God's Word is a Treasure: Day 4

We ended up having a sort if snow day to round out our first week of school. We still did a few of the activities but we enjoyed the beautiful snow fall too.

First Evie cut out 5 'gold coins' that said 'God's Word is a Treasure', one word one arch coin. Then I hid them around the tv room while Nana sang our week's songs. After music Evie went on a treasure hunt and found the coins. She would have a 'treasure hunt' every day if she could. Loves it!

Next she glued the coins in order on a brown piece of paper we decorated to look like a treasure box.

Then I set up a bean sensory tub with jewels and x's made from two Popsicle sticks glued together. The kids played in there while I made play dough. After making up two batches the kids used the play dough tool kit they got for Christmas and played their hearts out with play dough!!

And that was our first week of school!!

God's Word is a Treasure: Day 2 & 3

DAY 2

We started our day making a treasure map from a paper sack that we will use to display our themes through out the year on. We added a bible for our first week, God's Word is a Treasure. And we sang our song for the week with Nana, our music teacher!

I had a wooden treasure box I got at Joann's awhile ago and we decorated it with markers and gluing jewels to the outside of it. We will keep all our school supplies for the year in the treasure box!

We had a snack of cheese {cut in thin slices} and crackers and made 'x's out of the cheese on the crackers. While we ate we talked about the sound that the letter 'x' makes.

After snack we went on adventure in search of rectangles, the shape of the week, all throughout the house! The kids used their binoculars they made, their flashlights and their magnifying glasses {I found those in the dollar bins at Target!}.

One thing I love about this program is that she includes practical and life skills to learn. So we headed to Evie's room and practiced making her bed. She just has a blanket right now but it's a good habit to get started on early!

We finished off the day reading Blueberries for Sal and then went outside to fill up our own pails! We didn't find any blueberries but there were rocks, sticks and sand to be played with! The weather was gorgeous.

Only two days in and I've already seen the fruits of this program. When we were outside Evie pointed out on her own that the design on the garage door was made up of rectangles. And while we were driving Evie saw two jet streams crossing paths on the sky that looked like an 'X'!

DAY 3


Today we started off with reviewing what we learned so far this week. We had music time with Nana.

After music we watched the first part of 'What's in the Bible?' DVD. I love these DVDs because I actually learn so much!

Next we played 'X' freeze with our music, dancing to the music and then when I stopped it the kids had to freeze making an 'X' with their bodies.

After our dance party the kids did a worksheet of writing x's inside a bigger x and then Evie cut out her x and glued it to a piece of construction paper. She'll do this for every letter.

Lastly, to finish off our third day, we read two books on sharing: 'Rainbow Fish' and 'Sharing Words.' We role played how to share and what to do if someone won't share.

God's Word is a Treasure

Week 1 "God's Word is a Treasure"
Day 1

We started our first day of school by going on a treasure hunt. Evie hunted throughout the house for the first 'X' {this is the letter of the week} and found her first and most important treasure, her Jesus Storybook Bible!

Next she went searching for several more treasures consisting of school supplies, magnifying glass, and flashlight. We made a pair of binoculars from a paper towel roll, tape, and a string.

We also had music time where we sang song about our theme. One song is a hyme: Wonderful Words of Life, a Seeds Family Worship song: Word of the Lord, and a Sunday school song: the B-I-B-L-E and we will sing those all week.

Evie also decorated the front of what will be her alphabet book throughout the year. She colored and glued letters to the cover.

And lastly, we read Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? {checked out from the library!} and after reading we talked about what clothing we wear for different weather.

And I threw in my own activity of using cooked spaghetti noodles to make the letter 'X' and rectangles. Of course they made a yummy snack too!

It was a fun first day and not nearly as stressful or chaotic as I thought it might be. Evie was really excited to tell daddy all about what she learned and did.

Caleb was doing his own kind of school with Brandon called Potty Training! Fun stuff...

God's Little Explorers

We started preschool this week! I know it's not in line with any traditional school year, but I guess that's one great thing about doing homeschool. We can start/stop/take breaks when we want to!!

I came across this mom-made, FREE preschool curriculum through Pinterest called God's Little Explorers and just reading through the lessons I love it!! {Can't even beat how perfect the name is for our blog.} It's all learning through doing and I think that's perfect for this age group.

We spend 45 min to an hour a day, 4-5 days a week and that's it! Unless we want to do more then we can, she gives suggestions for further studying.

My plan is to chronicle our 'year' of school, mostly for fun but also to see how we grow and change in the homeschooling area.

Let the learning fun begin....

A New Year Pinterest Challenge

So I've been thinking (uh oh!) about all the neat, interesting, fun, challenging, silly, creative, adventurous, practical, improving, educational, fill-in-the-blank ideas I have pinned on the infamous Pinterest.

Sometimes I get a creative itch or the need to organize something and instead of just creating or organizing something I sit down to the computer and start looking through countless pins.

I mean seriously.... my account says I have 1,535 pins! And my profile looks busier then my bulletin board hanging in my room in jr high (minus the picture of Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Lisa Frank stationary, am I right?!)

I know I have pinned sites and ideas with every intent to implament them. Some need specific resources, cost significant amounts of money and/or time but really, how many of them just need a little (maybe a lot) of effort?? I mean that's what it was created for in the first place, to inspire us to DO something!!

I'm not one for making resolutions, mostly because I can't commit to something I know I will fail at (365 days is a long time!) so in my world it's better to not even try...

BUT I really think it would be fun and challenging and exciting, not to mention productive to attempt to complete (at least) one pinned item per week. It doesn't have to be glamorous or extravagant (read: there are no gold medals at stake). It doesn't even have to be successful... Pinterest bloopers would be hilarious, I'm sure!

