Our First Tournament!

Our weekend started with a hotel stay.  We are not morning people.  So, we went to the tournament city Friday night.  This particular tournament is only a couple hours away, and in the future, we will probably just drive up on Saturday morning.  For our first tournament, it was good to be relaxed.  A few other families drove up Friday night, as well, and we met at the pool for some time before bed.

The morning of the tournament, we stopped at McDonald's for breakfast.  I only wish there had been a Fourbucks on the way.  Oh well.

The day started off slow.  One of the best things about tournaments, other than competing, is the time you get to spend with your friends.

Dominic was the first one in our school to compete.  He was the only one under seven competing.  He's at the back of that line.

The tournament was held in an ice rink.  It was cold on those floors!

Dominic did a great job and got a bronze medal for his efforts!

Then, things started getting crazy.  I barely managed to capture any of Xavier's form on film.  He, also, did a great job, although he did not place.

Gabriel did his form while I was supposed to be warming up for mine.  Xavier took pictures for me.  I only saw the first part, but I am so proud of my kids for getting out there and overcoming nerves.

Xavier still had control of the camera.

Don't I look fierce?  I rocked my form.  I am thankful that someone took pictures.  I see room for improvement.  Dominic was the only one to place, but I think we all did well.

The kids spent the rest of the tournament watching other people and playing with their friends.  It was a great time for everyone.  We are looking forward to next weekend's tournament.  It will be even crazier, since we will all five be competing.

Pumpkin Picking

Yes, I'm that behind, which means that there will be a lot of picture posting coming up.

The Monday before Halloween, we went pumpkin picking.  We went to the same place we went last year.  I'm hoping to create traditions for my children, now that we're in one place for a few years.  This is one of the traditions that we love, and I hope to be able to continue it for many years.

Dominic chose his pumpkin.  Then, he attempted to carry it to the cart.  Thankfully, Dad was there to help out.

After picking pumpkins, we visited the petting zoo.  There, we saw goats making great use of old play equipment.  The boys had a blast feeding the animals.

Dominic didn't particularly like the way the animals' tongues felt, so he threw the food on the ground in front of the fence in order to get them to come close to him.  He loved petting them!

You must understand what a big deal it was that Gabriel was willing to get close enough to the animals to let them eat out of his hand.  First, Gabriel is a city boy.  He does not like nature.  He's getting better with it, and even ventures off the driveway to play on the grass and in the pseudo woods behind our house.  He has even said that he would like to own some of those cute chicks he saw at the livestock expo we went to Monday.  However, he hates to be touched.  He doesn't like to be touched in any way other than to wrestle.  The fact that he is allowing, and enjoying, the animals to touch him is amazing.

After we got home, the boys carved their pumpkins.  This is the first year they have all three carved, and scooped their own pumpkins.  Believe me when I tell you that the carvings were very interesting.  All three of them had at least two faces, and Gabriel's had four.  Unfortunately, I did not manage to get a picture of the pumpkins after they were carved.

Bleeding Hearts

Wednesday, I was talking to Gary about an article he'd read about a girl being abused.  I said something to the effect of, "It makes your heart bleed, doesn't it?"

At which point, Dominic piped up from the back seat, "Your heart always bleeds.  That's its job!"

Field Trips Make Us Sick

It seems that every time I schedule a field trip, at least one of us gets sick.  I know that isn't the reality, since we have been on multiple field trips.  It just seems that way.

Last week, Xavier and I were sick.  We were feeling well enough for a Halloween party on Friday (pictures coming soon- I promise!), and trick-or-treating on Saturday.  Fortunately, the two trick-or-treaters were quite pleased with the 12 pieces of candy each that they got at the shops downtown, during the day, and preferred to stay home and watch a movie Saturday night.

Gary and I went out for a date.  It was very nice.

Monday, I woke up miserable.  I had a sinus infection.  Yesterday, Gabriel started complaining about his throat and by last night he had a horrible cough.  Today, he's run a low grade fever all day.  What do we do for low grade fevers?  We let them sleep and ride it out, and take as many hot showers as they want.

Tonight, I was able to head back to Taekwondo, but Xavier has started coughing.  Tonight, after the adult class, Dominic was complaining about his head hurting, which seems to be one of the early symptoms of whatever Gabriel has.

Tomorrow, I'm supposed to be taking them to see an awesome show.  It doesn't look like it's going to happen.  It's too bad.  I think they would have enjoyed it.  I certainly would have enjoyed it.  Oh well.  I'm hoping for better luck next week, when we're planning a trip to a planetarium and art museum.  Plus, we've got co-op on Friday.

I may have to cancel that.  Hmmm.

Decisions, Decisions

It all comes down to decisions.  We have too many options, and it is difficult to make decisions.

Personally, I want to move to a farm, buy a couple cows, some chickens, a few sheep, maybe an alpaca or two, and a few pigs.  I want to open a bakery and sew all day long.

Where am I going to find time to homeschool?

Dominic-ism

"Calling someone a 'dorkwad' isn't bad, because it just means weird."  Sounds like someone is channeling Gabriel.

Dominic CAN Read

Dominic is stubborn.  Just don't tell him that.  His most recent thing to be stubborn about is his closely held belief that he cannot read.  He vociferously, adamantly, and loudly proclaims to everyone that he cannot read.  (He was also telling everyone at Tae Kwon Do that he cannot tie.  This is partially true.  He is not good at tying.  He only ties his shoes when he has to.  But, he can tie, under duress.)

A couple weeks ago, we sat down to read a bedtime story, My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems. Anything by Mo Willems is a favorite for both Xavier and Dominic. (Thank you, Aunt Sally!) This particular book, however, is Dominic's favorite. And, he does not think we know how to read it correctly. The voices must be done just so. It started out that he would read the parts he felt we were doing wrong, then we would have to reread them. Now, he just reads the entire book to us, without realizing it. Some of it is memorization. However, he reads along with what he has memorized and corrects himself when he messes up. So, he is reading.

Yesterday, he asked me to come read his word problems to him for math.  I went in the dining room, only to hear him reading them to himself.  Today, I told him to do his math while I took a shower.  He vociferously claimed that he couldn't, because he didn't know how to read.

I said, "Fine.  Do what you can.  When I get out, I'll read the word problems to you."

Suddenly, he looked up at me, got this goofy smirk on his face and replied, "Oh, wait.  I can read!  I can handle it."

Then, he happily skipped away to do his math.  And, yes, he read the word problems.  Apparently, Dominic can read.