It's been 8 days since we saw him. I have gone longer than this before and I am sure it won't be long before he is on another business trip or a fun trip with his brother. But I have to say that these trips where he goes hiking are the worst. Not because he is gone. I have grown accustomed to him leaving. He goes at least twice a year on "training" trips for work. At least once a year something else also comes up like an occasional ski trip with his brother, or when his grandmother died and he went to California with his family, or other such things. But the hike is hard just becuase there is no cell phone access where he is.
He and his brothers and dad like to go hiking way up in the Uintahs where they cannot be found. They take everything for a week on their backs with them, filter their own water and try to choke down a few fish while they are at it. Now in the past this trip has been more or less uneventful from my end. My kids do their thing, I do mine and we just get happy when dad finally comes home. This time has been different. It's longer for one. Me and the kids went to Vegas for a few days, but we left 2 days before Jon even left, so that tacked on 2 days to not seeing each other. Then on the way home from Vegas our van broke down. I had to figure out what to do, in the dark, on the freeway with nine scared kids. I had to pull out that independent Julie that goes dormant when the hubby is around to take care of such things. I had the car towed, got the kids home safe and sound (or Mark and Kambri Jackman did) and then found a place to have to car towed to and get an estimate on to fix it.
While we are singing songs of woe, lets not forget that we came home to a broken down washing machine. Kelly came over just yesterday to fix that and boy am I grateful for that one!
This has not been the greatest week to date. I feel sorry for Jon when he comes home and I hit him with everything that has gone on this week. He might just run right back to those hills he's been in all week. I would if I could...that's forsure!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
What would she think?
So many beautiful faces. Blond, red, brunette...small and sweet. They always love grandmas and grandpas. Its in their blood from the day their born. Grandparents are their advocates, they spoil them and love them no matter what. When mom and dad have reached that tired, can't handle another moment place grandma and grandpa step in and take over.
Betty and Kent have airheads and Bud. Lego men, tennis courts and food to die for (Betty is an amazing cook). They love to spend time there. Their faces light up when they see grandma and grandpas faces. They especially love it when grandpa comes over on his motorcycle.
Fred and Frances have Sophie, fish in their backyard and the best neighborhood pool in three counties. Their faces light up when they see the "broken grandma and grandpa". Grandpa takes them to rodeos, the circus and on the boat. Time spent there is time that is priceless.
What would she have thought? I often wonder. I have had so many kids, she has more grand kids than any of her sisters (I believe). Between the four of us theres currently 12 and chances are there might be one or two more. My sisters tell me that she loved Taylor so much(she was the only one that she ever had the chance to be with). They tell me that she loved being a grandma and would have loved it that much more with more to love. I wish she could have had that. I am often sad for what I didn't get out that relationship, but I am learning. I am learning that it's not always about me. What about everyone else? What about the kids? They didn't get to know her either. They see pictures, they admire the elephants that were hers and they ask questions. Questions that I can't answer, but I tell them to ask Lori, Lisa and Tracy. At least they have that. They can get to know her in some way through the people in her life that loved her most. They see pictures and can now recognize her in photos they see.
Skyler is currently the baby...only by a few weeks. Carson isn't much older, but Sky is still the baby. He has strawberry blond hair and fair skin that turns bright red in the sun. Even his scalp. He is a true ginger, the first for my family. I think he is the first true ginger out of all the grand kids so far. I tell Lori he looks like her with that blond hair and fair skin. She tells me that came from Susie. What would she have thought? I like to think when she saw him it made her smile. I like to think that when she saw the legacy that was Susie....the legacy that is all of her grand kids it would make her smile. Those amazing kids that love each other so much that every time they are together they love each other so wonderfully that we have to pull the kids apart. My children cry when the cousins leave, or we leave them. Susie would have loved seeing that. Feeling that.
What would she have thought? I think that she would have thought that through the pain and hard times, there was light. The light that could be found in the eyes of each and every little face that would have loved looking into her eyes. That's what I think.
Betty and Kent have airheads and Bud. Lego men, tennis courts and food to die for (Betty is an amazing cook). They love to spend time there. Their faces light up when they see grandma and grandpas faces. They especially love it when grandpa comes over on his motorcycle.
