So on Facebook I asked for simple, creative suggestions for me and my kids this summer.
Some people gave me exactly what I was looking for...like the suggestion for a bowl of ice and a wooden spoon on the porch. Some folks gave me their opinions about summer and that was good too.
Here is how we handle things and why.
Take one former teacher turned organizational freak of a mom + one child that would love to be doing anything and everything with everybody all the time + one child that would like to do next to nothing and be happy with that, usually with one other person of his choosing + one Daddy that travels increasingly more = my need for a summer plan.
This does not mean my kids are scheduled to death, definitely not. It means I have a plan to deal with 2 kids that want to do different things a lot of the time. However given a little direction, they are happy to do anything together.
So they both love school and do well there, and that makes me ask myself, What about school can work at home?
1. We can post and follow a few summer rules to avoid constant nagging about behavior. Let's pick a few things to work on this summer.
2. We can start each day by talking about what we are going to do that day, a circle time of sorts. We will talk about the weather, for my boy that lives for that sort of thing, sing a song, read a book, and just get the day off to a peaceful start. That outlook avoids all the questioning that comes with a schedule that changes daily.
3. Then set up some time to do the things kids love to do... discover more about words, investigate number concepts, learn cool things about the world around them, create things, have time to let their imaginations and their bodies run wild
That is enough for now. Tomorrow I will tell you about the color coded calendar :-)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
2011 FAAN Walk
As many of you know I have agreed to co-chair the Atlanta FAAN Walk for 2011.
Food allergies are such a big part of my every day life, that it only made sense to take on a project that will help me meet other people that share my passion for education and excellence when it comes to food allergy management.
I have not totally lost my mind though. I have the support of wonderful people who have done this all before. There are wonderful ladies and gentlemen here in and around Atlanta that are on this journey with me.
I am also looking forward to attending the Leader's Summit in Chicago and getting to meet walk chairs from all around the country.
The walk is in October, but lots of work is going on now to pull it all off, so you may be reading this and asking how you can help.
In a few months I will be looking for team members to support "Cody's Pit Crew."
But for now, I am looking for companies to sponsor the walk. The commitment levels vary, so if you know someone that may be interested, let me know. We can go all the way from a small sign with a name on it, a booth at the event to promote your service or product, the whole way to being on stage at the event, with your name on the event t-shirts and your logo on the start/finish sign.
We are also looking for publicity for the event. We are so excited to be taping a segment on the CW to air in April and hope to get other gigs like this one. We have some talented, knowledgeable folks that would love to talk about food allergies. Please consider us for your tv or radio show.
Food allergies are such a big part of my every day life, that it only made sense to take on a project that will help me meet other people that share my passion for education and excellence when it comes to food allergy management.
I have not totally lost my mind though. I have the support of wonderful people who have done this all before. There are wonderful ladies and gentlemen here in and around Atlanta that are on this journey with me.
I am also looking forward to attending the Leader's Summit in Chicago and getting to meet walk chairs from all around the country.
The walk is in October, but lots of work is going on now to pull it all off, so you may be reading this and asking how you can help.
In a few months I will be looking for team members to support "Cody's Pit Crew."
But for now, I am looking for companies to sponsor the walk. The commitment levels vary, so if you know someone that may be interested, let me know. We can go all the way from a small sign with a name on it, a booth at the event to promote your service or product, the whole way to being on stage at the event, with your name on the event t-shirts and your logo on the start/finish sign.
We are also looking for publicity for the event. We are so excited to be taping a segment on the CW to air in April and hope to get other gigs like this one. We have some talented, knowledgeable folks that would love to talk about food allergies. Please consider us for your tv or radio show.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Emilee Maddie 4
Pop Blocks Pink Birthday
Happy birthday to you. Birthday wishes by Shutterfly.
View the entire collection of cards.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Board Games
I am so glad that my kids are finally to the age that board games are fun. They are big enough to keep up with the pieces, put them away, somewhat follow the rules, etc. So for Christmas the kids got several board games. Each year I like to get several gifts and address them to both kids. One thing that really matters to me is that my kids get along so I am always trying to think of ways to promote that.
Back to the point...Cody has certainly gotten into the love of board games. He loves Trouble, Chutes and Ladders, Connect Four, Pretty Pretty Princess (although we will have to deny that in a couple of years) and most recently Candy Land.
Much like his father, Cody loves to win. In fact losing is unacceptable. So I thought playing these games would be a good way to help with this love of winning, and he would be able to rejoice when someone else wins.
In stead of loving to see his mom or sister win, he had just learned to cheat, sigh... In trying to work on this aspect of gaming I told him I refused to play Chutes and Ladders anymore since I had no chance of winning. It was not fun to me. This made him had for a second and I thought, "Oh good, he gets it."
Then he had a great idea. He did not need me to play. He went to his room and got a couple of stuffed animals and played against them in stead. He loves this. He gets to spin for them, they let him move their pieces, and he is glad when his stuffed dog Wubzy wins, since really it means he won.
Kids will always keep you on your toes and keep you laughing.
On the bright side he very patiently taught Emilee to play Candy Land today. I asked if he was playing right and he said, "Of course I am. You can't really cheat in Candy Land since there is no spinner."
Back to the point...Cody has certainly gotten into the love of board games. He loves Trouble, Chutes and Ladders, Connect Four, Pretty Pretty Princess (although we will have to deny that in a couple of years) and most recently Candy Land.
Much like his father, Cody loves to win. In fact losing is unacceptable. So I thought playing these games would be a good way to help with this love of winning, and he would be able to rejoice when someone else wins.
In stead of loving to see his mom or sister win, he had just learned to cheat, sigh... In trying to work on this aspect of gaming I told him I refused to play Chutes and Ladders anymore since I had no chance of winning. It was not fun to me. This made him had for a second and I thought, "Oh good, he gets it."
Then he had a great idea. He did not need me to play. He went to his room and got a couple of stuffed animals and played against them in stead. He loves this. He gets to spin for them, they let him move their pieces, and he is glad when his stuffed dog Wubzy wins, since really it means he won.
Kids will always keep you on your toes and keep you laughing.
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