Corduroy Lesson #1

We decided to kick off our Corduroy lesson by going to.....

Build-a-Bear!  I like hands-on learning, so I decided that we would go and build our own "Corduroy" so he could have a tangible thing to look at while he was reading the story.  Our Corduroy looks a bit different since he doesn't have green overalls, but he does have overalls and underwear on (that's from potty training).  We would have had a lot more accessories if I hadn't have reigned B in from his clothes collection.  He didn't want Corduroy to have "his overalls" and "his undies."  I kept having to explain to him that those clothes wouldn't fit him!

Caught the heart and put it in the bear before they closed it.

Catching the heart

Every bear needs a bath

Getting a good scrub

Overalls and undies...and so many more possibilities!





B has really enjoyed Corduroy. Corduroy has been on the tractor, driven in the car with Baby M and has slept beside B. He has to show everyone Corduroy's overalls and undies! It was definitely a fun way to start our lesson.

Book Review: Thank You God, for Mommy

This book is so cute and both of my kids seemed to enjoy this book.  My 2-year-old loved the pictures and the panda bears.  As the mother, I found the artwork to be great and very eye-catching.  The artist did a great job making the pictures appealing to children.

As for the book, it was so sweet!  Of course, I'm a bit partial since I am a mom and I think my kids should thank God for me just as I thank God for them!  The book has a baby panda thanking God for his mom, saying that he could never find a better mom if he had looked everywhere for a better mom.  Then he lists the reasons why he is so thankful for his mother, from being patient when he makes a mess, for kissing his boo-boos, , for her caring and sharing, for her hugs and kisses and so much more.

I like to get B a special book for his birthday that expresses our love for him.  I'm holding off on giving him this book until his birthday, because it reminds me of how much I love him and hopefully one day, how much he will love his own children.  Definitely a cute book for children and moms!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

School Days

Many of you know that we are planning on homeschooling our kids.  We are very excited about it.  Well, actually Daddy T is a little nervous about me teaching B math.  That's why I've designated Daddy T as the math teacher!  Anyway, so many people that I know are homeschooling, which will be great because we'll have a lot of people around to learn with and to gain resources from.

A lady at my home church recommended a book program to a friend of mine (Beka) who is homeschooling her 2/4 kids.  Beka recommended it to me as something she wished that she had used to start with her oldest.  Since I have loved everything that Beka has recommended to me so far, I decided to check it out.  It's a program called Five In A Row.  We are doing the Before Five In a Row for children ages 2-4.  I have meant to start earlier, but with the house stuff going on, I just haven't.  Now that our schedule is starting to calm down a bit, I have planned and prepared our lesson plans and have started them this past week.  I'll share our daily plans (hopefully) on this blog.  We've had a lot of fun doing it so far and B asks for school.  He enjoys it and it doesn't take long at all.  It does create lots of memories and wonderful conversations, though. 

I'm excited to see him grow through this and then to start Five In a Row after this.  Our first lesson is using the book Corduroy.  I can't wait to show you what we did to kick off this book!

Sunny Days

I am so glad that a childhood friend of mine lives in the same place as us.  Jewels has grown up with me since they came to our church for her dad to be the pastor.  We have found ourselves living only miles apart now that we are married and with kids, too.  It's wonderful!  Her son, miracle E, and B are great friends.  Baby M and little C have the same temperment and we hardly recognize that they are there.  The 2 bigger boys keep us on our toes! 

We have been trying to meet once a week, especially since it has been so nice outside.  We've gone to parks, had picnics and have let the boys be boys, which entails rock throwing, getting muddy, running, and wrestling!  Needless to say, both boy sleep GREAT when we get them home!  This past week, Jewels and I met at a park and fed the ducks and threw rocks in the lake.  They loved it!  We sat for over and hour talking while they threw rocks.  Previously, we played on the playground and had a picnic.  They ate fast because they wanted to get to the ducks!

We had to keep the boys from throwing the rocks that hit the ducks.  Fortunately, the ducks were fast and the boys didn't have great aim. 

I'm so thankful that God has placed Jewels in my life.  She is such an encouragement to me when I feel like I'm getting nowhere with B or when I'm beyond frustrated!  It's great to know that she's in the same boat, too, with the same frustrations.  We like to bounce ideas off each other and talk about all that God is doing in our lives, which is a lot for both of us.  Thanks, Jewels, for your friendship!  I love that we have been friends for such an incredibly long time.  And how funny is it that our husbands went to school together and are from the same area?!  Small world.

Book Review: Becoming a Woman of Simplicity by Cynthia Heald

I absolutely enjoyed this Bible Study book.  I have found it to be perfect timing with my two little kiddos  because I am a person who likes to do it all and forget that I don't have to do it all.  Cynthia Heald provides great reminders that we are a society that likes to go, go, go, and go some more.  That's not always good.  What suffers when we're always going?  Usually, it's our family and our relationships.  This book has been going right along with God has been speaking to me lately about being intentional. 

