Froffy Snowmah

It has been the Year of the Snowman in our house this winter. Being blessed (or cursed, depending on your disposition) with an abundance of snow has alloted us many opportunities to build snowmen. B quickly fell in love with the entire process, from rolling the snow into big balls of ice, to making sure his snowmen were the best dressed (and warmest) on the block. When I asked him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas, he answered with a resounding "Froffy Snowmah". I had to explain to him that Frosty the Snowman would melt underneath the Christmas tree, and he agreed to let me read him the "snowman book" again for the zillionth time instead. I failed to take any photos of our frosty friends before they collapsed into a melted heap on the front yard, but I'm quite certain we'll be making plenty more. The snow just keeps on falling and we're not even into January yet! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and that you are looking forward to 2008.

Mirror, Mirror on the Ball

Who is the silliest one of all?

Sweet Melody

Or at least to HIS ears it is! D has become obsessed with wanting to play the guitar, and not just any guitar. It had to be a red electric guitar. I was thrilled to find this adorable (real) guitar online, and it arrived just in time for his birthday. It's been interesting to watch him gently pick it up, turn it on "not too loud", and strum the strings while singing made-up songs. D never does anything gently or "not too loud"!! This morning while I was upstairs getting dressed, I heard him playing yet another 'song' , but this time B was singing along. Music to a mother's ears.

Today I am FIVE

Our journey into Parenthood began FIVE years ago today. Where did the time go? How can my baby be such a big boy already? Cliche questions, yes. But when I look at these two photos, side by side, these are the phrases I can't seem to blink away. Five years ago I wore different glasses, had a few less smile lines etched on my face, and got to sleep in until 9am on weekends. Other than that, not much has changed about me. I still have the same winter jacket I wore to the hospital the night of my labor. My eyes are still green, I'm still the same height and weight, and I wear my hair the same way. D, on the other hand, has become an entirely different person. Once a tiny, helpless, dependent little baby, now he's an opinionated, talkative, lovable little 'guy'. His dark hair has lightened to a soft brown, his eyes changed from blue to green, and he's tall and lanky. I can barely carry him in my arms anymore, but that won't stop me from carrying him in my heart for a lifetime. Happy Birthday D!

Ummm....Yeah, no, I don't remember that.

I wanted to attach a photo with this post but forgot to download my pictures off my camera last night. Wouldn't it be nice if we could download our short-term memory onto a memory stick and keep it in our pocket? That way, anytime we forget something important, all we'd have to do is plug-in, and everything we could possibly need to remember would be spelled out in front of us. However, with the way things have been going lately, I'd forget the memory stick was in my pocket and throw it in the wash with the other laundry. Like I did with B's diaper a few weeks ago. Yeah, not such a great idea. The 'slimy diaper crystals' look is very unbecoming. Speaking of fashionable looks, a little girl collecting money outside of the grocery store yesterday had on cute purple glasses. I said "Hey, you've got purple glasses!" while pointing to my own. She smiled oddly as I placed some loose change in her container and wished her well. It wasn't until I was unloading the groceries into my car when, upon catching my reflection in the window, I realized I had on my BLACK frames that day. Ugh. So much for forming a kinship with the purple-framed-glasses-girl.

Last week I put a library book on my bookshelf thinking it was my own, only to receive a call from "Dave the library guy' one afternoon. He claimed he was calling to tell me the book was three weeks overdue, but I'm thinking he just needed someone to chat with. On Saturday, the boys and I were headed to a birthday party when I realized I didn't have D's EpiPen with me (which I never, ever, ever leave home without...or so I thought) and we had to turn around and drive all the way home to search for it. Luckily, I'm an earlybird, and still managed to get to the party before most of the other guests. I just hope I don't forget that D's birthday party is next Sunday. I'm not saying I'm unorganized, I just FORGET to look at my organizers on a regular basis. If I had, I would have remembered to go to my doctor appointment last Monday. And to make the boys a dentist appointment. And that it was my turn to bring the snack to D's class. You get the idea.

"A" is for Apple

These past few weeks have been so productive setting up our "schoolroom", thrifting for used books, and creating organizational spreadsheets (for lesson planning, yearly goals, and weekly/daily schedules). The most exciting "find" was a computer desk someone set out on the side of the road for the taking. After getting it inside the house (yeah, don't ask me how I managed that feat) and giving it a good cleaning, I realized how new it actually looks. You just can't beat FREE when it comes to school supplies! Throughout my recent thrifting adventures I've found quite a few books that will be perfect supplements to D's Kindergarten curriculum, as well as for future use. I think in total I spent $20 for well over 50 books. These are a few of my favorite finds:

The Aesop for Children (Aesop and Milo Winter)

Folk Tales and Fables of the World (Barbara Hayes and Robert Ingpen)

The Usborne Book of Knowledge New Expanded Edition (Tony Bremner)

Learn to Draw Now (Doug DuBosque)

Make Way For Ducklings (Robert McCloskey)

One Morning in Maine (Robert McCloskey)

The Children's Book of America (William J. Bennett)

Reader's Digest How Science Works (Judith Hann)

How We Use Plastic (Chris Oxlade)

My First Science Book (Dorling Kindersley) (Angela Wilkes)

Make Your Own Costumes and Disguises (Judith Conaway)

What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know (E.D. Hirsch, JR.)

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling (Debra Bell)

Best-Loved Children's Stories (Publications Int'l Ltd)

BEACH DAY IN LATE OCTOBER

Last Monday was an unusually warm day for late October, a day meant to be spent entirely outside. Which is why the boys and I made a spontaneous trip to our favorite beach, where we spent a few hours playing in the (frigid) waves, exploring tide pools and climbing the slippery rocks. After a picnic lunch eaten with sandy hands, we headed home so B could take his nap. Fast forward to today, another sunny day, but with the feel of snow instead of sand. It's amazing how fickle the weather is this time of year. It makes it hard to plan our days but at least it never gets boring. And quite honestly, it could be hailing cats and dogs and it wouldn't phase me today, because the RED SOX WON THE WORLD SERIES!!! Quite worth staying up past midnight last night. :)

FOLIAGE, FIRE, DRAGON TEETH?

Hubby's family has a camp up north, and although we haven't been spending as much time there as we used to, it never fails to impress us when we visit. This past weekend was no exception. The foliage was just starting to peek out from behind the low, hovering clouds on the other side of the lake. The weather was chilly, but that didn't stop the boys from playing in the crystal clear water. Luckily Hubby had a fire going inside the camp to warm them up once they decided it really WAS too cold to swim. We enjoyed a take-out pizza for lunch, which is a huge deal for us with D's food allergies. There aren't many places we trust to be peanut-free, tree-nut free, egg-free, soy-free (you get the idea), so it's a rare treat to eat out or do take out. I called a local restaurant and found out they have SAFE pizza!! It doesn't take much to thrill me, does it?!

D has become interested in reading books about dragons and other mythological creatures lately. After lunch at the camp, we headed out on an expedition to find dragon bones. As described in one of his books, we began our hunt by searching for the "swish marks" of dragon tails on nearby rocks and trees. D found an abundance of swish marks, while B and Uncle K did the digging in hopes of finding some buried treasures. We followed the clues all the way to the river, where everyone focused on finding handfuls of "dragon teeth" and "dragon claws" amongst the rocks and boulders. At first we thought we'd donate them to the Museum of Science, but in the end the boys decided it would be more fun to paint their discoveries and keep them forever.

SIGNS OF AUTUMN

We awoke to a leaf-covered driveway that looked like crispy, brown and gold snow. D and B couldn't wait to get outside to enjoy the arrival of fall, and we spent the next two hours riding bikes and searching for the perfect leaves to use for a few craft projects I have planned for tomorrow. Usually around mid-February I begin wondering why anyone would want to live in New England with the long, dreary, bitter winters. But then October arrives and quietly awakens a renewal of awe at the beauty New England possesses. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than right here in my own yard during this fleeting time of the year. It's wonderful to see the boys enjoying the season as much as I do, if not more. Raking leaves, stacking wood, breathing in the crisp air. Wandering through the yard, matching fallen leaves to their trees. Picking apples, baking pies, drinking warm apple cider and visiting the pumpkin patch. It's going to be a busy month!

A LEAP OF FAITH

Homeschooling my children has been something I've always wanted to do, even years prior to becoming pregnant with my first son. Once I had kids, reality took over and the idea of homeschooling seemed to be completely erased from my mind. The years following the birth of D proved to be the hardest of my life, not only adjusting to caring for a high-needs baby after thirty-some years of independence, but also dealing with post-partum depression and the many marriage and health problems that developed within my extended family during this time. Luckily I had my husband to keep me strong enough to muddle through it all. In the end, everything started to fall into place, leaving me with two beautifully strong-willed boys, a devoted hubby, and a rediscovered faith in God after years of feeling lost and abandoned. Now D (my oldest) is nearing the age where he'll be starting Kindergarten, and the desire to homeschool has resurfaced. I'm taking a leap of faith, knowing that I've been called to do this but not feeling confident that I can actually DO it. What a tremendous, frightening, exciting opportunity it is taking on the responsibility of educating my children!! I'll be starting late next summer, but have already immersed myself in researching curriculum and extracurricular activities. It's all-consuming, but worth every minute.