Friday, January 31, 2014

School Sessions: Chapter 3

We've had quite a few weeks since our last homeschool update. We're in the process of reviewing and conquering certain concepts (in addition, graphing, alphabetizing, and phonics). Charlotte has been a CHAMP... she even did schoolwork while we were on the East Coast for vacation visiting with family. We have a routine down most mornings, and the only time it's interrupted, is if we have a doctor's appointment or something else that's pressing. Journaling is one of her favorites still... in fact, we'll be in need of a new journal soon, because hers is nearly filled to the brim with entries and pictures. She often needs help with prompts (My favorite ______ is....) when writing... so one thing I'd like to work on her more, is coming up with her own thoughts/ideas or write about past/present events. I want her to be a little more "free" with her writing... She still needs my help spelling out most words that are 5 letters or more. But, I do enjoy the 15 minutes she takes each day to write in her journal, mostly because her pictures that go hand in hand with each entry, are HYSTERICAL. 















During most of her journal time, I'm usually able to tackle the day's laundry pile that's waiting to be folded... Or catch up on dishes. As much as I want to move our homeschool space into my office, being out on the dining room table for most schooling allows for me to be "nearby" whenever she needs my assistance.














In between Phonics/Reading and Math, we do some free reading (where she'll read a page or two of an easy reader book to Marley and I. Sometimes we do some activities out of her HIGH FIVE magazine. I completely recommend this magazine... I think it's worth every penny we pay... the activities are fun for her, she especially loves the stories. She memorizes the poems out of each month's edition, and enjoys the hidden picture searches (which are SUPER helpful for her poor eye sight).














The one thing that I've LOVED about homeschooling (a simple observation)... is that I have control over the snacks that she receives. I remember the items that parents would send to school on their "snack" days, for the kids... potato chips, cheese curls, candy, fruit snacks, etc... junk. I was the Mom who sent Charlotte to school with cheese sticks and the teacher complained that she had to open EVERY child's cheese stick, and that it wasn't the greatest snack option. Hmm... nearly everyday Charlotte has either a piece of fruit, kefir drink, yogurt, natural apple sauce, etc... and not once has she complained about it not being delicious... and she can totally open up her cheese stick all on her own.















The past few weeks' highlights:

- Watching it "click" when it comes to addition. She understands the concept of adding "0", "1" "10" and "20"... and finally figured out how to properly use a number line for addition.

- She's a rockstar with consonant blends (for beginnings and endings of words) for Phonics.

- She understands the concept of sentence construction (needing a capital to start off with, and the proper ending- be it a period, question or exclamation mark).

- Was introduced to the idea of "nouns"... and handled it well.

- Her attitude towards school... I LOVE her persistence and her determination to finish in a timely manner... the girl needs to play, and she realizes the sooner she gets it done, the more time she's allowed to play.

The past few weeks' lows:

- Not too interested in reading... loves writing... but reading isn't her favorite yet.

- Lack of socialization... we desperately need to get over this cabin fever.
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Monday, January 27, 2014

A Girl and Her Fish

For Charlotte's birthday last year (end of September), she was gifted a fish... why we agreed to let someone gift her fish (they asked ahead of time), is still a mystery to me... It became my fish, essentially... you know, my responsibility: feed it, clean it's tank, etc. She does however pay Pascal (the fish) the most wonderful compliments... "Pascal, you're a really good swimmer..." Oh this girl and her fish.

















Pretty much every time I clean out Pascal's fish bowl... she puts on her mermaid tail... at least she entertains me during the cleaning... watching her waddle around in a tail, it's pretty hilarious. She has also declared that she needs a "boobie bra" like Ariel's clam shells to go along with her tail... please tell her to stop growing up... please.
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Sunday, January 26, 2014

A Look Back: Farm Show

In early January, right before we made our way back to Oklahoma... we made it a priority to visit the Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania... I've only heard GREAT things about this exhibit, and who can resist the world's freshest/best milkshake? My hubby and his family went to the Farm Show each and every year that they could growing up... so it was time, that Charlotte, Marley and I checked it out for ourselves. Oh what fun we had... we only had a few hours... next time, we'll have to make it an entire day or two... we barely even covered 1/10th of the place.











