Girls Are Crazy

So the honeymoon for Baylee and Cars is officially over. They still play every minute they possibly can, but half is spent fighting. Funny thing though. Baylee throws these temper tantrums. Cars just looks at her like she is crazy and lets her leave. I tell him he needs to apologize and he tells me that she is really weird right now and won't even listen or talk. After about 10 of these over a 3-4 week period, he is convinced that girls are crazy. He doesn't understand why she can freak out, stomp out crying, and then be knocking on the door the next day wanting to play like nothing happened. Cars just shrugs his shoulders and says ok. And off they are.

What I'm Not

Carson has been having a hard time with attitude (no big surprise to anyone that knows him I know!) We have been trying really hard to get him to see what he DOES have, and not what he doesn't. Last night when dinner was ready, I made them all come in. They were playing in a neighbors blow up pool. ( No boiling water this time. They can get hypothermia!) We ate dinner and then were cleaning up. Carson could see the two neighbors playing still out the window. He was looking very dim as he watched. Then he told me that he was jealous of them. I said that there were going to times his whole life when he would disagree with mom and dad, but that we loved him. He then told me that he thinks they have a better life. Baylee has: 1) DSI 2) 3DS 3) xbox 4) goes to bed at 9:30 5) playstation 3 6) a dog. Conner has 1) 3 dogs 2) goes to bed at 10 . After he was done telling me all this, I didn't know what to say. I would never want to bash anyone elses parenting. I reminded Carson that everyone wants to be here at our house. That I make them treats every day. That the entire neighborhood stands in line to have a ride on HIS fourwheeler. That I take him around to deliver papers so that he has money. That I take Cars to school every day, as well as Conner, because his mom is at work, and I will be taking Baylee next year too as her mom will be at work. I make dinner every night (luckily they hate fast food so that was a plus for him). They go to parties all the time, and have one here at least once a month, if not more! Then I stopped and just told him that I loved him. I asked if he knew that. He said, "yes, you kiss me ALL.THE.TIME! You love me as much as you love dad!" I told him that I would be the bad guy in his eyes A LOT in his life, but when he was a dad he could do it how he wanted! He thinks that is cool to think about. His boys will NOT have to do chores, and he will let them mow whenever they want! And stay up as late as they want! And be the last one to have to come inside for the night. It's funny how the grass is always greener, isn't it. I think adults even fall into this trap.

Sleeping

Today I took the boys to Gym 60 because it is so hot out. Colby usually naps between 12-1 and until 3. He was getting really sleepy but I knew I needed to keep him up so I could take them. When I put him in the car he is usually out in no time flat. So today when we dropped the boys off I turned and looked at him and said, "Don't go to sleep. We are almost home!" He just looked at me and smiled. As I pulled into the garage and turn around to unbuckle him, he totally drops his head and makes him whole body go limp, just like when he is asleep in his chair. I thought he had fallen asleep, but he then lifts up his head and starts laughing. He was totally awake, messing with me! He is WAY too smart. I had no idea he even knew that was what he did when he was asleep. He had his neck cranked way down and everything! So crazy! Too smart! And way too cute!

Get That

When the kids are bad in sacrament meeting, we make them sit on the couch after to "practice" for next week. Caden was couched today after church. When the timer went off, he jumped up and ran off to change out of his church clothes. Colby runs to the drawer, that he cannot even see into, and grabs the hot pad. Then he runs into the livingroom and tells me with all kinds of excitement, "Mom! Come get this! It's hot!" and runs off into the kitchen again. So cute. So cute!!!

