Making my job obsolete

 It has been a while since I have been in the business world.  And to those questioning that statement, I did deliver papers for nearly 10 years, so, yes, I was in the business world at one point.  But, I still know that it does not normally make very good job sense to provide evidence that your job is no longer necessary.  However, in the particular profession I am currently in, that is perhaps the main goal.  Yes, I am here to nurture and protect my children, but ultimately, they will need to fly free (despite Dom's regular insistence that he will live with me forever or until he is 90, whichever comes first).  Therefore, we are constantly striving to make our children self-sufficient.

When we moved into our home in Niceville, we placed cereal and kids dishes in low areas so that they were easily obtained by the subjects in question.  As a result, Molly at 2 and a half is quite able to pour herself a bowl of cereal (the milk is another matter, though that is more my lack of interest in cleaning up multiple messes and less Molly's willingness to be self-serving...trust me she would LOVE to have unfettered access to the milk).  Though, one breakfast option that is quite easily served by those of the younger generation is Nutella on toast.  I recently showed Dom how he is quite capable of making this desirable meal entirely on his own and he is soaring with his new found independence.  He will even make it for Molly (milk was poured by yours truly, however)

 

As for the comment I made earlier about not wanting to clean up multiple messes, I did explain to Dom that he can avoid an angry mother if he simply cleans up messes himself rather than looking at me helplessly while apologizing for causing me additional work.  I think he appreciates these helpful tips I constantly provide.

And here is a picture to confirm I was making him clean up nutella...not anything more questionable.

Another part of my grand plan to make myself obsolete is to insure that the playmates my husband and I have provided are utilized and thus minimize expectations that my husband and I are the sole sources of entertainment.  Mark that goal with a giant check!  Lately the kids have been disappearing for hours into the Florida Room.  All three of them!  I do strictly enforce that they tidy the room prior to any other activities, but they understand this and willingly comply. They even will rope stray neighbor kids into the chore.  It's about 50/50 whether the neighbors elect to stay and help or to go home.

One activity that has resurfaced is dressing up and Molly is loving it.  So, I may not be their sole source of entertainment any longer, but the tables have pretty much turned.  As a friend of mine mentioned, what do people without kids do for entertainment?  They must be bored for giant chunks of the day.  At some point I'll have to transcribe a typical dinner conversation.  Classic!

The Odyssey

Due to the fact that Eric's car radio can only receive 2 stations in Niceville and his in house financial adviser advised against purchasing an XM radio and subscription to remedy the situation, he has been listening to audio books on his daily drives.  One of the early books he listened to was Homer's "Odyssey".  He loved it and would often share the exciting events of the day with his family.  The boys, in particular, were captivated by the Cyclops.  Therefore, when I noticed a series based on the Odyssey at our library, I elected to check out the first book conveniently named: "The One-Eyed Giant", and by convenient I mean it was named after the one character the boys had taken an acute interest in.  Another reason I elected to start this series is that the next book in the Magic Tree House series was missing and I jumped at the chance to take a break from that.  We are in the high 30s, and frankly, all of the stories are basically the same.  But, the boys love them, so what are you going to do?  In my case, trick them into reading a new series.

Well, Will wasn't that impressed with the first book, but Dom was hooked and we read the entire story in one sitting.  That evening at dinner we were talking about it with Eric when we realized that neither boy really remembered much about the story except that a one-eyed giant was in it.  Something that could be deduced from the title.  What started as a parental summarization of the story became a play where I got to play the Cyclops and the boys took turns being Odysseus.  Molly filled in where she could.  Eric acted as a ram so that the boys could escape from my cave and we used Molly's Agnes as the wooly back that fooled me into thinking Eric was really a ram.  We all enjoyed the part where I got to throw "boulders"  (pillows) at their "ship" (the couch) as they yelled insults at me.

The next day we checked out the next two books in the series.  The boys wanted to act out the second book, but as it's main story was Odysseus traveling to the land of the dead, there wasn't a lot to work with (for children).  We could have done something with them being turned into pigs...but, chose not to.

