Langston Hughes

A couple weeks ago, I started to teach Makayla and Mason how to count to 10 in spanish.  

They mastered it quickly.

Here they are counting to TEN in SPANISH.

This week, I decided I'm going to teach them a poem - a poem that I learned in 5th grade.

5th grade was one of my favorite grades in school, thanks to my teacher, Mr. Hackett...and it was probably one of the most memorable years.

A few of my most memorable moments of 5th grade include: 

I learned the verbs of being,

learned all of the states and capitols,

didn't watch television (not once) for 3 months,

served the students jars of baby food as their snack for a holiday party (they loved me...not),

and recited a poem (or two) in various classrooms.

Bits and pieces of one of the poems I learned has stuck with me throughout the years -

"Mother to Son" 

by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor - 

Bare.
But all the time,

I'se been a-climbin' on,

And reachin' landin's,

And turnin' corners,

And sometimes goin' in the dark

Where there ain't been no light.

So, boy, don't you turn back.

Don't you set down on the steps.

'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.

Don't you fall now -

For I'se still goin', honey,

I'se still climbin',

And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

This is the poem that I decided I'm going to work on with the kids.
Silly, I know, but it gives us something to do - something to work on - something to talk about.

So...when I first introduced it tonight, Makayla was mesmerized with my skill in sounding like an African American mother.  She looked at me, confused, and asked me why I was talking like a black person.
I couldn't help but smile.  I was pretty proud that I was pulling off the African American vernacular so well that Makayla could pick up on it!

I recited the poem a few more times before the kids started joining in with me.

Makayla likes to try to repeat parts of it by herself, but gets super confused and begins throwing the word "black" in there a lot.

Mason will always says "Weeeeeeeeell, SON, I'll tell ya!"...then he says "Mom, I can't sing this song."

Oooooh, 

we'll see how far we get with this project. 

 Maybe we can succeed with a 3 year-old and 5 year-old version of "Mother to Son"...but if not, it's okay.  I'll find something else for us to work on!

The Letter Q

A Little Tid Bit About Our First President

As we were driving in the car today, we were taking turns shouting out words that started with the letter "Q"(that was the letter Mason worked on at daycare today). 

Mommy: Quiet

Makayla: Cube ("Cu"be)

Mason: My little Q Book.

Makayla: Cutie ("Cu"tie)

Mommy: Quilt

Makayla:  That's what our first president wore when he was a baby.  A quilt! They didn't have clothes and onesies like we do today.  And then, when he was 5, he wore britches.

Mommy:  Who was our first president?

Makayla:  George Washington, George Washington - We honor you today.  George Washington, George Washington - Father of the USA.

Ugh...Winter

For the past 2 months, this is what I've seen every time I look out my window into our backyard.

And while I appreciate (and kinda love) the beauty and deafening silence that comes along with a snowfall, my body is craving spring.

I need to wake up in the morning with my windows open and hear the birds singing and smell the fresh air.  

I need to hear a thunderstorm and see the lightning. 

 I need  to hear crickets and see the lightning bugs.  I need to see the lightning bugs sparkling and lighting up the fields as we drive through the country and I need to see the joy on my kids' faces as they run through the yard to catch the lightning bugs.

  I need to swing at the park...

 and take walks...

 and feel the warm breeze.  

I need to eat popsicles and swim in the backyard.  

I need the smells...the smell of mowed grass and the smell of rain hitting the hot pavement.

I need winter to be over.

But...since we still have a ways to go before all the snow melts, we have to continue enjoying winter and all the snow while it's still here. 

We'll play in it, 

walk in it, 

eat it,

talk about it,

scoop it,

shovel it,

hate it,

love it,

and continue to live in...counting down the days 'til spring.

To help pass the time, we're keeping busy by 

going to birthday parties (lots of birthday parties),

going on dates,

going to Kids Club,

planning summer vacation,

singing in choir,

learning Spanish,

preparing to start volleyball and swim lessons,

and celebrating Valentines Day!

...Here's to 32 more days until spring!

Mason Allen

This is my son.

He says honey grosses him out.

He likes to go to basketball games to watch the flip over girls (aka cheerleaders).

Based upon the following conversation, his sisters are going to be more eager to take care of my personal needs in my old age -

Mommy:  Mason, I'm about ready to poop my pants.  Will you wipe my butt if I poop my pants?

