A Little Girl's Devotion

Ever since her big sister was chosen to be Mary in the church Christmas program two years ago, Elbow has been waiting patiently for her turn. She took matters into her own hands tonight, choosing to be the Virgin Mother for Halloween.

Bobo went as a poodle skirt wearing 50s girl. I marvel at the girliness of my little women, wondering how this ice hockey playing (Division I, two time Ivy League champ!) mother could produce such extra feminine creatures. Deo Gratias!

I see in their choices some very basic - and God given - desires: to be pure, to be found beautiful, to be mothers. So simple, and yet so easily trampled upon by our culture's denigration of all things domestic and womanly.

One of their girlfriends stopped by after her own Halloween adventure and the talk turned to American Girl Dolls and the script the three have been working on for a home made production of Hansel and Gretel. As they talked, my mind raced ahead, years down the road when the three will have "more important" things to discuss.

Oh, that the days of dolls and dress up dramas might last a long, LONG time!

So this is how it is...

We had an usually beautiful weekend by North Dakota standards. Believe me, if there's no snow on the ground for All Hallow's Eve we consider ourselves lucky. So we spent a few afternoons at the park running off that 'winter's-in-the-air-I-just-know-it' steam.

The girls had made friends with another little girl, probably four or five years old. She was on them like glue; obviously thrilled to have playmates (her father was sitting on a bench in the distance talking on his cell phone).

My baby decided he wanted to explore the dangerous terrain of a bouncy bridge so I was following close behind. The little girl got between the two of us and I needed to get to the baby quickly. I put my hand on her shoulder and said, "Excuse me, Sweetie, I have to get around you to get my little guy."

The ensuing reaction caught all of us off guard and caused everyone at the park to stop and stare. She immediately started yelling, "You touched me! You touched me! I'm telling my dad! He's right over there! Dad, she touched me!"

You can imagine how dumbfounded I was, finding myself in the middle of what looked like some sort of misconduct case. My daughters were obviously rattled, and they stood - mouths agape -- waiting to see what I would do. I looked to her father, hoping he would come and clear things up. He kept talking on the phone, taking no notice of his daughter's screams.

I rounded up my little brood and we headed for a different part of the park, still shaken by the whole experience. The little girl followed us as if nothing had happened.

My heart is heavy over this child not only because she lives in a world where one has to worry about strangers and inappropriate contact, but because there's obviously more to this story than meets the eye.

As I think upon that afternoon in the park, my prayer is that this little girl will come to know a Father who hears her cries and always listens. And that one day she will seek the wisdom of a Mother who knows her deepest sufferings and can comfort her every hurt.

A Homemade Christmas

You might remember my husband bought me one of these at the birth of our fourth child. He probably thought sewing would be yet another passing fancy, but he tends to humor me in my new found loves. So off I went to sewing class.

I'm not one to do anything lightly. I usually jump in with both feet and hope for the best. So of course I decided to sew as many Christmas presents as possible this year. It feels quaint. And quiet. And relaxing. Seriously.

I may feel differently come December, but right now I'm enjoying the creativity and simplicity of it all. It's one of those crafts I can even do with my little ones around. The girls love to watch the machine do its magic; Toddzilla is content as a clam to help 'push the pedal down.'

Inspiration for the creative family life abounds (and amazes) at SouleMama's. A must see!

Our New "House"

Check out this original "house" my friend made for me last night. She's starting a little business with these. I supplied her with my children's bible verses, one from our wedding, the name of our homeschool, birthdays, etc. She made it into this neat house that represents our family. I love it!

Saxon, Speech, and Sippy Cups

Bobo is on break from Saxon 2 for a bit. We're over half way done with the book, and it's getting to be a little too much for her (she's in first grade). I bought her some fun looking first grade math review books during Barnes and Nobles' Educator Week. She thinks they're fun and totes them around, even working on them in bed before she falls asleep. I planned on doing these for about a month before settling back into Saxon, but she'll probably finish them by next.

Elbow is starting speech therapy to work on her S, R, and L sounds. We had to do this with our oldest too for a few months. Our speech therapist lays part of the blame on sippy cups. (My daughters carried around their cups -- sipping throughout the day -- like their mom carried around her coffee. Oops). Anyway, some think sippy cups force the tongue to protrude too much and cause speech problems. Who knew?

