Weekend Moments

I bought frozen wild blueberries for Jeremy to use for smoothies. Anna got into them and found that she LOVES blueberries. She greeted Grandma and Grandpa looking like this.

Blowing dandelions

Josiah really enjoys when Daddy builds cars with him.

A literal tree hugger. Aliza heard us talking about this tree dying and needing to be cut down. She was so upset. She's named the tree Abigail.

Crooked, fake smile and all. I think he's a cutie.

Learning to catch.

I heard so much laughter and giggling while they were playing catch with Daddy.

Hymnal for the digital age?! The computer used to project song words was forgotten so Jeremy emailed the list to my phone and Grandad scrolled through. It made me giggle. I can see it though--worship leaders emailing song lists to congregation.

Grandma Karen managed to get them to smell the crab apple blossoms for a picture.

Waiting for the Alice in Wonderland Ballet to start.

This is where Aliza sat during the entire ballet. She doesn't like the fold up chairs. She is sure they will fold up on her and squish her. I was tempted to be annoyed and then I remembered there are only so many more ballets that she will want to sit on my lap.

It was a colorful, fast moving story. I really enjoyed it.

Planting and Oil Changes

 There is nothing like a spring day to be at my parent's house watching Josiah enjoy the company of his Great Grandad and Grandad. I looked out at the garden and shop so many times today thinking how lucky Josiah is...and how lucky his Great Grandad is.

First order of business this morning was planting the garden. Potatoes first.

Josiah wanted so badly to break off those "hairs". It completely mystified him that those are roots and will grow.

 Long rows...

After the potatoes were covered, Josiah walked beside Great Grandad while he used the seeder to plant carrots, beets, and green beans, I think. They also worked together to put stakes in at the end of each row.

Later, Grandad was ready to change the oil is the cars. This was a first experience for Josiah since Jeremy doesn't change oil. Dad showed them the dip stick.

 

 Then how to read the oil level on the dip stick.

Josiah laid under the car to watch the old oil drain into the pan.

Josiah came into the house telling my Mom that the old oil exploded on his pants. He had oil spots all over his pants. Josiah told me it went kapoosh! I'm not sure what acutally happened. I had to giggle though...Mom told me to use Shout generously on the pants. My Gramma told me to throw them away or at least to wash them alone so they wouldn't ruin other clothes. Me? I would have just thrown them in with the regular wash. Nevertheless, they have a generous amount of Shout stain remover on them. We'll see what happens.

Here's a Little Random

 Since two people have asked me when I'm blogging in the last half hour, I figured I should come up with something!

We have been outside this week enjoying the warm weather. Sorry Mideast and West Coast friends. You should all come visit me! =)

It was very exciting to have my cousin and her family for dinner on Wednesday. They live in Arizona so, obviously, we don't see them often.

If I put Josiah in the car between 4 and 6pm he falls asleep just about instantly. A friend of Aliza's was quite put out that Josiah uses a pink car seat. He has never minded. I remember my weak moment when Aliza desperately wanted the pink car seat and common sense said to go with a neutral color.

I read a memoir (I really enjoy memoirs) this week by Jaycee Dugard. She was abducted at age 11 and held captive in the abductors backyard for 18 years. I can't wrap my head around how long 18 years is in a situation like that. That was a book I had to read fast.

This morning we attended the Mennonite church that my family moved to Maryland for. It was 11 years since I had been to the church on a Sunday morning. I felt like I was entering a time machine. I kept telling my children that this was a fancy church and they had to be really quiet. The church my children are used to is very informal. After church I was given the beautiful flowers that graced the front of the church this morning. All from this lady's yard. As long as I can stand the pollen, I'm going to really enjoy this on our dining room table.

We have 5 or 6 weeks of school left. I'm keeping us moving because summer is in sight and I'm going to be ready for the change of pace. Now that the nicer weather is here to stay (mostly) I need to keep school as priority. It was pretty hard to have school in the evening or after dark last week.

How's that for a little bit of random?!

Communicating with Signs

 At the beginning of the school year Aliza was really interested in learning Spanish. She has done well in Spanish this year and we will continue learning Spanish next year. Recently her interest has turned towards learning Sign Language. I think my daughter just likes to communicate. I KNOW she likes to communicate...with anyone and everyone who will look at her and listen!

