Christmastime Is For Kids, and Kids At Heart

Tomorrow starts the last minute countdown to Christmas, so I thought I would look for crafts that you can make with your little ones while waiting for the big day.  So every Monday I will post a weeks worth of fun to have with your family.  Because without family, Christmas is just another day.

December 1

Construction Paper Wreath

Who has NOT made one of these?  Quick and easy, and a must for every child.  I found a great tutorial on the blog Our Small-Town Idaho Life.

December 2

Candy Cane Mice

My Mom made these one year when my kids were little.  I still have them. <3

The tutorial can be found on Sewing Barefoot.

December 3

Santa and Reindeer Stick Puppets.

What a cute idea...great for bedtime story hour.  You'll find lots more great crafts at 

I Heart Crafty Things.

December 4

Now it's time to get baking...with salt dough.

I found 27 different salt dough ornament links on I Heart Arts N Crafts.

December 5

Paper Towel Roll Stars

Here's a great way to recycle and create something shiny and beautiful.

The tutorial on on Blog A La Cart.

December 6

And for this Sunday afternoon I chose this simple nativity scene.

The link to the original post was broken, but I'm sure that my creative friends can figure this out from the picture.

So there you have it, a weeks worth of fun.  If you make any of these, please post a picture in the comments.  I would love to see them.

And, as always,

Be blessed,

Debbi

My Little Girl Is Growing Up....Too Fast For This Momma

Today is my baby girl's 14th birthday!

Where did the time go?

I remember when she first moved in, she was only 5, cute as a button, an infectious giggle, and an attitude.....wow.....

Here's a little photo chronicle of her life with us.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

We love you!

Be blessed,

Debbi

YBC Book Review - "A Father's Love" by David Miles

Today's book review is going to be short and sweet because this book is short and sweet.

I requested the book, "A Father's Love" by David Miles specifically for my 6 year old grandson.

I thought with it being a level 2, and he is only in kindergarten, we could practice his reading together.  Well, he sped through this book without needing any help what-so-ever.  Now I am not saying this book is too easy, I'm saying my Owen is too smart! hahaha

He enjoyed the story, but once read he didn't bother with it again.  But when I told him that we could give it to church, he said no, he wanted to keep it here at my house.  So I'm pretty sure he will read it again.  Now for my take on the book.

I found the story, while true to scripture, a little soft.  Since it is for small children, it is probably ok, but I would have liked it to be longer and with a little more detail with more of a look on the moral aspects and more comparison to God's love for us.  The artwork is very nice, and the colors are bright, perfect for little eyes.

I give this 3 stars, but mostly because, for us, it was a one read time book.

Be blessed,

Debbi

*while I received this book free of charge from booklookbloggers, the opinion is completely my own.

A Book Review - Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller

As a mother of many children, of all types (bio-step-foster-adopted), I am always looking for support, encouragement, and advise.  So when the book "Motivate Your Child" by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller because available for review, I grabbed it.

There are many pages of this book where I highlighted, stuck post it tabs, and wrote notes...it was that helpful to me.  One of my notes was from the chapter on discipline...how, and how much.  For a time out, I had always gone by 2 minutes per year of life, but this book talks not about obedience, but about there being a heart change in your child.  Which is much more desirable in a person.  So there is no time limit, but let the child work the issue out in their own hearts and time.  Then when they can understand what they did, and why they did it, they are better equipped to allow God to change their behaviors.  I like that!

There are 2 major sections in this book...
Moral Development In Children and
Spiritual Development In Children.

Now while there are 2 separate sections, so this book would be helpful to non-believers as well, I personally feel that separating the moral from the spiritual will still leave your child empty.  For our world to change, we need to change, and to help our children to change, thereby leaving a lasting legacy in our world today.  Let me share with you a great quote I saw the other day...
"Lasting change does not come only from laws and legislation, but from the hearts produced by spiritual revival."  Bobby Jindal
How true is that!  This book is a great first step in changing the world, starting in your own hearts and homes.

An added plus in this book is the interactive supportive website, The 414 Family Challenge, for those willing to take up "The Family Challenge" given in this book.  I have bookmarked it and can't wait to start implementing all I have learned between the pages of this book.

Here's some information on the authors.

Scott Turansky has been a pastor and missionary for more than 33 years and is an author of several books. In addition to pastoring full time, Scott also conducts parenting seminars on Saturdays around the United States (http://www.effectiveparenting.org/). He is the cofounder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting (www.biblicalparenting.org) and has co-authored four books.

Joanne Miller is a pediatric nurse with 26 years of experience and the cofounder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting. She is the coauthor of seven parenting books.

So now I challenge you, be the start of something new in your home and family.  Pick up this book and embark on a new path today.

Be blessed,

Debbi

* While I received a free copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers, the opinions are completely my own.^

Carrying On Another Family Tradition

As y'all probably know by now, I love tradition.

When my kids were growing up, it was our family tradition to get everyone together to bake our Christmas cookies.  We used an old family recipe, and all my sisters and their kids, rolled, and cut and frosted everything in site.  We would have up to 17 people crowed in someone's house, and chaos usually ensued.  But boy was it fun!

So this year, I guilted asked Amanda to bring over Owen so we could continue the fun.  While there was only us...it was fun.

First it was the boys turn.  While I made the dough, and took the pictures, Amanda was in charge of rolling.  She can be a perfectionist, but she did well letting the boys make a bit of a mess. lol

Ahhhh...two perfectionist sisters working side by side.  You know I stayed out of this one. lol.  And while the girls were working....

...the boys were playing.  Owen would hold Brandon down while PeeWee licked his ear.  Who needs video games when you can have fun like this? haha

Now it's time for the frosting.

