President’s Day has always been fun for me since homeschooling – I always enjoy an excuse to read one of my favorite books – When Washington Crossed the Delaware and do some fun activities with the kids.  Some years we do a whole President’s unit beginning in February and other years we do a short piece on Lincoln and Washington, so I’m always trying to find something different to do so the older kids aren’t doing the same things over and over – I think they would frown on that.

There are a lot of different curriculum and resources for Presidents day that you can find all over the internet – some are free, some are costly, but these are my favorite President’s Day/Presidents Study resources that I find myself using over and over for different projects and studies, both large and small for all ages.   

I really enjoy the great little crafts in this book – Art for All Seasons, which has been seriously updated since I purchased it ten years ago – there was a great little President’s Day craft in there I enjoyed.  They’re mainly for early Elementary – recommended for grades 1-4, but some of the ideas can be adapted for older students and definitely the younger ones.  I’ve used it for almost every subject at different points and I find something to do in it every year with all the different ages.  

Free Homeschool History Documents with George Washington’s Farewell Address, Thomas Jefferson’s 1st Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and a collection of several other Historical Documents, including the Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution, State Capitals Word Search and many more.  Click below for instant, free download.

Please note – download may take a few minutes as it’s a fairly large file.

Free Historical Documents

This is one of my favorite resources for Presidents Day or any history study for American Presidents.  My kids really enjoyed learning the quotes and the handwriting pages are really well done.  It’s over 163 pages of quotes from each President through U.S. history with a copy-work set in both cursive and manuscript – perfect for Elementary and up.  This is a down-loadable e-book, so you get it immediately.

A Copywork of the United States Presidents

Or get the Copybook of the United States Presidents, State Study Motto Copybook and Notebook Pages in both Cursive and Manuscript as a bundle to supplement any U.S. History curriculum or unit study.

The American Presidents note-booking pages are super beautiful, high quality pages as well – these are open-ended pages with pictures of the American Presidents in several different formats – perfect to use for Elementary to High School.  These pages can be used as note-booking pages, lap-books, reports, poems, biographies or anything you can think of for a Presidents Study.  Also don’t forget the importance of the First Ladies when studying the Presidents!

I hope you have great fun with your kids celebrating and studying President’s Day!

If you have any other resources you’d like to share, feel free to add them below – either by registering and commenting, or through Facebook!

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We’re really getting excited about giving away free stuff!  So, now what we’re going to do is give away a free HomeschoolShirts.com Homeschool Planner!

Our Facebook page is looking sad… only 224 likes as of right now – we want to change that!  :)

We’re giving away a FREE homeschool planner to one lucky person from the first 500 “likes” we get on Facebook.

Then I’m thinking, maybe a free tee when from the first 1000?  does that sound good to you?

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Our twins just turned 2! Yay!  I’m so excited that we’ve made it this far, and at the same time, oh, the fun we’ve had!  Most of the true difficulty has been with, and because of, my own health, but thankfully my husband and older girls are a huge help.  The big problem with that though, is all my older kids were perfectly trained and listen well, the twins have seriously taken advantage.  But, I’m getting my health in order and now it’s going to be a whole new ballgame for them!  But, I have a lot of my own slack to pick up since they’ve already started the “twin games” on me and they are learning very well to play me back and forth.  It’s most obvious when Daddy is around and they will both listen to him when he tells them the same thing I just told them and they ignored.

Speaking

They’re only now starting to talk – in English, rather than twin-speak.  But, that’s been interesting.  Some things I’m starting to notice in comparison to the singletons – they play games with talking.  Not fun, cute, “oh, you learned a new word” games, but they are smart-arses about it.  For instance – the boy – working on the word “apple” – he said “appy” and I get infront of him sounding it out perfectly for him, a glance to his twin sister - tells me “NO, Mom, appy” and laughs.  So, for about two months we go on and on with the word “appy” – with constant reminders from everyone – “apple”.  His sister decides she’s going to say it right, for cuteness purposes, while he is bent on saying it wrong because she thought it was funny.  So, we go round and round.  (He has finally decided to say it right about a month ago – I’m assuming the humor wore off.)