I'm not sure how sign language was brought to her attention recently. I know she has heard of it, but last week she started asking me to look up specific signs...on my phone. It wasn't working well. I tried to find some youtube tutorials, but most were advertisements to buy teaching DVDs. Anyway, I told Aliza that we would look for a book and DVD next time we went to the library. (I had a moment when I thought that a "good" home school Mom would drop everything and run to the library to capitalize on an interest, but I nixed that thinking! I figured if the interest and anticipation lasted a few days it would be a good for her.) As it turned out the children were sick the day we planned to go to the library. I planned an escape and went to the library on Saturday, by myself, and I got to pick out the DVD and book.

I did a good job too! Aliza finally felt good enough yesterday to pick up the book and watch the DVD--twice in a row. The DVD has catchy songs and teaches very useful signs. It really built her confidence.

The book--Aliza carries it around--as one might carry around a Spanish-English dictionary in a Spanish speaking country. Aliza signs to me her requests and feelings. This is has added an interesting twist to my day. For one, I must stop and look at her. She may or may not let me know that she is "speaking" to me. Secondly, she improvises her signs. This is good because it's like playing charades. It helps me fill in the blanks.  Third, once she has learned a sign, she expects me to remember it! I must learn as fast and thoroughly as she does!

 I'm not complaining. It's awesome that she wants to learn and can read and study the signs to figure them out.

 The most satisfying part to me is that when she thinks of a word that she needs a sign for she turns to glossary to look it up. This means that she is applying all of the dictionary, reading, spelling and alphabetical order skills that have been drilled all year. Now she plans to check out another sign language DVD next time we visit the library.

We are loving the few days of hot (spring? summer?) weather we are having this week. Josiah wanted to get Daddy soda at the grocery store this week and he convinced me to buy him some small bottles (must stop taking him to the store with me!!) for himself. He carried that bottle around outside and drank it like he was one cool dude.

Heslop Family Headlines

 As reported and photographed by Aliza. Tuesday, April 2.

Abandoned Bird Feeder

Clothes-less Boy

Gentle Mom. Mom is trying to get Josiah a midnight snack.

Mommy is trying to get the camera back from me. Bossy Boots.

Flarp. EXCUSE YOU!!!

 Wednesday, April 3.

Gnarly hair, Dude!

Messy Room

Awwww. Anna is sick in bed.

American?

Mommy Princess. Getting ready for the day.

Book Stop. Daddy puts his work folder beside the bed at night.

Messy Desk. Mom has too much stuff on her desk.

Data hog. I put too much stuff on my own calendar.

Sugarplum. I like to put snowflakes and fairies in my room.

Monster! Anna touched the camera lens.

Moments in a Week

It has not been the easiest week for me. Anna woke up Sunday night with a fever. Monday morning Aliza and Josiah were scheduled for annual well checks. I didn't have anyone to stay with Anna so I headed to the doctor with 2 apprehensive children and a sick toddler. I understood Aliza's nervousness, but she did nothing to make the visit easy on me. Josiah settled down when he found out that he didn't need any shots. Anna held up pretty well. I was just left with a mental battle the rest of the day after the doctor told me I needed to make significant changes to eating habits and that "children need to be able to obey their parents even when they are asked to do something they don't want to do." As I said, Aliza didn't make anything easy for me! Ah well. I'm survived my mental battle. I'm a good Mom. There is a high probability that my children will become confident, independent, responsible adults.

Monday evening Aliza and I were sitting at the table doing school. I was still struggling with myself. The day was long and hard and when Anna wasn't napping I was holding her. School was a struggle. We got to composition and the assignment was to write about something that you want to learn to do. Aliza thought for a minute and she sat down and started writing.

This felt like a huge milestone. Up until now, Aliza has dictated her composition. I've written it and she has copied it onto her paper. My theory was that at some point she would realize it would be just as easy or easier to write it on her own. It happened!!! When she got to a word she wasn't sure how to spell, she wrote it on a scrap of paper and I corrected it. (She got tired of that routine by the last sentence.) This is the process her teacher has been encouraging for most of the year. After a tough day, this really lifted my spirits.

Tuesday. Anna woke up quite hot. She said ouch off and on, but I couldn't really pin down where she was hurting. I held her all day. She ate very little. At supper I realized that we were out of apple juice and milk. I HAD to go to the store in the one hour that Jeremy was home before he left again for Bible study. Josiah really really wanted to go with me. In fact he gave up his Minecraft time to go with me. He was a most excellent shopping companion. He talked to me the whole time. As we were heading to the check out he saw the display of flowers and insisted on picking out a bouquet for me. I would have been out of my mind to deny him this. He picked a bouquet of daisies.

