LEARN BABIES, LEARN

Look at these studious little boys!

Aren't they just precious in their bestest

school attire?!

They look like they are studying so hard, but not always. Some days I want to pull my hair out and theirs too.

But then I think, I would have to fix it . . . and I don't. I just think of how it will be when I'm old and grayer . . . they will have to take care of me and buy me things and take me to dinner and clean my bottom . . . and I laugh!!! Pay back is . . . hello!

READY . . . SET . . . HIKE!

Football!

After getting the father out of the decision process and letting Jarett make up his own mind, Jarett picked football over fall scoocer.

After making sure a million times, he was NOT going to get HIT, Kyle decided he would play football.

And although it is flag football, the boys are having a good, safe time. Kyle has even said he would like to play again. Getting that boy to want to play anything is a task. Hope he sticks with it.

Jarett will play any sport and is doing gymnastics now 3 days a week, 2 1/2 hours per day. He is talking about being an athlete when he grows up. He will still have to go to college, but okay. His mother can live with that.

Snaggle Tooth Baby

Jarett finally loss a tooth naturally!! He got the joy of playing
with the tooth until it was loss and then we pulled it out.

The Tooth Fairy came and left $5. And know what, he didn't even offer to pay for lunch. What is up with that?

Doesn't he make a beautiful snaggle tooth?

Chuck E Cheese After Testing

We went to Chuck E. Cheese
after our end of year test on
5/5. (I've figured out how to
get these pictures online.)

Don't they look stress free?

We had a great day out and
about! We had lunch at the
Sushi restaurant and went
to the mall, and then, CEC.

What a Good Day.

Golf Tournament

Way to go Kyle!!

Kyle had his golf tournament today. He received a trophy for participation and won the trophy for "Most Improved". He was so surprised and excited.

There was a cookout after the tournament and the award ceremony. Jarett ate cake. He wants to play golf, but he has to get better at listening, and has to become more trustworthy to be left alone with other people.

Mother's Day With Meema

The boys and I went to Meema's and had Mother's Day with her on Thursday night. Meema picked the Chinese restaurant for dinner. So, Meema, Peepa, Uncle KC, Aunt Beth, Uncle John and Kyle, Jarett and I went out and had dinner. What a nice time.

Then, back to Meema's and gave her, her present. She got 'shoe' money and other odds and ends to help her read her bible and mark passages.

After a long day that started with Kyle golfing, Jarett and I running errands and then driving 2 1/2 hours, and all the other festivities, I passed out!!!! But of course, not sleeping in your own bed is not as restful as you would hope.

Today started off with the boys and I, taking a walk on the river walk with Peepa. As we walked along, Peepa spotted a red belly water moccasin with a small fish in it's mouth. The boys were enthralled. Thank God it was off to the side below the river walk. It slithered out of the water and watched us watch him. After we walked away for a while and returned, it had eaten the fish and began to slither back to the water's edge. We continued our walk and when returned again, the boys had to watch the snake for another 30 minutes, or so, before we could leave. It was a pleasant outing. The boys enjoyed the adventure and time to walk and run before getting back into the car to head home.

This was Jarett's first trip with his new booster seat. His Mother, finally purchased him the booster seat without the back that allows him to use the seat belt. He really likes his new seat. The thing I don't like about it is when they nap and their head lays against the side of the car. I pray that I never had to slam on brakes, because it would choke them. But the other seat was starting to hurt his hips and he would complain on long trips. I'm going to have to remember to bring a pillow when we travel. Email me if anyone has any tips about the problem.


I wish I could post pictures with this post, but I forgot my camera at home. Sorry. (figured out to download from my cell)

Now, I'm off to bed and then work all weekend. I will have Mother's Day with the boys on Monday. Last year it worked out well and I look forward to it again this year. I did get a Mother's Day present from Aunt Beth last night. It was a pretty spoon rest. I came home today and washed it and used it while cooking dinner. Thanks Aunt Beth!! Love You.

I wish all you Mothers a . . .

VERY HAPPY, SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY!
GOD BLESS YOU EVERY ONE.

Testing Out Of The Way . . . Love WJ

We completed our Woodcock-Johnston testing on Tuesday. Loved the process. The boys enjoyed to testing style. When the lady told us there would be no bubbling in . . . Kyle shouted . . ."Thank God". It took only 2 hours. He left the test feeling really good about it and without any stress. That was the greatest joy of all.

Jarett did really well for his first test. He tested third/fourth grade in about 1/2 the areas. Every thing else was right on target. I was really worried and had no clue where he would be. So, I'm thrilled.

We are still going to continue with schooling. Kinda thinking about year round school. There are subjects I want to focus on those the summer.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh! Don't tell the boys.

