Review: I See Sam

First of all... the company packaged the books so poorly that I received only an envelope by the time it arrived here. However, they quickly fixed it and not only resent it priority and in a box.. but they sent a nice puppet as an "I'm sorry" gift. So, they have great customer service.

As for the books... they are hardly beyond what you can print off of your computer. The pages are stapled together. Something that I find annoying is that many of the books are just repeating themselves. The first three books have only the words "see" "sam" and "I." Honestly, I think once you get to the second book there should be at least one other word in it. (I do understand that the repetitiveness is good for building fluency though and Aidan did enjoy the fact she could breeze through the first handful of books.)

The progression of the words is nice. It builds in an easy, flowing way.

These are good starter books for a reader lacking in confidence... but I don't think I would buy them again. However, I have every intention of using them because I purchased them ...but surprisingly... I prefer the Bob books.

Guido Gardens

This year.. we went the day after Christmas. It was mostly empty but I was still surprised at how many people were there. I'm not sure but I believe they didn't put out everything... perhaps because Guido died this year. Anyway, it was cold... brrrr... but the girls loved it. To the adults...its ho hum... but to the kids it's magical and beautiful... and that's why we went.

GASP... a picture of Me

Simply Christmas

Our Christmas morning was quiet. Because the girls had stayed up so late the previous night...they didn't wake until 8:30. They played with the kitchen for awhile and dumped out their stockings. Then, we opened our gifts. The girls had a rather large pile. I had every intention of them having only a few presents but when you pick up a little something here and there... it adds up. I pray that they do not become overly spoiled. I struggle with the natural wish to give them lots of cool things and the wish for them not to feel "entitled" to everything. I tell myself that as they age... presents will be cut back... and that I'm just letting them enjoy Christmas while they're young. I hope that I'm not deluding myself.


Ainsley with her new "bike" and Aidan with her new robe

Playing with the new kitchen

Candy before breakfast... a rare treat

Aidan loves her new TAG reader

After presents... John cooked our traditional Christmas breakfast...mini sausages rolled in crescents and cinnamon buns. Later, the in-laws came over for an hour or so to see what the girls got. At night, we watched one of their new movies.
It was a nice Christmas... quiet and peaceful.

SANTA CAME!!!

Getting ready for SANTA

Aidan picked out the "persect" spot for Santa's snacks.

Christmas Eve at the In-Laws

Presents! Presents! Presents!

These two are funny together... that's Connor... their almost 1 year old cousin. He's nearly Ainsley's size. They both scrap at each other but yet seem to like each other.

Christmas Eve Photo Shoot

Christmas Doings

We rode the train and saw Santa! This year the girls did well. I had them see Santa separately. Ainsley sat nicely and looked only a little perturbed.... She smiled at least so hooray for that. Aidan excitedly talked to Santa. (Although she spoke with him in a whisper due to nervousness and I had to translate.) I don't think Santa was going to speak with her at first... he assumed she was younger so I stepped in and encouraged them to talk. Anyway, no kicking of the shins or temper tantrums this year!

Waiting on the Train

We've done a lot of crafts...

Watched a ton of Christmas movies...

and had the failed Christmas Party

Overall, this season has been jolly. The girls...especially Aidan... are at an age to really enjoy it. Aidan is sooo excited about everything. She says to me "Mommy, I cannot wait to see what's in the presents. I don't know what's in them. I cannot wait until Chris-a-mas!" Ainsley just points and exclaims "Tree!" "Presents!"

and Me?

I am enjoying their pleasure...

and the Santa present that's been sitting in my room.

I can't wait until they see it!!!

Dark Days For Christmas

My sister's cancer has returned

First Christmas Party- HA!!

Oh did I over prepare!!

We bought enough food to feed 50... I bought a couple of crafts for all the kids to do... I planned a really cool present exchange and picked out just the right book to read to everyone...I even made sure I had extra gifts in case someone forgot to bring one...I spent a lot of time compiling just the right play-list of songs that would please the majority...John and I stayed up until 2am preparing for everything...

It.... was.... horrible!

I expected approximately 18 moms and 25 kids to come. Within hours of the party... I had 13 cancellations and then 2 no-shows.

Yep.

THREE people showed up!!!

Wow.

The money wasted nearly makes me cry. I spent over $250 on this party with food, supplies, crafts, presents...

and as the story usually goes.... I didn't really have the money to spend in the first place..

Well...

Lesson Learned

Was THAT Christmas?

We have a book at our house.... Was that Christmas? The story is of a kid who basically doesn't understand WHEN is Christmas because Christmas activities go on for weeks. Aidan is that child this year. Because every week we've been doing Christmas activities and Christmas preparations.. she's confused as to when Christmas is... She keeps asking me "why are we doing Christmas things if it's not Christmas?"

Honestly, that's a good question.

I'm not sure how to answer... Um?... because we live in a society where we make a big deal about crafts and gifts and food and things that don't really matter in the long run but is done so as to make happy memories for you my spoiled darling?

Or perhaps... Christmas is a season...not just a day... a season where people are reminded to be a good person and do a few good-doer things like throw 50 cents into the Salvation Army's pot so that they may feel good about themselves and a time where we can bitch about long lines and rude people and in our secret of hearts... in fact... remind ourselves that we are so affluent that we can make a big deal about such things.

How about...It's a season where we celebrate not ever having to starve by stuffing our over-weight bellies and then grumbling about it. Hooray for us and our opulence!

Whoops...Am I writing social commentary?

I swear I had no intention of doing so.

So far... I've just said that Christmas is a happy time that lasts the whole month.

