{SQT} Bicycling Boy!

1. Recommendation: Strider Bikes

We have a new bike rider in the house! Thomas (3-3/4) is riding like a pro . . . and, with constant reminders from his Mama, will even learn how to put on helmet and shoes. All week, this little fella has been slipping out of doors at sunrise and every moment he can before bed to ride-ride-ride his bike in the driveway.

I taught only our first born to ride a bike, and that the old-fashioned way of pushing him along from behind while he wobbled uncertainly.

Then we bought a Strider bike, and each kid after that started straddling it around one year old, then gliding on it at two. I just leave it in the garage and they see it and start wobbling around on it. Then, each of the kids at some point when three years old has grabbed a two-wheeler one day and started riding!

If you can't tell, I love Strider bikes.

2. Mass and Choir

On Monday night, our parish celebrated its annual St. Dominic Savio Mass in honor of the many altar boys in the program. This year, Mary was in the CDLC choir singing the Mass, so both my sweeties were there for the event and could enjoy the big parish pizza party afterward.

3. Scholastic Scenes

Teaching IEW Fix-It Grammar with a one-year-old in the midst

New book organizers

Kindergartener learning how to graph

4. Wholesome Fun

When Mary baked muffins for snack time, she assigned the 21-month-old to be her helper!

When I hold firm on "no TV during the week," the kids break out the board games often.

Three-year-old playing matching game

I sent Margaret up to dress for Mass and she emerged having also sewn her doll a coordinating Mass dress!

Chris' dear mother spontaneously gave us a Cuisinart ice cream maker and it has been so delightful these last several Sundays for Dessert Night! We previously owned a very cheap ice cream maker that was so loud that it prevented conversation and it rattled so visibly that a person had to guard it from 'walking' off the table.

We call this Cuisinart our "rosary ice cream maker." Here's what we've been doing: When I start cooking dinner, I quickly  mix up the ice cream slurry of about four or five simple ingredients and I leave it in a bowl in the refrigerator for two hours. After cleaning up from dinner, we pour the slurry into the pre-frozen mixing bowl and turn the machine on. It hums nearly silently for the 20 minutes required while we are praying our rosary, and as soon as we are done, we walk into the kitchen and serve up perfect, soft serve ice cream!

Note: One batch makes 10 half-cup servings. The machine comes with two freezing bowls, so a family could make two batches. There are several models of Cuisinart ice cream makers at different price points, but I bet they are all super.

Playing folk music on the porch

This Wednesday, we enjoyed our monthly folk music lesson with friends followed by a playdate, playground visit, and potluck dinner.

Six-year-old learning on a one-string banjo

Playing folk music together

5. Ora et Labora

Every so often, as mothers know, the chores can get rather sloppy as habits begin to slip and supervision isn't meticulous. This week was a time we needed to hold a family meeting, go over kitchen-cleaning procedures, and re-write the weekly rotating kitchen duties in an even more specific-way.

The results have been an improvement. Carry on, soldiers.

Lawnmowing season has begun and John (12) is now responsible for our lawn. Little brother Thomas (3-3/4) thinks this is something to aspire to and one morning he slipped outside at 7:00 a.m. wearing his pajamas and began "mowing" the lawn with his toy mower.

6. Field Trip to Historic Brattonsville

Click here to read about our field trip to Historic Brattonsville.

7. Miscellaneous Moments

I actually left the house for a meeting last Friday night (and dinner with a girlfriend!!!) and one of my children burst into weeping tears, and then I came home to another child having left me a love note.

I'm a little nervous about the trauma of when I am gone for six days 3,000 miles away upcoming . . .

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