Fred and Frances have Sophie, fish in their backyard and the best neighborhood pool in three counties. Their faces light up when they see the "broken grandma and grandpa". Grandpa takes them to rodeos, the circus and on the boat. Time spent there is time that is priceless.
What would she have thought? I often wonder. I have had so many kids, she has more grand kids than any of her sisters (I believe). Between the four of us theres currently 12 and chances are there might be one or two more. My sisters tell me that she loved Taylor so much(she was the only one that she ever had the chance to be with). They tell me that she loved being a grandma and would have loved it that much more with more to love. I wish she could have had that. I am often sad for what I didn't get out that relationship, but I am learning. I am learning that it's not always about me. What about everyone else? What about the kids? They didn't get to know her either. They see pictures, they admire the elephants that were hers and they ask questions. Questions that I can't answer, but I tell them to ask Lori, Lisa and Tracy. At least they have that. They can get to know her in some way through the people in her life that loved her most. They see pictures and can now recognize her in photos they see.
Skyler is currently the baby...only by a few weeks. Carson isn't much older, but Sky is still the baby. He has strawberry blond hair and fair skin that turns bright red in the sun. Even his scalp. He is a true ginger, the first for my family. I think he is the first true ginger out of all the grand kids so far. I tell Lori he looks like her with that blond hair and fair skin. She tells me that came from Susie. What would she have thought? I like to think when she saw him it made her smile. I like to think that when she saw the legacy that was Susie....the legacy that is all of her grand kids it would make her smile. Those amazing kids that love each other so much that every time they are together they love each other so wonderfully that we have to pull the kids apart. My children cry when the cousins leave, or we leave them. Susie would have loved seeing that. Feeling that.
What would she have thought? I think that she would have thought that through the pain and hard times, there was light. The light that could be found in the eyes of each and every little face that would have loved looking into her eyes. That's what I think.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
You know when...
Las Vegas. This city is a world inside a world. It is unique, alive, scary and all its own. I love this city. From the time I was very little, as a family we would drive through Vegas on our way to California. We always stopped and stayed for a night. Never on the strip, usually a Motel 8 somewhere and it was always hotter than Satan's basement, but I loved it just the same. We would usually pull into Vegas around 3 or 4 pm, and as we would get out of the car I would hear moans and groans from my siblings and parents about the heat. The pavement would be melting under our feet and you could never get enough cold stuff to drink, but still loved it.
Nothing has changed since then. This last June we went to California with my folks and siblings. It was on the cool side there and although we still got our fair share of sun and sand, we did have to wear long sleeves in the evenings and run the heat at night. That's just the beach for you. I love it there too...but then we stopped in Vegas on our way home to spend a few days with my sisters. We had gone from 80 degrees and breezy to 108 and blistering. As we sat by the pool the first day we were there I could feel the sun sizzling my skin and I loved every moment of it.
This round as we drove into Vegas Kenna and I started to make jokes about it. You know when your in Vegas because....so here are a few....
You know your in Vegas when you can buy gas and gamble at the same time.
You know your in Vegas when every other group of people on the freeway is a group of bikers, their girls and their long hair flying in the wind.
You know your in Vegas when you get out of the car and you start to melt like the Wicked Witch of the West.
You know your in Vegas when there's more to do at night than during the day.
You know your in Vegas when you think there's a full moon out cause its so light, then you realize its just the light from the Strip.
You know your in Vegas when sirens, sirens and more sirens from the Strip drench your dreams while you try to sleep.
You know your in Vegas when its the law to have your cell phone towers mimic palm trees...to "blend" in....
You know your in Vegas when the airplanes have to circle the city because it's too hot to take off and clear the strip.
You know your in Vegas when there are more vehicles with out of state license plates than Nevada plates.
You know your in Vegas when taxi cabs and limos litter the grocery store parking lots.
You know your in Vegas when every other car is a Mustang.
You know your in Vegas when you can catch a glimpse of three already dead people hanging around on the Strip (Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and Abraham Lincoln).
You know your in Vegas when you can walk into any bar and walk out five minutes later smelling like you just smoked an entire pack of cigarettes.
You know your in Vegas when you can buy liquor, any liquor at the Pigely Wigely.
