As Serious Like a Heart Attack

Pretty sure that a few posts ago I talked about SuperStars big sales. Just in case - and because she loves to read it - she sold 759 boxes!! Seriously. This is what her stack of cookies looked like after we unloaded them in our garage. You can't even see all the stuff because of the massive amount of Thin Mint cases - yeesh you Thin Mint lovers are crazy for that stuff!! Although with the Lemonades stacked in front it certainly looks like I am talking some folks into my favorite :0) I don't even know how many cases there were in all - my co-leader would - she took the job of Cookie Mom (although this year I helped a lot more due to some family stuff she really wanted to go home for). I will happily give the job back to her 100% next year.


I know - you are thinking, "Damn!! That's a lot of cookies!" and you are right. But look at the next picture...........



These are OUR VERY OWN COOKIES - they aren't being held (oh, wait 3 boxes go to Sunny's family and 2 to my neice) for anyone other then US!! The kids each bought 4 boxes (The King excluded - he gets to pilfer all of ours), not sure how many BigGuy asked for and I wanted 2 Lemonades and 2 Peanut Butter Sandwich (not Patties - yeck to the chocolate). Then Nanny and GranmaR bought - AND GAVE THEM TO US! Had we known that was going to happen we would have bought Many Less. We should have known though. Perhaps it is a subconscious thing.

Now........to make us feel better about the amount of cookies we bought. I am noticing that many of those friends and family who just bought a few boxes because they really shouldn't........are coming back for MORE! HA! Now our 40 boxes doesn't seem so gluttonous - well, it still does.......kinda...they are Girl Scout cookies after all........and they only come once a year..........

Spidey's Music Concert

Spidey had a music concert recently - we were able to snag decent seats so that I could video tape some of it. After missing SuperStars we tried harder. Only, see, we have this little family member that CAN NOT SIT STILL during these performances. The King can make it very difficult not only to SEE the show, but also to enjoy it. You don't see the show like we do. You see either the still pictures we manage or videos like these. This time around I also did a video that vaguely shows what we see at the show.

What you see from the video we take -

What we experience while watching the show -


Regardless of what we experience - Spidey really loved entertaining. He is begging to be a Famous Actor (keep in mind he doesn't want to be an actor that Isn't Famous).

We Should Have Seen it Coming

Still...............we were taken by surprise.

Funny that last month I was blogging about White Privilege, what it means, how we should be more comfortable accepting one another and not dismissing the race or color we are to make everyone more equal. Rather to embrace and acknowledge what is different about each of us - race, ethnicity, gender - because each of these factors makes up who we are. Most importantly to be comfortable talking about it all - being able to talk about it is what will ultimately help us become comfortable discussing racism and continue to build those bridges. Doing all this knowing full well that there will be hurdles within our own family to get across - comfortably - delicately - outwardly. Thinking there might be a bit more time though.

Wrong Again!!

On our trip to STL this past weekend we spent A LOT of time together in the car - BigGuy, Spidey, SuperStar and The King (formerly known as Babers). We left the house at 7am - hit GranmaR's - hit Nanny's and as we were headed to Papa's house The King made a very matter of fact type statement - "I am black". No one was talking about color so we thought he said something else maybe - "what did you say?" we asked, "something is on your back?" - keep in mind his speech is not that clear, the radio was going and I think Spidey was actually talking at the time. "No, I am black." he repeated again. "You are black?" we repeated to which he said, "Daddy is white."

Oh. I felt a bit like SuperStar and Spidey must have felt a few weeks before when BigGuy and I were pushing to talk about sex. Now? Here? What do the books say to do? Hmmm................

My response was to show him something that was black and show him that really he is a brown color. Wondering why he would identify himself with the term black and us with white. Probably a knee jerk reaction - not wanting to divide our family into black/white, but true colors. I have no idea why I would want this, but I did. Spidey was in the back seat claiming to not be white, but really be a pinkish color - well, not pink because that is girls but like a tan..........he was happily rambling about his color. Then Spidey told The King that he isn't black he is brown. The King told SuperStar she was White. SuperStar told The King that he shouldn't make fun of people and their color, that he could hurt their feelings. I was wondering who told The King he was black - or did he come up with it himself. There were a ton of things happening at once -

Then I flashed back to the kitchen a few weeks before. It was a Friday afternoon - BigGuy and I were with The King at lunch time - Jake and Sunny (our dogs) were running in from outside milling around The King at the table to see if it was peanut butter again - and The King said, "Jake is black and Sunny is white." BigGuy and I agreed - then looked at each other and I said, "That is interesting." Knowing he was starting to make the connection of things being the same, but different.

Back to the car - we had 5 things happening at once.
* SuperStar was telling people that to talk about another persons color is wrong.
* The King is making connections about race and his being different.
* Spidey is trying to teach The King what shade of brown he is.
* BigGuy is driving and not helping me (or so I saw it)
* I am wondering how far to take the conversation at the moment.

