October Explorations

Back log- Maybe now with my new laptop (woohoo!!  Thanks Dad and Mom W) from Josh's family I keep up with my blog a little better-maybe ;)


Schooling
Landon and Arabella are having fun this year with our lessons.  Some weeks are more productive than others but even when we aren't doing a planned/ structured activity I try to take every  to teach.  Sometimes we are playing with our plastic animals and Landon (and now sometimes Arabella)will ask what the animal eats, where they live, or something else related to the animals so we Google it, watch a video or look it up in a book.  We also look up nature related things, physics, or whatever we happen to be playing with and I can use as a teachable moment.

Bella is getting the hang of counting.  She can count to 4 on her own, and count to 3 in spanish on her own.  She knows her colors although she is stubborn with the correct answer when most ask her.  She loves art and music.  Bella loves being read to. She is also learning her letters quite well and loves to "read."  Landon always focused on the pictures at this age but Arabella really studies the letters and runs her fingers over them, as yu would if you were reading and trying to keep your place.  I am thinking she will be reading early but we will see.

Landon loves math.  He can add fairly well with number under 10 that equal 10 or less.  He also love science.  Landon loves our science experiment.  He has also starting to really love painting.  Art in general is not his favorite.  Landon has started being able to sound out words and spell with very little guidance.  I think if he wasn't so stubborn he would be able to start reading.

We are proud of them both.  We love that they are both so into animals and nature but learning in general.

Science Fun!- Baking Soda, Vinegar and food coloring experiment

Landon and Arabella have both been really enjoying painting-canvas, paper, ceramics.  When I have time and am creative enough I try to make lunch or snacks go with our lessons for the day or week.  Below is the grape caterpillar, flower, and insect snacks I made (Landon made sure to tell me my insect was missing a set of legs since insects always have 6 legs).  I have been trying to get really creative with our lessons.   Legos, wiki sticks, and lots of science experiments.  For one of our weather lessons we did a rain cloud experiment with shaving cream, water and food coloring.  It was a big hit!

Art, Science, Food, and Fun

We took a field trip to one of the parks near our house.  The park has a play ground, a huge field and is next to a small farm.  We was an exciting trip because we found deer tracks!

Nature Walk at the Park

Landon is still enjoying his Lego class and getting some extra time with his great friend Joshua.

The Bolins and us joined our MOPS group for a fun outing at the Natural History Museum.  It is always fun at Natural History Museum and joining the ladies with their little ones in MOPS.

MOPS Natural History Museum Playdate

Halloween weekend there were about a million and one things going on in Gainesville for families and children.  We picked 3 to go too.  First stop was the Lubee Bat Festival.  Landon was so excited to run into his friend Ben and Ben's sister with their grandmother.  We walked with them for a little bit checking out the bats and the little stations the festival had set up for the kids.

Lubee Bat Festival

 Trinity United Methodist is where my MOPS group meets. Every year they have a pumpkin patch.  It didn't feel too much like fall with 80+ degree weather but we still had fun checking out the pumpkins.

Pumpkin Patch

After Halloween every year I take all the pumpkins, cut them up, puree them and cook the seeds.  I love adding fresh pumpkin to recipes- family favorite is pumpkin banana bread and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! We all LOVE cooked pumpkin seeds too!!
I let Landon and Arabella help this year.  Landon was excited to use a real knife (under very close supervision of course) but didn't like digging in the pumpkin and getting dirty.  Arabella liked getting the seeds out though.

Pumpkins!

Halloween decorations, dress up, dirt and worm snacks

We joined the Fairows and we to the Panhellenic Goblins, Ghouls, and Greeks.  The kids had fun.  Landon and Arabella walked the whole time.  I was quite impressed how well they did.  I guess all that candy fueled them.  Josh made a yummy dinner and we had a late dinner at the Fairrows house.  The Fairrow boys have snakes and while waiting for dinner Landon was thrilled to hold one.

Trunk or Treat at UF

A happy fun visit from our great friend Chris and her little girl, Daphne

Fun out and about and at home

Our little cuddle bug

Who loves her baby dolls/stuffed animals

Play Time in December

Fun at the Williams house with two great little boys.

Playing game

Making castles, house, tents or whatever they dream up that day is a favorite

A little school work- Learning numbers, colors, and how to match

Best part about Christmas- all the boxes! 

Thanks to my parents and their awesome present to Josh and me (A new Sleep Number king bed) there were HUGE boxes to add to the fun.

 Play-Doh Fun

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music."

