Too much Star Wars

Someone has to lose

The things a sister does

Allergies

I think we over medicate dg5 for his allergies. The only way to get it exactly right is to wait until it's too late. What do we do? Medicate what seems like every night. nh and I bicker about it because I don't like it, but in the end what the heck to I know?

Nh delivered cookies tonight to families she visit teaches. The lady's kids really wanted nh to come in so she and wg3 did. They have cats. Wouldn't you know, wg3 is allergic. He looked awful, though he was fully himself. A bath and benadryl helped. Here he is after he improved.

The Power of Television

wg3 routinely gives thanks during family prayers for the electricity to our television. He used to be indifferent to t.v. It would be on and he would just go off and play. Now, he's glued. We try very hard to limit his intake, but I'd say if it's in his prayers it also coded in his root directory. Maybe we should throw the stupid t.v. away.

Nightmares

Two nights ago nh experienced a nightmare.
"How bad could it be," I said?
"You died of a heart attack."
"Oh. Yeah, that's pretty bad." I started working out again today.

Last night dg5 had a nightmare and came into our room.
"Can I sleep in here?"
"Sure," and I set him up on the floor.
At 3:45am I hear screaming, it's dg5.
"What? What is it?"
"I had a bad dream." Sobs.
"I'm sorry. Come here buddy." After a small reprieve, "What did you dream about?"
Every time I touched him he jumped, I mean he was spooked.
"We were in our car and there was a ghost sound in the back and it was coming up to the front."
"Well I'm sorry you're scared."
"Can I sleep there," pointing betwixt his mother and I.
"No, because if you do you're the only one that will get any sleep."
"I don't want to sleep on the floor anymore." He was still jumping if I touched him.
"Okay, little man. I'll sleep on the floor and you take my spot, okay?"
"Yeah. Sure."
"We're not going to make a habit of this little dude."
"Okay."
"Goodnight dg5, I love you."
"Love you Dad."
Hello floor, I hate you.

Fathers and Sons Camp Out 2009

wg3 very much wanted to go this year. I firmly believe his words were designed to cause me as much pain as possible and it was very difficult to leave him. But he's very energetic and I want him were I can see him because of the water, the fire and the snakes. And so dg5 and I went off together with promises of a camp out in 2010 that would include us all. It was all pretty quiet, which is fine with me. But there was one fishing story.

I am trying to teach dg5 to fish. Last year at a stocked fishing event he won a Sponge Bob pole. It was a crappy pole and after only a few hours it gave up the ghost. In the beginning though the water was churning with fish. We had two problems, too much slack in our line and a slow response time to set the hook. Essentially, we were feeding the fish.

My instructions???? "When the bobber drops yank your pole back over your head to set the hook...and don't hit me." When I think about it the don't hit me part is pretty stupid. I just tried to stay close enough to help, but far enough away to have time to duck.

Four other Fathers and their Sons were there a day early with us and while we were fishing and having no luck another Father close by called over to us, "Hey Lydick, do you want to let your son reel this fish in?" After a quick glance at each other we walked their way and dg5 did exactly as he was instructed, the bobber dropped and he yanked. If I had told him there is no need to yank after the hook is set the fish would not have exited the water in a wide arc over everyone's head and landed in the forest. It didn't matter to him, it was just as exciting as anything else.

What is it about boys and fire?

Dg5 cut his finger pulling up Switch Grass and sulked for a little while by the campfire. The smores brough him out of the stupor he was in.

Friends and the lake, does it get better when you're a kid?

It was a cold morning. It might even have been as low as 50 degrees F.

Early in the morning

"I love Father and Son Camp Out"

Soccer Drama

Today we played soccer games that teach the kids skills. During the process kids always get hurt. Apparently it was Dg5's turn. He stepped on the ball to stop it, but in the fray his weight shifted to the foot holding the ball and the momentum cause the ball to roll throwing him to the ground. It was a crappy way to fall and it looked like it hurt.

I observed for a few seconds to assess the severity and sure enough he cried hard. I went over and comforted him for a sec and asked him if he got the wind knocked out of him. "Dad, I think I broke my back." "Okay Son, get up....there now why don't you go over and rest and get a drink." Broke his back. Where do kids get this stuff?

Afterwards I took the time to praise his recovery, for shaking off the pain and getting back in the game.

I worry a little about dg5 though. When I called to him and asked if he wanted to get back in it he said yes and came over. I paid him no special attention because he's like his Mom and that makes his anxiety worse. However, as he joined in the 1 v 1 exercise he froze up, crossed his arms across his chest and put on the I'm really anxious look.

I said, "Do you want to go?" He just shook his head "no."

My solution, act like it was no big deal without missing a step. I mean, what's the other option???? Maybe I could talk him into it, but I didn't because then everyone would be looking at us and I think it would be worse.

