Random Thoughts and Pictures

I have not been in much of the blogging mood these past two weeks, but I am back now (at least for a little while).  Lots of things have happened, including the addition of our little chicks.

This past Friday one of them died.  Pooh was the littlest and just wasn't growing.  It was very sad and Kristen took it the hardest.  Lauren cried, but mostly because Kristen was so upset. Lauren hasn't mentioned the chick, but Kristen has asked about Pooh everyday and prays for him/her every night.  Today we got another little chick from some friends at church, so we are back up to fifteen.  We have enjoyed watching them grow, but I am ready for them to be outside.  It will be a couple more weeks though.  Some nights when Paul is snoring breathing heavy in his sleep I usually crash on the couch.  Now I have to choose between Paul's snoring or birds chirping in the bathroom.

School is going good.  Kristen completed book 1 of her math curriculum....all 160 pages!  We are going to take a couple weeks off to review before moving on.  I have added some new things to our school day.  Kristen is really into drawing, so I checked out a drawing book from the library.  She has really enjoyed learning how to draw things and I have been enjoying it myself.  I am going to use the Draw Write Now curriculum next year.  It mixes drawing and writing together to help with both.  I think she will enjoy it.  I also checked out a book, Backyard Science and we have been going on nature walks and studying leaves.  Kristen has enjoyed it, but Lauren is very much like me.  She doesn't really enjoy being outside and she is terrified of any bug.  On Tuesday both her and Kristen (not knowing) stood on a giant ant hill with giant black ants that started crawling up their legs, so our nature walk was short this past week. They both wanted to go back inside pronto.  Lauren is not only learning her letters, she is also learning her numbers.  She is doing much better at staying in the lines and can write some letters if I ask her (I don't even have to show her). 

I have made the decision to homeschool year round, at least for right now.  I don't think it would benefit Kristen or Lauren if we took off for three months, and there really is no reason to.  I like the flexibility of being able to take off a day here and there (or a week or half a week).  We only do math and a spelling test on Fridays and take the rest of the day off.  We don't have any vacations planned this summer, so it just made sense. I am sure Kristen will finish her math before September when the school year "officially" starts, but we will go ahead and start the 1st grade curriculum when she finishes the K.  We might take a few days off then.  I don't think she will finish her reading.  If we continue on the path we are going she won't and that is okay.  We will start the 1st grade reading curriculum when she is ready. I will wait to start our science, social studies, spelling and other curriculum's until September.  Lauren will start her reading and math once she learns her numbers and letter sounds.  Kristen has to take a standardized test at the end of 1st grade, so I am little nervous about her testing ability, which is why I am starting to give her some spelling tests to get her prepared. Anyways, here are some pictures of my silly girls from these past few weeks.

The girls helping me clean.

Lauren dressed herself.  Glad we didn't have anywhere to go.  Look at those long skinny legs!

 

Funny suckers. How they fit in their mouth I have no idea.  They were HUGE!

 

Kristen had created a space ship. She has such an imagination.

 

 

My favorite picture! (Before the GIANT ants)

 

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.

Psalm 91:4a

 

That was our verse this week.  This was Kristen's bird craft made out of her hand.  She did a fabulous job.  Lauren wasn't feeling too crafty on this day.

 

Much to Paul's dismay I am about to post some pictures from Kristen's tea party this weekend.  She was so excited to be having a tea party.  She planned the menu: cake, cupcakes, brownies, strawberries, chips and dip.  We finally decided to just do cupcakes, strawberries, chips and dip and to let everyone bring something if they wanted to.  There was dancing, nail painting and fashion shows.  It really was a very fun time. 

 

Yes, Dallas had on a dress and girl shoes, BUT he also had on a camo hat, so that trumps the dress...right?

 

 

The tea party table scape.

 DIVA!

 They definitely get their coolness from their Aunt Kelly.

My mom had the most interesting hat, even if she couldn't turn her head...haha.

All the pretty ladies.

 

 

And I leave you with the video of Dallas walking, although he has been walking for a month now.