Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Missionary Farewell

2011-05-26T20:06:00.003-05:00

Daniel was set apart by our Stake President, Ken Ross, on Tuesday, May 24th.

Return with honor, Elder.

Our family (minus David and Jennie) the night Daniel was set apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

All set to go - 4:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25th

Elder Daniel Drake is on his way!

Jessie's High School Graduation

2011-05-15T20:46:00.001-05:00

On May 15th, we attended the high school graduation for our baby girl, Jessie. She's been attending BYU for the past semester, but returned home to walk with her class at commencement exercises. Congratulations, Jessie! We love you!

2011-05-14T16:01:00.000-05:00

It was a cold and rainy morning...just like the day he was born. On Saturday, May 14th, Daniel took out his endowments in the St. Louis Temple in preparation for his mission. We are so proud of this worthy young man and his righteous decisions.

Mother and Son

Father and Son

Twins?

Our handsome missionary

May Visiting Teaching Gift

2011-05-01T05:00:00.017-05:00

Like I've said before, I like to take a little something to

each of the Sisters I visit teach.

For the month of May, I'm giving them a little bookmark

made from this printable I found here:

The cute vintage kids at the bottom are the early years "Campbell Soup Kids".

Adorable!

With these "Mothers' Day" and "SOUP" themed bookmarks,

I'm going to give them each a copy of Chicken Soup for the Mothers' Soul.

Shhh...I found NEW hardback copies on Amazon.com for around $2.00 each!

(Suggested retail was $24.00)

Gift du jour!

Whatdaya think?

Itinerary

2011-04-28T07:27:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow, Jessie and I leave for a mother-daughter trip to the Western Caribbean aboard the Crown Princess. I'm just a little excited about our itinerary.

4/29/11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

4/30/11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

5/1/11 At Sea

5/2/11 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

5/3/11 Island of Roatan, Honduras

5/4/11 Island of Cozumel, Mexico

5/5/11 At Sea

5/6/11 Princess Cays, Bahamas

5/7/11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

5/8/11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Get off your keister; it's time for EASTER!

2011-04-26T07:27:00.029-05:00

Easter weekend brought our four college kids home from Utah and my niece and her family down from Omaha. It was wonderful to have a house full of family and all that comes with it.

Friday night we enjoyed dinner together (grilled Italian chicken breasts, rice pilaf, oven-roasted vegies, homemade french bread, and ice cream) and then played Cranium for hours. It was so fun having the family together again.

Jennie and Jess with the Easter Bunny (Daniel)

Crazy Easter Bunny jumped right into David's arms.

Everyone was a huge help in pulling off the big Easter egg hunt and picnic on Saturday. We ended up having about 150 people in attendance with around 60 (under age 12) kids participating in the hunt. It took a chunk of the morning to hide the 750 plus eggs; no way I could have done it alone. Daniel did a fabulous job as the Easter bunny...skipping across the field, hiding behind a tree, and just totally playing up the part. Dana entertained the youth (12 to 17 year olds) with a pinata busting.

The Easter Bunny takes a swing.

James' turn.

Candy, cash, and gift cards!

There was plenty of good food and fun. The only thing I would have changed was the weather. Thankfully, it didn't rain, but the wind was kicking and made for chilly temperatures. Who would have thought that this late in April we'd need to wear winter parkas?!!?

Baylie and my blanket keeping me warm.

Saturday afternoon, "the girls" and I went on a shopping spree, while the guys hung out, watched, sports, played ultimate frisbee, and did what guys do. For dinner, we whipped up some burgers, fries, and fresh fruit salad with homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

Charlotte in her Easter outfit.

Charlotte with Mommy...all ready for church.

Charlotte with Daddy

Easter Sunday was perfect! We all attended a wonderful church meeting together filled with inspiring music and words. Afterwards, we sat down as a family for an Easter feast including glazed ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, carrots, homemade rolls, and Easter chocolates. Candice, Craig, and little Charlotte had to head back to Omaha shortly after and we were sad to see them go.

Watching Craig, Candice, and Charlotte drive off.

I love spring time and the newness of life associated with this time of year. I love baby chicks, egg hunts, colorful blossoms, soft bunnies, jelly beans, rain showers, cute baskets, chocolate bunnies, and all the rest. Most of all, I love knowing that death has been conquered; that Jesus Christ overcame temporal death and that He lives. Knowing that I will once again be with those I love and miss gives me a great feeling of hope, joy, and happiness.

Happy Easter everyone!

Two weeks and a day

2011-04-14T21:35:00.040-05:00

They say that if you live in Utah, it takes two weeks to receive your mission call and it always arrives on Wednesday. What a disappointment it was when the mail never showed up yesterday.

But today; it came!

It was perfect timing too, because Daniel had already planned on attending a "cousin get-together" this evening with his sibs and cousins from both sides of the family. Mom and Dad were skyped in on one computer while Uncle Craig and Aunt Carolyn were skyped in on another. Grandparents were conferenced in. (It's kind of a big deal.)

When everyone was ready and all was silent, he opened the letter and read aloud:

"Dear Elder Drake, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Texas Houston South Mission....You will prepare to teach the gospel in the Spanish language."

Daniel reports to the Mission Training Center on May 25th, so there is much to do in six weeks.

More information was sent including a bio on his mission president, a map of the mission, a list of items to purchase/pack and a check list of what he needs to get done in the next six weeks as he prepares to report.

This is his young mission president and wife. They are parents of six children (she's expecting number seven) and are from North Salt Lake. Their current home and the mission office are both in Craig and Carolyn's ward (my brother and sister-in-law) in Sugarland, Texas. President and Sister Saylin are native Californians--my kind of people!

Gregory Mark Saylin, 40, and Jennifer Ashleigh Hilbig Saylin, six children, Texas Houston South Mission; Woodbriar Ward, North Salt Lake Utah Stake. Brother Saylin is a counselor in the stake presidency and a former high councilor, elders quorum president, ward executive secretary, ward mission leader and missionary in the Argentina Rosario Mission. Partner, Double G Development, Inc. Born in Torrance, Calif., to Brian Geoffrey and Rose Marie Saylin. Sister Saylin is a ward Young Women adviser and a former ward Relief Society president and teacher, counselor in ward Young Women presidencies, Primary music leader and missionary in the England Bristol Mission. Born in Duarte, Calif., to Keith Karlton and Susan Rae Hilbig.

CONGRATULATIONS, Daniel!

