Written by Jessica on Thursday, January 29, 2009

Forget 5th grader. I know I'm not smarter than a 5th grader and I'm not afraid to look in the camera and say it. But, I've always felt I could take on even the smartest kindergartner. Then, Taylor started quizzing me on stuff he's learning and I must admit, I was slightly challenged.

What are trees called that stay green all year?

What are the trees called that produce cones?

What species does a spider belong to? ..a bumble bee?

What is cardboard made of?

What is the setting of the story?

What are the puffy clouds in the sky called?

How does hail form and why does it fall from the sky?

Who was the first president of the United States?

Ok, so you probably knew the answers to all of those, but it's still shocking that so does my kindergartner. My baby boy that I still see as a baby boy knows all that stuff too. Are we teaching kids too much too fast? I'm not ready for him to have all the answers to the worlds problems. Let him be a naive, sweet (sometimes) child a little longer please. I guess there's nothing wrong with filling his brain with all this knowledge at such a young age. Maybe I'm just scared by the time he gets to 2nd grade I'll no longer be able to help him with his homework because it's going to be over my head.

Point and case, yesterday's math homework:

Six teddy bears went to the movie theater. One left to buy popcorn. How many teddy bears are watching the movie now? Two teddy bears left to use the restroom. How many teddy bears are watching the movie now? One teddy bear came back with popcorn. How many teddy bears are watching the movie now? Two teddy bears came back from the restroom. How many teddy bears are watching the movie now? The movie is over and all the teddy bears went home. How many teddy bears are watching the movie now?

(I guess I should add the problem above is from Harcourt Achieve Inc. and may not be reproduced without permission - I'm just borrowing it for demonstrative purposes)

Upon reading the question, I thought Taylor would have trouble and need to use the teddy bears and printed chairs that came with it... Nope, he answered everything immediately and said, "it was "easy peezy!" and asked me to come up with another question with harder numbers! To which I replied, all right smarty pants and re-read the same question substituting the number 6 with the number 10 and raising the number of bears that left for popcorn and the restroom. "Easy Peezy!" Do it again with 'harder' numbers....

So, are you smarter than a kindergartner?

Written by Jessica on Monday, January 26, 2009
Categories: , ,

In a blink of the eye the boys (Carter and Tucker) have started pulling up on everything. They are both cruising along the edge of things, still slightly cautiously, but steady. They attack anything/anyone that gets in the floor. Bedtime has become more exhausting for me as they are fighting it more and more, standing up and screaming for me to come in and rescue them.
Brayden is still not crawling. He is, however, staring to move to get things he wants by scooting. It's a very labored scoot though. The way that child moves you would think he weights 100lbs. Brayden may not be moving, but he's "talking!" He's going to be my little watchman, keeping an eye out and reporting back to me when their brothers are misbehaving. He's been saying mamamamamamama mama mama for a few weeks now. But I didn't want to call it too early. Now, though, even Wade agrees he's saying Momma and has related it to me. When he gets upset and cries, he cries out then starts saying "MOMMA." He's making other sounds, he's even starting to make the "da" sound. He's a chatterbox, jabbering all day.
Bedtime last night:


Playtime yesterday:

The paper was haphazardly laying on the couch, so they boys decided they wanted to do a little light reading. Carter needed a few laughs, so he grabbed the funnies, Brayden wants some new toys, so he went for the sales, and Tucker's looking for a new gig in the 'Career Builder' section of the Ledger.


Carter is trying to CLIMB the baby gate, CLIMB it! He pulls himself up, holding on with just his hands, feet in the air. Or he'll raise one foot and try to get it to catch in the fencing. When that doesn't get him anywhere he start violently shaking and rocking it.


Tucker's holding on with one hand. He's starting to get braver and let go of one thing and go to the next. Right now it's fall into something else and hope his hands catch him before his face does.... it's a work in progress, but he's working very, very hard at it.


All is well with my older child. He's playing Wii and going to school with a little eating and breathing in between. We're about to have to enforce some strict Wii limits, he's becoming obsessed! He seems to be going through a phase now also, where he doesn't want his picture taken. So most pictures I get of him are the one's where he's in that horror scene pose scrunched down and hiding his face with his hands... ugh.

Written by Jessica on Monday, January 26, 2009
Categories: ,

I know, I've been slacking lately...



Here's a better way to eat your salads and help you stick with your New Year's Resoulution a little longer... eat it in a Pita Pocket.

Mix all your favorite salad mixings in a Whole Wheat Pita Pocket and Enjoy!

Here's what's in mine:

Lettuce (the darker the lettuce, the better it is for you...Iceburg has no nutritional value...)
Tomato
Cheese
Bacon crumbles (the lowfat kind from a package)
Parmesan crutons
Salad Toppins
Broccoli
Cucumber
Sliced ham and turkey
Bellpepper
Light Ranch

You could also add:

Chopped boiled eggs
chicken
feta/blue cheese crumbles
Vinegar/Oil
Onions
Olives
Peppers


Taylor said they're his favorite type of "sandwich!"



