Life-long Learners

I know... two posts in the same month let alone the same week!  Take a moment to soak it all up . . .

Perhaps it's the eternal teacher in me (I taught special ed. for 7 years before Double Trouble arrived.) or just the dork who has always been interested in phases of learning and development, but I love to watch all of these new stages that the boys are flying through lately.  These last few weeks have just blown me away with actually being able to have a pretty meaningful conversation with them.  Albeit, the conversations are short and usually about tractors, trucks, or trains.  (While we're touching on it, what is it with boys and transportation things?  Has to be a natural inclination.)  But come on, they are two-year-old boys.  I expect a lot out of them, but I can't rush it too much, can I?

In addition to all the new dialogues at our house, the boys can now verbally spell their names.   We just picked out a simple tune and the sing/spell their names.  The really exciting thing for me was to see that they are developing left-to-right correspondence (teacher talk for looking at things from left to right) when looking at books and letters.   (Okay, that even sounds way dorky to me, but it still is really exciting!)  They are asking questions and, at times, answering their brother's question. 

This is where the stay-at-home part becomes abundantly worth it!  Those first few months of little interaction and repetitive tasks have blossomed into two bundles of energy with personalities and intelligence to boot!   So incredibly blessed!

Ask what you can do for your country...

While reading through some articles and posts online today, it made me realize that sometimes I take for granted this amazing democracy I'm blessed to live in.  Specifically, the people who sacrifice time with their families, and, sometimes their lives, to do a job of protecting this freedom. 

I am just like most everyone else.  I get tired of the constant bashing political commercials.  I grow weary of opinionated people always shoving their views in my face. I have to admit, I spend more time being bitter at these things than being thankful to the very people who allow me (and the very people that annoy me) to have the freedom to vote and express ourselves. 

I feel guilty about it when I do think of it.  I don't say thank you or do nearly enough to compare with what they give to me, my family, and friends.  (One time, I wanted to tell a group of soldiers thank you in an airport.  I chickened out.  However, I ran into a servicewomen in the restroom and ended up hugging her.  I'm sure she didn't know quite what to say or do.  She was very nice.  In hindsight, I can't believe I did that, but it felt much less threatening one-on-one, and I'm sure I gave her an interesting story to relay.) 

So to all of the service men and women, and their families, a big heartfelt thank you from me!  You'll never know how much I appreciate it!  (I may never realize how much I need to appreciate it all.)