Just in Time for the Weekend

Day J: Jackrabbits, "Jalapeño Hal", Jigglers and Jerkey! 

Today is a full schedule because we friends in from out of town and new babies to go visit, not to mention it's Finally Friday! Woohoo!!!

We colored our Jackrabbits, which can jump 10-feet per leap at 40-miles per hour! Woo! And much like my children, baby jackrabbits can run from birth! 

Pink...not a hare I've ever seen in nature, but...I'm not squelching this creative bug...it's summer! I'm learning to loosen up apparently!

Can you believe I even said the kids can climb the door frames as long as they don't hurt themselves?! Who AM I?! ;).  Well daddy is apparently teaching them some crazy parcore excercises, so if I'll have kids that can do some crazy stuff, climbing door frames seems pretty tame! 

We made Jello Jigglers in Madagascar character shapes, and I even made a special one for the hubby! 

My son finished up his reading quota for the week (and then some, awesome kid). He read "Slam! A Tale of Consequences", "Jalapeño Hal", and "Joseph Had a Little Jacket" to his sisters, then read three chapters in his newest chapter book, "Unstoppable-Nowhere to Run". It's the first book in The 39 Clues series, which is like an action, mystery type junior fiction book...my little boy is apparently getting too big for all these silly "kids" stories...sniff, sniff. I knew he needed some more advanced books, but I'm not ready for him to grow up so fast! Slow down dude!!

After some Jerkey, the girls are forced to jail time...I mean nap time (though you'd think it was jail by their reactions) since we have evening plans and don't want cranky jerks! (Just stick in' with the "j" theme there...don't go getting all offended I would dare call my kids names...it's a blog for Pete's sake!) 

Hmmm.... I seem to have gotten lost...

Oh JOKES! Right, so a priest and a rabbi walk into a bar...

Just kidding! My son has a favorite joke he tells EVERY single time...courtesy of the Krat Brothers 2010:

Knock, knock.

(Who's there?)

Panther

(Panther who?)

Panther no Panth, I'm going swimming!! (Say it out loud if it doesn't make since)

Well that about does it. I've got lots of Junk to accomplish, so Just gonna wrap the Journal entry up and wish you a Jubilant Weekend! ;)

I Scream, You Scream...shhhhh Nope, Not Ice Cream

Day I: Iguanas, "I'd Rather Have an Iguana", Icees

Alrighty! This boy was reading after breakfast without being asked! We haven't had TV (post breakfast) in 3 days!! I'm going a little crazy, but I didn't want to have the kids just sitting on their booties all summer doing nothin'! I'm so proud that he didn't ask and just went straight for books!

So today is a trip to the library for a restock on books...shhhhh

Last trip was shortened by bitty tantrums, but this time went much more smoothly, thank heavens! I was so impressed I even let them have some computer game time (nice little set up here with all kids games!). They also had sign ups for summer reading, so the kids all signed and got a free book bag!

Ice cream on a hot day seems nice, but after such a fun library day, I thought Icees were appropriate!

 They agreed...big hit!

Oh my goodness, J was reading and the girls bailed after a few pages to play with their new bags (girls and their accessories!) so I look up and see this...

Little brother listening intently as big brother reads!! Man I love these kids!

 

Filling out our "I" day, are the incredible, indestructible roses in my yard....we didn't water them at all last year after moving in, this is one month of watering:

They are trying to get in the window!! 

Incredible!

Handsome, Heart warming Team "H"

Day H: Horse, "To Dig a Hole", Honeydew

We are more than just family, we are a team! Learning that together we have different strengths that make the team strong, even when we squabble. When I need the groups attention out and about the town I holler out our family name and we rally together, "come on team 'H'!" The kids seam to like it, though I was never in any real team sports...marching band? Tennis...the team game of one at a time...man that was boring! But now I built my own team...literally, and man we are FUN!

I also love fruite days, we can snack on fruit all day and I don't feel bad!

Honeydew!

We did lots of arts and crafts with horses...

And houses...

