Catching the Kids Reading
Brina relaxing and reading on the couch
I love walking into a room and seeing my kids reading a good book. There is one kid in particular in our family that is always reading any time she gets a chance while the other one I do a silent cheer every time I see her pull out a book to read on her own. It is great seeing them get swept away into the story and hearing their little giggles as they are reading fun part makes me smile.
Reading came really easy for one of our girls while the other one it has been a lot harder. Thankfully we were able to figure out what was holding her back (dyslexia) and have spent the last few years working with reading tutors to help her develop her reading skills. It has felt like a long (and sometimes painful) process for both me as a Mom and my sweet girl, but we have gone so far. Anytime I see her reading on her own it makes my heart so happy. I love my girls and always want to encourage them as they learn various skills throughout their lives even if it means putting forth a lot of extra time and effort on my part.
All smiles as she relaxes and reads
Soaking up a good story
Relaxing and Reading
Relaxing and reading!
One of the best parts of having a relaxing Saturday morning is having extra time to read. This is what I saw recently when walked into Brina’s room! Brina was catching up on a pile of Berestain Bears books. Jake and Karlie were checking something out in the World Book Encyclopedia. The girls love books. It makes my heart happy to walk into the room and see the kids reading.
Brina enjoying her book!
Summer Reading Goal
A wall full of fish
It has been awhile since I updated everyone about our summer reading goals. The girls came up with their summer reading goal of reading 2,000 minutes. Our theme were called “Swim Into Reading”! Every time they read a book they would write the book title and author on a fish than hang it up on the wall. They could choose from a variety of colors of fish or pick a white one to color.
While we were traveling over the summer we kept track of the minutes, but didn’t make them write down all the books so the picture below shows all the books they read at home. They covered a lot of reading and were able to hit their goal early! Way to go GIRLS!!!
We DID IT!
Book: “Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann Wyss
Before I headed out on my India adventure I started reading one of my favorite books as a kid to the girls, Great Illustrated Classics The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss. My Mom finished reading the book to the girls while I was away and then watched the movie with them. Karlie was convinced that she was ready to live on an island in a tree house after reading the book and watching the movie (although she said it would be ok if the pirates didn’t come).
It has been a lot of fun reading the girls some of my favorite books as a kid. They love listening and enjoy the adventures the stories take us on. This book is about the Robinson family that gets shipwrecked on an island. The family learns to live off the land, build a home in the trees, and their journey. It is full of great adventures as the family explores their new home. If you have kids that love being read to this is a fun book for the whole family. Plus after reading the book you can watch the movie which is always something great to look forward to as well.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
I made some progress last week on my goals! Thankful for the opportunity move forward on my goals despite a busy 2012 first quarter. Since I have a conference for part of the week the list will be shorter.
Here is the update on last weeks goals:
Family Goals
Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everydayRead a book to the girls everyday- Have each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week – the girls were sick this week
- Go on my Date Night with Jake (we got free movie tickets so excited to enjoy some time away together) – We gave away our free movie tickets because we had to cancel our Date Night, the kiddos got sick. 🙁 I am hoping to get it rescheduled soon.
Get the girls Birthday Party Details Started
Personal Goals
Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week– I did it again (victory dance). It has helped give me more energy throughout my days too!- Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday – was bad about this one, it was after 1 am one night
- Finish reading Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk – still working on it
Read and listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).Get my Travel Visa Application Sent
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned and written by MondaySpend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house- Dinner ready by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday) – it was closer to 6 pm a couple of days
Spend time re-organizing and de-cluttering the officeUpdate Family & Friends Contact Information– glad to have this information updated 🙂
Business Goals
Pay all bills that come in the mail this weekWork on ideas for upcoming blog postsSpend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my deskPlan new implementations for blog- Start working on 2011 business taxes – gathered the information and paperwork but nothing more yet
Ministry Goals
Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requestsMeet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – moving forward on this goal
Start working on our personal 2011 taxes
Here are my goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
- Read a book to the girls everyday
- Spend some time with extended family
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Read and listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
Business Goals
- Attend the Pro Ag Conference
- Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
Ministry Goals
- Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results
Family Activities: Enjoying Time with Extended Family
I was going through some pictures (from the 2011 Fall Season) and realized I never posted anything about our visit from extended family members. My parents, little brother and grandparents were able to come out for a few days and spend some time with us. We were blessed to have some time with everyone. The girls LOVED having Grandpa Russell, Grandma Penny, Uncle Josh, Great Grandpa CE, and Great Grandma Willa staying at our house. It reminds me of how important it is that we spend time with those we love whenever we have the opportunity to get together.
Playing outside with Grandma. Brina and Karlie blowing bubbles on Skipper while Skipper looks at me as if to say “do you see what I have to put up with!”
Brina and Karlie giggling as they chase Skipper across the yard.
No sleeping in Uncle Josh, it is time to play! They don’t give him much of an option to rest with all their “Uncle Josh, let’s go…..Uncle Josh will you play with me, Uncle Josh…….” Brina’s ready to go roller blading and Karlie has a lot of fun stories to tell! Brina and Karlie have fun when Uncle Josh is over reading books and playing.
Convinced Uncle Josh to read them a few books. Here they are reading a book from the library called “Hot Fudge”
Playing a round of Wits & Wagers with Dad, Josh, Grandpa CE and Grandma Willa. We received this game as a gift and since then have gotten several other family members and friends hooked on the game. If you are looking for a great family game with a bunch of fun facts check out Wits & Wagers!
It was a fun extended weekend with family. We played games, read books, spent time outside, celebrated my nephew Nicholas’s first birthday and enjoyed great fellowship together. I am truly grateful that the girls have the opportunity to spend time with not only their grandparents, but great grandparents as well as Aunts and Uncles. It was a fun weekend full of great memories for everyone! 🙂
Yard Sale Deals: Children’s Books
I only had the opportunity to go to a few yard sales this summer with all the traveling, however, a couple of the ones I went to were awesome! Our family LOVES books! I have always encouraged the girls to read both with us and without us. They enjoy reading and we do our best to read to them every day as well.
One Saturday I went to a yard sale that was being given by a retired elementary school teacher. I didn’t get there until about mid-morning and she still had a couple big boxes of books. I picked up 49 children’s books for $3.50, making them 7 cents each. Most of the books were paperback, one was a Veggie Tales Devotional, a few hardbacks, and several beginning readers ones that are perfect for the girls as they continue to improve their reading skills.
The girls were VERY excited about the book on top, “Apple Trouble” because it was a book we read together a couple years ago from the library that they really enjoyed. Of course it was the first book I read to them when we got home from the yard sales. Other than removing the stickers with the teachers name on it and a few disinfectant wipes the books were as good as new. I purchased a couple crafts and some brown paper bags for activities from that yard sale as well which have come in handy over the summer with the girls. What great deals have you found at yard sales recently?
Book: “Clifford the Firehouse Dog” by Norman Bridwell
The girls really enjoy the “Clifford” books. “Clifford The Firehouse Dog” by Norman Bridwell was one they were quoted just the other day. We have read the book many times and it is neat that they retained the lessons that they learned in the book. I like how the book encourages helping out in time of need as well. If you have a little ones that likes dog and fire trucks this is a great book to read with them. Our girls love anything with animals, especially dogs!
