While it's January and we're all talking and thinking about goals and things we want to do I thought I would re-visit my 101 in 1001 goal challenge. Yes, I haven't forgotten about it! My 101 in 1001 page is up to date with everything I have completed so far. But I did a little math and forecasting and I realized that I need to kick things into gear if I want to accomplish these things by my end date!
Also, I've already missed a few months in my goals like journal every month, send happy mail every month, etc. etc. Ack! But I have decided not to beat myself up about it. Well, I did for a second and then I moved on. Whatever number I reach, whether it's 30 or 13 over the course of this 33 month project, will be an accomplishment in my books. There.
Today, I wanted to give a little update on a few goals that I completed over the last few months.
Anna had a little bit of a rough transition to her new kindergarten class after our move last spring. The curriculum & methods were just so different from what she was doing in Oregon and it really threw her for a loop. She lost her self-confidence (going from thinking she was an amazing student to thinking she was a horrible student) and things kind of screeched to a halt. At the end of kindergarten her reading skills were not where I would have liked them to be so we set a goal to read 100 books over the summer. And boy, it was just the thing she needed.
We went to the library every week and checked out a big bag of books. Nearly everyday we would spend a little time sitting on my bed reading those books.
She started to love reading and she definitely improved. I'm so glad we completed this goal because it set her on the right foot for 1st grade. And today? She is a great reader. And loves it. She has begun chapter books. Each morning she begs for more verses to read in the Book of Mormon. And I couldn't be more pleased.
This little video is typical Anna. Shot way back in July, she's having some fun with our reading time.
We kept a list of the 100 books we read. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Yes Day!
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
- The Best Kind of Kiss
by Margaret Allum
- The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?
by Mo Willem
- Beware of the Frog
by William Bee
- The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
- One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
by Dr. Seuss
- The Curious Garden
by Peter Brown
In August I spent 3 separate days taking each child individually on a back to school shopping date. This was the first time I had done something like this and it worked out really well! Oh, I can still remember the trauma & frustration from the back to school shopping trip of 2010. Never again.
On each of our dates they got to choose a place for lunch. With Conner we ate at Applebee's (he had received a coupon for a free kids' meal through the summer reading program). Payton chose Wendy's so that he could eat the Son of Baconator. And Anna wanted something "healthy" to eat so we ended up at Chipotle. ??
It was so great to have one on one time with the kids and I know they really enjoyed it too. I loved it when Payton hopped in the van after lunch and said, "this is fun." That was enough for me to know that this time was well worth it.
Has anyone else been through this situation: You purchase your kid a kit/project type gift for Christmas, and everytime the kid comes asking if you will help them do it (because it requires adult supervision) you say "not now" and then 2 years go by and they are still asking and you feel totally lame. Anyone? . . . . Just me? Alright. But I'm owning up to it.
A while ago we bought a crystal kit for Payton. He LOVES crystals, rocks, minerals, gold, and shiny things. And the poor kid has been so patient while I've put him off and off. I decided that this Christmas break it was going to happen!
Just look at that happy look on his face. We currently have crystals growing in our dining room. And I feel like a good mom. Now, we just need to hang up that Darth Vader Fat-head we got for Conner's birthday 6 weeks ago . . . . .
Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies - These were very good and the kids really liked them. Just a touch on the oily side, though.
Nutella French Toast -- I had high hopes for this one, and it does look so pretty, but it was just too soggy for me. I cooked and cooked and cooked it, but just could not compensate for the layers of bread & nutella & egg mix that had saturated everything.
Nutella Brownies (4 ingredients) - These were super quick & easy to make (beware, the batter is thick). And it makes a small batch of 12 mini brownies. Perfect for when you just need a little snack.
For Christmas I pulled together the photos from Scott's first 9 years of life and compiled them into a project life album for him. It turned out so great!
There is more work to do (ages 10-18) but for now I am calling this goal complete!
