Sofia at 5 months

Here are a couple of pictures I took today of our little one. She is such a joy but I feel like I always say that!!! She has recently started trying to clap with us. When we sing and clap she adorably slaps her fat little thigh with her hand! It's so cute!! Check out the video below. I think that it's kind of dark because our camera doesn't seem to like the lighting in our house but I think that it gets the picture across.

Sofia at 5 months

Here are a couple of pictures I took today of our little one. She is such a joy but I feel like I always say that!!! She has recently started trying to clap with us. When we sing and clap she adorably slaps her fat little thigh with her hand! It's so cute!! Check out the video below. I think that it's kind of dark because our camera doesn't seem to like the lighting in our house but I think that it gets the picture across.

Work Boxes

With many of us preparing for our new school year I know that a major concern is organization. Workboxes have been all the rave in the homeschooling community for quite some time and for good reason. It is a great organizational/accountability tool. As go most things with us homeschoolers there are many ways that workboxes have been "tweaked"-albiet all are great ideas not all work for every family.

About a year ago I posted about how we used workboxes in our home. I thought that since it was "that time of year again" I would repost what I wrote about workboxes in our home. Now, this is just another idea in an ever growing pool of workbox ideas but hopefully more of you will find our ideas useful.

Although we didn't stick with workboxing all year last year I do plan to do better at it this year but we are definetly going to stick to the plan laid out here.

As I often do I was scanning blogs of other homeschooling moms and came across this idea that struck me as a must try!! Yes, I am guilty of trying out too many things and not sticking with them but...well...ok so I really have no excuse!! That's just me.

So anyway...the idea I saw was awesome so I'll explain it here and let you decide if this is one more idea you want to try or not! :) So this is what you need:

A clear plastic tote like the kind that you can put the hanging folders in. I purcahsed two from Wal-Mart (blue box) and two from Target (green box). I sent hubby on an errand for one more box from Target but he came home with two instead that's why we have so many. But can you really have too many containers? My son has already claimed the extra one for his toys!! Wal-Mart's were $4 and Target's were $5. The only difference is that Target's are a little cuter. I know, it's a plastic box, but it really is cuter!!

Okay, back to the list. You'll need cardstock in any color you'd like or maybe in your child's favorite color. Clear laminate, less than $6 at Wal-Mart. I did purchase the more expensive kind of laminate because the cheaper one is always kind of cloudy and that bothers me. Velcro (I purchased the dots, less than $3 for a box of 20) and some numbers. I printed mine off the computer but you can use whatever you have. Next you will need something to put each assignment in. I already had some hanging folders so it was easier for me to use hanging folders but you can use whatever you want or have on hand. I've seen someone use those big yellow mailing envelopes. I'll try to put the link up here so that you can see how others fashioned this for their own families. You will also need scissors, an empty cereal box, glue and paper clips.

You will need to get on a word prossesing program and make up a simple table of 3 rows of 4 so that you will end up with something like this:

You can adjust your grid according to the number of assignments that your child may have. I made mine with "room to grow!" Print it out, laminate it and place a velcro dot in the middle of each of the squares.

Then using clipart from the same program print out the numbers 1-12. Make them fun if you can. Print them onto either regular paper or cardstock. I printed mine onto regular paper and then glued them onto cereal boxes that I have saved. I have plenty of cardstock but it's expensive so I use it sparingly!! You can then cover those with clear laminate and place a sticky velcro dot on the back. You will end up with something like this:
Next tape the grid that you made onto the front of the plastic tote. Now like I said before I used the hanging folders because I already had them but you can use large envelopes, plastic ziplock bags with a piece of cardstock or cereal box added inside to help the bag stand up. You could even use manilla folders if you like. Be creative!! Put those inside your box and now your box will look like this:

What I've done to save on velcro dots is to take my number cards and paper clip each of them to a hanging folder. Like this:

Inside each of the folders I place one of my daughters assignments for the day. For example in number one I placed her reading book because that's what we do first thing in the morning.

Once she reads to me she returns the book to the folder because she'll need it the following day and removes the number card from the folder and places it on the appropriate grid on the front of the box like this:

She then reaches in the next folder for her next assignment. That's it!!! Done!! Easy huh?! At the end of the school day hopefully her box will look like this:

When I explained this to her she was so excited and really does like using the box. My daughter is what Debra Bell labels as a routine learner. She needs structure and routine. She thrives best in situations where she knows what to expect and what is expected of her. Well, unfortunatley she has a Mama that isn't very good at doing things consistently but this is helpful in keeping us both on track. This is also helpful because she can see how much work she has left to do so I don't hear (hopefully), "Are we almost done yet?" I like that I'm even able to schedule in "fun" things for her that I otherwise wouldn't be organized enough to do.

