What Am I Doing??

I never post lately, it seems. For the most part, I am taking care of the littlest one and he takes most of my effort. Matthew takes effort too, of course, but Nathan is such a handful. What good i can say about that is that is that he has a sweet personality. But he is allll over the place and I'm just trying to keep up with his antics.

Aside from that, there's homeschool, which we are nearly finished with kindergarten..I think. It depends upon what subject. He does quite well in math. Language arts are more problematic, but we're trudging through. Now it's the specisl blends, 'st', 'ch', -ay, -y, fr, pl, and so on. It hasn't been that long that we did the LONG vowel sounds. I'm picking up the pace and hopefully we can move that quickly.

Then I'm also doing some other odd things, with the idea that hard times are coming financially to America. I've been exploring various food preservation methods, building a food storage (expanded pantry really, and this has been so helpful), studying various things.

I'll be looking at and ordering the first grade language arts next week most likely. I study these things for quite some time before i actually decide what to do. And it seems as if Abeka is really good, even if it's designed primarily for CLASSROOM (that is very distracting).

Well, that's it for now.

Matthew going to a camp

Most kids have their first day of school in either kindergarten or first grade. Well, because we homeschool, Matthew's having his "first day" at a day camp this week.

He'll be going to a camp sponsored through the county--a Ultimate Games Camp for 6-8 year olds. The description read "some traditional and some wacky games". It will be from 9-3 all this week. Later in the summer, he's going to a UK Elite Soccer camp at a nearby park, which I think he'll really like.

So, I'm having jitters...hopefully my little baby will be just fine. This is the longest period he's been elsewhere. He's taking his own lunch and everything. :-)

Jacob's Ladder

I am so happy that Betsy mailed a box of Dad's stuff to me. These items are mostly his personal/person things such as his winter hat, black Mutual of Omaha jacket, mittens, CBS belt, shriner's hat, and some things he sold at the Covered Bridge festival like magnet remnants and his Jacob's Ladders.

Matthew sure got a kick out of that low-technology thing! I told Matthew that his grandpa used to make them for little boys just like him. He watched over and over and it now resides on the window ledge in his hideout. There were also some of Mom's Christmas ornaments in there; he couldn't believe those were real seeds!

He'll not get to meet them and that always makes me so sad, but this box has all kinds of things to TOUCH and SEE. Even though I don't think the Shriners were a huge part of his life, Matthew got a real kick out of that hat and everything all together made Matthew say "I wish I could see a picture of your dad." To this, I promptly said, "Well, Aunt Sally made us some scrapbooks!"  We looked at allll the pictures. Those scrapbooks are so precious now. They always were, but they are gaining value with time.

Here's a short little movie of Matthew with the Jacob's Ladder.

Here are some more pictures (13).

Flax Seed

I am seriously trying to implement major changes to our diet. One very special ingredient, which can be masked is Flax Seeds! It is a wonderful source of Omega 3/DHA. Now, don't ask me what all it is good for, BUT I know it is good for you, or so "they" say.

Anyhow, when you grind it up and put it on things AFTER being cooked, the nutrients especially stay intact. Here's Nathan after eating bananas dipped in flax meal. I grind it up in our coffee grinder. As for Mr. Picky Eater Matthew, I sprinkle it in his oatmeal, along with bananas. He seems to like it very well.

We TRIED something earlier with Matthew. About a year ago, we broke up a fish oil tablet to see if we could sneak it in his oatmeal. To say the least, THAT didn't work. Now Dad's oatmeal is notorious, and Matthew wants nothing to do with it. hahaha. But THIS...this flax meal is really working well.

Nathan Asks for More

This is just the cutest thing. Miss Mary, whom Nathan stays with 2-3 days a week, has taught Nathan some sign language. Here is what she's been teaching so far: more, eat, milk, please, and thank you.
So one day I started seeing him put his little fingers together. And more accurately, what he did was to take the index finger on one hand and touch the palm of his other hand repeatedly.

It's just so cute. Here's a picture of him doing it. He was eating toast and asking for more. Can you see it in his mouth? More...more...

But then this morning, when I got him out of his crib, as is normal, I went to change his diaper. He got upset--very upset, which is pretty normal too. But his little hands were saying "more...more...." Bless his little heart, he wanted FOOD, not a diaper change. I think it's so cool that he can communicate something to us! Click on the picture to see close up.

