School Days...

Toby's preschool graduation is tomorrow and it is also Jayden's last day of mommy and me.

I took time tonight and did something that I enjoy - planned for our summer activities.

My goal is to have a bit of structured time each day I am home with the boys and hubby is at work (about 2-3 days a week).  I would also like to take a field trip each week.


Our rough summer schedule will be:

wake up time

read a book together

discuss book/pretend play

workbook time

outside play

lunch

science experiment - Sid the Science Kid style! OR craft

quiet time

normal afternoon/evening routine

I hope to accomplish two things: 1. Get Toby ready for Kindergarten - especially since he will most likely be the youngest in his class with a birthday two weeks before the cut-off and 2. Prevent Jayden from sliding backwards - he has made so much progress through the infants and toddlers program and his instructional teacher doesn't start up until his preschool begins in September.

I have been working on our summer schedule...but found some awesome back to school freebies online!

  from icanteachmychild.com - I plan on making these for an activity to travel to the beach - especially since our DVD player is broken!  If you subscribe to the website they also have a great e-book about diy kids science experiments.  I also have been working on a busy book for about 2 years I hope to finish pre-vacation for the ride down and I want to make a I Spy jar - where you fill it with sand and other objects and the kids try to find "hidden" objects.

 

printable lunch box notes for Kindergarten from Paper & Pomegranates

I want to check out the other stuff on this site...ran out of time tonight.

and prefilled lunch notes from honey jumble



 I have grown to love anythingbutperfect.com - I now use the monthly calendars on this site -  and found these cute school notes

A New Room!

Welcome to my new dining room!

My girl, D's family game us the dining room set and rug!  I have been collecting all of the accessories since we moved in the house.

check out the hutch - that is my grandma's china - I have been storing it for 8 years!

This wall needs a little more jazz - I have some really neat decorative mirrors but I keep forgetting the one at work...  I also have these really neat mercury looking hanging candle lanterns - Andy says they look like huge old Christmas tree ornaments!  I am hesitant to hang them because when we remodel the kitchen they may be in the fridge's way...as it may take up temporary residence in the corner of the dining room.

We also got 2 years 0% financing and bought the kitchen cabinets and countertop!  Andy wants to begin installation after the 4th of July.  Super excited but still freaking out a bit because we are pretty debt adverse.  I just can't take the rotting cabinets anymore!

Mother's Day Tea & Veggie Garden Chore Chart

I got to attend a Mother's Day Tea today with my oldest son.  How special.  It is bittersweet because it is his last year of Preschool and I know these type of things are few and far between in the public school system.

He made a place mat that said I like my Mommy because.."I hugged her and she is pretty" and he also made a picture that had the caption My Mommy likes to... "hug my Daddy". 

Toby is getting so big.  He now has chores and a chore chart which he loves!  Each time he completes a chore he gets to put a veggie in his garden.

Below are some printables and instructions for the garden base are found here.

Happy Mother's Day

Babies, babies, babies!  I know of three babies that were born this weekend - 2 girls and 1 boy.  What a special Mother's Day - especially for all of the new mommies out there!

My Mother's Day was more like a weekend not just a day.  Saturday I told hubby about a couple yard sales that I wanted to go to that were all on the same road and he suggested we all go as a family.  What a great idea!  The boys really enjoyed it - they took some money from their piggy banks but did not spend any and still had fun.  My main goal was to start stocking up on clothes and shoes for Toby. 

At our first stop we hit the jackpot. 

• 2 pairs of snow boots
• a pair of sneakers
• sketcher water shoes (kinda look like crocs)
• flip flops - Toby asked for these
• a few pairs of pants
• a couple shirts
• a quilt that will make an awesome picnic blanket
• a mesh closet organizer (for Toby's Monday-Friday Kindergarten outfits)
• wooden toy car knobs
• a table and chair set for the boys
• a free stuffed doggie for Jay that he named Diane!  I was kinda weirded out about a yard sale stuffed animal - I wiped him off good and threw him in the dryer.  He still isn't allowed in bed with Jay - he sleeps on top the hamper!
• Roxy purse
• Total was under $20 

The second stop yielded Andy some tools - this is what he was after

The third stop was also GREAT

• a pair of cushions for our chaise lounge chair $10
• a chandelier for the kitchen that Andy spruced up with spray paint $15

I am in love with yard sales!  Too bad hubby has been working a lot of Saturdays - next week my Mom is going with the boys and I.  Stewartstown is having 2 community ones on Rt. 24.

After we got home I worked my hiney off finishing the dining room!  At this point we have officially finished every room in the house but the kitchen and upstairs bath.  Poor Andy had so much trouble hanging the dining room chandelier - but I love it!

Sunday Toby gave me a special pin for Mother's Day.  Mom watches the boys the days I work and she always makes sure they make something nice for me for Mother's Day.  I got so many complements on my pin.  We went to Perkins for breakfast - this is our tradition - it is yummy - and people stopped me to look at the pin!  Toby was glowing!

I have to say one of my favorite parts was the hat my mother in-law brought back from Disney for Jay...too cute!

Other Mother's Day pics:

Jayden driving Weston, my godson, around!

We had our annual Mother's Day cookout Sunday and got to eat in the "new" dining room.  We used a folding table and outside chairs but we shall soon have a new to us dining room set - a set - I am so excited!

oh baby!

This post is a hodge-podge of the past week.

I have been a busy bee - we had a baby shower for my girl, Kate!  

Finally we will have a little girl in our extended family...I am so excited!

In preparation for the shower we worked on the dining room.  Hubby mudded and I sanded and put one coat of paint on the walls.

My father in-law was able to put one coat of spackle/paint mixture to try to blend the newly secured sagging ceiling to the existing texture (see below).  Replacing ceilings are not in the budget - also we'd like to minimize drywall dust!

 We also got our new pool liner installed...I am happy to say we have this halfway paid.  Thank goodness - all this frugal-ness is starting to wear on me.  Hubby thought the pump was broken but luckily he got it working again...sounds like we'll be lucky to get a year out of it.

  

Today we went to baby L's 1st birthday party, the boys had a blast!

 

  Toby and I are reading this Bible each night...the only thing is that death, kill, die, hurt are continually repeated - I know why but geez can't we focus on the miracle stories instead?  Toby enjoys it and looks forward to this each night. 

What a big boy he is - Friday we registered him for Kindergarten.  In a few weeks he will be graduating from preschool - that time flew by!

On a sad note: I am mourning the loss of my once fully functioning oven.  Please mr. oven find it in your coils to continue to work until the pool liner is paid off and we can replace you.  I know your sagging broken door is dragging you down and you are tired of being tricked as we have pulled the cleaning handle to keep you closed - but we really need you to hold on.