The plans for the party are coming right along.
The presents are wrapped.
The decorate your own tiara craft supplies are assembled. (Sun visors for the boys)
The activity books are made.
The tissue flowers are almost done.
The fabric ribbons for each corner of the windows are done (well, almost, they just need the ends trimmed...
Oh, did I not mention that fabric ribbons?
You know the ones, they are also called floral ribbons and often grace fancy floral arrangements and packages? The ones that sell for about $15-20 a bow at craft stores?
Super easy to make!
Basic instructions can be found here.....
...don't for get to curl the tails of the ribbon if you are not using them to tie the ribbon to the present!
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Check, Check, triple check!
When you are a bit on the tired side (i.e. you are a mom) and you are planning a birthday party, check, check, and check again your list for the party supply store.
Otherwise you might end up with 2 purple ribbons and no pink ribbon...
...don't ask.
Otherwise you might end up with 2 purple ribbons and no pink ribbon...
...don't ask.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
A Fancy Party
Saturday is Miss Pear's 4th birthday, and she has requested a Fancy Nancy party. So during nap time this week I am getting everything ready for Miss Pear's Fancy Nancy birthday party on Saturday.
Today I made the activity book to be photocopied for the children. I simply went to Fancy Nancy's website, looked through the printable activities and selected what I liked. Then I renumbered accordingly, and for the ones that said reproducible activity on the bottom I printed out a label to announce Miss Pear's 4th Birthday. As they are all reproducible I will take them to the office supply store and have enough copies made. Then I will punch a hole in the top corner, put a binder ring in, and attach curly ribbons to that, and the activity books are done!
The reason for the books are that the craft activity will take little ones more time than the big ones and this will keep the big ones occupied. The little ones will be able to do the activities with help. Everyone can take their copy home.
Today I made the activity book to be photocopied for the children. I simply went to Fancy Nancy's website, looked through the printable activities and selected what I liked. Then I renumbered accordingly, and for the ones that said reproducible activity on the bottom I printed out a label to announce Miss Pear's 4th Birthday. As they are all reproducible I will take them to the office supply store and have enough copies made. Then I will punch a hole in the top corner, put a binder ring in, and attach curly ribbons to that, and the activity books are done!
The reason for the books are that the craft activity will take little ones more time than the big ones and this will keep the big ones occupied. The little ones will be able to do the activities with help. Everyone can take their copy home.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
What I am learning...
Remember the break I took from blogging to focus on what God was teaching me? And that Sunday as my break was winding down Miss Pear got croup and life when kablooey?
Well, even though things did not go quite as I had planned, God used that time to teach me a lot of valuable things.
One of the first things He showed me was that my motto when Baby was born was not just for then, it is for this season of life. That if I have served my Lord well by loving my family, by providing meals for them (extra points for super healthy), and they have clean laundry I have done well. And that it is okay if my only quiet time before bedtime is reading scripture to the girls and praying while I nurse Baby (more on that in another post).
That has to be my standard.
When I try to fit more into my schedule loving my family thing often loses importance.
My children thrive (and Miss Pear has excellent behavior) when they get quantity time from us, even if they are just with me in the kitchen while I make supper, or playing nearby while I fold laundry (Baby likes to wrestle with the socks). And if we can fit in some extended picture book reading all the better.
But my standard is simple: Serve God by loving my family.
Well, even though things did not go quite as I had planned, God used that time to teach me a lot of valuable things.
One of the first things He showed me was that my motto when Baby was born was not just for then, it is for this season of life. That if I have served my Lord well by loving my family, by providing meals for them (extra points for super healthy), and they have clean laundry I have done well. And that it is okay if my only quiet time before bedtime is reading scripture to the girls and praying while I nurse Baby (more on that in another post).
That has to be my standard.
When I try to fit more into my schedule loving my family thing often loses importance.
