Would you like a bit of COFFEE with that FALL?

When TWO of my most favorite things collide

it is worth noting~

Can't you just smell the coffee brewing?...(I actually can!)

More Then I Would Like to Admit...

There are some things about me that I do not like to admit to...but here it goes.

• I' m an all or nothing person: neat freak some days...SLOB other days; happy...blue; worn out...energized; baking mood...no baking; running...nothing; time on computer...what is a computer; crafting...unfinished projects! I never really find myself in the middle (grrrrr)
• I'm competitive. This trait frustrates me to no end! (grrrr)
• I'm a health freak. (yep, I'm one of those people!)I absolutely love to learn about nutrition and new information on health strategies. I can't understand why some eat and take care of themselves the way they do. I get overwhelmed by other people's shopping carts at Wally World-(ask my adorable husband how I fume :)). I enjoy trying out new recipes that are "good" for you. This aspect of myself can drive my adorable husband nuts. He is a sweet and carbo man... (we are getting there with some compromises :)). My kids have no problem with it- they don't know the difference between white flour and Almond flour in my baking.
• I'm not as friendly as I once was. Or maybe I just don't feel like being social and meeting new people (ie. mom's at the boys school, mom's of kids on the boys sports teams). Don't get me wrong, I'm nice! I'm just a bit of a homebody with just a few close friends and thats good enough for me. I know, it sounds CRAZY! Maybe, it's that I'm consumed with family and the friends I have now. Maybe I don't have the energy for the drama of lots of friends...MAYBE I'm content!
• I withdraw. Sometimes I need to be with my own thoughts. It can last a couple of days or a week. I think its good.
• I'm motivated by frustration. You want to know my secret to clean cabinets...i can't get something out!...then my all or nothing personality comes out and the whole kitchen has been gutted and reorganized!!!!!! You want to know my secrete to a spotless house...I have been a SLOB for a couple of days and I become frustrated with myself at allowing the boys to have piles (Ok, my pile too!) everywhere! Motivation for running...pants don't fit (FRUSTRATION)!! Blogging again...frustrated that so much time of my boys was not documented!
• I'm stubborn. Enough Said!

Ok, I think these confessions were painful enough. I have a huge closet full of things I do not enjoy admitting. However, I think it's good to remind yourself that YOU HAVE FAULTS and Only through God's mercy are you made PERFECT in HIM! Pride is distructive...Amen!

I'll Cry if I Want To!

Today, when I picked up B-Boy from MDO the teacher whispered to me that he had cried during centers and after lunch today. She explained...

"He said he was tired."

When we got home and after I had explained the situation to my adorable husband, he asked B-boy why he had cried at school. The innocent response was,

"Momma cries when SHE's tired!"

Yep...SHE does!

Yes, he is very adorable...

However today, he was NOT so much a cutie pie!

I decided that I needed to get some professional pictures taken. Just some quick shots to "freeze the moment" of my fast growing and changing boys. So, with today being a holiday we loaded up as a family to spend some time together in the BIG city which included the boys pictures being taken in a studio...

This is where the HAPPY THOUGHTS end! Imagine my 6 year old strutting in taking his pictures with ease and poise. THEN COMES...B-BOY! We drag him in and he crawls under a chair and won't come out. He refuses to even talk to the girl (who is smiling, but thinking that I have NO control over this child...I'm thinking she's right!). I look at my husband like, "what are we going to do?" He drags B-boy out and takes him to another room. He is there for a long while....Then out comes the "mule-stubborn child" with furrowed brows- No change!

30 minutes later we have NOTHING! Bribery has not worked, "your breaking my heart" has not worked, threatening has not worked! I have lost control of the whole situation! Yep.

We leave the studio with the idea that we will return following more intense bribery..."Your brother is getting... and YOU ARE NOT!"- no change. Will not budge. When it finally starts sinking in B-Boy cries loudly explaining he does not want to smile! We go over he will get NOTHING until he smiles for the camera!- no change. Will not budge.

Finally, are 6 year old comes to the rescue and takes the "mule-stubborn child" into the bathroom for a talk. 5 minutes later out walks "angle child (for today)" and mule-stubborn child" both with huge smiles on their faces. B-boy is ready! Not sure what was said and I could care less, but we were going to get the pictures done TODAY!

He smiles all the way to the studio and it takes SERIOUSLY 7 minutes to finish the whole session! AND I SERIOUSLY needed a LARGE sweet tea after the whole ordeal.

So, no cutie pie today! GRRRR.

Joys of School?

The K-man has been at it for two full weeks...

What things are different: (First Grade vs Kinder):

• Reading books for AR tests every night vs. two times a week
• Math homework two days a week vs none
• Spelling tests on Fridays vs none
• Tardies count vs. a smile and a sweet "hurry up"
• Lockers vs cubbies
• Teacher don't make eye contact with parents vs hug you and the child (not really, but get the point)...ok, a bit harsh. K-man's teacher is very commutative via e-mail.

So, really the homework has been the real adjustment for us and K-man starting first grade. It has been hard encouraging K-man do the homework when he is worn out and "brain fried". He often takes some down time and then spends about 30 minutes with the school work for the night while I'm finishing up supper.

I usually try to ask, "what was your favorite thing today?", but I have had to alter my probing because I have been answered on multiple occasions, "nothing! all we do is WORK!"

-sigh

With that said, he has not told me he isn't going back... yet!

For B-Boy, the adventures at home with Momma could not be better!


However, I am "brushed" to the side when his big brother comes home.
I wouldn't have it any other way!

Oh...B-boy is not real excited about the homework either!