My 12 Days of Christmas

Inspired by a friend this is my sweet life with my kids:

On the first day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the second day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the third day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… three times more love, two making mom's bed togeth

er, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the fourth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
…four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the fifth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the sixth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
... six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the seventh day of Christmas my children gave to me...
...seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the eighth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
...eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the ninth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… nine big smiles, eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the tenth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
...ten baked brownies, nine big smiles, eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… eleven sweet words of appreciation, ten baked brownies, nine big smiles, eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
...twelve hugs and kisses, eleven sweet words of appreciation, ten baked brownies, nine big smiles, eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.
Alex Polikowsky

Money and Fire.

Helping unload some fire wood,  Daniel found a sword!

Mommy is funny!!!

And a gun!!!!

Monday he gave me his $20 dollar bill when he saw I needed money and said:

"You can keep it."

Interview me!

I had forgotten about this interview I gave over 3 years ago Unschooling on a Dairy Farm

http://homeschoolingisfreedom.blogspot.com/2009/06/unschooling-on-dairy-farm-alexs.html

Ocarina of Time

Our own Link playing his Ocarina.

Daniel purchased this Ocarina 3 years ago at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Fall and Grapes

Gigi and I visited the beautiful Firefly Berries for some Concord Grapes and a bit of what was left of their raspberries.
Gigi got to pick grapes and raspberries on a gorgeous Fall day.
We made some grape jam that turned out amazing!

and this is back at home !!!

The back of our house seen from the calf barn.

Big Red Calf

Our first red calf was born  this Fall at the farm! he is so cute. He is now called Einstein by his new owner who was very happy to take him home!!!!
Have a good life Einstein!

A Gift and Cutting Corners

So Gigi's cousin Emily helped us be able to go to the World Dairy Expo. She did chores for Brian and fed and took care of all the baby calves. Gigi bought her a little gift there as a thank you. She wrote her a thank you note and wrapped up the present.
Thanks Emily!!

So here is Gigi having horseback riding lessons with Kelly Neu at Hope Ranch. She loves it and has been doing them since she was 5. Last week she was working with Dee in the round pen and Kelly was showing her how to do it:
Kelly:" Gigi make sure she is not cutting corners!"
Gigi: "It is a round pen! There are no corners!"
Kelly teaches 6th grade and she is always telling me things that Gigi says that most her students do not know, she tells me.

Here is my awesome boy Daniel. He is getting his Second Molars at only 10 years old. Why do hey grow so fast?

World Dairy Expo 2012

Gigi has been really wanting to go to the World Dairy Expo in Madison , WI.
She also wanted to go to a sale so we thought we could drive there on Friday and stay for the World Classic Holstein Sale.
It was a great day. Gigi can't wait to go back next year.
MDaniel spent the day with his friend Ryan ( who he met 6 years ago) running around. I think he had a fabulous time and reconnected with a great kid. He is getting so big and it is hard for me to see him spread his wings, as I am a worrier! But he was pretty great checking in and finding his way around the big show grounds.

What I got on Target!!!!!!!!!!

How Kids Learn~~~!

Like her older brother did, Gigi is learning at her own pace in the way best for her.
MD was writing his name at around 3.5  and Gigi just wrote her name at 5.
This Friday we were signing cards to send to the grandmothers and Gigi signed her card.

It was the first time she did ! She was never made to write any letters or her name.
She usually sends e-mails to a friend and is able to type a few words but most of the time I spell it out for her and point to the letters she cannot remember. She does like typing sometimes and using roses to decorate the text.

Learning happens everyday in our home and it is never ceases to amaze me how children learn
naturally.
It was the same way with her brother and according to his annual testing , required in Minnesota, he spells at between the 6th and 7th grades level.
Here is Gigi's first time writing out her name!