Because of this unique year, we feel incredibly blessed to have spent a week with our Oklahoma family.
Here are some highlights:
One of the blessings of this season is that we are exploring more outdoor spaces. Of all the years I’ve lived in and visited Oklahoma, I’d never been to the Redbud Nature Preserve. My sister and her family invited us to join them here for a hike and we absolutely loved it!
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The Gathering Place
This is a phenomenal outdoor park in Tulsa. (Click on this link to look at this place!) The big boys played football with Ted, while I explored the play structures with Luke.
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Thanksgiving Day
What’s your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving? My favorite dish on Thanksgiving is the mashed potatoes and gravy – I’ve loved that dish my whole life. It might be my favorite because I only eat it once a year – on Thanksgiving!
My mother-in-law made turkey, ham, and the most delicious mashed potatoes and gravy. I made green beans, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin and pecan pie.
I forgot to add the sugar to the pumpkin pie recipe so I just sprinkled some on top before I baked it. It was a ‘healthier’ version and not super sweet, but still tasted good. This might be the way I make it from now on?
3 generations of great men
My family with Nana and Papa, and my sister Brooke
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Fishing adventures
Papa and Ted took the boys fishing and they each caught a big one!
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We celebrated Paul’s 9th birthday with cousins and cupcakes!
Paul wanted a real animal – but he had to settle for a stuffed one. We had cupcakes with cousins, then went on a hike and found an abandoned hive.
Clark and cousin Elle
Paul and cousin Ava
Nanny with her grandkids
Thanks for reading! Whether you stayed home or celebrated with family, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, too. In spite of this challenging year, we all have so much to be thankful for!
Frank Abagnale’s autobiography is engaging and honestly, hard to believe! Before he turned 21 – Frank posed as a Pan Am pilot and traveled the world, he then passed the bar and became a lawyer, he forged transcripts and was a doctor for an entire year in Atlanta, then taught summer classes at Brigham Young! He lived large on stolen money. He now works to keep others from doing the same.
I would have loved for him to share more about the change that happened on the inside that caused him to change on the outside. I know he became a man of faith, is married and has 3 sons. He doesn’t share much about life out of prison and I’d be curious to hear about it. Maybe it’s in another book? Overall, it was a fun book to read.
Review: The author weaves together the past and the present to lead the reader on a path to reconciliation. Unlike many books, this one will leave you empowered to make forward progress toward justice in a healthy and Biblical way.
My 13 year old son (George) and I read this ‘George Washington’ biography together and now George wishes his middle name was Washington. We have so much admiration and respect for our first president. He was a true patriot who worked tirelessly to create, protect, and lead the United States of America.
Did you know George Washington decided the leader of our country should be called “The President of the United States” and “Mr. President” for short?
Review: Couldn’t we all use a little more positivity in 2020? This book teaches you how to reduce negativity and increase positivity in your life!
Here are some gold nuggets from the book:
Things that cultivate positivity include love, inspiration, amusement, pride, hope, interest, serenity, gratitude and joy.
Positivity strengthens your connections with others, seeing ‘we’ instead of me. It inspires you to do what’s right for others which inspires others to do the same.
Positivity is your birthright. Just like ice can change to water by warming up the environment. You can increase your positivity by warming up your emotional climate.
If you feel good, you do good. When we increase positivity, we are not only happier, but we are more resilient, productive, creative and becoming a better an all around person.
One scientifically proven way to stop negativity is to dispute negative thinking. Replace negative thoughts with truth/facts. When you take in the facts – really take them in – you breath easier. (Click here for a blog post I wrote on believing truth vs. lies)
We change our eating habits to help us feel better. Why don’t we change what we are reading, watching and listening to for the same reason!
You can’t FORCE yourself into positivity just by saying “Be positive,” but there are actions you can take to increase your positivity by: Doing more of what you love; Practicing mindfulness: being completely present in the moment. Getting outside. Even a 20 minute walk can boost your positivity. Connecting with another human. The tie between flourishing and enjoying good social relations is so strong and reliable that scientist called it a necessary condition for flourishing.
