I Spy . . .

12 Things Western . . .

This is another one of my Tools For Tots which I believe originated at Her Cup Overfloweth.

I used a small VOSS water bottle, rice, & cowboy trinkets from Hobby Lobby. I made 2 little cards for spying hints. One for the big kids using verbs & adjectives & another for the Mustangs using letters & rhyming. EX. "I Spy Something Prickly. I Spy Something You Wear. I Spy 2 things that begin with H. I Spy something that rhymes with BAT."

I can't wait to make more. We love these!

Takin' It TO GO

I've decided to start making a Homeschool TO GO Bag for my Outlaws.

Since we've started school there has not been one week that we weren't on the go at least once during times we'd normally be doing school. This year I have committed to living what we are reading. One of the appeals to homeschooling is the opportunities for my kids to visit the places we read about, see the animals we study, experience what we are learning . . . That is all great, but I'm finding that with counseling one day, field trip another, & enrichment classes on Fridays (*not to mention any doctor's appointments) we are in the car often.

There are also the times at church where I'd like for my Mustangs to have something to quietly play with during service. Usually, after I've gotten my crew ready I'm so scatter brained that I forget all the extras & necessities :)

I also like the idea of mini units, but don't want to schedule them into our daily routine. I tend to ignore them though.

My inspiration for this came from HERE then I saw THESE tote bags & decided to make it a go - A TO GO BAG!!

I'm even considering making this a blog carnival! What do you think? Are you interested?

I will be posting my first TO GO BAG on Friday.

Dirty Diapers!

"What do you do with them when they are dirty?"

. . . Has been a popular question, followed by looks of disgust.

I'm sure there are more complicated detailed washing routines suggested, but I try to keep things simple:

1. My wetbag hangs alongside my crib
My crib is more of a changing/nap station because my babies sleep with me at night.

2. When I change my Lil' Buckaroo I toss the dirty diaper (both kinds) in the wetbag.

3. I toss the load into the wash when the bag is full (usually every 2-3 days).

4. I wash with dreft & put vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser.

5. I only have a cold water cycle (another unfinished project courtesy of Big Daddy) so hot water is not an option for me, but I do set the cycle on "Heavy Duty" & add an extra rinse.

6. Usually I throw them in the dryer after rinsing; however, I try to hang them on the clothesline at least once a month. This is a fantastic way to kill bacterias, rid odor (which I have not had a problem with), & remove staining.



Some tips I've discovered along the way:

1. Use "detergents" NOT soaps!! - Make sure your laundry detergent is not soap based.

2. An extra rinse cycle is good because diapers are designed to retain liquids; however, soaps repel liquids so it is a great way to try to rinse any remaining soap which will eventually cause your diapers to leak.

Isn't it soooo gross? What do you do when he poops?
No, it doesn't stink & no, it isn't any more disgusting than changing a disposable diaper. I'm nursing so I have yet to encounter solids, but I am a mother of 4 boys -it couldn't possibly be any worse than what I encountered with house breaking potty training the Mustangs. I literally do the same thing with cloth as I did with disposable. I just bundle them up, only I wash them instead of tossing them. Not a big deal at all.

Doesn't it stink?
Well, I must admit, I have a very weak since of smell (hits how I can stay married to Big Daddy) but even with that said, the wetbag is in my room, not zipped & no one complains. There is a piece of fabric sewn into the bag to add essential oils (tea tree or lavender) to cut bad odor, but I haven't had to use this yet.

I do the same when we are out. I have a small wetbag that I throw into my diaper bag & if I change a diaper I toss it into there & empty it into the larger one when we get home. *I change lots of diapers in the front seat of my suburban & I will add that the blinker knob makes a mighty fine wetbag hook :)

If you are considering diapering, please don't let the cleaning process discourage you or limiting you to a diaper service who picks your type of diaper for you. There are way too many cute diapers out there to cover your babies hiney in for that!

Rock My Rockin C Button!!

On my left sidebar you will now find a Rockin C button for you to rock on your blog!

I create all my blog designs on a digital scrapbooking software. I am now a new Creative Memories Storybook user & I am LOVING it! I'm still learning the ropes, but am finding the death of my previous software, Lifetimez, to be a blessing in disguise. A lot of people design using free online software & then there is the ever so popular & expen$ive, Photoshop. I tried Photoshop - Ummm, not so much for me. I could not figure it out & I'm not willing to devote the time to learning. It was too much for me.

My blog is designed using K. Hartley's Wild, Wild West kit

If you have a designing software & would like to make your own button HERE is where I found a fantastic tutorial. It is VERY easy!!

<center><a href="http://teachingdiligently.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Rockin C" src="http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l303/rockinc_2006/Tiffsblog-Page001-1.jpg" /></a></center>

Don't forget to grab my button!

ADD

Not the kids - ME!!

It is an on going joke with my sweet momma that she is ADD. My little brother, Critter, is really ADD - him & my mom are TOTALLY alike. My mom is hilarious & lets say, "frazzled" 98% of the time so we give her a hard time. I can do that & talk about it on my blog because I love her. When she reads this, she'll probably try to leave a silly comment, but she won't be able to figure it out & in the amount of time she is trying she will be distracted by something else, forgetting all the while she was trying to leave me a comment. She will remember me so she will call me . . . I LOVE YOU MOM!

This post really isn't about my momma though . . . I'm just feeling a lot like her lately. I'm sooooo scatter brained. I have 101 things going on in my head I can't seem to focus on just one. I am all over the place & accomplishing NOTHING!

• adding visual stimulation to the walls in our learning area for my lil' buckaroo

- paint it? or use scrapbook paper? or use fabric?

