Recently I took the time to sit and ask our 6 yr old what he thinks about this whole homeschool show.This is what he has to report on the matter, in his own words.
M: What is your favorite aspect of homeschool?
N: We get to do a LOT of fun things, like read the bible, do fun puzzles, read books, do experiments out of our BIG bag of science, and we earn prizes out of the prize bucket!!!!
M: What would you like to change? Do you think that we could improve our school in any way?
N: New rules. If you don't whine, then you should get an extra star (sticker) on the behavior chart!
M: Good one, bud-
M: Who pray tell is your favorite teacher? (This is a fair question as he does have three other teachers for school/ his personal interests.)
N: Mom! (Smart boy.)
M: Why is science your favorite subject?
N: When I did the geyser tube with dad it was SO cool. The explosion went up in the sky. It was my favorite part.
M: If you were able to do a repeat field trip of a place that we have gone this year, then where would you go?
The Aquarium.
M: When is the best time to do homeschool?
N: Now.
M: touché, my good man!
M: Do you prefer homeschool to your old school in Hi? Why or why not?
N: Yes, because the work boxes are so, so good. They take my breath away when I do them!
M: Mama loves you, my young Jedi padawan. <3
This is such a heartwarming conversation to have with my son. Our family is blessed in ways that I never thought possible since we started school in the fall. God is so good, y'all! The irony is that we NEVER would have done this if we had NOT moved here ;)
Ps- we seriously need to change the header photo. Hello, who is in charge of that.... Oops, me.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Thursday, July 7, 2011
I heart books.
Since Nick has been in Utero, the babies' daddy show and I have read to him. Nick LOVES books! However, Tomasito is such a Man’s man. He's never been super excited about books. Music and singing are his thing. His active-wild-man style led me to assume that it just wasn’t in the cards for him. ECSTATIC to report, I WAS SO WRONG! As a mama, I have to force myself to read Nick’s faves from his 3year old stage ALL OVER again for the 7,5896,559th time for his little brother.
I didn’t think that he would SHOVE books into my face with such force that they literally knock me upside the head if I don’t anticipate them coming! He’s very athletic, and has literally given me a black eye with his Book-upside-the-head antics. He is quite the character and will grab a book and yell in a way that only a 3 year old can and say: “MOMMY. YOU. READ!”
It makes my heart nearly burst to hear Nick read us a story. Now we can employ his reading of ‘How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food’ for the umpteenth rendition for baby bruddah, as they say here. SCORE! for this busy mama. All jokes aside, I thoroughly enjoy reading aloud while we cuddle on the couch together. My house may not be as clean as it could be, but they will be well read!
There has been an adjustment period to our home. Not that this home school gig has been without highs and lows. The best part, Nick is learning more about Jesus, and excelling in a lot of his 1st grade review. The slight challenge is that Nick and I are so much alike that we sometimes butt heads. We have taken a few days off of school to enjoy the business of playing. Eric builds "BOL-canoes", which is Eric-ease for LEGO VOL-canoes. It’s so cute that I almost don’t want to correct him. Nick is racing Francesco and Lightning McQueen all around the house in the spirit of Cars2. I am just trying to soak up all of their cuteness while chronicling it via taking photos :)
Just the other day, we used a different teaching aid to assist his penmanship progress. He said "Thanks mom for finding something that didn't make me cry." The beauty of our homeschooling is that we can change learning modes, try a different technique and accomplish a goal in a way that still drives home a lesson but doesn't make us BOTH cry! PTL :)))
I love my guys XOXOXO, Mama
I didn’t think that he would SHOVE books into my face with such force that they literally knock me upside the head if I don’t anticipate them coming! He’s very athletic, and has literally given me a black eye with his Book-upside-the-head antics. He is quite the character and will grab a book and yell in a way that only a 3 year old can and say: “MOMMY. YOU. READ!”
It makes my heart nearly burst to hear Nick read us a story. Now we can employ his reading of ‘How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food’ for the umpteenth rendition for baby bruddah, as they say here. SCORE! for this busy mama. All jokes aside, I thoroughly enjoy reading aloud while we cuddle on the couch together. My house may not be as clean as it could be, but they will be well read!
