Tuesday, March 24, 2009

FIRE!!!!

Well, it seems it has been a while since we've had a good adventure story come from the Powers' house . . . let me take care of that little detail.

Kerry told her story about how the firemen came to her house . . .

Here is my story about the fire that came to our house . . .

1. He lit a match. (I know what you are thinking . . . He's 10 - he can reach them no matter where we put them. Kids are "in training" - not "trained" - unfortunately.)

2. He blew out the match. (Good boy.)

3. He threw the match into the trash can. (Uh-oh.)

4. The hot match lit the surrounding kleenex on fire. (Oh, junk . . . no pun intended)

5. The boy panicked.

6. He shut the door. (Maybe nobody will notice . . .)

7. He ran outside. (Yes, he left the rest of us to die without him . . . )

8. He continued to panic - but gained enough common sense (and courage) to come and warn us.

9. He told his mother - with the condition that she wouldn't get mad . . . (Now really, why would I get mad???)

10. His mother didn't get mad - but she did move very fast.

11. His mother screamed for his father - who came and saved the day. (My hero.)

12. There was absolutely no damage done - outside of a melted trash can. It happened on a tile floor - away from the walls and cabinets. It still stinks in there though - and there was ash everywhere.

13. The fire alarms never went off. (Now I am mad.) We are working on that. A grace gift of sorts to find out now - while we are still alive.

14. We are buying fire extinguishers too . . .

15. It all counts as school. Fire safety - home-school style . . . (I don't recommend the curriculum though . . .)

16. He was mortified - but is now laughing with the rest of us. It was an accident - but he is investing in a new trash can. Talk about learning your lesson the hard way!

Here is all that remains of the trash can . . .


Each adventure seems to be a bit more dramatic than the last. They are getting a bit to exciting for my blood.

Oh, wait, did I mention blood????

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Thinking spring . . .

I love spring because it is warm(er) . . .

He loves spring because there is . . . MUD!!!!


Monday, March 16, 2009

Where is your favorite place to read????


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Just so you know . . .

1. I do have other children other than Owen . . . Since I only ever seem to post about him - I will commit this post to Carra . . .

2. I am a twin. We look alike - and that is about where the similarities stop. For instance, she buys her children a kitten . . . I buy my children . . .

A MOUSE!

Seriously, this little mouse has finally experienced true love. I don't think he could be loved more than he is by this little girl. She holds him constantly and he climbs all over her - even up her sleeve. He even holds the noble name of . . . Chet. Of course, he has no idea how good he has it because technically he is a "feeder" - you know - for snakes. He was saved from certain doom and loved unconditionally. No really, I think there is a sermon illustration here about redemption. This could preach. (And now you also know why Buff writes his own sermons . . . .)

Actually, we also gained a hamster in this whole ordeal because that is what she wanted originally. The hamster turned out to be very "vicious" (to quote a heartbroken six year old). Brice liked the hamster so he traded her his mouse for him - and she fell in love. (See, this is where the sermon illustration kind of falls apart . . .) Now to get her to love cleaning out the cage . . .

3. Carra has also recently lost her thwo fronth theeth. It is very cute.



It is fun because she now has a place for her tongue . . .



And she is very excited because now she can do this . . .


Yeah, I don't get it either . . . but it is a good picture to keep around for those future potential boyfriends.

4. She is also doing well in school and has discovered she "loves" math facts. I considered getting her head examined, but chose to just give her a few worksheets instead. Because I thought it seemed reasonable, I gave her a worksheet with just a few problems on it so as to not overwhelm her and ruin a good thing here. She was very disappointed because she wanted a worksheet like Brice's - you know - with 100 math facts on it. So I agreed, found her a worksheet with 100 facts on it (+ 1's), set up her counting blocks and away she went . . .


I'm sure the novelty will wear off eventually - no really, this is the Powers' house . . . but I'll enjoy it while it lasts! If it sticks, we all know she didn't get it from her mother . . .


Monday, March 2, 2009

Owen who?

Some of you don't have the privilege of knowing Owen personally. Let's just say that he has caused me to rewrite my parenting model (over and over and over again) - and he is the child I should have had when I was 20. He is God's formula to protect me from becoming arrogant and to keep me pleading before His throne. (Some days I plead FOR Owen - but most days I am pleading for rescue FROM Owen.) He is a piece of work.

The last two weeks he has been rather sick. Very sick. But before you oooh and ahhh and feel really bad for me . . . . (or were you oohing and ahhing for him?) you have to understand that when he is sick he becomes the sweetest boy on the planet. When Owen is sick, he is calm, kind and sleeps a lot = a vacation for mom. All that was missing was the beach, a good book and something cold to drink.

For instance, there was a day when his fever got quite high and made him very lethargic. As the medication started to kick in, he perked up enough to ask for some ice cream. I took out a table spoon and plopped an average size scoop into his bowl and handed it to him. He looked up at me with a tender look and quietly said,

"Mom, I can't eat that much. Could you put some of it back, please?"

Seriously.

Who are you and what have you done with Owen?

Unfortunately, it was short lived.

Today he "sat on my bed" 3 times for screaming demands.

Yeah, he's better.

Is it mean to hope he gets sick again soon?