Dear Mr. PrezidEnt...

Carsten was just not grasping the concept of why he didn't have to go to school on President's Day. We discussed Washington, Lincoln, national holidays, birthdays, recent presidents, etc, etc. He then decided to draw this cute pic of President Obama giving a speech...


...and wanted to mail it to President Obama. I suggested he add a letter. (I can't get the letter to scan well, so I'll transcribe.)



Dear PrezidEnt OBama

I am so exciTEd. I just Love PreziDent Day. Don't skroo up.

Love CArstEn GalliNi



Ahhh.... The sentiment of a nation, as stated by a 5 year old......

Brotherly Love...

Sunday was a bad kid day. I don't just mean bad, I mean BAAAADDD. One of those days when you are just waiting for CPS to come pick up your sociopathic kids because you're obviously a huge failure as a parent. There was kicking, biting, willful disobedience, flagrant violations of every rule in existence, , blah, blah, blah....you get the picture.

Having reached my end point I first declared that only children who picked up would be served dinner. The result?? Jason and I had a lovely dinner alone. The kids hid behind the couch, watching to see if I was serious--I was. For good measure, I served Jason and I decadent sundaes.

When this failed to effect obedience, I then calmly and silently took a trash bag from room to room and gathered all kid belongings that had not been put away. One large trash bag later, Jason saved me some effort by putting a child lock on the toy room door. Finally, the kids cracked. Much crying, wailing, and gnashing of teeth later, including my first ever "you're the meanest mom ever!!" I fed them (I didn't want them in my room hungry at 2 am) and set the rules. They would have to earn back the toys--one at a time. The lock would come off the toy room door when all the toys in the bags had been earned.

Monday -- a banner day. Carsten was all smiles. Chores were done, kind words used, happy reports received from school...He earned the right to "rescue" a toy. (Abrielle---close but not quite---she gets the concept now and we'll try tomorrow.)

The rescue took longer than a government project. Oh, the options. Nerf guns, puzzles, fireman costumes. helicopters, tool sets, building sets, favorite books, ...tons of Carsten's toys were thoughtfully considered for rescue operation #1. Ten minutes later, he smiles and carefully pulls this out of the bag.....



...and hands it to his sister.

It's Abrielle's Tinkerbell Birthday cake topper. Her prized possession. It has gone everywhere with her for weeks.

Perhaps I'm not raising sociopaths after all..........

Dilemma

I have been thinking a lot lately about my kids education. I am reasoning myself out of my mind. I have never wanted my kids in public school, not that I think the education is bad, it's the "extra" stuff I don't like. There is way too much social indoctrination in public schools now and more and more they are having to cater to the least common denominator in the class. I am aiming to private school some day, but financially we're not there.

Here is what I know. I am a fan of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. I have thought long and hard about homeschooling, but it wouldn't work. I don't have that kind of patience, my son doesn't have the personality, and we are a bit too much alike. It would be nothing but unproductive head-butting. I want him to have really intensive science and math courses, because he is really interested in the subjects, but I don't want to lose the arts and other topics. I (and Jason will be happy I wrote this) also want the standard stuff like sports.

Options for next year???
1. Stay in the public school --
Pros -- close with easy carpooling, he's used to it, I'm used to it
Cons -- the above pros feel like a big cop-out, Due to the boundaries included in
the school there seem to be quite a few "least common denominators" in
each class, mostly due to the parent/family/social situations, the
science/math programs so far have not seemed particularly strong

2. Magnet School -- There are a couple around. I have particularly looked at a science/math magnet school that wouldn't be that bad of a commute.
Pros -- strong science and math, really good school...their stats are awesome and
they get the kids involved in a lot
Cons -- Do I really want his education that focused? What if he's also awesome at
music, history, or something else? Sure this place teaches those subjects,
too, but likely not as much or as encouraging. No real sports/PE programs,
Also - and this is shallow, I know - looking at the brochure, the kids look
like geeks. He makes me hesitant. I want my kids to be well-rounded and
socially adept.

