Getting Creative At Bedtime

A way to mess with your children. Let Jack and a friend play on the computer for "as long as they want". When it gets close to bedtime, use a remote desktop to start messing with the computer that Jack is on.

Jack's friend; "Umm, Mrs. Deller, the computer isn't working!" "You have a HACKER!"

Jack; "Mom, we have a virus or something. The computer is typing H H Hello?"

Me; "Oh, that's no hacker. It must be a ghost."

Michael walks out of our bedroom (looking very innocent) wondering what is going on. He nearly loses it with laughter. I wonder how many more times Michael can get away with this before the kids figure it out.

Terribly Tired on Thursday

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I took the kids swimming for the sole purpose of wearing them out. Ok, I did have a hidden agenda, I wanted to sit in the hot tub for a few minutes. I'm hoping that the kids pass out at the dinner table and have no energy to fight with each other. All this under the guise of; "I'm the best Mom ever!"

Christmas in March

Michael had some gift certificates burning a hole in his pocket and he went shopping at Amazon. Some boxes showed up yesterday and today. They say you need the right tools for the job. Well, Michael now has a dovetail jig.

What should the first project be?

Logical Consequences

Jack has been forgetting his homework folder lately. As a consequence, he is grounded from all activities for that day. That seems pretty logical. Unfortunately, Jack is none to pleased with this consequence.

Today when he got home from school, he took a look in his backpack and realized he didn't have it. Tears started to well up and the bargaining began. "But Mom...that's a bad rule!" "It's not fair. I didn't agreed to this." "When you ground me, it only makes it worse."

I was very calm today and asked him if I should throw a party when he forgets his homework. He didn't think that was funny.

Birthday Parties

Lily had her first "drop off" birthday party on Saturday. She was a little hesitant to be left by herself, but like always, she warmed up and jumped right in with the rest of the kids.

If I tried really hard I could dislike the mom, but I really do like her. She is really good at putting things together and even had a theme for the party. The theme of the party was Fishing/Under the Sea. They delivered the invites which were fish shaped cards attached to a stick/fishing pole. For the "treat bags" she put Swedish Fish, goldfish crackers, bubbles, fish tub toy, and a grow your own mermaid all in a fish bowl. Super cute.

Lily and Emma were VERY interested in the mermaid and went right to work trying to make her grow. The mermaid started out about the size of a small Polly Pocket, now she's at least twice that size. It's a little freaky looking at the bowl, but the girls want to see how big she gets.

Last Supper

I signed up to feed the missionaries a few weeks ago and nearly forgot that today was the day. When they called to confirm, I asked the Elder what he would like for dinner. I usually fix whatever and call it good, but it was the Elder's last day before he goes home.

If you were to pick a favorite supper, what would it be? Oddly enough he chose manacotti. I've made it before, but it's been a long time since I've gone to that kind of effort. I like it just fine, but since my kids are morally against all things with sauce, this dish is like poison to them. I caved and made plain noodles for them.

I had to laugh at myself when I made dinner. It was a three ring circus as I made the brownies just in time to put the manicotti in the oven and then shape the rolls to throw in the oven just in the nick of time before dinner. All this while trying to run in and out of the house watching the kids play outside in the last of the sunlight. This is going to be even worse when we have the time change, I'm not going to want to make dinner until 8pm.

Like a Lamb

It's hard to believe that March is already here. If the saying is to be believed, March is going to go out like a lion. The weather has been mild lately I'm almost dreading looking out my window and seeing snow. There is something psychologically wrong when you have Spring on the brain and there is still time for a snow storm or three.

I can't complain about the weather this past Winter, but I am looking forward to Spring. I actually want to plant a garden this year. Well, let's just say, I need a good laugh. My neighbor has already watered, raked, and mowed his lawn. Luckily everyone else on the block has the same brown lawn as we do.

So, for the next week it looks like flip flops and capris. I guess I shouldn't put away my snow boots yet.