Thank you, Dear Sister.

Aunt Kelli and Uncle Larry got the boys a basketball hoop for Christmas.  The kind that attaches to the back of a door.  That, coupled with the hardwood maple floors in their bedroom, has turned bedtime into a full-court-press basketball game.  It's 10:30 pm, and my room is on the complete opposite side of the house, one story down.  All I hear at the moment is "thump thump thump thump".

Gee.  Thanks for that, Kel.

Gorging.... on the Wii.

Santa brought the chilluns a Wii U for Christmas.  They have been playing non-stop ever since.  I'm letting them get their fill, because once school starts.... nada.  Except on weekends.  So, knock yourself out, kids, because your time is short.  I expect them to resurface sometime around January 5th. 

Tonight, at 9:45 pm, the boys came out of the basement when I told them it was bedtime.

Quinn: "BEDTIME??????"
Colby: "But I haven't eaten DINNER yet!" (pause.  Wait for it.)   "OR LUNCH!!!"

Good grief.  The Wii U Gorge-fest is super-ceding all other bodily functions.  I hope they're at least stopping long enough to use the bathroom. 

Genetic Diversity (Or Lack Thereof)

They're not all in one place all that often, so when I caught THESE seven boys hanging out together at church the other day, I had to take a picture:

Colby said "Mom, I just realized that our Sunday School class has two sets of identical twins, and one set of identical triplets!"

You JUST figured that out?  It's been that way since pre-school.  Six years ago.  But, okay.  Yes.  He just realized.

Seven boys.  Three genetic codes.

That is pretty cool.

Fiction/Nonfiction

Again, dinner table conversation last night.

Dad was telling me how after staying up late to watch a movie on Saturday, the boys had snuck their blog books (made from this blog) to bed with them and were reading them all night long.  I reminded him that he gave Quinn Mountain Dew AND coffee not too long before bedtime, and I'm sure that had something to do with the late night. 

Dad: "No, my point is, they like reading their blog books."
Colby: "Are those books published?"
Mom: "Yes."
Colby: "Like for everyone?"
Mom: "No.  You are not secretly famous.  I make one copy of each book."
Colby: "Oh."
Quinn: "You totally make us sound dumb in there."
Mom: "No I don't!  I just write down what you say!"
Quinn: "Yeah, but I don't say it with 10 exclamation points and all capital letters and stuff."
Dad: "There may be some fabrication."
Colby: "Yeah, you totally make stuff up."
Mom: "No I don't.  I write it down as soon as you say it."
Quinn: "But you make us sound so dumb!"
Mom: "Not dumb.  Funny."
Colby: "And then you write little comments on the end, like you're rolling your eyes at us or something.  Did you not know we would read them?"
Mom: "Of course.  They're written for you.  As adults.  Someday."
Rob: "So, obviously written from a skewed perspective.  Like highly editorialized non fiction."
Mom: "Of course.  It's Life With Boys, the funny things they do and say, written from MY perspective".
Rob: "Well, you could take other perspectives into account."

SHEESH.  Family.  Give it a rest.  This is not CNN.  It's a Mommy blog, not objective journalism.

WRITE YOUR OWN DANG BLOG, if you don't like it!

Back Handed Compliment

Sitting down as a family at dinner last night.

Reagan: "Mom, are you on a diet?"
Mom: "Yes."
Reagan: "Why?"
Mom: "To get skinny."
Colby: "Mom, you're plenty skinny right now."
Mom: "WOW!  Thanks, Colby-man!"
Colby: "That's not a compliment.  It's just a fact."
Mom: "Still, that's nice to hear."
Colby: "I mean, there's LOTS of people that are fatter than you."

ANNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDD there it is.  Proceed with head deflating now.

Unexpected Tooth Loss

I'm on the lookout for Reagan to lose her teeth.  After all, she's "of the age", and the tooth fairy has visited her on several occasions.  I completely forgot, though, that 10 year olds can ALSO lose teeth, and don't yet have a full set of adult teeth.  So I was caught off-guard when Quinn informed Rob and I that he'd lost a tooth.  And that he'd put it under his pillow for THREE DAYS, and yet no tooth fairy had come.

I told him the tooth fairy was inept and not to take it personally.  Reagan learned the definition of the word "inept".

The next night, Quinn put his tooth in a bag, and had his stuffed Wizard Mickey not-so-subtly hold the tooth at the end of the bed.  There was no way the tooth fairy could miss that tooth this time. 

 

OK.  Got it.

