Monday, July 26, 2010

Together.

Well the boys came home on Friday..it is nice to have everyone back together again. They will all leave again next week for another spell at their Dad's house...so I am trying to make the most of our time together. I am taking another short week at work. We played Apples to Apples Saturday night and all I can say is that there are certain key words that send my kids into a fit of laughter.....Anything with Balls....nuts....wood...you get the picture. There are also a few others that seem to be innocent enough that they can turn bad....yeah ..so there was a lot of laughter playing a seemingly innocent enough game. I would like to be able to go into denial at some point in my life especially when it comes to my boys "maturing" but they don't even give me the option....I just get to know....and face it.
So yesterday we decided after a big breakfast ..that we would go to Steamboat for teh day. We had a great time..we had a picnic....swam and played. When we got to our favorite swimming nook...we saw that someone had submerged a table into the deep part of the little area and it became a novelty item for a our family. Well the boys and Rob decided to play "King of the Table" and the park rangers came over and asked where the other table was...I said " My husband and 4 boys are playing King of the table with it"...NICE. How embarassing. Good times...Good times!
Then we came home made dinner..cookies and popcorn and played more Apples to Apples.
I am trying to make the most of the time we have together and school starts for all of us at the same time and it creeps up on us fast.

Funny Clarissa line this lats week:

Clarissa: Daddy can I make eggs today?
Rob : No Not tday Clarissa ...just eat cereal.
Clarissa" Why can't I?
Rob: Because you can't do that by yourself...maybe one day when you get older you can go to school and be a chef.
Clarissa: I could be a chef today if you would let me in the kitchen!

Friday, July 23, 2010

random things...of course.

not much has been happening here since the boys left a week ago.....but they come back today for anotehr week ----HURRAY! That always lifts my spirits as I hate it when they leave and really their is no life in my house of they are gone.Carl will be so thankful when they come back..he has been bored out of his gord. He went to a friend's house the night before last and they played video games all night. I worry about all of the video games.....it is so hard to balance teh things in everyday life that could have harmful affects on your kids. Jeri has been addicted to TV since I met her and no matter how hard I try to break it...doesn't change. Clarissa is starting to get that bug after this summer too...and I refuse to battle another addicted kid...so we need to nip it in the bud.

I am part of a quilting competition and in the month of July we get double points for christmas projects....I am sewing my christmas stockings....I bought material and everything last fall and never got around to them...well we will all have fancy new stockings this year that coordinate...very nice. I am thinking in the future I may make stockings as gifts for other people ..we will see how I feel at the end of this project.

Jeri is doing well from what I can see on her lifestyle change?? But I don't watch her every moment ..but yesterday I did fairly well as well....so many veggies and fish..brown rice....it was a good day all the way around.


Clarissa has been teasing Rob and picking at him...I think he is getting a taste of his own medicine with her..she will do random things to him and say smart funny things to him and he just laughs at her because he doesn't expect it and it catches him off guard..quite cute to watch actually. She has outwitted him a few times.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

zuchini bread

Well yesterday when I stopped into work to give my schedule ...also had breakfast club ..Thelma had picked some zuchini from her garden to share ..so I took a bunch and Carl and Clarissa are making bread today. Clarissa and I are trying to be patient with him and he is learning but we both lose our patience and want to work around him to speed him up....but neither of us can..so she keeps walking away...and I keep trying to find other things to work on. Whenever he needs to find something I tell him which cupboard it is in and he looks for 30 seconds and then tells me it is not in there...this drives me nuts because he can't ever find anything....he looks for his shoes on the ceiling. All of this is part of his Aspbergers. So I have to be patient and walk away and let him do it his way so he can be functionable. STRESS!

Clarissa has less patience..LOL...she is young has not had to learn to tone it down some.....so she is going to make her own bread when he is done because she can't work at his pace. That was my way of letting her out easy and him as well...he will get stressed when we hover and he will just give up and be mad.

I was going to take the kids to the free movie in MOses Lake today but ROb took all the car keys with him to work..so we are stuck...UGH! SO I guess I could work on my laundry that I have been neglecting?
I have been working in the kitchen all morning ..cutting vegetables.....cooking brown rice...brown pasta and planning. Jeri had a talk with the counselor yesterday about diet and exercise and I commited to working with her to accomplish her goals. It is actually going to be harder for her becuase she does not like fruits and veggies. She also needs to cut out the sugar.....she says that will be the hardest part for her.... I say Welcome to the club!

I Actually like veggies and fruit...so doesn't bother me. Although she is upset that she can't have any of the zucchini bread that is baking......no good things come without sacrifice.

