Welcome Back!

We’re back in town for a couple of weeks.  And back among the internet world.  I know I was horribly missed!

So, you may ask (okay, you probably didn’t but it’s my blog so I’ll share anyway), where in the world did the Bunch wander off to this time.

Well, we were in quite a few places.  We went to one state, dropped off three kids, and back to our home state to attend a home school convention.  We took the nursing babe and Zoe and Ace.

So, who was there at the conference?  Well…Ken Ham, Kevin Swanson and this man:

You may have heard me mention, a time or two, about Voddie Bauchum, Jr.  Well, we got to listen to and meet him.  In the flesh!  That was after they found him though.

Yeah, I’m not sure how you lose a man this large at a homeschool convention, but they did.  He missed his first session and they were not sure where he was.  It was later that we learned that there was a miscommunication and his flight didn’t arrive into the area until 12.  There was no way he could have done an 11 o’clock session.

We weren’t going to be total groupies and get our picture made with him…just decided to stalk him (after we met him) and snap his picture a few times.  I know we are such nerds.  Most people want to meet rock stars and movie stars.  Us, we like to meet preachers and teachers.

And bloggers…

While I was waiting in line for the used book sell, I sent Mark with Ace and Bryant to check out the two math curriculums we had it narrowed down to.  While he was meeting and schmoozing with Todd Wilson and other vendors, he saw a familiar face among the shoppers.

That’s them in the left hand corner.  He was trying to snap a picture incognito to make sure it was them.  Yes, he reads her blog over my shoulder.

It was Lora from Vitafamiliae.  I was pumped.  And Mark quickly came out and took my place in line so I could become a friend and not a blog stalker (which I don’t consider myself as such because I’ve posted on her blog many a time…because her life is sooo like mine).  We chatted so long that we missed the start of the sell.  And Mark had to come find me.  I wish I had actually emailed her ahead of time to arrange a time for us to chat for real.  Mark didn’t get to meet her husband (who is a lot like Mark, except he wears glasses) and we didn’t get to visit near long enough.  Oh well maybe next time.

But back to the conference.  It was awesome!  Mark and I loved hearing the big speakers.  So much so, that we didn’t really attend any of the other sessions but we did purchase cds of a few.  I really could sit and listen to Dr. Bauchum preach all day long.  Because I’m weird like that.  But I didn’t have to tell you all that…you all pretty much can tell from what I write, huh?

Anyway, if you are ever near where Dr. Bauchum is preaching, you must drop all you are doing and go.  Immediately.  You will not be disappointed.

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Starting off…

We had a busy couple of weeks recently.  So, be prepared for an eyefull!

To start off, we attended a convention (more on that tomorrow).  We took three children with us and left three to have some extra special Grandmere and Papa time.  And the highlight of the trip…

…the pool at the hotel.  It was a very, very small pool…but it was adequate for Bryant’s introduction to “bathing in clothes.”  He thoroughly enjoyed it, by the way.

His highlight though had to be this:

He met the cutest baby in the world!

 And showered him with lots of kisses.  He even talked to him a time or two.  And he talked back.  That was a treat for my littlest man (who, by the way, is gaining wait very well.  He’s up to 17 lbs 10 oz in two weeks).

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Happy Mother’s Day to Me!

This Mother’s Day I have racked up.  Hearing Voddie Bauchum Jr.  (and hopefully meeting him), Kevin Swanson, and Ken Ham.  And getting some other great goodies (which I received early due to our gallivanting across the southeast)…

Hats for the kids!

Nah, I got something nice and shiny but it wasn’t jewelry (thank goodness…what is a mom of six little ones going to do with jewelry???).  I finally got updated mixing bowls!  And a surprise…a mandolin (I think that’s right…it’s one of those super duper veggie slicer/dicer/julienne things).

The kids enjoyed the bowls as well.

Fashion accessory, “fun” mirror…not just a mixing bowl anymore!

I love my gifts and being able to celebrate fun and practical gifts.  For the record, I really don’t want jewelry.  I hardly wear any except my wedding ring/engagement ring.  When we got married I never really though I’d have six children.  So, I didn’t register for large family items (like a mandolin, very large bowls, etc…plus, we lived in a one bedroom apartment that was about the size of our kitchen now…not conducive to housing large items), so I’m ecstatic when I get practical gifts.  They make my everyday normal days go so much more smoother.

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Review: No-Work Spanish Audiobooks

Recently, our family has gotten involved in a Spanish speaking church.  Basically, we hear of a need and if we can feel it we try to do so.  So, this has landed Mark in a few weeks doing audio for their services and now we’re all involved helping with the ESL (English as a Second Language) classes they are offering.

