Sand Devil

Ok, so I do let my kids have pets.

I helped Davis catch a lizard in our backyard on Saturday. Davis named him Sand Devil. We have read tons about lizards on the internet, trying hard to be good pet owners.

Poor Sand Devil. We just couldn't find any food. No bugs to be found. The boys looked dozens of times. (I guess that the money I pay for the pest control is really worth it.) By Sunday evening Davis was stressed over the lizard. He kept checking and checking. Watering and watering. Rationalizing and rationalizing (You can live longer without food than water.) If only he could make it until Monday and we could get to PetsMart for crickets...

Davis just needed to check once more before bedtime. He didn't think that Sand Devil was happy, he was afraid that he'd be starving to death.

Sand Devil decided to make a break for it. Davis looked and couldn't see him, so he took off the lid (or took the bait). Sand Devil jumped out at Davis. Davis screamed and tried not to move. I had the foresight to grab a camera, realizing that Sand Devil wasn't going to be with us for much longer and Davis would want to remember him.

Sure enough, the lizard ran for his freedom. I don't know anything as sad as seeing my boy crawling on his knees in the rocks (no grass here in Tucson), crying, begging for the lizard to turn around and get back into the cage. He grabbed a flashlight and tried to find him in the dark. For a long time Davis was in the dark crying and hunting. Sand Devil was too smart, he is now a free lizard. Davis doesn't want another lizard.

Tomorrow we are going to start hunting again.

Full Circle

There was a time, in Jr. High, when I loved the "skater boys." I loved to watch them ride their skateboards, and do their tricks. Most boys weren't very good at it, but really thought they were.

I love to look back at Darin when he was a skater boy. The pictures of him on the homemade ramps are classic, complete with shaggy hair hanging over one eye. I didn't know Darin back in his glory days, but I've seen his tricks now. I know that he must have thought he was great.

Who would have thought that I'd find myself in love with skater boys once again? Who would have guessed that boys are drawn to ride the ramps with skateboards, just like when I was in Junior High? I'd still love the skater boys!
The boys were able to enjoy one of the perks of homeschooling-going to the skate park at 9AM when everyone else was in school. We have been trying to visit the new skate park, but it is always filled. One day we tried, but found a bunch of "older" guys trying to relive their glory days, but they've added about a 40lb. gut and a hadn't been on a board in years...they were funny to watch.

Davis was wanting to be good. He thought it would be easy, and was shocked to find it "harder than it looks." Davis was fearful. He was cautious.

Christian was zooming around on the scooter. He is too sensible to try out the skateboard or take too many risks. He just liked to go fast.

Jag, now that kid is trouble. He is fearless. He borrowed Davis's skateboard and ran to the top of a ramp, sat on the board and launched himself over. Not even a thought to safety. His brothers laughed, and then got a little courage to try it themselves. Jag was the guinea pig for anything they could think up, he'd do it and if he didn't get hurt, they'd try.

Noah just wanted to be like his brothers. He'd get help to the top of a ramp and then slide down on his pants.

Their dad will have to take them one day and let them watch as he remembers the Glory Days.

I Love Skater Boys Again!

Just Say No

Funny Darin! This was due to peer pressure with his "flight." See, it is always bad to succumb to peer pressure!

WOW

Today was a day for Wow. I took the boys to Toys R Us. I can count on 2 fingers the number of time the boys have been in the beloved store. I actually needed to go there to pick up a birthday scooter for Jag (50% off, thus the need), but the boys thought that we were just there to browse.

The 3 boys all have birthdays within the next 8 weeks, so they were in need of gift ideas (for themselves of course).

Wow, that was about all that they could say for the first 5 minutes. They were amazed at all of the toys, I bet there hasn't been a toy ever made that can't be found here. This is so much better than the toy section at.....fill in the blank.

There were tears to be found when Jag realized that we were leaving the store without anything, except fabulous birthday ideas (and hidden gifts for all). I don't know if I scored points for taking them there or lost points for not buying anything. Don't ask Jag.

Being a mom is a tricky balance of positive and negative points.

I Love Christian

Christian sees things a little differently.

We were talking about the Mexican revolution and Spain today for history. It was interesting. Davis was asking questions about how big I thought that "New Spain" was then in comparison to the United States. I mentioned that it was obviously bigger before the US took Texas. Christian, pops out of his chair and with a look of amazement says, "You mean Texas is now our newest state?!"
I looked at him with a look of astonishment. I had all the thoughts of failing my child rush through my head. Although I know a public school wouldn't solve this misunderstanding.
I just said, "No, Christian. Texas isn't our newest state."
He has a funny little laugh and then just said, "I know it's older than that. Texas is as old as grandpa Davis." My eyes must have told him that Grandpa wasn't that old. So, on to the next oldest people he could think of.
"Is it as old as grandpa Fawcett? No wait, grandma Fawcett?" (Grandpa Fawcett has made certain that the boys know that grandma is the older of the two.)
By then Davis couldn't stand it anymore and shouts, "Christian, Texas has been a state for over 100 years."

Lesson learned. Christian moved on to his next random thought. I love this kid!

Sleep-Stay Awake

Each Sunday I do a dance on the way to church. It is called trying to get Noah to fall asleep while trying to keep Jag awake.

Shh, Noah is almost asleep.

Jag, where is your church bag? Did you remember to bring your toys?

Noah is almost there.

Jaggy, what is your teacher's name? Jag, don't fall asleep.

Quiet now, Noah is asleep.

We have church from 2-5, terrible for napping kids, or so I thought. Noah has fallen asleep every Sunday since January. I enjoy sacrament meetings without trying to chase Noah around. A surprising bonus.

Noah's Owie

Noah fell while on the climbing wall at the park. He managed to put his bottom teeth through his lip. Fortunately, he didn't need to go to the hospital. The inside of his mouth looks much worse than the outside.

He's smiling because he has just eaten his 3rd Popsicle...best way to keep the swelling down.