Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Honey

Kaleidoscope is a devotional book about Proverbs, written by Patsy Clairmont. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of Proverbs. The book is funny, interesting, and creatively written. At the end of each chapter (except the first and the last) is a series of questions to answer and some relevant verses to meditate on. These are perfect for personal use or in a small group.

I was so excited to have the opportunity to review a Patsy Clairmont book. I have always loved her sense of humor and was so looking forward to receiving this book in the mail. Let me tell you... I loved this book. I loved it from beginning to end. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed the first chapter as much as the last. This book held my attention from the very first page. I do intend to read it again at a slower pace and spend more time pondering the questions and scriptures at the back of each chapter. Patsy was honest, inspiring, and tied together all her thoughts. I discovered little gold nuggets of Biblical truth in every chapter. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Special Needs – Take A Sensory Break!

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Honey

If you are dealing with a child with sensory issues, then this post is for you.

Take a Sensory Break!

We were discussing our son's sensory issues with our OT recently and she mentioned that another one of her homeschool families takes a sensory break every day. I thought this was a great idea. Purposely plan sensory activities into our day! It sounds like such a simple idea, but really, I had not thought of incorporating the whole family and taking a sensory break.

Sensory breaks could include a variety of different things, calming or stimulating, depending on the needs in your family. Here are some simple ideas for planning your own sensory breaks:

sip thick liquid through a straw
blow bubbles
finger paint
play with different types of fidgets
blow bubbles in water through a long tube
do some heavy work
play with play dough
blow whistles, party noise makers, or horns
play a scent smelling game
go to the park and play on the swings
chew gum
suck a hard candy

I am sure you have more ideas that you can add to the list. Please leave me your thoughts in the comments.

Homemade Fizzy Soda, Blanket Tents, and Loads of Giggles

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Honey

What a great day we had yesterday!

Homemade Fizzy Soda

After each of the boys completed their school work, we worked together (one-on-one) to make homemade fizzy soda. We had a great time making lemon soda. I found the original recipe on-line somewhere, but it was yucky (I tried the recipe first and down the sink it went). We came up with a recipe that worked well for us. It is still a bit different than what you might expect, but it worked for us.

1/4 lemon juice
1 cup cold water
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 cup sugar

Pour it all into a large container (it fizzes some) and stir gently. Then throw in an ice cube or two and sip it through a straw.

Blanket Tents

Malachi and the twins had an awesome time last night, right before bed, building a blanket tent using all the dining room chairs. They chased each other on all fours through the chairs and over daddy's legs. They had a grand time hiding and playing peek-a-boo with the blanket. This morning, another tent under the bunk bed turned into a fun reading nook (and a big book mess!).

Loads of Giggles

Giggles and grins from the kidlets are so much fun. Sometimes it is the simple things that make all the difference.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited the boys were when they heard that they were going to make homemade soda pop. They attended to their school work without too much whining (well, no more than usual). I was prompted to find the recipe after someone (who will remain nameless) was caught trying to create soda with strange ingredients the day before.

The tent in the living room / dining room was Malachi's idea and daddy helped, while sharing his childhood memories of tent making. I have some good memories of making blanket tents with my sister when we were growing up.

I need to remember that sometimes it is the simple things we do - like making fizzy soda or not freaking out over a tent town mess - that can make all the difference in our relationships with our children.

What simple things have you done with your children recently, that they really enjoyed?

What are some ways that you can connect with your children today?