Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Personalities of our kids
Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them. - W. Clement Stone
In thinking about this quote I started thinking about my own life, and particularly how this will affect my children. Which led me to think about their personalities, and who they are.
While in China I remember telling Cheri that I felt like we were all given children with personalities and quirks that we were best able to handle. That something about the makeup of the parents' personalities fit in perfectly with what the child needed. With the boys it's something we just assume, they will have personality traits that match either myself or my husband.
But, really, is personality genetic? Or is it learned? Or is it a little bit of both. I mean, Katie could NOT have learned to be a grouchy grump first thing in the morning from ME on her first morning with us (she woke up JUST like I do and has continued to wake up like that). It was not learned from me, but is exactly like me. Is it a genetic thing, or is it learned from perhaps her foster parent?
When I was dreaming of my "perfect" daughter, I told my husband that I wanted a girl who would want to dress up like Cinderella but play sports against the boys and beat them....wearing her tiara in the mud. Can you see it? (another photographer I know) That link was the embodiment of what I wanted MY daughter to be like.
At our last post placement meeting with our social worker, I was asked about Katie's personality. When I mentioned that she was fit in perfectly with our family, with personality that meshed with the boys just as if she'd born to us. Our social worker commented that everyone feels that way.
Why is that? Why does everyone feel that way? Is it like voices, accents, talking, etc. that our kids can end up sounding just like us (yes Katie is going to have that lovely southern accent which is going to make learning Mandarin just that much harder). Is it because liking to play sports, or liking to watch NASCAR, or liking music, or liking games like spades or Monopoly, or any other thing that we consider part of the personality is environmental?
Will Katie be strong willed because of genetics or because of her environment? Will she be patient? Will she be honest? Will she be thoughtful? Will she be demure? Will she be an extrovert or introvert? Will she like science and math OR will she like the arts?
With the boys we sort of figured that they would be more science and math kids (with 2 "geeks" for parents did they even stand a chance?). But with Katie we don't know. It's actually kind of fun and interesting to see her develop her own interests and personality. I'm anxious and excited to see what and who she becomes as she grows.
But to be honest...she's the female version of our boys in likes, dislikes, personality traits, interests, and such. It's enough to make you go, "Hmmmmmm....."
In thinking about this quote I started thinking about my own life, and particularly how this will affect my children. Which led me to think about their personalities, and who they are.
While in China I remember telling Cheri that I felt like we were all given children with personalities and quirks that we were best able to handle. That something about the makeup of the parents' personalities fit in perfectly with what the child needed. With the boys it's something we just assume, they will have personality traits that match either myself or my husband.
But, really, is personality genetic? Or is it learned? Or is it a little bit of both. I mean, Katie could NOT have learned to be a grouchy grump first thing in the morning from ME on her first morning with us (she woke up JUST like I do and has continued to wake up like that). It was not learned from me, but is exactly like me. Is it a genetic thing, or is it learned from perhaps her foster parent?
When I was dreaming of my "perfect" daughter, I told my husband that I wanted a girl who would want to dress up like Cinderella but play sports against the boys and beat them....wearing her tiara in the mud. Can you see it? (another photographer I know) That link was the embodiment of what I wanted MY daughter to be like.
At our last post placement meeting with our social worker, I was asked about Katie's personality. When I mentioned that she was fit in perfectly with our family, with personality that meshed with the boys just as if she'd born to us. Our social worker commented that everyone feels that way.
Why is that? Why does everyone feel that way? Is it like voices, accents, talking, etc. that our kids can end up sounding just like us (yes Katie is going to have that lovely southern accent which is going to make learning Mandarin just that much harder). Is it because liking to play sports, or liking to watch NASCAR, or liking music, or liking games like spades or Monopoly, or any other thing that we consider part of the personality is environmental?
Will Katie be strong willed because of genetics or because of her environment? Will she be patient? Will she be honest? Will she be thoughtful? Will she be demure? Will she be an extrovert or introvert? Will she like science and math OR will she like the arts?
With the boys we sort of figured that they would be more science and math kids (with 2 "geeks" for parents did they even stand a chance?). But with Katie we don't know. It's actually kind of fun and interesting to see her develop her own interests and personality. I'm anxious and excited to see what and who she becomes as she grows.
