Green Froggy Boots and a Bug Catcher

A few days every week I take the boys to the park to play where Franklin immediately belines to the little stream to find "bugs" or whatever he can. He invariably will get his shoes wet and proceeds to take them off and go barefoot (and yes, it isn't exactly summer yet!) Well after a couple of times doing this and coming home with wet shoes, sweet hubby suggested we buy Franklin a pair of boots to keep his feet dry. So off to Target to look for boots where Franklin choose the little green froggy pair and then choose a bug catcher so that he could bring his "catch" home with him since I absolutely refused to allow "free" bugs in my truck.

Franklin couldn't wait to wear these little boots. He put them on first thing when we got home from church (since it was late the night before when we bought them and he didn't get to wear them then). So he wore them the rest of the day on Sunday.

We had to make a run to the doctor's office for Franklin's allergy checkup and of course the froggy boots accompanied us!! He got a few stares but lots of compliments on those little froggy boots!!

A couple of days later, we were out running errands and decided to go to lunch with Mimi. Well, along came the bug catcher into the restaurant....Franklin was hoping to catch bugs (I was hoping he wouldn't find them in the restaurant!)

We finally made it to the park and Franklin was so excited to be able to put those new froggy boots in the water and catch his bugs. When we got to the park he made a mad dash to the little stream only to stand there in disbelief ......the stream was dried up!!

But he still had fun catching the bugs. He had a little help from the other kids and I think they all enjoyed the bug catcher. However, the bugs eventually "ran away" since I still don't like bugs of any kind in my truck......

For now the doctor is out.....wondering if Franklin will ever outgrow the obsession with creapy crawling things or will I just learn to chill when it comes to his new obsession!

Little Mr. Manners

When I was growing up there was a class that girls could attend to learn "proper manners." When girls turned about 10 to 12 they could enroll for these classes at the local JCPennys. I don't know if these are still offered anymore but I think the age of 10 might be a little late to learn manners!

It has been a very interesting road teaching my little boys manners. We started off with the "thank yous", "please", and moved from there to the "yes ma'am and no sirs." We are still working on the ma'am and sirs but they are coming along. In the last couple of months or so I have noticed that we needed to work on table manners. We started off with what we thought to be the obvious - asking to be excused from the table when finished. Sometimes they forget and have to return to the table to ask. But tonight when I saw my older son cram a half piece of garlic toast into his mouth I realized that we had some serious work to do with table manners. Now this seems like it would be rather easy, but for some reason my boys seem to think everything is a contest and/or funny! How funny is it that I can cram this much food in my mouth? I can beat you eating my peas! So tonight we explained to Cole that you need to take smaller bites and chew with your mouth closed, etc, etc, etc... Well it became a contest between the two boys since Franklin didn't want to be left out on the manners. In between the serious discussion of what is correct and not correct we have Franklin demonstrating to us the not correct with "isn't this funny, Dad?" Then it became a contest between the two of "he's not chewing with his mouth closed" or "I did it right but he still isn't." If nothing else, we do not have boring meals at our house!! There are other issues with manners that has shown me there is a HUGE difference between raising a girl and raising two boys....but that is another post!

So for now the doctor is out....checking to see if they have those "Mr. Manner Classes" for young boys because their mom is going nuts trying to do it on her own!

Mommy's Little Helper

When I was growing up there were definite distinctions between the "women's work" and the "man's work" within the household. This has never set well with me. I remember that my sisters and I always did the cleaning, laundry, and dishes as our chores and my brother did the garbage, mowing the lawn type things. Clearly the work load was not even!! I don't think my brother ever loaded the dishwasher. I don't even remember my dad loading the dishwasher until after he retired!!

I tried to teach my daughter that work was work and there are no distinctions; what has to be done can be done by either sex. When I remarried and gained a step-son, I also tried to impart this knowledge upon him. That was extremely difficult since his mom did everything for him and didn't ask much from him as far as chores. I remember asking the two teens to clean the kitchen after a meal when this 14 year old boy kindly informed me that cleaning the kitchen was "womens' work!" Wrong thing to say to me!!! Needless to say I won that battle and he helped his step-sister clean the kitchen on a nightly basis throughout the summer when he visited.

