Archive for the ‘ Monkey ’ Category

Unsocialized Homeschooler?

Author: Kool Aid

Mar 22

One of the things I remember hearing about (and I still do hear it) is that homeschooled children need to be socialized.

Hmmmm… I wonder just what that means, sometimes. I read a recent post on The Pioneer Woman about socializing and homeschooled children and the comments (current count around 260) were eye-opening about the differing opinions and thoughts on these children and their social behaviors.

There are threads about it all over different homeschool forums; How do you socialize your child? Where does your child interact with other children? How does he/she do in public? I’m guessing each family knows their child and what they need best. That’s certainly true in our case.

Monkey is a social machine. She loves being around other children – as long as it’s not her brother. Don’t get me wrong, she does love her brother, but they do fight as siblings do (and it makes a momma crazy, for sure). Being homeschooled, though, hasn’t changed that. Thankfully, with my job and our family activities, she’s still around other children almost every day.

Just last week, she had her standardized testing for three days. She met a girl and made a friend on day one. On day two, that friend invited her to a birthday party on the weekend. On day three, her friend is introducing Monkey to her mom and making sure it’s ok that Monkey can come to the party.

The party was on Saturday and we went (and it was about 30 minutes away – one way), not knowing a single person there but the birthday girl. Monkey was a little shy at first, but her friend took her to each girl and introduced her and within a little while, all the girls were dancing and playing around (it was at a karaoke cafe; a unique torture for the parent that will be written about later).

There’s no unsocialized homeschooler in this house.

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Filed under: homeschool, kids, Monkey

Sleeping with the Sharks

Author: Kool Aid

Apr 27

No, I haven’t come into any contact with mobsters out to get me even though “sleeping with the sharks” seems to happen to those that cross mafia dons. Nope, a few weekends ago, Monkey and I participated in a Sleeping with the Sharks Girl Scout overnight activity at Ripley’s Aquarium in the Smokies along with about 15 other girl scouts and a few other moms.

I have to say that their program is very well run but don’t expect to get any sleep – at least not if you’re an adult. I think the kids slept pretty well by the time they got to sleep (which was about 12:30 am – yes, I said 12:30 AM!) but I did not.

The program started around 8:00 pm Saturday evening with a game in one of their two classrooms (there was another Girl Scout troop in the other class room). It was set up like Jeopardy with the girls divided into two teams. They had to answer different questions about marine life, oceans, water, that sort of thing and the girls did so well! The teams were within 100 points of each other by the end of the game.

At 9:00 was the sea ray show complete with a diver in the tank feeding the sea rays. I tried to take pictures, but the lighting wasn’t great for taking photos.

After the presentation with the diver, everyone ran upstairs to the top of the tank to touch the sea rays. The diver brought the rays over to the edge with food so the kids could reach them.

After that, the girls had a late night snack of pizza and juice. This was about 9:30 or so. Then they went back and did fish printing on t-shirts. There’s an interesting story the aquarium staff member shared about how fish printing began. It has to do with a fisherman in Japan catching large fish but once the fish go to market, no one believes him when he says he caught a fish that was “THIS BIG”. So he took a roll of rice paper on a fishing trip and once he caught the fish, he’d lay it out on the paper and the water, scales and such from the fish would imprint on the paper, thus “proving” that the fish he caught was indeed “THIS BIG”.

After the fish printing (done with a rubber fish, not a real one), the kids went off in pairs for a scavenger hunt that lead them all through the aquarium. The scavenger hunt was designed to get the children looking at and reading about almost all the exhibits they had in the aquarium. It was pretty cool but the girls went so quickly, I really questioned how much they were actually learning.

By the time the hunt was over, it was time to get ready for bed. They set us up on one side of the tunnel (the other group there slept on the other side) and told us “lights out at 12:30″. Yeah, right. It’s what they call “moon lighting” and it’s not completely dark. They still have lights on for the fish. Oh, did I mention we couldn’t have anything electronic in the tunnels with us? I thought this was interesting and the reason is that since the sharks sense electrical currents, they wouldn’t get a restful night if we had our cell phones, cameras, ipods, whatever with us in the tunnel. Even though sharks don’t actually sleep, they do need to rest.

But there was no resting for me. Or any of the other moms, I don’t believe. We heard snoring and the cleaning crew with their vacuums and moving the chairs around. We had lights shining in our eyes. Next time (if there will be a next time), I’ll be bringing one of those sleep masks and some ear plugs.

Try sleeping under this guy all night long. Creepy.

Wake up was at 7:00 with breakfast and then a “creature feature” where the poor sleep deprived parents and children learned more about sharks and was able to touch a baby one in a tank. Me being the prankster that I can be sometimes wanted to grab Monkey and say “GOTCHA” just as she was touching the shark. It would have made me laugh but I don’t think she would have liked it much. The apprehension, though, of some of the girls touching the shark was pretty obvious. I think I would have made everyone scream. After the end of the Sleeping with the Sharks program, we were given tickets to stay in the aquarium for the rest of the day, but after some time in the gift shop and one more round through the aquarium, we were done.

That was our weekend. While it was not restful, by any stretch, it was a lot of fun. We’ll do it again, only next time, I won’t go. I’ll send Monkey on with the other moms.

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Filed under: Girl Scouts, Monkey

earning Girl Scout patches

Author: Kool Aid

Mar 25

Monkey has had a very active year this year in Girl Scouts. I’m drowning in patches. It’s a good thing, though, because she’s been getting out and doing things that she wouldn’t normally do because, well, because I’m sometimes a lazy parent and don’t really feel like doing things. There. I said it. Don’t get me wrong, we do fun things together but often “maybe next time” comes out instead of “sure!”

Hey, at least I’m honest, right? But I digress.

She’s having a great time, too. They meet on Tuesday afternoons at 4:00. Starting this past January, I’ve been working Tuesday mornings until 1:00 and if Monkey doesn’t get her school work done while I work, it makes for a long afternoon between work and Girl Scouts.

One Tuesday – I think it might have been last Tuesday – Monkey chose to leave her backpack at home that morning and couldn’t get her work done. On the way home from work, I explained to her that she would have to finish her school work before we left for Girl Scouts or we wouldn’t go. Time would be short and we still had to do the other lessons that we normally save for after I get home from work.

She didn’t like that much. She got upset and started apologizing for leaving her backpack at home. I understood where she was coming from and told her as much but school still needed to be done before Girl Scouts. We went back and forth with this and tears started to flow.

“But what if I miss a patch?”

Little Man had remained quiet during all this but then he says, ”I guess you’ll earn a crying patch.”

My expression must have been priceless because when I glanced back behind me, Monkey started laughing.

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Filed under: conversations, Girl Scouts, Little man, Monkey

A crafty Valentine idea

Author: Kool Aid

Feb 8

Monkey and I decided to get a little crafty this year for her valentines. Her homeschool enrichment program meets on Mondays and Wednesday and they are exchanging valentines this week. Her teacher encouraged the kids to get a little creative with their valentines and so Monkey and I looked around online to see what we could find. We discovered Valentine’s Day Fortune Cookies on a blog I visit (thanks, Brandi over at Not Your Average Ordinary) and they were ridiculously easy to make.

First, you find some craft felt at your local craft store. We tested the idea with paper but it just didn’t turn out so well. Trace a circle on the felt and cut it out. We used a bowl and it worked out nicely for size.

Take some pipe-cleaners and cut them to the same length as the diameter of the circle. Glue with tacky glue or fabric glue. I guess you can use a hot glue gun, too, but this is what we had on hand.

Then place the pipe-cleaner along the center of the circle.

Glue a small section across one half of the circle…

… then fold over like a taco.

We made lots of tacos.

Then Monkey spent some time hand writing her own messages on little strips of paper. She even came up with “You’re a “dog”gone good friend” all on her own. It was for a friend who really likes dogs. Can you believe it? I giggled about that all afternoon.

Then she used fancy cutting scissors to make them look neat.

We slid the strips of paper inside our little “tacos” after they dried, then we folded them back over the middle and made our little fortune cookies! And a pipe-cleaner heart just because we could.

And there you have a basket full of red Valentine Fortune Cookies.

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Filed under: holidays, homeschool, lessons, Monkey, school

Homeschool update – half way done!

Author: Kool Aid

Jan 25

It’s January and remarkably close to February. I’ve been a homeschooling mom for about 5 months now. I don’t think I’ve ruined Monkey yet, but there’s still time.

I have learned a few things about myself during this time. I’m not very good at following through on some things. My lesson plans aren’t so much plans as they are just the idea of something I want to get done at some time or another.

Thankfully, the enrichment program that Monkey is attending handles many of the tougher subjects for me like music, science and yes – art. Ironic, I know. I have a degree in art. I should be able to teach art, but I’m no so good at it. So, I’m thankful that part of her education is taken care of at the enrichment program.

Monkey is a voracious reader. I’ve been keeping a list of all the different books she has read since we started school back in August. Admittedly, I have missed a few and didn’t write them down, but I have listed over 125 books. The cool thing is that these are not simple books. These are articulate chapter books and non-fiction books. I love that she loves to read.

She’s getting a very strong math and language arts base, learning about ancient world history and we practice a little writing. Right now, we’re using the Writing With Ease curriculum, but I’ll be honest, people. I’m not completely sold on how this program will teach Monkey to be a creative writer. She wrote better stories last year with her original first grade teacher.

We’ve started a new ongoing project, though, that I’m kindof proud of. I’m sure it’s not original, but it’s getting her to read biographies and remembering some of what she reads. She reads a book then writes in her notebook 5 facts she remembers about that person. In my mind, it’s helping her learn about important people in history and teaching her to glean important information from what she reads. Whether or not it’s actually working that way remains to be seen.

I still worry, though, about gaps in her education. Is she learning everything that she’s supposed to be learning right now? How will she perform on her scholastic test in 2 months? Is she really comprehending all that she is reading?

I guess we’ll find out in a couple of months, huh? Like I said at the beginning, there’s still time yet for me to ruin her.

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Filed under: homeschool, Monkey

It's cookie time again!

Author: Kool Aid

Jan 13

Yes, it’s Girl Scout cookie time again. It’s the time of year when moms, dads and daughters bumrush family and friends, neighbors and coworkers, and complete strangers begging them to buy a little piece of heaven known as the Girl Scout Cookie.

Prizes for selling large amounts of cookies are dangled like carrots in front of young idealistic (and not so realistic) young girls. Unrealistic goals are set by these over-eager daughters of the moms and dads who are the ones that, generally, are behind the collecting of orders. It becomes the responsibility of the parent to dash the hopes and dreams of their daughter who wants to sell 300 boxes (300 BOXES!), when EVERY OTHER girl friend of said daughter is also selling cookies.

Order forms hitch a ride with daddy to work in the hopes that his coworkers will suddenly need two or three times the “normal” amount of cookies, inching ever closer to the goal line of 300 boxes. (300 BOXES!)

Plans and schemes are hatched involving businesses and neighborhoods and the meaning of “no soliciting” is explained in earnest. But surely that doesn’t apply to Girl Scout Cookies because EVERYONE loves Girl Scout Cookies, right?

So, yeah, we’re selling Girl Scout Cookies, and Monkey has a goal of selling 300 boxes (300 BOXES!) just so she can earn a cute little Panda bear. Because she’s 7 and needs an adult with her while out collecting orders, the burden of selling said cookies falls to me, so if you have any ideas of where to go and who to ask, I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Just know that, just like last year, I won’t be selling them before January 15th, nor will they be delivered before February 22nd.

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Filed under: daily life, Girl Scout Cookies, Monkey

The Devil Wears Prada, or at least a doggie costume

Author: Kool Aid

Oct 23

Monkey has an idea – a little venture, shall we say. I’m not sure where the idea originated from but she came home talking about it on Monday from her enrichment class. Several of the kids in her class, including her and her good friend, C, are designing dog costumes to sell. Nevermind that the pet stores are chock-full of doggie costumes, but she started working on her drawings and her “business plan” on Monday.

Being the loving mom that I am, fully supportive of all my children’s ventures, I thought – nay, hoped – that she’d be “over it” by Tuesday.

Nope. She continued to draw and plan out her costumes. Actually, I loved that she was drawing them. I’m all about drawing on paper because that doesn’t really involve that much involvement from me other than a “that’s nice, honey” every once in a while. Wednesday, she returned from her enrichment program with even bigger plans and more accomplices. Now they’re planning on selling the costumes in the driveway and asking people to measure their dogs so the costumes can be a custom fit.

Hmmmm….. so it’s not going away, is it?

Wednesday night, at church during drop off, Monkey wanted to approach a friend of mine and ask if she had dogs and if she would like to buy a costume. I know this mom and she’s very sweet and sincere and told Monkey as she looked at her drawings that she would think about it. I know it doesn’t sound like it because intonations can’t really be interpreted over the monitor, but I promise, she was sincere.

Ok, let me stop here and explain something. I’m a crafty person. I like to scrapbook, make cards, make jewelry, knit – I really should open up my own little etsy shop, but I also have a streak of laziness. Sometimes I don’t WANT to be creative. This is where my quandary lies. I don’t want to discourage Monkey with this idea. She’s really into it! But I really don’t want to have to “deal” with it, you know? I’m not a good mom that way. Last year, she wanted to have a dog show. She was so excited about it and wanted to invite people and such, but I dragged my feet until she forgot about it. Yay me, great mommy award there, right?

So, after dropping Monkey off to her class, I approached another friend who was asking me what Monkey was selling. I explained to my friend, D, what Monkey was doing and how she was so enthusiastic about it. I told her my issue and she, very gently, I might add, scolded me. ”You have to support her on this – come on!” And she was right. So, Wednesday night, after picking up Monkey, we talked about some logistics with her idea. Maybe designing them for live dogs wasn’t the best idea. What about Webkinz? All her friends have those while not everyone has a live dog. Also, dogs can be really big and making a costume for one big dog would be, cost-wise and effort-wise, as much as two or three little ones. Webkinz are all close to the same size. We also talked about how successful she was at pre-selling her costumes to her friends and that it might be easier to just sell them to her friends instead of setting up a “garage sale” for them.

Monkey pondered those ideas.

Yesterday, she got her money together and asked me to take her to the fabric store. She’s ready to start making some of her designs. She’s going to use some of her Webkinz and other stuffed animals as models. We got fabric for a mummy, a fairy and a vampire.

I’m guessing we’re gonna get creative today.

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Filed under: Monkey, Uncategorized

Monkey wants a hamster

Author: Kool Aid

Sep 4

If that headline doesn’t get you, I’m not quite sure what will, but Monkey does, indeed, want a hamster. I have explained to her that we have enough pets (two cats and one crazy boxer) and that I’m not entirely convinced she’s responsible enough to take care of a small creature that is living and breathing. I don’t know how many times I’ve rescued her new guinea pig Webkinz from the jowls of said boxer so I shudder to think what might happen to a little fuzzy hamster.

Luckily for me, there’s now Zhu Zhu Hamster. If you haven’t yet seen one of these cute little balls of electronic fur, you’re missing out on the newest hot toy of the season. Now let’s be honest, people. I had no idea what these were until I Googled them. Even Monkey couldn’t tell me which is why I searched the Search Engine That Knows All to find out more. Naturally, once Monkey saw them, she knew exactly what I was asking about and now has to have one. I mean, how can you go wrong with a toy that inspires this for a headline: Zhu Zhu Pets: Like a Hamster Without the Mess and Death ?

Seriously?

Seriously. But they are cute. And they do have all these accessories like a real hamster would – a running wheel, tunnels and beds, even cars and skateboards to ride! How can you go wrong with hamsters named Mr. Squiggles, Pipsqueak, Num Nums and Chunk? And also each is reported to have its own personality. You never know what they’ll do next. It looks like these will be the new Furby/Cabbage Patch Kid/Tickle Me Elmo of the season and their prices are showing it. Amazon is carrying them, at close to $30+ a piece, although I have heard that on occasion you can find them at Walmart for less than $15. Toys R Us is getting multiple calls a day and can’t keep them on the shelves when they do arrive – or so I hear. And ebay? Don’t even think about it unless you’re willing to pay $80 for all four hamsters in one lot bidding or over $300 for the hamsters, plus the funhouse, adventure wheel and tunnels, hamstermobile and garage, surfboard and sleepdome and two blankets and carriers (but not four, so two of the hamsters have to go without). Although, I am getting a great big kick out of looking at what people have on ebay and what the bids are up to. You should go check it out.

I’m sure in the long run, money will be saved by not having to pay for food and bedding but with the prices I’m seeing for the hamsters and their accessories, it’ll be a long while. But at least with the Zhu Zhu Hamster, you don’t have to worry about the mess and death.

(and believe me, I’ll be scanning the shelves at Target and Walmart at least once a week between now and Christmas to see if I can get my hands on one or more)

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Filed under: Monkey

Happy Birthday, Monkey!

Author: Kool Aid

Aug 8

Today is my little baby girl’s birthday. She’s 7. Thursday I was watching a dvd that I had made back when her daddy was in Afghanistan and Monkey was 1. In my mind, she is still that cute little toddler exploring her toys and the house, squealing at our old golden retriever, with cute little red curls all around her head.

Now, she’s a sassy big 7 year old, with a missing tooth from a playground fight that fell out one morning while eating rice krispies.

Today, she’s getting a razor scooter from mommy and daddy. I’m sure we’ll be making a trip to the emergency room within the next year or so.

Next week, Mawmaw and Pawpaw are coming to visit for Monkey’s pool party and they’re bringing her twin cousins. She is SO excited. One of the gifts from Mawmaw and Pawpaw is a skateboard. Yep, emergency room, here we come.

Wanna know a funny story? I had to take Little Man shopping with me for the presents while Monkey was off with one of her friends for her friend’s birthday celebration. I found the pink scooter and a cool skateboard. Called Mawmaw to let her know what to look for (we were both at Target at the same time – love that!). They didn’t have the right board so I offered to pick it up for them.

That evening, this transpired:

Him: ”Monkey, guess what we got you today!”

Me: ”Shush, Little Man!! It’s a secret”

Him: ”Guess what we got!”

Her: ”What is it?”

Me: ”No, Little Man!!”

Him: ” A skateboard!”

Her: ”I got a skateboard?”

Me: ”No!”

I’m guessing that I’m not going to be able to take Little Man with me shopping for Christmas, either, like I used to.

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Filed under: birthdays, conversations, Monkey

Locks of Love

Author: Kool Aid

Apr 2

Yesterday was a big day for Monkey.

Last year, Monkey decided she wanted to give her hair to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces to children suffering from long term medical hair loss. Her hair was already long, but she wanted to make sure that when she cut her hair, it wouldn’t be “super-short,” so we’ve been letting it grow on it’s own for about 6 months or so.

We decided that spring would be the perfect time to cut her hair because then it would be short for summer. She’s been very excited about the whole process and telling people she was going to give her hair away to Locks of Love. We’ve even wondered about the child that might get her hair.

She has been asking me for weeks starting at the end of February, “When are we going to get my hair cut?” Soon, just a few weeks away. Then this week she was ready. And on April Fool’s day, too! So we went to my hairdresser yesterday afternoon after school. Luckily, I still had a few minutes from picking her up because I had forgotten my camera. This was something I had to document for myself and family, so I rushed home, grabbed it, then went to the salon.

First, her hair had to be measured. A minimum of 10″ is required to donate and she had just enough.

Then her hair is braided and secured on both ends.

The cutting began. Yes, this tore at my heart just a little because Monkey had beautiful, long, free-spirit hair and I loved it. But I’m very proud of her for doing this.

Her pretty braid, ready to be sent to Locks of Love.

And her final “new ‘do!” No more free-spirit hair, just spunky six-year-old hair, and it totally suits her.

Oh, and while I was cleaning the junk out of my car yesterday afternoon (again!), Monkey was practicing on her bike and she started, rode and stopped all on her own, three times, I think.

Yes, yesterday was a big day for us.

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Filed under: Monkey

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