Recently, I began doing this with the boys. The gist is to introduce a brand-new, 3+ syllable word on a daily basis. I define it, write it on the chalkboard, and then we discuss its spelling and phonics.

We also try to use the word properly and in context throughout the day. Here are some examples:

• “Baby Rorie was born early. She was premature.”
• “Don’t jab a stick in that hole. You’ll antagonize the snake.”
• “Charlotte said Wilbur was an intelligent pig.”
• “No running in the house. Please ambulate instead.”

One of our best pals, Steven, ties the knot w/ his sweetheart, Paige. (Click to see more pics from the late-April wedding & reception.)

The day after the SCOTUS ruling on Obamacare, I befittingly chose two 2-syllable words – power and corrupt — in lieu of doing the norm. I figured if the feds can break the rules on a whim, so can I.

Let your freak flag fly

Since the dudes adore flags, we started looking at specific flags a little more in depth. We’ve already done the Virginia and Texas state flags, as well as the Revolutionary-era Gadsden flag. The lessons include a brief history of the flag and its symbolism, and then coloring printables to look like the original ensign.

When Zeke plays with the small flags we have around the house, he likes to fly them in the breeze of an oscillating fan, while humming either Oh Tannenbaum or the Superman theme song. I suppose the connection between flags, Christmas trees and superheroes is that they’re all majestic in his eyes. How sweet is that?!

Bahama mamas

On the first day of summer, Miss Jessie did a Bahamas-themed lesson. She just returned from a cruise there, so she shared photos, homemade mini-sailboats for races in a large pan of blue-dyed water, and helped the boys do some straw weaving, before they got to stamp their passports. I also cooked up some boiled fish and grits.

Big bro turns 5

We had Houston’s 5th birthday party on 6/23. It was a backyard affair with a few neighborhood friends, and pals from Moms Club, MOPS and CC. Jessie made Houston a solar system cake, which was a huge hit with the kiddos.

Ever loyal to the Godfather, soldiers (Willie & Stephen) protect the Don (Adam).

My homemade guacamole was also such a crowd-pleaser that Gabriel ended up choking on it and chips. Yippee, I’ve now officially given all three of my kids the Heimlich!

Houston got tons of wonderful gifts, of course, including an ant farm and a microscope from Stephen and me. Our hope is that using a real ant habitat will ensure longer lives for the critters and the microscope is for viewing all our accidentally killed pets.

On Houston’s actual birthday of 6/26, we found two Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars, Spaz and Henry. We’re using our old enclosed fish bowl as their home and are trying our best to give them the proper care and feeding. Birthday boy and bros also flew homemade kites, which they handcrafted with Miss Jessie.

We kicked off the celebratory day with a jaunt to the theater to see Kung Fu Panda 2, which prompted our word of the day: “Sometimes Mommy cries during movies. She’s often sentimental.” Houston did great, but Gabe and Zeke were a tad high-maintenance.

It’s getting better all the time

We’ve been working on the new bedtime system for a few weeks now. Houston and Zeke took to it pretty easily, but Gabriel had been fighting it tooth and nail. Thankfully, my persistence and (waning) patience are paying off; G-man is finally getting accustomed to the nighttime routine and has become more pleasurable and less irrational during the process.

Mike & Anah show off Darby the cutie pie.

During one of the more trying nights, I said out loud that I was saint for being able to (relatively) calmly cope with Gabriel’s senseless antics, to which Houston said, “You’re a really good mommy.” That was music to my weary ears, but it was also a cue that I needed to do a better job of keeping my own drama in check, while remaining vigilant with the new plan.

It’s raining, it’s pouring

That’s what the boys were singing in the shower the other evening. Yes, they’ve started taking showers instead of baths, which is so much easier and is a total time-saver to boot. Houston made the switch first, and Gabe and Zeke followed suit soon thereafter … now if they’d just mimic big bro and his going-potty abilities, we’d be set.

Food is the way to a man’s heart

I, however, want it to be a direct route to his will. See, I’m attempting to use M&Ms as a mechanism to break the twins’ willful ways when it comes to potty training (or not using the potty, as the unfortunate case may be).

We still have a few of the old tricks in our arsenal, but we’re hoping that rewarding an independent trek to the bathroom with a chocolate treat may do the trick. So far, nothing newsworthy to report, but we’ve become pretty desperate … obviously.

Rebeeler have fun celebrating Steven & Paige’s big day.

The boys do love food, though, and not just your average kid fare. In fact, Gabriel recently tried a piece of a jalapeno from our garden. Sadly, it was way too hot for even our spiciest boy, but we were impressed with his adventurous palate and quick recovery.

Needless to say, the chocolate cherry tomatoes from our little horticulture plot are a lot more popular with the dudes. They’ve also been eating lots of fresh basil and cilantro, and we look forward to munching on okra and carrots soon.

Swimming & fishing

We spent an entire afternoon last week at Miss Christie’s pool and have another pool date with her and the crew later this week. I hope to do these casual aquatic jaunts consistently throughout the summer with the goal that real swimming will eventually materialize. Nothing groundbreaking yet, but we shall see.

Houston isn’t just trying to swim like a fish, he’s also catching them. Cousins Terri, Ricky and Patrick took him fishing this weekend while he and bros were up in the mountains visiting Granny and Grumps. Houston used the Spider-Man rod Granny bought him for his birthday and caught two fish, I believe one trout and one catfish.

Gabriel and Zeke didn’t get to go on the big-boy outing, but Terri did take them down to the creek for lots of rock-throwing. Honestly, they thought that was as cool as catching a fish.