Green Grass + Red Go-Kart = Ruts!

With all the rain we have had, the

yard is nice and green . . . .

then, here comes Jarett. Can't

make him understand that a nice

steady acceleration would not put ruts in the yard so bad.

I know he's doing it on purpose!

Farmer Jarett, Lady Chicken

I walk out the back

door and see this.

Good Lord, help this

boy!!

Zoo Trip

We went to the zoo!

It was suppose to be cool,

but was 91 degrees! But we had fun

with the our Friends.
Jarett rides a beetle with
it's pooh.

It was a fun, exhausting
trip!

Another 2nd Thursday

Today I used my 2 hours differently.

1st, I went to a furniture store and walked around looking for, hopefully soon, new furniture. I never made eye contact with the sales person and explained I wanted to look.

2nd, I went to lunch by myself. I went to our sushi restaurant and had lunch. I have not had a restaurant meal by myself in a very long time. It was quite and I was upset when the lunch crowd started coming in and sitting at tables near me. I had thought that maybe I was being selfish, going to lunch by myself, but they were having Easter party lunch and I overcame that feeling.

Then I went to pick up the boys and felt the 'LOVE' again. I actually had a moment to miss them - a little.

I think that this was the last day this school season, so my 2 hours alone are over. I can't wait until Sept. :0)

Well, I did sign Jarett up for summer camp 3 days a week. That will be 4 hours, 3 times a week soon!!! :) :) :) Now I just have to find one for Kyle.

Aunt Lydia Update

Thanks for prayers . . .

Aunt Lydia came out of surgery sore but okay. Dr's took lots of lymph nodes and sent to pathology. Jill states looks good. She got into a room late last night and will be coming home today.

Jarett Strikes Again!

Jarett has a Dr's appt today. I told him to take a bath. He had already been outside and in the chicken pen this morning.

I don't know how those of you with boys decide if yours are clean, but I smell my boys. Ha! Ha! Yes, I smell their hair, hands and stomachs. (that enough to know)

Well, I told Jarett again to take a bath.

He calls back, "I DID!"

I never heard the water, usually Jarett fills the tub with a lake three times and had bubbles to the ceiling. So, he had to present himself for the 'smelling'. His hair smelled like shampoo, his stomach was neutral, so I said, "lift your arms". Jarett gives me this funny look.

So, I stood, gave him a stare and said, "Jarett, you had a 'hit and miss' bath, didn't you?"

Jarett puts his arms down and walks away saying, "they are not going to look at or smell my pits!"

God Help Us!!

Aunt Lydia

Aunt Lydia is having a thyroidectomy today at Duke. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and it has scared me. I stopped taking my medicine (RN, bad patient!), but will be making Dr appt.

Please keep Aunt Lydia in your prayers.

Thanks!!

Uncle John is Another Year Older Today

The boys and I just left . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

. . . messages for UNCLE JOHN.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO UNCLE JOHN!!!

Salmon Hash

The boys and I have a new recipe to share. We call it Salmon Hash.

Saute . . .
-chopped garlic
-chopped red onion
-chopped fresh spinach
-chopped carrot
. . . in olive oil

Open canned salmon and drain. (enough for equal amount veggies/salmon)
Add Tones salmon and seafood seasoning to taste.

When veggies sauteed, add flaked canned salmon and heat.
Prepare couscous as directed. Serve hash over couscous.

Kyle said that God would enjoy our salmon hash!

Do I Really Need That . . . . . . .?

Over the past few months, I have made some unusual purchases. I ventured to Ebay and won three bids for buttons. My thought was to use them in projects. Do you think I have any projects lined up? NO! But now I have a large pickle jar of buttons.

Today, the boys and I drove to Union County and purchased an incubator from 4H. Well, you know we have those chickens and guineas, and we don't need more. But it was a good deal and now we are set to hatch eggs. Kyle thinks that this will be a GREAT science project. Wonder if I want to add a little health class in there? . . . . . . NO!

Jarett Is So FUNNY!

The boys and I went to visit Meema and Peepa.

When we travel, Jarett has two jobs.
1st, he has to watch for gas prices.
2nd, he has to watch for speed limits.

Driving along, Jarett says, "$1.96!"
So, I tell him that we're looking for $1.90 or less.
Jarett then said, "Mom, you know you have to pay Uncle George!" (in that duh kinda way)
I asked, "who is Uncle George?"
Jarett seriously states, "You know . . . . taxes!"

Dinner Out With the Moms

I organized a dinner out with a few home school moms/friends last night. It was so nice. We had wonderful company and great conversation. We shared sadness and joy, worries and triumphs. One mom said a heart lifting prayer and we laughed, drank (non alcoholic, of course), ate and were merry. What fun.

Next month, we are going bowling. Some of us did gather for a bowling birthday party this past week. I will download pictures later.

Jarett, Santa, the Easter Bunny and . . . the TURKEY?

Jarett wanted to see the Easter Bunny yesterday at the mall. I told Jarett to go ahead and sit with him but I wasn't going to buy a picture. Well, Jarett insisted that we buy a picture. His argument was that he had a picture with Santa and needed a picture with the Easter Bunny.

At this point, Kyle had walked ahead and left the Bunny area. I called him back and told him to get in the picture. He falls apart and pitifully said, "MOM, I am too old to have my picture taken with the EASTER BUNNY!! Please don't make me, I'll be embarrassed".

So, Jarett had his picture taken with the Easter Bunny.

This morning we were talking about Jarett's argument of having a picture with Santa and now the Easter Bunny. So, Jarett says, "at Thanksgiving I'm going to have my picture taken with the Turkey!"

Of course, I can't stop laughing and asked, "with the Turkey?"

"Yes, I'll have a picture with Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Turkey."

You know me, I then ask, "are you taking this picture before or after we cook the turkey?"

Jarett yells, "BEFORE!"

So, don't be surprised if you see a picture of Jarett and a raw Turkey around Thanksgiving.

POOR LITTLE GOLFER!

Dropped Kyle off at golf this morning. Isn't he cute?

Well, since Jarett has not developed those good listening ears yet, he will have to wait to play. So, we went to breakfast and the mall.

On our way back, Kyle calls, all upset that he has been through golfing and waiting for me for what he calls an hour. (The lady who's group he was in today said about 30-40 mins) Never the less, I was the bad mother today, who left Kyle. His worry was that I had forgot all about him.

Not a chance buddy!! I need you to empty the dishwasher and dryer. Take the trash out and clean any thing else I don't want too.

To The Park

We went out to the Park

and walked around and played a bit.

The air was still a little cool. I wrapped a scarf around

my head and Kyle told me I looked like a "little old" Jewish

woman.

Well, Jarett looks like Popeye in this picture

and I should have pushed Kyle in the pond.

(I wouldn't, because then I would have to hear his fussing.)

The Boys & I Have An Addiction

Last year, the boys and I tried Sushi! Well, now we are sushi eaters. We don't like all that eel and stuff, but the salmon and tuna and vegetable rolls, and shrimp/crab we love.

We took Uncle KC to try sushi the last time he stayed with us. Now we text message pictures of sushi we are eating back and forth to each other. Uncle KC said the other day we were all pathetic! Well, I don't know about that . . .

This is Uncle KC . . . We aren't sure which photo is normal

or which is BAD SUSHI!!

PINCHY, PINCHY!

Of all days, how can you forget to wear green on St. Patrick's Day?

We rushed to get to science class and Kyle says, "Jarett isn't wearing green. Thank God, I am!".

Well, what a mess as the pinching starts. So, we throw Kyle out (because he is late) and Jarett and I have art class. We tore green Walmart paper into a clover looking shape, pinned it on with an angel pin (not girly because God created Angels) and off we went.

Great save!

Kyle MIGHT Play Baseball This Year

You better not hit him in the head!!


Kyle is thinking about playing baseball. You know Kyle is not the athletic one. He has only stuck with swimming and golf. (Golf starts again this week) So, little brother and he are getting ready. A little early, but practice is good.


Jarett starts soccer again this week. He wants to play fall flag football this year. I don't know about that. We will see.

Playing At Monkey Joe's

We visited Monkey Joe's.

They boys had a good time playing

with home school friends.

This is my friend from work,
Jen and Baby Landon.
He is 3 months old.
Sister Brooklyn came too.
She was not crazy about playing with boys!

Chess Club

Kyle and Jarett play chess during chess club. We are the chess club organizers for home school group. We meet and play, allowing the children to teach each other.

Oh My . . . ELVIS!!

I have just been informed that my children like ELVIS. I did not know they knew who Elvis was. We are in Kyle's room and he has "Nothing But a Hound Dog" on Cd. It was a Cd from school when he preformed in a production to "Who Let the Dogs Out".
This all came out when I mentioned that I had ordered them 2 new Cd's, and they excitedly asked . . ."ELVIS!?"
I said . . . "No, Christian".
Well, that was okay, but according to Jarett, Elvis has "hound dog".
:) I can't help but laugh as we are now rocking to 'Hound Dog'!!! :)

Playing Around!

Today was the 2nd Thursday.

Yes, B&G's Club day.

While Kyle got the stink washed off . . .

. . . Jarett and I played with the camera.

