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Stories
1+1=2 Math Whizzes!
11.13.09: Well, Theo and Alexa were both chosen as Mathematics students of the month in October! It's very exciting, and it's all celebrated by them receiving their awards at the next School Board meeting. They were both really excited and proud--as are we!
It's so fun to see this side of their brain work. Theo's making huge strides in his mulitplication tables, but he really excels at any form of application. He can easily figure out what a word problem is asking for--and often skips steps to jump to the conclusion. That's not his best practice, but he's learning the strategies, and I love to see the lightbulb moment happen for him.
Alexa's brain is just wired like this. From the time they introduced addition in written form (as opposed to picture form), she does them in her head. Every once in a while she'll use her fingers to add something up, but most often I'll ask something like, "What's 2+4?", and she sort of stares off into space for a minute and then will just say decidedly, "Six." It's amazing to me. Here's a funny story that shows how she processes things.
Angela had just heard about their awards and was talking to her about how exciting it was and telling her that she didn't get that from her Auntie. Alexa wasn't sure what she meant by that, so Angela was telling her how much help she needed to get through math without failing. This caught Alexa's attention eaily for two reasons: 1) Alexa doesn't like to fail at anything, and 2) math just makes sense to her. So on her face, as she's listening to Angela discuss her own elementary school math woes, is a mixture of awe and confusion. As Angela ended with how grateful she is to the people who helped her with her homeword and how glad she was to be done with math class, Alexa responded with a greatly condescending, "Auntie, math is easy! You just have to ask yourself the right questions!"
So that's all there is to it! Now, if I just knew the questions to ask!
When Habits Collide
11.13.09: Do all kids have bad habits that take forever to break? I'm sure the answer is yes, and for evidence I submit that I still occasionally have a bout with biting my fingernails. Blech. And yet I still do it absentmindedly. Well, for fun, here are some of the bad habits.
- Alexa waits until the very. last. second. to go to the bathroom. This, inevitably, leads to the Potty Dance before every bathroom trip, and subconsciously, the whole family is collectively holding our breath until we're able to breath a sigh of relief that she did, indeed, make it on time.
- Theo is a huge nail biter. To save his nails and fingers, it is good to have gum on hand during a movie or timed math test or anything of the sort. He gets his money's worth in that one 5-minute test!
- Silas leaves his socks wherever he is so inclined to take them off. We find them out by the trampoline, in the boot tray, under his bed, under his covers, in Theo's room, or wherever!
- Theo still does not flush the toilet after peeing. It drives me crazy. Is it so hard? What happened to the 2-year-old "me fush it" stage?
There are so many more, but today two of these collided. It was right after breakfast and each was headed to his morning routine. Alexa came rushing in, clutching her pants and saying, "Mom! Help me undo my button! I can't get it and I have to go so bad!" This was quite obvious because she could not stand still. I helped her and off she rushed, while I headed back to the dishes. At the next call for help, I peeked around the corner into Alexa's sheepish face.
"Mom, (embarrassed giggle and shoulders shrugged up) I think you're going to have to help me wipe. Theo forgot to flush the toilet and I fell in."
Oh my! There's no amount of toilet paper that can recover that situation--straight into the bath it is! And while we all did giggle, Theo's been much better about flushing and closing the toilet!
Family Prayer Time
10.04.09: It's been a tough time in the Pologeorgis household as of late. This has been our toughest transition to school that we've ever had--third grade is a big leap in academics and first grade doesn't allow for a nap. So after weeks of strategies, plans, conversations, coaching, crying, punishments, and the sort, tonight's prayer time as a family was a gift straight from God.
Here are each of their prayers, and they were so dear to me, I think it's almost word-for-word:
Silas:
Thank you for today, our big house to live in and all our toys. Help us to be situated to not push and be mean
when we're at school and there is a line and you want to get in front. We can just be last. That way we have more friends. In Jesus' name, amen.
Alexa:
Dear God,
Help me to have a really great day at school tomorrow. Help me to not push and fight or yell at my friends. Help them to be nice to me, and for me to be nice to them. I just really want to have a good day at school tomorrow. In Jesus' name, amen.
