We had a great Halloween and hope you do too!

Here are a few pictures from our day.

My two Halloween decorations! I know, I know I am a bit behind on my Halloween collection but I am working on it.

Traditional Wadsworth Halloween Dinner: Chili and Cornbread served in pumpkin bowls. This year we had a pumpkin serving bowl too- it was very festive and very fun!

Trick or Treat Fun! The boys dressed up as Spiderman and a Mummy and actually went trick or treating- it was so fun! We trick or treated in our small gated American neighborhood (only about 80 homes) so it was short and safe. I felt more comfortable about the whole trick or treating experience than I anticipated. I was pleased and the boys had a GREAT time!

Enjoying the Treats

Ross decided he wanted to "organize" his candy. So he divided the candies into groups and put them in labeled bags! Oh my, I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all!!

To all of our trick or treating family and friends- have a fun night and be safe!

Sometimes I forget how different our lives are as a result of our spouses job in the military but then I read things like this and realize that we really are in a world of our own!

You might be military if:

1. If you show your military ID to the Walmart greeter.

2. If your family and friends need a translator because you speak in acronyms (PCS, TDY, LES, PSD, etc.)

3. If your kids get an LES with their allowance.

4. If you need to go through a government agency to get your toilet fixed.

5. If you tell your kids to do something and they answer, "Roger that!"

6. If you know "stop loss" is not a hair treatment for men.

7. If you have more curtains than Sears.

8. If you write everything in pencil because everything is subject to change.

9. If you have more than two colored numbered stickers on the back of your couch.

10. If you know "God Bless America" is not just a song.

To all of the amazing men and women who support our troops on the homefront everyday, I hope this makes you smile- it made me laugh out loud!

I am frustrated beyond reason and in need of your help! "Homework hour" at our house has become "battle hour" and I am seriously at the end of my rope with it all. One of my children (who shall remain unnamed) struggles E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y to get his homework done (I am not exaggerating when I say he struggles EVERYDAY. He has seriously struggled with every homework assignment from the very first worksheet he brought home in kindergarten to the load of homework he brought home today. That is 5 years of struggling people and I have completely had it!!) He spends the better part of his homework time crying, complaining, and flying into fits of anger. In the process, I get frustrated and loose my patience. What is supposed to be an educational/ live learning experience for him turns into a painful fight. Anyway, I am just not sure what to do here. I have tried everything I can think of to help and well, clearly nothing is working. In fact- it seems the harder I try to help him the worse it gets!! Anyway, I need your thoughts and ideas (and to be quite honest your sympathy) on the matter. In short, I need homework help and I need it ASAP (preferable before homework hour tomorrow afternoon)!!

If you are serious about helping (and I hope you are) here are a list of facts that might help you help me.

1. Homework has ALWAYS been a huge struggle for Spencer. From the very first assignment in kindergarten (where we both ended up in tears) to today.
2. It doesn't seem to matter what the subject matter of the assignment is or how large or small it is- he struggles to get it done.
3. He struggles to stay focused on the task at hand. Assignment that has more than one step are really challenging for Spence. So you can imagine that several assignments with two or more steps each are almost impossible. What should take 10 to 15 minutes at most to complete- takes him an hour. Now, it is not that he doesn't understand what he is supposed to do (he knows what he is being asked and he can tell me how to do it) but he can't seem to get it out of his brain and onto the paper. He has an incredible memory too -he memorizes long letter and number sequences, poems, songs, even long passages from books for fun with no problems at all. So this trait is really frustrating to me- it is really hard not to think he is just being stubborn and lazy.
4. He is easily distracted. In fact, the very paper he is writing on and the pencil he uses to get it done are distractions for Spencer. A piece of paper, a crayon, music, talking, the clicking of a clock, his own hand- these things (and many more) are distractions.
5. The more I do to "help" the worse it is. Here are a few things I have tried

