December Daybook

I am wearing: 
Sweats and my new sparkling gold sweatshirt. Everyone in my family thinks it looks like and old lady but I think they don't know fashion.

 What I am listening to:

 A lot of Christmas on Pandora. I especially like the Nutcracker station. I also hear children talking together as they play a game on the Kindle and other noises coming from the tub in my bathroom.

 In the Kitchen:

Lots and lots of treats around here:

Gingerbread

Candy Cane Cookies

I actually put myself on a "no treats fast" for the day.  Tonight's dinner is a yummie wheat berry pilaf. 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/mushroom-wheat-berry-pilaf-recipe/index.html

I am looking forward to some Christmas cinnamon rolls, homemade butternut squash ravioli, rosemary bread and tiramisu. 

Around the House: 

The halls are decked and yes our huge tree is the centerpiece. Maybe when hubs is 70 we'll get a modest size tree.

Enjoying God's Creation:

I am so blessed by our little mountain town and its wintery snow.  Our home is an all-seasons destination--beach, camping and hiking in the summer and skiing, skating and sledding in the winter.  I heart it!!

In the Learning Loft:

Despite the hustle and bustle of the season we have faithfully maintained our lesson schedule and wrapped it up this morning with a movie.  This month we have focused on reading, spelling, fractions, decimals, multiplication, letters and the symbols of Christmas.

Montessori Multiplication Board

Spelling test

 And a bit of driedel too!

Celebrating the Season:

As you can see we have had many celebratory activities but 2 have been new to us this year.  First, the children all drew one another's names as secret buddies to buy, from their own money, a Christmas gift.  It has been comical to see how they cannot keep a secret. Helping each child think of and purchase a special gift has been so fun. Secondly, I signed up to ring the Salvation Army bell.  I have been wanting to be a bell ringer for years but was always apprehensive about participating but this year I put that aside and joined.  I did 2 different time slots and the girls accompanied me.  It was a wonderful opportunity to greet our community with Christmas cheer.

In the Gym: 

We finished T25 in November and are now wrapping up the year with selected workouts from our favorite programs--INSANITY, ASYLUM and P90Xplus.  We are Beacbbody coaches and offer free fitness and nutrition consulting to those in need.  If you need help improving your health, we can help.

http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/tammymom

http://www.shakeology.com/tammymom

From the Library:

I am reading Dickens' A Christmas Carol.  I have never been a Scrooge fan but felt lead to pick it up this season and I am so glad I did.  It challenges my reading abilities because it is such an old writing and has given me much to think about.  Here is a quote from the book when the ghost of Christmas Past and Scrooge are talking about his former apprenticeship and boss--"He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil.  Say that his power lies in words or looks; in things so slight and insignificant this it is impossible to add and count 'em up:"  I have been pondering that in regards to my own apprentices.  Isn't that what our children are?  Apprentices, in our care to learn the skills of life.  As their mother, I  can make them happpy or unhappy, burdened or light, or use my words and looks to build up or tear down.  The children look at me day in and day out, what do they see? If I am honest, much of the time a, a stern face.  I want to SMILE.  Pray for me in this area.

I also finished my 5 year read through the Bible. Yes, it was a long time.

Merry Christmas and thanks for visiting.

Cranberry Thanksgiving

Cranberry Thanksgiving is one of our all time favorite books.  I don't know if it is because it was one of the first successful unit studies our family did , if it is because of the yummie treat the reading of the story always demands or if it is just the signaling of the changing seasons we enjoy most.  Whatever it is, this story is here to stay and a family classic in our home.

This season I decided to share the story with our homeschool co-op class.  This class was for k and 1st graders.  We started out by identifying the New England States on our maps and coloring them.  I used a printable from Homeschool Shares Unit Study found here.

Then we watched a video from You Tube of the cranberry harvest:

From Bog to Table

I think the children really love seeing all the equipment used to bring cranberries to our table.

After all the background information it was time to read out story:

And of course, we followed it with a tasting of Cranberry Bread:

Here is a good recipe to try from Ocean Spray. I don't have a picture of it but we also cut the berries in half and used them to stamp a decorative border on a copy of the recipe to take home and try.  I really loved how the stamping turned out and gave so much detail of the berry's insides.

After our snack and a bit of play we strung cranberries and popcorn to take home and hang on a tree or bush to feed the birds, chipmunks and squirrels.

That's it.  A quick study for Thanksgiving.  Thanks for stopping by and I am linking up with Montessori Monday.

