Day 1 of Operation Homeschool

Yesterday I went shopping for some new supplies - markers, books, flash cards, etc. so that I could get this homeschooling thing going just a little bit. Now, I'm not teaching him rocket science or anything, just basic things he should know by the time he would be going into preschool. Numbers, colors, alphabet, shapes, etc. Like I said, he knows most of those things, but I'd like to work on it more. I'd also like to introduce more crafts. I let him color, sometimes, but he has a tendency to color on everything but the paper - or at least he did. I bought some finger paints (yikes!), more markers (for different shades of colors), construction paper, glue, etc.

Today we did some coloring and played with playdoh, along with flash cards and reading. Now, my child is very stubborn. He wanted to color right away, but when he was done, he was done. I'm not going to make him sit down and color. That would take the fun away. Here are some of his drawings - I tried to label what he told me they were. You'll notice one drawing says "boat car" - he likes to tell me things are a "boat car truck" or he'll tell me "blue green truck."

After coloring some "boat cars", we played with playdoh, or should I say we shredded most of it? He made a "car" out of the playdoh with a stencil, but got very upset because he would ruin it by smashing it. Then he would tell me "broken car" and we'd make a new one and he'd do it again. Obviously, he was not really wanting to play with playdoh..

Hm..

Maybe this will be fun.

"Let's roll it."

Yay, having fun!

This is a face off "I'm about to throw a fit, watch out."

Pretty mad at the playdoh because the "car was broken."

Yeah.. we're done.

Next up - flash cards! He LOVES, and I mean loves, flash cards. He bugs me to read them to him and I've caught him plenty of times getting into them without me.

"Let's get the flash cards out, Bee!"

Nah.. he'd rather play with his cars.

Yeah.. flash cards didn't last long. I think we got to letter C? So onto a book to end our day. Luckily, he does love his books and will sit through a hundred of them.

That was our day. Tomorrow I'm going to try the finger paints (God help me!). It should be fun.. or, I'm hoping. 

Our Changing Lives

Wow, haven't updated this blog for almost a year! I started my other blog, Coupon Lovin' Mom, and just have not had time for anything. Let's update a little, shall we?

Brenton is now almost 34 months old (on the 14th). Whoa, sounds weird to say it that way. He is a smart little boy. Knows some of his shapes and most of his colors, letters, numbers. He can also speak in complete sentences. If you're not around him often, as with most kids, you probably won't understand everything he is trying to say. Being with him all day, everyday, means that I can understand him with ease. He is still one outgoing, excitable boy, but also has a major attitude and knows what he wants. He gets that part from me, I'll admit it. I like that he knows what he wants - it's a great characteristic, in my opinion. He wanted to potty train last week and we have an awesome day of just 1 accident and 7 pee's in the potty, but he had got tired and had an accident and I think just bummed himself out. The next day I did ask if he wanted to wear a diaper or underwear and he insisted on the diaper. I'm okay with it, really. Not only because I get diapers for free, but because it is up to him to want to do this. I do not believe in forcing my child to do something he is not ready to do. Eventually he will be potty trained. Eventually he will understand. I think a lot of parents forget that raising children is not a competition. It doesn't matter what age so and so started crawling, walking or was potty trained. All that matters is the child is well treated, fed and loved.

Devin got a new job a little over a month ago. He is now working full time as well as attending school full time. He is very busy and very strong! I would have cracked under all that pressure before it even happened. He does struggle with it a little, I think, but he is very smart and still gets straight A's in school, and I know he loves his job and the pay. We have a goal of paying off our debt ($3,500) this year while still maintaining a great savings. Which brings me into my next topic..

The new year started new goals of not only paying off debt, but keeping debt as far away as possible. We have NO credit cards and do not EVER want another one again. There is no need for them. I have created a $300 monthly budget for food, household, beauty and health items, and each month we've been able to come within that budget, for the most part. January I actually only spent $250, while February I went a little over by $60. It's all about balance. We have stopped buying processed foods and I mainly cook from scratch now. I have only been buying mostly organic/natural eggs, milk and meat as well as other items. I started another blog, Homemade by Carol, and have found I absolutely love cooking and making things from scratch. My lifetime goal, for myself, is to have a baking business. I would love to decorate cakes and be able to sell them. Obviously this will be a very far in the future goal, given we still live in an apartment and I have other goals to complete first.

