reality bites...and hopefully, so will my kids

I bought this DVD several years ago when the kids kept seeing it advertised on TV. It is produced by John Walsh and Julie Clark (of Baby Einstein fame.) I highly recommend it. (Let me know if anyone wants to borrow it.)

I love the DVD, but I hate that perverts and abduction and child-killers are part of the world my kids have to live in. I hate that part of their innocence has to be destroyed to keep them safe.

Okay, I have stepped away from the soapbox--back to the story.

Every few months the kids pull out the DVD and we watch it. It isn't scary, but really teaches kids about staying safe.

The problem is that every time we watch it, every time we discuss stranger safety, Christian says something to the effect of: "I will just punch them and kick them in the ___." (The blank stands for all the various names I have heard him use for that part of the anatomy--another discussion for another day.)

We constantly teach him that should he ever be in that situation, he should run and yell first. He continues to talk about beating up the bad guy.

Last night at dinner, the topic came up once again. Once again Mike reiterated the importance of running and yelling. He reminded him that even though Christian is tough, adults are bigger and stronger. Once again Christian insisted that he would "kick the bad guy's trash."

Next thing we know Mike and Christian are in the family room. The rest of us sat at the kitchen table and watched as Mike gave the little guy a reality check. Mike taught the kids another important fact in fighting off a bad guy--when he covers your mouth, bite him.

The kids went to bed and I went downstairs to the death chamber (aka the home gym) to exercise. I watched yesterday's Oprah. It was about child sexual predators. I ended up exercising a little longer than usual because my blood was a boilin'.

But, after ruminating on the special place in Hell that will be theirs, I focused on the message of the show. The information the predators shared was disgusting, but helpful. They all talked about the type of child they sought out--vulnerable, at-risk kids. Kids that didn't get a lot of attention, affection and supervision. They also talked about how they won the trust of the parents.

The most important part for me was that several of them talked about potential victims that didn't become victims because they fought back, were difficult, and were big-mouths.

I think manners are important, but after shows like that, I am reminded to teach my kids that there are times they need to be difficult.

I am reminded to build their self-confidence.

I am reminded to teach them to listen to the still small voice.

I am reminded to give them the attention and affection they need.

I am reminded to talk to them about the evil that exists in the world.

We will be watching the DVD tonight. We will practice yelling together: "This is not my mom. This is not my dad." I will be giving them lot of snuggles.

Hopefully, we will not need to have another abduction reinactment in the family room--that gave me anxiety.

My name is Alisa and I am a list-maker.

I am a list-maker. I have been one for as long as I can remember. I had a mission companion who said that I had a list-making illness. Um, yah, it's called OCD. (I know OCD is real--mine is a self-diagnosed, mild case that only affects certain areas of my life.)

Through college I had my beloved Franklin planner. I couldn't live without it. Then, I used something similar when I worked. After I quit working (for a salary) I had a hard time remembering appointments and grocery lists and things I needed to to. I have a huge calendar in the kitchen and I have notebooks for my lists everywhere--the car, my purse, the kitchen, my bedside table, by the computer.

Making lists helps me remember what I need to do, but there is a deeper reason I like lists. I like, no, I love crossing off the things I have accomplished. I know this is sick, but I will even add things that I did that weren't on the list--just so I can cross them off.

Anyhoo, last night I made the dreaded "spring cleaning and projects" list. It is long. I will not accomplish everything on that list in the next few weeks. But, I will try. My goal is to knock out at least one thing everyday.

I am also dejunking as I go. We have only lived in this house for 1.5 years and already we have junk.

I read this quote several years ago. It is my goal for home organization and decorating.

"Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."
William Morris

I know Mike is probably snickering to himself right now because he knows my dirty little secrets. He knows that I have a junk drawer in almost every room. He knows that I like to hold onto stuff. (Hey, the day I get rid of the forest green with leather cording cowgirl dress will be the day I need it.) Like I said--it is my goal.

I have to really kick it in gear. The day is half over and I have not checked off an item, and I really want to check off an item.

this one goes out to the one I love...

(and yes, I am singing REM in my head right now...I love that song.)

I overheard a sweet conversation tonight. I grabbed the camera to capture the moment.

After dinner Andrew was reading. Bev was doing times tables while I did the dishes. Christian asked Dad to do Legos. (Notice the cookie sheet--between Christian and Andrew I will often have to go find one of my six to use for actual cooking. They make good portable Lego desks.)

So, they were over there working on Legos when Christian says, "I'm glad dads were invented."

And Mike says, "I'm glad they were invented too."

Then, as they were finishing up Christian says, "I'm glad I have you."

And Mike says, "I'm glad I have you too."

I would like to add my Amen to Christian's statements tonight.

I am so glad my kids have Mike. I am so glad he is there to do Legos and coach soccer and listen to them read and put air in their bike tires and let them sneak treats when I won't and cook Sunday morning breakfast with them and teach them how to fish and take them to McDonald's when I won't and do homework with them and teach them how to work and to pray and take them on dates and make them a priority and let them sneak in bed with us and wrestle with them and tease them and love them.

I am glad that he is there to remind me of important things and help me keep perspective and remind me not to swear.

I am glad that he gets up and goes to work everyday to support us.

I am glad that he is ours.

Spring Break 2010

What a weekend. It was busy and fun and I am still recovering. I love having my kids home, but I have to admit that I was happy to have the weekend come to an end.



