Because we get up, eat breakfast, do our lessons, and we are done! They dont have to suffer, nobody has to waste their time, no body has to be bored, be discouraged, get passed-by, get dragged-along, they do their work, then go brush teeth, make beds, and we are free to move on! No child need sit in a desk from 8-3, and neither should any adult.
Now we can go play outside, work on our computers, play games, build stuff, run, dance, paint, bicycle, cook, rest, read, and LIVE
God I love this.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
money talks
http://health.msn.com/pregnancykids/kidshealth/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100160211>1=9303
Been saying and studying and fuming over this subject for years....before bratz even came out....but it really really does suck, all of these little tots with these pink and black shredded clothes that do not fit them, trying to play and grow and run with mini heels and mules and slides instead of tennis shoes...the industry makes me sick and the parents, do, too. Im sure it is very uncool to be the "only girl in kindergarten" without hooker gear on, but if NONE of the parents dressed their little ones in this manner, the issue would resolve itself. I thought id pass this one along. The grown ups put their money towards these nasty toys and these nasty clothes and these nasty low quality boring pointless product lines. We all need to STOP supporting the garbage industries that are marketed towards our children NOW.
Been saying and studying and fuming over this subject for years....before bratz even came out....but it really really does suck, all of these little tots with these pink and black shredded clothes that do not fit them, trying to play and grow and run with mini heels and mules and slides instead of tennis shoes...the industry makes me sick and the parents, do, too. Im sure it is very uncool to be the "only girl in kindergarten" without hooker gear on, but if NONE of the parents dressed their little ones in this manner, the issue would resolve itself. I thought id pass this one along. The grown ups put their money towards these nasty toys and these nasty clothes and these nasty low quality boring pointless product lines. We all need to STOP supporting the garbage industries that are marketed towards our children NOW.
Friday, April 20, 2007
They got to go!
Greta and Mickey got to go to the Campfire Scouts field trip today, after all! I was allowed to drop them off at the nature center, drive around for an hour and a half with my niece, Casey, and Charlie, and then go pick them up. I am too sick to do a big field trip but not too sick to drive around : )
They said they had alot of fun, learned a few new flowers such a Trout Lily and MayApple, and saw several red-bellied woodpeckers up close!
Greta felt as if the tour guide fellow was getting annoyed that she knew "all the answers" and I told her I totally understood (having spent many hours out "in the hall" as a young girl for being smart/not being silent) but that we must let others answer some questions, too.
Now it is really warm, about 70, and so Casey, Mickey, and Greta are outside making mud in my mixing bowls and having some more good fresh sunshine and air while my niece and Charlie play with little cars and stuffed animals. They are such good friends! I have NEVEr seen 2 one year olds actually play together---not parallel play, where 2 kids hang out side by side but do their own thing...but play together! Really really cute and sweet. So I write a blog entry and pick up kleenexes from everywhere and drink more hot tea.
They said they had alot of fun, learned a few new flowers such a Trout Lily and MayApple, and saw several red-bellied woodpeckers up close!
Greta felt as if the tour guide fellow was getting annoyed that she knew "all the answers" and I told her I totally understood (having spent many hours out "in the hall" as a young girl for being smart/not being silent) but that we must let others answer some questions, too.
Now it is really warm, about 70, and so Casey, Mickey, and Greta are outside making mud in my mixing bowls and having some more good fresh sunshine and air while my niece and Charlie play with little cars and stuffed animals. They are such good friends! I have NEVEr seen 2 one year olds actually play together---not parallel play, where 2 kids hang out side by side but do their own thing...but play together! Really really cute and sweet. So I write a blog entry and pick up kleenexes from everywhere and drink more hot tea.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
think healthy!!!
I havent had time to write too much lately, wanting to write things that were big or thematic or cohesive or poignant has seemed well, exhausting!
