that special age

Snack time. Our kindergartner is learning about her teeth. "Yes, Dear, your teeth are just like marshmallows stuck in peanut butter-like gums."


I love our kindergarten curriculum, I really do. This is the 3rd time through it and we all enjoy the little experiments each time- Once again- the tooth (hard-boiled egg) put in the Coke turned brown....and all of our brushing could not get it white again. But the milk turned the other egg/tooth a beautiful sparkling white :)

*Remember- All you really need to know you learned in kindergarten. (what will I do when I have no more kindergartners?!?!? Sadie will have to step up to the plate, either that or my older kids will just have to keep reading Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle with me :)

Who has a 5 year old right now, raise your hand. Do you love that age? Do you realize that somewhere in the middle of the kindergarten year they lose their chubby baby cheeks and get real kid cheeks?!

owls, love, and the art*house tested toy award goes to...

I saw the owl art project idea here. See, I just steal everyone else's good ideas :) But- in typical Sara fashion, our owls turned out a little mis-proportioned and funky.


The leaves are my favorite part- that and when we used purple background paper and decided the paper needed to be black, and we colored the background with black crayon- I liked that effect too.



The kids decided Mr Robot-man needed some friends so we put a few owls to roost here.

(by the way, mr robot man is greatly loved and adored in our classroom. Everyone has gotten to pick a prize on Fridays and his head has kept us supplied with fresh pencils now for 6 weeks. The favorite prizes have been: packs of gum, bouncy balls, and punch balloons)


Then I uprooted the one owl and took her to stay in the kitchen for awhile since we had an empty spot on the wall.

Dear classroom, How I love you, let me count the ways! I love the space to spread out- to tape our posters, maps, and signs to every available spot. I love the room to put piles of work here and there. We know when we finish a pile we have accomplished something! I love that we can display our books and look at them each day (which book was set in Africa? Which character lives in Spain?) I love that I found a huge map of the US with blank spots to write in each family member's name on the state where they were born.

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Ok, now for another art/love story (and love/love story)
Dave and I got to go to a couples' retreat this past weekend. The love story part is that we got to spend time on our relationship....with a focus on God and what He wants for our marriage.
The art/love story part comes in when we stopped at some cute little shops on the way home. One was this completely adorable toy store. Set up in a rambling old building- there were rooms crammed full of every single toy, game, and craft kit imaginable.


Long story short- we got the kids a spirograph! Oh my dear- this is the ticket to eternal happiness. All 3 kids have used that kit for hours- I could use that thing for hours if they would let me!


Best use of $15. The board is magnetic- so the pieces don't slip.

the leaves are changing...to brightly colored and....felt?

Inspired by this and this....


I made this......



...leaf garland for our mantel.

Happy first day of fall eve!

botanical garden field trip, edible acorns, + food art

We just started a new parenting class at church [using Shepherding a Child's Heart and also, Age of Opportunity] and I am ecstatic about it. It could not be more timely. And sincerely- I need a parenting class yearly to keep me on track as a parent. The first lesson was about instilling the awe of God in our children. And what better place to see God's greatness than a botanical garden!!


God's awesome-ness is all around us even in the most mundane location- but this place was overflowing with His creative genius.






poor bug stuck in the [pitcher-plant]

[venus flytrap]

my faves of the day: [lily pads]








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I saw them here and had to make them. Spread frosting [or nutella!] on one end of a doughnut hole- roll in sprinkles, toffee bits, or tiny chocolate chips. Add a pretzel stem and you have a cute little edible acorn!



My tiny artist is at it again. This time with cookbooks spread around her for inspiration.

I hope you are having a good start of the week :)

books from around the world

I love when something like this evolves in the normal day to day learning in our classroom. We read Madeline in London yesterday- looked on the map to see how the girls went on their trip to England from France. Today we read a book set in South Africa. How fun would it be to read books set in every continent of the world? Any good suggestions for us? I have North America covered and several Asian books.

And then...and then we could make little figures of the people we read about and attach them to the map! Tiny Madeline in Paris, 5 teeny Chinese brothers...

when it comes to decorating your house- do you have a plan?

I got a sweet e-mail from a reader who wanted to know how I started decorating my house the way I do. How do I go about the process?

That is a good question! For sure it is a gradual process. It is layer upon layer...one wall at a time.


This house started off as a blank canvas and I just started covering and filling it and painting it as I had time. As you probably guessed, there is no complete plan- it is a step by step- do what feels right at the time. I get inspiration when I shop- see something cute and cheap? I bring it home and find a spot for it (I don't have a very smart strategy to share!)

My advice if you want this look: keep adding color, pattern and textiles until you feel like you are wrapped in a cozy patchwork quilt. And lamps! Put a lamp in each corner of every room- and on every possible surface.


My style changes all the time. When we first got married we had blue and white everywhere (I need to dig out those pictures). Everything was country and baskets. Even when we moved to this house 5 years ago- I had baskets hanging where the paper lanterns are now. I like to switch things out so that things stay fresh (fresh to me...I in no way try to think that my look is fresh in the design world...my look is what makes us happy)


What is your decorating strategy? Get it done? One room a year? Don't want to even think about it? Do it once and never change anything? Change things up every day? ((there is no wrong answer- it is YOUR space!))

happy monday

I will keep this forever.


Thanks, Chrissie for the fun project idea.


working on our journaling skilz :)


Writing in shaving cream never gets old.


I cannot even believe the many different kinds of mushrooms we have seen lately. God! You are an awesome artist and creator!


The weather has been fantastic.


bonfire snack! (idea found here)

Hope you have a fabulous week! :) :)

Fun links!

OK- you remember my famous friend, Candace, right? Here is a photo in case you forgot.....

(Candace/me at church with her cookbook)

She has a really great blog called Frugal Mom (wow, Candace- you have done some great changes over there. Pretty) - and now a facebook page. If you go and like the facebook page- you will get a free e-book that she wrote entitled, "88 Simple and Creative Ways to Save Money"

Just click this link and it will take you there.
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Also....Chrissie Grace just did an Eric Carle inspired art project too- and hers is super adorable. We are totally making these this week!

happy september!

Hello- welcome to our house...c'mon in -although, if you are coming in this front door I'm afraid- no one comes to the front door except the UPS people.


Our Eric Carle inspired wall!




This Rooster's off to see the world


Bonus # 657 of having a schoolroom- space to spread out.



Sadie studying the calendar


Our Eric Carle inspired project- #1 - read his books. #2- paint lots of paper with different colors + textures...........


Maybe read and paint at the same time- why not?!



Cut shapes out of the designs you painted....ask your dog to help



Revel in the colors and textures.


Cut many circles and glue them on. Circles are always a good choice.



Stick the artwork on the wall and be amazed at how happy it makes you....