Summer fun

This summer was the first time we had a school year to take a break from. We had some growing pains as a family during that time. Maddy started kindergarten at public school in January so we only had the spring semester to get used to the new routine. But boy did we get used to it, and even began to enjoy it. Once summer break started we had to get used to a new schedule or lack of one. We spent a ton of time with friends and enjoying more time with Marc in his mornings at home. This year we splurged and bought season passes to the new Hawaiian falls nearby. Boy did we get our money's worth out of them. Chris had the girls all summer so we got to spend a ton of time with them, and Johnny and Shelby. Plus our sweet friends Jill with Elijah and Reagan, and Chelsea with Sophia got passes as well. 

Summer was a great experience and I am now enjoying school being back in session. 

Maddy's milestone

My sweet girl had a big event today- her first school field trip. If you've read my old posts you know that we used to home school, so the fact that she's in public school is hard enough, but adding a field trip that included an hour long bus ride without me have this mama high anxiety. But she did good, and I did ok. I am so thankful to have a husband that adores being a daddy and took the time off to go with us today. We had a great time at Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch. 

She got to pet horses, camels, llamas and even a zorse (zebra horse). 

She got to learn all about lemurs and kangaroos up close. 

It was a great day with my fantastic family.

Some Thursday Activities

Maddy finally got to sit down and work on some of the new lessons I've been planning (for the last 3 months or so). She really enjoyed them and even wanted to do more, more, more. I'm still not sticking to a schedule yet, not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing. We sit down and work when the feel is right and distractions are low. I'm hoping to transition into a more regular routine over the summer so we can start fall like regular school half day PreK. Right now my biggest obstacle is printing. It is just too expensive to print everything at home. I have the use of a black and white printer from several places but no color yet. Looking into options for this. I don't think Staples and the sort offer those services, just copying. So for now I'm printing at home sparingly and buying materials that can be stored in sheet protectors for multiple uses.

Anyway- here's some of what we worked on today.

Counting 1-5 and identifying the corresponding number.

 

Next we worked on 6-10

 this sheet is laminated so we can use all kinds of different things to count the spaces. Today we used foam shapes.

Then we worked on matching 

And some maze work

more matching and we did opposites too (forgot to take a pic).

and learning how to write # 1 and 2.

We also worked on her writing her name better. She can write each letter now we are refining it to smaller scale and in the appropriate size. She has trouble with her spacing on the page so that it can all fit left to right. This will come with time and is not something I'm worried about.

Well that was part of our Thursday, hope your's was great!!

4 years into the Journey

It's Maddy's 4th birthday and I'm feeling nostalgic and so overwhelmingly thankful. I thought I'd highlight our 4 years so far... and how much she has grown.

~Psalm 139:13-15~ Maddy was fearfully and wonderfully made. God knew her before she was even a thought in my mind, HE formed her just as HE wanted her to be. *This is our sweet child, no accidents*

~This is our 2nd Maddy Moo

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

and we just celebrated Birthday #4 

It has been a great 4 years with this little princess. I am so thankful for the lessons she has taught me, those she is currently teaching me and all that is yet to come. I am a better person because I am Maddy's mom.

No more Maddy jumping on the bed!

-Jump- Jump- Jump-

-taking a rest for a second-




-Back to jumping-

So something funny that Maddy has started doing.... whenever Marc is putting away laundry he clears off the bed so he has room to go through the piles, well Maddy seems to think that this open bed is a giant toy meant for her jumping pleasure. It's quite hilarious. Check out the cute pics I took today. It's too hard to get mad at this cuteness!