Christmas is Coming!

Somehow this year we are not half as close to an organized, unhurried Christmas as I was last year. A nod to having your children in traditional school, I am certain.

We have had some illness in our family and today we are at home not contaminating anyone. Unfortunately we have a cookie exchange party scheduled here on Monday, which I will have to cancel. It's unfortunate since I spent a long time making cookies for it! And, of course, I just love parties.

We had our Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving and Advent calendars up and ready. We are going to send email Christmas Cards, but I don't think it is as satisfying as the real thing, and next year we will be sending real ones again. I find that since I know that I have until the day before to send them out, I am not as motivated to finish them. At least I did have the children's pictures taken on time. They look precious, all little angels together. What doesn't show is the 2 year old throwing props and pushing the sweet photographer.

What I am very proud of this year is my daughter made two Christmas presents. She made aprons for my mom and aunt out of the same material that we made my daughters this summer. She talked about reusing resources (leftover material) recycling (this was a ruined curtain) and even how using an apron saved the nice clothes you had on from extra washing. This was a great meeting of several sources, Kit Kitteredge movie this summer, Girl Scouts and our trip to Vogel Park in Georgia.

Although we have claimed this a Homemade Christmas, it isn't. I have to admit to a weakness for Cracker Barrel Country Store. They have sales at this time of year and I just can't seem to stay home from that! But they have such wonderful thing and since they are priced for travelers, there are so many reasonable things. I even bought shirts for myself. My favorite though is for parents of young children - there are so many items that help in restaurants, travelling and just plain fun little things. It makes me look like super smart mom! They usually have at least three separate themes, something rustic, something elegant and something funky-fun. And they WRAP! I had them wrap the slide whistles for the children. (Slide whistle was suggested by our speech therapist as a tool). Although if you are helping Santa, ask them not to use a shiny foil Cracker Barrel sticker. They also usually have their Christmas Willow Tree items on sale. (Although not the regular stock of angels and figures). Anyway, the kids and I had a large lunch out and had the leftovers for dinner. Yeah Cracker Barrel!

Now off to make a box to send out for two special kids at the other end of I-10.

Fall Foliage in Georgia Mountains

I just have to say it - WOW!

We arrived for a wonderful show. We must have hit the peak window, because it just kept getting better by the day. Thre were reds, orange, blazing yellows that made the forest look like sunlight had decided to just spotlight this one tree in gold for a breathtaking moment. Even the stately conifers lent solid evidence of the wilderness around, highlighting those brilliant hues with a somber elegant green.

But ... (you knew it was there ... just waiting) ... it was cold. Bone deadening cold. I think it even hit 40 one night we were there. That folks, makes my Floridian body quake with discomfort and fear the next cold snap here at home. If you are a relative of mine in WI or MN, save your ridicule ... you would wilt here on some summer days.

Speech Therapy Needed?

It is amazing how two mothers looking at the same child can come to totally different conclusions. After several months of speech therapy, my child is attempting words like a pro. Overheard by one mother, he was praised for really responding to therapy. Another mom noted after the first left, "you know, he did it on his own, the therapy isn't anything but a scam". Hmm. I think it is a combination of both, and in either case, he is not up to developmental norms. So, we continue therapy and I am quite confident that some of it is due to a wonderful therapist, and some of it due to his being a smart little boy who needed some extra time.

Family Camping - Again!

Ah, the second time around was much better!
Air Conditioning made the difference!




We went to the same State Park Campground (Little Talbot Island) but had the primo spot. In the morning, I was looking out over the marsh ...

It was awesome! We went to the beach and again ... that weekday beach was sparce! Perfect to let the kids wander a bit and explore without me on top of them. The waves were "ankle slappers" according to my brother, so no one went boogie boarding. There was a large tidal pool that the kids played in for a long time.

There were very few people at the campground, but of course we were directly across from a youth group trip (or maybe two families with ALOT of teenage children). The kids and I did a nature trail hike (next to our site) and saw bunnies, raccoons and plenty of crabs.

Fay Fay go Away!

If nothing else, having Fay around Florida has helped my youngest learn the "Rain rain, go away" rhyme. We were very lucky that nothing crazy happened here. We had the yard prepped in plenty of time (not too hard when the darn thing was actually stationary for hours on end coming up the state), laundry caught up, dishes washed, food put away and gas tanks filled. It helps of course that our house is well above the flooding around us. Good Job, honey!

It is tricky with kids cooped up in the house. Since there wasn't constant thunderstorms within our bands, I let them "feel the weather" when I could. This got them running outside, spinning in circles and then racing back indoors for a drink of water. I had pulled out a make and do book (365 Things to Make and Do by Vivienne Bolton) that has some super crafting ideas with things we have around the house. We did the fish tank craft and the pop up cards for our aunts birthday next week. We also did a lot of little snacking. We had boxes of blueberries, raspberries, apples, a dragon fruit (new to try), snack bags of chips and cookies (we all shared from one snack bag for four of us) and some mini drinks. We also were able to sit on the doorstep with our breakfast cereal.

We also continued with home schooling for the week.

