A Beary Fun Day

Today was a pretty good day.  Now that I have switched to more age appropriate activities for the boys things are going much smoother.  We are still reading Brown Bear and today we read another "B" book full of B words. 

Our activity for today was a little art and a little fine motor.  We took red paper and tore it up into pieces first.  They really liked that.  Mommy helped Jadon use his BPI hand to tear his papers.  He liked Mommy helping him.  Then we got to play with glue!  Fun, fun!  I always pour some glue into a container and have them use paint brushes at this age.  It is too hard for them to squeeze the glue out of the bottle.  They painted glue all over a paper that had a bird on it just like the bird in Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  Jadon decided to layer his papers on top of each other.  He did a great job!

John and Kale worked very hard on this so I had to include pics of them today.

After our activity it was music time.  I found some printable bear masks online last night that were perfect.   I gave each one of the boys a mask and we pretended to be bears for awhile.  Jadon liked watching the boys being crazy but did not care to wear his mask over his face.  He wore it on top of his head.  We learned a new song called "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear".  It was a lot of fun!

Jadon dancing to the music

I guess today was a boot kind of day.  Jadon insisted on wearing his cowboy boots out to play today.

It was so nice today that none of us wanted to come inside for lunch!  We kept putting it off as long as we could.  I love watching these guys play outside.  They were really getting along today so they were actually playing together.  The big thing today was to take the little rocks by the gate and put them in the little compartments in the bikes and ride around. 

After nap Jadon had a surprise waiting for him.  Daddy was home!!  Hooray!  The rest of the day was pretty routine.  Right before dinner we got to watch a hot air balloon go by.  Jadon really liked that.  Grandma Cindy arrived for dinner right as it was going out of view.  Perfect timing!

Until tomorrow......

"Each Day Comes, Bearing Its Own Gift, Untie The Ribbons"

Spin, Spin, Spin Again

We survived day two of Matt being gone.  We had a really good Tot School day.  Today I was really thinking about how blessed I am as I watched my son do all these fun things with friends in his own living room in his pajamas!  I love it!!  

Today we read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and we also ready "The B Book".   The boys love to read back through the book and make all the animal sounds.  

Our book activity today was painting a bear brown.  Instead of using paint brushes we used wooden spools.  It is fun to change things up every once in awhile.  

After our painting activity we did some music time.  I put in a favorite Jim Gill cd.  Jadon loves the song called "Spin Again".  He is very good at spinning.  I got some video of him showing off his spinning skills.  I was hoping that the song would be easier to hear on the video.

And then of course we went outside to play for awhile.   I love his concentration in this pic.  You can tell by the tongue sticking out. 

The rest of the day was pretty good.  Matt sent a pic of his lunch.  It is called a pastey.  Miners used to take them in their lunches and it is now a Montana tradition.

Looks good to me, but when I talked to Matt tonight he said it was not that great.  Bummer.  Looking forward to him being home tomorrow afternoon. 

Until tomorrow.....

"Each Day Comes, Bearing Its Own Gift, Untie The Ribbons"

A Combine Ride and Tot School

Ugh!  I ran out of time to blog yesterday!  I don't know what happened.  I was doing this and that and the next thing I know Matt is saying "Holy Cow it is 10!".  Darn!  Matt had to get up at a 4 to head to the Peoria Airport.  He is in Montana for work today through Wednesday.  So I am flying solo for a few days.  Hey!  That is nothing compared to the three weeks in Brazil this summer. 

One of the reasons we were running so behind last night is because we had to catch a ride in the combine before they are all done!  This is Jadon's second time in the combine but the first time for him really be old enough to enjoy it.  Uncle Gary loves company in the combine (at least we think he does ;)!  Both Matt and I took some cool sunset pics.  Whoever says Illinois is flat and boring and not pretty has never seen the sun setting over a field of corn with a combine harvesting. 

Jadon and Daddy

Jacob's turn to ride with Uncle Gary and Jadon.

Gorgeous

Jadon waving bye-bye to Uncle Gary

That was our fun last night.  Jadon enjoyed it.  We may have to see if we can catch another ride next weekend.  We had better remember the operators favorite snack next time though!  He, he!

I have been scouring the internet lately for good activities to do with toddlers.  I tried the infant/toddler version of the curriculum I had used in the past for older kids.  I was very disappointed in it.  I was too structured and worksheet oriented.  Toddlers need freedom to explore and they definitely don't want to color inside the lines.  The best sites I have found so far are blogs of homeschooling mom's.  I found one today I am in love with called Tot School.  We are going to incorporate some of the activities I found there into our week this week.  We are reading the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" By Eric Carle.  They love the animals and the rhythm of the story.  It is a great book to help teach colors.  After we read the book a few times we fingerpainted with some of the colors in the story.  Everyone loves to fingerpaint! 

We also had some fun this morning building towers with our Duplo Legos.  And of course we got outside too!

 Kale and Jadon building together. 

Down the slide he goes!

Oh I almost forgot!  Here is our new little table time activity area.  We do puzzles here and other fun stuff.  Jadon just likes to sit there and feel like big stuff.

And Matt says "Hi" from "Big Sky Country" in Montana where he is chasing down another big yellow machine.

Until tomorrow.....

"Each Day Comes, Bearing Its Own Gift, Untie The Ribbons."