I love listening to music.  I love singing too, although I am not very good at it.  Josh LOVES music, listening, playing and singing (He is pretty good at all of it too).  It only makes sense that a child who comes from two music lovers would be one himself.  Landon love listening to music, singing, dancing, and playing it.  He has an amzing beat too.  Since he was 6-7 months old he could find the beat in a lot of songs. 

Zach, the little boy I care for during the week also loves music. 

To encourage this love, I try to do music things with them during the day.  I hadn't taken Landon to a music class at the library in a long time (Traveling, pregnancy, and life has gotten in the way) .  When Tonewood emailed me and let me know there were a few openings for their free demo classes I signed up the boys right away.  Landon has been to several demo classes and the library classes- he loves them. 

All morning and the night before Landon was talking about what he wanted to play, mostly about the drums.  HE was so excited.  When Zach came over, Landon told him we were going to music class.  Zach became equally as excited even though he really didn't know what we were doing.  

Landon is normally shy around new people or ones he isn't around a lot.  He must have remembered the instructor, who is amazing!  He was talking away and even gave him a big hug at the end. 

Both boys had a blast and did a great job.  I think they were the life of the class.  Singing loud, dancing in the center of the circle, copying all the moves of the teacher, and playing the instruments.

UF Butterfly Fest

We went to the Butterfly Fest at UF.  It was a free event put on by University of Florida Museum of Natural History.  They released butterflies and had lots of booths to look at, make crafts, and buy things.  Aunt Jamiie and Uncle Jeremiah were in town for the weekend so Sally and they joined us.

On our way
We had Grandpa Williams' van which was great

Landon loves the big windows



They had lots of cool things to look at...

Birds

Shark attack!

Landon loved the butterflies.

and touch...

Baby Gator

and make...

Watching how to make the butterfly

The ladies making the ears were very nice!

Decorating his butterfly

We had a great time!

September wrap-up

 What a great month! 

"Hiding!"  One of Landon's favorite games

 Landon's First VBS!!

 Harvest did the Group Publishing VBS kit- High Seas Expedition this year.  The toddler room isn't as involved as the older kids but Landon had fun with what they did do.

Ocean Tattoos-Shark

Two tattoos! Turtle

Singing! One of Landon's favorite things to do. 

His class also sung "Shout to the North" one stage as part of the VBS wrap-up.  Landon sung a little and danced on stage.  Unfortunately I forgot my camera that day.

ROCK THE UNIVERSE!

Our youth group went to Rock the Universe on Friday night.  I chaperoned while Daddy and Landon had a boys night. 

The kids, well a couple of them aren't technically kids but they are to me.

Rainbow

We actually saw a full rainbow and then a double rainbow.  How blessed are we!

Newsboys!

Skillet!

 

 

They were so awesome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One last group shot, I think everyone had fun.

The shaperones, we all had fun even if we got rained on

 Tubing down the River
After Sunday services we headed over to the Ichetucknee River since they had free entrance fees if you had a library card.  We also just needed a relaxing family day.  We had a picnic lunch and then loaded up and headed down the river.

"Rea-dy.   Hurry Mommy Daddy, please!"

Surfing on Daddy

"Pig Back Daddy!"

About 5 minutes after these pictures were taken and about 15 minutes before we made it to the end of the tubing trail it started down pouring.  It was beautiful but really cold.  It came down so fast, Josh had to keep bailing out the boat while I tried to hide Landon.  He had almost fallen asleep on me right when it started pouring.  It was a huge blessing to Landon and I especially when we got out there was a guy who ran over to us and helped us get to some place dry.  Josh braved the rain and cold and got our stuff to safety and returned the boat.  The guy offered us food, drinks and nice warm towels.  Everything of ours was soaked (thankfully I remembered to bring a zip lock baggy for the camera and keys.  Whoever you are guy, thank you so much for getting me and my little boy dry and warm!

Colors and Patterns


Landon and I typically try to do a few "educational" games through out the week.  I think it is that teacher in me wanting to have lesson plans ready everyday.  I can't wait until Landon and the rest of our future little ones are all old enough to do "school" everyday.  I am so excited to homeschool them.  I have a closet full of stuff Pre-K-8th grade!  So anyone out there who wants to borrow, peruse or just ask advice- I am the lady to see!

I pulled out these foam tanagram manipulables.  Landon loves colors and matching things so we made a game out of it.  He got everyone right and even grabbed his cars and blocks to get in on the game.  Bourbon dog seems to enjoy watching the whole thing. (See the picture- left hand side).

Just trying to push Landon a little and see what he could do I started putting the foam pieces in patterns and asked him if he could match them.  He got everyone right even when I did three color patterns with no help!  He really loved all of it.  I was a proud Mommy!  The only downside is it makes me realize how fast he is growing up.