spring is here

The weather has been in the 80s and we have been outside! We made cookies, decorated for Easter, went to Otts for lunch and had the BIGGEST meatballs ever, and did some Spring shopping.

Connor is playing on a small Spring hockey league. He plays three games a week and runs home to check his stats posted online. I asked him this week what he wants to be when he grows up and he still says, "A hockey player". He is growing up too fast. He is really responsible for his age and is a wonderful older brother. I was watching out the window this week and some boys were being mean to Jaxson and Connor started throwing punches. I love Connor for how responsible and mature he is but I hope he isn't missing out on his childhood years. I want my kids to be as young as they can and enjoy it. Connor is finally old enough that when we read scriptures in the morning I ask him to explain to me what the story is about and what is happening and he can discuss them with me and is really understanding what he is reading. He left for school this morning and about 10 minutes later I heard banging on the front door. Connor was at the door with his face bright red. He had forgot his lunch and ran home to get it. I felt so bad for him that he was so worried about his lunch that he ran all the way home. I remember being his age and getting to school and realizing I forgot my lunch. I could just see the same panic and upset on his face when I opened the door. Painful to remember emotions you felt as a child when you see it on your childs face.

Jaxson has the biggest heart. He is so affectionate and emotional. I have been in a disagreement for over a month now with his school teacher. She called me in for a parent meeting a month ago and expressed to me that she thinks Jaxson has ADHD. I am willing to listen and try to see all points of view from anyone that spends time with any of my children but I have AGONIZED over deciding to classify Jaxson at school as ADHD. I made a decision NOT to classify Jaxson and NOT to put him on medication as recommended by the school teacher. I made this decision after many hours of prayer, fasting, and talking to a handful of close friends who are professionals in both education and health care. I am humble enough to admit that yes, Jaxson doesn't seem to understand personal space and often times, he invades others, yes, Jaxson has a VERY hard time fitting in, yes, Jaxson is different but we L-O-V-E him for who he is and wouldn't change him with medication for anything in the world. So, we spend extra time every night helping him with his school work and I will be spending more time with him at school helping him. Being a parent is the HARDEST job in the world because it means being totally selfless and loving another being so much that it just hurts to see them not well. The hardest part is loving your children so much that you just can't understand how others can't love them the same way. I started 6 months ago reading scriptures with my kids every morning before they go to school and while they sit there with blank looks on their faces, I know one day they will remember our mornings and I hope they know I did it every morning out of pure love for them.

Carter has hit the terrible twos. This week was hard. He is pushing all the limits and is at that age when you tell him no, he looks at you and pushes it just a little bit. Just to see what he can get away with. He has a little friend on our street that he loves. He says her name first thing when he wakes up in the morning and tonight he told me, "Carter love Lee Lee". I have some extended time off from work so we have been getting out as much as we can. Carter loves going on walks and driving his powerwheels. This week we started singing the ABC song and I am amazed at how fast he picked it up. I have been trying to work on his colors with him but when I told him that the color was red, and not blue like he was saying, he threw the puzzle piece at me. (gotta love terrible twos that start before the kid is two) And remember a few months ago when I posted that I was so proud of him for telling me when he needed to go to the bathroom? That has ended and now he lies when I ask him if he needs to be changed. He always tells me no and gives me a disgusted look for even asking him that question. His hair is growing so fast now and this week with the heat he had curls from the humidity. I love his little kisses when I get him out of his crib in the morning and that he says, "I love you too" when I tell him I love him.

The dog got his Spring shave this week. He is still such a sweet dog and waits until someone falls asleep to lay next to them for a rest. Now if he would stop rolling in the grass, he would be the perfect dog.

We miss our family members and hope to see some of them this summer.