October 2022

October was a very busy month.  

We started off with a trip to the pumpkin patch.  Lucy wasn't sure to make of some of it but I think the apple cider doughnuts won her over.

That weekend we watched General Conference.  It was a spiritual feast.  

Then on Monday we went to the aquarium.  We were studying oceans and lakes this month and it was the perfect way to start the month.  The boys were in heaven.  Atticus kept saying, "This is the best day ever!"

On Wednesday we found out the gender of our little one who is due in February.  We are so excited to share our news!  "The Fourth is with us.... and he's a boy!"

That Friday we went to the Renaissance Fair.  We ended up spending all our time in the Pirate area and the boys loved it!  They watched a cannon and gun demonstration, made pirate maps and flags, watched swashbuckling pirates fight on stage and did much more.  It was so fun.

Next came the Primary Program.  It was my first time ever heading one up and so I struggled to manage my stress.  Fortunately, everything went great and I feel like we all had a wonderful, uplifting experience. 

Primary program recording:

https://youtu.be/l3jvNXLYX6g

Phew!  I am so happy it's over.  It feels like a huge weight is off my shoulders.

Then, of course, came Hinckley's birthday and Halloween.  

Unfortunately, Hinckley woke up the night before his party with a barking cough and a sick tummy.  After staying up with him a good part of the night I realized we would need to postpone the party for a couple weeks.  Thankfully, my sweet mom had planned to come that day and decided to brave the trip, even after our long night.  Her trip saved the day and made our weekend so special.  

We still tried to give Hinckley the royal treatment, especially since the next day, other than some stuffiness, he really didn't seem very sick.  I had made a giant cake for his party so we cut into it on his birthday and made fettuccine alfredo, which is a favorite of all the men folk in these parts.  

Although he was so disappointed at first when we postponed the party Hinckley recovered quickly and then he was the sweetest little birthday boy.  He woke up that morning and told me, "I feel different... My legs feel different!"  Later that day he told our good friend, "Ms. Kate!  I'm SOOO much older now!"  He was so grateful for each of the presents he received and has played happily with them ever since.  I think five is going to be a good year for this handsome little guy.

The next day was Bobba's birthday and all three kiddos drew him some fun cards.  

Of course, the day after that was Halloween and there were plenty of festivities to celebrate.

At the ward Trunk r Treat our judges gave our cute Lucy 1st place for her costume as Rey.  

And somehow my ghost chili placed in the cook-off!  What a pleasant surprise.

We went with a Star Wars theme (again!) Atticus went as Kylo Ren, Hinckley as Luke Skywalker and Lucy as Rey.  I joined them as the Death Star.

Lucy loved all of it, dancing to the music at the Trunk r Treat and walking way further than we'd expected on Halloween night. She kept talking about "cahnies" all night and her first word was "cahnies" when she woke up the next morning.  She even started saying "Ti-teet" to our neighbors toward the end.  At the last house she added "Ha-aa--eeen!" after telling them "Dat doo."  I'm assuming it was her version of "Happy Halloween!"

Atticus had a very successful month as far as soccer is concerned.  He scored at four games in a row, scoring twice at one game and getting a hat trick at another.  It seemed he just needed to gain confidence with that first goal.  As I've said before, it is so fun to watch him play.  He has so much energy, he positions himself so well, and his ball handling skills are amazing.

 

Atticus's artwork is also improving.  He's usually in such a hurry that I can't see what he's capable of but every so often he really concentrates.  When he slows down he does a wonderful job.

The boys have been catching crickets on and off all month.  At one point they had caught 19.  While they are not my favorite critter their excitement can be contagious.

His confidence and skill continue to grow with his piano playing.  I love listening and try to sit down with him to do duets or show him new songs at least for a few minutes each day.  This month marks the first time he's ever written a song on the piano.  He played it for me repeatedly and I was able to write it on some composition paper.  We absolutely love that he enjoys himself enough to be creating new songs.    

