Parenting Mom tester

Here's another great one to sign up for possible freebies! Parenting magazine now has their own product testing review board. Sign up Here to get in on the fun!!!

Become a Generation Mom for Kids 2 to test out their products!

Interested in trying out new products?? Do you like to give out your opinion and it count for something? LOL Than sign up to be a Generation Mom! Here you can take surveys about new products, product packaging, concepts, and more!

This will not generate alot of emails, typically once or twice a month they will email you with a survey. Maybe one month you will get lucky, and qualify for an in home product testing!

We just qualified for our first in home testing!!! I can't spill any information though- until the product becomes available to the public! I feel so secretive!

Baby Rave- Tough Titties with RECIPE!!!!

DISCLAIMER*** Please note this site may be offensive to some people, I love their products enough that I ignore the names.***


Breastfeeding is something I have been doing for about 4 yrs. My children have all weaned because of pregnancy, we are big self weaners here. So if you see alot on breastfeeding that is why, it consumes my life. I wouldnt have it any other way though, I honestly love it and the thought of my children weaning makes me cry. Is there something wrong with me? LOL

One thing I don't like though is sore machines. Normally this passes after the first 2 weeks or so, but since this little buggy was so early she requires special equipment. So without any more details, I am raving about this product I came across. I emailed the company Least Likely to Breed for a product sample and have fallen in love with their product! They are the makers of Tough Titties breast balm that comes in a stick like lip balm! They do not always sell there products but they have offered up their trade Secret Recipe for you all to make! I have not personally made it, because I just realized they were giving this away but I will be soon! My balm is already gone!

Recipe:
1.7 ounces extra virgin coconut oil
.30 ounces anhydrous lanolin USP
.10 ounces beeswax

6 drops Lemon EO
5 drops Geranium EO
5 drops Tocopherol (natural vitamin E)
1 drops Clove Bud EO

Step 1 Slowly melt coconut oil and beeswax together in a pyrex or otherwise microwave safe container. (A mini crock pot also works well).

Step 2 Add lanolin to the mix -- stir till smooth and completely melted.

Step 3 Lastly, add your essential oils, if desired, and pour while warm into a clean container. Let it sit and cover when cool - this should only take a few minutes.

Let me know if you make this recipe- please don't let me know if you are offended. LOL

Keep a look out on their Etsy for stockings of this awesome product!

Just love it!

No words needed.

**You can grab this bumper sticker for your momobile at Cafepress

Getting kids to eat veggies..............Rutabaga!

New veggie- Rutabaga We try to make it a mission to try new veggies each time we visit the market or grocery store. We have tons of little local ethnic specialty markets so there is so much out there for us too try. This week rutabagas were on sale, and Fast Eddy thought they were soooo ugly and HAD to try them. He proudly named them mashed brains after I told them the rutabagas were going to make his brain smarter. Boys are so gross. Tonight for dinner we had Ham steaks, rutabaga mash, and fresh green beans. The mash is super easy- peel, boil, mash like potatoes and add milk and butter. The boys thought the food was good, not great though.

It is hard to get them to eat. Carrot top is on a feeding strike and I have to play games to get him to eat. Right now pretending to feed his plastic lizard is working. He also likes when I sing "Bah Bah Bah Bah Bah Bah"(Lady Gaga tune, and no I don't actively pursue listening to her music), as I stab his food and feed him. Hey what ever works right?

Here is the kids........................

Here is Bug with her new bedroom rug.


Carrot Top playing hide and seek


Fast Eddy holding Lil

Nature Preserve Day............What did we see?

An alligator......................"Can you teach my alligator manners". Fast eddy was singing it the whole time we stood just a few feet away from this 4 ftish gator. Today we went to a local nature preserve that has a 2 mile boardwalk through the marsh. It was absolutely beautiful outside, and we all had a great time.


I printed off some scavenger hunts that I made with Microsoft clip art with things like a bird of prey, alligator, snake, turtle, crane, heron, fish, and dragonfly. It was really quiet there today, with the exception of my loud children. We heard a lot of things but didn't see that much. Fast Eddy was really excited about the spiders since that is his favorite(my least), and Carrot top was into the birds. After the walk we ventured to a remote part of the preserve that has a new boardwalk, and as we walked to the end, something came out of the marsh towards the walk. It was an alligator. Poor Carrot top was sleeping in the mei tai and I screamed(yes, girly) and woke him up. He was excited to see the gator though.