You know your in Vegas when the most popular gas station is appropriately named "Terribles".
You know your in Vegas when the taxi cabs have pics of naked girls on them.
I love Vegas....always will. And now as an adult I have sisters there and it makes it much easier to have excuses to go there often. If hyper religious people are right and the end of the world is near, and Vegas is Sin City and one of the first to go....I will shed a tear or two for my favorite city. That is assuming I am not there at the time! :)
Nothing has changed since then. This last June we went to California with my folks and siblings. It was on the cool side there and although we still got our fair share of sun and sand, we did have to wear long sleeves in the evenings and run the heat at night. That's just the beach for you. I love it there too...but then we stopped in Vegas on our way home to spend a few days with my sisters. We had gone from 80 degrees and breezy to 108 and blistering. As we sat by the pool the first day we were there I could feel the sun sizzling my skin and I loved every moment of it.
This round as we drove into Vegas Kenna and I started to make jokes about it. You know when your in Vegas because....so here are a few....
You know your in Vegas when you can buy gas and gamble at the same time.
You know your in Vegas when every other group of people on the freeway is a group of bikers, their girls and their long hair flying in the wind.
You know your in Vegas when you get out of the car and you start to melt like the Wicked Witch of the West.
You know your in Vegas when there's more to do at night than during the day.
You know your in Vegas when you think there's a full moon out cause its so light, then you realize its just the light from the Strip.
You know your in Vegas when sirens, sirens and more sirens from the Strip drench your dreams while you try to sleep.
You know your in Vegas when its the law to have your cell phone towers mimic palm trees...to "blend" in....
You know your in Vegas when the airplanes have to circle the city because it's too hot to take off and clear the strip.
You know your in Vegas when there are more vehicles with out of state license plates than Nevada plates.
You know your in Vegas when taxi cabs and limos litter the grocery store parking lots.
You know your in Vegas when every other car is a Mustang.
You know your in Vegas when you can catch a glimpse of three already dead people hanging around on the Strip (Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and Abraham Lincoln).
You know your in Vegas when you can walk into any bar and walk out five minutes later smelling like you just smoked an entire pack of cigarettes.
You know your in Vegas when you can buy liquor, any liquor at the Pigely Wigely.
You know your in Vegas when the most popular gas station is appropriately named "Terribles".
You know your in Vegas when the taxi cabs have pics of naked girls on them.
I love Vegas....always will. And now as an adult I have sisters there and it makes it much easier to have excuses to go there often. If hyper religious people are right and the end of the world is near, and Vegas is Sin City and one of the first to go....I will shed a tear or two for my favorite city. That is assuming I am not there at the time! :)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Just our luck
"Mom, can I bring some laundry up to your house today?"
"You mean your washer broke down again?"
"Yup, again..."
We had this ridiculous top loading washer for about 12 years. It wasn't flashy and complicated. It did it's job and that was that. When tax return time came around about 3 1/2 years ago we decided it was time for a new washer and dryer. We did our research, we went to several stores and even had Jon's dad Kent look up consumer reports. In other words we did our homework. Not only for the best buy on the market but for where we could get that best buy for the best price. This was no easy feat and it wasn't an impulse buy.
We went to RC Willey, looked and looked, picked what we wanted and started to dicker price. The salesman could tell we were not an easy sell, but then again he must have known we were serious about buying because he didn't give us much room for dickering. In the end he was impressed that we had cash to pay, he wrote it up and we went home to make room for our new washer. We got rid of the old, cleaned the laundry room up and made the way for our Whirlpool Super Capacity washer and dryer.
It was like gold, at least for the first two years. I could wash more than I ever imagined in one load and I had that thing running everyday. With 11 people in our home you can imagine that it ran a lot. We were told it could handle multiple loads everyday for years. We felt confident we had made the right choice.
Then after two years we had a problem. It wouldn't spin, it wouldn't wash, it wouldn't run. I called my neighbor who is an appliance repair man and he came over and looked at it.
"Well, the drum has gotten off somehow and has totally ruined the inside. I will have to replace the entire drum. Wow, I have never seen anything like this before..."
"But when you fix it it will run like it should and will be good?"
