The Amusing Redhead: October 2009

Saturday, October 31, 2009

overheard

Gillianne to Mom:

"Mom, why can't we have cool lunches like the pother kids at co-op? They have chips and goldfish, and even Salami!"

Friday, October 30, 2009

I should have ended with this picture.

Abby napped during story time after lunch. They lay in sleeping bags and rest.

Today we learned about light and color in physics. We discussed transparent, translucent and opaque. I am so thankful for my helper Lisa. Not every mom is a messy mom like me and frankly, I was I was a little more strict in this way. Anyway, I brought some paints thinking that the kids could paint for 15 minutes. They painted for about 60 seconds and their papers were drenched and I saw a hand going in the paint to make handprints. I had already told them that I will get in big trouble if I send them away from class paint-y. Enter my hero~ Lisa. She asks "Would you like me to take the kids outside to burn off so some energy and you can clean up?" ummmmYES!!! She saved my bacon.

Mrs H did a great job on the solar system! The children made glitter glue representations of the milky way and simulated making craters on the moon.

We missed our preschool teacher today Mrs S, but Miss Brindel stepped in and did a stellar job. I brought the manips Lynne and I made the other night, the kiddos enjoyed them. It was a hairy day personally for me as my voice is still not great and every kid I have 5 and under wanted hang on me, including Sophie in the backpack. All day.

Thankfully my bigs did great. :-) I can only handle so many crises per day and I was at my quota.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Thrilling Thursday

Today was a fun day!

Christian went on a co-op field trip with Pa. They came home tired but excited. The other children did some school work then went outside to rake and play in leaves. We played soccer in the yard. It was warm enough not to need a coat. The acrid smell of burning leaves was i the air. The most exciting part for the kiddos was

MAIL TIME!

My loyal reader, Aunt Rum, sent a package!

She send an adorable girraffe costume for Sophie. You should see the eyelashes on this beauty. She would but Zsa Zsa Gabor to shame. All of the children (except Chen), had to try it on and play with it. Someone is always dressed up around here. Keith never knows what he is coming home to.

*SNACKS!*

There were more treats, a treat for me (!), and some adorable LOAFERS for Sophie.

Do not ask (I say that a lot,for good reason.)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Continuation

* I must edit this post. I realized in my exhausted delirium when I typed this it looks like *I* made all these awesome activities. Alas, it was the talented and sharing Lynne.

The cool acorns in the muffin tin are from the dollar store! They are like those beads for flower arranging and such. Who wants to take a ride to the big one is Saratoga? As if you need more motivation, I think they have chalk decals ;-)

A fun, fall Montessori inspired activity

These are pumpkins strips. The child attaches the correct number of leaves to each strip.

Pretty leaves

phytoplankton pig is at his nailing station

Medium Pig is making marshmallow sculptures

What can I say?

Our Morning

Gillianne and Abby danced to Turkey in the Straw (otherwise know as: Beef, it's what's for dinner song)

The dog was dressed with a monkey~check back tomorrow for more dog costumes.

Christian finished his first dvd for his math! Great job Chen!

Ollie worked on sorting his matchboxes using different sorting rules. We also practiced some math skills with apples. (no, I am not kidding, it's called hands on with manipulatives)

Ollie's math calls for a worksheet after his hands on section. I have a love hate relationship with Saxon math.

Tune in tomorrow for the results of Lynne and my Montessori evening :-)

Monday, October 26, 2009

Check in

Keith and I (with Ollie in tow) had an appointment at 10. The kids and I got in an hour of school beforehand. My dad came over to watch the children while Keith and I were at the closing of our re-fi. My dad is the best. He brings Christian to piano every Friday morning then trucks him another 40 minutes away to our homeschooling co-op. Not only does he physically bring Christian,he pushes Christian to do his best and be his best. He develops clubs for them and doesn't allow any garbage. I was leaving and saw this sweet scene, Pa helping Gilli with her math. He even will change a cloth diaper (shhh don't tell anyone).

Keith and the kids are the lights of my life. Time is just flying by me, I want to soak it in.

Here, Keith is helping me tub the children.

Usually, in case you are looking for a new system, tubs are as follows.

Monday~ boys

Tuesday~girls

Thursday~boys

Friday~girls

Saturday~ everyone

One caveat is that additional tubs are as needed. The best large family bathing idea I ever heard of is courtesy of my friend Alisa. She did "rocket showers". Her children were showered at least one time daily. She lined them up and each one hopped in, she washed their hair and cleaned them up. I am not sure how she worked the modesty issue except I am sure there were no breeches :-) Well there you have it, inspiration for your day and hygiene ideas.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Sunday

Today after lunch and church my mom and I took the children to visit Mrs O at the nursing home. It was a great visit. Mrs O was chipper as ever although she is still frustrated that she isn't at home with her dog Noir.

Our next stop was the carousel in Saratoga. My mom used to ride the same carousel as a little girl when it was a Kaydeross Park.

The pictures say it all.

Afterward we got a huge jug of water from the springs at SPAC (someone told me diabetes is caused by chlorine in drinking water, no comments please :-) and returned to church for evening service. It is such an intimate time together. I appreciated the message which was about *not worrying*. :-)

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Snack Party

When you are a kids, one of the few positives of having diabetes is that your mom or dad tests your blood glucose in the middle of the night and if it is low you get to wake up and have a snack. For mom and dad this is very scary and we have to retest every 15 minutes until the blood sugar is high enough. One night Oliver was low enough that he was belligerent and wouldn't eat anything, even candy. Thankfully tonight it is just borderline low. Christian was also able to partake in the snack tonight :-)

Thank you to all my dear friends, I love you all