Harland Hangout

Dichotomous Keys

2012-02-15T10:52:00.013-06:00

Learning to classify using everyday objects

I confess. I love categorizing, grouping, organizing, and labeling. If you can laminate it, even better. Its human nature right? Even my 4 year old son will take all his "army guys" and divide them into two groups by color. Then he'll take those two groups and further divide them by what gun they are holding. So its no surprise that scientists too, like to classify things into groups, subgroups, and sub-sub groups--not the technical term by the way. So teaching students about dichotomous keys is my idea of a good time!

Here is a copy of the lab, and here is a copy of the graphic & key I used as an example.

If this concept is new to you, a dichotomous key is a way to determine the identity of something (like the name of a butterfly, plant, or tree) by going through a series of choices that leads the reader to the correct scientific name of the specimen. With basic vocabulary and individual with little ability can become an expert in identifying. I like it because it hones students observations skills. When a key asks them whether the leaves on a tree branch are arranged across from each other or alternating, it is focusing students to details they may have never before noticed. (Here is a good dichotomous key to use as an example: It is for identifying deciduous trees, and is good for middle/high schools students. Wisconsin's K-12 Forestry Program)

But since it is winter, and I can't get students to Parklands yet to identify trees, I decided to have my students make their own dichotomous keys. They get the same observation skills, and in addition must decide what traits they will use to communicate the identity of our common objects. To introduce the idea I used 6 animal finger puppets from Ikea but you can use anything you have around the house.

To ease into the idea, I first used a graphic and then introduced the text version of the dichotomous key. To start, I put the six puppets on the lab table and have them make painfully obvious observations. I find whenever I do this, students are always reluctant to get started. They're thinking, "She isn't possibly just wanting me to say that 2 are brown and the others aren't, that's too easy!" But that is exactly the types of observations I'm wanting them to make. It leads to a good discussion of how to classify into two groups. The categories don't have to be "brown or green" but instead "brown and not brown." Next I hand them each a puppet, and give them the following graphic, which is also available as a pdf file.

In Part 1 of the lab, I ask them to follow the graphic to identify the animal puppet that they have. The blue boxes are essentially questions. Is the puppet brown?; yes or no, then follow the arrows. I have each student verbally share how the used the graphic to get their answer. This means they share their observations and how the graphic took them to the next decisions they had to make. Yes, this step should be easy too, but we're building up to designing one ourselves, and it gets more complicated as we go; so baby steps.

In Part 2: I ask them questions about other characteristics we could use to classify these 6 puppets. This is where the real good discussion comes, because the tendency is to want to use comparisons like, "has big ears." But I remind students that when a person uses the key, they won't have all 6 puppets in front of them, and they won't know what "big" means! This makes students really look objectively at these items. Another common mistake is that they make assumptions about the items, but aren't things that can be observed. For example, "Eats peanuts" is meant to help classify the elephant, but is not helpful in this situation. I remind students that we are classifying the puppets, not the animals they represent. Do you see why this can get a bit complicated? So after our discussion, as a class we design a new graphic for classifying the same 6 puppets. This helps them see that classification can be done many ways, each path designed by different people but each will still enable someone to classify the items.

For Part 3 I decided to use Matchbox cars for students to design their own dichotomous graphic that leads the user through a series of yes/no questions until all the objects are correctly identified. I warn them to be careful in the characteristics they choose, so that the user will be able to correctly identify each object. You could use any other groups of item of which you have a large collection. It works OK to have students work in pairs, but is best best if each student has their own group of items with which to work. Since color is an easy way to begin classification, I took that out of the equation, giving each group of students a certain color of Matchbox car. Yes, this is what I have plenty of around my house. I'm embarrassed to say that even with groups of red, blue, yellow, green, purple, white, and brown cars (6 items in each group), my son didn't even realize I had taken his toys!

Before beginning a new key, the items must be officially identified. So I have my students turn the Matchbox cars over, and write their official names in the box in the upper left hand corner of page 3.

Here is an example of a graphic done with the cars shown above. Once the graphic was complete, I encouraged students to take each of their cars and run them through to make sure they can only get one answer. Then I had the groups exchange cars to double-check each other's work. I walked around the room, checking their graphics as well, and marking them as I went. This saved me time in my grading.

Then for Part 4, students made a key of paired questions that accomplish the same task as their graphic. Here is the key for the previous graphic example.

There are plenty of ways to increase the difficulty of this assignment. Its mostly up to the number and type of items you choose for the students to use to classify. Six items allows us to get through the entire lab in 40 minutes or so. Increasing the number of items will increase difficulty and the time it takes for them to complete it. Another way to mix this up, is to assign students to find the items, photograph them, then design their graphics and keys.

I love this lab not only for the fun organizing/classifying aspect but also because its a lab that students really enjoy!

Again, here is a copy of the lab, and here is a copy of the puppet graphic & key I used as an example.

Marine Oil Spill Lab

2012-02-01T10:59:00.014-06:00

Although I have been in the public school system for over 16 years, I am passionate about parents who choose to homeschool their children. This oil spill lab is perfect for homeschooling because you can open up your entire kitchen and garage to any materials that come to mind! You don't need any fancy equipment and it really is true inquiry. While the lab poses the question, "How do you separate oil from water?" the materials and methods students use is up to them. The lab is posted here in this Google Doc., "Marine Oil Spill." I'll admit, like any honest teacher will, that some of the labs we've done this year are better than others. My favorite so far is a lab I modified from Joel Beller's book, "25 Low-cost Biology Investigations." The lab in the book is called "Cleaning Up an Aquatic Oil Spill" and is found on page 43. I rewrote the lab and titled it, "Marine Oil Spill."

One of the first things you'll notice about my labs, is that I always include prelab questions. I have several reasons for this. For starters, my prelab questions often ask what they already know about the topic of the lab. I do this to address any misconceptions before we get started. [Although, sometimes the purpose of the lab itself is to help them sort through the misconception.] So, in this oil spill lab, the first prelab question is, "What do you know about how well water and oil mix? Use an example to explain your answer." My purpose here is to see if they know that oil and water don't mix. Common examples students think of, is salad dressing where the oil separates out of the mixture, or oil dripping from a car, and seeing it in a puddle. They don't mix!

Another main reason I have prelab questions is that I want students to read the lab before the scheduled lab time. Our time together is short, and if students have read the lab before coming, they are familar with what procedures they will be performing, and what equipment they will be using. Those of you out there that teach, know that this is easier said than done. Science literacy is not easy for students. The science vocabulary and strange apparatus often make student timid about what they are reading. In this oil spill lab, the second prelab question, "What is the difference between skimming and absorbing methods of oil removal?" helps students to read the lab and distinguish between the two major ways they will be trying to remove the oil from the water. The question, just by being asked, provides context for the lab's purpose.

Another purpose in having prelab questions is to force students to make a prediction regarding the outcome of the experiment. Ideally then, there is a postlab question that asks them whether or not their prediction was supported by the data they collected in the lab. In this oil spill lab, the third prelab question, "Make a prediction of what material will best help remove oil from water. Why do you think this material will work better than the others?" forces them to do several things. First, it requires them to look at the materials list, and see what items are available for removing the oil. Then they must think about what they know about oil, and pick the materials they think will do the best job, and explain why they picked that material over another.

My last reason for having prelab questions is to address any safety issues. Whenever there are bio0logical specimens, chemicals, heat, flames, etc...I use a prelab question to make sure they know how to handle the risk, and what to do if there is a problem.

The reason I like this lab so much is because the procedure is simple and the results vary. Meaning, even if 2 students both use a sponge to remove oil from the water, one may use it in a way that is successful while used by another, it may not remove the oil nearly as well. It brings up an opportunity to talk about the importance of scientists and engineers clearly describing HOW they perform their tasks. I also like the lab because the students can choose whatever materials they want, they can use materials in combinations, and then "grade" each materials' effectiveness.

This lab is conducive to a lot of discussion, not just teacher-student, but the more treasured, student-student, and student-teacher. Naturally, students share what they're finding. "Hey, using Rice Crispies made a huge mess..." or "....that worked much better, I wonder what would happen if..." I encourage students to think out loud. I want to hear how they are coming to their conclusions. I also want them listening to one another. [Sometimes I have to let them know this is not cheating, but collaborating!] I want them to provide suggestions to one another and challenge each other's methodology.

You'll notice that some of the boys chose to add food coloring to their "ocean water." That was their idea, hoping it would help them differentiate between the oil and the water. In the photo above dishwashing soap is being used in conjunction with corn chex. Several of the boys found this to be the best method for absorbing the oil, because it was easier to remove inside the cereal. Feel free to use this lab.

Whether you teach in public, private, or in your home, try this lab and let me know how it works for you and your students!

My Homeschooling Research-Another family

2012-01-27T15:06:00.009-06:00

Well today I enjoyed spending 2 hours with Amy, another homeschooling friend. Amy and I were both biology teachers in the same science department back in the late 90's. The photo below is Amy with her 3 beautiful children; Josh, Asher, and Elliana.

