Oct. 16, 2009 - Chronicles of a 3 year old
I feel like I should right a book! Life is so exciting having a 3 year old. Their worls consists of "So much to do, so little time" and the DO make the most of it!
The day started out as any other, but as I walked down our hallway back to my room to grab something - there I saw it. Nine pices of playdoh arranged ever so nicely in a 3 by 3 square. This was no doubt the work of a child obsessed with the number 3.
Later, for a desert, the kids wanted ice cream. So I come out to answer this question.
"Is this enough sprinkles Mom?"
Yes honey, that is good. Of course she dumped the remains of the jar into the cone. When it came down to it, she did not end up eating it all.
Oh to be 3 again....
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Oct. 9, 2009 - Quarter evaluattion
We are just over a quater of the way done with this year, and it is time to re-evaluate as see what is working and what isn't.
First, for Caleb - math is slow plodding, but I think he is getting it. we have added addition and subraction flash cards to try to get the speed up (and not counting on fingers). Multiplication seems to come easier to him though and we can add those flashcards soon.
History/Science - we are using WP S&S and it is wonderful! He loves the readings, books, and activities. This is really an awesome program!
LA - this is not going so well. His handwriting is not great and he struggles with a lot of writing. This is where we are re-vamping. I re-read The Well Trained Mind and I think we need to go back to square one - copywork. He sturggles with it so much - there is no point in going on to a writing program until he is physically able to write that much. So I pulled out the Draw Write Now books and am going to have him to a page a day, all the way through the series. Then I have a Memoria Press copybook as well for him to work through, and then we will try dictation this spring and hopefully will be able to continue on to a writing program like IEW next fall. We will continue on with sequential spelling and Wordly Wise as well.
Jess - is complaining math is too hard. She is already in the second book for grade 1, so I think we will take a break and work on som flashcards and math games.
She is loving WP Animal Worlds, and is doing great with their LA as well. She is really reading well for a first grader - no sounding out words anymore.
I want to add more arts and crafts and have already started making my lists for next year on what we will be using... will post that soon :)
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Sep. 22, 2009 - Animal Worlds
We have finished our journey into the African Savannah using WinterPromise's Animal Worlds. We really enjoy the One Small Square books - I highly recommend them. We used the Usborne book Animal Things to Make and Do to create these instead of a diorama:
Jessica has thoroughly enjoyed reading about the aninals and listening to me read Gooseberry Park. We have the 2006 version of the guide, so these were the reading included. Next, we will journey to the hot, sultry rainforest.
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Sep. 2, 2009 - Art Art and more Art
More from Atelier: This was a family portriat with potato stamping and oil pastels -
I cannot recommend this program enough!! Go check it out! It is worth it! It's a DVD format and it walks the kids through all the lessons. Very awesome!!
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Aug. 28, 2009 - Jessica's Birthday
Jessica had her birthday - she turned 6. We were unable to have her party on the original date becuase I got the stomach flu and was unable to prepare. It was basically a glorified playdate at the park anyways, but I did have to make the cake.
Jess got her hair cut:
And here was her cake:
She had a fun time with her friends at the park. Then we came home and the kids played outside. One of our neighbors had a garden, and the carrots were getting rather large. Here Heather is eating one of them, and I don't think this was the biggest one we pulled:
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Aug. 25, 2009 - Atelier Art
We are using Atelier Art and loving it. We are almost done with Level 1 Module A. Here was today's lesson:
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Aug. 24, 2009 - End of August
For some reason, I can not sleep, so I am going to update my blog!
Today was Jessica's 6th birthday. It's hard to image how the time flew by. Everyone alsys says it goes so fast, yet some days seem like forever, but then you turn around and they are 3, or 6 or 8 already!
Jessica recieved a pink keyboard from us for her birthday. One thing I am sad about is not being able to afford music lessons for the kids yet. I'm looking to see if I know anyone will barter for something, but I don't know what I have to offer. Hopefully I can teach Jess and the kids a few small songs on the keyboard as a start.
Dad came home for the afternoon and we went out to State farm park to play mini golf and play on the playground. It was overall a nice day.
