Snow Day?

Believe it or not, it actually flurried today. JT was taking out the trash (do I have to, Mom?) when all of a sudden his attitude turned to one of joy--snow! You can almost see it here in these two photos. Luci was sound asleep; we are hoping it snows until she wakes up so she can see it, too.

We've had a rocky time of it with homeschooling and last night John laid down the law...the boys spend the rest of the year learning, doing their chores, and get up on time, all without arguing the paint off the walls, or it's off to Rogers School--which, as I've timed it, is less than 2 minutes from our house. I really hope the boys take this seriously. This decision to homeschool them was not lightly made. I feel it is what I am supposed to do to train these children God gave me, and if I can't do it, then I think I have failed. I am praying that we have joy in our schooling for the rest of the year. I can't bear to think of sending them away before their high school years are over.

I am not so concerned about having this stress and agony of heart when the empty nest hits in a few years as they fly the coop--I am already dreaming of them being grown. I just don't want to give up my mission here yet. I'm really in agony over this. Those of you who homeschool might understand.

Kids' Blog

Bryan has a new post or two on the Kids' Blog. Be sure to vote in the new poll!

It's So Hard to Be Civil...

...when you've had very little sleep. It is humiliating to have to apologize to your own kids more than once in a day. Luci has slept through the night just 4 more times since December 17, the last sleep post. The last few nights, she has wakened and needed momma TWICE a night. I am exhausted. Nothing works...making her miss naps...feeding extra snacks before bed...melatonin...extra physical activity during the day.

Nana, recognize that Raggedy Ann? The clothes are in a safe place.

Guess Which Kid Is Mine?

I got so tickled at JT's first basketball practice. I met some of the other moms, and after introducing myself, I said, "You know which kid is mine--the white one--which one is yours?" It was so funny, and all the other moms laughed, too.

JT's team finally won a game yesterday, but lost the second game. I don't think they cared one bit that they lost the second game! They are all nice boys, and the coach is a good, patient man. His own child is not even on this team, but plays on another YMCA team.

New Blog? and Question of the Day

I just started a blog on Vox, because I have a friend there who has a really good blog that I enjoy a lot and want to be able to comment on: to leave a comment, you have to join Vox, so I did and that starts a blog for you if you like. Mostly, though, I will be using this blog, so don't bookmark that one unless you just really, really adore me. Translation: Only John has to put it in his favorites list.

Vox has a Question of the Day (QotD) and this was the one today: What are you most grateful for in your life right now?

Here's my answer:

I am most thankful for my immediate family.

My husband is a real dear, and so helpful everyday. His motto is, "If it needs doing, just do it."

Bryan, 15, is a pretty good teenager. He has a good sense of humor that occassionally drives me nuts. He has a lot of patience with most people.

JT, 11, is a cutie. He has lots of personality and is very involved in sports. He adores his little sister.

Luci is our sunshine. She is a very active 3 year old, and pushes me to go beyond my comfort zone when it comes to opening up to outsiders.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of course, the rest of our families are extraordinary--our parents are such good examples and I love all of mine--my own, and John's. And Heath and Audrey have built nice, solid families that we are proud of.

Dad, You Lost an Ally

Today Luci found a little spider crawling around, and John had her take care of it herself. She wadded it up, in wonderful fashion, inside a napkin.

I said to her, "I thought spiders are our friends."

Her reply:

They're not!

Ice Skating!

Putting on those skates for the first time....they actually had tiny skates, Luci-size. Another good thing was that children Luci's age skate for free! We were at Point Mallard, the closest skating rink to us. It was homeschool skate day (included a hot dog lunch!). Sonya, I didn't even think about calling you until we were almost there. I'm sorry! someday we will get Luci and Katie Lin together. First time on the ice.
Oops! Good thing Bryan's here.

JT helping
Luci is not scared of much (which can be sort of scary for Mom), and before our skating was over, she made it all the way to the other side. She and Bryan are in the middle of the picture, near those orange cones in the background. Luci is the teeny-tiny speck.

Bryan was a good sport and helped Luci most of the time. I tried to get JT to switch out with him, which he did, but Bryan spent most of the time with Luci.
Wild Man JT
It took all of 5 minutes for Luci to get used to walking and running on her blades.
All by myself!

Luci's Honey Bee Hop

JT got this present for Luci for Christmas. The object of the game is to jump over the bee--but Luci has her own way of playing. It's only 18 seconds long, so don't blink!

Tornado Weather

It was unusual in Wisconsin, but not so unusual down South. The storms moved through very quickly today, and a big one looked like it was heading this way--so down in the basement's safe room we went. We ended up with just rain, thank Goodness. Here are some pics of the action. I do hope our friends around the are fine. The winds looked vicious on the weather report, I hope no damage was done where you are. Y'all check in, ok?

Computing, Reading, Cooking and Singing

After helping Bryan and JT learn how to use the computer and mouse, and finding it rather easy, I decided to not buy Luci any special play "lap-top" or discs with preschool learning games on them. Until I saw the Fisher Price Easy Link on clearance yesterday at Walmart. Retail price is $30, I got it for $17. And I love it! So does Luci.
It links you to websites specifically for the character that you click into the middle slot. This easy link pack had Disney characters in it, so it links you to the Disney play website. It will not let me click on anything else except the games from other Disney preschool favorites and color sheets that are available there--no danger of the child getting to another website. I've tried to click on the links that are shown, just to test it, but it has not allowed me to go anywhere else. Good! Also, you can turn off the print option and limit the time your child plays. Easy parental controls, easy to set up.

This one was just funny. Reading John's Bible commentary with her high heels on.
Wanting to "cook sumpin'." Luci's always dragging out the cooking utensils and pans to cook us something good. She's on her toes.

