Time to Putter

I was reminded of the importance of puttering time at home this Saturday morning when we were all wandering around lazily (R and I still in our pajamas).  I was feeling just a tad bit guilty for not planning something and making better use of our precious family time when I spotted something on the window.  It was a big green bug clinging there (from the outside)

Everybody gathered around and got a chance to examine this beautiful creature "safely" and up close. We all   seemed to notice something different- from his sticky feet to his interestingly scaled underbelly.  It was a gentle and enjoyable time, and it struck me again how that family togetherness often happens best organically.

I was glad we puttered that morning.

Travel Game: I Spy Treasure Bags

Well, we're back.  We lived a crazy three weeks visiting lots of relatives and friends up North, and now we're settling back in to our daily routine.  When I planned this trip I originally had all kinds of good intentions for making busy bags and learning activities to make the time pass like these magnetic puzzles or these fun marble maze bags.

But when it came right down to it, after all the packing and last minute errands I only ended up with about 15 minutes to spare for that kind of thing.  I tried to make the most of it, and in the end, I think we got very good mileage (no pun intended) for the time and effort spent.

I Spy Treasure Bags

First, I brainstormed to come up with a list of things that we were likely to see on our trip but that weren't too common.  Things like:

a moving train

a barn with a silo

horses

a suspension bridge

a car-carrying truck

45 speed limit sign

a school bus

something that said the word "Tennessee" on it

Then I did quick google image searches to find a picture for each item.  I printed off a large size of each picture and pasted them onto lunch bags.  I put treats inside of each bag.

I also cut and pasted all of the images in smaller version onto a single document.  I gave one paper to each girl to refer to as she looked out the window.  If she spotted one of the items she let us know and I found the bag with that picture on it.  Inside of each bag was a set of surprise treats for everyone.  Some of the bags had food treats (fruit leather, granola bars, etc).  Other bags had little toys or books.  

Since we were going to be on the road for almost three days straight, I waited until the second day to introduce the I Spy Bags.  It took the girls longer to spot the items that I thought it might, which ended up being just fine.  It spread the treats out over two days, and until the last item was spotted they always had something they could do.  

I think they noticed a lot more scenery than they might have otherwise, and learned a few things along the way.  (now they know what a suspension bridge is, for example!)

What other fun travel games or tips for road trips with kids have you tried or heard of lately?  On our next road trip, little J will likely be old enough to get restless and we'll have THREE fidgety kids on our hands!

Father's Day Mug for Kids to Make

There's an idea that's been floating around Pinterest these days that I've been curious about for a while- color a ceramic mug with sharpie and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

So simple and exciting if true- but it made me wonder why anyone would bother to buy real ceramic pens if a sharpie works just as well.

With such a fun idea though and all the materials already in our house...definitely worth a try.  First, I used a black sharpie to draw a bubble letter outline for "I Love Dad" on one side and a blank face on the other side of a plain white, ceramic cup.  I baked it at 350 for 30 minutes, waited for it to cool and let my preschooler use our colored sharpies to decorate.

  Back in the oven for another 30 minutes.

So what were the results from our little experiment?

1.  The marker does not smudge when it is handled.  It didn't even come off when we ran it through the dishwasher.

But-

2.  If you work at it with your fingernail or with a rough sponge, you can get some of the marker to rub off.    Rubbing alcohol erases it completely.

3.  I imagine ceramic pens work better and don't rub off, but for a child-made mug for Daddy I think the sharpie is just fine!

I looked it up, and it does seem that sharpies are non-toxic, but since they are not manufactured for use on food items, I think playing it safe and keeping the pen marks out of the inside of the mug and away from the rim might be a good idea.

Looking for more Father's Day ideas?  

Fill-in-the-blank Father's Day letter
10 Ideas for Building Memories on Father's Day
Daddy Banner

10 Reasons to be a Mom Blogger

A few weeks ago I wrote about all the pitfalls of being a children's activity blogger.   All those problems sort of beg the question: "Then why in the world spend so much time doing it?"

