FHE: Tasha Style

Tasha conducted because that's what she does.

Paton prayed.

Kyra was not informed that she had the song so we skipped it because Pt was cranky anyway. Kyra is usually really good at doing the song. She likes to ask what the lesson is on and then picks something to go with the theme. She will then gather song books and/or make copies of the song so that everyone has the words. Sometimes she will conduct, if I harass her to.

Tasha gave the lesson. It went something like this:

"OK. We're going to talk about how to keep your body healthy and clean. So, everyone, what kinds of things should we eat like fruits and vegetables?" (we answered with fruits and vegetables, because we're THAT kind of a family) She continued..."now we're going to do a spearmint." She poured orange food coloring into a glass, added some baking soda, then poured vinegar in it. It bubbled, turned orange and almost topped the glass. Next, she did the same with green. We all oohed and aahed and PT said, "gen, gen" so she would do it again.
"OK, now I'm going to mix them together.(she does) Which one of these would you like your body to be?" She makes a face at the yicky, now brownish colored vinegar mix, and then smiles at a glass of clear water. We all agree that the clear one is best.

Bill gives the closing prayer and blesses my treat which is resting and waiting to be cooked.

I had treat. We had tacos for dinner and while the family was out washing the van and the car I made them fresh chips as well. Since the oil for frying was out, I looked up a recipe for sopapillas. At dinner, Tasha suggested we have "those puffy things with honey in them" for a treat. I've tried several recipes and have never gotten them right until now. I learned the secret: don't overknead/roll the dough or they will not puff. So, if you want the best recipe with the best tutorial, check this site for super duper sopa's!

And there you have it, FHE, done!

Tasha's Birthday Wish List

It cracks me up that Tasha dictated a gift list to Kyra one one day. I found it on the fridge (with bullet points):

• pokemon (she won't be getting these)
• wallet (for what?)
• jewlery (spelled incorrectly, by the 12 year old)
• slip 'n' slide (to replace the one that got eaten by the dog last year after she used it once)
• bathing suit
• sun glasses
• stuffed animals: dogs, horses, cat, bears, fish (again, NOT going to happen. The last thing Bill wants in this house is more stuffed animals)
• rollar blades (again with the spelling!)
• notebook
• markers-Sharpies if you can (oh, I can, but I won't... can anyone say PERMANENT?!)
• bakugan (Bill didn't even know what these were)
• toy computor (ugh, spelling)
• portable CD player (to replace the one she lost on the way to Disneyland, the day she got it)
• CD's
  
• scooter (probably one with handle grips would be nice)
  
• bike (non-princess is the request)

And if that were not enough, I believe there is a list somewhere of what kind of a party she wants. I said, "you think you're having a party?" She knew I was kidding, but we did have to discuss a few details... like you're not having a slumber party with boys and girls, many of whom do not have a good track record with overnights and/or boy/girl parties.

I should really get on the party details, her bday is in 11 days! Ugh.

Because April Said...

April overheard me having a conversation with Pat at church today. She said it was classic and totally bloggable. So, here it is, my life:

I got an MP3 player over a year ago.
I just got music loaded onto it last month.
I can now use said MP3 player.
Until last Thursday when I let Tasha use it.
She changed the settings.
It was all written in Spanish.
And it would only play one song.

Anywho, Pat fixed it and now it should be fine. I haven't really checked it out though. Maybe tomorrow morning... if I get to the gym.

WW: Tasha on the Rock Wall

Perspective

I took the picture below to show Bill where we were when he was texting us, asking about batteries. The intent was to get just the kids and the little circles on the Target cup while PT was sucking away at the straw. Of course, when you have 2 subjects of childhood/baby age, not everything goes as intended. I happened to be flipping through pictures on my phone yesterday and thought this picture offered some interesting perspectives.

