Junior High Spirit Week

This past week was spirit week at Dev's school.

Monday was Super hero day and unfortunately I didn't get a picture of Devree but she was dressed with a red cape, striped socks and a Napoleon Dynamite on her shirt.
Tuesday was sports day and she went with football dark marks, gym shorts, socks in purple & orange.
Wednesday was formal day and Kambree let Dev borrow this dress:

Thursday was wacky hair day:

And today was mismatch/backwards day. Devree is a senator so she wore her shirt backwards and mismatched socks but then she and Jasmine came home and created this crazy hair style.




She only wore it for about 10 minutes as it really hurt her head!
Ahhh.....we just love Junior High!

Pack Meeting!

Alex has been going to Cub Scouts with Brach each week.
Once a month they have pack meeting which between Kammy and I we get both boys to but this is the first meeting I've actually attended. (Luckily for me my neighbor Tracy picks him up each week-I cant' tell you how many weeks we totally forget about it and I'm yelling "Alex, grab your scout shirt!" and rushing him out the door! Thank goodness for Tracy!)
Alex was asked to say the opening prayer for his Webelo's den and he did a great job. I don't know what he said as he spoke so quietly but it was at least a few sentences long.

Then there was a presentation about our country's flag and each boy participated.
Here is Alex reading about New York, one of the original states the stripes represent.
Again, I couldn't really hear him but he happily read whatever it was.

Then they were called up to share what they had done this past month.

And this is Alex giving me a big smile even though I'm the only Mom snapping pictures!
(But hey! We only have so many pack meetings left before he turns 12 and goes to Boy Scouts!)

Me No American Nose & Last Discussion

Yesterday I let Alex and Rylee decorate the house for Halloween and harvest all our pumpkins. (Alex gave me a yahoo mommy cheer for letting them do the decorating!) I have the cutest pictures but alas, my computer is still in the shop and will have to post pics later.

I have a gigantic pumpkin candle that I store with our decorations and I lit it while they were out washing pumpkins and setting them on the front porch. I love how it smells. Alex came in sniffing with disdain.

Alex: What is bad smell?

Me: It's the pumpkin candle. Doesn't it smell good?

Alex: No. Hurts mine nose. Me no American nose, me Ukraine nose.

How funny. Hates the pumpkin candle, yet loves the smell of onions? Go figure.

Then he went into some pantomime about removing his Ukraine nose and getting an American nose. Rylee asked him if that would be a nose job?

He really must hate all my smell good things. I bought some fall plug in scent things and he complains about them too. I also bought him an air freshener for his room shaped like a soccer ball and he hated that. How funny.

I wonder if he'll ever come to have an 'American nose'? He use to hate cold drinks but now he won't drink a drink without ice and he's come to eat just about everything-except peanut butter. So his taste are becoming very Americanized. He proudly proclaims at least once a week. "Me American boy!"

We had our last discussion with the missionary's last night. It went well. He gets so talkative and silly and between him and Rylee I had to get us back on track about ten times.

We were discussing the 10 commandments and he went into detail (clarifying that this is just for pretend) that he stole from my purse and I would come in and asked who stole my money? I would ask everyone and when I got to him he would say he did and say"Here is money Mom. Don't take video games and kick me." Kick me? Like I've ever kicked him?? Good grief!
We talked a little further about trust and how bad I would feel if he stole from me and that we don't do this in our family, we trust each other. Why do we trust each other? His reply, because we family.

His concept of obedience at this point is to avoid punishment not to obey because it's the right thing to do. I have to remember that his moral compass is probably about a three to five year old so at this point the reason to obey and keep the commandments has everything to do with the consequences, not the blessings.

He was the same with honor thy mother and father. He thinks he should obey so he doesn't get his video privileges taken away.

We talked about the law of chastity briefly. About not letting anyone touch you where your swimsuit covers or touching anyone else where their swim suit covers. He explained that if anyone tired to touch him he'd just "swim away." Yes, he's very literal. I told him he'd need to tell me too and then he told the missionary's that I would take away the bad guys video games too! (Yes, I am the video game Nazi apparently!)