So I was looking forward to seeing how she homeschools. Because we both come from a science background, I thought I might get a good sense of how I might approach teaching my own children. This is Amy and me sitting on the floor of their classroom. The room is on the first floor and was probably intended to be the formal sitting and dinning room, but who uses those anymore, right? The photo was taken by her oldest son, Josh, who is in 5th grade.

Here's a look at the entire room. A table against the wall is where the two boys work and a small school desk under the window is where the preschooler worked. The room doesn't look all that different from a traditional classroom; maps, globes, posters, multiplication tables poster, alphabet letters, bookshelves organized with all sorts of great reads, drawers with all sorts of cool math and science manipulatives.

When I arrived, both boys were at the table, one working on math, and the other spelling. Elliana was working at the desk on a sheet where she was coloring the shapes within an image with separate colors. Like my friend Kristy, Amy types up a "to-do list" that each child gets every morning. Amy's kids each have a clipboard that includes any other materials/handouts they may need to accomplish the day's tasks. Amy was continually asking them what they were choosing to do next, and what items they had been able to cross off. She is obviously an expert multitasker, being able to give an oral spelling test to one child, while pulling up a website for another. Kudos to you Amy!

I was surprised to find out that both boys are learning a foreign language using Rosetta Stone. Josh is learning BOTH spanish and french. The photo below is Josh working on his spanish with the headphones as to not to disrupt the others who are working. Apparently with Rosetta Stone program, you not only learn how to write the language, you're also speaking it. So you wear headphones with a microphone, so the program can hear you say it! Kinda cool! Amy is impressed with how much her boys can speak in their second and third languages.

While Elliana spent some time working with her mom, I was so impressed with how Amy dealt with the attention span of a 4 year old. At times she focused her and at other times, allowed her to do her own thing (today it was playing with my 9 month old). Elliana also carved out some computer time this morning . She asked to go to, www.starfall.com website. After watching her interact with the reading games, I knew that Caleb would also enjoy this site. It was also amazing to me how much more engaged she was with the online reading games compared to the worksheets she had been working on. Here is Amy working with Elliana on some Explode the Code, a phonics curriculum.

Here is Asher working on the desktop computer Teaching Texbook Math 4 program. Amy said Asher loves math and he gets on the computer for "fun!" So this is additional practice above the Saxon Math he does as part of his regular curriculum.

Amy was so helpful. She set out the kindergarten Sonlight curriculum box for me to flip through. However, seeing the instructor guides, along with all the associated literature, is overwhelming. I noticed that a book from the "Boxcar Children" series is a read aloud in the Kindergarten curriculum. Right now I can't imagine Caleb, my 4 year old, listening to a chapter book with so few pictures. Really? But Amy shared with me some of her early struggles, and seemed to really understand my hesitance. She didn't sugar coat how much work it is, but also how rewarding the experience is.

Is it really possible that my husband and I might be completely responsible for the formal education of our children? Can we do this? Should we? Is it best for our kids? I'm just not sure!

Sonlight bases its curriculum on literature. This article from their website titled, "How Literature-rich Homeschooling Awakens Your Child's Natural Passion for Learning." They admit that using literature to teach history (and the context then for everything they learn) takes longer when reading literature instead of textbooks, but state that the trade off is worth it because students will remember it more. Literature allows us to connect to an experience. I also see that in this curriculum we would have to commit to read everything that our kids would be reading, so that we could discuss the ideas with them! That's not a small commitment, for sure! What I still need to research is the role of writing in this curriculum.

I walked away today with several big picture thoughts. First, I liked how the Sonlight curriculum uses "real" books. The emphasis is in reading, even in the early years, a lot of read alouds, discussion about what you read etc. I like that this curriculum uses literature to open doors to discuss not only what they are learning, but what they are feeling, how they connect with the characters within that time period. I bet I would have enjoyed history if I would have been taught this way. Second, I liked how technology can be used to reinforce ideas, or to teach material in a different way. While I don't know that the Sonlight curriculum gives tips on how this can be accomplished, I know I want technology to be a tool my kids use in their education. While I do want them using it to research and learn more about topics they are interested in, I also want my kids to use technology to create products that explain what they have learned, what they understand and why. And today I saw a glimpse of how I might be able to do that.

Thanks you so much Amy for allowing me to intrude in on your morning. I admire what you do each day with your kids. They are blessed to have you!

Resources I got from Amy:

Usborne Books: I love these. I haven't seen any for prek-K, but the science and history ones for the elementary kids were colorful, interesting, and WAY better than any textbook! I will remember these books for sure.

Learning Resource: I love the math and language arts manipulatives found here. I don't know yet how my boys will best learn, but if hands-on and visual are their strengths, this will be a great resource!

Graphic Libary: Capstone Press: Ok, I was never into comic books, but look at these graphic non-fiction books for science! So again, if my boys learn this way....you can bet my library will include these!

Ann Voskamp: A Child's Geography: Amy suggested this one..a great way to introduce kids to geography.

Exploring Creation: Young Explorer Series: Fullbright: These are full color books teaching science. I read a sample chapter, and I'm not sure how I feel about these. It seems as if it is a textbook trying its best to be conversational. Images and photos are good, and the level of science being taught is great. I think as reference material, it would be a nice thing to have around the house.

Real Science 4 kids: by Rebecca Keller. On their webpage they say, "We’ve taken great care to make our educational materials worldview neutral. This allows children from any background to examine opposing models; creationism versus the Big Bang theory, for instance. Your home schooled kids will have the richest source of insight, allowing them to shape intelligent and informed opinions." I actually like this idea! I've spent some time on this website, and REALLY like it. The philosophy is to teach chemistry and physics to apply it to biology, earth/space science in the elementary grades to provide the foundation of science. The looks of the books are really good too!

I know I can let the philosophy side of my brain take over. I've been doing a lot of research and still feel overwhelmed. At this moment, I'm thinking I could buy the K4 Curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler, and try it with Caleb over the summer. We can judge how it is going, how he does with his parents as his teachers, and how we handle the new role. Its not a huge money investment $15 for the entire curriculum plus copying costs.

Full of beans and grains

2012-01-23T18:08:00.004-06:00

As promised, I wanted to provide a list of possible grains and beans that can be used for making your own baby cereal. Between 4-9 months these grains are used alone, or mixed with other grains. But after nine months old, grains are mixed with beans to make a complete protein. I've explained how to make super porridge in another post.

Grains

amaranth
barley, pearled
brown rice
buckwheat groats
bulgur
couscous
kamut
millet
oatmeal/rolled oats
oats, whole
quinoa
rye berries,
sorghum
teff
triticale
wheat, cracked
wheat, berries

Beans

adzuki
black or turtle
black-eyes pea
fava
garbanzo (chick pea)
kidney
lentil
lima, baby
mung
pinto
soybeans
soy grits
yellow or green
split peas
white or Great Northern or navy bean

Schooling Confession...

2012-01-21T06:14:00.006-06:00

I have a confession to make. After attending the public school system for most of my life (minus my 5 years at Olivet Nazarene University) and teaching in the public schools for 17 years, my husband and I are considering homeschooling. This is something I've not even been open to until recently, but God has opened my heart to the possibility. Ironically all my life, people always told me I would be great at homeschooling. But I'll be the first to admit that I don't know the first thing about early childhood education, but you know what I do know? My kids! So I will blog my thoughts as a way to process this possibility.

I want to begin by saying that I feel blessed to be in a country were homeschooling can be a choice that people can make. As I write out my thoughts here, know that it is my way to brain dump my ideas. I intension is not to speak despairingly of anyone for the choices they make regarding the type of schooling they choose for their children. But I will be writing my thoughts about what I am learning, trying to feel my way through what I believe to be right for me and my family. Please make posts you write be respectful to the choices that I or others may make. I have no idea where this journey will lead us, and that is scary and exhilarating at the same time.

My sister-in law homeschools, as do a few of my friends. My friend Kristy gave me a list that describes the different approaches to homeschooling and that has been very helpful. I asked to come observe Kristy one morning to see how they organize their school time and to talk to her kids. They have four children ranging from 6th grade to 1st grade. In the photo below, their Dad is helping the two older kids with Latin!

Here is Kristy helping her youngest with spelling and handwriting. (The baby is mine!)

Kristy homschools abiding pretty close to the Classical Approach. From what I understand, it allows students to see a complete picture among all the subjects because what the kids are learning is by time period. That is what I really like about this approach. While there is a focus on facts in the early grades (1-4) they do see how the facts connect to one another. I believe this philosophy is based on The Well-Trained Mind. I have read the book (several months ago), and I believe it is something I could do.

I am most scared about these early years. Give me a high school kid any day, (I taught high school biology for 12 years) but teach a kid to read and write? For some reason that is much more daunting to me. But reading The Well-Trained Mind helped me see that I could do it.