It has taken me longer than I expected to get around to writing this post because I really do struggle with blogging and deciding whether or not it is the best decision for my family.  But lately, it has felt like a good choice; so I figured I'd better go ahead and write the post before I change my mind.

Grandparent Game

Our family suffers from LDGS- that is, "Long-Distance Grandparent Syndrome"  :-) Both sets of grandparents live hundreds of miles away, and visits are only possible every once in a while.  Our kids are also the only grandchildren on either side; so of course, our parents do all they can to stay connected in between visits.

Skype and phone conversations help for sure.  My mother has also started a tradition of mailing pictures taken during her visits to the girls; so the girls have the fun of getting mail addressed to them in the mailbox, and they get to remember all the memories of their time together.

Recently,  my mother added a new twist to the pictures.  She taped an index card to the bottom of each one and wrote on it a little quiz question about the picture.  The answers were on the back and were self-checking according to the method described here.

M loved this activity- sat down and did the whole pile of them as soon as she opened the envelope.  G lost interest fairly quickly, partly, I think because she can't read yet, and so can't do it on her own.  But I think she was probably happy that my mother had made her a set of her own (she's a typical second-born in that being included in things is super important to her)

10 Reasons Why I Almost Quit Blogging

A little while back I found myself considering whether or not I wanted to continue being a children's activity blogger.  I've been at it for over four years now, and while it can be so so fun I have recently been visited by vague feelings of uncertainty about its value to me and my family.

Since it is difficult to know what to do with vague feelings I decided to spend about a`week reflecting on the pros and cons. The list I am sharing today is what I perceive to be the negative side of children's activity blogging.  I would love to hear  helpful hints on how other mommy bloggers counteract these aspects as well as thoughts about down sides that I may not have mentioned.

1.  Too much time on the computer.  There's, of course, the actual writing of the posts, but then once I'm there in front of the computer, it's easy to be tempted by all the other things (Facebook, Pinterest, etc.)  The internet can be so addicting!  If the development of self control is something I care about in my children it seems like I should at least model it. 

2.  Sometimes it is hard to be fully present in the activities I do with my children because I am distracted by trying to take good pictures.

3. Gravitation toward activities that blog well.  It's easy to want to pick activities that are photogenic, unique, and clever.  Those are not always the activities that happen to be best for my children.

4.  Temptation to only do an activity one time.  After all, you can really only blog about it once.  This happens despite my conviction that children often get the most benefit out of something once it becomes familiar and is deepened by repetition.

5.  Fun activities sometimes win over things like laundry.  Sometimes that's ok, but "more fun" is not always what my family needs.  They also need clean socks.

6.  Watching the comments, number of followers, and page hits on my blog sometimes turns my focus away from seeking the Lord's approval first and foremost.

7.  I'm finding that running an activity blog has meant that the time I spend with my children is sometimes over-structured. My intuition tells me that while there is a place for structured activities children also need parents to spend much child-directed time with them.  There need to be long stretches when the parent has the leisure to listen, thoughtfully observe, and to play in a carefree way.  Sometimes because of the blog I get impatient with this kind of thing and want to be accomplishing a goal- finishing an activity so I can write about it.

8.  There is a temptation to not allow an activity to evolve organically (related to number seven).  I usually have a goal in mind for the direction I want an activity to go, and I can sometimes bulldoze other ideas so that I can make sure it will happen "the right way."

For example, one day I noticed that there were several books open and turned upside down on the table.  I thought it would be cute for M to find her dollhouse dolls and put them under the open books and pretend that they were camping in tents. It looked very cute that way, and I was about to snap a picture and write a quick post on it, when M decided to flatten all the books and swirl them around the table to pretend they were boats (very not blog-worthy).  There was a part of me that didn't want to let her do that.

9.  Sometimes I fear that our steady stream of new activities will condition my children to not appreciate simple, classic pleasures. I don't want them to become dependent on novelty.

10.  I worry sometimes that readers of this blog might get the mistaken impression that I think that being a good mother is directly related to how many creative activities one does with one's children.  Motherhood is of course so much deeper than such an external thing.  I am especially concerned that I not give off that impression because I think that our culture is overemphasizes the external.  I would not like to contribute to that unhealthy imbalance.