• Poor Tasha. Look at how tall that cart is for her. That has to hurt her elbows to lean up and over like that. And the poor kid so badly wants to help and push. She gave up pushing months ago and that must have felt like defeat. Is this what life feels like for her so often? Ugh, to be six.
• While sitting in the cart, PT is taller than Tasha. He's looking down at her. He doesn't look down at many people very often. What must that feel like? His head is over hers when she carries him sometimes too. Interesting. I bet he thinks he can push her around. Again, poor Tasha.
• The lights on the ceiling look like runway lights to me. I turned my phone upside down to look at it that way and then I thought of a bowling alley. Strange. I don't recommend turning your computer upside down to get the same affect, but maybe you could stand on your head. Just a thought. Poor you.

The other thing I was thinking about perspective has absolutely nothing to do with this picture, but more to do with how we look at things in a thoughtful kind of way, not an actually looking with our eyes kind of way. I had a really bad, creepy crawly (if you know what I mean), kind of day yesterday. I was freaking out and not well and had to do all sorts of things to escape the horror which I saw as the end of life as I know it in my home, all because of the satanic bug that was lurking behind every corner of my home. Now, he's still there, and I'm still freaked out, and I still can't wait until 1ish when the pest people come and blow his brains out, BUT... There are worse things in the world. My situation could be a lot worse and my nightmare could actually be a nightmare that leaves actual physical or emotional scars. I'm grateful that things are as they are.

The Rest of the Story:

Ryan had taken his boys and Tasha to the park. They had been kicking 2 soccer balls around between the 4 of them and they both happened to come to her at about the same time. She spread her legs to stop them both between her feet.

Good stuff, better when it is only half the story though.

Tune in Tomorrow for the Rest of the Story

Tasha stood there with 3 boys standing around, she spreads her legs slightly looks down and yells: “Hey, I have 2 balls!”

Ryan responds, “Yes Tasha, you sure do.”

Girls and Guns

It is quite obvious that we are a household full of non-gun owners. Neither mother, nor father grew up around guns and therefore the children of this house are completely gun ignorant. For girls this is probably not a big deal. For little PT however, it may prove to be embarrassing as he grows older. Not the fact that he doesn't know anything about guns, but more importantly that he has been subject to the girly version of guns.

Stage #1:

Tasha declared that she was shooting Kyra as she ran through the room pointing her fingers and squeaking "pew, pew...pew, pew". Kyra shot back with an equally wimpy gun noise. PT laughed, and laughed, and laughed some more. He laughed so hard at them that the girls continued the shoot out just to amuse him. The only way I can describe the noise that the girls were making is to say it sounds somewhat like the laser guns that they shoot on Star Wars only much softer, less gusto, and quite a bit higher in pitch.

Stage #2:

After PT stopped laughing, Tasha ran to her room and made a gun. Out of paper. Any boy would have been embarrassed by this thing cut randomly from lined paper that wouldn't even keep it's shape as it was held. More "pew, pew"-ing. More laughing. PT later ate this paper gun and pooped it out this morning. I could see the lines in the paper.

Stage #3:

Tasha made another gun for Kyra so they could be on equal fighting ground. She explained the gun to Kyra so she would know how to shoot it. "Here is the pull thing", Tasha pointed out. Ugh. The 'pull thing'? Do you mean 'trigger' sweetheart? Oh my poor, uninformed children.

Stage #4:

Big sister comes to the rescue to help with construction of a real fighting machine. It makes the same sound, of course, but this time it really has the right shape and can hold it's form. It is made from a pen and a lip gloss and is held together with red duct tape. You're laughing already, but it gets better. The highlight of this fighting machine is that it is a multi-purpose weapon. Because all girls are very practical, the duct tape only covers the main parts of said gun. This strategic placement of the tape allows for the lids to be pulled off of both the pen and the lip gloss. So, if the evil fighting sounds of this gun are not working on the target, one can simply removedthe cap to the pen and quickly write them a nasty letter. Or, replace that cap and remove the lid to the lip gloss, gloss your lips, and go kiss your target into submission.

Now, I've heard friends of mine claim that their boys will turn anything into a gun. They were talking about a shoe, a piece of celery, maybe a bitten pretzel with just the right shape. Give me just one boy that has crafted such a fine tool as my girls have though. I mean, it's not everyone that can fight with shiny lips and write home to tell the family about it, huh?

WW: Tasha's First Protest Walk

Rainbow Tasha...Rainbow Tasha

Go where you want to go

Do what you need to do

Love will follow you.
Tasha graduated from Kindergarten today.
It was a beautiful day.

