Slowing Down

One of my biggest sought after desires in life is to slow down. As a human being, in this time and age, never mind being a homeschooling mother of four, I find it very very very hard to do. All I want is to live "here and now" with my family, to truly see and to truly hear my children. To be child mind like again, to learn how to make a day last forever. Time flies, my mind keeps on racing like a speed train and my desire to slow down is like me lassoing this speeding train, trying to stop it with mere human strength. Impossible.

My heart aches. I think about it, I dream about it while life happens around me, while I homeschool, while I cook, clean and try to keep on top of things, while I read about the topic on other blogs and articles, while I drive to and from, from appointments. And then, the day ends and I'm rushing my kids off to bed, because I've had a long long day (which flew by so quick) and I'm running on empty. I end my day with massive guilt. I yelled at my kids today. I wasn't fully giving my children undivided attention -I didn't have the patience to listen to their story, because they or I weren't done with a chore that needed checking off our daily cleaning list. I didn't hear my daughters imaginative dream, because it wasn't good timing, as I herd my kids into the car. I pretend to listen, and I even smile at them saying "how cool!"... But truly, I'm stuck in this speeding train and I can't exit.

I know I need to reprogram my brain, but I don't even know where to begin. I know I can begin now, I just don't know how to. I know what I need to do, but I just don't. I'm desperate. 

I don't know what I am doing, but I'm going to start with these 5.

1. start my day reading the Word and pray
2. check my email and facebook after the kids go to sleep
3. use the crock pot and make sandwiches for dinner often
4. purposefully read more books out loud to my kids
5. say "no" more to other things, so I can say "yes" to spending more time with the kids

Let's see where these take me.

Colour Collage - Homeschool Crafts Idea

 Teach your kids the primary colours and the different mixes of primary colours.

 Doesn't have to be anything fancy, you know... :)

Get different colours of paint samplers from your local paint shop,

and before cutting and gluing, go through the different hues/shades/tones of 6 colours; red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

 This takes a while... so do your own studies/crafts while they cut and glue...

 Let them add stickers, glitter or sequence to it... they can choose where they belong according to colour.

K and J's work.

I love them!

Collages -Homeschool Project

("God's People" by K)

This week the kids worked on collages of their own. We used the stack of National Geographic mags I've stored for too long. Now, I know how we will be using them. I fondly remember my own art lessons, especially making collages and the ideas are limitless!

Here are some ideas on Collages:

• Seasons, weather
• Celestial
• Nature
• Animals, polar, ocean, grassland, jungle etc
• Healthy and unhealthy foods
• Physical activity, sports
• Feelings, moods, faces
• Space, planets
• Technology
• Bible
• Culture
• Art
• Words
• Countries
• Colour Map

 ("God's Creation" by J)

I already have a few collage themes planned out for this school year. Some of them will cover more than the subject 'art'.

Any more ideas on a theme? Let me know!

More on Homeschooling HERE!

More on Fun With Kids HERE

Managing Your Home Part 3

A little while ago I wrote this:

..."Organizing your home is quite the task. It takes a super mom to herd her little monkeys and get everyone and her home in order at all times. This, however is unrealistic and will only bring frustration and disappointment to those mothers who thrive on this.

But there is hope for us all, even for me as I write this in the midst of a chaotic moment in my home. I write down lists for my kids of chores that need to be completed before we begin our day. "Build the home, before we play in it" is somewhat what we are after. Well, I have my eldest back chatting and rebelling, my daughter in cloud 9 dreaming of butterflies and singing, and my littlest one, causing havoc as she trots along. Not the haven, I was hoping for.

I put KLOVE on for motivational music, to help us focus and plug in, only to find out it's just adding to the chaos. I really am starting to feel hopeless now, how does anyone teach their children to contribute to the family life"...

And now, finally! 

We're done scheduling for now! It took some time, figuring it all out because no day in the week is the same for us. But we're done for now. We're on trial mode right now, just to see how well the master schedule will work out and I already have a feeling, that I'll be doing a few minor changes here and there, but all in all, I'll say it again - We're I'm DONE!

Here's an example of a day during our week. Oh yes, I went to dollar store and purchased 7 frames and some magnetic strip to minimize our fridge clutter. It looks nicer...

