And Then There's Today

When Little Sissy hugs me and says, "You're the beautifulest mommy forever."

And all the stress fades away for a moment and I remember why I wouldn't change a thing.

One Week In

And I'm thinking that homeschooling may not be a long-term solution for us. Big Sissy is soooo motivated and eager to learn. The problem is more that I am not so motivated and not as eager of a teacher. And I have 2 little kids who also need attention. And I'm trying to do publicity for my MOPS group. And I'm trying to start a new business. And my grandpa is very sick and I'm trying to see him on the weekends. The hives are telling me that I won't be able to keep this up for long. I'm praying for wisdom and balance. I didn't make the first payment for preschool because I wasn't going to do it, but now I'm doubting my decision. *sigh*

So that's where I've been. Trying to balance my world on my finger. Suddenly I don't feel in control of this spinning ball. I'm glad that my spinning ball is a tiny little thing on the bigger ball that is humanity on the bigger ball that is the earth on the bigger ball that is God's domain. At least I can rest in that.

First Day of School

OK. So I've decided to "homeschool" this year. For all of you educators whom I greatly respect, don't panic. I'm only committing to doing it this year since Big Sissy isn't old enough for kindergarten yet. It's a bonus year. If we love it, I may keep going. If I blow it, there's always "real kindergarten" next year. So I have a great reading list from one curriculum, a big book of science experiments from the teacher store, a pile of math manipulatives (play money, clocks, shapes, etc.), and a bunch of workbooks from Target. I have no structure in mind, but before you turn me in to DFS, let me reassure you of a few things:

a. We will have fun.

b. She teaches herself, so she will make up for my weaknesses.

c. We are planning to be involved in tons of things that will round out her education (Kindermusik, MOPS, swim lessons, zoo trips, etc.)

d. She will not be confined to social isolation and I will let her watch TV on occasion.

I'm still kind of in summer mode, and did I mention I'm very unstructured? So I didn't really have a start day in mind. But today Big Sissy was in the living room working on a project for quite a while, and then she asked me how to spell "Dora is eating." When she was done, she brought this to me.

Oooo, great idea. Attach a sticker to a piece of paper and write a sentence about it. I think we just had our first day of school. I wonder what her lesson plan is for tomorrow.

Classic Quotes

I'm a little behind in my blogging, so bear with me through the MULTIPLE posts today. My children have been saying such cute things lately, and I am writing them here since I don't really keep another journal outside of this. Please be warned...we talk about potty and poop a lot in our house.

Little Sissy classics:

Little Sissy (peering into the toilet while Big Sissy is wiping): Your poop looks like mudballs.
Big Sissy: Yep. No snakes tonight. Just little mudballs.

Little Sissy (having her morning poop): My poopy made my potty come out. They like to be together. They're sisters.

Little Sissy’s prayer:
Thank you God for Jesus.
Thank you Jesus for God.

Me (explaining why we wouldn't see pigs at the aquarium in Springfield): I don’t think pigs can really swim.
Little Sissy: Yeah, they probably just piggy paddle.

Big Sissy classics:

Me: Y is for Yak.
Big Sissy: Where do yaks live?
Me: Ummm…let me go google it.

Big Sissy: Is there a dogfish?
Me: Yes, I think so. At least there is one in the Dr. Seuss books.
Big Sissy: Do dogfish chase catfish?
Me: Ummm…let me go google it.

Big Sissy: How come I never see eyes on a starfish?
Me: I don’t know. Maybe they’re on the bottom.
Big Sissy (laughing): I don’t think so, Mom. Then they can’t see the danger up above.
Me: Oh yeah. Let me go google it.

And from a couple of months ago...
"So if you grill the grilled cheese, do you french the french toast?"

Little Buddy classics:

grunt. grunt. point. point. mama. grunt. grunt. point. point.

Apparently boys are different.

In a Trench...

Digging for worms

Little Buddy's Special "Camera" Smile

Rain boots double as mud boots

Bubbles

Be vewwy, vewwy quiet...I'm hunting wabbits!

Somehow the firefly fascination has evolved into curiosity about larger, furrier creatures. Big Sissy has now gotten Little Sissy excited about helping her catch a rabbit. It started after she found out that rabbits often live in holes in the ground. The next thing I know she is out in the yard with a plastic spoon, trying to dig a hole and find a rabbit. I told her that she was more likely to find one in the woods behind our house. She chomped at the bit until I would finally let her go look--under one condition: that she go change into jeans and put on socks. I'm positive there is poison ivy lurking in the uncharted territory of the easement behind our house. Promising to change clothes, the girls ran into their room and came out looking like this:

The mittens are to protect their hands from the sharp rabbit paws, and the glasses are to keep the rabbit from scratching their eyes out when they try to get away.

Ready, set, let's go hunt for rabbits!

There's a hole in the ground. I think we're getting close.

Here, rabbit rabbit!

No luck yet. Maybe tomorrow's hunt will prove more successful.