Pre-K at Home

My baby is a preschooler!  When did that happen?!

We have been praying for God's guidance over the last year of how we should educate Anya and we felt the Lord leading us to home-school her this year.  

Anya has been SO ANXIOUS and ready to start Pre-K!  She is so eager to learn about everything and anything!  I know she enjoys the one on one time with Mommy and likes the structure and

 routine it brings to our day.  

We started our first day with a special little twist to make it more official.  Mr. Ollie Man was asleep for his morning nap...Anya got on her backpack and we took first day pictures and then we held hands and walked around the house.  When we got to the house she rang the doorbell and we walked inside.  I welcomed her to her first day of preschool.  From there she decided she would call me "Teacher."  It was SO cute!!  It kind of felt like we were playing "house".  :-)

 The first two weeks of home-school I have laid out to be our character foundation.  I found the perfect unit for Anya on the Fruits of the Spirit {Thank you ohamanda.com}  I just love how she goes through each of the fruits of the spirit coordinates it with an actual fruit and gives ideas for how to teach your child about each one.  Yesterday and today we have been talking about the Fruit of the Spirit -"Love" (cherries).  I felt this unit was perfect for our foundation for home-school before we start our Preschool curriculum.

Why does Miss AV look SIX in these pictures?!

 After spending much time on Pinterest, searching other homeschooling blogs, etc.  I decided that I would use "God's Little Explorers: A-Z Adventures in God's Word and World for Preschoolers."  I love how simple and straightforward the teaching is with connecting the lessons to God's Word.  Everything is already planned (I can add/ take away parts if I want) it's such a time saver and is exactly what I was planning to do.

As God as our teacher, I am so excited to see what Anya (and I) will learn this year!

 I pray that God uses what is taught to teach and nourish her heart and mind.  

Welcome to preschool Little Miss!

Happy 1st birthday Oliver!

Dear Oliver,

I can't believe it....you are a one year old now!  Where has time gone? Fastest year of my life!  I will forever remember how you were the best baby ever.  I say this in every post about you, but you seriously amaze me.  When you cry it's because something is wrong.  You don't cry just because...like some little girl I know;)  You are the sweetest, happiest, cutest little boy!  We call you Jolly Ollie because you are just so joyful...I love it!

 We had your one year check up a few days ago and you weighed 23lbs, 31 inches!  You are 90% for height, and 75% for head and weight.  Another baby with tall genes! You wear 12-18 month clothes, just moved up to size 4 shoes, and size 4 diaper.  You have two bottom teeth and just cut the two top teeth.

 You love Anya, climbing, music, Daniel Tiger, playing in water, food, your lovies, animals, Clifford rocking dog, the park, your football.  You hate not being allowed to explore, and your not a fan of swinging.

You take two naps every day 9am and 1pm...like clockwork.  You still snuggle with your lovies like you always have...and still suck on your two left fingers.

 You mean the world to me little boy.  I cherish your cuddles and sweet "words".  You are such a chatterbox and try so hard to tell me full sentences in your baby gibbering.  I love it!

I love you Oliver James!

Happy first birthday!

Love, Mommy

County Fair

Last Friday my in-laws took the kids and I to the fair.  The kids (& us) had a blast!  Anya and Oliver loved seeing all of the animals. They wanted to pet all of the animals.  Even Oliver wanted out of his stroller so he could touch them and "talk" to them.  When Anya saw a man taking care of one of the cows she whispered "Mommy can I ask him if he's a farmer?"  She was too shy to ask, so she made me.  But she was so excited to hear he was one.  It was so precious!

  

 Piggie tail girl looking at the pigs!

Anya also went on her first tot roller coaster/ and rides at the fair!  I loved seeing the look on Anya's face when she was zipping around on the rides....she loved it!  

 Mama took her on her first roller coaster.

 My little farmers loved the tractors!  And both wanted to test drive them;-)

And Ollie was so tired from all the fun he crashed in the stroller.

I'm hoping we can do it again next year!

Insta- July 2014

Oh July, how I love thee!

It was a much more mild July than our usual, but I can't complain...the weather has been so nice and refreshing.  I love having the windows open so the breeze can come in and the kids can play outside without the dangerously high temps.

We started the month with celebrating our 8th anniversary!  Josh took me to breakfast at Egg Harbor in Barrington and Acquaviva Winery for dinner.  The food and wine was amazing!

And then of course we celebrated the fourth the next day.

 I had fun trying to capture my little Runaway Indian Boy in my teepee photo shoot.  This was the only picture where he isn't crawling away or eating the branches!

Just a typical summer morning...my baby is all smiles!!

 Making banana bread with Papa...they make THE BEST banana bread!!

 Campfire night!

Picking raspberries in Mama and Papa's backyard.  Most don't even make it in the house;-)

 My life...quiet time with God and watching my girl playing.  What a life!

 Our flea market shop "Tea for Three" in early July.  

 Day out with the girls;-)  Aunt Katie and I decided Anya was such a good girl when we went antiquing that she could get a treat at the candy shop.

 So many choices...she chose jelly beans of all things!

 Library time with Daddy and Mommy

 Dinner outside at our "B&B"

Dieke Park in Huntley...our favorite park!  Oliver's first time in the sand was a huge success.  He learned quickly that sand is yucky when you try to eat it!

 My big boy...

This is how Oliver rides on the "Anya-Mobile".  #monkeylikedaddy

Our harvest

Splash pad with Aunt Katie!

 Love and Logic training session with Anya after she ran away from me at the splash pad...  this is hard work not giving in.  All you L&L approach people know what I'm talking about.

 My little monkey trying to escape Grandma Nilsson's house!  I love that I have a picture of Anya at this back door too...and one of Josh when he was a baby. 

I hope you all had a wonderful July!  I can't believe it's already AUGUST!  My baby will be turning ONE!