Kindergarten A to Z: Weeks A and B

This year is a first. The first school year without a preschooler. Paul is official now: a kindergartener. We did Sonlight kindergarten for Adam many years ago and unfortunately or fortunately, depending on whether the glass is looking half empty or half full in the mommy guilt department, Luke, Rachel, John and Isaac pretty much unschooled their way through kindergarten. That included lots of reading aloud by me, some messy spur-of-the-moment crafts, playing, playing and more playing. Those were the good times. The down-side was too much chaos brought on by not enough structure.

I wanted to have a fun, good year with Paul and finish my kindergarten teaching years well. I was very pleased to find an alphabet-themed year on Elizabeth Foss’ blog. I won’t be using the bulk of her ideas, as her plans include studying the Catholic saints and fairy stories. I have theological differences with the saints study, as I am not Catholic, and not using the fairy stories is purely personal preference, as I just don’t enjoy them.
However, she completely had me with the apple pie with letter “a” cut-outs for the crusts.

I used a 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby and bought the Wilton alphabet and number bucket last month. It was hard to keep it in the closet!
I gave Paul the “A” last week and the “B” and “P” for Paul this week. He enjoyed them so much that I gave him the whole bucket and he has been carrying it around the house.
He wasn’t particularly interested in making a pie, so we tweaked the star cookie recipe (the first time using it) from Elana’s Pantry and used the “A”s and had applesauce on the side. 🙂
This week I chose brownies, and we again used (and tweaked) one of Elana’s recipes.

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“A” cookies and applesauce at the dinner table.

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“B” is for brownie on the banister. (Stair view).

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Facing into the kitchen. (Enjoy the clutter). 😉

I’ll write more about what we’re doing for kindergarten next week, plus the other five grades in the next few weeks.

1 Corinthians 10:31(ESV)
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Twas the Night Before Mother’s Day

No, I’m not really going to write this poetry style, it’s too late for that. I did begin this post 30 minutes before Mother’s Day though and Kyle is the only one stirring in the house. 🙂

For Mother’s Day, (that artificial, fake, made up day that can make you feel good and sad, even at the same time) I am going to attempt to give my children the gift of an somewhat organized mother. Not a Mary Poppins-type over night, because again, she was fake and she wasn’t a mother.
But, better.
Because they deserve it. Because it would glorify God. Because it would bless my husband. Because it would be a good witness to my poor neighbors who showed up, one at the front door and one at the back this week. I decided I needed a good dose of humility and invited them in. Yikes! Those poor shell-shocked people. They deserve better.
Rambling, I am, but that’s o.k.

So, in honor or Mother’s Day, which officially begins in 22 minutes, here is my top list of priorities (not exactly, but mostly, in order) for the rest of May:
1) Pray without ceasing.
2) Continue with my Bible Gateway reading plan and enjoy it, not just read to check it off the app.
3) Finish the last week of the Good Morning Girls Bible Study of Luke.
4) Participate in the Christ in the Chaos book club on Preschoolers and Peace. (Yes, I know, such an appropriate title for this post.)Trust me, it’s a good one so far.
5) Preschool and LOTS of play time with Paul.
6) Reading time with Isaac. Only 15 days until his birthday- I know he can be reading better by then. Help him with a woodworking project. Use the cool red paint from last year’s birthday.
7) Writing with John and chatting and origami. Maybe Legos too.
8) More talks with Rachel about growing up. Crafty times and
9) Listening to Luke. Getting to know that boy better. Enjoying him.
10) Talking with Adam. Figuring out a plan for the rest of this year and next.
11) Making my relationship with Kyle a priority and really mean it.
12) Be a good neighbor–invite someone over for dinner.
13) Be a good church friend– ditto.
14) Help the children budget their mission money and write letters to our World Vision children.
15) Write a note–thank you, encouragement, birthday, etc. every day.
16) Pick a paint color and paint my room.
17) Remove wallpaper and paint upstairs bathroom.
18) Donate or pitch two books every day.
19) Donate or pitch two articles of clothing each day.
20) Clear out and scrub the laundry room.
21) Write something every day.
22) Blog at least three times a week.
23) Exercise daily.
24) Spend 15 minutes each day organizing the school room.
25) Simple, organized meal plan. That would bless my man!
26) Love, love, love my family.
27) Finish my dad’s birthday project from last year. As in June. His 70th. Lame daughter.
28) Think of a super-de-duper birthday project for my mom’s birthday. This June. Very soon.
29) Get up earlier in the morning. My goal is 6 a.m. daily. Not telling what it has been lately.
30) Go to bed by 10 each night. So, it might be 12:15 a.m. while I am editing this.

I’ll try to add links to a few of the above on Monday. For my droves of readers 😉

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My wonderful mother, being a wonderful grandmother…aka making play dough with Paul.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.