Comparison

Karson is an official preschool graduate! He had his last day this past Thursday. It felt like yesterday that he was standing in front of our front door for his 1st day in 4 year old preschool. He has really grown!

This comparison is from last year. It is from his 3 year old year in preschool. The 3 year old year was much harder than his 4 year old year. He had a lot of separation anxiety to get over, and being a worrier didn't help matters. I am so thankful we choose to get him in preschool that 3 year old year as well to help him be in a better place for Kindergarten. We have been at his preschool both years just 2 mornings a week from 9-12. It has really been a perfect situation for us all. A little time away from home, but not too much. 

Friday: May 23rd he had his little graduation program. As I took his picture out front before we left, I was reminded I did this exact same picture just a year before. Time flies, seriously! So fast!

                                                   2013                                            2014

If you can tell, the picture on the right was this year and he has his hand in the right place. Boy, we have come a long way! He has gained knowledge, maturity, and friendship along the way these past two years. We still have many things to work on this summer, but I feel like we have a pretty strong hold on going into Kindergarten in August. I know that Kindergarten is something everyone goes through. However, I am TERRIFIED of Kindergarten. Yes you read that right. I have a teaching degree, but am TERRIFIED! I am just not ready, but I'm pretty sure he is. It's not about the educational part, but the time spent away from our home. I pray for him daily, that it goes smoothly and he will keep to his ways that we have taught him.

I am praying for strength for me this summer as well. To be able to teach and speak love, patience, importance, manners, and respect into him as much as I possibly can. 

Teaching your child to read: (Part II)

I began a series on "Teaching your child to Read". I am not a Reading Specialist, but a mom with an Elementary teaching degree who stays home. 

We have a 4 year old son, who is ready and wanting to read. So I wanted to share some tips to other mom bloggers, who feel their child is ready to begin with the next steps towards reading. My first post of this series is HERE. Please read it first, if you are new. 

As I mentioned in post one. I really use this Alphabet Book a lot with my boys. I made it in my student teaching in college, and it's been a great tool. (laminating cards make it WAY better)

After learning all of the letters with lots and lots of practice, we moved onto letter sounds. I am currently on the stages of teaching this step to Kipton (3), but Karson (4) already knows them.

I flip through my ABC book and I'll have them say the letter and I say the sound it makes. 

The letter K says kkkkkkk. (It's hard to show you how each letter sounds, but you can YouTube it if your stuck on one). The boys and I say that C is very tricky. It says the "S" sound for circle, then it says the "k" sound when you say cat. So I start with the letters that are easy and only have one sound, like M. M says mmmmm. One of the biggest things to remember when teaching letter sounds is not to add an A on the end of a sound. It's very easy to do. When you say K says k-k-k-k, don't sound it out like ka-ka-ka. Make sure you "nip it in the bud" as my college professors used to say. Make sure to cut off the sound and not add that A to the end. 

It will later be harder to get your child to stop that when reading. 

I try to keep working on letter sounds every chance I get. In the car, in the bath, the grocery store. "Hey Karson, I see pretzels, what does the letter sound P make?" 

I also make games while we drive in the car like "give me a word that starts with m-m-m-m" but I don't tell them I want a M word. I have them make that connection. Then hopefully they will say words like mom, moon, Monday, etc. 

This takes practice. It's not something they will get in 1 week, 2 weeks, or even months. It takes lots and lots of practice, but thankfully you don't have to be sitting in a chair to do this type of work. Do it ANY and EVERY where. Boys especially don't like to sit. This is one of the best things you can do to get ready for reading. 

This video below, is basically my whole post summed up but I LOVE it. I know all of you as adults, can read. However, if you haven't really thought about letter sounds, maybe you need to brush up? I sure had to in college. 

Stay tuned for post III where we will get into sight words, and chunking. 

Date nights, Solos, and Santa

Last Friday night, Kevin had his work party dinner. It's just a time for the guys on his shift to all get together outside of the work place and all of the wives to meet and chat. We had a great time. This was a different group of friends than we normally eat with on Christmas dinner. Kevin was moved to a different boat and shift. 

Then the next night we went to an "adult" Christmas party for our good friends. It was so fun! Karson took our picture before heading out. 

We made salt dough ornaments this week. 