But, now it’s the word “milk” and this time, the girl – “nik” – we were sounding it out and working on our pronunciation one day and she just decided to say “nik” with a roaring “haha ha” to follow because of her twin brother laughing along and encouraging her.  So, it’s “appy” all over again!  And they both run around “nik”, “nik”, “I want some nik, ha ha ha”  back and forth.

I guess the positive thing about it is that they actually are learning to talk, and they are perfectly brilliant, but it’s something that has definately been more difficult with the twins – not that it has to be, but they are playing a game with each other – on me – which I guess is rather frustrating.

Talking was something they started early – around 7-8 months, like all their older siblings, but I don’t think I encouraged them enough when they did start because I naturally assumed they’d talk really well, at the same pace as their older, singleton siblings.  Not encouraging it enough is what I’m paying for now – I realize that you need to do twice the encouragement as you would with one – not because there are two, but because they are twins!

What I’m seeing is with a singleton – you are the apple of their eye, you are who they depend on for everything and that makes them a little more interested in listening to you, they’re so perfect, *sigh..  :)  With twins – they have added encouragement and entertainment with a womb-mate whom they can really show off their sense of humor with.  :)  They don’t “need” you the same way and they’ll only listen to you if it’s beneficial to both of them!  (I’m over-exaggerating a bit, while I sigh, smile and roll my eyes, but you get the idea)

Potty Training

We have been doing infant potty training with the twins since they were about 6 weeks, and the reason we started so late was because I didn’t think I was capable of doing it with two, and it has been very hard.  But… it is possible!!!  Truthfully, the main difficulty with it has been my health – I was doing so good with them until I got smacked down with the adenomyosis – which I realized happened the minute the twins stopped nursing – both at 7 months.  When that started getting worse and worse, we still managed to keep up with the pottying – but it was more like “part-time pottying” – where you take them potty regularly when they wake up, right before and after eating, right before a nap, right after a nap, etc. – at more specific times rather than with the infant leading it, (which I prefer – and worked wonderfully with our #4 girl).  So, it certainly wasn’t how I wanted to do it, but we were still doing it pretty well and one thing for sure – boy, did we save on diapers!

Another thing that also made it really difficult – especially before they could sit up themselves, was that they always have to poop at the same time – for the past 2 years they have pooped at the same time 9.5 out of 10 times, every day, all the time.  For peeing, it’s about 8 out of 10 times.  So, that was a bit tough holding them both at the same time, but as soon as they could sit up it was a lot easier in the same way that made it difficult.  If one starts or makes a move – you immediately know to grab the other!  :)

For about the past 6 months they’ve started taking themselves potty, which has been really fun sometimes too, especially when one takes the other.  It’s not been as perfect or easy as it was with one, but it’s still been wonderful.  I couldn’t imagine starting to potty train them both now – I’m sure it would have been a disaster that would have taken a whole ‘nother year to do!  It’s something they have been very good about because we have made it something they have done all the time since they were infants, so they encourage each other to do it rather than against it – like talking, (which is my fault).  :)   If you happen to have twins, I recommend you start at least at 18 months to get ahead of the twin games!

Eating

Another interesting time!  In comparing to the older kids again, we really never had too much trouble – we have always made sure they at least tried everything before deciding whether they liked it or not, and of course, this is an influence they don’t have from public school or tv that – “brussel sprouts and liver are yucky”, so they all eat a wide varied diet, happily and without complaint.  The twins on the other hand…  If one doesn’t like something they give it to the other who happily eats it, and then I realize that twin #2 is eating dessert when she didn’t finish her dinner because she snuck it to twin #2 who happily gobbled it up.  This is something I have found that I really have to keep on top of!  The older they get, the harder it’s gotten.  When they were in high chairs I could separate them so they couldn’t reach one another, but now, not as easy.   Sometimes it’s really amusing to see them talking to each other quietly, making faces and gestures while they hand off their food to each other.   In a way I don’t mind too much because for the most part what one likes the other does and they both still manage to eat a really varied diet.

