"May Ree" It's Black and White Wednesday

She is reading! 

NO! Really!

She IS reading!

It all started one night before her fourth birthday: She said, "What's that word mommy?" and I said "Mary" and she said "Oh!" "Just like my name!" 

She recited all the letters. . . M... A... R... Y  and said Mary.  But, Liz says Mary "May Ree" more like a Southern Bell.

This was one of the reasons McGyver wanted to call her Elizabeth and not May Ree like a true Southerner would say. 

The very next night Liz told me she wanted, "to read all the words that say May Ree in her May Ree book." so I read the Mary book to her and let her read all the May Ree words.

The very next night she asked "What's hEs name?" I said, "HEs name is Jeff." "Oh! J...E...F...F ~ Jeff." she said.

And, so it began: She started reading and spelling. Yes, and spelling. I now think my four year old daughter just might be a better speller then I am.

She knows how to read and spell:  Mary, Jeff, Mike, ball, home, I, a, bunny, Grace, Nana, Liz, blue, green, red and get this one VELVET. . . I know!

She can even read the word Elizabeth.

I am amazed. Simply amazed.  

Every night now we read different books and she reads all the words she knows. Then she and I will go over her list of words. I'll ask her how to spell Grace and the other words she knows. She will recite G... R... A... C... E ~ Grace.

When we are done with this exercise ~ I will ask her to pick a new word she likes. By this I mean a word she  wants to learn to read and spell.  We read and spell the word she picked a couple of times and she then grabs her favorite teddy bear and goes to sleep.

In the morning, most of the time, she remembers the new word.

If she doesn't remember how to spell or read the word I write it on a sticky note and put the word up side-down on her tummy. I then ask her several times during the day "Now how do you spell 'kitty' again?" She will look down at her tummy and tell me. 

 By the end of the day she knows her new word.

And always I am JUST amazed. I am simply amazed.

I have never had a child read this early. I have heard they can but.  . . Well. . . never one of mine.

An August Up Date for "One of my many Cuzzins"

Are you kidding me? It's September all ready!

The whole month of August seems to be a great big jumble in my mind.

So now what? How do I sort it all out? Where do I start? What do I do?

WHAT DO I DO???

Should I pick up in September? 

OR

 Do I go back to where I left off?

MMMMMMMMM

I think I'll go back. . . Gee, that really was not as hard as you were making it.

Let's see where should I start?

The beginning of August. . . Brought us to another birthday. . .  for Anthony.

11 years old

This kid just maybe the easiest kid in the world to please. If he is asked how his birthday went . . He will eagerly reply with a huge grin and even more delight 

"It was the BEST BIRTHDAY ever! "

and we ask

"???EVER???" Better then the last Best Birthday ever?

There is an ever bigger grin accompanied with an even more enthusiastic

"YES!!!!"

and so it was

The Best Birthday Ever!

Of course the usual crowed would never think of missing the "Best Birthday Ever".

I think these boys can smell cake from miles and miles away!

When "The Amazing Trips and Henry" heard we were hosting the ''Best Birthday Ever" they just couldn't resist and had to stop by. 

There was Gracie who told me she was the oldest of the children; She said, she was the oldest by at least a year. Strangely enough, she is the baby of the Amazing Trio.

There was Elizabeth who has never seen a camera in her life and just didn't know what to do.

There was William, who became Mary Elizabeth very good friend.

AND

 Last but not Least, there was Henry....Who does not share his Oh Henry Bars . . .

There was a soccer game and the men were ready to rumble.

The competition was fierce.

In every nook and cranny in the great yard of Graceland there was something going on. 

Ideas and friendships were being formed. 

The celebration was grand.

There was an obstacle course to test the highest skills. 

Testing balance 

Speed

And Endurance

The skills were amazing! 

Until! 

It was Kathryn's turn.

AND

She got stuck!

Soooo,

Like the good sports they are

the Winners decided to sit on her.

Until...


It was time for cake and Gracie decided it would be best to just roll her away. 

There was cake, fireworks, presents and stuFF and that was the end

 of the "Best Birthday Ever" for  2010.

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And then it happened

There was a comment  left  by One of many cuzzins!

"And where have you been? What's going on down there? Let's go girlie, post an update!

