Pickle Boys Dating Service

Perhaps you all have been able to gather that Lucas and Eli feel that every woman (particularly their sisters) must have a boyfriend/husband. They are quite adamant about it actually....to the point that I'm starting to fear for their lives.

First we have the case of Sydney's boyfriend. They took it upon themselves to tell him that they should get married and he should change his name to Pickle. When Parker tried (unsuccessfully) to explain that they were just dating and that when people got married usually the guy does not take the wife's name. They were equally appalled and insulted thinking that Parker did not think Pickle was a good enough last name. It's good enough for them, therefore it should be good enough for Parker. My thought outside of being extremely apologetic to Parker is that no Parker Pickle would not under any circumstances be a good name.

Second we have Rachel, who is somewhat safe as she is away at college the majority of the time and she is currently seeing someone. Safe and receiving the "brotherly" approvals.

Third we have Alison. Alison who is staying with us this week as she has had her wisdom teeth out and looks like she's been in a boxing ring. Tonight was the first time she felt like trying to eat something at suppertime or to remain vertical longer than 2 minutes....I'm pretty sure she regrets it....not because of the tough time eating but because about 2 bites into the meal Eli imperiously points his fork at her and says, "So you have boyfriend yet?" Oh. Yes. He. Did. For anyone worried he is still breathing...don't.... because he went on to offer with Lucas' help to "find" her a boy. Then the capper to his dating service questionnaire, "Do you want a Filipino boyfriend or a Chinese boyfriend?" I don't know where they get this stuff but I'm pretty sure they may want to investigate a new business as their dating service will never make it off the ground if their sisters have anything to say about it. Come to think of it they may not see Christmas.

People it's never dull here, it's loud, it's really loud. But it is an absolute hoot!

Think Before We Speak

This would be the "Think Before We Speak" lesson #949 for Lucas. Something that he probably should have thought really hard about before saying to his sister as they are getting ready to leave for school.....
"Sydney. Is that the only dress you have?"
Ok. #1 it was a shirt not a dress #2 it was new #3 he said this while expecting a ride to school from the sister he just offended. But don't worry Eli once again saved the day with humor by saying, "DUDE! Don't you know. You say you look nice Sydney. It not dress, can't you see bro!"
Sydney's response was to wait in the car til they hauled their contrite, apologetic tushes out there. They are at school....peace reigns!

Hiking and Harvest Time

Hiking the Loess Hills of Iowa with Grandma Ruth

If you look closely at the photo above you will see why I have a washing machine full of soy beans and why Grandpa Jerry is short a few bushels. No boots + rolling in a wagon full of soy beans = fun for boys not so much fun for a mom who wasn't aware of the "fun" until it was too late.

Lucas and Eli had a great week-end helping with the start of harvest. I grew up on a farm but the boys think that because I'm a "girl" that I can't possibly know anything....never mind they had not seen a combine or John Deere tractor until 2 years ago.....

On the way to see my mom yesterday morning I misguidedly mentioned that there weren't any farmers combining the fields between our town and the next. Eli's disgusted, all-knowing farmer response? "Mom. (hurrumph) they not picking the corn...it is still GREEN...can you not see the green?? (hurrumph) My response? "Well....son....can you not SEE that tone of voice may not be your wisest decision?" Yes, yes he did choose a different tone from there on out.

When The Women Are Away....

On Saturday, Sydney and I made the much dreaded grocery shopping trip. While we were slaving away, battling pre Nebraska football game crowds to bring home food which will be consumed at an amazing rate....oops that's another post.

One may wonder what the "boys" were up to? Well when I left the house this a.m. they were planning on driving up to one of Grandpa's farms to help with harvest. I (mistakenly) assumed this meant tractor riding, combine riding and general harvest type activities.....and there was some of that.

There was also the brilliant idea of the "boys" to take the go cart with them so that they could drive the mile long rows as grandpa combined. By the graphic and animated descriptions from Lucas and Eli there was little following the rows and a whole lot of spins, cookies and general mayhem in the field. By the amount of dirt on their clothes, in their hair, in their boots I'm really wondering how much dirt they left in grandpa's field. I also wonder at what point today Sydney and I were suppose to have that much fun.

The Kid is Trying To Kill Me!

Eli. He really is out to get me. I know it. He is determined to put me into hysterics with his "revelations". He always....I mean always....causes at least one near fatal happening when we are driving somewhere.

He is very animated to say the least, the more he has to say the faster and louder it comes out. Friday evenings' near miss was caused at warp speed when he announces from the back seat...."MOM! My mustache, it is growing, it is growing right now! No really it is growing right now, I know it! Look, Look! Right here under my nose!" You'd think he had a Fu Man Chu mustache under that nose.

I have no idea where this came from. I have no explanations for why everyone in our neighborhood knows to get out of the way when they see our Yukon coming down the road...no that's not true, it's because the driver (me) is hysterically laughing.

Mom DOES NOT PULL TEETH!

I'm sure quite a few of you are going to laugh yourselves silly. Five kids....I do NOT pull teeth. Elementary secretary....I do not handle kids with wiggly, loose, hanging or in hand teeth. I will do almost any other kind of first aid...not teeth...ever!

This past week Mike was in Indiana for training classes and left last Sunday. Wouldn't you know it, Sunday night Eli announces that he has a wiggly tooth (the kid has lost more teeth in the last month than the previous 2 years). Being the concerned parent....I mentioned I DON'T DO TEETH.....kindly instructed him to keep that wiggler in his mouth until Dad came home....on Friday and oh ya, he probably shouldn't look directly at me lest I see the offending tooth. I thought we reached an understanding.