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Friday, January 17, 2014

Dear Marley Wren { 6 months }

Dear Marley,

6 months... that's a whole half year... wow! We've known you for half of your first year, and we couldn't be more in love. Every day you amaze us with a new trick, new sound... and you are getting to the age where we REALLY have to keep an eye on you. Even though you're not crawling yet, you try and get into anything and everything that's in reach. We know this, because that's how you tore apart an entire tissue box... Placing you in your high chair or BUMBO seat, we have to be strategic about what's around you, otherwise you might destroy. You're just in a stage where you're figuring everything out, and we love this part... exploring is your thing.


It's fairly easy to get a smile/giggle out of you, now that we know what gets you going. You are EXTREMELY ticklish in your armpits and toes and thighs... pretty much everywhere. You think your sister's dancing is funny, and love it especially when she twirls around in a circle and falls to the ground... then you get her belly to really jiggle. You are pretty much the happiest baby... even when you had pneumonia this month, you were still smiling and laughing. The best was you had a booger bubble in your nose, and it popped... you laughed really loud, and then tried to blow out more. It was quite the discovery for you this month.




You are super alert, and pay attention to your surroundings, but get easily startled. You're completely intrigued by your hands...literally, you could spend hours studying them, and practicing your open and close pinching grip. They are cutest little dimple knuckled fingers we've ever seen. 

We adore you Marley Wren... but your cuteness is only going to get you so far in the sleep department. Since around 3.5 months, you stopped sleeping in your crib throughout the night, and we're not quite sure what happened. You go for about 3-4 hours (where we have to help you with the pacifier) in your crib, and then you scream bloody murder, like you've had enough. As soon as Mommy brings you into bed, you crash again, and fall right back asleep on her... but if she moves you to the bed, or back to the crib, you scream, again... We're not quite sure where this is coming from, or how to handle it... Mommy hasn't had any sleep at all in what feels like forever... so please, maybe this next month, you could work on your sleeping habits for us? Even during naptime, you boycott your crib or most other places (car seat). Mommy and Daddy absolutely LOVE sleep, so we're really hoping the love for sleep rubs off on you...

This month, you ventured on the plane for the first time, as we made our way to Pennsylvania for the holidays.... you were a traveling rockstar. We're not surprised though... you were born for this life of adventure. You slept for most of the flights, and smiled at everyone on the only one you were awake for. Even during the layovers, you handled the boredom like a champ.

This first half of your first year, has FLOWN by... and we can't to see what happens this second half... keep growing, keep learning, and keep being you sweet girl...

We love you, 

Daddy, Mommy and Charlotte 


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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Christmas 2013 Recap

It's been awhile since I dropped a line here on the blog... no worries... all is well, and I'm still alive. The blogging hiatus, has ended. So much to catch you all up on, but we'll start with a Christmas 2013 recap. I barely picked up my camera while we were back East for the holidays... I was definitely more focused on the relationships, and the interactions, and less about the snapping away. It had been nearly 4 years since we were last home for Christmas... which made this trip extra special. It was the first time we introduced Marley to a whole slew of family members (even Charlotte met a bunch that she had never met before) and just enjoyed kicking back and relaxing as often as we could. We also managed to score this amazing viral head cold... it ended in Marley having pneumonia, and needing a breathing treatment... that part was not enjoyed very much. Nothing like having to take your baby to Urgent Care, to have them tell you that you should be in a hospital. Goodness, that was rough... but thankfully, she's way passed that. I, however, am still battling that head cold... it's seriously stubborn and doesn't want to exit my body. In the meantime, I've been relaxing, and sleeping... and figured it was time to update the blog. I pray you all had the most joyous Christmas... and that 2014 has started off great for you!











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