For Today...

Outside my window...the ground is wet with rain of the day. The stars are out, bright. My husband saw a shooting star tonight.
I am thankful for... blog time.
From the learning rooms... So much fun in Science today, studying Animal Groups.
From the kitchen...All is quiet, roast is thawing for tomorrow.
I am wearing...after-run comfy clothes.
I am creating... posters for science grouping, baby blanket is resting tonight.
I am going...to keep on pursuing peace.
I am reading... blogs, that's all tonight.
I am hoping...that P. Curtis is right.
I am hearing...Earl. Mmmmhmm. Ralph is watching.
Around the house...boys are sleeping, doggy is sleeping, I'm sleepy.
One of my favorite things...running in the rain, or after the rain.
A few plans for the rest of the week: reader's theatre, Bible Study, taking a little boy on a date, choir, boy scouts, resting.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
This is

Aurora Borealis, I'd love to see the Northern Lights one day

Visit the http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ to share yours

Part II~ Planting God's Word in the Hearts of Our Little Ones

I got a lot of great feedback from my previous entry, so I wanted to share some of the neat ways that fellow readers are teaching their little ones throughout the days.

In our house, I've tried to take time each night at bedtime (when kids are quiet and open to talk) to talk to the kids about the day. My oldest and I read a story from a devotion book, and read a scripture that's related. I pray with all the boys, thanking God for a good day, praying for protection and for friends. I have also chosen a scripture to teach the boys, printed it out and posted it on the boys' bathroom mirror, in their rooms and in the car. They can't all read, but one day they will...and when I see this verse I read it to them again and we talk about what it means. In the car is a great place to read these verses to the boys and talk about what they mean. I love verses on tape too, songs stick in their little hearts. I pray they will come back when the kids need the Word.

I got the boys their own Bibles, and I really love this version, it's the International Children's Version. I highly recommend.

So read on, I'm certainly going to try some of these ideas (check out the fun blogs too);

Psalm 119:11 (The Message)

^9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;
don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I'll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you've done it.
I relish everything you've told me of life,
I won't forget a word of it.

Will you share with me how you teach the Word to your little ones? The exciting thing, is that as we teach, we learn.

******

Readers Share;

I have began to start the day with a Bible Story... and before we read, we pray and ask Jesus to speak to each heart, and give them a picture to color. It's one of those idea's that was God inspired. I so want my kids to know His voice, and His word. And while I read the story they listen, and when Jesus gives them a picture, they are allowed to draw, color it, sculpt it with clay... My kids love it! My littlest, Twinkle, always reminds me to do it every morning!

Hugs.. Amy

We have done devotions with the kids many different ways over the years. Now that they are older I take joy in seeing some of them take to daily devotions and Bible reading themselves. Mandi is learning that her day goes so much better when she spends time in God's Word each morning. Jeff is my night time Bible reader. Many nights I find him with a flashlight under his covers reading the Bible. This brings joy to my heart.

For Christmas we bought the New Testament on CD. It is actually read by popular christian actors and singers that my kids are familiar with. So we try to listen as a family to a chapter or two several times a week. They love this and always beg for more. It has theatrical voices which makes it entertaining but yet it is strictly the word of God. I am so pleased with it. I hope they come out with the OT.

Thanks Amanda for posting this post. It is so important to direct little ones to God's Word and then so beautiful when they desire it themselves.~ Kristin Kuhlman

We too have done this differently. Bekah and I have a special devotional for girls that is amazing we do before Bed. Cade and I had a boy one we used to do, but haven't done much lately. He just loves reading his Bible. (It helps once they read, which your boys do, to let them have their own time with God too). As a family, Cory introduced this a few months ago - simple but perfect. After dinner, we go around the table and say one thing about the day that was our favorite thing and one thing that was challenging that we'd like the family to pray about. it's awesome. Simple but I truly have heard things from the kids that without this simple forum I never would have, and even though I thought I knew what to pray about, sometimes there were details in each person's day that I didn't know about that this allows us all to be aware of and praying for. Bekah never lets us forget this routine. Being the quieter second born, I don't think she finds it as easy to get her thoughts out there, but this is a way that gives her the undivided attention of the whole family. ] So good to have a Spiritual Leader in my home (like you do too with Ralph!) so I don't have to take on that burden. P.S. Both kids are always memorizing a verse which is posted on the fridge. We started memorizing His Word when Cade was about 2. I love Amy's idea - it's one we have done as well over the years. One of my favorite drawings ever is of Cory's after meditating on a verse. A friend of mine in town has an entire scrapbook of just these drawings her family has done over the years with the verse they were reading that inspired each drawing on each picture. it's beautiful! ~Julie Oneil

