Snowy Day

What a wonderful surprise!




I say "surprise" because, even though the snow was predicted, it seems like we are forever disappointed by wrong forecasts. We just don't dare to hope anymore!

But, as you can see, today was a different story!
We were SNOWED IN!

I think the last report was somewhere around twelve inches of the white, powdery, fun stuff!

This was Joshua's first real memorable experience with snow.



He had lots of fun while he was out, but I think the whole ordeal of getting dressed, plodding through snow that was as tall and taller than his knees, and then getting undressed wore him out.





Not to mention the worrying that takes place when big ol' leaping Jack is around. He did get tied for a little while so that Joshua could sled without the stress of Jack bounding up behind him.

Jack did enjoy mauling William, though, before he was sentenced to the rope and the tree.



In the end, I think Joshua was more impressed with what awaited him inside.
Carrie had prepared a pan of her cinnamony Snickerdoodles that we topped off with a mugful of hot chocolate and marshmellow creme--and coffee with creamer for me.



"I'm all warm now...in my belly!" was Josh's response.




And when Carrie and William were preparing to go outside again while Joshua went down for his nap?
Protests on Joshua's part?
No.
Just a perplexed little guy wondering..."Why are they goin' out again? They've already been outside this day."



Next post...how the big kids spend a snowy day!

Wordless Wednesday..."Crazy, Man!"

Tot School

Something has been bothering me for awhile now.

I am reminded quite often of all the fun things that I used to do with Carrie and William when they were little. They were only 2 years apart, so a lot of the things that I would do with Carrie, I would also do with William.

You know, things like painting, playing games, pulling out special toys and sitting on the floor to play with them. We went places too. We did things that were age-appropriate for little kids.

Now that Carrie and William are older and in the 7th and 5th grade, I have become very intense with their schoolwork. Now they are doing upper elementary and junior high English, math and science.

Serious business.

In my rushing around to make sure that we are doing all that I think we should be doing academically for the big kids, I feel like I'm forgetting to do those fun "little kid" things with Joshua.

I know that he's getting plenty of attention. After all, he not only has Mommy and Daddy, but he also has the attention of a 13-year old sister and an 11-year old brother. And now, he is beginning to enjoy having a younger playmate named Matthew.

But I think you know what I mean.

I'm not being intentional. I'm not thinking about what he might enjoy doing with me. I've been a little hit-and-miss when it comes to activity time with Josh.

After much time of wallowing in the guilt and doing nothing but feeling bad, I remembered that this isn't the way it's supposed to be. I'm supposed to be very careful not to get all covered up with guilt and condemnation (I have to say, though, that after 13 years of being a mom, I am pretty good at it). I'm supposed to be taking everything to God. So, I began praying that He would show me how to do all that He would like me to do as a homeschooling mom.

Enter Tot School.

Through blogging, I've met several wonderful moms. One of those moms writes a blog called The Four Little Penguins. When I would visit her blog, I would read about all of the things that she was doing with her little ones during Tot School. How encouraging to find a mom who was doing so many wonderful things with her children!

One day, I figured out that her Tot School graphic was linked to a another blog...1+1+1=1. It is that blog where I found the origin of Tot School, and I also found lots of other moms who are doing Tot School with their little ones.

I want to thank these moms for sharing their lives with me. I want to thank them for their inspiration and encouragement.

Because of your obedience to God's call, He led me to you.

And now, I am posting about my first week of Tot School with Joshua...and at times Carrie, William, and Matthew.

For us, Tot School this week consisted of one day...Friday.

We finished breakfast and then went right into some play time with the music box.

Here, Josh is playing with his macaroni shaker and "coach's whistle." You can see Carrie practicing piano in the background. I don't think that she was too distracted by her 3-year old metronome.



Matthew also found some things that kept his attention.



And, yes, William did too.



After packing up the music box, Josh and I went to the table to practice some cutting. I found a cutting book at our local bookstore called "My First Book of Cutting: A Kumon Workbook."



It was slow going, but Joshua was pretty proud of his final product.



Next, we did something that is one of Joshua's (and my) favorite things to do. We wrote a story for his storybook.

First we looked back at a few of the other stories that we have written.





Then we got started on his new story idea "Frank the Combine."
The idea for the story and the title all belong to Joshua. I write quite a bit of the story, but Joshua guides the storyline. As we write, we look up images on Google Images and I let him choose his favorite pictures. It's also fun to add family pictures when we can.



We read his stories over and over. He likes to show his stories to other people and giggles as they read them to him.

I know...a very long blog post this time.
Go rest your eyes.
It's Sunday evening, so I'm going to go do some lesson planning.
And maybe even make something besides brownies for supper.
Maybe.

Wanna Know a Secret?

My kids want to be Secret Service Agents.




Can you blame them?

I mean, really.

You gotta admit...if it weren't for the job description--you know...the whole throwing your body in front of the President to take the bullet thing-- being a Secret Service Agent would be COOL!



Standing around wearing sunglasses, black coat, and earbuds.
Looking all serious.



Being the first to react in the face of danger.



Of course, the toughest part of the job would be dealing with the belligerent people that you're supposed to be keeping an eye on...




You know we're just playing.

After watching coverage of the Inaugural Parade yesterday, we were reminded that we really do appreciate the Secret Service Agents hired to protect our leaders.

But it's sure fun to play!

Blessed Thirteen

Today, we celebrate Carrie's thirteenth birthday.



