A Texas 'thang'

So I'm really not feeling that great. This cough has me up all night and now my entire upper body hurts from the forceful coughing. After a big coughing jag this morning, Ellie decided to make me a card. She started cutting the paper a la making a snowflake, then started decorating it. At the bottom, in large letters, she wrote, "Git Well Momie"

Here's the thing...as I'm working with her on her reading, we keep running into the proper pronunciation of the word 'get'. We often butt heads on it...I know it's hard to imagine butting heads with her ;-) Her plain and simple explanation is, "Mommy, if we say 'git', then why is it written 'get'?" I have to keep explaining to her that in Texas, people pronounce words differently... I'm starting to think that phonics doesn't really work here in the Lone Star State.

The kids have already begun to naturally use words like, y'all and fixin' to. Doug says 'preciate it on a regular basis. I think it's a losing battle. Poor Everson and baby Elvis haven't a chance down here...they're bound to speak Texan!

Then there's Erik, who came home a few months ago from church wanting to tell us that he knows who God's #1 enemy is...Satan...that's pronounced Cy-tin...

Sickness

Well 1/2 of our family is sick right now. Erik seems to have come down with the high fever-headache-sinus thing that Emma had last week, while Ellie and I have the congestion-painful-deep-chest-cough thing that Doug had. We'll fare it alright, just unplugging from some activities for a couple of days to recover.

On a homeschool note, I'm still pursuing starting a new coop here for the fall. One that has a higher standard of classes than the one we've been in for the last 2 years. I want science (looking at a NASA program and a Civil Air Patrol aerospace program - all for elementary students, art and perhaps even music. Had some disappointments in our coop this year, so thinking to branch out and start fresh. Was also just asked to take over our homeschool assoc. monthly Mom's Night Out meetings for the coming school year. Much to chew on...with a new baby and the craziness that is The Nutcracker.

Need to get some kids moving this morning.

So today is Doug's birthday. Not sure if I'm allowed to post his age...cause he's sooooooo old ;-) At least he's still in the 35-39 age group at our races ;-) I'll post a birthday picture later this evening. We're celebrating low-key, cause Emma has been sick all weekend, Everson seems to have injured his foot and won't bear weight on it...he's crawling around the house. I guess if this keeps up I'll have to take him to the dr tomorrow. He DID run a mile yesterday...wonder if that has something to do with it... He received a really great gift from Sam and Angie and the kids, I'll post a picture of him with it once he opens it.

Hope you northeast friends/family are enjoying the weather ;-)

So I was trying to put this countdown into my template and somehow messed up the margin...I'll have to work on it later today...

Wacky Weather

So earlier this week, my children were in their swimsuits, putting on sunscreen, and playing in the kiddie pool...today we have freezing rain and temps hovering around freezing! And tomorrow promises to be like today. The weatherman last night said we'll be 35-40 degrees BELOW our average temperature for this time of year. And then late next week, we're supposed to be back near 80!

Took the older 2 to the dentist yesterday. Erik's **new front teeth** seem to show some mineral deficiency...yet none of the other kids show the same thing. So a mystery to solve...b/c of his food restrictions...were the teeth damaged when he fractured the baby teeth 7 years ago...why just his teeth and not the others...The younger 2 go to the dentist in a couple of weeks.

Inherited an infant car seat, boppy, portable baby swing and a bag of baby boy clothes this week...oh and a double stroller!

Speaking of baby...the kids have named our little guy Elvis John. They are telling everyone that's his name ;-) It's cute, but Doug and I have decided that they do not in fact get a vote in naming their little brother.

Two weeks of our coop left. Thinking about starting a new coop for the fall. One that's open to more families and has more structure than the one we're in.

Running club is going well. The kids will be competing in the Hershey's Meet for kids in early June. Our coach wants Emma to run the mile and the mile relay...so in a few weeks, she'll start practicing with some other girls her age for the event. They'll be running on a track and using the baton! She's quite excited. Erik, because of his age, will only be competing in a 1/2 mile race, I think. The both should do well, as their times for the mile are getting faster and faster...Erik's best time is 7:30, and Emma's time is 8:12. I think our coach has plans to turn them into runners...little does he know that Emma plans to be a dancer and she can't wait until she starts pointe - because she'll have to stop running so she doesn't develop the wrong muscles...the things she thinks of in her quest to be a dancer and a dance teacher ;-)

That's all for now...needing to do some baking, since it's cold today.