Among many Blessing

The new and improved Chore Chart

2011-01-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

I use to be really bad about not getting the boys to pitch in and help out around the house and when they did, I was really bad at not giving the rewards. Which is strange because I am a total believer at having children (even at a young age) learning to help around the house, help others, and teaching responsablities. So I came across Erica's homeschool blog confessionsofahomeschooler and she had a great set up of a chore chart. I LOVED IT!!! So I took her idea and ran with it, but adjusted it a lil to work with our family.

Luckly for us, we are able to download her cards and print them out (thanks abunch Erica!) Again tho, I did tweek it a bit so it would work a lil better for our family.

I stuck their picture (for my youngest benefit) on their name card then stuck their chores next to their name card (as you can I have no days of the week). After they complete the chore they put their colored ticket infront of their chore (to show that its been done) and after they have all their tickets on their chores they get a sticker on the rewards card and once their reward card is filled up with their ticket (i used a box for each day of the week mon-fri) they get their Prize or money. I am also using her best bee-havior card as well as cards of my own.

I told my crew if they get a ticket on their behavior card, then a bigger prize will be rewarded!

The pick up toys card and the 1 hour screen time card I made myself (which is suppose to be up with their names). They are allowed to choose how they wanna use their screen time wheather its computer, tv, movie, video games, ect..but they only have one hour and once their one hour is up, they get a ticket to show they already used it up, I also use the time to set the one hour. Since we no longer have a playroom, the toys are in different areas of the house (living room and bedroom) so one chooses which room they like to clean up and off they go to pick up toys, books, and games.

I also have the 20 minute reading card, now take it that we usually have a family reading time before bed, but I thought if they wanted to read an extra book than they can get an extra ticket.

REWARDS:
I am planning a "prize box or bag" but havent included anything just yet but once their chores are done they can either choose out of the prize box or money. As for the extra: I plan on doing a different box for extras such as behavior and readding and any extra chores they decide to do with bigger prizes!

Hopefully this will work for us, and I will let ya know along the way.

Our Preschool!!

2011-01-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Preschool area:

We since we are expecting baby number 3 real soon, I had to move the toys and circle time area out of the playroom (which will be the new nursery) and finding a new area was a real challenge in our house. I finally found a spot in the dinning area to move it to (for now).

This is the new preschool area, the wire shelf has puzzles, our "letter of the week" board (yes its missing, im still working on it), play dough, and other misc. learning activities. The cart next to it is the "Art Cart". I love the fact that its on wheels because my older son and a few extra kids that come can wheel it over to the bigger table so they can work on projects. It comes in handy!

We haven't been doing preschool long so we are just starting to get the hang of things. We start with our calendar that I got at a Teacher supply store along with the days of the week and weather. Than we sing our "ABC's" with our ABC chart. We also included our number caterpillar located above the calendar and our color balloons. Our preschool usually includes:

Calendar Time- We sing our days of the week song, count to see what day it is, than go over day of the week,month, He also looks out the window to check the weather

Alphabet song- which is the traditional ABC song

Song/movement- this is when we start the cd player and sing and dance to a song

Story Book

Activity Time: We do some kind of activity that goes with our theme, it may include a worksheet, science activity, counting activity, or whatever else we can come up with.

Our preschool usually starts after we have a snack so that we have happy tummys and he has already ran around getting his energy out. We use the Letter of the week Curriculum from http://www.letteroftheweek.com/. However, I rearrange it to fit what we would like to learn and make it work for us. Choosing a Theme for the week as well as a letter, number, shape, and Color (we dont use vocab).

Mondays are mainly introducing our theme

Tuesdays are introducing the letter, words that in the letter, and letter sound

Wednesday are math days and introducing number and shape

Thursday is science days and intro to Color

Fridays are review of what we learned

We love to make stuff so we do art whenever we can fit it in and we usually do a work sheet or two, 2 sometimes 3 times a week but a lot of what we do are hands on.

Well thats a look into our preschool days and I am hoping to get our workboxes set back up real soon!

Snow day FUN!

2011-01-25T07:28:00.000-08:00

This winter has been crazy with all the snow and ice that we had. Some days it was hard for the boys to go out because it was too cold to go out or icy. Coming up with activities to keep them is busy was some days a challenge, however, it doesnt take much to please this group.