• Setting aside a certain time of day for homework- otherwise known as "homework hour". We have tried having homework hour right after school, in the middle of the afternoon, and after dinner. All of these times result in the same thing- tears, frustration and a lot less learning than all the hassle is worth.
• Setting aside a specific place to do homework. We have designated the dining room table as the place for doing homework. It is a comfortable place with lots of light away from the distractions of TV and toys. We have a homework box full of pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, etc. so everything he needs is right there. If left alone in the dining room for even a few minutes Spencer will be on the floor sprawled all over the place working. Hum, I am not sure having a specific place to do homework is working for Spencer.
• Making myself available to help with homework. I try really hard to make myself available for the kids during homework hour. I sit at the table with them (doing some of my our work). The idea being that if they need something- they don't have to "stop" what they are doing to get the help they need. I think it also teaches them that learning is a life long process- not something you only do when you are in school and have an assignment from a teacher. Anyway... so I make myself available to help. Now, this works well for Ross- he asks a question or two and does the rest on his own. But Spencer... momma mia! If I am sitting at the table, Spencer talks to me non stop. He wants to know what the date is, how you spell this word and that, what I think the answer to problem 12 might be. When he isn't trying to get me to do his work for him, he is talking to me about inertia, eagles digestive systems, the components of strong concrete (just to name a few of the things he wanted to talk about today). It makes me crazy. Seriously how many times can one woman say, "Son, I have already been to fourth grade. This assignment isn't for me, IT IS FOR YOU!" and "I'd love to talk with you about inertia/ digestive systems /concrete WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH YOUR HOMEWORK!!!" The trouble is when I make myself available- it distracts him and infuriates me but when I am not there he doesn't do a thing.
• Letting him set the "rules" about homework. For one week I let Spencer decide when and where to do his homework. The only rule was that it had to be done right and turned in on time. It was insane! He would scramble to get his work done in the 10 minutes before bed or on the bus on the way to school the next day. He was a total stress ball the entire week (and to be honest II was too) but we stuck with the deal. In the end, he missed a few assignments because he "forgot to turn them in" and lost a time on "Fun Friday" I didn't see any change in the pace at which he worked or in the amount of complaining he did while getting his work done.
• Giving rewards. I have not yet found something that really motivated Spencer- food, money, toys, time with friends, special privileges, time with Mom and Dad- nothing seems to work.
• Giving punishments. I have not found a punishment that works either. There are several punishments we use that make him mad but none that actually result in a change of behavior.
• Giving up. I have tried this too-pretending that he can do whatever he wants and I really don't care. But given the length and intensity of the post I am sure you can tell that this approach isn't working either.

Alright, tear me up friends. What am I doing wrong? What can I do better / differently? How can I help this child succeed without "breaking" him or "babying" him? Is his response to homework normal and I just don't know it? Does he have some sort of learning disability that I don't know about? I am desperate for help. Seriously, I will read any book, buy any program, try any method... I just want to help my son get the learning and education he needs to succeed in life. I want him to form good study habits now that will help him throughout his life. I want help him to use the great mind he has been blessed with do something important and fulfilling. I want what is best for him and I want him to be happy!

When Robert and I got engaged, I remember holding out my left hand to admire my new diamond ring MANY times a day. In fact, I remember gazing at it so long once or twice while was driving that I almost got in an accident. Well, I have found that having a new car is kind of the same for me. I keep looking out my window to see if the car is still there and to admire how looks in the drive way- kind of silly I know but fun just the same!! Anyway, here it is!

After many months of debating we finally decided on a Honda Pilot! And I must admit for all the fussing we did over it- it is pretty cool!

When I picked up the car on Friday it had 8.9 miles on the odometer. Honestly, it is kind of scary to be driving a brand new car in NAPLES ITALY of all places. It certainly wasn't what we had planned but... I think it is going to work for us!

Oh there it is again- still in the drive way and still looking cool!

Ross just gave me a hug and kiss good night and said, "I love you Mom! You are as warm and cuddly as a honey pot and as safe and sturdy as a chair!" Humm, I am not quite sure what that means but I am taking it as a compliment!

I decided if I have to be a honey pot- I'd like to be this one!

(It looks warm and cuddly- don't you think?)

And I would like to be this chair!

(Okay it is really more of a bench than a chair but it looks safe and sturdy, hu? AND (this is my favorite part) it is red!)

This afternoon Ross asked if he could use the computer to type a story. I was in the middle of a big "discussion" with Spencer and was happy to have Ross engaged in something other than our trouble. So I sent him down stairs to type without another thought.

