With the times as they are, I have been getting so many questions from friends about homeschooling. Things are very uncertain for public schools, and I don't blame parents in the least for looking at all of their options. 

First of all, I have to tell all you parents out there, you are all my heroes. When your kids were sent home for quarantine in March, you went into crisis schooling... that is way different than homeschooling. You had to follow a different curriculum for every teacher your kid(s) had. You had check-ins for every teacher your kid(s) had. You were at the mercy of every teachers' schedule. You sifted through 100's of emails and/or letters that were probably giving you inconsistent information and advice. All while dealing with the uncertainties of your own jobs, finances, and health! 

You did it! You made it through the end of the 2019-20 school year, and you deserve applause for that!

Unfortunately, for the schools around me anyway, life is not going back to normal as we have known it. Most parents are now trying to decided if they want their kids to be in school face to face (mask to mask) a couple days a week, go totally virtual again dealing with all the things mentioned above, or to fully withdraw from the school and commit to homeschooling until we are safe from COVID-19. Remember, homeschooling is never a permanent decision; you can re-enroll back into public school anytime. I found that very comforting when we were deciding whether or not to do it.

I have to tell you that I am NOT a very experienced homeschooling mom. My oldest is just starting 4th grade. So, what I share is mostly appropriate for elementary age kids. 

I only have two kiddos to school without any toddlers or babies in tote. I am blessed that my husband's income is enough for me to work free lance as much or as little as I want. I have it incredibly easy. 

My circumstances are also unique in that my oldest is dyslexic (that's a post for another time) and my youngest would probably be considered gifted and talented. In many "academic" areas they are doing the same level of work. So, I use one curriculum for both and adjust according to their age and abilities. 

So, knowing all of that, I'll share with you some things about getting started with homeschooling, some of the things we do, and some of my favorite resources in a series of posts.

First off, you'll have to find out homeschooling laws for your state; every state is different. 

Here in WI you need to file a PI-1206 form. It's a very simple, online form that you'll need to file every year for every child that you homeschool from ages 6-18. 

In WI a simple record of attendance is required, and you need to provide 875 hours of instruction which sounds completely overwhelming. But I guarantee that when you assess all of the learning that takes place in the daily activities of life, it adds up to WAY more. 

Trip to the store- give them some price comparison math! Trip to the bank- let them count the cash! Working in the garden- science! Baking and cooking- measuring/math skills plus home and life skills! Trip to the apple orchard, zoo, or museum = field trip : ) <----- public schools do field trips all. the. time. When you do projects around the house, make sure your kids are there to help. My hubby is SO good at including the kids in building and repair projects. 

There are plenty of times when I have to check myself, because it would often be so much easier to just do it all myself. Sure, it would go faster. Sure, it would be less messy, but I remind myself that I only have so much time to do this stuff WITH them. In the blink of an eye I will be doing all this stuff myself and I will miss the extra time and messes!

Once you figure out what your state requirements are, you'll want to consider what type of homeschooling you feel would be a good fit for your family. 

Some of the most popular/well known styles of homeschooling are: traditional, classical conversations, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorf, and Unschooling. There are more as well, and of course, you can always use a combination of styles! I'm not going to cover them all. Just know you'll need to take some time to research them to figure out what you'd like to try. One main reason I love homeschooling is that you can CHANGE your style anytime! 

We do a combination of traditional and unschooling. So, in other words, we use set curriculum for some main subjects, but also allow lots of time for "interest led" learning. I try to have a day every couple weeks that is unplanned and I simply ask my kids what they want to learn about today. Most of the time, the interest led learning happens when questions come up during our time using curriculum. We make room for lots of tangents. 

Moving Beyond the Page is our current choice of curriculum for literature, English, science, and social studies. They also have math and spelling units which we don't use. I LOVE literature based learning which is why I chose this brand. I really like how they break down the concepts and units. I appreciate their scope and sequence. They have plenty of hands on activities that cater to all types of learning styles. I don't do every activity. Honestly, I mostly use this curriculum as a guide. I often find my own activities to do (thank you Pinterest!) and when we find something the kids are really interested in, we welcome tangents and extra activities on that. BUT, on days when I don't have drive or energy to find my own things to do (which happens to every homeschooling parent!), I love that I can default to the provided worksheets and activities. 

If your child is just learning to read, you'll have to get a separate reading curriculum. We used the book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons along with the Usborne Very First Reading Box Set. I loved the script and the coding of TYCTR. "Easy" is definitely a relative term. It took my dyslexic child a really. long. time. to get through the book. We had a big celebration when she completed it. My second child... didn't even finish it. I think he made it to lesson 78 and he was reading chapter books on his own. 