I guess that was too much to ask....Wednesday night cuddled up on the couch before bedtime watching a tv show, Eli says, "Mom." I, grossly miscalculating the evil plan of my youngest son, looked at him. There he sits beside me with his hand in my face holding his tooth. The very tooth that had been yanked out of his bloody mouth after I so lovingly told him to hold out for dad. Grinning ear to ear, blood oozing down his lip, laughing his goof ball head off. HE KNOWS I DON'T DO TEETH!

As The World Turns

Something that has been hard for Lucas and Eli to understand is the extent of the distance between the Philippines and the United States. Even though they "survived" the never ending air plane flight, they have never really understood how large the Earth is, how far the Philippines are from Iowa or the size of the Philippines vs. the United States.

Lucas and Eli were talking about what time we normally have supper. Lucas went on to explain to Eli the shape of the Earth, that the sun was coming up in the Philippines, what time it is in the Philippines in relation to here and how big the world had to be in order for us to not see the sun at the same time as their friends in the Philippines. Eli's reaction....."wow, it really is far away, I not know this. Mom. Is this true?" I told him Lucas was right. I wasn't sure what reaction was going to surface but they just looked at each other, shrugged and Lucas said, "that is how you know you are far away, when someone else has night and you have day." Wow, geography class is paying off.

For anyone out there thinking of international adoption and either have a chance to purchase or put on your gift list a world globe is well worth the money and thought. I didn't know it was possible to spin one so many times.

Spelling SUCCESS

Lucas is so proud of himself and accomplishing an A+ on his spelling test this week. He asked if I had told the "computer" about it. It took a little investigation but we figured out he wanted me to post it on the blog.

After a nervous start to the school year he is really starting to like school again. He doesn't do change well and was really attached to last years' teacher. Mrs. Ettleman is his fourth grade teacher and he's discovered she's pretty neat too.

I remember those horrible first day of school butterflies, I wonder if Luke and Eli's are more like first day condors.

Want To Be A Pickle?

This post continues on from the previous one. Once again during this particular meal time with Sydney's boyfriend, Parker, in attendance. Eli and Lucas look at each other. It's the "look" that announces that through some form of weird, silent communication, the two of them have just agreed to something.....you just don't know what.

They both zeroed in on poor Sydney and Parker. Lucas superiorially points and waves his fork at them and announces, "You both get married. (they are seniors in high school it's not in their heads)" Eli announces, "Yes, Parker you will be a Pickle."

I jumped in to try and stop that line of sister humiliation and Parker told them that's not how it works. Eli once again, "WHAT! You no like to be a Pickle. I'M a Pickle, Lucas is a Pickle, we not used to be but now we are, so you be one too, everyone here is a PICKLE!" Well guess we will go back to the "you are adopted, Parker has a last name, it won't change" conversations. Probably need to revisit the whole "we are really sorry Parker, thank you for being so understanding" conversation.

We Apologize to Visitors

It is really, REALLY a good thing that Sydney has a very understanding, tolerant boyfriend. Parker has known Lucas and Eli since they came home....it's a good thing.....because Parker is occasionally at our house during meals.

I've described in the past that our meal time conversations are not for the weak stomachs or those without humor. Sometimes it's like navigating a mine field requiring us to think 3 steps ahead of the ongoing conversation in order to anticipate what road the boys' brains will travel, inevitably ending any appropriate dinner conversation.

We were having a marinated steak dish (never tried recipe before so it looked different). I apologized before they started because I really wasn't sure what the end result was going to be. Parker, being the nice guy he is, said, "Oh, I'm sure it will be good, I'm used to being a guinea pig."

I knew it, I knew it. As soon as it was out of his mouth, Eli did not understand him. Eli's head came flying up and out comes, "WHAT! This GUINEA PIG! ME NO EAT IT!" It took a while to convince him that it was beef. Two pieces later he decided it was "pretty good." But he did in no uncertain terms let me know that he would not EVER eat a guinea pig. That's ok as I probably don't have a recipe for one either.

Things Are Changing

We had a request last night from Lucas which left Mike and I realizing once again how much and how far Lucas and Eli have traveled in nearly 2 years.

When Rachel moved back to college this fall, she moved into her own apartment (good for her...sad for the parents) which in turn left her old room vacant. Lucas came to us last night after supper and wanted to know if he could have his own room. Wham - up side the head - didn't really see that request coming for awhile yet.

Lucas and Eli have shared a room for 10 years. I think the only times they've not been together was when Lucas was in the hospital in the Philippines or the few times of over night stays with friends here in the U.S.

I guess what struck me was Lucas' request wasn't a "Hey! Finally I can have my own room." It was more I really want to try this. So once we talk (we do A LOT of talking) to make sure that it's really a choice he wants and we talk with Rachel (yes she will still have space to come home) we will see about making this move up (or down as the bedroom is downstairs by Sydneys' room).

Did I say how struck dumb I was by this....Eli was too....he's not real sure that this would be a good idea. Not because he wouldn't like his own room but because he realizes that would make him solely responsible for the messes in his room......no one ever said the kid wasn't thinking ahead.

Worry Bug

Sorry for the delay in posting and I will post our mini vacation highlights but since I've had welfare calls from people wondering why the silence, I thought I'd throw in a quick update. Life is busy....bet you knew that.

The worry bug has also come to visit at our house. Lucas and Eli worry about everything. This seems to be the case during the school year. They love school, think their teachers are pretty cool and really love being back with their friends. For some reason this also seems to be when they bring up the Philippines a lot. Constant comparing of everything. School, food, friends, people, rules...pretty much everything.

The latest hard thing.....what happened to my friends in Zamboanga...do they have families? I think Lucas especially has figured out that they were getting to the age where they would no longer be able to stay in the orphanage and would be on their own to make their own ways. We had this difficult discussion with Lucas this summer, he thought that he would live at RSCC until he was old enough to work there. Probably not the case. Thank God he doesn't have to find out. He also realized that he and Eli would have been released at different times. That was really scary for him and us.

