To Study or to Strip...... that is the question

Dennis is such a chunk of love. Rachel and I love to squeeze his fat! Since July 2008, Dennis has gained almost 10 pounds! And have I mentioned how tall he is getting?

He loves to eat little pieces of crushed ice, just like his sisters taught him to. Here he is enjoying a cupful of ice as he lounges on the couch.
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We have a routine in our home. As soon as the kids get home from school, it is homework time. Not play time, not snack time, not watch tv time...... but homework time. We had tried evening homework and it was a disaster--- with whiny, tired kids not wanting to refocus on schoolwork after playing outside. I think this works for us because the kids come home and before they have a chance to get out of school mode, they focus on their homework and get it done----- looking forward to the snack that they will get halfway through their homework. It has become a routine---- for many years now, and it works great!

Without even asking (or bribing), Adam will help Rachel with her math homework now. This is huge since Adam used to loathe any kind of tutoring. We kept encouraging him that by helping his siblings, it was preparing him for a possible job in high school and college as a tutor. We kept telling him that we knew he had the potential to be a great teacher. I also promised him a few Oreos, or a candy bar, or a few bucks if he successfully got his sister to understand her homework. I'm not sure what worked-- maybe it was a combination, but it is no longer like pulling teeth to get him to help. Praise God.
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Dennis is 2 1/2 years old now. That means he thinks he can dress himself, take off his shoes, help himself to snacks in the pantry, buckle his own carseat, brush his own teeth, and pull down his pants whenever he feels like it.

He has a really cute act of "stripping", sometimes losing his balance and stumbling to the floor where he will continue to take his pants off with his feet straight in the air.
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Last night some of the kids went to church while a few stayed home and studied or swam in the 77 degree pool. Poor Jonny kept opening his eyes under water and "burned" them. I had to put drops in them just to get him to stop crying--- but boy, did his eyes look puffy for the rest of the night.

It didn't stop him from playing with Dennis however, and I ended up helping them build block towers. My Rachelita studied for her social studies test. She has improved her study habits so much this year..... I am so proud of her. I think I need to remind her more often of what a great job I think she is doing.

I felt incredibly lazy last night. earlier in the day, Jonny, Dennis and I washed my van and cleaned off the driveway--- I guess it wiped me out.

It is so nice to be able to just lazily lay around and watch your kids play.
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After Daddy read with Andrew, the younger boys gathered around him to hang out.

They love to talk with their Daddy..... especially when he plays "Happy Birthday" on the accordion.