School this Week

Well, again I'm going to show you some highlights of our school away from the 'school.' In 'class' we're working on beginning reading and addition with Critter, Peanut is working on letter recognition and writing/drawing. Scooter and I are taking on borrowing which seems to be the worst thing I could ask of him (he's not loving math lately) so he and I have been doing a lot of playing in Math...flash card games and writing on the windows etc. He's moving forward in Ancient Egypt studies and is now studying animals and insects in Science.

But now for the fun stuff;


I don't think I ever shared with you these photos, taken at the Pine Wood Derby a week ago. Joey's car was fast and furious, and we had a really great time watching the races. He got a ribbon for his entry and was quite pleased with the work that he and his dad did.


Here is a picture of our typical school day around the kitchen table. It's not uncommon to find Scoot working away whilst his younger brothers entertain with play doh. It's a long time favorite past time around hers. Especially in the winter. I suppose it has the gratifying effect of digging around in the dirt outside on a small scale. I almost never say no to play doh...a contained mess is no small thing to bark at around here.



This picture cracks me up...it's a first-thing-in-the-morning photo. Coloring over their bagels, and somehow they don't really look awake yet...

Quotes

Critter has been helping out all morning. He made my bed, cleaned up the books, put away dishes and moved chairs when it was time for me to mop. He set the table for breakfast and wiped down the counter.

Later, I told him how much it helped me that he was doing so much of my work.

He said;
"Mom, do you know why I feel a little precious? Because I'm doing some good."

Ahhh, soup for the soul.

School this Week

Well, again I'm going to show you some highlights of our school away from the table. In 'class' we're working on beginning reading and addition with Critter, Peanut is working on letter recognition and writing/drawing. Scooter and I are taking on borrowing which seems to be the worst thing I could ask of him (he's not loving math lately) so he and I have been doing a lot of playing in Math...flash card games and writing on the windows etc. He's moving forward in Ancient Egypt studies and is now studying animals and insects in Science.

But now for the fun stuff;


I don't think I ever shared with you these photos, taken at the Pine Wood Derby a week ago. Joey's car was fast and furious, and we had a really great time watching the races. He got a ribbon for his entry and was quite pleased with the work that he and his dad did.


Here is a picture of our typical school day around the kitchen table. It's not uncommon to find Scoot working away whilst his younger brothers entertain with play doh. It's a long time favorite past time around hers. Especially in the winter. I suppose it has the gratifying effect of digging around in the dirt outside on a small scale. I almost never say no to play doh...a contained mess is no small thing to bark at around here.

Quote for Today

"In youth we learn; in age we understand."
~ Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach quotes

(My grandparents, Ione Esther and Charles Dean)

Tonight as I tucked Scoot into bed, we read in his Bible Study that it's important to learn Scripture, to tuck it away for later...just as a squirrel tucks away nuts for winter storms he knows are soon to come.

For a seven year old, that's tricky to understand. Life has been good. But I know, I know, that there will be a day when Scooter needs direction. Or he'll be without a Bible, grasping for the Word that gives life & truth. So I'll press on in my job to tuck God's word away in his heart, and those of his brothers.

I have to confess, I have been terrible about this for some time. I used to work at it more. I'm committing to make a good habit of teaching them, as we sit and drive, and stand and talk;

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Or for a longer in depth version;

Psalm 119:11 (The Message)

^9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;
don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I'll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you've done it.
I relish everything you've told me of life,
I won't forget a word of it.

Will you share with me how you teach the Word to your little ones? The exciting thing, is that as we teach, we learn.

******

Readers Share;

I have began to start the day with a Bible Story... and before we read, we pray and ask Jesus to speak to each heart, and give them a picture to color. It's one of those idea's that was God inspired. I so want my kids to know His voice, and His word. And while I read the story they listen, and when Jesus gives them a picture, they are allowed to draw, color it, sculpt it with clay... My kids love it! My littlest, Twinkle, always reminds me to do it every morning!

