Our Blog is Ten

I nearly missed this milestone but happened to do a blog search that pulled up the five year post.

I've nothing so impressive for this one, just a few thoughts on changes in the past five years:

Kansas Dad now has tenure and two director-level jobs at the university. He's teaching a lot, including in a masters program, and trying to travel to give some talks around Kansas as well.

With all his teaching and family travels, our gardens have been lower priority, but the kids wander the property and discover all sorts of interesting things.

We went on a Grand Adventure in 2016, driving and camping for a month to visit the western United States. It was amazing and addicting. Since then we've gone on at least two significant camping trips a year and have now visited fifteen national parks and even more monuments, historical sites, preserves, and state parks.

We saw a total solar eclipse.

The kids are now 13, 11, 9, and 7. We're still homeschooling and now have an 8th grader, a 5th grader, a 3rd grader, and a 1st grader. Everyone's in school! I'd say I'm a much more confident homeschooling mom now except that I'm fairly terrified about high school coming up in a year.

Second Son has one of his top two teeth and the other is coming. We can almost see it!

First Son takes care of the chickens. First Daughter is in charge of the bread and muffin baking. They all do weekly chores so I pretty much never mop the floor or vacuum anymore. Only every now and then.

First Son started taekwondo in the fall of 2014. Then First Daughter started. Then Kansas Dad. First Son and Kansas Dad are both red belts now and within a year of a black belt, if they progress as quickly as possible. First Daughter is a blue belt ("halfway to black belt!" she says).

We have chickens, a frog, a dog, and a bearded dragon. Next on the list: a parakeet.

I quit my job a few years ago and will never stop homeschooling because Kansas Dad says I have to get another one if I do.

Big News!

Kansas Dad got tenure!

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

In other news, choir, basketball, and soccer have started up again and Kansas Dad and I are doing another round of P90X. Since nothing ended, I'm feeling a little strapped for time and blogging seems to have finally ended up at the low end of the priority list. (The kids are a lot more demanding about eating lunch than reading a new blog post. Who would have guessed?)

Maybe once we get past Easter, I'll have figured things out a bit. In the meantime, I'll probably blog irregularly, if at all.

You probably won't miss me that much.

Have a blessed Easter!

Did I mention Kansas Dad got tenure?

Yeah, he's awesome.

Our Blog Is Five

I started this blog five years ago today.

Since then:

• We survived the worst Christmas Eve ever. (Christmas Eve 2007)
• Kansas Dad submitted his dissertation. (January 2008)
• Kansas Dad was offered a tenure track position at a university. (January 2008)
• Kansas Dad successfully defended his thesis and received his PhD. (April 2008)
• First Daughter knocked a tooth loose (a post that also contains one of my absolute favorite videos of all time). (April 2008)
• Second Daughter was born. (July 2008)
• We bought a house. (July 2008; with a four day old) (See some pictures from September, after we moved in and took some time off for a little hike around.)
• I started reviewing books for The Catholic Company. (August 2008; I still can't believe they send me books.) 
• I quit working full-time, and promptly started working part-time. (September 2008; I'm now working about ten hours a week for the same organization.)
• We got chickens! (June 2009)
• I watched bunnies attack a snake. (June 2009) 
• First Son started kindergarten. (August 2009) 
• I endured First Son's blood draw. (December 2009)
• Second Son was born! (July 2010)
• First Son started first grade. (August 2010; sorry, no pictures or post.)
• I spent one night in the hospital for IV antibiotics. (January 2011; and I did not get better until they realized I had an antibiotic-resistant strain.)
• I found my watch. (April 2011)
• I posted about my struggles with Second Son's first year. (May 2011) 
• Second Son caught chicken pox. (May 2011) 
• First Son started second grade. (August 2011; and again I didn't post pictures.)
• I started posting about what I loved about last week. (September 2011)
• First Son said his first confession on his birthday - what a wonderful birthday present! (December 2011; Sorry, no pictures on the blog for this milestone.)
• I started posting once a week on My Favorite Picture Books. (January 2012)
• First Son received his First Communion. (March 2012; I blogged about it in April.)
• The outbuilding was dismantled! (May 2012)
• Second Son lost his two front teeth in a swimming pool accident. His smile is still cute, though. (July 2012)
• First Son started third grade. First Daughter started kindergarten. (August 2012)
• Kansas Dad and I finished the thirteen weeks of P90X. Everyone who knew me in high school and college is still in shock. (September 2012)
• Kansas Dad has been working furiously on a new chicken coop, which is not quite done. It's certainly the biggest project we've ever had here on the Range. We'll get a picture of it up after the chickens have moved in.

