When we first got our pumpkins Eliza insisted on carrying hers around all day. She excitedly called "pumpkin" every time we left the house and she saw them after they were carves and we required that the toting around habit be stopped. Since the Trunk-or-Treat she carries around her bag of candy all day. She doesn't constantly eat it so I've been allowing it. I have hateful relationship with Halloween candy. I used to monitor the consumption of it but now I say the sooner it is out of the house the better. I'll just make sure every one's teeth are getting brushed good.
Eliza was pleasantly amazed every time someone knew she was Little Red Ridding Hood. At one place there was a little pavilion set up instead of a trunk. It was kind of scary for her to go inside especially with the witches in there. When they tried to give her a "poisoned" apple, she refused to take it. I took it instead and put it in her basket. She promptly tipped it out onto the ground. I had to put it in my coat pocket. She didn't want to be anywhere near it. I think there's an object lesson in that. If only I could keep away from that poisoned chocolate. Later that night I heard her talking about that poisoned apple. She totally thought it was real. She is such a cutie.
Merian's first day of home school is November 1st - next Tuesday. I've been getting things ready. I've been so excited to have her home. Just a little bit anxious.
Tonight we ate dinner on the family room floor and then played a game and watched a movie. It was so much fun I want to do it every week. At least until we get new carpet.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Chill Out!
The article I got this picture from (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700096950/Life-goes-on-Relax-and-just-go-with-it.html) asked if you would grab the camera or grab the child.
The lesson is not to sweat the small stuff.
Rose Kennedy said she believed the broken arm a child might get from climbing a tree was not as great as the broken spirit by keeping them from exploring.
This is what I need to do. Stop worrying and enjoy my kids. Have faith that if we do what is right, they are going to turn out great.
That, and I need to take more pictures.
Eliza has been very patient while I've been working at getting the kids into their new school schedule, however, I know she is feeling not having enough attention from her mom. Today I told her pretty soon I will be able to spend more time on her pre-school. She asked why I didn't just make the kids' school work easier. I asked her what she would suggest and she replied that I should let them paint all day.
She loves playing with play-dough and has been known to be occupied with that task for three hours at a time.
The other day, I can't remember what we were listening to, (maybe a conference talk?) that had big words that she couldn't understand. In frustration she asked, "what are they saying? Why are they talking in Spanish?"
She is so cute and I am glad the kids are finally getting settled into our new school routine so I can take time out and enjoy her.
I got to go to the pumpkin patch with Derek's kindergarten class. Norah loves pumpkins. She has been practicing and can say "pumpkin" pretty well now. She says it when ever she sees one and would like nothing better than to have me carry her around all day with her in one arm and her pumpkin in the other. I wonder what she is going to think when it comes time to carve them...
She did not like the hay ride. She tolerated the ride to the patch but did not want to get back on. That's when we started practicing the work pumpkin. She also learned how to say "corn" although she probably thought I was crazy pointing to those withering stalks and calling them corn. They look nothing like the frozen little yellow kernels she likes to snack on.
She also likes to say shoes. She likes to put them on and go outside. She will also bring me my shoes so I will go with her.
Although her words are still limited, she can definitely communicate. From Target's $1 section I bought Halloween and Fall plastic plates that have different sections in them. Earlier this week when I made Norah's lunch, I put a sandwich in one section, some carrots in one, and nuts in the other. (It's so strange that she likes and can eat nuts and carrots. My other kids only had a few teeth by this age.) That left one section empty. She pointed at it, looked at me expectantly and grunted. She got half a graham cracker there.
Emma played the piano while Emma Baugh played the violin for Activity Day Recognition Night. She is doing very well in school and with her enrichment subjects afterwards.
Merian is so dependable. She has been getting her homework done early and I don't even have to tell her. I am looking forward to having her home, when ever that may be.
She loves playing with play-dough and has been known to be occupied with that task for three hours at a time.
The other day, I can't remember what we were listening to, (maybe a conference talk?) that had big words that she couldn't understand. In frustration she asked, "what are they saying? Why are they talking in Spanish?"
She is so cute and I am glad the kids are finally getting settled into our new school routine so I can take time out and enjoy her.
I got to go to the pumpkin patch with Derek's kindergarten class. Norah loves pumpkins. She has been practicing and can say "pumpkin" pretty well now. She says it when ever she sees one and would like nothing better than to have me carry her around all day with her in one arm and her pumpkin in the other. I wonder what she is going to think when it comes time to carve them...
She did not like the hay ride. She tolerated the ride to the patch but did not want to get back on. That's when we started practicing the work pumpkin. She also learned how to say "corn" although she probably thought I was crazy pointing to those withering stalks and calling them corn. They look nothing like the frozen little yellow kernels she likes to snack on.
She also likes to say shoes. She likes to put them on and go outside. She will also bring me my shoes so I will go with her.
Although her words are still limited, she can definitely communicate. From Target's $1 section I bought Halloween and Fall plastic plates that have different sections in them. Earlier this week when I made Norah's lunch, I put a sandwich in one section, some carrots in one, and nuts in the other. (It's so strange that she likes and can eat nuts and carrots. My other kids only had a few teeth by this age.) That left one section empty. She pointed at it, looked at me expectantly and grunted. She got half a graham cracker there.
Emma played the piano while Emma Baugh played the violin for Activity Day Recognition Night. She is doing very well in school and with her enrichment subjects afterwards.
