Gabe's Growing Up

Wow, something happens in the 4th (and 5th) years of a little boy's life. Gabe is just changing daily. It's hard to keep up, so I'll blog.

Physically, he's progressing every day. This week alone he learned to pump on the swing AND fasten his own seatbelt. While I was thrilled to not stand behind a swing for half an hour at a pop and to not have to wiggle my way into the backseat of the van (or ask Isaiah or Elly to help), it's a little bittersweet. We got rid of the stroller this week (kept one for baby dolls) since it had been on the garage wall for over a year. He was a bit sad but when he saw the mom with 5 little ones who needed it, he decided it was OK.

Mentally, he's also working hard. He's learned to love starfall.com and pbskids.com. He's quite proficient at the "games"....little does he know he's getting in his "preschool". He's a lover of books. He doesn't mind if he has to "read" them himself, though he will sit for nearly anything you'll read to him (including the books we use for science and history). If it's about a machine...oh, life does not get any better than that. His vocabulary and speech skills have jumped lately. I noticed recently that he can actually tell a story that you can follow now and report details fairly accurately. (His brother and sister are learning that they are not going to get away with some things they thought he wasn't noticing anymore.)

We're discovering "who Gabe is" right now. He's tended toward some character traits but now he's fairly consistent. He love to help. He's right there if we're mowing or planting garden. He trails me when I vacuum and as long as someone is helping, he's good at picking up or folding clothes. He's also fairly focused on others for a 4 year old. Not all the time, but often he's willing to share and will show kindness to Maggie when she needs to play outside or to his sister as they play after "school" or even to his big brother (the toughest of all since there's some teasing that goes on) when they are working on legos. He loves to chat on the phone and he's one of the "gang" outside in the neighborhood making sure everyone has someone to play with and going along with the games the older kids sweetly let him play.

Spiritually, Gabriel has "taken off" and it's thrilling to hear and see. We just came off of Easter and during that time we do our Resurrection Eggs devotions a couple weeks up to Resurrection Sunday. They are plastic eggs with little objects to teach the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. This was the year that I presented the gospel about how there was bad news: that we are sinners and God hates sin...and there is good news: that God sent Jesus to take away our sin once and for all if we just believe him for eternal life. And of his own volition, Gabe was right there, with "I believe that Mama." When asked to articulate what he believes, he can't quite find all the words but he can answer basic questions. I've seen this three times now...how each of my children during this 4th and 5th year come to saving knowledge of Jesus all on their own. The Holy Spirit works in them in amazing ways and those lessons we've been teaching on character start to become their own. What an amazing thing to get to watch and even more amazing to be a small part of.

So if you're praying for us, keep it up. There's something new nearly everyday around here. What an exciting journey we are all on together.

Snow Day--In March after the Snow Melted

Yep, after a long, white winter from the first week in December until the first week in March, we were pretty excited to have it above freezing. Someone said we set a record this winter for number of day with snow on the ground in a row and for number of days below 40 degrees in a row. Not good for the winter blahs or spring fever. And, just as we were just seeing the last of the snowdrifts, we wake up to huge, beautiful flakes on March 11th, 2010.

Gabe woke me, going to the window as he does frequently, exclaiming, "Snow, Mama! Let's go shovel!" Yep, he's an amazing kid that way. Loves snow and loves to shovel and loves to help. I groaned and rolled over. Later on, Isaiah and Elly were greeted by Gabe with the news and their sentiments ran more to: "Oh! I thought we were done with snow." "I'm tired of snow." Yep, seems to be the sentiments of Omahans everywhere given the number of comments on facebook today.

However, at least it's right above freezing so we have wonderful slush. I don't mind slush. However I will mind the frozen slush likely to make driving very fun tomorrow morning. (No, I'm not leaving the house till afternoon.)

Here are some pics of the kids making the most of this very wet snow...at least it's good for snow forts and snowmen. Elly and Gabe are on hour two...and probably wet through.

Gabe's 3rd Year Highlights

When the kids were all little, I used to keep a notebook by my bed and every month or so (or more) I'd jot down the new "doings" for each of them. Then, when I scrapbooked, I could add some of their highlights and firsts to their baby books. Well, as happens with life, things change, and that notebook had now collected dust at the bottom of the stack by my bed for a good year now. So, I've decided that blogging some of these little "firsts" might end up being a better deal all around. Gabe, of course, being the third, has been most shafted so we'll begin with him.

