Let me give you another glimpse into me the mother.
Two days before Christmas, we took the kids sledding with some other families. None of those families was allowed to go down the bigger of two hills at the sledding park. I'll admit it... I thought that was sort of lame. We'd been down the big hill dozens of times with no incident. (You know what's coming, don't you? But I didn't.) I'd been hanging with Gabe on the smaller hill, then made my way over to the big one, to let Clint and the other kids know their friends wouldn't be able to join them there. Jonah was already lying in a heap on the snow, upset. He had gone off a jump, flown two feet in the air and landed on his shoulder. After checking it out, I smartly decided he was overreacting. He sat on a bench for the remaining 45 minutes or so, still upset. We took another look at it, decided it must just be bruised, and that was that. Of course, he wasn't using his arm much for the next FOUR DAYS. I still thought he was being ridiculous. Until Clint convinced me to take him to the doctor's, who sent us to the x-ray tech, who took a picture that looked an awful lot like a broken collar bone, which the doctor confirmed was in fact a fractured collar bone. Which left me feeling like that elusive mother-of-the-year award had slipped away... again.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The afternoon schedule...
...which we have NOT been keeping at all lately! And that has made our holiday season so much more enjoyable. But soon, we will be back to our routine. Every afternoon brings something different.
On MONDAYS, we stay home and enjoy unit studies together. We'll be studying inventions and inventors in January. So far this year, we've studied the ocean, wetlands, Thanksgiving and the Wampanoag Indians, and Christmas/other holiday celebrations. Here are the kids in front of a local wetland:
One of our favorite homeschooling activities is TUESDAY science club. We've joined forces with two other homeschooling families in our neighborhood. They each have a boy Jonah's age, a boy Micah's age, and a girl Autumn's age. Kind of makes me feel like someone else is watching over us! ;) For three weeks every month, each age group goes to a different home to learn about part of the animal kingdom. Then we all go on a field trip together the last week of the month. We're studying mammals in January. Here's our September field trip to a local aquarium:
WEDNESDAY is time for unit studies again.
THURSDAY, Jonah goes to his Knights of Freedom group. Basically, he gets together with other homeschooled eight to eleven year-old boys and they learn about various people. This year, his group is studying mountain men. They read one biography a month and then have weekly activities which usually relate to the person being studied. Afterwards, they play a group game and have their weekly sword fight (with swords made of water noodles.) Basically, he's in boy heaven! And while he's away, Autumn and Micah play like the best of friends.
FRIDAY is our homeschool P.E. group. A homeschooling father teaches a group of children from around the valley different games and sports. We have learned that the homeschooling community is a very generous and talented bunch!
Of course, there are ballet lessons, basketball games & practices and piano lessons scattered throughout the week. But since we have no homework (well, I guess it's all homework!), these are welcomed additions.
On MONDAYS, we stay home and enjoy unit studies together. We'll be studying inventions and inventors in January. So far this year, we've studied the ocean, wetlands, Thanksgiving and the Wampanoag Indians, and Christmas/other holiday celebrations. Here are the kids in front of a local wetland:
One of our favorite homeschooling activities is TUESDAY science club. We've joined forces with two other homeschooling families in our neighborhood. They each have a boy Jonah's age, a boy Micah's age, and a girl Autumn's age. Kind of makes me feel like someone else is watching over us! ;) For three weeks every month, each age group goes to a different home to learn about part of the animal kingdom. Then we all go on a field trip together the last week of the month. We're studying mammals in January. Here's our September field trip to a local aquarium:
WEDNESDAY is time for unit studies again.
THURSDAY, Jonah goes to his Knights of Freedom group. Basically, he gets together with other homeschooled eight to eleven year-old boys and they learn about various people. This year, his group is studying mountain men. They read one biography a month and then have weekly activities which usually relate to the person being studied. Afterwards, they play a group game and have their weekly sword fight (with swords made of water noodles.) Basically, he's in boy heaven! And while he's away, Autumn and Micah play like the best of friends.
FRIDAY is our homeschool P.E. group. A homeschooling father teaches a group of children from around the valley different games and sports. We have learned that the homeschooling community is a very generous and talented bunch!
