Teaching my 3-year-old to Read

While we were on vacation in Missouri, I quickly realized that my 3-year-old was capable to using a computer appropriately (his GiGi let him play on hers).  So, I decided to introduce some "introduction to reading" websites to him.  The mouse on the laptop was a little difficult, so I bought a wireless mouse.  He loves it.  Hopefully it will help him learn to recognize his letters and letter sounds. 

www.starfall.com

www.more2.starfall.com

Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

At the end of the school year last year, one of my sweet second graders handed me a card.  It was a thank-you card with a $40 gift certificate to Kohls and a $10 gift certificate to Sonic.  When I opened it, she said, "The Sonic card is from me.  The Kohls one is from my mom.  I'm not supposed to tell you this, but my mom said you're too skinny and your clothes are too baggy.  She said that you need to buy yourself some new clothes." 

Well, I finally spent the Kohls gift card today.  I bought myself a pair of capris, two house rugs, and this:

Why did I buy this (even though it's a little baggy)?  Because I'm a PRE-KINDERGARTEN TEACHER!  I, as a 27-year-old, can get away with wearing things like this to work!  So, if you're ever wondering what to get me for Christmas or my birthday or something just because you love me (or my blog) so much, I need some new work shirts! 

By the way, a few weeks after school was out I received an email from the mom who purchased the Kohls and Sonic gift card.  She said that her daughter slipped and told her about telling me I was too skinny.  She said in the email that she was terribly embarrassed.  I replied and told her not to be embarrassed.  I don't know anyone who would ever complain that someone said they were too skinny (especially 7 months after having a baby)!  Thanks to her daughter, though, I packed up all my maternity clothes. 

Diesel's first (two) goal(s)!

This summer we decided to put Diesel in soccer.  Even though he's only three, he has a lot of energy, and with me staying at home during the summer with the kids, we had to find a way for him to use that energy.  Plus, David and I firmly believe in sports and extra-curricular activities.  Well, his soccer team consists of twelve 3, 4, and 5-year-olds.  The games are 30 minutes long.  They had one practice before the season (just to introduce the kids to each other).   Diesel's cousin, Jaxton, is on the team, and there's also sweet little girl named Megan (she goes to Diesel's daycare) on the team.  David and I (mostly me, I admit) were so excited about him playing a sport that we even went and had shirts made.  We made a Diesel's Mom, Diesel's Dad, Diesel's Brother, Diesel's Grammie, and Diesel's Papa shirt. 






Well, the first two games were pretty stressful on Mom and Dad.  David and I are very competitive people.  It's hard for us to watch Diesel goof off during the games.  We immediately expected Diesel to be a star and score all the goals.  Heck, that's why we had shirts made.  We wanted everyone to know that the star was our son!  After the first game, my throat hurt from all the screaming.  I wasn't necessarily screaming bad things, I just wanted my boy to focus and get in the game.  Diesel was more interested in chasing his cousin, Jaxton, around the court.  There were even a few times we had to run out there and pick him up from rolling around on the court.  You see, in a three-year-old league, parents are allowed to run next to or behind their kid to encourage them.  We also began bribing.  If he scored a goal, he would get ice cream from Braums.  We told him this before every game.  Even though he never scored a goal, we still took him. 

On June 21st, at 6pm, Diesel had his 3rd soccer game.  His 3rd soccer game ever.   We expected the same outcome as the other games.  The one difference was going to be that his cousin was on vacation.  We knew there was going to be one less distraction for Diesel.  We, once again, bribed him with ice cream. 

The game began.  It was 100* and no airconditioning.  A lot of the kids refused to play, so we pushed Diesel to play as much as possible.  After about 5 minutes of playing, we could tell he was already tired.  In order to keep him playing, I told him I would stand out on the court while he ran around.  I think he feels more confident if he knows his parents are near.  Diesel got the ball, and I began to cheer him on.  He kicked and kicked and ran and ran.  He ran to the goal and kicked it in!  GOAL!  As soon as he did it, he turned around and ran to me with his hands in the air.  I picked him up and swung him around.  As we turned around, I noticed Dad had jumped up and ran onto the court in excitement.  At that same moment, we saw that Grammie and Papa had just walked in the gym.  All 4 of us we standing and screaming for Diesel.  He had the biggest smile on his face.

