Tomorrow

Tomorrow my baby graduates from elementary school. I am so proud, happy and sad that I can hardly stand it! She brought home a t shirt with the names of all of the kids who have been there since kindergarten listed on the back, and it made me cry. I still remember that first day of school. I cried so hard after I dropped her off! And now, we start a new chapter in our lives as I begin to home school her. If we both make it out of the first week unscathed we will be doin' good!

Kittens

Most everyone knows that I'm a total sucker.  I fall for almost anything, and my children are experts at manipulating me to agree to things that I should know better than to agree to.  On top of that, I usually think that it's my idea.  Sadly, when this happens things don't usually go well.  Such as right now.  Let me explain.

Last spring Carlye's cat - Sleeping Beauty - was hit by a car and killed.  Carlye had found her abandoned as a kitten, bottle fed her and mothered her and she become a strong, beautiful cat.  She was really sad when this happened, and her Aunt Jodi just so happened to have an adorable little kitten just waiting for us to adopt.  Carl said no originally because he didn't want to listen to it whine and cry as it was getting used to a new house.  However, since that seemed to be his only objection (he says it wasn't, but it was the only one I could remember) when he went out of town we decided to bring home the kitten.  Carlye named her Petunia.

At Christmas time I brought Petunia to be 'fixed' but was told that she was too young.  By Easter we were expecting kittens.  She had 3 and we were easily able to give them all away.  I was supposed to take her back the vet, but I got busy and I forgot.  Here come's litter #2.  We only found two kittens from that litter, one died and she rejected the other one.  Carlye bottle fed her (and so did Anneke) and they loved her, but she died, too.  Thinking I had a week or two before Petunia got pregnant again, I was COMPLETELY shocked when she became pregnant right away.  Now, I know that vet's will 'fix' cats while they are pregnant, but I feel like that sends the wrong message to my kids.

So here comes litter #3.

And, wonderfully enough, it looks as though this is going to be an unusually large litter.  Seriously, she is as big as a barn, and I'm thinking there are 5-7 kittens in there.

Needless to say, Carl is just thrilled.  He can't wait for there to be even MORE kittens.  And, obviously, he is super happy with me since I'm the one who brought the cat home to begin with - without his permission!

The kids, especially Carlye, are waiting on pins and needles for them to be born.  They have never seen her have her kittens, and Carlye is determined not to miss this one.  She has done exhaustive research on the labor and delivery of cats, and has now deemed herself an expert.  Obviously, school and sleep are throwing a serious wrench in her plans, but it is what it is.  Poor Petunia is traumatized because she is never left alone.  I think it's making her nervous to have someone constantly staring at her.

I'll let you know when they joyous day arrives.

Oh - and anyone want a kitten?

Tomorrow

Tomorrow my children will begin the last week of the school year.  Summer fever has set in and we do NOT want to wake up in the morning!  They have fun things to do every day, with their AR picnic tomorrow, Reading Celebration on Wednesday and then graduation and awards ceremony on Thursday, so at least there is some incentive to wake up in the morning.  At least, for them.  Personally, I would just rather skip it all and be home!

And if Nathanael didn't have perfect attendance I might actually consider it.

Yay for summer!

Catch Up

I haven't been blogging a lot lately because life has been so busy.  But then when I want to blog I realize that it won't make sense to anybody because I haven't blogged in such a long time.  Plus I don't really feel like any one is reading them anyway.  BUT - then I realized that I have always blogged for me.  It's always been a way to chronicle my bizarre life with my spectacular family.  I love to write, and this is really the only time I do it.  I don't care if people are reading or not, I enjoy writing about my life and my family.  So I'm hoping to be able to do it more.  Just for me.

Now, on to the update:

Carlye -
She graduates from 5th grade this week (I'm SO sad), and is going to be home schooled next year.  We are scared and excited all at the same time.  She is playing the viola and LOVES it, and her teacher said that she has a lot of natural ability.  I love listening to her play (and trust me, that hasn't always been the case!).  She's reading me out of house and home, and is still my little animal girl.  She feels completely neglected and abused because we won't let her get chickens right now.  She is in the Hill Country Youth Orchestra, and she is going to be very busy with camps, workshops, performances and rehearsals, but it's worth it.  Turning into a tween is translating into lots of attitude and is also relatively expensive.  Have I mentioned that she's getting braces this summer?

