Daily Adventures at Rose's House Monday July 19, 2010

Today started at 3AM when Michael woke up and crawled into bed beside me. He was very restless, swinging his arms around and tossing and turning. Doug couldn't go back to sleep so he got up, got ready for work, went to the store for milk, and ran an emergency call with the Rescue Squad before he even started work.

I dozed off and on between Michael's flailing around and then, when I thought he had finally settled down enough that I could get up without him noticing I slipped out of bed. This was around 4:50. By 5:30 Michael was back up and wouldn't go back to sleep. And so began another Monday.

It had been awhile since we got our the rice and beans for the sensory table. I put them in the freezer early this morning so they would be very nice and cold as an added sensory experience. The kids loved it.

We did some Math.

The kids enjoyed taking a close look at a grasshopper. It's hard to see but it's sitting on Gabe's hand. Gabe said he was having a staring contest with it.

The kids enjoyed playing with balloons during music and movement time. We ended up just doing a whole lot of moving with no music since the cord to my CD player misteriously disappeared. But it was fun anyway.

The letter of the week is Ff.

Queit time with music and books. And yes we did have music. I didn't find the power cord to my CD player but I did use my computer to play the CD.

We played two games of Memory this afternoon .  .  .

.  .  .  and then got out the craft supplies.

And here are some pictures of the fun they had during their free times.

It's been a good day, and fun day, a LONG day. I'm really hoping Michael sleeps well tonight. Not too sure how it's going to go though - he has already fallen out of bed once tonight.

And now I'm off to bed to get some sleep.

Personal Development - An Acrostic

Purposeful Living
Excellence
Real Relationships
Self-Discipline
Overcoming Obstacles
Never Giving Up
Acceptance
Leadership

Dreams Becoming Reality
Early to Rise
Vision
Extraordinary
Living Consistently
Optimizing Opportunity
Productivity
Mentors and Mentoring
Exercise Mentally and Physically
New Experiences
Transformation

Genesis 13

1. So Abram went up from Egypt the land of Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him.
2. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
3. From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier
4. and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
5. Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.
7. And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8. So Aram said to Lot,"Let's not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers.
9. Is not the whole land before you? Lets part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left."
10. Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
11. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:
12. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.
14. The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west.
15. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring for ever.
16. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.
17. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.
18. So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Herbron, where he built an altar to the Lord.

My thoughts:

In this chapter Lot selfishly chooses the best land for himself. Yet we know that Abraham was greatly blessed in spite of this seeming disadvantage. I'm reminded that no o ne can ever thwart God's purposes and that I can be at peace knowing that God works for the best in the lives of those who love Him.

Daily Adventures at Rose's House Saturday July 17, 2010

Amanda is just loving Little Red, the guinea pig. Technically this is Doug's pet, but . . . we'll see.

Don't you just hate it when vacuum cleaner belts break?

A little math practice.

Coloring pictures to go with our Bible lesson - Jeusus Baptism.

Some imaginative play.

Perler beads remain a huge favorite with the older kids.

We had a good, fun day. More adventures tomorrow.

Often as I'm working and playing with the children I hear myself say things and suddenly find myself wondering (sometimes rather sheepishly) how often God tries to say these same things to me and how well I'm really listening.

All too often what I hear myself saying is "No" or "Stop that right now!" And then there is the exasperated "Are you listening to a word I say? I might as well go talk to that tree out there?"  Sound familiar? Anyone?

I stop and look at the expressions on their little faces - expressions of annoyance at having their plans thwarted, questioning looks when they don't understand why, or sometimes simply looks of defiance as their own little wills fight back. And I'm all too aware of how often, just like these little ones, I am annoyed at the "No" or "Stop" and I sometimes even figuratively stamp my foot a little in a moment of feeling defiant.

And then there are the times I fancy I hear a voice saying "Are you listening to a word I am saying? The rocks and trees are mre responsive than this!"

But there is one big difference here between myinteractions with the little ones and God's interactions with His little ones. My "No" and "Stop" is far too frequently more for my benefit than theirs. If I'm honest with myself there are too many times when I am simply tired or impatient or have too many other things that I want to be doing to grant the request of that child or to "out up with" whatever it is I am saying "Stop" about. And these are never God's reasons. His reasons are always, Always, ALWAYS for my own good. It is His infinite love and compassion that prompts Him to say "No" to a harmful choice, or "Stop" when I begin to travel a dangerous path.

But there arealso other things that I say to the children that I believe God often say to me. They are positve things and God is so much better than I am at giving these positive messages. I've read that ration of positive to negative messages to children should be 7-1 and I fail miserably at this. But if I'm listening for it I realize God far exceeds this.

When I mess up somehow, make a mistake, when my choices cause chaos in spite of my best intentions I hear Him say "Don't give up, keep trying" and always there is the offer to talk it over with Him as well as a comforting Shoulder to lean on.