"Oh yes, it should be just fine"
So for the space of several days I spent hours at Polly's house doing laundry while we waited for Kelly to get the part and fix our washer. Now, Polly and I love to spend time together and this was a convenient excuse, but still, it would be easier to just be able to do my own wash in my own washer in my own basement. We spent hours watching our favorite shows while folding and waiting. It was a long week for both of us.
Kelly fixed the washer, said Merry Christmas in regards to the bill, which was a God send and told us we should be good to go for a long time. I wish I could say that is the end of the story...alas...it's not.
About 3 days ago I went to put in a load of laundry and shut the door, pushed the necessary buttons and waited for it to start up. It didn't. I waited and waited, it tried and tried...with no success. I tried to stop it, cancel it and even unplug it. Finally the door unlocked and I gazed inside to see what was up. Same thing as last year. The barrel had rubbed out the entire inside of the drum out and that was that. Within the hour I was on the phone with Polly.
"Hey, what cha up to today?"
"Oh this and that and not much...what about you?"
"I think I might be at your house today doing my laundry...assuming that's ok?"
"Again? You mean to tell me it's broken again? Oh my gosh!"
So, load after load and hour after hour I am sure I owe the Bringhursts about a hundred dollars for the water bill. By yesterday I still had not gotten a hold of Kelly to ask for help and I had used Polly so much that I had called my mom to ask for help.
I am still trying to call Kelly. I am still trying to figure out where to take another load of laundry. I am still trying to decide if it's bad karma or just dumb luck. Either way, we are washerless and I am losing my marbles. Maybe that's what broke the washer, my lost marbles.
"You mean your washer broke down again?"
"Yup, again..."
We had this ridiculous top loading washer for about 12 years. It wasn't flashy and complicated. It did it's job and that was that. When tax return time came around about 3 1/2 years ago we decided it was time for a new washer and dryer. We did our research, we went to several stores and even had Jon's dad Kent look up consumer reports. In other words we did our homework. Not only for the best buy on the market but for where we could get that best buy for the best price. This was no easy feat and it wasn't an impulse buy.
We went to RC Willey, looked and looked, picked what we wanted and started to dicker price. The salesman could tell we were not an easy sell, but then again he must have known we were serious about buying because he didn't give us much room for dickering. In the end he was impressed that we had cash to pay, he wrote it up and we went home to make room for our new washer. We got rid of the old, cleaned the laundry room up and made the way for our Whirlpool Super Capacity washer and dryer.
It was like gold, at least for the first two years. I could wash more than I ever imagined in one load and I had that thing running everyday. With 11 people in our home you can imagine that it ran a lot. We were told it could handle multiple loads everyday for years. We felt confident we had made the right choice.
Then after two years we had a problem. It wouldn't spin, it wouldn't wash, it wouldn't run. I called my neighbor who is an appliance repair man and he came over and looked at it.
"Well, the drum has gotten off somehow and has totally ruined the inside. I will have to replace the entire drum. Wow, I have never seen anything like this before..."
"But when you fix it it will run like it should and will be good?"
"Oh yes, it should be just fine"
So for the space of several days I spent hours at Polly's house doing laundry while we waited for Kelly to get the part and fix our washer. Now, Polly and I love to spend time together and this was a convenient excuse, but still, it would be easier to just be able to do my own wash in my own washer in my own basement. We spent hours watching our favorite shows while folding and waiting. It was a long week for both of us.
Kelly fixed the washer, said Merry Christmas in regards to the bill, which was a God send and told us we should be good to go for a long time. I wish I could say that is the end of the story...alas...it's not.
About 3 days ago I went to put in a load of laundry and shut the door, pushed the necessary buttons and waited for it to start up. It didn't. I waited and waited, it tried and tried...with no success. I tried to stop it, cancel it and even unplug it. Finally the door unlocked and I gazed inside to see what was up. Same thing as last year. The barrel had rubbed out the entire inside of the drum out and that was that. Within the hour I was on the phone with Polly.
"Hey, what cha up to today?"
"Oh this and that and not much...what about you?"
"I think I might be at your house today doing my laundry...assuming that's ok?"
"Again? You mean to tell me it's broken again? Oh my gosh!"
