Last night for Family Home Evening we had a lesson on being kind. We shared stories from the scriptures about people who showed kindness to others, we learned the song "Kindness begins with Me" and we played a game about showing kindness in our families. I thought things were going pretty well (the kids looked like they were really getting it) until we got to the game.

It was a simple game really- with simple rules. Each player in turn was given a real life scenario in which they were supposed come up with a "kind" response. If the player answered "correctly" they got to move the team game piece ahead 1, 2 or 3 spaces.

Everything was fine until Ross drew a card that said, "Your sister just won ANOTHER award. You never win anything. What will you do?" Without a minutes hesitation Ross said, "Well it does depend on how many awards she has won but... I say the kind thing to do is just divide her awards up evenly among all the kids!" Oh my!

On his next turn Ross picked a card that said, "Your brother keeps changing the channel while you are watching TV. What will you do?" After his last answer and our response (lots of laughter) he was really thoughtful before he answered, "Well, I would just wait for him to go to the bathroom and then I would steal the remote so he couldn't play with it anymore." We all burst into laughter again- he laughed too. When things quieted down a bit Spencer said, "Actually I would just say, if you want to watch something different than me... go up stairs and watch it on the little TV!"

Momma Mia! I think we need to have this lesson again next week! What do you think?

I had a hillarious conversation with Ross last night and could not resist posting it on my blog. Ross was sitting in our kitchen on a stool talking to me while I made dinner. I had just walked accross the room to throw something in the trash can when Ross asked, "Hey mom, how come girls buns wiggle when the walk?" "RRROOOSSS!" said Spencer as he turned three shade of red. I laughed. Ross said defensively, "Well they do!" Given my recent expereince being mistaken as a pregnant women, I couldn't let this one go. So I asked "Whoes buns are to talking about and what do you mean "wiggle"?" Ross said, "YOUR buns and you know, they move up and down when you walk." Mamma Mia! I guess my buns are just about eye level for him and they do command a lot of attention (becasue compared to his they are HUGE) But I was feeling ever so slightly self conscious and needed a little clarification so I asked, "Do you mean wiggle or jiggle Ross? There is a big difference!" I could tell he was not sure what I meant so I expalined, "Wiggle is when they move up and down. Jiggle is when they move all over- like a bowl full of jelly." We all started laughing. "Just wiggle mom, just wiggle!" Phew- that was a close one! I knew I could count on my kids to tell me the truth.

I am just writing to let you know that we currently have NO internet service at our house. AHHHH! I am so frustrated. This is at least the fifth time in the last year that we have lost service for days and days at a time. There is no rhymn or reason to when our service works eccpet... that when one person in the neighborhood gets hooked up another gets booted off. My theroy on the whole thing is that there are only cables for 67 internet connections and there are 68 houses in Parco Eva. So, that means that every few months everyone takes a turn not having their internet connect for a while. Momma Mia! GET ANOTHER CABLE PEOPLE!! Honestly, this place makes me crazy! Anyway, given the cirmstatnces if I am not around for a while- you know why!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who commented on my recent post titled Homework Help! I can not tell you how much I appreciated your thought, ideas, and your empathy! I have learned a lot from you and from the research our homework trouble has driven me to do. In any case, things are going much better for us- "homework hour" is actually about homework these days and it is SOOO nice. In fact today Spencer wrote a fantastic two page paper on the Elk in Yellowstone National Park in about 25 minutes WITHOUT COMPLAINING!! It was incredible. Anyway, I wanted to share with you (in a series of posts) some of the things you shared with me and some of the things I have learned along the way. I hope these things will be helpful to you or someone you know.

Over the last few weeks I have managed (with the help of a friend- thanks Stephanie!) to get my hands on two fantastic books about homework written for children! I figured since my attempts to read and implement change were not working- I would let Spencer take a shot at it. I must say, he has enjoyed and responded well to both books.

The first and most comical is How to Do Homework without Throwing Up. Of Course the books is geared toward children (with a name like that) but it was actually quite helpful. Not only did it empathize with childrens' feelings of dislike for homework, it gave specific ideas they could do and not do to make homework more manageable. My favorite part was that it simply states that homework is a part of life that can not be avoided. And that it is up to each child to decide how they will feel about the assignments they are given to do at home. How to Do Homework without Throwing Up is an inexpensive book and well worth the few dollars you may spend to add it to your library.

