Family Update

Hi long distance family --*couch cough** sister-in-law in Idaho, who may be the only one who reads this anymore because I'm so bad about updating it-- and friends :-) Just a reminder, I am using this blog to post entries about our family in general as well as the boys growth and development. I will also pick back up on my series of  "Letters for my Sons" here as well. I am chronicling our homeschooling experience in a separate blog I created.  Shawna B, just click on the underlined purple word and the link will take you there. 

Matthew and I are both learning so much through the homeschooling process. I really enjoy watching him grasp concepts and being able to stay home with both of my boys. Daniel is being his sweet self, happily eating and sleeping through his day. He is just starting small spurts of extended awake time. Billy started his new job a few weeks ago and is working on that transition.  It's been different for us at home with his varying work schedules and not as much flexibility to help out with dr's appointments. How do women with small children who don't have family close go to the dentist??? Sad to say, but I'm grateful my neighbor is temporarily unemployed so I can go tomorrow. I'm sure God will continue to provide, I just need to be less embarrassed to ask for help. We all got sick a few weeks ago, but thankfully well now. Matthew's virus of course turned in to the croup for the 5th time in his short life. Daniel had a mild case of the croup and just lots of runny nose issues. Billy and I both had mild colds. We are scheduled to take some family pictures next weekend. I'm excited to be able to update our large family picture in the living room with one that includes the whole family. The current one was taken when Matthew was about 3 months old.

Here are some glimpses in to our life with a 22 and 3 month old boys. I know it's a mommy hazard, I take  the pictures so I'm not in them.

 

May the learning force be with us

To give equal time from my previous shoe entry, I had to post my latest find. It's a Star Wars preschool pack from Homeschool Creations:

Seeing as how Billy is a huge fan, I know he will be pleased :-) The boys are both slated to be in full Star Wars costume come Halloween. I am thinking of starting up a second blog to chronicle our adventure in homeschooling because that's all I seem to be talking about recently. Maybe my friends will get a break if I get all my excitement out here on blogland. I'm barely keeping up with this one, but here is the site if you're interested in following us.

"Free" time

I'm my "free" time I've been preparing for a project starting this fall. God has really put it on my heart to homeschool our boys. I've really gotten excited about something called lapbooks a.k.a. unit studies, tot packs,etc - just depends on the age and the extent of the material. Some very generous public, private and homeschool teachers make them available free or as a giveaway via blogs, school district sites, Pinterest, Teacher's Notebook and TPT stores. Many of these bundled lessons for preschoolers via mostly PDF files incorporate their theme in worksheets with the academics ranging from numbers, colors, shapes, letters, sequencing, to opposites, fine and gross motor skills, crafts etc. The material is also very fun, accurate and age appropriate. These work sheets, projects, crafts and ideas along with some great books, mixed with patience, creativity, prayer, my teaching style and Matthew's attention span and learning style with a manipulative or five thrown in there and basic office supplies should do quite nicely for Matthew as he turns 2 in the fall.

I know I have boys, but I can't resist this one study about shoes.

I realize this is a first grade site but like I said I get excited when I see bundled packets. I save them for later. Some of my favorite preschool ideas are from here, here, here, here, here and here . Just to name a few, you get the picture... A great resource that goes out and finds great sites is Teaching Blog Addict and Yes, I am :-)