At the end of my week of reflection I did decide to keep blogging for the time being.  I'll try to find a time next week to share what I feel are some of the positive aspects of blogging that for me make it worth it despite all of the potential pitfalls.

We've Become a Family of Five

After relatively easy delivery, little Baby J surprised us by unexpectedly ending up in the NICU for a few days. (We have a new appreciation for the strain on parents who have babies in the NICU for weeks or months!)

 We're happy to report though that he is home now and doing well. We're looking forward to settling down to our life together as a family of five.

Does anyone have any tips for making the transitioning to three children?  I've heard from some people that it can be quite an adjustment!

Family Evening with Pomegranates

Did you know that there are two ways to loosen the seeds from a pomegranate?  I didn't either until my husband came home the other night with two pomegranates and showed us all what to do.  We discovered that both methods are definitely fun for kids.

For both methods, you cut the pomegranate in half.  Then you either

1.  Pull each half apart into large pieces and submerge in water.  Little fingers can easily pull off the seeds this way.

or

2.  Turn each half upside down and whack with a heavy spoon so that the seeds fall off into a bowl.  Also fun!

Then of course, lay the seeds out on a plate so they can be admired, touched, and eaten.  I love how they glisten like jewels!

Giving Thanks During Preparation

In theory I love Thanksgiving.  But to be perfectly honest, the days and hours leading up to the Thanksgiving meal often find me busy and not terribly thankful (ironically, even a little irritable and grumpy).   This year we had our big meal on Wednesday; so today I decided to try to make a concerted effort to think thankful thoughts while I was making the meal and cleaning.  

I wasn't completely successful (there was that string cheese emergency, for example, when I had to quick eat a piece of string cheese before I bit my husband's head off) but there were some moments of reflective thankfulness.  And what was interesting to me was that I found new things to be thankful for that I probably would not have noticed before.

These were some of the new reasons I found to give thanks to the Lord:

1.  All the interesting textures God has made.  The firm but slightly spongey potato in my hand, the clammy turkey skin, etc. It really is beautiful and amazing.
2.  That none in my immediate family work retail.  We don't have the stress of Black Friday, etc. ahead of us.
3.  Ready access to so much meat when so much of the world struggles to get enough protein.
4.  No family food allergies that I have to work around in my meal preparation.  (What a huge thing that is!)
5.  That all this busyness comes from people.  I'm so glad I have people in my life for this Thanksgiving.  It would be hard to be alone.
6.  For convenience foods.  I feel a little strange being thankful for this because theoretically I'm a bigger fan of cooking from scratch, but what a luxury to be able to choose not to- when time is tight or when one just really doesn't care that much about a particular dish.  It's a boon to live in the age of Stovetop Stuffing!
7.  That if I stopped cooking and cleaning right now, we'd still eat better and in a nicer home than two thirds of the world.  Everything I am doing right now is over-the-top, luxury bonus.  ( Took a little of the pressure off, besides being a reason to be thankful).

Have you found new things to be thankful for this year- maybe things that you've had all along, but have just now struck you in a new way?

Thankful Tree with Pictures

I decided we would try to make a pictorial Thankful tree this year while the girls are little.  For the last few days, I've been asking them to think of things they are thankful for and then giving them the camera to take pictures of their answers.

Today I made a tree out of butcher paper and let them stick the leaves on the tree

 My favorite so far is this leaf.

M's first answer to what she was thankful for was "I'm thankful I have a sister."  I just about melted with the sweetness of it.  :-)

A Habit that Warms Children

Deliberately catching your child's eye and sending a kind, focused smile specifically to them.  

I remember reading once that children's evaluation of how physically attractive a person is centers largely around how much that person smiles.  Smiling at your children not only makes you prettier in their eyes, but it creates a special bond between you.  

Sometimes in the midst of dirty diapers and laundry and busyness smiling does not come naturally, but you can practice it as a discipline.  Be intentional about smiling at each of your children often, and it will change your outlook as well as delight your child.

