Classical Conversations Board

I have been asked about my board so I thought it would be easier to just post it here once and you can email me with questions if you need to.  Here is the final project.

 The materials are:  large foam tri-fold board, laminated colored paper, magnetic strips, plastic or wooden clothes pins, dry erase markers.

 I match the colors to the memory cards just for more continuity.  You can get a pack of printer paper with all of these colors in them at the School Box or any office supply store.  I had one of each color laminated.

 I used the long magnetic strips and cut them in half instead of the dots because they are more forgiving while putting them up.  You have to get the dots exactly right every time so the strips just seemed easier.  To mount the strips in the correct spot, lie the foam board on the floor and place all of the paper where you want them.  Then, take off the adhesive on one strip and stick it to the paper in each corner.  Take the adhesive off of another strip and stick the magnets together.  Adhere the adhesive side of the paper and magnet in the correct spot.  This helps get the paper even and the strips correctly spaced.  I used magnets instead of Velcro because it is easier to take on and off.

 I write the memory work on the sheets each Monday.  I take the papers back and forth to class and the magnets stick to each other so they don't erase by moving around.  This obviously isn't an issue if you don't tutor or need to move the papers. 

 This is what the board looks like blank.

 These are the plastic clips that I got from the dollar store.  I use them to clip the time line cards to the top.  I think they work better than the wooden ones because they don't brake as easily.

I use my board every weekday.  We have a "Morning Meeting" every morning (except Tuesdays that we are at Classical Conversations.)  We have prayer, go over the calendar, letters and numbers for the littles, Bible verses, Catechisms, and our CC memory work.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I hope that helped!

Why I love rainy afternoons

It is raining, obviously, and I realized how much I love rainy afternoons.  I think of hot tea, old movies, my silky soft blanket and a huge, incredibly hard jigsaw puzzle.  I think that I love them so much because they mean "lazy".  You can decide to put off the grocery store trip or playing outside (which is exhausting for a mother of 4 with a couple who still need lots of attention when outdoors.)  It makes me feel like curling up with a good book and dozing off.  Wouldn't that be lovely?  I think the kids and I will do just that.  I will get some puzzles out on the dining table and a stack of books that haven't been opened in a while.  Maybe we will end the evening with an old movie that kids forgot about.  Now.....if only I can get the munchkins on board.

Can spit be cute?

The answer is yes, provided it came from a curly haired, smiley, joyous two year old. As I was cleaning spit off of my glasses tonight after putting the kids to bed, I giggled a little at how it got there. Carter randomly started singing "Happy Birthday to you" while putting him to bed. At the end of each verse, he blows out the candles in his head. Well, Carter "blowing out candles" is about the cutest thing ever so I naturally thought of something else to get him to keep doing it. Hence the song "I'm going to let it shine" which after the words, "don't let anyone blow it out," he gives the most ferocious "blow" about an inch from my face. So, yes, spit can be cute.

Sunday's Serious Question

What "photo organization software" do you use? 

I have a serious photo organization problem!  They are scattered here, there, and everywhere and I can't seem to get a grasp on them.  I have 5 (YES 5!) different photo organization systems on my computer right now.  They each have different things that I like and don't like about them so I skip between them.  I need to get a handle on this! 

Also, how do you easily file them?  Do you rename them?  I started renaming by the person in the picture but good grief it takes forever!  Then, I tried to just move to folders, and again, forever.  I need serious photo help.  

"Mommy, come look at this!"

When a mother hears the words, "come look at this!" sugar and spice and all things nice is not what she invisions. Logan yelled these words from upstairs just I got dinner on the table. He stood at the top of the stairs with his proudest grin waiting to show me that he had completely cleaned up Peyton's room! He even "made" her bed and put her "cuddles" neatly in a row. After much, much praise, I asked him why he did it. His reply, "When she wakes up in the morning, I don't want her to have to clean her room so she can come downstairs and play." Directly before that he had "set up" a tea party in her room for her. I am so proud of him!

Wednesday Woes

I know that is better to look at the positive, but sometimes, it feels good to get out the negative!  So, give me your Wednesday Woe.  I'll start.

Muddy yard.  It seems that our yard is so consistently muddy that I can't let the kids play outside unless I know they can come straight it and change and bathe.  This is just a little aggravation for me.  I know, no biggy, but I thought I would "ease" us into it!

Alright, what'cha got?

Question of the Day!

What do you do (if anything) to "relax" during the day?
What do you wish you could do?

I put the kids down for "rest" time everyday, whether they are still nappers or not. They must lay on their beds and look at books while I go to each of them and read them a story that they picked out and sing them each their favorite song. Drew then has his reading time. Logan and Peyton lay in thier beds quietly for at least 30 minutes to an hour. If they don't fall asleep, Drew may play in my room quietly with Legos and Logan an Peyton play quietly with toys in thier rooms (all doors closed) until Carter wakes up. He still always takes naps. This gives me alone time with each child during the day and it gives me "down" time to refresh for the evening to come. What do I wish I could do, well if I could throw in a bubble bath and a glass of wine, that would be awesome!