Just like you count your calories to lose weight, or watch your money, you can track your positive to negative thoughts and feelings so that you can start tipping the scale in the positive direction.
Review: Because this book was written for “Dads,” I wouldn’t have picked it up in the store. However, someone gave it to me and the subtitle was intriguing. For a Minnesota Newbie who LOVES adventures – this book was amazing. It had so many fun ideas of places to explore with your kids. If you live in the Twin Cities and want to take your kids on some unique adventures around town, this book is for you.
Review: Our family watched the movie 42 recently and thought it was excellent. It made me curious about Jackie Robinson, so I checked out his autobiography from the library. I really admire how this man gave his all to fight for what he believed it. Sometimes that fight was by staying silent and playing great baseball, and sometimes it meant speaking out for equal rights. Great book!
This year, I’m having our Elf encourage my kids to show KINDNESS. Couldn’t we all benefit from a little more Kindness?
Here are TWO WEEKS worth of ideas to use in your home.
Each of these can be written on a card beside your elf, or use a dry erase marker and leave their daily ‘kindness’ task on the mirror in the bathroom or on a window.
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Day 1: Smiling’s my Favorite. Your mission: Smile at every person you see today!
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Day 2: Make a card for your school bus driver, garbage man, or someone who serves you.
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Day 3: Hold the door for people behind you today.
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Day 4: Help your sibling do their chores today.
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Day 5: Write a note or draw a picture for your grandparents and/or for someone in a nursing home.
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Day 6: Leave a treat in the mailbox for your mail carrier.
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Day 7: Put one of your coins in the Salvation Army bucket.
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Day 8: Leave a treat or gift at your neighbors door.
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Day 9: Go through your toys and donate one to charity.
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Day 10: Write a note of thanks to your parents or teacher.
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Day 11: Make someone laugh today.
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Day 12: Do something helpful WITHOUT being asked.
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Day 13: Clean up a mess you DIDN’T make.
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Day 14: Say something kind to each of your siblings today.
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Happy Holidays! May these will bring a little more joy to your Christmas season.
A lady I enjoy listening to, raised four amazing sons and swears by the power of spending time with your kids around the table – not just eating, but staying to play games. She said the boys didn’t always want to play, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Playing together opens up conversations you may not normally have. Games make you laugh and connect in a new way.
A really fun and simple activity that can act as a physics lesson and opportunity for an experiment. Make a simple ramp using cardboard or a piece of wood, and roll different objects down: measure how far they go, how fast they roll, or hold races between different kinds of balls to see which wins!
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7. Go Fishing With Magnets
Create “fishing poles” using pencils, string, and magnets.
Place a variety of items in a bin–some magnetic, some otherwise–and let them go to town exploring the concept of magnetism!
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8. Draw self portraits
Luke age 5
Have your kids look in the mirror and do a self portrait!
Be sure to have them write their name and age. It will be fun to look back on this when they are older.
You could have them repeat this every year around their birthday to see how their drawings improve!
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9. Make a Flip Book Animation
Kids can learn how to make a flipbook animation in less than 5 minutes. All you need is a pen and a stack of paper, or even better, a sticky note pad. This video is a great and very quick tutorial
Here is one of my son’s first flip book, using index cards:
If you have snow like we do, this is fun for all ages!
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12. Skiing
Luke learning to ski and LOVING it!
Skiing requires gloves, you can wear a mask, it’s outdoors and fairly easy to stay ‘socially distant.’ Many ski resorts have special rates and lessons for beginners.
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13. Play with shaving cream
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14. Have a make your own pizza and family movie night
My fourth grade teacher once gave us the title “The Entire City Lends a Hand” and had the class each write their own story. Read a rendition of that here.
