Fun with Presidents, Geography and Math

Ever since the election, Brian has become obsessed with the presidents. I have had to find coloring pages of each of the presidents...he carries them around with him. He has conversations with them. I've gotten a book, Yo, Millard Fillmore from the library based on some recommendations from the 4 Real board. He now knows the presidents in their order. His favorite president is Andrew Jackson; followed by Martin Van Buren (b/c his mommy did a report on him in 4th grade), and Ronald Reagan (one of his daddy's favorites). He quizzes people on who their favorite president is. He's actually moved on to the vice-presidents and can't understand why there aren't any coloring pages available for these guys. Can you tell he's a little obsessed?


So I have decided to capitalize on his enthusiasm. I created this little game today that combines the presidents, some geography and wrapped up with a nice little bow of math.


I started with a blank wall map of the U.S.A that I picked up at our local Education Station the other day. I printed off a list of all the presidents with their home states. And with these items in hand, we began our fun!
You can see some of Brian's coloring pages at the top of this picture. As he told me which president came next in line, he would pull the coloring page out. We then placed a sticker on the state a president was from when he was elected. The boys knew a fair number of the states just by sight, but those that they weren't familiar with, we had our trusty place mat map which they found the state on and then matched it up to the big map.

Brian and Sean showing off their good work (and some coloring pages to boot!)

Of course Colin didn't want to be left out of the picture taking - he's saying "Taft"!

After putting all of our stickers on, I had Brian identify the state and tell me how many presidents came from that state. We then placed the states in order from the most presidents came from that state down to counting how many states have never had a president come from them. The highest number of presidents was 7 from New York - although as a caveat to this, we counted Grover Cleveland twice. Ohio and Virginia were next in line with 6 each. There were 12 states only boasting 1 president each, and 29 sad states that have never had one of their sons lead our country.

Here's Brian showing off his map, his tally sheet and yet another president coloring page. The great thing about today is that the boys learned a ton of stuff, but if you asked them, I bet they would say they just had fun!

Feast of the Annunciation

Elizabeth reminded me this morning that today is the Feast of the Annunciation. Whew! This pregnancy brain is really working overtime! So, I whipped together some yumminess for an afternoon tea time.

I had thought about making an angel food cake (for Gabriel) and blueberries (for Mary), but with not feeling well, having a sick husband at home, and absolutely no desire to drag 3 small people to the store with me, I settled on what I had in the house.

I made a butter cake but we dyed it blue - or as blue as you can get when you start with a yellow cake mix!. And added whipped vanilla frosting. We also read Mary by Brian Wildsmith (ties in nicely with "W" week as well).

Getting ready to eat cake. Say "Mary!" - and the actually did!And finally, the fruits of our labor. A "blue" cake to represent Mary, frosted with whipped white icing, to represent the Angel Gabriel and the purity of Mary's soul. The boys enjoyed the cake, and listening to the story of Mary's life. A fun time and a special way to celebrate.

Food news

Yesterday was a good food day in the Kelly household - well, as good as it can be. We don't have kids like my niece Kelsey.

For lunch yesterday, I offered Sean the choice between a peanut butter sandwich (a daily staple) or a turkey sandwich. He told me he wanted a roast beef sandwich. When I explained that I didn't have any roast beef, he said, "Okay, I'll have a turkey sandwich." Well, I've heard this before and then had a fit pitched when I placed said item in front of them. This time, however, Sean took a bite of his sandwich and proclaimed "I like turkey!" Woo Hoo!!!

Then for dinner, I made some slider hamburgers (just like Aunt Lori so that Brian might eat them). Sean didn't touch the burger, but Brian did actually eat some and biggest surprise of all - Colin chowed down on his burger. If I had made this comment 18 months ago, it wouldn't have been a surprise since Colin was a fabulous eater. He's unfortunately following the cues of his big brothers and has begun to survive on only air. He just kept piling the hamburger in his mouth. It was great to see.

Small success - I'll take 'em.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This St. Patrick's Day was extra special in the Kelly house. Not only did we have the traditional Irish meal of Corned Beef and Cabbage - which Brian and Sean BOTH tried and even admitted they liked!!! Not only did we talk about St. Patrick, read Patrick the Patron Saint of Ireland, color pictures and play a St. Patrick's Day game.

This year Gramma made Brian, Sean and Colin special shirts with her special sewing machine. They were the talk of the town. Thanks Gramma!

Super Soccer Saturday (Sort of)

Saturday started out promising. Both Brian and Sean were dressed in their new soccer uniforms. Shouting "Soccer!" as I took their picture, smiling, laughing and ready to start their season.

However, the day didn't end up quite as much fun as it started out.

Brian had a ball. Let's just contrast that with the picture of Sean at his game. I would say that a picture can do this much more justice than words.



