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Stay at home mom with dreams of perfecting all things mama.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Happy birthday daddy!

I needed to make a birthday cake today, so to keep the kids busy and a part of the fun, they made play dough birthday cakes for their dad!


Take ten to keep your kids involved in what you are doing in a different way! They got to make "cakes" with me but I was able to make the real cake without interruption or big messes.

After they made their play dough cakes we sent these pics to daddy while he was at work with a happy birthday message.

Tale Ten!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

sing along...

Take ten to sing to and with your kids. Here's what you do: 1.) Turn off all electronics. 2.) Sit with your kids. 3.) Sing a song your kids know so they can sing along. 4.) Teach them a new song. Take Ten!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Litter bug

Take ten to talk about littering...

Turns out my little boy is a litter bug. On our walk back from the park today, he threw his empty zip lock bag of chips into the road while we were in the middle of a crosswalk! After my loud and shocked inhale of breath at his rude action, we picked up the trash and pulled over to talk.


I explained that even though there may be other trash on the road, we should never throw garbage anywhere but in a garbage can. We did not pass any trash cans outside so he held onto it until we arrived home where he promptly tossed it.

Sometimes we forget that kids have to be taught everything or they will simply follow what they observe. Kids think: There's trash in the road? That must be where it belongs. Take ten to teach about litter bugs!

Take Ten!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Long weekend...

Take Ten took a long ten this weekend to enjoy some family time at the Lake. Look for more posts tomorrow!

Friday, May 25, 2012

One, two, I love you..

Three, four, let's count some more... Take ten to practice counting! We practice letters and reading far more often than numbers and math around here. I have to remind myself to make it important to my kids learning experiences.
So we pulled out the abicus and showed Skyelynn how to count. Also it turns out an abicus is good for making flags.
I took this picture sideways and I can't rotate it on my Kindle, so mentally rotate it counter clockwise. Melanie made it and said it looked like the American flag. I think it does! Take Ten!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

No...Ah!

Today I taught my kids a story through art. The story of Noah. The kids loved it!

Here's what you do:

1.) Get a sheet of paper and a black crayon.

2.) Write Noah at the top.

3.) Begin the story and as you tell it, draw it too!

4.) I kept everything drawn in black until the very end when we drew our rainbows..IN COLOR :)


5.) Talk specifically about God's promise and what the rainbow signifies.

Don't make fun of my drawings. I'm definitely not an artist, but my kids think I'm good!

Take Ten!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Take ten to cozy...

A ten minute snuggle can teach so much! Don't ever turn down time to cozy up to your kids, because soon enough they will not be asking you for hugs any longer.

Throw pillows and blankets on the floor, lay down with them and just play! I promise they'll love it!

The baby was rolling around from big brother to big sister attacking them. Guapo was getting in on the action too! Then, Easton asked me to lay down with them! I happily did. :)

The above picture was yesterday, and today I found my little girl in her room cozying her own little babies.

As I stood there secretly watching her, she whispered "I love you" to the dolls.

Like I said, snuggling your kids can teach them SO much.

Take Ten!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Emotional...

Today the kids and I took ten to talk about emotions. Here is what we did:

 1.) I showed them pictures of different emotions on my Kindle Fire.

2.) I asked them to tell me what kind of face they were looking at.

 3.) I asked relating questions to each emotion.

Here are the questions and answers. Notice there are only one set of answers because Melanie would always answer first and then Easton copied everything she said.

 What makes you happy?  Presents.

What makes you excited? Going to school.

What makes you sad?  Bad things.


At the end of our discussion Easton looked at me and said "I love you mom. What makes you happy mom?"  


What a cute ending to a take ten moment! 


Take Ten!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Very little...

From across the street my neighbor told me she and her husband were taking their kids to the park. She then said, while smiling brightly, "It doesn't take much to make kids happy."

She's so right. It's my mission to do the little things to make my kids happy.

Today, I made my little girl happy. She's been begging to use her umbrella, and today it rained. We snuck outside to take pictures while the others napped. Look at how happy and pretty she is...

She's a natural at holding an umbrella...lol

We had fun...

A curtsy and goodbye!

Do something little...

Take Ten!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Love letters...

Today Melanie drew letters on her
magnadoodle so we could teach Skyelynn. Easton tried to help also but of course ended up asking his age old question "what does poop start with?" Melanie surprised me and wrote the whole word out to show him. After that we got serious again and sang the letter sound song after showing Skyeleynn each letter. It was a great take ten experience. :) Take Ten!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

singalong...

Take ten to teach your kids a new song before bed! They'll love it and so will you. Take Ten!

Friday, May 18, 2012

tub spell

Need to take ten but don't know what to do? How about spelling during bath time? Practice letter sounds and then spell some words.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Buddy up..

Take ten to teach the buddy system. Here is what you do: 1.) Take your kids somewhere. (Mall, park, zoo, etc.) 2.) When they decide they want out of the stroller to walk, enforce the buddy system. This is where they must hold hands with a friend or sibling while staying close to you as well. 3.) Have fun! And watch your kids like a hawk because anything could happen. :) 4.) If they do not follow any part of the buddy system (holding hands or staying nearby) they must go back in the stroller. Take Ten!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

simply put...

