Joyful Socks Mom: a summer well-spent

Showing posts with label a summer well-spent. Show all posts

6/23/11

Summer Fun Bucket: Revisited

Summer Fun Bucket

. . . easy squeezey lemon peezey!!!

This was a summer activity we began last year during our A Well-Spent Summer series. It has now become not only a tradition, but a survival tool! I thought I would bring it back & offer my eBook to get everyone moving in the right direction for a most excellent summer of learning & growing . . . oh, and FUN!

1. Start with a basic oatmeal box.

2. Grab a ton of scrapping supplies, buttons, sequins, beads, foam, stencils, etc.

3. Wrap your oatmeal box is scrapping paper or wrapping paper.

4. Now let the kiddos decorate to there little heart's content . . . Quaker oatmeal never looked better!!!

5. Now fill the bucket with fun, frugal and educational activities for you and the kids to enjoy through out the summer! Download my F*R*E*E eBook and you have instant FUN for your own bucket.

Joyful & blessed homeschooling to you!

aka The Joyful Socks Mom

www.TheMacRak.com

http://www.themacrak.blogspot.com/

MORE SUMMER FUN RESOURCES:

7/29/10

A Well-Spent Summer Journal: More Summer School Fun

Summer School Fun continued . . .

Here is a glimpse of some of the summer schooling activities we have been enjoying.

The Squeaker and Scout working on portraits of their dog . . . Duchess Gertrude Esther the 1st . . . don't ask. They gave the portraits to our retired neighbors who love our dog and spoil her totally rotten!

We have had lots of fun at our local library. During the reading program this summer we have enjoyed circus clowns (O.K., no me so much . . . clowns freak me out), snakes and the Incredible Bubble Lady (shown above).

Librarian in a bubble!

Our Juvenile Librarian (her title, not her attitude . . . well sometimes) in the giant bubble.

We love you Courtney!

We pray you are all enjoying a safe and blessed summer schooling season.

Joyful & blessed homeschooling to you!

www.TheMacRak.com

http://www.themacrak.blogspot.com/

7/24/10

A Well-Spent Summer Journal: Texas-style Independence Day

A Hometown Independence Day

The summer has been flying by and I realized that I haven't been blogging about all the wonderfully fun activities that we have been doing. So . . . let's back up a little for the in our journal to get you up to speed.

This year for the 4th of July, I got stuck (hard to imagine, I know) on keeping the kids focused on the reality and truth of the celebration of Independence Day. The big stickler for me this year was being sure the kids knew why we feel it is important to celebrate Independence Day and not just "the 4th". The difference may be in semantics, but I'm sticking to this one!

When you are referencing the date, as opposed to the holiday itself, you loose a little bit of its significance. This is the very same reason you will not her me say 9/11 in referring to the attacks on New York and Washington D.C. that fateful day in September 2001. I never want to "dumb-down" or "water-down" the reverence for a holiday or remembrance day when teaching our children. Thus, we practice reiterating Independence Day.

Here are a few things we did on Independence Day.

We started out in our hometown parade. Sorry, no pictures. We were in the parade, marching for the local non-profit that I work for, Mission Granbury. Here is a video clip that the newspaper posted . . . not all that riveting (small town parade and all), but you can see us right after the Pirate little league baseball and cheerleader. Mrs. Mac is on the opposite side of black truck, with cowboy hat on. The girls are in the CASA & Mission Granbury float . . . just F.Y.I.

Celebrating the birthday of the Declaration of Independence!

I had the girls celebrate with some little Happy Birthday greeting cakes. Then we read some stories about the beginnings of our nation. This book by Mara L. Pratt is one of our favorites.

The Squeaker & the Bug all "cowgirled-up"! Yep, we're from Texas, so what better way to spend Independence Day than at the rodeo?

Hmmm . . . doesn't look like Mrs. Mac enjoys getting her picture taken as much as she enjoys taking them. (Thanks Big Daddy Mac!)

Granbury Riders were so fun to watch, but what was the favorite event . . . Wild Brauma Cow Milking! Yep, it's real!

The Bug & her cuz, Mr. Hockey, enjoy the sights of the rodeo up-close-and-personal. The older kids (minus the Bug) enjoyed a little Mutton bustin' - chasing after a sheep trying to catch the one with the ribbon on it's tail.

We hope that you all had a blessed and joyful Independence Day too.
The Macs say . . .HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Happy homeschooling!

www.TheMacRak.com

http://www.themacrak.blogspot.com/

7/18/10

A Well-Spent Summer Journal: The Week at the Texas Capital

The Week at the Capital of Texas

The girls and I took off last month on a journey to our state's capital . . . the largest state capital in the U.S. (of course). We are still journaling our "Summer Well-Spent" while continuing the fun and learning during our summer schooling. Here is just a bit of the fun!

