I'm way cooler than bread.

Do you think that parents who homeschool are respected by their school aged children more than parent's with publicly schooled children?  I wonder simply because I spend so much one on one time with my kids going over phonics, books, cuddles *swoon*, addition, helicopters that maybe my kids see me as more than a mom. 

Maybe homeschooled kids see their 'teaching' parent as the one who holds a key to reading on their own.  To my four year old, it's like gold!  I know how to read, and if I show him how to read then he can read too.  Then, because I've given him the freedom of educating himself, Mr. Independent Four-Year-Old-Spiderman-Kid, then I'm the coolest thing since sliced bread.

I love it when he wears the robot costume while adding elephants to pineapples.

The four year old, not the husband.  Just clarifying...

Eleanor finally get's a new toy

These bad boys can cost anywhere from $26-$40 each, easily!  I balked at the idea of paying that much for a baby toy.  That's, like, for the new mom's to spend money on.  Walmart carries them for $30 but I question the quality, and for $30 it better come with a butler to do my dishes.  Once Upon A Child didn't even have one.  Bummer.  However one day I tagged along with a friend who has a Sam's Club membership and lo and behold- I found this awesome Baby Einstein's gym for $19.99!  Sweet!  I used my Christmas money and it came home with me that day.  The funny thing is, even Ernest will sit under it and look at all the bells and whistles it came with.  After looking at these pictures I'm noticing that the musical star isn't even attatched to it.  It was a great deal, thanks Sam's club and thank's Kim for having a Sam's Club membership.

Playing with her new toy.  

This picture speaks volumes of what I have in my home- books and toys, oh- and children.  The only thing missing from this picture is a gun of some sort.

Who is this intruder?  Can't a girl just have some down time with her puppy?

Behold, the Big Brother in his baseball pajamas.  He want's to see the puppy too!

While rolling ontop of her and kicking her face.  Not cool man.  Not cool. 

At least it was more like a "Here, smell my feet" kind of kick and not a soccer kick. 

Kid's gotta learn.

From here to there

I went from growing up there-

to living here.

Dear Kendal, why couldn't you have been from Tahiti?

Redipping the beaters

Thank you for 'helping' me make cookies.  However, when I gave you the beater to lick, I did not intend on you re-dipping them into the cookie batter for seconds.  Thanks, though, for not getting the clean dishes dirty in the meantime.

And yes, dear readers, this is ALL THE COUNTER SPACE I have in this kitchen.  Ridiculous.

Win a book!

There is a give away on http://www.raisingolives.com/ for the Large Family Logistics book! 

Late night learning

Tonight, all of the kids were in bed at 6:50.  This is not at all uncommon as we are acustomed to an "early to bed early to rise" mindset.  However, tonight Ethan came into the living room claiming hunger, thirst, and "mom, can I do school work?"  YES.  Never turn down an opportunity to "do school work".  I have noticed he has a preference towards math and numbers.  Writing, not so much.  He has a knack for numbers.  This is a giant flag waving Electrical Engineer, Physics Teacher, Nuclear Technician, etc.  Go child go!  Learn those numbers!

Our "school work" consists of a few workbooks, worksheets printed off the internet, and many MANY field trips.  The grocery store, bank, WalMart, park.  They are all field trips to me, a wealth of education waiting to be discovered. 

I'm not so much a late night person because I can hardly form a sentence past 8:30, but by golly if that kid has brainpower at 7 o'clock then have at it buddy.

Meenie, Miny, and Moe.  Lord have mercy.

The Griswold's take over Mall of America

Kendall worked two weeks in a row with no days off, so a 'vacation' of some sort was in order.  We like to do as much as possible as a family, whether it's going to church or Walmart to cleaning out the minivan.  Our lack of "family time" had taken it's toll and we were anxious for an adventure.

First stop- the airport!  We visited the Minneapolis Airport because it's only two exits away from MOA (Mall of America).  I remember my family pulling over to watch airplanes take off and land when visiting family in Dallas.  Now the tradition continues!  Plus, it was a nice pit stop for nursing Eleanor.  Here she is sporting her "Little Sister" onesie and her bonnet. 

Happy 3 Month Birthday to Eleanor in this picture as well!  THREE MONTHS OLD! 

She'll be asking for the keys to the car before I know it...

Nick studios has some cool games and rides but Ethan was completley unattracted to them.  He didn't even care there was a Spongebob and Patrick walking around in costume.  They did have a game where you could be the captain of a little boat and try to launch water on targets and ram other boats, but he was content moving the wheel around then walking away.

Legoland had a helicopter made out of Legos above us, which is what all three of my guys are looking at.  Boys just can't help but be enthralled by machine-stuff.

Nursing Eleanor.  There are NOT enough benches in that mall and the few they have are in the middle of the aisles where people can run a woman over!  No thanks!  This is off to the side where the guys could look out at the rides and I could nurse in peace.  Look at those little purple feet sticking out!



Kendall is holding Ernest and trying to inquire about a sleep number bed.  Ethan is laying down on the bed next to him.  This picture cracks me up!  We have kids everywhere!  Plus it's not too often you see a grown man holding a toddler with his other kid in tow and the sneaky mom nowhere to be found because she's giggling at the scene and taking pictures.

Dear Kendall, did you ever think the day would come that you'd be holding the hands of your two sons, each holding a balloon, and walking in the Mall of America?   This picture speaks volumes about Kendall's parenting.  He loves those boys.

Watch out world, here we come!  I wore Eleanor in my Sleepy Wrap, Ernest had the stroller, Ethan walked, we had one huge bag that we squeezed everything we could possibly need into, a blanket, and two tired parents.

I couldn't help but capture Ernest's melt down on camera.  The mall wear's me out too little buddy.