WOW Samuel - You Stink!

  Samuel, being the 11 year old youngest of this very long-large family, has the distinction of doing everything for the last time. This is the day he outgrew his car seat. His oldest sibling is 42 and so I am often very very very glad to see the end to a phase of parenting.
 Today while heading out to town we all smelled something. Something evil and wretched. 
It was Sam. It was B.O.

 I almost cried, both from the smell and the realization that my baby needed deodorant. 
Aahh. Another rite of passage.

One of a Kind

  Samuel and his best buddy Cole have been friends for a long time.  In all these years I have never heard them have a single disagreement or fight. 
  They like the same things and are both pretty much the most easy going kids I know.
  So was I surprised when we stopped by to pick Cole up and they were both dressed like this?
 Not at all.

Slamming with Sam

  When you're a girl and your uncle, who is only 2 years older than you, lives across the street, you learn to play basketball like a beast. A very beautiful and sweet beast. Go Layla!

Curtain Call for the Tooth Fairy

As the last, really last, I swear last, 8 kids are getting older I can almost see a glimmer of light at the end of the on duty mom tunnel.  Margie, the oldest is turning ......... exactly 30 years older than the youngest, Samuel who will be 8 this week.  
And I'll be ready to be done when I'm done.  I secretly wear a necklace with a little empty nest dangling from it and I've saved a stack of magazines with the promise of recipes for two.  Two!


So why was I so sentimental when Samuel lost both front teeth this week?  Maybe because he's the last and I'm a sucker for the look.

Textbooks are for Tables

  The kids have been getting up early and getting most of their school work done while I'm walking in the morning.

 And that's fine with me.  More than fine.
It gives us time to do the good stuff - like looking for caves and exploring old church ruins. 

Can You Read It On the Couch?

  Since coming from public school to home learning, Samuel's reading has been our priority and it's paying off.  He has zoomed through 'Frog and Toad" and told me he knows why it's called a 'Treasury" - cause it's like a special book and it has good stories in it.  When this little guy came to visit for the day, Samuel offered to read to him to make him happy.  I know I'm thrilled!

You Can Jump and Learn at the Same Time

  
  I've never been a militant homeschooler.  You know the kind that hates everything about public school.  I've had kids that have started public school in Kindergarten and never missed a year through 12th.  Some have spent most of their years learning at home. This year our three "littles" are in public schools and the other six are being educated at home.  With two graduating this year I didn't think I could listen to three learning to sound out words while helping my oldest write their research paper.  And it was all going so smoothly.
  But then I started getting reports from the teacher that Samuel wasn't sitting still and listening well enough.  He wanted to play and move around.  Imagine that from a six year old boy.  She felt he wasn't learning to read as quickly as he should.  And then last week he was sent to the principal's office because while walking down the hall, he jumped up and tried to touch the Cat in the Hat artwork that was hanging there.  Here's the real truth.  Samuel likes to jump.  And he likes to play.  And that's okay with me.
  After a few conversations with his, really great but under pressure to produce 6 year old boys that can pass the end of the year tests, teacher, I withdrew Samuel from public school.
  This is Samuel coming home from his last day of being educated before he's ready.  He'll probably jump for joy.

And Again

  Our oldest daughter Margie will be turning 37 this year and Samuel, the youngest will be 7.  Sometimes it feels like I've been doing this mom thing FOREVER.  I have to remind myself that although I've supplied the carrots for 419 snowman noses, to each kid it's the original Frosty.  I have to be excited over every tooth lost and applaud every part in every play. I can't stop singing, "Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day" as I wake each one up, because it has to still be fun to annoy sleeping children.  When we leave the Walmart parking lot I will continue to yell, "hop on" and ride the cart down the lot to my car with my children hanging precariously on the sides so that the youngest will be able to reminisce with the oldest about how weird mom is.  
  But it's hard sometimes-like today when I'm tired.  And sometimes I daydream about cooking for two and not having to convince anyone that it's really their bedtime.
  And then Samuel runs by, laughing and he has a long, long childhood ahead of him and I can't wait to do it all over again for him.  I'm a sucker for a kid.
  

He's Up

  Samuel, being six, is the shortest person in this VERY large family - if you don't count the dogs.  And being a boy, that fact screams challenge to him.  Samuel doesn't ever pout or worry or get mad, he just gets to work.  So for the past few weeks over and over, he charges through the foyer and jumps up to touch the hanging lamp.  He told me tonight that he almost touched it and that he thinks he's the only person in the family who can reach it.  
  I love this boy and his high flying confidence.