Spring is in the air....S1 is on the run!

Okay, so S1 escaped from school a couple of weeks ago. This last week I have been totally stressed out because in five days he got out three times from our house! The first time the neighbor's kids saw him and their mom grabbed him and brought him home. He'd only made it down to our next door neighbor's driveway. I'm still not sure exactly how he got out. I was paying bills and may have left the front door unlocked when I let S2 out to go to his friends house. Or S1 could have undone all the locks because after wards I saw a little chair next to the door which he could have used to reach the top lock. Or he could have used one of the two ways that to me were unknown at the time! Because the next day I actually had to call the police.

I had let S1 outside to jump on the trampoline. I realized that it had been a while since I'd heard him squealing as he jumped. So I went to check on him and could find him nowhere in the yard. I then searched the garage and house and still could not locate him. The gates were closed and the doors were all secured. I started freaking out. There was no way he could escape. Maybe someone had taken him. So I called the police. They were at the house in no time flat. They first had to check everywhere for him where I had already looked - under the trampoline, under the porch, in the deep freeze and garage fridge (which were plugged in and working), in the dryer and washing machine, under all the beds, in the bathtub, etc. When it was clear he was gone, the police started looking for him. They even called up to the high school (where S1 loves to wander to) and had people at the wrestling competition look around for him. Shortly thereafter the police were called about a unaccompanied child at the rec center. Apparently S1 had wandered up to the high school, been seen running through the construction on the football field and entered the rec center through a side door meant for the high school students to use. He'd gone upstairs and was enjoying himself making noise and playing on the floor. When a patron noticed him she told the people at the front desk. They went up to approach him and quickly ascertained that all was not right. So they called the police.

The rec center child matched S1's description so the police had me wait at home while they went to pick up S1. Sure enough it was S1 and he wouldn't get out of the cruiser! The officer said he'd had a bit of trouble getting S1 out of the rec center (of course, he was having fun!) but no trouble getting him into the cruiser. Of course not, S1 loves to go for a ride and in a car with lights makes it all the better. I had to finally pry him out. While brainstorming, the only way we could figure that S1 got out was that maybe one of the climbing toys was too close to the fence. Conceivably, but I thought it doubtful, he could have climbed onto the top, leaned over to the fence, swung his leg over and then the other and dropped the six plus feet to the ground on the other side. I doubted it but it seemed to be the only explanation, so we moved the climbing toy away from the fence.

Two days later I get a call from my backyard neighbor telling me that S1 was over at their house and he was covered in mud. They pulled up in their car and when they got out and were headed into the house, S1 came around the corner from their side yard and said, "Hi!" to get their attention and then walked into their home. Luckily this is my good friend Stacy so it wasn't too bad. S1 had been going in and out of the house to play in the backyard and I'd just heard him a couple minutes earlier. I went into the backyard to see if I could tell how he got out. As I walked along the fence checking the gate, I noticed there were some places where the leaves had been pushed aside and there was just bare ground. S1 had "dug" and scooted under the fence just like a dog! Our yard is a bit higher than the neighbors. Over the past four years the dirt has eroded down apparently. S1 saw the light under the fence and saw a way out. So he cleared the leaves and surface dirt away and wriggled under the fence!

S1 spent the next two days in the house while I and my neighbor's husband drilled boards onto the bottom of the fence from their side and I filled in the gaps with rocks and dirt from our side. When I let S1 back out in the yard he immediately ran to the fence and began to look for light coming under the fence and moving leaves to see if he could find an escape route. Meanwhile I was in the boys room watching him from the window. As he continued to push on the gate to see if it would open and testing the light spots coming through the bottom of the fence, I spoke to him from the window. I said things like, "Ha ha S1. Mommy is smarter than you. Mommy figured it out S1. You can't escape now!" He took one look over his shoulder to where he could hear my voice and since he couldn't see me, took off like a bat out of hell the opposite direction. I thought, that can't be good. So I slipped on my shoes and ran out to the backyard. Along the south side of our house it is fenced, but only by a four foot high piece of chain link that's attached to the house and southern fence by a couple of bolts. It's always been enough to keep him in, until this spring that is! As I stepped out of the house I saw him pulling the fence down towards himself and as I ran towards him he laid down on the fence and I was able to grab him right before he flipped himself over the fence to freedom.

