Hodgepodge Learning

{This post contains Amazon affiliate links. While I do get a small commission if you make a purchase via my links, these are books I love and I would recommend them anyway!}

During the summer months, I attempt to fit in some stealthy schooling. Often we get our health credit out of the way.  Last year, we did a laid-back, super-fun, world geography unit study.  This year I was uninspired and truly just needed a break from schedules and requirements and record keeping.  (Teaching a middle schooler, a preschooler, and three children in between all at the same time is not for the faint of heart.)

Break or not, our family never stops reading so this summer I asked my kids if there were any topics they wanted to learn more about. The ideas flew and we jumped in.  We read two books about Vikings, a book about the International Space Station, several books about large cats, another about pirates.

Then Maddie asked to read about zoo animals.  I wasn't sure where to go with such a broad topic so I did a search on my library's website and hit a gold mine. We checked out these 2 over-sized books.  They were so large they didn't fit in my library tote bag and my boys had to carry them out of the library instead.

At Alaine's request, we started with Out of Sightby Francesco Pittau and Bernadette Gervais  On each spread of pages, readers try to guess what animals are hidden beneath the series of flaps.  The first few pages are animal silhouettes and you must guess what animal matches the shape. Another page has ten animal patterns and you must guess which animal's fur or skin looks like the illustration.  At the end of the book comes a page of animal tracks and you must figure out what animal leaves that type of marking.  

As you lift each flap to reveal the answer, there is a very brief line of text that gives you a fact about the animal.

It goes without saying that we all loved this book and it was infinitely more fun than a dry text about animals.

After Out of Sight, we then moved on to Life-Size Zoo: From Tiny Rodents to Gigantic Elephants, An Actual-Size Animal Encyclopediaby Teruyuki Komiya.  Every animal, or piece of animal, in the book is life size.  Wonder how tall a meerkat stands?  Peek inside the book.  Want to compare your head to a giraffe's?  Open up this book.  It is fascinating.  The highlight of the book is the photographs, but there is also very brief, non-boring text on each page that points out things to look for on each animal and gives some little-known facts. 

We found this book (and several of its sequels) at our library, but Amazon has several copies for around $5 (including shipping).  It would be so, so worth the price!

Photo-a-Day Again

This month, I am taking my sister Kati's Photo-a-Day Challenge and posting my results about once a week.  This is my third installment of photos, captured during our first heatwave of the summer (and Sonic's 1/2 Price Milkshake Day) !

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How Do You...Budget Summer Fun?

How do you budget summer fun?

When we put our pencils down in May, our summer days open up before us with time for new opportunities and experiences.   Summer is when we fit in all the things we didn't have time for the rest of the year. However, there are two factors I  consider before making commitments: 

• How will this activity affect the flow of our day or week?
• Is this activity affordable at this time?

Both factors involve budgeting, budgeting our time and budgeting our money. 

When planning, I aim to plug in only one major outing per week. This is for sanity's sake. (Trips the library, grocery shopping, and weekend plans don't count.)  Some weeks are busy and overbooking is unavoidable. I already know that during one week in July, my kids are attending a class one day, then spending the night with a friend so they can go to the water park the following day. Then they come home in time meet friends at a movie on the third day.  Most weeks, though, it is beneficial for us to sandwich busy days with at-home days.  Otherwise it is impossible for me to keep up with the housework and laundry, plus our meals suffer.  I keep a detailed calendar and try not to commit to anything with checking the date first.

Planning only one outing per week helps keep costs down.  Each payday, Brian asks me whether I need extra money for the coming week and we set that aside.  My favorite activities are free, though!  We live within fifteen minutes of two libraries and within twenty-five minutes of two more. I scour all of their schedules at the beginning of the summer to see what classes or programs they are offering throughout the summer.  Last summer, we saw a fantastic juggling show, watched a drama production, and spent a morning doing preschool crafts...all for free!  This year, we plan to go to an animal presentation, a hands-on forensics demonstration, and a science-themed play.

I also love the $1 movies at our local theater.  For $6, I can take the kids to a movie on the big screen and be home in time for lunch.  



Some of our most special summer memories have been made at home.  At-home activities are usually cheap and they rarely get in the way of our meals or chores. My friend, Allyson, and I have started a new Pinterest board of simple crafts and activities for summer...or anytime! 

How do you budget extra activities in the summer? 

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My How Do You...? series is back for only a few more weeks.  Is there anything you want to know?  Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page or send me an e-mail.  I'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime, you can browse the archived index of past topics.

