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.

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!

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.

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).

First Day of School

In preparing for the first day of school the kids had homework we completed last night, (yep before school ever started). But it was an easy worksheet about themselves. Owen’s was HILARIOUS. He had to complete the sentences.

     •Other people like me because I’m nice.

     •I like me because of my invisible tail. WHAT?

     •When I grow up I want to be a miner. Then he commented that he will need a pick ax too… again, WHAT?

He cracks me up.

So today was the first day….

I put on ‘em on the bus and as tradition would have it I drove myself to school and waited for the bus so that I could walk them to class. It is nice to see them get to class safely on their first day. It puts me at ease and I like tradition (I remember the small rituals from my childhood and I want my kids to have the same types of memories).

Brooklynn got off the bus and quickly told me she could walk herself. Rude….. Owen on the other hand was willing to let me walk him to class (he will be my favorite child for the whole day) He led us down the first grade hallway to Mrs. Jones class (his teacher from last year) he gave her a hug and then cut thru her class to the second grade hallway (this was something she suggested on Meet the Teacher Night. (he apparently liked the idea, because he was leading me… hopefully she on board permanently because he doesn’t change routines easily).

I took his picture in front of his classroom and then I looped back and got a picture of Brooklynn with her teacher.

The end of the day... I picked the kids up at school (they are in the afer school program),  and the stories started pooring out of them.  They both had great days.  The big deal of the (mom mistake 100 for the day) I told both kids to bring home anything in thier lunches that they didn't eat.  The thought process behind it was so I knew what they were eating, BUT Owen didn't drink all of his Gatorade so he put it back in his lunch bag and it spilled all over everything in his backpack, I have 30 pages from his binder on his first day of school hung with clothes pins in an attempt to dry it for school tomorrow. RESCUE WORK!

Meet the Teacher Night

The start of the school year begins with “meet the teacher night”. Owen has a teacher new to his school. She comes with “rave reviews” so I’m very excited. That, added with the blessings we’ve been given of such a great support system at his school (I wonder if every parent feels as lucky as I do? --- I know his principal and vice principal and nurse and counselor, and office staff, and teachers…. All care about him, not just pass him in the hall. SUCH A BLESSING!)

Anyway, Owen met his teacher and really liked her. He was very excited to find that he knew a lot of people in his class and there were several boy scouts in his class. AND the little girl that he had a crush on “his girlfriend” sits at his table. He was elated. It couldn’t have worked out better.

We also met his new speech and language teacher, a very nice lady that I know Owen will take a quick liking to. We saw his resource teacher, and said hello to his former first grade teacher (he was so excited to give her a hug) – I thought it was so sweet.

Then we met Brooklynn’s teacher. This was a quick stop, where Owen’s room was full and busy, we were the only people on Brooklynn’s room. This was nice because it allowed us to really meet her. Brooklynn didn’t recognize any of the names in her class, but I know she will make fast friends.

Back to the Routine...

Clearly I’ve taken the summer off. We have had a busy summer with vacations and activities.

Cabo San Lucas ---- We had a week long trip to Cabo San Lucas , Mexico . Very fun, Mamaw and Papaw went with us. Me & Owen parasailed together and Mamaw went too. We were all so brave. Owen is so funny. Before we ever left for Mexico we showed him pictures of parasailing making sure he was up for it, he said he was. He hopped into the harness, no issues. He waited until we were halfway up (300 feet over the Sea of Cortez ) before he informed me that he was (his exact words) “slightly afraid of heights”. Brooklynn was her usual self, a social butterfly, having never met a stranger; I don’t know where she gets it (wink, wink). She is such a funny girl. She never really ventured over the wall of the baby pool (which was the deciding factor in Donn and I enrolling the kids in swim lessons later in the summer). The trip was great, a little cooler then normal, but the FOOD!!! We are already planning next years trip.

Jazz Party ---- The next trip was just Donn & me. We flew to California to attend the Annual Johnson Jazz Party… Always fun. I of course get the added benefit of seeing all of my family. I get shopping with my sister & mom... meals with my dad…hanging out with my brother and nephews… it is a weekend of bliss that reminds me what I am missing. Bittersweet.

Girl Scout Camp ---- I guess you know you had a good time if you were too busy having the fun to take pictures. I had zero expectations (truth be told I was skeptical) but I had the most amazing time. Brooklynn & I spent 2 nights and three days at Camp Tuckaho . I was a camp counselor in Tuck East and she was a camper in Sacagawea (yep, we were not together). It was such a great experience; Brooklynn was such an independent little girl. We saw each other at meals and at the All-Camp Fire at night, but other then that she was on her own. No –“mom” tuck in. She lost her first tooth at camp. The counselors took care of it, contacting the tooth fairy and everything… I was really impressed with the little girls in my group (ages 7-12) – 20 of them. My favorite part … canoeing. I don’t think I will need to back with her next time, but I think this will be an annual trip for Brooklynn. She cried when she had to leave.

Swim Lessons ---- The need for all kids to swim lessons is crucial (in my opinion) but Brooklynn it is even more critical because of her intense fear of water. Originally Brooklynn was on the waiting list and only Owen was going to take lessons but I figured it was worth a try to take her and see if there was a “no-show”. Sure enough, she got in. Since she was third on the waiting list, I’m lucky that more people didn’t have the same idea. Swim lessons were four nights a week for two weeks. Their teachers were very well suited their personalities; patient when necessary but still insistent that they try the skill. The first five minutes of the first night Brooklynn sobbed, not wanting to get into the water then everything was sunshine and rainbows “I love swim lessons”. This ended quickly and the remaining classes where torture and tears, Brooklynn never putting her face in the water on her own. Her teacher would hold her and dunk her in the water (with her so it didn’t seem so mean). I watched Brooklynn on the last day I could still see the complete panic in within her at the idea of putting her face in the water. It made me sad to know that she has a guinene understanding on what it is like to go without breath. I wish I could take that memory away from her. My best hope is to help her overcome it. Owen was his challenging self (in a good way) He stood on the high dive “wanting to overcome his fear”. On his fourth trip up without ever jumping off, I followed him up (it is higher then I remember --- I was a little scared) I dropped him off the end to his teachers waiting arms. BOY WAS HE MAD!!! I clapped and praised him, and said, “but you overcame your fear” his response --- “No, you did it”. Only Owen would deduct credit from himself since he didn’t jump of his own free will. I asked him how it was and he said “It was intense”. I just love ‘em.

Back to School ---- So we are headed back to school. Both kids are ready, Brooklynn is excited. Supplies are purchased…. Meet the teacher night is tomorrow… Cross your fingers and hope that the beginning of the year starts smoothly…