Goodness

My kids are good. Not like well behaved good, I mean that too, but inherently good. The goodness that comes from deep down and makes you a good person. I’ve seen this trait from all of them, but this week two times stuck out to me. 

As Cache, Ky and I were heading home from the store the other day we saw a homeless person on the corner. He was looking pretty rough and Cache said, “Look!! A homeless person. Let’s help him.” I explained we didn’t have anything left in the car to help with, but Cache had seen a pack of ramen noodles in the back of the van. I really didn’t want to stop and help, but Cache was adamant. So I let him grab the ramen noodles at the stop light and hand them to the old man. He rolled down the window and said with the biggest smile and friendliest Cache voice, “Hi!! Here you go!!”. The gentleman smiled and thanked my son. Cache told him you’re welcome and to have a good day. As I rolled up the window he said, “I’m glad we helped!! Even if you can’t cook them, they still taste good.” I was moved and explained to Cache how proud I was of him for finding a way to serve his fellow man. He didn’t see the same homeless man I did, he saw a Child of God that needed a little assistance and recognized that he could help. He has a pure love like Christ. 

Second is my hothead, Beckett. Beckett has been doing an attitude challenge for the last six weeks. He tends to get fairly mean when he gets upset. So, his challenge was to learn to control his actions when he gets upset. It’s totally okay to get mad, but there is an appropriate way to act when you are. So for six weeks he was not to throw a fit (or anything else), not call names or say rude things. At the end of the six weeks, he would be rewarded with a new nerf gun. (His love language is gifts. I hate it, but there it is) So for six loooong weeks, he worked hard. Ridiculously hard to keep his actions in check. And you know what, he did it! He did amazing. The day had come to pick out his new Rival and he was ecstatic. As we were looking at the computer for it, he said, “Mom. I don’t want to hurt my brothers feelings. What if I buy everyone a small toy instead.” He has been working endlessly for this specific nerf gun and the moment he realized it might make his brothers upset, he changed his tune for everyone’s benefit. I was so proud of him. The proud that makes your heart feel like it’s going to burst out of your chest. As we walked out of the store he said, “My heart feels so good. I feel very Christlike.” I could not agree more. I probably told him at least 12 times how happy he had made me. I’m not joking, he has the best heart. 

My kids are gold. And I love the reminders they give me to be a better person. It’s not wonder we are commanded to be as little children.  

School 2018

The first day of school was a hit! All three boys woke up in great moods and super ready to go. Even Beckett who puts on a tuff front about hating school was excited. 

Tayden has Mr. Adams this year. To be honest, I was less than thrilled when I heard. Mr. Adams has a reputation for being a lazy teacher and picking on kids. However, after being on probation and a couple of other things, this is supposed to be his comeback year. And since we have been praying for open minds and non judgmental hearts, we’ve decided to withhold all judgements until we can make our own. Tayden said his first day went well and is looking forward to tomorrow, regardless of the 8/17 boy to girl ratio. 

Beckett has Ms. Hart. She a sarcastic Texan who has mixed reviews from other parents. But again,  we are keeping our minds open and withholding all judgments until we can make our own. He came home today thrilled about how nice she was. Fingers crossed it stays that way! 

Cache has been counting down the days until kindergarten. He woke up in a great mood and ready to start the day. He had a  wonderful first day and has loads of little friends in his class. He wasn’t the least bit nervous and walked into school like a pro. Honestly, he didn’t even wait for me to get out of the car before he headed to his line. 

Unfortunately, after school was a little rough. He said he wasn’t feel too good and went downhill fast. He spiked a fever, got really tired and had a belly ache. He even fell asleep on the couch a few times. I’m crossing my fingers its a quick bug and he’ll be ready for school in the morning.

Kyle wasn’t quite sure what to do without his brothers. But we had a fun morning. He played while I “mom clean Monday-ed” all the boys room for them while they were at school. (On mondays they have to clean their room to my standard) They were thrilled to be done with the job when they got home. 

I’m a bit nervous for the year, but I’m keeping the faith that it’s going to be great!! 

32

On Friday, I turned 32. Let me tell you one thing about this birthday, it was a good one! Scott and I hadn't talked about it at all and I was almost certain he forgot. Until he came home with a dozen roses and some peanut butter M&M's. He urged me to get shower and get ready so he could take me to lunch. I was hemming and hawing about it, but he gave me a deadline and told me to get ready. So, I did. I hustled to make the 40 minute time frame, just to see the rest of my family unready and playing the xbox together. Scott laughed and said he just needed another minute with the boys, so I headed upstairs to watch TV until they were done. Thats when I heard a knock at the door. I answered it and much to my surprise, a group of my friends were standing on my doorstep singing happy birthday to me. They swept me away for a surprise lunch that Scott had planned. He even paid for everyone too! We had a couple hours of mom fun and then spent the rest of the day hanging out and enjoying a slow day.

