Best Friend Interviews by a 10 Year Old

I picked up Ashlynn today and she announced, " I decided to hold interviews for a new best friend, since Sibel is mad at me. (Old Best Friend). Wanna hear my interview questions?"

"Sure, "I replied....

1. What is your favorite color?

2. Do you have any pets?

3. How many friends do you have?

a) a lot

b)a little

c)none

4. If you were mad at a friend what would you do?

a)Try to address the problem

b) Ignore them

c) Tell them why you're mad and address it

d) Tell other people their secrets

5. If a friend was mad at you would you...

a) Ask them why they're mad and fix it

b) Act like you don't care

c) Nothing

6. Tell me what YOU'RE looking for in a friend....

So, she's conducted one interview so far...and when I asked how it went?

"Well, it went really well. I really am considering her for my new best friend!"


Oh....man. I think if we adults were this brave in finding friends, there would be lots less heartache in the world. What do you think??

Precocious? You decide!

This video was taken during a family gathering this past Christmas. Have fun watching....and hopefully commenting!

It's SNOWING!

I love blogging with my mobile phone...especially since I've really deemed myself a "multimedia blogger"...I'd much rather tell the story I have to tell in pictures and videos. Aren't pictures worth a 1000 words??

Today, I posted two images from my mobile phone on my way to different schools as part of my job. I noted the temperature each and every trip...and there were quite a few of them today.

6:30 AM - 39 degrees

8:30 AM - 34 degrees

10:15 AM - 36 degrees

11:30 AM - 37 degrees where it stayed for quite a long time...

4:30 PM - I went outside to go home with Ashlynn in tow, and she began screaming..."it's SNOWING!!!" over and over and over.

As we got in the car, and took the picture of the flakes on the windshield, we talked about the fact that the temperature was not cold enough to make the snow stay...and that we would need the numbers on the thermometer to be at least 32 degrees...

All the way home as the temperature gauge in the car would decrease a degree,  ( we started at 41 degrees from sitting in the parking lot which was not an accurate read) Ashlynn would let out a little whoop and holler. When we drove up into the driveway it hovered at 34.

What will tomorrow hold??? It was only 4 years ago...remember??? Will we get to have a SNOW DAY???

http://www.themccubbinfamily.com/gallery2.htm

Chew, Chewing,Chewed

OK...it's been a long time since I've had a chewer like Coco. She's been mighty particular up until now...it started with her stealing whatever was on the counter that smelled like food, resembled food, or was food, and her treasure off the counter goes right outside, is ripped, torn, and the edible part devoured. The backyard sometimes resembles a neglected roadside ditch....peices of paper, dishes and cans strewn about carelessly. The neighbors really must think the kids have a problem with littering. Yes, they are very impulsive and sometimes lazy, but at least I can reason with them about where they discard their trash.

Other times when the kitchen is clean, and there's nothing to be stolen, electrical cords satisfy her stealing and chewing needs. Not electrical cords plugged into the wall, mind you, but those expensive, sometimes irreplaceable cords that go to things like the Wii controllers, or your hastily discarded cell phone charger....

Last night, as I was just finishing putting kids to bed and was completing my light extinguishing circuit, I discovered her new passion, as my feet collided with the hard plastic Barbie body parts on the stairs. However, I didn't find  whole body parts, but hard, sharp plastic pieces that resembled a chewed and discarded wad of gum....many wads of gum...many sharp wads of gum left lovingly on the top three stairs leading to the bedrooms. From experience, I can tell you that chewed Barbie legs and my bare feet created just enough rucus to make several kids come scampering out of there just created cocoons.

I know Labs are infamous for food obsessions...and so I kind of deal with her impulsivity when it comes to sweet cornbread and butter. However, I'm kind of at a loss as to how to keep her from scattering pencil parts, black electrical "doggie licorice", and now Barbie body parts about the house.

I would say that I've looked it up on the Internet, Hey Wait!! Maybe the skunk remedies will do!!.. Seriously, if you've got a suggestion or two...toss it my way before all the Barbies end up with one less limb (or worse).

Trick or Treat

Our Skunkitty gifted us with 8 lovely kittens a week before Ike. The only positive thing I can say this time is that she really picked a beautiful donor. Six of the kittens are very Siamese with blue eyes. The other two look like her...long haired black..but this time the tip of each tail has a spash of white. :)

We're opening the kitty adoption agency this week! Reserve yours today!

Kylee's Cartoon

Christmas with Santa

Family Moments we Won't Forget

This weekend at the beach house we had one of those priceless moments...one just made for learning.. Take a look at the video we created from our experience.

