Happy Belated Easter

We had the Saturday before Easter all planned…

8:00am Easter Egg Hunt

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm 3D ultrasound for baby #3

4:00pm Bradley method class

Zander at the Sanchez's Easter Egg Hunt 2006

Eeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkk!! — RAINED OUT

This was probably more a disappointment to me then the kids but every year I look forward to taking them to the Sanchez Easter Egg Hunt. Its so much fun. They put out candy on the field and by age they go out and get it. And they also have free little carnival style games. Also there is story time and pet the animals..its just FUN!

Instead we vegged. It was so gloomy…which is why we left Ohio 3 years ago. ugh

Sunday we went to church and then out to eat with Grammie and Papa Sackrider. By the time we got home to take Easter pictures, Lexi was not having it. She was sooo tired. I have to remember next time to also take individual pictures because Zander was doing awesome.

Zander and Lexi Easter 2009

Monday, I thought I would make up for the lack of festivities. I got out a sack of corn meal and plastic easter eggs that were stored in the 4th bedroom, its also the room Zander calls the school room because of all the supplies in there. =)

They had such a blast with this sensory activity. They played it all week long.. Now I need to clean up a porch as it is covered in corn meal. lol

Enjoy the pics!

Zander playing with the corn meal and eggs.

Lexi playing in the corn meal and with the eggs

Lexi had an idea for a stand..Z liked the idea.

I can't even get them to look up for a pic.

Lexi's having fun!

He finally looks up for a pic. Glad you're having fun, Zander!

"Mommyy, want some corn meal filled egg? Yum"

Handwriting

Zander loves to do “Handwriting”. At this age, I call coloring-crayons, markers, chalk and drawing, writing…all handwriting. It is working out his fine motor skills to prepare him for writing letters, then words, then sentences and so forth. Another activity we have done, is playdough or moon sand or even clay. These help with the fine motors skills for handwriting and cutting.

I try to make sure he does some sort of handwriting every day. I rarely have to encourage this as he takes it on his self to draw and write. He even is sounding out 3 or 4 letter words, writing the letters and asking what did he spell. I love that he likes to draw and write so I bought him a sketchbook and he has so enjoyed it that I will soon have to buy a 3rd one. Which I don’t mind as it now keeps him out my printing paper and keeps his art in one place.

The 1st Sketchbook that I got for Zander

Two times a week I do more of a formal handwriting lesson. I have been using “a reason for Handwriting” Kindergarten.

a reason for Handwriting - Kindergarten

One side of a page is a letter to learn and practice writing. On the other side, is a picture of something that starts with the letter being taught.

He loves it! He would do a page every day if I let him. We only have one page left of the book as we are ending “the preschool year” soon.

I just wanted to share his love for handwriting and also how he has developed. I remember those first marks that are now becoming words. And I remember giving him a piece of paper to color and barely having anything on the sheet. Recently he did the letter “R” and colored the following..I was so impressed. He was so determined to color the whole page and “make it beautiful” as he said. He asked me to take a picture. He was so proud of himself.

Zander very proud of his picture.

Zander working on his rainbow

Once, Zander made a picture with crayons on a piece of paper and then he transposed it and made the same picture on the computer. Dale and I were both very impressed!

The hand drawn picture on paper.

What Zander drew on the computer.

Its hard to see but he even has the colors are correct and the smaller circle with a line it. Its very faint but all there.

Here are some photos of some of his other things he has completed that I just wanted to share and of course look back on in a few years to enjoy.

Zander drew this on our white board. He says its Mommy and Zander holding hands.

This is "Daddy and his wild hair". (he drew Dale with out a shirt so you see his chest and belly button. This is funny since Dale rarely goes without a shirt except for swimminig)

This was Oct 08 Zander practicing his name.

A Review of the letters learned.

Zander decided to draw a still picture of our ceiling fan.

