Weekly Wrap Up : Last Offical Week & Summer Plans

YAY for our official start of summer.... aka packing:) LOL!!! Actually with our "moving date" still unknown we've used our time sorting, cleaning out and preparing for a yard sale more than boxing things up!!!

Our official school year ended pretty uneventfully:/ But we were all glad to be finished with the pile of books for a while and enjoy outside and sleeping in a bit more;) Here's what we DID work on though;)

Bible
Reading through our Bible Storybook, mostly about the missionary journeys about Paul! The kids really got into the situation surrounding Paul's final journey to Jerusalem and arrest.

We've also been praying for Truman! And are thankful for his continued good progress.

For the summer... we are going to learn about and memorize the Lord's Prayer. We have talked and I thought memorized it before... but they don't know it. So I feel like it's pretty foundational and we all can learn about praying!

Math
This was the last subject lingering!!

Chris finished last week, so this week he practice his math facts on a computer game! He worked about 10 or so minutes each morning on his addition facts.

Lydia finished her final assignments for Saxon 1... she has loved learning her math facts and getting all her work finished like Chris and Anna:) I worried about starting Saxon 1 (skipping over Saxon K) but Lydia has handled it well (just like Chris and Anna). I think it really has to do with the fact that the kids enter Saxon 1 with math basics from Kindergarten workbooks (they do for fun during pre-K) and Lydia has also heard her older siblings;)

The other thing about doing Saxon 1 with Lydia has been taking it slow. If she really put forth an effort but is still not focused or "too tired" to finish a lesson, we just finish it the next day. For assessment days, we spread it to two days. One day for the assessment and the other day for the lesson and practice sheets. My goal for her isn't finishing everything at some record-breaking speed, but during this first year of schooling that she enjoys school/math and really learns the basic concepts!

Anna also finished her last lessons (about graphing coordinate points) and assessment!! While she worked on her last assessment I went through her math notebook and collected ALL the assessments (the only things I keep)! I quickly realized that I had dropped the ball in thoroughly checking her assessments.... there were some undone problems :(

So the rest of the week, Anna and I spent time going through her older assessments and completing those problems. It was actually a good review since we also had conversations about the other problems on the assessments as well. We have to correct answers to her final assessments on Monday and then we can pack up MATH:)

For the summer... we will be working solely on math facts!! I have a couple of different methods/games/resources for the kids to use to practice their math facts. I hoping to let the kids pick which method we will use each day.  As well as having a chart for them to record when they learn the families... that is the goal, at least:)

Language Arts
We already finished all of our Grammar and spelling for the year!! The only thing that continues for us is READING!! 

Lydia and Chris each read a lesson (or more!!) from Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading this week. We also tried to spend some time reading library books. In choosing library books, I was very careful to get books I thought we could try to read together. And we did:)

The books we read were both from series by Cynthia Rylant. One was Poppleton. And the other was Mr Putter and Tabby (we read Toots the Horn).

These series were also favorites of Anna when she was an early reader. I like that they are a simple story and very entertaining! They though contain some pretty unique and challenging words so I definitely need to read with Chris and Lydia right now. Although once they read it with me sometimes they like to practice on their own.

My two little emergent readers are soo different though. Chris is still a little too busy to read for long... he'll read a set amount of time usually like 10 or 15 minutes. Lydia though.... if she likes the book.... she'll have me with her all day!!! At least it feels like it!! She really enjoys reading and really likes that she is able to read "big, chapter books"... like Poppleton:) LOL!!

For the summer.... I will continue to work through OPG with Lydia and Chris as well as practice reading in library books. Anna will read library/home books as well. She is also supposed to be keeping a list of words she doesn't know from her reading. We also love reading aloud while Nate falls asleep;)

Our whole family will participate in the Summer Reading Program at our local library:)

History
This week we stayed in France to talk about Napolean. Again, it was soo cool to read more about this very interesting world leader. When I hear the name Napolean I think the middle ages... it's amazing to think that he ruled during the same time period Jane Austen was writing Emma, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park!

As I read the kids painted a picture of Napolean from our SOTW Activity Book. We reviewed the chapter a bit and then shared some of the most memorable parts with Daddy over dinner.

