Are you a teenager or an angel????

I posted about Calvin and the milk now I need to post about McKenna my tween. About two weeks ago McKenna and Calvin were arguing as usual or so it seems. Anyways I come out of my room to see what all of the yelling is about (see the yelling I'm passing on). Both of them begin telling me their side of the story at once all the while both crying. I tell them very loudly to "LISTEN (see I do scream that word alot) to me...we need to lower our voices" all the while lowering mine and then ask them to explain one by one. Calvin goes first and to be honest I have no idea what they were evening arguing about now but it was obviously very important because we had a serious melt down. ha

So after hearing what happened I start to tell McKenna that she needs to listen to what I had told her 15 minutes ago and this would have never happened (I told her to get in the shower) and before I could continue my sentence she yells at me, "you NEVER help me out!" and stomps off to her room.

I have to admit I was a little taken back I was still talking and she just talked back to me and walked off while I was still speaking and then shut her door. Had she slammed the door I think we would have had a serious problem in the house because I would have LOST my temper. Normally this would have made me extremely mad, caused yelling and maybe even cursing but for some reason it seemed a bit surreal....a bit funny....and a bit sad all at the same time. My 10 year old was acting like a teenager already.

So I sent Calvin to time out because he did deserve it but she didn't wait for that otherwise I think she would have been satisfied that I was helping her out.

I decided to not do or say anything to her about it until I had more time to evaluate this situation and think of how to best handle it....so I finished the laundry. It was towels and so I took a stack into the bathroom where she was showering and put them away and as I was walking out she said, "Mom?" and I said, "yes", she peeked her head out of the curtain and said, "Mom, I'm really sorry that I yelled at you and stomped away especially since you were still talking to me...I didn't mean what I said, you do help me all of the time and Mom, I'm really sorry." I said, "thank you for apologizing, that means a lot". She then gave me that cute little smile and said, "I'd hug you but I'm wet and in the shower". With tears in my eyes I walked out of the bathroom wondering are you a teenager or an angel? :o)

It was a real eye opener.....ONE - that I might not survive the teenage years but TWO that my baby girl is maturing and much faster than I want her too. I know there is going to be many more of these type of conversations in the future, I just hope that they all end the way this one did and that she still cares enough to ask for forgiveness and to forgive me as this is a learning situation for both of us.

I wish all kids came with detailed instructions for their parents sometimes and I'm sure I'll be wishing that even more as we approach the teen years shortly ahead.

I love you McKenna!

Don't cry or yell over spilt milk........

Ok so first thing this morning Will had already left the house to go show houses. I was reading the new Ensign and really enjoying that while the kids slept in. Calvin got up and came down stairs and decided he was starving, so he proceeded to get himself some cereal...no big deal. So I continue reading about our amazing first presidency and then I hear a huge mess. I jumped up to see what happened and Calvin spilt about a half gallon of milk all over the table, himself, the chair and all over the floor. My first thought was to yell, "what were you thinking...you know you can't pour a full gallon of milk?" but because I had just been reading something spiritually uplifting thought twice. Luckily I didn't say a word because when I looked down....my little Calvin had the biggest alligator tears you've ever seen running down his face. Instead of yelling I found myself trying to stop him from crying. I told him lovingly it's OK, it was an accident don't cry, I'm not mad at you and got a two towels. The tears were streaming down his cute little chubby cheeks of which I'm so thankful he still has, because I just love chubby cheeks and it was me trying to convince him not to cry over the spilt milk. I was proud of myself for not yelling because unfortunately that is something that I tend to do more than I'd like to admit and without hesitation. (I'm working on it) I gave him the other towel and we both cleaned up the milk. He actually spilt so much that he was soaking wet, so he had to go shower before he could even eat poor little boy. I needed to mop the floor anyways right? :o) I should have stopped to think how many times I've spilled milk and especially when I was little. Why sweat the small stuff?

The Name Game

Scattergories
I like the game Scattergories but have not played it in forever so here is a mini version of it. You have to use the first letter of your name to answer each question.

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each question:
1. What is your name? Leslie
2. 4 letter word: love
3. Vehicle: Lexus
4. City: Las Vegas
5. Boy Name: Leroy
6. Girl Name: Lily
7. there was no seven from the person that tagged me
8. Occupation: Lecturer
9. Something you wear: Long undies
10. Celebrity: Leona Lewis
11. Food: lemon meringue pie
12. Found in a bathroom: Lotion
13. Reason for Being Late: Leslie is my name Late is my game
14. Cartoon Character: Lilo
15. Something you shout: LISTEN
16. Animal: Lion
17. Body part: Leg
18. Word to describe you: Likable
19. Something you like to do: Laugh
20. Place you'd like to be: London

I tag...everyone. :o)

Swimming at Pecos Park

Yesterday we went to the Pecos Pool in Ahwatukee which is about 18 miles from our house, closest public pool with some friends from the ward. We went last week and had a great time and yesterday was no exception. :o)

Here Calvin, Kenna & friend Matthew racing to the water

So refreshing since it's 110 degrees outside!

