Cultivated Lives

A Surprise and Some Spontaneity

2012-01-25T21:56:00.001-07:00

Any guesses what we saw today that prompted the boys to pull out these new toys when we arrived home?

We started taking our dear Greta to a chiropractor this week. We are very hopeful that this will help with all of her colic and severe food sensitivity issues. (I'm currently off all dairy, wheat, spices like cayenne and chili powder, chocolate, soy and peanuts.) I'm new to the whole chiropractor thing, but both of my sisters just love him.

On our way home today the most impressive motorcade passed us going the opposite direction on the freeway. I phoned my husband to see if there was some kind of high-profile funeral going on or something... That's when we found out that we had just driven past the president and his entourage.

Doing some quick thinking, I realized that he must have flown into the small airport near our home. So much to the delight of my boys, we made a quick detour to check out AirForce One. Let me tell you, that is one REALLY big airplane.

After gawking for a while, we headed for home where the kids played AirForce One pilot and motorcade over and over again. Looks like we are primed and ready for our study of the U.S. presidency and elections later this year!

Hurray for everyday, or in this case not-so-everyday learning opportunities!

Thanks mom and dad for the wonderful Christmas present that came in handy today!

Creativity Inspiring

2012-01-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

We've recently come under the spell of this incredibly creative book. It is always a good sign when an adult is just as captivated by a children's book as they are. Rich and Greta inspected this book for a good part of the morning a few weeks back.

We found ourselves chuckling at the ingenuity and inspecting each page to see what everyday items were used to create the pictures! I love books like this because it encourages us to think outside of the box and use objects we have around the home in open-ended ways.

Of course sometimes this creative 'out of the box' kind of thinking backfires. For instance, last week my three year old took the baby Jesus doll that he made in Sunday School out of a nylon and was using it as a slingshot and/or lasso. For some reason that just seemed a wee bit disturbing to see him whipping it around and racing to attack his brothers...

What everyday objects do your children play with and transform into something else?

Exploring the World of Walt Disney

2012-01-17T20:48:00.001-07:00

I can't help myself...

Life is full of learning opportunities and with grandparents taking us to Disney World for a Christmas gift this year, I took advantage of the opportunity to help prepare them.

So while I was speeding my way through The Unofficial Guide to Disney World with Kids (which I highly recommend), the boys were learning about the man behind the kingdom...

I just love how there are opportunities to learn, discover and enrich our lives, especially when it comes to special trips! They learned about Disney's creativity, entrepreneurship and of course his art. We had a geography review as we mapped out our trip (heading to St. Louis first and then Orlando).

Knowledge enriches life. It adds a layer of enjoyment and it is a delight to cultivate the habit of discovery and exploration in my children. And of course it is fun for Rich and I as well!

It was so cool to hear their squeals of delight every time they found a photograph or statue of Mr. Walt Disney this last week.

Speaking of learning enriching our lives, Treyton was so excited to see a 'real' portcullis as we passed through the castle. Sure we got some strange looks as he kept shrieking "Portcullis, mommy. There's a portcullis." But as I thought back to our time learning about that last year when he was only two years old, I couldn't help but smile and thank God for the opportunity we have to learn as a family!

Although I was sick all week, we had a fun time. I'm super proud that we made it through without losing any children. And the sling totally made the trip so much more fun. Greta was able to nap as we hopped on and off rides! And having grandparents there also meant extra hands so we were able to pass her around for some of the more 'exciting' rides!

Getting to see their eyes open on wonder and their imaginations run wild was a real treat!

Today was a mountain of laundry, restocking the fridge and getting Greta back on track. Tomorrow {hopefully} finds us resuming our normal routine!

While Disney World was fun, I must say I'm enjoying the peace and {semi} quiet.

Cultivating Gratitude

2011-12-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

Expectations...

If you don't clearly communicate what they are (and add some practice role-playing in for the littles) disaster and disappointment can ensue...

I've had to chase down a certain 3 year old more times than I care to admit because I didn't clearly communicate before hand proper etiquette at the park.

So I've made a regular practice of RELATING expectations and REHEARSING proper behavior before we go anywhere!

Relate, Rehearse, repeat

This Christmas provided yet another opportunity to do just that. We wanted to work with our boys on gratitude when it came to receiving gifts. So on Christmas morning, before any gifts were opened we huddled close and I laid out the game plan:

We would open gifts, one at a time. Afterwards they were to seek out the person who gave them the gift, look them in the eye (because they are famous for shouting a thanks, but not making eye contact) and thank them specifically for the gift. "Thank you for _______. I'm so excited to do ____ with it!" As a physical expression of their thanks, a big bear hug was in order.

Since we have been making a habit of pausing and thanking God for his many gifts to us, we explained that this is a natural extension to pause and thank the person who gave us a gift...

Throughout all of the 'training' I've found it also important to season everything I do with regular reminders to the boys on 'WHY' we are doing what we are doing. Jesus outlined the two greatest commandments when He said:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:37-39

It is important for them to understand that everything we do is an act of worship and and opportunity to bring glory to God. Additionally, these are opportunities to show love and respect for others.

And I have to say, I think the fruit of our little training session that morning was one of the biggest highlights of my day! They were so adorable at our home as they put this into practice. The excitement and gratitude were contagious. Brothers giving each other bear hugs and getting held tight myself with beautiful eyes looking deep into mine made for a memorable morning.

Of course, they needed frequent reminders once we joined up with extended family and the distractions exponentially increased. But overall it was so exciting to see so much growth!

We've been busy over here - trying to pull myself back into gear and still faithfully teaching and training my wonderful boys in addition to caring for the baby. I'm in overhaul mode intentional training has been taking a growing role in our home that had grown lax in the first weeks after the baby. So I've been taking the principles of RELATE and REHEARSE into many aspects of our lives...

Putting toys away, tidying up their room, going to the library, learning to listen for my voice and respond, and most recently in preparing for our upcoming trip to Disney World. In fact, just today we rehearsed proper etiquette for visiting the doctor which made for a smooth trip taking my sweet little Greta in today.

And throughout all of this, I repeat my oft repeated mommy mantra...

training takes time, training takes time, training takes time.

I'm so thankful for the precious rewards that pop up in the process!

Where have you found it helpful to prepare and train your children?

Merry Christmas

2011-12-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

So very grateful...

for a precious baby gift! Favorite blessing of 2011!

Dad back in Arizona and CANCER-FREE!

gifts carefully wrapped for mom by an eager and generous 5 year old.

discovering his excellent taste in jewelry.

