randomnings

 

I (occasionally) *heart* Speech Delay

Like when Trevy calls his high tops high heels.

 

*****

 

Bristel and I had some alone time in the car after dropping Tobin off at his engineering class. The conversation inevitably went to romance. Because clearly that's what 8 year old girls think about.

 

Bristel randomly broke the silence with a sigh: Sometimes I think I may never find a husband.
Me: Well, honey, it's better to wait for the right guy rather than settle for the wrong one.
Bristel: That's a good point. (pause and then giggle) Daddy looked so silly in those circle glasses he used to wear! Did you think he looked silly even though you married him?
Me: They were pretty silly! Buuuuuuut...your dad made me laugh. So that balanced that out.
Bristel: I have really high expectations, I think.
Me after choking on the fact that she's EIGHT: Well, what are your top five expectations?
Bristel: He has to love Trevor. He has to love God. He has to love me. And he HAS to love my sense of humor! Also, he needs to be funny too.

 

I thought that was a pretty good list.

 

*****

 

Evidently a 5 day vacation just wasn't cutting it for Trevor. When it was time to go to school he flopped on Bristel's bed and started incessantly crying, "Not enough time!!!"

 

*****

 

Trevor was chasing the dog around with a pair of play-doh scissors saying, "I doctor! I doctor!"

She was NOT amused. Even if the rest of us were.

 

*****

 

Jonathan schlepped our tree up from the basement and is in the process of trying to get it all set up. Trevor has been fascinated.

He just came up to me and asked, "Little People?"

We have a Little People nativity set that we bring out with all of our Christmas gear. He hasn't seen that thing in a year!!!

That boy has an amazing memory!

 

*****

 

I just told Trevy to open his mouth and when he obeyed I surprised him by spraying whipped cream into it.

 

The face he made was PRICELESS!

 

Now he's following me around with his mouth hanging open like a little baby bird.

 

*****

 

Bristel loves FaceTiming her friend, Jamie. Trevor didn't quite catch her name once and called her "James" instead of Jamie on accident. It was cute but the girls tried to correct him. Big mistake. He thinks it's funny when he says things wrong and it annoys people. And when you correct him it only makes it that much more fun.

 

So now, every time Bristel is on FaceTime he's always hollering, JAAAAAMES! And Bristel always hollers back, "IT'S NOOOOOT JAAAAAAMES!"

 

This situation happens dozens of times a day and always ends in Trevor laughing hysterically. LOL

 

*****

 

Random Bristel

 

I'd rather be bitten by a vampire than be surrounded by spiders.

 

 

…danielle

how homeschoolers do teacher appreciation

 

 

Unexpected letters left on the teacher’s desk…

 

 

Love notes hidden in Math Tests…

 

 

Offering to entertain the littlest so mom can relax in her early Mother’s Day zero gravity chair.

 

 

 

Okay…so maybe I had to FORCE him to entertain the little guy for me.  But at least I got to grab some Vit D for a few minutes! 

 

 

…danielle

and my nose?

 

 

 

 

Trevy is fascinated by his MRI. I have a laminated picture in my wallet because I like to randomly remind myself of his journey.  It’s great for those moments I positively want to throttle him!   He saw it earlier while I was rifling through my wallet at the market. So I told him about his big scar. And how the doctors had to remove the yucky, broken tissue. I told him that he's a miracle. I was waxing quite eloquent, I think. He was listening intently and then said,

 

And my nose?

 

Sure enough, if you look at his brain the right way...it looks like a face with a nose!

 

 

…danielle

dancing counts at PT (and PE if you happen to homeschool :)

 

 

Check out Trevy’s (and Toby’s) mad dance and booty shake moves!

 

 

Made you smile didn’t, huh!?

 

 

…danielle

Kid Writing Chronicles

 

 

Trevor is in Kindergarten. 

