Award Ceremonies for Homeschool

So, here at the Criswell Academy we haven't ever had awards ceremonies or promotions ceremonies, but I think I am going to start this year. If the kids were attending a school. They would get things like that. So as part of my goals this year I am gonna do that. Now just who to invite :)

Sun Catchers

So there is this blog http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/. I love it. I love all the great ideas and the wonderful art projects. This morning we made Sun Catchers and the kids had a blast!!!

Yesterday I took a trip to Michaels to get the supplies, 3 Acrylic Frame Boxes 3.99$ each, 3 bags of glass tiles 1.99$ each, and 3 bottles of clear elmers school glue 2.49$ each. Total cost about 23$ with my teacher discount. It's a little bit pricier than I am used to for an art project but I was super excited to try it with the kids.

The kids started out by pouring the glue into the frame boxes and then swirling it around til it covered  the entire bottom of the box. Then Beanie got straight to work on placing the tiles wherever she wanted, Peanut and Booger took a more methodical approach to it. Check out the pictures!!



Beanie was not to happy about getting "goo on her finders"




 Hopefully once they are dry and hanging up in our front window I can rememeber to take a few more pictures. For now I hope you are inspired to Play At Home with your kids :)

2012? Are you kidding me...I am behind....in more than my blogging

wow, It's been a while since I have done this, I don't even know if I have any followers anymore. Alright lets do some updates;

For starters the school year has been going well, we have fallen a little behind but that's pretty normal around here. In the end it all works out. Booger is doing very well, somedays he just amazes with the knowledge that he soaks up on a daily basis. The other day he told me that his snow gloves had the same grips that polar bears paws have. He then went onto to explain how Polar bears run on the ice and snow and that with out the grips on their paws it would be nearly impossible for them to move on the ice.

Peanut is smart as whip in reading and spelling. If Booger asks me how to spell something or the meaning of a word, Peanut can usually answer him before I do, (I usually give her about 5 seconds before I jump in to see if she know the answer.) Her art skills are improving daily it seems. For Christmas they both got tons of toys from family members, one of the things I gave to Peanut though was a new sketchpad and colored pencils. The sketchpad goes everywear with us, she is constantly drawing something.

Now for my little Bean, I know I have said it before, but she really is the final piece of our little family. She keeps us laughing and smiling all day long. Booger and Peanut both adore her, and she has her Daddy so tightly wrapped around her little finger that somedays I am completely neglected. (I honestly don't mind at all though.) Her language skills are great, but she does have some problems remembering things like colors. I know she will get in her own time, she is only 2 afterall.

So, I have new idea for my blog in 2012. I would like to help other homeschooling moms find great resources to use at home. The one that I would like to talk about today is a website called http://superteacherworksheets.com/, I utilize this websites for all of Peanuts spelling lists and for tons of supplemental worksheets. Even if you don't homeschool your kids and are looking for some great tools to help them brush up on their skills I highly reccomend this site. Everything is free and in PDF format you can't beat it!!

WAYYYYY behind in my blogging

Well, I am back....I hope. I started working again in July and I have been sooo busy with everything that blogging has been last on my list.

Anyway, our school year has been going great. I have been concentrating on reading, reading comprehension and parts of speech with the kids. I have noticed recently that there are quite a few kids who don't know much about the english language or how to write properly and it's been bothering me. I am not the perfect writer nor do I claim to be, (Dan is actually much better than I am), but I want to teach my children the proper way to write.  So here is what we did today...



Booger loved this lesson, he says it will help him with one of his favorite games, MadLibs.

Hopefully I will be able to blog again soon. The kids are all doing so great and learning so many new things (I have been doing a few new things too). So until I blog again...

Working Mom and Homeschooling

Work?! Well, yes I am working again. It's hard but I will admit that I love my co-workers and I love being out of the house. I also like contributing again, (in a monetary fashion). I do NOT however like being tired, or being away from my kids. But you do what you have to do. And that means that I have to work. The company I work for is very well known and always super busy. I like that part too, time flys at work and makes it easier for me to be away from my kiddos.

One day, hopefully soon. I will be able to actually be home with the kids and not have to go back to work. That's my goal. So, this year, I am going to be frugal, and I mean SUPER frugal. (it's one of my goals, not resolutions for the new year.) I am trying out a new menu planning system, a new/old cleaning system, and a new shopping system. Here's to hoping and praying 2012 is my last year as a working mom. Lord knows that Homeschooling is getting way more involved and I need to focus my time on that, not making people their morning lattes.

Your how old?

For those of you who don't know, yes I am a very young mom. I just celebrated my birthday on Monday (Happy Birthday to me) some of the people at work were blown away to know that I am only 27. Since you are probably doing some math in your head right now, I was only 18 when I had my sweet little Booger. Anyway, that aside. I consistantly get a puzzled look when I tell people my age. I guess that having 3 kids and being a homeschooling mom people think that I should be older, and rightly so. Now I come to the reason for this blog. I don't mind the puzzled looks or the questions, but I do mind when people find out my age and then assume that I am not capable to school my children. (Usually my blog isn't a complaining blog but today....sorry.) I have in the past, far and near, been criticized for my decision to homeschool only after someone heard my age. Which I don't think is fair at all. If anything, and no offense to you slightly more mature in age moms than I, I have a ton of energy and love every minute I spend with my crazy kids!! My kids are doing great, we are about to start, I can't believe I am saying this, our 4TH year of homeschooling, and we love it.

God laid this on my heart almost 5 years ago now, it was the first time that I heard that still small voice. At first I resisted but when I came to my senses and listened to the Lord about this, I am so glad about my choice and God's calling on my life. I wouldn't have it any other way. So, yes I am 27, my children are 8, 5, and 2, and I am great mom and teacher and we are going to have another great school year. Thanks for listening to me vent a little :)

Tomorrow is kind of a sad day....

Joyful, happy, sad, astonished. Just a few of the emotions I have been feeling today as I realize that tomorrow my sweet little beanie will be 2!! Where has the time gone? I know that all parents say that, but really. She is in a toddler bed, almost completely potty trained and I am depressed. You know I thought I would be elated when the "baby" stage was done, I am not. I miss the cuddling and the sweet baby smell. I miss breast-feeding....sorry I know thats a bit much for the guys...but I do. I miss all of it and I am kinda tearing up just thinking about it.

Children are so hard to raise but so much fun, challenging but joyful, and I love every minute of it.

Beanie has been a wonderful addition to our family. She is funny, smart and the cutest little thing. She is definitely the baby of the family. Everyone gives her everything and she just soaks it all up. It's hard to believe that 2 years ago she wasn't even a part of our family and now life would feel wrong without her. Everyday, I look forward to seeing her and receiving all of her hugs and kisses. Because while I am trying to enjoy every minute, I am also fully aware that time keeps ticking.

So for a moment go back with me....

Happy Birthday Sweet Beanie!! I love you so much. God has truly blessed our family with you and I can't imagine my life with out you!!