My Favorite Martian

I've often felt like I was living on a different planet.

Is there intelligent life in this house? I'm beginning to doubt it, but they sure do have fun.

Fueled by a new stack of space books courtesy of the library, the boys spent the afternoon blasting off into space, conducting experiments and gathering samples.

Lunch bags served as air packs, rubber boots were transformed into moon boots, and we constructed a helmet from an empty milk jug per Stephen's request but which was quickly confiscated by Matthew.

Boy or Girl

While Doug was occupied with simultaneous football games last night, I set to work on some gifts (more burp cloths) for friends' upcoming babies.


I love the playful Dick & Jane print for a boy

but this fabric just takes the cake (literally). I think my sister snagged it for $1/yard at a Just Ducky warehouse sale. Delicious!

Changes Afoot

I think he suspects something is going on.


At least that's what I tell myself to explain his (probably typical) toddler behavior.

In his defense, he has borne the brunt of colds and a virus, too, in addition to pushing through new teeth and suffering numerous falls and bumps (only a few due to a particular older brother).

Still, his mastery and delivery of a most stubborn and defiant, "NO!" leaves all other toddlers in the dust. The frequency is astounding, and often followed by screaming for the object that was just shunned.

Snack time is a whole other issue. He is extremely limited in portable, easily eaten, no-prep-needed food items, but when he comes bearing his little orange bowl and declaring "nack," he generally wants some Chex. Which is great for about 30 seconds until the bowl is overturned and the "nack" is smashed and/or crushed into a crunchy heap thanks to his hands and/or feet.

A friend reminded me a couple of years ago that hitting children is generally frowned upon, and thankfully this guy has one thing going for him: he generously gives the sweetest kisses and hugs. I'll take that over a clean floor any day.

Further Confusion

As if trying to keep 7 cousins' names straight (not to mention the family designations) wasn't enough for Andrew and Stephen, things got a bit more complicated last night.

Baby Eliza finally arrived weighing a mere 5 pounds, 12 ounces. We can't wait to meet her.

Outdoor Play

I was confused by a strange pinkish tint to the sky this morning and pleasantly realized it was the sun appearing after a long absence. After we got in our daily math and writing, I shooed the big boys out to play while Matthew napped and I scrubbed handprints off the walls.

They built a "campfire" and took along plenty of Provisions.

The mosquitos were flourishing from the recent rains, but it was good to breathe some fresh air and burn off some energy. Everyone was getting stir crazy.

38 Weeks

The afternoon shadows cast this large silhouette

I'm not sure there's much more room for expansion.

Catch-Up

Apparently there have been other things on my mind lately than blogging.


School weeks six and seven have come and gone with little fanfare. We had a fun time studying monkeys & lions and then went back to Japan to read A Pair of Red Clogs. Stephen informs me that he would like to throw his shoes, and I don't doubt it (maybe that's why ours aren't made of wood). Andrew pointed out to me that the word futon comes from Japanese which reminded me that our overnight guests will be thrilled to know that the ancient sleeper sofa is no more and has been replaced by a very comfortable futon. Yes, I can hear the rejoicing now!


It was my week for stockpiling, and I was fortunate to hit some great sales. Since our allergies & casseroles cannot peacefully coexist, I am forced to stock up on meat, cooking and marinating with all my might.



We have pork loins & barbeque; chicken of numerous varieties; beef for stew, fajitas, tacos, & spaghetti; chicken broth for soup and who knows what else.


And part of the end result:



Our fridge's freezer is currently filled to the max, and the small chest freezer is pretty close to full.


And since there's not enough to do with an upcoming baby and 4 out of 5 members of the house with colds (Andrew was somehow spared which is probably good since he's not the best patient), we decided to participate in a neighborhood yard sale. The aforementioned sofa was among a couple of larger things with which we needed to part and there were some extraneous clothing and toy items for which we no longer had room. Doug has the knack as a salesman as he ran most of the sale (and kept an eye on the kids) while I dealt with raw meat. We didn't make a ton of money, but we got rid of stuff; the rest will go to Goodwill.


I'm also clicking through my to-do list in the hopes that it will encourage our little one to arrive.

• Paint baby's nightstand - check
• Get out newborn clothes - check
• Make a nursing cover - check
• Order Matthew's baby pictures and put them in an album - check
• Erase the 1271 pictures on our camera - check

I guess the only remaining thing of any importance is to pack my own bag, and I even have a list...if I can find it.

Easy Fun

Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon. Winnie-the-Pooh

Pros & Cons of Early Reading

Andrew is a natural reader. After minimal assistance with phonics, he took to reading like a fish to water. A library is almost as thrilling as a toy store or candy shop, and when we return from said location, he is a glutton until all titles have been thoroughly examined.

It certainly has its advantages. Reading is one less thing to be teaching this year (though we do work on reading aloud); he occupies himself for large stretches of time, stuffing his mind with facts, stats, and adventures.

