Boys

My crazy boy

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

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February 16, 2011 By kimc

PerryBoy makes me laugh, he makes me cry, he makes me crazy like him. I like to emphasize the laughter, because those are the parts we want to remember.

On Monday we started using our new copy of Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I had that book ages ago and decided it wasn’t for me, but after the other 3 moms recommended it in our recent posts about teaching little ones to read, I decided to give it another try. Maybe it will work better for me in this season of life. I’m a very different person than I was 10 years ago, and my circumstances are very different as well.

We sat down on my bed together and did the first lesson. It was sweet time together and it went very well. When it came time to practice writing “mmmm” – the book stresses that we ought to use the letter’s sound rather than its name – Perry gave it his best shot, but he wasn’t happy with the results. He sighed heavily, laid down his pencil, and frowned at the paper.

“Mine just looks like an M!”

Yesterday I spent the day grocery shopping, and I took Kaitlyn and Parker with me. Kaitlyn stayed in town with my sister, keeping her company while her husband worked late. Today, she’s helping my sister run errands with her 3 little ones.

When I came home last night without Kaitlyn, PerryBoy immediately asked about her. Feigning forgetfulness (it wasn’t hard, believe me) I confessed that I had left her somewhere and couldn’t remember where. I was waiting for her to call so I would know where to pick her up.

He was unfazed. He shook his head and walked away, muttering as he went. ”You’re so weird.”

Filed Under: Boys 6 Comments

Oh, that Boy. He’s gonna get it.

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

January 26, 2011 By kimc

I made a new rule a few weeks ago: if anyone leaves the door open when they go outside, it gets locked behind them. I instituted the rule during a cold spell, when the kids were often making a quick run to take out the trash and planning to run right back in. Coats are often left behind on these trips, and because they’re in such a hurry they also don’t make sure the door closes all the way behind them.

Understandably, they want back in fast. They don’t like finding the door locked. They don’t like being forced to knock and wait – oh the humiliation – until somebody hears and unlocks the door. Also, when you live in the country and doors rarely get locked, there’s something infuriating about finding the door locked. Because of this, the rule was surprisingly effective. It was so effective that we forgot about within a couple of days simply because nobody was leaving the door open any more.

This morning was cold. I went outside in short sleeves and socks to see Perry off to work and everything was sparkling with frost. I was cold because I had stood out there for several minutes helping him load odds and ends into his car, but then I had to run out once more to take his forgotten keys.

Can you see where this is going? Congratulations, because I didn’t see it.

As I ran into the house for the keys and out again, I left the door slightly ajar. When I turned back to the house, the door was shut and locked. Locked.

I knocked – oh the humiliation – and after a long 10 seconds, The Boy opened the door, smiling innocently as if he were pleased to see me. I scolded him, “You don’t lock the door when I’m outside!”

He looked a little surprised and truly puzzled. ”But Mom, you left the door open. You said we’re supposed to lock the door when somebody goes out and leaves it open.”

One of these days, Boy. One of these days.

pf button Oh, that Boy. Hes gonna get it.

Filed Under: Boys, madness, methods 21 Comments

He’s the man

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

December 28, 2010 By kimc

Meg: Hey Perry, can I call you noodle?
Perry: No! Thats not my name.
Meg: Can I call you spaggetti?
Perry: No! I only want you to call me my name!
Meg: Can I call you Super-awesome-wolf-guy-who-can-kill-anything-he-wants-by-looking-at-it?
Perry: Yeah, I guess.

oh, and you might want to see this:

Filed Under: Boys 4 Comments

Breakfast

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

November 29, 2010 By kimc

Visits with Grandma and the grand-aunts involve a lot of sugar. We just got home from a 4 day trip to see them, and here is what I heard from Perry Boy early this morning:

Boy: Mom, can I have another sucker?

Me: Not until after breakfast.

Boy: I already had breakfast!

Me: What did you have?

Boy: Cocoa and a sucker.

Filed Under: Boys, food 3 Comments

My Brother is Obviously a Genius!

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

October 18, 2010 By Meg

Posted by Megan

Which one? Well both, but for now I’m talking about Perry.

He likes to draw. Today he handed Mom a piece of notebook paper. “This is for you, Mom. I drawed it.”

A while later, Mom was looking at the picture and realized that this child prodigy I’m so blessed to have as a brother drew these people from the perspective of a short person. They’ve got small heads, huge feet, and are craning their heads down to look at you. He’s four years old for Pete’s sake! I just thought I’d tell you, so you won’t be shocked in twenty years when he’s rich and famous.

pf button My Brother is Obviously a Genius!

