Family Reading

I was finding it hard to find a quiet time during the day for the boys to read, and then one day it happened.... The boys were being crazy and it was too cold to send them outside to run off their energy {never mind that it was dark....} so I told every boy to get a book. I sent Tommy in with dad, put James on one side of the couch and sat with Tim on the other told the boys to read there books and sit still. Not the most conventional way to start a good reading habit but there you have it. I was always reading to them we just didn't have a designate time when we did it, so there were days that we didn't do any reading.

What it has turned into.... is something wonderful!!! After dinner the boys play for a bit with dad and then clean up their room. Jammies, teeth and then we read for an hour. It's great to see them sitting with books in their laps. I now read a couple books out loud and then we have a semi quiet reading time... {they still read out loud so it's funny to listen to James and Tommy reading different books}

Ok, and this is the funny part.... we read until Jeopardy is on...the boys are obsessed with Jeopardy!! James is looking forward to when he turns 10 so he can go on the show. He has even answered a couple questions right before the contestants did!!! At least it's family friendly, and educational right....

Ok, and right now, talking about reading and all... I would like to give a shout out to my boys at how great they are doing!!! James has definitely passed up the "Dick and Jane" books. He is reading short chapter books and loving it! his current favorite series is "Minnie and Moo" {stories about two crazy cows} He is becoming a much more fluent reader. Tommy is doing great and pretty much taught himself how to read. He came to me one day and said "Mom, I just read this book, can I read it to you??" It was a book that we had gotten from the library, we sat down, and Tommy read the book to me!!! {and then to Tim, and James, and dad when he got home} Both James and Tommy are reading from the scriptures with only a little help. And Tim is doing really well too, while not reading, he is recognizing words and points them out in the books we read.

Can you believe he is in kindergarten and reading this??? I read Flat Stanley to the boys and James liked it so much he wanted to read it again... so he did.

Zoo days

Today was a beautiful day for the Zoo!! it was 70 degrees and no humidity. It was truly wonderful. The husband has been studying so hard for mid-terms, so it was nice to get out and spend some time with him.

Dad lifting Tim up to see the crocodile. The crocodile was sleeping peacefully until the husband made the comment about him being stinky... at that point the crocodile opened his eyes and looked right at the husband.... it was kinda freaky...

The boys looking at the map, trying to figure out where we were.

Looking at the porcupine, they were up and walking around and the boys were wondering what they would have to do to see the porcupines shoot their quills.

It was a good day and so much fun. I love days like this. I love spending time with my family. Even if it does come with questions like "Dad, how can you tell it's a boy???" "Do you think the kangaroo will let me get in the pouch??" "Would the alligator eat me if i threw something at it??"

Five for fighting...

There is a hockey league in Daytona, and the best part.... it's FREE. So Tommy and James got signed up! It starts out with 6 weeks of ice skating lessons {that's what they are calling it} and then 6 weeks of hockey practice and then 4 weeks of games. The boys were so excited to start and get going.

Tommy started out in hockey skates.... then we had to change him into figure skates because he couldn't stand up straight in the other ones. He did much better in the figure skates... so now that he knows the feel of skating hopefully we can get him in to hockey skates next time

Ok.. I'm the first to laugh at my kids so you can laugh too.... I think this is so funny to see Tommy in a walker....

He was brave enough to skate about 3 feet with out it before the end....

James, too, used the walker, and he was funnier than Tommy. Not having any toe picks there was no way for him to grip the ice.

He tried to hard and was working hard to get it right.

In the end it paid off and he was actually skating on his own. {then he fell and got really hurt... more his ego}

Both he and Tommy were sad to leave. I was so proud of them for getting out there and trying something new.

She's at it again!

Mamarazzi is hosting her fabulous "Favorite things Swap" again!!! This is so fun so hurry and get over there to get your RSVP in so you can be a part of it. I mean really... who doesn't like to get fun things in the mail???

YEAH!!!!