Tag: Kids

Friday Faves: My Shape Is Sam by Amanda Jackson, Illustrated by Lydia Nichols

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My Shape Is Sam by Amanda Jackson, Illustrated by Lydia Nichols

Happy Friday everyone! I have SUCH a special treat to share with you today! I am so excited! My Shape Is Sam by Amanda Jackson is a truly wonderful book. Sam is a square who lives in a place where each shape has a job. He’s a sturdy stacker, but longs to roll like the circles. One day he rolls and continues to roll til his edges smooth out. (There is so much detail that went into this book, even the corners of the pages are rounded!) He loves it, but the other shapes aren’t sure what to think. He follows his heart and when asked what his shape is, he says my “Shape is Sam”. It’s a book about being different and wanting to follow your heart and true self. With wonderful illustrations by Lydia Nichols, this book teaches kids about shapes and shows them that being different is okay. What a great lesson that can be applied to many different aspects of life! I finished reading this to my kids and they immediately asked for me to read it again. It’s new to the shelves so please check it out! Happy reading everyone!

Apprehension and the Unknown

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As parents, we try to make the best decisions for our family. We research, ask around, and follow our instincts that tell us what will work best. But, we don’t always know how it will work out. I’m in one of those positions today. My son is attending his second year of preschool, but because of our family’s schedule, he’ll be in the afternoon class. As I sit here I’m wondering if this was the best choice. Will he have the energy he needs? Will he meet new friends, since everyone else stayed in the morning classes? I know I’m worrying unnecessarily, but it’s what I do!

Life is like that. Nothing is certain or comes with directions when raising kids. Yes, there are valuable books out there, but nothing that pertains to your exact situation, or the personality of your child. We just need to trust ourselves that we’re doing our best, and the best for our children. So to all of those parents who are wondering and worrying, I’m right there with you. What are you worried about?

How to Catch the Pond Shark

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Our adventure today takes place at our neighborhood pond. See, a few days ago, my son and I were riding our bikes back from school, and happened to glance at our pond. (Which we do from time to time.) There, sticking out of the water, was a dorsal fin! “What!?” I exclaimed. I called my son over to look at this “fish” for I have never seen anything like it before. Sure enough, he saw the fin sticking out and then the fish took his tail and splashed it around, creating huge ripples. Dear friends, that is the day we laid eyes on the Pond Shark.

It was with great anticipation that we waited for the weekend to come. Could we catch it? How big would it be? These and many other questions filled our heads, waiting to be answered. Finally, the day had come and our troop trecked over to our pond.

I scanned the pond, trying to see if the Pond Shark was wading on the top anywhere. He’s a sneaky one, staying under the water for now. My husband, kids and I baited our hooks (ok, let’s be honest, I did no such thing. It’s awful! My lovely husband does all of that. I just get to cast and then watch our kids reel in their catches.) The fish were biting today! Our kids caught SO many fish! My mother-in-law even joined us and she caught her first fish ever! It was a very eventful day.

I know you’re all wondering, did we catch the Pond Shark? Sadly my friends, we did not. BUT, that just means I’ve got my eye out for him. I’ll be watching the pond on our bike rides, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Til next fishing trip.

Watching Football With Kids

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Free craft to keep them busy!

Happy Saturday everyone and welcome to FOOTBALL SEASON!!!! We are just a little excited about it over here! The weather is absolutely perfect, overcast with a cool breeze, really makes it feel like Fall. If you’re parents with young kids you may be thinking, how are we going to watch the game? I hear ya. Getting to watch anything with kids is sometimes impossible! They need attention, or food, or a new diaper, or want to play, or are getting in a fight with an older sibling. It can be rough!

I wanted to share a website with you that has these really great FREE printable playdoh mats. My kids love playdoh! I found these mats last year and the kids really got into it. You can let them add beads, leaves, flower petals and any nature the gather from outside. Let them be creative! Will this keep them occupied through the whole game…..um no. But it could allow you a little viewing time. Because let’s be real, kids cannot be occupied for 4 hours straight without parent intervention.

What you need to do is google : picklebums playdoh mats. It will bring up the page with lots of free options to print. I tried to do a direct link, but because the post is a few years old, it wouldn’t work. But you can still find it really easy, just like I did today. One tip is to laminate them, which I didn’t, but instead used a clear photo album page and slid the play doh mat inside. I hope this helps and……GO BUCKS!

Learn to swerve

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Hi everyone! Here in the mid-west it’s raining and in the mid 60s…it feels like fall! I have to admit, I do love a rainy day. It’s an opportunity to cozy up, slow down just a bit, because let’s be honest, you can’t exactly run in the rain. (Well, I guess you COULD but would you really want to?) You can still be super productive, but there’s an ease to the day. It’s almost as if you have to have realistic expectations since you can only get so much done. Extra errands become less necessary. I’ve already rearranged my day because the thought of taking my youngest in and out of the car to various stores in the rain just seems ridiculous.

