Deranged teddies and other lovies

So Luke's 1st Grade class is currently studying about Theodore "Teddy Bear" Roosevelt and to honor good ole' Teddy, they are having a "Teddy Bear Picnic" on Friday. All the kids get to bring in their favorite Teddy bear to help celebrate. I asked Luke who he was bringing (of course, I knew the answer before the words left his mouth). "Uh, Bobby, duh!" Of course, I knew that!

Bobby is Luke's beloved bear and has been since Luke was a baby. I can't remember a night that Luke has gone without Bobby and if there WAS one, then take my word, it was a sleepless night. But unfortunately, with lots of love comes...how do I say this nicely... ok, Bobby looks like a deranged homeless bear.

A couple of years ago, both of Bobby's eyes fell off (I know, that seems weird huh?! I think that Luke may have been going through a destruct-o stage but who really knows?!). Me being the domestic mother that I am (NOT), first tried desperately to go out to the stores and find Bobby's "twin" (with eyes). Apparently they no longer sell these adorable bears so I attempted to sew the eyes back on. That didn't work out so well either so we settled for buttons for eyes. And it was not a pretty sight! But Luke grabbed him and kissed both of us and said "Mommy, he's perfect now" and thankfully, Bobby could see again!

Nicholas has had many "babies" over the years, and he's loved them all dearly. But Luke has stuck with Bobby as his one and only. I'm kind of sad that Jake has never taken to a stuffed animal or blankey or any "lovie". Well, not yet anyways.

Oh and to speak of Bobby brings me right to Luke's "Other Blue Blankey". That's his other "lovie" that he still cannot live without (despite the fact that he is almost 7). I laugh when I think of it's name and how we came to that name. When Luke was a baby, I had an adorable blue blanket that I tried to force upon him. He talked at an early age and from the moment he could speak, he would throw the pretty blanket at me and yell "No, udder blue blankey". So I'd sigh and get him the plain, not as cute blue blanket that he was insisting on. Somehow that name stuck and that's what we call it. I think Other Blue Blankey will be with us until it's down to its single thread. Awww, the memories!

Back to Bobby--hopefully nobody will make fun at how raggedy he is at the picnic. Watch out though--Luke is very protective of his buddy!

Here is Bobby--I told you he's a little deranged looking with those button eyes!!! Oh, and he's only been washed around 300 times or so!











Luke with his best buddy!














Nicholas felt left out and wanted to be photographed with Slippy--one of his 30 favorite babies.













And last but not least, Jake (with no "baby" b/c he's apparently not a sentimental kid). Plus, he didn't want to stop running long enough for me to take a picture.

I want it and I want it NOW!!!

One of the funniest observations I've made lately (and when I say "funny", I am totally putting the finger quote signs up) is that kids these days think that EVERYTHING is instantaneous! It needs to happen and it needs to happen ASAP. And everything is just so darn convenient. For instance, my children have never experienced TV without a DVR. If they see something they like, they can skip back and watch it over again. Heck, they can skip back all the way and record it for future viewing. They know how to work a CD player, Ipod, and DVD player better than I do. They hardly EVER have to wait on a favorite show because we either have one recorded or they can go to Netflix On Demand and stream the show. When I really think about it, this just boggles my mind. I remember my favorite shows coming on once a week and you had to park your butt in the chair and watch the whole thing or tough luck to you. What, you need to pee--wait for commercial b/c there is NO pause button. Get home too late? Sorry, you missed the show unless Mom or Dad could figure out how to record on the VCR (and when I was really young, they didn't even have VCR's). Crap, I have totally let on to how old I am--ha ha!

We were driving somewhere the other day and I actually had the radio on. The boys heard a song that they liked and they asked me to play it over again. I tried explaining to them that the radio is LIVE and that I can't rewind or skip back or replay. "Whaaaaaat???" I just get these blank stares like I'm from another planet. They try explaining it to me in a different (slower) way like I'm some kind of an imbecile. "Mom, you know like when you are playing the ipod and you hit the back arrow and it plays the song again. See if you can try that". "Oh, ok, b/c I'm such a moron and you boys know so much more than me. Humph!"