We love you!!!

Left to right: (Back row) Chris Drake, Rachel Drake, Rebecca Ricks, David Drake, Jonathan Cheney, Daniel Drake; (middle row) Jen Drake, Kristi Cheney Teshima, Lisa Cheney, Dana & Colleen Drake on Skype, Ashley Cheney, Jessie Cheney Smith; (front row) Jessie Drake, Kelly Cheney, Evan Teshima, Carolyn & Craig Cheney on Skype.

Becca, David, Daniel, Jen, Jessie

Visiting Teaching Conference

2011-04-10T06:45:00.001-05:00

For our Visiting Teaching Conference this year, we decided to do something light and fun. I found a cute "ant-themed" idea online at The Idea Door and tweeked it to meet our needs.

For the invitations, I envisioned red gingham for sure, but I could NOT find cute ant stamps anywhere in town...and I didn't have time to order new ones. I contacted two friends in my ward (congregation), who I know have just about every rubber stamp made under the sun, to see if they had any cute "picnic ant" stamps like this one I found here:

Kerry told me she had just a plain tiny ant stamp. I said "Perfect! I'll take it!" I was planning to pair it with a large fruit stamp anyway, and I knew just the one! I found this adorable watermelon stamp on clearance at Hobby Lobby. Using the two stamps together, I made these simple invitations:

And these envelopes:

Here's a closeup of the outside:

And the inside:

Once the invitations were done, I started having fun finding more "ant" and/or "watermelon" themed ideas. Look at these adorable cupcakes I found on this website:

I decided to skip the coconut and just use a "grass" icing tip. The fruit candy was ordered online here, but I had to add my own "seeds" with black icing.

I also found these cute giant ants at Hobby Lobby (they are actually salt and pepper shakers) and picked up three sets for our display table which included a red gingham tablecloth, picnic basket, etc.

For "handouts" we attached a cellophane bag full of chocolate covered raisins (ants) to the poem and calendar found here and placed them in this cute picnic basket:

Here's our program:

RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENT - Welcome to our Visiting Teaching Conference. We are so grateful to have all of you here today. This is an annual event for all the sisters in our entire Relief Society. For the past couple of years, we have made an effort to present a very spiritual program...blah, blah, blah

(INTERRUPTED BY ANTS)

Seven "ANTS" enter the room marching and singing. They’re wearing all black clothing and black antennas. They march to the front and sit down holding their poster board sign. (For the seven ants, we used the remaining members of our RS Presidency and our Visiting Teaching Supervisors.)

SONG; SUNG TO THE TUNE OF “THE ANTS GO MARCHING"

The Ants go marching two by two horrah, horrah

The Ants go marching two by two ‘cause that’s what Visiting Teachers do.

And we all go marching out, to the homes, of the sisters, that we love

Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom

The ants go marching two by two horrah, horrah…

(repeat as long as needed then fade out)

This is a photo of some of our "ANT" signs. I just printed them on standard 8 1/2 x 11 paper from the computer and then glue-sticked them to card stock. We glued the song lyrics, speaking parts, and quotes to the back just in case we needed reminders.

Story told by Relief Society President:

There once was a community of ants, and within that community was an LDS ward of ants, and within that ward, was a RELIEF SOCIETY of ants, and in that Relief Society were seven sister ants named:

1. “Persist-Ant” (Persist-Ant stands up, holds her sign and says “I never give up!”)

2 “Observ-Ant” (Observ-Ant stands, holds up her sign and says “ I always notice what my sisters need.”)

3. “Pleas-Ant” (Pleas-Ant stands up, holds her sign and says “I just love Visiting Teaching. I so enjoy being around the other sisters!”

4. “Dilig-Ant” (Dilig-Ant stands up, holds her sign and says, “I take my assignment very seriously. I read the lesson on the first of every month so I have lots of time to ponder it. I also have a standing appointment with my sisters.”

5. “Obedi-Ant” (Obedi-Ant stands up, holds her sign and says, “We just do our Visiting Teaching every month no matter what because that’s what we’re supposed to do.”

6 “Serv-Ant.” (Serv-Ant stands up, holds her sign and says, “I love to serve the women in the ward. Christ said, ‘When ye have done it unto the least of these…ye have done it unto me. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my Savior.”

7. “Ignor-Ant” (Ignor-Ant just sits there clueless in a daydream.) Relief Society President repeats, “IGNOR ANT!” “What?

Every month the sister ants would march out of their ant hill two by two to go to Visiting Teaching. You could always tell who was who even though they looked very much alike. (Each ant stands and acts her part in turn.)

Persist-Ant was always the first to get her visiting teaching done. She wasn’t easily discouraged when plans fell through. She would reschedule, send a note, make a phone call, or even drop by with a home baked treat just so her sister’s knew they were loved. Persist Ant never gave up on her sisters, even if they weren’t easy to get in touch with.

Observ-Ant was very aware of the needs of her sisters. She could tell when they needed an extra hug or phone call. She noticed when they weren’t at church and always let them know that they were missed. Observ-ant noticed details and it enabled her to better love those she served.

Pleas-Ant was easy to pick out. She always wore a big bright smile. Everybody knew and liked Pleas Ant because she was so fun to be around. Her sisters looked forward to her visits because they knew how pleasant she was…always leaving them in a better mood.

Dilig-Ant was so effective in her assignment., she worked harder than anyone! She was so diligent that she not only read the Visiting Teaching message, she would read the whole Ensign. No matter what assignment she was given, she always did a good job.

Obedi-Ant lived the gospel. She was a wonderful example because she applied the gospel teachings and actually practiced what she preached. Her example of obedience was an inspiration to the sisters she visited.

Serv-Ant was often quiet but always doing something for others. She would help with housework, offer rides to the doctor, volunteer to watch little ones, read to the elderly, and more. Serv-Ant never wanted to be thanked or repaid for anything she did. She truly enjoyed serving others. When others would ask why she was so happy, she told them it was because helping others made her happy.

Finally, there was ignorant. She didn’t have a clue. “What?”

Sisters, this is just a cute fictional story. Even so, I’m sure we each see a little bit of ourselves in every one of these examples. I want to complim-ANT all of you who are already doing an excell-ANT job in your assignm-ANT. Please remember that as a Visiting Teacher, you are "Import-Ant' (hold up sign). Today, you may want to ask yourself which kind of ANT are you. Maybe you are a combination of several of these. Most importantly, what kind of ANT do you want to BECOME?

