Bailey Family

"Mom, ovals have none things sticking out." - Natalie (she means angles) We've been reading books on shapes and she's now watching blue's clues shape searchers...funny how after I dwell on a subject with activities they kind of gravitate toward shows/computer games that teach the same concept - as if i had planned for them to do so.

We skipped the state fair last year (it’s so expensive!), so when they asked, we decided to make the money for it this year. yikes…ok, now that I’m past the cost – they did have fun. (And we went on an early-out day after school, so no crowds/bedtime issues to deal with.) They rode 2 rides each, looked at and touched all kinds of yucky animals, ate greasy (yummy) foods…(especially the funnel cakes – oh, we ate before touching the animals!), and looked at displays (the kids loved the crafts building as much as I did!). I believe this was a first “roller coaster” for the kids…at least for the twins.   We love animals….we wish we could have a bunny, how about a fish, …no pets?? Should have just skipped to this ride to begin with! They loved the cars – I believe we have videos of me and my brothers riding these kind as kids (you know, the cars, boats, and motorcycles). Now we’re all tired (and we probably smell like some of the animals they touched!)...

hmm...my last post was Brown Bear Brown Bear, so colors...I think I'm behind on posting! last week we did directions (up, down, under, over, on top of, behind...etc) we took some pictures using those words (one directing and the other being the subject...then switch) used toys (like little people) to do the same thing (put the cat in the house) a bunch of workbook pages while i worked on some overdue projects and they watched pbs kids (I know, that's not preschool stuff...I'm just saying, we were slack, so that's what they did) learn to play some computer games on pbskids.org (they are a little hard for them since they haven't learned all their letter sounds, but they really wanted to play specific characters, so they're figuring them out) And I had a bunch of stuff going on, hence our slackness! The big hit though, was yesterday - they loved the Book, "My lucky day" by Keiko Kasza, and have been "acting" it out (and were disappointed that I ...

These are just from this week... Natalie: How do you get a baby in your tummy? [I glance at Rob...short pause.] Carolyn: You get married. [We smile and nod as this answer works for a 3 year old.] Natalie: I never ever ever gonna do that! another night.... Carolyn (to Seth): I can't believe you like those [little green peas]. [I give examples of well loved foods I don't like - peanut butter and chocolate ice cream - to make the point that what one person likes another doesn't.] Natalie: I like Macy Rob: We're talking about foods; Macy is a person; you can't eat Macy. Seth: Isn't Macy a restaurant? Beth: No, Macy's is a store. [They want to know what Macy's sells.] Rob: [explains what they sell; Beth helps explain, includes perfume in description of a department store] Carolyn: Mom, Can I have perfume from Macy's??! Beth: No, but I'll get you some perfume from Walmart. :)

I don’t write too many “feelings” post…at least I don’t THINK I do? But I’ve been feeling like I’d like to…just so you know how we’re doing…and it’s long – but I put in some pictures! WAIT – don’t X the page …I’m not going to get all mushy and bragging about me and my kids and how I’m super mom, etc…although they are brilliant, I know. * They still have plenty of little meltdowns, tantrums, slammed doors, stomping out of rooms, looks that could kill, and monster voices from the prettiest little faces.   :)  (My monster voice still comes out too often too…) Since we moved here a year ago… I’ve been playing ‘catch up’, trying to get as much done as I always have (in my mind) in a bigger house and pretending that having 5 kids is just as easy as 4 and control my temper (shocking – I’m not a perfect a mother as some seem to think) :) . (I was told repeatedly that this should be easy after twins. Let me tell you now… having the 5th kid is a challenge no ...

This past week's theme was still colors - b/c we really didn't have time for preschool. (Monday was visiting teaching, Tuesday library, Wednesday dentist, Friday groceries, and Thursday - the planned day for doing something with the twins brought up a last-minute-schedule quilting bee to help someone at church...but the twins got to spend time with 4-5 friends while I quilted with mine...social skill time, right?) :) So, Friday afternoon (with groceries mostly put away), I finally made some time for them and we read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr (illus by Eric Carle). Then, we colored some pictures of each of the things mentioned in the book and glued them to popsicle sticks. After naps (after school), we did a "play" with our "puppets". Seth and Carolyn helped so I could film. I'm not sure what happened with Natalie at the end. . Our puppet theater was made using a sheet over a child gate (the pressure kind, held to the wa...

This past week's theme was still colors - b/c we really didn't have time for preschool. (Monday was visiting teaching, Tuesday library, Wednesday dentist, Friday groceries, and Thursday - the planned day for doing something with the twins brought up a last-minute-schedule quilting bee to help someone at church...but the twins got to spend time with 4-5 friends while I quilted with mine...social skill time, right?) :) So, Friday afternoon (with groceries mostly put away), I finally made some time for them and we read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr (illus by Eric Carle). Then, we colored some pictures of each of the things mentioned in the book and glued them to popsicle sticks. After naps (after school), we did a "play" with our "puppets". Seth and Carolyn helped so I could film. I'm not sure what happened with Natalie at the end. . Our puppet theater was made using a sheet over a child gate (the pressure kind, held to the wa...