Just another day...

For the first time since being back from vacation, I actually have nothing pressing to do. Now there is always another load of laundry that could be washed and a dishwasher to unload, but nothing too major. And I am finding myself...dare I say it...BORED! I am not familiar with this feeling too much lately, so I decided that I must do something semi-productive, so I am writing in my blog. I don't have much to report, though. We have had a really busy week, but here are a couple of highlights.

Garrett's pictures at school went well (or so I was told) and today he got to taste apples in school. Finally, a food related event that he can willingly participate in without fear of an allergic reaction. He told me he tried a green apple, a red apple, a yellow apple and a red/green apple. I think the red/green apple was a Gala apple with some green on the skin. Hands down, the green was his favorite. This comes as no surprise to me as I buy a 5lb bag of them each week and they get devoured. I can't complain that the boys love fruit!


Hunter learned about "Some, some more" and "Some, some went away" problems in math this week. For those of you not versed in the terminology, this is adding and subtracting word problems. He is learning to find key words that indicate if he is going to add or subtract. Garrett was an eager participant in this lesson, too, but only because he could write on the white board with marker. He understood what we were doing (sort of) but he didn't care that it actually was math. Hunter, on the other hand, couldn't do enough problems. I did learn not to give him examples of subtraction that included his name, as it upset him to think he was losing balloons, pencils, etc. He is so sensitive!

Since there is nothing more of consequence to write about, I will include some more pictures from the beach. I mentioned before that we went to play miniature golf several times. One was pirate themed and there was even a hole on a pirate ship!


And we had to try out the stocks. Well, that didn't work too well given their stature, so we decided to just put them in jail!

And here we all are...

We had such a wonderful time on vacation...it is a shame we have to wait another year for the next one!

We're back!!!

We are back from the beach and I am trying to get back to the normal routine. Unfortunately, I was unable to blog any while at the beach, as the wireless connection at the hotel had a very low signal strength. And upon returning home, after clearing out 100+ emails and unpacking, I found I had mounds of laundry to get through. So, blogging was put on the back burner. But I am back and getting caught up.

So, about that vacation...Myrtle Beach was nice, but not as family oriented as North Myrtle Beach. We were able to spend much time on the beach despite the cooler temperatures (the upper 70's-low 80's) and the coastal breeze. Hunter loved being in the waves, and Garrett loved the sand. But, hands down, the walk-in pool was the overall winner. This pool was a salt water pool and you could walk right in to the pool...no steps. The water spilled over the edges of the pool, too. It was really neat (and warm).

While we had many days of fun in the sun, we did have a soggy day Thursday (I think we got 2 inches of rain), so we went to Ripley's Aquarium. That was so fun! The tanks were amazing...it felt like you were in with the fish! There was a pirate exhibit that the boys liked, and there were touch pools where we got to touch a stingray and a horseshoe crab. The boys did not want to leave!

We also played several games of miniature golf. Garrett is getting to where he doesn't lose interest quite so fast and will last just about a whole round. Both boys had so much fun...and Brian and I had fun playing, too.

Well, today is Tuesday, and that means preschool for Garrett. I need to get him ready, so I will have to write more later. He does have school pictures today, so I need him looking his best. I would love to see the photographer getting the class picture for the three-year-old class...I bet that will be a hoot!

Yellow Day and Other Stuff

This month at school Garrett is learning about the color yellow, and today was "Yellow Day". All of the children were encouraged to wear yellow and bring in a picture of something yellow. Garrett had his favorite Wiggles shirt (that is of course yellow) picked out several days ago in anticipation for today's event. And my overachieving son decided to pick many yellow pictures out of magazines, not just one. He is really a lot more like me than I would admit sometimes.

Hunter continues to excel in his studies. I do think he is told too often that he is really smart, though. Last week we were filling in the day on his calendar and I asked him what day it was. He answered "Wednesday." When I asked him how he knew, I was expecting him to say because the 5th was in the column for Wednesday. But instead his reply was, "Because I am very smart!" He was correct...he is very smart, and he knew it was Wednesday because he read the calendar. He just didn't realize I wanted to hear that he looked at the calendar to get his answer.

Let me brag for a minute. Anyone who knows us knows that Hunter has quite the academic future ahead of him, reading at such a young age. But, it appears that Garrett may be more academic than I gave him credit for. I was administering an oral math assessment with Hunter that required Hunter to make rows of objects matching the numbers 1-5 (which was a piece of cake for him) and then tell me which was the least and which was the most. Well, to my delight, Garrett picked up the teddy bear counters and began doing his own rows. I asked him to then put the numbers in order and he did. I asked him to show me the least number and the greatest number and he did! Keep in mind, this is a first grade math assessment that my 3 year old was able to perform the tasks. I was tickled...No, I was amazed. I knew he could count to 5, but he actually can count and recognize the number 0-9. They both also can distinguish between the left and right. Now, if we could grasp tying shoes!