Now, before you think we’re all bilingual “good” homeschoolers.  We’re not.  Mark took some Spanish in high school.  I took French.  I can tell someone they are going to the pool and something else I learned from a song that is not too nice but that’s it.  And it’s in French.  Mark can start a conversation in Spanish and he can understand more than he can speak.

I’ve been working, on and off, with the kids on teaching them Spanish.  So, I was excited to get a chance to review this new audio concept by No-Work Spanish.  Here’s how it works.

You order the CD (or the download) and put the audiobook in an appropriate device and listen away.  We received Yaks March on Washington and Poster Girl.  And, to remember to listen to it, we’ve been listening when go to and from ESL classes.  The story is read in English one line at a time and then immediately repeated in Spanish.  At the end of the chapter it is read completely in Spanish.

The actors reading did a great job and kept it entertaining.  While, I probably wouldn’t recommend this for a sole curriculum, this is a easy and fun way to reinforce Spanish that you may already be working on.  Listening to one time is not enough.  It’s a good idea to listen two or even three times.

Vocabulary lists are available for each audiobook and the full book is available in pdf form on the CDs.

Currently, there are three audiobooks out with more to come.  They range in price from $21.95 (for two CDs) to $8.99 (for downloads).  They can be ordered from No-Work Spanish.

Keep updated on when new titles come out by going to the No-Work Spanish Facebook page.

Disclaimer:  This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by: No-Work Spanish for this review.

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Keep Your Mouth Shut!

Life is never dull around here.

Case in point:  We’re in the throes of the stomach bug around here (or, hopefully, the end of it) as Ace decided to release his stomach contents this morning.  On top of that, we’re also in packing mode…yep our bunch is hitting the road again.  So, as you can imagine, our days have been pretty busy and today was no exception.  At one point, Bryant was fussy, I was trying to make lunch and things were piled up everywhere.  Liam walked into the kitchen with his metal toy cars (like the Hot Wheels) and proceed to do a Liam thing which is never stay still.  He bopped his mouth with the car and then, in Liam fashion, started to wail and moan.  He typically does this over little things, stubbing toes, getting bumped into by a brother or sister. 

I had had enough of the drama and decided to let him know as I rushed around the kitchen, “Liam, that’s enough.  You bumped your mouth with the car.  It’s no big deal.  It’s not like your bleeding…”  It’s at that point I look down and realize he was bleeding.  God shut my mouth up about that one.

Thankfully, he is not our drama king when it comes to blood (just pain…I have no clue where they get this pain drama from), a wet paper towel and a covert attempt to put a bandaid on a split lip (his attempt not mine…I do have a college degree people) and he was all better.  He did have to relay the drama to daddy and I had to admit my pride in not seeing to the wounded immediately.

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Bumps Bruises and Burns…Oh My!

Last Monday night was date night.  And this is how it started…
Sunday, I’m a little queasy and not feeling quite right.  Mark felt the same on Saturday but after a few hours felt better and chalked it up to being out in the heat working.  We both dismiss it and decide to continue with our plans to go out.

Monday rolls around and I still don’t feel too well.  Mark’s a little queasy at this point but we both are determined to celebrate our 15 year dating anniversary. 

I decide to get fancy and actually cook on date night.  After the designated time in the oven the chicken wasn’t done, it was after 5 and I still had to feed Bryant.  I got Bryant “tanked up” ran to the closet to get dressed and left Mark to keep an eye on the chicken. 

As I’m trying to get ready, I heard a yell and thud and lots of commotion in the kitchen followed by Bryant’s cries.    I run in to see Zoe holding Bryant and Mark trying to get to him.

Bryant was sitting at the play kitchen having a good ol’ time.  Mark went to check on the chicken in the oven.  When he pulled it out (it was in a 9X13 dish on top of a cookie sheet), the cookie sheet slipped and tilted and the baking dish bumped out and fell on to the floor…and slid across the floor towards Bryant.  It slid, ya’ll.  Bryant was sitting a good distance away from the oven too.  Upon our examination, we thought he may have been burned on his leg.  That was not the case though.  But we didn’t find out until the next day.

While all this is going on, Liam yells at the top of his lungs and comes running down the hallway.  I think he’s just frustrated about something (because that’s the kind of kid he is) and sent him back to his room to cool off.  Bryant gets calmed down and I head to the closet to get myself ready.  Liam finally walks in while I’m putting on make-up and announces,
“I’ve got my self-control mommy.”
“Oh good babe.  What’s wrong?”
“I fell and hit my head on the metal thingy on Ace’s bed.”
 Believe it or not, I did stop what I was doing and give him a hug and talked to him quickly.  He was good to go.

About five minutes later we’re waving goodbye to the babysitter and the kids.  I hugged Liam and he flinched.  I rubbed his head and, sure enough, he had a goose egg on the back of his head.  He said it hurt but we checked for signs of a concussion and he had none.  That kid’s got a hard head.

