Life At The Circus

Last Friday while the girls spent the day caring for and practicing to hold “baby Ewi” my son spent the day dressed in Camoes and gathering his weapons arsenal to play army with uncle Jim.  I wasn’t exactly sure how much uncle Jim would feel like playing army, since he lives army every day of his life and this was his leave time to see family before deploying to Iraq.  But uncle  Jim, was a huge sport about it and never complained about playing Friday night at the birthday celebration, or during the neighborhood harvest celebration on Saturday or during the Steelers game on Sunday.  In fact uncle Jim played army, Star Wars, and Transformers every time we saw them, with never a complaint.  And my son loved every moment...  eagerly sitting by him at every meal and during church on Sunday morning.  It was rather cute to watch. Friday the kids made cards for Great Grandpa’s birthday and cards to welcome baby Eli to MD.  My son also made a car...

That’s right folks, we have a new circus member due to arrive here in early June 2010!!   And the circus cast couldn’t be more excited!!!

Those of you that have been visiting the circus for awhile know that I don’t use my kids names on the blogs.  I once entertained the idea of pseudonyms but never came up with any I liked.  So I’ve pretty much stuck with “ my son,”  “my 3 year old daughter” and “my baby” for the past year or so.   So far, I have no real intentions to change that, but I did realize last week, that had this been “Life with The Peanuts Gang” or something more catchy, I’d have perfect pseudonyms to use.  My baby seems to always, always have something on her face and or clothes.  Typically it is remnants of our last meal, but it also quite often dirt or snot or a combo of the above.  As she was coming inside from playing in the sandbox I remarked to her and the kids how much she reminded me of Pig Pen.  See the resemblance? This of course got me thinking about my other two. In my opinion, my son would have to go down as Linus.  Just substi...

This weekend the kids got to meet their newest cousin, “baby Ewi.”  They were all quite excited to finally make his acquaintance.  The girls have been carrying their dolls around for weeks now feeding, rocking, and putting to sleep their very own “baby Ewi’s.”   But my middle child was probably the most smitten, to say the least.  She could quite often be found by his side, smiling at him, tickling him and laughing at every noise he made.  The best was when Aunt Karen was changing his diaper and the girls were eagerly peering over her shoulder to watch and help hold wipes.  When she opened the diaper my three year old peered inside and exclaimed for all to hear, “He’s a BOY!” Here’s my favorite pic of the kids and their kids together at last.  I think the facial expressions are priceless.

Gentleman.  I am convinced that if you were to look the word up in the dictionary, you’d have to find a picture of this man.  I first met him at our high school graduation.  I remember being taken with the fact that he had one of those sweaters with the reinforced elbows and  remarked to Scott how much I loved his genuine “Grandpa sweater” and was convinced he’d be the perfect Worthers Original grandpa. Somewhere over the past 12 years he went from being Scott’s grandpa, to  my grandpa too.  I can’t pinpoint the moment it occurred, but I can tell you that I truly love him like my own.   Grandpa is the kind of man that walks you to your car after a visit, and insists on carrying your things for you.  When you instinctually start to object and insist, “I’m fine” your words stop in your throat b/c you know its no use and you simply say “thank you.”  He’s funny and witty and I am pretty sure we have him to thank for the sarcastic st...

At dinner last night I was telling Scott how cute it is to watch our 3 yr old in gymnastics.  Every now and then she’ll look at the observation window, get a big grin and wave to me.  Sometimes she’ll even give me a thumbs up sign. At which point she chimed in and said, “Yea, this means good.” “And this means Ravens” What can I say?  That’s my girl!

