More cute quotes...

Katie was working on learning the 50 states. She was having a hard time remembering Hawaii and Alaska. Finally I said, "Hooooloooo.." and she'll say Hawaii. It was hard to remember Alaska until I said "Sarah Palin'sss..." and she'd yell out "ALASKA!!!" Yep, we liked that show on the TLC.

Eli was looking around today and said, "Hey Mom. Everything has color. My shirt has color. My pants have color. The walls have color. Outside has color. Everything has color! God made the world of color, not that other guy." It took me about 3 hours to realize he was talking about a commercial he saw that was advertising Disney's World Of Color show at Disneyland! And he's right! God made all the color, not Walt Disney! ;)

Fun With Adverbs

Today Katie was learning adverbs. I gave her a list of words and let her make silly sentences. Here's what she came up with...

Knights toddle mysteriously.

Dancers cry awkwardly.

Turtles leap shrilly.

Eagles lumber fiercely.

Spies battle gracefully.

Babies wink cautiously.

Some are a little more accurate than she planned, I think!

Perseverance

One of the great joys in my life is when my kids actually enjoy conquering a hard task at school.
Today, Eli asked to do school. He asks to do school often, but I am usually so busy with "real" school with Katie that I give him something easy like cutting and pasting or mazes. But today I decided he needed a challenge. I gave him a dot to dot book for five year olds. It was HARD. He cried and fussed, but then when he figured it out and completed the page he did a happy dance and asked to do it again!
Katie has always struggled with writing/reading/grammar. Today we were talking about nouns ("A noun is the name of a person, place, thing or idea."). To solidify the rule I pulled out an old magazine and told her she had 15 minutes to find as many pictures of nouns as she can and paste them on the page. She is giggling and searching. I hear her saying quietly to her self "a noun is the name of a person, place, thing or idea...yep, this is a noun." She is having fun learning and she will REALLY know this definition by the end of the day!
My children are finding school a challenge, but are learning to persevere. I am finding homeschooling and housework and being a mom, wife, friend is a challenge, but I am being encouraged to persevere. It reminds me of the verse found in Hebrews 10:36...You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
We all have something we need to persevere in. What challenge are you facing today? Remember, the Lord promises great blessings if you fight through!

Super Powers

Katie has decided to keep her brother entertained while they do chores by making everything about a super power. She got him to clean his room in record time. She got him to help her take the laundry downstairs by saying they were evil villains and needed to be rounded up and put into the "jail" or laundry basket! He keeps saying his code name is "Super Fick Fop". We're not sure what that means, but that is what he wants his name to be. Well, Katie couldn't get her mouth to say it so she said "OK, well, I'm just going to call you FRED". When I noticed him doing the potty dance she told him to go sit on the "super throne" so he can get further instructions. She then stood outside of the bathroom and made up "missions" to do. Now, that their chores are done, she has him doing her bidding. She got him to get her a drink and put her toys away. Katie really is amazing with the preschool set when she wants to be! I love that girl!

Katie and Eli

One of the great parts of homeschooling is setting our own schedule. Sometimes we have a slow starting morning or a super busy afternoon and we set the schedule accordingly. Well, this is one of those slow mornings. The kids decided to just play while they waited for mom to get her act together. As they were playing they were doing real life math. They were sorting according to size. When they realized there were too many small and not enough big to be fair. Then they sorted by color and realized there were way too many groups to be fair. Next they decided to count. They counted 30 toys (I know, they have way too many toys) and Katie said, "I think that is an even number. Lets take turns taking one and see how many we each get!" So they each took one then another than another. Then Katie said, "lets count and be sure we have the same number." They counted to 15 (well, Eli had to have some help at #12, but she helped him and I stayed still, eavesdropping!). Then Katie says, "Mom, did you know that 15 plus 15 equals 30?" Home-school math at it's best!

As they were playing and learning together I couldn't help but think of John's writing in 1John 4:20-21. He writes:

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love

God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

There is nothing better than when my kids are enjoying each other. I don't just want them to get along, but I want them to enjoy each other. As they grow, I am treasuring these times in my heart and praying their love for one another never grows dim. Because their love for one another is a direct reflection of their love for and relationship with God!