We also discussed William Blake who was a poet during the time period as well:)

We have more to do with Napolean this week:) A review game, some internet resources and to finish the story of how much he conquered and finally how he was defeated.

We didn't have many outside reading resources about Napolean :( But we were able to find a book called Why Not Lafaytte? by Jean Fritz . This is a very interesting book just because Lafayette fought with the Americans in the American Revolution and then his life during the reign of Terror and rule of Napolean! Fun to get a time line perspective of these events and how they connect!

We are still working through this book this week which is perfect as we finish learning about Napolean!

For the summer... we will continue to work through Story of the World vol 3!  It's nice to spend the summer studying through history, reading great books about the history topics and possibly have a little more time to do activities and dig deeper when we can:)

Science
In an effort to give the kids a little more Chemistry, we read through the section of molecules ion our Usborne encyclopedia and then made our own molecules;)


I saw this activity using gum drop candies, but I had forgotten to pick some up at the grocery store... so we just used Play-Doh!

Getting ready with molecule list, key in the corner and making H2O as an example.

Anna hard at work!!

Even Lydia did one.... Chris opted out :(

For the summer...  we will continue to work through the Matter section of our science encyclopedia and set aside time to make it fun and use the Internet links when available:)


Other
Since it is summer... at least around here... we spent a LOT of time outside (when it wasn't storming)! Gotta love picnics and mud puddles!!!

BTW... that was also the day when both boys had 3 baths!!! Teaching this momma to let go of the "momma to do" list and let them get dirty and make great memories;)


Linking up to Weekly Wrap-Up! And Science Sunday @ Adventures in Mommydom!

Male Bonding with the Babe

I was pretty against bringing toy weapons into our home when we had little Christopher. I just felt like the world was violent early enough and we could hold off on bringing toy weapons into playtime and into the home.

But it seemed when Chris got a certain age everything he touched became a weapon... sticks turned into guns, markers linked together were swords... there was nothing I could do. I was raising a little boy:)

Then we started working on history together.... wars, the middle ages, vikings, etc!! There was no turning back.

My little Nate has been exposed to all this "boy"-ness much earlier than his Momma would have preferred. But little boys copy big boys;) And I'm raising 2 boys now:)

The other night as the older kids were preparing for bed, Daddy worked with Nate on some dart gun basics;)

{pretty}
male bonding time

{funny}
shooting Momma

{happy}
an "I did it" moment
with a proud Papa

"

{real}
my baby already likes his brother's stash
dart guns, foam swords...
the babe loves this stuff 

Tiny Talk Tuesday : Boys DO Drool

Ever since a friendly summer competition, my kids have chanted "Girls Rule, Boys Drool" or "Boys Rule, Girls Drool"! The other day after they were getting a little carried away they were told to speak more kindly so they agreed to change the phrase to "Kids Rule, Babies Drool".

At dinner, Chris was talking and then drooled on himself. The girls of course pointed it out to him.

And Chris responded, "I guess it's true. I guess Girls rule and Boys DO drool!"


******************************************************


Chris: Man.... my bottom hurts. It must be this sword stuck in my pants.



But I'm a Troodon and a Troodon has to have a tail.

SOOC: All boy :)

Chris is all boy! Which means in our house...

toy weapons, covered in dirt and fighting pictures!

I catch myself worrying about him... is he too busy? Will he ever sit still?? Can he focus enough to learn???

One morning this week I found him doing this....

ahh.... a sigh of relief;)

He's just a normal and busy little boy:)

All geared up for a cancelled soccer practice :(

**1st 2 pictures were SOOC. Last was editted :)

"Mr, let me take a look at it!"

Just Two Racing Wheels

After months of watching his sisters ZOOM around on their bikes, Chris decided to try riding without training wheels a few weekends ago. Once he really tried it, he took off and LOVES riding his bike.

The obvious difference between girls and boys is even more obvious with Chris on two wheels now. He ZOOMS like he is in a race EVERYWHERE he goes:)


Love this pic. You can see Chris RACING ahead and Lydia behind him enjoying her ride;)

Stuck Between Girls!