Creative Storytelling with Kids: Volume Controller

I really would like to improve my personal storytelling skills. Seems like one of those things that good parents and grandparents from a hundred years ago really knew how to do well.

Nowadays, when there is easy access to soooo many good books, it's easy to just rely on those. It does seem though, that something magical is touched in a child's imagination when an adult looks them in the eyes and spins a tale just for them.

I thought this simple storytelling idea from Raising Creative Kids had a lot of potential. I'm not sure if I'll do it exactly as they describe it, but it definitely got my creative juices flowing on this topic.

"First, cut an arrow shape out of cardboard. Show it to your child and explain that it is a volume controller. As you point the arrow upward, the sound grows loud; as you point it downward, the sound grows soft.

Then, start telling a story about a storm that comes and goes, letting your child do the sound effects. As she makes the sounds of wind, falling rain, and thunder, use the arrow to signal the wind growing stronger and stronger, and the rain falling harder and harder and the thunder booming louder and louder (for added fun, switch a light on and off to represent lightning.)

Continue the story, using the arrow to indicate the dying sounds of the wind, rain, and thunder as the storm passes by and all is quiet again."

Ministry Idea for Young Children: Mercy Bags

At a conference I attended lately, some members of the audience were discussing how difficult it often is to find serving opportunities for young children. Many ministries have an age requirement for volunteering, and even when they don't make it official, little ones are often limited in the ways they can really be helpful.

One lady had an idea that I just loved. She said that she and her children put together plastic baggies full of non-perishable food and first aid supplies to give to the homeless people who solicit for money at the street corners. She just keeps a stash of the bags ready in her car and gives them when the opportunities present themselves.

Three things I love about this suggestion:

1. Here in Austin, just about every busy intersection has someone asking for money; so my children are very familiar with the need. Sometimes I've kind of cringed at the way we just keep driving when M looks sadly at the men and says, "They don't have very much money or food to eat." To her, it is very simple; I've wondered if not sharing in those situations plants little seeds of callousness.

2. You can make it as simple or involved as you want it. You can buy pocket versions of The Gospel of John for as low as 30 cents each to include in each bag or they could be as simple as a stick of beef jerky and a pack of gum. It's also great because you can fit the preparation into times that work well for your family.

3. Putting together the bags is something anyone can do- toddlers to adults! Family assembly lines are fun!

What other opportunities to serve have you discovered for your little ones?

Works for Me Wednesday!

10 Ideas for Creating a Sense of Family Heritage

Ever since I read Family Stories that Bind from Amanda of Not Just Cute, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.  Here is an excerpt from her article:

Researchers like Dr. Robyn Fivush are studying family narratives and the effects they have on children. What they’re finding is that the sharing of family stories and memories help as the children begin to build a sense of self and construct their own identities, and promote social and emotional well-being. From inspiring stories about great -grandparents finding their way through the Great Depression to the familiar tale of how Dad broke his collarbone while on his paper route, the act of sharing family stories shape who we are, our personal identities, and our connections. They help us bond with our families and find our place in the grander scheme of life.

In our "here and now," individualistic culture I think parents fill a deep need in their children when they deliberately help them see themselves as part of something bigger than they are- something that began long before they were born.  I  love the thought of connecting my children to the parts of their heritage that I would be particularly proud for them to carry on- like sacrificially serving the poor or a history of deep Christian faith .

One creative idea Amanda gave for connecting children to family members who have already passed on was to celebrate those relatives' birthdays by "sharing their stories, eating their favorite foods, or giving service to others as a way to honor them." I love it! She also suggests having pictures of ancestors around the house and being ready for the way they spark questions about the stories and legacies behind them.

I've been trying to brainstorm about other possible ways to connect children to their family past.  Here are some ideas:

1.  Keepsakes from relatives can be gifted to a child at a particularly meaningful time in his or her life.  I have a well-loved, well-marked Bible that was passed down from my grandmother to my mother to me.  I look forward to giving that to one of my children someday.