That is, until Tayden came in needing stitches. He was over at a friends house playing football when we was tackled onto a couple of bricks. His elbow was pretty torn up and considering he had his first game the next day, we decided to get him sewn back up. Luckily, we have a good friend, Chad Coon, who is in the medical field and he was happy to help us out.

Word spread quickly to his team about the accident. As we pulled up to the kickoff football dinner, we were greeted with loads of little kids asking if he was okay. Tayden felt like a micro celebrity and ensured he was just fine. 

Thirty two is going to be great year, I can feel it. I am really coming into myself and feeling confident with my decisions and goals. While there are things I need to work on, my comparing is less and my just living is more. I know now, that its okay to love myself for what what I am and recognizing my strengths doesn't make me stuck up. It makes me grateful to my Father in Heaven for everything he has given me. I am kind, compassionate, love to serve and care strongly for those I love. I realize I am enough and am good at being a mom. Its great to feel grounded in myself! 

Looking forward to another great year! 

This is Summer...

... a million bikes at our house 

... movies instead of laundry

... trading clothes with your brothers 

... and lots and lots of smiles!! 

Trash to Treasure

Beckett has always been a builder. He has always loved to build with legos or anything else he could get his hands on. Lately, he has taken to different mediums, junk in particular. He loves to build things out of recyclable materials...cardboard, sticks, string, used plastic containers, old foil, duct tape, paper and grocery bags. Basically anything I would throw out.

The other day, Tayden was selling donuts for his football fundraiser. He came home with about $70 and Beckett was floored you could make that much in a small amount of time just by selling stuff. I explained to him that a fundraiser is a little different and that people like donuts. He decided to make things that people would like, out of stuff he already had so there would be zero overhead.

Oh, I wish I can taken pictures of his yard sale! But picture this, a table set up by our stop sign, full of crafts that he made, a cardboard sign with the words "Cool crafts" and the cutest red head running it. He sat out there for at least 5 hours selling his creations and walked away with about $8.00. Here are some examples of what he made:

• A homemade kite. It was a grocery bag tied to a string, attached to a stick.
• A sword. A long stick with a tin foil handle.
• A catapult. A plastic fork taped to two old pencils. It even came with a penny to shoot.
• A Frisbee. An round piece of cardboard he found downstairs.
• A lock box. A large cardboard box with a snapping lock. The snap was made from the neck part of an old baby tie.
• A tin foil boat.
• A tin foil helmet/hat.

He had multiples of these things and we have a really great neighbor hood who supported him. Although, we did have to stop him from going door to door. One lady, asked it she could have two kites for a dollar, to which he replied, "A dollar twenty five and you have a deal". She didn't have a quarter, so she walked away with one kite. He drives a hard bargain. But also offers a good deal on day old creations, deeming them half off! 

Beckett is quite the worker and deal seeker. In fact, the other day he begged me to take him to the DI for a golf bag with all his hard earned money. I caved and took him. He found one for $2.00 and was beyond thrilled that he money left over for come golf clubs. We took it up to pay and he did the whole transaction him self. He explained to the checker there were some golf tees in the bag and asked if they would be extra. She giggled at his solemn attitude and told them they were on the house. When she told him the total was $4.24, he replied, "Okay. I'm good with that." It was so cute! 

I love Beckett. He has always marched to his own drum and known exactly who he is. A feat that most adults can't quite conquer. He has a strong work ethic and proved it over his yard sale. He did the whole thing on his own. And if its possible, he was even more proud than me. 

Applesauce

We had the opportunity to pick apples from Scott’s uncles property. It was the home Cheryl grew up in and when her mother passed away, it went to her brother. Scott tells the boys stories of Grandma Thomas’ house and has fond memories of his grandma and cousins and time in Swan Lake. So there is a lot of sentimental value there and it was great to share the afternoon with the boys there. 

We got a ton of apples. Seriously, so many. To no surprise, Beckett worked the hardest. Tayden wouldn’t go near the trees because of the wasps and the two little boys took turns on the ladder and throwing apples down. 

See this rope tied to the tree? Luna is supposed to be on the other end of it. Little stinker kept chewing the rope off to be closer to us. 

We brought the apples home and started in on the applesauce. It took a solid day of cooking, grinding and canning. The applesauce was awesome, but doing it with the boys was even better. The two older boys didn’t have much patience for it, but my little kids loved it. Cache grinding about 95% of the apples and Ky spooned out the yucky stuff. Really, that’s not a necessary job, but he thought he was a big time helper. We had quite the system down. 

I love harvesting fresh food!! 

The Hair

Tayden has been sporting the mop top hair cut for the past few years. But now, with his football helmet, it’s getting in the way. So, we cut his hair for football. He wasn’t too excited about short hair, so we spiced it up a bit. 

He thinks it’s cool and I’m happy to be rid of the mop top, so I’m calling this a win.