Psycho Mom

On Tuesday when my boy got braces I felt a little panicked. I spent three hours in a waiting room reading magazines and blogs, wondering if he was okay. Meanwhile, he sat in the dental chair calmly while they put wires and all manner of things in his mouth, without a complaint. And then he stepped out, looking like a teenager. And I almost cried. He just patted my back and smiled for my camera, and acted completely mature.


On the way home I took him to lunch and the bookstore. In his usual, sweet way he was so thankful and humbled that I was buying him lunch and a book. He never ceases to be amazed when I surprise him with even a treat as small as lunch and a book. "Wow, Mom. Thanks!! Really!" I had to go to the bathroom and wipe a few more tears because he is growing up BEFORE MY EYES. And then I said it, the really goofy Mom thing. "You know, next thing we know you'll get arm pit hair. Then you'll be driving, choosing colleges, getting a job and a wife, and then I'll be a Grandmom!" He looked at me half mortified because I brought up arm pit hair and half genuinely concerned for my mental health and calmly said, "Remember Mom. I'm just eleven." I grinned as if I was only kidding and replied with a nudge on his shoulder, "I know! You're only eleven." Seriously, how did I let those words fall out of my mouth?? Goofball.

The good thing, really good thing is, I really like the young man he is becoming. What a blessing. And I like this stage when he can talk about politics in one breath and legos in the next breath. We can enjoy boyhood a little longer. But in the near future his boy days will be over and will be a living, breathing, young man.

Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't want to be psycho Mom who holds him back . Even if I have to cry in the bathroom, I will relish his growing up. I will encourage him to depend more on God and less on me, little by little and with hugs, treats, and lots of talks. Heaven forbid, we hold on too tightly! Growing up is good, it's just hard to let go. I guess for now, I will put the arm pit hair out of my mind (what a funny statement). And I probably shouldn't bring it up in conversation again. Ever. Reminds me of the day I started my period and my Dad came home crying, with flowers for me. I was beyond mortified and gave my Mom the glare of death knowing she let my secret slip...to my DAD! So yes, no more talk of pit hair. My lips are sealed.

Yucky 9 year old boy humor

Joshua got in the car from art class on Monday with a mischievous, smug look on his face. For such a quiet little guy he has such an enormous amount of facial expressions that I didn't think too much about it. And then he said, "Mom, it might not be okay." Oh dear. "What might not be okay, darling?" "Well, you might not like my art from class," he replied. "Of course I will", I assure him thinking he is just feeling insecure. "What did you make?" He tries not to grin, not sure if I will see his humor and whispers, "Well, poop...but you can call it cow poop if that will make a difference." "No, no, that won't make a difference, I am sure. What was the assignment?" (I am buying myself time here while I think this over and try to act reasonable.) "Well, we are studying proportions. I thought it would be funny to draw big buildings in a city, a little house, a little airplane, and a big piece of poop. You know, to compare proportions." He shows me the paper, and points to the gigantic display front and center. Oh my. "Well, what did your teacher say? Because really poop and gas are something you boys might laugh about on the playground, I get that, but do you really think you need to bring it into the classroom?" "Oh no Mom. I didn't put any in the classroom. That would be nasty! See, I just drew the poop on the paper. My teacher thought it was weird, but I didn't get in any trouble." Keeping a straight face, I again requested poop and gas not be draw, discussed, shown, bragged about, or in any way displayed in class. Agreement made. Of course, when he showed Andy there was all out laughter and amusement. At the dinner table. Even I had to bite my lip a little.

Winter fun

Our Friday art project: snow globes

Directions: Hot glue plastic figurines to the inside of the jar lid. (We chose penguins from a "zoob" tube at Hobby Lobby.) Pour distilled water, a couple of drops of glycerin, and glitter inside the jar. Close the jar and shake! (For more fun, use acryllic paint to paint the lids of the jars, if you choose! We liked the metallic lids. But black lids with white polka dots would have been adorable.) Source: Martha Stewart's website

Weekend with cousins

Last weekend we had our triplet cousins and Aunt/Uncle over for a night. Uncle Ben wanted to hunt with Andy and a friend, so Aunt Kim and I kept the kids fed and entertained. It was a rainy weekend so between romping in the mud...

They played board games (Apples to Apples), got tickled a lot, played the Wii and watched a movie, built creations, and played with lots of fun, ordinary kid stuff.

