Is Pluto a planet?

This blog is going to shift to more homeschool topics ( still a bit of family happenings and my own free writing too) ... When we learn new things or do innovative activities, I get excited and want to "talk" abou it. Also it would be a good avenue to share ideas with my homeschool friends. So let's get started!

Rychen p. is very much interested in geography and space. He has noticed that some books refer to Pluto as a planet and others don't, so he has asked several times if Pluto is planet. So finally we sat down to research it. ( about ten minutes in, he got distracted and asked if there are going to be more than 50 states, so while he got out the globe, I kept reading about Pluto!)

This is a cool website to explain Pluto...http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=624

Then I continued to follow Rychen's lead and talk about states. He drove a matchbox car around the equator while I explained the difference between states and territories. I showed him how various islands have parenthesis and a country's name, showing who owns it.

Then he wanted to name all his states ( he knows about 40) so I got out some worksheets where you fill in the name of each state...and voila, we get handwriting practice.

I love times like this where I just follow his lead, getting materials out and answering questions. It really fills me with joy. In a busy household where my children often annoy each other and myself, it's so refreshing to do some educational activities and develop these common interests to bind us and give undivided attention :)

P.s. this could have been formatted better, but I am relaxing on the couch with my sweet baby, using my iPad!

First post-partum run

I have been walking and gradually adding jog segments this week, and then today took it up a notch and did a 5k at a reasonable pace--not enough to hurt, but definitely a workout. (ok that is called long-run pace...fine, so 3 miles is my long run right now.) That makes sense, a month ago at the end of pregnancy I was doing walking workouts of 3 miles in an hour, so I can't expect to have any more endurance than that. Actually that fact kind of surprised me. I expected to get the baby out and suddenly be able to run like I used to, but really I just picked up where I left off. Except now I will be getting quicker as time goes on, not slower and slower! So this run today was a 5k in 40 minutes--13 minute mile, which was my reliable pace about 5th and 6th months of pregnancy. It will be nice to see that number drop now. I wonder how quickly I can expect that. Before pregnancy my 5k runs were about 29 mins.

Well I haven't done any other workouts, I thought Bob and Jillian (my new DVDs!) would be too intense. But maybe I will do yoga or upper body this week and get into an ever-other day run schedule.

I am just happy to be running again! It feels so good. Woo!

--
www.mindoverbodymarathon.com

Arm Wrestling with Grandpa

My parents are visiting from out of town and I just love seeing my Dad get down and play with the kids. Rychen and Elisabeth started to fight and in desperation to distract her, he offered to arm wrestle! Here's how it went down.

She started laying down like he is, but soon found it more efficient to get up on her knees.

...then pull harder with both hands... (and even having Rychen reach in and help)


...then Rychen told her "SIT ON HIS HANDS!!"
...but all these creative efforts were futile; Grandpa still won anyway!!

Taylor 1+ week old

These pictures are funny because they show how mellow and serious Taylor is. This is his regular facial expression for sure. He doesn't give as much eye contact as the other kids did, and he acts like more of an observer than an interacter.

He is just under 8 pounds here.

Recovery

So it's been a week...went by fast.

I stayed in bed mostly for 2 days, and Sunday afternoon started feeling well. But I jump the gun too fast...same thing last time. I think I am feeling great and then I hit a bad spot and need to go back to bed for a day or two. We left the house way too soon, Monday, Tuesday, AND Wednesday...and now I am paying for it!

It was rough not having any help post-partum, the first few days. My mom wasn't here yet, Rychen was trying to stay on top of laundry, housework, cooking, and my needs...and the kids just went crazy with nobody looking after them. What is a new mom to do!? Staying in bed is way too difficult when there is lots to do (and I actually would prefer to be the one doing it!)  I am aware of my older kids needs, but helpless sometimes to tend to them. If you know me, I like to have everything under control....

I hate feeling helpless!

Mine & Taylor's Love Song! :)

I'm not going out tonight 'cos I don't want to go
I am staying at home tonight 'cos I don't want to know
You revealed a world to me and I would never be
Dwelling in such happiness, your gift on purity

You and me it will always be
You and me Forever be,Eternally it will always be
You and me
Taylor, Taylor, Taylor, Taylor

I don't pay attention to the ones who never cared
Find your own direction 'cos there's sweetness in the air
You will be the world to me and I will always be
Dwelling in this happiness, your gift of purity

Rychen P & Tay Tay

This is our 3rd Grandma / Godmother Connie. She is so good with the kids. She came over today to give them some attention since they have been so overlooked these past few days! This picture is funny because I captured it at the perfect moment. Taylor was rooting and Connie said, "He's looking for something you don't have!" and Rychen P said "yeah, BOOBIES!" So in the picture, Rychen P. is imitating the rooting motion and Connie is laughing at Rychen P's funny comment.

Video of Taylor