VISITING TEACHING COORDINATOR:

(Each ant stands as her name and description are given. Then she reads her quote.)

Persist Ant

How many of us have tried many times to reach a sister or to find her at home and then given up when they haven’t been successful a few times? Pray with your companion. Keep making appoints and keep them. Invite the sisters to Relief Society meetings and activities.

“Elder Bruce R. McConkie has so eloquently taught us that service is essential to salvation. I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. Progress is not created by contented people. It is up to us, you and me, to be uncomfortable in complacency, to refrain from being spectators, and to be players in the game of life. The Lord has chosen His people to perform a mighty work. Our home teaching, our visiting teaching should be more than going; it should be doing with Christian love. It can be done; you can each do your portion of the work because you desire it.” Elder Russell C. Taylor, The Joy of Service, General Conference, October 1984

Observ Ant

We can observe the good in people. We need to look for the best in the sisters we visit teach. We need to see beyond the physical and try to understand her heart. Report any concerns to the Relief Society President.

"It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulty in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from such individuals that all human failures spring." -- Alfred Adler

Pleas Ant

We need to visit teach with the right attitude. It should be an experience we look forward to. Put on a smile when you go to a sister’s home! Remember her birthday and other important events in her life.

"To be successful, it seems to me that a visiting teacher would wish to have high purpose and remember it all the time, would want to have great vision, a terrific enthusiasm that cannot be worn down, a positive attitude, of course, and a great love. . ." Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball page 525

Dilig Ant

As Visiting Teachers we need to fulfill our callings to the best of our abilities. Be sure to give a message each month. We need to get to know the sisters we teach and say hello to them when we see them, sit by them in church and be their friends, not just be a once a month visitor.

“The first-line support to the families in the Church organization is priesthood home teaching and Relief Society visiting teaching. These functions provide two important services. They keep the bishop, the quorum leader, and the Relief Society president adequately informed of the physical, emotional, temporal, and spiritual condition of the membership. They also have teaching opportunities and serve as a resource to provide some of the training to the families as they prepare for self-sufficiency.” Elder L. Tom Perry, The Need to Teach Personal and Family Preparedness, General Conference, April 1981

Obedi Ant

President Brigham Young "All the sacrifice that the Lord asks of his people is strict obedience to our own covenants. Blessed are they who obey when the Lord gives a direct commandment, but more blessed are they who obey without a direct commandment. Do your visiting teaching and report your visits to your district leader.

"I hope that home teachers and visiting teachers will experience two things: first, the challenge of the responsibility that is in their great calling, and second, the sweetness of results from their work, particularly with those among us who are less active. I hope that these teachers will get on their knees and pray for direction, and then go to work to bring these wandering prodigals back into the fold of the Church. If home and visiting teachers respond to this challenge, I honestly believe that they will taste the sweet and wonderful feeling which comes of being an instrument in the hands of the Lord in leading someone back into activity in His church and kingdom.

"I am making a plea for us to reach out to our brethren and sisters who have known the beauty and the wonder of this restored gospel for a brief season and then for some reason have left it.

"May all home teachers recognize that they have an inescapable responsibility to go into the homes of the people and teach them to live the gospel principles more faithfully, to see that there is no iniquity or backbiting or evil speaking, to build faith, to see that the families are getting along temporally. That is a very serious responsibility; it really is. But it is not a heavy burden—it just takes a little more faith. It is worthy of our very best effort." (Instruments of the Lord," Ensign, March 1997.)

Serv Ant

When ye are in the service of your fellow being ye are in the service of your God. We need to go the extra mile when the need arises. Cook a meal, take her children for an afternoon, give comfort when needed. There are so many ways to serve.

“Opportunities to lose oneself for the good of others present themselves daily:… visiting teaching; time for compassionate service; giving comfort to those who need strength; serving with diligence in Church callings;… Truly, the day of sacrifice is not past.” President Ezra Taft Benson, This Is A Day Of Sacrifice, General Conference, April 1979

Ignore Ant

Finally, understand your duties as a visiting teacher. If you have questions, lds.org is a great place to turn. You also have a Visiting Teaching supervisor, Visiting Teaching Coordinator, and Relief Society President to turn to. They all want you to succeed

“I don’t know what’s going on.”

Discussion:

We decided to spend the last ten minutes or so as a question/answer period. Here are some of our discussion questions:

1. Is it ever okay to be released from a Visiting Teaching assignment or partnership?

2. Do I always need to bring a gift to my sisters when I visit? What are some thoughtful, inexpensive ideas?

3. How important is it that we share the lesson every month?

4. Should we begin and end our visit with prayer?

5. What if I can't go during the day or night when it's best for one of my sisters?

6. Is it okay to bring young children?

7. How long should we stay?

8. What if my partner can't go?

9. What should I bring?

10. What constitutes a visit? When is it okay to send a letter, e-mail, or phone call?

11. How do I report my Visiting Teaching?

12. What should I do if my partner dominates the entire visit and only talks about herself?

Have fun planning your Visiting Teaching Conference! Feel free to e-mail your ideas to me for posting on this blog at colleendrake@gmail. Thanks for visiting!

Today & Tomorrow

2011-04-08T13:06:00.007-05:00

Today was monumental because I baked 65 cupcakes for the Visiting Teaching Conference on Sunday...and I only burned 12 of them. That definitely earns my stamp! Tomorrow will be monumental because I will ice and decorate all of them. :)

Put a STAMP on it!

2011-04-07T06:46:00.027-05:00

So, I went walking this morning with Kira Feik.

She's an amazing woman who always has a great story to tell, and I'm really enjoying getting to know her.

Among other things we chatted about, while I was gasping for breath to keep up with her,

was her need/desire to do something "monumental" every day--to do one thing that sort of defines the day--one thing that gives it meaning and gives her a feeling of accomplishment.

She likes to be busy (so do I). She told me that she wants to be able to "put a stamp" on each day--a stamp that says, "Today made a difference because..." "Today was about THIS!"

At the end of our walk as we arrived at her car, I said "Have a great day!" and she responded with,

"Make it a STAMP day!"

I like to be productive. It's pretty much against my nature to be idle; but I hadn't really thought of it this way before.

I LIKE it!

I'm going to focus on making sure every day has a little monument--a stamp of something notable that was accomplished. Sheeesh, sometimes it's a monumental event if I just make dinner!

