Homeschool Recap, Week 33...

On Monday, Preston had no interest in starting school... ever.  I told him to remember how excited he was about the new First Grade curriculum that would be coming in the mail.  He said, "Ok, then let's start the fun stuff of First Grade!"  That's kind of how I feel too... so excited about the new curriculum, I wanna just go ahead and move on.  But we have to finish Kindergarten first!  Just a few more weeks, c'mon!  And I know he'll appreciate the summer break (even if I still sneak in some review/lessons/activities, muwahahah!).

Monday:

- Daily devo

- Reader Rabbit workbook, we are on the last section of this!  We talked about character and setting of a story. Preston had to draw and write about his favorite characters...

It says "He is the Flash. He is runing. He is fast." The 'a' in Flash and Fast and the 'g' in Runing have little wings on them because "that's his logo!"  So cute!

- Addition workbook, second-to-last page of addition problems.

- A review on the World Continents using this fun foam puzzle.  He still forgets Africa, but has the rest of 'em down pretty good!

The big one is Asia!

- This week, to get Preston more excited about the last few weeks of school, I'm letting him pick something for us to do each day.  Today he wanted to know who first invented ice cream.  So, we hit up Wikipedia!

Tuesday:

- Daily devo

- RR, working on beginning, middle and end of a story.  He got to come up with his own story, which was all about his day - what he does at the beginning, middle and end, of course!

- Finished the last page of the Addition Workbook!  Then I showed Preston that it was actually a "First Grade" addition workbook.  He was shocked!  Haha.

- We did a review on the Seasons and Weather.  We talked about what each season is like, and then I had him draw a tree to show what it would be like in each season.

- Today, he wanted to know how batteries were first made.

Wednesday:

- Daily devo

- RR, discussing how to make predictions based on what you already know of the story.

- We read a few short Aesop's Fables that I realized we had skipped previously, got 'em from this book.

- Talked a little about treating the Earth right.  This should have been done around Earth Day, of course, but we went on vacation and I let it slip between the cracks.  Just trying to make sure I got all the stuff I planned on doing in... our last day of school, May 27th, is right around the corner!

Thursday:

- Daily devo

- We finished the Reader Rabbit Kindergarten book with some pages on key events in stories.

- Had practice to the front side of our subtraction mat!  He did so well with it!

OH, this is easy!

- We reviewed the Five Senses and some of the body parts and info we learned previously.

- I spent some time going over the "If-Then" and "Blessing" charts we got at the Homeschool Bookfair.  These charts are supposed to help us (the parents) be consistent so that Preston learns not to do naughty things.  For example, IF you are defiant or say 'no' to us, THEN your punishment is getting something taken away.  And the Blessing Chart goes over things for when he is really good when it's hard to be good, then he gets a reward.  He didn't like either chart and wanted me to throw them away.  Lol!  I hope it works, and that we are able to stick to it too!  We have been so inconsistent with our discipline, no wonder the kid's a mess sometimes!

Friday:

- Daily devo and notebook illustration.

- Other side of the subtraction mat.

- Reviewed physical characteristics by sorting some of his bugs... by color, by type, by ones with wings and ones without, etc.

- We created a "crown of obedience" to use along with the Blessing Chart (if he's obedient when it's difficult to be obedient, he gets the honor of wearing the crown!).  I knew I wanted to make a crown, but didn't really have any fun ideas.  Then he received a package from the Junior Texas Rangers in the mail, and when the cardboard fell out of the hat, I knew exactly what it was good for!  The rest of the cardboard came from a Dr Pepper box, which, y'know, is completely appropriate.  At least Preston thought so!  That made the crown super easy to make! I let him paint it, then cover it with "way to go!" type stickers.

Painting the crown

Modeling the front

Showing off the back

We received our box of First Grade Curriculum from My Father's World on Tuesday.  It was packed SO well, there was a ton of packing paper in the box so that nothing could move at all.  It was rather humorous pulling out so much paper.  Then I let the boys go crazy with it!

Linked up with:

31 Days to Clean, part 2 (of 5)

It's not too late to start, if you are interested in the 31 Days To Clean Challenge.  The blog info is here and the 31 Days To Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way e-book can be found here.  You can start anytime, do it any way you want to, there aren't rigid rules... don't be intimidated.  There's also a helpful and encouraging forum, as well as twitter friends at the #31daystoclean hashtag!

Day 6 - The Mary Challenge was about lists, and well... I love lists, so this should be no problem for me whatsoever.  However, it also says to put your lists in order of importance... that, I don't do so well.  I usually just scribble out whatever pops into my head, and go about it as it seems fit - not necessarily from top to bottom.  The Martha Challenge had Preston and I digging out all kinds of stuff, rearranging and piling up a pretty good size donate box!

• 1/2 of the cabinets are clean/organized, got a donate pile, wondering if I can put my non-stop-talking-5-yr-old in that pile. #31daystoclean 
• Match game! #31daystoclean http://twitpic.com/4u84jd

Oh, if only it could stay this tidy!

Nothing comes crashing down when opened!

Day 7 - I technically started Day 7 on the evening of Day 6 because I knew I'd be busy most of Saturday.  I was right!  So, I finished up the last little bit of cleaning out and organizing my pantry Saturday evening.  I didn't have much to throw away, because I've done a pretty good job of staying after the things in there and making sure they don't expire and sit for ages.  Of course, that's only after having issues with that in the past.

