Adding a Baby to Your Homeschool Year

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I remember stressing last year, as my belly ever increased in size and the time drew near for Baby girl to be born. How would I juggle the itty bitty newborn-hood and preschooling my 4 year old at the same time? Thankfully my baby has been a very laid back one, and enjoys just watching her big brother. There were moments of difficult transition, but for the most part it went pretty smoothly. Now it's time to plan for an older baby/almost toddler to join our Kindergarten this year! Here is how I plan to do so...

Make them a part of your homeschool

When Baby girl was a newborn, this meant wrapping her up in a moby wrap and letting her nap while I taught my son. Now it is going to mean something different as she gets ready to start walking and discovering things in the school room (yikes!). I am trying to accommodate this by setting a boppy pillow lounger by our morning chair, so she can also be a part of our morning time. She may not last long enough to be involved in math and phonics, but she can join in the Morning Time of hymn singing, Bible reading, and the book we are reading. Here is how I am helping her stay in the room with us:

Have age appropriate items for them to use during 'school'

As she will go from being 9 months-18 months during the school year, I've set aside some items that she should enjoy that can be both entertaining and educational for her. I'm not much into the itty bitty 'school', and she won't be doing any traditional learning for a couple more years, but that doesn't mean she can't do things that will help her develop sensory, verbal, and motor skills! I've set aside a small area of Little Man's cube shelf to accommodate Baby Girl's items. Here are a few of the things that I've included:

Melissa and Doug chunky puzzles

Fisher Price Block sorter


Cloth and touch and feel books

Give yourself grace

Whether having a newborn that needs your undivided attention, or a older baby transitioning to toddlerhood that is having a meltdown-homeschool means that things can be flexible. I remember there were days when we had to wait until the afternoon to finish school, or scrambling to finish a project during nap time. Allow yourself to get out of the routine, if it means that everyone is able to get what they need. We do a 4 day schedule for that very reason! If something happens and we have to call it quits one of the days, there is always Friday to finish up all the things we were unable to do.


I know in a way I have it easy, as I only have the 2 little ones. Let me know, how do you juggle the itty bitty's and homeschool?

10 Activity Ideas to Have a Device Free Road Trip!

Ah, summer vacation! Pristine beaches, breathtaking mountains, hiking, swimming, whatever your end destination, there is first the road trip. I've always loved the journey to the destination, and then I had kids! 'Are we there yet?' 'I'm done playing with this toy' *sobbing* 'Mom I spilled all of my ________ on the carseat!!'
Over the past 5 years of being a mom, I've discovered a few ways of keeping my son entertained on the journey. A few of these suggestions are actually my sister's ideas, but I wanted to share them with you, today! If you're like me, and having an unplugged summer, you want the portable DVD player as a last resort. Hopefully these ideas will help you as you prepare for summer vacation! Here are 10 screen free ways to entertain your kids on the road:

Search and Find Books

Is my kid the only one who will look at a search and find book for a half hour or more? Since he was little he enjoyed books like this one Nickelodeon Paw Patrol - Look and Find - PI Kids and even some of the more advance ones. We probably have 5 or so search and find books and they are road trip essentials for us!


Felt Books

My sister made this one for my son. It has sandwhich making, buttoning flower petals, color popcicle stick sorting, and more! She found ideas on pinterest and DIY-ed it herself. If you are like me, and lazy don't have a lot of time, here is something you could buy already made:Melissa & Doug Soft Activity Book – Little Chef (Developmental Toys, Interactive Cloth Lift-the-Flap Baby Book, Machine Washable) It's a bit young now for my son, but the 2-4 age range would be perfect!

On the Go Color packs from the Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree normally has popular characters on these road trip ready packs! I normally pick up one or two every time I go to the store, as I don't go to the Dollar Tree often, and you never know when they will be out of stock of something. Speaking of Dollar Tree, here are a couple more things you can get from there to entertain your child.

Unwrapping through the States

Another sister idea, but when they went on a trip to Vermont, my sister fixed up a small gift for my younger siblings to unwrap for every state. It was normally something from the dollar tree. Perhaps a felt coloring page,  national geographic book to look at, adult coloring book (yes, they have all these at the Dollar tree!). When we traveled a couple of states away, we used a 'every hour' kind of a deal. We will do the same thing this year, since we are traveling several hours, but not leaving our state! For Little Man's age, little toys, craft packs, sticker scenes, and whiteboards are great things to unwrap!