{he couldn't afford any, so he raided my jewelry box for gifts...}

excited boys after opening up a fieldgoal post from Mima and Pa!

the sight of my hubby holding our daughter.

tipi handmade with love from my sister!

a mom who brought back a sister and her family to celebrate Christmas with us!

cousins excitedly watching each other open gifts.

the return of a childhood tradition: treasure hunt for a gift.

watching oldest son's excitement at the discovery!

boys with pop-guns!

boys showing their young cousin how it works!

talking, cooking, talking, cooking!

brothers-in-law enjoying their reunion and playing endless games of Dominion.

having my brother-in-laws brother join us for Christmas Day since he had to be away from his family for military training.

Feeling blessed.

#888-903

Counting my way to 1,000 gifts. bit.by.bit

even if it isn't Monday...

My Christmas Dress

2011-12-29T20:43:00.002-07:00

Out here in the wild west, few people dress up for Christmas anymore it seems... But I succeeded in convincing my family to dress up once again. (Although the large number of jeans at the Christmas Eve service this year probably did me in for making this happen next year.) For now, I'm relishing in the boys who will still wear matching clothes and now dressing my little girl up!

One of the beautiful things about having a daughter, especially one who was born close to when you were, is getting to dress her in outfits that you wore as a girl...

My great-grandmother made this tiny red velvet dress for me on my first Christmas and Greta got to wear it for hers!

I loved it so much that I put her in it every chance I had, including going down to Tucson to see my cousin get her PhD! I still smile when I think of that lovely overnighter we took. Greta and I had so much fun sharing a hotel room. We made lots of faces in the mirror and I had the rare opportunity to give her my undivided attention for a while!

And of course, Oma snagged her every moment she could. I can only imagine the memories this dress brought back to her!

Nature's Gift...

2011-12-10T22:16:00.001-07:00

When nature hands us the gift of opportunity, we take advantage and go exploring. Yesterday, we pulled out the balls and had an impromptu lesson on lunar eclipses.

Natural learning opportunities abound everywhere. With the help of the internet and a few balls, we were able to prepare for our 'quasi' early rise the next morning.

With hubby tucked warmly in bed and keeping Greta company, the boys and I ventured outdoors early this morning to take in what we could of the eclipse.

Memories Made, Memories Remembered

2011-12-09T22:32:00.001-07:00

I just love this time of year. For our family it is actually not a very busy time and I love the quiet evenings spent making memories. I am drinking in the moment and imprinting it in my mind - their giggles of delight, squeals as they discover a favorite ornament, excited faces as past memories are shared, time spent in awe of the Incarnation - God come to earth, etc...

I thank God for this little family He has blessed me with and I am so thankful that He sent Jesus to make a way to bring us back into His family!

Christmas lights, in every format, are a favorite at our home.

Finally, after 10.5 years of marriage, I decided that we needed a tree-topper last year. Sadly, I didn't get it made until after Christmas. So this is our doily star's inaugural trip to the top of the tree! Do you have anything hand-made on your tree?

Of course, the boys favorite ornament is this little guy...

I think mine is still this set that we received as a wedding gift! Rich threatens me with a handlebar mustache every time he sees it.

While Greta was present during all of this, I'm not sure she was taking in very much.

Nursing Some Good Reads

2011-12-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

I nurse, therefore I read...

Am I the only one who does a whole lot of reading in those first few months with a baby? While I don't have nearly the time that I did with my first baby, I still find myself reading a lot when I am nursing my babies. I have tendencies to get easily distracted and am usually in the middle of a couple of books. The sleep deprivation or fluctuating hormones must be accenting that because I'm dabbling in more than usual.

I'm always curious to see what others are reading, so I figured I would share my current reads. Since I think I've nursed her in almost every room in the house, I thought I would share the books I have located in each spot!

The Front Room

I love the lighting in this room. We just have sheers up on all of the windows so this room is awash with indirect sunlight! The kids spend a lot of time in this room, so naturally, I do too!

My Backpack Bible ~ This tiny Bible with a snap closure received its nickname when I bought it in college. It travelled back and forth to school with me daily and has been a staple in my diaper bag. I've been keeping it handy downstairs because I can hold it with one hand making reading it while nursing possible. It is the Bible we grabbed when we did the first day of our advent devotional and pictured here.

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains
I knew I was starting my climb out of the post-partum fog when I started reading this book. What can I say, brain research excites me as long as I'm not too sleep deprived. This fascinating read delves into how surfing the Internet is actually changing the way we think and re-wiring our brains... I'm sure some people are more effected than others. A friend posted a recent CNN article about 'popcorn brain' on facebook this summer and it really challenged me. So when I saw this book, I knew I wanted to read it.

A Family of Value
My dad found this when it was offered as a free Kindle book. He liked it so much he bought a paper copy for each of his daughters. I wish I had read something like this several years earlier. It is just common-sense, old fashioned parenting. The author is a psychologist who bought into the 'nouveau' ideology advanced by mainstream psychology until their firstborn reached the age of three. They realized that instead of creating their dream of a the loving democracy that a dictatorship had arisen and the 3 year old was in charge. That's when they realized that they needed to return to time-tested parenting models. His book hinges on the concept of raising children who "were endowed with traits of character that constituted good citizenship: specifically respect for persons in positions of legitimate authority; a willingness to accept responsibility for one's own social behavior as well as assignment from authority figures; and resourcefulness, a hang-in-there, tough-it-out, try-and-try again attitude toward the many challenges of life." So far it has been eye-opening, convicting and intensely practical. While he is a believer this is not a specifically Christian book.

The Living Room

A Natural Guide to Postpartum Health
I'm a science junkie who is fascinated with the health aspects surrounding fertility, pregnancy and babies. I've also had a growing interest in the area of post-partum care of women and nutrition.
This book explains how the most common postpartum complaints are actually a result of nutrient and hormonal depletion and imbalance. I found this book fascinating. It is changing the way I want to help women. I have been having conversations with my sister and a few friends over the years about how we can best care for each other post-partum and this book was very helpful. I checked it out through inter-library loan, so unfortunately had to skim through the last several chapters because I didn't have enough time to read all of it. But with the science emphasis, I didn't always have the brainpower for this kind of reading... I'm cutting myself slack though and reminding myself that I'm going through those very hormonal changes talked about and suffering from a bit of sleep deprivation. I would love to buy this book sometime so that I can use it as a resource when my friends and sisters have children!

Cure Tooth Decay Naturally: Heal and Prevent Cavities with Nutrition
I've been researching nutrition a lot over the last year and making more adjustments with how we eat. When I came across this book during a library search for something else, it piqued my curiosity. It is a fascinating book and while I don't think his recommendations are very reasonable for those on a tight budget, I've found changes we can make and it has challenged how I've viewed oral health...