Wow.

Thirteen years. Has it really been that long since I first felt the pangs of childbirth?

Thirteen years. Has it really been that long since that momentous announcement, "It's a girl!"

Thirteen years. Has it really been that long since Paul and I first looked into that little, round, angelic face?

Thirteen years. Has it really been that long since we carried her home from the hospital to our little two-bedroom home to be greeted by excited family members and a very curious dog named Duke?

Thirteen years. Has it really been that long since I watched Paul walk her up and down the hallway, humming softly, to get her to sleep in the middle of the night?

Thirteen years. Has it really been that long since I sat rocking her to the tune of "Winnie the Pooh" as I stared into her little blue eyes?

Thirteen years. Has it really been that long since Carolyn Jane captured my heart?



Today we celebrate more than just a birthday. We celebrate the life of a very special young lady.

A friend once told us that he doesn't look at the past ages and stages and mourn because they are no more, but he enjoys and looks forward to the next ages and stages. Each one holds a magic all its own.

Boy, was he ever right.

We celebrate with Carrie as she enters the world of the teenager.

And we not only look behind at who she was, but we look ahead at who she is becoming.

It is in these next seven years that she will become a young adult.

It is in these next seven years that she will make some pretty important decisions concerning her future.

The comforting part of all of that is that she is being led by her Creator.
The One Who gave her life and Who sustains her.
The One Who loves her even more than I do (and I love her a whole bunch!).

So before you leave my blog today, will you pray with me for Carrie?

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Carrie. Thank You for the joy that she has brought us and brings us everyday. I remember that first moment of her life and think of all that has happened since then...thank You that You hold us in the palm of Your hand. Thank You that You are in control. I pray that Carrie will continue to submit to You and that she will come to You for everything. Please guide and direct her as she goes through these sometimes turbulent teen years. Protect her from the enemy of her soul. Please give her a glimpse of the future that You have planned for her. Bless her today and in all her tomorrows. I pray that You will give her the desires of her heart...those special desires that You have placed there.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Thank you.

Oh! And did I mention that she's funny?



Sorry.
I needed to lighten things up a bit!

Happy Birthday, Carrie-Girl!

The Lucky Drawer

If one of the kids has something to put away, instead of just telling them to go put it away, I've tried to get in the habit of asking where they are going to put the item.

Yesterday, Joshua showed me a nickel that he had found. I asked him if he was going to keep it. He told me yes, so I asked him where he was going to put it. He told me, "In my Lucky Drawer."

Hmmm.... I've not heard of The Lucky Drawer before.

As you know, there's The Special Box, The School Drawer and The Tent. I also forgot to mention The Underwear Drawer (that's where very special items--like watches, gum and money are usually kept). But The Lucky Drawer?

I asked him where his Lucky Drawer was and he told me, "You know. In the drawer by the train table."

Oh! The School Drawer! He's just renamed his drawer. Well, O.K.

Later that day I found out why...

William had been asking me if I had found $5 when washing his jeans. I had washed both pairs and had checked all the pockets, but I hadn't found any money. He also checked all the pockets but found nothing.

Last night after dinner, I was putting some loose toys away. One of the toys belonged in the newly named Lucky Drawer. I opened the drawer, and there on top was a $5 bill.

I asked Joshua where the money had come from, and with a very sly smile he said, "From the couch!"...which was where I had put all the kids' folded laundry.



Aaaahhhh. The Lucky Drawer.

Very lucky indeed!




Does the "Finders Keepers" rule prevail in this situation?

Cheap Entertainment

Oftentimes cheap entertainment is the best entertainment of all...



Ah, the simple things in life.

Finders Keepers

We have several people around here who are in "the weepers" category lately. In fact, I think everyone has fallen into losing one thing or another--everyone that is except Joshua. He's the finder.

Or maybe "the swiper" is a better description.

This is Joshua's "special box." The kids have always had a special box or special drawer. It's been a way to preserve my sanity. If I don't know how to categorize something or know where to put some little trinket, then I can just say, "Put it in your special box," and to me, things feel organized.

Joshua, though, is using his special box for more than just his possessions lately.

I've discovered that if I "misplace" something, all I have to do is ask "The Finder" where it might be and off he runs to his bedroom to retrieve it from his special box.



And since the big kids have school drawers, I gave Joshua his own "school drawer"--a place where he can keep some fun things to play with during schooltime.

But...it's just become another place to hide his--and other people's--loot.



You might look at the previous pictures and say to yourself, "Where's all the stuff that this sweet little boy is swiping from his parents and siblings?"



Well, Josh got this really neat new tent for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa. He asked for it to be set up in the family room, so we obliged.

Do you see Matthew's red car in there?



You might also notice a couple of DVD's, a pair of Carrie's sunglasses, and my sweeper cord snaking through...



...a pack of gum...

and what's that?!



Matthew's diapers?!

It will be interesting to see what happens when Josh's tent gets folded up, put away, and he has a "change of address."

Where, then, will he keep his findings?

Eavesdropping

What I absolutely love about having the train table in the dining room is that while I'm peeling potatoes or washing dishes, I can listen in on my 3-year old's thoughts.

"Sweet home-abama!"



"Old MacDonald had a farm...EIEIO. With a quack quack here. A moo moo there. Everywhere!"



"He's a maniac, maniac on the porch!"



"Mommy. Why are you laughin'?"