Simplify the Holidays

 

I love Christmas time.  I love listening to holiday music, eating indulgent food, gathering with friends and family, finding the perfect gift.  Since becoming a parent however, I've noticed that all that merry-making can be quite stressful.  If you love the holiday season but dread the hustle and bustle and feel a full out migraine coming on when you think about budgeting, shopping, planning, traveling, cooking, wrapping, cleaning - well then I have something I think might help you.

What if your holidays were simplified?  What if there was a little less stuff but more meaning and happiness?  Take the 2011 Simplify the Holidays Challenge.  Pledge 5 or more actions that you will adopt this holiday season to simplify your holidays and help others and the planet.

Here are the actions I pledged this holiday season:

1. Create a handmade gift.  I usually knit or sew something for each of the kids and we bake sweets or make candies for friends and family members.

2. Consider less gimmicky, less commercial gifts for children, such as arts/crafts supplies, books, a magnifying glass, or building blocks.  Lets be honest - this may be the toughest one.  With all those toy commercials on TV right now and shelves overloaded with toys, even in the grocery store, this time of year it's hard for little ones not to want the newest, coolest thing (whatever that may be this year).  As a parent, I decided that it is quality over quantity that counts with toys.  I don't need to go out door busting on Black Friday because the toys I want my kids to have aren't at Walmart or Best Buy and they rarely go on sale.  But those "educational" toys are the ones my kids play with over and over again.  They are engaged, they are being creative, they're thinking, and yes they're having fun too.

3. Shop for used items.  This too can be a little difficult with older children.  But we are bargain hunters and used items shoppers on a regular basis.  Christmas shopping should be no different.

4. Give back to your community.  No matter how little we think we may have, there are always those with less.  Get out and do something.  We are collecting canned goods and helping to prepare holiday food baskets and our homeschool group is adopting a family for Christmas.

5. Save paper by wrapping gifts in newspaper comics, junk mail, paper bags decorated with markers, old maps, phone books, or other reused paper.  This one sounds a little funny but we've done it before.  My husband was a little skeptical the year I told him I was going to save money on our Christmas budget by wrapping all the gifts in old newspaper.  He was thinking along the lines of wrapped up fish.  It was a little more elegant, here is how it turned out.

I wrapped each gift in newspaper then a small piece of wrapping paper to make a colorful stripe.  Then added a ribbon or bow.  It came out great, saved us a bunch on our budget, and we reused then recycled all that newspaper. 

So what will you choose to simplify your Holidays?

TOS Review: The Person I Marry

When I was a kid I never thought about what it would be like to be married.  Like little girls do, I dreamed of my prince sweeping me off my feet and a fairy tale wedding.  But I never really spent any time thinking about that prince.  Who would he be?  What would he be like?  What qualities to look for?  These seem like pertinent questions to ask, but they never really occurred to me as a little girl.

Gary and Jan Bower's book "The Person I Marry" answers these questions marvelously.  "What makes a princess? What makes a prince? It can not be riches, hair color, and height, or any externals I think are just right."  The book then beautifully puts into words all those qualities that make a person a "keeper" - kind, generous, thoughtful, optimistic, too many to list really. 

You can see a short video preview of the book by clicking below.  Warning: may cause you to tear up a bit.

The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

After watching that video I couldn't wait for our book to come.  We received an electronic copy of the book shortly thereafter.  I have to admit that although the words were beautifully written and the illustrations were stunning, reading the book on the computer left something to be desired.  I envisioned being able to snuggle with the kids on the couch while we read the book.  Instead we tried our best to pull chairs up to the computer desk. Little M is three, he liked the rhyming and the pictures.  Ms. Q was a little confused as to why I would read her a book about marriage.  I tried to explain that recognizing the good qualities in a person should be a lifelong pursuit, not just when you're ready to get married.  By the second reading of the book I think she got the idea.  

The Bowers have been married for 30 years and have 12 children and 4 granchildren.  They write for a Christian audience and consider themselves a Christian Publisher, however as non-Christians we still received a great deal of inspiration from this book.   The qualities illustrated are important for a successful marriage (and a successful life really) regardless of religious affiliation  There are only three pages of 32 that directly refer to Christianity.  I read the book in it's entirety then Ms. Q and I discussed the references to God and the Bible separately from the characteristics highlighted in the book.  

"The Person I Marry" is sold in hardcover format for $11.99.  I haven't seen the hardcover book in person but it's on my holiday shopping list.  I haven't decided who will receive this gift however.  I thought it would make a wonderful gift for my husband for us to share.  It would make a wonderful addition to our family library, so we could finally get that snuggle on the couch.  Or maybe a gift for my newly married cousin, or my best friend with two young children?  Maybe all of the above?

