I HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!!!

In an effort to make things more clear for those visiting my site and trying to find resources, and also just to have more options when it comes to design, I created a new website that has a lot more functionality!  You can visit me there at: http://www.wisdomandrighteousness.com/!  Check it out and let me know what you think!

Also, all lapbooks are on sale through Sunday!  Save $5 on the package deal by entering the coupon code SAVE5 at checkout, and save $2 off each individual lapbook by entering SAVE2!  Its my wa of saying thanks for enjoying our resources!

Sequence CC Review Game!

I got the idea of a Sequence game for review from another CC Mom, and created the template!  You can download it here, or from my freebies column on the right!  Basically, the template will need to be printed on cardstock that is similar to the colors used for your review cards.  I also added white for the History Timeline.  Just one sheet per color, cut and you're ready to play!  (you can also laminate, if desired).  I just grabbed some coins around the house.  Robby was Quarters, I was Dimes, and Becca used Pennies.  Other ideas might be to use dry beans or types of cereal!  Keep it fun!  Fill your kids in on the strategy - the first person to get 6 in a row (or four if younger players) wins!  Let them know that they can block their opponent from finishing their row.  (If your kids are like mine, this was their favorite part - blocking someone else!)  Have Fun!

Even Puppy's Grow Old!

Gabe's birthday party was a great time.  To those who couldn't make it - WE MISSED YOU!  To those who could - such fun!  Thanks for coming!  Gaber turned one of course, and his party was a "puppy" theme.  We had puppy chow in a dog bowl, Dog bone-shaped soft pretzels in a dog biscuit bin, and a hydrant for a water cooler!  The cake was a paw print, and of course the man of honor was in his puppy costume!

He had a great time.  When it came time for the cake, he just stared at it.  We gave him a taste of the frosting and he proceeded to lick his fingers clean, but he was still hesitant to dig in until he warmed up to it a bit.  We will see if his response to his birthday cake is in any way indicative of his personality later in life.  When he approaches the unknown, will he hesitate, or jump right in?  Who knows, only time will tell!  He certainly is such a blessing - full of constant smile, and we are overjoyed to raise this little wonder!

 

This is our last week of CC, and I am looking forward to the break to really solidify what we have already learned.  We will be using our review lapbooks for this of course, along with a lot of games for CC review.  I am excited about Becca's new idea for a game - we go through coffee creamer like crazy around here and Becca noticed that the containers are shapied like bowling pins.  We are saving up to have all ten, and then we will go "bowling" with our cans for CC review! Should be fun to put together and to play!  Plus, as the snow settles in here, it will give us something a little more active to do.

Our Truth in the Tinsel projects are so much fun.  We didn't get much done this weekend, so we already made two ornaments this morning to "catch up".  It worked out well since the oldest kids were the only ones up, and their creative juices were already rolling!

Hope all is well with everyone, and that you have been able to find a way to slow down and savor the coming of Christ!  What a truly joyful time of the year!

~Karen

Blankets and Jurisdictions

One of the CC Smart Mama's in my sons' class lent me this book (check your library), which I completely devoured.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book.  It basically tells their story and how God has been at work in their life.  But I absolutely had to share my two favorite parts that have practical application. 

My all-time favorite was "Jurisdictions".  Now - I have always been in favor of giving my children chores to teach them responsibility, have them help throughout the house, and to train them to follow through, but this is a different way of looking at chores.  Historically, I have assigned specific chores to the kids - pick up the toys, set the table, straighten the coats, etc.  Well, in a nutshell, "jurisdictions" eliminates specifics.  Instead, you assign an area, or "jurisdiction" to the kids.  First, I talked to them about what "jurisdiction" meant using the idea of the President of the United States.  I asked the kids if he was in charge of just a few states or all of them.  Of course, they said all of them.  I said, "so his "jurisdiction" is the whole United States".  I gave them some other examples in real life, and we talked about what those people's "jurisdiction" was, or the area they are in charge of.  I told them that they are going to be assigned jurisdictions in the house - areas they are in charge of.  Then we talked about when the President is in charge - is he only in charge in the morning for a few hours, and then he does what he wants and the states are on their own?  Or does he have to be in charge of the states at all times, and any tine they need something, do it?  Of course they said, "all the time."  We talked about how their jurisdiction are the same way.  If at any time during the day, something is out of place in their jurisdiction, they needed to correct it - not just when mommy tells them to.  Then I assigned their jurisdictions to them, and pointed out what they need to look for, and what the areas should look like to be considered taken care of.  We have actually had fun doing it, and they seem to like to be in charge of an area.  It is my new favorite tool (hopefully it lasts a while!)