I must say, this picture does not do justice to the yummy-ness.

Written by Jessica on Sunday, January 25, 2009
Categories: ,

I was tagged by Kym, we went through Dale Carnegie together and we are now both working on our Masters... We just can't get enough!

8 TV Shows I Watch
-Grey's Anatomy
-Desparate Housewives
-Private Practice
-Brothers & Sisters
-Jimmy Kimmel
-Ellen Degenerous
-Regis and Kelly
-The View
8 Favorite restaurants - let's see if I can remember where I used to like to eat BT (Before Triplets)
-O'Charley's
-13th Street - I still get my Saturday BBQ!
-Deorio's
-Pelluso's
-China Garden
-Outback
-B. Merrell's
-Cannon Brew Pub

8 things that happened today
-I slept in! (Thank you dear!)
-Our neighbors came over
-Brayden threw up on me
-All three boys had dirty diapers 3 times today
-Our group project was finalized and is now complete - woo hoo!
-Wade hung some clothes up for me (it's a big deal and very much worthy of a top 8!!)
-Carter went to sleep without too much fuss
-I made broccoli for the boys and spilled half of it

8 things I look forward
-Graduating in 2010
-Seeing my boys (all 5 of them) each morning
-Showers
-Mondays
-Fridays
-Getting into a church
-Taylor starting baseball
-Spring


8 things I wish
-President Obama will turn things around
-The boys will sleep until 8am
-and all three will take a nap at the same time
-World peace (I know how that sounds, but really...can't we all just get along)
-My boys will all be healthy and live happy long lives
-I will get back in my 'skinny jeans' oneday
-I will get a job when I'm ready to work outside our home
-We'll hit the lottery oneday (although I don't play)

8 songs I just listened to
none... but here's 8 I like:
-Pink - "So what" - (I'm still a rock star)
-Carrie Underwood - "Jesus take the wheel"
-Beyonce - "Put a Ring on it"
-George Strait - "Ocean Front Property" (in Arizona)
-Billy Currington - "Must be doing something right"
-Garth Brooks - "If Tomorrow Never Comes"
-Reba McEntire - "If you see him"
-Brad Paisley - "When I get where I'm going"

8 Movies I love
-Starsky and Hutch
-Wedding Crashers
-Mr. and Mrs. Smith
-Hitch
-Along Came Polly
-You, Me and Dupree
-Meet the Parents/Fockers
-Shallow Hal

8 People I tag
-Jen
-Meredith
-and Mike S.
-Hailes
-Marie
-and John
-Peyton H.
-Crystal P.S.

Meredith, Mike, Peyton, and Crystal - do it on facebook. = ) - You have the time!

Written by Jessica on Sunday, January 25, 2009

Pardon my progress - new look coming soon!

In the meantime - scroll down for new posts!

Written by Jessica on Thursday, January 22, 2009
Categories: ,

the boys helped me with the laundry

then Mamaw and Memaw came for a visit and I put together the Crawl & Cruise Mamaw got them for Christmas. They all love it. Tucker has just started pulling up on everything, so it was the perfect toy for him to be able to stand and play on.

then the boys stopped for a minute to pose for me to take a picture.. or 10.

As I was snapping away Tucker crawled off and Carter was following. My sweet Brayden was listening and stayed still for me.

(Inside joke - Brayden's not crawling yet, if he were, I'm sure he'd be gone too!)

Written by Jessica on Monday, January 12, 2009

Carter's 2 bottom teeth have just broke through and Taylor's last bottom tooth just came out!

Written by Jessica on Friday, January 09, 2009
Categories:

Written by Jessica on Monday, January 05, 2009
Categories:

The boys are 8 months old and going strong. They wear size 12 month clothes, but can still fit into their 9 months. They each weigh right around 20 pounds. Tucker has 2 teeth and is a crawling machine. Carter isn't crawling, but he still gets around faster than Tucker by doing the army crawl. He drags his legs and pulls himself with his arms. All I can say is this child is going to have some incredible arm muscles if he keeps this up. Brayden is the largest baby, and is not crawling or scooting. I guess it's hard to pull that much weight around. He loves being in the exersaucer, jumping and exploring. They are eating 3 meals a day now, with a snack and bedtime bottle (so 5 times a day). They nap for 2 hours once a day and that's it right now. We are going to have to find a way to adjust our schedule though, they need more sleep and it shows. By the end of the day we have some fussy, whiny babies. Carter is notorious for falling asleep at the dinner table. We no longer have swings to cat nap in... Oh, how sad! They are all sitting up. Brayden has a little trouble staying balanced and he can't go into a siting position on his own. We go for our evaluation next Tuesday. I'm anxious to see what they have to say.





8 month picture:




(notice Carter's red knees!)




I've completed my first week of school. WOW. What an adjustment! But I'm still alive and it will only get better from here. ...right?

Written by Jessica on Saturday, January 03, 2009
Categories:

PUT THEM IN BABY JAIL, OF COURSE!