Rug Play 12/30/09

I received a few fruit and nut baskets for Christmas and knew the boys would love them as an activity. Carrot top enjoyed sorting them and attempting to use tongs, and fast Eddy liked to crack them open with a nut cracker. It was quite funny watching them try to peel them open!

Fast Eddy enjoyed playing with his new to us Disney Letter match ups. I picked up this game at a thrift shop and have been hoarding it forever. I took it out today for the first time and he loved it. You have to match the letter with the Disney picture!

Mommy Necklaces- A BIG rave!

Pinches here, hair pulling there distraction distraction everywhere!This is how breastfeeding has been with all of my children. They are distracted by everything, which always ends in a peep show for everyone walking by(yes we nurse in public). I had heard every tip of advice available, and none worked. I finally gave into one, and got a nursing necklace. I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!

Since Lil is so little she is not using it to the fullest function but it is really great for her hand coordination. Since she is a preemie, it is important for us to stimulate her, and this is turning out to be such a great learning toy for her since she uses it every time she eats(every 2 hours). It is a Mommy Necklace! I love the colors, the size, the length, the everything! These can be worn later as well, every mom has those toddlers that pull their jewlery! These are durable and safe(nontoxic, or breakable).

The last of the Christmas printables..............Tree math

I came across this awesome Christmas tree file folder game and knew that Fast eddy would love it- oh yeah he did. He found it before it could become a game, and cut it up. Its okay he still did the activity. It is for simple addition and subtraction. You must be a member of File Folder Fun to access this game, but membership is free! They have some awesome games on there for all different subjects!

Tot school- Carrot top 24 mths

Carrot top is 24 mths old-

We worked on our trays today. First was the color matching with the Fisher Price Go Fish game. We picked up this game for a thrift shop and love it! It can be used with either child. Carrot top put the matching color fish in the same color boat.


Next tray was our new Melisa and Doug animal sounds puzzle.
Last tray was the Elmo Go Fish Card game from the Dollar Tree that we used to match pictures. I started with only 6 pairs, but he quickly finished them and than the rest.

Gettign your little ones to eat veggies

We haven't officially started our vegetable unit- we are starting on Monday- but last night we had a dinner I spy. Fast Eddy is so much more willing to eat his veggies if they are fun looking, a game involved, or are named something funny. Here is a few of our veggie names:
Carrots- Super X ray eye carrots(good for the eyes)
Green beans- Super fast running legs green beans(since they are long)
Tomatoes- Vampire blood tomatoes(yeah, wasnt my idea)
Squash- Yellow sunshine squash
Zucchini- Super-brain-power-ini
onions-stinky breath onions

Okay you get the picture. Last night we had Chicken parmesan primavera- and since there is no disguising these veggies- we went on a I spy veggie adventure. Fast Eddy ate the whole plate!!! My husband plated everything so that's why the plates are so full! Leftovers are wonderful though! This recipe came from the publix recipe collection. Easy- cook chicken, place all veggies in a skillet with butter, garlic, italian seasoning, and 1 can tomatoes. When they are soft, place them on top of cooked spaghetti noodles(which also had some olive oil and garlic in it), and top with chicken and parmesan cheese. Voila!

Note: Onions/zucchini/squash rank low on pesticide low while green beans should ALWAYS be organic. They are part of the Dirty Dozen.

Keeping little ones safe: Extended Rear Facing

So this is not about homeschooling, or being green, but it is something I feel very passionate about. On a daily basis I witness mothers, buckling their children into the wrong type of carseat, the wrong way, or even into no car seat. I try to sneak in some comments like " Oh I have an extra seat, are you in need of one?", or just simply placing an American Academy of Pediatrics Car seat safety flier in their windshield. One day I am prone to get confronted. When confronted, I will stand tall and tell them they are putting their children at risk. 3 yr olds do not belong in booster seats- 12 mth old babies do not belong forward facing and I don't CARE what the law is! Okay maybe I wont say it that way, but you get the message.
When Fast Eddy was a baby, I was naive and thought that what the law said must be the best thing for my baby, but I was young and dumb. I came across this video:

After crying, I decided that I would keep my little one safe! I dove into articles and found that the law is not up to date with new research. American Academy of Pediatrics reccomends that children stay rear facing for the maximum allowed by the car seat. Our seat goes up to 35 lbs rear facing. Fast Eddy is now forward facing, but Carrot top will remain rear facing. He likes looking out the back window, and since he doesnt know any different he thinks that's how it is supposed to be. It can be overwhelming but knowledge is power. Car accident deaths are the number one cause of death for children. Statistics say 40% were not correctly buckled. Don't be a statistic.

