Thursday, June 17, 2010

How Do You Get a Tall Boy to Practice Self Control?

You bribe, er, motivate him with ice cream!  Kevin started this with Kylin a few months ago, in that if he had 21 days of "Good Reports", then we would take him to Sonic for the frozen treat of his choice.  The first time that he succeeded was after 21 days of those good reports.  However, that last 7 days were really a struggle for him.  So, we made it a two week deal. 

Tonight, he achieved his "Good Report" prize!

So here's the happy boy.  He's had dinner, and now he wants to fill up on a Reese's Sonic Blast! (It took me at least 3 tries to get him to smile like he was happy and not give me one of his goofy faces.  At least he didn't stick his tongue out this time)












Beulah Land!!










I was very good and had my 4 point ice cream cone (Anyone on Weight Watchers will know what I'm talking about)















He has the prize!!

















It's also pretty cool to be the sister of someone who earns trips for any frozen treat!













So long Sonic!  We'll be back, to indulge our sweet tooth, another day (hopefully in two more weeks!)

Ep

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Two Sisters

Today, we had a rare treat.  The kids and I met up with my grandma (the lady on the right) and her sister (the lady on the left), her daughter, their niece and her daughter.  My grandma, Theda, is originally from Texas and her sister, Bessie, still lives there.    These days, they don't get to see each other very much.   My grandma is in her early 90's and doesn't travel as much anymore.  Aunt Bessie is a little younger ( and a few inches taller) and she isn't traveling as much either.  She flew out to her the state that her daughter lives in, and then her daughter drove her up here to visit. 

You know, there are many folks who believe in population control and that having just 2 kids is more than enough (however, if those two kids are of the same gender, then it's ok to have more until you get th opposite), or if you have reached your 40's, you should stop.   Now if my great-grandparents had followed that logic, these two sweet and fun ladies wouldn't be here (and neither would I for that matter).  You see, they are the fifth and seventh out of seven children.   Their parents started off with two children, a son and a daughter, and it was that way for about 10 years.  Then suddenly, they started having children again and within a few years added five more.   I think that there is 21 years between the oldest and the youngest.  Aunt Bessie was 5 when she became an aunt for the first time.    Over the years, all of the children married and had children of their own.  .  The cousins age range from the first to the last grandchild is about 40 years.    Anyway, these days, my grandma and her sister are the two surviving siblings, and they are very special to us.   Bessie starts her journey home tomorrow and I bet they'll be talking on the phone on Sunday (or Saturday)

(I would type more,  but my computer is being slow and my husband is in bed nearly asleep and it's getting late..and I "need" to check my Facebook...haha)

Monday, June 7, 2010

Where Were You Five Years Ago?

I saw this question posted at "The Joyful Journey" blog so I thought that I'd post my answer to this same question.

Hmmmm....five years ago...my kids were still shorter than me.  My son was 7, and not ready to read (now he literally reads everything...out loud!).  My daughter was still somewhat of a little girl and now she's a teenager starting highschool in the fall.  My husband and I were still in our 30's then as well.

On a more personal note, but with getting into specifics, five years ago,  I was living  with a lot of uncertainty in my life and and wondering, every day, if it would end on a good note or a bad one.  My life  was going in a direction that I hadn't planned on,  and I found myself  feeling like I had been forced onto the scariest, fastest roller-coaster in the amusement park, when I was only in line for the kiddie one.    Everyday, trying to keep things calm and normal for my family while I was being whipped around.     Now, I don't have as much uncertainty, however I deal with a lot more stress than I ever have.   Things have slowly improved, and hopefully, in five years, I can look back and report that things have improved even more (I'm praying that they do anyway).

Check back in 5 years and see!