What's Up

Jenny was distracted today and I said:

Jenny you are not usually distracted, what's up.

She said:
"Clouds".

Now she wasn't being fresh because she said it, in a sweet way.  I guess she thought she was just answering my question. 

I need to find some other ways for her to practice her name writing.  She is getting bored with the usual.  So, I need to break it up.

Today we are working on several things and she is a bit distracted.  I think I will take her for a Fall walk once she finishes this worksheet to help her focus. 

Nothing says I have to do things a certain way.  I can be flexible and tailor her day to her needs.  Since we haven't done as much PreK lately she just may need to get back into the routine. 

I am surprised how much she has picked up with what we have and haven't done.  All of a sudden she is really getting the phonics concept and beginning sounds.  We are going to work on it some more, but she really is getting it.  Now if I can just be consistent well...more consistently.

So now I think we will take a walk and see those clouds that are indeed UP.

Trying to come up with some idea for PreK this week.

I think we will bake some and maybe go on a "field trip".  I want to do a fall based theme.  I also want to focus on phonics, counting, writing and recognizing some site words.  I plan to get some contact paper and laminate some stuff I have to make it more durable. 

We have lots of leaves in our yard so we will probably do some leaf crunching..LOL.  I need to make sure she gets outside every day.  I am going to go to the dollar tree and see if we can find some more things to add to our preK stash.

We are going to do lots of reading. 

I think I also want to do a "photo" book of her day and then us make a story called Jenny goes to PreK.
We will take the photos and then write what is happening and make a story of her whole day.

Just some ideas I am kicking around.

Time

Time is so fleeting.  It gets away from me so quickly.  I have so many intentions to get A, B, or C done and it doesn't.  I am working on a more concise schedule but it fails my brain to figure out how to get it done.  There are things that MUST be done each day.  So there are other things that fall by the way side.  Balance is hard to find.  I refuse to get discouraged. 

I must find more time to watch and pray. 
Time to with my kids, just play.
Time to let my husband know how much he means to me
Time to smell the flowers and watch a bumble bee
Time is hurrying by
and I just stand aksing why.
Oh Lord, let me always have time for You
and to think about what it is you want me to do.
Help me bring you glory each day
and never ever forget to pray.
(copyright Thelma S. 2010)

Life....has a way of changing your plans

Especially for keeping up in blog land.  I am trying though.

Jenny fell down the stairs on Friday night.  She hit her head and her left shoulder and arm.  She was acting dazed and would not move her arm at all.  We had our first visit to the ER in Chattanooga.  We had not been to an ER since well I think...November 2009!  Good thing is...prayer works.  Her arm is not broken..just a severely bruised shoulder..into the muscle.  And NO concussion...Praise the LORD!

I am have not done as well with getting PreK done every day as I would like.  She has been tired due to many things and so have I.  We will get the hang of this.

She has learned a lot already.  I just need to learn to work my schedule and not let my schedule work me.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed and feel like I am doing her a disservice.  However, deep down I know that isn't true.  She is learning stuff and I don't need or have to compare her to other children and what they can do.  But that competitive mommy wants to rise up and get her ahead of where she is right now.  But she is right where she needs to be.  She is bright and happy and knows so much.  Now if only Mommy can settle down and just let fun and learning happen.  She has no idea that I have been stressed out about what she can and can't do yet...LOL.  Thankfully, I haven't passed that on to her.  But I need to chill out before it does. 

God will bless what I am doing.  I just have to get competitive, want to do it all perfect Mommy out of the way.  I can't do everything perfect.  I am just me.  She can learn from just me and do great, when I relax.

So this week I am going to tweak the schedule a bit and figure out a better way to do things.  My prayer is that God will help me focus on what is important and let go of the things that are just mere fluff in comparison.

Honestly.....I have not forgotten blog land

Life is crazy busy.  I guess I didn't realize how busy I would get after school and homeschool PreK started.  Add in the ever abundant allergies I am suffering since moving here and the benadryl stupor and you have a recipe for neglecting the blog.  So my dear blog friends...I am making an attempt to make a come back.  I really would like to blog Jenny's PreK experience if I can just be disciplined enough to get it all done.

Oh and less we forget the laundry monster has camped out at my house and I am perpetually behind on laundry.  Add in the ever present need to keep the house in order and I feel like there is not enough of me to go around.  Then and only then do I see a possible use for cloning (no I do not believe in cloning) in having an extra me to go around at times.

