Ben Rebounds Again...

How can I stay mad at this born comic!
This morning we were on our way to drop off the kids at school before heading to the hospital for Jason's surgery. FYI he got his gallbladder out and is home recuperating.

Anyway, Katie and Jason are talking more about the procedure and she asked if he was allergic to anything. Jason said no. She asked if she was. We said no.

Ben is sitting in the way back of the minivan and yells, "Am I allergic to anything?"
We tell him no so far.

Ben yells up in his matter of fact Ben voice, "Well I wish I was allergic to MILK. Then I wouldn't have to drink it!"

We could not stop laughing.

Oh, Ben.

P.S.
Very Funny comment DAD left regarding the last post. We'll see if you can zip it on Thursday :) !

I Could Scream!!!!

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Katie decided to paint outside while we were working in the gardens/yard. Ben was around doing lots of different things. He was here, there and everywhere.

The phone rang. Ben came out to tell me it was for me. It was Kerri.

I go in the house and take the call. While I'm talking I'm looking into the living room through the kitchen and Ben says, "It was an accident."

I kinda blanked out. I listened to Kerri but didn't chat, because I was zoning out from the comment. As I am listening to Kerri I walk to the living room.

My face turns sour, my heart starts beating really fast and I feel myself getting ready to explode. I say goodbye to Kerri without mentioning what I am looking at. I go back in the kitchen to grab a sponge and paper towels.

Ben says, "Are you mad?"
I say, "Ben I am so mad at you I can't even yell at you."

I turn around and Ben has green paint on his nose, on his shirt and dripping down his leg.

I walk to the living room and stare at my lovely carpet that now has green paint on it.

Ben says, "It was an accident. Are you mad?"
I say, "Yes Ben I am. Why on earth would you think you could get your own paint and do it in the living room?"
Ben says, "I did but it spilled."
I say, "Ben go get me more wet paper towels."

This was the day that Ben's life was spared. I could have gone ballistic. I could have really yelled at him. I could have taken away every toy and every privilege until he was 18.

For those of you who have been around since we moved to this house, you know how much I love my living room carpet.

Well, now it has some green accent to it. It was acrylic paint.

Mom, Dad, please don't say anything.

It was one of those times, that I said to myself as I'm trying to soak up the green paint, "Lynn why did you leave the acrylic paint in the children's paint box?"

That is why I think my inner self control stepped in and God layed his hand on me to stay in control and not yell at Ben.

This is yet another lesson for us as parents. For us younger parents, who are learning from their mistakes...
If you let your kids use acrylic paint for wood craft projects, DON'T put it back in THEIR paint box.
Enough said.

Heard Around the House....

We are driving in the car and he says, "I wish I still had my tonsils."
Mom, "Why? You aren't getting sick anymore buddy."
Ben, "Because I want them back. Katie still has hers. Why does she still have hers?"
Katie, "My tonsils weren't to big. Your tonsils were to big so they had to be taken out."
Ben, "I want mine back!"
Katie, "Well, your not in charge. God has the plan for you and you needed your tonsils out."

The kids LOVE riding their bikes! They want to be outside all day.
Well, I'm outside puttering around and I hear Ben talking to himself and setting his bike up just so. When I asked him what he was doing he told me he was getting ready to race his friends! "They are invisible mom!" He was waiting at the starting line!
He also has an invisible radio on his bike:)

Last night I'm putting the kids to bed. Katie tries every angle to get to stay up later. She's just not tired she tells me!
Then I go to Ben and he tells me, "I'm just fun Mom. I can't sleep I'm all fun."
Huh? He went on to explain that he can't go to bed, he has to have fun all the time and sleeping is not fun!!!!

I love how he thinks!

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter!
We had a wonderful day celebrating Jesus and enjoying time with family!
It's been a four day celebration really.
We started Thursday night at the Conroy's house to celebrate Liam making his First Communioun. We spent Friday with them and had a fun day at the Bronx Zoo. Amy and her kids and Jason and I and our kids all went. Uncle Mike had to work but we got to see him Friday night.







Saturday we stayed home. It was raining all day! Blah.....

Today we went to early service at church. It was a great message.
Then we saw our friends for a little bit before heading home.

