A Metal Detector Equals Great Fun!

 This morning found D outside with his metal detector (a loan from his "grandpa".)  He unearth this unusual piece of metal in our front yard.  (My brother told him that it was a part of a lawn mower motor.)  Our yard has little holes all over it where he has dug up treasures.  It's a small price to pay for hours of fun!  You can also see some green beginning to show up in the yard!

The shirt he has on is a shirt we wore yesterday to the math competition for our county.  Both he and Nikolai were chosen to be part of the competition.  They did very well and we were very proud of them!  They both did well in the algorithms section.

 "A Metal Detector Equals Great Fun!" is my entry to this week's 6WS.  (I know I am a day late!  But better late than never - right?!)

 

Boys, Dinner, Pictures

While dinner was cooking, I was looking at my picture file and realized that I had not taken a single picture of the boys this month.  For some reason, I had lots of pictures of the cats!  I think this is because the boys are too hard to get to sit still long enough to take a picture.  So, I decided to make some candid shots at dinner time.  We had roast tonight for dinner and it was really good, even if I say so myself. 

I promise that I was not making Deniska eat with his hands!  He had silverware somewhere. 

The carnation, least you think we are really cheap and just bought one, was a gift from Chick-Fil-A on Valentine's Day.  It is still pretty (and the only flower I got!)   This is Nikolai's "I can't believe I have to smile for a stupid picture" smile.  His hair is beginning to look a little shaggy.  I guess it is time to take them to the hairdresser for a good cut.  After dinner, they started their homework.  It was so pretty when we got home from school today that I let them play outside right up to dinner time.

 

Sam wanting to help Nikolai with his homework - isn't that sweet?!  And, of course, I had to put at least one cat picture in the bunch!

Happy Books & 6 Word Saturday

For some time now the books in my house have been growing.  Not intellectual books of great theology or philosophy like it was back before children.  No, it is the best collection of picture books and chapter books that appeal to boys.  Trucks, monsters, mysteries, cars, etc....  Being in the fourth grade now, the boys are making the transition from picture to chapter books (which I find to be sad since that means they are growing up on me!)  The book case in their room was taken over by toys and the books ended up in my bedroom. 

I have always wanted one of the spine bookshelves that are popular these days.  After looking around and talking myself into one, I ordered it the first of February.  Mine arrived in the mail this past week.  This one is a SEI Metal Spine-style Book Tower from Amazon.  Dennis, the boys, and I put it together last night.  It was a family event and it was very easy to put together.  (This is ALWAYS a necessity in my house!)  Plus, it is metal and very, very sturdy!!!  (Again, a necessity with 10 year old boys!)

The boys happily put their books on it and we probably have enough books left to fill up half another one of these.  We will be going through the books (hopefully today) and donating the easy ones to friends, the boys' school, or one of the self-contained special ed classes as my school.  The main thing that I love about this bookshelf is that it takes up so little room.  That's a big plus when you live in a small house. Plus, I love seeing the colors on the spine of the books. They just look happy to me.

(I don't know why that basket is on the floor!  Why is it you notice things in a picture that you don't see in real life?!)  Now, the trick is to get these boys reading!!!  They assured me last night that I needed to quit buying them books.  Silly boys, like that is going to happen!!  

A very special thank you to my sweet husband that put this together for me and did not complain one bit about doing so!  He is the BEST!!

Happy weekend everyone - read a good book today!

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SIX WORD SATURDAY

Happy Books, Happy Mom,  Happy Day!

Nikolai update

 

Nikolai missed his first day of school since he has been going to school today.  His fever yesterday was around 104, today it has been more 100 or 99.  The doctor called to tell me that the culture did not indicate strep throat and that it was just a virus.  He surely has been sick for "just a virus"!!  He said his throat still hurt a little bit.  She said I should stop the amoxicillin.  I have not decided if we will go to school tomorrow or not.  We might just both stay home one more day.  I do not want him to give anyone else this virus.  I do admit he has been so sweet today.  He had pizza for breakfast and lunch.  And, has munched on the brownies I made for him this morning.  I am glad his appetite is back that I have let him eat anything he wants.  

I made Deniska sleep on the couch last night.  He thought that was a great adventure!  He couldn't understand why Nikolai was not going to school this morning!  So what if he was running a temperature, coughing, had a sore throat, and blowing his nose.  Is that any reason not to go to school?!!  Oh, to be 10 again!! 

Guess how I spent Valentine's Day?

 I spent Valentine's Day in the doctor's office and the hospital lab with Nikolai.  He started getting sick on Saturday and has only gotten worse over the past few days.  Today, he is running a fever and is complaining of a sore throat.  The doctor said all she had seen was flu and strep throat. (S-h-h-h, don't tell Deniska.  He will get strep throat at the mere mention of the name!)

She took a culture for both and both came back negative.  She sent us to the hospital for them to grow the throat culture.  We should know the results tomorrow.  Her advice - rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take otc meds.  I am to take him back Thursday if he is not completely better.  Prayers would be appreciated.

Oh, and by the way, Happy Valentine's Day!

The Hearts of Home

I don't decorate for Valentine's Day.  Now I have nothing against Valentine's Day, I am just decorating challenged!  I wish I could show you a beautiful vignette or a  perfectly decorated room, but I can't.  What I can show you are hearts that stay up year round in my little house.

  I bought at Goodwill several years ago.  I just liked it.  I have it hanging on the side of one of the kitchen cabinets.  (I even dusted it to make this picture to show you!)

I found this heart at Goodwill too.  It hangs in my bathroom.

 Finally, I have this little Love pillow that I stitched last month and finished this past Friday.  

Stripes

 

OK, you know you lead an incredibly boring life when all you have to blog about is a new shower curtain!  But, since it is new, and since I do love it, and since it passed my husband's seal of approval, here it is!  Isn't is pretty?!  I love that it matches my walls and towels.  I'm a happy girl!