Top Five Post from 2020

#5--2020 Read Aloud List 

#4--Forever Hidden Review

#3--The Englisch Daughter Review 

#2--32 Indoor Toddler Activities 

#1--50+ Titles for Family Movie Night

Did you have a favorite?

52 Weeks of Gratitude Journal {Review}

  The Bible tells us, "In everything, give thanks."  What amazing wisdom that is!  Practicing gratitude trains us to focus on the blessings in our lives, and in turn, focus on the Lord.  With the start of a new year, what better time to develop the discipline of gratitude?  This journal is designed for just that... cultivating the habit of thankfulness and looking for the blessings all around us.  

  The 52 Weeks of Gratitude Journal is unlike any gratitude journal I've seen before.  Divided into four sections focusing on home, community, faith, and beauty, each week includes Scripture, a prompt for reflection, and action steps designed to take the reader even deeper.  There is also space in the back of the book to encourage quick daily gratitude.  52 Weeks of Gratitude is not dated and can be started at any time in the year.  And the quality is just amazing.  The photography is stunning and the paper is premium quality as well.  Part devotional, part journal, this 52 Weeks of Gratitude Journal would make a wonderful gift or just a special treat to encourage an attitude of thankfulness.  I look forward to using this one in 2021!

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this journal free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

 

Beautiful Girlhood {Review}

The world needs more young women comfortable in their faith and leading with boldness and grace.  The Lord has designed women to fill a special place in society, one uniquely theirs.  The world needs women (and men) who don't shy away from their own purposes, gifting, and destinies.  Beautiful Girlhood was written as a guide helping young women through these challenges of character building, handling disappointment, obedience, responsibilities, and more.  

This 100 year old book set for re-release sets out to usher young girls into womanhood.  While these quick chapters may have been useful in the early 1900's, they are clearly outdated today.  According to Hale's advice, girls should be meek and obedient, without any indication that they should also know their worth.  Other examples of its outdatedness are Hale's inferences that crime books should be off limits as well as being out in public.  Hale also speaks of a girl's need to know basic skills like cooking, cleaning, and homemaking.  And while I agree that these are skills all young people should know, there's no instruction in these areas or indication in how to grow in these skills.  

While I love the concept of a guidebook during this transition from girlhood to womanhood, this book is so clearly outdated that it's not worth the time or money to read it.  The ideas in Beautiful Girlhood are so repressive; they spoil the beauty of strong Biblical womanhood.  I cannot recommend this book in any capacity.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own. 

 

Constellation of the Deep {Review}

 

Fox loves nature, particularly interesting and unusual plant life.  So when Seagull tells him about the a special plant call the Constellation of the Deep, Fox knows he must see it for himself.  But although he discovers many wonders in his journey, this special treasure remains elusive.  Will Fox really find the Constellation of the Deep?

This beautifully illustrated book is whimsical and fun, while still sharing relevant information about plant life and nature study.  The names of coral, seaweed and underwater life is taught without feeling heavy and overwhelming.  And the adventurous story delighted both my children and myself.  It would make a sweet addition to bedtime or an ocean unit in homeschool.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Five Ways to Connect with Family at Christmastime

*Post originally published on 12/15/15.  Enjoy!

 The holidays can be a stressful time each year.  Traveling, consuming too much sugar, and generally not getting enough rest can make even the sanest person a little cranky.  Add on top the fact that we all want to connect with our families in meaningful ways.  Still it can be difficult to pull away from our already busy lives and make the time necessary to facilitate relationships.  Here are just a few ideas to help in pulling away from the busyness and connecting with family at Christmastime:

Limit the electronics--I'd like to say leave them at home entirely, but knowing the electronic world we live in, that's not always possible.  Sometimes I'll allow my kids to bring theirs if they'll be spending time with their cousins and I know they can connect and play a game together.  Other times, they are left in the car or at home if they're visiting Grandparents.  Know your location and who you'll be with and plan accordingly.  This goes for mom and dad as well.  The world will not end if messages are not checked every 5 minutes.

Mix up the age groups--Encourage your kids spend time with their grandparents.  Get on the floor and play with your nieces/nephews.  Share a joke with Uncle John.  Get everyone together and tell stories of Christmases past.  Look for opportunities to mix up the age groups and let them interact with each other.

