The Natural Mommy

Olivia did multiplication yesterday at breakfast.  Lunch?  Or was it today?  She was thinking while eating, then looked up and told me, “Three 2′s are 6!”  I was very proud.  And I told her so.  And then she said, “And four 2′s are 8!”  And I kissed her. Josh told Benjamin it was too muggy [...]

Filed under: The Benjamin, The Levi, The Olivia, The Ramblings on August 13th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

I wrote down the name of everyone who got the answer correct on the Mountain Game and put them in one of our smaller stacking boxes.  And then gave the box to Olivia with instructions to pull one out. This was her first response: This was her second: Note the shift from bewilderment to defiance. [...]

Filed under: Giveaway, The Levi, The Olivia on March 22nd, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Hey guys! Hey, hey, can I play? Guys?  Can you hear me? HEY, I’M TALKIN’ TO YOU. That’s right. Movin’ in. Oooh, a castle?  Awesome. I love playin’ with castles. Is that a Barbie, too? Aw, thanks Brother, I love you, too. Is it me, or is this castle moving? Sweet!  Do I get the [...]

Filed under: Motherhood, The Benjamin, The Levi, The Olivia on January 6th, 2010 | 3 Comments »

Benjamin was super-cranky during a typically late lunch (1pm) today.  I cleaned him up and rocked with him while Olivia finished eating and I wasn’t surprised when he promptly fell soundly asleep. I put him down, cleaned up his sister, cleaned up the kitchen, and put Olivia down for quiet times as well, letting her [...]

Filed under: The Benjamin, The Cuteness, The Olivia on April 16th, 2009 | 6 Comments »

I’ve looked into different schooling methods for Olivia’s age, and the one I like best for now is Montessori. I like that it’s activity-oriented rather than lesson-oriented. It appeals to Olivia because it’s more like the work she sees me do around the house, rather than lessons-on-paper that would be foreign to her. The self-directed [...]

Filed under: The Benjamin, The Homeschooling, The Montessori, The Olivia on April 2nd, 2009 | 8 Comments »

… If she’s already started teaching her 22 month old brother how to do it. I was making dinner.  Tuna noodle casserole.  From scratch.  It is a time-sensitive recipe with much stirring or else there will be much scalding. I heard Olivia taking on a rather maternal tone with her litle brother in the living [...]

Filed under: The Benjamin, The Mommy, The Olivia on February 17th, 2009 | 5 Comments »

I’ve decided on the reason Olivia will not potty train. She knows how good she’s got it. If she wants some independence, she asks for it.  And I gladly give it. “Yes, I would LOVE your help with the dishes!”  “Great job sweeping the floor!”  “Thank you for pushing Benjamin on the swing!” But when [...]

Filed under: Potty-Training, The Benjamin, The Olivia on August 14th, 2008 | 7 Comments »

So this is what the Fourth of July looked like at our house: Benjamin:  Didn’t sleep well due to his fever, so Josh offered to take him so I could get a bit more sleep.  When I finally rolled out of bed, I was looking forward to my usual open-armed-running-hug I usually get from my [...]

Filed under: The Benjamin, The Mommy, The Olivia on July 8th, 2008 | No Comments »

I knew it when she was born.  I knew it when she first smiled at me.  I knew it when she first told me she loved me. I knew it when she first told God she loved Him. She is a blessing.  She has made my life so much better.  She has made me so much [...]

Filed under: The Benjamin, The Olivia on May 23rd, 2008 | 6 Comments »

Olivia never left bite marks on my thighs.

Filed under: The Benjamin, The Olivia on May 9th, 2008 | 3 Comments »