Homeschool Preschool

The idea of homeschooling has always appealed to my Mama side and has always been something I wanted to try. I figured preschool is a pretty good "lets give it a try" age. Today was the first day that Parson and I tried our Toddler 2 ABC Jesus Loves Me home-school preschool curriculum....It was an adventure and fun for both of us.

I have had the curriculum for awhile...like 6 months but the past 6 months have been pretty crazy. This has given me lots of time to read through and get familiar with the parent/teacher guide and activity pages. It also has given me time to look at Parson and see what way he learns best.

Last weekend I decided that I thought Parson was at a point where I thought he would really be able to enjoy some of the activities and be cognitively ready to try and "learn" the information. I was nervous...not about teaching him colors, letters, and numbers. He knows all of those pretty good already. But teaching him about God and the bible. I mean, I know its important...but lets be honest I am still learning myself. How was I ever going to properly teach Parson all of this information?

Thank heavens for this curriculum it has it all spelled out for me (to learn and re-learn) to teach Parson. For instance, week one is teaching about Genesis 1:1. One simple verse about what God created on the first and second day. So this morning I read Parson Genisis 1:1 out of his toddler story bible. He loved the pictures and pointed at the moon and the sun (day and night) and pointed to the water and the sky.

Today we just focused on the day and night thing...and sure enough if I ask Parson "What did God create on the first day?" he will reply "the moon and sun!" to him that is day and night!!! Golly, a little prodding and a coloring sheet and help from Mom and he has got one part down!

We are taking things nice and slow with this structured learning thing. Like 15-30min in the morning of  "activities" with stores and songs throughout the day and probably a little something before bed with the verse we are talking about that week.

This week not only are we learning about Genesis 1:1, but also about the color red, letter A, number 2, and the circle shape. So for our before nap snack we ate off of  red circle plates. The letter A and the number 2 are hanging on our fridge on red construction paper and Genesis 1:1 is written on red construction paper also on the fridge.

Yes, as a treat Parson got to have homemade fries and "red dip" for pre-nap snack :)

When we were out running an errand this morning the game in the car was find something red or the letter A. Which lasted awhile until we saw a school bus, ambulance, and a mail truck and to a two year old those are way more fun to find then the letter A.

Our new daily schedule looks kinda like this:

6:30-8:30am - wake up, watch a show, eat breakfast, free play, get daddy out the door to work, and get Parson and Mommy cleaned up for the day.
8:30am -"School" time
9:00am-11:00am- Free play, outside time, run any errands that need to be done, play dates, ect.
11-11:30am - before nap snack if wanted and stories/quiet calm down play
Noon-2pm - Nap time
2pm-4:30pm - usually include, coloring or craft of sorts, free play, more outside time, and stories
4:30pm-5:30pm - Parson gets to watch a show...usually Sesame Street because its an hour long and allows me to get dinner made and Daddy comes home.
6:30-7:45pm - FAMILY TIME our favorite time of the day
8pm - Parsons bedtime

So far the first half of day 1 has been a success...here is to hoping Parson and I both continue to enjoy and learn together :)

Patty

Baby Brother!

Baby brother! Baby brother! Baby brother!

We found out last week that we are in fact having another son! Which we are so excited about. Sure it would have been fun to have a little girl, but have you been around a little boy lately? They are so fun and he and Parson can be best buds.

We are keeping baby brothers name a big surpise until he is born. Which is January-ish, it could be the begging or it could be the end, who knows. What we do know is he is a good grower just like Parson was. He is already measuring almost two weeks ahead of schedule. This surprised me because my belly is measuring right on track. Looks like we are going to have a big strong baby!

Parson is ecstatic about is brother (for now). He asked me yesterday if he could play with baby a brother and I had to explain to him that baby brother had to stay in mommies belly for awhile longer to keep growing... Then he told me that it made him sad that he could not play yet. So sweet.

Everyone keeps asking me if I am nervous to have two little boys, two little boys who are both still dependent on Mom and Dad for almost everything. Yes, I know the first few weeks are going to be hard with a up all night babe who is going to want to nurse all the time. I know I am going to be tired,  healing, recovering, and trying to balance a almost three year old and a newborn. But I also know its a season. I also know that they won't be little forever and they won't be 100% dependent forever so I am going to do my very best to enjoy every sleepless stressful moment. I guess because this is my second child I kind of know what to expect just x10 with a tot.

Honestly, I am more terrified about being in my third trimester in just 7 weeks, being tired and being over pregnant. Luckily it will be winter by then a and the holidays will keep us busy and a schedule of play dates and Mommy and Parson dates will keep us busy and my mind on my biggest little boy.

I am preparing as much as possible now for this new babe. Getting his nursery set up, clothes, and cloth diapers washed. Preparing my body for birth and nursing is top on this list to. The more I get done now the less I have to worry about at the end.

Thankfully we have almost everything we need for baby brother. Some warmer clothes and doubbles      of things Parson is still using and basic nursing supplies.

Aaron and I were laughing a few days ago when I opened the very small freezer on fridge in our rental home. I said, we are going to need a chest freezer, and he said why? Well I responded there is no room for breast milk in here. Good thing we realized this way ahead of time!

Until baby brother arrives we will be preparing and playing with Parson a whole lot. Enjoying every moment we have with our fabulous first before our hearts (and hands) double.

I am so excited to enjoy these two boys soon and I can't wait to see the cuteness (and naughty) these two are going to have for their Mom and Dad.


Patty

Parson 2 years and 5 months (almost)

2 years and almost 5 months ago our lives were changed for ever when Parson was born, and oh what a little growing person he is.

He has developed such a personality and many likes and dislikes. In two years he went from nursing and eating 1oz every few hours and using only cries to communicate to a running, talking, thinking, observant little dude.

Some of his favorite things are:

Running - or what he calls "Runn-an!" he absolutely LOVES to run and run and run. Which is probably why he is such a good runner taking long strides with each step instead of the usual bounce of a two year old. When we go to the park and there is a baseball diamond there to, he will choose to run around the printer of the outfield and run from base to base and finally stopping in the dugout to check things out. If he does not play baseball we would be surprised. Not to mention he can throw a ball overhand pretty good. Right handed he is, but hey he is young, why not practice with his left hand to?

Doesn't he just look like a little baseball star?

Trucks/Buses - If he is not running then he is pushing a toy truck or his toy bus "Yellow Bussie!" We watch the school bus pass twice a day, the mail truck deliver mail everyday, the package truck drive by every day and on Thursdays we watch the recycle and trash truck to. He watched in amazement of the trash truck when it scoops up the trash bin and always sequels "WHOA!"

Books- Especially books about trucks, trains, buses, Elmo, or anything that is "touch and feel" or with flaps. We have a huge collection of children books (and adult books to). From gifts, goodwill, and library book sales we have a lot of choices and a lot of favorites at our house. He loves books so much I cant take him to the library. Why you ask? Because his sweet little two year old self gets so overwhelmed by all of the wonderful books and choices around him and he usually freaks out :P.  No matter where we go I always have 3 books with me just in case we need to keep little dude busy for a while.

We are so blessed to be this little guys Mom and Dad. He will never really understand just how much we love him, which is bigger and deeper than we could have ever imagined. 

To think that in a few short 4 months we will have a brother or sister for Parson is beyond exciting. Another little Person to train and try and grow into a responsible, respectful, and aware child and adult. 

Parenthood is one wild and rewarding ride. We cant wait to see what the Lord has in plan for our favorite little man.

- Patty

There is no place like home

That's right friends...with the help of some of the best people we know we have made the move from Georgia to west Michigan.

The phrase "There is no place like home" is so true. We thought there was going to be a transition time and a strange feeling of un-belonging in Michigan. This was not the case. Its almost as if we have not been gone for 5 years (Aaron for 7!)