Of course, there are ballet lessons, basketball games & practices and piano lessons scattered throughout the week. But since we have no homework (well, I guess it's all homework!), these are welcomed additions.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Daily Schedule
Several people have asked what an average day of homeschooling is like for us. Of course, no two days are exactly alike. It's part of the beauty and also the challenge of homeschooling. But I have found that an organized day makes me a happier mom and better teacher, so we lean toward the more scheduled way of doing this.
In the mornings, after we eat breakfast and the children feed the animals, I send them downstairs to start writing in their journals. This includes writing down the day's date and then writing and/or drawing about a topic (Autumn draws with a little writing, Micah does about half-and-half, and Jonah almost exclusively writes). I've started assigning topics to give them ideas, but sometimes they have other things to record. I love it when that happens! This is when I clear the breakfast mess and look over the day's lesson plans, plus take just a minute or two to get myself mentally ready to begin (i.e., eat a piece of chocolate, look at a blog, check my email; you get the idea.)
Next comes our morning devotional. This is basically a song, prayer, often a recitation of something we're memorizing, then reading scriptures. We end the devotional with a read-aloud. Currently, we're working through the Little House series. And I've learned to let the kids (this is particularly important for my boys) take out toys to build with... it helps them be better listeners!
After our devotional, we jump into our academic subjects. The exact scheduling took a couple months to work out, but our typical morning looks like this:
I'm nearly always working with one child (usually on the couch) while the others are doing independent work (normally at our school table). That was truly my biggest challenge in the beginning. I felt so overwhelmed trying to teach kindergarten, first grade & third grade math lessons simultaneously!! Our schedule has saved my poor brain!
By the time we're finished with this, it's time for recess & lunch. Also, someone always finishes before it's time to move on to the next subject. During that "down-time," they either play with little brother or choose between certain independent activities. Gabe needs that time to be played with; and we need him to be happy!! Today, he was especially grumpy. On days like this, an empty room apart from where we homeschool provides the perfect sanctuary (for playing toys or, like we resorted to this morning, watching a favorite DVD.)
By now, you're probably sorry you (or someone else!) asked. And, because this post seems WAY too long already, I'll share our afternoon schedule tomorrow.
In the mornings, after we eat breakfast and the children feed the animals, I send them downstairs to start writing in their journals. This includes writing down the day's date and then writing and/or drawing about a topic (Autumn draws with a little writing, Micah does about half-and-half, and Jonah almost exclusively writes). I've started assigning topics to give them ideas, but sometimes they have other things to record. I love it when that happens! This is when I clear the breakfast mess and look over the day's lesson plans, plus take just a minute or two to get myself mentally ready to begin (i.e., eat a piece of chocolate, look at a blog, check my email; you get the idea.)
Next comes our morning devotional. This is basically a song, prayer, often a recitation of something we're memorizing, then reading scriptures. We end the devotional with a read-aloud. Currently, we're working through the Little House series. And I've learned to let the kids (this is particularly important for my boys) take out toys to build with... it helps them be better listeners!
After our devotional, we jump into our academic subjects. The exact scheduling took a couple months to work out, but our typical morning looks like this:
Jonah | Micah | Autumn | |
9ish | Math | Handwriting/Silent Reading/Phonics |
|
10ish | Handwriting/Grammar Workbooks/Spelling/Poetry Memorization (on alternate days, writing workshop)/silent reading | Math | Math/Silent Reading |
11 or so | ---Language Arts with Everybody--- | ||
I'm nearly always working with one child (usually on the couch) while the others are doing independent work (normally at our school table). That was truly my biggest challenge in the beginning. I felt so overwhelmed trying to teach kindergarten, first grade & third grade math lessons simultaneously!! Our schedule has saved my poor brain!
By the time we're finished with this, it's time for recess & lunch. Also, someone always finishes before it's time to move on to the next subject. During that "down-time," they either play with little brother or choose between certain independent activities. Gabe needs that time to be played with; and we need him to be happy!! Today, he was especially grumpy. On days like this, an empty room apart from where we homeschool provides the perfect sanctuary (for playing toys or, like we resorted to this morning, watching a favorite DVD.)
By now, you're probably sorry you (or someone else!) asked. And, because this post seems WAY too long already, I'll share our afternoon schedule tomorrow.