We're also pleased to report that Atticus has chosen to be baptized.  It will be in December.  Dane took him to a nearby park and took this fantastic picture.  I feel like it captures our little man- his playfulness but also his goodness and incredible potential- so perfectly.  Best of all, we were able to forever capture his toothless smile. I love it so much. Sometimes I hope those top teeth never grow in. 

Atticusism:

• "Woah!  You got bigger today!... I mean..." (sheepish laugh) "The baby got bigger..."

Oh, Hinckley.  As I mentioned earlier, he turned five this month.  He weighed in that morning at 38 lbs and when we measured him he was 40 inches.  

While he is starting to get mouthier (sigh!) he can also be the best peacemaker.

His artwork is really becoming impressive.  Once again, our wall is getting covered with Hinckley drawings.  This time, however, they aren't all of Batman.  They're beautiful, fully colored pictures of his favorite animals or of Jesus.  I love them and, as far as I'm concerned, he can wallpaper the place.  I love how much confidence he's gaining. 

Similarly, his handwriting is getting so much better.  He asked to write out all the invitations for his party and I am just treasuring the way he wrote them.

I wish I could capture just how much we enjoy this kid who plays his new guitar and sings at the top of his lungs, who always wants to help me in the kitchen and who always remembers Lucy, his itty bitty baby brother Israel and everyone else around him.

Hinckley speaks:

• "Why is he whistling?" (About President Russell M. Nelson while he was talking.)
• "Is President Nelson still alive?" (While we were watching him speak!)
• ("Are you ready to get up?")  "No.  My goose head still hurts." 
• "Mom's not fat, Atticus!  She's pregnant!"  (But see the next day...)
• "It looks like Mommy's got two bums!" (We all died laughing.  It's true!)
• ("Why did Mom take your blanket?") "Because she's a mean 'ole witch!" (He had slapped me in the face with the blanket just a few minutes earlier.)
• "Mom, what does human meat taste like?" ("Hinckley!!") "No!  I mean a dead human!" (he said it so defensively.)
• "I'm all done guitaring" (putting down his new guitar.)
• "If Lucy tries to touch my statue I'm going to pick her up and slam her on the couch." ("Hinckley!") "I'll do it softly!"
• "I wish Israel was here." (while we were hiking on a beautiful day.) "Can he hear me?" 

Our little Lucy is so stinking cute.  She loves to make us laugh by hopping around wherever we go.  She tells us she's bouncing.  Whatever it is, it's adorable.  

She's getting faster on her balance bike.  On Halloween she glided on her balance bike for the first time.  She did fall shortly afterward so she might be careful for a while but she's definitely getting the feeling.

She loves the "Freeze Dance" and this month she has started singing single words from "The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock."  She does almost all the actions.  It is so cute!

She has started "reading" scriptures with us (one word at a time) and she is putting more and more words together.  She's still hesitant and shy but I'm not a bit worried at all.

Listen to Lucy:

• "A-muls/Adimals" (animals)
• "Pan-died!" (Bandaid- for herself or anyone else who looks even remotely distressed.)
• "Bay-downd" (Playground.)
• "Bebe" (She is just LOVING babies.)
• "Bops" (her crocs/shoes)
• "Nean up!" (Clean up)
• "Kine up" (Climb up)

Homeschool Updates:

One of my favorite things we did this month was this little art/writing activity.  Atticus enjoyed it so much he asked if he could do a second one.  While making it he said, "Thank you so much for having us do this!"  No complaints from this teacher!

This month we started our studies with pirates, reading Peter Pan again (it's so good and the boys begged me).  

We finished up the book Freckles during the first half of the month.  Although I was surprised with a little bit of mild language (so we had to read it, rather than listen to a librivox recording) it was a good book with some VERY exciting parts.

We then moved on to Spain, finding out some not so fun family history (the boys are related to some conquistadors... then again, they're also related to Native Americans... and a whole host of other ethnicities!)  We read and watched Ferdinand again, ate sopa de lentejas and spanish rice (delicious!) 

and churros (not great!  we'll go somewhere else next time).  

