Summer Reading and Dating our children!

Back in early May, as school for the year was winding down, I asked each of our boys to sit with me to read. With the hectic pace of this past Spring, I had not been as diligent in getting the boys to work on their reading each day. 

Well, to say that I was disappointed in their progress would have been understating things a bit. Despite the fact that each had "done well" that year in school, there was very little progress in their reading.

So was born, 
"Mama's Summer Reading Boot Camp!"

Anyone who's adopted Internationally a child whose native language was anything other than English knows that reading mastery is no small task. There are challenges that linger and even years after coming home, reading can still be a major hurdle. 
I knew that it was going to take intense daily effort to see any lasting progress.

I also knew all too well that I would have 4 completely unwilling participants.

So, Tom and I consulted and decided that every morning before I went to work, I would sit the boys down and do a reading lesson. We went backward quite a ways from where we thought they had come, but it was worth it. 

So, back to the beginning of the 2nd grade curriculum we went.

So, it began. Every morning, I'd get out the white board, choose a few phonics rules or sound blends to cover and we would review them together and each boy would then spend at least 30 minutes each day working their way through the workbook.


Our Hooked on Phonics curriculum is broken up into two main units for 2nd grade.

Blue level and Green Level

Occasionally, someone would have a "reading buddy" to lounge around with!

Upon successful completion of each level, the boys earned a "date night" with either Mom or Dad. Not only did that serve as a small motivator, but it also allowed us the chance to spend some one on one time with each of our boys doing something that they liked. 


We read at the dining room table, we read in the office, we read in the cars, we read everywhere we could. 

Slowly but surely, progress was made. Before too long, each boy successfully completed a reading unit and had their first "date night". 

Cooper and Colin earned one at the same time, so Tom took Cooper to the movies and I went with Colin. But, beforehand, we treated each of the boys to a little frozen yogurt.

Another fun night was my date with Cooper and Tommy to the movies. 

We met Dad for an early dinner that evening before he went off to teach at the college and treated the kids to burgers at Steak & Shake.

After a yummy dinner, the two youngest boys and I went to see Earth to Echo.

as you can see, we had the place all to ourselves! I guess most folks don't go to 5PM movies on weeknights. 

We had a really fun night together without all those pesky "big boys". 

My most recent "date" was with my eldest son, Colin. My most reluctant "student". 
I will be forever baffled by how willing this child is to work his fingers to the bone, literally, to help someone in need, but how aggressively he fights when it comes to learning English.
He is a smart kid, but English is just hard, especially for someone who only started learning it at age 14.

This date night was dinner out, at his request.

We dined at Brixx Oven Baked Pizza.

Followed by a shake at Sonic.

Needless to say, neither of these food groups are common at our house lately, so these are rare treats for our boys!

As we embark on a new school year this week, I am pleased with the new-found progress that each of our boys has made this summer with their reading and hope that it will help them as they begin their 11th, 9th, 6th and 5th grade school years! 

Now that all 4 have finished the 2nd grade level, they have moved on to the Master Reader curriculum and will continue to work on this step by step in addition to their assigned school work. 



Hopefully, their ESL exams this year will show a substantial improvement.

A great and busy Saturday

Have you ever known a "do-er"?

You know the type...

Type A (with a capital A!)

That person who fidgets unmercifully if they aren't "doing something" productive?

That person who has the hardest darn time "relaxing"?

Yeah, me either!

(I may have just caused my husband to choke with those words.)

Much to his dismay sometimes, HE is married to such a gal!

Yep, hard as it might be to believe about me, I am a "doer"!

So, unlike most of the human race, I wake up on a Saturday morning and can't wait to "get to work". I thoroughly enjoy "home projects" and "running errands" and all that comes with my "free time" (read: time out of the office).

Today was one of those "busy days" where I didn't even leave the house.  But, it was a great day!  Allow me to elaborate.

My awesome friend, Kim, shared the yummiest looking recipe yesterday.

A recipe I just happened to have all the ingredients for...

Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Bake w/
Greek yogurt and blueberries as garnish.

A recipe that was super healthy...

So, I decided to start the morning out by baking this incredible breakfast up for my crew.

After all, it just isn't summer without blueberries!

After breakfast is "chore time" in casa Rylands.

So, off the boys went to tackle their regular Saturday morning chores.

Upon taking a break from my own "to-do" list, to go check on the boys, I find Connor upstairs alone STUDYING his scripture memory verses for an upcoming Karate test.

UNPROMPTED Y'ALL!

(score!)

Then, my same good buddy Kim, stops by to give me a few pointers on slimming and trimming my arms. Can you see Tom standing guard making sure I'm doing everything "right"? 