Monday, December 14, 2009
blog change
Sometime in early June, we'll be changing the name of our blog, because someone new is coming to join our family. We'll wait until it's official, and then plan to change to sevenredheads. [And that will be this blog's final name. :)]
Also, I want to tell my family and Clint's thank you for their prayers and their fasting so that this little one could stay with me. Several weeks ago, we thought we had lost our growing little baby, and I am humbled by the answer Heavenly Father chose to give to our prayers. I felt I would have accepted if He'd said no, but I also tasted the difficulty and sadness that would have resulted. My heart aches for those who have experienced miscarriage, and also rejoices in the tender mercies of my Heavenly Father.
Also, I want to tell my family and Clint's thank you for their prayers and their fasting so that this little one could stay with me. Several weeks ago, we thought we had lost our growing little baby, and I am humbled by the answer Heavenly Father chose to give to our prayers. I felt I would have accepted if He'd said no, but I also tasted the difficulty and sadness that would have resulted. My heart aches for those who have experienced miscarriage, and also rejoices in the tender mercies of my Heavenly Father.
A happy 9th birthday
For weeks before his birthday, Jonah had been asking if cousins would be coming to visit. He wanted someone to drive for hours on end to be with him on his special day. And I kept telling him, "No, I really don't think anyone has plans to visit us then." But a couple nights before his birthday, my older sister Lavender called. "Do you mind if we come to visit?" We never mind if anyone comes to visit. Moving away from your whole family does that to a person. And so they hopped in their car the very next day and arrived at night, with hours to spare before his big day. We all had so much fun together.
We had to go to a walking trail beside the river, so he could test out his new r/c boat. The most special part to me was watching as he let his cousins and siblings take turns driving the boat, too. Jonah's growing and he has more moments of feeling frustrated with our crazy family, but inside he's the same as always. He never finishes his basketball snacks, or his scouting treats or any other kind of goodie... he always comes home with enough for Autumn & Micah. I love that about him. Anyway...
Right as we were about finished with the birthday cake, the power went out. And it stayed that way until the middle of the night. The kids felt scared about about the idea of sleeping upstairs in dark bedrooms, until someone came up with the idea of a slumber party on the floor of the living room. So 6 very excited children (Gabe was banished to the crib) eagerly set up beds, the fire was turned on and Auntie Lavender read and read and read some more (hoping someone would nod off, but there was way too much excitement for that!) And finally, the grown-ups left (after a few pictures) and it was the perfect end to a perfect birthday for a practically perfect kid.
We had to go to a walking trail beside the river, so he could test out his new r/c boat. The most special part to me was watching as he let his cousins and siblings take turns driving the boat, too. Jonah's growing and he has more moments of feeling frustrated with our crazy family, but inside he's the same as always. He never finishes his basketball snacks, or his scouting treats or any other kind of goodie... he always comes home with enough for Autumn & Micah. I love that about him. Anyway...
Right as we were about finished with the birthday cake, the power went out. And it stayed that way until the middle of the night. The kids felt scared about about the idea of sleeping upstairs in dark bedrooms, until someone came up with the idea of a slumber party on the floor of the living room. So 6 very excited children (Gabe was banished to the crib) eagerly set up beds, the fire was turned on and Auntie Lavender read and read and read some more (hoping someone would nod off, but there was way too much excitement for that!) And finally, the grown-ups left (after a few pictures) and it was the perfect end to a perfect birthday for a practically perfect kid.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
homeschooling: the promised update
After returning home from kindergarten, I could always be found scooping up my stuffed animals and dolls by the armful. We would make the trek, out of the toy cupboard or my bedroom, down the stairs and into the family room. There, rows of chairs and pillows awaited my toys. Only they weren't toys anymore; they were my students. And, armed with chalk and eraser, I taught them my day's lessons. My siblings had long since abandoned the idea of playing school with me, coming to the sad realization that the teacher's position was permanently occupied. This may have disappointed me for a moment, but I eventually found their replacements just as cute, and ever-more attentive.
My eventual decision to major in early childhood/elementary education came as no surprise to my family. And, to be honest, I was reluctant to seriously consider homeschooling our children in large part because I knew I would really enjoy it. I didn't want to make this huge decision , which would impact our children for better or worse, for any selfish reason. In the end, my love of teaching was not a factor when the actual decision-making happened. And, yet, I have to admit how truly naive I was...
