The BIG not-so-big News

After a full weekend of visiting Colonial Williamsburg, picking up parents at the airport and hanging out at a local park with a little cousin;)...

 we decided to bring Anna to a pet store. Recently she has been researching having a pet guinea pig. She's read pet books, took an online pet "quiz", even priced all the items she'd need to care for the guinea pig. But she had never touch/held one!

It ended up being a good idea because she wasn't very excited about getting one as we were leaving. I did have her touch/hold a rabbit and she was leaning in that direction more as we headed out the door.

But then we made another visit.... to a puppy store.

Just as a side note ... we've talked about getting a dog for years... it's always been a known thing that we'd have to get a dog for our kids because they've been asking. We've had all the inside/outside, small/big, puppy/pound dog conversations! And even things that we'd like in a dog... when the time came... later down the road :)

Of course when we told them our requirements of a dog (inside dog, small/medium sized, ok with allergies, and doesn't shed,and very good with small children) they said they had the "right" dog for us....

and he was:)

We are not "quick decision" makers.... getting a puppy right now was NOT in the plans!!

But this little guy fit us to the T!!

So we took him home that nigh:) Totally unlike us;)

{pretty}

For those who know more about dog breeds (which I am totally not one of them) he is a Cavashon. A mix between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise. He is just 5 months old and weighs about 15 pounds.

He is very easy going but will get very playful when the kids get him excited... which is perfect for us;)

He is content on any couch...

and even in a lap;)

{funny}

I love Chris' expression....LOL!! Doesn't the puppy look content;)

He can also be found being carried around the house by either of the girls... which he is also fine with;)

{happy}

And he is beginning to really like being outside!! Funny to see a dog that wasn't used to grass at all (kinda sad) begin to enjoy running through the grass:)

{real}

Besides crate training him and house breaking him, the only thing left he really needs is a name:( We're working on it;)

 And while I've definitely questioned the timing... I'm really seeing how it's a good time. The kids care for the puppy pretty much the whole day:) Brian and I will take him out in the morning as soon as we take him out of our washroom (soon moving him to a crate). And I bathe him (when he needs it) and put him in at night.

I'll be honest that the first few nights were a little crazy!! Thankfully it's settling down and I'm actually sleeping in MY bed for the night.... I missed more sleep with him for the first few days than I ever did with my babies;)

We are really pleased with our decision to bring this little guy home!! He's such a sweet, loving and silly dog. He's a puppy so we have puppy antics all day, everything from stealing underwear and chewing toys to taking puppy led walks hoping he'll go his business outside;)

He's definitely added some extra craziness to the days;) But the kids adore him and he's great for us!! 

Linking up to {phfr} and Moments to Remember.

Weekly Wrap-Up: A Fun Week!!

Bible
Our family way was about accepting correction and discipline from parents (and other authorities).  Again, I like that this study is written from a "heart issue" approach rather than just a rigid you MUST obey. I like that through the discussion questions, the kids could understand why parents have to correct and discipline.

I posted the kids' list of what they think we are teaching them that they will need in adulthood;)

Language Arts
We are chugging along through the Grammar, Spelling and Writing;) This week I wanted to share how we are using Spelling Power with Chris and Lydia. Technically Spelling Power is used with older kiddos, like 3rd grade and up.

But I really didn't want to hunt for something formal for my middle two... again trying to get reading first and keeping the fun of learning in those younger years... trying;)

So what we've been doing is going over ONE rule/group a week. After we talk about the rule and maybe give examples of words with that sound or spelling, they copy the rule on their own paper. Then the next day (or if they are still with me) I give them the words for the week as a test. The rest of the week they practice their misspelled words only.

Some of the activities are making the words with play-doh, making sentences, rhyming, copying them 3 times, etc!! The ways to practice these words are endless and many are fun;)

For reading this week, Anna read through the Josephine series from American Girls. Lydia is working through some Magic School Bus books and Chris has enjoyed some books off our own shelf. For read aloud, we read some history books from the library and The Adventures of Homer Price by McCloskey.

Math
Moving right along in math!!

her favorite "quiet" spot to finish math:)

Science
We worked on a few more experiments with air.