(We had already washed our stink off)

Then, here's comes Kyle.

He thinks he's special because he

is almost as tall as me.

I still get to kick his bottom at random!!

Let Me Show You An Angel!

This is an Angel! What a precious gift.

He's still a precious gift when he wakes, the Angel just fades a little bit.

Secret Agents? OR Criminals? You decide!

NO! These are not Secret Agents.

They are Aunt Beth & Uncle John. For Christmas, they bought the boys a Go Kart! Yes, criminal they may be, but the boys love them!

Kyle waits as Jarett cuts the yard!

My yard is taking a beating. It's only grass - well, mostly weeds.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF . . .

LucyBoots May 2008 - Feb 2009

It is with regret we say Goodbye to LucyBoots. She came to live with us last summer and departed as quickly as she came. On spring day, she was on the deck, meowing away and we fed her. She was a joy. She greeted us each morning as we left for work (whatever the hour) and slept at the back door, watching over our home. She had taken an old coat of Kyle's as a bed and a box that we had from a tool purchase.

She had had some run ins with a cat from the neighborhood and had come home one day with a cut on her nose. Once, she was gone for a few days, but was back again. Then one day, her collar was missing. I had taken this picture to include her in our creatures. I had left her out during that posting. Little did I know, that this would be the last day we would see her. We purchased her a new collar on 2/13/09 and never got to put it on her. We had hoped that she was just out and about, but now have excepted the worse. Our neighbor reported that he also lost a chicken that week. We have had a hawk guarding our chicken pen and there is always a fox around. I dislike the thoughts of the worse, I only hope that not having her collar, she is alive and well, eating salmon and milk with someone that has offered her a home. Salmon skin hot off the grill was her favorite, with cold milk.

Goodbye Lucy!! We will truly miss you always.

Love

Us

Some of My Favorite Sites

I have added a few favorite sites . . .

. . . Absolute Organics . . .
We receive produce every 2 weeks from Absolute Organics. Check out their website. We have been happy with their produce and the honey is really good. Taste just like flowers.

. . . for Curriculum . . .
I like Sonlight's curriculum but order from Christianbook.com. They are faster and usually priced better. We started out this school year with A Beka. Big waste of time/money. I did not like the program. I thought that since Kyle wanted to use books this year, instead of SOS, it would be an easy program. It wasn't for us. It was just constant busy work. The boys were stressed and I had to make up test for Jarett. So, we totally switched curriculum. We went back to SOS math for both boys. We are using The Story of the World history, Njoy science, PE at the Y, Easy Grammar and Evan-Moor Daily Language, Bob Jones Reading and Wordly Wise spelling/vocabulary. I've just ordered a geography program, and new Bible program, and Anatomy program. My plans are to start and finish through the summer and then next year. I must admit, I getting tired of school myself. We have EOG testing May 5. We are using ATCED.com this year. They give the Woodcock Johnson test. I've heard really good things about them.

. . . for pictures . . .
I have set up accounts with Snapfish and Winkflash.

. . . Some favorite shopping . . .
Crate and Barrel and SurLaTable, I could spend hours in either's website or store. If ever shopping with me, keep me out of kitchen stores. Love it!!

Don't Throw That Snow At Me!!!!

Another snow day! The boys used the . . ."public school is off today, why can't we have a snow day?" Well, play now because tonight will be a different story. The biggest joy of homeschooling, sometimes, is you can have school at any hour.

It is very pretty outside today, but driving home from work last night was scary. I do not understand why this county can not have at least two plows. Or, the ability to have a plow on a county truck. Thankfully, I left work late, so everyone else had already gone and the traffic was at a minimum.

After PE Wednesday . . .

. . . we lingered a while. The boys had the

pool all to themselves. So, they swam and

had a good time. I watched and took pictures.

The Boys!!!

I am amazed sometimes watching my boys. Besides the fact that, of course, Jarett is in his undies, they amaze me at what they know. Just watching them play chess today was incredible. I thought, these are the little ones I sometimes want to string up!! But look at how they are playing and thinking at a game I don't know how to play. I watched their moves and the way they each studied the board and could not imagine the thoughts and processes running through their minds. Jarett is 7, and I've mentioned his ability to outwit and challenge me daily, but I guess I still see him as my baby and 'clingy' child. But then he's playing chess and keeping up with big brother. Kyle has always been a wonder. He knows lots of stuff but is still such a 'little' boy sometimes and I think, . . . are you 2? Maybe you have found yourself watching your children and wondered . . . how can you do that? . . . What is your little mind thinking? Well, I was there today and thought I would share the moment. If you haven't noticed your family today, I hope you are floored later by something special, or a moment they share with you.