Wordless Wednesday: Power of the Lollipop

I want one, Mommy!

 Really!  Now.

 Hmmm. Yum.

 I love these things, Mommy!

It's a right-handed world

By age 5, most kids consistently use one dominant hand. It is no surprise to us that, after several years of watching Thomas hold a spoon, throw a ball, button his shirt and the other gazillion daily things he does, we have a lefty on our hands {no pun intended}.  Experts say that nine out of ten kids prefer their right hand, but being left-handed is perfectly normal – it's just not as common as right-handedness.  Some scientists even peg lefties as more creative and verbal.

What we know for sure: Being left-handed can sometimes be inconvenient or frustrating in a world dominated by righties. Think about where most of us place the computer mouse or the way spiral notebooks are constructed. Not exactly lefty-friendly.  Luckily, up to this point, we haven't had any issues at the dining room table crashing elbows {Thomas has one side of the table to himself}, however it is becoming more & more apparent that Abby, too, might be left-handed.  But I certainly see how we will need to buy scissors, baseball gloves, and other tools and equipment designed for lefties now that Thomas has ventured into the big wide right-handed world.

B-Baller

Look who started his first basketball season.

 Some of his biggest fans are close by.

 

 Maybe a future B-Baller?



Autumn Evening Walks

 There is something to be said for the beautiful {unfortunately far too short} autumn weeks up here in Alaska.  The crisp air, the breezes, the yellow & orange leaves that been falling from the trees for weeks.  With less than 13 hours of daylight each passing day, the winter months are fast approaching.  So until the snow flies and before the ground is covered with white stuff for the next 6 months, the evenings are filled with walks, leaf hunts and enjoying the Alaskan sunsets.

 

Our sledding hill will soon be dirt no more.

Instead, it will be filled with kids & their sleds enjoying the snow and all it offers.

Tonight, Brian saw these huge mushrooms growing under a big shady tree.  

How odd & creepy looking some of them seemed.

But when mushrooms stand 7-8 inches tall by themselves, you can't help but notice.

 Brian told the kids that these were "Moose Berries" and that we couldn't touch or eat them - the Moose(s) would be get mad and come after us.

{I think his small white lie actually worked}.

Although I will be sad to see autumn slip away, I'm hopeful that with the kids each 1 year older, that this coming winter will hold even more fun with sledding, trekking, snowman-making and maybe even skiing & tubbing.  This may, or maynot, be our last winter here in Alaska so we plan on making the most of it for sure!

It just seems like yesterday...

... but this is what 1 year ago looked like for Marilyn, Abbigail & Thomas!

Friday Night Leftovers (no bed rail edition)

Hi weekend.

• After several weeks of asking to take her side bed railing off, Abby is now officially a big girl sleeping with no restrictions, and no railing... and she loves it!  Just one more example of Abby being 3, but going on 13.
• Fall is officially here with colored leaves and cool temperatures.  The days are growing shorter and the smell of winter is not too far away.  Pretty soon the bikes & summer gear will be put away and the sleds, shovels and snow gear will be a staple item again in the garage.
• Speaking of bikes, a certain little boy has been experimenting with no training wheels.  Let it be said that it has not been easy for Mommy.  Actually... it has tested my patience in a serious way.
• Thomas really, really likes kindergarten.  We are off to a great start!
• The clothes that I packed away last fall/winter from Abby are already unpacked, washed and being worn by Marilyn.  How is this possible?
• Abby's favorite books are the Bernstein Bears.  I read at least one {if not many} to her daily.  We don't have all of them, but by God we have many of them.
• Brian makes fun of me because I love to make & pack lunch for Thomas each and every day.  I feel like I'm packing a lunchbox full of love for him.
• We live in a crazy small world.  Case in point... there are 2 teachers/staff at the high school I'm at from Okaloosa Co.  Another example is I parked next to a truck at the commissary the other day with Okaloosa (FL) plates.  Ya gotta love the military life.
• In the last week &  half, snow has fallen on the mountain tops, frost has been on the grass & cars in the morning and the kids have worn winter jackets & hats a few times already.  Yes... winter is on its way.
• My internship is eye opening {more to come on this}.  Not only walking in the shoes of school administrators all day long, but being in a different school other than the one I've spent the last 12 years teaching at.  By default, everything I have experienced interning I compare to CHS. There is good & bad that comes with that.

