Before Five in a Row

Anyone ever heard of the reading curriculum for 4-8 year olds called Five in a Row? I had never heard those words uttered together until a few days ago, and then bam! Within 24 hours, I heard this same resource mentioned from two completely different people in completely different places. So I decided to Google.

I can't say too much because I've never touched a Five in a Row workbook. But, as far as I can tell online, the concept is to utilize wonderfully illustrated children's books that have stood the test of time (think Madeline or Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel), and use them to teach your child about reading and a bunch of other areas of study (incorporates math, science, geography, etc). The Five in a Row workbook has activities and lesson plans to go with each book (so it would be great for homeschooling).

AND THEN, I read that Five in a Row has produced a preschool activites and idea book called Before Five in a Row, appropriate for 2-4 year olds (think of titles like Blueberries for Sal, Corduroy, and The Snowy Day).

And my heart started beating faster. And I started drooling thinking of all the great books Bram and I could read together off the Before Five in a Row list and the fun and engaging activities we could do (if my husband is reading this - do you think you could get me the workbook for Christmas, pretty please?).

Reasons why BFIAR appeals to me:

• I can check out most of the books from our local library (read: I don't necessarily have to buy any of these books, even though I already desperately want to own every single one!)
• several women I trust have said super positive things about FIAR and the great memories they have reading with their children
• I'm totally pumped to be hearing about what I can do now to help Bram develop great reading skills later
• It will just take that quality reading time that we already have together to a little bit deeper level
• It has the potential to ease us into the world of homeschooling that I'm hoping to do with Bram later on
• It sounds very low-key, like Bram wouldn't even realize this was anything close to being called "school". It would just be fun and we could work it in to our day-to-day happenings
• I already love wonderful children's books, but only have fuzzy memories of the ones I loved in childhood, so this list gives me a great jumping off point
• If BFIAR flops, hey, we got to read a lot of great books together! 

I could blame this excitement on, "Well, you see, I used to be an educator. Of course I love thinking about doing school and preschool with my child." But I think this goes deeper for me, right into the heart of my own childhood. I was the kid in the house reading books at every chance I got. My parents did a great job at instilling a love of reading in me, and so I'm jumping at what looks like an awesome resource to hopefully do the same thing for my kid (and future kids).

Anyone else out there get excited to learn about great resources for children? I feel mildly crazy that I'm this excited and my child isn't even two years old yet (just a few weeks shy). So it would help me to know if there are any other "crazies" out there!

DIY boy's haircut

 

I've been cutting Bram's hair for about a year now with hair scissors, but I recently came across this detailed tutorial that taught me a few new tricks. I can take all the help I can get! Maybe it can help those of you out there with boys.

I tried using the buzzer on him for the first time this past week and that was a complete fail. I knew deep down I shouldn't expect my sensitive, anxious, and borderline control-freak child to be okay with a piece of machinery touching his head. So, hair scissors it is, for maybe a few more years! 

Fixed: Wanna see how a toddler picks blueberries?

He's so focused and yet so distracted at the same time.

Blueberries!

Coming from Oklahoma, the land of harsh summers and droughts (though not this summer), we are so awed that things grow so well here in Maryland. A little over a week ago my hubby took a Friday off and we checked out an orchard nearby and went blueberry picking. Bram had an absolute blast, ate a ton of blueberries, and even a few he picked made it into the bucket. A few days later made my first blueberry pie and we had pie for dessert three nights in a row! It was awesome. We missed strawberry season this year but now that we know how it's done up here (remember we grew up nowhere near orchards) we won't miss another berry season!

Bittersweet

Tonight my sister-in-law Amanda, bro-in-law Jay, nieces Anna and Liyla, and nephew Justice (and one nephew on the way) will fly out from Oklahoma with their final destination being the country of Nepal. Jay was offered a job there and he and Amanda have long wanted to go back to Nepal after a few extended trips they took there in college. They are confident that God is directing them there and I am, too, after seeing how circumstances are working out before them to get them there and seeing their own confidence and hope and willingness to give up almost every material thing they own to go and do this. We look forward to hearing of their many adventures and pray God would use them powerfully across the world. I say bittersweet because we are sure going to miss seeing them! Even living in the DC area far away from the heartland these past 12 months, we were able to see them three different times, so there will be noticeable change. Love to you all, we look forward to Skyping from your new home!

Keeping Cool

The weather for the past few weeks has been in the high 80s and 90s, and the past several days have been hot and sunny. It's the perfect opportunity to get outside and get wet. Last summer, Bram was a little (okay, a lot) unsteady on his feet and still took two naps a day, making outdoorsy things like parks and pools less fun for both of us Plus, I was overwhelmed as a new MD resident and wasn't too adventurous (other than making sure I knew where the grocery stores were). This summer, on the other hand, we are ready to play! Here's a few pictures of our wet adventures. First, some backyard splashing with friends. Pictures 2 & 3 are of a really neat splash park in DC, and lastly, the final picture is of a splash park I just discovered today nearby in MD.

