So Many Funnies – Slug Shooters

Again and again, I say it to myself, “I just love this stage of my children’s lives.”  Four kids, ages (almost) six to ten.  Crazy, silly, messy, and FUNNY!  They are.

Recently, Little Man checked out a book about Star Wars droids.  That night he was devouring it!  Apparently he was filling his sisters in on all the details when he shared that one of them shoots slugs from his chest.  Not knowing that slugs are also bullets, he was imagining the slug shooter shooting little slimy, snail-like creatures out of his chest.  Think about it; this is reasonable coming from a movie that includes the likes of Jabba the Hut, right?  He and his sisters had a great laugh.

The next day they were discussing the anomaly when Bubba offered a suggestion:  They should also have a droid that shoots salt.  The slug shooter and the salt shooter could duel and see who wins.

I’m so glad I overheard that!

Read Full Post »

Classes I’d Like to Teach for Our Local Homeschool Co-op

It’s that time of year again, when the co-op leader sends out an e-mail that tells us all that we’d better get busy writing our class descriptions, if we want the privilege of teaching at co-op again this coming semester.  I already know what I’m teaching (a bunch of four to seven year olds a whole lot of messy stuff – with clay and paint, but not at the same time – this semester), but here is a short list of classes that I wouldn’t mind teaching.

Chocolate Conversations

Ages targeted:over 18

Prerequisites:  a love of chocolate

Summary:  Each class will combine the sensory examination and evaluation of multiple kinds of chocolate and the fine art of discussion.

Estimated outside of class preparation:  None, unless you want to scour the world for delicacies to share with the class.

Housecleaning 101

Ages targeted:  any old enough to be an actual help

Cost:  I should probably pay you . . .

Prerequisites: none, absolutely none, as my children will tell you

Summary:  Each week we will meet at instructor’s home.  We will divide up, and each person may practice cleaning skills on one area of her house.  She used to be a maid (a Merry one) and will be willing to share any and all of her cleaning expertise with you.

Supplies Needed:  rubber gloves, if you prefer them.  Instructor will supply cleaners and tools – she’s generous like that.

Estimated outside of class preparation:  You may practice on your own home, if you feel that you need extra practice.

What class would you like to teach at co-op?

Read Full Post »

The Monster in the Closet & Silliness on a Plate

A week or so ago I asked the kids to NOT go into my closet.  They complied with no questions asked.

Or so I thought.

A couple days later, Handsome told me that later the kids did indeed ask, “Why can’t we go in the closet.”

He casually told them there was a monster in there.  (It’s sort of true – all those Christmas presents are precariously piled high!)

They giggled and moved on.

Until that night, they asked, “Is there really a monster in the closet.”

He told them with a straight face, “Yes, the neighbors (whom the kids knew were out of town for the holiday) asked us to watch theirs while they are gone.”

So for days now the kids have been referring to the monster in the closet – always in a matter of fact tone.

I guess we’re going to have to keep him; the neighbors have been back for a couple days now!

*******

Just the other night, we were eating a very fancy dinner of take out pizza.  We opted to use the leftover birthday celebration paper plates.

Shortly into the meal, I noticed that Bubba had a funny look on her face.

I inquired.

She informed me that “they” were staring at her.

Fearing early onset mental illness, I tenderly asked her, “Who is staring at you?”

She pointed to her plate, and we all busted out laughing.  The characters on her plate sure did have ginormous eyes – all pointed in her direction!

So we used the available resources and covered them all up!

Read Full Post »

An Interview with Gus (the Giggly One)

Q:  What is something your mom always says to you?

Stop (doing that.)

Q:  What makes your mom happy?
When I obey

Q:  What makes your mom sad?
When I don’t obey

Q:  How does your mom make you laugh?
tickling me

Q:  How old is your mom?
36

Q:  How tall is your mom?
Uhhh, I don’t know.

Q:  What is her favorite thing to do?
Is it cook?

Q:  What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Go shopping.  (What she sees is that one night a week while Dad does science, Mom goes “shopping,” as in shopping for food and toilet paper and things our family needs.  I don’t think she knows I sort of dread those nights out lugging bags around dark parking lots and then home exhausted!  I do like the time to have my own thoughts; perhaps that’s why she thinks I’m so excited about shopping.)

Q:  What is your mom really good at?
typing

Q:  What does your mom do for a job?

be a teacher

Q:  What is your mom’s favorite food?
cookies (nope, but I do like them!)

 

Q:  If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Jessie (as in Woody’s counterpart from the Toy Story movies)

Q:  What do you and your mom do together?
read

Q:  How are you and your mom the same?

I don’t know.

Q:  How are you and your mom different?
She doesn’t have curly hair.

Q:  How do you know your mom loves you?
She tells me.

Q:  What does your mom like most about your dad?

He can cook.

