In this room

Tread with care;

Legos, legos

Everywhere

In the bed

On the floor

Bare feet

Enter here no more.

Actually, we have lots to do … we’re just not doing it.

Here is Brother dutifully completing a phonics worksheet.

Here is said worksheet. Not sure what the random gunman at the top has to do with the letter “B” but there you have it.

One of these is my new favorite picture of Dora … I just can’t decide which.

Thoughts?

In addition to remotes the bin also seems to acquire random Lego creations and drawings and there as been some discussion as to whether or not the Wii-motes are re-motes.  Still, research shows that remote searches have declined by 84.6% since the hanging of the sign.  And that’s better than this mom had hoped for.

Each Wednesday, Grandma and Papa bring my niece for an afternoon of play.  The kids do well enough together on their own but today I thought it might be fun to have a project.  Brother’s been learning about cave dwellers and our art book has a great picture of the Lascaux cave paintings.  A quick search turned up this fun art project.

First the making of the mud … I mean, paint.  We collected the dirt ourselves but left the lard making to Crisco.  I’ve been down that road before and it ain’t pretty.

See all those bowls?  You can never have too many shades of brown.

We hung open paper bags in a little alcove outside my front door then had the kids go into their “cave” and start painting.  Technically speaking letting them paint directly on the brick would have been more realistic but the Lascaux paintings have been there for hundreds of years and I wasn’t sure I wanted muddy drawings on my alcove for that long.

Ultimately this experience taught us that although cave paintings may look primitive anyone who can get mud to look like anything other than mud is one heck of an artist.

His father wants the hair long.  He doesn’t understand that no amount of water, spit or gel will tame this.

If you perchance pass us on the street, please know this is not my fault and that in other parenting areas I’m doing pretty good.

Lego Attack by Brother

Rock Monster Attack by Sister

Why is stop motion animation so violent?  Peace, Lego people, peace.

Last time we opened boxes from Sonlight I was overwhelmed to say the least.  It seemed like so, so much to cover.  This time Brother joined the ranks of little people to be educated and there arrived even more.  That overwhelmed feeling started to creep in but I reminded myself ~ we don’t have to do it all.  So, like before we’ll take what works, toss what doesn’t and use the tools on our schedule.

It may be worth noting here that last time “our schedule” meant we took a year and a half to complete 9 months of curriculum.  Though in our defense I’ll add that we moved and had a baby during that time.  Ah, c’est la vie.

*This post backdated for chronological reasons.

So Christmas came and went and with it came the standard “grandma” money.  Some people think that giving cash or gift cards is kind of a cop out.  Crazy people who feel a little care and forethought should go into each purchase.    Ahem. *cough, cough*  Okay, I admit I’m one of them.  (My name is Toni and I’m a gift snob. ~altogether now~ Hi Toni.) But I’m only a snob in regards to gifts I GIVE.  When it comes to receiving ~ bring on the cash.  What’s better than being able to pick out exactly what you want without worrying about messing up your budget.  Also, sometimes there is just no way anyone would ever guess what you really wanted or if they did they might think it was too old/young for you and not get it anyway.  Case in point:  Monopoly City.  The box says ages 8 and up.  The 5 year old says, “Phooey on that!” (By the by, isn’t “phooey” a little bit of a screwy word?  That many vowels should not be able to co-exist together so peacefully.)  Anyway, Brother spent his gift money on a game we were all convinced he had no business buying but there was no talking him out of it.  Consequently, we’ve spent the last three nights gathered around the table building skyscrapers and apartments, setting up power plants and railroads and charging exorbitant rent to anyone daring enough to land on our property.  Sure we changed a few rules for simplicity’s sake and we only make a little progress each evening but it’s been unexpectedly fun.

Sister, on the other hand, has no use for complicated games.  She bought a horse.  A stuffed horse which she has slept with every night since it came home.  She’s eight and in my mind eight is old enough to be past stuffed animals.  Certainly I (with all my “care and forethought”) didn’t buy her any but given the choice that what she picked.

Dora, in case you’re wondering, bought shoes and the most adorable pair of leggings you have ever seen in your entire life.  She couldn’t help it. “Baby, it’s cold outside” and all that.

*this post backdated for chronological reasons