The Best of the Book Comments

This is part 7 of my Based on the Book series. First I talked about 4 books that I thought were superior to their movie counterparts.  The following week it was 2 movies that I liked better than the original books.  I also shared a few choices that were too close to call, wrote a book review, and discussed 3 books that will be made into movies this year.  In part 6, I shared 2 book/movie combos that didn't neatly fit any category.

My favorite part of this series has been the discussion in the comments. Today I'm highlighting some of my favorite comments from the previous 6 posts!

Notes From The Comments

   {All book and movie titles are Amazon affiliate links.}

In regards to Anne of Green Gables being equally excellent in book and movie form...

Allyson said, "I agree with all three of your choices. I watched the Anne movies and Little Women before reading the books and while I love the extra details in the books, I still love the movies (except for The Continuing Story."

Cheryl (my mom) said, "Anne of Green Gables...swoon! I saw the movies first and fell in love with Anne. But I also loved Anne of Green Gables completely.  P.S. Allyson and Kristin, I totally agree with you about The Continuing Story."

Oh, yes, The Continuing Story is best forgotten. 



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In regards to a movie/book I forgot to mention...

Jenna said,  "I think I'd add Pride and Prejudice to the list. I LOVE the book.  But I really love the newest version of the movie as well. I thought they did a great job of interpreting the story and characters considering you only get about two hours to tell the whole book!" 

I agree!  

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In regards to the The Chronicles of Narnia series...

Heather said,  "I think the Chronicles of Narnia books are far superior than any of their movie renditions. Probably because I 'knew' in my mind how everyone is supposed to look and sound in the books, and the casting directors didn't consult me!  ;-) Plus, I get irked when movies change plot details."

to which Allyson said, "I definitely agree that these books are better than the movies, even thought I thought the movies were well done. I felt like some of the plot changes actually changed the integrity and like-ability of the characters."

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In regards to one more movie/book I forgot to mention...

Cheryl (my mom) said, "Two disappointments come to mind immediately when considering movies based on books.The first is The Last of the Mohicans.  I can understand why sometimes a director will add some dramatic elements to "sell" a movie (even if I don't like the changes), but this movie changed such little details that, to me, seemed pointless.  (For example, why reverse the characters of Cora and Alice? What did that accomplish...except maybe to confuse someone who had read the book?)

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The discussion is the best part of this series!  Do you have anything to add?  Have you read either of these books or watched the movies?  What did you think? 

More Photo-a-Day

This month, I am taking my sister Kati's Photo-a-Day Challenge and posting my results about once a week.  This is my second installment of photos, captured during a hot and sunny, humid and rainy, indoor and outdoor type of week.

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How Do You...Stretch Pre- and Post-Run?

Anonymous asked:

How do you stretch pre- and post-run? Are there specific exercises you do, for a certain length of time, etc.?

This is an appropriate question for this week because I'm preparing to run another 5K race on Saturday.  After running a half-marathon in April, there was serious let down in the days and weeks following.  I was floundering and in need of a new goal so I decided to squeeze in a 5K before the intense heat of summer sets in. I'm hoping I've maintained enough of the fitness I built up to run the half and that it will propel me into a new personal record for the 5K distance.  

As far as stretching goes, I probably earn a big fat F for fail.  I've read that it is damaging to stretch cold muscles.  If muscles have not started to move and warm up, stretching them can do more harm that good so instead of stretching before I hit the pavement, I warm up by starting most runs at a gentle, slow pace.  I pay attention to how my legs feel and gradually increase the pace as I loosen up.  

Okay.  So maybe my warm-up routine is acceptable, but I really fail the post-run stretching test.  By the time I'm done a run, my muscles are warm and would benefit from stretching, but I rarely (read: once or twice ever) take time to do any type of stretching routine.  This is what I do instead.  When I stop running and slow to a walk, I do not stop moving for at least 10 minutes.  I walk up my driveway.  I walk a few laps around the deck.  I walk around inside the house while I find a snack, talk to the kids, start a load of laundry.  Even more importantly, I am careful not to sit down.  Sitting or ceasing movement too quickly after exercise can cause blood to pool in the legs and cause cramping and general discomfort.  

How do you stay active? Do you walk, run, work out at the gym, play a sport, or run and play with your kids? 

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My How Do You...? series is back for a few more weeks.  Is there anything you want to know? If you have any other running related questions, I'd love to talk more about it!  Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page or send me an e-mail.  I'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime, you can browse the archived index of past topics.

The Book Index

It's been a week since I shared the 2014 edition of Summer Reading Guide for Families. I hope you've enjoyed this year's offerings and perhaps started a list of must-reads! 

If you haven't had a chance to downloaded your FREE copy,  

click here to get it now!

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know that I have a passion for books.  Not just fictional stories to read aloud on hazy summer days, but all books. 