The Kitchen Table

The Black Stallion
We've been working our way through the Black Stallion. One of my favorite times to read chapter books to them is at the kitchen table. Sometimes I read while they are wrapping up lunch or during afternoon smoothies. Other times, I give them paper and turn them loose drawing while I read. Busy hands make for more focused minds. Even the three year old can pay attention sometimes...

The Nursery

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
She isn't sleeping in the nursery at night yet, but when I'm in this room, sleep is on my mind. Hence I reach for this book that I've read with each of my children. This book really taught me how to read my children's sleep cues and find a routine that worked for each of them. It is always such a relief when I start to figure my kids out and when they reach the age of slipping into a routine. That time is just around the corner for us!

The Master Bedroom

My regular Bible is on my nightstand. I find I can read it at night for a bit while I nurse Greta one last time.

In the days after Greta was born and I was attempting to stay in bed, I also enjoyed rereading C.S. Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet. His vocabulary is amazing and I felt stretched in a good kind of way. I couldn't help but reflect on how reading really helps boost and build one's vocabulary. This is what probably inspired me to try and increase my time spent reading books over the last 2 months.

While I've promised myself to not start anything else until I finish these, I'm always looking for new book recommendations! I'm thinking a novel would be a nice break for my next book. So I'd love to hear what books are being read at your home.

Rainy Day Play

2011-12-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

As the rain pitter-pattered down, I settled into a chair on the back porch with my hands wrapped around a mug of warm soup. My precious two-month old is napping inside. Warm fills me while the wind nips at my arms, chilling them. I slowly breath in the lovely smells that accompany a desert rain.

Meanwhile, boys race around the yard on {stick}horseback. First they round up cattle and drive them to the train station. Then they are off to the races - steeple chasing and coaxing other great stunts from their {stick}horses. This is the last week of our horses unit and they are entranced with all that they have discovered.

It is a rainy day, a lazy day and yet always, always a learning day...

To live is to learn and they are busy at this work of learning - incorporating it into every aspect of their play, tapping into that creativity that God placed inside each one of them and honing their relational skills as they navigate working together.

Rainy days have a relaxing, calming effect on all of us. Inside, the 5 year old pulls out our Global Twister map, the continent boxes and an assortment of other toys for some impromptu geography review.

Penguins take up residence in the antarctic regions, always on alert for predators like the leopard seal and the killer whale.

A discussion arose about the Liberty Bell which relocated from its original placement in western Canada to its rightful position in New England.

And Xander spent time studying his sister.

Apparently rain doesn't have a calming effect on everyone because these moments were soon followed up with some conflict resolution training as the three year old came in and laid claim to half the toys...

Life is all a learning experience, isn't it?!?

The Blessings of Trial

2011-12-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

Trials are never fun, but I am always amazed at the blessings tucked inside various trials.

As I mentioned a while ago, there has been some upheaval in our family. The biggest change was finding out my dad had cancer and their subsequent relocation to California for treatment. I guess the beauty of a new baby is that the last two months have zipped by and we are excitedly anticipating my parent's return a week from now!

Watching faith in action is a beautiful thing. God has a way of refining us, drawing us close to Him and growing us during these trials. Oftentimes, that supernatural work spills over into other's lives as well.

We have been blown away at the care, concern and prayer support that people have extended to our family. My dad recently communicated his gratitude for every one's prayers as he emailed an update to friends and family. I found myself so encouraged by what he wrote:

I definitely have noticed the Holy Spirit’s presence. I’ve also discovered that prayer is similar to radiation treatment although much more positive. Just as radiation treatment affects the surrounding organs and tissues on its way to the intended target so prayer affects the entire person (body soul & spirit) on its way to its intended fulfillment. In my case there has been an increase in God consciousness, greater capacity in resisting those irksome sins that so easily entangle and a great deal of peace. I do covet your prayers.
Thank you for your prayers for my dad. We are filled with gratitude at God's continued faithfulness and how He uses every situation in our lives to draw us close.

After a wonderful weekend with my parents, I find myself counting and counting and counting just a few of the many gifts showered on my family...

...and I continue my formal 'online' count towards 1,000 gifts.

867. cancer treatments that are almost done.

868. radiation machines that have stayed up and running, eliminating delays in treatment!

869. trials that cause faith to grow.

870. the Holy Spirit's work through the prayers of His people.

871. the fresh realization that God cares for the whole of us - body, soul and spirit.

872. watching the boys excitement as the Thanksgiving weekend with my parents approached.

873. buying the turkey which meant an excuse to make our way over early Thursday morning!

874. a family that has been healthy so far this fall.

875. boys taking up their clubs to play the long awaited tournament. (usually a weekly tradition)

876. seeing my dad enjoy his time with my boys as much as they enjoyed being with him.

877. baby sisters belly starting to swell with new life!

878. birthday celebrations and Dominion playing!

879. my mom here and getting to cuddle with Greta

880. the sweet reward of smiles and coo's of delight from our 2 month old darling.

881. hand-knit sweater and bonnet worn now for three generations!

882. laughing as my mom tries to smooth away the 'concentrating' wrinkles that my daughter gets on her forhead just like I do...

883. games, games and more games!

884. a long-overdue date night!
885. hiking up 'A' mountain like we used to do before we were married.

886. parents who braved taking all four kids and the three-hour window that gave us!!!

887. a fun night of making ratatouille while watching Ratatouille for the boys.

Bought at a price...

2011-11-28T21:25:00.001-07:00

Today has been one of those days. Well, maybe not one of THOSE days... Actually the more I think about it, today was a pretty normal, run-of-the-mill kind of day.

peaceful moments punctuated with cries and whines.
                                        teachable hearts one moment, stubborn one's the next.
                                                                                 calm and tranquility interrupted by chaos.

Life is a roller coaster - full of ups and downs.

During my peak of feeling overwhelmed today, I started to reach for my go-to coping mechanisms. Any of you have those? Sadly, chocolate and cookie dough balls were out of the question. {I'm in the middle of an elimination diet to determine exactly what foods are bothering my baby girl. So dairy, wheat/gluten, eggs, chocolate and a few other things are off limits.} Mindlessly surfing the Internet is my next escape...

As I slipped to the front room in an attempt to escape reality, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit as He dropped a nugget from the Word into my heart.

"...you are not your own. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

(I Corinthians 6:19b-20)

God reminded me that my life is not my own. I've given it to Him. And He's called me to be in the moment, doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I am a mother to these four, called to embrace the glorious and messy job of raising them, showing them what it means to live in the world -but not of it and introducing them to Jesus. At these times, I'm called to embrace the chaos and look to Him for peace. So I turned back and thanked God for speaking to me and tackled the rest of my day.   The baby still fussed, boys bickered and my patience ran thin. But God was faithful to continually draw me back, renewing my focus and resolve.  He showered me with his love so I could in turn love my children. I'm so very thankful...

