Here is an inexpensive learning tool to use with your preschool/kindergarten-aged child. All that you need are index cards and a marker.

Divide your index cards into two sets of 26. On one set, write one uppercase letter per card, making sure to cover the whole alphabet. Do the same on the second set of cards, only this time write in lowercase letters. So, you should now have a set of index cards with the uppercase alphabet and one set with the lowercase alphabet.

Lay out, in random order, your uppercase letters. Next to that, lay out your lowercase letters (again in random order.) Like this:

Then have your child match each uppercase letter to it's lowercase version.


We were learning the letter "E" last week. So after Ian matched all his cards, he used the cards to "write" the letter "E".

I'm currently working on putting together another fun, hands-on learning activity that will help your child with letter identification. I got the idea from my wonderful friend, Lori, who is currently getting her master's in education. This project is a bit more time consuming, but as soon as I complete it and take some pics, I'll post it for everyone.

See you next time!

Amber

My Weekend Adventures

Yesterday we went to Robinson's Farm. This is an annual autumn tradition of ours. As simple as it is, it always makes me feel "all warm and fuzzy." Why the use of the corny cliche? Well, simply put, our annual visit to Robinson's has become a tradition, and traditions have always made me very happy.

So, without further ado, I would love to share with you all the delightful sights our eyes saw yesterday...

Here's Ian and Lily with this year's "giant" pumpkin. It weighed 557 1/2 pounds this year!

Ian and Lily picking out their pumpkins...

Don't these look yummy?! We bought two baskets of these. One for pie-making and one for snacking!

Lily loves having her picture taken. I always have more photos of Lily than Ian, and it's not because Lily's my favorite. Lily just loves to pose for the camera. Ian runs away.

Oh, there was also a big table full of this...

Did you know that stuff was edible? I didn't! We were talking to the owner of the farm, and he said that it's called Indian corn because the Indians used to grind it into a meal (like the corn meal we use today to make cornbread) and use it in their breads. Hence the name Indian corn. Hmmm... I like when I learn new things.

We also went to IKEA this weekend. We took my sister, Ashley. It was her first time. Now she states she will be an IKEA addict. We had a lot of fun, and I just love that place. The really funny thing is that a large portion of the decor that IKEA sells is modern and really not my decorating style, but I always find things that I love. Plus, it's a really fun store, and I love to see how they can cram so much efficient and attractive storage and furniture into such small places. If you've ever been there, you know exactly what I'm talking about. They set up living spaces throughout the store so that the customers can see how the furniture can be most efficiently used. I'm always amazed when I go there.

Ash loved IKEA because she decorates in a more modern, contemporary style. She REALLY liked this cushion cover, and you just couldn't beat the price. Can you tell? Actually I told her to make a dramatic "I am so in love, I can't believe I found this" kind of face.

I really liked these ivory pillows.

We also got some of these silicone ice cube trays. We're going to use them to make crayons! We bought star-shaped, fish-shaped, and flower-shapes trays. Just save your old crayon pieces, shave them down, put the shavings in the trays, and bake. Then when they cool, you pop them out of the tray, and you have cool multi-colored crayon shapes.

The kids' department at IKEA is tons of fun. I even found a huge roll of art paper for the kids to draw on for only $8.00! What a steal!

Oh, and ladies. I have to tell you that I found an ingenious invention at Wal-Mart that night. Look at this:

Can you see what that is that I'm holding? They are slippers that have little cleaning thingies on the soles. You're supposed to put these things on and dance and prance around your kitchen. When finished, your floor will be sparkling clean. Hmmm... Maybe if I bought these, I would actually have a clean kitchen floor all the time. If a kid spills some milk on the floor, not to worry, I'll just scoot over with my handy-dandy cleaning slippers on and clean it up. I better buy two pairs though 'cause I'll have to wear these all day to keep my kitchen floor clean!

My Obsession

I currently have a love affair with black spray paint. Shhh... Don't tell Brad. Actually, if Brad hasn't been able to tell that by looking around our home, he's even 10 times less observant than research says men are. (Love ya, honey! You know I think you're completely awesome.)

