Children's shows today

Kids programming today is not necessarily appropriate for children. There are so many kids programs that I forbid my children to watch. (Another reason we don't subscribe to cable in our house.) And what makes me sad is that many of the children's animated movies have words that just don't have to be used. Words like "stupid" or name calling. Do the people who make these shows have children of their own? Why would you want to teach children to use these words. I've tried to make it a learning experience whenever we do run into something that uses wording we don't approve of in our house. And after having gotten in trouble before for repeating something he heard, Boston is quick to ask me whether it is okay to say something he has heard. Even the most simple of things like, "Mommy, is it okay to say spontaneous." So at least he is learning what words are good and what ones are bad to use. I just only wish the makers of kids programming would put out more educational, value-based, moral shows. Leave out the unnecessary bad stuff, inappropriate material, and jokes that parents might find too funny (that usually means it's probably not something the kids should be hearing.) Lately the boys have somehow started on using the word "poop" in any way possible. Guess it's something little boys have found funny for generations, but when they start calling each other poopyhead it's defiantly gone to far for me. I don't want to shelter my children but I also don't want their little minds being filled with too much unnecessary junk. So I'll continue to teach, educate and instill good values and morals, polite boys who love God and wish to always to the right thing. It's an uphill battle in the world today...but a challenge I ready for!

One movie we rented recently that we really liked was Meet the Robinsons. It had some really great things to be taught. Like "keep moving forward"-don't live in the past, don't blame others for your actions, always do your best, “Failure can be brilliant leading to your future success!” and more. Boston and Dallas are very competitive like their daddy and we are trying to teach them that winning is good but that you have to learn how to lose in a good way as well. I thought this was covered so well in the movie. That when you fail at something you should use it as a learning experience to do better next time. You should be thankful for failure because it only makes you better.

So those are my thoughts today...

1st ear infection in our house!

I was woken up this morning at 6am to a crying Dallas saying his ear hurt. I tried to get him to go back to sleep but he just kept crying about it. So we got up to go to the living room and watch a movie and for me to access what was going on. He kept pulling on his ear and it was evident to me that I think I was witnessing my first ear infection (we have been blessed up until now with none of the kids ever getting one!) So I tried to give him some tylenol but only got about half the dose in (he's horrible about taking medicine) Called the doc and got an appt for 8:30. Raced around the house carring the crying Dallas and getting everyone dressed. It was confirmed that he had an ear infection and probably got it from swallowing too much water in the pool yesterday. Crazy because we swim ALL the time and never had a problem. Anyhow...he's doing great now, but I think the dosing of antibiotics for 10 days might just kill me (I need a staight jacket to try and get it down him...and he spits it all out when i put it in...ugh!) I have to confess, the cuddling was nice and all the love I got to bestow on him was wonderful. My heart just broke because of the pain he was in. But as I write this on the laptop, sitting on the patio watching them play, he's doing just fine now running around playing with Boston.

Girls night out!

Or as we said, "mom's night out!" Tonight I went with my girlfriends Val, Tina and Christie (Carrie and Rebecca weren't able to make it.) We went to Cheesecake Factory and had such a great time. The poor waiter had to wait forever because we couldn't stop talking long enough to read the menu. It was a much needed time with the girls and I look forward to getting together with them each month for this "renewal and rejuvination" time!!! Tina, Val and I have been talking about a mom's night out for a long time and have finally put it into action! Our own "Mom's Time" group as Lisa Welchel would call it. (www.lisawelchel.com) Thanks for the great time girls!!

Mommy and Dallas time

Dallas has pretty much stopped taking a nap. For a few months now it's kind of hit or miss. He's very good about going in, but will just sit in his bed or quietly play with a toy for an hour or so. He just isn't tired. So I decided to stop pushing the nap for now and spend some quality time with him while Boston is still in school and Asher is taking a nap. We have been having a great time together. He loves for me to just sit and play cars with him or get animals and have them talk to each other. What a precious little guy he is, and the sweetest heart. I can tell he really needs one on one time with Sean and I, probably a typical middle child thing. So at least for the next month him and I will have time together each day. And when we do, what a difference I notice in his actions the rest of the day. I just love my precious Dallas (or as he would say back to me..."No mommy, I'm just Dallas"

Teacher Appreciation Week

Boston took Ms Sue flowers today for Teacher Appreciation Week. When he handed them to her he said, "Thank you for being my teacher!" She asked him if he grew the flower and he replied, "No, we got it at the store." Too cute. He picked it out all by himself and we very proud of the fact that he got the biggest and prettiest one.