Lists

When I got the results from the schools testing that Cars was ADHD (the schools test doesn't mean he "officially" is, just that they say he needs to be officially tested by other health professionals because he is high risk) I decided to take a class on how to best help without medication. I learned lots of good things. I learned that most ADHD kids will be slobs, but that makes the problem worse. A clean house with order and everything in it's place helps their already scrambled bouncing mind to be at ease at home. I decided to put that to the test and skipped the gym for a week and decluttered and focused on being REALLY organized. Dramatic difference (and I already consider myself an organized person. I'm a chucker. If it's under $50 and taking up space and hasn't been used or have a specific place to be, it's gone!). Another thing that I learned was to make a list. That way they stay focused on accomplishing something. I have to make lists for myself or I feel like I walk around the house all day busy, but accomplish nothing. Today after wanting to strangle Cars, I decided I had to change something. I remembered the list. I made the list of 7 things he needed to do, which would take about 20 min if he just did them. I gave him the list and he went from kicking (which he bloodied his toe kicking the wall. I have never been so happy to see blood. Hopefully that cured that habit!) and complaining and wasting an hour already to a total cleaner. He started talking to me and having a normal conversation as he cleaned away! #6 was to kiss mom on the forehead. He told me he would not do that chore, but he did smiling! He is outside playing for the first time in a week (PURE torture for me and him!) and is happy as can be. A LIST! That's all it took. Sometimes I way over complicate being a mom! KISS : Keep It Simple Stupid!

Date Night

I.LOVE.DATE.NIGHT! Plain and simple. I love it. I love it. I love it. It gives me something to look forward to. It makes me feel like Kimber, and not just mom. Mom is great, but Kimber is fabulous too! So our weekends seem to have been consumed with young mens lately, so tonight on a whim, I got a sitter and Chet and I went out. Upon returning, the babysitter tells me that the boys were great and the evening went well. That is always great to hear. I have had 3 sitters tell me they are not interested in coming again. One, while I only had 4 kids, told me that was not what she was used to and that it was too much for her. The next one told me she was going to be really busy for the next year when I asked her if she would like to come back. Um.... point taken! The third, just flat out told me I was crazy, and she would never babysit for me again (she does babysit my two babies, once a week now. I love her to death and we joke about that now, but she has not watched all 5 again!) So, hearing the night went well always make me sigh with relief. On the way home I find out that all that happened was Carter and Carson got into a fist fight with kicking involved and turned the couch sideways (which is how I found it too), Colby fell off the table and bloodied his nose, Carson ate cheetos for dinner (well, I did tell the sitter that I didn't care what they ate tonight, as long as I didn't have to make it or clean it. She accomplished both!) and all kids fell fast asleep as soon as I got home. Pretty sucessful date night I must say! I think that I had 3 people tell me this week (well it's only Thursday, so in 4 days) that I will miss these days. Bring on the missin! (I do love it, strangely, but I don't think I'll be missin certain parts. I think empty nesters only remember the good. They forget the hard!)

Superman

Anyone that knows me well at all knows that I have had a fear of dogs that is completely irrational! I am stupid crazy. Well, when I started to notice the idiots that my boys were around animals I REALLY tried to face my fear. In reality, my heart about beats out of my chest every time I am around one, but I try to stay calm on the outside, at least around my boys. I think this is what Carson has learned to do as well. Today while delivering papers, Cars was having a hard time. One too many nights without enough sleep, and it was one crying meltdown after another. While he was walking he was startled by a dog that he didn't see until last second. The dog was crouched and barking at him. When he jumped the dog did too. Cars screamed and bust into tears and looked at me with a fear I've never seen. He started backing away from the dog slowly and the dog was matching him step for step barking. Cars, still screaming, and the owner frantically trying to get the dog (she was running up the street screaming at him) bolts for the car. I saw it coming and was yelling for him to not run! (This all took about 8 seconds total) I am not kidding you, Carson left the ground and supermanned through the open passenger window. He used his hands to help launch him in, but he was not lacking on speed or heigth (I am laughing soooo hard I am crying all over again just writing this!) His little legs were motoring as fast as they could, even still after getting into the window. Priceless! Priceless I tell you!!! I wish I could have vidoed it. It was so dang funny to watch, because I know just how scared he was! I'm still laughing!

Peanut Butter Sandwich

Today as I was making Colby a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Cael asked me if I would make him one. I said sure and made it for him. He was mad when I set it in front of him because he wanted a jelly sandwich only. I told him it was too late and I went to my bathroom to finish getting ready. When I reappeared in the kitchen he was finishing making himself a new sandwich to his liking. I asked him where the other one went and he just avoided the question by talking about other things. Come to find out, he went and threw the first away in the trash can in his room so I wouldn't see it! Then he sucessfully made his own sandwich, cut in half and all. What a turkey!

