Madeline - FIAR CO-OP & Lapbook

As part of our homeschooling curriculum this year, the kids and I are working through Five In A Row Volume 1.  To begin, we chose to read Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans. The concept of FIAR is to read the book five days in a row completing cross-curricular activities each day.  Throughout the week the kids learned about summetry, the digestive system, good health habits, Paris, France, and elements of art.

Through the local M-I-N-D homeschool group, I have linked up with other families in a FIAR Co-op.  We will meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month to complete some group activities based on the selected book.  Today, we got together to meet and greet and spend some time reviewing Madeline.  Overall, my kiddos did well and enjoyed the new experience.  We are looking forward to getting to know the other participants better throughout the year.

Jeremiah & Caleb showing off their self-created innards :-)

Rachel posing by her digestive system.

The FIAR book has a wide range of activities to complete.  In addition, I have come to love the Homeschool Share website.  It has so many wonderful activities, and even has an entire page dedicated to FIAR.  Using printables from this site, the kids and I completed our very first lapbook.  A lapbook is made from a file folder and includes any combination you choose of minit books, lift-the-flaps, pockets, accordian folds, etc.  All three of the little ones were able to be involved at varying/appropriate levels, and Momma took care of the assembly.  (I know...  in the future, I need to turn over the reigns, but we are talking about a 3, 4, and 5 year old with glue and scissors???? AGHHH!)  Here's pics of our first creation.

Front

 Inside

Inside with Center Flap Lifted

Giveaway: National Geographic Maps

It is giveaway time again, and Download N Go has something wonderful in store.  They have partnered with National Geographic to giveaway 3 US/World Political Map bundles.  These maps are beautiful and would be a great addition to any homeschool or classroom setting.  Don't miss out! Enter to win HERE!!!!

My New Addition

Whoa... calm down now!!!  No surprise Ethiopia trips or prego belly, despite the fact that my 3 cuties have been telling several people we are going to "get" a baby soon.  Obviously, their idea of "soon" and my idea of "it will be awhile" aren't jiving at the moment :-)  Heehee!  Someday, but for now let me introduce you to none other than my very own, brand new, REFRIGERATOR :-)  You laugh, but we have been without one since Saturday, so I'm thrilled to have a new one.  Nothing grandiose, but it meets our needs, and I'm thankful for it!!!

"Meant To Be"

All of my faves... Steven Curtis Chapman, beautiful music and amazing lyrics, adoption clips, Jeremiah 29:11, and VEGGIE TALES.  Hmmm... this will be on the Wells' family Christmas wishlist.  It releases October 5, 2010. 

“We’re very excited to share It’s a Meaningful Life with VeggieTales fans and families everywhere,” said Greg Fritz, SVP of Sales & Marketing at Big Idea Entertainment. “This episode is based on Jeremiah 29:11 which says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ So many of us often wonder what our lives would be like if we had all we ever dreamed of. This title takes parents and children on a journey that explores how we can be content in the plans that God has for our lives – and helps us discover the beauty of how our lives affect those around us.”

Inspired by the It’s A Meaningful Life story, Steven Curtis Chapman notes, “The song is really shaped around, what I want to say, especially to children that wonder, ‘does my life have any meaning?’ As I have said to so many orphans in China or even to my own children, ‘you are special, and you are meant to be because God has put us here.’”

Shower(S)

After a little bit of girl gab time at a friend's house this morning, I gathered the troops and we were Stanford bound.  Today, my sister and I (with the help of our parentals) hosted a baby shower for my brother Matthew and Megan.  Malachi Thomas will be making his arrival in October, and we are all so very excited to welcome him!!!!  We had a great time visiting with family and sharing some laughs during the baby shower game.

I do believe my crew ran Papaw and Uncle Matthew ragged, but they kept the troops in line.  That is minus unexpected shower #2 - Caleb soaking his sister with a water hose :(  Rachel was not in the least bit happy about being wet or having to wear one of Papaw's t-shirts until her clothes were finished in the dryer.  The highlights for the kiddos were definitely CAKE, playing in the back of Dad's pick-up truck, and taking rides/driving the riding lawnmower. 

