It Pays To Read

Last summer we went on lots of outings.
We also had fun with a great idea
we got from my cousin-in-law’s cousin
The Great Scotts - Interactive Literature,
reading a book with the children and then doing an activity
or outing that corresponds with the book.

These are some of the books we read:

(We talked about how the different colored waters tasted the same.

We are all the same on the inside. We are all children of God.)

(The kids painted the house with water, just like Kelly and Carl.)

(We measured the kids' room and drew a floor plan of it.)

At the end of the summer I learned

it “pays” to do the summer reading program.

Through our county library reading program,

my kids each received a free cookie on a stick.

I thought I would be thoughtful and buy one for my hubby.

We selected one and she rang it up…$6.50!

We bought him an undecorated chocolate chip cookie

off-the-stick instead, $1.50.

So get out there and take advantage of

your local library's Summer Reading Program!

What do you do with 50 non-floating balloons?

We had an indoor "pool party!"

The Big 5

When asked what kind of birthday party they wanted
Owen & Clara came up with "An Under Water Party".
They got their inspiration from this ad in a magazine.

With 50 balloons on the ceiling we played games while we listening to
"Under the Sea", "Octopus's Garden", and "At the Codfish Ball".

We had a treasure hunt and found a sunken treasure full of lots of goodies.

Many thanks to Aunt M. and Uncle A. for
the exquisite treasure chest ice cream cake
as well as their photography.

Stay-cation

A couple of weeks ago my brother-in-law and sister-in-law came to interview for a job and to check out restaurant and bakery options for my sister-in-law to work at. We had fun going out to dinner with them and sampling baked goods from nearly all the bakeries in town. I enjoyed driving them around town to places I’d never visited before. It was fun to discover the city I’ve lived in for 13 years from a different perspective.

What a fun way to explore where you live from a different angle by visiting different museums, libraries, parks, playgrounds, or snow shacks each day or each week. It could even make for a fun “Stay-cation.”

Tiered Twirly Skirt

I made this skirt using this tutorial. Clara loves skirts.

New Year's Resolutions

Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions? It’s never too late to set goals. I just finished mine.

When I was working outside the home we would do strategic planning each fall. I liked the reflection process we used to review the previous year, what we wanted from the new year, and how to bring that about.

It helps me think through things rather than just set a to do list or rather than recycling last years goals. It helps me develop a new vision for the new year.

Have a go at it!

What did I accomplish in 2009?
What are some disappointments?
What have I learned?

What are my limiting paradigms? (What is holding me back?)
New Paradigm (New Motto for 2010):

What do I want to have happen in 2010?
What steps can help me accomplish those things?

. . .What we did

Shortly after the previous post, 8 months ago, I decided that maybe we would have to just do away with naps. That’s not to say that they didn’t need them. So I would try to put them down for naps by reading them stories as usually, trying to select LONG books. If they fell asleep great! If, not, I would just let them out to play. “Quiet time” didn’t work because they would not stay quiet and would get into mischief as seen in the previous post. I was sad to give up naps but was glad to not have to clean up as many messes. They still pulled some of their usual tactics but it has been a good change for everyone.

So we continue to live, and learn, and love ‘em!