We also made castinets.  The castinets were such a hit!  Even Lucy decorated hers and loved them.

Next we studied Holland.  Man, we loved it.  We ate stroopwafels with (Dutch) hot chocolate, 

had yummy Dutch stamppot with split pea soup and tried some yummy Dutch gouda cheese.  We also made some fun tulip paintings and read Wheel on the School, among many other great books and stories based in Holland. 

Another fun update that is related to home school is that we have a garden!  We had dirt delivered (right before the primary program, actually- that timing was terrible...) and planted some fun winter vegetables.  Some are doing awesome, some aren't doing great but it's so fun to have something growing.  And one of the tomato plants that I started back in March is finally doing so well! 

As busy and stressful as the month has been, we have so many blessings to count.

September 2022

September started with a bang as we celebrated our sweet Lucy's second birthday.  Since Dane's cousin Miquelle was being married a couple days before we decided to hold a family party with her up in Utah.  It was a rare treat!

She didn't like the frosting on her cake and she was really shy with so much attention at first... but as soon as a giant balloon came out she became her lively little self as she wrestled with it.  And when she opened her balance bike her eyes lit up like crazy.  We couldn't get her off of it!  She is still enjoying it quite a bit.  She is also loving a little scooter that Hinckley was given a couple years ago.  He never took to it but she sure has.

Speaking of our little two-year-old, she has started wearing our smallest Spider-Man "cos-oom" all the time.  It drowns her and has the funniest muscles for a little girl... it can be hard to keep a straight face as she follows Hinckley around and mimics his punching/web-spinning sounds.  It's funny- I can't get her to wear the princess dresses we have so far but she will put any costume, shoes, or clothing on that she has seen one of us wear. 

She continued her swim lessons for roughly half of September.  Even though she never did stop kicking she managed to pass her summer clothes test.  She still has some things to learn but she can float for at least a good minute which is a priceless skill for us.

She is loving books so, so much.  Her very favorites right now are Goodnight Moon, a sweet one called Two to Cuddle and a random one- Art & Max. She was carrying that last book around everywhere for a couple weeks and asking all of us to read it to her.  After you say, "Arthur" in the book she always repeats it, "Arfur?!" And she's starting to repeat more words in her little squirrel voice, "A-da!" for "Tada!" and "Oserous" when it says "preposterous."  It's absolutely adorable.

She still wants to wear dresses all the time (we often settle on a dress with pajama bottoms at night time since she hates the nightgown we have for her.) but she's also very picky about the dresses she wears.  There are days that are very frustrating.  But I've also found that if I grab clothes- even non-dress clothes and dress her as she's playing in another part of the house (away from the closet) she is much more likely to let me.  

And she's finally getting brave enough to sing with me!  She's still a little shy and will flash a big sheepish grin right after each note but there have been many times now that she has been willing to repeat some words of familiar songs.  Yay! 

One of the most memorable, jaw-dropping moments I had with her this month involved a mess in our bathroom.  Whenever we fail to lock our cabinets she loves to get into our things.  Many messes have been made but this one was different.  

She had disappeared for a few minutes and I started to panic because she was being so quiet.  I ran up the stairs calling for her and saw that my door was closed. Then she called back to me, "Books!" from her bedroom.  I let out a sigh of relief and went to her, saying something along the lines of, 'You've been in here the whole time?"  

I settled down on the floor and put her on my lap when I smelled something.  Immediately I suspected foul play.  I couldn't even see anything on her but I asked her, "Lucy, did you make a mess?"  She looked at me with surprise, maybe even a little fear and was quiet for a few seconds before she admitted, "Mess, mess!" and led me to my room.  I opened the door and saw my bathroom door was also closed.  When I opened that door it was quite a sight- the mess she had left was a real doozy.  

I have never had a child make a mess at such a young age and then try to cover it up like that, innocently pretending to have been reading books the whole time.  I suppressed a laugh and we got it cleaned up.  Man, am I out of my league with this little girl!

