Princess Dance Camp=Fantastic

I love that Abigail wants to be a princess ALL the time. We are all God's little princesses.

But, Abigail wanting to go to a dance class VERY badly, all started after watching "Dora" Ballet. Everyday, she asked, "Mommy, can I go to my dance class today?" So, when some of my friends told me about Princess Dance Class with a woman who teaches at RLS (La Petitte Dance Studio), I though it might be a possibility for her even though she is only 2 and half. Then, when one of her friends at church I heard was going, I knew she would do great. Yesterday, she did not even want me to walk her to the car. She said, "You can stay here; me and daddy are going to my Dance class." Wow, Abigail and Jackson are so different, and I love how girly-girl Abigail is! She goes everyday this week form 9-12:30. She is loving being a big girl!

Tuesday's Tip: Teaching What We Believe to our 2 and 3 Year Olds

A Catechism for Boys and Girls

Revised by Jared Kennedy

Section 1: Questions about God, Humanity, and Sin

Questions 1-8 (for ages 2-3):

1. Who made you? God made me. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Acts 17:24-29)

2. What else did God make? God made all things. (Genesis 1, especially verses 1, 31; Acts 14:15; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16)

3. Why did God make you and all things? For his own glory. (Psalm 19:1; Jeremiah 9:23, 24; Revelation 4:11,15) Explanation: God’s glory is his goodness and his greatness

4. How can you glorify God? By loving him and doing what he commands. (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Mark 12:29-31; John 15:8-10; 1 Corinthians 10:31)

5. Why should you glorify God? Because he made me and takes care of me. (Daniel 4:39; Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:11)

6. Are there more gods than one? No, there is only one true God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; Mark 12:29; Acts 17:22-31)

7. In how many persons does this one true God exist? In three persons. (Matthew 3:16-17; John 5:23; 10:30; 14:9-10; 15:26; 16:13-15; 1 John 5:20, 2 John 9; Revelation

1:4, 5)

8. Who are they? God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21)

Believe it or not, my kids get bored easily, and when they do I say, "Who made you?" Abigail usually sings the "God made me Song" (in my Bible book is says that God made me). We practice these especially at bath time.

Charlie talks about this more at his blog: http://www.pastorcharliewallace.com/

Movie Monday: Thankful for Friends this Summer!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I keep her babies for one day of the week for three hours and she keeps my babies for one day for three hours=grocery shopping by myself=ONE HAPPY MAMA

Fun Friday: June 2011 Pictures

Tuesday's Tip: Tomorrow Starts Super Double Deals at Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter will double coupons 1.98 and under from June 22nd through June 28th

Click here to see all the deals from extreme couponing Diva from North Carolina (she has been on the TLC show).

Also,

"Here’s an awesome opportunity to snag a high-value SmartOnes coupon! Simply head on over to the SmartOnes Facebook page, “like” them and then click on the Sweepstakes tab to enter the Share Win Shop Sweepstakes. After completing the form, you’ll have the option to print a coupon good for $2 off any 5 Weight Watchers Smart Ones Products or even better, share the coupon on your Facebook Wall, and you’ll snag a coupon for $3 off any 5 Weight Watchers Smart Ones Products. You’ll also be entered to win one of 100 $50 Visa Gift Cards."

Thanks Hip2Save!

So Thankful

for my daddy. He lost a very dear friend today suddenly. It makes you take a step back and live just for today, because we are not promised tomorrow. So thankful to God for everything he has given to me through Jesus.

Preschool Wise Schedule

Micheal and Kaitlin's Schedule Monday, Wednesday, Friday:

· 7:30-8:15 a.m. Get children up and dressed; PJs put away, beds made; enjoy breakfast

· 8:15-9:30 a.m. Structured playtime with siblings

· 9:30-10 a.m. Roomtime (Kaitlin); reading time with mom (Micheal)

· 10:00-10:30 a.m. Roomtime (Micheal); reading time with Mom (Kaitlin)

· 10:30-noon Free playtime with siblings (possibly one half hour of video time)

· noon-1:00 p.m. Lunch, clean-up, read books until naptime

· 1:00-3:00 p.m. Naptime (Kaitlin)

· 1:00-2:00 p.m. Rest time (Micheal)

· 2:00-3:00 p.m. Free playtime (Micheal)

· 3:00-4:30 p.m. Free playtime (Micheal and Kaitlin)

· 4:30-5:00 p.m. Video time or structured playtime

· 5:00-5:30 p.m. Pick up house before Dad comes home

· 7:00-7:30 p.m. Time with Dad (Micheal); Mom gets Kaitlin bathed and ready for bed

· 7:30 p.m. Kaitlin in bed

· 7:30-8:00 p.m. Micheal gets ready for bed

· 8:00 p.m. Micheal in bed

Wow! I do like the Baby Wise Books and this Preschool Wise book because I like to have a plan, but in reality with kids nothing goes as planned.

A few weeks ago, I decided that I want us to only have the T.V. on twice a day. No real reason, just sick of the T.V always being on. Then, I remembered I had not read Preschool Wise, and I have and LOVE Preschool age kids. I am also a little nervous about what we are going to do all summer not being in Preschool.

I am going to work on my schedule which will look different than the above schedule. Jackson has done well with not a lot of T. V except for first thing in the morning when he wants to eat breakfast and watch T.V. I have replaced it with his Tagger book and a new tagger book to work through.

Additionally, I have just been making them play in the den for 15 minutes and setting a timer (or Jackson’s room, etc). I try to play cars and blocks with them on Mondays, bubbles Tuesdays, puzzles Wednesdays, Animals on Thursdays, and art and crafts on Fridays.

Free playtime- is putting him either outside or in his room, but allowing him to decide what he plays with.

Structured playtime-Place is determined by mom. It might be playing with puzzles at the kitchen table, coloring, playing with the kitchen play center, etc.

Structured playtime with siblings-Two siblings can be coloring at the kitchen table, playing in the backyard together, or sharing reading time.

Your afternoon routine might look like this:

• Lunch
• Naptime/Rest Time
• Roomtime
• Structured Playtime with Siblings
• Video Time

Preschool Wise also recommends the book, Simplify Your Life with Kids: 100 Ways to Make Family Life Easier and More Fun, Elaine St. James.

What about you? What are your plans with your kids at home this summer? We did join the Y for the summer with an outdoor pool and treadmill for my first real big 5k in July. We plan to go to the Y three times a week or so this summer.

May 2011 Pictures

Wow, May has been busy and so much fun! Birthday parties, strawberry picking, LOTS of being outside, swimming in the neighbor's pool, going to "Gigi and Grand's" pool for the first time. My kids loved every minute of it, and I did too. I LOVE being outside...just really puts you in a pleasant mode. Also, listening to the Bible using the Bible Experience through itunes has made a huge difference in my day. I have listened to 1 and 2 Samuel, Psalms, and now I am on Matthew. Psalms was over five hours of listening and each book of the Bible is $3.99 on itunes through the Bible Experience.

I was a little nervous about what I was going to do with the kids this summer, but things are falling into place. Now, June looks pretty full. I am VERY tired of TV constantly on at my house. I am now limiting "TV Time" to just two hours a day (trying to get a schedule where we watch TV for 30 minutes to an hour in the am and 30 minutes to an hour in the afternoon). I am reading Preschool Wise and it is helping a lot with getting a schedule down for this summer. Hopefully, I will post weekly on what I have learned from Becoming Preschool Wise (same author as Baby Wise). Some of their stuff is too strict; probably not enough grace. But, I love to plan, and really enjoy planning fun things for my kids to do!