Lots to do around the house, I am really struggling to figure out the new 'groove' to be able to get it all done. Soon all the extracurriculars will start up. One good note, I have been able to find the time to run daily - about a mile - when Lauren goes down for a nap. That has been helping, and my goal is to fit into my clothes by Christmas if not sooner.
Homeschooling is going well - very well. We are really enjoying the programs and the kids still have a lot of free time.
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Aug. 14, 2009 - Rainforest camp
Jessica was treated to a Rainforest camp at our local Children's Museum for her birthday by grandpa. It was an entire week - from 9am to 4pm. There were 20 kids, and I am told that only three of them were boys. So she LOVED it!
It was well done, and the activities looked great -especially for a girly hands-on learner like mine. Here are some of her crafts for the week:
A hummingbird puppet:
A bat:
A bird:
A snake:
A butterfly:
Flowers:
And a rainforset poster:
She said she can't wait to do it again next year!
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Aug. 5, 2009 - Review of WinterPromise Sea & Sky - week 1
We have only finished one week, but we are in LOVE with this program! Once again, WinterPromise has outdone themselves. Even though the program is rater 4-6 grade, my 3rd grader is eating all of it up and loving it. The mix of books is very appropriate, and he has been able to orally answer the questions at the end of the chapters.
We listen to the read alouds on CD when possible, and I am reading the rest of the books out loud as well. Very neat material, and I am enjoying it and learning so much myself! The books are so much fun, it doesn't seem like 'school' at all!
I very highly recommend this program. I will update more as we get farther along, but I see that this is going to be a very enjoyable year! Bon Voyage!
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Jul. 31, 2009 - Start of School
Every year at this time, the thoughts, the doubts start rolling - am I doing enough? Am I doing too much? What needs to be worked on? What is going well? How will this year differ from last? What should we work on?
And of course, these questions overflow into general life. Am I involved in too much that I can not focus on my family goals? What do I need to work on myself for this year? What do I need to change? And the ever elusive question of What is my Mission in life?
Well we started school up again. Caleb is working on Horizons Math 3, WP LA 3 and WP Sea & Sky. Jessica is working on Horizons Math 1, WP LA 1 and WP Animals and their World. This week was a bit hard - there was illness involved and it was also VBS at church - making for long nights and very tired children. We also need to finish up the switching of the rooms. Caleb is so glad to not be sleeping in the living room anymore, and so am I.
Along with these questions, my wonderful husband asked me to start teaching childbirth classes again to supplement our income. And what a miracle it was to be re-instated so easily! It's like it was meant to be - and helping me anser my mission question. I loved teaching, and now I will be able to again! YAY!
We seem to have a jam packed schedule, but I think it is doable - our schedule has lots of free time included for whatever comes our way. I am still a bit tired from the baby stage, and soon that will prgress to the frustrated mobile baby satge (where she will be frustrated and trying to crawl, stand up and get into everything!) I think we can do it! I am excited and ready to get going!
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Jul. 22, 2009 - Swimming and reorganizing
I have been sucked into the vast void of Facebook. But I have learned to tread and can now come back and update my blog, which I like better anyway.
The kids had their B-Invite last weekend. Both swam freestyle, butterfly and IM. It was in a meter pool instead of a yard pool - so that made for about 25 extra feet of swimming in the IM. I am really proud of both of them! Jessica is not very consisntant yet, so she did not place in freestyle like she should have, but that's ok! I am so proud of her that she swam and finished the IM!! This upcoming weekend is the conference. Caleb will be swimming freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke. He has a very good shot of being top two on our team in each event to swim finals, but he will have to swim hard and finish strong to outtouch his teammates. Jessica is swimming free, breast and fly. She should be able to final in at least two events, but it really depends if she swims well or not. She is the fastest butterfly swimmer on the team so she should final in that event at least.
