The March update is here! I know you
have been at the edge of your seat – anticipating the drama that
unfolded in the J household this month. LOL Not really, but it
sounded dramatic, right?
Well, being that the month started on a
Thursday – we were headed into Waxahachie to deliver Meals on
Wheels, go to the library, and run some errands. We got some new
clients on our route this month. Mr. and Mrs. O...sweet, sweet
couple. Mr. O has Alzheimer's and sweet Mrs. O takes care of him.
What precious people they are. We are enjoying getting to know them
better. We stopped at Taco Bueno to grab some tacos for lunch that
first Thrusday...so we did our school work at Taco Bueno. Fun!
Red is doing spectacularly on his
reading. (Even though he won't admit it).
We officially began the “Texas”
learning part of our Texas history. ;) Yeah!
We added in a picture of Texas as it is
now. We also added in a picture of what Texas looked like before the
Louisiana Purchase.
Red is moving along in his explode the
code 1.5 book. He tends to get frustrated easily with anything
dealing with letters. So we have been v...e...r...y... slowly
working through the ETC books to help him build his confidence. But
I have noticed that even though he is doing spectacular – he still
gets easily frustrated! I think it's his perfectionist side coming
out...he likes things to be just so and if they aren't...oh
boy...watch out world! Sigh...just keep going....just keep
going...just keep going...
Bug has been working on
multiplication...he's doing really well. I found some fun mazes for
him to do – he loves mazes, so he thought that was neat!
The library had a contest during
February – To celebrate Black History month, they did a web
scavenger hunt. The kids had to find the answers to several
questions about famous African Americans and events that happened
throughout history. Bug decided he wanted to participate, so we
logged onto a computer and set off doing some research. It was hard
work let me tell you. But he stuck it out and got it done. I was so
proud of him, just for sticking with it! So the next week when we
got to the library and Ms. Connie told us that he had won that weeks
prize. Oh my goodness – he was so excited! He got a $25 gift card
to Target – woo-hoo! So of course he wanted to enter the last week
as well, he didn't win again, but he got in some good research time!
;)
Of course his money went towards some new Pokemon cards! LOL He spent forever picking out which pack he wanted. He had to compare how many cards were in each one...and whether or not he got a toy. It was brutal for me, but I was really proud of how picky and careful he was. He was very excited over his choice. He got a big 3D card, as well as several little cards and a little guy for his collection.
The GA bake sale went well this
month...although it was FREEZING both weekends! Oh my! We began to
think that there is some sort of trend that makes GA bake sale
weekends cold. Although we decided that come August we would really
enjoy that trend! LOL
Apple Studel muffins – YUM!
Banana Bread....ahhh!
Check out the good finds that I picked
up on the Wal-Mart clearance rack – bike tubes for $1 and Velcro
picture hangers for $1 – what a deal or should I call it a steal!!!
Homemade dog food – have you ever
made it? Now I have to admit, it didn't smell all that great. But
the dogs LoVeD it! I found the recipe on a site that I was looking
at for dog treats. It's pretty easy, ground meat (I used turkey);
mixed veggies, rice and water...plus a couple of spices. Easy
peasy...put it all together and let it cook. The dogs thought they
were in Heaven.
One of my precious GA's Mom made some spectacular lemon poppy seed cake pops for the bake sale. Oh my goodness, I really have to get the recipe from her because let me tell you these things are Heavenly! YUM-O! She was so sweet to bring an extra few for my family to enjoy – yummy! (And a lollipop for Red – she remembered he was allergic to milk.)
Here's our bake sale table...lots of goodies to offer – WOO HOO!
Rotton Scamper scarfing up his yummys!
Lady Bug was very excited about her new
food!
Sadie was jumping up and down as I
tried to get it into her bowl!
More school pics...
Red reading, reading, reading...
Bug working on a story map...anything
to get him to write, right? :)
Bug has almost reached the 100 book
mark on his “I can read 100 books” chart!
Red working on his monthly
“assessment”...notice the red hair – of course that is him!
LOL
My GA girls worked on their “I serve
the church” badges this month. One of our activities we did was to
clean the chairs in the children's church area. Now that was fun.
Water, paper towels and 30 little girls...oh my! LOL They had blast though and did a great job!
About mid month the sun really started
to shine and we just had to be out in it more and more...so we took
school to the trampoline some days. That's always fun...and bouncy!
LOL
Red working on a card for Memaw and
Papa. Writing...writing...writing!
After a while we actually had to grab
the umbrellas because the sun was so bright!
Bug working on multiplication towers
under the “brella shade”.
Check out my dog...we drew a dog during
Draw Write Now...it was even more challenging (for this drawing
challenged person) on a small white board. But I don't think it
turned out too bad. We gave ours long ears like Sadie and Scamp!
Red working on making three letter
words and yep, you guessed it – writing them down!
Red working on making three letter words and yep, you guessed it – writing them down!
Oh
my goodness...how to get the Bug to keep his desk clean. I suppose
he comes by it honestly...you should see DH “box”. LOL
Check
out the new toy Mom and Dad got me for my birthday! Thank you Cousin
Courtney!!! I haven't actually got this baby out just yet, but I am
excited about checking into it! LOL I hear that these are so cool!
Happy
St. Patrick's Day! I saw a really cute idea using Lucky Charms on
pinterest. (Where else, right? Haha!)
For the Hubs! I got DH and Pickle the bars because I thought they'd like these. I love the “cereal”sly....funny.
