Halloween

Here are some photos from Halloween. Matt did everyone's make-up, (well except for mine). He did an amazing job on both his and Spencer's make-up. Check it out:

Adventures In Babysitting

We've got this really great babysitter who watches Spencer from the time that he gets out of school to when I am able to leave work. She and her husband are in their early/mid-twenties and have two kids. I think they are 2 and 3 years old. Spencer's been going to her for the last year and has really enjoyed it. She's great about getting him to do his homework and letting me know if there are any problems. She's also helped hold boundaries with him. We just love her.

This school year has been pretty rough so far. She's been stressed out with her husband's new school schedule and hasn't really been available as much as I need. Turns out, she's pregnant and not feeling well at all. She's got some strange cold-flu-thing that she had with her last pregnancy and isn't sure when she'll be feeling better. She let me know all of this tonight, and then she quit. Uuuuuggggghhhhhh. She was really, really nice about it. And I get it. I really do. I wouldn't want to watch someone else's kid if I was sick 24-7... hell, I probably wouldn't even want to watch my own kid if I was sick 24-7.

But still... now what? It took me a while to find someone we were happy with in the first place.

What I wouldn't give to be able to be home with my son.

Some New Photos

Piano Lessons

Spencer has been asking me for music lessons for a few months. I've been dragging my feet about it for a couple of reasons; 1. practicing takes a lot of time and that's something we don't always have a lot of; 2. music lessons can be pretty costly, especially if you have to buy a new instrument; 3. I don't want to have him start the lessons and then quit once he finds out how much work it really is. However, even after explaining all of this to him, he still wanted to take them. He initially asked for piano lessons, then violin lessons, and finally guitar lessons. After talking to a few music teachers we found out that piano is the best instrument to start with and will set the child up with a good foundation. Since we already have a piano, this worked out well for us!

I talked to Spencer before hand, and explained to him what I had learned about starting an instrument. I then let him choose what he wanted to do with the understanding that he would have to stick with it for a least a year. He chose to start piano lessons. We interviewed a couple of teachers and had a mini lesson with each of them. After these, he still wanted to do it. So we picked a piano teacher and set up weekly lessons.

Yesterday was his first official lesson, book and all. It went really well to begin with. He remembered the hand positions and sat with proper posture. He was responsive and attentive while learning to count out each note. He even made it through 4 songs before he realized he was actually going to have to work a little. I could see the exact moment when he started to get frustrated with himself. I think the teacher realized this soon after and she quickly wrapped up the lesson. She complimented him and told him that he was very talented and that he did an excellent job. I was so proud of him!

Of course, once we walked out the door he told me he was done. He doesn't like piano lessons; they aren't fun. We sat and talked about it for a few minutes and he cried a bit, but in the end he decided he's going to stick with it, (which is good since I wouldn't have let him quit just yet anyway).

It was so frustrating though! On the one hand I completely empathize with him. I remember what it felt like to get frustrated with how much there is to learn on the piano, and I expected it to happen with him as well. I just didn't expect it to happen after the first lesson! On the other hand, he agreed before hand that if I signed him up for piano lessons he would stick with it for at least a year. I don't want him to learn that once something gets a little hard, you bail. He needs to know that you stick with it. Ultimately I think I handled it alright, but it wasn't easy to keep things in perspective.

As far as the teacher goes, I really like her. Of all the teachers that we met I felt like she was the most comfortable with teaching as well as being well educated. We'll see how the next month or so goes, but I have high hopes.

He did get up this morning and start practicing right away. He did well, and was pretty excited to get to summer camp and tell his friend that he had practiced the piano already. Sounds like he just needs to take a break when he gets frustrated rather then push himself.

Gratitude List

I've decided I need to develop a little more gratitude in my life. I've been such a grouch lately, I can't even stand to be around me.

1. I'm grateful for Spence. He's in the other room painting a wood airplane and singing to himself. It puts a smile on my face when he sings to himself.

2. Medical Insurance. I got a bill yesterday for $1600+. I'm so glad they are billing the insurance for that first!

3. My ipod. I mainly use it to listen to books while I'm driving, or doing some mundane task. It sure helps the time go by faster AND I get to do one of my favorite things! Read!

4. Having The Office on DVR. I missed the first couple of seasons, but the ones I have seen have been a lot of fun to watch. (The last episode was especially funny, btw.)

5. Matt. He took my child shopping for Mother's Day. I have to say, I think that's pretty cool.

I'm not sure how often I'll do this, but I've seen a few of my blogger friends doing this and it seems to be a pretty good tradition to start. Thanks for the example!

My mom: (by Spencer)

Spencer's class filled in these little worksheets last week. It was fun to see what his answers were. I have it hanging up at work so it's taken me a bit to remember to copy these down.

My mom reminds me to say: I love you.
My mom likes clean: theings.
My mom wants me the wash: the dishis.
My mom tells me every morning to: git drest.
My mom tells me that it's important to: de safe.
My mom tells me not to play: with gans.
My mom tells me not the waste: fud.
My mom wants me to be kind to: frends.
My mom loves to have me: ther.
My mom asks me: to be safe.
My mom says yes when: I be gud.
My mom says no when: I am bad.
My mom tells me that she will always: Love me.

As you can tell, he got his spelling skills from his mother! ;-)

Happy Mother's Day!

I know it was a couple of days ago but better late then never, right?

I do want to wish all of my woman friends and family a Happy Belated Mother's Day! I know so many fine mothers and future mothers. I hope each of you enjoyed your day.

I know I did! Friday I went to Spencer's school for the 1st Grade Program. They did awesome! It was so sweet to be there when Spencer walked in and immediately started grinning from ear-to-ear once he saw me. They sang 3 songs and recited a little poem. Most of the moms teared up, of course. After their program, they invited the mothers back to classrooms for cookies and punch. When we walked in the kids had flowers for their mothers. Spencer was so proud to give me a flower all on his own:



Later that evening Matt took Spencer to the mall and helped him find a gift for me. Spencer is usually very good at keeping a secret; not this time! Within 30 minutes Spence inadvertently let me know that I was getting earrings. Once he realized it, I pretended that I hadn't heard what he said. The next day Spence was visiting with me while I was making breakfast. He talked to me about what they almost got me... and then told me that they decided on earrings instead. About 2 seconds later he caught himself. Again. :-D

Saturday, Matt watched Spencer for me while I took my mother out to lunch. We went to Mimi's Cafe and had a very nice visit. She gave me a bag of rice for my food storage! I wouldn't say I'm excited about it, but at least we've got something more then the food in the 72 hour kits to eat in the event of an emergency!

Sunday was a nice relaxing day for me. Spencer gave me the earrings in time for church. I love them! He, (with a little help from Matt), did an awesome job.



I love being a mother to my son. This past month or so has been very difficult, but it's certainly helped me to recognize the sweetness of my son when he chooses to show it. He was so happy to spend the day with me and to shower me with kisses. I remember when he was born and the dr. handed my new born son to me. I looked at my own mother who was standing next to me and choked out, "I'm a mommy now." Since that moment I have loved like I never thought possible. I have been blessed not only to watch, but more importantly, to participate in the life of this amazing little boy. When I think of the last seven years it is amazing to me that it's really been that long. It seems like just last week when I was bringing him home from the hospital, or that he was getting his first tooth, taking his first step, saying "mama" for the first time. There have been difficult times trying to raise a little boy while being a single mother, but the good times have more then outweighed the bad. I thank Heavenly Father for the gift of my sweet little boy and for helping me to remember how blessed I am to have him in my life.

Fight Update

I meant to post about this last week... and never got around to it. Obviously.

When I picked up Spencer from the babysitter, I was grateful for the time I had had to calm down. It's so much easier to dish out a punishment when you can think clearly. It also gave me the chance to call Spencer's dad and get him to agree with me on carrying over the punishment at his house. *sigh* (that's a whole other story right there!)

I had Spencer do his homework first and then sat him down for THE TALK. He told me what had happened. Their class was at gym and they were playing tag. Spencer thought he was on the base and Michael thought Spencer wasn't. Michael tagged Spencer, Spencer got mad, Michael got in Spencer's face and Spencer pushed him. It went from there with Spencer hitting Michael and Michael biting Spencer. Here is a picture of his bite mark: (Yes, I know it's a crappy photo, but it's all I've got.)



I asked Spencer how he felt and he said, "Sad, because I get in trouble everyday." I asked him how he felt about what had happened that day. He said, "Even worser. It's the worstest thing I've ever done to anyone." And then he burst into tears, which actually made me very happy as his mother. I wanted to him feel remorse and to understand that it's not okay to hurt another person because they tag you out of a game of tag. However, I don't think of this as Spencer being a bully, but more that he got upset over the game and lost control. I told him that his punishment was to be grounded from everything for a week: no tv, no computer or video games, no playing with friends and no violent toys for an indefinite period of time. He, of course, got very upset went to his room to calm down. A few minutes later I checked on him. I explained him that I wasn't trying to be mean; I was trying to help him understand how serious it was that he not start fights. He then got up and started gathering together his toy weapons for me. All in all, I felt pretty good about it. Until the next day.