Less is more, right? It doesn't take much to make a kid happy.
Two of my three were napping and I needed some time to myself to cook and just think so I gave Melanie her scissors, pink construction paper, a paper plate and some glue. She was in art heaven. Remember taking ten does not take much! Keep it simple. Take Ten!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

It's the simple stuff...

The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from the common things -Henry Ward Beecher
Oh yes and of course knowing God makes us the happiest!

Here are some simple things that made us take ten and be happy...

1.) This picture of a spider. (He looks like he has a smiley face on his butt)

2.) Our shadows while on a walk.

3.) Sidewalk chalk art on our walk.

Take Ten! (For the simple stuff!)

Monday, May 14, 2012

Be brave...

We went to the library and Melanie wanted the head phones for the kid computer. She asked me to go ask for them, and I thought, this is an opportunity for her to learn something. So, I took ten...

 I explained that if she wants something she needs to go ask the librarian politely. She said she was too scared.
This is seriously the face she made when she said she was too scared...

This went on for a half hour...her telling me to get the headphones, me saying she needs to go ask herself.

Then, the librarian came over to put some books away and a tiny voice from the corner said, "Can I have the microphone?" (She meant headphones)


Of course the librarian happily obliged and help the kids set up TWO sets of headphones so they could both play!

Take Ten to help your kids be brave.

Take Ten!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

God and love...

Take ten to talk about God. Here's what you do:

1.) Get out the kid's Bible.

2.) Read some of it.

3.) Talk about God and His love.

4.) Wait for your kids to ask questions. :)

Melanie and I had a great conversation about God tonight, all because we read the creation story.  Try it!

 Take Ten!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Take ten to experiment...

Today I let my 8 month old sit by herself on the front porch instead of in my lap and she got a new experience...
GRASS!

Let go and let your kids do something new, it's the first step to letting them grow up. It's hard but fascinating to watch!

I was nervous about letting Skyelynn down to crawl around on the porch while the rest of us ate our popsicles, but guess what? She was fine and she experienced something new. She learned about grass. :)

P.S. excuse her bed head hair, we had all just woken up from naps!

Take Ten!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Take ten for your pet!


The other day at Target the kids and I decided to splurge on our dog, Guapo. And by splurge I mean we spent 2 dollars on new plastic food and water dishes with rubber bottoms to keep them from spilling. He has been needing new food and water bowls for a while now, because the mismatched tupper ware we were using were always being kicked over and spilled by accident.



Take ten to take care of your pet! The kids will love it!

1.) Find something for your pet, nothing expensive, but something to show you care.

2.) Let the kids be in charge of putting to good use whatever it is you buy for your special friend.

3.) Talk to the kids about taking good care of pets.

Take Ten!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Take ten to imagine...

Today we drove to bring daddy dinner at work and on the way we practiced colors in a different way. I intentionally made my kids imagine by asking them questions about every day things they like. Here's what you do : 1.) Think of things your kids love. For mine it's mangos, carrots, apples, the sky, leaves, grass, their bikes etc. 2.) Ask what color each of those things are and watch your kids try to mentally picture the item before they answer. 3.) Have fun and give points for whoever answers first! Take Ten!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Take a little ten..

Take ten to relax on the porch and stain your faces with Popsicle juice.

Here's what you do:

1.) Grab some popsicles.

2.) Take the kids to the porch.

3.) Let everyone enjoy the treats in the sunshine.
Yes, even let the baby steal a bite :)
4.) Oh, and wear sandals or go barefoot.



Take Ten!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Shadow of a pinwheel...

Pinwheels spin in the wind. My kids know this. Pinwheels spin when you blow on them. My kids know this. However, there is something they did not know about pinwheels...


Here's what you do:

1.) Buy a pinwheel or two. (must be the pinwheels made with see through colored plastic.)

2.) Take them out on a sunny day.

3.) Place the pinwheels in the sun and let them show their shadowy COLORS!




Take Ten!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Box of tricks...

Take ten to make a box of tricks...

Bored baby? Crying baby? Not anymore, mama found the box of tricks! I can fix this in two easy steps...

Here's what you do:

1.) Get a box and fill it with random, age appropriate toys.

2.) Give it to baby.





So many things to do with a box of tricks! Now, mom can cook dinner!

Take Ten!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Take ten to teach sympathy...

I taught my oldest daughter how to be sympathetic and comforting today without even knowing it.

She wanted to ride bikes outside, but my son was sick. I said "Do you see that your brother doesn't feel good? He probably wants to rest." And I leaned down and kissed his head. She looked at me and said "Yes" and then she said "It's okay, Easton." and moved close to him and she kissed his cheek.

Score one for mom! She understood, felt sympathetic, showed comfort and did not get upset about not being able to go outside. (All without me trying to teach her anything!)

Take Ten!

Friday, May 4, 2012

April showers brought...

paper May flowers!

Take ten to do an art project with friends. We invited our neighbors to make these with us.

Here's what you do:

1.) Cut out flower petals, circles for the middle, stems, and leaves.

2.) Get out your glue sticks, markers and glitter pens if you have them.

3.) Let the kids paste the flowers together and then decorate!


4.) Have fun!

Take Ten!