~R :)" 

MMMMMMMMMMMM

  ~ Where have I been? ~ 

That's a good question. . .

Alrighty, here goes. . . You READY?

August was one of those months. . . Those busy months filled with this, that and the other thing! Just one of those "Topsy Turvy" months. You know exactly what I'm talking about. We have all had them. 

To start off with, August is usually the time I get our class room together for school. 

I take all the books we don't want and put them in a pile. Then I take all the books we do want and put them in a pile AND then. . .  I walk away and I let the pile sit there for days because I think, "Why am I doing this again?"  I also think, Maybe I should just set fire to this room and start over FRESH!

 But, then I think 

No, rebuilding would take to long and the smoke would give me headache.   

I then do the same thing with all our papers from last year: I take EVERYTHING we did,  put them in folders and boxes, I make sure all our important papers are properly recorded  and then  I think. . . WOW! We did a lot of work last year.  I put all this in piles on my desk and then. . . get over whelmed and walk away. 

AND then I think. . . Why am I doing this again? Maybe I should just set fire to this room and start over.

No, that would just be to messy and the smoke would give me a headache.

I still have lots of work to do here. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Both cars died! 

But, have no fear!  MacGyver ((A.K.A Mark)) laid the healing touch on them. We are back in business! That man can fix anything. I don't even worry about these things any more. I usually just say, "Oh, you'll fix it." and then go about my life. 

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That's when August really happened. People and animals were going down all around me. I spent my days taking care of the injured, wounded and sick.

Kathryn fell down the stairs spraining her ankle badly and "tweaking" the growth plate.  

At the orthopedics office we are waiting forever ~ For a laugh, I whip out my phone and take her picture.

 Kathryn was not amused! 

This fall left her on crutches for more then a week. Today she is walking in a boot and seems to be healing quite nicely. 

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But! Wait! I'm not finished.

The very next day I am out running. I am on my fifth mile at a very slow pace. 

I am wondering "Why am I doing this again?" 

I have a little over a mile to go  . . . 

Matthew calls.

I dropped Matthew and Stephen off at 6 A.M. to work up at the vineyards down the street. They were cutting vines preparing for the grape harvest. The phone had one of those panic rings. . . I stopped and answered:  "Hello"  Matthew says "Hi, Mom. What are you doing? I say, "Running." " What happened?"

He replies with a cool. . . "How do you know there is something wrong?" I say, "I just do." "Is Stephen okay?"

 

"Well, Stephen cut his finger and it's pretty bad." I tell him, I will be there as soon as I can. 

I was off!  

I ran home,  ran through the door grabbed the car keys, called Matthew told him I was on my way. Pick up my sons. . . take them to my mothers and miss my father terribly. He was the one who always knew what to do in these situations.  

I make some phone calls . . . Our doctor is not in the office today. (( of course! )) I find out the best place to take Stephen is the new medical center down the street. I am told they could handle all kinds of things. I get there, pay my $75 fee ~ they say they will bill for the rest later. 

We see the doctor: She says, "Oh! I can't touch this." and sends us to the emergency room.  

I think. . .  Should I ask for my money back or should I just leave right now for the emergency room? 

I left for the emergency room but I think of my $75.00 often.

At the hospital we are waiting forever. . . I whip out my phone for a laugh and take Stephen's picture. He tried to smile and didn't mind very much. He even thought it was a little funny. Five stitches later and lots of care, he is fine and his finger has healed nicely. 

The next week, Matthew started his college classes at the local college and I think I am so glad he is still home. I get him settled in his school life with books and supplies.

Both dogs were sicks and the fun still did not end. 

This guy hit us hard! 

Alex

Don't let that Opie Cunningham face fool you; He packs a mean virus that should be feared far and wide. Rummer has it. . . He even gave his own mother strep throat. His own mother! 


I really shouldn't say anything. . . because you know, It almost seems like gossip and he is a child and all. . . AND I really don't like to point fingers  ~ I'm just say'n

THE KID GOT US ALL SICK! 

So, my Dear Cuzzin. . . Here's your update. . . Thanks for noticing. . . Thanks for asking.

Love! 

The Thing I Came to Tell You

You know, I just haven't had much time to post lately. My kids have been busy with term papers, research papers and more papers.

