{me} answers.

* Are you a reader? What are you reading? What are your favorite books?
I do love to read... but I'm not reading anything right now. When I am reading a book (a novel, I guess...) I spend way too much time reading... stay up way too late reading... it's not the best for mommy-ing and teaching. Usually when I do read a novel, I read it in a day. Maybe two. So I try to save most of my reading for spring break, summer break and Christmas break. (I think I read 5 books over Christmas break...) 

 {Love Nicholas Sparks and own all of his books}

 {Really like Richard Paul Evans, too... and how cute and small his books are. Yes, it bothers me that my copy of The Locket is tall...}

{This book is on my nightstand, but I haven't started reading it yet.}

* If you could meet someone famous, who would you meet and why? 
Today, I'm thinking it would be fun to meet Candace Cameron Bure. I grew up watching her on "Full House," loved her brother in "Growing Pains," and love the way they are both using their lives and fame right now to promote such strong Christian values. I think that she could sit down with my friends and I and we could all just talk life and marriage and parenting and Jesus. (Beki, you would definitely be invited... since you two are internet BFF's and all.) =)

I should probably check out her book, huh? The title sounds about like my life! (I don't look nearly as put together when I do my balancing act, though.)

* What did you see today that took your breath away?
My options are limited today, since I never left the house... but my favorite sights from today were: 
* Beautiful snow outside (mainly beautiful because I didn't have to be outside in it...)
* Lawson curled up on the couch reading (he read an entire book... pretty sure he's my kid.)
* Hearing Sophie down in her room, singing. 
* Gretchen at the table, playing with play-do and just having the best little time.
* Corey coming in the door at 7:45 am, after being out moving snow all night. (This technically happened the day after all those others, but it was still a pretty sweet sight...)

* Any regrets? 
The only thing I can come up with was including a friend in a very special moment. Then that friend decided they didn't want to be friends with me anymore. So now I regret having them be a part of that moment.  

* Your most perfect day?
This one really depends on the day and on my mood. When Corey and I went to the cattle sale in OK a few years ago, this day spent alone was a perfect day...

But I've had some pretty perfect days spending time with friends, too... 

And I've had some pretty good days spending time with these people, too... 

Selfishly, my favorite days are probably the first two. Time alone or time with friends. Just because it doesn't happen as often... they generally don't involve any stress or arguing or whining... and they are the days that I feel like recharge me and make me a better mommy. 

* Favorites? 
Favorite songs: Sophie asked me this today and I couldn't come up with much. I love music, but I'm not good with song titles or artists. I like a variety, but all things I can understand and sing along with. (not a fan of hard, heavy metal stuff.) My van radio is set to a Christian station and the cd player has Brooks and Dunn... Glee soundtrack... Bible school songs... Johnny Cash... John Denver... Mamma Mia soundtrack. A bit eclectic. My kitchen cd player only has 2 cd's... Straight No Chaser Christmas cd and this one... 

Favorite weather: warm (capris, a long sleeve t-shirt or hoodie and flip flops... that is perfect weather.)

Favorite season: fall 

Favorite scents: vanilla, apple, fruity smells, cinnamon

Did not know the pregnant mermaid bit...

Favorite color: green, followed closely by blue and yellow, plus red. I like color. =)

{Our kitchen barstools make me really happy}

Favorite movie: There are a lot of movies I really like. Some of the ones I can watch over and over (and that pop into my head right now...) 
* Miracle (the story of the US hockey team)
* Tangled
* You've Got Mail
* Rudy
* The Family Man (this is where Corey and I got our "I choose us" line...)
* The Sandlot
* Ramona & Beezus
* Remember the Titans
* Notting Hill
* How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (these last 3 I need to get on DVD... I just have them on VHS.)

Favorite candy: Skittles! (but peanut butter M&M's are right up there, too.)

(One of my sweet teaching partners brought me this for my birthday one year. She also sent me a sweet house warming gift: an adorable painted sign and a big bag of Skittles. I love that she remembers I love them. It makes me think I need to learn the favorite candies of all my friends. And Sonic drinks!)

Favorite restaurant: Olive Garden (I could eat just soup and salad and be perfectly content. But they have some cheesy pasta dish that I can remember the name of. Love that, too!)

