Monday, March 31, 2008
Baby shower
I took the boys to a double baby shower yesterday. Two sisters both having girls! It was really fun and my mom was there and really enjoyed seeing the boys. During the gift opening, Cameron was trying to help! Carson said that he really likes baby showers. He had a great time and played with the other children that were there.
Dandelions
Cameron loves to sit on the porch and crawl around to the edge of the grass to find a dandelion. The little guy is fast and can eat a dandelion in a split second!
Kapla
We have these cool building planks called Kapla. Carson makes the coolest things - he builds, he makes roadway, you name it...he makes it with these pieces. He began building one of the creations from the book. He was doing pretty well, but soon was frustrated at following the picture. Together, we ended up building a rocket. Since his Abuelo brought a rocket on easter, he loves everything rocket!
Playday in the mud
Carson's friend, Cody and his little brother Carter came over for a playday last week. Per Carson's request, Cody brought his bike so they could ride in the cul-de-sac. However, they didn't get a chance to bike because they were too busy playing in the mud they made. Carson continued to play in the mud after his friends left. It amazes me how dirty a little boy can get! I love that summer is coming. I am looking forward to making a mud pie with him like when I was a little girl :)
Spring Ants
Carson has a pump sprayer that he fills with water and soap to spray fire ants (Mark uses a homemade blend of organic ingredients that includes soap to spray for ants). He spent hours walking around the yard picking up stepping stones and spraying for ants. He is very serious and just like a little man when he is working.
Learning to write
Well, my compulsion for list writing has finally paid off! Carson has been taking pieces of paper and writing his own lists. I can actually read them. For example: "ETL" = "Eat Lunch". "BHCP"="Buy hovercraft parts". "FCT"="Fly Kite".
Again, like most of our learning, this is totally initiated by Carson.
Again, like most of our learning, this is totally initiated by Carson.
Pump it up JR
There is a cute little play place called Pump It Up JR that we went to last week. It is only for children 6 years and under. We met up some friends and the boys had a great time. Cameron LOVED it. He really like the car that they had and tried to beat up a few babies to get into one. Carson had a good time, but being one of the few BIG kids was hard for him since there were so many little ones to look out for. He has so much energy and he is so strong.
Preschool Co-op
One of the moms in our homeschool playgroup organized a preschool co-op. The host organizes an activity or craft. We meet weekly and today I hosted for the group. We had 11 children ranging from 7months old - 8years old. The children played for about an hour and then we painted large stones with acrylic paint to decorate our gardens or patios. Then we took paper cups that we decorated with stickers and scooped in soil and rye grass seed to grow pretty grass. It should look a little like a chia pet. After the crafts, we played a few games (bug-in-the-rug and duck, duck goose). We also put together Carson's large train that his Abuelo and Abuela bought for his birthday. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures until after it was over. However, I have pics of Carson's creations and my rock examples that I did the night before.
Update: Carson giving his grass a haircut picture uploaded
How does that word sound?
Here are a few observations from Carson today:
"Why do they call it a toilet when there are no toys in it?"
"Why do they call it bratwurst when it is the best?"
"Why do they call it a plate when you can't even play with it?"
"Why do they call it a toilet when there are no toys in it?"
"Why do they call it bratwurst when it is the best?"
"Why do they call it a plate when you can't even play with it?"
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter Lunch and Family Visit
My Mom, Dad, Brother and niece came over for Easter lunch. We had a Ham, scalloped potatoes and pea salad. My mom brought some yummy orange sweet potatoes to complete the meal. It was a real nice visit.
My parents brought a gift for each of the boys. Carson's was a real rocket that you can launch along with 3 engines. He was so excited that he didn't really want to do anything else all day other than play with that rocket. He has been wanting one for a while and likes rockets so much that we have had plans to go see the launches with DARS soon.
Cameron sat with everyone during the meal while my Mom fed him peas and potatoes. I think she really enjoyed it as Carson didn't really eat much food until he was much older.
