Feb. 8, 2010 - The downside of being an under-reactive mother.

I admit it. I am an under-reactive mother. So it's a good thing that my kids
have annual well check visits. That way, docs can catch things like walking
pneumonia in my four year old daughter. I had put it in the "just a lingering
cough" category. Apparently not.

Can't fool me twice though. Brought in the eight year old  for his "lingering cough"  within the hour after the princess's diagnosis.   A better mom might have wondered why her
kid had five 10 day colds in three months. I was just irked he kept getting
sick and blamed it on an unfortunate habit of his fingers being in his nose all
the time.

Oh well. Live and learn. With Zithromax!

Blessings,
Holly

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Feb. 4, 2010 - You can't make this stuff up.

So, let me get this straight.  Our Dem Lieutenant Governor candidate allegedly assaulted his girlfriend in 2005 and then oops! found out later that his girlfriend was also a prostitute.  And here he had been believing her to be a legitimate message therapist!  And did I mention said candidate's own background is that of pawnbroker?
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/02/new-questions-in-2005-arrest-of-democratic-lieutenant-governor-nominee-.html

Our  Dem Senate candidate ran Bright Start, IL's college savings fund, into the ground by allowing risky mortgage securities investments in a fund touted as conservative and he did so AFTER Bear Stearns collapsed.
http://www.cdobs.com/archive/syndicated/more-bright-start-woes-for-giannoulias,17311

His family bank, which he worked at prior to his aforementioned stellar spin as state treasurer, loaned money not only to mobsters (since convicted and oh, yes, since defaulted) but also to Tony Rezko.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=36887

Note that IL voters  picked Giannoulias in a primary over Hoffman, the inspector general who has been applying some acutal heat to the Daley machine in recent years.

Don't blame me.  I voted in the Republican primary.  I wasn't so jazzed about many of them, but in comparison...

Blessings, Holly

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Jan. 29, 2010 - Not the princess!

I didn't care when each of the boys got glasses. 

But the princess?

***sigh***

Not only was she the only one of the kids I didn't make pick from the "fully covered by insurance frames"--which, btw, they keep in a box, not even out on display--but I fussed interminably about how her frames fit her.  I am quite certain the technician wanted to kill me.

I'm still not convinced they fit her just right, but we'll see.  They are as cute as glasses on a girl can be (that is to say, not very) with Dora stamped on the inside of the temple bars, a pinky-purple color and a few little flowers on the bars.

And at a -3, she has absolutely no choice.  And since she went from a -.5 to a -3.0 in one year, I don't think it's very long before she'll have to have the special glass to avoid coke bottle lenses.  And that special glass will make her eyes look even smaller.

***sigh***

10 more year  'til contacts is the way I'll have to look at this.

Blessings,
Holly
PS And, yes, of course I've told her she looks beautiful.  I left unspoken the "in a nerdy, hoot-owl type of way."

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Jan. 26, 2010 - Battling the Bard

Back in the fall, you may remember I lamented my lack of love for the bard.  I know this is practically homeschool sacrilege, but in the words of the 21st century, it is what it is. 
 
I recently checked out a book recommended for older (meaning high school) students in The Mystery of History.  By Michael Macrone, Brush Up Your Shakespeare! is available through the our local library.  I highly recommend it.
 
While English majors everywhere will be weeping and gnashing their teeth, I must say I find this cheater's guide a palatable way to fit Shakespeare into my and my kids' interest level.  The book contains two main sections:  The Quotable and Notable (famous phrases from Shakespeare) and Household Words (common and uncommon words coined by Shakespeare).  Just enough explanation in these entries to illuminate and enlighten without any of the crushing boredom reminiscient of that poorly chosen undergrad literature class.
 
Two smaller sections: Faux Shakespeare (phrases often misattributed to Shakespeare) and Good Enough to Call Your Own (titles borrowed from Shakespeare) round out the 226 pages in fun fashion while Shakespeare on screen, a phrase index and a character by play index round it up to 250 pp.

As Wheaton College will be offering a Shakespeare play in March at the bargain price of $3 per ticket, I will make sure we go see that.  Then, I will carry forth with our schooling, guilt-free.  The kids can take their own snooze through Shakespeare lit class in college if they want, right?

Blessings,
Holly

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Jan. 26, 2010 - But tell me how you really feel...