2.  Home decor that is symbolic of one's family history.  (e.g. a map or painting from the states one's grandparents lived or family tartan, crests, decor from one's country of origin)

3.  Older children can interview their grandparents and write up a report.

4.  Memory Books.  My mother-in-law was very proactive about giving her parents and in-laws a memory book like this one for them to fill out before they died.  I love that the questions in the book included a lot of memories about their parents and that my kids will get to inherit such a wonderful, multi-generational treasure.

5.  Family pilgrimages to childhood homes and places of significance to one's ancestors.  When I was about twelve it was neat to be able to visit some very old cemeteries in England with the headstones of dead ancestors with my father.

6.  Fill out family trees together and giving them a permanent place of display in one's home.

7.  Write a storybook with a human interest-type story from your family in it, and read it to your children.  For a long time, I have been meaning to write something like this describing our family's apartment fire.  I'll include pictures and copies of some of the letters we received during that time.  God worked in incredible ways through that incident, and it would be a shame if it were forgotten.

8.  Find out about unusual talents or hobbies from your family's past and teach them to one or more of your children.  One of my friends has a serious legacy of unicycle riding in her family.  I love this picture of the grandfather initiating his grandson into the tradition!

9.  Find natural ways to connect your children's good impulses with your family's history. e.g. "It's neat that you want to help the missionaries at our church by _______.  You know your Aunt So and So was a missionary to ______.  She would have been so proud to see you care so much."

10.  As a family join an organization in which one of your ancestors participated.  (e.g. many of the women on my in-laws side of the family belonged to the Daughters of the American Revolution)

 Please chime in with stories or ideas you've thought of or implemented with your family.  I'd love to hear them!

Works for Me Wednesday!

A 25 cent Birthday

You are looking at the entirety of our birthday presents to M for her 4th birthday this year.  There was a part of me that felt like a bad parent for only spending a quarter in the clearance aisle, but then seeing the enjoyment she derived from bopping those yo-yo globe balloons (which she had never seen before) made it feel like the right choice.

Sometimes simple pleasures are best- and more easily enjoyed when they aren't crowded.

Have you ever opted for a simple gift to a child and then been glad you did? What did you give? 

One Advantage/ Disadvantage of an Outdoor Easel

I came outside and found this...

Very happy campers- especially because it ended in running through the sprinkler.

A Lesson (Re) Learned on Father's Day

Well, today was Father's Day, and I tackled lots of  little projects to make it memorable and to try honor my wonderful husband.  I attempted so many  things though that I found myself stressed out and a little on the disagreeable side for most of the day.  Some Father's Day present- huh? :-)

Sometimes less definitely is more...a hard lesson for an idea person like me.   Whether it is planning a vacation, entertaining guests, or making dinner, in the end, I'm forced to admit that my family would be better off with a relaxed, happy me than with lots of interesting activities, foods, or presents.

So...if you didn't do that much for Father's Day this year and were feeling a little guilty, maybe wishing you had done more, be comforted:  at least you didn't run yourself ragged and consequently walk around with short nerves toward your poor husband on his special day.

Anybody else have to learn this lesson over and over again?

10 Ideas for Building Memories this Father's Day

I think Father's Day is tricky.  I always feel a little weird putting a lot of effort into making something cutesy with the kids when I know that a man's appreciation for that sort of thing only goes so far.  And then of course, gifts for men are notoriously difficult.  The kind of idea I do really like for Father's Day is the kind that makes a memory.  Traditions or meaningful time spent with Dad seem like they're really worth the extra effort. 
Here are 10 ideas for building  memories this Father's Day:

*****Spoiler Alert- If your initials are R.M and you love cheeseburgers do not read any further in this post unless you want to ruin a surprise or two *******

1.   Hold an annual competition between kids and their dad.  I love this idea from Make and Takes.  Every year Muriel comes up with a light-hearted contest between her kids and their father.  She even gives a trophy.

2.  A fill- in- the- blank Father's Day card for toddlers and preschoolers

3.  Make a slideshow with pictures of the kids and dad for everyone to watch together.

4.  Make this adorable necktie door wreath with your kids and hang it on the door every Father's Day.  


5. Have the kids help you make a treasure hunt for Dad Help them make clues for him to find his gifts. 

6.  Hold a taste- testing event.  Pick something that Dad really likes, and buy as many varieties of that as you can.  (chocolate ice cream, donuts, pickles, etc)  Let everyone taste the samples and decide on their favorites.  I think I might try this idea this year with white cheddar popcorn because R likes it so much- maybe even include a homemade version!)

