Library fun!!

Remember when you were a kid and you would go to the library? You were always told to be quiet and if you had to talk to talk in a whisper. When I was a teenager I would  hide out in the poetry section of the library. It was on the second floor close to the balcony. Nobody was ever over there, I would grab a book from the shelf, sit on the floor, and read for hours. It was a place I could hide away, it was quiet.

Fast forward eleven years and the library has transformed. The second I walk in my children go to the childrens' section. I drop off our books in the return pile (we tend to get about twenty per visit) and head back to the children's section. There are large no back cushion chairs in odd shapes on the floor. A play house, three train tables, rocking horses, and several toys. My children play with other kids while parents look for books. Some adults sit at tables reading newspapers or talking with friends. More adults and teenagers at the computers working or playing on the Internet. The childrens' librarian seems to know every child by name. She knows mine; I have been taking my children to the library for their reading program since the oldest two were just little toddlers.

No longer is the library ONLY for quietly reading or researching. It is now a great place to spend time with your kids. A place where they can play. A place where your older kids can play miniature golf after hours for a special summer activity. It is still the best place to pick up books.
When we walk out of the library about an hour later; it only takes about ten minutes to find the twenty or so books and check them out, W looks at me and asks for a book. "Book!" He will hold a book in his hands on the way home eager to read it.

I love the library! I loved it when I was younger and I had to be quiet. Now that I am a mom I love it even more because our library has managed to become child friendly. Everyone in town knows that on certain days the library will probably have more kids then the park, so it will not be quiet. That is alright, I think everyone just enjoys the fact that so many children are enjoying the library. Hopefully, going home and enjoying the books too!

What do you think of your library? Is it a favorite hangout for you and your family?

Dreams

Tonight I am pondering dreams not yet realized. There are dreams that I have given up on in the past. Writing was one of those. I have children's stories laying around that I have simply never allowed anyone to read, notebooks filled with short stories, even more filled with poems. As I listen to some great violin (I have always called it a fiddle) being played by Lindsey Stirling I began thinking about dreams I have seen my children give up on.

My little girl always wanted to play the fiddle. I was finally able to afford to get her one and some lessons but a few months in she gave up. She was good! Her brothers and I loved listening to her play. She did not feel that she was as good as the other kids who played in the school orchestra so she quit. Every once in awhile I will catch a look in her eyes when we are listening to music and someone is playing the fiddle. It is as if she still longs to play it, every time I tell her that she can pick lessons back up again. Maybe if I were to get her private lessons she might feel a bit differently about it. Stick it out more. The girl loves music of all sorts.

See, my Q he does not give up when it comes to something that he loves, something that he wants to do. He is my artist. He will draw for hours! He fills sketchpads, notebooks, loose paper; anything that he can get his hands on he will fill with drawings. I do not want him to suddenly stop doing that! It is something that he gets joy out of doing, something that I love seeing him do. If he does not know how to draw something he will have me find him a how to draw guide for what he is wanting to draw. Once he gets it down he puts his own twist on it.

If I go back and try to realize my dreams of having a series of children's books maybe my children will see that it is NEVER to late to go after what you want? I do not want little ones to grow up thinking that it is alright to set your dreams up on a shelf simply because other things came along. It might not be easy but that it would be worth it to keep after your dreams. Perhaps J will pick up a fiddle again.

Yay dirt!

Up until the other day W would refuse, REFUSE to get dirty. He might have colored on himself a time or two, fallen down and had dirt smeared on his hands or knees, or spilled some drink on himself; every single time he would come to me and request in his adorable way to be cleaned up. He would hold out the offending body part and inform me that it was either "sticky" or "dirt". I would then wipe him clean while telling him it is alright for little boys to get dirty. Eh, at least I always have someone to help clean. Yay!

The other day MeeMaw was planting some last minute flowers. J was helping her, my little girl loves flowers and gardens. She does not mind getting dirty. Often times she has flower jewelry while playing outside. W and Q wanted to help also. It started that they wanted to do the watering. After watering the flowers that I had planted for her a few days before MeeMaw got out some new flowers to plant from seed. The boys eagerly picked out which flower they wanted to plant for her. After she opened the bag filled with dirt and seeds she allowed the boys to fill their containers with soil and their flower seeds. Q did this and then ran along to play. W, carefully took the rooting seedling from his bag and placed it into his container. He was then told to place the soil over it and pat it down. He looked up with a bit of an inquisitive look. Then slowly patted down the loose soil. A smile spread across his face and he continued to pat the soil down until it was time to water it.


MeeMaw showing W how to pat down the soil.

Carrying his flower can over to be watered.

Q is no stranger to dirt, he sort of overfilled his container.

J watering the flowers.

Today W decided to show me that he is alright with getting dirty. While his brother, sister, and cousin were playing in the grassy yard he decided to get down and play in the dirt. When I turned that dirt into mud he at first did not look very happy. Then I put his hands on it, he grabbed a handful and tossed it at me which started a mud fight. If only I had my camera at that moment! He even managed to get his cousin and brother when they came over to see what he was doing. I am glad that he likes to get cleaned up; I won't have to worry about fighting with him after he is done playing in the dirt.

