Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Christmas highlights 2015

We had another fantastic Christmas this year! We had a wonderful time with family, are enjoying our new gifts, ate lots of delicious food, had beautiful Christmas services, watched Polar Express, played games, ate more great food, laughed and even saw Christmas lights again! God is so good! 
 My daughter and my hubby led the worship at the Christmas Eve candlelight service, my favorite!
 My niece and daughter watching the "Polar Express" with Grandma. <3 p="">
 Christmas morning, kids opening their stockings together...
 My sister and niece during present opening... in new jammies!
 The girls were quite excited to receive new legos, watches and a lego storage box!
 Love Bethy wearing her new hooded "My Little Pony"pajamas!
 My sister got a new biking helmet!
 Kids at Grandma's playing with new toys...
 Bethany opened her new camo pjs!
 
 Bethany loves her new Gerald and Piggie that Grandma and Grandpa gave her with a new book!
 We gave my parents a cute little diffuser!
 I got a new PURPLE winter coat from my hubby! I LOVE it!
 My sister read Christmas stories to the kids before bed, even though it was another late night!
Our cute niece and their dog, waiting for her Daddy to come back, climbing the stairs. We miss them, our house is quieter without them all! The time went by so quickly, as usual!



Luke 2:1-20
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Preschool math games

When I needed some homeschool activities for my preschoolers to keep them busy while the older kids were working, I wrote down this list. Since I am a preschool teacher by degree, I love that age. I have no more preschoolers now, wah! They're so busy and so fun!

Preschool Math Ideas

Counting with yellow counting board/ buttons
Count money/ play store/ cash register
Count dots on dominoes and dice
Writing numbers-- lots of great printables/ tracers online, 
     *I liked these, and the rhymes they have too.
Brainy Baby 1, 2, 3 cards
Abacus (I made one from a kit I bought online)
Matching games (stickers on juice can lids/ index cards) 
     *How to make matching game: here
Color identifying game/ I Spy something...
Plastic colored shapes- sorting, tracing
Fish math game
Number match puzzles (index cards cut in two parts)
Math cards (1 on one card, 1 dot on other, etc.,)
Money book (from a kids' meal or bank)
Go Fish
Shapes puzzles
Playing Yahtzee with the family!


Graphing- by color, type, favorite
Foam blocks (shapes, building, counting)
Cars/ ramps (measure distance)
Measuring tape, rulers
Measuring cups, spoons with rice or corn in bin
Scale/ Weigh him/her
Big/ Medium/ Small sorting (bears?)
Matching socks, shoes, counting pairs (2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Counting shapes, fruit (play food)
String beads/ necklaces
Clock/ time book
Trace and Cut shapes
Put cards in order (sequencing)
Stacking cups, containers
Telephone numbers (memorize ours)
Counting keys (free from key shop)
Transportation card sorting (stickers on cards)
Sports matching game, Cars matching game (stickers)
Count to ten in Spanish
Lap booking in preschool!

Books: Eating Fractions, Swahili Counting Book, M & M counting book, The Doorbell Rang, 1, 2, 3 (Anne Geddes), Ten Black Dots, Piggies; Ten, Night, Eight by Molly Bang, Who Sank the Boat?; Alexander who Used to be Rich Last Sunday
Little Blue and Little Yellow, Inch by Inch (both by Leo Lionni), Three Pigs/ Bears


Songs: 1 Potato, 2 potato; 5 little monkeys; 5 little ducks; One, Two Buckle my Shoe; Ten in the bed; One of our Number, Ten little speckled Frogs, etc.,

You can find another post about things to do with preschoolers in other subjects here. What else do you do? Any other ideas to share?

I hope these tips and ideas help you in your working with your children! The time really does go by quickly... my oldest will graduate next year!?!


Psalm 127:3-5
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.


Deuteronomy 11:18-21
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 door frames of your houses and on your gates,  so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Bethany's 7th birthday!

Our youngest daughter had a joy-filled birthday recently! She enjoyed her family party after Thanksgiving, calling it her "Half-birthday" since it was early. She had a dual party with her cousin who is two weeks older. She loves her new books, toys and clothes!
 Books from cousins...

 Cool shirts from Auntie...

 Singing "Happy Birthday" together...

 At home, our girl with her #7 pancake... how can it be that she is already 7?!?!
 The "My Little Pony" centerpiece display at her party, that was the theme...
 Some things we set up since it was her GOLDEN birthday this year!

 A COOL shirt from big sister...
 Frozen shirt and jacket from Uncle...
A fun book from Grandpa and Grandma...
She got several more shirts, pants, legos, DVDs and clothing items. She also got a new Razor Scooter with light up wheels! SO cool! I think she will play with it more when the weather is nicer!

It was a wonderful celebration, and we're so thankful for our friends and family that joined us! Bethany is a joyful girl (unless she's hungry) and we're glad that God gifted her to us!

Genesis 2:3
Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Psalm 119:164
Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.

Matthew 15:36
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
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