Playing/Sharing

This is always a fun game too, some days are good, and some are not so good.  Like all kids, this really does seem to vary by the day, but sometimes the hour or minute.  For the most part they play really well together – but usually only if they are totally left alone – which you cannot do with two year olds!  One minute they’ll both be building with legos – the next emptying the refrigerator the second your back is turned – because you just glanced over and sighed, telling yourself how blessed you are that they are playing so well together, and that’s all the slack they needed to tear into something together.

Or, you’ll look over and think how well they’re playing together, because they have been for an hour – and suddenly they’re smacking each other in the head with the legos and toy hammer!  And in a lot of ways, this has been similar to the older kids, but not quite to such extremes.

And, it’s very, very difficult to intervine with twins when they’re fighting – it’s easier when they both get in trouble because they both know they’re both in trouble.  But fighting – there’s too much of who offended who, but you can’t take sides at all, because they take sides – usually against you, even when you’re trying to help!   So, mainly, what I try to do if they’re fighting – either leave them alone to work it out, or if it gets really bad – they’re both in trouble – it’s the only way you can win.

One funny thing they’ve started doing to each other recently is they’ll tease each other with a toy.  And I say funny, because it turns out as a game when the other realizes it’s all in good fun, as long as they do.  One will go up to the other and take the toy right out of their hand and take off running – at first it’s not funny, it’s “aahh, boo-hoo!”, while the other is running and giggling back and forth taunting.  Most of the time it turns into a game of chase and it’s really good fun.  Sometimes though, I have to tell them to give the toy back, and a lot of times it’s when the other is done crying.

I don’t think all twins are the same, and of course, boys are different than girls, and so is a set with one of each. I have two older girls who are 16 months apart – they were my practice for twins, but they were not at all like twins.  I’m glad we have one of each with our twins, because, though I have always known, the differences between boys and girls are much more obvious – and I’m not talking about body parts!  One of the first things I noticed was that my boy smelled different – completely.  Our daughter smelled just like I remembered all her sisters – sweet and just like baby’s breath. Our boy smelled like a combination of my brother and my husband – as weird as that may sound.  :)  He “smelled” like a boy – which is something I probably would have never noticed if he were born as a single because that’s the short first few months that seems to pass by quicker than anything in the world.

Also, all children have different personalities – whether twins or not.  Our twin girl is the ferociously cute kind – you know, the one who knows she’s adorable and uses that to play tricks or manipulate everyone and anyone.  In addition she also has, what my sister and I refer to as the “smart-ass” gene, which we get from my dad’s mother.  The most wonderful, kindest woman in the world – worked hard all her life, old-fashioned farm girl – but with the greatest sense of humor you’d ever find.  So, she’s a doll – a really, really exciting and fun doll.  :)

The boy, well, he’s the only boy, but I wish I had 10 of them.  I certainly don’t have the chance to spoil him with being the only boy and a twin, so that’s good.  He’s always looking out for his little sister – makes sure she gets every kind of snack or goodie he gets, quite the gentleman, very mature for his age, compassionate and just all around a really good kid.  He gets into a lot of things and is usually the one that gets them both in trouble when they do – but as long as I keep him occupied with “doing” things – he’s pretty well behaved.

They are both individually wonderful, with their little quirks and perks, …and together – always exciting!   I’m looking forward to when we get into more schooling with them – I have a feeling it’s going to be a lot of fun.  :)

When I first knew I was having twins I was so excited – feeling so blessed.  It was the most perfect birth I could have asked for – everything was easy and quick, made it to 39 weeks and they were around 8 and 9lbs each. Then we brought them home and I didn’t think I was going to make it through the first 8 weeks – when I did NOT sleep more than about 8 hours a week!!  I thought I was going to die from exhaustion trying to nurse them – which made nursing even harder.  Then it got easier and they slept through the night, and I thought I might even survive and all was getting easier and easier.  They decided they were done nursing at 7 months, and I was a little shocked at how soon, but at the same time a bit relieved.  I could have probably pushed it a little and kept them going, but all my other kids were done between 7-9 months, so it was normal to me.

