Homeschool Begins Early

Summer is nearly here, but due to several unexpected challenges this year, we're starting our home school season a little earlier.  Mainly, Princess Abs and the twin Princes have had a terrible, terrible time with allergies and medical setbacks this Spring. We're in to see Allergists often--attempting to uncover the series of things the children may have challenge with--to free them of recurring ear infections, rashes, and breathing issues/asthma. This has resulted in many missed days of school for our kidlets, but never fear, we're busy with standard K and 1st Grade curriculum to make sure they enter their Fall academic season as prepared as possible!   Around the house are a variety of home strategies we employ to provide the kids with significant independence in decision making, choices and positive behaviors (manners, sharing, turn taking)-- all of which have really worked out well for us.

The photo to the left is of our 'couponing' system which encourages the kids to follow House Rules to earn coupons towards items from a goodie basket. Demerits, too are included, for those days when coupons get taken away and behaviors are at their worst. :( The more demerits, the further away from goodie basket items our children become. :( Fortunately, you'll see that they have a bevy of smiley faced coupons...so demerits are rarely given.

On school days, our kids control how quickly they move through their routine--from waking and getting dressed, to packing backpacks and getting into the car! Thank goodness they are visually motivated!

 Some days are for baking/measuring/learning about everything from senses to metrics...while other days we focus on reading, phonic awareness and sight words.

We've recently launched a focus on math, money and basic life skills such as shopping. The kids LOVE this segment so much. We play store and the kids get to use both real and pretend money to purchase items at home. The most fun is when we develop our grocery lists and visit the store to make our weekly purchases.  It takes 3x as long to do the shopping, but the kids are learning how to read labels, look at prices, and use lists to organize themselves. It is so rewarding to see how quickly they latch on to things they enjoy.

What was also really great was to help the kids realize that learning can take place anywhere, at any time--even while dining out for dinner! See Alec review his counting skills..which was quickly followed by patterning!

 

Thanks to our purchase of iPads, the kids enjoy learning with their friends using fantastic, curriculum based digital learning applications they can do multi-user and multi-sensory.  Here are the kids with their friend Lena, working on sight word, fine motor/handwriting and comprehension. Love it!




  And of course, now that the kids are home together more regularly, we quickly figured out that we needed to create a method that would give each child the opportunity to make decisions for the larger group. Welcome to "Kid of the Day!" Thanks to an article in Family Fun Magazine which inspired this fabulous idea, each of our children now rotates the honor of Kid of the Day. Some days, as you'll see below, are more about FUN than about learning. But hey, everything in moderation, right?



As the afternoon sun begins to set, the kids sometimes prefer a little snack and beverage outside where they can get some fresh air. Queen Wendy is off to find curriculum that can be done poolside...with adult beverage in hand....Welcome Summer 2012! 

Easter 2012

Easter Crew 2012 - NY

Everyone was excited to spend Easter with family...especially at their 'expanse' in Upstate New York. For example, the cousin's playground wouldn't qualify as a 'standard' playground. It's actually called the Spy Center...with lots of tunnels, twists, turns and paths -- along with swings and slides-- all of which hang over the edge of a cliff leading to the Lake below. The older our little ones get, the fonder they become of this super-sized play center! (and the more panicked their parents become!!)

Knock, knock...somebody suddenly arrives at the door!

Uncle Erick answers..."hmmm...what do you want? "



Coloring eggs with the cousins...pure happiness!

The twins LOVE their Uncle Erick...but always want to try to 'kick his butt.' Uncle Erick is a second degree black belt, yet the boys think if they can double-team him, somehow, they'll succeed at the smack down....

Aramis gets into fighting position to aid his brother who has already fallen....

And...they are both down. Uncle Erick didn't break a sweat, nor did he even move from his original stance. Sheesh!

Auntie Beth, Uncle Erick, Jenny Kate and Abs enjoying Easter egg hunting. 
And yes, Auntie Beth is on call...isn't she always? :(



The kids had to find SO many eggs that we had to pull out a wheelbarrow in which to put them...

Abby doesn't mind. She's just happy to have a bucket filled with chocolate!!!! Happy girl!

Uncle Tony helps all the kids with clues from the Easter Bunny during one of 3 arranged egg/scavenger hunt.
Our cousins are the BEST!!

Uncle Erick and King Tony with peeps for Queen Wendy. They really could care less about all of this craziness. They just want to watch golf and drink...
Note: See that house in the background...it's the cousin's PLAY house. Our kids could live in it. Coolio!!

Easter pinata ready. Alec takes a few hits to get warmed up...

Aramis comes in to take a few jabs himself....
Needless to say, it took some time to get the head off the bunny, but eventually, his head went flying! :)

Daddy-Daughter Dance

The very first Father-Daughter Dance took place last week. It was a challenging moment to swallow...realizing that our once-baby girl is now in elementary school and attending her first dance parties. Where did the time go?  It was a special day for King Tony and his Pie. :)

(Check out the awesome tie he's wearing!)

True love lasts a lifetime....
Papa and his baby girl...so precious!

Teacher Appreciation.....

I need CAFFEINE Basket - Starbucks Style

Let's just make it clear here and now....WE appreciate our Teachers, therapists and all the folks that support our kids during their educational journey outside of our home/family. 

If you don't believe me, check out what King Tony and Queen Wendy created, designed and delivered to the royal kidlets' staff today. WHEW!!!!

Candy Bouquet...

"Masshole" Basket... Lots of laughs with this one

These baskets were only outdone by some new 'crafting' skills tackled in the Kingdom and used to decorate many a holiday table.... :)  Let's just say, we don't want to give out our design secrets just yet since the project too SO long to master! UGH!!!


We're guessing its a good idea that one of our family's businesses is focused on gift baskets and gift giving, right? :)

The final 'appreciation' straw was this flavored Crystal Light straw attached to a water bottle. I would have loved one of these myself! Not surprisingly, several mothers around town decided to steal this idea for their very own uses! I can't help but smile--they are pretty freakin' cool!! :)