Gumboots are fun! Despite the rain today we had a great day.

On Tuesday when I picked EQ up from school he received so much praise from his teachers, Angelica’s Mom and of course myself about his wonderful treatment of Angelica and how much he has truly helped her. I think it really sunk in with him and made a profound impact. When AQ was in my belly he had a bond with her already, she would move to his voice more than anyone else’s and he was obsessed with her and how it was his baby sister (but only maybe baby brother - he already had one of those and wasn’t much fond of that idea they were at the point he and AQ are at now). When she was born they were obsessed with eachother. The bond seemed unbreakable. But about the time that she really started to try to “play” with them he decided that she was nothing but a breaker of good things - the typical stage for that age. He has been mercilous with her. Constantly picking on her and vicious. I understand it is all a stage and they have to work through it (just as he and ZQ did) but it has been rough. She has a scar on her face from an unprovoked attack… There has been unstopable violence that often extends to me as it would when you step into a dog fight. It has been war. That all being said, today was an amazing 360 turnabout. I really think it has a lot to do with how attached he and Angelica have gotten and how much he sees how he can make life better for the people around him with a little kindness.

So on to today’s story…

Dropped the boys at school. Dropped some papers off for the tax guy. AQ fell asleep imediately afterward so I drove to the post office and read my book. Usually I wake her so that we can have some alone time but she has been so tired lately so I let her sleep. She slept until it was time to go get the boys so I grabbed her, took her asleep on my shoulder in to the postoffice to send of taxes (EARLY THIS YEAR!!! WOOOHOOO!!! I am so proud of myself. Took charge, ditched our old guy who was too much work and never got them done in time and this year actually sent them in early. Without the slightest help from BQ too. I do a little dance every time I think of the relief!) still asleep I put her back in the car and pick up the boys from school. When I got the boys EQ had had another great day doting on Angelica and ZQ was also in a great mood. AQ woke halfway home and was sooooo changed. Back to my girl!! I have hardly seen her this winter due to her being sick almost the entire winter and she has been so tired, she hardly gets a good nap poor thing. She was so lovely, smiley happy girl again. Gosh how I have missed her. We had lunch etc then the good stuff really started to happen once I sat down with ZQ for writing practice. (We have taken to writing hate mail to trolls and goblins and so forth which is really helping keeping it juicy enough to be interesting to ZQ and not seem like work - he is really improving I am so proud) So I asked EQ if he minded if we did writing practice in rounds today. I told him it would really help me if he would help his sister play while I help ZQ then I would do practice with him. So while practicing with ZQ I notice it has been over 10 minutes and I have not had to get up to redirect a fued. A little while later I even hear him READING “THE VERY HUNGRY CATIPILLAR” TO HER. I almost had a heart attack from shock. They were even GIGGLING together. I had forgotten they could do that!! From then on there were secret fairy hunts, dancing together, singing and even more GIGGLING. It was so amazing that I had to video tape some of it just so BQ would believe me.

Later when ZQ was done and I was lavishing EQ in kisses and praise for helping me out AQ got her typical green disease. I leant over to appease the jealousy with the typical “I haven’t forgotten you, I love you too attention” she pushed me away disgusted, grabbed her brother and yells “he my brubba. My huggies” I was shocked! WOOOHOOO!!! I am so glad. Even if it was only for today it was such a lovely gift of a day.

When the rain stopped a bit we all put on our gumboots and headed out to save the worms on the driveway. They were so cute out splashing in their gumboots. After saving all our worms we the kids wanted to save the worms on the footpath around the complex to save worms. It turns out ours is the only yard left with any worms in it. Yer pesticides are completely harmless! <= insert sarcastic tonne.

Well so much for an early night.

Did I mention how wonderful my new house is? Sorry can’t help but be a little proud. So much work, but I am so WOWed whenever I look at it. I love sitting at my desk to write this, I love sitting in the window seat to read to the kids, I love sitting at both bars, I LOVE cooking in the kitchen and I love the bathrooms. I love to toch the granite counters and I know this is truly sick but I love to clean it all now too. (I find it rewarding)

OK enough, I am sorry. I just can’t believe we actually made it through!