Needless to say, Toddzilla doesn't use sippy cups and thus far doesn't seem to have any problems. I know my control group is small, but the data speaks for itself!

Still Singing the Songs

I took the girls to hear the African Childrens Choir tonight on a whim. Wow. We were all so inspired and impressed. I was especially moved because I just read Infidel - an amazingly powerful and tragic story of one woman's childhood and flight from both Africa and Islam.

The children in the choir are taken off the streets, given an education, and a real shot at life. You can support this amazing ministry - and be treated to some great music - by buying their CDs and DVDs.

Logic in the Grammar Stage

Listening to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for the zillioneth time this morning, Bobo deadpanned: "Before you throw your brother away, you really should think about whether you'll miss him or not."

Mutiny

The troops rebelled yesterday. After snacktime, they disappeared downstairs -- all giggles and whispers. Pretty soon up they came, waving banners that read "No School. No Rules. We're Fun and Fancy Free."

Considering all of the above was misspelled (except the fun and fancy free - I think a Disney book by that name, carried under one of the rebel's arms, had something to do with that), I oh-so-gently suggested they might want to continue their lessons if they wanted people to understand their demands.

That fell on deaf ears.

When the rebels learned that Mom only provides lunch for loyalists, the mutiny was over. Phew, that was a close one.

In Other Music News...

We began our study of Handel today. The children listened to the Vox Music Masters CD as they played some strange version of pirates/orphans/50s girls in poodle skirts. This evening, after tucking the boys into bed, the girls and I got started on Handel at the Court of the Kings. I continue to be impressed by the books in this series. They always begin with a great hook -- usually something a little scandalous -- to pique the children's interest.


With Bobo's second year of piano in full swing, Elbow's brand new violin lessons, and our composer studies, I'm feeling like we actually might be a bit musical. I use 'we' loosely. I was the one who went kicking and screaming through 8 years of piano lessons. I sing miserably - though I prefer to be called 'loud' and 'enthusiastic.' But that's only half the story. Their father, mind you, sang in Carnegie Hall. That must qualify for something.

Here We Go

Elbow's Sunday School delivered the goods this weekend: a starter violin! We're borrowing it while Elbow begins lessons with her teacher's sweet, and very talented, daughter.

We've all learned the parts of the violin and have each anxiously requested a turn with this beautiful instrument. Toddzilla insists it's a 'banjo' (his word for almost anything with strings) and wants to strum it like a rock star. This could be interesting.

I'm preparing my ears for what could be a rather - how shall I say it - different experience. It may not fall under the category of easy listening, but hey, an eagerness to learn something new is always music to my ears.

Oh So Good Rib Recipe. Check.

I've been searching for a great country style rib recipe for a long time. Let's just say this: I didn't start earnestly cooking until I was married - almost 11 years ago - and I have yet to make decent ribs. That's a lot of failed attempts.

One of my best friends (of cake designing fame) gave me her mother-in-law's recipe and my search is over. This is it. This is the one that makes it into my little book of recipes.


Here it is:

Brown 2 lbs ribs with some diced onions. Pour sauce (recipe below) over ribs and cook about 2 hours at 350. (I cooked mine at 275 for almost 3 hours and they were awesome. My oven generally cooks things fast so I lowered the heat considerably). I think any oven would dry them out at 350 for that long...



Sauce:

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp dry mustard powder

1 tsp chili powder

Mix above together, then add below:

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup vinegar

1 cup waters

2 tsp soy sauce

Less Tooth, More Grin

Friday Field Trip

We're off to the Air Museum for a little WWII history and some requisite boy friendly adventures. Toddzilla loves this place, so we go often, but today our whole home schooling group is going for a tour and a lecture called, "From Bismark to Britain and Back."

There are plenty of references to the Nazi regime at this museum, obviously. My husband - in his sweet eagerness to teach - began explaining this sad history to the girls when they were much younger. Bobo, at about age 4, asked her Sunday School teacher, "Who were worse - the Roman soldiers who killed Jesus or the Nazis?"

