After 5 weeks of great school behavior for Harry and steadily improving days for Jack, we took a little trip to the KK yesterday. I obviously need to have a label for Krispy Kreme since I spent hours looking for a good comparison picture and couldn't find one. Add organizing blog to the ToDo list.....

So this is the closest I could find - bonus, Aunt Jackie's happy smile a couple of Christmases ago :-) Can you tell that they used to just barely reach that rail but now it hits their ELBOWS? :sniff: They are getting so big, but these days are among my favorite. Yeah, I've said it before and I'll say it again! These are the best days so far :-)

Among the fields of SOCCER

Game 2...with uniforms - Harry's team is the Cobras, and Jack's is the Purple Dragons....both teams did well and both boys said they had fun.
Harry was a little off today, but told his coach how much fun he was having.

They played a team with a whole lot of friends, and somehow the parents ended up doing the tunnel again....do they ever get too old for this??

After Harry's game, the boys kicked the ball around a bit....

Jack had a great game, scoring his first two goals of the season and helping his team a lot. They all worked really well together, and the team they played was also organized and having fun!Hydration is important, and the boy likes to ham it up ;-)

Telling stories with his long-time friend Darius

Harry wasn't very interested in much today beyond his Puzzle Mania book and drawings

Dean will be really proud of that follow-thru...how long before basketball season starts??

They love 'em some TALL PANTS...silly boy!

Our two sons

At some point, I told Jack he needed to do to himself anything he did to Harry...guess who ended up with the worst marker on this face?? I took a cute video but think this pic tells the story

Sting's Fields Of Gold

Draw Me A Map

Jack's teacher uses a green, yellow, red behavior system. She colored the day for them and showed them how to do it themselves today...unfortunately, Jack was talking too much with his friend, Dylan. Hopefully, this will be the last yellow we see. After spending some time in his room, Jack wrote her an apology: 'Sorry, Mrs. C but Dylan and I get really excited when we see each other. Sorry again. It won't happen again.'

Harry's homework was a little autobiography. They are both moving from stick figures into some version of a body....at least I feel better about his Mother's Day drawing of me ;-) He thought it was hilarious to make his eyebrows blue. Silly boy!

Dierks Bentley

Sweet summertime

I set out to enjoy the summertime, not overschedule and just enjoy having our boys out of the rush of schooldays....so far, it's been a blast. We've all remembered how to nap, and it's amazing to be able to really talk to them about their behavior, watch them making good choices, steer them when it's needed, and solidify what we hope is a good foundation for the men they will become.

In addition to the movies and bowling, we've found a few activities:

A craft store has weekly classes - they did the wearable art, and came home with visors, friendship bracelets, and tees....

...they've had a lot of playdates, and somehow managed to start a boys' version of poker nites while lunching at Five Guys a few weeks ago....

....they've had some birthday fun - Welcome to 5, Spencer!....

....and their t-ball cards landed in our mailbox today.

Sweet, indeed!

Kenny Chesney

Mama said knock you out!

So, Harry has been experimenting with assertiveness of late, especially with Jack....he had always deferred to Jack and would probably cut off an arm if Jack would just ask. So, today when Jack was annoying him, Harry asked him to stop, Jack didn't, Harry told him: stop or I'll stop you, Jack looked at me and said he wanted to see what would happen.....Harry punched him right in the face! This is a total first, and if we hadn't worked so hard to have him be more assertive and Jack hadn't been being such a brat, I probably wouldn't have thought it was such progress ;-) It was a pretty good right jab.

Then they ran into a bully in the playarea and apparently no one has learned anything we've tried to teach them ....alas, the parenting continues.

Later,
Harry: Jack, you just jumped into my conversation with Mommy, and I am MAD at you!
(no real response from Jack)

Even later:
Jack: God must have really studied for a long time to make all the words in the whole world!

LL Cool J

BOYs been out on the road too long

We're home after more than 24 hours on the road over the last 5 days. The boys were total troopers, meeting over 100 people, sleeping in several different places (not counting chair naps), waiting a LOT and making many costume changes. Jack decided he likes ties and he's 'taking a break from traveling for a while.'






