Bunked!

Friday evening a friend stopped by to drop off her book order.  We were chatting about the area university having a surplus sale and I mentioned that I was trying to decide if it was worth dragging 4 kids along this Wednesday to try to score a $15 set of bunk beds that they were advertising.  She asked where I wanted to put bunk beds (I mean, our house IS full) and I told her we wanted them in the girls' room so they could get some of their floor space back.  We didn't want high ones, but I figured for $15 Mike might be able to cut them down and they'd work.  Low and behold she said, "well we have bunk beds on our porch getting ready to go to the clothes nook (local thrift store) for donation."  They had been doing some room rearranging themselves and decided to get rid of this older set of bunk beds.  How exciting!  Is that God or what?  And the bunk beds are low - not super tall ones like metal ones.  Perfect!  She cautioned me that they needed painted, and this summer I hope to haul them back outside to to freshen them up, but for now we have two very happy little girls! 

It took Natalee awhile to conquer the ladder.  This daily physical therapy will be excellent for her!  She loves laying on her bunk and reading!

Little britches scaled the ladder in 30 seconds!

Xavier is trying so hard to be happy and not jealous.  He wants a roommate so badly.  Soon enough, son!

Their room looks so much bigger.  We switched Ameliya and Xavier's mattresses, because Xavier's was a thinner foam pad mattress, which gives Ameliya more head room on her bottom bunk.  Plus it was time for Xavier to have a thicker "real" mattress.  He felt special to at least get a little something new to him out of the deal.

 I was reminded that I actually disdain putting sheets on bunk beds.  Ha. 

I had a hard time sleeping the first night, worried that Natalee would fall out.  She told me tonight that she's never gotten close to the edge when she sleeps and she's not worried.  I suppose I should trust her seven year old wisdom.  Mike did say he could easily attach a rail to her bed but she wasn't too interested in having one.  I might still creep in at night and shove a pillow beside her to keep her snug against the wall.  We didn't put Ameliya's bed rails on and she did roll out the first night but since then we've put her big stuffed Minnie on that side of her and she's stayed tucked in.  Luckily her's was a short tumble.

 

"Ameliya, please take your fingers out of your mouth for a picture," which apparently translated to stick out your tongue.

 

Thank you, James and Shela, for your kindness to our family!  Mike is especially relieved to mark this project off his summer "to build" list.  

Spring Co-op

The house was a-twitter with excitement this morning as it was day one of spring co-op.  We have over thirteen families participating this term and, while several were absent for our first week, it was bustling today and next week it'll be even more so!

I was in charge of elementary book club this morning and the Space Station Shine-a-Light book was a huge hit!  We made spaceman portholes and finished our 45 minutes by reading Living in Space and had a good chuckle at the astronauts having to wear seat belts to go potty in space.

After book club, we split the children into two age groups and two other moms hosted art.  My kids love art and I appreciate them having access to this class. 

 They made sea salt paintings.

 

 

 

Upper age art worked on an acrylic painting - the results were looking beautiful.  

Here's the Tator Tot ready to go to co-op.  She had three bags packed but I convinced her to leave all but one of them at the house.  She chose her very special Minnie Mouse bow.

All in all it was a wonderful morning, and we're looking forward to next week!

Backpack Boy

One of the things the OMM suggested when I had Zayden checked last week was to make sure he's getting up in the Ergo often to maintain his leg flexibility in those areas where he's almost hypertonic.  I do use a wrap and a ring sling but he's a very classic "seat popper" because of his superman leg strength so I'm grabbing the Ergo more and more because of it's ease.  It isn't recommended you back carry in an Ergo until baby is sitting independently, however I knew Superman could handle it.  He has excellent head and upper body control and is well on his way to sitting solo.  {Don't do it just because I did...know your baby.}  He liked it - he did get sleepy and I realized I can't get his paci to his mouth.  I guess with Ameliya being a finger sucker I never dealt with that.  Xavier helped him with his pacifier when he needed it.  It was a very easy up and he enjoyed the scenery!

I love this picture - his face is precious.

(It's also recommended you not babywear with baby in footy PJs, lest the jammies become too snug in the toe and cause circulation difficulties.  Again, know your baby and check on him/her.  I checked his feet and he was a-ok.)

I predict many more adventures on mama's back in the near future.  It might be the only way I can keep track of this one!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

As a homeschool mom you often have two choices - to do or not to do.  Ha.  When you work at a public school, as I once did, others "expect" things of you...when your teammates are doing fun celebratory crafts and activities you need to do them also or your class is missing out.  Plus, parents kind of expect to see those darling little things come home (so they can throw them away two weeks later!).  Anyhow, when you homeschool, no one is really checking in to see if you are doing crafts and activities like this.  So...it's easy not to.  It's not as though my hubby comes home and asks where our weekly cut and paste is.  However, when I take the time, it always brings excitement to the house!

On that note...today we celebrated Dr. Seuss.  

We read books...

(Xavier asked me to tape this WHOLE story...it's so long...but I obliged.  He likes to watch them later.)

We watched Sneetches and Green Eggs and Ham on DVD.

And, most fun of all, we did a craft!

 The stripes were painted with cotton balls held by clothespins dipped in paint.

 Mia loves to craft!

 The end result was pretty cute!  Cat in the hat masks!

 

 Our dear Natalee, who is not too old for crafts yet, thankfully!

 

Mr. Shifty Eyes who can't look forward.

 Messy Mia - she thought this was hilarious.

 

Precious Zayden.  I put him at the table to "craft" with us, intending to keep him awake until 10, which is his morning nap time, but he couldn't hack it today.  His toys couldn't even keep him interested!  Sweet baby.

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Mama's Girl

Mama's girl...

 Mama's sweet little girl.

(She got to go to Nannie and Vance's to play for awhile this weekend.  In her bag she has peaches, and PB&J, pants, undies, and a beaded necklace.)

 Oh Mia...if we'd stopped at 2 kids we would have missed out on YOU.

 Love you, silly girl!

Too Big? Too Strong?

Zayden Samuel is a big strong boy.  After talking a lot with Mike, I actually made him an appointment with an OMM this week because we were concerned that he was "too strong" and "too stiff."  We were having trouble getting his legs bent up to go in the Ergo, his limbs always seemed so stiff to us, he arches his back a lot.... It's a very fine line to cross when it comes to knowing whether your child isn't doing something because they can't or won't.  

The OMM examined him all over and agreed that he does hold himself stiffly, however all his tone was fine.  She did work his back in one spot, but otherwise he checked out a-okay.  Yep, that's right, I took my kid to a doctor to have someone tell me he's a stubborn trouble causer!

See his torso and legs up and off the ground in the bottom right picture?  Superman!

 Such an ornery little sugar!

He's started reaching and playing with toys, and a couple of times I've seen him roll from his back to tummy.  He's also scooting around by pushing his feet.  He IS strong!

 

Friday night Andrea and I (and tag-along Zayden) went to help Lauren put together her baby's new crib.  Zayden checked the crib and bassinet for quality and comfort!

 

I gave Zayden a bath in the big bath tub last night.  He wasn't a fan, but he'll get there!

We love you, our very strong little man!  Even if you are stubborn!