Don't Buy Stuff - advice from another blogger

To all the women who read this blog, you understand. We have all felt the temptation to compare our lives with one another. I remember what this felt like in college living in a sorority house for 3 years...and now in this stage there are different challenges with being a mom and seeing how other families choose different paths - whether it be what area of town they live in, what kind of house they own/rent, what job they have, car they drive, clothes they wear, toys they give their kids, vacations they take, etc. But recently when I felt the pull of materialism beckoning me to make an idol of it, I was reminded of this Heavenly Homemaker blog post - "Don't Buy Stuff" (below). I love the part, "When you buy stuff, you have to pay for it with money. And then you have to find a place to put it...". So true.

Don’t Buy Stuff

"That’s it.  My title is my post.  Don’t buy stuff…that’s all I have to say.
 When asked what my favorite frugal tip is…Don’t Buy Stuff is the best thing I can come up with.
When you buy stuff, you have to pay for it with money.  And then you have to find a place to put it once you bring it home.  And it won’t stay where you put it because someone will get it out and not put it away.  And then it will get lost.  Or broken.  Or forgotten.
Buy food.  You need to eat.
Splurge on toilet paper.  It’s very useful.
Invest in soap…using soap is good.
But don’t buy stuff.
You’ll save a lot of money.
And…if you didn’t really need it in the first place, you won’t even miss it."

  
I'd be amiss if I also didn't mention a great song on this topic, Simple Living by Keith and Kristyn Getty. My favorite line is, "Not what you give, but what you keep, is what the King is counting." Here is a great verse:

Oh teach me Lord to walk this road, 

The road of simple living; 

To be content with what I own 

And generous in giving. 

And when I cling to what I have, 

Please wrest it quickly from my grasp. 

I’d rather lose all the things of earth 

To gain the things of heaven.

And Can It Be

Here is the fourth installment in my current blog series of My Favorite Hymns. (For the previous three, see here, here, and here.) And like the other three, I just love this hymn! By the time I get to verse 4, my reserved self wants to throws my arms up and belt it out. This song invokes my own conversion experience, and how Jesus really did come to set me free from sin and death. And in a funny way, I love that a Wesley wrote this. I grew up attending a Methodist church that didn't preach the gospel clearly, but John Wesley and Charles Wesley who started the Methodist movement were such bold preachers and hymn writers. They were not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and neither am I! Especially when I sing this song. :) Words in bold are my favorite lines of the hymn at the moment.

And Can It Be
Words: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Music: Thomas Campbell, 1777-1844, Sagina

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore this strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Black Bean Salsa - lunch idea

We have been enjoying this Black Bean Salsa for lunches this summer. I thought it needed a little "zing" so I made sure to salt it well and recently I added a cilantro lime vinaigrette dressing and we all enjoyed the added flavor. We eat it with tortilla chips, I just make sure to break the chips up in small pieces for Bram (and help him load the chip with salsa) and he seems to like it. I also love serving this with diced avocado if we happen to have a ripe one around.

Black Bean Salsa
1 cup dried black beans (or I use 3 cans black beans)
5 tomatoes, diced
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 cup frozen corn, steamed and cooled (you can use canned corn for convenience)
¼ cup chopped cilantro
Soak beans in water overnight.  Drain and cover with fresh water in saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes.  Drain.
In large bowl, mix together beans, tomatoes, onion, corn and cilantro.  Stir together.  Store in refrigerator.  Serve with corn chips or baked tortilla chips.

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
1/4 cup lime juice (I probably used more)
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
3/4 cup olive oil (I probably used less)

 Blend the lime juice, vinegar, and cilantro together in a blender until smooth. Add the brown sugar, garlic, and salt; blend again until smooth. Spoon the mustard into the mixture. Turn the blender on and slowly pour the olive oil into the dressing mixture in a thin stream; blend until thoroughly combined. (I think I ignored these directions and just threw it all in the food processor and it turned out great.)

Sour Cream Fudge Cake - Happy Birthday, Babe!

My husband requested Sour Cream Fudge Cake (read: chocolate cake plus chocolate icing) this year for his birthday (which was yesterday). Definitely not what you'd consider a health food. J I did make it with the ingredients that I usually cook with, as a compromise - King Arthur Organic White Whole Wheat Flour instead of white flour and Organic Sucanat instead of white sugar, and organic unsalted butter instead of margarine or Canola oil. It turned out yummy but you know how they say "too much of a good thing is not a good thing"? A colleague of Jon's brought a chocolate cheesecake with chocolate topping to work to celebrate his birthday (unbeknownst to us otherwise I would have made something along a different vein?). Jon mentioned before work today that there was leftover cheesecake to consume at work today also. I'm just not sure how this 9x13 cake will ever get eaten! (I have what I call a "salty tooth" or "savory tooth", not a sweet tooth. Bring on the homemade popcorn!) We may need to start sending out portions to neighbors...


P.S. RIP Google Reader! As probably some of you know, Google retired it's feed reader today that I was using to keep up with my friends' blogs and food blogs. Now I'm using Feedly and so far I like it! I decided to not import my existing Google Reader content to Feedly so that I can make a fresh start, and clear out some of those blogs I'm no longer interested in. But anyway - if you have trouble keeping up with blogs - try Feedly!