This is one my Handsome little boy can participate in!

And of course my heart warming lovey doves!

G Golly Game Day!

Day G: Giraff, Grizzly Dad, Grapes

Finding activities that go with a letter is proving exhausting! 

Today we of course, colored our giraffe photos.

We read several books including "Grizzly Dad", completing her second day of reading for this week. We definitely going to need more than two books per day for these kids, my son is reading so well already. The few chapter books we have are helping fill the time, but even those he's getting through more and more quickly. This is one proud mama bear!

Had a special treat of grapes with our lunch

And we played several games, naturally!

And sticking with our G theme we also made a giraffe growth chart, that's something I've wanted to make for a long time, so I'm excited that it turned out so well. (Now I just need to laminate it before it gets wretched!!)

Is really starting to get hot outside in the swimming pools open dozens yesterday, so perhaps will trying get somebody to help out and go to the swimming pool with us sometime this week that'll be a lovely surprise.

Freedom, the most important lesson this summer

Freedom: I'm reading through the Zion Covenant series by Bodie & Brock Thoene. This series follows a blond hair blue eyes young Jewish musician trying to make a difference as the world is falling apart around her in 1930's Germany. As I read this book, being reminded of the cunning and evil of Hitler and his plans for his country, I have been shocked to hear lines from my book, written in 1989 about 1937, literally quotes, coming from my husbands mouth describing the events happening today in Russia. I place must trust in God as I read the events in my book, written by a historian, coming to life on the news in 2014. Today, with all of this looming on the horizon I am thankful! Thankful for the freedom I grew up with, a freedom that is protected by soldiers who risk life and limb so their friends and family will continue to be free. This Memorial Day, as I pray for wars that may not come, and wars raging far away, nearly out of mind, I am thankful for all our servicing men and women, and those who have sacrificed to give us the freedoms we so easily take for granted in this country. Thank you!

Day F: frogs, "the Fox and the Egg", fig newtons and FREEDOM

Crazy trying to maintain school when dad is home for a holiday, but we did. Not that this little project is school per say, but yeah. Colored our frog pictures while learning all about metamorphosis, set the timer and got in well over 30 minutes of reading and had Fig newtons with lunch. Overall, a good day!

Egg-zactly What We Needed

Day E: Elephant, "Little Elepant Runs Away", Eggs

Egg-selent day for some rest! Slightly overcast breaking the heat we have been enjoying...in a love/hate kinda way ;)

J was super egg-sited to finish his first week on his Summer Reading Challenge, and seems proud that he is earning books all by himself (through his generous pledge sponsors). Hopefully this will begin Instilling some understanding of the value of things and he will see why we want things properly cared for. It's hard work for a six year old to sit still for thirty minutes straight, you know?!

Today we got through several books again, and he hit the chapter books. I love listening to him read right now, as he is basically toothless, having lost 5 teeth, three in the last two weeks.

So adorable, and so fleeting, these days of transition from a little kid into a little guy. Next thing I know he will be too old to snuggle, so I'm cherishing every moment I can!

Ok, 'nough sappiness! 

We boiled Eggs (if you hadn't caught all those prior egg references)

And painted them, before eating them.

Cause, you know...why not?

Self portrait?!

We also had our Elephant coloring pages.

Did you know elephants carry their babies for 22months?! And you think we are miserable at week 38...yikes! Talk about EGG-hausting! (Lol...just can't help myself!)

I made this cute little Ear video...not sure if it will work, but here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRa3BnlB1Vs

Such dorks we be!

Now we sit listening to the thunder rolling through the desert behind our home...EERIE!

Hopefully the sun comes back by Sunday.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Delicious...and Destructive!

Day D: Ducks, Danny and the Dinosaur, Donuts...mmmmm

Ok, no way this is healthy, but coffee (for mom) and donuts is just what I needed today!

We did our coloring and fun all morning...

And taught some Drawing tips...sort of,

until we figured out another d word...disobey! Oy! 

Now the kids were a pain, which happens, we all have a bad day, but the DOG!

