U is for Unschool....

Unschooling is a range of educational philosophies and practices centered on allowing children to learn through their natural life experiences, including play, game play, household responsibilities, work experience and social interaction rather than through more traditional school curriculum. While we certainly value school and all its fine attributes, we enjoy spending quality time with our kids during the summer months, reinforcing important lessons, reading, mathematics, sciences, and active learning across the board. Therefore, we home-school or unschool during the summer months.  It has become a way of life for us the last few years and our kids actually request it! Already this summer, we've spent a considerable amount of time on reading/comprehension/decoding/sight words, math, sequencing, patterning, 'stranger danger,' science (experiments), nutrition/health, currency and everyday self-care.  It really is as enjoyable to the parents as it is to the kids. Really. Seriously...true story. :)

The kids' favorite lesson thus far is currency/money. They love to 'play' with money, and most of all, they love playing 'store.'  We take everyday items from around the house, put price tags on them and the kids shop for hours. They make their grocery lists, shop, pay for their selections and then start again. Who knew??   

 The iPad has come in very handy as the kids work on decoding/reading and phonics. The multi-sensory, hands-on lessons really engage them and helps keep them on task for much longer than static flash cards or books. They are all coming along beautifully.

"Stranger Danger" has been a relevant, but challenging topic. We're realizing that we have to educate about boundaries without instilling absolute fear.  It's a hard line to walk--especially given how social, charismatic and outgoing all our children can be. Next stop: Tour/visit with our local police station/officers.

To help understand what a stranger is, we gave our children photos of people that they knew, versus those they did not and asked them to place them in two categories: Strangers v. People we know and trust. Seemed to work... ;)

Let's talk about parts of the body during Nutrition Week....

Even math/addition is fun...using MARSHMALLOWS! :)

On the 4th of July, we learned about the USA, American flag/history, independence, the president, and so much more. The kids sequenced the flag and made their own 4th of July party favors!

 Teaching science (concepts of electricity, liquid v. solid) have been incredibly fun this year. The kids have started to understand how science factors in to their everyday lives, and thanks to their Auntie Beth (a science maven) and her daughters (all NASA contest award winners), our kids have learned, and continue to learn, a lot about science.

Abby demonstrates static electricity

Aramis too shows off how static electricity works...

Abby demonstrates how the positively-charged atoms react to negatively charged ones...



Aramis makes Rice Krispies dance using static electricity...cool!



Conceptualizing liquid to solid, the kids make a Jello Aquarium. Watery substance = solid with Swedish fish floating in it. Hmmmmm......

And, one of the most fun exercises was the making of 'elephant toothpaste' leveraging acids (hydrogen peroxide). Safety glasses (i.e. sunglasses) were required. :)

S is for Summer!!

Just looking at the date, everyone knows well that Summer 2012 has arrived.  Our posts however, are delayed by weeks as we started summer a *bit* earlier than usual in our household--and we blame Mother Nature for that. She gave us major snow at Halloween, no snow at Christmas, and an unexpected heat wave in March! We therefore threw in the towel and began planning our summer schedule in advance--with the newest addition being our Summer 2012 Bucket List.

The Kingdom's royals put together a vision of many things they'd like to do during the summer months and you will note from this photo exactly how expansive their desire for adventure, travel and fun.

Believe it or not, we're going to complete this Bucket List--and make good on all our commitments.

In addition, our summer homeschool curriculum was instituted early as well, and we reviewed nutrition and how we get our food which nourishes our bodies, studying the process of plant growth and its results. Parlee Farms has again become key to our homeschool efforts--providing absolutely beautiful grounds filled with strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches and more--to hand pick ourselves.

Look Mama...I've got strawberries!! They are the biggest!

The kids love not only doing the picking and learning, but enjoying the fruits of their labors as we enjoy fresh fruit and veggies all summer long. Next year, the kids will plant their own garden in the raised bed we're designing now. Should be interesting...!

The Kingdom's royals are also working on their reading, decoding and comprehension, which we tied directly to some PT/physical exercise recently via a homemade Scavenger Hunt to coincide with a lengthy, multi-mile hike.  The kids enjoyed scouting for the items as they worked on their reading lessons, and also learned how to follow trail markers, tied to an overall science lesson about exercise and why we need to do it often as part of a healthy lifestyle. We tell them all the time that learning CAN be fun too! :)

Hey Mom! We're walking over a muddy river!!

Halfway thru the hike, the kids take a rest. "Whew, we're pooped!"

"Check this off the list, Mama. We've done a hike, a scavenger hunt and we're TIRED!"

Summer just wouldn't be summer without new adventures. Thanks to stellar new friends, the Thompsons, we welcomed the start of summer with a backyard firepit and S'MORES! Our kids had not yet had the pleasure of enjoying this sticky-sweet summertime favorite, but they quickly learned after an evening of play with their friends Emma and Callie, Mr. Scott and Miss Shelley.  We knew right then and there that the the T's were super special and that moments with them would be cherished for a lifetime. XOXO 

B is for Birthday, Baby Girl!

Happy Birthday Princess Abigail!!