The way Kristy organizes the learning for her children, is that each week she fills out a chart for what each child should accomplish each day. So the days of the week are across the top, and the subjects are along the left-hand column. So she will write in the page numbers of what should be completed each day. As the children get older, they help fill out the chart! I love that! If I homeschool, I want to allow my child some feeling of ownership of what he is learning. The OCD in me loved the way Kristy organized school. It felt like school, with everyone working, with rules and consequences posted on the wall. At this phase of homeschooling, Kristy said that she spends a lot of time with the 1st grader, while the others work independently. But she is conscious of spending too much time with one child, and may set a timer for herself to make sure she gets to everyone!

From what I understand, Kristy teaches history lessons 3 days a week. Therefore time would would be designed for all 4 children--a definite plus for this organization. Then what each student would get out of the time, i.e, what each was expected to learn, might be different. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays Kristy does Science or Art. Now, as a biology teacher, the lack of attention to science concerns me...but I also know that I could organize my school however I wanted.

Here are the resources Kristy gave me:

Rainbow Resource: Place to buy books, crafts, etc... discounted for homeschooling families.

Youcanhomeschool: Legal organization to support parents who homeschool.

My Father's World Curriculum: Christian curriculum.

Saxon: Math Curriculum

A Reason for Handwriting: Handwriting curriculum

Spelling Workout: Modern Curriculum Press

Explode the Code: Phonics program

Baby Food-Grains & Beans

2012-01-18T16:04:00.012-06:00

I've seen a whole host of resources that provide directions and describe benefits of pureeing veggies and fruits, pouring them into ice cube trays, and freezing them for later use. I LOVE to make my own baby food this way too. But I haven't seen anyone talking about how to make your own cereal for baby. Most of the time baby's first food is white rice. However there is a lot of research showing that this is NOT a healthy food, and certainly not a good "first food." Read this article from Parenting Squad if you want to know more.

The primary reason I like the book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron so much is for its directions on how to make "Super Porridge." What I plan on doing here in this blog post is describing homemade cereal appropriate for babies over 9 months. I'll try to write another post that addresses months 4-9 at another time.

At 9 months a baby's digestive system is ready for mixed whole grains along with legumes (beans). This combination provides a complete protein! It is really easy to prepare and cook. Once I realized what this phrase "whole grain" actually meant, I was not only happier about feeding my baby this way, I found myself eating healthier. Here is the recipe. (Yaron, 1998; page 214).

To make 2 cups of high protein Super Porridge, mix in blender and grind:
1/3 cup of whole grains (brown rice, millet, oatmeal, or other) &
2 tablespoons (1/8 cup) dried legumes (lentils, soy grits, spilt peas, or other)

This makes about 1/2 cup of powder. Stir powder into 2 cups of boiling water, reduce heat to low, and cook for 10 minutes (20 min. if soybeans are included), stirring frequently with a whisk to remove lumps and prevent scorching. Refrigerate for 2-3 days or freeze for up to one month.

The recipe above is really all you need to know. It is that simple. What I will walk you through now is more of the logistics of how I make this method fit into my busy lifestyle.

1. Once a month or so, I get out all my grains and beans, my 1/3 measuring cup, a tablespoon, and snack sized ziplock bags. Pre-measuring saves me time. The first step is to measure 1/3 cup of any grain and place it into a snack sized baggie. The ones I used on this particular day were pearled barley, oatmeal (old fashion oats, NOT quick oats), and brown rice. In most bags I put only one type of grain, but in a few I'll partially fill the 1/3 cup with one kind of grain, and then fill the remainder of the 1/3 cup with another grain. THIS is what you call multigrain!

2. The next step is to add 2 tablespoons of the legumes to the grains. Again, sometimes I'll add only one type of legume, and sometimes I'll add several. In this photo I had lentils, black beans, pinto beans, and split peas.

3. Once I have all the baggies packaged, I organize them in a glass dish that I keep in my refrigerator. I put them in an order in which I want to feed them to my baby. Remember, you should only introduce one new food at a time, with a 3-4 day waiting period before introducing another new food. So the order matters once I start mixing grains & beans together. I don't want to give him two types of beans that he's never had before. If he has a reaction, I won't know which one is the cause.

For example, in this bag, I have barley as my grain, and black beans and slit peas for the legumes.

This bag has barley and oatmeal for the grain; navy beans and split peas for the legumes.

And this bag, has brown rice and oatmeal for the grains; and pinto beans for the legumes. As you can imagine the combination is endless.

4. Every 3 days, I get a baggie out of the fridge and dump it in my blender.

You need to blend it to a fine powder...about 2 full minutes. Sometimes the powder compacts in the bottom or edges so I'll stop blending and stir the mixture before starting the blender again. [Note: normally beans need to be presoaked, but because we are blending them, they are fully cooked with our grains in just 10 minutes.]

5. Because you can get a lot accomplished in 2 minutes; While I'm blending I measure 2 cups of water and get it boiling on the stove. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low, and dump the grain/legume powder into the water.

REDUCE HEAT TO LOW. Use a wire whisk to remove all the lumps, and to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Put the lid on the pan, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Stir it occasionally, more often in the first 5 minutes.

6. While the porridge is cooking get your containers ready. I use small glass dishes with lids. With this recipe I usually get 6 individual servings, but the portion sizes change with my baby's age and appetite. These containers go into the refrigerator and should be eaten within 3 days.

7. Right before meal time, I take out my frozen veggie or fruit cubes, in this case sweet potatoes and kale, and put it in the microwave for 45 sec. With a fork, I mash up the cubes and put it in for another 20 sec. My goal is to make it only luke warm, not hot--basically just taking the chill out.

This is what the final product looks like. Super porridge mixed with veggies. You can see the grains, and the little pieces of kale (how to prepare kale). It may not look great, but my baby loves it. [Editors honesty; kale goes down best when served with fruits, like bananas or pears. And I use only 1/2 of the size cube shown here...still worth it!]

8. Then right before giving it to baby, I add a few extras, like egg yolk (3 times a week), and to increase the thickness I add wheat germ.

Sleeve Gloves: No more cold wrists

2012-01-16T15:30:00.011-06:00

Ok, so I don't consider myself a great seamstress by any stretch of the imagination. I usually make stuff for the house and can follow simple patterns. This is my first attempt at sharing a sewing tutorial. I got the idea to extend gloves by sewing them to the arm of a sweatshirt from my friend Amy who blogs "My Heart My Home." Here is her original post about sleeve gloves.

The purpose of these gloves is two fold. The first is to keep the gloves on during serious winter play. If you've ever had a frustrated child who can't keep his gloves on while trying to build a snow fort, you know what I mean. The second purpose is to keep those wrists dry and warm. You know how the snow compacts between the top of the glove and the bottom of the jacket sleeve? Then the wrist gets all cold and wet. This sleeve glove should solve both of these problems.

1. The first thing you want to do, is find 2 long-sleeve shirts you don't mind cutting up. Since my son is a size 4T, I went into the 3T stash and pulled out a fleece hoody, and a pair of pj's that he doesn't wear any more. I wanted the a pj layer on the inside because I wanted something that was snug against his skin without any seams. The fleece was a good choice for outer layer to help keep in the warmth. Ideally, I was looking for an old water resistant windbreaker jacket, to better keep out the snow, but I didn't have anything I was willing to sacrifice. Maybe I should have gone to Good Will to get something. Oh well. The photo below shows the shirts and the mittens I used for this project.

2. Next, cut off the the sleeves at the shoulder seam.

3. If your model is around, use him to fit the outer layer. Put the sleeve inside out, and pin the side with the the seam loosely against his arm. (For example in this photo, if I would have pinned above his arm, the sleeve would have two seams, and therefore not as comfortable.) Also, take into consideration the stretchy-ness of your sleeve. Since mine is fleece and has a lot of give, I could put my seam pretty close to his arm. But if you are using a windbreaker, your seam shouldn't be as close to the arm because it may reduce the ability to bend at the elbow.

4. Make a seam along your pin line. I made a zig-zag line and a straight stitch. The sleeve on the top is what is looks like before I trimmed off the excess.

5. Turn the outside layer right-side out, and place the inside layer within the outside layer lining them up how you'd like.

6. Sew the outside layer to the inside layer at the cuff. This will not be visible and will hold the two pieces together. I used a zig-zag stitch so that it would have a bit of stretch. (Excuse the poor stitches, my sewing machine is in dire need of a tune up.)

7. At this point its a good idea to put it back on your model to check for length. Decide how far up the arm you want it to go. You want it above the elbow, even with the elbow bent. This will help keep the glove on. Cut the outer layer 2 inches shorter than the inner. Then fold the inner layer to the outside, and stitch it.

8. The last step is to attach the glove to the sleeve. Overlap the 2 cuffs with the glove cuff on top. Unfortunately, I think the best way to do this is doing a hand whip stitch. (I couldn't figure out how to get to that seam on the sewing machine.) I also suggest using a thimble, to save your finger!

9. Because I made my layers so thick, my son wears a short-sleeve t-shirt, with the sleeve gloves under his winter coat. If you prefer for your kids to layer, you might want lighter layers for your sleeve gloves. Put them on and enjoy!