I've noticed better behavior in the kids and especially in me, holy moly, less of that tensed up wicked witchiness! The kids have been back chatting less, and it seems that they cannot argue with a schedule on the wall, but they can argue with me. If it's written, it goes and I've noticed an attitude change in them, I really have.

We get bible time each morning, and it can last from 15 to 30 minutes. I'm using this book with them, and we're enjoying it. The kids sit still, even our youngest who is 2 and these lessons lead to some deep conversations and it has really helped us bond. It gives a good start to the mornings and focuses our attention to the one who gives us time. Jesus. 

I must admit, I'm more flexible than maybe some other mothers are, using this method, and it's ok. Sometimes we decide to do other stuff instead of what's on the list, however, I've still noticed that everything gets done and we have plenty of rest too. It takes practice and consistency to create a new habit, a new schedule. We'll get there, I know it!

Another thing I have noticed is that the kids argue and bicker less. One, they don't get too bored and end up in each others faces, and two, I have the time to teach and take the time to guide them when I see a problem arising. I also believe that our bible time in the mornings places our hearts in a way that our minds are tuned with doing what is right. This is my opinion.

One thing I like about colour coding the schedule is, that my middle child doesn't yet know how to read, but by knowing the theme of the colours, she memorizes them quickly.

More on Organizing your home and scheduling HERE!

More on Fun With Kids HERE

More on Managing Your Home HERE

What are your tricks for keeping on top of things, or semi? :)

Naked Egg - Experiment - Homeschool Fun!

You take an egg, place it in a glass and fill it up with vinegar.

For a few days you watch it bubble.

And eventually the outer layer will dissolve.

How cool is that! It bounces!

If you bounce it too hard...

The kids were stoked!

More on 'Fun With Kids' HERE!

More on Homeschooling HERE!

Roles, Rights and Responsibilities (+Priviledges) -Homeschool Project

For the final project of my son's second grade, we went through his role, right and responsibilities being a part of our family and community. At the end, we added a list on priviledges, because sometimes we take for granted of the stuff we have and get. Little did I know that this porjects opened up some great conversation and bonding time with each other and also this was a great way to grow in Christ.

 

As he comes up with more rights, he can jot them down.

We had a good chat on his roles, and it also made me think of mine. I'm not just a wife and mommy, there is more to me! :)

Going through his responisbilites, it was a good reminder to him as well as me, that I or my husband, do not do everything for him. It is our duty to train them to be sufficient, and hard working and kind to people around him. No one is a servant to him, no one owes him anything. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I really enjoyed our time of discussion. Sometimes we may think that what we say to our kids doesn't "sink in", but it does.

Last but not least, what are your priviledges?

Time Chart -Crafts -Homeschool Project

Here is a fun way to help your kids create a 'Time Chart'. This is a great way to help them remember in order!

Plan it out! You can use any sized wheel (I used a pot lid to measure ours), any kind of card stock -be creative! Most importantly, let your kids be creative, give them options, ideas and guide them, but do not take over... too much;)

8 fractions:

1. There are 60 seconds in a minute
2. There are 60 minutes in a hour
3. There are 24h in a day
4. There are 7 days in a week
5. There are approx. 4 weeks in a month
6. (I forgot to put in 12 months in a year here) Months that have 30 days are...
7. Months that have 31 days are...
8. Month that has 28 days is, unless it's leap year (29) 

Extra info (on the back of the chart):

• 12 months in a year
• 365 days in a year
• 52 weeks in a year

This is my son's 2nd grade work.

What are your ways of teaching 'time'?

More on Homeschooling HERE

Summer Hair -For Daughters (Why Not Sons Too!)

 

My daughter has very thick hair. I normally have it in a ponytail, but during the summers it gets messy. Being in the pool daily and other physical activity, the ponytail, or other pins and bows, don't keep well. She hates it when it gets tangled and needs brushing through.

Rainbow loom bands are just perfect for small braids. After each use, you can just cut them off and throw them out. No need to fight them off. Any kind of conditioning leave in spray is great for easy combing and braiding.

 She usually rests her head on a pillow on my lap while I braid. This was it won't strain her neck.

So a few summers ago, I came up with this style for her. There are so many ways to braid hair, so this is just one way. Usually on the days I wash her hair, I braid it straight afterwards while her hair is still damp. I use hairspray, or her favourite- glitter spray to give it a good hold. This way the braids are neat. 

