Chills and Thrills

Holy Moley!  We have been having a great time!

The weekend away visiting animals, fossils, dinosaurs, and PIE!

Trunk or treating!

Just doing so much right now.

I'll post more soon.  Until then.  Here are some shots of the boys wrestling their Sumo Wrestler Father.

Greatest and Best

We are having an awesome weekend!

One conversation with Everett I don't want to forget while I wait to find time to download the pictures:

While at a park that has some play structures that are new to us---

Evy:  Mom, at first, I don't think I would have wanted to try these.  But, I will because now I believe in myself.

Me:  I know what you mean.  When I started swimming, I didn't know how quickly I could swim a long time.  Now, I know that I can do so many more things than I thought I could do at first.

Evy:  Yeah!

later, when we were leaving . . .

Evy:  Mom, did you see how I climbed to the top of the net?  And went down the weird slide and tried the monkeybars ALL BY MYSELF?  I tried some new things.

Me:  Yes,  you did and I am so proud of you for being brave enough to try new things.  I wasn't always brave like you when I was your age.

Evy:  What do you mean?  You didn't go to the playground?

Me:  I would go to the playground, but if I was scared of doing something, I didn't always try it to become better.  I kept myself from having fun because I was scared or shy.

Evy: That's okay, Mom.  You can do it now because you believe in yourself.

And, Evy is right, you should believe in yourself.  Take the word of a 5-year old.  You can do it.

You should know:  He is not a risk taker.  Physical feats are especially hard for him.

You should see how much determination he has when is attempts something that he is scared to do.  Sometimes his legs shake or he flushes a little bit with the exertion or overwhelming feeling of hesitation.  Yet, he really, really tries to accomplish it.  He isn't always successful, but he continues to get better.  He can be shy in social situations with new people.  I encourage him to have his own voice rather than speaking for him, and quite often, he takes the plunge (while fiercely holding my hand/arm/leg) to say something nice or offer up something to someone.  (yes, he usually is trying to say hi, give a compliment, ask a question, or offer up something that he has to them)

Everett responds so readily to even the slightest feedback.  He laps up positive comments and "remember when" stories about his past achievements and good times.  He'll quiz you about those times trying to figure out in his mind why it turned out so well. 

Often, all I have to do when he misbehaves is give him an eyeball, and he quickly tries to make amends.  More often than not, the mistake is made inadvertently.  (I always try to be careful before I reprimand to make sure that my response is appropriate to the situation rather than a reactive response to what happened because, if I don't, then I am guilty of using a hammer when a gentle shake of my head would have been sufficient.)  When we are able to talk about what happened, he will, of his own doing, say:  "I'm sorry, Mom.  I won't __(whatever it was)__ next time."

In the face of disappointment, I have seen him rebound from very hard news to try and put on a smiling face (even with tears in his eyes).  Often, he surprises me with his knack for trying to describe hard things,"Mom, I have sad thoughts running in my head."

He is teaching me so much about humility, readiness to become better, love for others, and how positive exuberance never hurt anyone.

We should all try and be a little more like Evy who treats each day as it if is the BEST day ever.  The BEST dinner ever.  The BEST story ever.

And:

You *can* do it!

Stuff They Said and Stuff

Evy: This is my favorite part, where he burps!  (explained while watching Clifford.  and, yes, Clifford did burp)

Merritt, when he realizes he is about to get into trouble, tries to deflect all consequence by laughing, fakely, and saying,"Oh, so funny!  So funny!  Sooooo funny!"

When I explained to Merritt all the awesome things we were going to do on our trip, he ran around screaming.  I, trying to calm him, said,"I know you are excited, but we need to get our rest first."  He then ran around screaming,"I EXCITED, EXCITED, EXCITED!!!"  And then, thankfully, ran screaming into his room and right to bed.

Merritt can recognize most of the letters in the alphabet and tell you the sounds they make.  Can he tell you the basic colors?  It depends.