Truth in the Tinsel: A Review

2011-11-22T20:37:00.001-07:00

Using holidays to point my children to Jesus is very important to me. That's why we've made such a big deal about Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Ascension Day and even Valentine's and St. Patricks's Day in the past. They've all served to provide an exciting opportunity to be purposeful in drawing their attention to the Lord.

There is so much out there for celebrating Advent, but none of it ever seemed to fit my hopes for what I wanted to do with my kids. Either they were too simplistic or too complex for my young children to understand. I'm just a smidge particular. So I ended up spending the last several years pulling my own thing together.

With a new baby this year, I was quick to realize that my creative juices certainly weren't up to the task of dreaming something up. Instead, I decided to keep things really simple and focus on spending time in prayer, worship and reading them some of my favorite Christmas books. The beauty of God coming down as a man to rescue us from sin is that we can now have a rich, personal relationship with Him. So RELATIONSHIP is our focus this year...

After I had settled that in my heart, I caught wind of a new ebook coming out: Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. I love Amanda over at Impress Your Kids. We are on the same page with having a heart to impress the wonder and glory of knowing Jesus into our children. Not only that, we both tend to approach it in a hands-on kind of way! I just knew I would love her book. So getting the opportunity to preview an advance copy was such a treat.

To SUM it all up, what I've been looking for all these years is nicely contained in this adorable ebook. I wanted an easy to use resource that has substance (beyond just cute, itty-bitty baby Jesus in a manger), was easy for young children to understand and memorable..

S ubstance
Amanda writes in her introduction:

"The key to this entire advent celebration is to have a daily focus and meditation on God's greatest gift. Your children will learn the ins and outs of the story because you've facilitated a time to discuss, play and create. And in those moments, God will speak to their hearts and yours.

"The little Baby is no longer in the manger, but alive and sitting on a throne - waiting to have a relationship with you and your children. Help your children get to know Him this Christmas!."

I love how she ties the Christmas story into the big picture of God's redemptive work. God loves us and wants to bring us back into his family. Sending Jesus is how he accomplished this! Truth in the Tinsel does a wonderful job at balancing the basics of the story, but also introduces so much more scriptural truth into each day. As I read, I found myself pondering the material and seeing the Holy Spirit speak to me too. Something that touches both my children and myself is always a good sign.

U nderstandable
This book is specifically geared to reach the hearts and minds of children in that preschool-mid elementary age range. The book does a great job at walking you as the parent through the process of discipling your children.

I love how it is broken down. It is easy to navigate. Each day is explained on one page and includes, "the clue" - which is a picture. As we read the scripture passage to the children, they are to be on the hunt to figure out what the clue has to do with the passage. When they hear the word or see the connection, they are to shout it out! This draws them in and helps them to listen and really grasp the theme for the day. Then there is something "to read together" (the scripture passage), something "to make together" (the ornament craft - complete with detailed instructions and pictures), something "to talk about together" (scripting with questions to draw your children out and also to explain the passage) and a "do more together" section (with an extra activity).

I can see how this repetition in format from day to day will really help the kids understand and the way she words the discussion part is just perfect for helping our young children understand the deeper meanings behind various aspects of the Christmas story.

M emorable
This is also such a wonderful memory builder. Taking big ideas and making them concrete and hands-on lends itself to really solidifying what they are learning. I mentioned that a bit in my last post about Christmas. The simple ornaments do just that. Because we will have three sets of ornaments, I think we will hang one set on our regular Christmas tree, one set on a miniature Christmas tree that I will set up in the boys room and gift another set to my parents.

It also utilizes a 'countdown' which my boys always love. There are paper picture clues that you can place in a wooden advent drawer stand if you have one or there is the option to print off the paper clues and make a countdown paper chain (which is what we will be doing!)

Previewing the material was fun, but I really wanted to see how it would work out with my children, so we tried out 'Day 1' this morning.

My little boys never really sit still. And that is a-ok. They still absorb so much!

They were excited to make their candle ornament to remind them of who is the light!

We all gave the first devotional and project a thumbs-up! Now we just have to be patient and wait until December 2nd to start the next devotional!

The beauty of it is that each day can stand alone, so there is no pressure to get it all done. Even though the entire project only took us about 30 minutes to complete (plus about 15 minutes in prep time) I'm sure there will be days that I don't get to it (Greta still makes life pretty unpredictable). Thankfully, the devotional aspect takes 10 minutes tops and even if we just do that some days, it will still be a treat!

If you have children in the preschool-mid elementary years and are looking for an advent devotional, I highly recommend this one. The price can't be beat.

Anyone want to join us?

For Black Friday, you can get the ebook for only $2.99!!!! But even if you decide to order it later it is still a steal at only $4.99!

You can order the book here at their website.
You can also follow Truth in the Tinsel on facebook.

Disclaimer: Truth in the Tinsel and Amanda at Impress Your Kids provided me with a free copy of her ebook to review. The opinions shared are completely my own. I would have been recommending it anyways after I had purchased it today.

Cultivating Christ at Christmas

2011-11-22T20:12:00.001-07:00

Repost from the archives... I'll be sharing about an exciting new advent craft/devotional ebook on Friday!!! It is perfect for the toddler/preschool/early elementary years! Be sure to check back.

Christmas is just around the corner. It's been on my mind for a while now. For us, Christmas is a wonderful time of remembering back to the anticipation of the coming Messiah and then the events leading up to God coming to earth and being born as a baby.

I've found is that in order to have a peaceful, thoughtful experience I must:

First PRAY.

I want this to be a meaningful time for my family. In order for my hopes to become a reality, it is important to pray and ask God what He wants us to focus on at this time. There are a plethora of wonderful opportunities out there and I need His direction in what my family needs to hear, experience and do this next month.

Second - PLAN.

Without a plan, stress rises up as I dash about last minute to pull things together or I get so distracted by peripheral things, that I don't spend time doing what is really important. Times like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, etc can serve as wonderful times to reflect, remember and worship. The excitement of these seasons lend themselves well to pulling our children into the wonder of God becoming man and redeeming a world that was lost.

But without a plan, this time can slip through our fingers before we've had a chance to reflect ourselves and instruct our children.

Things to keep in mind, especially with younger children:

Keep it concrete ~ Children need a firm grasp of concrete facts, or the narrative before they can move into understanding and appreciating the abstract.

Read them the story. Both straight from the Bible (maybe at bedtime after they are tucked in) and utilize picture books. Here are some of our favorite Christmas books. (Over the past several years, I've wrapped up our favorite Christmas books (or coupons for Hot cocoa, evening walk around the neighborhood, etc) for them to do each night as we countdown to Christmas.)