I'll save all the pessimistic answers for when she's older.

Pride

Today Aidan went to her end of the year "gymnastics show." I signed up at the last minute and really wasn't sure what to expect. The kids were all given leotards and then they divided up into groups and circulated through various areas... where they showed off their skills. Aidan was really impressive. No, she didn't outshine anyone but the majority of the routines... she had never done before...yet she did them. She was also the smallest one there and in the last 9 months has only attended 6 classes. ^cringe^. (Hear that money flushing down the toilet?) Not at all did she stand out in her skill level. She was right there with everyone else. Because of the natural chaos... she had very little direction but she paid attention well and mostly knew what to do. If she did it wrong... she'd turn around and redo it. I caught two separate groups of people ooohing and aaahing over her. She's so serious and attentive and LITTLE!!!! They thought it adorable that she was doing everything. It made me smile.

See the Size Difference?

Aidan absolutely loves her gymnastics class and she is proud of what she learns and does.

I am proud of her...for the growth in her social and basic maturity I have seen since she started attending...for her determination to do her best in spite of the lack of direction... and for pushing herself even when she's outside her "comfort zone." I really think I picked the right sport for her.

At the end of the show.. they received a metal. Part of me rolls my eyes at it.. but she loves her medal and HAD to wear it to dinner.

Cinnamon-Applesauce Ornaments

One of my favorite blogs 5 Orange Potatoes had this cool recipe. I decided to try it with the girls and even invited some friends over. The ornaments came out well and they do smell wonderful. I think a new tradition was started this year.

Enjoying Fresh Air

How can you not fall in love with that?

On Order

Phonic Readers from iseesam.com

Scenes of Christmas

Preschool- 3 yrs

I have been wanting to have a separate blog just for our homeschooling endeavors and so HERE IT IS!

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

I have continued to put off "official" schooling for over a year now. Aidan is only just-turned-three and I've found that she hasn't really needed a structured "preschool" session. She tends to pick things up without help... she just might do it two months past the time I thought I'd sit her down and "teach" her. (For examples... colors, shapes, gluing words together)

Schooling now consists of 15-20 minutes of practicing reading almost every day, puzzles, math manipulatives,random worksheets, educational videos, story reading, craft projects, coloring and just basic real-life learning.

Starting in January... I will be making more of an effort to ensure that there will be more structured learning.

Here's my plan:

Aidan will have a folder with a list of things to do/accomplish that week. I will have a set time at least 3 days a week where we "do school" and will hopefully not have too many issues with keeping it at the same time every day. It will be up to Aidan to decide what to work on and in what order. Reading is the only thing I will make sure is done every day.

Ainsley, I plan on using a workbox with. She will have a basket that I will fill with school items only. These will be things she is not allowed to play with at any other times but when school is in session. I plan on changing the items to keep her interested. NOTE: this is only if she is not content to watch an educational video or is not, in general, otherwise occupied.

Thoughts to add to this... we attend playdates on a regular basis... so I may have to give up on the idea of doing it always at a set time. Obviously, until we dive in... it'll be hard knowing how exactly it'll work.

WHAT I PLAN ON USING

MISC.
1) Various workbook and Internet-printed sheets
2) Wipe Board
3) Puzzles
4) Lacing Beads
5) Board Games
6) Educational Videos


READING
1) Alpha Phonics
2) Bob Books
3) Other phonic reader sets I may find
4) Pocket chart card sets
5) "Live" books
6) Sentence Decoding

LITERATURE
My decided theme for Preschool 3 will be Fairy Tales, Fables, Moral stories and Myths. I'll also be adding basic poetry. The only thing we'll be doing with it is reading them and talking about them.

WRITING
1) Tracing Worksheets
2) Sand Letters

MATHEMATICS
1) Unifix cubes
2) Counting Bears
3) Number Chart

SCIENCE
For as long as interest is held... we'll have a theme... be it fish or sunflowers or clouds... and we'll read books from the library on it and probably do a craft on it. I'll be happy if one subject gets done a month.

SKILLS
1) Cutting
2) Lacing
3) Drawing

Good outta Bad

Sometimes... for a treat... the girls are put in the car in their pajamas to go for a quick ride before bed. They love it. Tonight however... Aidan missed out. She was acting up and not listening and wouldn't settle down... so I sent her to bed and John left with only Ainsley in the car.

At times... I hate being the Mom.

She was heartbroken and inconsolable to the point she wouldn't stay in her room (she ALWAYS stays in her room if she's in trouble)... she was screaming "Daddy don't leave me" and just, in general, losing it. I honestly can say I don't think she's ever been that upset. Once John was finally out of the house... I picked her up, brought her to the couch and held her until she calmed down. We then had the best time chatting and talking. We talked about Christmas and Santa Claus and shopping and picking out presents and all sorts of things. After a while she looks at me and said
"Mommy, I'm glad I'm here with just you."

Oh, does that do a heart good!!!

Excitement!

I have FINALLY signed up for my very first Photography Class! It starts in February and is only a short beginning class. But! It's something at least. Though I have some self-taught (vague) knowledge I could really benefit from some technical training. Besides... when I go and spend $2,000 on a professional grade camera... I want to know how to use it. (and possibly help excuse the expenditure)

Another Milestone

The crib is now packed up.. waiting for the next little one. Ainsley now sleeps in a matching toddler bed like Aidan.
Of course, unlike Aidan, keeping her in it is sometimes difficult!

Home Town Parade

The firetruck was too loud!
Let me See!
A little too cold for comfort.

Waving for candy...the important stuff

The "petting...um?...zoo?"

That Time Again

YUP!!