Kindergarten Stuff

We have started a new chapter in our lives. One that has only begun and will only get longer and worse with age. Yes, I'm referring to HOMEWORK. The dreaded H word that arises in our house every afternoon!! Now, Grant is only in Kindergarten and doesn't technically have assigned homework, but he does have homework expectations each day. Mondays- Math Monday. Tuesdays- Techno Tuesday. Wednesday- Word Wednesday. Thursday- Thinking Thursday. Friday- Fine Motor Friday. Each of those days, we are supposed to do an activity that coincides with that skill, plus read every day! 

We get home from school about 12:00 each day. I fix lunch and we usually chat with Levi on FaceTime. They usually watch a Netflix show while finishing their lunch and I'm going through backpack papers. So that means we have between 1:00-7:00 (most days) to get in that little bit of homework. Doesn't seem so hard right?? WRONG!! We tried the right after school thing- didn't work. We tried doing reading first, the other activity later. Nope. However I tried it, it was like pulling teeth. Every time. And probably always will be (with Grant at least)! But we get it done nonetheless!! Of course, I use everything is my teaching knowledge to make it fun (ahem, prepared centers!?!). But their most favorite day of the week is Word Wednesday! Yes, Wyatt always does Grant's homework with us- because he's my kid who LOVES homework!

 We call this Sight Word Cups. Each cup has a sight word on it, and I line them up around the island. I hold up the flash card and call the word and they have to race around to find the cup. Whoever finds it first gets to put it on their stack. At the end of the game, they get to build a tower with their cups. This one is a big fave!!!

 I bought window crayons (which DON'T ever buy!) to write on the back door window. While they look cool and are fun to write with, they are a MESS to wipe away! Vis-A-Vi markers are my preference for this game! But I call out the word and they have to write it. What's not fun about writing on windows and doors??

 Shaving cream sight words. They didn't like this- too messy on their dainty little hands. Silly boys!!

 Swat the sight word. Always a fave! Just back away!!

 Another winner- I write the words on "targets" on the back window. They use a nerf gun with the suction cup bullets and whatever word they shoot, they have to read. Good times with this game!!
I don't have pictures of two of our other games- 4 corner sight words. I tape a flashcard in each corner and call out a word and they have to run to the right corner. This one is the absolute favorite game, they ask to play it on days other than Wednesdays even!! We also have a ping-pong ball game that I write the sight words on and they have to bounce them into a bucket. Whoever gets the most in their bucket "wins."
These activities make certain homework activities easier and way more fun than desk work! And I better mention Book Buddy Bags. Grant gets these every Thursday and has to read them through the weekend. It usually contains anywhere from 2-4 books a weekend, books he's never seen before. And usually books that are challenging to him. I love that he's getting challenged, but oh the challenge they give me!! It's good though! Maybe someday homework won't be like pulling teeth (probably not). And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Wyatt continues to love homework as much as he does now!!

January Business

January has been a pretty low-key month for us, which has been so great!! We've had lots of time to stay home and play! Which is good because the majority of this month has been FREEZING!! We've had lots of free time in the basement to put all those Christmas presents to good use! Seriously, the basement looks like this 98% of the time...

It's a great problem to have!! I'm just happy we have another couch upstairs to sit on because this one is obviously not used for sitting anymore!! While the boys have been happily playing, I've been reorganizing the house, cleaning out closets, and just cleaning in general. The three of us can make some pretty large messes in a fairly short amount of time! Wow! I'm always cleaning or doing laundry. Like ALWAYS!!!

I put together some January centers over break and Wyatt and I have busted those out on our mornings after we take Grant to school/before Wyatt leaves for school. I absolutely LOVE those 20 minutes I have with him. He is just the sweetest little student and I love that he LOVES doing these types of things! He's so cute, I just have to take his picture all the time, so I have like a thousand of them in my phone. Seriously, I do! These are some treasured moments!

 Can we take a moment and be amazed that we got Grant to play with us (one day after school)!?! We both were amazed that Grant asked us to play 2 games with him!! Miracles do happen people!!

