NEW RULE #917
No collecting snails (in the mud, right after it rains) and putting them in the poor dog's food bowl to see if he can "tell the difference b/w them and his food".
Monday, March 26, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Everyday's a revolution
This is my "average"(I use this term loosely) day in the Testosterone Institute. I am writing this in an attempt to help assuage some of the feelings of guilt and inadequacy that many of you may have after reading of Tami's Estrogen-filled days of Ecstasy. I cannot link to her post b/ that is not something I have in my power to do...find the link to her blog and search.
6:30a-Husband forces me out of bed by bribing me w/ hot coffee. He is much appreciated.
6:37-7:15a-Drink coffee. Get dressed and make bed. Drink coffee. Check and answer email in peace. Drink coffee. Go downstairs. Let dog out and start some laundry which is conveniently located near the coffeepot. Go back upstairs. Read Bible and pray (mostly that the children will keep sleeping). Prayer interrupted by Sam who thinks its time to get up. Put him back in bed.
7:30a-Phone rings and wakes up the early risers. Its my husband. He just wanted to check and make sure I was awake. Yep, more coffee.
7:31-49a-David bounds in ready to start his chores. He's the only one. Sam comes in coughing. Abby follows behind him crying, "Sam woke me up".
Console Abby and give Sam his inhaler. Cover both up w/ a blanket on my bed and turn on "Clifford".
Josh wakes up, asks me what there is to have for breakfast and no matter what the answer, he gets mad and stomps off. Punishment is doled out and he is sent to do chores.
David is doing chores at lightning speed: emptying the dishwasher, getting out breakfast dishes, cleaning the powder room, etc.
7:50a-Go in and force Jonathan and Isaac out of bed by bribing w/ hot coffee (this only works w/ Jonathan).
8a-Everyone BETTER be in the kitchen either making some breakfast or waiting for me to make breakfast. I make Sam and Abby's breakfast and pour everyones juice. The boys make themselves some food if they want to eat. "ISAAC!!!!!! GET OUT OF BED AND GET DOWN HERE!!!!! Gulp coffee.
8:40ish-Jonathan handles kitchen clean-up w/ a little help from Joshua. Josh and Ike feed and water the dog. "No, you cannot do your schoolwork out in the dog's Igloo this morning, Josh."
Boys do various other chores.
Fight b/w Josh and Ike over which SuperHero would do their chores the fastest. Yes, this does get physical. There are red marks on both bodies. We go to the wall, recite Micah 6:8 (someday this will work, right?), and dole out consequences.
I medicate Sam for the day and get him dressed. Abby gets dressed and picks up her room. She comes downstairs screaming b/ Sam ran over her hair w/ a monster truck. She has lost a good handful of hair. Console Abby, discipline Sam.
Phone rings. Husband wants to know how my morning is going so far. Think about hanging up on him. Realize this was not an addressed subject in Proverbs 31 but that it would probably be a sin. Answer him politely and lovingly (okay, sometimes).
9a-Switch from coffee to hot tea for the sake of my nerves. Get the oldest 3 started on Math. Now, David, has by this point in the morning, done all chores, spelling, and has started himself on his math. Some mornings he is through by now, on to another subject.
While they do math, I read aloud to the little three. Reading is ALWAYS interrupted by: math questions, phone calls, and questions dealing w/ Theology or X-men.
Remind boys that Theology and X-men both have their places but not during math.
9:45ish-Jonathan finishes math and takes babies upstairs to play while he does his grammar and spelling workbooks. David does his grammar & phonics by himself.
Josh, Ike, and I do phonics and oral grammar.
Josh: "I hate the letter 'K'! Its so mean that he makes the same sound as 'C'!"
These boys MIGHT be reading by 17. I try and prod the Slow Twins along by saying, "you know, Brynna (Tami's 5yr old daughter) has finished this phonics book. Dont you want to try and go faster?"
Josh: "Nope. If Brynna is done and we are not then that's just how God wants it. Dad says we cant mess w/ God's plans!"
At least Dad's Theology lessons are useful for something. Phonics is over for the day as I have nothing to say after that.
We do oral grammar. It starts out well except for the fighting over who gets to say which poem.
We move on to verbs. The boys insist on acting out the action verbs that I read. Their favourite so far is "fight". Ike wants to know why I never give them the verb "impale" to act out. Grammar is also now over. More hot tea for me.
10:20a-Steph brings Jacob and Zach. They spend a few days a week w/ us. The house goes crazy loud b/ all the boys are so glad to see each other. Try to quiet everyone down.
Both boys need to sit down and do their math.
Zach moves at quite a clip w/ Josh looking over his shoulder whispering answers to him so that they can go play faster.
Jacob is a daydreamer and sits there for a good 10min. before even getting started. David is fraught w/ worry that Jacob will NEVER be done and able to play. David begs me to let him help Jake. I say no way and sit down w/ Jacob.
The din is almost deafening. I tell anyone that is not working at the table on schoolwork to go to the playroom. Everyone except Sam obeys. He thinks its more fun to write in Jacob's mathbook, which Jacob thinks is also more fun than doing the math.
