Growing kids

Jon asked me to help him hold something outside. He's working on the garage. I wasn't really paying attention as I slipped my feet into some flip flops at the door. Later I looked down and realized they were the ones Dominic had been complaining were too small for him. While a tad tight, they definitely fit me. What has happened to my little boy?!

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He isn't the only one growing like a weed. Today I packed lunches so we could spend the day at the pool. I packed a sandwich, chips, grapes, peanut butter crackers, and some cookies in each lunch. We go to a pool in a neighboring town that provides free lunches to the pool attendants. So the kids skipped the burger, but took the fruit cup, milk, and chips. Caitlin ate EVERYTHING. She then helped a friend polish off a massive jumbo bag of popcorn and ate a few of my carrots. Upon returning home she claimed to be starving so I fed her more carrots and a large banana. We were all going in different directions so had sandwiches again for supper. She ate two sandwiches and some carrots. I have no idea where she's putting it, but expect to be changing out her wardrobe again soon.

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Jon just came inside a bit exasperated, holding a book. Apparently Dominic was reading while he was mowing. I'm a little afraid to see what my lawn looks like after that.

Dominic and Caitlin are in two summer reading programs. And while both of them have always loved books, this has inspired Dominic. If he's not outside, he's reading. He's plowed through an impressive amount of books in just a month and isn't slowing down. I had mentioned several months ago that I wanted him to experience other types of books. He was reading books that were all the same genre. And while there wasn't anything wrong with them, I wanted to widen his imagination and vocabulary. He took me to heart. He's read Around the World in 80 Days, 2 Hardy Mysteries, Judy Bloom, non-fiction about sharks, anatomy, dogs, insects, etc., and several classics. We are also flying through the Little House books at night. We are almost finished with the series. This does my heart good to see my kids fall in love with reading.

Racing Heart

You know those times that you're sure you've done something and yet it isn't finished? 

Well I was quite sure I'd written about Dominic and the racing heart. But when I was writing another blog post and referred to it, I thought I'd check and make sure so you'd know what I was talking about. No such blog post exists. So here it is. =)

Recently I was talking to Jon about a new author I'd just reviewed and how much I liked her book. Dominic heard me describing the plot and begged to read the book. It was about a spy and he'd just finished several books on spies. He was positive he'd love the story. Since it was Christian suspense I knew it would be clean, but wasn't sure about how much suspense he could handle.

He LOVED the book. There were a couple of times he had to ask me a question about something, but for the most part he just enjoyed the story. One of those questions has lead to a whole amusing side thing.

He had read a paragraph where a woman mentions some things that she's not really liking about a guy. It went something like this - "He's arrogant, bossy, and he makes my heart race."

It was the female protagonist who was reluctantly falling in love with the male spy.

Dominic asked me what that meant - making someone's heart race.

I wasn't really sure how to respond. So I looked at Jon and batted my eyes at him and told Dominic

"Daddy makes my heart race."

Dominic gagged. =) 

So now whenever we want him to leave so we can talk about something we say "We're getting ready to make our hearts race."

He clears the room so quickly you'd think it was on fire.

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One morning I was waking up the kids. Dominic wouldn't wake up so I kept kissing him on the nose. In a very disgruntled voice he mutters "You DO NOT make my heart race."

Oops!

Jon and I have always worked towards independence in our children. If they are mentally and physically capable of doing something themselves, let them go for it. We'll be right there beside them, but they can do it themselves. 

We are also of the philosophy that work is good for a body. And since our children are a part of our family, they can contribute to the family by helping out.

Normally this isn't a problem. The kids wake up in the morning and do a small list of chores. Any not completed that morning are finished when they return from school, gymnastics, etc. Works pretty well for us. Since they both love learning new things and doing something that is "above their age limit" they have accomplished some pretty cool things. This also means that our household runs pretty smoothly and typically stays pretty clean.

