Vacuum? Sweep?

I'm busy today with work and house stuff, but here's a great little picture for you....



It's one of those things you never even imagine having to say: "DON'T VACUUM YOUR BROTHER!"

Both of my boys absolutely love the vacuum cleaner. So I vacuum first and then let them take turns pushing and pulling the vacuum. It's a great way to wear them out before nap time!



Do you Vacuum or do you sweep? I use vacuum and sweep interchangeably, but Superman insists that  sweeping is when you use a broom or dustmop and vacuuming is called "hoovering" (even though our vacuum is not a Hoover). I know this is a blistering hot topic, but does it matter? What do you say?

Marshmallow Building

I was inspired by Angela's post a few weeks ago about building with marshmallows, so we did our own. We started out with just shapes and it was a great reinforcement for Ender about how many sides it takes to make each shape.





He built the same triangle over and over for a long time before asking me what else he could build. I suggested other shapes and he tried a few but figured out pretty quickly that he could build taller things . . .





But I didn't catch a picture of his taller building before he started eating them!

Beyond Homemaking Daybook 3

Weather: Still cold, but I'm starting to get used to it. :) We had our first little bit of snow yesterday, so that was exciting for the boys!

 

This Week: Back to our regular schedule. Superman is getting ready for finals this week so he'll be studying more than usual after work. I've been fiddling with the housekeeping schedule to try to get us through my two longer teaching days, so we're going to try out some new things this week.

 

Current Fiction Read: Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey. I'm giving up on Twilight. Sorry, but I just can't get into it.

 

Current Non-Fiction Read: Montessori From the Start by Paula Polk Lillard. It has been such a great read and has explained a lot about why my toddler does what he does and what materials to provide for him to help him through these stages.

 

Craftiness: Still working on Little Bit’s knit kangaroo AND his mittens. I want to finish those tonight! I'm cutting blocks from the strips for Reed's Quilt, so that's another step forward. Hopefully I'll get those done and pieced this week, then into the home stretch on the quilt. :) 

 

Learning at home: This week we're still working with the new 3 part animal cards. Big Kid is only interested in doing 2 or 3 at a time and then puts everything away, so that's been curious. I'm also wondering why he keeps getting them back out if he only wants to work with a few of them. He really enjoys the pink cards. We've been working with 1 short vowel at a time, but I think that he's guessing by the first letter instead of really reading, so I'm going to try putting them in groups by beginning letter. I know he can read 3 letter words, but I want him to get used to working like this before moving on to more difficult things.

 

New work: Practical life for Little Bit- Setting the table, and folding napkins. We started a little bit yesterday and he's in love with the placemat I made for him.

Seven Quick Takes 1

I've recently started reading Jen over at the Conversion Diaries. I found her through Elizabeth Foss's blog, and I spent my free time over 3 days reading most of it. I've enjoyed her writing quite a bit and that's where I saw the Seven Quick Takes thing. Be sure to go check her out!

 

1. I'm still trying to figure out the "Work" thing with Big Kid. There are a few works he's had out on his shelves for several weeks that he has had a lesson on and then used maybe once. I've offered another lesson on a few of them but he's not interested.  They are all number related works, and his real interest is letters and words right now. Should I put those away and bring them out later or should I leave them out even if he doesn't touch them for months?

 

2. Big Kid has been really focused on 1 certain activity. First thing during work time he asks me to write a few words for him and then he traces them or tries to write them. I ask which words he would like to write and he tells me- usually it's his name or his brother's name, occasionally he'll ask for other people's names. The last few days it has been words from Charlotte's Web which we're reading before bed, but again only the names Charlotte and Wilbur. What is the fascination with names?

 

3. Little Bit is desperate to have the binomial cube. I know he's too young to work it correctly, but it's one of his brother's favorite works and he sees it out all the time. He is dying to get that one! I'm tempted to give him a lesson on it and see what he does since he's so fascinated. That would be a hoot. The child can't say a word but he can put together the binomial cube . . .

 

4. I've really been immersed in Montessori for months now. I've begun branching out just a little and looking toward Charlotte Mason and Waldorf. Anyone have any advice on particular sources to read? I'm specifically looking for Waldorf resources.

 

5. I'm in a creative slump. I'm having a hard time being motivated to finish up the boys handmade gifts for Christmas and I really have to get going on them!

 

6.  27 has been a bad age so far. I'm only a few months in and already not so good. I've been thinking quite a lot about changes to make. Someone once told me that 27 is an age of unrest and I'm definitely feeling it. Superman asked me the other night if I was having a 1/3 life crisis. I think maybe I am.

7. We're really enjoying Chuck. As in we've DVR'd every episode and we watch the old episodes while waiting the week for new episodes. We're both giant geeks.

Bloggy Thankfulness

I Thought I'd share a few blogs that I read regularly. These have been so helpful to me in my journey to figure out how to best educate the boys and I appreciate them so much!

In the Heart of my Home is written by Elizabeth Foss. I love her writing, her honesty in sharing about their family (how things don't always run smoothly) and her posts about religious life in their home. Doesn't hurt that her children are so adorable!

Chasing Cheerios is written by Melissa and I love all the ideas she shares! Her toddler ideas have been so incredibly helpful as I try to find things for my 16-month-old to do. She is so creative in providing a Montessori environment.

Dawn writes By Sun and Candlelight and I love her posts about nature and lesson planning. I could spend a year in her archives.

Kara over at Rockin' Granola is practically me. She has this nice mix of earthy and mainstream that is the same way we try to live. Frugal, healthy and fun. We'e also in the same stage of life with little ones (she's just a little ahead of me!) and that makes for nice companionship.

Three Plus Two is written by Angela. I look forward to her posts so much. I grew up in a large family (larger than hers even) and her posts remind me of my homeschooling experiences as an elementary kid.  

Thank you, ladies, for sharing a part of your lives with us. You have helped to shape my thoughts and opinions on educating my kids.