One day I decided to bring the snow in since we couldnt go out. I filled up one of our plastic tub up with snow and away they went. Building mini snow men, using spoons to shovel up the snow, and I gave them mini chocolate chips to make their faces on their mini snow men. They had a great time!

He wasn't very happy when the chocolate chips kept falling off his snowman.

The lil guys made snow fakes out of Coffee filters and hung them from our light fixture with dental floss. Thanks daddy for the coffee filters lol

Counting how many bones the puppy can eat; poor dog ate 10

This was actually a preschool project with circles

Made from an oatmeal box container

Christmas 2010 craft projects

2011-01-25T07:07:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS 2010

One of our Christmas projects was christmas ornaments. My mom had givin us some that she had bought at Dollar tree (foam with lots of lil pieces you put together) but we also made some ourselves. This christmas ornament we made out of: construction paper, markers, scissors, ribbon, and kids pictures and of course, GLUE! I just folded the construction paper in half, made some circles with the a tab by the fold, cut it out, glue the picture on the inside and let the kids decorate the outside. We also added a ribbon for hanging. They had really enjoyed this project.

This is one with aidan's picture

We also made Gingerbreadmen out of Paper bags and stuffed them with paper, than glued a back to them. The kids LOVED decorating the men.

The boys just loved making this wreath out of Paper plates, and m&m's that he didnt eat.

We have also done paper chains and stringing popcorn. Of course, we didn't get very far on our popcorn since we kept trying to eat it.

Online Printables

2011-01-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

School Zone Preschool Workbooks 32 Pages Thinking Skills SZPRESCH-02068; 3 Items/Order Mead

Early Learning Snip It, Stage One, 12 x 9 Inches, 34 Count (54040)

Here is a list of websites that I like to go to for some craft ideas, printable pages, and more for my boys. I also have a list off to the side, but I realize that not all of my favs are listed so, heres a few more.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/- you have to pay monthly but they have great pages for all age groups, worth to check out.
http://www.teacherfilebox.com/ also a paid website but still good resource

http://www.letteroftheweek.com/
http://www.familyeducation.com/ free printables as well as craft ideas, parenting tips, and more
http://www.education.com/ free printables, tips, and more
http://www.nickjr.com/ free games, ideas, printables, ect..
http://www.kidsoup.com/ is a paid monthly website, but you get craft ideas, printables, games, resources, and SO MUCH MORE> I LOVE THIS SITE!!!

PRESCHOOL
http://www.preschooleducation.com/
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/
http://www.childfun.com/
http://www.preschoolpalace.org/
http://www.toddlervillage.net/
http://www.makelearningfun.com/
http://www.preschoolexpress.com/
http://www.prekinders.com/
http://www.kidslearningstation.com/ great craft ideas and more
http://www.firstschool.ws/

CRAFTS
http://www.familyfun.com/ as well as printables
http://www.ideabox.com/
http://www.dltk-kids.com/
http://www.activitycupboard.com/
http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/

I have so many websites that I like to go to but with my boys, we like to do a lot of hands on learning, science activities, craft projects, and more!

Household notebook

2011-01-12T13:35:00.000-08:00

As I was reading a few homeschooling blogs, I have noticed different ones that created a "household notebook", so I did some research. I found out what they were and what they are used for, what you will need and what to include in your notebook. I found it could be helpful, and an organized way of getting stuff done and just flat out being organized. It took awhile but I did get one going.

Household notebooks are organized binder for all your household needs. Everything from housecleaning checklist to daily expenses are all kept in one place (in your binder) in one spot. Not only yourself but your spouse would find that this is a very beneficial way of keeping things together.

You will need a 3 ring binder, page protectors, 3 ring hole punch, printer, printer paper, page lables, a pen, and notebook paper.

The things I have included in my notebook are my daily agenda, emergency phone numbers, a list of birthdays and anniversaries, a blank monthly calendar as well as a weekly schedule (to plan out our lesson plans) a daily to do list, Checklist of chores that need to be done daily as well as weekly, a menu, grocery list, recipes, and a list of my often visited websites (which i wrote on notebook paper). Some people include their expenses and numerous other pages.

