What We've Been Doing Lately--In Case You Wanted to Know

We've been really busy doing kindergarten at our house. We also call it core phase. Usually we have some chores to do. It's a lot more fun if we do them together--usually. This day we organized the pantry together. They helped unload the food items, clean out the shelves, and then put things back in airtight containers. They always have tons of questions and we talk about all kinds of things. We did a lot of counting and reading labels and just bringing some sense into why we do things. There were a few tears, but nothing too serious.

Recently we started listening to music or even a book on CD while we work. We loved the Flat Stanley books. Watch out--Stanley might be coming to visit you via the United States Postal Service sometime soon.

With this project we first had to clean the new containers. That led to lots of fun with bubbles. Zachie loved this the most.

After all the hard work it is then time for play. Zachie loves to play ball so on this day we had a little softball game going. They all made home runs and we all cheered.

Katelyn usually works on projects while we are in kindergarten. Sometimes she joins us, but most of the time she is too busy. She creates her own schedule usually filled with creative writing, math or geography lessons, or science experiments (she recently made a colloidal suspension or in other words, a lava lamp using oil, vinegar, water, and food coloring). She made this baby quilt to donate to charity with help from Grandma C's unused fabric collection.One day we decided to have tea just like we keep reading about in Little Women and Anne of Avonlea. Katelyn was thrilled about this idea. She got to wear one of my old floor length choir dresses (I did too, but for some reason I couldn't zip up the skirt part all the way.) We figured no one was coming over to see how silly we were being (notice no pictures), so we felt free to act the parts. Katelyn even came up with a British accent, although, I'm pretty sure we started in Concord or Avonlea. Amanda joined in as "Miss Amy" and even Josh put on a tie and vest just so he could have a cookie. He must have gotten bored with the conversation because he scampered off when the topic ventured into when "Miss Margaret" was coming out into society. Really Katelyn says she is most like Jo, but she really wanted to play the part of Meg. After tea Miss Margaret entertained us on the "pianoforte" and then gave a recitation. It was a lovely afternoon. Brian and Brandon didn't even tease when they walked in the door a little while later. The spell was kind of broken when Brian turned on the Gladiator to watch basketball, but we were pretty much ready to return to the 21st century by then.

Later after snack on this day, Amanda and Zachary had a doctrinal discussion on faith while I spent some one on one with Katelyn. It seems they both agree that people should have more of it (faith that is.) They love to look through big people books--even ones without pictures. They just love books and are looking forward to when they can read them without help.After a while we have reading time together. Usually a phonics lesson comes first, then they choose a few kid books to read together. Then I read aloud to everyone. Here Josh is building a Lincoln Log home while he listens to the biography of Abraham Lincoln. This is one of Josh's favorite things to do in kindergarten. His hands keep busy while he listens. He always has lots of questions and has some really great insights.

He recently told me who his hero is. I thought it would be Abraham Lincoln because he likes him so much. He surprised me and told me, "My hero is you, Mom!" It's because I read to him and am teaching him to read. That was payday for about five years or so. It helped me to realize that in between the fights and the headaches and those endless questions--there really are great things happening here. It's nice to have those paydays. I store them up for those days that try my patience. It's all good though. We are happy in our messes and I am starting to see the fruits.

Someday I am going to laugh about this toe hanging out of his sock. This is just so Josh. We just got him new socks!! But, after what he said to me about being his hero--we can buy him all the socks he wants. :)