Tonight I ran into a snag. I went to the school to help out the teachers set up the books for a book fair that starts next week. Dominic went with me and helped too. He was in ecstasy seeing all of those books. So he asked my budget for books next week. It wasn't enough to get him everything he wanted and even adding his stash of cash to the mix didn't cut it. So he asked if he could do some additional chores to make more money. Now the problem begins. I have no idea what to give him. I've googled chores and they are either already doing them, or have recently helped me do them. We don't have any extra things that need to be done.

We just washed and cleaned the car. Their closets are organized (last month). The house is clean and is being maintained by regular chores. The kids already help with laundry, dishes, and meal prep. Yard work is non-existent in this lovely single digit weather. We just washed windows and dusted all of the base boards. Caitlin just helped me mop yesterday.

I could just give him the money, but I appreciate his desire to work for something he wants. I'm just not sure what to give him. I went through all of the chores on those charts up to the teenage years. I'm either putting too much on my kids or people seriously don't expect much for their children.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Because my ocd has created a problem. =)

Should I be worried or proud?!

It really isn't a question. I'm immensely proud of my son. He's read all of the children's books that we have in our library (keep in mind that I have over 4000 books, one entire wall is children's books). In fact, he's read them multiple times. So today when he asked if he could pick a book out of one of the grown up sections, I said yes. I wasn't anticpating what he might encounter when I let him go pick a book out by himself.

His first choice was a Repairman Jack novel by F. Paul Wilson. This is one of my favorite authors, but NOT a book I want him reading quite yet.

His next choice was W.E.B. Griffin. This is one of Jon's favorite authors. Again, not a book for a six year old.

He finally came out with another favorite of mine, A Walk in the Woods. 

So now he is curled up on the couch reading and laughing. 

What am I going to do with this boy? At this rate he'll be finished with all of the books in the library by the time he graduates from grade school. Guess I'll have to go buy more books. (insert delighted glee). =)

Randomness

Friends over to watch the Super Bowl.

 Caitlin sat down while we were shopping and asked me to take her picture.

Dominic reading a book in the car while we waited for something.

Caitlin, somehow, got to the restaurant with only one hair clip. 

This was our solution.

Last School Presentation

Dominic had one more school presentation before school gets out.

They had one fiction story, one non-fiction and one poem.

His fiction story had something to do with nijas fighting with toothbrushes. This is apparently very funny to boys. In fact, only one boy did not write a nija story. His story was about a farting dog. =) The girls in the other hand, had sweet stories about horses, ice cream and friends.

His book is illustrated.

 I have no idea what his poem means, but he thought it was funny. I'm still trying to decide whether I should be weirded out by his jungle fungle. =)

Jungle

mungle

Have a fungle

Have some fun

or a mun

See a Monkey

or a bunch

Have some fun

end of lunch.  

There was a sad moment to the presentation. Beth-Anne (the teacher) had laminated Marissa's books and poem and read them to the class in her place. The stories were so good and showed a bit of her sweet spirit and intelligence. I seriously doubt there was a dry eye in the room.

 My mom had come over to pick up some strawberries and stayed for Dominic's presentation. Dominic made sure she had a seat beside him and kept hugging her. Since we usually have to steal our hugs, she was over the moon happy. Perhaps it was because he didn't know she was coming until she walked in the door. He loved the surprise.

Once again I was super proud of my little man and the work he had put into his books.

It does my mommy heart and my book lovers heart good.

Books

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." 

Anna Quindlen

Book Fair and Birthday party

We had a very busy day yesterday.

First we had the book fair. It's going on all week, but I had volunteered to help sell books yesterday.

So we all went down and the kids read while I handled the sales part with a friend.

As you can see, my family loves to read as much as I do.

I'm afraid I came home with a huge pile of books.

We NEEDED more books. =)

 

 

 

We came home from the book fair and Dominic and I went straight to a birthday party for a friend he met at gymnastics. Her name is Cailyn.

Dominic had so much fun, but I think the cake and ice cream where his favorites.