Mark and I tried hard to have an enjoyable date.  And we did…when we weren’t moaning about how bad we felt or running to the bathroom. There’s no telling how many people we infected that night!

Tuesday morning dawned with me even more sick than before.  I got Bryant up to nurse him, in between bathroom trips, and noticed a nice blister on his hand.  He had not gotten burned on his leg but on his hand.  Since he had his nine month check up that day, I saved my call in to the doctor for another crisis.

Doctor B said it was a 2nd degree but it wasn’t deep, nor large enough to warrant a trip to the burn center.  They did their best to wrap it with gauze and treat it in house.  And we were told what to look for for an infection.  I was told to keep it wrapped up to prevent infection.  Dr. B also reassured us that those accidents happen and relayed a story of her toddler standing beside her and grabbing the iron that was a safe distance away.

And now I ask, do you know how to wrap a baby’s hand and how to keep the bandage on?  Because I do…now.  Here’s my secret:

See ya gotta wrap the gauze between his thumb and pointer finger.  And then around and then between his pinky and fourth finger and then around and then between his fourth and third finger and then around and then tape it.

But that’s not all.  All no!  That is not all.  The final touch…

A glove.
Oh, let’s just say it’s our tribute to the late “great” King of Pop!  And let me tell ya, that glove can, in no way, hinder this little man from climbing, eating, and doing other 9 month old things.
If that wasn’t enough.  Tuesday found us praying hard for our family and friends in Alabama.  We also praised God when one of the larger tornadoes missed our family by about five miles.
I’m not done.
Thursday night, Ceili Rain and I were playing.  I was laying down and she was in front of me.  She threw her head back (as only a toddler can do…full force of her body behind it) and whammed into my front tooth.  Luckily she didn’t catch the edge…just the main part.  So, no damage was done to her.  Just amazingly unbelievable pain to me.  After much calling and waiting, I was able to see a dentist on Friday and learn that it was just badly bruised and to be easy with it the next few days.  
I’m not done.
After returning from the dentist.  I was visiting with Tracy, who braved my children for a little while.  Zoe was downstairs doing cartwheels (a newly acquired skill).  We were up in the kitchen or somewhere.  We heard Zoe scream and run.  I went after her and she was laying on her bed hyperventilating.  Upon inspection, I found a nice gash in her side.  One of her cartwheels landed her on the wooden toy box and left a large scrap on her side.  Mark checked it out and we both noticed it wasn’t deep so we bandaged with tape and gauze and went on.
That night I went to take the tape off and saw red all around it.  We both panicked.  First thoughts, it’s blood…that much blood is not good, maybe we should take her to the er to have it stitched up.  Second thoughts, it’s a rash.  Zoe’s allergic to tape.  And finally, realization.  Zoe was wearing a pinkish red shirt.  The lint from the shirt stuck to the tape.  Phew!
And that was what we did last week.
On another wonderful note, we are over the stomach bug and it doesn’t seem to have taken anyone else hostage.  

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Bryant’s Nine Months Old

Yep, he’s nine months already!  And not walking…so, all of us who thought he would be…we’re wrong.  He’s close, though.  I’m thinking now maybe 11 months will be his point of walking.  He’s getting brave…letting go, standing for a few seconds, and then plopping on his rear.  Pull up.  Repeat.  And he thinks that is the coolest thing since sliced bread (which he doesn’t like…but that’s okay).

Here’s the stats:
16 lb 10 oz (3%, yeah, more on that in a second)
29 1/4 inches long (80%)
18 1/4 inches head (85%)

So, yes, if you follow his stats closely (you know, if you’re the grandparents), then you’ll notice a drop in his percentile on his weight.  I’m impressed that, even though he’s following Josiah’s growth track he didn’t here.  I’m actually glad.  I worried enough when Josiah lost weight between his six and ninth month. 

Dr. B was not too worried.  I told her eats three times a day, nurses four, and enjoys everything we can shove in his mouth.  And would prefer we do that quickly.  He also wants to be on the floor nonstop crawling and pulling and moving everywhere.  She was not concerned and didn’t feel we needed to be.  She just encouraged us to amp up his fats (no, that does not mean I can give him a steak but I can give him lots of butter, avocados and the like).  She also said that she would prefer to see a skinny baby that a fat one…way harder to deal with obesity than just healthy skinny eating.

I knew he was skinny and wasn’t really surprised to see a drop.  But a drop into the single digits was a bit surprising.  So, we are giving him lots of yummy healthy fats and letting him go until he gets full. 

And, a new fact, Dr. B said that studies have shown that infants introduced to peanut butter early on tend to not develop allergies from peanuts later.  And all you allergy worriers can go out and find the studies to prove otherwise….just reporting what the good doc had read recently. 

