Project 365: Fun with Rocks and Chocolate Muffins

March 6

More fun in our new rock area!

March 7

Chocolate Muffins for dessert!

Project 365: Outdoor Pebble Pile To Play In

March 5

I had requested that Ryan make a "rock pile" for the kids to play in. He and the boys worked on their creation today. He, of course, came up with something even better than I'd envisioned, as it even wrapped around some little trees. This was taken in the middle of their progress. Lots more pebbles were added. And, yes, it was cooold outside today; the boys just came out for a minute without their coats so they could show me what they'd done. They were excited. Cars, bulldozers, pails, and shovels to be added soon.

Project 365: Weekly Wrap-Up

February 28

The little ones requested to make "an experiment" today. They also call this "making potions." We had to go to Wal-Mart this morning for a plastic tub (Princess birthday party stuff is everywhere!) and some food items. I let them buy some Great Value distilled vinegar and several packs of Kool-Aid, which are vital "potion" supplies. They also used an old science experiment bag of flour, a box of baking soda, empty bottles filled up with water, and some hotel lotions.

This is something they like to do about once a month (although they haven't done it for a few months since it has been so cold outside). They have a great time with big bowls, eye droppers, spoons, measuring cups - whatever they want to take out there as long as they bring it all back inside and clean up their mess.

My 5 year old came inside with this concoction. He said, "Try it!" I said, "No, thank you!" He leaned forward and whispered so sweetly, "Pretend." Ohhh, I'm a little slow sometimes. Me: "Actually, I do want to try it...mmm, this is tasty! Very fruity tasting with some white powdery chunks! Thanks!" He giggled and went back outside.

March 1

We are so relieved; soccer season has returned! Just in time. Our little ball of energy wouldn't be contained (This winter has been hard for him!) within the walls of this house any longer. First practice was tonight. We are so thrilled; his coach from last season agreed to return, and his entire team is back together again.

And I am thrilled about my new printer/scanner/copier we bought after soccer practice. Our old one tanked, and this one is pretty AND wireless! Ryan set all 3 of our computers up to print from it. And it's sitting so nicely in our bedroom. (Our old one would get piled up with papers, etc. sitting in the homeschool room.

The boys always latch right onto big chunks of Styrofoam when purchases like this are made. They make great car garages and fortresses for little plastic monsters. For one day, anyway, before I toss them into recycling.

March 2

Today at his school, Tornado was to dress up like a favorite book character. True to his unique and wonderful self, instead of choosing some ordinary character, my son's costume involved an esophagus and stomach. (This is the child whose Halloween, etc. costumes have consisted of things like "a storm," "a tornado," and a "television." Store-bought stuff isn't fun enough for him.)

If you haven't figured it out, he is the "old lady who swallowed a fly." He LOVES these books. There are quite a few of them if you're not familiar with them. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell (and then there's the Ocean, Sea, Bell, Pie, Trout, Bat, Snow...I think that's it; we have all of them except maybe the Bat one.). They're very catchy and fun to read.

Well, this particular night, the boys had to get haircuts. They both looked handsome and great afterward, but Dash was MORTIFIED when he saw his hair. He couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Fortunately, he waited until we walked out to throw the drama. "I look awful!" "I can't go to school (homeschool co-op) like this!" (That was my favorite one. He said it so DEFINITIVELY, like it was a fact.) "I don't want anyone to see me!" "I can see skin!" He was WAILING.

(Above, he's waving his hands because he didn't even want me to take his picture.) I felt sorry for the guy because I know he really felt embarrassed inside (and having been the queen of feeling embarrassed and self-conscious when I was young, I understand), but it was hard holding in my giggles. Because it really was a nice haircut, and he was really overreacting.

He did, in fact, go into Homeschool Academy wearing a baseball cap the next day. However, he took it off within five minutes and hasn't complained about it since.

March 3
our bedtime stories tonight - all cute and recommended

March 4

Workbox Day

I wrote about my new Workbox System in my last post. We still love them, and they are definitely easier to fill and maneuver.

A few of the things my kindergartener was working on:

Use the blocks to make the patterns on the cards.

I wanted him to do these puzzles, not only for the learning aspect, but I'm trying to go through our puzzles to see which ones are missing pieces, etc.

his Abeka handwriting pages - homework from his Homeschool Academy he attends twice a week

cutting and pasting activities

He had to complete a few pages from this Short Vowel I workbook. I usually put post-its on the pages they need to complete if it's one that I don't want to rip out the pages.

I like this series of vowel sounds workbooks. I think they have been beneficial to both of the boys, and they were a little less than $3 apiece (although some of them I got for half of that price).

A few of the things my 4 year old worked on:

She completed several puzzles. She also worked on some puzzle matching cards I bought at Dollar Tree.

She did a couple of coloring pages and worksheets, too. She is always excited about doing her assignments. She and her oldest brother don't like to stop until their assignments are completed, unlike Dash who likes to try rationalizing that it should be perfectly suitable to watch a long movie after finishing one assignment.