Hugs.. Amy

We have done devotions with the kids many different ways over the years. Now that they are older I take joy in seeing some of them take to daily devotions and Bible reading themselves. Mandi is learning that her day goes so much better when she spends time in God's Word each morning. Jeff is my night time Bible reader. Many nights I find him with a flashlight under his covers reading the Bible. This brings joy to my heart.

For Christmas we bought the New Testament on CD. It is actually read by popular christian actors and singers that my kids are familiar with. So we try to listen as a family to a chapter or two several times a week. They love this and always beg for more. It has theatrical voices which makes it entertaining but yet it is strictly the word of God. I am so pleased with it. I hope they come out with the OT.

Thanks Amanda for posting this post. It is so important to direct little ones to God's Word and then so beautiful when they desire it themselves.~ Kristin Kuhlman

Brain Chain: in a day's work

wake up, snuggle boy,happy, read and pray, laundry, shower, ahh, dress, beds, flat boy hair, squeaky clean teeth, breakfast, full, vitamins, clean kitchen, hurry, shoes, socks, coats, carseats, hurry!, drive, worship, nate, sit, book talk, chat, brain-tired, chat, drive, husband, dog, make lunch, husband hug, ahhh, talk, frustrated, eat, talk, phone rings, plan, talk, clean kitchen, play, twinkie, pick up, magic beans, go dog!, clean, email, talk to boys, facebook, happy, sweep, school, spelling, art, crochet, correct, content, school, Sesame Street, read blog, listen to Bee Story read by son, happier, paint, art, pattern, giggle, picture, phone, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, vacuum, spot, vacuum, UPS, snacktime, bleach bathroom,

Common Sense Tips for Running in the Snow

• White and Pink shoes are hypercolor in the snow. They magically turn brown and pink. (You only thought they were white)
  
• When you run around the elementary school down the way- the street lined with parked cars of parents that wait for children to come to the car, it's awesome to slip on the ice and fall on your butt. Do it gracefully.
• Take your camera for fabulous snow photos.
• Eyeglasses quickly build up a nice layer of snow, rendering them useless.
• The snow looks as pretty without any glasses. And all cars (but the white ones) are still easy to see.
• Perfectly curled eyelashes catch snowflakes beautifully, blocking your view of the road ahead & giving you an up close view of the snow.
• DO NOT attempt to wipe your snowlashes for a better view of the road ahead. Vanity will remind you that your face will be covered in mascara quickly if you do. You can't see anything anyway, remember? The glasses are in your pocket.
  
• You can catch LOTS of snowflakes on your tongue if you run against the snowfall with your mouth wide open.
  
• All that vantity was for not. When you get close to home and your body gets warm, the snow on your eyelashes melts anyhow and your sweet husband will still giggle when you walk in the door with mascara running down your face. He will also be so proud of you for running in spite of the cold you have, the cold you're in.
• Running in the snow still clears a girls head.
• Running in the snow still burns calories.
• Running in the snow is amazingly beautiful, nature still breathes life into a weary soul. God has a way of doing that.
  

Grumblings...

I have a cold. Again. The second in as many weeks. Last time I felt I got away with just a minor cold, this time it's full strength.

I wanted to run today. I have run but once in two weeks. I want to run. But it's snowing. And cold. And I have a cold. Maybe I'll take a nap.

Ugh.

It's all in the attitude, right?

These days have been just crazy for me. I know, I know. YES, this is the same woman who had a spell of boredom two weekends ago. Sorry to say, or am I happy to say?, boredom doesn't last long.

As some of you know things have been a little complicated around here for the last few weeks (that's a story to come) and I'm finding myself in one of those weeks where everything seemingly happens at the same time.

**Splat**

I'm loving doing the meals ministry stuff for the church--but really, the babies just don't stop coming and I'm staying quite busy with that. I'm seeking someone who would like to partner in the task with me...anyone interested?

Basketball is winding down, but as we all know- this means parties. Gifts for the fabulous coaches...and I mean fabulous (patient, kind, encouraging and just plain tolerant). I'll be grateful when BB is all over this time next week.

Cub Scouts is a task of my husbands...he wants me to get more involved, but man, I feel I have enough on my plate right now. I did, however, get to the Pine Wood Derby last Saturday, it was great fun.

Next week I'm bringing a little project/testimony to our Girl Talk group (ages 10-13ish) It's so fun, and boy do girls talk! I have some preparing to do...

Kids Choir on Wednesdays, Bible Study on Tuesdays....some days it feels like it's all crashing down on me.

