Monday, August 27, 2012

First Day of School


 No school day would be complete without a hearty breakfast. The kids and I easily polished off nearly a dozen blueberry muffins fresh from the oven. Normally breakfasts are eggs or oatmeal, but this was a special day. Andy did not mind the change of pace at all.


I would have preferred to purchase the curriculum that I've been drooling over for months years, but with the pay-cut we took when we moved, it just isn't going to happen. Since we are just beginning preschool, I feel pretty competent about putting together my own thing. We're going to work through the alphabet and start learning phonics using Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. For now I'm going to do a letter a week (depending upon what pace he needs) and read lots of books.


 Today we read Chicka Chicka A, B, C , The Lady with the Alligator Purse, and The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. We practiced identifying the letter 'A', the 'aaaaa' sound, and made an alligator. 


While they worked on some fine motor skills tasks, I read the Beatrix Potter story to them.





 All in all, I had Jack's full attention for over an hour, and after that he was asking to do the pattern blocks. I had to say no to that since Andy is a climber and I can't keep him off the kitchen table! We compromised with a trip to the library for more 'A' and 'B' books. It was a nice, relaxed first day of school. No tears, no pressure. He loved it and I have high hopes for the year.




Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Finding The New "Normal"


Our summer was fantastic. We live so close to the ocean, and have a private beach on the base just 10 minutes away (and that takes so long thanks to the low speed limits and checkpoint). The kids have been turning golden brown and Andy's hair is blonder than ever. If only I could keep him from eating the sand.  


They have enjoyed their new freedom perhaps a little too much. One day, in a mere five minutes of unsupervised time (both parents thought the other one was outside with them) Jack managed to locate the craft supplies box (yet unpacked at that time) and paint his brother and half the front porch blue. And no, he hasn't seen Braveheart. These kids keep me on my toes.


Here's a mini house tour. I'm figuring out how to use the space, it has taken a little while but I think I'm catching on at last. I have grandiose plans to paint the kitchen table and chairs. I hope I will finally get around to that. I have plans for a lot of that clutter to disappear soon. Tomorrow I set up a pantry. Yep, I finally gave up my hopes of having a proper hall closet. Sigh. It would have been nice.


I figured I wouldn't clean up for you. There are no pinterest-worthy corners in my home. (Are you on pinterest? http://pinterest.com/nerdymomma/ )We're working on selling our two desktop computers so that we can get a laptop. I can't wait to banish that ugly folding table to the garage, and bring it out only for festive banqueting purposes.


This is my favorite room. It's the spare room, and the only one I can 1) keep tidy 2) put as many pink flowery things as I want in it, and 3) display lovely little breakable things below arm-pit level. Now that Husband is back at work, I'm preparing to start our first real year of homeschool. These kids are itching for something to work their little brains and keep their hands out of mischief.


 Til next time folks!