How Embarrassing!

I think embarrassing moments just come with territory....you know...of being a mom.  It's been a while since I've really had one.  So I was due.


Just the other day, a friend of mine (and fellow homeschool mom) reminded me of one of the coolest place in our town....the lending library.  We were at the regular library for our weekly story-time/craft when we had the discussion about what wonderful, educational items could be checked out across town at the lending library.  Usually, after an hour of helping a 4 year old pick out books, chasing a 2 year old, feeding snacks to a 12 month old, keeping all still for the duration of a 20 minute story time, and helping with crafts...I'm sort of ready to go home and call it a morning!


Well, I was just too excited.


So, we headed across town and I began the talk.  You know, the one about how it is very important to use our manners, stay close to mommy, use our inside voice, yada, yada, yada.....


We get out and load Levi into the stroller, Noah walks beside me holding the stroller strap, Savannah holds Noah's hand and we head proudly into the overly quiet office building.  I'm feeling good because, we talked!


A nice middle-eastern lady escorts us down a long hallway into what is known as the lending library.  It is a single room with floor to (nearly) ceiling industrial shelving holding more clear plastic tubs than I could possibly count.  I've never seen so many educational items so organized and in one place!  Of course, all tubs are labeled making it easy for mom to pick and choose! =)


As I am noticing the beautifully typed labels, I'm realizing that my 2 year old is also amazed by the room and has wandered out of my sight.


Seconds after my realizing this, the nice lady with her middle-eastern accent raises her eyebrows and says, "Ma'am, are you watching him?  (begins walking dashing to the back of room and around a wall into another area) Ma'am where is your son?" Well, considering it had been about 2 minutes total since we had entered...I had not been that worried, until her questions! Should I be worried, I'm thinking.


She comes back around the corner gently guiding him in front of her and most politely, but assertively makes this request....


"Ma'am would you please monitor your son?  He was on my computer!"


2 minutes inside this place and I am starting to sweat.


I kneel down beside sweet little Noah and remind him of the talk.  We find a toy he is interested in and after checking on Savannah, who is thankfully doing as she was told, I browsed.


Overwhelmed by all the "stuff," I begin to make my allotted 7 choices.  Pumpkin puzzle, Bowling game, little people set, 2 counting peg board sets...  Savannah spots a bright pink bouncy ball and is excitedly asking if we can check it out.  So, the nice lady gets it for her and then kindly gives her permission to bounce with it in the hallway.  How nice.


Noah picked up on what was going on and dashed out the door to join her.  I hear some giggling (including a little from the lady)...and some bouncing.  Then, running.  Then the sound of this...


"Miss, are you finished?  Your children are quite unruly!" 


Unruly.  Unruly.  Her words just resound in my head and I can't get past...Unruly.


What is it about that word that makes me think of a child screaming to the top of his lungs at his mother in the grocery store while jumping up and down in the shopping cart crushing all the cereal boxes?


Feeling a little disheartened with my unruly children, I replied calmly AND with a smile, "Yes, ma'am."


She needed to go over all the procedures with me about check-out.  (Oh, and my heart rate is on a continual climb).


I have Savannah and Noah sit down by the door in the hallway.


The lady and I finish and she helps us to the door.


The talk resumes.




You know, as I'm learning how to be a mother (because it really is a never-ending cycle of learning) I'm realizing the task is quite huge.  It involves day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second guiding...nurturing...modeling...  and the list goes on.  I must see their heart as Christ sees their heart.  I could have scolded, in anger, both of them in that hallway.  But, despite my embarrassment (for my "unruly" children), I saw their hearts.  So, I'm thankful today for that.


So you want to know my prayer? It's simply this.


"Lord, you gave me three precious children to mother.  May I see them as you see them.  May I correct them as you might correct them.  And may they see your unending love through me.  Amen."

School Days

Oh, how I love teaching these children.  But, OH some days it is so HARD! I have to keep reminding myself that they are only 4, 2, and almost 12 months! Every single day is different.  Actually, things can change in a matter of minutes here. We can go from 2 sitting at the table working on an activity and 1 on the floor playing with blocks....to one 4yo who is devastated that a 2yo marked on her paper followed by 2yo sweeping ALL crayons/markers on the floor in retaliation followed by a mommy asking 2yo to clean them followed by an hour of whining and "I caaaaaaannnnnn't"   

For this very reason, school often carries over into other parts of our day...and I'm thankful for that.  Yes, we are doing reading lessons most nights around 8:30 in that little 4yo's room.  Trust me, she thinks it is soooooooo great! 

And as for that little 2yo and 12 mo. old....well, they keep this mama hoppin!

Here's a peak into our school room during the week we learned the letter "E." 

This is our makeshift flag because I can never remember to pick one up when we are out! I'm glad the kids don't mind! Savannah and Noah both are doing great on the "pledge of allegiance."

Give this little fella some scissors and he is occupied for at least 10 minutes! So proud of his "E" (and all of his Thomas the train stickers). =)

Lookin good, Savannah!

And there is always background noise, thanks to this little cutie.

Book Basket Baby! Quite the little sneak, he is. =) He sure does enjoy watching his brother and sister during school time.  Many mornings, I leave him in his high chair from breakfast and he just looks on with such adoration (or maybe it's just that he simply feels safe there...) =)


Thank you God for our three. They bless my heart every morning.

Field Trip...Animal Shelter!