Listen to Lucy:

• "Watch!" ("Watch me!")
• "Hewwwo." (Always said very slowly- in almost a slow motion way.  It makes us all laugh so hard.)
• "Aw you?" (She loves playing, "Hello?" with us again and again, practicing the common greeting, followed by her version of "How are you?"  Occasionally she'll repeat "goot."  She'll play almost anywhere but her favorite spot is on the bottom bunk- she puts her head through the ladder rungs and waits for Atticus to put his head upside down from the top and they talk back and forth.  In between bouts she falls back and rolls around.  I never get tired of it.)
• "Sit-suit" ("Swim suit."  Oh, how she loves to swim!  And beware lest she thinks you've said swim suit without any intention swimming.  Life will not be fun for the next ten minutes.)

 

Hinckley has had a pretty good month.  Yes, he still has grumpy mornings and grumpy moments but most of the time he is very pleasant.  He is slow as molasses to do anything... but he's pleasant. The naughtiest thing I can remember him doing in September involved stealing Lucy's money from her jar.  We had a good talk and I'm hoping he's learned a lesson.  

He has played in four soccer games in the last three weeks.  His first game he was on fire and couldn't wait to play.  When his coach took him out he yelled, "Why am I over here?  I'm not tired at all!"  

Afterward, I overheard him talking to a teenage friend about that friend's game.  

"How did your game go?" he asked.

"Not good," the friend replied.

Hinckley was quick to say, "Well, maybe I could teach you some things."

The next couple of games the fire seemed to go out.  He has been far more reserved but, bless his heart, he runs up and down the field as long as his coach needs him and usually has a smile on his face.  He has told us he doesn't want to get hurt, which makes sense.  He is actually technically very good with a ball for his age and he loves his coach and practices, so we can't really ask for more.      

He still wears costumes ALL the time.  Every day, multiple costumes.  Most often he is Spider-man but he also loves to dress as Luke Skywalker, using a winter glove as his "robot hand."  Speaking of costumes, he has told us probably 10 different costume ideas for Halloween over the last month and a half, all of which he was very insistent on for at least an hour (sometimes a few days.)  It was really tiresome the first couple times as we tried to keep up with his new ideas.  He did, after all, have spending money left from their lemonade stand... but after ordering two costume accessories for him with his own money we decided to put a stopper on all new costume ideas.  From now on he will have to use anything we already possess for his costume.

That being said, he LOVES that Lucy wants to dress up with him.  He calls her "Spider-girl" and the two of them have a blast as they run around the house while listening to various soundtracks from Spider-man movies.  

One of our most memorable moments with Hinckley came when we went to see the bishop of our congregation for tithing declaration.  Dane and I are very happy to pay a tithe to our church.  We feel that we have been blessed over the years by doing so and are trying to help our boys experience those blessings for themselves.  Atticus has struggled with this in the past but he has finally come to accept the idea.  For some reason I thought Hinckley had, as well.

We grabbed the money that the boys had set aside and drove to the church.  As we entered the Bishop's office the first thing out of Hinckley's mouth was, "Why are you taking all our money?" in an accusatory tone.  I couldn't help laughing out loud.  We had another good conversation afterward.

I am happy to report that a few days later he said the following, "I'm one blessed kid.  I got two new things today!" (New shoes and a shirt.)  "Yep," he continued, "I'm one blessed kid.  It's because I gave all that money to the govuhment... I mean the Bishop!"  Again, I couldn't help laughing.  Kids are just the best.

Hinckley Speaks:

• "Sorry ma'am but I can't take this off.  It's my robot hand." (After being asked to undress for bed.)
• ("Would you like a baby brother or a baby sister?")  "Hmmm... A sister, so Lucy's not alone."
• ("You two seemed to have a good time together.") "Yep.  He was very nice to me." ("Probably because you were so nice to him.") "Yeah.  I'm a nice kid."

