Classical Conversations!

I am so excited about this homeschool program called Classical Conversations!  For quite awhile now, Jonny has had this plan of sending our kids to public school K-4th or 5th grade.  Then he wants to pull them out to homeschool for the rest of their education, maybe considering and praying about having them attend the last couple years of public high school part time.  I've had reservations and concerns about different things, but am mostly just taking the role of prayer and following my husband.

Now some new ideas are being discussed.  We've heard great things about Classical Conversations over the last year, and just about signed Eli up for it this year.  The deadline is today!  I still sorta wish he was doing it this year.  I know he'd love it and learn so much, but there were just too many road blocks preventing us from going ahead with it this year.  The things they will learn, at a young age are amazing!  I'm excited to do it for me!  I want to reclaim my education.  :)

Jonny and I have been talking about what we want to do for the boys' education A LOT lately.  Praying.  Reading.  Praying.  Talking.  More praying.  Jonny now thinks he wants to amend his plan to pull the boys out of public school after 3rd grade.  Anyway, I know that as each family prays and seeks the Lord for wisdom on these things, we may feel led in different directions.  I love to hear how God is working in families who are all doing different things.  The ultimate hope is that our children come to know and love the One who made us.

I was thinking we'd just continue with our little homeschool with Mommy this year.  No curriculum, no program, just Mommy trying to be creative and think of fun ways to teach the boys some basic skills.  At last Sunday's service, as I was praying about all of this stuff, I got up towards the end of worship to go get the boys.  I was stopped by a mommy who said she'd had me on her heart for the past week and wanted to share this curriculum with me.  Its a very basic curriculum based all on character development- things like obedience, faithfulness, integrity, patience, etc.  AWESOME!  That is just what we need right now.  A solid foundation of what godly character looks like is what we've always been working on, but now I might have a few more tools to work with in teaching that to my boys!  Thank you Lord!

On Monday we then found out our neighbor across the street is the director of the Albany Classical Conversations group!  How funny!  We're praying about doing Classical Conversations with Noah next year while Eli is in half-time kindergarten.  I think it'll be a good comparison.  Then we'll pray about what to do for the years after that, but I know we'll always be building on TRUE wisdom- fearing the LORD, knowing Him and walking in obedience to Him.

The Birth Order Book!

We had our last book club gathering last week for our latest read:  The Birth Order Book.  It was a very interesting read.  Dr. Kevin Leman claims that there are certain personality traits that people tend to have depending on their birth order.  These traits are not an absolute, but a typical generalization or indicator of strengths and weaknesses.

Here is a general layout of common personality traits found in each birth order:
 *along with each typical trait, he gives examples of how depending on the person that trait can be a strength or weakness

Firstborn Typical Traits

• Leadership ability
• Aggressive
• Compliant
• Perfectionist
• Organized
• Driver
• List maker
• Logical
• Scholarly

Only Children Typical Traits

• Confident, self-assured
• Perfectionist
• Organized
• Driver
• List maker
• Logical 
• Scholarly

Middle Children Typical Traits

• Grew up feeling squeezed & rootless
• Reasonable expectations
• Social lion
• Independent thinker
• Compromising
• Diplomatic
• Secretive

Lastborn Typical Traits

• Charming
• People Oriented
• Tenacious
• Affectionate & engaging
• Uncomplicated
• Attention seeking

Now, you may read those traits and think they're totally bogus.  Maybe.  But I thought his explanations for everything made sense.  There are different forces at work that contribute to a person's birth order: gender, years between siblings, parenting style, early experiences, parents birth order, etc.

For example, Jonny is technically a lastborn; however it is possible that he could be, as Leman would say, a "functional firstborn."  There are a few reasons 1)  Both of Jonny's parents are firstborns, which would make it more likely that they would pass on firstborn qualities, depending on the way they ran their home.  2)  The oldest sibling (a brother) Jonny was raised with is 7 yrs older.  Leman claims that when there is more than a 5yr gap- this creates a "new family" within the family.  3)  Jonny's next sibling (a sister) is 21mos older.  Since she is a girl, she would be a firstborn girl.  This would make Jonny a "functional" firstborn male.  However, after reading this book, I think Jonny totally lines up with the typical traits of a lastborn.  Definitely not a firstborn.  Some of Jonny's more noticeable lastborn tendencies are: easy-going, laid back, indulgent, unorganized, procrastinator, people person, lovable, goofy & spontaneous.

If anyone has guessed by now, that is almost completely opposite of firstborn Jessie!  Some of my more noticeable firstborn tendencies are:  conscientious, sensitive, goal oriented, picky, nurturer, rule follower, list maker, organized, serious & a planner.  Leman claims, though, that the best way to marry is out of your birth order; in fact, he claims that the couples who do best together are firstborns paired with lastborns.  Ha!  I guess Jonny and I are a perfect couple.... NOT!  Leman dedicates a whole chapter to the topic, its titled Birth Order Marriages Aren't Made in Heaven.  I like how he ends the section, "No matter what your birth order and that of your spouse, what counts is how you use your particular strengths and how you modify or deal with your particular weaknesses.  Knowing your own birth order characteristics and those of your mate is just one step toward learning how to get along and have a happy life together."  I laughed so much reading about the birth orders with me and Jonny in mind.  We fit the profiles so well, and we concluded that we are pretty good for each other.  He helps me to ease up a bit when I'm uptight.  I help him realize that being clean and organized is a good thing!  :)

Leman spends the last half of the book discussing different family types and ways of parenting your different birth orders in order to maximize each child's particular strengths.  For example, alone time is great for middle children. My mom has been telling us for awhile now how dates with Noah would probably be a great idea.  Last night, Noah stayed up later than his brothers and had Jonny and my complete and undivided attention.  He LOVED it!