My favorite chapter was the first one where she was talking about abiding .  She says "abiding is not an activity; it's a lifestyle."  Is He my everything?  Is my day centered around Him where not only my children see Him, but others that are around me? 

Each chapter is fairly short and I was able to complete it in a day.  However, I tended to break it up a little because it was so good and I wanted to dwell on certain points more and really focus on certain things during a week.  This is a great study that could be done alone or in a small group setting.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: Springtiime of the Spirit by Maureen Lang

I have never read any books by Maureen Lang, but I'm glad to say that will now change.  She is such a great author!  I wasn't for sure whether or not I would like this book at first because I don't typically like fictional books based on war.  However, she did a great job of drawing me into reading page after page.

The book is based in Germany in 1918.  The war has finally ended, but there's not a lot to be happy about due to what all has gone on during the war.  When Christophe returns from fighting in the war for his country of Germany, he is upset to find that his country is now fighting each other within the country.  However, once he has returned, a family friend has asked for his assistance to fetch his daughter and bring her home safely to him.  The last thing Christophe had on his mind was falling in love with Annaliese, the lady he was to safely return.  She's outspoken in the political scene to give women, and those working, a voice in the new government in Munich.  She's not thrilled that Christophe has to bring her home and isn't afraid to let him know that.

While falling in love, they have to face the fact that their beliefs are different.  Communism enters the stage and they both have to decide how they feel about it.  Will Annaliese abandon her faith for a system of beliefs that she's not for sure she really understands or can follow through with?
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This book was received by Tyndale Publishers free for my review of this book.  I did not have any stipulations as to what my review must say.

Words I Love

The sweetest words that I love to hear from this little boy is "Mommy, I love you too much!"  I think somehow he decided to change "so" to "too."  That's okay because I love it.  However, I quickly tell him, "B, you know what?  I love you too much, too, and I always will!"  Then I get those sweet kisses and bear hugs and I'm reminded that there's no greater job on this earth for me than being a mommy to my sweet (and not-so-sweet at times) kiddos.  I'm so thankful that I am able to be with my kids the majority of the time and watch them grow up and make lots of memories.  Sometimes in the midst of the everyday, mundane tasks, I forget that this is a gift to me from God so I need to cherish the days even when I think I'm going to pull my hair out.  They won't last forever.  Or so I tell myself!:)

What? Jump on the Bed?! Okay!

The song "Three Little Monkey's" is NOT a song to use when teaching your child NOT to jump on a bed!  We had a friend's son over to play and all these boys heard were "Three little monkeys jumping on the bed."  They turned deaf ears to "no more jumping on the bed."  In fact, when "one fell off," they would take turns falling off the bed and "bumping" their heads.  I'm going to piggyback that song with more appropriate lyrics.  Perhaps it'll be titled "If Mommy Catches Me Jumping on the Bed..."

By the way, when I caught them doing this, I had to take the video because it was too funny.  I did supervise them and there were thankfully no new bumps or bruises.

Baby M

This baby truly is this happy.  Well, until her brother gets her in a headlock or thinks that she would rather lay on the floor instead of sitting up.  Poor girl will never get the chance to crawl because he takes that as she needs to be flattened on the floor!  Other than that, she's usually all smiles.

Birthdays and Horses

I'm so excited to have found what we are going to be doing for B's 3rd birthday.  I would have done it for his 2nd, but I could find a place that let you ride horses.  Now, thanks to a friend who had her son's party here, I'm thrilled to be able to celebrate B's birthday on a ranch, hopefully!  The next best would be a farm, but something tells me that a group of toddlers roaming a cow pasture isn't such a great idea!

At Little Cowboy's birthday party, we were able to throw rocks in the pond (which was up the alley of EVERY single boy!) and then they got to "ride" and "rope" the bull while sitting on a horse.  I told Daddy T he needed to construct a simple horse out of a barrel.  It provided hours of fun for all of the kids.  We were amazed.  Then they brought out what EVERY. SINGLE. CHILD. was looking forward to the most.  The horses.  There were 2 horses and a pony for the kids to ride. 

B wanted to ride, but didn't want to wear the helmet.  The lady working gave us the idea of putting a cowboy hat under the helmet so he didn't feel it.  Worked like magic!  We got to lead the horse around the pond, which was fun.  The first time, it stepped on Daddy T's toes.  By the time I got it, all it wanted to do was eat!  I'd love to find riding lessons for him if he stays interested in horses and farms.  We'll see!  One day, we're taking him to a rodeo.  He'd love it.  I think Pop also has a tractor pull lined up for him to watch once he's potty trained.

Thanks Little Cowboy for such a wonderful birthday party!  B asked to be put to bed last night!

Oh...and while we were walking toward to the barn to go potty in the outhouse by the barn, B said "we go pee in the barn?"  I told him "no" and that we were going to potty in the other building.  He said "Pop lets me go pee in the barn."  Thanks, Dad.  At least it's not the porch, yet.