Our fun began with three little visitors. When Mike gave Jack the chicks, we offered to chicksit (say that carefully) when the family went out of town. Bev insisted that they stay in her room. The cute little darlings were a little smelly, so Bev did not stay in her room. We also had to make sure and keep the door closed because of this little darling:



She really liked watching them. She would just sit and stare at them. Then, when we left the room, she hopped on top of the cage. I do think they would have gotten along famously--if we had given them the opportunity. I was not, however, willing to chance it. I did not want any "accidents." I am sure Tiger would have been most appropriate, but I really didn't want to have to give Jack some sort of bad news. That was my goal all weekend--keep those chicks alive.

We played a lot of Wii and Guitar Hero. We read a little. We stayed home where it was warm. Mike and I had our mission reunion. We watched Conference.

We went to the neighborhood egg hunt.

Christian had his last indoor soccer game. They were not victorious, but he did get a cool cup trophy--a cup trophy that he really wants to drink out of.

We had the annual egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's. Ryan and Erika hid the eggs and the kids gathered the goods.

Sunday, the kids got their baskets and their marshmallow eggs. After three egg hunts, there was too much candy in the house--so it went bye bye.

We saw the Dragon movie. It was great! One of the first lines in the movie was something like, "We are vikings...we have stubborn issues." I relate to that quote.

Seriously, one great movie.

So, now we are back to reality--busy, hectic reality.

Happy Easter, Meow!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Our weekends are always packed full. They are fun, but always busy. This weekend Mike took me out on a date, we saw Grandma and Grandpa for dinner, we had swimming, tumbling and two soccer games, a baptism, a few house projects, I did a ton of laundry, we exercised as a family, went to church, and we took the kids to see The Blindside.

The kids liked the movie. Jessi slept through most of it (which I expected.) It was a great movie and it gave us a lot to talk about.

We had not been to a dollar theater in a long, long time--we usually wait for movies to come out on DVD or go to the theater near our house. Mike taught the kids about dollar theaters. Andrew is very interested in all things financial, so he was really excited about the price. Mike explained that after the movie is in the regular theater it goes to the dollar theater. He told the kids that the theater might not be as fancy, the chairs might not be as comfy, and you can't get reserved seats, but that it is a lot less expensive.

I went with Andrew to the window to buy the tickets. I didn't realize it was cash only. Our total came to $12--such a bargain for a family of six. I had eight dollar bills and a bunch of change. We let some teenagers by while I counted out $4 in change in Andrew's hand. He kept hearing the people order tickets for our movie and encouraged me to hurry so they wouldn't sell out.

When we got inside, the kids all checked out their seats. The seats rocked back and forth and bounced a bit. After checking out his chair, Andrew declared, "These seats aren't bad at all--in fact, they are quite luxurious."

As we were leaving the theater, he told us that we should only go to movies at the dollar theater. I don't know about "only," but I think we will be going more often.


Other funny things the rascals did and said this weekend:


Jessi asked if Michael Jackson was in heaven with Heavenly Father. (She LOVES Michael Jackson.) Then she asked if Heavenly Father wears the same clothes everyday. (She LOVES clothes and fashion too.) We have some deep conversations while I do her hair.


Christian's teacher pulled me aside to tell me the following story: The kids were out running/walking on the track. Christian's shoe fell off, so he stopped to tie it. When he reached the teacher he was in tears. She asked what was wrong. He said, "My shoe fell off and none of those guys gave me any sympathy." Apparently they all kept bumping into him as he tried to get his shoe back on.

One night we could not find Tiger. This happens occasionally, and it has caused us to be late for church and school. She will sometimes hide out, but she usually comes when I call her in a baby-talk voice. So, it was bedtime and we couldn't find her. We finally went to bed. The next morning we were nervous because she was still AWOL. The whole family was searching. Finally, Bev saw her tail under the couch. Apparently she had crawled under the couch when the footrest was up. Before bed, Mike had put the footrest down and she got trapped. I suppose she liked it because she stayed quiet under there. So, we got her out and we were all loving on her when Christian got teary-eyed. He said, "Mom, sometimes I get emotional when I'm not supposed to." We reasssured him that it is fine to get emotional.

Now the kids--the boys especially--keep asking if Dad ever cries. Mike tells the kids that it is okay and normal to get emotional and cry, but I keep telling Mike that he needs to let the kids see him get tears. I'm not pushing it though. I know how it will go--he will break-out in a big pretend bawling session.

Beverly got up Sunday morning and Mike and I could hear her starting breakfast with the little ones. We listened to pans clanking and the fridge opening and closing. She was trying to "direct" the other kids to help get breakfast done. They were not cooperating to her liking. Mike finally declared that he better get down to help in "Hell's Kitchen."

I cleaned out all of the backpacks on Friday. I found indications that number three has a crush. It was a heart that said, "Bev + Apollo Ohno." I showed it to her and she quickly took it away. But then she recounted the story. The story I have heard a number of times since the Olympics ended.

She is deeply offended by Apollo being disqualified in his final race. She was so mad. (It reminded me of the time we were watching the final of American Idol and David Archuleta lost to David Cook. After that, she could not stand the near mention of David Cook's name, let alone hear one of his songs.) Anyhoo, we re-watched the race many times. It was obvious to us that Apollo had only placed his hand on the other racer. When the head judge (who is Canadian) disqualified him, Bev said, "Andrew, you are wrong--the Canadians are NOT our friends." She talked about the travesty a lot over the next several weeks.

She is like me in so many ways--she can get onery while "managing people" in the kitchen and she doesn't like injustice.


Andrew was telling our friend about the movie Where The Wild Things Are. I heard him whisper to her that Jessi cried at the end of the movie. Then he said, "Yeah, she is a very sensitive African American child."

They keep me hopping...and laughing.

reaping what we sowed

My picture of the day:
Seeing these little babies come up makes me so happy. So happy we planted them last fall. So happy that they will soon bloom.