Spring Fever trumped by Winter Blues

The days are getting longer - which is great.

Unfortunately, with more light, we just realize how much winter is still left.

Spring Fever,

this year,

is setting in strong.

Which is odd, because it seems as if it is a much milder spring than last year.

Therein, probably, lies the reason we are chompin' at the bit for Spring to come.

Today,

staying indoors just did not seem like an option.

It was a beautiful sunny day.

A rarity for this part of the world.

It felt like spring was just around the corner,

although,

the temps were in the low 20's (f).



"I have the Power..."

huge icicle



After doing all that was necessary

(housework, homeschool, bills, etc.),

Lil' Monster and I decided to march outside just for a breath of fresh air.

It was late enough,

that Mr. Elskan,

who had arrived home from work,

just as we were walking out,

was able to join us.

We didn't go far,

just the end of the street - before we were to cold to continue on.

But it was enough.

20 minutes, was all it took.

But it was enough.

We ARE convinced...

it's STILL winter.

Can you see Lil' Monster's 3rd eye? He was a tri-clops for the day, and I apparently was a cone-head.

My snowball is bigger than yours - but who can throw farther?

After a fall - Pabbi to the rescue.

Deep snow

Running for safety

Trying to chuck the "snowball"



Highs and Lows

In our family, we occasionally play "Highs and Lows" at the Dinner Table.
We simply take turns telling each other what the HIGH point of our day was, and then share the LOW point of our day.
Some days it is nice to know that the "low" of one's day was merely "we had to take a nap" (wink, wink). Other times it helps to open up a conversation when our child has a "low" such as when a child was picking on him. It is also a great time for him to see how we as parents may suffer lows as well, and how we cope with them.
 Discussing our "highs," can lead to greater gratitude for all that God does. It also, teaches us that despite having lows in our life, we can still find "highs." Sometimes, the highs are as simple as "eating lunch" or as great as riding on a "four wheeler."

Today was a day of extreme high and an extreme low for Lil' Monster. 

It started out as a typical routine day. Wake up, eat breakfast head off to O.T., have a temper tantrum here and there, come home eat lunch, play, do some reading, some homeschool, and more play. Then the long wait for Pabbi to come home. His arrival brought something more than the simple joy of Pabbi, because Pabbi was carrying a big box is in his arms.

It had ARRIVED!

Lil' Monster's Package had finally come.

For Christmas, Lil' Monster received a "Where's Waldo" book from Santa. He quickly became enamored. Lil' Monster loves 'hidden pictures' and Where's Waldo fit the bill!

Since then Lil' Monster has been vying to own more of them. He pores over the one he has for hours. He has found all of the hidden objects, but he still sits and looks...never bored.

Today's was the arrival of an other Where's Waldo. One that Lil' Monster worked to earn money for, purchased online and then waited for.

He was just so enamored.

Then an hour later, Lil' Monster was running up the stairs, slipped and fell on his face, on the stair above, causing him to bite right through his tongue.

What a fright!

He has bit his tongue before, but this went almost all the way through. We rushed him to the E.R., where they helped the bleeding and swelling to go down. They talked about stitches. but didn't want to go down that path quite so soon. They sent us home, and warned if it did not start to heal in two days, they would put stitches in.

Lil' Monster was frightened between the pain and the large amount of blood. The E.R. was quite a trip. He was so happy to hear the Dr. recommend ice pops, ice cream, smoothies, and anything soft for the next several meals.

 The poor Lil' Monster was quite a trooper.

What a day of highs and lows.

Post Date: Things healed nicely, albeit it took several days. Luckily stitches were note required. He did enjoy copious amounts of cold soft treats for meals. He is going to have a scar for the rest of his life, but he still has a tongue.

Preschool Graduation

We are a homeschooling Family.

We LOVE it.

Lil' Monster is about to graduate from Preschool course to his Kindergarten course.

