U TUBE FRIIIIIIGHT-

Tonight I got a really frightening phone call...

We try so hard to protect our kids... to do what's best for them... but sometimes; you just don't see the drop offs. (Or worse, you ignore the twinge thinking you're just being "over-the-top")

I certainly didn't see this one coming... because I've always thought myself to be pretty careful with my boys and the Internet. Our boys are NEVER on the Internet without me or their dad in the room. They learned that from their dad. T doesn't even go on facebook without someone else in the room because in 2 clicks... you can wind up somewhere you didn't mean to be.

Last weekend, we let him spend the night with 2 of his best friends at one of their houses for a birthday sleep over. All 3 boys are 12. All 3 considered "bright," and "good kids".

They decided to open a "joint U Tube" account to post their "home made" videos on. What kid doesn't like to see video clip of himself!

BUT... THEN IT TURNED UGLY.

This afternoon (2 nights after the original silly video was originally made with the 3 of them dancing around to music with pants on their hands), one of the boys edited one of the videos to include an audio clip.

In an attempt to "be funny" he made reference to a bomb, in a box, at school.

Now remember... my son doesn't really go to school with the 2 boys anymore (because we left when his 10 year old brother got cut with a pocket knife by another student who tried to stop him from telling the yard duty that she had the knife. And did I mention that we NEVER even got a phone call about him getting hurt because they "agreed to keep it between the principal and the student who brought the knife.")

Not only does my son not even go to that school anymore, but 2 of the boys didn't even have any knowledge that 1 had edited the video and included the audio clip this afternoon.

Fortunately, the mom of the boy who didn't edit the movie saw it tonight and deleted the account, along with all the videos.

But... lucky me! We get to deal with this mess tomorrow because... EVEN THOUGH HE'S NEVER SEEN IT (IT GOT DELETED BEFORE WE KNEW ABOUT IT)... OTHER kids from the school did see it. And his name... and face... was on it!

GEEEEEEZE.

talk about a LIFE LESSON!

March Madness

Caden absolutely LOVES to plant flowers; and since I've been promising we'd "get to it" for several weeks now, I figured today was the day...
He was SOOOOO excited...

and I am too, because it means I get beautiful pots like these.

But all of a sudden-- we had this beautiful rainbow in the sky:

because it started to POUR, right in the middle of our planting frenzy...

But one of the MANY things I love about my better half...

he doesn't let anything get in the way of "his plans". And a "little rain" didn't slow him down a bit. (I'm hoping it doesn't kill my newly planted flowers either, seeings how the poor things are more like drowning...)

While I ran inside to get in my warm bath that he ran for me because I was FREEZING, he stayed in his shorts... in the rain... cleaning up so we could get ready to go out for the night.

And I have to say... I hope my boys turn out JUST like their daddy, because I sure love him!

and my babies too!

4 Corners

Every once in a while... I get to enjoy of monumental mommy moment that will forever be impressed on my forgetful heart.

Today I cried --- and I NEVER cry!

let me back up...

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine myself as a homeschooling mama.

For many reasons-- not the least of which is that I'm a public school teacher!

I've questioned our decision to do it this year... more times than I can count. Some days I just feel like they didn't "get enough"... and I should have been more patient... Yada, Yada.

Yesterday the 3 oldest boys had their end of the year testing. And when my "most challenging" son came out of test within about 25 minutes... I cringed. When my "Genius" child came out, half drugged because of his allergies and said, "I had to just guess on a few mom, I can't even breathe. I just wanted to be DONE." I rolled my eyes and thought, "That's just great - Some teacher I've turned out to be!".

BUT the kicker was having to wait an extra 2 hours, wondering "WHAT IN THE world??? A test that was "supposed to take all of an hour, ended up being more than 3 hours, and when the poor guy came out, he said: Mom... IT WAS SOOOO HARD--


I was worried. BIG TIME!

Worried that I hadn't done enough.

That we hadn't made the right choice in home schooling these boys.

But as it turns out...

I cried today...

Not because my "genius" child made "tremendous growth" ... He's always done that.