My children thrive (and Miss Pear has excellent behavior) when they get quantity time from us, even if they are just with me in the kitchen while I make supper, or playing nearby while I fold laundry (Baby likes to wrestle with the socks). And if we can fit in some extended picture book reading all the better.
But my standard is simple: Serve God by loving my family.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Baby's Afghan
Last summer I began work on baby's afghan. I had trouble with the pattern but finally figured that out. And I got a fair bit done. And then she arrived, and it was not done. And then we had the meningitis and the hip dysplasia, and life in general, and it was not done.
If you remember, I set a goal this year to be a finisher.
So I put this as number one on my list to finish. And last week I did.
I am going to guess that it is about 37 inches by 42 inches, so a good size and in a very light pink.
Baby still likes to be swaddled...at 8 months. We had huge swaddlers (42 x 42 inches) to swaddle around the harness and she still loves them. Actually, she loves to break out of them and then hang on to the end corner while she sucks her thumb. But as soon as she decides she is completely done with swaddling her blanket is ready.
If you remember, I set a goal this year to be a finisher.
So I put this as number one on my list to finish. And last week I did.
I am going to guess that it is about 37 inches by 42 inches, so a good size and in a very light pink.
Baby still likes to be swaddled...at 8 months. We had huge swaddlers (42 x 42 inches) to swaddle around the harness and she still loves them. Actually, she loves to break out of them and then hang on to the end corner while she sucks her thumb. But as soon as she decides she is completely done with swaddling her blanket is ready.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Brownies for Breakfast
This morning we had brownies for breakfast.
We were celebrating.
Miss Pear finally made it through the night without needing a change of jammies.
Of course, while the brownies baked we had a "snack" of Raisin Bran.
Please excuse me while I do my happy dance...not as good as miss pear's, but I think I need to steal a few of her moves.....
We were celebrating.
Miss Pear finally made it through the night without needing a change of jammies.
Of course, while the brownies baked we had a "snack" of Raisin Bran.
Please excuse me while I do my happy dance...not as good as miss pear's, but I think I need to steal a few of her moves.....
Early Math
We have the great privilege of being friends with an exceptional math teacher. While this might sound weird considering they are not homeschooling and we are, this is the same friend who said of our decision to homeschool, "That is great! Don't let anyone change your mind."
So she lets me ask her questions, and she gives me fabulous answers.
We often talk about science and math and those are key interests for both her children (all older than Miss Pear) and Miss Pear.
When we were talking about beginning in math, she said something exceedingly interesting to me:
One of the most important things to starting to teach about math is to teach your child about patterns.
She said this before she said to teach numbers.
I was pretty shocked by that thought, it messed with everything I knew about math. And I loved math. But I figured that it was important to learn your numbers and how to count first.
But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense! If you can think clearly in patterns, and identify them and extrapolate them, math is a way of thinking, not memorization.
So while we are working on our numbers, a huge part of our early math is looking for patterns.
I sort the counting bears red, green, yellow, red, green, yellow and let Miss Pear put them next.
I sort 4 counting bears the same color big little big little and let Miss Pear tell me what comes next.
We are always looking for patterns!
She thinks it is a fun game, especially when I use mini-marshmallows instead of counting bears and she gets to eat them when she gets it right!
So she lets me ask her questions, and she gives me fabulous answers.
We often talk about science and math and those are key interests for both her children (all older than Miss Pear) and Miss Pear.
When we were talking about beginning in math, she said something exceedingly interesting to me:
One of the most important things to starting to teach about math is to teach your child about patterns.
She said this before she said to teach numbers.
I was pretty shocked by that thought, it messed with everything I knew about math. And I loved math. But I figured that it was important to learn your numbers and how to count first.
But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense! If you can think clearly in patterns, and identify them and extrapolate them, math is a way of thinking, not memorization.
So while we are working on our numbers, a huge part of our early math is looking for patterns.
I sort the counting bears red, green, yellow, red, green, yellow and let Miss Pear put them next.