On the other hand, the third book had loads of material. It told the stories of Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and eating the sacred cattle on the island of the Sun God.  Molly and I played the Sirens as Will played an uninspired Odysseus.  Eric took over and did a much more realistic job.  Next, Molly and I played Scylla (with the aid of dinosaurs, a shark, and an alligator).  Will was back to Odysseus, Dom requested he be one of the crew who doesn't die, and Eric took one for the team.  Finally we made it to the Land of the Sun God (side story, when I read this to Dom he thought about it for a while then said: 'Oh! That's Jesus'.  It took me a second to realize he was thinking Son of God).  Will again played Odysseus and Eric and Dom played the hungry crew.  Molly and I moved cows and sheep around doing wonderful impressions of cow and sheep noises if I do say so myself.  This is where our interpretation went a little awry.  Dom, knowing the consequences of eating any of the sacred animals, refuses to eat as Eric attempts to force it on him.  When we move on to the next part of the story, I will not soon forget the fear and sadness in my son's eyes as the storm strikes their ship and he pleads to let him live because he didn't eat any of the animals.  We take a break from the action to swap roles.  In the new scene, Dom is now Poseidon wreaking havoc on the ship, Will is Odysseus, and Molly and Eric are the ill-fated crewmen.  And everyone is a lot happier for the role changes.

Acting out the stories made these characters much more real for the boys.  Now I will hear them playing the Odyssey.  The neighbor girl is always Penelope, unless she is unavailable, then Molly is given that role.  Will is nearly always Odysseus and Dom is Telemachus.  I am fittingly Odysseus' mother.

The track I've added to this post is a song that we have on Will's birthday CD.  I really love this group, The Okee Dokee Brothers.  And this song fit in perfectly to what we were reading.  If you know the sound of Will's voice, imagine hearing him belt out these lyrics around the house.  I love it.  There is a part where they sing about Odysseus, and Will ran through the house to breathlessly tell me they were singing about Odysseus!  They also sing about Tom Sawyer, which just happened to be the book Eric was reading to the kids at bedtime. 

Next up, we will be reading Peter Pan at night, and I'm back to the Magic Tree House, but at least I got a few weeks reprieve. 

Will's Birthday

Will celebrated his 5th birthday on Wednesday.  It was a really wonderful day.  We started at about 6:30 AM and ended a little before 8 PM (though, Molly had a little trouble accepting that the party was over)

 A while ago, I thought of the idea to have a big water balloon fight for Will's birthday.  As I spent an hour filling water balloons I made several discoveries.  First, our guest bathroom has a great faucet for filling water balloons.  Second, the $1 balloons from the Dollar Tree (I love that store!) are much better than the 97 cent balloons from Walmart.  Third, I really shouldn't have left the balloons out and easy for Molly to find.  But, we actually made it to the fight without a single water balloon being thrown early.  Due to the dangerous nature of the event, I decided to not have any pictures of the actual fight, but these are approximately 150 of the water balloons. 

After the fight, we all enjoyed a piece of cake.  And for the first time in our Buschelman household, we have a cake that will be completely consumed.  It helped that we let the kids have two slices on Will's actual birthday.  But, still, it is a testimony to the tastiness of the cake that we all made a point to eat more slices in the days after Will's birthday.  We are generally ice cream and cookie people. (Though, I do make an exception for cheesecake)



 Will opened presents all day long.  We discovered at Dom's 1st birthday that it is really overwhelming to open everything at once.  We like to spread it out through the day.  Ok, Eric and I like to spread it out.  One day our children will appreciate this.

