Jan. 20-24: Family

Monday-Friday

Yikes, I'm slacking!  I keep forgetting to write every day, and my short term memory only is capable of so much.  haha.

Basically the highlights of the week were, we looked into a couple of different places for the kids to go to school next year.  I've applied at three different charter schools, and applied for a transfer to Jordan school district if I don't get into any of the charter schools.  I also went as far as Lindon looking into a private school.  They actually offered me a job, and the kids would get free tuition.  I thought about it, but in the end I decided that 45 minutes both ways each day would be just too much, and I wouldn't be able to help in my own kid's classrooms.  That's not cool.  I'm a little sad, because the school sounded awesome, but I'm confident I've made the right choice.  

Jan. 13-17: Family

Monday

We had a pretty good cleaning day.  The kids helped me clean the bathroom.  I taught them how to clean the toilet the way it "should" be done.  It was hard getting them started cleaning, but once they were doing it, they started having fun with it.  It's worth the effort.

Annabelle went to her dance class.  She's loving it so much!  I'm so grateful for my friend for offering to take her!

Tuesday

Today we got carpet in our family room downstairs!  So exciting!  We had to have a dance party afterwords to celebrate.

We also decided to go to Tracy Aviary (since we didn't get a chance to when we were studying birds).  It was pretty good.  It was cold, and many sections were under construction, but I feel it was a fun little field trip.

Wednesday

We read a fun book today called "The Legend of the Golden Snail" by Graem Base.  They kids were totally engrossed in it.  Such wonderful pictures too.  

We did some worksheets.  I've noticed that Annabelle just goofs around when I'm there trying to help her, but if I leave her alone she actually does the work very well.  I think this is a way for her to get under my skin and get some attention.  So...I'm backing off, and will only help if she asks for it.

We went for a walk today, because it was such a beautiful sunny day.  We met some friends and the kids played in the snow while me and their mom talked.  It was nice.

We also became little scientists for a bit and made a fun play dough.  It was very different than other ones I've made.  This one was a combination of hair conditioner and cornstarch.  It turned out pretty fun. Huge mess though!

Thursday

Today I've been feeling kind of sad because I feel like I'm not doing all I should be.  I hate that I have to practically force the kids to do worksheets and it makes learning just not fun at all.  I asked the kids what they wanted to do, and they said, "play."  So I did some research on the computer and found this article, "And They Played All Day" by Naomi Aldort, that was interesting.  Something to think about.  Sure playing all day won't help the kids pass any standardized tests, but maybe kids just aren't meant to be little adults.  The society we live in expects that of kids, and so do we conform to what society says, or do we let our children develop in their own time and way?  

Another great article: "Give childhood back to children: if we want our offspring to have happy, productive and moral lives, we must allow more time for play, not less"

We did enjoy reading from our "Book of Virtues" today.  Annabelle asked for it.  She thinks the stories are silly.  I've really enjoyed our habit of reading first thing in the morning.  It's a great, and peaceful way to start our day.

Annabelle also was doing a workbook that she chose to do (which was a preschool book, but at this point I don't even care).  She kept asking me to read the directions for her.  I kept telling her that I would help, but not do it for her.  She'd get so mad and say "I already know how to read!"  To which I'd reply, "then read it."  But no, she wanted me to do it for her.  Sigh.

We all went to the store today and got some things.  Annabelle and Evan love checking out at the self checkout lane.  So, yeah...they can buy things.  Scary.  I'd better keep my credit card up high!  

Friday

I don't recall :)  It's been a few days.  

Jan. 6-10: Family

Monday

Cleaning day didn't happen so much, but we had a fun day.  Annabelle began dance class today.  It is in a lady's basement nearby.  It's so cute, and she seems awesome.  Annabelle was so excited when she saw the studio, she began dancing around right away.  I'm so grateful for my friend who told me about it, and offered to take Annabelle with her since I don't have a car a lot of the time.

For family home evening we began creating a family flag and motto.  I'd like to make it really nice and display it in our home for us all to remember what we stand for.

Tuesday

Today we read more in "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis.  The kids were really into it, since we're at a climax.  

Steve and I also copied off a bunch of readers for the kids and they're really excited about them.  Annabelle read a dozen of them before she started loosing interest.  I had to laugh, later when she was reading to Steve she was convinced that the picture in the book was of a parrot, not just a bird.  We told her she needs to read the words like they are, but she was so determined that it should say parrot.  So I told her that if she could spell Parrot correctly, that I would pass of the book for her.  She couldn't spell it right, so she went to her Children's Dictionary to see how it was spelled.  She found Parrot in the Dictionary and went ahead and wrote it in her book.  Now it says it just how she wants it.

Evan is practicing counting to 20.  He can count to about 15, and then forgets.  We got out our Abacus we got for Christmas, and he was practicing over and over.  Still working on that.

We started watching a neighbor girl today who is three.  She's a lot of fun to have around, and helps entertain Katelyn while Annabelle and Evan are doing their work.  We did get a little restless today and decided to go out and eat and let the kids play on the play place.  

Wednesday-Friday

Woops, getting behind!  I'm a week late and now can't remember exactly what we did.  The kids did finish their homework packets for the week, did their math quizzes, and we continued reading "The Horse and His Boy" (and we're almost done).  I'd forgotten how much I love this book.  So much awesome symbolism!  Annabelle made some really awesome comments about how Aslan was always there with Shasta, even though he did not realize it at the time; just like Christ is always with us and guiding us, even when we don't realize it.  Profound.  She amazes me with the depth of her understanding.

Oh, we did make this cute family puzzle.  It was a hoot. We switched heads and bodies and legs.