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We have been learning the sound of "D," how to write "Dd," and about things that start with "D," so it seemed appropriate that we visit some doggies!  Savannah enjoys being around them and Noah is slowly starting to accept them into his life. We took a morning field trip to our county's animal shelter. Such a wonderful experience, yet heart breaking all the same.  If you've ever visited an animal shelter, then you know exactly what I mean.

 As we came into the first room of cages, we got a taste of the constant, clamorous, ear-popping noise the staff and volunteers endure on a daily basis. The little puppy you see here won our hearts immediately.  

 Told ya!

 Here we are in the next room of larger cages...which means larger dogs (and much LOUDER)! Savannah started to walk close to the cages, but quickly changed direction and nervously backed herself right up to the wall.

 "NO, NO DOGGIES! BE QUIET!" 

Can you hear her expressed desire for the dogs to quiet down? 

 There were rooms designated for "meet and greets!"  Volunteers were playing with this little guy and we kindly asked if we could "play" too!  I was so impressed by the number of volunteers (many of them kids)!

Noah seemed to like the kitties!  They WERE much quieter.  

 As we headed out, after seeing all the animals, we noticed a box at the entrance filled with doggy treats and a sign, "Please feel free to give a dog a treat!" Well, that made Savannah's day! Back to the first room...the puppy room!

 And back to the play room!

Seeing Savannah play...and that this was a nice puppy, Noah decided he'd like to get out!

 We enjoyed playing with this little guy until Savannah got REALLY comfortable with the place and decided to run out the door, down the hallway, and into the cage area by herself to get another dog!!! OK...think it's time to go! 


What a special place this was.  Such a clean and welcoming environment for these special furry friends.  Wanted to take a few home! Maybe one day.  For now, we'll add the animal shelter to our list of "favorite field trips!"


Blessings,
~k.

Homeschooling Preschoolers!

You might homeschool your preschooler if:

• there is an alphabet poster taped on the wall of your dining room.
• while cooking, you break out in song, "the d says duh, the d says duh....every letter makes a sound, the d says duh."  (thank you very much leap frog!)
• a trip to the library...some days...counts for school!
• your printer spits out more "great ideas" than you could ever do in a day!
• you step on a math manipulative on your pre-dawn stumble to the bathroom.
• every room in your house (and outside) is a classroom.
• you walk through the produce section of the grocery store and your child is naming the beginning sounds of EVERY vegetable!
• part of your morning routine involves "circle time!"
• and you sometimes find yourself conducting a reading lesson long after bedtime, simply because your preschooler wants you to teach them how to read....right NOW!

Isn't it fun? Isn't it exhausting? Isn't it a blessing?  For me, it's all three...and I've only just begun.  Encouragement, advice, practical application, inspiration....I need it all!

While perusing several great blogs on this and other relevant topics, I read about this fantastic giveaway over at Generation Cedar.  The book...Preschool at Home Where They Belong.  I am wanting to curl up in bed with this book, TONIGHT!  (I mean, who needs John Grisham when you can read a book about training young minds and making the home a place where your children love to learn!) So, maybe I'll win a copy.  If not, I think it's on my "READ ASAP" list.


Blessings,
~k.

Caring

We've been studying the letter "C" this week.  Caterpillars, Cars, and Caring are a few of our favorite words.   


Today, while doing the dishes, I said to Savannah: "Practice writing your name on your tracing sheet and I have a pack of smarties waiting for you!  And Noah, if you'll draw mommy a picture, I'll give you a pack too!"  (Some might call this...*gasp*...bribery....and SO WRONG! But my kids happen to LOVE it when this occasionally occurs, so we go with it!)


Back to the smarties...After offering Noah a pack, Savannah says, "Awwww...mommy that's caring! You're showing caring!"  Well thank you very much, Savannah.  Oh, and your name looks lovely!


Blessings,
~k.

Learning the letter...R

First off...I love the "Letter of the Week" curriculum from "Confessions of a Homeschooler."  We have been working on various letters/sounds and are enjoying the many activities that help S learn them!

While we are using the curriculum now, we plan to "take it up a notch" come fall! So, school's in for the summer here...because Savannah wouldn't have it any other way.  Her love of learning and quest for knowledge fuels this homeschool train.  And for now, we're at the perfect speed.  She turns 4 next week, and for her...and probably most other 4 year olds, learning is about stretching her imagination and curiosity, developing her growing interest in academic things and activities that involve exploring and investigating, and seeing how skills such as reading and writing are useful (for example, by listening to stories as they are read to her as well as dictating stories to adults.)

Why "R?"

We have a mommy raccoon who has made her den high in the tree just next to Savannah and Noah's sandbox.  We, along with the children, have seen her come down and scurry into the woods.  We frequently check to see if she is out or visible at all from her hole.  

Raccoons are THE topic of conversation in this house! On our library trip last week, we picked up 2 children's nonfiction raccoon books and are heading to pick up another tomorrow after a phone call from our librarian to let us know she found another!

So "R" it is! 

For today, we read this book at storytime...

Then, while the children napped...I set up the trays.

Green tray...Fish cutout with colored paper and aluminum foil (for fins), glue, sponge brush, and eye! She loves glue so this was the first tray she chose!

And, here is her rainbow fish!

Blue tray... a coloring page, "Rectangles Make Funny Cows"

Orange tray...Letter "R" cutout with rocks and cubes.  She lined them up in the shape of the "R."

Raisins for snack! (on a Red plate)

Levi was content to be on his belly while his sister "worked."

 And later...Rasberry cobbler!

Looking forward to tomorrow! Perhaps we'll have another Raccoon sighting!