Thursday, October 29, 2009

Life is tough

Vern had a bad day today.  When John called to say they were home from school. Vern was having a complete meltdown. No one knew what was going on.

When I got home he wouldn't talk nor do his jobs. Instead of saying do your jobs 25 times I implemented a new tactic. I said no dinner until 1/2 your jobs are done. OOOOHHHHH WEEEE did THAT hurt. Hit him where it counts - the dinner plate.  He threw a minor fit but it worked and he ended up doing his jobs.  When I decided he had done enough jobs to have dinner the other kids had all ready eaten. Vern started to throw another fit that the spaghetti noodles were gone. I just told him if his jobs had been done he would have been first for dinner and had noodles.  More tears...

Finally as he was sitting at the table looking at his food and pouting I got out of him what was REALLY going on. Seems that a substitute teacher at school told him he couldn't go to the reading party tomorrow as he hadn't read enough.  It devistated him. I mean Vern had taken initiative to read this week just because of that party and to be told he couldn't go really hurt him.  I got him calmed down and told him I would write an email and see what the problem was with him attending the reading party. I'll let you know the results when I find out how it went.

That seemed to calm him down after I told him I would write the email. I stressed that he had to tell me when something like this is bothering him so he doesn't get in trouble for acting out. Even though its hard to talk about things it is better than getting punishments for being naughty.  I hope he learned somewhat of a lesson.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Vern Ramblings

This is going to be one of those rambling posts that may go no where or somewhere. The mom is just in one of those moods...

I've been worried about his nose/sinus. He is still very full of goo even after the round of antibiotics and medicine. He takes Claritin for allergies anyway so its hard to give him any more medicine. I have been giving him cough and cold medicine and using Vic's at night. It seems to help him sleep if nothing else.

We are trying the list thing. That is going so-so. I still feel like I am saying do the list 50 times. If I don't "nag" he just goes off and dwadles. I plan to do some more tweaking of this to see if I can get better results. I'll keep you posted.

He did take the initiative this week to do his reading!!! He wants to attend the reading party and you must read 1 hour each week to earn your way into this party. Since this is the last week of the month he has almost made it and has actually been asking to read. Small but good steps.

We have been reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. I enjoy sitting through the torturous session of struggling to read  the words just because the book is so entertaining. This poor kid gets into all sorts of predicaments and its just funny.  Example: Greg is the kid and Rodrick is the older brother. Rodrick was going to give Greg $.50 to tie his shoes standing up. Greg bends over and Rodrick shoots him in the rear with a paint gun. Greg goes to tell his dad about it but dad wants to stay out of it and just tells Rodrick to pay Greg the money. Well Rodrick tosses the $.50 on the ground and Greg goes to pick it up and Rodrick shoots him in the rear again!

Told you it was going to be a rambling post. I'll end until next time.  Give your kids a hug!!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Vern's Monday

Poor Vern had a bad Monday.  He got in trouble in school bad enough to warrant a phone call from the teacher.  Seems like he had multiple offenses levied against him today.

To start off Vern and his little buddy were in a teacher's room squat boxing. I had never heard of this until his teacher explained this is when you squat down as the name implies and start boxing each other. I guess this is allowed outside but not in the classroom obviously. Vern had no good reason when I asked him why he did it. I started my be good lecture but I am sure it went in one ear and right out the other one. :-(

Then later on he was in the bathroom and decides to let out a blood curtiling scream.  I guess this echoed quite a way into classrooms and made quite the disruption. This too is frowned upon in school.

He gets home and does not do his homework, is dallying and fighting and mouthing off. Come to find out he stayed up until after 11pm on Sunday night. WTF!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!!? He still got into trouble for being naughty.

I asked him why and he said no one would put him to bed before then and his brother and sister were all ready in bed. I stressed that he needed to start making better choices even if no one would put him to bed he should go by himself as he is old enough. We made a hand sealed with a kiss promise so we shall see if he remembers this.

You knew we were due for a post like this and I'm sure Vern didn't want to disappoint... (rolling my eyes)  Let's see what the rest of the week brings.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

An undefeated season!!!

Vern's flag football team closed out their season with another win!  Undefeated season!!!!!

Great job coach and players.



Vern here playing safety.



Vern here playing quarterback. He did NOT know what to do as it was the only snap he ever had the ball. He freaked and tossed it at the first person he saw. They lost yardage and Vern felt terrible, especially when his dad yelled at him.

They ended up winning 14-0.  The opponents were quite a bit taller and had some good plays to pull on Team East but the kids did great. Our team had a couple great catches for large gains and even one touchdown.

Ann's volleyball team lost in first round of tournament. They should have won the second game but poor scorekeeping prevented them from winning. Maybe next year.

Friday, October 23, 2009

It's Report Card time.

The big day has arrived - first quarter report cards. I had a brief phone conversation with Vern’s teacher just to see how things were going. Here is what was discussed.


It was probably about what I expected, no big surprises as such. His reading has gone up a couple points from the start of the year so this is good but he needs to continue with decoding words. I told the teacher I strongly agree with this as he gives up if he doesn’t know the word. He makes stuff up instead of even trying to figure out the word. Keep doing what we are doing.

He is very respectful to all the teachers – THANK GOD.

He needs improvement with fellow students. He does not take at all to kids cutting in line in front of him and lets them know in no uncertain terms it will not be tolerated. I understand this but he needs to learn not to hurt kids.

We still struggle with responsibility. The teacher says it happens in class also. She stresses that trait is very much needed for 4th grade and I agree. She is trying a list at school to see if that helps. I think I should expand the list for him to include morning and evening at home.

He excels at Science. He even sometimes sits at the edge of his seat and leans forward on that subject. This gives me hope.

I think Vern will see his 9th birthday!!!

Monday, October 19, 2009

An 8year old view of being a police officer.

Vern had scouts tonight. It is always enjoyable to chat with him after these trips away because you never know just what he is going to say.  He was in rare form to start with as I had him shower before leaving for scouts.  While in the bathroom you can hear loud talking, some singing about a grandma (which he calls himself and I still haven't figured out why grand MA), banging on who knows what and various other grunting and little boy noises I am glad I do not have to view. So I knew I was in store for a story on his arrival home.

Vern got to visit the local police station tonight and learn about the various things a police officer does and what it takes to be a police officer. I asked him after, do you still want to be a police officer when you grow up. Yes he shakes his head OR and FBI agent. Why I ask?  Well mom if you want to become a police officer you have to take test and get tazered otherwise you can't be a cop. They have to know how it feels to be tazered and I don't like that or tests. If I go to college mom will I have to take tests to be a police man?

My answer is of course you must go to college. It will make it much easier to be a police officer or FBI agent if you go to college first. "Ok" he says as he buries himself under the covers and I am sure still wondering about the tazer.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Football Saturday

I am sure you anxious to know...

YES! Vern's team won. 14-0 They are still undefeated.  The team they played this week I would call the wickeds. They all had potty mouths. Vern said that one kid dropped the F-Bomb at him and everything.  I find that bad from a YMCA team with 8 year olds on it. Grumble.

Vern also told me he fumbled once because the ball was slippery from all the wet weather we have been having the grass was W-E-T. He brought home some nice and muddy clothes.  I am reporting all this second hand as I was at his sisters volleyball game. Yes her team is finally improving with consistent coaching.

After Vern's game they were off to his first college game. He was very excited. Vern had to tell me about the HUGE hotdogs he got to eat and some chili that was just ok. Hotdogs are one of Vern's favorite things in the world so a giant hotdog was like a bun full of heaven for him.  Unfortunately they lost but Vern still had a great time participating. I only have one picture but will post it anyway.



Vern was exhausted that night and even woke up with some nightmares. Here is hoping for a better night tonight.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

"NOT ME" Strikes Again

John the oldest had choir practice after school today so Vern and Ann came home on the bus alone. After school they are allowed a snack. Today I told them they could have cantelope and I would be there right after I picked up John.

So I get home and all seems good until John stumbles upon and upturned box of lunchmeat on the floor.  What happened here he asks? Ann proceeds to tattle that Vern was feeding the cats lunchmeat along with Vern eating this as his afternoon snack.

