The End of our Military Work

Today Gavin finished his military lapbook. He worked on it some on Wednesday, we took yesterday off, so today we finished it and then came back later and put it all together. Our books are due back to the library on Monday so we got done just in time! I think it turned out well.

Gavin took some of Uncle Steve's patches to school for show and tell today. He was very excited about it and I guess the other kids really liked looking at them too!

And, I got a new phone today! I lost my cell phone on Tuesday and I still haven't found it. Luckily, I was due for an upgrade anyway so I got a new phone for free (after rebate of course). Why is it that you can't just get a simple phone anymore? And, they make the buttons smaller and smaller so they are impossible to push.

Lots of Playtime

This morning, Kaitlynn played with some Play Doh while Austin ate his breakfast.

Then she had some quality time with Austin while Gavin was in preschool.

For some reason, Kaitlynn likes to bring things over and hand them to Austin. So, Austin got to explore a pan from the kitchen. While it was interesting to look at....


it was really hard to chew on.

Gavin actually took a little time out of playing 'army' to play with the monster trucks he painted a couple weeks ago.

Then Gavin and Kaitlynn spent some time coloring with Color Wonder markers.

What We're Up To

We've been working on more military stuff the last couple of days. Yesterday we read a book about the Air Force and their role in different wars. Then Gavin colored a bomber jet and painted sky on another piece of paper. Today we glued the jet into the sky.

Yes, that is the Navy sweatshirt again. Don't worry, I washed it yesterday so it is clean!

Today he did another worksheet that I made where he circled the vowels, but this time he had to pick out ending sounds. It was the first time we'd talked about ending sounds and he did great! He also did another worksheet where he put different forms of transportation into groups.


I've been trying to get more pictures of Austin on here but the flash goes off before the camera takes a picture, so he'll be laughing/smiling and then I end up with pictures like this:

Sailing into the Navy

Yesterday, Gavin did a worksheet I made that had four military words. He circled the vowels and wrote the beginning sound on the line. He did a good job. He even caught the last word 'ship' because when I read the word to him I explained that when 's' and 'h' are together they say 'shh'. He circled the 'i' and then I asked him what the beginning sound was he said 'shh' and I asked what makes that sound and he said 's, h'. I was very proud of him!


Then he colored an aircraft carrier and made an army friend, who he named Gavin. He's been naming everything Gavin lately.

We hung this on the frame of the window that's right next to his table so he can see it while he's working!
Later in the day Gavin got out the lacing beads Grandma Sue got him for Christmas. First he worked on stringing them together, then he decided just to stack them into a tower.

Then something really exciting happened! The mailman dropped off a package sent by Steven's Uncle Steve who was in the Navy. Steven had called him and told him that Gavin was learning about the military and he was nice enough to send us all kinds of great stuff to look at! Thank you Uncle Steve!!!

Gavin was thrilled and Steven showed him the pictures and told him what all the patches symbolized. This was really good because I wasn't exactly sure how to explain patches and rank so I think this really helped him understand what they mean and how you earn them. Gavin was very impressed by the medal (although we have talked about the medal of honor and the purple heart and now he's convinced Uncle Steve's plane was shot down). But, Gavin wanted to keep the medal. We told him that you have to earn medals, you can't just take someone else's medal!

Then they looked at a great book that talks about the history of the Navy. They looked at the pictures and read from it until bedtime and then Gavin said he wanted to read more in the morning. He didn't forget because as soon as he got up this morning he said he wanted to read more of the Navy book! We've read a little more a couple times today - it's a really long book!

We also got a DVD about the history of flight. We haven't had a chance to watch it yet but hopefully Monday or Tuesday we will. And, something else that was extremely exciting, Uncle Steve sent Gavin a Navy sweatshirt. Gavin was so excited and asked if he could wear it to preschool to show all his friends. Normally he doesn't get to wear sweatshirts to school but I told him we'd make an exception for this one. He insisted on wearing the sweatshirt this morning when I got him dressed and he never tells me what he wants to wear so I think it's a hit!

So another big 'thank you' to Uncle Steve because you made Gavin one happy little boy!

Playing in the Snow

Today it was way too cold and windy to go outside, so we brought the snow inside. I put some snow in the dishpan, put in a few drops of food coloring and gave the kids wooden spoons to mix it around. It ended up looking like confetti cake.

Austin didn't play in the snow, but there is nothing he likes more than when his big brother pays attention to him!

Austin had lots of fun playing today. I think he's going to be a conductor because he is always flapping his arms up and down!


I'm not sure what all the chewing will translate into but I'm sure it serves a purpose!

SNOW DAY!!!

Today we woke up to about six inches of snow! Which means....no school!

This morning, Dad was nice enough to play with Gavin outside before he left for work. Here are some pictures.
First, there was joyful running (that was Gavin, not Steven).

Then, Gavin tried to help shovel the patio.
Then, they piled up some snow and jumped in it!

Dad pulled Gavin on the sled for awhile. I noticed Gavin never offered to return the favor.



Finally, Dad taught Gavin how to make snow angels. Jackson was very interested in his process.




Then Gavin tried shoveling a little bit more but decided it was time to come inside.