 

I like this method. It allows her to play, swim, roll around, jump, climb -whatever, without having hair in her face and getting dirty and tangled, saving her from tears.

If braided tightly, the braids last for 4-7 days. She still has a daily quick shower/bath, but there is no need to shampoo her hair each time.

You can find many styles online, or if you can afford it, get it professionally braided and this way they last even longer.

I braid her hair once or twice a week, depending on how well the braids last. You can gently shampoo the scalp in the bath or not, if needed. Here are a few pictures of braids that are a few days old. I think they still look fine!

Do you have any special summer traditions?

More on hair HERE

Making Butter -Fun and Useful

Wanna do something super fun with your kids that is educational and delicious?! Well guess what!

-We made butter today!

J is in second grade, and for Bible we studied about the "olden ways" of grinding grains and making butter. Back then it was hard work, but today, it's only a few minute process. J and K both enjoyed watching the whole process, but most of all, they enjoyed the taste testing afterwards.

I bought regular whipping cream out on a whim, but next time we'll definitely invest in good quality heavy cream from a local dairy farm. 

So this is what we did!

First we over whipped the cream until it separated and produced butter curd. 

Then we drained off the butter milk from the butter itself -easy peasy!

 Using a spatula, we pressed the excess butter milk, and what was left, was creamy butter!

 We have a bowl of butter milk for our next recipe -Buttermilk BREAD!!! Stay tuned! And a container full of home made, delicious, finger licking and creamy butter. Yum!

 Keeps in the fridge for about a month.

Buttermilk -not a waste, no indeed!But a side product! Buttermilk Bread, heavenly bread! Recipe coming later!

It makes me wonder, a few Christmas' ago, Finland had news galore about their empty butter shelves, in all the grocery shops throughout the country. Knowing what I know now, every household could've over whipped a bit of cream and finished off their Christmas recipes, no problem!

Have you tried making butter? I wanna hear all about it:)

My Top 10

1. Financial Freedom Seminar by Embassy Institute. My husband and I have taken this seminar as an annual thing to go through as a couple. I have learned a lot, again. We feel focused once again. We're going through it as we speak and share the experience with some friends of ours. We're planning on getting together weekly to discuss it.
2. Anger Resolution Seminar, by Embassy Institute. I went through this 20h seminar on my own, each night once the kids went down for the night. I discovered a lot and to put this in simple yet powerful words, it changed my life as I know it!
3. Uno card game. I enjoy playing Uno with my son. It's a great way to come together and have a laugh as well as talk.
4. Pinterest Food Recipes. I've stacked baking and cooking recipes to try out with my kiddos.
5. Menu Planning, deal hunting... we're going through a "dry spell" and I have learned to stretch the pennies.
6. Bear Grylls -survivor NetFlix episodes. Can't get enough.
7. Bored Shorts TV Kid Snippets via YouTube. Quite funny. I haven't laughed that hard, ever! Too funny!
8. My workout and diet regime HERE. Going good.
9. Letting go of OvuView App. Again. Old habits die hard.
10. Teaching STOTT Pilates again, after a few years break.

Routine -How It's Done (currently)

This is how I manage homeschool, housework and "us/me" time etc. 

2014 we will be focusing more on the heart issues rather than on how much we can achieve. Instead of reading a ton of books, we'll absorb in fewer books, fully. Instead of quantity in school, relationships, food -it'll be quality.

Is that me, or what!

And, that's okay. 

So, I'm back making schedules. I'm okay if this schedule works out for 12 weeks... I mean well, I'll aim high and I will be content with the outcome.

(( To be honest, I probably won't be attending the 6 a.m. Hot Yoga. I might do some Pilates at home, if I feel overwhelmed with my plan. Tuesday mornings is ladies bible study anyhooo :))

For those who are wondering,

L.A: Language Arts

Loru Piiri etc: Finnish Language Studies

Piiri: Circle Time

Jump: Daycare at the gym

S.T: Social Studies

TKD: Taekwondo

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; 

Sometimes our studies are stretched out throughout the day, so my intentions here are, that they are "done" by noon.  For those who do not homeschool, and are wondering why homeschool days are so "short" -have a read HERE! And many more answers to your questions!

Just for some inspiration and guidance,

Luke 10:38-42

New International Version (NIV)

At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I repeat : "it will NOT be taken away from her!"