Jason's family came over for dinner. It was a beautiful, sunny but chilly day. Everyone enjoyed themselves and we had a lot of yummy food. Ryan and Amy brought a black bean dip to start us off. Then we had a fantastic meal that everyone contributed ...
Lamb with Indian seasonings, Ham, bacon turnips, aspargus, mali kofta (some Indian dish) strawberry salad and a potato/zuchinni/squash dish. It was all so good.
Then we enjoyed dessert brought by Amy's parents who also joined us today. She brought a bunch of delicious pies and cookies. We also enjoyed the Rice Krispie Treat Eggs that the kids and I made. So yummy!

Our kids were the only kids but they had fun goofing around with Aunt Marcella and Uncle Ryan. Aunt Marcella helped me get the egg hunt ready for them and they had fun and ACTUALLY got along!!!! WoW!

So that was our day. Enjoy the pictures!

I Just Love My Kids

Just wanted to let you all know that Katie and I have had a much better week!!
WooHoo! Thanks for the comments, emails and phone calls showing your support!

I am so thankful for all my family and friends support in all areas of our lives!
Thank you too for the all my Birthday Wishes. I had a lovely day starting off with lots of hugs and kisses sending me off to work. Laura, my partner in crime, (I mean education) brought me flowers and a balloon! Then, Jason made me a delicious dinner of talapia, shrimp and scallops with mixed vegetables and melon. Katie picked out a Friendly's Jubilee Roll for dessert. YumYum! Her card was great, it read "from the one you love most". Oh that girl!!! Ben showered me with gifts from his room that he wrapped up in hand towels. I felt very privileged to have his snugly puppy for the night! They also got me the new Kelly Clarkson CD. WOOHOO!

Tonight they had some funny things to say...

At dinner Katie was very silly. I was joking about what an angel I was growing up. She said laughing..."oh no you were no angel. I remember how you told me when Nana got so mad at you because you didn't read a book you said you did. I have it locked right up here!" As she points to her head/brain!

Ben was getting ready to have a bopper match with Daddy. He was sneaking around getting ready and came up to me and asked, "Mom, can you blow these up? Do you have enough air?"

I just love my kids!

The 8th Year May be it!

Katie has just turned 8. I think this might be a tough year in our house.
Year 3 and year 4 were tough, but mostly because we were all adjusting to having Ben. She was an only child for 3 whole years and loved every second of it. We were use to having a very easy and independent little girl who was happy with her life.

Years 5, 6 and 7 were no big deal. She listened, understood right and wrong and I could still count and by the time 1 left my lips she was changing her behavior. I could give her the "Mom Look" from across the room. I could hold up 1 finger from across the room and she knew I was watching and starting to count. I wasn't a drill Sargent. I wasn't mean. I was very consistent in my discipline and she was well, really easy.

Now she is 8. I know, we saw it coming. Let's be honest, I had my moments when she was 7 that I was exasperated. Felt like a failure. BUT I would always say, Oh it's just a phase...
I'd talk with my girl friends who had daughters her age and we'd all share our stories and we'd all end with "It's just a phase. It will pass." And we made each other feel better knowing that we weren't the only one with a daughter who was starting to have an attitude.

Well, she's 8. She's been 8 for two whole months tomorrow. I have to say, these were two of the longest months of my parenting life. Really. Breastfeeding. No problem. Toilet training, a breeze. Teaching Ben he couldn't jump off of all things, ha a cake walk.

Her attitude is not adjusting. I can't tell you how many times I've told her she needs to adjust it!!! I've sent her to her room more in the last two months than in her entire life! I've taken away t.v. and dessert more in the last two months than...
Are you getting what I'm saying.
Don't get me wrong, she is still my little Peanut. But come on!!
The drama is at an all time high. The eye rolling has started. The "UGH" and whining something as she leaves the room is driving me and Jason batty! And all she does is tell on her brother. According to her all he does is ruin her life and get her in trouble!
Now, sit down for this, MY MOTHER has even said she's seen a change in her. She reported last week that Katie attempted to roll her eyes at her!!!!

I know I'm going to make it. I know this too will pass. I know that Jason and I have done a really great job with our parenting.
I really just needed to vent!

Helmets

I bought helmets for the kids tonight!

I admit that was very stupid and irresponsible on my part. I'll be honest I thought, oh we're in our driveway and Jason is right next to her, I'll get a helmet once she learns how to ride and goes on her own. Well that was dumb. Thanks Dad for pushing me to get helmets now!
By the way, you'll be installing a bell on Ben's bike on Thursday!