After the meal, we had some chocolate-zuccini cupcakes that I made. I frosted them with a cream cheese frosting that I had colored with natural vegetable dye and topped with 3 natural jelly beans each. My niece, Baleigh and Carson helped me decorate them. Carson hasn't ever had a frosted cupcake. He wants to do Easter again tomorrow :)
My parents brought a gift for each of the boys. Carson's was a real rocket that you can launch along with 3 engines. He was so excited that he didn't really want to do anything else all day other than play with that rocket. He has been wanting one for a while and likes rockets so much that we have had plans to go see the launches with DARS soon.
Cameron sat with everyone during the meal while my Mom fed him peas and potatoes. I think she really enjoyed it as Carson didn't really eat much food until he was much older.
After the meal, we had some chocolate-zuccini cupcakes that I made. I frosted them with a cream cheese frosting that I had colored with natural vegetable dye and topped with 3 natural jelly beans each. My niece, Baleigh and Carson helped me decorate them. Carson hasn't ever had a frosted cupcake. He wants to do Easter again tomorrow :)
Easter Morning
The boys left their empty easter baskets on the table before going to bed for the easter bunny to fill. They know that the easter bunny is fiction, but it is fun anyway. In the morning along with the filled baskets, there was a half-eaten carrot because the bunny needed a snack. Carson was so excited to get the little toys in his basket. He kept saying, "I REALLY like what I got in my easter basket!!". I also made some pretty cookies for Carson's basket. He was so happy to get them and didn't want to eat because they were so pretty. He got over that fast!
Homemade Easter Egg Dyes
I decided to make homemade dye to color our easter eggs this year. Carson helped me prepare them. Green=spinach, Tumeric=yellow, Paprika=orange, Red Cabbage=lavendar, Beets=pink
First, I boiled the foods in water. The next day, we colored the eggs with the help of my brother, Charlie and niece, Baleigh. It was fun, but the green and purple didn't color well, so I had to add some of my store bought natural vegetable dyes. Carson really enjoyed it, but was wanting to finish. I think he just wanted to play with Charlie and Baleigh more than color eggs. He always prefers to play when friends or family visit rather than do a project. He is so social.
First, I boiled the foods in water. The next day, we colored the eggs with the help of my brother, Charlie and niece, Baleigh. It was fun, but the green and purple didn't color well, so I had to add some of my store bought natural vegetable dyes. Carson really enjoyed it, but was wanting to finish. I think he just wanted to play with Charlie and Baleigh more than color eggs. He always prefers to play when friends or family visit rather than do a project. He is so social.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Releasing Ladybugs
We bought a bad of ladybugs from the organic garden store. There are 1750 ladybugs in that little bag and Carson and I had a blast putting them in the garden and throughout the yard. Cameron even helped although there is a slight chance he accidentally ate one. I also took a cute pic of Cam trying to grab the stream of water.
Blueberry Snow Cream
We had a great day at the park with Daddy last Friday. When we came home, Carson decided to create his blueberry snow cream from the snow he collected on our Snow Day. He told me on the drive home that he will need: snow, blueberries, raw agave nectar, and coconut flakes.
As soon as we walked into the door, he began his creation. He made us each a bowl. He said it was the best dessert that he has ever had.
As soon as we walked into the door, he began his creation. He made us each a bowl. He said it was the best dessert that he has ever had.
The Flower Cycle
Carson had picked a flower for me to put in water. We were talking about how the flower will die since it had been picked and is no longer in soil. This is what Carson said about that:
"Mom, it is okay that it's going to die because it will go to heaven. Yeah, flower heaven and then come back to the earth and go into the ground and become compost and then grow another flower that will go into heaven and come back to the earth and go into the ground and become compost and then grow into another flower..."
You get the idea.
"Mom, it is okay that it's going to die because it will go to heaven. Yeah, flower heaven and then come back to the earth and go into the ground and become compost and then grow another flower that will go into heaven and come back to the earth and go into the ground and become compost and then grow into another flower..."
You get the idea.
Robot Costume
Carson decided to make a robot costume. I helped him get a paper grocery bag prepared and he painted it and has plans to make an aluminum foil helmet. He is always so thrilled to be able to build whatever he envisions.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
What do we do? Are you kidding??!..