The transition to homeschooling has been noteable. Those first few Friday nights, I eagerly flung myself on my bed soon after tucking in the kids(a complete exaggeration, since I had nowhere near the energy to be eager or the strength to fling anything! Plus, I am certain it was my blessed husband that did the tucking those nights.) I have shed countless tears over new curriculum, crazy daily schedules, and feelings of inadequacy. And, yet, somewhere along the way, this new lifestyle has become our lifestyle; this crazy new way of life, our life. And, even though we've only been at it 2 months and 10 days (who's counting??), some beautiful things are happening. Friendships are being rekindled (the best, sibling kind), little one is thriving, olders are learning to nurture, I've come closer to becoming a patient mama, and learning seems to be enjoyable (although no one's made that crazy admission yet!)
So, that's the general update. We're working, we're striving, we're not giving up. And sometime soon, I'll give you more details of this, our crazy wonderful new life. That is, if you haven't all been replaced by dolls....
My eventual decision to major in early childhood/elementary education came as no surprise to my family. And, to be honest, I was reluctant to seriously consider homeschooling our children in large part because I knew I would really enjoy it. I didn't want to make this huge decision , which would impact our children for better or worse, for any selfish reason. In the end, my love of teaching was not a factor when the actual decision-making happened. And, yet, I have to admit how truly naive I was...
The transition to homeschooling has been noteable. Those first few Friday nights, I eagerly flung myself on my bed soon after tucking in the kids(a complete exaggeration, since I had nowhere near the energy to be eager or the strength to fling anything! Plus, I am certain it was my blessed husband that did the tucking those nights.) I have shed countless tears over new curriculum, crazy daily schedules, and feelings of inadequacy. And, yet, somewhere along the way, this new lifestyle has become our lifestyle; this crazy new way of life, our life. And, even though we've only been at it 2 months and 10 days (who's counting??), some beautiful things are happening. Friendships are being rekindled (the best, sibling kind), little one is thriving, olders are learning to nurture, I've come closer to becoming a patient mama, and learning seems to be enjoyable (although no one's made that crazy admission yet!)
So, that's the general update. We're working, we're striving, we're not giving up. And sometime soon, I'll give you more details of this, our crazy wonderful new life. That is, if you haven't all been replaced by dolls....
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Happy Birthday Baby
The past month and a half have been a blur. The start of our homeschooling adventure has been filled with excitement, frustration, challenge and success. It has been all-consuming, which has left no time for this blog. I'm finally coming up for air and plan to start a series of posts that will give you an up-close look into what homeschooling is... in our family.
But, for now, we're backtracking. Because my baby turned two a couple of weeks into the school year. And that is something worth documenting!
Gabe & big sis helping to make his favorite treat, cookies. Love that the shot captured his miscalculation.
present opening... playdough and tools from big brothers
candy from Daddy...that was a hit
a snuggly kitty from big sister
this cake may be a bit ug, but it was all he talked about for weeks afterwards...his "choo choo bir-day"
and a little candle-licking
Thanks for all the happiness & joy you bring us, angel boy. We love you!! (But PLEASE stop growing so fast.)
But, for now, we're backtracking. Because my baby turned two a couple of weeks into the school year. And that is something worth documenting!
Gabe & big sis helping to make his favorite treat, cookies. Love that the shot captured his miscalculation.
present opening... playdough and tools from big brothers
candy from Daddy...that was a hit
a snuggly kitty from big sister
this cake may be a bit ug, but it was all he talked about for weeks afterwards...his "choo choo bir-day"
and a little candle-licking
Thanks for all the happiness & joy you bring us, angel boy. We love you!! (But PLEASE stop growing so fast.)
Monday, August 31, 2009
Last of our Summer
Just before we dove into our new adventure of homeschooling, we took a much-needed vacation to California. Of course, we mostly visited my family. The kids had lots of fun playing together, and so did the grown-ups. So much so, I didn't even stop to grab my camera for a single picture. Except for when we took a couple trips on our own. First, we went to the beach. What trip to the coast is complete without a beach trip?? This was also a perfect springboard for our first unit on the ocean.
having fun being chased by waves...
playing in the surf some more...
not sure what m was doing here, but i'd bet it involved some trash-talking to the sea...
gathering treasures...
and here's g -- sandy, happy, and about ready to head out...
We gave ourselves a day to recover, then treated the kids to a 13-hour day at Disneyland. I have to admit I was pretty worried about the masses, the heat, and the horrible lines. But we *almost never waited more than about 25 minutes (for which we can, unfortunately, probably thank the economy.) Anyhow, M's dreams came true when he was chosen to be a Jedi trainee.
fighting Darth Maul...
apparently, Darth got in G's face (and scared him pretty good!)...
