Be Fruitful and Multiply

When Sarabeth was three years old, she saw a pair of Birkenstock baby shoes with princesses on them when we were out shopping one day. Being obsessed with princesses, she desperately wanted the shoes; but, alas, they did not come in her size. They were only for babies. This was a problem.

At dinner that night, Sarabeth told Chet we needed to have another baby-- a girl -- as soon as possible, so at least her baby sister could wear the princess shoes. She was very adamant, very enthusiastic, very excited. "Let's make a baby right now!" she exclaimed, pounding on the kitchen table. "We can do it right here, and I want to help!"

*This story was actually printed in Parents magazine!

Yummy Stuff My Kids Won't Eat

Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing from
Southern Living Magazine

So amazing! If you're out of lettuce, you'll make a special trip to the store to buy salad fixin's so you can have this dressing immediately. Or you can just drink it straight out of the jar....

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 TBSP Dijon mustard
3 TBSP honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 small shallots, minced (can be omitted)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup olive oil

Mix well and enjoy!

 

Photo Source: Internet

Strange But True

Today in school...

Sarabeth was complaining about her 3rd grade spelling book being too easy -- that she already knows all the words in it. She explained: "I don't like easy things. I want harder spelling words. I need to switch to the 4th or 5th grade spelling book."

Later, I was working with Sarabeth on her cursive writing, specifically on transitioning from "o" to "s" or from "u" to "s" when (from across the room, working independently on another subject) Christopher piped up: "U for uterus!"

Excuse me?

Something New Every Day

Christopher: "Mommy, you know what I learned from Cars? Racecars don't need headlights 'cause the track is always lit."

Random.......

 



Photo Source: Disney Pixar

Sucked In

In the car on the way to Tennessee last week, Christopher was watching for all the red Chevy trucks. He really wants a red Chevy truck someday -- because, as he says, "Chevy runs deep." His sister, of course, is of a different opinion.

"Chevy does not run deep, Christopher!" argues Sarabeth.

Christopher insists: "It does, too! Chevy runs deep because a man has a Chevy truck and his son has a Chevy truck and his father had a Chevy truck and even his grandfather had a Chevy truck. That's what they mean when they say 'Chevy runs deep.'"

"Oh, Christopher," Sarabeth sighs in disgust. "It's just advertising to get you to buy the truck."

"No, Sarabeth! Chevy really does run deep!" shouts Christopher.

I seriously cannot believe they are fighting about Chevy truck commercials....

 

Photo Source: Chevrolet

Observation

Sarabeth (in kindergarten), on the way home from church: "Look, Mommy; the chlorophyll is fading from a lot of these leaves!"

Sarabeth (age 5) posing with "Aslan the Lion"
at Pumpkin Fest in Downtown Zeeland

The Faith of a Child

Sarabeth and Christopher were playing gymnastics, doing their different "stunts," when Christopher invited me to join them: "Mommy, do a tuck jump."

I told him I didn't think I could do a tuck jump (i.e. jump up and kick your legs back and up, so your heels touch your bottom). In fact, I was pretty certain I absolutely could not do a tuck jump.

Christopher responded quickly and encouragingly: "Mommy, the Bible says 'I can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength.' I know you can do a tuck jump. Just try it."

I thought he made a good point, and since I frequently quote that verse to encourage Christopher to TRY things himself, I figured I'd better follow suit. So I tried. And guess what? I can do a tuck jump!

You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

One Friday, when Sarabeth was six: "Mommy, I hope you're not going to work out tomorrow. I'm really weary of that."

You have no idea, honey....

"It's not time to work out. It's time to play with me!"

Honesty is the Best Policy

Sarabeth: "Mommy, while you're reading that science book to me, in my mind I'm arranging the fashion room in my Barbie house."

My Kids Crack Me Up

Just a few of the quotable quotes from school yesterday....

Sarabeth (when I asked her to add some info to our history notes that I forgot to put up on the board): "It is my honor to write on your white board, Mommy."

Christopher (enjoying our background music): "Isn't Tchaikovsky's music lovely?"

Sarabeth (when told to do her science journaling): "Mommy, I would be much obliged if you would be with me when I do it."

And finally, my favorite...

We've been studying animal and plant cells in science this week. While I was reading our history novel yesterday, Christopher was holding Gus, a Beanie Baby from Friday Addition that he is responsible for this week. All of a sudden he interrupts my reading -- "Mommy, Gus has cells! Feel these little balls inside him! He has cells!"

Sarabeth and Christopher with Gus

Yummy Stuff My Kids Won't Eat

Crockpot Mac & Cheese

This recipe is so easy, so delicious, and so fattening... but did I mention so easy and so delicious?

4 TBSP butter (melted)
2 large eggs
14 oz can evaporated milk (NOT sweetened condensed milk)
1 cup whole milk (I don't stock whole milk, so I use half & half... must be half the calories, right?)
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles

Mix together in crockpot and cook on low for 3 hours.
(In a pinch, I've cooked it on high for one and a half to two hours, and it worked out fine that way, too.)

Enjoy... and I'll meet you at the gym.


Recipe Source: The Internet

Story Problems

Sarabeth (in 2010) doing 1st grade math....

The Problem:
Ashley bought 8 beach balls. Hannah bought 8 more beach balls.
How many beach balls do they have altogether?

Sarabeth: I bet Ashley and Hannah are sisters.

Mommy: Let's do the math, Sarabeth.

Sarabeth: I bet Ashley's the oldest.

Mommy: Just do the math, Sarabeth.

Sarabeth: Those are such pretty names, aren't they, Mommy?

Mommy bangs her head on Sarabeth's school desk.