Below are my 12 year old son's two poems for Tuesday Teatime that he composed each of the past two weeks.  Anyone sensing a theme?

Inspiration, Strike me anew!
A bolt from the blue.
Writing poems takes know-how
Of that, I have no clue.

and

M onstrous
A nnoying
T ime consuming
H omework

***sigh***

Blessings, Holly

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Jan. 23, 2010 - Books for Tween/Teen Boys

Here is what my boys (8-14) have been enjoying lately.  What do you all recommend?
 
My kids are enjoying The Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence from the library right now.  Individual titles are The Thieves of Ostia, The Secrets of Vesuvius, The Pirates of Pompeii and The Assassins of Rome.  I haven't read any of these, but the author has a degree in Classical Archaeology from Cambridge University in addition to a degree in Hebrew and Jewish studies from the University of London, so I think they are probably historically accurate.
 
They all just finished The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn book and all three boys were fighting over who got to read it and when.  All loved it and said I definitely needed to read it.  I haven't yet, but here's a review: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Ghost-in-Tokaido-Inn.html  This book was recommended in the Mystery of History supplemental reading list.
 
I always like looking at the Veritas Press catalog for reading suggestions.  I like both their literature and history reading ideas. 
 
Also, on the nonfiction side, the "You Wouldn't Want To..." series at the library is quite good.  Various authors and some of the titles (they all start with You Wouldn't Want To) include: explore with Marco Polo, be a samurai, be a WWII pilot, work on the Statue of Liberty.  There's lots more too.
 
I may have a wider comfort zone than many in what my kids read.  In general, I place a lot of emphasis on great writing or great content and will tolerate some problematic elements of a story to get that.  Also, since I have so many heavy readers, it's just plain impossible to preread everything they want to dive into.  
 
I almost forgot!  These books I can recommend without any hesitation as I have actually read them and there is nothing objectionable at all.  My middle son LOVED this series about a Jewish family living in NYC in the early 1900s.  All-of-a-kind family by Sydney Taylor.  Several books, but I'm pretty certain that is the first of the series.  Wonderful.

Blessings, Holly

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Jan. 22, 2010 - Little Ingrate

I'm wondering why Mikey feels he must share certain moments with me.  Like, say, 14 straight hours of moments yesterday when his little tuckus could not touch crib, swing, floor or anywhere but my arms without immediate and unrelenting protest from him.  Don't get me wrong.  Holding a sick baby is a worthy pursuit, but I was kindof over it by about hour 5.

Yet the moment today he decided it was time to flip from tummy to back for the first time?  THAT he reserved for the instant I left the room to assist the princess in the bathroom.  So while two of his brothers got to see it, I didn't.

Which makes about the 5000th first of some sort that I have missed with my kids.  I know being a SAHM is not all about me (though I wish it were), but isn't that the payoff you always hear about? "I didn't want anyone else to see the first steps, smile, etc."  Well, I'm about as stay home-y as you get and I've missed all the darn first moments.  For all five kids.  Where's the cosmic justice?

Blessings, Holly

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Jan. 20, 2010 - Grand Canyon for Young Earthers

We've returned from our AZ Grand Canyon/wedding trip.  Thanks to so many of you for all your recommendations; our family had a blast!
 
Going to the Grand Canyon as a young earth creationist is not without its problems.  Not from an "eye" point of view.  If one stumbled upon the Canyon without any interpretive signs or prior knowledge, I think one's natural inclination would be to think, "What cataclysmic event did this???" 
 
If you would like to equip your family to view the Canyon through the reality of Noah's flood perspective, I recommend this website:
 
http://www.canyonministries.com/content/view/31/54/
 
and also the DVD from AIG entitled Grand Canyon:  Tesstimony to the Biblical Account of Earth's History featuring Dr. Andrew Snelling.  

 
The DVD is high school and older geared and it prepared me to talk about the signs at the Canyon with my kids and to counter specific claims.  For example, "Why do you suppose this sign here states that the Coconino Sandstone was formed as a sand desert when scientists experimenting with sand heaped up by wind show that the angle on the one side is consistently around 33 degrees whereas sand heaped up under water consistently has a angle of around 30 degrees on the one side?  Why do you think they don't mention that the Coconino sandstone angle matches that of sand heaped up under water rather than under desert conditions? 
 
