Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Slicing Mushrooms

Asher:  Wow, Mom, you're a really fast chopper!

Me:  Thanks Asher.

Asher: (Flashing two thumbs up) I just knew you'd be fast at something.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Well That's Reasonable

Asher: Mom, one day we asked Aggie not to eat the ducks, and she didn't.

Frankie: So we didn't eat Aggie!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

3 Bs

Even with school, piano, house, waiting, kids, ducks, dog, and waiting, I'm afraid I've got a bad case of the 3 Bs.

Bored
Busy
Broke

Photobucket
waiting-2008

Nate will be home in 10 days. I just might scream the next time someone exclaims "that's so soon!" Time is at a stand still, and until the count is down to a matter of hours, I refuse to count at all.

I need a diversion. Books? Movies? Hit me with your best shot.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Soldier and the Starlet

Photobucket
Papaw and Penny-who looks as sassy as her cousins.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Quirk

I make lists of names I love for the children I'll never have. Real names for imaginary kids. Old favorites, like Atticus and Finn, are always in the running, but today's choice is Brother. Today I would name my son Brother.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The Ninga and the Indian
by Jensie L Bigler
inspiered By Asher R Bigler

Once upon a time ther was a ninga and a Indian. They wher littel kids and all of a sudden the ninga kid wanted to fight. But youguly the ninga kid was very nice. His father inspiered him to fight some times but he was only playing.

But one day ther was a war. the Ningas kids father did not like how his son yoused his skil. But now his son was old enuf to fight when the war was over the Ningas father had died so his son was now the Ninga master! And so on and so on. the End!

Midnight

Photobucket
Well Frankie, the way I see it we could go to bed or we could just hang out in a laundry basket, all nekked and such. Up to you.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Party in the Back

Photobucket
(NOT) business in front

Photobucket
please pardon the head sweat

Frankie found a pair of scissors and gave herself a mullet. It's pretty rad.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Quadhead

Photobucket
An awesome picture that has nothing whatsoever to do with the rest of this post

Frankie: (Flipping through the pages of the Land of Nod Holiday Catalog) Hey! These are the things for that god that I like.

Me: What things?

Frankie: (Pointing to a picture of Santa Claus) The ones that celebrate him!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Fair Warning



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

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Overheard: A Difference of Opinion

Jensie: Well I never thought I'd say this, but...these mushrooms are delicious!

Frankie: Are you kidding? This tastes like poop. Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Autumnal Commencement

How's about that hoity-toity title, eh?

School! This year we are homeschooling Jensie and we don't actually go anywhere. I don't believe in un-schooling in case you were wondering. My children are hedonists--they wouldn't do anything hard unless I made them. That includes learning to spell and doing fractions, so I force Jensie to stretch her brain every day for four hours. And yes, we do the hours consecutively even though we don't have to, it just seems easier that way.

Our curriculum is a combination of the things I liked in Susan Wise Bauer's The Well-Trained Mind and stuff I took from A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Van DeMille. We are doing things very classically. Flashcards, memorization, and books books books.

I usually think it's irritating when people say "if it was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids," like if you grew up on Wonder Bread and Twinkies so think the extra cost of healthful foods is a total waste, but in this case, if it was good enough for Abe Lincoln, it's good enough for us. We start each morning with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Mostly because I just like those things.

When we are at the library and the kids bring me a Pokemon book and ask me to read to them, I flat out tell them no. I am willing to read the classics, Charlotte's Web...Alice in Wonderland...any time any place, but I don't want to read crap and you can't make me. A few weeks ago I caved and started reading them the Percy Jackson books. Boo-ring. Won't make that mistake twice.

When I was young my Granny Jennifer would take me and my cousin Thomas to Barnes and Noble and say "Pick out anything you want." We always got Goosebumps and Fear Street Sagas. We'd go straight home to the guest room and read them quickly. Then we'd trade and try to devour one more spooky tale before bedtime.

Having a granny who buys you books is way way better than having a granny who always bakes cookies or smells like cinnamon or something (for the record, all my grannies love books. They are bookish brainiacs). I like to think having a mom who loves books is equally grand. That is why even though I can't stand to read them aloud (out loud?), I let Jensie read anything she wants to on her own.

As I type this, she is laying in bed soakin' up The Tiara Club at Ruby Mansions or something awful like that. I can also hear her singing to herself--what a doll. She reads about 3-4 hours everyday; says the only things she loves are sleeping and reading. I can dig it.

Requisite First Day photos:
Photobucket
The Sea Water school has a pretty lenient dress code.
Frankie's dressed as "a cool mom."

Photobucket

Asher absolutely did not want to stay home with me. When I asked him about it he answered emphatically "No mom. I want a teacher and friends." So he's at a private Methodist preschool and is eating it up! His teacher told me a little secret...he is her favorite. Shhh, don't tell. It wouldn't be fair to the other children.

They go to chapel every Wednesday to learn about how much Jesus loves them, which I think is cool. They don't teach a specifically Methodist doctrine, but I wouldn't care if they did. Asher can be Methodist if he wants to."

Though the leaves won't turn gold or flutter to the ground until about December, it's cooling off here in Dixie and beginning to feel like fall. The start of another school year makes it official. So long summer. It's been swell.