There are downsides, too. My mother mentioned one day that I ought to be careful about our newspaper and rightly so: he'll read anything in front of him. We've pretty much escaped toy marketing on television but not the printed form. After perusing a Toys 'R' Us ad Andrew informed me that we needed to go there because "they have toys that cost less than they do at other stores that are expensive." At other times he has insisted that certain retailers give things away for free.

But the most interesting (and startling) thing has been his recitation of facts that show he is comprehending the printed word, too. As he dressed this morning he announced, "There are tubes that go through your pelvis and are attached to your penis so that the liquid waste can flow out."

Oh, my!

Something Fun

Once again we took a trip to boy heaven: Touch-A-Truck.

Matthew immediately spotted the "shriney vehicles," something just his size.

Andrew kept his distance by checking out the cement mixer.

The owner of this station wagon was quite chatty and was quite enamored with the boys.

I think the real tractor was Matthew's favorite though

he enjoyed riding the toy one as well.

Stephen drove the moving van

but really liked the zero-turn lawn mower.

I'm not sure if Andrew preferred climbing in the cherry-picker bucket or

eating his treats which included a snow cone, a Kit-Kat and a Moonpie.

What more could a boy want?

Put Me in the Zoo

For some reason I suggested to my family that we meet at the Knoxville zoo for a combo-birthday outing (obviously I failed to factor in the fact that my sister and I would each be 9 months pregnant). We had fun anyway and celebrated the two birthday boys.

We discovered the key to getting a rather decent shot of the grandparents and kiddos, too: fatigue and candy - the perfect combination.

And, because of my mother's insistence: the dueling bellies (hot & tired).

I think I'll cage my animals now and go put my feet up to rest!

The Scrivener

Four weeks to go (give or take) and I am thankful that Andrew sat down "to make a list of things to be done before the baby comes."

Hoeny (Honey) Do:

buy food

make pie

make cake

make cinnamon buns

make suop (soup)

I like it when a person has his priorities straight.

Stephen is Four

Though yesterday was officially Stephen's birthday, we've had a long weekend full of fun, and I don't think there's anyone else who can derive so much pleasure from a birthday.

We indulged in cinnamon buns with icing which he declared was "kazert for breakfast" and I spent a whopping $4.83 on a pint of Stephen-friendly chocolate ice cream. He even helped to bake his own birthday cake.

He's always had a hard time remembering just how old he is. When I asked him yesterday, he held up his fingers and counted, "One, two, three, four!" then asked, "And how old was I before I was older?" I replied, "Yesterday you were three, but today you are four." Stephen smiled sweetly and said, "I like that."

I think everyone needs a Stephen in their life. Sure he can be contrary and strong-willed, but he has a generous nature, a zest for finding the fun things in life, and can always make us laugh.

School: Week Five

We stayed in America this week to read Lentil, a wonderful book by Robert McCloskey. The boys made the stripes of the American flag although I never did find my star stickers to complete the job (and I know I saw them last Saturday or Sunday night...they're hiding in that infamous "safe spot."). We sang "Comin' Round the Mountain when She Comes" and drank lemonade. My brain is so fried that I even rewarded them with their very own harmonicas on Friday.

We constructed our own town to act out the story. Andrew was our railroad magnet

while Stephen and I supervised the construction of the town: Main Street with the drug store, barber shop, and library;

Lentil at his school;

and the Soldiers & Sailors monument.

I think the great Colonel Carter's house was leveled by the inhouse demolition crew.

Among other letters, Andrew practiced writing an "N" and colored a rainbow-styled newt because "a newt has a reputation for being a very colorful animal." I think he must somehow be related to Finknottle. He also declared yesterday that he would like a marsupial to live at our house because that is his favorite type of animal.

We ended the week with a gathering of other home-schooling moms at a local playground, and it was good for all of us.

Men at Work

It's been an exciting week. The local power board has been trimming trees which means a fleet of cherry pickers and chipper trucks.

Matthew likes to grab my hand and pull me to the street, declaring all the while, "I see!" which means we have to make a thorough inspection. Thankfully the workers have all been understanding.

This sign served as inspiration for my little workers, too.

On Tuesday, the garbage man managed to mangle our trash can, completely ripping off one wheel and twisting the other. A repair man is supposed to be coming, but until then, it sits lonely at the curb (that is, until the boys visit which happens several times a day).

Even though we've tried several times, my boys have never been fans of rubber boots, that is until I clean out the closets and the shoes reappear. That's what happened this week. I think Matthew was the first to actually enjoy wearing the duck boots. He tromped all over the house.

In my sorting, the boys also discovered their Halloween costumes from last year and were transformed into firemen. Stephen wore socks for gloves.

It looked like a tornado ripped through the baby's room after the firemen had their way, but they sure had fun.