Definitely Not Southern Living

As I began to prepare dinner the other day, I looked around at my house. And I discovered that I was not in the house that I had envisioned inhabiting at this point in my life. I pictured more of an organized, tidy place where kiddos would arrive home from school and have cookies at the counter. A place where I could unashamedly have people over for coffee. More of a magazine kind of look. How corny, huh! Actually, maybe how vain. Or naive. Whatever.

I did always want to be happily married, staying at home with four wonderful children. And I definitely have that part down. But when there are four little boys, schooling, playing, and just plain living in this little 1800 sq ft house 24/7, I end up seeing scenes like this instead





Not what I had always pictured.

But as I sit down amidst the pleasant chaos at the end of the day, with dinner on the stove, I notice this


And I realize that while I may not have my picture perfect home, I may just have something even better!

I'm Learning

I have had one of those epiphany moments. Now I have long realized that Brennan was not a workbook kind of guy, but it is hitting me more clearly as of late. I have tried to minimize workbooks and throw in lots of hands-on, book reading activties. And I felt like I was providing a good balance of both necessities in my child's life.

But two things happened recently. One was this horrible week. The other was this wonderful book. I was beginning to wonder if I was merely recreating "school" at home. The very environment that I was trying to avoid. The one that I, as a child, found stifling and suffocating. The one where, as I myself taught, I saw kids trying to swim upstream against the currents of modern educational philosophy. The one that I knew (rightfully so) that my energetic 6 year old would sink in. He hated "doing school". And so I equated that with "hating work, learning".

But not so. Because this week, he has brought to me the new "history" book for the week. He has been caught reading it to himself. He has told everyone about not only the Hopi Indians, but how they were different from the Eskimos and the Northwest Indians and why. He spent 3 hours putting this together yesterday afternoon while willingly skipping the video that his brothers were watching.

My dear child doesn't hate learning. he hates "doing school".

I don't know where this will lead. I do want him to learn that we sometimes have to do those things that are not necessarily fun. And my own public school experience (although I hated parts of it) has engrained in me the sense that we must do some workbooks (mostly Math, Grammar, Phonics). But maybe learning isn't the place to teach lessons on responsibility - that's what his chores are for. And maybe workbooks aren't necessary. To be honest, I am not sure if he has learned his Phonics from the workbook, or the word famlies that are written on the board before each story. Now that I think about it, it just may be the latter.

Sorry, I'm rambling a bit. I am just pondering out any thoughts I currently have and trying to figure out what to do with this newfound insight. Suggestions are always welcome!

Look Who's Walking!

I refer to the "hands up" pose as "My Little Frankenstein". If I could get a picture from the front, then you would see why. But when I tried, dear Philip tried to help, and so instead I got this
And then this

I'll post a better picture later, if I can get it!

A Little Understanding

I think that I understand the "back and forth" that Margaret is going through on the issue of "Do we get a dog?".

For what it is worth, my family wants a dog as well. But I don't think that I am up for it yet. Another baby human, sure, that work would be fine. But a baby canine, I just don't think I am willing to put out the same work for a dog. Yet anyway.

And I grew up having dogs. I loved having my dog as a kid. Our boys will get one, eventually.

Just not quite yet.

Top Ten

Statements that you find yourself constantly spouting with both a 5 and 6 year old boy:

-Go put underwear on under those shorts
-Close the back door
-Close the refrigerator
-Get off of your brother
-Take that (snail, bug, stick, tree branch) back outside
-Don't stand on the couch
-Don't sit on the table
-Turn the water off in the bathroom
-Stop running in the house

AND NUMBER ONE

-Stop teasing your brother!

What did his Dad say?

I usually go to the library on either Saturday or Sunday. I had started this habit as Colin could be home to stay with anyone who did not do well in the library. Mainly, that would be Jonathan, who decides that the library is the perfect environment in which to exhibit his vocal skills.

But last week Colin had the boys by himself for two nights and then all morning Saturday. So Saturday afternoon, I took all four boys with me on our weekly library trip. And all in all it went pretty well (aka, Jonathan seemed to be happy).

We got a great selection of books. I picked several to read this week:

Duck in a truck
Captain Duck
Corn is Maize

Brennan picked a few:

Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs
Scooby Doo and the Samurai Ghost

Nicholas added a couple:

Curious George goes to a Costume Party
Curious George Flies a Kite

And Philip wanted to pick one too. After showing him several shelves of books, he set his heart on this one:

Disney Princesses: What is a Princess?


