Isabella

So, today Isabella did algebra. Really, it is in her math book. It was funny to watch, she totally got it and thought it was very fun. I think that the curriculum we are using (Math-U-See) gives a more logical, though not the normal, order of introduction for things. In the beginning of the year she learned place values, right after the book went over counting to 9. It totally makes sense, but it is not the way it is usually done.

Anyway back to Algebra. She learned how to solve for an unknown. ?+4=7 kind of a deal. She has manipulatives that she uses and figures the whole thing out. After the first one or two she can fly right on through. Today she was laughing and clapping and getting all excited. She thinks it is very fun. You know what else she thinks if fun? The word problem at the bottom of each page. No problem, bring it on!

She will turn 5 next week. I know it is the tendency of parents to think thier kids are gifted, so I have tried to stear clear of that. I don't know if she is "gifted" but she is definatly a learner. Learning frustrates her if she doesn't get it right away, but usually she understands very quickly and needs no further help (though she doesn't like it if I walk away and let her do it herself, she wants me to stay right there with her). For example, English/grammar/phonics lessons a couple weeks ago she had to pick nouns, and verbs out of a sentence. I was helping her with it, so she would read the sentence and I would say, "ok, which word is the naming word, the noun?" and she would find it and circle it, then I would say, "ok, now you are looking for the action word, the verb" and she would underline it. By the 3rd sentence I went into the same explaination and she cut me off saying, "I know what I am supposed to do, just let me do it". She wasn't trying to be snotty, but I was slowing her down!

I try not to push her, I don't think she needs to be a genius or anything. But I don't want her sitting around board either when she can obviously do more. So, though she was 4 when this "school year" started I stopped calling it pre-school becasue she is doing Kindergarten and first grade level workbooks. She reads well now, She and I read a Dr. Seuss book tonight, we switch back and forth where she reads one page and I read the next, so she doesn't get overwhelmed. She is writing pretty well, she can add single digits, tens and hundreds, count by 2's, and 10's, do word problems and now solve for an unknown. I think it is amazing.

fun times

Can you tell that this little girl has a crazy climbing brother?




At times, she has to go into protective hiding. Alexander is just a little too interested in Arianna some days. He has never hurt her on purpose, no wait, that's not true. When he was sick and he was mad at me for holding them both at the same time, he would reach over and pinch Arianna's hand. But those were some hard days for the little guy.
Anyway, we did anticipate this being an issue, which is why we got the playpen. None of the other kids have ever actually "played" in the playpen, but I knew that Alexander would be just a little too young to have Arianna playing on the floor. I did NOT anticipate Alexander being able to crawl into and out of the playpen, even without a single thing to step onto.


Another adventure of ours, last week we made chocolate pudding

2 months

Durring Arianna's 2 month "photo shoot" I finally got some good smile pictures. She smiles quite often these days.








I think you'll be able to connect the dots with these next two pictures!

We have had a visit from 2 birds. A couple weeks ago I woke up to the beat of wings. There was a bird flying around my bedroom! So, being the brave woman that I am, called Faron's name and threw the blanket over my head and calmly waited until Faron got the bird outside. We discovered that our chiminey was open and the bird came right on in.

Jump forward 2 weeks, another bird pays our chimney a visit, only this time it was closed, so the bird got trapped. Couldn't fly out and couldn't come into the house. So, the kids and I (and the dog) listened to the flapping bird until Faron got home, then he freed it. It was quite a site, the kids all gathered around, Faron got a bowl and a piecie of cardboard for a lid, then opened the chimney and let the bird fall on down.

However, the bird didn't jump right into the bowl, so it started dodging. Alexander screamed and the girls all took a step back when the bird took off out of the fireplace and started flying around the room. It did one lap around the living room and much to my amazement Faron stuck out his hand and caught it! Then he carried it outside and the kids all watched him let it go. Joey felt quite sure that it was a flying treat for him, however the bird out flew him and landed safely in a tree, covered in soot, though he be.

Hopefully that will be the last of our flying friends. Our other unwanted visitor(s) has been sickness. Honestly, a solid month of sickness. We had a terrible cold for almost 3 weeks (which we generously took to Chicago with us and passed it on to Gabe, Angie and the boys, they were very thankful), then 4 of us had stomach flu, then I got the cold agian, and now, 2 more down with stomach flu.

Alexander has had the stomach bug something fierce. He had a good 48 hours of not being able to eat or drink a single thing. He did not enjoy throwing up, I must say. He took it quite personally, especially when it happened into his nose. He would scream bloody murder, and look at me as if I had something to do with it. He also was quite sure Faron and I were being mean by not giving him something to eat and drink whenever he asked for it. He spent a great deal of time crying for a drink. The last day, when he was starting to get better and be able to hold down some food, when I would cut him off before he had eaten his full he would cry for more. When I explained to this one year old that we had to wait and see if he could hold it down before he got any more, he just got mad and then he wouldn't let me touch him anymore! He would push my hand off of him when I tried to rub his head.

I am hopefully that it is coming to an end, as Alexander can now eat again. However, Arianna has been spitting up a lot today, so we will see.

Dedication

Sunday Arianna was dedicated at our Church. It was a nice service, every church does dedications differently and I wasn't sure how ours did it, since I have never seen on there. I liked how they did it though, Pastor Michael talked about dedication being the parents acknowledging that the child is a gift from God, and that they are giving the child back to God basically. Asking God to guide and direct thier parenting and to raise the child correctly. He also read a "charge" to the extended familly asking them be a godly influence in the child's life and a godly help to us as parents. and a "charge" to the congregation to set a good example for the kids and to pray for and assist the families that were dedicating babies.
Anyhow, it was a good seivice, and here are some pictures.


This is the whole gang that was there. Both sets of Grandparents, and our family.



Pastor Michael with Arianna.




On a different note, here are some pictures of Ari playing in her walker. Her feet are about 10 inches off the floor, but she likes to sit there and look around at everything.


Alexander won't leave her alone for very long while she is there. Today he was sharing the teething toy with her.