Q: Why does a six year old dump an entire bottle of baby oil on the bathroom mat and surrounding floor?

A (#1): Because she thought we had more.
A (#2): Because she was mad at her sister.

I remained quite calm, thank you very much. Calm enough to get from lame answer #1, to reality answer #2. Ugh.

NTS: Comfort Kyra More

This morning, while nursing Payton in the bedroom, I heard Tasha yelling at Kyra. Again. And again. And again. It's nothing new, and it pretty much happens on any given day at any given time. There is no rhyme or reason to it, and believe me (!), I have tried to figure it out. I have also tried pretty much everything to put an end to it and not much seems to work. There just seems to be no empathy in that little one. She just honest to goodness can't see/feel how her actions are affecting the other people around her. A friend of mine said that some kids you have to teach that to. That's my new quest- how to teach empathy.

Anyway, this morning I opted not to yell at Tasha, not to send her to her room, not to "talk" with her about it (because that usually ends in yelling and room sending), and quite honestly, not to deal with Tasha about it. I just went into the kitchen and kissed Kyra on the head. Then I hugged her, pushed her head up and gave her another kiss on the nose.

"What's with all the kissing and hugging?" Kyra asked.

"Oh, I just think you've had a rough morning. You've been yelled at a lot and I know that doesn't feel really good, does it?" I replied.

"No. It doesn't" (not in her pouting crying attitude or mean voice, just matter of factly)

"I just figured you could use some lovin' and I thought I'd tell you how much I appreciate you and how hard you try to please your sister some times," was my final word and then I walked out of the room to finish getting ready to leave.

Do you know what that little stinker Tasha did? She apologized to Kyra! The second I turned the corner of the room, she said, "I'm sorry I yelled at you Kyra." What a little $#@*!!! I swear to you, I will never figure that kid out. But if I do, you'll be the first to know.

The Least Expensive Date He'll Ever Have!

Bill: Tasha, will you go on a date with me Friday?
T: Sure.
B: Don't act so excited.
T: I can't go on a date with you.
B: Sure you can. It's a daddy-daughter date.
T: Oh, OK.
B: You're right though, you can't really date for another 25 years or so.
T: OK.
B: Where do you want to go?
T: Taco Bell.

Awesome!

Sometimes It Takes Tears

Kyra does what she is told. She pretty much always has. When she was young, if I told her to stop doing something, she would. If I asked her to do something, she would. If I was stressed out she would up her game and not stress me out as well.


Tasha is another story. She plays off my emotions, almost always being one step ahead of me. If she is anxious about something, I usually get anxious and hour or so later. If I'm upset, she gets upset too. When she can feel a situation getting tense, she starts acting out which just makes things worse.


Parenting is tough business, especially when your children are nothing alike. Just when you think you know something, another child comes along and challenges that knowledge. Geez. What I have discovered is that tears seem to work with both of these girls. Not their tears, mine. Honest to goodness, sincere tears from me seems to help them understand my point of view and become repentant. I can only recall 3 times that it has happened...

1. The girls had been at each other's throats for days and I had tried everything to get them to cooperate, etc. I finally just quit trying, went back to the laundry room, shut the door, screamed and then started crying. Kyra came and found me, put her arms around me and calmed me down. She really stepped it a few notches for a while after that.


2. Tasha used to refuse to hold my hand in the parking lot. That freaks me out because she's shorter than many vehicles and she could easily get backed into. Then there's also the problem of her just running off and getting hit. She must have been about 3 years old when I broke down right there in a parking lot. I cried and cried and told her I just didn't want her to get hit by a car. She put her sweet little 3 year old arms around me and hugged me. She never again pulled her hand away from me or refused to hold hands with her sister. It stuck, to this day.


