~*Happy Easter*~

~*Happy Easter*~

This morning my amazing husband took the Easter baskets I put together from the closet and set them out for the boys to find when they woke up. He than hid a dozen colored eggs, so it remained an innocent childhood memory for them. So, as they sat waiting for the return of a man they admire and look up to... they looked around from the comfort of the couch. Many were spotted without them ever moving from a seated position, as they patiently waited for daddy to get home.

We both play very active roles in our children's lives, so I couldn't imagine upsetting their father by depriving him of the chance to witness every aspect of their lives. I don't know what is more rewarding, seeing my husband's face light up as he observes his children, or watching them try and find those eggs as if they were solving a puzzle.

I received a pleasant surprise this morning as my eldest son handed me a box of chocolates. As parents we "give" so much to our children from birth and beyond. I don't expect to suddenly "be done" just because my child becomes of legal age (few months away). I imagine many years to come surrounded by grandchildren, daughter-in-laws, and hoping that any mistakes we encounter are not so horrendous that we either cannot learn from them or fix them.

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May the resurrection of this time of year be not just that of "faith" but as a symbol of the actual lives we are living... and as evolution happens from mental, emotional, physical, and so forth.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

These books have been a source of entertainment for the boys the past few years. They first appealed to my middle son, who could relate to the main character. Than my youngest started to devour them to imitate his favorite sibling. These books have also come in handy when we're out grocery shopping, one or both boys like to sit in the shopping cart and simply read while we try to procure food. Plus it is nice when I catch both boys at home, reading the same book, and laughing at how portions compare to their own lives.

 

I wonder once the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series looses it nostalgia what new books will capture their attention. Our eldest child used to be into Edgar and Ellen and we still have a few of his old books lying around. I tried to get our youngest into "Rare Beasts", but he had no interest even when I read out loud (articulating my voice in hopes of bring it to life). I guess we'll just need to wait and see where their interests lead them. I'll be standing by waiting to indulge them and expand their imaginations with the written word.

 

We still have a bunch of those Goosebumps books but I think they are still a bit too young... and who wants to be up all night to make sure nothing crawls from under the bed, leaps from the closet, or shadows coming to life?

Irish Blessing

This is something I made a couple years ago, with the "Irish Blessing" added in. I added it to my Facebook and Cooper's website originally, in hopes others would share it. No one ever did but I still love it and print it out (pictures) to share with others

.~*~._.~*~._.~*~. 

 

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind always be at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

May the rain fall soft upon your fields,

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the Hollow of His hand.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY 2013

 

The day was actually started last night, as I set up the crock-pots with different things to eat all day. The first one was corned beef and cabbage... the second one black-eyed peas with collard green and ham hocks.

 

 

Good thing for the kids, we don't force them to eat most things. They were gracious and did a small portion of each... to help bring good luck and fortune to our family. May God watch over us, guide us to stay on the right path, protect us, and bless us indeed!!!

 

~*Amen*~

Academic Excellence Award

Today I am happy to share my youngest son's first award. So far he is about where he was before school started, not so advanced to skip a grade, we felt he would benefit socially and emotionally doing kindergarten. Well, actually my husband's argument was he shouldn't skip the ability to finger paint and have his first year be creative (before the nose to the grind for twelve years, I agree). Our philosophy is that "the only truly free years in a person's life are the first five until they retire or die".

 

Anthony received... the " Academic Excellence Award" today (not surprised). We videotaped, took pictures, and are proud of our little man. I would love to add a picture but feel it would be too much information to post online.

 

I'll be making him chocolate cupcakes tomorrow so he knows he is our special little man! I already made carrot cupcakes today to reward Tyler for getting all his homework done (weekly packet due back every Friday). I love making the naughty foods a little healthier. I substitute butter for coconut oil and add in ground flaxseed and walnuts. The kids don't get too many naughty foods, but when they do we like to get them to try new things (and as healthy as possible).

TRAVEL SMORES

Whenever we go to the beach in the summer or snow in winter we always make sure to include "travel smores"...

 

1.) Gold Graham Cereal

2.) Mini Marshmallows

3.) Chocolate Chips

This last Friday our middle child had an oral presentation (book report). As his parents we were nervous. I took pictures and his father videotaped the whole thing. He was confident and well spoken. We still think he could have done better because he didn't even do as he'd practiced at home. We understand that he is only seven years old and he did as well for a child his age. We've just held him to higher standards (as we do with all our children).

 

He wanted to make smoothies, but we weren't sure we'd even be able to make it to his class. Which meant more supplies than he could bring to school and from school. Than he wanted to choose something he could cook, but there are no stoves in the classroom. Than after settling on making travel smores he wanted to add teaching the kids how to draw at the end. He draws the pigs from Angry birds on everything these days. Unfortunately that would have had him off subject. I made him a scrap booked version of instructions for his oral report since it isn't found in a book.

 

~*Crossing Fingers*~... hope he scores well.

