I saw this idea in Family Fun magazine–take a picture of your ghouls and jack-o-lanterns with a post it note over the flash. It turns the photo the color of the post it note! Having a light source (like the candle in the pumpkin) creates an additional fun effect!
Teach Me Mommy Preschool curriculum book September 8, 2008
A few years ago, when my first child was three, I started thinking about preschool. As a stay-at-home mom with a graduate student husband, a commercial preschool was out of the question. Besides, I wasn’t ready to send my little one away from home for the day. Some friends were starting one of the paid curriculum programs and I thought about it until I saw how much it was and realized that I could easily do that myself without the cost. However, it would have been time consuming to gather all the materials and to create all the lesson plans.
Fortunately, I came across a great book called Teach Me Mommy. It was put together by a mom for moms who wanted to teach their little ones. The lessons plans are simple to follow, the supplies needed are things you would have around the house anyway, and there is no need to pay monthly fees–just buy the book and use it for all your kids! There is minimal preparation for the lessons plans since everything is laid out in the book. I also use the lesson topics as ideas for lesson plans of my own.
A friend and I both bought the book and created our own preschool. First we went through the book and marked which lessons we would teach and who would teach them. We met two times a week and took field trips too. Our kids loved the interaction with each other and the special time with their moms.
One very memorable field trip we went to a dairy farm while learning about farm animals. We actually milked some cows, drank fresh milk, and watched the whole process of cow-to-milk pumps-to-pasteurization tank-to-collection in the big milk truck that took it to the factory. The farmers gave us some dairy memorabilia and we were off with a memory that we still laugh about.
I’m now starting preschool with my second child and excited to have this book with everything ready to go. I noticed that there are new resources on the Teach Me Mommy website and a new blog with ideas of activities to do with your child.
Check it out. I think you will like what you see.
Unique baby gift September 8, 2008
Looking for a unique baby gift to give a friend? Want something fun for your scrapbook? How about a letter from the President of the United States of America welcoming your new baby!
This is for real! I received a letter after my second baby and just requested a letter for my third. The only requirements are that you make the congratulatory request AFTER the baby is born and that the baby was born in the past 12 months. (There may be more rules, but these are probably the only ones you need to be aware of.)
To receive a congratulatory letter from the President for your baby, you will need to submit the following information:
1.Name and home address of baby
2.Baby’s birth date
3.Your name, daytime phone number, and your email address
Just go to this website:
https://app1.whitehouse.gov/greetings/baby
Notes:
*Let your husband know that you’ll be receiving a letter from the White House so he doesn’t get overly excited and rip open the letter in a non-scrapbook-friendly way.
*It takes about 6 weeks to get the letter after you have requested it.
*You can only submit one request per day, so don’t go too crazy!
Happy Pioneer Day! July 24, 2008
I’m so grateful for the many brave pioneer, both ancient and recent, in my life. To those who left their homes and countries to seek out a better life for their family and future posterity. And to those, like my father with my mother, who courageously blazed new trails in my life time. I am indebted to them and give them my respect and love.
So, how are you celebrating Pioneer day?
To honor those of the past, there are many fun activities! Here are a few ideas:
Make butter! Have the kids shake a pint of whipping cream until it sounds like there is something solid in there–it will be butter! Spread it on warm homemade bread.
Make stick horses! Using a dowel, a tube sock filled with batting, either large googley eyes or marker drawn eyes, and some yarn for the mane, put it all together and add a ribbon/bridle/reins. Glue the sock onto the stick for added stability.
Play some pioneer games–stick pulling, blindmans bluff, hopscotch, leapfrog, drop the handkerchief (like duck duck goose), three-legged race, gunnysack hopping race, jump rope, or tag. (Here are some more ideas)
Make a cornhusk doll.
Sing songs together.
Make a fun summer meal including corn-on-the-cob (let the kids husk the corn) and shelled peas.
Learn some survival techniques or camping skills. Better yet, go camping!
Have a campfire and tell stories!
(Here are some more ideas)
What are your ideas?
