Just for Mom and Daddy

I have to say that I have the BEST parents in the world!! I was looking thru pictures for the last post and couldn't help but notice and think of just how blessed I am. Here are just a few pictures in honor of my parents. I couldn't have any of the things I have without the love and support that I have had from you. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

P.S. Christian is sitting with me as I do this post and he just talking to himself said "I like those guys." I guess that is good to know since he can't do much about it!!

$1 Finds

Brogan and I went to Target to rummage through the $1 bins and we found lots of great stuff! Since we will be doing our schooling around World Geography this school year we went to look for items for just that and found quite a bit we could use.

I found these things for Christian:

• A Class Schedule- Even though he can't read or tell time I like this chart because it will be introducing him to the concepts. I am going to make some pictures that will go along with the items that I put on the schedule that way he will be reading it himself. I will go over the time with him digitally each time he does something and then let him erase it off once the item is completed. Instant accomplishment!
• A Pocket Chart- I will use this for him with his letters and numbers and some basic sight words that he should know (name, phone number, street, small words). He can match the items to what I have up there and so many other endless possibilities. I got him blue since it is his favorite color and he won't confuse his with the one I got for Brogan.
• Alphabet Bingo- Great for reviewing letters that he is learning and something that Brogan or Codey can play with him during their time with him. (They will each spend 30 minutes with him twice a week. Good for them and for him!)
• What is Different? card game- This is just for early problem solving practice. This one I will use for the times when he is with Brogan or Codey as well.
• 2 Workbooks- One that we will use a little bit to introduce Pre-K concepts (letters, numbers, opposites, etc.) and another for our Geography unit. The geography one is a little to advanced for him but I got Brogan one and thought he could play around in his when we do hers. This way he will be doing "big boy" work also.

I found these things for Brogan:

• A Class Schedule- I will put her daily schedule on there with chores and school work. I loved this since it reinforced time with the day. No more asking "How much more?"!
• A Pocket Chart- I will use this for her new vocabulary and spelling words and probably much more.
• Math Bingo- Reinforces addition, subtraction, multiplication and will help her learn division. This will be one the items that I use when she is spending her 30 minutes with Codey.
• Geography Workbook- This had some things in it to reinforce what we will be learning and she can do on her own or as a time filler but is in kind of a fun format.
• Two Reading Books- These were perfect for her reading level and will go along with our continent study and some of the animal we are studying.
• Foam Letters and Numbers- These I originally bought for Christian but once I got them home I didn't like the type of font. I thought they might confuse him or that he may not be able to recognize some of the letters since some of them are made kind of funny looking. These will be perfect for Brogan though and she can use them for math facts or spelling words. I might put magnets on the back to use on a cookie tray but I'm not sure yet. I do love how they are in their own bag for storage purposes. These will be great for workboxes also.

I also got a few dry erase placemats. we all ready have a few of these and they are great when I need just a few minutes to move on to thenext thing or in between lessons and getting lunch or dinner ready. They are also great for traveling purposes.

Huntsville State Park

We took our first camping trip in our new pop-up this week and it made it home without tearing anything, or anyone, up!

We ventured for a one night stay to our very own Huntsville State Park. We didn't do much but hang out and have fun since we where there such a short time but we got the idea of what camping with 7 people in such a small space will be like. Which isn't actually half bad! It did rain on us not to long after we got there which should have been no surprise. I mean we haven't had rain in 2 months and a burn ban is in effect so it was pretty much a no brainer that we would get rained on right? Kicker...it didn't rain at our house!! At least we know the pop-up doesn't have any leaks! :) Needless to say we had a good time and can't wait for our two scheduled camping trips later this summer. State Parks, here we come!!!

On our way...We had two friends with us so that made 9 in the pop-up!

Here we are...

Setting up...

Doing the "Funky Cold Medina". We made lemonade in a big container before we left so everyone could fill up their water bottles while camping. Jeremy told the kids that before they got anything to drink they had to say "Can I please have some of that Funky Cold Medina?" Really loud and do a dance to go along with it. They thought it was silly at first but they all did it each time and started to have a lot of fun with it. Here is Brogan doing her dance before she gets something to drink...

Joshua found this tree with a little hump in it. He wanted me to take a picture of him on his perfect stool. Once he saw the picture he said that he should have put his hands in the air so that it didn't look like he was holding on. For the record, he wasn't, he was just perched up there.

Doing skits...

Visiting the Nature Center...

For dinner we had hamburgers and these yummy french fries. We made them from potatos right out of our garden. They were so good!

Coming back from a hike and just hanging out...

One last picture before we pack up...By the way, it started to rain as we packed up, and NO, we didn't get any of that rain at our house either!

Bach and Beethoven

It seems we have two budding musicians in our home now. We received a piano from dear St. Nick this past Christmas and the kids love playing around on it. Though we haven't ventured into lessons yet they can make up some prettty good songs on their own. Today we were surprised with an impromptu concert from what seemed like Mr. Bach and Mr. Beethoven themselves, though they must have been inspired from a performance of Jerry Lee Lewis somewhere along the way. It was a little noisy, but a lot cute! And, yes, I did get pictures the first time!!

Oh, and by the way, Bach and Beethoven, or Jerry Lee Lewis for that matter, have nothing on these guys!!

Train Set

Rylen just LOVES this train set that a friend of ours gave us. He will sit for 45 minutes to an hour playing with the train and building the tracks that go along with it. Hard to believe that he will sit that long since he is only 20 months old. The thing is, he has been doing this for months. Not only does he sit that long but he can also put the tracks together! Pretty amazing being that it is a small circle that fits into a small opening.

Now that is some good eye-hand coordination for 20 months old! Now, I'm not trying to brag or anything. It is just that I have sat and watched hime for months now and it just has me in awe each time I watch him. (Hence the reason I am just now getting pictures). First, where did he learn how to do it? I know I put it together for him a few times but he sort of just picked it up rather quickly. Second, where did he get that attention span from for such a youngster? I mean, he has been doing this since he was about 18 months old. And third, where did this love of trains come from? Usually when we get in the box it is for the blocks so we can make towers to knock over. Not this little guy! He digs for the trains and their tracks! Anyway, I just think he is so cute when he gets the intense look on his face when the train comes out so I thought I would share a little. I'm not a proud Momma or anything! ;)

Oh and by the way, he makes a pretty good train noise also...Chuga, Chuga, Chuga, Chuga, Choo, Choo!

P.S. He cleans up after himself too. I finally learned how to train the 5th one right!

Going To Miss This...

I caught Joshua reading to Rylen this evening and just had to get a quick picture. The book that he is reading to Rylen was one of his favorites when he was little. Hard to believe we still have it, and it is in decent shape, after all of these years! We are certainly going to miss Joshua this next school year. Maybe we should reconsider him going back to school?! (Just Kidding BossMan!) :) Anyway, thanks for being such a great big brother, Joshua!!