He would not be deterred. This was the book he wanted! I couldn't wait to see his Dad's reaction.

And the reaction - just a little shake of the head!

Toddlers Interpreted

Your 14 month old is in the other room, screaming bloody murder. Thinking he is hurt, you dash into the dining room to see what is wrong.

You find a very distraught little boy, screaming and looking up. You follow his gaze. There is a box of crackers on the counter, but surely with that much racket, it couldn't be something as simple as wanting a cracker.

Yet you give him a cracker. And with a contented chuckle, he chomps on it.

We gotta teach this guy to talk!

But there is no denying that when he is happy, he is HAPPY! Here he develops his latest hobby - emptying the bookshelves of books. A reader, maybe?

Impromptu Survey

Our grocery bill (like everyone else's, I'm sure) began creeping up this past year. I decided that we really needed to save a few bucks here and there, so I began to institute a "from scratch" kitchen. As I collect fantastic recipes (see post below) this is becoming a fruitful venture that I have enjoyed immensely! And our grocery bill is actually $20 per week less than it was a year ago, even with milk skyrocketing and a new mouth feeding from the table.

As I was talking to someone about milk consumption the past weekend, they seemed astonished that we go through 4-5 gallons per week for a family of 2 adults and 4 small children. So I am curious, how much milk do you go through? Does this seem like a lot to you? Please feel free to answer in the comments if you are so inclined!

When I began baking (and when milk was still under $3 per gallon), I joked to my husband "Hey, I promise I won't ask for my own cow!". Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to throw out that possibility!

New Discovery

Check out Mixing Bowls and Measuring Spoons for my latest in fantastic discoveries (courtesy of my husband's aunt)!

It is probably crazy that I get this excited over baking! I am sure there is a disorder for it somewhere!

The Other Side

Part of the reason that I seriously considered enrolling my 6 year old in "real" school last week is because lately he has been begging to go. As he complains about his work at home each day, he asks "when will I get to go to the other school" (referring to our neighborhood school down a few blocks). It was bothering me that he wanted to go so badly - maybe we were really depriving him by not letting him attend?

Then today we had a little heart to heart. As he asked to go to the other school (for the 4th time in two days), I put our books down and looked him in the eye.

"Honey, why do you want to go to the other school."

His response revealed a lot. "Because I want to play with my friends all day and I don't want to do any more Math or Phonics."

I sighed, relieved. So this is really a case of "the grass must be greener on the other side." Needless to say, this made me feel a lot better about keeping him home. And I tried to explain to him how they do the exact same subjects at school, and although his friends would be there, he wouldn't be allowed to talk and play all day long. I am not sure if he got it. He is just so sure that it must be more fun and less work there. He is sure that grass is greener.

As I laugh, I remind myself how I can be the same way. I am so convinced that everything would be so much better, so much easier if we had a little bigger house, a little more income, a little more free time (in my day). What I fail to see is that many of those around me who have these things that I long for still struggle with the same areas that my family does. No matter how much room you have, you always seem to clamour for more. No matter how much money you bring in, it can all seem to get spent too easily. And I am the master of wasting time and procrastinating.

I must also remember that the grass is not always greener. I must be content with what I have now. Only when we are satisfied with that which we have been blessed will we truly be happy. And I must let go of all of the pitfalls that seem to pop up each day (in groups lately).

Something for both Brennan and I to work on together!

It's All About the Attitude!

So much better today. And the main change was me! My attitude towards each child's behavior really colors the entire day.

Yes Brennan still complained. In fact he drew a picture of himself with an angry face and his hands on his hips at the bottom of his math page. It was really cute! But his work is done.

And Nicholas tested me from the start. But once I handled his defiance calmly (versus emotionally), it stopped quickly. Almost immediately. Which leaves me to ask, does he test me to push the envelope, or to just get a rise out of me? Hmmm...

On a lighter note, here is the latest in our own series of unfortunate events.


This is our new ceiling above our main hallway. Do you like it?

A Mulligan

We officially started our school year last week. It would be better stated to say we attempted to start our school year last week. Each day was trying, and I was so ready to start that I had not anticipated it.

Monday, Brennan discovered that there is a little more work in first grade than kindergarten. If you had listened to him, you would have thought that I had doubled, no tripled his work load. In reality, I only added a little history, 5 minute spelling (which he didn't complain about that anyway), and a little grammar. Maybe we will drop the grammar, but I want to give it a few more weeks to see if it is the subject or the student that is the issue. I suspect it might be the student. The one who asked me what he had to do in order to get to do kindergarten again.

