Vacation in Change

We were suppose to do a road trip along one of the Great Lakes and camp as we made stops along the way. In May I was asked to do a respite that turned out longer than anyone anticipated and so we had to change our trip to stay at a local campground so that we could transport the young lady to school. She has never gone camping so it has been a big adventure for her. We also got a great site right on the lake! I saw a huge fish jump right out this morning. The kids all got new fishing rods, so we are looking forward to some fishing this weekend. The 3 little kids have to wear life vest while running around because we are just that close to the water.

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Of our 10 caterpillars, 8 made chrysalis that we were able to transfer to the butterfly habitat. Two don't look so good, so I predict that only six will make it...if that many.

She's Certified!

7th   oh I guess that's 8th grade now! took a babysitting course this Saturday that gave her first aid skills as well as allowed her to earn certification in infant and child CPR!  I am so proud of her and was so excited as I waited for her to come out from class. It was a 6 hour training. She also learned information on age-appropriate discipline, redirection and important tips for keeping children safe and entertained. She said she was one of the few girls that already had experience in diaper changing and that when some of the girls opened the diaper on their anatomically correct dolls that they "kinda freaked out" when some of the dolls turned out to be baby boys! LOL! 

While she was in class, the little kids and I went to a real working drive-in restaurant where you pull up to the speakers with the menus on them, order and the waitress brings your food to the car. No roller skates though! The sandwiches that we ordered were so big, that I ended up cutting 1 of them into 4's for the kids. Good thing I only ordered 3 sandwiches which I was going to split between the 6 of us. We ended up bringing home enough to have another meal. We also went to a really neat park that was wheelchair accessible so it had some really neat toys, ramps and platform swings that was anew experience for my kids.

I am still doing respite care. So many thoughts on that....

Had fun swimming this evening, even though the pool was really full. It was kinda funny because there were 3 young couples with really young children that met up at the Y and they were being so silly and goofy...they were worse than the kids. They kept getting in trouble by the lifeguards for horsing around, running and throwing balls at each other.

While we are officially on beginning summer break, we still have to get up and out daily as our respite kid is still in school, but we hope to leave for a now shortened vacation at the end of the week.

Kindergarten Graduation: PS Style

We went to my foster child's Kindergarten graduation yesterday and it was typically cute with the little cap and gowns, the really funny little songs and the wild clapping for awards such as "knows all my colors", "can count to 100" and "most helpful milk passer outer" (or something to that affect! LOL!) My kiddos were really proud because their foster sister had gotten awards for skills that were a direct result of their help. Every morning and every afternoon, Jackson would stand at the number chart with her and count to 100, count by 10's and blast off counting with her (10, 9, 8, etc...). Every afternoon and evening, James would read to her, sometimes clocking 160 minutes per month on her chart. Every week, Jordan would do her homework with her, making copies of the homework so she could master the skill and then Jordan would find other activities that matched the skill she was learning.

Tomorrow is the last day of public school, but we don't get to sleep in yet as I am doing respite for a child that is attending a charter school, so we still have to get up in the mornings to get her to school. She is a very interesting young lady. We had green eggs and ham for dinner yesterday in her honor because she was reading the book, but did not believe that there could really be green eggs and ham. The color turned out perfectly and I read the story to them as they ate breakfast for dinner (a favorite around here).

On another note: our caterpillars arrived yesterday and have already started growing, some doubled in size in just the 24 hours that we have had them.

Working Our Way Up From the Basement

Another rare tornado warning again tonight that had us sitting in our basement. I took a simple card game down with us, but just like last time... I ended up doing a little laundry, straightening the back room and sorting seasonal clothes. Poor kids! They are probably always going to associate tornado's with working in the basement.

We were only needing to be down there for a 1/2 hour or so. It actually took me longer to get them down there, put the batteries in the radio and flashlights (the lights were flickering, but never actually went out) and find a working station on my old 1971 transistor radio.

Year End Celebration & Graduation

Today we had our year end celebration and the pictures turned out so cute. Their eyes sparkled so much and they were proud of their accomplishments. Every year they dress up and I give a very cheesy graduation speech that mimics the speech given at my graduation for my Masters program.

Congratulations go to Jordan for the completion of the 7th grade, "B" Honor Roll and the award for messiest desk.

Congratulation go to James for the completion of 3rd grade, "A" Honor Roll and the award for "I didn't do it!" (James is the kid who will have powdered sugar on his face, hands and shirt, but will act as if he has no clue what a powdered donut is nor has he ever seen one in his life! )

Congratulations go to Jackson for completing Kindergarten and a Reading Achievement award.

  

Summer school starts June 22. The 3 younger kids will be using summer skill workbooks and Jordan will be using Life of Fred. We all will be writing short stories using character development and setting worksheets from edHelper.com.

7th Grade is Done!!

Jordan is done with school for the year! Yipee!!!

Kindergarten only has math left!!! Yipee!!!

3rd grade may finish before June 1st! Yipee!! (but much effort was used to type this one)

Summer curriculum is mostly all here...waiting for 2 more books.

Yipee!!!

Happy Mother's Day!