{And Panera! I LOVE Panera!}

Favorite skin care: I'm lame. I don't have a favorite skin care routine. (I should probably be asking for advice on this or something.) It's a rather odd assortment of Paula's Choice (a gift from my sister), Mary Kay, Cetaphil, and generic Neutragena. 

Same with make-up... an odd assortment.

Favorite foods: cheese or anything cheesy... I am super healthy. Yes. (This was my meal for Corey and I's anniversary dinner. Basically pasta and 6 different kinds of cheese. So yummy.)

Peanut butter donuts are always good, too... 

Favorite stores: Target, Eddie Bauer, Michaels/Hobby Lobby (If I could only shop at those stores for the rest of my life, I would probably be content.)

Favorite flowers: daisies will always be my favorite. (I really like tulips, too.)

How's that for lots of useless information about me? =) 
We're all getting to enjoy snow day #2 today (Corey worked 24 hours yesterday, so they're letting him stay home today. He's really just sleeping, though, so I'm not sure how much he's enjoying his day at this point...) 
More answers will be coming at some point, right now I need to be productive and get some things crossed off my list! (and build something out of Tinker Toys with Lawson. That kid is not awesome at entertaining himself without something electronic in his hands...)

{school} answers.

It's a SNOW DAY here in Kansas! We've gotten about 6 inches so far and it is still coming down. 

Since I'm using today to be lazy and stay in my pajamas... I figured it was a good day to try and get some of these questions answered... 

* There seems to be such a push to get kids reading at four... how do you feel about that?

I don't think 4 year olds need to know how to read. (Please remember... I am not nor have I ever been a Kindergarten teacher. So my thoughts may not be what all or even any K teachers would say.)

Should 4 year olds be familiar with books? Yes.
Should 4 year olds know how to hold a book, turn pages, and look at the pictures to "tell" a story? Yes.
Should 4 year olds be able to sit and listen to an entire story be read to them? Yes.
Should 4 year olds know that letters make words and the words on a page are what you read? Yes.
But do 4 year olds need to know how to read the words on pages of books?  I don't personally think so.

When we are getting ready to start Daily 5, I teach my first graders that there are 3 ways to read a book...
1. Read the pictures   2. Read the words   3. Retell

If you have read a book to your child so many times that they can remember the story... some of the words... sit and look at it on their own and "read" the story by looking at the pictures... that is awesome!

If your child can look at a book and just make up their own story by looking at the pictures and thinking about what might be happening... what the people/animal/characters might be saying... that is awesome!

You are well on your way to having yourself a little reader some day.

* Things you wished parents would know about getting their kids ready for school/first grade? 

All the answers I can think of right now focus more on getting your kiddo ready for Kindergarten. (Honestly, if your kiddo is ready for K and has a successful K year... they will probably be ready for 1st grade.) 

My biggest advice/tip/plea... if your kiddo has a summer birthday (June, July, August)... especially if they are a boy... PLEASE think about waiting to enroll them in Kindergarten. I know the guidelines say that they need to be 5 by Sept. 1st, (and personally, I think it should be moved earlier... like May 1.)  But since school starts in mid-August, we have kiddos every year that are 4 for the first few weeks of kindergarten. FOUR! 

I know daycare is expensive... I know preschool is expensive... I know some parents are sure that their kids are ready for K... but giving your child the gift of TIME is one of the greatest things you can do for them. That one year can be the difference in your child struggling through school for 13 years (or just doing okay in school) and your child being a leader in school. 

If you aren't sure if your child is ready... talk to a pre-school teacher, or a kindergarten teacher. I have never known a parent that regretted waiting to send their child to K. But I've known several that regretted sending them as early as they did. Around December of first grade some parents start realizing just how high the expectations are in first. Ask a first grade teacher to show you the expectations for what first graders should be reading at the beginning of the year and what they should be reading at the end of the year. It's pretty amazing. 

Ok... off my soapbox now. =) 

Some of the biggest things I think you can do to get your child ready for Kindergarten:
* knowing their letters... (recognizing both capital and lowercase)
* knowing numbers
* being able to count with 1 to 1 correspondence (pointing to objects when the count and making their pointing/counting match)
* being able to write their name (mainly just first name... last is a bonus)
* knowing how to correctly hold a pencil, crayon or marker
* knowing how to use scissors (a little scary, I know... but let them practice with supervision!)
* knowing to correctly form their letters (start at the TOP and pull down... start with the circle, then the lines)

** There are some really good games/apps that you can find for having kids practice making letters. Some of my favorites are the ones that won't accept it if you form the letter incorrectly. Start early with this! Once they have created the habit of forming a letter wrong, it can be so hard to correct! (I would link to some of them, but Gretchen is watching SuperWhy on the iPad right now... and that's a lot of work. Just search for writing letters or letter formation or something. You'll find some.)

