We started school last week and began a Letter of the Week type curriculum.  I am pulling from all kinds of blogs for inspiration as I mentioned before, and so far it is working pretty well.  My only frustration is not having a color printer, but maybe once I have my garage sale there will be funds for a good printer.  Anyway, Micah woke up Monday morning and came to our bed to inform me he was ready for school.  It was bright and early!   Let’s just say he was eager to get started (and has asked for school every day since).  We don’t have too many pictures this week because I loaned out my camera for some vacationers to Hawaii…couldn’t allow them to go there without a camera!!   We started out introducing what the letter Aa looks like and how to write it (though that is a skill we will be working on for a while!).  I gave him coloring sheets of ants, too.  We read about ants, looked at ants on the internet, and even watched a few ant related movies during the week.  I had the book Ant Bully in my collection, so we read that and then looked up the movie in our Netflix on Wii.  I must say that has been a treat…just to wander off course for a second.  We have the cheapest lowest cable package (basically just local channels, ESPN, Discovery and USA), so Jonathan found out about the Netfilix on Wii.  Now we pay for a the cheapest package with them and can watch so many things instantly or have a dvd sent to us.  Not everything is instant, but we have found plenty to keep us entertained.  In fact, through the summer we have watched nearly all the seasons of Meerkat Manor.    Anyway, I said all that to say we found the movie Ant Bully that is based on the book.   Micah thought is was very cool to compare the two.  We chose books from the library to read at bedtime that were either ant or alphabet related.  We also made fingerprint ant and had “ants on a log” dessert for dinner one night.  He loved all the fun!

telling me that the red ants STING!

On top of all that Aa and ant stuff, we practiced some cutting with scissors, shape recognition, and number matching (items with actual number matching).  We also did some pattern recognition things in one of the workbooks we have.  He is very good at it, but doesn’t like the time it takes to actually color things to match.  In fact, he really isn’t too interested in coloring at all.  He will do it, but he is done very quickly and with little effort.  I have found that if I let him use markers, he will stick to it a little longer.

LIFE SCHOOL

We went outside one afternoon for a little fun and had popsicles (an uncommon treat at our house).  Heidi wasn’t going to have one until she sort of stole Mommy’s.  Oh, the things you allow a second child to do!

Heidi thought the potatoes were good entertainment while Mommy cooked dinner.

As for curriculum, we are not doing any one specific program.  I am doing a little bit of the following:

Confessions of a Homeschooler‘s Letter of the Week ideas

Carissa at 1+1+1=1 has some great ideas for pre-school and I am starting “Tot School” with Heidi (just being intentional about exploring new things and playing).  She is one of my favorites!

Totally Tots

Getting great ideas to use from Homeschool Creations

I know there are other websites I will visit and find along the way with lots of ideas and inspiration.  It will be challenging for me in the beginning because all my teaching experience is 3rd-5th grades.  Anyway,  we are also using Kumon workbooks we have gotten over time and he loves them.  I have picked up a few other little workbooks  that focus on colors, shapes and other skills.

Some other books and things I will be using as we get into it:

Bright Beginnings – we will probably wait at least until we have finished our letter of the week routine before beginning this

Big Truths for Little Kids

My ABC Bible Verses

Slow and Steady Get Me Ready – a book that has simple activities to do with your child birth to age 5 that are developmental skills

My sister-in-law is my go-to person for advice and experience of good stuff for this age group and I have been picking her brain lately about stuff she has used.  After looking at some of her things a few weeks ago,  I am probably going to get What Your Preschooler Needs to Know Activity Book.

I think that will be plenty!   We are also going to be more intentional about family worship time.  I am getting lots of ideas gathered for this and hope to share later.  Daddy loves playing music for us and all of us singing together.  That will always be an important part around here.  Micah connects so well to music (how did that happen?!) and can share the gospel by singing the Gospel Fuzzies song he learned in Bible School this summer and he cannot wait for Mrs. Jennifer to start back with preschool choir very soon.

This mommy did what she always does and tried to do more than necessary to make it the best birthday party ever…yes, I know that Heidi will not remember a thing!  Anyway, the perfectionist in me had so many ideas she needed to try.  Amazingly, I got most everything done (with loving help from family members!) and the party was wonderful even if I didn’t sit down long enough to finish  piece of cake.

