Outdoor Project

Our back patio has seen it's share of transformations.  When we moved in, we didn't have Knox and didn't have ANY furniture--inside the house or out.  As you can imagine, our priorities were the living room and dining room...not the backyard.

My in-laws were replacing their backyard furniture and we're going to throw away the old...so we snatched it up.  Sure, it had seen it's share of "use."  But it fit, it looked complete and it bought us time.

The very next summer we started researching ideas for outdoor furniture.  We put in the side patio and outfitted it with Target stuff, so we were eager to update the back patio as well.  We were wandering through Home Depot one night (are we the only nerds that go there just to wander and get ideas???) and found the below Martha Stewart chairs on clearance.  Um...yes, please!  I think we got each chair for around $90 bucks, total steal for the quality!

We love the chairs, and the outdoor rug made it all complete.

After another year of use, and having a love affair with having people over, we realized that seating for only two wasn't going to cut it.  We needed some sort of solution to seat more people without cramping the space completely.

Enter Josh, Stephen's softball buddy.  He casually mentioned one night that he built outdoor benches along the walls of his backyard.  Stephen instantly knew that's what he wanted to do.  After many conversations running through the logistics, we had our plan.  He set off a few weeks ago to grab the cedar materials, as well as the concrete.  We started by inserting the concrete posts...a full three weeks ago.  It's hard when you have 2 hours (during Knox's nap) to do it, and an otherwise full weekend.  We just worked on it when we could...

Then last weekend my sister-in-law Kelly offered to babysit Knox.  We put him down for his nap, worked on the benches, and she came and picked up him right after his nap, giving us an extra few hours to work.

Then she watched him the next morning for us, until he went to sleep.  Hallelujah...that gave us just enough time to finish the entire project.  With help from the neighbor (in the form of ALL of his tools), we did it.  Together.  And we're still happily married.  

This calls for some sort of celebration.

I ran out to Joann's and found this summery outdoor fabric on clearance...I'm fully aware it's seasonal, but it's cheery and I like it.

We still need to fill in the underneath with river rocks, and then put planters next to the windows...but the hard work is finished and we couldn't be more excited.  Oh...and it seats EIGHT.  8.  Loving it!

Owens Spring Creek Farm

This morning we met our 'hood friends for some fun in the sun at the Owens Spring Creek Farm.  We had a great time, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.

Knox loved everything about this place, but mostly that he could run around, climb on top of rocks, see horses, goats and pigs and get dirty.  I loved chasing him around, trying to get some pictures while not allowing him to throw every pumpkin he found.

Playing drums

Feeding goats

Pretty horse

Blair hugs with the donkeys

More horsies

The tractor ride was fun...for me!

He wasn't too amused.

My sweet boy...love that Fall is here!

{HomeSchool}: Weekly Wrap-Up

This week was back to content, and we had so much fun.  Just as a recap, we were focusing on "God Made the Animals."  The shape was square, color green, letters H-K and the numbers 1-3.  Though he knows his colors and numbers, and mostly his letters, we focus more on collecting three items, or finding three green things, etc.

We started this week simple...we painted a green square.  I wanted a reminder of both the shape and color, and Knox loves painting.  Win-win.

Later in the week, we focused on our animals.  In our scripture (Gen 1:24-25), we learned big and small. He's typically really good about differentiating big vs. small, but he loved seeing this played out with animals.

I simply googled images of his favorite animals, found a baby version, and cut them out for him to match and glue on a piece of cardstock.  He loved this activity, and still will walk in the kitchen and point out "baby giraffes" or "huge cats."

Finally, we had a little fun with his friend Blair for the last activity.  Jessica (Blair's mom) found a cool tutorial for a tin can wind chime, and we decided to recycle and tackle the project.

We saved cans, stripped them of their labels and put masking tape along the top so the kids wouldn't get cut.  Then, using a screwdriver and hammer made little holes in the bottom for the yarn.  Once they were painted, we added washers to the yarn (to hang inside the cans) to make the noise.  

Very easy, and they loved it!

He loved using the different colors from our lessons, and since we just learned circle last month, he loved getting to point out the shapes.

Now, it's proudly hung in our backyard.  Hope I remember to take it down before the next rain, or we'll have colorful mulch!!

All in all, great week and fun exercises!!

Got his hair did...

I have always cut Knox's hair.  He hasn't ever lost it, since birth.  It's been really long, really short, mohawked, bald on the sides and slightly askew...but never as bad as the last time I cut it.  He looked identical to Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber...it was terrible.  

Seriously.  It's finally grew out, and we've loved his shaggy do.  However, the back grew just as fast, and he's been rocking a serious mullet.  Eewww.