From the beginning, I knew that my oldest would need something very visual and tactile for learning math. We did a lot of Montessori math activities in her first years of schooling. Then, we started Math-U-See. The number blocks, which are used in plenty of curricula, are an important visual for the kids. There is video instruction for every unit, which is what I need for the subject I feel the least confident about teaching. I love that Math-U-see is very straight forward. Though I understand and appreciate all of the "new" and different ways of teaching math, my dyslexic child (who struggles with remembering sequences) gets very overwhelmed when presented with so many different steps and variations of doing something. She does best with a set, straight forward method and then plenty of repetition to set in the order of steps. 

For spelling and grammer, we use the Orton-Gillingham method which is well known as an effective way to teach dyslexic students. I highly recommend Logic of  English which uses OG techniques. We started the LOE essentials and eventually we will get back to it. But this year, we are going back to the basics of OG. I was failing at teaching spelling, and spelling is my daughter's BIGGEST struggle. This, though, is one of the main reasons we chose homeschooling, the ability to take ample time to address struggles.

Curriculum (or no curriculum) is such an individualized choice. Every kid learns differently. Every parent has different comfort levels of teaching. What works for one family isn't necessarily going to work for another. For instance, take my bestie. We both found success with Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. She is the person that introduced me to Logic of English, which I think will be good for us in the future, but not right now. I introduced her to Moving Beyond the Page, which she isn't jiving with. She doesn't have the time to find alternate activities and doesn't find the provided activities motivating. So, she is looking for something different. I know a couple of families that do classical conversations and love it, but tuition can be costly for some families. There are benefits and drawbacks to all styles of homeschooling and curriculum.

Curriculum is a trial and error type of commitment. But, you know what? When I taught in a public school, they switched curriculum and methods of teaching several times! When our students were scoring lower on reading standardized tests, the whole district adopted a new way of teaching reading. So, don't feel discouraged if you don't find the perfect curriculum right away. 

If you do choose a curriculum, usually there will be at least a couple of Facebook groups centering on the use of that curriculum. I find those groups to be a treasure trove of ideas for alternate activities, extended learning, and advice. Those groups are usually great for buying and selling used curriculum books too. Curriculum can definitely get expensive! I buy as much used on FB groups and Ebay as I possibly can. 

I want to encourage those of you considering homeschooling during this weird time in our world. I have a feeling that separating from the expectations of multiple teachers will be much less stressful than educating your kids yourself. 

Literally, if you start the day with "what questions do you want to answer today?" Or, "what do you want to learn about today?" you can successfully educate your kids. For example:

Kids: I wanna learn about FOSSILS!

Me: Okay, tell me what you already know about fossils (proceed to discuss or write what they know)

       What questions do you have about fossils? (proceed to say or write down questions)

* Look up information on fossils via the internet to answer those questions. Find printed information and have them read aloud. Also watch some videos. Check out a book or two from the library for them to browse throughout the week (there are lots of digital books available if your library is closed). 

* We like "taking notes" using a web diagram.

* When you find or hear locations in articles, books, or movies, be sure to find them on a map or globe.

Kids: I wanna be a paleontologist!

Me: Cool! What can we do to be like a paleontologist?

Kids: DIG UP BONES!

Me: Lol. Right. We might not find bones, but we can go dig : ) 

* Let them play and dig somewhere and record what they find. If they don't find anything... who cares!?Paleontologists don't find something on every dig.

* This inevitably leads to dinosaurs. We happen to have a ton of dinosaur toys. We could match the toys to our dinosaur species book.We could create an environment for the toys. Discuss the terms, herbivore and carnivore. Name currently living animals that fit into each category.

Me: Let's pretend you are a paleontologist or an archaeologist. Write a journal entry describing today's dig. Draw what you found and describe it.

Other possibilities:

* You could have a discussion of what kind of artifacts or fossils will be found millions of years from now.

* You could make a time line of history

* You could make some type of treat to represent a fossil (like the fossil cookies).

* You could figure out the differences of ages of things. 

TA-DA!

Learning.

Your kids are curious creatures. Curiosity is the basis for learning.

You can do it! I'm not saying it's going to be sunshine and rainbows everyday, but freedom to explore interests, freedom to concentrate on specific gifts and struggles, and freedom from someone else's schedule is worth it. 

What questions or worries do you have about potentially homeschooling? Let me know in the comments.