The kids are doing great!  Christopher is in the BEST health he has ever been in his LIFE!  We believe he has had a healing and at a recent allergy test there was a significant change in his asthma and allergies.  We just gotta get the blood tests to back that up.  WHEN he can be free from the dreaded allergies we are going to have a party.  We are going to have pizza, ice cream and cake.  Oh that will be a wonderful day; when I shout it from the mountain tops that our son is HEALED!  His asthma is almost non existent!  I am in awe of what God is doing in his body!

The girls are doing great.  Hannah loves first grade and has quite a gaggle of giggly girls and boys she talks about daily.  She reads like no body's business!  She is a good girl too.....and well.......because of genetics along with nurture.......a chatter box.  Not that I would KNOW where she received the chatty Cathy gene..LOL. 

Jenny is blossoming.  She talks non stop as well.  She comes up with stuff that blows my mind.  Right now her favorite super heroes and she will tell you are: God the Father, Jesus and God the Holy Spirit.  Said in the adorable way PreK kids have of making r's into w's and other common missteps in pronunciation. 

Mom, do you have to take so many pictures. Taken early one summer morning after we first got up.

In any case......let's just say I am back.  I am going to purpose to make 1 post a week but try for 1 per day.  Let's just see what happens from here.

2nd day of PreK and Terror from the afternoon on the 1st day of school

Yesterday we had our 2nd day of PreK.  It wasn't as much as the first day because we had ladies Bible Study and I took Jenny with me.  I hadn't called ahead for babysitting because of many reasons.  Anyway, I took some preK pages with us and her coloring book.  She did awesome, she colored, she listened, colored some more.  And I know the word of God was getting into her spirit whether or not she understands or not.  When everyone was praying with one another she was there, laying her little hands on people and praying with them too. It was PRECIOUS!

We came home had lunch and a nap. 

On the first day of school, Jenny and I walked down to the bust stop.
The bus was due to arrive at 3:18 then I was told by someone driving by it doesn't come until 3:30 after I was getting slightly worried. At 3:34 I began to worry again. At 3:40 I called my husband and he called the school..."oh the bus is late" says the school. Uh yeah..really late. at 3:45 still no kids. I was scared spit less. At 3:50 as I was picking up my cell to call the school and 911 and God and everyone I could think of the neighbor's mother (mil) not sure whom the kids and I have both med pulls up and says I have your kids the bus dropped them off on the wrong street!

Anger, fear, anger does not begin to describe it!

My son TOLD the bus driver his address and the man's response I don't have you on my list just have a SEAT! then Christopher seeing the name of our subdivision NOT knowing there are two different streets that enter it said I think this is it.

The driver did NOT check it against the address MY SON gave him and dropped them OFF!I was so angry I could not see straight. I was just shy of hysterical only keeping it together because Jenny was freaking OUT!  My kids were so brave and Christopher did the right thing.   I thought my babies were GONE!  I have not known such fear in my life. I thought someone had taken my babies!   Thank God HE and HE alone protected my precious children!

I called the school on Thursday morning after meeting the bus driver and introducing him to our children.  And letting him know where to drop them.  I kept my Christian witness through HIS strength alone.  I also called the school and reported it.  Yesterday afternoon they were dropped in the correct place.

Trust at a time like that isn't that you do not trust God but that you don't know where or who has your children.  You do know God has promised to protect.  However, you have heard countless news stories of kids taken walking home from school.  So yeah...I knew God was on my side but in those moments fear ruled and I barely kept myself calm for the sake of Jenny. God is good all the time!

Home school Preschool...started today

My new adventure is to homeschool Preschool Jenny since we could not get her in voluntary PreK.  We are so excited, Jenny and I.  Settling in the house in coming along and life is getting to a new normal.

Here is what we have done so far today:

PreK this morning:

Jenny and I took kids to school, stopped to have outside playtime at the park. Had snack--counted 10 animal crackers to go with raisins, name writing practice. Now we are going to match alphabet letters to our alphabet train I have spread on the floor.


She is matching pictures from a memory game that are the same..instead of using it as the traditional memory game. Then she is going to cut pieces of red paper to glue on an apple for a back to school project.

Then she is going to play on the swing set for a bit and we are going to go on a hunt for stuff that is yellow in the yard to see if we can find things to make a collage with.