Q:  Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
Mmmmm. . . is it the grocery store?  (See above.)

Q: If you could have any job in the world, what would you do?
missionary to where? to Africa

Q: If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be?
flying

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?
on the other side of the world . . . China(?)

Q: If you could build anything, what would you like to build?
a robot

Q: If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you want?
monkey

Q: If you could look like someone else, who would it be?
me. But that’s not someone else . . . Dimples (her brother)

Q: If you had plenty of money, what would you buy?
a camera Why a camera? so I could take pictures (duh) Of What? Animals.  What animals? Wild animals  What wild animals do you see? Alligators.  You see ALLIGATORS? I did (in Florida).

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in school?
Bible

Q: Have you ever sneaked a peek at presents that were hidden from you?
No. You sure? Yeah.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you are alone?
play or read

Q: What is your favorite vegetable?
broccoli

Q: What is your favorite season of the year?
Summer

Q:  What is your favorite Bible verse?

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Read Full Post »

Interview With Bubba, age 9

Q:  What is something your mom always says to you?

I love you.  (Oh, I was so glad this was her answer and not something like, “Clean your room!” or “Do your chores!” or “Go to time out!”)

Q:  What makes your mom happy?
When I do the right thing

Q:  What makes your mom sad?
When one of us is sick

Q:  How does your mom make you laugh?
tickling me

Q:  What was your mom like as a child?
I don’t know.

Q:  How old is your mom?
36, I think

Q:  How tall is your mom?
Um, taller than me, but I’m almost to her shoulders.

Q:  What is her favorite thing to do?
to have fun with us . . . playing with us (I love that all of her answers are about the kids . . . but maybe I should be concerned that all of her answers are about the kids!)

Q:  What does your mom do when you’re not around?
How would I know? (as in, “Duh, I’m not around to see!” but sweet, not sarcastic.)

Q:  If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
being the best mom in the whole wide world

Q:  What is your mom really good at?
taking care of four kids . . . being a teacher

Q:  What is your mom not very good at?

I don’t know . . .hmmm,

Q:  What does your mom do for a job?

homeschool us and take care of us

Q:  What is your mom’s favorite food?
ice cream . . . no, chocolate covered strawberries (close)

Q:  What makes you proud of your mom?
She’s my mom.

Q:  If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Q:  What do you and your mom do together?
lots of things:  cook, sometimes have a girl time, go shopping

Q:  How are you and your mom the same?
I’m a mini-mom.  We both have blond hair, and everyone says we look the same.

Q:  How are you and your mom different?
I like to be around horses, and she, I think, likes to be around smaller animals.

Q:  How do you know your mom loves you?
She shows it and tells me.

Q:  What does your mom like most about your dad?

(shrugs shoulders)

Q:  Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
I guess somewhere with dad.

Q: If you could have any job in the world, what would you do?
Something that has to do with horses

Q: If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be?
I could help any kind of animal at any time.

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?
I guess, Ethiopia . . . because my brother and sister were born there.

Q: If you could build anything, what would you like to build?
a really cool house where we could live (Don’t we have one of those?)  No, I mean on with a horse stable connected to it.

Q: If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you want?
horse or a snow tiger

Q: If you could look like someone else, who would it be?
No one, I guess. (Why?)  I like being me.

Q: If you had plenty of money, what would you buy?
a pet

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in school?
Bible

Q: Have you ever sneaked a peek at presents that were hidden from you?
No, I don’t think.  (Are you sure?) Yeah . . . I like them to be a surprise.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you are alone?
read

Q: What is your favorite vegetable?
carrots

Q: What is your favorite season of the year?
Spring or Fall

Q:  What is your favorite Bible verse?

John 3:16, because it tells me that God loves me

Quite a while ago I saw a few blog posts where moms had interviewed children; I thought it was fun.  I thought I would do it, and I stored these questions in my draft file.  Finally getting to it now, probably a year or two later!  Will post more kid answers next week!

Read Full Post »

Overheard at Our House (Late August Edition)

Dimples, after a face plant at the play ground.  I felt so bad for him, but this picture totally cracks me up! (and grosses me out too!)

Dimples-isms:

The “big” kids are in the kitchen teaching Dimples to say “Ethiopia.”  I wish they wouldn’t.  I rather like it that he says, “Epiopia.”

He also says “squirrels” instead of “swirls” lately, as in, “I want the cup with green squirrels on it.”

“I have a smagitto bite!” – Dimples, referring to the itchy bump on his leg

On Little Man:

“I have a little caterpillar.  He has a horn, and I’m going to call him Horny!” – Little Man, referring to the creeping thing on his hand.

(I think I said something like, “Oh, let’s call him something else, like nasty-rotten-tomato-eater.”)

