Athena in a Minivan

Happy Birthday to Butch and Sundance

Six years ago today, we welcomed Butch and Sundance into God's beautiful world and it has never been the same. These two beautiful boys had been the dream of a girl's heart for many years. Before she knew she would even get married she dreamed of children.

I found out I was pregnant a week before I was to go to summer camp to teach tennis in the hot Texas sun. It was a miserable 4 weeks. I returned home and went to the doctor complaining of intense pain and he quickly sent us to have a sonogram with the words "FETAL DISTRESS" enblayzoned on the orders. We made it through the sonogram and the tech asked it twins ran in our family. I nievely answered, "Well, I dont' think so." to which she replied, "Well they do now."

When Butch and Sundance were born, Butch had to go to the nursery to receive some Oxygen but they brought Sundance to me. I laid there and just cried and cried, he was so beautiful. Butch followed an hour later and he too was a beautiful baby. It was overwhelming to think of two babies (and even today it is overwhelming) but we survived and now they are moving out of the preschool stage into elementary.

Butch and Sundance are wonderful boys. They are helpful, smart, and just a joy to be around. They always make me smile and can charm Toddler until he collapses in giggles. It is hard to see them grow up so fast thought it really hasn't been that fast. I have tried to enjoy every minute of it. Sometimes were harder than others and I know there is much more joy to come.

Happy 6th Birthday to my two sweet fine boys. May you continue to grow in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. I love you.

Jonas and Toddler

We have a hamster named Jonas. He was purchased after Butch and Sundance got their yellow belts. He is a cute tan and white little guy. Toddler loves to talk to him and watch him and put toys in his cage. Toddler calls him Jojo. Today as I was cleaning the kitchen, Toddler (who will be 2 in a week) came and said Mama, Jojo and then gave the sign for ALL DONE.  I asked him, "What do you mean Jojo is all done?" He then signed and said, "Jojo wants more." I then checked the bowl of food and sure enough, it was empty. I opened the cage and he took the bowl out, helped me pour in some more food and put the bowl back. They are never too young to learn to care for someone else.

I love this game

I have always loved to play Scrabble but not with my sister. She know way too many hard words.

Pholph's Scrabble Generator My Scrabble© Score is: 24. What is your score? Get it here.

Butch and Sundance take Karate

Butch and Sundance have been taking Issenhryu Karate since last June. They started out as white belts and they are now yellow belts. It has been a long process. Their instructor is a young (25) guy who has just earned to privilege to teach. He is not very experience with young children but he is learning along with my kiddos. Their father takes the class with them. He has advanced belts in other types of martial arts but since this one is new, he had to start as a white belt. He is now a gold belt.

Here is the deal, in order to test for the next belt Butch and Sundance have to be able to tie their own obi (belt). I have been working with them and helping them try to learn. It is not a regular square knot either. There is a special knot that has to be done. I have complained to my husband about this knot. He has kindly explained that it is about discipline and following tradition that the belt has to be tied a certain way. I keep saying, "Why can't we just tie a square knot?" and once more he explains about tradition. Once more tonight I asked, "Are you sure we can't just tie these in square knots. " I just got THE LOOK.

I guess this is why I will never be a martial artist.

What I've Read in 2006

I learned to read at age 6 and have not stopped reading. I read pretty much anything I can get my hands on. When I was in school, I would always have a book with me. I would hide it under the desk and put my head down so I could read. The middle school and high school librarians were some of my closest teachers.

I like to read classics, theology, history, biographies, NYT best sellers and obscure British writers. I have read every Newberry award book and read the new one every year. I won't read "bodice busters" and the like. I use to read them but was convicted as a young single adult (26) that they were giving me a warped view of love and marriage. I use to love to read them and would stay up all night reading them only to have to teach school the next day. I don't even have a desire to read them now. The desire went away. (why can't the desire for Krispy Kreams go away?)

I give almost anything the 100 page test and if it still has my attention after 100 pages then I read the rest even if it gets bad after the first 100 pages. (note to authors: make the first 100 a good read).

I have never tried to track what I read in one year before. This year I am going to post on my Read in 2006 list when I finish a book. I am not going to post the picture books and books I read for our school. If you want to know what we are reading for school  go to www.amblesideonline.com and check out the Year 0 book list. This is a great list of books to read to young (0-6) children even if you are not homeschooling.

I am looking forward to see what gets read this year.