Break out the board games--What better way to mix up the age groups than a board game.  Trivia games, apple to apples, and scattergories are great ones for getting everyone involved.  Playing games together really gets everyone to open up and relax.  And you'd be surprised what you might learn about each other when you're laughing.

Start a family tradition--The holidays are all about traditions.  Looking at Christmas lights, visiting a live nativity, having a baking day, or going to a Christmas play are all some of the traditions that thrive in our family.  Every year my kids look forward to these events and it gives us time to step away and really be together.  It's a memory that builds from year to year as the kids grow and reminds us how lucky we are to be together.

Give experience gifts--Give gifts of time and experience.  Take your grandmother out to tea.  Share a picnic at the park with your nephew.  Enjoy an afternoon at the movies with your aunt.  Spending time together is a much valued gift that can build on the relationship year round.

What are your favorite ways to connect with family at Christmastime?

The Amish Christmas Gift {Review}

 

Elsie Miller has a knack for picking up odd jobs.. and for loosing them.  In fact, it takes her less than a day to loose her job at the local market.  So when she's offered a job assisting a disabled neighbor, she has no choice, but to take it... even if it means spending her days with an old love.

Levi Wyse struggles under a heavy burden... supporting a crippled sister, grieving the loss of their family... and determined not to open his heart to love.  But when his sister hires Elsie as her assistant, Levi has to face his past all over.  Will their arrangement bring healing to old wounds?  Or will it end as all Elsie jobs do... in absolute chaos?

I always love picking up a sweet easy read in December.  With the busyness of the season, it's the perfect time to slow down with a light novel.  There were some elements of this book that were just that.  Amish Christmas Gift contains some wonderful moments of humor and whit, from the banter between Levi and Elsie to the introduction of George who speaks his mind and innocently bumbles into some interesting situations.  

However, there were certainly a few misses in this book for me.  The flirtatiousness of the two main characters was way out of touch with the mood of the book.  In one paragraph, Elsie and Levi would be living with the propriety of Amish culture and in the next paragraph, they would be opening throwing themselves at each other.  And Levi's thoughtlessness of others was drastically blown out of proportion to prove a point.  It was just all together completely unrealistic.  With these two issues and a few others, it was hard to get into the flow of reading this book.  It wasn't my favorite in this genre by far.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Read & Pray Through the Bible in a Year {Review}

I love this little devotional for soaking in Scripture through out the day.  I'm not a morning person so having my quiet times early in the day just doesn't work.  With this devotional though, I can read for a few minutes in the morning and still have content to go more in depth later in the day.  I love that this book provides Scripture for both mornings and evenings, and can be read in just a few minutes if necessary.  Each day provides a passage from both the Old and New Testaments, as well as readings from Psalms or Proverbs.  In addition to the Scriptures, this devotional also includes encouragement, prayers, and devotionals for each day, making it a nice blend of both.  This would make a sweet gift for the busy mom or anyone just starting their quiet time practice.

 

Awakening Wonder {Review}

 

Sally Clarkson's latest book, Awakening Wonder, deals with inspiring your children toward unlocking the beauty in learning.  She shares her personal experiences as a homeschooler in a deeply vulnerable way, sharing both the triumphs and the areas where she sometimes fell short.  Clarkson says she hopes that this book will be a help to all parents, but as a homeschooling mom, I will attest that it is sometimes hard to separate the two roles and this book comes off as directed more toward homeschoolers.  Still there is a lot to be gleaned from this book, including:

 

    *"What we need to do is provide them (children) with excellent food for thought as well as superior resources, giving them personal attention, asking questions, letting them ask questions, and providing lots of interactive time."

    *"Capturing their (children's) heart with an imagination of why character is important is our goal.  one who has grasped a vision for why character matters will be much more likely to pursue what is right than one who is just living by an arbitrary rule."

    *"Stick close to your teens; tell them how much you like them and try to mean it.  They will soon be entering an adult world filled with challenges, temptations, loneliness, work to master, and adult responsibility."

I have so many notes from this book; it would be impossible to include all of them.  Starting homeschool this fall has been a daunting task considering all that's happening in the world.  But I found Clarkson's book to be challenging and encouraging.  Her writing style feels like speaking with a gentle mentor and my biggest takeaway was a quiet reminder that parenting and homeschooling is a reflection of my own heart.  And it requires growth on my part in order to raise healthy, strong children.  For the homeschool mom needing an encouraging read,  Awakening Wonder should be on your to read list.

*Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

How We Teach: Artist Study

 

(Click on post for video)

Fall Reading List

 

(Click on post for video)

How We Teach: Music Appreciation

 

(Click on post for video)

How We Do Morning Basket ll Collab

 

(Click on post for video)

What We Read ll Aug 2020

 

(Click on post for video)

Our "One Thing" for the Homeschool Year ll 2020-21

 

(Click on post for video)

Homeschool Hack: "This Week" Priority List

 

(Click on post for video)

Homeschool Show and Tell: Planning the First Week

 

(Click on post for video)

2020 Family Nest Homeschool Planner Walk Through

 

(Click on post for video)

What We Read ll July 2020

 

(Click on post for video)

The Perfect Portable Homeschool Planner ll from A Plan in Place

 

(Click on post for video)

2020-21 Read Alouds for Our Homeschool Year

 

(Click on post for video)

July Goals ll Parenting, Marriage, Homemaking, and More!

 

(Click on post for video)

Unafraid {Review}

Traveling through life, it can often feel like we're doing it all alone.  But God is with us every step the way.  This Unafraid devotional features more than 120 readings along with prayers and Scripture selections encouraging readers to develop a personal one on one time with the creator.  The readings focuse on finding peace in your relationship with the Lord and developing an unwavering courage to face life.

2020 has been a year of challenges and unpredectible events.  It's been a year where fear has run rampant.  If there's ever been a time that we've needed courage, it's today.  While reading through this devotional, I was reminded that fear doesn't come from the Lord.  The author keeps pointing it all back to God and how He walks with us through every situation.  This devotional was a timely and encouraging read. 

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

2019-2020 Homeschool Favorites

 

(Click on post for video)

Summer Reading List

 

(Click on post for video)

How I Zone Clean with Kids

 

(Click on post for video)

Our 2020 Summer Bucket List

June is here and the temperatures are rising.  The kids and I sat down to work out our summer bucket list and discovered this summer is going to be unlike any we've ever experienced.  Although we're still hoping to do lots of swimming, a lot of our outside activities have been cancelled.  That challenged us to get creative and think of some simpler ideas to keep us busy over the summer.  In case you're looking for ideas to help your kids stay busy, here's what we have planned:

Play with Perler Beads
Go on Bike Rides
Play in Sprinklers
Slip N Slide
Have a Talent Show
Learn some ASL
Watch the sun rise
Go to the beach
Hike Crystal Creek Falls
Tie Dye T-Shirts
Go hiking
Hike Whiskeytown Falls
Start Sourdough
Star Gaze
Watch Fireworks
Read Vanderbeeks of 141st St
Go to Icee Shack
Make Homemade Ice Cream
Make Bead and Bell Wind Chimes
Rainbow Loom bracelets
Butterfly Origami
National Geographic Heads Up
Geocaching
Start a Baking Business
Make Friendship Bracelets
Learn some Digital Photography
Attend Online VBS
Practice Multiplication
Build a Solar Oven
Visit a Splash Pad
Have a Water Fight
Go to the Lake
Sew Felt Friends
Make Amish Friendship Bread
Read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Paint a Rainbow Tree
Complete the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading
Make Safety Pin Bracelets
Take Swim Lessons
Have a Picnic at the Dam
Roll Candles
Make Origami Stars
Read Letter from Rifka
Go Camping
Work on  Creative Kids Cooking Challenge
Make Sugar Cone Parafaits
Do an Egg Drop
Review the Books of the Bible
Go Fishing
Complete the Library Summer Reading
Paint Rocks

What would you add to the list?

June Goals ll parenting, homemaking, marriage and more!

 

(Click on post for video)

What We Read ll May 2020

 

(Click on post for video)

Ocean Anatomy {Review]

Julia Rothman's Anatomy series takes a deep dive with this latest addition: Ocean Anatomy.  From the shoreline, to the layers of the ocean, to all its various inhabitants, Ocean Anatomy takes its readers on a delightful journey of discovery.  A wonderful mix of colorful illustrations, informational diagrams, and engaging content, Rothman's newest book has something for everyone.