Now they both worry for those left behind. So for any of you out there that are thinking, wondering, considering adoption.....it makes a huge difference in your life, in the lives of your potential child(ren) and in the lives of those who have found their families and worry for their friends who wait. Think really hard.

Traveling Pack Rats

Road Trips.  You think that after 25 years of parenting, too many road trips to count and an impressive ability to use "mommy hearing", that I would learn a few things....maybe it's like childbirth....you forget...think I'll go with that because the alternative is old age.

We've embarked upon our Labor Day week-end, the parents have flipped their minds, camping trip.  Our family, with the exclusion of Alison who is graciously house and dog sitting as well as pulling a week-end shift at work and very much thrilled to not be a part of this outdoor experience, have traveled 3 plus hours to a lake area of Iowa.  We've been trying since Memorial Day to plan this trip with two other families and we may finally be pulling it off.

This was not an environmentally friendly road trip.  So far it has involved 2 motorcycles, a four door pickup, a Yukon pulling a 30  foot camper, another pickup fulling a fifth wheel trailer....we've more that helped the fuel industry.  3 campgrounds, 16 people (no pets), 3 bikes, 2 rip sticks and a first aid kit.  Three of us comprise the office staff of our elementary (2 secretaries and the nurse...wonder what happens if we don't come back to work on Tuesday).

We took less stuff with us on our week long summer trip than for this week-end, still can't figure that out. We have an extra boy in our camper tonight and who knew that boys giggle more than girls?  Did you know boys take longer in the bathroom than their sisters ever did?  Did you know that when you put  9, 10 and 11 year old boys in the bunk end of a camper it can produce smells that rival an over ripe potato?  Did you know the promise of early morning fishing can make all 3 boys hit the bed and sleep? 

It promises to be an interesting week-end....wait for the pictures I'm sure we'll have a lot of opportunity and more than a few insane happenings.  Hope you have a great holiday week-end.

Name that Tune

Learning English to speak and understand has to be confusing on a good day. Learning slang, pop culture references puts it into a whole new experience.

This past week Eli has been singing at the top of his lungs, a warm up exercise from school (thank you Mr. Buckner) 1,2,3,4,5,5,4,3,2,1 over and over. He's singing...that's good...he didn't know any songs in Tagalog or English 2 years ago so when he finally started singing 6 months after coming home it was a big deal....still is....just wish the songs were not belted at full throttle and repetitively.

Part of his latest song goes something like this, "willow, willow, racoon!" Over and over. Do you have any idea what this song might actually be? Assuming we can get him to understand that, "yes, those are real English words, just not the right ones." The actual wording...."we will, we will, rock you." (the song from Queen). Someone help us if he ever attempts rap music.

I Ate WHAT!

I have to say that Eli can be frustrating, obsessive, disorganized and pretty much your standard 10 year old boy. He also has the ability to make pretty much anyone laugh. He can make us totally crack up and as usual it comes out of no where. So not only are we laughing like maniacs but we are also amazed at being totally blind sided.....yes even after living with the kid for two years.

Tonight, after witnessing his less than sedate supper consumption....the kid can clear a plate faster than a line backer....we were talking about the different foods he had just inhaled. He kept referring to the chicken....we didn't have chicken...Mike pointed this out....his next guess...turkey?...no but give him credit for a white meat. Mike said those were pork chops. Eli wanted to know what pork was (we have explained this but it never sticks). Mike said, "It comes from pigs."

The utter shock and horror on Eli's face was amazing. He screamed, "I ATE WHAT!" The kid had just devoured 2 pork chops, tomatoes, 3 servings of rice, 3 rolls, corn and now he was worried about what everything was? I think it's safe to say that he loved the pork chops but wished he didn't know where they came from. Don't think we'll be reading Charlotte's Web in the near future.

M...o....m....

Parents everywhere know the feeling of waking up in at 2 a.m. with their child standing beside the bed to wake you up and let you know they are sick.

Lucas is one sick guy. He has a 102.7 fever at 2 a.m. and it took til about 3:30 before we could get any kind of reduction. To accompany all this he has what he calls a hurt head. It takes a lot to stop this kid and he is flat out stopped.

I think I jinxed it. Last week when Alison was so sick, in passing I thought, "You know the boys have really done well since coming home. No major illnesses. None of the illnesses that were constantly reported in the Philippines." Yep. Jinx.

This a.m. he's got a cough that will require a trip to the doctor. He seemed to develop pneumonia easily when he was sick in the Philippines and it's something our doctor wants to stay ahead of. The longer we can keep things from developing in his lungs the more time they have to strengthen. So today is Tylenol, Motrin, cartoons, rest and more rest.

Sadder note yet. While we were working on bringing his fever down, he kept patting my hand and saying, "Thank you, thank you. You take care of me." How sad. How many times was he sick in the orphanage and there wasn't a mom and dad to help. :(

I Don't Like That

This is the latest phrase coming out of Eli's mouth for the past 4 days in regards to food....urghh! Guess we don't have to worry about him feeling comfortable enough to tell us his preferences. He's more than happy to share his opinions on all food related subjects.

If I've managed to fix one meal in 4 days that didn't start with him telling me, "I DON'T LIKE THAT!" I would be amazed. Well tonight I amazed him and said, "Well that's too bad. This is what we are having, you can choose to eat it or you will probably get very hungry." He expressed his views by sitting on the back step pouting. I expressed my superior mother cooking skills and promptly burnt the blasted supper.

We are ordering pizza and I'm getting the kind I like. Very mature parenting of me, I know.

