Heh heh, I say slip them both a double dose of Nyquil....the nighttime sniffling sneezing coughing stuffy head ache fever so YOU can rest medicine. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The kiddies finally got their stockings filled last night. It's only the 29th, and they made it!

Also, happy birthday to the Princess, who is now 9. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Princess: When do I get to start wearing makeup?
Correct answer: When your beauty starts to fade.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Glad to hear the kiddies got their stockings filled. Nyquil must be like Liquid Panadol for children <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> mothers blessings ........ though my sister made me promise to really only use it when Mikey is actually sick .. drat <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />


Now that is the best answer I have EVER heard !! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ...Mum said she wishes she had thought of that when we pushed her on the issue ..... wayyyyyyy back then lol.
I didn't have to fight DD on that one Neak, it was the other way around .. "WHEN are going to dress like a young lady instead of a army recruit ????? !!!! " I don't think she owned a dress until she was 17. Then she went from that to man magnet on stage <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Quoting from her fathers comment on her and the other two's latest outfit for the concert " Those are NOT dresses they are tea towels" <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> ... except his version included a loy of naughty words!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Hey we are going to the Zoo for New years!! A whole bunch of us with husbands and significant others from the base, it will be fun. I sort of worry about Aussie and his mates like Bazza and Waz deciding it would be fun to hunt something though .... I mean I still have to live in this city <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> But the girls are doing a concert so I told him he had to behave .... and mum told him too ... and Bazza and Waz. ....... so theres a chance at least <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Psssst Neaksis .... did you get some drums for the Dervish ??? lol <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I could live with that, as long as I got to determine the definition of "actually sick"!

t&l

T&L that is the sort of thinking I like!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Either I'm getting really old or Mikey is getting way more active than I remembered the other kids being at his age!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

7.00am in comes the whirlwind and DIVES into the middle of the bed and then starts using the both of us to drive his little trucks on <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> ......... with sound effects <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I am having to laugh and laugh and laugh. I have been copying and pasting my story from the Fog Thread into Word, and changing the names back from our MB pseudonyms. (Since everybody knows who I am, does that make it a pseudopseudonym?)

Well I used that handy little "replace" feature, idly wondering if it would even change those letter combinations in words. Turns out, it does.

"Pajamas" became "PJackamas".
"Majority" became "MJackority".

But the killer came when I read about how I had softly tiptoed my way onto MB for a quick post. "Sneak" became "SNoni", lolololololol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*smacks forehead*

Neak, are you ok? Something tells me there is a ripple.....and, no, I am not psychic. Just intuitive. Sometimes. But, sometimes, I don't get anything right.

Nothing A-related. I am having lots of boy trouble though.

For example, yesterday the boys were fighting. I didn't see whatever happened first, but while I was standing right there talking to them, lookin at them, Mr. C grapped the barrel of the telescope (which they had taken apart <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> ) and pinned the Dervish to the ground with it. Meanwhile the Dervish is lying there screaming. Whatever he had just done was not very nice, either.

They are both being violent and noncompliant, worse during vacation. And battling their bedtime till late at night, leaving me very tired. I wouldn't be nearly as tired if I gave up and let them have their way, but I think we all know my opinion of that idea. (Wrong, but sounds tempting, lol.)

With AJ back on the road after 3 months, their behavior is much worse even than usual at this point, but on the bright side I have a lot more time to deal with them, too. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, I am hanging in there. If this keeps up I will duct tape all the kids to the wall, then they will be hanging in there, too. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

One of the things I have done before is a mutual time-out which they controlled.

I would have both children sit on the couch at the same time. Neither child could get up until the other could and they both had to agree that they could both get up but they could not go back to the same behavior that had landed them there.

One book I read that I have used successfully is 1-2-3 Magic by Phelan. Don't know how much it might help some of these things but I have used it successfully to deal w/ arguing w/ me and w/ whining.

Happy New Year everybody!!!!!

The kids were decent this evening, even staying up till midnight. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Rella, the couch idea sounds like a good one, and would have worked well for them once upon a time not that long ago. Now once they start escalating their violence the only way to stop it is to separate them widely. I can be standing right there, and if they can reach each other they will keep on clobbering and kicking till I restrain them. There is no fear of consequences, even though there are consequences.

I'll have to see if the library has that book - it might have some helpful suggestions. Also hopefully soon they will be able to get into counselling directed at their particular issues.

Well Mr. C is finally starting to settle down, so I might be able to go to bed soon.

