History, sometimes a mother's worst nightmare

We use Mystery of History. We love it. Something the kids look forward to doing as much as possible. We, also, listen to Story of the World on CD in the car when driving. A fun, relaxed auditory way to learning about history. However, I don't recommend the segments on Athens and Spartans. Especially, the chapters explaining the differences. The characteristics of Spartans were quickly this mother's worst nightmare. The children found them immensely humorous.
Spartan boys were often sent away to military school by the age of seven.
That raised some eyebrows, especially the girls', since Daddy's Buddy is fast approaching his seventh birthday.
The narrator continues on and then explains mothers were expected to encourage their sons fighting abilities, to praise them for fighting. To which I completely responded very loudly with, "We are not Spartans!"
Later, I texted the Dad who texted back with, "We are cupidians, we love, not fight!"

A few days later, we are listening to the bits on the Olympics. Completely harmless, right? Daddy's Buddy is caught acting out Ancient Grecian Olympics with a butter knife. Big-O-Daddy-O caught the action and exclaimed, "What on earth do you think you are doing?"
DB: "I am throwing the javelin."
As quickly as I want to say, "Where did he get the idea? ?" I remember Story of the World.... History... We are suppose to learn from it so we don't repeat past mistakes. This momma, is starting to wonder if learning about history is really not a good idea.

Daddy's Buddy ~ First Grade

Hard at work. First two weeks DB was indignant about starting school 2 weeks before the public school. Declaring it was suppose to be still "Summer Break". But he has settled in and learning all sorts of new things. Who knows, maybe with the temperatures dropping below 100 for a change, a few park days just might change his mind about doing school when the thermometers are at triple digits.

Gus and the girls

Gus has wiggled and followed his way into our hearts. "His Girls" spend their school day with him and he loves every moment of it.
Fun Mom runs and/or walks Gus every day. Part of her PE. He is her protector and partner. He's her motivation for hitting the pavement everyday.



Little Princess likes to sit on the porch swing to read and work on her assignments. Her ever faithful companion and buddy is Gus.

First Week of School for Flutter Nutter

Flutter Nutter is 4. He is impatient to "do" school too.
This year, he is the only one who has free time all day!
He asks every night if we can invite a friend over...Jacob. Jacob is in kindergarten.
He can't come. Flutter Nutter is completely disappointed. He put some thought into this situation and asked if we could invite Jacob's sister Brylee over. Brylee is his friend he has offered to buy a purple house for, if she will let him kiss her. "Can we call Brylee and her mom....The girls (referring to the mom too) could come and play"
Unfortunately, I knew their plans for that particular day and it was not apossibility. Poor guy. So this year, I am trying to get out more with him in the yard, find more special things to do and give him some one on one. So on day 2 of school this is what he got all excited about...
please notice the backpack... :)

After all that fun and learning...

Sunday Conversations...oops

So I am going to try and do some catching up. Life has been a little chaotic this month with the start of school and more. But I want to do this first post in hopes, that those who read, may not make back up far enough to read it. Confessions may be good for the soul, however they can be far more humbling than we would like. Why post it then, cause this is my way of keeping track of the many crazy memories in my life, that I want to look back on laugh with my family over.

So this past Sunday, was Little Princess' birthday. Her party was right after church at Grandpa's house. A dear friend was driving the birthday girl and her friends, while I drove the rest of my kids and stuff. She was following me.
When someone follows you, it is important to keep an eye on them and make sure you don't leave them behind. It is also important to seize those moments to chat with your kids and sometimes while driving is perfect!

So we are driving and the subject of the Sunday sermon came up. I missed the sermon and caught just the last minute. Was curious about what I heard. Fun Mom was no help... Flutter Nutter was entertaining her and she missed that part. But she did get some of the other stuff. Obedience, following the rules.... Good stuff. Important stuff. The kind of stuff that makes you want to elbow your children or husband while listening. So we are chatting about obedience. About meditating on God's word. How when we follow God and are in obedience to Him....
Then I look up at the stop light and... "was the light yellow?"
"No Mom it was Red!"
No it couldn't have been.
But I have left my friend behind at the light.
Quick call on the cell, was the light red?
"IT was ORANGE"
Oh,no... what kind of example am I setting?
Then I get silly. Giggly silly. I start imagining what the conversation would be like if a police officer had been there and pulling me over.
"Ma'am, do you know why I pulled you over? "
"Yes, I ran the red light while discussing the importance of obeying God and the law/rules with my children" Humbling, humiliating....so grateful God spared me, 'ause I just could not imagine trying to explain how I could have just been in church and discussing such things with my children and then run an orange light.
Grace, ever so grateful for grace.
Grateful for the opportunity to share with my children.
Grateful for a forgiving and understanding friend.

Sleepy-eyed but still has priorities

A late night run to Wal-Mart to get a waterpik for Little Princess (Pictures to come...she is too miserable right now.) because her appliance keep getting gunky and needs helping cleaning it and her braces. Of course, I can't slip out unnoticed and the kids come running with their shopping lists...
So I get home and chase kiddos to bed. FLutter Nutter has already fallen asleep on the couch. I scoop him up and he looks at me all blurry eyed and asks, "Is that you Mommy?" "Is that you Mommy?"
Yes
"Did you get my stuff at Walmart?"
And then back to sleep. Can't tell who his own mommy is, but he can remember his shopping list and to check and see that Mom's job was complete. If only he could remember to put his clothes in the laundry hamper.

Our Little Knight in Shining Armor!

No pictures here today, but Flutter Nutter has his Momma and Daddy shaking their heads and scared to death of what he will try next.
Today, our dear friend Mrs. C came for a visit. She checked to see if a visit would be okay and then went to her van to turn it off. At that time she discovered she never put the van in park, at about the same time the van started rolling backwards. All the children wisely jumped back. All but Flutter Nutter. He jumped forward and grabbed the driver's door and said "Don't worry Mrs. C I will stop your car!" All about the same time she managed to put the car in park. Flutter Nutter of course, doesn't know anything about putting the car in park, he just knows the car has stopped and is so proud. Mrs. C is so humored and tickled by his valient behaviour. And now for the gentle reminder of what we do when a vehicle is moving...move away from the vehicle.
SIGH... Will any of the children all decide at the same moment to make the good and best decision and protect their momma's sanity and nerves?