Atticus had a breakthrough in reading this month.  He has been doing just fine for a while now.  Then, over the summer, my sweet niece Natalie gave us her copy of a book that has all the Curious George books in it.  Both boys love it and Atticus has been reading from it for 25 minutes a day pretty much ever since.

I wasn't sure if he was really progressing until we started studying Japan this month.  I had heard that some families enjoyed The Big Wave so I borrowed it from the library.  The language was a little simpler than many of the books I read to the boys so on a hunch I asked him to take turns reading it with me.  He did so well!  Even more importantly, he felt good at it.  I was just thrilled sitting next to him.  Often when I offered to take a turn he wanted to keep reading, which has never been the case in the past.  After finishing up for the day he told me, "I like reading now."  Yes!  

Another notable topic for Atticus has been paper ninja stars.  While talking about Japan we read a great book called The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks and I spent an evening making origami ducks for a little homeschool group that meets at our home on occasion.  Atticus asked for a refresher on how to make paper ninja stars (we made a couple last year) and this year he mastered it.  He has now made dozens, including several for his friends and Hinckley's friends.  It might seem odd that I'm taking time to note this but I'm always so relieved when my little guy with a constant case of ants-in-his-pants can sit down and create (and enjoy it!)  

The soccer season has been fun for him (and dramatic, as always.)  Though he gets very nervous before each game, he really is so talented.  He has started playing on the street with friends or cones every chance he gets, like last fall.  It is so fun to see his improvement from week to week.  He will even wake up early, get dressed and grab some cones and a ball to get in some touches.  There's no better way to start a day.

Atticusisms:

• "As soon as I find the right girl I"m going to ask her to marry me.  I'm not gonna wait." (After hearing the first line of "On top of Old Smokey"-- about losing a true lover from courting too slow.)
• ("Do you want a baby brother or a baby sister?") "A baby brother so I can get more nerf guns."  

Atticus's good friend invited him to an amazing birthday party and my sweet Hinckley got to go, too.  The boys had such a good time.  Our good friend, Mr. G, accompanied Hinckley on all the rides since Dane wasn't able to be there.  We are blessed with such good friends. 

Homeschool Updates:

 

One part of our homeschool that I am really coming to value is "notebooking."  It's kind of like journaling where you look for the "gems" of whatever you're reading and record them.  It's not really a revolutionary idea, I've been told for years to journal and write down spiritual insights but only since I discovered the Well Educated Heart philosophy of parenting have I given it the thought and attention it deserved. 

I want my boys to learn to notebook and the greatest way to help them begin doing that is to notebook, myself.  So while I don't do it as often as I would like, I have made several notebooking pages about books that we've read that I have loved (like Pollyanna and Winnie the Pooh.)  I really enjoyed putting this page together about a wonderful book we read together titled Mother Carey's Chickens.  We found out that Disney made a film adaptation of it called Summer Magic.  I'll be honest, it wasn't my favorite movie at all but the book was great.  It was so heartwarming and gave me a lot of food for thought as far as my role as a mother is concerned. 

As I mentioned earlier, we studied Japan this month and in addition to new kinds of origami we made more sushi (I think it was even better this year!) 

We also studied China, India, Stars & the heavens, Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus.  While talking about China we made paper fans and Chinese paper lanterns, ate stir fry, had fortune cookies and celebrated the Moon Festival, which I'd love to make a tradition.  Here is the harvest moon that could be seen that evening. 

Our study of India led us to read both A Little Princess and Kari the Elephant.  We absolutely loved these books and had to watch the film adaptation of A Little Princess.  We tried making mulligatawny soup (with naan bread, of course) and it was fantastic.  We designed our own henna hands, using symbols many Indians will use for holidays and weddings.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had doing this once the boys settled down.  

We also listened to a short book called Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt with the most interesting Hindu fairy tales.  Our cultural differences definitely shone through and one, in particular, had us rolling with laughter.  ("The Little Buzz-Man," which featured a little man who would yell, "Don't you know that I'm your gentle, patient, loyal servant?!" While pinching and beating his master and others up angrily.)  

Until next time.  Have a wonderful October!