In the back of one book rack at the Kolb Studio bookstore, I found Tom Vail's The Grand Canyon:  A Different View.  This creationist perspective was nearly banned from Grand Canyon bookstores a few years back (could be an interesting lesson there in censorship/competing viewpoints/what constitutes science and why).  I've bought and given away the book before and was happy to purchase another copy.  When I reached the check out, I told the lady how pleased I was to find the book here as I knew it had generated enormous controversy. "We're glad that you're happy to find it," she replied (to which I responded, "You are very tactful.") and then she proceeded to give me the Grand Canyon Association's Talking Points sheet (I kid you not) about the book.  General take away--we think this is all a bunch of hooey, but we figure we can make money on stocking it.
 
We ended up skipping Meteor Crater (time and money), but took in Montezuma's Castle on the way to the Grand Canyon (right off the highway, inexpensive, fascinating) and Petrified Forest/Painted Desert between the Grand Canyon and the wedding site (ditto).
 
Great trip for our family!
 
Blessings, Holly

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Jan. 1, 2010 - You don't have to be Moravian to read Scripture like one.

If you haven't lived in certain parts of Pennsylvania or North Carolina, it's possible you may not even be familiar with the Moravians.  That would be a shame; particularly if you haven't gotten to partake in one of their lovefeasts.  Any church that serves up cinnamon rolls and coffee as part of its liturgy is A-OK by me.

Even better, the Moravians have a wonderful Daily Text reading.  They will zip it you free each day to your email box and never bother you further.  Here's where to subscribe:

http://www.moravian.org/daily_texts/

If you're old fashioned, or just enjoy a well made book, I suggest getting a hard cover copy of their Daily Texts as well.  I love my 1999 version, not only for its timely Word of God, but the fact that it is the perfect size and thickness.  The wonderful tactile booky-ness of it delights me. 

I'll stop short of recommending reading the Moravian daily text becomes a resolution for this New Year, but I will say that there are far worse ways to begin each day than by reading an Old Testament verse, a New Testament verse and a short prayer.  For the more ambitious, each day also comes with reading guidelines if you want to cover the entire Bible in a year.  January 1st's reading is below for you to sample.

What daily devotions/scripture books do you most enjoy and return to year after year?  Let me know in the comments section!

Blessings,  Holly

Friday, January 1


Psalm 1
Genesis 1:1-2:3; Matthew 1:1-17

Since the wise have rejected the word of the Lord, what wisdom is in
them? Jeremiah 8:9

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one
another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Colossians 3:16

Wisdom from on high, you have permeated the world since creation. Help
us to sense your nudging toward daily gratefulness. Remind us to open
ourselves up to singing out and to allowing our gratefulness to inspire
others to sing. Amen.

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Dec. 22, 2009 - It would have to snow.

My parents had the good fortune of calling yesterday at the precise moment that the continued lives of at least four of their five grandkids here were in question.  (The baby would have been given a pass.) 

The crimes aren't necessary to outline, but probably have a lot to do with them spending a lot of time in the house over the past 7 weeks. It may also have a little something to do with the sleep deprivation of the their mom and a very sweet little baby who turns into Sybill between the hours of 8p and midnight.  Throw in some good ole' fashioned, 10 day illness complete with green noses for 4-5 of us for good measure. 

While I am content to hibernate mama bear style with my littlest cub, the adolescent and kid cubs are more rowdy. Combine that fact with the first day of vacation when they had all lost their media privileges and to the not-fully formed frontal lobe, pestering your siblings and ignoring your chores seems like the perfect past time. 

My husband arrived home to hear the tail end of my declaration that I was rescinding vacation for Tuesday; that the actions of these kids show they need structure and lots of practice doing their jobs well and with a good attitude ('cuz, ya know, yelling and taking away vacation always produces the fruit of the spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self control).

I outlined the crimes in excruciating detail for Mr. Wonderful.  What husband wouldn't want to hear such a recitation after a 12 hour workday concluding in an hour crowded train ride and 20 minute car ride home?  He agreed that they had all been beasts and wisely kept any opinion about making them do an extra day of school to himself.  I heard hushed conferences between him and various children and within a short time, each kid came and apologized for their part in the disaster of a day. 