Chris is stuck in the middle of two typical little girls... both love helping, dressing up and playing "baby & mommy". He's even starting to call the girls ** "boring". LOL!!!

I guess "baby & mommy" isn't really adventurous enough for my all-boy boy???

But I've got to hand it to my girlie (and very tough) girls, they can play Chris' games, too!!




While Chris was busy dueling Anna, Lydia was loading his "dart" gun!! And she got him from behind;) LOL!!

I just love all the smiles and energy in these pics! Even the last with Chris being blurry, I love Lydia's proud little smile as she surprised Chris with a "dart"!!

We have just LOVED being outside this week!!! It's hard NOT to migrate outside after a morning hitting the books and stay outside;) Loving this Spring Weather;)



***just to clarify... we do often correct Chris about calling his awesome sisters names:)
So even though he is corrected we still often understand his situation/feelings right now!!

Don't Let This Face Fool You....

he's not as innocent as he looks!!

You can find some other picture posts at 5 Minutes for Mom, Go Graham Go, To Be Thode and any other linkys I find !!!

Oh, Brothers!

When we found out we were pregnant (with Nate) Chris was insistent that we would have a boy...

he would have a Brother! He was right, out came Nate a few months later:)

There is a BIG difference between girls and boys!! BIG and obviously different from early on:)

Just this week as we watched Little House, the difference was CLEAR!! We've been building up to Laura and Almonzo FINALLY getting together... and so they are at a social and "kiss".... yes, kiss! And Anna is just beaming, blushing... she's just loving it!!! And Chris.... he's got a grossed-out face and he's hands out blocking himself from watching it....

no wonder he wanted a brother;)

And then there is little Nate! Monday he decides to attempt to climb the stairs.... at almost 8 months old....

what was he thinking???? Trying to break his brother's climbing records???

Or did he know that his Daddy was right behind him!! Of course! A fellow BOY, I might add... who understands a boy's need to CONQUER... I mean climb:)

This week as we all have a little time to "chill" (AKA we're stuck inside b/c we have a stomach virus and there's melting snow outside!)...

I've noticed the "brother bond" forming!!! It's been forming for sometime now... but it's become more and more obvious that my two little men are starting to "speak the same language"!

They play a little rougher...

Nate LOVES Chris' toys...

If Nate leaves our sight, he's headed to Chris' room or the bathroom (he LOVES baths)! And he loves Chris' room because that's where the toys and usually his siblings are (at least when they are downstairs)!

Nate currently isn't sleeping in Chris' room, but I heard Chris talking to him the other day. Chris said,"Nate, when you get a little bigger you can come sleep in my room with me. You'll sleep in my bed down here, and I"ll sleep in the top bunk. And we can play with all my toys!"

so sweet:)

And so finally it was Chris' turn to bath with Nate... they take turns since they all love to bath with him...


... maybe it's because I'm a little more lenient on splashing;)



Chris has a brother!

And Oh, brother! There are some wild times ahead:)

Little Mommas

Chris was the MOST excited when we found out that we were expecting a "brother"!! He wasn't going to be as outnumbered!! LOL!!

But my daughters have transformed into Nate's "little mommas". He makes a noise and they are right there mothering him or coming to find me to ask if they can hold him.

Now that Nate has more head control, Anna has been allowed to hold Nate while standing with our permission. I love this pic of Nate and Anna looking at each other;)


Here's Anna getting in a snuggle while I was attempting to get more Nate pics;) Got a good one to share sometime soon:)


Lydia is right there with Anna on getting "holding time". Nate looks soo BIG in her lap!!


I"m sure there is coming a time when Nate won't want to be snuggled by his sisters. But for now, he loves it;) And them! It delights this Big Momma's heart to see Nate's face light up when his sisters and brother comes to talk to him.

Yes... Sisters can Corrupt!

Christopher is BIG into all sorts of boy stuff:) One new interest has been dinosaurs!!

One of our neighbors graciously gave us some of their grandchildren's toys... some of those being dinosaurs!! Christopher has really been playing with the remote control T-Rex... what boy doesn't like the T-Rex???

