Archive for the ‘Homeschool’ Category
Cute Pictures of Aiden
Aiden a day old
Zander and Aiden July 4th
Proud Papa
Lil Aiden Dale
Zander and Lexi See Aiden for the 1st Time
Zander and Lexi went to Grammie and Papa Sackrider’s while Aiden was being born. They came home later that night to a new addition to the family. They were so excited and happy.
Also, Dale’s sister, Cher and her 2 children and Dale’s Grandfather and Grandmother Cunningham came to visit.
Here are some pics of Aiden’s first visitors.
Zander and Lexi seeing Aiden for the First time!
Zander Holding Aiden for the First time
Lexi thinking she has a new baby doll. =)
Grammie and Papa seeing Aiden for the First time.
Grandpa and Grandma Cunningham seeing Aiden for the First time.
Aunt Cher holding Aiden!
Me and the 3 kids!
Aiden was born July 3rd 2:46am
Here’s the post every one has been waiting for!!!
This is the story of Aiden’s birth.
July 2nd I went into the midwife and I was measuring over 42weeks and still 6 days away from my due date. The midwife
Last Midwife appt before Aiden was born, July 2nd.
suggested to use caster oil and lets get the show on the road.
I had a pasta dinner ad then a couple hours later took the caster oil with some OJ and baking soda. I was told later that the baking soda is to make the drink more like a soda but with mine it didn’t mix and instead I got the baking soda in one clump and it was nasty. Since I have been having contractions for months, my midwife was sure this would work and I’d be in labor.
My two midwives arrived about 1030pm. The caster oil began to work about 11pm. Dale and I were joking and laughing the whole time. I kept saying, “there is no way we are having a baby tonight; this is way to easy.” I just was think about how previously it was such an ordeal and painful. No pitocin and using bradley method; what a difference!!
At 1:37am my water broke. I got in the shower for a few minutes. The midwife asked me on a scale 1-10 how strong they were. I said, “6 with a couple 9s.” She told me to get out and use the bathroom while they set up the birth pool. With in a couple minutes they were now 9s. She told me to lay on the bed for a minute to check dialation and hear the baby’s heart beat before getting into the pool. By this point they were all 9s if not all 10s. But still doing ok.
I got in the pool and it felt great. The warm water definitely took the edge off the contraction. I was going every two minutes and I had Aiden in my arm at 2:46am
Aiden getting examined by the midwife.
Aiden Dale was born at 7 pounds, 14 ounces and 19 inches.
It was an awesome, peaceful experience giving birth at home. I hope to never go back to the hospital for another birth of my future kids
Me and Aiden only a couple hours after his birth.
Peoria Fire Staion 197
Our MOPs group put an event together to take our youngsters to see the local fire department. Thank you to all the fire fighters at Peoria Fire Station 197. All of the kids just had soooo much fun. The fire men gave us a tour of the inside of the station including their living quarters. Then they took us to the bay. When my son stepped into it he said, “OH WOW!” which as a mom just confirmed that this was exactly what we should be doing on a Saturday morning.
While in the bay, the fire fighers allowed the children inside, then showed the children all the special tools they have and then one fire fighter showed the children the “special cloths”. The fire fighter slowly put on the protective clothing, allowing the children to touch and also to see that he was still him under the cloths.
The Saturday before, Zander was in a bike accident. You will see in the photos where he was very scrapped up. (editor’s note: Its been a month now and he’s doing and looks fantastic.)
You will also notice; I am VERY pregnant. I only 6 days from giving birth when these photos were taken.
Zander super excited to see and touch the fire truck!
Fire fighter showing the children all the stuff they put on
"See, I'm still me. I'm not scary at all, am I?"
Ladder truck beginning to put ladder up.
The gang!
Space Camp
I can remember as a kid watching the movie, Space Camp, over and over again. I really liked that movie alot. And WOW does that age me by saying that. It was crazy when I realized that the kid, Max, is Joaquin Phoenix; who most of you know as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line or Jack Morrison in Ladder 49. This movie made me want to go to space camp. I thought it would be cool and fun. In June, I lived vicariously though my son.
This was a big deal to him and to me for several reasons. More then I wanted to go to space camp since I was a little girl; Zander has never really been away from me; except for church nursery and with grammie every now and then. He doesn’t attend preschool either. So this was great that for 5 days, he went to Space Camp from 8:00am to noon. This was nice so that my 9 month pregnant body got a break from his high energy and I was able to spend some one on one time with my baby girl before she was not longer the baby any more.
