Spring Break and Broken

Spring Break is over and the kids are back to school. Two weeks was just enough for them to start to get bored and start fighting with each other. They didn't need two weeks for the fighting part - just the bored part.

We tried to do a few things over the break, including a trip to our local Ostrich Festival (our local fair like a state fair with rides and shows), we went on a few hikes. April took the kids to the zoo. All this with perfect Arizona spring weather - 70's and 80's almost every day. On one of the hikes, there was a bit of a cliff, or at least a steep edge. I kept getting after Kyle to stay away from the edge, because he was making me a little nervous. Finally, he turned to me and said: "Dad, I'm not a little kid anymore." Kyle is right. They are all growing up so fast.

Spring Broken - Tempering his Rage

Carter got sent to his room for something. Unlike some, he doesn't take his punishment and move on. Instead, he likes to put on a show by throwing and kicking things. Well this time, one of the things that he kicked was his bedroom window. At this point (we figured out later) he stopped throwing a fit immediately and soon fell asleep. April found the broken window later. He had kicked at the blinds while laying on his bed and broken the window. Luckily, he didn't cut himself. He just barely got the cast off. I think the doctors would have doubted us - but, really, just spend a few minutes watching the kid in his native habitat - you'll see why this happens. Now Carter is trying to figure out a way to raise the funds to pay for the repair - so if anyone knows of any summer internship programs for 4-year olds, Carter might be interested.

It was actually pretty cute. When the guy came over to measure the window, Carter asked me if he just had to watch or if he needed to help the guy.

Carter is working on calming himself down when the rage starts to rise within him. And yes - we are serious about him paying for it, or at least working it off through extra chores.