There has been an adjustment period to our home. Not that this home school gig has been without highs and lows. The best part, Nick is learning more about Jesus, and excelling in a lot of his 1st grade review. The slight challenge is that Nick and I are so much alike that we sometimes butt heads. We have taken a few days off of school to enjoy the business of playing. Eric builds "BOL-canoes", which is Eric-ease for LEGO VOL-canoes. It’s so cute that I almost don’t want to correct him. Nick is racing Francesco and Lightning McQueen all around the house in the spirit of Cars2. I am just trying to soak up all of their cuteness while chronicling it via taking photos :)
Just the other day, we used a different teaching aid to assist his penmanship progress. He said "Thanks mom for finding something that didn't make me cry." The beauty of our homeschooling is that we can change learning modes, try a different technique and accomplish a goal in a way that still drives home a lesson but doesn't make us BOTH cry! PTL :)))
I love my guys XOXOXO, Mama
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Rebel WITH a cause: Thoughts on freedom, scarfing Junk food, glowsticks, and crowds
Soooo, I don’t know about you, but that was fun. What, you ask? Being herded into a large field of barnyard animals, er, people while we all endure the Aloha humidity (practically sitting on TOP of each other) with a cold one to watch the band that’s named after a T-shirt doesn’t sound like fun to you? We even got to watch other people’s children meltdown that had been there ALL day long. Loud music, massive amounts of perspiring people, FIREWORKS, nutritionally-dense-yet-satisfyingly-delicious-food, games, rides, bouncy houses, light up necklaces, and pony rides, OH MY! Growed-UPS, as my 3 yr old calls them, were melting down left and right! All while multitasking ever so efficiently as they threatened their chilluns. OVERSTIMULATION at it's best and worst all rolled into one happy night. It’s like Disneyland, ONLY cheaper! He he
Sweaty, intoxicated people singing 'Hey there, Delilah.' Good times!
For the record, NONE of the Hammies are into crowds. I repeat: The homeboys (+ this homegirl) DO.NOT.DO.CROWDS. You feel me? When we go out in public be it the grocery store, the park, or anywhere we always employ a strategy. We plotted an attack lasted for less than 4 hours. 3 hrs,45min's to be exact. This is as much for the safety of the general public, as much as it is for our 3 year old's life. His head spins 360 degrees when he is overstimulated for prolonged periods of time. True story!
Since it was a holiday, I decided to toast our great nation whilst Imade cacophonus sounds, ahem, equal parts sang/shouted God Bless America. Me, the lightweight that drinks once every three months, IF THAT, threw back a cold one AND also ate food with NO nutritional value just for S&G's. Ps- Ben and Jerry’s Coffee ice cream in a waffle cone from the truck was delectable! Relax health food Nazi's, I was kind enought to share the caloric/sugar infested nightmare with Hammy Senior ;) Throwing caution to the wind every once in while is FUN! I am enjoying my emancipation, y’all. Because I am nothing if not a rebel. Just ask my mama, I was born this way.
God Bless America, the land that I love!
Sweaty, intoxicated people singing 'Hey there, Delilah.' Good times!
For the record, NONE of the Hammies are into crowds. I repeat: The homeboys (+ this homegirl) DO.NOT.DO.CROWDS. You feel me? When we go out in public be it the grocery store, the park, or anywhere we always employ a strategy. We plotted an attack lasted for less than 4 hours. 3 hrs,45min's to be exact. This is as much for the safety of the general public, as much as it is for our 3 year old's life. His head spins 360 degrees when he is overstimulated for prolonged periods of time. True story!
Since it was a holiday, I decided to toast our great nation whilst I
God Bless America, the land that I love!
Monday, July 4, 2011
We have decided to name our new school!
Never in a million years in my previous life did I EVER dare to dream that I would be the "Stay at home and homeschool my Chilluns" kind of a bad-mama-jamma. It's not meant disrespectufully; Simply stating the facts. I had plans and God had MUCH better ones! ;) Yours truly is Still learning about how to accept that no matter how much a woman can attempt to plan out her family life, if God wants something for you: STOP BEING SO STUBBORN! JUST GO WITH IT!