This is when we realized we might want to be a little more careful about what we explain and what we save for a later date. Go figure.

B.F.F.

That same five year old just told me she can't wait for her sister to come home because she's her best friend. Maybe it's because I never had a sister, but comments like these always melt me.

My children aren't overly scheduled, and they don't have constant playdates. We usually get together with other families for a meal and some play time when we socialize. For me, this is wonderfully convenient. I don't know how moms keep track of their children's busy social and extracurricular events, let alone getting them there on time. For them, it fosters a sense of family unity, a desire to get along even when it's difficult, and greater imaginative play. Children accustomed to playing with their siblings know how to make it work, even with a two year old around. "Oh, he wants to destroy everything we just built? Let's pretend that's part of the game..." You know the drill.

Last summer I read Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends by the Mally siblings. My first thought was, "Wow, they are some great kids." My next one was, "So that's possible? Who knew?" I pray my children will not only love each other and get along, but have a real desire to be best friends as they grow. This sounds simple and even obvious, but I've noticed that's not the prevailing notion. Many parents pit siblings against each other and create solitary universes for each child. Some grow up not ever really getting to know their brothers and sisters (if they are lucky enough to have any).

Sigh. That was a very roundabout way of saying, "Bobo, we miss you! Can't wait to see you tomorrow!"

Or Not.

"Do you think you're having another baby?"

So asked my five year old after finding me dozing on the couch -book spread open across my chest - after dinner. Clearly, she knows the signs. Just as clearly, however, is she wrong.

Can't a non-pregnant mom just be bone tired once in a while?

A Day In Pompeii

My oldest gets to spend "A Day in Pompeii" tomorrow at the Minnesota Science Museum. Nana and Papa have started a tradition of hosting their newly minted seven year old grandchildren in Minneapolis for three days. Bobo, as the oldest grandchild, is the first to receive this wonderful experience. She'll also see a production at the Children's Theater, something I remember fondly from my own childhood in the Twin Cities.

Bobo and I met Nana and Papa half way to Minneapolis yesterday afternoon. After dropping her off, I drove through a torrential rain storm - lightning all over - and listened to my very own CDs! My children are going through an Andrew Lloyd Weber phase; listening to something other than "Go, Go, Go Joseph" and "Evita" was quite a treat.

A Few Weeks Into the School Year...

The View from Here:

• We are loving Prima Latina. We surprised Dad today and picked him up for lunch. With no prompting from us, the three oldest busted out the Sanctus before digging into their Happy Meals. Not sure there's anything sweeter - or more strange, judging by the looks given by the other playplace diners - than that.







• I continue to like Saxon Math. It's straightforward, very repetitive, and slow moving. Because Bobo is doing Saxon 2 in first grade, we need it to be all of the above. Elbow, who is doing Pre-K/K, is using the Singapore Earlybird books just because she wants to do math like her sister. Next year I will start her on Saxon 1.







• Going through Story of the World: The Ancients for the second time is just as fun as it was the first go around. The girls like that the coloring pages have been changed a little, and I am constantly amazed that they remember minute details about the older version pages. I'm getting more out of it this time because we're using a time line. The Well-Trained Mind recommends doing this for the logic stage, rather than during the grammar years, but it really helps all of us retain the chapters we've read. I'm using small pictures - either from the actual book or from the computer - and pasting them right on the time line. The visual is indispensible!







• Copywork is new for Elbow and quite exciting. Bobo is not as enthusiastic as she once was (she used to bring it to church to show people), but we plod along and will move on to cursive after she finishes Copybook III.







• I've always loved using McGuffey for oral reading. Still do. The selections are a good length and the old-fashioned 'preachiness' is perfect for my 'by the book' reader.







• We're not making great progress in Exploring Creation through Zoology. I still love the Apologia books, I just never had a two year old BOY at the table before. Working on phonics with Elbow also cuts into the schedule - obvioulsy - quite a bit. We did Exploring Creation through Astronomy last year and really stuck to a weekly schedule. Bobo made a notebook. This year we're taking a more relaxed approach with science. We've been looking up bugs and birds that are of interest to us, or reading a little now and then. I may go back to a more systematic approach soon - not sure.