Theo:
Dear God,
Please help Alexa to not push and be kind, and just get all smiley faces straight across. Help mom to have a good morning and for us to do well, so she doesn't have to yell. And please help Silas to be helpful when Alexa and I are at school. And help lots of people to call Dad to advertise in his magazine or catalog or whatever it is. And for me, I just want you and I to be linked together more. In Jesus' name, amen.
OK, besides the "mom yelling" part (have I mentioned that it's been rough around here for ALL of us?!?), is that not the dearest set of prayers to be shared? I think God knew that we needed that tonight. It feels like we're turning the corner as a team, but it's too early to breathe yet--but this sure helps restore my soul!
Some Silas-isms
09.14.09: Silas and I are getting a lot of time together, now that Theo and Alexa are in school. He is pretty good-natured about hanging out and playing without the other two, but he sure lights up when they get home! Here is a peek into a few of our special moments together recently:
--while running through my mom's house and spying the coconut and lemon meringue pies with their pretty golden tips, "Hey! Yum! Roasted pies!"
--after passing some road workers with their flags and cones, "Mom, those instructions guys wuk (no "r's" yet!) weally hawd. We should stop and tell them thank you."
--a big prankster, he's using some of his new free time to think of tricks like hiding all my underwear in my bed, so that I find it when I pull back the covers at night.
--when he saw deer tracks through our garden a few days ago, "Mom, after my nap, I'm going to go out and build a gate to keep those deah's (deers) out. I saw hoofs prints in my gawden. (eyes big and eyebrows raised) I did. Hoofs prints wight in my gawden."
Oh my, I'm going to be sad when the r's come in and he's off to school.
Thanks A Lot!
...07.30.09: Today I was outside reading a book when Alexa rode up on her bike and said this:
"Mom, I have a question only a wise person could answer, but I'm going to ask you anyway..."
Hmm. I guess she's moved on from the my-parents-know-everything stage already.
It's a bird...it's a plane...
07.20.09: Two nights ago, we were hanging out at my parents' house, which is just separated from ours by a driveway. The kids had been sent over to get their pajamas and come back. Well, it had been a few minutes when Theo, ever the cautious one, burst in the door with "Mom! Come quick! He's hurt!" I dropped the peaches I was canning, wiped my hands and headed out, just in time to run into Silas as the door. His nose is dripping blood.
Sidenote: Silas has had more bloody noses than the other two combined. Sometimes for no reason, it's just begins to run. In fact, this winter when he had a clear, runny nose, he'd often run in with his hand under his nose shouting, "Is it bleeding? Is it bleeding?"
So as I am picking him up to keep it from dripping more, I'm asking the typical answers, but all three of my children are answering, which surprisingly, does not actually help.
Me: What happened? (See me showcase my excellent detective skills?)
Alexa: He hit his nose.
Theo: His nose hit the ground!
Silas: Is it still dripping?
Me: Did you trip?
Silas: No. (see how he's helping me get straight to the bottom of this?)
Theo: It was the bed?
Me: You hit your nose on the bed?
Silas: No.
Alexa: No, he jumped off the bed.
Theo: Yes! Alexa's bed.
We've just rearranged beds and rooms, so it took a split second for my brain to figure out just which one was Alexa's bed. And then it registered: the top bunk!
Me: What?!? You jumped off the top bunk!
Silas: (a nasally giggle leaked out) I tried to land on my feet...
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, it has been confirmed: Silas cannot fly.
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So it wasn't until the next day during Sunday school that the whole story came out. Don't you just love that? And if my mom hadn't been one of the teachers, we maybe wouldn't have ever heard it. They were talking about obeying their parents, and they asked for stories of times when they disobeyed and got hurt.
Teacher: Silas, did you ever get hurt when you disobeyed your mommy and daddy?
Silas: Yes, when I jumped off the top bunk bed. My nose bleeded.
Teacher: Have your parents told you not to jump off the top bunk?
Silas: Yes. But Alexa told me to climb up and jump and pretend to fly.