• Keep children in the back seat.
• Keep them harnessed as long as you possibly can- 65 lbs preferably.
• Rear face as long as possible- alot of seats go up to 35 lbs.
• Have a child safety specialist check out your car seat to insure fit.
• Remember around the block unbuckled is not safe. One time is all it takes.

Here are some links-
Joels Journey
The Importance of Rear Facing
Car Seat Safety- Rear Facing
The story of Isabella
Reuters Article on Rear Facing
Car seat organization
Kyle David Miller Foundation


If you need help with a car seat, please contact your local safety council for discount car seats. It is NOT reccommended to buy a used car seat. You can also go to The Kyle David Miller Foundation to be placed on the waiting list for a car seat for your older child(this is only for families with a great financial need, with an older child). You can also stop by your local fire station for more information.

January Unit: Vegetables!!!

This month we are starting a new unit on Vegetables/Plants! We will continue to highlight certain vegetables with a great recipe to get your kiddos to eat more.

We are taking a field trip to a local garden in 2 weeks, to so a lesson on vegetable gardens. Here in Florida we start our gardens much sooner than others, since it NEVER gets cold. This garden has a once a month story time for a certain subject, complete with a tour and craft. The kids are excited to begin this unit, because now Fast eddy has his own plastic knives to dissect the veggies(we are a house that teaches safety over avoidance).
We are using the curriculum from Early Sprouts. It is a 24 week curriculum on teaching kids about veggies! We are not doing the full 24 weeks, because some of the lessons seem a little redundant. It is a great book that I got from the library, and it targets veggies such as tomatoes, carrots, green beans, and swiss chard. It comes with wonderful kid friendly recipes, and teaching points for each veggie. Most useful to us was the info about container gardening these plants.

We will be starting our container garden this month on our porch- we will be growing some herbs, green beans, peppers, and swiss chard. Activities this month also include visiting a local farmers market and u pick market, corn bubble wrap painting, potato printing, and making some veggie wash. Stay tuned for more information!!! We are off to the library to gather some books- including "Growing Vegetable Soup", and " Gregory the terrible eater".

This month will follow right into February for National Nutrition month. Look out Food pyramid here we come!

Phonics website

I am always looking for new games online for Fast eddy, he really enjoys them and despite the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics we allow him to do it daily. Here's a new one.........
The Literacy Center


We also enjoy:
Starfall
Progressive Phonics
Primary Games
Nourish Interactive

LOTS AND LOTS OF HOMESCHOOL FREEBIES!!!

Check out this website for some awesome teacher freebies!!!

Including:
Louie the Lightning Bug Kit
Sign up to get a Free Louie the Lightning Bug Kit designed for children in grades K-4. Great to teach kids about electricity and going green!

Once Upon a Tide DVD for Educators
"Once Upon a Tide" is narrated by a storyteller, played by Academy Award winner Linda Hunt, who speaks to us of a spell that has been cast that has caused everyone to forget about the importance of the ocean. One little girl, however, is determined to find a way to break the spell. She embarks on a journey to the sea with a magical shell that shows her how our health and well-being depend on the marine environment, and explains how the ocean is under threat. Arriving at her destination, the girl helps us realize how we can all break the spell and save the ocean, and ourselves. **Teach kids about how to protect our ocean!

Free Set of Rulers for Teachers
If you are a teacher you can request 1 ruler for each student in your class from Rental Calculators.

Free School Wellness Activation Kit
Order your Free Wellness Activation Kit and help your school lead the revolution for healthy kids. The National Dairy Council®, your local Dairy Council® and the National Football League® have reserved a Free Wellness Activation Kit for your school. This kit will help your students make positive changes when it comes to their eating and exercise habits. It will also help your school achieve its wellness policy goals. Your school's kit will be loaded with what you need to energize kids to improve their eating and exercise practices. Included will be vehicles to deliver inspiring health messages, an entire nutrition and activity challenge program and creative downloadable tools. **healthy living for kids!

Connect the Dots- Popsicle sticks

Shape making with Popsicle sticks! This activity seems to be pretty hot on the blogsphere, Mama to 3 blessings had this activity on her blog last week too! I took the sticks, and made dots on the ends, so he could connect the dots to make the shape that I wrote on the stick. I have a few more made up, but we started with these for now. He also started making his own shapes, combining shapes. We talked about how many sides, equal or non equal sides, and similarities among other shapes.

New Years Resolutions????

