cousin drawing and was excited to get him a gift but we soon found that Alex is not a very good gift picker. He kept showing me junky toys and candy at the store. I asked him what HE would like and he'd come back with more junky gift ideas. I realized that IS what he likes because he likes EVERYTHING. So I helped him find a gift for Brach.
He drew Kambree's name for the sibling drawing and was dismayed. "Oh no Kambree." (In his defense-she is hard to shop for.) And because he spends most of his money on candy and crap he doesn't have enough money for her gift. I've been trying to find him odd jobs he can do for money. He cleaned the inside and outside of my car on Saturday and did a great job. Anyone need an eleven year old for odd jobs??
We had an incident over Thanksgiving involving Austin's missing wallet. We looked for it for at least and hour and then it magically "appeared" on the floor in the kitchen. Alex was laughing and very mischievous about it. It was very fishy. I asked Alex if he took the wallet. He told me "I no stole." but soon his happy, laughing countenance fell and he could no longer look me in the eye. I told him I had a hard time believing that the wallet just magically appeared on the floor and that I can't help but think he had something to do with it. He got upset saying "I no stole" than stormed out of the condo. I let him go for awhile and then went out with his coat. At first I couldn't find him and begin to panic a little. Where in the world did he go? He doesn't know a soul here? I was heading back in to get everyone to come help me search when there he was-he had moved himself to be strategically right were I'd have to see him. Standing next to the van with his face in his hands. Sobbing. "I no stole." he kept saying over and over. I wrapped him in his coat and told him I believed him. Then I mentioned that maybe he was just trying to play a trick on Austin? That just telling me what happened might clear everything up and he broke down sobbing again and told me he found the wallet in the van and wanting to play a trick didn't tell Austin but hid it back in his coat. I had just picked up Austin's coat feeling the pockets and it must have fallen out on the floor. So he DID have the wallet but he's right, he was not stealing it. I explained that in the future, he just needs to come clean. When I asked how the wallet got on the floor if he had just come forward and explained what had happened, there would have been no tears and no mistrust. Hard lessons to learn. He went in and told Austin and I helped him explain. I'm glad the truth came out because I knew he was involved and if we hadn't cleared things up, then every time something went missing I know we'd first think it was Alex.
On the way to Wyoming we stopped at a gas station and Alex bought himself a Slush Puppy which is similar to a Slurpee. (See why he doesn't have any money?) He proudly offered all of us a sip of his "Sloosh Poop-y" when we piled back into the van. We laughed about that for awhile.
His English improves everyday. Last night I had him sit down with some flash cards my friend Amy lent me. She works with kids and their speech at Primary Hospital. He did the "what" set. One card says "What do you.." and it asks some basic questions like "What do you feed a baby with?" "What do you mow the lawn with?" Then there are cards with the answers to match to the cards with the questions. He did fabulous.
His reading has greatly improved. I wish I could say the same for his pronunciation. This morning he got in the car and asked.
A: I valk-in good?
Me: What?
A: I valk-in good?
Me: (With puzzled exasperated expression) Yes, Alex you walk good...?
A: No, valk-in the car.
Me: Vacuum the car?
A: Yes!
Me: Yes, you did vacuum the car good.
(Good grief-that sounded nothing like vacuum!)