Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year's Eve


The tradition continues with some delicious home made pizzas, fully bellies and a fun movie..

I have been perfecting my "Caramelized Onion and grilled chicken pizza". I like it, Matt likes it, Katrina likes it... but Jonathan is a tough nut to crack -- He's still sticking strong to his pepperoni!

We all watched CARS together, and once the children were FINALLY asleep it was Captain America for the grown-ups...

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

First batch of home-made bread

Santa made a FANTASTIC delivery to the mom at the Marcella house... A bread machine!
I was so excited to see it, and to try it...
The children were just about as eager as I was, so I sped through the instruction manual and OFF I went to bake me some bread!


The first round was a simple white bread, YUM... Round two was a banana bread without the nuts... and round three, I started to get a little fancy: Coconut, Banana bread with Cinnamon and raisins!
I CANNOT wait until we buy some Wheat flour so I can make our own sandwich bread!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Secret Shopping like CRAZY!

So after I took a peak at the damage I did to my poor AMEX plastic buddy, I figured I should go make some Christmas Credit Card Pay-back Cash and QUICK!
So, I re-signed up to just about ALL the shops I could find in the week before and after Christmas... Taking FULL advantage of Matt's vacation time.
I did an average of 3 shops a day for about 7 days, INCLUDING Christmas Eve! These crazy TD Bank NUTS were open!!!
In any event once it is all said and done, I'll have a few hundred dollars wired RIGHT into my bank account for only about an hour of work a day. I think if gas money is factored in and all, it comes to about 11$ an hour... Not to shabby for how easy it is!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Day 2011

The kids may have been super excited for Christmas, but since we ALL went to bed so late after ALL the running around and family time of Christmas Eve, WE had to WAKE up the kids! We waited until about 8:30 and then COULD NOT wait anymore!


We grabbed one child at a time and woke them to SEE WHAT SANTA left!


All the months of planning and maxed credit cards (okay, not really), are totally worth seeing their BEAUTIFUL happy faces on Christmas morning!


Once we finished all the opening and breakfast eating at our house (excluding the stockings- which we saved for the evening), we headed over to the 'Cella's for a Christmas dinner and some more present opening... Then we headed over to my parents for a bit more to eat and even more present opening!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve's Festivities

We started with a couple birthday presents for the BIG FOUR-YEAR-OLD... which he LOVED!
A video camera, a Leapster reader pen, a couple new leap books, and a Mickey Mouse DVD.
HMMMMM... Can you guess which he liked best?
I can say that there about 1 MILLION videos of him saying "video, mom say hi" "Trina say cheese its a video" and "hey dad its a video" or my favorite "La la la la la la la... I am making a video of me"
AND then on to my folks for what was expected to be a huge disaster of children running mad, someone crying and everyone complaining.... BUT actually was FANTASTIC! All the children were well-behaved and played nicely together, they were not antsy for their gifts AT ALL...SO great!
We had to leave there and continue our journey...On to the 'Cella house where chaos ensued which was ALSO unexpected! Dinner and desert both smooth, but when it came to the gift exchange we all had too much to drink, and were mean and exchanging like crazy until we left at which point I am told there were tears! Next year, perhaps change again!
I did have the time to introduce a NEW family tradition after the BEAUTIFUL yearly rendition of THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS... I wrapped a Christmas ornament in a pretty box and placed it in a gift bag. Now, each year the person who receives it will fill the box with a new ornament and re-exchange the following Christmas.

Bug's Birthday

HE'S FOUR!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!
FOUR!!!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Medicated Children

In order to curb some of the behaviors the "bug" has been exhibiting, I have decided to start introduce him to yoga and meditation to relax him before bed.

With his cast on, we'll start with some REALLY easy stretching and avoid the broken arm and once he's in his pj's and in bed, we will do a bit of visualization before letting him say his prayers and go to sleep.

"Let's go on an adventure... But instead of rushing up and out the front door, we'll take a journey into our imagination, a beautiful place in our thoughts. Lying on your bed, stretch you legs out to a comfortable position, resting easy like a doll, gently close your eyes. Although you are staying still and lying in your bed, imagine standing up and walking right out your door onto the beach. Feel the sand between your toes and smell the gentle ocean breeze. Hear the waves crashing slowly onto the shore, and the birds gentle chirp in the sky above you... Find a nice comfortable spot on your imagination beach to sit and watch the waves crash, the birds sing and the sand circle you..Now, nice and relaxed, drift to sleep."

