Half Birthday

Today Ethan is 6 months old. I don't have his height/weight stats yet because his checkup isn't until the 2nd of April, but I think these pictures say it all. I'm pretty sure there is nothing cuter on this earth than this little boy's smile.


Don't you just want to squeeze him? I do, so I'm going to get off the computer and do just that!

and, He is risen! Happy Easter everyone!

What is the World Coming To?

So, I'm looking at my local library's website, looking for the Baby and Me story time, and I find this:

Teen Gaming Event Type: Teen Program Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Start Time: 3:00 PM Library: Oak Harbor Description: DDR and Guitar Hero for Teens. Take a break from homework and try your PS2 skills. Age(s): Teens

Playstation 2. Video game time. At the library. Instead of homework*. Someone please get me a fainting couch.

*I know all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and all that, but if a kid is going to venture out of the house to go to the library, please for the love of books encourage him to read something!

Homeschooling Ruling

I've been wanting to blog about the recent homeschooling brouhaha in California, but so many others have said it better than I ever could. There is a lot of good stuff here and especially here. If you listen to the NPR interview from the second link, the teacher's union representative actually says (referring to the credentialing of educators), "It's not about intelligence, it's about training." That, my friends, is the most telling statement I have ever heard about public education. I'd really encourage all of you Californians to write your state legislatures about this. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association is also a great place for information. I have to admit that I feel a wee bit scared of what will happen by the time Ethan is school-aged. And, I find it ironic that someone would allow me to send my son to a public school no questions asked, but they would require me to prove that I am worthy as his parent to educate him at home, when I know my educational and ethical standards are far above any of the public schools that I attended.

Reunited!

My wonderful husband is home! He got home Friday evening and we had a lovely four-day weekend together. Yesterday we took the ferry to Port Townsend and then drove to Port Angeles, which is right on the edge of the Olympic National Forest. We took a short hike into the woods where the above picture was snapped. The hike was only about a half mile, but man that turns long when you have a 17lb baby strapped to your chest! Actually, we would have gone on some more but the trail was incredibly muddy in some spots and I was only wearing tennis shoes. At points I thought maybe waders would have been a better option. My jeans had muck splashed up to my knees by the time we were done. Ethan enjoyed a lot of the hike, but did get hungry and cranky towards the end. I can't wait to go back this summer and do some real hiking and camping.

Today Steve is back at work and I am, well, back at work at home. Life is good.