I've never had the privilege of owning one of Rothman's books so I wasn't sure what to expect.  But Ocean Anatomy blew away any preconceived ideas I had.  Although marketed as a children's book, this latest additional would surely appeal to audiences of all ages.  The informational goes beyond introductory without being overwhelming, and the illustrations are a mix of whimsy and scientific accuracy.  This would make a wonderful addition to any home library, with particular appeal to homeschooling families.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Homeschool Summer Learning Plans

 

(Click on post for video)

What We Read ll April 2020

 

(Click on post for video)

Teaching Shakespeare in the Elementary Years

 

(Click on post for video)

Writing Wild {Review}

In this book, author Kathryn Aalto celebrates 25 women writers who have contributed to our understanding of the natural world.  Scholars, conservationists, essay writers, explorers and more... each of these women have added to our connection with nature in their own unique ways through hundreds of years of history.  Part biography, part travel essay, Writing Wild guides the reader through the lives of these writers and the legacy they left behind, and encourages the next generation of women to continue.

Writing Wild introduced me to a whole new genre.   Many of these female writers were new to me, although some I'd met in history before.  Still Aalto does a wonderful job of adding the details needed to see them as whole women and their unique place in literature.  Aalto does a wonderful job of introducing the environment in which each of these writers would have been immersed.  She takes the reader on a journey of highlighting each woman's contributions to history while allowing their own voices to shine through.  Writing Wild would make a delightful read for anyone interested in women's history, or environmental issues.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.  

Accordionly {Review}

Accordionly is the story of a little boy who loves and celebrates his culture.  His Abuelo plays an accordion in a mariachi band and his Opa plays the accordion in a polka band.  This little boys loves to hear his grandfathers play, but when the grandparents are together, they don't know how to communicate.  Can the little boy teach them to connect without words?

This sweet picture book is all about music, family, and communicating from the heart.  At the end of the day, the two grandfathers are more alike than different and it's music that brings them together.  I loved the focus on mixed culture, as well as the colorful illustrations.  This would make a fun read aloud book for the preschool years.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

What I Eat in a Day ll Portion Fix

 

(Click on post for video)

What We Read ll March 2020

 

(Click on post for video)

Gold Rush Girl {Review}

Adventurous Victoria Blaisdell sees her chance for a new life when her father decides to sail to California in search of gold.  Disguised as a boy, Tori boards the boat and hides until they are well on their way.  Upon arriving in California, she realizes that she may have left Rhode Island, but her father's idea of who she is still remains.  As he leaves for the gold fields, Tori is left to mind her brother and keep house, once again.  Determined to have her own adventure, Victoria finds a job and quickly makes herself at home in San Francisco.  But one night her younger brother doesn't return.  Rumors of kidnappers quickly follow.  Tori and her friends are left with no choice, but to find him on their own.  Will Victoria rise to the occasion as a heroine?  

Set during the Gold Rush of 1894, Gold Rush Girl is filled with details and adventure that quickly draw the reader in.  There is so much to like about this book.  Tori is a strong female character.  She embraces the unknown and refuses to be underestimated.  She's a good friend and empathetic toward others.  Further more, she becomes aware of her own shortcomings.  Not in a way that belittles her strong character, but rather supplies depth to who she is and shows the even with shortcomings, the reader doesn't need to back down.  But rather grow.  All this wrapped into one and set during one of the most exciting times in history?  Yep, Gold Rush Girl definitely deserves a read... and a second... and a third.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Being Known {Review}

Being Known is the story of Jennalyn, a mother of two grieving the loss of her own mom.  Her husband, Joel, is struggling to balance family and a start up business, leaving Jennalyn lost in a sea of emotions.  An unexpected encounter with an old flame also has her feeling confused and vulnerable.  Although committed to her marriage, Jennalyn finds her heart quickly entangled.  Can Joel and Jennalyn find their way back to each other before it's too late?

The second book in the Haven Makers series, Being Known follows the group of five women... supporting each other through the ups and downs of life.  Unlike the first book (Becoming Us), this book follows the life of a new character.  The other four women have storylines in this book as well, but all are secondary to Jennalyn and Joel's life, allowing the reader to know them better.  Their struggle and emotions feel authentic, and it's easy to fall in love with the characters.