 

Thursday, December 22, 2011

ADHD & Med-Free

Once you discover your child may (or has been confirmed) to be afflicted with ADHD, the whirlwind CONTINUES! I would say begins, BUT knowing a child with ADHD, the whirlwind had begun YEARS before the diagnoses.
I am a FIRM believe in our natural world, for hundreds of years people survived the SAME afflictions we have today WITHOUT medication, of course this was either because the medication did not exist or the diagnoses did not. REGARDLESS, we survived!
I do NOT like any medication, I find that our bodies were constructed to fight off, pain, discomfort and to some extent illness. I am not a radical-naturalopathic-hairy-hippie-femisnist-christian-homeschooling mom,, . I do vaccinate my children when necessary, Tylenol them when they are ill, and feed them junk WHEN I want too. I just don't take ANY medications myself, or have them prescribed unnecessarily to my family.
We plan to manage our son's ADHD medication free. And here is the plan....
Give shorter lessons and more of them, which makes it easier for children to stay focused. Focus is so limited at this young age anyway!
Acknowledge even partial success and extend approval generously. We have a marble jar that is WONDERFUL!
Compliment even in mid-assignment to encourage continued focused performance.
Make corrections with a light hand. Instead of “try harder next time,” try – I see how hard you tried. Keep up the effort. It’s really paying off.
Lots of smiling, make eye contact with child, or pat him on the back.
Alert child’s attention with phrases such as “This is important.”
Break down longer directions into simpler chunks.
Allow physically hyperactive children out of their seats for FREQUENT movement.
Compliment a child, publicly, at least once daily, on some organizational or attentional task or effort.
Take a moment or two once or twice daily to speak privately; give a two-second pep talk, mention something positive you happened to notice regarding his work, behavior, self-control, focusing, etc.
I am also planning a somewhat Buddy system for cooperative learning both at and above level.

I will not make excuses for him, but rather encourage him strongly to manage his own behaviors and succeed despite the challenges ahead.

Christmas Ornament Exchange

We hosted a parent/child Holiday Ornament Exchange.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Drum Time

We joined some other local homeschoolers in a Drum Time instrument exploration.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Surgery

eek

Holiday ornament making

We want to make reindeer but we don't have a cookie cutter... and to do each one by hand is CRAZZZZYYYY...

My GENUS son says "turn the bell around mom"... DUH! "there's his nose, and his ears..." AHHH We just need antlers!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Sunday, December 4, 2011

it's BROKEN!

POOR bug!

Nature Center... yay!

More play today and LESS learning! UGH

Saturday, December 3, 2011

UNDER the SEA

Party with me!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Run SANTA Run

BEST race ever!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

THANKSGIVING

Totally SOLO

Saturday, November 19, 2011

We LOVE parties

Happy birthday to both!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Come over and play!

Jack's BEST buddy "A" came over to play!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Home-Made Bread

What a great reason to celebrate on November 17th. Find ideas for crafts, games, and other activities.

Crafts to Make:




Other Things To Do:



  • Bake Bread!

  • Visit a bakery.

  • Set up a dramatic play area depicting a bakery.

  • Talk about different shapes and textures of breads (for example, bagels, tortillas, bread sticks, pocket bread, etc.)

  • Compare the tastes and textures of different kinds of bread.

  • Make some Bread Pudding!

  • Learn about the kids' food guide pyramid.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Teddy Bear Poem


A poem for your Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Teddy bear turn aroundTeddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground.Teddy Bear touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do.
Teddy Bear run upstairs Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers.Teddy Bear saying prayers
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the light.
Teddy Bear sleepingTeddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say “Good night.”

Friday, November 11, 2011

Friday, November 4, 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween is canceled!

NNOOOOOOOOOO

Saturday, October 29, 2011

SNoctober???

Snow AND no power? WHAT!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Frankenstein Party

I love when we can incorporate learning and friends and fun... and messes!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

We LOVE new pjs!

Especially for Halloween! AND glow-in-the-dark!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

RUN, daddy, Run!