He's Not So Smart

Are you familiar with the saying, "oh boys and their toys". There are many big discussions in our house about toys, their own and other boys'. Then we have discussions on how maligned Lucas and Eli are because they do not have all the toys and "things" their friends have.

The hot "thing" to have....or so Lucas and Eli would have us believe....is a bb gun. Don't panic people...there is no way on this earth or in any future that I govern that these two will acquire this prized object. That doesn't stop them from wishing, asking, talking, begging, whining and complaining. It just isn't going to happen for them, so they live vicariously and somewhat naively (there are not that many of their friends' parents that are crazy) through those friends who have the infamous bb gun.

In the car Eli is once again explaining to Lucas which one of his friends have bb guns and all the fabulous things they do with these fantastic things. He stated that "Tom (name changed to protect the 10 year old bb gun aficionado) has a bb gun. Lucas' response? "WHAT! He should not have bb gun....he's not so smart!" Hmmmm. Well. Sometimes it's really hard not to laugh at inappropriate comments. I'd much rather have them fixated on sports. It doesn't usually involve the embedment of small pieces of copper or miscellaneous metal.

"I Got To Lax First!"

Everyone was up bright and early today. It actually feels like the first day of autumn outside. What do we do when it's not 100 degrees outside? Wash windows. Mike, Lucas and Eli found the ladders and cleaned the outside living room windows for me. Boy! Having guys can be handy!

They came inside to take a break, get a drink and "discuss" the rest of the morning chores. Mike told them to head outside and pick up sticks and the yard so they could start mowing. Eli headed for the door and hollered for Luke to come on.

Lucas' response, "Wait! I got to lax (relax) first!" Actually I think his "lax" version was pretty accurate. It lasted a minute and out he went. Apparently, laxing is a mini version of a break. Either way the yard is getting mowed. After mowing the 2 acres, I bet they need the extended relaxation version.

Reason 297

That is the rough estimate of the number of reasons that Lucas has decided that he would like his own room.

What is his number one reason? His younger brother, Eli. Also known by screams of EEEEE!, Hey!, STOP! EEEEEliiiii! (who knew a 3 letter name could be drawn out so long?)

Tonight Lucas announced that Eli is messy.....umm he must have missed his pile of clothes by his own bed, Eli talks all the time....only when Lucas takes a breath or goes to the restroom and my all time favorite....he needs his own bedroom because Eli keeps him awake by wiggling his tooth. Yep apparently Eli is a roommate, dental terror.

Unfortunately Lucas will not be receiving his own room as his sister has prior dibs on the other bedroom but we can offer him ear plugs to ease the night time squeaks of Eli's wiggly teeth.

As Long As SHE Doesn't Get To!

All things this week have shifted back into school mode. I'm back at work, Rachel's off to college, Sydney, Lucas and Eli have made it through the first few days of school. New schedules, back to school year rules and back to the sibling bickering over who is boss. This bickering also carries over into happenings of the day that someone....(Lucas) may have a slight "he man" attitude towards his sister.

His latest "conflict" is to make sure that if I won't allow him to wield a paint brush in the livingroom that Sydney doesn't get to either. I suppose you may say that testing me while I'm on a ladder with a paint can/half standing on a window sill is probably not going to generate a positive parental moment.

He got the point.

Task Master

In preparation for Sydney's high school graduation next May, I thought I'd take a lesson from past experience and start on those "graduation" chores that we always seem to "think" are a must. I'm really hoping this graduation is less hectic.....Rachel's graduation 2 1/2 years ago saw us in the middle of home studies and psych evals for the boys' adoptions. No stress there.

This week-end saw me painting the living room and hallway. I hated having to do this. Number 1...I am not a good painter, Number 2...I really liked the old paint job, Number 3....I seem to have way more spectators and supervisors than actual help.

Sydney helped out as long as she could before leaving for work, Mike kept the boys occupied with outside chores most of the afternoon....that is until they had to make their million trips inside for water and then to stand with the hands on hips and judge how far I've gotten or not gotten as the case may be.

The last trip Lucas made through the house his statement of my work abilities was, "Hmmm. Not as bad as it looked last time I was in. Keep going you will get better." Gee. Thanks for the encouragement!

"My Friends Know More Than Mom"

Eli has decided that this is the case concerning mom's rule on using sunscreen and his friends decision that he doesn't need it.

Both Eli and Lucas love the community pool. It's been their big deal all summer to go to the pool. Sydney and Rachel have been good sports about taking them in and hanging out. Those knowing the Pickle girls know that generally outside is not their favorite place to be, so thank you to them for "enduring" such trauma so their water loving brothers can have some fun.

Eli informs me that he no longer needs to use sunscreen because one of his enlightened and much more knowledgable 10 year old buddies has decided that because Eli is "brown" that he obviously doesn't need it. Wow. So much ground to cover here.

No. Your friend is not the boss. No. He does not know more than your mother. No. "Brown" people still need to use sun screen. No. Your blonde haired, blue eyed friend will never achieve your level of "brownness". No. You will never be as "white" as he is....even if you roll in sunscreen. Boys and their ideas....grow into men with ideas and mothers, wives and girlfriends who add the dose of reality.

Adoption vs. Just Growing Up

This is a topic that I have a lot of trouble figuring out. What things are adoption related, what are just your average issues with boys and what things are just muddled together. Some days we have more success figuring the puzzle out than others. Some days we all do well just to survive the pre teen years....can we really be entering that phase already?

The biggest problem exists when both adoption and common boy issues collide. Control, need for (but not recognizing it in themselves) independence and then the oh so favorite of parents everywhere....the bull headed, I know more than you and "were you talking to me?" phases.

Can you tell that we are having a lot of growing pains in our household?