Lately, I'm focusing on the most important things:








everything else will just have to wait. AND I need to keep my attitude in a good place. I don't have too much to do. I'm not too busy. In reality, there are many things that are fine if they fall by the wayside for a day or two...

• blogging
• facebook
• mopping the kitchen
• phone calls
• reading my favorite novel
• baby blanket I'm working on

It's taken me years to get the hang of this parenting/schedule thing. I'm finally getting it that these busy crazy weeks are just that (weeks) and they will end...or at least change. I wholly remember just how insane life was when our babies were babies. When Peanut was born, Critter was just one and Scoot was three years old. Want to talk about crazy-busy weeks? I remember telling myself over and over that each day would be different from the last- maybe not easier, but different.

So I really need to go take care of some home chores. I am really looking forward to decluttering, that I started last week....

Monday Delight

For Today...

Outside my window...the sky is black as night, I can see the stars well here- clear skies and mountain-close. I'm certain my puppy is waiting to come in.
I am thankful for... little boy bedtime, and the quiet that follows.
From the learning rooms... Monday grumblings.
From the kitchen...my dishwasher hums, berry cobbler waits for me.
I am wearing...jammies.
I am creating...a blog entry, prayer/scripture journals for Girl Talk next week, baby blanket.
I am going...to Bible Study in the morning.
I am reading...April Snow by Rosamunde Pilcher, a favorite standby author. Lies Women Believe by Nancy Lee DeMoss- for Bible Study.
I am hoping...for clear answers this week.
I am hearing...my husband debate God with a special person on the phone. And the dishwasher. Give Me Your Eyes from AirOne.
Around the house...laundry awaits, Stuart working on an apple, happy clutter piles, library books, newspapers, toy "stories", a cozy home.
One of my favorite things...kisssing my boys one more time while they sleep just before I turn in.
A few plans for the rest of the week: basketball, end of season parties, a dentist appointment, children's home school choir, celebrating my little sister's 31st birthday, getting together with a dear friend, I hope.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

My sweet Grandmother, Elinor Short

Visit the http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ to share yours

Needing A Little Inspiration?

I stumbled across a book giveaway tonight... a new blog I've been following. Be sure to check it out here at Lylah's blog.

The book is about praying for your husband.

This is such a vital part of a woman's ministry. And still I forget to often. I want so badly to see my husband thrive~spiritually, physically, in family, career, ministry, integrity. My heart's desire is to be the Proverbs 31 woman who's husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

Check out this book with me...let me know if you get it and we'll read, pray together.

A Visit to our Good friends, the Corderos

My sweet husband has finally returned from another business trip (hence the prior reference to my solo act) back East. He was gone for 11 long days, we all missed him so much. To pass the time a little more quickly, the boys and I went over the mountains for some fun time with our friends, the Corderos who recently moved over there. We had lots of good play time, a puzzle for moms (Cathy and I both enjoy a good puzzle) movies, and a trip to the local carosel and park. It was a fun trip, but brief- we're looking forward to seeing our friends again tomorrow- this time they're on our side of the mountains. Enjoy the photos, please enjoy the fact that I got Lincoln the builder/skiier/scuba diver in their twice...how can you NOT enjoy him twice?

School this week

Thought I'd share with you some of the fun stuff we've been up to this week.

Scooter is part of Boy Scouts, and as any Scout family knows, it's the time of year for the all important Pine Car Derby. This has been a very fun project for Scootch and his dad, and I think it's looking quite sharp. I haven't photos of the finished product, but I'm sure to get some good ones tomorrow at the races.





Of course projects beget projects when you have little boys....Critter admitted to feeling a little jealous of the Pine Car project, so I pulled out some treasure boxes I picked up at the dollar store way back when for the younger boys to paint. It was a big paint project night, we had a wonderful time.




























We also made playdoh again this week.





I used kool aid to scent the pink (Valentine's day) playdoh. I always make a huge batch and the kids have a big old clump to play with. It's great to play with while it's still warm, and for the next month or sometimes two.

Do you like Critter's Elephant?

I could post photos of the boys doing their traditional school work, but I think those aren't nearly as fun as us doing the fun stuff.






We went to our first week of choir/music theory class. I was thrilled with this home schooling mom of 6 (I think all girls) who works hard to put this class on. There were at least 23 students there, including two of my boys. It was so fun to hear this group of kiddos. Maybe I'll take my camera next week.