Gabe has long been interested in farming. He lives to go to Papa's and visit. The fall he was 2 we were able to visit right at harvest time and we spent many hours sitting on chairs and blankets watching the combines go and the tractors and bogey wagons coming up beside them to unload. We even got to see the semis being loaded by the bogey wagons and roll away to the elevator. On top of that, they parked the huge, yellow combine in the field next to Grammie and Papa's house and Gabe had permission to climb up and see inside. Due to this intense interest, Papa started bringing Gabe his own "books" (magazines put out by implement dealers full of pictures of machinery they want to sell). These books will keep Gabe busy for hours and he loves to "read" them with Papa--pointing out the Case IH combine or the CAT tractor or the John Deere baler, etc. Also Papa stopped by the Case IH and the Cat dealers and got permission, and keys if needed, so that he and Gabe could climb up and sit in the cabs of the big tractors and combines. And, last but not least, no trip to the farm is complete without Uncle Luke firing up the old tractor and taking Gabe (and sometimes his siblings) on a good, long tractor ride. There are no cows to feed anymore, but the tractor rides are still the highlight. Playing with all of Uncle Luke's farm toys is another fun activity that Gabe spends hours at each time we go up.


Gabe is our best playing kid. He plays well with others...mostly Elly, but Ashley, Ady, Isaiah, Zach and Jack are favorite playmates. He's a great sharing boy and also isn't so set on his way that he can't bend to building a house out of duplos...and playing Pet Shops or dressing up, much to his brother's consternation, to dance with Elly to Angelina Ballerina. (A favorite moment: Elly asked Gabe to "dip" her and proceeded to bend back...thankfully, Gabe is about the same weight as Elly and didn't drop her.) This year has been the year that Elly has had "school" in the morning. Gabe is wonderful at playing by himself either in the family room or up in the playroom. Often, he goes up and Elly finds him after she finished about an hour later, happily doing his own thing...usually with tractors. He also has become quite accomplished with the mouse this year. He started with a farm CD rom--imagine that and now has fun on starfall.com working on his letters, sheppard software working on their preschool units and pbskids.org with Curious George, Clifford, and Super Why (with Elly's help). Other times (usually when Mom pulls out a book or an activity...so History or Science or Literature...Gabe comes in and plops on my lap to read along for awhile, and then finds his toys and proceeds to play on the floor nearby and listens along. How do I know this? He answers the questions right along with the others.

Gabe has long loved to be outside. He loves the park, the sandpile, and the street if Mom's up for going out to supervise. He also is the first to grab his shovel when Daddy is shoveling the driveway, to grab his mower, when Daddy is mowing (and the handle of the wagon to weed eat), the hoe or his other gardening tools when Mama heads out to the garden. He loves to help wash the car and wipe down appliances. If you'll help him, he's a great picker upper. Uncle Luke was changing his oil in the truck while Gabe visited and not only did Gabe come out to watch him like a hawk, but he fetched tools for his uncle and much to his uncles delight, put things away when he was done without being asked. Gabe has been gifted with being able to see a need and serve. It's an amazing thing to see a three year old so delighted to help. He also makes his bed and puts away the "kid cups and dishes" in the dishwasher. I guess when you're the third, you see chores being done and you pitch in. Of course, it's always better when there's a buddy though. This willingness to work also asserts itself when learning new things. Gabe followed his big brother's example and learned to ride his bike without training wheels at 3 1/2. It's a little scary, but he's a good driver. Since he's learned to balance on the scooter, he only had to learn starting and stopping and that took about 1 day.

Gabe is the funniest three year old I know. I do wonder sometimes if Elly and Isaiah were this funny, but I had another baby by then and was too exhausted to laugh. He remembers one liners (a talent inherited from his Daddy). He loves to sing but has "chronic lyricosis" (inherited from Mom) so the words are never right. He would love to be the clown at the supper table but Daddy put the kabosh on that trying to train the kids to eat quietly and take turns in conversation. Mama also literally restrained him because the new rule is that if he gets out of his seat once, he gets a warning and then out comes the kitchen towel to tie him in. He's even prayed and asked God at Sunday School to help him sit still so he doesn't have to be tied up. (Yep, had to explain that one.) He loves to watch Looney Tunes and plays "I will hug you and squeeze you and call you, George." with Mama. He's quick to cuddle up with a book on your lap and it will need to be about machines or something funny.

