Fire Engine #4

 Owen loves to sit on these stairs and read.  He is my first toddler who has LOVED to read.

 Here we are at the fire station "Fire Engine #4!"  It was such a nice field trip.  Josiah was super excited.  When the four fire fighters came out, Josiah said, "I'm Josiah.  This is Maryn.  I have a basement.  I like your boots!"  The firefighter said, "I like  your Batman shirt!"

 Here's a small group of kids learning about the oxygen tanks, which way about 70 lbs.  Here they were also learning about the oxygen mask and a special alarm on the tank alerting the team if one of their team members is lying still for more than 30 seconds, so they can save him.

 Josiah tried on the oxygen mask!  I'm so glad he wasn't scared of it.

 This is a firefighter/EMT, the sergeant, another firefighter/EMT, and the fire chief/EMT.

 Our little group!  We had lots of babies and toddlers there with us, too :)

Kindergarten and Preschool! Week One

I planned to start school with Maryn a little more hard core than ever before on Monday.  But the kids were playing so well outside, I just let them play all morning (and we were at the ER with Josiah until midnight the night before).  A similar thing happened on Tuesday, and we skipped Motor Skills.  Then Wednesday came and eh...we did phonograms and of course read our Bible, practiced our Awana verses, did some little writing practice (because Maryn has a strange love for writing on lines), and did some Fruit Loop Math.  :)  Maryn came to me with all of her capital ABCs written on paper, and told me to circle the ones she needed to practice.  So she practiced S and B.  That day Maryn also read two books to me that were upper Kindergarten/Early First Grade levels for the first time, and she did very well.

Today was Thursday and I was at a doctor's appointment ALL morning and came home absolutely exhausted.  So we just sat on the couch and read Maryn's math book (Life of Fred:  Apples) and did the short activities at the end.  Then we read a large chapter in her book "A Pioneer Sampler" which all the kids enjoyed.

Maryn and I have been reading Milly Molly Mandy before bed, which she loves.  Maryn and Daddy make up stories for their bed time ritual.  For Josiah and Owen, I read a book with them of their choice and so does John.  In the mornings, we always do some sort of Bible reading.  Usually it's just right out of the Bible, but sometimes we need to practice our verses for Awana and read those books and sometimes we read from a children's Bible.  Right now we are reading from Chronicles, about King Solomon.  We just finished up 1 and 2 Samuel.  I love the Old Testament.  We enjoyed reading about Samuel, Saul, and King David.  I can't wait to read about Elijah.

I think this may be kind of how our whole school year goes.  I'd like to work a little more on phonograms (more than once a week), do more guided reading (more than once a week), and just keep the television off more often.  So much learning takes place naturally when the TV is off.

I'm regretting signing the kids up for Motor Skills and wish I had used the money to do gymnastics or ballet.  Josiah will not participate at Motor Skills, so I drive 45 minutes there and 45 minutes back (traffic is bad those times of day) and get home right at supper time.  It really makes for a miserable day.  I was looking forward to the time with several of our former neighbors, but by the time we get there, I'm exhausted and frustrated, and spend most of the time just trying to keep up with Josiah and Owen.  Sigh.

And of course I committed to teaching Cubbies this year, making our Wednesday nights almost absolutely tragic, as the kids finally fall asleep around 10...and still wake up at 6...meaning Josiah must take a nap the next day....meaning he is then up till ten the next night....

It seems like things at church are just not going very well (long story, but fyi, it doesn't have to do with the leadership, it's just a lot of little things) and now John works so far away.  I wonder why we moved to this area of town now, why I committed to Cubbies and Motor Skills, why I don't like Beth Moore Bible studies anymore, why am I complaining on my blog about everything, and why do I not like the busy life...compared to most people, our lives are not that busy.  Why am I reminded every day that I am not cut out to be a mother of three (almost four) small children?  I know for a fact that they are no more annoying than most children their ages, so why do I get so upset and annoyed by them?  I have been keeping the house too clean.  Seriously, I know I should not be cleaning as much as I have been.  But I just feel helpless in every other area.  At least I think I can succeed in keeping our house nice, so that when John IS home (when all the rest of us are sleeping), maybe he'll feel comfortable and like I did something for him.  Which is totally silly, and defeating.  None of the encouraging mommy blogs are encouraging to me, that all the other moms say "This was so encouraging!"

I know I need to focus on the gospel.  I need to get off Facebook and focus on the here and now.  And go to sleep (now).

I have ONE more week of first trimester to go, and after that hopefully I'll be a little more....cheery.  :)