Earthquakes, Ultra Sounds, and now Hurricane!!!

I have a feeling either Mother Nature forgot to take her happy pills or August is mad because we all are ready for Fall!  Either way what a week this has been.  Week started off with a Shake, Rattle, and Holy Crap this is an Earthquake here in NC.  Move on to a truly wonderful Ultra Sound.  Then to conclude with getting ready for Hurricane Irene. 

In the midst of the crazy hormones of Mother Nature, I have been cleaning one room a day.  I mean on hands and knees scrubbing, cleaning base boards, throwing out junk or making donation bags, etc.  I wouldn't call it nesting but more of Mr. May will be home soon and I don't want him to think I have sat on my butt eating donuts this whole deployment ;) HA!  While scrubbing the living room floor (a 2.5 yr old and 9 yr old Boxer really can make a mess of hard wood floors), it gave me the chance to brainstorm........

Here are some of things I need or want to finish within the next few months -
1-Get Gabriel's big boy room set up and decorated.......this means to actually go shopping which I truly truly do not like to do!
2-Get out baby items from storage to wash, check batteries, bottles, etc.  That would be nesting since I really have time but really would like to get his room ready.
3-Make a few Fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving Wreaths/Decorations.  I have been googling nonstop and have some really cute wreaths I want to make.  I really love when people share their ideas because I am not the person to come up with creative ideas on my own.  Thank goodness for Blogs, FB, and Google.
4-Bake and freeze some meals for Mr. May's return and arrival of baby in 4ish months.

Those are the main ideas on my brain right now.  Of course the list does go on and on but starting with 4 and going from there.  Hope the rest of you all have had a fabulous week!!!  Just can't express how excited I am that Fall is around the corner.  My pregnancy hormones and the Summer heat have not been nice to me.  Besides with Fall comes decorations, apple cider, pumpkin patches, and lots of baking.  Oh yes time to go craft some wreaths!!

Well #5 on my mind...wish I could have one of these

right now to go along with Hurricane Irene

1st was our "Butter-Bean" and now it's our "Peanut"

Sheesh!!! May 26th was last update from me.  I am back and have some good reasons why I have been gone for almost 3 months......Deployment, Possessed House, Terrible 3's, 7 state visit in 2ish months, and.....we are expecting our "Peanut" come December!!!! 

1st - Deployment
This is our 1st deployment and man has it been an adjustment.  I am used to Mr. May always working shift 12-14 hour days, weekends, holidays, and many TDYs but this deployment has been a true learning experience.  Throw in me being pregnant with Peanut and the glorious (read with a snort) Hyperemesis I get when pregnant.......yeah I am glad to say we are in the home stretch of the deployment being over.  I really wanted to blog about life as a wife and mother during deployment but I just didn't have the mind or strength to do so.  Maybe I could do a recap but we will see. 

2nd - Possessed House
Yeah this is a long story and results in us making the decision that when our lease is up come January we are out of this house.  Another move and just after having a baby, but I will offer pizza, beer, and yummy goodies...thinking positive we will get help to move :D

3rd - Terrible 2/3's
So Gabriel is little over 2.5 years old and man he thinks he is going on 13!!!  He can have me bending over with laughter, true amazement with his letters, numbers, coloring, singing, then a switch is flipped and he turns into the incredible hulk....minus the green.  We have had it "easy" since he was born so I guess our time was due to experience headaches LOL!!!

4th - 7 States in 2ish Months
Gabriel, Peanut, and I have become little state travelers the past 2ish month (almost 3).  Due to a funeral, mini vacation to Atlanta Aquarium, and being so sick, going home to stay with family and friends.  We are back home now and plan to stay awhile.  Once pictures are uploaded plain to do a quick recap of or 7 State Adventure.....what an adventure it was!

5th - Peanut
Yes this one brings me the most joy!!!  Mr. May named Gabriel "Butter-Bean" when we found out we were pregnant because the u/s picture really looked like a tiny Butter-Bean.  2nd pregnancy we never got a chance to create nickname due to the miscarriage.  This pregnancy Nathan had the honor again of picking out another nickname and he came up with "Peanut".  Not sure why but it has stuck. 

We know we are having a boy, his ETA is December 17th, and we do have a name picked out but keeping that to ourselves until Peanut has arrived.  I toyed with the idea of not finding out the sex but my curiosity won out.  I am almost 23 weeks and feeling like a million bucks.....now.  I truly wanted to do weekly Blog updates about Peanut and I's journey but when you are sick with Hyperemesis, so many things are thrown out the window.  However I am past that and will start this Sunday when we are 23 weeks. 

