Random Tid Bits

1. We've had a ton of zucchini growing in our garden.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. I don't feel like PMS makes me bitchy, but it sure does give me anxiety. If I have several big things to do I just innerly freak out. I feel my face getting red and hot, and my heart pumps really fast.
   
   Boss man wanted me call, and set up Adobe Creative Cloud for the teachers. I had never done this before. He had very specific things he wanted. I couldn't get everything he wanted, but it was a heck of a lot cheaper than last year, and got it approved.
   
   The next day he wanted me to back peddle to get things even cheaper. 


3. Some advice is worth taking. My parents have given me a lot of good advice in the past.
   
   Good Advice:
   
   1. Choose your battles.
   
   2. Kids make their own schedules based on what's going on in their life.
   
   Lately they've been off on their game.
   
   Bad Advice:
   
   1. You might want to talk to Isaak and tell him not to cry. He might get made fun of in school. - He hasn't had issues with crying in school. I didn't say it, but think it's great that he can cry in front of us. Just because he's a boy I don't want him to think he should keep his emotions in. I have to say that Mica was pretty unbearable at Isaak's age. He was pretty much a jerk. Now Isaak's at that magical puberty stage. He shows his emotions differently - with crying, and wanting to sleep. I don't know that he's worse, or better than Mica. Just different.
   
   2. You should probably read up on Asthma and Allergies. Start taking other things to help them besides medicine. - I didn't say too much, but in the past I tried a lot of natural things. By not taking meds I got a nose so full of polyps that the doctor had to cut out. Some of my nasal receptors went with that surgery. No thanks I'll stick to my meds. I do drink turmeric and ginger a lot + do the neti pot regularly. Those count as natural remedies. I think my doctors would agree that they want me breathing, so taking my daily inhaler when I need it is important.


4. Mica and Isaak have started fighting over really silly things. That's when I know it's time to go back to school. I let them both pick out snacks at the store. Isaak picked out Bunny Graham's.
   
   
   
   
   
   Travis got a call from Mica that he was all pissed because Isaak wouldn't let him eat the snack he picked out. In Isaak's defense, Mica would eat the whole box if he's able to. When I talked to them at lunch I said, "Maybe you shouldn't get a a morning snack. You don't have one at school."
   
   The next day we discussed their ridiculous spat. Travis found the whole thing comical because this is a snack I used to buy them when Isaak was in preschool. We decided we'd pour how much they get into bowls. Problem solved. I really wish they'd solve their own problems though.
   
   I explained that this kind of fighting is normal, for siblings. Travis never fought a whole lot with his sister growing up. His sister was inside a lot, when he was outside most of the time.
   
   I remember having battles with my sisters over the dumbest stuff. One time I tied my younger sister into her room. She wasn't tied, but her bedroom door was tied to the bathroom and my parent's bedroom door. She could not get out. I was way to old to do that. My friend got sent home. What's a silly thing you did when you were a kid?


5. The boy's back to school night it the same night, in two different parts of town. I knew this could happen. Mica's starts at 3:30, Isaak's starts at 5:30, so we figured we'd go to Mica's first. Then we got a letter saying they'd prefer younger kids to go earlier at Mica's school. They get what they get. Isaak's starts August 13, and Mica starts August 14. They have the younger middle schoolers go first to get used to the building. When do kids start where you live?

Random Tid Bits

1. We have 2 old TVs. You know ones with antennas, and they look like a box. We'll watch movies and shows on them until they die. Travis and I are not ones that have to have the next best thing. I know the picture would be way more amazing if it was on a flat screen. I have to be honest...I don't care. 