SO.... Drumroll, if you please.
Our hammies will now be attending: Ohana Christian Academy.
Ohana in Hawaiian means family, paying homage to our start in the Aloha state of Hawai'i. ps- in addition to meaning both Hello and goodbye, it also means LOVE. So when you see Much Aloha, it means much love ;-)
Clearly, where a kid can learn, live, laugh and play ALL at the same time :)Our chilren's learning capacity isn't about "SCHOOL" but rather life. I want my boys to foster a life long curiousity. My objective is to have them ENJOY the process of learning through exploration :-D
I chose this particular photo because it captures the Hammy nature of my Nick! Don't grow up too fast boys.
Much Aloha, Mama xoxo <3
SO.... Drumroll, if you please.
Our hammies will now be attending: Ohana Christian Academy.
Ohana in Hawaiian means family, paying homage to our start in the Aloha state of Hawai'i. ps- in addition to meaning both Hello and goodbye, it also means LOVE. So when you see Much Aloha, it means much love ;-)
Clearly, where a kid can learn, live, laugh and play ALL at the same time :)Our chilren's learning capacity isn't about "SCHOOL" but rather life. I want my boys to foster a life long curiousity. My objective is to have them ENJOY the process of learning through exploration :-D
I chose this particular photo because it captures the Hammy nature of my Nick! Don't grow up too fast boys.
Much Aloha, Mama xoxo <3
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Sea Life Park photos :)
To our family and friends that come visit, we have these passes that allow us to take you with us :) Super fun time at this place!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Why my hubby ROCKS:
I recently entered Time-Warp-Wife's contest about "Why my hubby rocks." The link at the bottom will take you to her website :o)
He jams out to the wiggles and reads to the mini Hammies, (our sons), without my prodding. He takes care of dinner once a week and cooks a breakfast spread while I get extra beauty rest on Saturday mornings. He is an amazing cook! As a bonus he serves his country in the United States AF, just one example of his servant’s heart. He is a husband, a father, an Airman. But these aren’t all the reasons why he rocks.
As a Proverbs 31 wife in training, he honors me by giving me frequent mini-sanity breaks: long walks, crafting, and reading in a quiet room while he takes the boys. He encourages me not only as a mother and a wife, but as a WOMAN. He respects and supports my going back to college. The respect that he demonstrates by treating me as a woman first foremost and not solely as a mother has influenced our relationship as a couple (i.e. healthier communication, handling conflict, navigating parental minefields).
He has served in the USAF for the past 15 years. He served overseas from Nov 2009 to Nov 2010 for an entire year. I forgot to mention that he volunteered to go then so he wouldn’t miss our children’s sporting events when they were older… He is faithful, loyal, and committed to not only me, but our children as well.
While he was doing foot patrols outside the wire, working 12+ hour days, and in a war zone, he still put his family first. He arranged consistent childcare so I could go grocery shopping alone, have a monthly girls night in or out, lawn mowing, and hired a cleaning company just so that I would have time to recharge. He was consistent in his ways of showing us that he loved all 3 of us. He sent cards, cookies, balloons, love notes, and woke up 2 hours early to call our children at bedtime. He would call just to say “Hello” or “I love you.” A month after he got home, he sent me away for a 2 day craft retreat.
I know it may sound like small and insignificant things on this list but thinking about the way that he loves me even from afar makes me want to cry. He is an engaged father, a romantic husband, and he inspires me everyday by leading our family. Our marriage is now stronger than it has ever been because God sent him to deploy. I will spend the rest of my days thanking God for the gift that he has given me. If you'll excuse me ladies, I have to go snuggle my husband now.
He jams out to the wiggles and reads to the mini Hammies, (our sons), without my prodding. He takes care of dinner once a week and cooks a breakfast spread while I get extra beauty rest on Saturday mornings. He is an amazing cook! As a bonus he serves his country in the United States AF, just one example of his servant’s heart. He is a husband, a father, an Airman. But these aren’t all the reasons why he rocks.