*I say "apparently," because while the boys were doing Jedi training, I had the distinct honor of waiting with A to see the princesses. For 90 minutes. To see 3 of them. And is Minnie even a princess?? A didn't buy it. So I guess we really waited 90 minutes to see 2 princesses and a fancy mouse. The camera battery died right when we got to the front of the line. Luckily, I had my cell phone... but who knows if I'll ever figure out how to get the pictures off. Later in the day, A said, "So, the princesses here aren't the real ones from the movies."
Me: "Ohhh, why do you say that?"
A: "I just figured it out."
Me: "How did you do that?"
A: "Well, when we went to see Belle, she was wearing the same clothes as the real Belle. And her hair was the same. But her face was different."
Me: "Oh, what was different about it?"
A: "It was a lot fatter."
There was also this conversation, after watching the Celebration parade (which was just after she met Belle, Mulan & Minnie):
A: "In the parade, I heard a man say, 'Disneyland is the place where dreams come true.' But I don't really think it is. Because, once, I had a dream I met Jasmine. And I haven't seen her."
M: "Well, once, I had a dream I came to Disneyland."
At least someone's dream came true that day! We really did have a great time. And we can't wait to go back, see our family, and take some pictures of them all!! :)
having fun being chased by waves...
playing in the surf some more...
not sure what m was doing here, but i'd bet it involved some trash-talking to the sea...
gathering treasures...
and here's g -- sandy, happy, and about ready to head out...
We gave ourselves a day to recover, then treated the kids to a 13-hour day at Disneyland. I have to admit I was pretty worried about the masses, the heat, and the horrible lines. But we *almost never waited more than about 25 minutes (for which we can, unfortunately, probably thank the economy.) Anyhow, M's dreams came true when he was chosen to be a Jedi trainee.
fighting Darth Maul...
apparently, Darth got in G's face (and scared him pretty good!)...
*I say "apparently," because while the boys were doing Jedi training, I had the distinct honor of waiting with A to see the princesses. For 90 minutes. To see 3 of them. And is Minnie even a princess?? A didn't buy it. So I guess we really waited 90 minutes to see 2 princesses and a fancy mouse. The camera battery died right when we got to the front of the line. Luckily, I had my cell phone... but who knows if I'll ever figure out how to get the pictures off. Later in the day, A said, "So, the princesses here aren't the real ones from the movies."
Me: "Ohhh, why do you say that?"
A: "I just figured it out."
Me: "How did you do that?"
A: "Well, when we went to see Belle, she was wearing the same clothes as the real Belle. And her hair was the same. But her face was different."
Me: "Oh, what was different about it?"
A: "It was a lot fatter."
There was also this conversation, after watching the Celebration parade (which was just after she met Belle, Mulan & Minnie):
A: "In the parade, I heard a man say, 'Disneyland is the place where dreams come true.' But I don't really think it is. Because, once, I had a dream I met Jasmine. And I haven't seen her."
M: "Well, once, I had a dream I came to Disneyland."
At least someone's dream came true that day! We really did have a great time. And we can't wait to go back, see our family, and take some pictures of them all!! :)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Cousin Sleepover
We've enjoyed a few of these in the last month... of course, I didn't ever think to pull out the camera for CA or Southern UT cousin pictures... I was probably (definitely) too busy gabbing with my family. But here are a couple pictures of the kids enjoying Natalie & Kadin, while I was noticeably NOT gabbing. (Just want you to know they were in good hands, Monica!) ;)
The two princesses...
and a couple of the princes...
The two princesses...
and a couple of the princes...
Swim Lessons
We tried out a new place for swim lessons this year, and it was such a great experience! Where she had never swam alone before, Autumn was swimming on her own by the second lesson.
Jonah improved his stroke, and began learning a few new ones.
Micah became a pro at floating, and was swimming by the session's end, as well.
This new place allows you to stay for hours after your lessons are done, swimming in their outdoor pool. The extra water time was not only a welcome respite from the hottest two weeks of summer; the added exposure gave them the practice they needed to solidify what they learned in lessons. So, so smart!! And even little Gaby got to splash around every day, as a reward for suffering through his big siblings' swim lessons!
Jonah improved his stroke, and began learning a few new ones.
Micah became a pro at floating, and was swimming by the session's end, as well.
