We have been really enjoying some down time lately. After all the running around we did with our various activities throughout the school year, it has been really nice to take things slow and just relax. Even though our school year has officially ended, we'll continue to work on our reading, writing and math throughout the summer along with some other fun yet educational things that the kids enjoy. Without a doubt, for us summer doesn't mean put the books away, it means hit the library and stock up on some good books to read. We recently finished Charlotte's Web, and now we are reading Mr. Popper's Penguins. In math, repetition is the key to them learning all of their math facts so we'll keep on it, not every day, but most days. We try to make it fun though. Today for instance, we played a game that for every fact that they got correct they got a cheerio or a skittle. I started with the skittles but soon realized that I was going to have some majorly sugared up kids and knew I definitely didn't need that, so I decided to rotate every other one with a cheerio. Thankfully my kids are catching on (or maybe it's just that I'm scaring them) with the fact that too much sugar = getting sick, and we know getting sick = not playing with friends. So... they decided completely on their own that it was best to just have a few skittles and put the rest away for another day. Yes! They are finally catching on! As far as writing, Colton was so excited when his new cursive book came in the mail back in April which was planned to be for 2nd grade, that he started it and has nearly completed the entire book! I am amazed how quickly he caught on to it! Then on days where we're home I fill in the "mom, I'm bored" time with science activities, weekly readers, art projects and other fillers which I have so many of. Our day goes by so much smoother if we fill it with activities like these instead of sitting around watching tv or whining that they have nothing to do. They're having fun and learning but they don't consider it to be "doing school". Other than that stuff, we've been filling our days with swimming, catching frogs, playing ball, painting, painting and more painting (an activity my kids never seem to tire of) and just trying to take every opportunity to relax and have as much fun as we can.
My little swimmer has been doing great in the pool. He still needs to work on kicking and scooping better, but he definitely knows what he's supposed to do and certainly is determined to master it. I have honestly never seen a 1 1/2 year old be so brave around water. Even after having episodes where he is clearly struggling in the water, I help him get out and within seconds, splash... he's back in again. Never any tears or crying unless when I keep him from getting back in the water that is. Then today he would act like he was going to jump to me in the shallow end then sike... he'd run to the deep end and splash! Boy do I have my hands full with this little one!
As far as sleeping goes, he's been giving us quite a hard time lately. He never, ever used to cry at nap time and now he has been screaming every time we lay him down, day or night. Last night when we knew the crying was no where close to stopping, poor Colton and Gracie were so exhausted and just wanted to sleep but obviously couldn't so when they begged us to please... get him, well, we gave in. Fletch wound up sleeping the entire night with us. Go figure, once in our bed, he slept fantastic!
Tonight he screamed and cried MAMA!!! DADA!!! no, No, NO!!! DADA!!!!!!! Even though his door was shut and Colton was trying to sleep in Gracie's room, not only was Fletch tearing my heart to shreds, both C & G said "PLEASE... just get him mom!" So... I went and got him. When I went into his room, he had his pillow, blanket, lovie, doggy, horsey, and moo moo all out of his crib and on his floor! He must have been really mad! I picked him up, he put his head on my shoulder and didn't pick it up again. After rocking him for about 5 minutes, he was sound asleep. For now, he is peacefully sleeping in his crib. I know what most of the books say... "let him scream it out", but gosh is it hard to. I fall somewhere in the middle ground about how I feel about this. When it comes to parenting, I've always just done what feels right in my heart, and no where in my heart does that feel right but I do understand the experts explanations for doing so. As much as I try and tell myself that the right thing to do is leave him alone to scream out my name until he passes out from exhaustion which will teach him to self soothe himself to sleep, plain and simply, it just doesn't feel right. I mean, I'm certainly not the mom who jumps at the first fuss but you know when your baby has had enough. All I know is that I've already had two sweet babies who have gone through the same thing, and in the end, look at them now. Peacefully sleeping in their beds (okay, both in Gracie's bed because of Fletch), but now they are growing up and past all of that.