I decided on a vintage birdie theme.  I just love the look of embroidered pillowcases, so I found a few to work into the theme.  I ended up making dresses for Heidi and her cousins, Saylor and Emma Kate.  I also made ruffle pants (ugh, the trouble I had with those…pattern issues!).  They were so cute!  I taught myself how to embroider just so I could make Heidi a birdie bib.  I loved learning and it went so much faster than I expected!  The bib turned out so cute…and free!  I already had all the materials.

We had the party in Little Rock to make it easier (and even possible) for all our family to attend.  Because we would be traveling and such, I decided to buy a cake to save time and struggles.  Unfortunately, the quote and responses I got convinced me that I would have to make the cake!  EEK!  Now, I normally make all the birthday cakes, but this traveling part made it stressful, but it all worked out in the end.  I also made little bird mints and birdie lollipops with candy melts.  I got cookies from a local bakery and made cupcakes as well.  I was going for a dessert bar feel and I think it turned out great.

For a few extra details, I got cheap birdhouses at Michael’s and painted them and put them on the tables with embroidered pillowcases.  We also had a little craft table for the kids.  We made pompom birdies and feather masks.  I think the kids enjoyed it. 

Heidi enjoyed her cupcake even if it took her a bit to figure out how to approach it.  She had fun seeing all of her family and playing with all her little goodies.  She gave each of the kids a goody bag with a paint-your-own birdhouse (on clearance at Michael’s), bird silly bands, and handmade gummy worm treats.

I think everything went well.  My only regret is the same as at any party…there’s never enough time to just visit with family that we don’t see very often.  I wish we had time to just sit for more than a couple of hours and just enjoy each other’s company.

For my Heidi girl, you are growing up so fast!  This year has gone by faster than any other and I get teary just thinking about how much you are doing already.  You can wave and say “Hi” and “Bye-Bye”, call for Daddy, BaBa (Micah), and Mama, growl like a bear and tell us about the doggies, you can sign for more and kitty, give love and kisses and blow a kiss, clap and high-five, scrunch your nose in a silly face, nod yes and no, crawl and pull up, dance when you hear music (and even sing a little), point and say, “Ooh” which we think means look ,try to make a one with your fingers, and melt our heart with your smiles, growls, and silly giggles.  We are so proud of you and pray that God would continue to bless you and protect you.  We pray that you continue to grow into a beautiful (inside and out) young lady who yearns for God and His love.  We love you, little bird!

Ten years ago today,  I married my sweet husband. I got up that morning sort of floating on a cloud.  Ok, that sentence might make you laugh, but I was certainly oblivious to the world around me.  You see, I am a planner… an ‘everything must be perfect and just right’  kind of planner.  I fret over details and panic over the minorest of issues.  But, on the day of my wedding there were so many things going on around me that sort of just seemed like no big deal for me.  That is big for me!  It rained all morning and the church began to leak!  I didn’t seem to care.  There was a breakfast and lunch to be eaten, but I kind of forgot. (I had to have a reception food snack brought to me before I passed out!)   I had no sense of time.

By afternoon, it stopped raining and we had pictures made outside by the beautiful gazebo.  But, before that, I met my future husband in the church chapel.  Evidently, he was a little more panicky.  I was running late, and he had heard I was a bit sick (from not eating).  This made him a little on edge, but the minute we met in the chapel all that went away.  We were so excited for the day ahead (and years to follow).

These past ten years have not been without their troubles,worries, and obstacles, but we have done it all together.  I have loved all that we have experienced (good and bad) together.  We have learned so much about each other.

I have enjoyed watching Jonathan become a Daddy, too.  There is nothing like watching your spouse and his children find pure joy in one another.  It melts a Mommy’s heart.  We are truly blessed with wonderful children.    I look forward to the next ten years (and more).

