Today’s adventures in Neverland proved that men are really just overgrown boys. While playing outside, at least a couple of the boys stripped their shirts off (including the chunky monkey toddler), even though it was very pleasant and not at all hot. The 10 year old went to a friend’s house down the street (with my permission) but when the friend wasn’t home he headed out beyond our backyard to hunt tadpoles in the dry run (without telling me). The 8 & 10 year olds had to “compare” their scores on a timed math drill, especially since the 8 year old . The 4 year old managed to get thoroughly dirty in the sandbox. And then there was the 2 year old in his Cozy Coupe. . .doing donuts in the driveway. 
Archive for May, 2007
Ask any homeschooling mom with more than a couple children, and she will tell you that silence from a toddler during school time is seldom a good thing. In the past couple weeks, my current toddler has:
- frozen my computer several times (sending it to the shop)
- glued toilet paper to the quilt on my bed
- scheduled events on my palm pilot
- learned how to drink straight from the bathroom faucet
- snipped this & that with my SEWING scissors
- attempted to eat marbles
- eaten any and everything left on the counter including granola by the fistfuls
- washed (and scratched) a dvd
- snuck out the back door and learned to ring the front doorbell
. . .and those are just the things I know about. While downloading the weekend’s pictures, I learned he also takes pictures. Most were of things on the computer desk such as the base of the monitor and the pencil sharpener, but then he turned the camera around and revealed the identity of the phantom photographer.
I’m running out of HIGH places to keep things from this busy little boy. . .
Saturdays are always busy with Larry getting ready for church that night, scraping the outer layer of dirt off the boys, and then it is late by the time we all get home from worship. However, he spent a little time in the morning playing Legos with his little guys. . .(don’t tell N I called him ‘little’!!)
After allowing our big Sunday morning brunch to settle, the kids headed outside to play while Larry did some yardwork. Everyone was excited when I brought out drumsticks mid-afternoon (Mr. I got the last ice cream sandwich, his favorite). Around here, we all scream for ICE CREAM. . .
Afterwards, Larry set up their sprinkler. R wasn’t impressed by the coldness of the water, and Mr. I wasn’t impressed at all, but the rest of the boys thought it was just the thing for a hot day. . .
After R & I got home from our shopping this morning, Larry headed to Walmart to pick up a new sandbox, N & I’s (belated) Christmas gift from Papaw & Mimi. Everyone had to check out the new sandbox, which is in the shade under the clubhouse of their playset. . .
Finally, we finished up the weekend with a picnic dinner featuring steak. . .and homemade chocolate cream puffs filled with vanilla pudding. Yum! I meant to take one last picture, but forgot until I was back inside cleaning up the kitchen.
There never seems to be time for us to sneak out alone in a regular weekend, so we haven’t had an outing since Thanksgiving I think. I had hoped to leave bright & early, but first I hit the snooze button a couple times and then Larry had one of his headaches (if you’ve never seen one, they are different than migraines but just as miserable).
We finally got to Panera for breakfast around 9:30–we were both quite hungry!!! R chose a pumpkin muffin with apple juice; I tried a spinach & bacon baked egg souffle with a cafe mocha (if you’re splurging you may as well splurge!). Everything was yummy as usual, and we sat at one of those high tables that are too small for the whole family.
Our first stop was the Christian bookstore, where we bought nothing. I mostly wanted to see if they still had the pocket sized ESV Bibles like Larry bought recently. They did, but the print is so tiny! I’m not sure I want to make the change from NKJV anyhow; even though the LCMS seems to be shifting to ESV.
JoAnn Fabrics was next door, one of our favorite places to browse. Clearance fabric was an extra 50% off, but it was too ugly to buy. We spent quite a bit of time at the pattern table and only bought one! I think they’ve had the same small selection of styleless maternity patterns for the past 10 years, but then I saw a regular sundress pattern that was just what I wanted. It has an empire waist and full skirt, so I don’t think it will take much altering for maternity. I did get some more of the chocolate print I used for my last set of napkins, wanting to stash it for an apron or purse lining or something. We looked at July 4 prints for holiday napkins but then I remembered I already had plenty at home so we just bought some wide white linen blend for a tablecloth. Lastly I picked up a book on silk ribbon embroidery. . .as if I don’t have enough hobbies. 
Our next stop was at Target. We picked up a few essentials, most notably some Lindt truffles. After all, shopping is hard work–we needed noursishment! We had a couple more errands to run and then it was time to head back to home and reality.
