Changing

Well after much thought and prayer, I am going to be utilizing a new curriculum this coming year for Edward. I am leaning towards Sonlight. I am also interested in learning more about the Weaver Interlock curriculum. I like the Sonlight one and real feel God has laid this curriculum heavy on my heart but I still want to look at the Weaver one before I make a final decision. Iam going to my first homeschool conference on the weekend of May 30th. I need to have down what I want and need so I can get the good deals. I am so excited about attending this year even if it will just be for the shopping portion of the conference. I hope that next year I will be able to go to some of the workshops.

Edward's Birthday Party Planning

I am busy planning Edward's 5th Birthday Party. We had originally (well he did) wanted to have it again this year at the bowling alley, however when I went to set it up.....I was told that we couldn't that week because the Pepsi Tournament Finals were happening that weekend. At first this really upset Edward. We looked into having it at Pump It Up but I didn't care for their party packages. I would have it here at the house but with the renovation still going on and all that I need to get done after it is complete before my Mother In Law arrives plus the fact that we have 3 dogs, I felt it was best to just skip that thought. Maybe next year. I received our quarterly Zoo members newsletter in the mail and that reminded me that we could have a party for him at the zoo. So I asked him, at first he still was insistent about it being at the bowling alley but after a long talk and convincing him we couldn't this year, he okayed it. We are doing a Safari Adventure Party in the Education Building. I think he will like it. They will bring in a live animal and having games and cake for them, plus they get a tour of the zoo. I think it sounds like a great 5th Birthday to me. I found cute party supplies with a Swingin Safari theme. We are doing an African Safari because Edward just loves Giraffes and Elephants....Gorillas too. I bought lots of cute zoo favors for his party attendees. We have over 20 children invited (a few from Co-op, a few from bowling, 1 family from Church and 1 family from Daddy's work...plus the 2 families I use to Nanny for). This will be the first big party. His 3rd party he had 2 or 3 other little boys plus Regan and the Kimmel children. His 4th birthday was a bomb only Regan showed up for that one. We ended up having one after Kindermusik class with the children just to make up for the bomb that we had at the bowling alley. This year we know more people and he has friends from all the things he participates in. We actually have an over abundance of folks to invite and that is awesome for him. I will have pictures for all after the party is over next month.

To Funny

I don't think my Mother In Law will find this as funny but Edward keeps calling her Daddy's Grandma. I keep correcting him but he still keeps calling her that. He is so excited that she is coming for his 5th Birthday (I know can you believe that he is already going to be that old???). I just hope that by the time she gets here he has it down that she is Grandma to him but Mommy to Daddy.

Little Gentleman

I have to share this with everyone, I know I am about to be boastful & prideful .... I pray God will forgive me for my boastfulness & pride. We (Edward and I) were in Washington State on vacation for 2 weeks over Easter and my mom's birthday. We were staying in an extended stay hotel over by my grandma's. We had just gotten back on evening from visiting my Grandma (I believe...could have been my mom or both), we were walking up to the front door of the hotel where we encountered a very pregnant mommy, her daughter (about Edwards age....maybe a little older), and her little boy (about a year or so old...he was walking). The mom was trying to coax the toddler inside (it was raining out...I know big shocker in Washington state), when Edward without saying a thing walks over to her takes one of her 2 rolling suitcases out of her hands and proceeds to open the door for them, and pushes her suitcase up to the elevator. He pushes the button, the mom says to him thank you and that she could take the suitcase back. Edward looks at her and says "No Ma'me, I want to help you." He walks into the elevator, we all follow. He asks what floor (they ended up on the same floor as us, actually just 2 doors down on the opposite side of the hall), pushes the button. We get to the floor, he is still pulling the suitcase, she says she can take it. He says "No I want to take it to the room for you, ma'me." So we follow her to her room. He gives over her suitcase to her at her door. She says thank you. I was so touched by my son's insightfulness to this mom's situation and that she needed an extra hand. I must say I was proud of him and almost brought to tears by his thoughtfulness. I know that by this act alone that we are at least doing 1 thing right in raising him. Just had to share this story.

Happy Birthday Kansas!!!!!