We have moved at a leisurely pace throughout the Pre-K Sonlight course,

as we believe every day is an education,

and

we fit our education around our life experiences;

which over the past couple of years has had numerous changes with lots of ups and downs.

We love the Sonlight program for its flexibility to accommodate families and their lives.

.

Today 

Lil' Monster finished off one of his last "assignments."

Over the past year, as we have studied the Alphabet using Dr. Seuss,

I noticed that Lil' Monster was able to recite the words.

This made him feel as if he was reading.

What a glorious skill reading is.

He kept this skill a secret from Mr. Elskan.

He wanted to surprise him.

Surprise him he did,

when he 'read' the WHOLE book to him.

What a proud moment! 

Post Update:

Here is Lil' Monster with his diploma

Soon, we will begin his year of kindergarten.

Lil' Monster can't hardly wait!



The Land of the Free...Candy

Last year for Independance Day,

we were blessed with BEAUTIFUL weather,

so we went the Distance. (Read about it Here)

This year we stuck closer to home.

We attended the Independence Parade in our neighboring city.

We arrived early and placed ourselves at the beginning mark of the route.

Bundled up, as it was freezing.

By the end of the parade

we could hardly feel our fingers and noses were running.

 Nevertheless, our hearts and souls were warm with joy.

Waiting for it to begin.

As each float, car, or group passed us by, something or other was handed out:

such as flags, sweets, advertisements for local happenings, and more sweets.

This cute group of senior women had a dance they performed.

These deafening bikes thrilled Lil' Monster and about made Mamma deaf for an hour.

Each child received a bag to hold their treats.
Lil' Monster filled his to the brim by the end.

Pabbi and Mamma had to hold his bag so he could have free hands to chase after the candy.

We've never seen so much candy! I, along with other parade-watching Mammas, all tried to give each other their children's candy so we didn't go home with so many bags. Lil' Monster did not even care about the candy - he just liked to chase into the street to grab what was thrown.

Pabbi and I joked that this parade was easier than Halloween. For Halloween, we have to dress the up in costumes, take him from door to door (or in some cases trunk to trunk) to collect a bag full of candy. However, for this Holiday, the paraders have to come decked out and in costumes, with tricks, and they walk block after block passing the candy out....

Motorcycles, sports cars, buses, go-carts....

vehicle after vehicle.

The boy LOVED it!

Since it ended up raining we were unable to have a typical All-American BBQ post-parade.

So we settled on the next best All American meal:

Pizza.

Then we curled up together and Thanked God for our Freedom to enjoy.

We also prayed that Uncle M and his fellow soldiers currently in the Middle East were protected.

Thank you Uncle M for fighting for us.

Thanks Auntie B for your sacrifice.

Happy Independence Day!

First Pickin's of the Season

The other day I was on the porch, cleaning....when Lil' Monster calls to me..

 Mamma! I have a surprise for you!!

Flowers! For you.

Because I love you so much!

They are the first flowers of the season...

he picked them just to tell me how he felt.

Warmed my heart, and brought tears of joy to my eyes.

I love this little guy!

Mini-Model for Iceland

When Mr. Elskan, returned from his trip

(to bring up the rest of our stuff from storage)

he brought along a package from dear Amma and Avi.

In it, was the much beloved rain coat/pant set

(Icelanders know how to make decent the best rain/wind clothes - as they should);

Lil' Monster were elated!

He (our clothes horse) was especially delighted

 because his old set was so tight and so uncomfortable.

He immediately dressed and then modeled them.

 I think he should be Iceland's face for such clothing - don't you?!

Where does he learn to do this

- as we don't watch TV, have magazines with models, or shop...?

Maybe he was born with it ;) ?

He was very excited because it rained for several days after.

{Preparing Children to Choose}



Wise parents prepare their children to get along without them. They provide opportunities for growth as children acquire the spiritual maturity to exercise their agency properly. And yes, this means children will sometimes make mistakes and learn from them.

~~~~ Elder Larry Y. Wilson ~~~~