Conversations with Myself

I'm grateful that I never set out to make this blog spot something specific. I labeled it "A Thousand Words; a biography of books, boys & becoming." With such a broad spectrum I feel I can stay true to those topics generally, and I enjoy writing all over the place.

I occasionally stop and wonder why I enjoy blogging so much, it's clear to me that my blog is like an old friend....like a favorite blanket or pair of slippers....cup of tea in a favorite chair. There is a comfort in routine & ritual of being here. I'm unsure of how many people peek at my blog anymore, but truly, I don't care. If I'm blogging to myself, it's fine and I'm happy to do it.

This morning is one of those that just just fits comfortably. Laundry is going, chili chock full of veggies is in the crockpot. The sun is streaming in the windows interrupted only by an occasional twirly, falling leaf.

The boys are on the walls, just where they belong.
Soon I'll strap backpacks on them and we'll haul our school to the library because I really can't stand being inside so much when the autumn days are so cool, crisp and colorful. I love these days.

I've signed the boys up for gymnastics. It was Nate's idea, and the idea caught on with his brothers. We had our first classes last week and the boys all came away with an enthusastic "YES, we love gymnastics!!" Tonight I'll take them to class again & I'm grateful for their strengthening bodies and added rhythm to the week.

I'm off to relish the day, what are you doing today?

Nate makes me laugh.

Nate put on his swim trunks to get ready to head to swimming lessons;

"Mom, you want to hear how excited I am? I already smell like the swimming pool."

:) *sigh*

Soccer-Happy-Mom

40 practices
24 games
lots of new friends
3 happy boys

Soccer season has ended. The boys made amazing progress over the 8 weeks they participated this fall. All of the boys ran hard, played hard, worked on teamwork, made goals, learned new sweet-skillz...and I got to watch. ;)

Tonight on our way home from swim lessons Nate wondered out loud how I could think it was fun to watch the boys swim. I know what he was thinking. When I was a kid I just wanted to swim too! But as I explained to him, mama's love to watch their kids learn, excel, try new things. I have so enjoyed this season. I have such lovely little monkeys, how could it be boring to be a soccer mom?
Soccer Fall 2009

Happy-busy

Loose tooth is now GONE!
Nathan lost his first tooth and is officially promoted to "big kid." Sigh...

These school-soccer-boy-choir-theatre-planning-filled days are leaving me with little time to even think about blogging. I'm content to be in the throes of things though, fully enjoying our school this year.

We are just diggin' Classical Conversations. It's a great thing for the kids to have class to go to once a week and it's stinking productive. I get to stay and get in on the classroom too so I'm getting new ideas for teaching all the time. The boys have memorized so much information in the last three weeks I can't believe it. I'm happy to say I've learned most of it too. :) The Ten Commandments, Greek and Roman God's, a little Latin, all about the Kingdoms of Living things and this week about the human cell- that's just the half of it! It's something else to give them this information to be retained, rather than merely introducing it and moving on. I love their presentations each week too... the boys continue to get more and more comfortable speaking before their peers. If you are interested in CC look at their website for a chapter close to you. I'll be posting more about the curriculum as time allows on my homeschooling site.

Other big news on the home front...Nate lost his first tooth. You can see up there that it's getting wiggly, and a few minutes later it was gone. He was thrilled to be in on this graduation, promoted to "big kid" in a matter of minutes. Eli really wants to be part of the hole-in-the-mouth club, but he'll have to wait a minute. Geesh!



Things are moving right along at home, we are thoroughly enjoying soccer boys. We have 5 practices a week and three games on Saturdays. It seems like a lot but because none of us "go" very often it works out just fine. We have three different levels this year. It's really, really fun to watch, especially Eli in his first year; This team has an orange thing going. See?

Well, that's all the blogging this morning can handle. Hoping to do more updating this week but for now it's off to do the early morning school rush I'm glad to do just once a week!

Nate is proud to share...he's on Two wheels

Nathan decided to try out two wheels this month.


In just a day, he'd mastered starting, staying up and balanced and slowing, coasting, and stopping.