Just a few more, less-academic, but still-important skills...
* being able to sit and listen to an entire story
* being able to listen to and follow directions (from someone other than you)
* knowing how to play with/interact with other kids and adults

* What types of things do parents do that annoy teachers? (I'm asking this since our first born will be in kindergarten next year.)

** Please be careful about what you say in front of your child. Grown up conversations about work, money, you getting fired from your job, etc... those aren't things your child needs to be worrying about. And they do worry about it. (And they repeat more than what you would like them to repeat to us, I'm sure. I  learn a lot at share time sometimes.)

** Please follow through on things like reading and homework. I always tell parents that they very best thing you can do to help your child become a better reader is to read with them. Read to them... listen to them read... take turns reading. It really does make a difference. 

** Just be honest. Whether it's about behavior, school work, life at home... honesty will always help. 

** Communicate with teachers. Again... behavior, school work, things going on at home, medication changes... please talk to us and give us some insight as to what is going on in your little person's life. 

** Please know that we are always trying to figure out new ways to help your child, new ways to reach your child, new ways to allow your child to feel success. Trust our judgement and know that we really have your child's best interests at heart.  Don't feel threatened if we are wanting to talk to you about your child. We value your input and your knowledge about your child and want us to be able to work together. 

** Let your child's teacher know that you appreciate them. Even a quick little note or email can mean so much. Really. I have some that I have kept that are at least 10 years old. Maybe more.

* How are you handling this winter? We've been in a polar vortex for days... and I am worn out keeping little people (and myself) entertained.

This question may not have been directed towards school, but that's where I'm putting it. Because face it, these little people haven't had near enough outside recess lately. And outside recess is important when you are 6 and 7 and confined to a classroom for hours and hours each day. 

I've collected several cd's over the years with lots of fun and silly songs. Songs that require you to stand up, move around, dance around, jump around and get out lots of wiggles! We do lots of singing and moving and dancing throughout our day. Most transitions involve some kind of song. I do them with them (and get disgusted by how out of breath I am sometimes after these crazy songs!) and usually look for one or two kids who are singing/participating and have them come help me lead. They love that. 

(I may have a certain red-head today that is driving me a bit crazy, though. My girls are both off somewhere... drawing, playing, pretending. Entertaining themselves and being as quiet as little mice. Lawson, on the other hand...)

* What books do you love to read aloud to your kids and to your class? 
Goodness, this post has gotten long... (no links, sorry... my kids think they need lunch!)

Favorite authors: Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Leo Lionni, Tomie dePaola, Dr. Seuss, Patricia Polacco, Bill Martin, Jr., Kevin Henkes, Laura Numeroff (all the "If you give a ____ a ____..." books)

Favorite books to read aloud:
* Junie B. Jones (first graders LOVE these read aloud)
* Pete the Cat (and you really have to sing the parts that he sings. You just do. Check youtube if you don't know the tune)
* Martin Luther King books (LOVE reading books about MLK. The discussions are so fun.)
* The Little Yellow Chicken by Joy Cowley (we do so much with this book... predicting, graphing, writing. If anyone has an extra copy of The Little Yellow Chicken's House, PLEASE let me know!)
* My Father's Dragon (chapter books... there are 3 in the series)
* Tops and Bottoms
* Stellauna
* Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
* Miss Nelson is Missing (and the ones that follow)
* The Great Fuzz Frenzy

 I know there are more. But those are the ones that came to mind right now. Whew!

The weather is looking like we may be in for another snow day tomorrow! =)
So there might be more answers coming soon!
Happy snow day!

answers.

Thanks for all the questions! (Some are easy and some I'm having to think about!)
I'm working on some answers to post soon!

Thanks for helping me get out of a bloggy slump!
Now I have lots to blog about! =)

abe.

At the end of December, Corey decided to try moving Abe in with the other cows. We had noticed that the two calves over there (who are younger than Abe) were starting to eat hay, but Abe still wasn't. He didn't have anyone to teach him. 

