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Button Bulletin Board (say that three times fast)

September 8, 2008 at 2:16 pm | In Craftin' With Hali, Crafty, For Hali, Home Decor | 3 Comments
Tags: craft, buttons, cork board, bulletin board, paint, pink

I love buttons. Hali loves buttons. We love buttons. Big ones small ones new ones old ones. Our love of buttons is almost an obsession. Want to make us happy? Give us a bag full of buttons to sort through and organize by color. We will surely do any craft you can come up with that involves buttons.

I’d been stockpiling my pink buttons just for Hali. I wanted to do a fun button craft just for her. Something for her room. Then I realized she didn’t have a bulletin board/cork board. Awesome!

So I had her choose a pink paint from my stash of acrylics. Unfortunately she chose to go with a horrible Pepto Bismal Pink that was posing as Fuchsia. That pretty much sealed the deal. I masked the cork off with tape and paper then let her paint away.

After that dried we started gluing buttons on. We just used regular ol’ Elmer’s glue. I helped with the top and the bottom because I am OCD that way and had to have them somewhat symmetrical. After that she was one her own. Painting, gluing, AND buttons all in the same day? Hali was in HEAVEN!

A close up:

We screwed one of those tea cup hooks that have a metal catch at the tip so that nothing can easily slide off into the wall. I hot glued (though I probably should have stapled or nailed or something) a length of pink polka dotted ribbon to the back of the board and hung it up. I chose to put it down low within her reach so that she could actually use it.

Hali was so pleased to have a place to put her mementos and such! She immediately started gathering a few things up and put them on her new board.

And what did she put them up with? Why fabric covered money pushpins! Never heard of these before? Neither had I! That’s why I am calling them that. Or perhaps they should have some cool name, like “fat money pins” (fabric- attached- to=f.a.t.). Wow. I am just getting cooler by the minute here.

I cut out small circles from scrap fabric, centered various coins on them, hot glued around the edges, pinched the edges of the fabric up around the back of the coin, and glued on the tack to the remaining exposed coin.

The Time Old Navy Made Me Cry

September 5, 2008 at 3:35 pm | In The Mundane, adventures with Hali, family, self awareness | 2 Comments
Tags: childhood, Hali, motherhood

Somehow I signed up to have Old Navy e-mail me their store adds. I clicked on the ad this morning. It was for a sale on baby clothes. Baby clothes. For newborns all the way up through size 5T. My four year old daughter? Is a size 6 now.

I don’t even get to shop for her in the same part of the store anymore. She is firmly insisting on continually growing. My tall lanky little girl is not so little anymore. She’s always been in the highest percentile for height.

So here I am. I have a preschooler. I have a big girl. She rarely lets me refer to her as even “my baby” anymore. We are going through this whole new, take-it-to-the-next-level independent stage. She doesn’t want to hold my hand. She doesn’t want to ride in the grocery cart anymore- she wants to walk beside it. Cuddles are few and far between.

All these dang milestones. Now I am just all the more determined to enjoy this last year at home we have together. I knew she wouldn’t be my baby girl forever, and it is exciting to see her growing up, I just wish it didn’t manage to jab me in the heart every single time there is irrefutable proof that my baby girl isn’t a baby anymore.

Introverted No Longer

September 4, 2008 at 6:07 am | In self awareness | No Comments

I have always been quite introverted. Growing up, I wasn’t the popular girl surrounded by admirers. Then again, I was also smart enough not to be one of those admirers. I maybe had a couple of good friends, and another handful of more casual friends. Living in a very small town meant that I knew everyone at school and they all knew me. But honestly? There were more than a few years at school when I didn’t have any good friends. I would sit at lunch with someone I sort of knew and who was at least willing to tolerate me.

Putting myself out there has just never been something that I was good at. And the times that I did work up the nerve to do it? Weren’t always the best experiences. Even as an adult, I have been sincerely surprised by other adults’ behavior towards new comers.

When we recently moved back to a town that I had previously grown to love, I was excited. I had an easy time in that area making actual friends. I knew that a couple of them had left the area and that it was much changed, but I knew I would be happy with the area.