There was one point my friend made that I think is worth mentioning.  She was a bit offended by the book and Leman's assertion that each birthorder has these typical weaknesses.  She thought that as a Christian man, he should have taken into account more of God's grace sovereignty in our lives.  After all, He makes us a new creation right?  We are no longer dead to sin, but alive in Him.  Our old, fleshly habits are erased and pushed as far as the east is the west.  I agree with my friend, and appreciated this quote of Leman's, "Birth order is never a final determinant of anything, only an indicator of problems and tensions that you may discover or create for yourselves."

All in all, I would say it was a good read!  Oh, one more little interesting fact:  most US presidents- firstborns.  Most of the well-known comedians- lastborns! 

Summer Break: Part 3

We've been keeping busy and having lots of fun.  Its hard to believe we only have about four or five more days at home before Jonny has to go back to work!  (Plus a couple short trips!)  Here's more pictures of what we've been up to:

Corvallis fountains

We went camping with YL at the Rogue River.  The first day was HORRIBLE- so bad I was in tears and about to drive home at 7:30pm.  Praise the Lord I didn't because the rest of the time was better and then on the drive home we got a flat tire.  If I left early, I could just imagine myself stranded on the freeway in the dark with a flat tire, van full of boys calling my mom crying because I wouldn't know what to do. 

Sleepy face Siah.

 Eli playing football at Creation Camp at our church.  Jonny taught a few science sessions that week too!

Jonny doing the bike portion at his triathalon!

And then the running portion...

Jonny rocked it!  He got third place for his age group!  It was so cool that Eli got to finish the race with his dad.  I was bummed though, that my camera started recording just seconds after the speaker announced "Jonny Oelkers finishing the race with his son!"

Family bike rides!

A fourth son

A friend let me borrow her book Bringing Up Boys a few months ago, but I have yet to start it.  There are a few other things I'm wanting to finish first.  BUT it is definitely next on my list!  Boys Boys, Boys... oh and one more BOY!!  I've had all sorts of mixed emotions since finding out that our fourth baby will be another boy, but in the last week especially, I've been getting really excited to meet this little guy.  

Today made me extra excited.  There are three families (that I know of) in our church that have four boys in a row.  One of these moms I've just got to know a bit in the last year.  She came up to me today to congratulate me.  She gave me a big hug and spoke wonderfully encouraging words.  Later, I spoke with her husband who was walking with their fourth adorable eight year old boy.  Then after service, during the baptisms I heard that their fourth son was getting baptized.  The five of us joined the crowd around the baptismal and I was in tears.  It was absolutely precious!  I'm so thankful God allowed me to witness that sweet moment in their family.  What an inspiration!  Lord willing, that could be us years down the road.  We have a very busy, joyful, crazy, wonderful, loud and delightful road ahead of us with four boys.  

I'm already praying for you little boy!  I'm praying that you will come to know and love our Savior and live your life for Him.  I'm praying that I will get to watch you be baptized some day. I can't wait to meet you, hold you in my arms and kiss your sweet face.  

Yay!  Now what will he look like!?  What will we name him!?  What kind of personality will this one have!?  How exciting!!  Just four more months and maybe a week or two! (hopefully not three)

School time

As I've mentioned before, I really slacked in so many areas during my first trimester.  I was just so unmotivated to do anything and so exhausted most of the time.  However, I'm trying to make up for our missed school activities this summer.  It's been really enjoyable, and both Eli and Noah look forward to our school time.  Eli is making GREAT progress reading and writing and Noah is improving his letter recognition and drawing of shapes.  Noah's favorite school activity, though, is cutting.  If I'm ever needing extra time to do one-on-one things with Eli, I just give Noah a scrap piece of paper and scissors and let him do his thing.  :)  Here are a few pics of our school time...

These are a couple of the pages of words Eli sounded out and spelled!  He can also read a huge long list of three letter words!

Eli made a pattern with his blocks.

 Eli building a flower.

Noah practicing his counting with beans in an egg carton.

Noah building a butterfly (which is a great practice with his shapes) while Eli works in his workbook.

Noah doing more counting practice.  This time with counting bears.

Your Great Name

Jonny and I have been loving this song lately. Its really amazing to ponder the power and greatness of His name. Just His name. His name! There is power and authority just by speaking His name. Crazy cool! It makes me think of a verse I read in Ephesians the other day: "I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms." Ch. 1:19-20
I so badly want to understand the incredible greatness of his power more and more. And how crazy that He would love us so much to give us freedom and abundant life through that mighty power when we believe. Then that power resides in us and transforms us.... which makes me think of this verse: "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you." -Romans 8:11
Wow. That is some amazing stuff. How can we not praise His great name!?

Summer Break: Part 2

More FUN FUN FUN!

Sparklers

Chasing ducks in paddle boats.

Playing in sand.

                                    Remodeling most of our garage into a new family/play room!

Oh, our first baby!

Still watching the construction.

Looking cute, even while he sleeps.

Siah's first pony ride!

Building tunnels in the sand box.

Water gun fights.

Splashing at the water park!

Very serious at the water park.

                                                    Eli's first time off the diving board!

Mini golf.  (Turned out to NOT be a good idea with Noah.)

Eli LOVED the mini golf!

Noah's first ride in a go-cart!

Bumper boats!

                                                   Science experiments with Daddy!

Still looking adorably cute... even with a bink in his mouth!