Nature Reading Booklist

We love books around here and every afternoon is dedicated to reading aloud and individual quiet reading or book looking.  I like to make lists subject by subject of the books we are going to read for the coming year and check them off as we progress.  I say progress because often our lists are over ambitious and either unfinished or even unused.  That is the case of our nature reading list for 2012/2013.  I made the list last fall specifically to read with K and B but as you can see it was over ambitious and we actually read very little.So this summer as I was planning science work I pulled out the list and we are reading a little at a time.  Our main nature text is A Nature Walk with Aunt Bessie.  Aunt Bessie takes her niece and nephew through her garden teaching about each thing they encounter and that is where our list comes in to play.  If there is a book on our nature list that fits in with Aunt Bessie's teachings we read it, last week we read Spiders.  We also read books from the list when we come upon the topic in our own yard or around town.

Nature Reading

2021-2013

Smithsonian Backyard

Bumblebee at Apple Tree Lane

Monarch Butterfly of Aster Way

Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane

Cottontail at Clover Crescent

Ladybug at Orchard Avenue

Gray Squirrel at Pacific Avenue

Canada Goose at Cattail Lane

Mallard Duck at Meadow View Pond

Robin at Hickory Street

Little Black Ant on Park Street

Gail Gibbons

Spiders

Cats

Penguins

The Moon Book

Galaxies, Galaxies

Weather Words

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

The Magic School Bus:

Gets Eaten

Gets Baked in a Cake

Lost in The Solar System

Sees Stars

Thornton Burgess

The Bird Book for Children

The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk

Old Mother West Wind

Lightfoot the Deer

The Adventures of Peter Cottontail

Mrs. Peter Rabbit

The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse

The Adventures of Bobby Raccoon

The Adventures of Reddy Fox

The Adventures of Poor Mrs. Quack

The Adventures of Buster Bear

The Adventures of Old Man Coyote

The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel

The Adventures of Grandfather Frog

The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad

The Adventures of Prickly Porky

Other

Why Do Leaves Change Colors?

Spiders

I Can Read About Wolves

See How they Grow—Frogs

From the Library

Walking with Henry—Thoreau

Henry David’s House—Thoreau

Henry Builds a Cabin—Thoreau

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg—Thoreau

Here are a few pictures of how we have been spending time in the great outdoors:

Sunday Afternoon walk down by the river.

B riding at the Pump Track.

E and A catching frogs and tadpoles.

E picked wild flowers for little ol' me.

Today is Montessori Monday and I am linking up!

Playdough in 5 Minutes

Our playdough spontenaity all started with this coupon that the little ladies clipped from the paper

 and ended with this oh so cute cake creation from the Play Doh Cake Makin Station.

If you have been reading here for awhile you know we like play dough.  Some mom's don't because of the teeny tiny bits that are hard to clean up but give a child a hand vac and it is no problem.

We have several Play Doh sets like the one above and the latest set to join the ranks is the Candy Cyclone, seen below.  The children love the Cyclone because it makes Play Doh gumballs.

Well seeing as how the children had a Play Doh coupon and how I was not going to drive 45 minutes to the nearest Target, we made our own.  Our recipe comes from this book:

The Busy Book is a long forgotten gem in our household but when it comes to DIY playdough it is what I reach for every time.  Here is our favorite recipe from the book and it really does take 5 minutes.  The littles love to play with the final product and the older children love to work the stove and mix the ingredients.

Combine in a saucepan and heat until warm:
1 cup water
1 TBS. vegetable oil
1/2 cup salt
1 TBS. cream of tartar
food coloring

Remove from the heat and stir in:
1 cup flour

Dump out the dough and knead until smooth.

See it is a very simple and quick recipe.

Now have fun with one of the sets I mentioned above or strike out on your own and make something like this:

Isn't that a cute face to start the week with?

I'm linking up with Living Montessori Now.

Christmas Books

I have so many posts swirling around in my head but this seemed the easiest and quickest to get out, considering our Christmas book box is sitting in the mudroom.  When we started our family I remember reading of others' traditions to buy a book a year, so as our children grew we would create a beloved Christmas Library.  Over the years we have been given books and I have bought books at thrift stores, garage sales and on Amazon,  Our collection is getting quite sizeable and I love nothing better than an early winter's evening with all of us on the couch reading our books.  Last year I wrapped all of our books and used them to count down the days to the big event.  The children had so much fun keeping me on track--"mom, you forgot to read today, again."  Yes, I am not perfect so some days we had to play catch-up and read 2 or 3 books.  So here is a smattering of our favorites:

One Wintery Night by Ruth Bell Graham

Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell & Jason Cockroft

The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt

Hubs gave me this book when we were engaged.  The story tells of 3 trees with big dreams but those dreams turn out to be better than they ever imagined as the trees are cut down and fashioned into the image of our Lord.

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

'Twas the Night, The Nativity Story by Melody Carlson

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

I love the pictures in this book, especially the one at the end where Mr. Toomey is throwing his head back in joyous laughter.  This is a touching story of overcoming loss and opening one's heart to what God brings to your door.