As a Proverbs 31 wife in training, he honors me by giving me frequent mini-sanity breaks: long walks, crafting, and reading in a quiet room while he takes the boys. He encourages me not only as a mother and a wife, but as a WOMAN. He respects and supports my going back to college. The respect that he demonstrates by treating me as a woman first foremost and not solely as a mother has influenced our relationship as a couple (i.e. healthier communication, handling conflict, navigating parental minefields).
He has served in the USAF for the past 15 years. He served overseas from Nov 2009 to Nov 2010 for an entire year. I forgot to mention that he volunteered to go then so he wouldn’t miss our children’s sporting events when they were older… He is faithful, loyal, and committed to not only me, but our children as well.
While he was doing foot patrols outside the wire, working 12+ hour days, and in a war zone, he still put his family first. He arranged consistent childcare so I could go grocery shopping alone, have a monthly girls night in or out, lawn mowing, and hired a cleaning company just so that I would have time to recharge. He was consistent in his ways of showing us that he loved all 3 of us. He sent cards, cookies, balloons, love notes, and woke up 2 hours early to call our children at bedtime. He would call just to say “Hello” or “I love you.” A month after he got home, he sent me away for a 2 day craft retreat.
I know it may sound like small and insignificant things on this list but thinking about the way that he loves me even from afar makes me want to cry. He is an engaged father, a romantic husband, and he inspires me everyday by leading our family. Our marriage is now stronger than it has ever been because God sent him to deploy. I will spend the rest of my days thanking God for the gift that he has given me. If you'll excuse me ladies, I have to go snuggle my husband now.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Hammy Fammy Updates
We have exciting family news to share! The challenging part is trying to get my template to cooperate with me.
Some recent changes need to be made: E is 3 now. Potty training, broke free from the infamous BINKY and is sleeping in a big boy like a champ. Loves splashing in the water, and jumping. When you see his photos, they will most likely be blurry as he moves at the speed of lightning! He is a force to be reckoned with in our home. N is 6, and is loving first grade. He is losing teeth and robbing the tooth fairy of everything she's got. He loves to cuddle, read, and anything Star Wars related. Recently, he has started reading a Children's bible and is understanding concepts that make having discusions with him very humorous. We will attempt to post the funnier ones for you ;-)
We moved over an ocean and are no longer apart of the Continous US. Living here in paradise is similar to living in another country. While we maintain the perks of modern civilization, we are somewhat intrigued by the cultural divides here. More to come on that later...
We started homeschooling a while back after a series of what seemed like unfortunate events at the time. Our child was watching television for about 2.5hours in school every day among several other crazy things. Another post about this as well. Suffice to say, we are MUCH happier as a family :D
An appetite for passionate living has been rekindled via my-passed-down-for-generations-cookbook from my great grandmother. Part of this blog will be dedicated to channeling my inner Tortilla-making-pastry-baking-Latina as I embrace this life on the islands. Stay tuned, as great things await you.
Much Aloha,
Kristina
Some recent changes need to be made: E is 3 now. Potty training, broke free from the infamous BINKY and is sleeping in a big boy like a champ. Loves splashing in the water, and jumping. When you see his photos, they will most likely be blurry as he moves at the speed of lightning! He is a force to be reckoned with in our home. N is 6, and is loving first grade. He is losing teeth and robbing the tooth fairy of everything she's got. He loves to cuddle, read, and anything Star Wars related. Recently, he has started reading a Children's bible and is understanding concepts that make having discusions with him very humorous. We will attempt to post the funnier ones for you ;-)
We moved over an ocean and are no longer apart of the Continous US. Living here in paradise is similar to living in another country. While we maintain the perks of modern civilization, we are somewhat intrigued by the cultural divides here. More to come on that later...
We started homeschooling a while back after a series of what seemed like unfortunate events at the time. Our child was watching television for about 2.5hours in school every day among several other crazy things. Another post about this as well. Suffice to say, we are MUCH happier as a family :D
An appetite for passionate living has been rekindled via my-passed-down-for-generations-cookbook from my great grandmother. Part of this blog will be dedicated to channeling my inner Tortilla-making-pastry-baking-Latina as I embrace this life on the islands. Stay tuned, as great things await you.
Much Aloha,
Kristina
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