But to be honest...she's the female version of our boys in likes, dislikes, personality traits, interests, and such. It's enough to make you go, "Hmmmmmm....."
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Easter Photos - 1 week late...of course!
3 things I think of when I see these...
1 - wow that's some BRIGHT sunshine
2 - new sod has not grown together yet...and I so can not wait for the grass to 'green' up
3 - Look at all that dirt! (BTW Kia, that's the dirt the worms do NOT like...and I finally saw one this week when I moves some of that sod around to create a flower bed on top of that hard as a rock reddish-orange dirt)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Life is kicking my rear!
Who else feels like it's full steam ahead lately? I've not slowed down, the kids have not slowed down, and the house? well, it's taking the entire family to stay on top of the daily maintenance. Either that or some VERY long chats with friends on the phone to keep me on task and off the computer. ;)
But I wanted to preserve a few "cute moments" in recent history for our family.
From Katie, when I put her down for a nap in her crib.
"Help! Hey-yelp! I need....nooodles!"
That goes along with me painting her fingernails pink.
"Momma wan' PAY-aink."
Yes, internet peeps, pink is now fully a two syllable word in our house. ;)
Dh and I were watching the Amazing Race (internet streaming is still going great here), and the kids like to sneak and watch the shows with us. In our old house it was EASY for them to sneak and watch them as they'd sit in the hall and peer off the loft into the great room and watch. This house? it's not that easy. We were in the game room with the door shut (Samuel LOVES the Amazing Race). We got to the part where the cheese was rolling down the hill, and we were rolling with laughter as well. A few minutes later we heard a noise outside the door. I looked at Dh and he looked at me, we kept the show on and I got up and yanked open the door. Samuel basically "fell into the room" and he said, "I can still hear it through the door!" Yeah kid, you probably could with your ear plastered up against the door!
But I wanted to preserve a few "cute moments" in recent history for our family.
From Katie, when I put her down for a nap in her crib.
"Help! Hey-yelp! I need....nooodles!"
That goes along with me painting her fingernails pink.
"Momma wan' PAY-aink."
Yes, internet peeps, pink is now fully a two syllable word in our house. ;)
Dh and I were watching the Amazing Race (internet streaming is still going great here), and the kids like to sneak and watch the shows with us. In our old house it was EASY for them to sneak and watch them as they'd sit in the hall and peer off the loft into the great room and watch. This house? it's not that easy. We were in the game room with the door shut (Samuel LOVES the Amazing Race). We got to the part where the cheese was rolling down the hill, and we were rolling with laughter as well. A few minutes later we heard a noise outside the door. I looked at Dh and he looked at me, we kept the show on and I got up and yanked open the door. Samuel basically "fell into the room" and he said, "I can still hear it through the door!" Yeah kid, you probably could with your ear plastered up against the door!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Merry Christmas!
From our family to yours, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas filled with great joy, peace, and happiness. We hope you are able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with those you love, and we hope for those who have lost loved ones this year that you are surrounded with comfort in this time of grieving as well.
This blogger is taking a break to focus on her family, spend time making memories to treasure, and bask in the love I get from those amazing little people I call my children.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Enginerds in the making
If it weren't bad enough we've corrupted our kids with Monte Python at an early age, drug them over to the dark side of being Trekkies, totally immersed them in Sci-Fi shows like Stargate, and punish them by NOT taking them to Chess club. We had to drag them to see Dh's adviser for his master's degree (aka, mentor and adviser for that thesis).
We ran into him and 4 of his current students. Dr. A was doing the advising thing, and my kids? Oh it was quite interesting to see their reactions. The 4 students were working on their robot project. When it's completed I think Dh is going to take them to see it working completely. I know it's something they'll enjoy too.
Samuel was as close as Dh would let him get. He would move along with the robot, he excitedly ran up to the computer monitors to exclaim over what the robot was seeing, he yelled instructions to the operator (watch out! it's going to run into the wall), and he was entranced. Like, 100% enamored of this robot.
JM, he stood a bit further back, studying intently. He paid close attention to the details and remarked that when the controller told it to turn to the left it listed a little. Or something like that. He was, however, 100% enamored of the circuit board with the timer on it. He was intently gazing at it and following the circuits of it. He asked questions regarding it's use, why they had it out, did it go into the robot, was it really a timer? Here he is watching...he's out of focus because I was taking a photo of Dh and Dr. A.
