Oak Glen

We took a camping trip to Oak Glen, CA. This is where most people go apple picking but we decided to make a camping trip out of it. The drive was about an hour and a half from our house.

Annie

Michael playing on the wagon wheel.

Annie

There was a minature golf course that we played in each morning. The kids loved the turtle.

Michael and Anthony

Jake and Annie

Michael and his elephant.

Anthony found a really cool stick.

Across from where we were staying there was this cute little village.

Anthony, Jake and Annie checking out the stage coach.

Jake and the wishing well.

Anthony in the wishing well.

and a big grin!

and even bigger!

Michael and Anthony sharing their drink.

Jake

Annie climbed up on this fence all by herself.

The apple pies here look amazing! We did not test them out.

We tried an apple dumpling and a turnover. They were ok.

Michael, Anthony, Jake, Jaileigh and Annie

Anthony

This lady was walking her goat like a dog.

Jaileigh, Anthony and Jake looking at the goat.

Jaileigh and Anthony

We went to one of the many orchards. They had a little playhouse called the Rascal Ranch.

Anthony, Jake, Michael

Washing dishes.

Annie-- look at that grin!

Funny story. Anthony got his pants wet before we went in. He was having a fit so I put Annies on him. Annie doesn't have short here because of it. About 30 minutes later I ran back to the car and the shorts were dry so I put them back on and gave Annie her shorts back.

Jaileigh posing.

Annie

Anthony in Annie's shorts.

Jaileigh washing dishes.

Annie loves horses! She calls them neigh-neighs.

Anthony

Michael and Jake

Jake

Jaileigh

Finally, picking apples.

This was the "dud" bucket. If you picked an apple that was yucky it was supposed to be put in here. I'm pretty sure a bunch of them ended up in our bag.

The watermill. The had an apple press here. You could make your own apple cider. The line was very long!

Jaileigh, Anthony, Michael and Jake watching the apple pressing.

Going for a hay(straw) ride.  Only group picture I could get. It was way past naptime.

Michael, Anthony, Jake, Annie and Jaileigh

The guardian of the apple bag. Michael and his huge yawn.

The kids had so much fun!

A Little Date

Michael, Annie and I got to hang out together one evening. Wow! 2 kids is so much easier than 5. I almost didn't know what to do with myself. Mike took the other 3 to football practice. Michael wanted to stay home with Mommy. I had a coupon to Michael's I wanted to use and so we went out on the town. I wanted to get a laminator but they didn't have one so Michael got a new elephant. He was thrilled especially since I just took away all of his other animals because he refused to clean them up. He was going through animal {ELEPHANT} withdrawals. Annie was just happy to be along for the ride. 

I do take the little munchkins out for 1 on 1 dates or sometimes 2 on 1. They always LOVE it! They just glow the whole time and TALK the whole time. I feel like they are trying to make up for shared time. Ahhhh, I love these little kiddos!

Annie

Michael with his new elephant.

Wearing my hair clips. He said it was just like Grandma's hair. hahahaha

My little girl getting so big!

Handprint Trees

These are handprint trees. I traced their arm and hands and then cut them out. The kids glued them on and then glued the leaves on. It was interesting to hear them talking. They wanted to cover the whole page with leaves. I was trying to explain that the leaves go on the tree and then they fall when they change colors. Their favorite part was the glue. They LOVE to glue.

Jake and Anthony

Cute Michael. The little stinker! He may appear sweet but he is a little mischeif maker.

Princess Jaileigh- need I say more?

She dumped the whole bottle of glue out for this one. I guess it wasn't coming out fast enough for her so she took the lid off and dumped.

Anthony

The whole group minus Annie.

She Is Hilarious!

I looked back in my rearview mirror and this is what I saw. Jaileigh decked out in her new dracula sunglasses, her babies pacifier, and my phone.

I Want To Watch . . . .

 DISNEYLAND!!!!  Everynight the kids want to watch their Sing A Long Disneyland Fun DVD. I think that Bill and Gina gave this to them when they were a lot younger and now they really like it, love it actually.


Every night this is what our ritual is- (They all do this same conversation with me, at the same time. So I am answering for little people at once with the same 2 questions.)

Mom- I want to make popcorn.
Me- Ok
Them- And watch a movie.
Me- Ok
Them- DISNEYLAND!!!

 Annie, Jaileigh, Jake, (Jake's bucket of treasures), Anthony, Michael

Jaileigh and Jake

Annie

Anthony

Michael



Homeschool Preschool

Earlier I posted an entry about us going to preschool. Well, that didn't end up working out. It was a co-op, which is a group of moms that takes turns teaching. The Co-op decided to let 2 more people in the group, making the group 11. They split the group, splitting my kids, and told me I had to teach 20 weeks (everyone else teaching 5). So, we opted out. I couldn't imagine trying to get my kids going in two different directions and trying to teach and having another baby to worry about.

At first I was upset because my kids really enjoyed going to preschool but as I talked to my mom she talked some sense into me. First of all, I am a certified teacher and I can make do teaching for a year or maybe two if need be. Secondly, I was really worried about the socialization skills that they would be missing but she assured me that my kids are plenty social. This much is true. We are very active and visit a lot of places and people. Almost 4-6 times a week we are out and about and the majority of the time it is child-centered activities. This is more than they would be doing in the preschool anyway.

Lastly, I have a wonderful connection with a preschool teacher. Our old ECI teacher, Susan, was also a preschool teacher and she so generously offered her resources to me. I took her up on her offer and we have now started the official DeMaria House of Learning Preschool. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are our official sit down do stuff days. Then we ad lib the rest of the days. The kids absolutely love it. They are always asking to do more, more, more!

Michael and Anthony finger painting apples

Jaileigh with her painting fingers.

Jake

Michael

Even Annie got to have fun. I guess she will get 4 years of preschool instead of the normal 2.

Anthony and Michael playing in the paint.

Look at Jake! Jaileigh is serious about her artwork.

It was Annie's naptime.

While I was putting Annie down the kids did play. Toe painting was discovered.

Look at that face! Oh my!! What am I going to do with this mischievous imp?!