Melancholic and Grateful

Melancholic - adjective; disposed to or affected with melancholy; gloomy

Grateful - adjective; warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful               

source: dictionary.com

  

Euy and I learned two big words at school earlier this day that we thought were worth discussing together.

SCENARIO. Euy took a short quiz on vocabulary and got a score of 9 points out of 10 and was complaining about one word she had a hard time figuring out. She was given four word choices and was supposed to pick out the best word that would complete the sentence. This quiz was about knowing the meaning of words through context clues, no dictionaries allowed. She was a bit exasperated that although she found the quiz easy, this one word got in the way of her getting a perfect score. So we discussed THE word "melancholic." Her quiz says, "The girl was still___________ after recovering from her previous illness." "But Mom, they're not making any sense," Euy argued, putting blame on the book. "I never felt "melancholic" after getting sick. I've never felt "melancholic" before. I've always felt active and energetic after  getting sick. I don't think Noah ever got "melancholic" either."

I suddenly realized at this point that because my two kids actually have never had any major kind of sickness before apart from common colds and flu, she can't relate to the word. My quick response to her was that "Eeyore" was an example of a "melancholic" gloomy person. Her face lighted up. "If you've seen people that were sick for a long time, they get "melancholic" while recovering. I know what you're thinking, 'cause you and your lil brother never really got sick that bad, right?" "Uh, huh." I see a happy face.

What a blessing it has been for our family that since I decided years ago to make a career out of homeschooling them😀we've been reaping the benefits from that decision even if realistically speaking it has not always been easy. My daughter and I agreed that because we've been schooling at home, the danger of contacting diseases from crowded places has not been a problem. I get to cook healthy but simple food for them on a daily basis. And since it's the rainy season once again, we are kept dry while the learning never stops even when there's a stormy weather outside. We can always look out from our window and learn while observing. 

I liked our conversation.

Now,having said all that...how about being "GRATEFUL" for having homeschooled for six years and raising kids that don't have to know exactly how it feels to be "melancholic?"

A Few Of My Favorite Things

"When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad."
Maria
Favorite Things
"The Sound of Music"


Things that make me happy... just a few of them...

1. Twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep, zzz, zzzzz, zzzzzz. The last one I had was 2 decades ago.

2. Rising up every morning with my kids lying down next to me all cuddled up. I smell their heads, lay may hands on them to pray for them.

3. Two freshly cooked eggs sunny side up pls.

4. A cup of instant coffee that we have at the pantry now, one that says "7-in-one."

5. Scents of things: L'occitane hand cream and their Verbena cologne, Johnson's liquid baby bath color blue and white, Chloe rose parfum, my husband's outfit after a day's work.

6. Scents of herbs in my greenhouse: tarragons, oreganos, rosemarys

7. The thought of "shopping." Just the thought of it makes me happy already.

8. A homeschool portfolio I send over to our homeschool provider in Manila.

9. Christmas music in the air.

10. My kids singing A capella while playing with their toys, wrong lyrics make it even more perfect.

11. Laundry getting done while I check my kids' worksheets.

12. Catching up with my friends who happen to be family as well.

13. My family gathered around our old round table. TV turned off.

14. Baking with my daughter

15. Getting a few good books to read at Booksale

16. My husband cooking at the kitchen

17. Lounging at our family room after a day of work at school, feet up on our coffee table,uh huh, that's allowed here.

16. Bible verses, but there are tons of them!

17. People thanking God and telling you that they're blessed by "you"

18. Scrapbooks, digital and old-school, color patterns, shapes, the visuals

19. Bedtime stories with my kids...they're loving "Dr. Seuss"

20. When energy has subsided, and kids get ready to go to bed, then it's quiet tea-time with my hubby, we talk, we dream, we plan

22. ANSWERED PRAYERS...sometimes YES...sometimes NO...sometimes WAIT...

23. My lil boy orally reading his story books...slowly but phonetically...same boy counting his MnM's with addition and subtraction on the side...and by addition he pours the contents in the bowl...by subtraction he...you guessed it...eats them up and counts while chewing

24. Hubby winning the "Bragging Rights as the Best Golfer" at his workplace...he's a rookie...


25. 

God Bless The Anonymous Author Of This Poem...