But really, almost everything IS right at their fingertips to be had with a push of the button or stroke of the key. Luke's big thing now is making a request and immediately asking me to go check for it on the internet. He decided he wanted to look like he was in a rock band so he needed dark jeans, a gray t-shirt and a black leather jacket. "Can you get on the internet and order those up for me?" He honestly believes that you can order ANYTHING you want and have it right away via the internet. The funniest thing was when we ran out of large soft pretzels. It was on a Sunday evening and I told him that I wasn't going to the store right then. With all the seriousness that a 6 year old can muster, he said, "well just go order them on the computer".

I try so hard to explain that you can't just get whatever you want RIGHT then from the computer. His response is that all you have to do is to put a "www" in front of it and then type the word. So, "www.pretzels.com" and Wa-Laa! So then I explain that yes, you probably COULD order just about anything you want online BUT that people can't just GET everything they desire just because they WANT it. Cue the blank stare again!

I am trying really really hard to teach my kids about patience, waiting and that you don't always get what you want just because it's available. Sometimes I wish that we could go back to the "old days" when things were simpler and you couldn't just pull anything and everything up online. But then my second grader comes home with crazy homework and immediately I am thanking God that the internet is at my fingertips to look up the answer to this 2nd grade history question. What the heck did our Mom's DO before you could look up answers online? So, I guess you just have to take the good with the bad. Now excuse me while I go order some pretzels online--hmmm, wonder if they will dip them in chocolate? Well of course they will--it's the magical internet!!!

Resilience

Hello Friends! We had a wonderful weekend which was made better by the fact that Nicholas came home on Friday with the news that he is "Character Kid" in his class for the month of February. This comes at the perfect time because Nicholas was feeling a little out of sorts with Luke going to Target class and him having to "stay back in regular ole class". According to Nicholas, NO WORK is done in Target--only super cool stuff that regular kids don't have the privilege of joining. Sigh--this is going to be a long rest of the year.

But anyhow, Nicholas was thrilled to get the Character Kid honor and he even got a ribbon and will get to invite someone special to eat on stage with the other Character Kids. So we started asking what his "Character Achievement" was and he was like "what do you mean, Mrs. Collier just picks someone that has been good" and tosses the ribbon at us. Curious, we read his ribbon and it states "Resilience". Ok, really? I mean, I know what it means but how do you attribute that to a 2nd grader?

Bryan was like "So, he just keeps F-ing up but never gives up so she thinks he's resilient?"

Me: "No sweetie, that's Perseverance, he's RESILIENT ".

So I look it up and this is what I got... "Resilience is defined as a dynamic process that individuals exhibit positive behavioral adaptation when they encounter significant adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress.

OK, Wow! I'm not even sure of what to make of this. Adversity? TRAUMA? TRAGEDY AND THREATS???? Holy crap, I think I need to make an appointment to meet with team of teachers, counselors and principals at school. I had no idea that he was having to deal with so much! And what about the other poor children who are NOT resilient? Are they being terrorized? Beaten? Oh the stress! See, clearly I am NOT resilient b/c I do NOT deal with stress very easily.

So needless, to say, we are now proud and worried parents. But as long as Nicholas is happy, then we are!!

PS--I have always informed the boys that they can choose whoever they want to come to "Character Kid Lunch" AS LONG AS IT'S ME!!! I get some perverse satisfaction from sitting up on the stage and waving out to all the children. Seriously, I think I need to find a hobby or a job or something that makes me feel productive. That, my friends, is a whole 'nother post! Until then...

OMG Mommy, something's wrong with your hair...

This is what Luke cried out the other night as I was tucking him in. "Mommy, why is your hair all black? It looks so weird--can you make it go back to normal?" What he was referring to was the fact that I am WAY overdue for a visit to my hair salon. As in, I was suppose to have an appointment a couple of weeks ago but low and behold, we had the ice storm and everything got canceled.

