Saturday, October 30, 2010

Friday, October 22, 2010

Book 4

I guess I really can't really post these by week anymore since some of the books have lasted a bit longer than that.

This past week and a half we have been rowing Madeline.
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This was a cute story, and the kids really enjoyed it. We learned some new vocabulary words, studied the art in the book, learned a little about France, and practiced healthy habits. I think the kids' favorite thing was when we coated our hands in a small amount of Vaseline sprinkled with black pepper. The pepper represented germs, and we compared the results of just a quick rinse in the sink verses a good scrubbing with soap and warm water. I hope that lesson will stick with them through the coming flu season!

Since the little girls in the book do everything in two lines of six, we also took this opportunity to learn a little about symmetry. I couldn't resist letting them make symmetrical butterflies, which is something I can remember doing when I was about their age. Beth requested orange and black so they could made Monarchs - her favorite. Our butterflies turned out a little asymmetrical in the end, but it was fun making them. I think I will try them again soon, using glue we squirt on rather than paint brushes.
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In other news Beth earned her first Awana patch this week - she is so proud! I need to sew it on still so it's not in this picture. She asks me about it like three times a day. I promised her I would get it done before the next meeting! Their next Awana project is the Grand Prix (it's like the Pinewood Derby, if you have been involved with the Boy Scouts.) I am glad to turn that project over to Daddy.
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Saturday, October 16, 2010

Brrr...

I think I can finally say fall is here! Connecticut is always jumpy with the season changes. Sometime in September we'll need to get the coats out, and then the next day it will be 90 degrees! It sure makes dressing the kids a pain...it's all about layers yet. Today is down right chilly though. I think we have worn our shorts for the last time this year.

We spent our crisp fall day out apple picking. It's been one of our favorite things about New England, and I will sure miss it. The kids also gathered an assortment of colorful gourds, pumpkins, and mums. As for Mom and Dad....we went in search of the hard cider!

We have just eight more weeks in Connecticut! I feel like the countdown is definitely on. It's been a while since we've done a full fledged military move, and there are just so many details to take care of. Why they make this so confusing I have no idea. You would think that the military would be THE experts on orchestrating moves, you know? Oh well, come hell or high water, we will be arriving in Mississippi in two more months! I just hope we have a place to live. Even a nice hotel room will do. One that takes four kids and two cats, lol.

School is going well. Beth and Matt are like little sponges. I am so glad, since I frequently feel like I don't have enough time to sit down with them one on one. Slowly but surely though we are getting used to having our little Katy with us during the school day. I just can't believe it took four months! I have been doing quite a bit of school with each of them in the evenings too (when Daddy is home) and that has been a huge help. Beth is really starting to read on her own, and that is my main academic goal for her this year. As for Matt....he always asks me when it is going to be his turn to do school. He is so active that I was just going to wait for next year before asking him to do seat work, but he has really surprised me with what he can suddenly do now. He even taught himself how to write his name! He writes it right to left as frequently as not, but still!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Beautiful Connecticut

I am really going to miss it here! I never would have that that would be the case when we moved here, but 4 1/2 years later it has really grown on me.

We have been spending a good part of our days stomping through the woods. Who can resist in October? I think this is my favorite month of the year! Beth does her phonics and math work in the evenings now, after it has gotten dark and we're in for the day.

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This morning we took a little field trip over to Mystic to walk along the river and watch the drawbridge open. We are learning about rivers this week, so I thought it would be a good time for a visit.

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Monday, October 11, 2010

Happy Birthday :)

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! He's 27 this year, and we started dating when he was 17 (and I was 16.) I can't believe it has been ten years already! I still feel the same. I guess the four kids prove we are not teenagers anymore though. Next month will make eight years of marriage as well.

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I'm so glad it fell on Columbus Day this year...it's awesome having a three day weekend! The weather was perfect for apple picking too, so we spent a nice day at the orchard. After that it was home for apple crisp and cider....yummy!

I just love having Matt home. I enjoy his company of course, but it's also nice having an extra set of hands. I feel like I can get so much more done, and he always the best ideas for activities with the big kids. I think I should look for a job and let him homeschool!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Home Again :)

We had a wonderful visit to North Carolina and Virginia last week. It is never easy taking such a long trip with four little kids, but I have to say that my kids all travel pretty well. Unfortunately we did have one get sick on the way down (she had a fever and was throwing up, poor thing) but at least no one else got it. My brother-in-laws wedding was beautiful, and little Miss Beth made a very cute flower girl. We also enjoyed seeing lots of family we have not seen in several years.

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After 10 days on the road we were all happy to roll back up to our own home this weekend. Now if I could only catch up on laundry, unpacking, and all of our regular housework.... Katy still wants me to hold her 24/7 so it is very hard to get much of anything done during the day. I feel like I should be some kind of baby expert at this point, but it turns out each baby has been totally different. I feel like my holding her so much we are just teaching her to expect that, but on the other hand she gets SO upset when we do put her down that I feel terrible. She dislikes her swing, her bouncy seat, and the sling I have. I just bought her a bumbo chair and a different carrier today to try. Have you ever met such a spoiled little princess? I figure I will just have to do the best I can for now, and this time next year she will be up and running all over the place anyway. I'm not sure how that is going to equal LESS housework...but at least I'll be able to get off the couch and get to work, lol.