Just recently, I came across this short poem that left me quiet for a awhile and thought about how my children view me as a Mom. This untitled poem is a sure tear-jerker but rubbed in a good way.


If I had my child to raise over again,
I would finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging and less tugging.
I’d build self esteem first and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love
Anonymous

Minyang's "How Great Is Our God"

Some common misconceptions about our homeschooled kids are that they may lack socialization skills, may not adapt to group activities, may be too shy, introvert, anti-social, weird of sort, and so on. But my patient reaction would be that they should try to start a conversation with them and see for themselves.

Minyong (boy 4), is the type who always blended with the swarm. You would find him seated with a group of bigger kids just goofing around,and "chasing varmints near and far."*

Minyang (girl 9), is the type who would easily make friends and talked to people eye to eye.She goes to church with her colorful Sunday journal and highlighters jotting down notes.(That's without having to be told.) She blended just as well with kids of different ages.

Minyang being comfortable performing with her cousins CJ and Clarence. The boys give her the moral support she needed.

I'm wondering at times if she had ever become a baby. Had it been a very short period of time that she was so tiny, I held her in my arms to put to sleep.  I've always viewed her as a grown woman with a matching demeanor packaged in a 9yr-old girl's body. I would remind her at times to slow down and just enjoy being a kid.

*Quote from the book, "I Dreamed I Was A Cowboy" by Melissa Webb.

What To Do On My Staycation

First, what is a "staycation?"

"A staycation (also spelled stay-cation, stacation, or staykation) (in the United Kingdom: stoliday or holistay) is a neologism for a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions. Staycations have achieved high popularity in the US during the financial crisis of 2007–2010 in which unemploymentlevels and gas prices were high. Staycations also became a popular phenomenon in the UK in 2009 as a weak pound made overseas holidays significantly more expensive.The term was added to the 2009 version of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Common activities of a staycation include use of the backyard pool, visits to local parks and museums, and attendance at local festivals. Some staycationers also like to follow a set of rules, such as setting a start and end date, planning ahead, and avoiding routine, with the goal of creating the feel of a traditional vacation."

As a homeschooling family, staycation had taken on a whole new meaning to us. On my staycation, it is best to COMPARTMENTALIZE all these little voices inside of me begging and aching to be heard. Alright, one at a time. Right now, I'm thinking from outside of our homeschool compartment, so, WALL.

1.Dust off my sewing machine and "road test" it with lots and lots of oil. Been awhile since I last created a masterpiece.(eh-hem) Maybe scrounge around for fabric materials and start making a wall quilt. Lately, I've been dreaming of kaleidoscopes of quilting patches falling off from our ceiling.

2.Organize, organize, organize...the clutter riotously tucked in our closets; the piles of stuffs which I cannot find a name for at the laundry area; set up a system at our lil school library including our DVD's, our family's document, old receipts, papers we can't get rid of.

3.Finish the scrapbook project I started creating last March for our 10th wedding anniversary mementos. My husband made a promise to finish it with me. He thinks that it should be a family hands-on activity (awwww...).

4.Bake more cakes. I see a lot of unwanted emotions being displaced as I sift and fold and blend and mix through the wet and dry ingredients.

5.Finish all the many a number of books I've started reading and bragged about at Goodreads. It's time to be consistent!

6.Give this blog a make-over, one that would look like a pro and maybe when I'm emotionally and mentally ready, create my own traffic and set-up my own on-line store that would sell my own organic soaps and herbs.

Gaga Over My Baby Part 2

One of the greatest rewards of being a stay-at-home mom is that you get to witness on a 24/7 basis how your baby or babies metamorphose from being "cute" to "superlatively cute". The development of their speech is critical especially for boys who tend to develop it later than girls. My girl who’s now 7 y/o, started mumbling one-syllabic words and humming familiar melodies when she was just 4 1/2mos. When she turned 1y/o, she could talk just like any of us adults around her. My boy, on the other hand, was the total opposite of his Ate. When my boy turned 1y/o, he could only say "Mommy" and "Daddy" and a few indistinctive words which probably meant I want this, I hate this, give me this, I’m pissed off…usually followed by fits of crying. 

