Nov. 9th 2009 – Family-Centered Snapshots
Outside: A beautiful Indian summer day is upon us! Leaves are everywhere (and men with leaf blowers –oh my ears!) We walked up to the diabetes center for A1c’s this morning and little Maria tagged along for fun. They have a really cool solar system poster in the room where we do blood work and Matthew had quite the time playing the older and knowledgeable big brother to little Miss Maria. He didn’t get all his facts right but I was still pretty impressed with what he did know. As we were leaving Maria said she wanted to “go eat” –she thinks every time we go out it should include food. That’s my girl! We walked home and had a snack. 
In my ears: The ridiculous but funny dialog of animals living through the Ice Age (#3 I think). For the very last time before it goes back to Redbox . . . PLEASE. In the other ear, multiplication drills and a reluctant drillie. Anyone know any good games for learning one’s multiplication tables?
The phone just rang. It was hubby at the store. He asked if the coupon wallet was sitting on the dining room table. It is.
In my cup: A lovely fresh cup of coffee with cream brought to me by my sweet and hospitable 13 yr. old daughter. 
On the agenda: Well we did the A1C’s so that’s checked off the list but I still need to go to the bank and the post office and clean the bathrooms. Peter has a boy’s club meeting later (which I need to sew him up a bag for) and Mary has Irish dance. Not really sure when I am going to get the bathrooms cleaned but I didn’t get them done Sat. and I have a friend visiting tomorrow so in the interest of charity they really should be cleaned. Speaking of tomorrow, Jennifer Miller is speaking at our parish Mother’s Group on the Liturgical Year. It’s going to be great –if you’re local don’t miss it!
On the menu: Pizza for lunch and tacos for dinner. Hubby is cooking.
On my bedside table: Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. Nearly 25 years of being a mom and I’ve never read this book. Now I have Matthew and am reading it –enough said.
On my mind: I have been seriously slacking in the eating well and exercise department. I need to get back on track. Too bad it isn’t as easy to get on track as it is to get off. The irony of it is that I feel so much better when I eat right and exercise but it’s a vicious cycle when I don’t.
On my heart: There’s so much pain and sadness in the world. Those we love and care about and those far from us. I am ever so thankful for all that I have been blessed with. I pray daily for those who suffer.
On my Zune: Gratitude by Nichole Nordeman –it’s gets me every time. Don’t listen to it as a cool down song on the treadmill at the Y though or the guy next to you might wonder why you are crying. Speaking theoretically only of course.
On my desktop: My messy faced, sweet cheeked, beautiful girl!
6 Responses to “Nov. 9th 2009 – Family-Centered Snapshots”
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Michele Q. --
Catholic wife and mother of 10.
Homeschooler, small press publisher, avid seamstress, halfway decent cook. Living the Family-Centered life.
Michelle, my children use this website:
http://resources.oswego.org/games/mathmagician/cathymath.html
and it has helped tremendously. Doesn’t feel so much like drill, which it is.
Hope this helps!
Micki
Hey Michele, here’s a link to some great FREE skip counting worksheets that my 7yo son has been enjoying this year. They are cute black and white with large spaces for them to write their numbers. Thought you might want to try them for your sweetie!! Lovely daybook
Much love, Mere
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=22631&it=1
Meredith´s last blog ..Late Autumn Daybook ~ November Begins
I hate to miss the great mom’s meeting tomorrow but the littlest pipsqueak has a cough with some congestion, which I believe t0 just be allergies and sinus since she has had it for three days and no fever. But, I don’t want to put her in the nursery and expose all the other kids if it’s not just that. I’m sure it will be fantastic!
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It was a beautiful day today, wasn’t it? As for math drills….I have two methods. The first is a pair of really big squishy dice. Roll the dice, multiply the numbers together (of course this only works through the 6’s). The second is a deck of cards. Aces are 1, Jack’s 11, Queen’s, 12, Kings can be wild. Shuffle the cards well, lay down two at a time and multiply. The really nice part is that once the deck is finished so is the drill.
[...] Miller 9:12 pm Yesterday was a wonderful day! We spent it in Lancaster (and in the car) with Michele and her lovely [...]
We used these, Michele (you have to get past the name …)
http://www.holeycards.com/
But we also had the drillie (hahaha!) bounce a ball in rhythm with the facts, and we also had the learner build the facts with blocks (Cuisenaire rods sometimes). For some reason multiplication tables are very slippery for some kids. It’s funny to me which kids have brains that stick to the information and which ones don’t. I’ve wondered lately if some kids need to build the facts in a physical 3-D way over and over and over … otherwise it’s meaningless words for memory work, and who’s brain wants to gather up nonsense syllables, you know?
RecollectedStephanie´s last blog ..Cooks, cookery, and a last meal