High School Science labs

2012-01-14T18:07:00.013-06:00

As a career biology teacher, I've recently taken on the challenge and privilege of volunteering as the "science lab coordinator" at a Christian boarding school. The boys get their middle school or high school curriculum via Switched on Schoolhouse (SOS), which is a Christian homeschooling software curriculum. While the teachers tried to include hands-on science labs as much as they could, with up to 25 boys in different science courses and within different units in those courses, it makes it too difficult to be practical. Therefore, I am doing labs with the boys 2 days a week. I'm getting a chance to pull out labs I used to do with my public high school students. Sometimes I rewrite existing SOS labs-improving them to be more inquiry, and sometimes I'm writing new labs entirely. I'd like for this blog to be a place I can share those with you.

This is a photo of my lab space. Nice huh? Rocky Mount Church, from North Carolina came last summer to design and build this lab. [Side note: I had not yet contacted the school about volunteering. God made this a case of "If you build it, she will come!" Totally a God thing.] The room came with basic science supplies like a microscope, basic glassware, magnets, rulers etc. Not only the space functional, it is beautiful. I don't know who did the decorating, but I LOVE the classy science decor (notice the ThInK sign above the door). I never have more than six boys at a time so the space is perfect.

I've been doing labs since November, and so far we've done 2 microscope labs (rotating 6 boys around one scope has its challenges), graphing lab, Calculating volume lab, Living-Non lab (a personal favorite of mine), Probability lab, and Cleaning up after an oil spill lab (a great inquiry lab). I've posted some of them here for you in Google Docs. I suppose at some later time, I can spend more time talking about the labs.

Guidelines for Lab Drawings: I am kinda particular on how students do lab drawings, this is my description of how they are to be done! (Ok so I'm OCD!)

First Microscope Lab: Traditional, cutting out newspaper letter, and looking at colored threads.

Cheek Cell Lab: I have students make three slides, as methaline blue stain on one, iodine on another, and no stain on the third. Then they compare them and determine best as they can the shape of their cells.

Determining Volume: In this lab students measure linear objects (like small boxes) to find their volume, then use the principle of displacement by dropping irregular shaped objects into graduated cylinders and beakers to find the change in water level.

Graphing: Basic paper lab that leads students to make line, bar, and pie graphs. Honestly, its not that great.

Cleaning up an oil spill: I modified this lab from (25 Low-cost Biology Investigations by Joel Beller) and I really like it. Students are provided a bunch of materials and they work to determine which best clean up an oil (veg. oil) spill in their ocean (water in a pie tin).

Home Organization

2012-01-14T16:59:00.008-06:00

Storage has been a challenge since we moved into our new home. We downsized significantly, and without closets in the bedrooms, there is nowhere to hide the stuff you need! So when considering storage, dressers, unless they are really tall and have ample storage, aren't good for a small room. So, instead of using bedroom furniture, I had my hubby build floor to ceiling shelves, in both our master bedroom and in our boys' room. I have to admit, I had a lot of fun designing them. I'm not embarrassed to say that it involved graph paper, and measuring every plastic crate or shelf or canvas tote we owned so that we could use what we already own to make a home for our clothes and other essentials.

It goes without saying that everything having a spot just makes me happy, but you know what my favorite part of this is? The little dressing table in the cubby to the far left. Since we have only one bathroom, I thought it might be best that I do my makeup and hair here instead. Craig (my husband) worked it out so I have a powerstrip below the shelf, which makes it all very convenient.

This photo is my son in the boys' room with all the stuff the afternoon we moved in. I'm proud to say each thing had its place.

Here's the boys' room finished. I use plastic tubs on top for the out of season clothes and larger items. And you'll notice too, I use the Sterilite plastic drawers (from WalMart) instead of the traditional dresser. I feel they are durable, hold a lot more than wooden drawers, and will really hold up to two boys opening and closing them. Each one is three drawers, and I stacked one unit on top of the other. The 4 year old's clothes are in the bottom drawers so he can reach them, and the 6 month old gets the top 3 drawers for now.

My favorite part of this shelving unit is how I worked our old wooden kitchen table as the diaper changing area. (In these photos I was using a card table until the wooden table was done being used for staging our house that we were trying to sell.) The plan is that after the table is done being used as a diaper changing station, it will be a place to color, paint, read, and all kinds of good fun.

I thought I would also share with you an organizational tip that I got from my Grandma Gould. She taught me to use toilet paper cardboard rolls as a way to organize those pesky cords. I use them for my beauty tools, and also in the kitchen with my stored away appliances. I will say too, that Grandma used to use left over wall paper to decorate them to match the theme of the room. I've just not made that a priority...but a great idea!

Baby Food: Kale

2012-01-14T11:12:00.018-06:00

I love making my own baby food. I did it with Caleb, and am now making food for Corban. Particularly since I wasn't able to breast feed Corban, I want to get him off to a great start with his solids foods. I very loosely follow the ideas in the Super Baby Food book. There are a LOT of things I don't like about this book, that I won't go into right now, but what I do like is the section that lists each baby food, how to pick out good, ripe choices from the grocery store, and a detailed explanation of how to store, prepare, and cook the food before pureeing it. I'm not a natural cook, so these details are important to me.

Besides the cost savings, and knowing what I'm feeding my baby, a reason I like to make baby food is that I can make healthier foods that are not the usual choices in the baby food isle in the grocery store. One of these foods, is kale. Now kale is not a food that I EVER made for myself, but apparenly it is full of wonderful nutrition. Web MD calls Kale a "nutritional powerhouse" veggie. Here are just a few of the highlights as to what makes kale so great; it is low calorie, contains fiber, calcium, vitamin B6, magnesium, vitamin A, C & K. It is a good course of minerals such as copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. So move over spinach, kale is king!

Kale has a strong flavor, so I usually sneak it in with other veggies or cereal. As my way to show you how to make baby food, I will use kale as my demo. However, keep in mind that this is the same method you would use with other foods, particularly vegetables. Of course some foods don't need to be cook before they are frozen, so pears and apples for example, you just puree and freeze.

1. This is what kale looks like when you buy it in the grocery store. I buy 3 bunches at a time (the photo shows one) because it cooks down so much after you steam it.

2. You'll need to clean it first. So after you remove the wire tie, place the kale in a sink full of cold water. Swoosh it around to remove any grit (you'll be surprised how much there is) making sure to open the leaves as you do this.

3. The next step is to "stem" the kale. Stemming is much easier to do before cooking! If you are right handed, you'll hold a single stem in your left hand, positioned like I have photographed below. Be sure the leafy part is folded, so you can pull both sides of the green from the stem at the same time.

4. Use your right hand to rip the greens from the stem. This is what it will remain.

5. Discard the stem and further rip the greens so they are in smaller pieces.

6. You'll want a large pot with a way to steam the greens. I use this metal contraption inside my largest pan. I only have about 2 cm of water beneath. Since any water that touches the food will remove more nutrients, you want to keep the water level low. We are wanting to steam the veggies, not boil them.

7. Once the water in your pot is boiling, be sure that the bubbles are NOT able to reach the veggies. Then place the kale into the strainer and put the lid on it. If you tore the kale into smaller pieces, steam them for 3 minutes. If you left the kale in large leafs, steam 7 minutes. If you find your baby doesn't like the strong flavor of kale, you can steam it without the lid, however, you'll lose some nutrients this way. If you are steaming a large patch (more than one bunch at a time) use tongs to turn the kale several times during cooking. If you are just cooking one batch, you don't have to mix them.

8. This is what kale looks like after cooking. Its spinach-like, limp, and kinda gross.

8. Underneath the strainer, you'll notice that the water has turned a light shade of green. That means the kale leeched some nutrients into the steamed water. This is precious, don't throw it out. Use it in step 9.

9. Place your cooked kale into your blender or food processor and add some of the leeched nutrient water.

10. Blend it well. The amount of water you use is up to you. I find that adding more water makes it blend nicer and also makes it easier to pour into ice cube trays.

11. Now all you have to do is pour it into to the ice cube trays and freeze. I'm not crazy about eating kale myself, but really, just LOOK at that beautiful color! Its a deep, beautiful green! It has to be good for you, right?

12. Once the veggie is completely frozen, you remove them from the trays, and place them in FREEZER ziplock bags. Mark them with the date (they are good for up to 2 months). Add a cube in with any other veggie, and know that you're giving your baby a healthy meal! :)

My own ideas, for you to steal

2011-12-25T18:46:00.005-06:00

Decorating for Christmas growing up was always a big deal. I loved it all, but my favorite was the Christmas lights. This year, my challenge was decorating a small space. We've recently downsized so I got rid of almost all of my decorations. While the boys' room doesn't have room for a Christmas tree (which would be my preference) I still wanted them to have Christmas lights. So instead of looping them haphazardly on the bookshelves, or around the window, I decided to put them in spiral above my son's bed. I normally use only white lights, but the colored lights looked great with the grays, oranges, greens, and blues in the comforter.