Not because my "smart" and "challenging" wonderboy increased his percentile scores more than he's ever done before. He's the kid that learns "inspite of," not "because of" how good his teacher is. He's lucky.

I cried today because my baby boy who has struggle EVERY day of his life in school... and has always been YEARS behind in school (which was why this journey even began)... Not only did he improve from being in the bottom 5 percentile in EVERY category on the STAR test for the last 3 years, even after being retained...

BUT because he scored IN THE 90 - 97 Percentile in EVERY subject--- which means he's ABOVE grade level... and in some areas... more than 2 years ahead!!!

SO YEAH...

I cried today for the first time in... FOREVER... because,

maybe, just maybe...

NO HOMEWORK + NO PARENT PROJECTS = ACADEMIC success after all!

Thanks MOM!!!

BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU>>> It wouldn't have been possible!

I love you!

Spring

I love SPRING...

It means that SUMMER-IS-A-COMING>>

it also means BASEBALL... Baseball... baseball...
And with 7 teams (plus Daddy's Sunday night games= 8)... that's a LOT for me to try and handle.

BUT, I love it... because the boys are sooooo happy to be on a field... any field...

either playing the game, watching the game, or practicing for the game--- they don't care which.

Now---

if only I can get the right kid, to the right field, at the right time, on the right day, in the right uniform (preferably clean....ha)...

It should be great seasons for everyone!!!

AND>>> if I could actually get a little school work in on the side, that would be a good bonus!

(but I have to say... I'm really looking forward to being "in control" over our school schedule and homework etc for the season! What a stress relief for us... not worrying about homework, and getting the little ones in bed after late games... and my personal favorite... NO OPEN HOUSE projects! YIPPEE) --

Swingin' It Single

This season is going to be so much fun... I can tell already!
I love baseball... for the most part!

The new season has officially started... and Tony already drafted his team last week.

AJ should be a lot of fun to watch this year... and we're pretty excited about his team after seeing their first practice yesterday. GO DODGERS>

Colton is fun to watch no matter what sport he's playing...

The part I'm not looking forward to its trying to juggle all 7 teams...



I HATE missing one minute of my kids games, but it's impossible to be on 4 different fields at the same time. So, we'll do our best... and between the world's best auntie and the best grandparent's in the world... my kids will usually be fortunate to have at least someone there to cheer them on.

but most of all,



I'm not looking forward to being virtually "single" for the next few months-- because if Tony is on one field, I'll be at another... and that's the hardest part!

Times...4

I miss bloggy world.

I miss my clean house. (If there ever was a thing? Probably not, but it makes me feel better to think that if I had time to do better... I would)

I miss my hubby and kids...NOT IN A UNIFORM of one kind or another.

I miss.... the "cool", "calm" me that I imagine myself to be.

But it's that time again...

Between work, school, guitar and piano lessons... and batting lessons -- there really, really is NO time left.

so... I'm calling in a sub some time this week so I can catch up on sleep, and maybe even give myself a chance to read up all the blogs that I miss reading!

Really?

Really... it's that time again. Basketball and Baseball seasons are ready to roll, so this week we paid for:

3 day Baseball Camp.....$150

3 Basketball team sign ups.... $280

6 Baseball team sign ups... $785

(yes, I only have 4 boys; but 2 of them play on 2 teams... because SOMEONE doesn't now how to tell DADDY no-- but I'm going to work on that for next season!)

3 Pair of Basketball shoes... $430

4 Pairs of new cleats... $ (only) 225

REALLY... they need new shoes again? I just bought shoes... can't they just share? Nope, their sizes range from 12 men (not bad for an 11 year old... to a mere mens 6 for my 7 year old) .

Ahhhh... let the good times begin! And may my boys rememeber this when they go to put my in an old folks home in 50 years!!!

Studs in Training

During our fabulous anniversary weekend away in Monterey, we had 'lots' of time to talk about "stuff" ... in between 37 phone calls from the boys, and 12 calls from coaches asking us what we're doing with the boys this season.

We talked about important stuff... Like how in the world are we going to get through another baseball season trying juggle all 7 teams???

Tony needs to coach fewer teams.

I need to schedule their hitting and pitching lessons earlier.