Bugs on Ice

The county has a homeschool nature program that the third Thursday of each month for 3 consecutive months.

Yesterday was "Bugs on Ice"! We learned all kinds of interesting things about what bugs do in the winter. Some migrate (Monarch butterflies for example), others hide in the ground, others hide in these puffy things on branches (gout?). It was nice to do something like this. We got a little handout I can work from in the future. They also had a time when, with magnifying glasses and tweezers, they went outside with the nature lady and started searching for bugs. Matthew did need to learn how to NOT use tweezers as a sword. haha

It was a little odd, tho, learning about bugs on ice when it was nearly 70 degrees. It was a wonderful day.

Awesome Book

Thank you, Debi. Thank you so much!!  I just love this!!

Why Johnny Tracy Can't Add

"Why Johnny Can't Add" was an article published in 1973 criticizing New Math. Now, maybe the family knows this or maybe not. Mom was a huge critic of New Math as well, in fact, she had nothing good to say about it any time the subject came up. I was learning New Math, she said, and she would balk and proceed to talk in a strange language...something about add these together and take away 2 or something or another! (Here's a song I found that made fun of New Math!)

Math indeed is an entirely strange language for me. I can sort of do it, but now now I'm teaching math to Matthew at home and something in that seems funny! It's very easy right now, but I'm just not loving our current curriculum, Abeka. The good thing I can say is that I did not buy the entire curriculum.  I have to weed through so much verbiage to get to what I am to actually teach.

So when looking at new curriculum options for first grade, I find myself looking at various methods I didn't know existed. Interestingly, my thoughts were "I don't like how fast Abeka moves on to another subject. We need more time on this." Come to find out that Abeka math uses a SPIRALING method. There's another method, called the MASTERY method. Singapore Math uses the Mastery method. It receives high acclaim, supposedly. Looking at that one now, which is really well-priced.

So now I know that there are methods for teaching Matthew (o great!) and I'll add that to the list of things to know. :-) All I know right now is New Math!

Hello in Many Languages

Yesterday, Matthew had his first instruction in Geography. Our county requires instruction in 8 subjects, Social Studies being one of them. He learned:

 *  What is a continent
 *  Names of the 7 continents
 *  What is a map
 *  A song with children singing "Hello"
      in many languages

He really seemed to enjoy the song, as he often enjoys music! Music is built into this study as well, which will help fulfill the county's MUSIC requirement. The CD we used is Wee Sing Around the World.  It also includes the booklet with the music notes and words.

Anyhow, Matthew got such a kick out of that song, especially, the Guten Tag part, when I told him how Dad's family alllll came from Germany. He kept saying "Guten tag! Guten tag!" and laughing.

Monday Co-Op

Matthew sure loves his co-op classes on Mondays. He has Weather, Writing and Art. Then lunch, and afterwards, he alternates between Gym and Board Games. I definitely see the value of a classroom experience. It reminds me of when I learned a language! It helps you to hear other people answer questions. Learning is built in to this experience. Likely we will stay with this for some time.

Being a part of a co-op means that everybody does something. For my part, I teach preschool gym to 3-4 year olds. I don't actually KNOW how to do anything like that, but Co-op leader Tina needed someone to teach and when I asked a little late if there was still room in the January co-op, she responded with, "Do you think you could teach a gym class?" :-) So, I'm teaching gym. I found a nice web site that has a bunch of information and games for preschoolers. One of their games included PUNCH BALLOONS. So yesterday I blew up 3 big balloons and the kids broke down into 3 groups and bounced the balloons up into the air. They had a blast!

In fact, the balloons were a hit all over. Matthew could barely contain himself on the way to co-op; Nathan (who was at Miss Mary's yesterday), loved them too, even rightly taking the rubber band handles and actually punching them as you are supposed to. Dad, Matthew and Nathan all had a great time with the balloons last night.

Starting Geography

Starting geography this week. Curriculum is Expedition Earth--A geography unit study that pulls together several different materials. This week will be the introduction to geography. Maps, globes, continents, and oceans. Along the way, I expect that we will also look at animals. I'm finding this to be complementary with the subject of geography.

I purchased the e-book curriculum from the above web site, bought most books through Amazon or E-bay, and found one book at the library. Technology allows us to do things so quickly. I had all but one resource within two days, so I'll start Monday, after co-op, Lord willing! 