A Jeremiah funny - there has been an ongoing debate between Jon and Jeremiah.  Jeremiah gets very irked if anyone refers to a chicken nugget as simply chicken.  He is very emphatic in correcting us and wants to make sure we call it a nugget.  Jon has been trying to explain that they are one in the same.  Also, when Jeremiah sees a bird, he often refers to it as either a duck or a chicken.  Well, there was a large flock of birds flying overhead as we were piling in the van to leave my parents house.  Trusting that Daddy must be right, Jeremiah points to the birds in the sky and says....  "Look!  Chicken Nuggets!"  Shortly after, one of those chicken nuggets pooped on me and my sister!!!!  Ughhhhh....  this shower #3 was very unplanned, unwelcome, and quite honestly one of my worst nightmares realized!  Thankfully, it just got my feet - it could have been A LOT worse.

As you can imagine, I was a bit speedy on the way home, so I could enjoy the comfort of SHOWER #4.

6 Month Post Placement - COMPLETE!

Our original expectation was to have our 6 month post placement visit yesterday evening.  However, we received a call from our social worker yesterday afternoon, and due to an earlier appointment and forgetting the time change, he would be unable to make it.  Crazy KY???  Why is the state in two different time zones?

Thankfully, we were able to reschedule the appointment for 3 p.m. this afternoon.  Therefore, the house was not completely ransacked before Harlan arrived.  Rachel's endearing smile greeted him at the door while the boys were still sacked out in their beds.  We set up shop at the dining room table where I completed a questionairre on Rachel and Harlan asked us general questions regarding the children's health, adjustment, and attachment.  Mid-appointment, Jon actually went and woke the boys from their nap.  Very rarely do we wake a slumbering child, but we need the boys to make an appearance even if they were somewhat groggy.  We completed our paperwork, the boys warmed up and began covering themselves in CARS stickers.  They posed for a "brotherly love" picture and then Rachel gave Harlan one of her best glamour shots.

Yep... two days of cleaning the whole house for a 45 minute appointment that only included walking through one room to sit in another.  Hahaha...  the same as the last one.  One of these days, I just might get brave enough not to go cleaning kamikaze, but for fear that he would want to venture through and explore every nook and cranny that will probably never happen.  Oh well... next and last visit will be in February for our 12 month post placement.

Hip, Hip, Hooray - It's Dancey Shoe Day!

Rachel has tried her best to wear her dance shoes for awhile now.  I scored a mega deal on a pair of tap shoes at a consignment sale, so I have had them for a few weeks.  Wonderful mother that I am, I left them out in plain sight to tempt the poor child.  Every time she would pass them, she'd pick them up and say "Wear Dancey Shoes?" 

Then, last Tuesday night's date night with my hubby consisted of a yummy dinner at Outback, buying color coded towels for each member of the family, searching several stores for clearanced swimming trunks and rashguards for the boys, and pink ballet shoes for Rachel.  (Yes, aren't you jealous of our smoldering romance?  Hahaha!)  Since the one shoe store didn't have ballet slippers in her size, we picked up the princess from Grandma's and headed to another store that was holding a pair for us.  We decided she might as well try them on, and that she did.  She was none too happy about taking them off either.  Again, vying for "Mother of the Year" award, rather than putting them out of reach, they remained in our living room.  You guessed it, I walked in several times to see her putting on her shoes.  She'd look at me and grin and say, "Pink Dancey Shoes!"

So... the day finally came!  Dance Class was at 4 p.m.  She was excited to put on her tights and leotard and head out the door, but on our way to Shelbyville, I noticed tears in the backseat.  Supposedly, it was because her sunglasses were in the van and not in the Rav.  Somehow, I believe there was more to it.  We were the first to arrive, and she played shy with her teacher Kacey... even though she sees her at church every week.  Oh well... after the parent meeting, Kacey put the girls in their spots.  Rachel was reluctant to go, so Mommy escorted her all the while positioning her in "criss cross applesauce" - a new one for this baby!  We exchanged some high fives and hopefully calmed a few fears, and then, I made my exit with the other mommies. 

While chattin' it up with my friend Gretchen, our girls Rachel and Libby had a ball with their first attempts at prima ballerina status.  Kacey must have done a great job because when they came out to change into their tap shoes, they were both all smiles.  When I asked Rachel if she had fun, she said "Cool Mommy!"  Strutting her stuff in her tap shoes, she returned to class.  Again, all smiles and ready to tear into her sucker at the end of class.  I'm thinking dance might just be a success.  To be continued next week....

Heading out the door! Dance class - here we come!

Got there SUPER early, so Miss Rachel hung out with Mom in the front seat!

Rachel and Miss Kacey

Libby and Rachel ready to tap!