Playdoh

Tuesday

Today Laken was all about the Playdoh.....he was much more into the squishy compound than in sitting and learning his name or nursery rhymes. Since I am way more interested in him learning at his own pace and his own way, I didn't force him. Instead I sat beside him and showed him how shapes look made out of playdoh. We reviewed colors, since he already knows them anyway, and the letter A. I will try again tomorrow with the structured learning.
If it's alien making again then so be it! Blessed to have a smart little boy.

Laken's School

Week 1- Monday

Laken and I are starting out on a new adventure. We are starting a structured homeschooling routine. Last year we learned on the fly and did activities a couple times a week. I decided since he is starting preschool outside of the home next school year that I would give him a head start. Today was our first day!
Our theme for the week is: Cows. We learned what a cow is and what it looks like. We reviewed our learning board to get familiar with how it works. Our vocabulary word to remember and learn is: calf. We learned that this is the word for a baby cow. We read the book "Going to sleep on the Farm" and looked at pictures of real cows. Laken colored a picture of a cow and we made a cow hand puppet together. He was really excited to use paints today.
We also counted to ten and started name recognition. I posted his name above the learning board so he will get familiar with how it looks written out. I also write his name on all his work and say each letter as I write it so he will get use to hearing the letters of his name in order.

Did you miss me while I was gone??

I am going to make it my goal in the next few weeks to update this blog! I logged on today and realized I have not posted since last year. So much has happened since then and reflecting, I can't believe I haven't kept up with it. Blogging, "journaling" as I used to call it when it was on paper, is one of the things that clear my head and allow me to utilize what little memory I have left. :o) So to anyone who may be reading my tucked away and hidden blog...there are some great stories to come! Promise!

Spring planting

It was a glorious day in Iowa today. Not a half nice day where it rains and/or snows for the first part and the sun comes out for the second half...no all nice! X and I spent most of the day outside raking, burning leaves and getting the area around the house ready to plant flowers. Being 3 means mommy did most of it, but he definitely did his fair share. I just love watching him get so into a task.
I brought out some random things today to be washed (i.e: the shoe rack from the back porch) and gave X a bucket of soapy water and let him go. He hummed and sang and scrubbed that shelf for a good half hour. He was NOT ready to give it up when it was all shiny and clean, so I gave him another "chore". I have never met a child who loves to recycle more than my little man. He takes pride in putting it all in the big "trash can with wheels" and will not accept mommy's help. He would do all of my chores if I let him.
Baby L sat peacefully for most of this time in his playpen. This is the first time I have ever gotten to use one of these and I have to say he really enjoyed it. It was something new for him to try to pull himself up on and he loves to be outside. Feeling the wind on his face is a big thrill for him. He hasn't started throwing his toys out yet, but I am sure that is to follow soon.

~Picture post to follow later~

Action!

I actually skipped my post last night because I was so excited to watch my new movie. I love action movies.....my favorite being Die Hard, but yesterday I found all three Riddick movies in one package. Had to get it!
I have never been much of a girly girl and love all things I guess my Daddy had me watch with him as a very little girl (except wrestling...I outgrew that one, lol). I do like the occasional "chick flick", but my choice will most of the time fall to action.
Now my one and only daughter some how came out ultra feminine. She is into all the makeup applying, hair doing, nail polishing things girly girls love. I am at a loss most of the time and I know it will only get worse. She is the definition of powder puff. Loves pink and dresses, tights and "tappy" shoes. I pray I can keep up with her and let her be her. I am all about action movies, some sports and comfy clothes. Bring on the hockey and I might even wear a little lip gloss.

Easter...a time for new life

I just want to say Easter was wonderful and I hope you all had a good one too. Thank you God for the sacrifice of your son so we may be saved!
Our church was in full bloom this morning with beautiful flowers of bright colors. Everyone was in their best pastel clothes and happy to have a warm day for egg hunting. I was listening to our minister talk about the resurrection of our lord Jesus and two rows up from me I see a tiny little baby squirm in his blanket he is snugly wrapped up in. A smile came to my face as I thought of new life. The blooming of flowers and buds on the trees. My sons class is raising chicks to hatch at the end of the month and here right among all of us in our Sunday best is the tiniest most precious gift. What a blessing.
The egg hunt we had today was on the most beautiful of days. I love the pure look of joy on the faces of children having fun. Such things we do just to glimpse that look. I stuffed and hid over 100 plastic eggs, colored about 4 dozen hard boiled eggs with three different sets of little ones. All covered in colored water and stickers..but the joy this brings to these little people is what makes us go through it all again the following year.
Bless everyone in this Easter season.

So it begins....

Have you ever just sat and watched your kids? They have such a unique way of looking at things. I was watching my three year old today, he didn't know this of course, observing a bug in the window. He watched it crawl up the window sill and across the plastic that still encases our window. He became braver and leaned in to touch his nose to the plastic close to where the bug was crawling. He watched it from this perspective for a while the whole time humming his own tune. I wondered how this little fire ball of energy can bounce around the house, not sitting still for more that 2.5 seconds at a time all day and for one or two small moments like this stay mesmerized for almost 30 minutes on a bug. He watched it for a while and then with a shiver went about his business of building his train track.
I created this blog to capture a few of those precious moments we take for granted in our children's lives. They go so fast and we are sure we will remember them, but with all the big things to remember, the little things sometimes get overshadowed. I hope you enjoy my ramblings as much as I do.