Kambree was at work, Austin at a basketball clinic and Devree in the other room doing homework. I've really enjoyed having the missionary's come each Monday. Its a great excuse to make a treat. I made cookies that according to Alex tasted good but looked so-so. And that was true. I had this brilliant idea to make oatmeal raisin cookies with left over chocolate dipped raisins from our trip. The didn't look very appealing but tasted fine. I decided to throw in a peach cobbler at the last minute and save my ugly cookies for the kids.

All in all it was a very sweet night and I'm sad to see our discussions end. I look at those cute missionary's-Elder Hepworth and Elder Hurley-and think that could be Austin in less than four years. I can't help but think how disappointed these missionary's must have been to get a call to Utah. I'm just so glad they are here and for Connor our cute translator. He's really added such a sweet spirit and great insight on the Ukraine culture and people.

I took pictures of Alex with all three last night and will post that later too. Ahhh...I just hope I get my computer soon!!

Alex with the missionaries!

Elder Hurley, Elder Hipwell & Connor Malberg

Putting out the pumpkins!

Grocery List and Monopoly

I keep a magnetized pad of paper on the side of my fridge where-in a perfect world-when someone uses the last of something they are to write down what it is they used the last of OR if they notice we're in need of something. Again, in my perfect world I will have said list with me at the grocery store and replace these missing items. Thus avoiding being in the middle of a certain recipe requiring certain ingredients and finding them lacking and or out of toilet paper, shampoo, and/or any other life altering basic necessity.
But in the real world, I am the only person that writes on the list and I rarely find myself in the store with said list in hand and rely on my not so great memory and or call a child to have them read to me the list.
Now keep in mind that sometimes Austin will write on the list, not items that we are out of but items he dreams I would buy. (Like lobster, T-bone steaks and sugary sweet cereal.)
Rylee will write on the list when I'm working away in the kitchen and ask her to add something to the list. She makes me laugh as she not only writes the phonetically spelled name but draws a little picture just to make sure I know what it is. On my current list I have band aids with a little picture and paper towels with a little picture. That's my cute Ry.
Speaking of cute I played Monopoly during our cabin retreat with Alex, Rylee and my friends children Jared and Ashtyn until one in the morning. (Yawn.) Alex was a riot. He was talking with a funny deep voice and saying "Yeah baby!" the whole time. (He really LOVES to play Monopoly!) But his generous nature may not be conducive to being a good Monopoly player. Towards the end of the game I was running out of money so Alex kept sliding me more money. (Mom, I give you money.) When I went to jail, he graciously insisted on paying for me to get out (I pay you out jail.) and then he told me "Mom, you land my hotels? You stay free!" Finally Jared told him no more helping me or the game will never end. (Thank goodness!) Alex and Jared ended up joining forces and the rest of us all became bankrupt. So yes, he became a ruthless business man but with a kind heart....at least towards his mother!

Help...I'm missing my right arm!!

So, knowing myself and my children would be out of town over UEA I took my computer in to be serviced late Wednesday night. I needed to update my virus protection and I kept getting a low memory alert and having to run the clean up manager about five times a day. I asked them how long they would need to keep my right arm. (I really did say that!) Oh, just a COUPLE of days. Great! I'll be here first thing on Monday morning to pick it up. Over the 4 day weekend, I didn't get any calls-they were suppose to call me with what they recommended as far a additional memory-which was my first clue that my awesome plan of getting my computer back as promised was not going to happen. I left a message at 6:30 this morning and then showed up at ten. True to my premonition-it wasn't ready but was on "the bench". It should be done by 2pm today. It is now 2:30 and still no calls to discuss the memory issue.

How am I writing this you may ask? Well, Kambree had a paper due today so she borrowed my mom's laptop-not realizing that we wouldn't have any service at the cabin so last night she frantically kicked it out. Laptop is still here so I can check email but I can't do a whole lot else like balance my check book, downloading and blogging about our fabulous weekend, print up fact sheets, (notice how work fell below blogging?) and all the other things I do throughout the day all day on my computer!!