As I marched him into the house I said, "Well, S1 you sure clever finding a new way out, way to show mom she doesn't know everything and that you could still escape. But it wasn't very smart to show me how! Now you have to stay inside." S1 spent the next week inside while I spent the next few days digging post holes, setting posts and hanging chain link - six feet tall. When it was all ready I let S1 into the backyard. He immediately ran over to the new fence to see if he could get out. First he tried to pull it over like he had the old fence. No such luck. Then S1 tried to climb it. He could only get one foot off the ground and then was stuck so he had to get back down. Last, he sat on the ground and started pushing gravel away from the bottom of the fence to see if he could go under it. Again he failed. Now our house is Ft. Knox and S1 has not escaped since then!

Our Little Houdini

So yesterday after S1 got home from school I received a phone call from his principal! I was immediately curious because what could he have done to warrant the principal calling? Well, it turns out that a "patron" had found S1 out in the middle of the busy three lane road in front of the school! The person had managed to get him out of the road, but he wouldn't go to the school with him. So a second person ran into the school and got the principal and said,"We think we have one of your students who was out in the road"! When S1 saw the principal, he went with her back into the school.

It turns out that S1's teacher and main aide were gone that day. There were substitutes but they aren't familiar with the kids and their faces. Well, the subs had been watching the door to make sure that no one left the room. It turns out that S1 climbed out the window! Now, you have to understand the windows in the class. They are about two feet wide, one foot tall, about two feet off the ground. There is a top section to the window, about four feet tall, that doesn't open. When the bottom section opens, it opens from the bottom, pushing out about six inches or so. Obviously the opening was enough for S1 to lean over, get his head out with his arms down and "crawl" out the window and off to freedom. He tried to do this once from one of our living room windows and just pushed the screen out of his way. I found him hanging halfway out. Needless to say my living room windows are always locked.

Anyway, when the principal told me S1 had crawled out the window I actually laughed. He's so clever when it comes to getting away. You have to admire the ingenuity. I can't really even blame the subs because who thinks kids are going to be climbing out the windows? The principal was upset when she called to let me know and had already made a plan to keep this from happening again - including ordering screens for the windows. I let her know that he may just bust those out but she thought at least they might slow him down enough for someone to grab him before he could take off again.

I have no doubt that S1 saw this escape route and chose to exploit it. He probably tried to get to the playground but there is no entrance from the front of the school. So he then probably went for the road and the lovely yellow line down the middle just begging to be followed! This is the third time in four years he's managed to get out. The first time S1 went right out the front doors and they found him sitting on the bus parked out front, sitting in the driver's seat with the seat belt slung over his body and him "driving" the bus. That was in kindergarten. I think the second time was in first grade and he slipped out of the cafeteria during lunch and was found out at the playground. I figure once a year isn't so bad, that's how often he escapes from our house! Of course it should be zero, but I know my little Houdini and I can't keep him on a leash all the time.

Oh, after I got off the phone with the principal I said out loud, "Thank You Heavenly Father!" S3 looked around and said excitedly, "Where? Where is he mom?". Due to my vocal exclamation S3 thought I was talking to someone who was here physically and he was excited to get to see Heavenly Father I think. I had to explain that I was just so grateful that S1 was safe that I needed to say it out loud and right away. That even though Heavenly Father wasn't right there with us, he could still hear me. It was such a sweet reaction that S3 had to my outburst.

HI HO HI HO Off to McDonald's We Go

Well, since it was President's day and the boys were home all day from school, I thought it would be a good time for them to use their gift cards. However, as the van was at the mechanics to have some work done, we had no car. Luckily the weather complied (it was about 45 degrees with sunshine, no wind) and we were able to walk. Before we left I showed S1 the leash, he then stuck his arm out for me. But I told him that if he listened to mom, he wouldn't have to wear it. But that he would need to stay on the sidewalk.

