routine, school, boys
We started school on Monday and, so far, it’s been great. Getting into a routine feels good but also rather unfamiliar. I am appreciating it more than I thought I would and it is definitely been positive for our family. This week is exceptionally busy yet we aren’t feeling stressed or frustrated. The boys have 2 soccer practices each this week, and they began improv classes last night.
The boys are doing really well. We implemented job charts this week, and it has been such a huge help. Before I even see them in the morning, they have completed most, if not all, of their chores! It’s so nice not needing to give reminders about what they ought to do. This morning after breakfast Caleb unloaded the dishwasher completely on his own without being asked and it’s not even one of his regular jobs!
I love reading with the boys. It has always been one of my favorite things to do with them. We are currently reading Little House in the Big Woods
(during school) and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
(in the evenings with Cam). Sean just started The Box Car Children Magnolia video series and Caleb is reading The Magic Treehouse series. I ordered The One The Only Magnificent Me
from Amazon the other day (I have to admit that the main reason I bought it was because the lead singer from Jars of Clay wrote it), it’s more of a picture book with a inspirational message. I thought the boys might think it was too young for them but they really loved it. The illustrations are fun and the message is positive.
I feel like we are off to a great start and we are establishing a routine that works for us.
A couple funny stories:
Yesterday afternoon, Sara and Aliza came by for a visit. The boys were discussing why some little girls are hard to be with. Caleb said, “It’s because they have too much testestcolostrum!” Sara and I laughed so hard! He was combining the words testosterone, estrogen and colostrum. The funniest part about that is that he added colostrum to it! He doesn’t even know what colostrum means but has heard it mentioned in the last couple weeks. I had to write it down so I wouldn’t forget. I had an instant messaging window open on my computer so I sent it to Cam. His reply practically made us pee our pants! He wrote back, “What does it mean? Breastmilk for body builders?”.
Today at snack I offered Caleb a banana with his chocolate milk and he wrinkled up his nose and said, “It has a brown spot on it”, to which I replied, “Be thankful you don’t have to eat food out of garbage cans!”. Caleb came back with, “Why would anyone have to do that?” Sean interjected, “Because they are homeless!”. Caleb then indignantly asks, “Why don’t they just get some money?”, to which Sean rather sarcastically replied, “What do you expect them to do, MORTGAGE THE SIDEWALK?!”
I can’t imagine missing stuff like this! I’m thankful to be home with them — even when I feel like they are both more capable at math than I am (Sean had to remind me what congruent meant when we were working on math the other day).A Wrinkle in Time film
