Snake Bus

So I started teaching James how to read. I know he's only 3 1/2, but, believe me, it's totally no pressure. He already knows all his letters and sounds, so, reading comes next, right? We're using reading rods, which are little interlocking blocks that each have a letter on it. From what I understand, using tactile skills enhances visual learning. Anyhow, this is how today's lesson went:

Me: James, put these letters together: b, u, and s. What sound does "b" make?
James: Buh.
Me: What sound does "u" make?
James: Uh.
Me: What sound does "s" make?
James: Sss.
Me: OK, now, let's put those blocks and sounds together. What does it say?
James: Buh-uh-sss.
Me: Again. Faster.
James: Buh-uh-sss.
Me: You're doing it! Again!
James: Buh-uh-sss!
Me: Yay! What does it say?
James: Snake!

I guess that saying "You get what you pay for" currently applies to James's education.

3:10 to Arcadia

Sunday was my birthday and Josephine surprised me with a rare gift - A whole day off. I spent the morning doing our taxes and trimming some grass. Then I thought, "What am I doing?" After cleaning up I got in my car and tried to figure out what to do. There were too many options. I wandered to Costco then settled on renting movies and heading to Arcadia. Josephine had arranged for me to get an uninterrupted night of sleep at Hotel Golden West (the guest house at my brother-in-law's).

So, I grabbed a burger at Tops and two movies and settled in to "cocoon". It was very quiet. I ate my whole lunch without interruption while watching the movie. After 3:10 to Yuma I pondered my next step - another movie? take a nap? listen to my thoughts?

Well, the strangest thing happened. I couldn't relax. It was too quiet and I missed Josephine and the boys. After the movie I spent 30 minutes going back and forth. Should I stay or should I go? It was weird. Here I had what I thought I wanted - peace and quiet. In the end, the silence was deafening.

I went inside and chatted with Laurence, Cina, Lolo, AJ and Lea. I explained why I was leaving and about 9 p.m. I headed home. The boys were asleep when I arrived and I ended up watching the other video - Battlestar Galactica in bed with Josephine at my side - as it should be.

Then around 11 pm I put my head down on the pillow to sleep. Right then Jedidiah woke up and cried for about an hour. Then Jack woke up and cried as well. But eventually they both went back to sleep. I slept on the couch while Jed watched Baby Einstein and eventually slept. Josephine collapsed in bed after finally getting Jack back to sleep.

Normally, it would bother me but this time I was glad to be home. Tired but glad.

Funny thing is on Saturday afternoon, I left around 3 p.m. and headed back home around 9 p.m. Left at 3 and gone for 6 hours. 36.

Happy 36th Birthday to me!

Who let these dogs out?

Nana sent all the boys a card for Valentine's Day, but it's not just any card - it's one of those that plays a song when you open it. The last time she sent one of these, it was for Thanksgiving and the song was "Another One Bites the Dust" - Jonah and James still love opening and closing that card to no end. So, this video is what happens "when the dogs are let out". Check out James the second time they play the card, after Justin tells them "Again!"

I think James' antics are his conscious way of making up for the first year of his life, which was filled with colic, sleepless nights, and lots of neediness. That's when we thought FOR SURE we'd stop at two. ;-) Now he's this character who will do anything for a laugh. And he's showing off all the dancing skillz he got from his mom.

So Tired

So within the past few weeks, our family has gotten "what's going around". All four boys had ear infections at the same time (do the math: 2x4=8 ears infected), had to take medicine at the same time, and were generally irritable at the same time. Justin and I had colds at the same time, so our house was pretty much sick bay. After 10 long days of giving everyone antibiotics 3 times a day (do the math: 4x3x10=120 doses of medicine), we got better - until this week. Jack got a cold, and, thankfully, it was only a cold and so far no one else has gotten it. Funny thing is, this picture is of Jed, but it might as well be any of us. Living in a house of 6 people sure is tiring. I wish I had my own adult-sized exersaucer that I could take a nap in. I wish I could take a nap - anywhere, for that matter.