Gabe has been a kid that trains easily. If you sit down and tell him why you need him to ____ or need him to stop _____. He seems to get it. If he forgets (or tests the boundary) usually one or maybe two consequences get his attention. He doesn't like to have people upset with him and notices when they aren't pleased. I realize this people pleasing mentality will have to be watched later on, but for now, in training a three year old, it's a good deal. He's also quick to understand he was wrong and apologize and then in turn to confess and ask God's help. I do pray that this willingness and humbleness will never leave him as he gets older.

Elly's 6th Birthday

Wow, it's hard to believe we're at the end of February. But at least in the short--but this year, very long--month we have Elly's bday to get us through to the end. I think it's a mixed blessing but she's learned all her days of the week and to count very well as she's checked off days getting here.

Because of the snow and cold and schedules, this year's festivities came in spurts of fun. Wednesday was cupcake and cake baking and decorating day. She wanted something springlike and settled on M&M flowers on a bright green and yellow cake. That day went according to plan, the rest of the day have been increasing Elly's flexibility.

Thursday started out with the fun of Ashley and Ady coming to play but Carissa had a cough and couldn't come in the afternoon. That turned out OK since Mom realized the house needed some cleaning. We met Grammie, Papa, Uncle Luke and his new friend, Heidi in Fremont and Elly picked Runza (so she could have real chicken strips). Since we had the very occasional treat of kids meals to boot which at Runza includes ice cream...all was well. The highlight there was a special jewelry organizer (just what Elly needs!) that her Papa made for her. She and Mama were thrilled. We got home in time to see some Olympic figure skating (no not all of it) and that was an added bonus.

Friday dawned and Elly was in to see if she could open the packages from Mom and Dad...which she did before breakfast while we all camped on the bed. Her favorite was an outfit...which she proceeded to change into immediately and a digital camera. She got the hang of it (thankfully only 4 buttons total (on, playback, up and the clicker) after we bought batteries. And she took some really good face shots.

After that the day kind of morphed. We expected to do school and then get ready to have Bible Study and a little fun for El's bday. But due to sick kids, extra work hours and such that all got cancelled. At this point, Mama knew we needed a little something special...so we hopped in the van after school and got a taco, and then we hit Target where Elly was able to spend her $6 from Grammie getting accessories for her Easter outfit (Yes, she's already got it planned.) and finding batteries to run her camera.

Our afternoon then turned out well...we got to decorate with balloons and streamers which we wouldn't have time for. Then Miss Lynette, Ashley and Lyndsey saved the day by coming over for cupcakes and bringing "my best gift"...a baby polar bear that you can feed and cuddle and a set of hair scarves. GrandMary and Grandpa George came soon afterwards to eat tilapia, rice and raw veggies (Elly's requested dinner) as well as ice cream and her beautiful cake. They brought a beautiful mirror that GrandMary's friend, Mrs. Park had painted with flowers and Elly's name. Elly also opened a tea set from Aunt Sam and all with a lazy susan organizer which she decided made just the right centerpiece for the table.

We had time for a little more Olympics before bed and the new 6 year old went to bed having had a full day of fun--with her new polar bear in tow.

Life with a Dog

So, my sister's family has a dog. They are going to Virginia with the Army for 14 weeks so my brother-in-law can do some schooling. They don't have a place to stay and thought they'd leave their dog and cat with my parents in Wayne. Fine, fine, fine. Except that my parents have three dogs currently and the "top" female dog hates Maggie. They fight and can't be outside at the same time. And then my sis said, "I don't suppose you guys would take Maggie?" I'm a people pleaser...what do you think I said? I wanted to help them out. This was a way; I was on it with gusto.

So Maggie came to stay early in January. The kids were thrilled. Yes, we'll feed her. Yes, we'll brush her. Yes, we'll walk her. Yes we'll pick up her poop. (My personal non-favorite...who ever decided that would be a good idea?)

Well the kids are thrilled and do fairly well on the feeding. They brush her back at least and take her out for some ball fetching (seeing as there are no sidewalks scooped to walk her on in this neighborhood). Generally we're doing OK. They love Maggie. If I permitted it, I'm sure they'd sleep with her.

