Teaching Tuesday - Week 12

One of the things I really want my kids to enjoy is reading.  Why?  Because I love to read.  Recently, we were at the Christian Bookstore and both boys gravitated towards the books.

They each picked out a "First Reader" and yes, we read them many times.  In the store, at the Pie Company where we went for dessert and throughout the week.  It makes me want to take them to the bookstore much more often!

Phonics is alive and well in this house during our school week.  We are learning our short vowel sounds and how to blend them with the other letters.  Both boys love to sing our Ferris Wheel song and make all kinds of interesting sounds :-) 

A few years ago, I picked up a couple of workbooks at Michaels to use with preschool.  We never used them but, I pulled out this one last week

and have started to using it with Nate and it is a huge success.  I use it along with our regular preschool curriculum and it is a great supplement.  It gives Nate easy practice on his numbers and letters and lets him do something he loves - color. 

On Friday, we did more Thanksgiving activities including reading this fun book:

It's just a simple book about blessings but it makes it so easy for the kids to understand the concept of being Thankful.  I asked the boys what they are were thankful for and Nate piped up with, "I'm most thankful for you mom!"  How priceless is that! 

To go along with this book we did a few things that revolved around 1 Thessalonians 5:18.  The boys had to trace the words of the verse, color a picture and they did a Cornucopia Craft.  All items can be found over at Christian Preschool Printables.

 Josh was my huge helper on this day.  He set up all of the papers, scissors, glue and crayons and than called the boys to the table for school. 

This week was another huge success.  The boys are learning lots of Bible Verse for Awana as well and learning all of their basics.  We are going to push strong until Thanksgiving in order to maybe get a little ahead so we can do more fun Christmas activities. 

Make It Monday - Making Plans

With Christmas coming, I decided to back through some previously posted ideas and share some of my favorites . . .I may or may not make them but they sure look fun!

I have a few people who work with my kids that I want to make small gifts for and I love this idea from Evermine.

I've been meaning to do this idea from SuperChikk for a few years - I really need to do it this year because the boys love photos!

Last year, we lacked scarves in this house.  The boys always got snow down their necks but I was at  a loss for scarves.  Apparently they are a safety hazard in playgrounds so they are hard to find.  I like this simple idea from Polka Dot Chair - it's a blanket but the concept would make a simple scarf too . ..maybe some stocking stuffers!

Again, this is a great idea for a gift from Sew 4 Home.  Beautiful homemade kitchen towels.  I love giving gifts that are Christmas related - that way they don't take up room throughout the year but can be enjoyed during the holidays.

One last idea for this inspirational post - the ornaments from Confessions of a Homeschooler are a simple idea - the kids could make them or make them as gifts for friends!

I look forward to getting crafty :-)

Things My Kids Say

* I was printed a bunch of papers when Nate exclaimed, "Holy Mackeral Cow".

* Nate tends to be a little . . .bossy.  He was "demanding" that I do a few things one evening so I said, "You are awfully demanding for a four year old."  To which he replied, "Well, that's cause I'm five."  I reminded him that he was still only four.  He looked at me and then said, "But I FEEL like five so I am!  I feel bigger!"

* Things I hear from the back seat:  Nate: "Josh, YOU ARE A GENIOUS!  Seriously, Josh, I'm serious.".

* A recent backseat conversation concerning the puke bucket (Nate gets carsick):
Josh:  I'll hold the puke bucket Nate.  If you feel sick, let me know
Nate:  I feel sick
Josh: What?  What did you say?
Nate:   I think I'm feeling sick.
Josh:  No, I said IF you feel sick, I'll hand it to you but I don't think you are sick
Nate:  Josh, I don't feel good.
Josh, No Nate, you feel fine.  I'll just hold the bucket for you

 Hahaha - Thankfully, Nate was just fine this time around.

Family Fun - A Bus Ride and Children's Museum

We have been enjoying doing some things as a family recently - things that we really haven't been able to do for over a year.  This past weekend was no exception! 

Our adventures began with a bus ride.

 There is a new bus line in town and it is supposed to be faster than the normal bus.  It's called the Silver Line and, I will admit, it ended up being kinda cool.  We drove into town and parked at the first bus stop.  The boys were very excited to sit outside in the cold and wait!  For two boys who love all sorts of transportation AND their Dad who is all about things that move, well, this was a "dream" come true HA! 

 Two of my very excited three "boys" :-)  I have never, ever seen Josh make that face and I have no idea where it came from . . .weird. LOL

My little buddy, Nate.  He is such a thinker and had all kinds of ideas about the bus, the stops and all the buildings we saw along the way. 

The bus dropped us off fairly close to the Children's Museum - the boys also loved being able to walk "downtown" - all things little boys dream off, for sure!  Our local library offers a free pass to the library once a year so we took advantage of that as well.  (I love free!)

 I told Darryl that, for the first time at this museum, I actually enjoyed myself.  Why?  Because the boys could just "go" and we just kept them in our sights.  Unlike when they were Toddlers were I need to stay right with them, this time around they got to explore.  Nate was like a ping pong ball; trying to keep him in my sights was a challenge :-)  He treated the museum like it was his home away from home and tried everything.  Josh hung out with Darryl and tended to stick with one thing for a long time before moving on to something new.