After one more round he was good to go and stepped in to battle the field champion. It was a fierce contest and he lost it, but he was good after that. The kid heals like Wolverine.

They Said It

"Dad, I'm not as good as Corey."
"Why do you say that dg5?"
"Cause his dad works with him to get more aggressive." - I'm the coach! How much more involved can you be? He's making great progress by the way.

At the Father-Son Campout
"Dad, you know why I wanted to climb to the top of this mountain?"
"No, why pal?"
"Cause you need the exercise."

Because I haven't been able to spend as much one on one with wg3 he said,
"Dad, when are we gonna do somethin' just you and me?"
"What do you want to do?"
"Go up on Mountain Lemmon."
"Okay, how about next Saturday?"
"Just you and me?"
"Yep."
"Okay, just you and me and Mom and Dg5."
"I thought you wanted just you and I?"
"I do and Mom and dg5."

Because wg3 wakes up with me early I try to say a morning prayer with him. Today, he resisted. "Wg3, what are you doing? I just want to say a prayer."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you're gonna say one of your long ones."
"Okay, I won't."
"Okay, a short one."
"Okay."
Apparently I'm long winded even in prayer.

A child's prayer

dg5, "Dear Heavenly Father, we're thankful for all you've given us. We're thankful for Jesus and that you sent him to do all the work. We know you don't like doing any work. And we're thankful for him. And we hope we all get to live with you again. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

She's a Feisty Sheila

Little Planters

Personal Space

Ever since I've been coaching dg5's soccer team he wants to spend every waking moment doing something with me. I really love it. I know there will be a time when he'll want to be anywhere, but with me.

Yesterday we played Legos, Light Saber Fighting, War, Sorry and watched Prince of Egypt together. In the evening I wanted a little space so when nh wanted to go on a walk I was grateful and stayed behind. It wasn't long and they came home and both boys were on my knees and I was trying to use the computer. It was ridiculous to keep trying. I guess I can wait for the personal space when they stop wanting to hang out in 8 to 10 years. It is a great blessing to be loved so much.

Maybe we'll work on everybody getting quiet time soon.

Dg5 Insights

Dg5's teacher shared her opinion of dg5 after having him in class for awhile now. We pretty much knew it, but she said it well.

Dg5 is a 5 year old who will size up a situation. He has anxiety, trepidation with new situations. On his first day of school he'll walk to the lunch room and while he's trying to decide where to sit the seats will all fill up. He won't know what to do, he'll feel anxious. We agree. I love to have this confirmed from a second source because we can develop strategies to prepare him for it.

He's also very equitable and won't allow others to behave poorly without a word. He very politely tells kids a thing isn't fair, or could you please get off our dirt pile because he knows I don't want people on it. I love this about him. He could clam up, be afraid, shiver, but he doesn't, he addresses it and that takes a certain kind of courage. We'll see what happens the first time a kid clobbers him for not keeping his opinions to himself.

He's a pleaser. He strives to be obedient. He rarely gets in trouble because he knows and respects boundaries. Oh and he's hilarious. I love his sense of humor. I mean it, the kid is funny.

Magic

Off with the training wheels. It's time. Heck, it's past time. He's so big now that when he leans the training wheels actually bend.

So it's time to suit up. I never had pads or a helmet. I have the scars and brain damage to prove it, but today we know better. We can protect them. Only one thing left to do, wrap him in packing bubbles and hope he can pedal wrapped up.

This might be the first big thing for me. He has to go to school in the fall, but in many ways teaching him to ride his bike without training wheels is a symbolic step to independence, to the exhiliration and joy of freedom. The wind in his hair, speed through the power of his own two legs, great speeds, the world whizzing by. I'm familiar with it.

I'll let go, he'll crash. I'll let go, he'll crash. He may want to give up, but he'll go again and when he gets it the feeling will seem like magic. Heck, it will be magic. Maybe letting go isn't so bad.

They said it

wg3 asked tonight if I ever died.

wg3 is preoccupied with his size right now. He wants to be as tall as dg5, but he isn't. As we talked about it tonight for the umpteenth time dg5 said, "He may be small, but he's very important."

I brought home flowers tonight for nh. I explained tonight that pollen is what attracts bees and it also causes allergies in people.
"But we don't eat it."
"No silly, of course we don't."
"But you eat peanut butter." He's allergic to peanut butter. Hmmm, silly me. Kids really do connect the dots.

A Sealing

Two Saturdays past we had the privilege of witnessing a family come together in the Temple to be sealed. This is one year after baptism. A father returned, an eldest son baptized, a few weeks later a mother baptized and after that, the youngest son was baptized. Having remained true to their covenants they made the trip and find themselves now on the highest path a family can take, a path whose destination resides in eternity, the path home.