I’ve b een putting it off for far too long (as you can soon tell by my before picture).  But today I decided that my poor girl was past due for a hair cut.  We’ve cut her bangs, but nothing major since what I refer to as the “debacle of 07” when I took my sweet 22 mth old for a hair cut and returned with a sweet little girl sporting the bowl cut. Honey, I am so sorry.  I didn’t know what I was doing.  Since then, I’ve stuck with my best friend for bang trims and avoiding cutting anything else.  But, if I am totally honest with myself, she’s been looking a little ratty lately.  And that didn’t seem fair to the cute girl hiding under all that hair.  So we braved the local hair cutting salon and I am happy with the results.  Take a look. Before: During: After:  (being true to the girl that she is, she had to change her clothes upon arriving home, b/c what day would be complete without changing our clothes at least 2 or 3 time...

In the past month, these pictures were taken during meal time at our home.  I can assure you that these antics don’t take place regularly around here, but at the same time, they do happen.  After all, it is the circus. Exhibit A: playing with our food “Look Mom, I can make vowels with my spaghetti!” Exhibit B:   Yes, that would be my son eating his applesauce while sitting on his Daddy’s shoulders (and yes, to make it truly circus like, he’s in his underwear).  When my son came up with this “bright” and fun idea my husband thought a moment and responded, “Sure, why not, BUT only this once).  You see why I call it Life At The Circus?

This week we took the kids to see a performance at the Sight and Sound theatre in Lancaster, Pa.  If you ever get the opportunity to go (they also have a location in Branson, Mo) I highly recommend you go.  (thankfully we were able to use a home school discount and take our family for less than the cost of one regularly priced ticket).   We saw their production of In the Beginning , which was a rendition of the Creation story. It made me think of the story of Creation in a whole new light.  As they portrayed God walking with Adam and Eve in the garden, they did an excellent job of portraying the love between our Father and His children.   I felt like it gave a beautiful picture of what heaven will be like, as we will truly dwell with the Father in a way we can’t even imagine b/c our sin keeps us from that while on earth.  It made me so excited about heaven.  Also as I pondered the garden God created, and all its beauty, I realized how mag...

The concept of time is a funny thing.  Who can really grasp it?  On one  hand it seems like ages ago that I brought my little one home from the hospital, and at the same time it feels just like yesterday.  How does one go about teaching the concept of time to little ones?  To them a day truly is like a thousand years!  I read somewhere that its helpful to give children a specific time (as in you have 10 minutes to play and then we are cleaning up) then set the timer and when the timer goes off, clean up.  They will then start to grasp a better understanding of time.  It doesn’t work if you don’t set the timer and then fail to follow through on the end time.  I’ve use this lots both in my classroom and with my children.  Egg timers are a mommy and teacher’s best friend! But, I’ve also found something else that works particularly well for my kiddos.  I explain units of time in concepts they can truly comprehend.  T.V. Shows ...

I love this picture.  I love it because it shows the kids and my husband engaged in play after a long day of work.   I also love how the big kids seem to be attacking him b/c he’s got the youngest on his shoulders.  Almost as if they are trying to get in on the action and attention.  But take a closer look, because if you check out Scott’s face, you’ll find another gem. Ah, love hurts, doesn’t it?  But just for kicks, check out this shot.  I love the look on both of their faces.  Priceless, huh?

Not everyday you see an Oriole wrapped in a Steelers Terrible Towel.  Click here or here for more picture fun.

Our son is a huge baseball fan.  His team of choice is the Baltimore Orioles.  As much as he likes the Orioles, he also recognizes that they don’t exactly have a winning record… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last week we were getting ready for soccer practice when he informed me that he didn’t feel like going to practice. Me:  “Well you need to practice, it helps you to get better.” Son: “ But Mom, I’m already really good.  I don’t need practice.” Me:  “Even the Orioles practice and their professionals.” Son:  “But Mom, the Orioles aren’t good.  They need to practice.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And in keeping with his very realistic outlook on his beloved Orioles, I thought I’d record this anecdote which I did post on face book a few months ago, but wanted to have recorded. Son: “Mom, why are the Red Sox so much better than the Orioles, do they practice more?” Me:  “No, I am s...

