Life Lessons

When the boys were small and they did something like throw a fit, I could just tell them to stop. If they did something "wrong" I could them it was wrong and to stop. It seemed like when the boys were smaller things were so black and white. They could or couldn't do things. Things were right or wrong. I could tell them to yes or no and that was it. If I wanted to tell them my thoughts I could and I did because they didn't know any different. BUT now that I have a teenager...I guess I have to filter. Cody doesn't love to listen to me when he is happy let alone when he is upset. So trying to get an effective message through in the heat of the moment can be challenging. Learning to be patient or bringing up topics at the "right" time can be tricky. And sometimes choosing to just NOT say anything at all is the most challenging.

Today, Cody was in a minor car accident. Basically Cody went to turn left, a car cut him off to turn left as well, he swerved around back to the right, there were girls walking on the street, he over corrected, swerved again, and landed in the ditch. He was ok and the girls were ok.

For the most part the car doesn't look too bad, but I haven't gotten the report from the body shop yet. Cody was obviously pretty shaken up. I could hear it in his voice when he called to tell me about it. I stayed surprisingly calm. One thing that I know about my boys (and most kids) is that they can be a bit emotional and the more calm that I stay the more calm they will stay. When I got to the "scene" Cody gave me a big hug and his scare turned into anger about the car that cut him off. The thing that Cody does not know is that as an adult, and an adult with a bit of road rage, I know how aggressive a driver can be when they have been cut off. Cody blamed the car that cut him off and wanted that car to the one at "fault." The police officer told Cody that it was the 2nd car's responsibility to be far enough behind the other car to be able to correct in enough time not to crash into anything or anyone else. That upset Cody (but better the cop than me) and he continued to try to tell me how he was not at fault. I really had to choose my words carefully. I did not want to make matters worse. The only thing that I could stress to Cody is that no matter whose fault it was his car was the car in the ditch. It was really hard not to lecture him at this point especially as he continued to try to act like he was driving perfectly. I did just mention to him that I have been driving long enough to know how accidents like this happen. And in the end, his car was in the ditch. I did not say too much more about the situation. I just told him that this is not a good situation but it's not as bad as it could have been and car accidents happen (in my mind I wanted to say so hopefully you won't continue to think you are a hot shot and drive so aggressively). I reassured him that it would be ok and that he would make it through this event. After his accident he hit his car and put a dent in the back door. The only snide comment that I made was to ask if that made things better by hitting his car, he said it did for that second but not now. My response was that he would have that dent in the door to remind him of that. Maybe I should have said more in the moment, but I think this lesson/conversation is not over...

Weekend Happenings

I actually spent a FULL weekend at home. And of course it was full of fun activities. We had a lot of good family time this weekend. We started the weekend by meeting Dusty (see Friends post) for dinner and then going to see the Marshfield/Hillcrest football game. The boys go to Nixa and we don't know anyone on either team. Why did we go to that game? For Hillcrest's number 5 Dorial Green-Beckham. I guess this kid is like the number 1 college draft pick in the nation. So, the fellas - Josh and Dusty wanted to see him play. When we left the score was like 40-something to 0. And apparently, Dorial put up some great stats that game.

Saturday we had some down time at the house. That was nice. I was preparing for an evening of sports. Josh wanted to watch the Notre Dame game (ha that rhymed:)) and of course Cody and I were going to be watching the Cardinals win game 3 of the World Series.
We did get out for some bowling. This was the first game's ending scores. The 2nd game, Josh won by a landslide. He got 3 strikes the last 3 frames. But since this game was so close, I posted these scores :)

Josh's girls were in Springvegas this weekend as well. So Sunday after lunch we met them and they spent the afternoon with us. We went to the pumpkin patch. And as all great family outings go, it started a little rough. There may have been some bad attitudes, fit throwing, and yelling then there were the kids... But we survived and ended the outing with smiles and ice cream.

Although, I am getting used to our two families hanging out, it sure is different. Doubling the number of kids in a matter of minutes takes some adjustment every time we get them all together. The biggest adjustment is adding girls to environment. It is an adjustment for all of us. However, our little families are blending nicely and I enjoy the times when we can all get together.

Josh, Brayden, Jill, and Elle carved their pumkins. This is Elle and Neo posing with the finished product. The others didn't really care to have another picture taken. I can always count on Elle for a picture :)

Kindness...

