fisticuffs and parenting

My boys have been fighting incessantly. While I have rare moments when the right words proceed out of my mouth, the usual moments involve loud words spoken with little thought.

Also known as thoughtless and immediate yelling.

As a mom, it is important to have an action plan when it comes to fighting. Yelling and losing control should not be a part of said plan.

Last week, my boys were really annoying each other. A week off of school only contributed to their foul and testy moods. Not having to do schoolwork is one thing, but having too much time on your hands only leads to trouble.

On this day, the trouble led to a full-blown fistfight with grunts and everything.

I am pretty sure that I'll get some flack for admitting this, but sometimes it makes me laugh to see them punching at each other like that.

So much so that I have to go into my bathroom and shut the door!

Give me a sash and crown me mother of the year, y'all.

How can I laugh at such a thing? Because I know that my little hoodlums love each other. With all the time spent together, they are bound to get on each others nerves sometimes.

Just as *I* get on their nerves.

{A mom would be foolish to think that she never gets on her child's nerves.}

How did I respond to their fisticuffs? What was my action plan?

I didn't yell (this time).

I didn't laugh (too much).

I did what any responsible mom of boys would do...

I sent them outside.

To pick up 4 acres worth of sticks.

In the rain.

It took them less than 10 minutes to start laughing and playing with each other once again.

They came into the house dirty, wet, happy.

Relationship restored. And yard picked up.

When my boys were little, my "go-to" action was sending them to their beds. Lights out, heads on pillow, no toys. Now that they are older (tweens even!), my go-to is a little more self serving... picking up sticks, cleaning the baseboards, and any other chore that they can do together.

Some days it works better than others. :)

Do you have a go-to discipline in your house? How do you handle sibling rivarly? What about fisticuffs?

{At the Gem & Mineral Show, Austin won me a MOOD RING from the Wheel of Fortune! Not just any old mood ring either... this one said "Princess" on it! *snort* }

the Scouting family

This is our first year as a Scouting family. With one Boy Scout and one Cub Scout, it has been an interesting experience. We've had a great time learning different skills and spending time with other Scouts and their families.

And even if we didn't have all that, look how stinkin' CUTE they are in their uniforms! :)

If my boys heard me say that out loud, they would give me this look:

I think it's contagious.

Maybe I should've made myself a hidden camera instead. The fake smiles and real smirks can be a bit discouraging sometimes. I'm glad they can't be on smile-avoiding-duty 24/7.

Oh! Thank y'all for giving me your input on which picture to send to Great Grandma. I think it was almost unanimous that the no-teeth picture is the keeper, er sender... you know what I mean.

I am such a big dork for snickering every time someone wrote "I like no teeth!" *snort*

These pictures were taken at SHAC Jam, which stands for Sam Houston Area Council Jamboree, this past Saturday. We drove in for the day, joining over 22,000-- yes, that is twenty two THOUSAND-- other people in a slew of outdoor activities, displays, crafts, and even a world record setting rocket launch!

(Nope, I didn't film it.)

It was fun, but I'm glad it's over. Hot, dusty, and did I mention the whole 22,000 people thing? I am such a pansy when it comes to crowds.

So, is your family a part of Scouting? Were you ever a Scout (boy, girl, brownie, cub)? Do you have a cure for the camera smirk?

Posse (homeschool style)

Each week, my boys attend an enrichment program for homeschoolers. They have been going for years and love their classes, teachers and friends.

My little writer informed me today that he's part of a posse.

Visions of a ruthless gang of homeschooled boys shaking the other kids down for their snack money came to mind.

I calmly asked him what he did with his posse.

Oh, you know... hang out, make comics... that kind of thing.

Comics? I am intrigued.

Wanna know the name of our comics? Obama Wars.

He proceeds to laugh like it is the most hilarious thing EVER.

It's like Star Wars but Obama is Darth Vader!!! Luke Skywalker is John McCain!!!

Pretty clever, huh? I thought so.

It's a fierce battle.

O' Vader will not concede.

(It's surprising to see the GOP on the offense, isn't it?)

Oops. I bet that hurt.

Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing? Would you still let your kid hang out with my kid? I think it's stinkin' funny and yikes at the same time!

I suppose it would be good to have yet another talk about being respectful of the President, even if we didn't vote for him.

(Do you think this is going to set off any red flags at the White House? Do you think they'll suspend my Blogger account? If you don't hear back from me in a few days...)