As you can see, happiness, joy and glee in Brian's face. Pouting and mad on Sean's face. At one point, Sean's coach (a high school soccer player) picked Sean up, carried him onto the field, plopped him down on the center line, and there Sean stayed - arms folded, pout on the face. It was pretty maddening at the time, but funny to look back on it now.

Needless to say, I have a few more pictures of Brian's soccer game seeing as how he actually played soccer. Enjoy the slide shows.

A Reminder I Needed

To My Child

• Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.

• Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.

• Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
  

• Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.
  

• Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles..
  

• Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.
  

• Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.
  

• Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.
  

• Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys...
  

• Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how yo u were born and how much I love you.
  

• Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.
  

• Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.
  

• Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.
  

• Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day...

~Author Unknown

Santa

We went to the zoo on Sunday where Santa and Mrs. Clause were spending some time. Finally, 4 years later I have a picture of my children with Santa. Brian went into a Santa fear at around 17 months, and it hasn't abated since. As you can see I'm holding onto him for dear life! But, I now have a current picture to put into our Santa frame. :-)

Snow in Florida

So down here in Florida we don't get much in the way of snow. Brian has been asking repeatedly over the past year when we were going to get some snow. It's so hard to explain to him that we live in a tropical climate and that the chance of snow is, well, pretty darn slim.

So, what are some ingenious boys to do while their momma is occupied? Create their own snow! If you saw on St. Anne's Academy, today we made Ziploc Freezer Bag Ice Cream. Required salt to be mixed in with the ice prior to all the shaking. Let's just say that my big box of Kosher Salt
is completely empty now. Our playroom on the other hand looked like a winter wonderland. I was too upset to think about taking pictures, but I'll just let your imagination fill in the blanks here.

Puppet Show for the Letter G

This week we are studying everything to do with the letter "G". Today we made giraffe stick puppets. Brian & Sean decided (on their own) to have their own little puppet show. And now, for your entertainment...Brian Giraffe & Sean Giraffe!

Before & After

It's amazing what a little haircut can do.

Start of a Season

Today was the season "opener" for our Homeschool Sports T-Ball/Softball program. Ever since we signed Brian up for T-ball, he has been talking non-stop about how much he loves baseball, and how he is going to be the best baseball player in the whole world. And if he makes a mistake, that's o.k., he'll just keep practicing.

The morning dawned, and we were getting ready to head out as a family to the park. Brian decided that he didn't want to use a glove - he only wanted to use a bat, because bat starts with "b" like Brian. When we got to the park, he wanted nothing to do with joining in with the other kids. He wanted Daddy to hold him, and he wouldn't look at anyone else. Fortunately we were with a group of Christian families, and no one thought anything of it. We followed Miss Angela, and Miss Andrea (2 homeschooled teenage girls) over to the younger kid's field. Chris stayed with Brian while I took Sean and Colin over to the playground equipment. When we came back over to the field, Brian was getting ready to get up to bat for the second time.
Here Brian is getting some coaching from his daddy. Chris was so wonderfully patient with him - not surprising!
Brian hit the ball off the tee all by himself this time. This is a picture of him running towards 1st base. As you can see, I hadn't taken the lens off zoom before he hit the ball! He got a little confused and started running towards the ball/pitcher's mound. Then he wanted Chris to run with him.
When Brian's "team" took the field, he played shortstop, and 3rd base. Chris stayed with him in the field. Brian almost got the ball one time, but a gaggle of other kids were running for it, and managed to get there first. But it was really neat to hear the "coaches" and some of the kids say "Brian, get the ball." - very encouraging atmosphere.

Our time ended with a reading from Samuel and a prayer. Then the kids headed over to the playground for a rousing game of freeze tag. The older kids were so sweet to Brian - explaining how to freeze.

I got to start meeting other moms who homeschool near us and have children near in age to our kids. I am so excited that I found this group of homeschoolers and am looking forward to getting to know these women and their children better.

I Had Tears in My Eyes Tonight

As I was putting Brian and Sean to bed tonight, the boys said their prayers like they normally do. Brian said his prayers first. His new way of saying prayers involves him saying "Now I Lay Me", then me saying a "Hail Mary", and then Brian saying "Our Father". After Brian and I were done, I moved over to Sean's bed for his prayers. While listening to Sean's prayers, I heard Brian in his bed talking to himself as he was "writing" on his Doodle Pad.

Afterwards he told me that he was writing a note to Daddy and I to tell us he thanks God for all of the good things he has. Then he stopped. "Mommy, I have to write God a note, too!" Here's Brian's "note" to God.

Dearest God,
I love you so very much. Thank you for all of the things that you give to me. They are really cool things. Thank you so much. I love you.

Love,
Brian

I guess when Chris and I talk, Brian is listening.

