HELP! I Need IDEAS...

One of my other best friends from high school Amy K. is looking for creative ways to potty-train AND to break a thumb sucking habit. What have you done that has worked? Please share ideas by emailing me at inspireyourkids@gmail.com!

Kids LOVE Spinach!@?

Well I'm still in the process of finishing this semester but I wanted to quickly share something yummy! Have you ever wondered how you could get your children to eat more veggies? My friend Tammy has a fantastic and inspiring blog called Simple, Healthy, Tasty and she recently posted this YUMMY Creamsicle Green Smoothie. My kids LOVED it and begged me to make it again! I called it a Monster Smoothie and they fell for it hook, line and sinker. Enjoy!

The Creation Circle

At our book group the other night we read part of The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom, and Live an Extraordinary Life along with As a Man Thinketh (Dover Empower Your Life Series). Wow! We had an incredible discussion. Becky W. shared this beautiful exercise that she does with her girls everyday that she calls the creation circle. It sounds powerful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing Becky!

"The creation circle is so simple and fun. Basically I have the girls each draw an imaginary circle on the floor. Then they think about what it is they want and pretend as though they are putting it into the circle. Usually I have them focus on just one thing. Most of the time they choose a toy, which is fine, whatever gets THEM excited, but there are days when I try to gravitate their minds to 'higher' things. So I'll have them focus on something they want to learn or an act of service that they'd like to do for someone (etc..). When they are done, I point out that their circle is their own special place where they get to 'FEEL' what it's like to actually have those things (I really build this up and get them excited). As soon as they sit down, they close their eyes and begin imagining. I noticed it helps to talk them through it. For instance, right now my 5-year wants a tree house. So when she's in her circle I ask her questions like....'How big is the tree? What does your tree house look like? What does it feel like to play in it?'

I do my vision circle at the same time and the girls LOVE to hear what it is that I'm creating. I really like this because it is a powerful teaching moment. I use this opportunity to share goals that are important to me, or better yet, how important THEY are to me. The other day I told them that I was 'creating' myself to be a good mom so that they would always know how much I loved them. Then I asked them for their ideas to help me be better. It turned into a wonderful discussion and I learned a lot about what my children needed from me (things I would have never thought of). When creation time is over, we stay in our circle and repeat our affirmations together.

Before we started doing affirmations I explained what they were and why they are amazing. I got my children really excited about them and we made a list of what they thought was important. Of course, I helped guide them through it, but felt it was essential that THEY considered themselves the authors of what they wanted to become. I knew it would be much more powerful for them that way. This is the list of what 'they' came up with....

- I am a child of God with infinite worth
- I am happy and help others to be happy
- I am safe and always taken care of
- I am healthy and strong
- I am full of purpose
- I am full of joy and beauty
- I am smart and love to learn
- I can do anything I set my mind to
- I love and accept myself!

We repeat these again, right before they go to bed. Also, I've given them each an affirmation note book so they can them down."

Family Scripture Study

Each morning we take time as a family to read scriptures and say our morning prayer. If you have ever tried this (or even think about it for a minute) you will know what challenges we have had: teasing, not listening, getting in each other’s space, talking, wiggling, etc. etc. My husband came up with this brilliant technique…


Wake them up EARLY when they are really tired. They won’t talk or bug each other and they just might listen : )

Fun for Young and Old

I am just finishing my first semester at George Wythe University through the distance studies program. This blog (and my bro-in-law ; ) has helped me to remember EVEN during finals week to have fun with my children. Playdough is a favorite you can always fall back on. I love this Kool-Aid playdough recipe because it is fun to make AND play with (and it smells good too)! Here's what you need:

Kool-Aid Playdough Recipe

3 cups flour, divided
1/2 cup salt
2 pkg. Kool-Aid
2 cups boiling water
3 tbsp. oil

Add 2 1/2 cups flour, salt and Kool-Aid in a big bowl and mix well. Pour in boiling water and 3 tbsp oil.** Stir and then knead in extra 1/2 cup flour (or more until no longer sticky). Store in ziploc for weeks.

**This is my favorite step because it LOOKS like just white flour until you add the water...

and presto, like magic, it turns the color of the Kool-Aid!

It's fun to try different flavors! Today my kids chose grape but cherry is probably my favorite. Remember to play WITH them for a little while and then be prepared to enjoy some quiet moments all to yourself because it keeps them busy for hours!

Playdough is fun for the young...

...and the old...
Now back to the research paper!!

Come se dice...?

Hola everyone! One of my best friends from high school Shannon L. shared this great idea with me. She goes to her local library and checks out language CDs so instead of listening to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" or the radio in the car, they are all learning new languages like Spanish, French and Chinese! She says, "It’s funny to hear my three-year-old singing ‘Tu cantaras, yo cantare, y todos cantaremos juuuntos!’ It’s fun and free! As moms we know the fun and free activities are usually the best!"


My children have been begging me to teach them Spanish, but we just haven’t found the time. Since I have major library frustrations, we ended up buying Spanish for Children (Language for Children Series). It is worth it for me because the kids are having a blast! There are songs, games and an ongoing adventure about Supergato. The oldest tests all the children and once everyone learns the material they go on to the next unit. Car rides are more fun and we’re learning! Muchas gracias amiga!

Mooooore Graphin' Fun

If you are interested in the noble knight, it came from

GRID AND GRAPH IT GR 4-6.
Here is a drawing I copied and figured out myself. We dubbed it Cool Cow. DOWNLOAD FILE

Your kids can create their own design, plot the points and challenge you to complete it. One of our children is working on "Courageous Cat". The possibilities are endless!

The Perfect Project

I don't know about you but as soon as February hit this year, I was dreaming of planting a garden. I had the BEST idea! The children could make the garden THEIR project. I got out the graph paper and I taught them all about the horizontal and vertical axes, quadrants and coordinates.

They made designs including plotting points on the graph to make a noble knight.

It seemed like a hit! Then we tromped through the snow with some coaxing and measured our garden plot. With still more coaxing, we all drew maps of our garden plot on graph paper all the while the children were listening to mom blissfully talk about all the wonderful vegetables and flowers we could plant this year. Pretty soon mom looked around and noticed she was talking to herself... Apparently their project was really MY project.

Well spring has FINALLY sprung. When it came down to it, playing in the dirt was all the inspiration they needed...