Sea World, a Bad Mommy Moment, and a 25 Year Reunion

 

Homeschool Day at Sea World

Sea World had a homeschool day that was discounted tickets and everything was shut down except for the animal exhibits and some educational programs.  We haven't been to Sea World since moving here because every time we have  started to get the tickets we'd just cringe at the cost (plus the crowds!) and cancel the plans.  So when this came on my radar I jumped at the chance to take the younger boys, especially since they don't even remember ever goin because they were so young or *cough* not born at all *cough* Bob.  The educational talks were not well planned out or executed.  It was hard to get to them all because of the times and locations not being orderly and the ones we made were so crowded that we often couldn't see the demonstration at all.  That was due to there only being one of each talk for the whole day.  If they'd had repeats of the talks then not everyone would have been in one location at one time.  However, the boys had a blast and learned a thing or two.  A each exhibit, there was an educator to answer questions which made up for missing most of the events.  The beluga whales had a large seating area so we could actually see what was going on, but they were in breeding season and "refused" to come out and perform.  We did see the dolphins and whales though.

After a memorable Mass

So, don't judge me but this particular Sunday it finally happened.  Everyone always asks me if I have ever left one of my kids.  Brian had gone to another Mass because he had to work on Sunday which is a rare occasion.  So It was just me and the seven kids.  I was so very impressed walking out the door that we were totally on schedule leaving and there were no wardrobe issues.  We discussed on the way there that Judah would get to sit next to me this time.  As we are nearing the parking lot, 25 minutes away from our house, I start giving instructions to the kids and Genevieve says, "Where's Benjamin?"  (Yes, she still calls him that and no one even notices anymore because he goes by Judah with everyone else, minus his dad.)  Anyway, panic overtakes me. I do make sure she's not kidding or mistaken before I make a U-turn and have the kids drop in through our security cameras to talk to him and tell him we are on our way back.  Hannah looks up another Mass time at a church closer to home.  We basically just have time to grab him and turn around to go to Mass at a different time and place.  

Judah is old enough to stay home by himself, but because Drew is just two years older and is a homebody he hasn't ever stayed totally by himself.  He had been looking for his Religious Education homework and was in the school room when I turned off all the lights and left.  When he realized that he had been left, he looked for the home phone, but it had been left on the Lego table and was dead.  He never found it.  Then he sat on the couch and cried and prayed until we dropped in through the cameras to tell him we'd be home soon to get him.  How sad is that!  When we got home, I ran in to get him and said that he finally got to stay home alone like he'd been asking.  His response: Yeah, but I didn't want to to be this way."  Ouch.  I felt like a winner of a mom!  

I don't count the kids when I get in the van because they all have a fairly regular seating arrangement and everyone has another person on their row.  I rely pretty heavily on the other kids to say, "Hey, we're missing so and so."  Guess who sits next to Judah in the van...Bob.  He was reading and never noticed that Judah didn't get in the van.  Guess I need to return to counting.  

Gratuitous Cute Baby Photo

And Another

My 25 Year High School Reunion

Our whole family drove up to Dallas for the weekend so that Brian and I could go to my 25th (Yes, I'm old) high school reunion.  I went to a small private school, and I hadn't been back since my 5 year reunion.  It was actually really fun to see some of my class.  This is a mere 13 people from our class of 69 students, but it made it so we could all thoroughly visit and catch up.  I'm really glad that I went!

Brian and I before leaving for the reunion.  The kids stayed at my Mom and Dad's house and got some grandparent time.

We need a bigger dinner table!

Brian is supposed to make us an old farmhouse dinner table one of these days.  I am hoping for sooner rather than later, but as long as it is before Judah is out of a high chair I guess we'll survive.

More Super Twos

Drew seriously wore his bibs backwards for two weeks.  He would just turn it around for mealtime.  I would trade it out for a clean one when it got too dirty. He even slept in it.  He likes to play Superman game with Isaac where they jump off a stool and run through the house pretending to fly.  (Running in the house is against the rules, technically, but it's so cute I can't bring myself to stop them.)  Don't worry, we have had countless talks about how he can't really fly and it is only pretend.  I am a little concerned he might actually try to fly, so I remind him a lot.

I have been humoring this little guy for long enough.  Since Judah was born he has started wanting me to do everything.  The girls had been helping with him a lot, but he suddenly didn't want them to do anything for him.  Well, I was always forcing him to let them buckle him in the car seat, but otherwise have been humoring him out of some kind of mommy guilt or something and because I miss his being my baby.  The honeymoon is over though.  Judah's 5 months and this has to stop.  I can't do all things for him and Judah all the time.  I was contemplating how I would make this transition since he was outright refusing to allow them to help him before.  Then I had a revelation after talking this out with a friend of mine.  I was forcing him to let them buckle him in, so I can force him to let them bathe him, dress him, take him potty, get him a drink, etc.  He is my controlling little guy and likes to feel like he is making all the decisions, so I give him two choices.  "Drew, let Genna brush your teeth or I am putting you to bed without your story."  Voila!  He does it immediately.  I call on Genna to do more of the help at home because Hannah is burnt out being the big helper sometimes.  However, Hannah is his designated buddy when we are out of the house because she has more control over him physically and she is good at manipulating him into doing what she says.  Genna is my helper with Judah most of the time out of the house, but Isaac also helps and takes his turns with him.  Everyone helps with him at home.