Then my health went downhill – fast, and then shortly after the twins started waking up in the middle of the night again, and they did that continually until I had my hysterectomy, which was really, really hard and again, I thought I was going to just die from exhaustion and this time from pain as well.  But, of course, thinking about it now, they were probably just picking up on what was wrong with me, and that makes me feel important to them – even though most of the time, I feel second on the list of important people in their life, I know it isn’t necessarily true.

Twins are hard, exhausting, exciting, wonderful, exasperating, so much fun and truly a double blessing.

Everyone who purchases our homeschool planner from now until February 1, 2012 will be entered into a drawing to win a free homeschool t-shirt!

What better way to get your New Year resolutions off to a good start than by using a simple organization format?  And if your resolutions include keeping a better budget – then our planner is perfect for you!  Right now it’s only $14.95 – and you could get a free shirt with it!

We’ve spent over 10 years with trial and error using different planning formats.  We’ve found the best way is with keeping schedules and forms that are easy to use on a daily basis.  So, we’ve kept it simple without adding a lot of forms that you won’t even use.  But, we want them to look nice too – both problems are solved with the HomeschoolShirts.com Homeschool Planner!

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I recently heard about all the protesting going on at the Target stores as it’s spreading nation-wide, and after breastfeeding 6 children of my own, I feel the need to post some kind of comment.  I also frequent Target and quite frankly I’m shocked that this kind of thing would happen there at all.  Target has always been one of my favorite places to shop because they are quiet and peaceful (in our area) – unlike “in your face” Wal-Mart, sounds like a great place to nurse! (though I don’t think I ever personally have)  Plus, I’ve also always had the best experiences shopping there for maternity and nursing clothes!~lol

As I said I have successfully breastfed 6 children, with a set of twins in there – never once have I felt the need to expose myself in public to state that it’s my right.  Yes, breastfeeding is natural, so is peeing – if you do it in public you get indecent exposure charges and rightfully so.  The difference is – if you breastfeed in public – you don’t have to expose yourself in order to feed your child.  And quite frankly, I feel that anyone who does is offending everyone around them with their lack of modesty – just like wearing a bikini to the store would be, modesty matters.  Now, Michelle Hickman was NOT being rude or offensive nursing in a quiet corner of the store – so why the problem??

I’m sure that the issue was some misinformed employee who was unaware of Target’s policy on breastfeeding OR they felt it was a chance to push their beliefs on a harmless mother and child.  I could see if the woman was walking around “hanging out” for all to see and saying it’s her right, but she wasn’t!   From what I read Target did not handle it well when the woman called the corporate office and did not get an apology – so that’s an additional disappointment.

I have breastfed in church – sitting in the back with a blanket.  If I was ever in a store I always preferred to go sit in the car because it was more relaxing for both me and my baby.  I also noticed that with all my children they preferred to have a blanket or a large t-shirt over them when they were nursing.  If you think about it, a big reason to breastfeed is to give your child security and nurturing – who can do this in the middle of a crowded store completely open for all to see?  What nursing mother really wants to do this?

There is no reason to be rude to a nursing mother, because generally they’re just feeding their baby – they’re not walking around flaunting, that’s not the point of breastfeeding!  Yes, there are a few who do, but as a general populace, that’s not the agenda.  But, now, of course, there are women all over the nation protesting to breastfeed.  I just don’t know about that – is that really a good idea?  The store’s policy already allows breastfeeding anywhere in the store – are they drawing attention to something that needs attention drawn to it?

Sometimes it’s best to show our support in other ways – send the woman a bunch of nursing bras from Target, or Target gift cards.  But, there’s no reason to protest a policy that’s already in place.  Perhaps demand a public apology from Target instead.

Either way, I don’t feel that breastfeeding in public is an offense – unless you are publicly exposing yourself – then that is exposure.  Breastfeeding is right, and there shouldn’t be anywhere that you cannot breastfeed, just like bottle-feeding.  But, do we need a policy or a law in place that says so?

All we do here is open a can of worms that should be left alone, freedom isn’t about having a law for every thing you’re allowed to do – that’s how they take away your freedom.  A store having a breastfeeding policy is fine – they own the business.  But, on the same hand, if they don’t want you breastfeeding in their store they have every right to say so as well – that’s what having a free country is all about.