I looked at moving a town area as a chance to reinvent myself in a way. I decided that I would fight that introverted shy side of me and gather up my courage. I was going to put myself out there. Make it known that I was here. I spoke up in church. Chatted up anyone and everyone who came my way. And low and behold I had made myself some friends.

It didn’t actually kill me to call up a few women just to say hi, or even invite them over for a play date. And having adult conversation with someone not related to you? Awesome. It doesn’t hurt that Hali gets to play and socialize right there with me when I get together with other moms. In fact, it makes me feel better- I had been feeling pretty guilty about not having many friends with children her age to play with. As an only child, it’s pretty important for her to have kids to play with.

Previously, when I’d take one of those personality quizzes that you find all over the place, I would always answer that after getting together with a group of people, I feel tired. Now, I feel energized. It’s crazy. I’ve changed.

We Have Been Spared

September 2, 2008 at 4:07 pm | In The Mundane | 1 Comment
Tags: hurricane, Texas

Luckily, it looks as though we have been spared. No hurricane here this time. Some wind and some rain later today and tomorrow, but that is it. Three years ago or so when Rita came through Texas, we were living in Idaho. With the exception of those few months and the first three years of my life, I have always lived in Texas. As has my husband.

I was talking to a friend who is a Utah transplant here in Texas this weekend. Having never been through a hurricane herself she was asking me about them. I realized that I didn’t know much- there hasn’t actually been one here when I’ve been in Texas. I could remember some close calls, some tropical storms and depression but that is it.

So I asked hubby if he could remember going through a hurricane. He mentioned that there was one when he was four or five he thinks. I looked it up. It looks like back in 1983 Hurricane Alicia came through our little part of Texas, though it’s more than likely was already downgraded to a tropical storm by the time she hit us.

This seems to be the case often here. I did a little research and we just always seem to be blessed. Or perhaps we are just far enough inland that we don’t usually get hit with the full force of a hurricane. Thank goodness! I hope our good fortune continues- I’m a girly girl. I. Do. Not. Rough. It.

Aprons

August 22, 2008 at 4:27 pm | In Craftin' With Hali, Crafty, clothing, sewing | 2 Comments
Tags: aprons, crafts, gifts, kids, sewing

Despite the weather (it’s been raining every day this week and doesn’t look like that is going to change any time soon) I knew I’d better snap a few pics of completed projects while I remembered. This is Hali’s apron. I just made up a pattern, because I wanted something very simple. Just enough to protect her clothes when she helps me bake or for particularly messy crafts.

She liked hers so much, I decided to make another for her friend who just turned four yesterday. I had her model it before we headed out to his party:

With my assistance, Hali ironed on some letters to personalize the apron a little as well. This apron is actually made from a dish towel I picked up at Garden Ridge. I just added some matching bright green bias tape (you can’t see it well, but there are a couple rows of bright green stitching in the towel) and flipped up the bottom to make pockets. As this was a gift for a boy, the little princess cat that was embroidered at the bottom of the towel also had to be cut off.

We made and bought a couple other gifts for him as well, I just didn’t manage to get pictures. Maybe next time we are over for a play date.

Influencing My Child

August 19, 2008 at 5:24 am | In adventures with Hali, family, preschool, self awareness | 1 Comment

As a parent I worry more than enough about how I am influencing my child. Guilt hits me as soon as something I said wrong leaves my big mouth. I use a word I shouldn’t have. I criticize when I should have praised. Or do I praise too much? Did I praise the right thing? Should I focus more on the effort than the actual outcome? I haven’t been eating as many vegetables as I should- surely Hali has picked up on that and so she’s not eating hers as well as she should.

I swear I can make everything about me! It’s always somehow my fault. Even in my head.

So on top of the normal day-to-day parental influencing that I have, I am now inflicting my educational influences on my daughter. For the next year I am in charge of her schooling. Great. Another area I can totally mess up. I have to confess to being less than enthusiastic about some aspects of education. Thankfully, most of these aspects are more a part of the public school system. Not schooling itself.