State Printable

Another thing my sister would do once they reached a new state, is have a printout like this one. She would actually have my siblings do the printable before they opened up the gift. This provides entertainment, and education-win, win!

Water Wow

I've talked about these before, but they are great for church, trips, and basically anytime! Something I have noticed about these, though, is that the 'brushes' do wear out eventually and don't 'paint' as well as they used to. We have had them for over 2 years now, so I still think that it's worth the money. They are pretty inexpensive and come in all sorts of different themes. If your child is like mine, and eventually learns how to unscrew the brush, it's only a tiny amount of water that's spilled! I think I may get a new Water Wow for our trip this summer, since ours are getting a bit old. Here are some great ones to choose from! Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Under the Sea Reusable Water-Reveal Activity Pad, Chunky-Size Water Pen Melissa & Doug Water Coloring & Painting Book, (Water Wow Animal - On the Go Travel Activity)

Coloring Books

This may seem like a 'duh' one, but I am adding it so I can say that I recommend one that also has activities in it. Even though my son can't unscramble words yet, or do all the activities, he enjoys doing his own thing on those pages. It just adds some extra time to the activity, making it almost like a 2-in-1! Here is my son's favorite one (which I can sometimes find at the Dollar tree!) Paw Patrol Coloring Books - 2 Pack

Sticker Activities

You can normally find sticker scenes, or pads at the Dollar Tree, but I find that those can sometimes have stickers that are hard to get off. I am linking a Melissa and Doug activity pad, since they normally have higher quality products.Melissa & Doug Safari Puffy Sticker Play Set (Activity Pads, Reusable Puffy Sticker Play Set, Double-Sided Background, 42 Stickers)

Toys in a plastic container

This sounds very random, but my son has a small screwable container where he has a couple of hot-wheel cars, a couple of tiny figures (superhero, pawpatrol, etc.) and some plastic bugs...yep, bugs. He LOVES this thing. I used to keep categorized toys in a Ziploc and would give him one category at a time, but he will play with this little container for much, much longer! I have no idea why, but I thought I would share. I don't know if it's because he got to decorate it with his name and stickers, or that it is small enough to fit in his cup holder. I just don't know.


Magnet Tins

One like this-T.S. Shure Farm Magnetic Tin Playset is a great little person thing to play with. I will warn you though, you will not come home with the same number of pieces you started with! They seem to get everywhere! However, my son really enjoyed playing with this, and it can serve dual purpose, as it's a great quiet time or church activity as well.


Did I miss anything? What are some things you've found work well on road trips with kids?

Did you know I'm on Pinterest now? Go follow me there, where you can pin this and other ideas!

5 Ways to Have an Unplugged Summer

Some of my favorite summer memories growing up, were spent outside. I'm guessing kids do not register heat like adults do, because I do not remember it being so difficult to stay outside longer than 30 minutes during the summer, like it does now! I remember baseball games with my siblings, running through the sprinkler, cold watermelon on the front porch. I remember playing with my sister and cousins in my Memaw's front yard. We would climb trees, play 'house', and sit in her shaded front porch and drink ice cold water as a break. These are the kind of memories I want for my children, however, how many times do I hear 'what can I do now?' and 'Can I just watch something?'.

I am thankful we've never bought my son a tablet, so there is no weaning him off of it, but I've been convicted about the amount of other screen time that he gets. I know other mamma's struggle with kid's constantly wanting to play video games. Or feel how easy it is for screen time to be a go to. However, If you are like me, and would rather have more camping in homemade forts nights, than them playing Fortnite (see what I did there?) then read ahead on some ways you -and I- can have a unplugged summers, this year!

 1. You are the Parent!
Um, what? That isn't a way to be unplugged, is it? Y'all, the easy thing is to give in to your kid when they are bored. As parent's, though, we know that what is easy, isn't always what is best. If you want your kids to have an unplugged summer, then you will have to be the parent and limit devices and TV. I am not completely cutting TV this summer, but I am limiting it. You can do it too. Trade in those devices and TV for memories that will last!

2. Schedule and Routine
Having a plan is a way to set yourself up to win! I am not one to want to bog down the freedom of summer with a lot of set schedules, but having a routine can help things to be accomplished and plans to be executed. For my son, since he is little, I am creating a colored routine chart to help him know what comes next during the day. This way, instead of coming to me wanting to know what to do, he can go look at the chart and know what the plan is for the day.