I sort 4 counting bears the same color big little big little and let Miss Pear tell me what comes next.
We are always looking for patterns!
She thinks it is a fun game, especially when I use mini-marshmallows instead of counting bears and she gets to eat them when she gets it right!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Croup is no fun...
...and Miss Pear is still sick.
She does not have the seal barking cough, but neither is she recovered....So I may still be missing...
We are thankful that Baby continues to remain croup free!
She does not have the seal barking cough, but neither is she recovered....So I may still be missing...
We are thankful that Baby continues to remain croup free!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Amazon here I come...
...guess what I won?
Yup, gift card for Amazon, just when I needed it!
Such a blessing!
For Father's Day I always try to get Daddy something he can do with his girls. Which is why he got a water table one year, and I have to tell you, he LOVED it!
This year I am thinking that he will need a copy of Stokes Field Guide to birds for our area. He has talked about it off and on since we moved to Southern California almost 10 years ago, but now Miss Pear is starting to point out the birds by name too, so I think that would be a great gift! (Along with homemade cards, and a special meal of his choice too!)
Yup, gift card for Amazon, just when I needed it!
Such a blessing!
For Father's Day I always try to get Daddy something he can do with his girls. Which is why he got a water table one year, and I have to tell you, he LOVED it!
This year I am thinking that he will need a copy of Stokes Field Guide to birds for our area. He has talked about it off and on since we moved to Southern California almost 10 years ago, but now Miss Pear is starting to point out the birds by name too, so I think that would be a great gift! (Along with homemade cards, and a special meal of his choice too!)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
View from our Porch
Last week one night...er morning...just before 3AM a coyote came out of the canyon and was howling long and loud. I did not think too much about what he had been up to, except to pray that he would not wake up the girls. And I did not think too much about his activities again until we saw this on Saturday...
Can you see what it is?
How about now...in flight?
Can you see what it is?
How about now...in flight?It is a turkey vulture.
Which makes me think that coyote was doing some hunting. Nothing like a true to life science lesson....and I think Daddy will be getting a bird handbook for Father's Day...
Which makes me think that coyote was doing some hunting. Nothing like a true to life science lesson....and I think Daddy will be getting a bird handbook for Father's Day...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Miss Pear at the doctor
I just had a quick minute to share with you Miss Pear explaining her cough to the doctor.
You see, she has a frog in her throat, and when it goes ribbit ribbit, she goes cough cough...
You see, she has a frog in her throat, and when it goes ribbit ribbit, she goes cough cough...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tissue Flowers
Miss Pear's birthday is coming up, and the theme this year is going to be Fancy Nancy! (In the past she has had Winnie-the-Pooh (her nursery theme), Backyardigans, and Polar Bears)
I have learned my lesson about selecting a birthday theme from a book that is not also a television show. When you do this the result is a lot of do it yourselfing. Which is great with me!
So for one of the decorations for the party I am going to make tissue flowers is Fancy Nancy's colors - pink and purple. These are also Miss Pear's colors, so that works wonderfully well.
If you are wondering how to make these...or like me simply needed a refresher course, click here for a video tutorial!
Although I may have to move on to more sophisticated tissue flowers and try these carnations!
I have learned my lesson about selecting a birthday theme from a book that is not also a television show. When you do this the result is a lot of do it yourselfing. Which is great with me!
So for one of the decorations for the party I am going to make tissue flowers is Fancy Nancy's colors - pink and purple. These are also Miss Pear's colors, so that works wonderfully well.
If you are wondering how to make these...or like me simply needed a refresher course, click here for a video tutorial!
Although I may have to move on to more sophisticated tissue flowers and try these carnations!
Monday, May 11, 2009
An Unwelcome Visitor...
...arrived last night around 11:30.
Croup.
It arrived in Miss Pear's room, and she was none to happy to greet it.
The doctor warned us to expect a few more rough nights, so except for a couple posts that I set to auto-publish, I will probably be AWOL once again.
