Smarter Than We Think

Recently I had ordered some learning activity things to work on with the boys. I might have already posted something about it but if not its called "Carol's Cutting Edge". She has lots of different games regarding the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes and more! Once you order she cuts it all out and laminates it. I was very pleased with it! Looks very nice and its so great that its already laminated.

Well when my order came I was missing just a couple pieces of the snowman alphabet that when she sent those pieces she sent me a couple free things. One of them was a frog addition/subtraction game. I figured the boys aren't ready for something like that yet but I'll go ahead and store it with the other ones I had ordered.

I had gone downstairs the other day for laundry and looked in the playroom and saw the frog game laid out on the floor. I walked over to pick it up and was surprised at what I saw.

I'm not sure they have ever done any thing with adding/subtracting. I asked Aaron if he helped them and he said no. I'm thinking this just happened. The one with the 3 I think they just matched but the others I'm still baffled on. Maybe they are smarter than we think! I realize the bottom one is wrong it was still funny though!

Here is the link to the lady's website if you want to check it out.

http://www.snaggedinmyweb.com/alphabet-games.html

Some of what I ordered was the snowman abc, candy corn abc, shapes and colors, ladybugs and pattern stars. The good thing is I can break the games up in little bits. Since the boys have a hard time staying focused for more than a few minutes we do them in spurts.

Their Early Childhood teacher taught me something cool involving dice. Over Spring Break she sent them home with a square box that she had put dots on to make it look like a dice. The boys would roll it then they have to count the dots and do that number of an activity (jumping jacks, laps, push ups, punches, etc).

They love it! So I went to Walmart and bought those fuzzy dice. Put one in the car for when we might need it (waiting for a table at a restaurant, Daddy shopping for something, etc) and the other one in the house. So sometimes we'll work on one of those learning activities then take a break and play with the dice.

Spring Break, The Biggest Sandwich Ever And Shame On Me

The boys have been on Spring Break for the past week. I have to admit I was a little lot not looking forward to it. They desperately want my attention 24/7 when they are around me and it can get very frustrating. I've said from the beginning (back in August) that its like they don't know how to play with toys or something. They would much rather spin around with a blanket, jump over blankets, run with a laundry basket all while wanting me to watch them for hours on end or climb all over me.

I was trying to think of having activities planned so that way I would keep them busy with things but that didn't end up happening and I had nothing planned. It worked out ok though. On Mondays they visit with their Mom so we ran a couple errands after they got done with daycare and then there wasn't much time left before their visit. On Wednesday the boys had a play date with a new friend. On Thursday Cruiser had a follow up appointment for his eye surgery. Then on Friday after daycare, my Mom, the boys and I headed to Bloomington to see my grandparents. We headed to a playground for a little bit so they could burn some energy and then went to my grandparents for a while and met up with my Dad and Aaron for dinner. At the end of the week they were exhausted.

Cruiser's first soccer game is tomorrow night and he had his first practice yesterday. He was excited but I don't think he quite understands how to play. He kind of just ran around with his hands in his pockets. We'll have to do some practicing with him. The coach said at this age they usually just run around anyways! He's looking forward to his game tomorrow, hopefully with the rain it doesn't get canceled.

 

So this might not be the best picture but the boy's Early Childhood teacher sent this book home for us to read over Spring Break. It is such a cute book and the boys loved it. They wanted me to read it again. I went to look online to maybe buy it but on Amazon a new one cost $115 and on Ebay it was $50. WHAT??? It must be a pretty rare book. Guess I'll have to try and find one at a Garage Sale or just keep looking on Ebay.

 

The other part of this blog post is a big shame on me as a parent and an example to these kids. We've realized how careful you have to be around kids. What you say/do how you react to things that upset you or changes in your schedule that can be annoying and frustrating. They are very observant and are very quick to call us out on things. Needless to say there have been many times that I look back on something and think ugh..what did I just teach them?

 

Here are a few examples of what I am talking about. The words "stupid" and "dumb" Obviously Aaron and I don't go around calling people these names but just saying, "Oh that seems stupid or that is dumb" They pick up on it and say, "Oh Mommy or Oh Daddy you shouldn't say that." Trying to explain the difference between using the words in a different context doesn't seem to make sense to them.