If this protesting leads to state or federal laws infringed on businesses to allow breastfeeding in their stores – then this country will just be in far worse shape than it already is – doesn’t everyone remember the absurdity about the hot McDonald’s coffee?  Now it’s mandatory for every restaurant business to follow “hot coffee rules”.  Just because you believe in something or not doesn’t mean you should infringe your beliefs on businesses – whether it’s right or wrong.  That’s what destroys the free market.

We already have the right to breastfeed – we also have the right to shop where we want.  Target has a policy that allows breastfeeding in their stores.  And if they didn’t, boycotting them would be better than protesting.  That’s freedom.

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I’ve spent my life writing, always inspired by current tribulations and thoughts.  I’ve never published any of them, or had anyone read them except my husband, but I’ve decided that maybe I will put some short stories out there for you to read.  I hope you enjoy them and feel free to share.  Thanks!

The Morning Walk

It was clear that fall was in the air, even though it was still warm.  It had rained the night before and she fell asleep through the rain pounding on the tin roof.  She was so exhausted that it was like a silent drumming that she drifted off to. The mist was still hanging in the air throughout the dips in the paths and trees and there was a blanket of cool, wet leaves scattered in the thick, green moss.  It filled the warm air heavily and engulfed her scattered thoughts.           

The children ran through with their wet chalk painted on their faces and turkey feathers in their hair playfully along the paths as carefree little Indians do. The emptiness in her heart was weighing heavy into the pit of her stomach as she walked along unable to smile. No matter how much work she did to keep herself occupied or how many distractions she had to keep her busy nothing could take it away. She looked at the leaves on the dirt path, some looked like little cups as they held the rain so perfectly.  All the colors and scents of the woods were rich, thick and beautiful.

They neared the field where the light was finally beginning to break through and the grass was wet, coating her shoes and jeans, but the dry warmth was still all over.  She had every reason to be happy, except one and it was that one that surrounded her every thought. The days had been seeming like weeks and it was getting harder and harder.  They passed through the first field as she walked along, looking at the trees and grass around her with her head hung. The children were happy and cheerful walking with the dog who loved nothing more than to be with them all, and you could see it on her face as she ran along beside them with her ears flapping at the side of her head.

There was a bend just before it came into the second field and there were trees scattered among the milkweed and buffalo grass that was all covered in sparkling drops.  She looked around, admiring the landscape around her and she could see the next part of the path going into the woods.  She hung her head again as she walked along, and as she looked up, there he stood at the edge of the woods, just standing there smiling, so strong.  The sun seemed to suddenly shine brighter than ever, he was finally home at last, and now she was too.

There are a lot of things we can give our kids to eat, and we all know it’s sometimes hard to find something good for them when things get busy.  It’s so much easier to grab things that aren’t good for them sometimes.  After 6 kids it’s been a learning experience all the way and it’s been fun to come up with new snacks that they enjoy and that are still quick and easy, and go a little farther.  None of this is anything really new, but sometimes we forget and it helps to have a little refresher for our thought patterns.

Some of my favorites are:

• mandarin oranges – get them canned, pop them open and instant snack that’s way more nutritious and easier to eat than fruit cocktail or sliced peaches.
• sliced avacado – slice it in half around the pit, peel and cut into slices – one of the most easily digestible and most nutritious things you can give them.  (my favorite with avacados is to slice them up and toss them on my salad – yum!)
•  blueberries – if you can grow them yourself you’re definately ahead, but even if you can’t one package goes pretty far with a couple small kids.  Wash them first and give them as a finger food side with lunch, add them to cottage cheese or stick them in a bag to go.
• and there’s always apple slices, bananas and grapes – always easy and well-loved.  One thing I like to do with bananas is to slice them and put them on graham crackers with peanut butter – this is a great, brain-power-hold-you-over-till-lunch kind of snack that the kids really love.
• tuna-melts on Triscuits – these are easy and quick, makes a nice lunch with some added fruit and yogurt.  I just make tuna salad, put a teaspoon or so on each Triscuit and sprinkle with shredded cheeese, throw them in the oven 10-15 minutes and tada! Fun and easy.
• cottage cheese or plain yogurt – I prefer to buy them plain and then we can add anything we want and make it different every day.  You can add crushed pinneapple, blueberries, mandarin oranges, blackberries, peaches, bananas, or any fruit you want, even jam if you want – especially if you accidently make runny strawberry jam… not that I would know anything about that…lol
• peanut butter and celery – always yummy and  cheaper than cream cheese with celery, especially when the kids eat all the cream cheese!
• steamed carrots – these are nice of you cut them in manageable pieces, steam them so they’re a soft enough for the little ones and toss them in the fridge, then grab them when you need them.  You can do the same thing with butternut squash chunks for lots of vitamins, but you don’t want to make them too soft so they’re mushy unless you’re making baby food – which is in a previous post.
• broccoli can also be steamed and tossed in the fridge to cool and be a great snack for on the go and it’s a little easier for kids to eat when it’s steamed.
• prunes – great iron-packed snack, better than raisins and kids usually love them, so be sure they don’t eat as many as they want! lol
• candied ginger – now this is something through different periods of time I always had to have on hand for our little car-pukers, I’d give them just one or two small pieces before the trip and it made travelling a lot more pleasant for everyone – especially when I was pregnant with the twins and the doctor appts were doubled and our then 4 year old puked every time she got in the car.  I had it for myself to help with morning sickness from the first part of the pregnancy and when I remembered the purpose for having it – duh! – I gave her some and it ended that completely.  I think part of the problem was that it was almost becoming a habit for her body rather than her actually being sick.  I would give it to her and tell her it would make it so she wasn’t sick and it did, she hasn’t done it since….. but now it’s starting over with her brother… ugh!  Time to get more candied ginger!

This is a question I’ve seen a lot of parents asking when they see all the cool learning apps available or they hear about how great they are from someone in their homeschool group. My answer is no!  But… there’s always a but… if you already have one for business or personal use, I think you should have an app or two on there for the kids.

Pros & Cons of Kids & Electronics

First the Cons:

• Electronics take away from kids’ imaginations
• they can be time consuming
• the entertainment value is much too high
• they’re expensive

My kids play outside as much as they can, but they also use a computer and my 5 yr old uses a tracing/phonics app on my iPhone whenever she wants – which isn’t very often because she’d rather be outside.  I think in this day and age they need to learn to use electronics, but their imagination should still be able to flourish by playing outside as much as possible.  Most of what my kids like to use on my iPhone is the camera – taking loads of pictures of… you guessed it, everything outside!  So, we got them cameras, and they use them and are learning to take care of their first electronic and use it for its intended purpose.

That’s one of the great things about homeschooling – the freedom to teach how you think is best. I think I fall in the middle on the whole subject – technology is good on a limited basis and when they’re using it for learning – then they’re also learning that it’s a tool – not for entertainment, which is why we don’t have a TV, but have game-free computers instead. We have a limited computer time where we have some math drill software, card-making software, language games/drills, including apps, typing software, Word, etc., but still my kids would rather play outside than anything in the world.

It is really nice to use the math drill software instead of flashcards sometimes with toddlers running around, it really cuts down on the scattered cards.  Also, it gives me time to do one-on-one teaching with things like reading while one of the older kids are doing typing or drills on the computer.  As I said we do not have any games on our computer, none for me or the kids.  I did have a Farmville on Facebook for awhile, it may still even be there, and I let the kids play on that a bit too after I had awhile.  But that was a passing fancy and I like to keep it that way.  Anytime you have anything like that you really have to exercise self-discipline and your kids need to see that you are doing that so they can learn too.  I feel self-discipline is more important than most anything for a child to learn.  Sometimes it might even be helpful to have a game for them to play so that they can learn to exercise and build on that quality.  I’ve heard a lot of parents have set schedules for computer/game time/TV time and things of that nature and I think that is a really good idea as well if it suits your family.  The point is – you need to have balance and with homeschooling on one hand it should come easy, but it doesn’t always.  Talk with your husband and see what he thinks, pray about it and decide what is best for your family.

So, bottom line – no, I wouldn’t “buy one” specifically for a small child to use, but since I already own an iPhone I feel they should learn to use it as well for the tool that it is – and then they know why I have it.