Grandparents, don’t freak out.  I can assure you he is on track for his development and we’re not starving him.  All my babies tend to get skinny when they get mobile and then “fatten up” a little when they start eating more table foods.

Now for some Bryant fun.  Bryant’s started doing these funny faces.  At first it was just random, now it tends to be when he’s in our arms and we have his food and are getting it ready for him.  Or when we sit down to feed him.  I think it’s because we say, “Oh, what are we having tonight?  Avocados and banana with squash…yummy” 

Posing, but when I told him that was not what I wanted, he obliged and performed for the camera…
Better, mom?
Here ya go, one more time!
I crack myself up!
And, I’m adorable to boot! 

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And the Winner Is…

the winner of the PJ Tots by Manhattan Toy Giveaway is:

Sabrina82

Congratulations!!  Thanks to everyone who entered.

Send me your address and I’ll send it in to the company!

And since Mark and I are dealing with a bit of the “plague” in the form of a stomach virus, go check out Tracy’s sneak peek of a photo session she did for us!  Go.  Now.  My kids are too adorable to miss out on!

Note:  Winner was chosen using Random.org..

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Homeschooling Young ‘uns (4 and 5 years old)

Sorry it’s taken so long to get back on this.  It was a great, busy, and sickie Resurrection weekend.

Soooo, I’ve given you all the juicy details on how we school our little ones under four.

For the over four crowd we have two main goals:
1.  Teach them to read.
2.  Increase their critical thinking skills so that they can read easier and learn easier.

Here’s what we do.

We teach phonics.  Specifically, I’ve been successful (all of two times and now with the third) with Abeka phonics.  It’s structured (which I need) and it’s Christian (well, as Christian as it can be when it’s teaching a says “a” as in apple).  Oh, and it typically only takes 15 to 20 minutes a day to do.

I’ve found that it’s easier to wait and start phonics when my kids have learned to recognize all their letters.  Although, Abeka’s phonics does teach letter recognition.  I also look for readiness signs in things they do:  recognizing letters on signs, pretending to read a book, sitting with a book and actually turning the pages (not ripping them out), coloring in the lines, drawing bodies when drawing people (not just heads with arms and legs coming out of them).  And, I can usually see those things happening around 4.  So, we start up Abeka’s K4 phonics.

And I’m mean, since I always have someone who is coming up about to use it, I don’t let the kids write in the readers or other activities.  Which means, I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of it.  So, there’s a money saving tip for ya!

If a child’s just not ready, we’ve experimented with other things.  I have flashcards that they use to recognize letters.  These can be done with an older sibling or with me cuddling up on the couch.  We work through letter craft sheets.  And we continue to work on our skills of listening and sitting and “doing school.”

Mark and I both feel that once our children learn to read, they are ready to learn just about anything.  Being that we have reading in our blood (my mom’s an English teacher, Mark’s mom’s been a librarian), reading is just that important to us.

We also see how important it is to develop the kids critical thinking skills.  It really is useful in problem solving and pretty much every activity known to man.   I love Developing the Early Learner to help us with that.  It’s a set of four workbooks that work on developing different fine and gross motor skills on a preschool level.  We’ve used it successfully with two kids.  Liam has gone through it, but may go through it again after a break or maybe not at all.  His brain is definitely wired differently than his older brother and sister so we’ll just wait and see.

Once our kids turn four or five we add in Saxon Math K.  It’s really written on a kindergarten level and the children seem to enjoy that time.  For math readiness, I look for a  lot of the reading skills as well as some number reasoning skills.  I also look to see if they can count past ten and recognizing numbers.  If they can do those things, then we’re good to go.  Liam started Math at four and has picked up on it quickly.  Ace started at four and Zoe started at five, so they are in the same math even though they are in two separate grades.  It’s awesome not having to teach a ton different maths although that may change in the future depending on how quickly or slowly they pick up on things.

All told, a four or five year old in our home spends about 30 to 45 minutes of their day “doing school.”  The rest is spent in constructive play and doing chores, etc. 

I read at breakfast and lunch and expect all the children to sit at the table while I’m reading.  It’s good practice for worship and when we need to sit still and listen.  I’m praying, they pick up on a thing or two while they sit!

Will this look different when Bryant comes on up and is four and five?  Probably!  Although, maybe not…it’s just a wait and see and the beauty of homeschooling is that I can change and adapt to the specific needs of my kids!

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Two More Days

I’ve got two giveaways going on now.  Due to some sickness flying around here (me:  vertigo and stomach yuk and Mark stomach yuk) I delayed closing the giveaways.  So click here if you want to win a PJ Tots Manhattan Toy and follow the directions

AND

click here if you want to win a onesie and burp cloth set.

Go.  Now.  I’ll wait until you return to finish my homeschooling young’uns post.

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