Remove Sam by giving him Cheez-its, his favourite food. He feeds half to dog. Hurry and usher dog outside b/ its obvious those Cheez-its are about to come back up. ORDER everyone to NOT LET THE DOG BACK IN THE HOUSE!
11a-By this time there is no one at the table doing school except Jacob. Make more tea. Go over multiplication facts orally w/ Jacob until we come to the one he needs.
Jonathan is enjoying peace and quiet upstairs doing his Science on Cd-ROM. He reads, does his worksheet, and prints out the experiment we are supposed to do.
"No, Jonathan. I do not have purple cabbage in the frig." Experiment held off until Dad can bring home some cabbage.
11:45a-Jacob is MOSTLY done w/ math. I tell him to put it away and finish it at rest time. Phone rings. Husband checking in. I am finally able to relay to him the boys' burning question of the morning (yes, there is ALWAYS a Burning Question).
He doesnt even hesitate in his answer:
"Without a doubt The Flash would be the fastest SuperHero at doing chores."
All boys are satisfied b/ Dad is the absolute knower-of-all. They all run off pretending to be The Flash.
Noonish-Jonathan or I am finishing up lunch. Yes, I dont cook breakfast but we almost always have a hot lunch. 8 children should never be allowed into a kitchen to each make their own lunches.
Isaac tells me that he thinks its funny that some people have lunch food for breakfast. I ask him what he means. He tells me that the Smiths have muffins and pancakes at breakfast. Yes, they are lunch food at our house. I see no way to explain this to him w/ out having me look like a Bad Mommy.
1245p-If we have anytime b/w lunch cleanup and nap: Read a History card so the older two can do a worksheet during rest time. Also read aloud out of the Bible or devotional book.
Sam leaves. Abby fusses about sitting so long. Ike and Josh and Zach try and wrestle.
Jacob and David give me hints that the other boys are not obeying. Jonathan is the only one who seems sad at all the interruptions. More hot tea.
1-3p-This is Supposedly rest time. Something always happens.
Sam and Abby take a nap after getting up 4 times each to go potty, ask for a drink, or ask if its time to get up. Consequences are given.
Josh and Ike are on their beds w/ books or a few Legos. They get up once each to "see what time it is".
Jacob and Zach are on the couches in the living room. They are quiet. Jacob reads and Zach falls asleep. Good boys.
Jonathan and David read their books and then get on Jonathan's bed to do the history worksheet together. J. then reads aloud to David.
I am busy folding piles of laundry on my bed, answering emails and the phone, and drinking at least 2 more cups of hot tea.
3pm-FREE-FOR-ALL! Besides a chore here and there, scheduled time is over and the boys are almost always outside.
I sit and read for a few minutes before starting dinner and wonder when Dirk will be home.
6:30a-Husband forces me out of bed by bribing me w/ hot coffee. He is much appreciated.
6:37-7:15a-Drink coffee. Get dressed and make bed. Drink coffee. Check and answer email in peace. Drink coffee. Go downstairs. Let dog out and start some laundry which is conveniently located near the coffeepot. Go back upstairs. Read Bible and pray (mostly that the children will keep sleeping). Prayer interrupted by Sam who thinks its time to get up. Put him back in bed.
7:30a-Phone rings and wakes up the early risers. Its my husband. He just wanted to check and make sure I was awake. Yep, more coffee.
7:31-49a-David bounds in ready to start his chores. He's the only one. Sam comes in coughing. Abby follows behind him crying, "Sam woke me up".
Console Abby and give Sam his inhaler. Cover both up w/ a blanket on my bed and turn on "Clifford".
Josh wakes up, asks me what there is to have for breakfast and no matter what the answer, he gets mad and stomps off. Punishment is doled out and he is sent to do chores.
David is doing chores at lightning speed: emptying the dishwasher, getting out breakfast dishes, cleaning the powder room, etc.
7:50a-Go in and force Jonathan and Isaac out of bed by bribing w/ hot coffee (this only works w/ Jonathan).
8a-Everyone BETTER be in the kitchen either making some breakfast or waiting for me to make breakfast. I make Sam and Abby's breakfast and pour everyones juice. The boys make themselves some food if they want to eat. "ISAAC!!!!!! GET OUT OF BED AND GET DOWN HERE!!!!! Gulp coffee.
8:40ish-Jonathan handles kitchen clean-up w/ a little help from Joshua. Josh and Ike feed and water the dog. "No, you cannot do your schoolwork out in the dog's Igloo this morning, Josh."
Boys do various other chores.
Fight b/w Josh and Ike over which SuperHero would do their chores the fastest. Yes, this does get physical. There are red marks on both bodies. We go to the wall, recite Micah 6:8 (someday this will work, right?), and dole out consequences.
I medicate Sam for the day and get him dressed. Abby gets dressed and picks up her room. She comes downstairs screaming b/ Sam ran over her hair w/ a monster truck. She has lost a good handful of hair. Console Abby, discipline Sam.
