My little girl went off to kindergarten today. *sniff* I can't believe she's so big. She was very excited to go today. Unfortunately, her best friend from preschool isn't there this year, so she's a little disappointed, but she has other friends there. There are only 7 kids in her class. She has the same kindergarten teacher that her older brother and sister had - Mrs. Galluzzi. She's a wonderful teacher. Here she is at her desk! Tonight when I was cooking dinner, I heard Theresa giggling behind me. Here's what was going on.
Norm Cohen is the director of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Research Centers of Michigan. Here is a short video of him talking about the flaws in the Africa AIDS study. It's not a terribly in depth video, but it is easy to understand. I still find it ridiculous that it could be considered acceptable to cut off a functioning, important part of an unconsenting minor's body for a minute reduction in risk for a disease that is much more reliably prevented by condoms, abstinence, or monogamy.
Yes, we are slacker parents who have not worked with our children on learning how to ride their bikes very much. To be honest, I was sick for nine months which didn't make it easy to run along side a bicycle! Ray rode today without his training wheels! He was so proud of himself. He did a great job. These videos don't do it justice because I was helping him, and then trying to pull out the camera and get video. I know he is going to love bike riding now!
If you'll allow me a "mommy brag moment," Ray's literacy teacher told me today that he was a "model student," and she loved having him in class! Those are words a mom wants to hear.
A friend on Facebook posted this video. It's incredibly powerful, and I am going to show it to my children before I ever let them get close to being behind the wheel. I didn't want to post it on Facebook though because I do have kids on my friends list, and I think it's probably best for them to watch it with their parents. I feel the need to pass this video along though. Texting and driving don't mix.
I can't believe my Louis is three years old today. We took him out to dinner tonight to celebrate. He is a smiley, happy, busy, sweetheart, and he loves his siblings! I thought he was going to be my last baby, and he was very happy being the baby. He has adjusted really well to having a younger sibling though. He loves her a lot and can't stop kissing on her. He is such a resourceful and sweet natured boy. He makes me smile, and I don't know what I would do without him. He's growing up so fast, but he still loves to come snuggle with his Mommy and Daddy! Happy Birthday Louie!!!
My babies aren't babies anymore. *sniff* Yesterday was the first day of school. Ray is in the second grade, and Beth Ann is in the 4th grade. Beth Ann has her first male teacher this year. She was a little nervous because she didn't know him, but she came home and said, "He's awesome." Look how much they have grown since last year! Louis and Olivia had to get in on the action: And for fun, here's a cute picture of Theresa!
I can't believe my little boy is going to be three on Tuesday. He's getting so big. Today we had a birthday party for him. My friend Christmas painted the kids' faces - which they loved! They played pin the pirate on the pirate ship (Trey drew the pirate ship, and it turned out quite nicely!), and we sang songs. Plus, of course, they played chaotically! LOL.
Yes - I'm talking about circumcision again. This time I'd like to talk about the health aspects. I'm not even going to go into the flaws in the Africa studies, because, quite frankly, it's a moot point anyway. Are we really going to advocate that people chop off a part of a child's penis to lessen their chance of catching an STD? Really? One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lives - ONE IN EIGHT!!! I haven't heard anyone jumping up and shouting that the cure for breast cancer would be to give all pubescent girls radical mastectomies. No one says that because it's ABSURD. It's absurd, and breast cancer isn't nearly as easy to prevent as STDs. In many, many cases there may really be no prevention anyway, and yet - no one is screaming radical mastectomies for pubescent girls. Why on Earth are we advocating cutting off a healthy, functional part of a boy's body because it may possibly cause a slight reduction in diseases that are much more reliably prevented with a little thing called - wait for it - A CONDOM?!?! Give me a freaking break already. I have five children. They are all intact, and I think I would gladly chop off the hand of someone trying to circumcise any of them. Please tell me which two of these four children deserve to have their genitals messed with without their permission? Why do two of them have less rights than the other two?
I don't claim to know why things happen. I'm not sure if I believe that things "happen for a reason," or if what we do with what happens is what brings reason. I do know that I am very blessed. I have beautiful, healthy, wonderful children, a great husband, a fabulous family, and a whole group of awesome friends. Last year about this time I found out that I was very unexpectedly and honestly not very joyfully pregnant. Neither Trey nor I were very pleased. How could we possibly know what was to come? How would we know the year would start off with a crap storm? We couldn't know that the year would be full of uncertainties. We didn't know that we'd be without any kind of guaranteed income or that we'd take huge risks that probably wouldn't pay off. That's what happened though. Who could have known that our family's saving grace would be this amazing, little, unplanned baby? She came in and lit up everyone's life. I'm sure that the other kiddos feel some jealousy sometimes - I mean, they're human after all! But, they all love her immensely. She's the first thing they all gravitate toward in the morning. Sometimes I have to remind them to give me hugs and kisses! LOL. She brings joy into every single day. This year has at times been overwhelmingly stressful, but she shows us all joy and peace. I couldn't be more thankful for our precious, little surprise.
My baby girl rolled over today. She's 11 1/2 weeks. We were at a book club at the park tonight. 3 out of 5 of my children have waited for an audience to roll over! Beth Ann rolled over when we were visiting my parents, Louis rolled over in the park with friends, and now Theresa. My kids aren't shy - LOL. :-)
I'm sad that summer is drawing to a close, but we're trying to go out with a bang. We had a book club/play group at the park tonight, and then we finished it off with ice cream! The kids invented a new game - spin the globe! We think they were picking marriage partners. It was pretty funny, but we were all thinking that we liked their choices!!!
