It is back to school time at the Peel House. I know what you're thinking. My kids are 4, 2 and 1 - not school aged. That's what I thought too. But one day in July I was playing a game with Claire and realized that she was really very ready to read. In fact, she was phonetically making her way through all of those _AT words with speed and ease. So I did what any future homeschooler would do - I hopped online and found a free preschool curriculum.
I have to say God led me to just the right fit for our family. I have little time, wanted something that promoted Biblical concepts but was geared toward reading and phonics. I am thrilled with what we started. We have been going strong, about an hour every day, four days a week for the past four weeks. Claire has picked up 12 sight words, 4 memory verses, phonetically reads all _at, _am, and _ap words, and has memorized the "A" states in our pursuit of having the states memorized by Christmas. Evie and I have less formally been working on some speech issues, and she also enjoys doing our art projects with us. She surprises me sometimes by reciting the memory verse, and most importantly, she plays so nicely with Buddy while we school.
Buddy, as you saw from Claire's birthday post, has gotten a new haircut. Mommy is adjusting to it. It is certainly much easier to clip with clippers than scissors. But he has such nice hair. He is also teething - one canine in, 3 to go and then he will have a full set until his 2 year molars come in. He is also going through severe separation anxiety - driving mommy CRAZY! Still, he is delightful. So different from the girls. Into everything! Very verbal - he says please, thank you, juice, cheese, shoes, mama, dada, cat, meow, and so many more words, sometimes in sentences (more this please? - usually begging for hummus). He eats great - especially hummus and corn on the cob, both of which seem to be possibly something he has a slight allergy to. And he is a walking calamity these days, in that lovely bumps and bruises phase. And he has dropped his morning nap.
Evie also has a new haircut which you will see later on in this post. She is struggling with her speech in much the same way Claire did at her age. She talks a TON, but says so much that it comes out garbled a lot of the time. I am starting to try to work with her on it. Claire has started dance class again and loves it, of course. We are settling into the new routine with school now taking another hour from an already hectic list of daily tasks from mommy, but we are off to a great start!
Working on being "attentive" - they made bunny ears. Later Claire made a set for Buddy.
Nothing like splashing in the water table to cool down
The birthday girl wearing her Auburn dress from Nini and enjoying a birthday treat at Cracker Barrel. When is someone going to open a Vegan restaurant around here? Sigh...
My little builder
Wearing daddy's sunglasses
Ever so studious. We have been reviewing letters and she wants so badly to write. She is actually quite good at writing - especially for someone who just turned four.
Evie is so proud that Daddy decided she is big enough for the big kid swing. I didn't realize she was ready for it, but she was so excited that Geoff put it up for her, and she actually does so good on it! She is really at this transitional phase where she is growing out of babyhood fairly rapidly. One day she seems like a baby and the next like a little girl. Amazing how time flies!
Evie hard at work on a school art project.
Our dear friend Ms. Jeanne helped Buddy to finally stop eating crayons and to draw instead the other day. He has been enjoying drawing with chalk and crayons ever since!
Evie made her binoculars during our backyard camping week at school
Too cool for school, this little guy is now almost as fond of his hat as he is his shoes. He brings hat and shoes to me just about the instant he wakes up these days because he knows there is nothing better than being outside. Truthfully, the weather has been taking us outside almost constantly - I cannot believe it is August and in the mid 80s at the hottest. Amazing!
Now this is the good life right here! I always think of my Ahda when we swing, singing "Little Birdy in the tree." I usually end up singing a bunch of 1940s tunes in her honor. The kids immediately request music when they are swinging. Even my neice Tessa now asks me to sing to her the instant she gets in the swing at my house.
The trampoline is the world's best chalkboard!
Evelynn's new do! I love the bangs. They are perfect! She told daddy "I ove my hairtut!"
Cool little tiger fan
Ready for Dance class
Priceless moments in family life. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Even Geoff came home and ate his dinner on the patio to enjoy the kids at play this evening. Life is good.
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