AHHH my best laid plans!

UEA Weekend!

Here is a synopsis of our weekend at Amy's parents cabin-which is more like a resort as the place is bigger, nicer and newer than my house!

We played LOT's of board games

Had many opportunities to practice our parenting skills.
(Amy is a pro-look, at the sympathy she has for Sara or not!)

Alex soon found a new friend-Jared and Jared found a shadow all weekend.
This is Alex after Jared's influence with his hair.

Kambree heading on a morning hike:

Amy is a FABULOUS pianist and filled the cabin with beautiful music.
Jared looks like he's up to something doesn't he?

There was ping pong playing

Wii playing

Hiking

Visiting the River

Sitting on rocks

Throwing Rocks

Holding Milly

Posing on a BIG rock

Amy and her children

Sara and her children

Me with my four (Austin stayed home with his friend, Jordan for the weekend!)

We gave lot's of piggy back rides during our walk:

The whole gang on a walk:

More piggy back rides:

Sister's posing:

And still more piggy back rides:

Swinging on the tire swing:

Dancing to Solider Boy

Playing MORE Wii

Playing MORE board games:

Make Overs:

And of course....eating!

Monopoly Winners.... (the cell phone documents the time we finished 12:44 am!)

We even got the girls to do the dishes one night!

Woman's walk/run

Square Ice Cream in "town".

And just a few shots of the beautiful scenery around Snake River.

It was so much fun. We talked and laughed, read and took naps, listened to Saturday conference, cooked, cleaned up and cooked again, had a talent show, took a scenic drive, and just got away from it all. Thanks Amy for the invite!!

Bad Dreams, Sad Songs, Late Moms....

So, after our bad dream talk last night, Alex showed up in my room at ten pm rubbing he's eyes and feigning he had a bad dream. (I knew this would happen after our tub talk!) I'm not sure he'd really even slept enough to have a bad dream as he had only been in bed for 45 minutes. Regardless, I knew this was my test. He told me his dream was about his Ukraine cell phone that he gave to his little cousin. I know this cell phone is weighing heavily on his mind as he gave it to her because he couldn't charge it here in America but he has since figured out how to charge cell batteries directly (don't ask-Jame assures me it's safe but I think he's going to get electrocuted!) and he wants to get his phone back. I don't even know if Kammy still has it but Alex is telling me in his dream that Ivan (whom me Skype with once a month) wants to see that he still has it and will be mad if he doesn't have it. I tell him Ivan won't care if he has his Ukraine phone or be mad if he's lost it. It's okay. Then he confesses, he wants to hear the music that he had on his phone. Oh brother. You couldn't come up with a better bad dream than this?
I medicate his lip-he has two little sores that he keeps picking and he HATES the medicine so I told him it was a good thing he woke up because he needs his medicine. Then I carry him back to bed and we lay down. He asks me to sing the song I sang when he first came last year. It's a very sad song my mother use to sing to me. I'm going to print the words in case I ever go senile (which may be at any time now!)
My child you know was a long time ago
When two little babes their names I don't know.
Were stolen away on a fine summers day
Those two little babes little babes in the woods.
They sobbed and they sighed
And they bitterly cried
Those two little babes,
They laid down and died
And when they were dead
The robins so red
Gathered strawberry leaves
And over them spread
And all the day long
They sang this sweet song
For two little babes
Little babes in the woods.
I know it's morbid. But it's the sweetest soberest little tune and my mom sang it to me and her mother sang it to her and I've sung it to all my children. I don't sing it to Rylee anymore because it makes her cry. I tell Alex this before I sing it and I could tell he understood the words more than he did before because at the 'dead' part he sort of startles. Then he asks me to sing another song. I sing one of my camp songs-Tell Me the Reason-and he suddenly turns and wraps his arms around me, tucks his head into my chest and sobs. Hum....don't know if that was to compete with Rylee's ability to cry at songs or this song really touched his heart (It's not a sad song but very melancholy-I mean really? I am trying to sing him to sleep not have a party!) or maybe it's just that I kept my word and comforted him-even though we all know he really didn't have a bad dream. Whatever the reason it was very sweet and also very short. Then he asked for another song. This time I sang I Am a Child of God and he recognized that one but I had stopped tickling his face by then and he informed he I needed to sing it one more time AND tickle his face. I did then I kissed his checks and told him goodnight for the 2nd time that night and slipped out of his room. He stayed in bed the rest of the night....whew!
This morning I got up early to attend the temple with Amy-thinking we'd be home around our regular exercising time. Nope, we were late. Very late. I had left my cell phone on in my locker just in case there was an emergency-not thinking to turn the ringer off-and I had a nice little sticky note on my locker. "Please remember to turn your cell phone off." I could see that Austin had called a few times and Devree. I quickly called, explained where I was and made sure everyone was up and getting off to school. I had told Kambree the night before where I was going but she either forgot or just didn't tell anyone.
When I got home Alex was at the door opening it for me before I could get in.
"Mom me worried you. Me think you disappear." I explained where I was and that I was just late. I got his hair combed and wrote out checks for lunch money as I didn't have time to pack lunches and then Amy and I walked the kids up to school-me carrying Rylee's mystery box book report. I was telling Amy about Alex worrying but that I guess it's good that we were late? Alex needs to know that people get delayed and that they eventually come home....right? Besides, knowing me-this will not be the last time I'm late!
Anyway...my sweet cousin and her girls are coming from St George tonight. Little do Rylee or her girls know that we bought them Hanna Montana tickets for tonight. They're going to be so excited!! So, I really should be cleaning my house and getting ready for their stay and Austin was calling inform me he was sick and he's downstairs fast asleep so I better go see what's going on with him instead of blogging away....