So off I went with my little troop of boys. S2 took the lead with S1 hippity hopping along behind him while S3 wanted to hold my hand while we walked. It took us about 30 min to walk there because of our slow pace (after all, a three year old can only walk so fast) but we made it without incident! I couldn't believe it. S1 had stayed on the sidewalk the whole way, with just a couple of reminders when he got too close to the edge, had held my hand willingly when it was time to cross the street and didn't have a fit while waiting for the light to change at the crosswalk (although I did have to hold on to the back of his jacket so he didn't take off down the sidewalk). Even more amazing was that S1 actually played at the McDonald's playland. I usually don't go there because he doesn't like that playlands since it's all closed in. But the place was a zoo and he climbed and played in that thing for over a hour before I finally grabbed him and said we were going home. S2 and S3 also had fun playing, chasing and racing each other up the jungle gym and down the slides. We finally got everyone's boots and coats on and headed home with S1's leftovers.

S1 did pretty well on the way home too. Once he did run out into the road, but I was able to grab him quickly before he got too far off the sidewalk. He came back cooperatively when reminded about the leash. Then when we were a little more than a block from home, he got distracted by the toys in someone's yard and wanted to stay and play with those. When he wouldn't come with me but kept dropping to the ground, I pulled out the leash for him to see and reminded him of what would happen if he didn't listen and he hopped up and grudgingly came with me. The rest of the way home was uneventful until we got to our yard. We've got gravel out front next to the driveway. As soon as we stepped onto it, S1 dropped and started to play in it. Normally not a problem but as I looked down I noticed that a cat had pooped in the gravel and covered it up. This was a problem because that was exactly where S1 stuck his hand and spread gravel around! Now I not only had to wrestle him to the house, but somehow get his hand clean before I got cat poop on me or his jacket or he stuck his hand in his mouth, while I unlocked the front door. By some miracle we managed to make it inside and get his hand cleaned without further incident. Needless to say I considered that my exercise for the day and once everyone was settled, collapsed onto my bed to recover!

No wonder I'm tired

I originally wrote this as a letter to my brother-in-law on a mission. I thought it would make a good blog entry so I modified it and here it is!

Our week was busy as usual. Last Sunday, the 8th, we got to speak for the first time since we've been in this ward. Our topic was the Atonement, specifically about repentance and how it ties into the Atonement. Our talks went well and we recieved several compliments. Since varying themes of the Atonement are the topics for this month, I gave a brief overview of the atonement and of repentance. Then I talked about how all the repentance in the world would be pointless without the Atonement. I used the scriptures, the Teaching of the Presidents of the Church : Joseph Smith, and Ensign talks to illustrate my points. My favorite quote was from Joseph Smith where he said that we shouldn't have to repent everyday. Basically that we should be living in such a way that we shouldn't be sinning all the time and that knowing we can repent shouldn't be an excuse to sin. Dave talked more about how if we repent it opens us up to have the spirit to be with us and how we shouldn't be compelled to repent. Dave almost let the time get away from him but at ten after noticed the time and quickly wrapped up. He spoke for twenty minutes. I teased him that he should be a high councilman. Dave was gone two nights this week with pep band games and gone another night on a gig. He was relieved when I told him I didn't want anything for Valentine's Day. I've finally managed to get back to the gym and worked out really hard this week so it's not like I wanted to eat a bunch of chocolates (Maybe I'd make an exception for See's). Flowers die to quickly and cost too much. So he gave me a much better present - he did the hand washing! You know, the dishes that can't go into the dishwasher. There was a huge pile of them.

Our family home evening theme this month is Self-Control. That's a fun one to try and teach a six and three year old. But it has actually come in handy, especially when they start to lose their temper over something trivial. The kids love to sing "Give said the little stream" at every FHE. S2 had his usual piano lesson on Monday. However, he had gone to his friends house to play before hand and I had to run over to pick him up because he lost track of time. His teacher says he's doing really well and she's giving him stuff she gives to kids a few years older than he is. S3 had speech therapy on Tuesday and loved it as usual. He loves having his own teacher. He's going to love preschool next year. On Wednesday I went to volunteer in S2's class as usual. I help the kids with one on one reading. While I do that the other kids in the class like to take turns reading to S3. Thursday I took the van in, yes, the 95 Astro Van is still alive, to get the muffler and tail pipe replaced so it would pass inspection to get it registered and I had to go shopping for S2's class party the next day. Friday mornings I go in to help with the PTA reading program and that afternoon it was the Valentine's party in S2's class (I was in charge) and let me tell you, that is the craziest party of the whole year! I was so glad when it was over.

