Friday, March 26, 2010

Black Eyes and Outside Time

The kids have been spending lots of time outside in the backyard.  Unfortunately, one morning I heard Jenessa crying on the grass and I could tell she was in pain.  She told me she had been hit in the face going down the slide.  I found out later that she had been hit by Sienna (accidently) because Sienna was going up the slide as Jenessa was going down the slide.  Jenessa ended up with a nice little black eye!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Logan's Version of Duck Duck Goose

Tonight we played several games of duck duck goose.  Logan doesn't quite get the game (we haven't played it in a long time) but he had a great time running around in circles and tapping everyone on the head and saying their name!

Ketchup Week is over

Unfortunately, we didn't have any ketchup this week.  I was completely out of ketchup friendly foods...I'll have to plan better next time!

It was a good week though.  It was nice to take things at a slower pace...it made me want summer to get here soon!  We did get the school things done that I wanted to accomplish.  Kessiah got a good start on her 4-H record book.  The kids enjoyed playing outside more.  I got in a couple of games of Clue Jr. 

We got summer clothes out for all the kids, but I'm still working on getting winter clothes put away...that is always such a process!  So, I still have several diaper boxes (because that's what I store out of season clothes in...the big boxes from Sam's/Costco) lining one wall of the front room.  Logan has a new favorite shirt.  It's a red shirt with all the Toy Story character's on it...he calls it his "Buzz shirt" and I should have bought 7 of them so he could wear a clean one every day of the week!

We got started on softball season this week.  Kessiah and Jenessa both had practices.  I still haven't heard from Sienna's t-ball coach.

We ventured back to the library this week...all 5 kids and me!  Our piano lesson time got moved so I decided to try the library reading time with Sienna and Logan.  I dropped the books off in the book drop outside before we went in the library and that made a big difference.  The outing went smoothly!

Ryan finished laying down our "outdoor carpet" or artificial grass.  We have been discussing whether or not to put some in since we moved into this house.  He found this at Sam's cheaper than anything else we had looked at and decided to get some.  I have to say that it is nice to have.  The kids have loved it, the dogs have loved it...and I love it too!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

St. Patrick's Day

I usually don't do much for St. Patrick's Day.  This year I wanted to do something.  So I bought some little black tins from Hobby Lobby and some rollo's (candy).  Last night I filled the tins with the rollo's so everyone had their own little "pot of gold"  I also stuck a green juice box in everyone's tin as a filler (they held more rollo's than I thought they would!)  And I found a box of Lucky Charms (probably from when Ryan did most of the grocery shopping during my pregnancy!) in the food garage and put that on the table along with the pots.  It was cute and of course the kids loved it!

I was reminded why I dislike Lucky Charms so much in our house.  We have some children who just can't help themselves...they must pick out the marshmellows out of the cereal...and then no one wants to eat the cereal without marshmellows that is left!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Ketchup Week

It is our Spring Break this week, I often refer to these weeks when we have a different routine because of a school break as "catch-up" weeks...but my children say "ketchup" week!  And of course they think we should have food that requires ketchup!

Kessiah is a little behind in Math and Science so we are doing one lesson in each of those subjects this week as well as spending some time working on her 4-H record book.

Jenessa is currently not behind in any subjects so she gets to pick three subjects of her choice each day this week.

We have been enjoying some really nice weather this weekend and so the girls have been begging me to get out the summer clothes...so this afternoon that is what we did!  Jenessa and Sienna are set, Kessiah really needs some new shirts.

We also put our school papers from the past several months into our school notebooks.

Kessiah and Jenessa made our Family Home Evening treats this afternoon...pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (yummy...it was my turn to pick!)

I am really looking forward to this week to "catch-up" on a few things that have been neglected!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Basketball tournament

Kessiah had a basketball tournement this weekend.  Her team had 4 games on Friday evening and Saturday.  She missed one of the Saturday meetings because of a 4-H cavy meeting.  It was kind of sad when they lost their second game in the tournament because that meant they couldn't go on.

They were fun games to watch, there seemed to be an increased level of determination displayed from the teams.

It was a good basketball season.  Kessiah had a good coach that made sure she was included as much as possible (she was the shortest player on her team and probably in the whole age group!)  Jenessa did great, she showed those boys how to play (she was the only girl on her team).  And Sienna, although she is too young to play, is already showing some skill.  She can bounce pass and dribble pretty good.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Jenessa's Birthday

Jenessa thinks every holiday should be a major event...that of course includes her birthday!  Last night she was acting as if it were Christmas Eve...she was so excited.  And I don't know how many times today she asked if she could open her presents...actually she started asking yesterday!  Thankfully, we had planned to open them at lunch time so I didn't have to deal with the same question for the ENTIRE day!

I let the birthday kid pick their own subjects to do for school on their birthday...so Jenessa picked an interesting combination for her birthday.  Math, Language Arts, Art, History (several lessons) and Science.  The only one she didn't pick was phonics, not a surprise...it's not her favorite.  Thanfully we only have 2 more weeks of phonics and then we are finished with that course.  Kessiah and Jenessa worked diligently this morning and completed all of their school work so that they would have the entire afternoon for free time.

Jenessa was excited about her gifts:  Littlest Pet Shops, a jewelry making kit with beads, a Barbie movie, and some new pajamas.

I am so glad Jenessa is part of our family.  She is full of life and fun and yet she can have such a soft and gentle spirit.  She is always the first one to want to help someone when they are sick or hurt.  Her organizational side helps me stay on track during our school day and she is really good about putting her books away.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Sleep is Good!

For the most part, Mason has been sleeping through the night for about a month.  By sleeping through the night, I mean from about 9:00 to 7:00...it is glorious! 

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Mondays are about to get busier!

The girls haven't taken dance this year.  For a couple of reasons...1)  the dance teacher we had used for the past 3 years moved (so sad!)  and 2) Mason joined our family and I wasn't ready to add too many activities back in when school started last fall.

But...the past few months there has been an ad in one of the homeschool newsletters that there was a dance class for homeschoolers at a dance studio here.  After thinking about it for a few months I decided to give it a try for March, April and May and then I would know if it was something we wanted to pursue into next year or go with someone else I know that teaches out of her home.  A big reason why I decided to try it was 1)  the cost...the same price as what I had paid before at someone's house and 2) Sienna...I thought she needed something like that to do.

Sienna was so cute as we were getting ready to go!  She was so excited and loved every minute of it.  Kessiah and Jenessa also enjoyed it...but Sienna was elated!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Queen Elizabeth

Kessiah is studying the Elizabethan Era for history right now.  I have really enjoyed reading a few books myself about Queen Elizabeth.  I got put a few books for Kessiah to read about the Queen that turned out to be too old for her, I enjoyed them so much that I put some more on hold just for me!