Catch up...

This house has been virtually turned upside down for months....and its time for a bit of catch up!! There will be a "big" announcement coming in November so be sure to stay tune for that!!

But in the mean time I am going to "try" to be more diligent about "catching up" these days are filled with preschool drop off, working, praying about what to do for kindergarten, homeschooling on the down time, preschool pick up, play groups, field trips, sports, and so much more. I feel like time is slipping through the cracks and God knows we can't let that happen....

We enjoyed some fun field trips in the past couple months one of which was to a local fair. Pumpkin went for her first pony ride and could not keep the smile off her face!! It was so much fun to watch her hop on and enjoy the ride. It made me wish we lived on a farm where she could do that everyday!!

Boo had her first encounter with animals and did surprisingly well ...she was not interested in feeding them but she didn't mind that they were in her tiny face at times. One of the best moments of this trip was when Pumpkin thought the cone filled with animal feed was a treat for her and she took a bite...she was so embarrassed. Poor baby :( it was pretty funny though.

Pumpkin hopped right in every chance she could to feed the animals she is quite the country girl!
Daddy helped lots during this trip while mommy stayed on hand sanitizer patrol if I have never talked about my complete fear of germs...dirt...and uncleanliness...here it is...it makes my skin crawl...LOL :)

Pudding Painting

So if you read my other blog you know that I have had an awful lot on my plate lately, but that doesn't stop a 1 and 4 year old from having fun!! Pumpkin is starting her 3rd week of preschool and seems to be enjoying herself. Im still not competely sold on the "school thing" I try to tell myself leave it alone there is enough going on right now. We have not let home schooling go by the way side we are keeping up with that as well so I thought (although a bit late) I would share our last days of summer pudding party!!

We invited a few of our neighborhood friends over . The kids each had a little container of pudding, a paint brush, and went to town!! At first the kids were not sure what to make of this...but quickly they caught on and went to town! Our pudding was chocolate and Pumpkin couldn't resist to try a little. :)
Running around the back yard, squeals of laughter, and a real hoot to watch!! This ended up being one of my favorite Summer time memories!! We will certainly be doing this again. What a fun sensory activity. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere warm or if you have an Indian Summer you have to do this...bring out the camera and snap away!!

Time for a breather!! We washed the kids off with a hose and they were exhausted...just in time for dinner.

Food for thought

Today marks the official "start" of our fall routine around here...May God Bless our family and yours on these new adventures we are about to step foot into!!! There is a large part of me that is excited about the "what's to come" and I would say an equally large part that is "saying....what have I done..."? I am a total control freak so when things get a bit crazy and spiral out of control I feel totally overwhelmed. So starting this Fall I'm counting on some new help aids around here to get me through any tough patches.

Pumpkin will be 4 next Sunday and loves to help so we have taken her lead and she has become quite the "helper" around here. We have implemented the "snack pack" in our home. Pumpkin picks one morning snack and one afternoon snack (mostly healthy...some organic...some just plain not nutritious (shocking I know). The intent here was to give her a choice and get used to making healthy ones at that. She loves her snack pack! I fill it 1 x a week with new goodies everyday she gets to "pick" her snack and when all her favorites are gone that's it!!

I have started filling the girls water/milk cups up the morning or evening before to have a head start on the "Mommy I'm thirsty" or in K-bear language everything is "ummmm-ummm". Pumpkin has the pink cup and K-Bear is purple!!

I know I have mentioned before how much Pumpkin loves to cook and help in the kitchen so this is her year to shine. She is officially on our family dinner menu...that's right as "Chef Pumpkin!"

Her "cooking day" is moving from Tuesday to Wednesday because of soccer practice but as you can tell by her little smile she loved her "big night". I sit down each month and plan our "menu" for the month I included Pumpkin in the the "picking" of her meals. I must say she has quite the palette for food because when asked what she would want to make she said "hmmmm how about Salmon?" What 4 year old says that?

So we compromised on Salmon Melts!!! I think she used a stick of butter!!

And of coarse life wouldn't be complete with out a few "samples" below Pumpkin is tasting something Daddy made!

And well.....K-Bear is always eating so it is not hard to get a picture of her in the high chair! She will eat anything you put in front of her from cabbage-seafood!!

Back at it...