 

Another example would be the way I react to things. I remember in our foster care Trauma Training something came up and we had to change something around and one of the trainers said, "Oh, We're foster parents so we're flexible." Boy is that ever true. Well I am learning to TRY and be more flexible. Things happen..court gets continued, you have your monthly home visit set up (so the house is all clean and put together) and caseworker has to cancel or bio dad shows up out of nowhere and we drop everything and run to have a visit, or a case aid is sick so visit with Mom is canceled. I realize these things happen and can't be helped sometimes. But, I can change the way I react to them. The boys see my reactions and sometimes I can't look back on it and say...wow I handled that well.

 

Back a month or so ago the boys were at therapy (which they go to related to the trauma they've experienced) and I got a phone call from the agency that Dad is here so bring boys now he wants to have a visit. Excuse me, what??? We haven't seen Dad for four months and you are pulling the kids from therapy to traumatize them more? This is crazy.  I knocked on the therapist's door and said, "We have to go their Dad is here." She could tell I was aggravated by it and we got out to the van and the boys were asking me what was going on. I'm almost positive they could tell I wasn't thrilled that we were making a spontaneous trip to the agency to see their Dad. I try to never say anything negative about their parents but I think they are smart enough to know I wasn't happy about the change in schedule. I got to thinking about it later and how I could have reacted differently and taught them that changes aren't so bad. The more they see me upset and frazzled or losing my patience the more it upsets them or teaches them to act that way. Another thing that happened was just this past week Cruiser was having some behavior issues and got sent to his room. This had been a common theme for the week and I was fed up with it. I remember Aaron and I going in and talking to him and when we walked out I shut the door kind of hard. I thought about it after I did it that it wasn't the best idea but justified myself by saying that I've been dealing with his rotten behavior all week.  

 

Well it was sometime this weekend he got sent to his room for something. He walked off down the hallway, got to his room and slammed the door. OUCH...guess where he learned that from? So I had to explain to him that we can't slam doors even when we are mad and also explain that I was wrong in doing that earlier in the week. They are teaching me so much, more like exposing my weaknesses and sins. Impatience, selfishness, lack of trust in the One who has control over all things.

 

Here is to a better week!

 

 

Sweet Moments

Don't you just love those sweet little moments you have with your kids...moments you want to bottle up and open when the kids aren't so sweet and angelic looking?

Just a couple from the boys recently.

Putting Bruiser to bed and getting ready to say our prayers...

Bruiser: "Let's talk about God."
Aaron: "Who did God send to die for us?"
Bruiser: "Jesus."
Aaron: "What did he die for?"
Bruiser: "Our sins...on the cross"
Aaron: "How do we please God?"
Bruiser: "Uhhh...Let's talk about God."  (Needless to say he didn't have an answer for that one)

Crazy kid..I think he was mainly trying to get out of going to bed but it seems like he is listening a little bit.

So we're planning on getting Cruiser registered for soccer for this spring. We went up to the local sports store to get some shin guards and cleats. When I opened up the box he said. "WHOA!!!" He thought it was so cool. He was running all over the store and sliding on the floor. He loved putting the shin guards on! Thankfully I used to work there so it was ok they were being crazy.

When we left the store and we were heading to Walmart Cruiser started asking me about soccer.

Cruiser: "When I have a game are you going to cheer for me?"
Sammy: "Of course we will."
Cruiser: "Who is going to be there?"
Sammy: "Well me, Daddy, Bruiser...
Cruiser: "Jim and Barb and Mark and Barb?"
Sammy: "Yea I'm sure they will be there too to watch you."
Cruiser: "Can you cheer huper (can't say his s's) duper loud!!"

Everynight before we head to bed I go check on the boys make sure they are ok.

One night I walked in Cruiser's room and he kind of stirred around and woke up and looked up at me. I said, "Its ok, go back to sleep I'm just checking on you." He said, "Checking on me?" (with a confused look on his face) I said, "Yes every night before Dad and I head to bed I come in and check on you and your brother." He just smiled and rolled back over.

Love them!