Salt

Flour 

Water

Mix and cut with cutters and microwave about 2 minutes or until hard. 

Then paint!! The boys love doing this each year. 

Karson had his Christmas program this week at preschool. A few weeks prior his teacher mentioned he volunteered to sing a solo. So I was making sure we practiced every day. So at the very end he got up there all by himself and sang "God is so Good" all by himself. A few other kids had solos but he sang also with no music. We were so proud and there were tears for sure! Hope he is always so brave to share about Jesus! 

Him and another boy were the only boys to sing. Mostly girls sang solos. 

Afterwards we headed downstairs for breakfast at Santa. 

Almost time for Santa, and Karson is/has a cold and he started looking sick and tired in the eyes. I knew we had to make a quick hello to the big man and head home. 

Brothers :) 

No smile, but thankful for the morning at our wonderful preschool. 

Our Week

Monday: Karson had school from 9-12. Kipton and I dropped Karson off in our pajamas. (Yes I know if you would've told me that I would be dropping off in my pjs I would say your crazy but it's AWESOME!!!) 

We came home and did some laundry and then took a walk. Our gravel road is covered in leaves. He loves for me to throw leaves at him. :)

Then we made a cake for when Karson gets home. Of course you must wear your new Halloween costume when baking.

After baking we were cleaning up and saw a deer and our rooster just grazing around our backyard. I thought it was neat. Just a beautiful thing to see. 

Tuesday: Karson had preschool from 9-12. Afterwards we went to the park to play. We came home and spent the rest of the evening playing until bath and bedtime. We wore our Halloween pajamas for the first time :) 

Wednesday: it was Karsons day off and we decided to head over to our friend Samuels house for a play date with lots of our friends from mom club. We came home and later that day we went to the chicken house where we finally got an egg. They had stopped laying for over 4 months. We have been telling them we were going to eat them if they didn't start laying :) haha

Thursday: today Karson had school again. He wore his Marshall outfit for his Marshall loving mommy. 

Kipton of course wanted his picture like Karson. He looks up to Karson so much!

We went to a few little stores before picking Karson up. He has been wanting to touch this bear forever. 

After pick up we went to the library to get a new stash of Halloween books. We have already read all 9 of them plus ours. We love seasonal books!!

When we got up we had an outdoor picnic. It is around 73 degrees and windy. So perfect for fall. We have cut out naps. More on that later but we had quiet time from 2:00-2:45 then we were back outside. Bedtime has now moved to 7:00. 

Today: Friday we have no real plans except for an Alumni game tonight for my high school. I am pretty excited!! It will be the boys first high school football game. The alumni majorettes and cheerleaders are performing the school song. I am already nervous : / eeeeeeek

1st Week

We had lots of first this week. Karsons first week of preschool was this week. He seemed to really enjoy it! They painted, colored, read stories, played outside, and sang songs for Jesus. He is still loving the same little girl named Millie. A lot of his little "boy" friends went to a different preschool this year. 

Tuesday (1st morning)

Thursday (2nd morning) 

Kevin took him this morning and didn't any good pictures :( o well

We also started soccer this week. The boys "like" it but definitely don't love it just yet. Well see. 

Of course I have someone with closed eyes!!! ⚽

Really looking forward to the weekend with no where to be. 

Farming & Hunters

Our chickens are such a mystery. They are not laying eggs at all, and then randomly one will be dead. I know some Of you are probably like omg!! But it's getting to be so normal we just burry them and go on. We really think the last set of chickens we got were not raised up right. I wish they could be free reign chickens but we just have too many raccoons, possum, and fox in our area for that. 

I love our rooster. We have had him for 2 years now. He is so fun to watch. I love all things "roosters"

Kevin went on a shopping spree with his dad this past weekend for his birthday. They went to Cabelas of course. He came home with lots of new hunting toys. 

The boys were soo happy!!

They love watching us shoot bows at the target. I don't "hunt" but I love bow shooting. I just love hitting that target. 

Karson got to go along on their guys trip and I stayed home with Kipton to give him some down/alone time. 

Tomorrow we have our 2nd day of preschool for Karson. He had a great 1st day and ran in and was so excited. I'll post more about that soon!!!

Have a great week!