Nathanael -
On the last day of school he is being awarded with perfect attendance for the year, and 3rd place in the Starkey Stroller's marathon club.  He ran 68 miles this year, and only lost by a mile to two 5th graders who tied for 1st!  He's also earned straight A's all year.  He's still taking guitar lessons, and it is FINALLY starting to sound like music.  He signed up for orchestra next year, and will start to learn the violin in the fall.  He wants to move up to the bass after that.  It should be incredibly inexpensive and easy to carry around, so I'm really looking forward to it.  (If we can get Lili on the cello and Abigail on the violin we could have our own string quartet!).  He still loves wood-working, fishing and being outside, and is currently lobbying his dad to give him a puppy for his birthday.  To prove that he's responsible he's been taking excellent care of Carlye's dog and both of his guinea pigs.  For my part, I think he totally deserves it, and really wouldn't mind getting him one, but I can't get Carl to agree.  AND HE IS NOT ALLERGIC TO GLUTEN!!!  Of course, now we don't know what causes his tummy aches, but.......

Noah -
He is still taking piano lessons, and really starting to enjoy playing.  Nothing in life is as amazing as Star Wars or video games, but reading comes close.  He loves the Magic Tree House series right now, but reads other things as he picks them up.  He loves life, loves school, and loves to have fun - which often translates to pure chaos at home.  His creativity is endless, and he is really enjoying art.  He created the most beautiful picture of fish using chalk, and I LOVE it.  He loves being outdoors as much as his siblings, and loves to learn about caterpillars and butterflies, go fishing, hiking and exploring, and nothing can beat going swimming!

Carl -
He is finishing up a custom home and getting ready to start some spec homes.  He's planning for his fall bow hunting trip, and is exercising like crazy to make sure that he gets in shape.  He plays football or baseball every day after school with the kids in the yard, and just returned from his birthday fishing trip and stocked my freezer with lots of yummy fresh fish!  He makes sure to take me on a date every week, and we both love that time together.

Me -
I am still doing yoga for my back, and I LOVE it.  I re-injured it several weeks ago, and had to drop out of spin classes until it heals, but I hope to go back in the next week or so.  I've been adapting a Lacto-Paleo diet into my lifestyle, and I've found that I feel so much better when I follow it.  I still miss running, but hope to get my back strong enough that I can start running again at some point. I spend a lot of time gardening, and I was thrilled when my roses, gladiola's and lily's started to bloom.  I finally have a somewhat established garden, and I really enjoy just sitting outside and looking at the flowers.  I still read non stop, and play the piano ALL of the time, but my absolute favorite thing is spending time with my family.  I am thrilled that school is almost out and I will have the kids home for the summer!

Auditions for the Hill Country Youth Orchestra

The director for the Hill Country Youth Orchestra (and Carlye's orchestra teacher) emailed me last week and asked me if Carlye could audition.  We weren't sure what to expect, but Carlye really wanted to do it, so we went this evening before her viola lesson so that she could.  There were several children already waiting, and as they finished Mrs. Lee would walk out, tell their parents that they did a great job and would be in touch with them later on to let them know if they made it.

During Carlye's audition her private teacher, Mrs. Britt, stood outside the door and listened.  When it was over, Carlye ran out, gave us a silly look, and went straight to re-case her viola.  Mrs. Britt and I were baffled, but within a few moments Mrs. Lee came running out and said, "She's in!  She did amazing.  We put her in the 2nd orchestra (Allegretto)."  (The first orchestra is the Twinkle orchestra, as in Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - think Suzuki method)

So my baby girl made it.  And did REALLY well.  We are all so proud of her, and she is on the moon she is so happy!

This video clip is from her solo concert a few weeks ago.  She hit two flat notes, but knew it and wrinkled her nose when it happened.  Enjoy!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers day to all the amazing moms in my life - my mom, mother in law, Aunt Marianne, my sisters and cousins,Grandma Doreen and my best friends. What an honor and a privelage to celebrate such a day and to carry such a burden! May your days be filled with sticky kisses and happy smiles and hugs in abundance! Enjoy every minute of this chapter in your life, for it will soon give way to another. And as they grow we will know that, even though it goes fast, we didn't miss a moment. And that will make all the difference in who our children are and who they become. So enjoy this mothers day! Your little one may spit up on you, or your grown child may come and hug you - china may get broken, and Sunday clothes torn or stained, but aren't we so glad for it all?

If you give a mom a Book Fair

(written from Nathanael's point of view in the format of the book "If You Give a Dog a Donut")

If you give a mom a Book Fair
She will get very excited and force you to help her set up.

While you are helping her set up,
Your sister will say she doesn't feel good.

When your sister says she isn't feeling good
Your mom will take her temperature.
When she doesn't have a fever,
Your mom will make her go to school anyway.

When you are walking into school with your mom so she can work the Book Fair
Your sister will hand her a paper.
When your mom reads the paper
She will find out that your sister has an orchestra concert.
After school.
And has to wear black and white.

 This will not make your mother happy.

While your mom is working the Book Fair
Another mom will tell her that you have an orchestra meeting.
BEFORE your sisters concert.
She will call and tell your dad.

He will not be happy.

They will feel the need to lecture you on communication.
You may or may not listen.

When your mom is working Book Fair
The teacher will send your sister to look at your mom.
When your sister looks pathetic
Your mom will keep her home from school.