He Dug a hole, Destroyed the fence and Decimated our Decorations! Seriously, pulled out and ate two fence boards to allow for an escape, totally crushed two of our sidewalk lights, hid one of our plants that was next to the front door, (pot and all!), then he also caught what I can only assume is a peace offering...tiny dead rodent in front of the back door...blach!

We did get in our reading, with a Danny and the Dinosaur Tresury with three stories, then some "You Read to Me, I'll pRead to You" stories. Now those are fun! Color coded turn based reading, I'm excited as they keep the kids glued to the page waiting for the next color's turn...pretty darned cool.

Now D day is Done...praise The Lord! Let's hope there are no other destructive alphabet letters!

From Costumes to Chores

Day C: Camels, "the Case of the incapacitated Capitals", Cucumbers

"C" day means costumes

climbing at the park

and crunchy cucumber snacks!

I'm wasn't sure how to incorporate it at first, but it also means "chores"

Lucky for me I didn't have to wait for "F" day for assistance folding laundry!

Now off to Church for dinner!

J has technically finished ten of his books in his reading adventure in order to meet the 30min minimum...thus the need for something more challenging ;) He is reading a book to the girls each afternoon, a book before bed, and a chapter or two in his chapter books...my big six year old!!

Broken window is my B Day FUN! Boom!

Day B: Bee, Books (My Brother Burt), Banana Splits

Today took some preparation since my car window decided not to work anymore...while in the down position, sigh. So, thanks to YouTube I researched how to take the door apart and blocked up my very first window! Yeah me!

It took a long time and some of the bracket clips broke (ugh) but I did it! And since it's the motor and not the regulator I got it to stick in the up position! Boom Baby!

Now off to the library for Books! I mean what better focus for B day during a reading challenge summer?!

J did a reading story corner at the library, my big boy! Definitely earned his reading quota today!

**if you want to be a sponsor for the summer reach for the stars reading challenge, please comment below with your per half-hour or 30-day pledge**

Everyone expected beans or bananas for B day food, but momma wanted a fun summer treat, so we had our first Banana Splits! 

Now that is one exciting B day!

Summer Break...What to Do...

One minute I'm the mother of one sweet little boy, the next minute I'm six years older and holding my 4th baby in my arms, now the mother of two beautiful little girls and two bookend boys.

As a homeschool mother we try to maintain a learning environment, even on our "summer break", which is maybe 6-8weeks this year. Well today is the first day of break so we are starting a summer reading challenge/fundraiser for more books and maybe to help with extra curriculars like the science camp and such. As my oldest grows in his reading skill we find that he is just far to advanced for the books we have for him, even chapter books we just bought at Christmas for his "age group", so he is going to "learn to earn" more reading materials for the coming year! My six year old is reading to his sisters for 30mins per day, and after 30 days we are hoping to have earned at least $100 for books! 

Now that we are off and running, we need to keep things going for the rest of the family as well. I therefore have initiated our ABC Summer program in which we have a daily letter that we study a Animal of that letter, Book staring the letter and Cook something related to the letter. 

 DAY 1: Ardvark, Animal Blocks Alphabet, Applesauce

Summer Reading Challenge

Reach for the Stars: Summer Reading Challenge

Our Homeschool and general story time books need a revamp...we are reading the same books weave owned since our six year old was born! So this summer the older two are doing a "learn and earn" reading challenge and are asking for your support.

My oldest will be reading to the kids for 30-min per day, while my 4-year old follows along seeing all her letters being put to their proper use forming words! They will be coloring in one book per half hour of reading on their reading logs.

Please consider pledging $.25-$1.00 per 30-minutes of reading over the next six weeks, or pledge a one time amount. 

All monies earned will go directly to the purchase of books for the kids, as well as any left over being applied towards tuition for homeschool science camp for both of the school age kids.

Contact me below or via email or google sheets form if you have already been personally invited.

Thank you so much for your support, and check back here over the next six-weeks as we go through our summer adventure, one day at a time!