For our anniversary, my sweet husband will be taking me to Germany.  We went together to Germany during our second year of marriage on a quick little ‘backpacking-train hopping’ tour.  We hope to do some of that again and try to travel light.  For various reasons, we will be going in November, and I can’t wait.  We both have a love for Germany.  We both have a minor in German (though I think we are VERY rusty) and my ancestry comes from there (could you guess that with a name like Schmeckenbecher??).  It is such a beautiful place, and we both enjoy traveling so much and seeing new places.

pictures from our last trip to Germany and Austria

We stopped off at Opa’s on the way and on the way back home to break up the long drive…

Then, a few days later we went to visit Grammy in Oklahoma.  She is building a pond, so when we arrived we went to the pet store for Micah to help pick out some fish.  During our visit, we got Heidi’s ears pierced.  I was about her age when mine were pierced.  :)  Uncle Chris and Aunt Lesley came to visit, too, and we ate lots of yummy food made by Grammy and Uncle Chris.

After that, we were home for a week and a half before heading to Mimi and Da’s house in Arkansas.  We went for the Armadillo Festival.  We (Jonathan’s mom, Erin (sis-in-law) and I) were singing our little trio at a luncheon.  :)

a nursing cover for a friend (and a matching taggie blanket that somehow didn’t get photographed)

first attempt at a pillowcase dress (had to be taken apart later and reworked!) and Prudent Baby flower hairclip

another pillowcase dress with Daddy and Micah’s favorite fruit  :)

matching sister dresses for a family that handed down so many things for Heidi

Taggie blanket- gift for Baby Kate

taggie blanket for Miss Heidi, she loves it so much (BTW-this fabric is a favorite and discontinued and I can’t find a scrap of it, which makes me very sad because I only had this little piece for her blanket-Feathered Friends by Wendy Slotboom)

a onesie dress with a yoyo flower (tutorial by Prudent Baby-they are the best!)

Heidi’s Easter Dress – very easy until the buttonhole issues…every practice and scrap piece made beautiful buttonholes, but every time I would get going on the actual dress, it would jam up and make a mess.  I pulled it out I don’t know how many times, but if I had to pull one more out, I would have had to remake the dress.  Yep, that bad!  Let’s just say this, I didn’t have the cut the hole too much after the last stitching…the hole was nearly there already.  :(

To be continued……

Time is going way too fast for this mommy!  My baby bird, Heidi, is nine months old today.  It does not seem right that she is that old.  She is growing and learning so fast.  She can now crawl on her knees and sit up for a break before heading out for more fun.  She loves playing with little toys and things.  She loves all the blocks from her shape sorter that big brother handed down to her, but she is more excited by the empty spools mixed in.   She may be getting ready for sewing lessons soon. 

She has said her first word (by our way of thinking).  Daddy may be disappointed, but BaBa is Micah’s name from her, and she says it anytime she wants his attention.  VERY CUTE!

She doesn’t have any teeth (just like her brother),  so we are taking it somewhat slow with finger foods, but she is a very good eater.

Heidi’s silly face

She likes to get our attention with her little snorting face.  She’s  funny and cute and smart…ok, maybe I’m overdoing it!   Anyway, we love her so much, and we are thankful to God for blessing us with her.  We love you, little birdie!

Check out this youtube video!  Thanks for posting it, Amy!

Money Saving/Bargains

These sites often post very similar things,but they are easy to skim through and find some really good deals!

http://freebies4mom.blogspot.com – Freebies 4 Mom

http://moneysavingmom.com – Money Saving Mom

http://likemerchantships.org – Like Merchant Ships – More of ideas to make the most of frugal finds.

http://www.couponing101.com - Couponing 101

http://kingdomfirstmom.com – Keeping the Kingdom First (from DFW area)

http://organicdeals.blogspot.com – Organic Deals and Coupons

http://www.survivingthestores.com – Surviving The Stores  (from DFW Area)

Crafty Places

http://www.skiptomylou.org – Skip to My Lou Love this place…lots of ideas, tutorials and links to other great places

http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com – Pink and Green Mama – great ideas

http://needleinahaystackstitchery.blogspot.com – Needle in a Haystack – Embroidery patterns and ideas..now, if only I would learn!

http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com – Little Birdie Secrets – lots of tutorials for all kinds of different things

http://sassypriscilla.typepad.com – Sassy Priscilla’s Craft and Life Journal – If you can ignore her great obsession with Daniel Craig, you can find some neat ideas.

http://www.lollychops.com – Lollychops – has wonderful ideas AND lots of downloadable things for doing it yourself!

http://www.thenester.com – Nesting Place – The Nester has great ideas for home decor and making what you already have work!