Make a Felt Box Cake

I asked my daughter one night what she wanted for her birthday. She mentioned that she had a cake that she could cut apart and serve as part of her kitchen arsenal, but thought it would be fun to have a cake that she could decorate. 

"Because I really like to organize and arrange things, Mom." 

Gosh I love that kid.

So, here is what I came up with:

I bought two paper mache boxes like these. Then, I measured the top and sides and added a half inch seam allowance for all sides. The top is just slightly different in size. Labels and arrows help very much!

                            

Sew right sides together first to the top piece of the box. Then, down the sides. 

Trim the seam allowances as needed.

 Turn it right side out, place it over the box, and trim the bottom as needed.

Now, it's time to make and collect decorations! There are so many great tutorials out there for felt flowers and felt food. Just take a look here and here and here.

Also collect ribbons and rick rack and just cut out shapes from felt to use as decorations.

The BEST part... all those decorations can be stored right in the boxes!

Both of my kiddos love to decorate.

The Question of Socialization -- Eye Roll

That title is snarky. I'm usually not a snarky person. 

I'm a little sorry, but I guess if I was really sorry, I would have changed the title.

It's the question I dread most when talking to people about homeschool.

"How do you socialize your kids?"

Here is what I actually hear:

"Do your kids have friends?

Do your kids know how to act in public?

Do you ever leave your house or do you just keep them sheltered from the outside world?"

People might as well just say to me, "ya know... homeschooled kids are socially awkward."

Honestly, I used to think that too.

I remember a couple of homeschooled kids that went to my church growing up. I realize today that I only thought that because of what other kids said to me. When I look back, I liked those girls and I admired them a LOT. They were quiet, yes, but I'm quiet too. 

They were really polite, paid attention to and respected authority, were super talented, and were so KIND. One of them selflessly, without prompting from any adult, traded a solo with me in our kids choir, because she knew I wanted that particular song. She made a huge impact on me at a young age.

In fact, when I remember those girls, I think to myself that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE my children to be like them. 

I can't place any behaviors that made me think that they were weird. They just weren't friends with my friends. That's what made us think they were socially awkward?! Shame on us.

Listen, I taught in a public school for ten years. I encountered numerous socially awkward kids. 

Assuming all homeschooled kids are socially awkard makes the assumption that all public school kids are socially adept which is SO NOT TRUE.

Socially awkward kids tend to come from socially awkward families; socially adept kids tend to come from socially adept families. 

There are always exceptions, of course, but just think about it. Everyone knows someone who is eccentric or "weird." Everyone has someone in their life that is hard to work with or difficult to be around. What made them that way? 

Were they all homeschooled? 

Probably not.

Did they come from a family that had different personalities and ways of doing things than yours? Probably.

My kids have friends.

My kids are learning (because well, they are four and six and no kid's behavior is always on point) to love and respect people.

My kids get out of the house. (In fact, as I write this they are with my husband at an astronomers club gathering looking at the moon and Jupiter. And that is after hours outside playing with the neighbors).

We are doing things differently from most other families and if that is what makes us socially awkward then, so be it. 

Let's be real. We all have quirks and socially awkward times. I'll start! 

I am an introvert. I suck at pleasantries and surface conversation. People often think I am stand-offish and stuck up when they first meet me. To avoid that impression, sometimes I over compensate with smiling and head nods during conversations.

Tell me a quirk or awkward moment of yours in the comments : ) 

A Simple Approach to Meal Planning -- From a Mom Who Hates to Cook

I hate cooking.

I could bake all day. Baking is usually a treat so, you just have a little bit at a time. Usually the labor of baking is enjoyed over a few days. 

Cooking on the other hand... devoured. In five minutes. 

Baking, my kids love. My cooking, hit or miss which I know is normal, but none the less annoying and joy stealing.

Fact is... food is a major part of life, and I want to feed my family good food. 

We eat pretty simply around here. I used to be overly concerned with variety. Worried about my family getting tired of the food I make. Then, I started thinking about the past. Like pre-internet past, even pre-tv past, before people were so connected to the whole world. People didn't eat Chinese food if they weren't Chinese. Most people ate what they grew. No matter how big your garden, you were bound to repeat meals.

Mike and I have made great effort to simplify our lives. Why not apply that to our eating?

Simple is okay.

So, I compiled a list of all of our favorite meals. There are about 25.

*Edited to add: I guess we have more than 25! I had some requests to share our go-to's so here it is.*

My husband, God bless him, does our grocery shopping once a week. On grocery day, I make my weekly plan. I only plan ONE meal to cook a day. Ideally each person gets to pick one meal for the week.  