I've compiled a handy reference guide of books by topic that I've discussed during the 6 years I've been blogging.  Subjects range from Grandma Moses to pioneers to health to astronomy to Thanksgiving.

Click here or on the button below to view the index...and more happy hours of reading to you!

Photo-a-Day Challenge

My camera has a permanent place on my kitchen counter.  Unfortunately, though it's handy, it often remains there all day long while life goes on around it. During the month of May, I challenged myself to take at least one photo of something every day.  I didn't have a perfect record, but my self-imposed challenge inspired me to pick up the camera more than I would have otherwise.  Do you find that sometimes you are so busy living the memories that you forget to take time to capture them?

This month, I am taking my sister Kati's Photo-a-Day Challenge and posting my results about once a week.

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How Do You...Manage Free Time in the Summer?

Allyson  shared her thoughts on preparing for a more relaxed schedule and asked...

How do you help your kids manage all their extra free time during the summer? Do you establish a general routine or schedule? Also, how has this changed as they've become older?

Michelle added...

Do you keep the same schedule during summer and/or school breaks? 

My kids have never, ever had a desire to sleep in.  We ask them to stay in their rooms until 7, but they are usually talking to each other and giggling by 6:30-6:45, sometimes earlier. It's a rare day when one of them sleeps past 7:30.  My mom says that will last until they are old enough to be a big help around the house and then they will start wanting to sleep instead.  ~wink~

Since they are up at the same time every day regardless of school schedule, Brian and I decided to have them follow the same morning routine in the summer.  They must eat breakfast, get dressed, brush their teeth, take care of the animals, and do their chores (anything from spot clean the bathroom to sweep the entryway to unload the dishwasher) by 9 am.  On weekends, when Brian is home and we linger over breakfast and generally enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere, we make the deadline closer to 10 am.

After 9 o'clock, we are left with hours upon hours of "free" time.  I like to maintain a general flow to the day without insisting on too much structure which hinders spontaneity.  Mornings are for play.  If the weather is pleasant, we include outside play-- riding bikes, blowing bubbles, playing tag, etc. If it is rainy or stifling hot, the kids play a game together inside or spread out on the living room floor. /






Lunchtime is around 12.  I usually bring a book to the table and read to them when I'm done eating.  We move to the living room to continue reading if we have time.  Then we do a big after-lunch clean up.  Dishes go in the dishwasher.  Someone starts a load of laundry.  The sofa cushions are straightened and loose toys are put away.  

By afternoon the kids are running out of ideas on their own so I try to have an activity in mind most days if we need it.  I like to vary it so we don't get in a rut.  Last year we made Wednesdays movie day, since we were fresh from a mid-week trip to the library. Another day was kiddie pool/water day. Sometimes I plan a craft or easy project.  Sometimes I  ask everyone to read or look at books for 30 minutes. Another thrill is to get a toy down from the closet shelf that they haven't seen for awhile-- Lincoln Logs, Light Brite, wooden dolls, etc.

In the late afternoon, we do another house pick-up and I start dinner prep.  The three youngest kids like to help-- assembling the salad, getting ingredients from the pantry or refrigerator, stirring, setting the timer-- while the older kids take care of the animals. 

After dinner, the kids run off their energy outside again. We do baths as needed and end the day with a few story books, chosen by the kids. Then it is time for bed! 

Does your family have a schedule for summer or do you throw routine out the window during these months?  How do you fill your days?  How do your kids stay occupied and active?

For some fun {and free!} family summer schedule printables, visit this post @ Biblical Homemaking.

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My How Do You...? series is back for a few more weeks.  Is there anything you want to know? Go ahead! Be nosy.  Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page or send me an e-mail.  I'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime, you can browse the archived index of past topics.

Summer Reading Guide for Families 2014

It's here!  The Summer Reading Guide For Families eBook is back for 2014.  Divided by category for easy navigation, it includes an eclectic assortment of choices for your reading enjoyment.  All the old content is there but expanded with new recommendations and even a new category!

The eBook is available to download for FREE!  and includes a printable checklist that you can keep by the computer or bring with you to the library.  

Click on the book cover to download your copy!

Your feedback is appreciated!  

After reading a book listed in the guide, would you consider coming back here to let me know how you liked it?  If you've read a book that you think is worth a mention, let me know that, too! 

I'd love it if you would share this resource with your friends on Twitter and Facebook.  I've made it easy for you.  All you have to do is copy and paste:  

I just downloaded this year's Summer Reading Guide For Families from Bits and Pieces From My Life. Get your free copy here: http://from-my-life.blogspot.com/2014/06/familyreading.html  #familyreading