Jan's Meat And Cheese

Looking for a quick easy meal? A family we go to church with had us over for dinner before and made this and it was so good! It is very easy to make and the kids love it! They usually eat it up really well!

I figured I would post the recipe on here if anybody wanted it! This isn't her exact recipe but it should be pretty close.

1.5 pounds ground beef (4 of us)
16 oz Velveeta cheese (cut into cubes)
Half of a (12oz) jar of Pace Picante Sauce (I use mild version). We sometimes use a little less than half of the jar...this can be based on how you want it!

Brown the beef and then add cheese...stir until it is all melted in. Then pour in the Picante sauce and stir until mixed in well. Continue stirring so it doesn't burn. Its basically ready once everything is mixed in and melted. If it seems too thick add a little milk.

Serve with Tostito chips, baked potato, mashed potatoes...whatever you feel like. The boys love the Tostito scoop chips..perfect for little hands!

Hope you like it as much as we do!

Shedd Aquarium

A few weekends ago the kids and Aaron and I went up to Shedd's Aquarium for a day trip! We were feeling like we had been stuck inside for so long we wanted to get out and do something. We decided we would head up to Shedd's and then go to The Cheesecake Factory after.

The boys generally don't like to travel for periods of time but this day they did pretty good! We had gotten one of those Nabi kid tablets and so they enjoyed that. I had picked up a few Redbox movies so that also helped. They even slept just a little bit.

As we got to Shedd's Aaron was driving around to find a parking spot. We were going in circles to try and find one. As Aaron was parking I had reached back and asked Cruiser to hand me the tablet so I could put it away. I had asked him a couple times and he wouldn't give it to me. I turned around and said, "Cruiser(actually said his real name) give me the tablet." I realized he had a weird look on his  face and he was just staring at me. I said, "Come on give it to me now." He still wouldn't move so I moved his coat out of the way to grab it and when I did I saw he had thrown up on his shirt and pants. I said, "What happened?" He said, "Daddy going to fast in circles." Poor guy got car sick looking at the tablet and the van going in circles to park.

I was thinking oh man we haven't even made it in the front door and one of the kids has throw up all over him. I was thinking we would just have to wipe it off and he would have to deal with it. Aaron said he had put extra pants in the car. I was thinking what is he talking about because I didn't set out extra pants to put in the car. Turns out I had washed a pair of jeans that were too small for the other kid to wear anymore and I had stuck them by the stairs to get put away in the storage room. Aaron saw those jeans and thought they were extra pants so he stuck them in the van! I'm so glad he did because we were able to take the pants off of Bruiser, put them on Cruiser and then put the jeans on Bruiser. I'm learning how to improvise more with kids!

Once we finally got into Shedd's we headed to the bathroom. As Aaron and Bruiser were walking back I noticed Bruiser was talking weird. I said to Aaron, "Did he poop his pants?" Aaron said, "No he peed on them." I only thought he had peed a little bit because I just saw a little spot on the front of the jeans so I was like ok whatever and we started walking through the aquarium. We headed the the live aquatic show a little later and Bruiser was sitting on my lap. When he got off to sit in his own spot I noticed my pants were wet. I asked Aaron, "Why are my pants wet?" Aaron says, "I told you he peed on his pants." UGH....I had misunderstood Aaron when he told me earlier. I thought he just got a little spot on his jeans. I guess he didn't get his jeans pulled all the way down so when he peed some of it shot out on his jeans....boys I guess...So now Cruiser had puke on his shirt, Bruiser had pee on his pants and I had pee on my pants. As the aquatic show went on Bruiser kept taking his shoe off. I had put it back on 3 times and the 4th time I went to grab his foot to put it back on he had muddy slime all over his sock. He was sticking it down between where the concrete came together for the seat and where your feet went. Seriously...what is wrong with these kids today. I threw his sock away so he ended up wearing jeans that were too short and only one foot had a sock on it.

Life with kids is way more interesting.

They did seem to enjoy Shedd's but I think they did get bored after awhile.

However, The Cheesecake Factory was AMAZING! I love that place! Such good food! I wish we had one around here. After all that it might have been easier to stay home!

Day Trips Then And Now

A friend of mine did a blog post recently about ski trips then (before kids) and now (after kids). I figured I would take this idea and do a post on day trips before the boys and day trips now with the boys.

