Agh! Like most moms, my time is not my own and it's amazing that you blink and summer is gone. It seems like yesterday, we were worried that Nic's struggles with blending would become serious reading problems and Ali was in diapers. Now, Nic is reading chapter books like a fiend and Ali is reading Level 1 readers. Ali hasn't even spent one day in first grade yet! What a different experience with this second child. As all siblings are, our girls are two very different individuals and it is awesome to be able to see each grow in her own direction and develop her own gifts to share with the world. It can also be exhausting - the listening, the structuring, the playing, the debating and the experiments!!!Aaaah, the experiments......
Today's journey to work consisted of leaving six kids in the house (one was the almost adult babysitter) and humming because I was headed out to work where it would be quiet - as I walked by Duncan our "new" toad and my punch bowl glasses on the porch. Apparently my glassware had been turned into mini-terrariums for some experiment..... the powers of imagination well at work. Which will win - the imagination or the glassware? Will I really care about the glassware in ten or fifteen years? Probably not; I'd just be leaving if for my girls if it survives anyway. Will I care if their imaginations had been nurtured? Absolutely!
Soooooo I went to work shaking my head, but still humming and smiling.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Celebrating Our Young Author!
This winter, my older daughter has taken a shine to writing. She is showing strong talent and steadily creates and creates! She frequently includes words larger than she knows how to spell consistently and sometimes the b's are backwards or syllables get mixed, but that's all part of the drafting process (and that's what editors and/or moms are for anyway). We thought we'd share some of her writings here this summer (especially since I'm not really ready for her to have her own blog just yet). Enjoy!
Mummies of the Dead by Hamilton Jones (her pen name)
Age: 7 3/4
Started June 2009
(edited by reading to Mom; Typed by Mom )
Chapter 1: Finding Crime
There was once was a hero that did not really have crime to fight! His name was Croakeo. Now he went to find crime to fight with his crew. But he took half of it just in case crime fights the castle! So he brought his sister Snico along. She learned Kung Fu from her master HeeeHeee.
Croakeo went to a cave of cavemen that let them stay for the night. Snico did not trust them. “Croakeo I wouldn't trust them okay” Snico said. “There’s nothing to be be afra…” Croakeo did not finish the sentence because the cavemen roared because big fat army men were attacking the Croakeo’s army the cavemen were even helping the bad guys!
“Croakeo., where are you?!” Snico cried in fear.
Croakeo yelled back.
“I’m fighting behind you” Croakeo fiercely said. Croakeo’s army killed everyone just in time for night to come.
Just then Grrrrrrrrrr. Grrrrrrrrrr.
The army huddled together. Grrrrrrrr.
Even closer as it got closer Meow it was a kitten that scared them. Snico kept the kitten and named it Casa. Along they went still looking for battle.
“Snico was right we shouldn't have trusted them” sighed Croakeo. So on their journey continued.
Grrrrr. Grrrrrrrrrr.
Chapter 2: Fear of a Cry
Meow Meow “Casa what is it?” Snico asked as they stopped at a cave.
Just then is when we realized there were live creatures in there just then it grabbed Snico and Casa. Croakeo yelled “Attack!” But then, again they found crime.
“Attack!” and they attacked. After they fought some, they found they were fighting . . . . ANTS?
They were big ants too!!
Yes indeed, they found large ants. Snico and Casa darted off looking around and stopping to Grr and fight.
“Wait”, yelled a non familiar voice. Just then, of nowhere a cuckoo bird killed and ate the ants. The cuckoo bird was just about to attack the Army and Casa and Croakeo and Snico. and “Bang, Bang!”
Casa and Snico said., “What can’t a kitten and a girl help?”
“Grrr Grrrr Gr Grrrrr Grr Gr Grrr Grrrr” meowed and grred Casa.
Chapter 3: Attack of What? Flying Bombs!?
After the coincidence of the cuckoo bird coming at the same time as the ants, they still had to go on their really big journey. They were still looking to fight crime.
Then they stopped at a Lake. “Oh no! Now you stop us on our journey?”, snapped Croakeo.
Just then someone or something came shooting out of nowhere.
Guess what it was—flying bombs!
Flying bombs were coming from everywhere. On them it said “Prepare to do the tango dance”.
Again it happened, “Bang, Bang!”. "Fire Power!".
They all looked at Snico again and Casa again.
