....being a Cub Scout wolf leader....

I've been a Cub Scout Wolf leader since January, and it's been fun....
I will not post names of the boys I have, since some parents may have access to my blog....

Yesterday our meeting was on having Good Character traits....

One of the questions was how can it be difficult to tell the truth when you've done something wrong...

Cubscout A said "Yeah, it can be really hard sometimes. Like the time I got an F on some schoolwork and got a red marker and changed it to an A"..."my mom got upset with me"...
"or the time when I was playing with a ball in the living room and hit my mom's favorite vase...I tried to glue it before she came home...I told her a bird came in the house and broke it"..."she REALLY got upset with me...but I ended up telling the truth...she was glad I finally told the truth"... (yeah..I'm sure)

Cubscout A can be quite entertaining to have around. I'm sure if his parents knew what he tells us, they would absolutley DIE..... I know I would....

When I was first asked to Cubscouts, I have to admit I was not thrilled...

But now....I really enjoy it...having six 8 year olds in my house can be challenging but I really enjoy it! I'm so glad Cubscout A will be with us for a while...he's such a crack-up!

BTW- I will never divulge who Cubscout A is! Never!

Am I almost a dog killer????

I opted to not walk the kids to school this morning. The sun was blazing hot and I refuse to be drenched in sweat. This is the time of year I absolutely loathe living in Arizona. It's MID MAY and it's 110 degrees! C'mon!....As I was loading the kiddos into the car, our dog Copper gave me the saddest look. "Too bad dog....no walk today...."....(more sad eyes)....

"Mom...Copper looked sad"....said Mr. Joseph...
"I know, but it's too hot and you KNOW how I hate to be yucky and sweaty" I replied.
"Poor Copper...."
"yeah...your dog has a rough life" I say to Joseph....

Once I came home my dog still gave me the sad eyes with his ears tucked back...
C'mon...who could resist feeling sad for the little creature...

"Fine! We'll go for a little walk to the mailbox..."....I had a few bills to pay...
Oh happy dog again....

I had no intentions on killing my dog, even though he drives me mad with his constant barking at absolutely nothing in our back yard...I'm sure my neighbors know just how much I hate it...why can't that bark collar zap him a little harder the more he barks..if it were up to me, I'd up the voltage..but NO...ours doesn't have that option...bad dog...So sorry....I can go on for forever regarding this matter....okay...back to my posting....

With leash in hand, my dog trots and sniffs everything...stops at every bush and tree to do his business...

Ahh...we're at the blue box...(mind you, we're just 2 blocks and a half from the house)

As we start heading home, Copper is no longer trotting...he's barely keeping up with me....I have been told by my sweet hubby that I walk extremely slow...and that walking with me can be quite painful...I blame it on my 5 foot petite self...okay...???

Anyhow, my dog is stopping at every bush and tree to lay there and pant.
By now I'm NOT in the best of moods...I'm super sweaty and I forgot my shades. (Remember blazing hot and super bright Arizona sun)...

"No stinkin' way DOG...we're going HOME!" I say to my panting dog...(I'm sure if there were people around me, they'd think I went mad)....lucky me...no one was there....

Copper gets up and walks to a tree, then collapses...heavy panting...white saliva surrounding his mouth...

"Get up DOG!!!!!!!!"

No movement.

Great...I have to carry this 18# weiner dog...a sack of sugar would have been easier...

By the time I get home, I'm sweaty, grumpy, and utterly exhausted....

I put the dog down (he needs to go on a serious DIET)...he runs to his water bowl (yes I said RUN) ....grumble...grumble...grumble...he drinks the whole bowl and then collapses and falls asleep for 3 HOURS!

I kept checking on him to make sure he didn't die on me...what was I going to tell the kids when they got home to NO Copper???....

Well in the end the dog survived. Is that good or bad news?...depends ....

So if that dog gives me the "I'm so sad, take me on a walk look again"....I'm sooooo NOT going to be fooled...

BTW....I'm picking up a new shock collar tomorrow and I don't care how much costs!

My tender morning....

As many of you know, I'm going back to school.... Some days are a blur to me...At times I don't know how I manage to juggle being a wife, mom, student,....and other duties. Big sigh...

This morning I ended up driving the kids to school this morning so that I wouldn't be late for my Final exam. As soon as we pulled up to cul-de-sac next to the school Alycia bolted out the door. Joseph took his time to make sure he had everything he needed, I wished him a happy day, and reminded him to make good choices. I waited a little longer to make sure he made it to the playground before I left. He stood at the bottom of the hill observing an ant hill (I"m assuming)....He stood there for a good 2-3 minutes. I thought for sure that I'd have to get out and escort him up to the playground... Finally, I see Alycia run down the hill...she talks to him...and helps him up the hill. She was so tender with him....

I broke down and started sobbing in my car....

You see...Things have not come easily to Joseph...and still don't...He has made such great progress in the 9 years of his life...but still continues to struggle in some areas...

As I witnessed this sweet exchange between siblings, I was overwhelmed by this tender expression of love and compassion. Alycia has been such a blessing in our lives...

As I was driving to school I thanked my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to witness this...I'm so thankful that I was able to see that my daughter continues to show Christ like love towards her brother.....

lunches?...who doesn't like a lunch made with love....

Last night was our FHE (aka family night)......
Our lesson was on how to try to change a bad day into a better day. I told of a story about a little girl that started to have a bad day. Her favorite skirt was in the dirty clothes, her mother ran out of strawberry jam and packed a grape and peanut butter sandwich instead, and there was a dust storm outside so she couldn't play out on the swings. Rotten day huh? I gave the kids some ideas on trying to make it better by thinking of positive things like: sing a song you like, play indoor games you like...

I then turned to the family and asked what they do when things don't go well. Alycia said she listens to her MP3 player or thinks of fun stories from books. Brent said that he thinks of hymms or good music.
And finally, Joseph said:
"When I have a lunch I don't like, I just imagine it's something that tastes MUCH better."

...gasp.....Whaaaat? I thought all the lunches I pack for my family were good. I make them with love.... Brent thought his comment was hilarious....

I guess I'm going to have to ask for some feedback from now on, when it comes to lunches.....