Otherwise, we have undertaken the huge project of switching rooms. Caleb's room was slightly bigger and had the bigger closet, and because we will br trying to have three girls in the room, that was a must. We moved all of Caleb's furniture out to the garage, and have now completeed the painting of the girls new room - in lavender. My parents are being so generous nad purchasing a twin over twin with a trundle bunkbed to fit into their room. While not a long-term solution, it gives us about 5-6 years before having to figure out a 'real' bed for Lauren. And the trundle will always be great for sleepovers later on. I have defined the function of their bedrooms to be sleeping and clothing. They have bookshelves, but all the toys will go downstairs. Friends will not play in their bedrooms - just the basement (which still needs to be organized).
Caleb currently has his dresser and mattress in the other room. It still needs to be painter, during which time he will sleep in the living room!
During this mass chaos, I have been managing to keep the kitchen clean! And am trying to get the resources together to start 'school' in a little bit. Kind of difficult with books all over the place!
Lauren has started pulling up, and even taking a step or two after doing so! She will be mobile so soon! I really need to declutter and baby-proof!! Yikes!
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Jul. 13, 2009 - Weddings
Growing up, I had an awesome best friend from about the age of 5 on. We never lived in the same neighborhood, never went to the same school, never went to the same camps or were roomates. Yet over the years, her family became like my family to me. So, when I became engaged, it was a no brainer - she was my maid of honor. As little girls we dreamed of having our weddings together, of a huge affair and pretty dresses marrying our prince charmings. Well, that did not happen 9 years ago. Ad so we entered different life stages, different paths with less and less in common. However, through the gift of technology, we were able to keep in touch and touch base every once in a while.
Just this week, she now entered a new lifestage - she got married! And I am so excited, Though we are still at different lifestages (me with 4 kids that are homeschooled and her as a newly-wed), I know we will continue to stay in touch, even though it seems like are lives are worlds apart.
At any rate, my son was impromptu photographer for me and he did an AWESOME job! Jessica was the flower girls and looked like a princess! Heather behaved so well, everyone was amazed, and even Lauren did very well for all the tiring back and forth we did.
I am just going to upload a few of the pictures we took. I am so very happy for my friend and hope and pray that she may be blessed with happiness and a few children (you know, to play with mine :) )
Flowers by Caleb:
And my absolute favorite picture of the evening - taken by Caleb - of the happy couple:
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Jul. 2, 2009 - Thoughts on the upcoming year
I was able to put together a workable schedule for next school year without overwhelming myself! I guess I am going to call my philosophy right now as 3R's and unschooling the rest - well letting the kids pick.
So, the thought is that Caleb will be able to work on his 3R's with minumal help from me while I read to Jessica from her Animal World program she picked out. Then Jessica will work on math and LA while I read to Caleb from Sea and Sky. Then I can address any residual questions and we should be done before noon. In the afternoons we can work on art, projects, run errands, or do clubs.
My goals - Caleb: to be able to do his math quicker and to be able to write a paragraph on his own, Jessica: to read fluently, Heather: To recognize numbers and colors, maybe some letters and to be potty trained.
And here is Laurens newest feat:
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Jul. 1, 2009 - Quilt
Lots going on this week - but I took some time to put together tha baby memeory quilt. Worked on it mainly because the tub of stuff was sitting in the way- but I wanted to work on it regardless. :)
This is a picture of it 'in progress' - I now have everything except the binding done. I will take a new picture when it is complete.
The kids had a swim meet this week and they did so well! PR's in just about every stroke - or close! 3 weeks left of summer swim team!! We are all ready for a break from swimming.
This next week is going to be crazy - 2 swim meets, a wedding, CDM classes on top of daily life. I just need to surviv this upcoming week.
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Jun. 27, 2009 - Summer Days
We are trying to finish painting the deck, if the weather co-operates. Here Caleb is helping paint the spindles:
Here are just some cute pictures:
And then the last swim meet - the only outdoor swim meet, and it was cut short bya stray thunderstorm. But I did get some good pictures (you can't take pictures inside wit ha flash because the starts use flashes and could disturb some of the kids).
Caleb is with the blue goggles.
And then the girls are really doing some nice artwork this summer:
Yes - that is Heather's work... she is 2!
Jessica's peices. I don't know what the Fairy keeps coming sideways everytime I uploaded it.
