Heard Here at Brown Nosers Anonymous

Xavier said, "Mom, you're looking like you were born on a Monday.", after learning that Monday's child is fair of face.

Gabriel said, "Mom, your parents should have named you Venus." after learning that Venus was named for the goddess because it is bright and beautiful.

Xavier said, "Mom, I'm glad you don't have any sleeves, because your skin is softer than any shirt." after I took off his favorite shirt in favor of a tank top. (Xavier is a tactile kid and rubs my sleeves all the time.)

I get stuff like this from Xavier all the time. He is constantly telling me how pretty I am. Gabriel generally says, "Of course she is." I think he feels that it is a given and he doesn't need to tell me.:)

Xavier is going to be a charmer when he gets a little older. Let's just hope he stays away from women until he's able to support them.

Week in Review 2-21-2008

This is why you're kids shouldn't wear clothes that older kids wear. They look grown up.

To whomever bought us Bendominoes:Thank you. The boys love it and it is a great quick game.

Edit:to Sally. Thank you! The boys love it!

Dominic thinks he's Harry Potter-messy hair and all.

We moved into our school room this week. We are really enjoying it. It helps keep me on task. I don't notice much difference in the kids. The cats come in and visit us. It is nice and warm in there because it is such a tiny room.

Dominic has determined that he has to work hard. So, he has been. He loves working. He wants to do worksheets, write in a notebook, do math (which he is doing very well at, considering that he is slowly working his way through 1st grade math), color, read, and everything else you can think of. So, he is.

Doesn't he look adorable?

I have put Gabriel in charge of his grammar. I typed out the rest of his lesson plans for the year. He is in charge of when he finishes them. Why? Well, as soon as he finishes them, he'll be able to start summer vacation. So, he has some incentive to get them done sooner.

Dominic's board and quiet activities. Plus, Gabriel's time line.

The storage cabinet and bean bag chairs. We use the bean bag chairs for reading, phonics, and anything else that doesn't require writing.

Dominic has decided that he needs to get grades.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

In celebration of our upcoming 11th wedding anniversary, I have started a series of posts on my soapbox. This is a direct link to the first one about Gary. Each time I post to that series, I will post a direct link here, so that you don't have to read all the other stuff to get to those posts.

While searching for pictures for that series, I found these pictures and thought I would share them with you, because everyone needs a little embarassment trip down memory lane.



My first "baby" was Sally, my little sister. Thank you, Mom, for not bringing home another brother!




I'm sure she went through an awkward stage, I just can't find any photographic proof. I love you, Sally!

Cousins-My brother Frank, and our cousins Chad and Todd

Meme

I was tagged for this Meme by Shelly. Thanks!

Name something you do everyday:
Read my email.
Of equal importance-eat.

Name 2 things you wish you could learn:

How to skydive
How to fence.


Name 3 things that remind you of your childhood:

Louis L'Amour books
Tree houses
Go-Carts

Name 4 things you love to eat but rarely do:
Anything Dairy--ice cream specifically
Chinese food
Salsa

Name 5 things/people that make you feel good:

My boys (Gary, Gabriel, Xavier & Dominic)
Hugs
Sitting on the porch at my mom's
The sun
Bread:)

Catch-Up

Now, I know it's been 3 weeks since my last post. I apologize profusely. I have not really felt like blogging. Also, our power keeps going off. You know, those storms we've been having. All it takes is a 5 mph wind to shake our lines and off go the lights. So, it's been very difficult to load things to blogger. Enjoy the update.

What happens when the power goes off and your husband thinks he's a green woman.
Practicing my letters at orchestra.

Xavier waiting his turn to play, somewhat patiently.

Math at Orchestra.

Ying/Yang

Dominic doing one of his new favorite things--Math U See. We have to do school quite often now. He gets quite offended when I tell him to bug off. Okay, fine, I don't actually tell him to bug off. I am quite nice and get down on the floor with him and do whatever it is he is wanting to do. Pretty much, he is wanting to stick to his schedule. Where, oh where, did these kids come from? I guess I should be glad that he wants to learn. Okay, fine. I'm glad. It is much easier than the child that would rather sit in his room and read all day long.

What follows is what happens when your children get "unplugged". (And no, they have not been in "rehab" this whole time--they just get stuck there quite often!) They begin to use their imaginations. Xavier, especially, has really been enjoying boxes. It started with a robot and has just kept going and going and going... Sort of like the Energizer Bunny....

Xavier's video camera.
Xavier's video camera was originally attached to his... Laptop! His laptop has many cool features: a palm print reader,a key pad security feature, and a camera.Okay, it's mostly security features. Apparently he is somebig time, super-secret, undercover agent. This is Xavier's robot costume. He made this because he thought I was not going to finish his Halloween Costume. He was obviously wrong.

Dominic reading a book to us! He is really enjoying learning to read and LOVES the BOB Books because he can read them all the way through. It really encourages those young, beginning readers. (Xavier didn't really care for them much because he was into older books by the time he started reading. Another reason to start reading earlier.)

Xavier talking about math. He recently switched to writing in a notebook rather than in his workbook. This has two benefits. The first is that it saves the book for Dominic to use when he is ready for it. The second is that it teaches Xavier to write more neatly and be more disciplined in his approach to math. Xavier is very good at math and rarely has to think about it. Having the discipline to write neatly will help him in the long run when he has longer problems to work out on paper.

Gabriel on Grammar

Grammar is Gabriel's most hated subject. There is a lot of writing involved and he really doesn't care for that. Grammar is not hard for him but writing does not come easily for him and he really has to work to get it legible. However, he has much improved this year. He is doing his grammar with a willing heart, and I, for one, appreciate that.