7.  Write an annual letter to your children about a quality you really like in their father. 

8.  Print out fun father's day buttons like the ones you find here and here and take the kids around the house to hide the buttons in all kinds of surprising places for Dad to find on Father's Day (sock drawer, refrigerator, etc). Maybe a good idea for what to do while Dad takes a traditional Father's Day nap :-)

9.  With a dry erase marker draw a series of mustaches on your husband's bathroom mirror at the height of his face.  Include the message, "Happy Father's Day to One Classy Dad!"  In the morning call your kids in to have a look at their father with a mustache.

10.  The night before Father's Day have your children hang a room service menu on their father's door for breakfast the next day.  A fun twist to breakfast in bed!

What other simple or elaborate kinds of things have you done on Father's Day to make memories and spend quality time together as a family? 

Works for me Wednesday!

Things I Don't Do

I spend an awful lot of time on this blog writing about things I do in my home with my family. It occurred to me the other day that some people might get the impression that we do an awful lot. I think though that a stranger spending time in my house might be more struck by the things we don't do than with all our activities.

So...in the interest of honesty and openness, I decided to make a list of some of the surprising activities that don't go on in our home. Some of them are things I'm heartily ashamed of and hope to do better as time goes on, but there are other things in the list that I am content with. Their absence reflects our family values and I'm willing to risk criticism from others for the sake of the time, focus, and energy it buys me. There are also some items that lie somewhere in the middle

I've decided not to tell you which are which. You might be able to guess my feelings on a few, but something inside me makes me feel it is better not to tell. I think partly because it will give me the courage to be more open, but also because the purpose of this post is not to make you feel judged for what you decide is or is not important for your family. I would rather this post serve as a reminder that you don't HAVE to do everything the magazines and parenting books recommend. Also, I think it's nice to hear, just every once in a while, another voice admit they don't have it all together.

Some of the Things We Don't Do at our House:

1. Cook every night. We eat a lot of leftovers.

2. Spend time on holiday traditions that are not personally meaningful to us. It shocks a lot of people that we don't even put up a Christmas tree or set out Easter baskets.

3. Put away laundry right away. It often sits until it is a thoroughly wrinkled, schmushed blob.

4. Baby sign language.

5. Keep a well manicured lawn. In fact right now, because we are experiencing a drought our grass is crispy brown.

6. Bathe my children every day.

7. Keep up with the news.

8. Do many child enrichment activities outside the home. (Baby swim lessons, Kindermusic, library story times, etc)

9. Take great pains to avoid exposure to germs. We don't use a grocery cart seat cover, and I generally only disinfect very dirty things.

10. Keep up with all the latest child health studies.

11. Bake from scratch very frequently- Despite having a great bread machine and a mother who has taught me time and time again her secrets for wonderful pie crusts.

12. Sweep under my toddler's high chair after every meal - despite her less-than-neat habits.

13. Fold my children's dresser clothes. seriously. I hang up all of their dresses in the closet, but everything else ends up in the drawers exactly how I throw them.

14. Take my children to the doctor unless they are due for a check-up or are very, very sick.

Well, those are the things that come to mind...I know there are more. :-)

This post is part of Works for Me Wednesday.

If you have the inclination, I think I would be really interested to hear some of the things you don't do in your home (whether deliberately or not). Please share them in the comments section to give us all comfort and food for thought!

Everyday Life "Portraits"

I found this idea for creating personal "portraits" out of everyday life objects. I love the idea! This morning I gathered objects to make little portraits for M, G, and myself. They turned out only so-so, but it was a fun process.
Honestly, I enjoyed making the one for myself the most. Something about trying to artistically arrange the simple objects from my life into a pleasing collage felt profound and healthy. It was something of an exercise in thankfulness.

It might be neat to make these collages every couple of years as a unique kind of journal.Works form Me Wednesday