School & Rashes

My titles these days leave little to the imagination, eh? Well....this is our last week of "school" before Christmas Break. We're finishing up our reader & preparing for the unit test. We've added Spelling as of last week, so we're working on our second set of spelling words. I've capped it at 15 per week for now as they seem to be handling that well. We're learning about money & how much we can buy with it. I think they did this in 2nd grade at school, but it must not have "stuck", so we are practicing & having fun with it! On another note, the antibiotic for C's ear infection broke her out in an all over body rash (sorry, no pic of this) so I had it changed today & we'll try again. She does feel better, just itchy, so we've started on Benadryl until it clears up. Hope you all have a good week! (Bryce's fake smile needs some work LOL!)

Presentations & Ear Infections

Just 'cause she's so darn cute in footed pj's (which she doesn't like!)

Her favorite "book": The photo album of our beach trip!

Blake giving his reading of his story...

"Pride"

Bryce reading his paper...

Weird title eh? Well, we've had both going on this week! Working on our creative writing & presenting our work. Blake & Bryce both have wonderful imaginations (sometimes almost too creative as James & I have joked that they've lived in 'pretend-land' for most of their childhood!!!). So, asking them to write about any subject usually produces a great story full of adventure. Myself, I don't like to get up in front of a group of two or more & talk or read or anything else for that matter! I would LOVE for my children to have the skill of presenting and voicing their opinions/research/work, etc. as they grow up.

On the ear infection front...yes, C has yet ANOTHER one! UGH! Poor girl! This marks #5 for the year so we are on 'the bubble' & discussing tubes. We go back in one month for an "ear check". Our regular pediatrician is in China right now bringing home his little girl. EXCITING! So, we saw a different Dr. today, but I really like him....so...I'll keep you updated about the tubes.

It has been REALLY cold here by Texas standards & we've been bundling up to do our errands. Thank goodness for on-line shopping & UPS is all I have to say!!!!! Have a great weekend everyone.

Homeschool Stuff from time to time.....

So, I thought it might be fun to add some homeschool 'stuff' on here from time to time. We are all adjusting to being home more during the day & together a lot more! There are good & bad moments, but I still feel as though the boys are really making the most of their time during our learning hours & my patience is slowly but surely growing. God is working on me!!! Caleigh loves having them here of course & our family time is so nice. I'm still working on a 'schedule' & hope to be a little more organized after the holidays. For now, it's the basics: Reading (lots), creative writing, math & spelling. We're throwing in Science at least a couple of days a week because they really crave it. Here are the boys with their 'project' yesterday. I have figured out over the last weeks that my island is for cooking & working with school projects; not for decorating! Who knew?!?!!!!

It is my mission....

.....to do all the things I mean to do with my children every year during the holidays that never seem to get done.....So, it may be a bit early, but here we go!!! The kids made the whole cake & then iced it & sprinkled it up good!! I did the writing, but that's it & I must say it is very yummy! I should have recorded them singing....it was so cute.

Flurries!

We enjoyed some snow flurries today! It has been unseasonably cold here for this time of year. It didn't get out of the low 30's today. I got some pretty cute pictures...some for our Christmas cards...hooray!!! Here are a few that didn't make the card! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. It sure feels like the Christmas season around here!

Christmas Card Practice

So, today before rushing out the door, I thought...hmmm....maybe we should start practicing for our Christmas card pictures! It is SOOO hard to get all 3 kids looking cute...plus, add in the boxer who would not budge & here you go.....I have much work to do!

Build A Bear...or a Dog

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday...we seemed to have run the roads quite a bit this year....I am thankful that I've done most of my Christmas shopping on-line & am almost done. I did go out with a friend for Black Friday shopping & got some great deals on several things we had wanted for the house, etc., Still need one Santa present for each of the boys, but otherwise, I am finished with shopping & am set to decorate the house this week & drink hot chocolate with the cute snowmen marshmellows I found today!!! Caleigh & I went shopping last week at the mall with friends while the guys went deer hunting...she had her first adventure at the Build-A-Bear store & she chose a "puppy dog". I must admit, I had never stepped foot into that store before, but she had so much fun...we'll have to go back some-time. Here she is with her newest "friend"....there won't be any room left in her bed for her soon! It's full of "friends"!!!!

Grandma's Things

Caleigh loves her "grandma" & absolutely loves all of her "pretty things" at her house! After school in the morning yesterday, we drove over & surprised her with a visit. The boys always have a blast because my mom keeps special toys for them there that we don't have at home. Caleigh had a blast since my mom had already set out all of her Christmas Villages & Music boxes. I am so bummed that a lot of my pictures blurred...I had it on the wrong setting the entire time! UGH!!! However, I did get a handful of precious pictures. Hope everyone has a special Thanksgiving week with family & friends.

Talking Up a Storm

All of the sudden, this little girl is talking up a storm!!! She's gone from 2-word phrases to 4-5 word sentences so quickly...seems like overnight. This morning while sitting at the boys' work area, she was trying to open the glue. She looked straight at me & said "Mommy, help please with the glue". I about fell out of the chair! She still uses phrasing a lot: "Play ball me?" "Me go to the store?" & Her favorite when I'm on the phone "Me talk to grandmama please!" (Or whomever I happen to be talking to at the time!) I do believe I have a very verbal child on my hands!!!! She'll fit right in with the boys! Here she is talking to my mom yesterday in the picture...

School At The Zoo!

Well, if you're on FB, you already know that we have decided to Home~School Blake & Bryce for now. There are too many reasons to go into here, but we believe it is in their best interest & will be wonderful for the entire family! We started our 1st day of school at home on Monday! They have been very receptive & positive & I am so proud of them for making an easy transition. We had our Reading & Science classes at the Zoo on Wednesday morning...it was so beautiful out, we just had to take advantage of the day. Here are a few cute pictures!!! I may start on homeschooling blog in the future with what we're doing each day, etc., but for now, I'm trying to get everything together & get a good schedule going! Maybe after the first of the year....right now, we are BUSY!!!!

Halloween Cuteness

Holiday In The Park

We spent our day on Halloween in the park! It was a BEEutiful day & I do mean that even the bees thought so & were out in full force. If James killed one I'll bet he killed 15! Luckily, good times were had by all & no kids got stung!!! I need a new beanie cap for Caleigh; the purple one is darling, but when it's windy & I pull it out of the car in a pinch, it just doesn't always match....so...please forgive me fashion police!!! Working on editing Halloween pics...will try to post them soon!