Homeschool Preschool:What we are learning this week

This week (and last week) we have been rowing The Big Green Pocketbook.  Like with all our BFIAR books so far, Lexie LOVES this book.  We haven't done a lot of paper activities with this one, mainly because it's hard to find any.  I don't know how to create files for activities, but I want to learn!  I have so many ideas and applications in my head; I just need to get them on paper (or screen, rather).

This is such a fun book, and there are so many real-life learning opportunities for it.  It's about a girl who takes her big green pocketbook while she runs errands with her mama.  They ride the bus from their house in the country, into town.

Many families who have rowed this book took their child on a real bus ride ... but we don't have a bus system here in York (ha!).  So, I am thinking if we have time, when we visit Memphis we may ride the trolley!  I know she would love that.

This week we have sorta changed up our routine.  We have been doing our Bible at breakfast (like always) but then do our BFIAR story (and other favorites) followed by calendar.  She has been wanting to read in the big chair downstairs, vs the rug.  I love that time together.  Max either sits in my lap, or plays on the floor.  Since he is crawling now, he is much more into the floor than he is sitting in my lap.

The great thing about schooling at home is learning doesn't have to look like it does in the public school classroom if it doesn't fit our needs.  As a trained teacher and product of a wonderful public school, I naturally gravitate towards the order and routine of a classroom.  But we don't stick to it like a schedule.  We do what works, some days we don't do it at all and just read books all day, play with manipulatives, etc.  

I've mentioned before, Lexie LOVES the routine of "school."  She has (on her own) started putting on her little backpack for our learning time, so we can do "school."  I never wanted to put a label on what we do, but I guess because she has been in preschool before, she put the similarities together?  I know not all children just love learning, reading books, or doing "activities," and that all of mine won't be.  That's the great thing about homeschool- we can modify and adjust to fit everyone's needs easily.

But Lou is like me, she's type A and loves school and learning.  We will do what she enjoys, so her love of learning doesn't dwindle.

Our very loose learning plans/activities for this week included:

Bible
Fruit of the Spirit lessons from Raising Arrows (Lexie is loving this!); Galatians 5:22
Luke chapter 15
The Parable of the Lost Coin- originally just a one day reading, she requests this every single day!

Fruit of the Spirit chart

Reading
The Big Green Pocketbook- We did a few rowing activities with this book, but just for coloring/fine motor practice.  Everything is just for fun at this age  =)
Introduced "No, David!" (this is not my typical type of book to read or enjoy, but when I worked in childcare my 3 & 4 year olds LOVED it.  and I know Lexie is old enough to understand the character lessons in the book as "not good choices" vs things we should do).  

Phonics/language
Talking about the short vowel A sound (very loosely, nothing formal)
Tracing letters P and A- tracing in shaving cream, on ipad app, with crayons, etc
Building letters with letter construction set
Rhyming words

Science
Growing lettuce and our KiwiBox (which is planting seeds)
Weather
water beads/absportion

Art/Crafts
KiwiBox
making green paint by mixing colors
water beads with shaving cream on light table- we also mixed food coloring to make everything orange (her favorite color) ... as it turns out it colors the water beads, permanently! 
oobleck in the bathtub

Math
Sorting by size and color (with sorting bears)
making numbers with playdough
building with magnatiles (as always ...)

Life Skills
Talking about good manners while on outings (like the girl from our BFIAR story)
Table manners (she tells me "I can't talk, I have food in my mouth ... haha)

We have done a lot more indoor activities this week because it has been cloudy and damp outside.  We need the rain, so complaints here!  Plus, we didn't do much last week because we were outside so much.

Putting the goodies from out story in her Big Green Pocketbook

Having a picnic with Bubby

Messy fun

What fun did you have with your littles this week, at home or out and about?

Family

Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him

Although our families are now hours away, they still make a huge impact on our lives (of course).  Without them, we would not be the people, and the family we are.  I will start with JTom's side of our family, and just give a little praise for them.

His Mom is one of the most generous women I have ever known.  She gives to and serves others every. single. day.  I am not sure how she has enough of herself to go around, but there is always plenty.  God has truly given her the gift of giving.  She loves Lexie and Max beyond words.  We are so thankful to call her our Sue Sue.  (She raised a son who keeps his bathroom clean, so you know she is an amazing woman!)

His Dad is kind and brilliant.  He raised an amazing young man who can do and build anything, loves his family unconditionally, and works so hard.  Those are not things someone comes by naturally, they are traits a child grows up with and sees in their parents.  JTom's dad has most certainly set an amazing example for JTom, and can only imagine the impact he will have on Max's life.