Make it hands-on ~ Children learn best when they are moving their bodies and engaging their imaginations.

Get a child friendly Nativity set. If they can play with one you already have, great. If not, consider investing in or creating paper dolls for them to play with. Play is a child's work. It is how they internalize what they are learning about. We love our Little People Nativity Playset (although I'm disappointed that they only have one that lights up and plays music now) and of course there are many lovely child-friendly nativities out there!

(Keegan with his 'town of Bethleham')

Act the story out. Costumes don't have to be elaborate, or even absolutely necessary. (Although they do go along ways in 'stepping into character' and act out the story with your kids. Taking a long walk (around the block) while holding ball under your shirt and riding a stick horse will open up a wonderful dialogue on what the journey to Bethlehem must have been like.

Make a craft. We loved making these Joy to the World ornaments last year.

Look Forward ~ Helping our children connect WHY Jesus came to earth as a baby is vitally important. This is no ordinary baby.

Make it a BIG deal ~ I mentioned this when I blogged about celebrating Easter with young children, When we make something a BIG deal, they pick up on the importance of it and will place value on that. With there being such a materialist mindset at Christmas, it is easy to fixate only on that during this season, unless we as parents make a firm decision on where to draw their attention.

Advance preparation builds anticipation. Special activities and time spent reflecting and preparing for Christmas build excitement. This is a wonderful season to take stock of our priorities and enjoy special time with Jesus!

The cool thing about this is that there are so many ways to go about it. Each family will celebrate in their own unique and wonderful way.

Once they have played with the concrete facts, it can be so special and important to add in more layers to their understanding of God come to earth as man, the anticipation of His arrival, etc.

Other wonderful ideas:

Truth in the Tinsel. We are doing this delightful craft devotional this year!
Jesse Tree. There are many variations to this general devotional that follows the lineage of Jesus from Jesse on down. It utilizes daily scripture readings and a symbol (3-d or paper) that you place on a tree each day, leading up to Christmas. Here's one that includes pictures of the ornaments/symbols along with scripture reading and correlated readings in her two favorite Children's Bibles. I've also heard nothing but wonderful reviews on Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree devotional. She came out with a new edition last year. The wonderful thing about this one is that you can print the symbols which will save time and make it do-able for this year! A simple google search on Jesse Tree devotions will lead to many more variations.
Advent Fortold ~ This devotional focuses on the Old Testament prophecy about Jesus. It is clearly laid out and has a corresponding coloring page for each day. There is also the option of making an advent calender which correlates to the devotions as well. I was very close to deciding to to this one this year, but decided to wait until my kids are just a bit older.

Mesmerizing Pilgrim Reading

2011-11-21T20:40:00.001-07:00

Today we parked out in the front room, eating, drawing and listening...

All eyes were glued on me and the computer screen -captivated, except for the periodic cries for 'one more chapter'.

I'm not a fan of reading books off of my computer. In fact, this is a first for us. But it is just that good.

We've been reading an absolutely delightful pdf copy of a trio of old books about the pilgrims! I shared a link to these trio of books on my facebook page last week, but I wanted to make sure that you all had the opportunity to snatch up this free pdf book series that Homeschool Freebie of the Day has posted on their site. They only keep these files up for a week usually, but it is still up this week.

These engaging books, originally published in 1910, follow the pilgrims from their time living under persecution in England to their escape to Holland and eventually the new world. I had been at a loss on explaining what the persecution was like in England to my young boys, but this book does a great job of laying it out in a way that is easily understandable and relatable for the kids. Oh the beauty of living books!

So snag them while you can: Book I, Book II, Book III.

Homeschool Freebie of the Day has some great resources. I would highly encourage you to sign up for their email alerts!

Superhero Complex...

2011-11-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Every parent probably has things they would rather their children not get into... My mom's aversion was barbies. Mine is super heroes.

Anyone who has been at our home in the last couple of months would think that Treyton doesn't have any other clothes. Much to my chagrin, this exuberant son of mine is just {slightly} obsessed with super heroes.

Call me weird, but I don't really care for superheroes. In fact, I had gone out of my way to NOT expose my boys to super hero books, TV shows, paraphernalia, etc. Growing up in a family of all girls, my introduction to the world of superheroes has largely been with the live action movies that I've seen as an adult. I'm sorry, but most of them do not fit the bill of approved role model. {ahem. IronMan for example.}

While we had these cute superman jammies from the get go, I figured I was safe since they didn't 'know' what they went to. But I guess some kids are just wired with a superhero complex. All it took was some friends talking about super heroes and then spying an Iron Man doll at another friends house. He is hooked.

Now he sports his pj's complete with red underwear on the outside, a red playsilk cape and snowman socks for boots. I admire his creativity.

Seriously, where does he come up with this stuff?!?!?!?! And who dreamed up super hero costumes with underwear being worn over tights. Ugh.

I've drawn the line at wearing this out and about, but as you will notice, most pictures taken at home will reveal him decked out and ready to save the world...or at least his sister.

I'm also learning to loosen up and smile at this {hopefully} short phase...

Pencils and Paint at the Preserve

2011-11-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

The weather finally cooled off which is a good thing because we've all been getting a little stir crazy. So we grabbed our colored pencils, water colors and headed over to the riparian preserve nearby! The boys were so excited to add a nature inspired picture to their art books and visit our favorite little spot at the preserve!

It is always interesting to see your children manifest some of your own quirks. Xander takes after me in his perfectionist tendencies. He paced and stared at the water, waiting for inspiration to hit. He didn't want to start until he had the perfect idea... I kept encouraging him to just start and never mind getting it done perfectly. I had to laugh as I've heard that so many times myself.

And of course, we couldn't leave without rock hopping, 'accidentally' falling in the creek, racing up and down the hill and climbing a few trees!

Getting outside is soothing to the soul. It felt so good to let our bodies loose to explore and use our minds to create masterpieces. The only thing missing was an art book for me! I'm going to join them next time, especially during this season of baby sleeping all the time!

Thanksgiving Learning Fun

2011-11-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. Really, I just love holidays. They are so festive, fun and provide an excellent learning opportunity for my boys!

In keeping with the spirit and because planning can be so helpful in preparing our children for any holiday, I thought I would post links to past Thanksgiving learning projects we've done! As you can tell, we love hands-on learning in these parts. Give them a costume and we're golden!

What are you doing this month to celebrate or learn about Thanksgiving? If you have any ideas or have blogged about anything related to Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, religious persecution, native americans, etc feel free to leave a comment and/or link!

