Mama , you were right . . .

Aghh, what wonderful words to a mama. I wanted to just pause and let those words soak in or ask him to repeat them so I could hear it just one more time. I was going to yell a wild "yes" but decided that instead I should probably just ask, "about, what?".

"You were right. If you have a good attitude, things go better."

Wow! I didn't know what to think. Things are sinking in. He is listening and learning.

We were driving to meet friends for lunch and had just past the craft store and pet store. He told me, "when we went to get fish food, I complained but now I have a good attitude and the trip went fast so you are right. If you have a good attitude, things go better."

Just a week or so ago we had gone to get fish food and he had complained the whole way about how far it was -- it was just about 3 miles away. Today we were driving that same way and this comment came from his mouth.

I did put aside all my gloating and just reaffirmed that yes that is right we do want to have a good attitude.

It was a proud mama moment.

History, Science, Cooking all come together

One of the fun things of homeschooling is when what you learn can be applied at home. The other week J asked, "how do you make sauerkraut ?" That was a good question and not like the usual, "what if your arms were wings?" or "what if you were 12 feet tall?" I am practical and reality based and so I struggle with those questions but when he asked, "how do you make sauerkraut?" That one I could answer. I knew St. Patrick's day was coming and since we live in a good Irish community that meant that cabbage would be on sale -- 9 cents a pound. We can try to make sauerkraut.

A big head of cabbage, a big knife, a big bowl and some salt.

Pound and pound to get as much liquid out of the cabbage.

Put it in a jar and wait three days.

We were making sauerkraut. The jar sealed itself. We waited the three days and then a bit more. This week we make pork and sauerkraut.

History came in to this as we had read how the Chinese used salt to preserve food. We opened the jar and it was preserved. All we had added was salt.

Science came in to this as we opened the jar the liquid started foaming and exploding out of the jar. We quick moved to the sink. We tasted it and added it to the crockpot.

We enjoyed our dinner of pork and sauerkraut. We are still alive that was two days ago.

World Down Syndrome Day

3/21 = World Down Syndrome Day - It is simple the 21st chromosome has an extra chromosome along with that is extra fun, stubbornness, and a few other things. Here are some reflections for this year. I think I will just interview myself.

This is the youngest picture that I have of her that I will share. That was the night before the heart cath.



What is one of the fun things about having a Down Syndrome child? Miss K keeps us laughing. It might be what she says or do but with her around there is probably a laugh there as well. Like when she wanted to wear her yellow pj's to bed except she doesn't have any.

What is one of the hardest things? She is stubborn which is good. It was that stubborn streak that kept her fighting for her life the night the doctor told us she wasn't going to make it but it is that same stubbornness that you deal with when she wants to wear her yellow pj's or allow mama to put her to bed when she wants daddy.

What is Miss K's favorite thing to do? That is easy - watch, which is her way of saying watch DVD. She likes to watch Chinese, Bernstein Bears, Bob the Builder, Veggie Tales, Annie and a few other things.

What does she like to eat? She really is a good eater. She is like her mama and likes chips, French Fries, and pretzels. She loves meatloaf and icing.

How is she developing? When I look back on her milestones, she hit most of them at the end of normal range. Her speech is a bit delayed but she will say, "mama, help me" or " what you doing?" She is walking and jumping. She has learned to use scissors both the good and the bad -- she did cut her own hair. She is amazing in what she does know. She can count in both English and Chinese, she knows colors, letters and letter sounds, shapes, and still can read most of the words that we worked on years ago.

It is amazing to she what she has learned and I look forward to what she will learn as she continues to grow.

The post recent picture is below, yesterday at Rita's. She has grown in the last 5 1/2 years about 25 pounds and about 12 inches.

So today we celebrate Down Syndrome Day and Miss K.

Spring

A few weeks ago, I promised the kids that I would take them to Rita's on the first day of spring to celebrate. Rita's opened the beginning of March when we still had snow on the ground and that was too early for me. So after lunch we went to Rita's. We drove past to the normal one we go to and the line was long. We decided to go to another one in the area and the line was long there as well. I had promised so we decided to go.



The line moved quick and we ordered -- cherry for J, vanilla for Miss K, root beer for myself, and daddy had sweet tea. About that time we learned why the line was long -- it was free.

That was a great way to celebrate spring.

Terra Cotta Warrior

One of the projects that J was given to work on this week was make a Terra Cotta Warrior. For inspiration we looked at pictures.



Here is the result of his work.

I wasn't here for the making of this warrior but I understand there was quite a bit of laughter and fun.

3.14 Pi Day

Sunday was Pi day and so we did have pie both pizza pie and pumpkin pie.

The kids opted for Rice Krispie Treats instead.

Norman Rockwell - Living in Art

I finally got around to taking the kids to the Norman Rockwell display. I had to do it this week as it closes here on Sunday. I had grand plans of reading the book that I had bought prior to our visit but we didn't get that done. I did give J two coffee table books that I had ordered from half.com to look at this morning.

We walked into the mall while the exhibition was and saw this.

The look on his face was one of those homeschool moments, those times that remind you that this is why you are doing what you do every day. He was excited. He had seen that in the book. We then headed for the exhibition after stopping at the Lego store which I didn't know was there (we must not get out much).

We walked in and the first thing we saw was this. I have to say that the kids really felt like they were walking into the art. I think J as much as said that on the way home. He walked right up and looked at this.



There was a Model T there that the kids could sit on. J was excited that when he turned the steering wheel, the wheels moved. I think both kids enjoyed the school area. I did laugh a bit because those desks are very much like the ones that the kids use for school.



J did pose with the teacher.

I think the soda foundation was one of my favorite places. I just loved the way the kids could sit right there as if they were part of the picture.

Miss K really wanted the cookies. She kept going back to that and then she put her hand in the milk.

At the end they had a display of all the Saturday Evening Post covers that Norman Rockwell painted. I gave J the camera and told him to take a picture of his favorite one. I was a bit surprised at the one he took a picture of. I thought he would have picked a sports one or maybe one he had seen in a book but this is what he picked.



Miss K was begging, "my turn" and so I gave her the camera. I did have to turn the camera away from her face and this is what she picked.

It was a fun afternoon worth the $5.00 that it cost me to get in. It really did bring art to life and was worth it. Now we will read our book.