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Heard from Jack on the way home from  Classical Conversations and Essentials:
"Well, that's good mom.  I'm sure I'd have a beard and gray hair by the time I memorized 112 types of sentences!"  (This after we realized it's not really 112 that he has to memorize- it's only 15.)

When we got home:
"Mom, is it ok if I just go ahead and work on my poem?"
Yes, my jaw did drop but I picked it up enough to say, "Sure Jack."
This is the same kid who told me not long ago that we were unjust for signing him up for a writing class that he didn't even want to go to.

All that to say, we just got home from our first day.  Lucy's in the nursery but everyone else is in class this time around, even Sam.  And...I'm tutoring his class- the abecedarians.  First time in 10 years I'll be getting a paycheck!  It's been a long time since I've been in this kind of teaching situation but I really enjoyed it.  I was sweating most of the way through but once we were done, I decided it actually went pretty well.
The grammar and writing for Jack's class gets me excited.  I loved grammar in high school and college.  It's coming back quickly!
Now- to go and rest with my kids.  I didn't see much of my girls today- missed them!

Lucy

"Hold her...me."
"I do it!"
"Sammy, hug.  Jack, hug.  Kayla, hug." All before she can go to sleep.
"Read it, me."
"Berries!"

These are some of the things we hear from our baby girl these days.  She always has something to say.  We'll notice murmerings of things we've just said, almost as if it's an afterthought to her.  Like a quiet "pass it please" after we've asked someone to pass the butter.  The rest of us grin at each other, sometimes laugh out loud depending on what she's repeated.  I think that's one of my favorite things- the quiet (or not so quiet) glances and smiles between all of us at what these littlest ones have to say.
She reads books to herself and I will catch things like, "Rabbit in bed.  Bear night-night.  Rabbit blankie."  She makes us all laugh time and time again.  It's a strange pull between loving who we see her becoming and aching that she is growing up.  Even the bigger kids want to get one of her hugs or have a chance to hold her.  Kayla gets that job most often but Sammy tries for it, too.  He says she's our baby.  I know she's getting further away from being "our baby" every day.
I held her the other night and kissed her cheek.  She gave the slightest grin and leaned in for another.  It became a game and the more we played, the bigger her smile got until we could do nothing else but giggle, the both of us.
For today, she's still my baby girl.

A Couple of Book Suggestions

Today has been a good day.  Yesterday, not so good.  I'll chalk it up to an exercise in sanctification and be thankful for that day and today.  The older kids started learning to do laundry this morning.  They loved it.  Hopefully that training will pay off in the long run.  We did start soccer practice last night for both of the older kids- both on the same night.  I love that!  Keeps us home more the rest of the week.  The girls on Kayla's team think she is just "so lucky" because her daddy is her coach.  I tend to agree with them.

We actually got to an art project this morning!  The kids made "pretty and useful" containers, as they are called in the comprehension guide for The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook.  Even Lucy got to spread some glue and make a collage with tissue paper.  I hadn't heard of these chapter books before but I am so glad we found them.  There's a whole series, and they are just sweet little stories for girls. 

                                                       

This book is a must read if you have little ones at home.  Sammy, Lucy, and I all loved it.  It's especially good when Brian does the King's voice.  The king just doesn't want to get out of the bath no matter what ideas everyone comes up with.  When someone said it was time to eat, he declared, "Today we lunch in the tub!"  He also battles, dances, and does a couple other things in the tub. Sam laughs every time.  Great book.

Family Time

We have spent a lot of time the past few days watching the Weather Channel at Mom and Dad's- which is fine by me because we don't have it at home and I really like to watch it.  Always have.
There's something about the anticipation of the hurricane.  Brian was in a good sized gas line.  My brother and his wife got the last of the unleaded at one station and were in some heavy interstate traffic as people evacuated the Outer Banks and Hampton Roads.
We're home now but the last I heard, my parents lost power. Other than that they said things aren't too bad.  I guess the worst of it will come through tonight.  Praying for them.
In between Weather Channel sessions, we had a really good time together.  I love my family.

Pirates.  I don't know what Lucy's thinking here but I love how Kayla and Grace jump right in with the boys.

Friday morning Sammy took a tough one.  Under that band-aid and all around his eye is now a nice shiner.  It's hard for me to look at.  Poor guy.

Water always seems to be in the cards when we are at my parents.  I love this one.  Jeff got the kids back pretty good.

Even dumped a wagon full of water on his own kid.  

Low down.

Lucy loved "helping" with the water balloons.  She didn't mind when this one popped on her.  Just said, "I get wet."

Mom never lets us go hungry.

This is one of the few times Grace sat still for me.

Buddies.

Good Times

We're taking a break from the news coverage of the coming hurricane and having a pre-hurricane party party.
My brother's family and ours are at mom and dad's and the Redskins are playing.  So, you bet we're all watching, some of us more into it than others.

Good times.

Earthquake!

Well now THAT was different.
We just had an earthquake.
Yep.
The center was a few hours away but indeed we felt it.  I didn't realize what was happening until it was over and now the kids keep claiming more and more earthquakes are rattling their beds, their toys, etc...  It was just the one episode but I know what the talk of the town will be for a while now.  At least until the hurricane makes landfall this weekend.  Shouldn't bother us much but my parents may see a good bit of it.

I have loved this cooler weather.  It was down to 49 this morning!  It surely hasn't felt like August.  I guess it helps get me into more of a school mindset.  The kids got out this morning and decided it was "freezing!"  Jackets and blankets followed.

Saturday

We've been on our new chore charts for a couple of weeks now and they're working out pretty well.  I did notice this week that there wasn't quite as much laundry in the kids' basket as usual.
It was in Sammy's closet.
Full of little boy clothes.
We might have a little fine tuning to do on the chores.
And a lot of laundry to work on today.

After we got all of that taken care of we headed out.  First stop was the recycling center.  Sammy's been enough times that he's now Recycling Manager for our family.  Didn't know that until today.

Then we went to Heritage Days at the Montgomery Museum.  They had the usual booths and vendors along with some colonial activities.

They also had ice cream from Homestead Creamery.  Lucy and I shared cherry vanilla.  Yum.

Have a good Saturday evening!