Katie, well, Katie wasn't too sure about this robot thing that MOVED. This, I've been told, is not the final robot they will use. This is a testing platform to test a specific set of components (or at least that was what I got out of it). I followed it about as well as I follow Dh when he tries to explain what he does.
Right after this photo, the robot moved toward her (she was between it and the door, and the student didn't realize she was a wee bit unsure about it and made it go toward the door to test it out of his sight). As soon as it started moving toward her, she backed up. Then it advanced again, and she turned and ran toward me. I picked her up and she was crying a little (no tears kind of crying), and then she dove into Dh's arms. Where she proceeded to LAUGH.
BTW, just in case you were wondering, Dr. A didn't get that glazed look to his eyes that 95% of people get when Dh starts telling someone what he does and gives just a little too much technical jargon with it. Dr. A is a really smart man. One Dh needs to EMAIL! :) See, Dr. A, I'm trying.
The way we figure it, we have 2 Enginerds in the making and one girl who might not be into robots too much.
We ran into him and 4 of his current students. Dr. A was doing the advising thing, and my kids? Oh it was quite interesting to see their reactions. The 4 students were working on their robot project. When it's completed I think Dh is going to take them to see it working completely. I know it's something they'll enjoy too.
Samuel was as close as Dh would let him get. He would move along with the robot, he excitedly ran up to the computer monitors to exclaim over what the robot was seeing, he yelled instructions to the operator (watch out! it's going to run into the wall), and he was entranced. Like, 100% enamored of this robot.
JM, he stood a bit further back, studying intently. He paid close attention to the details and remarked that when the controller told it to turn to the left it listed a little. Or something like that. He was, however, 100% enamored of the circuit board with the timer on it. He was intently gazing at it and following the circuits of it. He asked questions regarding it's use, why they had it out, did it go into the robot, was it really a timer? Here he is watching...he's out of focus because I was taking a photo of Dh and Dr. A.
Katie, well, Katie wasn't too sure about this robot thing that MOVED. This, I've been told, is not the final robot they will use. This is a testing platform to test a specific set of components (or at least that was what I got out of it). I followed it about as well as I follow Dh when he tries to explain what he does.
Right after this photo, the robot moved toward her (she was between it and the door, and the student didn't realize she was a wee bit unsure about it and made it go toward the door to test it out of his sight). As soon as it started moving toward her, she backed up. Then it advanced again, and she turned and ran toward me. I picked her up and she was crying a little (no tears kind of crying), and then she dove into Dh's arms. Where she proceeded to LAUGH.
BTW, just in case you were wondering, Dr. A didn't get that glazed look to his eyes that 95% of people get when Dh starts telling someone what he does and gives just a little too much technical jargon with it. Dr. A is a really smart man. One Dh needs to EMAIL! :) See, Dr. A, I'm trying.
The way we figure it, we have 2 Enginerds in the making and one girl who might not be into robots too much.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Halloween - FINALLY!
My 3 kids all ready for Halloween.
The Knight who says "Ni!"
Minnie Mouse with a sword, who ended up being Minnie Mouse who says "Ni!"
The Black Knight, with all his arms and legs...and only sometimes another knight who says "Ni!"
Unfortunately I couldn't find a bunny rabbit costume for Katie so she wasn't able to be the Vorpal Bunny.
If you have no idea who those characters are, then...well...you can go search for them. Monte Phython's The Holy Grail. Yes, we have indeed made geeks of our children.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Pumpkin Carving Fun
Yes, this will be a photo intensive post. :) Our carving night, in photo essay.
Answers to some possible things - we use the kit and templates for carving. Yes, it's somewhat tedious. No, it's actually VERY easy. The tools make a HUGE difference.
Yes, Katie dug right in. The boys...not so much. The boys took some convincing to stick their hands in pumpkin guts.
I really wonder what Katie's thinking here...
Not a moment's hesitation on Katie's part.
Katie's pumpkin was the cat, Samuel's was the Pirates logo, and JM's was the Black Pearl.
