Before Five in a Row: Blueberries for Sal

((Hannah is 3 1/2))

((Danny is 1 1/2))

We're back! After a long hiatus we're finally back at doing intentional school. December and January were full of being sick, mainly me. I was sick for 3 weeks in December through Christmas and the New Year and then a couple of weeks after I started feeling better I got sick for another 2 weeks in January. So it has taken me a while to get back to doing school. I also knew it was time to transition to a different method. Hannah and I were both ready to move on from our normal Tot School activities but I wasn't quite sure what to do in between before we start official preschool in the fall.

Sometime in the middle of being sick I had tried our first go at Before Five in a Row with Jesse Bear, what will you wear? It was fun but seemed like a lot of work. So while I was taking my hiatus and trying to figure out what to do I realized I was making "school" too difficult on myself. Around mid-March I came to the conclusion from some very special ladies that God has placed in my life that I was making a lot of things in my life too difficult. I had to be reminded that my mission in life right now are these little ones that God as blessed me with. I kind of forgot what my blog is even about, doh. But the Lord has so patiently wrangled me back in, refreshed my spirit and renewed my purpose.

Once I gave this "problem" to the Lord and asked to follow his guidance for our schooling, discipleship and over all future, everything started to fall into place. Planning has been easier, reading has been easier (even though we're still working on listening and being quiet, if you mama's have any advice I'll take it), and the activities have gone smoother. I really feel the Lord holding my hand through this one.

Part of what has made things easier is that I'm going with the flow more. Not everyday looks the same in our house, we have a lot of appointments and outings through the week, so I've had to take everyday as it comes. In the past if we didn't do school in the morning then it just didn't get done. Now I can move it around without a worry because I'm making it a priority. So if we do not get home until noon, then we have our lunch and then read our B4FIAR book of the week,  after we read I usually will put Danny down at this point for a nap and then I have time to spend one on one with Hannah doing our activities for the day.

 On the days that we are able to get it done in the morning Danny gets to join in on the fun. He gets to have his table time with different tot school activities, mostly fine motor skills at the moment. He is still 6 months to a year behind in this area, at least according to the occupational therapist's evaluation. But like everything in his life since his birth, he does things at his own speed and I'm fine with that.

He's very serious about his play-doh and straws.
 

Usually this time will mean that Sissy is doing the same thing, at least after she does some of her activities. Danny's activities always look like so much fun.

When we first started B4FIAR I was worried about reading the same book for five days in a row but it has actually turned into a great blessing. The kids and I soak up more each day. I see more things to discuss each day and the stories get easier to read. It is great when Hannah finishes parts of the stories or remembers what is happening, that gives me hope.

She had a blast with Blueberries for Sal and her blueberry hunt. I luckily happened to have a little tin pail and alot of blue pom poms.

Completely unrelated to the book we made some cloud dough for some good 'ol sensory play. Hannah did not like it at first but once she saw Danny having a good time making a huge mess, she decided she would try a little bowl. Mama had to dig deep and not worry about the mess, it felt great letting go. The kids had a blast and it wasn't a big deal sweeping it up.

Below are pictures of some more blueberry activities we did. We made a blueberry pie with construction paper and blue paint.

 Above is a picture of some letter/phonics work we are still doing. I'm trying to keep incorporating a letter every week. They are completely unrelated to the book we are rowing but I'm hoping it helps keep her fresh until preschool starts.

Some of the activities that we did and are not pictured (but available on my instagram) are we made giant blueberry pancakes with homemade blueberry syrup for lunch one day and we worked on some of the worksheets from Homeschool Creations & My Four P's throughout the week.

It was a great week full of many blessings, we look forward to many more rowing adventures.

((Linking up with: Rainy Day Mum, Hip Homeschool Moms, Skip to my Lou, Craft-O-Maniac, Living Montessori Now, 1+1+1=1 & Teaching Mama))