Tot Tuesday

Recently, Kaleb and I were learning about airplanes. Kaleb made a paper airplane and was flying it around the house. Riley was not to be outdone....he wanted his own airplane as well. So, I let him  make one for himself.

He colored it blue - his favorite color and flew it all around the house. Then, he went outside and flew it in the rain. He quickly figured out that rain and paper don't mix:( So, he had to make another one for a sunny day.

Tot Tuesday

 Recently, my tot watched as I had my first grader counting to 100 with a 100's chart. I do this for practice and number recognition. We count by 1'2, 2's, 5's, and 10's to keep it fresh. My tot wanted to work along us so he promptly found a second 100's chart that we had and counted along.

I love it! He was counting....8, 9, 10, 25, 22...

I also love that his chart is upside down (if you look closely) but that didn't stop him from counting along with us. Have an awesome day.

Tot Tuesday

For the last month, my kids have been dinosaur crazy. I found some dinosaurs at the Dollar Store which were just the right size for some great dino play. And we were able to go to Dinosaur World and see life-sized versions of the dinosaurs. My tot - Riley keeps asking me are the dinosaurs ....tinct?  Yes, Riley they are extinct. He also asks whether they are meat eaters or plant eaters. It is so cute! I keep thinking I should create a mini dino unit just for my tot - we will see:) I caught him playing at the school table while I was working with Kaleb.

My dino crazy tot hard at play. Love it:)

Tot Tuesday

I recently read the kids a book called Grandfather Tang's Story by Ann Tompert. I just had to bring out the tangrams for fun. We read through the entire book and made each animal from our tangrams. Riley didn't want to be left out, as usual.

I started by giving him a regular set of tangrams. He put the shapes together but he had difficulty putting together the animals. Then I remembered that I had just the right thing for him - Tangoes Jr.

I found Tangoes Jr. at Target on sale. I am always on the look-out for games and activities that challenge the mind. These Tangoes were magnetic and had two different levels of difficulty. He was thrilled to have his own set and they didn't move around like the others.

He used the cards that had each shape marked and was able to create the pictures we were creating with our own tangrams. I love when things work out:) It was a good math day!

Tot Tuesday

My tot conquering many things lately...this time a rope swing:)

Hang on Riley...hang on. Enjoy your day.

Tot Tuesday

Happy Birthday my tot! Riley is turning 3 years old today. Love you Smiley Riley:)

Tot Tuesday

Recently, we had the opportunity to visit a corn maze which was super fun. I had to share these pics of Riley playing in the corn.

This is my favorite pic of all....he is so cute! He ended up with corn everywhere - in his shoes, pockets:)

Tot Tuesday

My soon-to-be three year old has surprised me this week in many ways. One way is that he decided he was ready to wear underwear and go on the potty. Once he put those pants on, he was done with diapers. (even though some of us wanted them when we went to the zoo:) He conquered the potty training all by himself. I am not saying that he hasn't had accidents but he hasn't once asked to go back to wearing a diaper. Go, Riley!

The next surprise is his climbing this playground wall. He didn't think twice and he just conquered it. He slipped a few times but he made it to the top. I went to his side to help him but I didn't have to help. He did it on his own. My two year old is growing right before my eyes. I cannot believe it. In some ways, I am sad because he is my baby. But in other ways, I am proud of the strong boy he is becoming. Have an awesome day.

Happy Birthday Kaleb!

Happy birthday to my Kaleb! He is my toothless, lego loving, dirt catching boy. I love him dearly:)

Tot Tuesday

Okay, so I am not totally proud of this one but I thought I would share it anyway. When my older were young and when I was teaching in the classroom, my kids loved the Captain Underpants book series. I wasn't totally thrilled with them but they were reading.

So, now there is a movie which we had to own because I have kids who still love Captain Underpants. And apparently, my tot does too. I caught him running around the house with a ring saying "I hypnotize you!"

He is hypnotizing me with his ring - haha!

I love that silly boy! Have an awesome day.....and for those you know....Tra La La!

We Interrupt the Blog....

for Hurricane IRMA

We made it through the terrible storm but we lost electricity. We have been without electricity for three days and are unsure of when it will be turned back on. Some are saying days, others are saying weeks. It has been a day to day struggle for food, gas, and batteries. But we survived and we didn't sustain any damage. Hopefully we will see you soon. It is hot as all blazes here and I hope it will be sooner than later.

Tot Tuesday

We have some new coloring sheets lately. My husband works in construction and he brought us some of his old, used blueprints. Riley had a blast coloring these house along with his new "school" markers. IT gave us some good quiet time to get some school done. What fun!

Tot Tuesday

My tot is never far behind when we are working through school during our day. Today, I gave him some extra paper and his tot scissors. He spent quite awhile cutting the strips. I didn't mind the mess which I may say was everywhere. It occupied him and gave me enough time to work through a writing lesson with J.

Tot Tuesday

Our new school year and my tot is all most three years old. I can't believe it! Three! I have plans for Riley this year but I am struggling with having the time to implement them. Homeschooling two olders takes up most of my day. I will  hopefully work it out. But until then, our first week brought my tot Riley to the table for school just like the others:)

On my lap, playing pirate and "looking" through his wooden block telescope!

Riley wanting to write and draw like the others. Still on my lap while I am working with the olders. Love this boy!

It's Been a Long Time....

It has been a long time since I have worked on my blog and for that I apologize. Summer came before I knew it.  We had extra kids at the house and we went to visit the Grandparents. It went by too fast but now, here we are at the beginning of a new school year. I have been planning, printing, and working on items for this school year. I have put together several new printables that I am excited about and will be glad to share with you. I ask that you bear with me as I have an extra child at the house and am struggling with time management:) But I am super excited for what the new school year will bring. Hope your year is starting out great:) See you soon.

Tot Tuesday

This week I wanted to share how the whole family is working hard to complete our Little House playhouse. This playhouse was a dream of mine - a final hands-on project for my kids. And it is finally coming true:) Even Riley has been helping around here.

What a great help he is! I love two-years olds, they love helping (most of the time). Have an awesome day!

Tot Tuesday

My Riley is always in the middle of whatever we are doing. He is usually parked on my lap while I am trying to work with Kaleb. But lately, he has decided that my lap was not good enough and he has taken up residence on a chair that he moves right next to me. (practically on my lap:)

"I sit by you, Mommy!" he says while dragging his chair around Kaleb's chair and planting it right next to my chair.

After a few minutes, though, he comes back to sitting on my lap:) I will take it either way!

Tot Tuesday

Someone has been hitting my school closet....you know the one with all of the manipulative that are off limits unless it is school time. My tot believes that is his play closet. While I am engaged somewhere else, he will open it and go to town. Today, he found the music instruments to discover.

I love that smile:) Busy, busy, busy...

Tot Tuesday

There was a moment that I wondered if my boys could be friends. They always seemed to be bickering and fighting, complaining and whining. But something recently changed. I couldn't say what, it just did. Maybe it was all of the praying and worrying that I did, maybe they grew up some. But I can finally see a difference in the way my boys play and interact. I love it.

I am not saying that they don't still fight but I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. They just might be FRIENDS:)

Tot Tuesday

Riley will find anything to play with....

even markers. Silly boy. :)