Busy-Ness

In my quest to keep my blog more current, I thought I'd post some pics of what the boys have been doing this week.  (Yes Ansley was busy w/gymnastics.  I just can't take pics of her as I'm not allowed in the gym)

First Up, Sawyer.  He received his Bobcat badge at his scout meeting.  Apparently, they hold the recipient upside down while painting his face.  Since we didn't know it was going to happen (And therefore carried no camera), there was no picture of the actual event.  I did take pics once he got home.

He is holding up all his awards he achieved.  There are so many belt loops, I'm not sure his waist is big enough to wear them all at the same time.  We may have to rotate them.

Saturday was Turner's first soccer game.  He did very well.  He truly enjoyed it and seemed to understand the basics.  What is funny about my 3 boys is NONE of them have a competitive bone in their body.  That's neither good nor bad.  Just a statement.  (I cannot make the same statement about their sister and that's all I'm going to say on the subject.)

 

 The look of concentration.  (and they said it would never happen!)

Judson went with the scouts to the Braves game today.  Let's just say, even with all the scouts and their rally caps, there was just not enough mojo to help the Braves and their very weak bullpen.  But they had a good time anyway.  They got to walk around the field before the game and run bases after the game.  Lots of good memories!

We went out to eat after they got back from the game. 

Where Have I Been?

I know, I know....SLACKER!!!

I've been meaning to write but geez, I don't seem to have the time.

Let's see.  Where to begin?  What have we been doing?  Here's a list of things I've been thinking about today...

1.  Turner is loving soccer!   Twice a week practice plus games on Saturday.

2.  I'm trying to track down where Ansley's Girl Scout application went. (along with the already paid fees)
3.  Judson and Ansley have gymnastics once a week.
4.  Sawyer has OT once a week
5.  Sawyer has Speech therapy once a week.  (Do NOT get me started on that)
6.  Working on getting Sawyer in Music Therapy.
7.  Home schooling 4.  Some with more success than others on any given day.
8.  Various doctor/vet/??? visits.
9.   Trying to answer Doogie Howser's medical questions.  Ranging from:  Is meningitis lethal?  to Did you have Rubella when you were pregnant with Sawyer?  He has some signs of Rubella syndrome.
10.   Boy scouts are going well.  Popcorn sales, camping, meetings, knots...(BTW, Boy Scouts are Randy's job)

So, I have been slacking on the blogging front but I'm trying to get caught up.  Really I am. 

NINE Years Ago.....

I met the most amazing little guy.  He was destined to change my life forever.  Time certainly has flown.  The first 3 months were a blur.  He did not sleep more than 2 contiguous hours at any time.  He would NOT take a bottle.  It made for a VERY tired momma.  At times it seemed like those days were 36 hours in length.  Yet, looking back the years seemed to have flown by.  How can that be? He is in his last single digit year.  He's an amazing young man.  So happy to get to spend these last 9 years getting to know him.  I hope the next 9 will be equally joyful and enlightening.

His First Christmas!

Today

Celebrating with his buddies Parker and Allie

How We Cope

OK...I've made it no secret to those who know me, how energetic Turner is.  We've have no official diagnosis but I have no doubt if we did, we'd have a boy with some sort of clinical diagnosis.  ADHD????  High energy, kinesthetic learner????? 

We are not going to have him tested now.  Maybe never.  Maybe someday.  It is/will be our decision and we will make it when we are ready.

For now, this is how we cope.
1.  Limit sugar. 
2.  Lots of outdoor play and running around.
3.  Lots of Wii activities, so he's moving and coordinating his movements.
4.  Soccer.  Lots of running. 
5.  Riding his bike
In other words....lots and lots of physical activity
and last but not least.....

What's that you ask?   Why it's a tube sock filled with rice, of course!   My aunt makes them so that you can microwave it and have yourself a portable heating pad.  That is NOT what we do with it though.  On good days, we can put it in Turner's lap and it helps him to sit still and concentrate on his work.   On bad days, we drape it over his shoulders for a little extra sensory feedback.  Today was a bad day.

That's it!!!

Men in Uniform

Makes me *SMILE*

(ps.  buy lots of popcorn if they ring your doorbell)

Just as an aside:

I had to renew my driver's license today.

The next time I have to renew them, the boy on the right in the above pics will be heading to college.

I CAN'T TAKE IT!!!!

Loving It!!!!

Can I just say, I am LOVING having all 4 kids at home this year!

L_O_V_I_N_G   I_T!!!!!

(Don't have as much time for blogging though)

He is doing well academically. 
Almost finished with his first Dick and Jane book.
Learning to write!!!!
Counting (as long as you don't need the #6)
Adding (again, don't worry too much about #6)

He misses school (at least the social apsect)

I think he'll be fine once scouting starts.

He also starts speech next week which will give him his school-time.

The other three are doing well.  

Judson is working a little college level chem

While mightily struggling with 3rd grade english.

Funny how that works.

Ansley is doing well in math and reading.