Happy 2008 to all my friends here.

I was going to ask you why you were still awake 1-1/2 hrs. after you were almost too sleepy to drive home, but then you answered me at end of your post. Rock him to sleep, dearie. You've got some substantial rocks outside your house. One of them will do nicely. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Happy New Year to all and to all a good night.

t&l

I'm up guarding the electronic portals of learning. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Pretty sure he's asleep now and not just lying down.

My modem for my computer is an external modem. It is mine. I paid for it. I pay for the internet service. If I want to take the modem to work with me, I do so. If I want to take the mouse to my room - or the keyboard - when I go to bed at night, I do so. It's your computer. Secure it. If it's a desktop, it's pretty useless w/ out the keyboard or modem or mouse. If it's a laptop, get a suitcase or something for it - something you can lock.

T&L - special thanks to woman power tonight - it really warmed my heart to see your post in defense of all believers on another thread. I think Jesus is pleased when we are kind to each other regardless of sectarian differences.

Thank you, KaylaAndy. And here I've been sitting around wondering how guilty I should feel for the temporary release of my inner snark. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> But it makes my hackles rise to see people lectured and hectored because they don't instantaneously prostrate themselves at the edifice of another's Bible interpretations, and then have their bashing signed off with a statement of Christlike love. I'm more into the hit-and-run style of witnessing, myself. You answer a question, bring up an idea, present a concept--and then move on, letting the Spirit Himself do the teaching and persuading in His own good time. I've found it much more effective than the steamroller, personally...

t&l

p.s. That's always been why I won't put a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker on my car. I'd always be afraid they were really honking at my driving, and my bumper sticker about loving Jesus would become just a bad joke.

Well, I tightened the parental controls on the computer tonight. Checked son14's history and bookmarks.

The good news is he's decided he might be interested in girls. Up to now, they have merely been humans to him....know what I mean <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> ? They have merely existed. They hadn't been discovered yet.

Well, the bad news is, some of those things I found were not 'wholesome'!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Neak, just see what you have to look forward to?

Last night I dreamed that I was killing sleeping velociraptors by biting through their spinal columns.


I have got to get my teeth grinding problem fixed!

Neaksis

Or eat more M&Ms.

M&M and Oreos can have medicinal purposes. At my house, sometimes, the sick are allowed to order such foods and have them offered inasmuch as they seem to have some curative powers.

Rella! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> No mother should have to go through that - poor thing, have some chocolate!!!

We have everything but barbed wire on our electronics, with just a few holes.

The laptop goes on standby if it gets shut, but if left open has been used for 'shooting games' in the middle of the night.

My computer goes on standby if left unattended for 3 minutes or so. But if the kids leave on a full-screen game, it won't go on standby automatically, and can be accessed in the middle of the night. Fortunately, I am usually the last one on it.

Grandpa's TV only has my allowed channels, plus is only operatioinal between the hours of 9am and 10:30 pm. This is for GP as much as for the kids. So during those hours they sneak in there and turn the sound almost off, but there is not much objectionable they can watch after I got done filtering the channels.

Our TV goes on standby after 4 hours and you have to have a code to even watch Sesame Street.But if Mr. C gets up in the middle of the night (which does happen) sometimes the 4 hours hasn't expired yet, and he can watch. (The other morning I got up way before daylight and surprised him watching some dumb cartoon where the main character was getting in trouble for obeying his evil imaginary friend - great. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> ) We try to remember to push the manual standby button, but aren't always coherent when we turn it off. (Mom can verify that I usually get to watch the first 5 minutes of any moviezzzzzzzzzzz.)

The DVD/video player is not locked, so it sees plenty of illicit use, but who wants to watch Veggie Tales 20 times in the middle of the night? (Well maybe I know the answer to that question.)

So things are as secure as I can make them without advanced technology, except I still need to remember to change the settings on the laptop so it goes to sleep automatically. Thanks for reminding me. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good Thread -

Entertainment value 8 / 10
Humor 8 / 10
Shock Value 10 / 10
I can identify with it 10 / 10
Bet you made CC chuckle 8 / 10
Most people probably won't believe it 10 / 10

Our Christmas tree is still up, but I don't think I can stall past tomorrow morning. ( W wants it out!) We'll enjoy the lights tonight though.

Read what you wrote about your boys fighting Neak. Sigh, the memories that came back. I could tell you stories, but I probably won't.

Happy new year to everyone. At least I hope it's mostly happy.

SS