However, I do have a hard time balancing encouragement with outright pushiness. A couple of weeks ago, Hali was sitting next to me at the desk in the office. She had decided she wanted to work in a workbook. One of those trace-the-letter-then-draw-it-on-your-own deals.

She settled in next to me and started working away, making the same letter five or six times, turn the page, repeat. She had done about two pages. Realistically, that is pretty dang good for a four year old. She had just begun work on her third page. She decided that she was tired and wanted to quit. So I looked at the page. It was a letter that she struggles with drawing.

I kind of froze. I thought about pushing her on. I thought about just suggesting another letter to work on. I thought about just saying that was fine and to go play.

I was really worried over this little thing, because for some reason, on this day, the enormity of how my response would influence her hit me hard. So, I smiled, and told her all her letters looked really good (and they did). I gave her a sticker on the complete pages at her request. And I said ” Qs are tricky! Here, let me make you another dotted one for you to trace so you can practice making it”. This made her pretty happy and she traced it. She decided that was enough and I let it be.

I didn’t want to push her to the point where she just didn’t think it was fun any more. But I also didn’t want her to close her work book in frustration over a “tricky” letter and have it ruin her enthusiasm.

Thinking about it afterwards as she was playing, I couldn’t help but think about how badly this could have gone. I was sort of doing my own thing on the computer while she was working next to me. Only half paying attention. I’d look over when she wanted my attention and smile and tell her I was proud of her for working so hard. Had I been in a bad mood and out of patience or whatever, I really may have responded differently. And I worry about the impact that could have had on her.

That little educational moment may not seem like a big deal at a glance, or even to other people, but we are in the early stages here, and I really do fear I will mess this up for her. As her parent, I naturally have hopes for her. I want her to love learning. I want her to enjoy it. While I think it is only natural that she wants my or another teacher’s approval, I want her to work hard because she wants to.

Mini Vacation 2008

August 15, 2008 at 4:23 pm | In adventures with Hali, family, vacation | 2 Comments
Tags: beach, family, fun, vacation

We recently discovered the greatness of The Mini Vacation. We spent most of a weekend at the beach and had a blast. Jeremy decided to inform me that we were going just a few days before we were going to be leaving. So, I decided to roll with it and make it a Big Deal. We booked a hotel last minute, packed a bag with a couple changes of clothes, a cooler full of drinks and snacks, and loaded up all our beach gear.

I have to admit, we had the best time. A couple hours drive there. A couple hours at the beach. A swim in the beautiful hotel pool. After showers and some sprucing up we decided to walk next door to The Rainforest Cafe. We’ve never taken Hali, so it was quite an experience for us as a family. If you’ve never been to one and/or you have the opportunity to take the kids DO IT! The whole thing is just great. Excuse the bad picture- they keep the whole place pretty dark- its supposed to be like a real rainforest…

Our hotel room had a balcony with a beach and pool view:

There was mini golf. Or was it putt-putt? Either way? Fun! Hali’s first time. It got to the point where I was having such bad luck it was kind of a game to see just how many times I could miss a shot that looked as though it should have gone in. If that is a game, I am the winner, hands down.

And, on the way home, pancakes, waffles, and this:

some amateur car races at the Gulf Greyhound Racetrack. Jeremy was a happy man. Again, sorry for the bad picture quality- it’s hard to photograph racing cars while you’re still sitting in your car with a camera that needs replacing.

All in all it was a wonderful weekend. We already have plans on doing it again next year.

This was actually the view as we were leaving the mini golf course. (Darn you power lines! You have ruined too many of my photos!)

Homeschooling Help

August 11, 2008 at 2:51 pm | In books, preschool | 4 Comments
Tags: books, education, homeschool, preschool

I have been asked by a several people about the books that I read concerning homeschooling. I read, or rather started to read a few less than helpful ones that just seemed to give the most basic information and were rather repetitive, so here are the ones that I found to be most helpful:

Once we had decided that we definitely were going to home school, (and I read a couple before I was 100% sure that was what we were going to do) this book was without a doubt, the best, most useful book I have read on the subject of homeschooling:

100 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum and Approach for Your Child’s Learning Style

This book just really helped me to put all my questions in order. The book begins by asking you a series of simple questions about your goals for your child, your values, etc. From there you can get a better feel for what approach you should take. The questions also really help to get you in the right frame of mind and to get you thinking.