For posterity's sake, these are the top ten posts of the past five years (according to Blogger):

• Homeschool Review: Saxon Math 1
• First Daughter's Facial
• His Lovely Creation
• Book Discussion: Chapter 8 in One Thousand Gifts
• Book Review: Catholic Icing's "A Picture Book of the Mass"
• Homeschool Review (Preview): Essentials: The Logic of English
• Homeschool Review: Writing with Ease, Year One
• Life Happened Instead
• The Lack of a Post
• Quote: Books Before Five

This blog is nothing big and important, but it's been a wonderful way for me to share our family's little triumphs. Kansas Dad is glad I have an outlet for all my homeschooling ravings, too. I can hardly imagine what life might be like five years from now when the children are 13, 11, 9, and 7. Just think, Second Son might even have his two front teeth back by then!

What I Loved About the Last Two Weeks (44th Ed.)

I missed last week. Again. And then I didn't even get this post up yesterday (though it was Labor Day). Oh well, it's my blog so whatever I do is alright, right?

1. Our second week of school was a little calmer, at least during the day.

2. We've been enjoying nature outside our front door. We had a snake living along our front path for a while, a tiny baby gopher snake. We also saw a wasp kill a spider and drag it away.

3. Some fun videos. (Believe it or not, First Daughter has memorized a few more poems since I recorded these.)

4. A few weeks ago, we visited a zoo for a family-friendly event. The highlight of the evening was the parrot enclosure, when Kansas Dad was a favorite roost.

5. We had our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Open House a week ago. I am so very glad to be past this event! The coordinator and I spent nine hours in the Atrium over the course of three nights (in a row) after dinner to get all the new materials collected and organized. It looked gorgeous! Our first classes are this week so we're about to get even busier!

Presentation in the Temple for Level 2

6. I finally sat down and designed our photo book for the second quarter of 2012. I was able to purchase it during a great sale. It's not something on my must-do-or-our-family-falls-apart list, but I do so much like to have photos on paper where the children can enjoy them.

7. Second Daughter's baptism anniversary was last week. Daily Mass was said for her intentions on Thursday. I made cookies on Friday and she received a new Glory Story CD. Her favorite part (other than the cookies, of course, which they're still enjoying every day) was blowing out the candle.

8. Second Son can say his name! It's adorable, of course. He has also started calling his big brother "Zeba" quite clearly. I have no idea where he heard it, but it is further proof that First Son's name is very difficult to say. Some of his other names have been "Adeb" and "Beda."

9. Over Labor Day weekend, Grammy treated us to the little water park again before they closed for the winter. Then she kept all the kids overnight while Kansas Dad and I had a lovely Japanese dinner, a relaxing evening at the bookstore, a few cocktails, and fit in a little shopping.

This week we start Catechesis. The girls are in a Level 1 class and First Son is in a Level 2 class (at different times, of course). I think we'll also start soccer this week. I think story hour at our local library will start next week. Then we'll really be able to get into the rhythm of our school year.

What I Loved About Last Week (38th Ed.)

1. First Son won an honorable mention in a contest with The Catholic Company! We already spent our gift certificate - on a new Glory Story CD (selected by First Son) and a statue of Mary for our prayer shelf.

2. Second Son can jump!

3. Second Son says "Shee-dee" for First Son's name and Second Daughter's name, which is hilarious because it's nothing at all like their names. Second Son knows this, because he cracks up laughing whenever he says it.

4. Donuts and sprinklers were back this week!

5. On the Fourth of July, we had planned to go to the science museum, but they lost power! The kids were mollified with ice cream. Then we went to Grammy's house for a water balloon fight (with Kansas Dad, not me; I had the camera) and firecrackers. Second Son quickly decided the firecrackers were no fun at all. When he started crying, "No, Daddy, no!" whenever Kansas Dad went to light a new one, I decided to take him inside. He did like the little snappers, though. He wanted more when his box was gone.

