Ok...AWESOME!

 I discovered this book at the library....Science Arts by Kohl and Potter.  I want to buy this book and work through every single activity. I would highly recommend finding one at your local library or Amazon. It's very creative and has activities for all ages. I have Math Arts on hold at the library and I'm hoping that book will be just as valuable for us. 

J and I tried this one activity from Science Arts the other day. 


Get yourself some cornstarch and food coloring.

Then I found an aluminum pan and filled it with about an inch of water. I added just enough cornstarch to make the water cloudy. Then I let J pick a color and drop it into the pan.  Such cute little hands!  :) 

The cornstarch slows the movement of the food coloring so it doesn't mix in right away. You can kind of play with it. I gave J this blue straw and let her go to town making designs.  

Her final design....

We played with a number of colors before putting it away. Very inexpensive activity and great for learning colors and being creative. Children as young as two can do this activity with help. You wouldn't want to set them loose in your house with food coloring, but J was able to do this whole project with minimal help from me. She loves to be independent.

For older kids it is a fun science activity. The book explains that older children can drag the straw in a straight line through the food coloring. This is a lesson about symmetry. As you drag the straw in a straight line, you should see two identical patterns on either side of the line. The book also suggests adding a couple drops of cooking oil to the pan.

Eat this, please.

I have this cereal in my pantry...

I would like to meet the person who decided it would be a good idea to make cereal out of a candy bar. Serious sicko! And I know you're thinking I'm encouraging the sicko's behavior by buying it. Before you throw more guilt my way, let me tell you this. Reese's Puffs cereal is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Some of which are difficult to get enough of even with a nutritious balanced diet. 

Dr Sears says this about choosing cereals for your child.

Yes, cereal is a favorite family breakfast food, but think about what nutrients cereals are the best source of. The list includes: fiber, protein, folic acid, zinc, iron, and B-vitamins. Most other nutrients can be found just as readily, if not more easily, in other foods. You don't need to get your daily vitamin C or calcium from your cereal bowl. Choose cereals that are highest in the nutrients cereals do best. 

I have a child who is seriously anemic. She needs iron in large quantities and Ferrous Sulfate drops don't work for her in the quantity that she would require to raise her iron levels. Since she won't eat iron-rich foods or take vitamins, I'm stuck sneaking it in tempting sugary cereals and slipping some iron drops in her hot chocolate. (Yes, she gets a hot chocolate a day. Don't get me started on that one. It's the only way I've been able to hide the terrible tasting iron drops.) But it's working! She is eating this cereal every morning. It gives the average adult 25% of the recommended daily allowance of iron. That's huge for my little girl and will, along with the hidden drops, hopefully get her out of the deficiency she is in. It's not as good as a vitamin or ferrous sulfate drops, but it's the best we can do. One thing I've learned about raising a child with special needs...things aren't always what they seem. I wouldn't have touched this cereal with a ten foot pole before J came along. And now it's breakfast!

The Pantry is Closed!!!

Do you have one of these on your pantry door???

I highly recommend installing one if you have children like mine. 

Children who could graze all day long if allowed. 

Independent little children who like to help themselves. 

Carb loving little children like my four year old. 

Children who have hungry little friends over every day after school.


If you answered yes to any of the above, I highly suggest you get a flip lock for your pantry. It does not exactly keep out seven year olds, but does make them think twice before unlocking the door.


Aside from J's eating aversions, I think I've done a pretty good job of educating my children about healthy food and treats. Treats are anything with sugar! I've given up trying to keep sugary treats out of my pantry because of J's eating issues (I'll blog about that another day). So they are in there and there isn't anything I can do about it right now! Those sugary little cereals and granola bars are just tempting my little ones to no end. 


So I made this...

A sign placed at a child's eye level with pictures of healthy snacks. We have pictures of a plate of fruit, vegetables (carrot), yogurt, cheese, crackers, sandwich or sugar free gum. So I informed my children when they are hungry and I say, "Healthy snack, please", they can choose a snack from this sign. I get kind of tired of the same old questions..."what can I have for snack?" And then I have to name the exact same types of healthy foods several times a day.


I'm hoping this will also help guide J to better eating choices and encourage her to try a new food. Although she still needs that sugary cereal. Crazy, isn't it?!?!  That one would NEED sugary cereal. But I'll blog about that tomorrow.

Oh, how I missed you...

Oregon is a nice enough place. It's mountainous in central regions, coastal in others. It's green! (Visitors to our lovely state always mention that...."it's green". Yes, lots of trees.) But the one reason I love this state is because every year I get to experience an Oregon January. During this month, just as we all lose faith in the cycle of our seasons feeling as if Winter will never end, the sun arrives for just a few days in January and brings us some beautiful 60 degree weather. Sixty degree weather!! While much of the rest of the country, particularly the East Coast right now, is covered in snow. 

Light sweater weather in January. It's fabulous. This weather always reminds me of how much I've missed my dear friend, the sun. I'm tired of getting my Vitamin D from a bottle and I just want to sit outside and enjoy it. These blue skies are enough to bring anyone out of their seasonal depression. And remind us all that Winter will cease, flowers will bloom and in just a few months, we'll all be swimming at the local pool and eating fresh produce from the garden. Ahhh...just the thought of it makes me smile. Maybe I should move to Arizona.

So why am I typing on my computer when I'd love to be outside sipping an iced tea and watching the kids play? Yes, it's not working out so well for me at the moment. J didn't get a nap and so we are taking a break from bike riding and hiking while we regroup and she gets a second wind. Hopefully, before sunset! So my Vitamin D will have to come in tablet form for today. But it was wonderful being outside in the fresh air. 

Even sitting at my computer, I have the back door open to keep from feeling stiffled in here. And just the sound of the neighbors basketball hitting the pavement is a wonderful reminder of what is to come. Sun! 

My hydrangea plant is sprouting.

And my blueberry bush.

A history lesson...

from CNN. I love CNN and could watch it 24/7. I love news, weather and politics. Throw a little Anderson Cooper in there, and I could just sit in my lazy boy all afternoon.


This week we have a real lesson playing in real time and with real lives. Egypt is in turmoil. Citizens are protesting the activities of the current government under President Mubarak. They want change and more importantly, a voice. So I let E watch some of the protesting with me. Nothing too violent as the majority of the images shown were of protesters marching and yelling. She was shocked that this was actually happening. And even more shocked when I informed her that our country wasn't always "free" and many people had to fight for the right to certain freedoms like speech. I told her that in many countries people are regularly arrested for speaking out against the government or military. I asked her if she could imagine what that would be like to live in a place where you couldn't say what was on your mind without the fear of persecution.


Then we stumbled on an American Girl movie "Felicity" which takes place during the beginning years of our country prior to the American Revolution. A character in the movie longs to be a soldier and "fight against the King". He longs for freedom just like the protesters in Egypt. What a great lesson! I love it when a plan comes together. 


I think it's important to show E that basically....she has it good! That is simplifying it, but I want her to know there are people in the world who are suffering and need help. I want her understand her freedoms and luxuries. Maybe someday she'll understand this further and be driven to help others less fortunate. 


It's important to know when you have it good...especially when you're seven!