Monday, September 21, 2015
I seem to get around to this in September. Another school year, still requiring copious amouts of coffee to get through the day! With the new year comes new challenges, experiences and frustrations. It's okay. I tell myself that more than I like to admit, but it's okay. I've been blessed to have the chance to pass on some help to other homeschooling mama's out there which is nice. It kind of validates the fact that I am doing what's right for my little ones.
Although one is not quite so little anymore. We had to move Bucko to man soap already! I know, he'll be 10 soon, but I really thought it would be another year or so. The boy just plain stinks if he uses kiddie soap, so man soap it is. He's a little excited about that, so hopefully that means actual showers will be on the rise. Actual showers meaning that he actually puts his whole body in the water at a minimum. Eventually I hope he understands soap is not optional. Or that he is getting way too tall to take a bath in that tub, that it must be a shower. Kid is nearly as tall as me now. He's not 10 yet, did I mention that? How is that allowed?
Roo was diagnosed late last year as ADHD. I always knew that boy was more bouncy than normal. We struggled with the need for medication, but I would be lying if I said it didn't help tremendously with his academics and impulse control. I didn't even know he could read as well as he can because he just could not sit still. The things that took 8-10 hours last year and still did not get finished take him maybe 3 or 4 this year. Thankfully, he only has to take it on days he needs to focus. We have always struggled with his weight, and the meds really mess with his appetite. On the days I can get him outside and super active it isn't too bad, but those other days he barely eats, or so it seems. I've had a lot of people tell me I shouldn't medicate, but I'll tell you why I do. The BIGGEST thing is that he cannot control how crazy he gets most days. There was the day I went to the bathroom and when I came back to the kitchen, after talking to him for not doing his math, I realized he was hiding something behind his back. Thinking it was a toy,I made him show me- now here's the scary part. While I was in the bathroom, he nearly cut off his finger. Why? Because I sliced my thumb a couple days prior on accident with my mandolin slicer and he wanted to see how sharp it was. It wasn't where he could reach it, out in the open or even in sight. He went looking for it, found it and somehow decided that was a good idea. He still runs straight out into the road or parking lot though he knows better. He's 8. My job is to keep him safe in whatever way I can.
Bugs is growing like a weed! She's so tall (for me haha), but still light as can be. She will probably need to forward face soon due to height, maybe by Christmas. She has an inch or less before the seat says so even though her weight is no where near the limit. She's a smart little cookie, learning Latin, history, prepositions and science alongside her brothers. She is nearing 4 and has not officially started school, possibly next school year. We will see. I think she'll be far more ready than I to start school on a more regular schedule! If you don't like creepy, crawly things, you should probably keep your distance. She is likely the one to try and walk into my house with a snake. Nope, nope, nope! We can not have that!
This is a little longer than I meant it to be, so I will continue another day! Rember though- Coffee Before School - ALWAYS!
Although one is not quite so little anymore. We had to move Bucko to man soap already! I know, he'll be 10 soon, but I really thought it would be another year or so. The boy just plain stinks if he uses kiddie soap, so man soap it is. He's a little excited about that, so hopefully that means actual showers will be on the rise. Actual showers meaning that he actually puts his whole body in the water at a minimum. Eventually I hope he understands soap is not optional. Or that he is getting way too tall to take a bath in that tub, that it must be a shower. Kid is nearly as tall as me now. He's not 10 yet, did I mention that? How is that allowed?