Honoring the Sabbath?

This morning I was so very tired when my alarm clock went off. I got up, stumbled around, and then went to start waking up the children for church. As I sat on Christopher's bed and rubbed his back, he sleepily said: "Mommy, what day is it?" "It's church day," I told him.

Then he rolled over and said, "Well, we can't do any school work today. That would make God unhappy. The Bible says not to do any work on Sunday, and we don't want to disobey God." (sleepy pause) "Why do we call it school work, anyway?"

"Well," I explained, "I think we just use the term 'school work' as a general name for the activities we do during the school day. But I don't think it's really, technically work."

In his groggy voice, Christopher disagreed... "It is if it's hard."

Sweet Thoughts

Christopher received a package of TicTacs for Christmas from one of his teachers at church. He thought he was big stuff, with his very own package of TicTacs.

Being the generous, thoughtful boy that he is, he loves sharing his candy with others. One day he told me, "Mommy, I left you a Tic-Toe on the nightmare by your bed."

Sometimes he gets words mixed up.

One Saturday morning, both children came in our room and got into bed with Chet and me when they woke up. We had a nice little family time together as we talked and cuddled.

Christopher: "Sarabeth, please give me one of those TicTacs over there on Mommy's nightstand. (He got it right this time!) I want to give one to Daddy."

Sarabeth: "I can't believe you've wasted your whole box of TicTacs on your parents!"

Christopher: "Well, I wanted to. I wanted to be generous. Plus, I tried one and I didn't like it."

Daddy: "I felt special until that last sentence."

Seriously?

My children can argue about anything. They argue about what color cup they get at the table. They argue about who gets to wash his or her hands first in the bathroom. They argue about who can get the mail for Mommy. The list goes on and on. No argument has flabbergasted me more, however, than the day they argued over which IDENTICAL VITAMIN they got from the palm of my hand. "I want the one on the front of her hand! No, I wanted the one on the front of her hand."

 

Who knew my palm had a front?

 

 

Sarabeth (six) and Christopher (four)
in the midst of their Toy Story 2 craze,
around the time of their identical vitamin argument

 

A Good Sport

Christopher is playing soccer this fall -- his first time involved in any organized sport. He is hysterical. At his first practice, he was having such a good time running on the field and trying to kick the ball that I could actually hear him giggling out there.

Today was his first scrimmage. He encouraged his teammates with such quips as:

"Don't be scared! We'll all help you!"

"Hey, goalie! Don't let them get the ball through the goal!"

"Go over there and kick that ball!"

He loves playing, but apparently he's wanting to coach as well.

Dinner Conversation

One of my favorite mealtime stories from last winter.....

Daddy: What did you learn today?

Sarabeth: Oh, nothing.

Mommy: Tell him about the animals we learned about. It starts with "am..."

Daddy: Amethyst!

Sarabeth: No, Daddy, amphibians! They live on land and in water.

Mommy: And what are we?

Sarabeth: Carnivores?

Mommy: Well, most of us eat meat, so yes, we are carnivores; but what animal category are we?

Sarabeth: Marsupials!

Mommy (laughing): No, marsupials are animals that....

Sarabeth interrupts: ... that are awake at night!

Mommy (laughing): No, that's nocturnal. Marsupials have a pouch for their babies.

Daddy: Does Mommy have a pouch?  (Watch it, Daddy! You're on thin ice!)

Sarabeth: I'm nocturnal; I could read all night.

Christopher: We're amphibians because we live on land and go in the water....

Another First Day of School

They are flying by, these years! We're starting our fifth year of homeschooling this week -- that makes me sound like a veteran or something. I'm so thankful for all the homeschooling support and resources I have access to in West Michigan, and especially for Friday Addition, the children's weekly homeschool enrichment program. I remember each and every year, each and every first day, and so many beautiful lightbulb moments along the way. I love my babies!




Sarabeth -- Kindergarten 1.0
September 2008



Sarabeth -- Kindergarten 2.0
September 2009

Sarabeth -- 1st Grade
September 2010

Sarabeth -- 2nd Grade
Christopher -- Kindergarten
September 2011

Sarabeth -- 3rd Grade
Christopher -- 1st Grade
September 2012

This is a Recording

Sarabeth has a bad habit of asking the same question over and over and over again... or telling me the same story over and over and over again... speed talking, with gusts up to 72mph....

Mommy: "Sarabeth, you're repeating yourself."

Sarabeth: "I know. Sometimes I repeat myself, and I know I'm saying something I've already said or asking you a question again and again, but I'm thinking, did she hear me? does she understand me? did she acknowledge me? is she thinking about it? did it make her mad? did she even hear me? I just want you to acknowledge me, so I keep saying it or asking it. So, ..." (proceeds to repeat the same question once more, in case I didn't hear it the first 17 times).

Love that girl.

Timing is Everything

Christopher really likes his food. Don't be messin' with him at the table...

When Sarabeth was barely six and Christopher just three and a half, Sarabeth decided to share Jesus with Christopher at the breakfast table. She told him how to have Jesus as his Savior so he could go to heaven. She clearly and simply explained to him how to pray a prayer of confession and repentance of his sins, and how to ask Jesus into his heart as Lord of his life. Christopher, however, would have none of it, shouting: "No! I'm eating!"

Connections

At four years old, Christopher was very troubled by the tsunami that devastated Japan in March 2011. One day he came down from his afternoon nap and told me, "Mommy, I prayed for that city that got flooded in Japan. You know, Toy Story 2 was about Japan. Jessie and the Prospector wanted Woody to go to Japan, but he said no because he was Andy's toy and he had friends."