3. Boredom Busters
I don't remember my mom having these when I was a kid. It was more, go play or I'll put you to work, kind of a thing. ha! However, Pinterest has so many cute activities and Ideas, that I want to add this category. You could have a 'make it Monday' and 'Take a trip Tuesday'. For us, this year, I am having a quiet time basket. Each week (or every couple of weeks) I'll have a themed basket filled with books, puzzles, and small activities (like lacing, water beads, coloring book, etc. ) that he can do while it is really hot outside. I've also included some colorful dollar store workbooks to help him remember what we studied during the school year. I may also look up some fun Pinterest activities to do a few days a week.

4. Family Game Time
Our game cabinet is full of board and card games that we only rarely play as a family. My son is nearing 5, and he is starting to catch on to games like UNO, Blockus, Sorry, ect. I am planning to have a set time (that might have been spent watch a show) to play games as a family. There is nothing like bonding(or fighting!) during a family card game!

5. Go Outside!
Buy that watermelon, have that spitting seed contest. Run through the sprinkler and let your kids have water fights. These are the moments you will never get back with your children. Be present in their lives. Since we teach by example, put down the phone (talking to myself here) and watch your children grow. Swimming lessons are great, art camps are fun, but simply spending time as a family can become the fond memories your children look back on for years to come.

Happy Summer!

Sharing Christ With Your Children

Satan wants your child. Scary, isn't it?! Thinking about how that the whole world is telling my kid what is right/wrong, how to think, how to act, it is important that my son knows where the real truth can be found. He is only 3 years old, so how do you start? How do you teach a young child to love and appreciate God's Word, so that as they get older, they have a solid foundation? How do you introduce them to the Creator, so that they will want a personal relationship with Him one day? I am sharing what my husband and I have been doing with our little boy, with the hopes that it will help you!

It Starts With You

As with most things that you want to teach your children, it begins with your example. Want your child to be kind? Be kind. Want your child to be respectful? Be respectful. So it is with starting a love for the Lord in your child's life. Want your child to love the Lord and read His Word? Love the Lord and read His Word. It can't be something you do sporadically or on a whim. Your kid knows when what you do is prioritized and genuine. A few practical ways to start this in your life:

• Read the Bible daily. Let your child see you pick up the Bible in the morning with your usual cup of coffee.  Show your child that you take time out of your busy day and put God first. I saw this done in my mom's life, and it impacted me in a big way. I knew my mom's love for the Lord was genuine, and a priority. 
• Listen to uplifting and worshipful music. Just like reading the Bible, this is something that won't just benefit your child's life, but yours as well! I can't tell you how many bad days became ones of joy because of the worshipful music I was listening to. I'm not saying that to sound spiritual, but to be open about how much music can change an attitude. 
• Make going to church, reading the Bible, and praying a joy and not a chore. Again, your child will always be able to tell when something is genuine. If going to church is just something you 'do' and not something you 'get to do' then it will be a chore and a bother for them as well. This is the tip I fall short of most often. I sometimes behave as if doing spiritual things is a check list, not a joyful pleasure. 

Read the Bible with your Child

For Little Man, we have a couple of Bible Story books we read with him each day. One is longer and more detailed that we do during preschool, and one is more simple that we do at night. Not much reasoning, besides I'm lazy to bring the book back and forth from room to room each day, but when we are done with preschool for the year, I want to graduate our night time reading to something a little more detailed. What you use, and when you use it is up to you, but it's good to get the basics down. The stories like David and Goliath, and Jonah and the Whale are great at this point. Once your child starts to get older, it's good to start on a plan that takes you through the Bible, so he/she gets a good understanding of the overarching story that God has written (if you decide to skip parts of Leviticus and the whole of Song of Solomon, I'm not judging at all! Even a few chapters in Judges can get interesting for little ones!). If you are a family with mixed littles and bigger kids, just be sure that you explain what you've read (good for big kids too!) so that way everyone understands.
We use the 1990's version of this Beginner Bible:

Teach Your Child to Memorize Scripture

It's never too early to start memorizing God's Word. Just think about the impact God's Word had on Timothy:

 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

What he knew from childhood impacted him as an adult. Because I was taught to memorize Scripture (to my mother's credit) when dark times, temptation, and even times of jubilation come,
I can worship God through recalling Scripture that I have learned. 

For young Children you can:

• Start Small: One sentence verses are great for ages 2-4
• Make up motions: This helps them remember
• Make it go to music: Another help with remembering
• Talk about what the verse means: Maybe they will understand, maybe they won't right away, but they will eventually!

