Nursery set-up

Just 3 days to go. It's all ready and waiting for the little man to show up.

As a family of (soon to be) 5, currently living in a small apartment, we've done our best to turn a corner of our bedroom into a cute little nursery without making the rest of the room feel claustrophobic. Making the best of #smallspaces.

What do you think? 

Banish Hair-brushing Blues

Neither of my girls relish having their hair brushed, I'm sure many moms out there can relate. It starts with some groans and once we're full swing into de-tangling, there's no end of "ow", "you're hurting me", and yelps that sound like they're getting tortured;  no matter how gentle I am trying to be.

After one particularly noisy session which left me worried about what the neighbours would think, we came up with an idea that would banish the hair-brushing blues.

For every "ow" they would get one kiss.

Now they count very carefully each and every "ow" to ensure that they get all the kisses they're entitled to. Hair brushing time has become fun and hassle-free. 

Happy Bubbles: A Positive Routine for Kids Who Struggle with Bedtime

Are you one of those parents (like me) who have difficulty getting your little ones to bed?

If your kids are anything like mine, bedtime has always been a struggle. I thought we'd finally gotten it under control when last year  Kiddo 2 started to have bad dreams every night.

18 FUNtastic Ideas using LEGO to Teach Math

Using Lego to teach math? ABSOLUTELY!

When I was in school I loved math, but when I decided to home school my kids, math was one of the subjects I worried about most.

Not only did I desire to make learning math fun, I also wanted to ensure that my kids understood the LOGIC behind it.

It's easy enough in the early years to have children memorize facts, but facts can only get you so far. I believe if a child understands the concept of math at a fundamental level, then they will have an easier time grasping more abstract concepts later on.

After much trial, error, and learning from past mistakes, I've come to thoroughly enjoy teaching math to my kids. I love finding the way to explain a concept to them in the way I know THEY will best understand it.

I firmly believe if a child is not grasping a concept it is not because the child is dumb or unable to understand, it is because it’s not being presented to them in the right way. Every child has their own mode of learning and I believe it is my responsibility as a teacher to ensure that I am presenting things in a way that makes sense in their heads.

I enjoy making math a visual, tangible concept and here are 18 ways I've used Lego to accomplish just that.

12 Humorous Truths about Motherhood

Here's my list of 12 truths about motherhood to add a little humor to your weekend. 

• 1. You will never sleep the same again.

• 2.  Dealing with disgusting bodily fluids is unavoidable. 

• 3. There will always be more laundry.

• 4. Eating a relaxed meal will be regarded as a special treat. 

• 5. You will have a stash of  scribbles art work that you have no idea what to do with, yet can't bring yourself to throw away.  

• 6. There will be a plethora of items in your purse for "just in case".

• 7. You will memorize more silly children's songs than you ever thought possible. 

• 8. You will find yourself singing the silly children's songs more than you'd care to admit.  

• 9. Getting out the door will no longer be as simple as slipping on a pair of shoes and a jacket. Plan an extra 15 minutes per child.

• 10.The dishes will never be quite done. 

• 11. Invariably, at some point in time, you will sound just like your mother.

• 12. You will not love every minute of it. But when it's all over and they're grown and gone, you'll only remember the best parts.  

Posted on The Chicken Chick's, Mommy Moments, Marvelous Mondays,  and Huckle Berry Love's 

Natural Remedy for Stomach Flu

Recently Kiddo2 suffered from an intestinal bug (vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps). I remembered that one of my brothers used to get these frequently so called up my mom to ask for her natural remedy.

Photo by:  Philipp Kleindiens 

Asking for Help: It can be hard, but it's worth it.

I recently read a really good post by Love Peace Beauty called Accepting and Asking for Help. This is something we all need to do from time to time, yet we often find so hard to do. 

Play Dough Snail Tutorial

Here's a fun and simple activity or craft to try with your kids. Make a snail out of play dough.

Creativity: Piercing the Mundane to Find the Marvelous

Kiddo2 handed me this picture she'd drawn. Being in the middle of something I thanked her quickly and started to turn away. Something stopped me, and I decided to take an extra minute to ask her what everything was. This is what I learned: While to me the art may look simple, to her it was a whole world of intrigue. 

It's like that quote, "The creative adult is the child who survived". Creativity can't be taught, but it can certainly be unlearned. Take the time to explore the creativity in your child. Don't squelch it. Give them the freedom to express themselves even if it means coloring outside the lines or painting green cows. Demonstrate your interest by encouraging them to use their imagination and empower them to rise above the limits. 