While your mom is working Book Fair
Your dad will miss 2 days of work.
He will take your sister to the doctor.

When your dad takes your sister to the dr,
They will want to give her a shot.
When they try to give her a shot
She will forget she is 11 and act like she's 2.
When she acts like she's 2, your dad will ground her until she's 50.

Then he'll call your mom. 

After he calls your mom
He will climb up on the roof
When he's on the roof,
He will fix the leak that soaked their bedroom
During the rainstorm
While mom was at Book Fair

When your mom comes home
Your dad will break out in hives all over his body
When he breaks out in hives all over his body, he'll call the dr.
Then he will take medicine and maybe have to go to the hospital.

When your mom works the Book Fair
And your sister is sick
No one will come to your GT presentation.
When no one comes you will be sad.

When your mom sees you are sad, she will run and look at your GT presentation in the hallway.
When she runs and looks at your GT presentation in the hallway,
You will feel better.

When your mom works the Book Fair,
She will buy you lots of books.
But some of them you won't like.
And she'll make you read them anyway.

When your mom works the Book Fair,
Your brother will forget his backpack in the library.
Your mom will make you wake up early to go get it so he can finish his homework before school.

When you go to school early
You will get to take your AR tests
When you take your AR tests,
You will get 100 reading points.

When you get 100 reading points
You will get an AR shirt.
When you get an AR shirt,
They will say your name on the announcements.

Get an AR shirt. Let your mom work the Book Fair!





* Okay, for those of you who made it through that entire thing, everyone is fine.  Carl had an allergic reaction to Oak Pollen, Carlye had strep throat, and yes - Nathanael is playing the violin next year (yay!)

Nathanael

Tonight was Nathanael's GT (gifted & talented) presentation at school.  Carl and I both missed it, though, because Carlye was home sick with her daddy and I was working book fair.  I thought I had until 7 to see it, and at 6 Nathanael came running into the book fair with tears in his eyes, telling me that Ellie (his partner) was going home and that I had missed it.  I ran out and caught her before they left and they both showed me their business presentation.  The premise for their business is that they were immigrants from Afghanistan selling marionette puppets (ok - the puppet part is creepy).  In class they would discuss different issues, but their teacher would never give an opinion or say if they were right or wrong.  They would discuss everything on their own.  I love the things they came up with!  Especially their opinions!  And they didn't always agree, which I loved, too.  Nathanael and Ellie established a real business, with all the rules and regulations.  You should have seen their presentation board!  As people walked by they would ask them questions about their businesses.  Here are half of the questions they asked.  I'll blog the rest tomorrow - otherwise it would be WAY too long: (all answers are in his exact words)

1) Is scarcity good or bad for the owner of a business?  Why? (he said both, but then said his teacher doesn't allow them to be on the fence.  However, scarcity can drive up the prices which will improve your business or cause a run on the product making it impossible to buy and sell, so I can't pick one or the other)
2) What kind of business can you start that doesn't have a big risk? (he said being a house cleaner.  The people you clean the house for will provide the cleaning supplies so you won't have any overhead, and they simply pay you for your performance)
3) What is your opinion on taxes?  Why? (he said that he prefers the part to whole tax, where everyone pays a percentage.  That's the most fair.  You don't pay the same amount, but you still pay the same part.  One kid in his class preferred the Robin Hood tax, but Nathanael said that will just keep making the rich poor and the poor rich and doesn't have any real stability.  He also doesn't think the Fiesta Texas tax is fair, which makes everyone pay the same amount because that will make poor people poorer)
4) When is unit production better than an assembly line? (he said it's when you're creating something like a painting.  Who wants a painting where one person painted the eye and another person painted the nose? Especially if they aren't good at painting the nose?  And what if the eye painter got sick and someone had to fill in for them on the assembly line?  They might not be any good and then you have an ugly painting)
5) When is a good time to take risk in business? (he says when you have been medium established.  If you're too new you don't have enough money to take a risk, and if you're too old you could lose all your money to bankruptcy.  Medium is just right.)

Okay, we'll do the other half tomorrow.  Just had to share what I could before I went to bed!

My Carlye

This past weekend Carlye had her very first solo viola concert.  She performed Allegro, and did an amazing job!  We were so proud of her!  I video taped it, and as soon as I can figure out how to upload it I will.  She did phenomenally well - especially since she's only been taking private lessons for 8 weeks.  The Saturday before Mother's Day she'll have her group concert, and they will be performing Go Tell Aunt Rhody, May Song, Perpetual Motion, and a few others - and she will play the harmony for the younger ones when they play their Twinkle Variations.  

Meanwhile, Jodi took these fabulous pictures of my little girl with her viola.  The balloons are from her Aunt Heidi in honor of her concert.  Carlye thought that it was so neat to get them - although they scared her half out of her mind that night when they floated over to her bed!