Filed Under: Art/music, Boys, homeschooling, kids stuff 9 Comments

Welcome, Parker Cromwell Coghlan

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

June 9, 2010 By kimc

A boy. Another boy. I still can hardly believe it.

I love my houseful of girls, and I freely admit that I never really longed for a boy until I was already pregnant with our first son. I can’t help but believe that was God’s hand on my heart. Before then, I just wished for a son in a theoretical way so that my husband would have a namesake. I didn’t know the gender of our first son until he arrived, but with that pregnancy, I found myself filled with a sudden and unfamiliar longing for a son. God answered that longing with our first son.

Since then, I have hoped for another boy, but for a different reason. As always, I think baby girls are sweet and delightful, and will joyfully welcome any and all that come my way. I was utterly content with my one son. I was thankful that my girls had a brother and my husband had a son and namesake. But one of us was still left out: the boy didn’t have a brother. All of his sisters had a brother, but he didn’t.

He loves his little sister dearly. He takes care of her, protects her, and occasionally gets her into trouble. But he confided in me a few months ago: “Mom, I think you should have a boy baby. I really love Bethany, but sometimes I accidentally hurt her when we’re playing.”

Now he has a brother that he will someday be allowed to punch (i.e. rough-house with), and he can’t wait.

That’s why we needed another boy around here. Not because I was too greedy to be satisfied with one son, but because my one son needed a brother. I wanted him to know the joy and laughter and insanity that a boy – a brother – has brought to us.

Thank you, Lord, for this son.

pf button Welcome, Parker Cromwell Coghlan

Filed Under: Boys 45 Comments

My chickies

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

June 2, 2010 By kimc

by Becca

My favorite animal out of all our animals which is dogs,cats,gerbils, chickens, snakes and tarantulas is the baby chicks.
They are only 3-4 days old. I like to go down to them whenever I can. They are still covered in fuzz, but the oldest one has little tiny bits of feathers on the tip of its wings.
Here are some pictures of them. I cropped them in Photoshop and Mom showed me how to Save For Web so they wouldn’t take too long to load.

Filed Under: Boys, iron sharpening iron, kids stuff, pets 11 Comments

He’s treading on thin ice

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

February 24, 2010 By kimc

The Boy asked earlier this week if he could go to work with his dad. When Dad said no, his face fell briefly.

Then his eye lit on his sister – one known for being big and bossy. We won’t mention her name. We’ll let you try to figure it out, but we’re not telling.

So, his disappointed eye lit on The Big Bossy One and his face brightened again.

“Can she go to work with you?!”

Filed Under: Boys, humor 11 Comments

At least he asks

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

December 7, 2009 By kimc

From the lips of The Boy during his long-awaited naptime today:

“I’m gonna get up to hide, OK?”

Several possible answers that flashed briefly through my head.

“Is this a trick question?”

“Why? What did you do now?“

“Do you promise to hide really well, be very quiet, and stay there a long time?”

“Sure. Hide under your blanket. Now.”

“Outside! You can hide outside! And don’t let the door hit you on your way out.”

Boring mom that I am, I just said no. And then he had to go potty, so he’s up anyway. I think I’ve been had…

Filed Under: Boys 4 Comments

He’s got it covered

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

December 2, 2009 By kimc

Yesterday, The Boy took a long nap in my bed. When he finally woke up, he headed straight for his room and shut the door.

“What are you doing in there?” I called after him.

“Oh, I’m changing my clothes. I peed when I was sleeping.”

“You what?!”

He emerged looking a little sheepish and followed me to my room to survey the damage. I wanted to make sure he understood the gravity of the situation so I dramatically threw my arms into the air. “Where am I going to sleep tonight? There’s pee in my bed!”

“Sorry, Mom,” he mumbled. Then his face brightened and he smiled encouragingly at me. “But I peed on Dad’s side of the bed!”

Filed Under: Boys, gone awry 23 Comments

He’s got self confidence

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

October 20, 2009 By kimc

A few days ago, we all had a quiet giggle at The Boy. Hubby had been teasing and tickling the girls a few minutes earlier, but now he was done. He bent over the table and started typing on the laptop.

Perry Boy saw his chance and grabbed his dad by the back pockets of his jeans, wrapping his little legs around his dad’s big legs. Dad continued typing, oblivious to the little monkey clinging to his legs, while Perry Boy yelled at his sisters: “I’ve got him! Come on! Come tickle him! I’m holding him for you!”