No, we don't get fancy with the frosting, mostly because we spent most of the time telling the boys not to eat the frosting. :0)

Time together...that's what we need more of...family traditions.

Share with me some of your family traditions that you try to keep alive.

Be blessed,

Debbi

What Would Owen Like!

It's been a long time since I've done some Saturday Shopping here at

The Yankee Burrow Life

and my Owen's 6th birthday is next Wednesday so let's see what I can find that he might like (other than Lego's). :0)

With Owen turning 6, and hating school (he's a bit spoiled being an only child and all, lol) Mandy was talking about teaching him more responsibility, so what about this magnetic responsibility chart from Baby Age?  Mandy may like it, but not my Booboo.

Now I could encourage learning with this awesome My First Super Science Kit from Fat Brain Toys.  This has enough supplies for over 75 experiments.  Ok, Mandy may not be so cool with this one. lol

Now we're talking...a motorcycle!  This one from Gilt is under $300.  That's a pretty good price.  Of course, if we can't get Poppa a new bike right now, we probably shouldn't get Owen one either. lol

Who remembers these merry-go-rounds????  They were great to ride on in the playground.  There was a large one in our local park, and the object was to see how many kids we could get on it, then 2 of the "big" kids would spin it and the first kid to go flying off was the loser, and the last one to stay on without puking was the winner.  Ah the memories. hahaha

Now we can have one in our yard, from WayFair Supply.

So, what's your vote?

What should we get Owen for his 6th birthday?

Be blessed,

Debbi

Homeschooling Monday - "Class Dismissed"

On The Practical Homeschooling facebook page I saw a link to a new movie coming out about homeschooling.  It's an article on the Huffington Post about the movie Class Dismissed.

This looks like a good informative movie, and one I will share with others disenchanted with our public school system.  

Enjoy your children, and help them enjoy learning again.

Be blessed,

Debbi

A Busy End Of Summer

Wow, I haven't been here much at all this summer.  I don't know why, we didn't go anywhere or do anything special.  I know that I have been busy online working for The Craftstar, which put Yankee Burrow on the back burner for a little while, but I think I finally have a good working schedule.  But for now let me share with you some fun pictures.

 My cute grandson discovered Ravioli

Our homeschool group had our first gathering with a pizza in the park party.  Our group has almost doubled in size from last year. :0)

The weather got cool enough for some childhood comfort food.  Tuna and peas on toast, yum yum.  I remember my mom LOVING this stuff, but she called it s**t on a shingle.  Chuck remembers eating this in the Navy. lol

In August we discovered a young stray cat living under the shop.  Chuck felt bad for it and started feeding him.  (Yeah, he's a softie at heart <3)  Within a few weeks Tom moved onto our back deck.  He still won't let us touch him (yet) but he loves it when we come and sit out there.  He just meows and talks to us and lays under our chairs.  He hangs out by our back door, mostly because of our female cat Patches, BUT when we take our dog Pee Wee out, Tom will rub right up against him.  He's bigger than Pee Wee, so Pee Wee is not too sure about this.

The word must have gotten out because a few weeks later, Little One moved onto our porch.  Tom shares his food without too much argument.  Little One is super cute, but super skittish.  I finally have him to the point where he will stay on the porch when I come out...but he watches us closely.

The last Saturday of September is the Hiddenite Festival of the Arts, and we attend most every year.  This year they put an actual rope around the tractors, instead of just the keep off signs that all the kids ignored.  Owen was disappointed. lol

And this????  One of my favorite reasons for the fall season!  Totally bad for me, but totally tasty.  I'm still waiting for the pumpkin spice coffee creamer. :0)

So how was your summer?  Busy?  Relaxing?  Stressful?  Fun?  Share your story with a comment.

 Be blessed,

Debbi

Book Review - The Sticky Faith Guide For Your Family

Do you ever wonder if you're doing the best you can to raise your small children?  I do, all the time.  I want my children to be adults that change the world, by changing the world around them, and to that end, I just finished reading a book that I think is one of the best books to help us parents bring up our children "in the Way they should go".

The Sticky Faith Guide For Your Family

by Dr. Kara E. Powell

Did you know that nearly half of all children that were raised in Christian homes tend to leave the faith when they become adults? That could explain many of the challenges our society faces today...a generation that does not understand what it means to live for others.  It's time for us to change this.

While there are books that encourage and books that only quote scripture, I liked the fact that this book gives you concrete steps you can take to strengthen your families....advise and tips from other families that have worked for them, and may work for you.  And really, you don't have to be of the Christian faith to benefit from this book...because almost all of the suggestions are about living a life of love, for your family, and for your world.  And with the step by step suggestions and real life stories, there are also thought provoking questions at the end of every chapter.  So this would be a great study for family devotions or small groups.

Go ahead, and get a copy for yourself, and share it when you've read it.

Be blessed,

Debbi

*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my review, but the opinions are wholly mine.*

Keeping Up Family Traditions

Remember the old days?  Cooking and canning to provide fresh and healthy food to your family?  I do, I remember learning to can vegetables and bake bread from my Aunt Barb on the farm when I was just a kid in the 70's.  No, that's not me above...

...that's my Hannah yesterday afternoon.  Learning a family tradition.

Just look at that knife fly....good enough for The Food Network, don't you think?

She wasn't really enthused about this, but I told her that if she wanted Kosher Dill (her favorite) instead of Bread and Butter (my favorite) than she better help. :0)

Now to let them sit and pickle.  Yum yum.  And because I forgot to share my effort from last week...

....I'll be ready for all the butternut squash casserole my family can eat this coming winter.  (I also canned 8 quarts of tomatoes but I forgot to take pictures.  Don't worry, I have more tomatoes on the vine just waiting for me.)

So how about you?  Do you bake or can? 

Where did you learn your culinary skills?

Be blessed,

Debbi