Yes.  Inept. 

Letters to Santa... Kinda

They might be 10 years old and worldly-wise, but that doesn't keep them from writing out letters to Santa.  Well, maybe not ADDRESSED to Santa.  Just vaguely written out, and subtly folded and placed in our "Santa's Mail" decoration on the fridge.  Just in case, you know. 

Update

I notice I'm blogging about the boys on here less and less frequently.  Mostly, that's because they are quickly losing the "cute little boy" stage and turning into Tweens.  Tweens are not nearly as fun as little boys, and like to be sassy instead of cute.  Not so bloggable.   

Lots of changes at 10 years old.  The biggest change I've noticed is that the boys are really developing their individuality.  This has been a long time coming - just wish it weren't quite such a painful process physically.  There's a lot of punching and fighting going on, and that's really new for us.  Tussling... yes.  We've lived with that for years.  But this new "I want to be by myself" and "get away from me" and "I don't want to look like my brother" thing.... polar opposite of the "attached at the hip"-edness that we've seen for the past 10 years.

It's good that they're growing up, and finding out who they are as young men.  It's good that they're working hard to establish an individual identity and not just "one of the twins".  Just hope that at the end of the day, they still love each other just as much as they always have.  Because as much as their Dad and I love them, no one will understand them like their own twin brother. 

Twin Juice, Part Deux

Back somewhere about their 4th year, I found two little boys in the kitchen surrounded by a holy mess and the floors sticky.  They had informed me that they had made "twin juice" - the contents of which were far from delectable, but which they proudly drank anyway.

Fast forward six years, and here is my son Colby, still making Twin Juice.  This time, consisting of Capri Sun strawberry juice, sugar, agave syrup and water.  UGH.  He wrote down the recipe in his journal so he could make it again and again and again.

Yum. 

Saturday Night By The Fire

Something about the chilling temps and  a warm fire just invites reading a book aloud from a rocking chair. 

A News Story

For the same newspaper for the 5th grade, Colby had to write a news story about an important event in his life.  This is what he wrote:

"An important thing in my life was when I was born, because it is the beginning of my life.  When I was born I had a bad kidney, so did Quinn.  Mom was really worried.  The doctors couldn't do anything about it so we had to get rid of it, so we took out my kidney and I was fine but Quinn had two bad kidneys but the doctors healed it and all was well.  THE END."

Editorial correction by Mom:  The doctors did NOT heal Quinn's  second kidney.  Not by a long shot.  The doctors monitored Quinn's kidney from the University of Michigan, and waited for such a time that he would be old enough to do surgery.  Quinn's kidney healed miraculously before that second surgery was needed, and the doctors were stunned.  GOD healed Quinn's kidney.  Just thought I should give credit where credit was due, in the official record and all. 

"Meet My Hero"

Colby wrote a newspaper article for school.  He was supposed to write about someone who inspired him.  Here's what he wrote...

"Meet My Hero: My Dad"
My dad is the best dad ever.  He is funny, helpful, and awesome.  My dad is also an engineer, so he is good at engineering.  Another cool fact about my dad is that he built a plane by himself.".

 He also drew a picture of his dad, wearing an orange construction hat and looking very skinny (read: stick figure). 

I can feel Dad beaming from here. 

The Fight

Apparently the bad guy has gotten into my bedroom and ripped it to shreds.  A crime HAS been committed!!  This is what happens when a 10 year old boy gets ahold of Mom's iPhone. 

The Meanest Mom in the World

Colby was really, really, REALLY excited about the championship game of soccer last night.  REALLY.  To the point that, when he got his trophy, he told the entire team that his mom was buying EVERYONE ICE CREAM!!!  (Mom was not buying everyone ice cream).  And to the point that he wanted to shout it to the world that he got a REAL trophy, made of metal, not of plastic.  That's all well and good, but it was a really tough game, and a really tough loss for the competition, and you just don't go around rubbing it in people's faces.  Colby even went up to one girl on the opposite team, and literally shoved his trophy in her face an said "Eat THIS!".  Not cool.  Not cool at all.  I grabbed him away quick with an apologetic look to the girl's dad, and said "Colby, that is NOT okay."

"Yes it is," he said.  "I know her, so it's fine."

Still not fine.

So, today - when most of those same soccer players that played in the game last night turned up for basketball practice - the meanest mom in the world told Colby that he had to go apologize.  Face to face.  He did a half-hearted "I'm sorry" in her general direction when she wasn't looking or paying attention, and I told him that that didn't cut it.  He had to apologize to her face, and if he didn't, he would be grounded for three weeks.  Three. Whole. Weeks.