Well I am going to go do some work before Rob gets home and sees...hmmm nothing I have done? Except dinner? LOL

Monday, July 19, 2010

bits and things

I am scattered lately...school is approaching and this means life as I currently know it will be over. I keep thinking about everything I want to accomplish....this consumes my thoughts everday.....every moment of my life....everything from the big things to the little things...did I tell all of my kids that I love them?...Did I learn something?...did I get that done?..I hope one day I will just have some epiphany that wipes out that mentality because a person only has so much time here on earth and living with these unrealistic expectations is not healthy (all of the time)but old habits die hard.

I have a few friends that are having trying times in mariage and another who is going through a lengthy divorce and Rob and I are truckin along thank goodness....but I wonder if any of us feel completly whole...full and fruitful in our marriages.....and when I brought this up to my counselor (who is a Godly man) he explained to me "no"...People don't feel this way in their marriage.....why is that? Because just like any relationship on earth.....we have to struggle to have growth..be it a child/parent....husband/wife and that is why we need God to be the center of these relationships because without that grace...faith and gratefulness we can"t demonstrate those things properly. This all makes sense to me.....without pain or struggle no growth...does this mean we need to create it? Ummm No! Does this mean it is easy "no"...but as we all know nothing worth while is easy so here I keep truckin on and be grateful for all of the goodtimes because the bad things makes those good things so much richer and I am thankful for the good things...but I also have to say I am almost more grateful for the bad things because I appreciate growth. Just because there is strife in a marriage doesn't mean you can't be HAPPY in a marriage and have mutual love and respect...for those of us who are black and white people..this may be a hard concept to understand...but YAY! I got it! LOL


I also heard today that if a son has a good mother (particularly) he will show three charachteristics as he changes into manhood
1.provider
2. protector
3. reside

I just wrote that blog about Bryce and all of those things ring a bell......That warms my heart..that I am doing such a good job with him despite some of my bad judgement calls along the way and how things just seem to work themelves out if you are faithful (see growth!....everyone can learn..even if you were not taught well)...Bryce has a tendency to hang around me and he wants to be near me or know where I am at all times....who I am talking to ...and what my plans are..and just as I do with all kids I don't think about these things until they are presented to me I just adjust and give them what they need to feel stable (naturally) and that is his thing...doesn't bother me....hmmmfunny how these things come about.

The last thing bothering me lately is the fact that Jeri is struggling with her weight......I think she is beautiful no matter how much she weighs.....but it is bothering her....I don't say anything about her size becuase people who live in glass houses should not throw stones if you know what I mean? I would never judge her. But what is really bothering me is that I am not happy with myself and I am not doing anything to motivate myself..so how do I offer her advise or help her when I can not help myself? She is old enough now that I don't have to to manage her diet she needs to do that on her own.....if I do it I could damage our relationship ..so I don't unless I feel she is just harming herself on 20 hot dogs or something..you know? So how do I cross that line to say ..OK this is what WE have to do and work it out myself so I can set a good example for her? I mean she has plenty of good examples around her..The boys.....but deep down I know she is looking to me to help her and I feel inept.....guilty and worthless in this area...I need to be a good and healthy Mom....so maybe I need to pray about it and see how I can at least work on it.

Friday, July 16, 2010

He.




I keep thinking about BRyce. HE is going through changes....it is not easy on him or any one around him. HE and I have to navigate through our relationship frequently...just when I think I have it down it changes..I suppose that is natural.
I always thought 13 was the magical number that they {kids}(especially the boys) would not need me anymore...but it isn't true they need me more...I always have this unnatural fear that they are preparing to dump me...(self protection).....but it doesn't happen... I realize.

Bryce hugged me two times yesterday and came about to say he loved me several times. Not the teasing....I need attention way..but the genuine...."I am happy you are here" way. I appreciate that....it warms my heart and keeps me up until he changes with the hormone flow....I know it is normal but I do realize that it it something to cherish as it comes.

Bryce has a strong personality and sometimes it is hard to tell which traits he gets from which side because unfortunatly he has two parent with strong personalities...but he is figuring things out on his own turf and that is a good thing. He is a STRONG leader..when he wants to be.( he needs to rule with a Godly spirit and not and iron fist...)..but he really does have a soft sensitive side that appeals to people around him and he notices people...reads people and loves to be needed...and genuinely loves people in general (when he wants to)...but if you hurt him or someone he loves (especially his MOmma!) He will make you pay...hopefully the latter part will get better with age and experience.

Bryce wants to be a lawyer or a special needs teacher.....I think that fits the spectrum that is BRYCE...he is a puzzle that is complex but simple in some ways and he is a good boy who loves his MOmma and I am extremely proud of him.

