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.