Mayflower Nut - a tutorial

We did this child-friendly, eye appealing project last year and it was a huge hit. The boys loved playing with them and they doubled for beautiful decorations!

Mapping the Mayflower

Our adventure mapping the journey of the Mayflower and reviewing why they left the Old World for the New World.

Mayflower Living for Wee Folks

Two years ago we learned about what life was like on the Mayflower. Our favorite activity was dressing up as boys on the journey over. We ate food similar to what they ate (w/out the bugs, mold and extent of staleness) and slept in a replica we made of a family's quarters on the Mayflower. The boys loved it. I for one am glad we don't live at that time and that I have a nice king-sized bed!

This post also includes links to our favorite books on the Pilgrims!

Of Measuring and Comparing

Along with learning about the Mayflower, Xander was also learning about the story of Noah in Awana's that year. To gain perspective, we went out to our street and measured the dimensions of both the Mayflower and Noah's Ark. It was so helpful for my boys to visualize the sizes...

Life at Plymouth

We also had a co-op day that year, learning all about pilgrim life. Our little group loved learning about planting corn, how instrumental Squanto's help was, having a make-believe hunt, etc...

Turkey-Gratitude Countdown

Several years ago, we made our first Turkey countdown. It was such a hit that we did it again last year. We incorporated learning about gratitude by writing down something we were thankful for each day. When all the feathers were filled in, we were ready to celebrate!

Here are some other fun ideas that I've seen out there.

I'm just in love with this idea over at Rhythm of the Home. I definitely want to make a set for my kids! Giving kids the opportunity to use pretend play really reinforces what they have learned. The Wampanoag Indians didn't actually live in tipi's, but watu's/wigwams. The tipi is so cute though, isn't it!?!

I love this idea of having a 'popcorn' turkey. One Charming Party has excellent directions to assemble this visually appealing Thanksgiving treat! This would make a great addition to a Thanksgiving Feast re-enactment!

I love these Thanksgiving Story Beads idea at Little Page Turners. It is a darling way to help kids review the basics of the Pilgrim's story...

Here is a cool Mayflower handprint project that could be fun too over at Almost Unschoolers.

Finally here are a few free digital books that you can download. They are beautifully written and make for great read alouds.

Hello Reading, Goodbye Ice Cream

2011-11-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

We've been doing a whole lot of this... It is nice not being the only reader around here... This has been a month of reading lots and lots of books!

Our little Greta has been having a rough couple of weeks. But sometimes, she will conk out and we sneak in some Bible memory work and other things. Her tummy seems to be bothering her and given the prevalence of dairy sensitivity in the early months plus our family history (my two sisters with dairy intolerance and Rich's dairy allergy as a baby), I've gone dairy free to see if that resolves things and makes her happier when awake and have more restful (quiet) sleep. So far things are looking better and I'm surviving the whole 'no-dairy' thing. I'm a total ice cream fanatic, so that has been the hardest part so far. Thankfully, when the chocolate ice cream obsession hits in full-force, I've satisfied it with a few bites of coconut milk chocolate ice cream...

Despite her frequent crying, the boys are still very much in love with their baby sister.

Doesn't she look so sweet??? I need to remember these moments when the crazies kick in at night.

Since we've been doing so much reading, I think I'm going to be sharing my thoughts on the importance of reading aloud over the next few posts! Yes, it's about time that I return to semi-regular posting...

Greta: A Birth Story

2011-10-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have a daughter!

It is a beautiful thing to give birth to your best friend…

The funny thing about giving birth is how your perception of it changes over time. Greta's birth gets more and more beautiful, the further out I get from it. To be honest, beautiful would have been the last word used to describe it in the hours and even couple of days afterwards. It is a delight now to look at the pictures and remember back.

If you enjoy reading birth stories, I invite you to read on...

Tuesday, September 27^th found me battling a stomach bug. As usual, I was also having periodic bouts of contractions. The combination made me wonder if I was in labor. When my midwife came for my appointment that day (hurray for home visits), she confirmed that I was most likely just sick and not in labor. I had little appetite and really wanted to be over this bug, so I just nibbled on bits of toast and a banana throughout the day.

Thankfully, I decided to get to bed early and was asleep by 9pm. I awoke at 2am with my first contraction. I get lots of contractions. In fact, I started feeling them at 13 weeks and in that last month they would periodically wake me up at night. So I didn't dwell too much on that contraction and drifted off to sleep only to be awoken 25 minutes later with another even stronger one. At this point, my obsession with the “am I going into labor” game began in earnest. When another strong one occurred 17 minutes later, I decided that it was probably the real thing. I quickly determined that laying down in bed is NOT my preferred laboring position, so I ambled downstairs for a piece of toast and to try and figure out when to call my midwife, mom and sisters. Since Treyton’s labor had been less than an hour long, timing was crucial. No one wanted to miss the birth and the idea of an unassisted birth is not on our ‘want to try someday’ list. The contractions started coming every 15 minutes so I called everyone by 3:30am.

Over the next 2.5 hours contractions were manageable, but I definitely focused on relaxing through them. My sister arrived with her camera in hand to chronicle the birth. Turns out everyone had ample time to arrive this time around...

I was chatty and happy between contractions and calmly focused during them at this point.

Sue arrived and chatted with me for a bit to get a feel for how things were progressing. I'm always amazed how in tune she was with me. She checked fetal heart tones and then got everything set up for the birth before quietly slipping downstairs to rest and read until things picked up...

I had very vivid memories of the painful trek up the stairs when I was in labor with Treyton. Transition and trying to crawl up stairs leaves quite a memorable impression, let me tell ya. But when contractions started to space back out to 15-20 minutes apart again while I was upstairs and not walking around, everyone convinced me to go for a walk. I'm an outdoors kind of girl and I'm so thankful that I followed that advice, especially since it brought the contractions down to every 3-5 minutes...

Around 6am the boys woke up, giddy with excitement. I talked with them when I wasn't busy focusing on a contraction. They lounged around, but I was pacing. It was agonizing to be 'trapped' sitting down during a contraction. I wanted to be up, free. I was pretty depressed that things weren't progressing quicker since we had just passed the 4 hour mark. Was it ever going to end???

Finally, they intensify and I knew I was far enough along to get in the water. The water is often called the midwives epidural and I was eager for something to take the edge off. But if you get in too early, it can actually drag labor out so I had held out for a while...

At this point, I lost track of time. I was relatively happy between contractions, but it took every bit of focus to stay relaxed when I felt a contraction starting to build. With Treyton, I immediately went into the all fours position and weathered transition and pushing in that position. I didn't want anyone touching me and made sure they knew it... This time it was different. I wanted Rich there. I NEEDED Rich there for me. Going on my knees was agonizing and I could feel shooting pain going down my legs. It was weird to have to figure out this whole 'labor thing' all over again.

