Our MARCH HOMESCHOOL Plans

It's that time of the month--to look ahead at what I might want to do with the girls as our special homeschool activity!

Our homeschool day always starts with reading aloud together on the couch (after getting ready for the day) and then we move to the table to work on the kids' goals (Ashtyn works on math and art, Parker and Rylee work on learning letters) and do their journals. Then we do a learning activity together, and I like to plan those around holidays and a variety of subjects. On Fridays, our activity is helping the girls with their chores, so I only plan Monday through Thursday. 

Monday, March 1 

Dr. Seuss's birthday is March 2, so we're spending the first week of the month doing some Dr. Seuss themed activities and reading Dr. Seuss books. 

Today, we're going to make some Dr. Seuss headbands out of paper. I'm also going to make jello cups with Swedish fish (1 fish, 2 fish) on top as a special treat for the girls.

Books to read: One Fish, Two Fish; Horton Hears a Who; and The Lorax

Tuesday, March 2 

Today, we're going to make a "green eggs" science experiment. You mix baking soda with green food coloring and water, then form the mixture into little balls that look like green eggs. Then the kids can pour vinegar over them and they will fizz away. 

For dinner, we're going to do green eggs and ham with pancake stacks that are similar to the Cat in the Hat's hat. During homeschool, their treat will be bananas and strawberries cut and patterned to look like the cat's hat. 

Books to read: The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham

Wednesday, March 3 

Today we're going to watch some videos on facts about Dr. Seuss and do some printables and coloring pages. Their snack will be string cheese that I've decorated like the Cat in the Hat. 

Book to read: The Cat in the Hat Comes Back 

Thursday, March 4 

For the last day of the week, for our activity, we're going to make cupcakes. I got cupcake mix quite awhile ago from someone that we haven't used yet. We can then decorate them red and white for the Cat in the Hat and I can let the girls eat them (and share some with neighbors). 

I will also read the other few Dr. Seuss books we have. 

Monday, March 8

Color a US state card and learn about that card. I have been wanting to do more with geography with the kids (and they love it when we do) and I found this site that has a card for each state in the United States. I also found a website that has a coloring page for each state. I thought we could slowly go through these and learn about them. 

Tuesday, March 9 

Today is going to be a playdoh day! The kids love playdoh and it presents a lot of educational opportunities, but because it makes a mess, we don't get it out very often. I love doing it for homeschool every once in while. This is the recipe I use for homemade playdoh.

Wednesday, March 10 

March 10 is Mario Day and the kids love Super Mario Bros! We're going to do some simple Mario coloring pages and maybe play some Mario games together. 

Thursday, March 11

Today we're going to make DIY Word Projectors. You use plastic wrap and toilet paper rolls to write on the plastic wrap with a sharpie and then shine a flashlight through to project the words onto the wall. It looks like an activity the girls will really like!  

Monday, March 15 

This is our St. Patrick's Day week. I love St. Patrick's Day! Today we're going to a fun shamrock painting activity. 

Tuesday, March 16 

I wanted to do some Dot Painting pages today. We recently go new dot markers, so the kids should have fun with it. 

Wednesday, March 17 

St. Patrick's Day! I thought I could do a St. Patrick's Day scavenger hunt for the kids, with some chocolate coins at the end for them. They love scavenger hunts and it's something we don't do often, so they should love it. 

Thursday, March 18 

On the last day of the week, we're going to make leprechaun sand. You mix baking soda and vinegar together with green food coloring, mixing it with your hands. It makes a mixture the kids can then play with and is easy to clean up. 

Monday, March 22

Today, we're going to do scribble art! It's super simple and I think the girls will love it. You scribble over the page, and then color in the little shapes that the shapes make. 

Tuesday, March 23 

Today I wanted to try The Raining Sponge science experiment. You use a sponge over a jar with water and food coloring to show what happens when it rains. It will be a great time to revisit the water cycle with them. 

