Evaluating

i'm getting ready to really get down to the business of Kindergarten with Ryvre.  What we did this past year was something between pre-K and real Kindergarten stuff, because preschool activities are far too easy, but he's not quite reading yet.  Honestly, i planned on doing more structured activites with him (worksheets, etc), because he does enjoy that, but having a new baby in the house makes it a little difficult to plan anything.  He has been learning though (kids do that!) despite my own organizational shortcomings.
(Warning, mama bragging time)

Ryvre is doing well, even with no real instruction; he has taught himself to rhyme words, and the sounds most of the letters make (thanks to starfall.com?); he can spell his own name and those of his sisters, and he's beginning to recognize other words by sight.  He has a strong interest in the human body ("Mommy, if my heart stopped beating, does that mean i would die?"), and draws a surprisingly accurate skeleton.  Add to that the awesome amount of patience he has with his little sisters, and willingness to help out around the house about half the time i ask, and it's really hard not to brag about the kid!
Not to be outdone, Willow can now spell her name (out loud, she's not yet writing).  She also counts to 10 (she has been since last spring, but now she makes no mistakes) and beyond (with some mistakes), and sings a mean alphabet song (she's also been doing this since last March, but now without missing a letter).  This year i will be lableing her as a "preschooler" and making sure to have plenty of things for her to do with her mind as well.

Ember is sitting up like a pro, even in the tub, rolling, creeping, and scooting across the floor.  No crawling yet, but i caught her trying to pull up on the walker, which she may have done if the darn thing was heavy enough to keep still!  She has said "Dada" and "Mama" on occasion, but she's so quiet, it's hard to tell if she meant it or not.  Even her laughs are pretty much silent, only rarely do you hear a "ah he he" usually she just grins with her whole toothless face. 

(End Brag)

i could try to get him tested to go to public school a year early (maybe could have even done it last year), but i want to teach him at home even if he is ready for regular school.  i realize some kids need the structure and discipline of a classroom environment, but Ryvre is one of those kids who learns the best when it's in his own good time (i believe most kids, especially young ones, do).  i will homeschool him as long as it's providing him what he needs, but if and when the time comes that public school provides him more opportunities, you better believe he will be there, whether it's second grade or highschool.  i will never use homeschool to limit my children in any way, be it what they learn, or who they meet.  i will never be the kind of mother who uses it shelter my children from the outside world.

Ryvre on the River

It's so quiet here today.  Ryvre went camping with Nana and Papa, and Willow really doesn't know what to do with herself without him.  She is playing, of course, and painting, and running outside, but she is so very quiet.  Every once in awhile, she stops what she's doing and says "Mommy, i really miss Ryvre.  i want my Ryvre."  Poor lady. We took her and Ember to Celebration City last night (i will add pics later, the camera charger is at work with Dale) to take her mind off not getting to go camping.  She had alot of fun, riding the rides and just checking the place out (we've never been there; it's much nicer than Silver Dollar City, smaller but more kid-friendly; i'm seriously in love with the "Baby Care Center" which is set up like an my dream nursery, with toys and books for kids and parents, lots of places to sit and nurse, screens for privacy, changing tables, wooden highchairs and table and chair sets, a microwave and fridge.  Serisouly, we could have spent all evening there.  And honestly, if my camera battery didn't die, i would have taken pics to post, it was that good.).  Only thing that kinda freaked her out was the outdoor light show at the end; it's got lasers and water, projected pics and video on this big man-made cliff, fireworks, and--here was the scary part--flames occasionally blazing out across the water.  We were close enough to feel the heat, and that was not fun for her.  Honestly, it took us by surprise too.  Ember didn't move or make a sound the whole show, just sat there wide-eyed.  Overstimulation, perhaps?  She didn't seem upset at all, just...asleep with her eyes open.  i imagine for someone so little, that had to be pretty intense.  Her whole perception of reality is seriously and permanently altered, lol. Ryvre called at 4 to excitedly tell me all about the animals and things he saw on the river; they took a two hour float on the Buffalo, and my mom said he was awesome, and even paddled.  Sounds like the little booger is having the time of his life.  i'm jelous!  Haha, they better take me next time Ember just sat up from lying on her tummy.  That was pretty cool

Another Birth Announcment

	My aunt (Bobbie Jo) had her baby this afternoon! Landon Gage 7 lbs, 6 oz; 20 1/2 inches His daddy is in Iraq right now (air force), but he called to check on his wife just as the little guy was born Grandma got to cut the cord.  i don't know very many specifics, but according to the mama's mom and aunt, it was a very good labor and birth. Congrats Bobbie Jo and Matt!!!

Nana and Papa Time

So much rain the last few days!  Good for the earth, but the camping trip Nana and Papa have been promising Ryvre for the last two years got pushed back again!  They did take him, and Willow, overnight at their place, and that was good enough for the kids (they LOVE the "little house" aka RV)!  Today they went to Springfield to see the Wonders of Wildlife museum (?), which sounds really awesome!  i'm a little jelous   They even ran into an old friend of mine from school, her hubby, and their two-year-old.  My dad was kind of funny, ranting about the "leash" they had on him!  I hate those things myself (if the kid won't stay close, hold him), but it's fun to hear it from my dad.  He's like the perfect AP-Papa...now if only i could talk him into changing a diaper

Easter Pics

Willow dying eggs The Eggs! The girls in their dresses Ryvre hunting eggs

Name

	Willow did the coolest thing!  She asked me to write her name on the picture she was drawing, which i did, and then she pointed to each letter and spelled it out! i could be wrong, but i think that's pretty good for not-yet-three!

More Firsts

Ember waved at my mom today.  My mom was sooo excited to be a part of one of her "firsts!"  It was so sweet to watch the two of them.  Ember said her first word yesterday.  Well, i'm considering it a word, because it has a clear meaning to her: Num.  You can guess what that means, hehe, she says it when she wants to be nursed.  If i'm too slow, she says "NUM NUM!" and bites her fist.  She is brilliant Willow is doing AWESOME with the potty.  She only forgets or doesn't make it about 1/3 of the time.  She's holding it alot longer between trips too.  Maybe girls really are easier than boys?  Ryvre was 3 years + 3 months before it was all said and done, he was in pull-ups for about a year.  Willow has only been using pull-ups for a few days.  Such an awesome little lady, she's learning so fast. i did one thing i thought i would never do: label everything in the house with the name of the item on an idex card.  i remember learning to read in much this way at school, first you recognize what a word looks like, and then realize that the letters each form a sound of that word.  Explaining that doesn't seem to do the trick for Ryvre (he's 4, i'm guessing it shouldn't), so i'm trying this way.  He saw the cards up and ran around excited, trying to guess what each said.  He did very well.  i had to explain a few of them, like how i put the word "cabinet" on the craft cabinet (a piece of furniture) while another cabinet in the kitchen was labeled "pantry" instead, though it too is technically a cabinet.  Ryvre is in the typical "i want to be a ______ when i grow up" phase.  Today he wants to be a policeman.  My dad said "Well, that is very noble"  I then told him that two days ago Ryvre said he wanted to be an armoror.  i loved that one, thought it was totally cute that he picked up the word from a movie, and remembered what it meant.  He even designed a suit of armor, and drew a picture of it for me.  My dad was really impressed, and thought it was great, as our ancestors (on his side) did just that.  Ryvre's great-great-great-great grandfather literally carried an anvil all the way here from Germany.  It was the only possession he brought, because he couldn't rely on the fact that he could just buy a new one in the states.  My father has used that same anvil for a number of years, and i hope to do the same one day.