When things beyond my control threaten to overwhelm me and I feel like a lost child I hear Him say "I'm here. I'll take care of you. Just leave it to me and don't worry about it."

And always, always there is "I love you. I made you to be exactly the person I want you to be. Never forget that you are unique and special to Me."

And then I am inspired to share these encouraging and uplifting words with the children. Because if my Heavenly Father can say these things to me, the one who so often messes up, surely I can pass it on to these innocent little ones in my care.

Weekly Menu Sunday July 18 - Saturday July 25, 2010

SUNDAY JULY 18
Breakfast - Pancakes, Boiled Eggs, Bananas, Milk
Snack - Grapes, Milk
Lunch - Pork Chops, Scalloped Potatoes, Peas, Rolls, Milk
Snack - Animal Crackers, Juice
Dinner - Taquitos, Lettuce/Tomato Salad, Pineapple, Milk
Snack - Toast, Milk

MONDAY JULY 19
Breakfast - Cereal, Milk, Juice
Snack - PB&J Squares
Lunch - Fish Sticks, French Fries, Applesauce, Butter Bread, Milk
Snack - Bananas, Milk
Dinner - BBQ Chicken, Rolls, Spinach, Watermelon, Milk
Snack - Apple Slices, Cheese

TUESDAY JULY 20
Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Toast, Applesauce, Milk
Snack - Grapes, Milk
Lunch - Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Vegetable Beef Soup, Crackers, Pears, Milk
Snack - Graham Crackers, Milk
Dinner - Beef Stroganoff, Cauliflower, Fruit Cocktail, Milk
Snack - Blueberries, Yogurt

WEDNESDAY JULY 21
Breakfast - Bacon Cheese English Muffins, Bananas, Milk
Snack - Animal Crackers, Juice
Lunch - Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Bread
Snack - Raisin Bread, Milk
Dinner - Tuna Cheesy Pasta, Peas, Peaches, Milk
Snack - Fruit Cocktail, Cottage Cheese

THURSDAY JULY 22
Breakfast - Sausage Biscuits, Hash Browns, Milk
Snack - Graham Crackers, Milk
Lunch - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Tomato Soup, Crackers, Bananas, Milk
Snack - Cookies, Milk
Dinner - Chef Salad, Peaches, Milk
Snack - Cereal, Milk

FRIDAY JULY 23
Breakfast - Donuts, Boiled Eggs, Peaches, Milk
Snack - Animal Crackers, Juice
Lunch - Hot Dogs, Macaroni and Cheese, Peas, Pears, Milk
Snack  - Grapes, Milk
Dinner - Roast Beef Sandwiches, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Cooked Carrots, Milk
Snack - Yogurt, Strawberries

SATURDAY JULY 24
Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs w/Cheese Sauce, Bacon, Cinnamon Rolls, Blueberries, Milk
Snack - Pears, Milk
Lunch - Chef's Choice
Snack - Toast, Applesauce
Dinner - Pizza Rolls, Lettuce/Tomato Salad, Apples, Milk
Snack - Graham Crackers, Milk

Childcare Schedule Sunday July 18 - Saturday 24, 2010

Themes - Ff is for farm and farmers, Shape - Rectangle, Color - Brown, Number - 3


6:30 - 8:00AM - Breakfast, Free Play in Playroom (Last 10 minutes pick up time)

8:00 - 8:15AM - Circle Time

8:15 - 8:45AM - Free play on front porch

8:45 - 9:15AM - Activities
 Sunday - Games - Summer Themed Bingo
Monday - Math - Farm themed math pages dot-to-dot and counting for preschoolers, more advanced pages for older kids
Tuesday - Science - Water and Ice Cubes - Solid, Liquid, Process of Melting
Wednesday - Art - Farm Theme Shape Collages
Thursday - Bible -  The Lord's Prayer - The Lord's Prayer mini books to color
Friday - Games - Summer Themed Bingo
Saturday - Sensory/Tactile - Beans and Rice w/Measuring and Pouring Utensils

9:15 - 9:45AM - Free Play on Front Porch (Last 10 minutes clean up)

9:45 - 10:00AM - Music and Movement

10:00 - 10:30 - Snack, Free Play in Back Yard

10:30 - 11:00 - Activities
Monday - Sensory/Tactile - Beans and Rice w/Measuring and Pouring Utensils
Tuesday - Manipulatives - Blocks and Little People Playset
Wednesday - Math: Number Hop
Thursday - Science: Warm/Cold Water
Friday - Art: Nature Collage
Saturday - Bible: The Two Builders - Storyboard Cards and Take Home Sheets for preschoolers, House 3D papercrafts