My biggest struggle with Being Known is that the issues are too easily resolved.  Although Jennalyn's struggle with her emotions is very real, once she and Jowl communicate these issues seem to melt away almost too nicely.  Being Known is a nice light read for a relaxing weekend.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

50+ Titles for Family Movie Night

For years, our family has done a weekly Family Movie Night.  This tradition started back when we had littles and my husband working nights.  Every Friday morning when he'd get off work, he'd take a couple hour nap and then try to readjust his internal clock for the weekend.  By Fridays, I was also tired of chasing two very active littles and just needed a moment where we were all sitting down together.  Thus our Friday night tradition was born.  Over the years, the kids have come to know the routine... always homemade pizza, always popcorn, and a movie for us all to enjoy.  Having a wide range of ages, it can be tough to find something that appeals to everyone, but the following is a list of 50+ parent approved movies for early elementary (some lower) on up through middle school.  As always use your own judgment based on your family values, but we've found this list to be mostly clean and suitable for those ages.  Enjoy!

*The Adventures of Milo and Otis
*Adventures of the Wilderness Family
*Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea
*The Aristocats
*Babe
*Because of Winn-Dixie
*The Black Stallion
*Cheaper by the Dozen (old and new)
*City of Ember
*Cool Runnings
*Daddy Day Care
*Enchanted
*Finding Nemo
*Frozen
*The Game Plan
*Girl of the Limber-lost
*The Greatest Showman
*Gus
*Heidi
*The Herbie Movies
*High School Musical
*The Incredible Journey
*The Invention of Hugo Cabret
*Little Women
*The Mandie Movies
*Mary Poppins
*Moana
*Mr. Popper's Penguins
*My Big Fat Greek Wedding
*Night at the Museum
*Nim's Island
*The Parent Trap (old is our favorite)
*Pippi Longstockings
*The Queen of Katwe
*Ratatouille
*Return to Me
*Robin Hood (Disney)
*Sarah, Plain and Tall
*The Secret Garden
*Secretariat
*The Sign of the Beaver
*The Silver Skates
*The Original Star Wars
*Sound of Music
*Snowball Express
*Stuart Little
*The Swiss Family Robinson
*Tangled
*The Ugly Duschund
*We Bought a Zoo (some mild language)
*Wizard of Oz
*Wonder
*Yours, Mine, and Ours (old and new)

What would you add to the list?

Spring Reading List

 

(Click on post for video)

32 Indoor Toddler Activities

*Originally posted on 1/13/16. Reposted to be helpful while we're all quarantined.  Enjoy!

Winter is in full swing.  And with that comes, cold weather.  Even in a mild climate like where we live, this particular winter has been bitterly cold. So with this colder weather, we are spending more time indoors and I'm looking for more ways to entertain and wear out my kiddo.  If you're in the same boat, there are just a few ideas for indoor activities:

*Take out the cookie cutters and playdoh--Don't put those Christmas cookie cutters away just yet.  Mix up a batch of homemade playdoh and see what kind of creations you can make.

*Have a dance party--The temperatures are cool so warm up with a dance party.  Turn on some Pandora and wiggle away the giggles, grumpies, or energy.

*Play Hullabaloo--We love Hullabaloo.  It's a great game for getting out some energy, developing listening skills, playing together.

*Do some marble painting--Marble painting is a great way to mix it up.  Make sure you're supervising with the marbles, but this can be a really fun one for any afternoon.

*Play with sensory bins--There are so many sensory bin ideas out there.  We've loved scented rice and the animals in the ice bins.  There are plenty to keep your toddler busy.

*Make a tent under the table--Throw some blankets over the dinning room table to create a tent, reading nock, cave, or submarine.  Use your imagination and see where it takes you.

*Do some water painting--Water painting really is a skill and can take time to develop.  Take some time to teach your toddler how to add the water and mix colors on the paper to create some lovely masterpieces.

*Thread pasta or pony beads--Threading pasta or beads is great for hand-eye coordination.  Pasta can easily be dyed and pony beads can be found at most dollar stores.

*Have tea time with your stuffed animals--Tea, juice, or even water can be made fun when combined with the idea of a tea party.  Serve some finger foods and add stuffed animals and you've got yourself a party.

*Make leaf prints--Whether leafs, pine needles or flower, go on a nature hunt for your supplies and return home to do some prints.  You can combine nature ideas that make a ton of different designs and prints.

*Create shadow puppets--When the sun peaks out from behind the clouds, be ready to make some shadow puppets.  Either on the walls or if it warms up a bit, make some in the driveway and trace with sidewalk chalk.

