tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83775824414053186962024-03-13T16:31:17.762-04:00Ordinary LovelyTheresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.comBlogger440125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-31640809928841605592019-06-08T11:38:00.001-04:002019-06-10T21:00:45.660-04:00Summer Reading Challenge 2019<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But first:<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Ordinary Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to <a class="" dir="ltr" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAmazon.com%2F&h=ATM3oq7AYP0K-a5ttwI1Er1fkpV1rKtUwfMP4Zm1lQr0TEjrOkvBPskcMrIZPoVMpGaFafj6U_D89YnzMpKl_2DX4DeZ58BwE_ZtFGs-yVmjxVt8QdGHBfaUhajA0mozjiwvL2afgfzR" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> and affiliated sites. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Fancy talk for if you click through my links and purchase something, I'll earn a few pennies at no extra cost to you, and will be able to keep my family in good books (and pass on my good reviews and recommendations to you!) Thanks!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's our third year of holding a Summer Reading Challenge... which isn't really as monumental as it sounds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The two-second explanation is "Kids read books. Kids earn sugary cereal." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My kiddos have 30 minutes of daily mandatory silent reading to do in the summer months, but they're rewarded for books they finish (as opposed to the Sept - May school months when it's 20 minutes and there are no rewards other than the stories themselves...) The idea of the challenge is to keep up the silent reading momentum throughout the summer and to encourage additional reading outside of the required time. So far it's been successful. The kids have enjoyed it, have been motivated to read perhaps more than usual, and everyone always enjoys the reward - choosing a "personal" box of cereal that does not have to be shared with siblings. It's usually a box of what's essentially a dessert but is thinly disguised as a cereal because it's pictured <i>near</i> milk. Something like chocolate peanut butter puffs or fruity rice crispies. The benefit to eating mostly plain oatmeal throughout the rest of the year is that it makes cheap boxes of cereal a highly coveted prize that is easy on the budget when the summer book count starts adding up ;) It also requires very little extra effort on my part :) So we have boxes of crazed sugar pops floating about the breakfast table for a few months. It's a small price to pay for reading enthusiasm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have been in on all the conversations that reprimand moms and teachers and librarians and decent people for rewarding reading. I get it - - Reading should be its own reward. Great literature IS the prize. To incentivize reading is to cheapen the accomplishment. I might have used these arguments myself at one time (it sounds like melancholic me, doesn't it?) But it turns out I actually love the Summer Reading Challenge. It's just plain<i> fun</i>! And I appreciate having the opportunity to give that to my kids during the summer months... with the bonus of having it linked to... reading! </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like other summers, I've chosen the books for the kids. They can pick from among those titles or can suggest/request other titles. This summer, pretty much each book = a box of cereal, though last summer I used a point system which allowed me to included shorter/easier books that were worth reading, but weren't worth a whole box of cereal :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have not personally read all of the books listed here, but I try to be pretty discerning (ahem... <i>picky</i>) with what I give the kids to read. As always, my kids' reading levels will differ from your kiddos', and my criteria for "worthwhile books" will differ from yours, but I've put a lot of thought and research into our lists, so I feel like they're good ones :) If you're in the market for good reads, I hope you find something here :) If you've read the previous years' lists, you'll recognize some repeats, either because they weren't read, or because they've been passed down to the next reader! It's really neat when one of the younger kids picks up a book, and one of the older ones sees it and gives it an enthusiastic thumbs up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh. And we read a lot of historical fiction, Like, a lot. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>For Aaron, 13, going into 8th grade</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aaron has said he might consider re-reading the <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2KxeOF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lord of the Rings Trilogy</a></b> and some of the <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2IrOBW5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chronicles of Narnia</a></b> books this summer. Fine by me. If he does these, I doubt he'll get to any of the others I've chosen, but we'll see :) (The particular editions I just linked to there I like because they are larger editions. I'm so sick of thick "pocket size" editions of books that are hard to hold and hard to read. So these bigger sizes are perfect. Except the Narnia books are in the wrong order. Argue with me. I dare you.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2I0DGDv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Eagle of the Ninth</a></b>, Rosemary Sutcliff - I honestly have no idea why we had this (a hand-me-down, no doubt!) but Aaron found it on our shelves and asked to read it because we've just finished an ancient history year and also because he enjoyed the other books he read by Sutcliff (<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2IsudEg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Black Ships Before Troy</a></b> and <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2IoZGai" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Wanderings of Odysseus</a> </b>are on my list because Aaron enjoyed them so much.) He's already finished The Eagle, and we're tracking down the movie now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2F15tlE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Detectives in Togas</a>, </b>Henry Winterfeld - because even though Aaron read <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2K0ZOQJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mystery of the Roman Ransom </a>b</b>y the same author four years ago, he couldn't help but listen in as I read it to Ruth and Dominic last month :) And we had this one on our shelf too. Sort of random.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2WUpCE6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gettysburg</a>, </b>MacKinlay Kantor</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Ip0dsO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Treegate's Raiders</a>, </b>Leonard Wibberley - basically I will let my kids read anything age appropriate from Bethlehem books without previewing it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Isv2Nm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carry On, Mr. Bowditch</a></b>, Jean Lee Latham </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2K437q3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Escape from Warsaw</a>, </b>Ian Serraillier </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2I4iX1T" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Borrowed House</a>, </b>Hilda von Stockum - I read this myself a few months ago; one of her books that I somehow missed as a child. I thought it was excellent and highly recommend it as a work of historical fiction to work into a unit on World War II. (5th grade and up, maybe?) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Wntj0H" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Race for the Prairie</a></b>, Aeileen Fisher </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2K2AUA5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Red Planet</a>, </b>Robert Heinlein - I don't know much about this book at all (except that the 1967 edition we have does not have the idiotic cover of the Amazon edition linked to....) My mom recommended Heinlein's <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2WRAOBs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rocket Ship Galileo </a></b>to Aaron a couple years ago, which he enjoyed, and followed up with this one, and I trust my mom, so... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>For Dominic, 11, going into 7th grade:</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've discussed this before, but since Dominic is dyslexic, I put a lot of concentrated effort into choosing his book stack. I love the special challenge I have of finding books that he is able to read that also hold his attention. His comprehension obviously surpasses his reading level. But his reading is always improving (ask me how persevering this kid is and I'll gush about him for hours!) This summer, Dominic is *reading* some of this selections and is using a voice-text reader for some of his other selections. I'm hoping that he'll become very familiar with using both his new Bookshare and Learning Ally accounts so that he's comfortable with them come fall when many of this seventh grade text books will be on there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, on voice-text readers he has these titles lined up:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2IqubwI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Edge of Extinction: the Ark Plan</a>, </b>Laura Martin - I had this book, and it's sequel, <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2K7VI9k" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Code Name Flood,</a></b> out from the library a few months ago. The week everyone was sick and immobile, Aaron lay on the couch and read both of these in less than two days. So everyone else realized they must be good. Ruth is reading it now, Dominic's got his sights on it for summer, and then it's mine. We ended up buying our own copy, hehe ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2K3Vlg4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Icebreaker</a>, </b>Lian Tanner - I'm not entirely sure what this books is about, but Aaron read it and said there was nothing inappropriate in it, and that it was just an intense sci-fi-fantasy-thriller. So if you're willing to take a 13 year-old's word for it, your own kid might enjoy it too. But again, I haven't read it....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2XsXm8x" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ides of April</a>, </b>Mary Ray - a murder mystery in ancient times. This is another one Dom wants to read at Aaron's recommendation. That year of ancient history and the accompanying literature really left it's mark... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As for <i>book </i>books, here's what I chosen for Dominic:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Wl4ySU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lost on a Mountain in Maine</a>, </b>Donn Fendler - a terrifying and amazing true life survival story of a 12 year old boy! This is another favorite that made the rounds here -- Aaron read it, then passed it on to my dad, then Russ read it, then I read it, Dominic just finished it, and Ruth is sure she'll have her hands on it next. Needless to say, we recommend it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2WnDFxI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Snow Treasure</a>, </b>Marie McSwigan - who can resist a good WWII adventure involving kids. Not us, apparently!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2XwJdr5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cabin in the Snow</a>, </b>Deborah Hopkinson (a bit below Dom's reading level, but I think he'll like the story)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2IqvXxS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Shadow of His Wings</a>, </b>Max Temescu - highly recommend this graphic novel about the life of Fr. Gereon Goldman, a man who kept his priesthood secret in Nazi Germany, but was then drafted into the SS! A truly remarkable story. Half the book is the graphic novel, and the second half is photographs and a narrative of Goldman's life after the war. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2K6Ox0X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mr. Lincoln's Drummer</a>, </b>G Clifton Wisler</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2XxEVzt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Whipping Boy</a>, </b>Sid Fleischman </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2XAEJzE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Lion to Guard Us</a>, </b>Clyde Robert Bulla</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2MBxN4h" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toliver's Secret</a>, </b>Esther Wood Brady</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">For Ruth, 9, going in to 4/5th grade </i>(poor girl has one of those homeschool grade identity crisis issues...)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ruth's stack is so fun to put together because she's quite the bookworm and she loves a variety.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2XAFwAC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matilda</a></b>, Roald Dahl - Oh! Such fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2WOjTj9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Henry and the Clubhouse</a>, </b>Beverly Clearly - Ruth's a big time Henry, Beezus, Ramona fan but this is one she hasn't read yet, so onto the pile it goes :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2XxadGQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Year of Miss Agnes</a>, </b>Kirkpatrick Hill - I've actually started reading this one myself. What a delightful book! And I'm even learning some stuff about life in Alaska, imagine that! It's the best kind of historical fiction <3 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2EYll8p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Little Riders</a>, </b>Margaretha Shemin - again, because WWII, kids, adventure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2I2Rk9d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles for Kids</a>, </b>K Swegart, OSF - seemed like the thing to get after her first Holy Communion this spring <3 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2MzqhXG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emily's Runaway Imagination,</a></b> Beverly Cleary</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Ivs7TT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Indian Captive: the Story of Mary Jemison</a></b>, Lois Lenski</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2WwEd97" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">More Stories from Grandma's Attic</a>, </b>Arleta Rishardson - Ruth read the first book, <b>Stories from Grandma's Attic, </b>last year, and enjoyed it enough that I picked up this one in a "free" book bin :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Xw7JZ3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frindle</a>, </b>Andrew Clements - another family favorite!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2EZk1lL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McBroom's Wonderful One Acre Farm</a>, </b>Sid Fleischman - a bit short to count for a whole box of cereal, but a funny read :)<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">For Clare, 7, going into 2nd grade, and James, 5:</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clare's making her way through all the early-reader classics that have been favorites in our home and basically every other home in universe. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Can there be too much Arnold Lobel? I don't think so. Our well-worn, well-loved copy of </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2WZft8W" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Owl at Home</a> </b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">finally fell to pieces when Clare was half way through (I bought it at a yard sale 10 years ago!) The big kids are excited for her to get into their favorites: </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2F0gIKX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouse Soup</a> </b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2MwFwQW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouse Tales</a>. </b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And of course, </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Wrs0h6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frog and Toad </a></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">are on deck as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clare is also reading some of the later books in the Flyleaf Publishing Emergent Reader series, as well as some of the first books in their Decoable Literature Books to Remember series. Of all of my homeschooling-related purchases, these are among those I'm so happy I made early on. The have been worth every penny. You can read my reviews <a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/02/flyleaf-publishing-for-home-school.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/01/mid-year-evaluation.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">James is also using the Emergent Readers series as well as the level 1 books from All About Reading. In general, I don't start formally teaching my kids until they're closer to 6, but James showed an earlier interest and ability in math and reading than my other kids, so I'm following his lead. Incidentally, he earned the first box of cereal this summer :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let me know if you have any questions about my book choices or about the challenge. And please let me know what your kids are reading this summer! I'm always looking for new ideas! You know me, <i>I love a good book list!</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/03/some-new-to-me-finds-books-for-early.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>Books I Love for Early Readers (Dodsworth, Mouse and Mole, Billy and Blaze)</b></a></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-79977308992313431442019-03-04T12:34:00.003-05:002019-03-04T12:47:28.843-05:00Favorite Sweater Granny Stripe Blanket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtOfdvMN7ZA/XH1d-1iHS1I/AAAAAAAAJ8w/3m2kaa35wJwEia3BvU4M6O4TAexnBLKrgCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN9877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtOfdvMN7ZA/XH1d-1iHS1I/AAAAAAAAJ8w/3m2kaa35wJwEia3BvU4M6O4TAexnBLKrgCEwYBhgL/s640/DSCN9877.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">March is National Crochet Month, believe it or not. It's also National Celery Month. I'm pretty sure you can just make up whatever celebration or awareness event you want and call it a National event. I mean, do you think it's a coincidence that someone very dear to me is having his first colonoscopy soon and <i>it just so happens to be National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month??? </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've been so enamored of knitting lately, that it had been a while since I'd taken on a large crochet project. But I started and finished a large blanket recently (back in February, when it was National Bird Feeding Month and Great American Pies Month... not sure if that last one is about dessert or Don McLean...) I shared in my Instagram stories that the inspiration for the blanket was from a girl's Old Navy sweater I bought about five years ago. The sweater colors and color scheme are so cheerful, and I love stripes!!!, I just knew that I had to adapt the sweater into a blanket for our home. Also, since Clare wears a size 7 and is still squeezing into this size 4/5 sweater, we may have to retire the favorite sweater soon (someone suggested a pillow cover!) It will be nice to have the blanket in its place :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Quite a few people asked about the specifics for the project, and you know I'm always happy to chat about yarn and craftiness! So here are the details. Please let me know if you have any questions, and if you make your own, or a spin off, I'd love to see your finished product - tag me @ordinarylovely on Instagram :) And link back to here if you write about it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h1tIkswftFg/XH1d-Pf2KvI/AAAAAAAAJ8k/5Jja6BIB6PQ637dAWuxp8x9AuRRgmBYZACEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN9868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h1tIkswftFg/XH1d-Pf2KvI/AAAAAAAAJ8k/5Jja6BIB6PQ637dAWuxp8x9AuRRgmBYZACEwYBhgL/s640/DSCN9868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* For the basic pattern and granny stripe technique, I used crochet superstar Lucy's tutorial from her blog, Attic 24. You can get it<a href="https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/granny-stripe.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>. Out of respect for her work, I will not discuss specific pattern construction here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* I used a 4mm crochet hook. My absolute favorites are <a href="https://amzn.to/2UpVNa5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clover Amour hooks</a> <3 (I used a 5mm for the starting chain)</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGV4IIEy_TI/XH1d_VkuCfI/AAAAAAAAJ8s/O6PkylvfaKY2DcUB0xZfWkUKyWt2cjZBQCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN9886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGV4IIEy_TI/XH1d_VkuCfI/AAAAAAAAJ8s/O6PkylvfaKY2DcUB0xZfWkUKyWt2cjZBQCEwYBhgL/s640/DSCN9886.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* I used all worsted weight yarns. The light brown yarn is <a href="https://www.joann.com/big-twist-sincerely-yarn/zprd_14474803a.html#prefn1=brand&prefv1=Big%20Twist&start=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Big Twist Sincerely Yarn</a>, from Joann, in Oatmeal Heather. I believe I used 6 skeins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* The colored yarns are all<a href="https://www.hobbylobby.com/Yarn-Needle-Art/Yarn/I-Love-This-Yarn/p/YN20120" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> I Love This Yarn</a>, from Hobby Lobby. When I'm making something with basic acrylic yarn, I Love This Yarn is my go-to stuff because the color selection is practically unparalleled. (Ok, maybe it's rivaled by Stylecraft's or Paintbox's color selection, but I can't buy either of those brands locally, but I can GO to Hobby Lobby and choose exactly what I want from their large, LARGE selection. Oh, and, Dear Paintbox, Stylecraft, and Hobby Lobby, I accept free yarn in exchange for honest reviews ;) ) Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn is also very soft and makes a comfortable acrylic blanket, not a scratchy one (you know I'm talking about you, Red Heart SuperSaver yarn...). It also washes very well. One thing about Hobby Lobby that I <i>don't</i> love -- and I hate that I even have to admit there is one thing -- they only accept one coupon at a time. So, that r<i>eally stinks </i>when you need a lot of yarn at one time. HOWEVER, this yarn is on sale <b>right now</b>, so run, don't walk, to your neighborhood HL (or hop on over to their website) and pick up your colors now. You'll get a good discount on every skein. (Sorry, I don't know how long the sale is on for. But if you go, let me know and I'll give you my list of what I want ;) ) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* Here are the specific I Love This Yarn colors I used to match the sweater as closely as possible (which was practically exactly! Thanks, Hobby Lobby!) I only needed one of each skein.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">350 - Hot Rose</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">210 - Antique White</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">113 - Mango</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">111 - Hot Orchid</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">40 - Red </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">357 - Keylime</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">364 - Glacier</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">110 - Turquoise </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">80 - Royal </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* I started with the Oatmeal Heather and alternated it every row with a color. I did three rows of color in each "stripe", except white, which I kept to two rows just because I didn't want it to stand out much. So, I started with an Oatmeal Heather granny cluster row, then a row of Hot Rose, then Oatmeal, Hot Rose, Oatmeal, Hot Rose. Then on to the next color section, so, Oatmeal row, then White, Oatmeal, White. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, knowing that every other row would be an oatmeal heather row, and all colors (except white) would repeat for three rows per "stripe" (is this confusing?????) here's the color order I used:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">rose</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">white</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mango</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">orchid</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">red</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">rose</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">white</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">glacier</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">orchid</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">rose</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">red</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">keylime</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">turquoise</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mango</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">orchid</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">white</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mango</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">keylime</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">glacier</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">turqouise</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">keylime</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The border is one round of granny clusters, one round of half double crochets, and then a round of reverse single crochet to add a sturdy, textured edge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The final dimensions are approximately 60'" x 75". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This blanket is so colorful and cheerful! It just makes me smile! (Plus, granny stripe is so mindless, it's great for working on while watching Netflix, or listening to a book on Audible as I did! It worked up so quickly, I've already started another one!) I hope you've found this info helpful and I hope you get to make one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-glorious-spectrum-of-new-crochet.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #097383; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Rainbow Crochet Dishcloths ("pattern")</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/08/crochet-hook-size-reminders-best-idea.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #097383; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Crochet Hook Size Reminders (a tutorial)</a></b></span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-79412836189693575972018-12-09T17:32:00.001-05:002018-12-09T18:37:04.035-05:00Ukulele for Enjoyment, for Everyone (Tips for Aspiring Beginners from an Actual Beginner) <div style="text-align: justify;">
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This post contained affiliate links. Please read the fine print in the "affiliate" page above.</div>