Now if you're like me and have more than one child you can work it so that if you're working with one child on their first assignment then the first assignment for your other child could be something that they can do on their own. I was even organized enough to give my younger daughter a learning puzzle and a finger painting assignment. YAY!!

So, go ahead and think about whether or not this would work in your life. I know that for us any thing to help organize a little more is always a breath of fresh air. This is a relatively inexpensive project as well so maybe that will help you decide.;) If you decide to do this please let me know how it goes. Or if you have other ideas to make this even more awesome please let me know!!!

PS!!
Here is a picture of a game I made that I put into a ziplock baggie. You can see how you can utilize this method for your box instead of the hanging folders if you'd like. The added cereal box or cardstock allows the bag to stand upright a little better. If you look in the above picture you can see how the baggie is set inside the hanging folder but it might be okay without a hanging folder to sit in.

Well, that's it! Now hurry along and get your items together and plan a workbox making evening. I hope that this blesses you~

Lovin' Learnin'

Here is a short video clip of the kids making Sofia laugh. She has a cute giggle so this is something they try to do a lot! Enjoy!!

Here is a short video clip of the kids making Sofia laugh. She has a cute giggle so this is something they try to do a lot! Enjoy!!

Growing up

It's very frequent now that we see signs of growth in our children. No, I'm not talking about height because they are pretty short (well, except for Sam) but I mean in other ways. Sometimes it will come out in the things they say, they way they are starting to care about how their hair looks...even though they are totally fine walking with out of the house in a horrendous looking outfit...ya know, stuff like that.

Well, as for Alayna we are seeing a lot of signs. The most apparent are her teeth! Yes, I said teeth! In just over a year she's lost three teeth and she has two more very loose teeth in her mouth as we speak! She is so excited at this new happening and is very eager to grow up!!

I, on the other hand, wouldn't mind keeping them young and innocent for a while longer!! I love my little children! But I know that they must grow and grow they are!! (Is that actually a correct statement?!)

Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, Alayna, yes! Three teeth and two on the verge of falling out and Ariana has her first loose tooth as well. And as for old Sammy boy, well, he says he has loose teeth but yeah, no, not at three!!!


So while little Sofie has NO teeth in her mouth my bigger girls are having teeth fall out left and right!! The irony of it all huh?!

Alayna showing off her new space!

Ariana is trying to show me her loose tooth.

"Still no teeth Mom!!"


So if he keeps eating that chocolate he will be loosing teeth at the age of three!!

Growing up

It's very frequent now that we see signs of growth in our children. No, I'm not talking about height because they are pretty short (well, except for Sam) but I mean in other ways. Sometimes it will come out in the things they say, they way they are starting to care about how their hair looks...even though they are totally fine walking with out of the house in a horrendous looking outfit...ya know, stuff like that.

Well, as for Alayna we are seeing a lot of signs. The most apparent are her teeth! Yes, I said teeth! In just over a year she's lost three teeth and she has two more very loose teeth in her mouth as we speak! She is so excited at this new happening and is very eager to grow up!!

I, on the other hand, wouldn't mind keeping them young and innocent for a while longer!! I love my little children! But I know that they must grow and grow they are!! (Is that actually a correct statement?!)

Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, Alayna, yes! Three teeth and two on the verge of falling out and Ariana has her first loose tooth as well. And as for old Sammy boy, well, he says he has loose teeth but yeah, no, not at three!!!


So while little Sofie has NO teeth in her mouth my bigger girls are having teeth fall out left and right!! The irony of it all huh?!

Alayna showing off her new space!

Ariana is trying to show me her loose tooth.

"Still no teeth Mom!!"


So if he keeps eating that chocolate he will be loosing teeth at the age of three!!

Sofia

Sofia Grace, our happy baby

My how time flies!! It's hard to believe that our youngest is already 5 months old!!! Time is just flying by!! Sofia has done so much changing these past few months. She is still as happy as ever (yay!!), but is now trying to get up from a laying position. She will bow her back in an instant if she is laying down and wants up!! I have to say that she is getting spoiled by all of us!! She loves to be held and loves to be a part of whatever is going on at the moment! She doesn't lack for any attention cause her siblings are still as doting as ever!! I'll post some pictures of her so that you can see how much she's grown.

"Hellooooooo everyone!!!"

"I love you, I love you, I love you!!"


Silly kids!!

Sofia

Sofia Grace, our happy baby

My how time flies!! It's hard to believe that our youngest is already 5 months old!!! Time is just flying by!! Sofia has done so much changing these past few months. She is still as happy as ever (yay!!), but is now trying to get up from a laying position. She will bow her back in an instant if she is laying down and wants up!! I have to say that she is getting spoiled by all of us!! She loves to be held and loves to be a part of whatever is going on at the moment! She doesn't lack for any attention cause her siblings are still as doting as ever!! I'll post some pictures of her so that you can see how much she's grown.