Everett opens each card he receives with the manner of a man opening a sacred document.   He just glows at hearing the marvelous things that people say in those cards!

I explained to Everett that he needed to get some exercise at the gym along with playing the videogames he likes.  He said,"Okay."  And, sure enough, when I arrived to pick him up, he was playing basketball, working diligently to make baskets.  Sometimes I believe he is the most obedient boy on the planet!

Every morning, Merritt explains to me his agenda for the day,"ah friends, ah dinosaurs, ah animals!"

Acting like gorillas and T-rex dinosaurs were the favorite today.

Primary Program

Ironed shirt, new tie, and ready for action.  He was so excited to be a part of our Sacrament Program.

"Jesus was resurrected, and I will be, too."

When he went to the microphone to speak his part, he basically told the lady helping (our Primary President) that,"I don't need help, I've got it!"

And, he did a fine job.

Today in School: Construction Sensory Box

We spent some time with our sensory box, and the boys were thrilled with all the things they could figure out to do with it.  They are using real tools and real hardware.  They were so pleased when they figured out how each one worked.  Evy really took on the task of doing as much as he could,"Mom, I kept working even when I was *really* tired.  I didn't know that I could do SO much!"

He was so proud and couldn't wait to show his dad.

And these are the boxes we painted in preparation of making our city.

Today at Lunch

Chills and Thrills

Last week was amazingly fun!  We had a great time celebrating Everett's birthday.  He is a super kid!

School continues to go forward. We have several things we wanted to share with our City study.  I'll get to it soon.

Erik is ramping back up for another heavy workload session.  We've enjoyed having time with him!  We do have one more mini-trip planned and look forward to that.

Everett's Primary Program was this Sunday.  He said his part really well!

I'm busy with the boys and with my callings.  I continue to swim.

Merritt was evaluated by the local school district.  He turns 3 soon and will be "too big" for the services he is receiving now.  He did qualify for speech articulation services according to the district's assessments (I was hoping he wouldn't qualify at all, but it was clear that he needs help, and I know he needs help).  I am coming to terms with it still.  It will be nice to not pay so much for speech therapy.  At the same time, I don't want to send him to preschool.  He is still so young.  Though, he has grown so much and really made huge improvements in his attention span in the past month.  So, maybe by the time he starts school, and after I meet his teacher "to be," I'll be more comfortable with him going twice a week.  I will, definitely,  be looking forward to the day when he has met his goals and can graduate from their program.  

We are so blessed and try to make the most of all our opportunities every day.  Although we each have our challenges, we know that our blessings totally out number any daily irritations or obstacles we have. 

This week I discovered, through Evy wisdom, that, "once you are born, you are with your parents for a week and then they take off!"  Cracks me up every time he says it.  Obviously, he thinks that a week is a really long time.  (He isn't too keen on the idea that I live with him forever.  I don't blame him.)

My Wee Wittle One

(he is wearing a beloved hat, you can see the chunk he has bitten off of the football, he is munching on his favorite breakfast sausage, and the only way I can keep clothes on him at the gym is to make sure it is on with buttons)

These are all photos taken by Evy, our budding photographer.

Today was an awesome day.  I'll write more at a later point on all the goodness.

I wanted to take the time to talk about how awesome Merritt was . . . all day long.

He rocked it with the Speech Therapist.  (I'll share more news on his new placement which will start in about a month at another time.)

He was a great listener.

He really tried to be a helper.

He was so patient while he waited for brother to get out of the Primary Program practice.

He was the image of model polite behavior at brother's surprise shindig.

He was so patient with a bunch of adults.

And, he looks smashing in the pirate hat he likes to wear around town.

And, it wasn't like he was just a different person from a week ago.  I've been doing a better job of helping him.   He is working hard, no doubt.  At the same time, I know that how I am "hearing" him and seeing his behavior is making a marked improvement in how positive his day is.

When he is being mischevious, I ask him if he is being a cheeky monkey and his response is,"ooo-oo-ahahahahah," in his best monkey impression.