Read Full Post »

Summary of a Summer

On June 10th I posted a list of things that I thought we might do this summer.  Most of them are things that we usually just don’t have a lot of time for.  I thought we’d have a lot of time this summer.  We did, sort of.  Here’s that same list, with my notes.  Ah!  The perspective of a summer well-lived:

• computer games {We did indeed play computer games until our eyes rolled back into our heads, and by that I do mean that the kids played maybe once week for 20-30 minutes.  I have to admit that I really enjoyed playing a couple games on Webkins.  Haven’t done that in a long, long time – maybe a year!}
• puzzles {We did one!}
• logic books {nope . . . well, once for a little bit}
• art and nature games {nope, though we did spend a lot of time outside}
• fun box activities – we have a box of craft kits, art supplies, and other fun stuff all of which needs a good amount of time to practice/play {We got a blessed amount of these projects out of the box and completed.  Yay!}
• Christmas gift projects – The kids make gifts for each other for Christmas.  This year we are starting those gifts this summer! {or not}
• state puzzles, learn states {close, but nope}
• sign language – learn the ABCs and a few other things {sporadically, but I’m going to continue this this fall – they are interested at least}
• practice math facts {Bubba did; I’m not sure the others can even count anymore.  oops!}
• practice piano {This we did, and we did it well!}
• run around the house – Oddly, I have one child who LOVES this option and will choose it a lot! {nope}
• clean something – I have a “deep cleaning” list that lists a room of the house for each week of the summer; hopefully by the end of the summer the house will be wonderfully, blessedly clean.  (Probably it won’t, but a girl can dream, can’t she!)  We also have a list of chores that the kids can do for extra money.  {Oh, how I wish that I had used this option more.  Though I have to say that I have one child who purposely would tell me he was bored – just to get a chore to do.  Strange little man, he is.}
• memorize a poem {What, huh?  That sounds a lot like school.}
• Play-Doh w/ Dimples {He didn’t even ask for it once.  Weird.}
• stand on your head – They will try!  Oh, how they will try!  {The big three did all manage handstands in the pool – does that count?}
• draw (use drawing books?) {nope}
• copy recipes in recipe book (Bubba)  {Did this one – once, at least.}
• Wii time {That was a great idea, but the first time I tried to turn the Wii on this summer, it was dead.  And I do mean d.e.a.d.  Handsome tried to revive it, but to no avail.  We were Wii-less this summer.  It was fine but me, yet it was sort of sad, seeing as how I thought we might actually find some time to use that box – that I reluctantly constented to – for once. }
• do a craft from the craft books {Bubba is making a three legged stool out of some big, fat dowels and an old pair of jeans right now.}
• color {not much}
• Rush Hour – what a fun game! {It IS a fun game!}
• reading activity books – I got some new books that have reading comprehension activities; the kids haven’t seen them yet, but they will think the articles are cool.  (I think.)  {Totally forgot about these until just the other day – oops!}
• lap book – Bubba has a horse lap book that she started working on last summer.  She learned a lot from it, so I’m thinking she’ll enjoy finishing it this summer.  {There was a little progress.}

And so, since we did hardly anything on our list, I am left wondering what on earth we did with two and a half months!  Where did they go?  Was I in the pool that long?  Surely that means we had fun, right?

Read Full Post »

Boxing and Sugar and School, Oh My!

We received this letter from a friend this week:

Dear [Gus] and [Little Man],

I am sorry for boxing you.  And I am sorry you got hurt.  please come play again soon.

from, [our friend]

That is definitely one for the scrapbook!  Oh, my lands!  I can’t tell you the laughter this whole situation has prompted.  Our children decided to box with a friend on a playdate.  Their was only one pair of boxing gloves involved, and my children weren’t smart enough to request to be the ones to wear them.  No one was really hurt, but there was one big, giant lump on one girl’s eyebrow.  Same eye that she clobbered a couple of weeks ago; that time she had a huge shiner!  I should pray for her safety more.  (And just to be sure to sound like a conscientious parent, yes, we were checking on the kids.  Yes, they were sneaky and only boxed when we parent-types weren’t looking.  And yes, they knew they shouldn’t have been doing it . . . but they did anyway.)

——-

A friend wrote me the following sentence in reference to our “last day of summer-let’s have lots of fun-day to celebrate and go swimming and eat chocolate chip cookie bars” event:

“I think jumping into a new school year calls for a pan of sugar.”

I couldn’t agree more!

——-

{wrote this yesterday but was just too tired to actually hit the post button}

While it is still hot, hot, hot outside, the temperature inside has cooled considerably; we spent our day having our first day of school.

The kids woke up to find at the bottom of the steps a pile for each of them – new school supplies, a few treats, and a mom-made All About Me Poster.  A little side note:  one of the things that I enjoyed this year was that when we went school shopping, the kids opted to save some money and not buy everything new.  We did buy a few new things – either things we didn’t have before or things that needed to be replaced – but over and over they said, “I don’t need a new one of those; I’d rather spend the money on something fun!”  I didn’t prompt this, but they are learning that smart decisions get rewarded!