AND the boys need to start lifting now!!

SO Daddy got started tonight...

I love how AJ wants to be just like his daddy!

oof! this is harder than it looks dad!

and Kyle loves to show off how strong he already is... at only 11!

Colton, of course, has to do more curls than anyone!

And trust me... he's ALWAYS counting.

(Being the 3rd boy is tough!)

And baby Caden... well... he can do anything his big brothers can do.

UMMM...

Mommy- DO YOU WANT A TURN???

Oh. Well. Um. I'm taking pictures... maybe tomorrow???

or after Thanksgiving when I'm complaining about not being able to fit in my jeans... then maybe I'll take my turn.

Definitions

This is how we "define" math and social studies in first grade while he's at home with Nana...Nana makes it easy... and fun... and wonderful! That's how it "should be."

But then the other days of the week, this is what the definition of school looks like...

The little yellow word book is what I use in my first grade classroom during Language Arts in my class (since I'm still teaching 3 days a week).

I had to "graduate" to the Webster dictionary to accommodate my 3rd and 4Th grader... but I'm good with that (usually). After all, I'm a "teacher" for Pete sakes; a college grad with a couple of science degrees and 15 years of teaching experience (But my hubby would point out that I've only taught Kinder and first... so as to explain my anxiety about trying to teach geometry and science to a brainy kid).

BUT now that Kyle wanted in on this "home schooling adventure" too... I'm a little more stressed.

His "definition" of a dictionary is this....
(and yes... he actually uses it!)

When he was little... his idea of a great "rainy day game" was looking at "his" book and finding new words to try and trick his daddy with.

(Notice I said daddy... not mommy. He said he only liked to play that game with daddy because he "likes a challenge"...humph! and then I took his blocks away... because he started that when he was about 4!)

So, the real "adventure" of me starting to home school all 4 boys is really just beginning!

This week we just tried to figure out logistics... Like why it's not going to work for them to call me while I'm at work 47 times to ask if they can have a "recess" yet.

We'll see...

The one good thing... not having a school payment for the first time in 8 years will be pretty awesome! Whatever will we do??? (I'm thinking we may need to save it for the counseling services we may require if this doesn't go as well as we hope!! Hahhhh)

Seasons of Life

I am so glad Halloween is over, and we can move on to being "Thankful"... right?

It's a season for us to be Thankful ... and I am!

But once in a while... well,

DID anyone see all those cute fairies and princesses last night???

My boys... at the ripe "old" ages of 7 to 11 are 'too cool' to dress up anymore, much less humor me and dress up for any photos.

I liked it when they were little and I could make them dress up and take pictures.

Not that I don't LOVE my boys... and love the crazy, busy, LOUD life we live! I do!

But sometimes, I appreciate the season of life... after it's passed, much more than I did in the midst of it.

SO... as I look back at my cute photos of past Halloween's... where they were SO cute... I'm going to remember that this season...

the one I'm in right now... This is the season of my life when:

I'm able to sleep in. ( YAHHHHHOo)
I'm able to enjoy THEM putting away clothes (theirs and mine!); and get their own FOOD (usually without spilling it everywhere)
I'm able to enjoy them taking care of me, and each other.
I'm enjoying them wanting to snuggle and cuddle still (without wanting "something" from me)
I'm loving that they are becoming the "knights" albeit not in costumes... that their daddy is trying to teach them to be. (GOSH I LOVE THAT MAN!)

and a thousand other things that I couldn't have said... back in the season of our lives when they still would dress like I wanted them to, and wear their hair like I wanted them to... and smell like I wanted them to....
and go to school where I wanted them too...

But... that's another post.

PS!!!
Thanks a million for all your encouraging words and thoughts on our home schooling dilemma!

home schooling... REALLY?

I distinctly remember thinking that "hell would freeze over before I'd ever home school any of my own kids"...

but apparently I'll be buying the next round for the entire populous in Hades... and soon!

We started homeschooling AJ in September for the first time... and since he loves it so much, within 2 months he convinced his 2 younger brothers to drop out of school and stay home with him. They all love it... and it's amazing how much they can accomplish!