If only all the daily challenges that face a homeschooling mom were like this one! A couple weeks ago, J (age eight) finished his math book, even though our school year will continue through the summer. Never mind that was a third grade level book and he is in second grade, he daily asks me when I’m going to order the next book for him. And I have to keep telling him “not yet.” When this happened last year, I picked up a cheap workbook at Walmart to tide him over, but it was too much fluff to keep him happy. So to save on shipping costs, I’d rather wait until I can find enough money to order everybody’s next book at the same time. . .meaning my Math Boy has to live without math a little longer. I did print up a timed drill sheet for today, which made him happy. 
In the past couple of days I’ve been tagged twice. . .I hope I don’t break any blogging rules if I reply to both at the same time.
Glenda tagged me first; I’m supposed to list seven things I’ve learned in life. Hmmm. I apologize if my answers aren’t very thought-provoking; chasing 5 kids around while pregnant with a 6th seems to have evaporated my ability to think.
- Done is better than perfect.
- Some things can only be learned by experience.
- Three or more boys WILL be rowdy.
- Reasons for the term opposite sex go beyond anatomy.
- I am capable of more than I think I am.
- Most of the time, you get what you pay for.
- You can’t fix stupid.
Today Elizabeth tagged me to answer the following, easier question:
What did you want to be when you grew up when you were 5, 10, 15, & 20?
5-nurse (my grandpa was a doctor)
10-mommy
15-mommy, wife (having gotten over the “boys are gross” stage), & maybe a teacher
20-wife & mommy; if I didn’t meet my man I would have become a librarian (Plan B, you might say)
I never know who to tag next. . .the first one seems to have already made the Looper rounds and the second is getting there fast. But if someone hasn’t answered yet, or one of my sewing friends wants to join the fun, then by all means consider yourself tagged!
- Family meals. We took them for granted until Larry changed jobs; today we made the most of a problem with his truck that let him eat at home.
- Garlic sauted in olive oil. What can I say, I’ve got just enough Italian blood.
- Budding bookworms. Who can resist a 2 year old crawling into your lap, holding a board book and saying ‘read me’?
- Email. Being able to communicate with other homeschoolers (& seamstresses) on a daily basis is a real sanity saver!
- Sibling love. Sometimes they fight, then there are those other times. . .
- Knowing tomorrow is another day, with no mistakes in it yet.
Horrors, my dryer stopped working last week! Larry did his best this weekend, but we still need to call a repair man. In the meanwhile we’ve been blessed with warm sunny weather. But I only have a short clothesline, intended for a load of diapers or perhaps a quilt. . .there are not enough hours in the day to dry all of our laundry!
Excuse my amateur hanging efforts; I have a hard time getting the line tight enough that it doesn’t droop. Anyhow, today I had to wash towels. I’m not a fabric softener girl, but I really don’t like line dried towels. Sheets and clothes are alright, but towels get so crunchy. I really need to wash lights, but I’m not keen on hanging my unmentionables in the backyard.
Adding insult to injury, this week the strawberries at the grocery weren’t worth buying. 
I love strawberries. I always have. I eat them plain or dressed up with one of many strawberry recipes. My kitchen is decked with their sweet red likenesses.
And most springs, I don’t get to eat many of them. I’m no gardener. I like to go to the U-pick farm, but it’s too far for a quick berry fix and I have too many helpers to pick for any length of time. Farmers’ markets always sell out before I get there. And the local groceries mostly carry the kind of California strawberries that are big on size and short on flavor. No matter how tempting they might look, I leave them at the store knowing I will be disappointed by the very first bite.
Ah, but this year my taste buds have been in heaven! For several weeks I have been able to get some lovely Florida strawberries at Fareway. They may not be quite the same as homegrown Midwestern strawberries, but they are a beautiful shade of red all the way through and they taste delicious. I think I’ll cry when they are no longer available. . .
They aren’t the kind sold in stores, of course. They aren’t the kind made at school, either. No, the best cards are the ones the kids plan and make all by themselves, early Sunday morning while you’re still sleeping.
Clockwise from top: punched shapes by N (age 4), cards by R (age 7), C (age 10), and J (age 8).
The rest of the day was nothing particularly special, other than not cooking. Sunday morning breakfast is traditionally donuts, they took me to Panera for lunch, and we picked up Papa Murphy’s pizza for supper. We ran a few errands while we were in town. I think Larry was hoping to find a gift for me, but the only thing I really want right now is a pocket edition of Lutheran Service Book. I did look at matching Crocs for R & me, but those have to be bought online as I couldn’t find pink in both sizes locally. I can’t decide if I really want a pair, anyhow!
(And in case anyone wonders why a pastor & his wife were sleeping in on Sunday morning, it’s because the farmers in his tiny parish find it easier to get to church at 7:30 on Saturday evening this time of year)