“Just helping like girls do” said Snico.
“Grrr Grrrrrr Grr Grrrr Gr”, Grred Casa.
Croakeo looked embarrassed that his cheeks were burning in redness.
Just then someone said “Fire Power!”
Then everyone was like “Fire Power!” too.
Croakeo easily got into it too.
Chapter 4: Girl Help
Stay Tuned!!......
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Family Games: Dutch Blitz
One of the things we have done consistently since the girls were small was to play games as a family. Not only is this important for quality time and sportsmanship skills, but for strategy development, sequencing, recognizing patterns, turn taking and following multi-step directions. One of our new favorites is Dutch Blitz.
It reminds me of Skip-Bo, but faster paced because you don't really take turns. All four of us play and we tweak the rules only a smidge for our kindergartener - instead of taking three at a time off her Wood Pile she can go through one at a time. Since we've only been playing for a few weeks, we also don't keep score yet, we just count the cards that make it in the middle.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The World of Chapter Books
As my younger daughter is mid-way through Kindergarten, we are growing weary of picture books at bedtime. She struggles a little attending to chapter books without pictures and it's quite challenging to find early chapter books that my older daughter has not read or does not sneak off to finish during her reading time. I also struggle with what would be a good topic and strain to connect with both girls.
About a month ago, I just couldn't take looking for another picture book once more and decided we were going to start with chapter books at bedtime no matter what. The big question was where to start. I had run across Pippi Longstocking at the library and thought why not. I remember seeing the movie of Pippi when I was young and always marveled at her strength and independence. When the day was done, I was thankful for my family, etc.. but who wouldn't have wanted to have all the money they needed to buy candy and have adventures, not go to school and meet all sorts of interesting people all the time! But, I had never read the books that I could remember. I thought Pippi might be great for my girls even if she is a bit rambunctious.
We are in love! I find that there are enough layers to this straight-forward seeming story that we are all enjoying it. My husband and I alternate bedtimes and we're finding we miss the chapters that are read by the other and I often try to backread to catch up! My girls are big fans and Pippi could be enjoyed by boys as well. We laugh together, talk about what's a good idea and what's not, we talk about being nice to people and how sad it would be to not have a family. We were starting the second book before either of them even asked if there was a movie of Pippi! Interestingly, we've also talked about authors, Sweden, how publishers use excerpts in the front to show you part of the book and the table of contents. There are only three published Pippi stories though, so we're getting close to "what next"!!???!!!
Fun Finds
Making a Pippi Costume
Scrubbing Day (on YouTube)
About a month ago, I just couldn't take looking for another picture book once more and decided we were going to start with chapter books at bedtime no matter what. The big question was where to start. I had run across Pippi Longstocking at the library and thought why not. I remember seeing the movie of Pippi when I was young and always marveled at her strength and independence. When the day was done, I was thankful for my family, etc.. but who wouldn't have wanted to have all the money they needed to buy candy and have adventures, not go to school and meet all sorts of interesting people all the time! But, I had never read the books that I could remember. I thought Pippi might be great for my girls even if she is a bit rambunctious.
We are in love! I find that there are enough layers to this straight-forward seeming story that we are all enjoying it. My husband and I alternate bedtimes and we're finding we miss the chapters that are read by the other and I often try to backread to catch up! My girls are big fans and Pippi could be enjoyed by boys as well. We laugh together, talk about what's a good idea and what's not, we talk about being nice to people and how sad it would be to not have a family. We were starting the second book before either of them even asked if there was a movie of Pippi! Interestingly, we've also talked about authors, Sweden, how publishers use excerpts in the front to show you part of the book and the table of contents. There are only three published Pippi stories though, so we're getting close to "what next"!!???!!!
Fun Finds
Making a Pippi Costume
Scrubbing Day (on YouTube)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Fast Food and Literacy
I would love to say that my kids don't eat much fast food, but I'd be a liar - especially this week. My husband is remodeling our kitchen and had to rip everything out and start from scratch basically. He ran into a day and a half of unexpected electrical work, so when the kids and I returned on Friday, still no stove, microwave or sink. ARGH!
