Wednesday, April 30, 2008

What time is it?

It is 2:38 am and I am up with Haley who has an ear ache. I am miserable and tired. She refused ear drops for about an hour until I told her she has no option. It has been about 15 min. since I gave her the drops. Hopefully she will fall asleep here soon.

So....
Tired......
Must ........
Sleep........

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............................

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Sharon is 30?

I am having a hard time accepting 30. Now that Sharon is 30, who knows what could happen! I could be next! AHHHH!!! I know this is late, and I know it is lame, but here is my picture tribute to one of the best friends ever! Sharon, I love you! Remember the fun times. Happy Birthday!

My belly button hurts!?!


Shaka Kahn!!!!


No Comment. We are so hot!


Bill Clinton.


Happy Birthday!!
*I had to take pictures of the pictures so sorry if they are blurry. Also I had very few to choose from that were acceptable for public viewing so you get what you get.



Update on Wasted Youth

SBarrett says:
Even though you whined about your life like every other kid in the world, you still had the good fortune of growing up in highly unusual manner that allowed you to experience other cultures. How do you think it has informed the person you are today? Would you be the same Kendra if you had lived your whole life in Utah? Although Ruby has to settle for a short visit to Europe instead of living there, I hope she will gain a little a bit of perspective. Did you?

Would I be the same Kendra if I had lived my whole life in Utah, instead of living in other countries? Short answer...NO. I would not be who I am today. So much that I am, I am because of the experiences that I was able to have while living overseas. I know I am a better person then I would have been, had I lived here my whole life. I know I am a more understanding, accepting person for seeing the things that I saw. I am a less worldly person because of the people I have met, and because of the way that I have seen people live.

Did I gain perspective? Absolutely. About family, life, happiness, love, character, understanding, acceptance, perseverance, drive and what it takes to accomplish these things.

I have been places and seen things that many people I know will never get to go and see. I am truly grateful for my life and the wonderful experiences that I have been able to have. I just hope that someday I will be able to share these experiences with my own children, no matter how excited or reluctant they are to do them.

Adam

Adam in April 2004

Adam in April 2005

Adam in April 2006

Adam in April 2007

Adam in April 2008



Jason, Never a Normal Picture

Jason in April 2004

Jason in April 2005



Jason in April 2006

Jason in April2007

Jason in April 2008



Monday, April 28, 2008

YAWN.....

I have been working all night on the menu for school and watching the Laker game. I am now tired and need some TV time so I will get the boys pictures up tomorrow.....

Yawn......night!

Haley

Haley in April 2004
Haley in April 2005

Haley in April 2006

Haley in April 2007

Halei in April 2008

Abigail Grows

Abigail in April 2005
Abigail in April 2006

Abigail in April 2007 Abigail in April 2008





Sunday, April 27, 2008

Extra Ponder

If you got into a taxi and the driver started driving backward would the taxi driver end up owing you money?
I wish!

One Team, One Dream

Oh yes fellow Jazz fans. They won last night. It was not a pretty win, but it was a win all the same. I went to the game and had a fabulous time except...

We had these ladies sitting behind us. They were the most annoying people that I have ever heard. During most of the game they were screaming (at the top of their lungs) at Kyle Korver. Now, he was not having a good game but please! He can't hear you. If I had to listen to one more:

F*** you Kyle Korver!
Get off of the floor Kyle!
Put Ronnie back in! Kyle sucks ____ ____!
Take the $^*&^# out of the game!!!

I might have had to push them down the stairs. I have never heard women say the "F" word so many times in such a short amount of time. (And you guys know some of my friends. They curse like sailors!) But here is the kicker. In the 4Th quarter when he was up for free throws after being fouled they started screaming:

My sexy honey! Get the ball in!
We love you!
That's my baby!
Get your sexy @** up here! Woo!!
Kyle my lover!!

Really girls? I never saw them drink any beer, so not drunk...but maybe skitzo? Maybe they have multiple personalities? I do not know. All I know is that they almost ruined a perfectly good game for me. Next time I am complaining. Or moving. Or both. If I had my kids there I would have had to move.

Sunday Ponder

Why isn't there mouse flavored cat food?
Ponder or Discuss.....

Thursday, April 24, 2008

What? A Loss?!?

So they lost. I am glad I chose to go to the Saturday game instead of tonight. I wonder who used my seat? I hope they can step up on Saturday and get a win.

What I want is....YOUR VOICE!