The kids---well we have all had a run of illness, with Casey being the one who finally got all of us out to the beloved 20 miles away doctor with five kids Monday on proclaiming his ear hurt "so so bad". (I am babysitting my 11 month old niece this week and we brought her too, obviously)
So Casey got amoxicillin, Charlies ears were checked and pronounced to be fine, and I REALLY needed her to check me too but after we were so rudely and foolishly and I would venture cruelly ordered out of the fun waiting room with toys and space and dump trucks and a film playing, into the miniscule examination room with two strollers, 3 walking kids and a sick overheated mama--then all went downhill and by the time the good doctor arrived (at LEAST 15 minutes) Charlie was screaming in my arms, and anybody checking me was long forgotten)
But i digress.
Mickey has been cheerful and active lately, playing outside alot, reading with more fluency and comfort, I would say at pretty much an adult speed and comfort level, he fusses and balks at writing stuff but he does do it and I do not have much trouble finding clever ways to get this practice in, hand writing practice that is.
Greta has gone from a kid who did not know what a text or a chat was, to an honest to goodness online girl seemingly overnight thanks to a game called MapleStory. She is all about using the little shortcut words like LOL and THX and BRB as well as a million others. She enjoys the image manipulation and the communication with other kids more than the fighting or leveling up---her favorite thing is to have these long "dilemnas" over which hat or armor or pet sidekick to choose, which will seem cool, which will represent herself to these other kids as cool, its all very interesting. Very much socalization---and yeah I am HEAVILY monitoring all of the chatting, and we have had extensive talks about what info is ok to give out (Age 9, country USA is all we allow) and have had to have more talks about "bad people" who pretend to be kids, etc....it has actually been a good segway for that stuff and she appreciates the info and the grown up undertones of all of it.
She has a kid that lives in England she talks to on the game and one in Toronto. She named her online pet a name from Harry Potter and that was a hit, apparantly. I really like the fact that she is getting to lightly mess with the natural desire to forge her own identity and present it to somewhat of a mixed peer group but in such a "safe" setting, meaning, if you go to school with the "lame" hairdo, it might be over for you literally for the rest of your days...but if your little cyber character wore orange and everyone knows orange is way uncool this week, then hey no harm done, right? Click on green and be done with the whole silly thing. I dont know if this is making sense but to me, 99 percent of my life from age 8-17 involved intense stress over image management and hoping I would survive another day in fashion and beauty heaven and hell whilst trying to live and grow and learn and get an education and be a good daughter and sister and friend and man o man did most of that stuff suck and well....i wish i could have just had the option to be a real girl in my home and read the books i wanted to read and wear the clothes i wanted to wear and form the thoughts that were true to my heart and only had to look hot hip cool supermagehappyluckyawesome when i wanted to---like when i was online choosing to be a 3 inch tall sprite character. But we didnthave this kind of stuff when i was a kid, and the luddite in me is so surprised i am saying this but i think it is great. Great for nowadays. I still think kids *should be* sitting by the creek reading the classics and catching thier own fish with hickory rods they made, sleeping under the stars and knowing how to pump water and follow a compass and befriend the constellations and I can only say that is all still coming for our family...but compared to the mtv hell that most little kids live in right now, i think we are having a good appropriate life.
Casey had his first soccer practice of the season tonight and although it was 47 degrees it felt like 27. My hacking harrowing cough and blue hair did not make me any big mom pals but I did get to talk to a nice Dad who was named Casey and the coachs wife was really nice, too. The coach himself was EXTREMELY nice--i daresay even more upbeat, kid freindly and cheerful and kind than the last coach, whom we adored. Hooray! (Casyes team from fall got dispersed throughout the league when their coach moved away over the winter and we were worried he would get a sucky boring cold new coach but he didnt!!)
Charlie is getting to be more and more like baby Greta was each day---he adores stuffed animal kitties and anything that looks like a cat he will just squeeze and kiss and hug and saw "awwwww teedee (kitty)" and just hug and kiss and pet and love on for long interludes! He also sits and draws and colors---a seveteen month old? He even cares about letters and numbers---he is so gentle and easy and calm...so after 5 or 6 years of recinding all of my utopian (?) ideals about "boys and girls are the same it is how we raise them that makes them evil and wild or gentle and literate".......now I dont know again. I would have to say that people are people again. I hated the idea that boys were wild and wiggly and semi violent until I had two of them who made me sit back and go holy cripes the people werent kidding! "Boys are such and such its all true"but now....here I have a Charlie who is as gentle and tender and artsy and people-focused as the sun is hot----
SO
i will say i have 2 kids that are one way and two kids that are another way and one way is much easier to manage indoors ;) but all are legit and normal and loveable and wow do i really really need a babysitter here and there pretty soon!!!