You know why I love black spray paint? 'Cause you can take something old and give it a makeover to make it look completely updated (well, in a worn and shabby kind of way) within a few minutes. Plus, it dries fast. And that's a really good thing 'cause I'm not patient enough to wait for regular paint to dry.

Hmmm... Let me think of all the things I've painted black.

There was this shelf (original color was green):

I distressed it, as I do most of the things I paint black, to give it that old, worn look. See? I know, it's kind of blurry.Then there was this toaster cover my darling made for me. He gave it to me naked and I dressed it up in a little black and distressed it:

I also painted this little thing I have sitting on my hallway bathroom vanity top. It was an ugly color of some sort with ugly little painted flowers on it. I found it at Goodwill for $1.00. Nothing a little black paint and distressing can't beautify.

I also painted the ugly yellow, artificial oak trim around my mirror in the bathroom. Again, I distressed that also. I couldn't get a whole mirror shot 'cause the mirror was too big. Plus, I'm currently not in a state that I would want you all to see me.

Oh, and here are two pieces of enamelware that I own (I know this has nothing to do with black paint, but I was reminded of this little collection while I was in the bathroom taking the pics.) The first one (soap dish) is a reproduction that I bought at my friend Lori's garage sale. Her mom was selling it for $5.00 and I swiped that thing as fast as I could off the table. The second piece I just found in an antique store in North Carolina while we were on vacation. It is a real piece.

Then I moved on to this rocking chair. My parents bought this 28 years ago when I was born to put in my nursery. It was a very dark, 70's-looking stain with some gold detailing on it. I put it in my bedroom like that, and it really annoyed me. So, I called my mom and asked her if she would mind if I painted it black 'cause then I'd like it a whole lot more and would actually want to keep it in my room. She didn't care, so here it is...

Then my project today was our bedside stands. I had painted the above rocking chair and the mirror you'll see in the following picture, and the oak colored stands just weren't fitting in anymore. Here's a before:

And here's the after...
Ya know how I said that I was impatient when it came to drying paint (well, that and slow computers)? Well, that whole project took me about 45 minutes. That includes drying time. Plus, I even sprayed it with a protective enamel. See how fast that is?

The only thing I don't like about black spray paint are the black, sticky hands you have afterwards. Plus, I have black paint in my cuticles for a week afterward. I need to go downstairs and try some Lava soap on these hands. I always was a messy painter!

Well, stay tuned for my next project as I attempt to turn our master bedroom into a cozy little retreat. That project includes this:

...and was inspired by my friend Holly.

See ya next time!

Amber

Bubbles and a Great Learning Tool

Lily loves bubbles. She talks about "boowing bubbels" quite frequently, in fact. So, we got out the other night and practiced our bubble blowing. It was a rough start, but once she figured it out she did great.

Ian, on the other hand, has his mind stuck on football. Him and Brad set up orange cones for end zones and played some one-on-one football. Mostly it was just Ian trying to take his daddy down. Guess what Ian's favorite tv channel is. The NFL Network. I keep telling myself it's just a stage. Which it probably is. I hope.

And here's a great homeschooling tool I've been using with the kids. They are pattern blocks. They can be used for many different things. Lily made random patterns with hers. Ian sorted the blocks by color and shape. He also built a house with the blocks using his construction tools. You can use them to set up pattern sequences. You can pretty much use them for anything your mind can concoct.

I got mine at Oriental Trading for a reasonable price. I like simple learning toys that inspire imagination and creativity.

A Face Lift, Candy Corn Garland and a Great Idea

Do you like my new look? If you've been here before, leave me a comment and let me know if this new layout is pleasing to the eye. I can't decide if it's too busy or just right. I may change this. If you ask anyone in my family, they'll tell you I bore easily. That's why I rearrange my furniture every couple of months! I suppose it won't be any different with my blog.

Here's a really cute and fun idea for fall. I found this idea over at Bienvenue. Lily and I made this a few days ago. We had so much fun. Oh, and I have to send a thanks to my dad for letting me borrow his camera until I get my new one!

You'll need this (I used about 1 1/2 packages):

And this: Then you just string the candy corn onto the thread:

Keep stringing until you reach your desired length for your garland. Prepare to have a sticky needle and sticky hands. I kept cleaning off the needle and it made it much easier to thread the candy. Once you're done, tie off both ends.

