1) Time Around the Table Every Morning
Every morning, we start out with a cleared off table. By the end of our homeschool Morning Time, it looks like this - or worse!
But it's worth it for the discussions we have, the creativity it encourages, and the different worlds and periods or history we are transported to through story. (I think kids listen better when their hands are busy, so I always encourage the kids to draw, color, sew, or build while I read aloud.)
2) Going to the Ninja Warrior-like Trampoline Park
Things I learned:
- I will not be trying out for American Ninja Warrior. It might look cool on TV, but um, looks can be deceiving.
- I do not like taking risks. At all. One attempt at the warped wall was more than enough for me.
- My post-kid bladder does not mix well with trampolines.
3) This Adorable Coloring Page
Did you see this adult coloring page printable that CreativLEI made? I just love it… Even though it feels a little weird to have colored my own quote and then have it displayed on my fridge!
(You can print your own at CreativLEI.com.)
4) A Mommy-Daughter Date to the Mall
Kathrynne and I went on a Mommy-Daughter Date last week for her birthday. We went to the LEGO store, of course. Because this girl can never have too many LEGOs. And as long as she keeps them neat and organized and uses them to build cool Puzzle Boxes and other contraptions, I'm all about supporting this hobby of hers.
She decided to hit up the Pick a Brick section because that's "the best use of your money" at the LEGO store, she tells me. You fill up a canister for $15, and I totally cracked up while watching her carefully fill each and every nook and cranny of her canister to make the money go as far as possible. She's so like me in so many ways!!
We also went to the candy store where I found this. It gives a whole new meaning to, "I only ate one."
Now I will always feel cheated out when I eat a regular-sized Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
(You may be surprised to know I used incredible self-control and put this baby back on the shelf… Only because it was $19.99 and I'm cheap and practical like that.)
5) Our New Creative Writing Program
One of my goals for 2016 was to go through a creative writing course with the kids this year. Many of you asked which one I'd chosen and, after some research and looking at a lot of different options, I chose Story Starters by Karen Andreola.
We're two weeks in and we are just loving this book. It's not only a great way to teach creative writing and practice handwriting skills, but the we're having a lot of fun with it.
(It's written from a very Charlotte Mason-style approach, so if that's that your thing/style, it's probably not a good fit for you. Me? I'm all over Charlotte Mason - which is why we adore so many, many aspects of the Sonlight curriculum.)
Bonus: A Girls' Weekend with MacKenzie
I had a very, very fun gift of getting to spend the weekend in Washington State with MacKenzie from Bold Turquoise. It was such a treat, such a refreshing time, and such a reminder of why it's important to make friendships a priority. (You can watch the Periscope broadcast we recorded while we were together here.)
5 things you should know about this picture:
1) We were standing by this gold rhino… Only we could not, for the life of us, get a selfie that showed our faces and the rhino at the same time. You'd think two bloggers could possibly do better than that, but nope.
2) We are like two peas in a pod. We like so much of the same stuff, we think so much the same way, and we even seem to pick out similar clothes! Except MacKenzie drinks DECAF coffee. I mean, seriously. I don't even know how to deal with that sort of travesty.
3) We thought we both looked similar in age (we're only three years different in age!), but when we went to get manis and pedis, the lady asked if it was a Mother-Daughter outing. We both instantly replied in a very appalled manner, "Which one of us looks like the MOM?!?!?"
4) We had planned to take more pictures of our weekend, but we were so preoccupied with sharing our hearts and getting to know one another on a deeper level that we kept forgetting! #fail
5) We are so grateful to both of our husbands for the many sacrifices they made for this Girls' Weekend to be possible for the two of us. We both came away feeling so refreshed and renewed and re-energized.
What are YOU loving this week?