Teacher: (speechless)
Class: (uproarious laughter)
Oh boy! I guess I have learned pretty quickly to eliminate the "If someone told you to go jump off a bridge, would you do it?" lecture from my teenage book of parenting tricks for Silas!
Oh Dear!
...07.19.09: I realize that I haven't kept a great record of our excursions this summer! I don't have time to post about each one, and the kids are keeping their own journals, so they can remember their faves, but here are some of the rest:
- Swimming at Miss Susan's house
- The Sonoma-Marin Fair
- Trip to So Cal
- Huntington Beach
- Sonoma Coast State Park
- Los Gallitos Water Reclimation Plant--seriously, such a great excursion!
I hope I get back here to give the highlights of these. I love our summer excursions!
The Fountain of Youth
...07.19.09: So Grammy (my mom) has been teasing each of the kids as their birthdays approach that she isn't going to allow them to have any more birthdays. Personally, I think that she's tired of turning out so many amazing cakes, birthday after birthday, but that's just me! However, it's a fun game for them, and tonight was Alexa's turn. Here's how the conversation went:
Grammy: What? You think you're turning six? You'll be able to do so many more things. I don't think we should allow this!
Alexa: (giggling) Yes, and Grammy, I HAVE to turn six!
Grammy: No. You can't turn six. Soon you'll be reading without me, riding a bike without training wheels, and you won't need me to tie your shoes. That's it. No more birthdays. You just can't turn six!
Alexa: (laughing) Grammy, you're so silly!
Silas: (not included in the conversation, but calling from across the room) We could just push her back to 2! (and then so much giggling under his breath to himself)
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So there you have it, folks. If you don't like your age, Silas is offering to push you back. For some of you, that's going to take a lot more pushing than others!
 Things We Are Learning This Summer
...07.13.09:
Theo, age 8
- Hula hoop and chin-ups--thanks to our trip to the Mulrees
- sculpting with clay
- building, a few power tools
- doing a job right the first time
Alexa, age 5
- Hula hoop and chin-ups--thanks to our trip to the Mulrees
- riding a two-wheel bike
- reading whole books
- not taking things that aren't hers
Silas, age 4
- shooting a basketball
- swimming without floaties
- writing the letters of the alphabet
- obeying the first time an instruction is given
That Wouldn't Be Pretty
...07.11.09: While hanging out at Dan and Kim's place during our road trip to So Cal, Silas fell and scraped his knee. It was the end of a long, hot day, so the although the scrapes were little, the tears were big. After much oohing and ahhing over the owies, a little cream and a few band-aids, Silas was back up and running. Well, maybe not running, since he wanted me to hold him still. However, after being in the bathroom for 10 minutes, my body had decided that I should make good use of the facilities. So I told him that I wasn't going to do that since I needed to go to the bathrom. His factual relpy was this: um, you could just go outside!
Thanks, but no thanks. And you're all welcome!
Summer Excursion #1: Heart's Desire Beach 
...06.25.09: There is something about the beach. Each year that we've done these excursions, it's the first on my list! We tried a new beach today, and it turned out to be great. It's on Tomales Bay, so there aren't any waves, but it was great for wading, digging, finding shells and all other good beach things. Plus, I had five kids today, so it's probably better to not have to worry about the waves.
Highlights from the day:
- Getting lost on the way there, finding a Visitor's Center and discovering my mistake by just looking at the map outside the building. It's always good for me to have a visual of where I'm headed, which direction it is, and what my landmarks are. Plus we got to see great rolling hills, an extra creek that wasn't on the original plan, and a few baby horses. Nice!
- Alexa loves the beach. Even though it was windy and cold when we got there--although still sunny--she was stripped down to her suit in 10-seconds flat! I'm not sure how her little 42-pound body stays warm with no chub, but she managed. It must've been the 3T swimsuit that she was wearing (we left her 5T one at Yiayia's...). How is it that she's going to be 6 and can still fit in 3T? It was a little low on the chest, but nothing that you would notice without being tipped off. So funny!
- Theo and Liam explored all through the rocky tidepools, finding clam shells and muscles everywhere.
- Silas worked up a real appetite: a whole PB&J, 2 full carrots, handfulls of blueberries, and three boiled eggs for lunch.
