Sissy's Ear Tube Surgery.

On June 18 around 6:30 a.m., we headed down the road for Juliet's second ear tube placement surgery. It looks like this may become a yearly thing for her, since she just had the same thing done last May. Oddly enough, Sissy was excited for this day - mostly for the Starbucks drink she got to choose after surgery, if she obeyed the doctors.

Here is her armband, as we waited in the waiting room before surgery. Lots of sleepy kids were here - waiting for their ears, tonsils and adenoids to be removed or repaired.

This is before we walked into Kaiser - Sissy briefly wanted to bring her Aurthur book, then decided she didn't and handed it off to me. Instead of wearing a hospital gown, she got to wear her own girly attire, as long as it was loose.

Look how happy she was!

Last time they gave her a stuffed puppy with pink accents (which she sleeps with every night) and this time she got a purple one. She was so excited!

The below picture is directly after surgery, as she was waking up from anesthesia. They gave her an entire can of apple juice, which about an hour and a half later, she would throw up into a Lego bucket at our house. Gross. I asked Kaiser to give her anti-nausea meds during surgery. They wouldn't. They also did not give her any meds to go home with. When I hastily called as she was crying and throwing up later, they said they forgot about Juliet, and should have sent her home with Zofran. Grr.

She only wanted Colin - some very sweet moments there.

I love this picture in black and white.

After her nausea subsided, Sissy sipped on ginger beer, ate crackers and told very animated stories while we all hung out outside. Sissy was back :)

Camping at Promitory Park

I have a confession - I don't love camping. However, I am married to someone who feels camping is a part of growing up and it's just what you do in the summer.  I agreed to go overnight to Promitory Park in Estacada a couple of days ago. My kids enjoyed the trip - mostly the hot chocolate and marshmallows. Warning - I took lots of photos and am posting every single one of them.

We fished off the dock and Boss was very busy.

 

Boss loved hanging by the food and eating enormous portions.

On the dock - see Boss' forehead? He has a habit of scratching it all the time.

Boss was so interested in the fish!

Marshmallow time!

Colin heated up beans and rice for dinner.

The kids roasted their own marshmallows.

Colin drove the boat to a good fishing spot.

Lunch - the fish the kids caught! And hotdogs.

Colin set up the fishing lines.

More marshmallow time!

Sissy loves her dad.

Jude thinks this is his picture face.

Jude was more interested in the tackle box than fishing itself.

He caught a fish!

The kids hung onto the boat while Colin got the truck back down.

I love this picture - it just captures Jude so accurately.

I also love this picture - Jude is busy and Boss is still in his reverie over marshmallow time.

Samuel is setting up his line.

The boat ride was nuts with tired, hungry kids.

Sissy managed to sneak a few extra marshmallows.

Too cool for school.

You can tell she is raised by boys - she loved playing with the worms.

 

I wish I understood the appeal of camping. I really do. Maybe someday I will be enlightened...

What Does A Typical Day of Homeschool Look Like?

I have to admit - (like one of my friends from church so aptly put it) sometimes I "dream of school buses and daycare". Being a stay-at-home mom and a teacher is work. We don't eat bonbons. TV? What's that? I couldn't tell you much of current events other than those quick snippets I hear in the car on the way to the store or preschool. Downtime is a foreign concept to me. I know this is just a season (or so the wise women tell me), and I know I'm making the best choice for my children and family, but some days it is just nuts around here. I thought I'd give you a small glimpse of our mornings.

This is a picture of my escape - I put my earbuds in and sew (this was a Japanese pattern). Note the time - I start school at 8 most mornings, and I use up every minute up until that moment.

The morning of this picture, Abe was fighting a cold and a massive bout of diarrhea, so he was super fussy. Most mornings he is fussy anyway (who knows why) and this is an accurate photo to document that.

If I'm not holding this kid, here is the face I get.

Breakfast is Jude and Samuel eating between talking about Legos or playing with them. I know, I know. Legos should not be at the table - but it happens and most of the time I don't choose that battle.

Jude started the school day dressed as a cowboy.

This was Jude's reading portion of school. Sissy and Abe are playing with my hair, Jude is reading his book. Good things Jude was good at focusing at the task at hand.

Sometimes Jude is busy doing letters and Samuel is doing his own reading and I read to the youngers. Abe thinks if he sits in my lap like this, reading a book to him will naturally result.

Samuel doing his school reading.

Other school mornings I put Sissy and Abe in the bath together so I can take care of educating the older two. I can hear almost everything through the bathroom wall to the school room, so it works out well. Sissy is also a great babysitter in the bathtub and alerts me to anything.

Sissy is dying to work on Jude's school stuff - she is very good at letters already, with no help from us. We have decided to purchase her kindergarten curriculum for next year.

And other times, Sissy sits and watches Jude do his work.

School is coming to an end after next week for us. We have decided to homeschool the kiddos for another year next year. We all are ready for a nice break filled with lots of sunshine and just a few science experiments and handwriting practice :).