Yesterday's "stamp" was making fleece blankets for disaster victims in Japan.

Hmmmm....What will today's stamp be?

Ten Tips for Helping Kids Memorize

2011-04-07T06:00:00.022-05:00

Many of us underestimate our children's ability to memorize. Those little sponges absorb and retain a phenomenal amount of information.

Once when my son, Daniel, was about three years old, I promised him we could bake chocolate chip cookies together. He was so anxious and excited about it, he could hardly wait. I was busy with his little sister, and when I finally made it to the kitchen, I saw that he had carefully placed on the counter every ingredient we would need plus a mixing bowl, measuring cups, and measuring spoons. I couldn't believe it! He was THREE! He couldn't possibly read a recipe, but he had seen me bake cookies before, and he memorized all the ingredients...from the brown and white sugars down to the baking soda and vanilla. He even knew how many eggs we needed!

I shouldn't have been so surprised. The same kid could rattle off every line in the movie "Toy Story" and name every Star Wars figure known to man. Our children's little minds are truly amazing! This experience reinforced to me that I really should be capitalizing on the opportunity to teach them while they're young and even help them commit to memory valuable information. From poems to scriptures to multiplication tables, children who can memorize are miles ahead of those that never learn how.

Here are some tips/methods for helping your kids memorize:

1. Put it to Music - Children can hear a silly rhyme or song once and sing it again days later. Something about the rhythm, rhyme, and melody helps it stick. Think about it. How do we teach them their ABC's? We sing them. Whatever you want your children to learn, your chances are increased significantly if you put it to music. Forth graders are able to memorize all fifty states...IN ORDER...in just a couple of days by learning a catchy tune. My youngest used to sing at the top of her lungs every time she was sitting on the potty (something about the echo in the bathroom, I guess). What did she sing? The days of the week. Thanks to a big purple dinosaur named Barney, she had them memorized as a two-year-old because they were set to music.

2. Echo - Slip on a "magic" glove (any ole' glove will do). When it points to mom, it's her turn; when it points to the child, it's his turn. Recite just a few words at a time and then have the child repeat (echo) what you say. Add on one or two more words each time.

3. Recite in Different Voices - This is a fun way to increase repetition while minimizing boredom. Have the kids recite it in baby talk, in a British accent, in an army sergeant's command, in an opera singer's voice, in a whisper, in a fast-speed chipmunk voice, in a robot voice, in a Donald Duck voice, country western style, etc. You get the idea. Be creative and have fun with it.

4. Erase It - For children who can read, write out the entire verse on a dry-erase board or chalkboard. Have them read it aloud and then chose one word to erase. Read aloud again (including the missing word) and choose a second word to erase. Continue to repeat. Eventually, the entire verse will be erased and they will recite it on their own.

5. Create an Acronym - Instead of writing out the entire verse, just give them the first letter of each word as sort of a "cheat sheet". For example, if they were memorizing The Pledge of Allegience, you would write "I P A T T F O T U S O A..." I often use this tool with "Erase It"...works great for adults too!

6. Review Often-If you don't use it, you lose it. Review especially right before bedtime. I once read that we should pay close attention to what enters our child's mind right before sleep. Whatever a child hears, sees, or experiences immediately before dozing off sticks with them throughout the night. Knowing this, I would much rather have a poem about honesty or obedience in their impressionable little minds than the nightmare of mom screaming at them to get into bed--just another valuable tidbit of information that I found very useful.

7. Create an Acrostic - What the heck is an acrostic? I've used them many times, but didn't know they had a name. Lists can be challenging to learn, especially in the right order. For example, the seventh Article of Faith lists: "tongues, prophecy, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues...." When my oldest was memorizing this we both had trouble getting them in order. I suggested that he come up with a sentence made of words that started with the same letters (TPVHI). I have to admit, every time I recite the 7th Article of Faith now, I think of his boyish sentence and it puts a smile on my face. Ready for this? "Toilet Paper Very Helpful Indeed!" That was his acrostic! Whatever it takes, right? Many school age children learn the planets in order the same way. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto ="My Very Energetic Mom Just Served Us Nine Pizzas." Cool tool, huh?

8. Break it up - When your kids are memorizing anything of significant length, it's always helpful to divide it into manageable pieces. This is especially useful with long lists of numbers. One school teacher used this method for helping young children memorize their phone number quickly. First she talked about their having a first, middle, and last name. She had them each write down their three names. Then she explained that their phone number had a first, middle, and last name. What's your phone number's first name? (213) What's your phone number's middle name? (398) What's your phone number's last name (7682). What's your phone number's name? 213-398-7682. Memorizing ten digits in a row may be too challenging, but three smaller sets of numbers is not.

9. Use more Senses - The more senses your child uses, the more engaged her brain is and the stronger the imprint left on her memory. It has been said that we only retain a small percentage of what we hear, we remember a greater percentage of what we hear and see, and an even larger percentage of what we hear, see, and do. When helping children memorize, it's useful to add visual aids and/or actions. American sign language or other simple hand gestures assist with the memory process. So, make some flashcards or a poster; better yet, have your child help make them. If you want your child to do well on a spelling test, in addition to having her look at the words, and spell the words aloud, have her write the words repeatedly. It's not just "busy work". The more senses she uses, the more she'll remember.

10. Repetition - Quote the poem, verse, or article over and over. Repetition can be extremely helpful in learning patterns. Did you know that in the past few years, learning by repetition has been associated with forming the connection of synapses in brain cells? Basically, this helps with not only learning the information in the first place, but also in recalling it throughout the life of the child. Once the information has been memorized using repetition, the information is more easily recalled in the future. That must be why I still remember all the poems I memorized in elementary school. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

I hope these tips are helpful to you and your children. They've certainly worked for me and mine. :)

Children, Repentance, and Oranges

2011-04-06T09:39:00.036-05:00

Several years ago, my six year old came to me with a look on his face that we all would recognize as a little boy who had just done something he shouldn't. He held out three quarters in his hand and peered up at me--couldn't even lift his head because of the shame he felt. He didn't say anything, so my inquiry began:

"David, where did you get those quarters?"

"I found 'em."

"You lucky boy! Where did you find them?"

"On the sidewalk."

"On the sidewalk in front of whose house?"

"Just on the sidewalk...(sigh)...okaaaay, I found them in front of Laff's house."

"Well, we better go talk to Laff then and see if they belong to him, don't you think?"

"(Bigger sigh)...Okaaaaay, I found them on Laff's porch."

