Family Fun Time Stopped Cold

Son had finished his lighter-than-usual schoolwork just fine yesterday so we were determined to do another Family Fun Time after dinner. Unfortunately, his Mama nearly choked to death. Literally.

Did you know that choking causes a huge headache, and pain in the neck, collarbones and other assorted areas? And, did you know that not everyone remembers to do the international sign for choking when they ARE choking?

Maybe we'll have fun tonight.

Family Fun Time: Uno

We had so much fun last night. Son has a light week this week: math and doing his Christmas project for relatives, so he was well ready for Hubby to come home from work and errands. I fixed shrimp and sashimi and rice, and after we ate, game time began!

Well, kinda. While we played Uno (the card game), I folded laundry. Well, a woman's work...

We played six games of Uno, and we each won two! Funny how that worked out. We had so much fun laughing and playing, that Son almost peed his pants from his huge cracked-voice guffaws.

Family Fun Time was a good idea. Have you started your own yet? You really should!

Family Fun Time: Battleship

We continued our Family Fun Time last night. Son got his schoolwork done within the new time frame, so he chose Christmas Karoake and after that, the game Battleship that we just bought.


It gave us a chance to be together and have fun. Had a few arguments, but hey, can't change the world overnight!

Family Fun Time Begins

Remember the problem we'd been having with Son, who didn't want to do schoolwork, and would procrastinate an unbelievable amount? Turns out Son has been having a hard time because he was lonely. He wanted to spend more time with us Parents, rather, more quality time. Even though we would hug and kiss and play, he wanted more time specifically devoted to having Family Time.

We made a deal. He agreed to do his schoolwork and chores by 3:00 p.m. each day, and if he did, we (Parents) would spend 2-3 hours that night having Family Fun Time. Board games. Karoake. Walks with the Dog. Tug-a-Rope with Dog. Puzzles. Go out and do something fun but cheap.

We counted our board games, puzzles, cards, karoke music disks, etc. We have enough to do a "new" thing each night for 2 months without repeats.

Today was our first day of this Agreement. He was finished with his schoolwork by 12:30, so we left the house by 12:45 to get some more karoke music, looked at books, etc. Came home, took a walk, ate dinner, and sang Elvis tunes with the karoke machine. Yes, we had fun.

Day 1: Successful.

A Growing Boy

My baby's birthday celebration is finally over. We overdid his b-day this year - not with gifts but with time. Hubby took off from work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so we spent those three days doing fun family things. Saturday and today were filled with chores and watching movies.

But my regular Sunday phone call to a family friend helped me re-realize: my baby is almost a man. His voice has stopped squeaking and is quite deep. His chest is filling out and his feet are bigger than mine. He's also nearly as tall as I am.

We had a little talk this morning. Now that he's growing older, he needs to be able to better control the little sounds he makes and his pacing. He needs to help more with chores (although he is really helpful in the house, he needs to help more with yardwork and gardening), and concentrate more on schoolwork and learning. We have a lot to accomplish this year.

I think I'll have my boy resume writing a paragraph a day about anything (for the writing portion of his schoolwork), and will post his musings here. Need to go see if I can work it into his schedule.

More Reading!

We finally got to the Thrift Store last night. Double-EE brought home about 25 books. Some were fiction like "The Secret Garden" or "The Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court" and some were about animals of the world, the planets, sharks, rivers, and more.

I love that he loves to read!

Now, as the picture shows, he's up in his room, reading. Chances are I won't see or hear from him for a couple of days unless it's time to eat.

Since we're a family of book fanatics, that's ok with us.

Vee-Mama

http://www.newviewgroupllc.com/

Reading: A Favorite Pastime

Double-EE loves to read. He begs to stop at every yardsale we pass. He spend his extra money on books, spending money as fast as he saves it. He can barely contain himself when I say it's time to go to the thrift store.

Our local "ARC" thrift store holds many treasure, not least of these is books. Non-fiction about dogs, the solar system, or science. The children's section with chapter books and fun stuff. He loves it, and when he brings home a big bag of books for less than $20, he drags them up to his room and is quiet for hours.

He has almost a photographic memory, but only when it comes to something that interests him. Math puzzles him completely, but give him a book about the solar system or dinosaurs and he can spout off facts and figures non-stop.


I'm not worried about his schooling or career aspirations right now. I know that as long as he loves to read about a variety of topics, he'll be just fine. (However, we ARE still doing schoolwork!)

Is it because I allow him to read read read? And does he read because I didn't push him to learn, so when he felt like reading at 7 years old, he was reading books in one month? And does he love reading because I'm a book-hound myself?

Vee-Mama
http://www.newviewgroupllc.com/

Halloween at our House

To the right: Hubby making a silly face, Double-EE trying to be funny, and Spirit probably thinking "get this costume off of me!".


It's almost 9 p.m. on October 31 2008 - Halloween. This was our first in our very own home, and we were prepared. We had two big bags of various candies (bought at Sam's), a skeleton hanging on our green-bean trellis, and electric pumpkins in our window.

I dressed our dog in a pumpkin costume - that lasted all of 10 minutes, or her first "shake". Hubby dressed as a hippie with a tie-die t-shirt, fringe vest, headband and peace-symbol necklace. Double-EE dressed as Superman, but trick-or-treating didn't last long with his poor post-surgery foot. And I dressed all in black, added a witch's hat, a peace symbol necklace and cackled as a hippie-witch.

Our candy is almost gone, so I'm on my way upstairs to take care of Double-EE's foot.

Meanwhile - think about this.... what an odd tradition... one night a year, it's okay to go from door to door, asking for free candies and goodies. Did we forget the background of All Hallow's Eve?

Vee-Mama
http://www.newviewgroupllc.com/