Okay... he's up again. Did I just possibly jinx myself? This calls for a prayer request!!!
***pictures to come.... gotta go, he's fussin' ; )
*** update with pictures (the morning after)***
So this is what I woke up to this morning lying next to me...
Yup, after I got him out of his crib and brought him to our bed (again everything in his crib was thrown on the floor), he immediately snuggled up with Daddy and drifted off to sleep where he slept soundly until morning time. He didn't even bother me once! I think he knew better ; )
"yea mom, I'm ready for the library"... This is what happens when I don't drain the bath water immediately!
"Is it time for our sleepover at Aunt Kelly's yet?"
Colton and Gracie are having a sleepover with their cousins Ava and Kaya and so are their cousins Lauren and Abby who just arrived from Texas. The ages of the children are 8, 7, 5, 4, 4, and (almost) 3 years old. Aunt Kelly and Uncle B. are brave, brave, brave!!! Have fun guys!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Ahh... the Dog Days of Summer
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Little Swimmy
Fletch had his 1st "official" swim lesson with aunt Kelly this morning at the YMCA. Kelly said he did great! He was braver than brave and for the most part went along with whatever she was having him do. I think the hardest part was that right beside them were two really fun water slides that were screaming his name. The four "big kids" Colton, Gracie, Ava and Kaya and I were on the other side of the pool swimming, and every now and then I would glance over at him and see him pointing at the slides and saying "side". After his lesson Colton had fun going down the slides several times and although Fletch was too young to go we broke the Y's rules when Kelly took Fletch down with her. We figured he deserved it after doing such a good job with his lesson. He loved it and wanted to go down again but we figured breaking the rules once was enough for one day!
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Here are a few pictures from our day. I think with some practice he'll be swimming with the big kids before we know it!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
9 Years
14 1/2 years ago while riding on the school bus, I met a boy named Josh. All he had to do to win my heart was turn 16 and ask if I wanted a ride to school. Heck yea! If you get me off this big yellow bus I'll love you forever! No, seriously, that was just the beginning of our story. Over time our friendship grew stronger and eventually turned into an inseparable love. Today Josh and I celebrate 9 years of marriage. As I think back to our wedding day, at the age of 20, I was so young yet so deeply in love. I knew that this was the man that I wanted to spend my life with and even though it hasn't always been easy (is marriage ever easy?), the highs and lows are what have brought us closer together and have given us the incredibly deep bond that we share today. As we begin our 10th year as husband and wife, I look forward to the many ways that God will make our union even stronger. I truly know how lucky I am to have found a man like him. He truly is as selfless as it gets when it comes to being a husband and father and I will forever be grateful to him for working so hard to allow me to be home loving, raising and teaching our children. It means the world to me that he is as passionate about our parenting choices (homebirthing, homeschooling, etc., etc.) as I am.
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Gosh I love my Josh! (hee, hee, I know how corny is that... but I had to do it!)
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Jungle Love
Three in a Row
Wow, I was one lucky girl this past weekend! I got to go out and have fun Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. That is certainly something that I haven't done in a long... time, if ever. Thursday night our neighborhood had our women's monthly bunco party, and guess who was the lucky winner of $155? That's right, you guessed it! I told you I was lucky! For those of you who are wondering, bunco is a game you play with dice and is completely based on luck. There is no skill needed to play. My kind of game! Then Friday night Josh, Katie, Austin and I went to downtown Stuart for dinner and some drinks. It truly was so nice and refreshing just to be out and about without the kids! You know I love my kids dearly, but it is so nice to have a break every now and then! Saturday Josh, Katie, Austin and I went to the Young Friends of Florida Oceanographic Party where we met up with Brian and Kelly and ran into many people we knew. It again felt so wonderful to get dressed up, go out with adults only, and have a good time.
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