Today is Kansas's 147th as a State. Kansas became a state on January 29th, 1861. We had a Kansas Day Celebration with our Co-op today. We learned that Kansas's state song is Home, Home on the Range (didn't know that). That the Fly Swatter and Mentholatum were both invented here. Pizza Hut and Icee's also originated in Kansas. George Washington Carver and Amelia Erhart, as well as the first monkey (Able) in Space were from Kansas. The illustrators of Beetle Bailey and Dennis the Menace were from Kansas. Smokey the Bear was created by Rudolph Wendelin, who was born and raised here in Kansas. Kansas is known as the Sunflower state but also the Wheat state. The most wheat is grown here in Kansas. Newton where we live was one of the large Cow Towns back in the days. Edward husked a corn cob with an old fashion hand crank corn husker. He also hand stitched a Triangle Quilt Block. We saw wool being spun into yarn on a spinning wheel, then we saw cottons being woven into dishtowels on a loom. There was an elderly man who had hand carved wooden animals, which he had on display. We learned about all the rocks and minerals that can be found locally, and about the birds that can be seen (which we have seen quite a few of them around our house).

The Western Meadowlark is Kansas's State Bird.

The Honeybee is the state insect.

The Ornate Box Turtle is the state reptile.

The Buffalo is the state animal of Kansas.

The Barred Tiger Salamander is the state amphibian.

The Cottonwood is the state tree of Kansas.

The Sunflower is the state's flower.

We learned quite alot about about Kansas today, we are looking forward to learning even more about Kansas as we continue to leave here. As time goes by we will also be delving deep into the state History of Washington State, Oregon, South Dakota & Oklahoma.

Roller Skating

Edward went Roller Skating on the 18th of Jan for the first time at a Roller Skating Rink. Our Co-op has a 6 week (or longer if need be) Roller Skating P.E. Class. Edward is learning the proper way to break, to fall (so as not to hurt himself) and just how to get around on the skates. I bought him a new pair of skates as he has pretty much out grown the ones that slide over his shoes. I bought him the In-line Trainer Skates by Little Tikes. I even bought myself a pair of out door Quad (you know the old fashion 4 wheel type) so that we can go skating at the park in spring. He is so much in love with skating. I hope it continues. I loved skating so much as a teenager.

Are We Camping?????

Oie Vey!!!!! I feel like I am on a very bad camping trip right now. No dishwasher right now. The kitchen sink, down stairs bathroom sink, shower/tub combo and toilet will be unusable after tomorrow. We are eating off of plastic solo plates, using plastic silverware and really lightening up on cooking at home to alleviate having to washing dishes. Unlike camping though I have no room to move around....ah but I guess that is what it would be like to camp in a fifth wheel with a husband, a 4 1/2 yr old and 3 dogs....huh? Only about 5 to 6 more weeks of this madness. They are roofing the new addition today, demolishing the back half of the kitchen, updating the electric (guess they broke a gas line while I was gone earlier), & doing some clean up of debris today. PTL!!! This isn't one of those projects where it will take years. Our contractor is great and things are moving along smoothly. The addition is over half way done....just need siding put up outside, wired for electricity, dry wall put up and wood floors put down, interior and exterior doors hung....wood floors also need to be put down in the new laundry room, then the upstairs will be complete. This is the first time I have ever been in this type of situation. I can say it is a very stressful one. So many decisions to be made.

Back At It

Well, after a long break...it's back to school this week for Edward. We have been working on letters, numbers and the months of the year flashcards souly since Thanksgiving week. We needed that time. The Curriculum that we are using flies through the alphabet. It has us only spending 2 to 3 days on a letter before we move on and it doesn't have a lot of re-enforcement activities during those lessons or after to cement in the letters in the children's minds. Edward is getting better every day writing his name. It is more and more legible. So for our addition and remodel has only been a slight inconvience while homeschooling. Edward started back on bowling league last week and co-op started on the 4th of the month. The class I am teaching is going well so far. I am enjoying working with a group of children, haven't done that in a few years.

The Manipulation of a 4 year old

Edward is totally and truly a 4 year old. He has the 4 yr old mouth and attitude. Tonight he got in trouble for disobeying us several times about the same thing. He was sent to his room. He went up fussing, screaming and crying, even added a door slam for extra dramatic effect. Trust me, he would have won an emmy for best dramatic actor in a tantrum if there were such an award. About 3 minutes into his trantrum, I hear: " I love her with all my heart, I really do. My Mommy's mad at me, but I love her with all my heart." The thing is while this was cute, funny and all it wasn't just me he had gotten in trouble with it was both daddy and I. It about broke my heart.

Edward's Celebrity Look-A-Likes

Thompson Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

It's a bird.......

