What have I made my children into

 

I have to admit I have wonderful children. They make me laugh daily. Sometimes I wonder why I got so lucky to have them.

This past Monday my oldest did the most shocking thing. To understand what she did you have to know a small piece of history.

She has been in a Civics class all year. And even though the teachers are to keep their political views out of the classroom she realized that her teacher is a Liberal. And my daughter has become quite outspoken about her own political standing. And she has done her own homework on what has been going on with Healthcare.

On, Monday she walked up to her teacher in the hallway at school and approached her teacher and said, “ You got your “FREE” Healthcare”.

The teacher looked at her and said, “Wow.” Brittany did get a little worried that she may have over stepped. And asked, “ Am I in trouble?”

Her teacher told her no. She had the freedom of free speech. Then her teacher told her to write to the President and tell him her views and that maybe she could change his mind.

 

Then, just the other day we were at a friend place and he owns a salvage yard. Michael loves to walk around the yard. Brittany like to do this also. It was after hours so the yard was closed so it is ok for them to walk around out there.

We headed up to the house to sit around and BS. I looked out the patio window to see Michael walking up to junk cars and looking in the windows.

I said, “ Oh my, my kids are becoming scavengers.”

Jim looked at me and said, “ Where do you think they learned it?”

Ha ha ha was my reply. After a while they came in and Brittany looks at me and says, “Look mom, I found two pairs of jeans that will fit me!” I instructed her to put them in the car and I would wash them when we got home.

I sat there and thought about it a while. And then I said out loud, “ I am so lucky that I do not have kids that have issues with clothing from out of junked car or thrift stores. There are so many children out there that would turn their nose up at such an idea.”

My daughter is so wonderful when it comes to things like that. She could care less about where I bought it. As long as she thinks it is cool and she will wear it.

School Has Started.....

Both kids super excited for today. They can not wait to see what is in store for them this year.
Micheal is in 2nd grade this year and Brit is a Freshman in high school.
Good luck guys mom loves ya.

Elephant,1004ft Ship, Fish ect........

We headed north for the 4th. We decided to go to sight see around Cloquet and Duluth area.
Just like we did last year. We have decided to make this a tradition. While we were in Cloquet we saw a family that were setting up their small family circus. They had elephant rides. So, the kids wanted to ride it. Who am I to miss taking a picture of that.

Next we stopped at this fort.

Morning of the 4th. I decided to make my little man very patriotic.

The sail ship the Sullivan came in to port in Duluth

My wonderful children aboard the ship

What a beautiful ship. I wish we could have seen it with the sails up.

And what would the 4th be with out visiting Lady Liberty

Catching rays on a bronze airbed

Bronze sturgeon anyone

At the Aquarium. Stingray anyone

I wish that quality was better. This Muskie was at least 4ft. Imagine

catching him on your line. He had a real interest in my girl. Was just watching every

move she made.

I really do not know what this fish was but it was so funny to watch.

Here we are playing in the water way.

This is the Edgar B. Speer. Working its way in to port.

This ship was 1004 feet long

Some of the crew as the ship goes by.

Hanging out on the shore skipping rocks.

(I took pictures of just the rocks but the Oldest girl told me I was a dork) LOL

Lighthouse in Duluth

Fountain in Canal Park

Stuffed monkey in the Store.

And of course we can not miss the stuffed Moose.

And last but not least. The US military out recruiting in Costume as Video game

characters.

The Hair Cut

I put the pictures in a video slide for you all to see.

Last weekend we spent the weekend with some great friends. Bernie said he would give my boy a hair cut if he would like. So he opted for a mowhawk. He looks so cute.

And yesterday I colored Brit's hair. She is now a redhead.

Our Kind of Sleepover

We have an nontraditional type of sleep over that happens quite often in my home.

No, it is not a bunch of kids or strange parties.

We have doggie sleep overs. We have more dogs spending the night than children.

Really.....currently we have 4 dogs in my house as I type this. I have my 2. And then I also have 2 of my girlfriends.

Why you ask? I have no clue it is just fun. All the dogs get along and they make less noise than kids. LOL Really have you ever tried to sleep with girls giggling. Not a easy task. And little boys yep you know if they are to quiet they are up to something. With dogs they all stay near you sleep at your feet and really are not that demanding. And the kids seem to enjoy it also.

pictured is from left to right:

Curlie, Ruger, Voodoo, Charlie.

And of course my beautiful kids.

Yes three of them are related

New Buzz

We have done the Harry Potter books and movies. Currently we are just beginning the phase of the Twilight movie. Since we have read all the books. The actors we here in MN yesterday. My oldest darling wants to go to the opening night showing of the movie. She has been informed that is not going to happen. She was very disappointed. I explained to her that it is a school night and that if her report card did not have 2 F's (due to not turning work in and being lazy) she would have maybe been able to go to the midnight showing. Depending on how her week goes she will maybe be going on Saturday instead.
Our news find in the book realm is The 39 Clues. This is a interactive read. You read the books collect cards and play online. The kids and I have just started our journey. We have decided to make this a family thing. Book two comes out in December.