Matt runs his first marathon!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Day of the Dead

We checked out Oxford Library's event.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Friday, October 7, 2011

Science Class

Ms Ally is so cool!

Friday, September 30, 2011

First Character MEET & GREET

The Crystal Palace Buffet... characters and well dinner I guess.

We LOVE the rides!

The Carousel... It's a Small World! and the Monorail -- the best!

Bean's first haircut!

HONEY I SHRUNK TRINA!

Disney Junior LIVE on stage!

THE BEST thing we made time for in Disney!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Toy Story Ride



Nothing beats watching your sweet little Bean's eyes light up when she sees a favorite character!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

WE'RE HEEEERRRRREEEE!


I have NEVER been more excited to see a parking lot.... Especially with palm trees!

We've arrived!

Learning the calendar

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Monday, September 26, 2011

Friday, September 23, 2011

Scheduling

MATH

An ability-appropriate level math textbook for each child. 4 days per week. — I am completely against math texts for young children, instead I would recommend a workbook, or series of worksheets.

Drill work on math facts, 3-10 min/day, 5 days per week (while learning math facts). — Starting as simple as rout counting.

Math reading: Each Friday or 2nd Friday of the month, as needed.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Phonics: (for beginning readers), daily.

Handwriting: (while learning penmanship), 2 days per week, Tuesday & Thursday.

Spelling: Monday, Wednesday & Friday. —To begin only AFTER ‘cvc‘ words have begun to be mastered.

Grammar: 2 days per week, Tuesday & Thursday.

Reading Practice and Literature: (read-alouds, personal reading, fluency reading, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, american and world literature) daily, integrated into other subjects.

Composition: 2 – 3 days per week, Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Use compositions to reinforce grammar instruction as well as for additional handwriting practice while your child is learning penmanship. —-NOT until fluency in reading is established.

Vocabulary: daily integrated into reading/literature, as well as other subject areas as needed.

HISTORY/CITIZENSHIP

Use a grade-level history (textbook daily or) complete 3 to 6 history history units per year. If doing units, spend 1-1/2 to 2 hours per day, 2 days per week (Tuesday and Thursday) for 36 weeks, incorporating reading, hands-on activities, art, music, and composition, as appropriate.

Integrate citizenship into history curriculum or complete one or two special classes per year.

Geography and Mapping Skills: Mondays

Current Events: daily

SCIENCE

Use a grade-level science (textbook daily or) complete 3 to 6 science science units per year. If doing units, spend 1-1/2 to 2 hours per day, 2 days per week (Monday and Wednesday) for 36 weeks, incorporating reading, hands-on activities, lab work, art, music and composition, as appropriate.

ART

Each Wednesday, as needed.

MUSIC

Each Monday, as needed.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Each Saturday and/or integrate into other subjects, as needed.

Keyboarding: daily (after child has learned to write in cursive and until he can type a minimum of 40 wpm with only 1-2 errors).

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Keep track of 75 minutes of physical activity per week.

Attend one or two special classes on Tuesdays, as needed.

HEALTH/SAFETY

Integrate into science curriculum.

ELECTIVES:

Bible: daily

Foreign Language: briefly integrate into lessons daily, as needed.

Field trips: Fridays or occasionally substitute for Monday – Thursday school day, as needed.

Social Activities: daily play time with friends after school, during field trips, Fridays, special classes, or weekends

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Monday, September 12, 2011

First field trip....Sturbridge Village

Those darn home-schoolers are at it again... all that learning inside the home and a break already? Craziness!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Bethlehem Fair



First Ferris Wheel ride... a whopping 6$ a person... INSANE!

Patriot Day


Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle is not only one of the most beautiful birds, but is also a well recognized American symbol. This would make a great preschool or kindergarten craft for American holidays!

Ages: 3 and up



Here’s what you’ll need…• Brown, white, blue and yellow
construction paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Google eye

Here’s how you make it…

1. First you will need cut trace and cut out all the shapes. You will need a brown foot and hand prints, white feathers, and a yellow beak.

2. Glue your foot print body onto a piece of blue paper. Next, glue the hand print wings on either side of the body so it looks like the Eagle is flying(as shown in the picture).