Life is like that sometimes. We have a set plan for our day or week and then something unexpected happens and we have to adjust. It is in this adjustment that we can either succeed with grace, or fail. I worked as a nurse for 16 years, and I’d go into the unit with my set plan and mindset for the day. Which is funny because the minute I entered my first patient’s room that all changed. I HAD to adjust to my patients, to their expectations, fears, disappointments, successes, or regressions. You prepare yourself as much as you can for your day, then see it shift once it starts.

This shifting occurs all the time as a parent! I’m actually laughing at myself because there have been mornings when I’ve gotten up extra early, got ready head to toe, and have lunches packed all before my kids wake up. Once their feet make it downstairs, any of my preparedness is out the window, blown away by the storm that is children. It’s not all bad, it’s just that they are people too, with THEIR own agenda and THEIR own internal schedule. They aren’t robots set to obey all commands.

So today, be kind to yourself. Life doesn’t go to our specific plan. If it does, consider yourself lucky! But if you’re like the rest of us, remember that it’s going to be okay. Let the rain come, bring your umbrella, and shift when you need to!

Monarch Caterpillar Rescue Part 2!

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Two at their new home

My husband and kids found more milkweed not far from us. We gently gathered the caterpillars into our bug jars, (a big thanks to Aunt Alaina who got jars for our kids) and placed a few milk weed leaves inside to tide them over….. they’re super hungry! Judging by the size of the large ones, I’d say they’re maybe a day or so away from forming a chrysalis. The small ones need to continue to eat for about 5 more days before they’re ready.

We took the caterpillars out of the jars and placed them on the milkweed leaves. My kids loved helping the caterpillars onto the leaves! They were so gentle and even cheered the future butterflies on in attaching to their new home.

My husband found a milkweed seed pod and once we got home, him and the kids spread the seeds. It literally opens up and look likes cotton or white dandelion fluff. Hopefully soon we’ll have more milkweed and be able to provide a home to future monarch caterpillars. I’m thrilled we got to help nature today and go on an adventure as a family! Simple and beautiful, what a day!

Monarch Caterpillar Rescue!

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Here’s two of eight! Aren’t they stunning!?

Oh my goodness, I am so excited right now! In our backyard, we have 8 monarch caterpillars! It’s unbelievable! My husband planted milkweed specifically to attract monarchs and it worked! It worked too well because it also attracted deer, which have eaten most of our milkweed! Milkweed is the only thing that monarch caterpillars eat and where monarch butterflies lay their eggs. So now, my kids are on a creature rescue, as inspired by The Wild Kratts. (If you don’t know who the Wild Kratts are, I urge you to check out their show on PBS…it’s FANTASTIC, my kids LOVE it.) They’re on a neighborhood hunt with my husband for milkweed. Once found, we’re going to transport the caterpillars to their new home. I’ll keep you posted! Enjoy your day!

Friday Faves

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Happy Friday everyone! We made it! (Insert celebration dance here!) I have a super cute book to share with you today. Ally-Saurus and the Very Bossy Monster by Richard Torrey is a book about Ally (who refers to her self as Ally-saurus) and her friends who have a great time playing in their shared world of make believe. That is, until Maddie comes along and starts telling everyone the “new rules” she has just made up. It’s a delightful story that gently teaches kids about bossiness and the need to respect each other and our differences. A great message, with cute and unique illustrations makes this book my pick for the week. Enjoy!

    Checkered flag

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    You’ve made it, it’s the end of the night! Congratulations! Confetti is being tossed, you’re getting the little ones up to bed for bath, teeth brushing and stories. You hear the roar of the crowd cheering you on with each step as you march up towards the bedtime routine. The end is in sight and you can almost feel yourself sinking into your couch to relax, and possibly even watch a show that doesn’t include cartoons! You can do this!

    And that’s when it happens. It’s either because they’ve had a long day and don’t have the energy to behave and listen. Or, they really do want to stay up with you because they love you, and being around you that much. Or, as I’ve realized just recently, they just don’t want to listen. Well, isn’t that just awesome? No, no it is not. It’s so awful that right before bed things can fall apart. A time, where in my mind, should be spent lovingly cuddling my sweet children and reading them a story before they fall fast asleep.

    Alas, it happens and instead of seeing the checkered flag, I start waving a white flag, surrendering to a less than peaceful end to my night. But tomorrow is another day, and another chance to get it right, or closer to right than the night before.