A Trip To The Craft Store

Today was a nice, relaxing Saturday.  It started with Jacob's soccer game at 8:30.  It definitely felt like Fall at that game!  After the game Jacob got picked up by Gab and his mom.  They were taking him up to where they keep their camper near Henry for the rest of the weekend.  That makes two weekends of camping for Jacob in a row!!

When we got home after the game Matt went to work finishing the fence.  Jadon and I played in the yard while he did that.  It was such a beautiful morning.  Jadon did not want to stop playing to come in and have lunch.  I think he would stay outside and play all day if I let him.  He really likes his ride-on toys right now.  He pulls them around the yard, rides them down the sidewalk, puts pine needles and rocks in the little stow away areas. 

Evidently there is something that both the dog and Jadon find interesting.

Helping Daddy as usual.

After lunch Jadon took a nap.  Matt finished up the fence and came inside to take a break.  Next thing we knew it was raining.  We had missed that part of the forecast.  After Jadon woke up from his nap we packed up to go to Pekin.  Matt needed to get some more boards for the fence and I wanted to go look for some things at Hobby Lobby.  I read a blog post the other day about color bags.  This mom had found these small bags in different colors and filled them with things that were that color.  She mentioned that she got the bags at Hobby Lobby so I thought I take a look.  I also wanted to try my hand at making some oven mitts and hot pads.  So while I was there I got a yard of fabric in case I happen to find time!  LOL!

I found the little bags and I found some very cute and affordable things to go in them.  Check it out!!

The red bag

The Yellow Bag

The Green Bag

The Blue Bag

I am going to make a laminated picture list of all the contents in each bag.  I was thinking that one of the activities we can do will be a seek and find game.  I am so excited! 

Until tomorrow.....

"Each Day Comes, Bearing Its Own Gift, Untie The Ribbons"

I

My New Project

I don't have much to say tonight.  Today was not very exciting.  We did some reorganizing of the toys.  I also put out a little table and chair set for the boys to play with.  Jadon loves just sitting at the table.  I think he thinks he is big stuff.  I will have to get pics tomorrow after I finish my little organizing project.

Today I tried something new.  I created a card on my laptop using my scrapbooking software and printed it out.  So I thought I would show you that.

Until tomorrow.....

"Each Day Comes, Bearing Its Own Gift, Untie The Ribbons"

What A Day!

I feel like I hit the ground running at 6 am this morning and never stopped!  We had a full day today.  Our schedule looked something like this:

6:00 am-Got up.  Put dinner in the crockpot.  Got myself and Jadon ready for pool therapy.  Gulp down a few sips of coffee.

7:15-Leave w/ Jadon for pool therapy.

8:00 Pool Therapy

9:20-After changing Jadon back into clothes head back home.

10:00-Arrive back home.  Let the kids play while I quickly make a pumpkin roll for the Boy Scout Court of Honor later in the evening

10:45-Go outside so three little kids can burn off some energy.

11:30-PB&J Sandwiches, Pretzels, and Apples for lunch

12:00-Start putting kids down for naps.

1:00-2:00-Everyone down for naps so I can host a speed scrap at BrownieScraps (something I committed to a month ago).

2:30-Leave notes for Shelby on how to finish dinner prep.  Get Jadon ready to leave for Peoria to meet is new Occupational Therapist, Ellen.  Don't forget the apple Matt requested!

3:00-Leave for Peoria

3:30-Pick up Matt at work.

3:45-Check in and fill out paperwork that the therapy office.

4:00-5:00-Ellen evaluates Jadon.  He is going to have some hard work ahead of him.   She has some plans for him.

5:15-Stop at Granite City to join an after work party of Matt's to celebrate the most recent builds. 

6:00-Leave there after quickly enjoying some yummy appetizers to head for home to pick up the kids.

6:30-Arrive home running late.  Change Jadon's diaper, fill up his tippy, grab the pumpkin roll, and the older kids and head out again.

6:45-Arrive in Danvers for Boy Scouts 15 minutes late.

7:00-Jake gets some badges and gets promoted to First Class!!! 

7:20-I talk to the kids and parents about popcorn sales and dates.  Family be warned!!

7:45-Leave Danvers to head home.

8:00-Arrive home.  Change Jadon into jammies and rock him.

8:30-Jadon goes to bed........now can I?

What a crazy day!  I will post tomorrow on Jadon's journey about our therapy eval. today.  Here are some pics of our day!!

Jadon cruising down the sidewalk.

We have not done sidewalk chalk all week.  Today it sounded like fun I guess.

Not sure what was going on here.  I think he was watching the trees sway in the wind.  Who knows what goes through that kids mind.

Jake receiving his badges from Scoutmaster Jim.

A Good List To Live By

Today was such a blah day. I got a phone call from an old friend telling me that another old friend had passed away last night. I am very sad for his family. I knew them all very well since they lived across the street from where my parents live the whole time we were in school. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

I came across a list yesterday that I was going to post when I found a good time. What better time than on a day when I was reminded that all too often life is too short. So I will leave you with some cuteness since this boy knows how to live life and a great list.

Ridin' In Style

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on

http://connect.cleveland.com/user/rbrett/posts.html

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Until tomorrow....

"Each Day Comes, Bearing Its Own Gift, Untie The Ribbons"