All this to say, I LOVE homeschooling Hunter and Garrett. While I am more intentional about working with Hunter Monday-Thursday, Garrett gets some school if he comes near the school room. They both are just absorbing so much, and it all happens before noon. It looks like we will be just fine to take a vacation next week and just enjoy the beach!

A couple more stories about preschool:Garrett gets stickers in school when he is "caught" doing something good, while all of the other children get an M&M. Today he told me he got stickers in chapel time. I asked what he did to get a sticker and he says, "Hmmm, let me think about that." "Oh, I know, I was a goooooood boy!" I don't know what he did that was good, but he surely seemed proud of it. I am proud, too, for I had concerns that his active three-year-old self would not sit still or listen very well. And when I was leaving with him, the director pulled me aside to tell me Garrett is the bravest boy in school. Evidently, he figured out a way to get to a pole that is part of the play structure and slide down. This was not an easy pole to get too...Hunter would never even try. Another little boy watched Garrett and when he was asked if he wanted to try, the boy said, "No, that is for brave, big boys. I'm just a little boy." I guess the monkey comes out in school sometimes, too!

First Day Pics

Garrett was so happy to be going to school Thursday. He was very proud of his Cars lunchbag. Big brother Hunter wanted to be in pictures ,too!

Garrett remebered his backpack and lunchbox went in his cubby!

Now that I have figured out how to do pictures, I will try to include some with more posts!

1st Day of School

Today was Garrett's first day at Preschool. I must admit the misting in my eyes as I drove off came as a surprise. I have been so excited to have time to devote to Hunter and schooling without interruption, but pulling out of the school I was a little sad. I was already missing my little man. Then Hunter chimed in, "I am glad Garrett is at school. Now he won't bother me." Children really tell it like it is...no need to sugar-coat anything.

Hunter and I had a very productive morning of school. It was nice to not have interruptions, but at the same time, I missed the interruptions. I had time to write out plans for next week and I am looking forward to working more with Hunter. He flies through the concepts I am presenting, and this is FIRST grade reading and math. Hunter took his first spelling test today and he got all of the words correct...of course, he probably already knew the words, but I figured it better to ease him into the new routine. I am still trying to figure out the best way to arrange school time, but he is flexible with me and we are learning together. He did tell me today (when he was supposed to be doing a math sheet), "I have run out of energy." We had just started school. I asked him if he needed a drink to get his energy back, to which he answered "yes." Then he tried to get out of work again with the same excuse. I had to inform him that no matter how much energy he didn't have, he had to get the work done. I think he just wanted to go watch a show. Again, we are learning how this school thing goes.

When we went to get Garrett from school today, the first thing he said was, "I had so much fun at my school today!" I was so thrilled to hear this. He said he didn't want to come home yet. He must have had a good time. He was, no surprise, huuunnngry when he got home, so I fixed everyone lunch. I know he played hard today, so I am expecting him to nap well...time will tell.

I did take some pictures of the first day of school, so when I figure out how to post them here, I will.

First Day Jitters

Tuesday is preschool orientation for Garrett...and I am a bit nervous for him. Garrett is so excited that he gets to go to school. I am asking anyone that reads this blog to please pray that we have a good day at school. I have to leave Garrett in his class while I meet with the other parents for an information session (about 45 minutes). I know he will do great, but I am still just nervous. So, please pray! I will update later how the day goes.

Super Holiday weekend!

I don't know about anyone else, but it is unbelievable that today is Labor Day! How in the world is time going so fast?!?! I am excited, though, because now that it is September, that means our trip to the beach is fast approaching!!! I can't wait for vacation...with my family. I did have a vacation by myself to California to visit my friend Deborah, but that was more like a reunion.

Friday we went to "The Lake House" to visit Uncle Paul, Aunt Tammy and Sydney and Cassidy. Granny Carole was there on Saturday, too! We had lots of fun playing, riding on the boat, tubing, and swimming. Garrett has decided he does like his life jacket (Spiderman on it may have something to do with this), and he wanted to swim by himself. Being the worried mother that I can be, that really upset me...I didn't want anything to happen to my little man. Sydney and Cassidy had two friends at the lake too, so there were four big girls watching and entertaining Hunter and Garrett. The two older girls even rode in the tube with Hunter and Garrett. Again, I was a bit nervous, but Uncle Paul is a very safe driver and the boys had a wonderful time.

Today we are having some friends over for a cookout this afternoon. Afterwards, we are going to see our friend Chance play in a little league baseball game. The boys are really excited to go see Chance play baseball...they really look up to him.

Daddy and Hunter have gone to play golf. I will write about how that adventure played out later. I need to get off here and go to the grocery store...Garrett got the short end of the stick...he has to shop with Mommy! Maybe next time he can go with Daddy!