The Little Mermaid. I remember when this movie came out. I loved it. When Ariel goes to Ursula, the sea witch, and asks for her help in getting to the prince, Ursala says she will help but asks for one tiny thing in return. Ariel's voice.

So I am channeling Ursula because I have lost my voice. I have been cranky the past 2 days and I knew I was getting sick. It is the season change. I have managed so far this school year to stay healthy. If you remember me last year, you will remember I had a constant sinus infection. It was outrageous. I know it is a sinus infection too. I get the same symptoms every time. First I am cranky. Next, my voice goes away. Then the sinuses clog. The sooner I get to the doctor the better.

There is only one good thing about losing my voice. When it is halfway gone I have a sexy singing voice. Ask my kitchen staff from last year. They will tell you. I love to sing, and when my voice is going away or coming back it squeaks and breaks something crazy. I can't wait to get in there tomorrow and have a sing-a-long! Melanie and Lyndie will love that!! Watch out ladies I feel a tune coming on already!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Wasted Youth

I was reading one of my favorite blogs (Ruby Redd Mania) today. She is in Paris for the week for her birthday (I think). And I got to thinking. I have had so many great experiences in my life. I have been privileged to do so many fun things. And I complained about half of them.

I lived in Germany for 2 years in middle school. On weekends we would drive an hour and visit a historical town and castle. We went all over Germany, Luxembourg, France, and The Netherlands. We went to ski week in Garmisch. We went to Switzerland and had a week of fun. We went to crazy little French and German amusement parks. Then I lived in Belgium for 2 years. We went to Spain for spring break. (I tried to get out of going! I ending up going and taking a friend and having the best time ever!) We went to Paris, ummm, 20 times? We went to the beach. We went...everywhere. I stayed at the Palace of Versailles. Like IN the palace. For 3 days. Did I appreciate it? No. I complained about the food. I walked to McDonald's! for dinner. My dad is French. He was born and spent his life there until he was a teenager. He speaks the language and we had no trouble traveling around. We were able to go places and do things he did when he was growing up.

I have been so fortunate to go so many places and see so much. Luckily I am only 30(ish). I have a lot more time to go and do these things again, and appreciate them this time. Lewis and I planned to go to Paris this summer with my parents for a week. We canceled the trip because my sister-in-law was going to get married in July. Well, that's been pushed to October so we are out a trip. So the trip is planned for next summer. Summer 2009. It seems so far away. Lewis has never been to Europe so I am excited for him. The countdown starts today!

Ruby Redd enjoy the ride! Appreciate what your mom is showing you. I know you will love it!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

You know it is one of Those days when...

...you wake up late
...the kids can't find their homework
...you can't find the keys
...something "smells"
...you want to cancel your trip
...you step on cheese
...the is no conditioner left
...the "check engine" light comes on
...the milk is expired
...nobody answers the phone
...there is no clean underwear for one or more of the people in your house
...the apple you were saving for today is being eaten by 2 little moneys behind the couch
...the delivery is late
...you question every word you say, 2 seconds after you say it
...the hot water is gone in 2 minutes and you are covered in soap
...the babysitter cancels before breakfast
...you go to use your toothbrush and it is already wet (eww)
...you are yelled at 3 times before noon

What I feel right now....

...anxious

...tired

...nervous

...worried

...angry

...suspicious

to name a few.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Things We Did This Weekend

*Haley and I went to a Bridal Shower for Lewis' cousin. Well, his to-be wife. Haley had a great time. She loves doing "grown-up" stuff.
*On Saturday I went to Sharon's 30Th b-day lunch. It was a dessert only lunch, but someone brought pizza bagels! I made Strawberry Shortcake and brought it. (That was the dessert of choice for us when we were in high school.) We had a really good time. I realise how much I miss hangin' out with her. Happy B-day!
*Saturday night we had friends over for dinner. We ended up playing cards and guess who won? Me! Oh yeah I was the big winner.
*Saturday night was the Jazz game. They won on the road. Oh yeah. Nice.
*On Sunday Haley, Abigail, and I went to Courtney's house for lunch after her baby was blessed. The girls had a good time playing with their cousins and had a wonderful time. They came home with lip gloss on and everything! Thanks for having us!
*On Sunday night I rented Juno. It is a movie about a girl in 11Th grade who gets pregnant. Lewis and I stated watching it and about 10 minutes in Lewis asks if he can go play computer instead. Whatever. He was bored. In my opinion though, it was one of the best movies that I have seen all year. I know most of you will not agree, but I loved it. I even got teary eyed in one scene. I NEVER cry during movies (except during The Notebook).