The only person I really addressed was SuperStar. We talked - very shortly - about how it is perfectly fine to talk about another persons race or color as long as it is done in a positive and genuine way. If you are saying it with the intent of pointing out that there is something wrong then it is not nice and she would be right. However, the way The King was doing it - very matter of fact - he was okay, he was learning and looking for feedback about what he is noticing about his family. She looked okay, but checked out of the conversation. Spidey had run his information sharing into the ground and went back to looking out the window. The King had made his announcement and he was done. BigGuy and I just kinda looked at each other and said, "That was interesting." And I made a mental note to come back to it later. Thinking about it pretty much every day since it happened on Saturday.

This morning The King told me he was black again. I mentioned that I think he is a beautiful warm brown. He said I was white. I agreed, but that I was a tannish color too. He then said he was like chocolate. Yummy chocolate. Cold Chocolate and he said "brrrr". I hugged him and said I would make him Warm Chocolate. He said I was White Chocolate and ran his finger across me and pretended to lick his finger making a slurping noise and said, "Yummy". So I did the same.

One step at a time.....

Family Secret - by Spidey

It is Young Authors time again. This year Spidey has written his first book - very exicting. He wasn't very "into" it until the cover and spiral were on it. Then he became quite proud.

With no further waiting we present "Family Secret" - autographed copies can be purchased for a nominal fee......





There was a boy named Ben. He was at school. He was the Cool kid. Everybody liked him except a girl named Lucy. Lucy thought he was a Show Off. She was right - a little bit. Ben thought there was something weird about himself. He iddn't know what it was.



Ben went home from school one day. His dad showed him a picture and it was really really old and it was really really gray and dusty. The picture was of his dad. Usually his friend's dad's pictures were not that old and dusty. And then he found a picture of his dad from way long ago standing in front of a mud cabin. And what was really weird was the rest of his family was in it too. This made Ben think his dad and his family was somehow from the past.



Then the next morning Ben went to school. He told his friends that he thinks his family might be from the past. They said no way that was not possible. So Ben went home and into his backyard. His dad was destroying all the beds and his mom was building mud beds.
Ben said,"What are you doing?"
His mom said, "Don't worry honey I am building you guys a new bed."
Then his sister came and said, "Drrr....what would you think Mom would do?"
Then Ben went into his room and got the pictures of his family from the past. He ran to his friends house and then destroyed the pictures. Then something magical happened. Two portals appeared. One was lead to the Past and on lead to the Future. Ben didn't know where the portals lead so he chose one. It led to the past. Then without notice a Red Goblin came out of the portal to the Future. Then 99 more came out.



As Ben went through the past he found his dads home. Then he found his families neighbor who surprised him when he shouted, "Howdy you all what's up?"
Ben said, "What is that all about?" and jumped out of the past and all the way into the future. He landed in an old ladies house. There were robot servants and people with floating bubbles for cars. Then he went to his house in the future. He was himself when he was bigger. He was hiw wife, his son,his father and even his mom. His sister and brother were there too. His dog and his friend were there. His uncle was there and his aunt and his cousins. His house was really really really huge big.



Then he decided to go out of the future and he saw 100 Red Goblins coming out of the portal from the past. Ben went to the museum to find a Gold Diamond. The Golden Diamond was going to give him powers. he knew this because a voice told him. The voice was his dad's, but his dad wasn't there. It was really weird.
Ben said, "What is happening to me?" as he reached the museum.
He told the museum guard at the door, "I need the Gold Diamond."
The museum guard said, "No! Hands off!"
That night he snuck into the museum when no one was there. Ben got the Golden Diamond. He destroyed it by dropping it on the ground and a mist came up out of the diamond that went into his body and gave him Strength, Invisibility, Water Powers, Laser Eyes and he could fly.



Once Ben had all his powers he flew to the middle of the world. Then he started to fight the Red Goblins.
He said, "Take that you dirty monsters! Take that!" and he fought the Red Goblins with his new strengths.
Soldiers came to fight with Ben, but they were scared and ran away. One stayed there and got hurt. Ben saved him by throwing the soldier into the air and landing him in his house. Ben fought the Red Goblins for six hours. Finally they were all defeated.
Ben then found that his powers were all gone. He ran home to his father and shouted, "Admit to the world that you are from the past!" His father admitted that they were. They hugged and everyone in the whole world had a party.

Seen In Someone Else's Art Work

There are days when you look at your kids and you just think, "I am going to go insane if I see you for a second more." Certainly you don't feel like a fabulous parent - but those days DO HAPPEN.

At the same time - there are days when you look up at your kids and you think, "How could God have created anything more beautiful then you." and of course you maybe feel a bit full of yourself because you KNOW there is not another family of children that could EVER hold a candle to yours.

Lately - Babers, soon to be renamed "The King", has been more then a handful. He almost demolished my birthday splendor into a pile of rubble - had it not been for the 30 minute foot & back massage the Olders gave me. Then today I pulled up the link for the pics taken at his preschool. The photographer, JennyLein, did an amazing job!! She is quite the Artist. I am totally buying pictures - and that is saying something! He is Gorgeous! She captured his beauty, his spunk and his "you want to do anything I ask" for ability.