Today, I got up to see 2-3 inches of fresh snow on the ground.  Kids were bustling about.  "Can we play in the snow later?  I know we have to do school first, but I don't mind." (Inward stabbing at my heart with these words.  Do they know it's always these uncalculating and earnest expressions that kill me?)

Was I really going to continue to be *that* mom, the demon possessed one who takes away Christmas vacation even in the face of freshly fallen snow?  I'm pretty sure that's a reportable crime.  In any event, it's not the actions of a sane and reasonable person.  So...

*IF* all morning chores are done and *IF* they are done with excellence and promptly and *IF* they find other chores that need doing but are not on their regular list, and *MOREOVER* if it is all done with a spirit of helpfulness and seeing what would benefit the functioning of the family, *THEN* I will cancel school once more.

As of 9am and as result of the kids' concerted effort, the kitchen is cleaned, one kid bedroom vacuumed, all of them picked up, back living room and hardwood floors vacuumed, kid bathroom tidied, toys on the first floor put away, a load of laundry is folded and another started and the kids are within five minutes of freedom.  Not that they know that yet; one just came and tentatively asked when I will make a final decision about school.

I think I will lock the door behind them for a couple of hours.

I took my mother's advice to write this all down.  She says to put it away and not look at it for 20 years.  She didn't go on to state why (duh) or to try to convince me that even this time is precious (though it is) or that I am a horrible mother (though yesterday I was) or that the kids shouldn't get such an excessive punishment (again, duh).  In fact, she didn't say anything else about it.  This is why I love my mom.  Someday, maybe I'll even possess some of her wisdom in knowing what is best left unstated or understated and her trust that the message is nonetheless understood.

For my kids' sake, I hope so.

Blessings, Holly

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Dec. 21, 2009 - The Crank

The crank  gained two more pounds in two weeks' time, up to 11 lbs, 10 oz. I
know this because I took him in today to make sure last week's cold had not
morphed into this week's ear infection. It hasn't. He cleared the cold just
fine. He is just a crank. Well, 20 hours of the day, he's pretty fine and cute
and cuddly and smiley. It's the four other continuous hours beginning around 8
or 9 pm that earn him the name...

This too shall pass. But not quickly enough.

Blessings, Holly

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Dec. 9, 2009 - "Oh, I could never homeschool."

"Oh, I could never homeschool."

Even as I enter my second decade of home educating, my initial internal response whenever I hear that comment  is "Oh, yeah.  Me neither.  Homeschooling is just nuts."

But wait.  I do homeschool.  Whatever "because" follows from whatever friend explaining the "I could never," it is always an objection I share.  "I would kill my kids."  Check.  "They wouldn't listen well enough to me."  Yep.  "I'm not patient enough."  Right there with ya.

But then the first snow comes.  While all the other kids trudge off to school, I have the privilege of saying to my own, "Sure, go play first." because I know the snow will melt before the school day is done.  A first snow is much too precious to waste.

I have a homeschool friend who is the equivalent of the first snow.  She just began home educating and everything is fresh and white and wonderful in her world.  Sure, she's a bit scared (who of us wasn't?).  Sometimes she makes comments alluding to my experience and I don't quite have the heart to tell her that occasionally with that experience comes the attitudinal equivalent of being a dirty, slushy, plowed, late February  snowbank on the side of a busy expressway. 

Like first snows, enthusiasm from new homeschoolers refreshes.  My friend doesn't realize that her joy serves as the opening volley in a friendly snowball fight, lobbed at one who was only intent on shoveling and salting away.

I do homeschool.  And first snows, real or symbolic, remind me why.

Blessings, Holly

 

 

 

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Dec. 3, 2009 - Lots more baby to love!

Born at 7 lbs, left the hospital at 6 lbs, 8 oz and today at his one month
visit...

9 lbs, 11 oz!

TA-DA!

My family of origin knows nothing if not how to gain weight!  Doc was funny, "Let's see,
average baby gains about a half an ounce a day, so he's doing fine...since his
one week weigh in, let's see, that's 21 days ago, he's gained...WOW! 43 ounces!
Oh, he's doing more than fine, that's just great!"

Nothing fills the heart of this Italian-Jewish heritage mama more than to have a
fat little baby!  Oh, and he grew a half an inch in height and an inch in head
circumference.  But mostly, he got chubby.

