Here she comes, still eating her delicious hamburger! (You don't hurry this girl when she is enjoying a meal)!
Mom shepherds the littlest ones.
And, when all of the candy is eaten...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Halloween 2007
The gang looks ready to begin trick-or-treating, but Linebacker Dude looks back to see where is his foster sister/playmate, Mau Mau.
Here she comes, still eating her delicious hamburger! (You don't hurry this girl when she is enjoying a meal)!
Mom shepherds the littlest ones.
And, when all of the candy is eaten...
Here she comes, still eating her delicious hamburger! (You don't hurry this girl when she is enjoying a meal)!
Mom shepherds the littlest ones.
And, when all of the candy is eaten...
Empathy
The older kids have dug a hole in the far corner of the property. They are building a jump for the dirt bike course. Mau and Linebacker Dude decided to explore it. When they were done, Mau could not figure out how to get out. Linebacker Dude shows some empathy for her: a very good sign, indeed!
Dude has been with us exactly one year tonight. It has been a wild ride!
Dude has been with us exactly one year tonight. It has been a wild ride!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Values, Bonds, and Teamwork
One of my favorite commenters on this blog is daddio from the My Three Sons blog. Recently he asked me to write about teamwork, and what do we do to achieve it in our large family. The following are some of my thoughts on the subject.
Before teamwork comes values. Colleen and I model certain values by our actions, and the kids also have their own values. If we model the value of unselfishness, then some of the kids will pick up on that, and incorporate it into their own value system. If there is a bond between parent and child, neither wants to break that bond by violating the value system being promulagated by the parents.
Without ever asking six-year-old Greg to help with the dishwasher chores, he just figured out on his own that that is a way he can contribute. An added benefit to him is that he gets to climb up on the counter to put things away. Soon the three younger kids were all helping take things out of the dishwasher and handing them to me.
When the kids play together, there are some values that are given great importance. No lying, no selfishness, no stealing, and no self-pity. One of the really wonderful thing about large families, is that there simply cannot be any selfishness. Your peers simply will not tolerate it. You will also be excluded if you are always whining and self-pitying. There is an amazing sense of justice. If you lie or steal, you better share the goods (Halloween candy) with the others, or you will be outed in a flash!
Before teamwork comes values. Colleen and I model certain values by our actions, and the kids also have their own values. If we model the value of unselfishness, then some of the kids will pick up on that, and incorporate it into their own value system. If there is a bond between parent and child, neither wants to break that bond by violating the value system being promulagated by the parents.
Without ever asking six-year-old Greg to help with the dishwasher chores, he just figured out on his own that that is a way he can contribute. An added benefit to him is that he gets to climb up on the counter to put things away. Soon the three younger kids were all helping take things out of the dishwasher and handing them to me.
When the kids play together, there are some values that are given great importance. No lying, no selfishness, no stealing, and no self-pity. One of the really wonderful thing about large families, is that there simply cannot be any selfishness. Your peers simply will not tolerate it. You will also be excluded if you are always whining and self-pitying. There is an amazing sense of justice. If you lie or steal, you better share the goods (Halloween candy) with the others, or you will be outed in a flash!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Confidence
An absolutely gorgeous day here today. A day for horseback riding, planting bulbs, and taking long walks. Seventy degrees, no wind, blue skies. It just doesn't get any better.
The Colorado Rockies will start their next win streak tonight, lasting four games. We have the Red Sox right where we want them!
Update: Wait 'Til Next Year!
The Colorado Rockies will start their next win streak tonight, lasting four games. We have the Red Sox right where we want them!
Update: Wait 'Til Next Year!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
"God Only Made One Species Capable Of Vindictiveness, and It Is Not The Horse"
Notice how fast the snow melted?
Colleen and I and our two youngest sons had a most interesting experience today. Most of you have probably read, seen or heard of The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan. Well, today we met with his equivalent in terms of someone who works with horses. The man in the photo with Colleen is Tom Mowery. He has not seen Cesar's show, but he teaches many of the same concepts, and has a wonderful sense of humor. Of course, we believe both Tom and Cesar teach concepts that are very important to parents to learn, too!
What are the concepts? Number one is leadership. Horses (and dogs, and kids) need us to lead! Tom says, I am offering the horse a great deal. The deal is: food, shelter, protection from predators, a chance to relax and have all his needs met. Herd animals want to know who is in charge. That is where we come in. We are his leader! I am not going to make him take the deal. If he chooses not to take it, there will be consequence. When he looks down that rope, he needs to be looking at the most important person in his world. Just as the horse must respect you, likewise, you have to have respect for the horse, whom you are entrusting with your safety (or your child's safety).