**Don't I look fab with my pastey white skin, non-hairdried hair, and '94 Chi Omega sweatshirt on??** We really enjoyed having them over and we are so thankful we live closer (but wish we were even CLOSER)! We love this family and look forward to more trips, field trips, holidays, and weekends together!

Mid-year update: The boys (5th and 3rd grades)

The boys are in a class together at a hybrid school 2 days a week. Here's what their days look like on the 3 days/week that they learn at home:
::Breakfast and chores (the boys are great at doing mostly all basic chores around the house now- cleaning windows, making beds, washing dishes, vacuuming, cleaning their bathroom, sweeping, etc.)

::Then they do a list of exercises that Andy created for them. It includes: jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, wheel barrow walks, board twists, knee bends, shoulder presses, and throwing the football. This is part of their "p.e", along with golf lessons(Jackson), bike riding, farm work, basketball team(Joshua), and of course all the free playing. The boys, along with Andy, are going to take karate beginning in March when basketball is over.

::Start our learning day with a devotion/Bible from the Who is God? book (Apologia). This book has been an excellent study of basic theology for us.
::The boys study their spelling words (Abeka), verses (chosen by hybrid school teacher), and poetry (Abeka) while I clean up breakfast dishes, finish my chores, etc.

Stagecoach drawing project

::I teach them their new material for Math (Horizons) and Grammar (BJU Press). (These subjects, along with Spelling, are the only where they are on different levels.) Once I get them started and they begin their practice sheets, I work with Lydie.
::Snack/ rip and roar outside.
::Next we work on creative writing. Their grammar book teaches technical writing. I have loosely used the ideas from the Institute for Excellence in Writing to give an assignment based on our history studies. Every now and then they write in the journals on the subject of their choice. Every Friday they have a finished story and I type it and then they illustrate it. Jack has always been an excellent writer. Joshua has BECOME a great writer this year, too. When I get a chance I will post his recent assignment, a personal narrative. He BLEW MY SOCKS OFF!

Statue of Liberty drawing project
::Next we work on our History/Literature assignment from the Sonlight curriculum. This usually involves reading a short history lesson from a history book, plus a couple of chapters in 2 chapter books (one read aloud by me, the other read independently). Here are the chapter books (along with excerpts from 5 or 6 history books) that they have read so far this year:

Lincoln: A Photobiography

By the Great Horn Spoon!
Shoes for Everyone: Jan Matzeliger
Sing Down the Moon
World Changers: William Wilberforce
Freedom Train
Turn Homeward, Hannalee
The Perilous Road
Caddie Woodlawn
Old Yeller
The Story of Thomas Alva Edison, Inventor
The Great Turkey Walk
The Terrible Wave
Helen Keller
The Great Wheel
The Story of George Washington Carver
Little Britches (currently)
The Wright Brothers (currently)
::Lunch/ rip and roar outside or take a walk
::Next we work on "drilling". I have a thick notebook that contains all of the math, history, science, Bible, songs/hymns, and geography facts that I want them to remember. I divided them into five days. (Monday and Wednesday they are in school, so only math fact drills.)
Monday-Multiplication/Division facts (2s, 3, 4s)
Tuesday- Multiplication/Division facts (5s,6s,7s), Geography songs, Measuring facts with volume and weight, books of the Bible, disciples' names)
Wednesday- Multiplication/Division facts (8s, 9s, 10s)
Thursday- Multiplication/Division facts (11s, 12s), Shurley Grammar chants, capitalization and underlining rules, Measuring facts with time and temperature, presidents, US capitals, prime numbers, emergency procedures
Friday- Subtraction and addition facts, patriotic/history/folk songs, measuring facts with distances, planets, types of matter, types of sentences, address and phone number
::The rest of these topics are taught once or twice a week: Art (I find a weekly project from several art teacher's websites & they take an art class on Mondays), Logic (Perplexors workbooks), Latin (English from the Roots...), Drawing (Draw and Write through History), Music (Music Ace), Composer studies (I create these), and Science (Christian Kids Explore Chemistry).

Q-tip snowflake art project
::We are usually done by 2:00/2:30. It's a full, very challenging load of school work, but they are excelling. They are working hard and up to their full potential (Joshua especially). We all agree that this has been a really wonderful school year!