But poor Christopher is surrounded by sisters who have totally corrupted him to thinking that , yes, even the T-Rex could use a bottle to eat:)

I found his shelf this afternoon and thought it was too funny!!! Does show the "sister influence" on him!!!

Just one more reason Christopher is pulling for a little brother to balance out the "girls" during the day:)

*** And I should say that Christopher had definitely influenced the girls as well:) My little girlie Lydia can make " gun shooting" noises... lovely, I know! So it DOES go both ways with the corruption!! LOL

Oh, My Little Man

While tucking in our little man tonight we thought,"How can something soo sweet and cute be such a mess???"

* At during service he had to be taken out TWICE... I had to have sit next to me b/c he was on the floor poking at people's shoes. Needless to say, he was NOT happy about the change in seating.

* While on the trampoline with some friends he's jumping in his tighty-whites only... his originals "got wet".

* He assured me he went potty before he climbing to his bed for a nap. He woke SOAKED!! And because he was under his comforter he was also drenched with sweat:)

* Lydia comes running to be saying that "Christopher has BIG stinky". So I got into his room and he is still... so I bring him to the potty.... and he made the rest in the POTTY... whoo hooo... Thank you LITTLE SIS!!

* After making a stinky... he tries to shove his favorite ball into the potty... yes, it got stinky!

* And that is NOT including all the times he had to hand us a toy he was aiming at his sisters.

* Finally as I was getting his diaper on for the night. I noticed that he was drinking something (after his teeth were brushed, of course). He says, "Mom, it's fresh!" Then I realize it's the chocolate soymilk that I fixed for him for Sunday School at 10am.... ewwwwww!! Fresh? right

I adore my little man!! He definitely keeps us on our toes and our patience is tested daily!!! But I couldn't imagine a day with out his goofy giggles, his wild stories, his adventurous spirit, love of life and yes, even a few snuggles and kisses when I can sneak them in:)

Getting Ready For TeeBall

Last week before our 1st Tee-ball practice, Lydia and Anna wanted to paint their nails!!I thought it was soo funny and cute!

How did I end up with such prissy girls... LOL

I love chubby fingers and toes.... oh, they are disappearing from my house too quickly!

This week before practice I am on the computer looking up tee-ball drills! There are a couple of fathers who thought they'd give coaching a try... so I'll let them take that on!!! But I thought it might be good to have a couple other ideas to keep them busy and learning about T-ball!!!

Last week wasn't bad.... but as the kids get used to the parents and the kids, I'm just imagining "chaos"...LOL... just think 12 kids ages 3-5 running around or bored stiff and they try to make up their own game:)

Brother (Bear) Hugs

Ha ha haaa... I couldn't let this one go unseen for too much longer. This was when the kids were posing for me and Christopher just felt the love:)

Obviously Lydia wasn't too comfortable... although I did help her out of the hug quickly while shouting out, "Christopher, let your sister gooooo!!!!"

That's the thing about my little boy... he is TOUGH and STRONG. But he definitely has a loving side when he is still!! I am amazed at how gentle he is to animals and how helpful and sweet he can be to his sisters and me....

But he is a little boy... so you gotta watch those hugs :)

Dressing Themselves

Lately my kids (all three) have been very busy dressing and undressing themselves.

Lydia often wants to choose her own clothes. And as I try to help her dress she'll said, "I try it myself!" Miss Independence!! I wish I could video and blog her trying to put on her own diaper... she's a hoot:)

Christopher is the King of undressing himself. He'll usually take off his shirt or pants if it gets wet or dirty:) But lately he has been playing "swimming"... he'll disrobe until he gets to his diaper and then jump into the couch cushions or bed. And "swims"!! It's funny the first time, but after re-dressing him 3 or 4 times in one day... it's old:)

Anna has been dressing herself since she was 2.5 or so (at least attempting to). Over the years she has come up with some OUTFITS :) Earlier this week she was found wearing this....

Her Uncle Erics old soccer jersey:)

Besides it being EXTREMELY LARGE for her.... it also had all sorts of puffiness underneath????











So the detective mommy in me decided to to Ask what was underneath the jersey??

