more mommy musings

Peter -

Just a few thoughts about Peter today.
He spoke in sacrament meeting.  He looked so sharp in a gray linen sport coat, black slacks, and UTE tie and he did such a nice job.  He was so composed.  He spoke clearly and from the heart.  Sharing a message about keeping the commandments makes us happy.  It was short and sweet but especially sweet.  It was so special to experience that.  (ps. I might be prejudiced but James blessed the sacrament water and I'm sure he spoke the words more clearly and smoothly than any of the other priests. )

with his amazing teacher, Mike Leavitt

Some other Peter positives -

*He is going to graduate.  At least as long as he passes all his classes.  It's been hard for Peter to get all of his credits, partially due to the fact that when taking Seminary as release time, it gives you negative credits.  So he gave up a half year of lunch so that he could have enough credits and still take seminary.

*He is still willing to be forced to play piano.  We told him he can quit when he graduates.  He has such lovely long fingers and plays with feeling.  His repertoire includes many Star Wars numbers, Coldplay, Lord of the Rings, and now Jurassic Park.   We do wish he would learn songs in a little quicker time than 6 months but once he has them, watch out! I offered Peter a car if he learned every hymn in the hymn book in a year.  He said the car has to be a Camaro (aka. Bumble Bee Transformer).  And although he was willing to accept an older model Camaro, there was no deal struck :)

*He got his drivers permit.  Challenging as this is for any teenager, one on the autistic spectrum finds it especially difficult.  The first time he tried it, much closer to age 16, he didn't pass, as happens to many teenagers, but it really hurt his confidence.  He did great this time, and is now on the journey to driving independence.  I'm working on getting him all the way to laundry independence!  

Why we have a cat (there is much more than pet advice here)

99% of the population wouldn't even consider having a cat.  Not sure why this is.  When I was growing up we always had a cat or cats.  We adored having cats.  But I, as with the rest of the afore said population, has no desire to have one.

But . . .

James does desire to have one.  And that is why we now have an adorable little kitten, soon to be less than desirable adult cat.

So you are thinking, you have a cat because your kids are spoiled.  NO!  okay a little, but not really.
We have a cat because James is 16 and in a few moments he will be 17, then 18, then grown up.  And gone.

This reality at times is more than I can bear, which is so ironic because much of the time I can't bear raising these teenage boys.  They try me to limits I don't seem to endure very well.  But this is my life.  My miserably joyous life.  Mother of Peter, James, and Seth.  The most precious humans.  And I'm not ready for them to grow up all the way.
So time is short, together, with my boys in my home every day.  James has always wanted a kitty.

The other ironic part.  When he is gone I am stuck with a cat .  Oh dear.

p.s. We also got the cat so that our dog (who we got because Seth couldn't live without out a dog, and yes every family should have a dog even though you will regret it as much as you love it, but people you only live once and it's not supposed to be that convenient.  Get your kids a pet for heaven sake! We have 4 kinds right now.  2 Rats [long and somewhat similar story], 2 fish, who are the apples' of Peters eye and change names from Steve to Keith on a regular basis, 1 dog, Levi, and 1 kitten, Tobias aka Toby. )  could have a friend.  And its working.  Levi and Toby seem to be becoming friends.  Yay!

A sign of maturity

A SURE SIGN OF MATURITY - When your 14 year old doesn't pitch a fit, start an argument, or a debate about the effectiveness, but just simply uses the allergy nasal spray - without hesitation!!!!

This is a huge feat since a year or two ago the nasal spray was neglected and all of the above; fit pitching, arguing and debating, is what happened and instead of spray reaching those nostrils.
It seems a random act to notice but when you live with the worlds most determined (nice twist on stubborn) person, you notice these little things, and you welcome them.  Not because they are a "told you so" moment.  I'm truly not 100% sure that this kind of spray will ease his allergies.  You notice these moments because you are grateful for them.  When you are an over-nurturing/worrying mom, you appreciate the respite from worrying about your sons runny nose.  You are grateful for these little moments because you see that he is realizing he can take good care of himself.  And you are grateful you see a boy becoming a young man, and he is quite a wonderful, almost sensible, beautiful young man. 

Now the fact that you caught him, on your way home from the gym, walking to the bus stop with a granola bar breakfast behind him and a bag of Doritos ahead of him for lunch, you are also grateful that you can be there to nurture a little longer.  So home we went, added some protein to that breakfast, added some nutrients to that lunch, and drove him to the bus where he almost missed it because he and I had so much to say to each other.  I'm glad he is still my little boy in a few ways too. 

some serious soccer

This boy, is splendid at soccer.
Still slight, Seth plays with an intensity that draws others attention.
He plays defense and he plays it extremely well.
This fall has been double soccer since he is playing on the Jr. High team and his competitive league.
Seth is a starter for both and whenever he is out, the defense suffers.
I personally have a love/hate relationship with sports. 
They can be painful and heartbreaking.
But the extreme delight in watching your child work so hard, and truly excel at something is worth the risk.

Love that #51

the little pleasures - Easter

This was the purpose of this blog to begin with.  To catch the simple pleasures along the way.  To find happy moments with challenging teenagers.  Sometimes it takes me a while to find one, most the time things are status quo around here, good, everyone happy, but boys who tease and challenge each other every bit as much as they support and enjoy each other.

But this week was easy.

Formula -
Easter + cousins = happy!

My brother Joseph, his lovely wife Erin, and their 4 awesome kids, came to share their Easter break with us.
We played: at parks, bounce places, golf courses, and movie theaters.
We ate: Belgian waffles, subs, a gigantic pizza, Bahama Bucks (a must do in AZ), Del Taco, and lots of Easter Candy!
We worshipped: at the Mesa Temple Easter pageant, in an Easter Eve devotional, and in church.

But dearest to me are the little moments when my boys are loving the little moments with their cousins.
Peter wowing them in Super Smash Brothers, James entertaining and educating (in music or other teenage arts) Isaac, almost 9 and Max, 7, Seth teaching them knife throwing, or just visiting with Annalyn, almost 12. 
Each of them was completely wowed by Kayla, the two year-old baby doll that wraps anyone and everyone around her tiny little finger. James and Seth would willing take a turn watching her outside on the trampoline or dipping her feet in the pool.   Even now that the cousins are gone the boys reminisce about the fun and funny times when Max would laugh, or Kayla would talk baby talk.

Dave and I loved every second with our dear family, even though Joseph and I butt heads.  Erin and I can't ever get enough time together. 

I love so much that our boys value that time with their family and don't hide away a teenage recluses.  Sure attitude comes and goes (we swore Seth and Annalyn were poured from the same teenage grumpy mode) but we now only remember all the happy moments from this past week.

please play on

James is good at the guitar.  He has been taking lessons for about 2 years and he is really good at it.  He can do some pretty "sweet" stuff on that first guitar we bought him.
One exciting development is that he plays it without being commanded to practice.  He plays it to pass the time.  He plays it for the sheer pleasure of it.
Having him bring me into his room to listen to his latest accomplishment, is a treat.

A sweet treat, to both the ears and heart of a Mom.

boys to men - volume 6 - Pimples

This isn't a lesson as much as it is a warning.

Be prepared for detailed synopsis of pimple popping triumphs.

I don't know if this will be true of all teenage boys but it is true of mine.

Regardless of the many times I have sweetly asked them to refrain from sharing their pimple adventures with me, they have not honored my request.

The satisfaction of a pimple popped drives them to disregard my distaste.  I have heard many a story. 

Be Warned.