The next day he mastered "skid marks" a sign of true big kid-hood. We went for a 3+ mile bike ride.
For those of you who don't know Nate, he's very tenacious. He loves physical activity, and he's equally very caring, giving and tender hearted. He loves to give gifts he's paid for and make cards and pictures for others. I love the combination.
I'm as proud of this little boy as he is of himself. I don't doubt that he would sleep with his bike if he could.

A Thousand Words

Boys found a frog on the patio.

No, I don't mind holding frogs. I like them.

This photo encompasses the sheer-awesomeness of our Sunday-Funday.

A little Slip...

A little Zip (thanks to an awesomly-innovative dad)

Tiger cubs made rockets to blast off.

They went amazingly high, it was so fun for the boys.

Eli was a little timid.

Nate has been perching from the eves in the treehouse.

Breakfast in bed anyone? I got it three times this week!

Nate watches that ball and runs fast for it.

Joey gives us a thumbs up. They're both loving the ball game.

Didn't I tell you Nate took a photo of his own freckles?!? So cute!

AND Joey surprised me by unloading the dryer and carefully folding all the clothes for me. Just tell me, how cool is that? A mother's dream...

A sweet, smiley face;

My dad bought ladybugs to let loose in the garden. The boys had a great time with their nephew last weekend. (Right now I'm just lovin' the belly & button.)

Joaquin is a real peach, still. A talking and talking peach.

Eli's art (self portrait)

Joey's spring picture

Nate; self portrait.

Do you see some resemblance?

A nice squiddy little picture Eli made for me. They have faces!!

And finally, Eli with his painted birdhouse. If only we can find tiny bumble-birds...

Common Sense Tips for Running in the Snow

• White and Pink shoes are hypercolor in the snow. They magically turn brown and pink. (You only thought they were white)
  
• When you run around the elementary school down the way- the street lined with parked cars of parents that wait for children to come to the car, it's awesome to slip on the ice and fall on your butt. Do it gracefully.
• Take your camera for fabulous snow photos.
• Eyeglasses quickly build up a nice layer of snow, rendering them useless.
• The snow looks as pretty without any glasses. And all cars (but the white ones) are still easy to see.
• Perfectly curled eyelashes catch snowflakes beautifully, blocking your view of the road ahead & giving you an up close view of the snow.
• DO NOT attempt to wipe your snowlashes for a better view of the road ahead. Vanity will remind you that your face will be covered in mascara quickly if you do. You can't see anything anyway, remember? The glasses are in your pocket.
  
• You can catch LOTS of snowflakes on your tongue if you run against the snowfall with your mouth wide open.
  
• All that vantity was for not. When you get close to home and your body gets warm, the snow on your eyelashes melts anyhow and your sweet husband will still giggle when you walk in the door with mascara running down your face. He will also be so proud of you for running in spite of the cold you have, the cold you're in.
• Running in the snow still clears a girls head.
• Running in the snow still burns calories.
• Running in the snow is amazingly beautiful, nature still breathes life into a weary soul. God has a way of doing that.
  

Hoopsters

Scoot and Critter are both signed up for basketball this year, it's our first year and other than the chaos of four games happening at the same time in one building on Saturday mornings, we just love it. So I have a little show for you, my little hot shots;

Swimmers

The boys had lessons again. This set of lessons was through the homeschool co-op. It was fun to be in lessons with friends. (Joey and Thomas) I was excited to see that the boys are doing really well, really progressing. I didn't put them in at all this summer, took them to play at the pool a lot and all of them got comfy with their faces in the water, and scooting around under there. I'm excited to see the learning this winter. They have no lessons this week, but start again next week. For that session Eli and I will do a class too.

The city of Redmond will be getting a ginormous water park sometime in the next few years. A main attraction, for out of towners and locals alike. I want the boys to hold their own too. I'm also really looking forward to white water rafting with our kids. :) But I do the math....the boys have to be at least six years old....so that will be at least 5 years from now or so. I can't wait!

Scooters

The boys love to do nothing more, lately, than bike, scoot and toot! Scooter is getting more and more comfortable on two wheels, LC is loving the bike w/ trainers and Sweet Pea, he flies! His tricycle legs really go. It's been a fun time out there. Too bad it's cooling off so much lately, taking us down into the 30's at night and today it's just below 60. Worse comes to worse I let them cruise around the garage. This is just a fabulous activity for them...and me too. I love being out, and love them burning all that crazy boy energy they have!