S3 has decided that the TV is better watched on the ground and he likes to tip it on its side and upside down and watch it from all sorts of angles. Then once he rolls it too far the cord comes out the back and he comes to fetch me so I can set everything right. Repeat this every 15 minutes or so all day long - aaaaahhhhhhh! Tomorrow I am going to find someplace that sells plexiglass and order a piece big enough to go over the front of the entertainment center so he can't pull it out and do TV gymnastics anymore! Unfortunately it is President's Day so the kids will be home all day so I probably won't get it until Tuesday. Plus I'll have the place drill holes in it so I can just screw it onto the entertainment center.

Saturday the boys were stoked to get Valentine's Cards from their grandparents. They were really jazzed when they found McDonald's gift cards inside. Then S2 wanted to call all his grandparents and wish them a Happy valentine's day. He called his paternal grandparents, both of mine and Grandma Ruth before he got tired of calling people but he had fun conversations with them. After we cleaned their room we made cookie hearts and decorated them and took them to the boys' primary teachers and a couple families in the ward. Then I had to run off to work. Oh, S2 decided to make me a valentine all on his own without any suggestion or help. It was so cute. Everytime I came into the kitchen he was quick to cover it up. When he had to leave he covered it with a paper and told me not to look. So when he gave it to me it was fun to read. The main message said, "Roses are red, Vilits are blue, Fowers are sweet and so are you." I told him that I love vilits and fowers. I let him know that he did a great job spelling everything out on his own. He's such a thoughtful kid. He had the scripture and prayer in primary today. He prayed that the kids could all be obedient to their teachers and that we could all be kind and love one another. It was great.

So that was our week, more or less. I called Jen (my sister in law) at the end of last week to see if I could help her after her foot surgery but she was doing well getting around and such. Dave was gone to the a Music Educators conference so pretty much with the three boys with me I would have been more of a hinderance for Jen than a help! This week I have to get invitations made for Katie's (my other sister in law) bridal shower and I am doing the donation request and collections for the elementary schools PTA fundraiser - joy. Plus all the normal stuff I have to do. Add on top of that that the boys are now dying to go to McDonalds and it will be another hectic but fun week at the Faires house.

Have you been sniffing glue?

You know those days when your kids just seem to be "on one"? They are just extra silly or goofy or whatever so that you'd think they were sniffing glue? But you know they aren't because you don't have any glue. Well, that was yesterday with S1 - like he would be able to sniff glue, he'd spill it all down his front! Anyway, I had the living room all picked up before the boys got home from school. I could feel a head cold coming on and I wanted to have something accomplished before I had to sit. The basket of toys was under the coffee table, an old 3 gallon ice cream bucket full of fake food had the lid on it and was next to the couch. Then the boys got home from school. Everything was fine for a while. S1 watched a video and had a snack, S2 was playing in his room. Well, next thing I know S1 is in the living room gleefully giggling to himself as he dumps out the toy box and begins to throw everything in the air up over his head and all over the living room. Meanwhile he's laughing like some great comedian is telling jokes. When that fun game is over he gets up and bolts over to the bucket of fake food and proceeds to do the same. Now the living room looks even worse than before I picked up! At least then everything was in a couple of piles but now it is thrown all over the room. I decide to just leave it because there is no point in picking any of it up. When I told S1 to stop he just ignored me and kept on with his funny little game. When he gets in moods like this, there is no stopping him. It's funny to watch but when he gets "on one" it sure gets destructive!

Friends

I've found that through the years sometimes I think, do I have any friends? You may not know this, but growing up I suffered from severe self worth issues. Why would anyone like me when everyone else was so much prettier/smarter/cooler? Although I've mostly overcome them (or suppressed them), sometimes those old insecurities sneak back. So, I guess before I can answer my question that first I have to define what a friend is. It can be a neighbor, a relative, an old school chum, a mission companion, the mother of my son's friends, someone from church or work. And what a friend is can change through the years. A friend in high school was someone with whom I ate lunch, had sleepovers, or went with to movies and dances or to whom I kvetched about parents and boys. A friend in college was someone I did homework with, shared an apartment with, hung out with after institute or went to young single adult dances with and to whom I discussed young men. Well, once I got married I no longer had homework and my husband filled most of those other roles. A friend was then someone I could kvetch to about my husband and kids!!! When I got married I also moved which physically separated me from many friends. Sometimes I think I have no friends because I can go days without chatting with one. My friend and neighbor Stacy may swear I call her at least twice most days, but sometimes I think she's the only friend I have. Until I think about what a friend really is. A friend is someone whom you like (and usually they like you back), that even though you may not see each other often, when together again it's like you were never even separated and you still have a great time together. Just because we don't chat every day or every week doesn't mean we aren't friends - it's just that life (aka family, work, church, distance) can get in our way. A friend is also there to help you out when you need it.

