Tag: Kids

April Holidays

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place BlogLeave a comment

I will try to update this list with some fun activities as well. Feel free to click the links to find out more about the origins and meanings behind these special days. I plan to incorporate a few of these into our normal homeschool routine to add a little fun and excitement to our days. Have fun and maybe make up your own personal family holiday or tradition for the month!

This month is also know as:

  • National Humor Month
  • International Guitar Month
  • Keep America Beautiful Month
  • Lawn and Garden Month
  • National Kite Month
  • National Poetry Month
  • National Pecan Month
  • Stress Awareness Month
  • Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The weeks are known as:

  • Week 1 Library Week
  • Week 1 Read a Road Map Week.
  • Week 2 Garden Week
  • Week 3 Organize Your Files Week
  • Week 4 Administrative Assistants Week
  • Week 4 National Karaoke Week

(Links will be updated closer to the dates of each holiday.)

I found this list and more here:

April Fool’s Day (1st)

**see April Fool’s Day for more activities

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (2nd)

** be sure to check out Homeschool: April on Pinterest for some interesting recipes.

Caramel Popcorn Day (7th)

** see Microwave Caramel Popcorn for an easy recipe

Draw a Picture of a Bird Day (8th)

** how to draw a bird for kids on YouTube, also see my Pinterest board linked below.

Palm Sunday

**see Palm Sunday for more activities

Passover

**see Passover for more activities

National Siblings Day (10th)

**see National Siblings Day for more activities

Barbershop Quartet Day (11th)

**barbershop quartets for kids on YouTube

Good Friday (14th)

**see Good Friday for more activities

Easter (16th for 2017 but the date varies)

**see Easter for more activities

National Cheeseball Day  (17th)

National High Five Day (3rd Thursday)

Look Alike Day (20th)

Earth Day (U.S.) (22nd)

**see Earth Day  for more activities

National Jelly Bean Day (22nd)

National Zucchini Bread Day (23rd)

** see Zucchini Bread for a recipe

Pig in a Blanket Day (24th)

** see Pig in a Blanket for links to recipes

World Penguin Day   (25th)

**see Penguin Awareness Day for more activities

National Pretzel Day (26th)

** see Easy Soft Pretzels for a recipe

Arbor Day (last Friday)

**see Arbor Day for more activities

National Honesty Day (30th)

**see Honesty for more activities

Also check out:

Homeschool: April on Pinterest

March 21, 2017

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place BlogLeave a comment

Good morning everyone! We are up and somewhat ‘at it’ this morning. I was so lazy yesterday! I did the basics like feeding the kids and washing up the dishes but not much else. I did finish up a load of laundry last night because it was sitting on my bed but the clothes are still sitting in a basket waiting to be put away.

Yesterday was just one of those ‘off days’ for me. I had been pushing myself a lot the past couple of weeks and it finally caught up with me. Well put that with the time change and dealing with kids who are exceptionally tired and cranky too and I was due for a lazy day.

I didn’t even make it to my closet yesterday morning. I did take a few moments here and there to talk with God but it wasn’t the same as my usual devoted time and I really needed that. So last night I stopped in the middle of folding laundry and headed to my closet for a bit. It was just what I needed. Each of the devotions and verses I happened to read last night were talking about the importance of rest. This really helped me not to feel so guilty about being so ‘lazy’.

Mark 6:31 (KJV)

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

One of the verses I read was Mark 6:31, it helped me to see that rest is just as important as work. It is also important for us to remember to take some quiet time to be with the Lord. He will refresh us and give us the strength to keep going, even on the toughest days.

Psalm 119:44 (KJV)

So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

This was another verse I read from ‘Starting Your Day Right‘ by Joyce Meyer. She reminds us that we don’t have to go into a private room to have time with God. We can talk to Him anytime, anywhere, about anything! Take every opportunity to spend time with Him and I guarantee you will see changes in your life.

I know how hard it is to be a parent, a single parent at that, and I know how busy life can get. I know how tough things can get and just when you’ve about reached the end of your rope the 3 year pulls the cereal out of the cabinet and pours it all over the kitchen floor. Or you decide to mop the floor instead of taking a nap only to have someone walk in with chicken poop on their shoes. I could go on and on but I won’t.

No matter what you are going through right now. God can help! He is there, waiting, just talk to Him. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it doesn’t have to be out loud, just talk. Tell Him about your troubles and ask Him for His help. He is there and He will help. All you need to do is ask.

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I want each and every one of you to know that I do pray for you and for whatever your circumstances are, I pray that God will supply your needs and bring you rest when you need it.

Have a blessed day!

Honesty

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog2 Comments

Honesty is an important character trait that we all should have. April 30th is the day set aside to remind us about the importance of being honest. Click here to learn more about this holiday.

Below are some of the activities I found to celebrate this day:

(Use at your own discretion.)

1000+ ideas about Honesty Lesson on Pinterest | Honesty lesson …

Teaching Children About Honesty – Simple At Home

Fun Activities for Kids on Telling the Truth | LIVESTRONG.COM

Honesty | Teacherplanet.com

Over The Big Moon An Object Lesson for kids on Honesty

Hands-on options | Honesty | Kids of Integrity

Teaching Kids to be Honest – Kids Activities Blog

4 Fun Ways to Teach Children about Telling the Truth – Moments A Day

Also check out:

Homeschool: April on Pinterest

Homeschool: Character Training on Pinterest

honesty for kids on YouTube

Easy Soft Pretzels

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog5 Comments

I don’t know about anyone else but I love soft pretzels dipped in mustard. I really don’t get to have them that often but every now and then the craving hits and I make these to enjoy. The kids love helping to shape the pretzels too. Continue reading “Easy Soft Pretzels” →

A Close Call

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place BlogLeave a comment

It started with a 5am text. I wasn’t expecting it at all but it was a good thing I got it. (I have thanked my friend time and time again for that little message.)

After responding to the text I was unable to go back to sleep so I got up and went about my normal morning routines. When I came to the kitchen for a cup of coffee I noticed a smell. The smell of electrical wires that had gotten way too hot. It was a scary smell indeed and it triggered me to go into emergency mode.

I quickly made my way to the laundry room where the smell was the strongest. I suspected the freezer may have been malfunctioning but it seemed fine. I worked my around the room touching and checking everything in there. When I got to the breaker box it was HOT!

I immediately opened the door and went to cut the power off. Once the house was dark I called for my dad to come to the house. Fortunately  it doesn’t take him but 5 minutes or less to get here. My mind was racing while I waited for him and I had our evacuation procedures in my head and ready to sound the alarm, if needed.  Thankfully though I had caught it in time.

We were able to get the problem fixed and haven’t had any issues since. It was definitely a scary event that still comes to mind every now and then. I was so thankful that God had used my friend to send me that text so that I would be up and ready for what I was about to deal with.

After the event I thanked God for sparing us and for giving us more time together. We hear a lot about house fires and such. A fire is such a devastating event for families to deal with. Often times you lose all of your worldly possessions. It wasn’t the loss of possessions that scared me though. The thought of how fast a fire can spread terrified me and I was glad to know that we did have an evacuation plan and that we had practiced it.

I encourage everyone to not only thank God today for your family and friends but also to let them know how much they mean to you. Also please consider making an evacuation plan for your family and practice it in case of an emergency.