Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Sequel
FYI - Owen tends to go shirtless when he is at home. I don't know if I should attribute this to fabrics bothering him or not but regardless, he gets home from school on Friday and doesn't put one on until Monday morning unless we are going somewhere. The weekend uniform (since age 6) has been pj pants. He has recently had a growth spurt and when he got up from the dinner table I laughed and told Donn "we REALLY need to get him some new pants" Owen chimed in and said yeah can we get the sequel to these pants. LOVE HIM!
100 years of Girl Scouts
Today was the birthday bash celebration for girl scouts. It was a lot of fun, a little (a lot) over crowded. But I am proud to report that the 6 scouts that I took were impressively well behaved. All of them. I am a lucky leader. 
Thursday, March 29, 2012
THE BEST PRINCIPAL
I LOVE MR. SCHULTE! I REPEAT I LOVE MR. SCHULTE!
Tonight was the performance of the Boone Trail Singers and I was so excited. Owen has performed one other time with the BT Singers, at Boone Trail Days, and he did really well. His only downfall that day was that he sat down, but overall it was a BIG WIN.
Today he walked across the stage and looked out and SHEER PANIC washed over him. It was so sad to see it. I recorded it, because I am that mom and it was my plan to record it anyway.
Heres how it went down, all the kids walked on stage (there is about 30 or so) and Owen was about in the middle. I looked down for 1 second and looked back and he was gone. Donn and Mamaw and Papaw and Brooklynn and I exchanged looks and searched the group seeing where he would pop up - cue the principal arriving on scene gently guiding Owen giving him a little pep talk and convincing him to stand on the steps. At this point I didn't yet know what the problem was. Then the first song came and I saw the pleading begin. He was starring at me silently PLEADING that he "couldn't do it". Song #2 was no better, the pleading continued and it seemed cruel to make him stand there. Donn and I headed toward the back of the stage. The principal was already there with him and he was encouraging him to "just stand in the back, no one would see him and he could still do it". Donn and I sat on the floor in the back and watched from the back and smiled our support. Thsi is where, in his shirt and tie, the principal sat on the floor and held Owen's hand and gave him the support he needed.
I don't know another person that would have shown Owen that kind of love and support and patience and kindness.
Mr. Schulte is a wonderful person and a wonderful principal.
Tonight was the performance of the Boone Trail Singers and I was so excited. Owen has performed one other time with the BT Singers, at Boone Trail Days, and he did really well. His only downfall that day was that he sat down, but overall it was a BIG WIN.
Today he walked across the stage and looked out and SHEER PANIC washed over him. It was so sad to see it. I recorded it, because I am that mom and it was my plan to record it anyway.
Heres how it went down, all the kids walked on stage (there is about 30 or so) and Owen was about in the middle. I looked down for 1 second and looked back and he was gone. Donn and Mamaw and Papaw and Brooklynn and I exchanged looks and searched the group seeing where he would pop up - cue the principal arriving on scene gently guiding Owen giving him a little pep talk and convincing him to stand on the steps. At this point I didn't yet know what the problem was. Then the first song came and I saw the pleading begin. He was starring at me silently PLEADING that he "couldn't do it". Song #2 was no better, the pleading continued and it seemed cruel to make him stand there. Donn and I headed toward the back of the stage. The principal was already there with him and he was encouraging him to "just stand in the back, no one would see him and he could still do it". Donn and I sat on the floor in the back and watched from the back and smiled our support. Thsi is where, in his shirt and tie, the principal sat on the floor and held Owen's hand and gave him the support he needed.
I don't know another person that would have shown Owen that kind of love and support and patience and kindness.
Mr. Schulte is a wonderful person and a wonderful principal.
The Best Gift
This morning I work up more than an hour before my alarm clock. Let me start by protesting this experience. This is a huge punishment on most days. I need as much sleep as possible, I don’t sleep well on a normal basis so to take any of the little bit I get away is a cruel joke. This morning I decided to treat myself. I took my cell phone (which is my alarm clock) into Brooklynn’s room and crawled into bed with her. Last night she wanted to lay with me and I didn’t so good so I sent her away. I felt a little guilty but she kicks and spins and just generally hard to sleep with. BUT in the early morning when she is sleeping her soundest she sleeps like a rock. I crawled into her bad and she rolled over and said “You’re the best mom ever, I love you” (THAT WAS THE BEST GIFT, GREATEST WAY I COULD HAVE STARTED MY DAY) I actually was able to grab a few more winks sharing her twin bed cuddling up with her. Time is short, I’m sure there will be a time when she will send me away, I’m going to grab my moments now while I can.
