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Thursday, 18 June 2009
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Currently
Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too
By Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish
see relatedThey DO like each other! My girls that is. With the oldest being away at camp this week, my youngest is constantly moaning "I miss big sis".
When they are together they have their moments where - well, you know. They just fight like crazy!
When my youngest spent the night at my parents house she went on an outing with Grammie to the dollar store. My youngest had $2.00
in her wallet. She chose to buy something for her big sister!
My heart just sang when she showed me what she had bought.
A ceramic piece for her to paint and a pump hand wash (scented). She was so proud of her purchase!
Tuesday night I received a phone call from my oldest at camp "Real quick Mom - what size shirt does little sis wear?" I was gushing -
"Are you having a good time - what are you doing? Have you gone swimming - horseback riding." She snapped me back into focus -
"MOM - shirt size! I don't have time - yes I'm having a great time!" Then it dawned on me.... she was thinking of her sister. Again my
heart went a-flutter.
These girls think of each other when their not together. They've formed a bond. Hubby and I have long tried to instill that in them. Friends will
come and go - but a sister is there through thick and thin. I can only pray that they continue this bond. One of many prayers that I pray for them.
I wonder how long the peace will last once big sis comes home.... I give it until Saturday morning.
I know that even though they fight, they
still love each other and have the love of the Lord in their hearts.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
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Currently
Camping for Kids: A Family Camping Guide (The Outdoor Kids)
By Steven A. Griffin, Elizabeth May Griffin
see relatedGreat American Backyard Campout!
About the Great American Backyard Campout - National Wildlife Federation
Join us! it will be a night your kids won't soon forget! You can camp in your backyard, a campground, the wilderness!
Go to the site listed above for some really great ideas to plan your Campout! Please be sure to come back here and share what you did.
We're a camping family so I'm not sure if we'll hit the June 27th date or not.
I am camping the weekend of the 19-21 with my girls. (Girls only weekend).
The site also has a list of things to do during your campout. A new-to-me site is http://www.wunderground.com/sky/index.asp
You type in your zip code and it provides you with an interactive star chart. Pretty cool, huh?
We also like to bring along plaster of paris so we can search for animal prints to make casts of.
Last year we bought hubby this:http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_95973_250004001_250000000_250004000?cmCat=CROSSSELL_SEARCH
We mount it on a tree near where we're camping and the girls "bait" it to lure an animal to the camera.
Usually only a few pieces of dog food will do it. Most of the time we forget to do it.
The only problem is we can't see what's on the memory stick until we get home.
Campfire songs! This is a must do.
I remember sitting around the campfire as a little girl listening to my Grandma sing campfire songs.
We mostly sing Girl Scout songs now. If you need some help this site: http://dragon.sleepdeprived.ca/songbook/songbook_index.htm has quite a listing.
Of course you have to make s'mores! Girls Scouts claims to have invented it. It first appeared in a Girl Scout cook book in the 20's.
Girl Scouts now make gourmet s'mores.... You toast your marshmallow then squeeze it between the All Abouts or Thanks-a-lots (depending on your area).
Delish!
Enjoy your campout!
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
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I only have 1 child this week. It's weird. Oh, she's enjoying it immensely.
She's hogging dinner time conversation, she's sleeping in her big sisters bed - she's calling every single relative in a 30 minute radius to see if she can sleep over! The big sis is away at church camp. First time ever. She's there for 1 week. I pray that the Lord is teaching her, touching her heart and that she's having a great time!
I'm dealing with it. Like I said, it's weird having 1 child around. We do everything as a family. We went out for dinner Saturday night and how strange to say "party of 3, please". Yesterday we went hiking and we were lost without my oldest with us! I miss her. But I know that my youngest is thriving by the one on one attention she's getting. Her & I went to Ikea on Saturday then to Bass Pro Shops to make a Father's Day gift. Church on Sunday together. We're bonding. I'm hearing her voice - only her voice. Her thoughts her ideas. Some corny some really good ones. She sometimes get's drowned out by her sister. We needed this week together for her to shine. 
So, although we're missing my oldest daughter a whole bunch - we're enjoying each others company immensely. If I can just keep her home and not at Grammies house sleeping over.
I guess I can share her with my Mom & Dad!
Thursday, 11 June 2009
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Currently
Summer Fun!: 60 Activities for a Kid-Perfect Summer (Williamson Kids Can! Series)
By Susan Williamson, Michael P. Kline
see relatedI just found a list I wrote when my girls were much younger. Thought I'd post it for you.- Finger paint with shaving cream - use colored construction paper.
- "Paint" the porch with water - use a clean paint brush. This is a great activity for a sunny day. Keeps the kids really busy.
- Use long wrapping paper tubes to make slides for cars, balls or other small objects. Connect them to make a cool slide.
- Create a collage by gluing different kids of beans, cereal, colored toothpicks, dry rice, foil, pasta - you name it - onto cardboard.
- Let the kids do the dishes!
- Get out the magnifying glasses - go for a walk.