 I do not have pictures of all of his gifts, but I have a few of the highlights.  He received a couple of 100 piece puzzles that he wanted to do right away, a really neat game where the object is to build railroads, rivers, and roads, a set of Mario pajamas that he wears with great pride, lots of cash (He ran and found me after opening one card and told me he got a dollar, but this one had a 20 on it),  a lego set, a card game, blaster guns (see above picture...these make a loud obnoxious sound and have been banished to the Florida room), and a Jr. Glow Rocket Blaster: (Please be impressed I got a picture of the rocket in flight)

I really like this last gift as it keeps Molly entertained for quite a while.  This (along with the blaster guns) was also Dom's favorite gift.  He initially included Molly in the play by getting her to retrieve his rockets.  I think he is listening quite well to the nightly reading of  "Tom Sawyer".

 When one asks William what his favorite gift is, he thinks for a bit and then will say: "All of them!"  And this is a high compliment because of all of my children, Will would definitely let you know if he didn't like something.  For example, on the birthday CD Eric made, he informed me he didn't like "I'll Make a Man out of You" from Mulan (one of my suggestions) and was very disappointed that Eric had included the Tottenham anthem.  Everyone knows, Will's a Chelsea Man!

Thank you to everyone who sent good wishes and cards and presents.  Our Little Man had a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday, Will!

Another year has come and gone in the young life of our William.  He continues to impress us with his creativity and imagination.  And today we are thrilled to celebrate his 5th year.

As is the case with all of our children, it has been another big year.  He helped us last summer as we prepared to move from the only home he had ever known.  Though he greatly misses our friends and home in Ohio, he is getting use to the beach and has gotten over his fear of water!  This was a huge step for him and quite convenient for the rest of us as our main family outings are water related.

He continues to embrace his position as the middle child.  He has a great friendship with Dominic and I love hearing them create stories and one up each other in the telling.  As Dom has gotten more involved in activities outside of the home, Will and Molly have forged a friendship that is suitable for each.  Now, if we could just get Will to not let Molly pin him, we'd be set! 

In the education realm, Will has shown quite the aptitude for math and critical thinking in general.  We are amazed at how well he can figure out a problem and he loves solving puzzles.  He proudly lets us know every time he uses his brain.  Ok, not every time as we are fairly certain that it is always engaged.  Will has also taken a bit of an initiative to teach himself how to read.   He isn't reading, yet, but he loves getting his own special books to practice and can pick out certain words and works at sounding out others and just totally makes up the rest.  Though, I get the sense that when we really buckle down work at it, he will take off.

The next year will bring a few new things into Will's world.  We've signed him up for his first season of soccer, and after getting to practice once with the big kids, he can't wait to get started.  I'm pretty sure that within the year he'll be riding a two-wheeler without training wheels, too.  Oh!  And he is starting kindergarten this Fall!  Watch out world!

There are few things I enjoy more than listening to Will as he tells me or someone else about something he loves (generally Mario Brothers related).  It isn't so much the story, but the look on his face.  He has a huge smile on the entire telling and he keeps thinking of things that are vital to his story.  I also love his independence.  I will often find him doing a puzzle or making a race track all on his own.  As he has neared his birthday, he has also taken upon himself more chores because he is almost 5, but he couldn't do it when he was just 4.

He has been counting down to his birthday since April, so I will end this now to go celebrate with him.  Truth be told, he was just shaking from the excitement of opening his first present and delayed eating his birthday donut to put together his Solar System Puzzle (for ages 5+).  I love this kid! (Though a little of that nervous energy could have been from the claim his father made last night that he was getting dirt and rocks today...he was 99% sure we were joking, but there was still that chance....)

We love you William Thomas and thank God every day that you joined our family 5 years ago.  You make every day entertaining and exciting.  Seeing the world through your eyes is a gift that we all cherish.  Have a wonderful birthday and we look forward to celebrating many, many more with you!