Blessings,
Holly

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Nov. 9, 2009 - Mikey and me

Thanks for all the well wishes, everybody!  We are very glad to have Mikey home--though the folks to tend to you, bring you food, the two parents to one kid ratio of our hospital stay were all wonderful.  Our town being what it is (snooty, rich, pretentious), I even got a couple of shoulder massages from the baby/mother ward roaming masseuse. 

The baby is a good eater and obviously is thriving.  We go for a weigh in on Wednesday.  He dropped about a half pound in the hospital, but turned it around and began a little gain just before we left.  I suspect he may well be back up to birth weight by the time of our weigh in.

Like most newborns, he has his days and nights screwed up, so 11p-5a is his most active/restless time but he is pretty zonked 9am-1pm ish.  Seems like it took all of our kids about 8 or 9 weeks to turn that around.  We have formal baby pics tomorrow, but really, just look at any of our prior boy pics.  Mikey's closest to the Nathan iteration, though with a bit more hair and in a copper color.  We'll see if that sticks around.

I finally figured out how to get things done--having my IV pulled the same day of surgery rather than the next morning, ordering up just the right proactive meds and measures to make sure all my systems are up and running in this first week or so post-op, good pain management regime.  Hard won experience all for naught, apparently, as the ob says he would "wholeheartedly support" me not having any more kids and if I chose to, we'd have to have a "long conversation" about all the risks.  I could definitely tell while in the OR that this C-section was different--and not in a good way--and ob confirmed that internal scarring from all the other sections makes another pregnancy ill-advised.  He even said it is "pretty uncommon" for him to make that recommendation based on what they encounter during a C-section, so I take it I am a mess.  Which should be pretty easy to accept when one is 42 and blessed with five healthy kids, but it still resonates as a loss to me.  Not a go sob silently in the bathroom for hours type of loss, but a bigger one than "rats."  Mr. Wonderful has had the good sense not to make a display of his probable relief upon hearing the same news.

That's all the news fit to print, and all the time to print it as we close in the end of the first week with Mikey.

Blessings, Holly

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Oct. 12, 2009 - Demented Nesting

Bought a six foot circle rug at Target for the front computer room.  This carries my circle motif from the front living room across the house (living room has a rectangular rug with circle pattern on it and round candle holders on the walls).  It also brings burgundy into the room from the hall rug color and back living room rocking chair cushion color.  Ordered a 6' octagon rug for the back living room and am contemplating whether I need to change out my larege, square metal wall art there for a huge round clock on the wall or if I can consider the square part of a broader "geometric" theme--square pattern on front living room chair, four framed square prints above that room's couch.

Downstairs half bath was too "cool" in color in it's new grayed blue form to go with the rest of the house.  I decided that the white hand towels were not helping the cause with the white pedestal sink and white wall cabinet.  Ditched the white hand towels for dark brown, which matches a frame in that bathroom anyway.  MUCH better as it carries the sand/taupes/browns/burgundy warmth from the rest of the house into that room and counters the coolness of the walls, the cabinet and sink.  Am pleased that the large oval mirror is already a play on the circle theme, but will look for some circle decoration in deep brown for the wall.  Am also going to get two small display shelves in the same deep brown and put two pieces of my white pottery collection (sure, I've bought all the pottery at various Goodwills, but it still looks nice) in that half bath on the shelf.  Those will be my white pottery birds; one duck and one quail.  That will leave all my white pottery with looped handles in one massed collection on top of the front living room's tall, dark brown furniture piece.  Which now that I think about it, carries that dark brown and white theme across the house too. 

We did pick up, but haven't put together, the crib.  No diapers yet other than three that came in a mailed sample pack.  Haven't brought up the baby bath or the portacrib or the infant seat from the basement workroom.  Haven't broken the new infant car seat out of it's packaging.  So, I *am* nesting, but crazy, patterned OCD type nesting rather than making actual progress toward what a baby needs and uses nesting.

Blessings,
Holly

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Oct. 1, 2009 - If

IF you happen to be doing a lesson on Martin Luther in homeschool AND you decide to find the kids a video of his most famous hymn "A Mighty Fortress" AND you happen upon Steve Green's YouTube one AND you burst into tears listening to it, well, you just might be 34 weeks pregnant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRJHKzU_t1M

Blessings,
Holly

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Sep. 27, 2009 - Wish I had taken a "before" picture!