- Go to http://www.ciese.org/curriculum/squareproj/ Square of life. Keep track of a square of your yard!
- Paint rocks with tempera paint.
- Glue yarn or string around an empty can (let dry) and use it as a paint roller.
- Make pinecone birdfeeders.
- Make a fishing pole magnet. Fish for numbers, letters, words.... My girls L.O.V.E.D. this activity. Great for sneaky educational fun!
- Write with wet chalk.
- Play hopscotch.
- Grow sprouts.
- Create a paper mosaic.
- Collect recycled materials for a craft box. Egg cartons, film canisters, spools - let the kids go crazy making something.
- Let the kids play store - print paper money.
- Have the kids make books about themselves. Include birthdate, hand prints , footprints & drawings of themselves. Include stores. These would make great gifts for Grandparents too!
- Make a homemade memory game.
- Make placemats by covering kids artwork with clear contact paper.
- Place a listening game. Ask your child to close their eyes and guess the sounds you make. Blow a whistle, drop a spoon, jingle money or keys.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
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Currently
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters (Bright Ideas for Learning)
By MaryAnn F. Kohl, Kim Solga
see relatedMore of our favorite things....
thought I'd continue on with our list of cheap inexpensive things to do this summer!- Make ice cream. We received a Play & Freeze Ice cream maker for Christmas. http://icecreamrevolution.com/ It's a lot of fun! We also have a slushy maker someone gave us.
- Summer art school - just found this blog this morning: http://kristensbloglife.blogspot.com/ We love art projects. We also use this book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0935607099/ref=nosim/httpwwwxan0cb-20 for our study of the great masters.
- Science project. My girls could probably go overboard with this one! They love a great science project. The Kid Concoctions books are a great source of fun.http://tinyurl.com/ltdqqf
- Free field trips - head out to a small airport and watch the planes take off. We live right smack in between 2 large airports. Seeing the big planes is no big deal. There's a small airport a friend told me about that has a diner - you can sit & watch the small aircrafts take off. (Ok the diner part isn't free, but it inexpensive.)
- Another field trip - the beach. Pack a picnic lunch & lots of sunscreen. Here in Chicago parking at the beach can be expensive. Not sure if we'll pack it all in and take the train or not. I do like to drive.
- Splash pads & parks. We have a couple of splash pads in our area. My oldest daughter probably wouldn't be up for this - but the youngest would. Word in our area is a fab new playground with zip lines. I need to find out where.
- Pool party - we have a nice size pool. (It's nothing too elaborate so don't get upset if you don't get an invite) Kids don't care what size the pool is they just want to get wet! Get out the sprinkler, slip & slide, a kiddie pool filled with balloons (not for the wee-littles though!) My girls loved when I would freeze containers of ice - THINK BIG - and float them in the kiddie pool for them. I've even done rubber gloves and floated hands!
- We have a few museums & zoo's that are still free around here. Lincoln Park (again with the parking!) and Cosley Zoo in Wheaton. On our must do list is the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum! http://www.ben.edu/museum/ I do have a membership to the Field Museum that we'll use this summer and I've been pondering Brookfield Zoo again this year. First year I haven't renewed in about 20.
- Have a sleepover! We've only recently begun to have sleepovers at friends houses and vice versa.
- Campfire in the yard - invite friends for s'mores!
- Secret Keeper Girls - I just bought the study for my girls & I. We'll be taking part in all the great Mom & daughter outings this summer or doing them at home.
- Letterboxing! http://www.atlasquest.com/ The only cost for this is gas for your vehicle, a stamp & pad. (you can get away with a store bought stamp)
- Geocache - If I can ever figure out how to use the GPS hubby bought me for CHRISTMAS! We will start hunting for cache's. If anyone has a favorite site - I'd love to have it!
- Camping - we're campers so we can head out at any time. Not sure if you'd enjoy camping? Camp in your backyard? Pitch a tent in the living room. Your kids will love it.
- Paint some rocks - first go out and collect them on a hike.
Then let the kids paint them. http://dailytiffin.blogspot.com/2009/05/art-of-rock-painting-kids-crafts.html Cute, huh? or how about using glow in the dark paint? I love this idea! http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/2008/07/glow-in-the-dar.html - Have a lemonade stand.
- Head to a minor league baseball game.
- Decorate your bike & have a parade - invite your friends! (There's still time to get in that 4th of July parade!)
- Learn a new craft. I know there are quite a few elderly ladies at our church who would love the company and the chance to teach their craft. We have knitters, crocheters and quilters. I know this would bless our family and theirs. Do you have someone like this at your church? Someone who's grandchildren perhaps live far away? Adopt a Grandma!
- Make ice cream. We received a Play & Freeze Ice cream maker for Christmas. http://icecreamrevolution.com/ It's a lot of fun! We also have a slushy maker someone gave us.
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About Me
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I am a Christian SAHM, homemaker, and I "afterschool" my 2 daughters. I love camping, canoeing, hiking, houseboating, fishing anything to do with the outdoors. We are also letterboxers!
Pulse
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Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
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Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing;
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