Then I laid the entire garland out on our driveway and sprayed it with a clear protective coat that I had previously bought at WalMart. After it dried, I laid it out on the floor and tied ribbon in equal intervals to be used to suspend it from our chandelier.

This whole project only cost me approximately $4.50. What an inexpensive and cute fall/Halloween project. Lily loved picking out the pieces of candy corn that she wanted on the garland, and it was nice to be able to work on this together.

Oh, keep reading below...


I know today's not Thursday, but I didn't want to wait until tomorrow. I found this yesterday and wanted to share it. Nikki over at Project: Domestic Bliss has a really great idea for organizing coupons. She's even included a video tutorial. Now I can't wait to get started on mine. Go check it out!

Fall Delights

Every fall we head out to Robinson's Farm. It's only about three miles down the road from here, but there's just something so fun and exciting about walking amidst the mounds and mounds of pumpkins and the big bushel baskets of apples. Then there are the jugs of spiced apple cider and canned jars of apple and pumpkin butter. Yummy. And how could it be fall without the Indian corn and the planters full of mums? I can't wait to take our annual trip this year! I must buy a new camera before we go!

Every year, the Robinson's grow a HUGE pumpkin and display it for all their customers. Every year, we have had the kids' picture taken with the "giant" pumpkin. The kids think it's so cool to see such a big pumpkin. Last year's pumpkin weighed 396 1/2 pounds!

While we are there, we always let the kids pick out their own little pumpkins. They love that, and it takes a while for them to find the "perfect" one. Then when we get home, we do this:

There is also another local farm that is super awesome. We've only been to Reeger's Farm once, but it was so much fun! We're planning on going back this year and then making it a yearly tradition.

When you get there, you are greeted by a cute little shop that has lots of cute fall decorations on the front porch. Inside is a gift shop and a little cafe where you can order fresh baked goodies as well as homemade sandwiches. (Sorry, no pics of this part.)

Then everyone loads up on a big 'ole wagon for a hay ride. This was so much fun. The 'ole tractor pulls you out to one of the farm's big pumpkin patches. Then you get to pick your own pumpkins! Ian loved running through the patch trying to find his special pumpkin. He examined quite a few pumpkins before finally choosing this one:

After you find your pumpkin, everyone climbs back onto the hay wagon for the ride back to the shop. Then the kids get to go into the barn and see and pet the baby calves.

Ian was a little unsure about this part...

They also have a big corn maze. I have to admit, this was a bit daunting for me. I have a very poor sense of direction, so I was slightly intimidated by this:
That was my friend Holly and her twin daughters, Sophie and Mattie. Mattie seems to think we should go left, but I think Sophie thinks the right way is right. Her girls are so cute, and their personalities are like night and day.

Here's a pic of Ian, Sophie, and Mattie with a giant spider that was in the maze
At the end of the day, they provide soft, yummy, pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies and apple juice for the kids. This might have been Ian's favorite part. He does have a sweet tooth.

They also had games out in the field for the kids. Things like bowling with pumpkins and stuff. They had big stacks of hay bales for the kids to climb. Ian had a great time, and I had a lot of fun too.
Of course, another classic fall past-time is jumping in the leaves. I put Ian to work last year and he helped me rake a big pile.

Then they did this...

And this...

Ian did a little of this to the photographer...


So, I, of course, had to do a little of this back to him...

Here's my good friend Denise's daughter, Hannah. She even got in on the fun! Isn't she cute? She's a whole year older now and just as cute as a button. I love this little girl.

And here they are all together. Hannah looks a little annoyed and confused as to why Lily is throwing leaves on her and Ian...
Well, those are some of the fun activities we do here at our home during the fun autumn season. I encourage you to think of some fun traditions to start with your family during this season, as well as all the others. Traditions are such an important part of home and family. Some of my most vivid memories include family traditions. I want my kids to look back on their childhood in fondness and relish the traditions. I want them to then be inspired to start their own traditions when they are grown and have families of their own. Just like I'm doing now.
See you next time!
Amber