Home Schooling: Preschool

We have decided to home school the boys for preschool. Alden just turned 3, so in August he will be starting preschool. We looked at all our options and decided home schooling worked best for us financially. I love teaching little ones so it just came natural to keep him home. I have enjoyed buying supplies for projects and crafts.

We were going to start preschool in August, the same time he would be starting if he was going to preschool outside the home. He is so eager to learn, he wanted to start now. So, we did. We are going slowly with it learning a letter a week, a few colors here and there, shapes, and doing lots of crafts. I will definitely update about my preschooling process.

I am NOT A PROFESSIONAL at preschool or home school. I am learning every day. But, it is fun to watch him understand new things.

Day 1: We learned the Letter "A", the sound, and how to write it.

I bought Alden a preschool notebook that he practices his letters in, and also a journal that he draws a picture in and "writes" about the subject in.

The first day we wrote out the letter A. We colored the letter A and hung it on the wall. We also made hand butterflies (Doesn't go with the letter A theme, but it was fun.) and wrote in his journal about what his favorite animal is. He chose Tiger because it says ROAR! :)

Day 2: We stayed with the letter A. We wrote it out in our notebook and practiced the sound it made. We wrote in our journal what we do at the park.

We made letter A crafts.

Paper plate Apple...

Use the back of a paper plate and paint it red. Then, add eyes, a mouth and a stem.

Apple Stamps on the letter A...

A made a block A on a piece of paper. Cut an apple in half, dip it in red paint, and stamp it on the letter.

Alligator...

Cut out a letter A, turn it sideways and add cut-out teeth.

I have really enjoyed this time of my life.

Cradle Cap: My Solution

My kids have always struggled with Cradle Cap.

Cradle Cap Definition: a skin condition sometimes seen in babies caused by excessive production of sebum, characterized by areas of yellowish or brownish scales on the top of the head.

Alden has always had an issue with it. We have tried all different types of methods to get rid of it. The "baby oil" technique has been the most used. Put baby oil on the spot of cradle cap and use a soft brush to gently remove the 'scales'. It didn't seem to help.

The other week I took the boys to the barber for a hair cut. The barber noticed the cradle cap and commented on it. I told her it comes and goes but I can never seem to really tackle the issue. Her solution: Baking Soda. Never thought of it.

Super easy.

Step 1: Put the child in the bath. When you are ready to wash their hair get their hair wet and let it sit for a good 30 seconds to a minute to soften the cradle cap 'scales'

Step 2: Combine the amount of shampoo you normally use for your child and just a little shake of baking soda and stir in the palm of your hand.

Step 3: Gently scrub the shampoo mixture into your child's hair, the whole head. Baking soda won't hurt their head or hair. Pay close attention to the cradle cap area. Lightly scrub for 20-30 seconds.

Step 4: Take a soft tooth comb and brush the hair. I brush from side to side, then switch directions, then go back to front and front to back. Don't push hard with the brush. Just gently remove the cradle cap 'scales'.

Step 5: Rinse the hair thoroughly.

Step 6: After the hair is dry, check to see any areas that need to be re-treated during the next bath.

It took about 2-3 times of this to fully remove Alden's cradle cap, but this is the first time that it has actually removed the scales.

Happy 3rd Birthday Alden!!!!

OH MY WORD!!!! My little munchkin is 3!!! How did that happen?! Time flies way too fast. I swear it was yesterday I was the nervous new mom bring my baby boy home from the hospital. Now, he is a sweet, adorable, sensitive, precious 3 year old boy!

For Alden's birthday this year, he had two birthday parties. One the day of his actual birthday with the family and one the next Saturday with his friends. The day of his birthday he wanted a pizza party lunch. Lyndon headed to Papa Murphy's and got a Hawaiian pizza (Alden's favorite) and we had a pizza party. I bought him a chocolate cake at the store and he blew out his candles!!!

For his birthday, Momma picked out a whole bunch of arts and crafts things. Paper, markers, crayons, scissors, etc. He loves to create things. Lyndon chose to get him a new bike! He was THRILLED!!!! The helmet was a little too small, so we will have to get him a new one and Collyn gets that one, but he couldn't be more excited!

On Saturday, he had a party with his friends. He requested the theme be SPIDERMAN!! So, that is what we did. There was certainly another theme to the party. Arts and crafts! Word got around that he loves to color and draw, so we are set for a while with art supplies! Color Wonder is amazing by the way!

He had a cake with cupcakes and punch. We gave out goodie bags to his friends. We were going to do a pinata, but it was too windy outside. The boys ran around and played the whole time. It was a great party!!

Trip to the Sacramento Zoo

A few days after the new year, we headed to the Sacramento Zoo. The weather was BEAUTIFUL! And, what is better than the zoo on a great day like that. Sacramento is a little over an hour from our house. Our kids are so used to riding in the car, they are such troopers, an hour is nothing for them.

The Sacramento Zoo is a smaller zoo, which is perfect for our family and little legs. We had 2 strollers, but the boys insisted on walking a lot. We checked out lots of animals. Alden's favorite was the tiger. Collyn loved the giraffes! We had a little treat of Dippin' Dots and I bought both boys some Safari Binoculars so they could be tour guides. They really enjoyed that. We ate lunch at the zoo and explored some more and then headed home.

It was a nice outing for the day!

Playing In The Dirt

So, California winter weather is WAYYYY different than Idaho weather. Granted, we are in a drought right now so it hasn't rained more than twice since August. Even though it's hard for the farmers, it makes my life easier, because with 70+ degree weather and sunshine, my boys are outside almost every day playing in the dirt. What also worked in my favor was the house we are renting has amazing raised garden beds. One of them is lower to the ground, perfect for the boys to play in. They have their dump trucks and other trucks out there and they get dirty almost head to toe each day. I am able to sit, sometimes with my coffee and Kindle, soaking up the sun and enjoying the small break.

Christmas Eve 2013

Our first Christmas Eve away from Idaho and away from family was a little bittersweet. We missed our families dearly, but at the same time it was such a wonderful evening. Alden is almost 3 so he understands everything with Santa. It was so fun watching the magic and excitement in his eyes every time we talked about Christmas.

On Christmas afternoon, we made homemade salt dough ornaments. Alden did his hand and I attempted Collyn's hand, but he just liked to squish it, so I ended up doing his foot again this year. I baked them and when they went down for their naps, I painted them.

In the evening, we headed to the church for a Christmas Eve Candle Light service. Alden and Collyn got restless in the middle, so I spent 1/2 the service in the hallway while they ran back and forth through the hall.

After we got back from the service, I had cooked a lasagna while we were there and we had a late dinner. Then, the boys got to open 3 presents. One: New Pajamas. Two: New Slippers. Three: New book. We had such a fun time with these gifts. They wore their new jammies to bed and walked around all evening and the next morning with their slippers on. Before bed, we read their new books to them.

It was getting late, so we put out cookies, chocolate milk, and carrots on a special plate Grandma Kay got the boys last year, specifically for Santa. We headed to bed, and it was a good fight to get Alden to sleep. He was just TOO excited!!!!

Youth Group Christmas Party 2013

We hosted the Youth Group Christmas Party at our house this year. We had TONS of finger foods and treats to eat on all night, we played a game, and had a gift exchange. It was lots of fun.

I made a saran wrap ball filled with candy bars and little tokens to win big prizes. They had so much fun with this game.

Then, we had a "white elephant" gift exchange. It was a good time. There were some crazy gifts!