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Jun. 21, 2009 - Weekend
It was a good weekend. It was Adam's birthday, and he took the day off work to go golfing, but got rained out at the 17th hole... lots of storms popping up. I made him a cake - Happy 30th!!
Then Saturday, we got a lot of housework done. I even had a chance to start another quilt for a birthday present. And today was good as well. Our church is officially under construction, so we had Mass in the school cafeteria/gym. It will be an interesting time till the new church is done!
I am also very thankful for the many blessings we have! Great friends, not lacking any necessities, an awesome family!! Really no complaints!
Anyways, here is another pucture - it looks like we could have just had our first baby -if it weren;t for the pictures on the wall!!
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Jun. 17, 2009 - Summer Swim
I have to say - I am so proud of my kids! Summer is flying by, I can't beleive we have just about finished 3 weeks of summer swim team. 2 meets done already. Last night was a great meet, the kids both did their best and saw their times improve - they each placed in all of their 5 events!!
Caleb: Medley Relay breastroke split - 29.3s, Breastroke - 29.69s, Butterfly - 31.55s, Backstroke - 30.2s (second place!) and freestyle Relay - 27.5 split.
Jessica: Medley Relay Breaststroke split - 42.3s, Freestyle - 35.2s, Breaststroke - 46.8s, Backstroke 37.3s, and Freestyle Relay 34.7 split.
Caleb was so funny - he is very competative, and in the freestyle relay, the first leg was a beginning swimmer - so they were almost a half a length behind and Caleb had a hard time watching. He was the second leg and got off to last place and he was so motivated, he swam well and caught up to 1 or 2 of the other swimmers and then another leg caught up more and they placed 2nd overall.
Jessica shattered ber backstroke time! The other times were not her best - she seems to have gotten a bit lazy on some of her strokes, but that can be worked on - once it 'clicks' just right she will be a powerful swimmer and she has another whole year in the 6 and under catagory. Watch out next year!!
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Jun. 16, 2009 - Kansas
This past weekend, we made a trip to Kansas for a Baptism of our new Goddaughter. It was ana awesome trip. Great to see friends again, Baptisms are always a cause of celebration and the kids loved seeing their friends again!
Before we left, the girls were being cute:
On the trip there, we stopped by to visit their great-grandma in Barry. She was excited to see them, and it was her first time meeting Lauren:
Then we made it past Kansas City and reunited with friends:
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Jun. 8, 2009 - Bridal Shower
This past weekend, I had the joy of planning the bridal shower for my friend Anjali, whome I have known since we were 5 years old! She is getting married soon (FINALLY) and ased me to be her maid of honor.
For something different, I decided to throw a Holiday Celebration party, to gift them with holiday entertainment necessities. It turned out to be a huge success (or so they tell me!). Food, drinks, friends and laughter. Here are the pictures:
The gorgeous bride-to-be:
Mother of the bride:
Mother of the groom:
The food (delicious!):
The centerpeices (prize gifts) of Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving:
Think it went rather well!! Looking forward to the wedding!
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Jun. 5, 2009 - First Foods
Well, belive it or not, Lauren is just about 6 months old! SHe is trying to reach and grab everything off our plates, so we tried a bit:
She liked it Ok - got a few spoonfuls and gave up. I'm Ok with that! She's just growing up too fast!
The kids were excited that the baby birds under the deck finally hatched. The mom always makes a nest on a loose board that was left behind, so now we can easily lide the nest out:
We have fun each year watching the birds grow up!
We also had our first "meet" this week. It was just an inter-squad meet, to help train the kids and parents on how meets run (with a bullpen, lineups, timers, and all).
Caleb's times: Freestyle - 25.2s (4th place), Breaststroke - 29.19 (4th place), Butterfly - 31.31 (5th place) and backstroke - 33.71 (5th place). These were al Personal Record times (except breastroke, which was close). So we are really proud of his efforts!
Jessica's times: Freestyle - 36.48 (2nd place), Breastroke - 44.86 (2nd), Butterfly - 44.88 (First), and backstroke - 40.76 (4th place). Excpet for backstroke, these were all a few seconds sloer than her PR. So I look forward to seeing these times drop! But it looks like she is in the running to place at many of these meets!
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