Nurse Mommy on duty.
(So far Baby is showing no signs of it!)
And I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! My family was so good to me, and God was so phenomenally gracious to me in giving me my family!
Croup.
It arrived in Miss Pear's room, and she was none to happy to greet it.
The doctor warned us to expect a few more rough nights, so except for a couple posts that I set to auto-publish, I will probably be AWOL once again.
Nurse Mommy on duty.
(So far Baby is showing no signs of it!)
And I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! My family was so good to me, and God was so phenomenally gracious to me in giving me my family!
Homeschool Week 8: H and 7
We made a couple small changes last week.
It has not been working to have specific books assigned to specific days because we are not doing picture book reading time with the school time and it never really goes together well any ways. Plus it seems like it is making it more stressful by feeling like I HAVE to read those books even if we read extra long in the chapter book, or got very distracted by the library bag of books. We read a lot in our family, so it was not like we were doing this to develop habits, we already have them! (We always laugh when we see the "Read to your child 20 minutes a day" advertisements and say that we will have to cut back!) So I am going to put books that go with our theme in the picture book basket for downstairs and just mix them in as we go through our day. Some days we read 12 or more picture books (not including bed time reading), and some days we may be doing other things and only read 3 or 4. So I would like more flexibility in this.
The second big change is that once I took out all the reading I realized that I was not doing as much for letters as I was for numbers, so I am adding in some new letter activities.
Another change is the desire to add some review time, so I am working on that. I always print extra tracing pages and will work that in somewhere, we will see.
Bible Reading Time (at the breakfast table):
Picture Book Basket:
Everyday Activities:
Monday:
Thursday
**Rod and Staff online is not the same company as the Rod and Staff catalog, even though they carry the same stuff as the catalog plus others. Often the best pricing and regular discounts on items published by Rod and Staff Catalog comes from the catalog, available upon request at 1-606-522-4348.
It has not been working to have specific books assigned to specific days because we are not doing picture book reading time with the school time and it never really goes together well any ways. Plus it seems like it is making it more stressful by feeling like I HAVE to read those books even if we read extra long in the chapter book, or got very distracted by the library bag of books. We read a lot in our family, so it was not like we were doing this to develop habits, we already have them! (We always laugh when we see the "Read to your child 20 minutes a day" advertisements and say that we will have to cut back!) So I am going to put books that go with our theme in the picture book basket for downstairs and just mix them in as we go through our day. Some days we read 12 or more picture books (not including bed time reading), and some days we may be doing other things and only read 3 or 4. So I would like more flexibility in this.
The second big change is that once I took out all the reading I realized that I was not doing as much for letters as I was for numbers, so I am adding in some new letter activities.
Another change is the desire to add some review time, so I am working on that. I always print extra tracing pages and will work that in somewhere, we will see.
Bible Reading Time (at the breakfast table):
- God Knows My Name
- The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes Gift Edition
- A chapter a day in Mark
- Read Story for H in Teach Them to Your Children: An Alphabet of Biblical Poems, Verses, and Stories
- Memorize
- Review A, B, C, D, E, F and G verse throughout the day
- Review Lord's Prayer as we almost have it
Picture Book Basket:
- Helping Mother**
- Happy Helpers**
- Hannah is a Helper
- Baking Day* (another little helper girl!)
- The Magic School Bus Inside A Hurricane
- Plus a bunch of other great ones we love!
Everyday Activities:
- Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers
(Using the letter recognition in the back, and we love it)
- Number recognition - a little chart I made up based on Alpha-phonics.