It felt like I was in the pool forever, making no progress. But in fact, it had been only an hour... It was now 7am. In despair, I figured I should go to the bathroom before transition hits. Little did I know that during the last contraction or two, my moaning had changed and the midwives were starting to mobilize. Thinking I had another 7 minutes or so to get to the bathroom and back, I headed in. Time between contractions apparently isn't the only indicator of where you are at in labor because transition hits in full force just moments later.

The thought of returning to the birth pool seemed abhorrent to me. In my mind, I kept telling myself that I loved the water, but every time I looked that way, I would shudder. I don't want to be trapped. I wanted to be free to move. But I stayed fixed at the edge of the bathroom.

I hate transition. I was getting pretty vocal and I felt wildly out of control. Rich was amazing - my rock. With only a bit of a breather between contractions, I made sure he stayed close. In my head, I was having all kinds of crazy conversations with myself. I'd convinced myself that this wasn't transition and I was going to be in agony forever. When my midwife offered to check me, I quickly turned her down. I couldn't bear the thought of bad news. As another wave hit, I grabbed for Rich, desperately searching for a place to bury my head that will shield his poor ears. hahaha. I wish I were one of those women who labored peacefully, quietly. But when I'm in transition it is not peaceful and it is not quiet. Mercifully, this phase is always very short.

I love this man.

I felt awful. I pitifully moaned, "Why Eve? Why did you eat the fruit?" {Apparently this made Rich snicker. I was oblivious.} While I heard myself announcing that I couldn't do this anymore, a voice inside of me assured me that it must be almost over if I'm saying that... It's been about 10 minutes since I had exited the pool and transition hit.

Sure enough, it was time to push. Suddenly the water looked inviting again. I pushed and pushed and pushed. It seemed more difficult this time around to get her out. [In hindsight, we think she may have been in a less than optimal position.] The midwives were so soothing and calmly encouraged me. I love my midwives.

And then she's out. While it felt like it was taking F.O.R.E.V.E.R, it only took 11 minutes of pushing. It was 8:21, nearly 6.5 hours after the first contraction.

Immediately afterwards, I felt weak, very weak. It was so strange because after Treyton came out, I instantly felt better. Euphoria set in and after cuddling with my baby for a while, I hopped out of the pool and took a shower before settling into bed. This time around, I was limp. But she was perfect and in my arms.

I didn't realize until later that I was so weak because I hadn't eaten the day before. Everyone stepped up to help me into bed and placed her in my arms. I stared in amazement at my newest little treasure. What will her personality be like? I prayed that we will become best friends as I have with my own mother. I thanked God for this beautiful gift. {But I was still mad at Eve.}

Moments later, my boys and their cousins traipsed upstairs to meet Greta.

I soaked up the delighted and curious expressions on three little faces.

And we inspected our little girl.

Now that I've had almost 4 weeks to look back, I see that expectations really affected how I initially felt about the birth - both during and immediately afterwards. While I know that every birth is different, I still somehow expected it to be like Treyton's - fast, furious and then over in the blink of an eye. I realize now that a 6.5 hour labor is still considered short and that everything else with the birth was pretty textbook perfect. While I wish I had prepared myself a little better, I'm also realizing the miraculous and beautiful part of birth. I'm thankful that I was able to have her at home because that is where I feel most comfortable. {I never imagined myself the 'crazy' homebirth type, but it's turned out to be a great fit for me.} Options in childbirth are wonderful. I am thankful that my mother was able to be with me as I gave birth to my first daughter. {She missed being there for Treyton's birth because she paused to make herself a cup of coffee and with my dad's cancer, I was afraid she wouldn't be here for Greta too...} Both of my sisters were there. I'm so thankful that Evie was able to watch the kids and then come up with them to see Greta so fresh out! And in keeping with tradition, family collected that evening for a 'birth'-day party, complete with cake - a perfect cap to a busy, busy day!

While I certainly wish there was a pain-free, drug and intervention free way to give birth, she is SO INCREDIBLY worth it!

It is pain with a prize at the end... And our family has been forever altered.

Upheaval

2011-10-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

Sadness and contentment. Exhaustion and ecstasy. Somehow they all coexist right now.

It has been a roller coaster ride these last two months as huge changes have taken place in my family. And the timing is just too weird to be chocked up to random chance. Providence is at work and confusion melts away into trust. God's hand is all over this and I am grateful that one day I will be able to look back and see the big picture of what He has planned…

In addition to the normal emotions that are typical of the last agonizing month of pregnancy as anticipation builds and then the exhaustion and ecstasy of those first few weeks with a new baby, big changes are afoot in my extended family.

{Dad and I at our 4th of July celebration last year}

Two months ago, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. CANCER. That is never a word you want to hear when it relates to someone you love. Thankfully, it was caught very early. But it means that my parents have relocated to California for 9 weeks while he undergoes treatment. The bittersweet news was learning that they would leave the day after my due date. Prayers began in earnest that this precious little girl of mine would come early, so that my mom would be there for the birth and both of my parents could meet their newest grandchild. God was faithful and she arrived 3 days before her due date. No matter how you slice it, cancer is a horrible disease. While his treatment is renowned for its minimal side-effects, they are still there. While nursing my newborn, my prayers are focused on praying for strength for his body during treatment and that the machines would all stay in great working condition. Every day the machines are down, means an extra day tacked on that they must remain in California. We would really like to have them home by Christmas… Would you, dear readers, consider joining me in praying for the proton treatment to work as expected and zap the cancer in the time frame that was initially given?

As if that wasn’t enough news to rock us out of our comfort zones, my wonderful brother-in-law received a great job offer in Michigan. In this economy, we are so thankful for God’s provision for them and the circumstances surrounding the arrival of this job are pretty miraculous, but {insert slight whine} Michigan is so far away… I’ll miss our last minute lunch dates, flexibility with watching each other’s kids, inspiration to eat healthier, and so on and so on. My sisters and mom are my best friends and one of them is moving away. Their move date = my due date.

So many changes happening all at the same time…

Bright spots: My sister stayed behind until they closed on a house so she could help take care of me. (Hurray for some post-partum care. It makes a WORLD of difference.) And to blunt the loss of one sister + fam moving, my baby sister announced that they are expecting their first baby!!!!!!!!! A little cousin for Greta!

All of these changes, plus the normal hormonal and sleep deprivation craziness that typifies life with a newborn, has meant that I haven’t been around here. Every ‘lucid’ moment I’ve had in recent weeks has been spent with last minute family time. Evenings, my typical blogging time, have found me pretty incoherent and holding my precious daughter. She is anti-computer (which is fine since I've been wanting to cut back on my 'screen-time') and prefers me to be walking around, playing with play dough or reading a book.