Roo was diagnosed late last year as ADHD. I always knew that boy was more bouncy than normal. We struggled with the need for medication, but I would be lying if I said it didn't help tremendously with his academics and impulse control. I didn't even know he could read as well as he can because he just could not sit still. The things that took 8-10 hours last year and still did not get finished take him maybe 3 or 4 this year. Thankfully, he only has to take it on days he needs to focus. We have always struggled with his weight, and the meds really mess with his appetite. On the days I can get him outside and super active it isn't too bad, but those other days he barely eats, or so it seems. I've had a lot of people tell me I shouldn't medicate, but I'll tell you why I do. The BIGGEST thing is that he cannot control how crazy he gets most days. There was the day I went to the bathroom and when I came back to the kitchen, after talking to him for not doing his math, I realized he was hiding something behind his back. Thinking it was a toy,I made him show me- now here's the scary part. While I was in the bathroom, he nearly cut off his finger. Why? Because I sliced my thumb a couple days prior on accident with my mandolin slicer and he wanted to see how sharp it was. It wasn't where he could reach it, out in the open or even in sight. He went looking for it, found it and somehow decided that was a good idea. He still runs straight out into the road or parking lot though he knows better. He's 8. My job is to keep him safe in whatever way I can.
Bugs is growing like a weed! She's so tall (for me haha), but still light as can be. She will probably need to forward face soon due to height, maybe by Christmas. She has an inch or less before the seat says so even though her weight is no where near the limit. She's a smart little cookie, learning Latin, history, prepositions and science alongside her brothers. She is nearing 4 and has not officially started school, possibly next school year. We will see. I think she'll be far more ready than I to start school on a more regular schedule! If you don't like creepy, crawly things, you should probably keep your distance. She is likely the one to try and walk into my house with a snake. Nope, nope, nope! We can not have that!
This is a little longer than I meant it to be, so I will continue another day! Rember though- Coffee Before School - ALWAYS!
Monday, September 14, 2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
January Already?
Wow, it has been so busy for us that I have done a terrible job of keeping up with this blog! We are well into the second half of the school year already. Some days are better than others and every day requires coffee. Much coffee.
Little Bugs has mastered the potty! So excited over this accomplishment, I wasn't sure when we would get there. She wakes up in the middle of the night to go, and cries the whole time until she is back in her bed. I hate to say it, but this amuses me to no end! She had an accident the other evening because she couldn't decide whether to potty or to do her self-declared "job" of taking groceries to the kitchen. I promised her that her groceries would still be there if she went to the potty first, but I was too late. We sorted it out, however big brother had to deal with an angry Bugs because he did not listen and took the bags to the kitchen. He had to bring them all back!
Bucko recently allowed us to cut his hair, but requested a mohawk. It's hair. I 'm cool with that. However I absolutely suck at making his hair stand up, so now it is full of gunk and looks more like horrible, greasy, bedhead. The big kids at school told him how cool it was anyways, I absolutely love these kids we do Community with on Thursdays! This week he choose to do his presentation on the Leidy Comb Jelly. I'd never heard of it either, don't feel bad! He received this encyclopedia type book about animals, ancient history, insects and dinosaurs for Christmas. He reads this book all the time. I'm so proud of what an accomplished reader he is (and excited at least one of my children is a bookworm like me).
Roo has shown an interest in cooking lately, so this morning he decided to learn how to make pancakes. This means he measured and mixed the ingredients and then ran away with stolen bacon. It's a start right? Bucko finished his cereal and then stuck around to learn how to make scrambled eggs and flip pancakes. I can not wait until they learn how to load the dishwasher! The boys do unload, but it can take hours to finish the job.
What have we learned today? It's been so long since I've written on this blog that there is no real theme! Don't hate me, just laugh. Also, remember - Coffee Before School - always!!
Little Bugs has mastered the potty! So excited over this accomplishment, I wasn't sure when we would get there. She wakes up in the middle of the night to go, and cries the whole time until she is back in her bed. I hate to say it, but this amuses me to no end! She had an accident the other evening because she couldn't decide whether to potty or to do her self-declared "job" of taking groceries to the kitchen. I promised her that her groceries would still be there if she went to the potty first, but I was too late. We sorted it out, however big brother had to deal with an angry Bugs because he did not listen and took the bags to the kitchen. He had to bring them all back!