Tuesday, I was sick. Really, really sick. Like a staph infection that swelled my entire arm. I spent the entire morning and a few hours in the evening at the doctor's office. The rest of the day I was in bed. I didn't even attempt any lessons on this day.

Wednesday we found out a brother's children were in town. We got together that afternoon (so that I would have been on antibiotics for 24 hours before we met). We ended up enjoying the time together, so only a half day Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday were feeble attempts to get back to it. There was so much laziness in the air (including me) that I daresay we accomplished little those two days (about half of what I had planned). Most of this was due to some serious headbutting with a strong willed 5 year old coupled with more complaining from the new first grader. I feel incredibly guilty about this. In fact, Friday, I was seriously considering backing out altogether and enrolling them in school next week. Only for a moment, but for that moment I was really ready to do it!

Now I feel better. We are all rested. The house is clean. We are ready for a do over. Here's hoping that the second time is the charm!

The Screamer

Jonathan has taken to screaming lately. Not just random screaming however. He screams directly at any speaker which is relaying noise. We first noticed this phenomena as my husband talked to his mother on speaker phone. Every time she spoke, he screamed at the phone. Not a frightened scream, but a scream nonetheless.

I noticed this again today as we played music. As the music began, Jonathan screamed at the radio. He eventually gave this up. I think it was because there wasn't ever an intermittent stopping of sound.

The oddities of each toddler continue...

No Surprises Here!

I know this one has gotten around, but I really wanted to play along with this one. And it was no shock at all to discover

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

Using our Gifts

Jonathan is now standing unassisted and taking several steps. What does he decide to do with this newfound ability? Why, pick up a baseball bat and beat the piano, of course!

Once he figured out I was snapping away with the camera, he had to pose as well. What a ham!

Why God gave us the TV

Let me start out by saying that I do think that we are rather prudent about our TV usage here. Usually half an hour on school days (if it goes on at all) and a few hours on Saturday - Brennan and Dad time.

But today we broke all of the records. And it was an absolute gift from above.

I was, shall we say, really under the weather today! And so while Jonathan napped for three hours (Thank you!) the boys watched while I rested. When I woke, I found that they had gotten hungry, so rather than wake me Nicholas made everyone PB & J sandwiches, a banana, and a yogurt. (Thank you!) How lazy can I be! Here my precious 5 year old is working hard so that "You can feel better Mom!". Maybe the "teaching them enthapy" thing is working better than we previously thought.

But even after I awoke, that TV saved me. We could just be still. I don't even want to tell you just how much they watched today. And by now, antibiotics are kicking in and all is getting much better. (And thank you, thank you for that one!)

Speaking of the antibiotics, I do get frustrated when a doctor gives me weird looks when I mention that my 14 month old still nurses on occasion. His response: "There is no need after the first three months and that way you don't have to be tied down all of the time." *sigh*

Offering It Up (Or Not)

As we prayed our morning offering this morning..."We offer up all of our prayers, our work, our suffering, and joys..."

Brennan interrupts: "Well, not my work. I don't think that I will do any work today."

What should I be more pleased about? That he is honest or that he was paying attention?

A Guessing Game

This post takes on the form of a little game, a guessing game. The Scenario: Yesterday the oldest three boys and a neighbor were playing in the backyard. Brennan came running in rather excitedly, "Mom, look at what we found!"

Any guesses? One hint, it was freshly dead.


Bug?
Snail?
Gecko?

I have been the recipient of those before, and while rather disgusting, they did not send the shivers through me like this little present did.

Any final stabs?

The answer: A rat! My, my! I have never overreacted quite like I did! There may have in fact been a loud scream with a quick "Get it outside!" followed by a prompt locking of the door (what was this a ghost rat or something! How irrational!) and a marching of four children straight for the bathroom. There we scrubbed four little pairs of hands and began a long winded discussion about never ever picking up a dead animal, especially like a rat. I quickly followed their bewildered little looks with the explanation of the relationship between rats and disease!

The funniest part about this is the karma. When I was Brennan's age, I distinctly remember uncovering dead mice for my mom to find. I remember finding it amusing that she would freak out like she did.

So sorry Mom!

Block Party

We have lived in this house for almost nine years. While we know a few neighbors (like our immediate ones and the two at the end who belong to our church) pretty well, we didn't really know the others in our 18 house cul-de-sac. So when my ever ambitious neighbor across the street wanted to have a block party for "National Night Out" I was enthusiastic. I always want to meet people, but I am crippled by fear. Fear that if I talk to them, they will be thinking "Who is this person, and why on earth is she bugging me?" So I don't say anything. Pretty cowardly, huh!