Now that my boy turned 2, things have changed a lot with his speech. He would make sure every now and then that his message would come across and taken seriously no matter how they sounded. Unfamiliar the sounds may be to me, but from a toddler's perspective they were coming from somewhere known and understood. No excuses there. Just recently, I felt inspired to list down every lil word my boy developed. I must admit I felt thrilled each time I sat down and recall my boy’s growing vocab. Everyday is a work in progress decoding and deciphering his unique words. Re-discovering a new form of entertainment such as this fills my mama-heart with so much joy and it's FREE.

Noah’s Amazing Vocabulary and Pronunciation Guide

Names of Things

Duh-pee-tr - diaper
Duh-bee-deem - his blankie / “pangutungan” / just like Linus' security blanket
Perdee-guy - his long pants / long trousers
Wow-ey - flower
Wee-wew - butterfly
Kuh-kee-koh - tricycle or any wheeled vehicle for that matter
Koh-gay - Colgate when it’s brushing time
Eeed duh buk - read the book when he likes to read his books
Owie - when he gets hurt
Kee-koh kee-koh - twinkle twinkle
Gee-tawrrr - guitar
Koh-keh - chocolate
Luhl-luh - banana
Baa-baa - milk
Freeem - ice cream
Keyk - cake
Dee-dey - birthday
Baah-nee - Barney
Dee-jay - BJ friend of Barney
Bee-bop - Baby Bop
Eh-em - SM, the mall
Chooss - juice
Bee-bowww - rainbow
Sheee - sea or any body of water like river,- lake, waterfall ,Cup of water,- soup in a bowl, water in bucket and Basin
Aaht / cone - hot / cold
Shweesh wan - give me this one
Suh-seet! - that’s it!
Moh-morrr! - no more!
Tee-tuh - Fita biscuit
Guy - malunggay

Names of Animals

Doggie - dog
Hoh-see - horse
Eew - cat
Tsk-tsk-tsk - lizard
Poh-keee - monkey
Kee-ken - chicken
Fee-shie - fish

Names of Persons

Daddy - Daddy
Mommy - Mommy
Bee - Ate Bethany
Mee-mee - Tita Nini
Vreee - Tito Henri
Nunn-aay - Nay-nay for Lola
Munnh - Noeme, our helper in Puerto
Nehn-nee - Leny, our helper in Batangas

More to come… puyat na.

Find Gaga Over My Baby Part 1 Here

Gaga Over My Baby Part 1

Conversations with “Mr. Noah,” Son of “Funny-Daddy Clown”

Originally Written in July 29, 2008

Noah : Mommy!!!Mommy!!! Meee shee poh-keee! poh-keee!pokeee! Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr” (pointing to the dvd screen right in front of him).

Mom : Yes honey (puts red pen down and stops checking Ate Euy’s Math lifepac), that looks funny (pretending to look on the small dvd screen and tried to look “excited” like Noah).

Noah : Mommy!!!Mommy!!! Meee shee “poh-keee! poh-keee!pokee! Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr” (pointing to the dvd screen right in front of him) (this second time louder and a lil bit annoyed)

Mom : Oh! That’s a very pretty dance number anak, I love it too…( again, pretending to look on the small dvd screen and tried to look “excited” like Noah).

Noah : Mommy!!!Mommy!!! Meee shee “poh-keee! poh-keee!pokee! Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr” (pointing to the dvd screen right in front of him) (this third time louder and a lil bit annoyed that he knows Mommy is just pretending to pay attention, the atmosphere is getting more serious…)

Mom : Okay anak, but what’s a poh-keee, poh-keee,poh-keee?

Noah : Mommy!!!Mommy!!! Meee shee “poh-keee! poh-keee!pokee! Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr!Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr! Poh-keee,poh-keee,poh-keee!

Mom : Okay anak, Mom is so slow today, I’m so sorry I don’t know what a “poh-keee” is.

Noah : Poh-keee,poh-keee,poh-keee! Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr!

Mom : Let’s see anak, hmmmm… what does the “poh-keee,poh-kee,poh-kee” say?

Noah : Hoooo! Hoooo! Hoooo! Hooooo! Hooooo!