All you need to do this project is a string of christmas lights, small Command Decorating Clips, and a measuring tape. First I plugged in the lights to the lamps (I bought these lamps at Walmart and they have an outlet on the base....we use them for night lights, perfect!) then I placed the first clip level with the night stand so it is to the far right of the back of the bed. I then ran the light up toward the ceiling and put another clip about a foot down from the ceiling. As you can see from the photo, the room has knotty pine boards, so I didn't have to worry about the lights being hung plumb--I just followed the lines of the boards. If you are trying this, you may want to use a level to make sure they are straight up and down, or take a measurement from a nearby wall. When placing the clips on the wall, I always put the open side of the clip facing the outside of the spiral so that the tension keeps the lights from falling out of the clip. The next clip to go up was the top, left corner; the same distance from the ceiling as the previous hook. Once the hook was in place, I gently tugged on the lights, and placed them over the hook.

I know Command suggest waiting after placing their product on the wall, but because the lights weigh so little, as soon as the hook was up, I hung the lights. The lower-left corner hook was level with the first hook I put on the right side, but when placing lights on the inside spiral I measured 7 inches in. I continued this all the way to the center. When I got to the center, I still had Christmas lights left over, so I just wrapped them back around again.

This sounds much more complicated than it really is. It only took me about 10 minutes to do the entire wall. Best part is, that the Command strips allow me to take down the lights after the holidays without any damage to the walls. But we like it so much, the lights may stay up well into the new year!

Ideas Implemented from Pintrest

2011-12-25T16:46:00.018-06:00

I'm a new convert to the website Pintrest. I love it! I'm naturally visual anyway, so to organize my favorite sites by the photos is perfect for me. I'm enjoyed finding sites that have activities to do with my preschooler! So for my first post in over a year, I'm going to highlight some of these! Enjoy.

From The Crafting Chicks I found how to make Angry Bird Cupcakes. I made these for my hubby's 40th Birthday back in November. Its weird how something can look so simple, can end up being harder than you thought to make. I decided to make 2 sheet cakes, and put the birds on one with the the green pigs on the other. It worked out nicely. I made my own colored sugar by putting sugar in a mason jar, with a couple drops of food coloring, and giving it a good shake! Much cheaper and it looks great. It adds a bit of shimmer too!

Another recipe I used was the one that used the new peppermint kisses from Baked Perfection. We put our kisses on too soon after coming out of the oven and they melted. We then had to wait for them to cool again before we could stack the cookies in a tin. But they tasted great, even if they didn't look like the pintrest photo!

I put walmart gift cards inside homemade snowglobes for a creative way to give money! My 4 year old helped put the glitter in, which is why there is so much! This idea came from creativemama website.

With my 8 month old, I try to feed him all natural ingredients, whole grains, and now homemade yogurt. I got wonderful directions from the website, how to make yogurt. Its really easy, but you have to be around to monitor it. I used the electric heating pad, like they suggested, and to thicken it to be more like the Greek yogurt, I added some powdered milk at the same time I added the freeze-dried yogurt starter. Talk about being Pro-prokaryote! (For you non-biologists out there, that just means pro-bacteria!)

Here is our gift to Dad this year. Its a penguin family made from our footprints. This idea came from Funhandprintart. I didn't trust everyone not to mess up the original 12x12 sheet, so I had everyone in the family make their print on 8 1/2 x 11. sheet, then I cut them out and put them on the scrapbook sheet how I wanted. I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

I have more ideas borrowed from pintrest, but I'll have to add them another day! What fun!

Best Age

2010-01-27T11:51:00.008-06:00

I am usually a big fan of natural lighting. However, after seeing this photo, I think I may be changing my mind! Look at the corner of my eyes! WHAT IS THAT? When I first saw this photo, I freaked out. How old am I? So I have wrinkles now?

But, like my Grandma Gould has taught me, "Everything is relative." So I've decided to keep things in perspective. I wouldn't trade being my age, with a 2 1/2 year old. I wouldn't exchange any of my experiences, for a smoother face. I'm happy with who I am and with where I am in life. And come to find out, my Grandma Gould feels the same way about her life. Here is a poem she wrote about being her age. This is wisdom!

The Best Age
There must be a time In this life down here
That life just seems perfect
And I think I am there!
No sad departures
And sent off to school
Out in that mean world
With it's endless rules

Then comes all those decisions to make
And tests galore!
Worries then about how we score.
Soon every morning that miserable alarm
Gets us off to work
Whether city or farm

Marriage comes along
And if you like your own way
There are two now
And each has his say.

With the little ones, happiness arrives
But oh, those sleepless nights
Then endless questions, and the "whys"?
Hardly any time to read the paper in peace
Or who chooses the programs
Is there no relief?
To do my own thing
Whatever it may be
But always responsibilities

Time passes and complaints do change
Retiring from some duties But others remain
With tolerance and endurance
We no longer seem blessed
Oh when, oh when Can I ever rest?

So, you see; now I have no time must arise
And not awakened by infant's cries
I can stay in my robe as long as I like
I can sit all day, or take a hike
The house stays tidy, no toys on the floor
Not a lot is expected but just to adore
And enjoy the little ones more and more.

So you see -I can let God arrange each day
Have plenty of time to read and to pray
With no one to judge For now it's OK
So if eighty-six is the "perfect age"
How come, it's not "just the rage"?

written by Alice Gould
2009

Caleb Meets the Internet

2010-01-20T12:55:00.004-06:00

We are in the digital age right? So, I'd been putting off introducing Caleb to what might be available to him via my computer. I knew he'd have his whole life to access the world wide web, why start too early right? And more importantly, up until now, the computer was MINE. But like all areas of my life, I've learned to share!

Our first (and only) stop? http://www.pbskids.org The only games we've tried so far are the ones with Curious George. Caleb can't use the touch pad on my MacBook, and the he can't handle the travel mouse either. Conceptually he's just not there yet. Therefore, the best games are the ones that allow him to use the arrow keys. Otherwise, I am taking orders from a 2 1/2 year old, which is fun for all of 3 minutes, because he wants to do it himself. "My Do It!" He knows what he wants the objects on the screen to do and gets mad when it doesn't happen!

A new phrase in our house, "Mom, Caleb play Monkey George!" (In your head you should hear the sentence above in an emphatic directive tone, with a small attempt at sounding as if it were a question!)

Last Days of Summer!

2009-07-30T14:31:00.010-05:00

Well, I start my new job on Monday and so I'm treasuring every moment I have with Caleb. We have had a couple of fun-packed days. We've been shopping, to the Zoo, swimming in the pool in the back yard and then to to the country fair to see the animals and tractors. Life is Good!

Here we are eating while watching the bears.

And now we're packing up to go home..nap time!

Mild Summer Temperatures Mean Lots of Fun

2009-07-23T20:42:00.008-05:00

Our midwest summer has been amazing weather wise! The normally humid sweat-as-soon-as-you get-outside feeling just hasn't materialized! Therefore, we've had a lot of time to have fun outside! Here are just a few videos and photos to highlight some of those fun times!

Here is Caleb practicing his baseball form with help from coach Dad!

This video shows Caleb enjoying his water-shooting Fire Engine!

Time to wash the car...and eat bananas!
New way to swing!

Evening bike-ride on the outside of town.

And eating outside!

Beware!~~Winnie the Pooh

2009-07-23T16:16:00.004-05:00

More Beware~Beware~

Caleb's favorite movie right now is the original "Winnie the Pooh" Movie. Its so fun to watch him enjoy and interact with the characters! His favorite part is a dream sequence that Pooh has after a warning from Tigger that Ephalmupts and Woosels may steal his honey! Personally, I think the psychedelic images are a bit creepy, but Caleb sings and dances like its the best thing ever! And after its over he asks for "More Beware!" Take a look for yourself!

Summer Family Time!

2009-06-29T15:50:00.006-05:00

Here are my boys playing basket ball.

And here we are biking along constitution trail in Bloomington! We love taking our bikes and the GPS so we can geocache and get exercise!

"White Computer" Photo Booth Fun

2009-06-26T17:22:00.010-05:00

I picked up Micah (my nephew) at the Atlanta airport during a short layover coming home from a business trip. To keep him occupied during the flight, I let him play with my MacBook, which he affectionately calls the "white computer." He loved looking at my photos in iPhoto, but when I introduced Photo Booth to him, he LOVED it. He quickly learned how to navigate the buttons, using the effects to change up the photos, the four photos taken together, and even the videos.

Then when we got home, he wanted to include Caleb in the fun. So here are a few of our photos of the afternoon, along with a video of Micah and Caleb making pictures on the "white computer!"

First Ball Game of 2009

2009-04-26T22:10:00.006-05:00

The Peoria Chiefs are our local minor league baseball team. We usually go to at least one game a season, but I anticipate going more often this year. April 26, a Sunday afternoon, they advertised a Disney Day, with kids getting a free hot dog, and soft drink (of which Craig consumed all of it!). Caleb loves all things Disney, particularly Mickey Mouse, and M-I-C-K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E would be there in person for photo opts! It was the perfect motivator.

