My little/big Logan

Ahhh...there comes a time in every mother's life when their child becomes a challenge. Ok, actually there are MORE times than one, but I guess each time presents itself as worse than the last time. The latest time for me has been the past few weeks with my littl/big man Logan.This is a long post, so read ahead, or skip to the next blog on your list if you must.

I believe it has all started since the kiddo started pre-school. He really likes school, so that isn't the problem. The first few days after he came home from school he was CRAAAAAZY! When I say that, I mean, super hyper, full of energy, bouncing off the walls, silly, goofy crazy. But along with that came the emotions, and the tantrums, and the defiance, and the independent streak. I am really hoping it is a phase, and is simply due to his change of routine now that he has school 3 days a week.

So, after talking to my mom last night and listing all the "events" of the past week with Logan, I decided I better document them.If anyone else has a 4 year old exhibiting any of the same behaviors, please let me know! Any advice will also be appreciated.
Tuesday, Sep.19th, we went to the park for play group. Logan lost it and started crying and clenching his fists and shaking, because he was so mad! I stood there watching him, along with at least 3 other moms, and I was in shock! I had never seen him get like that before, and I didn't know what to do! I finally went over to him to see what the matter was, and he was going on and on saying that Dakota wouldn't obey him. I had to tell him that she didn't have to obey him, and it was ok for her to do what she wanted to do. I told him he needed to calm down right away or else we were going to go home. So he did, and was fine after that. Crazy kid.

Wednesday, Sep.18th, we started our carpooling with Dakota. My friend Hillary picked up and took Logan to school, and I picked him and Dakota up and brought them home. When I showed up to pick the kids up, Logan was upset because he didn't want me to take him home, he wanted Hillary to take him home. Then he threw a fit in the car because I made him sit in his seat, and didn't let him sit in the back by Dakota. Then, he proceeded to try to get out of his buckles while I was driving down the road. Then when we were almost home, he got upset because he wanted Dakota to come over to play. He was having such a fit in the car, and kicking the seat and everything. Once we got home, he calmed down and was fine after a bit.



Thursday, Sep. 19th, we had gone somewhere and when we got home I told Logan I was going upstairs to put Avery down for a nap, and I would be back in a minute. When I came downstairs, I noticed the front door was open and so I went outside to get Logan to come back in. I couldn't find him for a minute, and then looked up the street to see him coming back down the sidewalk with his arms full of mail. He had gotten the mailbox key and went and got the mail all by himself. This was one of those mixed emotion moments. I was really surprised and proud of him that he was big enough to do something like that, but then again a bit concerned since he didn't tell me what he was doing and I didn't know where he was. When he came back, he was sooo excited and proud of himself that he got the mail, so I let him enjoy his moment for a minute, and then explained that I was proud of him for being so big, but that next time he needed to tell me before he did that again.

Friday, Sep. 20th. I picked the kids up from school again today, and this time Dakota got to come home with us afterwards. I had been telling Logan for a day or two that she was coming over after school, so when I picked them up they were both super excited about it. He got in his seat willingly this time, and all was well until I asked what they learned at school. Logan started trying to tell me, but then said he forgot, so I asked Dakota. Once she started to tell me, Logan started yelling and getting so upset because she wasn't supposed to talk, because he was the one who was going to tell it. He kept saying that he was the best. I said Logan, you need to be nice and take turns,and we are all the best.I asked him what he thought he was the best at, and he said he was the best at fighting. I said, we don't fight. And then he told me he was the best at fighting monsters.Anyway, he continued to be super upset in the car, and was having his fit and kicking the seat, and screaming and crying, so I told him that if he didn't calm down and stop right away he would have to go in time out when we got home. He kept it up, so when we got home, I told Dakota she could go outside to play and told Logan he needed to go in time out for 4 minutes before he could go play. He was out of control. I was trying to get him out of the van, and he was kicking and flailing, and scratching me, and trying to grab and hold on to everything he could in an effort to stop me from taking him in the house. I almost felt like I was having an out of body experience, because it seemed so surreal. I was almost laughing because I couldn't believe what was happening, and how he was acting.I managed to get him in the house and after a while, threatened that if he didn't sit in timeout for the 4 minutes, that he would have to go to his room and not play with Dakota at all. He finally calmed down enough to sit in timeout, and after I explained to him why he was in time out, and talked to him about the proper way to behave, he went to play with Dakota and they got along totally fine for the next 2 hours while she was there.