Fun at the Waterpark

We met up with Aunt Lori and Kelsey at a waterpark that's about half way between our houses. All of the cousins had a great time playing in the water.

Aunt Lori and Kelsey.

You always have to have a picture of a cute tooshie in the air!

Kelsey chasing the big cousins - she really wanted to be in on the action.

"I almost got you, Sean!"

Brian and Sean had fun "crawling" around in the water.

Colin - such a big boy!

The brothers.

Daddy eating Colin's head - he's so silly!

There was a big "play house" in the middle of the pool. There were water fountains spraying all over the place.

Up on the platform waiting to go down the water slide.

Sean coming down the water slide.

Brian coming down the slide.

We all had a lot of fun. After a lot of hard playing in the water, we had a picnic lunch with Aunt Lori and Kelsey. Then we packed everyone up and headed home - for naps!

Really, he can read

I told you that Sean can read. Now I have video to prove it! In the second video you can see Sean helping Brian read - that is before Sean ends up having a meltdown from being so totally exhausted!

First Library Visit

As an adult I have never had a library card. Which is rather surprising considering how much I love to read. You would really have thought that checking books out from the library would have been much easier on my budget over the years. But I digress.

Today I took the boys to the library for the first time. I figured with Tropical Storm Fay bearing down on us it might be helpful to have some "new" books to read - especially if we lose power at any point over the next couple of days. I strapped Colin into his stroller and we trekked into our local library. Brian and Sean did really well. I prepped them on the way in that we don't use loud voices in the library - of course they wanted to know "why?"!

We walked right over to the children's section - which was very empty since today was the first day of public school. I was totally not prepared for the library. I didn't have a list of books; I was going in cold and was totally lost. But Brian and Sean weren't. They immediately found the Bob Books and took some over to the little table to read while I was perusing the selections to bring home. It was awfully cute watching Sean help Brian when he got stuck on a word. I managed to find a couple of books that go along with our study of China and the Olympics - The Mud Flat Olympics and Dumpling Soup.

When we were ready to go, Sean had to be convinced to put back 12 of the 15 Bob Books he was holding. I told you he likes books! While we were at the check out desk, the librarian said, "Oh, that's who was making that noise -he sounded like a siren." She was referring to Colin making his new "uuh-ooh-uuh-ooh" noise.

In addition to the books I found, Sean checked out 3 Bob Books, and Brian checked out 2 Bob Books. They were so excited that they "bought" new books at the library. I'm looking forward to using this wonderful resource as we live and learn together this year.

Gift Giving 101

Tonight I was out of the house during the final moments of the bedtime routine. After I got home, Chris relayed this story to me. I do so love it when my boys "get it".

Daddy Time

For some reason, today was tough. All of the boys were cranky and whiny. It was a trying day for both Chris and I. Despite this, tonight all of the boys had some special snuggle time with their daddy.

Once in a Lifetime

There are those events that happen once in a lifetime. For me, some of those days include:

My wedding day

Brian's birth

Sean's birth

Colin's birth

and now, meeting Bishop John Magee.

While up in Northern VA to help my friend/cousin Daniella & David with their new baby girl, I got to attend Mass at Holy Trinity. Daniella & David had never been to this church, but thought it would be nice to check it out with me up there. We arrived a couple minutes late (new baby syndrome!) and figured out there was a special guest celebrant, but had no idea who he was. When it came time for the homily, this guest celebrant gave the homily. It was a good homily, talking about how the Lord always wants us to come to him, come back to him. I am the Lord and you are my people. I thought this was particularly appropriate since my friends/cousins are trying to come back to the Church. Then after this appropriate homily, the bishop kept talking. He began speaking on the 3 previous popes - Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II. The bishop is the only man to have served under 3 popes. He gave us a history lesson on these three extraordinary men whom he served under. It was long, but it was fascinating to get an inside and personal look at 3 of the men who have sat on the Chair of Peter.

After Mass, we made sure to exit through the center doors so that we could meet "Bishop John". The bishop gave my little cousin Rachel a special blessing on her 1 month birthday. Then I got to shake his hand, and kiss his ring - a ring that Pope John Paul II gave to him.

After getting home last night, I Googled "Irish bishop who served 3 popes" and learned the name of the man who had presided over our Mass - Bishop John Magee. He began his vocation as a missionary priest in Africa. He ended up being sent to Rome and became the personal secretary to Pope Paul VI. After the pope's death, he was cleaning out the study of Pope Paul VI's personal effects when Pope John Paul I entered the room looking for coffee. A friendship was struck up and Bishop Magee stayed on to serve Pope John Paul I. After his death, Pope John Paul II came up to Bishop Magee (who was still a monsignor at the time), hugged him, and told him - You will stay with me!

While not quite as monumental as getting married or giving birth, meeting Bishop John Magee was still an amazing moment in my life as a Catholic.