We just happened to be at Uncle Pickle's that particular weekend, so he got a prize too. It was a good time to let him know how lucky he was to have me. LOL
Can you see the rattler! AUGH! While down in the Hill Country, DH, the Bubbas and I went to check out a piece of property we saw...well let me just say we booked it to the car and crossed this one right off the list! AUGH! I almost stepped on this guy! Gross, I hate snakes!
This is the creek that runs at the back
of our property. 4.5 inches of rain and the tank it comes from was
flowwwwwing!
Seasons...we are coming to the end of the Abeka science curriculum that we are working on this year and we've reached “seasons”. So we've decided to make “seasonal trees” with various forms of medium.
Winter tree...
That's Sadie under the tree there...
Did you know that word problems cause
melt downs? I didn't, but now I do, so I am more prepared as I whip
out word problem cards to work on...augh! What a day this turned out
to be...apparently having to think and do more than one step is just
down right cruel.
Remember Billy Bob Jim Bob James –
well he came to school one day...(which I totally used as a “Do you
want Billy Bob to see you acting like that? Tool!!!)
We reached out 100th day of
school...so we read a book about the 100th day...we also
counted beads by 10's to 100!
I know this is really hard to see, but
by the time I got outside with the long lens they were almost out of
sight. We saw a flock of ducks or geese or something, I couldn't
really tell flying over the house in a V shape. It was really cool.
I am so excited about this new
curriculum! I bought it from a friend and just in time too! We
finished out Abeka science curriculum, so starting something new is
perfect! I think this is going to be lots of fun!!!
Stopped at a garage sale on the way
home one day and picked up some great .50 deals! Woo-Hoo!
DH found a new “cup”....lol....he
is very excited! Haha!
Check out this super cool moth we found
outside...is he spectacular or what?
What do you do when the lights go out?
Play games with flashlights and roast marshmallows over candles!
Woo-Hoo! Thank goodness it was nice and cool with the windows open!
I started a phonics journal with Red for his Saxon Phonics work...it's going really well...I am so proud of him.
Here is a shot of his journal. He
works on the left hand side with me...this is the part of the lesson
where I “teach” the rules, he takes “notes”, we practice
together, etc. Then on the left he works more...later on this will
be more independent work, right now we do it together. It gives him
the chance to work and look over at his “notes” if he needs too.
I really like the set up.
What do you do when your kids writing
is pitiful?
You make them write it again!
Here's Red's phonics lesson finished.
I also made a math journal for Red (and
Bug). I actually saw this idea on pinterest. A 4th grade
teacher uses it in her classroom. It actually makes a lot of sense.
She does the lesson with the kids on the left side and then they work
independently on the right – so their notes are right in front of
them. Which is pretty smart I think. She uses lots of mini-books,
cut outs which they glue in, fold-a-bles and stuff like that as well.
I plan to use this stuff as well. Red is working on the Saxon Math
1 right now, so this idea, I think, will work well for him.
Here is Bug's math journal...I am doing
the same thing with him...work together on the right; independent on
the left. He just started the Saxon 5/4 curriculum so we are slowly
moving into the work. I divided lesson one into three parts since it
covers three concepts.
Helping their Momma....sweet boys!
Bug lost another tooth!
The toothfairy was very nice! He
brought Bug a new Pokemon set and even some Reese's Pieces for little
brother...who is very upset that he hasn't lost a tooth yet.
A note from the toothfairy...who we all
know is The Rock, right?
Bug did it...he read over 100 books!
Yeah Bug – I love you babe! He's set a new goal to reach 1000
before summer's end! You go Bug!!!
More multiplication towers!
More three letter words!
What do you think of my bird?
Here's the boys birds...they did really well I think!
I was
out in the shed getting a few supplies and the hounds decided that it
was their new house. We figured Scamp thinks he needs a big house
'cause he's a big dog! LOL Can you see the glowing eyes?
He
would go all the way back to the back and sleep. So the boys decided
to play spies. Poor scamp – they would sneak in and scare him
while he was sleeping. I told them they had to stop...the poor guy
is already a little mental...we don't need to send him over the edge
by sneaking up on him! ;)
Scamp says “I'm trying to sleep here!”
Sadie,
the sentinel, rests at the front.
My GA
group went up to NECO to work in the victory garden again. We were
on high snake alert as Ms. Barbara had spotted a large snake just
earlier that week...although she was assured it was “just a hay
snake”....ummm....I'm not so convinced! LOL I was certainly
checking my path before I stepped or stuck my hand somewhere!
The girls also painted bowling balls while we were there! Ms. Barbara had seen the idea on pinterest (love it!) - to paint old bowling balls with chalk board paint and put them in the garden. So the girls got to do the painting. They of course LoVeD that!
Our other job that day was to help clean in the office, food pantry and the thrift store. The girls were so excited to help. All the parents were like “I wish you were this excited to clean at home”. LOL It's always more fun to clean for others, right? LOL
The boys have their derby race coming up in April with their RA's group. They are so excited. Daddy helped them to sand, paint and decorate their racers. Red picked a “fireman” tribute theme for his car.
Bug picked a flag racer, but they had to repaint his truck so I don't have a pic of it on here yet.
Wrestlemania is coming up tomorrow...April 1st...so we had to get some goodies ready! Frozen banana bites for Red....yum!
The GA bake sale is April 1st too...oh my it's gonna be a busy day. Banana bread muffins...yummmy!
And
another lost tooth...what a way to end the month...wonder what the
tooth fairy will bring this time...
Well
until next month...love your babies! we-
