O got a set of army guys for Christmas.  He played with them today in his room which is now going to be a playroom (his suggestion since he sleeps in L’s room with her).  For bedtime reading he chose a Curious George story: Curious George Goes to a Toy Shop.  On the last page, after having helped the customers reach toys too high on the shelves, George becomes an official toy store worker complete with a toy shop apron to wear.  I said as we closed the book, “And now George has an apron.  He is an employee there.” which inspired O to ask what an employee is.  Dada is an employee at PNC, I explained, he works for PNC.

O: And he was an employee of the Army?

H: Yes

O: When I am big, I’m going to be in the Army, too.

H: {heart breaks a little} Really?  You could be a doctor or inventor or artist or writer.

O: No, I’m going in the Army.

H:  If that will make you happy, O…but you know, in the Army they tell you when to go to bed and what to wear and sometimes what you can eat.

O:  Do they have gravy in the Army?

H:  What?  Oh, yes, they have gravy there. {One Sunday we ate out and S ordered some biscuits with gravy…he learned to like it in the Army, he told us.}

O: Gravy rhymes with Navy.

H: Yes.  {A story we read today was about the Minoans and the original navy}

O: Are there different navys?

H: No, just the one in the water.

O:  I mean the color navy.

H:  Hmmm.  Yeah, I think there are different shades of navy.

The conversation meandered.  He has such a great memory.  He really listens and takes it all in.  Smart and cute, in one little package.

I just started a little at home learning {for myself} and it is hard to describe how much I enjoy it and remember doing it for years and years through college and such.  And then while teaching.  When we first had babies, especially with L, I found it really hard to have the attention span to read a book and down-shifted to magazines for about a year.  I mourned my ability to read and comprehend what I was reading.  It had less to do with the fabled mommy brain and more to do with fatigue and ability to concentrate on things other than this brand new baby I was in charge of helping to live.  I joined a book club in CLE but that was not very enjoyable since I was trying to figure out the difference between footloose single and preoccupied new wife and mom.  I almost never drove after dark when we lived there; I distinctly recall coming up to our drive in the dark once after book club and I really had no idea if it was ours or not-I had never seen it at night.

But, as with everything, you learn as you go.  By the time O joined us, I was back to reading and understanding what I was reading.  Of course, by that time I had memorized many new books and songs…all preschool level.  I have a memory of reading Goodnight Moon to L when she was 2 and I realized I could say it all through without picture or prompt.  Like the Pledge or Nicene Creed-a recitation.  And since CA, I’ve been on a steady reading streak.  Getting an iPad while in the hospital with O was brilliant.  Bring me food, meds and let me read and watch while I nurse.  Heaven.

And this year I am thoroughly enjoying-no, that’s too mild a word-I am beyond thrilled to start reading some of the meatier chapter books to the kids.  This is by no means an indictment of anyone reading this {ahem, Mom}, but I know I was a huge reader as a girl but I don’t ever remember reading some of the truly great classic children’s literature.  I blame it on school.  We worked out of basal readers for a BROAD swoop of literature but seldom read entire books {gasp}.  I think I was required to read The Red Pony.  And I wrote a term paper on Willa Cather’s My Antonia without ever having read that one through, though I have since then and I loved it!  I got to college without reading To Kill A Mockingbird or any Jane Austen.  So reading aloud is really important here.  Some afternoons we read for an hour or more.  Its a small slice of perfect-even if sometimes fights break out and I need to make hot cocoa to ensure we stay engaged.

This all leads me to my own study that I just started.  It is a writing course and one I wished I had read when I was teaching in a classroom.  I am happy to have found it though I am teaching in my dining room and basement and playroom.  It feels like returning to myself a little bit to sit with a highlighter and pencil while listening to some Enya or other New Wave mumbo jumbo.  And anything that makes you more you is going to benefit everyone around you.

Have you seen the Will Ferrell sketch on Funny or die titled “The Landlord”?

Go Google it.  I’ll wait.

Ok…so the scene where Pearl screeches, “I WANT MY MONEY!”  More or less, you get the idea of bedtime tonight.  Pearl played alternatively by Emmy or myself.  There may have been a few missteps to a quiet, relaxed bedtime.  First, I fed everyone our favorite, french toast.  Sugar high.  Second, I took L to her Daisy troop meeting where she had Valentine’s treats and it was someone’s birthday.  It will be a big downer when its her b-day because those chickadees are getting fruit in ice cream cones.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY…now go to bed!  Everyone was pretty hyped up.  And have only gone to sleep now. (wait…L just came down to see when I was going to check on her.)

Am I telling too many anecdotes of our  nighttime?  I kinda feel I am.  Maybe I will try writing this at other times in the day 🙂

But the video made me laugh and relax.  I will go up and check on L and O one last time, give them big hugs and tell them to stay in bed!!

Ballet today with the Daisy troop. Beyond fun. Better description to come when I’m not falling asleep.

Also…happy one month anniversary to me! I started a daily practice of writing on the blog on January 7. It has made me more aware of the day to day hustle and bustle and the highlights of that, more grateful for little moments, and made me happy. Pretty good bang for the buck, I’d say!

Today our co-op started up again after a two month hiatus. Just the perfect length for a break. Everyone was excited to get back to it. It was awesome to walk in knowing what to expect, where everything was, recognizing friendly faces and meeting back up with new friends made last semester. And it was really great to be back in a group doing what you are doing, who understands what you are trying to achieve. L bloomed and beamed. She has a favorite teacher who is offering another class. She took a chance on LEGO building and really liked it and we found out a dance class had openings so she joined in there, too. We are going to the ballet tomorrow and it is sure to add to her experience of the class. O and I have a class together. It is called Preschool Fun and it is all sorts of chaos wrapped up in playdoh and stringed noodles. E gets to play with little baby friends in the nursery. Everybody is happy!