Go Fish (playing cards)

Recently I was going through a box I kept from teaching my eldest son. I came across a bunch of educational workbooks I can pass to the two smaller children. I even came across old flash cards I can actually use again. Among that stuff I came across the old "Go Fish" cards we used to play with our eldest son (now seventeen). There are four of each fish (two pairs) and each card gives different facts about that fish. I'm hoping to use the ISBN number to a few places in hopes of getting a few new decks. I originally found them in the dollar section of Michael's years back.

 



I am still pretty excited to come across more educational materials for the kids. They both started reading before school ever started, basic math, and probably could have skipped kindergarten. My youngest is competitive, thrives on learning more, and recently informed us he wants to find a job. My husband and I got a good laugh, than explained he can't work until he is sixteen (could at fourteen, but we don't want him to over extend himself and burn out). For now he does small chores at home to earn money, nice to brother, manners in public, reading/writing, or clothes in hamper.

YouTube and Our Children

To say that our children are growing up in a world more advanced than ours is an understatement. When I did something stupid as a child it wasn't set in stone (internet), it was written on sand (lips and thoughts). And the worst we were exposed to as children was what we found in our parents bedrooms.

 

Recently my children have discovered YouTube, which makes me wonder who told them about the site. I refuse to view most things on that site because I am tired of being infected and having to reformat my computer. Not worth a couple hours of my time to see some cute clip or montage using stolen music (wish they had a section with just official without looking through all the personal things posted, not just listed as official). The boys have been looking at Psy videos, and angry bird montages, they even had a Sponge Bob version. So far nothing has popped up on their tablets of questionable taste (sexually explicit). I know at some time were going to need to go into the parental controls (thanks Toys R Us for giving that option on Tabeo). I don't want them to be in a bubble and have it pop when the real world hits... but at the same time I want them to be innocent and children as long as possible.

 

The fact is the trends of what is "hot" one moment (Psy is dying out like "Who let the dogs out" before it) is sneered at later. As a parent, I try to get the kids on home video dancing, singing, and "living".

 

Now the question comes on how exactly we prepare our children to live in this new world, with huge technical advances, day time TV with all five core curse words (desensitized), and with those that do not play by the rules while keeping our own integrity.

 

~*Live*~ ... ~*Laugh*~ ... ~*Love*~

Sold The Jeep

 

 

We originally bought this Jeep for Anthony's birthday. At first he had fun driving it around the house but it didn't take long before he lost interest. And to be honest I had times I would refuse to charge it to keep him from driving into my legs. Today he was able to sell it for $40. Normally he donates money he makes from his things to charity, but he's decided to put it into his savings account. The most we do is help him, posting the ad, and dealing with others. We don't dictate what the boys do with their things, money made if they sell them later... after all, it belonged to him. I don't get why some parents buy a kid a gift than later when sold take the money. That is like giving a gift than taking it back.

 

Usually they choose to donate what they make to SPCA (their favorite charity, thanks to commercials).

 

I warned when placing the ad that the Jeep's only issue was the Spiderman stickers my son put in various places. Most parents have "Goo Gone" on hand. That stuff comes in handy with stickers, gum, and various other aspects.

 

I am glad that Anthony was able to achieve his goal (being ahead of his brother with savings). He was only $20 behind his brother (exactly), and now he'll be ahead. It was cute to watch him try and do extra chores, ask if he can do things to earn more money... or even begging us to do a lemonade stand.

 

I wonder if this means he'll now have less ambition to want to do more?



 

I was recently given a bunch of toys for the kids. Among them were the original G.I Joe action figures. I was tempted to tuck them away and selfishly keep them for myself. When I was little I was a tomboy, watched the cartoons, collected the toys, and mine might just still be found where they'd been buried many years ago. When I was little they used to sell "Black Cat" firecrackers on the ice cream trucks. Which I would than pretend were dynamite. Most of my collection ended up a casualty of war. I still remember countless hours of digging trenches, using sticks and what I could pick off near by plants to create my own little world. Even a wandering bug can soon play a part unwittingly.

 

The stores need to start selling more toys like these. When we looked we were disappointed by the poor selection. Most were cheaply made or over priced for what you actually get. And we'd checked at most local stores from the WalMart and Target to Toys R Us.  It would be nice to find more action figures with bendable elbows and knees, not just a stiff leg and arm movement.

 

Today's world looks nothing like the one I grew up in. Between fear of strangers and what might happen (medically, emotionally, mentally, etc) I think they lack a core piece of childhood. And those not on the Megan's List are what you need to worry about. Living in a condensed living and working space makes it even harder to weed through who is trust worthy and who isn't. I'm currently reading "Life Code" by Dr. Phil McGraw, which has yet to teach anything I haven't already learned the hard way (still a great guide for others).

 

Children need to be able to play in the dirt, walk in nature, and have actual imaginations! We try not to push our children too much. I watch as other parents over schedule their children and usually based on their own social standing. I can't imagine forcing my son to play a sport or take an art class so we can chat in the stands ("Raising Hope" showed what we think and feel recently). We keep in tune with the kids likes and dislikes and find things they'll enjoy learning. I just wish they had more classes for children (beyond finger painting or jump house businesses). I think children would enjoy more intellectual classes, to learn how to cook, science (beyond Legos), and things that build up the child. We chose to have children; we sacrifice (time, money, sanity), and invest back into our children.