11:00 - 11:15AM - Free Play in the Back Yard

11:15 - 11:30AM - Quiet Time - Look at/Read Books and Listen to Music

11:30 - 12:00Noon - Lunch

12:00 - 12:20PM - Worksheet/Craft
Monday - Ff Template - Glue the letter Ff to construction paper
Tuesday - Mini Coloring Pages Sheet 1 and Sheet 2 made into coloring books
Wednesday - Ff for Farmer coloring page
Thursday - Pig and Cow Coloring Pages
Friday - Cow and Barn Coloring Page
Saturday - Chicken and Duck coloring pages

12:20 - 12:40PM - Storytime

12:40 - 1:00PM - Quiet Time - Music and Books

1:00 - 2:30PM - Naptime

2:30 - 3:00PM - Wake up and snack

3:00 - 3:30PM - Free Play on Front Porch

3:30 - 3:45PM - Circle Time

3:45 - 4:15PM - Free Play on Front Porch

4:15 - 4:45pm - Activity
Sunday - Art: Fingerpaint
Monday - Bible - The Twelve Disciples: Fun Shapes Boat Craft and Fish Shapes Craft
Tuesday - Games: Memory Match
Wednesday - Sensory/Tactile - Playdough
Thursday - Manipulatives - Puzzles
Friday - Math - Number Hop
Saturday - Manipulative - Little People Playset and Blocks

4:45 - 5:00PM - Quiet Time - Music and Books

5:00 - 5:20PM - Dinner

5:20 - 5:40PM - Worksheet/Craft
Sunday - horse coloring page
Monday - Saturday activities see 12:00 - 12:20 time slot

5:40 - 6:00PM - Storytime

6:00 - 6:20PM - Music and Movement

6:20 - 7:15PM - Free play in back yard

7:15 - 7:30PM - Snack

7:30 - 8:00PM - Quiet Time - Music and Books

8:00PM - Bedtime

School Age Kids Afternoon Schedule
12:00 - 1:00 PM - Science Channel and drawing
1:00 - 1:30PM - Reading
1:30 - 2:00 - Board or card games
2:00 - 2:45 - Crafts
2:45 - 3:00 - Clean up and snack

Note:
On Sunday our schedule varies a little because we go to Church in the morning. However, before and after church I try to keep our schedule as close to normal as possible.

Daily Adventure at Rose's House Friday July 16,2010

Gluing the story cards and coloring the picture from our Bible lesson this morning.

Here Tristan is showing some of the other boys some card tricks. In the background is my wonderful helper.

We were treated to quite a concert today when the kids made microphones out of Legos and sang into them at the tops of their lungs.

Gianni, CJ and I played several rounds of Go Fish this afternoon.

Amanda finally saved enough money to buy the new cage she wanted for her pet rats so Doug took her to PetSmart this afternoon to get it. Then, after dinner, she and Doug put it together.

The rats love it. It's about four times bigger than the one they were in.

This was not in the plan, but somehow the trip to PetSmart also resulted in a new pet to add to our menagerie.

Meet Little Red, the guinea pig.

The cat was very interested in this new addition.

And so were the kids.

She's supposed to be Doug's pet but we'll see how that works out with Amanda in the house.

It's been a busy interesting day. More adventures on the way tomorrow.

Daily Adventures at Rose's House Thursday July 15, 2010

Some free time fun.

CJ very kindly offered to share his markers and paper with the younger kids.

Ee is for Elephant.

The Little People playset kept everyone's attention for quite a while.

We also had a lot of fun with playdough.

It was a good day.

Genesis 12

1. The Lord God said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. "
4. So Abram left, as the Lord had told him and Lot went with him. Aram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.
5. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew lot, al the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
6. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
7. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
9. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
10. Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while beacause the famine was severe.
11. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are.
12. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife' Then they will kill me but will let you live.
13. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared bacause of you."
14. When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautful woman.
15. And when Pharoah's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace.
16. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.
17. But the Lord had inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai.
18. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?
19. Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to me by wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!"
20. Then Pharoah gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

My Thoughts:

This entire chapter fascinates me.
Verse 5 is such an awesome verse - they set out for the land of Canaan and they arrived there.

I have a tendency to talk a lot about what I want to do or where I want to go in life but all too often that's all I do - talk. I don't even get as far as setting out. And if I do manage to set out, many times I do not actually arrive where I intended to go. Instead I get distracted, off course of just give up.

But if I look at verses 1- 3 I can see the reason for his success. Abram was listening for the voice of God and God spoke to him. And having heard, Abram followed the command. He could do so in the confidence that God would be with him and guide him. And this is where all true success is grounded and rooted. In following the voice of God wherever it takes us.

The Binky Bandit!

Austin set up and took this photo of Kaleb. "Look Mom" he said. "It's the Binky Bandit.