Do you have a hard time getting your kids to just get down and play? Do you have a hard time getting your child cleaned up after playtime? I understand that there are times when a child needs to stay clean, I also understand that kids get dirty, it is part of being a kid and having fun. I look forward to your comments.

Sick!!!

This morning I took both of my boys to the doctor. I only intended for Q to be seen. I had already come to the conclusion that he was suffering from seasonal allergies for the first time but wanted to be certain that was what it was. My mom told me to have the doctor look at W while I was there also. Just to make sure that he did not have a cold in his eye.

At the doctor's office early Sunday morning there  was no wait to be seen. Q went first, the doctor examined him and said it was allergies, maybe a hint of asthma (to be tested for it once he is done with a bit of medicine). He was a real trooper once he knew he was not going to have to get a shot.

W had his turn. He would not hold still for the machine to take his blood pressure. He is use to Doctor M (a great lady who allows W to "use" the tools  before she uses them on him) so he did not want to hold still, he wanted to explore this new machine. After the nurse finally checked his blood pressure the "old fashioned way" the doctor checked out his eye and the few bugs bites that he has on his face. I was concerned about these since they had  not gone away but I have not caught him scratching at them either. She then checked his ears, breathing, and throat.

"He has tonsillitis." She said rather nonchalantly. "I'll call in antibiotics." She left it at that, would not stay and answer questions that I had, she seemed rather annoyed that I had questions. What is tonsillitis? He did not act sick, he was still running about playing as usual. Was there anything I could do for him to help him feel better? Ahh, the Internet, I used this to answer my questions.

After waiting two hours for the prescriptions to be filled we finally were able to make it home. I got meds into Q, he was rather easy. He is older and knows that he only takes medicine if he is really sick. W, on the other hand usually fights medicine. So much so that in the past he has had to get shots instead. I was rather surprised when he took this medicine for me without a fight. You're right if you wonder if I rewarded him! He deserved to get a bit of something special. Poor kid does not feel well but he is not letting that slow him down. He wants to keep on playing and enjoying summer. I kept him indoors today and spoiled him and Q with books and a few movies.
J was such a great girl today, usually she argues with Q over the silliest things, not today. She read and played.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day!! Thank you to all of those who have given of their lives; whether all of their life or some of their life, for our country. Thank you for serving your country, you are appreciated!!

Summer of Adventures

Summer is here, well summer vacation is here. I decided to make this summer one filled with adventures for my little family. I do not want my children to go back to school in the fall feeling as if they "bored" away their summer.

Yesterday we had our first adventure! My kids have never washed a car before. Sure they have gone to a car wash and sat in a car while it was being washed but they have never personally washed a car. I pulled my car onto the sidewalk, grabbed some rags, a bit of soap, and the hose; I got the car wet. I shut off the hose to conserve water. The kids and I scrubbed my car which was extremely dirty.

By the time they were finished they were all pretty proud of the job that they had done. They enjoyed being able to play in the water while the car got rinsed off. Then they ran around outside to dry off. J said that she had her wish for her start of summer vacation. All she wanted to do on the first day of vacation was to play in the hose. She was able to do that and wash my car! The boys; well, they were just excited to be able to do something with the car.

Stay tuned to hear about more adventures this summer! What adventures do you have planned for your family?

Summer programs?

With summer peeking around the corner, everyone seems to be thinking about what to do with their children. I see friends posting things on facebook about being able to get rid of their kids for a few days a week if they sign them up for this program or for that program. Then other parents saying "At least my child will get out of the house for a little bit." Really? Make your kid get out of the house. Turn off the television, turn of the games, take away cell phones (if your children have them) and let let them be kids again.
My kids do Not have video games, they do not have cell phones, or any other devices. They read books. They play outside. They color. They do the same things that I did as a child. I am all for summer programs. All three of my children will be involved in the summer reading program at the local library but I will be reading books to W since he is only two. They get prizes for so many books that they read, honestly my kids would ready without the prize incentive though.
With all of the summer programs that your kids can be involved in just do not forget to encourage them to simply go outside and play (with sunblock on of course!).

Never marry???

Yesterday my kids and I were driving along on our way to church. An adorable guy drove by in a truck and I said quietly, "He's cute." My daughter heard me, "What? I can think a guy is cute. If I am ever to get married I need to think the guy is cute right?" My daughter agreed. Then it happened, "Mom, I do not want you to get married!" Q said in a loud voice from the backseat. I asked him why. "I like you the way you are! We do not need you to get married!" I understand that if I ever get married it would be a HUGE change for the kids. I assured him that if I should get married someday that I would be the same mom.
It is not like I am dating. I have never really been on my own before. So, these past three years since W's dad left I have been discovering myself. Realizing that I do not NEED a man in my life. I can raise my children without a guy in my life. I guess my children want me to keep doing just that. It is not really something to worry about. If When I find the right guy I will figure out how to talk to my kids about that then.

Did any of you have problems with your kids not wanting you to get married? How did you help ease that transition? Some advice for the future would be great!