He stuck his head over the back seat as I put groceries in the trunk and asked to hold the flowers on the way home. I was happy to oblige. He said, "Mommy, do you know why I wanted to get you flowers? Because I love you." So so sweet. Completely melted me heart. And made my day. 

Wednesday found me sitting in immediate care with Anna. Her temp was 103.2 and she had a double ear infection. It happened to be a day that my Mom was off work and she could watch Aliza and Josiah. What a help that was! Because Anna did not make it easy for me at the Dr! Anna is feeling much better today.

I'm looking forward to some warmer days ahead and I'm thankful that tomorrow is Friday.

Joy Dare::March

166. 3pm quiet time
167. "What is in the heart is what the heart knows."

168. Celebrating my brother's birthday at Mom and Dad's house means I don't have to cook supper tonight!
169. A bald eagle sitting beside the road and flying in front of us.
170. Brother and sisters giving good night hugs and kisses.
171. Giving thanks while laying between my girls--waiting for them to fall asleep
172. Two braids tied with ribbon
173. Birthday lunch with Mommy and "the girls"

174. Warm coats
175. An early start to the day--hard thanks
176. 3 helpers in the grocery store--hard thanks
177. Supper helpers

178. Children's enthusiasm for morning
179. Found: the first bloom

180. Broom and dustpan
181. A nephew napping on my shoulder
182. Parents with children grown to look up to
183. "Amazing grace in your self-talk--makes everything amazing." Ann Voscamp
184. Decorated birthday cakes
185. Meals I don't cook
186. Groceries bought and put away
187. Birthday party anticipation
188. Welcoming Grandma and Grandpa and Joel and Brandi
189. Open doors
190. Happy husband going golfing
191. First sermon notes
192. Brother bringing sister flowering weeds
193. Our families singing Happy Birthday in lovely harmony
194. Aliza reading to a feverish Anna so I could get dressed

195. Holding a sick little girl all day
196. "If we pray the work...if we do it to Jesus, if we do it for Jesus, if we do it with Jesus...that's what makes us content." Mother Teresa
197. Very dark, gray clouds
198. Remembering the baby I got to hold and take care of last summer--on his first birthday
199. Sunlight while I cook supper
200. Time to relax in the evening
201. Toys in surprising places

202. Sliver of moon
203. Holding hands
204. Blessed Be the Name of the Lord played over the speaker in the restaurant
205. Friday--Daddy came home from work early.
206. 3 children swinging golf clubs
207. Picking up the children from a slumber party with Grandma and Grandad
208. Family meeting
209. Spending time at the park with new friends
210. Found a missing library book!
211. Learning about money

212. A surprise covering of snow this morning
213. Making a choice to smile at my children--who are particularly whiney
214. The change in energy when Daddy comes home
215. 3 meals
216. Cookies and milk
217. Blowing bubbles in chocolate milk

218. Read a magazine
219. Josiah discovered he loves pumpkin bread
220. Great big snowflakes--on the first day of spring

221. A daughter who stays awake until I come home
222. Talking while a friend cooks for me!
223. Daffodils along the road
224. The boy who got sick in the car had a bucket beside him and used it.
225. Helped someone who has helped me
226. Making a daughter's dream a reality

227. Dinner with the Heslop ladies and "the girls"

228. Waiting
229. Brandi ready my thyroid scrapbook and told me she cried often--a sister of the heart
230. Reminders that the most important accomplishment of the day is nurturing and teaching your children
231. The way the house lightens when the sun comes out from behind a cloud
232. Winter--almost gone
233. A husband who can fix the noisy fan on the school computer
234. Smooth sailing school day
235. Learning to say: supercalifragilisticexpealidoshous
236. Noticing buds on trees as I'm driving
237. "Mommy when we say thank you to God we should raise our hands as high as we can and shout THANK YOU GOD so everyone hears." Aliza
238. Spring decorations remind us of new life

239. Stopping to contemplate Jesus' death with Aliza
240. Muscles feeling used

241. A friend sharing coupon purchases
242. The first golf tournament of the year--hard thanks
243. Uncovering areas of lukewarm faith in me
244. Heard my children singing in church
245. Woke up with Scripture going through my mind
246. Jesus is alive! Josiah was singing the Ron Kenoly just before he fell asleep tonight.