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  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
  • Thinking, Playing, Reading
Home ยป Blog ยป Thinking, Playing, Reading

Thinking, Playing, Reading

by Sarah Turner Books, Clover Lane, Thinking Playing Reading

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Thinking:

I found this through Lindsay and I loved it.  For all us parents who have artistic kids, this is so wonderful and encouraging.  I had my boys watch it.  This artist also gives a Tedx Talk (it’s long but really good!) about the lost art of penmanship and cursive writing.  Do your kids still learn cursive in school?  Mine do and I would have to teach them if they didn’t.  I loved learning cursive, and the nuns that taught me expected perfection so I’m good at it. We used Golden Rod tablets and thick pencils and practiced, and practiced, and practiced.

Playing:

ThinkFun Zingo (40% off at Amazon) 

Janey loves this game-they all did (can you tell?)  Janey and I play this way-we each lay three cards out, and then she does the little swiper that makes the pieces come out and she takes them and matches them up, and if she doesn’t have a match she throws them to me. 

Razor A Kick Scooter (Blue) (30% off at Amazon)

Another toy we’ve had forever and a day. That is my now 21 year old up there seven or eight years ago.  I think I might go get some tissues. It’s still the first scooter they grab and it’s lasted through many a sweet jump (or dramatic spill).

Reading:

Gertruda’s Oath: A Child, a Promise, and a Heroic Escape During World War II

This is SUCH a good book-a true story, a Catholic nanny takes care of a little Jewish boy, risking her life to claim him has her son, through World War II in Germany and Poland.  You will need tissues through this book, but it’s a wonderful story.

Where the Red Fern Grows

I am reading this to Patrick (Andrew listens in although he read it with his class last year).  I LOVE this book-we are reading about two or three chapters a night because we want to keep going and going.

The Cat and the Mouse and the Runaway Train

The boys have loved this one but Janey gets it out every evening.

Pendragon: The Merchant of Death; The Lost City of Faar; The Never War; The Reality Bug; Black Water

My older three have all read this series, but for some reason Book Three was missing and I promised Andrew (12) the night before that I would go to the bookstore THAT DAY and get it, as he couldn’t wait another minute (he actually asked me to go that evening and I vetoed that idea as fast as I can say ‘no way’, but I also know what that desperation feels like.)

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October 2, 2015 ยท 14 Comments

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  1. Magpie says

    October 3, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    I could never read Red Fern out loud – that book makes me cry. Ugly cry. Will have to look into Pendragon series – my boys are a little young still, but I like to be prepared!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      October 4, 2015 at 4:49 pm

      I know me too with the crying-I love the relationship between Billy and his parents. (Andrew is on the young side for Pendragon-he told me it has some bad words (mild ones not super bad) but I would say late junior high/high school for sure.

      Reply
  2. Patty says

    October 3, 2015 at 2:29 pm

    I have always loved your book recommendations. Thank you, Sarah!

    Reply
  3. Simply Natural Mom says

    October 4, 2015 at 2:44 am

    My Montisorri kids learn to write in cursive from age 2 when they write their name. My 5-year-old has better cursive than me! It really is a beautiful thing. My older girls don't love it so much. They have to pass handwriting before they learn typing on a computer.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      October 4, 2015 at 4:46 pm

      My mom is a Montessori teacher-I LOVE how they learn to read and write-"the hand is connected to the brain" just like he says in the video!

      Reply
    • Simply Natural Mom says

      October 4, 2015 at 5:41 pm

      Yep just like the vidio. ๐Ÿ™‚ That's awesome that your mom is a Montisorri teacher. I have often though your home is very Montisorri. Your blog has been one of my favorites for a couple years now. Thanks for making time for it in your busy days!

      Reply
  4. Heather says

    October 5, 2015 at 11:42 pm

    Zingo sounds like such a fun game! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  5. Melissa says

    October 6, 2015 at 9:41 pm

    My kids still learn cursive in 3rd grade! So glad. Where the Red Fern — one of my favorites, but always, always cry at the end.

    Reply
  6. Sarah says

    October 8, 2015 at 10:53 pm

    I CANNOT read Where the Red Fern Grows without crying my eyes out.

    Reply
  7. Unknown says

    October 13, 2015 at 3:11 am

    Sarah-
    I love your blog so much. It has blessed me in SO many ways! I have a question for you though–i'm curious to hear your take on homeschooling. Have you ever considered it? Why or why not? (If you don't mind me asking, of course).

    Reply
    • Unknown says

      October 19, 2015 at 3:17 am

      Sarah–I am still so curious about this question ^^ ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    • Sarah says

      October 19, 2015 at 12:37 pm

      Sorry Lacey, I saw your first comment, and then couldn't remember what post it was under to answer! I think homeschooling is awesome, and it hasn't been till recently that I considered it. Back when my first started school I had never even heard of the word home school! Now I think it is more common and there are so many great resources and so much support. We have always sent our kids to a small Catholic school nearby and I am more than ever happy with the education they get there, and the small group of kids they attend school with-all the way up to 8th grade. I think home school is probably as successful as the teacher (mom) and I am afraid of myself-I feel like right now in my life "if it isn't broke don't fix it"-I also like to do for one as I do for all and have some consistency in place that way. And when I look back at my older kid's younger years, the fact they I had hyperemesis for months during each pregnancy, the fact that we always bought huge fixer uppers, I think they would have lost so so many months of school because of that. Now of course it would be easier with the little ones.
      I do think there is a lot of time wasted at school no matter what, and that home school done the right way can turn out some pretty deeply educated children-it can't help but be appealing to many a family!
      Let me know if you have any questions-you can always email me too!

      Reply
    • Unknown says

      October 20, 2015 at 3:57 am

      Thank you for that response ๐Ÿ™‚ I feel similarly. It's a hard decision to make, especially when we have similar hearts that are so tightly knit to our children-but I think it's important to keep balance and to be realistic as well. I love your blog, and have a good "coming home" story if you are still doing that series ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
    • Sarah says

      October 20, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      Yes I would LOVE to add to that series, email me and I will send you some prompts (if you need them).

      Reply

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Welcome!

Sarah Turner

When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an o Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular.  Just an ordinary Monday morning breakfast counter after the kids leave for school.  Because ordinary gets the short hand in our culture but really it's extra special. 
It's a symbol of unselfishness, contentment, prudence and gratitude.  There is a certain peace about the ordinary.  It's the opposite of temporary-it holds the joy of contentment and gratitude and prudence all in one hand.  It's lends itself toward peace, and a settling in, not a constant search for more or less or anything.  Ordinary is authentic and good enough- in short it's a gem in disguise. ๐Ÿƒ
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! ๐Ÿก
I think this is one of the best things about the 4 I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process.  When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in.  I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases.  It's quite eye-opening.  I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.
The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days!  I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.
The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up.  And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room.  It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also.  Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier. 
๐Ÿƒ
As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space.  I agree!  I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It makes such a difference! 
๐Ÿƒ
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
๐Ÿƒ
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! โ˜€๏ธ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
๐Ÿƒ
I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
๐Ÿƒ
Clip on bed lights save space. 
๐Ÿƒ
A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
๐Ÿƒ
When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
๐Ÿƒ
All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒฑ
Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel.  Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect.  They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
โ˜€๏ธ
When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received.  Or received at all.  Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist.  Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized. 
โ˜€๏ธ
More tips coming on the blog this week.  I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!
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