2. When I went through conformation when I was younger my mom asked me what I wanted? I said, "A rosary!" She said, "But we're not Catholic!" I was raised to be Lutheran. There isn't that much of a difference between Catholics and Lutherans I was told. My cousin's are Catholic. I can tell you their communion is different. Lutherans go up and have a shot glass of wine, and a wafer. The Catholic church I went to had everyone drinking out of the same glass. Catholics had communion much earlier in age than Lutherans. Catholics kneel at times; Lutherans never kneel. Catholics pray to Mary more, Lutherans pray to God and Jesus only. Catholics confess their sins to a Priest, Lutherans confess their sins in prayer. Catholics have Nuns; Lutherans do not. The biggest difference in my mind was the rosary. I wanted one! I was envious of the rosary. I said to my mom, "I know Lutherans don't have the rosary, but they are so artistically interesting!" I never got a rosary. :(
   
   

   

   Source

3. Travis played Macho Man on New Years Eve. Mica loves the song! Isaak and I are sick of hearing him sing it. Every time one of us is online he wants to watch the video. He's so silly!
   
   
   
   
   
4. Our boys are all about fighting this break. Not real fighting, but Lightsaber fighting, wrestling, K-Nex K-Force gun battles in the hallway, boxing, and so on. It's their way of playing. They do all of it with grins on their faces, and laughter coming out of their mouths. I have to admit it's funny watching them. When I'm in the kitchen, and I hear it I want to yell out, "STOP IT NOW!" No one has gotten hurt yet!
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Isaak found a book of good behavior coupons in his dresser that I won many moons ago from this blog. The boys have been all about them this week. Each morning for 3 days Isaak's said, "Don't forget about the coupons Mom." On Monday they had to help Grandma clean out her fridge to earn Kindle time. :)

Sibling Rivalry

Do you or did you have problems with your kids having sibling rivalry?

I'm sure my sisters and I did have issues with sibling rivalry growing up. Aunt Terra was 5 years younger and Aunt Angela was 2 years older than I. Most of the time we were not competing for mom and dad's attention. I'm sure they heard, "It's not fair!" some times. Looking back each kid should have slightly different rules based on their age, personality and maturity. My little sister shouldn't of have the same responsibilities as I did. She was 5 years younger. My older sister was more experienced socially than I. I was more of a wall flower, that stuck with my little group of friends. Venturing out of that little circle was intimidating to me. My sister's an I usually fought over stupid things. Like "Angie took my skirt and gave it to her friend!," "Terra cut my Barbie's hair off!" and "Angie's messing up my side of the room!" Now it seems stupid; at the time those issues seemed HUGE.

Mica and Isaak fight just like any other siblings do. It seems like now they play together in a more sophisticated way. Isaak will usually go along with whatever Mica has planned. Except sometimes Isaak isn't always in Mica's picture. That's ok, he doesn't always have to be. I don't want Isaak playing with Legos that are for ages 7 and up. Then Mica will be watching TV and Isaak decides that Mica should play catch with him. The refrigerator becomes a storage unit of balls that we take away.

Isaak's always been willing to help me. I'll ask, "Who wants to help me?" Isaak's always piped in by saying, "I do!" So he does. Mica's recently decided that he wants to help. Here's the catch, he only wants to help after Isaak says, "I do!" Here are different things that happen:

• If I say, "Hey Mica how about you come in and help me?" Mica will say, "Ok." He helps for 2 minutes and decides that's enough and stops to go draw or build Legos. 
• If I ask Isaak to help, Mica steps right in front of him {literally} and says, "No you always help! Then he proceeds to butt in on Isaak and Mommy time. I agree that Isaak helps more. He offers more. What used to be easy, Isaak helping; is now a struggle because Mica comes in to push Isaak out of the way. 
• Sometimes I'll ask Mica to help, he gets tired of helping, Isaak comes in to help as well and Mica comes back in to say, "NO ISAAK {PUSH PUSH} I WAS HELPING MOM!"  

I have no problem with Mica stepping in to help me in the kitchen if that is what he really wants to do. It doesn't seem like he really wants to help though. He just wants to break in because Isaak has my attention.

A similar thing happens with cuddle time. We had a movie night on Saturday. The boys fought over who was going to cuddle with me. I tried getting them to take turns. Daddy was over on the opposite couch. It was me they were fighting over. 

Does anyone have any insight on sibling rivalry? I want to do what's right. It's not my intent to leave one child out of the picture. I don't like something fun turning into a fight.