We squeezed in a little bit of fun, and they handled this 'trip for Papa' amazingly well. They reminded us all that going to Heaven is a good thing, and we all got to learn some new things about Papa Bob....one of his neices put it best: "He was loud, and he was fun" Thanx to everyone who sent thoughts and prayers.


Bob Dylan's Gotta Travel On

But don't touch my hat

A little pride in a job well-done!

The boys got special trips to spend some of their Christmas loot as soon as they earned 5 red days at school -Harry's day was today :-) He refused to take this hat off, and even asked if he can wear it to basketball on Friday. It may not be obvious to the casual observer, but he painstakingly colored the entire hat and all the H-words around the band....our minimalist boy has developed a love of markers and color, to be sure!

Jack wanted to be sure he was in the background showing how proud he was of Harry ('even tho this is my EIGHTH red day'). It was a sweet afternoon - thank you, boys!

And thanx to Aunt Jackie and Fun Em for starting my celebrations off right over yummy eats - you girls ROCK (just like the new one on your finger, Em - congrats!)

Lyle Lovett's Don't Touch My Hat

You Oughta Be In (At?) Pictures

We started going to this year's summer movies last week, and it's going to be a pretty busy week with movies, swim lessons and tball. They, ok me too, are starting to crack under the fatigue, but they rallied a few times today, and tonite we made it thru almost the entire nite with no whining or tears...a small miracle. After a really rough afternoon, they knew that they had to listen to the coach, play and refrain from whining or crying in order to go to the movie tomorrow. We'll be picking up friends early :-)

They've gotten into a good routine - Harry gets the popcorn and Jack gets the snack in the kids meal.
Nothing makes them much happier than a trip to the pet store, and they earned it during the movie this morning. If only it could have lasted....they flipped this afternoon, and Jack balked about lessons while Harry trooped on (180 degrees from yesterday). It was a terrible whinefest; I yelled and they cried themselves to sleep, but a nap seemed to do the trick

In the dugout during their first game:

I'm not sure of the first two names, but then it's Jack, Grayson, Harry, Asher and Zach

Here's Harry flanked by two of their great coaches: Chad and Andy

Jack getting ready for a grounder - he did a great job hustling for balls tonite...he didn't do much throwing after stopping them, but he did share with a few friends, which is a good start on the teamwork ;-)

This is Harry's first pitched hit (that I can recall) - he was so excited!

You can see the ball about 1/2 between him and Coach Andy.

I will remember my camera next time....I will remember my camera next time...I will....

Brenda Lee

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

This started as a post about brainwashing, then I got distracted by these pix from the last week or so...back to that later. Summer's 'schedule' starts next with with VBS, so we're making today a lazy at-home day....everyone is now fed and lazy....

Jack's boxing tutorial (he's also completely adopted the idea of 'the gun show' and will strike a pose and flex his muscles at random times, just be warned ;-) )

I guess this is his right cross

His footwork still needs a little work, since he'd be on the mat with this stance... guess it's time to start the training ;-)

Harry's reading has taken off lately

(read: his motivation and willingness to show you that he can read!)
He read "Extension Van Parking Only" yesterday and was so proud of himself!

The boy loves him a sign, and it's very exciting to watch :-)

And now for the brainwashing portion of our post...

My husband has been on a 5-year campaign to instill respect and appreciation in our children...it seems to be paying off this week, at least in public and toward me. Jack explained that he likes 'to help my mom because she works so hard for our family, so I like to help her and make it easier.' Some friends watched the boys yesterday so I could get some housework done, and Harry told them I was the best mom :wub: They are in super-secret mode for the next week in terms of daddy, but that post will come in time....

Thank you, sweetie, for laying such a great foundation - and you're welcome, future wives :-)

And reality check, Jack started off the morning by telling me he wants to be cranky all day :rolleyes: and Harry had a thirty minute meltdown....oh, joy!

Nat King Cole

From all the years the fears the sleep

Harry was up early the other day, so we were looking through the pix of their first month. Sleep was pretty elusive and catch-as-catch-can .... I woke Jack up this morning for what may be the first time ever. The naps are sort of phasing out, tho they still get about 12 hours of sleep and sometimes seem to need more. Most of their friends are not napping anymore, and I'm finding it gives us a lot more time for fun stuff when we skip them and make up for it with an earlier bedtime. We'll see how it goes...