Anyway, back to Wendy's. As I said, we eat a lot more fast food than I would like and have enough of those little toys floating around underfoot that I feel I could start my own shop. BUT, I am thrilled with Wendy's right now because instead of adding to our plastic-movie minutia, they are increasing my children's literacy skills. I have to admit, I've been digging Arby's because not only can I find healthier choices often, but the kids meals tend to come with mini-books. This week however when we went to Wendy's we came with two happy kids and two Magic Treehouse books on CD!!!!!! I was thrilled - something I am happy to have and will want to keep. That was one of the best rides home from Wendy's ever and I have two new CD's stocked in the van. Wahoo!!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Pay Day
Had our first "pay-day" for bonus chores this week. My older daughter did quite well and my younger one, who chose to not do bonus chores, not as much. Both were fine, but my older one has now saved up enough to get a webkinz like she wanted and, since they were on sale, she had an extra dollar to get a slush. She was not only excited, she was proud of herself. I was proud too and, for now, am loving this new system at our house.
My younger daughter realized that $3 was not going to get her too far, especially with the things she was looking at plus a slush and I have to admit that my heart broke for her a little when she was disappointed. She is only 5 after all; but, she didn't ask me to buy it for her anyway. That was awesome and very well worth it. She got her slush and put away her extra two dollars for a later day!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Allowance and Chores
I wish I could say that I am organized enough that my kids get an allowance regularly or that we had a set system for how that works (I'm not sure why I wish I could say that, I just know I do), but I can't. Right now though, we seem to have found a system that is working well.
The girls earn $2 a week standard allowance (remember, they are 5 and almost 7 right now). They choose right now if they will save or spend it and when I give them their allowance I put a $ on the calendar so I remember when the last "payday" was. Then, if they would like to earn extra money, I have an envelope of Bonus Chores. Those are each worth different money values (.50 to 2.00) depending on how much I really don't want to have to do them myself. These are things like fold towels, clean up the yard (we have a dog), sweep and dust the basement, straighten shoes/coats in the basement, sweep and dust the playrooms, sort the recyclables...... then the girls added: water the garden, weed the flower beds and empty the compost pail. Any that are just reminders for mom or dad have Mom or Dad written on the slip of paper.
We have a small bulletin board by our computer where I post these and we've worked it out this way: the ones that need to be done ASAP, I tack up and then Dad and I take care of them as needed tool; they may also choose from the envelope and each girl has an envelope on the board. As she completes a chore, she puts the slip of paper in her envelope and on allowance day, we'll go through envelopes to see if they receive any extra. My oldest is saving for a skateboard and a new Webkinz and she seems to love these.
I have thought about it for a while and I think this is because she feels some sense of ownership in the chore because she chooses it herself. She has a great sense of accomplishment when she feels she can earn extra money like mom and dad and she is learning that she doesn't really get money for nothing, or whenever she thinks she "needs" something.
Also, I have not had to clean up dog poop for two weeks and she is excited to do it! We are all loving this and it is manageable for all of us. I see this system being around for a long time!
The girls earn $2 a week standard allowance (remember, they are 5 and almost 7 right now). They choose right now if they will save or spend it and when I give them their allowance I put a $ on the calendar so I remember when the last "payday" was. Then, if they would like to earn extra money, I have an envelope of Bonus Chores. Those are each worth different money values (.50 to 2.00) depending on how much I really don't want to have to do them myself. These are things like fold towels, clean up the yard (we have a dog), sweep and dust the basement, straighten shoes/coats in the basement, sweep and dust the playrooms, sort the recyclables...... then the girls added: water the garden, weed the flower beds and empty the compost pail. Any that are just reminders for mom or dad have Mom or Dad written on the slip of paper.
We have a small bulletin board by our computer where I post these and we've worked it out this way: the ones that need to be done ASAP, I tack up and then Dad and I take care of them as needed tool; they may also choose from the envelope and each girl has an envelope on the board. As she completes a chore, she puts the slip of paper in her envelope and on allowance day, we'll go through envelopes to see if they receive any extra. My oldest is saving for a skateboard and a new Webkinz and she seems to love these.
I have thought about it for a while and I think this is because she feels some sense of ownership in the chore because she chooses it herself. She has a great sense of accomplishment when she feels she can earn extra money like mom and dad and she is learning that she doesn't really get money for nothing, or whenever she thinks she "needs" something.
Also, I have not had to clean up dog poop for two weeks and she is excited to do it! We are all loving this and it is manageable for all of us. I see this system being around for a long time!
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