Observations in the last few weeks

First observation:  Molly taught herself her letters by using an app we downloaded over 4 years ago when we first purchased an iPod touch.  So I can get rid of some of that mom-guilt from just handing over our technological devices when I need a little quiet. #winning

Second observation:  Will has taught himself addition from an app I downloaded as soon as I got my google tablet last fall (see earlier observation about sloughing off guilt).  He really likes an app that used a virtual manipulative of placing balls in a box to figure out addition.  He will now answer a question like 4 + 5 in this manner:  1,2,3,4...1,2,3,4,5...1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9...it's 9!  He also has a nice understanding of the connections between numbers.  2 examples are the following:
Mom:  Will, what is 2 + 79?
Will:  I don't know
Mom: What is 2 + 9?
Will:  11, oh! so 2 +79  is 81

Will:  4 +7 = 11, I know this because 3 + 7 = 10.

Needless to say, having these conversations with my son makes my math loving heart sing.
(Full disclosure, the vast majority of time spent on our tablets is on Netflix or Subway Surf...which Molly is surprisingly good at)

Third observation:  We have started using phonics to solve just about any disagreement on activities.  For example, there are two ways to come home once we enter our neighborhood.  For months, the boys would argue which way to go whether it was turning right or continuing straight and eventually turning right.  (The second way makes our driveway a straight shot entry as opposed to a hard right...full disclosure Eric prefers the straight shot, I prefer the hard right because I think it saves time and truth be told, it was the first way I learned to drive to our new house and I am not a big fan of change...ever).  Anyhow, we tried a few different ways to keep everyone happy, mainly by taking turns.  However, it was difficult to remember which way we had gone the previous time and it seemed like each boy clearly remembered going his less favorite way on the earlier trip.  Our solution eventually became that on days that had a "T", we'd turn, and on days that had no "T" we'd go straight.  Problem solved.  No arguments, and Will is coming along quite nicely on his phonics.  He even makes little jokes like if Sunday had a "T" in it, it would be "SunTay".  Crazy hilarious!

Dom has attempted to use this in getting out of school.  He claims he should only have to do lessons on days with S's.  Jokes on him, though, as there are 5 days with S's.

I hope everyone is having a nice Sunday.  The boys are recreating the Tour de France with their cars.  They claim it will take all day and go all over the house.  So far they have been at it for a couple of hours.  I've been informed I need to have drinks and snacks ready because it takes a lot of work and they will get thirsty and hungry.  Molly is on the tablet and I'm sure she is just doing something highly educational.

UPDATE:  The apps I referred to were Preschool Adventure (which is similar to this:  Preschool Adventure Island) and Kindergarten Kids Math.  Despite having a $25 credit for apps, I still opted for the free version.   Which was good, because Molly eventually blew $7 on three songs for a completely separate app...I really need to address financial responsibility with her.  I loaded up on a lot of math themed apps, and I'd say Kindergarten Math had the most boring appearance, but Will really enjoyed it.   However, don't count out Subway Surf, he learned that 7 + 7 = 14 from some scoring technique.

The Many Names of Molly

Molly turn 2 and a half on Friday, July 5.  Basically since the moment she was born, we have called her numerous nicknames.  Starting with Molly.  Her legal name is Mary Agnes.

I thought it would be fun to list out the various names we have called her:
1. Molly
2. Lolly (this is what Will called her for the first few weeks)
3. Molly Monster
4. Mol-zilla
5. Molly Badger (because she exhibited various behaviors of a Honey Badger)
6. Princess
7. Princess Baby
8. Princess Baby Night Night
(Eric calls her this and it is from a book of the same name, we already were calling her princess baby when I checked out this book)
9.  Pineapple Princess
 (There is a song by Annette Funicello by this name that we hear every once in a while on the radio.  One day Molly was drinking out of a pineapple straw so I called her this and the neighbor boy commented that I never call Molly by her name...thus inspiring this post)
10. Baby Girl
11. Little Lady
12. Sweet Pea
13. Sugarplum
14. Dearie (ok, everyone gets that one)
15. Sweetheart
16. Molly Girl (I think I call her this the most, and I love hearing other people call her that as opposed to Molly Boy)
17. Pretty Girl
18. Precious

19. Molly-pop (generally sung to the classic "Lollipop)
20. Molly Wobbles (any Harry Potter fans out there?)
21. Molly Ginolly (Thanks Grandpa)
22. Miss Molly (Generally preceded by "Good Golly!")

