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.

Merry Christmas - guess what - Baby Jesus is here!

Well, just about Happy New Year!

This year I feel successful ... my son walked up to the church ready to put on his shepherd's costume and saw Baby Jesus in the outside nativity. He just took off, running wildly up to the scene, calling out "Mommy baby Jesus us here! Baby Jesus is here!" His voice was the joyous peel of the bells celebrating that miraculous birth! And although he is still quite excited about Santa, I am overjoyed that he is also aware that the tiny Christ child is so important.

Also, I must apologize to the other people at church. I was one of those awful mothers that took sick children to church that evening - two of my children were in the Christmas program. Well, it turned out to be a wonderful gift to me, I hope it didn't impact anyone else.

We did no crafts, although we certainly made some food! After going to a Christmas Cultures around the World Celebration, we were thrilled to hear about some Scilian traditions we tried to incorporate into our own Christmas Eve. We ended up having way too much food.

Merry Christmas

Well, I have arrived in that classic position of mother frantic the day before Christmas. I finally finished my son's shepherd costume. Very simple, but made with much fanfare to show how proud we are of him and how special his role is. My daughter's angel costume was repaired from a year's use as dress up clothing. And now, I am attempting to finish a dress for her for tongiht's Christmas mass. We'll see.

We have relatives visiting, the kids are all thrilled, they were counting minutes, looking out the front window waiting for their Grandma and Aunt to arrive! Their idea of a long time involves many trips to the clock counting minutes.

I lost the box meant to send to my neice and nefew, so they will have a belated Christmas box coming in the mail. I remember that happening to us and just being overjoyed to hear there was one more gift!

I hear little feet! Have a wonderful Christmas - a joyous celebration and a miraculous Love that spans time.

All my Love,
Nicole