"Well", I thought, "now we are getting somewhere."

Using my very best parenting skills, and as lovingly as I could, I expressed my appreciation for his honesty. I explained that we NEVER take things from others without asking. I suggested that he return the money and apologize so that he could feel better inside. So, after some coaxing, we walked across the street together and I stood beside him on the porch like a reassuring mother should, giving him encouragement to do the right thing. As we were walking home afterwards, I sensed some relief in my little boy's disposition.

Boy...was I fooled!

Evidently, his entire confession was a fib. He and his five-year-old sister had gone TWO BLOCKS out of their boundaries, stolen ORANGES off of a neighbor's tree, and SOLD them for two dollars and twenty five cents! All but the last three quarters had already made it into his bank.

So, on Sunday afternoon, we took a family walk to ANOTHER porch and went through a similar situation in attempt to make restitution. Because we told them to, the kids apologized to the neighbor for taking oranges without asking and promised not to do it again.

I came home feeling extremely inadequate at my endeavors to teach my children the meaning of true repentance. The thought of my kids growing into juvenile delinquents locked behind bars with orange pulp on their faces haunted me. I felt a tremendous responsibility and wondered if I could possibly prepare them to become honest, law-abiding adults.

At that very moment, the phone rang. It was a member of the Stake Presidency asking me to speak in the upcoming Stake Conference. (For those of you who are not members of my church, Stake Conference is a semi-annual meeting where approximately 500-700 people are in the congregation. No biggie.) My assigned subject?..."TEACHING CHILDREN THE PRINCIPLES OF REPENTANCE, FORGIVENESS, AND LOVE". Do you get the idea that our Heavenly Father knows us personally?

Then, if it wasn't miraculous enough that I was asked to speak on the very subject that consumed my thoughts at the moment, he explained that I would be speaking with a General Authority. "Have you ever heard of C. Max Caldwell", he asked? "Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. That great man was my mission president ten years ago. I have a deep love and respect for him. No one has taught me more on these very principles than he has."

I felt tremendous comfort knowing without a doubt that my Heavenly Father was very aware of the details of my life. He loved me, and He knew how to communicate it in a way that I would recognize with complete certainty, exactly when I needed it. I felt like He was saying, "Colleen, you ARE doing a good job. Keep trying, and I will bless your efforts." I recognize and am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord in my life. He is a concerned, involved, loving Father and I am His daughter. That's the most important thing I know.

Helping Your Children Achieve Their Goals

2011-04-05T19:30:00.009-05:00

Reaching our goals gives us a great feeling of accomplishment, builds our self confidence, and drives us towards more progress and growth. Learning to set and achieve goals can and should begin very young. How young? Easily by three years of age. What kind of goal could a three-year-old possibly have? Well, if you've ever raised a child, you might understand that any of these could be possibilities:

1. Stay in my bed all night.

2. Keep my panties dry all day.

3. Wipe myself when I go potty.

4. Eat all my vegetables at meal time.

5. Pick up my toys every day.

I had a two-year-old say to me the other day with great excitement, "Ms. Colleen, I sleeped ALL NIGHT!" She was so proud of her accomplishment. More so, I think, than she was about the sparkly sticker mom and dad gave her in the morning.

For a five-year old, the goal may be:

1. Tie my own shoes.

2. Read a book aloud each night.

3. Make my bed every day before breakfast.

4. Use good manners at the dinner table.

5. Put away my clean laundry without being asked.

Professionals say it takes approximately 21 days to develop a new habit (seven days to break one). So, we can't expect a child to conquer any of these overnight. It's a process. The best thing we can do is to encourage them, give them incentive, and help them (and ourselves) visualize their progress. A few great ways to do that will be explained here.

First of all, in order to succeed, it's important to know what motivates your child. (Like I said in yesterday's post, it's amazing what a kid will do for a sticker.) Typically, younger children are motivated by toys, treats, and television time (that is, if television viewing is limited in the home...like it should be). Teenagers tend to be motivated by freedom, friends, fun, and food (i.e. driving privileges and money). For my young son, Daniel, the best reward was the latest, most commercially-advertised, action figure on the market. During his early childhood, this varied through the years from Ninja Turtles to Power Rangers to Buzz Lightyear & Woody. For example's sake, let's say he's trying to earn a Power Ranger action figure by making his bed every morning. Here are a few systems that usually worked in our home:

The Pie Chart (recommended for ages 3 and up): Every day, after Daniel makes his bed, he gets to color in one section of the pie. That's an immediate reward for accomplishing a short-term goal. He also can see his progress towards the big reward. What's the long-term goal? Establishing a new habit--making his bed every morning. He knows when the pie is filled, he gets his new Power Ranger toy. I know when the pie is filled, he has established a good habit of making his bed every day. (For a three-year-old, I would start with only eight slices of pie or provide some intermediate rewards. Otherwise, they may lose interest.)

Behavior Bucks (recommended for ages four and up): Every day, after Daniel makes his bed, he earns a "behavior buck" (fake money from the store or from our Monopoly game). The "behavior buck" is an immediate reward for accomplishing a short-term goal. Daniel knows once he has earned 20 behavior bucks, he gets a new Power Ranger action figure. I know when he has earned 20 behavior bucks, he has also established a wonderful habit of making his bed every day. Additional benefit here is reinforcing how to count to 20.

Spell it Out (recommended for ages 5 and up): Every day, after Daniel makes his bed, he gets a huge colorful letter prominently displayed for all to see. Eventually, the letters will spell "POWER RANGER ACTION TOY". Each letter is an immediate reward for accomplishing a short-term goal. (Plus, most people who see the big letters ask about them and make positive comments. That gives Daniel even more incentive. ) Daniel knows when the words are complete, he gets his new toy. I know when the words are complete, he has established a good habit of making his bed every day. Additional benefits here are learning to recognize letters, sounds, and words.

If you've ever taken a beginning psychology class, you know that once the habit is established, the reward can gradually be removed. It's the ole' Pavlov's theory with the dogs. Eventually, they would salivate just hearing the bell ring. Hopefully, once the rewards are removed completely, Daniel will continue to feel good about himself every morning as he makes his bed independently. That's the goal anyway. However, I will say that every few years, a new reward system may need to be established.