He was so excited the night before but as we got ready Monday morning he was so nervous and said repeatedly that he did not want to go. I pushed and pushed him till we were out the door and in the minivan. It made my heart glad that as we pulled into the space center he said, “oh here!! Yay!! Oh, Yes, I want to go here.”
Then as I signed him in and said good-bye he realized that I was not staying as like we attended previously. (even though we went over this several times prior to us committing to coming). It took a few minutes of coaxing and a teenage kid named Matt that was the teacher’s assistant that bribed him with toys to get him to let me go.
When I picked him up Monday afternoon, it was quite evident that he had totally forgot about his fears of being there without me and truly enjoyed himself and the activities of the day.
Tuesday morning he pushed me out the door so much we were there 10 minutes earlier then needed.
Every day they did different activities. Several days I got there a few minutes early to snap a few pics of him in action. He was so into the festivities that he never saw me while I was in the background. And was always excited to tell me about the day.
It was a great experience for him and me. Our only negative, I was given the incorrect time of when the little graduation at the end of the week. Dale and I missed it. Fortunately, they reenact it for us.
Here are some snap shots from the week.
The kids shot fizzy rockets over this wall.
Challenger Learning Center--Picking Zander up on Tuesday
Zander leaving on Wednesday with his activities from the day
Zander letting go of his homemade helicopter from the 2nd floor.
Zander graduating from Space Camp
Matt, the assistant that Zander really took to.
Zander showing off his space shuttle
San Diego with Aunt Karline
Dale’s sister came in June to visit. We escaped the city life and the Phoenix heat. We left for San Diego. Just a short trip. Left in the evening, stopped at a hotel mid way there, got up in the morning, made the rest of the drive and then spent the day in San Diego. Enjoyed the day and the beach and then left to go home. While there we ate a restaurant called The Blue Parrot. The food was great. I had lobster tacos. The tacos had lots of lobster meat and they were perfectly cooked. I can’t wait till we go again so I can order more. The trip was short but the breeze, the beach smell, the beach sounds and great seafood… It was so worth the drive.
Here are some pictures.
My view while the others played in the water =)
Dale flying the kite and kids having fun in the sun.
Lexi, you're suppose to swim in the water; not the sand.=)
Summer Time Fun
I’m a little behind in my blogging. In May, it was abnormally hotter then usual. We were having 100 degree plus days. But kids still need outside time or they go crazy. So I had to think of some creative ways to go outside.
Of course, we made sure we went out earlier in the day. Also, we have a pool but some times going to the pool is just alot of work for a last trimester pregnant woman to get 2 kids ready for the pool, supervise and then help dry off and redressed.
So I was hot one day and needed an activity. I filled two spray water bottles (like you spray plants with) and gave each kid a spray bottle with one rule. The only rule is not to spray each other. They sprayed their selves, the slide, the fence and even my windows. Thanks for cleaning them, kids. They stayed out there for over and hour. And the next day Zander asked to do it again. Now we’ve been doing it once a week.
Here are some summer time fun pics.
Lexi having fun spraying
Oops pointed the wrong way, Lexi Lu Lu
Zander having fun spraying!
He even sprayed out the grim in the window track.
Their new bathing suits are so cute!
Children’s Museum of Phoenix Review
Recently our family had the opportunity to go to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. (http://www.childrensmuseumofphoenix.org) I had heard some great things about the museum and was also considering it for an upcoming MOPS event. (for those that didn’t know, I’m a Mothers of PreSchoolers Coordinator for our church) So I was very excited when Dale emailed saying to thank his company for their support and contributions, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Lexi waiting in line in her stylish glasses.
was graciously offering a free day of admission for the employees and their family members. Normal admission is $9 for 1 year and older. I didn’t want us to miss out on this deal!
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is located in the 70,000 square foot historic Monroe School building in the heart of downtown Phoenix. All exhibits are hands-on and interactive to engage the minds, muscles and imaginations of 0-10 year olds. Learning thru playing is GREAT!!!
We had a little line to get in but not too bad. They had chalk out, so that while we waited to get into the museum, the children could draw with the chalk on the sidewalk and under the covered area.
One of the first exhibits you see when you walk in is Whoosh!
