Blast Off!!

Homeschool Share is announcing their Back to School Blast to encourage people to submit some new things to the site. I am thinking of trying out a couple of things, so I will keep you updated!

If for some strange reason you haven't visited the site, you have to check it out. A couple of years ago when I very first googled "homeschooling," this was one of the first sites I came to. Of course, I wasn't really going to homeschool, but they had such neat things, even for older kids, so I definitely needed to bookmark it for when I went back to work. But maybe in the meantime, just before pre-k started, maybe Jack and I would do some of the units for the younger kids. You know, just for something to do--not that we were really going to homeschool. That would be a little much. And then somewhere along the way we decided we really were going to do this, and I can't say enough about all the help Ami has offered. This is a great site!

Now get to work so I have more cool free stuff to choose from and you can win great prizes!! : )

Out Like a Lion

We have had some crazy weather the last 24 hours! I spent last night on the couch to keep an ear on the TV, but everything was north of us. This morning when we came home from the library I almost left the car in the driveway, but I ended up moving it in to the garage. It's a good thing, too, because about an hour later we had a crazy hailstorm!

This piece was about the size of a standard bouncy ball. If there is such a thing.

Our yard after the first round--we got some more later on.

After the rain and hail finally stopped, we went to lunch. Jack was ready for more in his boots.

Since we had waited so long to leave for lunch, we had the restaurant to ourselves. Jack thought this was amazing and kept running back and forth to peek into the kitchen window to see if our pizza was done. He was also excited that we got to keep a number on our table for our order.

After lunch we did some grocery shopping and then Jack played fireman in the back yard.

While he played, I baked snickerdoodles. Yum...

Hopefully that is all the wild weather for a while. We have several things planned for outside later this week so we're hoping for sunny skies!

The Weekend

Thanks to my dad's mad computer skillz I now have the internet again. Good thing, too, because Jack told me that he was going to be playing some Caillou this afternoon!

I had a funeral to attend Saturday, so for the first time ever, Jack stayed with someone other than his grandparents. Aunt Amy must have done a pretty good job because while we were backing out of her driveway he asked when he could do that again.

After that, the kids all played at Grandma and Grandpa's. The neighbor had rented one of those cherry picker bucket things to cut limbs, so the kids went down to watch for a bit.

It was a chilly day!

Last night we went out for dinner with Grandpa Jack, which he seemed to enjoy. He probably enjoyed us leaving, too, since he's not used to having three wild kids running around his house!

This afternoon Jack played some Caillou and then got a late Easter surprise--a Corduroy sticker book that was supposed to be in his Easter basket. The Easter basket I never made...
After playing in the bathtub for more than an hour and a half, Jack was ready for bed. Bobey seemed glad to have us back, too!

Then and Now

Last weekend it was time to switch Jack's carseat. So of course I had to take some pictures...

Here he is riding facing forward for the first time...

...and here he is almost three years later!

This is his new booster seat. He LOVES it--his exact words were, "This seat has all the things I need!" He has cup holders on both sides and the seat belt allows him much more freedom to look for his own stuff in the toy box, which I love. He can also let himself out, which is nice.

I also realized that it was a year ago that we started our landscaping in the backyard. Here is Jack with our apricot tree in 2007...

...and in 2008.

We are having internet problems, so this may be my last post for a few days. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Chore Day

Our day today was full of chores: getting the headlight replaced on my car, taking stuff to Goodwill, going to the store, and lots of cleaning!

Time out for a little horseback ride!

Jack worked on his Flat Knight--Sir Bluey.

Bobe hid out while I vacuumed. (Photo courtesy of Jack.)

Gettin' clean

A certain three year old is wanting some computer time, so that's all for tonight!

Playhouse Fun

We started our day off early--about 6:15. That gave us plenty of time to get ready and be at the library when they opened to play before storytime.

This afternoon was spent outside again--it hit 84 before the cold front came in. Jack loves his playhouse. He has had it for almost two years and it still hasn't gotten old.

Tomorrow is supposed to be much cooler, so we will probably be inside more--maybe we'll even get some things done! Tonight we read Flat Stanley (all of it, since Jack doesn't get the idea of a chapter book) so we will be ready to work on our Flat Knight tomorrow!

A Day Out

Between the errands this morning and playing this afternoon, we were out of the house most of the day. We started off with our book club. The book was discussed a little, other stuff a lot, and the kids got in some good play time. After that we all went out for pizza.