After a short 15 minute workout, I'm back at it.

Now, the day starts to get really exciting!

You know, ladies, that time when your husband grabs the screwdriver and hammer and sets out to hang those blinds that you've wanted hung since....

well yeah, you get the idea!

Woot!  Not only did the towel rack get hung in the boys' bathroom, 

but the new blinds in Connor and Cameron's room too! 

(It's sometimes the "little things" that get me all excited!)

Some of you may remember when I first made this towel rack and wrote about that here.

While "Bob the Builder" is hard at work, I gather the boys to do some work on scripture memory. This is a very easy task for our youngest (the only natural born english speaking child in the house), but it is really hard for the other 4, so it takes a concentrated effort.

Let's face it, ENGLISH IS HARD. 

Don't believe me?  Ask anyone who you've taught phonics to, who wasn't born here, who now has to "unlearn" all the "rules" they were taught, because now they are encountering all the "rule breakers" in the English language. 

Man, there are a lot of those!

So, we drilled all 6 verses for about an hour, but they were making great progress.

After that, it was time for reading. Yes, reading. A constant battle with older adopted kids. But a necessary evil all the same. 

So, we instituted Momma's reading boot camp for the summer. (You know you're jealous!)

Each morning before I head out to work, we have a reading lesson. Then, each child is responsible to read for 30 minutes in English so they can refine the assignments.

This afternoon, several of them we anxious to read their current chapters to me. 

So, while they took turns on the computer (30 minutes each in our house), others took turns reading to Mom.

Each child struggles with something a little different but they are all making progress which is all we need to see. Forward momentum!

We use the Hooked on Phonics curriculum that we purchased for Tommy many years ago. It is great. 

When the boys successfully complete a level (color coded), they earn a date night with Mom or Dad!  Cameron earned one today by finishing this book:

So, being that it is Father's Day weekend, he chose Dad to accompany him on his date night!

They are off at the movies now and then headed out for Ice Cream after.

So, since Tom was off with Cam tonight, I decided to dust off my apron and do some baking!

Chocolate swirl

Strawberry Cream

I love baking muffins for the boys. I prepare the batter and then drop it into the muffin papers. I freeze them (yes, unbaked) and let them harden up for about 30 minutes. Then, I place them into the freezer bags.

Bottom: Blueberry Banana Oat Muffins

That way, I can have fresh baked muffins anytime we want.

These Strawberry Cream muffins were awesome!  Colin loved them.

All in all, a very productive, enjoyable day.

That's MY kind of weekend relaxation!

Valentines Day Preparation

So, once again, Pinterest saves the day!

 

For those of you who are under some illusion that I have ANY domestic skills whatsoever, pay attention:  I don't.

 

So, I am NOT that classroom mom who volunteers and plans school parties.

 

Until very recently, I was the Mom that barely remembered to buy that cheap, easily ripped box of thin Valentines with some superhero on them.

My biggest accomplishment on Valentines Day was taping a cute pencil to each of those cheap looking cards! (A proud moment, to be sure)

 

But this year? 

 

This year is different.

 

Maybe it's because I am leaving for China soon and have been in active
"nesting" mode

for the last few weeks.

 

Or, maybe it's because Tommy will be staying home with Tom.

 

Who knows.

 

All I know is that when I stumbled upon this adorable idea on Pinterest, I knew I had to do them. 

 

It didn't hurt that I have more time than $$$ right now and these were very affordable!

 

Step One: 

Goodie Bags.

I got mine for $3 at Wal-mart (Qty. 100)

 

 

Step Two:

Printable

 (click here for the Blog that has all the instructions and link to printable fishbowl)

 

Step Three:

 

Cut out fishbowls & get child to SIGN their name and...... Voila'

 

Beautiful Valentine.

 

 

Step Four:

Assembly

 

 

 

So, without further ado...

 

Ta-Da!

 

60 some odd bags later, the boys are ready to present their "homemade" Valentine's to their friends.

 

And yes, that's as good as it gets! :-)



Our little Artist!

Many of you already know that we have a talented artist in the family...

Much to our surprise, Cameron came to us with a special talent.

A talent that in my estimation required a real cultivation.  Surely, people aren't just "born with" an artistic talent, or are they?

Well, Cameron did say that they spent some time at his orphanage learning about art and I saw on my tour that they had some easels out in the common area for the kids to draw on.

I remember shortly after Cameron came home, I saw him sketching this picture free hand...

Shortly after this one, a few more came along...

Needless to say, I was impressed.  I have Z.E.R.O. talent in this arena. 

Wanna learn to play a wind instrument? 

I'm your gal.

