Taking a little break!

Don't give up on me too much. I am taking a little break because I just Adopted a cute newborn baby boy. Check back in a couple of weeks when I get adjusted to having 5 kids!

Remembering Pioneers

This activity is a cooking activity that the pioneers did all the time. But for me it has an even better memory. My grandpa made this with us on a regular basis growing up. It was always a big event. We always LOVED it. It is one of my fondest memories about my grandpa. He died when I was 14 but I have memories at 13 of him making this taffy for me and all my church group. So I thought that I might do a little Pioneer activity with my kids and then tell them all about their Grandpa Great that they never met. I don't know if this is the exact recipe, but it is close.

Old Fashioned Honey Candy
In a heavy saucepan boil 2 C honey to the hard ball stage, 225°
(when tested in cold water). Pour onto a buttered surface. When cool enough to handle, butter hands and start pulling as you do for taffy.
When honey holds its shape and is a golden color, twist into ropes
and place back on the counter top or baking sheet and cut into pieces with scissors. Wrap individually with wax paper.

Lesson Book A with CD Nancy and Randall Faber
Why I love this book for teaching piano to a first time young student:

1. The focus on technique embedded in the book through playful technique games, chants, and carefully-composed pieces that gently lead the child into pianistic motions.
2. The outstanding CD for the young student to listen, sing, tap, and play along with at the piano. The orchestrated songs on the CD feature children singing the lyrics, which has great appeal to the 5 and 6 year-old beginner. The book is about $10.00 and includes the CD!

3. The art features five multi-cultural children who are also learning to play. These "friends at the piano" introduce basic rhythms, white key names, and a variety of white and black-key songs that span classical, folk, and blues.

I know I have recommended this series "Piano Adventures by Faber" before, but I felt I needed to highlight this really cool pre-reader lesson book. So if you want to teach your child, try this out I think you will really like it.

Disclaimer: As the teacher and parent, I do have to hold my hand over my mouth quite a bit because some of the songs and the child's actions can be really funny to watch, especially if the child is taking it totally serious. :)

My View Of Lemonade Stands

Today I am totally getting on my soap box and I am addressing Lemonade Stands. Sometimes as I am traveling on a busy road, I look and see a Lemonade Stand. 10 years ago, I would have stopped and supported these little kids, but now I drive on by and pray that those children will be safe. I just can't support them anymore. I want to go find the parents (which are never by their kids) and yell at them to Wake Up! We live in a very different world now. Are Lemonade Stands safe? NO, and here are some reasons why:

1. By setting up a Lemonade Stand on a busy road, you are encouraging STRANGERS to stop and talk to your precious child.



2. Most of the time the parents are sitting in their cool house and couldn't get to the child in time to keep them from getting taken.

3. Sometimes the parents don't even have a visual of the child and that is even scarier.

4. If they are choosing a busy road then they could get hit by a car.

So what can you do if your child wants to earn some money?

1. Pay them to weed in your yard, do odd jobs for you, etc.
2. Have Grandma Pay them to do odd jobs.
3. Teach them how to make something to sell at a parade (or just sell pop or candy).
4. Let them have a candy store on your porch (advertise to neighbors and friends)
5. Pay them to give you a minute massage on your back or feet.
6. Do a Ice Cream Store on your porch with your neighbors and friends.

But Please, oh please! Stop putting kids on a busy road, by themselves, earning money, WITH STRANGERS!

Email Safety for kids!

My 11 year old has been bugging me non stop about getting her OWN email address to write her friends. Because of obvious reasons, I didn't really want to do this. But I found this website and it made me feel so safe, that I did the 30 day risk free yesterday and already LOVE it, and so does my daughter. You get to get rid of spam, you get a copy of everything that is sent to her, or that she sends out, it takes out bad language, it lets you choose who they email and who emails them, and MORE! And the best part is the first month is free and then the fees after that are 2.99 a month for 13 months! I really like this and thought I would let others know how cool this program is. So go to:

http://parent.kidsemail.org

Science Fun!

For all of you who love to do little science experiments with your kids, this is the website for you:

http://www.easy-kids-science-experiments.com/

It's for preschool ages all the way to high school! They are really good about giving good instructions on how to do each experiment. A lot of these experiments are perfect for outside fun!

A Good Reminder For Kids and Parents!

They are loud, beautiful, stunning, amazing, exciting and so much more! Fireworks are a part of many celebrations every year but it's important to remember -- fireworks should only be handled by professionals. Be sure to know the rules:

Common Sense Fireworks Safety Tips

1. Always use under adult supervision
2. Read and follow instructions
3. Always keep water and sand nearby
4. NEVER light indoors use only OUTDOORS
5. Never try to make your own fireworks
6. Never relight fireworks that appear to have gone out
7. Only light one at a time
8. Never allow small children to go near fireworks
9. Store in a cool dry place
10. Never lean over top of fireworks to light them
11. Tie hair back, wear safety goggles, and no loose fitting clothes
12. Sparklers should be immersed in sand once they appear out - they are still very hot and can burn

I found this on the Internet and remembered someone telling me about an experience of older boys teaching by example younger boys to be dumb around fireworks. I thought these common sense rules would be good for us all to read, before we celebrate the fourth of July!