Ezra’s first day of Pre-Preschool!

Ezra started Tuesday School this week. He goes every Tuesday from 9:00-11:30. He has homeroom, music, crafts, play time, and lots more! He has 4 teachers for the 18 kids in his class!

We had a rough first day, which I’d rather not re-live, but hopefully it’ll all be up hill from here! =o)

 

My friend Kate’s little girl Haven is in Ezra’s class! I am so glad! They look like they’re already having fun together!

The Letter Factory – By Leap Frog

So, this is probably a little controversial, since I know a ton of people who do not let their kids watch TV, and are homeschooling their kids.

First off, I thought I would home school my kids in the beginning. That is, until I had kids and I found out #1 I have very little patience, #2 I am not a teacher. So, I have no problem with home schooling.

So, as far as teaching my kids their letters and Alphabet, I have done my part. We have books, and puzzles, and games, and toys that show the kids their letters, what sounds they make, what words start with what letter etc…. But to be honest it did not seem like my kids were getting it – again back to the “I am not a very good teacher.”

Well, I do let my kids watch TV. I try to keep it educational and interactive as much as possible.
This post is for those parents that think TV is horrible for their kids to watch.

We recently got a Leap Frog video from Netflix called the Letter Factory. My kids watched it maybe 4 times. Yesterday we were out on the swing and somehow the sound of a letter came up, so I went through the whole alphabet with them and they know almost all the letters sounds. Thanks to that video. It has very good descriptions visually and audibly what each letter sounds like.

My kids remembered the analogies, and because of that they know the sounds of their letters. Ezra (3  1/2) knew almost every single letter, and Araya (2 1/2) knew probably 2/3rds of the sounds.

(That’s what I call a success!)

All this to say…don’t always think of the TV as evil…sometimes it can be helpful even with educational purposes!

Blog under construction

Please excuse me while I keep changing the look of my blog - I am trying to figure out what I like...and not really sure what I am doing.... hopefully I can find a layout and style I like soon and stick to it.

“But what can you do in just 2 Minutes!?”

That is a quote that David loves from one of the kid’s Veggie Tale’s movies….

Here’s what Ezra did in literally 2 minutes, while I walked away and talked to my Doctor’s office on the phone. (I checked my phone because it happened so quick – I wanted to know how long I had walked away from him) We were water color painting….

Missed Blogging...

So I was doing well to get something in most everyday, but something happened and I haven't had a chance until now.

Today:

I am thinking... about the business...do we take weddings back to back with no free weekends? And do we continue to keep giving people discounts just to get a wedding when the whole goal this year is to get out of debt? If we give a discount then we have to do two weddings instead of just one...and the cycle of our busy busy lives continues on and on.....what to do, what to do? I am stressed out!

From the Kitchen...made the kids Rice Crispy Treats today for the first time with Mickey Rainbow Colored Rice Crispy's....They didn't eat them the first pass, but then when it was nap time, all of a sudden that is all they wanted! =o)

I am hoping... to make some valentine cookies for the kids later tonight as well as some home-made valentines. PRIORITY! =o)

Confession Corner: I really don't like to be criticized, even if it IS constructive criticism...it always makes me immediately mad and defensive - however I ALWAYS listen to criticism and most always change because of it.

Something Funny: Araya recently has started giving me Blow Kisses on my cheek - she moves my cheek so it is how she needs it, blows, then leans back to see my reaction. She just thinks she's so funny! =o)

To Remember: When Ezra was a baby - before Araya, we would go get him out of his crib in the mornings when he woke up and bring him to bed with us so we could sleep a little longer. He would snug in and sleep with us, then he would wake up and babble at us trying to wake us up. For a period of time, he would lean over (every morning) find my arm and BLOW! =o) He did this every morning and if I had long sleeves on he would push up my sleeves until he found my arm and give me blow kisses. =o) A week or so before Araya was born we stopped bringing him into bed with us, and would just let him play in his bed....since we knew things would be changing. He occasionally gets to come lay with us in the morning but he is FAR too loud and too awake for any cute cuddling or quiet moments. Usually, when the kids are awake - they are AWAKE! I don't know how I ended up with two VERY active morning kids - when I am in NO way a morning person! =o)

A picture I am sharing:

We got Ezra a TOUGH KID camera for his Birthday and this is one of the photos off of it. We decided to return the camera. It's not as easy as we thought it would be for him, and he's still a bit young for it. Making the money we spent on it not even close to worth it! =o)We'll try again when he's older. =o)