Our breakfasts are always quick and simple: smoothies, fruit, oatmeal, toast, eggs, etc. Sometimes, waffles or pancakes are actually one of the planned suppers. So, I make a big batch to freeze. Then, we can pull those out for a quick breakfast as well.

Lunch is either left over supper from the night before or what we refer to around here as "snacky lunch." I simply set out containers of pre-cut veggies, cut up an apple, set out a container of grapes, maybe add some slices of cheese, a few tortilla chips or pretzels and voila! Lunch. The same, every day... the kids don't care. Neither do I. 

Believe it or not, I have tried menu planning before; it never stuck. 

Two things have made this round of menu planning stick for that last several months.

1. Posting the menu on the fridge. 

Before I had it written in my planner. I don't know what it is about the visible reminder, but it works!

2. NETFLIX. No joke. 

I realize I am privileged to afford Netflix, but there are plenty of ways to watch free shows too. PBS, NBC, ABC and most other networks air their shows for free online. We don't have an actual TV. I just set up my laptop or my phone. Watching something I enjoy (which is currently the Great British Baking Show) while I cook has taken the drudgery out of it all. 

Do you love to cook or, are you more like me? I would love to hear how you plan meals. OR share what meals your kiddos love. Because, in reality, my kids really only like about ten of the 25 meals I make : /

Reflections on our First Year of Home School and My Ultimate Favorite Resource

So, we have wrapped up a year of home school 'round here. We are taking the first half of July off and will then start "first grade." I put first grade in quotes because I'm honestly not sure how to classify her and I don't want to classify her.

Parents all know how fast we can fall into the comparison game with our kids. I am not gonna lie, I had more than a few "freak out" moments this year when I noticed what a couple of other Kindergarten age kids were doing that Gwenyth is not yet doing.

BUT, then I reign myself in and remember that I very purposefully followed a more (what Eau Claire, WI public schools would call) 4K pace. 

The curriculum that we will begin in July, Moving Beyond the Page, doesn't go by grade level but by age. So, Gwenyth will be doing the age 5-7 curriculum.

This past year, I did not use a purchased curriculum. I did all the planning and prep. One resource that I used was What your Kindergartener Needs to Know. It was a great guide for planning activities which I found mostly on Pinterest. There is an UNBELIEVABLE amount of ideas to be found on the internet. It can actually be overwhelming!

At first, I loved planning but, as the year progressed, the overwhelm of choices was taxing me. I also realized I wasn't doing the greatest job of making sure to "review" skills. So, I am looking forward to the focus of MBTP having a day to day plan set for me with freedom to augment with creative ideas that I find.

Our schedule was/is very loose. Actual instruction took place all different times of the day depending on my husband's and my schedule. I try to make a list of the days activities with the kids while we eat breakfast. It's usually as simple as: eat, play, school lessons, eat, music lessons, play, eat, pick up, watch, read aloud, bed.

Play is the most important part of our day and, honestly, there were days that we skipped formal lessons because the kids were playing so well. I found school was NEVER a good interruption to creative, fun play. Meaning it brought on a holy terror fit. On the other hand, if the kids finally had enough of each other and needed space, school became a GREAT interruption to arguing and wining.

Although most lessons incorporated multiple subjects, Mondays were typically focused on letters and literature, Tuesdays on numbers and math, and Thursdays on science. Fridays were by far our favorite days. I want to share my ultimate favorite resource here.

Each map is filled with amazing illustrations of everything including wild life and land forms to famous people that the country is known for. The kids would choose a country and point to a picture of something they would like to learn more about. Then, we would research it together. We have spent HOURS together learning about all kinds of things. 

We are currently in the middle of Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. It is definitely NOT Gwenyth's favorite time of day, but it IS clearly working. She is making very good progress with her reading. We will continue through this as we begin MBTP. 

Did we have hard days? Yes.

Did we have days I questioned my decision to home school? Yes.

But mostly, we had good days. I feel a whole new level of relationship with Gwenyth which I love. 

It is such a privilege to witness light bulb moments and her growth physically, emotionally, and intellectually so intimately.

Surrender to the Mess -- Especially if it's Cultivating Creativity

I told you about my "word for the year" in my previous post -- Surrender.  When I was mulling over this word, it was mostly in regards to world events. 

However, I am finding that I am actually MOSTLY needing to surrender the little things that happen in my daily life. 

See that mess of pistachio shells. I desperately, DESPERATELY want to clean it up. 

