The source of our Potty treats?
Hubby prefers his trailmix without chocolate.
I prefer the trailmix with candy because the candy package DOESN’T have the messy sunflower and pumpkin seeds of the candyless package that only end up on my floor and down the heat vent.
So we pick out the candies, and end up with a great nut mix and a bag full of potty treats!
(which can also be used to colour oatmeal, if you are feeling festive)
…I don’t think this positive thinking is helping.
🙂
(The boys were sticking stickers on me, asserting with each sticker that I really love the snow—Which melted my heart, but not the snow.)
We had an object lesson (using my necklace) about treasuring the Gospel (referring to Matthew 7:6). We talked about how we wouldn’t let a puppy dog chew on jewelery, and how we likewise shouldn’t treat the knowledge of the Gospel badly (like not using it):
Then we made a map (a great default activity which Giant enjoys and which gets him writing and storytelling without much pain):
My favourite: “scare caoo/z” [scary cows]
I was also impressed when Giant was writing boulder. He started with “bodr,” and when I asked him to sound it out again, he added the “l” without hesitation between the “o” and the “d.”
This is getting easier!
This morning called for severe windchill, frozen body parts, and lots of snow.
The boys hunkered down for a day filled with trains:
Which I interrupted with a message.
Ha!
Actually, I don’t remember the last time I’ve done one of these, and it felt pretty good to acknowledge some effort at structured learning time again.
Giant was delighted, and wanted me to leave “lots of lines” for him to write letters and words on:
Then we looked at a lesson inspired by their train play—Magnets!
We labeled objects that we wanted to find out if they were attracted by magnets or not.
(Ettin helped, of course)
Then, using our handy dandy trains, we tested the attraction potential (just made that term up) of each object:
Sorted our objects and cards:
And concluded that magnets attract stuff made of metal:
Then they played around with the train magnets for a bit, and finally went back to playing with their trains.
Oh, and this…
(the potty) was a welcome and most entertaining feature of all learning time. Did you know that many different letters shapes can appear in…
Nevermind.
Just forget I said anything potty related…I’m afraid its all I have for entertainment!
…
Note: Went on a fun date with my Giant tonight to see Tangled at the theatre. MUCH better entertainment.
I’m not sure I should include this as a homeschooling post, since nothing planned or structured was actually accomplished.
I did feed boys.
They were even dressed for most of the day.
I should mention that it was snowy and cold, and I seem to move and think in slow motion with this weather. Which, living in Alberta, does not bode well for wintertime schooling. Even the thought of things which I love to do, like I tried yesterday, did not energize me.
I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to hibernate for the winter.
*Ahem*
Perhaps a more positive spin?
It was a PLAY DAY!!!
We started with a fun time at the gym…As it is family week here the school kids are out of school, which meant that Giant had his buddy to play with at the gym. Mommy lacked energy to do any running, so I puttered around with the kids We ran around and played soccer (Giant is actually pretty good—he even tries out back passes and can keep the ball away fairly well), played games, and got to let loose in spite of the snow.
We made it home with a couple extra friends, and had a great play date all morning.
Giant and Ettin are the best of friends (and Galoot loves to be around them too). They played with trains all day, planning, discussing, and rebuilding with great co-operation:
Great work boys!
***
Actually, I made sure to take time tonight to strengthen myself spiritually. While I hung laundry, I played the last Sunday session of the Oct 2010 General Conference.
One of the first songs had the words, “lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom.”And, considering my attitude of the day, confirmed to me that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is there to strengthen and lift us as we seek Him.
The talk Courageous Parenting by Larry R. Lawrence also struck a chord with me. It made me consider that even when they have tough days, parents are still an important part of our children’s lives. That the family is crucial to the Plan of Happiness. That we, as parents, need to do all we can to help our children withstand the temptations and state of the world, to help them find true joy.
Sometimes, perhaps, we need a little dark to better see the Light.