The Well Trained Mind

I started reading some of The Well Trained Mind this week. In my attempt to afterschool Boston the best I can I thought this book might come in handy. It's about classical education, which I think is amazing. They even talk in here about how to apply these teaching to an after schooling education, for those of us that send out kids to school full time but are trying to supplement their education at home as well. I'm trying to make it as fun as possible for him since he's been at school all day already. I'm still debating over whether to use How to Teach your Child to Read in 100 easy lessons for go with Hooked on Phonics. We have done some of both.

Some things the Well Trained Mind mentioned doing were reading as much as possible with them. And reading several levels about them as well. Getting books on tape (it mentioned Peter pan, Stuart Little, Chronicles of Narnia, Charlotte's Web, Jungle Book, The Trumpet of the Swan, A Little Princess, Kipling's Just So Stories and Christmas Carol)

The phonics books it recommended are the Explore the Code workbooks, which are the ones Boston uses at school so I'm excited about that!

I'm also going to order another book she talked about called Slow and Steady Get Me Ready. I'm also purchasing the Bob Books for early reading.

If you haven't ever read anything about Classical Education you should. It's fascinating. Makes a lot of since to me so I'm going to do my best to give them as much as I can!

Here's a link for more information about it: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/classed.php

Rainy Day

Today was truly a rainy day. It rained most all of the day. Dallas sure enjoyed playing out in it in his new raincoat he got for Christmas from Nena and Papa. Now we have boots, rain coats and umbrellas so bring on the monsoon!

My boys really love playing in the rain. It's such a joy to watch them get so much fun out of jumping in puddles and sailing a sail boat down the stream.

Library Storytime

I met my friend Rebecca at the library today for toddler storytime. All our older kids were at school so we decided to do something for the little guys. I think this is going to be something fun for Asher to do with just mommy more frequently. And finally getting to do something more on his level, instead of always doing something the big boys are interested in.

We loaded up on books, books on tape and a couple of movies. Hopefully mommy can actually get them back on time and not indure the late fees like usual.

Friend time

This afternoon I met up with my friend Val at Panaera Bread to work on our digital scrapbooks, but honestly we didn't get a lot done over all the talking we were doing. But it's always just good to have some girl chat time.

Sean and I were going out for his birthday tonight and then our friends Tiffanie and Preston invited us to go out with them so we did a double date instead. We had a fun dinner at Cheesecake factory and then came back to our house for a game of Hand and Foot. Always good to initiate new people into the Hand and Foot world! And even better when the girls beat the boys! It a night full of laughter and lot of fun!

Breakfast and a movie kind of day

This morning started out great. I got to go with my parents to meet my Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Knute for breakfast at Cracker Barrell. Dallas and Asher did great at the table (I think Wednesday nights are really teaching the fine art of sitting at a table for longer than 15 minutes)

But the day got a little hairy with the kids. Dallas was acting up, Asher was crying and very needy most the day and when Boston came home he brought an attitude with him. By the time Sean got home I was in desperate need of a break. So I just got in the car and decided I was going to a movie, by myself if I had to. But I was lucky enough that my girlfriend Tiffanie joined me (and then my mom too!) and we saw Bride Wars. Very funny movie and just what I needed to take the days stresses away and escape into someone else's story for a little while.

I LOVE girls nights out!!!!!

Happy Birthday Sean

Today Sean turns 30 years old! Happy Birthday babe! The boys were really excited to give him the gifts they had bought him weeks ago. Boston got him a Ghostbusters shirt and Dallas shirt that reads "Mr Happy" with a smily face on it.

Teacher Conference

Today I had a conference with Boston's teacher. Since Boston missed 1 week in December because of the broken arm (he had to stay home with it elevated for a week) and then he was back 1 week and then off for 2 weeks for Christmas vacation he's having a hard time getting back into things. She said he's having a hard time blending the sounds of the letters to form words. And he's also having a hard time focusing. So we discussed things I can do at home to help him out and I'm looking forward it. Hopefully we can have him back on track soon. She said he had no problems at all before the accident.

New Boat

My parents got a new boat so after church today we headed out to take a ride. What a nice ride it is! The boys went crazy, as well as the dog. We enjoyed a nice ride around, the boys played on the beach for a while and then we all went to a new restaurant in Tavares. (I accidently deleted most of the picturs from the monster trucks and today so these were all I had left)


Boston, Asher and I
Dallas really driving the boat with Papa Dillard enjoying herself

Asher taking a rest on Daddy Boston - lover of boat rides since he was born

Monster Trucks!

Tonight we went to the Monster Truck show with the boys, my parents and Wes and Suzanne. it was at the Citrus Bowl and the boys were so excited about going in to this big place. Our seats were way up at the top, which was nice because you could see everything. It was REALLY loud at first but the boys finally got used to it. They LOVED watching all the big trucks race around, and especially loved it when they flipped. We got to see The Intimitator, the monster truck we saw last year parked out from Advanced Auto Parks. They got to explore it and then the driver came out and signed autographs and talked to us for a while.

Of course both of their favorite is The Grave Digger (nice name right?) My mom bought them two big Grave Digger trucks a long time ago (not noticing the name or knowing it was an actual truck) The boys love those trucks and when they saw the Grave Digger come out they were so excited. We were going to leave a little early to beat the crowd but Boston quickly told me that we can't leave because the Grave Digger is going to race last!!! He was very passionate about seeing him race.

What a fun night it was!!

Boston loves to pose with this new move, like he's some tough gangsta guy.Wes and Suzanne (picture by Dallas)

Dallas and my parents Dallas' picture of me

Sean's Surprise 30th Birthday Party

I threw a surprise party for Sean tonight. Oh my, me trying to plan this party in the midst of everything else in my life was a little confusing. The day of the party I remembered so many people I just totally forgot to invite (so if you are reading this post and weren't invited just know it was nothing personal...seriously...my brain isn't working at full capability!) Sean had seen something on the computer that I had left open that was about the surprise party so he actually knew it was coming (I didn't know he knew though). But he truely was surprised because he thought for some reason it was going to be next Saturday! He was hanging out with Wes and my parents had them come over to help with something and.....SURPRISE! This is the cake I made him. He loves to play pool and was playing on a league for about a year. They are cupcakes with icing and then decorated with colored sugar.Have your cake and eat it too!

Guests Asher enjoyed his cake too

"Happy Birthday to you!"

Extra cupcakes with 30 on them

Friends enjoying time (without kids)

Everyone had a great time and it went off well. The kids spent the night at my parents house and I crashed!