 

 

His class uses a program called Kid Writing.  The idea is that he thinks up a sentence on his own and writes about it.  The theory being children are to write phonetically – using only the letters and sounds they know.  Clearly, we have to modify this for Trevor.  Because it takes Trevor at least twice as much time and energy to learn as typically developing children…I insisted that his Kid Writing be errorless.  I still wanted him to think up his sentence – he’s very creative.  But I DID NOT want him to learn incorrect spelling.  Can you imagine how much time that would take to re-teach!!!  So Trevor’s Kid Writing works a little differently.  Different is more fun, you know!  He thinks up his sentence.  His teacher then writes his sentence for him.  Which allows him to trace over her words and write his sentence errorless-ly!

 

 

So this weekend a paper came home for us to list 10 “idea prompts” of things Trevor might like to write about in Kid Writing.

 

 

Like a good little mommy, I called him into our School/Therapy Room and asked him what things he might find interesting to write about.  The following conversation ensued:

 

 

Me:  Trevy, we need a Kid Writing list.  What would you like to write about?

 

Read question above three times before proceeding.  That’s how many times I had to repeat it before he responded. 

 

Trevy: Ummmmm (pause) sleeping (pause) in (pause) bed!

 

Me: Okay...annnnd...

 

Trevor: Ummmmmm (pause) laying (pause) in (pause) bed!

 

Me: We already have that. Something else.

 

Trevor: Ummmmm (pause) getting (pause) in (pause) bed!

 

Me: whack head on table

 

 

…danielle

first day of school (and we already broke a house rule…sigh)

 

 

We successfully got Trevy up, medicated, potty-ed, fed, dressed and out the door for his first day of Kindergarten!

 

 

I don’t homeschool him because…

 

well…

 

I can’t afford a super nanny! 

 

Also, he needs and receives intensive therapies through the school.  It makes sense and is easier all around.  And even though we don’t technically homeschool him…there is a lot of learning happening for him at home too!

 

 

After we waved goodbye to Trevy I asked the big kids to meet me in the schoolroom for Orientation.

 

 

An idea I totally swiped from this post!

 

 

This was not without some “issue”.  And that’s because one of my ~ahem~ darlings already broke a house rule!  I learned (the hard way) over the years that we had to nix any electronics until all our school work was done for the day.  I’m not anti-electronics.  Actually, ever since my dad told me about a study in which doctors who played more small hand held video games are better surgeons because of the fine motor development and quick reflexes…well…I decided maybe the DS isn’t of the devil.    Except in the mornings.  When ‘tudeage breaks out over having to pause.  This morning being a fine example. 

 

 

My high hopes of a stress free beginning were dashed just like that.  Because I believe in “keepin’ it real” -  One of my personal goals as mommy/teacher this year is to not resort to raising my voice first.  That was a fail.  Sigh.  But His mercies are new every morning.  Every moment.  And that’s a very good thing.

 

 

I’m happy to say…things quickly turned around too.

 

 

Evidence of maturity (in all of us) happening?

 

 

And as cheesy as it might sound…we really had fun during our Orientation.  Chatting about goals.  Flipping through new (or new to us) books.  I had organized their workboxes (I’ll post in more detail on another day about those) a couple weeks ago and it was all ready to explore. 

 

 

About half way through our meeting, Toby says…

 

 

Wow, Mom, you’re really going extreme this year.

 

 

LOL

 

 

Welcome to Middle School, Buddy.  Welcome to Middle School. 

 

 

Today is going to be a school lite day.  I have a few more pages to add to our memory books (click me to see how we’re creating portfolios this year) and we’ll start our read aloud later.  Then the plan is for Grams to meet us here so we can all go pick up Trevy from school and have a back to school celebration lunch together!

 

 

…danielle

randomnings

 

 

Trevy to Uncle Byron: Dih-Doh (Bristel) hit me

 

Uncle Byron: Bristel hit you?

 

Trevy: YEEEEEESH!

 

Bristel: Oh Trevor, stop taking all the credit! You hit me too!

 

 

**********

 

I really should stop ignoring them so much.  On the way home from the wading pool Trevy was hollering in the back seat and I tuning him out.

 

 

According to Bristel he was hollering…

 

 

I nakey!

 

 

And sure enough, that’s how I found him.  He was already shirtless but somehow stripped off his bottoms with his seatbelt on and was beaming in all his birthday suit glory when we finally stopped.

