Avery's Birthday Party

Last night we celebrated two new two year olds birthdays; Avery and his friend Kate. They are a day apart and so cute! Kate can already speak in full sentences and was very aware of the birthday festivities that were to take place. She knew it was her birthday, that she was getting cake, and that she would get to open presents. Avery on the other hand, didn't seem to care it was his birthday, but was pleasantly surprised to be presented with some new toys (almost all with wheels), and had he understood that I made that truck cake just for him, he probably wouldn't have shared. Ahhh the differences between boys and girls. If I had not experienced a two year old little girl in our own family, I might be worried. They just know more sooner.

By the way, Avery's favorite gift was a garage that our friends were getting ready to give to Goodwill, until he found it during his party.

Happy Birthday Avery!

It's Avery's official 2 year old birthday today. We woke him up with "Happy Birthday" to which he responded with a big smile but probably didn't have a clue what it was about. His party isn't until Saturday so there hasn't been a lot of fanfare, but it did snow for the first time since we've been here; a big beautiful snow actually. They cancelled the schools after about an hour and a half which I thought was a little ridiculous all these kids walking in the snow and buses everywhere on our way home from the gym. I didn't realize it at the time, but once home, I was home for good for the day. I couldn't back my car out of my parking space in our long sloping driveway. Choir and Praise Team practice were cancelled and Rob's school closed, so we're all home now cosy together in our house! I'd like to have a birthday like that!

By the way, if you haven't been over to my all-natural blog in awhile, then you might want to check it. I've been posting short blogs with some raw and healthy recipe ideas for kids. I never have time to write everything I want to say about something, so to keep things moving, I'm opting for some shorter entries for awhile. http://www.allnaturalarmymom.blogspot.com/

A Two Year Old in the House

It is the eve before the littlest member of the house turns 2. Does he suspect anything? I don't think so. He's heard the word birthday a lot around the house lately, but has no idea what that entails.

Saturday night we will celebrate with his little friend Kate who is turning two the day after him. I'm going to do the cake and somehow make it half princess half train/truck/heavy equipment or some such. I'll post a picture. It's been I'm not sure how long since I've decorated a cake, and in fact, Alayna is quite sore that she did not have any cake this year. It just kind of happened that way, so 2008 is the year Mommy makes a cake for your birthday!

This is writing week for Rob. His first submission of his 40 page paper is due on Monday. I've basically insisted he work on the thing at school. He gets too distracted at home so he's been up there for at least 8 hours a day. Last I heard he was on pg 18....I just can't worry about it. He'll write a bang up paper, but there will be an all-nighter involved next Sunday night.

A Random Picture From Today

Avery has a favorite hat as seen here. It is an odd looking fleece thing that he insists on wearing, if he gets a hold of it.

Because Sometimes You have to do Things You don't want to Do

Motivating three kids who'd rather be playing than doing school has made the title above an all too often spoken mantra, especially on Wednesdays. As much as we love Sundays, there's something about Wednesdays that fail to illicit feelings of excitement. Perhaps it's that middle of the week drudgery because there are still too many days ahead to get excited about the weekend and too many days behind it to still feel inspired about a new week. I actually don't mind Mondays. I'm usually ready to get back on "the schedule". Two days off on the weekend is about all I can handle before the kids start to drive my crazy.

During the week they're so busy that any freetime they have is spent in earnest play, whereas on weekends, too much free time for the kids means bickering, whining, and wandering around "lost". Mind you, that never happens to Alton who can come up with endless tasks to be accomplished, but the other two have definite lost moments and so come to their parents expecting to be entertained. For Avery that means playing car garage with him or reading the same library book over about 12 times. For Alayna that means playing doll house or princesses. These are things I don't mind doing...for about 15 minutes and then I'm back to marathon cleaning or whatever else I can't get done during the week.

This morning, I woke up with a particular bad case of the "I don't wanna's", but I got out of bed and got ready to go to the gym because sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do. Wednesdays are my second longest run day of the week too. I would not mind this, except that all my runs except Saturdays, have to be done on the treadmill at 8am. Otherwise, it just will not fit into the schedule and running on a treadmill for 4 miles is nothing short of b-o-r-i-n-g.

