Monday, October 31, 2005

Crazy Crew

Elijah is missing, he didn't want to be in the pic. Posted by Picasa

A Long Lost Friend

Its been more than six months, but I finally hauled out my sewing machine again. Bliss.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

What obsolete skill are you?

Calliope, Muse of epic poetry
You are 'Latin'. Even among obsolete skills, the
tongue of the ancient Romans is a real
anachronism. With its profusion of different
cases and conjugations, Latin is more than a
language; it is a whole different way of
thinking about things.

You are very classy, meaning that you value the
classics. You value old things, good things
which have stood the test of time. You value
things which have been proven worthy and
valuable, even if no one else these days sees
them that way. Your life is touched by a
certain 'pietas', or piety; perhaps you are
even a Stoic. Nonetheless, you have a certain
fascination with the grotesque and the profane.
Also, the modern world rejects you like a bad
transplant. Your problem is that Latin has
been obsolete for a long time.


What obsolete skill are you?
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Friday, October 28, 2005

Did Not...Did Too...

It doesn't take long for kids to learn the fine art of arguing. Yesterday, while we were at lunch with some friends Isaac and Elijah spent way too much time arguing about who had the loud burp. Than later, on our way home from the library, we drove by a halloween display and the boys started arguing about whose side it was one! Of course Sammy doesn't miss a thing. This morning, out of the blue he said to me "the ghost was on my side."

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Controversial Parenting Topics

First of all, Selkie (a fellow homeschooling mom of 4 boys) communicates my views on punishment better than I would be able to.

I have co-slept with my babies since Isaac was an infant. In fact, we never even put Jonah's basinette or crib together yet. Thats right, we have a 2 month old baby and not a crib to be found in our home. Recently an article (co-sponsered by an association of crib manufactors) claimed that co-sleeping was dangerous and increased the risk of SIDS. I wanted to point out this article to any parents who might of been frightened by that. Not saying everybody needs to co-sleep, just that if its something you are interested in don't let some twisted statistics scare you.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Look at me!

I know my blog has been nothing but pictures lately, but I couldn't resist posting this one! Just when I was really starting to worry that Jonah wasn't lifting his head...ta da! Posted by Picasa

A Picture that Represents Me

Ellen asked her readers to post a picture they thought best represented them. I was limited to my digital pictures since our scanner is broke. This is the picture I chose. Its from last summer. I feel like I do everything one handed with a child in the other arm and (usually) with a smile :D Look how bald Sammy was! Posted by Picasa

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Pumpkin Patch















More pics. Posted by Picasa

Friday, October 21, 2005

More photos by Isaac

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Budding Photographer

Isaac took this picture of me and Jonah today. We spent a very beautiful Fall afternoon at Melissa's. Just a few months ago we were sitting in these same chairs talking about childbirth and babies while we waited for Jonah to make an appearance. Today, we were still talking about childbirth and babies (our favorite subject by far) while we wait for her baby girl. Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 17, 2005

Inside the Five Year Old Mind...

Here are a couple converstions that took place between me and Isaac today:

Isaac: Why do we say a ssssss sound when there is many?
Me: Um....what??
Isaac: Why do we say ssssss when there is many of something?
Me: Oh! Like shoes or cars?
Isaac: Yeah
(I then attempted to explain the concept of plurals)

~*~*~

Isaac: Want to hear what a word sounds like with no letters?
Me: Sure
Isaac: (a moment of silence)
Isaac: that's it, thats what a word without letters sounds like.
Me: Sounds right to me!

~*~*~
Isaac: How do babies eat when they are in the mama's belly?
Me: (very distracted with a fussy Jonah) What?Oh..um..the cord...
Isaac: But...they don't eat the cord!?

Saturday, October 15, 2005

The Other Side...

A few days ago I wrote about a positive aspect of homeschooling. Every choice has its cons also and now I will tell you about one of the downsides (at least to me) of homeschooling: empty house envy.

Over the last couple years more and more of my friend's children have started school. Some of my friends now have ALL their children in school. Like when I go to the mall to meet Melissa and she only has two kids in tow. Only other moms of three or more children understand that taking two kids is actually a break ( taking one is a vacation, seriously). Even though Melissa is expecting her 4th baby, her son will be starting school next year so she will still have days where she can get out with only two!

I would be lying if I said I didn't daydream about what it would be like to send the kids to school. Understand, I am not dreaming about lounging on the couch or watching soaps or something. No, I wonder what it would be like to actually clean your living room and have it stay that way for...oh...two minutes? Or getting laundry folded and put away before its unfolded. You know, stuff like that.

I just remind myself that at the end of my life I will not look back and say "geez I wish I spent less time with my kids to clean my house".