3. Charter school -- There is a new charter school opening nearby. It is an IB program.
Pros -- I like the IB, it is not too far, a lot of the LDS parents around here are
applying, more rounded education without focus in any particular area
Cons -- Unsure if the education is as intensive, Right now, Only goes up to 5th
grade (not that I even know where we'll be 5 years from now), It's new, so I
don't have stats or other parents to talk to,

Like I said, I'm stuck. What do you think? What are your education plans for your kids? Am I being way to Type A/obsessive stressing this much about it in Kindergarten? I don't know. It seems better that thinking about it later on and missing some opportunities or having him not as far along as he could be. Dilemma...

Determined Mommy....

Don't resist....I'm going to catch you this time....




You're trying to stop me, but learn now....Mommy will win....




Hmmm....Closer, Closer......






Almost there.....




Gotcha!!! Finally, I caught a big huge Alyssa smile on camera!!!!

Thank you for your cooperation.

Feeling Teary-Eyed.....

The following took place while cuddled together in Abrielle's bed tonight....

Me: So what was your favorite part of your birthday today?
Abrielle: Guess....
Me: Mommy painting your fingers and toes pink?
Abrielle: Nope.
Me: Your pink cupcakes?
Abrielle: Nope.
Me: Chick-fil-a?
Abrielle: Nope.
Me: Your present?
Abrielle: Nope.
Me: All of your phone calls?
Abrielle: Nope.
Me: Birthday candles in your macaroni and cheese?
Abrielle: Nope.
Me: Ok...I give up. What was your favorite part of your birthday today?
Abrielle: (With that "duh" look...) Just having my family with me!

Facing Facebook....

I am uncool. I have maintained a pronounced and emphatic aversion and avoidance of social networking sites like Tagged, MySpace, Facebook, etc. Why, you ask? Ghosts. Those people who I knew once but don't now...for a reason. Random people who suddenly want to be my "friend" in cyberspace, people I barely know, people I barely knew, people I don't care to connect with again. I am really selective of my friends. I'm picky about who I associate with on a regular basis, I am even pickier about who I make lasting associations with. You know, the people who move and for whom you way "aloha" instead of "goodbye." I like that control over who's in and who's out. Those random past ghosts----I want them out. I have not need or desire to suddenly reconnect. But...could I reject those ghosts? Would I? Would I accept their cyberfriendship just to be nice?

But, alas, I am at times am not diligent at keeping the contacts I want desperately to keep. Distance takes it's effect, and before you know it emails and phone numbers change and people are lost.

So......A good friend I from work was recently deployed to Iraq. It was quite sudden - about 4 weeks notice. He told us all that Facebook was the easiest way to stay connected to him. Facebook.....I shuddered. Not email? Blogging? No, Facebook. ... Shudder.......So, I give in. I sign up for Facebook.

Days later, "So and So Wants to be your friend." Hm....I want to be theirs, too. One long evening with a fussy baby and some one handed typing and I start to search for some of those possible "aloha" friends. Curious really. I found a few. At first, I didn't ask to be their friend. Was I one of their ghosts? What I their "goodbye" or their "aloha?" Would they ignore me, reject me for having lost contact? Would they accept my "cyberfriendship" but only to not "cyber-reject" me?

Then, I found her. ALOOOOOOHA!!!! I cried when she moved. I still secretly make plans for our children to marry. Why did I lose touch? A little while after she moved life took a flurried tailspin. I barely coped. I introverted. But there she was. Aloha!

I waited waited 24 hours then decided I had to do it. I asked to be her "Cyber-friend." She accepted....then she said aloha......

I am now starting to hear from those ghosts. The ones that I have to ask Jason who they are; the ones that I pretend I didn't hear from; the ones who were by goodbyes. But I can joyfully face Facebook now, because I found my aloha.

Family Planning

A little family planning advice, courtesy of Abrielle.....

"Mom, the next time there is a baby in your belly you should make sure it's a black one. You already have three white ones. You should try something different."


Hhhmmmmm......Not sure how Jason will feel about that....