I wondered....

would it be different having a GIRL?

YES,  it is different!

Just Because...

E found this soccer outfit in his drawer, put it on and said, "Let's go play baseball."  

The kiddos...

I LOVE two year olds...

Oh...What do you do in the Summertime?

I know that summer is suppose to be a relaxing fun time for the kids.  And believe me, my kids have tons of fun.  I also try to keep them pretty busy with structured activities so they don't get bored.  Every summer I try to figure out a good balance for them and for me.  I also worry that they don't let their brains go to waste...so, this is what I am trying this summer to keep their minds sharp:

Monday:

Practice Music

Math 15 minutes

Typing Practice 15 minutes

Read for 30 minutes

Tuesday:

Practice Music

Geography 20 minutes

Read 30 minutes

Wednesday:

Practice Music

Math 15 minutes

Typing practice 15 minutes

Read 30 minutes

Thursday:

Practice Music

Geography 20 minutes

Read 30 minutes

Friday:

Practice Music

Math 15 Minutes

Journal Jar

Read 30 Minutes

I have tried many things in the past.  Instead of buying workbooks this year, I decided to try to do as much as possible on the internet.  Here are the websites we use:

Math:  https://www.everydaymathonline.com/   (this is the program they use at school, so we have a student password)

Geography:  http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

Typing Practice:  http://www.freetypinggame.net/default.asp

I made a journal jar full of questions.  Each Friday, they pull a question out of the jar, write about it, edit what they wrote and then rewrite it.  We then put it in a journal folder so they can keep it forever.

I'm telling you this so that you can use the websites too...and so that you will pass along things that work for you in the summertime.  Some other things that have worked for me in the past:  science club with friends (we took turns hosting and doing science experiments), daily math drills and art club.  I think I might add cooking this year.  I just bought an awesome Star Wars cookbook...thought the boys would enjoy it!!

Please don't be fooled...this schedule allows us a lot of flexibility due to the fact that we keep pretty busy with swim lessons/team, cub scout camp, basketball camp, and a couple weeks of tennis lessons.  And, quite frankly, I'm sometimes just a lazy mom who doesn't make my kids always do their work.  We take it a day at a time at our house.