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*and a big generous hug of thanks goes out to you if you make a purchase through my links*</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">**I have enjoyed sharing bits of my #dailyukulele goal on my Instagram account (@ordinarylovely , in case we're not already connected there!) and I've gotten several messages about good "starter" ukuleles and which books we use, etc... This post came out of those questions, annnnnnd, it's just in time for last minute Christmas gift ordering. I seriously think the gift of music in the home is a perfect one for you, your kiddos, and relatives!** </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Last November we got a ukulele. I figured it would be easy to pick up since I have a bit of a music background. My primary instrument is the cello, so I picked up the ukulele, another four stringed instrument, ready to play my heart out, and was utterly flummoxed. I couldn't figure it out. I put it down in frustration until this past Spring. Ukulele is supposed to be the instrument that anyone can play and I was determined to finally figure it out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I figured it out. And the ukulele has brought a lot of enjoyment to our our family. I highly recommend it as an instrument for a family who would like to get some more music into their home quickly without having to rent or purchase expensive instruments or even pay for lessons. I decided to hop on this old blog to share some of what I've learned over the past several months in the hope that you'll be inspired to start a new musical tradition in your family <3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">CHOOSING A UKULELE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have 4 different brands of ukulele now, 3 of which were bought off of Amazon, without hearing or playing them first. I'm happy to share what I've found so that you too can feel confident about buying a musical instrument "sound unheard" as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are different sizes of ukulele, but the most common are the soprano size (the small ones, usually 21" longs) and concert size (usually 23" long). We have both. The soprano instruments are easier for the little kids to use because the frets on the neck are smaller. My husband prefers the concert size because the frets are a bit bigger and fit his fingers more comfortably. The body of the concert ukulele is also a bit bigger and may feel less awkward for an adult. I like both and do not have a preference based on size. I enjoy playing both sizes and often switch back and forth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In my experience, at least as far as our Amazon purchases are concerned, the quality of the sound is definitely linked to the price. A cheap "toy" ukulele is difficult to tune and often sounds "tinny." (I have not heard a nice-sounding $20 ukuele. Maybe they exist, but I haven't heard one.) The more expensive ukuleles have a lovely richer, warmer tone. <b> This is not to say you have to spend a fortune to get a good ukulele. </b>I recommend any of the 3 ukuleles that we've purchased from Amazon (as well as the fourth one we have which was a gift purchased at a local music shop). Here are the links as well as a video in which I play each instrument back-to-back to help you understand the difference in sound between the soprano and concert size instruments, as well as the price/quality relationship. I'm including this audio-visual comparison because it's something that I wish I had been able to find when I was first shopping around. I hope it's helpful to you and of course, please let me know if you have any questions regarding any of the instruments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(The Tom Concert ukulele bundle here was a gift my siblings and I purchased for my dad one year. I do not have it to demonstrate in the video, but it's also a great instrument with a bright sound.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WHERE TO START AND WHAT TO LEARN FIRST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The first thing to learn is how to tune your ukulele. My first attempt at tuning one made me give up in frustration because it wasn't like tuning the other four-stringed instruments I was used to (violin, cello, etc...) It wasn't until I watched a YouTube tutorial that I realized the strings weren't tuned in ascending fifths, but in their own wacky ukulele pattern. Many ukulele "bundles" include a clip-on auto tuner, but if you end up buying an instrument that doesn't include one, I definitely recommend spending a few extra bucks to get one! <a href="https://amzn.to/2ElVcl9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Here's one</a> ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Finally, I can't recommend the learn-to-play-ukulele books from Jenny Peters and Rebecca Bogart highly enough.</i> They are easy to read, easy to understand. The visuals for the chords used in each song are fabulous. Their method starts you out playing songs with one chord and then they add more chords as you progress. You progress quickly! So you feel like you're playing "real" music in short order :) They also instruct in various strumming patterns and how to read ukulele TABs. I'll link here to all the books they have available. We have all of them and use them the most of any books. If they ever publish any more you bet I'll be all over them. The bottom line is - <i>get these books and don't bother with other intro methods!! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Finally, I have humbled myself immensely by posting this next video... but here are a few songs played from the the Christmas book linked to above. I just want to illustrate what a relative "beginner" can play using the ukulele sisters' books. I play and sing imperfectly, but I sure do enjoy myself :) And it's really in keeping with my point that anyone can pick up a ukulele and the books I mentioned and play "real" music in the home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Once you begin playing through other song books, you might want to consider adding a chord chart to your collection. It's nice to have a quick easy reference on how to play something when a new or unusual chord shows up in your music.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Don't forget, please let me know if there are other ukulele-related questions I can answer for you! It's a wonderful instrument to share with the whole family, kids and adults alike. In fact, I'm willing to guarantee that playing your ukulele for just 30 minutes a day will boost your mood and add years to your life. Years of enjoyment, at least! Play on! And when you do, share about it on Instagram by tagging me @ordinarylovely and #dailyukulele :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/11/10-christmas-gift-ideas-for-kids-that.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids that are NOT Stuff</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-toys-they-use-and-love-and-i-dont.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toys They Use and Love (and I Don't Mind Storing)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/12/advent-and-christmas-book-list-for-cozy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Advent and Christmas Book List</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/12/advent-and-christmas-book-list-for-cozy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(for Cozy December Days and Nights)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-book-list-for-last-minute-st-nicholas.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Book List for Last Minute St. Nicholas Giving</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-book-list-for-last-minute-st-nicholas.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Theology of the Third Verse (thoughts on Christmas Carols on Twelfth Night)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/11/kids-and-classical-music-part-i-my_22.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kids and Classical Music</a></b> </span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-68909527572829102872018-05-25T11:30:00.000-04:002019-05-21T21:35:46.097-04:00Summer Reading Challenge 2018 (with BOOK LISTS!)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(but first - a friendly disclosure that there a lot of Amazon affiliate links dropped here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you click through and buy any of my recommendations I get a few pennies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your generosity allows me to continue buying good books (umm... and nerf bullets...) for my family. Thank you <3)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Also, gone are the days of lovely and edited photos here. The pics here are straight from my ghetto phone. It was either that or edit and beautify photos and publish this post in September. I chose bad pics and post now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's that time of year again where we're transitioning into our "summer school" months of homeschooling. Since the beginning we've been year-round homeschoolers. It's because I'm often lax and my kids are not child prodigies and so we're always a bit behind in some subject or another. And it's also because we <i>all </i>benefit from a having some daily expectations and tasks that have to be done each morning before enjoying the busyness or laziness of the summer day ahead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Even though we "school" in the summer, it looks very different than the way things are the rest of the year. The Summer Reading Challenge is one of those differences. Last year was the first year I proposed the Challenge and it was <i>wildly</i> successful. The three big kids read more than I ever imagined they would! Dominic (who has dyslexia) gained an enormous amount of confidence and pride in himself as well as a growing enjoyment of reading, and Ruth improved by leaps and bounds and became a "real reader" - the kind that reads even when it's not required ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In <b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-summer-reading-challenge-and-books.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">last summer's Challenge</a></b>, the kids got to choose a box of cereal for each book they completed. They read <i>a lot </i>and we had boxes of sugary cereal flying everywhere. It was a bit crazy. But it really was a key motivator and a real treat for the kids to have a special breakfast cereal that was entirely their own. I kept the same reward for this summer but instead of a box of cereal for each book, I'm using a point system. I've written in the front covers whether the books are worth 1,2,3, or 4 points. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They can choose a box of cereal for every 3 points they earn. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I'm happy with this change because it allowed me to choose books of varying lengths and difficulties for each child and assign the points accordingly. Without the point system, I may have skipped some titles that are entirely worth reading but are not quite worth a whole box of cereal ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like last year, I chose the books again. I chose more this year, giving each kiddo a wider variety to choose from. They get a basket full of their options. I sit down with each of them one on one and go through the titles, often reading the summary and teasers on the back, and chatting about which books they think they'll pick and what they might want to read first. I sometimes encourage them to read the first few pages of a book they're unsure about and I always let them set a book aside if it's not grabbing them. It <i>is </i>supposed to be <i>fun</i> after all :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm always happy to share book lists and recommendations here, so of course I've got the Summer Reading Challenge lists for you! I spend a lot of time previewing books and reading reviews for content. I'm pretty particular. Ok, I'm downright picky about what they read. A lot doesn't get past my filters. I have not personally read every book that I've given to my kids to read, but if I haven't read it, I've done everything else possible to assess it's appropriateness (in terms of themes, language, behavior of characters, etc... as well as reading level). I feel pretty confident recommending all the titles here, but as in everything, parents have to determine what meets their own standards and what's ok for their own kids, right?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In terms of reading level, I know how maddening it can be trying to figure out if your "3rd grader" is reading what another mom's "3rd grader" is reading and what the *bleep* is a 3rd grade reading level anyway!?!?!!?! Anyway, your 3rd grader might be (probably is) reading what my 6th grader is reading now (remember, we have no advanced geniuses here...) There truly is no common standard among publishers and reviewers and you never know what you're going to get when you see something is a "___ grade reading level." (My blood pressure is rising steadily even as a write this...) </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Add into the mix my Dominic, who is obviously a bit behind in his reading abilities but who doesn't want to read content intended for "little kids." It's sometimes a crazy (but such fun) challenge finding reading material that fits his age, interests, </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ability. So,</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> we're all over the board here in terms of reading levels and books that I'll "allow." But here's a quick point of reference so you can better understand who the lists have been tailored for and how they might be able to work for you:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aaron is 12, going into 7th grade. He most recently finished the Tolkien <a href="https://amzn.to/2GEH5E4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy</a> and <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2IASlay" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness,</a> (</i>Andrew Peterson.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dominic is 10 1/2, going into 6th grade (dyslexic, improving in reading with his great, great tutor, Miss Lynn!) He's most recently read <a href="https://amzn.to/2KNy5PL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Frindle </i></a> (Andrew Clements), and a couple <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2LmmEPT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boxcar Children</a> </i>mysteries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ruth is 8, going into 3rd grade. She's been blowing through the <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2s3ut4t" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ramona</a> </i>series as her read-upstairs-in-bed books, and she recently finished <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2KK7qDd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little House in the Big Woods</a> </i>as her "downstairs" book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clare is 6, going into 1st grade. She's still learning some letter sounds and does bits of <a href="https://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-reading/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">All About Reading</a>'s pre-reading program as well as Level 1. Basically, she doesn't read.......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">SUMMER READING CHALLENGE 2018</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(in no particular order, points in parentheses)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For Aaron:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2IMaqhT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>The Stolen Train</b></a>, </i>Robert Ashley (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2GObRKX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Wrinkle in Time</a>, </i>Madeleine L'Engle (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2IPjMtu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Borrowers</a>, </i>Mary Norton (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2xbdO4A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gone-Away Lake</a>, </i>Elizabeth Enright (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2IO7txg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Annie Moore, First in Line for America</a></i></b>, Eithne Loughrey (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2IINxju" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">By the Great Horn Spoon,</a> </i>Sid Fleischman (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2GNzxPu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Escape from Warsaw,</a> </i>Ian Serraillier (3)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2KPV5h6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lost on a Mountain in Maine</a>, </i>Donn Fendler (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2KO7Icc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Young Canaller,</a> </i>Gerry Stafford (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2LpjScJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Call It Courage</a>, </i>Armstrong Sperry (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2xde7Mc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mitchells: Five for Victory</a>, </i>Hilda von Stockum (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2krRc6x" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Trumpeter of Krakow</a>, </i>Eric Kelly (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2LrU67X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Winged Watchman,</a> </i>Hilda von Stockum (3) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2GR6jQ4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nicholas Gilroy: Our Lady and the Guardian</a>, </i>Father Stephen and Deacon George (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2IHFjrQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Borrowed House</a>, </i>Hilda von Stockum (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2ksxYOx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">32 Days: A Story of Faith and Courage,</a> </b>Ellen Lucey Prozeller (1)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For Dominic:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2LrE2Tv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mary Jemison, Indian Captive</a>, </i>Jeanne LeMonnier Gardner (3)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2J76nAf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Freedom Crossing</a>, </i>Margaret Goff Clark (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2KTxX14" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ranger in Time, Danger in Ancient Rome</a></i></b>, Kate Messner (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2J4nra1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here We All Are</a>, </i>Tomie DePaola (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2LsJxkX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret Valley,</a> </i>Clyde Robert Bulla (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2IJuLIL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shepherds to the Rescue (Gospel Time Trekkers)</a></i></b>, Maria Grace Dateno, FSP (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2GNe4X5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Whisper in the Ruins</a>, </i>Lisa M Hendey (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2GO1o2f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Chestertons and the Golden Key</a>, </i>Nancy Carpentier Brown (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2LrFc1j" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twenty and Ten</a>, </i>Claire Huchet Bishop, (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2J1mn6T" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cabin in the Snow</a></i></b>, Deborah Hopkinson (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2GO1NBN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Farmer Boy</a>, </i>Laura Ingalls Wilder (4) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2s5HKtM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Escape by Night: A Civil War Adventure</a>, </i>Laurie Myers (2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For Ruth:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2ko5fdm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><i>The Secret Soldier: the Story of Deborah Sampson, </i></b></a></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ann McGovern (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2GOYdaz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daisy Dawson is on Her Way</a>, </i>Steve Voake (2)</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2s7ExKz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Fine Start: Meg's Prairie Diary (My America)</a>, </i>Kate McMullen (2)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2LvRJkq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little House on the Prairie</a>, </i>Laura Ingalls Wilder (4) </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2KVIV6d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The White Stallion</a>, </i>Elizabeth Shub (1/2 pt) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2ktsdQh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Bears on Hemlock Mountain,</a> </i>Alice Dalgliesh (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2koFx8H" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie</a></i>, </b>Peter and Connie Roop (1/2 pt) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Jaeufz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Misty of Chincoteague</a>, </i>Marguerite Henry (3) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2J34eFB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Runaway Ralph</a>, </i>Beverly Cleary (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2xaHvTn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen</a>, </i>Cynthia Rylant (2) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2IO2Ao3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Besty-Tacy</a>, </i>Maude Hart Lovelace (3) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2kowtk9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In Grandma's Attic</a></i>, Arleta Richardson (3) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2J8sdU2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Night Crossing</a>, </i>Karen Ackerman (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2INbHFr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">26 Fairmount Avenue</a>, </i>Tomie dePaola (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2KQX1pC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prairie School</a>, </i>Avi (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2kog9Qs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Father's Dragon</a>, </i>Ruth Stiles Gannet (2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For Clare:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Various titles from the <a href="https://amzn.to/2kog9Qs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flyleaf Publishing Books for Emergent Readers.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You can read <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/02/flyleaf-publishing-for-home-school.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my review of Flyleaf's Emergent Readers and Decodable Literature here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, I have high hopes for lots of read-alouds this summer. I've been forgoing reading out loud lately in favor of knitting, so it will take some discipline on my part ;) I haven't decided what I'll read, but we have lots lying around the house so I have a great stack of my own to choose from. Some contenders are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2KVDRyz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><i>The Family Under the Bridge, </i></b> </a> Natalie Savage Carlson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2xluBlN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tumtum and Nutmeg, </a> </i>Emily Bearn </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2sggqsq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ballet Shoes</a>, </i>Noel Streatfeild </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2s7el2u" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</a>, </i>C.S. Lewis (this would be the first time for the girls, so that would be super fun!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And, we have our Audible account locked and loaded full of stuff, so lots and lots of audio favorites are on the summer book menu too :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What are you and your kiddos reading this summer? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://exhausted%20mom%20syndrome%2C%20narnia%20read%20alouds%2C%20and%20why%20i%20was%20a%20big%20fat%20crying%20blubbering%20mess%20today/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Exhausted Mom Syndrome, Narnia Read Alouds, </a></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://exhausted%20mom%20syndrome%2C%20narnia%20read%20alouds%2C%20and%20why%20i%20was%20a%20big%20fat%20crying%20blubbering%20mess%20today/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">and Why I Was a Big Fat Crying Blubbering Mess Today</a></span></h3>
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**</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-summer-reading-challenge-and-books.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Summer Reading Challenge (2017)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/01/top-ten-desert-island-picture-books.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Our Top Ten "Desert Island" Picture Books</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>**</b></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/06/i-want-tidying-up-but-not-konmaris.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">I Want the Tidying Up, But Not KonMari's Brand of "Life-Changing Magic"</a></b></div>
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**</div>
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<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/06/summer-time-to-ramp-things-up.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Summer: Time to Ramp Things Up, Homeschool Mom!</a></b></div>
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**</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/05/summer-reading.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Summer Reading (adult book recs ;) </a>)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>**</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-books-im-going-to-read-this-summer.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Books I'm Going to Read This Summer (basically I'm delusional)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/p/b.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my page with links to more book lists and reviews</a></b></span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-10568546316895078862017-12-01T10:46:00.001-05:002017-12-01T19:27:15.386-05:00A Book List for (last minute!) St. Nicholas Day Giving<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-style: italic;">The great thing about this list is that these books are available through Amazon Prime, and even if you've sort of let Advent creep up on your again, you can STILL manage to get these in time for St. Nicholas morning (Dec 6, btw...) </b>(Thanks for clicking through and using my affiliate links. I get a few pennies if you buy something, and by book-loving family thanks you <3) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do you give your children books for Christmas? Yeah, us too! We also give each of our kids one or two books for St. Nicholas day - usually a book to add to <b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/10/our-favorite-saint-picture-books-books.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our collection of picture books</a></b> about saints, and another to add to our <b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/12/advent-and-christmas-book-list-for-cozy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Advent/Christmas book collection</a></b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I love it when we pull out our holiday books each Advent! It's such fun to look through all the favorites we haven't seen for nearly a year! We've been collecting books for a while now, and I've got a few new titles that we particularly like that I thought I'd pass on to you :) (Also, PLEASE check out <b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/12/advent-and-christmas-book-list-for-cozy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this post</a></b> on our favorite Advent/Christmas book from a couple years ago, as the books listed here are have only been added to our collection in the last two years and there are many other great titles in my previous lists <3 ) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Picture Books About Winter and Christmas </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ooh, I sure do love a pretty picture book! I've already written once about a book by Teagan White (check out <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2016/02/all-books-we-got-for-christmas-books.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">THIS POST,</a> or <a href="http://amzn.to/2zRvoeV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">THIS BOOK</a>) and she's done it again with the beautifully illustrated<a href="http://amzn.to/2i591Y9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a><i><a href="http://amzn.to/2i591Y9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Mice Skating</b></a>. </i>The illustrations are so sweet, and Lucy the mouse <i style="font-weight: bold;">knits hats for her friends and fashions handmade ice skates out of pine needles. </i>I mean seriously, she's like me if I was a rodent in a picture book...... erm..... anyway....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway, the story by Annie Silvestro is as sweet as the illustrations, and I think you and your kids will love its celebration of the joys of winter <3 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2j5Fo9X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Finding Christmas</a></b>, </i>Lezlie Evans. This is a lovely story, sort of reminiscent <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2AgVwio" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fourth Wise Man</a>, </i>or <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2i5JDSa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Papa Panov's Special Day</a> </i>(both of which we also love!). This book (again, delightful illustrations of woodland critters!) speaks to the joy of generosity. It has an overtly Christian theme, and indeed, includes Christ's exhortation "whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me," at the end of the book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2AnOEhe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christmas Farm </a>, </b>Mary Lyn Ray. Well, how have I not heard of this one before?!? It's simply lovely! It tells the story of the care of a Christmas tree farm, a chore shared by an older women and her young five-year-old neighbor. It's just delightful! And the double spread illustrations of the farm and rural life are beautiful!</span><br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2j5xI7J" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Babushka: A Christmas Tale,</a></span> </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dawn Casey. I love the legends of Russian Babushka and Italian Old Befana, so we have several books about her :) This is our latest and it doesn't disappoint. It's fun to get different author's and illustrator's takes on the story! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2nipQEd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mr. Willowbby's Christmas Tree</a>, </i>Robert Barry. Oh man, this book is funny. James (who is almost 4 this year, but was almost 3 last year) asked to read it nearly ever day during Advent. It begins with the wealthy Mr. Willowby's impressive tree... that doesn't quite fit in the hall. Bits of the tree make their way through the servants quarters, the local wildlife, and back into Mr. W's home where the very very tiptop decorates the home of the mice in the wall. It's cute ;)</span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li2&o=1&a=0385327218" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385327218/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=li2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=0f3cf1a3b2458d0c031e1a2f28e78edd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0385327218&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="153" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2AgF9SK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Room for a Little One,</a> </i>Martin Waddell. This is a lovely gift for little ones in board book format. The illustrations are soothing and pretty - animals gathering in the stable one by one, and even though it's full, there's enough room for The Little One. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2jzCXfo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple Tree Christmas</a>, </i>Trinka Hakes Noble. My daughters especially love this story. It's an old-time, feel good, down-on-the-farm story about the beloved family apple tree and the year it doesn't survive the winter (hmmm, should I have put a "spoiler alert" there???)