Need a theory lesson? 

Got ya covered!

But Art? Sorry Charlie! Not my gift.

So, we began to realize that outside help was going to be necessary.

Thankfully, he has been blessed with some really talented teachers and most recently attended a two day art camp at school over the Thanksgiving break.

While I haven't seen all of his work from those two days (some things were secret projects for Christmas gifts), I can tell you that his work continues to show promise.

His first painting with textured paint- Tiger, Summer 2012.

Gift for Mom presented on Thanksgiving, 2012

Gorgeous Winter Scene

I posted these on facebook and a good friend suggested that we should make this winter scene into a card.

I liked the idea so much that this is exactly what we've done.

Cameron has asked before if he could paint something to sell so that he could help us raise the needed funds to get his two new brothers home. 

(How sweet is that??)

But, I told him that I was not ready to sell one of his paintings because they were too special to me.

So, when this suggestion was presented, it seemed like the perfect way for me to keep his art and share it! (Thanks, Paula!)

Here is a proof of the card.  

We are going to give them in sets of:

 10 for $12 and sets of 

24 for $25 donations.

*Please include $3 for shipping (set of 10) or $5.50 for a set of 24

 if you are not local.

Once folded, each card will measure 4.25"x5.5" and include an A2 envelope.

These will make wonderful Holiday cards but will also be useful anytime and any year since the inside is blank.

Everytime I look at one of his paintings it is a reminder to me that God redeems all things.  He took this little boy from a tough place and a rougher than desired start in life and gifted him with an amazing talent.  Then, he orchestrated circumstances in his life where he could express this gift and share it.

He is so excited to be an active part of this most recent adoption.  Somehow, I think it is helping him to heal a little and to turn something sad into something joyful for another. 

We would love it if you would help share about Cameron's Winter Card Sale and order some of these as gifts or to use for your own family.

Donations can be made to the side of our blog or via Journey Together Ministries if you desire a tax deduction for your gift.

The Rylands family hopes that each one of you have a Christmas season filled with blessings from the Father and that you take some time to slow down and recognize the redemption taking place in your own lives.  God is always at work!  We just have to slow down and take a close look.

Merry Christmas, May Jesus Christ be Praised!

Tom & Angie



Christmas Traditions-a sneak peek into our home!

 Admittedly, there are years that it would be easy to leave the tree in the garage and NOT work so hard to get the house all dolled up for the Holidays.

 

In fact, last year, all we managed to do was get the tree up.  Since we were planning to leave for China, I just couldn't rev myself up to hang garland and all the other things that come along with Holiday decor.  All of our normal "Christmas traditions" were on hold last year.

 

Well, this year, we decided that it was time to dig it all out again and share this experience with the kids.  While Colin did get to experience the tree decorating last year, Cameron was not with us then.  So, this year, as we celebrated Cameron's first official (and new) birthday, what did he want to do?

 

Decorate the Christmas Tree!

 

It was a sweet night watching the boys pull out the ornaments and place them all on the tree.

 

 It was also sweet to see my darling Cameron holding this "hope" ornament.

God, in His infinite wisdom and love ordained a hope and a future for this precious boy!

Sweeter still?

He is beginning to see it for himself.

When this ornament came out of the box, Cameron was quick to tell me who those people were! 

He is very proud of the Bible knowledge he is acquiring and it is great to see him connect with the stories we've studied together each night as a family.

 

Another family tradition that we've started in recent years is the "Scrabble" ornaments.

 

 

Just one of the many Christmas crafts started by my talented and crafty mother. Aren't they adorable?

Nicer still is that each child as they enter the family gets an ornament that is the same as the children that were here before.

There is a sameness that is often missing when adopted children enter their forever families. 

A sameness that provides security. 

A sameness that reinforces their precious identity as a member of their new family.

 

Mom has already created new ornaments for Connor and Cooper and I can't wait to see their names hanging on the tree next year!

 

Since this was Cameron's birthday,

when he asked to place the angel on the top of the tree, of course he got to!

 

The finished product

One of my favorite "accessories" this Christmas is the handmade tree skirt that my mom quilted for me last year.



 

Isn't it gorgeous?

 

 Just look at that detail work!

 

Ok, enough about the tree...

 

Next, as we move around the room, we have our pewter nativity set from Lenox that we've had since we were newly married.

 

Not only is it pretty, but

(and this is KEY)

they are indestructible!

 

 

Over the fireplace is our large wreath

and lighted garland.

 

 So that is the decorating process in the Rylands' home.

 

In my next Holiday post, I will cover advent traditions.  This has become a special season of reflection for us in recent years and we are off to a great start this season.