The Chaos and the Clutter

Easy to Make Pinwheel

May 18, 2013 by Sharla 1 Comment

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

This is such an easy Summer craft! All the supplies you need are:

two pieces of paper in different colours
pencil with an eraser on the end
one or two pony beads
a glasshead pin

First fold each paper down to form a triangle and cut off the excess. This will make the paper square. If you are already using square paper, you can skip this step.

Next, glue the paper together using a glue stick. Now you will have one piece of paper with one colour on one side and another on the back.

Fold the paper the other way to form a triangle again and unfold so that there is now a centre where the previously folded lines cross. Draw a circle around this spot or place a coin there and trace around it.

Cut along the lines just to the drawn circle. Fold every second corner into the centre to create a pinwheel.

Place a glasshead pin through the centre being sure to go through each piece of paper there. (younger children will need help with this step)

Put one or two pony beads through the back of the pin and then insert it through the eraser on a pencil. You can then bend down any bit of the pin that is sticking through the other side or use wire cutters to snip off the end.

I’m linking with Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers, Show and Share Saturday, and Sunday Showcase.

Filed Under: Crafts and Activities

Clutter Busting Day #17

May 17, 2013 by Sharla Leave a Comment

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

Today all of what I found went into the garbage. I didn’t go through much or find any big items but I keep telling myself that every little bit counts!

lid, bib (haven’t had any babies around here for a long while!), scrap cloth, a pom pom, some papers and a few crafts the kids made months ago

more nebulizer parts…I knew I would find more extras! There were also some odd things in this bag like a broken night light, micro seashells and a tube of Polysporin without a lid

Have you joined in the Clutter Busting Challenge? What have you found so far?

Filed Under: Decluttering, The Clutter

Weekly Wrap Up

May 17, 2013 by Sharla 2 Comments

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

In my life this week…I celebrated Mother’s Day with my moms and my seven precious blessings. Being a mom has been the hardest thing and the most humbling thing, but also the most amazing thing.

In our homeschool this week…we finished reading the Secret Garden and to wrap up, we watched the movie. You can read about all the activities we did to accompany our study of The Secret Garden.

We went on a field trip to the Museum where there were classes for the older kids and for the younger kids. The younger kids took a class called Our Learning Path and the older ones were in Wetlands Explorers. Both classes were very hands-on and interactive so it was really fun for the kids. After the classes were finished, we ate a lunch that we had packed and then explored part of the Museum.

The kids practised hard every day this week as well as having their piano lessons because their year-end recital was last night.

Here they are all decked out in their finest after the recital:

We also did our usual Story of the World, Who is God? and How Can I Know Him, math, and writing. We read the book Bugs in my Hair which I had picked at the library and once I got home I realized that it was about lice. It was a cute book…kind of like Fancy Nancy meets Adams Family. The kids found it really funny. Reading it just made me itchy!!!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…The younger kids ran in their first ever cross-country race on Saturday. It was a 3Km trail run that included many hills and rough terrain but all five of them completed the run! Snuggle Puppy came in third due to his determination.

This week, we visited the Museum, the library, the Rec. Center, and a local greenhouse. We had a few play dates with friends.

I am cooking…tater tot casserole, Cajun Chicken Alfredo (our go-to date night at home recipe) spaghetti, crepes, frittata and hash brown and bacon, French bread pizzas (mine didn’t turn out like they were supposed to – I don’t think I cooked them at the right temperature because my crust was soggy).

Things I’m working on…I am still working (slowly) on my new eBook and on some blogging related projects. I am hoping to start our garden this weekend.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share (silly, serious or both!)…Tomorrow is the last day to enter to win a copy of A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels. And if you are a Canadian resident, you can enter to win a week for your child at Summer Camp.

I’m linking with… Homeschool Review, Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers and I am the featured mom for the Homeschool Mother’s Journal this week.