After I took her home, I went upstairs to put Avery down for her nap, and again came back downstairs to an open front door. I went out again and found Logan on his way up the street to the mail box again. I went and got him and made him come home since he didn't tell me he was going, and that was the rule. He actually came home with me willingly, so that was good.

Dinnertime that night, we had a huge issue about eating dinner, which isn't unusual. He always informs me that I made the wrong dinner again. Tony wanted to take the kids to get ice cream after dinner, so we told Logan he had to have one bite of dinner before he could have ice cream. He ended up in his room because of his awful behavior. FINALLY, only after Tony and Avery were in the van and half-way down the driveway, Logan was willing to take one bite, and then we went.Boy what an ordeal!

Saturday, Sep.20. Tony let me sleep in this morning, so when I finally got up, Logan was watching Happy Feet, which he wanted to watch at bedtime the night before, and we told him he could watch it in the morning. After Tony got Avery down for her morning nap, he went out to mow the lawn. I was on the computer trying to plan my menus and make my shopping list so I could go to the store later on. The next thing I know, Logan has gotten his little scissors, gotten a bag of microwave popcorn outof the cupboard, cut the plastic wrapper off, slid a chair over to the microwave, and was aking me if it was the right button to push. Besides, being concerned about him falling off the chair and getting hurt, it was funny to see him being so independent.When Tony came back in from mowing the lawn 1 hour and 45 minutes later, he went up to take a shower. I was just waiting for him to be done before I left for the store. Logan had followed Tony upstairs and I assumed he was playing in his room, or our closet like he sometimes does.When Tony came back downstairs I asked him where Logan was. He told me he was upstairs getting dressed, since he gave himself a bath. What???? Tony said while he was in the shower the water kept going from hot to cold, so when he got out he found Logan in the other bathroom undressed, with his hair wet. Just the middle, front section of his head, but still. Crazy kid!


Sunday, Sep.21, I had to leave a bit earlier than my family for church to run through a song we were performing for ward choir. Church starts at 8:30, and I had to be there at 8:15. As I was pulling out of the garage, Logan came running out to say bye. I told him to hurry back in the house so I didn't run over him, and also to put his shoes on. I was stopped at the stop sign at the top of the cul-de-sac, when I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw Logan running up the street after me. I turned the car around and drove up to him and told him to hurry and get back to the house, since he didn't have shoes on and he didn't obey me when I told him to get in the house. I drove along side him while he was running down the sidewalk, and then of course he biffed it. He was crying and yelling at me because I told him to run, and I was upset since he wouldn't have gotten hurt if he had obeyed me in the first place. I got out of the car and picked him up off the sidewalk and put him on my lap in the car to drive him the rest of the way home...all of a distance of maybe two houses, so don't be appalled.I took him in the house for Tony to take care of, and then hurried off to church.When Tony got to church with the kids, Logan was all whining about his scraped up elbow, and proceeded to do so almost the entire Sacrament meeting. Except when he was suddenly well enough to escape out of the row and make Tony chase him up and down the aisle. I eventually had to take Avery out since she managed to bonk her chin on the end of the pew while trying to also escape out of the row, and was screaming like a wild banshee. I walked out of the chapel and really felt like I wanted to give away my kids. They were behaving so horribly! Don't even ask me what the talks were about. I think one of them mentioned something about food storage?

We have also been having issues with Logan staying in bed at night, as well as waking up in the middle of the night, but I am willing and able to deal with that issue. It's the fits and tantrums I need to nip in the bud, FAST! It was kind of funny. When he was in time out after pre-school, and I asked him if he knew why he was in time out, the first thing he said was because Dakota wasn't obeying him. After I explained that wasn't the problem, he told me it was because he was "fitting". I thought that was funny.

Before I end this very lengthy post, I feel like I better tell a positive Logan moment, since there are really more of those than the negative ones. A funny one that sticks out in my head was something he said to me the other night when I was laying by him at bedtime. He leaned over close to me and said "Mommy, your hair looks good." It was super cute, and very sweet.I do love that kid!