It's hard to tell from the picture (I was inside... where it was warm!) but Corey is pretty much dragging Abe over there. He was basically just resisting the halter that was around his face and the rope, but it made it look like he really didn't want to be over there. 

The other cows were pretty curious about this new little black calf (Corey has Herefords, but Abe was one of my dad's Black Angus). They tried to check him out right away, but he just ran from them.

This was the little spectator section from Corey and I's bedroom...

The two other calves were even more curious about this new little friend...

Gretchen thought it was so sweet that they wanted to play with him...

He was so freaked out, though. Just scared to death. We realized (later) that Abe had really never even seen another cow before. His momma died before he was born (my dad did a post-mortem c-section)... we got him when he was just a few days old... and he had been in the barn and small pen where he couldn't even see any of the other cows. His only interactions had been with us (mainly Lawson) and Marley. I really think he thought he was a dog.

Look at him running over to Corey...

It was so sad to watch. I know Corey got tired of me asking if he was okay.

There may have even been some tears shed by a certain red-head who was really worried about him.

Doesn't he look sad?

He was there for a day and a half and then the weather got super, crazy, bitter cold. There's really no shelter in the field where these cows are and we felt bad that Abe didn't have a momma to snuggle up with. So Corey moved him back over to the barn and smaller pen. (No rope and halter this time... he just followed Lawson.)

But... Corey rearranged some fencing. (I helped him fix fence one day. In the snow! And then asked on Facebook if that made me a real farm wife, yet.) He made it so the other set of cows (and one calf) could have access to the pen right beside Abe. Then he put in a calf gate between the two pens. (Too small for cows to fit through, but the calves can walk back and forth between the two pens.)

So now... Abe has a friend...

It was so fun the first day when we saw him over there with the other cows... the other calf coming into his pen... one day they were chasing each other around and playing.

He's started eating hay now and lots of grain, but he still gets excited to see this guy coming...

Look how big he's gotten! His head used to naturally fit through the second opening in the fence...

Remember when we first got Abe and he and Marley were about the same size? Marley was maybe a little bigger?

These two are still pretty good buds...

questions?

So I have a couple posts on my "To Blog About" list. (Abe is so big now!)
But I'm kind of in a bloggy slump right now.

So help me out... any ideas?
Any questions?
Anything you want to know?

{Funny... I just typed this out and then realized I posted almost the exact same thing in January of 2012.
Maybe it's a January thing...}

gingerbread house.

Doesn't everyone make a gingerbread house in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day? =)

goals. and randomness.

I always have lists of things to do... areas to organize... things to make... projects for school... projects for home... lots of ideas and goals. 

{Here's our Christmas gingerbread house... still in the box. It might become a Valentine house.}

{This was the temperature on Monday at 9:00 am. The windchill was -22.* 

We enjoyed our "too cold for school" day and staying home one extra day.}

But for 2014, I have one major goal... to be more on the ball and stay on top of things. (Obviously I'm doing well since I'm posting about my 2014 goal on Jan. 11th...)

{I love our big kitchen island for lots of reasons. This is one of them.}

I spent the last half of 2012 and most of 2013 feeling behind. Behind on life... behind at school... behind on so many things. I don't love that feeling. I especially don't love it when it ends up costing us things like late fees... missed deadlines... missed occasions. That happened way too much last year. 

{My sweet 11 year old niece painted this for Corey and I for Christmas. We LOVE it!}

Budgeting... chore systems... allowances... Bible reading... organizing... selling unused things... blog books (2012 and 2013)... exercising... those are all goals for the year, too. But they also fall under the category of just staying on top of things. 

We have big dreams that this summer, 2014, is finally going to be our relaxing summer. 2012 was spent uprooting our whole life and moving here. 2013 was spent finishing building this house and moving out here. At this point, there are no huge, life-changing events planned for 2014. And I kind of want to keep it that way. 

There are friends I want to reconnect with. (Hanni... this WILL be our year!) Friends I want to spend more time with.

There are little hearts and minds to shape and mold. Both at school and at home. I want to get better with chores and responsibilities and making sure to instill a good work ethic in these little people of ours.

Since it is now 12:05 pm... I should probably do some things like shower... get dressed... start working on laundry, cleaning, etc. You know, since I'm so on top of things. =) At least I can cross "random blog post" off my list now!

Happy 2014! (11 days late)