The second great thing I got from it is the "blanket playpen."  You train a young child to sit on a blanket for a period of time with only one object.  Start small, training them not to leave the blanket parameters, then add the toy, then increase the amount of time.  Pretty soon, you have a playpen in a purse!  It comes in handy when you are out-and-about and you want them to stay safe and for you to be able to participate for up to an hour, depending on the age of the kids.  The trick is to make it fun (or so the book says).  I am just barely starting to work on this one, so we will see how it goes, but it sounds great at the forefront!

Anyway, just thought I would share! 

~Karen

Wild About Widsom

First thing first, it's our "Gaber Baber"'s brithday today - ONE YEAR OLD!  I cannot believe how fast this year went!  So many blessings!  Here is a pic of him enjoying his brithday cookie for breakfast!  It's a little blurry, but you can see he wasn't asking for rice cereal!!!  :)

Our Wild About Wisdom homeschool group met this morning and it was my turn to plan the day!  We started out with a wonderful story in rhyme about the Baby in a Manger, and then made fun Pop-up nativity sets using this free template.  Every child's was unique!  Then we frosted the elements of the manger scene - a Stable, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus in the Manger and the Star.  I couldn't find cookie cutters so I bent some of the ones I never use into a Mary, Joseph and Manger.  Just wish I could have found those mini-candy canes that were supposed to be Joseph's staff - oh well, maybe next year!

What a wonderful morning!  Then in the afternoon when I got the crazy two year old to nap, we made our second ornament from my NEW FAVORITE RESOURCE - "Truth in the Tinsel" - An e-book with 24 days of activities for advent.  Each day includes a scripture reading, directions to make an ornament relating to the scripture, and ideas, questions or additional resources to bring the point home.  Only finished with Day two and loving it already!  Aren't the kids' ornaments darling?  And best of all, they remember "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light"....  Isaiah 9.

And lastly, I started working on Gabe's birthday party items - it's a puppy theme, so i will post a few pic here or there the next few days.  Tonight's agenda - Soft pretzel doggie bones!!!  They turned out GREAT!  Only terrible thing is that the kids and I can't stop eating them - YUM!

Blessings this Christmas season as we anticipate the birth of Christ!

~Karen

Simple Memories

Our house doesn't celebrate Santa because a few years ago someone had pointed out that if we tell our children about Santa, who they can't see, and also tell them about God, who they can't see, then when they find out Santa isn't real, it might make them question God.  I thought that was fair reasoning.  We do however, mention that many families celebrate in that way, and that it is a game parents and children play just for fun.  Our kids know not to tell other kids that Santa isn't real (or the tooth fairy, or the easter bunny), and that when people ask what Santa brought them, they are just asking what gifts they received for Christmas.  I think each family has to decide what works best for them.  We do have fun playing along with all of the Christmas make-believe, fully knowing that it is all pretend, and we make sure it doesn't detract from the true meaning of Christmas.  Last night was a great example of how this works, and it just flowed out naturally - no planning on my part!

We popped some popcorn and sat down to string some up on thread to use as garland on the Christmas tree (I have such fond memories of loving that as a young kid!).  We watched a classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" movie.  It naturally led to us talking about how the reindeer made fun of Rudolph because he was different, but that it was exactly that different which gave his life a special purpose.  We too, are each created unique.  Some of us may look or act different than a lot of other people, but God has uniquely designed us for His purpose, and one day we can "Shine in the darkness", pointing the way to Christ! (just like Rudolph's nose pointed the way!)

We also talked about how we were "knitting together" the popcorn, and how the Bible tells us we were knitted together in our mother's room.  God put us together perfectly - we are "fearfully and wonderfully made!"

Such wonderful memories I store up in my heart!

Blessings,
Karen

Advent Experience {Truth in the Tinsel}

I found a fun Advent resource by Amanda White with all kinds of great projects that walks you right through Advent!  No more tedious planning!  Perfect for the younger grades!


I love that the scriptures are repeated several times throughout the month so that the kids really understand and remember the Truth!  This is all about Christ, and leads us to the cross - you can't love the manger, unless you know it was ultimately for the cross!  Check it out!



When you BUY THE BOOK, you’ll have 24 full days, detailed supply lists, alternative schedules for those busy weeks, free printable templates and some great tips on how to use the book!  Best of all, it's only $4.99!!!  Forget about all the time and effort spent planning - spend that time with the kids!  Totally worth it!

So excited for this resource!  Hope you enjoy it too!