Katieism

I know I've already posted today. But I just remembered a Katieism she said today and didn't want to forget to document it!

Katie was talking to Eli and said "I'm bored with anger at you". We have no idea what that means, but it was funny!

Things I Never Thought I'd Say (Lost Count)

OK So today is a never thought I'd say, but to Katie. Ready?

M:Don't kick your brother.

K:I didn't kick hard.

M:Don't kick your brother.

K:It wasn't very hard, mom.

M:Again I say, don't kick your brother.

K:What about lightly like this (kicks her brother).

M:No it is never OK to kick your brother.

K:But he's not crying hard.

M:Crying or not, don't kick your brother.

K:OH OK. (pushes her brother as she walks by).

M:KATERINA!

K: What? I didn't kick him.

Are you serious? Should I really have to say this? Motherhood is frustrating!

Spelling With Katie

Katie is writing emails to people. She needs help with spelling often and today was no different. It was a little funny. Here's how it went...

Katie: Mom I need help spelling

Me: OK, what do you want to spell?

Katie: OK

Me: You want to spell OK?

Katie: Yes...OK

Me: O...K...!

Katie: No, really.

Me: Really. It's O...K...

Katie: Can't be.

Me: It is.

Katie: OK...what was that again?

Me: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I'm gonna blog that...OOOOOO....KKKKKKK!

Katie: Oh...sorry...O (type the letter o) K(type the letter k)...thanks mom. How you you spell we?...wii?

Me: You have got to be kidding me?! I am so blogging this.

And it went on from there!

Gotta love homeschooling!

Entertaining Kids

Today my kids have decided to be blessings. Eli is playing piano and singing songs about his dad and God and Belle and other people. Right now the song is "this is the song of my heart. but not your song of your heart. that's your song. i'm singing the song of my heart. daddy isn't home, but he's coming soon. and i'll sing the song of my heart."

Katie is scrapbooking. She found a picture of herself as a little baby with my brothers dog who just died a couple months ago. She made photocopies and is making a scrapbook page for her aunt and cousins. She also painted her own nails and smells like a nail salon every time she comes in the room.

My kids are always entertaining!

Katie's Sentences

Today Katie finished Second Grade Hooked On Phonics. She's moving into third grade reading on Monday! We are very proud of her.

She is also working on sentences right now. She's reviewing proper sentences (capitals, punctuation, complete ideas). As part of her work she had to make up sentences. Here are a few examples of her humor!

1. Maggie wants to go pee.

2. Do you like boogers?

3. I wish I had 1000 dollars!

4. I am a big hairy monster!

5. I jumped into the spaghetti and then peed.

6. I am trying to find a toilet.

I've been told that boys at this age only talk about potty things. Apparently my daughter is well rounded or she's a guy! Either way, she's doing great on her sentences and reading!

PS She's making Eli laughing with her sentences. The boy almost peed his pants she had him laughing so hard! He loves his sister.

Groovy Katie

I think my daughter is channeling the inner Marcia Brady. She has used much of my construction paper to make peace signs and pinned them all over her walls. She keeps wearing the same bell bottom pants over and over. This morning she had a funky headband on with her long hair flowing down the back of her head. Then she told me she's not sure if she wants a VW Bug or a Mustang when she starts driving. (She saw a mint 1960-something mustang on the road and was goo-goo for it!). Luckily she's not as boy crazy as Marcia. Hopefully we can stave that off for a good LONG time!

Katie the cook

Katie has gotten very good at making her own breakfast lately. What is funny is she hates breakfast food. For breakfast this morning she had a quesadilla. Now she is eating Top Ramen that she made all by herself. I don't think I ever made anything for myself at the age of 8. She's such a responsible little chick! I'm blessed!

How Do You Ground Kids Now Days?

A few weeks ago Katie got grounded. We grounded her from TV/Movies for the day. She gave us a sad look, but then proceeded to stay in her room listening to books on CD all day. Last night she got grounded again. This time we said "No TV/Movies AND no book of CD". She was unhappy for about 15 minutes. Then she came down from her room playing with her new camera and told Eli she'll show him how to play her Nintendo DS later today.