Samuel, Prayer & Bathtub Confessions...

3rd discussion with the missionaries tonight.
At one point the missionary's were talking about keeping the Sabbath Day holy and what kind of things we do on Sunday. Alex told them how he and Rylee watch Book of Mormon video's when they're ready for Church and just waiting. He went into elaborate detail (and pantomiming) about the video they viewed last Sunday about Samuel the Lamanite who stood upon the wall and preached to the people while people shoot arrows at him and how none of the arrows hit him. He told us how cool that was and how he wishes he could do that!
Me: Um....have people shot arrows at you while standing on a wall?
Alex: Yeah....cool!!
Me: Alex I do not want people shooting arrows at my son!
Alex: It's okay Mom, I be invincible! (Or he could have meant/said invisible!)
Me: (Sarcastically) Oh, in that case, then that will be fine, you can be Samuel the Laminate.
Alex: No, never mind, I be Jesus.
Me: (Saying nothing as I wasn't sure what to say.)
Alex: (Turning his face to the ceiling) Just kidding Jesus. I want to be X-man.
We all cracked up!
We have a new Elder this week. Elder Hurly from Indiana. Elder Gregory is now a zone leader. Connor came to translate, again. Thank goodness.
Sometimes Alex just floors everyone with his knowledge of things. Like why do we read the scriptures? Alex raises his hand high "So we can learn about Jesus." And then in the next breath he's going off about the ice he (pantomiming) slurps through a straw (Slurpee) and how he got four different flavors. Which really had nothing to do with anything we were talking about.
While I'm on this post about Alex's spirituality, Saturday I think he had a break through.
Let me give you some back ground: Rylee is an amazing Wii baseball player. Apparently she beats almost everyone including James. So Saturday Alex and Rylee are playing and Rylee's kicking his butt and he walks off and refuses to play. Rylee comes in exasperated and tells me what has happened. I asked Alex to come in and tell me what happened and he stands there with his head hung low and eyes starting to water. I pull him onto my lap and ask him if Rylee was cheating. No. If Rylee was doing anything wrong. No.
Me: Then, what are you being Alex?
Alex: Poor sport
Me: How does that feel?
Alex: Bad
Me: How does Rylee feel?
Alex: Bad
Me: And I feel bad when my children feel bad.
He resolved to try harder and be a better sport. (We've had this talk a few different times but rather than me yelling-like I have in the past-I tried to be very calm and understanding which I am finding works SO much better with Alex than raising my voice!)
Later we were having lunch and I asked who would like to say the prayer. Of course no one volunteers immediately a few beats pass and Alex raises his hand. In his sweet broken English prayer he asks "Please help me good sport and no cry." This is the first time Alex has EVER prayed for anything he needs help with without me whispering it in his ear. And he did in front of everyone. Whootwhoo....I think he's getting it!
Sorry-I just took a break to get Alex bathed.
It seems after the sweet spirit that the missionary's bring he likes me to help him in the bath. (And in all sincerity I think he's figured out it's the only time he has 100% of my attention!) He's very talkative tonight. He seems to open up the most when I'm scrubbing his little body. I'm going to attempt to tell you what he told me tonight. Keep in mind 75% of this is in English the rest in pantomime.