3. Glue your white feathers on the Eagles head and neck, and don’t forget to put a few on his tail! Once that is done it’s time to put on your yellow beak and eyes. If you don’t have any google eyes you can always just draw on an eye with a black marker.

You don’t have to make a flying Eagle, you may choose to do a standing up Eagle like the one in the picture.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Monday, August 29, 2011

DIVIN'...IN...

An educational experience to last a lifetime!





Here we go! No turning back now! Home-schooling it is for us!

I am certain for the time being this is the BEST decision for Jonathan for now, for this year and probably next, but who knows what the future will hold? Not I.

So let’s do this thing!

It won’t be easy, but it’ll be good and we’ll make it work, heck we’ll make it the BEST experience we can and something he’ll remember forever — at least that’s the goal.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Our Story



The decision to homeschool comes about differently for every family. While we knew that our children would never attend public schools, we only toyed with the idea that homeschooling would become a part of our family while our firstborn child, Jonathan, was still an infant.

As a certified teacher, it seemed wrong to us for me to leave him with a sitter in order to go teach (and essentially raise) other people's children. In the short time I was with Jonathan (vacations and snow days and such), he would grow leaps and bounds, but once I returned to work, he would slide backward again. As my hours got longer and my pay did not increase, we decided once my third year within the school system was complete, I was done.

As soon as my first official stay-at-home-mom day came, it was clear that Jonathan was/is brilliant. His language exploded and became quite precise.
As a certified teacher, I had access to the state assessment tests and began testing Jonathan at age two. He tested into kindergarten at 2 1/2 years old and out of kindergarten before age 3. I began to explore our options for schooling in the private sector, but was quickly turned away soly based on his age. Frustrated with the thought of him being completely bored and thus misbehaving after roughly three-years of review, we made an uncommon decision.

Now, we firmly committed to homeschooling each of our children. I teach on a year-to-year basis, never committing to more than one year at a time. Of course, I cannot foresee any reason why any of our children would rejoin the public schools but we'd like to see them enter the private or Montessori sector in the not-so-distant future.

The decision was stressful, the community/extended family back-lash harsh and financially a strain.


My husband and I, just about a year before we were married.

Our little "Bug", Jonathan (Jack), the true adventurer - hands-on eager to learn mentality. A true first born.

Our little "Beana", Katrina (Trina), the constantly moving, girly-girl with no fear, eager to do anything her brother is doing. So easy-going you'd think she was a middle child (no one tell my husband 'wink').


If at any time you have questions, please feel free to contact me.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Sports Camp: Day three: Lacrosse

Who liked it more? That's debate-able....

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Sports Camp: Day two - basketball



Clearly, he enjoyed Day two.....

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

A girl's BEST friend...

BEST buddies...

Sports Camp: Day one - Soccer

He seemed to like camp, soccer though-- not so much.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Allergy Confirmation

So just to be daring or crazy or stupid. Take your pick... I decided to confirm Katrina's allergy to blueberries today. With fresh blueberry pancakes. We had just picked a WHOLE bunch in time for Katrina to have a strange response, so I figured... why not make sure its an allergy to blueberries and not some sort of heat-rash or something...

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Playing with Gia




We finally have gotten the chance to get the kiddos together. Watching them play together was adorable!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Reading class!

Blueberry picking






I told the kids ONLY to pick the 'purple' ones and they went up and down each little row and climbed under the blueberry bushes to get the biggest, best blueberries.
Katrina loved her "blu-blu hat", and Jonathan was an expert picker - and an even better eater!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Monday, August 8, 2011

Playing house...

And I quote "This is where the daddy sits.... here's another chair, but not for mommy. Mommy's don't sit, they just cook the whole time."

Sunday, August 7, 2011

ONE of THOSE moms....

