Oompa Loompas

You know what part of parenting is especially fun?  Watching my kids discover things that I loved as a child. 

This week Grandma Y brought up a copy of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the movie with Gene Wilder version from 1971, not the 2005 Johnny Depp version).  My kids were completely riveted.  After a Saturday on the go, they are watching an encore showing. 

I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit that I can probably recite the entire movie and sing all the songs since my brother and I used to watch our copy on Beta video over and over and over again. Of all the songs that are in the movie, guess what song Ben's been singing?  "Cheer Up Charlie!"  HA! My brother and I used to bellow that one all the time around the house, much to the chagrin of my parents.

Brownie Training....Send Coffee

I can't remember whether or not I've mentioned on this blog before that I am a Brownie leader.  Well, actually I was a Daisy leader for the past two years, and last spring my troop of girls bridged up to Brownies. We are very lucky to have a great group of girls, and it has been fun to watch them grow up over the past two years. I love getting to get to spend some special, sibling-free time with Abby and her friends (and I've heard from other leaders that this is the case until about 6th grade -- and then the hormones hit). 

This year, unlike the past two years, our troop will begin doing some outdoorsy things, which are the things I really love to do best.  I was so excited to take everyone camping and hiking, and then I found out all the scads of paperwork and training I need to complete in order to make this happen.  Of course, I understand from a safety and liability perspective that all this is necessary.  And, if I were brand new to outdoorsy things, it is pretty neat that Girl Scouts of America has all this training available for people who need it.

However, these realizations aren't making all this paperwork any more fun. I don't have any more interesting blogging stories because I'm currently reading through a detailed 100+ pages of training material and taking my home tests so that my troop can make s'mores using a charcoal grill. I wish I was exaggerating.  I had to fill out two very detailed applications regarding my camping and cooking experience just to qualify for the home study courses, otherwise I would have been in all weekend training. Maybe the weekend training would have been quicker?

As a general rule, I really try not to complain about any type of volunteering since it's completely my choice to do this. I'm breaking my rule. I'm frustrated. I'm an experienced backpacker -- so I'm 100% confident we can handle the s'mores without endangering anyone or any personal property.  Sigh. I will stop griping now and go read my packets...with a second cup of coffee.

Official Declaration

I, CC, hereby decree the end of daytime diapers.  Officially finished.  Kaput.  The End.  Good Riddance.

For good measure, I am now also officially shouting from the rooftops (electronically) that Ben is potty trained. 

POTTY TRAINED.

YES!!! 

2,800 days of diapering (12/25/2002 to 8/25/2010).  Over.  Finite.

It was quite a long streak.  In fact, it's even longer than Cal Ripken's streak of 2,632 consecutive games for all you Orioles fans out there.  I now have a much better appreciation for that record, particularly since changing diapers is significantly less taxing than playing Major League Baseball.  (Less taxing, but more yucky)

Ben has been wearing underwear (which he calls PANTIES -- another hazard of two older sisters) for about two weeks. Scott has been working with Ben on the correct way to execute "Man Style".  (I have been repeatedly washing the walls and floor in the bathroom.)   

Have you seen that movie Office Space?  You know that part where they take the printer outside and smash it to pieces?  Guess what the fate is for the Diaper Genie?  Oh yes.  I just need to find the right song.

Say Goodbye.

First Week of School Wrap-Up

We survived the first week of school.  "Survived" is overly dramatic.  Abby and Caroline both love their teachers, and I haven't met any resistance whatsoever getting ready for school or going to the bus stop.  Caroline has been waking up at 6am and wants to leave for the bus on or before 7am.  Abby isn't getting up quite as early, but is also anxious to leave for school, and she isn't even protesting her pre-school sunscreen application (which is really saying something).

Aside from the difficulty keeping of Ben entertained and out of trouble (my early alert system, a.k.a. Caroline, is gone), my only complaint is that the deluge of papers has begun.  I am resolved this year to promptly process all the paper that comes through the bookbags. But, since our school is going green, a lot of correspondence is coming electronically too.  So, now there are two separate "piles" to manage x 2 kids.  Plus, another bookbag's worth starts in 2 weeks.  It really is a lot of stuff -- some of which requires response or decisions or putting things on the calendar.  Other things need to be saved somewhere. Already the piles are growing and I worked so hard to whittle them down over the summer. I'm certainly not at the "overwhelmed" level yet since school has just started and the activities have not but I can see where we're headed.

Believe it or not, Abby has a project to do this weekend!  Homework on a holiday weekend?!  Ew. She will be preparing a writing idea packet, which is a large envelope that is supposed to be covered with and contain momentos and photos. Each of the included items will be used to jog her memory at school for ideas of fun things in her life (moments, memories, people, etc., to write about).  Unfortunately, since all the pictures I've taken since Ben was born are trapped on various camera cards or in the computer (sorry about not making you a baby book Ben), I also have some homework to do this weekend -- get some pictures printed!  While I know this idea envelope will be an important writing tool this year, I must admit that I don't feel like doing homework on a holiday weekend with absolutely perfect weather.  How old do I sound right now??  Like I'm back in grade school pouting about homework!  (I am outwardly pretending to be enthusiastic about this assignment to Abby so as not to corrupt her attitude towards school. But, she doesn't feel like doing homework yet either....she wanted to play outside.)

