New Windows

When we moved in this house a little over three years ago the very top window in the living room had a broken seal.  The window was foggy in some spots and we knew we would have to get it fixed.  Over the last three years the next three windows got foggy and then one of the bottom row.  It got to the point where we did not even open the blinds.  We finally bit the bullet and called someone out.  Of course the top window is custom size so it was special order.  

The windows came in on two different occasions broken and had to get remade.  This process seemed to take FOREVER!  At least the install only took about 6 hours.  I could not believe that only two guys were doing the install.  When the guy came out he had NO idea how he was going to get the top window out.  He had to go and buy a devise for this job.  

I watched the guys and all I could think of was that a window would fall out and cut one of the guys in half. I know, horrible thought.  I only thought that because that is what the installer said they had to worry about.  

So here are the before pics, notice the fog in them.  To this day I have not lowered the blinds!  It is amazing what clear windows can do to a room!  

Kickball

Last week the boys were SOOOOOOOOOOO bored!  There was NOTHING to do.  Justin told the boys to go and round up some neighbors to play kickball.  They looked at him with blank stares and dropped jaws, you could all but see the speech bubbles above their heads with the words, "huh, that's dumb, what's kickball, whaaaaaaa".

So, the kids are now gathered and the bases are set up.  Justin is out there showing them how to play.  The game starts and what do we see???  Is that smiles and laughter coming from all the kids who were soooooooo bored?  So now, the kids are obsessed with playing.  Every night since then, they ask to go play.  

This afternoon Barrett came over to hang out and spend the night with Luke.  They were glued to the XBox until 7:30, and then wanted to play outside with only an hour left of daylight!  So of course another game of kickball got started and they played hard for an hour until we told them to come in because it was so dark out there.  

Mallory, Luke, Barrett, Jonah, Riley and Greer

Sophia's Drawing

Sophia started drawing a lot lately.  The only thing she draws is this.  I will find pieces of paper all over the house with these drawings.  Jonah and Luke tell her that it is creepy and she gets so upset.  

Minecraft

For all who are wondering if Minecraft is still talked about for hours a day in The Morton house... This should answer your question.

Flat Stanley

It's that time of year for Flat Stanley to come home. Luke decided to send his to San Antonio with Hunter. I can remember doing this for Hunter years ago! Have fun in San Antonio Flat Stanley.

Best Buds

So nice to see The Henleys! They boys always have so much fun playing. Cracks me up that they always put bike helmets on when they play football.

Paybacks... This momma CANNOT WAIT!

pay·back  

/ˈpāˌbak/

Noun Financial return or reward, esp. profit equal to the initial outlay of an investment. An act of revenge or retaliation. I have told the boys many of times that what goes around comes around!  I also tell them that I hope that their kids will be JUST like them only at least TWICE as bad!  :)  I CANNOT WAIT.  So, this is why I am blogging about this, as I have done in the past.  This is just a reminder that is STILL happens daily and this momma is BEAT DOWN!   The "H" word, the horrible, dreaded "H" word.  H O M E W O R K I am not sure who does not like it more, the boys or momma!  Homework is a lot different these days from when I was in school.  We had homework due daily.  These days you get the entire weeks worth of assignments and it is all due on Friday.  Here is a break down of what the week looks like. Luke: Monday:  Read for 20 minutes and guided reading Tuesday:  Math worksheet, read for 20 minutes Wednesday:  Read for 20 minutes, guided reading Thursday:  Spelling (choose one of the five activities) Luke gets the challenge list (5 words) every week so he uses this list instead of the regular 12 word list to work from.   Friday:  Spelling Test and ALL HOMEWORK DUE It is not a lot folks!  Every week he picks to write each word 3 times each.  That is a total of 15 words and it LITERALLY TAKES HIM A GOOD 40 MINUTES to get this done.  That is because he moans, groans, throws himself on the floor, kicks his legs, cries and tells me how stupid spelling is and how much he hates it.  Trust me, I get it... YOU TELL ME EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!  Once the yelling (from me) is complete and maybe even a swat on the leg he moves like jello. His feet hurt.  Good thing you were fortunate enough to be born with hands cause that's what you write with!  Thank God for that one son!  He then picks up the pencil, it drops a few times because he is SOOOOOOOO tired and his hands hurt (not bad enough to work that XBox remote) and starts writing.   So, once I threaten to take away playdates, XBox, computer, iTouch and TV and more tears and fits come he gets it together and does the work.  He writes poorly and then moves on to the math and blows through that in 3 minutes with a smile and all geedy like.  I asked WHY he was so happy and he said that he likes math.  I tell him that he does not have to "like" everything but he has to do it and then the "why's" start coming.   So, after a good solid HOUR of mommas blood pressure elevated, threats and tears Luke has finished his homework!  PRAISE THE LORD.  All of that and if you had just sat down , shut your mouth and done it, you would have time to play on the XBox but instead you had a fit and lost it... again!

My sweet little Lukie... until homework time!

Jonah's Homework:

Let me start off saying that 3rd grade is an entire different ball game folks!  The homework load is C R A Z Y!  I am SO dreading next year when Luke starts.  Pray for all of us :)

2 Spelling activities
Guided reading sheet
3 math worksheets
1-2 Reading worksheets
Read for 20 minutes daily
Friday:  Spelling test and all homework due

Jonah used to throw fits as well until a few weeks ago.  Yes, there are still many of tears because he thinks he can read and answer the questions without reading the passage the questions come from so he misses them and then has to correct them.  He has been better because he realizes that he will loose things and or not get to go outside and play or have friends over.

I know one day soon I will look back on this and wish we could fight all over again instead of the silence filled house but as of now... I AM SO OVER IT!!!  Oh wait, I get to start ALL OVER with Sophia and Seth!  Until then...

If you are wondering how the "get your shoes and ball, we have practice" is going...  it still causes melt downs too.  They know they have practice EVERY week and I remind them that morning before they leave for school and when they get home and a few more times in between.  Yet, the fits still come and it will take a good 30 plus minutes for shoes to get put on and a ball in their hands.  Yes, Jonah and Luke momma is talking about YOU!  I have one thing to say!  One day, you will thank mom and dad for you being able to play sports and know just how good you had it growing up!  :)  Oh!  and we love you to the moon and back!

Nice Day

It was such a beautiful day so I told the boys that they had to play outside.  If my memory serves me right, it was about 85 and breezy.   Here are a few of the comments from them.

"W H A T  are we supposed to do"

"It's SOOOOOOOO hot out here!" 

"When can we go in"

"There is N O T H I N G to do out here"

"This is SOOOOOO boring"

Nothing to do?  Bored?   I will show you "nothing to do".  So that is when I went into my song and dance about what YO MOMMA used to do when she was your age (insert eye rolls and whatevers here)!  Momma didn't have chalk because we could not afford it!  I am sure momma and your uncle Nic had to share a bike.  (ha ha ha) we did not have the option of 15 different ride ons, it was one or nothing.  

I told them they could ride their bike, scooter, play basketball, football, draw with chalk or just sit.  Jonah opted to ride his scooter and Luke and Sophia did some sidewalk art.  Luke drew all the characters from Sponge Bob.  He did a pretty good job.  

Seth just sat on the rug and had some goldfish.  

Luke's Assignment

This came home in Luke's backpack the other day and I just had to post.  Look closely at Tylers shirt.  I am so glad that he remembers Tyler has a peanut allergy!  LOL

Big Girl Seat

Sophia graduated to a booster seat!  I am not sure who is more excited, mom and dad or Sophia!  First trip in her new big girl seat was with daddy to drop Jonah and Luke off at school.

Neighborhood Gang