Can I quote you on that, Anna Kate?

Excuse me:

Friday night, Anna Kate and I were upstairs putting some clothes away and she looked at me and said "Mommy, you are a drama queen." Seriously, my two-year old drama queen called ME a drama queen. Too Funny!

Another Anna Kate Classic
Saturday afternoon, Anna Kate was eating lunch and she had a cup of milk. She didn't want to eat her sandwich but she did want to drink ALL of her milk. I allowed her to have the milk for most of lunch but I took it away to help persuade her to eat more of her sandwich. She didn't want to sandwich so she asked to be excused and I said sure.

As she was getting down, she asked for her milk. I responded by saying, "no ma'am you didn't eat your sandwich. You may get in your seat and eat your sandwich if you want your milk." She then got in her seat took a small bit and then asked to me excused.

As she was getting down, she asked for her milk. I responded by saying, "no ma'am you didn't eat your sandwich. You may get in your seat and eat your sandwich if you want your milk." She then got in her seat took a small bit and then asked to me excused.

This happened two more times expect the last time when I said, "no ma'am you didn't eat your sandwich. You may get in your seat and eat your sandwich if you want your milk." She said in a very matter of fact manner "Mommy, you are wearing me out."

It was so funny I had to walk outside and tell Jim. I had tears in my eyes, I was laughing so hard.

One more:
Anna Kate's conversation with Jim when walking back to the house:
"I am going to ask her (mommy) for more crackers. She might say yes...isn't that sweet."
As they walk in the door she asks," Mommy, can I have more crackers".
I respond "Yes, you may. "
Anna Kate looks at Jim with a smile and says "She said yes."

The Mansion Pictures

While we were in Georgia we took pictures at various places at the Mansion also. Of course, we will have to take more at Christmas after Lil Bit arrives, but I wanted some out on the lawn. Most of the winter ones will be taken inside. These are a few of my favorites.

The Georgia Capitol

During our visit to Georgia last week, we took advantage of our last opportunity to visit the Georgia Capitol while "Big Buddy" is still in office as the Governor of Georgia. It was a fun visit and the kids really enjoyed seeing Big Buddy's office. We took some pictures inside and a few outside. Jake enjoyed learning Georgia history for school.

I found this card in Mr. Sonny's office and couldn't think of a more appropriate sign for Anna Kate to hold.

The boys enjoyed Big Buddy's office.

I told Jake that he had to get his picture taken on these steps because almost every kid that graduates from a Georgia elementary school has a picture of themselves on these steps. Usually, they are in a class picture but this is his class:-)

Judd decided he wanted a picture too just not in the same place as Jake.

I spy Judd!

Peek- a- boo, Anna Kate!

Since the State Senators are not in session, we were able to go in the Senate room and take a picture.

A few pictures....

This is Miss Freedom. She stands on top of the Georgia capitol building.

Here the boys are learning about the state symbols.

This is our tour guide...Daddy!

The kids were able to take a picture with Big Buddy just before he started taking pictures for 45 minutes.

We were also able to get a quick family picture before leaving.

Taking a walk around the capitol. By the way, this is where you can find Anna Kate most moments of the day, holding my hand.

Quick prego picture...we didn't want to leave lil bit out of the fun. (33 weeks)

Do you think they were supposed to climb that tree?

This was a really fun time and we learned a few things about Georgia. I am sure that they will not remember running the halls of the capitol at 5, 3, and 2 but I have pictures to capture the memories.

Can I quote you on that?

Sometimes he says the funniest things...

"For God so loved the world the gave his only forgotten Son that whoever believes in Him would not parachute...."

"Mommy, I am going to run for governor because I am really fast. I will win."

Happy One Month of Homeschool!

This is how I have felt...

The past month I have gone through a roller coaster of emotions.

I have been excited about homeschool.

I have felt overwhelmed with homeschooling Jake and maintaing order with the other two kids.

Honestly, I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching Jake but it has been very difficult some days with Anna Kate. Judd wants to learn and do school too, but it can be overwhelming to "teach" him also.

BUT

Last Monday brought clarity to my life. I had a REALLY emotional day. REALLY Emotional! For those of you that know me, you can understand that I don't get emotional very often. I must admit that it could be pregnancy hormones and the transition of our life but it was still a bit out of character. My husband was speechless!

This is what we have been through...

Many days of crying, oh not them, ME! (no i will not post a picture)Yes, them too!

This is what I wouldn't trade.....

It maybe hard to read but it says "Mom I luv yoo"

Since my "episode" we have been doing the majority of school during Anna Kate's nap time, which has worked out very well. However, we have been able to include her in several of our activities.

We learned about plants and seeds one week so we decided to do a science experiment. I remember doing this as a child. We observed and watched to beans grow for a week.

This is an activity that I found here for Judd to complete during our school time. It is a color wheel that he has to match all of his cars to the correct color portion on the wheel. He enjoyed it, but was disappointed when he realized that we didn't have any pink cars or trucks. Does Matchbox make a pink monster truck?

One day we were fortunate to find a turtle.

Jake is doing Abeka curriculum for phonics, reading, math and spelling. There is a lot of structure that I throughly enjoy, but it is hard to find time to add extra stuff. One this particular day we practiced addition and subtraction using dominos.

Judd is completing a sheet call domino parking lot that I found here. Both of them enjoyed doing these fun math activities.

They are a blessing to this "teacher," well technically I am a teacher since I have a license in Georgia and Tennesse, but I love being a mother so much more.

Put Me in Coach!

Tonight we decided to go to the baseball fields at the end of our road. The boys have been asking to go all summer but since they have games or practice on the fields we had to wait until the season ended.

Judd LOVES to play baseball and really wants to play. He is only three so we are going to wait until next year to sign him up. He loves to hit and throw the ball. I am not quite sure how he will handle waiting in the field for others to hit. Until then, he will continue to ask me to play everyday.

Just in case you are wondering: I do make them wear shirts and shoes during the winter:-)

The Girl

Anna Kate is trying to stop napping but I am consistently putting her in the bed everyday at nap time. Some days she naps and some days she lays in her bed and sings. However, she isn't your typical whiny irritable 2 year old when she doesn't have a nap. She acts goofy! She makes us laugh so much during the evenings when she hasn't had a nap.

Here are a few pictures from one night recently when she didn't nap. The pictures were taken one night after dinner. She asked to be excused and went to crawl in Jim's lap. As soon as she sat down this is what she did:

Here are a few more that I took after breakfast one morning. I was not happy that she decided to take her yogurt and put it all over her face, legs and placemat. However, I knew that I needed to take a picture to remember this moment and she was more than willing to smile for the camera.

Snakes Alive!

Tonight after dinner we found a snake in the pool. Actually, it looked more like a really long worm but it was a snake nonetheless. We don't do snakes in the Perdue home. "The only good snake is a dead snake" is our motto.

I find humor in this stream of pictures. This is just a small glimpse into my sweet husband's life. He can not do ANYTHING when he is at home, without at least one little person following and trying to help him. This evening all three fell in quickly behind to help daddy kill the snake. I just love my family!

Mission accomplished!