- Alexa dug a swimming hole that was up to her thighs and big enough to lay down in.
- There was black sand about 1 inch below all the normal colored sand. It made for some cool effects when we wrote in the sand.
- We found a miniature crab hatching grounds in the mud. There were TONS of the tiniest crabs you could imagine. So cute.
- There were hiking trails in the hills above the beach. Great forest up there and super protection from the wind. We wound all over in and through there, and landed at Pebble Beach up the bay a ways. They felt like such explorers.
- Brady and Silas ran and splashed to their hearts' content without ever distrubing anyone or crashing anyone else's project. It was sheer freedom for them!
- At the end of the day and coming back from the hike Silas and I had this conversation:
- Silas: Mom, can you carry me?
- Me: What? No, but I'll hold your hand.
- Silas: (slightly whiny) Mooom, I am really out of breath.
- Me: Really? You must need more exercise to get in shape.
- Silas: (pause) No, Mom. I can breathe; it's just my toes and legs that are out of breath.
- (Long pause after I laughed uproariously and he chose to grab my hand)
- Silas: (putting together the fact that I will not be carrying him) Maybe you could just drag me back.
I love this Summer Excursion tradition. It reminds me that life is to be explored and enjoyed. It reminds them that their mother isn't 100% rules and systems. It's great for all involved!
4-Year-Old Logic
06.22.09: So Silas is starting to figure things out, think things through and do stuff on his own. That last item on the list should maybe be a whole post of its own, but for now, I have a story to tell. All this introduction to say that Silas thinks through a course of action and then implements before he ever checks in--he's sure it's right, since he's thought it through.
Today, Theo spent the afternoon at Zack's house, a friend from school. They have a pool, so it was a chance for the big boys to go swimming. The younger two stayed at home and took naps, albeit with their noses out of a joint a bit. But when they woke up, they were excited to go pick up Theo and see the pool--and it's an awesome pool all built into rock and such.
So while Zack's mom and I stood and chatted, Alyssa, Zack's older sister, took the others down to the pool to wade it. And as we watched, it went from Silas' tip toes barely in the water to more and more footsteps into the inviting water. Soon, it was right up to the level of his pants that he was holding with his hands. When he noticed that, he tried to re-grip, but succeeding in letting his pants slip further into the water. Soon, the battle was lost and by the time Alyssa brought them back, his pants were soaked up past his knees. "Mom," he said, "my pants got wet," stating the obvious. Oh well, it's summer. But I did add, "we'll just take them off before we get in the van so the seat doesn't get wet."
They were off, and we were wrapping up the conversation, but as many mommy conversations go, it wasn't wrapped up quickly and soon I could tell Zack's mom was looking over my shoulder with a funny look on her face. And then she said, "Well, it looks like the pants aren't the only thing that are coming off." And sure enough, here came Silas with no pants nor underwear, and a shirt that was slightly too short to cover much of anything and read "I get my muscles from my dad" on it. Sigh.
So I hustle up the walk and sweetly turn him back to the van to regain some modesty. He's in no hurry at all, just smiling in complete ignorant bliss. And I do love that--just not out and about on our friends' lawn.
So I asked him, "Si, why did you take off your underwear too?"
His logical reply, "Mom, I didn't want anyone to see my underwear. That would be embarrassing."
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Possibly I didn't convey the whole message in the "other people really shouldn't be seeing our underwear" talk...
Comments
The t-shirt perfects the story. I'm dying right now! Great story!
- Molly
I just love this story...I think I told three people today after hearing it - cracks me up!! The shirt detail totally tops it off though! lol!
- Julie R.
I think I've told the story several times...for comic relief!! He is our "funny bunny"!!!
- Grammi
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{Hello, Pot. It's Me, Kettle!}
...06.14.09: We have great friends who have three girls. We are in mom's group together and Life Group together, so we see each other a lot. Our kids play pretty well, for the most part, and between the six kids, we have all the personality types covered. We have several strong-willed, a quiet one, an over-analyzer, a social butterfly, a planer, and a few bosses. It's quite fun and always lively.