"Fine.  I choose grounding." He said.  That's how mortified he was.  Nope.  Wrong choice.  I then told him he could go up and do it himself, or I would DRAG him up there and "help" him apologize.  As he was not making a move independently, I carried through on my threat.  I dragged him by the hand until he was face to face with said little girl, and said "Colby would like to say something to you about last night."

"I'm sorry I shoved my trophy in your face." 

Poor girl was nearly as mortified as Colby.  But the deed was done, and that's what I cared about.  Her father, who had witnessed the original infraction and was there for the apology, said "Thanks for that."  Yes. 

Hopefully that was awkward enough all the way around that he will never never NEVER be unsportsmanlike again.

Reading and Whales

In the car this morning:
Colby: "I read a 700 page book."
Mom: "No you didn't.  I've never seen you read a 700 page book."
Colby: "I did at school."
Mom: "I don't believe that.  What book was it?"
Colby: "I read Moby Dick."
Mom: "You did not."
Colby: "Yes I did.  I read Moby Dick."
Mom: "What is the Captain's name?"
Colby: "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I don't remember."
Mom: "Right.  Ahab.  What is it about?"
Colby: "A whale."
Mom: "What kind of whale?"
Quinn: "Duh.  A DICK whale."

OK.  What do I say to THAT????

Overheard

Colby: "In all classic books, the main character dies in the end."
Quinn: "Really?"
Colby: "In Old Yeller, the dog dies.  In Charlotte's Web the spider dies."
Quinn: "Huh"
Colby: "In Babe, the pig dies."
Quinn: "The pig dies????"
Colby: "Yeah. I think so."

Wasn't there a sequel to "Babe" the movie?  Anyone? Anyone?

Little Louie

Quinn has been playing the trumpet for precisely 2 weeks now.  I think he's doing a bang up job!!  We may have an Armstrong on our hands!

Stats

10 Year Well Child Visits, a little late.

Here's the stats....

Colby: 69.4#, 4 ft 8.8 inches tall
Quinn  72.9#, 4 ft 7 inches tall.

Quinn claims he was slouching, and that's why Colby measures taller than he.  I don't know.  They BOTH seem to be growing (and growing up) so quickly, I'd like them to slow down a bit, thank you very much. 

Shopping on the Web

The boys, much to my chagrin, have discovered Ebay.
Their recent birthday fattened their wallets, and being the discriminating shoppers they are, they want the most bang for their birthday buck.  Walmart just wasn't cutting it.  Thus, Ebay.

I, of all people, know how addicting Ebay is.  As the penultimate bargain shopper, I have found myself in recent weeks the purchaser of things that I only barely need.  When that clock is ticking, though, and the bidding war begins... suddenly, I must.have.all.the.things. It's terrible.  Don't tell my husband.

Quinn and Colby have learned that if they are patient, and wait out a bid, there's a possibility of buying something used off of Ebay rather than paying full price new.  But they have ALSO learned that sometimes they get outbid at the last possible second, and the have to leave their dinero in their pockets.  This KILLS them.

Quote from Colby Aho, not three minutes ago:  "I can't bid anymore.  It's just too frustrating.  I can't stand it!!!!!  I'll just go to Walmart and buy it.  Oh wait!  Look at that one!!  Bid $2." (Sigh)

Taking a little too much after their mother.

Bickering, overheard.

Lots of family togetherness this summer.  It's leading to a near constant stream of bickering, and this mama has had just about enough.  As annoying as it is to listen to, sometimes it does make me chuckle.  Here was the conversation in the hot tub tonight.

Colby: "I must be the most attractive person in the whole world."
Reagan: "You're very handsome."
Quinn: "Stop it.  Why do you think you're attractive?  You're not attractive."
Colby: "Well, all I wanted was this hot tub to myself, but YOU TWO had to follow me in."
Quinn: "I didn't follow you.  I just wanted to warm up."
Colby: "You wanted to copy me."
Quinn: "No I didn't.  You liar."
Colby: "You're a liar."
Quinn: "I'm NOT A LIAR!!  You  know NOTHING ABOUT ME!!!!"
Colby: "I'm your friggin' brother."

The fact that they have spent nearly every waking and sleeping minute together for the past 10 years +9 months... yeah.  I'm sure they know nothing about each other.  Good grief. 

Has school started yet?????

