Home, More Stairs

We're back.

Steve and I had our immigration appointments back to back- that is one day after the other in a city a couple hours drive away. So he reserved a room in a hotel. Vanessa insisted that we leave the twins with her and she worked out the details. It was nice.

When we got to the immigration office they went ahead and did our fingerprints back to back on the same day - which made a ton more sense to me than their original plan. Alas for Steve, who was ready for the interview. They did not interview us. I, who really didn't think they were going to, breathed a sigh of relief as I didn't know all 100 facts yet.

So then, what do we do? Go home because we are done? Or go ahead with our date?

It really wasn't a hard choice.

The twins both have colds. It comes from not having sense enough to know when you are cold or wet or that your boots are filled with snow when you are sledding. I don't know when they'll start to have those kinds of feelings...

James has been doing a lot of stairs. He's learning the 4th verse of Psalms 34, if that tells you anything. What can I say? It works. We are working on self control.

This morning it was time to go out and feed the animals. He says, "But it's cold out there!"

Meaning, I don't want to go outside and feed the animals. I want to sit on the couch and do nothing. Yesterday I let him do nothing for awhile because he has a cold and literally he does NOTHING by the hour.

I look at him in surprise. "And it wasn't cold yesterday, or the day before when you went to feed the animals? Get going, boy!"

He starts running towards his coat and anger consumes him and he gets LOUD and his movements are frenetic.

I'm on my feet, "QUICK. Let's do stairs!"

Of course, that only makes him cry and holler, but he starts. I have him alternately patting his shoulders while crossing his arms as he runs up and down the stairs. He also recites his verses at the same time. All this engages his mind and he doesn't have much time to concentrate on being mad. When he can look me in the eye, smile and say his verses, I change it up and have him count by 5's. If we can switch gears pleasantly then he's done and we carry on with the day. We've been doing this a lot. The plan is to break up his focus on his feelings and to put praise in his mouth. The other idea is that I want him to have to work harder to be mad than to be happy. I want it to be so much work he would rather do what is right.

I might have a tough day ahead. He sort of thinks having a cold is excuse for his behavior. I let him rest yesterday for awhile...