Song Writing

John thinks I have the makings of another Shania Twain hit, if I can just get the rest of the song together. It's all about being the mother of a 15 year old boy/man. Here's what I have so far:

~~~~~~~~~

You think you're so special...

Get over it.

~~~~~~~~~

Come on, give me a break in the attitude department...it was a tough day!

A Day at the Beach in China

Kalyn's mommy, Kathy, sent these to me. Can you imagine? 2 questions: Did anyone actually get wet, and where is the porta-potty?

Luci traces her name

Luci is learning how to write her name, and she is so excited about it! So am I.

At the end, she acts really silly, which is how she is with us all the time.

Your Daughter Wears Combat Boots!

Luci loves putting on Daddy's boots after he gets home from drill. We just call her

General Mayhem

Salute!

Dad:

This is why I don't write a book: because it would happen just like this. Click on the comic to make it larger. (Well, it won't get larger for me--maybe it will for you. Get out a magnifying glass if it won't enlarge.)

My Name

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 72 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Eloise on Homeschooling

Two of Luci's favorite movies are Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime. Luci seems to have a lot of Eloise in her--which can go either way. Two quotes from Eloise are so appropriate to homeschooling:

I don't go to school. School comes to me.

Nanny says, "Life experience is the best education there is."

More Resolution Funnies

I saw these on Abi's blog...she has 3 children from China. Lucky woman.

Mom!

Mom, our new chairs came in. The sixth one has a broken leg, so we had to shoot it. (Really, the furniture store is ordering a new leg.) The chairs and table don't match because I finished the table in October 2004, right about the time Luci was born. New chairs weren't even thought of then, and when I went to the Barnett's furniture store, there was one of these chairs marked down to 1/3 of the original cost. Money off! Bingo! So I just needed to order 5 more (at the regular price) to have a whole set.

Mom, did you get your new couch/sofa/divan yet?

By the way, the table is at an angle so it will fit into the dining room better. The only thing we are not crazy about in this house is the size of the dining room--we should have bumped the wall out to the edge of the front porch when the house was being built.

Resolutions You Can Really Commit To

(as seen in First for women magazine)

I will save electricity ... by eating out more often.

I will buy fewer shoes ... on sale.

I will walk more ... when the elevator is broken.

I will organize my desk ... by next year.

I will stop eating dessert ... before dinner.

I will save my money ... from spending too much time in my account.

I will stop making impossible resolutions ... forever!



And seen on a church signboard in Lauderdale County...

May your troubles be as short as your New Year's Resolutions!

Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions...Do you make them? Do you keep them? I always have a few...to weigh less at the end of the year than at I do at the beginning...to be more faithful to God (that covers a lot)...to be a better wife and mother...those are the basic resolutions I make.

This year our preacher/minister, Frank Mills, suggested reading all the way through the Bible. John and I are doing this, and thought some of you might like some reading lists if you are so inclined to participate, too. I just found these online today. I am not advocating the sites they came from--I didn't read the sites very thoroughly, so don't send me emails about what "stuff" they are espousing. I am just sharing their reading lists, all of which involve only reading the Bible.

Read the Bible in a Year--text included here, American Standard version.

Here's another, starting at any week in the year.

This one has a different subject every day of the week: The Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospels and Epistles.

Here is one in chronological order, and you can start any week of the year.

Back to Normal

Christmas decorations are all put away...John is back to work...Luci is mourning the passing of Christmas, but cheered by the news that it happens all over again next year.

The boys put up the tree after Thanksgiving and put it away for me without much fussing today. Those of you with real trees, I know we are missing that incredible smell; we also are missing much of the fire hazard, something to consider when you live 'way out. Other benefits: I know where next year's tree is, I don't have to pay a cent for it, and there is no straggly side to turn towards the wall. And don't forget no needles to sweep up.

John commented last Friday that we'd been gone from home every single day except Christmas day for something or other. Usually I sent the kids with him, and he didn't mind giving me that break. When they left the house each time, I told the boys to be sure to treat their Daddy with the same love and respect that they always give me. (I can hear the moms laughing and snorting now!) Today I think he was glad to get back to the normalcy of his job. Maybe he'll appreciate that quiet drive into town today--getting to listen to his station without any griping or snarling coming from the back seats.

I love it when I hit "spellcheck" and no words are highlighted!

My Baby Is Reading!

We have fortune cookies as part of our New Year's tradition. Luci opened hers, and read it herself! Here's what she said:

"It says: Nander babba ditta ditta bonk."

Check out my Slide Show!

End of the Year Pics

Here's a slide show of the pictures on my camera that I just couldn't bear to delete. I'm starting the year off with a clean ScanDisc in the camera! Woo-hoo, exciting, I know.

Happy New Year!

Happy New year from the Party Animals in Greenhill! Every year we do a jigsaw puzzle and try to finish it before midnight. We actually finished this one long before the magic hour--it was only 250 pieces. We got it on the island of St. Thomas while on our cruise last January. It was in a plastic wine bottle and showed a map of pirates' exploits. Usually the puzzle is much bigger and takes forever, and I am begging to quit and go to bed long before midnight.
Baby New Year!
The first picture of the new year--Bryan was up all night and looks a little sleepier than JT and Luci.
We glue our New Year's Eve puzzles together and hang them on the staircase wall leading to the basement. Here are some from years past. Everyone who helps put the puzzles together gets to sign the back and, of course, we put the date on them, too. It was fun putting them up in the new house, and sort of looking back through our New Year's Eves together. There were 2 from the years John was overseas, and those brought back memories of their own.