So, load after load and hour after hour I am sure I owe the Bringhursts about a hundred dollars for the water bill. By yesterday I still had not gotten a hold of Kelly to ask for help and I had used Polly so much that I had called my mom to ask for help.
I am still trying to call Kelly. I am still trying to figure out where to take another load of laundry. I am still trying to decide if it's bad karma or just dumb luck. Either way, we are washerless and I am losing my marbles. Maybe that's what broke the washer, my lost marbles.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Best Aunt
Since before I had children I have loved them. Anyone who knew me as a little one knew this about me. When my little brother Michael was born I was only 7 and half yrs old. That tender age did not deter me from trying to be his parent. After getting ready for school I would bark out orders to my mother as I was walking out the door. "Make sure you feed him when he gets hungry, and make sure you change him before you put him down for a nap!" "Yes Julie, I know what to do" My poor mom. When he was two and would get scared he would crawl into bed with me. I loved every single one of those moments with him. I do not remember one bad moment with him, not ever. He was like my baby, still is. I coddle him, I know I do. I was no better when Karlee was born. I even went as far as to dress her every Sunday morning and take her to my classes with me at church. I loved that little round faced kid so much that I often felt like she was my own. I still have the best relationship with her. She is mine. :)
I have found as an adult that I am no better with my nieces and nephews..as they have come along. With some I am closer than others. I don't get much of a chance to love some of them the way I want to. If I had more opportunity I would love them to death.
Last summer I got a hold of Kent. He is 19 now, and last summer when we got him for a day or two we had the greatest time with him. He is so awesome, and I think he had fun with us. I wish I had been able to spend more time with him.
I also have been able to get to know my nieces and nephew in Vegas more the last few years. Man do I love those kids. They are amazing kids. They are bright, beautiful and fun. I think all my nieces and nephews are though. I have 20 nieces and nephews. Phew...that's a lot. They vary in age and gender, and I even have one that is engaged. Wow...I can't believe that! So weird. Watching them grow up is wonderful. Sometimes with your own kids your so close to it it's hard to be objective. I have to be the one to do the discipline, homework and refereeing, but with nieces and nephews I don't have to raise them, just enjoy them.
I think it's sort of how a grandma feels. As an aunt you get to love, adore, pamper and spoil these kids, and when they start to misbehave you can send them home. Of course, in my eyes they can do no wrong. They are perfect to me! I have showered love and adoration on Maddie and Tay this summer and plan on doing it more if I get the chance, but I don't get to do it so much with Carson. He is still so little, we can only see him when we go to Vegas, but that will change soon enough! And then watch out Lisa...you will have me to deal with. My nephew will know me better and I plan on loving him to death!
Drake. I couldn't write this post without mentioning him. He has to be the most adorable little boy ever. He is petite with curly dark hair and the sweetest little voice. He can get away with anything at my house. I adore him. Today he called me by name for the first time. I thought he was saying something about peanut butter and jelly when I realized he was saying "Aunt Jelly". He can't say Julie yet, but I hope he never corrects himself. It made my whole day...."Aunt Jelly, Aunt Jelly". I am still beaming about it. He just rose up a bit more on my lovable list. He can do no wrong!
I have found as an adult that I am no better with my nieces and nephews..as they have come along. With some I am closer than others. I don't get much of a chance to love some of them the way I want to. If I had more opportunity I would love them to death.
Last summer I got a hold of Kent. He is 19 now, and last summer when we got him for a day or two we had the greatest time with him. He is so awesome, and I think he had fun with us. I wish I had been able to spend more time with him.
I also have been able to get to know my nieces and nephew in Vegas more the last few years. Man do I love those kids. They are amazing kids. They are bright, beautiful and fun. I think all my nieces and nephews are though. I have 20 nieces and nephews. Phew...that's a lot. They vary in age and gender, and I even have one that is engaged. Wow...I can't believe that! So weird. Watching them grow up is wonderful. Sometimes with your own kids your so close to it it's hard to be objective. I have to be the one to do the discipline, homework and refereeing, but with nieces and nephews I don't have to raise them, just enjoy them.