Her ballerina Halloween costume, of course!!!

Them picking out and attempting to put on their own clothes is a blessing!! It's great to be in a rush and know that at least one can dress herself:) But Lydia is close behind....

But boys??? It's just strange to to me that my oldest could completely dress herself (minus diaper) by 3 , but my little boy barely knows where his pant drawer is...

guess it's just the difference between little boys and little girls???

I do have to include this. Last night we spiked Chris' hair for dinner we had with the veterans in our area. Anyway, I spiked it and it looked cute but Chris did have a preference for what he wanted his hair to look like last night. I quickly had to flatten it down, then he was pleased and ready to go:)Funny kid!!

A New Hideout

We tried to get some yardwork done this evening... We did well keeping tabs on the kids utnil Christopher "disappeared". We found him in a very boy-spot... climbing up into a bush.

So for any of those out there who might one day be at our house, outside with the kids and they all run in different directions. You then count "1,2.... wheres #3... Christopher?? Christopher??"

Make sure you check INSIDE the bush to the right of the house... He's probably in there!!

And yes, for all those who have been the least bit interested in my camera.... I receievd it back today....YAY!! It's back... no more cheesy baby camera pics...at least not from me:)

I was very, very impressed with Canon... their customer service, repair times, etc!! And of course I LOVE my camera!!

Successes, Little Boys

After many attempts to keep his britches dry, Christopher finally got some pee-pee in the potty..... he was soooo EXCITED!!! And we really encouraged him and high-fived and all the other stuff that builds up little boys (fruit snacks). Then he got to call Grandma to share the good news:)

Before nap he saw Anna using the potty and said that he wanted to go too.... I had a line at the potty!! Anyway, he tried and was successful again. And yes, he is now napping with BB pants on....I now it sounds crazy, but my ears are listening and I've totally mentally prepared myself for the possibility of having to wash his sheets numerous times in the next few days (but hopefully I won't have too).

I haven't blog my recent struggle with Christopher..... I know he is a little boy, but he is constantly having toys (recorders, toy screwdrivers, blocks, spoons) act as guns and swords. We are VERY careful about what the kids watch, but where else would he pick up on violent stuff and shouting, "kill"!

Well some of his knowledge might come from Old Testament stories or even the Ressurrection account when there were shouts against Jesus at his "trial". And maybe Chris was been influenced by watching older kids at the park..... or from the news??

As I was reading one of my "new" books this afternoon during some "alone time", I got to a place where Cynthia Sumner (a MOPS lady)talks about the difference between her own boy and girl. Much of the "threatening" behavior I see in Chris she had in her own son. And this weekend I was able to chat with a sweet Christian mom about her "little boy experience" (and she's had plenty of boy-experience) and she just shrugged and said ,"it's boys". Anyway, this was a funny account from Sumner's child-rearing days that "comforted" me:

"The first playgroup I attended consistent of my son, four or five little girls, and their respective moms. It didn't take long for me to realize that my son and I were the "odd men out", to coin a phrase. For the most part, the little girls played together quietly and peaceably. They did not chase each
other around menacingly, waving the hammer from the pounding bench..... Thank
goodness one mom in the group had an older preschooler boy. She affirmed that my
son was normal and behaved just as other little boys do - or I could have come
away from that experience thinking there was something seriously wrong with
him."

-Sumner, Mommy's Locked in the Bathroom

So at least he's normal... haa ha ha ha... I already knew that. But how do I make my house "safe" for little boys and girls??? I have Christopher repeat his offense from one our rules and then have him repeat what he can do with his hands like "play, hug, help". There are swift consequences!! And I do try to let him have something to hit.... so that's why when he's outside he is usually hitting trees, pine cones and playgrounds with sticks.... it's good for him to have an outlet...that's not a "sister"!!

Other than those ways, I try to relax a little and enjoy my little boy..... I was just tickled to death with him yesterday. He sat through the Sunday AM and PM services very nicely. Before and after church he was very pleased to answer questions about his "battle wound" and anything else they wanted to ask:) He's always soo animated when he talks.... it's just too cute and reminds me of how quickly he is growing up:)