3. Tasha likes to play outside in the front yard. That's fine with me as long as she stays in the big yard and doesn't go over to the little side yard and around the side of the house by the park where I can't see her. There are crazies over there and anyone could just take her. I've told her this many times. I've yelled it many times. I've sent her to her room, taken away play time, refused to let her go outside because she continues to do it. You can tell when you're talking to your kid that they are just listening to the words without absorbing them and taking them to heart. This happened Saturday afternoon and I lost it. I yelled and threw her into her room, steamed on my own for a little while, then pulled her out of her room and told her to go back outside and do whatever she wanted. She finally stopped crying and came inside. I told her we could pack a bag with some clothes and food in it and she could keep it on the side of the house so when someone came and took her she would have some of her own things with her. Tasha didn't like that plan but still nothing on that little 5 year old face. I kept talking and finally ended up in tears telling her how much I would miss her if she was gone and I really didn't want that to happen. I was so upset that I had to go outside to calm down before I went into her room. She had written my name on her chalkboard and put about 10 hearts around it. She came over and hugged me. We told each other that we loved each other and that we wanted to stay together forever.


Ugh. I'm exhausted. Maybe I should go read that parenting book...

"The Jacket Just Ain't Cuttin' It"

I got an email from a friend that said I needed to send Tasha to school with a warm hat for her head. Apparently we need sun hats for the hot summer-like days, and now we need woolly, furry hats for these mock winter days. I'm not a hat person, can you tell? Anyway, apparently the teacher said that the hood on the jacket wouldn't stay on her head when she was playing. I can totally hear her saying, "the jacket just ain't cuttin' it." It made me chuckle, and we tried to oblige the next day. I told Tasha that she needed to start dressing warmer for school and that included a hat. Here's what she came up with:



This just makes me laugh. We don't have winter in Tempe. We have a little bit colder than it was in the fall which is still warm enough for shorts if you feel like it. Silly people, hats are for Minnesota. Oh well, I guess it's all good. If there's a snow storm Tasha will be ready.

The Devil Made Her Do It

There is no other way to explain her actions.

I'm sure she's possessed.

Anyone know a good exorcist?

Disney w/ Kyra and Tasha

This is pretty cool that I get to write a post about a fun time that I had with BOTH of my girls. And, to top it off, it was a time that they CHOSE to hang out with me when they had the option to go with their friends. Now, granted, I didn't make the other option sound very good, but they did choose me and their dad. I think I said something like, "would you rather go on some super slow sucky Nemo ride where you have to be all enclosed in a submarine underwater and just look at a bunch of fish that you've seen in the movie, or do you want to go on an awesome log ride where we get to scream and zoom down a hill and get splashed and have fun?"

My girls LOVED Splash Mountain and so did I. It was better than I remember it and better than the water ride we went on our first day because we didn't get soaked this time around. It was PERFECT, I tell ya, P.E.R.F.E.C.T. It was New Year's day, 8am, and everyone else in CA was sleeping apparently. The night before there was a 70 minute wait to get on this ride but that morning we walked on. The log that holds 6 people was occupied by just us 3, so it wasn't so heavy that we dumped hard into the water and got drenched. I wasn't sure if Tasha would like it or not but she absolutely did, even with the chill in the air and the mist on her arms. After the final dive at the end both girls were giggling and smiling with delight and both were wishing they could have sat in the front. We were giving each other high fives, feeling sorry for all the suckers that didn't want to ride it because they would get wet and cold, and loving the fact that we were together. To top it all off, we got to the drop off zone and there was nobody waiting to get on. The lady in charge said, "do you want to ride it again?" There were two enthusiastic "YEAH"'s before I could even turn around and see if they were up for it. I just love that my girls are all about the fun, fast rides and I'm grateful that Bill was fine taking care of Payton while I got to have this memorable time with them. Too bad the pictures I took were on my phone, the one that broke.

A Conversation You Won't Hear in the Sauer House

Tasha yells to Kyra as she is walking past her bedroom door down the hallway,
"Aaah, I hurt my penis!"

Kyra, exasperated, "You don't HAVE a penis!"

Tasha argues back, "Yes I do!"

Kyra, sort of chuckling in a duh kind of tone, "NO, ya don't."

Tasha gives in, "Oh yeah, I don't. I have a vuh-JIE-nuh!"

I'm still laughing. Who raised these girls?

WW: Big Sisters

WW: What Does a Week at County Hospital Cost?

$66,056.11

!!!