I think it's sort of how a grandma feels. As an aunt you get to love, adore, pamper and spoil these kids, and when they start to misbehave you can send them home. Of course, in my eyes they can do no wrong. They are perfect to me! I have showered love and adoration on Maddie and Tay this summer and plan on doing it more if I get the chance, but I don't get to do it so much with Carson. He is still so little, we can only see him when we go to Vegas, but that will change soon enough! And then watch out Lisa...you will have me to deal with. My nephew will know me better and I plan on loving him to death!
Drake. I couldn't write this post without mentioning him. He has to be the most adorable little boy ever. He is petite with curly dark hair and the sweetest little voice. He can get away with anything at my house. I adore him. Today he called me by name for the first time. I thought he was saying something about peanut butter and jelly when I realized he was saying "Aunt Jelly". He can't say Julie yet, but I hope he never corrects himself. It made my whole day...."Aunt Jelly, Aunt Jelly". I am still beaming about it. He just rose up a bit more on my lovable list. He can do no wrong!
Little boys and their superheros
Drake. I love this boy so much, so so much. He has to be one of the sweetest little guys I have ever known. Every time he comes over he is wearing his Hulk jammies, drags around books about Ironman and wants to watch Spiderman. He loves his superheros. Every little boy does. Each one has a favorite, but they all love them.
With Isaac it was either Superman, or Spidey. Whenever these movies were on he was glued. He has Superman sweatshirts and would even watch Smallville with me in an effort to catch a glimpse of the main character being super.
Joey was all about Batman. Dark, stealthy and had the mask. He always loved the mask. He was Batman three Halloweens in a row. He still has some Batman jammies that he squeezes himself into.
Colby is all about Ironman. Although he does love the Transformers now too. Can they qualify as superheros? In his mind they do. He will talk non stop about Optimus Prime and has had about ten of them in his lifetime. He usually plays with them until their arms and legs are falling off and he can't play anymore. He just loves them. The hero and the villain fighting for the rest of us.
Skyler? Well, we haven't gotten that far yet. I will be curious to see what he loves and how many more superhero sheets I am going to have to buy and how many more movies I will have to watch.
The greatest thing about this all though is that in a little boys mind the superhero is the person that saves the rest of us. The person they look up to, admire, want to be like and love. I really wonder if our spouses know that for most little boys this can also be dad. In fact, in most cases it is dad. I know this just from watching my husband and his boys. I have never seen such adoration as I have seen on my son's faces when they look up to their daddy. When Jon says he's going to Home Depot, he has four little boys that stand in line to go with him. When Jon gets a project going and he lets the boys help they are right there. They don't leave his side and even love to help out.
Jon and Isaac are currently building a lego table together. The last time they worked on it Isaac was right on Jon's heels. He followed him everywhere, hinged on his every word and nothing was going to distract him from doing everything his dad was doing. Last night while Isaac and I were sitting there watching TV together, just the two of us I turned to him and asked him what he thought he wanted to do when he grew up. He said "Well, I am not sure yet, but maybe a pilot, a doctor or maybe what dad does." I am not sure he even knows for sure what dad does. He has been to his office a handful of times, but for the most part he only has a vague idea of what he does. Isaac loves his dad. I am always trying to encourage Jon to spend time with him, give him that "buddy" that he doesn't have with his brothers yet.
When my boys do spend time with their dad, when Jon includes them, treats them as equals or spends the time to teach them things they look up to him like they do a superhero. Even more so I think. A superhero won't hug you when you scrape your knee. A superhero isn't there for your fourth grade Christmas program and a superhero doesn't tuck you in at night and say "I love you". A dad can be so many things to a little boy, they can be everything to him. I have seen it in the eyes of my sons when they look up to their dad. I think they would even believe their dads could fly. They love them that much.
With Isaac it was either Superman, or Spidey. Whenever these movies were on he was glued. He has Superman sweatshirts and would even watch Smallville with me in an effort to catch a glimpse of the main character being super.
Joey was all about Batman. Dark, stealthy and had the mask. He always loved the mask. He was Batman three Halloweens in a row. He still has some Batman jammies that he squeezes himself into.
Colby is all about Ironman. Although he does love the Transformers now too. Can they qualify as superheros? In his mind they do. He will talk non stop about Optimus Prime and has had about ten of them in his lifetime. He usually plays with them until their arms and legs are falling off and he can't play anymore. He just loves them. The hero and the villain fighting for the rest of us.
