Too Cute!

Luci's shirt says,

Save the Earth...

because there are no princesses on the moon!

It's as politically correct as I get.

Luci's trying to cross her eyes.

The photo doesn't show the shirt off so well, but the model looked too cute!

Vote for My Cousin!

My Cousin Alison (the prettiest cousin, by the way) has a son in Minor League Baseball. He's at the very end of a contest called Moniker Madness. Please vote him as the rookie with the oddest/funniest name...and Alison, aren't you glad that cousin MaryAnn doesn't have kids in this contest? Who would we vote for then?!

Vote HERE for Will Startup.

Click on the dot next to Will's name, and then the little green button that says, "VOTE FOR ONE."

When I voted earlier, the webpage didn't change but later I noticed that it did, indeed count my vote. So just click anyway!

The voting may only last a day or two, so thanks for trying--

Will's photo taken from here: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080407&content_id=381418&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

Terrific Tuesday

We could have called this one "Tiring Tuesday," as well. We chopped more weeds today, and the front garden is looking more like a garden.

Here's Luci showing us how to "be a cheerleader" with her hands full of weedy pompons. (And it is pompon--I looked it up. Pompom is an automatic antiaircraft cannon. Check it out here. She definitely is not holding one of those!) Don't you love how she gardens in a pretty, pink dress?

By the way, the weeds behind Luci are all gone now--the boys learned that their momma is no slacker when it comes to chopping weeds! (Don't let my Mom and Dad hear that, ok? They think I complain and whine when asked to pick weeds. I don't want to upset their memories of my childhood!)

And, a photo Luci took of "Something Important."

Monday Mania

John's on a trip this week. We are keeping busy here! We hope to have the weeds out of the front garden before the rain hits. All three kids worked pretty hard yesterday, but there is still lots more to do.

View from the front porch....Carry on, Children! No, I was not drinking iced tea while they worked.
Skating party with our church group Monday night. JT invited Hannah and Tyler (homeschool buddies) to come, too. Hannah and Luci.

JT, about to crash into the wall. I love this picture.
Luci had fun trying to play the video games without any money. Momma's cheap.
Troy and JT acting up.

At the end, Luci was tired, tired! but didn't want to take her skates off.Bath time!

Home Education Week

It was Home Education Week last week. I missed it! That's the story of me--finding out about things late. Find out about the whole deal here.



I am taking the April Fool's idea from Principled's site as my springboard for this post. Share your greatest challenge. Or one of those terrible, horrible no good, very bad days where the only thing there is to do seems to involve moving to Australia.



This past year has been our greatest challenge as a homeschooling family. We've had our years where things didn't go as we planned:

• September 11 brought a year of uncertainty as John volunteered to "go" and go he did--in March, for a 12 month stint with Enduring Freedom. Big, Wild Year for us. But school was not the challenge.


• When that year finished, surprise! baby #3 was on the way, then miscarried. Shock, depression, but school carried on.


• The next school year was John's 6 month tour to Afghanistan. Scary, but school carried on--this was school year #3 messed up because of terrorists. But school went on, and went on well.


• The year after that, we paper-chased for Luci and got our house ready to sell.


• Next school year, got Luci, sold the house, moved to an apartment. No big deal for school.


• Stayed in apartment until Thanksgiving the following year, then moved into new house, school was fine!

Then this year hit: No new wars for John to go to, no new baby in the house, no new house to build. But--The 15-year old all of a sudden has Plans for his future, he knows More than we do, and Disciplining him is all different. And the Plans he has involve mathematics that is looking like he might not ever understand!

Homeschooling this year has been one big fight after another--mostly between the boys. FIGHT. FIGHT. I hate it! I saw my brothers act this way (like brothers) and it was rough. My boys are carrying on in that family tradition. Nothing seems to help. The 3 year old thinks her job is to tear the house apart while the rest of us try to learn something. She'll learn some with us and play learning games, and color, but she's just as likely to be climbing and getting markers (Have you seen Luci? Find her!) and grabbing the safety scissors and cutting her hair (did you know that safety scissors can cut HAIR?). This is not what I envisioned homeschooling to be like.

What I thought it would be: I'd have my beloved children cocooned with me on the couch, listening with rapture, their adoring eyes drinking me in while I read Classics to them. Then they would gather their writing books and pencils and write me a story to rival the one I'd just read. With perfect penmanship. Then we'd all go outside and marvel at God's handiwork and draw the minutest detail of the wild violets in our biology notebooks, and sketch that lovely bird we just saw soar overhead. Then the boys would write (in that gorgeous penmanship) the Latin name for the bird. Afterwards, we'd luncheon on my homemade bread, which was slathered with organic peanut butter and homemade mango jam.

WHAT?! Life's not like that?!

It's more like a three-ring circus. John knows that I can either teach the kids well, make a grand dinner (called supper at our house) or clean the house. Sometimes, if he's lucky, he'll get two of those. Almost Never have all three happened in the same day. And homemade bread? Pullease! Never.

