We are decorating for Christmas today! And by "!", I mean...the kids are in my way today!

I just overheard Sydney say to Colin, "hold on, let me get scissors to cut you some breathing holes". I probably took longer than I should have to respond because an unconscious child is a child who is not underfoot. Amen? Anyway, when I finally did go out to the living room, they'd removed the tree from it's giant box and were using it as a coffin. Play on.

This morning we've had broken things, tangled things, and not-put-up-how-Mommy-would-like things. They've been under my feet, at my elbow, and up my behind. There's been yelling and there has been whining.

But you know what? There has also been dancing, singing along to favorite CDs, laughing, and a constant exclamation of "remember THIS?" as we open each box that has been packed away for the past 300+ days. (I'm guessing Colin could have that exact number if needed.)

I have a lump in my throat as I consider that another year has just passed. This year as we deck the halls around here, they are on my nerves. Next year, they'll probably be on my nerves again. Then there will be a handful of years where they'll most likely be--dare I say--helpful. Then they'll ask to skip it to go to the mall with their friends.

Then they'll be gone.

So today? I'll take it.

I am far too immature to use the "real" names for anatomy with the kids. In our house, everyone has a "dingle"...male, female, she-male, what have you. We have a book that shows them all about babies, but the kids still believe they enter the world through the bellybutton. Whatever. Don't judge.

HOWEVER, when it comes to school and homework...I love to get down & dirty with details. I love to take the subjects & projects that they have brought home & really dig deeper to explore each topic with them. I would probably be a great homeschool mom. Except that I don't have the patience or inclination to have them home with me all year long. And I really like wine with lunch.

Anyway.

Sydney's class is discovering Native Americans during November. We've spent some time looking on the computer to really get a handle on what life was like back in "those days". I mean the 1600s and 1700s. I realize that there are still Native Americans today. Calm down.

I don't really censor what we see when it comes to academics. Syd's seen the occasional picture of a scalping, the gutting of a deer in front of the old wigwam, etc. It wasn't until tonight when she was doing a drawing for a school project, though, that I realized I should maybe have left out the parts where many of them weren't wearing shirts.

Yes, it's been a month. I am going to update this thing soon.

Really. I am.

Until then...



Happy Holler-weenies!!
How cute are they?