The first was that air can be pushed together. We did the experiment a couple of times (it was simple) but I didn't think they were getting it, so Anna and Chris acted it out for us;)

The point of the next two experiments was that air slows down things moving through it. Our first experiment was dropping 2 pieces of paper, one balled up and one opened wide).

And then the kids made "helicopters". At first I tried to correct Chris for making the "blades" too long. But we quickly saw the difference in the time it took the "helicopters" to drop based on the size/depth of the "blades". Pretty cool how it expanded the experiment.

And we started outside but quickly remembered that the staircase inside would give us a LOT more height to drop the "helicopters".

Can't beat having Science class outside;) It's too pretty to stay inside!

History
Last week we studied about the Alamo. Besides the normal history routine we did some of the activities, too!!

Making super-sized Alamo shaped cookies;)

Making Texas Ranger badges and then having friends over to play a game!! It was great having another home schooling family come over for a an hour or two to play! The kids really enjoyed each others company and the mommas got to chat, too:) Definitely more play times ahead;) no pics.. sorry.. too busy helping with the game and chatting;)

Reading some biographies of those involved with the Alamo was also a highlight. Our favorites were Susanna of the Alamo by John Jakes and Davy Crockett : young pioneer by Laurence Santrey.

We also were able to visit Colonial Williamsburg over the weekend;) Definitely a great visit and day of history in a very FUN and hands-on way:) I haven't even started on getting those pictures off the camera yet:)


Art
We finished our study of Van Gogh last week. We didn't complete the lapbook component, so I'm hoping to do a little review time this week and do the lapbook all together.

I was intrigued by how Van Gogh painted stars, the moon and the sun. So we reviewed Starry Night again and then I had the kids try to make their own night sky using the same colors and style of Van Gogh.

I thought their paintings turned out well:)

A book we have read a couple of times (because it takes seconds) is Vincent's Colors. A great library find;)

Music:)
We have a local home schooling mother who was formerly a music teacher. She offered a bi-monthly music class for other local home schoolers. Last week was our first week and it was great! We are very excited about this opportunity:)

Tot School
My littlest practicing shapes and colors! He calls it "Uno"... LOL!!

He's supposed to step on only a certain color or shape.... he always thinks it funny when he steps on the wrong ones;)

It's remarkable though how much they learn at this age through simple games and play! Such a sweet stage... and a little messy:)

I'm hoping to share our not-so-big but BIG-to-us Family News. Maybe before the weekend;) FB friends already know... Grammie shared it with the world on Sunday:)

Our Little Soccer Players

Our nights are full of soccer lately! Iy's a little rushed getting out the door each night but the kids are LOVING soccer;)

It's been great seeing them run across the field in pursuit of the ball and aggressively get involved in the game. We still have plenty of learning to go... but it's been fun!

My active little Chris watching the ball and getting to it;)

And my surprising little Anna;) She seems soo bashful sometimes, but in the soccer field she is beginning to really come out;)

In fact, last night she was blocking a goal kick (i think that's what it's called) and she got the ball in her eye. HARD!! She immediately wanted to be off the field and took a little while to recover.

We were soo proud of her for jumping back into the game and dribbling the ball alone down field almost in range to score a goal:) It was very exciting!!

And THIS Momma needs to learn to be a little quieter!! I'm definitely the LOUD, soccer mom... Just trying to help my little soccer players... LOL!!

What are We Teaching for Adulthood "from their perspective"

A question last week was to name things that the kids were being taught that would be beneficial for them as adults:)

The discussions that came out of the questions were great.... I had to make a list:)

It was an eye-opening view of what my kids thought we have tried to teach them and why! Might be a good questions to ask them more often!!

This exercise was also a great reminder that while we are teaching academic skills most mornings and early afternoons, we are raising future adults at every moment!!

It's your turn to share what your kids have been saying:)
 Share via the link or in the comments:)

Nate's First Skate (at the rink)

We didn't start skating with the older three until we joined a home school group... so Anna was 6ish;) But Nate, the tag-along, has gotten some earlier exposure:)

It was too much though to see him in skates.

He didn't even go all the way around... but at least he tried:)

And a pretty good attempt for being 2:)

More Wordless Wednesday at  NapTime MomTog, 5 Minutes for Mom,  Mama to 4 Blessings, Go Graham Go