We need to breakdown and find one in the newspaper. Been saying it for years.
Well so I finally went to an urgent care last night because I have sinusitis and bronchitis and am gonna keel over and i got on Augmentin. I have taken 4 of them now and am waiting to feel better. As of now I cannot walk or talk without intense coughing spasms in which the top of my head feels like it is going to blow right off and i am overcome with dizzyness, a fear i will pop a blood vessel or vomit or worse. So it has been really kind of a wreck lately but what can i do? (this is an actual question and all suggestions will be considered:))
When I am better we will go out again and get more germs...I am sincerely hoping it will break 50 degrees since it is 2 weeks until May....
Tomorrow is the last regular girl scout meeting until the bridging ceremony picnic---how this year flew! Greta's best friend is going to do the driving which Iam eternally grateful for with the sickness and the babysitting I was DREADING this huge trip. Greta is going to be spending Saturday and sleeping over their house, too, it looks like! Im so happy for her!
Friday is campfire scouts field trip to one of our fave local small nature centers but I dont know if i will be well enough to take the five kids if it is cold outside...it could go all smooth and sweet, but if both the babies start pooping and screaming and dont want to ride in the stroller, etc etc I am screwed. (This was me at the humane society field trip, and I dont want to repeat it anytime soon....8 month old, 13 month old, neither can walk, both have poo diapers, both crying, Mickey telling me it smells it smells it smells Casey chatting quietly and incessantly about who knows what, Greta thinking somehow that we are shopping around for a dog or something ?!?!?!?! no elevators so no double stroller ma'am so i CARRIED the 2 babies in my arms....no no no no no)
ok
I think this will all be much more amusing when i am no longer so sick so i will log off and hit the hay for tonight.
I dedicate this entry to my beautiful husband and all his fantastic homecooked meals (him and Casey and Mickey made croutons for the salad--made in the oven---last night--that just blew me away) and cheery energetic attitudes and speedy amazing cleaning powers while I have been recooperating. His wonderful attitude has breezed into this house every night and been so good for the children. Thank you!!!!!!
The kids---well we have all had a run of illness, with Casey being the one who finally got all of us out to the beloved 20 miles away doctor with five kids Monday on proclaiming his ear hurt "so so bad". (I am babysitting my 11 month old niece this week and we brought her too, obviously)
So Casey got amoxicillin, Charlies ears were checked and pronounced to be fine, and I REALLY needed her to check me too but after we were so rudely and foolishly and I would venture cruelly ordered out of the fun waiting room with toys and space and dump trucks and a film playing, into the miniscule examination room with two strollers, 3 walking kids and a sick overheated mama--then all went downhill and by the time the good doctor arrived (at LEAST 15 minutes) Charlie was screaming in my arms, and anybody checking me was long forgotten)
But i digress.
Mickey has been cheerful and active lately, playing outside alot, reading with more fluency and comfort, I would say at pretty much an adult speed and comfort level, he fusses and balks at writing stuff but he does do it and I do not have much trouble finding clever ways to get this practice in, hand writing practice that is.
Greta has gone from a kid who did not know what a text or a chat was, to an honest to goodness online girl seemingly overnight thanks to a game called MapleStory. She is all about using the little shortcut words like LOL and THX and BRB as well as a million others. She enjoys the image manipulation and the communication with other kids more than the fighting or leveling up---her favorite thing is to have these long "dilemnas" over which hat or armor or pet sidekick to choose, which will seem cool, which will represent herself to these other kids as cool, its all very interesting. Very much socalization---and yeah I am HEAVILY monitoring all of the chatting, and we have had extensive talks about what info is ok to give out (Age 9, country USA is all we allow) and have had to have more talks about "bad people" who pretend to be kids, etc....it has actually been a good segway for that stuff and she appreciates the info and the grown up undertones of all of it.