Well, he earned ice cream and there was still half a game left.  What to do?  Sprinkles.  "Diesel, if you score another goal, we'll get you lots of sprinkles on your ice cream."  What did he do?  That little boy went out there and scored another GOAL! 

Now he had ice cream with sprinkles.  What should I bribe him with?  There's only 5 minutes left in the game, and his team needed another player.  "Diesel, if you get another goal, I will take you to the lego store tomorrow."  He looked at me and said, "I'm too tired.  I'll go to the lego store another time."  I accepted it and sat down with him.  I was so proud. 

When your mom is a teacher...

I consider Diesel lucky.  Every day we have craft time.  I should probably focus more on him writing his name, but I enjoy craft time more.  We've had a big box in our house for almost a week now.  Diesel plays in it all the time, so I haven't had the heart to throw it away.  I decided to make the box look more like a toy instead of a piece of trash. 

Well, we had Christmas, zebra, and camo wrapping paper.  We decided to make it a hunting lodge.  His favorite part is the window. 

I don't know why he's gluing beads on the top of it though...

Jesus and I Made It

Every year our family does a garden. 

Usually David does all the vegetables, and I grow the herbs and decorative flowers. 

However, this year I decided to plant 3 gourd and squash seeds in my garden.  I wanted something fun to grow on my fence.  And I, like many other gardeners, love the satisfaction of getting to pick and eat something that I personally grew. 

Every day Diesel, Sawyer, and I go outside and water the gardens (we have lots considering the small yard we have).  Diesel loves looking for all the squash and different gourds that have started growing. 

Finally a couple days ago, one of the squash/gourds were big enough to pick.  It probably would've grown a lot bigger, but I knew Diesel was wanting to pick it very badly to show his daddy.  So, I let him pick it.  It's a pretty special squash/gourd.  The reason why I keep slashing squash and gourd together is because it's both.  You see, the squash and gourd plant cross-pollinated.  So, it's both.  Here's a picture:

As usual, before an important phone call, I quiz him on the things he's supposed to say.  He wanted to call his daddy and tell him, so I began asking Diesel the necessary questions.

Mom: "What is that?"

Diesel: "It's a squash."

Mom: "Squash and gourd.  What colors are in it?"

Diesel: "Yellow and green."

Mom: "Where did it come from?"

Diesel:  "The garden."

Mom: "Who grew it?"

Diesel: "Jesus.  Me and Jesus.  We did it together."

I think he's understanding his Sunday school lessons.

Meanie

For Christmas, my Papa Kurtz bought Diesel a doll.  Not just any doll.  The doll looks like this:

This doll even has wire toe hair sticking out of its feet.

When we asked Diesel what we should call it, he replied, "Meanie."

Meanie scares Diesel. 

We can't keep it in his room.

So, it ends up everywhere around the house.  My husband, David, likes to hide it under the covers while I'm showering before bed.  He gets a chuckle out of me finding it.  Diesel likes to push him around in Sawyer's riding toys.  

But, you know who plays with it the most? 

My 8 month old.

Oreo

Diesel has made a new best friend.  While we were on vacation, Ella and Buzz Lightyear (my two classroom rats that we keep at home during the summer) had a litter of 4.  There are 3 brown and white rats (they look like Ella) and one black and white rat (it looks like Buzz).  Diesel's favorite is the black and white baby. 

He has named him Oreo. 

They play together all the time. 

Today, Diesel taught Oreo how to ride a tractor. 

I don't know how well Diesel's going to take the news about Oreo's future.  In another week, Oreo and his brothers and sister are going to be snake food (unless they find someone who needs a pet rat). 

You see, we thought Ella had gone through menopause.  She hasn't had a litter in 6 months (usually they have a littler every 21 days).  What a delightful surprise (sarcasm)!