Week in Review-Poky Little Puppy

Well this week has been sometimes successful and sometimes not so much. We actually couldn't find the Poky Little Puppy book to read it one day this week. We did do a lot of fun projects however. We made paper plate puppies on Thursday with big floppy ears. They are quite cute!
Saturday we made dairy free rice pudding. Hudson loved it. In fact he has asked to eat it for every meal. (Not that I let him of course).
Hope you all had a charming weekend!



Dairy Free Pudding
2 cups water
1 cup brown rice, rinsed
1 1/4 cups soy milk, rice milk, or other non-dairy milk of choice
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup brown rice syrup or maple syrup
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. ground ginger
1/8 t. ground nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, place the water, and bring to a boil. Add the rice, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 35 minutes or until all of the water has been absorbed. Add the remaining ingredients, stir well to combine, and continue to cook the mixture over low heat until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and place the pudding in the refrigerator to chill. Top individual servings with a little additional cinnamon before serving, if desired.

Serves 3-4

The Poky Little Puppy

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1 (Our memory verse to go along with The Poky Little Puppy)
I waited until today to post about our home preschool unit study (notice I am picking up lingo) this week because we started the week off with a two part project. We are reading The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey. I remember having this book read to me when I was a little girl. It is so special to now share it with my son.
So on Monday we ventured out into the "wide wide world"(really just our block) and took pictures of the amazing things we saw. Tuesday we made an accordion book with the pictures we took. I wrote what Hudson said about each of the pictures underneath and then laminated the book for durability. The outdoor adventure was more fun for Hudson, however, he is also enjoying looking at his book as well. Come back at the end of the week to see the other fun activities we do.

Week in Review

What a fun week we have had. As I posted on Monday our home preschool theme was Carrot Soup by John Segal. On Monday we began with a seed experiment. None of the seeds we found in the kitchen have sprouted yet but hopefully will soon.
Tuesday we had a grand adventure painting with vegetables. Celery, carrots, broccoli and potatoes became our paint brushes as we created some very unique place mats. Wednesday we took a break. Our plan was to make Carrot soup that day, but it just didn't happen. Thursday we flipped our place mats over and created a fruits and vegetables collage on the other side. (Craig my husband will be laminating them shortly). Friday we decided to do a tried and true experiment. We cut the end off of some leafy celery and put it in a jar of blue colored water.
Stay tuned for next weeks unit study...

Week in Review

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:16
Wow what a week we have had. This past week was the start of 2 pretty big things in our family. The first one was the Daniel Fast. It has been an adventure creating recipes, using other people's creations and munching rice cakes out of sheer desperation.
I have been struggling a lot with my own selfishness during this time, and let me tell you I have not been struggling quietly. However part of doing this fast for me is to put myself into a situation where I know I need God to get me through. And He has. Day by day I have gotten through. Some days have been much more challenging than others. It is really difficult to not look somber. When everyone else is devouring their yummy lemon poppy seed cake at bible study it is tough to not plead for sympathy. I am progressing in this.

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:2
Our other big introduction this week was the start of home preschool. Hudson and I have been doing some really fun things with The Very Hungry Caterpillar book by Eric Carle.
On Monday I posted about our Very Thirsty Caterpillars and they are just about to sprout.
Tuesday we made Egg carton caterpillars.
Wednesday we played the Very Hungry Caterpillar board game
Thursday we made fruit salad
Today we made folded paint butterflies (to wrap up our caterpillar week.)
Be sure to check in on Monday to find out our theme for next week!
Have a great weekend and God bless.
I got this prayer from Cheaper by the Half Dozen.
Lord,
WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES.
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one
blessing after another. John 1:16
WE HUMBLY GIVE THIS DAY TO YOU.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be
glad in it. Psalm 118:24
WE COMMIT OUR FAMILY TO YOUR KINGDOM.
As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
SURROUND OUR HOME AND EACH OF US WITH
YOUR PROTECTION.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble. Psalm 46:1
GIVE US PEACE EVEN WHEN WE HAVE MUCH TO DO
AND MANY PLACES TO GO.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. John 14:27
FILL OUR HEARTS WITH LOVE FOR YOU, EACH
OTHER, AND THOSE AROUND US.
Love one another, for love comes from God. 1 John 4:7
HELP US TO FULFILL YOUR PLANS AND MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
“For I know the plans I have for you…plans to give you
hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
OUR FAMILY IS YOURS, TODAY AND ALWAYS.
AMEN.
-Holley Gerth
Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®.
©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan

Very Thirsty Caterpillars!

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, Deuteronomy 11:18-20

Well today was the start of homeschool preschool at our house. A very successful first day. My plan is not to be extremely structured just read some bible stories and prayer each morning. Have a book theme for the week and a corresponding activity daily. The rest of our learning can be done while folding towels and doing dishes through songs that we sing, stories that I tell and conversations that we have.
Our book theme this week is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I love this book. There are so many things you can do with this theme... caterpillars, butterflies, healthy eating, fruits of the spirit... a wonderful story really.
Our activity today came from the book Homespun Memories for the Heart by Karen Ehman, Kelly Hovermale, Trish Smith.
We made Very Thirsty Caterpillars.
Wanna do it to?
Materials:
Grass seed
soil
kneehigh nylon stocking
string
large spoon or small garden shovel
Step 1: Mix soil and grass seed 4 to 1 (4 cups soil, 1 cup grass seed).
Step 2: Put 3-4 heaping spoons of soil/ seed mixture into the nylon.
Step 3: Pack down the mixture in the nylon so it forms a ball.
step 4: Twist the nylon and tie with a string.
step 5: Repeat steps 2-4 until you run out of soil or run out of nylon.
step 6: Tie the end ot the nylon and trim with scissors.
step 7: Place your caterpillar on a dish in a sunny place and water well.
step 8: Watch the caterpillar grow a nice fuzzy grass coat.
step 9: Have a whole lot of fun!