 

Naptime is sacred at my house.  At night all three kids share a room b/c it really doesn’t bother me if they stay up late talking and singing.  But at nap time every one goes to a different room.  My son no longer naps, but he still goes to his “nap room” for quiet time where he may look at books or draw or play quietly for an hour and a half. For the last few weeks my oldest daughter has wanted to work on “school work” during nap time like her brother.  (which means she wants crayons and papers in her room too).  I didn’t object, as long as she promised to go to sleep after doing “school” for a little while. Not long after, I heard a door open, then another, some whispers and two closed doors.   I ignored it at first.  But after about 10 minutes of doors opening and closing, I feared they’d wake their youngest sister so I went back to see what was up. My daughter informed me they were sending “e-mails” to each other. And it was one of tho...

Well, I am about one month into my homeschooling experience and thought I’d reflect on it. I love it! You know I waffled and prayed and struggled with the decision.  It wasn’t like I knew from the minute I brought him home from the hospital that I’d be a home schooling mom.  As I prepped our “classroom” I was still clinging to the fact that at any moment I could change my mind and enroll him at the local public school.  And when anyone asked what we were doing for school this year I would always answer, “we’re home schooling for kindergarten.”  Taking it one year at a time. But, here I am already eagerly looking forward to future years of schooling my children.  But, I’m still going to take things one day at a time.  My favorites parts? * saying the pledge with the kids each morning.  I love, love watching them put their hands over their hearts, hold the flag, and saying the pledge.  Actually I love our whole “opening time” together… the...

Here’s my daughter sleeping in her crib at 8 months old. And here she is at 14 mths old.  Still enjoys sleeping “folded in half”, as we refer to it.   Earlier this week when my husband went in to kiss the kids goodnight, he found her at 3 and 1/2 sleeping in the very same position she favored as an infant.  I would think with age this position would grow more impossible and uncomfortable. Visit here or here for more pictures!

I seriously stink at parking.  (Not parallel parking.  I’ve got a secret for that.  I never do it.  Ever.  Yes, I will walk twice as far when parking downtown to avoid parallel parking on the street).   But, my struggle is with the ol’ pull in parking lots.  More specifically, backing out of said spots.  I’ve been known to wait around in my car for the car beside me or in front of me to leave so I can get out of my spot b/c I parked too close to the line and can’t get out without damaging one of our cars.  And I’ve gone back into the house of a friend to get someone to come help me back out when I leave a party or gathering before most of the people and I don’t know how I’ll squeeze out the driveway. And no these events didn’t take place back when I first got my license… they’ve taken place during my married life… even my married with kids life. But tonight was a new low. I walked home from soccer practice.  (with the keys t...

I am afraid I don’t have much for you this weekend in terms of deep thoughts.  But I did stumble across this passage of Scripture.  Doesn’t it make a wonderful prayer for us to offer up to our Lord?  I am particularly challenged by verse 36.  Oh, that I would turn my heart towards God’s statues rather than my own selfish gains.  Teach me Oh God.  Psalm 119:33-36 33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;        then I will keep them to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law        and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands,        for there I find delight. 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes        and not toward selfish gain. What are you thinking about this week? Why not use your last post of the week to highlight something a bit "deeper...

Its funny to me how many “old sayings” run through my head on any given day. For example, “Don’t cry over spilled milk.”  I must repeat that to myself at least twice a week... “Don’t cry over spilled milk… DON’T CRY over spilled milk… (and in my head I also add quite often, don’t make anyone else cry over spilled milk.” So, I had to laugh when my son and I were doing science this afternoon and we were talking about the various states of water.  He already has a pretty good grasp of solid, liquid, and gas (especially pertaining to water) but anything with the word experiment after it gets him down right giddy.  So we were making steam as part of our science lesson today. And I couldn’t help but laugh (and snap a picture) when I answered the phone and turned around to see this.  I figured we’d go work on something else at the table while we waited for the water to boil.   He seemed quite content to sit and wait for it to turn to steam. I then told ...