So...a haircut was in order.  I am not afraid of cutting his hair, and plan to continue to do it in the future, I just need a good base.

There's a cute kid hair cutting place next to our Target, so I went in after lunch to do the deed.  We were the only ones in there, so it worked out well!  

He first picked out his movie--Rio!  Then, he chose the firetruck over the taxi cab.  Figures.

The woman cutting his hair did a great job.  He acted a little sketchy when she got near his eyes/face, but otherwise watched the movie and did great!  He LOVED the sucker, and mommy loves his new "symmetrical" shag!

And the train table helped...

{HomeSchool}: Weekly Wrap-Up--Review Style

This week we focused on reviewing all of the information we previously learned.  I touched on a little bit of that last week, but we didn't do enough.  Instead, reviewed a little bit the first day and moved on with the new 4-week study.  However, I learned quickly he really needed a good week of review.

For instance, after two weeks of not talking about day/night and the differences, he got confused.  In addition, recognizing letters was a bit tougher when we weren't using them in context anymore.  Instead of forging ahead and adding 5 more letters into the mix, I decided to just use the week as a review week.  

It's good we did, too, because Knox was out of commission with a high fever Wednesday and Thursday.  Poor bug was not himself, and we didn't do a lick of work.  Really, our brains melted with all of the TV, but I have to say he's much better and "back!"

To review without feeling like it he was testing in school, we hit the streets.  We went on a walk and pointed out all of the things he'd learned--colors, trees, flowers, counting items, animals and even sky, clouds and the sun.  

We played on the couch with a blanket and made a tent, and the holes in the blanket made "stars" with the lights on.  It was a great teachable moment, asking him when stars come out (in the dark) and the moon is present at night.

We used our binoculars, played with colored play-doh and had a great week.  Now...we're ready to tackle the next unit!

Hope you guys had a great week, too!  We're ready for the weekend, because like I said...He's back!!

Big Morning

Last night, while I was drawing Knox a bath, I noticed that he removed his diaper all by himself.  I know most kids his age have probably already tried this trick, it's just never been on his radar.  I remember thinking, "this could begin an ugly trend," but quickly got busy with the nighttime routine and completely forgot. 

This morning, Knox was playing in the living room and I was on my computer.  He ran in the office, yelling "Mommy, I took my diaper off.  I took my pants off, too!"  I turned around to find him in solely in his pajama top, really proud of himself.  He then started saying "I wanna go potty."  

My first thought was to put the diaper back on.  Let's be real for a second...I'm not looking forward to potty training.  I like not having to stop every 30 minutes to enter disgusting bathrooms.  But I knew I needed to let him try.

He ran into the bathroom, pilfering through drawers until I was able to get my phone (I needed documentation)...

He sat down, and then cheered.  No, Knox...not how it works.  We had to sit for quite a while, while I ran the water.  He still wanted no part, until I mentioned we could wash our hands and get a treat.  Then he started really trying...

And then BAM!  Number 1 and 2, just like that.  I was stunned, then sicked out that I had to clean it up.

I love Lysol.

Thinking this was just a fluke, but we'll go with the flow (pun intended) if he wants to potty train.

{HomeSchool}: Weekly Wrap-Up

This week's theme was "God  made the Animals." 

We re-read the first few verses of the creation story and reviewed our colors, shapes and letter from the last 4 weeks.  This month we are moving on to the letters H-K, and working on squares and lines (in addition to circles from last month).  

To cover the animal part of the week, we decided to first make a fishbowl.  To be completely honest, he's obsessed with fish tanks.  We might just have to get him a beta (if I can get Dad on board).  I let him paint the bowl blue, then cut off the top and sharpie'd it black.  Yes, I just made Sharpie a verb.

If you have little ones that like to paint...GET THESE!  My friend Amanda recommended them, and I couldn't love them anymore.  The larger handle makes it so much easier for him to maneuver the brush...get them!

I printed off some pictures of Nemo, Dori and Marlin, and some coral for him to glue on and we were set!  

Later in the week, we practiced our colors and shapes by making a bird.

Circles, triangles, rectangles and a big square (and ovals/elipses if you're counting)

I glued the body, beak and legs to the green square and he did the rest.  I was really surprised how well he did with the stick on googly eyes.

Easy peasy week...but we weren't done.

I wanted to go on a hunt for green items in the house, since that's the color of the week.  There was a DIY binocular sheet in the curriculum binder, so I knew we had to do it.  

I made the ribbon green (obviously), and he has been obsessed with them ever since.

We found things in the house, grocery store, and even a firetruck.  We know it's not green...but it made his day!!

Who knew recycled toilet paper rolls could be so fun?