Memories

There are no if, ands, or buts about it, SUMMERS.ARE.HARD! Everyday is a constant battle to keep them entertained, without entertaining them. Letting them learn to entertain themselves. Learn the difference between hungry and bored. Somehow, I need to learn the trick to keeping your house somewhat clean. Clean is out of the picture! I have been so frustrated. Today I had asked Carson to do something about 10 times. He is grounded from just about everything right now, so he is not pressed for time. Well, I was sitting in the chair and he was standing behind me. I leaned my head back and said, "Please Cars, go NOW!" He just looked at me with so much love in his eyes, leaned over and lightly kissed me on the forehead and turned around and went and did what I was asking. It was so precious. These are things all those crazies that keep telling me I will miss these days must be remembering. It was so refreshing after feeling like I have been walked on, crumbled up, and spit out!

Crazy!

I read a post on facebook that summed up my life pretty good. I had to write it down.

"Half the time I feel like I'm running an insane asylum, the other half I feel like I belong in one."

Yep, that about sums it up!

Watermelon

So am I the worst mother in the world... or mother of the year? Tonight Cars and I ran to Albertsons to pick up some things for dinner. He, of course, wanted to buy the entire store. He was asking for everything! Finally I told him that he could buy it if he wanted it. He settled on some watermelon. I started feeling guilty that I was making him pay for fruit, so I offered to pay half. Since I have been home I conflicted feelings. So happy he is willing to buy fruit with his own money. Also I feel like dirt for making him buy his own fruit. The decisions of a mother. Never ending!!!

Bad, Bad Things

One of the reasons that we love Gillette (there are several) is all the free things for kids to do. My kids favorite is a PE class of sorts. It's called GYM (Get Yourself Moving) 60 (for 60 min a day) That is not hard for my boys. Sometimes I wish they would SIT for 60 min a day. They go to our elementary school (every elementary school, 15 of them, has some program like this throughout the day ALL.FOR.FREE!) and learn about being active and healthy. They try to mix in 30 min instruction with 1:30 activeness (is that a word?) So my boys are always asking us questions about the "health content" of things. So last night we were putting soy sauce on our dinner and Carson asked if it was good for us. I said, No it's not really good for us but not really bad either, it just has a lot of sodium. Carter says, "Yeah, it's not really bad for you like cigarettes and mountain dew. It's just kinda bad." Chet is a big (about 24 oz a day) Mtn Dew drinker and the boys are convinced he is going to hell for it!!! Chet was like, "Hey, those don't go in the same catergory!" But they think they are. Too funny!

Poison Control

There was a time in my life when all three older boys were young that Poison Control was almost, or should have been, on my speed dial. I had the number memorized, and needed it frequently. I am feeling a little drained from yesterdays adrenaline rush with Carters burn and just the fact I haven't had Chet home for a while (well, 2-1/2 days with 5 young boys, but that's a long time for me!). I found Colby with a new tube of toothpaste, sucking on it! He gets into EVERYTHING, way more than any other of my boys. I cannot keep him out of the kitchen and bathroom drawers. Razors and medicine are WAY out of reach for him, but not the toothpaste. I grabbed the tube that was about 1/4 gone and read the back. Of course it said if ingested, call poison control immediately! Luckily, they just had me give him lots of milk, and watch for an upset stomach. Whew, I really thought that was going to be a lot more serious. Again, thank you guardian angels!!! I know Heavenly Father loves me!