We did a devotion this morning from 1 Corinthians, talking about how we should honor the Lord with everything that we do.

Then we dove into a checklist of back-to-school kinds of activities.

Here is list of things to do this week:

• Draw and color a page for the front of your binder.
• Organize bins and binders (each child has a bin where his/her school books live and a binder that is his/her main work binder)
• Sharpen pencils and have erasers ready
• Art Lesson (Yay!)
• “Why Study History?” lesson from Tapestry of Grace
• Calendar (one child decorated around the calendar, one child wrote family birthdays and holidays, and one child crossed off all the days until the 20th)
• Reading
• “All About Me” Poster (The kids were supposed to work on this any time they didn’t have something else to do)
• Put together a time capsule

And that, my friends, sums up the official end of our summer break.

Read Full Post »

Things That Have Made Me Stand Up And Cheer Recently (edited: to add the recipe that I thought was there)

These cool pictures that Handsome took while I was shopping in a little artsy-fartsy shop down the street.  These were taken in front of the Louisville Science Museum.  He got a good one of all four kids by themselves, and Bubba was able to take a good one of the two of us adults.  So fun – now I just have to find a cool way to display them!

I just love these pictures of this little girl!  (hat tip:  Design Mom)

This is just another reason I am glad that we are homeschooling.  I could have written this . . . except, of course, I wasn’t valedictorian.

Andrew Peterson’s new cd came in the mail!  And we listened to it over and over and over!

Our recent visit to The Creation Museum was fun and informative.  And we met friends there (who happened to be visiting at the same time); we left together and had dinner at a great pizza place.  What fun it is to meet friends on vacation twice in one summer!  (Though, to be honest, we did know that we were going to meet this group of friends; before our travels, we discovered that we had planned to be at the same place at the same time and, while keeping it a secret from our children, planned a little surprise meeting right in the middle of the museum!  It was SO fun . . . and totally worth it to see the look on Bubba’s face when she saw one of her favorite friends in such an unexpected place!)

It’s peach and blackberry season!  Here’s a recipe for one of my favorite summer foods:

Peach-Blackberry Cobbler

Peaches to cover the bottom of a 9×13 (I just peel and cut until the pan is about half full)
1 1/2ish Tablespoons sugar (just sprinkle a bit over the whole pan) (you can omit this, if the peaches are ripe and sweet!)
2-3 Tablespoons flour

Stir the peaches, sugar, and flour together.  (The flour just helps to thicken the peach juice as it cooks.)

1-2 cups blackberries, whole, washed

Sprinkle blackberries over the top of the peaches.  We just do enough that the top of the cobbler is liberally dotted with blackberries.

1 1/2 cup all-purpose unbleached flour (we use half whole wheat & half white – works fine)
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
5 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup buttermilk or heavy cream  (I have also just used milk.  It’s fine – just not as rich tasting.)

Preheat oven to 375.
Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and pinch of salt in a bowl.  Cut in butter until dough is crumbly (don’t overdo it).  Mix in the 3/4 cup buttermilk or heavy cream with a fork until just combined.  Place dough on floured board*, adding  as little flour as possible to make it easier to handle.  Pat into a circle 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick.  Cut out several shapes with a cookie cutter.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden brown and filling is bubbling.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

*I don’t always pat out dough and cut out shapes; I just throw spoonfuls over the fruit and sort of flatten them out.  It’s not as pretty, but my family doesn’t really care!*

Hope you are having a great summer!  I have been enjoying my bloggy break, and I have been getting a lot done too!

Read Full Post »

Overheard At Our House

We were laying out our plans for science for our next school year.  Lots of cool ideas.  36 weeks.

Me:  So, do you think we can save this stuff about volcanoes until the end of the year; we’ll be studying Pompeii in history.

Handsome:  Sure.  That’s fine.

Me:  Great!

Handsome:  Oh, and when we study volcanoes, we should talk about geysers and such too.

Me:  Great!

Handsome:  We could talk about Yellowstone and Old Faithful.

Me:  And why don’t we just take a field trip to SEE it all?!  Wouldn’t that be fun!

He just flashed me one of his handsome smiles.  I think we’ve planned vacation and science all in one night!  (He thinks I was kidding!)

——-

When you are getting together with a college friend that you haven’t seen for a lot of years (though you have kept in touch) and she immediately says, “Oh, you look just the same” you know the day is going to go well!

——-

Two recent Dimples-isms:

Dup-a-los – As in, “I like to build things with my Lego Dup-a-los.”

and

Scare-a-crow – As in, “Mom, why are there crows sitting on that scare-a-crow?”

Read Full Post »