I Don't Know This Boy

Eli. He looks like the same son we've known for nearly 2 years. But today I'm not sure I know him at all. Today he announced that he has 3 "wiggled" teeth. That is not the oddity. The oddity came when he dictates that I make him a dentist appointment so "his" guy can give him smelly stuff, he can watch Sponge Bob overhead and have his "guy" take out the 3 wigglers.

Is this the same kid who had to be physically held to have a doctor look at his ears and throat, is it the same kid that we had to go through 3 dentists in order to find THE "GUY" that he now so surprisingly requests to visit? Let's revisit November 2009....you can go back and find my posts. After 5 kids and a gazillion doctor visits, I was pretty sure Eli was the kid who beat me, Mike and our collection of medical professionals as the one least likely to ever welcome a visit to their offices.

Again this conversation happened in the car at 60 miles per hour. I also think Eli secretly wants to know what really happens when I run off the road. He's always looking for a new experience. My new experience is just trying to survive a road trip to the grocery store.

Independence Day

This particular independence day doesn't have anything to do with the 4th of July. We've been working on Lucas and Eli to help them understand that they are two separate people. You'd think that would be a given. Not with two guys, who until 2 years ago, only had each other. Now it seems to be time to establish a little independence, we've worked from day one for this but with time they are a little more able to absorb the need for independence.

Trying to get them to establish their own likes and dislikes, independent thoughts, talents and friends is a challenge. We don't want them to lose the bond they have with one another but to expand it and let them explore who they are, individually. It also helps with their English and behavior...nothing wrong with that.

Today, Mike took Eli with him to work. It was a short day, 20 minutes of work and 4 hours of driving. A lot of father/son time. The kid that came home today was speaking full sentences, polite....to the point of being scary and full of himself (in a good way). Lucas spent the day with Sydney. They went to the pool and had by all reports a fun day with no problems. Again, full sentences and no whining. It's hard for Lucas to stop the worrying and bossing to let go and just be himself.

Now to the outside observer it probably seems like no big deal. To Lucas, Eli and us it's huge. Getting them comfortable to be separated takes advance planning and a lot of good luck. We even managed a big talk about how when they grow up they won't always be living together and that when they have jobs they won't be the same. It sounds simple, it's not. I think twins couldn't be closer and more of one mindset than these two. But for today, independence reigned and they broadened their worlds.

Future Eviction?

Lucas and I were driving in the car today and as usual we were playing the "Lucas asks a million questions and mom tries not to drive off the road answering" game. One of the things we talked about was how many houses have I lived in.

Tonights' road worthy pondering was...."Mom. When your old can I keep your house?" Now I may be getting up there in my years but I do know that he was in deep contemplation, worry mode. He tends to still have that survivalist, plan ahead for contingencies thought process. But he had a very well thought out process as to how we would eventually be old and someone would need to take care of the house....I'm just not sure if he's planning on taking care of his parents or if we will be evicted. He may have to take the good with the bad, house=old folks. I think we will revisit this down the road.

Face Plant

Have you ever been at work and received a call from your daughter in charge of the home front and the conversation begins like this? "Mom. He's okay. His face is okay. He had a wreck. He's okay. Is Bactine okay to put on a face?"

Yep. That was my call this a.m. at work from Sydney. When my heart restarted I was able to find out that he'd gone over the handle bars of his bike into the gravel. The picture shows some of the aftermath. I'm not sure who was more upset, Sydney or Eli. Eli was reassuring her he was alright, she was assuring him it would be okay and then they were both trying to reassure me that his face would look better before the first day of school. Right now he looks like a prize fighter. No, helmets do not help for a full frontal assault on the face.

Once I got a "face to face" with him, he patted my arm and said, "I'm okay. I only cry a little, Sydney fix me but Alison (sister of the RN variety) needs to see me....she know how to fix it." I think he thinks she possesses mystical powers of healing....she probably told him that.

I asked Eli how he managed to only get hurt on his face. His hands, arms, elbows, knees all checked out fine. He proudly explained to his obviously crash knowledge, deficient mother that, "I hang on to handles, I go over the top (handle bars), I hang on, you no let go mom!" Obviously, he was so disgusted with my lack of crash knowledge, he promptly went outside and tried to break up a fight between our dog and a stray cat and got bit. I really mean it people. I'm wrapping him in bubble wrap until school starts next week. I guess he's truly becoming a farm kid with all the milestones, good and bad, that comes with it.

For all of you out there that laughed hysterically when we told you we would be adding boys to our family...saying that I was never going to be able to "handle" the rough, tumble and injuries....I say to you, "I haven't passed out or vomited yet but do at times wonder what is it with the male species?"

Hard Adjustments

It's never easy when one of your kids leave home. While as a parent you are really proud to have your child succeeding in their goals and moving into adulthood, on the other hand you secretly wish they'd stay little forever....well at least the "little" part that was easy...you wish to by pass all the "unpleasant" parts of growing up.

We moved Rachel this week-end into her own apartment off campus. Lucas and Eli helped move her in and participated in unpacking by staying on the couch with their video games. Probably the safest and smartest move for little brothers at a stressful time.

We were all pretty composed until we started the 3 hour trip home. Then the boys started worrying about Rachel. How does she get food? How does she know when to go to bed? How does she know when to get up? How does she know how to get home? When will she be home? Is she ever going to live with us again? Ok. I'm trying to drive a pick up, pulling a trailer and answer questions while not running off the road or turning into a blubbering mess on my own.

Eli is not handling the adjustment to all the changes well. He doesn't trust easily or make attachments without a lot of trust...Rachel (even though he pesters and annoys her as much as he can) is one of his "special" ones. Given a chance I'm pretty sure he'd live in her closet to make sure she's okay in her new place. It may be good to grow up but it sure can stink at times.

Super Groper?

