Tasting Nature

It was a beautiful hot & humid spring day here in the Poconos. The kids got bored just hanging out at the store so I sent them out side to taste nature.

Wild strawberries. Never knew they existed. Much smaller than domestic strawberris and

they have very little taste.

So next we (they) try speariment.

Don't think that went over so well with Ajori.

Mom... I kinda liked it...but I really didn't like it. It didn't have any taste. How come yooou didn't try any?

We often hurt the ones we love

We were under a tornado watch last night and severe thunder storm warning and boy did it ever rain bad. The winds were seriously howling really sounded like a tornado was going to touch down any minute.

My kids DO NOT like thunder and lightening. Ok so who really does. Ajori is growing up a bit so if it isn't bad she can handle it. But Jarin? Ever since he was very little he has been terrified of thunder and lightening. I remember once when he was in pre school and it started raining outside he scaled the teacher in seconds and started screaming "a flood is coming, a flood is coming we need Noah's Arc". The poor teacher was barly able to get him and the other kids inside cause she was laughing so hard.

Since I have work to do and I just had to finish watching "So you think you can dance" I wasn't going to turn the TV off or get off the computer no matter how bad things,we all huddled in the bed.

Just as a precaution right before the rain got really bad we moved blankets, pillow pets and flash lights down to the basement. The kids wanted to sleep down there but thought of sleeping on the concrete floor was not in the least appealing to me.
We're in the bed- I'm actually sitting on the edge of the bed they have successfully taken over.
Jarin: You guys just don't care
Me: Why?
The Diva- Ajori:What are you talking about?
Jarin: You guys aren't concerned that I'm scared of all the rain
Me: Why you think that?
Jarin: cause you are still talking and watching TV and not hinding under the blankets (see this is Jarin's world and we just live in it)
The Diva- Ajori- I'm scared but not that scared cause I'm 10 and growing up. Mom are we near any of those places where the tornado is.
Me: No...see the news report said all these other places expect North Poconos including Monroe county and we live in Monroe county so we aren't going to get the tornado.
The kids are reading every news item that comes across the screen. Damn that that hooked on phonics. It really is thundering outside and I hope a tree doesn't fall on the house. I'm a bit on the neverous side myself but can't let them see that. What a bad night for Orlando to work overtime.

Me: kids I need to go to the bath room will you be okay for a few minutes.
The Diva - Ajori- uhhh yeah
Jarin: NO...can't you hold it.
Me: Well Jarin I'm going anyway and you are just going to have to deal with it.
I leave the room but soon hear something outside the bathroom door.
Jarin: Mooooommmmmm hurry up
Me: Jarin...what are you doing.
Jarin: just thought I would keep you company in case you got scared.
Me: go back to bed and give a minute of privacy please.
Jarin: okay ...(he slinks back to the room)
More movement outside the door...knock knock
The Diva- Ajori- Mom are you still in there?
Me: yes why?
The Diva- Ajori- oh nothing just thought maybe you just sucked through the window.

I can see that I will have to just get back to my bed cause I'm not going to have any privacy at all.

Jarin is quietly down but Ajori is listening to the news and asking 50 million questions. Finally around 11:30 when the weather man said the storm is now heading toward New York does she relax.
The Diva- Ajori- Whew... finally I'm glad that is over. Well I mean glad for us But New York is in for it now.
I'm glad this was over also. I was thinking about heading down to the basement just to be on the safe side.

Earlier in the day the kids were tormenting their stuff animals

Now the stuffed animals get to protect them from all things that go bump in the night.

We often hurt the ones we love the most.

Adventures in Jarin's World-I'm just going to punish myself

Sooo... I’m fertilizing the lawn before it rains and this is what greets me around the corner.

Not a good sign.