- Bigger Steps **
Monday:
- Read "My 'H' Book"
- H is for Helicopter Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
- H Coloring Page
- Alphabet Caterpillar (Upper Case)
- Read Bible Count*
- Read "My Seven Book"
- Seven Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
- Acorn 1-5 Review
- Seven Number Buddy Coloring Page
- Fuzzy #7 (construction paper, glue, cotton balls)
- Game: Number Start: Fun Games for Learning About Numbers
- Read "My 'H' Book"
- H is for Helicopter Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
- Hippopotamus Coloring Page
- Alphabet Caterpillar (Lower Case)
Thursday
- Read Learning My Numbers*
- Read "My Seven Book"
- 7 Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
- Acorn 1-5 Review
- Number in a Jar #7 - put 7 stickers in jar, do tracing, color
- Color and decorate #7 (Use large template)
- Game: Learning To Sequence 4-Scene Set, 48 Picture Cards, PreK-3
- Craft: Ice Cream Cone Scoop Craft for Numbers scoop #7 (in the evening, this is the Daddy craft and the ice cream cone is growing up my kitchen wall)
- Read "My 'H' Book
- H is for Helicopter Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
- H is for Heart Bible Tracing Pages
- Heart coloring page
**Rod and Staff online is not the same company as the Rod and Staff catalog, even though they carry the same stuff as the catalog plus others. Often the best pricing and regular discounts on items published by Rod and Staff Catalog comes from the catalog, available upon request at 1-606-522-4348.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Taking the week off...
Two weeks ago we took a week off from homeschooling for Miss Pear. This week we are taking a week off blogging for mommy.
It is too many weeks in a row of struggling to the finish, and just being able to scrape us together to limp into another week. Honestly, nothing is really going wrong, but nothing is going really great either.
Also, I really feel like the Lord is trying to teach me something, and I just cannot grasp it, therefore the plan is to cut out lots of stuff for extra time in His Word.
It is too many weeks in a row of struggling to the finish, and just being able to scrape us together to limp into another week. Honestly, nothing is really going wrong, but nothing is going really great either.
Also, I really feel like the Lord is trying to teach me something, and I just cannot grasp it, therefore the plan is to cut out lots of stuff for extra time in His Word.
BBQ Season
We love to BBQ, and do most of our out door cooking in the spring and fall, so for us it is the height of grilling season!
This weekend we picked up some carne asada at the store (great sale!) and some corn on the cob. While I have never grilled corn before I figured that it must be easy and good because I sure hear about it a lot, so I looked into it, and found these instructions, which I pretty much followed in the preparation and cooking part. (We did not rinse our corn, it was not needed).
And it was really good!
I think the days of boiling the corn are definitely over.
This weekend we picked up some carne asada at the store (great sale!) and some corn on the cob. While I have never grilled corn before I figured that it must be easy and good because I sure hear about it a lot, so I looked into it, and found these instructions, which I pretty much followed in the preparation and cooking part. (We did not rinse our corn, it was not needed).
And it was really good!
I think the days of boiling the corn are definitely over.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Birthday Cake Practice Cakes
Do you remember when I posted about cake pan substitutions and the plans for the birthday cake for Miss Pear?
Well progress is being made.
The first trial cake was on the dry side with not enough icing, and Miss Pear adores icing.
Yesterday I made trial cake number 2, again, just using a box mix that I got on sale...with a coupon.
I once again lined my half sheet pan with wax paper and cooking spray over and under it. I put it in for 22 minutes and when I checked it, it was cooked perfectly!
Plus, I doubled the icing, and while that is a bit on the lots side, it will be perfect for the birthday girl!
So now, all I have to do is decide on an actual cake recipe!
We are slowly moving forward!
Well progress is being made.
The first trial cake was on the dry side with not enough icing, and Miss Pear adores icing.
Yesterday I made trial cake number 2, again, just using a box mix that I got on sale...with a coupon.
I once again lined my half sheet pan with wax paper and cooking spray over and under it. I put it in for 22 minutes and when I checked it, it was cooked perfectly!
Plus, I doubled the icing, and while that is a bit on the lots side, it will be perfect for the birthday girl!
So now, all I have to do is decide on an actual cake recipe!
We are slowly moving forward!
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