Cleanliness is something I can control.

Control eases my anxiety.

It took all of my strength to sit and eat breakfast with that pile of shells sitting there. But breakfast (mostly likely the meal we eat at the table all together for the day), is sacred. I don't need to be cleaning up. I want to enjoy conversation with my family.

After eating, my daughter picks up a shell and asks "what can we make out of these?" She is SO creative. She LOVES to take junk and make it into something. This is one of her most common questions.

You would think that as an artist myself, I would be all about the messes and the freedom to express creativity. 

You would be wrong.

I am probably the cleanest, tidiest artist you've ever met.

So, when Gwenyth gets into creative mode, I cringe. 

Must. SURRENDER.

Because:

Now, she is seeing beyond the shell and making little bugs... each with a personality and story all it's own.

She is building fine motor skills coloring on those tiny shells.

THEN:

My husband joins in and they start making a colony of bugs. A colony of bugs needs a queen. A colony of bugs needs workers. The queen bug lays eggs which hatch into larva. What can we use for larva? Macaroni, of course.

Are you kidding me? My husband just turned this into a school lesson! Whoa. He's amazing.

Now, they are making plans and rules to make a game out of the bug colony. A game which, I'm sure, will involve strategy and numbers and all kinds of good things for learning. A game which needs lots of pieces which will be more easily made in an assembly line. Whuuut?!

I wish I could tell you that I am completely at peace and my skin isn't crawling at how the little shells have now completely taken over the table AND they are "flaking" into minute little crumbs. I wish I could tell you that I am not chomping at the bit to consolidate all the markers back into their container.

I am simply making the choice to encourage the creativity rather than take control for my own sake.

SURRENDER.

Amen. 

In Times Like This

I have mentioned before my tendencies to avoid the news media but, unless you live in a hole in the ground the events of the latest election are pretty unavoidable. 

I pretty much avoid all political commentary just as much as I avoid licking door knobs so, this is as close as I get.

A new year is upon us. 

Though I don't make resolutions, I do reflect. I usually have something (or fifty things) that I struggled with throughout the year. Usually those are the things that I want to change.

Last year, I jumped on the band wagon of choosing a word for the new year. Last year it was Peace.

This year, my word is

Surrender

I have been working really hard to decipher the things that are in my circle of control. I have this tendency to want control over ALL THE THINGS. And if I don't feel in control of things then, my anxiety takes control of me. 

The problem is, in reality, there isn't a whole lot that I ACTUALLY can control <--- duh, I know.

Everyday, I have to evaluate what is in my circle. Everyday, I have to surrender what falls outside of the circle to God. The One who is ultimately in control of everything. 

I mean, do I really think I can do it better than Him?  <--- UGH! Sometimes I do! Help me, Jesus.

All this to say that recent events in our world have caused a great amount of anxiety in me and I am determined to do the things that are in my control and let God take care of the rest. 

I choose the word surrender rather than say "choice" or "control," because the ratio of what is actually in my control to what I WANT to control is like 1 :  1 billion so, the act of surrender is going to be a multiple times a day kind of action. It will need to be at the forefront of my thoughts.

So in times like this:

Happy New Year, friends!

Do you have a word for the year?

or

Do you do resolutions?

Let's share and encourage each other in the comments!

Commence Home School -- Why We Choose Home Education

When my daughter was born, I vaguely thought about her education; it was so far away... right?

When she was three, I was like, "Kindergarten is still two years away... I got time."

Suddenly she's four and some months, and I'm all, "how did this happen?! I have to decide on her schooling. I thought I had so much time!"

Little brother just couldn't be left out!

I think deep down, I always knew I was going to home school, but I really didn't tell many people I was even thinking about it until the last couple of months. Why? Because I have this tendency to fear what others think of me.

There. I said it.

While most people are completely supportive, some people just can not comprehend why anyone would choose such a path. There are many people that assume all home school families are the same... secluded, socially awkward, and sheltered. Or there is assumption that all home school families are anti-public school. (I will address these myths in another post).

Not only do I fear what people think of me, I also fear that people with think I am judging THEM on their schooling choices, as if I think that home school is the best way for every child to be educated. Or that only the best parents home school.

All of this. So. Not. True.

So, why are we home schooling? Because, it's what Mike and I feel is best for our family.

Our circumstances are such that home schooling works for us.

More specifically:

Financially, we are able to sustain ourselves with my husband's job and both of our free lance incomes. That means, I am able to be home with my kids full time. Not everyone has that or even wants that.