Here are a few websites to visit to get more info and printables:
http://www.organizedhome.com/- includes ALOT of free printables
http://www.webmomz.com/
http://www.donnayoung.org/

Hopefully soon I will post pics!!!

Wilson Jones 362 Line Basic Round Ring View Binder, 1in. Capacity, 8.5in. x 11in. Sheet Size, Black, W362-14BV

What we did, so far, today!

2011-01-10T12:36:00.000-08:00

Theme: Winter, Letter B, Number 2, Shape circle, Color: Brown.

I actually did things a bit differently today. I decided to change the theme for the month at the last minute (nice one, huh) and jumped a head to working on the letter, number, shape, and color today due to our (hopefully) field trip to the library tomorrow.

Aidan counting/sorting out his bears

We did our normal, calendar, song, movement, yada, yada. I introduced the Letter which is B and went over words with pictures of some things that start with that letter. I than introduced the number 2, the shape circle, and the color brown. I sent the boys over to the table for some activity time with coloring circles brown, after they colored I gave them counting bears to count out while I cut the circles out. After I had the circles cut out, they glued the circles together to form a bear on brown construction paper. I try to let them do most of the work but I do help them out when needed.

Finished Bear, with the workseet of circles

Aidan and his picture

He was proud of his work!!! He figured out on his own that the bear doesnt have a face so, he drew a face on the bear.

Blogging

2011-01-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

Hello 2011!! Welcome to the near year, a new beginning for some of us. This is the time we can try new things, do new things, be a new person. So I thought I would do something new and try this thing called blogging. If you decided to read this, please be patient with me. I am new and would love to learn more about it. But I thought I would share my ideas, our experiences, and our life. So here it all is!! I hope I am able to keep up with it as life happens.

Something NEW

2011-01-07T13:23:00.001-08:00

amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=leahdb&o=1" type="text/javascript">

2010

2010-12-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

As Christmas approaches, I realize another year is coming to an end. A lot has happened just this year to our family; Our marriage, the boys have really grown, and we are adding a new member to our family. I can't believe how time has flown by, we have done a lot of different things and created new memories for us to enjoy.

Frank and I had our one year Anniversary in July. We didnt do anything special to celebrate but it was still special enough just to be married one year. and what a LONG one year it has been too LOL. I have became a stay-at-home or a work-at-home mom and I confess I greatly enjoy being able to take care of my family this way. Other than the cooking, cleaning, taking care of children; I have been earning alil income on babysitting here and there and of course with the Pamperd Chef and Discovery Toys here and there. My hopes for 2011 is that I learn new things; cook new foods, pick up a hobby or two (besides wiping butts), get alil bit more organized (yes, I laughed at this one too), and improve my relationship with my hubby and with God. I can't wait to see what the new year will have instore for us!

This year Austin will be turning 7 years old on the 28th. He has went from Kindergarten to first grade and enjoying it a little bit more this year. He has learned to read more, write more words, ride a bike without training wheels, hit a ball without the tee, and so much more. He has played tee-ball over the summer, and he not only enjoys it but seems to be improving each year. He is very excited about playing again this summer.

Aidan turned 3 years old in October and is a big ball of energy (now, I know where mine went to). We are preschooling at home with this one and we greatly enjoy it. He has a playmate that comes and plays with him a few days a week. It seems like he is talking (where we understand him) alil better now. He def. try to be alil sneak. A few of his favs became eating, Buzz light year, Toy Story 3, building, and playing games. Both him and Austin likes to help out in the kitchen when they can.

We have had a lot of adventures over the year and we got to experiance new things. Birthday parties, our trip to the zoo, beach, and pumpkin patch, playing dress up, and carving pumpkins and baseball games. I hope in 2011 we will get to share a lot more adventures together!

We are also adding another member to our family come April. As each month passes and time gets closer, we are becoming more excited and anxious! Austin is very excited about becoming a big brother again and even more because we found out that we will be having a girl! Such big new for our family lol. I am so excited about being able to look into the girly side of me again.

Yes, 2010 has been good to us and I am ready to close this chapter in my life and ready to start a new one. I am excited and looking forward to what the future has to offer us!