She has a kid that lives in England she talks to on the game and one in Toronto. She named her online pet a name from Harry Potter and that was a hit, apparantly. I really like the fact that she is getting to lightly mess with the natural desire to forge her own identity and present it to somewhat of a mixed peer group but in such a "safe" setting, meaning, if you go to school with the "lame" hairdo, it might be over for you literally for the rest of your days...but if your little cyber character wore orange and everyone knows orange is way uncool this week, then hey no harm done, right? Click on green and be done with the whole silly thing. I dont know if this is making sense but to me, 99 percent of my life from age 8-17 involved intense stress over image management and hoping I would survive another day in fashion and beauty heaven and hell whilst trying to live and grow and learn and get an education and be a good daughter and sister and friend and man o man did most of that stuff suck and well....i wish i could have just had the option to be a real girl in my home and read the books i wanted to read and wear the clothes i wanted to wear and form the thoughts that were true to my heart and only had to look hot hip cool supermagehappyluckyawesome when i wanted to---like when i was online choosing to be a 3 inch tall sprite character. But we didnthave this kind of stuff when i was a kid, and the luddite in me is so surprised i am saying this but i think it is great. Great for nowadays. I still think kids *should be* sitting by the creek reading the classics and catching thier own fish with hickory rods they made, sleeping under the stars and knowing how to pump water and follow a compass and befriend the constellations and I can only say that is all still coming for our family...but compared to the mtv hell that most little kids live in right now, i think we are having a good appropriate life.
Casey had his first soccer practice of the season tonight and although it was 47 degrees it felt like 27. My hacking harrowing cough and blue hair did not make me any big mom pals but I did get to talk to a nice Dad who was named Casey and the coachs wife was really nice, too. The coach himself was EXTREMELY nice--i daresay even more upbeat, kid freindly and cheerful and kind than the last coach, whom we adored. Hooray! (Casyes team from fall got dispersed throughout the league when their coach moved away over the winter and we were worried he would get a sucky boring cold new coach but he didnt!!)
Charlie is getting to be more and more like baby Greta was each day---he adores stuffed animal kitties and anything that looks like a cat he will just squeeze and kiss and hug and saw "awwwww teedee (kitty)" and just hug and kiss and pet and love on for long interludes! He also sits and draws and colors---a seveteen month old? He even cares about letters and numbers---he is so gentle and easy and calm...so after 5 or 6 years of recinding all of my utopian (?) ideals about "boys and girls are the same it is how we raise them that makes them evil and wild or gentle and literate".......now I dont know again. I would have to say that people are people again. I hated the idea that boys were wild and wiggly and semi violent until I had two of them who made me sit back and go holy cripes the people werent kidding! "Boys are such and such its all true"but now....here I have a Charlie who is as gentle and tender and artsy and people-focused as the sun is hot----
SO
i will say i have 2 kids that are one way and two kids that are another way and one way is much easier to manage indoors ;) but all are legit and normal and loveable and wow do i really really need a babysitter here and there pretty soon!!!
We need to breakdown and find one in the newspaper. Been saying it for years.
Well so I finally went to an urgent care last night because I have sinusitis and bronchitis and am gonna keel over and i got on Augmentin. I have taken 4 of them now and am waiting to feel better. As of now I cannot walk or talk without intense coughing spasms in which the top of my head feels like it is going to blow right off and i am overcome with dizzyness, a fear i will pop a blood vessel or vomit or worse. So it has been really kind of a wreck lately but what can i do? (this is an actual question and all suggestions will be considered:))
When I am better we will go out again and get more germs...I am sincerely hoping it will break 50 degrees since it is 2 weeks until May....
Tomorrow is the last regular girl scout meeting until the bridging ceremony picnic---how this year flew! Greta's best friend is going to do the driving which Iam eternally grateful for with the sickness and the babysitting I was DREADING this huge trip. Greta is going to be spending Saturday and sleeping over their house, too, it looks like! Im so happy for her!