It's actually our free lance lifestyle that tipped the scales for us. Since becoming so, Mike and I have relished in the flexibility of our schedules. We have become quite used to being very choosy about how we spend our time, and the thought of having someone else (a public school system) telling us how we should spend or time is totally unappealing.

That's not to say, we don't respect being timely and responsible about meetings and appointments. Our schedule is loose, but we still have things to do and places to be.

Also, I am a learner and a teacher at heart. These are gifts that God has given me and that have been nurtured in me all my life. I'm not diluting myself, I know there will be times of utter frustration while teaching my children, but I feel I have the ability to teach and the patience to endure home schooling.

If our circumstances were any different... if I had to or wanted to work more, or my gifting was, say engineering or cooking or calculating rather than learning and teaching, my kids would be going to public school.

We started school officially on July 11. I know. I know it seems cruel to make kids do school during "summer vacation," but my kids don't know what it means to have summer vacation! Summer lends itself to SO MANY learning opportunities that I don't want to miss out on. So, I am going to take full advantage of them not knowing what they are "missing out" on.

Starting in Summer to do a year round schooling schedule will allow us a four day school week with plenty of vacation opportunity as well. Many smaller breaks with a more relaxed weekly schedule suits me better than a few longer breaks. I'm hoping it will cut review time too, because, really, kids forget a lot of what they learned during the summer break.

This is definitely NOT going to become a home school blog, but I do look forward to sharing some fun projects with you as well as some joys and struggles of this lifestyle.

Did you (or do you) struggle with decisions about your kids' education? Share and support each other in the comments : )

That Time When I Said, "No Big Birthday Party This Year"

Last year, I threw a STELLAR birthday party for my kids. They both have May birthdays so, I hosted one big party for adults and kids. I *thought* having adults over would be cool because I like all the people I hang out with, right?

Well, everyone had a blast! People told me for weeks afterward what a great party it was. The thing is... I didn't enjoy it. I was so busy "hosting" that I missed out on any relaxing visitation with said people. 

I know it's not about me. The kids had a terrific time. I loved watching them (for a few stolen moments) have a ball with their friends and family. But, there's just got to be a better way! A way for me to help give happy memories to my kids as well as for me to ENJOY doing so.

Every week, I host a "mom's group" at my house. Six moms, 12 kids. I don't know what I would do without these women in my life! Their kids are my kids' friends and would be the friends we'd invite to a party anyway. Why make another day to schedule? Our family is trying hard to take a stand against being busy. So... mom's group party it is!

It's a morning group so, I made up a simple waffle bar. That morning I set out the toppings, and poured batter (which I made the previous night) and put waffles in the oven to keep warm. Basically, I cooked ONE thing. Amazing.

Throughout the week, I prepped a couple of easy crafts and snacks for the kids to take home. Gwenyth and Reuben helped with all of them so, it wasn't stressful but a fun way to work together.

After eating waffles and dissolving dinosaur eggs, the kids played as normal and the mom's chatted as normal. I felt relaxed and happy... not like I missed out on the good time!

Birthday candles on birthday waffles -- just make sure the waffles are cool! I learned that the hard way last year with birthday pancakes : )

All of these are ideas I found on Pinterest. Words can not describe my love of Pinterest!

I did throw a "family only" party that weekend. Cake and ice cream. That was it. I think everyone actually appreciated the simplicity.

Simple. Sweet. Enjoyable!

Simple can still be super awesome.

What are some things you've simplified because you learned the hard way? Tell me in the comments!

It's a Pool, Your'e Gonna Get Wet

So here's a LITTLE THING: 

My kids have been playing outside in the pool ALL day. We ate breakfast, put on suits and have been outside since. It's finally feeling like summer here in Wisco.

I LOVE: 

That they are old enough that I don't have to hover to keep them from drowning. I have been enjoying the day sitting on the screen porch working on completing some neglected tasks. I'm thankful for my little Chromebook! I have been sipping coffee without any need to re-heat multiple times. Yes, I drink hot coffee even when it's 80 degrees outside.

I love to hear my kids playing pretend together (or rather Gwenyth tells Reuben what to say and do). A few minutes ago, they were mermaids which seems a little predictable to me, but whatever... There are some days when I desperately miss them being babies, but man... the independence of a 3 and 5 year old is certainly wonderful! Plus, I hear they only get more independent which some days makes me giddy and others scares me out of my mind!

But, let's keep it REAL: 

I spent about 20 minutes listening to my three year old scream and cry because he was in the pool and getting splashed by his sister when she slid into the water. Turns out it's really hard to convince a three year old that if you're in a pool, you're gonna have to be okay getting wet.