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com – Grosgrain – I will NEVER be able to sew like her, but I love seeing her work and draw inspiration and ideas from her.

http://www.graceviolet.com – Grace Violet – brilliant tutorials and ideas!

http://www.prudentbaby.com – Prudent Baby – I LOVE this place!   It has all kinds of tutorials and ideas for all things baby ( and little ones too).

http://allsorts.typepad.com – Allsorts – a children’s artist who has a love for all things turquoise and red. 

Food

http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen-blog – Tasty Kitchen Blog -One word…yummy!

http://www.bakerella.com – Bakerella – Famous for her cake pops… always has such beautiful, fun, and tasty ideas!

http://www.mysweetandsaucy.com – My Sweet and Saucy – has beautiful cakes and treats and just opened her own store.

http://foodwithkidappeal.blogspot.com – Food with Kid Appeal – lots of encouragement for my picky eater.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking – Pioneer Woman’s Cooking Page – Everything looks so yummy and her cookbook is awesome.

http://www.cakejournal.com – Cake journal – for so many cake making ideas and tutorials.

Homeschooling Ideas

http://totallytots.blogspot.com – Totally Tots

http://prekinders.com – PreKinders

http://mymontessorijourney.typepad.com – My Montessori Journey

http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com – 1+1+1=1

http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com – Homeschool Creations

http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com – Confessions of a Homeschooler

Moms and Things I can Relate to

http://thehomespunheart.blogspot.com – The Homespun Heart

http://momadvice.com/blog – The Motherload

http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com – Rocks in my Dryer -The day I told Jonathan about this blog he laughed…he loved the title!

http://www.thepioneerwoman.com – Mentioned before for her cooking, but this whole blog is great…she has one on photography, homeschooling, home and garden…she has even written her romance with her husband as a multi-part novel on the site… she is too much!

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com – Passionate Homemaking

http://www.musesofmegret.com – Muses of Megret

Family and Friends

http://buffaloesandbutterflywings.blogspot.com – Buffaloes and Butterfly Wings – college friend Amy and mother to three cute little boys

http://jsnowcarpenter.com – Jonathan Snow Carpenter – my sweet hubby who never posts!  In his defense, he is constantly writing (music, that is!).

http://quirkybee.blogspot.com – Smart, witty friend Denyse  

http://hyattplace.blogspot.com – Elizabeth-she happens to be volunteering in am orphanage in Peru right now- I think that is pretty awesome!

http://pattiesmommydaze.wordpress.com – friend Pattie (met in Colorado) who lives in Kansas with a husband much like mine, two beautiful girls and a big, lovable dog, Kortot. 

http://davidsonden.blogspot.com – my sister-in-law, Lori, who is my go to for all things kiddo these days!! I love her!!!  Oh, and she spends her days caring for three of my nephews and one of my nieces.

http://shepherd03.blogspot.com – Paige has the cutest two little girls and is such a sweet person!!

http://agreaterhand.blogspot.com – I met Jenny through Lori.  We get to see each other at the family birthday parties.    She has three really sweet kiddos!

http://reflectionsjen.blogspot.com – If anyone knows my childhood circumstances, then this might make a little more sense.  This is Jennifer, my step-sister from my mom’s second marriage.  We recently reconnected by way of the wonderful world of facebook.  She has two beautiful girls whom she homeschools.

Other random places

http://withoutwax.tv – Without Wax- Pete Wilson (pastor in Nashville)

http://thebabygardner.com/blog The Baby Gardner’s Baby Bloggie- for all things vintage baby related..neat stuff

Well, there you have it.  Believe it or not, I left out a few that haven’t been posting lately.  I enjoy reading or skimming these every day or two.     Maybe you will find something interesting in some of them.  And don’t forget to give me any recommendations, if you know of one I might enjoy. 

Of course, it fits right in with all the other weeds and overgrown things in our yard!