Getting a Head Start

We decided a long while ago not to worry about putting the boys in preschool. We do our best to get them in social situations with other kids and I teach them the rest of what they will need to know from home.

This year we took that decision a bit further and have decided to keep Joshua home from school next year and begin homeschooling. We're not doing this because we're religious nuts or because what his school is doing is so bad. Joshua is just way ahead for his grade and isn't being challenged in a way we would like at school. He can't be tested for the gifted program offered by our district until after 1st grade which is another entire school year away. So, we're going to join the ranks of the weird ones and be homeschoolers.
We've picked up some textbooks and supplies. We're just about ready.

Spoiled

Arthur has finally found the place he belongs in our family. The boys have been working for days to get Arthur to lay on Jeremiah's bed. Yesterday at nap he stayed in there while they slept. Now today he thinks he owns the place and hops up there without invitation. This, of course, thrills the boys!

Joshua even took his "nap" in Jeremiah's toddler bed this afternoon so he could sleep with Arthur (there no actual napping taking place, but I got a bit of a break at least). This was only after I assured him our short legged little dog could not make it up there to sleep in his bed. I'm pretty sure this can't last much longer. Jeremiah is only going to keep getting bigger and there's really no more room on the bed!

Introducing Stanley

Before Phil left he had a genius idea to stay connected with the boys while he's gone. We made a Flat Stanley. Usually this would be something introduced later on in elementary school but it works so we're using it. We made Stanley in an outfit that will help him fit in over there. We took a picture with him and the boys before he left with Daddy. Jeremiah wanted his cars in the pictures. I don't understand but complied. Stanley left with Daddy last Saturday and this morning we were able to get some pictures of the places Stanley has been in the last week.

He spent a lot of time on a plane with Daddy's friends.

He took a break on the bed Daddy had for a few days at a place they stayed at. Drink lots of water, Stanley!

He must have been really anxious to get going... he was waiting on the door!

Finally Stanley arrived at his destination! A relatively comfortable cot in a tent.

At least he's got a little A/C and a comfy place to sleep. I wonder what Stanley might do next...

Skype

Tonight we had a date. Phil was going to call about 6 o'clock so I could open the gifts he had ordered before he left while on the phone with him. That didn't exactly work out. We talked for maybe a few minutes and were disconnected probably a half dozen times. Not our idea of a good time.
So Phil decided to bite the bullet and pay for his own internet connection. So what happens then? Skype. That's what! We got to video "chat" with Phil. I use these "" because we did most of the talking. Phil had the other guys who were asleep in his tent to consider.
This picture makes me really really happy.
The end.

Keeping Close to Daddy

Yesterday morning we woke up to find an email from Daddy for all three of us! The boys both took some time to write Daddy back.

Then today I found the best thing ever! Long long ago Phil had this cross he wore just about every single day. One would be hard pressed to find a picture of Phil in his teenage years without this cross on. I just happened across it in the kitchen today. Odd, I know. I don't know why our house is organized the way it is. I blame it on elves.

 Either way, I found that necklace and another that Phil had when we first got engaged... or shortly thereafter. Sometime around in that time frame. I let each boy wear one of Daddy's necklaces today.

I have to tell you, I got a little choked up. The boys have this really fun remedy for moments like this.
They fight.

 So while I'm taking my very cute pictures of my boys wearing Daddy's old necklaces, they fight over who is going to be in the front of the picture. It wasn't necessarily on purpose. They're brothers. These things happen. I fixed it though. Here's Jeremiah's moment:

(try not to notice the top left corner... or the red shirt that is trying to quickly insert itself into this picture... It's not really there. It's only your imagination.)
And because I guess we're into equal opportunity humiliation in the Pickle home these days, Josh took a few pictures of Mommy. Had to help him out a bit with this one, but here you go:

Beach Day

Today it was 90 degrees here so we went to the beach.

We had frozen yogurt afterward too. It was a win-win.

The boys had a blast running around, getting wet and sandy. I got a few minutes to not have to get onto them about anything.

The beach is one of our favorite parts of living here. Now if the sand would just stay at the beach instead of getting all over my car on the way home....

Daddy's News for Today

I apologize in advance. Because of being separated for this deployment we decided to keep Daddy in the loop for the things that go on around here using the blog. As a result of that you will be seeing more updates than normal and they will probably be about more day-to-day occurrences. We hope it's not a bother. No? You like hearing about every minute detail of our lives?? Good! Now here we go!

We made a box to send to Daddy today (who accidentally left behind his entire toiletry bag). Since there was a little space left in the box we filled it with a few fun things. We'd tell you what all we put in, but that would kind of ruin the surprise. I will tell you one special thing that we put in. Jeremiah wrote his name for the very first time today!

He's been hinting at wanting to learn how to write letters. We got him a little writing book for Easter. He finally decided to pick it up today. When I asked him to write his name at the bottom this is what he did! We sent it to Daddy.

 Tonight was a musical program at Joshua's school. A word from the now wiser, 5th grade strings... not so good for those who have any sort of appreciation for pitch. Yowsa! The Kindergarten music part was cute! They incorporated drums and motions. This is the best picture I got of Joshua.
Here is the 2nd song his class did: