teaching color with color bag

Back when I worked as a teaches aid the class had these cool color boxes from Lakeshore. I really liked them and when I wanted to start helping Girlygirl learn her colors I wanted to buy them. That is when I found out how much the cost. So when I was at a Thrift Store and fond canvas little bags I came up with the idea to make my own color bag for Girlygirl. I got 5 bags all white. It made a great art time for Girlygirl to paint the bag we just do one at a time. After the bag is dry I went around the house and looked for anything blue to add into the bag until the bag was full. Girlygirl loves the bags. Soon I will be teaching her to look and match the colors. We will have all 5 bags out and take all the toys out and she has to put each thing in the right color bag. I will let you know how this goes. Update: I found other home made color bags. I they are nicer than my done by the mom. Just thought I'd share my find. They made by PisecoMom over at Mind Games. Remember to play with your kids today. Playing is teaching

100 Free Things to do with kids: 76-100

I can't believe I made it to 76 already and still thinking of more everyday. I am having lots of fun trying to think of free stuff to do. I hope this last 25 free things are easy to think of. Here we go:

1. get a pen pal or type pal (pen pal through email) great for when friend moves away
2. read
3. press flowers
4. start collection-rocks, bottle tops, shells, bugs, lots of things free
5. dust house
6. dry-erase board
7. sort-button, bean, pasta. You can do this my color, size or shape
8. play tag
9. play hide and seek
10. The Jar
11. doll bath
12. trace hands
13. egg or toy hunt-hide one egg or toy and let the kids try to find it
14. take a bath
15. hold child and spin in circles
16. roll down a hill
17. sit at the window and watch it rain
18. play telephone
19. move toys to different rooms-it makes kids feel like the are new
20. go to pet store
21. plan tour of fire station-i think better with a few friends
22. plan tour of police station
23. visit a nursing home
24. tour cold stones-free unless you want ice cream
25. build tent with table and blankets

It took me some time but I found my last 25 things. Remember to play and have fun with your kids today.

Allowance at 2

We give Girlygirl an allowance of $2/week. She will get a $1 raise each birthday. The money is not given to her for chores or anything she just gets it. As part of our family she gets money just as Sweet Dude and I both get $10 each week no matter what also. We do make her give 25 cents to savings and 25 cents to church. The other money is her to use as she wants. She doesn't really understand it yet but we like to start now and teach her little by little.

No Help

Girlygirl loves to do anything and everything she can with out any help. She got a great Christmas gift from a friend. It is a tea pot. She uses it very morning to pour her own juice. I also give her a cheese knife to put peanut butter on her toast. It not only saves me time but teaches her she can do it.

FTJ: The why of the dreams

After coming up with dreams I need to know why I have them, what it will proved for me

Adopt 2+ kids- I want to give kids a family who have lost the first family.

Have one more kid- Because I promised Sweet Dude.

become SAHM or work 3 or less days- I love being with Girlygirl. I want to be the one who hugs my kids when they fall.

homeschool- I think that the way the schools are today to many kids get left out. I know I would not make it in today's school.

vacation in all 50 states- It is something I have always thought would be fun.

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC,FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WY

move bigger house- If we have a family of 6 or more we can't only have one bedroom.

live on a small farm- I have always wanted to live on a farm. My reason change but right now I would say for my kids to have a place to run and play everyday.

be free of all cc debit- It is stress full having debit.

teach kids to love God- I want my kids to know which way to go.

work as a photographer- I love to take and look at pictures.

own a daycare- Running around and teaching little ones all day is fun.

be size 10- I want to be able to play more with Girlygirl and I know it would be better for my health.

finish Girlygirl first year scrapbook-I love to do it.

make Girlygirl 2nd year scrapbook

walk 10000 steps a day- Help me be healthier

have weekly date with Sweet Dude with no TV- I want more time with Sweet Dude.

keep the house clean- My house stresses me out.

take picture of Girlgirl everyday- I think it will be fun to look at them when she is older.

find some who want my cat- She make me so mad. I think she needs a home without kids

do foster care- I want to help kids who moms and dads are trying to get better to keep them

my home to be the place my kids and friends want to hang out- If my kids are here I know they are being good.

pay full 10% offering every month- I would like to help the church and I know the Bible says to.

read bible daily- to be closer to God

read to Girlygirl daily- To help her learn and build a bond with her.

have a scrapbook room- I can scrapbook anytime I have just a few min.

learn to cook good- I want to make food people want to cook.

live in an RV for 3 months or more-I think it will be a fun time and a good break from the in and outs of daily life.

go to Disney World with family- Be great family time.

be 100% debt free- I think it is was God wants.