This all came about because Dave suggested that I go out with a friend to breakfast this week since he was home. He also was going to go out with one of his fellow band directors so he thought I should get out too. I was kind of stumped. Who wouldn't think I was weird calling and asking them out to breakfast? Did I have any friends anyway? I thought about it for a while and I realized that I had many friends. Yeah, I really wished my cousin lived closer than an eleven hour drive, but I'd have to chose someone else. As I pondered the possibilities, I finally came up with a friend who I knew when we our husbands were in college. I hadn't seen her in months, but we had mutual interest and always enjoyed hanging out together. I called and she accepted and we had a great time. It was so nice to get out and chat with her about all that was going on, what our plans for the future are, etc. We even hit the Outlet Mall on the way home. She agreed that it was hard to get out and do something for herself. It has inspired me to take a wider look around and make this breakfast thing something that I do once a month and invite someone different each time. I need to make a concerted effort to have more fun with my friends and not to let the details of life get in the way!

Lyrics

Okay, my boys just got a package from their great-grandmother containing Christmas presents. One of those was a Sing-a-long CD Player. S3 was sitting next to me having fun with the mic and singing the alphabet song. The next thing I knew he was singing the chorus to "Smoke on the Water". Then I realized he wasn't really singing the right words, he'd go, "Da da daa, da da da da, da da daa, da da, Knock on the Do-or." I about died laughing. I tried to correct him but alas he's three so he knows everything!

We should go away more often... Part 2

So yesterday I had the TV on in my bedroom and S1 was enjoying watching the bands play. It's his favorite part of any parade. When one band finished, he walked across the hall to David, who was using the computer, and S1 said, "Band. 1,2,3,4. Band. 1,2,3,4." He was so excited to tell his dad about the band he saw and to count it off. It was amazing to watch him try to share something he found exciting with his dad. Now we've just got to get more of that!

A Chore

Okay, I figure if I expect S1 to learn and grow and get developmentally closer to his actual age, I'd better try and teach him something. They say developmentally he is between two and three years old. So I tried to think of a chore he could have that would be appropriate. By that age my other sons have been unloading the dishwasher, stacking plates and bowls for me to put away. I work with them and take care of the silverware and cups and put everything in the cupboards. Well, the thought of doing that with S1 was just too overwhelming, his fine motor control still isn't so great. So I decided that since he still isn't potty trained, that he was going to help take some responsibility for it. Thus, his chore since this summer has been to throw away his own diaper. I've already written about how well he's been doing. However, while we were gone, I don't think he had to do it. So I wondered how he'd do when we got back. But I didn't need to worry. As soon as David handed him that diaper, S1 turned and took it to the kitchen and threw it away. Then he ran back to his show. Now I need to think of a new chore for him. Maybe I will have him help with stacking plates or bowls from the dishwasher. Or helping me to put away his clothes in his drawers. Maybe not that one. Then he'll know his drawers are in his closet and he may take to throwing them around! If you can think of a chore that would be appropriate, let me know.

We should go away more often...

Well, I doubt my in-laws would agree with that but still. Dave and I went on a 8-Day Western Caribbean Cruise to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. His parents volunteered to come and stay with the kids so we could get away. And away we went - to Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. However, S1 did well with new blood to take care of him and my back sure appreciated the break - especially since I slipped on the stairs the Sunday after Thanksgiving and land smack on my T5/T6. Anyway, we got back late in the evening and Dave's parents took off the next morning. That afternoon S1 wanted us to go down the stairs with him and he started repeating, "Come on, Come on, Come on" while gesturing a bit with his hand. True it was a bit garbled, but I was amazed at what he was saying. He later also told David, "Let's go, Let's go, Let's go" which sounds more like lessho. Come on sounds more like omon. But still, picking up two new phrases while we are gone was fabulous.