My little criminal

Spirit got sent to the principal's office yesterday. *sigh* He claims a kid kept punching him in the lunch line so he turned around and said "If you don't stop I will bring a knife tomorrow!" A little girl behind them in line went and told a teacher.
Now this isn't the first time we have had this issue. When Spirit was in 1st grade he accidentally brought his pocket knife that his uncle gave him for Christmas and a little girl saw it and told the teacher. Mr. Man had to go to the school to pick up the knife from the principal. The principal said to Mr. Man "I need you to tell me that he didn't mean to do this." Mr. Man said "I can't say that because I have NO idea why he brought it." So the principal said "Just tell me he didn't mean to." So Mr. Man said "ok. he didn't mean to." She then said "Thank you. If you don't tell me that, by law I have to put this incident on his criminal record." 

So here we are again, this time I feel it is different. The first time I don't think he meant to take it to school. This time he got so angry (which is what I can't  understand) and threatened such violence. I asked him if he thought he'd really bring one and he hesitatingly said "no."

There was a teacher who saw what happened and her story doesn't make Spirit's at all. She says the kids were pushing each other and rough housing when the kid behind him fell and shoved into Spirit. She says Spirit turned around and immediately said he would bring a knife. 

Mr. Man and I tried and tried to understand him last night. Has this kid bothered him before? Are other kids picking on him? Why did he get so angry? He doesn't have any answers for any of it. I don't understand.

I think there needs to be a consequence for saying that and being sent to the principal's office, but at the same time I have no idea how to punish this. He can't say things like that and get that angry. The principal made him call his dad from her office so she told Mr. Man that she felt that was enough punishment right there. But, I am not so sure.

Some days parenting really bites.

This n that...

Mr. Man has been on vacation for 11 days and today he goes back to work. He gave himself a long to-do list that he wanted to get accomplished over the week. I think he put a small dent in his to-do list,  but got a lot done. (his to-do list was entirely too long for an 11 day vacation!)

He painted my family room (need to find a camera so I can take some pictures) - it looks so beautiful! I chose the color and then as soon as he started painting I was worried I chose too dark of a color, but once it was all done I was in love! It looks wonderful! We also rearranged the furniture and added a desk down there. I will get pictures (one way or another) and post them here as soon as I can.

He also refinished a desk that has been out in my garage for ages, this is the one we moved into the family room. This is supposed to be MY desk, we'll see how long it takes for my kids to move in!

The kids were out of school Friday so they went to our friends house and picked apples! They had a great time! I've made apple bread and apple muffins! It made the house smell SO wonderful this weekend - very fall-like!

I love all seasons as they come (and go), but I have to admit that fall is my very favorite season of them all! I love the weather, the changing colors in the trees, the holidays it brings, the fact that I can snuggle inside my house on a cold evening and craft to my hearts content, all the baking I can do and not heat up the house, the homemade soups I get to make and on and on and on! I just plain LOVE fall!

I am off to have a pumpkin spice latte.... another fabulous thing about Fall! 

Friday Recipe - Fudgy Filled S'More Brownies

These brownies are so yummy and fairly easy to throw together (if you have read many of my recipes you know I am all about EASY!) We took some of these to the kids teachers and every one of them said these were amazing!

Fudgy Filled S'More Brownies
INGREDIENTS:
1 box brownie mix (and the ingredients called for on the box)
4-5 graham crackers
2-3 Hershey chocolate bars
12-15 big marshmallows

Line a 9x9 baking pan with foil. Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.

Mix brownies according to package. Pour half the batter in the lined baking pan.

Place graham crackers in a single layer over the brownie batter.

Top the graham crackers with chocolate bars.

Place marshmallows on top of chocolate bars.

Pour remaining batter over top of marshmallows.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Because of all the melted chocolate bars, these won't test "done" as normal so just stick a toothpick in the center and if it comes out mostly clean then the brownies are done.

Let these cool completely (otherwise they are impossible to cut!) - like several hours of cooling! The chocolate stays a tad gooey, even after cooling, making these so divine! Grab a glass of cold milk and wolf down one (or two!)

**NOTE: May substitute chocolate bars with peanut butter cups instead.

Book Review - The King's Christmas List

When I read the book's back cover I thought this would be a perfect book to teach kids the importance of Christmas. Here is what the back cover reads:

Emma couldn’t wait to go to the King’s birthday party, but what should she bring? Emma and her little dog

Shu-Shu were thrilled to be invited to the King’s birthday party. But what do you get a King for his birthday? 

Emma and Shu-Shu have no gift, but they bring the Christmas cake they made with Mom and put 

on their Sunday best as they dash to the King’s carriage. And of course, 

Emma couldn’t go anywhere without her beloved Cherry-Bear. 