She's learning multiplication

And reading above grade level.  

Turner and his little ADHD self is working on writing.

He has VERY weak fine motor skills in his hands

So it is a struggle, especially

when he gets to squirming.

Lest any of you anti-home schooling folks think my kids are not being socialized.

(because we all know that is what happens....right?)

I have 3 in scouts, 2 in gymnastics, 1 in soccer

Not to mention chess and Saturday School (which is a winter activity)

We had to give up karate for a while as we ran out of time.

The Great Prisoner Exchange (AKA, The Sleepover)

We met Alex and Makayla through martial arts.  They are home schooled and about Judson's age.  Alex and Judson struck up a friendship, as did Ansley and Makayla.  The relationships have been going strong for almost 2  years.  I have to say, it makes it nice that I like to talk with their Mom too.  It's a Win-Win situation.

This weekend we decided to do a 'double sleepover'.  Meaning,  Alex came to our house and Ansley went to Makayla's house and spent the night.

I have no pictures of the girls sleepover.  The report is:  They were very quiet, had tea parties,  worked on art projects and watched movies til almost 2am.   In other words, SUCCESS!

I think we also had success here at Camp Stricklin.  The boys played chess (LOTS of chess), played computer games  (LOTS of computer games),  ate (LOTS of eating), played on the slip and slide,  rode bikes, watched tv, rough housed, and had a rowdy time.  Again, I'd call it a SUCCESS!

Here are the pictures I took of the boys.

Randy with all his little helpers!

Today....we recover.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I apologize for the shaking filming.

Turn the volume up on Sawyer's video.

Introducing......

His Highness Captain Underpants and Cinderella

(be thankful I managed to get him to wear underpants, he was really wanting to go commando today)

In case you are wondering,  he is wearing glass slippers.

Remember????

OK....remember THIS STORY?

Finally tonight, we got together with DANIEL.

Oh...Sawyer was so excited!!!

Before we (just he and I) left, he told Ansley

"Now stay out of trouble"

They were excited to see each other.

Daniel and Miss Kris, who taught both Daniel and Sawyer in pre-K

These 2 truly do have a connection!

I REFUSE!!!

Yep.

That's right!

That's what SHE said.

She was NOT going to do her homework.

Her Dad had told her what would happen if she did that a  2nd time.

Apparently, her memory is faulty.

Less than a week later, she said those same words again.

Dad didn't take kindly to it.

So he told her, if she was not going to get any book learning, she'd need to know how to work with her hands.

What better way to do that, than to spend a few hours outside WEEDING.

This is what happened after a couple of hours.

Amazingly, today when asked if she'd rather learn from books or learn to work with her hands

She decided she'd rather learn from books.

Just having fun!

Girls Day

So Randy and Judson spent all day yesterday fishing.

It's only fair, Ansley and I get to do something today.

Correct????

First....The Nails

Then to ART class with BFF Makayla.

Beginning

Middle

The End

Personally, I think we got the best deal.

The guys spent the WHOLE day in a boat,

On the WATER,

IN.THE.HEAT

We were in the a/c all day long.

Sooooo much fun we are planning another art adventure.

Next time, Moms are joining in on the fun!

Swimming

OK.  It's SOOOO hot outside (How Hot Is It?).

  It's so hot, the only thing you can do outside is swim.

And that's all we've been doing outside.

Here's another video of Sawyer's swim lesson today.

What you'll notice is that he comes up for air,

then goes back down and swims some more.

That's a very good accomplishment.

Two Trips

Randy took 2 kids and headed south last week to visit with his folks. 

I took 2 kids and headed north to visit with my Dad.  

Each of us had a camera.  

Only 1 of us took pictures. 

The View

Main Mode of Transportation

Picking Blackberries

Trying blackberries.

Everyone had a great time!!! 

Except for the whole blackberry experience.

We are all very tired.

Demolition Derby 2011

Sawyer's #8

Judson is #7

Sawyer's won this clash!

Judson came in 3rd

Sawyer actually came in 4th.  (alas 4th doesn't have a trophy)

We're Getting There

Making LOTS of progress in swimming!!!

What Day Is It?

What's with all the kids?  (just some things we've been doing the last couple of days)

Ansley decorated the cake!!!  (very festive, don't you think?)

A little slip and slide action complete with dish washing liquid for extra SLIP.

Three of the best behaved little girls I've met.  Hope they get to come back!

Classic performed the group CUZZINZ!

Break Dancin'

Since Cuzzin Libby came to visit, MiMi (the cat) has gone into hiding. 

Libby is a brave dog.  Barking at our big dogs from high above the ground and behind glass.

Happy 4th of July (2011)

A Little of This and A Little of That

Been a BUSY week.  Looks like next week is shaping up be just as busy. 

A little studying.

A little chess.

A little pouting.

A little frisbee.

A little chalk and a little scooter.

And a little fun.

Add to that, two doctor appointments and two dental appointments

And you can see we know how to keep ourselves occupied.