This is the summer before his 8th grade year and it is sad that I can count on one hand how many summers I have left before he leaves for college on whatever path he will lead and I need to push those thoughts out and think about everything I need o teach him before my summers end and hope that I got it all in.
This summer he was a camp counselor at OMNY.....he started sewing a quilt(picture above)...his Best friend moved back home. He played in Hoopfest. cared for his sister. bought a turtle. hugged his mom.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Not feeling well

I have not been feeling well the last couple of days...I am so very tired..I think my body is trying to fight off something but I don't know. I thought maybe it was because I didn't get alot of sleep last week..maybe my body needed to catch up but after Monday....I should have been well. On MOnday I went to staff meeting and then came home and slept most of the day..until we did family activities.....and then yesterday I took the kids to a free movie in Moses Lake..had a lunch date with my dear friend Donna and then came home and stayed in bed (reading) until dinner. I read a whole book yesterday..and then went back to sleep...today I don't really fel moivated to do alo but I have to work. It has taken me an hour of talking myself out of bed...this is unlike me....not to mention I have not turned on he sewing machine in 5 days...very unusual. Especially considering I have a class tomorrow night and I am supposed to have some things done.
Anyway....Last night the book I read ended in such a great way...that I think I should use it as a scrapbooing /blogging tool myself.
This Gal ends the book with all of these key words or phrases of the lesons she learned during the process of the book..isn't that great? I am trying to think of how far back I should go...or if I should just keep a steady stream of them going each week?
Well I should get ready for work....It may take me awhiel in my current mind set..LOL.Sory body from laying around to much and tired body from sleeping to much...poor me! LOL

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

School clothes shopping

Well this year is a bit strained to say the least...you try not to rely on certain things but as time passes you realize you have.
Usually I buy all year round hitting the all the sales and stocking up for when my kids go to school...that way football fees....school supplies and odd and end things don't ruin your complete budget....and I still never have enough for school pictures..we have not bought school pictures since all the kids have been in school ..even before that I think..it is so expensive..and I always tell myself I will just take pictures of them....and I never do...we also have not had family pictures since Clarissa was 18 months old?? She is 7 now....that needs to be a priority..well this year I think I have been neglecting alot of things because I am working. I have not been shopping.....I would go to Wenatchee several times a week for school..but I wanted to get there and back..not look for kids clothes...so I have no stock pile.
Last year Bryce was entering 7th grade and clothes seemed to be a big deal to him..everyhing had to be name brand and I did buy him all the best brands..it still was not good enough so this year I talked to all of them and explained that I have to buy clothes for 6 kids ( usually only 4....but Trina does not have a job so I am thinking she can't afford it this year..time will tell) and that they each will get 100$ I know 100$ does not go far.....but between 6 kids and then school supplies..well we are looking at around 800$ and I have no idea where I am getting football money?
I don't really stress about these things...it is only money....and I think it is good for my kids to have to make sacrifices...they need to learn and it all actuality they have risen to the challenge.
We went to Tri-state outfitters last night..The Horton boys all got NIKE shoes and all together they spent 75$ with tax for three pairs of shoes! YAY!
They bought their jeans at Wal-mart....they never would have done that last year....but they are counting pennies....since they are on a budget.....now we just need shirts...socks and underwear.

Things always have a habit of working themselves out and God provides..so not worried but want my kids to learn valuable lessons.....so in these times...they get it and I am preparing them for life...which always makes me feel good.

We went to Silverwood last weekend..had a great time..weather was perfect and we got to do everything per usualy because I am the fun Nazi! At one point I stopped to smell the flowers ..Clarissa loks at me and with serious hand gestures says "MOM..FOCUS!" "We are here to FOCUS on the FUN...NOT the flowers!" Well OK then..I am focusing! Sheesh..I have no idea where she gets these things.

They have a new dunk tank now and it takes volunteers and then people pay to dunk them...everyone was discussing who would go in the tank....Bryce said he would so I paid 5$ for that....he was complaining all day....harassing people all day in his usual fashion so I thought I would give the other kids a chance to dunk him..LOL.They did! Funny thing is they had another kid in the tank heckling the crowd and no one would pay but as soon as little Bryce got in teh tank people were coming from out of the woodwork to dunk him....they must have recognized his voice in the park complaining about everything..LOL....Preston also got dunked..and Jeri.

On Sunday we stayed in town with our friends the Steppe's.. Mary made us all a big breakfast and then we played cards for a bit until lunch.We had lunch with Rob's Parents and then we all went back for fun. All of us girls went for pedicures while the boys went to play mini golf...what a great weekend..but always makes me homesick for my friends.