Again, my emphasis here is the early years. I feel so strongly that much of our children's personality, moral character, and mental capacity is developed between birth and age eight. Although it is no one's job but mine (and my husband's) to teach, inspire and motivate my children, I appreciate the outside positive influences from church, school, and community. They say "It takes a whole village to raise a child." Thankfully, we belong to a wonderful church that provides goal-oriented programs for our children from age eight until eighteen. Without support from home, though, these programs don't avail much.

I hope this post is helpful to someone out there. The important things are that you try to emphasize "positive reinforcement", remain optimistic, and don't give up. Of course, I'm sharing ideas that worked for us; there were plenty that didn't. And then there were those that worked sometimes and didn't at others. Any experienced parent will tell you what works for one child doesn't necessarily work for another. Parenting requires (among other things) some trial and error. Isn't it wonderful that God trusts imperfect beings like you and me to raise His precious children?

"YOU DID IT!" Reward System

2011-04-05T06:30:00.005-05:00

It's still amazing to me what a kid will do to earn a sticker, but then I realize how good it feels when I, as a grown adult, simply cross something off my "to do" list. Sometimes, I'll even write down things I've already done, just so I can cross them off. I know, pathetic. It seems such a small thing; but it carries deep satisfaction. It says, "YES! I DID IT!"

When my four children were ages two through six, we started a reward system that actually worked for longer than a week--I think it was closer to a couple of years. I used a large incentive chart with their four names at the left and hundreds of tiny squares to the right. Simple, right? The goal was to fill the squares with tiny smiley face stickers. They could earn up to four stickers a day. How? By fulfilling their responsibilities with a good attitude. See, because if they were going to whine and cry and grumble their way through their duties, I would rather just do it myself. I wanted them to learn responsibility, but I also wanted them to learn to be cheerful about it.

If you read yesterday's post, you know we had a routine for morning, after school, and evening. If they made it through that portion of the day (morning, afternoon, or evening) with a good attitude, they were rewarded. (So, one melt down in the morning didn't mean, "Why try? The entire day is ruined!" It meant, "I won't get a sticker this morning, but I'll do better this afternoon.")

I said four a day; that's only three. We also worked each morning at the breakfast table on memorizing our church's Articles of Faith (13 statements about what we believe) and/or various poems that would teach them a virtue or life skill. Children's minds are amazing! They are little sponges and I wanted to take advantage of those most formative years...ages birth through eight. Here are a couple examples of poems they learned:

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders are few.

Honour, power, place, and praise

Will come, in time, to the one who stays.

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too;

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile

Will come life's victories, after awhile.

-Anonymous

All the water in the world, No matter how it tried

Could never sink the smallest ship, Unless it got inside.

All the evil of the world, And every kind of sin

Could never damn a human soul, Unless we let it in.

(M. Russell Ballard May 1989 Ensign, p. 80)

My mother says she doesn't care,

About the color of my hair,

Or if my eyes are blue or brown,

Or if my nose turns up or down.

She says she doesn't care about things like that

It really doesn't matter.

My mother says she doesn't care

If I'm dark or if I'm fair,

If I'm thin or if I'm fat.

She says she doesn't care about things like that,

It really doesn't matter.

But if I cheat or tell a lie,

Or do mean things to make folks cry,

If I'm rude or impolite,

And do not try to do what's right...

That matters!

It isn't looks that make one great;

It's character that seals your fate.

It's what you are in your heart, you see,

That makes or mars your destiny.

And that REALLY matters!

(Author Unknown)

Whatever we were working on was printed and posted right next to the chart. As soon as the kids could quote it to me twice in a row without any help, they earned another sticker. It was unlikely that they would memorize one every day, but it was perfectly possible. The two year old was the fastest memorizer in the group! Check this post for tips on helping kids memorize.

Now, if earning stickers alone wasn't enough, every ten stickers they got to roll the die. Half the fun was the surprise of not knowing what they would earn. Here's the reward attached to each number on the die:

1. Surprise Box (A collection of small toys and treats that I picked up on sale and wrapped in fun paper.)

2. Play Date (Invite a friend over to play at our house - this was always a favorite.)

3. Mommy or Daddy Date (A one-on-one evening out doing a fun activity like bowling or getting manicures. The evening usually included ice cream cones and a late bedtime.)

4. Shiny new quarter (Yes, they loved this reward. It was enough to buy a giant gumball from the machine at Costco. They didn't care that it had taken them days to earn 25 cents. It was their own hard-earned coin!)

5. Painting on the art easel (This was a messy activity that required supervision. I didn't let them do it everyday.)

6. Free Choice or Roll Again (It was really "free choice", but if they couldn't decide within a reasonable amount of time, we made them roll again.)

I think one of the reasons this system worked so well is that it integrated both short-term and long-term goals. It also had a variety of rewards so they didn't get bored easily. Everyone gathered around for the die rolling whenever someone earned ten stickers. The entire family would cheer them on. Some earned ten stickers every two and a half days, others took a week. Everyone could work at their own pace.

My kids are now ages 17 to 21. They can still tell you what each die roll represented and I'll never forget the precious mommy dates we shared.

Jennie and Mom - May 1996

This pic was taken in a photo booth

at the mall during one of our mommy/daughter dates.

Teaching Children the Value of Work

2011-04-04T13:03:00.055-05:00

One of our Relief Society lessons last month was about work and teaching children the value of work. Our instructor did a great job leading the discussion.

One sister suggested using GAMES to make work more fun. That is a great idea and one that definitely worked for our family! My kids remember "fishing" for jobs with a homemade pole concocted of a wooden dowel, string, and magnet. The little paper fish were brightly colored and each had a job paper clipped to it.

The kids would run to do their job and hurry back to fish again. Other simple games included "beat the clock". I would set the timer and see if they could finish a particular job to my satisfaction before the bell went off. Then there were always the fun ways to pick up, "Let's race! You pick up all the red ones and I'll get all the yellow ones" We also used the gunny bag song shared by Richard and Linda Eyre. These were all fun ways to make work more enjoyable.

During our lesson, another sister mentioned how important our ATTITUDES are as mothers. Do we grumble about the work we have to do, or do we enjoy it? Our attitude and example is so important! There is a great feeling of satisfaction that comes from a job well done. This is something we need to let our children experience at a young age. Work is truly a blessing in our lives and we should see it as such.

There were lots of other great comments as the lesson progressed. Finally, I broke into song sharing how MUSIC helped me teach my children to work when they were little. Following are some of the songs that helped make work fun in our home.