Sunday Night "Ponder"

I decided to do something new. Every Sunday I am going to post something interesting to ponder. Feel free to comment on the "ponder" or just read and enjoy.


If you can't drink and drive why do you need a driver's license to buy liquor, and why do bars have parking lots?

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Posts

A friend of mine just commented on how I have been blogging a lot lately. Yes, it is true I have. I think 7 or more in the past week. Before I was doing maybe 1 or 2 a week depending on time availability.

Is it better for me to post lots of different things about family, my thoughts, activities etc. OR is it better to post once a week something that is deep, and thought provoking? Post a comment and let me know what you think.

I do both. I put up the little daily occurrences and I also put longer thought induced posts. Is it good the way it is? Or are you getting too much information? I run my blog like a journal or sorts. I put things in that I want to remember years down the road. What we were doing, what the kids were into etc. I also like everyone to see what is going on with the family.

Anyways, let me know what you think!

6 Words Tag

Only words, no explanations. You may not repeat words. It is harder then you think.

6 Words that describe me today:

fabulous
busy
late
cold
funny
mom

6 Words that described me 5 years ago:

rested
happy
nervous
fun
structured
married

6 Words that described me 10 years ago:

pregnant
bored
tired
worried
hot
creative

Now I will tag 6: Katie, Paige, Courtney, Natalie N., Kendall, Sharon

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Hump Day Pictures

I wanted to post some random pictures tonight. Here are some of Abigail in the hospital. I know her size is deceiving. She was 12 inches long (the size of a barbie) and at top weight was 3lbs. I still want to cry when I see these pictures. She truly is a miracle. The nurses gave her the new pretty bedding for the first couple of days. They were worried about me seeing her in all of the wires. She looked so pretty.

Long, Random Post (do not read if you don't feel the need)

Random Old Boyfriend Sightings

(I know I told several of you that my next post would be about the polygamists in Texas, but I need to get the important things written first.)

Being from the East Coast, I do not run into old flames very often. So when I catch up with 3 in a weeks time, well that's just weird. Now by flames I mean boys I knew. Boyfriends, dates, good friends, etc. Lewis and I do not talk much, if at all about my old flames. I think he is not interested or threatened by them so it doesn't matter. (Me on the other hand. You may not know it but I am a very possessive, jealous person. Sorry it is in my core to be this way. I hate talking about girls he dated. I am still to this day disturbed when I see them. I guess that shows he is content within himself, and I am not. But again, that is a different post altogether.)

Understand that when I knew these guys I was living at West Point Military Academy and did not have many girl friends. I had Colleen from school and Sharon who lived in Utah and went to BYU and that's it. It was pretty much 4000 cadets ranging in age from 17 to 24, a handful of nannies and me. And I lived on base. So naturally most of my friends were guys.

1. So last week at Target I was walking and saw a guy I dated for more then 6 months. (It was while I was in college. At the time I was completely infatuated with him. He was beautiful. My dad always says that I like the pretty boys, but this one was well, too pretty. He still is. When we got together I had been dating different guys off and on for about 4 months and not finding anyone that I connected with. As a side note. I hated dating. I got lots of dates but guys are weird when your dad controls weather or not they fail out of West Point.) When I saw him at Target I hoped I was mistaken and walked swiftly around the corner just in case it was him. He had seen me. It was awkward when he walked up to me and hugged me and asked why I walked away. Had I not seen him? No was my answer. What I did not say was I was HOPING that it was not him. (We did not separate amicably. Actually it was a disastrous break up. I mean a fight at the dance with yelling and cursing and even a little physical. Needless to say I was devastated and cried for days.) I have seen him once before while living in Utah maybe 6 years ago. I was just as awkward. Why does he feel like he can even talk to me? Maybe he has forgiven and forgotten. I forgave, but did not forget.

He did not tell me too much about what he is doing. I assume he works for the family "chocolate" business. (Now some of you will know who it is.) Did not tell me if he was married or anything. Just strange. He looks the same just older. We dated 12 years ago, so it has been a long time. [Funny enough, this cadet was put in my dad's class at West Point after we broke up. Needless to say he requested a teacher change and even though they were not supposed to get it, my dad let him have the change.]

