My Gang

Our School Room

With school on the horizon it was time for us to get out of our rut and begin the organization process. I have to honestly tell you that I truly believe that there was once a time in my life when I truly thought I was going to be a teacher along with many other things that I have not pursued. I've entertained the thought of homeschooling for years, but I've yet to take the leap fully. I say fully, only because I did for it for a short time with our oldest two. 

 I believe those initial bits of instructions were very instrumental in their early years of learning and comprehension.

For some time now Mr. Sixfootplus and I have been talking about turning our attic space into a school room. It took some planning and organizing to get our idea from paper to a practical working environment. We started out with this.

No we didn't ask them to pose, they just automatically fell into a reading pattern once they realized they had books, on a shelf they could actually reach and read.

Trying to figure out the best position for things

 After some painting and  straightening, we now have a better area to work with. 

We now have arrived at this point and we are still working on finalizing a few things.

 getting some organization going.

 Semi finish project, study and home work stations

 Earned rewards stations

Nothing comes easy in this schoolroom, you must earn it first. Each stick represent a value, at the end of each week rewards earned are distributed. This is where smiles turn to tears, or the downcast perk up. The red sticks represents a negative value, that amount is subtracted from the total earned each week and the balance is what they are given. Once one of the little bird members ended up in the negative. 
Oh the pains of sorry that crossed that tiny face, almost broke a mother's heart, but I held it together. That tiny face was so tear stained I had to give it a kiss. The thing is and they know this, a  a reminder equals a red stick. That birdie gang member had received too many reminders that week, hence the negative. I forgot to mention, they all start out in the positive. They get earn cash so we don't have to give allowance, this is their allowance. Each member starts out with cash equal to their age, so if you're 10yrs old, you start out with $10 and so on.
When you guys get a chance check out one of my favorite bloggers. She specializes in home decor and other things, she has a natural eye for decorating and organizing and renewing things. Check her out here... Miss Mustard Seed.  I'm learning and getting advice as I read her ideas. 
I will post the final school room photos when were are done. Our little gang members are not too thrilled with school just around the corner. Oh well, what can a mom do except to get them ready as best as I can? 

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Our Champion

The other day our 9 year old played in not his first but his second championship basketball game, he's only been playing for two seasons, good right? no, he's a hard worker, who loves basketball and just ends up with the best teammates ever. He's kind, believes in fairness, loves junk food, has a great head of hair, is extremely inquisitive, walks on his tippy toes and is a fabulous re-bounder. The other day after a game, he was given a compliment that he was the best re-bounder on his team. He was so offended by the compliment; he felt it was an insult to his teammates who play equally as hard.

As we drove to the club where he would face the team they beat twice in the regular season, needless to say he was pumped. He was getting advice from the left from his sister, from the right from his brother, from the back from his other brother, diagonally from his dad, from in front from his mom. He was pumped, we were pumped! It was going to be exciting as all his games are. Then his big sis who also plays basketball held his arm, looked him directly in the eye and said, all you have to do is your best, that's all you have to do. When the game is over, no matter what the outcome, you can walk off the court knowing that you've done your best." All coaching ended after that bit of advice.

From the moment our champion blue devil stepped onto the court the action was non stop. He was rebounding, stealing, shooting, grabbing, falling, dribbling, blocking shots, turning the ball over, calling for the ball, passing, high fiving and playing a defense that would shut Kobe and Lebron down, hands down. Yes, there are other members on the team and they are very talented, excellent players, but he's the only one that's my child hence, my focus.

It was his killer defense that provoked the player he was guarding to turn on him physically. This kid either the same age or maybe 10 but not older, began pushing, elbowing, and two hand jabbing our baby in the middle of his back. Notice how he went from champion to "our baby" ahahahaha, at first momma just chucked it up to maybe a hand check that was a bit aggressive, but after two, four, six times of the same thing and no whistle? momma's temperature immediately shot to no lower than 100 degrees. Still undeterred, our champion pushed through playing a more intense defense as the game was within two points scoring point for point at each end, oh it was intense, I know! 9 and 10 year olds? Who knew kids played basketball so well at this age. I mean they were shooting jumpers, three points, pump faking, the works.

The game was at, I think, maybe the 6:27 minute mark when one jab in particular brought out the Momma Mufasa and the female wolverine in me all at the same time, my internal temperature rose to about 107/108 degrees Fahrenheit immediately. I was about to either passout or wolf out.

It was then, the trumpet within better known as my voice bellowed for the ref to check the pushing and jabbing my son was repeatedly receiving from this other kid. Still, no whistle then I felt the claws I didn't know I had come out. All I saw was red as my head turned in the direction where this kid's parents sat. It was during this time as I was seeing red, everything also began moving in slow motion. As the world around me suddenly slowed down, the last and final break the camel's back jab came almost pushing our champion down as he was about to intercept a pass and then it think I wolfed out.