A Night with Mimi and PawPaw

Being by myself with the kids definitely takes its toll! It's exhausting really! But gosh, I'd never give it up or wish things to change. Well, of course, I'd wish Levi back in a heartbeat, but I'd never give up the time I spend with my boys. But that's not to say that I don't appreciate a healthy break every now and again! And thank the Lord for Mimi and PawPaw! They are so amazing, volunteering their evenings, weekends, or whenever it may be to sweep my boys away and give me some peace and quiet! Those moments for me to breathe in peace, watch TV in silence, BLOG!!!, and sleep past 7:00 (which I've never done!) But not only do I appreciate the break, the boys LOVE spending time there without me- the refer to this exciting night as a "no parents night!" and its special to them as well!!

They got to spend one fun evening being ever so spoiled! My mom texts me pictures throughout the evening, and these were just too fun not to share! 

 And I told my mom, "No buying Lego sets!!!" See how well she listens!! Grant said to not be mad at Mimi because she really wanted to buy those sets for them!

 Park time with PawPaw!

 This is SO my boys- They decided to make a cookie shop with the Valentine's cookies they decorated. Wyatt made this adorable sign to "sell" his cookies. Grant made a sign that said, "Cookies $5 each." If that doesn't sum them up perfectly I don't know what does!! 

Wyatt's cookies! 

 Grant's cookies!

Big big thank you to my parents for taking care of my boys so I can take care of me!! We love you both very much and are so thankful for all you do for us!!

Cooking Competitions

Thanks to my dear friend, Lori, for inspiring us to bring out our inner chef talent!!

We've been big fans of watching Chopped, Master Chef Jr, and Rachel vs. Guy Kids Cook Off for quite some time. Grant and I have some special times at night after Wyatt falls asleep, where we snuggle up on the couch and watch something on the Food Network. Lately, its been Master Chef Jr. Grant always talks about what he'd cook or ingredients he'd use- which is so funny since he eats NOTHING. But he loves the idea of cooking! So after my friend Lori told me about the Chopped Challenge she did with her kiddos, the boys said, "We HAVE to do that!"

So we started off with a Chopped Competition. I was cooking and the boys were the judges. Earlier that day, Wyatt and I had bought a box of Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix, so I was going to be making those, and they were going to decide if I was chopped or not. They grabbed their Lego clocks to time me and once they said go, I got to work! I mixed all my ingredients, threw them in the oven, and got my butter mix ready. 

 Once I got the biscuits out of the over and brushed them with the butter glaze, they said, "Times up- hands in the air." Then I served them my plate and tell them about my creation. They both agreed that I mixed my ingredients well and it smelled delicious. Their only critique was I didn't use enough butter. I guess I couldn't compare to the other competition (????) because I did not win the $10k prize money, I only won $20. But it was a great experience to be on Chopped. (PS- the biscuits really did taste like the real things, and the judges were right- I should've used more butter!)

Once I finished my cooking competition, it was time for Master Chef Jr. to start! They boys had to make a dinner that filled all four spaces on their plate. (I did not take any pictures of this and I'm so so sad because while I did alot of the prep work for them (cutting strawberries, etc) they were so cute with their plating.) They each made a pizza lunchable, popcorn chips, strawberries, and a yogurt for Grant and carrots for Wyatt. They presented their plates to me, and as the judge, I just couldn't decide on who to send home, so they BOTH get to stay for another round!!

It was a fun evening of food festivities!! One of these days, hopefully these home competitions will actually allow Grant to try some new foods!!!

Stay tuned for our holiday cooking competition- Valentine Cake Wars!

Clubhouse with the Cousins

We had Mason and Luke over to play on MLK day and it was an amazing day of playtime for all 4 of them!! Because it was pushing 60 degrees that day, they went between the basement to the clubhouse for about 5 straight hours! They had such a great time!! While they were happily off playing, I got a bunch of stuff done. But as I glanced outside to check on them, I had to get out the camera and capture some of their cute play! Star Wars play, of course, because what else would they be playing?! That's ALL they play!! But they have a great time!! Good good cousin fun!!