This new place allows you to stay for hours after your lessons are done, swimming in their outdoor pool. The extra water time was not only a welcome respite from the hottest two weeks of summer; the added exposure gave them the practice they needed to solidify what they learned in lessons. So, so smart!! And even little Gaby got to splash around every day, as a reward for suffering through his big siblings' swim lessons!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
signs of summer
fragrant roses
yummy strawberries... Gabe even searches for them now, and he is my super-picky, nothing-healthy-for-me guy
more roses...love this color
daisies taking over the front yard
and snapdragons...every year new color variations pop up
little swallow birdie too anxious to spread his wings
fell all the way down from this nest, parents just didn't know what to do...other than dive bombing anyone who got too close.
we tried to help out...loved & fed him for a couple days. (won't tell you the sad ending.) :(
But i just love these long, slow summer days.
yummy strawberries... Gabe even searches for them now, and he is my super-picky, nothing-healthy-for-me guy
more roses...love this color
daisies taking over the front yard
and snapdragons...every year new color variations pop up
little swallow birdie too anxious to spread his wings
fell all the way down from this nest, parents just didn't know what to do...other than dive bombing anyone who got too close.
we tried to help out...loved & fed him for a couple days. (won't tell you the sad ending.) :(
But i just love these long, slow summer days.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Run, Jonah, RUN!
Our town had its annual festival recently, and among many activities was a one-mile race. J was very interested, particularly in the prize that would be awarded. After coming to terms with the fact that (as far as we knew) running the race was its own prize, he decided to run. Racers ranged in age from babies in strollers to the parents pushing them.
We decided to make a big deal of it, making up signs and cheering J as he took off, and again when he passed us. He pretended not to want the hooplah, then grinned from ear-to-ear as we made complete fools of ourselves. :)
When all was said and done, he finished fifth, in 8 minutes 5 seconds. And because I suck, this is the only picture I got of him during the race. (look behind the mailbox)
We decided to make a big deal of it, making up signs and cheering J as he took off, and again when he passed us. He pretended not to want the hooplah, then grinned from ear-to-ear as we made complete fools of ourselves. :)
When all was said and done, he finished fifth, in 8 minutes 5 seconds. And because I suck, this is the only picture I got of him during the race. (look behind the mailbox)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Cracking the Whip...in a little cuter & more efficient sort of way
another stolen idea from the blogosphere...
Years ago, we started out with a chore chart...one I printed on the computer. Recently, we tried the daily-list-on-a-post-it method. That was going just fine. But I came across this idea on someone's blog. And just had to give it a try. Each chore I have the children do is listed on a card, with step-by-step instructions. Each card is assigned a point value, and each child needs a certain amount of points each week in order to collect their full allowance. The children pick their jobs (of the ones I place in the upper pockets on any given day).
So far, I'm loving three things about this method:
1. It's cuter than the others :)
2. The kids get a voice in what their chores will be. They rarely complain now (so far, anyway...we've only been doing this a couple weeks.) But, seriously, I think it's ingenious to let them have a say in what they'll clean!
3. The cards make it so they can check to see if the job is actually complete. I have laminated them now, so they can be carried around while cleaning.
Years ago, we started out with a chore chart...one I printed on the computer. Recently, we tried the daily-list-on-a-post-it method. That was going just fine. But I came across this idea on someone's blog. And just had to give it a try. Each chore I have the children do is listed on a card, with step-by-step instructions. Each card is assigned a point value, and each child needs a certain amount of points each week in order to collect their full allowance. The children pick their jobs (of the ones I place in the upper pockets on any given day).
So far, I'm loving three things about this method:
1. It's cuter than the others :)
2. The kids get a voice in what their chores will be. They rarely complain now (so far, anyway...we've only been doing this a couple weeks.) But, seriously, I think it's ingenious to let them have a say in what they'll clean!
3. The cards make it so they can check to see if the job is actually complete. I have laminated them now, so they can be carried around while cleaning.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Because this is the state of affairs...