Jarin: Mom…. It was an accident but don’t worry I’m going to punish myself.
I’m not sure if I want to know how this managed to happen. Dare I ask?
Me: Jarin…what happened or do I want to know?
Jarin: If I tell you I will be in trouble and I won’t get another Dsi game eveeeerrrr….but…it….was an accident
Me: Ok Jarin we’ll talk about this when I get inside.
Jarin: But but mommmmm dad it going to punish meeeeeeee
Me: I said we’ll talk about it when we get inside.

This is where the lamp shade came from. I need an 8 foot latter just to get up there myself.
I’m not sure how this happened but I think I need a drink before the drama explanation.

Me: Ok Jarin what happened
The Diva: Uh see…we were uh…Jarin was….
Me: You hush
Jarin : See mom Mickey sorta had an accident.
Me: What kind of accident? The throwing kind or tossing over the balcony kind?
Jarin: Ummmm maybe the kicking down the stairs kind.

Seems like other stuff animals suffered the same fate.
I’m not even sure I can punish him for knocking down the shade. The torment of not getting upset is much more fun.

Me: Jarin how about you just not try to kill Mickey next time.
Jarin: But mommmm since it was an accident…I’m just going to punish myself okay?
Tears are starting to form…hear comes the lip…He looks really traumatized….wonder how long I can drag this out without laughing. Think I'll get a glass of wine.

Where is my memo

Either I was asleep or just late to the office that morning... I didn't get the memo on when my children decided to grow up.

Who told him he could make a phone call. Long Distance at that!!!! When I told him he had to get off after 20 minutes he had the nerve to say "Don't worry Jordan ...I'll call you back later"

He thinks he's Mr. Roller Rink now.

She was not letting go of the wall.

They often double team me.

I was notified by the Diva that she WAS getting her picture taken by herself also. Yes I am afraid of my kids...sometimes.

Resilience

Kids are more resilience than we are. While in New York for spring break we took the kids to The Children’s Museum of ART.

Perhaps more for me than them. I’m always hoping the kids will delve into all things crafty… but alas no they had more fun playing in the ball pit than doing crafts. I just don’t understand that logic at all. I mean this place is 2 floors of arts and craft centers…what more could you want?

So Ajori and Jarin bounced and played and bounced again. I swear this looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Here’s where she said…he said comes in. She said her brother was trying to wrestle with her and pushed her over a bouncy ball. He said “nuht awn… she just fell.” Anything could be perceived to happen when a pretween diva and mini drama king are in the same vicinity. All I know is we from this

To this. A fractured wrist.
But kids are resilient and mine are still young enough for me to brain wash them into thinking that they are not as hurt as they really think thye are. That (brainwashing) mostly works on the diva - the drama king has always had his doubts that I really know what I’m talking about.

Doesn't she look pitiful. (insert awwwww here) Trust me she's been playing all week with a hurt arm. All kidding aside I do wish she didn't hurt herself. Unfortunately this is the second big boo boo in a month. I'm afraid she got the clumsy gene from me. Sorry princess.

Fast forward to last night for dinner (cause I don’t cook on the weekends) the kids wanted to go to Kasa’s Pizza for dinner and so they could play in the indoor gym. I asked my daughter (I’m really trying to talk her out of it…I want to go home after work and have a drink)if she is sure she wants to go there to play. She has that cast on her arm and would be hard to climb inside the gym maze. Quick as lightening she says “mom but you said to try all things first… even with my cast on… that’s why I tried to play the recorder in music class on Friday and didn’t use my arm as an excuse (damnit she got me there).
We have a little drive to get to the pizza place and I'm still trying to find reasons and a little bribery not to go. Even the promise of going to McD's doesn't help.

We get to the pizza place and my beautiful, brave little girl looks inside the play gym and starts to get nervous. So what am I to do now? Protect her from any further harm or encourage her to go for it anyway so at least she can say she tried. The only failure is not trying. I tell her to go inside look at it and then make a decision.
While I’m getting the pizza I happen to turn around and look inside the playroom and this is what greets me.

I told my child she could do anything she wanted to…so she did. Gotta love her spirit!!!