Seeing Mickey was the highlight for Caleb. But it was a love/hate relationship. He wanted to be able to have a visual of Mickey Mouse at all times, but didn't want to get too close. We were in constant motion, trying to "find" Mikey, but then when we'd find him, Caleb would hold tightly to our neck. But a day to remember--for sure!

I love going to these minor league games for so many reasons: The casual atmosphere, the friendliness of the staff, the cool promos and free stuff, the kid friendly berm and playground, and the beautiful field (complete with palm trees, we are in Illinois right?).

Now, I have to mention the variety of blue that Caleb is wearing. As you know, Craig is a Dodger fan, and not so much a Cubs Fan. However, since Caleb loves his new Dodger hat(s), Dad thought the Cubs jersey (a perfectly fitting hand-me-down from cousin Micah) would be appropriate since the Peoria Chiefs are the minor league team for the Chicago Cubs. Either way, I think he looked adorable!

And Caleb started putting the cap on himself this week. But usually that means its on backwards, although we saw him take it off, scratch his head, and put it back on, like an old man would do it, it was hilarious!

New Frigerator!

2009-04-26T21:50:00.005-05:00

Its no secret that I like things organized. I got a laminator for Christmas, and there's no turning back. Well, we've updated our kitchen with new stainless steel "fridgerator" and dishwasher (We've now done our part to stimulate the economy!) Since cooking isn't really my thing, the kitchen is something I've never worked hard at organizing...until now.

Since I had a clean fridge to start with, I thought...
Why not have a specific shelf for certain items?
Why not group like items together?
Why not be able to find food items before they become great micro-biological specimens?
And to help us remember those groupings, why not label where the items go?

I've justified this by saying that it will help Caleb learn to read, but really it will help both Craig and I always put thing back so we each know what food we have and what we need. I know, I'm crazy..but labels make me happy!

Note #1: Craig prefers the phrases "fridge" or "refrigerator" NOT "Frigerator." I thought I knew all those silly little things about my husband, but this one was highlighted when the women who sold us our appliances kept using the WRONG terminology, and it made Craig's skin crawl! Who knew?

Note #2: My Mother LOVED the idea of having these same labels in the fridge at the cottage. So Cottage regular attenders, beware, these labels may apply to you!

Easter-2009

2009-04-26T21:19:00.006-05:00

This Easter Caleb is old enough to start some traditions. While I didn't have him color his own eggs, we did spend the week before Easter practice hiding and finding the plastic eggs. Then Easter morning, I put a line of eggs outside his bedroom that lead to his Easter basket. I love how excited he was when he found each egg -hid plainly in sight! Genuine joy! My mom brought some actual eggs that I decorated years ago--real shells with the insides blown out. Kinda weird to think that I played with the same eggs that Caleb is now enjoying!

I had a lot of fun putting together his Easter Basket this year. It included, new spring sandals, some play animals (the safari variety), wonder book & markers (wonderful---since staying on the page is NOT a priority at this age!), two new Thomas the Tank Engine -Engines, an Elmo Springtime DVD, a couple hot wheel cars, and of course Winnie the Pooh themed tooth brush and toothpaste. Candy was not really introduced this Easter. He got a couple fruit bars and other yummy treats, and he didn't know the difference! Caleb's Grandma got him more plastic eggs, a video, some Bible books-focused on singing (so we LOVE those), a pinwheel, a new shirt, and other goodies. Now, I will say here that the true importance of Easter, Christ's resurrection, was not lost. We had several Christian Easter books that we read and discussed this year.

This is Caleb playing with the elephant, and doing the sign--although he does actually say the word now too--but somehow, the sign accompanied with the sound is more fun! After church we went on a walk and did a little mini-Easter egg hunt outside. The nice Easter outfit was sort of lost, because of the necessary addition of the new ball cap! Oh well...he still looks nice!

New Hobby--Treasure Hunting!

2009-04-26T21:01:00.004-05:00

Well, Craig has introduced a new hobby for the family. It involves a hand-held GPS and looking for "treasures." The hobby is called geocaching and here is the official website. Basically people leave a log list, usually cleverly hidden, and get the GPS coordinates to share with others. When you find the cache you sign it, and put it back where you found it. Then you can log onto the website and make any reports about the cache, like whether it was wet, easy or difficult to find etc... So far we've found mostly micro-caches, which are about the size of a thumb. But one we found was a small plastic container, and people leave items behind. I guess its like any other hobby--its a sort of community, brought together even closer by internet.

Its fun because it gives us a reason to be outside, go new places, and to spend time together as a family. While the overall idea is somewhat "geeky," we love it. Craig goes online and downloads all the cache sites found in our area into his GPS. We can even get extra hints & tips (like how difficult the find is) and that has proved helpful, because we are "newbies."

Cold March Walk Leads to a Minor Temper Tantrum

2009-03-25T17:05:00.010-05:00

A glimpse into the life of an (almost) 2 year old...these photos were taken the same day as the cute PB Wagon photos. We came back from a walk (Caleb loves being outside) and he was not happy about having to help with dinner. So he stands at the back door screaming. And so I ignored him. Well, that's not true, I took photos, which technically is not ignoring, but let's not argue semantics! The first photo shows Caleb all relaxed and decked out in his hat/gloves that Grandma Harland made him, the next is what happened when we went inside, and the last is him resorting to being nice, giving me puppy eyes and saying & signing please. His temper tantrums don't last long-because he is still easily distracted--this time by songs and a snack.

Peanut Butter Wagon!

2009-03-25T16:51:00.004-05:00

Well, today Caleb thought it would be funny to put his peanut butter sandwiches into the tractor wagon that I had on the table to occupy him. As you can see from these photos, he is quite pleased with himself. And although the old adage says "Don't play with your food," I don't agree, because you know what? He ate ALL of his lunch! Mom wins! (& so does Caleb!)

Moments & Games

2009-02-15T21:22:00.006-06:00

There are so many things I love about these moments. I love it when Caleb plays himself, but I also love it when he hams it up for the camera. I love it when poses for my camera, and then runs to sit on my lap so he can view the latest shot! Craig has taught Caleb a new game where they creep up on me saying "sneak-sneak." And although Craig has tried to explain to Caleb that being quiet during the sneaking is part of the game, Caleb's echoing footsteps and chanting "neek-neek" always warn me that I'm about to be attacked! And I love it! Another game we play while playing on the floor is "Ready-Set-Go." Caleb finds a spot across the room and I'll say "ready-set..." and Caleb will say "go!" an he'll run towards me throwing his full body weight into me, grap my neck and we'll hug and roll around on the floor! I know its a little thing, but these are the moments I treasure!

My boys-bounce-bounce-bounce

2009-02-15T20:59:00.004-06:00

One of my greatest joys is seeing my two boys together. Here is one of Caleb's new favorite things. Craig will put him on the exercise ball and just bounce, bounce, bounce. Sometimes Caleb wants to bounce high, sometimes just small bounces that lull him into a sleepy state.

I hate Grocery Shopping...and cooking!

2009-01-25T13:52:00.002-06:00

I hate grocery shopping and cooking, but I'm getting better. I recently found a list online and its has motivated me to sit down and write out a list of meals each week (something I've never done before). The list is called "The Ultimatest Grocery List" and a pdf file of the actual list can be found at http://www.grocerylists.org. The list is organized by category, so it helps save time in the grocery store and reduces the chance that you'll forget something on the list.

Hippenhammer Christmas

2009-01-25T13:37:00.005-06:00

Christmas with my family was spent in Bourbonnais. The big treat was having time to spend with my sister's family. Caleb loved playing with his big cousin Micah, and we got to meet Julia for the first time as well. Caleb was a bit jealous when I would hold Julia, but after a while got used to her, giving her hugs and calling her "baby." He has a soft spot, and if she would cry, he would cry too, concerned that she was hurt. We tried to explain that crying was her only way to communicate with us, and that it didn't mean she was hurt.

Christmas Overview-Harland

2009-01-10T23:28:00.009-06:00

These are these the scrapbooks I made for my nieces! We did a photo shoot of all their outfits and these photos will be put into the scrapbook, cut at the waist so they can change tops & bottoms.

Surprises! Fun, Fun!

Streeters got a Wii for Christmas. It was so fun to watch them get involved in the games!

Caleb loves tractors!

Rocking Horse

2009-01-10T22:56:00.006-06:00

Caleb got a rocking horse for Christmas from Grandma & Grandpa Harland. He's come a long way. When we first introduced the horse to him, he was intimated by it, and needed help from his cousins to ease him into it. But as you can tell from the video, he LOVES it now!

Capturing the moment

2009-01-10T22:42:00.003-06:00

I am so pleased with the capabilities of my new camera and how everything I used to do on my old film Nikon is coming back to me. I was so happy to be able to capture this moment of Caleb happily playing with his farm animals that he got for Christmas. (For the camera nerds out there, I had my camera set to Aperture priority and the to ISO to 1800 and the WB set to Tungston.)

