Short Update

Today, as Megan called it, was "productive." Which also meant--very, very, very busy. First, I had to get up and outside to get the garden raked and ready for Mom to arrive to plant. She pulled up just as I was frantically getting the children in the van to take Miriam for her kindergarten exit exam. Yeah Mom--way to save me in the nick of time!!

I took Miriam to her exam sans other children. What a relief. Miriam scored 100%. Yeah for Miriam! Granted, the exit exam is easy sneezy. She had to know her colors, her shapes, count to twenty, identify numbers and letters, write her name. The funnest part was, of course, the language arts. The teacher handed Miriam a book and then asked her what it was about based on the picture on the first page. Miriam quoted to her what it was about--exactly as was written below it. The teacher tried again on the second page but she couldn't frame the question before Miriam could read the text, so she gave up on previewing and just had Miriam read the book. Technically the teacher is supposed to read the book, but she had Miriam read it. I think she was curious. I am a weird homeschooler, after all.

It was fun for me because I don't bother with a lot of comprehension questions. She reads a book, we chat about it. That's it. Periodically Timothy will ask her what she read that day and every time she says, "Nothing." Then, when I prod her, she'll tell Tim the title and then if you keep at her she'll tell you about the plot. She usually enjoys the conversation by the end but getting it rolling takes a little effort.

Cowen, on the other hand, tells you all about his favorite books--but they are all big kid books that he won't be reading until he's at least 8. Still, I tell him the plot outline and he remembers. Ask him about Ranger's Apprentice sometime, just for fun. Today Mom was asking me about that series because Lindsay called me all up in arms that I gave her the first three and not the rest of them. Due to her angst I checked the Weber and Davis county libraries to find the next ones for her but of course they were all checked out with numerous holds. She decided in the end to drive to Megan's to borrow them. Rasmussens and books. Sheesh. :)

Anyway, I was telling Mom about the series and Cowen pipes up, "Rangers are silent in the woods." I can't wait to find out what he picks up when he can actually read the books he loves so much.

Miriam was perfectly behaved during the test. She answered all the questions without fussing, she was polite, she was friendly. She gave the teacher a hug. As I was leaving the teacher said to me, "I would love to have your other children in my class if you can bear to relinquish them."

My response, "I think I'll keep them with me. Thank you, though!" What I was thinking was, "If you only knew Miriam a little better . . ."

When Miriam and I got back home Mom was feeding everyone lunch--leftover lasagna and salad she'd brought with her. Is it any wonder I love that woman?? After lunch we tackled the garden. It took us until 5:00 but we got everything planted. I made the garden a lot bigger this year which is probably a huge mistake but trying to fight the weeds is such a nightmare I thought planting things we want growing might help. Or not. We'll see by the end of the summer. For those of you who care, we planted: potatoes, marigolds, cukes, zuchini, beets, lettuce, spinach (one of my FAV garden items), peas, corn, green beans (my first time trying these--I want to get enough to eat and bottle a dozen jars), onions, and oodles of corn. I hope to freeze some this year instead of just eating it all. I also planted soybeans. YEAH!! I really hope they do well and I can freeze a bunch. Love, love, love, love, love soybeans.

After a quick supper of grilled cheese sandwiches and green beans, we all headed for Miriam's t-ball game. They are getting so much better, it is amazing. Miriam played first base one inning. It was pretty bold move by the coach, putting her there. She almost got hit by the ball about four times because she was never paying attention to the game. Still, she had fun and she's getting better.

I was feeling all sentimental tonight because while we were at the game Cowen and Emeline ran around and it reminded me so much of my own fabulous childhood spent doing whatever Derek was doing. There was Cowen, a little blonder than Derek was, and this red-headed girl copying every single thing he did. At one point, Cowen was standing by me and Emeline came up to him and patted his back and said, "Come me, Cowen. Come me." That summed up my childhood. "Come with me, Derek. Or if not, please let me tag along after you. You are the moon and stars and whole orbit of my existence."

I've been thinking about Derek a lot the past few days because on Mother's Day we went out to Mom's and I brought all my cap guns and caps and we played train robbers and Texas Rangers. Danica and Myles actually said to me, "How do you play cap guns?" WHAT??? That's what Derek and I did! We chased around with our cap guns and our walkie-talkies, and we fought Apaches who could move so silently they were like ghosts and before you knew it they'd put half a dozen arrows into you. "HOW DO YOU PLAY CAPGUNS???" That sums up the problems in our society, right there.

If you've never ran around the house with your Mom and your son and your hubby and a cap gun--you should give it a try.

Funniest part of Mother's Day? When Timothy jumped out from his concealed location by the side of the house, ready to blast us all in dramatic reapeater weapon style--only his gun wasn't properly loaded and didn't shoot. Ha ha. His look of suprise and consternation was priceless. Ah, cap guns. The many, many, many good memories.

Hey Derek, come with me--let's find us some Apaches to escape from.