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2Ai8V9N" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Dozen Silk Diapers</a>, </i>Melissa Kajpust. Now I have to be fair here and tell you up front that there doesn't appear to be Prime shipping available for this title, but it's still worth checking out and you could get it in time for Christmas morning if you'd still like to buy it :) This book -- delightful story and illustrations - is another favorite with my little kids. I even like it, and I don't particularly care for spiders (main characters here...) ;), but quite frankly, it's hard not to like arachnids when they're caring for the Holy Family <3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2nkyBxw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cobweb Christmas: the Tradition of Tinsel</a>, </i>Shirley Climo. Spiders again. And tinsel, which I make it a habit to avoid as well. <i>And yet, </i>even I can read this story without cringing! Tante cleans her home thoroughly to prepare for Christmas, but Kris Kringle lets the spiders <i>back in! </i>Ack!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2zUBSK2" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Gift of the Christmas Cookie - Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth, </a><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>Dandi Daely Mackall. This is a sweet story about a boy and his mother who practice generosity even though they themselves have barely anything to give. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2jCFnKd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Story of Holly and Ivy</a>, </i>Rumer Godden. This is an <i>absolute classic</i> by one of my favorite authors ever. And one of my favorite illustrators, for that matter (Barbara Cooney). It's a real heart-warming story of finding love and family - the best fulfilled Christmas wishes <3 (It's a longer story, maybe not the type of picture book you could finish in one sitting with some kids, but it's worth a few nights of reading!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2BzxbCy" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Christmas in Noisy Village, </a><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>Astrid Lindgren. My kiddos are <i>Pippy Longstocking </i>and <i>Children of Noisy Village</i> fans, so this Christmas story is a holiday favorite. The Noisy Village kids know how to prepare and keep Christmas, for sure - Gathering firewood, baking, decorating, feasting and partying, with nary a TV holiday commercial or Toys R' Us SALE flyer in sight! It's perfect :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The last two titles here are books that I bought for my older boys, who still enjoy listening to picture books while curled up on the couch (be still my heart!) but who also will grab a holiday book and read to themselves. Curled up on the couch ;) But these books aren't just for big kids. Everyone enjoys them, especially as they're true stories <3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2j8ZiB8" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Christmas in the Trenches, </a> John McCuthceon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2j8U3kX" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Christmas From Heaven: the True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber, </a><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>Tom Brokaw</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I KNOW you'll find some treasures here, books your family will look forward to pulling out of storage each Advent! I've made lots of other fun book discoveries lately (especially a few new series for my big kids) so if all the stars align, maybe I'll be writing another book lists again soon :) They are, after all, some of my favorite things <3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have a blessed Advent and a happy (book-filled!) St. Nicholas Day! </span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-28313111820294063462017-07-19T21:13:00.001-04:002017-07-19T21:13:31.040-04:00That Day Last September When I Saved the Summer <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In many ways I felt like last summer was a bust. I was somewhat distracted with my recently re-opened Etsy shop. We had just enough camps and activities on the books that it made it tricky to just hop in the car and go to the park for a day of roaming and exploring. We usually go to the creek several times every summer, but last year a friend's son got a leech in the water and I could never bring myself to go back there. We even skipped our long-standing tradition of going to the opening day of the county fair because it was 95 degrees and just, nope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was sort of a blah summer - reflected in both our lack of really enjoyable family time and my mood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In early September we went on a field trip with other families from the study center to see the tall, historic sailing ships in port in Erie, Pennsylvania, a two hour ride from our home. I'm not naturally spontaneous or fun-loving but I knew this was an opportunity to do something for my kids to "redeem" the humdrum summer we had had. I told everyone to bring an extra set of clothes (because you might get wet while touring the ships...??) I packed up lunches and water and snacks and we left early the next morning to meet up with our group in Erie for the tour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was awesome! We <i>loved </i>the ships and hearing about their sailing from the crew. I think Aaron especially enjoyed it since he and I had recently watched a few episodes of <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2u5zNom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Horatio Hornblower</a> </i>:) We enjoyed our lunches with our friends and were finished with the last tour around 1 in the afternoon. It had been a blistering hot day - lots of sweating and re-hydrating while waiting on long lines in full sun. We were all sticky and uncomfortable and couldn't wait to get in the air conditioned van. The kids thought we were headed home but I surprised<i> </i>them with a spontaneous trip to the beach at Presque Isle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't tell you how much enjoyment I received from their surprise and delight. <i>Mom, are you really taking us to a beach?? You're going to let us take our shoes off?? Can we walk in the water??? We know you'll probably say no, but can we swim?? </i>They about fell over when I said yes. I wasn't acting like myself at all. They could hardly believe that I would let them swim and get sandy in their clothes. <i>Oh!!!! This is why you told us to bring extra clothes!!!! </i>I hadn't even brought towels. They just swam and jumped and ran and splashed until everyone really was getting tired (it had been a r<i>eally </i>long day). Even then, it was hard to convince them to get out and dry in the sun. They were water logged. And you can imagine the amount of sand in their underwear ;) Everyone changed into their dry clothes in the back of the van - sand and dirt flying everywhere - me trying to remain calm and in my happy-go-lucky-summer-state-of-mind. We even hit up the ice cream stand before leaving the peninsula. I taught my kids about ordering extra sprinkles for when the you've licked the first layer of sprinkles off your cone. We pulled up back at home well into the evening and stayed up late telling Dad about the day and eating pizza in the driveway as the sun set. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The kids still talk about that day. I still think about it regularly. It was the day that made last summer <i>amazing</i>. For me, at least. I intentionally let go of so much of my uptight, plan-everything-to-a-T ways, and we had an unforgettable day. It meant so much to me to be able to give that to my kids, it's hard to really convey how important it was to me in words. But I've always wanted to share some photos from that day. They're a souvenir of one of my favorite days ever. And they're a reminder of the sheer joy it was to make my children so very happy with a few simple "spontaneous" changes to the plan :)</span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-88742770024871746682017-07-17T11:02:00.001-04:002017-07-17T13:14:03.186-04:00 How We Do #wildandfree In Our Urban Backyard <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When my husband and I daydream about the things we want for our children, it often comes back to experiences that we associate with living in the country. We want them to have free and open play spaces, we want them to climb trees, observe wildlife, tend to plants, raise chickens and gather fresh eggs, blaze bike trails through the woods, and build tree forts out of scraps. We appreciate the positive affect that a "free range" childhood can have on the development of children. (Lots of great studies have been done on the benefits!) For a while we were actively looking at properties that were a bit more rural, had more than a couple acres of land with mature trees and grassy areas that didn't need to be manicured. And hey, a little creek would have been the bonus that would have made all our house-hunting dreams come true. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A few times we found properties that a-l-m-o-s-t made us pull the trigger... but we didn't. And quite frankly, we're not unhappy to be staying in our current home within the city limits. Its space is sufficient and we've adopted an attitude toward our property and location that have allowed us to give our kids as "free range" a child-hood as possible in our present circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In fact, I've come to appreciate, that "free range" can happen anywhere, and doesn't require rambling rural fields and cool shady woods to be a reality for our kids. In short, "free range" doesn't mean you have to have a home <i>on the range. </i>It means giving your children unstructured free time, materials to inspire creativity and imagination, and the freedom to explore, create, and "do their own thing," as it were. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have a .16 acre lot and here's what we do to give our kids some "free range" experiences in our very own urban backyard...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(1) First and foremost, I long ago abandoned all illusions of a yard worthy of Better Homes and Gardens.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Seriously. I packed them away and stashed them in the dank, dark basement, and only think about getting them out after my children have gone away to college. No, even then they'll probably bring their friends home for mud football games in the yard, so I'm just leaving my illusions packed...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had always thought that once I was a home owner I would also have a beautiful yard with gorgeous flowers and a bubbling fountain. Alas, how wrong I was. I have a yard littered with scraps of projects and experiments, pieces of imaginative games, and holes that kids have dug. It took a few years, but I'm finally OK with the state of the yard!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(2) We give our children tools and the freedom to use them.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hammers, nails, screws and screwdrivers, rope or twine, a heavy duty bucket... Our older boys have a couple power drills and have permission to use a saw when Dad is nearby. Common sense safety rules apply, and they're not allowed to damage any structures (house, garage, playset) or trees, but otherwise we tend to let them use the tools how they want. They've built some pretty awesome things ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(3) We give them supplies. Or better yet, we let them collect their own.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once you give your kids tools, they'll need some stuff to build with. When we moved into our house there were a few saw horses and piles and piles of 2x4's and other scrap wood in our garage. Those pieces of wood have come in and out of the garage more times that I could ever count. Play houses, makeshift basketball nets, mini golf courses, American Ninja Warrior courses, and more have been crafted from that scrap wood. Our garage it also filled with old, unused landscaping stones. The kids get to do whatever they want with them. Some years they've used them to surround a garden. Another year they used them to build a castle wall, and another time they were part of a frontier fort visited by Lewis and Clark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You don't have to buy "supplies." Our kids actually get lots of supplies from garbage hunting :) (This is another aspect of their "free range" childhood that I had to grow to appreciate with my husband's encouragement ;) ) Recently they went out with a wagon during Big Trash Week and came home with lots of great stuff, including two 8 ft long bamboo poles and a large set of pvc-type pipes and various connectors. You can always find scrap wood in garbage piles. One of my sons also looks for old furniture that he can use for "harvesting" screws, etc... The great thing about acquiring supplies this way is that once the items break or the kids are done with them, there's no guilt about taking the stuff right back out to the curb :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(4) We let our kids climb things.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don't have woods on your property full of beautiful climbing trees? Sometimes you just gotta let your kids climb what you do have. My </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">little kids are actually light enough to climb our small Japanese maple in the front and the big kids can shimmy up the huge silver maple in the back, but they're not really great climbing trees. So the kids also </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">climb up to the top of the play set, the deck railing, and the wood fence to get up to the mulberry tree. I confess I think climbing is important, but I hate to watch it, so my husband is usually around when they're defying gravity ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(5) We encourage our kids to keep critters.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We can't go out to the yard to collect fresh chicken eggs or milk goats, but we can still give our kids some up-close encounters with city nature. Last summer it felt like we had a menagerie on our deck. It was a bit annoying to me (again... Better Homes and Gardens yards are <i>never</i> littered with makeshift plastic and mesh habitats...) but the kids had the chance to witness tadpoles turn into frogs, and fat green caterpillars turn into polyphemus moths, and snails slime about in a tupperware. And it actually was pretty darn fascinating to get a front-row seat to the show :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(6) We allow our kids to take a portion of the garden and give the freedom to do whatever they want with it.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kids love to plant stuff and watch it grown. For many years now we've had a family vegetable garden, but we've also let the kids take pieces of the yard for themselves to grow pretty much whatever they want. They often try flowers, but with little success. Of course they love eating the snap peas and beans they've grown themselves, or they'll run out to pick a quick leaf of lettuce from <i>their </i>garden to put on their sandwich. We let them plant <i>what </i>and <i>how </i>they want. They care for the garden how they want. And even though I probably bought the seeds they used they can pretty much do whatever they want with their harvest. Carrot chive soup is a favorite...... among the kids, at least.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(7) We let them use the garden hose.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> It's a sacrifice, but we actually will let them make mud :) We let them build dams and bridges with spare bricks and and sticks and mud. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our kids love to flood the driveway and then send little sticks and leaves and homemade boats floating down into the street and down to the sewers. (Sometimes playing with the hose inspires them to wash the car, so bonus!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(8) We allow them "import" nature.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This sort of goes along with the "we let them bring other people's garbage into our yard." If my kids want to build a lean-to or teepee, they scour the neighborhood for fallen branches after a storm and drag them back to our house. I mentioned we have a big maple tree, but it loses its leaves very late in fall and no one wants to wait that long to rake and jump in piles. My kids bring our three wagons around the neighborhood, rake other people's lawns and bring the leaves back to our yard. We're the only people I know who <i>import</i> leaves into their yard each fall, but I let them do it because, childhood :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(ps - my kids get money and cookies from neighbors <i>all the time </i>for this leaf-raking service they provide every year!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(8) I just leave them alone :)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is sort of the heart and soul of "free range." Kids' creativity shines when they're free from the rigorous schedules of structured activities and the order and limits often imposed by adults on their "play time." My children are usually much more creative and cooperative amongst each other when I don't try to steer the activity or moderate every little dispute. With a few tools, a patch of garden, and the freedom to be creative, my kids can do an awful lot of wild and free things in our own small urban backyard :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(9) We DO get out when we can.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Please don't assume we lock our kids in the backyard! We let them out and about the neighborhood too, but I just used the word "backyard" for continuity's sake! ALSO, We make it a point to get our city kids out of the city frequently, too! It's good for the body and soul to get out and hike in the woods, spot deer and wild turkeys, splash in the creek, and swing from hanging vines. But I'm grateful that I don't labor under the false pretense that a happy, playful, and creative childhood can only happen in the country. I can say confidently from experience, parents can give their children the benefits of a free range childhood right from their own small patch of urban backyard! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How about you? What are your tips and thoughts on "free range childhood" for kids in traditional urban (and even suburban) environments? </span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-62716453101819780422017-07-10T06:00:00.000-04:002017-07-10T06:40:13.678-04:005 Reasons to Try Audible This Summer (and 40% off if you sign up!!) <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up for Audible through your Amazon </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Prime account, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. <i><b>Thank you!</b></i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We obviously do a a decent amount of reading physical books around here, but we're big audio book fans as well.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I still get the occasional book-on-CD from the library, but in the past year or so we've gravitated more and more toward Audible. It's by far, my favorite resource for quality audio lit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm so grateful that my mom clued me in to this amazing library. I believe it's a must-have for book lovers, literary families, and homeschooling families. In case you're not familiar with Amazon's Audible feature, I'd like to give you five great reasons why you should sign up now! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(1) New Audible users (existing Amazon Prime members) </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>get their first 6 months at 40% off!!!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NB873RG?tag=AddTrackingID-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here for the discount </a>on a new Audible gold account :) </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What exactly is Audible? It's a monthly subscription to audio books. Your monthly payment (see above link for discount!!) buys you credits to use towards any audio book in the audio library. You also have the option of buying titles outright (it makes sense to do this for books that cost <i>less </i>than the monthly subscription. See my link to a great list at the end of this post.) Once you buy a title, it is yours for good. You can listen to it on your phone or other device. When you're done listening, you can remove it from the device to conserve storage space, but it remains in your library for the next time you want to use it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(2) Audible is tops for convenient, on-the-go literary entertainment.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the first things I do before we leave on a car trip (long road trip, or short day trip) is stock up on audio books. I know from experience that it's asking for trouble to bring library books-on-CD on vacations out of state or on day trips to the local park or beach. Audible to the rescue! There's no losing CD's in the bowels of the van, no changing discs while trying to drive, no worry that gritty sand will ruin library property. With Audible, just plug in to your car's audio system, and go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Related - Even though library CD's are "free," they were not-so-free when my kids have inadvertently scratched or broken a couple. It really stinks to buy a brand new copy of <i>Prince Caspian </i>and <i>Little House in the Big Woods </i>and then just hand it over to the librarian with a sheepish apology..... In hindsight, I wish I would have just spent that money on an Audible edition in the first place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(3) Listening to audio books in the car significantly reduces sibling squabbling.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have conducted many scientific experiments and this is a proven fact - listening to audio books in the car nearly wipes out sibling car-ride squabbling. Everyone is too wrapped up in the story to worry about who's breathing on them or who's eyes glanced in their direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(4) Audio books can occasionally free up the usually enthusiastic Read-Aloud mom.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong. I'm in favor of Mom (or Dad, or Grandma, or older sibling, or babysitter... you get the idea) sitting down with a book in hand and a bunch of kids on her lap and reading out loud. I do this a lot. And I love it. Having a service like Audible does <i>not </i>replace read aloud time in our home. However, of you're like me and want to expose your kids to <i>lots </i>of great stories and a variety of authors and genres, and if your kids are like my kids and they looooove to listen to stories.... sometimes a tired out mom just can't keep up. Audible provides a healthy and much needed break for me when my read-aloud mojo is waning. You'll appreciate the break too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Additionally, when I listen to an audio book along side my family, I feel like more like a fellow <i>consumer</i> of entertainment (as opposed to the provider ;) ) It's fun to belly laugh or gasp in anticipation along with the rest of the listening crowd. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's enjoyable to let someone else do the voices for a change. It's a different kind of "reading" experience. And I like it :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(5) Audio books can help reduce screen time.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is big for us, especially as we're having a daytime TV free summer. I had been in the habit of putting on Netflix for a rainy afternoon or for when a couple kids were sick. But we've broken out of that habit and most everyone chooses audio books during a lull in the day. We definitely do the old-fashion family gathered around the radio thing. I keep a bin of quiet activities (puzzles, coloring, arranging activities, etc...) in the living room and they're available for the kids to use while listening to stories. This summer we've been listening to <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2u3w79v" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Swallows and Amazons</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2tUrlun" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mr. Midshipman Hornblower</a> </i>(just my big boys)<i>, </i>and <i> <a href="http://amzn.to/2ttdZUT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Cottage at Bantry Bay</a>. </i>And I've got plenty more lined up for when those are done because Audible recently had a great sale on titles for kids and I stocked up :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So are you convinced yet? How about a trial? Don't forget - <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NB873RG?tag=AddTrackingID-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click here to sign up!</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wondering what you should order first?? There are two things that stand out to me because we all agree <i>listening </i>to them is better than reading aloud. The first is <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2u1jtHo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Bear Called Paddington</a> </b>because Stephen Fry reading it is just *perfection.* He nails the dry humor of ridiculous situations. But he's British, so... And the second is the series <b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/2tEa5qF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place.</a></i></b> Katherine Kellgren does <i>the best</i> voices and howling and it's infinitely more enjoyable to listen to her do those things than attempt them myself! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Looking for more ideas?? Here are two posts from the archives you can check out --</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/06/15-classic-audio-books-for-kids-on.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">15 Classic Audio Books for Kids on Audible (Under $6 Each!)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(I checked the old links -- nearly all the prices are still the same, and some are cheaper now!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/08/audio-books-and-stories-for-kids-list.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audio Books and Stories for Kids (a list of what we love!)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is an old list. I still recommend everything on it, but we sure have added A LOT more to our list since then :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/01/top-ten-desert-island-picture-books.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Our Top 10 "Desert Island" Picture Books</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-loveliest-abc-books-for-your-little.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Loveliest ABC Books for Your Little Lovelies</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Our Summer Author/Illustrator Binges:</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/08/sarah-stewart-and-david-small-summer.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> <b>Sarah Stewart and David Small</b></a><b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;" /><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/08/brian-wildsmith-summer-author-binge.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Brian Wildsmith</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/07/jim-arnosky-summer-author-binge.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jim Arnosky </a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/07/dahlov-ipcar-summer-author-binge.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dahlov Ipcar </a></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Listening to A Little Princess)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(listening to Mr. Midshipman Hornblower)</td></tr>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-90588024624609432502017-06-01T09:16:00.002-04:002017-06-01T13:28:12.949-04:00The Summer Reading Challenge (and Book Lists!)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Hi! If you're new here, welcome!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>If you're an old friend, I'm so glad you're back!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>If you've ever read this blog before, you know how much I love</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>recommending good books, and you know I only recommend things</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I feel very strongly about -- in a good way! I only provide links to </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>products and books that I heartily endorse. This post is no different.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>If you click on a link and purchase something from Amazon, I get a</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>*small* commission at no extra cost to you, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>so that I can keep my kids reading more good stuff</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>through the the summer and all year.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>THANK YOU, from all my family and me :)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* * * * * *</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are very few things that could drag me up out of a major blogging slump... but if anything can do it, it's the chance to talk about kids' books :) :) :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We always try to do lots of extra read-alouds in the summertime --- I fondly remember a few summer's ago when I read <i>The Jungle Book </i>and an abridged <i>Moby Dick</i> outside in the yard while the kids drank copious amounts of lemonade while they lounged and listened. Last summer's big excitement was introducing the boys to Tolkien, listening to <i>The Hobbit </i>in the afternoons while the little kids rested. I think it was last summer too, that we all laughed and laughed at <i>Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle </i>(I always read that one at lunch time.