4th of July!

 We have been in a crazy rain storm since Wednesday, but we took the few opportunities of semi-dry conditions to shoot off fireworks.

We have friends from our time in Ohio visiting us.  And unfortunately, they have been stuck inside most of their 'vacation', but we have enjoyed their company.  So, hopefully, they will come back when the weather is a little more accommodating for a trip to the beach.  

 All of the children enjoyed shooting off smoke bombs, snakes, tanks, and waving sparklers.  Even Molly!

 She quickly learned to get away from the fountains that emit sparks.  She'd get close, but as soon as you said to scoot back, she ran away with wide eyes yelling "HOT!!"

 No one was ever hurt, though.  They just have a healthy fear of fire.

 Two of our three Statues of Liberty.  Speaking of statues, Will is really impressive when we play the statue game.  He wins just about any time.  We fooled him once by asking who wanted ice cream, but he has never fallen for that trick since.

 I don't really have many comments.  The kids were all very cute with their fireworks.

 Eric shot off a couple of night time fireworks during the day (I was horrified!), but we saved the bulk for the evening.

 Luckily, it stopped raining just long enough to do a combined show with the neighbors that night.  I really like our little circle.  Then we brought out glow sticks and strobe flashlights as the older kids played a little soccer in the dark.  I'm not sure if they even know who won.

 And the game was eventually called when the storm started again.  But, it really was a very nice day.  I don't have pictures of the night fireworks, but the fountains were a really amazing.  They've improved a lot since I was a kid.  It was like having a mini firework display with each one.  I might also add, that we had a few that made screeching noises.  I don't care for those.  However, Molly does an amazing impression of that sound.  It is pretty much an exact mimic.

 As we were coming inside, I caught Molly attempting to ride Will's bike.  She is still a little short, but maybe next year we'll have a bike parade like their cousins in Missouri.

And here is our flag cake!  Dom was disappointed I didn't make a USA cake, but this was a lot easier, and I enjoy eating it more.  I swapped out the yellow cake or pound cake with brownies.  Delicious!  It even met Will's approval.  I think he is amazed any time he likes something remotely healthy.  Of course, I am, too. In this case, strawberries covered with Cool Whip and chocolate...still counts!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day!

Tour de Niceville

Or our street...kind of the same thing, right?

I love the fact that after watching a sporting event, my sons (and to a small extent Molly) love to recreate the event in our backyard or street.  The most recent event is the Tour de France.  As a fan, I thoroughly enjoy listening to Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen call the race.  But, as a mother, I far prefer listening to my sons do their best impressions of the famous commentators as they race around our street.  Do all of their calls make sense?  Absolutely not, but neither do all of Phil's.  So put that in your suitcase of courage!  (And, yes, I know that is Paul's saying...Mitzi)

 We replicated the podium ceremony after the third stage of our race (we had 6 today).

 Dominic kept his yellow jersey, despite his inability to catch the breakaway of Bradley Wiggins and Liesel (for some reason, I keep my name, but Will gets to be Bradley Wiggins...my team leader who tells me what to do...like brake just as we get to the finish line so he can sprint ahead...I don't think I'm getting paid enough)

Dom ran in to get his yellow jersey after he finished first in the second stage of today's race.

 Shaking hands with the dignitaries who came for the race and, incidentally, road along in a team car.

 William not only won this particular stage, he also took the youngest rider jersey.

 Molly was a particularly cute podium girl.

 He was very excited to celebrate his win.

 Two brothers with bright futures in cycling.  Remind you of anyone?

 Shaking hands with the dignitary.

 And here is the start of the 4th stage of the race.

 And the team car.

Due to self-diagnosed over-exhaustion, Dom had to drop out of the race for the last stage.  Though, eye-witnesses saw him running around with the podium girl from stage 3.  Thus, Will finished as the ultimate champion of the Tour de Niceville.  Just like Bradley Wiggins. Sort of.