Carson does not watch TV or videos. The first question that people ask is, "What do you do all day??!". Well, today was a stormy day and we decided to stay in (rare for us) and here is a breakdown of our day:
1. Wake up and all three of us snuggle for about 3ominutes
2. Change baby and nurse as Carson declares how excited he is that it is storming...Then I work hard to keep him inside the house while still in PJs with no breakfast
3. Take shower while watching boys play in Master closet (it is huge). During most of the shower, Carson squeals with excitement that Cameron is crawling so fast
4. Sort laundry with Carson and put a load of diapers in the washer
5. Hang out and play in Carson's bedroom while he gets dressed
6. Carson puts today's day on the calendar and tells me what time it is and writes it while I keep Cameron from eating calendar magnets (the little guy is getting FAST!)
7. Cook sprouted cream of spelt while Cameron unloads tupperware drawer and I load dishwasher with Carson's help
8. Eat breakfast and afterwards realize that the kitchen is messier than before I cleaned it. 'sigh'
9. Straighten up kitchen while Carson and Cameron play ball
10. Sit in playroom and build log houses with boys. Carson built and extra-special one for Cameron to destroy and I video tape the demolition
11. Carson decides he wants to make a robot costume (don't know where that idea came from) so we go in the craft room and I cut a head and arm holes from a paper grocery bag while Carson gets his paint clothes on and builds a special rocket out of construction paper. Cameron is teething on craft room chair seats.
12. Get white paint and roller out for Carson to prime his robot bag costume. Carson starts to paint
13. Cameron is tired so I leave Carson to paint while I go to nurse Cameron for his morning nap
14. Check on Carson and per his request, I assist him at painting the bag white. We let that dry and work on the rocket some more
15. We read about 30minutes of Charlotte's Web
16. I fold clothes from dryer and Carson puts diapers from washer into dryer
17. We drink some herbal hot tea and sit on the porch to watch the rain, birds and squirrels. Carson is amazed how quickly our trees are blooming.
18. Have a snack of the banana pudding that I made for St.Patrick's Day I colored it with Spirulina
19. I lay in recliner and snooze for about 7minutes while Carson reads to himself
20. Cameron wakes up and we snuggle him for about 20minutes. Cameron has a dry diaper and he pees in the potty and I put same diaper on. Carson is so excited when Cameron pees in potty.
21. Start to make lunch (tuna/egg salad). Cameron needs to be held, so I wear him. Carson puts on some music and we sing along while he gets ingredients from fridge. Carson whines he is STARVING so he bites the hard boiled eggs before lunch is ready.
22. Eat lunch. Cameron gets some egg yolk which he seems happy about. (still won't sign food)
23. Clean up kitchen (again) and start dishwasher
24. Go outside and get rained on some for fun. Splash in the puddles. Hear thunder and run back inside
25. Carson plays his fancy new 'real' guitar that Daddy bought him. Cameron plays the baby guitar that Carson gave him when he got the 'real' guitar. I play everything else..drums, maracas, triangle, harmonica, cymbols
26. Check on robot costume...yeah! it's dry. Get paints back out so Carson can color his robot.
27. Cameron seems ready for another nap. Carson paints while I go nurse Cameron to sleep.
28. Check on Carson and he is back playing with the logs and a farm set he got out.
29. I make phone calls about camper parts and gutter repairs
29. Together we clean up the craft room up and let the robot dry again
30. Chat with friend on phone while Carson tells me he wants to do glitter
31. Finish chatting with friend and glitter is 'accidentally' all over floor
32. We vaccum glitter and since I have it out, vaccum kitchen, foyer and hallway. Carson helps.
33. We do glitter. Carson made a really nice picture with the sun, moon and grass. We let it dry with the robot.
34. Vaccum glitter (again)
35. We go into family room and clean up the fort that we built 2 days ago. Carson wants to build a different one and I tell him that after we straighten up the playroom, we can.
36. Cameron is up and ready to go. Dry again. Pees on potty.
37. 5min later, Cameron poops in diaper. Oops, maybe next time! Go change diaper.
