Valentine's Books and Crafts for Kids

Hi Y'all!

I am finally getting posts up in advance. They aren't as frequent as I would like, but it's progress. 

We have had such a great week with homeschooling. My girl is finally getting it! She is actually asking to read independently and doing it! Not just skimming over or re-reading the same book she's had memorized since last year!

This is huge for her! Of course, it makes my heart smile too! I may get another reader in the house. (high hopes)

Being mom and teacher gives me another reason to scope out books for her. I go through a series of variables. 

Are they the right reading level?

Can we use it as a lesson or tie it into what we're working on?(she loves non-fiction)

Does it look like she would be interested in it?

I love that most children's books have a lesson or moral to the story type of theme, but they also make it light, funny, or wacky to get kids to really think and analyze the story. 

Reading books to or with a child is a great opportunity to ask some awesome questions!

You'd be amazed at the insight you can get from your child's responses.

How did that make you feel?

How could you have helped xyz?

Would you like to go there someday?

Could you be friends with someone like that?

These are just some example questions. I know you can come up with a ton more.

Love is an amazing topic to learn about! Is it a noun or a verb?

I love this question. For myself, it is a verb. An act of doing or showing.

What do you think? Both? Could be.

Books can help you learn all different types of love!

I started looking up on Pinterest, Valentine's ideas for kids

I actually was shocked that most of the pins were for books about Valentine's Day!

Also, we actually own a bunch of them!

Here goes my mom brain!

I started searching around on Thriftbooks and made up my own list.

I found over 300 children's books listed! Over 300! Just on Valentine's Day. 

There absolutely is a book for every child to get interested in!

Here is a list of the ones we are going to read this year.

Our Top 7 Choices

Pete the Cat: Valentine's Day is Cool

A Crankenstein Valentine

Nate the Great and The Mushy Valentine

Mr. Goat's Valentine

Rhyme Time Valentine

God Gave Us Love

Love Monster

I hope you'll check out our list and let me know which books you chose!

I'm working on an idea of a book swap for kids. Keep that in mind for the future if you'd be interested!

I also found some fun craft ideas to share.

Take a look, Pinterest: Valentine Kid Crafts

Happy Reading and have a blessed weekend!

Big List of Valentine's Day Books

Starting the year being productive

 Welcome 2022!

Happy New year to everyone!

I hope everyone had blessed holidays in December. I know we sure are blessed. There were cookie parties, games, laughter, love, and some gifts. I do appreciate that getting older it feels so good to be the giver, but I won't turn down a few great gifts.

I am so excited to start my year off being more productive, and hopefully organized. 

I finally got a new desktop computer. Well, new-refurbished, but so far I'm pleased. I mean, it works, and I totally hooked everything up myself. The cords were a pain, but I figured it out in less than a day!

I ended up getting an HP, just because we've had several printers from them, and we've never had a problem with the brand. We just couldn't afford a whole brand-new HP desktop. Hence, eBay refurbished 

It is so nice to jump on here and actually get things done. Not sitting here F bombing under my breath and controlling the urge to throw it out the window! It seriously was so frustrating and a huge setback.

Almost everything I needed to accomplish was computer related.

Whether it was writing for my blog, book reviews, homeschooling material or websites, getting my crochet patterns, materials, etc., it was such a daily struggle! Every. Single. Day.

Now, that the computer issue is solved, I can move along and get productive!

I've already printed out about 4 new crochet patterns. Mostly Valentines and plushies. You can see my inspiration board here:

CWM Crochet Pinterest Board

I'm still in love with the Premier Parfait Chunky yarn. You can go see the snowmen I made with it. They are so soft and snugly!

Snowman Plushie

Oh! I got another great yarn/project organizer for Christmas too!

This one is bigger than my older one, so I can work on bigger projects, or projects with several color skeins at once.

Mine came from AliExpress

I love this site so much! They are the best place to get everything from safety eyes to hooks and stitch markers! I cannot tell you how much I have ordered from them!

I am using my time more wisely, so I've also been working on homeschool for the new year. We pretty much roll our own way, but we definitely use the internet. I find charts, worksheets, classroom decor, record logs, science activities, from TeachersPayTeachers

I do have my own little shop started. Now, I will be able to get more material made, so much faster!

I cannot tell you how excited I am! This truly is a blessing for me and this new year! This computer will absolutely be worth the money!

Look at me making Pinterest pins using Canva!

This is the best site to create all different types of graphics. They even have pre-sized templates, so you can just click what you need(Pin, FB header, etc) and get creating!

So, so worth it.

Now that I have my first official 2022 blog post ready, using my new computer, I can hit publish!

I have lots more to do today! Enjoy the weekend and definitely be watching for posts more frequently!