Syrian Protests

There is a fascinating video embedded on The Weekly Standard website by a group called Unreported World.

The video was prepared by a crew that traveled to Syria and interviewed dissident leaders, army deserters, and other people who support the protests.

It is well worth watching.

Primary Program

Today was our ward's annual Primary Program. It went very well.

Zeke's part: I can help others by not crashing into them on their bikes.

Note: this is something Zeke actually has to make an effort to do. He loves to crash into other cyclists while on his bike.

Victor's part: Heavenly Father has a plan for me. As I read the scriptures I can learn on his plan.

Note: Victor was the last in his class to speak. He had a hard time standing still while the girl in front of him was giving a scripture. He kept getting REALLY close to her and peeking around. I think he was up on the booster step with her at one point.

Victor also gave a masterly microphone-height adjustment. He then spoke very boldly into the microphone.

Motivation

Victor and I had a strange conversation about homework yesterday.

He told me that Katie and Lin (not their real names) did not do their homework, but that it was important to do homework to help Joyce (not the real name of his school). And if they did homework, they earned money.

He also told me that he can read on his own. Which he knows because his teacher patted him on the head yesterday, and not because he observes himself reading.

Zeke's Story

Zeke told the following story to my mom on the webcam last Sunday.

I was walking through the forest. Then I dropped my map on a fire truck. A bear ate my map and I didn't know which way to go.

I found Dad's compass and it told me which way to go--north!

Then I heard the bell from my car and went down the path toward the bell.

I found the bell and put it in my car, and I drove out of the forest.

Applied Information

It is enjoyable to me when the boys apply their knowledge to new situations.

For example, Victor might describe to me that he believes a car in the lane next to us is faster than our van because it is lighter.

This week, Zeke applied knowledge of a new shape, the parallelogram, to food, with the purchase of Teddy Lelograms.

Two Years!

Today, I had my two-year post-chemo oncology appointment.

My two-year CT scans were clear, and my CA 125 was 9.1.

Perfect!

Since I've been in remission for two years, I will have appointments every six months instead of every three months.

And life can proceed as normal.

Victor's Thursday

I am very impressed with the progress I see in Victor's handwriting and coloring. Today he brought home an "I Like" book he had copied/written and colored. He liked to show me the pages that were graded "4."

Victor was on green on Monday, yellow on Tuesday, and green on Wednesday. When he got off the bus, I asked him how his day was.

Victor: Um, yellowish.

Me: How did you get on yellow?

Victor, pivoting: I was making a pattern for you. Green, yellow. Green, yellow. It is a beautiful pattern.

They sang songs in music class, but Victor over-rang his wrist bells. He says he does not like to sing.

The class does math centers before lunch. This was a new bit of information.

In one center, you stretch rubber bands over nails to make shapes or make fat shapes out of play-doh. In another, you play the dog bone game.

House Puzzle

One fun thing about our house is its efficient floor plan. Every square foot is useful, and we use every square foot. It's like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

Our most recent challenge was where to store the disassembled crib.

My first thought was to re-do the attic. But that proved fruitless. Even if the available space were large enough, I wasn't sure I could maneuver the crib parts around the rafters to reach the space.

I shifted to Plan B: find space in the house that will not leave things looking or feeling more crowded.

After a morning of space-seeking, it's done!

The mattress and side rails are under my bed. The stepladder had to be moved, but it has a new home in the back bedroom. The Christmas platter also moved to the back bedroom. Bonus: I got to vacuum the baseboard under my headboard.

The headboard, footboard, slatted mattress support piece and skirt board are tucked into the space between the outside wall and tall computer cabinet in the back bedroom.

The under-crib storage drawer fits snugly under Zeke's toddler bed. Bonus: it conceals items stored under his bed. 

Everything is tucked away and out of sight. 

Mission accomplished!

When Zeke Was a Grown Up

Zeke will often ask me a question about something and then say, "When I was a grow up, I used to . . . ," and fill in the blank with whatever we just discussed.

On Friday, after we discussed that Great-Grandpa had a farm on which Grandpa use to work, he announced, "When I was a grown up, I used to be a farmer."

Me: Oh? What kind of farm did you have?

Zeke: With lots of machines.

Me: Oh--machines.

Zeke: And some animals.

Me: What kinds of animals?

Zeke, without hesitation: Sheeps, gooses, ducklings, dogs, and cows.

Me: Did you grow any food?

Zeke, with confidence: Um, oh, yes. Sour apples and tomatoes.