"The Person I Marry" is part of Bower Books Bright Future Series which includes "What Do Heroes Wear", "There's a Party in Heaven", and "The Jingle in My Pocket".  It was awarded "2010 Book of the Year" by the Christian Small Publisher Association.  Regardless of your religion, if you are a parent who wants to develop positive values in your children or you want to instill in your children the importance of choosing a life partner who will treat them the way they deserve to be treated then I highly recommend "The Person I'll Marry" by Gary Bower, and illustrated by Jan Bower.  Don't just take my word for it.  Check out what the other TOS Crew members have to say HERE.


Enjoy!



Disclosure: As a member of the 2011-2012 The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Homeschool Crew, I was provided this product for free in exchange for my review.  No other compensation was given and this review reflects my honest opinion.

TOS Review: Ooka Island

Want a really fun way to help your children learn to read?  Then you need to check out Ooka Island.   Ooka Island is a mission driven adventure designed to teach young children to read.  For children ages 3 through 7 (Pre-K - grade 2), Ooka Island is a virtual game world where young children navigate through the island playing games and learning essential pre-reading, reading, spelling, and writing skills.  Each child registered gets his or her own log-in account that tracks performance and tailors each days activities to their mastery of previous skills.  With fun games (and names) like Alphabet Mountain, The Cake Facotry, and Cave of Sounds your child will hardly know he's learning.

The adventure begins when your child creates his or her very own avatar.  Little M chose to create himself as a hero - complete with cape and mask.  As each game is played and each skill mastered, little readers are able to unlock books to read in the island's Popcorn Library.  They also earn currency to spend in the island's store, The Mist Mart, on things like avatar accessories, toys, and music. 

Ooka Island uses The OokaMethod of literacy instruction which combines phonological development and language-rich text with comprehension activities so that children have the opportunity to achieve effortless reading.  From the website:

With the OokaMethod^TM, children progress to the most sophisticated phonological level. First, they must understand that words are made up of individual sounds (or phonemes) that they can hear and manipulate. Second, they learn to associate these sounds with letters and blend them together to make words, thus breaking the code that speeds them through the foundational levels of reading development and beyond.

  

Little M has just started learning to read this year and I am really excited to have found a program that provides more than random alphabet/phonics games or videos and less than leveled readers.  Ooka Island games progress at Little M's pace, leading him step-by-step through necessary literacy skills.  Little M is an avid computer user (it's the only way I can get Ms. Q's lessons done with her).  He is able to power up the computer, log on, and use his desktop shortcuts to visit any of his approved websites.  The Ooka Island shortcut by far, gets picked most often.  He knows it's his "reading work" but that actually makes the game that much better for him.  When I asked him his opinion on Ooka Island for this review he stated that it is "really fun."  He said his favorite game is "all of them."  Not the most helpful review granted but when a three year old asks to do his reading work on the computer because he thinks it's fun I say that pretty much speaks for itself.

If you are looking for a fun and engaging way to teach reading skills, I recommend that you check out Ooka Island's website.  

There are a few ways you can get started with Ooka Island.  You can try it free for 14days or you can jump rignt in by clicking below to sign up for a monthly subscription.   You can read what other TOS Reviews have to say about Ooka Island HERE.  Your child will be on their way to reading and you'll be amazed at how much fun that can actually be.

Enjoy and good luck!


 

Disclosure: As a member of the 2011-2012 The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Homeschool Crew, I was provided this product for free in exchange for my review.  No other compensation was given and this review reflects my honest opinion.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal: Week 2

In my life this week
My Grandfather passed away last week, so we spent a few days traveling out of state for the viewing and service.  He was 92 years old and lived a great life.  He accomplished many things in his lifetime and he will live on in the memories of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  He was so very proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and all their varied accomplishments.  He will be missed.

In our homeschool this week
We didn't really have official school this week.  After traveling we needed some time to catch up around the house so we worked on some life skills (i.e. cleaning up the house and getting caught up on the laundry).

I am inspired by
Veterans.  With Veterans day next week and my Grandfather's planned burial at Arlington National Cemetery in January,  I find myself thinking about the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. I am able to find great inspiration in the bravery, strength, and selfless service of these men and women.  To them I send a heartfelt thank you. 

Places we're going and people we're seeing
Thankfully we have a slow week planned next week.  We will be getting back on schedule and into our book work.  Hopefully we will be able to make our homeschool group's play group this week.  It's been ages since the kids have seen their friends.  We also have a homeschool mom's meeting scheduled next week.  This is one of my favorite nights of every month.  I just love sitting down to talk with the other moms without having to stop a conversation to chase a kid on the playground or patch up a boo-boo.  It's nice quiet grown-up conversation that provides a great sense of companionship and support.

My favorite thing this week was
Trick-or-Treating!!!  Here are my pirates and kitty cat.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share
I saw this quote somewhere on the internet this week and posted it as my Facebook status.  A few homeschooling friends re-posted it so I thought I would share it here as well.
 
"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again." ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Till next time.