7 Quick Takes: October 16, 2009 (Vol. 18)

Molly is having a birthday party this weekend (though she turned five a couple of weeks ago).  It will be her very first party with friends, instead of just family.  She is so excited, and it sounds like a lot of her friends are too (from what I have heard from some of the Moms).

It is a tea party/dress up party.  As part of the party favors, I went to Goodwill and bought all kinds of different tea cups for $.49 each.  That way, each girl can pick a special cup to use during the party, and then she can take it home as a way to remember the party.

Wish us luck!

I almost wanted to bang my head on a table tonight.  I’m sorry — it may not be right, but it’s really hard to have to listen to someone who always has to have the last word, always needs to one up people on whatever story they are telling, and always has to be right.  This is not a person that I really know well at all, but it definitely made my evening seem considerably longer than it was.

Anyone else a fan of the show Big Bang Theory?  Eric and I have found ourselves looking forward to Monday night each week.

Oh, and Eric, if you’re reading this, I have just one word for you…

We have now officially given up on the violin.  With Jack having motor delays, it just seemed like violin wasn’t the way to go.  He was having such a difficult time with it.  But, what a trooper — he was going to just keep sticking with it.  However, seeing how it was going, I realized that I needed to step in.  I gently worked on moving his interest toward the piano (you know, what with our refinished “free” piano now).

He started piano lessons last week, and he seems to be enjoying it.  And, with Noah just about a month ahead of him in lessons already playing many recognizable songs, I suspect Jack will be very pleased with his instrument change.

The only draw back?  They can’t practice instruments at the same time anymore.  Oh well — it does save me a total of 60 – 70 minutes of driving per week, so I guess I’ll deal with them having to take turns practicing.

I’ve been trying to think of some handmade gift ideas (either for me or for Eric to make) for my boys (ages 8 & 10), and am coming up blank.  Any great ideas for something handmade for Christmas that might appeal to this video game loving age?  I would love any ideas!

My boys (especially Noah) have just been loving all of the books with Winter Promise’s American Story I.

In one day this week, I had both a child that begged, “Can we please read more about John Paul Jones?” and then another that started crying because he was so worried about the main character in the book Sign of the Beaver (so we have to read far beyond bed time to finish the book).  As far as I’m concerned, that’s the sign of some engaging education.