From the Big Boy....

..... packing for his THREE WEEK LONG trip into the wilds of Montana.  His entire wardrobe fit in to one very small backpack. 

"I got two pair of shorts, five pair of underwear...."
You're going to be gone for THREE WEEKS.  In the woods!  Those shorts are going to walk themselves home.

"Yeah, well, I figure I can get four days a piece on the underwear."

Maybe it's a good thing he's travelling by himself.  We'll use the stench to locate him in case of emergency.

THANK YOU, Quinn!!!

Reagan: "Mom, when did God make me?"
Mom: "About six years ago, God put you in my belly."
Reagan: "Well, HOW did He put me in your belly?"
Mom: "uhhhhhhhhhhh.....
Quinn: "Reagan, you're not old enough to understand the answer to that question."
(Oh, and you are???  Just what do you know, young man?!?!?)

Reagan: "Yes I AM!  Mom, how did God put me in your belly?!?!"
Mom: "Well, uh, uhhhh, um....."
Quinn: "It's a miracle, Reagan.  Everyone knows that.  And miracles are mysteries, and you are just not old enough to understand that."
Reagan: "Mom, is that true?"
Mom: "Yes.  Yes it is."

End of discussion.

WHEW.  Dodged that bullet all the way around.

Auditory Creativity

Both boys thoroughly enjoy playing the piano.  And they both love to compose their own masterpieces.  I really do both have good ears.  Here's Quinn's creation from today....

The Achieving Student

For the record.... in the 4th Quarter of his 4th grade year, my son Quinn got STRAIGHT A's on his report card for the first time ever.  He even asked the teacher for extra credit assignments in math, because he was just a hair shy of the A he was working so hard for.  GOOD JOB, Quinn!!  We're awfully proud of how hard you've worked.  Colby raised his grade in every single class as well, getting all A's and two B's.  Such a turn-around from last year.  Thank goodness.

Now, I've got to buy the kid a video game (that's been our deal for the past four years.  Never thought I'd have to actually pay up.)

Ascension Thursday

To celebrate the Feast of the Ascension (and enjoy this new-fangled flaming ball in the sky called "the sun"), we had a special picnic.  Colby got bonus points, because when I asked what of significance happened 40 days after Easter, he nailed the right answer.  Woo-hoo for things sinking in.  Anways.  Our picnic incorporated bubbly liquids (because bubbles rise up, and there's no way Rob's going to have a picnic without beer), chicken salad sandwiches (because chickens have wings and fly) and fruit (because Christ was the first fruits of the risen).  (I'm using a lot of parentheses).  (Bear with me).

So we were at our picnic, and I was explaining the significance of our chosen food, when Colby began debating the merits of how we were celebrating.

Colby: "Chickens don't fly".
Mom: "Yes they do.  They have wings."
Colby: "Have you ever seen a chicken in flight?"
Mom: "Have you ever heard the saying 'flew the coop'?"
Colby: "No I haven't.  They don't fly."
Mom: "Yes, they do.  Just not very far, because they're so fat."  Editor's note: I have no idea if that's the actual scientific reason why chickens don't fly, but I'm the Mom and I was making a point, and they shouldn't be questioning me.

Colby: "And it's Thursday.  Why is there a feast on a Thursday?"
Mom: "Because it's 40 days after Easter."
Colby: "But there's nothing special about Thursdays."
Mom: "This one is special, because it's 40 days after Easter."
Colby:  "No, special days happen on Sunday."
Mom: "Christmas sometimes happens on a Thursday, but sometimes not."
Colby: "Is this ALWAYS on a Thursday?"
Mom (cogitating for much too long about this question): "I.....think.....so......  YES.  Yes it is, because Easter is always on a Sunday, so 40 days later will ALWAYS be on a Thursday."  (phew!)
Colby: "Thursdays aren't special days."
Mom: "They are if we say they are.  This Thursday is special."

Mom: "So, what happens FIFTY days after Easter?"
Quinn: "Something something."
Mom: "No.  Don't be sassy."
Quinn: "That's the right answer.  SOMETHING happened fifty days after Easter."
Mom: "What was that?"
Quinn: "I have no idea."
Mom: "Colby???? Do you know?  It has to do with tongues of fire."
Reagan: "TONGUES?  OF FIRE???  They would burn if you licked anything!!!"
Colby: "Oh.  The Holy Spirit came down."
Two bonus points for getting both the Ascension and Pentecost right.  Good job, Colby Man.
Colby: "Does that happen on a Sunday?"
Mom: (Again, cogitating much.too.long. on this question)  "Yes.  Because there's 7 days in a week, and 7 weeks between Easter and Pentecost.  7x7 is 49, and Sunday is the 50th day.  Always on Sunday."  So there.