Killer sense of humor, kid!

Hello! Where have you been?

Merritt is a sensory kid and is at peace, ultimate peace, when swinging.

A year ago, I did some research on an indoor swing with depressing results.

Then I came across this site today:  http://kidsdreamgym.com/

Portable hammocks, cocoons, doorway swings . . . am I drooling?

I may be able to put the indoor swing back on the list.  And, now that I know what to call the stuff, there are loads of other places that carry the equipment.  http://www.especialneeds.com/

Time to research again!

Today in School: Build Me a City

We are starting our unit on the city today.  We'll be discussing what makes a good city, what they notice about our city, and how to make a road (we've got lots of road under construction to go watch).  I've saved about a bajillion boxes so that we can "build" our own city.  (They went to a firestation last week with their grandparents; so this flows right into that experience.)

We'll be making a City Book and drawing bridges, roads, buildings, parks, and whatever else they take notes on about the city.

I used some of the following to help me with ideas.
Skyscraper Museum
Box Buildings
42Explore:  Construction
NOVA Build a Bridge

We'll use The Three Little Pigs to talk about construction.

Construction Sensory Box
screws
nuts
bolts
random building bits that I don't have a name for
I'll have blocks of Styrofoam that they can put those pointy things in so they don't try it on the table :)

I am trying to get a small piece of peg board so that they can "use" some of this stuff on it.  And, I'm also looking for a good sandpaper craft, as well.

Today in School: Bowling Art

At the campout, we found some hedgeapples (that sometimes I incorrectly call crabapples) that were perfect for the boys to roll around.

I thought it would be great to add some paint to them since their texture is so interesting.  I also need a base for the city we were making and we wondered if the trails left by the hedgeapples could be used as roads.

We made our canvas.  (I told them that we were going to get messy.)  Evy kept excitedly whispering under his breath,"we are going to get MESSY!"

Added hedgeapples and some paint.

We had to learn to REALLY cover our hedgeapples with paint.

We turned the canvas, chose some more paint, and talked about how some cities have streets arranged by north and south and east and west.  (Evy is all about maps.  He thought this was fascinating.)

The boys had a great time.  We were sad to stop but really needed to bathe and get ready for the evening's fun.  Right now, it is drying and we will continue it tomorrow (we hope).

"They sure are bumpy!"

Chills and Thrills

Erik is HOMe, homE, HoMe, home.  And we are thrilled to have him here.

Last week, he battled it out with some project.  We did tons, as well.  The boys had a great evening with their grandparents.  YAY!

There was a ward campout where Evy and Dad braved the elements and camped overnight.  Sheila and Merritt joined them for breakfast.  My favorite part was gathering nature for a mural painting project we have planned.  (It will sort of be like bowling and painting at the same time.)

This week is Birthday Week at the Sjolseths.  Evy will be turning FIVE!  He has already started the festivities with all kinds of goodwishing from Primary, a Sonic lunch (and a show) today, and he is so excited about what the rest of the week will bring.  And, his Primary Program is on Sunday.  A big week for him.

Merritt has his speech evaluation with the district this week.  Iamnotlookingforwardtoit. 

We have quite a bit planned for school and can't wait to see how far we get.

Today in School: Mommy Inservice--The Hundred Languages of Children

No way. The hundred is there.


The child
is made of one hundred.
The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred always a hundred
ways of listening
of marvelling, of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
The child has
a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)
but they steal ninety-nine.
The school and the culture
separate the head from the body.
They tell the child:
to think without hands
to do without head
to listen and not to speak
to understand without joy
to love and to marvel
only at Easter and at Christmas.
They tell the child:
to discover the world already there
and of the hundred
they steal ninety-nine.
They tell the child:
that work and play
reality and fantasy
science and imagination
sky and earth
reason and dream
are things
that do not belong together.
And thus they tell the child
that the hundred is not there.
The child says:
No way. The hundred is there.