I hoped others would attend, but it was even better than I could have hoped. 16 of our 18 houses attended and we all shared a potluck dinner and visited for 3 hours. Kids bounced on a moonwalk one neighbor rented, had a water balloon toss that we provided balloons for, and loved visiting with the firefighters who stopped by (complete with truck and gear - our neighbor is a volunteer firefighter). We have the nicest neighbors! Everyone was very hospitable, and agreed that we should all do these things more often.

One thing that struck me is that it wasn't just those with small kids wanting to know the neighbors. It was also the families with teens. It was the three couples whose kids are all grown. It was the elderly lady who we all found out was recently widowed. It was even two young couples who don't even have children yet. We all need community. We can all be there to help one another. Too often we all get absorbed in our own busy lives. One man summed it up best by telling me "It is just too easy any more to pull right into the garage and enter the house without saying a word to anyone. We need to change that - we need other people."

I couldn't agree more!

Tagged

Tagged by Jen!


1.a. Describe your outfit. T-shirt and gym shorts. I am much more of a "be comfortable" type of person."

b. I just finished doing Breaking up a fight between my 5 year old and 2 year old

2.a. Are you listening to music? Yep - Veggitales 2 soundtrack.

b. Was this intentional? Oh yes! There is less fighting when music is playing. I am not sure exactly if that is a scientific observation. Maybe I should conduct an experiment?

3.a.Describe the objects within arms' reach. My cafe mocha. My husband's game controller. The book "Star Wars: A Visual Dictionary"

b. Choose one object and tell where you acquired it. My mocha I made in my kitchen. My parents are the best - they got us an espresso machine for our 5th wedding anniversary!

4.a. What room are you in? The study/playroom

b. To what extent is it yours? This is our second family room, and probably the most used room in the house aside from the kitchen. Not bad for a bitty 12x10 room!

5. What were you doing before starting this post, and what would you like to do next?We finished a little bit of review work (so we can start school next week) and broke up the said fight. What would I like to do next? Take a long bath and read a book! What will I do next? Help Nicholas build his sprawling Lincoln log house. Really not so bad!

I tag anybody who would like to do this! It really is quite fun!

Prescription

I think that I might need some sort of treatment. You see, lately I have been having moments of anxiety and stress. Moments where I all of a sudden feel my chest tighten and my blood pressure shoot through the roof. What could help this condition that I have developed?

Let's see. The moments that proceed this condition usually sound something like this:

(scream) "Mom, he is taking my...."

(scream) "I can't do this!"

(scream) "He is teasing me!"

(scream) "Come here."

Notice a familiar pattern?

I think the proper prescription would be earplugs. Or a nice solitary closet. For me. With a locking door.

Wrong Month

This has been a rather funny week. I am not sure who started it, but all three older boys have been making somewhat strange requests this week. Like playing our Christmas music CD. Watching our Christmas videos. They have been out back in our yard, looking for the perfect Christmas tree (when it isn't so hot, anyway). And they even requested that we make Christmas cookies for dessert.

I have willingly obliged on all of the above, except for the cookies - we settled for ice cream and blueberry cobbler instead. After all, they really come by this love of all things Christmas quite honestly. And they haven't once asked for any gifts (yet)!

Hey, there could be worse things, right?

Guilty Pleasures

I had quite the evening out today. You see, I normally play softball on Thursday nights as my "break" time. The last few weeks, we have had a downpour of rain, meaning no ball game. This week was supposed to be clear, but with my dh out of town all week I was not going to make it. But Tuesday I decided to chance it and called to see if one of the two teen girls at the end of our cul-de-sac (who also attend our church - great family!) were free to babysit. And one of them was! Excitement!

But then it rained today. And rained. And rained. My excitement was quickly morphing into disappointment -here I wasn't even going to be missing any family time what with Colin gone and I had actually gotten a sitter (well, a sitter who was not a visiting family member or a fellow mom) for only the second time ever!

So I pushed any guilty feelings aside and decided "Rain wasn't going to ruin my evening out!". I went out anyway. But where to go? Where else but for a coffee and a leisurely hour and a half browse through the bookstore. Now that is what I call a relaxing evening out!

I even came home with a heavily discounted Williams Sonoma "Essentials of Baking". First half techniques and troubleshooting tips, second half recipes. I am very excited!

Now I must go do some reading!