And then we ate.  Lesson complete.  May they always think of chicken salad and beer on Ascension Thursday.

BLECH.....

I was sitting next to Quinn on the couch, when Colby came to join us. Colby: "Hey, Quinn! My back was itching, and I found the perfect back scratcher." Quinn: "Oh, that's cool." It took me a second to register all of this, as my attention was elsewhere. But then I happened to look over. To see my son scratching his mangy back with MY TOOTHBRUSH. UGH. BLEH. Yuck yuck yuck. Time for a new toothbrush.

Say what?!?!

Dad and the boys were playing football in the yard. Colby went out for a long one. He sprinted for the weeds (aka "the end zone") and yelled at the top of his lungs. "It's another HOMERUN!!!!"

This will make my sister cringe, our son's lack if sports knowledge. 

Just Want to Remember

This is why I blog. Nights like tonight. Reagan wanted a bed-time story, so she found her "special book" (her blog book from 2009) and curled up next to me in bed. As I was reading, here come her brothers, and we all snuggle up together, and laugh and laugh and laugh at Reagan's antics as a baby. Quinn and Colby both made a point of mentioning how much they preferred Reagan as a baby. They couldn't believe all the pictures of them hugging and kissing their sister. Colby suggested we have another baby, because Reagan was so cute and so much fun "it's not too late to have more". Yes, son. Yes it is. Unfortunately. So then Colby ran to get his and Quinn's book from the same year, and we laughed and laughed and laughed some more over those crazy boys and the totally wacky things they said and did as 4 year olds. And they ended up going to bed an hour late on a school night, because I just didn't want it to end. At one point, I read an entry where I was waxing philosophical on the "young family" stage being the best part of my life up until then. How everything I'd planned and hoped for and dreamed was leading up to that time of life... when our family was complete, and the kids were little and sweet. Colby just laughed and said "Well, that's all over now, Mom." Yes, I suppose it is, to a degree. But luckily, we stil have these rare, infrequent moments of pure joy, where we enjoy each other's company and just revel in being a family. Sentimental old fool, this mama is. But I want to freeze certain moments in time, so I can relive them again some day in the future. Because life is good, and I am happy.

Sunday morning Kung fu

Basketball camp

They run and play really hard. Those boys!

Overheard....

The boys were arguing with their sister.

Reagan: "I don't lie."
Colby: "Yes you do."
Reagan: "No I don't! I tell the truth!"
Colby: "You totally lie."
Reagan: "Un-unh!"
Colby: "Yeah, but you sin."
Reagan: "No I DON'T!"
Colby: "Mom, are you listening to this?  Reagan says she never sins."
Reagan: "What's sin?"
Quinn (very seriously): "Reagan, do you not listen in church?  'If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

Mom's jaw drops.

He was LISTENING in church???    Who knew????

Getting there

The new/old kitchen floor is coming out beautifully. It will all be worth the total havoc and disarray we're currently experiencing. 

The Birds and The Bees

I was greeted by a scowling husband when I walked through the door.

Rob: "The dog is in heat and I didn't feel like explaining it to the children.  I've left that for you."
Me: "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...."

I walk in to my bedroom to see Quinn on the floor, and Fergie humping his leg.

Quinn: "Mom!  She's going crazy!!  I don't know what she wants!  She's eaten, she's gone outside.  She's just weird!  It's scary!"
Me: "Don't let her do that to you."
Quinn: "Why? What's wrong with her?"
Me: "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............."
Quinn: "It's freaky!!  It's freaky!  Get off!  It's creepy!!  She's following me wherever I go!"

((sigh))

So apparently, Fergie's new boyfriend is Quinn's right leg.  Great.  That's.  Just. Great.

Addendum:  Fergie has followed Quinn around the house wherever he goes for the past 15 hours.  She even tried sleeping with him.  Quinn says its like he has an invisible ham tied to his leg.  So funny.  Quinn is inappropriately flattered by Fergie's attention, and thinks its pretty cool.  His first girlfriend.  Colby tried to lure Fergie away from Quinn by putting food in his pockets, but Fergie would have none of it.  Quinn won, paws down.  She's in love.