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Again, I have a list of read-alouds ready for this summer (I already started <i>Heidi </i>with the girls <3 ) and a list of audio books we'll get from the library or Audible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I knew that this summer I also wanted to get my three oldest kids doing even more silent reading than we usually do. Between the library, Amazon, and our own book shelves, I pulled together a stack of books for each child from which each can choose his or her "Challenge material." I'm a bit of a literary control freak, so I keep a pretty tight rein on what they read. I picked about 8 books for each kid, and they can pick from that stack. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The "Challenge" is really just a reward plan. For every book they finish they get to pick their own personal box of whatever cereal they want from Aldi. This is painful for me (because sugar) but they're feeling motivated! And at the end of the summer, if they've read four or five (?) books, they get a one-on-one date with Mom or Dad. Mini golf or bowling, maybe? (I <i>know </i>they'll pick Dad, but I just put my name in there for equal opportunity purposes.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So here are the stacks I pulled together ---</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For Aaron --</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sfIPxX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Shadow of His Wings </a> </i>a graphic novel of the life of Fr. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gereon Goldmann</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">by Max Temesou</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sfY3mr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Old Yeller ,</a> </i>Fred Gipson</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qCJnwz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Chestertons and the Golden Key</a>, </i>Nancy Carpentier Brown (I chose this because he's read and loved Brown's<a href="http://amzn.to/2rdb3L1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Fr. Brown readers</a>. I highly recommend those also!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qCfqk1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><i>St Benedict: Hero of the Hills</i></b></a>, Mary Fabyan Windeatt</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2rGvwtn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">St. Paul the Apostle: the Story of the Apostle to the Gentiles</a>, </i>Mary Fabyan Windeatt</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qCRXv5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qCRXv5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McCracken and the Lost Island</a>, </i>Mark Adderly (hooray for more Catholic adventure tales!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qD2JkU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Travels With Gannon and Wyatt: Hawaii</a>, </i>Patty Wheeler (the most recent in the series, Aaron has read the others)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qCRwRB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shepherds to the Rescue</a>, </i>Maria Grace Detano, FSP (Gospel Time Trekkers series. This is the first book, so we're checking it out. I don't know much about the series.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For Dominic -- (Wow. This was a tricky list to put together, but I love my Dominic and I loved this challenge! Dominic has always been a struggling reader, though he has been working with an Orton-Gillingham tutor since Nov and has improved a ton! But moms with kids who read far above or far below their grade level know how hard it is to find books that your child is able to read, with content to match his maturity level. I had to stretch a bit above his reading level and a bit behind to find a stack of books that I think will grab Dominic's attention and that he'll be able to work through this summer.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sp5bw9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Bears on Hemlock Mountain</a>, </i>Alice Dalgliesh (This is such a fun book, and it's only $2.49 on Amazon right now. You should check it out!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sp5bw9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Logan Pryce Makes a Mess (Tales from Maple Ridge)</a>, </i>Grace Gilmore </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sg0PrT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail</a>, </i>Kate Messner (Seriously?!? A time traveling golden retriever!! It's historical fiction with man's best friend. It's got to be good!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sp3aji" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson</a>, </i>Ann McGovern </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qD1ySy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sword in the Tree</a>, </i>Clyde Robert Bulla</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2rdhPjT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Father's Dragon</a>, </i>Ruth Stiles Gannett</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sg6rm4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">26 Fairmount Avenue</a>, </i>Tomie DePaola (we have the whole series, so hopefully this will be the first of many (all!) that he'll read)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qD3wT6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Race the Wild: Rain Forest Relay</a>, </i>Kristin Earhart (another first book of a fun series)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For Ruth --</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sglUST" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nate the Great</a>, </i>Marjorie Weinman Sharmat </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2rGJ2NF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Adventures of Sophie Mouse: a New Friend</a>, </i>Poppy Green </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2soR7Td" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amelia Bedelia</a>, </i>Peggy Parish (Ruth got a box set of these for her Birthday, so I'm guessing/hoping she'll read a few of them :) )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Any books from my favorites series for early readers - <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2rrgSoB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouse and Mole</a> </i>(Wong Herbert Yee), <b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/2sgeIXd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dodsworth</a></i></b> (Tim Egan), <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sg5J83" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Billy and Blaze</a> </i>(C.W. Anderson. Not entirely sure she's ready for these yet, but we'll try), <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qCViKL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frog and Toad</a> </i>(Arnold Lobel), <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sp7LlR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zelda and Ivy</a> (</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Laura McGee Kvasnosk), <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qCIWCt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Iris and Walter</a> </i>(Elissa Haden Guest)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Summer Reading Challenge is a roaring success. I'll try to keep you posted. And maybe I'll even be back here in a few days to give you the low-down on our read-alouds, audio books, and more :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Join the conversation -- I loooove getting book recommendations for kids so comment with your best ones. What are your kids reading these days?? </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>You Might Also Like --</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/04/how-i-got-my-struggling-reader-prepped.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>How I Got My Struggling Reader Prepped for His First Oral Presentation</b></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/01/top-ten-desert-island-picture-books.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Our Top Ten "Desert Island" Picture Books</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(the picture books we cannot live without!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-tomie-depaola-book-list.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why I Love Tomie DePaola (and a book list)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/03/some-new-to-me-finds-books-for-early.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Series Books I Love for Early Readers</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2016/04/3-great-travel-series-for-elementary.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3 Great Travel Series For Elementary School Kids</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Also check our four favorite author/illustrators:</span></div>
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<b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/08/sarah-stewart-and-david-small-summer.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Sarah Stewart and David Small</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;" /><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/08/brian-wildsmith-summer-author-binge.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Brian Wildsmith</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/07/jim-arnosky-summer-author-binge.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jim Arnosky </a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/07/dahlov-ipcar-summer-author-binge.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #097383; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dahlov Ipcar </a></b></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-58846856149408547622016-12-22T15:20:00.001-05:002016-12-22T15:20:34.553-05:00Little Ones and The Joy of Giving (Our Dollar Tree Christmas Tradition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My mom is writing this one, folks! Isn't that fun?!?!?! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This will be a real treat for you since she doesn't overuse ????s and !!!!s as I do, but instead expresses herself perfectly with proper English usage and minimal, appropriate punctuation ;) Her name is Elaine and she's my favorite <3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A handful of years ago, my mom took my children to the Dollar store a week or two before Christmas, and it's become a sort of tradition since. The kid looks forward to their shopping day every year - they get one-on-one time with their grandmother and they get to browse a store that has </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">something for everyone</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> and choose carefully selected gifts for their siblings and parents.....</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We all know that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35), and of course we want our children to embrace that teaching. You know they love to put the envelope or the money in the collection plate on Sunday. But even when you explain what that’s all about, it’s not really their decision to give. So many moms and dads and teachers are helping children of all ages create hand-made gifts and this is absolutely wonderful. Having received more than my fair share of macaroni necklaces, woven baskets, hoops filled with cross stitch, and a two-foot Eiffel Tower made completely of Legos ©, I have seen the joy on the little givers faces when I am genuinely enthusiastic about the wonderfulness of the gift (and I STILL have several of those macaroni necklaces). Enthusiasm is key. One Christmas, many decades ago, a little guy in our house unwrapped a bag of plastic soldiers. Using his best manners, he exclaimed “I love this!” Then, “What is it?”</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Hoping to spread that kind of joy around, for the past few years I’ve made several trips to the dollar store – each time with a young person – to shop. The first year, we made four trips to the store in a two hour period and I got some strange looks from the cashier. Early on, there was a good deal of guidance necessary - “I don’t think you can give your little brother a multi-function tool that includes several knives”. It gets easier every year, and this year I was especially pleased that the children began asking at the beginning of December about our shopping trip. Guidance is still necessary, and sometimes has to be quite firm – “We aren’t going to get anyone a (Barbie) doll.” A good deal of thought goes into the final choices. We tested a jeep and a Humvee to see which would go farther with one good push. We talked about the relative value of large and small spatulas for making pancakes. We discussed a younger sibling’s preference for alligators over dinosaurs. And we had a lot of fun imaging how much the other kids would like the gifts chosen. Several were chosen with the idea that this was something that could be played together (finger football, for example), making it even more fun.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>This year we added a new wrinkle. Our parish is collecting household items for refugees that are settling in our area. Each child brought the gold coins that were found in the shoes left at the fireplace on the eve of Saint Nicolas’ feast day and bought two items from the list – soap, shampoo, sponges, toothpaste, kitchen cleaners. This past Sunday, they put the contributions that they had chosen into the box at the back of the Church.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Later this week we’ll have a gift wrapping party, and we’ll talk more about how lucky we are that we can give gifts to mom and dad and brothers and sisters. And on Christmas day, both receivers and givers will be blessed.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I have been on the receiving end of the this gifting tradition for the last several years, I can attest to the joy that the kids experience when they give me (or their dad, or sibling) that <i>perfect </i>gift. While the price certainly is right at Dollar Tree, I think it's the variety that makes it the perfect shopping destination for little ones. Where else can you buy a coffee mug for your mom, duct tape for your dad (always much appreciated!), bubble bath soap for the toddler, Star Wars pencils for your brother, and sparkly hair bows for your sister. It truly is the perfect place for kids to choose meaningful gifts that communicate "I chose this with you in mind... and I love you!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May you all be abundantly blessed these few days of Advent and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">may you have a very merry Christmas!</span></div>
Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-91484137164753967042016-11-16T13:39:00.002-05:002016-11-16T13:39:59.245-05:00Handicrafts for Kids to Enjoy on Cozy Winter Evenings (Prior Parent Skill Not Necessary!)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The cooler weather we've been having in the evenings makes me want to gather in the living room with my family and just enjoy being together. It's also that time of the year when I encourage my children to start working on handmade Christmas gifts for family. The other evening my older kids and I were cheerily gathered in front of a fire sewing and crafting. I felt like everything was perfect and it reminded me of <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/10/embracing-my-picture-perfect-life.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this post I wrote a couple years ago.</a> It's ok, you can go check it out... it's short :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">We all take so much enjoyment in being together on cozy evenings - pajamas on, usually in front of a fire, reading books, playing games, listening to music, </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">and crafting.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That last one is important to me! Since I enjoy handcrafts so much, it's something I want to encourage my kids in as well. I've been especially encouraged by reading the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason, which places importance on handcrafts. Mason encouraged parents to give children the materials and instruction to learn specific skills and to intentionally create pieces that are beautiful and useful - think the <i>opposite</i> of the tissue paper and marshmallow crafts today's Kindergartner's bring home :) While my kids do their share of tissue paper and glue stick projects (the kind of stuff I dispose of when they're asleep at night and I can sneak to the garbage bin unimpeded...), I also try to teach them skills so that they have the ability to create <i>beautiful and useful </i>items that I <i>don't </i>want to get rid of! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the benefits of teaching kids a handicraft is that they often end up with a product that they're proud of and that they are delighted to see in use around their home (or are excited to give as a gift!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is a list of craft supplies that I always keep on hand for my kids. These are the types of handicrafts that don't require a parent to have previously mastered a skill (...like crocheting. Believe me, I've tried to teach my kids how to crochet, but it hasn't stuck...) If you're interested in learning a new skill, perhaps it would be enjoyable to do so along side your child! But these are primarily projects you can set your child to after a cursory look through the instructions. Any of these would be great to give as Christmas gifts or to purchase now and use for <i>making </i>Christmas gifts :) (note: these are also the type of projects to work on in the living room, in front of the fire! So no glue, perler beeds, paint, etc... )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2f0eewf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harrisville Pot Holder Loom and Cotton Loops</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Harrisville-Designs-Potholder-Traditional-Potholders/dp/B000GHVHRW/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000GHVHRW&pd_rd_r=07PHW456N1JXBFTTWQBE&pd_rd_w=FBIB8&pd_rd_wg=b2iod&psc=1&refRID=07PHW456N1JXBFTTWQBE&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=760cb024c8bd20289bcb1022e4a9b002" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="260" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000GHVHRW&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="320" /></a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B000GHVHRW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">C'mon. This is a childhood staple! If your kitchen doesn't have a couple of these in use, you're missing out ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My kids have used two kinds of looms/loops, and based on experience, I highly recommend the <a href="http://amzn.to/2f0eewf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harrisville metal looms and cotton loops</a>. The <a href="http://amzn.to/2f4btxb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">colors of the cotton loops </a>are beautiful, and although slightly more expensive than the neon nylon ones, they make a much lovelier finished product. The cotton pot holders are larger and thicker and, quite frankly, <i>prettier.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If your kiddo already has experience with the traditional 7"x7" loom, perhaps she'd want to try out the <a href="http://amzn.to/2f04baG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">larger, 10" loom</a>. I confess, I'd like one of these in my home, because they make <i>amazing </i>potholders. They're a nice big size, perfect for large soup pots or casserole dishes on the table.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, if you have a child that would love to turn a potholder into a real piece of art, check out <a href="http://amzn.to/2fXeAZc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this book!</a></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2f07xKO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clover Pompom</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/2f0aWt1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tassel Makers</a></span></b><br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000WV1XGC&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="151" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B000WV1XGC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clover-9941-Tassel-Maker-Large/dp/B01A7BKH5Y/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01A7BKH5Y&pd_rd_r=2BRN57PV7GYJNB6BVJ77&pd_rd_w=0Pfk0&pd_rd_wg=qaT77&psc=1&refRID=2BRN57PV7GYJNB6BVJ77&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=dc60265b8d20c7a5de2c184ac99f02c2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01A7BKH5Y&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="216" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B01A7BKH5Y" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ok, I confess, I'm in love with making pompoms and tassels these days, so it's a little tricky to let my kids use my tools... but I do :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These Clover tools are easy for kids to use, and my older three often do projects on their own with them. They have made pretty pompom flowers, garlands, and Christmas tree ornaments with them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clover sells several sizes of pompom makers, but I recommend the <a href="http://amzn.to/2f4kHJR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Large"</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/2fXmEch" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Small"</a> sets for kids (as opposed to the XL and XS ones). The tassel makers come in <a href="http://amzn.to/2f0aQ4G" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Large"</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/2fVivDz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"</a></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2fVivDz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Small"</a> but each one makes a handful of sizes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These, plus a few inexpensive skeins of craft yarn, will be enough for lots and lots of pretty projects!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2f4hJF7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Darice Knitting Looms</a></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Darice-1171-58-Round-Plastic-Knitting/dp/B001GAHFHY/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001GAHFHY&pd_rd_r=2BRN57PV7GYJNB6BVJ77&pd_rd_w=0Pfk0&pd_rd_wg=qaT77&psc=1&refRID=2BRN57PV7GYJNB6BVJ77&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=fc611237e10f1baf69b8ef99116772e1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B001GAHFHY&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B001GAHFHY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have no idea how to do traditional knitting, but my kids sure can crank out hats on these knitting looms! I really like this set of four sizes. I don't think we've ever used the smallest one, but the other sizes are perfect for baby, kid, and adult- size hats. So basically, your kiddos could make Christmas gifts for <i>literally </i>everyone on your list this year :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you'll have more than one child loom knitting at once, you'll want to purchase an extra <a href="http://amzn.to/2f4k570" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">looming hook</a> for each child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For these looms, chunky yarn works best and makes hats without gaps in the weave. I recommend <a href="http://amzn.to/2f0lckM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bernat Softee Chunky yarn </a>for an inexpensive option (LOTS of colors available!), <a href="http://amzn.to/2f0pEjv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lion Brand Heartlad Thick and Quick Yarn</a> for a premium soft acrylic option, and <a href="http://amzn.to/2f0aRFL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick</a> for a warm, wool blend option.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If hats aren't your thing, how about starting out a little smaller with this <a href="http://amzn.to/2f4kbvs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">little flower loom kit </a>for making accessories, garlands, and even embellishments for handmade Christmas cards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My oldest son has got this handicraft down very well and has expressed interest in some other types of looms. We've looked at these <a href="http://amzn.to/2f0iagB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">oblong looms</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2f0mexv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a sock loom,</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/2gh3m30" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">various books</a> and websites on improving loom knitting technique. It's really a skill that can grow and last as kids get older. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2f0qhK6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sew Cute Needlepoint Kits</a></b></span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00JYGPLUK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Colorbok-Cream-Learn-Needlepoint-Stitched/dp/B00NAIXCJK/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00NAIXCJK&pd_rd_r=VZ73RKFJ9DCYSWBN9YCP&pd_rd_w=KCN0B&pd_rd_wg=FNLPZ&psc=1&refRID=VZ73RKFJ9DCYSWBN9YCP&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=5dac828a28338df8eb3c2c0c9a58ad1d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00NAIXCJK&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00NAIXCJK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These kits come with everything needed for a child to complete a cute needlepoint project from start to finish, including a pattern-stamped plastic sheet, yarn, needle, and frame. With simple instructions and easy patterns, these kits are great for beginning sewers. There are several options, like the sundae above, a horse, dog, cat, owl, flower, and rainbow. They're not all "girly" :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>DIY Embroidery Kit</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't know any fancy embroidery stitches or techniques, but I can do a simple running stitch and back stitch. My kids enjoy "embroidery" because it can be entirely imaginative, or you can create your own "pattern" to sew pretty much anything you want.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To build an embroidery "kit" for my kids, I inculde:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2ghcVOF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">embroidery hoops</a> (4" hoops are good for little hands and 6" are good for 'medium' hands)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2fgZl9Z" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">craft felt </a>(I use felt for the little kids because it's "forgiving" if you have to pull out mistakes and because you can get packs of lots of different colors. Use green for a background for flowers, or blue as a sky background for balloons!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2f4NY79" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">craft thread</a> (This is different from embroidery floss, and in my opinion, is better for little kids. It doesn't not have strands that can separate like floss does, so it makes it easier for kids to thread needles and use the thread on their own. Older children may be able to separate and use strands of embroidery floss, but so far we've just used this craft thread.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2fh8Shn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">larger-style embroidery needles </a> (For kids, you'll want to use a needle that's a bit longer and thicker and has an eye big enough that they can eventually learn to thread on their own.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2ghgCDR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">craft buttons</a> (I included these because my kids have combined embroidery and applique designs with buttons - buttons for the centers of flowers, or as holly berries, etc...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Looking for some specific sewing project ideas? Here a couple things that my kids have worked on and I recommend :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/12/button-flower-wall-hanging-kid-made.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Button-Flower Wall Hanging</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i6RldpTw8jo/VJSK1K6oqpI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/nEuKTGE7hwM/s1600/button%2Bflower%2Bwall%2Bhanging%2Btitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i6RldpTw8jo/VJSK1K6oqpI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/nEuKTGE7hwM/s1600/button%2Bflower%2Bwall%2Bhanging%2Btitle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/11/embroidery-for-young-football-fans-kid.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Embroidery for Young Football Fans</a></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDhI6mFlPFQ/VGEghpvHWBI/AAAAAAAAGE8/cKx_q24dlb0/s1600/nfl%2Bemb%2Btitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDhI6mFlPFQ/VGEghpvHWBI/AAAAAAAAGE8/cKx_q24dlb0/s1600/nfl%2Bemb%2Btitle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B004N3OMYK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2f0lLuW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">No-sew fleece blanket kits</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of my daughters is going to be working on some no-sew fleece pillows for Christmas this year. This is a fun option for young kids who know how to tie a knot - you end up with a soft and fluffy blanket in the end! There are tons of patterns and styles, but I included links to these two which seemed fun for kids :) </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Force-Awakens-Throw-Fleece-Design/dp/B016MVGDK6/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1479309592&sr=1-1&keywords=star+wars+no+sew+blanket&linkCode=li2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=61def169b6e9b436eb2059e243b75b83" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B016MVGDK6&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="175" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Sisters-Frozen-Forever-48-Inch/dp/B00L15RIZI/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1479312552&sr=1-1&keywords=no+sew+blanket&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=a53bef11bc1537cc4e859f8cfc6e2b9a" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00L15RIZI&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What kind of crafts do your kids enjoy? Or how does your family like to spend cozy winter evenings together? I'm just loving the fireside nights we've already had and am looking forward to another many more these next several months!</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYdg-ttYshU/WCykC8UfDJI/AAAAAAAAJsI/G5PyhspcH2INGhlxhxcP0tqF5yQyw5viwCEw/s1600/crafts%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYdg-ttYshU/WCykC8UfDJI/AAAAAAAAJsI/G5PyhspcH2INGhlxhxcP0tqF5yQyw5viwCEw/s640/crafts%2B5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Lots of Amazon affiliate links. If you buy something, many thanks!)</span></div>
Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-13747292322456142702016-11-07T11:16:00.000-05:002016-11-07T11:16:04.962-05:00Crochet Starter Kit or Gift Set for Beginners <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmznARTWtYw/WCCmDudEqzI/AAAAAAAAJqk/ExkKAKDwpocjW-w_YCMFhYiAt_bdcrL9gCLcB/s1600/crochet%2Bkit%2Btitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmznARTWtYw/WCCmDudEqzI/AAAAAAAAJqk/ExkKAKDwpocjW-w_YCMFhYiAt_bdcrL9gCLcB/s640/crochet%2Bkit%2Btitle.jpg" width="566" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have you been thinking about learning to crochet? No???? Oh! I get it - it's because you already know how ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well then, maybe you know someone <i>else </i>who'd like to learn? The holidays are a perfect opportunity to put together a gift set for yourself or for any beginning crocheter! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I remember when a friend told me she wanted to learn and asked me what she would need to get started crocheting. You don't need a lot, but it certainly can help to have a little guidance. So here's what </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">would include in a "Starter Kit" for someone who'd like to learn how to crochet.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XeJ484FvTGE/WCCmETwPPiI/AAAAAAAAJqo/QtwjeLI6LVgzzEU8e-iSbEsEwLOgVGwbACEw/s1600/IMG_7531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XeJ484FvTGE/WCCmETwPPiI/AAAAAAAAJqo/QtwjeLI6LVgzzEU8e-iSbEsEwLOgVGwbACEw/s640/IMG_7531.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2epwnn2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(1) a good hook</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It took me a while to find the hooks that I LOVE, but I now they are what I recommend to everyone, even beginners. Maybe <i>especially </i>beginners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My favorite crochet hooks are the <a href="http://amzn.to/2fn70UY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clover Amour Hooks</a>, with grippy handles. The handles feel fabulous while working, not slippery, or too skinny to hold. And they are a bit longer than many other handles so you have better control over them since they fit in your hand better... <i>I</i> think :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you're a veteran crocheter, just do yourself a favor and go buy the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clover-3672-Amour-Crochet-sizes/dp/B00B2CCA6W/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1478372512&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=clover+amour+5m+hook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">10-size set</a> now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But for the purposes of a starter kit, I recommend the <a href="http://amzn.to/2ezNEgD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">size H/5.oo mm hook</a> or the <a href="http://amzn.to/2ezONok" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">size J/6.oo mm hook.</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clover-3672-Amour-Crochet-sizes/dp/B00B2CCA6W/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1478372512&sr=1-2-fkmr0&keywords=clover+amour+5m+hook&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=28e610cf79853639bf114b844a81eaaf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00B2CCA6W&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="204" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2ebyQpX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt=" (2) a worsted weight, light-colored yarn" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B00B2CCA6W" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>(2) a worsted weight, light-colored yarn</b></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It is best to learn to crochet with an acrylic yarn that isn't too slippery... but isn't too scratchy either. For beginners, I think <a href="http://amzn.to/2epoRsd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn</a> is a great place to start. It's a great yarn - soft, easy to use, great colors - and it meets my not-slippery, not-too-scratchy recommendation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I recommend a lighter color yarn for learning because it's easier to see individual stitches. The Vanna's Choice line has many colors, so you'll probably have a hard time picking just one :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Brand-Yarn-860-100-Vannas/dp/B019RZQIUO/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1478373475&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=vana%27s+choice+yarn&th=1&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=baff4bdaddb03d6a33f5ca023310071c" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="152" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B019RZQIUO&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B019RZQIUO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2ezPkXe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(3) a tapestry needle</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A large-eye needles is necessary for weaving in the ends of your project (the yarn tails that hang from your work at the beginning and end of a piece, and any place you changed color). I find steel needles work much better than plastic ones, and recommend a<a href="http://amzn.to/2ezPkXe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> set like this</a>...</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Brand-Yarn-400-5-5002-Large-Eye/dp/B0021GN2BA/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1478373565&sr=8-1&keywords=tapestry+needle&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=6dae57cf4954af4b2a07d15df1804597" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0021GN2BA&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(<a href="http://amzn.to/2fGpZ0A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">4) stitch markers</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stitch markers may not be a necessity for a beginner, but they can be very useful when learning to count stitches in a row or count rows themselves. <a href="http://amzn.to/2fGpZ0A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">These stitch markers</a> are inexpensive and easy to use (they close like a safety pin so they won't easily fall out of your work) ...</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clover-353-Lock-Ring-Markers/dp/B0019KAEEC/ref=as_li_ss_il?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2668835622&pf_rd_r=3MS1Z55HRSR79KJ92VSP&pd_rd_wg=wwX7c&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_w=HrzBl&pf_rd_i=stitch+markers&pd_rd_r=0GAKTPGEJCBMP588C0H1&ie=UTF8&qid=1478373779&sr=1&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=e6ac17562bb62e4e1e526fc91bc70c7f" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0019KAEEC&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" width="163" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>(5) how-to materials, tutorials, and guides</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In addition to the essential tools, a beginner may also need some learning materials if there is no handy friend/teacher nearby :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some learn best with a physical book, with pictures and descriptions. Although I haven't seen this book firsthand, I previewed several books on Amazon and this one looks like a <i>great</i> beginners tool to me. I think it would be a wonderful addition to a starter crochet kit/gift :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/2ebBufn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to Crochet: A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners</a></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Crochet-Complete-Absolute-Beginners/dp/1908707240/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478375131&sr=1-4&keywords=Learn+to+crochet&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=a92a6d9d50fc406dbcd95bcf9d3bc4ce" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1908707240&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some may prefer the audio-visual approach, in which case I have two words for you:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">YOU. TUBE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are a gazillion learn-to-crochet tutorials on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=learn+to+crochet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">youtube</a>. You may just have to jump in to one or two to see if they're suited to you. Some may go to slow or too fast. Or maybe you need a left-handed tutorial. Poke around, I guarantee you'll find one that you can learn from. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I previewed </span><a href="http://aaxgtnvnjie/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">this tutorial</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and it was well done :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And don't forget about Pinterest for pictorial instructions on <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/76/a3/25/76a325fb66848f2e5beb6f92bd9827c6.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">how to do basic stitches</a> as well as charts of common <a href="https://crochetnmore.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern-1/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">abbreviations</a></span><a href="https://crochetnmore.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern-1/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="https://crochetnmore.wordpress.com/2014/08/11/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern-1/" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1908707240" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a>, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and instructions on <a href="http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Tutorials/How-to-Read-Crochet-Patterns" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">how to read a pattern.</a> If you were preparing a gift set, you certainly could print out and laminate some of these to include <3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">So, what do you think? What other tools, materials, or information would you include in a gift set for a beginner crocheter??? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">You may also like:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-glorious-spectrum-of-new-crochet.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rainbow Crochet Dishcloths ("pattern")</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/08/crochet-hook-size-reminders-best-idea.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crochet Hook Size Reminders (a tutorial)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-snow-on-snow-chunky-crochet-button.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Snow-on-Snow Chunky Cowl Pattern</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/04/crochet-basket-pattern.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crochet Basket Pattern</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/07/defending-crochet-to-myself-and-to.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Defending Crochet (to Myself and the Masses)</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/05/crochet-afghan-repair.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crochet Afghan Repair</a></b></span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-46666248995952465592016-11-04T08:45:00.004-04:002016-11-04T09:41:25.568-04:00Memory Work ( or "How I Once was Lost But Now am Found") <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The other day one of my big kids quizzed me, "Mom, what's the capital of Oregon?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was silent and then, "Ummmm..." I didn't know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">James was passing nearby and I heard him say in a singsong voice, "Salem, Oregon!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">James is not yet three ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Scenes like this are rather common around here. Geography songs are the memory work <i>du jour.</i> They are nearly all we listen to in the car, and if we're all home it's a good bet that someone is somewhere humming the countries of Equatorial Africa, or the state capitals on the eastern border of the US, or some other such nerdy song. During "school" time, the bigger kids are practicing map identification while they sing. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In addition to geography lists and map work, we also incorporate memorization into other lessons - math, Latin, grammar, and poetry.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you had asked my opinion on the importance of memorization back when I had just started homeschooling, I would have scoffed at the idea. I would have said, "What a dreary way to spend <i>learning</i> time. I want my children to be immersed in interesting ideas, beautiful art and literature, I want them to <i>experience</i> things, and I want their horizons to broaden and their imaginations to soar. I do not want them to be bogged down with the dreary work of memorization. I don't want them to lose their joy in learning with the drudgery of rote practice and recitations."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I myself do not recall having to memorize much of anything in school beyond what was necessary for an upcoming test - facts, dates, vocabulary words, etc... that were "memorized" and promptly forgotten after I aced a test. I still do not have all of the multiplication facts up to 9 memorized (though teaching multiplication has helped me master a handful more than I knew a few years ago.) I remember struggling to memorize the Act of Contrition when I was preparing for my First Reconciliation, but even that was lost to me, as I had to learn another one later in life. I recall having to memorize only <i>one </i>poem in all my schooling - I was a freshman in high school, and I recited something from Edgar Lee Master's <i>Spoon River Anthology</i> in front of the class. I have no recollection of which poem it was, and even a brief glance through the table of contents today couldn't jog my memory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Having no experience with the concept of memorizing facts, lists, charts, speeches, or poems as a student, I could not possibly anticipate that I would ever inflict that horror on my own kiddos. But then my oldest started first grade at home while also attending tutoring at a study center that follows a Classical curriculum. And when you're a kiddo in the "grammar" stage of a classical ed program, you memorize things. <i>It's what you do. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One day early in the year, Aaron's homework was "practice reciting the list of prepositions." Wha????? I sort of rolled my eyes, and asked him if he knew any prepositions. You can imagine my surprise when he <i>did.</i> In fact, he recited about half of the extensive list in the text book. <i>"How did you do that???" </i>He told me they went through the list two or three times a couple times a day. <i>Interesting...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Later that year Aaron's class was required to memorize the Gettysburg Address. I was NOT on board. He couldn't even <i>read </i>the Gettysburg Address, how was he going to recite it?? First graders should not be expected to know such things. Well, homework is homework, and my mom ended up finding a wonderful reading of the Address on-line and put the file onto a cd for us. It was read slowly and dramatically with beautiful music in the background. We listened to it a few times every time we got into the car. Within two or three weeks, Aaron had memorized the Gettysburg Address. So had I. And so had my six- and three-year old. <i>My three year old could recite the Gettysburg Address. </i>I was blown away. Granted, they had very little understanding of the meaning or significance of what they were reciting, and they certainly had no idea why I would cry every time I heard it, <i>but it was in their mental stores. </i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At that point I got excited about what my kids were capable of learning. As the years went by and they learned all the Presidents of the United States, skip counting by every number up to 10, all the states in the Union, and poems by significant poets, I was excited about all that <i>I </i>was learning too. I have a master's degree in American history, and even I couldn't have listed all the Presidents in chronological order or the states in alphabetical order until my kids learned them set to catchy tunes. (Incidentally, I'm so very grateful that I've been given the opportunity to practice memory work along side them, even this late in the game :) ) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It wasn't until Aaron was in about third grade that I began to appreciate the rationale behind the emphasis on memorization in classical education. Memory work is not about how many useless facts and disjointed speeches, chants, and poems can be crammed into a little brain. The purpose of classical education is to <i>foster wisom</i> utilizing the three (natural) phases of learning in the trivium. The first of these is the grammar stage, in which young minds (up to about 6th grade) are remarkably capable of extensive memorization. A grammar student memorizes all sorts of chants, songs, and sayings which provide the foundation for the other stages - the logic, or dialectic stage in which naturally argumentative early-adolescents begin to draw upon this base of knowledge to make connections and draw conclusions, and the rhetoric stage, in which students learn to dialogue and persuade by honing their speaking and writing skills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Memorization is so integral in the grammar stage because mastering information is more suited to the young brain than processing or using that information. With this understanding, it's easy to see why a first or second grader would learn a list of 49 prepositions even though that child may not understand what a preposition is or how to use one yet. The point is, is that when he <i>does </i>learn what it is and how to use it, he will already have a mental store of prepositions at his disposal. Similarly, that child has the ability to memorize and chant the first person personal pronouns in Latin even though he or she still hasn't plumbed the nuanced depths of first person personal pronouns in English. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">how </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">why </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">will be introduced to them later as their minds are matured and better suited to that information. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From what I've read (and experienced in my own school experience) modern day educators tend to shy away from good ol' fashioned memorization in favor of more on-trend educational methods. A book that I read (and loved) a few years ago addressed this. In <i>Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child, </i>Anthony Esolen wrote, " '</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We don't teach rote memorization,' say our educators today, raising their chins in pride. 'We prefer to teach critical thinking. We prefer to tap into the imagination.' " Sounds pretty familiar, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Esolen argues, however, that critical thinking <i>and </i>the imagination can not take shape without the "skeleton" that memorization provides the mind. A child that doesn't have the multiplication tables at her fingertips can not hope to enjoy the puzzles of higher math. How can an adult hope to deliver a persuasive or informative speech to fellow students, the PTA, a potential employer, or hopeful clients if he hasn't memorized and practiced any of the Great Speeches? One who cannot identify the exact (or even general) location of a particular country on a map may miss the significance of a news item on that nation or might struggle in the future to appreciate music or food from that geographical area or culture. A student who never memorized <i>Jabberwocky, The Tyger, </i>or other classics of Western poetry might be oblivious to clever literary references he encounters in college lectures, editorial columns, or even late night TV. He may struggle to produce verses of his own without the benefit of "hearing" the vocabulary, rhythm, and language patterns of the great poets in his mind. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(I wrote a bit about the </span><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/06/popcorn-and-poetry-night-2014.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">importance of poetry memorization here</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When applied properly, memory work in the areas of grammar, math, poetry and literature, geography, and even history, will not hinder critical thinking and imagination, but will provide a foundation for further education, exploration, understanding, and expression. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For now, when I beg my toddler to sing to me of the countries of the former USSR, it's mostly just because it's overwhelmingly cute. Nothing compares to hearing him say things like <i>Tajikistan </i>and <i>Kyrghystan. </i>But when my older kids practice their poems or skip counting, when they rattle off Latin declension chants, and when they continuously review rules of using pronouns and list of prepositions, I know that they're growing their brains in an important way. Far from dulling their minds, the skill of memorization, the discipline required to improve it, and the foundation of information they are building by doing so, have the capacity to support their educational, personal, and spiritual development into the future. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm confident that intentional memory work is helping my kids</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> create a mental structure that will serve and delight them (God willing!) for the rest of their livelong days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are some links you may be interested in:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here's a post where I talk about some of the audio resources we use for memorization:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/09/my-favorite-audio-learning-resources.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Favorite Audio Resources for Homeschooling</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are two posts about our Popcorn and Poetry Night, where kids and adults get to share poems (kids have to do it from memory ;) )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/05/popcorn-and-poetry-night.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Popcorn and Poetry Night, 2013</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/06/popcorn-and-poetry-night-2014.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Popcorn and Poetry Night 2014</b></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUl_-WK8dJE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here's Dominic, age 6 reciting the Gettysburg Address </span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmadUpN_R8s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And this is Ruth, age 3, reciting the Gettysburg Address</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And this is <a href="http://www.learntheaddress.org/videos/?page=2&f=R#yC3XQSvMGPg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aaron and Dominic participating with a couple classmates in the Learn the Address Project.</a></span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-74645771932991876282016-10-18T11:47:00.000-04:002016-10-18T18:31:52.135-04:00All About My Crafting (and an Etsy shop coupon code!) <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(All photos in this post are items that are currently available in my </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Etsy shop, Ordinary Lovely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can click <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/OrdinaryLovely?ref=hdr_shop_menu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a> to check it out!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blogging has sort of taken a back seat for me lately... I may have a few posts up my sleeve for this fall and winter, but I've been blogging long enough though to know that I should never write that out loud ;) Those posts in my head, or up my sleeve... whatever... may never happen and I'm mostly ok with that. I miss blogging a lot, but can't make it a priority right now since it's not one of my priorities. Hmm... Family life, homeschooling, and dealing with all the produce we get from our CSA every week have been almost all-consuming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Crocheting and sewing - that's what I've been doing in my snippets of free time lately. And I wanted to tell you a little about it :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've had an Etsy shop since 2011, I think? I was inspired to start it while on an Opus Dei retreat, when the name/concept came to me during a quiet moment. Well, <i>all </i>the moments were quiet because it was a silent retreat, but you know what I mean. I prayerfully considered the name "Ordinary Lovely" not only as a way of life, but as a vision for a shop that sold Catholic Saint dolls (that's what I started with) as a way to make the Faith an everyday encounter for young people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My shop is still "Ordinary Lovely," and the name and idea has obviously grown to include my blog and Instagram account. The concept is the same though - we are called to sanctity and life in Christ through even our most ordinary efforts and moments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For me, spending time sewing, crafting, and crocheting is just me being me. It's always been a part of who I am and what I love. It's one of the interests and skills I've been given. I think God expects me to use it - to delight myself, to spread cheer, to serve and celebrate others, and to glorify Him in small, ordinary ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I recently answered some questions for a short "interview" about me and my craft... I thought I'd share some of it here with you :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>How did you start/learn your craft? </b><i>I've literally been "making" things for as long as I can remember, and I have this "embroidery" project from 1986 as proof. (I was 7.) </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>My mother sewed clothes and was an avid cross-stitcher, so there was always fabric, floss, and needles around the house that I could use. She taught me how to use a sewing machine and I remember making stuffed toys and easy skirts when I was in middle school. I also recall having unfettered access to the family glue gun, which I used for all manner of projects. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I learned to crochet while I was a Residence Director at Franciscan University. Some of my staff would host learn-to-crochet programs in my apartment for our dorm residents and I guess I picked it up! It sort of fell by the wayside until I was expecting my fourth child and nesting manifested itself in a need to do something with yarn. Now. So I started making baby hats, and after that learned quite a bit more about special stitched and following patterns from YouTube and trial and error!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I still enjoy both sewing on my machine and crocheting. I tend to crochet more though, since it's a craft that I can take with me on the go, and that I can do in the living room, in the midst of family life (as opposed to squirreled away in my attic sewing room.)</i></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">What inspires you in your work? Where do you get your ideas? </b><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I typically get ideas based on what I'd like to see or use in my own home or what I'd like my children to have among their own playthings and keepsakes. Growing up we had so many handmade items in our home from both of my grandmothers and my own mother (clothes, crocheted sweaters, toys, wall hangings, ornaments, etc...) Living with so many handmade things made ordinary items more meaningful. It made everyday, practical items lovely to behold and use. Now that I have my own home and family, if I need or want anything (a kitchen apron, a baby bib, a child's toy, etc...) I tend to think, "I'd love to have one around that's handmade and meaningful, rather than a generic one from a big box store." My heart smiles when I see my kids play with their handmade toys, wear the aprons I made, or clean up a spill with a crocheted dishcloth. I wouldn't experience that same enjoyment over a factory-made/store-bought toy, apron, or dishcloth. </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>What distinguishes your product from others that are similar to it? What makes your product unique? </b><i>My products are unique because they are always changing. I tend to have a short attention span when it comes to crafting, so I'll really dig into something and produce a lot of it, and then I'll get interested in something else and move on. I've tried mass producing one particular product for sale, but for me, that lack of variety and creativity makes me very weary and grumpy. I LOVE creating, but NOT under those circumstances. Earlier this year I relaunched my Etsy shop as a way to supplement our income after a job change for my husband. But my work isn't serving my family if it makes me a grumpy wife and mom, a distracted home schooler, or a neglectful housekeeper, so I'm often trying something new to keep my skills and attitude fresh (I'm hoping to teach myself knitting via YouTube after the first of the year!). </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>The items I offer are perhaps distinguished from other like them for two reasons. First, I usually only sell things that that have been a hit in my own home or with my family and friends. Most of what I sell has been "field-tested" so to speak! Secondly, and I do not intend for this to sound smug (!), I love everything I make! I feel like it's a good sign for my business when I'd happily keep everything I've made. When I send something off to a customer, I'm confident it's a good product - one that's been tested in my own home (often by rough and rowdy kids) and one that I'd happily keep and use if no one else wants it ;) </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Where do you sell your product? </b><i>Items currently for sale are listed at <a href="http://ordinarylovely.etsy.com/">OrdinaryLovely.etsy.com</a> . I also accept customer requests/orders as busy life allows. You can see snippets of what I'm working on and items listed in my shop on my Instagram account, Ordinary Lovely. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Please feel free to browse <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/OrdinaryLovely?ref=hdr_shop_menu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my shop</a>! Blog readers get a special discount until the end of October because I love you guys! Use coupon code READERSSAVE10 to take 10% off your order. Coupon is good until October 31. </span><br />
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-80270917512022334892016-08-30T15:12:00.000-04:002016-08-30T15:12:43.553-04:00Inexpensive Toddler Activities You Can Make (with old coffee cans....)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People are always asking me how I homeschool with a toddler around. This post does not address that question nor the lack of an adequate answer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But this post <i>will g</i>ive you a few ideas on how to inexpensively keep a toddler occupied for ten minutes. What you do during that time is up to you (homeschooling or otherwise...) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Several years ago I made a whole bunch of busy-bag-type, quiet, manipulative activities for Ruth. All of the kids enjoyed them and eventually the pieces were scattered to the four winds. It recently occurred to me that James would probably like something similar and I pulled some supplies together and did these while Russ had the kids out for a morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These activities are so simple it hardly seems worth typing out actual instructions. Consider this post more of an invitation for you to take a look at what I've done and to use (and probably improve upon) these ideas. I'll give you a couple ideas on supplies and how-to's, but I'm pretty certain the photos will mostly speak for themselves here :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Collect and wash out food storage cans - the kind that have a rubber lid </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Like the cans from ground coffee, cocoa mix, and mixed nuts. I even let my kids share a mini can of Pringles because I wanted that size can...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cover in colored paper, contact paper, craft felt, or fleece using a glue gun. I love using fleece because it's a fun texture for little hands to hold :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For a <b>pompom push activity</b>, use Dollar Tree pompoms and cut a hole in the plastic lid slightly smaller than the pompoms. (I used a <a href="http://amzn.to/2bP0ALR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">craft knife</a>.) There is immense satisfaction in setting those pompoms on the hole and popping them down :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This <b>"tweezers" and bow ties activity</b> is, hands down, everyone's favorite. To make the ties, I cut two strips of craft felt, lay them one on the other, tie them in a knot, and trim the ends. Doubling up the strips just gives them a little more body and they're easier for little hands to grab with the tweezers. They are actually <a href="http://amzn.to/2bDlJYI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wooden toaster tongs</a>, but they're perfect for little hands learning to pinch and grasp things :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To make a <b>craft stick color sorter</b>, I used colored sticks from the dollar store and coordinating Sharpie markers. I used the craft knife to cut slits in the lid (again, not so big that the sticks slide right through, but a little tight so that there's some tension and the sticks have to be pushed nearly all the way). Then I colored around the openings on both the top and underside of the lid. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This</span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> button drop activity</b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> is self explanatory. My only suggestions are that you use chunky buttons (easier for little fingers to pick up and are less of a choking hazard) and line the bottom of your can with fleece or other fabric to absorb the sound of the falling buttons. Otherwise, that repetitive clanking sound can get very... repetitive. And awful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, there you go! Four super simple ideas that may not keep the toddler busy during </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">all</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> the homeschool lessons, but it will probably keep him busy and quiet for a few minutes when you really, really need it. In my experience, it's best to keep things like these packed away (not on the regular toy shelf) because then when they come out they're more "novel." And also - maybe only use one at a time. Otherwise, there will be buttons and pompoms and bow ties and craft sticks all mixed up all over </span><strike style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">your</strike><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> my floor. Ok? Don't forget!</span></div>
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-81275262844923211912016-08-15T19:50:00.002-04:002016-08-15T19:50:40.032-04:00Easy Roasted Tomato Sauce (low fat and sugar free)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's almost tomato time... So far, we've gotten a dozen here and there from our CSA, but soon we'll be getting tons and tons and tons of tomatoes. So I thought it was time to dig out this recipe again... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My family doesn't eat a lot of tomatoes. I'm not a super-fan myself, but I can handle them in salads and on sandwiches. The rest of my family pretty much only consumes tomatoes when they're deep inside an egg frittata and overpowered by cheddar cheese and sausage, or when they're on a BLT. So you can imagine how worried I was when we started receiving <i>bushels </i>of tomatoes week after week from our CSA last summer. I knew I'd have to come up with a plan quick so that they wouldn't go to waste.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hopped on Pinterest and found an "easy" recipe for tomato sauce that turned out to be not <i>my</i> kind of easy. I spend an entire day<i> </i>boiling, ice-bathing, and skinning tomatoes... The sauce turned out well, but at the end of the day my kitchen was a wreck, my kids had been totally ignored for 8 hours, and I had a very. short. fuse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blessedly, the social network came to my rescue. <a href="http://www.waltzingm.com/" target="_blank">Charlotte</a> witnessed my fiasco via Instagram, contacted me via email, and sent me a recipe from another blog. Bam. Problem solved. <i>Thank you, Charlotte! </i> Had you not sent <a href="http://www.elizabethfoss.com/journal/roasted-tomato-sauce?rq=tomato%20sauce" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elizabeth's recipe</a>, I might have drown myself, along with my sorrows, in the vegetable juices covering my kitchen counters, cupboards, and floors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">I tweaked the recipe and added a few "extras" but it's still super easy and very delicious. Click on over to <a href="http://www.elizabethfoss.com/journal/roasted-tomato-sauce?rq=tomato%20sauce" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In the Heart of My Home for the original recipe</a>, and then you can check back here to see what I did a little differently :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When roasting my tomatoes, I added some chopped onion and omitted the olive oil. I actually forgot the oil one time and liked the results, so after that I just left it out so that this would be sauce with no fat besides the negligible amount found in tomatoes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I used my heavy duty Ninja blender to blend up the tomatoes, juices, onions, garlic, and basil. I also added other fresh herbs from our garden - parsley, thyme, and oregano, as well as fresh-squeezed lemon juice, salt and pepper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the sauce that I was planning to keep in the fridge to use right away, I whisked in a few shakes of <a href="http://amzn.to/2aXgZjm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">xanthan gum</a> to thicken it up. For the sauce that I bagged for the freezer, I left out the xanthan gum, and I added it when I defrosted and heated the sauce. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ended up freezing enough sauce last summer that it <i>almost </i>lasted us all year, but not quite. I wasn't sure if my kiddos would love it, but it turns out they did. They don't even mind the seeds one bit. If you think the seeds are going to be a major problem with your family, you might consider using a<a href="http://amzn.to/2b7xfP9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> food mill</a> to process it as opposed to a blender. The blender is so quick (and relatively clean, compared to a food mill), it's my first choice for this sauce :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what are you doing with your tomatoes this year??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bon appetite! </span>Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-82773210176131939162016-08-12T08:44:00.002-04:002016-08-12T18:14:14.037-04:00A Back-to-(Home)School Post Roundup <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've had a handful of people ask me about our school plans for this upcoming year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm lacking my usual back-to-school enthusiasm, but I've got the back-to-school anxiety aplenty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our plans are made, most of the materials and supplies are bought. I did all my supply shopping on Amazon for the first time. I think it probably cost more, but it saved me a panic attack in the back-to-school department of Target. And we get to see our friendly UPS guy - Brian - more.... I'm sure he thinks I'm a shopaholic. I want to say to him, "I'm not!! I swear! It's just scotch tape and glue sticks and No 2 pencils and flashcards. And for whatever reason, Amazon sends them all in separate, but gigantic, boxes. So I know it <i>looks</i> like you just delivered the latest fashion trend in every different color, but it's really just crayons. And maybe baby powder..." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't have anything new to offer this year by way of awesome curriculum options or fabulous new supplies, but I did want to gather some of my past homeschool posts for your perusal. We're sticking with our tried and true favorite books, programs, and methods. Even though I'm having trouble uncovering my usual enthusiasm for school, I <i>am </i>still heartily enthusiastic about the resources we've come to love :) If you have any questions or suggestions, let's chat! Maybe talking about books and plans will help kindle my excitement for the new year! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/08/homeschool-curriculum-favorites.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Homeschool Curriculum Favorites</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/08/all-homeschool-extras-that-i-love-its.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">All the Homeschool Extras That We Love</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/09/adding-little-extra-tech-to-our.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adding a Little Extra Tech to Our Homeschool</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/05/ischool-using-ipad-in-our-homeschool.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Worthwhile Apps for Homeschool</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2016/04/how-we-homeschool-without-school-room.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How We Homeschool Without a School Room</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/05/how-lesson-planning-checklists-improved.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Lesson Planning Checklists Improved our Homeschool Days and Attitudes</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/06/how-i-homeschool-lengthy-self-interview.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How I Homeschool (The Self Interview In Which I Try to Sound Like I Know What I'm Doing)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/02/see-me-homeschool-ooooorrrrrdinary-day.html" target="_blank">See Me Homeschool (And Ordinary Day in Pictures)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>****** Other Posts With Thoughts on Homeschooling ******</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/05/education-in-hands-of-amateurs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Education in the Hands of Amateurs</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/08/take-deep-breath-and-dont-do-preschool.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Part 1: Take a Deep Breath and Don't Do Preschool</a></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 21.56px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/08/25-things-to-do-instead-of-preschool.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Part 2: 25 Things to Do Instead of Preschool</a></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 21.56px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/08/abcs-123s-and-other-stuff-25-things-to.html" style="text-decoration: none;">Part 3: ABC's, 123's and Other Stuff: 25 Things to Use With Your Preschooler Instead of a Boxed Curriculum</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I <i>do </i>love to chat books, supplies, and curriculum, so let's talk! Got any questions about the stuff we use and love? What are you using this year? Happy planning! </span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-82881596887544273682016-05-16T16:01:00.001-04:002016-05-16T17:04:32.107-04:00In Remembrance of Our Children Who Have Attained the Prize of Heaven<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Phil-3-12" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;">Not that I have already <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29434A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29434A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>obtained it or have already <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29434B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29434B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>become perfect, but I press on so that I may <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29434C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29434C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>lay hold of that for which also I <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29434D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29434D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>was laid hold of by <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29434E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29434E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Christ Jesus.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-13" id="en-NASB-29435" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">it</span> yet; but one thing <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">I do</span>: <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29435F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29435F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>forgetting what <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">lies</span> behind and reaching forward to what <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">lies</span> ahead,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NASB-29436" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i>I <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29436G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29436G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>press on toward the goal for the prize of the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29436H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29436H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>upward call of God in <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29436I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29436I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Christ Jesus. </i> Philippians 3:12-14</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This past Saturday was the due date of the <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/10/thoughts-on-loving-our-recently.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">baby we lost in October. </a> Russ and I were talking over the weekend about the honor of having two babies who have already attained the prize of Heaven. We personally still have so much reaching and striving through sin and its effects to do, so much to press on through. And we witness, every day, that same struggle and striving in our children on Earth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To be responsible for forming our children's hearts for Christ, while simultaneously <i>working out our own salvation with fear and trembling,</i> is an overwhelming and humbling thing for a parent. I admit there are days that the earthly toil is so exasperating, I hardly give a thought to my heavenly home. Even as I was trying to take a quiet and somewhat emotional moment to write this, Ruth came down from her afternoon rest time. She was in tears. And there was a large round hairbrush stuck in her hair. Like <i>really </i>stuck. The cycle of disobedient child (she knows not to go in my drawers), exasperated parent, earthy consequence (ten minutes worth of tugging and detangling), and apology and reconciliation, is a familiar one. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm no fool. I know that this is my relationship with my Heavenly Father as well. But I have two children that haven't known this struggle. They <i>only </i>know the prize! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What an emotional dichotomy it is to be a Christian parent mourning a child. I long to hold my child, to know what she looks like, to smell her baby skin. But she's in Heaven.<i> </i>I wish I could see my other children hold her and kiss her and snuggle her so excessvely that I have to say, "Ok, enough for now! You'll smother her!" But she's in Heaven.<i> </i>I want to introduce her to our friends. I want her to be in our family photos. I want to hear her cry and hold her close to nurse. I want to see her personality develop, her loveliness bloom, her love for her siblings deepen. These are all the things I want <i>for me.</i> <i>But she's in Heaven!!!! And there is nothing more I want for her. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Russ and I have talked about finally naming the two babies that we have lost to miscarriage. The fact that we're having some, <i>ahem, </i>arguments about the names themselves, is a good indication that we've truly embraced these little ones as our own and are not taking the honor of naming them lightly ;) Among other reasons, we think naming these dear children will help make them more relatable in conversation, and approachable in prayer, to their siblings here on Earth. To refer to a brother or sister by name, one who is truly living in the arms of our Lord in the company of Our Lady and the angels and saints, is a reminder that their home is also <i>our </i>home. There are two Blackstones already home. I pray that those of us still striving will live this life - the daily struggles, the times of immense joy, the crazy loud fun of wrestling in the basement or splashing in the creek, the quiet moments of sadness, and life's little hairbrush dramas - so as to lay hold of the prize - eternal life in the presence of the living God. Laying hold of <i>that </i>prize will also mean a reunion with our babies in the <i>true</i> home of the Blackstone family. </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zvhrPMJe8LE" width="459"></iframe>Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-91925770325067762132016-05-01T20:11:00.000-04:002016-05-01T20:11:42.686-04:00Easy Egg Bake -or- Busy Ladies, Get Your Morning Protein. Every Day!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This post was written in response to, and in honor of, 69 cent/dozen egg week at Aldi. Seriously, if you're not one of those people who has backyard chickens that deposit fresh eggs onto your plate every morning, rush to Aldi. <i>Rush. </i>But remember, limit four per person. (so I'll be going back a few more times this week ;) ) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love to start my day with a pretty big breakfast. I once read an article that said people that eat the majority of their daily calories at breakfast are healthier that those who save their calorie-packing for later in the day, so I feel justified. I also try to get a hearty dose of protein in the morning. My ideal breakfast is... only available at all you can eat Sunday brunches at swanky restaurants. It involves fluffy omelettes, bacon, breakfast potatoes, fruit, waffles, whipped cream, and coffee. And mimosas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Such as it is, I have to make due with breakfast at home most days. Actually, all days. And since all days are busy days, I don't usually have the time for making giant, fluffy , swanky restaurant omelettes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I get my morning protein the busy mom way - I make a big egg bake on Monday and eat it all week long. It works. It's easy. And I get my big breakfast. And protein. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I highly recommend this method if you're committed to starting your day with protein and veggies but don't have time for omelettes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your egg bake can have any combination of veggies, seasonings, or cheese. But h</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ere's what I recommend (complete with </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">very</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> helpful pictures to guide you through the most difficult of steps ;) ) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Add a hefty helping of spinach. I usually add two cups or more because it cooks down so much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Continue to cook until spinach is wilted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In a separate bowl, whisk together 10 - 12 large eggs, a dash of heavy cream, salt, and pepper. If I don't have any onions to add to the veggies, I'll throw some onion powder in the mix as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Add veggie mixture and cheese of your choice. I typically use feta, but will happily use cheddar if we happen to be out of the good stuff ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pour into a greased 2 quart baking dish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bake at 35o degrees for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through. Allow to cool before refrigerating. Enjoy large slices throughout the rest of the week. Or share it with your family; my kids love stealing mine! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoy! And maybe I'll bump into at the egg cooler at Aldi. I'll even share with you if there are only four dozen eggs left ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you're eating according to the <a href="http://amzn.to/1W16w88" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trim Healthy Mama plan</a>, this is a fabulous S breakfast. I love to have it with couple pieces of bacon and a small handful of berries on the side. </span></div>
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-48754055480296412262016-04-27T09:59:00.003-04:002016-04-27T09:59:41.961-04:00One Week Post Car Accident (and the Giveaway Winner!)<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hi friends!! The giveaway winner is....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">... at the end of the post! Hehe :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(you can skip down to there or you can read a few ramblings first to build suspense...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So last Wednesday morning I wrote my first blog post (<a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2016/04/3-great-travel-series-for-elementary.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the book reviews and giveaway</a>) in ages. Then the two little kids and I hopped in the van to go pick up Ruth from the Study Center. On the way home we were in a car accident that wasn't horrific, but wasn't a fender bender either. I could give you my version of the story which would involve phrases like <i>what the hell was the other driver thinking</i> and <i>why in God's name do they make airbags smell like the smoldering pits of Hell... </i>but instead I'll give you little James' narrative of the incident:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Car crash, bang. Scary. Lunch flying everywhere, bang. Jesus watching over us.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is surprisingly accurate for a two year old who really just started talking a few weeks ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It <i>was </i>scary. We are still thanking God every day that we are fine and that the other driver was also fine. And he accepted full responsibility. And there were witnesses to speak to that effect. So, <i>thank you Jesus! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have a minor fracture in my right arm as a result of the accident. But I have no cast (<i>Alleluia!!) </i>and am starting to use my arm a little more each day. This means, yay! I'll be able to crochet again! But it also means no more milking the "I have a broken arm" excuse for not folding laundry, checking Aaron's blood at night, or getting myself a glass of water (which technically I could do entirely with my left hand, but you know...) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway, we were very generously helped by friends who brought us meals (and one who even did Clare's hair for me while she was here <3) Thank you!), and my parents who've brought meals and helped us with transportation while we *gulp* shop around for a new van ("new" meaning a used, inexpensive vehicle that doesn't have dried vomit or rat poop in it - both exclusions making it an upgrade from our previous van....) We currently have a gorgeous, shiny, glittery, pimped-out** rental Town and Country in our driveway (the kids still haven't realized there's a DVD player in there.........) but I'm too nervous to drive it. Not because I'm afraid of reliving the crash or anything, but because it's just too fancy for my crew and me. I mean, we don't really feel at home in a car unless there's a 1/2" of debris on the floor, grime on the steering wheel, and crusty old string cheese in the cup holders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone who offered a prayer for us in the wake of my Facebook-ing and Instagram-ing about the accident. I appreciate it so much! Any additional prayers are welcome as we replace our van and navigate insurance issues for my arm -- it's a little surreal to have someone try to estimate what a healthy arm is worth to a stay at home, homeschooling mom whose only "wages lost" are perhaps the missed sale of a crocheted hat (and probably not even that ;) )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">** </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9ff; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.44px; line-height: 20.832px;">The phrase "</span><b style="background-color: #f9f9ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.44px; line-height: 20.832px;">pimped out</b><span style="background-color: #f9f9ff; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.44px; line-height: 20.832px;">" refers specifically to a car, but sometimes a truck or SUV, that has been extensively modified, giving it a very expensive and extravagant look, or the "pimp car look" hence the term. This phrase is used very frequently in the Western New York State region. Examples of a "</span><b style="background-color: #f9f9ff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.44px; line-height: 20.832px;">pimped out</b><span style="background-color: #f9f9ff; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.44px; line-height: 20.832px;">" car would be: Ground effects, neon lights, shiny or large rims, and very dark, or varied coloring of window tints in addition to many other things that would make an automobile look like it belongs in the movie "The Fast and the Furious."</span></div>
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<a href="http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/yo" style="color: #333333;">Yo</a> that ride is <b>pimped out</b>!</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">source: The OSD (that stands for Online Slang Dictionary. Obviously.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* * * * * *</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">AND NOW... the winner of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Greetings from Somewhere: the Mystery of the Gold Coin </i>is....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sarah O!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Congratulations, Sarah! Why don't you FB message me your mailing address and I'll have this book off to you! Hope your guys enjoy it! </span></div>