Skyler? Well, we haven't gotten that far yet. I will be curious to see what he loves and how many more superhero sheets I am going to have to buy and how many more movies I will have to watch.
The greatest thing about this all though is that in a little boys mind the superhero is the person that saves the rest of us. The person they look up to, admire, want to be like and love. I really wonder if our spouses know that for most little boys this can also be dad. In fact, in most cases it is dad. I know this just from watching my husband and his boys. I have never seen such adoration as I have seen on my son's faces when they look up to their daddy. When Jon says he's going to Home Depot, he has four little boys that stand in line to go with him. When Jon gets a project going and he lets the boys help they are right there. They don't leave his side and even love to help out.
Jon and Isaac are currently building a lego table together. The last time they worked on it Isaac was right on Jon's heels. He followed him everywhere, hinged on his every word and nothing was going to distract him from doing everything his dad was doing. Last night while Isaac and I were sitting there watching TV together, just the two of us I turned to him and asked him what he thought he wanted to do when he grew up. He said "Well, I am not sure yet, but maybe a pilot, a doctor or maybe what dad does." I am not sure he even knows for sure what dad does. He has been to his office a handful of times, but for the most part he only has a vague idea of what he does. Isaac loves his dad. I am always trying to encourage Jon to spend time with him, give him that "buddy" that he doesn't have with his brothers yet.
When my boys do spend time with their dad, when Jon includes them, treats them as equals or spends the time to teach them things they look up to him like they do a superhero. Even more so I think. A superhero won't hug you when you scrape your knee. A superhero isn't there for your fourth grade Christmas program and a superhero doesn't tuck you in at night and say "I love you". A dad can be so many things to a little boy, they can be everything to him. I have seen it in the eyes of my sons when they look up to their dad. I think they would even believe their dads could fly. They love them that much.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Pistol
Nine kids. At least one of them has to be a "pistol". Feisty, strong willed and disobedient. Ok, honestly? They are all pistols from time to time. With some of them it comes and goes, depending on the day, the amount of sleep they had and whether or not they have had a proper meal in the last 3 hours. Abby is one of these. She can be as feisty as the next man, but its conditional. She isn't always like this, she can be really bad when she hasn't had enough sleep. McKenna is the same way. Sweet, helpful and happy, until circumstances invade and then watch out...you may get murdered in your sleep! Then there are the kids that wake up as pistols and go to sleep pistols. It's in their blood and they can't deny who they are. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad thing. The stronger the person the more likely they will not get walked on all their lives, the more likely they are to accomplish their dreams due to sheer determination and the more likely they are to be able to endure whatever comes their way.
My kiddos that were born pistols would have to be Megan, Joe and Jessi. Not one of these kids is afraid of life. They say what they think, they do what feels right and all three of them are willing to stand toe to toe with anyone who threatens them. Strong they are...each one of them. Sometimes this works against Jon and I.
Megan is a night owl. We can start her on her nighttime routine at 9 and she will still be awake at 11. We threaten, we compromise, heck..there are even nights where we beg. She just has her own agenda and follows it through the way she sees fit. It drives Jon and I crazy, but what are we to do? You can't force anyone to do anything and even though most of the kids cooperate and do what we ask, we have learned, even the hard way that you can't force them. It's a 2 step forward, 3 step backward process. She loves fiercely, completely and hurts deeply. It's just the pistol in her.