What's In A Name

I was cleaning house, and Quinn was trying to get my attention.  Like his mother does at times, he was accidentally calling me by the wrong name....

Quinn: "Dad!"
I didn't register.
Quinn: "DAD!"
Still no response from me.  I am finely tuned to block out all extraneous things not pertinent to me when I am cleaning house. 
Quinn *realizing his mistake*: "MOMICA!!"

That one got my attention.  And made me chuckle.  That's a first... Momica.  Pretty good, Quinn.  Pretty good.

Dem Boys are Gettin' SMART!

Half day of school, so mama and the sprouts hit the ski hill.  Cold and hungry afterwards, little miss was crabby and whiny as all get out in the back seat of the car.

Reagan: "MOOOOOOMMMMM.  I'm HUNGRY!  Can we go to a restaurant????"
Mom: "Let's go home and I'll make some dinner."
Reagan: "But I'm hungry NOWWWWW.  WAAAAHHHHHH.  This is the worst day of my entire life!!"
Quinn: "Reagan, stop it."
Colby: "Yeah, Mom doesn't have to take us out to dinner.  It's her money.  She can spend it how she wants to."
Mom: "Thanks, boys."
Reagan: "But then we'll STARVE!"
Quinn: "No, we can eat at home."
Colby: "Mom doesn't even have to cook for us, did you know that Reagan?  We can make our own dinner."
Mom: "WOW!  You boys are on a roll, there!"
Reagan: "I can't cook for myself!"
Quinn: "Can you believe that?  A five year old that can't make her own dinner?  What's wrong with you?"
Colby: "Mom just does that stuff to be nice to us, Reagan.  And you act like you expect it.  She shares with us and cooks for us."

Picture Mom in the front seat, in stunned silence.  But then.... there was the kicker.....

Quinn: "But Mom, you really do look tired.  Stopping by Little Caesars for a $5 pizza would save you a whole lot of work when we get home."

ANNNNNNDDDDD.... there it was.  I fell for it.  Dang boys. 

Pizza for dinner, anyone?

For The Record

I would just like to report that, as of January 2014, at 9 years 6 months years of age, my boys....

• have not lost their gloves
• have not lost or destroyed a pair of winter boots this year
• still own and have not outgrown the shoes I bought them at the beginning of the year
• have not ripped or lost their snow pants
• have not lost a single jacket
• have not melted their winter coats by sitting too close to the woodstove
• still have the original homework folder that was given to them on the first day of school
• have worn shoes in class every single day

These are all FIRSTS for my boys.  And I am amazed.  More than amazed.  Does it mean they're growing up?  Or that they have a really good teacher who is instilling good organizational habits???  I don't care.  Either way, it's awesome.  I had even bought a second pair of school shoes for each boy  back in July, anticipating that they would destroy their first pair by December, as is their habit.  But, nope.  We're still on the ORIGINAL pair.  Unheard of.

Yippee!!

Eye Rolling in the Morning

Science fair time, and the dad and I are ridiculously excited about this.  We have been dreaming of our future offspring participating in a science fair since well before we had children (Rob used to judge the local science fair when we were first married).  Well, 4th grade is finally here, and the notice has come home to pick a project.  YEAH!!!

There are ALOT of possibilities out there.  In order to narrow down the options, I found an online survey that will suggest projects based on a child's interest.  This morning, I began asking Quinn questions.

Mom: "Do you enjoy gardening and working with plants?"
Quinn: "No."
Mom: " Do you enjoy thinking about solutions to society's problems?"
Quinn; "No."
Mom: " Do you enjoy learning about lakes, rivers, the oceans and beaches?"
Quinn: "No."
Mom: "Do you enjoy studying about memory and how people learn?"
Quinn: "SERIOUSLY MOM??  Do I want to learn about LEARNING?  Seriously??"

OK, then.  Psychology is not his area.  Now to find what is.

Faith formation

The boys' religious ed teacher found me after class with a serious look on his face.     "So, we were discussing the 10 Commandments and sin today."

Oh no. I didn't like where this was heading. 

"We were going over the commandments and got to number four, honor your father and mother, and Colby says 'WHAT?!?!  That's a sin????  Thank goodness we don't get graded on that stuff!'"

Uh huh. 

(Picture mom cringing here.)

The teacher continued. 

"So then I told him he kind of WILL be graded on it, on judgement day. 'Oh, like heavenly homework'.   Kinda. Then Quinn pipes up. 'Dang. I'm in for one wild ride. "

Oh yes, boys. You are. One wild ride.