On the way, they have encounters that lead them to bestow their cake, winter-cape, 

and even Cherry-Bear, on others. Now they’re chilly, rumpled, and empty-handed—

what will the King think? Emma frets, but when they finally meet the King at his palace, 

they discover they gave the King exactly what he wanted.

Children and parents will be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas, 

and that the greatest gifts we can offer to the Savior are gifts to the least of his 

brothers and sisters (based on Matthew 25:40). 

Families will be able to go online and be directed to notable charities to give their own gift to the King.

After reading the book to my kids, ages 9, 8 and 5, I felt like maybe the "lesson" or "moral" of the story was a bit over my 5 year old's head and my 8 year old only got it after I did some explaining. My 9 year old completely understood the message in the book and he is even talking about what we can do this Christmas to help those less fortunate. But, the book is written for children 4-8 and my 5 and 8 year old didn't completely get the message. Emma and her dog travel to a different world, or dimension which I found a little hard to explain to the younger kids. My 5 year old asked several questions during the reading that clearly told me she was confused, she was confused about why the dog said he couldn't talk but he is was talking and why they went to a different place that Emma didn't know. This was a great book for my 9 year old though.

I absolutely adored the illustrations in this book. There were times I caught myself not reading, but admiring the pictures instead. My 5 year old daughter thoroughly enjoyed the pictures and I felt like she "connected" with Emma (the main character of the book).

I will be honest, I found the last lines of the book and the last pages of the book a bit over the top pushing little kids into talking to their parents about joining World Vision and donating money to this cause. I am all for helping, but I find it offensive when an organization uses my innocent kids into pushing me into something.

Weekend recap

My husband has asked me to visit with a doctor - wanna know why? Welllllllll, we signed up to walk in the Alzheimers Memory Walk for this past Saturday morning. I proceeded to also schedule a hair and eye appointment for Saturday. When Mr. Man reminded me that we were committed to the walk already I called the eye doctor first. THAT was when I realized the humor in it. I explained to the receptionist that I had forgotten all about the charity walk for Alzheimers I was scheduled to walk in. The receptionist laughed. It took me back for a brief moment and then I realized what I had said! We both laughed!

Anyway, Saturday's weather was perfect for a 5k. We all walked together as a family and I thought for sure little Lady Bug wouldn't make it the full way on her own. but she only asked to be carried the last little bit. We had a great time!

Mr. Man and the boys spent the afternoon refinishing an old oak desk. We have had it in the garage in pieces for years (probably 4 years) and finally they got to work on it. I am so excited because it will be MY desk. I can do with it what I want. I can decorate it how I want. I can leave it a mess if I want or clean it if I want! I am SO excited to get my own space again!

Yesterday Mr. Man and I went to the season opening game for the Denver Broncos! I had a ton of fun, but it was so hot! 91 degrees! Ick! Can't wait until he invites me to another game!

I promised Lady Bug we would make cookies for her teacher so at 8:30 last night I made "Fudge Filled S'more Brownies" - they are the BOMB (I know because I had one for breakfast!)-- but I had a hard time packaging them up for Lady Bug to take with her to school - hopefully they made it ok. The fudge was oozing out the sides a little bit

Friday Recipe - Honey Butter

I like to serve honey butter with cornbread, but it works on regular rolls too. Every now and then I make a cinnamon honey butter version which is good on rolls too!

Honey Butter
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 c butter, at room temperature (let it sit out for 30 minutes or so)
1/4 c honey

Mix together butter and honey in a small bowl. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.

**For Cinnamon Honey Butter:
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 c butter, at room temperature
1/4 c honey
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
dash of salt

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.

Book Review - Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

I absolutely loved this book! I always enjoy reading Max Lucado books anyway, but this one hit home for me in a big way. I have been thinking a lot lately about what kind of legacy will I leave behind when I die? Will people remember me for anything that I did? At this point I haven't done a whole lot.

This book is a big reminder of what kinds of people God used in the Bible - they weren't the smartest or richest, but the "average Joe" just like me. Max Lucado forces you to look at situations and encourages you to do something. The end of the book has some discussion questions and some "Ideas for Action" that are little things to get you to ACT and make some changes, for instance Chapter 14s "Ideas for Action":
                     *Make a new rule for the next two months: No one sits alone. When you enter any room, resist the urge to sit where you always sit and with the people you always join. 

He encourages you to scan the room and look for someone sitting alone and choose to sit with them. This is really out of my comfort zone, but I will definitely be trying this out. I know I always appreciate it when someone sits by me and I am all alone.

This was a great read and easy to read. I plan to re-read it and then take my action steps!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com, a book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”