So the other night at dinner, Silas is verbally processing family relationships, specifically that when he becomes a dad, we'll be grandparents. Great. Let's start to dwell on that. But we are way off topic. However, Silas was sharing that he was going to grow up and get married. On to another rabbit trail...when you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up he consistently say, "A dad." Isn't that so great? I love it. Ok, back to the story: he's talking about growing up and shares that he will marry Alexa.
It's not out of his mouth seconds before she is adamantly bursting his hopes and dreams with the very harsh reality that brothers CANNOT marry sisters. Well, he doesn't buy it, but with each protest, she becomes more adamant and firm, tagging on that Silas can't live in our house when he grown up! He'll have to get his own house and his own car. Good-bye, Dream #2. No time like the present to give him a full dose of the realities of life.So I change the subject slightly by agreeing and then asking who he could marry. Someone chimes in with "Olivia"--the youngest girl from our friends, who is Silas' age.
Silas can't an answer out before Alexa butts in with "Silas will NOT want to marry Olivia!" So a little surprised by the quick answer, I ask why. Want to know her reasoning?
"He cannot marry Olivia because SHE is too bossy!"
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Oh, right. And you've already have Silas covered on that one, dear Sis!
[Potty Talk]
...06.09.09: So before you have kids, you hear that they all go through stages and phases. Like the diaper phase, the getting up in the middle of the night phase, etc. No one really tells you about the hilarious ones, though.
For instance, Alexa is in this phase that every time she goes to the bathroom, and you happen to be around, she recounts for you all the times and places that she's gone potty throughout the day.
For instance, Sunday we were in the bathrooms at the softball game. While she was going, she listed off the following:
"Well, there was the first time when I got out of bed at home. Then I had to go twice at church. Once when we first got there and then when we played. Oh! Nope. I had to go two times while we were playing. So that makes four times. And now I'm going, so that makes 5!"
Thanks for that stats...I'll be sure to mark it in your scrapbook, so that you can die of embarrassment in your teen years!
Say What?!?
...06.04.09: So Peggy has had some ear trouble and long story short: she had to have surgery on her ear. So today was the last day of school, and I had the whole troop with me to pick her up. They warned me that she was going to be a bit of a mess as her ear had to be shaved, it had a huge incision on it and there were stitches. Being the sensitive mom I am (and wanting to avoid any type of "eeww, gross" meltdowns in the vet office), I decided to prep them a bit while we waited in the waiting room.
Silas is, of course, not really listening, but rather soaking in everything around him. He does, however, tune in to anything gross, naughty, or food related. This being in the gross category, he tuned right in! He had heard bits and pieces of ...shave her ear...some blood...stitches.
So with eyes as big a Mickey Mouse buttons, he whirled around and said, "What? You mean they cut off her ears?"
Um. No. But if the answer was yes, why does your voice not sound more horrified? Hmmm.
So Impressed!
...04.08.09: Wednesdays are my cleaning day, and I dearly love that routine. I know that speaks volumes about me, but that's not the point of this post! Anyway, with two students and the whole Great Adventure job, I did not get to touch the cleaning.
It was 5pm, and the kids came in from playing outside and Theo came from piano. I plopped the youngest two in the bath and Theo jumped in the shower. We set the timer for 20 minutes and in that time they had all bathed and were ready to go. Here's the good part: it was time to speed clean. All three of my kids love to be a part of something of importance, even if it's cleaning. So I put the dinner in the oven, set the timer for 20 minutes and handed out the supplies. In 20 minutes (Aris walked in right as we started!), this is what we got done as a team:
1. kitchen counters--Lisa
2. sweep hall--Theo
3. wash two sliding glass doors--Silas
4. wipe down two bathrooms' sink and toilet--Alexa
5. shake all the rugs--Theo
6. sweep the kitchen--Lisa
7. sweep all three bathrooms (help Alexa too!)--Aris
8. mop the kitchen and bathrooms--Lisa
9. empty three rubbishes--Alexa and Silas
10. vacuum the downstairs--Aris
11. restore order!--all of us
Granted, there are things that I would've done more thoroughly if it was me, but for 7, 5, and 4 I was VERY impressed. And it was all done with a smile!