I want to say thank you for the many emails I have received asking if I was okay or wishing me to come back.  I enjoy Blogging.  Many things have happened in the world, friendships, or just life in general that I wanted to Blog about, but just truly lost my "Blogging Mojo".  While gone I have been doing a lot of thinking (which sometimes is never good with me HA!).  Think some changes are due with the Blog so hope you come back, read, and share your thoughts!!  I know I have missed many of the Blogs I follow and look forward to catching up.

Taken when I was almost 15 weeks

All My Blogging Love,
Come What May!!

Social Parade Friday!!

Last Friday I joined the Social Parade and found two new Blogs that I love.  Thought I would join again and see what I find this Friday.  Hop on over and check it out!!

April 11-15 - Friday Wrap Up

Instead of actual Tot-School this week, Gabriel played his little heart out all week long, while he gave me the chance to finish some much needed projects.  Finished two craft projects (check back this coming Tuesday for Tip Me Tuesday), tried some fabulous recipes (didn't get to posting yesterday but will this weekend), did some more organizing of the house, went to a Pope Spouses Meeting, brainstormed some fabulous ideas with a fellow Key Spouse about our unit, and most importantly, had important paperwork finished for upcoming deployment.  Nothing like a deployment to get your Will and Guardianship in order. 

Low point of this week was the reality of how fast the deployment is approaching.  Mr. May just stops and watches Gabriel like he is memorizing every detail.  Even down to the number of hairs on Gabriel's head.  Asked him one night whats up and Mr. May just replied "I am going to miss so much while I am gone".  I smiled, reassured the best I could, and made a mental note to charge every camera battery and video camera.....this deployment might turn me into the crazy camera lady around time.

High point of the week is Gabriel's vocabulary.  This kid just won't slow down with his talking.  He has been saying 2-4 word phrases for awhile now but this week he is talking in sentences (subject, verb, emotion, etc).  Sometimes we laugh because he will quickly try to spit out whatever he is trying to say, that his sentence comes out like Yoda talking!!  Other times we have ZERO idea what he is talking about and man does he get mad.  He gives us this look of, man my parents are dumb.  Just when I think he is such a little man, he will stb his toe, scream like the world is coming to an end, and run to jump in my lap for all the snuggles he can get.  During thos snuggle times, I get all sentimental and realize how much I love being a mom.  It is never boring for sure! 

That has been our week in a nut shell.  Next weekends are going to be packed with parties, celebrations, family visits, and beach vacation.  I am really looking forward to it all!! 

Hope you all have had a fabulous week!!!! 

Leave a comment if you want to share you highs and lows of your week

My "Work-In Progress" Back Patio

Little Sneak Peak of a Table and Chairs I am redoing 

It's a Social Parade

I really enjoy reading Blogs and learning about cooking, crafts, decorating, and oh so much more.  A friend of mine over at Ooh Lala......Thirty has participated in It's a Social Parade for awhile now.  Through her and this parade I have found some great Blogs.  Finally thought why don't I join?  So I am!!! 

Tot School - Month Long Wrap Up

We have taken about a month off from any structured Tot-School.  Reason being I had a little melt down.  It was because of a alphabet book.  Gabriel and I go to the library once sometimes twice a week.  All the ladies know him and know our routine of reading, walking the shelves, picking out books for him and I, and just enjoying the peace of a library. 

One day he picked up a Dinosaur Alphabet Book (can't find the title at this time).  He loves this book.  At the end of the book is the alphabet in lower and upper case letters.  I wanted to see which letters we needed to work on, so I pointed out the upper and then lower case letters.  Our son knew ALL the letters but 3.  Yes you read that right my 2 year and 3 month old child correctly said the name for each letter.  We thought it was a fluke so tried a couple of times over the next few days and had the same response.  All upper and lower case letters but 3.

At first I was so stinkin proud of our little guy and not to mention what my teacher brain started thinking.  I immediately sent out texts and emails to my teacher friends and asked for advice of where we should go in our schooling and do next. 

I truly am thankful for their responses and have a game plan brewing in my mind.  However, I also cried and realized I'm not ready for Gabriel to be this mature.  Silly.....probably!!  But kids already grow up so fast as it is, that this momma needed a break from school and just enjoy the small window of joy, fun, exploring, learning.  As well as be proud and oh so very thankful for this child God has truly blessed us with.