If you're trying to view this video where YouTube is blocked, click here.

Let me Inform You

What's it like to have children that don't conform to society's expectations? Let me say that it's very hard. Not just on us as parents, but it affects every family member in some way. I've decided that sometimes, to let the pressure off the kids, people who are less understanding, need a little bit of understanding "help". Not all children are perfect.

Have you heard of Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory? He lists 7 different ways you can be gifted. But I think he'd might discover more ways of giftedness if he studied my five adopted children, on any given day. The trouble here is that the ways my children are "gifted" are not ways that society understands.

So...let me inform you. If you see my children out in public, and I hand you a card..accept it gracefully, read it...and internalize that my children are doing the very best they can.

Left at the Park

Remember when you were little, and you were misbehaving in the car? What was the standard threat? "If you don't behave, I'm going to make you get out and walk!"

Well, yesterday at the park, I decided to attempt the opposite of this punishment. It's called "If you don't get IN the car, I'm going to leave you here!"

My 8 year old son was being rather belligerent yesterday while at the park, and would not accompany me to the car when it was time to leave. I yelled after him, " If you don't get in the car, I'm going to leave you...!!" Didn't seem to phase him at all. He remained on the swing, sitting ever so nonchalantly. The rest of us got in, and I started the car. He did not move. So...I drove away, down the block. He did not move.....until I rounded the corner and was out of sight. By the time I had gone past two houses, and then proceeded to turn around in the driveway to head back to the park, as I turned the corner to gain visual eyesight with the park, here I see my tough as nails little boy, who in the seconds it took me to turn my car around, had sprinted all the way across the park and was already across the street, obviously running after my car.

He was visably upset...and completely winded. When I asked him what he was going to do the next time, he grumbled..."I guess I'll get in the car!".

I remember the time my parents made me get out and walk...and I think he'll remember this too. So are we both scarred for life? No, I don't think so, but this experience went along way in proving that from a kid's perspective, you never know what your parents are going to do!

A Car Full of Kids

My husband purchased tickets to Cirque du Soliel's Sunday matinee performance for my birthday. This meant that we needed to leave our beach house no later than 9:30 Sunday morning in order to make the 1:00 pm curtain call. Sounds easy right? Not if you're me.

Getting pulled over by a sheriff really puts a damper on plans! I was traveling on a deserted road I always use that takes me to I-10 towards home. I was innocently following the police car for several miles, when he suddenly decided to move over to the right lane so I would pass him. I did. He then put on his lights and I was forced to stop in the middle of nowhere. He got out of the car and walked up to my window. Said nothing...just stood there. Finally I said..."Did I do something wrong?"

He said..."No... not really. I saw you weaving across the center line...and that was why I pulled you over."

I said to the deputy..."If I was weaving across the yellow line, it was a direct result of having FIVE kids and a DOG in the car!"

His response... "FIVE KIDS...??? and a DOG???...Have a nice day maam..and be careful."

Are you up for a Good Game of Hide and Seek?

I only know two people in this world that still play hide and seek. True hide and seek, and get delight out of it... hide and seek with 5 rambunctious kids, who'll take you out in a heartbeat.

Often times, our five youngest will visit the home of our two oldest sons, who live together in a nice 4 bedroom house in a quiet residential neighborhood. Sunday, was one of those occasions when my sons acquiesced and said they'd watch the kids...all of them...at once!! WHOO EEE!! (it was my birthday....they had to :) )

After several hours being away with my husband, I arrived to pick up the kids....but to my surprise, they weren't home. TDubs my 21 year old, had walked them to the park near their home a short distance away. As I rounded the corner to the park, at first glance, I didn't see any of the kids...hmmm? Where could they all be?

Suddenly, I heard a big WHOOOP and HOLLER...did a visual scan across the horizon and saw the outline of several kids' body parts protruding from various trees. The other thing I saw was my 225 lb. son galloping full steam across the park toward the playground equipment with Laynibug hot on is heals. Both of them were squealing with laughter. Pure kid-like laughter.

What was all this commotion? Just a big brother playing hide and seek with his siblings...and loving every minute of it. It'll be something that I remember for quite some time.

(In)sanity among the five

This blog is composed of the trials and tribulations of having 7 children...5 transracially adopted at birth through the Child Protective services of our state.

Out of the 7, the youngest adopted 5 still live at home and range in age from 12 to 3. Each of them have special needs in some way, some small, some large.

This blog will make you laugh, cry and maybe stand up and cheer. Hang on...our five will give you a run for your money!!