The spinach is coming in full force right now, so I've been using it every way I can. And then freezing some so that the yummy goodness can last all year-round. The other night, I tried this recipe. Never would have thought to put it all together myself, but I have to say we all really enjoyed it. So if you're looking for new ways to dish up your spinach, here you go:
1-lb ground beef
1-onion -chopped
1-garlic- chopped (i just took a scoop out of my jar of minced garlic i keep in the fridge door)
2-3 Tablespoons olive oil (or butter)
1 bag spinach (I used about half of the spinach from the colander pictured in the sink)-coarsely chopped
6 eggs- beaten (i only used 4 because our hens lay really huge ones for some reason)
4 oz cheese (I'm sure any kind will taste great; I had cheddar jack on hand so I used it)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sautee the onion and garlic in the olive oil for a minute or two, then add the ground beef and cooked until no longer pink. Next add the spinach and sautee until wilted about 5 mins. Finally, pour in the eggs and cook until set (like scrambled eggs) about 5 mins, salt and pepper to taste, grate the cheese on top. It was fast, simple, and all in one pan which is always nice! I served it with toast and cantaloupe, but it would also be yummy served as breakfast burritos!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Count
Years ago, when I took Micah to the pediatrician for his two-year check-up, he was diagnosed with expressive speech delay. Basically, he understood everything we said. But he followed his own timetable when it came to talking. And, while he can talk your ear off when given the rare opportunity (he's sandwiched between two very verbal siblings), his strongest gifts lie in other areas.
When he was four, I took him to be assessed for speech. I was trying to get him enrolled in the preschool speech program through the elementary school. He was given a very long and thorough assessment. During one portion, the evaluators went through a large book, filled with pictures. They would ask him to point things out, name them, or just answer questions about what he saw. He was very serious throughout the evaluation and did his best to respond correctly. At one point, he was shown a picture of six fruits. The tester asked how many was half. He answered, "Three." This was unexpected. They further prodded him to point out half of the fruits. He pointed to three of them (and looked at the ladies like they were ridiculous). The comment was made, "Well, I guess we know what his strength is!"
It wasn't the first time I noticed a love of numbers in this son. As we dropped Jonah off at kindergarten each day, Micah began to point out the bus numbers. He repeatedly asked me to name the numbers until, eventually, he could name them all by himself. He memorized the three or four bus numbers we routinely passed by and knew just when and where to expect them. He was three.
Now, this translates into a fascination with patterns and arithmetic. Towards the end of the school year, he was taught to tally. Recently, I have found him silently marking during rainstorms, or as he lies on the grass looking overhead, or while digging in the garden. Some people scribble their life's happenings in blogs or journals. My boy tallies. And I couldn't be happier that he has discovered his gift so early on!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Father/Son Campout
Every year, Clint and the boys go on an overnight camp-out with the other men/boys we go to church with. Gabe was once again left behind...maybe he'll be out of diapers next year! If dirt is any indicator of the good times enjoyed by my boys, I think they had a blast!!
In their absence, the girls set up a tent, too. Ours was conveniently located in the living room.
Gabe & Autumn enjoyed a couple movies tent-side, before G was whisked away to his crib.
That left time for me and my baby girl to snuggle and watch another show.
In the morning, we ate and bathed, then hurried off to a Pioneer monument dedication. The President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of our Church, Boyd K. Packer, came to dedicate it. It was a nice ceremony.
Autumn captured how at least half of the meeting really went down for me, chasing G who thinks it is hilarious to bolt away (the giggling only increases when he heads for the street.)
(As a side note, we were sitting pretty close, and there were only 100 or 200 people there. Anyway, Sister Packer was sitting on the front row watching and I saw her look over at me and smile a couple of times. She has 10 children, so she must understand... that's what I perceived, anyway. I love being around seasoned, virtuous mothers. I can only hope their strength and goodness is just a little bit contagious!!)
In their absence, the girls set up a tent, too. Ours was conveniently located in the living room.
Gabe & Autumn enjoyed a couple movies tent-side, before G was whisked away to his crib.
That left time for me and my baby girl to snuggle and watch another show.In the morning, we ate and bathed, then hurried off to a Pioneer monument dedication. The President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of our Church, Boyd K. Packer, came to dedicate it. It was a nice ceremony.
Autumn captured how at least half of the meeting really went down for me, chasing G who thinks it is hilarious to bolt away (the giggling only increases when he heads for the street.)
(As a side note, we were sitting pretty close, and there were only 100 or 200 people there. Anyway, Sister Packer was sitting on the front row watching and I saw her look over at me and smile a couple of times. She has 10 children, so she must understand... that's what I perceived, anyway. I love being around seasoned, virtuous mothers. I can only hope their strength and goodness is just a little bit contagious!!)
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