Christmas 2010

This year we did Christmas with the family on the 23rd & 24th - those where opening gifts and giving gifts to our family and friends. We mainly gave pictures as the gifts - trying to give more of a timeless gift instead of toys or add to their 'stuff'. For the kids in the family we made picture books (photo album book + 4x6 prints of family + 4x6 blank index cards with family relationship written on it = individual homemade kid photo book).

Then on Christmas day we went with the Jensen family and did hospital visits and took presents and candy canes to kids and workers at the hospital. So, the kids only gave on Christmas day - they did not receive any gifts.

The other part of Christmas that is our family tradition is our ornaments. We get at least one ornament a year, preferable from something we did or somewhere we went to together. It was neat to let Mac put the ornaments on the tree and tell her all the stories and memories that are represented on our tree. Then as we wrapped each present and put it under the tree, we prayed for the person/family.

I pray that the kids remember Christmas as a time to remember others, pray for them, and give them something special.

Ephesians 6:1-4 NLT

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

How to Make Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Dr. Kevin Leman

ABC Memory Verses

All of the verses listed are from the NIV (unless otherwise noted). Also, some of the verses are shortened so that the first letter starts with the coordinating letter of the week and/or to make it easier to memorize (links are included to the full verse for the ones shortened). Found this info on: http://alysasawyer.wordpress.com/blog-post-index/new-testament-index/abc-memory-verses/

A

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23

B

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

Acts 16:31

C

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Ephesians 6:1

D

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

Isaiah 43:5

E

“Even a child is known by his actions.”

Proverbs 20:11

F

“Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Galatians 5:22-23

G

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.”

John 3:16

H

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long.”

Exodus 20:12

I

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever.”

Psalm 89:1

J

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

John 14:6

K

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.”

Psalm 34:13

L

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.“

Deuteronomy 6:5

M

“Make music in your heart to the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:19

N

“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

O

“Obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”

Revelation 14:12

P

“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God!

Psalm 147:1

Q

“Quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

1 Peter 3:4

R

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”

Exodus 20:8

S

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

Matthew 6:33

T

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

Proverbs 3:5

U

“Under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield.”

Psalm 91:4

V

“Visit orphans and widows.”

James 1:27 (NKJV)

W

“Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Matthew 25:21

X

“eXcept a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3 (KJV)

Y

“You are the light of the world.”

Matthew 5:14

Z

“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

Luke 19:5

Parenting Magazine Tips

Mighty Mop: Wet the reusable pad on the ProMist mop with a homemade, eco-friendly cleaner or solution of your choice. $20; ocedar.com

Steam Cleaner: Safely sanitize practically everything in your home with a Personal Steam Cleaner. $60; haanusa.com

Screen Divider: page 192. Paint trim and shelf brackets in the same color. Hot-glue cork squares to both sides of first panel, trim excess with utility knife. Apply chalkboard paint to both sides of second panel; let dry. Prime both sides of third panel with magnetic primer; let dry, then paint color of your choice. Use wire brads to attach trim to edges of each side of all panels. Attach hinges to inside edges between each section, about 12" from top to bottom, with screws (included). Hot glue each set of brackets back to back and nail into both ends of screen divider with 2" nails. You'll need:

• (12) 4' pieces of 1" trim
  
• (12) 22" pieces of 1" trim
• (4) wooden shelf brackets
• 2 quarts of indoor latex paint (1 quart each of 2 colors)
• paintbrushes or rollers
• (3) 48" x 22" = 1/2" thick plywood panels
• (16) 12" x 12" cork squares
• utility knife
• hot-glue gun
• chalkboard paint
• Rust-Oleum magnetic primer ($22; amazon.com)
• about (50) 1 1/2" wire brads
• (4) hinges
• screwdriver
• (6) 2" nails
  

Mac's Daily Preschool Schedule

Habits Training

• Accuracy
• Attention
• Candor
• Cleanliness
• Courtesy
• Even Temper
• Gentleness
• Kindness
• Modesty
• Neatness
• Obedience
• Order
• Perfect Execution
• Punctuality
• Regularity
• Remembering
• Respect
• Thoroughness
• Truthfulness