Now let me digress for a moment and be brutally and embarrassingly honest. That's right, you may have guessed it, but I am NOT a true blond. GASP!! Oh the horrors! Well, some of you may know because I had brown hair in high school. In college, I went brown, blond and red (I know right--I was sooooo much more adventurous back then). But I have been blond for many many years now and the boys have never seen me any other way. It's actually pretty humorous because we go out and many people will comment about how much the boys look like me with our blond hair. You see, Bryan's got a full head of hair (lucky duck at 38) but he is starting to go gray and his hair is darkening up in his old age. So whereas he use to be white/blond like two of my boys, he is now a nice dark ash blond. So naturally, everyone thinks that the boys get their hair from ME! And that's how I like it. I tell people all the time "oh yeah, the boys totally take after my side of the family" (my mom is a fake blond too) and Bryan will just stand there rolling his eyes but he stays quiet as he knows better than to correct me when I'm in the middle of a full blown lie. Sooooo, the absolute truth is that the boys get their pretty blond hair from Bryan and not me. Sigh!!!

So anyhow, I am long overdue for a hair appointment. Luke seems to be getting more and more anxious over how it looks (he doesn't do well with change). I don't know why I can't just tell them that Mommy dyes her hair but I think that might freak them out. So instead, I told him that they have really been stressing me out and this is what happens when Mommy's get stressed--their hair totally changes colors. So unless he wants me to grow a rainbow, they'd better get their act together. Ha ha ha, that's right, I don't like to stress my kids out! UNLESS, it benefits me or encourages good behavior. THEN, anything goes.

So, thankfully, tomorrow is my long awaited appointment and all will be well in our household. However, I AM thinking about getting that colored hairspray and showing up at the bus stop today. I know that will really flip Luke out. Hey, what good is having kids unless you can screw with them? I know, bad Mommy! Oh well, but check back with me in 10 years to remind me why all my kids are in therapy!!

What's in a name?!

So last Sunday, I made a new friend at a birthday party and we realized that we both have boys named "Luke". And as it happens every time I meet someone with a kid named Luke, we start comparing notes about how they "are such a Luke". What does this mean? Well, I have found out that by some crazy cosmic way, your child can develop a personality that truly fits his or her name. I swear it's true. If I would have known this before getting pregnant, might I have chosen the same names? Well, yes, but maybe I could have prepared myself better!

You see, MY Luke is seriously one of the most awesome kids I've ever met. Am I saying this with a bit of prejudice? Abso-freakin-lutely--ha ha!!! But really, he's great. Without a doubt, Luke is the funniest kid I know. He is one of those people that can pull a funny quote out of thin air for just about any situation. He is super witty. And loyal. That child is so loyal once he determines that you are his friend. He has so many wonderful qualities!

But, Luke is also the child that usually has me scratching my head, pulling out my hair, and praying daily for strength. From the beginning, everyone has told me how "independent" he is. Isn't that just a nice way of saying "your kiddo doesn't mind!!". Yeah, probably. But he really does have a mind of his own and it's tough reconciling that to the "rules" of society. He's super smart, but he's also pig-headed and sometimes doesn't see that "playing the game" can get him further than stomping his foot and being stubborn about something.

I laugh (yes, I can laugh NOW--not so much THEN) when I think back to Luke being so independent. From age 1 till 2, he would not get dressed without a baseball hat. It didn't matter if he was dressy or casual--he had to have it on. Then from age 2 till about 3 1/2, his shirt HAD to be yellow. I'd be so frustrated... "Lukey, this blue shirt is really cool, come on, give it a try!" "NO"! "Crap, ok, wear your yellow shirt!". Then when he was 3, he dressed like Buzz Lightyear for 6 months straight. By this time, I was pregnant with Jake and couldn't care less, as long as he was actually dressed. We got many stares at the mall and grocery store but I just shrugged and would randomly yell out "ya pick your battles people!".