However, we are not getting a dog when Maggie leaves. Why you ask? Let me tell you... (And me for I'm sure I will need to reread this post when my children start begging for a dog...3.6 seconds after they say goodbye to Maggie.)

She stinks. Not terrible. Nothing multiple bottles Fabreze and scented candles can't handle but I just don't like it. We were forewarned about this...it's very true.

She has nightmares and howls in the middle of the night. It's enough to wake the dead (all but my children who could sleep through anything apparently). We were also forewarned about this...also very true.

She doesn't stay in the yard if we leave her by herself. The neighbors are kind enough to call me when, oops, I forgot we put Maggie out FIVE MINUTES AGO! This past weekend, Kev let her out at 11pm and came up to tell me something. Maybe a 5 minute conversation. You already guessed what happened? Yes, she was gone. Not a little-calling-out-the-front-door gone. The kind of gone that requires Kev to get in the car and travel the neighborhood and me to call out the back and front door every two minutes and traipse around the yard in my jammies and coat. (Yes, if you're wondering, she did come racing back from way back in the acreages behind our house. I'd say she was chasing a rabbit or squirrel and forgot herself.) I just have to say that I prayed more fervently for that dog to come home for twenty LONG minutes than I have in the recent past. I kept thinking of the phone call to my sis and her kids I would need to make. Not good!

All that to say. I'm not a dog person. I'm happy to dog-sit. But I just like them outside, in a doghouse, all the time! I know, I should go live on a farm...but they don't even do that on farms anymore. My mom lets the three dogs in the utility room in the basement every night 365 days a year and has the cats out in a shed with a HEAT LAMP. I just don't attach well to animals. Could have been raising a bottle calf and then finding out I was eating "Spunky" or maybe the dozens of favorite cats I went through living on the farm. (Cars and tractors and rat poison to not make for long cat lives.)

Oh, and I do love Maggie and the kids are THRILLED to pieces to have her. I'm glad we have her for a little while. She is one sweet, quiet and obedient dog. Thus the reason that she's still in my house!

Gabe's Big Day

I really was going to not repeat my mistake of letting a 3 year old learn to ride his bike. We'd just wait till spring and he could start on a little bigger bike. However, we biked to the park yesterday and I rode behind Gabe on his training wheels. He didn't use them. And when he had to go across a steep driveway he got off and walked his bike because the training wheels tipped him over and make him go in the street.

So I came home, took off the training wheels (which have been bent and used up so much that they really only touch the ground if he starts to fall). I held the bike and he took off...and didn't stop for 5 minutes. Then he made a too slow turn, jumped off before he fell, and did his victory dance. Proceeded to get back on and START himself. (Something that took the others at least a week to learn...he's been watching I think.) I walked inside to get the camera and phone...came out and he was taking the curbs and going down sloped driveways with Elly. He thinks he needs to go to 'honey (Mahoney) and ride. Since last time he had to ride in the trailer because training wheels just don't keep up. (Not happy!)

That was much easier than potty training. Now preparing for a big bike accident...he was working on riding with his feet off the pedals by the end last night. Never a dull moment with this child. His guardian angel has bumped up his caseload.

What I've Learned From Charlotte Mason (and Sonya Schafer)

Two weekends ago, Rachel and I got to drive 2 hours to Des Moines to spend Friday and Saturday at a homeschool conference put on by the NICHE group. WOW, I had such a good time! I'm not sure if it was 4 hours to talk to Rachel in the car, the info on CM (Charlotte Mason) or the very thought provoking keynote speaker, Voddie Baucham (more on him in another post). But I need to type my learning points so we'll just put it in the blog.

CM was a late 19th and early 20th century educator in England. What draws me to her method of teaching children is her amazing ability to integrate faith into everything, her ability to teach kids to love to learn and inspire their minds, and the simplicity of it all. That and it's a good match for a lot of what I'm already doing and addresses some of the problems areas (writing) well.

CM had a couple great mottos. First for the students: I am (a child of God). I can (do all things through Christ). I ought (to obey my parents and my Lord). I will (be all God has made me to be). And for parents: Education is an atmosphere (everything around us provides learning), a discipline (teaching habits and character), and a life (living ideas that continue to inspire throughout our days).