• We just finished a study of Bach. We read Bach: The Boy from Thuringia, listened to Mr. Bach Comes to Call and the Music Masters Bach CD many times. We narrated and did coloring pages for our book of composers. Next up is Handel.






• We're still looking at prints of Van Gogh for our picture study. No artist details at all; just enjoying some paintings. (Well, I shouldn't say no details at all. It's hard to neglect the cutting off the ear story when the children see pictures of the bandaged head in the art books).






• I'm not satisfied with Spelling Workout B. Let me re-phrase: I'm not convinced it's doing anything for Bobo. Granted, we don't do it as we should (with pre-test, going over words each day). It's a lot of busy work with little bang for the buck. I don't think she retains much of it. We're going to drop Spelling for a while and just work on words she constantly mis-spells in other contexts. We'll pick it up again in a few months.




• Bobo is in her second year of piano lessons. Elbow wants to play the violin; I'm trying to hold her off until she's six. So far, it's not working. She petitioned her Sunday School teacher last weekend for names of teachers and where to get a violin. Her teacher (who has 3 accomplished string players in her brood) was oh-so-eager to oblige. Great. Toddzilla wants to play the banjo - always has. This could get interesting. And expensive.

It Is Finished.

The Egyptian birthday party, that is. I'm wiped out! For some reason, birthday parties completely do me in. The planning, the high expectations of the children, the waiting, the clean up...

Everything went without a hitch and the children liked the games, activities, and the pyramid cake. Bobo was a gracious little hostess and made a huge deal over every gift, giving all the children a big hug after opening their present.

She dressed up as Cleopatra (She wore a shawl over her shoulders for most of the party --this is a 'dress up' dress). Her sister wanted in on the action too; she went with Hatshepsut, although I think she looks a bit more like one of Cleo's ladies in waiting than a pharoah!

Today we're all enjoying a quieter day - and a few new toys to boot.

On the Eve of Seven...

I hope I remember you wanting your hair rolled up in curlers, tucked under a bonnet, sound asleep with your favorite doll, Nellie.

Happy Birthday, Bobo!

And the Countdown Continues...

Dad suggested we play "pin the nose on the Sphinx" rather than "pin the pyramid on Egypt." Bobo loved this idea. Now I don't have to sacrifice one of my maps. But, I did have to paint a huge Sphinx! Free-hand drawing is not my thing; I'm banking on the fact that most of the little soon to be seven year olds invited to this party won't even know what a Sphinx is - let alone be able to critique my work. This is not just wishful thinking. When Bobo announced to one of her best buddies she was having an Ancient Egypt birthday party, he said, "What's that?"

Ignorance is bliss.

(The theme of this little guy's party was "food fight," in case you're wondering, and involved hundreds of pounds of cooked pasta and individual canisters of ready whip, one for each child).

Indepent Reading

When Bobo first learned to read, it took me quite a while to realize books with lots of pictures distracted her and slowed her down. I got all sorts of early readers from the library, the ones with few words on the page and lots of pictures. I thought she'd breeze through them.

She never read these books as well as I knew she could. When we would do her oral reading from McGuffey's Ecletic Reader, she would zip right along. Give her a fun picture book, however, there was no zipping. Not really any moving actually. "Wait, let me look at the pictures..." she'd say, which lasted the whole reading time.

I decided to try the Happy Little Family books for her pleasure reading instead. Like McGuffey, there were few illustrations and the ones present were simple and in black and white. This worked marvelously, as Bobo was less distracted and focused on the words instead of the pictures.

The Pixie Hollow books are a good fit too right now. The pictures are in color, but they're only every few pages...

Bobo's narration of Vidia and the Fairy Crown:

"Vidia is a great book, and a great mystery too. All the fairies in Pixie Hollow blamed Vidia that she stole the crown. But Vidia actually finds the crown and gives it back to Queen Ree. Vidia almost became the villain but turns out to be a good fairy. When Vidia found the crown, she almost stole it. But Prilla knew what was going to happen, so Vidia gave it back. Vidia and the Fairy Crown is an awesome book. It has ten chapters that are all exciting, you hardly even want to stop. Vidia is always on some sort of goose chase but she's also in some kind of mood."