 The grocery store is always a huge hit at the museum.  Nate, wow, he emptied the shelves and then had to load it all in his "trunk".  Josh was more about the check out process especially considering who the Cashier was . .. ..

 The boys favorite cashier HA!  Darryl had fun too!

 The huge bubble maker is always a hit. 

 I loved seeing this little fireman all dressed up.  Josh ended up at this play area later but I was there to get photos!  I did hear that Josh ended up laying on the doctor's table while some other kid "listened" to his heart. 

 A big theme right now is "balance" so there were balance boards and a rock wall.  Both boys loved the wall and I can see them enjoying walls like this in the future. 

After several hours, we ended out to catch the bus and promised the boys we would return.  We are considering purchasing a year long pass so that we can go once a month and I would have the option to take the kids during the week too. 

Naturally, we had to get dinner ;-)  My kids love buffets because they can chose their own food.  Our timing was off a little so we ended up hitting prime dinner time and were starving - the last thing we wanted was to wait in line for 30 minutes (or more) for dinner so, we went to Old Country Buffet.  Now, Darryl and Josh loved it.  Nate liked it and I . .well, it was ok but I hate paying for foot I can make at home . . . AND have to serve myself HA!  I did enjoy one slice of Prime Rib -the second slice was still mooing so I didn't eat that AND of all things, the ice cream machine was out for repair!  Oh well :-)

We really had an awesome day and had some tired kids by Saturday night (and tired adults too!) 

Weekly Menu

Do you know what?  Our grocery store has had Raspberries on sale for 2/$1.00 (those little packs of raspberries) I may or may not have bought alot of them and filled my freezer so I can make Raspberry cobbler every time we have a snow storm all winter!  Yum!  This past week was a busy week for us where we had something going every single night - the crock pot was my friend - makes it easy for us to eat at different times, that's for sure!

Here's the plan for this coming week:

Saturday - I have to take Darryl to work today (with the boys of course) because I need the truck therefore, I'm sure we will eat in town once we pick him up from work.  (This eating out on Saturday night is getting to be a habit HA)

Sunday - Sunday Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, and Rolls

Monday - Meatball Sliders (something new to try!) and French Fries

Tuesday - I think it is time for some Lasagna!  Throw in some garlic bread and green beans and it is the perfect winter meal!

Wednesday - Pancakes, Sausage/bacon and fruit

Thursday - Amish Chicken,  Buttered Noodles, Broccoli, and Rolls

Friday - tacos!  :-)  We love taco night!

It's hard to believe that next week will bring the plans for Thanksgiving.  Where has this year gone?

Weekly Menu

Do you know what?  Our grocery store has had Raspberries on sale for 2/$1.00 (those little packs of raspberries) I may or may not have bought alot of them and filled my freezer so I can make Raspberry cobbler every time we have a snow storm all winter!  Yum!  This past week was a busy week for us where we had something going every single night - the crock pot was my friend - makes it easy for us to eat at different times, that's for sure!

Here's the plan for this coming week:

Saturday - I have to take Darryl to work today (with the boys of course) because I need the truck therefore, I'm sure we will eat in town once we pick him up from work.  (This eating out on Saturday night is getting to be a habit HA)

Sunday - Sunday Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, and Rolls

Monday - Meatball Sliders (something new to try!) and French Fries

Tuesday - I think it is time for some Lasagna!  Throw in some garlic bread and green beans and it is the perfect winter meal!

Wednesday - Pancakes, Sausage/bacon and fruit

Thursday - Amish Chicken,  Buttered Noodles, Broccoli, and Rolls

Friday - tacos!  :-)  We love taco night!

It's hard to believe that next week will bring the plans for Thanksgiving.  Where has this year gone?

Heaven - A Short Video

This past Sunday evening at church. the video "Heaven" was shown.  It is the latest teaching, for lack of a better word, put out by Billy Graham.  It is really just the basic concept of why Heaven is so real and why it is so important.

I was totally engrossed in this short video as it played - there really wasn't anyone in the auditorium that wasn't sitting in silence as the reality of what Heaven is was played out on the screen.  It provides real life application along with some powerful messages from Billy Graham (who, quite honestly, reminded me of my dad - back in the 70's HA)  Whether you've been a Christian your "whole" life or you are searching for what the truth of Heave and who Jesus really is - this is a video well worth watching.

Billy Graham has a way with words; a way with reaching people because he met people where they were.  He really does remind me of someone else - This person has a way of always making people feel welcome; getting people to talk to him and making them feel "safe" in that conversation; he can walk into a hospital room and, when he leaves, those facing dire circumstances are left filled with hope knowing that someone cared enough to be Jesus to them that day.  Who is that person?  My dad.  He has that same gift and he would sit down and talk to you about Heaven too - make sure you understand what it is, how important trusting Jesus is, and he would make you feel comfortable while he did it because that is just how he is.

Here's a link to the video . .. Heaven