This article just came out in Wired magazine and is making the rounds of homeschool FB posts and blogs alike. Silicon Valley has finally caught on!

Sometimes I think I have bitten off more than I can chew with this stay at home/homeschool gig.  You know when you are overwhelmed and feel like you are messing up all over the place?  Today wasn’t one of those days, but about a week ago it was.  As you know, we have a great neighborhood and the most fantastic next door neighbors.  Arla and the Boys have been our support, comedic relief, and saving grace all rolled into one.  This particular day, it was everything I needed!

What was just a normal day full of running around and school work and housework and playing, somehow turned darker. {dun, dun, dun…} Lily decided she didn’t want to do her work and, furthermore, she really didn’t want to live here any more.  I was the “meanest mom”.  I’m not sure whose suggestion it was but we decided we would ask Miss Arla if she could please live with her.  So, of course, Lily wanted to text her to be sure this was okay before she started to pack.  She was welcomed with open arms but given a warning that living with all boys could be really gross sometimes. 🙂 Ollie decided he wanted in on this, too.  And I didn’t know how to stop it.  I offered them my side, a little “what about your poor Mom who will miss you?” but they said it was just next door.  So I went along with it.  We discussed what it might be like to live there and not with their parents.  And by the time were done, both kids were in tears.  Lily because she didn’t want to leave me, after all, and Ollie because he really did want to!

High five, Momma!  I just had to shake my head.  Those times you don’t know what in the world to do or say and so you go along with it and then everyone ends up crying, a puddle of emotions on the kitchen floor.

Thankfully, Arla relayed that Seth had try to run away twice that week.  He got as far as the creek, fell in and came back to ask her what he should do.  So I am guessing this is only the beginning of these kinds of situations.

Just like in the classroom, just like in real life, really, some days you have to mix it up.  I am just placing clues all over the house so that L and probably O can have fun with a treasure hunt tomorrow morning.  We needed to add something unexpected and energizing to our school routine.  This will mix it up a bit!  Treasure Hunt

And I promise, those other things I wrote about writing about last week…coming up.  Tonight=no time.  Downton and me and some laundry have a date!

OWW met a tree while sledding today. He killed that tree, though. He knocked it right down and now it’s dead. He escaped with a nice fat poked eye. He swears he can see despite the swelling. L thought he looked like Luke Skywalker after his unfortunate abduction by the Wampa on Hoth. L is the Star Wars expert around here, with counsel from Sam. She decided O may watch Number 4, the original Star Wars movie, when he turns 5. Except for the choking part. No one is gonna watch that!

(Never fear! E insists on reading Can You Spot a Jedi? On a regular basis…she knows what’s what.)

To keep my mind off the constant snow, many projects are on the horizon.

School:  There’s always school to prepare and books to gather.  Every Little House cd is reserved at the library.  We are up to By the Shores of Silver Lake.  But I get requests for reading them and also listening.  L is also agitating for The Chronicles of Narnia; I found an awesome full cast recording on Audible and plan on using a credit to get that soon.  Saving up for the box set of books which she would like on hand, too.

I can see she is on the cusp of starting to pick up books and read them to herself.  She reads to her brother and sister–Dr. Seuss and the like but has yet to try and tackle the next step up in material.  But it is coming very soon and then her world will expand.  I’m so excited for her!

We start a new unit on Ancient Greece in the next week or so.  I am gathering up materials now.  I am using The Magic Tree House Fact Finder for introductory information and we will go from there with some Usborne  books, projects and educational videos.  I’m looking forward to this; Ollie can join us and we all got into Ancient Egypt last fall.

House:  So much I want to do, so little time to do it.  Besides being desperate for a new kitchen {sigh} but being patient as the kids grow so I don’t have to toddler-proof it or worry about it getting too dinged up..that will be a major project (but one I look forward to!!).  For now I am tackling our master bedroom.  It is gigantic and so white!  New paint, curtain and curtain rods will really warm it up and make it feel more peaceful.  Like a family-friendly spa.

Self:  Work continues on healthy eating.  Whole30 being my reference but not my dietary bible…I am taking in dairy and legumes and a little bit less protein.  Still hardly any processed sugar and no alcohol.  I was pretty hangry with all the rules.  But I am sleeping better and avoiding an afternoon slump.

Couple:  We have 2 (!!) parents night out coming up.  While L is not totally thrilled I am totally looking forward to some downtime with Sam.  Sopranos?  A movie?  Dinner out?  So many possibilities!

Art:  We did some Valentine’s art today.  It was Groundhog Day and so O took artistic license and turned his into a celebration of 6 more weeks of winter.  Melty crayons and then painted with watercolor.  I can’t wait to get them up on display!  Idea from Artful Parent

There was a book I read growing up where you took a quiz and the results pointed to your temperament.  And my temperament was sanguine>>optimistic leader-like. Another book contained all sorts of information on the Zodiac.  And so I read up on my sign: Gemini>>dual personality.  When I found a Myers-Briggs quiz online this morning, before anyone was awake, I thought I would take it.  I’m still reading up on my type characteristics but I am an  ESFP>>>Extroverted Sensing Feeling Perception.  The extroverted was not a surprise at all…that I feel energized by being around people…but I believe they were talking about people taller than 40″. Because the people under that height wore me out today!!