Mimicking the “poh-keee,” I mean, the “monkey” right on the dvd screen he’s watching. The monkey looked clever playing his “gee-tawr,” I mean, “guitar” and Noah was having a bowl! The guitar is his number two favorite after the harmonica. Hoooo! Hoooo! Hoooo! VERY WELL SAID, NOAH…

Find Gaga Over My Baby Part 2 Here

The Little Sparkle Is Now A Big Helper Diva

August 8, 2008

AVAILABILITY / AVAILABLE

Definitions:

-Qualified and willing to be of service or assistance

-Capable of bringing about a beneficial result or effect

(www.thefreedictionary.com)

“AVAILABILITY,” a character trait awarded to Eunice Bethany when she was on K-5 during their Moving-up Ceremony last July 28, 2007 at The Master’s Academy Homeschool, Christ’s Commission Fellowship 3rd Flr. Auditorium, St. Francis Square Bldg, Mandaluyong City. Text was written and read by Mom. At TMA Homeschool we believe in honoring the parents as we received recognition on the same day for “surviving” the entire school year “unscathed.” We also believe in honoring our children for putting up with us, parents. Kidding aside, here’s a verse from the Bible that continues to inspire us to school at home where our classroom is the world:

“And He (Jesus) went down with them (His parents) and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:51-52

We used to call Euy The Little Sparkle around the house because of her effervescent disposition. Being the only child for a time, she really brightened-up every dull spot in the house and kept everyone entertained each time she said something. It’ s really amazing that our “Little Sparkle”, with the coming of a baby boy last July 8, 2006, has transformed into becoming our “Big Helper Diva” around the house.

Euy has welcomed baby brother as a new member of the family with great anticipation. She was ready to become a big sister and friend to him. She has been an ever present hand-maid to Mom when it’s nappy changing time. She prepares milk for him (never-mind the little spills), assists during bath-time making sure puts away what was left and she can even be responsible in looking after him when Mom’s in the shower. She reads to him a lot, sweeps the floor without complaining, does the dishes, and buys “suka”, “toyo”, whathaveyou’s from the store across. 

It’s really amazing that she willingly does all these on a daily basis and is getting better at doing them as days go by. Being such a Big Helper Diva, she exhudes a happy disposition that is contagious as  she brings delight to us as her parents and we couldn't be more proud of her. 

Dreaming With My Eyes Open

I see pictures of me and my hubby and my kids building sand castles by the sea shore; I see my daughter wearing her new colorful swimsuit as she gets her tan. And of course I see myself in my new body wearing that two-piece swimsuit which I have resolved since long time ago would never become a reality he he I see pictures of us eating at our favorite restaurants; pictures of us frolicking with our own shadows as we chased each other at the park kahit sa kapitolyo lang. I see pictures of my hubby behind the wheels and I just seating nicely by him; 2 kids on the back singing along with the car stereo; I see 4 trolley bags, 1 for each family member stacked up behind us in the car; I see our speeding car breeze through the Startoll way. 

Herbs Are For Savoring

Aromatic but overly mature herbs can be literally intoxicating. I'd spent an entire gloomy afternoon sorting out those that go in the bin and those that need to be hung in open air to dry.

Thank God for my youngest sister Nini, for passionately chopping these little dynamites of fresh and dried aromatic herbs such as sage, rosemary, basil, oregano, and dill.

There's a lot going on in this balsamic vinaigrette: red cane vinegar, ground pepper, assortment of finely chopped herbs, EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)... Nini was always confident in concocting our vinaigrettes!

Two straight months of El Nino summer and we are finally ushered to the La Nina rainy season. I speak herbs, I breathe herbs, I talk herbs, I blog herbs...No matter what the season maybe, herbs have become a family staple. And why not? For this rainy season, a few days before bidding summer goodbye, I have finally pruned and harvested some of my green pets, some overly mature, and some super overly-overly mature, ha, ha...that's because I simply love to bask in them during hot days when they're at their greenest, just to keep them there for a lil longer. So I thought a little BRAGGING here wouldn't hurt. Brag a little about the 1-2-3 of how these herbs have made it from my greenhouse to the kitchen and into my beloved family's heart and hungry belly. They will definitely help keep us warm this rainy season. This bottle of savory vinaigrette was just one among the many collaborations I've had with Nini. And like the others, it rests in my pantry for now until our next meal together. Perhaps later...