I ran a good half block chasing a big pink ball that was being blown away by the wind.

I have to run the net through the pool water every ten minutes to clean out the helicopters that continuously fall from our huge maple trees because of said wind. It looks like it's snowing at times!

I expect there will be a meltdown when I have to tear the three year old from the pool in order to N-A-P. 

But seriously. I couldn't ask for a better day. It's one of those days when I need a T-shirt that says "Life is Good." 

What have been your "Life is Good" days or moments been lately? Share the joy in the comments.

Easy Pesto Pizza

The last couple weeks have been really busy. 

Have I every mentioned that I really don't like cooking. Baking... yes, I love baking, but cooking... not so much.

I barely take time to cook when our weeks are normal, let alone when we are busy.

This is one of my favorite meals for three reasons:

1. It's delicious.

2. It's super easy.

3. It's made with fresh ingredients.

Oh! and four!!

The kids love these : )

Layout out some tortillas on a baking sheet. I like to use whole wheat.

Spread on Pesto sauce. I like to use a regular pesto as well as tomato pesto. Both are delicious; I can't choose a favorite.

Add your toppings. My favorite include: black beans, navy beans, onions, tomatoes, peppers, sun dried tomatoes, cheese (especially feta!).

Bake at 350 degrees F. until the cheese is melted and edges a bit crisp.

ENJOY!

What do You Say to Someone Going Through an Anxious Episode?

Last night was a long, rough night. My almost five year old daughter was up multiple times. I could tell that each time, she woke from a deep sleep as she was confused and disoriented. The third time she woke up, she absolutely lost it. Big, ugly, sobbing, crying mess. She was beside herself and could not be consoled nor could she tell us what was the matter.

It is a helpless feeling not being able to console your child.

It can also be infuriating.

I don't handle crying kids well. It takes all of my strength to keep calm. I think because of my own anxiety and introversion crying can just be completely overstimulating to my senses. All I want to do is MAKE IT STOP!

But, because I AM that person -- the person who cries a lot and has to go through the feelings, I am able to put myself in their place and keep my emotions in check. I remind myself of the things that are helpful for me and avoid the things that are counter productive to the situation.

The most counter productive things to say to anyone going through an anxious episode are:

You're okay.

Calm down.

Stop crying.

Those of us in the midst of anxiety and emotion are completely incapable of doing so, and telling someone to stop only causes more duress and actually brings on a sense of shame for feeling emotion. Crying is a physical release for our emotion. Bottling it up will do NO good.

My amazing husband was the one that consoled Gwenyth through her episode last night. He was completely calm and prayed for her first. Then, he began to say the perfect things. As I listened from our room, I realized, that these are the very things that are what I need to hear when I am going through anxiety and panic. I know he has said these things to ME many times...

"Even though you feel very bad right now, I still love you and God loves you even more."

I don't want to generalize everyone that lives with anxiety. What works for me might not work for another, but these words work for me because:

A) They acknowledge that I am NOT okay and it is okay not to feel okay. Okay?

  - If you mean to say okay as a way to communicate safety then say, "you are safe."

B) They acknowledge that I am still loved.

  - I know my emotions are difficult. I know they can be intense. It is difficult for ME to have you see me like this. I don't want to be a bother. I feel embarrassed. Anxious people are constantly battling self doubt and worrying about what others think of us. To know we are loved unconditionally is UNBELIEVABLY reassuring.

I have friends who have also said very helpful things when I am calling out for help and prayers:

"I know you feel awful right now, but it will not last. You will come through to the other side. These feelings will not last forever."

This is helpful and encouraging, again, because it acknowledges the feelings and the struggle. They remind me that the symptoms are temporary while not being unrealistic that they will disappear instantly if I just "calm down."

From there, patience and presence is what many anxiety ridden people, like me, need. A calm presence does wonders for me. You don't even have to talk. Simply stating, "I am not leaving you" is all I need.

I think I can sum up this post like this:

What do you wish people would say to you when you are "going through it?" Or do you have helpful comments that you know have helped other people in times of high emotion? Let me know in the comments.

The Importance of Play -- DIY Play Mat Inspiration

Kids learn when they play. Play time and learning time are one in the same, not separate.

I love making things that my kids can play and imagine with. It brings me so much joy!

For Christmas, I bought my one year old niece some super cute wooden cars, and I wanted something to roll the cars on. At first I thought about simple strips of felt. I did that for my kids, but they get frustrated with those, because they slide around so much on the floor. So, I just resolved to sew them to a larger square of felt.

