Fire, ITS A FIRE!!!!!

Boy, this week was pretty interesting! They are truly a product of their father and mother... Before Charles and I had kids, we used to joke, "they are gonna be little genius, wanna be superkids, who have something to say about everything, are not scared of anything, and run on a full tank of energy for 23 out of 24 hours in a day." Well, all I can say is that we got what we bargained for! So, here's the breakdown of the week:

Catalina

So, she's still "into" Tae Kwon Do. Charles has actually been taking her to classes, but because he had to work tonight, I took her. I was watching her and I went through 2 emotions - "How cute!" and "Won't that girl PAY ATTENTION!!!!" My Pastor's son, Joseph, and daughter, Isabella, have tons of patience to deal with her ADD self!! :) With all that said, she loves it, and after just 3 or so weeks, she'll get to the point to where she can practice discipline. She IS the only one in her class that can do a split!!

I do have to admit, I am nervous that she is getting her report card soon. She hasn't been doing that great, especially in Reading, but last time I was so upset that she got mostly S's (the equivalent to C's). When I was a kid, I made STRAIGHT A's - I mean on tests and EVERYTHING - and its frustrating to not see the same thing in your kids. She is unbelievably smart - and I think sometimes my expectations are WAY too high. Its a question of "do you push hard or let things go as they may?"

Something Charles and I were talking about today is how she is beginning to make up songs...about EVERYTHING! The funniest ones are when she sings about her life being unfair because she has to clean her room, or her dad being mean, her mom making her read, you know 7 year old drama stuff. This child wears the drama-queen crown well! However, I do love hearing her in her room, alone, singing about Jesus. THAT makes me smile :)

Branden

Oh, boy, where do I start? So, as some of you know, Branden is like Momma's Cooking Helper. He really shows an interest in cooking, so I let him help. Well, Sunday, he set our microwave on fire!!! Although he knows basically how to use it...he can melt a butter stick (with help) and other stuff. Apparently he got hungry and we were not moving fast enough for him. So, Branden takes it upon himself to take 4 pizza rolls out of the freezer, put them on a plate, and put them in the microwave for about, oh, 20 minutes!!! I was upstairs watching the Saints game (WHO DAT!!!) and although I was congested and sick, I smelled something burning. How in the world did Charles and Catalina not smell it or see the smoke I don't know, but our house was CONSUMED by smoke. So of course we had to air it out and toss the microwave, but we are all, thankfully, okay.

He got his report card this week, and again, mom wasn't satisfied. Do I ask too much? Actually I don't think so. He is the youngest in his class, and to my surprise, one of the top students. The actual grades don't upset me, but the fact that he went down a letter grade on some things does. Maybe its laxidasical parenting. I've slacked off, I'll be honest. So, this "semester" we are going to work on B-funk's writing!

And finally...the Brandenisms. Maybe its just me, but this boy is hilarious!!

• We had just listened to the country song "Redneck Woman." I guess he liked it because after it was over he said, "Mom, put that 'Big Woman's Neck' song back on!" I just about had to stop the car because I couldn't stop laughing.
• As he was trying to "give me a shot" he says, "Trust me, mom, I'm a doctor!" I'm just hoping he loses this line before he hits the teenage years!
• "Dad's are supposed to be mean, mom...that's why they are taller."
• "When you sing, you sound like a beautiful angel...except when you sing in the shower." Gee, thanks, Branden, LOL

That's all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure there's more. One of my favorite things about him, that I was reminded of tonight, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that when he cracks up laughing, he get's hiccups...EVERYTIME!

Anyway, looking forward to another week in the lives of the Stewart Littles! I think of people, including myself, who've had miscarriages and experienced the loss of an unborn child- (I know one friend who's lost 5 kids in less than a year), and all I can do is thank God that I have these two blessings. Thank you God for such wonderful blessings.