Despite the circumstances, there is peace. While there are tears, there is also much to be grateful for. I simply need to remind myself of those things. So even though it isn’t Monday, I wanted to write up a long overdue gratitude post and work my way towards finishing counting 1,000 gifts…

845. Cancer caught early.

846. Treatments that have only minimal side effects.

847. My Dad's incredible faith through the years and watching it in action now.

848. My parents coming back for the weekend and being there to see my sister off.

849. These 2.5 unexpected and amazing years with my sister and her precious family.

850. Seeing God’s unmistakable hand in everything.

851. Peace that He is at work - a healing balm for all of these painful changes.

852. The realization that, all things considering, I haven't been a total emotional wreck.

853. The joy of sharing in the excitement about new life growing.

854. Husbands who care for and cherish their wives (my sisters).

855. Last minute opportunities for the brothers-in-law to play games.

856. Time in my niece and nephew's early years to spend LOTS of time with them.

857. A sister who heroically took care of me and insisted that I rest. (pretty much what it takes to keep me off my feet)
858. A visit and help from Rich's parents.

859. A mother-in-law who took Greta when she was fussy and wide-awake at 4am so I could go back to sleep.

860. My sweet daughter to hold and cuddle.

861. Boys that are ever so gentle and protective about their baby sister.

862. A hubby who holds Greta when she is at her fussiest and I’m completely drained. He’s heroically taken the 10pm baby rocking shift.

863. Weekends when my hubby is home.

864. My sister, Ev, coming over to hold the baby so I could take an uninterrupted nap 2 days in a row!
865. Wonderful friends who have brought us yummy meals over the last couple of weeks!

In Search of New Vocabulary...

2011-10-05T17:47:00.001-07:00

Eat, sleep, get held a lot.

This is the life, isn't it?

While I get used to the whole idea of having a little girl, she is getting plenty of lovin's...

(photo credit: my sister Bethany)

We eye-ball her little girl clothes with eager anticipation!!!

(photo credit: my sister Bethany)

And I'm thankful for little girl clothes!!! My first words to her as she was handed to me were,

"It's ok, buddy. Don't cry."

I realized then and over the next several days how used to little boys I've become. I'm working on acquiring a whole new girly vocabulary...

Even with dressing her in girly clothes, I keep calling my precious daughter 'little guy' , 'buddy', 'bud', 'he', 'him', etc...

Thankfully, she's been very understanding.

For those of you that like that sort of thing, I'll be writing up my birth story soon and sharing since I love reading them so much...

Greta's Here!

2011-09-30T21:23:00.002-07:00

(photo credit: my husband Rich)

Greta Renee

born at home

8:21am

September 28th, 2011

7lbs/14oz

We are so excited to be settling in with our little Greta. The boys could not be more excited.

I think this is just the coolest way to weigh a baby!

For now, I'm trying to catch sleep when I can. I'll be back soon.

(photo credit: my sister Bethany)

Dull to Shiny - A Lesson in Opposites

2011-09-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

My energy levels have been abysmally low. But then that is to be expected, I guess when you are just days away from that magical "due date". But we did manage to do this fun Montessori inspired activity that correlated with our discussion of opposites.

I've had fun revisiting a preschool curriculum that I wrote for Xander. And it is so nice to do something specially geared for my 3.5 year old every once in a while. Since we were discussing opposites and Xander has been doing a lot with money in his math lately it seemed fitting to have a science day and learn about oxidation and clean up some of our oxidized pennies. It is also a great activity that encourages the pincer grasp when picking up pennies as well as work on fine motor skills in general for the two younger ones.

With just a few simple directions, they were set loose to explore and discover. It was beautiful to watch their eyes light up as they witnessed the transformation from dull to shiny and play around...

Here's what you'll need if you want to do the same.

Lemon juice (vinegar should work too)
Salt
Towel to rub them down after they've soaked. A want to try a toothbrush next time for this step.
A handful of dull pennies!

We started by squeezing lemons into our bowls.

Then add a scoop of salt!

We used our pennies to mix the salt into the lemon juice.

Wait...

...and watch.

And then scrub with our paper towels...

Confident and Grateful Graduates...

2011-09-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

I loved my homeschool experience while I was in the midst of it, but my appreciation has only grown as I’ve moved in and out of the subsequent seasons in my life. I had the opportunity to share a bit about that this summer at the Arizona Homeschool Convention. It was fun to reflect on those benefits. Most of my friends who were homeschooled have shared similar stories and they are always inspiring to me, especially now that I'm in the trenches of teaching my boys.

So I was intrigued when a publisher contacted me and asked if I would be willing to review Tim Tebow's new autobiography. I must admit, I was a bit confused at first. Never in a million years did I ever imagine that someone would ask me to review a football book… It took me a minute to realize the homeschool connection.

Since I live in a football crazed house, I was intrigued to read his story. With three little boys, I’m always on the lookout for parents who have raised men who love the Lord and love their families. I’m blessed to know many such wonderful families and let me tell you, I’m watching closely and peppering them with questions…

The first half of Tebow’s book, Through My Eyes, did not disappoint. It was a delight to get a peek into some of the ways that his parents influenced him. He was homeschooled from the get-go and it was interesting to see the values and priorities that his parents brought into raising him and his 4 siblings. The book made me excited to see how God will use my boys competitive and energetic natures for His purposes.

I sure hope he is able to make a go at it in the NFL because I would love for my boys to be interested enough to read his book when they are older. He has a strong moral compass and a desire to lead. He is certainly the kind of guy I wouldn’t mind my boys emulating.

One of my favorite ‘homeschool’ related aspects of the book is when he approached his parents about a weird protein drink regime that he wanted to embark on and how his mom turned it into a research project. She challenged him to ‘prove’ to her the safety and nutritional benefits of this regime beyond its faddish appeal before she would let him proceed. He went on to do that very thing and won 1st place at a local science fair for his efforts. That is totally something my mom would have done.

To be honest, I didn’t find the last half of the book as interesting -due to my lack of football obsession most likely. The details of how many of his college games played out simply didn't interest me. But as a mother of 3 boys, I still found the book, overal,l well worth the read.

Homeschooling and parenting in general requires a level of dedication and diligence that can be enormous. And yet not only can we see fruit throughout our homeschool years as we prayerfully and faithfully raise our children the way God is leading each of us to, there is going to be long-term fruit that will keep coming in the years to come. I know this from experience, but it is always refreshing to hear someone else’s story too and remember that at some point in the future, our kids might just come back and thank us!