When I ask Vern what he was doing feeding the cat people food he gives me his most innocent look with big saucer eyes and says not me Mom!  I tell him to stop lying to me as there is chewed lunchmeat in the container from cats gnawing on pieces. I say you are in trouble and swat his behind. He runs off. NOT 2 minutes later (I am sure he is mad at his sister for ratting him out.) he pushes and scratches his sister badly in the laundry room.  So then mom the enforcer must again take action.

I proceed to wash his mouth with soap. You would have thought he was dying from all the drama!!!!!
So yes tonight was not a fun night but lets hope he shapes up for a day or so.

Sigh....

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Super Hero!

Vern is like a Super Hero. He swoops in and saves the day when you least expect it. Here is another example.


I got my hair cut this past weekend. I go to work and no one says anything. This is usually a pretty good indication people do not like the haircut. Well I had one person touch it and stick out their lip. I think that also counts as dislike anyway… The kids were at their father’s so they didn’t see me until Monday evening. Vern’s brother and sister see me and IMMEDIATELY make ugly sounds (similar to the sounds made in the vomit post) and proceed to tell me they do not like it. I walk away grumbling.

Later that evening I am tucking Vern in for the night. We are hugging and having our special talk time. He reaches up, touches my hair, gently twirls it around his fingers and says in his sweetest voice. “Mommy, I really do like your haircut.”

I am putty in his hands. He could have asked for that new Nintendo DS and he would have had it! Instead I say that is the nicest thing I have heard about my haircut today. I proceed to cover him with Mommy kisses and tell him he is THE best.

To me at that moment – He was my Super Hero Vern.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Football well you decide...

Today was Saturday and football day for Vern and crew. Let me show you what we were greeted with when we woke up.



As you can see there was no football in THIS weather. Broke all sorts of records on amount of snow and cold. Vern was able to go play in the snow with his proper snow gear I delivered to his dad's house so all was not lost.

Maybe next week we can back to football.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Sick.

Poor Vern...

I had a note in his folder tonight that his ear started hurting at 2pm at school. He cried all the way home on the bus (but he told me very quietly so no one could see him).  By the time he got in the house and his sister called me it was full blown Vern crying. I knew it was coming but I had wished it not to come true.

Vern has had a cold for a couple weeks now. It always turns into a sinus and or ear infection after that long. I was hoping this time he would get over it but no such luck. So I left work a bit early, rushed home, told them to grab their homework and back in the car and on the road again.

I stopped by Urgent Care around 5:20 just to "see" if we could at least put our names in line. No such luck; they were locked completely up lights off until promptly 6:00P.M.

So in the meantime I took them to get a quick bite to eat and got back about 10 minutes early to get in line.  Once you have been to Urgent Care a few times you learn the tricks. Being first in line is the BEST advice I can give anyone needing to visit Urgent Care. By 6:05 there were at least 4-5 patients behind us all in various stages of illness.

I told the nurse exactly what the problem was, doc came in looked in ears, felt lymph nodes, wrote a perscription and we were on our way in under 10 minutes. WORLD RECORD for Urgent Care!

Even the perscription pickup went quickly.  So my unexpected evening turned out ok.
Let's hope his ear recovers quickly and not to much pain tonight to wake him up.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Spiders

Ring Ring


V - Tearful whimpering

M - Hello?

V - Mommmmmmmm there is a GIANT spider in my room.

M - Did you kill it?

V - No, it got away. (more tearful sobs)

M - Go get the fly swatter and take into your room and start picking up and shaking things to see where he is. Hey Vern this is a great opportunity to get your room cleaned.

V - MOM, (totally ignoring what I just said) I can’t sleep in there tonight! It will crawl on me when I am sleeping and eat me. It was a wolf spider. (For those of you that don’t know, these are large brown spiders that JUMP great distances)


M - Good Luck finding him sweetie, I’ve got to get back to work now. I hope you find and get it.


