Overheard

Mommy:  Marc, do you want to ride with me or Daddy?
Marc:  Daddy
Mommy: Actually, I need you to ride with me.
Marc:  So all that before was just pretense.  You were giving me the illusion of a choice.  :)

This and that

It's so funny how by December you are sick of the routine and dying for school and activities to end, and then by January 3rd you are ready to start back.  I am happy to have our routine back. 

We celebrated the Feast of Epiphany on the 6th.  That's the 12th day of Christmas when the 3 wise men visited the Holy Family and showed that the salvation of the Lord would be for all people.

Daddy read to us our Epiphany books-

We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin (every book by this amazing illustrator is gorgeous)-

The Fourth Wise Man by Nell Navillus-

And The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park, which explains how myrrh is acquired and used.

 We did a traditional Epiphany House blessing where we read the gospels, prayed prayers and walked through our home with candles and holy water asking God to bless our home this year.  The one we used is from Bringing Advent Home by Rosie and William Gil.  But there is a great one here.   The children LOVED doing this and have talked and talked about how nice it was. 

Then Daddy took our blessed chalk and wrote the Epiphany blessing above the doors:

20 + C + M + B + 17 

It's the year with the initials of the Magi- Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar- in the middle, but it also stands for Christus mansionem benedicat, which means Christ bless this house.   

We had the busiest weekend planned this past weekend with choir camp, basketball practice and game, our couple's supper/prayer group, and a concert.  It was ALL cancelled for the ice storm, and we were thrilled.  We had the best time relaxing and getting our house in order.  We put so much up for Christmas it takes a lot of work to get it all put away, labeled and organized.  I was so glad to have a whole day to get it done. 

Marc scares me to death decorating the above-the-door landing!

We are back on our weekly schedule.  Every Monday I drop Tucker off for his 30 minute piano lesson and read history to Marc and Julia in the car.  When Tucker is done, I drop Julia and Marc off for their lessons which last an hour and fifteen minutes and take the little boys out to lunch to pass the time.  It's such a treat for me to be with these sweet angels!

They both love to help me in the kitchen.  Tucker was cracking us up peeling this cucumber and pretending it was Larry from VeggieTales.  :)

Charlie took his apple and gave it a face to look like Bob the Tomato.  :)

Tucker drew this picture of "Slippery Sam" the banana key chain he got for his birthday.  I think it's pretty good.  Ha!

 Can I just tell you how much I love holding this little squishy boy and hearing him read to me.  It's my heart's joy to hear his sweet wittle voice.

We use the Elson readers.  He is using Book 1. 

On the other end of the spectrum I have my big boy typing out papers with footnotes.  I can't believe I'm still homeschooling him, but so far so good. 

These two little buddies keep themselves busy building all day long. 

Speaking of the boys, they both woke up with a stomach bug this morning.  Tucker came down and said, "I don't feel good" and got in my bed and threw up all over it and him and me.  Charlie did the same in his bed.    Good morning Mommy! 

I am happy to report that they got over the worst and are able to eat now, the sheets and jammies and children are all cleaned, and like BB taught me this whole house has been sterilized (door knobs, light switches, everything!) and we've got our essential oils and vitamins working to keep the rest of us well.   I am happy to have had the reminder to wash the comforters.  :)

By the way, finding the good in something makes me think of the movie Pollyanna that we just watched and I wanted to recommend.  We all enjoyed it.  It wasn't "too" sweet- it was just right. At one point I was nervous and Marky said, "don't you know what happens?"  And I said, "no."  He said "Oh, I've read it- it's going to be okay."  The boy will read anything.  Even Pollyanna apparently.  :)

Sunday pics and Marc's story about Tucker

I know I am not objective at all, but I think Marc is just the sweetest and most earnest boy.  He works so hard and always tries to do the right thing.  We went to Chuck E Cheese with friends on Friday, and Marc helped the children count the tickets and figure out what prizes they could get.  It was a big job that took diplomacy skills.  :)  The cashier came and said, "This boy is amazing, Mom.  I can't get over how responsible and kind he is with these little children.  I was so impressed- I can't get over how mature he is."

He is working through the second half of Writing With Skill as his writing program this fall, and I love it.  We've done all of Susan Wise Bauer's writing and grammar programs and highly recommend them.  I was grading some of his work today and found one from earlier that I had overlooked.  It was in the biography section of his binder- there was a biography of Dickens, Shakespeare, and this one on Tucker.  Talk about bringing a tear to my eye.  (typed out below)

     My little brother is named Tucker.  He has curly hair, a roundish face with a dimple, and a smile.  His mood is almost always happy, but sometimes he has trouble with his temper.  He has an extremely good self-taught knowledge of flags, countries, U.S.A. states, and space.  He has lots of energy, and has a hard time sitting still.  He has a very long attention span, and will play with something another kid would have abandoned a long time before.

     Tucker loves to make crafts, and our floors are covered in them.  He makes state and country flags, U.S.A. maps, and solar systems.  He would never stop unless he had to. 

     Tucker loves to play outside.  He can climb very well.  He climbs higher than the rest of us in our fig tree.  He likes to jump on the trampoline.  He is willing to have himself launched by me.  He is very brave. 

     Whenever people are around Tucker, he tends to make them happy.  He is not mean, and is not shy.  In fact, he will not wait to be introduced, but does it himself!  He makes friends with most people he meets.  He is a good brother. 