Home Sick

Well today is day 2 of my little man being home sick. He has been running fever on and off now for 2 days. Just when I think he is good to go his fever comes back full force. So, that means we are off to the doctor today. I have no one to watch him and am needed at work. It is always such a struggle for a parent. To be able to juggle family and work seems to be one of the hardest things. I have had my boss ask why my husband does not stay home and my response was you pay me what he makes in a day and that would be fine. (due to the fact I make almost $7 less than him an hour)
Brit has been so funny when ever she comes home from her fathers house. On Sunday when she got home she was telling Little Man how much she loves him. He of course being a little boy was bothered by this and was telling her to stop. We have come up with that her "new sister" is a pain in her butt. She has told us that her brother is so well behaved compared to her "sister". She enjoys the time with her brother and just does not enjoy the time with the "sister". She will not tell her father this thou she is afraid of something. I am waiting for her to tell me. I try not to push the other family buttons with her. I feel when she wants me to get involved she will tell me. she always does. Now she is learning that it is hard to make a decision between her friends and going to her fathers house. Last weekend she had forgotten she was going to her fathers and asked me if she could spend the night at her friends house. I had looked at her a minute and told her "no". Her eyes got really big and she said but my grades are good. I looked at her and said "that is not the reason. You have already made plans. You told your father that you were going to come over." She wanted me to be the bad guy and cancel her going over to her fathers. I told her she needs to decide and commit to what she does. So, we will see how it goes.

Whats new

Our house has just been go, go, go lately. Work, school. Family gatherings. You name it. And things are not slowing down anytime soon. Saturday I go to the airport to pick up my grilfriend daughter in law. Hoping to get a little of the MOA in before hand. I am still holding out on turning the HEAT on. Gas prices scare me. I will hold out as long as possible.
Best conversation I had with the Little man was this:
Little man: "mom, Ironman comes out Tuesday!!!"
Me: "yes I know."
LM: "I get to watch it with Terrie on Tuesday!"
Me: "I know."
LM: Can I call her.
Me: If You must
LM: Terrie.... Ironman comes out Tuesday!!!!
ME: laughing because the converstaion was funny.
More or less the worked out that she would pick him up after school. So they could watch the movie right away. And not wait until 45 min after the bus got home.
Kids are great for the soul.

1st Day of School

Yesterday the kids went back to school. Yippee. As is the routine I am always home for the first day. I love to watch them get ready. I am also home in case some one is so excited they get sick and need to come home.(that has happened to Brit)

This year we never received a notice about the kids bus. We live in a town that is SIX blocks long. Yet for some reason we have 2 buses that come in to town. The one the kids have taken in the past was down at the Post Office. The other goes to the house behind our home. Last year they added the second bus(the bus also pick up the kids that live farther out than us). We never received a notice on the bus. As in what time it will be at its stop or which bus. Thinking they took their heads out of their Butts and put my kids on the one right behind the house, I sent them to that bus.

Later in the afternoon I received a call from the bus company.

"We are calling because your children road the wrong bus this morning. And they need to ride the other bus. That is the bus they are assigned to." Bus company says

"Well due to the fact that we received no information on which bus the kids should ride and the bus they road drives in front of my house and picks kids up right behind my house to me it was the logical place for them to catch the bus." I say back.

"It is a block either way for the kids to go. So they must be on the other bus tomorrow. We will let them ride it home tonight."BC informs me.

I am steaming. Now I tend to fly off the handle and say awful things when I am angry. I just say Fine. Knowing I will be going to the school in the AM to deal with this.

After school gets out I wait for my children to arrive home. In the door walks Brit. "Where is your Brother?"

"Vicky the bus driver would not let me on the bus. She told me to ride the other bus home. And I she would not let me take him off the bus." Brit tells me.

OK the school has not called so he is on a bus. But where is he. We see the other bus. Nope he does not get off the bus. My heart is racing. Ok the bus has yet to come full circle. Finally a half hour later here comes my Little Man. All by himself.

That was our exciting First Day of School.

Costly mistake

Yesterday the kids decide to go to the neighbors garage sale. Now my youngest is a car kid. He loves car and truck anything automotive. So here they had a small semi that was possible a collectible. Now collectibles are no no's with my little guy because he wants to play with them. There for I do not buy them. Now since I was at work Little man decided he wanted this truck and went and got his $$$. Now, he did not have enough for this truck so instead of taking what he had our neighbor charged him full price. Now the oldest had to give him $$ to cover the cost. Now they are both out money because I decided not to make them return this truck and get their $$$$ back. (we know the neighbor very well). I told them both they will not be getting any money from me. I give the truck 2 days before it is trashed and here he could have bought at least 10 hot wheels for what he payed for this on little truck.
Hopefully lesson learned on both kids part.

A Very Long Day

Yesterday was a very very long day for us. We were up before 6am out the door by 7am and back home by 10:30pm.

Phase One of our day........ We headed to the cities in the morning to join my family at the Farmers Market. Two of my Aunts and two of my cousins came in to town for a visit. So, that made it even more fun. And of course we had to stop and get our hot dogs and brat's first thing.

yep had to take two one with out me and of course one with me.(in the white shirt with the dog in my face. LOL)

After the fun. We headed back to my dad's house to visit. Well, dad like to take the scenic route and I of course have my camera in hand ..

What movie put this place on the map?Grain Belt Premium Beer.....Phase Two of our day.........Later that afternoon we headed to Uptown walked around alittle. Went over by the lake and stopped at Ben and Jerry's for a treat.

Usually there are sail boats all over the lake

It was starting to get hot so a cool treat was in orderCan not leave the dog out that would be wrong...Phase Three of our day.......The reason we were in Uptown was to "watch" the Art Car Parade. At one point we thought it was going to be cancelled. It started to rain really hard and getting really windy. Then all of a sudden it cleared up at the sun came out and turned out to be beautiful.

We waited at the spot where the cars line up to begin the parade for Tom the gentleman who invited us to come and see this event. Once Tom and his wife arrived he had asked if Jim would drive one of his cars.He has 4 total. So, instead of watching we got to take part.

Here are some pictures of some of the Art Cars

Now this is only a small grouping of the cars that were there. What I have next is a short video. This was so cool that my little man willhave memories of this for a long time.....

So I hope you enjoyed our day as much as we did.