Luckily we were able to go to our first Zoo home school class session before the storm came in. The kids met with animals and friends! We went to the kids splash ground until the rains started. Hanging out with friends walking back with us made for a quick game of hide and seek by the alligators. (This was well supervised and certainly not IN the exhibit). Coming home we had just enough time to change and get back in the car for Taekwondo. After such a busy day, the kids were ery content the first day of staying home for the storm.

Family Camping

Yikes. We are campers. We purchased a camper and are going to try this out. I know that I am not a tent camper ... but add A/C and a kitchen and it might just work! :) Especially after seeing the areas that campers go.

Discovery Launch

The trip to see the launch went off without a hitch.

We visited an end of the year Bash in Orlando, headed over to another friends house for a sleepover & some pool time. Then picked up lunch at Publix, (met a deputy Sheriff I knew from a long ago job) and drove to the Coast on the Beeline. If you ever do the same ... leave really early, it started to get backed up. I got into Titusville and didn't have a map. So I called my friend who led me by landmarks through town to my desitantion. It was so cool to have her give directions with comments like "remember my parent's house is on the left and the Italian Restraunt we had for Reheasal Dinner is on the right ...." and so on.

We stopped where we were told and there was not one other person there. I had driven by Jetty Park and seen the crowded area there with people walking for blocks. It crossed my mind that our view might not be what I had hoped. Then, at less than 5 minutes until liftoff, there were 20 plus cars parking and locals stand in small groups together. The launch was amazing. I know we were a few miles away, but it looked so big! We didn't hear anything at first, just that billowing smoke cloud and bright point of light pushing up into the sky. When the noise came it wasn't the deafening roar I remembered from college, but the kids heard it as thunder coming from across the field. I was able to get some video of it as well as a couple photos with the kids in them.

Then we headed home. What a full two days that was!

At home, we checked out NASA's website for kids and found a daily "report" from Buzz Lightyear who was a passenger on this mission. They also had activities/games that had to do with the mission and other space education. Very neat. I found out that Snoopy has also been a passenger on a NASA mission. It is the NASA Kid's Club and below is the link:

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

I am looking forward to the next launch. If it is a night launch, I may take the kids and spend money to be closer.

Family Summer

Summer without Camps? How could you! How can you?

And now we come to the benefit of multiple children. This summer, we have not scheduled any camps for the children. They had two weeks of swim lessons, but the rest is just play. Because we have a problem with heat during midday, it is a perfect time for worksheets and playing school. A friend gets about 15 to 20 kids together for a weekly event. We have gone to the mall for pretzel making, bread baking in a restaurant/bakery, factory tour, park playdate and have several others lined up. I can't take credit for all that, but each Wednesday it makes a great diversion for all. Other than that I have packed a supply of popcicles, ice cream, popcorn and juice boxes for quick "campy" snacks. I buy watermellons each week, too.

They have to figure out something to play. I will help things along, but it makes a great memory. We also are able to say "yes" to last minute invitations from friends as well.

Grandma has an extra day off? Let's go!

This summer is flexible, sleeping in, staying up late, and generally working on boredom lessons. (As in, you can't be for long!).

Kennedy Space Center!

We are hoping to take the children to Kennedy Space Center to see the Space Shuttle launch on May 31st. I noticed an article in Southern Living about how this is "the end of the shuttle era". I hadn't realized they were already an "era". But then, I am just getting to the April edition of my magazine.

It was so much a part of my life growing up that I hope to share at least one event with my children. The baby will not recall this trip, but the older two will. I had the fortune to see a night launch in college and it was incredible. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather is great!

It is a Saturday this time, so if you are anywhere close, drop in to Titusville ... or just take the time to step outside and see man soar.

Update on 100 Easy Lessons

Wow. We have decided to slow down a bit with the lessons. For no other reason than my son is doing very well, and asks to do "homework" as a fun game. I can see that some students might not enjoy the sparce games, but it is working out for us at this pace. The added benefit is that the baby hears him practicing sounds and attempts to repeat them. So we are getting our reading and speech therapy all in one go.

We are on lesson 37 and he attempts sounding out words when we go places. Even told me ... mommy, that says "full screen" ... see the "f". Hmm. I guess I need to get some new tricks.

100 Easy Lessons

Well, I have done it! I have started on a training program. It claims to be teaching my son to read, but it is really training me to be consistent and stick with a program.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is the book I am using and so far, it seems to be working rather well. I am sure if I spent 15 to 20 minutes each day with something he would be doing well, but I chose this one. My middle boy is reading! :) Right now we are 16 lessons in, but he can read simple words and is so proud of himself! I keep telling him that he is a Reader, and he just loves it!

Wasn't it just Christmas?

Oh boy. It happened again! I keep running to catch up with activities for the kids and then it is the next month again and we start another week, another day ...

I know this is a common problem with other families, because I hear this repeated by other moms.

Is there a way out? I have started reading the Elaine St. James Simplify books.

Happy New Year!

I think we had a lot of fireworks around us, but I wouldn't know. I went to sleep early as my parents had the two eldest children and I wasn't wasting any time with something like a celebration. Any parent still waking several times a night with a 18 month old would be doing the same thing.

Have a blessed New Year.