Hamster Mayham

We still have lots of sun and good weather here.
School started and the kids really like their classes. I have enjoyed having a little more time!
I have used the time to get bills paid, summer paperwork and tasks finished and things ordered for the new office.  Teig has had to play by himself a lot, but he's been pretty good about it.  Joren has an exceptional teacher who emails me personal notes about him often. I am very impressed.
Paul teaches his first day of seminary tomorrow. We had a bbq at our friend's, the Russells, house yesterday for all of the seminary age kids. It was a group of over 45 kids. Paul dressed up like Nephi to give his little pep talk to get them excited to come to seminary. He was great. The Russells sent us home with a tiny tiny tree frog that they found in their yard so we went to "Critter Cabana" last night and bought a cage and some wingless fruit flies to keep him. Joren named him Leaf. Everyone is happy about him except for Eirik. Two weeks ago the Russells took Eirik to critter cabana and he saw a dwarf russian hamster I have not heard the end of how desperately he needs a hamster.  I wish I could say that I am a nice enough mom that I could have three pets including a dog that I can't stand, and a tiny biting, stinky rodent, but I am not.  I have told him no and you would think it is the end of the world. You know how Eirik won't ever drop anything. He has tried every tactic from sugar sweet, to buying his own, to promises and perfect behavior (for a few minutes) to threats and crying and whining. to be honest, the whining is winning out and I've about had it.I always like to give my children what they want. I am a huge pleaser and hate to see them unhappy, but I just can't see me taking care of a hamster now when I absolutely can't keep up with the responsibilities I already have. I have a huge shedding dog and a house full of white carpet. I am set up to fail no matter what I do in this house. The kids are super unhelpful and hateful. I can't win. Joren is screaming at me right now and telling me that he hates me and that I am so stupid because I told him I am not going to buy him a new lamp.  He just said, "you're buying me that, or I am killing you because I know where dad's dagger is. Mom, you're the worst mom in the universe. You're so stupid. I hate you and I will kill you if you don't buy me that lamp. I'm serious about this, if you don't buy me that lamp. It's only $10. Mom, you have to buy me that, or I will kill you." 
I just love my Joren.

Paul is singing in church today. He is singing a quartet with a guy who is a professional opera singer, a guy who travels around the country winning karaoke contests and another guy who has been in professional choirs his whole life. One if them is our home teacher and Paul mentioned how he wanted to sing "Brightly beams our father's mercy" with a quartet and the next thing you know they made it happen. I can't wait to hear it. Paul says they sound like a barber shop quartet.