My First Little House Books Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck & Felicia Bond

Saint Nicholas, The Real Story of the Christmas Legend by Julie Stiegemeyer

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

Just a fun book to read because of all the associated activities and lessons.  This year I am looking here for some educational activities and here for some baking inspiration for gingerbread bark.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

When hubs first moved to Truckee he spent many nights with good friends reading this book, so it isn't just for kids. This particular family would cuddle up and take turns reading the story chapter by chapter.  The story is about the misadventures of one rebellious, undesirable family's infiltration into a church's Christmas pageant.  I have laughed so hard that tears have rolled down my face.

Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide

We take the Ytreeide books in small chunks the month before Christmas. These books are full of adventure and suspense wrapped in unpredicatable turns all leading to a little stable in Bethlehem.

Bartholomew's Passage by Arnold Ytreeide

Tabitha's Travels by Arnold Ytreeide

Christmas Stories for the Heart Complied by Alice Gray

I am sure the children would enjoy these short stories but this one is for the mommies.  Go hide in your room with a good cup of afternoon tea.

I am busy putting pen to paper for Christmas plans, from gifts to lessons this is a busy  time.  I beg the Lord's grace to myself and all of you as we decorate, shop, bake and wrap.  I strive to remember, it will all get done in His time, so don't loose sleep and stop to savor the little once a year moments that make up Christmas.

I am linking up with Montessori Monday.

Have a great week!

Books I Like

Well my friends we are already well into 2011 and I meant to do this book post at the beginning of the New Year but life takes me by storm many times.

So first for the books I hope to enjoy this year.   For Christmas dear Jay bought me 2 books by Francine Rivers.  The first is Her Mother's Hope and the second is an anthology called A Lineage of Grace.  The first book I am currently reading at it is very thought provoking and enjoyable.  It is a multi-generational story based on the author's own family.  The second book is a compilation of novelas written by Rivers on the 5 women in the lineage of Jesus.  I know they will not disapoint.  In case you were wondering who the five ladies are--Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary.

In this photo you can see A Lineage of Grace plus several others on my "hope to read list."


Character Sketches--This is put our by The Institute for Basic Life Principles.  It is a great book incorporating both character, nature study and bible. We will be using this in our morning breakfast time.


Amon's Adventure--This is an Easter book.  The children and I are very much looking forward to reading this later in the month.  We read one of the Christmas books in this series, Jotham's Journey, and were amazed at the twists and turns in the story, it was beyond excellent (can I say that?) for a children's book.

Elizabeth George books--I am currently rereading A Woman After God's Own Heart.  I read this for the first time when Emry was a baby and it is still as wonderful. It covers the topics of homemaking, marriage, children, spiritual growth and ministry.  A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus, is the new George book for the year.  It is a study of 30 character qualities Jesus exhibited throughout his life that we are to display in ours.

Sally Clarkson--Sally is another one of my favorite "mom" authors.  Her ministry is all about being a mom.  Her blog is called I Take Joy and is always full of encouragement.  In the photo is the book called Season's of a Mother's Heart.  I have been awaiting this one for several years.  It is about the changing seasons in the life of a wife and mother.



Photoed below are some of my favorite reads of 2010

Real Learning--When I read this book last summer, I could not put is down.  Jay and I were in Napa and I kept reading him passages and he said "it's as if you wrote this book."  So many of Elizabeth Foss's words I have said, thought or felt.  If you are on a homeschooling journey I cannot recommend this book enough.  I was just so stunned to read my heart flowing from someone else's words.  Elizabeth also has 2 great blogs Serendipity and In the Heart of My Home.

The Privilege--Kay Smith is the wife of Pastor Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel.  I have been attending Calvary Chapel since 1995 and December was the first time I ever read a Kay book and wow was I blessed and encouraged.  This book fed my heart time and time again.  Many of the chapters I have read 2 if not 3 times.  Kay wrote this book for pastor's wives but the ministry of a PW stretches all the way to us homemaking mama's and wives.  Get this book, read it, underline it and reread it over and over again, you will be blessed to be in the presence of Kay in your very own home. One of my "life manuals."

Raising Godly Tomatoes--I did not by the book but read it online.  I have printed it out and bound it, yes it was that good.  Strange title but read it and you will understand.  This is a child training book that will challenge you in raising your dear ones. It will encourage you to think about heart issues rather than just behavior.  I also like this book because a bush is never beaten around, just frank talk on child raising and discipline. Another "life manual" that hasn't left my bedside.

Snowmen at Night--a cute story of what snowmen do at night and why they can look all slumped over in the morning.  We first borrowed it from the library but now we own it.

Enough for now, I hope you enjoy a little bit of what makes me tick.