Upside Down & Backwards

A couple months ago, I took Daniel to run an errand with me. I asked him to put his coat on, while I was getting mine. I found him very excited and ready to go, with his coat on upside down. Perfectly upside down. I stifled a laugh and asked him to go into the bathroom and see if his coat looked right.
He looks in the mirror, knowing something isn't quite right, but not sure what to do about it. He takes the coat off and starts over. Ok, now he's ready to go, and his coat is on upside down again. Back to the mirror. Third time. Third time upside down. Now, I'm covering my mouth so he won't see my smile. I'm trying so hard not to laugh, but by now I'm really ready to go, so I put his coat on myself.
A couple weeks ago, I come home from the thrift store with some new clothes for Daniel. He tries on a new shirt and shorts to show off and the shorts are on backwards. He's really starting to set a reputation for himself now!
So, last Sunday, he comes downstairs like this:

Do you see anything wrong with this picture?

Well he didn't, until we pointed it out to him.
Isaac had gotten him dressed that morning.

LOL,

Being Patient at School

As our math curriculum, we use and love Math U See. Maya and Elena are generally in the same book, as are Isaac and Chloe. But they're not always developmentally on the same page, so I try to discern who is ready for what. For instance, a couple months ago, Maya and Elena were both finishing up the addition/subtraction book. Maya had really struggled with the borrowing and carrying, so I slowed way down with her, having her do a lesson a couple of times before moving on. We actually did those lessons through three times before I felt confident that she really had it.
Elena, on the other hand, had started multiplying on her own, while still in the adding/subtracting book. She started figuring out that three 3s was 9, and four 3s was 12, etc. So, she sailed right into the multiplication book and it has been smooth sailing for her through the first 6 lessons so far.
Since, I didn't see any developmental cues like that with Maya, we have stayed with adding and subtracting and will until I do see those cues. I see no point in moving on when I know she isn't really ready.
So, Maya plays a lot of math games. And we read a lot of fun math stories from our local, well-loved library. Have you seen these:




These are awesome! I love them all! Check them out and tell me what you think.

Oh Goody! A New Book!

One of my favorite bloggers, Jasmine, just blogged about this new book in the homeschool world. Funny title, eh? I'm looking forward to this read. I love reading homeschool success stories; they're so encouraging!

So, um, how often do you school in your pj's??

Hungry in Labor

What do you think of this? Did this happen to you when you were in labor? What reason did they give you for this practice?

Encouragement

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and respect
~1 Peter 3:15

Out of the Archives

Once upon a time, I had two toddlers. Elena was 3 and Chloe was 2. Oh, those were the days! The hard days. And I kept telling everyone that I couldn't wait until they were a little bit older. Man, I was struggling. And everyone kept telling me, as some sort of cruel encouragement, that it doesn't get easier when they get older. Boy were they wrong!

I wanted to foster their artistic sides, so I gave them some paper and some markers and then went to fold laundry. Does anyone see anything wrong with my strategy?

Awwww. So cute! Look how precious my little girl was! A little artist in the making.

CHLOE! I only left you alone for 10 minutes and look what trouble you got into! Well, luckily you're still cute, green lips and all. Don't move! I gotta get the camera.

Oh great! Not you too! You're the older one! The more responsible THREE YEAR OLD, for heaven's sake!

(Oh my, what was I thinking?!)

Lucky for them, they stayed cute, even while I cleaned them up and lectured them about proper care and handling of markers. I couldn't stay mad for long.

(After all, it was my fault!)

My Preschool Reading List, Part 2

Read-Alouds for Four-Year-Olds

Whistle for Willie (and others by Ezra Jack Keats)
Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel
Burt Down, Deep Water Man
Time of Wonder
Lentil
A New Coat for Anna
When We Were Very Young
Chester the Worldly Pig
The Giving Tree
Gregory's Shadow
Little Toot
Raggedy Ann Stories
Raggedy Andy Stories
The Ugly Duckling
The Taxi That Hurried
Tootle
The Little Train (and others by Lois Lenski)
A Pair of Red Clogs
The Gingerbread Boy (and others by Paul Galdone)
Babushka's Doll
The Bee Tree (and others by Patricia Polacco)
Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny
Miss Fannie's Hat
The Trellis and the Seed
The Story of Ping
The Rag Coat
God's Wisdom for Little Girls
God's Wisdom for Little Boys

These are our favorites, please comment with your own family favorites.