As of this afternoon, the 3 of them have convinced my oldest son to get home schooled too!

BUT... wait!

I agreed to home school my 4th grader because it's the best thing for him.

I agreed to home school my 3rd grader and 1st grader because that's easy and the school they were at wasn't nearly academic enough. They REALLY wanted to get home schooled, and AJ enjoys having his brothers around to play with (most of the time); so we're doing it.

But, I'm REALLY hesitant to teach my middle-school son at home!

He's the "perfect" child... the "perfect" student... the "perfect" built-in tutor...

but the truth is... he's already smarter than I am in all the core subjects; and I'm not really sure I can do a good enough job...FOR HIM.

I don't know how we can tell him no though.

He's crushed because he thinks that I'm "trying to convince him to stay in school."

I just want what's best for each of them; and I wish that I knew exactly what that meant for each of them---

because by the time I finish paying their food bill for the next few years, and 4 sets of braces, and insurance for them to drive etc... I really don't think they'll be much left over for any counseling that may be need because I screwed up their education!

ha

Wonderful Weekend

Our friends haven't had a weekend away without their 3 kids in almost 2 years. That's just not good... for anybody. So this weekend, we got to have their 3 kids while they went on a mini vacation! Since we always have an extra boy or 2 around, that's not too unusual for us... but 2 of our 3 guests wore PINK... so it was extra fun for me!!!

They were almost too excited to go to sleep Friday night because they we're going to their first

football game on Saturday.

Colton got to carry the ball 3 times in the first half, and scored all 3 touch downs to show off for his friends. He said he'd score a touch down for each of them, and he did!

Don't his brother's all look impressed...

I was just excited that the wind was blowing hard .... after all... I haven't had too much practice getting a little girls hair looking "just so" like their mama does.

We met thier parents at the pumpkin patch on Sunday afternoon...

Then we took the boys for some batting practice...

Then I had to rush home and cook dinner so they could watch the Dodgers win!

After a wonderfully busy weekend, I'm ready to start my week so I can get some rest...

oh wait...

Now that I'm home schooling 3 of the boys instead of just 1... starting tomorrow...

I'll have to revisit that whole "rest" concept again... maybe sometime this summer.

but... oh how I love the weekends...

Daddy needs to do some laundry...

Weekend Work Force!

Back in the day, loading 4 car seats every time we ventured out was a lot of work.

Getting 4 boys dressed and fed by 7:30 every morning to go to work was even more work... (just ask my husband)

BUT guess what ...

Do you know how much work my strong boys can do in a weekend???

A LOT!!!

Just ask Nana and Papa.

They're in the final stages of a BIG, HUGE, ENORMOUS remodel.

Nana's new kitchen is "almost finished"...













The cabinets just got put in this week, as well as several of the WOLF appliances that we can't wait to try out. With all the bells and whistles that are so cool... like pop-up vents and pull out warming draws... a several work stations.
But wait... who's the stud in the window?

That would be the "father" of the up and coming weekend work force!

After loading up some heavy concrete for the new driveway... they replanted some grass out front.

E
Colton has a never ending supply of enegy, and we love to put it to good use.

Of course, we took a few water breaks.

and puppy breaks...

and breaks to pose for mom... again...

Since she wasn't "part of the work force"... as she was just taking pictures... *grin

The boys were all really hot and dirty and smelly...Some of them more than others... because some of them DO more work than others...

And so I'm thinking...

If I can keep these boys well fed... in Nana's grand kitchen...

and can keep up with all these stinky clothes... (The likes of which I almost passed out from on the way home, even with the windows DOWN)

I'll have it made when it comes time to remodel my own house...

assuming I'm not broke from investing in deodorant stock... which is what I plan on doing first thing tomorrow morning!

Beach Bums...

Back from bummin' it at the beach...

and even though we officially missed the "first football game of the season"...
it didn't feel like we missed much --because we just played our own game.


They played, while I tried to figure out the camera and stop wishing that we lived down there instead of up here!!!

Colton is such a Ham...

We had great seats at the Dodger game... even though they lost in extra innings.

AHHH... now it's back to school, and work, and doctor's appointments!!! urggghh