Socialization

My nearly 9yo..Add went to the playground the other day with Mr. C (and of course eli and gwen) I stayed home and took a nap. During dinner Add was telling me about the not so nice kids he met there.
Add: "I was playing with a boy, and he asked me where I went to school. I told him I was home schooled and he said HOMESCHOOLERS SUCK!!!"

Me: "What did you say to that"

Add: "No we don't"

"Then what did he say?"

Add: "nothing..."

He kept talking and told me he really likes to be homeschooled and does not understand why that boy would be so rude to say that to him. We discussed that further and gave him some other things to say if that happens again..and "no we don't" doesn't suffice. He also informed me that the "F" and "B" word were written inside the slide...I didnt know he knew what those words were. Funny how even when you are with your kids nearly all the time, they still grow up right under your nose without realizing it.

Tomorrow I will be taking the 2nd step on this thing that I am doing...and to be quite frank..Im kind of...well....terrified is what comes to mind. But it isn't like Im going sky diving or anything...and there is little threat of bodily injury or death...so it's all good. :-)

Bittersweet

Conversation

I took the kids to the zoo this afternoon. After snuggling with some goats in the petting zoo I took the kids to play on the playground.

Kids ran off to play, I sat down on a bench to watch. A girl who looked to be about 8 sat and stared at me.
She said "How did your hair turn red" (it's a light shade of pink right now, with lots of yellow, probably even time to dye it again..I just get fascinated by watching how oddly it fades)
"I dyed it"
"Oh...." and she ran off.
Then she came back.
"So...your hair...it died??"
"No..I used something like paint for hair that made it this color"
"Oh. Can you take your glasses off so I can see your face?"
I took off my sunglasses...she scanned my face and stared at me for a bit...gave me a big grin and ran off to play.

Song

Now that it is warm I am able to sleep with the windows wide open...and I love that. Breezes coming in, frogs singing, an occasional owl, nighthawks..it is lovely.

The sun is also coming up earlier.
I know this because at 5:41 this morning, it was bright in my room.
I know the time because I looked at my phone.
I know all of this because Mr. C said "WOW! I don't think you need an aviary or to get a canary anymore...it sounds like there are a million birds out there!"

Because of the sun, and hearing the word birds...I slowly came to awareness. I listened and heard the amazing sound of many birds singing to the sun. I could pick out the robins, cardinals, red winged blackbirds, and the finches.

Even though it was ridiculously early, and I had fallen asleep a mere 4-5 hours before, it was a beautiful way to start the day...basking in the morning light and hearing bird song.

*in case no one realizes it...I really love birds. :-)

Lord of the Flies.

That is my 7yo...covered in mud. We went to a bday party and to play our our friend's house today. They have some dirt piles in their yard...and a water spigot...and there were a few boys.

They even found big sticks.

Add had mud stripes on his face, a bloody nose, and small cut by his eye..with blood. And he was muddier than Eli in that photo.

In a boys mind....today was perfect.

In a mom's mind....it was perfect....for them....for my car..not so much.

It was, a good day.

The Muses and Barbie

The other evening Add came to me and said "Hey Mom...I just realized that Barbie the Diamond Castle is a weird adaptation of the 9 Muses in Greek Mythology." That led to a nice conversation about why it is important to study ancient history and myths, because often there are references in daily life. He did say that he doesn't so much like Egypt Mythology because it creeps him out a bit.

Right now he is up in bed surrounded by Mary Pope Osbourne's Tales From the Odyssey series..he is really enjoying it.

I am waiting for Mr C to get home. He had meetings in Cleveland today. While there he stopped in at our favorite music store and found a DVD about the Dead Kennedy's for me. We are going to watch that tonight along with Synecdoche New York.

Our grass is getting pretty long...ok..it's ridiculous..you can see it in the pictures I posted below. I called the mowing guy...he answered the phone not with a hello but with "Ya'll need your lawn done?" He has SUCH a gravelly voice and thick southern accent that I can hardly understand him. But he will mow the lawn tomorrow, and for that I am truly grateful.

Feeling short on words..

I like cats that match the design scheme in my house.

Bella and Eli
Bella and Bubble
Bella eating bubble
Camouflaged Cat
Done by Eli...my 7yo budding cartoonist
Mr C, making his "That is ENOUGH Alana" face...sometimes I think he doesnt know whether he should be annoyed with me or bust up laughing. :-P
Ummm...my daughter....being silly.....like her mother.
Elijah loves orange Pelligrino
Add eating Pho...he ate the WHOLE bowl. The boy loves Pho.

Quote

"Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused" ~unknown

As a person who laughs at my shortcomings, quirks, oddities, clumsiness, and takes things not too seriously....this is so very true. :-)

Playground