Back at it...Preschool that is :)

I write this with much excitement and some hesitation!! It is official Pumpkin is going to go to preschool this year (4 year old...that is). There are several reasons why but a main reason is my current work schedule is just plain nuts. Between babysitting, cleaning, my etsy businesses, and everything else a mom must do no wonder I have had vertigo for over a month.. :)

With our current economy I didn't feel comfortable not taking on work that was basically sitting in front of me. On the other hand it is killing me to let my baby go to school!!! I know she will be fine (its preschool for goodness sake) I do know she will pick up bad things as well as good...and over all she will probably enjoy herself a bit (I hope). With that monkey business out of the way you don't think I would give up homeschooling do you? NO WAY!!

We started homeschooling last week Monday to get into a homeschool routine before "actual school" starts next week. Our fall schedule looks something like this:
Monday -School
Tuesday- Homeschool/MOPS 2 x's a month
Wednesday-School
Thursday-Homeschool/Homeschool Co-op 2x's a month
Friday - School
A bit chaotic yes, but I feel the need to continue with our homeschool work since it is still uncertain as to what we will do next fall for Kindergarten. Any comments on this matter would be warmly appreciated.

Homeschooling is a commitment and you have to be willing to make it one. It is more than school ...it is a way of life and I do not feel that is something which should be taken lightly!! I did not feel that I would be able to sufficiently do lesson plans and carry them out with working 45+ hours a week!! Therefore, the best option for this year was school...with my hope, prayer, and every ounce of my energy zeroing in on next year!!

My goal for this year: Pay off.....pay down..... save $$....= work less = Homeschool Next Year!!

Some new stuff...

If you look along my side bar you will notice some new blog organization going on :) to help myself and hopefully you too I am trying to categorize the links that I use or refer to for our homeschool studies!! Be sure to check it out (Misc. Wee, Wee Future...etc.) Getting there slowly!!

Deep in the Trenches of Planning

I am deep in the trenches of planning...if only I could figure out how to make this into a nifty little tab like most other blogs...? Any help from my followers would be appreciated :)

Here is what our school PreK-4 Curriculum and Goals is looking like thus far... it will likely change a bit...more is still to come...promise!!!

Math *Counting 1-20 (100) *Concept more, less, same *Sequence of events * Ordinal-cardinal relationship * Number-numeral relationship *Estimation * Meaning of addition and subtraction * Calendar and clock * Denominations of money * Basic problem-solving strategies * Basic chart and graph concepts	Social Studies * holidays, traditions, customs * Role in the family, home, school, community * Human needs vs. wants * Self respect/awareness *Work and jobs	Science *classification living vs. non-living *Farm animals * Pets/care of *Seasons * Planets, space, moon, sun *Beginning Experimentation
Heath/Safety/Nutrition *Senses * Recognizing Safety Signs *Strangers * Food Pyramid/Labels *Dental Health	Language Arts *Phonics *Nursery rhymes, fairy tails, poetry *Role play *Following/giving direction *Summarizing *Writing	Reading/Circle Time *Weather Charting *Calendar/Days of week
Computer/Music *15-20 min computer time a day Classics For Kids Bus Songs *Exposure to various instruments, sounds, and types of music *Music and movement MWF afternoons	Art/Gym *Various art projects will be done throughout the year corresponding to other lessons *Soccer and Swimming classes * Minimum of 30 minutes active play a day	Field Trips *1-2 field trips per month
Bible *Homeschool Bible Study group * Mops every other week	Foreign Language/Geography * Location of home and other important land marks * Exposure to various cultures, flags, foods, and languages will be explores	Co-op *1st and 3rd Thurs of each month

Wee Economics

The ladies in our house have been busy learning about home economics these day :) We have had a rush of baby showers and birthdays...all which would not be complete without a touch of homemade!! My wee ones love to cook, clean, and be like mommy!! Below Pumpkin is teaching K.bear how to clean dishes in their play kitchen.

I had to make up cookie bouquets for my sisters baby shower which Pumpkin thought was great! In the beginning I was doing them all myself and then I hired her to help 12 bouquets is A LOT. She did an awesome job for an almost 4 year old. She is a bit ...you could say ...anal retentive (can't imagine where she gets that from?!) :)

K.bear still doing dishes!! Another one that loves to clean...AMEN!! Doesn't she look tiny?

And as you all know life would not be complete or at least after dinner wouldn't be without ice cream. We had our first introduction to the ice cream maker this summer. I have no idea where summer has gone ...typically ice cream is made several times in our home... this year...1x unacceptable (we are going to have to fit in at least 1 more)!!

Waiting o'so patiently for the ice cream to form. I must note that the bowl was not frozen enough and it never did work out as it should....mommy's quick thinking led to ice cream milk shakes for everyone (neighbors too...of coarse!)

Hope you liked our home economic class and we have much more to come...including a recipe for yummy chocolate cupcakes with a butter cream frosting :)