New Year Thoughts

2008-12-28T23:18:00.004-06:00

I Wish: I were taller
I Love: unsolicited hugs from my Caleb
I Long: for time to read for FUN!
I Hurt: for people who've lost loved ones--particularly during the holiday season.
I Imagine: new ways to run my classes next semester
I Wonder: how what another year will bring
I Pray: Caleb sees Christ's love in his family and chooses to one day accept Him as his savior.
I Sing: alto, but I miss it since we haven't been going to church lately.
I Hope: to do a better job of focusing on what God has planned for me and my life, rather than focusing on my own agenda.
I Hate: that I don't always make time for friends.
I Talk: when I should sometimes keep my mouth shut, and keep my mouth shut when sometimes I should talk.
I Hear: there are some churches who are healthy
I Miss: spending time in downtown Chicago during the holiday season
I Misbehave: when I go to bed early, when I should be researching or preparing for my classes.
I Envy: people who balance motherhood and working.
I Fear: I'll never find a church family where I feel I can be myself, and be challenged in my walk with Christ.
I Need: to learn to be more open to people

This blog was inspired by Bri's blog!

Scrapbooking--changes

2008-12-22T21:48:00.004-06:00

While I don't have much time to scrapbook, I LOVE it! It combines my love of photography & my need to do something hands-on. I love cutting paper, getting glue on my hands, cutting shapes, and having a huge pile of paper scraps that I hope to do something amazing with someday. I love using ribbon, epoxy stickers, and stamps. Pretty much, if Hobby Lobby sells it for scrapbooking, I love it!

However, since having Caleb, my main concern is journalling. I want to make sure that I've written down all the cute little nuances that make me enjoy him so much. I don't want to someday forget these moments that have allowed me to be ok with NOT multi-tasking, but instead basking in the moment. So my journally occurs on the computer after Caleb goes to bed. I print these off, and keep them with my scrapping materials, to inspire my pages.

My organization of my photos and layouts have changed too since having Caleb. I no longer feel that I have to scrap "events." Instead I go more with themes like, "Truck, Trains, & Tractors" or "PJ's." So a reciepe box stores these photos by theme. So by the time I scrap the page, I may have photos from when he is 6 months old scrapped with ones where he is 2. It keeps me from feeling like I'm "behind" in scrapping, but allows me to always be thinking of journaling ideas as well as themes and even layouts.

My need for journally has also leaked out into my family. For Thanksgiving, I had family members write on some tags I made out of cardstock, a list of the 5 things they were most thankful for. I collected them, typed them up into a handout, and had everyone guess whose list belonged to who. It was fun, allowed us time to reflect, and will also give me and my sister-in-law something different to scrap for the Thanksgiving page.

So for Christmas, I'm having us all list our Fav's of 2008. I took photos of all my family members at Thanksgiving, (for a Caleb Christmas project) made them black & whits, and I plan on using those photos to display these lists in my scrapbook. I think it would be fun years later, to look back at our favorite songs, TV show, scripture, phrase to say, hobby, etc... Its a way to capture a moment in time! Luckily the family has been good so far in indulging me in my requests! :)

I'm Back!

2008-12-22T21:12:00.005-06:00

Well, those of you who have known me for years know that I have had a passion for photography. And although I have an advanced degree in Educational Technology, I never fully made the transition to digital. I bought my first big "film" camera in the early 90's, a Nikon and it worked well for me. But since I wasn't taking photos for a photography business anymore, I wasn't sure the move to a digital SLR was necessary. Even when I was pregnant with Caleb, I didn't think I was ready for the jump. So the Pansonic DMC-LX1 was my choice. It had a lot of manual features, allowed me to shoot in three different sizes (4:3, 3:2, or 16:9). I particularly like the movie feature. However, since my bff Bri has gotten into photography, I realize how much I've missed it. I love talking f-stops with her and always looking for that "perfect shot." Plus I realized that there's no better subject than my little man.

Therefore, I'm Back Baby! With Christmas money, Craig bought me a Canon EOS Rebel XT via Ebay. I choose this particular model for its small camera body and for its ability to take great photos in low light situations! I've only had it for a few days, but here are some photos I took of the ice storm that is keeping us all indoors! I already love the aperture priority mode, the amount of photos I can take one right after the other, and most importantly, that the camera takes a photo the instant I release the shutter! I'm loving this!

The Boys and an ISU Basketball Game

2008-12-22T21:06:00.004-06:00

Craig took his Dad and Caleb to an ISU Basketball game. They were all decked out in their ISU wear, and ready to cheer on the redbirds! Caleb got to open a Christmas present early, so he could take his ISU sippy cup to the game! They had a great time!

Decorating for Christmas

2008-12-22T20:40:00.007-06:00

Being a family of three has changed my view of family traditions. Making cookies and decking the halls mean a lot more for some reason. Here are a few shots of us trimming the tree. You'll notice that when Caleb was given complete decorating control, that one side of the tree was more heavily ornamented than the other side! And I was ok with that! Also...I learned that bulbs that are sold as "shatter resistant" does NOT mean they won't break or crack. It just means the pieces aren't as dangerous as the glass? hum...

Caleb and Santa

2008-12-22T20:28:00.003-06:00

Well, Caleb went to see Santa for the first time. We went to the Gridley Fireman's Breakfast. Caleb LOVES anything to do with firetrucks. This summer we went over the see the trucks whenever the doors were open. And Grandpa takes him to see the Chenoa firetrucks too. So we thought this would be the perfect environment to introduce him to the large, jolly, white-bearded fellow. He was fine during breakfast, fine as we posed in front of the trucks, fine while we stood in line, but NOT fine when put him in Santa's lap. Ah...we tried! Cute photos anyways.

Christmas Cookies

2008-12-10T20:30:00.004-06:00

We decided to make Christmas cookies this past Sunday. Caleb enjoyed the rolling of the dough and sneaking bites here and there.

He then helped Dad ice the cookies.

Thanksgiving Snow!

2008-11-30T21:17:00.006-06:00

Basement Remodel

2008-11-02T15:09:00.004-06:00

We are fixing up the basement to be a playroom for Caleb.

Fall Shots

2008-11-02T14:54:00.005-06:00

Halloween

2008-11-02T14:43:00.002-06:00

Caleb dressed up as a lion for Halloween. We went to just a few houses, and remarkably he kept the lion's mane on. We worked all week on getting him to "roar" but when we got in public, he would never do it! Oh well.

SmileBox Scrapbook...I'm new to this!

2008-10-22T22:07:00.000-05:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

My Sister had her baby!

2008-10-19T15:24:00.001-05:00

Here is my nephew Micah looking in on little Julia!

Farm Photos

2008-10-13T14:23:00.006-05:00

My bff Bri and I took our boys out to her family farm to grab some photos. Although we kept a spontaneous mood throughout the photo shoot, these were photos we both had been wanting to take for years. And honestly, they couldn't have turned out any better. Although you'll notice more photos of the boys backs than their fronts! Self explanatory! Here are some I took, but Bri's turned out even better. Go check out her blog and flickr account! The ones above I took, the ones below, Bri took!

Garage Sale Finds

2008-10-08T08:28:00.004-05:00

These are 2 old school chairs I bought and fixed up. We will be putting these in the basement for Caleb's playroom. This is our winter project.

Buddies

2008-10-03T13:17:00.009-05:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to watch Gabe this morning. Caleb and his friend had a blast. They played inside with, what other than tractors and trucks. We then loaded up the wagon with sippy cups and animal crackers and headed to the park. What a hoot these boys are together. What a blessing to have them able to grow up together. And they are the luckiest boys alive, because they have the best moms ever! Here are a photos I snapped!

Washing Machine Fun

2008-10-03T12:43:00.004-05:00

Grandma Hippenhammer set it up so that Caleb can climb up to help putting clothes into the washing machine. It includes an aerobic step (won't be missed, belive me) and an old chair. Caleb climbs up and pushes clothes into the water. Well last week, he figured out that his finger was the PERFECT size to get into the little hole that allows you to watch! This was a wonderful moment, and I have it captured (Yeah, that's right I practically have my camera attached at my hip.) Please ignore the dirty water, Daddy's clothes come home pretty dirty!

Hartzler Hog Roast

2008-09-27T22:47:00.008-05:00

Well, our friends had their semi-annual hog roast and we had an absolute blast. Caleb loved sitting on the tractors, riding in a train, playing in the sandbox, and running down the corn rows. My joy was seeing life through his eyes, and in capturing some photos. Here are a few.

Lov'n the Slide!

2008-09-25T12:46:00.004-05:00

Caleb is such a little boy now. There is a slide at one of our parks that is perfect for him. He loves going up the stairs all by himself and then scooting to put himself in position to slide down. My favorite part is that, for whatever reason, he has decided that giving me a kiss as he goes up the stairs is part of the process of sliding! I'm loving this age!

Basketball Boy

2008-09-24T11:30:00.008-05:00

Craig has been playing basketball with Caleb and its one of the cutest things I've seen. I just love seeing my boys playing together.

When Craig was at work today, Caleb took it upon himself to walk the basketball over to the hoop and tried to make a basket...so precious!

Caleb's Baby Signs

2008-09-24T10:44:00.003-05:00

Here's a short clip of Caleb doing some of the signs he knows!