What are your plans for the New Year? Are you making healthy changes?? Follow along as we change our lives and the lives of others around us. Lets make this year count for something. The hours we put into material things, could be converted into making an impact. Are you willing to give up something for others, or for the sake of your families health?

This New Year- Our family is vowing to make a change. We want to do more for others, eat healthier, spend more time together, and decrease our carbon footprint.

I will be highlighting our journey- Our Journey to Growing Green.

• Greening your kids plate- Ways to add more veggies to your childs diet.
  
• Monthly house highlight- January topic is the kitchen.
  
• Impacting- You can also check out Giving Stream for ideas on how you can impact others.
• Planet Protector Program- Teaching Kids to love the planet

Come back when the New Year starts to follow along with the journey~

Early Math- Present Patterns

Check out this game! It is a early patterns game for kids- Christmas Present sorting. This website called Iboard has a lot of great games available to homeschool parents. It is not a long term free website. They offer a 60 day membership- and then you have the OPTION of joining. This is not a call and cancel website. You will not be charged anything.
The K version has 67 games available!!!

We like:

• Balancing Animals
• Bees to flowers
• all the alien games- it is a boy thing!
  

Here is the Link!!! Enjoy!

Thanks, Passport Academy.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

I cant wait for the new year! I am looking forward to a new semester of homeschooling for the kids, and a whole bunch of new ideas! I will be starting the 12 month GO GREEN posts on January 1st! Stay tuned, and have a safe and happy Holiday!

Coffey Anderson................Amazing voice

I was looking for the Wait on The Lord song(didn't find the one I wanted), but came across this artist. I am in LOVE! I am always looking for good Christian music, and since Fast Eddy likes rap this goes good for him!!! Enjoy!

Holiday Card Puzzles- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

REUSE: GREETING CARDS

The boys get lots of cards in the mail- birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, Thank yous etc etc. I came across this idea on Chasing Cheerios back in November, and than this month Let's Explore had another rendition oft his idea. I have been collecting these cards for a while now to make popsicle stick puzzles, but havent been able to find my exacto knife. Those will come another day. Here are today's puzzles.

* I dated the back of these, so the kids will know in the future when they were given. I also numbered each set 1 of 6, 1 of 6 etc. and lettered them to know which piece goes with each other. I like both ways of doing the puzzles, each way is better for a different age! Enjoy!

Snowball Surprises: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

I don't know about you but I have tons of little bars of soaps from Hotels. I came across this activity in the Family Fun magazine, and than again on Chasing Cheerios and thought that the boys would love it. Carrot top fell asleep so brother made one for him!
Supplies: little hotel soaps, warm water, small trinket(we used dinosaurs), and a grater.

First grate all your soap. Next wet your hands with the warm water and smoosh the soap around your trinket. Finally get rolling, make your soap into a ball.

This is a great way to get kids washing their hands! Fast Eddy is excited to get to the toy! I feel better too now that I have gotten rid of something under my sink!

We also talked about bible verse Isaiah 1:16 " Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong".

Thanks Chasing Cheerios!

FREE ORGANIC PRODUCTS!

RECYCLE BANK

I read about this company on Money saving mom, and I am just thrilled to share it with you! This new website allows you to earn points for being green! The points can be redeemed for such things as free organic baby food, or snacks! Heres how to earn 100 points and snag some freebies! I got some salmon bites from Happy Baby, and some Seventh Generation dish soap!

1- Visit Recycle Farm here, and click to register!
2- Once you have registered, Check out the rewards page. On the left hand side there is a food catagory. You may choose up to 100 points worth of goodies!
3- That's all enjoy the free products!

I plan to recycle all my old non functioning cell phones to earn some more points! Also if you live in an area that participates in the curb side recycling program you can earn points for that too! Check out their website to see if your city participates(ours does not :( )

Impressive moment

I walked in the living room to see this made by my 4 yr old..................I was impressed. He must take after his Daddy because I am not a hands on kind of person. I asked him how he did that, and he replied with passion! I wish he had passion for reading! LOL

Recent Homeschool meeting

We were recently at our homeschool monthly meeting, and since it was the Christmas party they had extra fun things for the kids- including a powdered donut eating contest! Here are some pictures to highlight the event!

The wheels on the bus.................

After reading our wheels on the bus book, and playing the Wheels on the bus game...............we made our own bus! I read about this activity in the book Learning Everywhere by Brighter Vision. It has 95 pages of hands on activities perfect for ages 2-5. Some are a little juvenile but perfect for carrot top. I will be highlighting many activities in this book. We love Montessori teaching.