I love you that they were all wearing navy pants and gray shirts! That happens to Sara and I alot, so I had to laugh when they were all matching too!!

Itty Bitty Snow

January has, for the most part, been a very frigid month!! Single digit temps, negative wind chills. So cold we've even driven to school! Gasp!! It snowed on January 3rd, maybe 2" or so, nothing crazy. But pretty!!

But because it was so cold, we never got to play in it. Until, January 15th! We finally got a break in the weather, I'm talking 50's, so we headed outside to play! Of course, the boys immediately headed to the itty bitty snow patch that was left! And they had 1.5 hrs worth of fun!!! And when I say itty bitty, I do mean it...

 Like Grant's pajama pants?? It's rare if he's NOT wearing pajamas, even in the snow!!

 

Grant made this itty bitty snowman from the itty bitty snow! And then he used it to "wash" the back door window! 

And I must highlight their racoon hats!! They are pretty awesome!

We are still holding out that we will get a BIG GIANT snow one of these days! But until then, we are enjoying these beautiful 50 degree temps!!! So we can't complain!!

Mommy Moments

I've been saving these quotes in my phone for the past few months. Whenever I get the chance to record their sweet sayings, I type them in a note so I don't forget them. These are from the last 4 or 5 months I'm guessing.

•  I had a hair in my mouth and as I pulled it off and Wyatt says, "That's why I'm glad I didn't turn out as a girl."
•  Wyatt was putting magnets on a paper on the refrigerator. "There, now its safely secured."  Me: "Safely secured! Wyatt, you are something else." W: "I'm not something else, I'm just a Wyatt."
•  When trying to decide on what to bring for show and tell about your family, Grant says: "Why don't you just bring Mom to school." Wyatt: "No, she won't fit in my backpack."
•  W: Did you know all girl construction workers are mom? Me: Why is that? W:  Because all grown up girls are moms, except for kid girls.
•  W: I sure wish I could marry you, but I can't because you're already married to dad, but I sure wish I could!
• As I was putting blackberries on Wyatt's plate, I popped a few in my mouth and I said, "Mmmm, tastes like summer!" Grant said, "What, like sweat and grass?"  
• I asked Wyatt what his New Years Resolution is: "To eat at Chick Fil A Everyday!!!"

Home Depot Workshop

We've always wanted to do one of the workshops at Lowes or Home Depot, but it seems like whenever we've tried to sign up, it was already full!! So when our friends asked us to join them and take two extra spots they had, we happily agreed!

The website said they were going to make a mini-sled and from the picture, it looked big enough for a kid to sit on, although I had my doubts it would be that big. So when we got there, and saw it was small enough for a doll, they were kind of disappointed. Although, when they realized they would be the perfect size to give their animals a ride, they were thrilled!!

We had step by step instructions, which were very simple. They took it all very seriously though! They started with sanding, then gluing, then hammering, then wiping. I had to help with the glue and getting the nails started, but they really did a great job building independently! They were so cute too! Who doesn't love in a little guy in safety glass and an apron!

I can see this being a fun weekend adventure with Levi when he gets back!! But until then, maybe we can squeeze in a few more building adventures!!

Happy New Years!!

What used to be an evening of late nights and lots of liquid celebrations has turned into, well, just a normal night!! I just don't have it in me any more!! But we had a fun New Years Eve nonetheless! We got to spend all day with  Mason and Luke and that was probably the best thing the boys' could've asked for! And as much as they try to say they stayed up til Midnight, they were most definitely asleep by 9:30!!! And I was definitely asleep before midnight! But they played sooooo well which left me a lot of time to relax and enjoy the holiday as I would like!

And while I was going to plan some hourly activities for them, I thought playtime would be the best time and it sure was! 

We are excited for a New Year to come! It will bring about MANY new changes for our family and our roots will be more firmly planted then ever before! I'm feeling confident in our transitions and find peace in knowing that God is in control. I've had this verse in my head for some time and it leaves me no doubt in our decisions: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19