After lots of soul-searching this year, we've found a new approach to learning for our family. It's just new to us, as it's been around for quite a while. Weaver Unit studies. They begin with the Bible, and all things are built around the Scriptures. First and foremost is Bible study. We are not out to build boys (and Luci!) who are grand test-takers. We are out to build men and a young lady who love God. We will, of course, guide them towards the career that we think (and they think) God is calling them to do. That might involve needing to be the best test-taker in town. That is super, for that one winner, but usually life goes on for the rest of the population.

I am excited about next school year. Getting to spend the time we have left with Bryan and JT before they fly out of our nest, doing fun things together (science experiments, field trips, maybe even sketching that bird!) and reading lots of books that go right along with Scripture, instead of trying to fit the Holy Word into what we are studying. Luci has a while with us yet, and I am hopeful that this is a going to be a great way for her to learn about God and His world.

The Willingham Shortcut

Double click on the comic to make it larger.

Two Vastly Different Anniversaries

from the Times Daily: Today in History: In 1887, In Tuscumbia AL, teacher Anne Sullivan achieved a breakthrough as her blind and deaf pupil Helen Keller learned the meaning of the word "water" as spelled out in the Manual Alphabet. Helen learned 30 words that day, unlocking her genius. Ivy Green is only 24 miles from our home. Helen's story is a great one! It is possible to visit her home and go up to the original pump, even now. I love going there. It was a lot of fun showing Ivy Green off to my parents and nieces a couple of years ago, and attending The Miracle Worker. Helen and I share the same birthday, but not the same year! She was born in 1880. I was born a little later.
The other anniversary: The Battle of Shiloh took place on April 6 and 7, 1862. Shiloh National Military Park is only 47 miles from our home. Dad first took us there 'way back when and now John and I take our kids. John has a stepbrother named Frank who acts in Civil War Reenactments and has appeared at Shiloh.

Photo of Helen Keller taken from here.

Photo of the pump at Ivy Green taken from here.

Shiloh print taken from here.

How Bryan Made Our April Fool's Photo

Bryan wrote directions for how to photo-shop your own silly photo on the kids' website. Here is their blog, just click here: The Man Cave OR Sports.com OR Pretty Princess .

Our original April Fool's joke is here.

Gymnastics, Rain, and Devotionals

Luci is such a monkey (Year of the Monkey was an appropriate year for her to be born!), that we started her in gymnastics at the YMCA. Not my place of choice for gymnastics, but since we are members, it is in the cost range for me (free if you are a member). Yesterday was her first class. She did fine on her "tricks," but was otherwise so hyper. The Feingold diet is definitely what she needs!

Here she is in her "ballerina dress" which is the only little outfit I found that covers up her tushy area (pee-gu in Mandarin!), was in my price range, and was one piece. She loves twirling around like a ballerina in it, and posing like she is now--what is that, a pli·é? And, doing a back bend.
The boys got their hair cut yesterday. It was a rainy day. Luci fell asleep in the van, so I sat in the parking lot and waited for the boys. I had fun watching the sign on the salon door, being warped by the raindrops on the windshield. (I am easily amused. And yes, I take the camera nearly everywhere we go.) Edited to add: We've had 2.39" of rain at our house in the past 24 hours! The tornado in our county developed after that part of the storm passed us; it was very close.
Sometimes on Wednesday nights, we stay home and have a devotional here instead of driving the 20 miles to church. Here Bryan is reading the scripture to us (before his haircut, he wants you to know).
JT and Luci looking on, so sweet.

Top April Fool's Jokes

I found a site that tells why April Fool's is celebrated (maybe tolerated would be a better word?). Look for that information here.

One of my favorites on their "Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes of All Time" is the

Taco Liberty Bell

In 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced that it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

I Forgot! Both Boys Did Fool Me Yesterday...

JT took the batteries out of the TV controllers and watched me push buttons, slap the darn things (the controllers, not JT!) and shake the controllers silly. Good one, JT!

Bryan stopped me as I passed by the computer and asked me, "Is this important, Mom?" He had typed out a long, computer-ese sort of list that looked like programming code...and it said "abort," "system failure," and other dreadful things. When you scrolled down to the end, it also said, "April Fools, Mom!" That was a bad one, Bryan!

April's Fools

Yesterday, April Fools, was interesting. Usually I pull a prank on my Mom and Dad by telephone. This year was more high-tech, with the post from yesterday. All the kids were in on it, and thought the photo was hilarious.

Luci was easy to trick--just tell a 3 year-old that there's a giraffe in the back yard, and she'll look every time. After about the fifth time, you begin to wonder about the 3 year-old's intelligence. Or maybe she just trusts me and I am letting her down?

But I could not think of a prank to pull on my boys.

After much badgering from both boys (Mom, when are you going to pull one on us?) I finally told them, with a sly look, "just don't eat the mashed potatoes at supper." So, at supper, they cautiously tasted the spuds and found them to be, well, normal. Disappointment!

Mom, when?! "Well, son, be careful you pick the right bottle of shampoo when you take your shower." But nothing happened then, either--JT was first in and figured out nothing was in the shampoo. I pulled JT aside and lathered his hair up with hair mousse, and we told Bryan there was Elmer's glue in the shampoo. He believed us and so spent an extra 5 minutes in the shower rinsing out his hair.