*Make lunch together--Kids love being in the kitchen.  It's a great way to learn listening skills, measurements, hand-eye coordination, and so much more.  Budget in a little extra time and get your kids in the kitchen with you.

*Go "swimming" in the bathtub--Find some fishy toys from the toy box, put on a bathing suit, and let your kids kick away in the bathtub.

*Make cookies--Back in the kitchen, why not let your kiddos help you make some cookies?  It's always a treat when Mommy lets you bake AND eat cookies.

*Use Daubbers on a white board--Invest in a new set of color daubbers and let your little one get creating.  Small white boards can often be found at the $ spot in Target or Dollar Tree.

*Go on an alphabet hunt--Whether in your home or neighborhood, print out the ABC's for your child and go on a hunt.  Whenever they spot a letter, let them cross it off their list.  It's a great way to improve letter recognition and sounds.

*Create an obstacle course--Obstacle courses can be as simple or elaborate as you want.  Use footstools, dining room chairs, pillows, and couch cushions to create a fun obstacle course to wear them out.

*Make a balance beam--Use a roll of masking tape to create an inexpensive balance beam.  Great for coordination and balance.  Once they master balance, try walking backwards, chasses, or ski jumps.

*Play with balloons--Blow up some balloons and see how long you can keep it up in the air.  Hit it back and forth, toss it to each other or create paddles with paper plates.

*Thread straws--Cut some plastic straws and thread with string.  Another great hand eye coordination activity.

*Draw and create yourself--Find a small handheld mirror and challenge your child to draw what they see.  Do you have long or short hair?  Blue or green eyes?  How is the face shaped?  What's on top: the eyes or mouth?

*Practice with scissors--Pull out a piece of scratch paper and start with straight lines.  Then draw curvy lines, circles, or letters.  Sit patiently with them and allow them to practice their scissor skills.

*Do a puzzle-- Puzzles are great for expanding vocabulary, hand eye coordination and time spent together.  Toddler puzzles can easily be found used or at the dollar store.

*Discover new ways to paint: Q-tips, cotton balls, toy cars, etc--There are so many new ways to paint.  Look around your home and you'll be surprised what you'll find.

*String fruit loops--Another low cost threading activity, stringing fruit loops can not only be great for coordination, but provide a fun treat afterwards.

*Play with oobleck--Oobleck is a fun homemade substance that is once liquid and then a solid.  It's fun to run through your fingers and squish around. 

*Drive cars through shaving cream--Find an inexpensive bottle of shaving cream and a few hot wheels cars.  Spray some shaving cream on the table and let the kids drive their cars through.  Easily cleaned up.

*Glue beans on letters-- Draw out a block letter and glue beans, pebbles, and pasta to fill in.  A great activity for learning letters, pairing upper and lower case and learning letter sounds.

*Have a "car wash" in the kitchen sink--Run a sink of warm water, provide some rags, and those hot wheel cars and create a car wash.

*Finger paint--Who can say no to finger painting?  Even as a mom, I love this one.  Use some blank paper for imaginations to run wild or if your child is nervous getting started, tear a page out of a Dollar Store coloring book.

*Make bean noise makers--Staple together a couple of paper plates and fill in with dried beans to create fun, inexpensive noise makers.  Decorate the outside with crayons, markers, and stickers.

*Create a one-man band--Look around your home for musical instruments, including the noise makers you just made.  Can your child come up with a fun beat or creative lyrics?  March around the house singing your new songs.

What about you?

What are your creative ideas for indoor toddler play?





Our March Morning Basket

 

(Click on post for video)

Winter Homeschool Favorites ll Winter 2020

 

(Click on post for video)

March Goals ll Homeschool Mom of Three

 

(Click on post for video)

What We Read ll Feb 2020

(Click on Post for Video)

Winter Reading List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwgl_... The Englisch Daughter: https://creative2xmom.blogspot.com/20... Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑18yrs led to 👱14 yrs, 👧12 yrs, and 👱 8 yrs. Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

Our February Morning Basket

(Click on Post for Video)

Sharing the books and ideas in our May Morning Baskets. Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑18yrs led to 👱14 yrs, 👧12 yrs, and 👱 8 yrs. Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

The Englisch Daughter {Review}

Husband and wife, Roy and Jemima, have weathered the storm and come out stronger.  Or so it would seem.  After Roy recovers from a devastating accident, the two start to pull their lives back together.  But as time goes on, Roy begins behaving stranger than ever.  Till one day Jemima discovers that her life savings, meant to buy a food truck and start a business, has mysteriously disappeared.  And that's only the tip of the giant secret Roy has been keeping from her.