 

 

**********

 

 

Toby finds me in the kitchen and says with a sigh…

 

 

I’m glad I found you, Mom.  I need to talk to you.

 

 

Around a mouthful I ask ‘bout what.

 

 

Life

 

 

He says.  With another melancholic sigh.  I don’t think I was supposed to snicker and choke.  But hey…it was cute.

 

 

**********

 

 

Bristel and Toby have been nit-picking at each other all morning. Bristel disappeared outside for awhile and comes in to inform Toby:

 

I created a sword to defeat you with!

 

It's covered in spider webs and bird poop!

 

 

**********

 

 

Bristel: Mom, if you were wondering where I was (which I wasn't...) I was in the basement looking at my baby clothes. They're SO cute it made me cry!

 

Yep, she's sappy like her mommy!

 

 

**********

 

So last night at the beach there was this big burly dude (think biker…complete with handle bar ‘stash) sprawled out on his stomach reading the newspaper. Trevy notices him...dashes-too-quick-for-me-to-catch over...sprawls out on HIS tummy and nonchalantly says…

 

 

yeah, I five.

 

 

**********

 

TMI alert

 

Trevy just woke up from his nap and the first thing we do is go potty always. Well, someone left a "gift" for us in the toilet. Trevy, who is already perched on the pot peeks down and sees it floating by and without missing a beat says...

 

Hiiiiiii...

 

(pause)

Bristel's poop!

 

**********

 

Bristel keeps saying, "it's smokin' hot outside". She's been on this kick for weeks now. Smokin’ hot this.  Smokin’ hot that.

 

 

IDKwhy...but it cracks me up!

 

 

**********

 

Have I ever mentioned that I love being their mommy!?

 

 

…danielle

it’s a tradition

 

 

Whenever Uncle B comes to town we pose for a new family photo.

 

 

He has a groovy camera and is a photo snapping fool.

 

 

Seriously.

 

 

I just uploaded 616 pictures, including one of our dog squatting!  LOL

 

 

I must confess, I was hoping to skip the family photo shoot tradition this year.

 

 

I just wasn’t feelin’ it.

 

 

This is where I confess it’s mostly because I can’t stand how chubby I am.  Ugh.

 

 

But Grams played the “I’m sick” card and twisted my arm until I cried “CHEESE”!

 

 

And now that I see how cute they are.  Well…I’m glad we kept the tradition!

 

 

…danielle

 

 

**disclaimer – It was not all giggles and gumdrops for this photo shoot.  In fact, we all wanted to throttle each other while we waited a good 15 minutes for Uncle B’s lens to de-fog (it is stinking SOUPY here!).  Heat makes us cranky.  Don’t let Trevy the Rugrat fool you either.  He is only smiling because I’m tickling him.  But we really do love each other and we love laughing and Uncle B totally captured our spirits in these pics!**

jeepers peepers plus a special coupon just for you (a TOS review)

 

 

Allow me to introduce you to Jeepers Peepers.

 

 

What exactly, you ask, is this Jeepers Peepers?

 

 

Only, like, one of the best games ever!

 

 

 

 

Because any game that involves silly glasses and the whole family is a double thumbs up winner in our house!

 

 

(FYI: Trevy told me I look cute in my glasses.  I just thought you should know.)

 

 

The Jeepers Peepers Nutshell

 

• Jeepers Peepers is an awesome family (or class, playdate, anything involving people big and small) game!
• It includes 6 pairs of glasses, Cue Cards, 101 photo cards, spinner, bingo chips and instructions.
• $29.95 (shhhhh…I have a special offer just for you at the end of this post!)
• Super Duper Publications has gobs of other great looking games and resources. 

 

 

Tell Ya What We Really Thought

 

 

 

As soon as we opened the box we were in L-O-V-E…love!

 

 

 

I just adore everything about this game.  The glasses are silly-licious and fairly sturdy!  Trevy has attempted to break them every time we’ve played and so far no casualties.  The picture cards are simple enough that Trevy can play but complex enough that we can make it more challenging for the older kiddos.  We don’t use the bingo cards just because Trevy is in a very oral phase right now…but I’m sure they add to the fun. 

 

 

 

 

The first time we played we were laughing and having SO much fun that daddy couldn’t resist joining!  Especially when Trevy used his words to ask him!

 

 

I double dog dare ya to put the glasses on and NOT make a silly face…

IMPOSSIBLE!

 

 

 

We’ve played Jeepers Peepers often but my favorite is when Trevy asks for us to play during one of his home based therapy sessions (cause I get to snap pictures and clips)!  He always cracks us up with his peeking cheater ways and hints that are really answers! 

 

 

 

I really can’t say enough about how wonderful this game is and how much we love it!  I’ve been blessed with the chance to review lots of wonderful curriculum and products this year.  If I had to choose a favorite – Jeepers Peepers would definitely make the top of the list!  I highly recommend adding it to your Christmas Wish List!

 

 

Or just go ahead and buy it now with this special offer just for my readers:

Use Coupon Code:   BLGJP30

and save 30%

but it expires 8/31/12 so you’d better hurry!

 

 

…danielle

 

 

**This is my little space to disclaim that I was given Jeepers Peepers in exchange for my honest review shared on my blog.  All opinions expressed are my honest own.  I hope that you enjoyed and found my review at least a smidge helpful.  Because my voice is just one, I highly encourage you to visit this link and read what my fellow TOS Crew friends thought about this product.**

Randomnings–my top ten mommy smile moments this week

Bristel: Mommy, when you get married do you spend all day and night kissing?

Me: Something like that, honey

Bristel: And then kids come along and ruin it?

 

 

**********

 

I was in the kitchen making "chicken nuggets"...

otherwise known as Trevy's crack

when he comes charging the kitchen gate shouting,

I homeworking! I homeworking!

I gotta admit I was afraid to see what exactly "I homeworking" could mean but I followed him anyway. He led me to the schoolroom  where a giant coloring book and crayons (which are supposed to be out of reach!) was open to a search and find and he's tracing (read: scribbling over) the letters!

I call that "homeworking" too!

 

 

**********

In order to find the humor, I need to set the stage a little. Bristel and a friend have started a "Care Club" the purpose of which is to do acts of kindness and teach little ones how to behave.  Snicker.  She has asked me to put her hair up so the little ones (read: Trevy) won't be tempted to pull her hair. Cute, right?

On a different day, Trevy and I go outside where she and Toby are busy building something or other in the sandbox and she immediately starts telling Trevy he's not allowed.

So I say...

What happened to your Care Club? Is it only for little kids who aren't your brother?

She rolls her eyes and retorts...

Mooooooom (the way a teeny bopper might...only she's SEVEN!)

swinging her golden locks...

when my hair is down I'm NOT working!

**********

On the list of things I don't want to hear my children frantically yelling...

"Trevy! Don't color on the door!"

Followed by…

“Ugh…too late.”

**********

We were playing a game in the pool where the person tagged had to go under water.  Ever the lover of cause & effect, Trevy was tagging me incessantly.  So I say…

I’m gonna tag you!

To which he responds with a head shake…

Naaaaaw…

too little. 

**********

It tickled my funny bone that when we came home the sitter said she spent over an hour learning about Ancient Egypt with Bristel on the iPad.

Seriously?

How many 7 year old girls want to study ancient history and consider themselves a fashionista?!

**********

(If you’re a Speech Therapist…you may want to cover your eyes for this one! )

Trevy asked me for his binkie. I've been trying to wean him from it but in a moment of weakness (or maybe inspiration) I said... 

Let Toby take you potty and help you brush your teeth and then you can have it.

So he pattered over to Toby and asked, "Potty?" Toby was busy and replied, "in a minute".

 

 

So what did Trevy do? Well, I walked by the bathroom and found him sitting on the potty ALL BY HIMSELF! He's pulled his pants down and climbed up and made pee pee BY HIMSELF!

 

 

Um yeah, we had a Pee Pee Party!!!!

 

 

He did need help pulling his pants back up...but we can handle that for him no problem-o!

**********

I could tell he was winding up to give a mighty hop while descending our very steep stairs so I said...

Trevor, don't you dare!

Iya fwawg!

Translation: I'm a frog

Um, not on the stairs you're not!