38. We straighten up the playroom and media room
39. Start getting dinner together and Mark calls and say he's running behind
40. I wear Cameron while I get dinner together. Carson is making up a game where people pay 2cents to watch his swingset show. He is busy making receipts for the people that pay to see his show (my little entrepreneur)
41. Carson is too hungry to wait for Daddy, so we sit down to eat just as Daddy walks in.
42. Daddy takes Cameron to Master closet to change from his work clothes while Carson and I eat.
43. Daddy and Cameron eat and then play together while Carson and I finish Charlotte's Web
44. 1 more chapter to go, but Cameron is ready for bed so I take him while Daddy reads the final chapter
45. After nursing Cameron, Carson wants me to re-read final chapter since it was 'our thing'. I read last chapter.
46. Daddy gets Carson ready for bed and tells stories for 30minutes and it's lights out. It's 9pm.
So, tell me. Where is the time for TV?? This is a day that we were actually home. Typically, we are out playing with friends. I just can't seem to find anything that I would like to cut out of our day to incorporate it. So, we don't watch TV or movies. What do we do?? We live.
1. Wake up and all three of us snuggle for about 3ominutes
2. Change baby and nurse as Carson declares how excited he is that it is storming...Then I work hard to keep him inside the house while still in PJs with no breakfast
3. Take shower while watching boys play in Master closet (it is huge). During most of the shower, Carson squeals with excitement that Cameron is crawling so fast
4. Sort laundry with Carson and put a load of diapers in the washer
5. Hang out and play in Carson's bedroom while he gets dressed
6. Carson puts today's day on the calendar and tells me what time it is and writes it while I keep Cameron from eating calendar magnets (the little guy is getting FAST!)
7. Cook sprouted cream of spelt while Cameron unloads tupperware drawer and I load dishwasher with Carson's help
8. Eat breakfast and afterwards realize that the kitchen is messier than before I cleaned it. 'sigh'
9. Straighten up kitchen while Carson and Cameron play ball
10. Sit in playroom and build log houses with boys. Carson built and extra-special one for Cameron to destroy and I video tape the demolition
11. Carson decides he wants to make a robot costume (don't know where that idea came from) so we go in the craft room and I cut a head and arm holes from a paper grocery bag while Carson gets his paint clothes on and builds a special rocket out of construction paper. Cameron is teething on craft room chair seats.
12. Get white paint and roller out for Carson to prime his robot bag costume. Carson starts to paint
13. Cameron is tired so I leave Carson to paint while I go to nurse Cameron for his morning nap
14. Check on Carson and per his request, I assist him at painting the bag white. We let that dry and work on the rocket some more
15. We read about 30minutes of Charlotte's Web
16. I fold clothes from dryer and Carson puts diapers from washer into dryer
17. We drink some herbal hot tea and sit on the porch to watch the rain, birds and squirrels. Carson is amazed how quickly our trees are blooming.
18. Have a snack of the banana pudding that I made for St.Patrick's Day I colored it with Spirulina
19. I lay in recliner and snooze for about 7minutes while Carson reads to himself
20. Cameron wakes up and we snuggle him for about 20minutes. Cameron has a dry diaper and he pees in the potty and I put same diaper on. Carson is so excited when Cameron pees in potty.
21. Start to make lunch (tuna/egg salad). Cameron needs to be held, so I wear him. Carson puts on some music and we sing along while he gets ingredients from fridge. Carson whines he is STARVING so he bites the hard boiled eggs before lunch is ready.
22. Eat lunch. Cameron gets some egg yolk which he seems happy about. (still won't sign food)
23. Clean up kitchen (again) and start dishwasher
24. Go outside and get rained on some for fun. Splash in the puddles. Hear thunder and run back inside
25. Carson plays his fancy new 'real' guitar that Daddy bought him. Cameron plays the baby guitar that Carson gave him when he got the 'real' guitar. I play everything else..drums, maracas, triangle, harmonica, cymbols
26. Check on robot costume...yeah! it's dry. Get paints back out so Carson can color his robot.
27. Cameron seems ready for another nap. Carson paints while I go nurse Cameron to sleep.
28. Check on Carson and he is back playing with the logs and a farm set he got out.
29. I make phone calls about camper parts and gutter repairs
29. Together we clean up the craft room up and let the robot dry again
30. Chat with friend on phone while Carson tells me he wants to do glitter
31. Finish chatting with friend and glitter is 'accidentally' all over floor
32. We vaccum glitter and since I have it out, vaccum kitchen, foyer and hallway. Carson helps.
33. We do glitter. Carson made a really nice picture with the sun, moon and grass. We let it dry with the robot.
34. Vaccum glitter (again)
35. We go into family room and clean up the fort that we built 2 days ago. Carson wants to build a different one and I tell him that after we straighten up the playroom, we can.