If you think these are cool, you should have seen the one we did when Dh and I were engaged! It threw bats up on the wall behind the pumpkin and had a moon with a witch in it on the front. It was a very cool pumpkin, but my photo skills could NOT do it justice (I've learned quite a bit since then). :)
Answers to some possible things - we use the kit and templates for carving. Yes, it's somewhat tedious. No, it's actually VERY easy. The tools make a HUGE difference.
Yes, Katie dug right in. The boys...not so much. The boys took some convincing to stick their hands in pumpkin guts.
I really wonder what Katie's thinking here...
Not a moment's hesitation on Katie's part.
Katie's pumpkin was the cat, Samuel's was the Pirates logo, and JM's was the Black Pearl.
If you think these are cool, you should have seen the one we did when Dh and I were engaged! It threw bats up on the wall behind the pumpkin and had a moon with a witch in it on the front. It was a very cool pumpkin, but my photo skills could NOT do it justice (I've learned quite a bit since then). :)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Now for my plead. In years past I have never thought about this much, but having friends with kids who have severe food allergies my eyes have been opened. Trick or Treating is a scary experience for those families, never knowing if a candy bar with peanuts (or trace peanuts) will be dropped into the bucket. Never knowing if someone was eating something with peanuts on it and handed it to their child (peanut oil is VERY contaminating BTW). Or tree nuts. Or wheat. Or dairy. Think about it. These kids can't eat their Halloween candy. Their parents carry an epi-pen with them "just in case" the most awful happens. It's a way of life.
If you could, think about having a separate bowl with "safe" candy or treats for the kids. Things like stickers, pencils, erasers, silly rings, or jelly beans, fruit snacks, lollipops, etc. Check the labels and mostly avoid peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, or dairy. :) If you can't do this, then possibly just tell the parents "Hey this candy contains peanuts, is that okay?" The parents might have a 2nd bag for those candies.
*stepping off my soapbox now*
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Where have I BEEN?!
It's busy season for me here in household. In addition to homeschooling, selling our house (and building another), freaking out about economy, and the joys of parenting a 2 year old...I've also hit the busy time with the photography.
*faint* 12 sessions this month, mini-sessions, and trying to get my own card photos done.
Remind me sometime to post some "real" images. Not just the snapshot I am trying to take to capture out life with the kids, and those are the ones I mainly share here.
*faint* 12 sessions this month, mini-sessions, and trying to get my own card photos done.
Remind me sometime to post some "real" images. Not just the snapshot I am trying to take to capture out life with the kids, and those are the ones I mainly share here.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Pumpkins pumpkins everywhere!
We visited the Pumpkin Farm with some local families that look somewhat like ours. :) It was fun, interesting, and tiring.
the boys jumped out of a barn window into hay bales.
the kids drug me through the hay bale maze, where Katie ended up with a yellowjacket on her head...crawling around...like ON HER FOREHEAD!
we now own 4 pumpkins - 3 bigger ones, one small one. The small one is mine.
never do anything humiliating when DiverG has a video camera. He'll totally get it on video to embarrass you with.
3 hours at the pumpkin farm wears us out...completely!
some of our friends (these were the only kids I got permission from Moms to post to my blog...there were others there...like DiverG with his video camera)
and lastly, How Tall This Year!
the boys jumped out of a barn window into hay bales.
the kids drug me through the hay bale maze, where Katie ended up with a yellowjacket on her head...crawling around...like ON HER FOREHEAD!
we now own 4 pumpkins - 3 bigger ones, one small one. The small one is mine.
never do anything humiliating when DiverG has a video camera. He'll totally get it on video to embarrass you with.
3 hours at the pumpkin farm wears us out...completely!
some of our friends (these were the only kids I got permission from Moms to post to my blog...there were others there...like DiverG with his video camera)
and lastly, How Tall This Year!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Random photos
Katie finally got someone to rock with her. Can you tell she was excited?
LOL...makes me smile
For once, a game a checkers...but they've been playing chess against each other all the time. Begging to go to Chess club. I punish them for not doing school work with not going to Chess club. How sad is that?!
JUMP!
LOL...makes me smile
For once, a game a checkers...but they've been playing chess against each other all the time. Begging to go to Chess club. I punish them for not doing school work with not going to Chess club. How sad is that?!
JUMP!
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