Crabby Joe

Joe keeps refusing to take naps which leaves us with an overtired, cranky two year old. Last night Shawn wanted me to finish buzzing his hair but Joe was freaking out and didn't want me to do it so I asked him if he wanted to do it. He sorta looked at me like I was crazy but then when he realized I was serious he got excited and jumped up on the chair and started buzzing daddy's hair. Abby got a turn too!

Reading

Abby is starting to show a lot more interest in learning to read, as I mentioned in my last post. She has been sitting down every day with chapter books that have pictures every 3 or 4 pages and "reading" these books for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Since she can't read yet I am so curious as to what it is she is doing in her mind. I wonder if she is making up her own story or if she is in the process of figuring out the words and starting the reading process? She also likes to sit down with her A-Z Fancy Nancy Book and spell out all the words. She told me the other day that she wanted to get a spelling book, I need to get a little more motivated and look into our options.

School again

The other night I came home from yoga and Abby was writing a book. Shawn had stapled a bunch of blank paper for her and she was rewriting a Madeline book that she has memorized, with help from Shawn. A few days later she was looking at the book and she said that once she learns how to read she will be able to read her very own book. I agreed and then asked her when she thought she would learn how to read. I ask her these sorts of questions every few months when she brings up "starting school" just because I am curious to hear what her thoughts are about learning. I also think it is really funny that she is totally convinced that she has to "do" school to learn things, especially because I have really stressed that she doesn't need school to learn. So, back to our conversation. She said she wanted to start school when she was 6 1/2, which I told her was in just a few months. I told Shawn that she wanted to start school at 6 1/2 so he jumped all over that and started talking about doing a curriculum and sitting down each day to do a little bit of school. Of course, I was just cringing inside but didn't say anything because if Abby really does want to do a curriculum, which I am pretty sure she does not understand what one is, than I want her to do it. After that conversation she decided she wanted to start next Monday and she wanted to know what I thought of that idea. I told her I thought she should just play some more. That was pretty much the end of the conversation. The next morning she told me she changed her mind and didn't want to start school when she was 6 1/2. My girl totally cracks me up!
So, am I lame because I am not encouraging her to "do" school at home??????

Nature Playground

Today I brought the kids to a local nature center and I was so happy because instead of spending the morning/afternoon inside we spent about 2 1/2 hours outside. We are having a beautiful 50+ degree day here in MN! The best thing about today is that we got to check out the new outdoor nature playground. I hadn't been there before so wasn't sure what to expect. I had our neighbor with us, who by the way just started homeschooling this week (she was in 2nd grade in public school). Well, the girls ran ahead on the trail while Joe and I slowly made our way to the play area. When we got there the girls said there was nothing to do because there was only rocks and wire. I said well come on use your imaginations. They ended up playing for over 2 hours and had a blast. This was one of my favorite "parks" to go to. Seriously, it was just a bunch of big rocks, a bridge over an empty ravine, different sized tree stumps/logs, and a fort made out of sticks that were leaning against a tree. It was great.

Catch-up

Wow, so I haven't posted in a long time and I feel like I have so much to write and yet nothing to write. Because it has been so long and I am writing this blog to help me remember the things I do with my children or the things they do without me I am just gonna do a quick update of the last two months.
* We survived Shawn's turn-a-round which lasted about 45 days. It was a tough one but we did it!
* Abby lost two of her bottom teeth last month and was so excited about it. The tooth fairy brought her some money which she was so delighted to spend on an ice cream cone.

* Halloween came and went. Both the kids had a really good time and ate lots and lots of candy. Abby dressed up as a Snow Queen (not a Snow Princess!) and Joe dressed up as a pumpkin. The costume he wore is one my mom made for my nephew who is now nearly 17. My niece also wore it about 12 years ago and Abby wore it about 4 years ago when we lived in Texas.



Here is Abby when she wore the costume.

We have had an absolutely beautiful Fall and we spent quite a few days playing in the leaves.


* Abby is still doing swimming lessons and amazing me every week with what she can do. She had decided she didn't want to go next session, which starts in January, which kinda bummed me out. She has this tendency to quit things. But then I was talking to her more about it and how helpful lesson are and how I can't swim yadayada, and then she decided she does want to continue but only if she can have the same teacher. Hope I can figure that one out!
* Abby started ice skating lessons a few weeks ago. It is every Saturday morning and the really nice part is that Shawn has been able to go the first few classes so he brings his skates and goes out on the ice with her after her lessons for 30 minutes of practice skating. She has already gained a ton of confidence. Last year she wasn't able to even stand on the ice without us holding her and now she sorta shuffles across the ice all by herself and she is so proud of herself. It is just awesome to see the joy on her face.
* Joe is talking like crazy and loves to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and his ABC's. He also loves to count and proudly counts to 20 on his own.
* Another thing that happened here is that I weaned Joe. It actually doesn't seem to be that big because it happened so gradually and then he was just done. He quit asking and I didn't offer and then the other day I realized it had been over a week since he nursed.
* Last weekend we went to a Martinmas celebration at a farm in Stillwater. It was really nice. The kids made lanterns and then we did a lantern walk and ended in a horse barn where Abby got to ride a horse. She was so excited and she probably had one of the biggest grins on her face that I have ever seen. Afterwards there was a potluck dinner and a huge bonfire. We all had a relly nice time.