With 3 kids, I learned very early, the importance of checking pockets before I threw the laundry into the washer. (We all have stories, I'm sure) So, the other day I was checking pockets as usual when I found a scrapbook embellishment wrapper in Tristin's pocket. Weird, I thought, but then all of a sudden it clicked. I had seen a silver brad with the letter A on it on the floor the day before. I thought, Huh, where did that come from? But went about my day without a second thought, until I found the wrapper! As Mom's we just know, so I called Tristin over to talk. I pulled out the wrapper and asked, "Did you steal this?" He hesitated a moment and then said, " Yes." When I asked him why, he said, "Because I thought they were magnetic." I thanked him for being honest but then explained the 50 different reasons why stealing is wrong. We said a prayer that Heavenly Father would forgive him, and then he had to write 5 sentences saying: I WILL NOT STEAL FROM THE STORE AGAIN, next he had to write a letter to the store owner apoligizing and then the next day we went back to the store and talked to the store manager. He had to tell her what he did and that he was sorry. She handled the situation perfectly. She was firm, but kind. She asked him at one point if she should call the police over to talk to him, and with fear in his eyes and his head shaking, he said "No." I made him do the work, but as I was standing back, I had to hold back the tears. There was my little guy getting the you-know-what scared out of him, and so embaressed about the choice he made, but we all knew it had to be done. I think she was even a little watery eyed after the talk. I was both ashamed of his choice, but proud of him for making it right. I thanked the nice lady several times and then walked out of the store. We talked about it for a long time before and after and I hope all the police/jail talk scared the life out of him. It was one of those tender teaching moments we have as Mom's. The only funny part of all of this is: What 6 year old boy steals scrapbook embellishments anyway???!!!
Everyone looked so cute eating breakfast the first morning we were there!
Here's a picture of Cheryl, the kids and Jewels (the neighbor cat) just hanging out before we had to leave!
My Aunt Helene just moved to Pullman last Summer from Alaska! She has a super cute house not too far from Dad's and she shares it with her dog (sorry, I don't know how to spell her name!) We had a fun visit! She made the BEST raspberry cobbler the first night we were there and it was fun to go with her to her yoga class the next morning. I am having so much getting to know her better (Alaska was just too far away!)
We just got back from Pullman Washington last night (WSU, for any of you who don't know where it is). We went to stay a few days with my Dad and his girlfriend Cheryl and we had a great time! It was wonderful to see my Aunt Helene again and meet my cousin Charlie for the first time too! This is a picture of my Papa, the kids and me behind his BEAUTIFUL garden (which you can't see).
When you become a home owner, you take serious pride in all the little projects you FINALLY get done. Yes I realize this is a silly thing to blog about, but this hill made me angry every single day, and the like the tree that was growing out of it at one point, I wanted it gone! ( The tree was removed shortly after we moved in with the only thing 2 things I had- a dull ax and a hammer. Yes I removed a ginormous tree using the back of a hammer. It took several days and lots of hours, but I finally removed that ugly thing) So, this huge hill remained for many sad months, until the 4th of July. I don't know what got into me, but I went to town digging/leveling the darn thing. About 5 seconds into it, I thought, What in the world am I doing? I need to get ready for the BBQ, I shouldn't be worrying about this right now. But the horribly determined part of me won, and for the next several hours, I sweat my guts out, getting rid of all the dirt. Our wonderful friends gave us their left over sod even! I am SOO glad the tree and hill are gone forever!
Here is the hill before I started digging it up. I hated that thing!
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