 

Thomas' interview: Part II

As a follow up to the interview I did with Thomas a little less than 2 weeks ago, I interviewed him with some "Daddy questions"... they are just as amusing!

Answered by Thomas (age 5)

1. What is something dad always says to you?  "Can you please go get a beer for me Bud?"

2. What makes dad happy? When I have my listening ears on.

3. What makes dad sad? If I fall & hurt myself.

4. How does your dad make you laugh? by making the silliest faces (especially when he crosses his eyes) & silly dances.

5. What was your dad like as a child?  had brown hair, light skin... but then it got brown {tan?}

6. How old is your dad? 39 {he was only off by 1 year... not bad bud}

7. How tall is your dad? 90 feet, pretty big.

8. What is his favorite thing to do? Go to work (yeah, right) and fish!

9. What does your dad do when you're not around? work {clearly he doesn't know about his dad's eBay addiction :)}

10. If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for? just for being great & handsome {loved that answer}

11. What is your dad really good at? fishing

12. What is your dad not very good at? climbing trees & bushes

13. What does your dad do for a job? helps others and get the $$$ {apparently he already understands that job/work = $$$}

14.What is your dad's favorite food? pizza or spaghetti or meatballs!

15.What makes you proud of your dad? that my Daddy is my hero & that he is strong!

16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be? Buzz Lightyear

17. What do you and your dad do together? fish

18. How are you and your dad the same? the same color hair & both have fishing shirts

19. How are you and your dad different? his skin is more brown {tan?} than mine
20. How do you know your dad loves you? he gives me lots of hugs & kisses.

21. What does your dad like most about your mom? because she is so silly.

22. How do you know your dad loves your mom? because they got married.

23. Where is your dad's favorite place to go? work {ha-ha} & restaurants

What busy looks like now

Every family with kids is busy.  It's the nature of the beast.  That should be in the owners manual when you leave the hospital after having a baby - "Welcome to Parenthood - You Will Now Be Busy(ier)!"  Oops... never mind... there are no manuals.  You wing it and hope for the best. *giggles*  But seriously - having kids increases the chance of you having a crazy daily/weekly schedule.  Case in point, here is what goes on in the Heck household as of lately:

• Thomas is in school 5x week.
• Brian goes to work 5x week.
• Abby goes to gymnastics 1x week.
• Thomas has basketball 3x week (practices & games).
• Abby goes to speech therapy 2x week.
• I am at my M.Ed internship 2x week.
• Abby & Marilyn are at daycare 2x week while I'm at my internship.
• Abby goes to partday preschool 2x week.

Wordless Wednesday: Oreos

Can you tell this is one of her favorite snacks?

 



Thomas' interview

I interviewed Thomas yesterday with some "Mommy questions"... his answers both made me giggle, smile & wonder what on earth I'm teaching him!  Enjoy.

Answered by Thomas (age 5)

1. What is something mom always says to you?  "What would you like to have to eat?" and "I love you Thomas.

2. What makes mom happy? When I do the things she asks me to do and also seeing me laugh! 

3. What makes mom sad? When I don't have my listening ears on.

4. How does your mom make you laugh? with funny faces & she tickles me.

5. What was your mom like as a child?  She was the same... same hair, same face, same heart & same arms.

6. How old is your mom? 30 {he was only off by 8 years... not bad bud}

7. How tall is your mom? 90 inches, pretty big. {that would make me 7.5 feet tall in real life}

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Eat.  Actually, go out to eat {huh.  that's news to me}

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? does work - homework, email & school work.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? being our mom {loved that answer}

11. What is your mom really good at? making breakfast, lunch & dinner

12. What is your mom not very good at? climbing trees

13. What does your mom do for a job? makes sure Marilyn doesn't fall down the stairs and she is a teacher.

14.What is your mom's favorite food? I don't know. {he had no idea so he requested 3 hints.  he finally guessed pizza}.

15.What makes you proud of your mom? when she helps me do stuff, I'm very proud of her for being a good helper.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Minnie Mouse

17. What do you and your mom do together? read books, go bike riding and go out to eat.

18. How are you and your mom the same? the same color hair & same skin color.
19. How are you and your mom different? our toes are not the same size at all.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? she gives me lots & lots of kisses.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? that he is strong.

22. How do you know your mom loves your dad? she gives him hugs & kisses too.

23. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? the grocery store {auuugh, NOT at all}