Kindergarten-Week Three!

I haven't thought to take many pictures of what we've been doing.  But, we are settling into our groove and I am loving the starfall curriculum that we're using.  It was pricey, but I am finding it to be a case of "you get what you pay for" because it is wonderful. 

C read his first book all by himself this week and was super proud of himself. 

It's a rebus story, where high-frequency (aka sight) words are used along with pictures to tell a story.

Good job little man!  I'm proud of what you are already learning this year, and it's only the beginning!

The things he says

Hubs:  Do you think you'll get married when you grow up?

C:  Yeah

Hubs:  Oh yeah?  To who?

C:  Mommy.

Hubs:  Mommy?!?  You can't get married to Mommy.  I'm already married to her.

C:  If I get rid of you I could.

I can't decide if I should be flattered or a little bit scared. ;)

Something new

Hubby had a three day weekend and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  We filled our days with things we know and love, things familiar like bike rides and trips to the playground.  But, come Sunday, as the end of our weekend was fast approaching we found ourselves itching for something new.  An adventure!  I decided there was one to be had at Baugher's Orchard.  When you have a husband known for his spur-of-the-moment adventures, there's a certain pressure to deliver.  Especially when you take the time to actually plan your outing.  As we pulled up I silently hoped this place would live up to my expectations (and more importantly, those of my boys)  One of the first things C saw was a playground and he was easily won over.  And after a few hours spent exploring it was determined by all that Baugher's Orchard was sweet and charming and just meant to have memories made on its grounds. 

As an employee was explaining where the peaches and nectarines could be found, C boldly declared, "I'm not here for peaches, I'm picking strawberries."  Sadly we missed strawberry season, but he quickly determined that picking peaches was an adventure worth his time.

It was not long before he came bounding out of "his house" asking us to be his neighbors who came to visit him.

And with a conversation we had last night about C's upcoming birthday and how time is passing too quickly fresh in our minds we were more than willing to get up off our bench and squish ourselves into his little house.

Our adventure continued when hubby decided to follow some signs instead of head straight home.  And we wound up here.  Where C got to help release a monarch butterfly from its nursery and hold a caterpillar (after the batteries in my camera died!)



Our classroom

He sits at the table to do any drawing/writing.

Our alphabet wall chart.  The line we've had for awhile and use it to display his artwork and papers.

Starword Wall for vocabulary words, high-frequency word pocket chart, and our shelving unit.

C has his own cubby.  Which in this picture was holding his Transformers pencil case that he picked out at Target, a homework sheet he completed one evening with Daddy, and his giraffe for show and tell. 

C got this little bookworm as one of the summer reading program prizes and he fits perfectly in our little "book nook."

Kindergarten-Week Two!

Whew!  I called my mom today and she asked "Where have you been?"  Busy!!!  We've had a full week.

Here's our official first day of school photo.  He wanted to stand in front of his favorite letter O.  And look, he's fully clothed!  (Which may have only happened because he slept in those clothes the night before)

 Checking the weather.

Recording his findings. :)

Posing with Backpack Bear (a fun interactive addition to our kindergarten class!  He came with the Starfall curriculum we are using and C really likes him)

Self portrait.  (That big circle above his head is a "germ" he told me)

Show and Tell.

We fit in a lot of P.E. this week. :)  Tuesday afternoon C had his last gymnastics class of the summer session.  He's doing well and still enjoying it so we signed him up for the upcoming fall session.  Here he is showing off his mad trampoline skillz. ;)

"Popcorn" is his favorite thing! 

We got our lessons done early Wednesday morning and spent the rest of the day at the zoo with friends.  And on Thursday we met the same friends again for some more play time.  We went to a place that sells those really nice cedar playgrounds.  Every Monday and Thursday they open up their show room for open play!  It lasts from 10-1 and it's FREE!  Holla!  We will definitely be going back!  I love that we can do stuff like this all year long because he won't be at school all day.

They had two trampolines set up, which he loved!  Maybe one day we'll get one.  Although the all around safety nets do take away some of the fun.  I mean where's the thrill in that?  I know when I was a kid I got a rush of adrenaline every time I went careening toward the edge and ended up with one leg stuck in the springs. 

And they had about 6-8 large play structures set up.

C and his buddy from down the street.  C prefaces his name with "big kid" every time he talks about him because his friend and peanut share the same name. 

I think this week I had more fun doing school than C did.  :(  He is actually not that easy to teach.  (which I already knew from last year)  He tends to resist anything school related, feeling like it's too much work and doesn't show much of a desire to learn new things when they are presented in a structured way.  He needs a lot of encouragement to a) be convinced that he can complete the task and b) actually complete the task.  He is still young, I know that!  He's not even 5 yet.  So, I am sure that has something to do with it.  Maybe some of it also has to do with being a boy?  Being taught by his mom?  I'm not sure, but I will be working on finding a balance that works for us.  All work and no play is definitely not what I want.  That's one of the whole reasons I chose to keep him home this year!!!  But, I think there do need to be certain expectations when it comes to school, even if school is in your dining room. :) 

Quick trip

Last weekend I haphazardly threw our clothes and toothbrushes into a laundry basket (fyi, the perfect packing method for a two-night trip) and we headed to my sister's.  I'll admit, as I'm sure my sister would as well, it wasn't the most relaxing weekend ever.  Because being in the presence of another child brings with it the need to monitor your own child every minute to make sure the kiddos are not beating the crap out of each other sharing. ;)  But, man there is something about spending time with another mama, laughing together, finding joy in moments that when you're alone might have you pulling your hair out...something about it that feeds your soul like a relaxing weekend never could.  And when that other mama happens to be your sister?  Bonus.

Friday evening we hit up the county fair.  Despite the fact that my nephew looked like he was going to hurl on most of the rides...I think the boys had fun, ;)

Cheap, ridiculous fair toys...and the whining for them.  Oy.  We are NOT here to buy toys.  We are going to spend our money to have fun riding rides.  Yes, yes I remember the Batman balloon that you got at that other fair we went to with Daddy that got a rip in it that had to be thrown away.  Ok, alright, if they have one we will get it to replace the one that broke.  Ok?  Ok!  Now, do not say one more word to me about buying you a toy.

Of course.  Haha!

Saturday morning we went for a run and then let the boys play at a park.

We went to dinner at a new wood-fired pizza place that night.  Where Aunt Ray Ray took B out to the foyer three times for time out while my sister took advantage of the opportunity and scarfed down as much as she could of our smores dessert pizza before I brought her kid back to the table.  Mind you, my child was not perfectly behaved either.  We decided we'll go back again when both of our husbands can come along.  And we'll have separate tables.  One for the boys.  And one for us girls.  On opposite sides of the restaurant. ;)

It was a short trip, but one that was well worth it!  Love living near my sister!!