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Educating at Home*

I wish the homeschool pioneers (well, they are less pioneers and more parents simply taking back their children's education from the gov't as it used to be) would of chosen the term "educate" instead of "school". Read the definition for school and you basically get the words institution and instruction. A child who can submit and follow instructions will no doubt do well in school, however, that doesn't mean that child will be educated to his/her potential. Following an instruction doesn't mean you understand what you are doing or why.

Read the definition of educate and you get phrases such as bring to understanding, provide knowledge ect. You can be schooled without being educated, you can be educated without being schooled. People who are educated are people who love to learn, they want to learn. That is what we are working hard to do with Isaac these first couple years, instill the love of learning in him. I really think school breaks that in some children, especially boys. I saw it in my brothers, and in my nephew. Even if a little boy does like school, that would probably be considered "uncool" with his peers.

Last week we made a very unceremonious start to homeschooling. I got out Isaac's phonics program and we started. And he took off. This is why I am so glad we choose this route. I immediately know when he grasps a concept so he can move on. I immediately know when he doesn't grasp a concept so we can focus on that until the light bulb goes on. No time is wasted. The process if fluid, we can makes changes in an instant, we can take breaks whenever necessary and nobody has to ask permission to go to the bathroom.

*My homeschooling posts are in no way meant to offend those who don't (including my best friends here who send their kids to school). However, I do belong to a homeschool blogring and part of the reason I started this blog was to write about homeschooling. Obviously, we feel strongly about our choice and that will come out in my writing. Please know that we do not feel it makes us better, just that its the right choice for us.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

What a crew! Posted by Picasa

More Bullets

  • I love bulleted lists, they make blog entries so easy.
  • Isaac lost his first tooth yesterday. I got a little choked up when he smiled at me without a tooth. How can he be old enough to lose teeth??
  • There is a muscle near my ribs that cramps up whenever I stretch. Its a leftover pregnancy thing but it takes me by surprise everytime.
  • Little girls LOVE LOVE LOVE babies. Jonah is like a little girl magnet. Today when I went to get Isaac from his class at church, Melissa's daughter saw Jonah and started talking about how she got to hold Jonah for a long time. That was 2 months ago, apparently it made quite an impression. Lucky for her, she is going to have her own brand new sister soon.
  • Its not easy teaching Elijah his ABC's. Actually, its pretty much how you would imagine it is teaching a 3 year old boy his ABC's. Whats this? P? no. G? no. O? no. V? no.... You get the picture.
  • I had to go to the dr. on Friday for a UTI. I tried to drink tons of water for two days to get rid of it. Frankly, I am just tired of seeing doctors. Either I or one of the boys have been to the doctors pretty much on a weekly basis since I started my weekly OB appointments back in July. However, when it was still there Friday I decided to go because I didn't want it getting really bad over the weekend when I wouldn't be able to see my dr.
  • That was the 4th time I have been to my GP's office in five years. Once they even called to see if I was still a patient. The OB's office though, thats a different story. I think my next baby should be free, kind of like a buy 3 get one free sorta thing (Isaac was not born here).
  • Jonah is a very good baby. Very content and mellow.
  • Judging by how fast the liquid soap got used in the bathroom I used to think the boys were just very good about washing their hands. Turns out its more about making bubbles in the sink than washing hands.

Friday, October 07, 2005

Eating "oopah" (oatmeal) Posted by Picasa
Yummy fingers Posted by Picasa

Thursday, October 06, 2005

2 Months

Jonah is two months today! He actually had his two month checkup today. I'm not usually so on top of things, but since I was there twice last week I remembered to schedule it. He is 11 pounds 11 ounces (50th percentile.) I thought that was big, but Sammy was actually 13 pounds 10 ounces at 2 months and 1 day. I can't remember his exact length but he is in the 75% percentile for length.

Also, I really like our new pediatrician. Today, he actually used the word "glorious" when he was examining Jonah. I have to agree, what is more glorious than a healthy growing baby?

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Counting to Ten Real Slow...

6:00 Me: Boys, want to go for a bike ride?
Isaac: No.
6:10 Me: Boys, want to go for a bike ride?
Isaac: No.
6:30 Me: Boys, want to go for a bike ride?
Isaac: No.
6:45 Me: Boys, want to go for a bike ride?
Isaac: No.
7:00 Me: Boys, want to go for a bike ride?
Isaac: No.
7:15 Me: Boys, want to go for a bike ride?
Isaac: No.

8:00 Isaac: I wanna go for a bike ride.
Me: No, its too dark now and its bedtime.
Isaac: Waaaaaaahhhhhhh, I waaaaaaannnnnaaaa gooooooo for a biiiiiiiiike riiiiiiiiide (x25)