At bedtime, JT was quite angry with me because I didn't pull any tricks on him. Quite angry! I reminded him of the old joke:

6th-grade Boy: Mom, how do you keep a 6th-grade boy in suspense?
Mom: I'll tell you tomorrow!

After the boys went to sleep, I got on the internet and went to Family Fun's April Fool's site. I found a good one, and this is what JT found in the morning when he got dressed:

His underwear sewn together in a long string! (The color came out odd on that! They really are white.) He was a little disappointed. I think he wanted to be scared by his trick.

I did the same to Bryan's underwear so he would not feel left out.

I am thankful that I did not get a prank pulled on me all day long!

Next year I am looking on that Family Fun site in March so I don't blow it again. The wrath of a young redhead boy can run pretty deep.

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Today: Here's Luci, biking in the house. She has a nice little racetrack, going through the kitchen, living room/den, front hallway and dining room. Fun!

Adopting Again!

We have entered the adoption arena again, and we are so excited!


Below is a picture of the little darling who has captured our hearts. There's just something precious about her that has drawn us to her...can you believe it?


Isn't she adorable??


There's something so, so familiar about her. We think she fits right in with our family.


Please let us know what you think! We are looking for names right now....

If you are still reading, April Fool's!

Do you recognize Luci's hair, JT's nose and mouth, and John's eyes and moustache?

Upwards Soccer

Here is JT's team this year--a bunch of nice boys! All but one is homeschooled (was that planned, Jeanne?!), which is nice for the boys--it is great to have other homeschoolers there all at once, doing something every other "regular school" child does.

JT, Cole, Troy, Joshua, Tyler (in back, making that face!), and Brandon

Our church puts on Upwards Soccer--a great sports program that really is an outreach, more than a sports program. At least, that is my view. The kids have fun, and learn some good things about Jesus Christ, and so do their parents.

Man of the House

Here is my Man of the House today. Isn't he handsome? John's on a short army trip and Bryan is on a church retreat. So, JT is here keeping us safe (along with our house alarm--love that thing). This morning, JT did some of the icky duty for me--taking out food scraps (his usual job) but this time he scraped out the gunky stuff without complaining, and even was creative in how he did it. Good for you, Buddy! He also helped Luci "go potty," something I can't ever remember him doing. He even emptied and washed out the little throne without any requests from me and no complaints from him. Thanks, JT!!

Another Reason to Love Miley

Who hasn't heard of Hannah Montana? Okay, maybe the grandparents reading. We love her here at our house. Here's an excerpt from a Fox News story on Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana):

LOS ANGELES — At just 15, Miley Cyrus is a multi-millionaire mogul not just for her music but for her film, fashion and entrepreneurial endeavors; however, the pop princess has managed to stay sane (and sensible) amid her very adult-like life and credits Christianity for her good behavior.

"I think it’s my faith that keeps me grounded, especially because I’m a Christ follower for sure," Cyrus told us. "Live like Christ and he’ll live in you, and that’s what I want to do."

Good for you, Miley! By the way, Miley turned 15 in November. Young and smart.

Hannah Montana image from http://kids.aol.com/music/artists-a-z/hannah-montana

Miley Cyrus image from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,342610,00.html

Don't Teach Her That!

This also happens at our house. The boys have taught Luci all kinds of icky things.

School Fundraising

A couple of days ago, our sweet neighbors came over with their teenager. The teen (wow, she is beautiful! wish I had a photo of her to show you) was selling Boston ferns to raise money so she could go to cheerleading camp. Of course, we bought one.


This got John and me to thinking. We call our homeschool The Willingham School for the Exceptionally Brilliant (it's very exclusive...so far, only two have been admitted, and there is only one other child who has qualified for admission!) . We have "field trips" all the time with our kids...camping, going to the zoo, Chattanooga Aquarium (that's in April, John has a TVA trip and we are tagging along), picnics at the creek, and oh! a trip to Disney World next fall...how many candy bars do you think we'd have to sell for all of that? (Many thanks to M&D for sponsoring the "field trip" to Idaho!)

When Audrey was in high school, John and I went to a Marching Band parents' meeting. The band director told us how much stuff our kids were supposed to sell, and how much money each kid was expected to raise.

John asked, "How much of that 'each kid is expected to raise' actually gets back to the band?" The director told him, then John said, "I'm writing you a check for that right now. We're not selling this stuff." Band director looked kinda steamed, but wow, John was popular with all the other parents!

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picture of Boston fern came from here: www.thebambooorchid.biz/flowercare.htm

marching band photo came from here: http://www.pdphoto.org/PictureDetail.php?mat=&pg=7907
click on the candy bar to find which website it came from. (Please, I know the grammar is not correct.)

Family Portrait

It doesn't look like much, but it is a family portrait drawn by Luci. It shows Daddy, Mommy, and Luci (the short one with hair), and that pencil scribble is Bryan and JT. Sometimes Luci draws more complete figures, but this is the first time she's drawn the family. I'm sure that is some cognitive step on Piaget's growth of the child's mind....

Crowns

Looks like Luci's princess crown might be more valuable than we first thought: