For Kiddos

Three and Sweet as Can Bee

Dear Sis,

Celebrating Charlotte’s third birthday with family and friends was a joyous occasion. Josh’s parents and Great Granny arrived the night before. 

Party Game: Honey Bee Tree

Bee Hive Cupcakes

We found the bee liners and candy bees at Hobby Lobby.

The bee plates, napkins, cutouts used as wall decor, and thank you cards were also purchased at Hobby Lobby.

Charlotte enjoyed all the thoughtful gifts from friends and family!

Bee Craft

We found these wooden bees at Target over the summer.

Party Favors: Honey Bee Soaps

Thanks for buzzing by!

Love,

b

Pre-K Round Up for Eve

Dear Sis,

I know Eve is only a third of the way through preschool, but I wanted to make this post for you before my recollection fades too much. William is four weeks into Kindergarten now and that is quickly becoming my new normal!!! 

Art/Fine Motor

Emotional Intelligence/Health

All materials are in the borrow box.

Language

You will need to order all these items:

Math

Science

Social Studies

All materials except consumables are in the borrow box.

Thinking Skills

I hope this helps!

Love,

b




Longhorn NB-5T Regency Frock

Dear Sis,

We are finally working on adding a new era to our impression wardrobe! I’m started with Charlotte because I thought it would be a great way to ease myself in.

I found an e-pattern on Etsy: Longhorn NB-5T Frock sold by Virgil’s Fine Goods. It went together very nicely!

I fully lined the dress with white muslin so that it functions without an undergarment. The outer fabric is a sheer we found at JoAnn’s with the shirting fabrics. They had the same fabric in blue as well. 

All these drawstrings make the garment very flexible in size! The growth tucks also will help the gown grow with the child. The pattern suggests that with small modifications this same gown should fit from 3T-5T!

I used machine sewing anywhere the stitching would not be visible from the outside to save time. So you will notice the running stitch on the top layer of tucks, but machine stitching on the petticoat layer:)

Love,

b

Homemade Challah

Dear Sis,

We recently signed up for PJ Library. The kids are enjoying the books that come each month and I enjoy sharing Jewish tradition with them with fun age appropriate stories and activities. Charlotte’s most recent board book had a recipe for Challah in the back and both the kids were eager to make it!

Baking Challah in Bulk Batches

Having fresh challah on hand for shabbat and holidays can be as easy as pulling it out of the freezer early in the day. This recipe makes 6 traditional loaves or 12 mini loaves for smaller families who don’t need a full loaf for a single meal. Toppings and add-ins create variety. This time me made two sugar topped with chocolate chips added, two loaves cinnamon sugar topped raisins added, and two loaves topped with sesame seeds. 

Ingredients

  • 5 c + 1 T warm water, divided
  • 4 t dry active yeast
  • 1 c granulated sugar
  • 1 (5 lb. bag) unbleached bread flour
  • 4 eggs, divided
  • 1 avocado cup oil, divided
  • 2 T salt

Dough Preparation

  1. Dissolve yeast in 5 c warm water, in a large non-metal bowl. Stand until dissolved. Meanwhile, in another bowl whisk together 1/2 the flour and the salt. 
  2. Stir sugar into yeast mixture until dissolved. Stir in remaining flour, 3 eggs, and 1/2 c oil to make a pasty dough.
  3. Stir in 1 c salted flour at a time until too thick. Then knead in each addition until dough is smooth an elastic. Brush surface of dough with oil. Cover and rise 2 hours. 

Shaping Loaves

  1. Divide dough into loaf portions, 6 regular or 12 mini. Working with one loaf portion at a time, divide into 4-6 portions and roll out. I prefer 4 strands because it makes a narrow loaf that is perfect for my kids little hands:)
  2. If you wish to incorporate add-ins, press flatten the dough length a bit and arrange the raisins, milk chocolate chips, or other add-in in the center. Then fold the dough around the raisins and roll to seal and reshape into a rope. 
  3. Braid the loaf. Video tutorial: How to Braid Challah 
  4. Place loaves on parchment lined baking sheets, 2 loaves or 4 mini loaves per sheet. Brush with oil, cover, and rise 45 minutes.

Baking

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, beat together an egg and 1 T warm water to make an egg wash.
  2. Brush each loaf with egg wash.
  3. If you wish to add toppings to your loaves, now is the time. We put sugar on our chocolate chip loaves, cinnamon sugar on our raisin loaves, and sesame seeds on our plain loaves.
  4. Bake 20-30 minutes. Baking time varies by loaf size. 

Freezing Loaves for Later Use

  1. Wrap warm loaves in foil. Place in freezer bag. Cool completely. Freeze for later.
  2. Thaw early in the day you intend to use the loaf. Serve challah at room temperature or reheat in foil covering to serve warm.

Shabbat Shalom!

Love,

b




Music Appreciation – Rock ‘n’ Roll

Dear Sis,

This is the tenth and final part in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Rock & Roll

Week Thirty-Three

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Rock ‘n’ Roll is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Listen to Sample One: “Strange Things Happening Everyday” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe (gospel/early rock ‘n’ roll)

Listen to Sample Two: “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley (rockability/rock ‘n’ roll)

Watch the Biography of Elvis Presley video.

Week Thirty-Four

Approximately 15 minutes

Read “ROCK ‘N’ ROLL” history text.

Watch the History of Rock ‘n’ Roll video. 

Week Thirty-Five

Approximately 10 minutes

Listen to Sample Three: “Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry (rock ‘n’ roll)

Listen to Sample Four: “Paperback Writer” by The Beatles (pop rock)

Week Thirty-Six

Approximately 15 minutes

Listen to Sample Five: “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix (classic/psychedelic rock)

Listen to Sample Six: “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions” by Queen (classic/arena rock)

Read “Music is YOU!”. 

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section.

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Fish Sleep Sack

Dear Sis,

All your recent visit have spurred a desire for me to make animal sleep sacks for Eve, Charlotte, and Grant like I did for William long ago (Owl Sleep Sack). Eve has been the floor sleeping kid, so I made her’s first:)

Materials

  • 2 yards fleece (outer fabric)
  • 5 1/2 yards broadcloth (lining and pillow sham)
  • 1 1/2 yards quilting cotton (tail, fins, and eye)
  • double sided fusible interfacing, such as WonderUnder
  • 2 (24 inch) metal zippers (closure)
  • tissue paper and clear tape (pattern making)

Assembly

  • Draft your tail, fins, and eye patterns onto tissue or pattern paper. The pattern photos below are on a 1 inch grid to help you scale the pattern.

  • Fold 1 1/2 yards printed quilting cotton in half and arrange tail (cut 2 on fold) and fins for cutting. Remember to add 1/2 inch seam allowance around curved portions of tail and fins. 
  • Place tail panels right sides together and sew curved areas with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving straight section at the base of the tail open. Clip curves as needed, turn and press. Repeat with fins.
  • Cut 4 x 4 inch square from remnant printed quilting cotton and double sided fusible interfacing. Press with a hot iron to fuse both squares together. Trace eye pattern onto interfacing side and cut along the tracing line, no additional seam allowance is needed. 

  • Trim bulky salvage edge from fleece. Fold lengthwise and cut on the fold to create a front and back panels. 
  • Shaping top and bottom edges of fleece panels by centering tail at the bottom edge of the fleece panels. Chalk mark the flat space that is required at the bottom to attach the tail. Add curve to the top and bottom edge as desired with chalk and cut when pleased with the shape. Fold contoured bottom edge up until it meets the top edge of the fleece panels. Cut to match bottom shaping. Unfold. Working with just the top edge, chalk the opened mouth into the straight uncut area between the top and bottom curves. When pleased with the shape, cut the mouth opening.
  • Remove the bolt fold from the broadcloth and fold in the other direction so that fabric is open to its full width. Lay fleece panels at the bottom from the folded edge upward and a standard pillowcase above it. Cut lining to match the fleece panels. Cut pillowcase panels with a 1/2 inch seam allowance around the three seamed edges and an additional 2 1/2 inches at open edge for a rolled hem.

  • Lay a single layer of fleece out flat. Arrange and pin tail, fins, and eye in place. Sew on tail and fins using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Note: the front pectoral fin is not along the edge, so it will need to folded downward and topstitched to finish the raw edge. 
  • Fuse the eye in place with a hot iron. Using a dense zigzag stitch or the satin stitch, sew around the eye to finish the raw edge.
  • Pin tail and fins away from the edges of the fleece folding as needed. Place second fleece panel right side down over the first panel. Leaving the first 24 inches open on both side seams, stitch around using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Repeat with lining.
  • With fleece layer right side out and lining inside out. Place fleece inside lining and sew around unfinished edges with a 1/2 inch seam allowance leaving an 8 inch opening for turning. Turn and get lining situation inside fleece layer. Top stitch around opening on the front and back as close to the edge as possible turning the open 8 inches inward and stitching it closed as well. 

  • Switch to a zipper foot and install a zipper along the top and bottom curved edges.
  • For pillowcase, place panels right sides together and stitch along three edges using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Clip corners and turn right side out.
  • On open side, fold raw edge under 1/2 inch and make a 2 inch rolled hem and secure with machine sewing.

Enjoy your creation!

Love,

b

P.S. Two more designs are in my sewing queue… a yellow cat for Charlotte and a pink pig for Grant.

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Homeschooling with The Story of the Orchestra

Dear Sis,

The state of Ohio requires that homeschoolers study music. Last year I wrote a 36 week Music Appreciation course for students PreK-Grade 8.  

This spring we started taking weekly piano lessons, which count toward our school music requirement, but the musician in me wanted more! I stumbled upon The Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine recently during a visit to Half Price Books. It’s perfect! I’m excited to use it for our upcoming Kindergarten and first grade years. 

The Text Book

and accompanying 37 listening samples

We thrifted this 2001 edition, with CD

This revised 2019 edition, with audio downloads is available on Amazon.

Other than the title change and the manor in which the listening samples are provided, the two books are the same!

The book is broken into Part I: The Composers and Part II: The Orchestra Instruments. I plan to cover one part per year for the next two school years. I feel that my son is too young to work trough all the content in a single year, but for an older learner that might be preferred.

Also, I feel that learning the instruments is easier for the young learner than a timeline composer study, so we will be starting with Part II. 

Please select the printable schedule that is best for your learner(s).

36 Lesson, Instrument Study, K-8

18 Lesson, Composer Study, K-8

36 Lesson, Classical Music Study, 3-12

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b