So my encouragement to you is to start today! Set aside time with your child, preferably as a family, to read God's Word, talk about it, pray about it, and memorize it. You, as a parent, are a missionary to your child. What they see you do will shape how they view faith in God. I pray that through your example and teaching, they will come to know Christ and have a personal relationship with Him!

10 Signs Your Baby Has Become a Toddler

Wonder if you'll realize when your baby is no longer such a little baby and into the toddler stage? Here are some indicators you should watch for:

1.  You have a constant shadow every where you go. The kitchen, the laundry room,  the bathroom...everywhere.
2. Talking about pee pee and poo poo is a totally normal conversation.
3. Rejoicing when said pee pee or poo poo goes into the potty, and you lavish rewards (and your husband asks why he doesn't get those kinds of rewards! Ha!)
4. It's a normal day if you say 'Don't lick you shoe/floor!' and 'Don't eat that rock!' , but struggle with them eating green beans, or basically anything 'normal'.
5. When you hear The Flash, you don't think about the super hero, but your little one going from floor to the couch, to the TV all in one second.
6. Great ambitions, like coloring, painting, crafting, etc. never end up like you imagined. Your child is probably playing with the brushes and containers, and you are doing the craft.
7. Cleaning the house is a relative term. The cleaner the house gets, the messier it is. You cleaned out the dishwasher, and he/she has cleaned out their entire box of toys, and strewn out the basket of laundry that needs sorting all over the floor.
8. You have added many new words to your vocabulary, some which involve grunts, gestures, and weird throat noises.
9. You wonder how they can say 'mama' so many times in so few seconds.
10. You feel as if you are raising a teenager instead of a toddler. They are happy, then sad, then angry, then silly: in the same hour!

Does this make you nervous about your still non-mobile, precious baby turning into a toddler? Don't be! I have told many people that this stage is probably my favorite so far. They are always discovering new things and sounds. Even if the words 'pee pee' or 'poo poo' are in the sentence, at least you can now converse with your baby! My little man is amazing, and I am so thankful for getting to experience this stage in his life. He is able to reciprocate love back to me, and although that's not necessary for my love, it is a very nice bonus to motherhood! Here is one more toddlerism:

They give the absolute best hugs in the world!

What clues did you have that your baby had become a toddler?

Toddler Meal Ideas

This post will be what my son ate yesterday, with some additional ideas and tips. My son is a picky eater, which is no surprise since his dad and I were both picky eaters as children. I remember my mom used to make hamburger casserole and sneak in mixed veggies, so that I (and my other siblings) would eat veggies.

I was one of those moms. You know, the one that wouldn't let my kid eat sweets until his first birthday, licked the salt off the french fry before giving it to him so that he wouldn't be taking in too much sodium, made sure he got only breast milk before 6 months (a.k.a. first time mom), and even then watched what he ate. So you can imagine that the fact that my little one only wants to eat cookies and french fries is a bit sad. Thankfully he still nurses twice during the day and once at night, which ensures he is taking in some nutrients. I am not going to sit and lie and say that I only feed my kid healthy meals, but I hope to show you some 'real' meals that you can feed  a picky toddler.

Breakfast

Cream of Wheat sweetened with GoGo Squeeze fruit and veggies. 

Sneak attempt #1. My little man loves the little squeeze packs, so I use it to sweeten foods, and also as a side for when we are eating something that is questionably healthy. 

Other breakfast meal ideas: waffle/pancakes (I know, I know, not very healthy! My little man loves to 'dip' this in syrup, so I do feed this to him sometimes. I think it's all about balance.), oatmeal, yogurt and fruit. Remember to check yogurt to see how much sugar is in the cup. If you are trying to watch their sugar intake, get a yogurt with low sugar. Even better: buy plain yogurt, sweeten it yourself, and add fruit!

Leftover homemade Empanada with apple slices.

Lunch

Little man loves apple slices, so that's what I feed him. I have tried other fruits, and although he will eat some, this is very economical and good for him. Plus, I know he will eat it! Besides leftovers, here are some other lunch options: pb and j, cheese toast, cheese cubes and crackers, etc. with some fruit or veggie on the side.

Lima beans and whole wheat toast

Supper

In an attempt to 'keep it real', I will admit that about two or three beans were eaten, while the toast was gobbled up. Most nights, Little Man just eats whatever we are eating that evening. Not only does this put pressure on me to cook something healthy, but it also puts a variety of foods in front of my son. I do this in hopes that one day green beans will seem more appetizing!

What are some meals you feed your toddler? How do you sneak fruits/veggies in their meals? Would you like to see more posts like this, or do you have suggestions for other parenting topics? Let me know!