Bedrime Routine (to the tune of "Row, Row, Row your Boat"):

Brush, brush, brush your teeth,
Take your flouride pill.
Go potty, get your books,
See, it's no big deal.

When my kids were little, we lived in an area that didn't have enough flouride in the city water. We had to supplement with flouride pills which they took every night. They also got to choose five books each night to take to bed with them. I would come around to each child's bed and read to them; then, they could lay in bed and look at the books until they were tired enough to fall asleep. If they snuck out of bed, the first thing to go was their books, the second was the night light and the third was the open door. They quickly learned to stay in bed and keep their privileges. I didn't want all the yelling and spanking at bedtime that I've witnessed in some homes. Bedtime can be so hard, especially if kids are unhappy. This song helped keep all of us in a better mood.

After School Routine (to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "ABC Song"):

When I come home after school,
I'll be sure to keep the rules.
Place my shoes upon the shelf,
Hang my coat up by myself,
Put my pack and lunch away,
After snack and homework, play!
With four kids coming in the door at once each afternoon, I didn't want utter chaos with shoes, coats, and books all over the floor. So, I started training the first one when he was just in preschool...and we grew from there. This song helped them to remember their responsibilities: to put away their shoes, coat, backpack, and lunchbox. (They also had an "inbox" where they placed any papers for mom to look at, sign, etc.) Once they put all their things where they belonged, they could have an after school snack (no snacks allowed after 4:00 pm.). Following snack, they did their homework, and then they could go play.

Morning Routine (to the tune of "One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians"

Bed, books, bottle, blanket, beauty breakfast,

Bed, books, bottle, blanket, beauty, breakfast,

These are our morning B-jobs.

The kids' morning routine basically consisted of making their bed, cleaning up their room, and getting themselves ready for the day before they could come down for breakfast. When they went to bed, their rooms were already clean. In the morning they had to make their bed, put away their five books from the night before, put away their water bottle (I started having them keep a water bottle on their nightstand so they didn't yell "I'm thirsty" ten minutes after they brushed their teeth. They never drank much of it, but it kept them in bed. They didn't have the excuse of getting up because they needed a drink.) They also remembered to put away their special blanket that nana made them when they were born. They slept with those until they became rags! "Beauty" meant get dressed and comb your hair. Basically both you and your room should look beautiful. Breakfast was the reward!

Once the kids were all school age, I instituted "family service" something that they were to do each morning that benefitted the family as a whole. Making their bed and getting themselves ready was great, but it was all about THEM. Mom is always doing for everyone else, why shouldn't they? These were the four "morning service" opportunities that they rotated while mom made a healthy breakfast (NO TV in the a.m.!!!):

1. Set the breakfast table.

2. Make the juice for breakfast (from concentrate)

3. Pack the school lunches....including making the sandwiches

4. Organize the shoe shelf.

Kids are often much more capable than we think. Give them a big responsibility and they will rise to the occasion. Spreading is a great thing to teach pre-schoolers. It helps them develop fine motor skills. Let them spread peanut butter on their own cracker! By time they are school age, there is no reason they can't make a sandwich. And if they are making one, why not make four? I think it was really good for my kids to serve each other in these capacities each morning.

Finally, here's the song we sang while doing dishes. I didn't make this one up. I stole it from someone else:

Kitchen Duty (to the tune of "I Love the Mountains")

I love the dishes,

I love the pots and pans,

I love the silverware,

I love the dishpan hands,

I love to do it all,

after every meal.

Kitchen duty, kitchen duty, kitchen duty, kitchen duty

Sometimes, I'll still sing this while loading the dishwasher. It makes me smile and I start dancing around the kitchen. For me and my family, music makes work more fun. I hope this is helpful to someone else out there. :)

Check back later to learn about a reward program/chart that really worked!

What the HAIL?!!!!

2011-04-03T21:29:00.017-05:00

It was up to 90 degrees today, but Olathe got the "hail" pelted out of it tonight. This chunk melted a little before I could gather the camera and ruler. As you can see it's AT LEAST one-inch in diameter and there's plenty more where it came from. I'm also posting photos my friends and neighbors took. Enjoy!

Lovgrens' "lumpa" hail

Etchells' "goofball" hail

Petersons' "pretty big" hail

Watts' "cotton ball" hail

Blacks' "believe-it-or-not" hail

Burtons' "big ole" hail

Andersons' "all alike" hail

Hansens' "whole-inch" hail

Per's "probably radioactive" hail

aaaaAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

Thoughts from General Conference

2011-04-03T17:00:00.017-05:00

This weekend, my church held it's 181st annual General Conference in this beautiful Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

Large enough to comfortably hold a Boeing 747,

the auditorium seats about 21,200 people

My husband and I enjoy Conference for two days twice a year (every April and October) even if we can't be present in the huge auditorium. The proceedings are always broadcast over the internet, television, and radio throughout the world in hundreds of languages.

President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors,

Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtforf

(The First Presidency of The Church)

I always look forward to gathering in the family room with close friends and family to hear the beautiful music, listen to the counsel of our church leaders, and feel the spirit of the Lord. We usually enjoy a delicious Sunday dinner between the morning and afternoon sessions.

Spring flowers on Temple Square in Salt Lake City

This year, my heart is smiling because all four of our kids are together for Conference Sunday even though they are away from home. They even planned their own big Sunday dinner. I'm thrilled to know that they are carrying on our family traditions.

Jessie (17), Jen (20), Daniel (19)

David (21) with his sweetheart, Becca.

Table is set!

Food is ready

The "little" sisters - Liz and Jessie

Er'body (between sessions, of course)

I am grateful to Nathan and Joyce Ricks (Becca's parents) for opening their beautiful home to all the Drake kids. Thank you Ricks family!

These are a few of my favorite quotes from this Conference:

"I know you can't see me, but I am right here, and you can do this."

--Jean A. Stevens

"Desires dictate our priorities; priorities shape our choices; and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on...determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming."

--Dallin H. Oaks

"Preach the gospel at all times; and when necessary, use words."

--Saint Francis of Assisi

"Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges...the only way to see the view is to make the climb."

--Paul V. Johnson

"Even more amazing than modern technology is our opportunity to access information directly from heaven, without hardware, software, or monthly service fees.

--Elder Russel M. Nelson

"Niether our professions, nor our possessions determine who we are."

--Elder Lynn G. Robbins

"Apparently the message of the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."

