Andrei had to come inside today

Because I caught him climbing on the roof of the shed!

The funny part - I had just caught him trying to climb up there - then I said if he did that again, he'd have to come inside. Two minutes later, he called me out to show me that he had done it!

He was very remorseful when I actually made him do what I had said.

Finally started school

Or something resembling it.

I figured that the 2 month anniversary was a good time to start at least putting it in the routine.

After lunch we do one activity or at least 5 minutes per day. I know it doesn't sound like much - but he still is learning quite a bit of English every day, and I really wish we could do more of an unschooled approach, so this is all we're shooting for.

Tuesday is reading - this week we did flash card letters and sounded out 'dog', 'sit', and 'fun'
Wednesday is writing - this week we did the A and B handwriting sheet and he drew a picture of an astronaut (and wrote the word)
Thursday is arithmetic - this week we played a dice game where we both rolled two dice and whoever had the highest got a gummy bear.
Mondays and Fridays I have nothing planned. Maybe we'll do an art project tomorrow.

Maybe at the three month mark we'll start doing all three each day.

I'm going with the mindset that he is not behind, he does not have to have 12 hours of school to catch up, and that he can still be a kid most of the time and be at his intended grade level in 1-2 years.
So that's where we are.

Give me advice

Where is a good place for a kid's haircut in Sheboygan? I'm also open to another mom who can cut hair decently. I only know how to shave Brent's head and I don't want to do that to Andrei.
He's starting to look like a hobbit.

Just an interesting article

No opinion on it - just an interesting read....

Why I'm Pro-Life and Pro Obama

Local Food Fair

On Saturday morning, at Maywood Park there will be a Local Food Fair featuring local restaurants, farms, and food sellers from around Sheboygan. It is from 10 AM to 3 PM and it includes a cooking demonstration by Stefano Viglietti from Field to Fork - yummy! A few of the vendors I've heard of (including my fave egg lady!), but most of them I have not.

Local food is great for the environment and the local economy so I'm super excited to find new sources and places to get yummy foods!


I hope to see you all there!

Certificate of Citizenship

On Saturday, we got Andrei's Certificate of Citizenship. It has his picture and name and a seal and says, "Be it known that Andrei Rockwell Homer now residing at .... having applied to the Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services for a certificate of citizenship ..... blah blah.... that he is now a citizen of the United States of America, became a citizen thereof on December 18, 2007 and is now in the United States.

He also received a letter from President Bush welcoming him to the 'joy, responsibility, and freedom of American citizenship'.

Congrats, Andrei!

I'd take a picture, but there's a note on it saying that I'll get locked up if I do, so sorry. You'll just have to adopt your own kid to see one ;)

It may be a pain to drive in

But it sure is pretty

Pictures :)

We went to the Kid's workshop thing at Home Depot. Andrei built a football shaped stepping stool. He uses it when he wants to give Papa a hug. :)


He's fitting right in in this family


On Saturday we pulled all the blankets out and watched Spiderman in our pjs and got popcorn everywhere!


On Sunday we went to the Mitchel Park Domes

The Tropical Dome


The Arid Dome - Andrei said he loved this tree


And the real reason we were there - to see the trains!