Tonight he asked me if we're going to 'get a child from Ukraine for Halloween-just for fun?' (He's been reminiscing lately about his visit here last October and we've been discussing Halloween costumes a lot!) Jokingly I asked him if he wanted a brother or a sister. Another sister he said. Then I told him that I think I have all the children I can handle and it wouldn't be very nice to bring someone over and send them back to Ukraine if we couldn't go adopt them and give them a family. I asked if he know when he came last October that he would be getting adopted or did he think he was just on a vacation? A vacation. How would he have felt it we hadn't been able to adopt him? Bad he says. Then I asked how he felt when he realized we wanted to adopt him. HAPPY he said and makes his joyous whoohoo sound. Then he shared with me me how he would cry after he went back to Ukraine. He would cry that he wants his Mama. His teachers would just wave him off with their hand and act non-caring. I asked if he was worried that we wouldn't come. Yes, he says.
He then has a solution about getting a child from Ukraine" for fun" for Halloween, we could get a mentally challenged child that doesn't understand! (He does this by scrunching up his face and acting odd.) Then he takes his thumb and puts it in his mouth and rocks back and forth. This takes me back for a second. I've read about institutionalized kids that self comfort this way, we've never seen him do this but I imagine he has witnessed it time and time again while living in the orphanage. I asked if lots of kids did this in his school? Yes. Why do they do it? Feel better. He then tells me, "I do it when afraid-in night" and then he again shows me by rocking back and forth and sort of biting on his thumb. I asked if anyone bothered him in the night? (Not really wanting to know if anyone did but knowing I needed to ask.) No, he said. (Sigh of relief on my part.) He then says, "bad movie behind mine eyes". Oh, a bad dream? Yes. Then he went on about how he would wake up and think everyone or thing was a monster. I then asked, did you do this rocking when you were little? Yes and when 8 and 9 and 10. So pretty much up until we adopted him. Did anyone comfort you and make you feel better? No. Then he thought about that for a minute and shared "Sometimes my friend Sasha or Artem." Your friends would comfort you up and tell you it's okay? Yes. His friends also tried to comfort him when he would cry for me after he went back to Ukraine and he in turn would comfort his friends when they had bad dreams.
I asked if he ever rocked in America and he just sort of cast his eyes downward-like he didn't want to tell me. I told him if he is ever afraid in American he just needs to come to me-no more rocking and thumb sucking. I am just down the hall. I will help him feel better and comfort him. He then with a mischievous grin asks me, even if he sees a big mouse? (He knows I hate mice!) I said yes, even if you see a big mouse but Alex you are not afraid of mice. I know he says...
and with that I left him to wash the parts he takes care of himself and then invited him to come down and watch Mary Poppins with Rylee before bed time. He is in there now laughing and frolicking with his siblings.
Wow....some days it's hard to realize just where he's come from, what he's been through, how he handled things, but it's so nice to know he's home and safe.