That makes my day!
Comments
With a smile you say? How did you teach that? My kids complain when it's chore time...most of the time anyway. Sounds fun at your house!
- Julie T.
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Hello, Spring and Growing Kids!
...04.01.09: So time is flying...isn't that what all moms say? But
it's true. And there are certain things that make me sentimental, but
they always catch me by surprise. Oh sure, I always smile when I walk
in to check on them while they're sleeping. And I can't resist touching
each child--they are so angelic. But the ones that catch me by surprise
are funny to me. Today, it was walking into the bathroom to help my
youngest who was on the toilet. There he was, jeans at his suspended
ankles, knees to his chin, and the sappiest smile on his face. Now,
don't get me wrong! I won't miss wiping bottoms, but I realize with
every skill they are learning, they are stepping closer to
independence. And that's exactly where we are aiming for, but it does
catch me by surprise at times how fast they are actually progressing to
that very goal.
So here's to enjoying the moments as they come and celebrating them with pictures and stories!
And All the Pastors Said "Amen"
...02.13.09: Last night was Grandparents' night with our kids, and they (both my parents and the kids) love it. So my dad was tucking Alexa and Silas into bed with prayers. Alexa remembered that she hadn't 'emptied the tank' and ran off to the bathroom with Grammy. So Silas and Poppy were left to talk, and Silas asked Poppy what he could pray for him. Friday is my dad's day off, so he said that he would be going golfing, and that would be fun for him. Here is the prayer Silas prayed:
"Dear God, Thank your for the popcorn and bubble bath tonight. Please help Poppy with golfing tomorrow...(pausing to think why you would pray about golfing) and help him because golfing is his job. In Jesus' name, Amen"
There was a hearty Amen heard from one smiling Grandpa!
A Question for the Ages
02.13.09: Alexa and Silas were arguing over the heater vents described in the previous story this morning. So I had an opportunity to do a little correction. Being not very long after my own personal devotions, I was eternity minded and wanted them to see the bigger picture here.
A little background first: we've been memorizing a few verses each month that deal with our interactions as a family. They hang on our wall and we work on them here and there to keep them fresh. We also try to apply them as much as possible. So this morning was a prime opportunity to see how we can use our verses to help the situation.
Back to the vent. I brought up our I Corinthians verse that talks about looking out for the good of the other person, and not just your own good. So I asked Silas what he could do to show kindness and look out for Alexa's good with the heater vent. He thought for a moment and said, "Um. I think we could take turns. I could go and then Alexa could go." Um. Right track, wrong speed, but we'll go with it.
And then I turned to Alexa and asked the same question. Same pause as Silas, only more brooding. Then in all scowling seriousness she asked, "Mom, why do we ALWAYS have to choose kindness?"
At least we have honesty! Oh, indeed. I ask myself that same question a thousand times daily!
Could We Gain a Little Weight, Please?
...03.09.09: It's cold around here in the mornings, and we have a little incentive program to help the kids get dressed and get to the table on time: heater vents. Each morning, Aris brings the kids' clothes down early and sets them on top of a vent, and when he wakes up the kids, their clothes are toasty warm and ready to go. They love it.
Well, the other morning, it was getting close to breakfast, and Theo was still sitting snugly on top of his vent in his pj's. With the 5-minute warning called, he kicked into gear, and I stayed long enough to see him put on his shirt and know that he was on the right track. A minute or so later, he popped into the kitchen saying, "I'm all ready!" and sure enough he was. "I can see that," I replied, "And I can also see most of your legs!" His pants were, no exaggeration, at least 4-6 inches too short. He looked down and then up in surprise--had he not noticed this before now?
"Are those Silas' pants, buddy?" I asked with an incredulous smile on my face. Sheepishly, he grinned and said, "Guess so." And off he ran to change them.
Silas, you know the three-year-old around here. Granted they were 4T pants, but Theo could still button them! I'm sure he would've had a belly ache half-way through breakfast, but yikes! We need a little more weight for the 7 year-old please!
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