Mommy vs Teacher: Things I've Learned as a Homeschooling Mom

As a home-ed mom, I sometimes find it difficult to switch between teacher mode and mommy mode.

The basis of home-ed is seizing every opportunity to create a teaching moment. This ensures that learning is always fun, spontaneous, and follows your child's interest.

Sometimes, though, kids just need mommy.

I was reminded of this recently when Kiddo1 presented me with a card she'd made. I was very touched, yet for a split second the teacher in me raised her grammatically-correct head and I nearly ruined her precious gift by pointing out the mistakes.

Luckily, the mommy mode kicked in and screamed at me to stop before I ruined what was a special moment between my daughter and me.

I'm so glad I let it pass. Kiddo1 was able to feel good about the surprise she'd made and I can rest assured that another day will come to teach the correct usage of to/too/two.

The lesson I learned was far greater than any lesson in grammar.

I would love to hear back from any other home-ed/homeschooling moms out there. Do you struggle to switch modes? Have you found any tips that work well for you? I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Easy Kid-Friendly Mango, Plum and Banana Smoothie Recipe

A delicious, fruit smoothie is the highlight of our morning. It just tastes so yummy and is a wonderful healthful snack that kiddos can make along side me. Here's one easy peasy recipe that we love.

Ingredients:

1 banana
1 mango
2 plums
600 ml. of chilled orange juice
400 ml. of chilled apple juice
3 large tablespoons of yoghurt




Instructions:

Remove the peels and cut the fruit.

Science Project: Crystal Egg Geodes

Had so much fun making these with the kiddos. Find the instructions here.

Got a fun science project to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Can You Read My Mind? -Listening to Our Children

"Can you read my mind?" is a phrase often expressed in wonder by Kiddo1. She seems awed by my "mommy instinct" to know what's going on up there.

Case in point: The other day she asked me, "Can you guess who my  favorite superhero is?" To which I promptly replied "XXXX" (it's her secret so I won't tell it here). She stared at me with huge eyes, "How in the WORLD did you know?" She had a point. She'd only just started to get into superheros and we had not even talked about it yet.

My secret? A few days prior, we were discussing names for baby and she piped up with one which she was very adamant about though I knew she didn't know anyone by that name. It also happened to be a superhero's undercover name.

There was no Sherlock Holmes detection work here; just simply listening.

It reminds me of a quote I once read that has always hit me between the eyes:

Valentines Day Hair Tutorial

I found a very cute hair tutorial for your little one(s) this Valentines Day:

I love how simple and sweet it looks.

10 Fun and Fantastic Valentine's Crafts

Here 10 fun and fantastic ideas for crafts and projects to do leading up to Valentine's Day.

#1. This simple, cute yet elegant threaded heart card:

http://blog.starstraining.org/2013/02/threading.html

My Top 5 Favorite Kids' Books for Ages 6-9

I am always on the lookout for new books to read with my kids. Our reading time over breakfast every morning is a special time of day and I love that we get to experience these adventures together.

I've compiled a list of my current top 5 books that both my girls loved, and I think would be just as appealing to boys.

Minecraft's Frozen Themed Birthday Cake

As I'm sure many kids are, Kiddo2 is intensely fond of both Frozen and Minecraft. They make up the better part of her daily thoughts and conversations.

For her birthday she asked for some Minecraft books. I'm always thrilled when my kids ask for books as presents so we decided to get her the Complete Handbook Collection. It is very nicely boxed, looks super elegant and "grown up". She loves it!

In light of this gift, I decided to make her a Minecraft/Frozen themed birthday cake. She has always loved mixing themes (such as her Tinkerbell/rocket ship of a few years ago) and I decided to give it a shot.

Hands Off, Mom: Things I've Learned as a Homeschooling Mom

Sometimes find myself being too "hands on" with my kids. I believe it's a habit left-over from when they were very young.

Pea and Mint Soup

Kiddo2 very kindly lent me a hand today making something we have never tried before: Pea and Mint soup. Apparently this can be eaten warm or cold. Today we opted for warm.

Positive Parenting: If Not Punishment then What?

Another fantastic article from Positive Parenting Connection. I like it when posts give real-life examples to help put the concepts into a practical application. Positive parenting is by no means easy! It's so much easier to just yell, or slap out the punishment, but my hope is that by doing my best to implement a more positive approach, my children will grow into that type of adult.

To read the full article click here.