This is the Feathery Bird hat Edward and I made for Kindermusik class. Today in Kindermusik the kids were to be birds. They are learning about nature this semester. When the teacher asked him what kind of bird he was, he said he was a Robin.
One more Semester of Imagine that and then Edward promotes to the Young Child I program of Kindermusik. He will learn to play 3 different instruments.
Oh! Yes, there is something on Edward's nose. He fell last Thursday, he skinned his nose and forehead (it wasn't as bad and is already healed) while he was pushing a toy across our back sidewalk. Poor thing! We have been putting Mederma on it to help with any scarring.

Showing off his Homeschool Bowling League Shirt

This is a picture of Edward showing off his Homeschool Bowling League t-shirt. It says: I'm a Holy Roller with Faith to Spare. So cute. These t-shirt are designed by the director for the youth events at the bowling alley. She designs a new one for them every year.

Doing it on his own

Edward is starting to write his last name on his own now. He has been writing his first name now for a few weeks with no help and without looking at his name plate. Last Thursday, we were at Kirk's work and he suddenly asked if he could write his name on Kirk's offices dry erase board. Not only did he want to write his first name but he wanted to try to write his last name (this was the first time he had even tried it). I wrote it on the board for him and he copied it. Then at Co-op last Friday he wanted to show his favorite person that he could write his name. He not only wrote his first name by himself but his the first 5 letters of his last name too. I was so amazed. He had no help from anyone. Then this week on Tuesday he wrote his first and last name on a couple of his papers. I helped a little with his last name but it is so amazing to me how quickly he is picking things up.

Pop! Pop! Popcorn!!!!!!!

This week's Curriculum theme is Popcorn! On Monday, we did a Science Experiment with a colored corn cob, that we popped in the microwave. We didn't pop it in a bag, so we could see what it doesn't when it pops. We used that popcorn to make art projects, it was very dry. We were to find out if the colored kernels would be colored or white like regular popcorn. He had to come up with a hypothesis, record the materials and procedure used. We also had to record the results and then wrote our own conclusion. Edwards conclusion was that it still tasted good. LOL! To Cute!!! Yesterday we made popcorn on the stove to show him that you can get popcorn places other than the microwave. We made a popcorn tree. We also made sand art. He loved doing. We made a tree with apples and a flower. This weeks letters are Ii and Jj. Our color is PURPLE. Our number is 7. Our shape is Square. In case your wondering we didn't do our curriculum last week do to the passing of my Father In Law. We just did a little review but mainly just took the week off. We did go to Kindermusik, Bowling, Co-op and Monart. He did a bicycle clinic. He learned the correct hand signals and the rules of riding your bike in our community. He loved learning all these new things.

Elephants, Horses & Clowns oh My!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We took Edward to the Barnum & Bailey Circus. He absolutely loved it. He loved the clowns. Will add pictures as soon as Kirk gets them uploaded from my phone.

First Crush

Well it has happened, Edward officially has his very first crush on a little gal. Her name is Emma and she is in our homeschool co-op. He just thinks she hung the moon. His way of showing his affections to her was to push her into a recycle bin. We told him how to let a little girl know that he likes her but we also went over personal space and not being forward. Doing nice things for her was the best way to show that he liked her. Awwwwwwwwww Puppy Love, isn't it grand?????

Farming This Week

This week our lessons this week include the letters Hh and Jj, square is our shape, pink our color and our number this week is 6. We are working on Bible Verse Genesis 1:10. We are learning about when God made land that included dirt, gravel, sand and rocks. We have been exploring rocks this week. Edward returns to Homeschooling Bowling League. Our theme is Farms and Farm Animals. We made Pretzels and Butter this week. We are learning that when God made land there it separated the waters that he called Seas. We have also been reviewing previous lessons.We are also working on patterns and categorizing. Edward has found the joy in Ryhming, he loves it.

Making Pretzels from scratch

Today we made Pretzels on top of making the butter. We are learning about Farms and Farm Animals this week. Some of our pretzels were tradition shape and 2 we made into letters.

Rolling out the dough

Edwards 2nd Pretzel

Before cooking

After Cooking

A New Respect

Today we made butter from scratch. It was quiet an interesting experience. It took a whole lot of shaking and time to go through the process. We started with Heavy Whipping Cream, a little salt (to taste) and empty, clean baby food jar. It took about an 30 to 45 minutes over all of total shaking.We put the jar in the refrigerator every 5 minutes to let it get cold again, it helps to quicken the process. It is quite tasty. Edward was amazed at how it went from a milky liquid to a butter.

Writing Name

Edward wrote his name all by himself today. When I say this I mean without looking at his nameplate on his desk. He wrote it from memory and it was very clearly written. We are so proud of him.