His sister is one of the nicest, most warm-hearted women I know.  The impact a sibling has on your life is immense  without them your entire personality would be different.  She definitely made an amazing impact of JTom's life and helped build the man and father he is today.  She is making that same impact on her own children, and the children of other's through teaching.  I haven't known her for many years, but from what I do know, she pours out everything she has into her students.  She has helped reassure me when I needed it- when I first became pregnant with Lexie and while I was in school getting my degree.  She is always willing to help when you ask, that has certainly been the case for me.

My mom has been a teacher for over 20 years; she has literally see it all in education, in children, in family dyamics.  The first two things I would tell someone about my mom are A) she has the softest heart of anyone I know. Through example, she reminds me to soften up some.  ;)  Thanks mom
and B) she is the best teacher I know.  Over 20 years teaching in public school in one of the biggest counties in the state of Tennessee, and she is still fresh.  She still works hard to find new lessons and ways to reach her students.  

My Dad is the hardest working person, beside JTom, that I know.  He is also the most Biblically sound person I know; if ever I have a question about scripture, ethics, or Bible history, he can answer it all and show or quote the scripture to back it up.  Through his example I learned at an early age how to budget, work hard, and pray for my family.  He is so generous, and always does right by others.  He never puts himself first.  

My Granny has taught me how to have fun, and encourage others.  =)  She has always been my sounding board; someone I could tell anything to when things were hard.  Her house has always been home, even when I didn't feel like I had one.  She can encourage, lift, praise, and make you laugh in a 23 words sentence (without taking a breath! haha).  ;)  She never meets a stranger, and although we all tease her about it, that's what we love about her.

My brother taught me how to accept.  He taught me that there is so much more to the world than the small amount I understood.  He showed me that because people are different, because they think outside the box really, en-truly doesn't make them crazy or weird.  Who knew that four years after his death I would think so much like him-question everything and don't be a sheeple. I think he would be proud.

These are the amazing people that molded mine and JTom's life and are still making positive impacts on our family.  We all have our differences, we all do thing differently, raise our families differently, but that is the beauty of a family.  Despite the things that make us different, there are beautiful things that make us very much the same.

These accept the worst of us, without judgement (I hope! haha), and continue to love us for it.  We both come from wonderful Christian families, for that, we are thankful.

They were enrolled with all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole assembly, for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy.  2 Chronicles 31:18

Mothers Day Cards

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

These were out Mother's Day cards this year ... they were very simple.  I didn't really like any of the cards I saw online, so these are the ones I went with.  I had planned on doing a craft, but that didn't get done in time ... =/

We love shutterfly.  Our pictures and cards always turn out nicely.  I accidentally sent this order to my old address, in AR (this has happened a few times since we moved ...).  So my poor mother in law was keeping an eye out for me, to see if they arrived.  The tracking showed they were delivered, but they were apparently delivered to the wrong house.  So, then I had to re-order the cards, have them sent to me, then mail them out!  Needless to say, they were late getting to the wonderful women in our lives.

I think I have finally erased our old address from all the online stores I purchase from!

I hope everyone had a beautiful Mother's Day!

Read It With Me Wednesday

Worry.

Everyone has it.  After you have children, your life can be consumed by it.  Like all parents, I have worries.

I worry about Lexie being taken by a stranger when I am not looking, or someone hurting her when I am not with her.  I worry about who comes in contact with her, with us, and if they are one of those people you see on the news that stalked a family or kidnapped a child.

I worry that JTom won't come home to us at the end of the day.

I worry that something might happen to him while he is flying, driving, or at a plant while traveling with work.

I worry that he won't always be with me, that we won't grow old together.

I worry that my babies hearts, will at some point not be protected, and therefore their spirits will suffer.  Their lives will be altered for the worse, and I won't be able to save them.

I worry that as wonderful as things have been, as blessed that we are, at some point the rug will be pulled out.  Things will suddenly go from amazing, to horrifying.  

There is always a calm before the storm, right?

But I do not worry about these things all the time, or let my mind focus on them.  They are thoughts  that like any other negative thought, we have to put aside, say a sincere prayer, and remember He has us.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6

Then I think about things like the families of Oklahoma this week.  Not their homes that were destroyed, but the lives taken; the families that are now in pieces because they lost a child, or loved one.  And I think, what would I tell them?  There is nothing to say.

It makes my worries, for today anyway, seem small.  Because I know my babies are safely sleeping in their beds.  JTom is safe.  We are comfortable, have food and water.  And warm clothes on our backs.

God wants me to give my fears and worries to Him; I don't have to carry them.  If I am anxious, if I am fearful, I can't be as close to Him, or as much like his Son as he wants me to be.  So I give it to Him.

One of my very favorite verses:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

From everything comes good; whether it be pain, illness, or suffering.  Above all, His plan prevails.