WHile my daughter was in jr/sr high school I went back to work. I love working outside the home. I worked a full time job and taught at UALR one to two evenings a week. Doing what I loved left very little time for housecleaning so I suggested to sweet hubby that we hire someone to come in and pick up my slack.....well, anyone who knows my sweet hubby knows that he doesn't like spending money unneccessarily!!! So instead of hiring someone he decided he could pick up the slack on my end, which was fine with me. He made sure the house was clean, laundry done, etc, etc...

I left the work world to finish my doctorate and took back the reins of housework (however, we really share this chore). Then I was blessed with two little ones and going back to the work world wasn't an option for me when I finished my degree. Now I am in charge of teaching these two little boys that there is no gender difference in work. We all must do our share. For the older child, Cole, this has been a hard concept to learn since he frequently sees his biological mom and she does not make him take care of himself (pick up toys, clothes, etc). But for my younger son, Franklin, cleaning is a joy to him. He loves to help "clean the house." He lets me know that he has picked up his toys or he has taken care of his laundry. Now that he is four, he wants to run the vaccuum and sweep the floor. He is going in the right direction and someday will make a great husband helper to a sweet girl.

For now the doctor is out....helping Franklin clean the house!

My Friend, My Sister.....You are Remembered

May 1, 2005

Our family was changed forever....how could this be? What?! What do you mean she is gone?! How can this be? She is so young, she has a family who needs her, who loves her, who can't go on without her... IT IS NOT OK AND IT WILL NEVER BE OK AGAIN....NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.....LIFE IS SO UNFAIR....NOT HER, NOT OUR BABY SISTER....NOT TAYLOR'S MOTHER.....


Octbober 30, 1963, born two months premature was twins - a little boy and a little girl. The doctor says they may not live since they are only 4 and 3 lbs. One month in the hospital, then they come home - healthy at 5 lbs. Constant round the clock feedings to keep them healthy. Overprotectiveness to keep them healthy. Strong, healthy children as the years go by.

Our Robin is fierce, strong, and independent. A little fireball but still so sweet. She has plans for her future: college first, then marriage, then children. Broken hearts along the way because they didn't fit into her map of life. Finally, at 29 years of age she finds the love of her life, Michael, and together they bring the second love of their lives into this world... Taylor.

Something is wrong. You think this weight gain is caused by a tumor? You are looking in my lungs? Wait, what do you mean I might have bone cancer? Oh, I do have a tumor....you are going to operate on me....you mean it is at the base of my brain....the pituitary gland? Oh, it is very small and you don't know if you got it all. A year later....it's grown back?! You mean I have to do this surgery all over again? I don't know....it is so hard...you still don't think you got it all...what now? You can't go back in again...oh, it will kill me if you do....yes, I will watch myself....I will be careful. ANother surgery? The adrenal glands have to come out....this can't be happening again. If I must, I must. More MRI's, more tests, things seem to be ok....for now.

Ten years to be a mom is not enough especially if you are a mom to a special needs child. But what a mom she was. Such a special bond between child and mom....Taylor always knew when things were about to happen to Robin...Taylor would hover close by -not wanting to leave her side...Now Taylor looks to heaven to talk to his mom...My mom is in the clouds wih Jesus....My mom is in the hospital in heaven....she is sick and can't come home now... Taylor talks to his mom here on earth...Who are you talking to Taylor? Dad, mom is right over there, she said we will be ok, she loves us and she wants us to be good. We'll be good for you mom, we love you mom, don't leave me mom....

Three years ago today.....a loving husband lost his wife, an adorable autistic son lost his mother, parents lost a daughter, and siblings lost their sister....

For now the doctor is out....remembering and oh so greatful to have known and loved her...