Days with the Dorans

It was not really too much of a surprise when Z sat down at the table and kicked out some writing about Painted Turtles.  Mostly because he sees his Mama write often and he is a little attentive sponge in school.  It didn't hurt that the Bigs and Jeff all happened to be at the table working on homework as well.  Still, it was fun to watch him as he worked.  He was so proud of all he knew and how well he could draw his picture (he did add color later).  He talked about his awesomeness frequently as he worked. He wrote: Painted Turtles like to go in the sun.  They go in the water.  The boy is smaller than the girl.  They have been around for 15 million years. I did scaffold (teacher talk for support) him as he worked.  I had him say the sentence he wanted to write and plan it (with lines where the words should go), but he did all the sounds and spelling himself. I was so pleased with how well he did. The best however, w...

Yesterday Z decided he wanted the training wheels off his bike.  He has been riding his scooter all spring and I was surprised he even brought up his bike.  My dad happened to come over today (we're drawing up plans for our deck) so he took the training wheels off and went to hold on to the back of Z's bike (in order to run with him a bit until he got his balance).  The only thing is... he didn't have to!  Z literally said, "I got this," and took off riding!!!  I have never seen anything like that before and we all laughed out loud watching him go!  He did get a few pointers (from his coach, Ali) on turning and stopping.  She literally stood at the end of the driveway and would ring a bell for him to stop and he would~ on a dime.  Prior to him getting his training wheels off, we had prepped him saying, "Now Goosie, you will probably fall..." and Al went over all her battle scars~ but clearly our talk was unnecessary.  Not only was th...

 Once again we decided to purchase season tickets for the Tigers.  We get the Friday package which includes all Friday games and usually one during the week.  With our (kids') schedule, we are busy Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and yes... even Sunday.  Memorial Weekend brought a break in sports and allowed Jeff and I an opportunity to go to a game.  My mom was able to watch the kids and we met up with our friends (the Millers) for a game.  We love going with them because not only do we have that bond that people who have lost children automatically have (I met them through HUGS), but they are AWESOME baseball fans!  I can't believe we've been friends for almost 10 years!  We met up at Hockey Town before the game and had a great time catching up over dinner and drinks.  I love that Kenny and Jeff get along so well too. We had so much fun at dinner that we didn't leave until after the second inning (don't wo...

Recently I wrote about Joe's new obsession with bubble-gum blowing.  After we dropped off Al at a friends and made a quick trip to the post-office, we were off to the Dollar Store for gum.  Sean dressed like this the entire time, but I only thought to snap some pictures in the Dollar Store.   He made a lot of people smile. Lately though, he has not been making ANY of us smile.  I've said before that he was God's way of telling us we're DONE having babies!  He is a strong-willed little guy and realizes that he has more control than he thinks he does.  This is especially true in the diaper department... "I LIKE MY DIAPERS!".   His latest saying (and he says it multiple times a day) is, "I don't like (fill in the blank) emymore!!!" So seeing that he brought some smiles to strangers on our errand running adventure brought me some smiles and may have saved me from killing him. (that day) As for today he tells me, "...

I've had a hard time this year accepting the fact that I am missing a lot.  I think this is a side affect from having so many kiddos.  It also seems that after I leave a game, is when all the action happens... the Bigs make plays in the field, get hits... and last week, learn to blow bubbles. Last Wednesday, my mom called me laughing about Joey.  Apparently at the game, he got some bubble gum and my dad taught him to blow a bubble.  He was so excited.  He ran out to play second and was blowing a bubble when (PLOP!) he accidentally spit it out.  My mom said she watched him and he wasn't quite sure what to do... He was playing after all and it wasn't a case where the five second rule would apply (the gum was covered with dirt).  After the gum flew out of his mouth, he picked it up, looked at it and figured there was no way it was going back into his mouth and nonchalantly let it drop from his hand.  That's when the "cover-up" began!  ...

It's that time of year again... Field Trips, Parties, Field Day~ All those things that I CAN'T go to because I'm a teacher (big sigh).   Again, I am so very grateful that my folks went over to check out Field Day. I had mentioned it to my mom briefly and was shocked that she said of course they would be going!  One~ because Field Day can be a lot of standing around and craziness and Two~ because they were leaving for the condo up north that day. The way the kids' school does Field Day is that they have lower-ele participate in the morning and upper-ele in the afternoon.  I can't imagine trying to accomplish anything academic on Field Day... the kids are so excited!  My school has their's all day long, which I love! So on this post I have pictures of the Middles, but none of Joe (since he was in the afternoon).  He reported he had a great time though... What kid DOESN'T like Field Day? My mom took these pictures!  She said that Zach did a G...

As always, Mother's Day brings such mixed emotions for me.  Jeff was the worship leader in church so I was flying solo with the kids.  I actually slept in a little (until they came to wake me up).  I have to admit that if you have to wake up (I'm not a morning person), waking to homemade presents, kisses, hugs and "I love yous"  is the way to do it! Z actually couldn't wait to give me what he made for Mother's Day, so Friday after school he made me open his gift (cute little poem book with pictures).  Then he got mad at me on Saturday for something (can't remember why, but with Z it could be anything...) and so he announced that he was taking it back and in dramatic Zach fashion, put it back in his backpack.  On Sunday he must have decided he liked me again because he was with the others showering me with homemade gifts.  He also told me that this time he'd let me keep his book forever and wouldn't take it back anymore because he'd lov...