And he resisted the urge to hop all the way down to the very last step.  At which point he did indeed become a one legged hopping fwawg. 

Ribbit.

 

 

**********

 

 

Trevy was screaming bloody murder from the schoolroom.

I couldn’t get there right away so I hollered…

what’s going on in there?!

Trevy comes running, upset, with Toby yelling in the background...

Don't believe a word he says!

LOL! This is funny because even though Trevor's speech is VERY limited you'd be surprised at how much tattling can be done with single word phrases!

**********

I wonder what our neighbors think when they drive by and see Trevy hanging out in our big bay window?

Our couch is right up against it and he'll climb over the back...stand on the radiator and wave at people until mommy finds him and makes him get down.

But hey, at least he has clothes on.

Most of the time.

…danielle

 

randomnings

 

 

Trevy comes from his bath wrapped in a towel.

 

Pauses in the middle of the living room. Looks around. And with no warning throws the towel off and stands there in his "Roman Glory" with his fists in the air shouting...

 

Pow-ah Wange-ahs!

 

Trevy Speak for Power Rangers. :P

 

 

***********

 

Trevy still has a crooked smile from his surgery. He probably always will. It's adorable and him. So he smiles at Toby who says to me...

 

His smile may be broken...

 

but his love for us isn't.

 

And his smile is one of the most special things about him.

 

Um. Yeah. I cried.

 

 

**********

 

I’d just washed Trevy’s hair and Toby offers to be his “hair stylist”.  In true big brother form he starts mussing up Trevy’s un-curls.

 

No no no no

 

Trevy protested

 

I PEACOCK!

 

We’re pretty sure he meant to say he wanted a MOHAWK since he was squeezing his hair down the middle of his noggin trying to make one!

 

 

**********

 

Bristel had a fat lip so I gave her Carmax to treat it.  She said her lips felt funny.  I told her the medicine makes your lips tingle.  She then asked…

 

Are there any medicines that make your ears twitch?

 

 

**********

 

 

Me: Tobin, your dresser drawers are atrocious!

 

Toby: I know. I need to clean them.

 

Me: Um, yeah, like right now!

 

Toby: What?! Right now?! I'm not free until 3:30 on Saturday!

 

 

**********

 

 

Bristel says her peanut butter and jelly tortilla really cheered her up. 

 

 

***********

 

 

 

 

…danielle

the chore chart that lives on the chalkboard that hangs in the mudroom

 

 

Our newest (we’re determined to try them all!) chore system is Pinterest inspired by this super cute printable.

 

 

I loved the printable…but alas, I’m a bit of an ink scrooge.  So I decided to modify by using what I already have.  The chalkboard was already hanging in the mudroom.  I was using it to write lists and things.  No real purpose.  And nothing that can’t be handled elsewhere. 

 

 

 

 

So I had the kiddos help me clean the bathroom today.  My goal is to have them soon able to fly these tasks solo.  But for now…they need mommy guidance. 

 

 

After we’d thoroughly wiped, scrubbed, swept and restocked everything…

 

 

my daughter turns and thanks me for teaching her how to do this because…

 

 

“It’ll come in very useful someday when I’m a grown up!”

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Homeschooling!

 

…danielle

just for funsies

 

 

 

 

…danielle

you might be a homeschooler if…

 

 

You have the kids help you with your at home hair coloring kit because…

 

A) you don’t have time or money to get it done in the salon

 

and

 

B) it’s a really cool Science experiment!

 

 

**********

 

 

You declare it LifeSkills Class…

 

while handing each child two baskets of laundry to fold and put away!

 

 

 

…danielle

you know you’re a special needs mommy when…

 

 

you pause to admire the fine motor skills he's flaunting

 

for a few moments

 

before telling him to stop pickin' his boogies!

 

 

…danielle

why I signed up for the We Choose Virtues review :)

 

 

A sneak peek at why I signed up to review We Choose Virtues…

 

 

Just in case you ever had crazy thoughts that somehow homeschooled kiddos aren’t little sinners buggers like the rest of em’. 

 

 

Also…I strongly advise against gifting your children iPods or any other camera equipped gadget in the future!

 

…danielle