We ended our day Saturday with a Drillers game. It worked out for us because the Drillers played the Springfield Cardinals. The Drillers beat the Cardinals, I used to go for the Drillers but I was conflicted this game, my loyalties get stronger and stronger for the Cardinals.



Jill and Elle had never been to a baseball game, so it was interesting to watch them. Even though I am a girl, boys sure are a lot different than girls... Brayden got a ball from one of the Cardinals players and he gave it to Elle. Elle had a good time getting player's signatures.

Tuesday, Brayden was honored at school during the monthly Character Parade. The character word for May was kindness. This was the 2nd time this year that he had been honored at school for one of the character words of the month. At the beginning of the year he was honored for responsibility. I don't think that he really appreciated that one, he asked me if responsibility was that important, lol.

Tulsa Time

The boys and I headed to Tulsa on Saturday to spend a couple of days with some friends and family. Saturday was a pretty full day with TONS of pictures (I got a new camera!!! So picture taking resumes). So each event from Saturday will have its own blog posting. Today, I will start with the beginning and end of our trip. The main purpose of my trip was to meet Josh’s daughters Jill and Elle. Jill is 9 and Elle is 7. Saturday we had lunch with 2 of my childhood friends Ericka and Stefanie. I met Stefanie’s husband Greg for the first time. I have known these girls since 4th grade and they lived in my neighborhood so I saw them almost every day til 8th grade. I really enjoyed visiting with them again, and we had a good time.

Josh’s daughters are super adorable and a lot of fun. We had a really good time, and I had really enjoyed having girls around. It took the boys a little bit to get used to having girls around, but they all got along really great. The girls are so loving and sweet and that I think I would literally have to be the Wicked Witch for them not to like me. But apparently I got the seal of approval from them. Sunday, after lunch and a trip to Cherry Berry, we played family Twister, and then I headed home through the storm.

Before we played Twister, my friend Morganne called me to see if I was on the road yet because the terrible tornado that hit Joplin, luckily I had not left yet. We decide to hang out a little bit before heading home to make sure that I was not driving into the storm. Once I got through Tulsa, Matt informed me that 44 was closed by Joplin. So between Matt and mom, they directed me another way to get home. They had 44 blocked off about Afton and I missed my 60 turn off so I was able to get back on 44 at mile marker 18. There were dozens of police on the highway. At one point I saw 15 emergency cars in a caravan headed to Joplin and then later 6 ambulances in a row headed that way. I had SEVERAL people checking on me on my drive home and it was SO super nice to have such caring thoughtful people in my life! Our campus is off to give blood for the people in Joplin today.

Bray Bray

Brayden had his first baseball game this week. They only played 3 innings. He pitched 2 of those innings and played 3rd base the last inning. Of course he did a great job the whole game!!! He did hit a boy one time, but the 3rd inning that same boy got hit by the next pitcher!!

At 3rd base he stopped the ball and had a good throw to first, but first base dropped the ball and the kid made it on base, but it was still a good play.

Aunt Mo and Uncle Shawn came to watch him play!!!

Then on Wednesday I went to have lunch with Brayden at school. I had a VERY proud mom moment. When I got to the school, his teacher pulled me aside to tell me how much she loves Brayden. All year she has told me that his a really good and that she is happy to have him in her class, and every conference she has told me what a great kid he is in class. But that day she was so sincere about what a great kid he is. She went on about how caring he is and what a great example he is in the classroom. She said that he has so much integrity and is just a natural leader. She was like he is a fine young man and you are doing a great job raising him. I started to cry! That made me feel so awesome that she had such great things to say about him. I was so proud of him, I hugged him like 100 time during lunch.

Happenings

Since my last post we have:

Taken a trip to DC to visit the Spillers (really before my last post, but for some reason I did not post about it)

Went to WI skiing for a week. We had a BLAST. It was another great vacation with the 3 of us. Cody did injure himself the 2nd say, so not as fun for him.

Took the boys to a Thunder game in OKC, Brayden's first NBA game, and the first that Cody can remember.

Cody, got a job, I cried, Cody didn't start his job, I was relieved.

And the count down is on for him turning 16 and getting his driver's license.

Helping my friend with her blog & I decided, to update mine as well!

Boys

I just have some random stories about my boys for this post.

#1. On Thanksgiving Brayden was sick and I posted on fb that he was sick. Then a teacher at his school saw that & asked him if he was feeling better. He was like how do you know I was sick. Then he looked at me & asked "did you post that on Facebook?" I admitted it and he told me that he did not like me posting HIS business online...