When I get home there is my coupon container sitting in the hallway. I am wondering why my coupons climbed out of the cabinet and walked down the hallway??? I pick it up and there is a spider below the container. I make sure it’s dead by stomping repeatedly on it until some of its legs fly off, replace the container and proceed to find Vern.


M - Vern, did you kill the spider in your room?

V - No mom why?

M - There is a dead one in the hallway. Go look under my coupon container.


V - Nope NOT the spider I saw. The one I saw was this big (he makes one the size of half dollar in his hand).

M - Oh wow Vern that is a big one.

V - MOMMMMMM it REALLLLY was that big.

M - I sure hope he is dead somewhere. (As I am walking off to finish dinner.)

Little does Vern know I am TERRIFIED of spiders no matter what size they are. I think I will stuff socks under my door tonight so that d*mn spider doesn’t sneak into MY room and eat me!

V – Vern
M – Mom

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Vomit Boy

We are sitting at dinner the other night, having a lovely grilled steak, veggies, and potatoes meal. Vern is not so happy about the vegetables part and doesn’t want to eat them. He starts his gagging routine. (Yes this is not new for Vern.) I sternly look at him and say “DO NOT THROW UP because you don’t want to eat your vegetables!” I continue, “Take a small drink of water and smaller bites.” Again I have repeated this soooooooo many times I lost count after time 1 million. He continues with the faces and then BLURP out onto his lap begins to erupt dinner. I literally leap out of my chair looking for something to catch his volcanic activity. At the exact same time loud moans and groans and sick sounds begin emitting from the other two children.



“VERN IS GROSS”


“MAKE HIM STOP”


“EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW”

I manage to grab a bowl on the counter and sprint back to the volcano just in time to turn the chair away from the other people at the table, place the bowl under the eruption and catch the remaining surges of chewed up food, water and stomach acid. Such a lovely site and smell. I am sure if you have witnessed such events they are vividly pictured in your mind right now. (yes, please do thank me for that visual.) Vern is finally done and I have to find a place to set the bowl. The floor is not an option as the dog and cats will want to see what that lovely smell is in the bowl and taste the contents. (I am almost making myself sick just typing this…) Then the cleanup must commence. Of course he has a button down shirt on so I have to touch things I’d rather not touch. The pants are completely covered so I peel those off inside out. The chair cushion is also completely covered so it goes directly into the outside trash bin. (remember your trash guys at the holidays) Then the floor needs all wiped up and disposal of eruption. What a dinner…I have no idea how much time has passed but I am no longer hungry and have no desire to finish my once lovely meal.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

East ROCKS!!!

Yes that is correct - Vern's team won another one!

This team was the toughest yet. The opponent had enough kids on their team to make like 2 or 3 teams!




The blacks had the ball first but our team held them. This went back and forth for a couple times. Then East had a huge play. We threw a pass and our girl did a fabulous job catching as it was only around 47 degrees and the ball was hard!!! She scored and we went up 7-0.




It stayed that score until halftime.  Then in the second half we scored again and were up 14-0 but a couple of bad calls and soon the blacks had scored making it 14 -7.  Near the end of the game the blacks were driving and near the end zone.






The LAST play of the game they are trying some trick play lining all the people up on the left and hardly any people on the line. They hike and the 5 second rule kicks in... It looks like their team is going to throw when the quarterback runs it! OMG he is going to score  but MY VERN is on the line and saves the game. WOOT WOOT WOOT. He is the last person around and yanks the flag from the quarterback.




WE WIN!!!!!! 3-0 BABY.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

2008 Vern - The Tampon Story

So we are in church yesterday, it was the portion of church where you are standing and responding back and forth or the prayers I can't remember for sure. We are near the front as Ann picked the spot. I am trying to pay attention to what I am supposed to be doing and Nolan manages to start "snooping" in my purse. I am thinking all is well with the world (big mistake) and turn around to see Mr. Vern holding one of my tampons WAY up in the air and waving it like mad. He proudly proclaims to all in church with his typical loud voice "HEY MOM LOOK, I found an ear plug in your purse!" I am sure at this point my face says everything that needs to be said as I say GIVE me that and turn around so no one can see my face and I can pretend everything is normal the rest of the service. Ya right.