36. Cameron is up and ready to go. Dry again. Pees on potty.
37. 5min later, Cameron poops in diaper. Oops, maybe next time! Go change diaper.
38. We straighten up the playroom and media room
39. Start getting dinner together and Mark calls and say he's running behind
40. I wear Cameron while I get dinner together. Carson is making up a game where people pay 2cents to watch his swingset show. He is busy making receipts for the people that pay to see his show (my little entrepreneur)
41. Carson is too hungry to wait for Daddy, so we sit down to eat just as Daddy walks in.
42. Daddy takes Cameron to Master closet to change from his work clothes while Carson and I eat.
43. Daddy and Cameron eat and then play together while Carson and I finish Charlotte's Web
44. 1 more chapter to go, but Cameron is ready for bed so I take him while Daddy reads the final chapter
45. After nursing Cameron, Carson wants me to re-read final chapter since it was 'our thing'. I read last chapter.
46. Daddy gets Carson ready for bed and tells stories for 30minutes and it's lights out. It's 9pm.
So, tell me. Where is the time for TV?? This is a day that we were actually home. Typically, we are out playing with friends. I just can't seem to find anything that I would like to cut out of our day to incorporate it. So, we don't watch TV or movies. What do we do?? We live.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Charlotte's Web
We checked out Charlotte's Web from the library last week.
I honestly couldn't remember if I had read it when I was a kid. I also couldn't remember how it ended. Tonight we finished the book and Carson was really upset when Charlotte died. I was pretty misty-eyed too. I felt so bad when Carson's heart broke. I had asked him about 3/4 of the way through if he wanted to continue since it might end up sad (when I thought they might eat Wilber) and he really wanted to continue.
It was a great story of loyalty and friendship and one that I think he'll remember. He'll probably want to start it again tomorrow.
I honestly couldn't remember if I had read it when I was a kid. I also couldn't remember how it ended. Tonight we finished the book and Carson was really upset when Charlotte died. I was pretty misty-eyed too. I felt so bad when Carson's heart broke. I had asked him about 3/4 of the way through if he wanted to continue since it might end up sad (when I thought they might eat Wilber) and he really wanted to continue.
It was a great story of loyalty and friendship and one that I think he'll remember. He'll probably want to start it again tomorrow.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
A child's perspective
Carson and I were having a conversation about homeschooling and how fortunate he is that he gets to homeschool. We were talking about how much we appreciate how much Daddy works to allow us to stay home. This is how the conversation concluded:
Me: "I wish I was homeschooled so I could have done all of this cool stuff"
Carson: "You were homeschooled"
Me: "No, I went to school"
Carson: "Why not?"
Me: "My mom had to work"
Carson: "You get to homeschool!"
Me: "I do?"
Carson: "YEAH, Mom...you are homeschooled NOW!"
Me: "I wish I was homeschooled so I could have done all of this cool stuff"
Carson: "You were homeschooled"
Me: "No, I went to school"
Carson: "Why not?"
Me: "My mom had to work"
Carson: "You get to homeschool!"
Me: "I do?"
Carson: "YEAH, Mom...you are homeschooled NOW!"
Cowtown Goes Green
We drove to Fort Worth this weekend to visit Abuelo and Abuela. There was a St.Patrick's Day festival (Cowtown Goes Green) in the Stockyards and we all went. The weather was perfect for being outdoors. Carson played a dulcimer with a street musician and after visiting the petting zoo and checking out the riders on the mechanical bull, we stopped at Booger Red's for a drink and snack. Then we went outside to watch the festival conclude with a parade. It was a great time! Cameron was exhausted when we left and couldn't wait to catch a nap in the van on the way back to the house.
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