Can you hear me now?!

Despite always vowing that our children would "get a cell phone when they had a job and could pay for it" the Super Hubbie and I decided that the time has come for Joshua to get his own phone. With him being in high school it will just make it easier for me to stay in contact with him and on top of his activities. We are putting ATT Smart Limits on his phone (an LG Neon) to limit calls and texts coming to and from his phone as well as hours of usage. We're just going to have to trust that he doesn't lose or break it! And that it doesn't get stolen at school!

He doesn't know he's getting it yet. It will be a present for his 14th Birthday which comes just a month before he steps onto that High School campus as a freshman. I have him convinced that all he's getting for his birthday is some clothes and a new backpack. *evil laugh*

Please, don't everyone get up at once!

This afternoon I decided to soak some beans to make a 16 Bean Soup for tomorrow's dinner. Not really summer fare, but it's super cheap and easy and my kids all LOVE it. It just so happened that the one pot I use to soak the beans in was the one pot that was dirty on the counter next to the sink.

So, I asked for a volunteer. My request was immediately met with arguing from the 3 older children who were downstairs. I set my mind to thinking of what I could use to bribe them when I remembered the 2 Krispy Kreme donuts in the box upstairs in my room.

"The person who does it gets a donut..."

These words had scarcely left my mouth when they all 3 leapt from their seats and raced to the kitchen. The winner was my mouthy teenager. Luke was rather nonplussed but Emelia decided to throw herself and cry and pout. My pot is shiny and clean with 4 cups of beans soaking in it. And Joshua's taste buds are terribly thrilled.

"I want a nu-nu!"

This is the way Sarah asks to nurse. She says it in a whine while making the sign for "eat". (When she wants real food she says "I want some" and points inside her open mouth.) If I ask her to ask like a big girl she says it without a whine and adds the sign for thank you (she used to sign please correctly but now signs thank you for both please and thank you). Absolute sweetness.

When Sarah was a tiny baby if she was very very hungry or mostly sleepy she would try to latch onto my mouth. It was like nursing and love/kisses were so intertwined that for her there was very little distinction between the two. Fastforward to the rambunctions and precotious toddler she is today...

When she has a baby doll and I ask her if she wants to give her baby "nu-nus" she excitedly nods yes... and then kisses her babe repeatedly on the lips.

Nuthin in my noggin...

I'm feeling like I should blog, but can't really come up with anything deep or profound to blog about. There are things I am struggling with, but they are so deeply personal that I can not share/vent them here. Let's say that life with teenagers is not all fun and games. Oh, there are definately fun times, with lots of laughter and play, but having only been their parent for the past 4 years brings its own unique sets of struggles and challenges. It is a cross I carry daily and must bear alone.

ADHD boy is doing very well. He's been off of medication almost completely since school let out with very little problems. He has been eating non stop which I am very pleased about as his appetite was being severely inhibited by the Concerta. He has gained 10 lbs since school let out! This is amazing!!! Now that he only has mom and dad to answer to he is just thriving. His emotions are much more positive and his melt downs are few and far between. I've even found a way to get him motivated! It still takes him FOR.E.VER to complete a task, but he DOES complete it AND with enough time left to do something FUN. I am so pleased! I am really looking forward to school starting this year.

My homeschool curriculumn for Emelia and Elijah has arrived and is mostly organized. I need to get some binders for some of my answer keys and tests and a few more start putting together lessons plans and away we will go! supplies but I'm mostly ready to go. Once I get my binders and get it the rest of the way organized I will start putting together my lesson plans and away we will go. In the mean time I am filling in the gaps left from their public school education. Namely multiplication and spelling. I'm hoping to get started early so we can take a leisurely yet structured approach to school this year. I like to do a lot of hands on learning things with them, and especially living in Virginia we can go SEE so much of what we are learning about!

Since Sarah is so advanced developmentally I am also putting together some fun preschool activities for her to do during our school time to keep her occupied and entertained. I just purchased Sesame Street learning software for her but I'm not completely sure how I feel about it yet. It's kind of hokie and while it gives the impression that Elmo is the main character we see more of Big Bird than anyone else. Overall I think it is a good software to grow with her. I need to go through our Leap Pad books and cartridges and see what preschool stuff I still have and what needs to be replaced. It's also about time to start breaking out the paints and playdough. *sniff, sniff* I can't believe what a big girl she is already!

Well, I guess there was something in my noggin after all! I could keep typing but there are some other things I would like to accomplish before helping my Love with his homework tonight. TTFN!!!