Bad parents

We gave our baby easy cheese. She really liked it. Can you believe we even had easy cheese in the house? I picked it up for the boys on a whim at the store. Jake calls it party cheese cause you (usually) eat it on crackers. Very sophisticated, my boy is.

Easy and satifsfying, my kind of project

What to do with all of those broken (or even just dull) crayons? Yes, I know that has been on your mind lately.





May I present to you....Crayon Cookies!

First you peel them and then just put them into regular muffin tins.






I used an old one and from now on it will just be a craft tin but anyway, then just put them into a warmish oven and let them melt. Then pop them in the freezer and then pop them out and viola! Crayon Cookies!








This is an old idea, but I rediscovered it after seeing it on Kiddley

She's got soul but she's not a soldier

In response to the concerns of caring viewers, the management would like to update the audience to assure you that Laine did not suffer harm in the making of this video. I mean, nothing more harmful than would just need a kiss on the from mom





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Gearing up for school

Public schools have all started around here and the private ones start next week I think. I think the schools are trying to slowly move the gen pop to a year round system. I understand the reasoning and it very well may be a good idea, but I am sad for summer.

We will officially start HS September 5th. It is the start date for L and L's pre-school so it seems a natural beginning for us. We joined a Catholic HS group and I am just amazed and excited about all of the activities and support that is offered. Tons of field trips, mother's nights out, book clubs for all ages and a co-op. The best thing for me is that is not all or nothing with this group, I need flexibility.

Here is the plan so far:

Math: Saxon Math 1 and 2 I like the Saxon math bc it is what they were doing last year and I like the spiral methodology. I was a bum at math in school mostly bc I never developed any real number sense. Saxon continuously builds on concepts, but relates them to what has already been covered. The kids learn how everything is related not just memorizing facts.

Reading/Spelling: This is tricky. Jake is reading wonderfully, Ryan is catching up quickly. We will do the Five in a Row (FIAR) program, along with the Catholic Mosaic books and also throw in some poetry for recitation and study. I tested them with some online assesments and they are both above their grade levels so I will be adjusting this as they continue to improve. I am having them each do spelling books as well. That will help with spelling and handwriting.

History/Geography: Well the co-op this semester is about American government. It will be plenty of material for Ryan, but I will supplement Jake with learning states and capitals and some early US history I have some workbooks and activities for that.

Art: Mommy it's a Renoir! with the art cards and there are lots of FIAR art projects and appreciation lessons.Actually, Luke and Laine are are so interested in the art cards and the early levels of this are more for their age, Jake and Ryan will move quickly through this I think.

Music: Jake will be learning the recorder and how to read music with an Usborne book. Also we are listening to the Music Masters series.

Drama: They will be in the 1st and 2nd grade Nativity play this semester for the co-op

Science: Science with Air and Science with Plants.
Sports: Ryan will be doing flag football and he is thrilled. I am looking into tennis for Jake. He likes it and has natural, easy strokes. A little Lee!

So that is the jist of it. We may get into lapbooking and/or notebooking, but we'll ease into it.

Thankfulness

You spot a tiny roundish dark lump on the baby matress as you pick up your sugar smoosh after a nap. Resolved, you bravely grab a tissue. You sigh a deep, thankful sigh when you realise it is merely a raisin.

Poor Lainey

Today I am taking Laine to get her tonsils/adenoids x-rayed. The suspicion is that she will need them removed. They have always been large, but she has been battling strep and snoring like a sailor, even her speech is affected. So bye-bye nasty tonsils.

We have this old Bill Cosby cd where he talks about going to get his tonsils out and being promised ice-cream. It is so cute and the kids love the "Ice Cream Song" Things are done differently now, so she probably won't need to stay overnight, but still I know it will be painful for my poor baby.

Meanwhile, she is the cheeriest little thing and you would never know she wasn't feeling 100 percent.

Visit this Blog

Amy Loves China

This is a journal of a woman who is in Xi'an right now working with a medical team to perform surgery on orphans and help in other ways too. I don't know Amy personally, but when I found this blog I knew it should be shared with the Chinese adoption community. Please visit, pass it on and keep the children and this medical team in your prayers.