Outdoors

• Free Play
• Exploration
• Garden

Read-Alouds

• Kai's Suggested Reading: simply charlotte mason list
  
• Mac's Suggested Reading: simply charlotte mason list

Beginning Reading

• Practice identifying the beginning sound of words; learn vowels are a, e, i, o, u

Copywork

• Write upper- and lower-case letters with felt-tip marker on wall chart or poster board on wal

Math

• One-to-one correlation in counting
• Puzzle

Handicrafts (Keep this in mind when selecting handicrafts and life skills)

• Beading
• Calligraphy
• Carving
• Ceramics
• Chalk drawing
• Charcoal sketching
• Clay sculpturing
• Crocheting
• Cross-stitching
• Embroidery
• Finger painting
• Flower arranging
• Gardening
• Iron sculpturing
• Kiting
• Knitting
• Latch-hooking
• Leather tooling
• Loom weaving
• Macrame
• Oil painting
• Pencil sketching
• Photography
• Picture framing
• Pottery
• Quilting
• Robotics
• Rubber stamping
• Scrapbooking
• Scroll sawing
• Sewing
• Spinning fibers
• Spool-knitting
• Videography
• Watercolor painting
• Weaving
• Weaving pot holders
• Whittling
• Woodworking

Life Skills

• Auto mechanics
• Baking
• Canning
• Changing a car tire
• Changing a lightbulb
• Checking the car’s oil
• Cleaning: mirrors, sinks, toilets, tubs and showers, baseboards
• Clearing the table
• Cooking
• CPR
• Driving a car
• Drying: clothes, dishes
• Dusting
• Electrical wiring
• Emptying trash
• First Aid
• Folding: clothes, towels, sheets
• Mopping
• Mowing the lawn
• Organizing: closets, cupboards, sheds, attics
• Painting a room
• Plumbing
• Raking leaves
• Setting the table
• Sweeping the floor
• Vacuuming
• Vegetable gardening
• Wallpapering
• Washing: clothes, dishes, windows, car
• Welding

Life Skills but also Business Skills

• Computer skills
• Keyboarding/Typing
• Tracking personal finances

Art

• Display large prints of great artists, one at a time. Tell artist’s name if child is interested. (Or can join with older siblings/students for picture study.)

Music

• Play the works of great composers, one at a time, in the background during meals or driving. Tell composer’s name if child is interested. (Or can join with older siblings/students for music study.)

Poetry

• Read poetry aloud together at least once a week. Some poetry books are listed in the Read-Alouds. (Or can listen while you read poetry to older siblings/students.)

Bible

• Read aloud the great stories of the Bible. (Or can listen to and participate in older siblings/students’ Bible readings and Scripture Memory.)

Discipline

1. Make a choice (husband & wife) on your discipline method. What actions do we disciple for?
2. Be consistent.

We really focus our parenting efforts on first time obedience: http://childwisechat.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/first-time-obedience/

When they are young, under 2, we redirect: http://www.babyhearing.org/LanguageLearning/PositiveParent/redirecting.asp

Also, I believe most children are really just "testing the boundaries" - so establish good boundary lines and discipline every time they go outside the acceptable boundary. To find out more, a good read is: http://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-Kids-Dr-Henry-Cloud/dp/0310200350

The First Haircut

Okay, here's some advice after seeing Kai's haircut today. Mac did much better than him at sitting still - so it definitely depends on the personality of your child. So::: do a practice run. Set up the space how you want (him sitting in a chair by himself or someone holding him) and (cape or no cape). Then (without scissors) use the comb and water and your fingers to play with his hair in the same method you will to cut it. See how he reacts, then make any adjustments to the environment to help him.

Mac sat in the chair by herself, with the cape on, and didn't move until Brandy was done cutting her hair. She was about 1.

Kai sat in my lap, crying, wiggling, pulling at his cape, shaking his head, and screaming while Brandy cut his hair. He finally calmed down when I started singing to him and freed his hands from under the cape. He was about 1.

If you're child is like Kai, I highly recommend a professional cutting the hair so you can hold you child - and they can be in charge of the scissors.