The Zoo! (Finally)

So, in case you missed the memo, I've been wanting to go to the Henry Vilas Zoo for ages! And yesterday, we finally got to go with my friend Amber.

We meant to leave Steven's Point around 9 am and get to the zoo by 11. Well, as these things go, we didn't leave till around 10 and didn't actually get into the zoo till about 12:30. Needless to say, this made for a LOOOOONG day. But it was still super fun!

When we got to Madison, we met up with Amber's friend Kelsey for a little bit. A nice parking police-man asked us if we wanted him to take this picture so we could all be in it :)

We also at a picnic lunch before we went into the zoo, since we didn't want to spend a bunch of money on hot dogs etc. By the way, Lunchables are absolutely disgusting. I don't know why I wanted them so bad in elementary school!

Once we got to the zoo, it was 4 nonstop hours of looking at animals and reading signs. Of course there was some goofing around too!

Buddys's arms compared to monkey arms!

These giraffes were separated by a fence, since I guess they had been fighting haha!

This tiger was pissed.

Buddy as a baby kangaroo!

Mama with antlers!

On the train ride!

Giant turtles!

Alligator snapping turtle. Totally gross, and also fascinating.

The otters! Buddy played with them for a long time, they loved the attention!

At about 4:30, we finally left the zoo. We stopped at Kelsey's house to eat a quick dinner, then started home.

As you can see from the Capitol Building in the background, he didn't even make it out of town before he crashed :)

The zoo was amazing, I'm really glad I've got a friend like Amber who loves hanging out with my kiddo, and I want to go back again sometime soon!

Welcome to the Lake!

Last weekend, we went to the cottage! I took my friend Amber up with me, and it was SUCH a needed break. We got a whole weekend unplugged from technology, surrounded by peace and drama-free. I loved it, and really didn't want to go home!

As promised, we went tubing! I think Amber was a little disappointed, since I kind of made us go on an old lady ride. I'm not as exciting as I used to be, I guess. Also, my grandpa took this picture and I forgot to teach him how to use the zoom, so you can't really see us.

We also went canoe-ing, which I looooooved. Amber and I went one day by ourselves, and the next morning we took Buddy with us.

But mostly, we just hung out at the lake and enjoyed the beautiful weather!

All in all, I had the best weekend I have had in a long time. We need to do it again, ASAP!

Next up: Amber, Buddy and I go to the Madison zoo on Wednesday!

School blues, already.

I've been lacking in the picture-taking department recently. So, sorry.
This week has been a long one, full of a lot of work and a lot of homework. I have to say, I'm having a really hard time doing online school with Buddy around all the time! I didn't think it would be that different than doing homework from a regular class with him around, but I'm getting really frustrated.
Probably because in class, you learn the material and then practice it. So I already knew what I was doing by the time I got to my homework. Trying to figure out how to use these different charts and graphs and fancy programs while trying to entertain a 4-year-old has been more of a challenge than I expected, and although I'm getting A's in both of the classes I'm taking I feel like I'm working way harder than I should be and just not using my time wisely.
Plus, my car broke down this week AGAIN and I'm adding an extra day to my work schedule. So that's frustrating too.

Anyway, cottage this weekend! I'm taking my good friend Amber up, so she'll get to hang out with my family which should be really fun.
And she made me promise we'd go tubing, so expect pictures of my pained face as I try not to die! (My dad is an evil tube-driver!)

I'm a lame blogger.

Ok, so just for reference, Bud and I did this a week ago. But because I was waiting for pics, I didn't post about it. Because, please, who wants to read a blog that's all about a cute kid without pictures of the cute kid?

Anyway. This may be kinda nerdy, but I'm completely in awe of this girl I graduated with. She and I have been in the same classes since the 2nd grade, have been super-best-friend close at times, and now she's gone off and done incredible things with her life. Usually, I have sort of angry, jealous feelings towards people who have become successful and done things with their lives (which I know, says sad things about me) but this girl I don't feel that way at all. I think she completely deserves it and I'm really proud to say I know her.

Anyway, due to about a thousand different reasons, we haven't seen each other in at least a year. Actually, it might be closer to 2 years. I'm really not sure, but it's been a long time. So when I heard she was in town, Buddy and I immediately requested a visit to the family farm!

I was really glad to get to catch up with an old friend, and Buddy had a great time too. Check it out!

We're checking out the cows. And yes, I didn't shower before I went here. Leave me alone, it was a farm!

"Ayyyyy!"

Honestly, he was much more concerned about stepping in cow poop than anything else!

Swimming

I am a horrible mother. I have now consistently broken the same promise to my son every day for a week!

So, since about April, Buddy has been begging to go to the Rothschild Pool. He sees it when we drive on the highway and gets all excited, since our friend Katy works there in the summers. And I promised him that the first day of our summer break, we would go.

Well, that didn't happen. It's been a week, and we still haven't made it to the pool!
Wednesday: It was 90 degrees and sunny, perfect weather for the pool. Except:

I was not taking my sunburned skin outside again.
Thursday: Weather dropped to the 50's, rainy and cloudy. Bad weather, no pool.
Friday: same story.
Saturday: too busy, soccer, swam inside at the YMCA, and got wrapped up in things at home.
Sunday: nice weather again, but Buddy was naughty so we couldn't go
Monday-Tuesday: Buddy was at his dad's house
Wednesday: bad weather again.

Poor guy has been asking for 8 days now, and every day all I can say is "maybe tomorrow?"

Torture.

Nap Nightmares: Part 3

As anyone who reads this with any regularity knows, Buddy and I have been having nap issues for quite a few months now. Finally, his dad and I decided to cut naps altogether, and only mandate a "quiet rest" for 45 minutes or so where he stays in his bedroom on his bed. I usually let him read books, or color on his magna-doodle, or play quietly with a truck or two... anything as long as it is quiet and calm. Sometimes he falls asleep, sometimes he doesn't.

This week has been our first week of true summer, and I may have been going overboard with activities since Buddy and I have been enjoying doing "whatever we want!" for the past few days. And since we've been so busy, I've only made him lay down for a half hour or so, and he's never fallen asleep.

So, hilariously, after we went to the library today and played with some friends, I sent Buddy into his room for quiet time.

Mom, Dad, does this look familiar? My kid read himself to sleep. Even used a book as a blanket!

D'awwww.

Education

Something big that I've been doing the last few weeks is trying to get Buddy started out in a good school. In Wausau, there is a free 4K program that runs half-days Monday through Friday. And Buddy is soooo excited to go to school, so I definitely wanted to take advantage of the program. Plus, hey! It's free! That should cut my daycare bill in half!

Then I started to visit the schools. And asked about the curriculum, what were the 3 areas they stressed the most during the year? What should they know by the end of the school year?

1) Reading readiness - can you recognize letters, understand that when they are put together they make words? Do you know what the front of a book looks like? The back?

2) Early math - can you count to 20? Recognize numbers 1-10 and start understanding composites of numbers? (23 means twenty-three, not two-three).

3) Social skills - can you get along with other children? Stand up for yourself? Tell your classmates how you feel and make changes to get along better with other children?

Ummmm, hi. My son, he can do all of this. Ok, he might need a little work on standing up for himself. But recognizing letters? My kiddo is reading. Not just pretending, not just memorizing books and parroting them back, he is actually reading. Counting to 20? My kid can count to 100. And mostly understands composites of numbers. He also loves fractions, addition, and subtraction.

I was terrified. I remember being in school and being so frustrated that I knew everything already and they wouldn't let me go on to new and exciting materials. As a young kid, if your desire to learn is stifled that could screw up your whole education. Kids who aren't challenged get frustrated, get naughty, and give up on school.

I'm sending Buddy to a private school. A Montessori. It's ridiculously expensive, costs more for half time than my old daycare cost for full time, but it's going to be worth it. They have a curriculum in place so he can learn up to 2 years above grade level without them even having to do anything special for him. He can just go, and learn as fast as he wants. Or, if I'm just being a crazy mama and my kid actually isn't that special, he can learn as slow as he wants. The curriculum is that flexible, that he will be able to go at his own speed. Whatever that turns out to be.

Graduation!

Buddy graduated today! Unfortunately, although I came prepared with regular camera and video camera in tow, it turned out that my regular camera was out of batteries. So until Buddy's father or grandmother (on father's side) manage to get me pictures, I don't have anything to show! Well, I have a home video, but it's like 30 minutes long and probably boring to anyone who isn't Buddy's mom.

Anyway, he was amazingly excited about graduation, and I've finally made up my mind about where he's going to 4K. I'm biting the bullet and paying the extra money to send him to a Montessori school, where my advanced (academically) boy can continue to learn some (REALLY not advanced) social skills and yet continue to grow and learn.

I spent a lot of time looking at different programs, and trying to figure out what was the best not just for next year, but for continuity throughout school. The Montessori school is not only in a brand new building, but has the option of continuing the program through elementary school. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want him there for that long, but it offers stability if it ends up being something Buddy needs. Also, all the other 4K programs don't seem to have any plans for children who are advanced, such as Buddy. I got a copy of the curriculums for a few different schools, and Buddy has already (before the school year even starts) mastered all of the skills except for a few large motor skills.

Anyway, before this gets too long, finally both Buddy and I have a plan for school and I'm pumped. Also graduation pics to come.