eat health- If I don't I will die young

work on getting my knee better- I am scared it will come out soon and not go back in.

make time to hang out with friends- I needed to have friends and good friends who are close to me to be happy.

meet deaf people our age here- I want Girlygirl to know she is not the only kid with a Deaf daddy. I also think Sweet Dude needs it.

have a brand new van- It would be cool.

get a wagon for Girlygirl- Mine was in my top ten of favorite toys as a kid.

get a swing set- I think it would be fun for the kids.

fix up house 100%- I will have more place to put our stuff.

write sponsor child monthly- I know he wants it.

have garage sale- Clean out my house and make money.

get organized- I want to be able to find what I am looking for when I want it.

move back to CA- I want my kids to know their Grandparents.

take more me days- Sometimes I need a break to be a better me.

personal

Take a 30Th bday trip with Jessica- To remember I am still young.

go camping 2x this summer- I loved camping as a kid.

have my children know that I love them- I want them to not have to look for love in the wrong way.

make Girlygirl laugh everyday- her laugh is so great and then I know she is happy and plus it makes me laugh.

FJT: Udate

Sweet Dude and I mostly caught up on and we know our credit score so today was easy. I will analyze my dreams. I have really enjoyed this whole thing. We have been blessed by my sitter and brother this past weekend. They took us out to dinner and saved Sweet Dude and I a fight about what money for.

Thoughts about FTJ

Today is the 8Th day of FTJ and I have not done much. Sweet Dude's work is not going good and for the next 5 weeks they all only are working 4 days. So our spending freeze maybe a little long than the 3 weeks as we have to just buy what we needed until things get better there. I have done really good thus far. I did have to buy Sweet Dude his get better stuff (cold meds, OJ, and ice cream) but I had a gift card for that. I also but my self some sunflower seeds that was not on the list but for some reason when I find out bad news they make me happy and at $1 I gave in. I have worked on the net wroth but need Sweet dude's help with a few parts of it and he is sick so I trying not to bug him. When he gets sick he acts half way to died. I try to just give him more love not more things I want from him. I hope to work on that and our Mission Statement over the weekend. I have about 50 things on my dream list. I am now going to work on my stuff some more.

FTJ Day 5: 100 Dreams

This is a work in progress. It is not that easy for me. I am not a big dreamer and don't think about my wants that much.

1. Adopt 2+ kids
2. Have one more kid
3. become SAHM or work 3 or less days
4. homeschool
5. vacation in all 50 states- AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC,FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WY
6. move bigger house
7. live on a small farm
8. be free of all cc debit
9. teach kids to love God
10. work as a photographer
11. own a daycare
12. be size 10
13. finish Girlygirl first year scrapbook
14. make Girlygirl 2nd year scrapbook
15. walk 10000 steps a day
16. have weekly date with adam with no TV
17. keep the house clean
18. take picture of Girlgirl everyday
19. find some who want my cat
20. do foster care
21. my home to be the place my kids and friends want to hang out
22. pay full 10% offering every month
23. read bible daily
24. read to Girlygirl daily
25. have a scrapbook room
26. learn to cook good
27. live in an RV for 3 months or more
28. go to Disney World with family
29. be 100% debt free
30. eat health
31. work on getting my knee better
32. make time to hang out with friends
33. meet deaf people our age here
34. have a brand new van
35. get a wagon
36. get a swing set
37. fix up house 100%
38. write sponsor child monthly
39. have garage sale
40. get organized
41. move back to CA
42. take more me days
43. personal
44. Take a 30Th bday trip with Jessica
45. go camping 2x this summer
46. have my children know that I love them
47. make Girlygirl laugh everyday

FTJ: Day One

I know it is day five but I am just starting now. I stayed away from the computer for the last month but to cheek email and look at job posting. So I am getting a late start. So day one started a spending freeze. Day one assignment was to write an approved spending list. Here is mine:

• Food-milk, eggs, fresh fruit and veggies, soda, cat food, soaps as needed, pull ups for night no more than $25 a week
• gas-for both cars
• bills that come in as due and pay off cc with saved money
• DH $10
• pay library fine
• church offering
• DD $2 weekly
• $50/week for vacation saving

I look forward to trying this. Tonight I will talk to Sweetdude about the whole thing and do the day two assignment.

Starting Forget the Jones Boot Camp

I am doing a boot camp called Forget the Jones (FTJ) that I found at Mommy Savers. It is six week of figuring out what I want and how to better use your money. I am starting 5 days late because I was in California. I look forwarding to doing this and will be posting lots about it as I go through the steps.

short break

I am taking a break until I get back for my vacation. I hope you all enjoy your holidays. MERRY CHRISTMAS