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers link-up

Project 365: New Workbox System and Christmas in February

February 21

I am super-duper excited about my new shelves I bought last night at Office Depot. This is originally what I wanted to use for our Workboxes. However, to save money while finding out if we even wanted to use the Workbox System, I just bought an economy size box (enough for 3 kids) of shoebox size tubs at The Container Store for $30 about a year and a half ago. They work fine, but it was all a little chaotic with tubs and lids everywhere. I love, love my new shelves much better. And they match my house! If you're curious, I paid $59/apiece for these, BUT I found a $30 off (purchase of $150 or more...there are other coupons for other amounts) Office Depot coupon online which helped.

February 22

Tonight (at least an hour before bedtime), Dash came down the stairs with all kinds of blankets and blanket-ish supplies. He said he was "really sleepy and wanted to be comfy and cozy." This is what he looked like on the couch, eyes closed inside this pillow case.

And the next time I walked by him, he now had the Spiderman hooded towel over his head and another blanket on top of him.

February 23

Mondays and Wednesdays are generally Workbox Days. This is one of Dash's.

And one of Sissy's. This is one of the gifts Aunt Cary and family got Sissy for her birthday.

February 24

I said I wasn't going to talk about vegan stuff on this blog anymore, but this really was the most exciting part of our day. And they were the only pictures I ended up taking. The kids were excited to open up our box of goodies from Vegan Essentials.

February 25

I'm continuing on with organizing and moving things around in my house. Everything has been in disarray, and I'm trying to make things fit better. I moved the black shelves from my bedroom to the boys' room (and the red shelves, which now need to be painted pink, to Sissy's room), therefore I moved my scrapbooking stuff to the hallway closet.

Of course, now I've got a find a spot for the stuff I took out of the closet.

I've got some serious piles going on right now. I'm sure my sister Cary's heart is beating faster just looking at these pictures.

Tons of random stuff to put in different tubs in the attic. I'm posting these pictures for this purpose: if you come to my house a month from now, I'll have to feel shame from knowing that you know this mess has been here since February 25.

Plus, it seems like when I post pictures of the good stuff about my life, some people have a negative reaction. Whenever people judge others' lives based on a few blog pictures, they're doing themselves an injustice. I've even had people say they don't want to read my blog because it makes them feel inferior. Huh?! Come on over and meet me sometime.

February 26

Better late than never...somehow we never got to exchange Christmas presents with Ryan's parents. (Snow storms, tornadoes, Ryan's out-of-town trips, birthdays, and illness all got in the way.) They drove down last night, and today the kids got to have a little Christmas in February. And Ryan got to replenish his t-shirt, underwear, and sock supply, which always makes him happy.

February 27

Nona and Grandpa went home today. They give the kids such undivided attention, they are always sorry to see them go! Come back soon!

Project 365: The One Where I No Longer Have the Flu

February 12

After Sissy's fun princess birthday party, my sister-in-law Michele and I took 2 of her kids, 2 of my kids, and 1 of my sister Cary's kids to see Tangled. The girls were still wearing their princess dresses from the party. If you have seen the movie, you will understand why my niece is carrying a frying pan.

February 13

My amazing husband cleaned up all of the party mess while I was napping today.

He washed all of the dishes and neatly stacked everything else in a pile on the counter. Everything might still be a mess if he hadn't done this for me.

February 14

Valentine's Day Party with my kids and my sister and her kids. Dash was especially excited about his gift from my parents: a reusable lunch bag and a Sonic Colors DS game.

February 15

Some of the Valentine's crafts the kids made - Tornado made the top three, and Sissy made the caterpillar. They based these off ideas from DLTK.

February 16

I won a blog giveaway from the very artistic Greta at Gremadcha! It is a child size necklace, and I got to choose the stone and initial. I picked an R for Sissy's real name, and I gave it to her for her birthday. Actually, we had Sleeping Beauty give it to her, which I'll explain if I ever get around to posting about her birthday. She loves her new necklace. Thank you, Greta!

Since I had a hard time getting a clear picture of the necklace, I'm stealing a picture from Greta's blog. She has an etsy shop here with very cute and unique necklaces, headbands, and knitted hats and brooches. Check it out!

February 17

I had (what I believe was) the flu. This is where I've spent a lot of time this week.

February 18

After hitting the concrete floor, Dash's head recovered with the help of some frozen kale.

February 19

Sissy had the best kind of day at a Fancy Nancy birthday party for her friend.

February 20

Tornado finished another 550 piece puzzle. A record of 6 missing pieces this time, which I'm sure were enjoyed by the dogs.

Project 365: Birthday Party Weekend Begins

February 10

Look who came for a visit.

his sister, too

February 11

the last night my baby girl will be 3

Project 365: And Yet Again

February 9

view from upstairs window today

Project 365: Indoor Basketball Casualty

February 8

We had our first indoor basketball casualty. I wish I could say it wasn't the result of a flared temper. And that there weren't many crumbs that had to be wiped from the counter before I felt comfortable taking this picture.

Update: To clarify, the flared temper wasn't mine. Nor Ryan's. Nor Tornado's. Nor Sissy's.

Project 365: 102 Degrees

Don't let the half smile fool you. Someone doesn't feel well today.