Then... we got up early got ready, jumped in the car and left.

Now... we get up extra super early...get ourselves ready and then get them ready....pack wipes, paper towels, book bag with things to entertain them, snacks, DVD player, Kleenex..clearly it takes more "stuff" with kids.

Then...we strolled around leisurely only worrying about ourselves.

Now...We have to be constantly vigilant that we keep two aimless wandering kids from getting out of our sight, running into other people..staying ahead of the game before they meltdown saying they are hungry or have to pee. It seems like we take way more bathroom breaks now. Do any of you other moms out there deal with 15 minutes after your child pees they then say they have to poop? On a side note the kids have a counseling appointment every other week and we are there for about 1.5 hours and I visit the bathroom 4 times with these kids (2 per kid). Crazy I think.

Then...We went out to dinner and just talked and took our time.

Now...We go out to dinner and if we have to wait we try to keep them entertained and then after we order our food try to keep them entertained knowing that if we don't they will act like animals and just keep getting in trouble.

We love being able to do different things with the kids and take them places, it is definitely different though and so much revolves around staying ahead of what they are thinking and predicting how they are going to act and redirect that before it gets ugly. Sometimes more work than its worth.

Then...we anticipated having kids with us and the fun things we could do with them

Now...we actually get to do them!!!

Embarrassed By Your Mom

Hindsight is always better right? Sometimes you do things and then you think about them later and your like oh man..I shouldn't have done that. Do you remember those moments when you were a kid and you were embarrassed by your Mom, by something she said or did?

Well I had one of those moments the other day, only this time Cruiser was most likely embarrassed by me. It was a typical morning and I was dropping the boys off for school. I always drop them off down in the cafeteria and they play for a while before eating breakfast. Normally I just give hugs, kisses, high fives and knuckles and then I'm out the door. On this particular day I told Cruiser I would stay for a few minutes to watch him play with his friends. I told him he should go ask his friends if he could play with them. He's kind of hesitant about opening up to people so I thought I was helping by being encouraging. He seemed a little sheepish about me hanging around but he walked away with a weird grin on his face. He went over to his friends and they were playing catch. He just kind of stood there and then he looked over at me and I was waving at him and kind of shooing him along to ask them. I was even mouthing the words...ask them if you can play with them. He ran over to me with that same grin on his face and I told him again to just go over and ask them if he could play too. I gave him another kiss and a hug and then kind of shooed him along to play. The whole time he walked back over to his friends he was looking back at me with that weird smile. He was probably thinking..geez Mom just leave your embarrassing me. I stood there for just another minute or so and then I left.

It didn't come to mind until a few days after that he was probably embarrassed. I shared it with Aaron and he started busting up laughing...it was then that I knew I was a dorky Mom.

What I Miss Most

My weekends. I miss my weekends. Before the kids Aaron and I did whatever we felt like on Saturdays and Sundays. We could get up when we wanted and decide to eat breakfast when we wanted and what errands to run and especially going out to dinner. Like I've said before, I love these kids they just make our weekends a little different than before. Since they get up around 6:30 on school days, they are usually up before 8 on the weekends. On weekends I'm used to getting up as late as 8 and sometimes later than that. Also, it just makes it difficult to run errands with them sometimes. They aren't always cooperative and obedient especially if they are hungry. Sometimes Aaron and I would eat a late lunch or late dinner and with the kids its usually not possible. There have been a few times where we have been out running errands and had to just leave and come home and forget about finishing them because they just wouldn't listen. I'm sure this is just something you have to get used to once you have kids, I'm just still trying to adjust to that.

In other news the kids started Early Childhood this week. They will still go to preschool in the morning and then they go Early Childhood in the afternoon. They just started this week so we'll see how they like it. It is going to be long days for them and I'm thinking they will be exhausted by bedtime but I think it will be good for them to have some more learning time!

After Christmas was over we took the basement and made it into a playroom so I'll have to post pictures of that here soon! It looks nice and they have tons of toys down there to play with.

The kids have been with us for several months now and they are doing so well. They have been really improving in school and with playing with other kids. Hopefully this Early Childhood will also help them excel!