The book also covers a few general learning styles. While Hali (and I imagine most children) doesn’t fit neatly into one type, it did help me to know what to look for so that I can figure out for myself how my daughter learns best.

I believe that she is a crazy mix: for things like math and writing, Hali seems to do well just sitting for a few minutes and working in a work book or other fairly “traditional” ways. For just about everything else we’re going to be getting a little more hands on. She likes to please me and receive praise for her good work, but she’s still a four year old who wants to have fun, play, socialize, and experience things.

This seems to describe most kids her age, so I thought it was important that I share my thoughts on this with you, because your children are not going to fit into just one category described in this book.

The rest of this book covers approaches, or curriculum. Through a series of questions where you are to decided your preferences and such (I know, I know. More questions? Gah!) you can narrow down what home school approach will work best for you and your child. Don’t stress over these questions. After you start thinking about things and the juices get flowing, the answers will seem quite obvious to you.

This was the most helpful part of the book to me. I hadn’t even realized it, but I have been putting to use the approach that works best for us since before Hali was two. I won’t share what approach we are using today, because I don’t want to sway or wrongly influence anyone, but I will post about it soon.

After reading this book I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I knew what to do! I had better direction! It really got me excited about the upcoming school year.

If you have already made the decision to homeschool, this is the first book you should read. Not homeschooling? Fine. Read this book anyways. You will truely gain invaluable insight about your child and their education.

Another book that really provided some wonderful insight is:

Your Child’s Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them

Let me tell you, this book isn’t just for discovering your child’s strong areas. After reading this book I have a better understanding of where educators make mistakes. I understand my reactions to certain subjects and teachers in school growing up. This is useful, because now I know what to look out for when it comes to Hali’s education.

I’ve read a few of books about education in general, in addition to these, and I must confess, some of them are a little “conspiracy theory” but I found myself agreeing with them and not feeling so comfortable with that! I’ve also read a couple of additional books about preschool ideas and activities and in fact, loved a couple of them so much I am buying them today. I will gladly share them with you if there is any interest.

Our Daily Time Line

August 8, 2008 at 11:10 pm | In Craftin' With Hali, Crafty, For Hali, The Mundane, adventures with Hali, paper crafts | 1 Comment
Tags: clock, daily schedule, Hali, paper crafts, timeline

At the beginning of the year, I posted about this, our daily clock:

A huge clock that Hali and I made to help keep her on schedule and to help her know what comes next.

When we moved a few weeks later, I decided to throw it out. I was trying to implement a few changes in our schedule anyways, so I thought we can just try something new. So, I simplified things and made a new schedule- on more of a time line than a clock format (there were mix ups with a.m. and p.m. also).

I hung this one on the wall just outside Hali’s room, just as we did with the clock. For this one, we managed to find something in various magazines to illustrate each event in Hali’s day. Not only that, but Hali truly did most of this one herself.

I helped Hali cut a few pieces of paper in half (we used my paper cutter). She glued them together. Then I pointed out approximate areas where she should write each number, and helped her with a few of the tricky ones.

Then came the fun part! We pulled out all my home decor magazines (I love home decor) and started searching for pictures to cut. Any reason for Hali to use her scissors is enough to make her a happy girl! After we had enough pictures we glued them on to the “time line” and taped it up to the wall.

This really helped me to get her moving along in the mornings (poor girl takes after me- I am NOT a morning person) and to keep her on task during the day. If she didn’t want to do something or just wasn’t not cooperating, then I would just ask her to go look at her time line so we could see what’s next. And she would run right over to it and proudly yell what it is that we do next.

After a few weeks she really didn’t even need it anymore. But when we’re having a hard time getting into gear, it’s handy to have it there in writing, or um pictures, to help motivate Hali. And her mom. We made it out of things we had around the house, so when our schedule changes in a few weeks (when we officially start preschool home school) I won’t feel bad about throwing this one out or rearranging things on it.