Gillette ER: trip #2

I know when Chet is doing something good; When he is serving in an area that is worthy of the sacrafice that we have to make as a family. How do I know you ask? Because we are attacked! My kids get super sick, or someone get hurts pretty bad. Chet is gone to Youth Conference in Buffalo right now. As normal, my house and backyard was filled with kids. We had blown up the pool, and each neighbor had boiled 2 large pots of water to get the water from hypothermic, to swimmable! Since kids were running everywhere, I had made it crystal clear that kids were not allowed to help with the boiling water. Only moms! As I was in the house to get my 2nd pot I heard Carter screaming. I run out to see him doubled over "holding himself". I frantically asked what was wrong and he frantically, while bawling but barely breathing, tells me that his brother, we'll leave him un-named, threw boiling water on his private parts. I yelled at him to run to the shower where I pulled off his shorts and put him in a cool shower. The water was killing his burn, and a large circle of skin was falling off his leg, so we ran him back out into the pool, about 8 kids following us (the better option to start with I know, hind sight is always 20/20! I didn't want to strip him in front of the neighbors). He sat in there while I called Chet and text him and called him again. No answer, so I called a friend. Long story short, I decided to take him in to the ER. My WONDERFUL neighbors ran over and jumped right in, taking all the kids and watching them (oh yeah, I was babysitting another boy, 7, too from my ward!) so I could take Carter in. When I got there the lady at the front yells, "NURSE!" and they started running. They wanted him immediatly, he wanted me. I had to just grab his shoulders and look him right in the eyes and firmly tell him it was ok and that these adults could look at his privates. Since they started kindergarten I have pounded into their heads that NO adult can, no matter their excuse or story. That was hard to explain so quickly, but he was good. A friend called and drove the 15ish minutes to my house and took my kids and cleaned my house (I seriously have such a good life. Great neighbors and friends!!!) Another friends husband called and asked if I needed him to come watch too. So nice! People are so kind! After all was said and done, he only ended up with 2nd degree burns, which was a HUGE blessing. It was like there was a cup around his genitals, as there was not one drop (and you could see where every drop had touched him) on them, but everywhere around them. No doubt that was not by chance either!!! He went into shock soon after we got there. That was scary for me. I was telling him he looked like me right after he was born (a story I had just told him a few days earlier about me almost convulsing after he was born) He thought that was funny and got distracted with that asking me questions. The nurse said to keep him distacted. They got him warm and settled down quickly, but wouldn't let him look at it or he would kinda spaz again. They were great. Love our ER! They get up and move when we walk in (cut off finger and burned genitals, WOW!) He is having a hard time walking, but he did kick Caden in the nose and bloody it later because he was mad at him, so I think he's ok. They gave him two adult strength pills for pain, and have me applying ointment and keeping him on pain pills for 24 hours. I didn't realize how much pain it would cause him. That's a lot for an 8 yr old! He came home all bandaged and feeling entitled. I let him! He got to watch Netflix (and pick the show) the rest of the night. He felt pretty cool! Funny thing. Chet text me 3.5 hours later and told me that someone from Sheridan had come to him and asked how Carter was. His brother is in our ward and had heard about it, and had told him. Chet said, "News travels fast." From the little things (well huge things usually) that I actually know of when Heavenly Father blesses us, I cannot imagine the unseen blessings. I am sure that we have some major guardian angel reinforcements!!! No slacking angels, you have been given the Parkers', and they have big things to accomplish! So thankful for the MANY blessings in my life!!! I have much to be grateful for!!!

Trend Setter

So a while ago Cars started this really annoying trend for the neighborhood of putting an empty water bottle in his back tire. It was so annoying. All of us parents just laughed at the rediculousness of it. Well, that fad luckily faded after about 3 weeks, about 2 days after Cars took his out. About a week ago I saw that Cars had wrapped packing tape all over his bike. It looked retarded! I asked him what in the heck he did. He said that he thought it was cool. There is tape all over the frame of it. From one bar to another, everywhere that is possible. Sure enough, tonight, I walk out to my driveway to find the neighbor boy with Chet's packing tape wrapping his bike. The boys are all lined up to do it. They are wasting more than they are using, but they are thinking that they are cool! They are so excited. I know this is the case. They will do anything Cars does, but this is so funny to me. Why would they do something soooooo retarded!!!

Ice Cream Truck

On any given day you can find about 6-8 kids in my driveway or house. They are collecting. We are growing (cousins have heard this is the best neighborhood ever, so they are "coming" for the day, to my house!). I always thought this was what I wanted, and now I am rethinking. It is what I want, I just have to take a "chill pill" and learn to relax. As normal they were all here and I was out front talking to them. I see the ice cream truck drive into the neighborhood and turn the opposite way. Then the brakes, reverse and I start laughing. I told them it was the ice cream truck and she had spotted the jackpot. Well...the ice cream truck isn't what it used to be! Everything was at least $1.25. Times that by 8, and I did not have enough for everyone. Then someone comes running with their own money and kids scatter to their own homes. It was awesome! It was the first time any of them had seen the ice cream truck. My kids thought that was soooooo cool. Little old grandma driving around selling ice cream (robbing us blind, but hey, how can you say no to that!) Too funny to watch!
Side note: I made a double batch of brownies today. I left the room and came back a few minutes later to an empty pan. Half the milk was gone too. Yikes! Keeping the neighborhood snacked is proving to be a challenge. I homemake EVERYTHING possible. The little neighbor boy made a request when he got here the other day. He told me that he would like the cookies with little dots in them (confetti cookies with confetti frosting) for a snack today. I am not that nice. I told him that he would get what I cooked for the day. He was all disappointed. Sorry, my kids don't even get that service! You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!!! That's Caden's saying!