And as determined as I am to take on this challenge, I'd love to have you join me!! What do you say?? Ill post about my Pinterest experience for the week and then if you want to join the fun you can share about yours in the comments! Or blog about it and share the link.

It can be as easy as trying a recipe and share how it turned out, implementing an organizational tip, or totally creating a piece of art (did I hear DIY photo canvas, anyone??)!

I'm excited!! I'm going to make a DONE pin board to move my pins over once I've done or tried one. Then I'll share what I did back here on the ol' blog. First one will be this week!

Now, I'm off to pick an ALREADY pinned project to try!!

A special kind of Christmas

 
This year Christmas has been tough but it's also been special. Brandon has been away since the beginning of November and hasn't spent the holidays with us. I have missed him terribly and the kids tell me everyday they miss their daddy. Some days are harder than others and I appreciate all that he does for our family.

All the while, my mom has been staying with us while she gets her feet on the ground. We have had really good last few months, while we packed up her house and moved her put here and now this time just her, the kids and I. Of course, it's not all a party, but we have adjusted and worked together to make things work smoothly.

The best part has been making memories over these holidays and even figuring out how to incorporate new traditions! I just want to document all the fun things we have done together to celebrate and grow closer over the last few months, especially for Christmas.

We used the Jesus Storybook Bible (quickly becoming my favorite) as our advent this year. Along with reading through that, I planned out activities for us to do each day to enjoy the season and build memories. The plan didn't go as planned because life happens. We had a lot of sickness and we have been busier than I anticipated. Some of the things we were able to do:

- Read Christmas books and eat popcorn by the tree.
- Eat Christmas ice cream.
- Making Christmas cards for deployed soldiers.
- Candlelight bubble bath (Christmas lights for lighting)
- Made snow globes.
- Baking goodies. (Mmmm, Chex mix!)
- Decorate cookies.
- Christmas tree dance party.
- Ugly sweater Christmas party.
- Make ornaments.
- Christmas video for daddy.
- Birthday party for Jesus.

Christmas Eve day was a special one too! We did some last minute shopping and then settled in for the evening to spend some quality time together...

- We walked through the nativity scene with the fisher price nativity set. The kids and I talked about that sweet night our Savior was born and touched on the why too. Such a sweet time with them.
- We sang carols around the Christmas tree, worshiping together and celebrating God's precious gift to us.
- My mom is carrying on a tradition from her grandparents childhood called Tutes. You have to preform and earn your Tute. Traditionally they are filled with an apple and an orange, mixed nuts in their shells and a few pieces of chocolate. It was a real treat back in the day! We made ours with out the nuts and added a couple kid friendly treats. The kids were cute thinking of what they could do to earn their Tute! It actually gave me a great idea for next year and possibly a new tradition.... :)
- The kids each opened an ornament gift from us and pjs from Nana before tucking them into bed. Then Nana and I made like Christmas elves and brought all the gifts up from the basement to put under the tree.

Christmas morning we skyped with Brandon and he got to see the kids come down the stairs and then opened gifts with him for awhile before he had to go. We had great day of playing and relaxing together. We had a nacho bar in leu of a traditional dinner. All that the day needed was to have my handsome hubby home to be with us.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas with the ones you love!

From House to Home: Farmhouse Edition

It all started when my sweet husband said I could paint...

He knows I've been "patiently" waiting to cozy up the place and he gave me the green light earlier this fall to pick out paint colors. I put it off and browsed here and there. It's not something I wanted to rush into since it will be a long while before we do it again!

I picked a main level {we have a split level house} color and a different color for the kitchen walls. I also decided to paint the cabinets... Crazy, I know! That still has to be done.

Once the color was on I got a vision of what a homey place would look like to me... A farmhouse with shabby chic added here and there is what I saw! Just had to see if Brandon was on board, it is his space too, after all!

He liked it! In fact, he was ready to pack up and buy a farm!! Whoa! I just painted... Although, that sounds like fun but not ready for that... Yet.

I have been keeping my eyes peeled for accent/decor that fits that picture and the bigger the deal the better! I have had the most fun on the few thrift store hunting trips we have made!

The puzzle isn't complete but it really is coming together and feeling so cozy already. All I have is phone pictures for now because I can't find the camera battery charger at the moment...

Come on in, and take a look around our 'farmhouse' in progress...

Our entry way. First sign of a toddler inhabited home... nothing on the lower shelves of the table. ; )

Cozy living room. Love my new shag rug, it's so inviting and soft!

Second BIG hint of a home where 2.5 toddler's roam free range: bare Christmas tree at the bottom third of the tree. Anyone else relate??

Don't be fooled... this was a brief moment in time that all the toys were thrown behind a chair cleaned up just long enough for a nice photo op! But that's what a home is for, right?! To be lived in...

{Curtains: Target}

{Shaggy rug: Home Depot}

{Lamp Silhouette picture: Day Spring}

{Antique patchwork quilt: My great aunt made it, I found it when we were moving my mom out here to live with us!}

One of my favorite new areas, the coffee bar area. The mugs add a perfect touch of color and a little eclectic feel. The chalkboards have now been written on as well!

{Shelf: Hobby Lobby}

{Chalkboard signs, Farm Fresh milk sign, ceramic white milk bottle, Ceramic measuring spoons, 

coffee canister: World Market}

{Coffe cups, tea towels: Anthropologie}

{Antique Ball Mason Jar: My BFF}

{Spice rack: Etsy}

{Spice rack jars: World Market}

{Spice jar labels: Pinterest}

I'm planning on holding off pictures of the kitchen until the cabinets are done... I think I'll do a before and after.

Thanks for stopping by!