Friday is campfire scouts field trip to one of our fave local small nature centers but I dont know if i will be well enough to take the five kids if it is cold outside...it could go all smooth and sweet, but if both the babies start pooping and screaming and dont want to ride in the stroller, etc etc I am screwed. (This was me at the humane society field trip, and I dont want to repeat it anytime soon....8 month old, 13 month old, neither can walk, both have poo diapers, both crying, Mickey telling me it smells it smells it smells Casey chatting quietly and incessantly about who knows what, Greta thinking somehow that we are shopping around for a dog or something ?!?!?!?! no elevators so no double stroller ma'am so i CARRIED the 2 babies in my arms....no no no no no)
ok
I think this will all be much more amusing when i am no longer so sick so i will log off and hit the hay for tonight.
I dedicate this entry to my beautiful husband and all his fantastic homecooked meals (him and Casey and Mickey made croutons for the salad--made in the oven---last night--that just blew me away) and cheery energetic attitudes and speedy amazing cleaning powers while I have been recooperating. His wonderful attitude has breezed into this house every night and been so good for the children. Thank you!!!!!!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Friday
We had fun this morning with baking soda, vinegar and old pennies. Casey got one from 1985 and one from 2004 realy really clean! then he did alot of soap shining of them, etc. It was nice. We are still sick, me mostly, which is rediculous and frustrating, and it is also still winter weather so the sensation of looong winter is still very much with us. When will be jaunting outside again? When will we be running up to the parks and nature centers and stores without 8 mittens 5 hats 5 coats, carseats that wont buckle right over the puffy coats, piles of outerwear exploding out of the front closet just cuz we ran out of eggs or bread? Hopefully soon!
In other news, it is public school's spring break right now---so we got to spend the day Wednesday with some old friends from the Grosse Pointe days---the girl is 10, the boy is 7 and the baby is 2--and I love the mom dearly, we reallt always hit it off....the fact that between us we have 7 children and we got to gossip and hang out for hours was a great sign of some well behaved children that really clicked. We are going to try to get together monthly with them.
Then yesterday we drove back to the old neighborhood to pick up M, one of our old friends. We brought her back to our house and she stayed until 830 at night then I drove her back home. 84 miles all together---but worth it. We had a blast, fun pasta dinner, ice cream, we showed her Maple Story online and she showed us Club Penguin...she is 12 but over here, she is good old M, and she was savvy enough to save all her "teen" stories for me on the ride home. (nothin too risque, but pretty amusing stuff about so-and-so kissed so-and-so, and some gilrs are "sabotaging" ( ! ) her at school, etc---when we got passed by a crazy driver, she screamed "nice driving, butt munch!" something she would never say in front of the kids...we laughed...)
Today there was a field trip to a nature center for campfire scouts, but I think it is too cold for Charlie to be in a stroller when it is 35 degrees. Lately I have been feeling like I cant do campfire scouts because I dont have anyone to help me with Charlie. Its almost over for the summer anyhow so we'll see....
Next week I am babysitting my 11 month old niece, so I am sure there will be new adventures to write about!
Monday, April 9, 2007
35 dollars a day
Today, I decided to spend my 50 bucks from my grandma on some new school stuff. We went to WalMart and this is what we got:
3 boxes of 96 crayolas
3 new scissors with chubby rubber grips
3 new rolls of tape
3 new packs of watercolor paint
500 pack of construction paper
4 pack of big wipeable bibs
1 digital/analog watch for Mickey
1 digital watch for Casey
1 clip on lamp for Greta's head of her bed for late night Harry Potter reading sessions
hot wheels cereal
fruit punch
We had SUCH a nice day, so smooth, so happy, that I started thinking....I got that much stuff for that little of money....and Casey was so good and happy and cheerful and articulate and funny and kind and normal and enjoyable....what could I do with all the money I am planning on spending on his suppossed new daycare he is suppossedly going to go to soon? This place is 35 dollars a day (which is verrry cheap compared to anything I have found around here---this is fullday, and they cook and serve the lunches and snacks)...but can you even begin to imagine what I could buy wth SEVENTY bucks a week? This takes "cool playdoh" to new levels. This takes museums and movies and memberships and day trips to new heights. This makes doll hospital and art supply stores and private lessons and special classes very, very within reach. If we really did have 35 dollars a day, twice a week, to spend on shipping our son away with all the kids whose moms are at work, why couldnt we have this money to BUY fun stuff, cool stuff, interesting stuff, science kits and outdoor rip-line rides, trampolines and waterslides, hotels, am I wrong? Glitter glue? Make your own super fun thingy ma bob? THIRTY FIVE BUCKS a DAY Earmarked for Casey?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