However, Gabriel has been bored this week....very bored.  Come Monday I guess back to Tot-School we go.  I am very excited but plan to take it slower.  Do more observing and zone in on what he truly finds joyful and reinforce that. 

Today I thought I would post some pictures of things we have done the past month or so.  Everything from Dr. Seuss, St. Patrick's Day, building towers, and gravity. 

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

Green Eggs for Dr. Seuss and

Pancakes for National Pancake Day...who knew?!

Coffee Filter Shamrocks

Can you guess which plate is Gabriel's paint?? LOL

Walk away to wash your hands and little guy

sneaks the camera

Making Oobleck after reading

Bartholomew and the Oobleck - very fun!!

Our hands might have been bluish/green for a little while

1st sorted our colors into groups

2md I drew lines for the rainbow

Together we glued and laid out our tissue paper

for the rainbow

Building Towers and Playing Drums

Our old girl had to supervise the noise

Testing out gravity with a piece of a napkin

Finished rainbow and shamrock

This Shamrock is my favorite of Gabriel's!

Playing Catch Up....

This week we have been busy - running errands, exploring, making new friends, and totally 100% off our normal day to day schedule.  Well except for naps....momma relies on nap time :)  I will be back on track come Monday and will play catch up for many posts. 

Till Monday, I wanted to say a HUGE welcome to the new followers via Google Blog Followers and Facebook Networked Followers.  I love the comments that are left on this little Blog of mine.  It makes me smile to read what you write.  Then the added bonus of following you back for those of you who have a Blog. 

Happy Friday and hope you ALL have a FANTASTIC Weekend!!

Spring is right around the corner!!

Week 3 and 4 Part Two - Tot School

Here are a few more pictures (with our big art project at the end) to wrap up the unit.

He couldn't believe he was allowed to

play with noodles which is a favorite

food for him.

Reinforcing the Letter A by flying Airplanes - never could

get a good picture.

Cutting tissue paper which led to tearing the paper

Our own Elmer!!

Elmer's Colors is a great book to reinforce or teach colors.  I was wanting a project to wrap up this unit but couldn't think of anything off the top of my head.  While Blog hopping I came across a Blog called the Intello Kids.  What would you know, she posted a art project for Elmer's Colors!!  Click HERE for their version of the project and directions. 

I will say with our Elmer it didn't go as smooth as what I thought it would.  I have to remind myself that Gabriel is only 2, just turned two, so some things may be over his head or too long for his attention span.  He didn't want to cut all the squares needed.  It ended up being okay because he still used scissors but also had fun learning how to tear different sizes.  Then he loved painting the glue on but being 2 would glob it on in some areas.  Then wonder why his paper would not stick LOL.  I am very glad we did this project.  It can be used for any age range just remember to breath and have fun if you are creating an Elmer with a younger child.

**Feel free to use any of these ideas but please have courtesy to link back. 

Pictures are property of Come What May**

Week 3 and 4 - Tot School

The main guideline we use for our Tot School is Flowering Baby (link under resources).  The program is broken down by months and then daily activities.  This week we combined week 3 and 4 to wrap up 25th Month.  Here is what we have done this week.  More pictures and our unit wrap up project to come tomorrow when I can find my card reader to get pictures off camera.

Language - Letters C-F (Eat various items such as Carrots, Corn, Dried Fruit, Donuts, Eggs, English Muffins, Fruit, and Figs), Spell out short words with Cheerios, Sing ABC (low and high voice, clap and beat drums to beat of song), Listen to books on tape, and New Words/Sayings
Math - Counters, Sets of Three (bumped to five), Count in English and Spanish (up to 10 in English and 3 in Spanish), Count backwards from 3 to 1, Count wheels on car, Count animals/fish at pet store, Veggies/Fruit for counting, and Quantities
Song/Rhyme - ABC Song, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Itsy Bitsy, Spider, and Wheels on the Bus
Music - Wee Sing
Story - Goodnight Moon, Elmer's Colors, Guess How Much I Love You, and Big Red Barn
Color - Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow
Shape - Circle, Square, and Triangle
Science - Clouds, Leaves, Sound, Measurement, and Hot vs. Cold
Other - Play "I Spy", Practice Batting, Play-Doh play, Q-Tip Painting, Outdoor Chalk Play, Create a indoor tent with sheets and chairs, Blanket/Sheet Parachute, Water Play with various cups, measuring items, toys, Build towers, bridges, etc. with blocks, Draw and Dance to music, Sensory boxes, Laundry, Sweeping, and Dishes (chore help).