One of his first drawings in his sketchbook, his "bowl of cereal". Can you tell its Cheerios?

Gardening Day 11 Update

We have been watering and checking out the plant daily. I should have went and checked on Lexi cause it was really quiet while I was working on laundry…

Zander, very proud of his carrots!

On Day 7, I walked into the play area to find Lexi totally covered in potting soil. That’s right. Lexi pulled a chair over to where she needed to climbed up and used the chair to get on top of the table. She was having sooo much fun and was all smiles! She had scooped out most of the dirt and was playing in it. I cleaned her up. Next, Zander caught on to what had happen and was upset. I explained that she was just playing and didn’t know better but Mommy would help teach her. He helped me clean up and I told him that on Monday or Tuesday we would replant.

Lexi is very curious of what is happening.

Sunday morning as I was eating breakfast, I happen to catch a glimpse of something in the dirt. Woah a sprout. I asked Zander if he noticed anything in our planting box and he went crazy when he saw the little sprout. He was so excited he ran up stairs to tell his father who was in the shower. hehehe By the time we got home from church, there were 2 sprouts. And the next morning, he ran up to get me; to see there were now 3 sprouts.

If you look closely, you'll see 3.

So even though Lexi had fun in the soil; we still have carrots growing. Zander is loving watching them grow. He asked me, “Why do they grow so slowly?” I replied with, “Well, it took you 5 years to get this tall and its taken Lexi 19 months to grow how big she is.” He smiled so I think he liked my answer.

Zander's Drawing of the sprouts

1st Day Gardening

As we finish up our preschool year, there are several activities that I have thought about doing with the children for the summer. I have always wanted a garden. But when I think of gardening, I think lots of work and lots of time required. However, I think that it is an activity that our whole family could benefit, enjoy and learn from. While doing some research, I realize its more than gardening. It will be life long memories and valuable lessons for the children.

1st Day of Gardening

Gardening teaches children science, math, motor skills, reading, writing, observation skills, life skills, social skills, relaxation, quality time with family and so much more. Gardening will be lifetime benefits for the children.

Children strengthen their academic skills through gardening. Science – they learn about the plant life cycle, how they effect the environment, and about nature. Children will learn about weather and their area’s climate and bug life. They are able to use all their senses. Math – They count seeds or hills, they associate patterns, matches and pairs. (for example: we have 2 shovels – 3 people; does everyone get a shovel?) Children also can measure the out the patch or how big the plants are. Literacy – they read or are read to about gardening in books and the seed packets. Also labeling different plants and making observation books will encourage literacy skills.

Motor skills – Children use fine and gross muscles to shovel and dig, plant and harvest, weed and water and check for bugs.

Observation – Have them look at the different plants and compare. They also make sketches and or writings of what they see. (If they are younger, you can dictate for them.)

Zander planting seeds & Lexi observing

Social skills & Life skills – Gardening gets our kids away from TV and helps them learn to share and work together. They are able to get a sense of accomplishment as they work to grow a seed to a full grown plant. This sense of accomplishment helps increase their self esteem. They also may develop appreciation for nature and relate to those that work hard daily on farms. Children will enhance their sensory perception and their creativity. Gardening is also a way to teach nutrition. They are more likely to try fruits and veggies that they have worked hard to grow. Eating more fruits and vegetables will lead to better eating habits and healthier lifestyles. They could be taught the association of plant life with human life. We both have needs to live; water, food and air. Both needs weeding; sometimes in life you need to evaluate and weed out the bad influences and/or habits.

Family Time – While I have already mentioned that it assist children to learn how to share and work together, there are other benefits to this family time. It will be easy to talk to each other while watering and looking for weeds or bugs. You are able to chat and learn about each other instead of being distracted by computer, TV or other influences. You are able to learn more about them and they are able to know you. This will create even more of a bond and relationship.