3 boxes of 96 crayolas
3 new scissors with chubby rubber grips
3 new rolls of tape
3 new packs of watercolor paint
500 pack of construction paper
4 pack of big wipeable bibs
1 digital/analog watch for Mickey
1 digital watch for Casey
1 clip on lamp for Greta's head of her bed for late night Harry Potter reading sessions
hot wheels cereal
fruit punch
We had SUCH a nice day, so smooth, so happy, that I started thinking....I got that much stuff for that little of money....and Casey was so good and happy and cheerful and articulate and funny and kind and normal and enjoyable....what could I do with all the money I am planning on spending on his suppossed new daycare he is suppossedly going to go to soon? This place is 35 dollars a day (which is verrry cheap compared to anything I have found around here---this is fullday, and they cook and serve the lunches and snacks)...but can you even begin to imagine what I could buy wth SEVENTY bucks a week? This takes "cool playdoh" to new levels. This takes museums and movies and memberships and day trips to new heights. This makes doll hospital and art supply stores and private lessons and special classes very, very within reach. If we really did have 35 dollars a day, twice a week, to spend on shipping our son away with all the kids whose moms are at work, why couldnt we have this money to BUY fun stuff, cool stuff, interesting stuff, science kits and outdoor rip-line rides, trampolines and waterslides, hotels, am I wrong? Glitter glue? Make your own super fun thingy ma bob? THIRTY FIVE BUCKS a DAY Earmarked for Casey?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
adventures
So, with our new van, we went to Burger King and Campfire scouts and all sorts of other adventures last Thursday and Friday. (Now we are all sick--see what we get for leaving the house??? kidding)
Monday, April 2, 2007
CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ladies and gentlemen...
we have a minivan now!!!!!!
We are the proud owners of a minivan, we traded Christine the Haunted and Cursed Volvo wagon for a beautiful leather interior (sorry cows) 1996 windstar. Love it. I'll love it more when it is slathered and bumperstickers!
We got it last Thursday and have had 5666 adventures already. We went to campfire scouts and burger king and checked out a daycare for Casey (long story for another entry) a park, shopping, a million errands, Whirly ball with our friends...but now we all are kind of sick with headcolds. I guess theres one thing for being locked in your home for almost 4 months---less germs!
Greta has a best friend from girl scouts whom she wants to go visit this week---it will sure be nice to be able to take the kids to more stuff like this as they grow into their own friends more. Mickey has the cutest cheerfullest little boy from campfire that he loves,to, and I wonder if they will be having their own playdates coming up. (I sure hope so, I really like the mom!)
So, although we are sick, and the glistening van in the driveway is beckoning us, we will stay hometoday and try to get well soon! Tomorrow is my birthday and I am almost always sick on my birthday. Arggg.
More adventures soon...
we have a minivan now!!!!!!
We are the proud owners of a minivan, we traded Christine the Haunted and Cursed Volvo wagon for a beautiful leather interior (sorry cows) 1996 windstar. Love it. I'll love it more when it is slathered and bumperstickers!
We got it last Thursday and have had 5666 adventures already. We went to campfire scouts and burger king and checked out a daycare for Casey (long story for another entry) a park, shopping, a million errands, Whirly ball with our friends...but now we all are kind of sick with headcolds. I guess theres one thing for being locked in your home for almost 4 months---less germs!
Greta has a best friend from girl scouts whom she wants to go visit this week---it will sure be nice to be able to take the kids to more stuff like this as they grow into their own friends more. Mickey has the cutest cheerfullest little boy from campfire that he loves,to, and I wonder if they will be having their own playdates coming up. (I sure hope so, I really like the mom!)
So, although we are sick, and the glistening van in the driveway is beckoning us, we will stay hometoday and try to get well soon! Tomorrow is my birthday and I am almost always sick on my birthday. Arggg.
More adventures soon...
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