The fact that we can drive minuets away and be with family or be able to say "In an hour lets do dinner" is such a treat.

Parson has been a rock star through all of this change the past two months. Between staging, selling, vacation, packing and moving he has been such a trooper. Good thing because a grocery toddler is no fun but on top of moving it could really be a mess.

Moving to Michigan was one of the hardest  and biggest leaps of faith we have made. To move 900 miles north without a house, job, or medical coverage for my pregnant self was scary. But within 10 days of us being in Michigan everything was in order and just as it needed to be. God is good and when we trust him...it always works out.

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks of craziness at the Jones home:

Making the long two day move and this sweet boy was as happy as could be

Helping Grandpa unload the big truck of our stuff

Enjoying the dandelions in the pasture on our rental property

On top of a fenced in pasture we have fruit trees/bushes. Parson loves that he can go and grab and apple whenever he wants. Plus they are naturally organic and small...perfect for a toddler!

Parson LOVES the horses in the pasture behind our house. The horses are so gentle and now come to the fence anytime we are outside. That could have something to do with the fact that Parson usually has an apple in his hand that he "drops" :) 

Calling his friends the horses to come over and play

Cherries are almost ripe!

Nature walk and ice cream family date!

We are so thankful for all of your prayers and help through this move. We felt them thats for sure. Thank you Lord for your plan and working everything out so it is just right.

Patty

What lies ahead

Few its been a crazy month!

In the last month we have:

Gotten our home ready to show/sell
Listed our home
Sold (almost) our home
Went to Michigan for two weeks to try and find a new place to live...this is still in the works :/
Booked a shipping trailer to send all our stuff 900 miles north
Raising a crazy 2 year old
Oh and I am busy growing baby number 2!

It has been a whirlwind of a month and I don't think my pregnancy hormones are making all this less emotional :P

We have wanted to try and move back to Michigan since about the time Parson was born. The Lord is opening up all of these doors and showing us NOW is the time.

We are still trying to find a place to live in Michigan...a rental to be specific. Oh and Aaron is trying to find a full time job in Michigan to. He has freelance but you know...a full time job with benefits would be amazing. We have been purchasing our own health insurance for over a year now and it would be nice to have those benefits through a company again :)

Even though we have been trying so hard to get back to Michigan we are certainly going to miss Georgia to.

We are going to miss our friends, church small group family, church, and crazy enough I am going to miss having local farmers that I can trust. I am also going to miss my midwife :)

Even though this all seems absolutely crazy and last minuet it is clear that it is in the Lords plan. We know that he will provide a home of our own to rent, a job for Aaron and all the little and big pieces in between.

- Patty

Memorial Day - Disconnect

This Sunday is Memorial Day...a day when everyone wears red, white, and blue an puts little American flags in their wreaths and hanging baskets. A day where we honor all military men and women who have died serving in the American armed forces during wars and military conflicts.

I was 10 years old and I was in 4th grade and my teacher had us write letters to soldiers who were serving overseas and on American soil. I remember as a small child feeling a heaviness in my heart....a wanting to "help" or "thank" these men and women and their families. Ever since then I have always felt like a simple "thank you" was never enough.

Since I have "grown up" and I am looking through the eyes of a women, mother, and spouse my gratitude and thanks for our service men and women has grown. I could be wrong, but I feel like there is a large disconnect from "civilians" and those who are serving or whose family is serving in any branch of armed forces. I feel like many Americans...even myself at times forget exactly what it takes to keep our America safe and functioning they way that it does. I feel like to many people are fighting over the number and the politics and the war itself...and not thanking and remembering enough.

My Grandfathers served in World War II and Korea, my Dad served in Vietnam, one of my Uncles served in the Air Force for a whole career, some members of our Georgia family are retired Navy and active national guard, a cousin waiting to go on his first deployment with the Navy. Not to mention countless friends who have joined or are married to service men or women. There is a Dad who returned home to his wife and two children just a few months ago from deployment.