Merian is so dependable. She has been getting her homework done early and I don't even have to tell her. I am looking forward to having her home, when ever that may be.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
This is kind of weird, but after it happened Nathan commented it was a conversation to record.
I was snuggling with Derek the other night. We just don't get enough of that now that he is in Kindergarten. He's always telling me I'm the best mom ever and how much he loves me. After the usual, he told me that after I died he would hug my bones. He must have sensed that wasn't a normal thing to say and tried to make it better. "I mean I'll hold your bones with a napkin." Hmmm....
Merian and I have been talking about the possibility of her being home schooled. It has always been the plan to start in fourth grade, so she'd be coming home next year, but I miss her! She wants to be home schooled too and I know she's a good worker and a responsible learner. She has friends and cousins at school and is doing well socially and academically, but mentions the hope of coming home when ever she can. Her best part of her day is always coming home. She hasn't complained about anything, although I know she really wants to be home schooled. I don't want her to think she has to complain in order to get what she wants. Mainly, I just miss her and would love to have her home. We might have to move the rooms around again so that we can have a bigger school room...
I'm not a confident home school mom. I worry all the time if I'm doing enough for my children academically and socially. It's like some grand experiment and I won't know the results until too late. But I like what I see so far. My kids are learning. Not only are they learning the material, but they are learning how to teach themselves and focus on learning, not on merely making the grade. Emma always impresses me how she will work on math until she understands it, not just trying to learn quick tricks to pass the tests. Ultimately, the goal is for them to move from one subject to another without prodding, and they are getting pretty good at it, so they are learning self motivation and discipline. Megan is so good at it she always finishes her work before lunch and then has the afternoon to work on her talents and explore her interests. I wish she had more opportunities to be with kids her own age, and I curse PSD for not even reading our petitions for her to be involved in drama, but we're working on that. Michael has been putting forth a lot of effort since I told him about academic scholarships. :) Emma is also learning French, practicing the piano and doing other good things with her extra time.
Michael is thinking about playing basketball. I asked why he brought it up and he answered because I'm always talking about them needing to do things for enrichment (what they are supposed to be doing in the afternoon.)
I like that we are together. I look forward to this winter when we are done with our work being able to drink hot chocolate and read or watch a movie. I just always hope that I am enough for them all. That I am a good enough teacher and have enough left in me to be a nourishing mother. That I am still able to enjoy the little ones.
I'm getting too thoughtful. Time to go write in my journal instead.
I was snuggling with Derek the other night. We just don't get enough of that now that he is in Kindergarten. He's always telling me I'm the best mom ever and how much he loves me. After the usual, he told me that after I died he would hug my bones. He must have sensed that wasn't a normal thing to say and tried to make it better. "I mean I'll hold your bones with a napkin." Hmmm....
Merian and I have been talking about the possibility of her being home schooled. It has always been the plan to start in fourth grade, so she'd be coming home next year, but I miss her! She wants to be home schooled too and I know she's a good worker and a responsible learner. She has friends and cousins at school and is doing well socially and academically, but mentions the hope of coming home when ever she can. Her best part of her day is always coming home. She hasn't complained about anything, although I know she really wants to be home schooled. I don't want her to think she has to complain in order to get what she wants. Mainly, I just miss her and would love to have her home. We might have to move the rooms around again so that we can have a bigger school room...
I'm not a confident home school mom. I worry all the time if I'm doing enough for my children academically and socially. It's like some grand experiment and I won't know the results until too late. But I like what I see so far. My kids are learning. Not only are they learning the material, but they are learning how to teach themselves and focus on learning, not on merely making the grade. Emma always impresses me how she will work on math until she understands it, not just trying to learn quick tricks to pass the tests. Ultimately, the goal is for them to move from one subject to another without prodding, and they are getting pretty good at it, so they are learning self motivation and discipline. Megan is so good at it she always finishes her work before lunch and then has the afternoon to work on her talents and explore her interests. I wish she had more opportunities to be with kids her own age, and I curse PSD for not even reading our petitions for her to be involved in drama, but we're working on that. Michael has been putting forth a lot of effort since I told him about academic scholarships. :) Emma is also learning French, practicing the piano and doing other good things with her extra time.
Michael is thinking about playing basketball. I asked why he brought it up and he answered because I'm always talking about them needing to do things for enrichment (what they are supposed to be doing in the afternoon.)
I like that we are together. I look forward to this winter when we are done with our work being able to drink hot chocolate and read or watch a movie. I just always hope that I am enough for them all. That I am a good enough teacher and have enough left in me to be a nourishing mother. That I am still able to enjoy the little ones.
I'm getting too thoughtful. Time to go write in my journal instead.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
if at first you don't succeed...
Yesterday, I was impressed when reviewing Michael's literature answers.
"This is excellent, Michael!"
"I was thinking of you when I did it."
"Ah," feeling so special.
"I was thinking about how you would make me do it over again if I didn't do a good job."
Teaching has several components. I haven't been the best at following up and setting high standards in the past, but that has been one of my focuses this year. At first this was met with some resistance, but it is paying off!
"This is excellent, Michael!"
"I was thinking of you when I did it."
"Ah," feeling so special.
"I was thinking about how you would make me do it over again if I didn't do a good job."
Teaching has several components. I haven't been the best at following up and setting high standards in the past, but that has been one of my focuses this year. At first this was met with some resistance, but it is paying off!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)