Empty Threats Maybe They Do Work!

I doubt anyone even reads this anymore due to my lack of posts and everyday life stuff. I have turned it into more of a journal for the kids which is why I am including this post.

Preston and Harrison:

You drive me crazy! You fight in the car, you call each other names, you raise your voice at each other, argue who is going to give the prayer and where you will sit in the car and what color place mat you have and who won the race and who gets to pick what movie. Harrison you always want what Preston wants which drives Preston beyond CRAZY and he then changes his mind and you quickly follow which drives him even MORE CRAZY. With all of that said here are two emails that I received with in the last two days.

This is from someone at church that is a grandma and a teacher to another class in Primary:

Every Sunday in Primary I am so impressed with both of your boys. It’s easy to see they have been taught the gospel principles in the home. They volunteer so readily and when they say prayers they know what to say and what is appropriate for opening or closing prayer. They know the songs and sing them out.

And this is a great year for Preston as he’ll be baptized soon. He seems ready in every way.

This is from a teacher

Hi Dana, I just wanted to take the time to tell you that you are doing a fantastic job raising those boys! They are just the highlight of my days. They have great manners, they are so kind, and so eager. It is so refreshing to see two boys have so much fun yet be learning so much at the same time and have such great attitudes about everything. They are truly a joy to have in class. You are doing so well with them. You should be very proud of yourself for having such confident, polite, joyful kids. :)

I was thinking all of that today, so I thought I would share it with you. :)

My response

thanks for such kind words, it is hard work but so worth it. I get discouraged as a mother sometimes (okay... a lot) and will surely keep this email to reflect on!

Thanks again

Dana

Teachers Reply

No doubt about it that you would get discouraged. I can't even imagine. But having worked with over 600 students, believe me you are raising little gems. You and your husband should be very proud of that. I have never sent an email to a parent like this before. So it should count as something very special. P and H are proof that your hard work is paying off. :)

As we drove in the car tonight we laughed at the thought of read such emails while listening to you both laugh and fight in the back seat. I guess the constant threats of beatings and making you walk home if you don't start behaving is working. I told Dad "maybe we should come up with a different way to try and make you boys behave besides empty threats (you have never been beaten, but for some reason it gets your attention sometimes). He replied "I guess its working, why change a good thing?"

We love you both and are very proud that you make wonderful decision in other people's care. We are okay with you behaving for everyone else and saving up your energy and childhood behavior for home!

I still think it's a little weird that I would get 2 emails within a couple of days of each other, maybe someones telling me everything is going to be okay after baby #4 comes. Let's hope

Snow Days

Lovin' some iciclesCozy after a long day of playing in the snow.
Harrison and his hard work.
That's a mighty snow ball Emma!!!


Looks like he has someone in mind for that snowball!

We enjoy going to Big Bear during the Winter. This year there was a ton of snow which made the trip 100 times better. The boys went sledding while Emma and I stayed at the cabin and sipped hot chocolate.

Tutu's and Ties

Emma turned TWO! I can't believe it, well actually she already acts like she's 12! She talks up a storm, can count to 20 almost, holds her own with Harrison and has Preston rapped around her finger. She loves to jump, ride her scooter and just plan being outside. She has a love for sugar candy too which I don't get. She will randomly ask for a sucker a hundred times a day! I say no and she continues to ask. We love you Emma more than you know. You have changed our lives forever and are so grateful for you.
Here she is loving to jump.
Turns out Preston had strep throat. Poor thing, we joined us long enough to sing happy birthday and eat a cupcake. Then went back to bed.
Very excited to blow out her candles. She sang to her self too!

My little Pilgrim

Harrison truly enjoyed his first school program. It is one of my favorites too. Something about sign language and kids singing at the same time just touches my heart. You did a wonderful job Harrison!