Marky, that was so precious- you melted Mommy's heart.  Tuckerman, you are so blessed to have siblings who adore you.   *Editors note:  After posting this I mentioned it to Marc Jr and he said, "I don't remember writing that- oh- that must of been that thing I wrote last year."  Apparently he wrote this in 6th grade at age 11.  Still sweet. 


You had a good day today.  You asked to do your work out on the porch- just the two of us.  It was my treat!  Everyone knows the porch is my happy place. 

You are looking more like your Daddy every day.  :)

And Daddy apparently took this pic as he was leaving this morning.  I had no idea.  It might be the only picture of me teaching we have. 

His tummy hurt

Last night was a bit eventful.  We had gotten a sitter and gone out to dinner.  When we got home Charlie was on fire with a fever and crying that his stomach hurt terribly.  He didn't say anything about ears of throat or the usual- just real tender tummy.  Daddy ended up taking him to Children's to make sure it wasn't appendix or intestines.  They got there about 11:00 p.m. and got home at 3:30!   He is okay- it must be some type of virus.   We're so glad it's not something worse.

The doctor said, "who are you holding?" and Charlie said, "Dis is Sheepy."  :)

After some pain meds- feeling better.  

And now a new burst of energy- hey these wires spin fast!

Finally at 2 a.m. he dozed off.  :)

He slept in this morning.  We heard him get up, go to the potty, wash his hands and get back in bed around 8:00.  So precious.  He slept til almost 10:00. 

In other news....

We were having a long talk about socialism, capitalism, democracy, fascism, dictatorships, and the like with Marky the other day.  Big Marc mentioned the examples in Orwell's "Animal Farm."  Marky later came to me and said, "Would you mind ordering that 'Animal Farm' book for me?"  I did and it came yesterday.  He read it in its entirety last night in one sitting.  We've talked about it all day.  Of course, I have NEVER read it just like I have read none of the books I was supposed to in school.  I got the cliff notes version and moved on. 

I wish I had had the fire of learning lit under me like he has had.  It's a real gift and so amazing to watch.

Working it out

Marc and Tucker have a bit of a complicated relationship.  On the whole they get along great, but Tucker does NOT like Marc to do anything for him or tell him what to do.  Even today when Marc simply handed him the towel to dry his hands Tucker put his hands behind his back and said, "I will get the towel myself!"

Tucker is blessed that he has such a sweet brother who puts up with this nonsense.  The other day when we were in a sports store  Marc walked up to me and I said, "Do not ask me to buy anything- we are here for one reason."  He said, "oh, I just wanted to get this kickstand and bell for Tucker's bike.  I know he really wants them.  I will pay you back when we get home."  Such a sweet boy- and yes, I did let him buy the bell and kickstand and he even installed them all on his own. 

 He is even saving up his money to buy Tucker a hammock because Tucker likes his so much.  And the other day he asked me not to throw away a box (Marc loves to create with boxes and even asked our neighbor if he could have the box his lawnmower came in, which the neighbor happily agreed. I came home and there was a giant, stinky lawnmower box in the foyer!).  Anyway, Marc needed the box to make a home for Tucker's stuffed bear, which he made and Tucker loved.  

Marc makes things for Tucker all the time- he worked on this weather chart for Tucker all yesterday- he's going to attach a thermometer on the left side-

So Tuck Tuck, I write this down so you will know- you really have the jackpot on big brothers, and I hope you will learn to be grateful for him.  I know Marc is grateful for you and thinks you are hilarious.  Every time I talked while he was in Europe he asked me for a "Tucker quote."  :)

Thank you Lord for these precious boys!

Speaking of Tucker quotes- I need to write this down before I forget.

Driving home from church-

Tucker:  Mommy, what does 'confession' mean?
Julia:  Tucker don't say that- you know what confession is- don't pretend you don't.
Tucker:  Julia, I  know I have a large vocabulary, but I certainly do not know everything!

Later-
Mommy- Tucker eat that Cliff bar.
Tucker; Mommy, I would, but I do not favor bars like these.  :)

Overheard

Tucker:  Marky, please let me get in the hammock with you.
Marky:  No.
Mommy:  Marc, let Tucker get in there with you- it's a double hammock- it says it's made for two people.
Marky:  Mommy- it means two sensible people. :)

Soccer and zoo

A few pics from Tucker's soccer game.  I'm afraid we aren't quite ready to focus on sports yet.  He starts off well and then loses steam and focus towards the end!  He has fun though!

 

Who has gotten distracted?  :)

He's running- just not to the ball.  :)

"Hmm...I think I'll have some water."

"Tuck-uh- you are having some watah?  I can have some?"

"I can have some watah?  You can share?"

Marky had a zoo science class on reptiles today.  By the way, Marc dropped him off this morning and said that Marky said, "Last time we got to feed the giraffes.  They stick out their long black tongues and we give them cabbage and what not."  Marc laughed at the "what not"- he said, "he is his mother's son."  :)

We went at 11:30 to pick him up and stayed for lunch and a quick trip to see animals.

"Wook, Mommy!  Dis weaf wooks wikes a fishy!"

Precious Charliebear- thank you for talking like a baby and having chubby cheeks and always holding my hand.  :)  You are my sweet baby!

And we do almost all of our afternoon school work on the porch now.  Today after science class I read history and religion aloud to all and did grammar with Marky while Julia practiced cursive.  Two little boys came in and out and played in the sandbox right beside us.  I love Spring homeschool!  The coffee table is always full of books.