3 steps to bugging your brother

1. Hide and write key games and names on a piece of paper.

2. Post on bedroom door. While chuckling to yourself.

3. Run and taunt your brother to come see.

The culprit didn't actually win the game, or so I was loudly told. I am sure that's what made this little project SO satisfying for him!

I don't know about your kids, but mine are really big on technicalities. They insist and argue that reports on each other be completely accurate down to the smallest detail.

-I didn't actually hit him, mommy. My hand barely touched him as I was walking past.

-I asked him to give it to me.

-But you didn't say please!

-I did say please.

-Well, it was the way you said it. You said it in a not polite way.

Y'know, that sort of thing.

For the record, if it had been ten degrees warmer outside, I would've dominated their basketball game. It's a little known fact that I can actually slam dunk the ball.

(Did I have you going there for a second? How about a fraction of a second?)

WW - Daddy P.E.

P.E. is kicked up a notch when David is home.

(that thing is used to pick up golf balls. too bad it doesn't shoot them!)

(color is wonky when camera is on full auto. bleh.)

Treasure Hunt

Noah finished his independent work early today-- math, language arts, handwriting, map skills. He had been waiting f-o-r-e-v-e-r for Austin to finish his math.

Since waiting is SO hard, he asked if there was anything fun that he could do.

Y'know, video games, computer, movies, anything?

The good mommy in me said "NO. Just finding something to do... anything! Go outside, go ride your bike, bury some treasure, whatever... Just go!"

And boy, did he ever!

Look! It's a treasure map! For ME! And drawn with a CHOCOLATE scented marker!

*sniff* He loves me with the details.

He said that if I find the treasure, I can keep it. SO LET'S GO!

Map-- check. Shovel-- check.

He was very thoughtful to walk me through the (not-so-detailed) map.

He expertly knew the way and even carried my shovel for me.

Uh-oh. Obstacles on the bridge!

(I wonder if he originally intended it to be for Austin.)

Creepy bugs and a brick won't force me to turn around!

Down the slide and a trek to the stick in the ground. Turn right.

That's looks like the perfect place for an X to mark the spot!

It's just not treasure if you don't have to dig it up.

He's clever to realize that there are certain laws governing the hunting of treasure.

Even more proof of his cleverness (and perhaps slight OCD from his mommy)-- treasure safely nestled in a ziploc baggy! Yay!

Crayons, two pennies, a peppermint and more garbled marbles.

As great a treasure as that is, it doesn't shine a light to THIS treasure.

I love him so much it hurts. I like that kind of hurt.

Step right up

Noah ran up to me and begged, "Come see this, mommy!"

I followed him into his room where my eyes beheld this imaginative vision.

Do you see a junky table or an afternoon of fun and games?

Knock down these...

With three shots from this...

And you might be lucky enough to win any one of these fabulous prizes!

Closer inspection will show that these are garbled marbles.

Next on the prize list...

Cards, a spinning top (that lights up!), and two racecars (slightly used).

If you happen to have mad shooting skillz like Noah, you have a shot at winning the GRAND PRIZE!

(The variety astounds me.)

I know you are wondering just how much all of this fun will cost you! What price must you pay to experience the excitement?!

I think it's a small price to pay. :)

And he assures me that "it is not a scam or a rip-off, mommy."

Would this face lie to you?

All the pennies he collects will go towards our church's penny drive. Austin and Noah have been saving up since the night of their defeat at the hands of the girls last year (the horror!).

So step right up!

Isn't he so fun AND sweet?

Much like his mother. *snort*

Brothers

This photo was taken when Noah was 5yo, Christian was 2yo and Austin was 7yo. I remember looking at them and laughing, thinking about how big they were!

They were loud, rambunctious wrastlers.

Do you know what's even better than just looking at that picture up there?

Being able to see and hear that everyday moment in our house!

Thank you, dear Lord for blessing me with these memories that I can replay, savor and smile over.

I treasure the gift.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.

-I Chronicles 16:34

(If you are getting this in your feed reader or email, click through to the post to see the video clip.)

Spicy Crawly Saturday

AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!

Did it scare you?

Well, it does look creepy when you see it out of the corner of your eye (on the counter, by the microwave, in the hallway...). If you don't believe me, scroll back up to the top picture and then scroll down really quickly to the end. Did it look real for a minute there? Okay, at least for a second?

My boys are quite the comedians.