I would like to say my tone was kind and pleasing with a hint of volume to it, but it was NOT!  I know, once the ref heard my command to check the pushing, those words in his ears must've sounded and felt like he had received a thousand acidic laced lashes across his back. I think everyone in the gym including the kids heard me.

Thank the Lord, because it was also during this time I heard a voice, God's voice sounding,  very much like Mufasa's in my head saying, "rememba whooo you ah! I don't know how it happened, but as the world began moving in fast forward or at regular speed again, the clock was now at 2:47, I was on my feet with an internal temperature of about 110 degrees trying to hold it together for our champion, try very hard to model adult behavior for all the kids present especially our kids, as well as learning that our kids will face challenges other than facing the next best team on the league within their age bracket on the basketball court in life.

Championship award

Our champion's team lost the game by 4 points, all the kids received awards and were congratulated. When I got to the car I saw that he was crying. After some quiet time he asked, mommy did you see my defense? did you see how many rebounds I had?  did you see when my team mate scored that basket, did you see the amazing pass my teammate made at the last second? Not once did he mentioned that he was pushed by the kid that caused my temperature to rise. When his siblings brought it up, his response was yeah, I know, that kid kept pushing me but did you see my defense? Then he said, I am so tired, I played so hard, can we go get ice-cream to celebrate? and with that, we stood in the best soft serve ice cream line in the area for about 15 minutes.

What a champion! He didn't even know nor had a clue that his mom was about to pass out from internal overheating in the stands. At the end of the game, I did walk over to the kid's parents to let them know, that their son IS indeed an excellent ball player and congratulated them on the win. It was also at this time that  apologies were exchanged for becoming overly emotionally involved in the game.

The Tooth Fairy

About two maybe three weeks ago, our six year old lost one front tooth and listen, I have to tell you,  I thought his one missing tooth smile was the cutest thing a mom could ever lay eyes on, until about five days later he lost the neighboring front tooth. His toothless mouth is so funny and cute it brings a smile to my face  whenever he opens his mouth.

missing both

Everyone was so excited, we tend to make a big deal around here. We were all so excited, his big sis asked, are you going to put your tooth teeth under your pillow so that the tooth fairy will leave you a dollar?" to that he responded,  the last time, Ii put my tooth under the pillow daddy came in and took it and left a dollar..... Uhhhmmmmm!~) Right away we knew daddy was playing tooth fairy and got caught so we all went into damage control mode, cause our 6 year old had given up on the tooth fairy. We explained that the tooth fairy really isn't daddy; we told him it just so happened that the tooth fairy on assignment must looked just like daddy, we added, you didn't get a good look cause it was nighttime and it was dark.   To that she sarcastically responded, it was in the daytime. Crushed again in our attempts to reassure him that the tooth fairy does exist. Still in damage control mode we quickly added,  daddy was trying to help, he thought the tooth fairy might be a little busy and so he wanted to be like Dwayne the Rock Johnson in the Disney movie, Tooth Fairy.

To that he looked at us with great suspicion. He hesitantly took his tooth, eying us in disbelief as he left the kitchen to head up to his room. Dads, you gotta love them and give them their due respect cause they create the memories that last a lifetime.

I wonder if Mr. Sixfootplus was wearing a tutu? hmmmmm? I'll try to remember to ask.. It was in the daytime. ahahhahahahhaa, who knew?

Hiding in Plain Sight

The other day, I went to the local food warehouse to stock up on some snacks for my gang. Within hours of  unpacking the goods, I noticed every package/box was open. 

Urgh, I've been at this for some time now, I know better than to leave it all out. Looking at their pleased little faces as their lips smacks with yummy satisfactions, it was time to go to work. I knew at this rate all the snacks will be gone within four to six hours. It was time to sit in a meditating silent concentration in my little corner to come up with a plan.

Currently, i'm building an inhome photography studio and it was key in the planning process. Armed with my thinking cap and glowing light bulb (thoughts),  I started hiding the snacks, mostly none perishables, in plain sight. Check it out

Photo studio props and background

so moms if you need some pointers here are a fews pics that will help with what I call hiding in plain sight.

hiding under the prop

......if that doesn't work, hide out of sight, no time for meditation and creativity. Try the garage, the storage room under the steps,  a cooler in the pantry or garage, your closet, his closet, your trunk.

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The GANG

I refer to my family as "the gang" because that is exactly who and what we are. We are six strong, we hang together, play together and  experience life together. To give you a better picture of our strength, here is who and what we are, a basketball team with one sub. A band with each member playing a different instrument and singing at the same time. A dodgeball team, roundas team, cricket team, the gang leader said cricket requires 7 to 11 players.  I don't know much about hockey but I think we could be a hockey team and three sets of tennis doubles. So there. We are the gang and we are six strong.