People don't really believe me

That the girls throw fits. They are so well behaved whenever anyone sees them that people have a hard time believing how out of control that they can get.

Here is an example:

Last night one of them (name changed to protect the... well, you know) who was doing her chore, decided that she didn't want to do her chore. I guess it felt like she wasn't getting anywhere becasue people kept putting dirty dishes in the sink (she was kitchen). To be fair I think we are all tired.... and hot. So she threw herself down banging the floor with her fists and screaming, among other things, "I want to go back to Ukraine." We have learned that the best thing to do when they are that out of control is to just be calm and roll with the punches---- sometimes literally. So I said, "I'm sorry you feel that way."

She then went up stairs tore through her room and the laundry room trying to find all her things and packed them in her suitcase. She told everyone in earshot that she was going to go down to the neighbor's house, they would take her in. (They wouldn't have been home, they have one child-- in day care and they both work until late) She then didn't even get everything packed or the suitcase even closed and just ran out the door. She stood out by the road for 20 minutes walking back and forth. Then she came back in presumably to get her suitcase. I got up, walked over to her, took her gently by the hand, sat down with her and rocked her all the while assuring her that I didn't want her to leave and that I loved her. She started crying and then subsequently calmed herself down. I rocked her for about 1/2 hour longer until she wanted to get up.

Then she went on her merry way as if nothing happened.

Wish I could say the same for me. These fits are hard on me and are going to turn me gray before too long. Luckily, they are getting to be infrequent.

On a lighter note:

We have a good chunk of our garden in and half the strawberries. All the kids can't wait until we get strawberries.

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment

I've been playing with Photoshop and discovered this pencil action. In case you can't tell... it is Kristina.

Ryah and Elijah get along pretty well but they also get on each other's nerves. This is one of their finer moments.

While we were planting garden Elijah caught rollie pollies. He had a lot more than this and was able to keep them all in his hand.

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