Where's Your Clavicle?

2008-09-08T16:29:00.005-05:00

Yes, his Grandma is a doctor and parents biology majors!

Eskimo Roll?

2008-09-08T16:19:00.004-05:00

Craig thought he'd try rolling over in his kayak! Unfortunately once he falls out, he can't get back in!

Caleb Boat-Dancing

2008-09-08T16:08:00.003-05:00

Here's Caleb Labor Day Weekend in the boat, dancing! What a cutie!

2008-09-08T15:51:00.003-05:00

Here's my hubby and my son in his homemade kayak. Aren't they cute?

More Baby Signs

2008-08-22T07:17:00.010-05:00

Well, you'd think the "Baby Sign" company is paying me, with the amount I like to talk and blog about baby signing, but that isn't the case. I had a wonderful opportunity to talk about the book "Baby Signs" by Drs. Acredolo and Goodwyn on a local radio show. My office mate, at ISU, Norma, has a radio show, called the Broad View on WJBC: 1230 AM, and she had me, along with a colleague of mine, Ryan, on her show to talk about baby signing. Here is the link in case you are interested in hearing the podcast. (Here is another link to the same thing.)

Well, Caleb's over 30 signs now, I won't bore you with the list, but its working out quite well. His favorite signs are animal signs, and signs associated with loud objects like trains, trucks and telephone. In his list of favorites are cheerios, bath time, and hat.

I continue to be amazed at how signing has allowed us, as Caleb's parents to gain access to what is going on in his mind. It has also helped us to reduce frustration. For example, once after feeding Caleb peanut butter sandwiches he did the sign for "toothbrush" which is with a pointer finger brushing the mouth. Although we weren't in the habit of brushing his teeth after the noon meal, I wanted to let Caleb know that I understood him. So while we were in the bathroom I realized that he had a bunch of bread and PB stuck to the roof of his mouth. I was so pleased that he was able to communicate with me, a need that he had! Baby Signs help us to sidestep a possible tantrum!

There will be other times when I think that he has misunderstood a sign, because I don't see what prompted the sign. But sure enough, invariably I'll look closer and find what it is that initiated the sign. Have I told you how smart my kid is?

Chicago

2008-08-22T06:56:00.007-05:00

Well we finally got Caleb up north to see some of the sights in Chicago. We put our bikes on the back of our SUV and got around that way. We'd never done that, and it worked out just great. No taxis this time around.

A priority of mine was to get to Millenium Park. I love "The Bean" and seeing concerts in the park. What a great place to be!

This photo is a personal favorite of mine. It shows the beautiful skyline of Chicago, Buckingham fountain (the location of my first date with Craig & then where he proposed!). But the shadows show Dad helping our little toddler over an obstacle. This is currently my desktop photo!

Here's Caleb signing for a cracker!

Little Swimmer

2008-07-25T14:39:00.004-05:00

Caleb LOVES the water. Once he finally got acclimated to the uncomfortable life jacket, he realized the freedom the constraint actually provided. (Is there a lesson for us in this?)

Where's Trouble? (TP)

2008-06-28T17:28:00.003-05:00

Where's Trouble? Well Caleb's at the age where when its quiet I have to wonder what he's up to. Here's where I found him one morning and what he was up to! Its self explanatory! Enjoy :D

Mirror Buddy

2008-06-17T19:36:00.003-05:00

This video shows Caleb really looking at himself in the mirror. Although he's always seen himself, somehow, this time he sees a new buddy!

Walking at the Cottage

2008-06-01T15:09:00.003-05:00

There's no better backdrop for a "first steps" video than Lake Maxinkukee! Caleb loves his ability to walk. It started with him pushing anything and everything. He maneuvers each well, using his body weight to get it to go where he wants. In this video, he is pushing a toy car and when it gets stuck, walks right toward me and Grandpa Hippenhammer.

Baby Signs

2008-06-01T14:49:00.004-05:00

Here is a photo of Caleb signing "more." We were in the car headed home from the cottage Memorial Day weekend.

I did some research on using sign language with babies. It is a trend right now, and wanted to see what research was out there. The two women (both Ph.D's) who made this popular have research to back up its success. It does NOT delay language development, it actually improves their vocabulary. I enjoyed reading about how their children inspired them. The songs with motions that they love so much... and making up their own signs.

So I decided to give it a try. The research says that once a baby begins to point to things is the point at which they are asking for its name. This is the perfect time to be repeating both orally and physically with the signs. So we started modeling signs around 9 months. And his first sign was "food" at 11 months old.

At the age of one:

Caleb know signs for: more, dog, train, all done, hot, and food.
Caleb's actual words: moma, dada, dump truck, and ga (not sure if it means Grandma or Gunner, our neighbor's dog!)

I am so amazed at how much he understands. We can say "kitty" and he immediately looks around for Laney. Craig and I loved it when he started to do the signs without prompting. He started by immitating us, but now does them when he wants to talk to us! Its so fun.

Memorial Day--Toddler Emerges

2008-06-01T14:09:00.008-05:00

Yeah, go ahead and tell me...he's cute! This is the walker that he loves so much (Thanks Aunt Sonda, Uncle Joel, and cousin Micah!) However, it was this weekend that Caleb officially became a toddler! He loves walking! He'd been standing alone for several weeks and using the walker since late-winter. He loves his new-found independence--and our lives are now changed forever!
The Cottage season has begun. The boat is in, and like any "normal" boat ride, Grandma brings a train set? No rules for grandmas!

Caleb loves Watermelon. He'll take pieces of it in both fists, and squeeze as hard as he can letting the juices drip down to he's elbows.

Caleb's First Birthday

2008-06-01T13:48:00.006-05:00

Well, my baby is turning into a little boy! Although you can't tell by the photo, Caleb had a great time. We celebrated in Chenoa with the Harland and Streeter family.

Elmo party hats, birthday blow toys (thanks Grandma!) and a lot of noise made it a real party. The cake had balloons and the cupcakes were decorated with Elmo!

For his birthday Caleb got duplo blocks with a big dump truck (video coming), from Grandma, a Playschool toy that lights up and makes noise (thanks Streeters), blow up pool, beach ball and sand box toys from us. The Hippenhammer Grandparents donated toward a sand box. Herrmans got Caleb AWSOME farm magnets that make a lot of noise and music--a favorite for our 1 year old.

Caleb's Walker

2008-03-26T20:58:00.003-05:00

Caleb is really enjoying walking with his walker. Its so fun to watch him learn new skills almost every day!

They grow up so fast!

2008-03-23T21:12:00.003-05:00

Since Caleb was born we have had more than a handful of people say to us… “Enjoy every minute because they grow up so fast!” And while we understand what they are saying, it has become a bit annoying too. I guess because the decision to have children was never something we felt we had to do, but instead a conscious decision—the comment assumes that we would get caught up in the details of having a baby and not be able to enjoy the moment…and we are really careful NOT to do that. Although having a baby has changed a lot of how we live…and totally changed how we look at life, we treasure every moment, every new thing he does, every new sound he makes, and every new face he makes. So it has become an inside joke between Craig and me, whenever Caleb executes a new skill and seems to advance into a new stage, we look at each other with raised eyebrows, a smirk, and say, “They grow up so fast!”

Making Frozen Veggie Cubes for Baby Food

2008-03-22T09:06:00.012-05:00

With the stack of baby-related junk mail we received, I found a book offer about making your own baby food. I was intrigued with the idea so ordered the book. Caleb's pediatrician’s advice was to delay starting solid food as long as possible and start rice cereal as close to 6 months as possible. We worked hard to do that. But by 5 months old Caleb was extremely interested in watching us eat. His eyes followed our hands as we lifted food to our mouths.

We started him on very liquidy rice cereal 2 weeks before his 6 month appointment. His next food was sweet potatoes. I spend a couple 1/2 days a month making and freezing a new food. We cook the vegetable, purée it in the blender with water, strain it, and then put it in ice cube trays. After its frozen, we put the cubes in freezer bags, and then vacuum-pack them organizing cubes into a variety of veggies and fruit for each package. I am amazed at how much Caleb likes these veggies!

In addition to making fruit & veggie cubes, I also make Caleb's cereal. We worked our way solely from brown rice up to multi grains. The cereal is what I feel best about. I know that he's are getting more than what the commercial cereals offer, and he like it! Its become a joke with family and friends about the “approved” list of foods.

While I don’t really want to be a crazy uptight mom, I don’t see any reason to feed Caleb processed food, especially sugars when he enjoys my organic home-made food as much as he does! I usually dislike cooking and being in the kitchen, but I get such joy knowing that the food he's getting is all natural, healthy, and unprocessed.

Climbing to the Camera

2008-03-21T18:57:00.005-05:00

This video shows Caleb's crawling skills. He loves pushing things as he moves. Here he's chasing his cereal bowl and letting it roll, but other times its a ball or a can of Diet Coke. (March, 2008; 10 months old)

Lunch time!

2008-03-16T13:32:00.004-05:00

Here's a short video of Caleb eating some homemade baby food back in Jan.