And today we had our traditional Chess and Game Club for Home School Kiddos.


It's a favorite group for the boys, we meet monthly and Scooter gets to hone in on his Chess skills, or play whatever game he likes. Peanut is a happy observer and he and I usually play a game or two. Critter is starting to join in with the other 5 and 6 year old kids to play games...in the past he's been more interested in hanging out with his brothers or me and watching. Today I actually got in on a mom's game of 10 days in the USA...a very fun and good learning game for sure.

K12~ our review

This is a bit of an explanation, exploration for those of you who don't know much about the schooling/ curriculum we're doing.

I signed Scooter up for K12 this fall. I had researched their curriculum before, but learned that is was a frighting $2,000 a year. Now, however, the program is state funded in OR. So I jumped at the opportunity.

What do we love about K12?

• The lesson plans are done for me, no more worries about whether or not I've missed something important, no more lesson planning. I have discovered that for me, I can relax and enjoy teaching much better with the plans done for me. I don't have upcoming lessons in my mind, I'm not wondering if I can find that certain book and I don't have to buy any more than I like.
• The materials are great, and all free. The lessons are planned out for each kind of learning style.
• I have an OR State teacher that I touch base with regularly, someone's brain to pick, AND she offers a virtual classroom for Scooter and some of the other local kids in the area, a place for them to chat and learn together.
• We have field trips (that I don't have to organize) to meet w/ other local K12 kids and visit areas of learning/interest.

Things I don't love about the curriculum;

• This program is structured enough that it's hard to be loosely flexible. I have to account for all school days, telling what we accomplished in the day. While this accountability is good for me, I'd like a little more structure.
  
• I long for a richer, more literature based curriculum. Perhaps next year I'll fork out the big bucks for Sonlight. I realized the other day that I only have to buy each grade level once. I can use the second grade curriculum three times. When asked what Scooters favorite part of school, he'll answer History or Language arts, because of the stories. I agree. It's the best way to learn.

We'll finish out this year, and I'll update you if we decide to change. :)

An article I read;

Online K-12 Schools Grow in Popularity: Donna Fuscaldo, Fox Business

“An investment in
knowledge always pays
the best interest.”
~ Benjamin Franklin

For Briana LeClaire, a mother of three in Meridian, Idaho, it was a no-brainer to enroll her two school-aged children in Idaho Virtual Academy, a Kindergarten through 12th grade Internet school that has more than 2,000 students. The 38-year old liberal-arts graduate wanted her children to learn history based on Greek mythology and the Bible, and not from a social studies approach, which is the norm in most public schools.
“You can’t really resonate with paintings without knowing the stories from the Bible and the stories from Greek mythology,” said LeClaire, whose first-grade son and seventh-grade daughter are enrolled in the online school. “Until my brick-and-mortar school starts offering history and a literary curriculum, I’ll stick with what’s working.”

LeClaire is just one of the thousands of parents across the country who are choosing to enroll their children in virtual schools. Whether its homeschoolers, child actors, elite athletes or children who are advanced or need more help, Internet schools for K-12 are growing. While online education used to be the domain of colleges and universities, that’s no longer the case. Proponents of the virtual schools say children not only are able to get a richer education but the flexibility online schools offer, make it the most viable choice in some cases. “Up until eight years ago, unless you had affluence, the only place your family could get an education was at the local elementary school down the street,” said Ron Packard, founder and Chief Executive of K12 , the Herndon, Va., provider of K-12 online curriculums. “What happens if that education doesn’t work? The child has no choice.”

With public virtual schools, anyone in the state has an education choice. Online public schools and charter schools offer the education for free with the school providing the necessary equipment including computers and in many cases broadband Internet access. Many times the teachers are located in regions near the students and communication is conducted via video conference, telephone and in person. Currently K12’s curriculum is used for 40,000 students in nationwide virtual schools. Packard expects that number to increase by a double-digit rate annually. He said the increase will be driven largely by awareness, as the stigma of an online education continues to dissipate. After all, public online schools are much different than home schooling, where the parents aren’t required to follow state mandates. Public online schools are required by the state to take the same tests as the brick and mortar schools, and students have to be taught by certified public teachers, said Packard. According to Anthony Picciano, a professor at Hunter College and CUNY Graduate Center who specializes in education administration and supervision, said the number of students in online public
schools stands at around 700,000 to 800,000 out of a school population of around 51 million.
That number was between 130,000 and 150,000 in the 2001/2002 school year.
Picciano, who is putting together a second study on K-12 online education for Sloan-C. a consortium developed to advance online education, said that rate will grow, largely with high school students who may take advanced placement classes or supplemental classes online.
Still while the adoption rate is on the rise, there are concerns with online schools, especially for
younger students.