How do you ground kids now days? There is so much available to them that they can always find something to do. Maybe next time I should tie her up and stick her in the closet when she's grounded. Although, she is playing with her brother a lot today. Maybe this is a good thing after all!

Things I Never Thought I'd Say Part 3

Here's this week's sample...

"Yes, you are a big boy like daddy. But you can't ask every girl to marry you. You need to drive a car and have a job first."

"Get in this house. You may not play outside without pants on."

Raising boys is so much fun!

And examples of what I've told Katie this week...

"Yes, you are growing up, but I don't think you can wear my bra's yet."

"You may not sit on your brother's face to shut him up. Not only is it dangerous, it's gross. What if he bites you?"

I love being a mom. What would I blog about otherwise?!

Live Action Play Station

Katie is playing Play Station 2 tonight. She's playing an X-Men game. As she's playing it Eli is physically acting out all he sees on the screen. It amazes me how those kids can find a way to play a 3 year old and an 8 year old game all at the same time. My kids are amazing!

Katie is choosing to read...

Katie hates to read. She loves books. She loves stories. She loves to be read to. She loves listening to books on tape. But to actually read the words herself is not her favorite thing in the world. However, recently she has been choosing to read. Now, don't misunderstand, she doesn't pick up books and actually read them. But she reads all the time. As we're driving in the car she's been reading signs. When the mail comes, she reads who the individual pieces of mail are for and from. And just now she turned on a movie and read the name of the producers and tried to read the names of the actors. Who says she has to open a big chapter book to really be reading. My daughter is a reader. She just had to find the things she wanted to read! And I am so glad she did!

Katie the Maid

I love my daughter's creativity! She comes up with ideas that entertain her brother and his friends! Sometimes, however, she regrets her great ideas. Today was one of those days. But she is such a trooper. She goes ahead and finishes what she starts and makes good on her promises!

Today Eli's best buddy Levi is over to play. They were getting bored since it's too cold to play outside. Katie made up the game of you be the messy kids and I clean up and be the maid. So, she let them mess up her room while she cleaned Eli's and then they messed up Eli's while she cleaned up hers. This was fun until the 3rd or 4th time. But she did it one more time then she told them the maid is gone home for the night!

Now she has them playing hide and go seek. Although I'm not sure she's seeking those lost boys! GREAT THINKING THIS TIME KATIE!!!

Lost and Found

Yesterday we went to the doctor to check Eli's finger. They took the cast off and put on a simple finger splint. I wasn't sure this was adequate for my active boy, but didn't argue. After the appointment we went to Target. All of a sudden Eli yells out, "I think I lost something" and put up his finger without a splint. I was so mad. I looked everywhere for that thing. 45 minutes later as I'm crawling around on the floor of the Target pantie section and I'm about to give up I see the thing laying under a rack. It must have had a great bounce! I get up and put it on when I notice Katie's strange smile. I asked her what was wrong and she says "I was praying you'd find it right when you found it".
I felt horrible and joyful all at the same time. I felt horrible because here I was looking and being mad for 45 minutes and never once thought of asking God for help. What kind of Christian am I? I will be praying through that one for a while! But I also felt such joy. My daughter at 8 years old was given proof that God is real, He does hear, He does answer! God cares even about the small simple things like finding her brother's splint! She will not forget this anytime soon! God is so good.
BTW...Last night we went to the library where that splint fell off a few more times. We went to Walgreen's and I bought tape and that thing is taped to his hand like crazy. He will not loose it anytime soon!

All the necessities in life!

Katie was told school was done for the day but she couldn't watch a DVD. She got paper and scissors and colored pencils and started working. She made a paper cell phone, ipod, nintendo d.s. and a computer. All the necessities in life! She made copies for her brother. Now they're playing office in my living room. I love her creativity and willingness to include her brother!

Lion King Live

Eli's favorite movie is Lion King. He watches it almost every day. This morning Katie and Eli have decided to to "Lion King Live" in my living room. They are singing and dancing. The funny part of this is as they sing the words, I notice they don't know the actual lyrics. They were singing Hakuna Matata. But the words came out "hakuna matata. what a wonderful page. hakuna matata. ain't no passing cage. it means no worries for the rest of your days. it's our problem fee colostopee. hakuna matata." Always fun at the Riggan house.