He is in My Heart

Today I gave a presentation on Hezzie. It was for the children in his program to better understand him and how his brain works. I had asked that parents be present, and well none stayed. The one kids nanny was there, she is always there. I think it went pretty well, but one kid was being a bit rude.
It was hard to put the presentation together. Not technically hard, but emotionally. As  parent/caregiver I know all these things about my child, but when it's ALL there in front of you it hits you in a certain way. A way that just makes your heart kind of leap out of your chest and sink all at the same time.

I could see at some point it was becoming hard for my two children who were in class. They didn't look embarrassed or uncomfortable, just sad. They've said some of the kids have made fun of Hezzie when he is not around. It is upsetting for them. They know Hezzie is not what someone would consider an ideal student, but they have always known what he as been through. But, it's not just the kids making this transition hard. I will leave it at that.

Lately Hezzie has been extra cuddly. Oh, it warms my heart. He comes up and covers us both up with his Star Wars comforter on the couch. We will sit there and read, or just watch TV. That is another thing, he is now wanting me to read to him more. I love reading to him. Now he is trying more to read. He has already earned two awards at the county library and we are working on some other reading challenges, most of the kids are. They are actually pretty fun to do.

I am exited for the day he is reading completely on his own.

Love, Momma

Learning Day by Day

We as unschoolers have many ways in which we learn. This month we are taking on the task of learning day by day. Meaning we have a calendar of the month, and all the "holidays" and "awareness" that goes on with this month of November.

Today we have celebrated and learned a lot.

Today is National Authors Day. So I shared part of one of my favorite childhood authors books.

It's also National family literacy day. So we took turns reading the above book aloud.

 

We made lists of all the "shoulds" on our lives.  Why? Because it's Give Up Your Shoulds Day. Yes, that's a real day.

We made paper maks for Dia De Los Angelitos. They are in preparation for Dia De Los Muertos. 

We did a worksheet on All Saints Day. This is from one of my kids who isn't artistic. His talents are in music. 

Now we are off to study about Prime Meridian Day.

Hope you have an amazing day! Whatever day it is to you.

Peace and Blessings, 

Momma

Local History and Home Depot

We started out Saturday at Home Depots Kids Workshop. Joaquin, Maggie, Waylon and Hezzie made a Home Depot truck. They all had so much fun. I had to help Joaquin quite a bit, he still has a hard time using his hands. I never realized until recently how severe it is. Hoping his referral for OT comes back soon. Anyhow, they loved hammering and painting.

One thing that they kids love is these toys are workable. They can play with them and they will take very good care of them. They work hard and they love what they see at the end of it all.

After Home Depot we headed into Redlands. Well, into the rural area of Redlands. We went to a one room school house. The name is San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse. This is the schoolhouse where my great grandmother Susan Chavez was enrolled. To me it was just amazing, the kids and I got to sit in a few of the original desks.

The lady acting as the teacher was so very nice. She and another lady had quite a bit of information. We saw pictures from the 1920's and was given info on how I may be able to see earlier pictures.

The kids really enjoyed sitting in the desks, writing on the mini chalkboards and looking at the McGuffey Readers. They remembered when we had some and saw some up in Oak Glen. I think they could have stayed there all day. We are looking forward to returning soon with my my mom and to go back for yearly pictures. We will also return in December for a Christmas Party.

We then ventured to the A.K. Smiley Library in Redlands. They have the most beautiful stained glass windows in the Childrens Library. They are so colorful...I can not even put into words, the kids just loved looking at them.

We walked out the back door and across some grass to the Lincoln Memorial Shrine. That was just as wonderful. The younger kids learned more about slavery, the Civil War and all that it entailed.

There was some photography going on for a quincenera. I told the kids that when Maggie and Tanni turn 15, they will have one. Maggie says she wants hers to be dark blue, silver and maybe white or black. She isn't sure. It made me long to have had my very own. Sadly, my own grandfather passed away before he could give me the one he had promised. I would have rather have had him in my life, that a quince with beautiful emerald green dresses.

Okay, I went off topic. But, we had a fun day. A long day. Much to my surprise, I didn't get tired from driving around. WOOP!

We learned a lot today. We learn everyday.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Love,
Momma

FREE!!! App Review: MOON

On Monday, the FedEx man brought my a loverly package. It was the same muted cardboard brown they all are....it's what was inside that made it beautiful. Jimmy had ordered me, against my will of course, a refurbished iPad 2. Why do I mention it's refurbished? Because, I love used things.


The kids were equally excited. None of us has one, or any tablet for that matter. We began downloading free apps. There are a few WE are all amazed with. Simple but, so fun...so much learning happening with them.
This one today is the Moon. app. It's free and will tell you what your moon will be like that day and on other days. The kids love seeing the moon rise and moon set. It has info on the Moons phase and distance. These are actual screenshots from my iPad. I recommend it for any budding astronomer or anyone really.

I hope you enjoy this free app.
Get Moon. App HERE
Developers Website

Love,
Momma and her tribe