We have also decided to homeschool Brenton. We tossed it around for the past few years and find it is the best for all of us. Our city does have decent schools, but there are just too many things I do not want him exposed to. If he eventually decides at an older age he'd like to go to school, then we'll talk about it then. Ultimately, it will be his choice for how he'd like his future to go. Tomorrow I am going to start some things with him - coloring, putting blocks together, working on the alphabet, etc. He knows most of these things, but I'd like to take more time than I already do teaching him new things. I plan to head out to Walmart tonight and get some new materials. Thanks to my friend, Jen, for recommending a great homeschooling blog - 1+1+1=1. I'm excited to try some of her great activities.

That's all for now.

It's Summer Time!

Woohoo! I have been waiting FOREVER for Summer to get here! Okay, I am a bit over-dramatic but it feels SO good to say it.

So, we spent Wednesday at the in-laws house. The live on the lake, which is so incredibly nice in the Summer time. I cleaned the outside of the boat and waxed it all but MIL and Devin cleaned the inside. We got it done in half the time it would have taken FIL to do it. He likes things perfect but in a way that we would never be able to get the boat in the water and actually ride it ;) It was a nice ride, although a bit scary for me to go insanely fast like we did. Brenton loved it but kept saying "okay, okay" for "I'm okay" lol.. he did get scared a few times but was way better this year then last. We had a good time though.

Friday we went to our community pool here at our apartment complex. Brenton, of course, loved the water. He is such a water boy. Has no fear of it when he is in it which is good and bad, lol. Took him to a Catholic School playground which is way nicer than a lot of others around here and, it is FENCED IN! Lovely! I don't have to chase him for miles and miles, lol. We ate pizza and just had a good time together :)

Today we are doing a little bit of shopping for things we need and enjoying our nice 80 degree weather before it disappears. We are having temperatures now in May that we do not usually get until July. I hope this means a HOT Summer :) Last year was so cold :( Only got above 80 a few times.

Have a good day!

Brenton's 2 Year Appointment

Brenton is now, at 2 years old, 30.5lbs (77%), 39in tall (between 39 and 39 1/4.. she went with 39 even which is way off the charts) and a head circumference of 19.5in(75%). He is SO tall. I can't wait to get him into sports.. only of course if he wants too ;) Pedi office had one of his shots ordered but it never arrived and hes up to date on everything besides a Hap A which we can't get until September so Brenton lucked out on the shots thing. Thankfully!! He said his penis looks good and normal and that it will still be sore for a while so not to worry. This morning it had looked like his left testicle didn't "drop" and he screamed when I touched it but the Dr. pulled his diaper off and there it was hanging (LMAO!). I'm glad because I was worried there was, yet again, something wrong with his "junk"! Oh, don't I just sound like a Mom.. haha! Anyway, he said hes healthy and on track and no reason for me to worry about anything - which I haven't ;) We get into the hallway to leave and up at the counter are some ladies who work there and Brenton is giving them this look like "just leave me alone people" and they are all cracking up laughing at him! They loved all his expressions and told him "he made their day" haha! He is quite the ladies man ;)

We also got to pick up his 8x10 picture and the picture CD from JCP. I cannot wait to get them printed out and handed to everyone! They will all die in laughter when they see his expressions!

Brenton is TWO!

My baby boy turned 2 today! Ah, that's crazy! :( It went by so incredibly fast. I really am stunned by it. We had a birthday party planned for him tonight at 5 and it was Spongebob themed! We invited the neighbor and her 2 kids. A 6 year old girl and 2 year old boy.. who both just had birthdays themselves! Brenton really enjoyed their company. Especially the little girl. She chased him around all over the house and he loved it. Brenton and the little boy collided though and now Brenton has a black eye, lol. Whoops.. oh well, he will live ;) Anyway, it was a good time and I'm excited to see what his 2nd year of life brings our way!

Professional Photo's

We went and got Brenton's professional photo's done today at JCP. I was so worried he was not going to cooperate and want to run around the store but he did SUCH an AWESOME job! I am SO proud of him. He posed like a ham and would copy everything she was showing him. Oh, we just had a blast. He loves the camera and every time the flash went off he just started laughing his butt off. Such a dang cutie! Makes everything he has ever done to get in trouble float away ;)

Here are some pictures:

Let The Sickness Pass!

Last week Brenton had some (TMI) Diarrhea but without a fever or anything so I thought maybe it was something he ate or teething.. who knows. The next day (Wednesday) Devin gets sick. In the bathroom all day, cold sweats, fever of 101+ - ugh, not fun. Of course you know who was next in line.. me! Only when I get sick, I stay sick for a long time. Now the last couple days I've had a bad cough! I shouldn't even complain.. Brenton hardly complained the whole time and I didn't even realize he could be sick until we got sick. He is such a good boy that way or maybe it's because he is always whiny and moody that we can't tell the difference? Oh.. who knows ;)