Potty-Training Is Serious Business!

As you can see, Eliza is clearly very serious about potty-training. I think her potty has been on her head more than her bum has been on the potty. (No worries, the lining that catches the potty, and that has contact with her bum, is not used as an accessory!)

We have never been worried about potty-training at our house and both of the older kids managed to catch-on before age 3—I'm making no promises about this one though, as she's pretty stubborn and completely different, personality-wise, than our older children. I won't be surprised if she is closer to 3 1/2 before going pee-pee in the potty becomes a priority. Oh well!

Happy Valentine's Day!

One of the fun things about homeschooling is that we can choose to take off whatever day we want. Today was one of those days! It's nice to be able to take a day off of *school* in the middle of the week because we'd rather do something else. Of course, I'm of the opinion that children are always learning, whether they are being formally schooled or not (I'm kind of an un-schooler at heart).

Anyway, today we took the kids out to lunch. My kids love a local Chinese restaurant called The Golden Star, and that's where they chose to go. It has been a couple months since we've taken the family out to eat, so this was a rare treat. After lunch we went to Books-A-Million and the kids each picked out a book. We all decided this would be more fun than candy or stuffed animals. (Don't worry, folks, my kids got plenty of Valentine's Day candy from their Granny!)


Mary Jane and Kaden both enjoy drawing, especially Kaden (he spends a lot of time watching drawing tutorials on the internet). Instead of a reading book, both of them chose to buy a learn to draw book. They are pretty neat little books, with lots of interesting things to draw. Even Mom spent time drawing today.


The kids may not have had *formal* schooling today, but I think they learned a lot reading and drawing from their learn to draw books. And the beauty about not having a teacher is that they experience with different techniques all on their own, in order to find one that works with their vision for whatever they are drawing.

And what about Eliza? you ask...

Originally, she went to the bookstore determined to find a book about Caillou. She is obsessed with Caillou right now. We have 22 episodes recorded on our DVR and she watches at least 2 episodes every single day. Unfortunately, our bookstore is rather small, and a Caillou book was not to be found. I was afraid there might be a melt down, but she happily picked out one Ruby and Max book and one Curious George book (Eliza calls him "George the monkey" and Da insists every one else call him this, too!).

Happy Valentine's Day to all! I hope you were able to spend the day with someone you love... ♥♥

Week in a Post

This post is just a rundown of things I remember everyone doing this week. They are in order of whatever springs to mind first.

• Shane got admitted to graduate school. He is pursuing an Administrator's License in Education and will be taking online courses from University of Southern Mississippi-Hattiesburg.
• Kaden is doing wonderfully in reading and has graduated to 15 minutes of reading aloud with Mom or Da, and 30 minutes of silent reading in his room. Before, he was doing all 45 minutes aloud with a parent. He is currently reading through all of the Beatrix Potter books - lovely prose and equally lovely illustrations.
• The kids visited Granny on Thursday. Eliza was ready to come home before Kaden and Mary Jane, who wanted to stay as long as possible to avoid doing schoolwork.
• Mary Jane is excited to have her World of Warcraft character leveled into the 60s now. She is determined to have an 85 by the time the new expansion comes out. Note here: She is a traitor and prefers Alliance to Horde!! :P
• Eliza has asked to pee in the pot several times this week. As opposed to Mom placing her on there several times a day for practice.
• Mom's toe is still infected and she is seriously contemplating going to the doctor. If she had more sense she would understand that an in-grown toenail that has not healed since July is probably not going to heal on its own at this point.
• The weather has been exceptionally warm this week. The kids have enjoyed playing outside (with each other and Da) and going for walks with Mom.
• We have done virtually no housekeeping (aside from dishes) this week and the house is a complete disaster.
• Mary Jane and Eliza have been wearing matching braids in their hair all week. Eliza think this is so much fun! Mary Jane is never excited about grooming her hair but does it anyway to make her sister happy. Eliza calls braids "tangles."
• Kaden has been drawing a lot this week, as usual. He is trying to improve the chest pieces on his "guys." He has three main "guys" named Duke, Max, and Jack. I can see his drawings evolving into comic strips when his writing improves.
• Mary Jane wrote a mystery/short story this week about a boy whose lunchbox went missing in a classroom. Her writing skills at this age amaze me and I accredit it all to the quality literature she has been exposed to since birth. I wish I had been as vigilant about it with the other two, but am slacking. /sigh/
• Da, Mary Jane, and Kaden are still having fun staying up late every night. They all enjoy spending quiet time without a toddler demanding all of the time and attention - We love you Eliza!