M.O.M.

dadand kids, originally uploaded by brandyvanderson35.

This week I had a major parenting coup, sorely needed after several days of losing my temper and needing forgiveness.

Dinner had just gone in the oven, every counter was a mess, and the kids were at it again. I couldn't tell who had kicked who, who had started what, or why the screaming was going on all at once.

So I asked all three to go to the garage, so calmly they went. Then I threw their coats outside, shut the door, and locked them out. Boy Howdy were they surprised!

Then I started to work with Wyatt, cleaning the place up, and setting the table for dinner.

I could hear them screaming outside. I'm sure the neighbors heard it too. Hmmmm.
Cade: "Ruby, it's all your fault." blah, blah, blah.

Then Jeremy calls. Late again. Home in forty minutes. "Too bad," I say. "The kids are locked outside until you get back."
Jeremy: "What?"
Me: "Do you want to discuss it now? While they wait outside for you?"

Minutes later Wyatt and I are sitting down to a really nice peaceful dinner. "Mom. Yummy," Wyatt says. Lots of sweet, sweet smiles
Me: "Wyatt, I love eating dinner with you in peace. Yummy."

Our peaceful dinner is punctuated every now and then by Ruby dramatics. "Mom, oh mom. You HAVE to let me in. Just ME. Please mom. Please." blah, blah blah. cry, sob, cry, sob.

For a split second I consider letting the crew in. It's dark. It's 35 degrees and they've been outside 15 minutes with another half hour to go. But hey, they have their coats, and I can mentally picture a couple pairs of shoes in kicking motion just before the bannishment. They are not going to die.

Dinner ends. I clean up Wyatt and start to clear our places.

Then I hear laughing. WOW. From the garage. WOW. Then I hear funny voices, pretending to be their dad. "Brandy. I'm home. Let me in." Lots of giggling.

So by the time Jeremy gets home I'm calm, the kids come in politely and then they eat a nice dinner. Wyatt shows me extra loves.

Why can't all nights be so great? My mom always told me the meaner you are, the better your kids behave. She also said she was the "meanest mom on the block."

Post Christmas

It's a couple of weeks past Christmas and the house is in order.

If only I were!

Good news is only two things broke over the holiday -- the entryway closet doorknob stopped twisting. And Ashton shattered the kitchen light when he hit it with the tv remote.

Why the tv remote was in the kitchen and why Ash was jumping the island is anyone's guess?

ash xmas sunday, originally uploaded by brandyvanderson35.

So tomorrow I'll be replacing all five entryway doorknobs so they coordinate (a beautiful brushed silver) and painting the area to boot. Goal is to have house touched up and new looking by February. I love fresh starts.

All in all, I'd say surviving the holiday with only two accidents (and none of them physical, a major feat in this family) is cause for celebration.

wyatt christmas morn, originally uploaded by brandyvanderson35.

Wyatt, who still won't let anyone touch his Christmas "truck," is glad to have all the teases back in school.

And even though we all wished the break could have gone another week, we had plenty of time to fit in bowling,





ice skating,





New Year's Eve dancing, face painting, and more skating.





Ruby was so busy dancing with Jeremy she didn't make it to the face painting.

But she did skate.



And last, but not least, Ashton's tie that went missing first week of December (at chuch, no less) showed up in the lost and found just after Christmas.