LAst night was a good night as we took the dogs for a walk...did a bit of school shopping and spent time together as a family. I hope you all have a great week and get plugged in with your families.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

A few things to blog about

I need to blog some things because life gets in the way and you forget things along the way that you want to remember. I have been writing alot about Clarissa because she is young and she still does cute things ...the older kids may do funny things but not so much cute things...and teh funny things they do would not probably be things I want to remember or blog about at this age...the boys are becoming hormonal and perverted and I choose to block those out 10 seconds after they do the...it is like a parental block...self defense mechanism.

Yesterday I got home and Clearly Clarissa had a blotchy face...swollen eyes and nose...she had been crying....this is the conversation:

Me: Clarissa is something wrong?
C: No any more
me: What was wrong?>
C: I can't explain it
The whole time she won't look at me.

Me: Did someone hurt you?
C: NO
Me: Did someone say something mean to you?
C: no
Me: Hmmmmmmm Did you get frustrated
C:Yes....
Me: About what
C: A math problem I could not figure it out!

Sidenote: Clarissa has not once told us that she has reading or a summer homework packet...I knew she had it..I just didn't ask her because I see her work on her reading and homework at various times.....she likes to be in control of things and work at her own pace.....so I let her. Problem is she hates asking for help she wants to figure everything out on her own and sometimes she gets very frustrated...I don't know where she gets it from? Anyway..she is almost done with everything and she is a real self starter...I never have to make her do her responsibilities.....she does them on her own..I just LOVE that about her!


Me: Clarissa why didn't you ask for help
C: Shoulder shrug
Me: Instead of getting worked up about something you could ask anyone for help....Did you figure it out?
C: Yes I got it all done and I figured it out.
Me: Are you sure...Do you want me to look at it?
c: NO I got it done.
Me: OK Well I guess you got it!
Tehn I just had a nice talk with her about how I think she is a great child and that she is way ahead of the game by being so self sufficient but that it is ok to ask for help and that I am really proud of her for sticking to it until she was done.

Two days ago we went to wal-mart..Clarissa needed a bike tube for her tire. I bought it got home and she came in to tell me ..while holding back the choke of tears ...I could barely understand what she was saying...She kept telling me that I had got the wrong tube because her tires would not match if we used that one? I said "why" she said "because it is black!" Tears coming out "I won't have matching tires..I will have one black and one white tire." LOL...Well I explained she would still have matching tires and that the tube goes inside the white tire...Then suddenly the world was right for her..LOL. These are important things you know?

My new sewing machine is coming next week and I am super excited to start long arming ...hopefully I can get the hang of mymchine really soon.
Well I hope you all have a great weekend!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Wolf Teen....Teen Wolf..Oh whatever

Yesterday was hilarious and this just warms my heart when my daughter is so......The way she is!

Rob got home from work....ate dinner and then goes to relax ( where?...shocking I know the tele) Turns it on to to the movie called "Teen Wolf" with Michael J. Fox.
Clarissa strolls into the room with her pink sunglasses...sparkly Eyeshadow...glossy lipstick and high heels..oh of course a dress....looks at the screen and says "Daddy is this from the olden days?" Rob says "Clariss it is from 1985" to which we hear a grown from the mini super model in front of the screen who slumps herself onto the couch next to me.
Then she starts commentary on every scene from the movie and it is just darn cute you can't help but laugh. Rob does commentary on movies he hates to watch as well.
So she starts with the guy named Chub on the basketball team...She takes one look at him and says "umm they need to give that fat guy bigger shorts..it looks likes he is wearing tidy whities" LOL. Bryce looks at her and says "Clarissa they are all wearing small shorts that is what they did WAY back then."LOL.....She says "even the fat guy?" ( she has learned from her brothers that tidy whities are for nerds and that boxers or boxer breifs are the only way to go)
Then she can't get over the hair on teen wolf...she keeps saying "Daddy this isn't even REAL...Why do you have to watch this stuff?" Then he starts doing the car surfing and she is totally disgusted by this obviously nerdy behavior and she comments about how in real life he would probably fall off and get into an accident....LOL. Then the scene between he and his Dad come on..she says "YEah the Dad is probably are wolf too!" (Does that mean it is a predictable movie if a 7 year old can get that?)
So then it is time for the spring dance and as he is getting ready putting on his Miami vice inspired suit she is just beyond herself until she sees him enter the gym with all the 1985 dresses that the girls are wearing...LOL...all she can say is "WOW....nice clothes" with a look of horror.
She was not happy until the credits started rolling and the movie was over.
I have to say she cracks me up and scares me all at the same time...because she is only SEVEN! Just start me on the meds now..I may have a heart attack when she reaches the teens.