2. Old boyfriend found me on Facebook. Here is the funny part. I do not "do" Facebook. I only started an account because I was looking for an old friend from elementary school. (Then only kept it because I was too lazy to get rid of it.) And I never even found that friend anyways. Funny, right. So I get a friend request yesterday and I am like who is this guy? I never get random friend requests. The picture is of a guy and a girl in front of the temple after getting married. So I am like hmmm, maybe a friend of a friend. So I accept the request and get a post on my wall saying who it is. Yikes! Really. We dated in high school for a while my senior year. Maybe 6 months. I think we broke up in the spring sometime??? Anyways it was not a horrible break up, well yes it was but still we were friends afterward. {I remember being very possessive when we dated and then mean to him during the break up. I mean, really mean. Marlo, didn't I make him cry?} (He met Lewis and Adam years ago when Adam was a baby.)

I have not seen or heard from him in about 9 years. He is married and has a son. Also he lives 20 minutes away from us.

3. Another Facebook find. He was a cadet at West Point. This one is different. We never really dated, but I honestly thought I wanted to marry someone like him, if not him. He was like a best friend. He had a girl friend for a long time and we were just good friends. He was there for me through the good times and when I was majorly struggling with life. Before I moved to Maryland, where I met Lewis, we were together everyday at some point or another. Even when I went back to West Point to visit he was there for me and did whatever he could to help. His family was wonderful, and I loved his mom.

He is married now too. They do not have kids but they will. He always wanted kids. The funny thing is that was the one thing that I did not like about him. I did not want kids at the time. I thought that I would have maybe 1 child when I was like 30. Things change :)

It is strange to consider the people I used to know. I moved on. Grew up, dated, got married , and had 4 kids. I have moved 5 times since then and done lots of things. I went to school, and got a job. I never even considered that they were doing the same things. When I think about them I still see them the way that they were 13 or 14 years ago. I still see them as teens and young adults in my head. So when I see them in real life with families and all grown up it doesn't seem real. It seems like a lifetime ago that I knew these guys. I have to say though, I have changed so much since that time. But at the same time I have stayed exactly the same.

*Sharon you will know #2 and #3.
#2 was with us on the trip to the club that night. You remember moms and pops?!?! Listening to the same song over and over until we got home.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Random Thought

One of my friends turned 40 this past week. One of my other friends is turning 30 this next week. Another one of my good friends is about 45. And another still, is 24. Is it funny that my friends range in age by 20 years? Does age, when it comes to friendship really matter? And if it does matter, at what point does it no longer matter?

Example 1:
My son is almost 10. Do I want him hanging out with 15 year old boys? No freakin' way! (5 year difference)
Example 2:
When my girls are 18 do I want them dating and hanging with 28 year old girls or guys? No. No. and No. (10 year difference)

But am I a hypocrite for this? Maybe.

I have the same age kids as my 45, 30, and 40 year old friends. Maybe I started early. Maybe they started late. But at what point did age cease to matter? Was it when we got married? Was it when we got pregnant and had a babies? Was it when we started our first full time job? Who knows really.

It changed for me when I was 18 and started college. I had already been working full time for a year and was pretty much grown up doing my own thing. Working, going to school, and coming and going as I pleased. One of my closest friends was a 35 year old woman in our ward at church. Her husband had an important job. She was raising 4 kids. I was a kid in collage with a job at the bakery. We were opposites in every possible way. I loved hanging out with her. We would go tanning, the gym, shopping, and out to eat together. She treated me like an equal even though we were far apart in age. We would talk about everything. Her kids, her husband, my job, my boyfriend(s), school, everything. When I was getting married she went dress shopping with me. She altered my dress for me too (considering I was pregnant, it needed a little altering). She was accepting of me no matter what. When I told her I was pregnant and getting married she accepted it because it was what I wanted and it was what made me happy. (After I was married I went on double dates with her and her husband.) It was interesting to have a relationship with a "grown up" on a grown up level. When I think back now, I think she was a huge part of making me who I am today. Age, occupation, income, and status do not make a friend. Friends are people who you like to hang out with to spite all of those things.

Whether you:

*are 40 and look 30
*are beautiful
*are 24 and act 35
*are the best mom ever
*are the most patient person
*are a stay at home mom
*are a full-time employee
*are on food stamps
*are richer then Midas
*are proper
*swear like a sailor

Friends love you for who you are. Not for who you were or who you can be.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Sunday

We took the kids to Fudruckers for lunch. I am not making dinner either. Our house is sitting at a stifling 80 degrees and climbing. The back of our house has western exposure and so the sun shines in the windows of the master bedroom and kitchen/dining room all day long. I know it is nice out and it is sunny, and I have been begging for nice weather but can the air conditioner kick on please? No, it won't. I need to call George and have the system looked at. All of the neighbors have had to get theirs replaced last year or the year before, and they all had the same unit that we have. Hopefully we do not need a new one.
Adam

Jason actually let me take his picture, and just as I did Lewis says, "Jason! I saw your soul go strait into the camera!" Nice. Thanks Lewis.