Half party

Today marks the halfway point of our year! It has been such a great year! I am so PROUD of all the kids have learned, their hard work. And I am thankful for the endless grace of Christ to sustain and encourage me along the way as their Mom/teacher. Just like any other milestone with the kids, the time has felt slow and fast, all at once. I am a big believer in celebrations. I think milestones should be acknowledged with something special. Amidst the day's agenda with a dental appointment, a day of school, cleaning the house, and this little celebration (before 3:00 when our visitors arrived!), my husband asked, "Are you sure you have time for cupcakes?". But I was determined (because I truly felt it a priority), and in the end we had plenty of time. Eighteen weeks of school is worth a little party (even if it means I had to skip mopping the floors!).

So much more to look forward to this year!

Half way party:

Half cupcakes

Half plates

Half-full glasses of lemonade

Homeschool update: Lydie's mid-year kindergarten update

I teach kindergarten to Lydie four days a week, with Wednesday being our day off. On Wednesdays we drop the boys off at their hybrid school and then enjoy 9:00-2:00 together in Birmingham. We usually spend from 9:00-10:30 at Bible study, each with our own friends. We ALWAYS eat lunch out at the restaurant of her choice, sometimes with family (often with Aunt Chelle and Greyce!). Sometimes we visit Nana, especially if she is under the weather or has a doctor's appointment/chemo treatment. Sometimes I have a doctor's appointment and she tags along and charms all the nurses and doctors. But mostly, we shop and eat lunch together for the rest of the day. She loves boutiques, antique markets, and Target as much as I do! Wednesdays are super fun and I can tell they fill up her little love tank (and mine, too!). On the other four days here is what her morning looks like:

::Morning Routine::

Breakfast and chores: Lydie is in charge of emptying the trash cans in around the house and making her bed/cleaning her room. She dresses herself and brushes her teeth. She also clears the breakfast dishes and cleans the table and sometimes floor. Then all the kids do a list of exercises Andy came up with: 30 push-ups, 30 sit-ups, jumping jacks, wheelbarrow walk up the halls, etc.

Devotion and prayer: We read from one of Susan Hunt's children's devotions. We memorized verses the first half of the year. Now we are working on catechism questions.

Fine Motor Skills activity: She plays with pegs, play dough, lacing, beading, puzzles, legos, etc. while I get the boys started on their work.

Calendar time: We review counting to 100 by 1s, 5s, and 10s, shapes, patterns, dates, days of the week, months of the year, her address, phone #, birthday, emergency 911 #, left/right, coins, ordinal numbers, and holidays.

Singing time: We sing 3 or 4 songs from the Wee Sing series. The singing includes dancing and instruments usually. She loves all of the old classics...Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush, If You're Happy and You Know It, etc. She also works on memorizing a short poem at this time.

Extra practice: Each school day I use the dry-erase board with Lydie. I write letters and numbers and she identifies the name (and sound for letters). I write a group of capital letters and lower case letters and she draws a line to match the pair. I make patterns with letters and numbers and she solves riddles. I write three and four letter words for her to sound out and review sight words. Then we do 3 or 4 Brain Quest K cards.

Math: Horizons K worksheet

Phonics and Handwriting: Horizons K or Spectrum Phonics K worksheet

Her signature in September...

and her signature in December.

Reading: Bob books or Starfall readers.

Units (Read-Aloud, Science/History and Art): I read a book aloud, based on a seasonal/history/science theme and we do an art project to go along with it. Sometimes instead of an art project she will ask to just look at an illustration from the book and try to paint or draw it. I love when she does that! Here are a few of her snowy-themed art projects:

Our favorite winter read-alouds this month have been: Max and Mo Make a Snowman, The Biggest, Best Snowman, A Little Bit of Winter, Winter Tale, and A Winter Walk.

Biggest strides:

~Reading three and four letter words much more quickly, still sounding them out, but much more fluently and recognizing some words without having to sound them out.

~In math, she is counting to 100 well, identifies most numbers to 100, very good at patterns and calendar skills, has memorized her phone number and address, is adding, and is beginning to count coins and tell simple time.

~Her handwriting has matured enormously.

Lydie is easy and fun to teach because she is SO enamored with learning! Her enthusiasm makes for a fun morning, which is such a blessing because I expect a lot out of her. I am looking at her school table now, covered in rocks and clay. She studies those rocks from our gravel driveway with a magnifying glass for fun. And the clay mess is from a clay bowl she made and colored "just for decoration". Everyone needs a pretty bowl for their school table, right? She has drawings and ribbons taped everywhere, even on the blinds above her school table. It's so endearing!