Play Date
I’m impressed with my kids taste in friends. (At this time I am going to say a little prayer that this continues their entire life, but please Lord, PLEASE LORD! Let it continue thru the difficult teen years and early twenties) Anyway, This photo is Brooklynn chilling on the deck with a newer friend from Girl Scouts. She lives in the neighborhood and is just a really SWEET girl. My favorite part of this play date was their relaxed “we are actually grownups” style.
Do you love me Yes or No
Since Carys started coming to our house after school she and Owen have become very good friends and as a result Brooklynn has become a bit jealous. She gives Carys a hard time about ‘loving’ Owen and Owen a hard time about ‘loving’ Carys. This is all fine and well as far as I’m concerned. Owen thinks she is wonderful and has flatly told her “you are my second best friend”. Gotta love the specifics, I have ranked you and you are number 2. But it wasn’t meant as hurtful and Carys, thankfully knows Owen and knows him well enough to recognize this as the genuine compliment that it was.
Yesterday Carys decided that she needed to get the bottom of the teasing that Brooklynn was sending her way and clear up any mixed messages. She pulled Owen aside and addressed the issue with a note. See note below:
I love that we as moms are tracking this relationship from the beginning. One day, if they end up together they will either love that we have done this or resent that we were so mettlesome. Oh well, you have to give them something to talk to their therapist about, right?
Yesterday Carys decided that she needed to get the bottom of the teasing that Brooklynn was sending her way and clear up any mixed messages. She pulled Owen aside and addressed the issue with a note. See note below:
I love that we as moms are tracking this relationship from the beginning. One day, if they end up together they will either love that we have done this or resent that we were so mettlesome. Oh well, you have to give them something to talk to their therapist about, right?
Little Scientists
At Girl Scouts this week we were “Home Scientists”. It was fun to watch the girls get excited about the different experiments (okay, it was fun for me to be so excited about the different experiments). We are fortunate to have a group of moms with a wide variety of backgrounds and one of the moms is a biologist (I am super impressed by this because science was never a strong subject for me, but one I always liked) and she brought in coats and gloves and safety glasses for all the girls, can you say EXCITING!
Temple Grandin
I attended an Asperger’s/Autism lecture a few weeks ago held at Lindenwood University and I was moved to tears. Temple Grandin was inspiring and insightful. I was given a needed boost that we are moving in the right direction with Owen and my biggest question “How and When should I tell Owen about his Asperger’s?” was answered.
Temple said (and this is super paraphrasing, so please Temple, do not sue me) “I hate it when 12 years come up to me and tell me about their autism or Asperger’s, I want to hear about their science projects! AND they better have pictures of it on their IPODS!” Everyone clapped at this. I took it as, who cares when as long as when you do they know this is NOT who they are it is just a part of who they are, it DOES NOT DEFINE THEM. I’m not closer to deciding how or when I will tell Owen but I have less of a need to tell him. I am in no hurry. I know what dies define him is his overall GREATNESS.
Temple said (and this is super paraphrasing, so please Temple, do not sue me) “I hate it when 12 years come up to me and tell me about their autism or Asperger’s, I want to hear about their science projects! AND they better have pictures of it on their IPODS!” Everyone clapped at this. I took it as, who cares when as long as when you do they know this is NOT who they are it is just a part of who they are, it DOES NOT DEFINE THEM. I’m not closer to deciding how or when I will tell Owen but I have less of a need to tell him. I am in no hurry. I know what dies define him is his overall GREATNESS.
Not Too Hot
Since Brooklynn wastes the shampoo it has forced us to put the shampoo on the high ledge in the shower. It’s a bummer because even though the kids are old enough to clean themselves we are still forced to go in and give them shampoo. It isn’t all bad because a good mom hair wash is needed every couple of times. Let’s be honest, a kid just doesn’t do as good of a job. The other day Owens shower lasted all of 8 seconds and I barely made it into the bathroom to get the shampoo. He had the water off and I hustled him back in to his “mmmoooommmm” complaining. I turned on the water and he instantly started in with the “not so hot”… Really Owen, do you think I’m going to singe your skin, my entire arm is in the water. I tell him “Owen, it isn’t that hot” He responded with, “Hot water will raise my blood pressure”
WHAT!?
Okay, I had to go there, “Owen, where did you read that?”
Owen “I learned it on Wii Fit, it asked me if I wanted health tips, I said yes” The best part, he hasn’t played Wii Fit in 12 months. I wonder how many luke warm or down right cold showers this kid has taken to avoid high blood pressure?
WHAT!?
Okay, I had to go there, “Owen, where did you read that?”
Owen “I learned it on Wii Fit, it asked me if I wanted health tips, I said yes” The best part, he hasn’t played Wii Fit in 12 months. I wonder how many luke warm or down right cold showers this kid has taken to avoid high blood pressure?
The Shower Death Trap
Brooklynn is a shampoo waster! She drizzles it on the shower floor and splashes in it creating this bubble haven that she plays in. She fills the shower cup with shampoo and water and pours it out and plays making even more bubbles. She thinks this is just the best time ever. I hate the wasting sure, but even worse then that the soapy floor becomes a DEATH TRAP for the next person to step into the shower. As the first person up in the morning I now have to step into the shower on high alert ready to brace myself for what might happen! DANG IT! We have taken steps to correct this but seriously one slip and you can never relax in the haven that is a hot shower again. SO SO SAD!
Moves Like Jagger
We went to an 80’s Girl Scout dance and Brooklynn BUSTED out some amazing moves. It was a great time.
A Hero Named Jesus
I do what I can to own my short comings, I promise. I fail, on a regular basis, to look thru my children’s backpacks. I think this is for two reasons.
1. They are gross, especially Brooklynn’s. She uses it as a catch all and thing or piece of paper that makes it to the bottom of the bag ends up covered in food crumbs (YUCK)
2. They are both really good about doing their homework, so if it’s important to go back they are on top of it.
The down side, I sometimes miss the great stuff that they bring. Well I don’t miss it, it’s just delayed.
I digress… Over spring break I decided to PURGE the beasts that are the backpacks and emptied them (After I emptied Brooklynn’s I actually had to bring the vacuum cleaner out and VACUUM out the bottom of the backpack, she has major issues). I looked at every piece of paper. I gave Owen the riot act for every paper that he didn’t get 100% on and gave Brooklynn a high five for anything that was nearing a C. They are different students and should be treated differently. Anyway, I was awe struck when I found this in Owen’s stack of papers:
The best part, it had clearly been hanging on the wall of his class room or hallway. I was pretty proud of his outlook and insight. Owen, he’s my Hero too.
1. They are gross, especially Brooklynn’s. She uses it as a catch all and thing or piece of paper that makes it to the bottom of the bag ends up covered in food crumbs (YUCK)
2. They are both really good about doing their homework, so if it’s important to go back they are on top of it.
The down side, I sometimes miss the great stuff that they bring. Well I don’t miss it, it’s just delayed.
I digress… Over spring break I decided to PURGE the beasts that are the backpacks and emptied them (After I emptied Brooklynn’s I actually had to bring the vacuum cleaner out and VACUUM out the bottom of the backpack, she has major issues). I looked at every piece of paper. I gave Owen the riot act for every paper that he didn’t get 100% on and gave Brooklynn a high five for anything that was nearing a C. They are different students and should be treated differently. Anyway, I was awe struck when I found this in Owen’s stack of papers:
The best part, it had clearly been hanging on the wall of his class room or hallway. I was pretty proud of his outlook and insight. Owen, he’s my Hero too.
Father Daughter Dance
This is the THIRD year that I have asked Donn to take Brooklynn to the Girl Scout Father Daughter Dance. To me it is a no brainer. If there was a mother-son event, I would be all over it. Owen would have to beg me not to drag him there. This year I finally convinced him. I was super pumped. A few days before the event I suggested he take her to dinner and make a date night, he declined, just not feeling the greatness that is “the Father-Daughter Dance”. The day of the dance comes and he changes his mind, they are going to go to dinner. Brooklynn has a new dress (a Christmas present from Mamaw) and shiny black shoes. I paint her nails and curl her hair – it is important to her that I do her hair with the same number of curls that I had when I married Daddy – “that’s how he likes hair mom”. She looked so pretty! Donn got her a corsage that matched her dress perfectly.
The absolute BEST part of the night, hands down, no question… Donn said when they got home “I regret not taking her the last two years, we had a great time, we danced all night”. I wasn’t glad in the “I told you so” kind of way, I was glad in the IT WAS THAT GREAT – kind of way… A memory was definitely made. The second best part when Owen & I got home (we decided to go on a date too, we went to dinner to Angel and Carys) Donn and Brooklynn were cuddled up on the couch together. AWESOME!
The absolute BEST part of the night, hands down, no question… Donn said when they got home “I regret not taking her the last two years, we had a great time, we danced all night”. I wasn’t glad in the “I told you so” kind of way, I was glad in the IT WAS THAT GREAT – kind of way… A memory was definitely made. The second best part when Owen & I got home (we decided to go on a date too, we went to dinner to Angel and Carys) Donn and Brooklynn were cuddled up on the couch together. AWESOME!
Screw You!
The entire family has started playing Words With Friends (scrabble-like game via the internet) and it has been a great way to keep us all connected. Anyway, Owen loves it because this is the only avenue that he has to TEXT! And we all quickly realized that he is a trash talker. He plays a word, he sends you a text “take that”. Stuff like that. About a month ago Kaelyn called Donn really upset. She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or if she should cry. Owen played a word and then texted her “Screw You”. She thought for sure Owen’s account had been hacked because there was no possible way Owen would use such language ever, but especially toward his big sister, whom he adores.
We walk into his room and ask him, "did you just text your sister, ‘Screw You’?”
Owen: “Yes”
I think at this point Donn had to walk out of the room because he could not control his hysterical laughter, yes, looking back it was so shocking it was funny. But COME ON, he’s impressionable, we had to go in guns blazing,
Me: “Do you know what that means?”
Owen: “No”
Me: “It means you don’t like them, you want them to go away and you think they are jerk, it is a BAD word”
Owen: “oh, then screw it”
Me: “NO! that is a bad word too! The only time you should ever use the word SCREW is when you are talking about TOOLS!”
Owen: “Okay”
There was no way I was going to explain anymore definitions of screw to my 9 year old.
Fast forward about 5-10 days. Owen explains over dinner that he is nervous about the speech that he will be giving the following day. I am instantly irritated that over DINNER I am finding out about a speech and we are now going to have to scramble to prepare for it. I search in his stack of papers and when I find if comment (something) and Owen responds with “atleast we’re not screwed”. I almost lose my mind! Dad is quick to jump into what he sees is going to because WWIII at our house and he says “you don’t realize he just repeated you do you?”
Me: Oh.
Well, don’t I feel small.
We walk into his room and ask him, "did you just text your sister, ‘Screw You’?”
Owen: “Yes”
I think at this point Donn had to walk out of the room because he could not control his hysterical laughter, yes, looking back it was so shocking it was funny. But COME ON, he’s impressionable, we had to go in guns blazing,
Me: “Do you know what that means?”
Owen: “No”
Me: “It means you don’t like them, you want them to go away and you think they are jerk, it is a BAD word”
Owen: “oh, then screw it”
Me: “NO! that is a bad word too! The only time you should ever use the word SCREW is when you are talking about TOOLS!”
Owen: “Okay”
There was no way I was going to explain anymore definitions of screw to my 9 year old.
Fast forward about 5-10 days. Owen explains over dinner that he is nervous about the speech that he will be giving the following day. I am instantly irritated that over DINNER I am finding out about a speech and we are now going to have to scramble to prepare for it. I search in his stack of papers and when I find if comment (something) and Owen responds with “atleast we’re not screwed”. I almost lose my mind! Dad is quick to jump into what he sees is going to because WWIII at our house and he says “you don’t realize he just repeated you do you?”
Me: Oh.
Well, don’t I feel small.
Carys!
I need to introduce Carys as she will surely be a recurring character in this blog. As Brooklynn’s long time BFF and daily visitor to the Longwell house most stories and events include her. I feel like she is another daughter and her mom, Angel, has become one of my closest friends. When a few days go by and I don’t see one or both of them I get lonely and so do my kids. Both girls fit into my family just perfectly, Donn harassed Carys like she is his and Angel like the sister he never had. We cook together, craft together, visit and support each other. Having this close friendship fills me with gratefulness. As a bonus, her family is wonderful to Brooklynn, her first time fishing was with them at their family farm. How great is that!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Play Outside... Who is this kid?
Anyone that knows Owen, even a little bit knows he is the definition of an "inside kid". Sure, his love of electronics lends itself to the indoors but add in his allergies to all things that grow and not a huge passion for playing sports (or with others), I practically have to pay him to play outside [NORMALLY].
Out of the blue yesterday Owen walks out of his room and says "I'm going to play outside, is that okay?" Once I regained my composure I sent him outside and watched him from the window. He took Brooklynn with him and stood outside for a second or two. Then he came back in and asked if he could invite our neighbor outside. 2 minor miracles in one day.
He played outside for about 30 minutes and then came back in. Then about 2 hours later he went back out. Then again after dinner. THREE trips outside. On the third trip I went out with him and we played catch and he hit the whiffle ball with a bat. It was praise worthy.
He played outside for about 30 minutes and then came back in. Then about 2 hours later he went back out. Then again after dinner. THREE trips outside. On the third trip I went out with him and we played catch and he hit the whiffle ball with a bat. It was praise worthy.
Welcome Back to Blogging
So I haven't blogged in more than a year. I realize that I can't realistically catch you up on months and months and months of the goings on in my family, so I will pick up with the now and hope that best friend rules apply (you never have to explain why its been so long when you call a best friend after a hiatus).
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