I finally found a picture of them both with those little sports rattles - Harry on the left with the football and Jack on the right with the basketball. Those preferences persist to this day!

Defiance, Ohio

Discipline can make me stronger - Tricky Tuesday

I'm not sure if I posted this before, but Jack put Lightning in TO for some unclear reason and then came up with a whole scenario about how he needed some quiet time to think about what he'd done.....the tables are turning, mostly for the good, but sometimes it makes my head hurt!

Yesterday:
They are constantly dawdling instead of dressing, so I upped the ante - whoever was dressed first got the Lightning computer first in the van of awesomeness. To get Harry to hurry, I added Leapster (his favorite) into the mix - if they tied, they could have the Leapster in the car .... in about a nanosecond, Jack slowed down so that they could tie and I think I saw Harry wink at him. Man, they wear me out!

And that's not the only way they have to play us...it was rainy yesterday, and Jack says "It's a nice day for a nap....I've always wanted to do that!" The enthusiasm he can muster for a nap really suits us ;-)

Jack also received his fourth 'yellow banana' today at school - his teacher has a green, yellow, red discipline technique; since their theme is jungle and monkeys, she moves their banana for misbehavior. He's got a good friend that he is constantly getting into trouble with - they just get silly and don't listen...at least it hasn't gone much past that, as far as I know. We talked a lot about how they can stay out of trouble...it probably *is* working, considering this is only the fourth time, but still....

(And if you're wondering, Harry barely speaks at school, at least so far!)


Joe Jackson

Nobody No's Me Like My Baby

Monday was gorgeous, and we had the added bonus of our favorite man working from home...once his workday was done, we headed to the park and ran a few errands

Harry is very proud of his prize-box sunglasses
and took his first solo flight...

...with a little landing help from Daddy

Jack can find a tic-tac-toe game just about anywhere these days

(and thanx Ms. Correne for teaching him to play table tic-tac-toe today!)

Hi-Ya!

Four friends watching the paint dry on some road repairs after lunch...life in the big city ;-)
Thanx for introducing them to Chinese Ms. Keisha, Darius, Spencer and Ms. Correne

My friend Jackie gave me a gift certificate for my birthday, and I ended up getting a few things, including this book - it may be preaching to the choir a bit, if you think I'm strict, or a good thing if you think my kids are out of control ;-) So far, I'm really liking it, and happily lifting lots of tricks. I'm reading about the effects of our Yes culture...scary stuff.

Do you have any favorite ways to say no to your teenies?

Lyle Lovett's Nobody Knows Me Like My Baby

Like bookends

They were in a matchy mood today and found their overalls - funny how easy those were back in the day....why does no one think 5T overalls should have a fly? Grrr. At least they looked cute, right??

It was "Snow Day" at the library, and on the way Jack said 'I wished we lived on Snow Island where it snows all night and it snows all day'...from your lips, sweet boy! Next Thursday seems to hold our next hope...

Lunch involved a milk tower on Harry's part (remember those candy necklaces? I think it was a mistake....again with the grrr)

All the drama of bored 4yo's may be seen here ;-)

Then they decided to ham it up for the camera, and I thought of this song

Simon And Garfunkel's Old Friends

Old Friends

Old friends

Old friends

Sat on their park bench

Like bookends

A newspaper blown through the grass

Falls on the round toes

Of the high shoes

Of the old friends

Old friends

Winter companions

The old men

Lost in their overcoats

...

Can you imagine us years from today

Sharing a park bench quietly?

How terribly strange to be seventy

Old friends

Memory brushes the same years

Silently sharing the same fear...

And just about the time their misbehavior and silliness have worn me down to a frustrated grrr, they notice the sun shining thru the clouds and say it's been a long time and jump out of the van and do this:

(if it didn't work for some reason, they are complimenting the sun on a job well done - breaking up the clouds and shining after so long)

On the way home, Harry says "My behavior is getting nicer. Let's all have happy faces now!" Yes, let's :-)