Joe...he has a very unique personality. He likes what he likes, he wants what he wants and when you go against him he will explode. He and Polly's son Ian have pretty much grown up together. They are both just as strong as the other. There have been so many days where Joe has wanted to take Ian and throw him off the nearest cliff, and Ian can feel the same way about Joe the next day. They can fight like brothers and often do. But just as fierce that way Joe can be fierce the other way. At school when Ian gets picked on Joe is there to be his friend. When they have no one else on the playground, they have each other. Joe and Ian play like they are twins and then fight like they are enemies, all on the same day. It's that sibling mentality of "I can pick him to death, but if you touch him I will kill you!". Joey is a very passionate child...gee, I wonder where he got that from? ;)
Jessi. This child is a pistol, with an intense and wonderful sense of humor. She is feisty, but so much fun that you forget about the feisty. I was in bed a little longer than normal this morning. I spent most the night up with Skyler, so Jon was kind enough to let me sleep in. After an hour or so the kids started to filter in. Kenna was sitting on my ceder chest chatting when all of a sudden the boys door flies open and Jessi drop kicks a stuffed green bunny out the door, yells something at the poor thing and then slams the door. Kenna and I both cracked up...it was just too funny. After another couple of minutes Jon had strolled into the room and was laying on the bed and the three of us were just blabbing casually. Colby's whimpering came from inside his room and we all looked at each other with that look that says we knew what was going on. Jessi, the pistol, was now giving it to Colby. I guess she wasn't getting the desired response from the stuffed animals...so it was Colby. He came out of his room crying and saying that she had thrown Buzz Ligthyear at his head. While he was pining away, she was in the other room yelling something about "It was an accident!". Jon yelled from our room for her to say sorry....in a loud and very insistent voice she said "I did say sorry like a billion times!" She put such an emphasis on billion that we all burst out laughing. She said she was sorry....so take it and go! I love that kid! I love them all....
I have to say that I love the feisty, as much as it makes me cringe as a parent most days. They are what I never had the nerve to be...strong, outspoken and able to speak their minds. Good job guys...now I just need to find out a way to teach these little pistols to keep it in check! :)
My kiddos that were born pistols would have to be Megan, Joe and Jessi. Not one of these kids is afraid of life. They say what they think, they do what feels right and all three of them are willing to stand toe to toe with anyone who threatens them. Strong they are...each one of them. Sometimes this works against Jon and I.
Megan is a night owl. We can start her on her nighttime routine at 9 and she will still be awake at 11. We threaten, we compromise, heck..there are even nights where we beg. She just has her own agenda and follows it through the way she sees fit. It drives Jon and I crazy, but what are we to do? You can't force anyone to do anything and even though most of the kids cooperate and do what we ask, we have learned, even the hard way that you can't force them. It's a 2 step forward, 3 step backward process. She loves fiercely, completely and hurts deeply. It's just the pistol in her.
Joe...he has a very unique personality. He likes what he likes, he wants what he wants and when you go against him he will explode. He and Polly's son Ian have pretty much grown up together. They are both just as strong as the other. There have been so many days where Joe has wanted to take Ian and throw him off the nearest cliff, and Ian can feel the same way about Joe the next day. They can fight like brothers and often do. But just as fierce that way Joe can be fierce the other way. At school when Ian gets picked on Joe is there to be his friend. When they have no one else on the playground, they have each other. Joe and Ian play like they are twins and then fight like they are enemies, all on the same day. It's that sibling mentality of "I can pick him to death, but if you touch him I will kill you!". Joey is a very passionate child...gee, I wonder where he got that from? ;)
Jessi. This child is a pistol, with an intense and wonderful sense of humor. She is feisty, but so much fun that you forget about the feisty. I was in bed a little longer than normal this morning. I spent most the night up with Skyler, so Jon was kind enough to let me sleep in. After an hour or so the kids started to filter in. Kenna was sitting on my ceder chest chatting when all of a sudden the boys door flies open and Jessi drop kicks a stuffed green bunny out the door, yells something at the poor thing and then slams the door. Kenna and I both cracked up...it was just too funny. After another couple of minutes Jon had strolled into the room and was laying on the bed and the three of us were just blabbing casually. Colby's whimpering came from inside his room and we all looked at each other with that look that says we knew what was going on. Jessi, the pistol, was now giving it to Colby. I guess she wasn't getting the desired response from the stuffed animals...so it was Colby. He came out of his room crying and saying that she had thrown Buzz Ligthyear at his head. While he was pining away, she was in the other room yelling something about "It was an accident!". Jon yelled from our room for her to say sorry....in a loud and very insistent voice she said "I did say sorry like a billion times!" She put such an emphasis on billion that we all burst out laughing. She said she was sorry....so take it and go! I love that kid! I love them all....
I have to say that I love the feisty, as much as it makes me cringe as a parent most days. They are what I never had the nerve to be...strong, outspoken and able to speak their minds. Good job guys...now I just need to find out a way to teach these little pistols to keep it in check! :)
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