#2. Cody gets $150 a month for his budget. But he has to buy everything including his lunch. The first month of school he spent almost $80 on lunch. Then the next 2 months he spent somewhere around $40-50 for lunch. Yesterday, he brought me home a free & reduced lunch paper. He asked me today if I filled it out. HA!!! He is so funny, I guess he wants ME to get free lunches so he doesn't have to pay out of HIS money!

#3. College news - Cody has been working on getting enrolled into the Jr college to do concurrent enrollment for the last 2 years of school. We just found out this week that it is totally free. Since he will be taking 1/2 a day to go to the Jr college, it is supplemented by the school. He will be taking 6 credits each semester. So, he will graduate with 24 college credits! I WAS SO EXCITED. I was willing to pay the $80/credit for it just because the school that he wants to go to is like $300 per credit hour. That will save me $9000 in college tuition!!!!!! VERY GOOD NEWS!! Most of you know, I LOVE a good deal & $9000 savings is AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Genius Boys

So, I'm sure you guys saw on Facebook that Cody is in 5 honors classes. I am so proud of him. I knew he was so smart, but he really did not apply himself. And I know that people say that but he really was not applying himself.

Brayden just got his MAP scores (school testing scores) and 689 is advanced in the 2 categories. In communications he got a 698 and in Math he got a 709!!!!! Very proud of him. He is having an IQ test soon & hopefully he will be going into the gifted program.

Updates

Virginia - To make this short & sweet. We went to Virginia Beach, we stopped by Williamsburg and then our last night there we went up to Baltimore to Inner Harbor. We met up with the Poff family & really enjoyed that time. THERE IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC in that area - ALL OF THE TIME. We did a lot but still have a lot left to do up there. I really appreciated the Spillers' hospitality

Wardrobe - still doing my color weeks. Last week, I did blue week. This week was black week. I think next week will be light pink week or purple, I haven't decided yet. Probably light pink.

School - I found out the bus pick up/schedule and I have accepted the fact that Brayden will be riding the bus. He only has to walk like a block to the bus stop. And Cody will be home before he is so Cody can make sure that he gets home safely. I think I am more anxious about the new school year than they are.

I'm back in classes & should actually graduate with my first bachelor's degree next year!!! My new major is now Communication Sales & Marketing.

A decade in the making

Brayden's birthday was on Monday. He turned 10. I cannot believe it!!!! He is getting so big.

On his actual birthday, he was with his dad. So, I met them for lunch. We all sat together and had lunch. This is the first time that I have been face to face with Shannon for more than 5 minutes in the 5 years that we have been divorced. Lunch went fine and I was ok with it. But it was a bit uncomfortable. And Shannon was pleasant but he hardly made eye contact with me the whole time. Later Cody asked me if it was awkward. I told him not really for me but it seemed that Shannon was uncomfortable, he said that he was. Just because we have not done anything like that since our divorce. But I'm glad that we did it for Brayden.

Back to School

I am currently on vacation, and I am having a great time. But in the back of my mind, I am still a nervous wreck about school starting. Probably more nervous than the boys. Not just because they are going to a new school and there is change this year, but because I am going to have to make a big decision on before & after school care.

Previously, not only did we live 1-2 blocks away from school, and my best friends lived in my same neighborhood, the school had before school are for $1 and after school care for $25 a YEAR!

Not an issue anymore for Cody but for Brayden, now before & after school care will cost me $120 a WEEK!! That is more than daycare for a school age kid. I really don't get it, but it is what it is. So, I really just cannot afford that. Then my other option is that Brayden would have to ride the bus. He has never ridden the bus. Cody hasn't ridden the bus in 9 years. I rode the bus. I lived and I did not have any life changing experiences on the bus. But the thought of Brayden riding the bus is just seriously giving me an ulcer. He will be 10. I know it will be ok and he will be ok. But I'm not very happy about it.

St. Louis Trip 2

8 days after going to St. Louis with Holly & boys, I had to go back. So I took that opportunity to take Cody. We went and saw a Cardinals game. The Cards won. And I took him to Six Flags too. It was SUPER hot so I guess not a lot of people want to go to Six Flags in that kind of heat. So we did not have to wait in the lines very long. There were several of the big fun rides that we rode back to back.
I Pricelined the hotel downtown & we got the Hyatt for $50. Right next to the arch & 3 blocks from Busch Stadium. That was super awesome, did not mind walking and not fighting the traffic.
Cody in the stands before it really started to fill up.