Haley

Abigail

Lewis got a desert that looked really good. A German chocolate brownie. Yum. But...I had a bite and it was NASTY!!!! He liked it but I was less then thrilled. Next time either I get my own dessert, or I get none. The brownie part was hard, and the coconut and chocolate almost had no flavor at all.

Saturday

On Saturday we went to my brother's house and helped him fix up the backyard. Well "we" was actual Lewis and my dad doing the work, and it was actually for his wife Marlo. She wanted a bunch of work done in the yard and so Lewis and Alain (my dad) were enlisted to do the job. Our family friend Rachel was there helping too. The kids got he rocks and junk from the yard, and also got to be "go-fur's" to get anything that was needed. I did my fair share. I went to pick up the pizzas for everyone! I do not think I did even 1 ounce of manual labor though. Sorry Marlo!
They ended up fixing the fence, cleaning out the junk, planting some bushes and trees, and building a garden box. It was a fun day for the kids too.


Rachel and Marlo taking 5 for lunch
Lewis and Alain building the garden box

Lewis looking all manly with the beard

Haley and Becka getting nails

When we went home Lewis had to go to work at 2 for the Jazz game. I got all of the kids showered and changed to go to another wedding. By the time I got out of the shower Haley was screaming and in hysterics because her ear was hurting so much. Ends up we have an ear infection. A bad one. Really? I hate these things. They come on out of nowhere. she had no fever, nothing. 3 hours earlier she was out playing and helping to build a box.

So sorry we missed the wedding guys! Haley really wanted to go too. She is still today asking when we are leaving to get to the wedding. We will see you next Sunday at Courtney's!

Annie

When I was about 4 years old Annie was my favorite movie. It is still one of my all time favorites. It also has the distinct spot as the movie that I have seen more then any other movie. (Which is a hard spot to be in. When I like a movie I will watch it over and over. Lewis is the exact opposite. He watches a movie once and then maybe 5 years later he might be willing to watch it again. I am the same way with books. I can and will read a good book over, and over.) Anyways, back to the story. So when I was little I would sit in my little rocking chair and watch Annie over and over. I think my mom's limit was 3 times a day. I still to this day know every line in the movie. I got the movie a few years ago for Christmas on DVD. Thanks! ;)

So on Friday night Lewis surprised me with tickets to see Annie at Kingsbury Hall. I was so excited. Considering Friday was such a busy day for me; health department, work at school, wedding; I was surprised that we made it there. (We had both stayed up until 4:30 am on Thursday night. I was reading (not gonna tell what book, you will all laugh at me) and Lewis was playing games. What were we thinking? I don't know.)

He surprised me with the tickets. It was a special deal because I do not think he likes plays and musicals very much. So it was out of normal for us to do this. We go out to dinner and movies all of the time, but this was special. Different. Needless to say I had a great time. We got home at 11:30 pm and then I still had to take the babysitter home.

Next year we will go see Wicked when it comes.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

YES!


Take the Quiz

Abigail with a Mustache?





Abigail was eating pudding today and wound up with a mustache. She came up to me with a completely strait face and said, "I am a girl-man. I have a mustache." It was one of the funniest things that I have ever heard. So here are a couple of picture of her mustache.


Grams and the Girls

This is Haley and Abigail with their great grandma Linda.

Sunglasses

Here are the girl's in their new sunglasses. They wear them everywhere. We got them at Walmart for like $4.00 each. They are High School Musical glasses.

Quick note...

Just a quick note before I go out.

School errands:
*Walmart to get 350 jell-o for tomorrow's sack lunches.
*get 20 extra pizzas for the middle school dance tomorrow
*hair bands for student workers
*laundry deterget for Melanie
*health department to pick up certificate for wall

My errands:
*go to Albertsons and get cereal and fruit snacks that are on sale
*post office

Hmm.... on my short day (I try to work very little on Tuesday and Thursday) I have a lot to do for school.

OK off to get the girls in the car. I better take snacks in the car since they do not want breakfast. Drinks too. And I thought that once they were all potty trained I would have less to take with me in the car.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Soundtrack

Here are the answers to the titles, artist, and times from the previous post.