Here the Squeaker and the Bug are at our hotel. Kids are so funny, they just love hotels. Fancy ones, cheap ones . . . it just does not even seem to matter.

Here is the Bug with her big bubba . . . let's just call him Mr. Monkey . . . trust me, he would not be offended! He lives and works in Austin and we had some quality hang-out time. Awesome!

Here the kids are observing the most OBVIOUS of any "public announcement" sign we have ever seen. You know, I sure am thankful they pointed out that birds roost in trees!Things that make you go hmmm. . .

Dessert! Enough said.

Here are the kids at their brother's apartment putting on a musical perfomance for mommy. I thought his place looked not so bad for a single guy's pad.

The Texas capitol.

A Hero's Reward exhibit at the Capitol. We love our Texas history.

The cowgirls take on Austin. Too cute!

We loved this monument outside the capitol building. It was donated by the Boys Scouts of America as a dedication to perserving the liberty and freedom this country was built on. The girls thought it was so cool that it was Scout-related. (I'm thinking they are missing their brother - the Scout is visiting family in Houston).

Here is the Squeaker at Barton Springs. It is a pool that is fed by a natural underground aquafier. This makes it freeeeeezing cold, even in the 102 degree Texas heat . . .

. . . can you tell the Bug thinks it's too cold!?!

The girl's favorite part of our trip? The hotel pool! What can I say? . . . we are easy to entertain folks.

Hope you are all having a Summer Well-Spent!

Happy homeschooling!

www.TheMacRak.com

http://www.themacrak.blogspot.com/

7/13/10

A Keepers Circle: He sees the bigger picture

He sees the bigger picture . . . Do You?

During our recent visit to the Natural Science and History museum we paused in a room dedicated to engineering. Needless to say this is the Scout's favorite subject . . . give him legos or building blocks and leave him alone for thirty minutes and you will be amazed at the result. Well, the Scout and I teamed up to build something as a team. We chose these flat thin, KEVA, wooden building planks to build with and construct something worth while. We began by finding a design that we liked. We followed the pattern that was given to us. It was frustrating through out the entire process. The building blocks fell easily without a steady hand and careful placement. It took concentration and perseverance in order to keep building. We had to cheer one another on. We also had an outside circumstance effect our building process (a.k.a. a small toddler walking by who could not resist knocking our structure down).

Grrrr . . . .

We continued to build, regardless of the frustrations, trials and circumstance. We began to see the pattern forming into something beautiful. We were encouraged to continue building by others walking by, complementing us on our endurance and crafting abilities. Then finally we were able to look down upon our project and say, "Wow, it looks nice from this view!"

Which, of course, got me to thinking & then blogging . . .

How many times in a day do I want to thow up my hands and say forget it? How many times as wife and mother do I say, "Forget it, nobody cares! What's the use"? I feel that sometimes, my management of my children and home is like the construction that the Scout and I built with our blocks.

We have a pattern to follow (the Bible) and a drive to see it accomplished in our home and lives. Proceeding with care and caution in building sometimes works and sometimes it does not. Sometimes the only thing to hold onto is the hope that if you continue, the promise of a well-built structure will manifest. The outside circumstances can continually attempt to shake the foundation (your faith), but it is ultimately those who endure that will see the beautiful end result . . . a child, turned adult, dedicated to the Lord's service.

God made the pattern. He is in control. He sees what you are sacrificing. He will honor the faith and endurance you have applied to your children & home. Stay the course and He will receive the glory! After all, that is why we do what we do.

Blessed & Joyful Homeschooling!

www.TheMacRak.com

www.TheMacRak.blogspot.com

Don't forget, the summer isn't over yet!

Get your Summer Well-Spent ebook today, for never ending summer fun & learning!!!

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Here is some great inspiration for you mom!

more from Nicole & Fresh Brewed Ministries

A Well-Spent Summer Journal: Super Kid Craft Box

Super Kid Craft Box

How - To

The kids have been enjoying summer school and have continued with little complaint. We have stayed consistently busy and learning the entire summer. My loyally readers know how I feel about "mushy-brained" children . . . I just cannot do it! Here is a fun activity that the girls and I thought up during a brain storming session last night.

Problem: Finding rewards for good behavior or acts of kindness on a ~~tight~~ (O.K., I'll admit it) . . . cheap budget.
Solution: The Super Kid Box: A box of craft items that can only be used when exhibiting godly behaviors. The child who has earned the Super Kid box, gets to create with the crafts items in the box, making whatever their imaginations come up with. We took out all of the craft boxes and found the odds-n-ends items to make a box of fun goodies. We mostly found scrap pieces and old crafting items to use. I think this box would also make a great and inexpensive birthday gift for a child.

Watch this tutorial: