9 innings of school

Last week, I was getting ready for an impromptu Cincinnati Reds party for our family for dinner (but that's another story).  I was also trying to get the kids to do their schoolwork, but they were not cooperating.  Since I had baseball on the brain, I thought to myself "maybe they'll do their work if I turn it into a baseball game somehow".

I quickly drew a scoreboard for each of the boys.  They were playing against me, not against each other. I filled up 9 of their work folders with schoolwork, and told them that each folder was like one baseball inning.

They could earn 3 runs per inning by doing their work without complaining, doing it neatly, and doing it quickly. However, I could also score runs each inning. Mommy would score when they complained, were sloppy, worked too slowly, or threw things (a too often occurrence in our schoolroom unfortunately).

I could not believe how well it worked.  The boys were excited and started right away. It was the easiest day of school we've had so far this year.  I got a couple of points for sloppy work, but other than that they "beat my head off" as Christopher likes to say.

The boys have asked that we play baseball every school day since then.  I need to look into making some more permanent scoreboards.  I'm sure it will lose it's magic at some point, but until then I shall enjoy the easy school days.  *contented sigh*

last minute baseball dinner and my sweet daughter

My husband has been a Cincinnati Reds fan his whole life.  He used to stay awake at night as a child listening to the games on the radio.  THE RADIO.  It's hard enough for me to stay interested watching it live or on tv, but I can not even imagine trying to follow it on the radio. (Actually, I have tried during car rides with him. I fall asleep.)  Every year since I met him he's said "This is their year, I can feel it" and then they have an awful year and he says "next year they're going to be great!" I guess you could call him a fan.  This year they did actually have a great year and made it to the playoffs. (We won't mention what happened in the playoffs as the wound is still tender.)

Anyway, last tuesday the Reds were coming back to Cincinnati after winning the first two games in the series against the Giants.  Jason was really excited to watch the games with the kids, since it was going to be at a reasonable time for everyone.  Tuesday morning, as he was walking out the door for work, he said "so, are we having a Red's baseball party tonight for the game?"  Uhhh, maybe? I guess so? I had other things to do, like homeschool, but the kids were really excited because daddy said we were going to have a baseball party.

I looked for a bit on pinterest and saw lots of cute baseball cookies and cakes and decorations.  Sometimes pinterest can be more discouraging than helpful, ya know?  I decided I just didn't have time to do anything fancy.  I ended up buying powdered donut holes, sticking them on a skewer, and using that red gel in a tube to draw on baseball lines.  I didn't even do that good of a job.  I threw some bags of peanuts in a container and put it on the table, served hot dogs and chips, and called it good.  I happened to have red colored dishes, so at least that seemed a bit festive.  Personally, I thought the whole set up a pretty weak offering and not my best work.

But then my daughter came into the room, saw the baseballs and said "Wow mom. Those are awesome.  Now I KNOW my mom is the best mom in the world."

And I stopped feeling bad about myself and was reminded that kids just don't care.  They don't care how great an artist you are or if your creations are magazine worthy.  They are just thrilled when a little imagination is used to make a normal event just a bit special.  It doesn't have to be expensive or huge, or take a lot of planning time.  Just a little thing like donut holes on a stick can turn a boring dinner into a family memory.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Mmmmmm.  This pumpkin bread smells so good when baking, and tastes so delicious when tasting.

Here is the recipe, in case you want some fall deliciousness in your house too:

2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 1/2 tsp. salt
4 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
2/3 cup water
2 cups mashed pumpkin (I just use a 15 oz. can of pumpkin and it works)
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. soda
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Throw everything into the mixer and mix it up.  Pour in 2 large loaf pans, or 3 regular loaf pans, or 8 mini loaf pans, or whatever.  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Smell. Eat. Enjoy. Savor.  etc . . .

wiggly eye reading helper

It's always a struggle to get Christopher to keep his finger on the paper under the word he is deciphering during our reading lesson.  To try and help him focus, I gave him a popsicle stick to use as a pointer, and to make that more fun, we put an eyeball on it.

He thought it was fun to read with his monster eye on a stick. 

Then he thought it would be fun if his finger had an eyeball, so he could see the words really close up.  

Then he thought he should have at least 2 eyeballs.

Sometimes you've just got to do whatever it takes to help them learn.  Even if it means sticking wiggly eyes all over their body.  

Halloween activities

Hello all!  Just thought I'd repost some activities we've done during past Octobers to bring the halloween spirit into the home.  Or, if planning activities is too bothersome, you can just do as I do and screech and cackle and scream like a witch at your kids the whole month.
 hee hee hee hee hee . . .

 Hungry Monster People Toss

Monster Meals

Lair of the Spider Queen