I associate most of the memories in my life with music. I have a very good memory. I remember days in kindergarten and first grade because of songs we sang. I remember what I was doing when I first heard certain songs. I attach memories with music. When I die my life will be able to be played back like a soundtrack. Wouldn't that be so interesting? Image being able to listen to your dad, mom, aunt, best friend or grandmother's life with song. You would know what they were interested in when they were little, and as they grew. It is also interesting how certain songs can reappear in your life. I think that music explains so much more then just words. Image what your own soundtrack might sound like....

Enjoy the sneak peak of my soundtrack!

1.
Artist: Meredith Brooks
Song: "Bitch"
Time: Spring/Summer 1997
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk58p1jeCCA

2.
Artist: Secondhand Serenade
Song: "Fall For You"
Time: Present. I am totally obsessed with this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHE3FiwfhBk

3.
Artist: James
Song: "How was it for You"
Time: 1990's (1994-95 in particular) (Adam's middle name is James)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ite-6-WrImw

4.
Artist: The Smiths
Song: "Girlfriend in a Coma"
Time: 1992-93 High School in Belgium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tdF6ziim7E

5.
Artist: Tracy Chapman
Song: "The Promise"
Time: 2 times, but the latest time I was obsessed with it was 1997-98 when I was pregnant with Adam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ0ffXc8Vno

6.
Artist: Johnny Cash
Song: Ring of Fire
Time: Again, 2 times in my life. First was when I was little. This is the kind of music that my mom loved. We would listen to the album in the family room and dance, dance, dance. (Plus now my chilkdren love it.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2iv_E-Fn9E

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Contest with Prizes!!

Real prizes to anyone who can get the band and song for all of these songs that represent certain times in my life (don't cheat by using google, try and remember):

*Bonus points if you can guess the correct times in my life for each song!
*Sharon has an advantage with the time frames, so sorry if she beats you all!!!

1.
So take me as I am
This may mean you'll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that when I start to make you nervous
and I'm going to extremes
tomorrow I will change
and today won't mean a thing

2.
This is not what I intended
I always swore to you I'd never fall apart
You always thought that I was stronger
I may of failed
But I have loved you from the start

3.
Well they said you are as good as you look but that
Would be impossible
For you look even better than the face of god on a sunny day

4.
There were times when I could
Have strangled her
(but you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her)
Would you please
Let me see her !

5.
Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise If it's one that you can keep, I vow to come for you
If you wait for me and say you'll hold
A place for me in your heart.

6.
The taste of love is sweet
when hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
oh, but the fire went wild..

Help Me!!

I was listening to a radio program this morning while running my errands for the lunchroom (going to the bakery to get bread, dropping things at the school and ordering specials). There was a parenting expert who has a book out about parenting without yelling and without anger. A woman called in and was telling a story about how her 4 year old son would scream whenever he did not get his way. (It was like wailing she said. High pitched wailing.) She asked what to do about it. They have tried spanking, they have tried yelling, anything that they could think of. The man on the radio asked if they had tried ignoring her. The mother said no. How can you ignore that screaming?
His thought was this: The child is making a fit to get attention. Good or bad. So if you ignore this behavior then she will stop the behavior because she is not getting what she wants. Makes sense to me. EXCEPT for the fact that my daughter Haley does this screaming, wailing thing all of the time. When she gets into trouble she runs away from me screaming at the top of her lungs. When we tell her to get to bed she screams at the top of her lungs. She screams when she doesn't like what is for dinner. She screams when I ask her to look at me and pay attention. What do I do? If it is time for bed I take her there and put her in bed. If she screams I ignore it. Once she stops she falls asleep very quickly. But how do I get her to stop the screaming? I do just what the man says to do. Ignore the bad behavior and do not give her the attention. It has been a year of that and she is not giving up on the screaming. I have tried "positive motivators" like treats and stickers and star charts. I have tried taking things away like movies and friends. She doesn't care. She says fine, I will get to play tomorrow. I have tried it Super Nanny's way too with time outs and other charts and things. Ideas??? I feel like the mom on the radio with nothing else to try. Help me.

Cranky & Tired

Children screaming
Rent to deliver
Angry parents about lunch
New books that I don't have time to read
Killer concert I do not get to see tomorrow
Yelling so much my voice hurts
&
Time is short
Insecure
Ridiculous amount of laundry to be done
Enough work to last for weeks
Dirty house

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

More Easter Pictures

None of them came out very good because Jason was afraid. Haley and Abi were cold and Adam just wanted to skateboard. I will post better pictures when I take them. Happy Spring!