I am dough challenged

Ok, seriously. I have issues. I cannot make anything with dough. It does not work well for me, so I try to avoid it. I rarely ever make bread from scratch. I hate making sugar cookies that you have to roll out the dough. I never make pie crusts from scratch.There is just something about me that dough doesn't like.

I came across a recipe from buttermilk rolls the other day and decided I would go for it. Well, the recipe called for an intial 3 cups of flour, and then another 5 cups later. I think I ended up adding at least 7 cups, so two extra cups and the dough was still sticky.In the end I managed to make them, and they turned out fine, but it was a mess.

So, I came across another recipe that sounded good to try, and thought I would make them for Tony's seminary class. Cinnamon Rolls. Dough s a requirement in these as well. I must be feeling brave. I am in the process of making them this afternoon, and lo and behold...sticky dough AGAIN! And I think I added almost another 2 cups of flour as well. It is currently rising, so I will see what happens when I go to roll it out. Yikes.

I need help. Any tips? Suggestions? It can't be that hard...is it?

Allergies

Oh, to all of you out there in the land of allergies, I have joined the club. I have been absolutely miserable for about the past month! I have never in my life had allergies before, and apparently have developed them this year. Nice. Everyone says that Kansas is horrible for allergies, and I guess the longer you live here, the more likely you are to get them. Maybe I should move....

Anyway, I went to the doctor today and was given the official diagnosis, so it is real.

I am going to try out a sample over the next few days that the doctor gave me of an allergy medication, and hopefully it will work. I have tried generic Claritin and it doesn't seem to be helping.This better help. My poor nose is raw.

So, to all of you out there in allergy land, I would love any help, tips, suggestions, remedies, etc. that work for you. I guess I am allergic to ragweed.

Sniffles and sneezes,

Me

Big Week for Logan

Well, last week marked a BIG change in Logan's little life. He started pre-school AND soccer, all in the same week! He started school on the Wednesday after Labor Day, and soccer the following Saturday. He was soooo excited to go to school. He was so good in the morning, and got dressed and made his bed all by himself and was ready to go. Tony came home from seminary before going to work so he could be home for Logan's first morning of school. We all ate breakfast together. Logan chose "crunchy crunch" (aka Captain Crunch, or other generic form of the same cereal)for his favorite breakfast. Of course, his first day of school was cold and rainy, so we had to change his clothes from shorts and sandals, to jeans and tennis shoes. The silly kid would only pose silly for me, so this is what you get. He loved his first day of school. I think he was a bit reserved and spent the day observing a lot of what was going on. When I got there to pick him up, he was the only kid left sitting at the table eating his snack. It was someone's birthday, so they brought cupcakes. Anyway...he loves school and is so excited to go every day now! I can't believe how big he has gotten! He has a class with about 20 kids and 2 teachers. It will be good for him to meet some new kids...especially boys! It seems like since we moved here, all the little kids his age are girls! Hopefully he will make some good new boy friends at school. For dinner, I let him choose his favorite meal, since it was his "special" day. He chose mac and cheese, and edamame. My kids LOVE that stuff! I made brownies for dessert. Logan even got to eat his dinner on the "red" plate!We had one growing up, and I got one at the beginning of the year for Tony's birthday so we could start using it in our family, and I have forgotten about it until now!It was a great day!


And here is a picture of Avery in her pretty bib from Aunt Jody!I have to brag, but it's my blog so, I can. I just think she looks so pretty in this picture!


Saturday we made our way to the soccer field. It was INSANE!!!!!!! We had no other instructions other than show up at "this" park at your designated time. We arrive, and the parking lot is a zoo, and there are probably about 10 fields, and we have NO idea which one we are supposed to be at! we wandered around and finally found someone who pointed us in the right direction. We should have thought to look for the tiny goals! We are so clueless! We went up to the coach, who looked like he was in college, and the coach gave Logan his T-shirt and his very own very own ball. He wrote Logan's name on it with a sharpie, adn then told Logan to go kick the ball around until he came out to give them directions. I elft Logan on the field to go sit down in our chairs with Tony and Avery. It was so fun to watch Logan! I was so proud of him that he seemed to know what to do fairly well...especially since we haven't really taught him anything. He kept stopping to check his ball to make sure it was still his, and that was pretty funny. He did a great job for his first time, and he will onyl get better. I am glad we chose to put him in soccer. Check out some of the action first-hand!