“Bless me, what *do* they teach them at these schools.” ~ CS Lewis

“The majority are high-school students, because there’s the whole issue of socialization with younger students,” said Picciano. “The nature of the primary school and even the middle school is not just to teach academic courses, but it’s where they go to develop children emotionally and socially so they can work well with their peers.”

Supporters of the online schools say socialization isn’t an issue, since most students are engaged in activities like field trips, after school programs or church functions where they learn the necessary social skills. “Most parents that have their children in programs like this take a fairly active role in providing socialization,” said Craig Butz, director of Nevada Connections Academy, the online K-12 school that’s part of Connections Academy. “Parents feel like they have a choice as to what socialization children are being exposed to.”

In the Nevada Connections Academy, the enrollment is expected to grow from 300 last year to 800 this year. Butz said Connections Academy expects a dramatic increase in enrollment in all of its K-12 online schools.

For LeClaire, socialization has never been an issue for her two children enrolled in Idaho Virtual Academy. She said her first-grader plays with the other children on the block, and her seventh-grader is in clubs that are of interest to her, like the Junior NRA shooting club. "She has the opportunity to be with kids who share interests,” said LeClaire, noting that once a week
her daughter goes to a learning co-op put together by the parents where there’s group learning. “With the co-op, being in school is cool. Learning is cool. For the most part they share interests, and one of the interests is doing well.”

Ultimately, experts in the online K-12 world think there will be a blended approach for teaching students that mixes face-to-face education with virtual learning. The fact that students go on field trips or engage in learning co-ops is evidence that it's already occurring. It’s also happening on a structured basis in many online schools like Odyssey Charter Schools, in Clark County, Nevada. Odyssey Charter Schools combines a full online curriculum with required on-site attendance. Students attend classes one day a week for four hours. “You’ll see in the future maybe kids will go three days a week to a physical location for labs or to be in band class and the rest done online,” said Allison Powell, vice president of the North American Council for Online Learning.

Somethings

something good
something warm my red blanket
something cozy book corners
something bad fighting
something tomorrow rest
something hope eternity
something aggravating potty talk
something dirty potty talk
something done floors
something quiet dishwasher
something crafty muffins
something true "Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you!" Prov 3:3
something loud boys
something beautiful sunset over the mountains in January
something needful running
something eyefull

Homeschool: Salt Crystals

When I picked up some Liquid Bluing at the grocery to whiten my laundry a bit, I was surprised to find a recipe for making salt crystals on the bottle. We started with Salt, cinder rock, water, and of course Mrs. Stewarts Liquid bluing (also great for keeping your white pet nice and white.)

These are the progression of the salt crystals. The salt grew just as well all over the sides of the bowl as on the rocks. It was a fun experiment, the crystals grew continually for about the month that it inhabited a spot on the kitchen counter.

I recommend this project, it's simple once it's started and fun for the kids to watch grow.

For today

For Today...

Outside my window... little happy boys run on the yellow lawn, happy to be in the sunshine. The trees are just waiting for spring, they'll have a long wait.
I am thinking...that I'm so grateful for my home.
I am thankful for...my home...and space.
From the learning rooms..weather...precipitation, to be exact. A little Spanish, learning to carry numbers, more of Aesop's Fables.
From the kitchen...tacos for dinner. Mmm. Maybe I'll get a little ice cream after basketball for the freezer.
I am wearing...jeans and a black long sleeve T.
I am creating...a blue baby blanket, order in my boys' rooms (sneaking old toys to the goodwill.)
I am going...to be soooo happy tomorrow night.
I am reading...I just finished a book, need to order another.
I am hoping...for answers.
I am hearing...a quiet house, happy boys.
Around the house...boys are playing with legos and playmobiles. I'm getting the house in order for the arrival of my sweet husband, coming home from work travel.
One of my favorite things...getting the boys all tucked in at night and watching a good movie.
A few plans for the rest of the week: the before mentioned husband-welcoming, a trip to the spa, very busy little boy sports/scouts/birthday parties, and an ANSWER.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

















Visit the http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ to share yours