We could hardly believe it ourselves, but our once little baby girl, is growing up to be a perfect princess with her own personality, ideas, requests and a *lovely* streak of stubbornness to boot. So, we celebrated her special day with a weekend adventure to a hotel on Cape Cod (with multiple pools), combined with a tour of the Cape Cod Chip Factory (and samples too, of course), and her specially-requested 'pink lizard' cake--designed by Queen Wendy.  Our little family was joined by Abby's loving Godmother, Auntie Abra, who always brings with her enough smiles and joy to make Abby's year. It was a perfect few days to celebrate our only daughter, who continues to teach us that life is about what you make of it, not what you perceive it should be. She is awesomeness--all the way around.

The Cape Cod Chip Factory tour resulted in a new education and APPRECIATION for Abby's favorite treat: Potato Chips!

Abby is just a *little*excited when she sees her cake!

Abby and her Papa....A love affair that will last a lifetime and beyond.

"c'mon Mom...I want to eat my cake!!!!!"

"Cheese"

"oooohhh....presents...."

Father's Day 2012 = Man vs. Food Challenge....!

Happy Father's Day King Tony!

And, to celebrate, we grabbed Alec's Godparents, Uncle Regis & Auntie Laurie, and headed over to Eagles Deli so the fathers in our lives could test their courage, strength and iron stomachs with a Man vs. Food Challenge: The Reilly. (3lbs. hamburger, 12 slices of cheese and 2lbs. of french fries; eaten within an hour).

Tony and Regis concocted this crazy idea after Tony saw Adam Richman (Man V. Food) take on not only the East Coast Grill's Hell Night as well as the Eagles Deli food challenges.  Tony endured Hell Night with Auntie Abra and Uncle Peter, and brought a take-out serving of the world's hottest pasta to Regis, who endured the suffering as they had. The next step, the Eagles Deli Challenge.

So, on this gorgeous summer day, we headed into Boston (kids in tow).

The situation was looking grim after about 20 minutes. Tony had all but stopped eating (with a stack of burger/bun/fries still to go), yet Uncle Regis continued efforts to power thru. We couldn't imagine that either was long for the challenge as their food-to-mouth activity began to diminish rather quickly....

 Here they are at the start.   Look at those stacks of burgers and fries. ICK!

 Uncle Regis dives in.....



The remains of Uncle Regis' Reilly Challenge burger. Too much meat for anyone to consume... In the end, neither man could manage the Reilly. It was just too much to consume. Additional photos to be added soon, after the dust has settled, the food properly digested, and memories of this glutinous event, long forgotten.




Alec and RJ enjoy some chicken fingers. Both of them with their own Man v. Food-style game faces! :)

Sum, Sum, Summertime!

Let's just say, the royal kidlets are as happy as can be. School is out for summer, and this week, we started our first week of homeschool, focusing on the FARM. We've learned about where our food comes from, we planted some seeds and are watching them grow. We learned about farm animals and how they contribute to our nutrition/diet. And, we topped off the week with a visit to Davis Farmland in Sterling, Mass. as our field trip to put things altogether.  Yesterday afternoon, we enjoyed the splash pad and a snack, after delivering our end of year teacher gifts (below) to all that have helped us learn and grow this year. An educational, albeit fun week, for sure. Videos to come!!

 

Welcome summer 2012!!

I'm as Smart as a Cookie thanks to you! :)

Twin Sundaes. Ready for summer and baseball!

You are A&Wesome rootbeer mugs, candy, and soda!

Tea Time Bouquet for those that opt for tea v. coffee. HOW can they??? :)

 

Value of Homeschool....

She's come a long way, baby!!

Our beautiful Princess, when just 2. 5 years, was a Down syndrome phenom, with her uncanny ability to communicate using sign language and smiles. Her adorable cuteness stole many hearts, including those at Signing Time, a business that could see her skills from a mile away, and cast her in their series of DVDs to teach sign language.  As summer approaches, we've already started our afternoons of home schooling, and Queen Wendy's curriculum for summer is growing in its intensity with several more field trips/adventures combined within accelerated mathematics, science and money lessons. Hopefully the kids will enjoy!

Today, Abby continued her work on handwriting, addition, subtraction, rhyming and reading. She perseveres even when she doesn't feel her best, or when she tires, just as she did several years ago as she stunned everyone with her mad signing skills!

 Alec and Aramis fell into the fray after their morning of real school, having come off of their own homework project (Star of the Day). We added some really cool non-permanent chalk boards to our kitchen walls, so the kids can continue to work on their handwriting, drawing and math skills even when mom makes dinner or dad is doing dishes! Poor kids are never gonna catch a break! :(

Queen Wendy is also working to expand her business offerings (www.periodpacks.com) and thanks to a local gal pal's baby shower, created a first-of-its-kind Mommy Coupon Bouquet!  Add in some lovely pacifiers, BoogeyWipes(TM), sock flowers (so fun to make) and a handful of gift cards, this was delivered with love by several girlfriends who pitched in to make it possible.  Definitely one of the cooler things created in the household. THANKS go to designer Janette Drost, whose artwork I borrowed to enhance the coupons. (http://janette.drost.ca/)

We closed our weekend with a delivery of gift cards (a gift card bouquet #2) to a dear friend who is fighting cancer. He and his family are amazing and have been invaluable to not only our family, but thousands of others through the volunteer work they do with the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, Morning Travelers, and many other locales.  Good people and we're praying for the most optimal outcome...and hope that our little bouquet brought some good cheer. :)