Filed Under: Boys, humor 8 Comments

Ooooh, that boy

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

October 10, 2009 By kimc

On Wednesday while I was sequestered in my bedroom working on the last chapter of my ebook, he colored Bethany from front to back and top to bottom with a permanent marker. The really stinky kind of permanent marker. I’m not sure how we missed the odor, but somebody also marked up the siding on the front of the house and several patches of the deck, which we just stained this summer.

Questions were raised about who should have been watching and what they were doing instead, but we’ll just pretend it never happened – except when we’re out on the deck.

Or maybe when I start thinking about it, I’ll distract myself with the memory of what he did 2 days later – opened the van door into the shiny silver Toyota next to us.

I assessed the damage: no dent, no scratch. Just our white paint on the door of the silver car. It was a nice car, but I did spot several small scratches and chips farther down the side, worse than what we had just done. I wetted my finger and rubbed. The white paint didn’t go away, but I was hopeful that it would buff off.

Nonetheless, that note was much less fun to write than the one I sent to my bank the day before.

My 3yo opened the door of my van onto your driver door, leaving a bit of white paint just below the handle.

If you are concerned, please call me at 830-***-****. Or you can look for me inside the Goodwill. I’m the guilty looking woman with a little girl and a little boy.

So Sorry,

Kim

A few minutes later, a woman rushed down the aisle next to me, sounding angry and distraught: “Kim! Kim!“ My stomach sank. Then an employee who seemed to know her spoke in a soothing voice: “What is it, Kathy?”

“I’m lost again!” Kathy replied. I breathed a sigh of relief and resumed looking guilty, but nobody came looking for this Kim, and the car was gone when we left the Goodwill.

No calls yet. So far, so good. How long would you wait before you breath a real sigh of relief?

Filed Under: Boys, madness 16 Comments

Boys are different: proof #763

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

July 27, 2009 By kimc

Yes, I know many of you have far more than 763 pieces of evidence, but bear with me. I’m a novice when it comes to raising boys.

That’s why he manages to surprise me almost daily, like when he had a splinter last week.

Unlike the girls, he begged me to take it out for him. He’s brave like this with stickers too, but I was still pleasantly surprised at his courage.

But then, just like the girls, I saw fear in his eyes when I approached him. I didn’t even have a needle with me, since I didn’t know yet how deep it was. “Oh well,” I thought. He’s just a little guy.

“No, Mom! Wait!” he pleaded. “You need a knife!”

pf button Boys are different: proof #763

Filed Under: Boys 17 Comments

Boys are different than girls. Duh.

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

June 12, 2009 By kimc

A few days ago, The Boy asked his sister to help him change his shirt. He had peed on it.

“How did you pee your shirt?!” she exclaimed.

“It just went up and down, up and down.” He paused, and frowned at her.

“Why are you laughing? I’m not telling a joke.”

*****************

And while we’re on the subject…

He likes to pee off the deck. We live in the country, so this is fine if he’s careful to do it out of sight of girls and make sure he’s all clear below.

Recently Megan was outside and saw a stream coming off the deck. She didn’t quite realize what it was until her eye tracked it back to its source. Then she laughed out loud.

She heard an insulted voice from above. “What are you laughing at? It’s just my pen**.”

pf button Boys are different than girls. Duh.

Filed Under: Boys, gone awry 15 Comments

The Boy promises not to drown…again

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

May 3, 2009 By kimc

All the work at the Oklahoma City homeschool conference was done last night, and this morning we’re getting ready to check out of the hotel and head home.

Well, we will be getting ready after hubby and the kids get back from a quick morning swim.

Did I mention what happened last time they went swimming in the hotel pool?

Thursday evening, they all came blasting back into the room, one hubby and a hurricane of wet excited children, and The Boy ran straight to me with huge earnest eyes. “Mom! I drowned!”

“You WHAT?”

Nearly everyone in the room repeated after me: “He WHAT?!”

I’ve heard a thing or two about raising boys. It seems a mother can expect approximately 2.7 near-death experiences per week, per boy. Our boy is way behind on that schedule, perhaps because his dad had so very many in his younger days. Nevertheless I was curious, so I inquired further.

Apparently he was sitting in the hot tub with the bigger girls and lost his seating, slipping off the steps and toward the center. He’s short, and the hot tub was deep. Natalie felt him tugging her hair from behind, and tried to swat him away. That’s when Megan realized that he was under water. No harm done; she fished him out, and he wasn’t even scared yet. He was just annoyed that he got water in his eyes. It was all so fast that only the one fishing him out knew about it.

And so it begins. I may not like pools, but at least I’m not scared by blood, bugs, snakes, toads or spiders, because I hear there’s a lot of those involved in raising boys, too.