Phone rings. Husband wants to know how my morning is going so far. Think about hanging up on him. Realize this was not an addressed subject in Proverbs 31 but that it would probably be a sin. Answer him politely and lovingly (okay, sometimes).
9a-Switch from coffee to hot tea for the sake of my nerves. Get the oldest 3 started on Math. Now, David, has by this point in the morning, done all chores, spelling, and has started himself on his math. Some mornings he is through by now, on to another subject.
While they do math, I read aloud to the little three. Reading is ALWAYS interrupted by: math questions, phone calls, and questions dealing w/ Theology or X-men.
Remind boys that Theology and X-men both have their places but not during math.
9:45ish-Jonathan finishes math and takes babies upstairs to play while he does his grammar and spelling workbooks. David does his grammar & phonics by himself.
Josh, Ike, and I do phonics and oral grammar.
Josh: "I hate the letter 'K'! Its so mean that he makes the same sound as 'C'!"
These boys MIGHT be reading by 17. I try and prod the Slow Twins along by saying, "you know, Brynna (Tami's 5yr old daughter) has finished this phonics book. Dont you want to try and go faster?"
Josh: "Nope. If Brynna is done and we are not then that's just how God wants it. Dad says we cant mess w/ God's plans!"
At least Dad's Theology lessons are useful for something. Phonics is over for the day as I have nothing to say after that.
We do oral grammar. It starts out well except for the fighting over who gets to say which poem.
We move on to verbs. The boys insist on acting out the action verbs that I read. Their favourite so far is "fight". Ike wants to know why I never give them the verb "impale" to act out. Grammar is also now over. More hot tea for me.
10:20a-Steph brings Jacob and Zach. They spend a few days a week w/ us. The house goes crazy loud b/ all the boys are so glad to see each other. Try to quiet everyone down.
Both boys need to sit down and do their math.
Zach moves at quite a clip w/ Josh looking over his shoulder whispering answers to him so that they can go play faster.
Jacob is a daydreamer and sits there for a good 10min. before even getting started. David is fraught w/ worry that Jacob will NEVER be done and able to play. David begs me to let him help Jake. I say no way and sit down w/ Jacob.
The din is almost deafening. I tell anyone that is not working at the table on schoolwork to go to the playroom. Everyone except Sam obeys. He thinks its more fun to write in Jacob's mathbook, which Jacob thinks is also more fun than doing the math.
Remove Sam by giving him Cheez-its, his favourite food. He feeds half to dog. Hurry and usher dog outside b/ its obvious those Cheez-its are about to come back up. ORDER everyone to NOT LET THE DOG BACK IN THE HOUSE!
11a-By this time there is no one at the table doing school except Jacob. Make more tea. Go over multiplication facts orally w/ Jacob until we come to the one he needs.
Jonathan is enjoying peace and quiet upstairs doing his Science on Cd-ROM. He reads, does his worksheet, and prints out the experiment we are supposed to do.
"No, Jonathan. I do not have purple cabbage in the frig." Experiment held off until Dad can bring home some cabbage.
11:45a-Jacob is MOSTLY done w/ math. I tell him to put it away and finish it at rest time. Phone rings. Husband checking in. I am finally able to relay to him the boys' burning question of the morning (yes, there is ALWAYS a Burning Question).
He doesnt even hesitate in his answer:
"Without a doubt The Flash would be the fastest SuperHero at doing chores."
All boys are satisfied b/ Dad is the absolute knower-of-all. They all run off pretending to be The Flash.
Noonish-Jonathan or I am finishing up lunch. Yes, I dont cook breakfast but we almost always have a hot lunch. 8 children should never be allowed into a kitchen to each make their own lunches.
Isaac tells me that he thinks its funny that some people have lunch food for breakfast. I ask him what he means. He tells me that the Smiths have muffins and pancakes at breakfast. Yes, they are lunch food at our house. I see no way to explain this to him w/ out having me look like a Bad Mommy.
1245p-If we have anytime b/w lunch cleanup and nap: Read a History card so the older two can do a worksheet during rest time. Also read aloud out of the Bible or devotional book.
Sam leaves. Abby fusses about sitting so long. Ike and Josh and Zach try and wrestle.
Jacob and David give me hints that the other boys are not obeying. Jonathan is the only one who seems sad at all the interruptions. More hot tea.
1-3p-This is Supposedly rest time. Something always happens.
Sam and Abby take a nap after getting up 4 times each to go potty, ask for a drink, or ask if its time to get up. Consequences are given.
Josh and Ike are on their beds w/ books or a few Legos. They get up once each to "see what time it is".
Jacob and Zach are on the couches in the living room. They are quiet. Jacob reads and Zach falls asleep. Good boys.
Jonathan and David read their books and then get on Jonathan's bed to do the history worksheet together. J. then reads aloud to David.
I am busy folding piles of laundry on my bed, answering emails and the phone, and drinking at least 2 more cups of hot tea.
3pm-FREE-FOR-ALL! Besides a chore here and there, scheduled time is over and the boys are almost always outside.
I sit and read for a few minutes before starting dinner and wonder when Dirk will be home.
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