Well I've had my morning laugh before heading in to work. Rachel and the boys were watching Sesame Street this a.m. while I was working in the kitchen. I hear them talking but not really tuned in until I hear Eli holler, "SUPER GROPER!".....repeatedly.

Rachel was trying so hard to control laughing and explain that his name was Grover not Groper. Parents beware. You can not teach English pronunciation to your ELL child by using Grover as a model.....not unless you want to spend a whole lot of time explaining to people :)

Long Day?

Today marks day 1 of 2 very long days at work for me. Registration at an elementary school. For those parents who dread going in to school to fill out that paperwork....the secretaries dread it too.

Parents fill out a lot of forms, hey I'm a parent, I know. I'm also the secretary. I not only handle those disgruntled parents' forms, I also handle 400 other sets of parent forms. It's a long process. It's also long for school secretary families who are sitting home, fixing supper and doing nightly routines.

Tonight I came in just as the boys were headed for bed. They wanted to know, "are you home?" Hmmm I think I live here. "You going to work long time tomorrow too?" Yep, one more day. Then they summarily let me know that they are not in favor of this and that I should stop.....I don't think the school district or our banker would appreciate that......1 more day! Seriously grateful for a job but seriously grateful it's just one more day.

Back to Work I Go

Well this a.m. I am once again off to school. We open registrations up on Tuesday and Wednesday so it will be it's usual hectic pace today.

Rachel will be "watching" the boys today...first day back is usually a long one. As they were all up late last night celebrating Sydney's 18th Birthday...Happy Birthday Syd!......I'm hoping everyone stays asleep longer this morning and gives Rachel a chance to get her feet under her.

It's funny. The longer she's in college, the more of the elementary/special ed teacher I see emerging. She already has "the voice" and it's kind of like listening to a kid when their voice changes. She moves from sister voice to teacher voice in the same sentence. Either way it usually works with the boys....let's hope it keeps working!

Furniture Shopping with Males

What on Earth is the matter with me? Why did I ever think it was ok to take 3 males shopping for new furniture? I'm chocking it up to an ever shrinking time frame and the insanity of one going into her Senior year of high school, one moving into her first apartment, 2 boys bored and impatiently waiting for school to start, my school year starting on Monday and whew!

Rachel is moving into her Junior year of college and her first apartment. Our family room is slowly piling up with her things that are going with her. She's also going to be using our living room furniture thus us needing to replace what is here. Somewhere this summer I lost 2 weeks where I'd planned to find replacements. Now the furniture is going out the door on Saturday and we don't have anything to replace it.

I love to furniture shop...when I can find things that I like.....when I have time to look.....when I'm not dragging 10 and 11 year olds off the displays, making sure they don't touch anything glass and keeping track of Mike who seemed to be falling further and further behind. So what's a woman to do? Leave the store, feed the men and decide to return solo to finish the shopping at a later date...let's see how many days til Saturday?

Sunflower Ranch

We are in the full out, house torn apart, pre opening of school cleaning mode. At lunch today we didn't even have chairs available to sit on as we ate tacos so we did a picnic on the floor....100 plus degrees outside...no way we were eating out there!

Lucas was on his third taco when he announces that he likes the Sunflower Ranch....huh? Ok, maybe it was the cleaning fumes or the exhaustion of keeping 4 kids cleaning in 3 separate areas but I couldn't figure it out. He gets really frustrated when he has to stop to try to make us understand. His English is pretty darn good but sometimes he doesn't refer to things by the correct name.

After trying to explain to Rachel, Sydney, Eli and myself he disgustedly puts his taco down, gets up goes over to the counter and grabs the Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing and points out, "See, I like the Sunflower Ranch sauce!" I said, "Buddy. That's called Hidden Valley Ranch." He looked at the label, sounded out the words and said, "Huh. Whatever. I like it."

On Safari

We took a trip back to Sylvan Lake today. The boys went swimming but decided that swimming in a heated pool was better than a mountain lake...they do like some warm water. Then we went on the great buffalo hunt with no success, we did however find very friendly buros. Eli was satisfied with this discovery and demanded to be returned to the campground to play with his new $1.95 marshmellow gun. Headed back towards Iowa in a.m. bet the back seat riders are asleep before we clear the Black Hills...ahhhh the quiet. Mike says if we'd just let the boys shoot the buros in the mouth with the marshmallow guns they'd have both been satisfied. I don't think I should leave those 3 alone anymore.

Trying to nap on vacation

I tried to take a snooze while the tribe took a bike ride....yep the campground decided to mow around our trailer...no nap and the tribe returned early it made me happy...

No Internet

Our newest campsite doesn't have Internet so our posts are being dictated to Rachel at home to post.

We made it to the Black Hills of South Dakota. It only took us about an hour and a half from our last camp ground to the newest one... Lucas and Eli have talked themselves into enduring another seven hour ride so they were pleasantly surprised!

They haven't decided if this is an okay place or not. Going up is not the favorite thing to do especially as we are climbing into the Black Hills. And are realizing that there are clouds covering the tops of hills so they couldn't see. Eli thought we should stop completely as we drove into the clouds above them.

I made (tried to make) a joke on the way up that we may need them to get out and push the Yukon because it might not pull the camper up the hills. Its too bad no one had a camera ready because as I looked in the rear view mirror I couldn't help but notice the shocked and horrified look on Lucas's face! He said, "Mom. I cannot do that. I will get runned over and smashed! It would roll backwards and be bad." I then asked if he could get out and help slow us down on the downgrade.... "Mom! That would be worse! I get run over! No way!" Smart kid!

We hung out close to the campground most of the day but took a drive up Needle's Highway in the evening. The boys were sure we would drive off the edge and were amazed at the narrow tunnels. I have explained, "Why are the Bad Lands bad?" "Why are there colors in the ground?" "Why are the Black Hills black?" "Why do I have to listen to my sister?" "Why is Mount Rushmore not called South Dakota?" "Why are the roads so twisty?" "Why can't I pester my sister?" "Why is Crazy Horse crazy?" ...... you get the idea.