The second book Get Organized without Losing It! was also written for children and I absolutely love it! Because I am not one who struggles to get or stay organized it is REALLY hard for me as a mom to teach my son how to organize himself. Get Organized without Losing It put into very simple terms all of the things I was trying to teach my child but couldn't find the words for. It focuses on teaching children to organize their stuff and their time. It is written is a practical, humorous, and (most important to Spencer) an empathic way. It reminds both parents and children that getting organized takes time and practice and that it really is a skill that once mastered will benefit children in every aspect of life. If you have a child who struggles with homework the way mine did, I highly recommend this book!

Both of these great books are available various places on- line and I believe both are also available through traditional Scholastic Book Clubs offered at most elementary schools. Happy Reading!

I adore this picture of Ross. It perfectly captures his darling (often silly) character. This picture was taken after he picked his first per-cinn-amon! He was so excited!

Its been a while since I updated my blog template so beware... change is on the horizon! If I am not around for the next few days it is because this blog is under construction!

Yesterday someone asked me if I was pregnant- whaaaa! I know she didn't mean to offend me (because when I said no she went three shades of red) but it was hurtful just the same. At first I tried to convince myself that her question had something to do with my having a healthy pregnant lady sort of "glow". But in the end I decided it must have had more to do with the 5 mini snickers bars I confiscated from the boys and then ate myself on Halloween night.

Anyway, I took a long hard look at myself in the mirror last night and decided that I really don't feel the way I look. What I see in the mirror... and how I see myself are two completely different things. And to be honest, I am a little confused about which one is really me!

Today I bought new drinking glasses for the house. I wanted to show the boys where they were and how the should stack them and such so... when the they got home from school I brought them into the kitchen for a "lesson". I was being kind of silly and making a big deal about and Ross caught on immediately. When I opened the cupboard to show them what I had done, Ross (without missing a beat) gasped out loud and pretended to faint! The kid is a crack up- I love it!

I wanted to get a picture of Ross passed out on the floor but I couldn't because I was laughing to hard!

Exercise your freedom today and VOTE!!

Ross's teacher asked me to help with her class bulletin board for November. I had never done a bulletin board before and had no idea what I was getting in to (those of you that have done it before know what I mean) but it was fun and in the end I think it turn out kind of cute!

Each child in the class will draw a picture of something they are thankful for to place in the center of their pumpkin. I am all about Thanksgiving! And I love anything that helps kids focus on the many, many things they have to be thankful for. Sometimes I think we could all use the boost we get from thinking thankful thoughts.

We decided to try to make our own peanut and soy free chocolate chips, so we could make Spencer safe chocolate chip cookies. It was quite the undertaking but it was fun. Have a look.

In order to have peanut and soy free chocolate chip cookies- you have to have peanut and soy free chocolate chips. So we made our own using butter, coco powder, powdered milk and powdered sugar. Thanks to the help our our friend and chief Evan, making the chocolate was relatively easy.

Once the chocolate was mixed and smooth we spooned it into our Pamper Chief easy accent decorator and made little chocolate chips. Now I have to be honest, this step was a bit labor intensive. It took well over an hour (with the help of several people taking turns) to make one batch or about 2 1/2 cups of chocolate chips.

While the chocolate chips were chilling in the freezer we whipped together our favorite chocolate chip cookie dough. Once the chocolate chips were nice and firm we carefully stirred them into the mix. When the dough was ready, we baked the cookies according to the recipe and... voala we have peanut and soy free chocolate chip cookies!

It was definitely a long, involved process (a labor of love in many ways) but seeing Spencer's face after his first bit was well worth the effort.

Venice is a great place! Rick Steve's says it is like a cookie jar of unique souvenirs for grown ups- he is right! The last few times I have been to Venice I have been eying a Murano Glass ring. Each time I saw it- I loved it more. But it was a little pricy (everything in Venicw is) so each time I would end up going home without it. Well after three trips to Venice to get that silly ring and three trip home without it, I decided it would just be cheaper to buy the thing and get it over with- so I did!!

Anyway, here it is.