Loris Malaguzzi
(translated by Lella Gandini)
 
Love reading about Malaguzzi and the preschooling in Reggio Emilia.  I first heard about it while in graduate school.  A principal from one of the preschools came to speak to us and share her experiences.  If you aren't familiar, I highly recommend reading about Malaguzzi and the work that he did for preschoolers.  I particularly enjoy the roles that parents and teachers have in the preschools there.
 
The Mommy Is Learning

I've been a bit frustrated with the younger son recently.  Most of my verbage is about setting limits (for his safety) and propelling him to move in the direction I want him to (like towards the car *with* his shoes, even if they aren't on, yet) . . . and I am finding that I need to give him more of a chance to explore in his own time frame and to praise his process.  I'm not sure how I'm going to give him more space and freedom than I do right now while trying to keep him safe . . . I'm gonna really try.  Truly, his speech delay causes frustration.  I came across the poem above and it reminded me to do a better job of listening to Merritt, and not just by trying to translate his speech.
 
Here are some great pictures from an outing with a friend to The Heard.  She brought us the gift of holding grasshoppers.  What a delight!
 

 

Today in School: The Outside Classroom-The Planning

The weather right now is so perfect.  We were dazed and confused by the record heat this summer in Texas and are ever so grateful for the weather we have now.

We talk about what the weather is like in part of our "share time" . . . and I've been interested to see that there is a strong "I don't know" when we talk about what it is like outside, even when we were just outside.  We end up going outside to define the "know."  I have had a strong desire to make the outside more meaningful to the boys.  For one, I've been trying to tie our fieldtrips in to the content of what we are studying with an outside experience.    We have had to be flexible with several rain days delaying outings (won't complain about the rain), but that is the only drawback to doing this.

Here are a couple of websites that I have found helpful when we go visit nature museums, arboretums, local parks, and the backyard.  (Included in the list are sites that give information on an "outside classroom.")

Nature Rocks
Charlotte Mason
Quadrant Study
Backyard Nature
Nature Activities
Running Ahead:  Building an Outside Classroom
Nature Explore
The Science Spot
Outdoor Classroom
Natural Playgrounds Company

In an effort to be outside more, I decided to commandeer part of the garage.  I know, it isn't *all* the way outside.  But, with the door open, we get to learn in the fresh air, sunshine is right there, we can easily move our blankets and chairs to the front lawn, we "hear" nature better, our nature walks are a step away, our messy exploration and gardening tools are an arm's length away, and I don't have to move everything when it rains (though we can still sit outside in the rain, too).

What I am idealistically hoping is that using this space results in more of an effort instigated by the boys to "find out" to "explore" and to start figuring out ways to find answers to their own questions.  I've moved our reading area stuff so we can easily drag it outside.  Our modified "outside classroom" is right by our already established digging area in the front yard, the garden is around the corner, and it is the best bunny spotting perch in the neighborhood.  We'll still have our writing space in the house and our pretend play stations (as well as our art corner), but I am hoping that by removing physical barriers to the outside that the connection to nature will be stronger.  We'll see.

Haircuts, By Golly!

Part of our seasonal decorating for October means that we get out every wig and every dress-up hat and line them up and down the banister for easy access, to, you know, wear them.  The kids love it.  I love it.  And, only occasionally will I make them "sing" their questions and comments to me while we are wearing our millinery delights.  (Evy is pretty good at it!)

Here are a couple of shots from one moment today:

And, yes, the boys really do need haircuts under all that fro. And, yes, if you look closely, you can see a bunch of junk on the landing behind Merritt.  And,  yes, the rest of the house was that messy today, too.  The house imploded today: the toys convened a revolution to organization, the dirty dishes had offspring, the laundry refused to jump into the washer, and the shoes are taking over each room as we speak.  And, we had nothing to do with it, I'm sure.  (we did create an "outdoor classroom" today--totally awesome!  Can't wait to share it with you soon.)