Preschoolers, middle ones and teenagers. That’s where we are. With such a mix of ages it’s sometimes hard to have individual time with each child. Just how do you make a habit of planning individual time with each child? Today I share a few of the ways my husband and I accomplish that. The habits […]
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A Hodgepodge December and a Chalk Pastels ebook
It’s been a Hodgepodge sort of December. We’ve collected many happy memories even though we were hit with sickness starting early in the month. The flu was staggered with each of our family of seven – lasting 10 days to two weeks for each of us. So far, only one escaped. The sick ones were […]
December around the web…
God is Jealous Moore to the Point – How to Deal with Holiday Family Tensions Implications of God’s Passion for His Glory | the Cripplegate Four Reasons Men Don’t Read Books (with a Practical Suggestion) – Desiring God WORLD | Tyndale House wins mandate court battle | Mickey McLean | Nov. 17, 2012 Christianity Today Gleanings: […]
Homeschooling Multiple Ages – Best of Hodgepodge
We teach an age range of five children from one who just turned five up to 15. Preschool, elementary, middle school and high school. For a long time I’ve called it Layers and Levels of Learning. That one-room schoolhouse type of learning. But Lasagna Learning describes it much more accurately. Homeschooling multiple ages… update: we’ve […]
Top 2012 Hodgepodge Slow Cooker Recipes
We really are a hodgepodge here with homemaking, homeschooling and homecooking. So, over the next little while I’ll be sharing the top posts in these categories. Today, it’s easy home cooking. Those basic, simple and delicious recipes I turn to. And each one of these is for the slow cooker: Ultimate List of Easy Slow […]
Small Victories and Nana’s Art Tutorials
This week has been a bit of a colorful blur. We’ve had a few sick children around here. One level of the house for the sick, one for the well. We do have well ones! And everyone else is slowly feeling better. So I focused on small victories. Like this one I shared on Facebook… […]
‘Tis the Season to Be…
…Jolly…Ready for fun…Busy…Crazy…Worn out… Or ’tis it the season to be Blessed…Thankful…Loved…Cherished…? With the holidays upon us, many of us face crazy days of shopping, maybe a little traveling to see family members, and more than likely church events, musicals and plays to fill our evenings. The month of December can be over and done with […]
Simple Comforts for Sickness
It’s just about a given that when you have five children in the house and participate in multiple events that you will have some sickness. Well, we’ve been socked pretty hard the last couple of weeks. Sickness spaced out just right, several doctor visits and gallons of Gatorade. So I thought I’d gather a few, […]
I Finally Did it – Start the Day Outside
Yes, I finally did what I should have done years ago. I am a homeschooling mom of two wild but wonderful boys. One is “wilder” than the other one. I believe the LORD has been telling me for a very, very long time to start our day by sending my boys outside. I kept resisting […]
Staying Healthy and Active During the Holidays
I have struggled with my weight for 10+ years and have been on many diets and programs, none of which were successful in the long term. I decided in January to make big lifestyle changes. I have changed the way I think about food and am much more active. In less than a year, I have lost […]
Hello – Introducing Amy
Today we introduce our newest author, Amy! Amy and husband Jeremy have been married 7 years and have 2 small boys. She enjoys chronicling the simple adventures of their little family through photos, and is also an expert at making a beautiful home out of yard sale/flea market furniture! You can visit Amy at her blog, […]
Homemade Gifts
(my brother’s homemade gift tags – small, free hand pieces of art we look forward to each year) Part of the fun of giving gifts each year is making them! We set aside some afternoons – spread apart in December – to spread out supplies and make gifts. Permission to paint and create! Sometimes we […]
Don’t Be Like the Frog
“Don’t Be Like the Frog” I have told the story of the frog that boiled to death before, but in the times we are living in, I think it bears repeating. There once was a frog that fell into a container of water. Now frogs love water, so he decided to just make himself comfortable […]