Diva

We're having a little problem with second grade. Last year, JJ had the sweetest teacher. She treated him like the favored grandchild. JJ has a tendency to get teary. In fact some little girl just called him a whiner and a crybaby. I can't say she wasn't correct. But anyway, last year his teacher would let him sit on her lap, or sometimes she would even let him call home from her phone. After a little coddling, he'd be ok and go back to his desk.

This year, JJ is taken with sick days. At least a couple of times a week I get a call from the office.

JJ is in the office. He says he's sick. Can you come get him?

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't... But it's getting tiresome for me and for the office staff.

Last week JJ had a complete melt down at dinnertime. He was tired and hungry and just could not cope. He sobbed over his dinner plate. The Mister told him to eat and that he'd feel better... The Mister then proceeded to spoon-feed him. And happily, he became a different child.

Fast forward to an evening in front of the TV. This commercial came on...

And that is when it hit me. I think he's just being a hungry diva at school.

We talked to the office staff and they agreed to stash some healthy snacks for him. He has gone to the office for a Crisis Snack only once that I know of... And I haven't had a call to come pick him up in two weeks! YAY!

Christmas 2010

I know that December has come and gone...  It's nearly mid-January, but I still wanted to add a little blog post about our Christmas Holiday. 

Like any other family with children, the days preceding Christmas were full of excitement.  We took evening tours of the neighborhoods to check out the light displays.  We built snowmen.  We drank hot chocolate.  We speculated on who had been naughty--and if anyone had been nice...  We shopped, made lists, ate too much, and enjoyed each other (up until the point where we started to drive each other crazy!).

On Christmas Eve, with the elves peeking through the windows, we tucked The Buddies into bed.  Due to The Mister's brilliant idea of taking them to Jump On It, and then to the community swimming pool, the little guys were exhausted, and fell peacefully to sleep.  HRH and The Boy were another story...  Delay, delay, delay...  They were convinced that if they stayed up long enough, Santa would let them help with his midnight chores...  Like he would ever do that!  He doesn't even let me stay up to help!  So, after much complaining, they finally skulked off to bed.

A couple hours later, while creeping out to get a drink, I caught The Big Guy!  He had just emerged from the chimney when I unwittingly surprised him.  But he was a good sport.  He even let me take a picture or two, just to show the kids...

We had a fabulous day, full of fun and surprises.  Wishes were fulfilled, and the Lego-Building Frenzy has still not abated.  I think it's fair to say that a good day was had by all.

I hope your Christmas was as beautiful!

Fingers Crossed

It's the beginning of a new year.  A time when many of us reflect upon the previous twelve months.  Our choices, disappointments, and small moments of triumph.  A time to wish we'd done some things differently.  And a time to rejoice in unexpected good fortune.  It's a time of reflection, and an opportunity for self evaluation.

Today in church we had a lesson about the importance of resolutions.  Not exactly a typical topic for a Sunday lesson...  Usually, even if the content remained the same, the title of the lesson would read something more like "Goals" or "Achieving Personal Progression," alluding to something seemingly more enlightened than "lose that last 15 pounds."

I'm not a huge proponent of New Year Resolutions.  I guess my reasoning is that if you don't make them, you can't break them...  Possibly not the most insightful way of looking at it--but that's a pretty good indicator of my mentality regarding change.  Let's just say that I don't do change well.  Change.  I dread the possibility of it...  I avoid the impetus of it...  The whole thought of it makes me cringe, quite literally...

But, after pondering the Sunday lesson, I've decided that I do, in fact, have a desire to change a few minute aspects of my life.  So, here's my plan.  I resolve to lose weight, eat more healthfully, be kinder to those around me, learn something new, be more outgoing, make a new friend.  I plan to be more successful, be more creative.  Walk the dog, drink more water, learn a new skill.  Travel the world, read something amazing, influence someone for good.  I plan to cook from scratch, bake beautiful birthday cakes, and host amazing little get-togethers.  I'll meet all my new neighbors, always wear a smile, and be kind to the guy who allows his dog to poop on my lawn.  I'll plant flowers, create beautiful floral arrangements for the table, and nurture a fruit tree...  There...  I think that will do it...

And if you found any typos in the previous paragraph, you can blame it on my trying to type with my fingers crossed.  Because crossed fingers negate everything...  Right?