JustJessie

Airheaded mommy strikes again...

We're pretty lucky as home-schoolers in this area.  There are lots of businesses that offer special rates to home-schoolers on certain days, so there's always lots to do.  Yesterday was homeschool day at the local ice rink, so I thought I'd load up the gang and we'd go. 

I should tell you that I have a horrible track record with the ice rink.  Every time I have taken Grayson there, be it for a birthday party, or what have you, I've gotten the time or day wrong.  Every. single. time.  (Come to think of it, that kind of happens to me everywhere.)  So when we pulled up in the parking lot and there were only a handful of cars there, I started getting a funny feeling like I'd goofed up again.  Then I thought, ya' know, it's a gorgeous day and there's a tummy virus epidemic going around, I bet a lot of people just didn't come.  wishful thinking.

On the bright side, the rink was open (although at double the price of homeschool day), and Grayson and Kayla had the entire place to themselves.  Neither of them have ice skated very much, so it was nice that they got to learn minus the embarrassment of falling in front of complete strangers.  Grant and I spent some great quality time together, dancing to the music, drawing, reading, and watching the big kids skate. 

Grayson caught on really well, and he loved it.  I think next Thursday (when it actually is homeschool day) we'll go again!

Snippets part 2

Mom:  Put your bike up, Grayson, it's getting dark out.

Grayson:  Are you kidding mom?  Dark is my middle name. 

Mom:  Grayson Dark Keith, put your bike in the garage!

Grayson: IT WAS JUST AN EXPRESSION!

..........................................................................

Grant:  Mom!  Whe' are oo?

Mom:  In the kitchen getting Bubba a puke pot.

Grant:  My nee' one tew.

Mom:  You need a puke pot?

Grant:  Yeah!  My nee' pook pok.  Tank 'em.

Mom:  You're welcome.

..........................................................................

Grant:  Oooh!  Mommy it a 'pider on my cup!

Mom:  Honey, that's a ladybug.

Grant:  Ladda-bud?  Oh... Oooh!  It a 'pider on my cup!

.........................................................................

This one added later, but too cute to leave off.

Grant:  Oooh!  Wook, Mommy, a wabbit!

Mom:  That's a chipmunk.

Grant:  Oh!  Wook, Mommy, chipmonster!

Voldemort Beware!

Be back soon

Just wanted to let you guys know that I'll be back soon.  An evil, vile tummy virus has invaded our house.  As soon as we're back on our feet, I'll be posting as usual.

Fall is in the air!!

I love fall.  I love everything about it (except that here in the South it doesn't last long enough).  I wouldn't say we've had anything like cool weather yet, but the mornings have been brisk, and that's enough to get me excited.  We've been online checking out halloween costumes, trying to decide if we know enough kids to have a halloween party this year, planning trips to apple orchards, burning our pumpkin pie spice candle, and Googling pumpkin muffin recipes for Saturday mornings.  I fully realize that we probably have a good month of swimming weather left, but for now, I'm dreaming of fall. 

One thing I love is that fall crafts are so fun and easy.  It doesn't take any more than a walk outside to pick up enough leaves and branches to make something pretty with your kids.  Today, however, we went to the craft store and came home with stuff to make our first fall craft of the year... a halloween tree!

The kids had soo much fun making this one.  All I did was spread the "spider web" left over from last year's halloween party, and I helped a little with the glue.  Okay, I helped a lot with the glue, but the kids did all the rest.  I have plans of sprucing up the display, but for now my fall decorations all seem to be hiding in one of our million Christmas totes in the garage. 

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of fun & family.  I know I plan to!!

Baby's First Mug Shot

Homeschool addition

For those who don't know, we have had sort of an addition to our homeschool family.  For zoning reasons, my neice was made to leave her school, and was going to have to go to the scariest school in town, where she didn't know a single soul, and there are fights every. single. day.  (Remember that movie Lean On Me?)

So, long story short, the family pulled together to keep that from happening.  I volunteered to homeschool her (sort of.  The deal was that she had to get an online curriculum & I would make sure she did it & understood it) and my parents funded the curriculum & other expenses, and her mom did all the research into curriculum and homeschool covering.  We were kinda worried about the addition and how we would all deal with it.  I'm here to tell you, it's amazing how God has worked it all out.  Grayson is usually so resistant to change, Grant is terribly shy when he takes a notion, and Kayla is very easily bored and distracted.  We've only been at it for a week, but I'm here to tell you it has gone off without a hitch!

Grant is in LOVE with Kayla, Grayson has been doing extra well at school to impress her, and Kayla's question from her first day says it all, "Do y'all have this much fun everyday?"  I am so thankful for the opportunity to have my neice in my life in such a big way, and I think she'll benefit from it as well.  And Grayson and Grant?  I think they'll be okay.  That is, if they can handle the pure torture of having someone to play in the sandbox with them and host teaparties for them.

I'm not the Jedi I should be...

A candid interview, a unique look into the inner mind of Lord Vader...

Happy Birthday, Grant

My last sweet baby, my independent son, I am so blessed to be your mother.  There's not one moment of the last two years that I would trade for anything on earth.  How I treasure the smell of baby shampoo when you would nurse after your evening bath.  How I treasure the look in your eyes filled with love and adoration, a look reserved only for me, a look that I will one day see you give another.  Oh, my boy, the velvety hands, the silky cheeks, the textures of you in your babyhood that are quickly slipping away.

With your first steps came your first independence.  You could play for hours all by yourself, as long as you knew I was near.  Such busy little hands, always figuring out how to do something new.  Such a busy little mind, needing to know how things work and why.  Such busy little feet, always running to find something new to explore. 

How big you have grown in so short a time.  Part baby, part big boy, all wonderful, beautiful you.  I treasure each day with you, every kiss, every hug.  You are so very special, my wild, crazy boy.  You have made these two years more than I ever deserved.  Happy Birthday, Grant.

Grayson's World Famous Granola

Grayson wanted a snack the other day, and nothing in the kitchen suited him.  I was busy in the sewing room (taking comfort in the fact that Daddy was home to help care for the boysies), but Grayson was begging me to make some cookies.  What ended up happening was that Daddy, Grayson, and I made some yummy homemade granola.  We got a basic recipe on the internet, and substituted a LOT because we didn't have their ingredients.  Here's what we ended up with.

3 c oats

1 c barley

1/2 c chopped almonds

1 c choc. chips

about 6 Newman-O's, crushed up

1 c brown sugar

2-3 T water

1/4 c oil

Mix the oats, barley, and almonds together in a large bowl.  In a smaller bowl, mix the brown sugar, water, and oil.  Then pour the wet mix into the dry mix, stir, and bake at 350 for ten minutes.  Stir and bake ten more minutes.  Stir in the chocolate chips and cookies & enjoy!  It gets crunchier as it cools.

Grant loved it, too.  And my carpet will never be the same (picture bitty bits of oat & barley resembling a Hansel and Gretel trail to the playroom).