Creative Discipline

The short part of the story is that the boys have always gotten along 99.9% of the time. Truly, I could count their arguments on one hand up until recently.

Recently, they get along 89.9% of the time. And the disruptions drive this momma CrAzYYY! After one encounter, I called Ryan, at work no doubt, described the incident and asked what in the world to do??? His response (and his parents will love this!) was, "Well, I don't know. How did your parents punish you? I never got punished." Just what was he implying???

At the end of the day, the boys are not bad....and even their arguing is not bad.

However, we are addressing their little spats with a bit of creativity. Today they were told to write 200 ways (each) that they could show kindness to others, be it a family member or an acquaintance. Each day they will do 5 of the examples until the 200 have been completed. Here are some QUESTIONABLE examples:

"I can show kindness when buying a car for someone." OYE - this purchase will be a Matchbox no doubt!

"I can call someone skinny, not fat."

"I can help Dad unload the pizza when we eat it." Great, that will be EVERY Friday.

"I can drive someone to school." Thing is, neither have a license.

"I cannot bite." Ok, that one hasn't happened since these guys were little, very little.

"I can give a pet to someone." Not sure that will go over well.

"I can give Dad a sport coat."

"I can tell Dad he looks good in a sport coat."

"I can watch the Sound of Music with the boss." Yes, I am being referred to as "the boss." This is the term used in Cheaper By The Dozen when referring to the mother. We finished the book today.

"I can buy Gran a Krispy Kreme gift card."

"I can let ***** use the green wheelbarrow." (Apparently, one brother always makes the other brother use a tiny little red wheelbarrow when doing yard work)

And so on and so on and so on.....suffice it to say that Ryan and I got a good laugh when reading their suggestions. Some were serious and spoke to our hearts....

"I can teach someone about God."

"I can play the piano for someone."

"I can encourage others around me."

"I can do the laundry." AMEN! Wonder when he wants to begin with that one?!!

And, with that, I close by simply saying that I just love my boys to pieces.

That's What Siblings Are For

MK: "Pryce, can we play together sometime?"

Pryce: "Mason-Kate, we have the rest of our lives to play together!"

Celebrating Lulu home forever! Sunday we were able to gather together, the moms and the girls in our adoption group, and celebrate another miracle. So happy for the Hatcher family and their littlest one - glad they are all under one roof together, safe, happy and forever!

Sadly, our littlest one fell sick soon after. She was just not herself. Fever. Coughing. Rapid breathing. And she was oh so tired.
Poor baby girl just wasn't comfortable unless she was sleeping in the middle of everything - the phone ringing, the dryer buzzing, the children doing school, MK dancing....she slept right through it all. However, if you chose to put her into a bed, she woke up extremely unhappy.
So we let her sleep wherever. And we continue to pray that she will feel better soon.