I loved to be with them in the Temple. The Temple is evidence of Christ's sacrifice, of His Atonement and of His love for us all. The Temple stands as a witness that Heavenly Father sees what we can be, that he expects us to strive to meet the very highest standards, that we are expected to meet the full measure of our creation. I am grateful for the Wilkins. I am grateful for the Temple. I am grateful for my family. Today my joy is full.

Intelligence is the Glory of God

I'm convinced God made so many ants because he knew little boys would annihilate at least half.

Dad, wg3 is President

Yesterday when I came home I had to take a spigot apart and pack it with teflon so it would seal and thereby use all of the plumbing I buried for the sole purpose of watering the garden. nh had the boys and their cousins upstairs and it sounded like they were playing a game.

After the spigot I laid down the laser tubing for the watering of the plants. As I neared completion of the laser tubing task wg3 opened the patio door and cried, "Dad, wg3 is President, wg3 is President."

What is he talking about is what I was thinking, but he was so excited I just shook his hand and heartily congratulated him.

Come to find out he had drawn a card in the game of Life that said he was president. A nice little surprise for a nice little fella!

The Brain is Ticking

I have a song for a ring tone. The song is the theme song to Firefly, a TV series by Joss Wheaton.

Take my love. Take my land. Take me where I cannot stand.
I don't care. I'm still free. You can't take the skies from me.
Take me out to the black, tell them I ain't coming back.
Burn the land, boil the seas, you can't take the skies from me

There's no place I can see, since I found Serenity
You can't take the sky from me.

I sing this song to myself often. I like it.

The other day wg3 says, "That man flys in outer space."
"What man?"
"That man in the song." Hmmmm. That's pretty good insight for a 3 year old I think.

In Vain

Each morning I rise before anyone else. I shower, shave, brush teeth etc... Most mornings wg3 arises, wanders in and keeps me company. He is always eager to hand me my towel, to get the shower door, to pick out my shirt and pants. If dg5 rises, which doesn't happen often these days, they will compete over who can pack my lunch. It's all very interesting if you ask me. I wonder what it all means?

This morning as I dried off wg3 asked me, "What is in vain?"
"What?"
"What does in vain mean?"
"What are you saying?"
"IN VAIN! What does it mean?"
"You mean like, don't take the name of the Lord in vain?"
"Yeah, what does that mean?"

We've been trying to direct his speech down safe paths. Here's hoping.

Not at all manly

I took a basketball to the face tonight. I busted my glasses and cut my nose. Under normal circumstances I may proudly brag about the scars of war, except the game hadn't started yet and I never touched the ball with anything but my face the whole night.

I'm blind withouts me spectacles so I promptly left and found a place that fixed me up free of charge. In the end, I wonder if it's a subconscious way of getting out of exercise. Oh insidious mind!

Helping Hands

Today we glued the capstones on the garden wall. The boys wanted to help. Wg3's hands are just too little for the caulk gun and though we tried our best he soon went on to other pursuits. Then there were two, dg5 and I. Dg5 got better as we went and before long the task was complete.

It's funny how working together fosters close feelings between people. When we were nearly done dg5 said, "I don't know if I should say it or do it." Sweat dripped in my eyes. "Just do it buddy, c'mon." He then pointed to me and crossed his arms over his chest. He tells me this means 'I love you' in sign language.

I don't think he ever expresses the sentiment so earnestly as when we're working side by side.

The book that took seven years

How to Keep Your Family Together When the World is Falling Apart is signed by the author, Dr. Kevin Lehman. My Mother-in-Law gave it to me 7 years ago. I like non-fiction, mostly histories, but I just never started and when I did it was hard to keep going. However, I vowed to read no other books until I finished it and at long last I have.

The plan was always to pass it on to the next kid in the family. Someone that might read it.

It's very practical, with lots of executable ideas. I wonder who in the family might be open to improvement? The ones who are willing probably need it least. Maybe that's why it took me seven years to get to and plow through. I think I'll send it to Aunt SJ. In keeping with my theory, she probably doesn't need it. I guess in the end I'm just going with who might actually read it. I probably wasn't the optimum choice to begin with.

Though I would not plod through it again, I would happily reference it often. I did learn a great deal. I may get a copy of my own to keep on the shelf for just that purpose. Thanks Mom.

Let it Grow

Here I am, happy to help and cheap labor.

Here are the boys planting seeds.
Dg5 went all pirate and said, "Gaaaaarrrrden" for the picture.
He has a wonderful sense of humor.


Here are the boys, happy to help...and cheap labor.

I know Batman and it's Batmen

It's all fun and saving the day until you catch them unawares.