Bucko recently allowed us to cut his hair, but requested a mohawk. It's hair. I 'm cool with that. However I absolutely suck at making his hair stand up, so now it is full of gunk and looks more like horrible, greasy, bedhead. The big kids at school told him how cool it was anyways, I absolutely love these kids we do Community with on Thursdays! This week he choose to do his presentation on the Leidy Comb Jelly. I'd never heard of it either, don't feel bad! He received this encyclopedia type book about animals, ancient history, insects and dinosaurs for Christmas. He reads this book all the time. I'm so proud of what an accomplished reader he is (and excited at least one of my children is a bookworm like me).
Roo has shown an interest in cooking lately, so this morning he decided to learn how to make pancakes. This means he measured and mixed the ingredients and then ran away with stolen bacon. It's a start right? Bucko finished his cereal and then stuck around to learn how to make scrambled eggs and flip pancakes. I can not wait until they learn how to load the dishwasher! The boys do unload, but it can take hours to finish the job.
What have we learned today? It's been so long since I've written on this blog that there is no real theme! Don't hate me, just laugh. Also, remember - Coffee Before School - always!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Crazy Busy September!
Things have been so crazy busy the last few weeks! I just realized I never even blogged for all of September! It's been a little bit rough getting into the swing of things this year. We have one day a week we are out of the house from 8 to 8! Long days indeed. Those are the days I do my best to get my coffee before we leave as it's unlikely I will see my precious coffee again before bed time. I freely admit I am a coffee addict!
Those extra long days start with Community Day, followed by the library and then to meet up again with friends from Community Day and others. At some point we have dinner whether at home or in town before the boys head off to Cub Scouts. Busy. So un-socialized my poor little home-schooled kids! All of that is just one day! Don't forget church is a whole other day of being with others. Every. Single. Week. The other five days? There is no set schedule and we have a little wiggle room. There could be another park day, a field trip, time with mama's old military friends and their kids, visits to family and friends in other states. Really, the possibilities are endless.
So September. It flew by! The boys decided reading the Little House series would be fun this year. It sounded good to me so I agreed and we went on a search for all the books. I'm still missing two I believe. I decided it would be best to do as a read aloud together project, so that is what we have been doing. We finished Little House In The Big Woods and I am waiting for their projects based on the book. I can't wait to see what they decide to do. About one-third of the way through we did paintings of our favorite scene which they enjoyed (although I think I need to find some good art education materials!).
9/11.
We really studied September 11th. I mean, we literally did nothing else that day. Everything we did was related to the events of the day. There were a couple worksheets and coloring pages but mostly there was plenty of discussion. We read speeches from GeorgeBush, we listened to the music created about 9/11 and discussed the meanings of the lyrics, we watched the original news coverage of the planes hitting and the collapse of the towers. We discussed terrorists and what they did, how they changed our lives. We talked about what I was doing when it happened. Yes, my children are young but history is history and I don't believe in making things nice and rosy when they aren't.
Last weekend we went to see the Memphis Belle at an airport near us. We arrived while it was still in flight so we were able to watch it come in for a landing. Take note, this is not the original Memphis Belle, but the one used in the movie about the real, and legendary Memphis Belle. At the same time, this aircraft was built in the 1940's and just didn't make it to war. It is one of only 13 or so B-17 Bombers, or "Flying Fortresses" that is still in flight today out of around 3,000 built, so regardless it is absolutely worth seeing! The kids loved it! After it landed and they had it situated we were able to walk all around it and tour the inside. I took many pictures of course!
There is a ton more I could share, but I need to be up in time for coffee before school!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Field Trips
Field trips. We spent a day in Amish country, starting with an Amish style lunch at Good N Plenty. Roo immediately made friends with the lady sitting next to him and managed to have her serve him the whole time while Bugs hollered down the place thanking the waitress for cooking for her! The food, oh so much of it and so good! Someone forgot to tell me there were FIVE desserts to try. I never give my kids dessert. It's not because I'm against it, it's that none of us are ever able to eat it after dinner. After we rolled out of there we headed on to the Amish Village to tour the house and learn a little about the Amish lifestyle. We took a quick tour of the outbuildings before boarding the bus for the tour of the countryside stopping at one of the Amish farms for a few minutes.