• Got a head start on Day 7's Martha challenge last nite, just a little bit to do today... but busy otherwise! #31daystoclean 

Day 8 - My husband helped me do some organizing (well, it WAS Mother's Day after all!).  And after I finished throwing lots of random things away, I couldn't believe the difference in my drawers!  We also got a couple drawer organizers so that little stuff isn't just rolling around in there and getting lost.  Hooray!  It's amazing to open a drawer and not be completely overwhelmed at the mess!

Everything has a place!

This drawer OPENS now, yay!

Day 9 - Oh boy, dealing with laziness.  Yikes.  I definitely took this message to heart and stayed busy and active ALL day (on a Monday!).  I took little breaks to rest and check email, but pretty much kept going the entire day long!  That made me feel good, like I was really accomplishing something.  And I got that kitchen floor looking awesome.  For a few minutes, till the kids went back in there.  Oh well.  Better than nothing!

• Ok, Monday, I certainly have a "Six List" for you! But first... coffee! #31daystoclean 
• Caught Callen just before he made friends w/a quarter-sized spider in my kitchen! Yikes! #31daystoclean
• Got baby in his bed for a nap, setting up the kid on the DS for a bit... Kitchen floors, here I come! Day 9 of #31daystoclean 
• It feels weird to walk on clean floors... that's bad, huh? #31daystoclean

Day 10 - I already see my house (at least my kitchen) shaping up in the way that I want my whole house to be.  Organized, clean, inviting - my goals, for sure!  There's a huge difference walking into my kitchen to get a drink... opening the cabinet to find the cups all nicely arranged and then opening the fridge and seeing it so clean!  It not only looks good, it makes me feel like I'm finally doing something right!  Moving into the Living Room today.  Spent some time with my windows... again getting a bit O.C.D. with the dirt in between the screen and the sill.  I'm serious, I don't want that guck in my house anymore!

• My Six Lists keep becoming Sixteen Lists. #31daystoclean 
• Day 10 of #31daystoclean COMPLETE! And before lunchtime even, woot!
• #31daystoclean is seriously cutting into my 'net surfin' time. I suppose that's a good thing, though. Clean house v. 1,000 blogs to read...

Yuck!  Ugh...

SO much better!

Day 11 - So, I accidentally got carried away and did most of Day 12 stuff today as well.  Oh well, less work for tomorrow!  As I'm sitting here, looking over my work... I am just so pleased that I'm actually accomplishing these goals.  The kids are being mostly cooperative (not completely, but when Callen takes a nap I am able to get Preston distracted with DS, tv or computer long enough to really get things done!), and though I'm exhausted from the hard work... my results are gratifying for sure!

• Curse you, popcorn ceiling!!! Full-fledged living room dusting going on over here! #31daystoclean 
• Got a little carried away and did most of Day 12 too, oops. Less to do tomorrow, though! Living Room looks wonderful! #31daystoclean

Day 12 - I really appreciate that this e-book is so encouraging, especially in letting us know that we don't have to get everything just right all the time.  It doesn't wave it's finger at me, telling me that I've been a bad housewife all these years, and it's about time I shape up!  It allows for grace and forgiveness, at the same time as it says "hey, get up and do SOMETHING at least!"  It is giving me the motivation to get off my butt, off the computer, and get busy!  Not quite half way through with the 31-day challenge, but feeling great about it!

Day 13 - I got carried away again, which... is a good thing... I mean, the house needs it, right?  I mopped the entire living room, entry way, laundry room, hallway, and both bathrooms.  Once I had finished the living room, I was just like... well, I have the mop and stuff out... might as well get after it!  Haha!

P.S. This wasn't part of the challenge (yet), but I spent some time tidying up Callen's room, and 5 minutes later, this is what I came across...

Oh, baby... way to go.

He pulled down everything from his shelves and spread it around like it was before.  Apparently, he likes it that way!

Grouptune is About to Launch!

A new daily deal site is about to launch, and this time the deals are on Christian music.  The site says "If you like artists like Jeremy Camp, Israel Houghton, LeCrae, Natalie Grant and Disciple you've come to the right place."  That gives me hope that they'll be covering ALL KINDS of Christian music, not just the fluffy stuff.  No offense if you like that fluffy stuff.  I do too... some of it.  Anyway, the site launches on May 17th.  Sign up now at grouptune.com.  If you do sign up, please email me with your name and email address so I can receive credit for referring you because I am involved in the BuzzPlant Grouptune Campaign.  Thanks!

Smooshed Pennies!

When we were in San Antonio for vacation a few weeks ago, Preston discovered the Penny Press machines.

We ended up with quite a handful, and my mom even found a Penny Passport to keep them in!  So, now we are on the lookout for any chance to "smoosh pennies!"

We were out in Grapevine for Mother's Day dinner with Michael's parents and thought we'd pop over to Bass Pro Shop to see if they had a machine, and they did!  Preston got all four of those designs!

Working the crank!

Then, we stopped by the Great Wolf Lodge to see if they would let us in to get ones from there.  They did!

No stealing!

And they even had a cute display with it!  Haha, Preston liked that!

So, dear friends, if you happen upon a Penny Press machine, please think about a certain 5-yr-old who has a new obsession!  In fact, you can even look up where the Penny Press machines are located all over the country (and world!).  Go here, look up your state and find some in your area - it makes for a fun scavenger hunt adventure!  And it normally only costs you 51cents!