Lucas's quote for the day was, "Wow! The Yukon say 'I like to shake my booty!" ...... Translation: The road was a little rough.

Next amazing statement came when we were trying to show the boys Birch trees. As soon as I said the word "birch" I knew we were in trouble and waited for the "bad" words to start... Eli said, "That sound like bush!" ... whew!

The pictures are of Sylvan Lake and the view from our campsite.

What Got Into Them?

Tuesday was the day for exploring and hiking the Badlands of South Dakota. I hiked my share but when the quartet of climbers you see below decided that they would climb the "difficult designated" trail, my bad knee and I opted to stay below and take pictures and call 911 if necessary. They all were ready for lunch and water by the time they got back to the bottom.

The photo above is interesting, thought I'd take a shot of it while they climbed...notice how tall that peak is?

Look closely. Do you see two little darker specks appear at the top?

Yep...it's them....no fear and no judgement on anyone's part.

The intrepid climbers are now ready for the Himalayans or at least a bottle of water since it looks like Lucas isn't sharing the one he has.

Mike demands that I say it is not as bad as it looks....yep stick to that story and I'll stick to my photographic proof.

The photo below is Sydney at the top confessing to the camera that it was a bad idea and how very sorry she was for following the misguided and ultimately how smart her mother was to stay below....she also said...."I'm too short to get back down."

A Few More Photos

No children were harmed in the exploration of the Badlands.....we just finally explained to Lucas and Eli that rattlesnakes were like cobras....they're not but it got our point across.

Eli is always 50 feet ahead and walks like he's contemplating the universe....works out well until he gets too close to a cliff....I'd be rich if I had a quarter for everytime I said, "Eli, not so close, get back here!

2 Boys Take on South Dakota and Their Family

Mike, Sydney and myself have survived our first day as chaperons for Lucas and Eli's "Great South Dakota Adventure." They have tolerated us as a necessary encumbrance in order to arrive at their destination. Please keep in mind their own point of reference for the Badlands and Black Hills are the tourism ads on tv.

My first "mom" observation of the trip: Billboards are dangerous. Forget your standard ad placements for restaurants, the interstate across South Dakota is a mecca for kids learning to read English...they read ALL of them including those about reptiles, caves, snakes, cowboys, Mt. Rushmore, mazes.....it goes on forever. Eli spots one billboard that was definitely an oldy (I think I remember it from my trips here as a kid) it was a classic Indians chasing a cowboy and stagecoach....not on the side of today's politically correct line. Eli asked if Indians killed white people....so my wanting to give him both sides, I attempted to explain that yes and white people killed Indians a long time ago. He then asked, "did they kill brown people?" Ok. Then I had to explain that there weren't Filipinos in old west America....yep good luck there. Then to top this conversation off..."Mom. Are there Indians here now?" I must have had some sort of mental issue cause I said, "Yes there is (which there are and no I can't explain the correct terminology to him.) and there are two Filipinos. He hit the end of his seat belt so hard screaming, "WHERE?" I'm surprised he's not bruised. And so that was my revenge for having to explain 400 miles of billboards.

Once we entered the Badlands, where our campground is, the road twists and winds through the first part of the park, throw in a couple sharp turns and a vertical hillside and we hear Lucas chime in from the rear of the Yukon....."Mom! We're going to fall down!" We made it to the bottom in one piece and he didn't ask to get out and walk.

Sydney, having traveled to Manila and back when we brought the boys home, is quite a trouper when it comes to long distance traveling with them. Her only complaint today was after having endured about 120 miles of less than pristine road conditions, announced from her back seat, "I think I'm suffering from Shaken Pickle Syndrome!" She too arrive at the campsite in one piece.

The boys have played on the playground, checked out the pool, played basketball, ridden their bikes, played a board game and are now eating ice cream....yep, we'll never return to normal when we get back. We actually found time to take a hike up into the Badlands this afternoon. Mike and I are ready to fall into bed but the kids are going hard...suppose the ice cream was a mistake?

Ready To Roll?

We head out in the morning at 4:00 a.m. for the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota. Our house/pet sitters are here and are really wishing we'd clear out sooner rather than later. It's been a very loud and messy day packing the camper.

Did I mention that Pickles really aren't outdoors people. We enjoy a good hotel and restaurants but we are broadening our horizons and our pocket books by introducing/forcing ourselves to commune with nature. We've taken a lot of short 2 and 3 day camping trips and one 5 day camping trip about 12 years ago....has it really been that long? I'll have to double check with Pam and Gene to make sure.

While the homestead is being tended, we will try to keep everyone up to date on our "fun" as we go along. Lucas and Eli are very excited about the "mountain with the faces" and still do not believe me when I tell them that there is no inside and no treasure like in the movie National Treasure 2. We're looking forward to watching one of the local Boy Scout troops play taps at the flag lowering ceremony on Thursday night at Mt. Rushmore. Hopefully the weather cooperates...forecasts aren't looking good. Wish us luck!

Transformers on the Road

Mike asked that I put in a short story about a recent road trip with Eli. They were driving down one of our local country roads when they came upon a familiar sight in rural Iowa farm country. Below is a picture of what Eli was positive was a Transformer....not a good Transformer but a Descepticon (I have no clue how to spell that and spell check doesn't recognize it...go ask the nearest person under 16 and they will explain).

Mike once again tried to explain that movies aren't real, no Iowa has not and will most likey not be invaded by either Transformers or Descepticons much to Eli's great disappointment.