It seems their teacher has really loaded them down with quite a lot of work to do. And being that we are a little one room, one computer school house.......I have to share.

Mother's Day was grand....my kids shower me gifts! The boys have been unloading trucks at a nursery and got some great Mother's Day deals.

It warms a mothers heart to see her kids shopping for a bargain.

But, I have to tell you all about that at another time. I have so much to do today and typically the clock is moving faster then I am.

The news of the week! The the thing I came to tell you.

Yesterday was my mothers birthday. One of the many first we have been through this year.....since....well, you know.

We had a little party. Stephen made dinner and I threw together.......THE CAKE!.......which is always home made and never boxed!

Then we where off to the baseball game.

 It was great!

We all went and really enjoyed the night. However, I do think  Auntie's Jim enjoyed the night the most...

Do you recognize him?

He is Jimmy Cooney's little boy...the famous baseball player.

Oh! Now you see it. I just had to give you a little hint.........That's all.

An Impromptu Leave...Isn't that Silly

It is true….I have taken an impromptu leave from my blogging.

You and I have had this blog relationship for almost a year now and well……there is something you should know about me…

I am a procrastinator…Yes…disappointing I know........ but true.

I even procrastinate on the things I like. But here is the thing……

Honestly; it’s the pictures of Thanks-Giving I have not wanted to post.

You see…..I have this strange way about me….maybe it is a Finnell thing….I really don’t think it comes from the Coleman side of my family but…….I find if I don’t think about certain things that have happened or are happening….. I forget.

Sometimes forgetting is good.

That is of course…….. until I remember.

I am finding this time……Margaret is doing the same thing. When we talk about “things”…..We will not use the dreaded “D” word. Margaret and I will always say “before Father” or “when Father” never saying that word…and now it is down to “Well, you know.”…..

We just never say the words…

Isn’t that silly?

And that is what I have been doing…..Simply; I have not wanted to think about these things or even say them out loud.

All in all Thanks Giving was very good.

It really was. We had a very nice day.

But the physical absence of our father was so great ~ I just didn’t want to think about.

I look at the pictures and think…..That was a nice day. In total, I think we had about 31 or maybe it could have been 36 people at my parent’s house.

Linda’s father came with his wife, Karen and Joe were there, George and all his kids, James tore himself away from his camp-out in front of Best Buy with is friends.

Father Theo stopped by. There was the usual football game

and

George Carved the turkey. He did a beautiful Job!

This was all done much to our relief…….after the meal was over. The turkey was not cooked and that simple under cooked turkey made us all smile and laugh at ourselves.

Isn’t that Silly?

((Karen convincing Mary Elizabeth she IS the angle on top of the tree.))

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But here we are and I have good news about Stephen and his team mate Mary winning a placement in the debate tournament yesterday…..I am very excited. This was his first debate ever AND his first academic award ever.

((Stephen on end in blue.....this is what happens when you just don't think you will need your camera that day))

I am very proud of him both as his mother and his teacher. There are times when I really question our little school…..and then something like this happens and I know we are doing a good thing.

I quess that is just the mother in me…..always questioning.

Isn't that Silly

Today, I think in the middle of all the kayos and confusion in our school days with; potty training, stopping to answer the business phone, checking this or that for Mark, laundry, the house work, finding what’s for dinner, dealing with everyday things life throws our way and lets not even mention what has happened these past few months with...

...Well, you know…

They are learning something. This school thing we have going on is good. So Yesterday; Kathryn recited her poem the Ballad of Birmingham By Dudley Randall for the debate club, Matthew judged and

Stephen argued the case he wrote by himself “Environmental Reform and Changing the Policies towards Cole Slurry ” with his partner and THEY WON….

I am so proud of him.

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I finally sit down and think……I am going to post this one……and see five comments I have missed and these very loving messages:

How are you doing, my dear friend???? I've been thinking of you A LOT!!!!! You're in my prayers...Miss you!!!! Love always, Janine XOXO

Hey Lisa, Just wanted to let you know that I'm missing your posts. Hope you're doing okay. Thinking of you. Love ya, Regina

And I think…….Wow!!! Wow!!! Wow!!!

Thank you Regina and Janine………You guys are the best. Thank you for caring. Thank you for wondering and Thank you for thinking of me…..Thank you for thinking of Us.

We are doing………Well….you know.