Can Jemima recover from this betrayal in order to love an innocent child?  And can Roy begin to unravel the mystery of what truly happened?  Or will the two simply find this secret to be too much?

A long time Cindy Woodsmall fan, I was excited to read this newest novel written in partnership with Erin Woodsmall.  These two have collaborated in recent years and written some incredible books.  The Englisch Daughter follows the tale of a man riddled with guilt and a family fraying at the seams. At times, I wanted to scream at both Roy and Jemima, begging them to see what was happening.  Raw and real, this novel takes a hard look at the work, and the rewards, of marriage.  And the grit required to find, and bring out, the best in each other.  An entirely different storyline than I've ever seen in Amish fiction and satisfyingly good to the very end.  If you enjoy this genre, The Englisch Daughter ranks right up there with one of the best I've read.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

February Goals ll Mom of Three

(Click on Post for Video)

Vlogger fail.... forgot to post this one... Hope you enjoy! Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑18yrs led to 👱14 yrs, 👧12 yrs, and 👱 8 yrs. Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

What We Read ll Jan 2020

 

(Click on post for video)

My Winter Reading List ll Jan 2020

(Click on Post for Video)

So excited to share my Winter Reading List for 2020! Too many good books, too little time. Click "show more" for links and details! Forever Hidden (Review): Coming Soon! Join The Creative2xmom Family on their journey of being a family of 5! 💑18yrs led to 👱14 yrs, 👧12 yrs, and 👱 8 yrs. Contact us for business inquiries, reviews and collaborations: BethAnn_97@hotmail.com C O N N E C T subscribe at http://www.youtube.com/creative2xmom read at http://www.creative2xmom.blogspot.com like me on http://www.facebook.com/creative2xmom follow me on https://www.instagram.com/creative2xmom/ FTC DISCLOSURE: This video is not sponsored.

I'm Back! ll Where has Creative2xmom been?

(Click on post for video)

Forever Hidden {Review]

At 23 years old, Hayvn Powell lives an enchanted life in Nome, Alaska.  Supported by her loving mother and grandfather, Hayvn and her sisters have grown into a trio of strong women.  All seems ideal, until a mysterious illness strikes her grandfather, leaving the family looking for a way to hang on to their livelihood.

An unknown gentleman arrives to keep the farm running, but the girls uncover documents that may prove him less than noble.   With grandfather and then their mother both falling ill, the girls must search out the truth amidst a sea of secrets and romance.  Before they lose everything.  

Another wonderful read by Peterson and Woodhouse.  The authors of The Heart of Alaska series return to a familiar setting and place this story in the 1900's gold rush.  Melding history and romance, they write a cast of well-rounded characters, each unique and distinct in their own right.  Forever Hidden also includes the rich details of both the gold rush period and Alaska itself that make it an interesting read.

While some aspects of the story were predictable, others were not.  And some characters that seem flat later came to life, providing twists and turns throughout the story.  For anyone that loves historical Christian reads, Forever Hidden will not disappoint.  The only problem is... now I'm anxiously awaiting book #2.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

2020 Read Aloud List

Journey to Jo'Burg

Snow Treasure

The Whipping Boy

Call it Courage

The Family Under the Bridge

Caddie Woodlawn

The Vanderbeeks of 141 Street

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Letters from Rifka

Number the Stars

The Chestry Oak

Homer Price

What are you adding to your read aloud list?

Top Ten Posts of 2019

Our First & Second Grade Reading List

Our 2019 Summer Bucket List

What's In Our May Morning Basket?

What's In My Kids' Easter Baskets ll 2019

Baby Registry Items 

January Morning Basket Ideas for Younger and Older Kids

Our 2018-2019 Homeschool Year End Update

7 Winter Nature Study Ideas

Ten Tips for Planning a Stress Free Disneyland Vacation 

Top Five Parenting Books that Shaped Me as a Parent 

Personal Favorites:

Five Ways to Add Fun to Your Homeschool

Be the Best Version of You ll Ten Affirmations to Live By

Ten Things We Don't Do In Our Homeschool

Nature Based Picture Books

What were some of your favorites?