Sunday Snapshots

We took a xmas photo. 

Three "kidnapping" Two for the ransom money. 

Three working on his poster for co-op Xmas presentation.

Food spread from the party, and him giving his presentation. 

Crafting at the party

Lego creation

Crafting at home

Inventive playtime

Four helping me cook

And this one just PRIOR to him sneezing all over the onion. 

After our impromptu ambulance driven ER visit, he was soaking in the tub (to remove those tabs they use to monitor his heart and breathing) while explaining how he was NOT tired....he nearly fell asleep. This bath was followed by a nap for Bubba and Mama. 

Two for Tuesday: Science!

Three and Four are currently VERY into science, and ask for experiments all the time.

We have candy canes that our Elf brought us, and I'm going to use them to do these:

Easy Christmas Science Experiment

Dancing Candy Canes

Sunday Snapshots

I've been taking aerial bootcamp. It's kinda awesome. 

My sweet (The Punk) and I saw Garth Brooks!!!

Three and Four belt test. 

Random working...

Doubles math game. 

Rare pic of One and Two both using my bed as their chosen location for school. 

Enjoying a warm afternoon outside!  (Playing Hyper Dash.)

Putting my elves to work..

Touring Historic Oak View Park, and the homes of the Williams family. Getting a "Christmas through the years..." Lesson. 

My fancy-schmancy accessory. 

Co-op Hanukkah craft. 

A science experiment to wrap our study of the water cycle. 

Sideways Saturday!

(This post is going to be a Two for Tuesday, Skinny Housewife, and Flashback Friday all rolled into one....Sideways Saturday Fo'Sho!)

Phew!  The weeks are just flying by.   Not to sound TOO cliche, but how is 2014 almost over??

We are doing well with schooling, I'm pleased with where the boys are.  One and I recently drew up a contract to help her get herself back on track (she asked for my help) and that's been going pretty beautifully.  Although, truthfully, we are just wrapping week 1 of using this new contract, so it's still in the 'honeymoon phase.'  However, after only one week, I can see a difference in her PHYSICAL behavior and she seems genuinely happier on the whole (She is dealing with depression, and I put in place some things that I was hopeful with help as she and I are both a little leery of medications.)

This month we've been learning about Christmas Around the World (different holiday traditions) as well as other holidays celebrated at this time of year.  In Kindergarten Co-Op this week, we covered Hanukkah (we did the menorah hand-print craft only I had the kids trace and cut their hands out of paper, and glue on paper flames because I didn't want to do paint!) and Kwanzaa (I was inspired by this, and each child made a chain with 3 red, 1 black, 3 green links, and we discussed the different principles celebrated during Kwanzaa as we went.)  For Early-Elem Co-Op, we are each working at home on a project board covering a different country and how they celebrate "Winter Holidays" and will all be making a food item from our country for a big Christmas Around the World party this coming week.  Our country is France, because my great-grandparents were french immigrants and I'm trying to hold on to our french heritage.

My job is going great, I teach 3 mornings a week and my ladies have asked for one more class.  I have to pitch the idea to my boss, so we'll see!  However, I injured my leg sometime before Thanksgiving, and am currently wearing a knee brace to assure that I don't bend it wrong (because it hurts like a BITCH when I do!) and I'm taking ibuprofen around the clock to get rid of the inflammation.  I've been braced for 3 days, and it really is helping a bunch.  I have 4 more classes to teach and then I'm on a 2 week holiday break.  I won't be running or dancing during that time, and am hopeful that by the time my schedule goes back to normal my knee will no longer be an issue.  I AM worried about gaining weight during this time though as all my normal cardio is what keeps my weight in check.  Seated cardio is way harder than you'd think.  I have a very hard time getting my heart rate up while NOT moving my legs.  However, I keep reminding myself that it could be SO MUCH WORSE, and I'll take this minor injury over something more major.

Two for Tuesday: It's Christmas Time!

Christmas Around the World

Mrs. Nelson's Class

This month for Kindergarten Co-Op we are covering holiday traditions from around the world.  For our holiday party, the older co-op kids (early elementary) will be presenting a poster board on a country of their choosing and both groups will be bringing in foods from a selected country.  I'm sort of crazy excited.

Here are some links to use to get your own studies going.  Explore!

Two for Tuesday (plus a little bonus rant.)

I need some sunshine.  Truly.  It's so grey and dismal here.  I can't take much more.  The weather man says the next 3 days (today not included) will be sunny.  Cold as a witches titty (My Daddy said that to me when I was a kid.)  But, SUNNY.  I have my chair positioned on the back porch, I should probably turn it upside down so the water can run off--it's going to rain all day, and it rained a bit yesterday too.  It's not helping my depression.  At.  All.  I ran twice last week.  I danced yesterday, and I am dancing again later this week.  I am motivated to run (which I will probably do tomorrow, with my new running partner The Bestie!) because of a race I signed up to run in May.  That's a long way out you say?  It's a warrior dash.  Google that.  There are 12 obstacles that unlike my FUN MUD RUN are no joke.  I'm excited, but I need to be in shape.  Coincidentally, my FUN MUD RUN is the weekend after, and should therefore feel like a walk in the park!  Sunshine.  I need sunshine.  Stat.  I'm considering paying $10 to lie in a tanning bed for a few minutes even.  It's that bad.

