So needless to say, our week started on Sunday afternoon after nap time.
We did a few things on Sunday
Monday was Amarion's 4H Christmas party and so we went to that and they had a great time. After a pizza dinner they made an edible craft which was a rice krispie treat that the decorated using green icing and m&ms. Then they got to make a pine cone bird feeder and then they made a craft for the nursing home. It was a very fun evening. I really enjoy having him in the group. Ours is called the Nature Seekers.
On Wednesday the homeschool group that I have joined came to my center for a program on eastern bluebirds. I covered some basic information about them and then they made bluebird houses. I had put together a bluebird lapbook for the program and so I put packets together for each child to take home with them to put together later. I can never find lapbooks for the subjects that I need and so I have enjoyed putting together my own. I was so tired and did not want to go to church but we did anyways and it was so refreshing. That was an excellent decision.
I HATE messes. But on Thursday I was VERY brave and purchased Crayola water colors and water color paper and I let the kids paint. I kept telling myself "it's washable, it will come out!" My heartbeat was very erratic and I thought I would surely have to go to the ER before it was over. It was a GREAT experience though. The kids were more fascinated with the colors that the water changed than they were with painting a picture. They really loved it. I am going to have to do it again.
Later Zi and Niya worked on learning the letters in their names and how to spell them. I wrote their names on a piece of cardstock and wrote the letters on craft sticks. I also gave them magnetic letters and they just matched each letter. I would say what the letters were as they played.
The biggest lesson I learned this week is that "being prepared" with my kids means that EVERYTHING is already cut out LOL. We read lots of books and I try to find matching lapbooks for them on homeschool share. I would have everything all ready to go but I would have to cut out some of the things while they waited. Abba laid it on my heart to get everything for each lapbook cut out in the evening so that all we had to do was put them together. This is a lifesaver. I started out reading the same book everyday and doing an activity for it. We read a lot so we usually read about 3 books and do at least one activity for it. I keep everything for each book in its own sheet protector and then when we are done we put the lapbooks together. They really love doing the projects and crafts. After the little kids went to bed I had a special project for Amarion. I had found some Lego sets at Walmart in the clearance for $3. They were Star Wars. He has never done a Lego set before and I was a little leery of trying it. We got started and I explained to him how to follow the instruction book (he has serious issues with NOT wanting to follow directions). Well he got started and it wasn't coming out right. He did not cry or whimper not one time though. He just looked at the picture and figured it out. By step 15 (out of 17 for part 1 LOL) he finally started using the blue box that showed what pieces to get out and actually following the instructions. Man was I excited. I thought wow Abba, what a wonderful way to teach him to follow instructions. We will definitely be doing more Legos in the future. If nothing else the fine motor skills were worth it. I loved watching his little fingers put those tiny pieces together. He was very proud of himself when he got done. I bragged on him to everybody. He really enjoyed it and I'm glad because I really LOVE Legos and wanted him to like them too.
Friday was our church workers' Christmas party and the kids went to a sitter so we did not have school. We stayed the night in town with their Mimi and on Saturday morning Amarion got to go out and do chores with Mr. Rick (pics to come later cause they're on my phone). He so enjoyed it. He drove a tractor. Highlight of his day! He came in the house after they were done and he had cut his hand. He said momma I cut my hand, but I didn't cry, because cowboys are tough! (I love it)
Saturday morning we went to Lowe's for the kid workshop (which was why we stayed in town - so we wouldn't have to drive that 45 minutes 2 extra times) and the kids made the cutest train (pics to come later because they are on my phone). While they were making their trains Amarion whacked his finger and knocked the skin off of it. Zi says Amarion does it hurt? Amarion says yeah, but I'm not gonna cry cause cowboys are tough. He is such a cute kid. I love love love him. So after we left Lowe's we went to our church because we had an outreach scheduled for today and we served at it. We really had a great week. Looking forward to this next week. We don't have any plans so we should get quite a bit done. Oh yeah - we stayed for church tonight because we have a Saturday service and on the way home Amarion counted all the way to 100 by himself. He was super proud of himself. He said he could do it because he had turned 6 (November 28th). I taught him how to count by 10s while we were driving and he can do it by himself now. He is such a smart boy. Growing up right before my eyes.