Karson's Big Graduation Day

Well, last Friday was Karson's official last day of his preschool 3 class. 

Then on Tuesday (May 28th) he had his graduation with his entire class at the Methodist Church.

Karson is READY for summer break. But I think he was excited to go to the graduation to see his friends for one more time before summer break "officially" began. He wanted to stand with my flag and have his hand on his heart. Cute Cute Cute!

Little brother is still in a cast, but thankfully doing well with it. We have 2 more weeks of the cast.

All smiles :)

We are so proud of Karson. Even though we struggle sometimes as parents, we love Karson unconditionally  and always will. Parenting is HARD work! I pray every night that I did OK as his mom that day. We are hopeful that Karson will grow to serve and have a love for Jesus Christ and not be afraid to share.

Karson had to go back with his class, so we sat waiting for his grand march. 

Here they come! Of course he would be holding Ms. Rachel's hand. He has LOVED her all year and talks about her so much. 

Each child was assigned a poem to say out loud into the microphone. Karson's poem was "Little Boy Blue". We have practiced lots and lots and they have also practiced lots at school. 

"Little Boy Blue"

by: Mother Goose

Little boy blue come blow your horn.

The sheeps in the meadow, and the cows in the corn.

But where is the boy?

Who looks after the sheep?

He's under the haystack,

Fast asleep.

After each child said their poem it was time for awards with their certificate. 

Proud daddy! These two could not be any more alike if they tried. Not just in looks but in personality as well. They are both so laid back about some things and so outgoing about their strong suits. Karson is absolutely head over heels in love with Kevin. 

Karson we are SOOO proud of you for finishing your first year at your preschool. You grew to love going and making new friends. You loved Cyrus and Millie in your class and you loved your teacher Ms. Rachel. You were excited to share your news with me after each morning you went, and tell me what you had for snack. You loved playing on the playground and even called one part of it your "rowboat". But most of all, it is a preschool that is open to pray, talk about Jesus, and learn how to be more like him. That is the most important part of this whole year. 

Horray for Summer Break!!!!

Karson's year of Preschool 3

The infamous first and last day picture is here! I can't believe how fast this year of preschool has come and gone. After much thought, I decided on the whim to enroll Karson into the 3 year old preschool at a methodist church in our area. 

The first 3 months were hard, I'm not going to lie. Karson has been my child to have separation anxiety when being dropped off. We got over that, thankfully and then it started back again here in the last few weeks towards the end. He sure likes being home and being with Kevin and I. 

He has learned a lot, and all 3 of his report cards were wonderful with all checks and check plus. That shows average and above average performance. 

Karson has had two favorite friends while in school this year. 

Cyrus and Millie

I hope to get their picture together at graduation. 

He has grown so much. 

Here is a little about Karson from ages 3 - NOW. He turned 4 in March. 

Recognizes all letters of the alphabet. A-Z

Knows the "letter sound" of all letters A-Z

Recognizes numbers 1-13

Can count to 30. (then says 100) :)

Knows pledge of allegiance.

Knows many different prayers said at school.

Can write his name.

Knows his phone number

Knows his state and the flowers, bird, and tree.

Can write other letters besides his name, but not all. (yet)

Complete puzzles larger than 10 pieces by himself. 

*Not all of these things were learned at preschool. I help him at home for about 30 minutes after nap time each day doing some kind of learning activity. Most of these things were not required for his 3 year old class, but I taught him them anyway, like his phone number.*

Karson was recently moved to a boost seat. He is much more comfortable. 

He sure is the outdoorsman. Loves to fish, hunt, play outside. Loves to be on the trampoline, could swing ALL day long if you pushed him, play in our sandbox, walk in the woods, ride the 4-wheeler/ranger, and our new thing is play baseball. We have waited to begin organized sorts for many reasons, but I would say that next Spring he will be ready for t-ball. He is in LOVE with the Reds and Joey Votto. 

He sure does love his daddy and his brother. 

I hope he loves me too. He does tell me from time to time! :)

I sure am proud of him. He is so smart and a very sweet, kind hearted boy. I am thankful to be his mom!

(after baths last night in our matching shirts)

His graduation is next week and I can't wait to see him recite his poem "Little Boy Blue" into that microphone for all to hear :)