We are currently "tracked out," which means we aren't doing any REAL school.  We are still reading because I don't want to lose what he's gained in that department-he's doing SO WELL!  But, other than that, our only learning is about Christmas traditions around the world and how they are similar to and different from ours.  We only have this week, and a few days before Xmas to do this because (SHHHHHH...this is a secret) Santa is bringing us another trip and we'll be gone the entire week before Christmas.

Here's what I downloaded from TPT (one of my favorite sites, in case you didn't know that already.)

Christmas Around the World Facts and Snacks

My Christmas Pinterest Board  (ideas of things to do/make)

Looking ahead (for a change!)

Honestly, I was once one of the most prepared people....over the last year though, my personal life (meaning: the grown up stuff) has fallen apart around me, and as I've been trying to piece it back together others areas of my life have most definitely suffered. I'm trying to get THOSE parts back on track.

My plan for December consists mainly of a countdown to Christmas. We will only do "real" school through the 16th. The week leading up to Christmas has a birthday for our family (Two is turning 12....*sigh*) as well as Yule, and the week after we need to recover. ;) Plus, I think MIL is coming in for at least some of that time. We'll do a study of Winter in January (even though it starts this month.) For December, we're going to countdown and discuss some of the symbols of Christmas.

I found this link that gives some background to the different symbols of Christmas. There are Bible verses and biblical reference. I'm good at taking the parts of things that work for me, and leaving the rest...I recommend you do the same. *wink*

http://www.achristmastestimony.kingdomdesignministry.com/christmas-symbols-and-their-meanings

Our Christmas Countdown, which will start on the 1st, includes these activities:

1. Open new ornaments for the tree (Each year the kids get new ornaments for the tree, I try to find something representative of their year, and I'm SUPER excited about this years ornaments.)

2. Take Christmas Pictures!

3. Attend a Christmas parade.

4. Write letters to Santa.

5. Discuss St. Nicholas Day and leave out shoes!

6. Shop for a gift for Birthday Buddy (this is a birth board gift exchange.)

7. Shop for a gift to donate to Toys for Tots.

8. Train ride

9. Make Christmas Cookies!

10. Make a handmade ornament.

11. Make and leave gifts for neighbors on their doorsteps.

12. Drive around to see Christmas lights.

13. Buy presents for siblings.

14. Choose a special treat.

15. String popcorn for the birds.

16. Have a family christmas movie night, with special goodies.

17. Make Chex Mix and Muddy Buddies.

18. Make chocolate covered pretzels

19. Learn a French Christmas tradition

20. Make Christmas presents for family.

21. Visit the bookstore and choose a new Christmas book.

22. Christmas lights hayride and visit Santa.

23. Make a craft with Mom.

24. Make reindeer food, and Santa's cookies. :)

Christmastime Crafts AND Baby "School"

Santa craft. One did this project with Three while I was at a doctor visit with Four. It's a piece of white printer paper, a piece of red construction paper and cotton balls. :)


I picked up this reindeer mask for Three at the craft store (for $1,) they had reindeer and snowmen, he picked the reindeer and was SO excited to paint it.

Baby "school":

Four has begun really wanted to do things when Three and I are doing school. So, I've had to break out his own school things.

This is poker chips (picked up from Dollar Tree) and an empty wipe container with the slot in the top. Four takes the chips and slides them through the slot that you pull the wipes through.

Three wanted to play with this too when I broke it out this week (it's been awhile since he's done this activity,) so when he was done with his own stuff he sorted the chips by color and then put them in the container.

Transferring with a spoon: Two bowls, a large spoon and whatever medium you would like to transfer. We chose pom poms. Put the poms in one bowl and demonstrate how to move them to the other with the spoon. In this picture the spoon was in use, and blurry, my apologies. But you get the gist!

For this activity, he has a crunchies container that I cut a square hole in the lid of, and a bowl of poms. He takes the poms from the bowl and pushes them through the hole in the lid.

This is a great activity. This is the first time he's done this one, and he really liked it. You need an empty spice container (the kind with the "sprinkle" holes in the lid,) and toothpicks. I had to lay the toothpicks out one by one, because he doesn't have the motor skills yet to pick up just one from the pile. But, working on this type of thing will help build those. He took one toothpick and pushed it through one of the wholes in the lid of the spice container. He tried it two different ways, in his lap and flat on the table. In his lap was much easier.