Brothers

Carter and Carson couldn't be much different from each other than they are. They have polar opposite interests, friends (I could walk into their classrooms and tell you just by looking at the kids who they will be friends with!), habits, etc. As I was cleaning tonight I remembered this event and wanted to write it down for later memories. About 3 years ago when we were living in Casper, Cars (5) was sent to his room for time out. A little later as I am walking by his room I hear some commotion and try to go in. The door is being held by someone and then I immediately hear, "Hurry, mom is here!" from Caden. I am pushing my way in at this point and Carter is hanging out the window helping Carson climb in. I blew up and asked what in the world they were doing. They all just look at me like oh crap, what do we say. Then Carter tells me that Cars told them they had to be his watchmen so he could climb out the window and play during his timeout. Some how, they agreed. And come to find out, this wasn't the first time. They had "done" this more than once.  On one hand, I was quite proud of the loyalty (we'll call it that, not stupidity for letting your twin brother rope you into this!) between the boys. But even more than that I had a flashforward to teenage years. I want them to be close, but I also need them to fear me more than each other. I think there is no doubt who they fear more. It's not me! Holy teenage years, stay away. I am no where near ready for you!!

Punk

Today Caden bought a fake gun with his money. (That was quite the ordeal inside itself. 5 kids in WalMart trying to spend every penny they (Not Carter, he has learned his lesson and is now saving for a shotgun) have, so we had to add, readd, argue what the price really was. I was asked 3 times if they were all mine, followed by you must be really busy, are you trying for a girl. Sometimes I want to knock people out. I asked the one how many kids she had and she said just 2 and they are enough. I said very serious right after that, no I am NOT trying for a girl.) Anyways, this gun is going to be broke in 24 hours max, not Parker approved for sure! Caden was sitting in time out and all of a sudden he is screaming Colby's name. Colby is running as fast as his little legs would go.  I run after him into Carsons closet corner where he turns around and is laughing so hard he can't breathe. He has no idea what it even is that he stole from Caden. He has no idea what to even do with the little dart bullets in its plastic package. He just knows that he can really get the boys wound up by taking their things. I take them from him and he just laughs and walks off looking for something else to do. Kinda funny... kinda makes me mad! He is such a punk. But boy he is a cute punk!

Poop

(Before you read this I must warn you not to judge me. That was what I did, and now I am paying for it. Some kids WILL NOT potty train! I have tried EVERYTHING and taken him to dr's even. Yes he is 3-1/2 and not potty trained. The source of much anxiety I promise you!) The other day I told Cael that I was going to kick his butt. He replies, "Mom. You can't. I have poop, so that would be gross. So...you can't kick my butt!!" The whole time he was using his hands like duh mom! Then he clicks at me (winks and clicks his mouth, what he does when he thinks that I really need to hear what he is saying) and walks away. Nice! Nice I tell you!

Snuggly Wugglies

(This happened on 06/05/12. My computer has been jacked, so I have been writing my things down)
Colby thinks that if he does this pathetic cry, he can get anything he wants. He came to me whining the other day and would not stop. I was super busy so I was getting really frustrated with him. Finally I had had enough so I picked him up and said right in his face, "Colby, do you just need some snuggly wugglies?" He pulls his head back so that he could look right into my eyes and said,  "YES!!!" Then he gets this cute little look on his face and lays his head down on my shoulder. He just layed there while I rubbed his back. A few minutes later he pushed away and was off and running. Whining done! Busy day resumed! It was so cute and crazy. He knew I was really busy and just needed my attention for a few minutes. Snuggles make everything better!