Splatter Painting

We have been learning this week about air and how important it is to all living creatures that God made. Today we painted with straws, paint and our air by blowing through the straws. Edward loved this project. He thought it was interesting how the harder that he blew through the straw, the farther from where the straw was pointing on the paper the paint went. He also thought it was interesting how when you moved the straw while blowing through it it caused the paint to cover more of the paper. He loved this project so much that we did 2 paintings. I am going to frame on of them to hang in our class room as Art Work. If you are wondering why the painting is done in the box, I put the paper in the box to help keep the paint from being blown all over the walls and table....not to mention me and my clothes.

This weeks Curriculum

Wow! I can't believe that it is already going to be Thursday. A side note, Edward will be going into see his ped in the morning about his thumb. I am praying it is completely healed and that he can take off the splint. He doesn't keep it on all the time, even hides it from time to time. Talk about frustrating not to mention all the worrying that he might hurt it worse. Anyway, I digress....This week we are learning the letters Ff and Gg. Our number is 5. I have some wonderful books called Numberlies, Alphatales and Numbertales. Each book is about a specific letter or number. I use them to help reinforce what we are learning. Our Colors are Brown and Yellow . Of course this weeks theme is Fire Safety. Circle is our shape. I have also started to incorporate Computer programs in our learning schedule. This week we are learning about Air.Why God made it and that it is important for all living creatures. Our Bible verse is Genesis 1:6. We made a butterfly using a balloon (for the body), a balloon stick (we added it just to help it fly), and a curriculum are picture that was to be used as a part of this project (Edward colored this). Edward writing his name has been improving every day. He still needs to see it to write it but we are progressing and that is what it is all about. He is getting his letters too. He is starting to recognize them every where in everything from street signs, store signs, posters and so forth. I love watching him get excited about it. This is so great and I am so blessed every day to be able to watch him growing knowledge wise.

Fire Safety Week

This week is National Fire Safety Week. This is also our Homeschool theme for the week. Today Edward and I attended a Teaching Parents Association of Wichita Event that they hosted for National Fire Safety Week. There was so much to do. Edward learned more than just Fire Safety at this event. He learned about the importance of wearing a seatbelt (and using his carseat), Safety when it comes to electricity and electrical wires, Bike Safety, first aid and even some health things like the importance of eating right and getting plenty of exercise. He was able to enjoy his first ever professional puppet show. He truly enjoyed himself. We would have never heard of such a wonderful event if it hadn't been for a friend (his Sunday School Teacher) who also homeschools. At home we have also included in our theme Train Safety, plus fire safety & electrical safety. He has also been learning all about 911,when to and when not to call it.

No Halloween Celebrated Here

We don't celebrate Halloween in our house. We celebrate Fall/Harvest This is our choice. We feel that Halloween is not a holiday, that we as Christians should celebrate. God laid this heavy on our hearts and we are choosing to follow His wishes (this also applies with Harry Potter Books....he has laid that heavily on our hearts that these books aren't of Christ, nor something that we would want us polluting our minds with). Yes, that means our son, doesn't get to go trick or treating but we don't feel that he is missing out on much. It is just so dangerous to go trick or treating anyway. He is old enough to understand that Halloween is a day (thanks to the fact that people do celebrate it and tend to decorate their homes (some not so tastefully)) that might look fun, but we are trying to give him our Christian values and see that it isn't a day that God would want us to celebrate. This year so far he hasn't wanted to decorate or even look at decorations pertaining to this holiday. He actually gets upset when he sees them. However we did decorate for the fall/harvest time. We have pumpkins (no carvings) and gourds on our front porch, with some fall flowers. A fall wreath on our front door. A welcome Fall Sign on front porch wall. We also have a beautiful fake pumpkin that is engraved with a great saying: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, on each side of that pumpkin (we bought this last fall). We have some scarecrows (a boy and a girl,...really cute ones...we even have a couple of bigger ones for the front porch) sitting on our front entry hall table with some pumpkin spice potpourri. We have other fall decor that I need to go up to the attic to get that we bought last year (fake pumpkins with no carvings and so forth, nothing haunted, bloody, screaming, scary or questionable). So see we do decorate, we just choose to do it for Fall/Harvest not Halloween. For the most part Edward seems to understand that Halloween is a no no, the Lord has really been letting his heart hear what we are telling us and he hasn't questioned us about this yet. He might in a few years but I have a few great books to refer to incase he has questions and the Lord will help us to get through that too. Praise the Lord for those.