During the game, the guys above us were playing Cups - a baseball gambling game, where money is passed around. They kept dropping money, so Cody & I made $7.00.

Then at Six Flags, we went to the water park & I sit down next to this lady in the lazy river & she asks if I'm Kira. As soon as she starts to tell me her name, I realize that it was one of my really good friends from when we lived in Indiana. She was there visiting a friend & we happen to see each other at Six Flags. Very random but happy to see her & catch up a bit.

8th Grade Completion

Friday was the last day of school for the boys. This is Cody & I at his 8th Grade Completion. They don't call it graduation because they don't want kids to think this is it & stop going to school or relate it to graduating from school in any way. Which what ever, I can see that. They handed out awards too. Cody got one from being a teacher's aide. And the teacher said that Cody said he was more a maid than an aide. That sounds like Cody.

This is the whole 8th grade. Where's Cody. He is wearing a light shirt, last row, on the left side of the picture. Bray ran off & would not take a picture with Cody.On Friday, the 8th grade took a class trip to SDC. These are some of Cody's friends. They weren't too thrilled about all the pics that I kept taking. Cody wasn't either. But I told him that I'm a mom & a mom that scrapbooks, so he had to endure.


And another picture with mom. Going into SDC.

Cody's 14!!!

This is Cody & me 14 years ago. He is about a month old in this picture. His birthday was Sunday. So Saturday he had 7 friends over. We had dinner at the house then they went to a game place to play video games. They had a good time.

This is one of his friends Josh.

This boy Austin spent the night. He goes to our church.

Cody with his cake, Zane & Gavin - Gavin has been his best friend since 2nd grade. Sunday after church we went to a Japanese Steak house for Cody. We all love those places. And it went without incident this time.

We also saw Monsters Vs. Aliens. Another movie that I liked but a lot of my friends did not. I must be easily amused. Oh, I am easily amused. And I guess I never have that high of expectations for movies.

There were so many movies that came out around Christmas that I missed some that I wanted to see, so I am glad that they are starting to come out on DVD. And so far I have 3 free Red Box rentals!!

Family Pet

I am not a fan of pets - for myself. Sometimes I think I want a dog, but then I realize not really. Growing up I had LOTS of pets. I like animals, I just do not want to take care of them.

I feel bad for the boys because I know they really want pets, as do most kids. I have thought a lot about getting fish, and I did get Jeremy a Beta fish to test it out. Fish are ok, but he has to clean the tank every week or two, still seems like too much for me. But still a possibility.

So, this is the best solution for now. The boys got Hermit Crabs. They really gross me out. The top crab in the picture below is totally brown & looks like a spider when it comes out of the shell. So I really dislike that one.

The crabs are really low maintenance. They do get bathed 2 times a week which only takes about 5 minutes and the boys can do that without supervision. They just put some water in the sink & put them in there for 1 minute. Then they air dry.

The Hermit Crabs love bath time. That is the only time I see them out of the shell & very active.

Brayden decided to spend some of his Christmas money on the Hermit Crabs. Cody lucked out because they were buy one kit get a kit free. So, Cody & Brayden split the cost of 1 kit (one kit comes with 2 crabs) and they each got two. Brayden named his Stripes & Pinchers and Cody named his Home Slice & Home something else.

Merry Christmas

I'm stealing this idea from my cousin. Merry Christmas & this is your Christmas card.

I have no update on the Blue Screen of Death - still getting it at home & not at the computer repair place & still do not know what's causing it.

Kiddos

I have been an unmotivated person. It seems as though I can only be motivated in one area of my life at a time. So I choose to be motivated with work recently. Which means I have not blogged much, worked out much, cleaned my house much nor have I really done much of anything else.

I did manage to finish my Family Reunion 2007 scrapbook. And have a birthday party for Brayden. He turned 8 on Aug 9.




He wanted cup cakes instead of a cake. We celebrated at his Great Grandma Isenberg's house.

And since I am not motivated to do too much, the boys are outside right now washing my car!




I wondered how long it would take one of them to spray the other. This is the first time they have washed my car together. I think the 2nd time that I've had Cody do it. It took about 15 minutes & of course it would be Brayden to initiate. I think they are finished now & have moved to water guns.

Are you Emo?

I had my first experience with one of my children saying a slang word that I did not know what it meant. Cody was telling me about a girl that is Emo.

I've seen kids like this at the mall. I did not know that is the name for them. I am so happy that I learned this. You learn something new every day.