The boys had a blast lining the chairs up and getting all their stuffed "friends" to ride along. They sang the song and used lots of imagination. Just when I thought they would be done, the bus magically turned into the Titanic! Complete with hitting an iceberg and all. Then watch out its a plane, then a boat on the Amazon. I was fascinated by their stories. They incorporated all the passengers into the story as well. We will use this acitvity again.....I see tents and audiences in our future!!!

She is 5 months old today!

First off- WE ARE HOME!!! These are from this last week in the hospital, I only have mainly hospital pictures because that's the only place we are ever at- blah. They did diagnose her with viral meningitis, enterovirus, and bronchitis. I was concerned that she was getting sick from her Synagis shots but the Drs say she is getting sick from inside the Drs office. I don't get it. We have to follow up with the eye dr this week, and the GI dr next week. Here is the smiling princess- she is always smiling now even when she is sick. She weighs in at 9 lbs 13 oz, but I think a lot of it is fluid so don't expect a big weight gain for next few days. She is also started to get her mouth moving to coo, not much sound but she is focusing on our mouths and trying.

Get your kids to eat some veggies....................Pumpkin Squash

Get your kids eating more Veggies!

I love to cook, not that great at it but love to do it. I think cooking is such a great lesson for kids, from following directions, math, and safety. We are starting a new thing in our home to incorporate more veggies into our meals, and less meat. More veggies in general. I will be trying to pick out veggies that are not super common like carrots. If you have a veggie you would like highlighted please shoot me a message.
When looking for vegetables try out your local farmers market, or produce stand. They might not all be organic but they are locally grown and therefore have a smaller carbon footprint. If the grocery store is the only option, opt for organic non individually wrapped, and not perfect. Perfect fruits and veggies area sign that they are chemically perfect. HUGE plump non blemish produce is not normal. Make sure you use your grocery store experience in the produce department to quiz the kiddos on edible vs. nonedible, colors, food pyramid, or have them do a scavenger hunt. If you are blessed to have a garden or a upick produce stand, than let the kiddos pick out their vegetable. They will feel accomplished and love it! Okay so on to the recipe!


Pumpkin Squash Ravioli

Ingredients:
Filling- 2 cups cubed pumpkin sqaush(rind removed), 1 tbs milk, 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, 1/8 tsp nutmeg.
Dough- 2 cups flour, 3 eggs, 1/2 tsp salt
Sauce: 1 stick of butter, 12-16 fresh Sage leaves


To start: Heat oven to 350, and arrange cubed squash on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for approx 30 mins(or until soft). Let cool for 10 minutes after. While that is baking you can start your dough.

Making Dough: Make a volcano mound pile of the flour, and using a cup create a well in the middle. In a small bowl, beat together the eggs and salt. Carefully pour the eggs into the middle of the well, and using a fork fold the flour into it. Work the dough until it resembles a smooth ball. Roll out your dough and cover with plastic wrap. Let sit for 30 mins.

Filling: Blend together cooked squash, milk, nutmeg, and cheese until mashed potato smooth.

Cutting dough: After the dough has sat for 30 minutes, roll it out as thin as you can get it. My hands were tired so they were kind of thick. Using a kids cup cut out your circles. Make sure you cut enough that you have pairs. With your fingers work each round out( you are just thinning them out some).

Creating the ravioli- Spoon your squash mixture into the middle of the round. With a small pastry brush or we used a paint brush, brush some water around the edges of your round. Press on the matching pair, and using a fork seal the edges.

Cooking them: Bring 2 pots of water to boil and add the raviolis( you need 2 so you can cook them all together). They will rise to the top after about 2-3 minutes then you will cook them for an additional 15 minutes. Do NOT lower the heat. While these are cooking you can make your sauce(see nest paragraph). Test them before draining. If they are cooked, then remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a towel to drain.

Sauce: Melt the butter over med high heat, and then add your chopped sage leaves. Cook until the butter is a light brown, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and drizzle over your cooked raviolis.

We served this alongside a salad, and the boys ate every last drop! I was so impressed! This did take a long time to cook but the kids had a blast making it and it was delicious.

Hope you enjoy! Here is a finished picture~

Baby update.......................

She is doing better, still in the hospital but much better! Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. I am really looking forward to starting the new year! Fresh and sick free! This is what you have to look forward to in the NEW year.

12 mth guide to going green! Every month we will walk through one area, and all the ways you can go green and save money!