Zander drawing on the side walk while we wait to go inside.
Although we waited to the end of the day, right before we left to try it out. Also, one of the first things you see is an wall of cd’s which looks very impressive and the sunlight coming in shines on them making them twinkle and very stimulating to any age. Whoosh! is like a bunch of pipes put together with wind in side so that when children put in neon scarves; they are pushed thru the pipes quickly and then they float down for the kids to catch.
An exhibit that we spent a lot of time in is Pit Stop. It had three levels of race tracks for toy cars. There was also a race car and motorcycle to play on. It also had like a gas pump slash rocket thing that the children enjoyed making the lights light up and flipping all the different switches. There was this xylophone made of wrenches that the kids (and Dale) had a blast on.
Zander and Lexi on the motorcycle.
There was also Noodle Forest. It is a huge area with those gigantic pool-noodle like noodles hanging from the ceiling. As a mom to a 5 and 1 year old, this actually concerned me because once they were in there, I wouldn’t be able to see them at all. Call me paranoid or overprotective but that’s the first thing I thought when I saw it. Dale tried to stay with Zander and I kept Lexi in the stroller so that we wouldn’t loose track of them. This was fun but even with this method; Zander lost Daddy once and we had to track him down. Which made a bit of a panic for a minute and then we left the noodles.
Daddy helping Lexi with the Whoosh! exhibit.
The smaller of the two pipings for the Whoosh! Exhibit
Daddy and Zander in the Noodle Forest
Mommy pushing Lexi thru the Noodle Forest.
There was an awesome Art Studio there with lot of things to choose to do. I wish I had known this before hand since the only thing Zander wanted to do included getting completely covered in paint. My poor new van. Thankfully, we opt for a program that was scheduled.
Stuffee the mascot.
In the Junior League of Phoenix classroom, we were able to participate in the Body Basics with Stuffee program. We met the Museum’s health mascot, Stuffee. He helps children discover the importance of the heart, lungs and stomach, and how to keep each organ healthy. Zander seemed to enjoy this but this was really a bit over Zander’s and definately over Lexi’s head. She complained to let us know she was ready to do something different. I loved the walls covered in children’s art and gave lots of ideas of things we could do next year for art.
There were several little exhibits in the halls that the kids love. One made lots of noise and the sand table was hit. But the exhibit that we spent the majority of our time in was the Place for Under-Threes. This is for the younger visitors and designed to meet the needs of infant and toddlers. It had a deck, slide, a kitchen/house play area, ball area, pillow area with books and just soo much. This was the whole family’s favorite area. Everyone had so much fun. There was a vent that had a sensor so if a child crawled or walked over it blew air, which was neat to see the children’s reaction. It had different things for sound and touch. There was just so much I’m sure we missed some of it but enjoyed all that we did.
Lexi over the sensored air vent!
Lexi in the ball area, catches her self in the mirror
One of the hallway exhibits.
Washers down a metal pipe..so loud but so much fun
Mommy, 30 wks pregnant, and the kids playing at the sand table.
Lexi and Zander loved the sand table.
We visited the cafe but there is not much to it so I would not advise to plan lunch there, maybe just snack. Also, having younger kids, I didn’t think that $9 was worth it for the ages of my kids since they could not participate in all that the museum had to offer. I think this is great for school aged, but not great for full price for infant to preschoolers. That’s just my opinion. As the museum continues to grow and open new exhibits and galleries, I’m sure my opinion will change. However for now, I’m glad I had a free pass for my 1 year old. =)
Overall, we had a fun filled family day!! Daddy doesn’t always get to do our activities with us and I’m very glad that we all got to go together, have a blast and make new memories!
Zander’s Last Space Place
We have so enjoyed going to the Arizona Challenger Space Center. http://www.azchallenger.org Once every month from September to May they talk about a planet, have craft time and play time. May was the last month for Space Place till September. It was on Pluto. Although Pluto is no longer classified as a planet, they discussed this and why.
I’m hoping by us going every month for Space Place, this summer he will want to go the summer camp they have for Kindergarteners.
May, they also went outside and let off fizzy rockets. Take alka seltzer tablet and put in a film tube and fill with water. Put the lid on, set it down and walk away. POP!! A fizzy rocket. Zander loved this. Here are a couple pics of the fun.
Zander setting the rocket.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 blast off!
Zander impressed!