Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Home...school?


To go to pre-school or not to go to pre-school-that is the question.????
What goes on at Lloyd Academy...
Okay I do not like the traditional education, that you find in most public and christian schools. I prefer the Montessori method. I think it is important to base the curriculum on the child's developmental needs for freedom within limits, keeping it a carefully prepared environment that guarantees exposure to materials and experiences, that are necessary for that child to learn. I love classical christian education, and I find much comfort in the freedom of the Montessori method. So In saying that my home school curriculum consists, of a classical christian education for Elijah, and sometimes Noah. I do deliver it in a non obtrusive way. In Montessori method child needs a teacher to help him explore possibilities of study. It allows the boys to work in areas they eager to do such as sensory, or math, or geography. I feel that this direction makes them develop their unique capabilities, it makes them easy to adapt, and they work well independently or together. It has made Elijah a real problem solver, he is making decisions from an early age. He has shown good time management, and has made great choices of curriculum to study. When I was working for a Montessori as a teacher assistant, I fell in love with the style of teaching. I didn't realize how long it has been since I worked there. I was one of the primary teachers, and I found out a student that I had is now going to High school, at Wildwood Christian School! WOW!!! I will post a pic later....

Elijah enjoys the work we do at home, however, he is longing for more social time with friends, and peers. He is also asking for a teacher, he does well with me as his teacher I think, but would also like another teacher he says. I think I need to pray about this some more. We need clarity as where God wants our children to be educated. Oh yeah, and great finances! ha!
We are working on Colors and Shapes,
Listening and sequencing
Motor skills lots of sensory we need more running and jumping playtime!!
Numbers
Position and Direction
Reading
Size
Social and emotional development
time
Memory of catechism and scriptures
He can write his name beautifully, I am so proud. I will scan later and post his name.
He is a great artist, and Noah cracks me up, he is on a kick of drawing several lines, and saying they are snakes.

Lately I have been Lost...

Okay so Patrick and I succumbed to the pressures of watching a very popular tv show...
I am so glad we did! This show definitely keeps us curious, to watch yet another one. We started watching Lost when we were sick (the first time), and are already in the third season. If you go to http://www.abc.com/ you can watch all of the seasons for free! The show is always interesting and the setting is just beautiful!!
I like the episode where a sweet Christian woman believes that her husband is somehow still alive, she tells a desperate young guy, There is a real fine line between denial and faith. It’s much better on my side.” Full of agony and despair he cries asking for her help. “She says I can not help you. Then, together, she prays, “Heavenly Father, we thank you. We thank you for bringing us together tonight. And we ask that you show…” The scene ends. It was encouraging to see that the writers included this in to the show. I have noticed other examples of Christianity as well. Not to be confused, it has it fair share of chance, and mysticism.

Friday, February 15, 2008

The Lord is my strength and my song


So lately things have not been going so great for us. We have been really sick again. Poor Patrick had a stomach virus again, and was sick for four days where he didn't even move, except to run to the bathroom. Elijah also got the same stomach virus, and was really sick, and so was I. Praise the Lord for my parents who came and rescued poor Noah and Ellie, who basically had no supervision, Ellie was found going through the refrigerator, and cracking eggs all over the kitchen floor, and Noah was eating leftover corn, and they managed to spill a whole box of cheerios all over the house. I have not been able to walk at all! So today, I find out that I also have a herniated disk in my back, and pinched nerve, and I have been having muscle spams. Unfortunately the Dr. gave me pain pills and muscle relaxers, please pray that I will heal soon.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Confessions of a Chocoholic


Sunday, my Mom and Dad came over, I have recently hurt my back and they were wanting to cheer me up, and bring some goodies. Mom made these amazing Chocolate Chip Ice cream sandwiches. They were so tasty, and really were like the best cookies EVER!!!

Here is the recipe:

2 sticks of butter

1/2cup shortening

1 3/4 Brown Sugar

3/4 Cup White Sugar

3 Eggs

*Cream together*


3 3/4 cups All purpose Flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

12 oz. Semi-sweet chocolate Chips (Hershey's)

1C. Milk chocolate chips "

1 C. Toffee bits

Bake 375* for 12 minutes

MMMmmm yum! Okay so don't stop there, scoop out your favorite ice cream, and make a delicious ice cream sandwich. Remember, my mom is Southern, so sweeter the better!