CM believed in well written "living books". We're not talking the "twaddle" that is published in this day and age (mostly). We're talking books that told first hand accounts of real heroes, narrative stories of important concepts and ideas in rich vocabulary and flowing style. (The kind where you can find a quote nearly anywhere.) She has a list at amblesideonline.org for a start.

These living books were to be used for history and science, literature and even for art appreciation, music appreciation and poetry. Children were to listen to (or read themselves when older) short lessons (10-20 min for younger, up to 30-45 for high school) where the teacher simply read ONCE and asked for a narration (oral or written for older students). A mother/teacher lets the students draw their own connections but helps them by employing a "Book of Centuries" where they record, by century, important events and people (from whatever area they were studying) and a regiment of copywork and later, prepared dication that came directly from passages the students were studying.

For young students, an interesting phrase or sentence (Bible verse, poetry line, quote) was used, and they were to copy with complete attention and perfect execution. This was their handwriting but also helped them see good spelling, grammar and English and filled their storehouses of words and enlightening ideas to meditate. Then older children were to look at a similar passage (eventually several paragraphs) study the words (no more than a few) they didn't know and look carefully at punctuation and capitalization. Then they were to complete a prepared dictation given by the teacher and supervised very carefully. Later, students would begin to find their own inspiring passages and would carefully copy them into their own Book of Mottos.

Reading is taught in a similar way. Very gently. Lots of good books. Looking for phonics application and sight words in the text as mother reads and eventually sharing the reading, and then reading alone with a narration always at the end to check for comprehension. The goal of language arts was accurate communication since CM was right to point out that a deception is not just an out and out lie but also comes when someone communicates inaccurately either on purpose or not.

Math was to be full of hands on lessons and problem solving. Less on the 'rules' and memorizing algorithms and more on figuring out how to work the numbers. A focus on accuracy also was employed. Why? So a child would be honest in all business dealings and not make mistakes.

Nature study was employed. At least one afternoon a week, children were to be "turned loose" outside (rain or shine) and a good sketch book and quality art supplies made available as mother (or teacher) participated but didn't lead the discoveries. A few field guides and specimen jars with maybe a microscope or at least a magnifying glass would be very helpful. Children should learn at preschool age to identify everything in their yards or parks nearby-- from plants to birds to insects and animals. They should be taught to worship their Creator who made such a wonderous world for them to enjoy.

Foreign language and Latin/Greek would be taught in a small amount (a few words at a time) and first by listening and speaking (to a native speaker) before they read and write. Latin and Greek are to promote vocabulary in all languages with those roots.

Art and music appreciation was to be employed as follows. Choose one artist and one composer about every 6 weeks. For art, show the children a print by the artist. Let them study it hard and get it all in their mind's eye. (Always focus on attention and remembering--huge life skills.) Then shut the book and have the children narrate what they saw. Open it and have them check. Then if they are able, have them draw the "chief lines" of the work on paper from memory. Also, have a narrative biography available to read a little here and there so they get an idea about the history of the person's life (add to book of centuries). Do one print study each week and at the end the child will know the artists' style and something about him/her. The same thing goes for the composer...but listening to a work of his/hers throughout the week instead.

The thing I love most about Charlotte Mason---though all the aforementioned ideas and methods are wonderful--is her understanding that children need to be taught good habits, intentionally and consistently. If they don't have habits such as paying attention, obeying immediately, listening respectfully, persevering/fortitude, and 60 more lovely characteristics (simplycharlottemason.com), it doesn't matter how wonderful an education they are exposed to...they will not be "all God has created them to be". Habits are little roads in their minds that make it easy to do the right thing in hard situations because they have been practiced in not-so- hard situations. For a Christian child (or mother) these habits turn to areas of discipleship such as Bible reading and study, memorizing and meditating on Scripture, praying, serving, etc. These are the disciplines that, if trained in childhood..."when he is old, he will not depart from it." This is what I pray for my children...that they will come to faith and then grow to be more like Jesus every day. More than anything I want myself and my children to show his glory to others in what we say and do and be willing to give our lives, no matter what the cost, for the sake of Him who has saved us and given us eternal life.

A Charlotte Mason education...I want that for my kids. I want that for myself.