Fun learning

The boys were making a "video game" with the PowerPoint program. You chose your monster creature by Clicking on the picture and then you chose your enemy by clicking another picture. It would lead you to the page that said either you won or you lost. They were really into it And getting really good at it. So Todd decided to teach them how to program a webpage to do that same game but better. The boys really loved having Todd teach them how to program and they were really good at it.

The boys asked Papa to help them make wands on the laithe. They had fun and made cool wands.

'Tuzis

The kids LOVE taking baths in my parents' jacuzzi!

April Author's Guild- family history

Yesterday we had a GREAT time doing a "family history" themed author's guild! This was the assignment: April 11 Family or Personal History Writing: Using writing to preserve family and personal life stories

Writing: Interview some family members and record a (or some) family history story(ies), or make a personal history; collect family stories and gather them, with some pictures and other memories, to make a family book. (Keep adding to them throughout the year and make copies of your finished book to give to each of your family members for Christmas.) 

Here is one help: https://zapthegrandmagap.com/downloads.html

We read our stories to each other. Some kids wrote their own immediate family stories (how mom and dad met, some funny stories about them and their siblings); some interviewed an older family member (grandma, great-aunt) and wrote down their story; one girl made a poster of her great great grandma with pictures and facts and stories about her; I shared the family book that I had made and bound and gave out as Christmas gifts. 

For the activity, we played games and did activities that have been done for years and years. I had little signs and baskets set up all over for the kids to do them as they wanted to. I also had folk songs playing.

Weaving:

 Jacks, yo yos, marbles:

Quilting: I cut out squares of fabric and had the kids color on them with fabric crayons. I'm going to make a quilt out of them for Alex and Nathan to remember Author's Guild in AR and their AR friends, like in this picture:

instructions here: http://craftywench.typepad.com/knittingwench/2008/05/kindergarten-teachers-quilt-with-kids-artwork.html

 My great friends here in AR- Jenn and Tia:

Tia and Jenn are having fun doing cat's cradle:

The kids and adults are doing string games: cat's cradle and jacob's ladder

candy sticks I forgot to give out:

 Checkers:

more weaving:

 Blind Man's Bluff:

Hand clapping games:

Then we made homemade butter (put whipping cream in a sandwich bag and shook it until it turned to butter and buttermilk. Pour off the buttermilk) and put it on homemade wheat bread Todd had made.

Then we made homemade ice cream with strawberries:
http://spoonful.com/recipes/homemade-ice-cream-bag

Then we went outside to eat it and play these outside:
Hopscotch:
http://www.streetplay.com/thegames/hopscotch.htm
and jumping rope
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/jump_rope_ryhmes/

There are other games we could have played, like kick the can, etc. but we did these activities for about 2 hours and didn't even do all of these! It was SO much fun!!

My date with Abbie

This month I took Abbie on a date to ice cream and Italian food (yes the ice cream was first) and then the dollar store to pick out prizes for potty training. She wanted me to take pictures of her menu at the restaurant of her coloring on it. I was tickling her and she was laughing too hard and she spit up on the floor. I told her just to leave it (i would do it) but she had to get a napkin and clean it up. She's been going in the potty the last couple days really well So we went to the dollar store to pick out some toys for her to have when she doesn't have any accidents. She picked a rake, a ball, animal crackers and 2 pinwheels. When we got home she went straight to the potty so that she could get one of her prizes! She was in a good crazy mood when we went on our date! I love spending time with my little Abbie!

Bike riding and Nathan

Here in AR Katherine and I have been spending time together going on bike rides around the neighborhood. We always stop at the ditch so she can pick and chew on wild onions. This day the boys wanted to come too. Nathan wanted Katherine to stand in the water with him so he was holding her hands. Nathan is such a good, sweet brother! The other night he asked if he could put the girls to bed so he and I could play a board game. He told the girls it was time for bed. But they whined and said no! So he cheerfully said okay who wants to play train? And the girls jumped up and put their hands on his shoulders. He led them around the house for a little while and then led them up the stairs to their beds. Then Abbie couldn't go up the stairs and so she started to cry. Nathan said do you want a pillow ride? And she jumped on the pillow and he took her upstairs flying on the pillow (I helped). Then he read them stories and sang them songs and put them to bed And they were quiet and went to sleep!! He has a gift with little kids! Here is a picture of Archer with Nathan- they're buddies.

We're in Arkansas!

We arrived here in AR October 15 and now it's April 9. Right now the girls are watching wonder pets on TV- their favorite show. Abbie is sick, poor girl. The boys are doing their school work.

I just was going to the bathroom, when Avery came in with poop in both hands, rolling it, saying she had a poop accident.
Nice.

So I thought the boys were doing school upstairs. I just tell them they have to get their chart done by 8pm or they get a number. If they get 5 numbers they go to public school.