These are just the handful of people that we are connected to. These men and women are husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers. And each person that I have encountered has always said "I love serving my country".

Each time I hear of a homeless veteran or a returned service man or women who cant get the care they need, my heart breaks. You hear of men and women who don't have family and don't get letters and welcome homes. To think of the sacrifice that they make and we simply forget.

I came across a wonderful website when I was in high school called http://www.anysoldier.com It is a list of men and women who are currently deployed. They list their wants and needs for care packages. I sent a package once to an African American women, her only request was hair care items made specifically for her hair. Another time I had my Sunday school class of 4th grade girls write letters and we sent them...and their letters were cherished.

If you cant send a package, send a letter of thanks, if you cant do either just remember and offer a prayer. Raise awareness to your friends and family, reminding them that Memorial Day isn't just about hot dogs and hamburgers and an extra day off work. Remind them of the reason that they can vote, drive their cars, and not worry about their country's safety.

Parson has a Navy shirt that he got as a gift from his Georigia Papa who is retired Navy. All the time people ask if Aaron is in the Navy. I simply reply no, but there are lots of men and women who are. Remember that you are connected to service men and women to, not because of relation, but because they are serving our country and protecting our family and for that we all owe them a thanks.

Next time, every time you see a service man or women or their family, reach out shake their hand, honor them, and thank them. Try and mend the disconnect that is happening in our society.

From our family to yours have a happy and safe Memorial Day.

Patty

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

I have neglected you...

I have thought many times "oh I should blog about that" but then I don't because of who knows what...usually exhaustion.

Ill be honest, the Lord has been working in my life and heart a lot the past few months. Mostly because I have a tendency to not be happy with what he has provided me with. I am a pro at looking at whats next and what the end goal is instead of enjoying the present.

The entirety of my life all I have ever wanted to do was be a Mom to a million kids. And being a Mom of one child is amazing, fulfilling, exhausting, and the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

Aaron and I wanted (want) to have another child badly...like a year ago badly. But it just is not in the cards for us right now. Because this is not in the cards for us right now, I have been..well mad. Mad because it seems like everyone around us is living life exactly they way they want. I am mad because everyone has an opinion about when and why and how we should do things. I am all about advice and tips and pointers and 9 times out of 10 I listen and understand and appreciate advice.

Now I know that sound awful and terrible and mean...and it is. I can write this now because the Lord has worked in my heart and showed me they way we (I) had been feeling. Every time we saw someone else pregnant, a new baby anything along the lines it made me want to burst into tears. Knowing that I could get pregnant and have another baby..but it would be the most irresponsible thing to do.

1.) Because we don't have health insurance that covers maternity care
2.) We don't qualify for maternity medicare
3.) We don't have the 5k extra to have a home birth (yes I know everyone we know thinks we are crazy)
4.) We don't have 20-50k to have a hospital birth

Know, my excuse now is "we are not ready"or "Parson is not ready" and that may be why another baby is not happening in the next who knows how long. In due time the Lord will show us his plan and  in the mean time we do have

1.) A sweet crazy full of energy two year old
2.) A wonderful marriage
3.) A home, food, clothing
4.) Friends with babies we can love on until our second time comes
5.) Being a stay at home Mom which is a dream come true
6.) Starting a gentle "preschool home school" curriculum with Parson

So if you have been on the receiving end of our grouchy selves, we are sorry...it was just us being selfish and ungrateful.

But if you can refrain from asking "When are you having another baby" "Don't you want more kids?" "Its better when they are close in age" or telling us any other reason we should or should not have a baby now. Because it has a tendency to make those ugly grouchy ungrateful feelings re-appear.

In the mean time we are going to enjoy the heck out of Parson. He is at such a wonderful age and this is the only time it will be just the three of us.

I will not be blogging much because I am busy enjoying every second of my fabulous first child's first few years.

Patty