Because my newly organized laundry room looks fabulous "after!"

12 identical, numbered, see through, purple lidded, six quart, stackable
containers used to corral everthing. List of the contents by box number hanging
just above the laundry room sink. Poisons way up high, almost as if we were
responsible parents.

All eco-friendly totes--which I'm convinced mate during the night, but being pro-life, I can't bear to part with even one--neatly folded and placed inside two large, square fabric bags. 

Washer and dryer decrudded of dust and sticky ole laundry detergent spills.  Mismatching socks awaiting mates--they are celibate as the totes are promiscuous--in a neat basket with box of dryer sheets on top of the dryer.

White painted door brightened by a good going over with a Magic Eraser.

Goodwill donations cataloged, priced and placed in black trashbag, neatly in laundry sink area, awaiting transport to the Goodwill.

Now, to impose such order on all the rooms of the house before baby arrives and it all goes to pot again.

Blessings,
Holly

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Sep. 25, 2009 - A Marriage Addendum

For the back story, one must read the entry below before this one.   A follow up note to my cousin:

With self-righteous flourish, Mr. Wonderful read my post and then silently
unveiled a manilla folder (out on a counter, buried under newspaper) with manly,
handwritten "Timeshare" on the tab.

I was not fooled by his bluff. I knew 10 to 1 the info needed was NOT in the
Timeshare folder.

He rifled through. I saw a birthday card from his mom, a Universal Studios
Orlando glossy brochure. No timeshare seller info.

He has foresight and back up, though. Or at least that's the positive spin I'm
going to put on the fact that the man never deletes an email, so if you need to know
what restaurants in Columbus OH were offering one week specials back in 2007,
we've got you covered for that too. Sure 'nuff, he did find the seller name that
we used for one of our purchases and the same one his sister used a year ago.
The Ebay seller name is laman34. There is a company name too, but that seller
name should be all you need to find their listings on Ebay. For the second, the
seller was tttimeshare. While we don't personally know anyone other than us who
has used them, we had good success and they have a high seller rating on Ebay.

Hope that helps!

Blessings, Holly

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Sep. 25, 2009 - How to Spice Up a Marriage in the Second Decade

This note originally went to my cousin, but it contains so much about how to have a successful marriage, that I'd thought I'd share it here too.  Enjoy!

Sue, I'll get you the timeshare company names. Mr. Wonderful has those and I
have to free it from whatever tiny scrap of paper he wrote it on. The more
essential the info, the smaller the scrap of paper he sees fit write in on and
the weirder, less intuitive place he must ferry it to. I suspect this info
probably earned something like a half napkin and is stuffed between the back
seats of his car.

I would look in the manilla file folder clearly labelled "Homes" in the armoire
with all our other important manilla folders that I maintain, but that would be
pointless. Only the info Mr. Wonderful may ever need from me is there.

It's just one of the little things Mr. Wonderful likes to do to spice up our
marriage, sortof a grown up scavenger hunt just to keep me on my toes. He
probably is secretly disappointed that when he tells me he needs a dentist
receipt from three months ago to submit to FlexBen, all he has to do is sit
there for 30 seconds until I bring it to him.

To keep him on his toes, I've been doing a great rendition for him in these last
few weeks of "Which psychotic Holly will greet me today?" I'm sure it's a fun
game for him and I'm upping the ante with each day that brings me closer to
delivery. Will it be Weepy Holly? Raging Holly? Sleepy Holly? Achy but can't
sleep so let's discuss all my worries at 4am Holly? Or, his personal favorite,
Rapid Cycling Through All of the Above Hollys? These are all just a warm-up for
Post-Partum Holly.

Let the games begin!

Blessings,
Holly

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Sep. 15, 2009 - Who Knew?

I was beaching my gigantic belly on the couch and drooling on a pillow after our field trip this morning and assigning the three and half year old princess some tasks to keep her busy while I dozed in two minute increments.

She came back for another "job" after coloring a pretty picture and I said "Why don't you sign your name on the back?"

Now, mind you, I've never shown this kid how to make letters, except A and O a few months back.  And it's not like her name is short; it contains 8 letters.

She trotted off and I thought I might get a three minute doze.

Wrong.  She promptly returned with a perfectly spelled, left to right.  One letter was backward, but still.

Who knew?

Blessings, Holly

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