- Big Daddy, don't we have an large mirror lying around somewhere?

• starting a weekly blog carnival

(hint: "Taking It TO GO")

• composing my next cloth diaper order
• issues with Daddy's Girl's Public School

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

• getting Daddy's Girl tested for learning disabilities

(Monday!!)

• starting a Memory Making Monday with my kids & the 3B's
• lesson planning

my desk in my office is such a disaster I'm getting hives looking at it!

• field trips

it is so hard to have a normal week when we have enrichment on Fridays & at least one other away from home activity planned. I'm trying to not to be tied to my planner, but just an example: Monday - Gone ALL Day w/ Daddy's Girl, Thursday - zoo, Friday - EC = 2 normal days

• working with my Mustangs on tantrums

STOP CRYING! Use your words! STOP CRYING! Don't hit your brother! STOP CRYING! That wasn't very nice. JUST STOP CRYING!!!!!

And the list goes on & on & on . . .

I just thought I'd keep it real around here tonight.

Is your TO DO List a mile long? Do you feel a little overwhelmed with the new school year? Has the thought of a nanny sounded more than appealing this week?

Montessori Activities

This summer I decided to add some Montessori activities/"Centers" to our routine for my Mustangs. Well, the verdict is in & it is a huge hit!

Wanna see inside?

Come on, I know you do . . . it's kill ya isn't it?

This is where I store much of the Montessori supplies I collected this summer.

My supply list started with A LOT from HERE

On top are jars of colored rice & noodles with colored bowls & mats used for sorting.

It is amazing how colored rice can entertain them. Not to mention the fun they had dying the rice & noodles!
Coloring the rice & noodles was very easy; although a little smelly :)
All you do is measure your rice/noodle in the jar you plan to store them in & then dump them in a large bowl. Add a little rubbing alcohol, mix it around (I just swashed the bowl around, but you can stir if you'd like), add a few drops of food coloring, let it dry out & that's it! Literally, that easy.

The bowls are Learning Resource Sorting Bowls & you can find the sorting mats HERE

Inside:

Funnels, spray bottle, carrot peeler (Target), tongs, droppers, scoopers, various spoons, ice-cream scooper, liquid bottle squirter thing.

Bowls, various ice-cube trays, & small cups.

I also store larger items in this basket.:

Water play bucket, large pouring bowls, cups, sponges, plates, tupperware, & trays.

*Most of these things came from Walmart, IKEA, Target & garage sales.

What do we do with all this you ask?

Well, see for yourself. Here are the Mustangs having a little water play fun with their new "toys." **Please Note: This was PJ day!

For a little bonus, I added food coloring to the water & my Mustangs thought it was the coolest thing to play with blue water.

Another great thing about all this is the clean up - THEY DO IT!! Yes, you heard me. See the sponges & white towels? They had a blast cleaning up. They played with the sponge, but during clean up time they also used it to wipe up the table & "wash" their dishes. Then they used the towels to dry everything off. Most of the mess stayed on the tray - which made for a very quick & easy clean up.

A: Apple

Today the Outlaws & I explored the Henrietta Creek Apple Orchard where we learned about apples, honey, bees, & cotton. We also got to see some very beautiful caterpillars & a ton of butterflies! Here are a few pictures from our day . . .

This just so happen to be "A" week with the Mustangs so this field trip fit in perfectly. We had a great time & if you ask Tucker he will say, "you gotta try some honey with your apple!" Have you ever had honey on your apple?

Sight Word Fun

I found a little sight word inspiration while doing some online shopping at Discovery Toys when I came across the Pick-Up Words Game. The game sounded like it would be much more fun than flashcards for Momma's Boy to practice his sight words with. So I considered buying them, then I remembered Big Daddy put me on a budget (- actually, the bank account did, but he delivered the sad news that my play money was gone). Instead I decided to make my own using the Dolche & Fry's Sight Word List for 3rd grade, as well as words I know he is struggling with & vuala:

-You take turns choosing a stick to read & pick up without moving any other sticks.

Less than $2 THANK YOU!! saving you money Big Daddy!

Just a small glimpse . . .

This week the Mustangs & I will be talking about the Garden of Eden so I decided to try to give them a small glimpse . . .

Tucker is laughing because he just got done putting the lizard on Trevor's head.

We had a wonderful time together with lots of laughing, oohing & even some cooing. Yes, my Lil' Buckaroo is becoming quite the chatter box!

Lord, thank you for these children You have given me. Thank you for the memories I am making with them & for the small glimpse we shared at your beautiful creation. You are an awesome God!

Wipe-Off Worksheets

Last week Nicki asked about the wipe-off sleeve for my worksheets she saw in this picture. I was very excited when I found these sleeves at Mardel, a local (well, as local as it gets it the country - everything is at least 45 minutes away) Christian book store that carries wonderful teaching/homeschool supplies, for around $2-3! I've heard page-protectors work as well, but this sleeve is very sturdy & for the price - it practically pays for itself after a few short uses. My boys LOVE mazes & since I have 4 in a row, I cringed every time I tore pages out of workbooks I paid $5-10 for. There had to be a way to recycle these books without spending hours making copies . . . These sleeves were the solution. I just tear a page out, slip it into the sleeve, & hand the boys a short dry-erase marker. *There are small dry-erase makers with erasers on the end that are perfect for these. After the boys have finished their page I just pull them out & put them in a labeled file folder for reuse. Not only can I use these for younger children later, but they can also be reused repeatedly by the same child. The Mustangs feel so "Big" with their dry-erase markers too!