6. Second Son says "sit" but begins with an "sh" sound instead of "s." It's really funny, though it's good the kids don't get it yet.

7. Our summer reading program took a field trip to a children's theater productions. Second Daughter was enthralled with the shimmery dress. Second Son was just mesmerized by the whole thing.

8. The kids went to a day camp at our parish this weekend hosted by a group out of Nebraska. Second Son and I enjoyed a quiet day just the two of us. We listened to a lot of Bob and Larry CDs.

9. My parents celebrated their 40th anniversary this weekend!

What I Loved About Last Week (24th Ed.)

1. Beautiful weather. Last week was just gorgeous! It's hard to believe since we've had two full days of rain, but we spent lots of time outside last week.

2. Second Son's love of our Lenten traditions. He always wants to help put flowers on our prayer garden and begs for coins for our alms jar.

3. Second Daughter's dancing

4. Second Son hamming it up for the camera

5. First Son's First Communion retreat - This was just fabulous. It began with a Mass, or rather, preparing for Mass. Father invited all of the children to help him set up for Mass. They told him everything he needed, displaying an amazing knowledge of the Mass in the process. I think we were all impressed. What a wonderful experience for them! Then, it got even better. He invited the second graders to come stand behind the altar while he consecrated the bread and the wine. Amazing!! I think the retreat would have been fantastic if it ended after Mass, but they continued on with adoration, crafts, pizza for lunch, recess on our lovely playground (and even running some races with Father), strawberry cupcakes and two separate sessions in the Atrium. So many people in our parish showed God's love for our First Communicants in putting together that retreat. What a blessing!

6. First Son's First Communion - This deserves a post all its own and will receive one...eventually. In the meantime, let me just say it was magnificent.

7. Our celebration - We had enchiladas (First Son's choice), cake, cookies and a few presents with some dear friends. It was quiet but lovely. Kansas Dad made the enchiladas and cleaned up afterward so I could talk.

8. Second Son's crazy hair - This picture doesn't do it justice, but it's the best I could do. No matter what we do, some part of it is sticking up and out. And it's not even always the same part!

We're having a bit of a quiet week here on the Range, trying to catch our breath a bit after First Communion. Next week, my parents will be here for a visit. Hopefully it won't rain all week so we can get out of the house a bit!

What I Loved About Last Week (20th Ed.)

1. First Daughter lost her first tooth! Last Wednesday night, Kansas Dad started to brush her teeth and realized it was missing. She hadn't even noticed. She thinks it fell out while she was eating dinner and was consumed. The Tooth Fairy left a dollar for her anyway.

2. Second Son has developed a habit of exercising with Kansas Dad and me. While we're working out, he'll try to march with us or raise his hands when we do. When he gets very excited, he runs circles around us until he falls down dizzy, giggling away.

3. Clean laundry! Our washing machine, which was less than four years old, died a premature death this week. After almost three full days without washing anything (in a house with six people, one of whom wears cloth diapers), I ran the new machine for an entire day.

4. While the girls spent a night with Grammy making cookies, Jello jigglers and watching a movie, Kansas Dad and I took First Son (and his brother) out for a special dinner and then watched the three original Star Wars movies one right after another with just a break for sleeping a bit in the middle of the second one. It was remarkably fun to watch First Son watching them for the first time. It was also a nice quiet dinner. It's amazing how civilized dinner can be without a three year old.

5. Second Son has decided it's funny to point to himself and say "Dada" or "Mama." He just laughs and laughs.

What I Loved About Last Week (9th Ed.)

1. Second Daughter's rendition of America, the Beautiful in which she sings, "God shed his light on me!"

2. First Daughter's drawing from Sunday School - this wonderful drawing of herself with the words "I am a child of God."

3. Second Son has started making some sounds! He will neigh and baa. He also might have said "cheese," "drink," and "yes." But I'm going to pretend he hasn't because I'm still waiting to hear "Mama."

4. First Daughter's reading. She impressed me this week by reading a word my finger was covering, having glanced at it long enough to see and remember it. She is apparently reading much better than her performance in lessons would indicate. She wiggles, giggles and stares into space, but she is learning to read. We're still using The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading but I'm breaking up the lessons because she drags them out much too long. Ten or fifteen minutes is really my limit.

5. Butterflies! All of our pupae hatched beautiful painted lady butterflies. We're feeding them sugar syrup and I'm wishing we'd done our butterfly unit earlier in the year so we could release them. Maybe we'll order some more caterpillars in the spring.

6. Our last choir practice of the term followed by the concert. The children did a wonderful job, except for Second Daughter who stood at center stage and entertained the crowd. At one point she turned completely around and faced the rest of the choir for a whole song. At another time she was twisting back and forth, twirling her skirt, attracting the attention of the little girl next to her who promptly began doing the same. She also left the stage and returned on her own whims a few times. Sigh. The other parents were very kind.

7. A baptism! Our sweet little goddaughter was baptized this weekend. It was a wonderful ceremony. Our priest invited all the other children close and gave the oils and candles and books to them to hold so they all felt like a part of the ceremony. It is such a blessing to have godparents and godchildren in our very own parish; we are truly becoming one family in Christ.

What did you love about last week?

Second Son Steps Out

Second Son just took his first steps! He was cruising toward Kansas Dad, who stepped away from the piano bench just as he got near. Second Son didn't pause at all, just kept right on going! He took at least two or three steps all on his own!

Of course, he's way too grumpy for a picture. That's what happens when he only naps for twenty minutes. (Thank you very much, Second Daughter.)

Second Son...Gets a Haircut

This boy was getting seriously shaggy.

He's looking at Daddy like he's asking "What exactly do you plan to do with that thing?"

Now he's thinking, "I'm not sure I like this." Thirty seconds later he was screaming like mad. He did not like it one bit!

After the bath, he's a happy guy again, looking like a little man!

Answer: Uh Oh

Question: What is Second Son's first word?

Not Mama. Not Dada. Uh Oh.

Maybe it doesn't count. Is "uh oh" really a word?

Second Son Stands

Here's a picture (only a little late) of Second Son pulling himself up in his crib on April 23rd. He was exactly nine months old.

Teeth!

Second Son has two teeth! One came in on the bottom yesterday, joined by the little ridges of the second one today. He's been fussing all week, so I'm very pleased to see them. Plus, baby teeth are cute.

Hopefully we have a little break before he gets any more, though.

I have some pictures, but they're still on the camera. I'd promise them tomorrow, but I think the past two weeks (with the last day of basketball, Easter, Second Son's well-child appointment, choir dress rehearsal, last story hour, story hour graduation, an afternoon at the zoo and our choir concert) have worn me down. Soon, though, soon.

Happy Bath

Second Son took a bath tonight and did not cry. He even played a little.

It only took nine months and a bit.

Second Son at Nine Months

Second Son turned nine months old on Holy Saturday. First thing in the morning I set him on the couch with his giraffe for some pictures.

He's been sleeping tremendously well, from 8 pm at night to about 7 am in the morning four times last week. He also just started taking naps on a bit of a regular schedule. He often sleeps for about half an hour in the morning, starting at 11 am. Then he'll take a longer nap in the afternoon, maybe an hour from 3 to 4. I'll take that. He likes to be in his crib, though. As soon as I lay him down, he flips over to his tummy. If we're out and about he seems to be too interested in the world to take a nap. Sometimes he'll fall asleep in the car on the way home.

He has no teeth, but we think we see one on the bottom left (his left, our right) just under the surface. I expect it'll be coming out this week or soon thereafter.

This one is kind of dark but I love how his whole hand is crammed in his mouth.

He doesn't have any trouble eating, despite the lack of teeth. He scoops and crams Cheerios and crackers into his mouth. He doesn't do as well with fruit, but it tends to be slippery. He still likes his food pureed for maximum efficiency, but will sometimes each chopped blueberries or green beans and has recently decided cottage cheese is acceptable. He eats just about everything we feed him now, but he's not a huge fan of egg yolks. He had his first ham on Easter Sunday and seemed to like it.

He had his nine month well child visit today. He weighed almost 20.5 pounds (50th percentile) and is 29.25 inches tall (80th percentile). His nurse said he's a healthy boy, not that I needed her to tell me that.

Hamming for the camera

He isn't crawling yet, but he rolls quite easily every which way. He also scoots around the room on his belly. I don't think it's intentional exactly. He lunges for something that interests him and somehow finds himself closer to it. A few days ago, I took a book away from him and put it back on the shelf. He launched himself about a foot to grab it again. He has a tendency to destroy anything made of paper: books, newspapers, art projects, photo albums.

This place is great!

He pulled himself up in his crib three times on Saturday. He was startled at his own strength the first time, then he just laughed and laughed. (I had my back turned as I was hanging clothes in the closet when Second Daughter announced, "He's standing!" She was right!)

Oh, some day I'm going to grab that camera and eat it!

Kansas Dad said he very nearly crawled on Easter Sunday (while I was taking a nap). He was up on his hands and knees and rocking. It's only a matter of time now, and probably a very short amount of time. I'm afraid life is going to get a lot more complicated until the kids are more reliable at keeping their smaller toys away from him. You know, in two years or so.

He loves his big sisters and big brother. They can often make him laugh when nothing else will. Even Second Daughter has realized she can jump right into his face and yell "Peek-a-boo!" and he'll laugh hysterically. First Daughter is often a bit too affectionate for his taste, so he'll start to cry. Perhaps that will abate when he can crawl away from her. First Son, though not as interested in entertaining Second Son as the girls are, is probably Second Son's favorite person (after me and Kansas Dad). He'll often laugh for First Son when the others have failed.

He just started reaching for me (or Kansas Dad) if someone else holds him for a few minutes.

I'm so much more productive than I was even a month ago! Second Son will often explore on his own while I clean the kitchen or put in a load of laundry without crying. Most of the time.

He loves to pound on the piano keys. If you build a tower of blocks, he'll knock it down, but what I really love is how he insists on pulling the blocks out of their wagon if you try to put them away. He laughs, but he also takes it seriously. Get nine or ten blocks put away and he'll start reaching for them and tossing them out.

That's all for now.

Second Son's Accomplishments

Second Son can roll from his back to his stomach! I know this because multiple times during the night he woke me, upset to find himself on his stomach and unable to "right" himself in his semi-awakened state.

Then he would want to nurse.

I did not get much sleep last night.

He also started signing "all done." I thought I had seen it once or twice, but today it was unmistakable. This is one of the most helpful signs as, in theory, it helps avoid the potential for vast amounts of food cascading to the floor. Second Son has most often made this sign while incredibly upset. Hopefully he learns to sign when he's ready to wrap up a meal before he gets so angry.

Second Son Clapping

Here's Second Son showing off his new clapping skills on March 14th.

In case you're wondering, if he gets socks off his feet, he eats them. If he drops the sock, he goes on to chew on his toes.

Hands Free Napping

Today, for the first time in his life, Second Son took a nap in his crib.

He was awake when I laid him down. He only slept for about 30 minutes, but it was enough time for me to start a load of laundry and a loaf of bread in the bread machine.

Oh, how I want him to nap in his crib! I'm finally starting to feel like I have a grasp of my day. Meals, school, dishes, laundry...it's all getting done. The living room usually looks decent when Kansas Dad gets home and every now and then I have dinner going. I find, though, that I am completely exhausted every night. Even though Second Son is sleeping well in his crib starting at about 8 pm, I haven't the energy to tackle anything substantial on my List.

Deep Sleep

Last night, Second Son nursed around 8 pm, settled down in his crib around 8:30 pm (with about two minutes of fussing) and then slept until...5:15 am!! (Okay, he fussed a little at 10 pm and 11 pm, but only for a couple of minutes each time.)

That's almost nine hours. Not that I was asleep the whole time, of course.

I figured I should post it on the blog because it might be another seven months before he sleeps so long in one stretch again.

Put Your Hands Together!

Second Son can clap! Kansas Dad thought he saw him clapping on Wednesday but I didn't notice it until yesterday. He's so funny about it. As long as he's chatting with himself and playing, he will clap occasionally. As soon as someone draws attention to it by cheering or clapping for him, he literally stops what he's doing and looks at said person as if to say, "I have no idea what you are doing."

I tried to get him on video, but every time I turned the camera on while he was clapping, I got the look or he grinned. Either way, he stopped clapping.