No Filter

Little boys and big boys for that matter, do not possess a verbal filter.....or at least not this morning when my little "cherub" of a youngest son grabs my hand and says, "Oooh mom! What happened! You have grandma hands."

Well. Where do I go to buy a mouth filter that goes around his foot which is inserted in his mouth? I have a feeling I'll be needing a steady supply for awhile or at least until I've reached a point where I am so old I am deaf and unable to hear his verbal bashing. According to Eli that will probably be next week. Good thing the kid is so dang cute.

Heart Attack Waiting To Happen

We are starting baseball tournaments this week.....yeah! Not! I absolutely am not a calm sports parent. It is excruciating to watch your kids put it all out there and listen to some of the less than nice comments from spectators.

Don't get me wrong, there are more positive supporters by far but those one or two obnoxious "fans" make it difficult for all the parents and the players when their comments reach the field.

Lucas is playing third base and pitching. Eli plays right field. Wednesday's game ended up as close as you can get and still win. 9 to 10. We had a rough final inning, going from 2 to 10 to the final score. I was pretty sure that my heart was going to explode at the end when Lucas was moved from 3rd to pitcher for the final out. Again, if you didn't catch it....I'm not so good at watching my kid in a difficult situation. He does great, they both do great, now if they could just have training camp for over anxious moms and a sound proof dugout for the obnoxious fans my blood pressure would be much lower thus avoiding that impending heart attack.

Easter Bunny Arrives on a Go Cart

I'm getting a little slow on posting slide shows....it's a lot easier to write. This slide show was from Easter morning when the boys discovered that they Easter Bunny hadn't forgotten to fill their Easter baskets...the go cart wouldn't fit.

Personalize your own free picture slideshow

Break It Up!

With the holiday and days off work for one or more of us in the Pickle house, we are starting to wear on each others' nerves.

You know that affliction where one person breathes and it makes three other people instantly irritated? Yep. We have arrived at that post holiday event. If I had a quarter for every time I told the boys to go play outside or the girls to stop picking on their brothers or the boys to stop pestering their sisters or to just stop, I would have a very nice vacation paid for....of course it would be a solo vacation in a blisfully quiet environment - no not the funny farm!

Don't get me wrong, I don't wish any one of these preciously obnoxious family members to leave, I just want 30 minutes without a dispute.....stop laughing a mom can dream, some days it's all we have.

Happy Independence Day!

We've been celebrating the Fourth of July for three days.....the boys think this is the American holiday that doesn't end. Eli asked me tonight what was next, what are we doing tomorrow....more fireworks? more parade? more party.

I had to say, "Sorry buddy. Tomorrow is July 5th, it's over." He wasn't a fan of that news. I think all the kids (big and little) had a great 4th of July, at least by the degree of tiredness it was a raving success. Hope everyone out there had a good one too!

Bed Check

We have probably some of the most mismatched dogs a family can have. Faye, is a German/Shepard/Huskymix who we chose at the pound. If you know her you also know she's all bluff. She loves to put on the ferocious watch dog for the Fed Ex/UPS guys and gals but she also knows they carry treats for her. She's not dumb.

Our other dog, Walley, is a basset hound, who decided he liked to visit his neighbors and chose to frequent our place so much his owner said, "Keep him, he's there more than home." Walley has the energy level of a moth just before a hard freeze. Movement is not an activity he chooses to participate in. He does, however, believe he weighs 5 pounds instead of 50 and that he is Sydney's lap dog.

These past few days my sister has been staying with us and Eli has let her use his bed for the duration. Hey. This is a huge step for him. His bed is a big deal. He's on the couch, where he's been begging to sleep for a couple weeks. He thinks he's hot stuff.

How do our pets and the musical beds tie together? With the heat index in the 90's at night, the last place a husky mix wants to be is outside. We let her in to sleep. When Faye is inside at night she does what we call "her rounds". Everyone has to be in their bed and she will not stop pacing until everyone is home and down for the count. If the girls are out, she comes and let's us know that we too should be pacing.

The first night she came in and found Eli sleeping on the couch, she tried to make it her mission to wake him up and escort him to bed. I'm not sure what would have happened if she'd found my sister asleep in Eli's bed first. Hopefully she doesn't make midnight rounds.

Big Plip Plops!

Sydney and I went clothes shopping for senior picture outfits on Friday. Let me tell the parents out there that if they've done this particular shopping trip you would so very much appreciate Sydney's shopping.....one store....one hour.....lunch.....shoe store in and out in 20 minutes we were done!


On to the fashion show for Mike, Rachel and the boys....it's mandatory....I shopped, they can sit and adequately ooh and ahh over this successful endeavor and like it. Mike had prepared the boys ahead of time, they immediately sat down and sat quietly (I wonder what the bribe or creative impression he left with them was in order to achieve this?)


Sydney came out with one outfit and the first thing Eli can say..."Sydney those sure are big plip plops. Can I try?" Her answer...."No, not even if you learn to say flip flops...and they aren't plip plops." So much for subjecting brothers to a style show.

Million Dollar Idea?

I'm not sure if this is really a million dollar idea but to a mother of two nail biting sons, I think I'd pay $20.00 for some type of finger nail "caps" so that these two little wood peckers can't reach their nails until they have a chance to grow and heal.

It appears to be nervous/bored/intense situations that bring them to chew away. It's driving me insane (there are truly levels to insanity ~ I've visited several and will probably continue my trek).

I just think that some little rubber sleeves for fingertips, like secretaries use to sort paper, could accomplish a lot towards healing them up. They absolutely, from day one, can not stand to have any type of finger/toe nail showing. Ouch!

Lucas informs us that if they didn't have fingernails in the Philippines that the dirt would not get in them and then they wouldn't have to scrub with the "brush". Well we don't have the "brush" here but that still hasn't convinced them to stop biting! Urgggh!