Sensory bin #1 - Dried beans with

frogs and insects

He LOVED this day!

Continued with counting, colors, and lining

up the frogs.  Added different sounds of frogs

from YouTube

His favorite to date - pipe cleaner and beads

First three beads he needed my help but

after that he was a pro!  Created patterns,

counted, and so much fun.

He was zoned in

Water Play

Play-Doh Time - let him use a plastic knife and then

scissors to practice cutting

**Feel free to use any of these ideas but please have courtesy to link back.

Pictures are property of Come What May**

Week 2 of Tot School

Language - Letters A and B (Apples, Apple Sauce, Apple Juice - A.  Bananas, Broccoli, Blueberries - B)ABC Song, Magazine Story Time, New Words/Sayings
Math - Counters, Sets of Three (bumped to five), and counting in English and Spanish (up to 10 in English and 3 in Spanish), Veggies/Fruit for counting
Song/Rhyme - ABC Song, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Itsy Bitsy, Spider, and Wheels on the Bus
Music - Wee Sing
Story - Goodnight Moon, Guess How Much I Love You, and Big Red Barn
Color - Blue, Red, and Yellow
Shape - Circle, Square, and Triangle
Science - Clouds, Leaves, and Hot vs. Cold
Other - Play "I Spy", Practice Batting, New foods of Mushrooms, Green Bell Peppers, Peaches, Balloon and Play-Doh play, Q-Tip Painting, Outdoor Chalk Play, Laundry, Sweeping, and Dishes (chore help).

Puzzle Play with Numbering

Building Triangles

Outdoor Play Time - dirt, water, chalk, and his

favorite baseball!

Q-Tip Painting

Tape really helped keeping the paper

from not sliding and a border

for Gabe to learn to paint on

paper not the table.

During nap time I made

his Sensory Boxes to start using

on Monday.

Beads and Pipe Cleaners for numbering,

color patterns, and fine motor skills.

**Feel free to use any of these ideas.  However please have courtesy to link back.  Pictures are mine to use only**

Tot School - Week 1- Friday Wrap Up

I am borrowing the term Tot School from a blog that I have been enjoying - 1+1+1=1.  Home school has too formal of a feel for what we are doing at this time.  Gabriel is only 2 years and almost 2 months you know :) 

This week was our first week of Tot School.  I learned a lot, Gabriel learned a lot, showed me how much he already knows, and most of all, we both had fun.  It made me realize why I don't want to go back to teaching (for now), the fun was what I was missing my last year of teaching. 

Here is a wrap up of what we did this week and some pictures.  I am really glad that Gabriel and I are doing this during the day.  Miss that Nathan misses most of it but Gabriel and I recap our day for him as soon as Nathan gets home!

Language - ABC Song, Magazine Story Time, New Words/Sayings,
Math - Counters, Sets of Three, and Counting in English and Spanish (to 3 but quickly bumped up to 10)
Song/Rhyme - Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Itsy Bitsy, Spider, and Wheels on the Bus
Music - Wee Sing
Story - Goodnight Moon, Guess How Much I Love You, Valentine's Day
Color - Blue, Red, and Yellow
Shape - Circle, Square, and Triangle
Other - Balloon and Play-doh play, Valentine's Day place mat and cards

One of VDay Crafts

Gabriel is pointing out shapes and colors

he used/created.

Marble Art

Creating Circles using Blue Paint

Toilet Paper Roll and Cookie Cutters

Practicing his Circles and Triangles

The Triangle turned into a path.  Later learned

Mickey Mouse talks about paths and maps

on the show.

He wanted Circle "Sandmiches"

The face of Play-doh does not taste good

Little help by me and he created his first

Yellow Triangle.  Triangle needed

eyes he said.

Our VDay box and showing the squares and triangles

on the box.  I drew on the box which upset Gabriel

because he wanted to draw his own squares and

square.  Pretty good for his 1st square.

ABC and 123 Blocks

He put the numbers in order and I added the picture blocks

Relating the word with a drawing

my handwriting - his drawing

**Feel free to use any of these ideas.  However please have courtesy to link back.  Pictures are mine to use only**