Safety camp

This week W participated in the McGruff safety camp every afternoon. The sheriff's dept in our county sponsors it every summer. It's free and it's first come first serve to get in. Luckily my neighbor was on top of things and got the application the first day they were available so W could get in. It's only for kids entering Kindergarten or entering 1st grade. It was conducted by local police officers and firemen. They learn things like fire safety, stranger danger, bicycle safety (where they actually got to take their bikes one day), 911, gun safety and poisons. It was a GREAT camp!! I think W enjoyed it and really learned some valuable information.

W with his team. There were four teams - green, yellow, red and blue with about 15 kids each.

W with "Sparky" the fire dog.

McGruff celebrated his 30th birthday this week while W was at camp. WOW! It is hard to believe I was probably in the first kindergarten class McGruff crime dog debuted. I feel old.

Mommy Camp (a.k.a Summer Vacation)

We are two weeks into summer vacation here. Seems really weird to say that mid June (where I come from schools out end of May at latest). I decided this summer, we were doing things different in the Jones' household - something with some STRUCTURE! As S affectionately termed it - "Mommy Camp", I have created a mini homeschool life for us during this summer. The teacher in me is coming out! However, I applaud all those homeschooling mommas out there because I think I would kill my child if I had to do it all year. Is it because I expect more from my child than others??? I have no idea. After the first week, I almost gave up but things are running smoothly in week 2. Everybody is in routine!

First off, the older boys are not allowed out of their room until 7 and their room must be clean and beds made! (I'm liking this one!) Next up, breakfast. After breakfast, we have bible time on the couch. I ordered this little book for kids.

It's a year long devotional book and has different activities for each week like an application story, the bible story, an activity, prayer suggestions,etc. Great little book and it is split up into seasons. So, like this week, we have learned about what the bible has to say about freedom and what it means for us in America. Even through the screaming at T to sit down and continuous dodging of C flying over the couch , we have had some good time together. HA! It has been ever so sweet to hear my 6 yr old pray for the people of America to turn their hearts to God.

After bible time, I usually let them all chill out and watch one show together. Then it's go get dressed. Once dressed, the boys come down and get their workbooks and we work on some school work, and/or write a journal entry. Sometimes I let one do workbook and one do computer games and then yell switch. C has even wants to join in and color while the boys work.
After workbooks, we generally have 2-3 hrs to do pool, errands, park, whatever. After lunch, it's naptime for C and more fun stuff for the boys. In the afternoon I've been planning, crafts, science time, music, etc. I am letting them have one movie afternoon a week (just for my sanity!) Here the boys are making a flag:
They were so thrilled with their completed project.
After our fun stuff, I have tried to do a small quiet time (like 20min) and then I let them watch one show. Then it's playtime till dad gets home. As much work as this is on me, I really think things are running smoother as far as behavior, etc. My house is getting ignored and looking a little messier than I would like but in the long run, I think this is a better plan.

On another note: For the past 6 months or so I've been using an online job reward system. It's AWESOME and it's FREE!!! You can customize what jobs you want to assign to your kids and how many points they receive per job. It also links up with Amazon so they can visually see something they want and how many points they need to earn it. My kids are only 6 and 3 and both can do this with no problem. I typically include jobs like their workbooks, making their bed, reading a book, etc. Each kid earns roughly 25 cents a day on my pay scale. I highly recommend taking a look!
Along with "mommy camp", we've had swim lessons too. I did something really stupid and signed both boys up for twice a week the entire month of June! Of course they are at different times and days so I was up at the gym 4 times a week just for swim lessons. UGH! Take note DC area - us Southern states do 2 weeks straight everyday and get it over with!
This was T's first year with swim lessons and he did GREAT! Wasn't scared one bit and has taken it up pretty quickly. Here he is blowing bubbles and kicking. (and if you are doing a double take - yes, he has the same swim suit as W up above. They are twins this season and I must say it makes it easier to spot my children at a crowded pool!)
Here's W swimming independently . I think we finally got it this year! He's doing a great job with freestyle, backstroke and breast stroke.
Whew - this momma is now really tired just writing about all of this. And I have playdough all over my kitchen as a result. Stay tuned....more summer/mommy camp posts to come!

No Fear!

I just had to share some things about my fearless third child. This boy is ALL BOY and will surely age me by 10 more years! He is loving life these days! Take a look into my world....

He uses the couch as his own personal jungle gym on a daily basis. Neither of my other two did this!?!?!

He is loving this train set I bought him. He kept saying Choo Choo and I was at Home Goods and spotted this Early Engineer Thomas set - cheap. Just good enough to keep a 19mo old busy! This purchase set off the train love affair with the other boys. They kept asking why we didn't have our big train table anymore and saying we needed a new one. I replied with "Well, you didn't play with it when we had it so we sold it!" Tough kiddos.