Lexi's watering

to help with therapy with troubled kids and with children (and adults) with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Stimulating the 5 senses, the outdoors, and using your muscles to work on a goal help in get the relaxation needed. Not to mention, wear out your lil one(s) so they go straight to sleep so you can sleep or enjoy a lil quiet. =)

Whether you live on 5 acres or in an apartment building, their are ways to introduce your children to an interest in gardening. And even children as young as two years old are able to help with digging, planting and watering. Your older child is able to plan, plant and take care of their own garden space or window box with minimal help from a parent.

Zander's observation sketch

I’ve decided this is an important activity to at least dabble in. We are going to begin slowly and maybe one day we will have the large beautiful outside garden that I have always wanted and envisioned. I did a little research and I highly recommend the following book and websites:

Kids Gardening by Kevin Raftery and Kim Gilbert Raftery

www.kidsgardening.com

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/Fun/Funpage.htm

Then I started to collect the things we would need: milk cartons, water jugs, cans, ice cream cartons, etc. Next, I purchased planting soil (although next year, I want to plan enough ahead of time to make our own compost.), gardening gloves, shovels and seeds.

Planter by the window

I decided not to overwhelm myself or the kids, we are going to start off slowly. I had Zander pick which seeds he wanted to plant first and we soaked them overnight as our book instructs. I only soaked enough for one milk carton.

Zander patting

Today, I gathered everything we needed and we began our mission. I precut one of the sides of the milk carton so that I wouldn’t be nervous Zander doing that part. I’m sure as he gets older, he’ll be able to do that though. I had Zander take a golf tee and a play hammer and make holes on the what will be the bottom sides of our recycle planter. Next, Zander & Lexi helped each other fill the milk container with prepared soil. Zander moist the soil and then we made 3 dents to put the seeds in. We put 3 seeds in each. Next he covered the seeds and soil and both he and Lexi watered. I put the carton in a large tub

erware so that the extra water would drain into it instead of my floor or table. Then I had Zander & Lexi take turns lightly patting the soil. Next I had Zander write “Carrots” on a piece of paper and we taped it to the carton. We then moved it to the window. I set Zander up and he documented what he saw in a drawing.

In the next couple of weeks, I plan to add a couple more planters of different veggies. But I think doing one at a time so we do not feel overwhelmed is working. Also this is a starter planter so when the carrots are ready, I will teach Zander to move them to their own pots. He will also learn how to “feed” them and check to see if they need water.

Zander, 5 & Lexi, 19 months 1st day gardening

I bought a topsy turvy at Wal-mart www.topsyturvys.com that we are going to experiment with. First though hubby has to get something to anchor it safely.

I’m really excited about this new adventure and Zander loved every minute of it. Lexi’s gloves would not stay on and I think they are important when working with prepared soil. So I need to find some alternative for her to keep her involved.

In the next few months, I hope to post our growth.

Box Day

Box Day 2009

The door bell rings and I open the door to 2 nice size boxes with blue writing, “Sonlight Curriculum”. I very excitedly tear them open. Its like Christmas for the home school mom.

It didn’t take long before I was in a sea of books. I love reading and thumbing thru everything. 2 hours later, my soon to be kindergartener, comes down the steps and ask, “What is that?” I tell him that it is for kindergarten and he excitedly jumps into the sea with me.

The questions start and I could hear the excitement in his voice. “A map? I love maps, Mom….What do we do with this? What is this book called? All of this is for me? DVD? Can I watch it now?” We had so much fun going thru everything. When he wanted to begin right then, it was so hard to say no when I wanted to start right then, too.

Lexi of course was not left out. I bought a couple touch and feel books.

Here are a few pics of us.

Box Day - Something in Z's eye

Box Day - Zander, 5 & me, 27 wks pregnant

Zander and his new books

Zander excited about Kindergarten

Box Day 2009 - Lexi checking out her new books

Lexi, 18 months, enjoying the touch & feel books

Lexi taking a peek at Zander's books