To My Future Grandchildren

I let your parents make HUGE messes and you should remind them of this if they ever deny you the opportunity to spend the afternoon with a little play dough. Here is the proof! And be sure in the middle of your creativity that you don't worry about the floor, they will clean it out of the carpet later when you go to bed! Also remind them that on a hard day McDonald's lunch makes it that much easier. With all my love, grandma

Sometimes You Just Need a Diet Coke

This is what I found in my shower. We all use the same shower and by the looks of it I would say it was Emma. No one in the house is safe taking a shower....if she hears the water running her clothes fly off and the diaper ripped off on one side and then shaken off! Normally you will find all the the items in a trail on the stairs.

BEWARE!

Preston has been constantly sick this school year! So much that when I go into the school to help in the classroom I bring disinfectant wipes with me and wash EVERY ONES desk. If they all stay healthy so will Preston. One day I found this sign on his bedroom door. These are the moments that I do not want to forget. Notice the signature - he is "practicing" his cursive handwriting.

growing old

Yesterday I went to visit my grandmother who is 88 years old. She wasn't doing very well and I was not prepared for what I found. She was very pale, lifeless and weak. I couldn't help myself from sitting there and crying. As the day continued I just cried more. At one point she looked at me and said "why are you crying?" as she reached over and wiped my tears. I replied "I love you so much and I hate to see you sick". "Oh don't worry I won't be sick long. How are you my kin?" I had to laugh a little. I replied "I am your granddaughter Dana, Jon's daughter and I have three kids that are your great grandchildren." "Oh that is a really nice name, I like it a lot." "Yes Grandma, you came up with the name, I was names after my dad your son, Jon Dana." she replies "Very nice name, will you hold my hand". So I sat there and held her hand for a while.

When grandpa talks to her, he calls her his girlfriend, it always brings a smile to my face. At one point she asked grandpa if he was married. I don't know if she was trying to pick up on him or what. He would just answer her yes hunny I am married to you for almost 70 years now. Oh she would say.

My grandmother.

Wonderful Example - The best I have come across

Loving

Always being of service to anyone and everyone

Always wanted to learn new things, she was always taking classes to better herself and teach others what she has learned from cooking to writing to gardening

Best journal keeper I have meet - we read to her her journals and old letters

Resourceful - I don't think the woman ever purchased containers for the kitchen. She always used the old yogurt or other containers.

Always calm

NEVER judged anyone and NEVER said a bad word about ANYONE

I will always remember

the weekend sleepovers with the cousins

basket of strawberries as valentine gifts

the best enclosed porch ever, that we turned into our play land

Wonderful garden to pick flowers, fruits and veggies

Aways there to give advice and to just love us

The bucket of dress up clothes and drawer of extra clothes....just in case we had an impromptu sleepover.

The best pot roast, Italian soup, fried pies and bread you have ever tasted.

The boxes of old cards, buttons, yarn ect that she would save so that the "kids" could make craft projects.

Her love of apples and popcorn

Willingness to serve in church

I hope that I can be half as good a mother and grandmother that she has been. I have learned so much from her and I am eternally grateful for that.

Special Ring Tone

The phone rang and the caller id said Capistrano Unified School District....my heart always drops to my feet! I know that my kids need something and it usually is not a great call. It was 2:07, school just got out at 2:05 and Preston was scheduled to go to Clay Class. The office lady said I have Preston here, he said you don't know that Clay was canceled and you should pick him up immediately. Immediately...really school has only been out for 2 minutes. How did he have time to walk to the office and let them know his situation?

Apparently I am not on the email list for Clay Class. So I got in the car and drove to pick him up. Mind you its only 2 minutes after school was out. There were still many parents picking up.

Preston waited in the office until I arrived even though kids were still waiting outside. Upon entering the car he says "MOM! you said you were going to get me a cell phone because of these kinds of situations!". The conversation continued a little. Harrison chimmed in to let us all know that Hunters dad is always late picking him up and maybe he should get a cell phone too. After listening to Harrison for a few minutes, Preston speaks up and says "Enough about Hunter, the point is I need a cell phone."