Well... flat is boring right?

So, I added some dimension and sort of lost myself in the fun of free form sewing. This is what I ended up with:

Then, on the other side I made an ocean scene... perfect for a whale softy I made : )

Knowing my kids dislike the road strips they currently have, I decided they needed a road mat too.

Now, I am NOT a sewer. I do my best, but I don't really care that much, especially for a project like this, about perfectly straight lines. I LOVED the free form nature of this project.

So, these are not exact instructions with measurements and patterns, but I hope it might give you some inspiration to do your own. It is SUCH FUN for all of us (me included). I just have to give up control when my almost three year old wants to put his tiger in my sheep pasture.

Start with a large piece of felt. I love felt for many reasons, but mostly because it doesn't fray; no hemming needed! With some chalk, map out the road path.

Using cloth or felt (again, felt is easier because of the no fray edges) cut out the negative spaces... those shapes that surround the road. I tacked them down with fabric glue first before sewing them down to the felt. I used cloth. So, to prevent fraying edges, I zig-zag stitched the edges. I love the way the zig-zag stitch looks.

Now, it's time to be creative and have fun adding elements and texture!

My number one recommendation is to both glue AND sew your three dimensional elements to the mat. I was so excited to let the kids start playing with the mat that I let them play when the elements were only glued down. A whole bunch of them came off. Kids can be rough! It took some time, but nothing has come off since I stitched them all on as well.

I am hoping that someday, I will add some edging. But, for real... the fact that I completed it this far is a minor miracle.

If you are looking for more AMAZING inspiration look HERE.

The Minimalist Lifestyle with Kids

I had the minimalist thing down five years ago. I LOVED the state of my house, felt proud of the organization and lack of unneeded stuff.

Then, I got pregnant, and had multiple baby showers...

Suddenly, my lovely perfectly set nursery was overtaken by ALL THE STUFF that comes with babies. I remember sitting in the midst of all the bags and boxes feeling both blessed and overwhelmed!

See! Look how neat and minimal : )

And we all know that you don't get less as the kids get older.

So how do you survive kids with a minimalist mindset?

How do you start teaching kids to be content with less?

I have only been at this parenting thing for about five years, but here are some of the strategies I have tried:

1) Communicate and Model

I try to talk with my kids a lot about being content and having "enough." I go through belongings WITH my kids when contemplating what to keep and what to give away. Asking questions like:

a) When did you last use this?

b) Why do you like it?

c) Do we have something that is very similar?

d) Do you think other kids would enjoy it more often than you?

The thing about this communication is that you it must be lead by the kids. Don't try to convince them to get rid of something because YOU want it gone. It's hard, but if it's ultimately your decision, the kids will react negatively. In the words of a Disney princess, "Let it Go," and by let it go, I mean keep it.

You also have the responsibility to model minimalist behaviors to your kids. I have a visible box in our porch closet specifically for items to donate. If I come across something, I will stop what I am doing (or set aside a time) to ask the kids to put something in it for me. Usually, they ask why I am giving something away, and I can explain that I don't use it, don't need it, have something else like it, or just feel like it's cluttering our home. 

2) Re-Gift

Sometimes, the kids get something as a gift that they already have. It's really tempting to return it or exchange it, but then... you are still getting more stuff. So, I have a re-gift bin. Gosh! I love my re-gift bin. It has bailed me out of many last minute gift runs.

3) Take Photos

My kids, especially my four year old, LOVE to create. I can't even imagine the folders and bins I could fill of their crafts and creations. The camera is the perfect solution. I take photos of their projects and then, into the recycling they go. Some are special enough to be on the fridge for a bit, but after a season, they also come down. Gwenyth loves the camera for recording her creations. Not only do we take photos off all her crafts, but she's realized all of her "set-ups" can last forever with a picture as well!

This is one of her "set ups." She loves to arrange. She is her mother's daughter : )

4) Swap Stuff

Find some like minded friends who would be willing to exchange stuff. Each family gets "new" stuff without buying more stuff. This is especially great for books that you are sick of reading over and over and over and over and over...

5) Use the Library

Speaking of books, the library is the most amazing place! There is so much more to check out than books at most libraries. One of our local libraries has big huge themed bags full of toys, books, and videos to check out. New FREE toys and experiences... that you can't keep! : )

There is no doubt about it, with kids comes stuff. Hopefully, these tips will help keep that stuff from taking over. What are some things you do with your kids to keep the stuff to a minimum? Share your tips in the comments!