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-86131642851986939502016-04-25T09:48:00.002-04:002016-04-27T10:05:25.051-04:00How We Homeschool Without a School Room<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">*but first* There is just one day left to <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2016/04/3-great-travel-series-for-elementary.html" target="_blank">enter for the <i>Greetings from Somewhere: the Mystery of the Gold Coin </i>giveaway</a>! So go take care of that and then come back here to read about how I homeschool in the heart of my home. Or is it in the trenches? Sometimes it's hard to tell ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This past August was the first time we started a new school year after I had joined several homeschool-related Facebook groups. Want to know what you see a lot of in August and September from homeschool moms? School rooms. Bright, organized, spacious, packed-full-of-educational-goodness, drool-worthy school rooms. I confess, I spent many an afternoon coveting the in-home school rooms I saw on Facebook last August. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As much as I would <i>love </i>a designated space for us to conduct our lessons, display our school work, and corral our school books and materials, it's just not an option in our current home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And to make matters even a little trickier, we only have one table -- one table that serves as our gathering place at meal times and as our primary school-work area. Things might look a little different at our house if we had a kitchen table for meals and a dining room table we'd primarily use for school. But as it is, the dining room table is it. It's definitely not a cozy, out-of-the-way educational nook. The room gets lots of traffic and it's used for meals, school, crafts, sanctioned and unsanctioned science experiments, play time, time outs (the disciplinary kind ;) ), game night, and basically... <i>everything</i>. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> It's pretty much the heart of our home.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The two main "issues" we have to take into account are (1) it's a multi-purpose space and (2) there's only so much room to store our designated school stuff. Here's how we make it work...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Clean up every morning, pick up all day long. </b>The dining room gets a good once over every morning after breakfast - wash the table and chairs, pick up everything off the floor, vacuum. I <i>will not</i> start the school day walking around on crumbs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Only keep books/materials currently in use, or as much as can fit on our one shelf. </b>The is tricky for me, as I'd love to have all our materials at arm's length. But it cannot be so. So texts, reference books, and workbooks that we're not specifically using for a designated subject this year usually find a home in a cardboard box in the attic. If we <i>must </i>have them, we can get them. Note: we have a couple books shelves in the adjacent living room where we keep some educational picture books, our lives of the saints picture books, and our readers and series books. I keep the "school shelf" in the dining room for curriculum materials, workbooks, texts, etc...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* We can't save everything for every kid. </b>It's so satisfying at the end of the year to look back through all the work that we accomplished, so I look through it and then toss most of it. I can not not save all the finished workbooks and tests and artwork from everyone. Instead of keeping it all, I keep a binder for each child and use it to save important stuff, like letters, etc... from our school district, our IHIP's, my own quarterly reports as well as those from the study center my kids attend, and standardized test scores/reports. I may also save stuff like unit math tests or especially well done writing assignments. At the end of the year though, it's best to go back through <i>last</i> year's work and purge again. For example, last year's math tests will have lost their emotional significance in the light of <i>this </i>year's math successes, so they can go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Each student has a bin for his/her current school year books and must use it :) </b>I have found it much easier on the kids and me if each student has a place to keep their consumable (and sometimes non-consumable) books in one place. So instead of keeping all the math stuff in one spot and all the spelling stuff in another, each child has his current math or spelling level materials in his own canvas drawer/bin. This makes it simple for the kids to retrieve and put away their books and materials each day. Hopefully then, books and materials aren't lying out all day long only to blindside us when it's time to set the table for dinner (sometimes happens... but it's not supposed to ;) )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Use baskets to corral stuff. </b>We have <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/05/home-improvements-new-patio-door-built.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">one primary "school" shelf in the dining room.</a> I use baskets to keep similar stuff together on that shelf -- I have a basket for flashcards and math manipulatives, a basket for the All About Spelling and All About Reading cards, a basket for art and music stuff. I love these baskets from JoAnn's because they happen to fit perfectly on our shelves and you can see what's in them. I actually once wrote a <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2014/03/seven-quick-takes-wherein-i-reveal-that.html" target="_blank">post about how much I love these baskets</a>... it's a lot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Konmari the art supplies. And other supplies, for that matter. </b>I have a definite weakness for art supplies. But we got to a point where we needed the extra space for actual school <i>books</i>, so I had to give up some of my art supply storage shelves for the greater academic good. I tossed all the <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-great-colored-pencil-comparison-or.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sub-par colored pencils</a> and crayons and markers, and try to keep what remains in good shape and all in one place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Stop buying books and workbooks on a whim. </b>I remember buying several cute reusable dry-erase marker books at a discount store several years ago. They were going to be for fun math, spelling, and phonics practice!! They were so appealing to look at! I kept imagining my kids having lots of educational fun writing in answers and wiping them away! But the books didn't follow the math and spelling methods we were using and we never ever took them off the shelf. They, and other similar purchases early on in our homeschooling days, turned out to be wasted money. And they wasted shelf space. Time to move them along...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Forgo a lot of school-ish wall displays. </b>This is a personal preference for me. If we had a school room it would have wall maps and giant historical time lines, vocabulary and site words, memory work, Latin conjugation and declension charts, multiplication tables, artwork, and more on it. But I prefer that our dining room keep a "family dining" feel to it. It's ok for us to do school work in the dining room, but I don't want to feel like I'm <i>eating dinner in the school room. </i>So, school stuff on the walls is very limited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Use all the rooms as school rooms.</b> We actually don't just "do school" in the dining room. There's often a kid at the computer in the living room (visible from the dining room), and out of habit, the boys and I almost always do our afternoon science, history, and Latin on the couch. The kitchen floor works just fine for math fact drills. I give vocabulary quizzes while I'm changing the baby in his upstairs bedroom. The boys often choose to do their silent reading in my bed or on cold days, they'll go sit on the floor next to the heater vent in their bedroom. Now that the weather is warming up, the kids will have the option of working outside. I actually love it this way, and often wonder how much we would actually <i>use </i>a school room even if we had one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* Other :) </b> A few other things that help make it work are <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1qJnRW5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">noise cancelling earphones.</a> </i>These are a must when kids are "doing school" in a main area of the house and there are other people doing other things in those main areas. We also have a small kids table and shelf with little kids' "school-ish" activities adjacent to the dining room. Often the younger ones will do drawing, stickers, puzzles, etc... at the little table while the bigger kids are working. They're nearby and I can see them. Bonus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our systems are not perfect. Often the dining room buffet looks like this (or worse)...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">... and we might not always pick up everything before lunch time and the table looks like this (or worse)...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">... but we make it work because we have to. And it works because we've developed an attitude of <i>school happens in and among the day to day rhythms and craziness of family life, </i>and in general, it's hard to distinguish between the two!</span><br />
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-33932526677814575252016-04-20T10:37:00.000-04:002016-04-21T08:33:35.095-04:003 Great "Travel" Series for Elementary and Middle School Readers (AND A BOOK GIVEAWAY!) <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm always on the lookout for books that are appropriate for early readers, and it seems especially hard to find ones that are interesting for boys. There are so many series written for girls (most of them about horses, friends who have horses, friends who </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">are </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">horses, horses who are friends, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and horse camps. Judging by early reader series books, 8 - 12 year old girls are </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">only </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">interested in horses, and they </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">all </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">go to horse camp. W</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ho knew there were so many horse camps???) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway, <i>good books for young boys are hard to find. </i> It's partly because I'm pretty picky (like we don't read books about underwear and boogers, and we try to avoid books with snarky kids, bickering siblings, or pushover parents.) And partly because, in my experience, boys don't really want to read about all the female tween drama that takes place at sleep away horse camp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, we're left with very little. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In my post on </span><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2016/02/all-books-we-got-for-christmas-books.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">all the books we got for Christmas</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I mentioned that we have even </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">more </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">new books floating around the house. I've recently discovered three new series of books that I knew would be just perfect for my boys!!!! (They're actually totally appropriate for girls, too!) And of course, I'm going to share them with you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1R3lmDO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Greetings from Somewhere</i></a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(I "rate" this for early to mid Elementary level readers) </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Mystery-Mosaic-Greetings-Somewhere/dp/1442497211/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=c76bd5fb8e48368064a3152dab05e54a" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1442497211&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1442497211" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Forbidden-City-Greetings-Somewhere/dp/1481402994/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=7e7b6c8278eb8b3770bb2a2ddf4a9bb5" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1481402994&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1481402994" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Across-Secret-Greetings-Somewhere/dp/1481423673/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=73a452d07f8a7a1717fd3861fc714a4d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1481423673&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1481423673" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This series initially caught my eye because it's about a brother and sister who are <i>homeschooled </i>as their family travels the world. (Their mother is a travel writer for a newspaper.) Before they leave (first book in the series, <i>The Mystery of the Gold Coin)</i>, their grandfather gives twins Ethan and Ella a journal for taking travel notes and "solving mysteries," and the twins find plenty of "mysteries" to record and solve as they travel to China, to India, to Australia, Paris, and more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These books have at least one illustration per page spread, so it's appealing to younger readers and helps an early reader progress quickly through the book (b/c there aren't two full pages of text together.) These homeschooled twins learn plenty throughout the world that is their school room - there are lots of language, cultural, and historical tidbits throughout the books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think there are currently eight books in this series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1THCVA7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Race the Wild</i></a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(I "rate" this for mid to late Elementary level readers) </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Race-Wild-Rain-Forest-Relay/dp/0545773539/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1457445730&sr=8-4&keywords=race+the+wild&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=b448e6d352e5af8d6a3ae12cdfec0782" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0545773539&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0545773539" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Race-Wild-Great-Reef-Games/dp/0545773547/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&refRID=1CKA3ZB51H9Y9YHCGV95&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=99f7b590e2a4ed63b1f7ba8f5014fc16" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0545773547&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0545773547" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Freeze-Race-Wild-3/dp/0545773555/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&refRID=0HMZ3C0GKFZKMJJCV46E&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=6d31e32dc1393cca149d9bf511fabda0" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0545773555&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0545773555" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Russell enters an event which can best be described as The Amazing Race for kids. He's hoping to participate with his friends, but instead gets placed on a team with four strangers. Russell and his teammates use clues and their knowledge of the area in which they're adventuring (Amazon rain forest, the Arctic tundra, the Savanna, etc...) to advance to the next location and level of the race. While the kids have to rely on their own knowledge, planning, and execution of challenges to succeed, there <i>are</i> adult supervisors. So you can rest easy ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've read the first two books in the series and haven't found anything I'd label objectionable. One of the features that make these books interesting and a little different is that there are "extras" throughout - additional information on animals, habitats, or concepts regarding ecosystems and the natural world mentioned in the text. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are currently four books in this series, with two more set to come out later this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1R3maZo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Travels with Gannon and Wyatt</i></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(I "rate" this for middle school level readers) </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Gannon-Wyatt-Botswana/dp/1608325857/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457446460&sr=1-1&keywords=travels+with+gannon+and+wyatt&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=a10889dddd4227e973f304ed4832169a" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1608325857&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1608325857" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Gannon-Wyatt-Great-Rainforest/dp/1608325881/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457446460&sr=1-4&keywords=travels+with+gannon+and+wyatt&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=3d715b87ba3a50d173dd917aaec2b6bd" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1608325881&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1608325881" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Gannon-Wyatt-Egypt/dp/160832561X/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457446460&sr=1-3&keywords=travels+with+gannon+and+wyatt&linkCode=li3&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=75d3cf788d68e23c642e7ff525179957" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=160832561X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=160832561X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1626341206" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These books also happen to be about homeschooled twins. Brothers Gannon and Wyatt, and their escapades in the worldwide classroom, are based on the author's own real life twins, who were similarly homeschooled and well-traveled. The books are written as if they were the journal of the brothers, who record their discoveries and adventures as they travel from Botswana and Egypt in Africa, to Ireland, Greenland, and Canada. Though the brothers have very different personalities (which come through in their individual journal entries) they share a love of exploration, excitement, and travel! Kids who enjoy the books will also enjoy the <a href="http://travelswithgannonandwyatt.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">travelswithgannonandwyatt.com</a> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">website with supplemental travel photos and video. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The books contain maps and photographs of animals, land forms, etc... from the story. Each book also includes a photo of the real life Gannon and Wyatt on location, which was cool for my son, who was super into the fact that they were <i>actual</i> adventure-loving boys :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are currently five books in this series. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">BOOK GIVEAWAY!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">OK, so now for the giveaway part!! I have a copy of the first book in the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Greetings from Somewhere </i>series, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Mystery of the Gold Coin, </i>to give away! To enter, leave a comment here telling us about a series that your early readers have enjoyed (it's even cool if it's about horse camp!!). Also, stop by the Ordinary Lovely facebook page, and visit the Ordinary Lovely Instagram account and tag a friend in the the book giveaway post. The more book-loving friends here, the merrier! </span></div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="03dc71d62" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/03dc71d62/" id="rcwidget_9lwj024i" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-37026052047870615262016-03-08T06:18:00.004-05:002016-03-08T06:18:51.265-05:00My Bag of Insanity ::or:: Possibly my Most Embarrassing Post Ever<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have a very large and very teal bag from Target that I love. I love it. But I use it and abuse it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've been meaning to clean out my purse for a while now. Since I knew that I'd be "cleaning it out soon," I guess I didn't feel any need to monitor what was going in or what was coming out of it. Well, quite frankly, </span><i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">nothing </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">was coming out of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was starting to feel like I was toting around bricks. And there were so many bricks in there that the ones on top were never really sure if they were <i>in </i>or <i>out </i>of the bag. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I needed to do a total purse dump and figured <i>hey, that's a fun blog post! </i>But really it ended up being an embarrassing blog post. If the state of a woman's purse reflects the state of her mind, then here you will be given a most unflattering peek into my gray matter......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The weight of my bag before the purge was a back-breaking 9.3 lbs. I did the old measure self with and without bag on our people scale, and I measured it on our kitchen food scale and got the same answer. Pretty accurate scales, huh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I dumped it all out....</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ODBI02Mzz8/Vt4Wcy4WifI/AAAAAAAAJYk/N7Xa2dwfQms/s1600/DSCN0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ODBI02Mzz8/Vt4Wcy4WifI/AAAAAAAAJYk/N7Xa2dwfQms/s640/DSCN0155.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qr1wN0AS9ew/Vt4WdFcwPvI/AAAAAAAAJYk/uAwqP_Q3Qa0/s1600/DSCN0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qr1wN0AS9ew/Vt4WdFcwPvI/AAAAAAAAJYk/uAwqP_Q3Qa0/s640/DSCN0156.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And was reminded about how much I love the inside of my bag...</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bqQPRcH8coA/Vt4WfAl0AfI/AAAAAAAAJYk/o3URukr7Hcw/s1600/DSCN0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bqQPRcH8coA/Vt4WfAl0AfI/AAAAAAAAJYk/o3URukr7Hcw/s640/DSCN0162.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I got to sorting it...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The stuff that went right back into my purse...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">diapers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mini pack tissues</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">lip gloss ($1 lip gloss from ELF is my fave!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">pack of gum (not random pieces of gum...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The stuff that was a bit random. Or really random...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">plastic baggie with two plastic darning needles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">broken candy cane</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">little baggie of pain killers, which may or may not have been smuggled into the country by a family member</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">$2.01 (ooohhh! I actually owe someone $2. perfect!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">9 pens, 2 regular pencils, 1 golf pencil (probably swiped from church) (would you believe me if I told you just this afternoon I was whining about how I can never find any pens in the house....)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3 mini notebooks (to entertain toddler at Mass, not used since January)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Diabetes related stuff...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">notebook w/ notes from a carb counting class that was 10 days ago</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">paperwork w/ most recent A1C from last Endocronologist visit (early Feb)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">random pod (for A's insulin pump)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">glucose tablets (not pictured - an oversight on my part)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">EXPIRED emergency glucagon injection kit. (<i>EXPIRED JULY 2014!!!!!</i>) Thank goodness I caught that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aaron's pediatric/diabetes specialist ophthalmologist appointment card for this summer (received at appointment <i>last </i>summer)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Books and papers...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">half-used pack of HWT writing paper I bought at a curriculum sale (but haven't actually paid for yet...that's what I owe that $2 for...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Rule of St. Benedict </i>(some Lenten reading. I like it a lot :) )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>In Conversation with God </i>(tip: daily meditations don't happen if the book is at the bottom of your purse...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 checks from the<i> same </i>friend - one from December that I won't cash b/c she forced it on me after our families shared a plate of Christmas cookies from a church youth group sale. And one from January that I should have already cashed. Oops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Evidence of my craft addiction...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a 4 mm crochet hook (so <i>that's </i>where that was!!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jo-Anns flyers and craft store coupons--</span></div>
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7 expired sales/coupon flyers</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 current</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Garbage...</b> </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jnnj9-AfKk8/Vt4WiALE8tI/AAAAAAAAJYk/CHt45l5vsRI/s1600/DSCN0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jnnj9-AfKk8/Vt4WiALE8tI/AAAAAAAAJYk/CHt45l5vsRI/s640/DSCN0170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3 full-size grocery lists</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">expired grocery coupons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6 ticket stubs to a show from Dec 6. 2015</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a pediatrician apt reminder card from October, 2015</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">string cheese wrapper</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">15 receipts. The oldest was from last August, the next oldest was only from early January though ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After all was said and done, the "after" weight of my bag was 4.3 lbs. So, a hefty five lbs of unnecessary such-and-such was eliminated! That's quite the transformation :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've shared the (until now) unwholesome state of my purse with you in strict confidence. Don't tell anyone about it, ok? It will just scare them off, hehe! Though I must admit, I was pretty surprised (and proud) that there were no dirty tissues, used bandaids, or bits stale food in there ;) ;) ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How's the state of your bag? Is it time for a purse dump??</span></div>
Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-12879245694781839772016-02-28T21:12:00.001-05:002016-04-13T08:52:16.967-04:00All the Books We Got for Christmas (Books. Lists. Love.)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dYZ9tO7xrrY/VtOg74od0uI/AAAAAAAAJXA/rTKaCq9Ntbc/s1600/books%2Blists%2Blove%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dYZ9tO7xrrY/VtOg74od0uI/AAAAAAAAJXA/rTKaCq9Ntbc/s400/books%2Blists%2Blove%2Bcollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The kids got a lot of new books this past Christmas, but you don't see me complaining. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was my pleasure to write this fairly random, fairly long, and fairly awesome book list! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Russ and I usually get each kiddo a new book or two (that they're expected to share ;) ) and everyone got new books from my parents this year. Needless to say, we've all really been enjoying our new reading material these past few months!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I get to do a major mega-force book review... because they actually all turned out great and there wasn't a dud in the batch!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Starting with a new-to-us treasure for the youngest...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(And these are affiliate links, so if you click through and buy something, <i>thank you!</i>)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1Nbn1F7" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1Nbn1F7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Little Blue Truck</i></a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544568036/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0544568036&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=FPOL4LBMRGFXOISD" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0544568036&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How have we not had this until now?? I think the first I heard of it might have been from my friend,<a href="http://www.betterthaneden.com/" target="_blank"> Mary</a>. And she's got good taste, so I should have known this book would be a delight! I'm a stickler for good illustrations and non-cheesy text. And this book measures up. And it <i>rhymes! </i>I usually avoid rhyming books because it's hard to get rhymes without sounding weird. But this book does it! It's filled with animal sounds, big trucks, little trucks, goopy mud, and all the things that boys and girls love. It's a winner!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1n5xrBk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Sleep Like a Tiger</i></a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547641028/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0547641028&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=UHDAO6UQAIX4CJIG" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0547641028&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="263" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0547641028" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book. Think <i>Bedtime for Frances, </i>but not. Like Frances, the little girl in this book has no interest in going to bed and engages her parents in all sorts of conversations to avoid bedtime. But unlike Frances' push-over parents, the wise parents in this book successfully get their daughter in bed. And she falls asleep :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I love the illustrations in this book. They are beautiful <i>and </i>quirky (like the people are on wheels...). <i>Beautiful and quirky - </i>it's one of my favorite combos for illustrations <3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1OsXw6h" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adventures With Barefoot Critters</a></i></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1770496246/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1770496246&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=SOP2QQ7UAS5MBLRV" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1770496246&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="322" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1770496246" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh, goodness!!! I just want to plaster the pictures of these sweet little woodland critters all over my house!! They are so adorable I can hardly restrain myself from cuddling the book ;) These furry forest friends enjoy adventures together all year long under the auspices of alphabet-themed activities. (But this really isn't an alphabet book, so don't base your opinion of it one way or another on that.) Clare and I love this book... the illustrations make everything else about it lovely. My only complaint, and it's a big enough one that I have to mention it... <i>there's a triceratops friend.</i> ??????? I know! I don't get it either. The woodland squirrel, the woodland deer, the woodland fox, rabbit, and raccoon -- <i>they totally make sense.</i> But the woodland triceratops is a little confusing to my brain. Just had to mention it. As is, the book gets 5 stars. If they had left out the triceratops, it would have gotten 75,000 stars. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1ZId0M3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Roses in the Snow: a Tale of St. Elizabeth of Hungary</a></i></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0692339361/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0692339361&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=EXF6N5OY4JGY3J2H" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0692339361&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="308" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0692339361" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We haven't had any books about St. Elizabeth of Hungary and I've had my eye on this book for a while. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The full page illustrations are bright and beautiful. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The girls have really enjoyed reading it over and over, as it's delightfully told from the perspective of a little girl listening to the tales her grandmother tells of St. Elizabeth. They love the story of loaves of bread miraculously turning to roses, and I'm guessing we may have a bread-and-rose-toting St. Elizabeth among our All Saint's Day costumes year :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/23bdZ6G" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Queen and the Cross: the Story of Saint Helen</a></i></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0819874612/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0819874612&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=3ZMXTLDSZSKQFGE6" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0819874612&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="320" width="266" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0819874612" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was so glad my parents gave this to us to add to our collection! Ruth's middle name is Elaine, a derivative of Helen, so I've been wanting to make a point to learn more about St. Helen and to intentionally celebrate her feast day. This is the story of her devotion to the cross and her search for the true cross on Calvary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1JWYQ2j" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>B</i>e<i>auty and the Beast</i></a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Nje8JJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cinderella </a></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Pop-Up Books</i></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416960791/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1416960791&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=WCIT243I4B2JZMSL" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1416960791&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="320" width="258" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1416960791" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416905014/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1416905014&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=H7NAWUIEF3V6MYLU" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1416905014&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="320" width="258" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1416905014" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WOW! All I can say is <i>wow!</i> Ok, not really. I'm going to say more...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These books are truly a treasure. Not only are they lovely retellings of the classic fairy tales, but they are amazing feats of art and engineering. Each large page is an intricate pop-up illustration - the hideous beast lurching toward you, a magical horse drawn carriage seeming to float on air. Each page also contains much smaller "books" with... if you can believe it... mini pop-ups that are just as elaborate and beautiful! The kids, of course, love these books, and even I have been caught opening and closing the pages, peering at the paper constructions and murmuring, "how do they <i>do </i>that??" These books are a bit pricey, and they're definitely delicate enough that young readers should be supervised (or very mature in handling books) so that the pop-up mechanisms remain in tast. But you must check these out! (Other titles include <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1Tgwnbm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter Pan</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/1Tgwnbm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Little Mermaid,</a> <a href="http://amzn.to/1QnouL6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Wizzard of Oz</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/1TgwW52" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Snow Queen</a>, </i>and <a href="http://amzn.to/214V3m5" rel="nofollow" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Jungle Book</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1lt49uT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Mercy Watson </i>(box set!)</a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0763657093/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0763657093&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=C4RTAX2FYSWX345S" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0763657093&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well, the kids are just ecstatic to finally own these! (<i>Thanks, Papa and Grandma!</i>) They were books we regularly had out of the library, so to own them, even though they are readily available at the public library, means they must really be good! They are :) These totally ridiculous books about Mr. and Mrs. Wastson and their <i>porcine wonder</i> Mercy, are as silly as they sound. They're great for kids that are just on the cusp of graduating to first chapter books. They illustrations are a bit over the top for my liking, but I'm willing to overlook them to enjoy the comical characters and absurd story lines that elicit belly laughs from my kids :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9vYJF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nature Anatomy: the Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World</a></i></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612122310/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1612122310&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=GJK6N3HKXNJTDGOS" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1612122310&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="292" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Isn't this cover gorgeous?!? The whole book is eye-catching! And informative! I'm really going out on a limb here -- but if you have curious kids I think this book is be a must-have for your home library. It has something for every science-loving kid - earth science, geology, weather, flora, fauna. The hand drawn illustrations are beautifully done, but are also done in such a way that they inspire my kids to exercise their own nature-drawing muscles. (This is not to say the illustrations are child-like, but they are beautiful in their simplicity. A child can look at them and think, <i>oh! I bet I could draw a lovely daisy like that!</i>) A good portion of the text is hand-lettered, which helps to give it the feel of a nature journal as opposed to an informative text. My older boys have really enjoyed looking through this beautiful and detailed book and they've been doing quite a bit more of they own nature drawing as a result <3 I highly recommend this book as well as its companion <b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1Ubvaz0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Farm Anatomy: the Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life</a>.</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9kqFX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Small Adventures Journal: A Little Field Guide for Big Discoveries in Nature</a></i></span></span></h1>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1452136505/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1452136505&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=4NXAIDZXBTVN4FUT"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1452136505&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="278" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1452136505" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We gave Dominic this book to accompany the previous one. It's a sweet little nature journal, perfect for budding naturalists because it gently guides you through different kinds of nature walks and exploration. On one occasion you're encouraged to look for the smallest things, on another you're encouraged to look for the biggest, or to examine the sky, etc... and then to draw what you observe. It really is a little treasure of a book!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://amzn.to/1n9xQ5c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My First Book of Knots</a></i></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1629146544/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1629146544&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=56OJP6FQ7UO53OVB" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1629146544&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="290" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1629146544" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We gave this book to Dominic (along with <a href="http://amzn.to/1PQpvLB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this game</a>) at the suggestion of a friend. Everyone's been enjoying the game, and Dominic and my dad have had some fun working on different knots from the book. One day, out of the middle of nowhere, Dominic asked me, "Mom, do you know how to tie a sheepshank?" </span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So at least he's picking up some of the lingo ;)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0711232415/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0711232415&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=MXVRPPWTZZ55LL62" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Stick Book: Loads of Things You Can Make or Do with a Stick</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0711232415" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0711232415/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0711232415&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=MXVRPPWTZZ55LL62" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0711232415&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="281" /></a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0711232415" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565235207/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1565235207&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=EAZSFF2IIAB6D2V3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Big Book of Whittle Fun: 31 Simple Projects You Can Make with a Knife, Branches & Other Found Wood</i></b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565235207/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1565235207&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=EAZSFF2IIAB6D2V3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1565235207&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These books are kind of self explanatory, right? They both include lots of ideas and projects for boys that like to play with and whittle sticks. Your boys like to do that, right? Mine do. They often take our kitchen knives outside to whittle the bark off of twigs. Dominic got a proper pocket knife to go with these books so now he can practice his woodworking skills and I can not lose my mind trying to track down our knives around the backyard....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596434511/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596434511&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=56XYTL7ETVUM4U7J" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey</a></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1909263109/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1909263109&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=K32V56LKHYQNY6TP" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1909263109&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="320" width="258" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596434511/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596434511&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=56XYTL7ETVUM4U7J" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1596434511&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="320" width="224" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1596434511" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2013/03/we-unleashed-shackleton-on-them_22.html" target="_blank">We are an Ernest Shackleton loving family. </a> It wasn't intentional, but it turned out to be a Shackleton-heavy Christmas. The boys got these two books to add to the collection of picture books we have about Shack's antarctic adventure. <i>Shackleton's Journey </i>is perfect for kids that can process more information than in a children's picture book, and can sit still for more in depth readings, but aren't reading chapter books on their own yet. This book is a great read-aloud. It's jam packed with info, but it's the illustrations that really shine. Really, you must check it out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey </i>was fun for Aaron, as it's written like a graphic novel -- except it's not a novel. It's real life. And it's a total nail-biter. It's a great story to to use to prove that history makes for some amazing stories :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I said it was a very Shackleton-y Christmas. I got the DVD documentary </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009M4KSGG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009M4KSGG&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=GDLNXDAV4P4OCOMD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Endurance</a> </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">for Russ, as well as this <a href="http://www.topworldbooks.com/detail.aspx?s=25566" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shackleton's voyage t-shirt</a>. Nerds.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009M4KSGG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009M4KSGG&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=GDLNXDAV4P4OCOMD" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B009M4KSGG&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=ordinlovel-20" height="400" width="280" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not into documentaries? You could read the book by Alfred Lansing or listen to it on <a href="http://amzn.to/214OuQs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audible!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Living History Library </b>books from Bethlehem Books</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ok, to be fair, we haven't read any of these books yet, but I'm looking forward to digging into them with the boys. The titles we bought were<b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932350152/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1932350152&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=3NAX2ZDRC5JWZ4YF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Red Falcons of Tremoine</a>, <img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1932350152" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883937493/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1883937493&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=VBCQKHKVBUBRC3D5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">If All the Swords in England: A Story of Thomas Becket </a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1883937493" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>, and
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883937892/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1883937892&linkCode=as2&tag=ordinlovel-20&linkId=SY6MUCW3DUX2LL6T" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Big John's Secret</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ordinlovel-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1883937892" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>. I'm guessing that I'll have some sort of review or another once we read them ;) ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Believe it or not, there actually were <i>more </i>books, but I'm saving them for another post, because even book lovers can get long-book-list burnout :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have you or your kiddos read anything great lately?? </span><br />
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377582441405318696.post-57947081958797902612016-02-13T09:11:00.001-05:002016-02-13T09:13:15.494-05:00Blog? What Blog? (7 Quick Takes)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You practically forgot about me didn't you?!? I admit, it's been a while since I've been here. If have no good excuses either -- I just didn't feel like blogging. But I missed the friendships and conversation here and kept thinking about things that maybe <i>one day </i>I'd write about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm not sure that I'll be cranking out all kinds of new posts now that I've dipped my toes back into the waters, we shall see... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For now, my fingers could use a little exercise at the keyboard and I thought I'd hit you with a few quick takes on what I've been up to...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Revamping our homeschool schedule and introducing some new materials.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This has been a really great change for us these past five or six weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Last year James was still a morning napper and we were able to get our work done during his morning nap and then finish up the odds and ends during his afternoon nap. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This year, no morning napper + only one independent reader = near total implosion of the homeschool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I got sick of complaining to Russ that everyone needed more individual attention from me in the mornings when all our brains are fresh fresh fresh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Apparently Russ got sick of hearing me complain about it too ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He offered to keep the three younger kids out of the dining room from 7 - 8am three mornings a week so that I could get in <b><i>a whole hour's worth of lessons with the boys before he even left for work in the morning!!!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Isn't he the best?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our new routine is: Mondays and Wednesdays, we're up at 6 and Russ and I alternate going to 7am Mass (usually with one or two kids) while the other gets things ready for the big kids to leave the house for tutoring at 8.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, we're up at 6, I have a cup of coffee, take a shower, and do lessons with the boys from 7 to 8 while I have a second cup of coffee. (They alternate working with me and independently) Then after Russ leaves for work at 8, I have another cup of coffee (surprise, surprise) and eat my breakfast while I do lessons with Ruth (and James is *hopefully* being supervised by the big boys since they get a break then.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here's what it looks like from where I sit and do my thang...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boys have already had breakfast and done morning chores, so after they're done here, they get a break for about 1 or 2 hours!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">usually I finish all of Ruth's work with her in the morning (math, reading, and handwriting, as<br />
well as the homework she has for the Study Center)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This new schedule is - to say the least - AWESOME!! We get so much work done! And my children get the one on one time they need with me. It is <i>truly amazing</i> how much work you can do when you're not chasing a two year old around and up and down and over and out and behind and oops! It's been three hours and we've still only done one math equation........</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now three days a week are crazy productive, important things like reading and spelling are not falling through the cracks like they had been, and we all still get free time later in the day. Win - Win - Win.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We've also started using some new books and program after a mid-year review of sorts. The state of the homeschool was, um, shall we say, <i>lacking.</i> So it was with much excitement and gusto that I started Aaron on not one, but TWO new grammar books, as well as Wordly Wise for vocabulary. And Dominic is starting All About Reading this upcoming Monday as our final "push" to get him reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, that wasn't really a <i>quick </i>take, but I really wanted to tell you about it because I think these changes have literally saved us from self destruction :)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is a hint at what I've *really* been up to during my free time.<br />
And it is the sweetest evidence of a "100 Easy Lessons" child in the home <3 <3 </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I've still be crocheting. Obvi. That's probably the main reason I don't blog much anymore. If I could dictate blog posts into some sort of dictaphone-to-blog program <i>while </i>I crocheted, then maybe I could keep the cobwebs from collecting here. But as it is, I've been busy working on some projects for (maybe) reopening my Etsy shop as well as pieces of Ruth's blanket...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've got about 30 of these made... 12 left to go.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">AND I'VE BEEN MAKING POMPOMS!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Life is decidedly better now that I have a pompom maker and can just put perfectly puffy balls of yarn on anything I want.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hats for three sweet new little baby girls :)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And speaking of yarn...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here was a cute little ornament I made for my sister (and fellow crochet lover) for Christmas :) I just love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">James turned 2 last month! I could just go on and on about how much I love that kid (his singing!! ohh!!! <3 <3 <3) and about how much of a handful he is (his modern art with diaper cream and baby powder)... but <i>quick takes, </i>I know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">James thoroughly enjoyed his cake with sprinkles! And he even got some new toy cars that I "wrapped" by taking them out of their packaging and then putting them back into the brown Amazon box in which they arrived. It was very... celebratory. In a kind of <strike>distracted mom</strike> urban industrial sort of way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He's still not a talker, by any means, but more and more <i>we </i>know what he's saying, even if everyone else thinks he just said asldkfasldhfjopinrckjsdnfdsfsmcuh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Man, I love that kid!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was the first time that we've had a two year old and didn't also have a newborn or a newborn-coming-soon. It feels... different. Like maybe he was the<i> </i>last newborn and maybe there won't be any more two year old birthday parties here. Obviously I don't know for sure. Some days I'm sad about the prospect of no more babies to come. And some days I'm loving that prospect. But mostly James keeps me running so that there's little time for melancholic introspection on any subject, and of course we're open to life and we're planning to keep on loving the family we've got, so it's all good. (That's the best way to wrap up a topic when there's plenty more to say about it but this is not the time and you just need to shut it down. <i>It's all good</i>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(5)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dominic made his First Holy Communion and started altar serving!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The story starts back in early December when we had our pastor and parish seminarian over for dinner. During the course of the dinner, Father invited Dominic to start altar serving even though he hadn't received his First Communion yet. So the the Sunday before Christmas, Dominic went to speak to Father after Mass. Both the priest and I thought he was going to ask about when he could start serving, and instead he said, "Excuse me. When can I make my First Communion?" Our pastor said, "How about next week?" And so he did! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It truly was blessed circumstances!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(You can read about why I've been so happy that my children have (thus far) received their First Holy Communion at the regular Sunday morning Mass we attend<a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/07/dear-catholic-parishes-give-sacraments.html" target="_blank"> here</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And he's since been altar serving <3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I said that the school changes were the biggest changes around here lately. Not so, actually. Russ started a new job the Monday after Christmas. It's been a huge change. We had been praying about a change for him for well over two years, and when this new opportunity worked out (when many others hadn't) we thought it was the right move. It's been a rocky transition, and while we feel certain that we didn't make any changes lightly, it's hard to see that this was the right one while we're trying to navigate what it means for our family. There really have been so many changes, and most of them don't feel like good changes or "worth it" changes as this point. If you have a spare prayer to offer for Russ' peace in his new position, I'd truly appreciate it. I know he would too. I think the fact that we, along with many other friends and family members, have been praying for this situation for so long, keeps us believing that we made the right decision and now we just have to have faith (and patience!) that it will improve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I sure do love and appreciate this guy :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(so do the kids <3)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And finally, a few words about Lent. Here is my motto for the year:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Who needs a hair shirt when you can wear jeans? (Lent 2016)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of my Lenten penances this year is to wear jeans at least once a week.* </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Sheer torture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you know me in real life, and have seen me recently and I was wearing jeans, believe me, I was in appropriate Lenten agony. I just hid it. Because I didn't want to be like one of the pharisees and their phylacteries. Or the fasting hypocrites and their disfigured faces. Or whatever. You know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On Ash Wednesday the reading was "Rend your hearts, not your garments." Basically, God was talking to me, because if there's anything I want to do to a pair of jeans, it's rend them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">*I'm doing some other things like, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. So, don't worry ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">* * * * * *</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Friends, I've missed you! I hope you had a wonderful and fun-filled January. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I pray your have a blessed and transformative Lent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hopefully, I'll be back here again soon. But if you're on Instagram, that might be the best place to stay in touch with me. Quick and easy Instagram really lends itself to my busy life these days -- and I'm grateful to have that outlet to continue sharing little bits of this blessed and lovely life <3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Check out what other Quick Takers are chatting about this week over at <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/more-valentines-lead-loved-one-heaven/" target="_blank">This Ain't the Lyceum.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh, yeah! And I got to participate in a <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/spiritual-books-too-good-to-put-down-2-0/" target="_blank">spiritual reading recommendations</a> post that Kelly shared! Check that out too!</span></div>
Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440812661317797011noreply@blogger.com8