Project 52: Week 2

I've decided that since I post my homeschooling posts on weekends, my Project 52 posts will be on Wednesdays. Here's a look into our house the last week.

On Sunday, Maddy put herself to bed...just not in her bed..


Today, I learned that not only are my kids obsessed over oral hygiene but that winter jackets and hats are the appropriate attire.

Project 52: Week 1

Last year I attempted to do 365 days in pictures along with some friends on a mommy forum. I failed. One of the mommies did much better than I did but still didn't manage to get 365 pictures. She had the idea to change it to 52 weeks in pictures. 52 instead of 365 doesn't seem as daunting. So, that's what I'm going to do. I already do a post just about every week on our homeschooling lesson. Project 52 will be other pictures of our week. Some weeks will be one picture while other weeks will be more.

Week 1: Sean playing with his clothing closure caterpillar

School Days: Winter

After a bit of a break, we're back on track. This week we talked about winter: winter weather, winter clothing and a little bit about winter sports. The little girl I watch was not here on Friday so Friday's project has been pushed back to next week.

We decorated the front window with paper snowflakes.


And made snowmen from glue.


This week's reading list:
Katie Discovers Winter -Liesbet Slegers
It's Winter -Linda Glaser*
The Snowy Day -Ezra Keats
Snow is Falling -Franklyn Branley
The Mitten -Jan Brett*
Angelina Ice Skates -Katharine Holabird*

*=favorites

Back in the saddle again

In two different ways. We pretty much took a month off from homeschooling. We did a good amount of holiday themed crafts and activities but that was it. This week we got back on track. More on what we're doing at the end of the week. Today also marks the end of week one with a new daycare kid (4 year old girl). It's nice having another older child in the house. Sean thrives playing with someone older. This also adds another to my homeschooling. Crazy as it sounds, adding another child has made things run smoother. It's easier to stick to a routine. It's been five months since I've had a full timer in the house. It's great! The last five months have been a roller coaster. I lost count on how many no shows on interviews I had. Or the ones that came for an interview and I never heard from them again...even though the interview seemed to go great. I even had some sign up and then drop after two days of care. It's been crazy!! I started to have doubts about being in this business. It seemed like a headache. Then I saw a want ad right before Christmas. We seemed to hit it off over the phone. I was hopeful but didn't hold my breath. I relaxed a little after the interview b/c they wanted to enroll. Things have been going very well. Knock on wood that it continues. Even if it doesn't, I've regained my faith in this career choice. I really love being a childcare provider! It's the job searching and sometimes the parents that drive me crazy. But the day to day caring, teaching and watching the children grow is what I love. Sometime this month my cousin's son will be joining us too. He's also 4. I'm pretty darn excited! Some days I'll be at my ratio limit (first time since I've started 2 years ago!). On the other days, I will just have my two and the two 4 year olds. On those days, I plan to get out of the house more. Like today for example, we went for a playdate. Next week, we're going to check out the library's story time. 9:30am at Central for anyone that wants to join us!

Good bye 2010, Hello 2011!

Wow, another year gone. A pretty good year too. Let's start with a look back at 2010.

In 2010:
**We became first time homeowners by buying the house that not only I grew up in but is also the house my mom grew up in!
**Welcomed a new fur baby into our life.
**Maddy had her first birthday.
**Sean went through lots of testing to find out why he wasn't growing normal only to have a growth spurt after all the testing was done.
**We had a vacation to Maryland to visit with family. On the way up met an online friend and her family in person for the first time.
**Sean had his third birthday.
**We had a day trip down to Nags Head to meet two more online friends in person for the first time.
**I started homeschooling Sean.
**We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary.
**I became an Avon representative.
**I had many ups and downs in my daycare business but ended the year better than I started it.

All I hope for is that 2011 be as good or better!

In 2011, I would like to:
**Make the pup a family dog...more training and exercise. She needs to learn not to jump on people, nip at my feet (herding dog!) and just be calmer! Then she'll be allowed in the livingroom with everyone else.
**Stop caring what some think of my attachment parenting/non-mainstream ways.
**Be more active...walking the dog will kill 2 birds w/1 stone
**More date nights w/hubby

Flip Diapers

Flip disposable insert in a Thirsties Duo Wrap

I love cloth diapers...well, mostly. I love that they are cute. I love that they are better for the environment and baby. And I love that they save me money. But I hate the laundry. Because of that, I always fall into a slump and go back to disposables. I love the ease of sposies but hate the cost, waste and smell. I think I've found a solution: Flip disposable inserts. They work in the cute covers we already have. They are dye and fragrance free. They a compostable (only just wet diapers). And the best part, they are cheaper than the sposies we were using! They are also as trim as sposies. I'm beginning to think that the fragrances in the sposies was reacting to Maddy's urine and creating a not so pleasant smell. The worst was in the mornings. Oh how I dread those diapers. She slept in a Flip last night and not only woke up not stinking but the diaper wasn't sagging...no leaks either. I'm wondering if Sean would be willing to wear them at night too b/c a overnight pull-up is as bad, if not worst than a overnight diaper. I think I've finally found diapers that I can actually say I love. The true test will be if we're still using them in a month. lol