Santa

There is nothing like Santa to keep a whimsical sense of innocence and speculation in the heart of a little boy. We always figured it would be our eight year old son that would end this era of their childhood. However, it was our six year old that started to question and state how Santa can't be at all malls. So, we were daunted with the task of finding "the real Santa". Which means real hair, real beard, and chunky like tradition has shown for generations! I can thank the local news. And thanks to news stations running stories because a few have race/ethnic issues, combined with the intelligence of our youngest, daddy had to play damage control.

Unfortunately our society had derogated to the point we have to DVR daytime TV (all 5 main curse words are at all times of the day)... not to mention adult conversations that children have no business being exposed to. Children have a limited time to actually be innocent before the world makes them as jaded as peers.

I have a feeling that by next year our amazing little men will not have the fantasy of childhood we try to preserve. So, we put them in pajamas and slippers... and they even wrote letters days later for things forgotten.  

The gift behind this Santa is going to be the highlight of their morning! Daddy is spoiling his boys...

Gift to Teachers

This time of year we tip our counterparts in a service positions... my amazing husband is one of them! And we teach our children to give a Christmas gift each year to their teacher. This year we did gift cards to Starbucks with chocolates. They gave them a day earlier, which could be a positive, sure many other students gave on the last day before break.

Candy Cane Seeds

It has been about ten years now that we've been making these "Candy Cane Seeds". I started doing them with my eldest son, to give to his classmates at school and church group (he dropped out of). It didn't take long before he out grew everything that made me feel like a mommy. So, when my little ones came along I was absolutely grateful. And this same tradition has continued.

This year I added the pictures to all the bags... the boys added all the candies! They are currently with their teachers and ready to give to classmates.

 

.~*~._.~*~._.~*~.

CANDY CANE SEEDS

I once knew a gardener who knew how to grow

Bright tasty candies, from under the snow

I asked her to share her secret with me

And this is what she replied quite readily

To garden in winter snow is difficult you see

It takes a lot of care and a very special seed!

Here are a couple of seeds to grow your own tree...

.~*~._.~*~._.~*~.

Kid's Activities - Luv This one, has our "Reindeer Poop" we do every year too, and new ideas

Girl and a Glue Gun - plain seeds without poem

 

Penny Lane

Gift 4 Kids

I have found the best gift for our children is actually cash! We have one family member that each year gives $50 to each child, and $100 per adult. There are many reasons this is not just a great idea but makes us grateful. I know they don't add it to a card, so I find amazing cards, with glitter, and scrap booked qualities that look like it is a personal touch... than add it under the tree from them to each child. We actually add it to each child's savings account, since we buy them all they desire or need, and make them aware why it will make a difference towards their future.

I know that when a person gets money it is usually associated with greed, but the reality is it makes us feel more appreciative!!! What would normally be ours and selfishly spent on ourselves will be spent on our children. It is actually applied towards their future.

The only gift that could possibly be better is if they gave pictures since that is priceless and can be passed down through the generations (with personal stories).

~*Thanks*~

Cartoon Network

The boys love playing Cartoon Network...

 

Disney

Nick

Math

Our eight-year-old little man has been having problems staying focused in class (timed math pages). The teacher suggested that we use flash cards, which we have, but the page is first grade math (he's in third). He didn't have any issues the two previous years. I had a "Math Munchers" program but gave it to another parents since we didn't seem to need it.

On Black Friday we found ourselves at Fry's Electronics. We'd been avoiding the crowds and thought that later in the afternoon the crowds would have dissipated. Finding a parking space was still insane, but we did find "Math Skill Builder". Online the week prior it was listed at $14, but in store that day it was $18 (plus tax). ~*Ouch*~.. but cheaper than directly from the company from the looks of it.

I am hoping that having the timed sheets, parents direct which, that both boys will gain a positive. I love the fact this new program is kindergarten through fifth grade. They have the option of practice sheets, print outs, and we can keep track of their progress on charts. But I love that it covers everything from basic math, word problems, How to, and calculation tables.

This will be added to their chore board (both boys)... where they earn magnets that trade for real money. They will probably be mad at me, but I'll be snagging a bunch of educational programs for their computers this Christmas! Plus micro SD cards for their tablets and requiring they keep a few I've found downloaded and played daily from App store.

I hope to see more "Core Learning" on the shelves of Fry's Electronics.

Helping Young Children with Writing Skills

Recently I faced a dilemma that was far too familiar. My eight year old child is refusing do the creative writing portions in class. I came across similar circumstances with our eldest son (around the same age). The downside is that it has been a decade, and feels like a lifetime ago. I have a vague idea of how to positively support our son and only wish the teacher would have offered solutions past, "he needs to do the work". So, here I am searching for ways to fix the problem online.

I initially thought it could be a lack of knowing how to structure a paragraph or story. But during the parent/teacher conference he agreed with the teacher that it wasn't "organizational skills". When my husband and I talked to him last night he stated that he simply has no interest in writing about the specific subjects. He is intelligent but his lack of motivation is absolutely exasperating. He is the free spirited child that folds under conventional parenting.

I eventually landed on a website that uses the thought bubble concepts, but had to make what she created (digital scrapbooking program) after I realized the links were not working properly.

The Reading Momma

Character: Who

Setting: When/Where

Problem: What happened

Solution: How did it end

However it was our other son's teacher that ended up being the most informative. With our six year old he is going to be starting something called "Hamburger Writing". Third Grade Thoughts was a huge help with Hamburger Paragraphs.

* Topic Sentence - What is it about

* Supporting Sentence - Descriptive

* Supporting Sentence - Descriptive

* Supporting Sentence - Descriptive

* Summarize Topic Sentence - back to main topic

I wrote out the basic elements on note cards, than taped to a low hanging shelf on his desk.

* Character

* Setting - Time & Place it happens

* Conflict

* Solution

* Point of View

* Theme - Basic Idea of the story or moral