Matching Game

I've been trying to get a little bit of crafting done for the girls' Easter Baskets. I'm not big on a ton of candy, although I'm sure the girls wish I was.

Rebekah has been very excited about games lately. She loves to play secret door which is a co-operative matching game So I thought a little matching game would be perfect for her. It was so easy to put together and everything I needed I was able to collect from around the house. Another plus for this frugal mom.

I stamped two of ten different images on some wooden disks. Let them dry and gave them a quick rub with some bees wax polish. The draw string bag was a quick sew following this tutorial.

Quick and easy matching game that will be easy to take with us.

Our Morning Song

I have been enjoying reading through Seven Times the Sun these last few weeks. I chose the book as it was becoming clear that the rhythms in our home were a little off. I think some of it has to do with the large age spread of the girls - teen to tot, as well as we are still adjusting to dad's new work schedule. Anyway, back to rhythms. In the past of have always made schedules. I was good at that, making them that is. And I was pretty good at using them as a tool and not being a slave to them. But as I have aged, oh so gracefully, I have found that rhythms work better for us. A gentle flow to the day and week and year. They let us know what is expected. We have something to look forward to, something to be grounded in, but they also allow us so much freedom.

So back to our morning song. Rebekah has enjoyed the songs in Seven Times the Sun so much. She asks me to sing them over and over. And out of that we have created some of our own songs. It has been so much fun. Her little eyes light up. She wiggles and dances. And you have just to see how she tries to snap her fingers. She looks like she is flicking something away.

I thought I would share this simple song, that has brought us so much joy. It has been fun to great the day in this way.

Good morning, good morning, good morning to you

The sun has come what, what should be do?

Good morning, good morning, a new days begun

The birdies are singing let's have some fun.

So how to you go about your day? So you have a rythm or scheulde or you a fly by the seat of your pants type of gal. I would love to hear what works for your family.

It's Raining ~ Let's Make Play Dough

We woke this morning to chilly temps and rain. Good thing we worked in the garden and hung the laundry out to dry yesterday. I find it hard to stay inside when the weather is so nice, so a day of rain is good for getting inside projects done.

The first project: Make some play dough for the kids. Easy, fun and even allows mama some time to get other projects done with the kids are playing.

You will need

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tsp cream of tarter
• 1 tsp oil
• 1/4 cup salt
• coloring
• scents (optional)

Mix the first five ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it clumps together forming a soft dough. This should take just a couple of minutes. Once the dough is cool enough to handle kneed it until it is smooth.

Now you are ready to add color and scents. We divided ours into four pieces. We like to use Wilton concentrated paste coloring and essential oils for scent. Kneed the color and scent in to your liking. That's it except for the best part . . .

PLAY!

Earthday Giveaway!

Little Acorn Learning is having an awesome Earthday Giveaway: A copy of their May 5 day Childcare Guide! I would love to win this for all my little ones.

Check out Little Acorn Learning. You can even download some free samples. Tons of really cool, really fun stuff for your little ones.

From their site:

The Little Acorn Learning Guides are an Affordable and Complete Childcare Program which gently guides the caregiver through a healthy rhythm each day. This is a holistic, whole life program warming and nurturing both the children and the provider. This program is as much for the caregiver as it is for the children. The guides assist caregivers in all areas of their lives with Weekly Caregiver Meditations, Daily Housework Suggestions, Recipes, Grocery Lists, Crafting Lists and Ongoing Encouragement and Support.

Our goal is to reconnect children with nature while supporting the caregiver's soul - helping providers find true meaning and purpose in their work with young children. We inspire a love for nature and the home arts.

Every day is planned for you and can be used at one price regardless of the amount of children you care for. In addition, most of the activities are done using common household supplies. It is ideal for a mixed age program with the younger children being the "helpers" during the more difficult tasks each day.

Sounds like a dream to me.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soule Mama

Rolling Pins for All the Little Ones

As mentioned in an earlier post Doug received a new toy for his birthday - a mini lathe. So he was at it again making some beautiful rolling pins just the right size for Rebekah and her doll Rosie.

The first one was a French rolling pin just like mine.

The next one is more traditional. For this one he used an antique rolling pin that was first my mothers, then mine and all my girls have used it as well. While I love my French pin, Rebekah prefers this one. I think it is easier for her to hold the handles.

Rebekah's doll Rosie goes everywhere and does everything that Rebekah does, so it only seemed fitting that she too would have a rolling pin for her own. Girl and doll have had a wonderful time making pies, cookies and more.

You'll soon be able to see these as well as some more items in our ETSY shop. We are working hard to get it open. If however you just need to have one or both of these little rolling pins please leave a comment and I will get back to you.

I Won & Rebekah Gets the Prize

Jolanthe over at Homeschool Creations had a giveaway last week for an ENTIRE year of Itty-Bitty Bookworm's Bo Curriculum (3-5 year olds). A quick look at the literature based preschool curriculum and I knew Rebekah would love it and for mom a lot of the prep work was done. A perfect match. So of course I entered. And you will never guess but . . . WE WON!!! The girls all thought I had lost my mind as I did the happy dance in the kitchen this morning.

When I signed up for the Itty-Bitty Bookworm newsletter they sent the April Curriculum as a thank you. The first book in the Baily Curriculum (18-36months) for April is Jessie Bear, What Will You Wear. It is one of my favorite children's books. Rebekah enjoyed the book and the activities that went along with it. Above she colors the clothes for her Jessie Bear paper doll. She kept asking for more. It was music to this Mama's ears. And now we will have more.

Thanks again to Jolanthe and The Itty-Bitty Bookworm.

AWESOME Preschool Giveaway!

The Itty-Bitty Bookworm

Jolanthe over at Homeschool Creations has an awesome giveaway going on right now. Just leave a comment and you wil be entered to win a entire year of Itty-Bitty Bookworms' 3-5 year old curriculum.

If you have never heard of Itty-Bitty Bookworm you must head over to their site and check them out. Their curriculum is litterature based and includes activities for all subjects and all learning styles. Jolanthe has links to tons of samples. And Itty-Bitty Bookworm's site as lot more, including free prinables.

Don't forget to leave a comment and good luck!

Preschool Time - Color Matching

It is hard to believe Rebekah is already two. She is growing up much to fast for this mama. And like any little sister she looks up to her big sisters and wants to be just like them. This includes doing everything they do as well.

For a while now she has been asking to "do school, too". That used to mean a box of crayons and paper or the math blocks to appease her and keep her busy for a while. Lately, however, she has been wanting more. We have been working on ABC's and 123's orally, but it was becoming quite obvious that she wanted something to do with her hands as well.

It has been a few years since we have had a preschooler in the house and most of the activities I made are gone. So I was excited to find Totally Tots, an awesome blog with a bunch of creative women posting tons of activities and information for toddlers and preschoolers.

Rebekah loves ice cream. It is one of her favorite signs as well. So when I saw this file folder color matching game, I knew it would be a big hit. There are a bunch of other file folder games, so go check it out.

The object is to match the color of the ice cream on the white card to the one attached inside the file folder. Even though there are shades of blue and pink, Rebekah is doing really will. The only colors that continually confuse her are white and grey.

And of course it is always more fun to play with a big sister.