Baby Hands

These are the cutest little chunky monkey baby hands ever! They just make me long for playing with a teeny tiny baby or running upstairs and grabbing Ellie. These hands belong to Nathan.
Nathan has also just turned three, wow!! Noah and Nathan are just 5 days apart, it is so amazing that these little guys have grown so much already, sometimes it seams like yesterday, that these two made their debut, it was a time of adjustments, and blessings for both of our families. I am so thankful for this family in my life. I am certian that these little boys will keep us on our knees. Happy Birthday Nathan!


Monday, February 11, 2008

To Give Rest

This is a picture of Noah in the Myrtle, at the little house he is 3 months old here. Noah was a GREAT baby, and is a awesome toddler. Thank the Lord we did not have the terrible two's and I am holding out that we will not have terrible three's! (Thank you God!!!)
A Happy Belated Birthday to our very special little boy. Noah Jamieson is already three. He is such a sweet, gentle boy. Noah certainly did "give us rest". He is learning and growing so much. With him being right in the middle sometimes I take him for granted. He is really wanting to so much be like his big brother. He really loves his little sister too, he always says "Goodmorning Eaiie I yuve you". Noah has a great sense of humor, and really enjoys cuddling, he is the cuddliest guy. I really appreciate how he has all these totally cute expressions. He is smaller in proportion to Elijah, and more enthusiastic about everything. He is picky and hard to get to eat green food. He has a servant heart, he will give his sister her sippy cup, baby, blanket etc., and he will do that for other children too. He also likes to pretend he is a super hero, and has a Great imagination, and loves art. He loves Larry boy, and his favorite book is.. Zack's Alligator, we change Zack to Noah, and he receives the alligator from Grandadd and Mimi. Oh yeah and "Caps for Sale" You Monkey YOU!!!!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

"Dear sister on being a mother"


My baby sister is going to have a baby. And although she is not a teenager anymore, I want to fill her in on what is going to happen, how things are going to change….."It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.
"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."But that is not what I meant at all. I pause thinking that is not just what I want to tell her trying to form the right words in my mind I cannot come out with what I would like to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.
I think of her carefully manicured nails and stylish clothes and think that no matter how much of a pampered princess she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a dish or her best china without a moment’s hesitation.
I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her life, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going off to work and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.I want my sister to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a four year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at Lion's Choice will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.
However decisive she may be at work, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.
Thinking of my attractive sister, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy (slowly), but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her child, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs. I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.My sister's relationship with Ivan will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.I want to describe to my sister the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a puppy for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.
Robin’s strange response makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I send my love over the phone, tell her I love her and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.
Adapted from an email I received.

Lloyd Infirmary


This Lloyd household has been renamed the infirmary. We have been so overwhelmed with sickness. Several sickly strands swirling about, Viral stomach flu's, coughing, sneezing, running nose flu's, need lot's and lot's rest flu's. We have managed to share them with everyone having one of these little virus's more than once. You really do confirm that you love someone with all your heart when you are cleaning up their throw up the 3rd time that day. We have mountains and mountains of laundry to climb, and then wash and dry. I have never loved the smell of Lysol so much in my life, and I just thank God, for cold washcloths, and cuddly fuzzy socks, and warm blankets, sprite, and hunky Horatio Hornblower to watch over and over, on Dvd.

So as I sip my chicken and rice soup, I will tell you what has been wonderful about this whole experience, to crawl in bed with your children and let them know you are there for them, and read them a good bed time story, before prayer time.
Our favorite during this time has been- Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night Sailed off in a wooden shoe---Sailed on a river of crystal light, Into a sea of dew."Where are you going, and what do you wish?" The old moon asked the three."We have come to fish for the herring fish That live in this beautiful sea; Nets of silver and gold have we!" Said Wynken, Blynken, And Nod.
The old moon laughed and sang a song, As they rocked in the wooden shoe,And the wind that sped them all night long Ruffled the waves of dew.The little stars were the herring fish That lived in that beautiful sea---"Now cast your nets wherever you wish--- Never afeard are we"; So cried the stars to the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, And Nod.
All night long their nets they threw To the stars in the twinkling foam---Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe, Bringing the fishermen home;'T was all so pretty a sail it seemed As if it could not be,And some folks thought 't was a dream they 'd dreamed Of sailing that beautiful sea--- But I shall name you the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, And Nod.
Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes, And Nod is a little head,And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies Is a wee one's trundle-bed.So shut your eyes while mother sings Of wonderful sights that be,And you shall see the beautiful things As you rock in the misty sea, Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, And Nod.

The poem was comforting to the boys, Ellie and me. The poem is by Eugene Field, and you can visit the Eugene Field House and Toy museum, here in St. Louis just visit http://www.eugenefieldhouse.org/