Lots of cute things for the kids from babies to big kids! I went down the yellow water slide and actually had my stomach flip! I guess I'm turning into a big wimp!! I thought it was fun but a little more scary than I expected...granted I laid flat on my back and got to going way too fast and at the last turn almost flipped over (that's when my stomach flipped). hee hee

After about an hour they needed a snack break

Hey cheap thrills for $3.00 we had a great day of fun & swimming with friends. Our backyard above ground pool has been awesome this summer but we don't have the fun water slide.

Fun Summer Memories

Our Two Little Missionaries

Sister Wright & Elder Wright

I think anyone out there would be crazy to not open their door and let either of these cuties in their home to teach them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Today there was a Primary activity at church where the kids had a fun going to a mock Missionary Training Center and then off to their indivual missions. Calvin & McKenna both were sent to Tennessee, but said they ended up getting to go to Germany also. So proud they've already served two missions! :o) They got to sample a lot of different foods (mostly desserts) and had a blast. What a cute idea! Thanks Primary Leaders!

( McKenna hopes she gets sent to Hawaii or Utah and Calvin wants to go to France so he can learn a new language but I think it's because he thinks Fergie lives there. )

Too much fun....

So Friday all day I was super excited because we had a babysitter lined up and plans with our friends the Boyles to go to dinner & a movie. For the past 2 years I can count on one hand how many dates we've had so this was a real treat. We went to Famous Dave's bbq and it was good food! We then went across the street to the movies and ended up walking out of it but got a refund and then headed to the Boyles house to play pool and hang out. We came home and Calvin was asleep but not our night owl McKenna. I still can't get over how cute she looks with her new hair cut. LOVE IT!!!

So Saturday morning getting up early to set up for Craft group was a little rough since we had stayed up late the night before but worth it. The gals came over at 9am and stayed until about noon painting super cute metal stars to look like flags. The kids joined in the fun and painted their own stars. McKenna did purple and blue and Calvin's is mostly blue with a red & orange portion both did a great job.

At 6pm it was time for Cooking Group and Girls Night Out here at my house....Martha came over and cooked the best spring garden rolls and lettuce wraps I've ever eaten! We can't wait for the recipes. I didn't take any pictures dang it!!! After we ate that we had courtesy of Sandy some wonderful individual lemon moraine pie pastries and I made brownies. We had about 17 girls here and it was so fun. Most left by 10pm but a few stayed talking until 2:00 am and it was so much fun! I really enjoyed it and can't wait to do it again. :o) Picture below is what we made....because I don't care for Shrimp I had the pork spring rolls not pictured you get the idea which were awesome especially with the peanut sauce!!! Who would have thought I liked Vietnamese food so much because I'm such a picky eater.)

All of this was so much fun!

Wow it's HOT!

This is a picture from my Jeep yesterday! 113 degrees and it felt like an oven. :o) Yesterday while out doing bpo's (appraisals) my AC started blowing hot air and smelled like it was on fire! It was a sickening feeling because I was about 55 miles from home and somewhat out in the boondocks. The Jeep has had this problem the last two summers for some reason and the dealer obviously hasn't fixed it. I'm going to have to get it back in because there's nothing worse than to be in the desert and have your black car over heat and AC go out....luckily I didn't have the kids with me & had two cases of bottled water in the back. Have you ever tried drinking water that is almost boiling? It doesn't really quench that thirst the way you expect it to....my cold Dr. Pepper had long since ran out....I knew I should have brought two. ha ha

Luckily, I pulled over in an LDS church parking lot close by and I said a prayer, then tried calling Will (he didn't answer) and so I said another prayer. After I ended my prayer I thought I'd better use my gps to find the nearest fast food joint, so I can at least sit in the AC and wait for Will to arrive, but as I began to drive suddenly the AC started blowing out cold air and the burning smell went away and the tempature gauge went back down. It was such a huge blessing! Heavenly Father does answer my prayers and fast! I'm still taking it in.

This is the time of year that you need to go on lots of vacations to cooler climates luckily it's only about 3-4 months of this super heat and then we have 8 months of absolutely beautiful weather or at least in my opinion. :o) Utah here we come!