Coming home from the gym, my attitude was not any better about the prospects of starting morning school, but we did because sometimes you have to - well you know what I was going to say. Because of my attitude, I took a few short moments to dwell in self pity especially at the point where I was giving two different spelling tests simultaneously all the while holding a little boy wearing his coat and clutching several matchbox vehicles begging me to go get in the car (He loves to go. He doesn't even care where). Why am I homeschooling when I could be out shopping and having lunch with those other Army spouses who choose to put their kids in public schools? Homeschool Moms do have these moments especially on bizarre beautiful springlike days in the middle of January....hmmm 30 minutes before lunch and Alton still has Latin and handwriting to do. Hmmm...I think I'm a Charlotte Mason homeshcool Mom today instead of a Classical Homeschool Mom. "Okay Alton, scrap the Latin test for the day and get outside with Alayna and Avery." With Alton more than grateful to comply, he fled the house with his siblings. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, but other times there is great delight in realizing that those things are not so important as what you feel like doing.

I began to fix lunch and watched them from the kitchen window. For several moments they were gathered around our biggest tree (and it is a big one). I tried to take a picture but with my camera batteries dead and my phone needing to be charged, it just didn't happen so I'll have to describe it. The three of them were gathered around the tree studying some ants busy at work. Apparently, there was much to be discussed on the subject. It was just too cute and I was glad that they were together and not all split up at school and that I was able to watch them while they played. Oh yeah, that's one of the reasons I homeschool and I'd rather have these moments than to be out shopping and lunching with friends.

After about 30 minutes I reluctantly interrupted their play with lunch on the deck. I can't believe the weather we're having. After that, they decided to use the bubbles that Santa got them, these cool ones that somehow form a thin layer of plastic that doesn't pop easily. Avery was an easy target and I saw him running up and down the deck with numerous little plastic bubbles resting in his curls. Maybe Santa didn't think that one through too well, after all, exactly what chemicals did they have to put in those bubbles to make them do that? Oh well, once won't hurt them.

We've had some quiet time now and Ave is down for his nap. Somehow starting Math just doesn't sound that great, but we will because sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do.

Ahhh...Sundays

Sundays are our family's favorite day. Right this very minute the children are happily watching Funniest Home Videos which is tradition on Sunday nights at our house.

The day always starts out a little hectic. I have to be at church at 7:30am for Praise Team and Rob has to leave with all three kids ready for church at 8:30am It is always interesting to me that I can do everything but put on Avery's clothes and somehow Rob is still late... sometimes very late. This morning started with me giving a lecture on the ills of arriving late at church and how I get three kids ready to go everyday and still arrive on time at the gym each morning at 8am.

Today was especially nice because for the first time Rob was in the sanctuary seated right at 8:30am. I was impressed. Now that I know it's possible though, look out. After church we usually head home and lunch on something I throw in the crockpot. On really special Sundays however, we head to a local buffet, which we did today.

After that, it's home for naps. Everyone gets in their pajamas for the rest of the day (in the winter). Alton and Alayna have quiet time in their rooms while Rob, Avery, and I catch up on all the sleep we missed during the week. After naps it's family wrestling match on the bed. I usually do not participate in this activity as someone needs to be there to console whoever ends up getting hurt which is usually Alayna or Avery.

We soon move on to a light dinner of a yummy smoothie secretly packed with as many leaves of Kale as I can dare to cover up with vanilla and almond flavor.

Tonight we had a little extra time after dinner. The stereo in the living room got turned on and there was plenty of dancing. Avery in particular can really bust some moves. We do our family devotions early on Sundays because out here, TV shows come on really late. Soon after Funniest, it's off to bed for the kids. Rob and I spend the rest of the evening reading or getting ready for the next day. Probably boring to some, but treasured time to us!

Start off the New Year Running!

The moment that 2008 began, there was not a whole lot going on at our house. The kids were fast asleep despite Alton's notion to try and ring in the New Year with us. Rob and I were watching a movie and didn't notice it had past until about 7 minutes after. That's how exciting we are.

Today however, we dropped our kids off at some friends and went on a date of sorts to run a New Years Day 5K. I had planned to meet a couple of my friends from the track club, there's Connie that fits my pace exactly, and Kate who I don't even plan to see once the race starts. She ran a 7 minute mile today and was the 5th woman in, not quite my league. Connie and I ended up doing a 10 minute mile which broke records for us. My shoe came untied at the first half mile, but I didn't dare stop. Rob and a school friend were somewhere behind Kate and ahead of us. It was a fun day and I have that much more experience before my 10 Miler in March. There are two more 5K's and an 8K before the big race, so Rob and I plan to hit those as well.

If anyone out there is saying, "I could never do that," just remember that I didn't run my first race until I was 32 and there are people a lot older than me that get started. My friend Connie was a lifetime smoker until she decided she wanted to be a runner. She decided to quit at age 42 and start her running hobby. She is doing great too. We keep each other encouraged.