So we all procrastinated today. The kids had adventures outside all day with the neighbors while Scott and I tackled yet another overgrown area of the yard.  I keep thinking that surely we've found all the caches of invasive vines and volunteer saplings, but no, there are plenty left in the back.  On the productive side, we finally created a compost pile and started a wood pile. I dug out still more bittersweet vines. I will definitely sleep well tonight. 

And, tomorrow, I promise to get started on the homework.

Product Review: Rock N Learn Phonics

I've been working with Caroline this summer on learning to read.  She has most of her letter sounds down, and definitely can identify all uppercase letters, but she still sometimes has some trouble distinguishing among lowercase and b and p and g and d.  Although, if I cue her with a "that's a B" she can sound out short vowel sound words. We've been using the Kindergarten Level 1 Hooked on Phonics program.  It's been going slow.  Slow and steady.  I'm happy with her progress, but sometimes it is tough to get her to sit down and work through a whole page of words.

I thought it would be nice to try out some new learning to read materials, just to see if there was a system better suited to Caroline. Caroline is quite the singer and dancer, so Rock n Learn Phonics on DVD seemed right up her alley.

The Rock N Learn Volume 1 DVD features 28 lessons, starting with short vowel sounds and beginning consonants with vowels. It progresses through blending consonants (e.g, sh), three letter blends, word families, silent e, consonant digraphs, read along sentences, and read along stories. Volume 2 DVD continues with long vowels, vowel combinations, syllables, ending sounds, silent consonants, rule breakers, and more read-along sentences and read-along stories.  This program covers a huge amount of phonetic material.

So far we've watched the first 10 tracks several times.  The animation, music and characters are really catchy, and I've caught Caroline singing the short vowel song a few times. A-E-I-O-U!  Each individual lesson covers quite a bit of material, so it will be a while before we're ready for the later lessons on this DVD.  Abby, who is an established reader, would still benefit from the later lessons on Volume 2.

Scattered among the songs on both DVDs are interactive portions to allow the kids to practice their skills.  For example, a word will appear on the screen, and there is a pause for the young person watching to try to read it. Then the answer is provided. Unfortunately, the pause isn't long enough for Caroline.  Even though she's been sounding out words all summer, she not fast enough for this DVD.  Even though she's happy to watch the songs, she isn't participating as fully as the intended by this program. 

With that said, the age range for this program is listed as Age 6 and up, and Caroline is only 5 1/2.  I bet in 6 months this program will be exactly the right level of difficulty for her.  In the meantime, she can watch the catchy vowel song and some of the other early tracks and reinforce all those consonant sounds. 

One other thing I really love about this DVD is that they have close-ups of someone's mouth when sounding things out.  As a veteran of speech therapy, I know that kids in Kindergarten are still developing portions of their speech (like r's and f's and l's).  So, watching the mouth reinforces correct tongue placement and sound pronounciation and they don't even realize it!

Summary: We will continue with the Hooked on Phonics for reading instruction and practice because it is better paced for Caroline, but we are definitely going to supplement her reading with this set of DVDs because this program is catchy and fun. This program is simultaneously entertaining and educational.

Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of Volumes 1 and 2 of this Rock n Learn Phonics in order to write a review on my blog.  All opinions are my own.

Final Note:  Abby has thoroughly, and I do mean thoroughly, reviewed the list of other Rock N Learn products and is literally begging me to buy the Solar System DVD.

Conversational Whiplash

Now that my girls are back at school, I think Ben is a little lonely. Fortunately, he has me for constant companionship, and he is taking this opportunity to discuss all thoughts that pop into his mind, unfiltered.

Here is a one-minute excerpt of our conversation in the car this morning on our wild goose chase for reasonably priced polyester cording:

Ben:  "Mom, who is Grandad's baby?"
Me: "Daddy is Grandma and Grandad's baby. So are Uncle Andy and Uncle Tim."
Ben:  "What about Cortney?"
Me: "Cortney has different parents who live in South Carolina."
Ben: "Does Cortney's dad have pointy hair?"
Me:  "No, I don't think Cortney's dad has much hair at all."
Ben: "What noise do fish make?"
Me: "No noise, fish are quiet in the water.  Except for dolphins and whales, but they aren't really fish."
Ben:  "Mom, can you make a fish face?"
Me: "Not while I'm driving."
Ben: "When are you going to take me to South Carolina?"
Me: "Not anytime soon -- it's a long drive."
Ben (after short screaming burst about not going to South Carolina): "Mom, do you think that Aquaman and Superman are friends?"
Mom: "How about we listen to the radio?"
Ben: "No, let's talk more about Superheroes."
Mom: Sigh.

On Day 4 of these whirlwind conversations, I'm already starting to have trouble focusing on a topic for more than two sentences.  So, if you plan to call, don't mind me if I can't seem to finish my...

what was I saying?

....oh right....thoughts.

You know your son needs a playdate with a BOY when.....

a) Given the chance to select any sticker from a basket of stickers he picks the pink princessy one;

b) You regularly hear him singing the "I'm a Barbie Girl in a Barbie World" song when he's happy;

c) You find out your one of your daughters (read, Caroline) has taught him how to go "MAN STYLE" on the potty.  And then, you find out "Man Style" means peeing stark naked, sitting backwards on the potty facing the wall.

d) All of the Above.

Answer:  D -- Call any other young boy immediately.