If you have kids who are 8 and older, they can earn money or serve their neighbors by shoveling, cleaning up leaves, or helping any other outdoor task.
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40. Find a place to explore!
Though there are some places that are closed for Covid, you can still find a new place to explore with your kids!
Being bored is a natural part of life as a kid. Try not to offer an immediate solution to their boredom and see what they come up with! It’s often in times of boredom that children show their greatest creativity!
Laugh out loud with your family this holiday weekend!
Choose any or all of the simple games below.
Each game requires a one minute timer or stopwatch.
Race the clock for a MINUTE to WIN IT!
1. Junk in the Trunk
Strap an empty tissue box to each player’s waist and put several ping pong balls inside. Tell players they have to get as many balls out as possible without using their hands, in one minute. They can dance, shake, get on all fours — whatever it takes. The player with the fewest ping pong balls in their tissue box at the end wins.
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2. Tower of Terror
See which player can build the tallest block tower (or use jenga pieces or anything stackable you own) in one minute. If it collapses, the player has to start from scratch.
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3. One-handed Coin Stacking
Give players a pile of 25 coins and have them stack them using only one hand. Whoever stacks the most coins in one minute wins.
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4. Rubber Band Shooting Range
Stack several empty soda cans or plastic cups into a pyramid and have players shoot rubber bands at them, attempting to knock down the pyramid. Whoever has the fewest cans standing at the end of one minute wins.
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5. Wall Bounce
Have participants bounce a ball off the wall and into a bucket. Whoever has the most balls in the bucket at the end wins. To have multiple players at once, simply use different colored balls or write players’ initials on them.
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6. Keep It Up
Tell players or teams they must keep a balloon afloat for one minute. Additional rules are up to you: tell them they can use only their heads, toes, etc. or just say “anything goes.” If the balloon touches the ground, they’re out. The last person or team standing wins.
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7. Shoe Flick
Flick it!
Get players to take their heel out of their shoe and attempt to flick it onto a table or chair six feet away using only their feet/legs. If they can get one, have them try to get the other. If their shoe overshoots or falls off the table, they have to start over.
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8. Anagrams
Pick a fun word or phrase and have players rearrange the letters to create anagrams. For example, the phrase “minute to win it” has more than 5,000 possible anagram combinations such as “timeout,” twin,” and “wine.” Use an anagram generator online for inspiration. Whoever has the most anagrams after 60 seconds wins.
9. State of Fun
Have players write down as many states as they can before the timer goes off.
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10. Toothpick letters
Give each player a large pile of toothpicks and instruct them to create letters (for littles) or spell out three-letter words (for older kids) without breaking or bending any of the toothpicks. Whoever has the most letters or words when the timer goes off wins.
Keep spreading the strings apart until everyone falls in the ‘river.’
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7. Play Ball Games
Put a kid-friendly twist on that classic shooting game H-O-R-S-E by using smaller balls and setting up bins, buckets, and pots around the house or yard.
Take turns making shots. If a child makes it, the next child has to try to make it from the same spot.
I don’t know about your kids – but my kids NEED to burn energy in a healthy way or they start getting mischievous! Sometimes we will set a timer and everyone has to run or MOVE or jump for 5 to 20 minutes.
Occasionally, a child does a lap around the house (inside or outside) if they are misbehaving.
We are in a season that none of us have experienced before! However, we can still find moments of joy and have FUN with our kids.
Wintertime PLUS quarantine has forced us to slow down and spend time together. So, if you are looking for some ideas of what to do with the extra time…keep reading!
Here are 30 activities that your children can do to survive this winter in quarantine.
This is PART 1 of a 3 part series of “Wintertime Activities for kids in Quarantine!”
I often find George at the kitchen counter, adding things to his Gratitude Journal.
A gratitude list or journal is EXTREMELY valuable in uncertain times. Thinking about our blessings and what we are grateful for is extremely helpful in building resiliency! I researched journals a few months ago and decided to purchase this simple one for George. I’ve loved watching him open this up (without prompting), and write what he’s grateful for!
Research suggests that keeping a gratitude journal can boost your health and happiness.
I recommend reading Little House on the Prairie out loud. I was surprised at how similar the “Little House” life is to our life in quarantine right now.
I have a four boys and find it challenging to read to all four at the same time unless they are playing with play doh, eating, or have something that can keep them from wrestling.
I like finding a book my child will love and reading with them one-on-one.
Most early readers (and pre-readers) enjoy graphic novels.
Puzzle races: 1. Time your kids and see how fast they can put a small puzzle together. 2. If you have two small puzzles, race to see who can put them together faster.
Optional Money-saving tip: Trade puzzles with your neighbors or buy some used ones!
This is a fun and simple games for all ages. Push the pig’s belly, then pass the pig around while he sings. Whoever is holding the pig when he TOOTS, is out. Prepare for lots of laughter as you play.
George just finished a Chess class through Outschool and loved it. Next, they’ll be doing a class to learn how to invest in the stock market. Paul will try a nature class. Clark is going to take a class on investing.
Has 9 months of quarantine left you with nothing else to talk about than how bored you are? Then you NEED this set of cards.
Each card asks interesting questions for your family to answer or discuss. My kids ask for us to pull the cards out whenever we sit down to eat. One time my kids were eating alone and my oldest son pulled the questions out to ask his little brothers. I LOVED listening to their conversation!
Share your ideas in the comments and I might include it in a future post.
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There were about 30% of our neighbors with lights out, not participating.
About 20% of neighbors had a bowl or baggies setting out.
The remaining 50% passed out candy as usual.
100% of kids had FUN and collected way too much candy.
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Basketball Begins
Paul played his first ever game of basketball!
He made FOUR baskets.
Eight points for his team.
The final score was 18 to 13 and it was SO fun to watch them play.
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Pumpkin Pancake Contest
I made two different kinds to see which was better.
The Trader Joe’s brand was more work but tasted better.
The Birchbenders only required water, and were easier to make, but I didn’t think they were as good.
My kids loved them both!
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The Tale of Two Georges
George and I finished reading this ‘George Washington’ biography together and now George wishes his middle name was Washington. We have so much admiration and respect for our first president. He was a true patriot who worked tirelessly to create, protect, and lead the United States of America.
Did you know George Washington decided the leader of our country should be called “The President of the United States?” (or “Mr. President” for short)
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It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas
Our lights outside are covered in snow!
We put up our Christmas tree and hung lights outside.
The Christmas tree and lights bring us JOY and we need more JOY this year!
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Back to the Classroom
All four boys are in school now (two days a week).
While they were in school, I worked on earning my Minnesota teaching license and applied to be a substitute teacher in their schools.
My first day was teaching 7th grade language arts and I LOVED getting to teach George and lots of his friends.
I was a little nervous about teaching middle school, but the kids were TRULY “Minnesota nice” and I can’t wait to do it again.
Watch the movie, skip the book. The book is a cute little children’s story. The movie is funny and engaging for all ages. It’s one of our favorite family movies!
I absolutely LOVED this book. It’s RARE that I find a fiction book that I love so much that I not only recommend it to others, but also re-read it. This is one of the few. The MOVIE was nearly as good as the book. I recommend you read the book and watch the movie!
The book is a classic, so I have to give credit to the original novel that has been loved for generations and inspired so many spin-offs. But I watched the movie first and read the book second and enjoyed the movie more than the book.
BOTH!!! The movie highlights Michael Ohr and has football as a backdrop. The book highlights football with Michael as the backdrop. Both are excellent and earn 10 out of 10 stars.
So what’s your opinion? Have you read/watched the same story and have something to share? Leave a comment!
I’ll be doing more of “Book/Movie” posts, so subscribe so you don’t miss one!
Here’s the link to the YouTube video I posted about these titles:
Build a Marble Maze / Labrynth