We also had a doozy of a time at school. At 3 year old Pre-school, I got called to the Catholic Church office on his 3rd week of school. I honestly felt like I was getting called into talk to the nuns. No, they weren't nuns but they were equally as intimidating. "Luke is just not making the best choices and he doesn't seem to want to mind the rules. We can't have him being so disruptive". "Yes, forgive me Father for Luke and I seem to sin all the time!" Uggghh, that was a seriously rough year. Then Pre-K came and I would ask daily "How'd Lukey do today?" Their answer often was "Well, you know Luke". I'd shake my head vigorously and say "uh huh, ok, great, see ya tomorrow" while thinking "what the hell do they mean, 'you know Luke'??? What does that even mean????" We got through Kindergarten with only 2 (or was it 3) visits to the Principal's office. Needless to say, I am on a first name basis, with Liz, our wonderful Principal.

So fast forward to this year. Luke is STILL difficult, still pigheaded, but his teacher is his biggest cheerleader this year in First Grade. She called me a couple of months ago to let me know that she thought that Luke was very intelligent and and that this could explain some of his past behaviour problems. Oh Dear Lord, we have some answers! The child is just smart and doesn't know how to control all of his bursting thoughts and inappropriate behaviours! So every time he climbed up that tall tree after being told not to, or he carved the letter "A" into the tables and walls (yes, true story)--that was just him not being able to control his ambitious self. HA--whatever! But seriously, they did tell me that many behaviors that are exhibited by so called "gifted" children are oftentimes looked upon as negative behaviours. So I am mentally throwing out all my "feelings of guilt" of all the inappropriate things that Luke has done over the years and chalking them up to him just being independent. I wonder how long I can use that as my excuse--"I'm sorry officer but you see, he's just gifted". Hmmmm!

To end this long post about our dynamic Luke, I will say that he got to go to his first day of Target Class yesterday. He came home and screamed "Best Day EVER oh yeah!!" When asked what was the best part, he excitedly told me that his friend Andrew fell face first into bird poop. "True story mommy, he seriously fell face first into bird poop. It was the funniest thing ever!" Ok, not really what I was expecting to hear but I'm so happy he had a great day!

I can't wait to see him grow up. I am so honored to be his Mom and it will definitely be an interesting ride, but I wouldn't change anything about him!

PS--I feel like I need to give a disclaimer that I REALLY do not think that Luke is "gifted". I kid about it b/c those of you who have known Luke for most of his life know some of his antics and this just makes it that much funnier. We've explained to him (and Nicholas, who is NOT in Target but would love to be) that this does not mean that Luke is any smarter, it just means that he learns differently. Thanks for understanding!!! :-)

Whose got Talent?!

Isn't it annoying when you come to ones blog and from the get-go, there is a major "Mommy Brag". So I will apologize in advance, but this is much bigger than just a brag.

Let me digress for a second and say that I was majorly stressing yesterday over the costs of college. Now I know my boys are still pretty young, but there was this obscene website that basically said that you will need about 700 grand to send a few kiddos to college. Sigh! The Bell Boys will never even get to take classes at satellite, online or community college at those astronomical prices. So in thinking about what kind of "trade" my boys could go into, I spotted Luke doing his future occupation.

Now on paper, this isn't going to sound as impressive as it REALLY is, so keep an open mind. Luke was hoola-hooping. See, told ya you wouldn't be impressed. But wait! You see, Luke can hoola hoop while doing ANYTHING. I'm not joking. He can walk and hoola, dance and hoola, eat and hoola. True story, last week (in the snow and ice) our family went walking around the block to get some exercise. Luke hoola-hooped the entire way around the block. People seeing us just gawked--it was quite the site to behold. The only time he let it fall was when he almost slipped on the ice, and once when Nicholas stepped on the back of his foot. Otherwise, he made it while walking the whole way.