Swing!

It was warm again today, so we got out the water stuff.

Jack was glad to finally find a big green ball. His old one blew away.

We did come inside briefly to make some cookies.

This evening we delivered the cookies and dinner to a friend and then went to Taco Bueno to eat. Jack is in the tub now still playing with the boats from the water table.

Time for a bath!

Also, yesterday I realized I am getting old and actually needed to get some shoes with some support. Flip flops just aren't cutting it when we're climbing all over the playground and taking walks. We ran by Kohl's today and I found these on sale--plus my mom had given me a 15% off coupon, so they were a pretty good deal. (Yes, I'm standing on the toilet in this picture. No, my pants aren't really that short; I was hitching them up to get a better picture. And yes, my feet are big.)

This evening I will NOT be lured in by full online episodes of The Office or cleaning out my closet. I WILL do school work. Well, maybe just one episode.

This & That

My best accomplishment of the day: cutting Jack's toenails! Jack has had crazy toenails since he was a baby, and he has never liked having them cut. Usually I do it at night when he is asleep, but he has taken to wearing socks at night--for months on end. Today I finally told him if he would sit still and let me cut his toenails I would buy him something from the dollar section at Target. That was the best dollar I ever spent. Now he can wear sandals and not look like a feral child.

After that big event, we went to the library and to lunch.

Then it was off to do some grocery shopping, and of course, the park.

This afternoon we made our homemade water table. For a long time I have wanted a sand and water table, but Jay just does not see the need--he thinks I have a thing about tables. Imagine! Actually, the logical part of me agrees with him, but the other 98.4% of me thinks we really need one. The homemade one worked quite well and will even fit into the deck bench. Now I need to find something else to put the extra sheets in, though.

Even emptying it was fun!

While I made a lasagna, Jack entertained himself by cutting out stuff from the Oriental Trading Company catalog. I had to vacuum afterward.

This evening we played outside for a little longer--bubbles, croquet, soccer, and pirates.

Uniqua and Pablo got lost in the weed jungle. Actually, I don't think it is a weed, but that's what Jack wanted to call it.

Jack finally dropped off to sleep about 8:30. He says he is ready for more water tomorrow, so I am sure it will be another outside afternoon!

Easter Weekend

Here are a few pictures from our busy Easter weekend!

Hunting for eggs

Dressed up for church

Jack got in LOTS of outside time.

Even Boris had a good time. He found a new hiding spot at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Eight Weird Things

A few days ago, Tiffany tagged me to share eight weird things about myself. Since I can't upload pictures tonight, I thought this would be a good time to do it!

1. I have never eaten an apple. I have eaten them in things and I did once take a bite of an apple slice (is there anything I won't do for my child??), but I have never just taken a bite of an apple. I don't like crunchy foods.
2. I am a library school dropout.
3. I won a math competition in 6th grade.
4. I won Outstanding Biology Student in 10th grade. (Let's pause to give Jay time to stop laughing here. That one is one of his favorites.)
5. I had liked the name "Jack Henry" for a boy for quite a while--turns out it is the name of Jay's grandpa. Only ten years and one month later (yes, we're pretty quick around here!), we had our very own Jack Henry.
6. My best friend from all the way back in elementary school held one of my legs while I was in labor so Jay would be free to deliver Jack. Our upstairs neighbor was the delivery tech. That made me feel a little weird when I would run into him at the mailbox.
7. I got my first teaching job at the school my mom left when she had me. Down the hall were two of my dad's high school classmates and the principal was my 8th grade algebra teacher's daughter.
8. The most gorgeous dress I own is a colonial dress I had made for school. What's weird is I really thought I could still fit into it when I was 4.5 months pregnant. (Jay got a big kick out of that experience, too, I think, though he tried to seem sympathetic.)

So there are my eight weird things. Though I am sure some of you can think of plenty more right off the tops of your heads, I have had to think hard about these! If you have a blog and you haven't done this one, consider yourself tagged!

Zoo Day

Along with the 90% of the rest of the people in the metro, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and headed to the zoo.

Jack loves the playgrounds.

He told me he saw "darkness" in this hole.

Swimming bear

A cotton-candy eating squirrel

Jack was thrilled to have a sno-cone.

The sugar is kicking in!

Obligatory zoo car pic