Okay so I am one of "THOSE MOM'S" ... a home-schooling, diet regulating, recycling & reusing, home-making, schedule-oriented, attachment parenting, frugal shopping mom....
My kids are always dressed in color-coordinated outfits when we take family photographs. Their schedules are more full than mine. They both have team sports and activities YEAR round. I am one of THOSE mom's
I am strict, I set limits and I have high expectations for my children. I do not feed my children junk, or let them watch television. My heart breaks when they cry, regardless of the reason. My children have a chore chart THAT WILL be followed. We praise more than discipline and focus on the positives.
I know that getting dirty is apart of learning, and a dirty child is a happy child. I am one of THOSE MOM'S. My children are my number ONE priority.
I'm also one of THOSE moms who lets my daughter play with dinosaurs, trains, and all that other 'boy' stuff. And I'd also let my son, if he chooses play with dolls, and wear pink.
I'm one of those moms that made my children's baby food because I didn't want them to eat anything that I wouldn't want to eat myself, and he eats organic where it matters. I am one of "those" moms that only take fresh fruit to my kids parties at school or a friends house.
I am one of those moms who can be seen hugging or kissing the children several times a day, heard whispering "I Love You" in their little ears JUST because they can never hear it too much. I am one of those moms who thinks her children are brilliant - because they are.
I'm one of those moms who has a messy house during the day, but clean at night.
Who lets their kids run around with milk mustaches, lets the kids run through the sprinkler in their undies, gives their kids vitamins every single day, chases their kids around the house pretending to be a scary monster or makes up silly songs with the kids.
I'm one of those moms whose heart breaks when their child cries, but usually tells them to stand up and "shake if off" or "rub some dirt on it" (as long as there's no blood). I'm one of those, "if you didn't clean your room yet, shut the door before you go out to play" moms. I am one of those, stay up late to get it all done, cook them breakfast so they don't HAVE to eat cereal moms.
I am one of those moms who tries to see both sides before making up my mind.
One of those who hasn't had her hair or nails professionally done in two years because she feels guilty spending money on herself.
But deep down, I'm one of those moms that is doing everything that I can to make my children the first in their generation to be healthy, emotionally secure and intelligent, because to me that is the key to success.

One of THOSE MOM'S

Okay so I am one of "THOSE MOM'S" ... a home-schooling, diet regulating, recycling & reusing, home-making, schedule-oriented, attachment parenting, coupon shopping mom....
My kids are always dressed in color-coordinated outfits when we take family photographs. Their schedules are more full than mine. They both have team sports and activities YEAR round. I am one of THOSE mom's
I am strict, I set limits and I have high expectations for my children. I do not feed my children junk, or let them watch television. My heart breaks when they cry, regardless of the reason. My children have a chore chart THAT WILL be followed. We praise more than discipline and focus on the positives.
I know that getting dirty is apart of learning, and a dirty child is a happy child. I am one of THOSE MOM'S. My children are my number ONE priority.
I'm also one of THOSE moms who lets my daughter play with dinosaurs, trucks, trains, and all that other 'boy' stuff. And I'd also let my son, if he chooses play with dolls, and wear pink.
I'm one of those moms that made my children's baby food because I didn't want them to eat anything that I wouldn't want to eat myself, and he eats organic where it matters. I am one of "those" moms that only take fresh fruit to my kids parties at school or a friends house.
I am one of those moms who can be seen hugging or kissing the children several times a day, heard whispering "I Love You" in their little ears JUST because. I am one of those moms who thinks her children are brilliant - because they are.
I'm one of those moms who has a messy house during the day, but clean at night.
Who lets their kids run around with milk mustaches, lets the kids run through the sprinkler in their undies, gives their kids vitamins every single day, chases their kids around the house pretending to be a scary monster or makes up silly songs with the kids.
I'm one of those moms whose heart breaks when their child cries, but usually tells them to stand up and "shake if off" or "rub some dirt on it" (as long as there's no blood). I'm one of those, "if you didn't clean your room yet, shut the door before you go out to play" moms. I am one of those, stay up late to get it all done, cook them breakfast so they don't HAVE to eat cereal moms.
I am one of those moms who tries to see both sides before making up my mind.
One of those who hasn't had her hair or nails professionally done in two years because she feels guilty spending money on herself.
But deep down, I'm one of those moms that is doing everything that I can to make my children the first in their generation to be healthy, emotionally secure and intelligent, because to me that is the key to success.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Getting ready for bed......BY HIMSELF!




I know at 3 1/2, he should be doing this already, but it has been a huge challenge just to get him to TRY to dress himself. I am happy to say now, he is picking out his clothing AND putting them on! Since we started a responsibility chart to go WITH his marble jar he is more motivated to try things he normally would say he "can't" do..