Well, a few minutes ago I came down stairs and found this story on my computer screen. NOTE: Ross chose the fount, size, spacing, etc. all on his own. When I told him his story was so good it was blog worthy he really wanted me to change the font color before posting it. I think we have author / graphic artist in the making over here.

The New School
Chapter 1:Ben

Ben was the shortest kid in Floros (Floro is a name Ross made up) class. He had no friends and everyone teased him. Win ever (whenever) Floro caught sum one (someone) doing it(,) they wood (would) bee (be) at the Principle. (")123 eyes on me(") everyone quickly looked(.) (")today we will (...) FIRE DRILL! (") But nobody curved (covered) there (their) yrs (ears). (")BEN WEY (why) WRINT (weren't) YOU LISNING (listening)!(")

End of chapter:1

Is this just cute because I'm his Mom? Seriously, I think this kids got talent!

Italy (north of Rome) is filled with beautiful places! And we have truly loved the experiences we have had traveling to many of them. It has been hard (until now) to pick a favorite place because each is beautiful and appealing in its own way. I love the uniqueness of Venice, the class and style of Florence, the antiquity of Rome, the pace and peace of Sardinia, the wonder of Pisa. But this weekend I discovered my favorite place of all- Cinque Terra!

It was a mistake that we even had a chance to visit Cinque Terra at all (but one we would gladly make over and over and over again if we had to). We had reservations in Florence to visit the David and other works of art but there was a strike in Florence the day we were supposed to be there and were advised not to go. We were pretty disappointed and decided to "just go to Cinque Terra instead". Wow, what a swap! I do love Florence, don't get me wrong. And the David is one of the most spectacular pieces of art I have ever seen but Cinque Terra... is my kind of place. It is a series of five small towns literally carved out of the cliffs over looking the sea. It is mountains and ocean and sunshine and seagulls and boats and cafes and steep roads and clean air and great restaurants and vineyards and cats and old people and peace and solitude and... if I ever run away (and I have been thinking about it)- you will know where to find me!If you ever come to Italy (and you know I hope you do) you have to let me take you to Cinque Terra! It is a place you will never forget!

We just got home from a trip to Venice- it was wonderful! I love Venice. I have been there in the spring, summer and now in the fall. I must admit (though it was beautiful before) Venice was even more enchanting this time around. The cool weather, cloudy sky and beautiful autumn colors were breathtaking. Our favorite thing- feeding the pigeons at St. Marks Square- remains unchanged with the season however. They no longer allow vendors to sell pigeon food to tourist at St. Mark's but that doesn't mean you can't feed them (at least that is what we discovered). Ross and Spencer gladly shared their morning trial mix with the birds in Venice. There were lots of them around to feed and they were hungry! We had a great time.

I was so thrilled this morning when the garbage guys came to pick
up my trash. It had only been 13 days since the last time they picked up (I was beginning to feel spoiled). Unfortunately my excitement was short lived! While mowing the lawn and straightening up in the back yard a bit I noticed a really terrible (almost sickly) smell. After a little investigating I traced down the culprit- a dead rat in my garbage can!! The trouble is I didn't realize what it was until I PICKED IT UP!!! Oh, the thought of its feel in my hands makes me ill. I am not sure I will ever fully get over the experience!

Anyway, I have been pretty wound up about the whole thing. I mean hello- am I wrong to think that this is completely unacceptable!?! Besides being totally gross- this is a major health hazard, isn't it? Seriously, thoughts of the Bubonic Plague and other rodent transmitted diseases have been running through my mind all day. And what about the flies that have been feasting on that dead rat for the last 13 days and then landing all over my kids when they are outside playing. Honestly the thought of it all makes me sick.

So I need your opinion, am I totally over the top to think that "rats" are the limit for me as far as the garbage in Naples is concerned? Should I make a big fuss about this? Or should I have expected it? I mean- there is a huge pile of garbage outside my back door and rats do like garbage, don't they? Was I silly to think that our garbage was somehow cleaner than most? I've tried to suppress my feelings on the garbage issue here for a long time but this experience has really really got me worked up. AHHHHHH! Help me out here friends, what should I do?