--Harold B. Lee

"Marriage provides an ideal setting to overcome any tendencies to be selfish"

--Richard G. Scott

"The Church is not a fast food outlet, we can't always 'have it our way'.... Salvation only comes in His way."

--Jeffrey R. Holland

Outside the Conference Center in the evening

Did you hear? Daniel's goin' on a mission!

2011-04-03T14:37:00.011-05:00

It's true!

He submitted his completed forms

on Wednesday night(March 30th, 2011)

The Stake President actually let Daniel do it himself,

so he counted down and clicked on "submit".

The call should come anytime in the next two weeks.

Check back to see where he's going.

Better yet, leave a comment with your prediction!

Wouldn't you let this handsome young man in your door?

Framed Easter Printable

2011-04-02T05:11:00.042-05:00

Following up on yesterday's post...

April Visiting Teaching Gifts

I chose to use white marbled vellum:

Here's the Easter printable on the vellum. Pretty isn't it?

I couldn't decide which pastel card to layer under the vellum, so I made one of each.

The marbling doesn't show up well in these photos, but I think it looks really nice.

I used 8 x 10 frames, but you could certainly print smaller ones or even use as a simple handout. Here's the finished project on pink, blue, green, and lavender.

Tied and tagged

Happy Easter!

I love this "printable" so much! I may just make a little fridge magnet for every sister in our Relief Society.

April Visiting Teaching Gift

2011-04-01T13:26:00.028-05:00

I like to take a little something to the ladies I visit each month. I found the perfect thing for April. It's a meaningful Easter gift, yet inexpensive enough to make four of them (one for each of the sisters I visit, plus one for my partner).

The words are from a favorite LDS hymn "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" (text by Samuel Medley, 1775) You can download this Easter printable here in four different colors (black, green, lavender, and dark purple). I'm going to print it in black on special paper and frame in distressed wood like this:

Then I'll add a cute Spring-colored ribbon. Check this later post to see a photo of the finished gifts.

Some things change; some don't...

2011-03-31T17:24:00.032-05:00

What do these photos all have in common?

Spring 1993

Summer 1993

Fall 1994

Summer 2005

Fall 2005

Summer 2008

Fall 2008

Spring 2009

Winter 2009

Winter 2010

Anyone see a pattern? :)-

I don't get it.

Do you think it's genetic?

"I'm so frustrated!"

2011-03-30T18:54:00.029-05:00

As the Relief Society President in my ward, I sometimes have the opportunity to counsel women who come to me seeking advice or simply wanting a sounding board as they sort through their problems.

Often, the issues they talk to me about stem from frustrations in their relationships whether they be with friends, family, or coworkers. Although I don't have a professional background in psychology, I do my best to listen with empathy and ask open ended questions.

One book that I have recommended more than any other is Dr. John M. Gottman's "The Relationship Cure". My bishop says it's the best book on relationships he has ever read. I have found some of the communication exercises in the book to be extremely enlightening. Are you aware of others' bids for connection? Do you respond by turning towards, turning away, or turning against? You may be surprised.

If you are looking for a way to improve any or all the relationships in your life (marriage, parent/child, roommate, coworker, boss, in-laws, etc.) invest the $10.03 and pick this one up at Walmart. Better yet, check it out at the public library for free.

Who among us doesn't want healthier relationships, stronger emotional connections, and better communication? This book not only can dramatically transform troubled relationships into positive ones, but it can elevate and improve even the good relationships in your life. It's extremely useful, practical, and spot-on.

I recommend it.

Don't you know? I'm a GREAT aunt!

2011-03-29T12:19:00.020-05:00

(Charlotte smiling at me)

My beautiful niece, Candice, and her cute family now live in Omaha which is only three hours away. It's wonderful to have extended family within a day's drive.

(Candice and Charlotte at the zoo on a cold day)

Their townhouse is just minutes from Omaha's famous Henry Doorly Zoo.

(The desert dome at Omaha Zoo)

Candice is doing a great job decorating it and making it feel like home. (The townhouse, not the zoo!) Last weekend, my brother and his wife were in Omaha visiting, so we drove up to spend the day with them.

(Kevin and Marian with their darling granddaughter - one of seven grandchildren.)

We had a wonderful visit, and Kevin treated us all to a delicious dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, my favorite!

(Cheesecake Factory, Omaha)

With Kevin's recommendation, I tried their Chris Outrageous Chocolate Cake for the first time.

OH! MY! GOSH!

It was a perfect little day trip and we certainly enjoyed the company and the food, despite the weather. We look forward to seeing Candice, Craig, and Charlotte again soon...over Easter weekend.

Glimpses of Jen's Spring Break

2011-03-28T19:45:00.007-05:00

(Before watching this video, pause tunes at bottom of blog.)

Empty TP Rolls

2011-03-28T07:05:00.039-05:00

I always heard if you ever become a Girl Scout Leader or a Cub Scout Den Mother you should save everything (empty TP rolls, egg cartons, milk cartons, you name it) because there will come a time when you need them for a kids' craft. Since Brookie is three now and has such advanced fine motor skills, she loves crafts! I decided it was time to use up some of my collection today. After googling images for "crafts made with TP rolls" I found this darling idea from Parents' Magazine. Perfect for Spring!

Isn't it so cute?!!! I didn't find any directions, but it was simple enough to figure it out.

1. First, I placed a rubber band around the cardboard tube (about 1/8 inch from the center) to act as a guide for my pen.

2. Then I drew a line the circumference of the tube and a second one about 1/4 inch from the first.

3. Next, I cut the tube with scissors from the edge just up to the line all the way around. I made snips about 1/4 inch apart, but depending on how wide you want your flower petals, you could adjust this.

4. Repeat on the other side.

5. Finally spread out the petals.

6. The flower can be left natural or painted any color you desire. (Tip: use a very dry paint and brush. My cardboard got a little too limpy.)

7. Stuff the center with crumpled giftwrap tissue or other colored paper.

8. Stick in a skewer for stem (pipe cleaners could work too; I just happened to have skewers on hand).

9. Add a paper leaf if you want and display in a cute vase or container. Voila!

What child wouldn't be proud to take this home? The true test is...can a three year old do it? With a little help from me, Brookie made three more flowers. Not quite magazine photo quality, but pretty darn good. Her favorite parts were gluing on the leaves, crumbling up the paper for flower centers, and filling the vase with Easter grass. She had trouble cutting all the way to the center line, but did a great job overall! She is so proud of herself and loves her flowers.

Happy Spring Mom and Dad!