Dinner with the Cronks

Tonight we had to go to the parent commitment class (our 3rd time since its our 3rd kid.) We our having Asher's dedication next week at church. Our friends Daryl and Val were there too so we all decided to go out to eat at Ruby Tuesdays afterward. 5 kids and 4 adults (the waitress sat us in our our room...LOL) The kids had fun and we enjoyed some adult time as well.

Ally, Dallas and Boston doing animal impersonations with Asher and Aaron watching on

EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival

We headed to Disney after Sean worked some this morning. Once we got on the monorail we decided to go to EPCOT first, since it's a long monorail ride, and the kids really love the monorail. And they have the Flower and Garden Festival going on. Boston was thrilled about it, just wanted to go to Magic Kingdom. But once we got their they had a BLAST! We went to the Nemo ride and they especially loved all the fish in the aquarium afterward, the scuba diver, all the REAL Nemo and Friends fish, big turtle and sting rays and the Shark playground (Dallas' favorite).

The scuba diver waving at the boys
We had dinner and Asher ate more than ANYONE! Then played on this great playground with artificial turf (boy would I love this in my backyard!)
Then was the butterfly garden, went to a vegetable garden and the boys loved seeing and touching the veggies as they were growing. And they even got a box of seeds to plant with fertilizer and everything needed (and it was free!) We walked around to all the countries and they had so many playgrounds and things for the kids to do for the festival and the boys just loved it. Their favorite things was probably the trains outside. We stood their forever watching them. Then off we headed for Magic Kingdom (on the boat for the boys first time!). We rode the train and the people mover and Dallas and Daddy rode Buzz Lightyear. Got cookies watched parade from above and headed home. I think today was the most fun we've ever had at the parks. And Boston told me later that EPCOt was his favorite.

Boston's Field Day

Boston had field day at school today. I had so much fun getting to be there with him and experience all the fun (mom watched the little boys for me). They had a relay race, fun play, snow cones, bounce house and slip and slide and other water games. He just loved it! When I was little it was a competition and one team won. There was no winning or losing today and no ribbons, but lots of fun. It was really fun to see the friendship that has developed with all his classmates. They all enjoy each other so much.

Watching the butterfly getting let loose

Boston's class waitingBoston and Lizzie cheering their team on (while watching them I noticed Boston looks like he's about 1 or 2 years older than everyone else! So funny!! I think he's like 1 foot taller) Playing with the parachute
Boston's class was combined with Ms Sues morning class
Boston and Lizzie having snow cones together. They seemed to always be next to each other hanging out. Of course, he's always talking about Lizzie at home
Boston and Cayla his other little girlfriend
Getting ready to run down with Royce on the slip n slide

Swimming with the Nichols

After school I took the boys over to my parents to go swimming. They are at the lakehouse and Boston had been asking me all day if his "new" friends could come swimming with us today. So I called Betsy and her husband and the kids came over to swim. Boston was so excited! They had a great time swimming. Jacob and Boston lasted the entire time swimming and both ended up with bleeding toes from all the swimming. This always happens to the boys each year when the weather gets warm enough to start swimming again. But they finally rough up enough. Dallas was swimming and having a great time but after about an hour his eyes were stinging and he was so cold. It was great to have friends over swimming (I'm ususally listening to the boys yell to me "watch this mom!" about a hundred times...LOL

(Forgot to take pictures again)

Olive Garden

My sweet husband treated me to a dinner out while Tuesday night Sean's mom watched the kids. I had a procedure done that day to remove a 4cm spot to have biopsied since my dad has had melanoma twice. I'm sure its just fine, just being cautious. But I'm really swore so Sean took me out to treat me. I just love Olive Garden. It's been my favorite restaurant for as long as I can remember (I even got engaged here!!! So it REALLY holds a special place in my heart) My favorite things to get our their lasagna (my favorite food) and their new dish called Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo. Thank you babe for the nice relaxing dinner.