How Lucky Am I?

Now I want to take the Olders back to have her do the same for them. Could save a life - you just never know.

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Today is my Birthday - Yea Me!! I didn't make these Bday cupcakes - I found then in a google search - I might make them though - they are super cute! However, for my birthday today I think I will either have BigGuy's famous Carrot Cake - or go to a local bakery and get a Cheesecake. Hmmm....birthday choices.

Anyway, to do a post that Celebrates Me and share a funny - I was trying to think of something fun to post that would make people giggle. Now..........you may have already seen this. My first time was on CNN about a week ago. If so - you already know the giggle. If not - enjoy!

Just click the Link below and it will take you to the Movie Trailer for Mel Gibson's newest movie 'The Colonel'

MEL GIBSON IS… COLONEL SANDERS

Posted using ShareThis

Let's Talk about Sex

So the time has come. Our kids are whispering about sex. Well........not exactly "whispering" - if they had been whispering I might not have heard it. They were outright having a conversation and not realizing that while sitting in the next room I could hear what they were up to. Silly kids - when ARE they going to Learn?

This is how it went.............
Spidey, "rambling on about butt stink or something............."
SuperStar, "totally pretending to be grossed out about butt stink conversation........"
Spidey, "I know what sex means."
SuperStar, "No you don't." Then ignoring him.
Spidey, "Yes, I do Susie (name has been changed for obvious reasons) told me that sex is where........muffled voice continues."
SuperStar, "That is not what sex is." Goes back to ignoring him.
Spidey, "Yes it is Susie knows things." Goes back to watching TV. Conversation ends.

I sit there stunned that my first grader has any interest in what sex means - let along that he appears to have a definition. So I wait - so as not to alarm him - and then a few minutes later call him into the room I am in.

He stands before me looking like I am about to assign him the task of cleaning his room - which he totally DOES NOT WANT. Instead I surprise him by saying.....

"Ah, I heard you tell SuperStar that you know what the word sex means."
Spidey immediately ducks his head down and looks like he is going to puke. Shakes his head "no" like I misunderstood what I heard.
"Dude I know I heard you say Susie told you what sex is. I would like to know what you and Susie know. You are not going to get in trouble."
Spidey looks up and rolls his eyes in reluctance, "Well, Susie says that sex is where one person sucks on another persons privates."

This is where I now duck my head and look like I am going to puke. Trying to recover and look "normal" I say, "Well...........that is one definition of an act of sex. There are many more ways the word can be used. Like for instance - you are a boy and that is you "sex". SuperStar is a girl and that is her "sex"." In my head thinking - where am I going with this. However, this seems to be more then enough for Spidey as I notice he is backing away toward the door. Stopping him I mention that BigGuy will want to sit down and talk more about sex with him. Spidey stops and says, "Oh no, I don't need to know anymore."
I assure him we should get some definitions straight so that he isn't guessing about things. However, Spidey wants nothing to do with talking to BigGuy and asks to speak to me. Ugh. I tell him we will sit down all together later. He leaves very quietly.

Then I am thinking..............."So what is SuperStars definition?" And Crap! Crap! Crap!

Later in the afternoon BigGuy comes home with flowers for everyone. See - the kids are home sick. The thought that I could have avoided this whole topic by just sending my kids to school sick does not escape me. They may NEVER have another sick day in their lives. BigGuy is told about the morning conversations. SuperStar walks in and hears - and tries to back out of the room as quickly as she arrived. We stop her and ask her what Her definition of "sex" is.

SuperStar says, "Sex is when two people take their clothes off and lay in bed together naked. Then they crawl all over each other."

BigGuy now looks like he is going to puke. I am now ready for this sort of thing and say, "Well..........that is one definition of sex." and then go into the same speech you read earlier. Then BigGuy adds that we should all sit down and talk about it this weekend - to which SuperStar adamantly says, "No, no no, I am way too young to know much more about this stuff." and tries to back out of the room.

We catch her and assure her we will be having this conversation - that there are other kids who are learning about this and we want her to have the right answers so that she isn't making her own assumptions about what things are. Knowing the truth will help her sort through the things she will be hearing from others. We also tell her that anything we talk about is between us - not to talk to other kids in school until the school has a conversation in the class (which it appears is next year). She ASSURES us No One is talking about it that she knows.

Lies, lies, lies!!!!! Does she think we just fell off a turnip truck??

So we let it all sit. We tell both the kids that we want them to think about any questions relating to their bodies or the topic of sex so that we can talk about them that weekend.

They never bring it up.

We all get in the truck for a ride to STL (3 hours captive in the car with the parents). As we are about 30 minutes in we say, "So...........who wants to talk about sex?"

Both the kids feign sleeping.

Now, isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Aren't the parents supposed to be afraid to talk about sex with the kids? What is this about? Some sort of reverse psychology?