His friend came to the door to see if Spencer could play. I let Spencer answer it and tell his friend that he was grounded. He did that, and then boasted that he had beat up Michael. I could have smacked him! I was so mad! Did he not learn ANYTHING?? I yelled instead.

The next day the same boy came back to the door. I was sick with the flu and told Spencer that he could not answer the door. Let the kid stand there all day, I was too sick to care. A few minutes later I could hear the kid and Spencer talking through the window. I yelled again, since that what I do so well. Talking to your friends through the window is a violation of being grounded! So... he did it again. Talk about having a thick skull, (I blame his father). So I added another day to his week long grounding.

Over the last week, he's been a brat through and through. From sassing me and telling me he doesn't like me, to conveniently forgetting that he's grounded. Having a child who's grounded is like being grounded yourself and being grounded as a grown-up totally sucks. Just so you know.

Today, however, he was awesome. He emptied the dishwasher. Cleaned some spilled milk from the fridge and floor. Restocked the water bottles. Washed the bathroom mirror. And even let me pick a game for us to play! And then he beat me at Trouble.

Some days, or weeks, I feel like a complete failure as a mother. And then there are the days where everything is perfect, or nearly so, and I think I just might be able to do this.

Fighting

Spencer got in a fight at school today. From his own mouth, and confirmed by the teacher: It started because he was tagged out of a game during PE. He thought he was on the base and the other kid thought Spencer was off of the base. So Spencer pushed him. And the other boy pushed back. So Spencer "took him down" and the other kid bit him. I haven't seen him but the teacher warned me that Spencer has a visible bite mark on his shoulder. The Principal is out today, but I imagine that both boys will be in to talk to her tomorrow.

I am at a loss of what to do, other then sit here and alternate between fuming, crying and guilt. Any well meaning suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

New Glasses

Spence got his first set of glasses today! So of course I asked my famous photographer boyfriend, (see below), to take photos of the boy-child in his new glasses; Matt said he was booked full. I think USA Today has gone to his head! ;-) However, after a bowl of homemade chicken and rice soup, he finally relented and took some fun photos for us:

en·tre·pre·neur

After building the car lot, (see below), Spence came up with a way to actually earn money for himself- by charging people 1¢ to hear him play a song on the harmonica! He got a plastic bag that already had his name on it and using a marker added 1¢ under his name. He then got his harmonica and went out onto the front porch to solicit whoever might be walking by for money. He did end up making 26¢ from his mother but that was the extent his money making venture.


It was worth every penny to watch him close his eyes and tap his foot as he played a soulful tune.

Spring Break

Spence is on spring break this week. I feel bad for him as he's mostly just had to hang around while I work. Today I was able to work from home and let him play instead of being trapped in my cube at work. This is what he did with all of his spare time today:



In case you can't understand him, he's showing off the car lot he built. We went with Matt, (formerly known as Skip/Guy), to look at cars on Saturday, which is what sparked his interested in car lots.

Girls are EVIL

At 2:33 this afternoon my cell phone rang with a call from a number I didn't recognize. I answered it and was surprised to hear a little girl's voice asking for Spencer. Usually I don't have him with me in the afternoons, but today I had to pick him up and bring him back to work with me. Being the nosy mom that I am, I asked who it was and heard something like, "Shelly Davie." I gave the phone to him and then sat back and watched.

First he made a funny face and then just held it... and held it... and then held it some more. Finally he said hello and then his face went from it's normal pink-cheeked look, to scarlet in a matter of seconds. Then he said bye, and hung up. He looked at me and said,"She said she really has a big crush on me and really wants to kiss me!! And then she said bye and hung up!" And then he fell over in a fit of giggles.

The best part is, he has NO idea who she is! None. Doesn't know a girl named Shelly or Sherry. Regardless, even though the whole thing was pretty funny to me, I did have to have the talk with him about kissing. I don't want to make it a huge deal at this age, but I did tell him that kisses should be saved for when you are older, (like 18), and that girls are evil. Ok, I didn't tell him that girls are evil, but I seriously considered it!

1st Grade Family Presentation

Here are some photos of Spencer's Family Presentation. His step-mom came down from Tooele and brought Spence's brother as well as their dog, Baby. Spencer was very happy to be able to show off his little brother. My mom came as well as a surprise for him. He loved being able to talk about her and his papa who lives in Japan. He brought his Bumblebee Transformer and all of the medals he has ever earned and got to explain each of them. He also read a story that he wrote about when he was little. Attached is a picture of the poster we put together last night. (All of the photos are courtesy of Matt (thanks Matt!) At the end of the presentation they sang a song about how Spencer is a V.I.P. in his family and then he got out hand out treats and some pencil grips. Over all if was a great experience for us all.