Homeschooling Hazards

Today in 2nd grade, Jaela and Macey learned about extinction (among other things). One of the examples used to explain extinction was the Dodo Bird, discovered in the 1800's and extinct within about 80 years. They felt sorry for the poor, friendly birds that walked right up to the hungry sailors, but thought that perhaps they were aptly called "Dodo" (after I had explained what it meant) because they laid their eggs on the ground and didn't even try to hide them from predators. They were also (unfortunately) amused by the sound of the word "Dodo", and repeated it every chance they got. I finally forbade the use of that word unless it is being used specifically to discuss THAT Bird.

I forgot to tell Isaak.

At the table tonight, after he had eaten enough that he wasn't quite starving any more, he sat back in his chair, looked around the table and announced, "Dodo!", then dissolved into giggles. He laughed so hard I was afraid he'd fall off his chair. He calmed down after a few minutes, waited until everyone else was eating again, and again proclaimed, "Dodo!", followed again by almost hysterical laughter. The third time he tried it, he couldn't even get the word out before he started laughing again.

I think when he gets into 2nd grade, we'll skip the Dodo example and substitute dinosaurs or Passenger Pigeons instead!

It Doesn't Take Long

It Doesn't Take Long

or

How to Drive Your Mother Crazy in 24 Hours or Less Without Even Really Trying

by the D. Children

Start with a boot sticking out from under the kitchen counter,

and the other one in the middle of the living room, next to the pillows that are not allowed off the couches. (A sticker left upside down on the carpet, waiting to be stepped on, also adds a nice touch.)

Try leaving one magazine open and another wedged behind the cushion of the only chair,

ponytail elastics and headbands on the couch,

and a stool pulled up suspiciously close to the cherry tomatoes.

Be sure to store a ball next to the couch,

and don't pick up the toilet paper you dropped on the bathroom floor.

(Don't flush, either.)

Leave a toy egg and a lego car by mom's bathroom sink,

a pair of pink flipflops under the table,

books all over the kitchen counters,

and a stuffed manatee on the old dining room table.

That ought to do the trick!

(It works sometimes with our mom, anyway!)

Garden Bounty

This is my garden. It consists of three large pots containing large, unproductive plants. We don't even know for sure what we planted. It's kind of pathetic.

OK, it's very pathetic!

Most of my friends have real gardens, the kind that get planted in the ground, on time, and that actually produce enough vegetables to eat.

Lucky for me, though, sometimes my friends have plants that overproduce, and they start giving fruits and vegetables away.

So far this summer we've been given blackberries, crookneck squash, basil and other herbs, yellow squash, cucumbers, green bell peppers, zucchini, and now cherry tomatoes. A lot of cherry tomatoes! (Thanks, Deborah!)

I kind of like this gardening business! My friends do all the work, and I reap only the benefits. I get to spend time with other moms, my kids get to play with other kids, and oh, yeah, we get to eat lots of yummy things, too!

Fashionist...o

A fashionista is defined as being "a devoted follower of fashion". It appears this morning as though we have our very own little *ahem* fashionist-o.

He is modeling the very latest in helicopter jammies, and showing off his new Mr. Happy backpack (because all fashionist-os shop at Old Navy and Walmart, right?)

He also has three older sisters...

Six Hours Later...

Today was our designated commissary shopping trip for the month, but we never just go to the commissary. If we're going to be out and about, I want to get it all done, so we don't have to go out again. So, we went to the PX mall, the commissary, Sam's Club, Walmart, and Kroger, and we did it all in almost exactly six hours. We got groceries, produce, cleaning supplies, diapers, and a new office chair, and while we were at Sam's Club, we also got Jaela's glasses tightened.

The chair was in a huge box, and it wouldn't fit anywhere except for behind the passenger seat in the van, in front of Isaak's carseat. He liked his temporary footrest, though. Anya had two packages of toilet paper and a box of pears for her footrest, and Jaela and Macey shared the back

row of the van with a huge insulated bag full of cold food.

It took me an hour to unload the van.

It took another half an hour to get all the cold food put away in the fridge and freezer, and all the rest of our purchases unpacked and set on the counter. They will live there temporarily in relative safety from my littlest helper until I have a chance to put them away.

I don't even want to talk about the state of my fridge.

Let's just say that we'll need to eat a lot of food before I can even begin to think about buying more milk or making yogurt.

I spent a lot of money. I am very, very tired.

But I'm not complaining! :)

Jesus Loves Me

Isaak's latest version of Jesus Loves Me:

The Bible tells me so,

Jesus loves little ones,

Yep, Jesus loves me,

Yep, Jesus loves me,

Yep, Jesus loves me,

Yep, Jesus loves me,

Next time sing with me!

Budding Artist

He likes to draw spiders, using any medium he can get his hands on; pencil, crayons, markers (washable, of course!)...

and he often draws Daddy (you'll have to take my word for it though).

And unfortunately, his artwork sometimes turns up in inappropriate places (like, for example, the schoolroom wall)!