"Hellooooooo everyone!!!"

"I love you, I love you, I love you!!"


Silly kids!!

Big Sister and her phonics

So Big Sister is a pretty typical middle child. She is the most quite of the bunch, doesn't really demand a lot but unfortunately gets overlooked a little too often in my opinion!!! I'm also a middle child and I always told myself I'd be different with my children but as things like that almost always go, it's easier said than done!!

Take homeschool for instance! A lot of attention is focused on the oldest because they are older and they are in need of extra attention because of the more "mature" material load. The younger one is just starting out so they need you there all of the time. Close instruction basically. But the middle child, well, in our house at least they get lumped in with either one and don't get that one on one attention like the others do.

Now granted we haven't "officially" started any curriculum with Big Sister but she is getting to the point to where she BEGS to be taught to read!! She is wanting so much more because she sees the others doing there stuff..especially now that Brother has his "work". But, she wants that one on one time...just me and her! It's very sweet I must say even though it gets a little demanding on me. It's worth the effort though to see her happily working on her own things.

So, here are some pictures of Big Sister and her phonics.

Biggest Sister is a big help when it comes to reviewing sounds!!

Working hard!!!

Brother

Here is Brothertracing the letter "A" with his finger.

So this little one has graciously tagged along with whatever he had to in order to get through our homeschooling day. But a couple of weeks ago I felt the desire to do some "schooling" for him as well. So I've decided to begin teaching him his letters. NO, I'm not going to sit down with a 3 and a half year old boy and make him look at flashcards and do worksheets all day...that would make us all pull our hair out!! NO, Brother needs a different approach than the one I took with his sisters!! They are workbook lovers!!! They beg for workbooks, Brother doesn't even like to color for very long. So for him we are keeping it simple and as hands on as possible.

We are studying one letter a week (or longer if needs be) and that's it!! Yeah, I know that's not much but I'm a busy woman so I have to keep it simple...besides he needs simple, short and to the point right now!! He may be young but he is still a man and his attention span is VERY short!

So I'm gonna start with the letters of his name first so that he can learn to spell and recognize his own name. We, obviously, began with S. All I did was take a piece of computer paper, draw a few pictures of things that begin with 's', add a Bible verse, number and a pocket for some tactile abc flashcards that I will make to go with each letter and viola!! Done!! That's it...really...there's nothing else to it!! Yes, remember simplicity is the key for my little guy! I wasn't sure how he'd react, if he'd like it, turn his nose up at it or if he'd want more but you know what!!! He LOVED it!!! Oh he was so excited to have his own "school work" and he was even more excited to be learning "his letters"...they're his cause they're in his name. Posession is nine-tenths of the law you know!!!

I was thrilled that he loved it!!! I threw in an art project that kept with my simplicity theme...he painted a capital and small S green, added glitter and stars and we read some books about things that began with S and that was his week at "school"!!! He's done well with it all and has even learned a little!! ;) We review the letter name and sound each day, go over the Bible verse and read of course. That's it. Simple, but for him...and me...it works!!! We both go to bed each night feeling fulfilled!!! Praise the Lord!!!

Here is his worksheet!!

Carefully spelling his name!

Almost done!! Doing great!!!

Finished!!! What a great job!!!!...yes, of course I helped!!!

So it's been a while!!!

Like I said, free time doesn't come so frequently these days and when it does come I'm usually asleep so I don't know it!!!


We've done a lot these past few months but the most fun was a recent trip to Florida for my sister's wedding. We were able to see family that we haven't seen for quite some time and it was a blast!!! We even stopped by the beach for a cold dip in the Atlantic Ocean before heading home!!! The kids had a great time and were broken hearted to be leaving but we were all kind of glad to be back in our own little enviroment...we even had about 8 inches of snow recently!! SO AWESOME!!! We had a blast making a snow man, going "sledding", making snow angels, enjoying Daddy's awesome snow cream but most importantly we enjoyed an extra day with Daddy!!! He didn't have to go to work that day!! Yay!!! That, for me, was all worth it!!! Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

So it's been a while!!!

Like I said, free time doesn't come so frequently these days and when it does come I'm usually asleep so I don't know it!!!


We've done a lot these past few months but the most fun was a recent trip to Florida for my sister's wedding. We were able to see family that we haven't seen for quite some time and it was a blast!!! We even stopped by the beach for a cold dip in the Atlantic Ocean before heading home!!! The kids had a great time and were broken hearted to be leaving but we were all kind of glad to be back in our own little enviroment...we even had about 8 inches of snow recently!! SO AWESOME!!! We had a blast making a snow man, going "sledding", making snow angels, enjoying Daddy's awesome snow cream but most importantly we enjoyed an extra day with Daddy!!! He didn't have to go to work that day!! Yay!!! That, for me, was all worth it!!! Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!