Our next trip was to Fort McHenry. My favorite part? Locking the kids in the jail cell of course! Bugs was very upset we made her quit washing laundry with the reenactors to actually see the inside of the fort. Two year olds, they are so concerned about chores! Apparently we wandered into some kind of kid fun day with all sorts of hands on activities. Bucko and Roo hand-stitched a few stiches of the American Flag that was being worked on, wrote with a feather quill and all three colored paper dolls that were wearing 1814 dress. Roo tried on some period costumes, he was adorable.
We left Fort McHenry and headed straight to D.C. as we were staying a few days with friends we hadn't seen in ages. While in D.C. we took the kids to the National Air and Space Museum via the Metro. I'm not sure which activity was the favored one. The boys begged to stand which we did allow on the ride back. We headed home a couple days later after an event filled trip that turned out to be a lot of fun.
Our next trip was to Fort McHenry. My favorite part? Locking the kids in the jail cell of course! Bugs was very upset we made her quit washing laundry with the reenactors to actually see the inside of the fort. Two year olds, they are so concerned about chores! Apparently we wandered into some kind of kid fun day with all sorts of hands on activities. Bucko and Roo hand-stitched a few stiches of the American Flag that was being worked on, wrote with a feather quill and all three colored paper dolls that were wearing 1814 dress. Roo tried on some period costumes, he was adorable.
We left Fort McHenry and headed straight to D.C. as we were staying a few days with friends we hadn't seen in ages. While in D.C. we took the kids to the National Air and Space Museum via the Metro. I'm not sure which activity was the favored one. The boys begged to stand which we did allow on the ride back. We headed home a couple days later after an event filled trip that turned out to be a lot of fun.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Car Schooling
Field Trips, who doesn't love them? I know I prefer them to doing school work myself! We've already taken 3 field trips for this school year. School barely started you say? Well, I guess that's true, officially anyways. My hubby had an extra long break between semesters this month so we decided to take a trip or several.
Traffic sucks so we spent an extra bit of time in the car on the way to Baltimore. The boys had their flash cards and spent an amazingly long amount of time quizzing each other, their sister too. I noticed they liked the insect and animal flash cards the best, but the Presidents came out of the pack a time or two. I think the multiplication and division cards stayed safely ensconced in their pretty box, but the addition and subtraction cards were used.. When they got tired of that they read through their kid's road atlases that I found at a truck stop a few years ago, they colored, put stickers on my windows (grrrrr not real happy about that!!) and read their books and Boy"s Life magazines. We previewed our Latin lessons for this year by listening to the music CD that accompanied the book and our memory work from CC. All of this took place prior to reaching 695.
Traffic sucks so we spent an extra bit of time in the car on the way to Baltimore. The boys had their flash cards and spent an amazingly long amount of time quizzing each other, their sister too. I noticed they liked the insect and animal flash cards the best, but the Presidents came out of the pack a time or two. I think the multiplication and division cards stayed safely ensconced in their pretty box, but the addition and subtraction cards were used.. When they got tired of that they read through their kid's road atlases that I found at a truck stop a few years ago, they colored, put stickers on my windows (grrrrr not real happy about that!!) and read their books and Boy"s Life magazines. We previewed our Latin lessons for this year by listening to the music CD that accompanied the book and our memory work from CC. All of this took place prior to reaching 695.
We spent about a week with my husbands grandmother, the kids played, fished, ran and enjoyed themselves. They learned how to bait hooks and pull the hook out with some tool before tossing the fish back. My two year old caught a fish and ran around with it squeezing so hard. She squeezed that poor thing so hard the next thing you heard was, "fishy poopy!!! Mommy fishy poopy!". When she didn't have the fish she was cradling worms and shoving them in your face telling you "he likes you!". Or sticking cicadas on your shirt. We had a blast. Somehow several pages of work were squeezed in among the fishing and fun with family.
I'm fading and I really should get up early tomorrow. This will have to be followed up later. In the morning after coffee maybe......
I'm fading and I really should get up early tomorrow. This will have to be followed up later. In the morning after coffee maybe......
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