One-Eyed Penguin Math

Matthew loves penguins, probably thanks in large part to Penguins of Madagascar. We cut off cable around Christmas time and now he's left wanting for penguins. Not anymore, tho, cause I found a penguin game!! Then another homeschool mom made some little penguin pieces and I knew Matthew would love them.

Not being the crafty type, I did it this ONCE--only because Matthew LOVES penguins and the pieces made their way into my path at Walmart. If it hadn't been that easy and inexpensive, I wouldn't have done it. But this time, yes! And I have to say that Jim was very surprised Thursday morning seeing me with a paintbrush in hand.

The result was great for the little black penguins, but something was up with the white ones. In the final product, I have a couple of pieces that are missing an eye and one with no beak! I think it gives them charm; Matthew seemed to like them too. He LOVES the pieces and Dad and Matthew are off to Walmart to find some dice.

Click on the picture to see them close up.

You've Got a Friend of Me

I made a cute little slideshow with iPhoto. Very easy, believe it or not. The tune is from the Toy Story series, and the song is You've Got a Friend in Me. But when Matthew sings it, he says, "You've got a friend OF me." So cute!

Matthew's Helpful Friend

I couldn't believe my eyes at this afternoon's end of the year school picnic. Matthew's friend Brady came toward the pavilion carrying a cup, smiling like usual, but with a slightly confused look. In fact, he appeared to be wondering to himself what had just happened.

What I knew was that they had gone in another direction and Matthew was carrying the cup with lemonade. But now, Brady was carrying the cup BACK to my direction. Could it be? Yes. I asked Brady, "Did Matthew ask you to come get him some more lemonade?!" He nodded his head yes and I apologized to him and told him how nice it was to come and get more lemonade for Matthew.

"Matthew??!" I shouted. He came over the hill to look down. "Did you ask Brady to get lemonade for you?!"

With a very pitiful expression in both face and body, he had his excuse. "I wanted to come get some lemonade, but I was just so exhausted." Oh brother!

Gummy Eggs

Thank you Mr. Keith!! These Fried Egg Gummies are delicious! Matthew couldn't wait to try them after dinner. Here we are frying up a batch and Jim even tried some.

Tried the Sippy

Nathan tried the sippy cup last night with formula. I heard tell that babies can feed themselves after a while??! I never heard of this; if that is so, that is wonderful. So here's a short 38 second video of his first try, which didn't really go so well. By the way, pls ignore the curtains while I try to figure out what to do with them.

6 Month Doctor Visit

Nathan had his 6-month doctor visit just now, even though he's 6.5 months! Oops. He weighs 17 lbs 7.8 oz (50%), 27.5 inches (50%), and his head is 14 inches (75%). Here are three pictures. In the first, he's waiting patiently with his pacifier. In the second, we're getting a little fun tummy time waiting for shots (little does he know!). The third is right after his shots. He recovered quite well after his shots this time, compared to LAST time when he cried all the way out the door.


The doctor thought he looked real good! Developing quite well. At his 4-month checkup the doctor thought he should maybe have some more tummy time, as his arms seemed a little weaker comparatively. But this time, he pushed up very well for the doctor and gave a great smile. Next appointment is 9 months.


Here's Matthew's growth information.

Major Hairpop

Look at the huge hairpop! He doesn't do this nearly as much anymore, but apparently tonight he was in the mood. Both of us were tickled (Jim and I), but Matthew said, "I don't have a hairpop." Poor boy is in denial. You can almost hear him saying, "Nope, I don't have a hairpop. I'm not wearing orange." I don't think he was pleased that Jim was taking the picture. As good as this picture is, I think it STILL looked bigger in person. This is the best picture of it we've ever captured!

Cereal Face

He hasn't had TOO much cereal this week, but today was a bit. And he had cereal face afterwards! This was taken from Dad's phone!

I can grab!

In the last few days, it has become APPARENT that Nathan is well aware of his surroundings and can grab a hold of them. In this picture below, you can see two white baskets, normally with supplies in each. In between the baskets was a Ziplock bag with several bibs inside. 


That's how things should be! But when I turned my back, he had pulled out the gingham liner from one basket and tore apart the Ziplock and threw bibs everywhere. Whooey! 

See when Matthew did this by clicking here!