Snowing...

AGAIN!

We of course were hoping when we had a day in the 50s at the beginning of February that spring was on its way but of living in Wisconsin we should have known better. Of course the kids enjoyed it so it is worth it I guess... and the best part is I was able to get good shot from the warmth of my home! The other kids didn't want to go out believe it or not...

Ozzferd J. Smellington III

Now our kids have had a lot of names according to Dave... Stinky Weasel Teeth, Morty Teeny Tiny Tabletop, The Rick, Aubriel lucked out and was only ever called Princess but none of the children (aside from maybe Aubriel) have never responded better to Dave's nick name better than their given name. But we have discovered that Ozzye will respond only to that, Ozzferd, Ozzferd J. Smellington III but not Ossyres.

Days before he was born Dave and I first considered naming our newest baby Ozzye, Dave's choice. So we searched the baby name books looking for a longer version I could live with and decided on Ossyres but decided we would only make up our minds for sure AFTER he was born. Well, as soon as he was born, I took one look at him and swore only because I think he looked just like an Ozzye. So we named him Ossyres calling him Ozzye for short. But somewhere along the line he adopted the name Ozzferd J. Smellington the third and now everyone in the family calls him that. So much so we should have just named him that!

So no picture fits that name better than this one I think...He just looks like an Ozzye here...Our little Ozzferd is 9 months old today and weighed in somewhere around 17# but couldn't get it to stop on an accurate weight since he was rolling around in the sling. He continues to be a wonderful baby that seems to bore rather easily, I suppose with 4 older siblings he already does not like to be alone. I can not imagine what he has in store for us once he starts running!

Gage Peri is 8!

Today our sweet Gage is 8 years old!So to celebrate the last eight years I thought I would pull out some pictures of the past...Now do these pictures remind anyone else of another little boy that runs around our house?I am shocked he has two socks on. I think Gage went through a period of about 3 years where he would only wear 1 sock while he was at home. Which I suppose is better than Brody hating to wear undies.Yes, his shirt says "If you think I'm cute you should see my grandpa" ha, ha, ha!Gage's "Zoolander" look...I love how expressive Gage is. That of course can also be the same thing that makes us crazy at times but he is so full of life and when he is happy and being his lively goofy self he make a room light up. He has a great sense of humor, I think he spent the first 4 years of his life with a smile on his face and the last 4 putting one on everyone else's.Happy Birthday, Gage! We love you so very much!!!

Home School Study

It is kind of surprising me I guess just how much controversy I have been finding myself surrounded by lately concerning homeschooling. I got a lot of "concern" as a young adult considering I myself was home schooled but funny how as I have gotten older the questions have become fewer and farther between as I have proven to be a well adjusted (I suppose that may even be up for interpretation for some) adult that can function just like any other.

But now that I have taken Gage out of public school I am surrounded again by the well meaning, not very well thought out "concerns" of others. As well as I may just notice it coming up in conversation more as well. My friend just sent me this link and I find the study so very interesting being that I am one of the many they talk about in the study (although didn't actually participate in it)....

Largest Ever Study on Life After Homeschooling Reveals Very Positive Outcomes

SALEM, OR, October 29, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Dr. Brian D. Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute has just released the largest-ever study looking at the lives of over 7,000 adults from across the United States who were home educated during their elementary and secondary school years. "For nearly 20 years, critics and the curious have been asking about the homeschooled: But how will they do in the "real world" of adulthood? As a corollary, they have also asked: What about socialization?," said Ray. The study entitled, Home Educated and Now Adults, answers those questions.A summary of the findings by the Home School Legal Defence Association which funded the study indicates that homeschoolers attain more post-secondary education than do their non-homeschooled peers. Over 74% of home-educated adults ages 18-24 have taken college-level courses, compared to 46% of the general United States.For parents who sometimes wonder whether they are doing the right thing by homeschooling their children, it will be an encouragement to know that 95% of the homeschool graduates surveyed are glad that they were homeschooled. In the opinion of the homeschool graduates, homeschooling has not hindered them in their careers or education. Eighty-two percent would homeschool their own children. Of the 812 study participants who had children age 5 or older, 74% were already homeschooling.Addressing one of the most important issues for many parents - happiness for their children - the study indicates that 59% of the subjects reported that they were "very happy" with life, while only 27.6% of the general U.S. population is "very happy" with life. Another major concern for some parents is that they pass on their faith to their children. While secular schooling often disappoints in this regard, an incredible 94% of the homeschooled adults strongly agreed or agreed to the statement, "My religious beliefs are basically the same as those of my parents."Only 4.2% of the homeschool graduates surveyed consider politics and government too complicated to understand, compared to 35% of U.S. adults. The study found much greater political involvement of adults who were homeschooled. 76% of homeschool graduates surveyed between the ages of 18-24 voted within the last five years, compared to only 29% of the relevant U.S. population. The numbers of homeschool graduates who vote are even greater in the older age brackets, with voting levels not falling below 95%, compared to a high of 53% for the corresponding U.S. populace.

Random Notes on Aubriel

So yesterday Aubriel comes up to me and says...

"How cold is it out? You know there is going to be 6 more weeks of winter because that guy saw his shadow? Yeah, on Groundhogs Day."

A few minutes later the boys and I are talking and some how Pennsylvania comes up. Aubriel comes up to me very excited and says...

"Hey I know Pennsylvania! That guy that saw his shadow is from there."

I reply... "Oh, yeah? Is his name Pennsylvania Phil"

Aubriel: "Yeah, except there is no pencil in it."

The room is silent. Then about 5 minutes go by and out of the blue Aubriel says...

"You know, you will die if you eat a laser."

My friend came to visit me recently. I have known him forever, he is like a brother to me... probably more than a brother for those of you that know my brother. He is like, Jason, my chosen brother, ironically also named Jason. Anyway he is an artist and the kids were quite excited about his visit as they look at some of his paintings daily in their bathroom. I have not seen him in about 8 years so most of the children have never met him or remember him. So I told the boys I would show him his website but some of the content might not be for young viewers. I think I used the terms, weird and disturbing. But being little boys that only intrigued them more and they promise they wouldn't be scared by anything. Which they weren't, they loved his stuff, which I should have figured, since I love his work as well (even if some is weird and disturbing).

So he gets here and the kids suddenly get out all their paper and crayons and start drawing. Aubriel drew him two pictures... the first was all of us swimming, fitting since we had just gotten back from a water park. The second was a picture of her and Jason standing in the snow by the water. In the water was a shark, in the shark was a whole person and he had the biggest smile on his face. Actually all of the people were smiling whether they had been eaten by the shark or not. Now what was I saying about weird and disturbing?

Jason and Aubriel of course hit it off, are now best friends and promised to send one another art work often!