What happened before what is going to happen, happens, and that is more important to the horse than what happens! Translation: there needs to be a history of consequences. If the horse chooses to be rude, the leader must be sure to be equally rude and give the horse something to remember the choice he made. There has to be a pattern that the horse understands.
Make his hind legs move. That is where he is most powerful. You want him to give up his power to you. Fluxation is getting the horse to bend at the pole (top of the neck). Eventually the horse will bow down low enough so that kids can put on the bridal!
Humans are predators, horses are prey. They need to be convinced that they can trust us to lead them in a way that is in their best interest. Tom was very nurturing, often rubbing our horse and patting him. However, there was never any doubt that Tom was the leader. Within just a few minutes he had that young horse being totally obedient. Can you see in the picture how the horse is relaxed, but alertly waiting for his next instruction from his leader? The title of this post is just one of many unique pithy quotes Mr. Mowery shared with us.
Colleen and I and our two youngest sons had a most interesting experience today. Most of you have probably read, seen or heard of The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan. Well, today we met with his equivalent in terms of someone who works with horses. The man in the photo with Colleen is Tom Mowery. He has not seen Cesar's show, but he teaches many of the same concepts, and has a wonderful sense of humor. Of course, we believe both Tom and Cesar teach concepts that are very important to parents to learn, too!
What are the concepts? Number one is leadership. Horses (and dogs, and kids) need us to lead! Tom says, I am offering the horse a great deal. The deal is: food, shelter, protection from predators, a chance to relax and have all his needs met. Herd animals want to know who is in charge. That is where we come in. We are his leader! I am not going to make him take the deal. If he chooses not to take it, there will be consequence. When he looks down that rope, he needs to be looking at the most important person in his world. Just as the horse must respect you, likewise, you have to have respect for the horse, whom you are entrusting with your safety (or your child's safety).
What happened before what is going to happen, happens, and that is more important to the horse than what happens! Translation: there needs to be a history of consequences. If the horse chooses to be rude, the leader must be sure to be equally rude and give the horse something to remember the choice he made. There has to be a pattern that the horse understands.
Make his hind legs move. That is where he is most powerful. You want him to give up his power to you. Fluxation is getting the horse to bend at the pole (top of the neck). Eventually the horse will bow down low enough so that kids can put on the bridal!
Humans are predators, horses are prey. They need to be convinced that they can trust us to lead them in a way that is in their best interest. Tom was very nurturing, often rubbing our horse and patting him. However, there was never any doubt that Tom was the leader. Within just a few minutes he had that young horse being totally obedient. Can you see in the picture how the horse is relaxed, but alertly waiting for his next instruction from his leader? The title of this post is just one of many unique pithy quotes Mr. Mowery shared with us.
All Right Red Sox Fans, Let's Get On With It!
World Series tickets sales go on-line today at 10 a.m. for games 3, 4, and 5. Want some advice? Don't buy tickets for game five. Those tickets won't be needed. The Rockies have won 21 of their last 22 games. What are the odds that game five tickets will be needed? That is the math question of the day for all you homeschoolers out there.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Look Out, Kansas!
As the day ended, we got back our blue sky, but Kansas is going to get our snowstorm!
Stepping Quickly!
This was the first day in a new pasture for our horses. They frolicked and had a ball!
A Perfect Hiding Place?
If you are afraid Dad is going to ask you to help shovel, just hide behind the partially built snowman! Actually, I was just going to tell him the cookies were ready, so come on inside and take a break! And, while you're at it, you can change out of your pajamas now!
Bringing the Color Inside.
I am glad I cut some cosmos, delphiniums, and veronica for vases, because I don't think those plants will survive today's snow and cold. The geraniums will now line the hall way leading to the bedrooms.
What Will Survive?
The four-tiered garden: boo hoo! Actually, the snow is stopping, and I think the marigolds and mums will survive. We shall see.
The Despicable Hugo Chavez
The Cato Istitute posts this article about what Hugo Chavez is doing in Venezuela. Will freedom lovers be able to oppose him without getting killed by his thugs? They better act fast.
The "Only" Child
Yep, we got "dusted" with two or three inches of snow overnight. Come back later for photos! The kids are all outside. There is going to be a run on hot bath and shower water, so I am going to get my shower right after I finish this post.
As I was getting Mau's jacket on her, Sara shouted,"That's my jacket!" I said, "Sara, we have plenty of jackets for everyone, there is no need to be selfish." She replied, "Yes, I know I am selfish, but I am not the only one! There are lots of other only ones!"
This just proves my theory that we have eight children, each one of whom is convinced that they are our only child!
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