But it gets even better. Yesterday, Luke was playing his guitar (the term "playing" is used very loosely) and he picked up the hoola hoop. This is when the epiphany hit me---he can join the circus! Or at the very least, the traveling carnival! And I don't think you have to pay to go to 'Circus School'.

Oh, and I forgot to add that Luke can climb ANYTHING! A light pole, a window frame, anything that is vertical. So I figure, he can climb way up, hoola hoop and sing/play the guitar all at the same time! I mean, who wouldn't pay to see that?

Last night I told him, "Baby, I'm so impressed".

"Why, for my good report card?" (which they got yesterday).

"No, because I've never seen anyone that can hoola hoop as great as you!" I wanted to (but didn't) mention that who cares about good grades--this is what's gonna put the Bell family on the map!

I will add that I am the polar opposite--I cannot for the life of me keep that damn hoola hoop going for more than two seconds. We even have me on video. If I ever get brave enough, I'll post it (but it's very pathetic). I constantly tell Luke "come on, please, teach me how to do it again". I mean, he barely moves and it looks so darn easy and then I look like I am having some sort of convusions or seizure! My parents are better than me, my kids, my husband... I am the very worst! I don't take being in LAST place very easily--second to last I can deal with--but not the very worst! So I will keep practicing and keep seeing what Luke can do at the same time. Maybe balance some bowls on his head while doing the hoola? Maybe juggle knives? Hmmm, I have to figure out what will make him most appealing to the crowds!

Stay tuned!!

Luke doing a "performance". PS--sorry about the streaky windows, the boys Windexed them earlier and I didn't realize what a bad job they did--oops).

Encouraging Creative Genius

My boys are all convinced that they are going to be something really BIG when they grow up! They aren't going to be something boring like Daddy where they have to go to an office every day. They aren't going to be something unimportant like Mommy b/c lets face it, Mommy just gets to stay home and play and really, that's not a JOB--that's called FUN. No, they are going to make it big.

Their creative juices are always going and I really really really try to encourage them. Both Nicholas and Luke are pretty artistic (at least they love to draw and create) and it looks like Jake is following in their footsteps. They love to act out movies and shows and write stories. All great stuff--right?!

Well, NOW, Nicholas has decided that he wants to be a movie maker. He got all these Mario and Luigi characters (dolls) for Christmas and he is obsessed with making videos with them. Problem is, guess who has to be the videographer? Yup, either Bryan or I. And then, after the Oscar worthy movie is made, it must be edited with funny music and little sayings inserted. By the time each project is finished, we get to watch it over and over and ok, I'm just gonna say it--it's excruciating!!



Then there is Luke--my music lover. He desperately wants to be in a rock band. He got one of those annoying Paper Jamz electric guitars for Christmas and I kid you not, he played it for 13 hours straight. Straight! As in, no breaks--one gigantic guitar solo! Oy ve, my head! He also has an acoustic guitar that he loves to strum and strum and strum. It all sounds the same but we are constantly asked to listen to his newest greatest hit.



Now to Jake--Jake has found his creative streak and it seems to be with painting. He's a guy of few words but he likes to chant "paint, paint, paint" until well, you get the idea--until I break down and get out the paints. His masterpieces all kind of look the same and it takes me a good 45 minutes to clean him and all surrounding areas up after he finishes.





So, what's a Mom to do when she can't take anymore of her children's "creative" projects? When she just can't bear to hear another song, film another movie or admire another beautiful painting? The boys have this genius way of turning on the puppy dog eyes and asking "what, you don't like it? Do you think I should quit? Because I thought I was pretty good but if not, maybe I should just quit right now?" "Oh no sweetie, I love that song and all the songs before. It's not bothering me at all. Keep it up (gulp)!"

I am writing this so that in 20 years, when my children are indeed famous, I can look back and take my much deserved credit. Or when we discover that they are NOT ever going to be famous, but the shrinks are all trying to find the deep rooted reason of why I just sit there with glazed eyes while rocking back and forth, they will know where it all began! Either way, I'm taking one for the team!!!