The medical doctor on the team that diagnosed Ehren's PDD-NOS told us, "He's lucky to have a sister. She'll be there organizing make-believe tea parties and teaching him manners and correcting his behaviors...". Maybe it was because it was the only time I heard the word "lucky" that day, but for some reason, I always liked this thought, and it has stuck with me.
In real life, I have been worried that Anna has been mimicking some of the boys' bad behaviors because she adores her older brothers. But this week it happened: Not the tea party, but the redirection. The kids went up to listen to the children's sermon at church. During the prayer, Ehren was turning around trying to talk to a girl sitting by him. Anna (who is four) was grabbing his shoulders, turning him around, and generally trying to get Ehren (who is seven) to behave appropriately. It's the first time I've seen her correcting either brother publicly. Afterwards, she of course reported to me that, "Ehren was not being good up there" {you know, in case I hadn't noticed}.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
So Thankful For This School
... where the first grade class is unusually small, and the kids are unusually nice (and the teacher is patient, dedicated, gifted, and needs to be nominated for an award).
... where the preschool class is unusually large, and the kids are unusually engaging.
... where the teachers' work is a calling, not a job.
... where God is lighting the way {Psalm 119:105} for my kids to discover their gifts.
... where the preschool class is unusually large, and the kids are unusually engaging.
... where the teachers' work is a calling, not a job.
... where God is lighting the way {Psalm 119:105} for my kids to discover their gifts.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
It Survived!
Remember how I was worried that the garlic in my garden might not make it? It was looking pretty brown a couple of weeks ago. Look at it now. What a comeback! It's a plant built to survive.
And here are the spring onions. It won't be long until we can eat these.
The kids have been growing some Early Girl Tomatoes, bell peppers and Zinnias in very small pots in our kitchen window. Anna and I transplanted the seedlings into individual pots. We also planted some seeds we saved from last year's garden (dill, cilantro, basil, and Corno Di Toro peppers). We ran out of potting soil, so we'll have to finish planting our other seeds later. It was definitely a day to get excited about gardening!
And here are the spring onions. It won't be long until we can eat these.
The kids have been growing some Early Girl Tomatoes, bell peppers and Zinnias in very small pots in our kitchen window. Anna and I transplanted the seedlings into individual pots. We also planted some seeds we saved from last year's garden (dill, cilantro, basil, and Corno Di Toro peppers). We ran out of potting soil, so we'll have to finish planting our other seeds later. It was definitely a day to get excited about gardening!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
How Many Tennis Balls?
Today's beautiful fifty-nine degree weather spurred on an impromptu pond cleanup in our backyard. Just how many tennis balls do you think I found when I strapped on a pair of waders and stepped in? I lost count, but there were at least fifteen (plus baseballs, Wiffle balls, toy basketballs, and others I couldn't identify). The previous owners of our house had several dogs and they must not have been retrievers.
And there was plastic. Plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic juice pouches, plastic jugs, plastic caps, and a plastic hockey stick just to start the list. There were chunks and chunks of slimy green Styrofoam (did several Styrofoam coolers explode out there at one point?).
There's a girl behind this plastic curtain.
Um, teenage date night in the cattails? A bottle of Proactive and a bottle of rum were found together.
Two hefty bags of trash later, we headed back to the house for a different kind of cleanup...
And there was plastic. Plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic juice pouches, plastic jugs, plastic caps, and a plastic hockey stick just to start the list. There were chunks and chunks of slimy green Styrofoam (did several Styrofoam coolers explode out there at one point?).
There's a girl behind this plastic curtain.
Um, teenage date night in the cattails? A bottle of Proactive and a bottle of rum were found together.
Two hefty bags of trash later, we headed back to the house for a different kind of cleanup...
Much needed baths!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
The Forecast
Ehren on the possibility of snow showers tomorrow: "I'm sure the weatherman's wrong. Because it's totally warm this time. Maybe it will be raining." I like his confident optimism.
I checked the forecast again tonight, and it looks like he might be right {I hope so}.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Do you hear what I hear?
Spring is the best! I love seeing the sun longer and longer each day. I love hearing the birds singing in my backyard. And I love the spring ephemerals {that will soon be} emerging in the woods.
When it comes to the outdoors, I'm more of a flower person than a bird person, but the birds are all I've got right now. If you are an avid bird enthusiast, here's a tip. Check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site. It has pictures, video, audio and identification information for each species of bird. My husband once worked on their data storage network, which boasts the largest collection of natural sounds in the world. If you want to hear what I've been hearing in my backyard this week, click on any of these links: American Robin; Northern Cardinal; Mourning Dove; Red-winged Blackbird.
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