AND - it's Robin re-lived! The boys (including this one) have been fascinated with the old school batman show. Yep - the one with Adam West. It comes on the Hub and I have recorded it everyday for the past couple of months. They love it. C came up to S one day holding the Robin costume and he had so much fun in it. This costume has certainly gotten its monies worth. Even T tries to still wear it around even though it now comes up to his knees.

C has also the past few days been saying something that I couldn't quite make out. Finally one day I realized he was doing the batman song. Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na - BATMAN! I got a half hearted one on video but he really does it up when he gets in the groove. Hysterical!

And my little C LOVES the fountains up in our town center! He screamed like a little girl the whole time we played. Fearless I say....FEARLESS!

Farewell Kindergarten

Today was W's last day of Kindergarten. :( Makes a momma a little sad to see time flying by in warped speed. I actually found myself a little anxious for his party today. Not sure why but I know I'm gonna miss these days. Here's my boy on his first and last day of Kindergarten:

Here's what W gave his teachers as a gift. Little monogrammed, insulated lunch bags with those insulated cups.
The room mom and I worked together to create, what I think, to be one of the sweetest gifts a class could give their teacher. We took each child's picture holding a letter painted on some paper. Then I used Photoshop to arrange all the pictures onto one 8x10 photo. It spelled out: You made us the BEST! Then all the kids signed the mat. It turned out adorable!
I also compiled a video for the class to watch during their party. I think it turned out so cute. If you want to view a 7 min video, click here.

Here's W with his buddy, Jamie during their party.

W giving his teacher, Mrs. McCracken one last goodbye. She was the BEST kindergarten teacher a mom could ask for. We will surely miss her!

Happy 6th Birthday!

Yesterday we celebrated my oldest son's birthday! I can't believe it's been 6 yrs since we had our first little boy. I'm so proud of the way he is growing up. He's smart as a whip, funny and all around a good kid. We had quite the busy day even without a party (we had his party last weekend). Try to keep up - warning -this is a longer than normal post!

Upon his request, W had a coconut cake made by yours truly.

We celebrated W's birthday last Sat with his ninja birthday party at his taekwondo school. We had about 14 kids come (thank goodness it wasn't at my house!). W's choice in friends is excellent. He made out the guest list and honestly, it was the best behaved bunch of 6 yr olds I've been around. The school did an excellent job on the party. They are so GREAT with the kids. One thing they let W do was break a board. Now, W has been in tkd for almost a year and they only practice with plastic serrated boards in class. This was a real board! AND he broke it! You should have seen his face. He was like that kid in the commercial dressed like Darth Vader and starts the car with the force. He was in awe of his hand afterward. He couldn't believe his hand broke that board. Didn't get a picture of his face because I think we were all in shock. However you will see the board in the picture before and after the break as well as the action shot of breaking it. Enjoy the slideshow - there were just too many pictures to include.

Customize a slideshow

We started the birthday morning with pancakes and opening up a few gifts. Notice the bed head??

We had our bud, Connor, over to help sing and eat some of our coconut cake.

We ventured to the movies to see Kung Fu Panda 2 (which I felt was better than the first) Great movie. Even C did pretty good for a not quite 2 yr old at the movies.

After our movie and cake, we all went as a family to a 4 mile race. I had entered to run the race but S and the three boys did the 1 mile fun run. W was SO excited to be in a race. My last race he kept asking when he would get to run. This, being on his birthday, was the perfect time to enter him. It was called the Twilight Festival and it was quite a party. They had all kinds of things for kids to do - moonbounces, face painting, balloons, ice cream, food....

S said W should have signed up for the 4 miler. He said that boy took off and didn't slow down till the finish line. We may have a track star on our hands. I, on the other hand, finished the 4 miler in about 39 min and was very proud of myself for not stopping to walk. I ran the entire thing. My knees are killing me today! HA! Anyway, W had the best time and what better way to end a birthday???

Happy Birthday W! Love you to pieces!

Firsts & Lasts

This past week, I finally did it and took C in to get his first haircut. He was starting to grow a mullet and it was looking pretty shabby. Here's how he looked before:

Here he is during the haircut. I took him to one of those cartoon places since it was his first cut. He did so great. He sat so still. Maybe he learned from all those trips watching his big bros get haircuts.

Here's how he looked after. What a big boy!

I think he likes it.

Also this past week was T's last day of school. We had a sorbet cone party (you know - food allergies - they cause the kids these days to have all kinds of weird parties - ha!) Anyway it was fun. Here's his Duck class - they were a very hard group to get a good photo.

Here's T with his main teacher, Miss Judy. Of course he isn't smiling - he never does when asked. But he really did like her! :) I absolutely LOVED Miss Judy. She totally got T's humor (she's got two boys of her own). She worked through his shyness around the other kids and was very supportive of him. She also was the one, who on the day we visited the school after moving here, said "I want him - put him in my class". Made us all feel very welcomed and wanted!