Mason: (with his lip curled, he was looking at me like this conversation wasn't for real) NO!

Mommy:  Why not?

Mason:  Mom, just put a diaper on.

Mommy:  But, you'll still have to wipe my butt...even if I am wearing a diaper.

Mason:  No.  Just go to the bathroom. (totally disgusted in the conversation we were having).

Mommy:  Makayla, would you wipe my butt?

Makayla:  YES!  Your butt smells like roses.

Mason:  Mom, you will have to lay down and I will have to get wipes.  (his poor mind still reeling...)

He loves to sing.

Waking up with a dry pull up in the morning is usually the proudest moment of his day.

He is a giggler. He giggles when he's hiding, he giggles when he's sneaking something, and he giggles when somebody lets him do something that he knows he shouldn't be doing.
I love his giggles.

He loves to cut paper, race cars, and shoot hoops.

I often times have Spiderman, a dinosaur, or Hulk running circles in my house.

Thanks to his sister, he can spend a good amount of time concentrating on painting his nails.

His favorite food  (today) is pizza, oatmeal, and macaroni and cheese.

He think "cigarettes" is a bad word and says it often, looking at me with wide eyes, waiting for me to say something to him.

He has lots and lots of girlfriends, but wants to marry Stephie (one of his babysitters).

I love how he greets Mia every morning - "Good Morning, Baaaay-beeeeeee" - with a smile so big his eyes get lost in his cheeks.

He loves to flex his muscles.

He is an extremely sensitive little boy.  His feelings get hurt and he gets embarrassed.  Very easily.

He is a ball full of energy, makes me laugh with almost every thing that comes out of his mouth, and melts my heart with every smile that comes across his face.

He is my little man!

He is my sunshine!

A Glimpse

Last night, I had a little glimpse of the future with my girls.  

Of course, it was on a much more scaled down version of what the future will hold for them, but none the less, it was a little glimpse...a little taste.

During bath time tonight, Makayla and Mia had a tub full of toys floating in purple water.

Mia threw a toy out.

She smirked at me.

I looked at her straight in the eyes and with a stern voice, told her "no".  Then, I explained why we cannot throw toys out of the tub.  

She just stared at me.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.  Her mouth was left hanging open, in shock that she was just scolded.

THEN...

Then Makayla whispered to Mia, handed her a toy, and looked at her with an evil little grin on her face.

Mia threw the toy out the tub.  Makayla laughed, Mia giggled, I glared, and Mia stared.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.  

Makayla laughed and told Mia that this was fun.

Makayla then whispered to Mia again, handed her a toy (and when I say a toy, I mean legos.  big legos.  legos that are filled with water), and looked at her with an evil grin on her face.

Mia threw the toy out the tub.  Makayla laughed, Mia giggled, I glared and shook my head, and Mia stared.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.

Makayla laughed, rubbed Mia's back, and told her how fun this was.  Makayla told Mia that she was a good girl.  

This happened a couple more times before I put a stop to it.  I had Mia crying (broke my heart) when I emptied the toys out of the tub, held her hands, told her "no", and wouldn't crack from my "mean" face.  She turned her back on me and sobbed.  Makayla immediately started patting her back and telling her that she was a good girl and that it was okay.  Suddenly, I had Makayla crying.  I told her that she wasn't being a very good big sister because she KNEW she was making Mia do something that was against the rules.  Through her tears, she kept telling me that she was just trying to have fun.  

That's all, mom.

Trying to have fun...

*sigh*

As parents, we work very hard to set a good example for our kids....

but...

I'm pretty sure that my children are going to learn just as much from each other as they are from Kevin and I.

I think siblings are very influential in each others' lives.  

Right now, Mia watches every.single.move that her big brother and big sister make.  She's listening, watching, and mimicking.   She's paying attention to everything - the good and the bad.  And this "paying attention to big sister" thing is going to follow her throughout the years.

Last night, Mia (knowing it was wrong) threw water filled legos out of the tub because Makayla told her to. Then Makayla would praise her - laughing, rubbing her back, and telling her she was a good girl.  

I know it's only bath toys now, but if we don't work hard to raise our kids with having morals, showing respect,  and all the other characteristics I find to be extremely important, life will be a little bit more challenging...when I'm living in a house with THREE teenagers!