Teaching little ones to go green! Activities, crafts, outings etc. We will be using the Planet Protector program, if you are interested in following along.

Sewing tutes, recipes, and lots of homeschooling ideas! Join in!

LiL is in the hospital again..........

Well, LiL is in the hospital again with Meningitis. Friday evening, I noticed she was hot and she had a 103 fever. She was having some difficulty breathing, and had a blue tinge to her lips. I called my mother to see how far away she was because I was afraid to put her in the car seat and drive her to the hospital. I couldnt drive with her on my lap, and I don't really know my neighbors. I also had the boys with me, so I wasnt sure what to do.

After a few minutes she started grunting and was obviously in respiratory distress I called 911. She was pale except for her lips, and she was foaming at the mouth. EMS came within minutes and took us both lights and sirens to the nearest hospital. They started an I.V, did a chest x ray, bloodwork, gave her steriods, and a breathing treatment. The WBC was 22,000, and they said her xray was okay but not great. Shs has a nasty cough and thick mucus secretions. They have her on antibiotics, and after a lumbar puncture yesterday we now know it is Meningitis again.

I am greatly concerned that this has some relation to the Synagis shot for RSV, because this is the 2nd time she has been admitted after receiving it. Coincidence? I am trying to contact the company but have not been successful.

They have commented about my water supply, and recent visitors. I don't know what to think. For know she is stable, and not needing anymore oxygen. They are awaiting more test results. I will continue to update for family and friends when I get a chance. I do not have internet access at the hospital, so I can only update when I run home for my clothes. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers this year for her. It has been a difficult road.

Today I am just in awe of his amazingness.

I sat here on my couch holding my baby, what a beautiful baby. How far she has come, no words could express the feeling I have looking at her. I just cry in the moments where it is just us. I wish I could look God in the face and just thank him for this gift he has entrusted me with. This perfect baby has gone through so much, and it is only through her strength and all the prayers that we are here now.

She is sick right now, and I am hoping it is not RSV. We are going to the Dr later today, but I have no fear because this baby is a fighter.

Just Pictures.........................

Carrot Top riding a horse
Fast Eddy After singing in the park

A new Christmas Dress for Lil

Finally a sewing post!!! I needed a dress quickly for the baby for her Christmas pictures. I have been looking for a little red velvet dress in a newborn size but apparently they think all babies need to wear onesies. Bologna. I found this tute and whipped up a simple pillow case dress. Before sewing the 2 pieces together(my dress did NOT come from a pillow case), I appliqued a snowman on the front that was cut out of quilters cotton. I stsitched the dress with a french seam, which is my new FAVORITE way to do kids clothing, and anything else I can do it for. Here is a great Tutorial. I then added a 2 inch ruffle. Tada 30 min dress~!

Homeschool Oragnizing redo..........Bins and trays.

I am in the process of re-organizing our homeschool areas. First off for my toddler, we are starting the Montessori Trays. I cleared off our bookshelf and replaced everything with 3 simple trays( 3 for now, more to come soon). Right now I have some fun learning toys on them, but after Christmas when I am more organized I would like to put some more Montessori type activities on it. I also plan on decoupaging them with some alphabet die cuts. Carrot top really likes the simple mats and trays. He is playing with the toys longer than he does in our overcrowded play room.

Next, We are in the process of starting the workbox system by Sue Patrick. We are only doing 6 bins, and will add more in the future. I think these will help out alot on time mangagement, independent studies, and organization. There alot of other mamas out there doing a workbox system. Check out:

1: The Snails Trail
2: Homeschool Creations
3: Sweet Simplicity

Let's get moving- Action Cards

This is my favorite one! I saw this activity over at Teach Mama and knew Fast Eddy would love it! He did indeed. We made cards such as rolling, clapping, cartwheels, head stands, hands stands, crab walks, dancing, etc. You roll the dice and complete the card that many times! I am tired but he wants to play more. We will save that for Daddy, and I will get enjoyment out of watching my husband crab walking.

Math Grid Game- Sunny Time

Fast Eddy and his Daddy enjoyed a round of grid games. I first read about these games on Teach Mama so I printed them off and Fast Eddy has been playing them ever since. We have several different ones; pigs, suns, bats etc.


Object: To be the first player to cover all your "suns"!

We asked questions throughout the game such as "Who has more?" "How much more?""How many left?" etc.

So roll the dice and play along! Carrot top also liked covering them with stones, he doesnt quite count yet.

SUN GRID GAME PRINTABLES