Wednesday, March 24 

I thought we could learn about another state today. For the links, see March 8 above. 

Thursday, March 25 

For a gross motor activity, I want to tape lines onto the floor for the kids to walk, skip, or whatever they want to do along the lines. This is an activity I had planned earlier in the year that we never got to. 

Monday, March 29 

I found a cute worksheet that has blank circles on it and the activity is to turn the circles into whatever you want. I thought it would be a fun, simple activity for all three girls! 

Tuesday, March 30

March 30 is Take a Walk in the Park Day so I thought it would be a fun day to spend the morning at the park, depending on the weather. If it's 55 or above, then we'll go, if not, we'll have to find something else to do. 

Wednesday, March 31 

I wanted to do dot painting today. Rather than finding printables, I thought I would give them blank pages and see what they can come up with on their own. 

Thursday, April 1 

For a fun, simple activity, we're going to pull out our animal action cards. They have an animal on each card and as the kids pull the card, they then act like that animal for a few minutes. We've done the activity before and they have a lot of fun with it. 

That's what I have planned for March! It'll be a fun month, between Dr. Seuss Day and St. Patrick's Day! Plus, there will probably be some warm days, which is always so nice! I can't wait to spend more time outside! 

My FAVORITE BOOKS from 2020!

I have always love to read and as an adult, that love has continued! In the last few years, I've become a part of the bookish community on YouTube (BookTube, or Authortube for writers) and on Instagram (or Bookstagram). It's been so fun and put so many books on my radar that I want to read! 

I also have been doing a bookish bullet journal the last few years to track my reading and some different bookish stats and goals. It's been fun and I love sharing things like this. I share a lot more on my channel, ReaderTurnedWriter, but as I was trying to decide what to write about today, I thought this would be a fun topic. 

Here are my top ten books from 2020!

Hope in the Mail by Wendelin Van Draanen 

This is a nonfiction book by one of my favorite authors. She talks about her life and her writing journey, and gives some tips to aspiring authors. She is such a funny storyteller and I found her story so inspiring!

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie 

This is not only my favorite my Agatha Christie of the year, but my favorite that I've read so far. I loved the book and I loved the twist!

The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale 

This is a darling little chapter book, and I love Shannon Hale. One of the reasons it made my list was because of how much all three kids loved it, especially Parker (which isn't surprising since it's about Princesses and Super Heroes and those are Parker's favorite things).

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

I tried not to add books that came later in a series, but I couldn't resist with this one. It is the fourth in the Stormlight series and came out in November. It was really good and every book in the series so far is five stars for me.

Caroline: Little House Revisited 

This is Little House on the Prairie but from the perspective of Caroline. I cried often and connected so much with Caroline as a mother. It left me feeling grateful for my life (rather than living in the time of pioneers) at a time when I struggling and honestly helped me feel excited about homemaking and motherhood again.

There is one scene where Caroline and Charles are intimate. It was more explicit than I normally read, though I felt it was tastefully done and wasn't vulgar or inappropriate.

All that Makes Life Bright by Josi S Kilpack 

This was another book I connected to because of the way motherhood was portrayed. This is a historical fiction about Harriet Beecher Stowe's early marriage and motherhood as she was trying to balance homemaking with pursuing her writing. As someone who wants to write and do YouTube, but struggles to find a balance, I found it so relatable. I loved watching her and her husband's growth as they came together to find a way to make it work for their family. It's also very clean!

Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson 

This is an adult thriller and it's probably my favorite that I've read. It really kept me on the edge of my seat and while the twists were not crazy, I didn't guess them. It had enough language and sexual content that I would never own the book, but not enough that I didn't feel I could finish it.

Splinters of Scarlet by Emily Bain Murphy 

This is a historical fantasy with a really fun mystery subplot. The magic system is cool and is explored in really interesting ways, the characters (even the side characters) are all fleshed out and amazing, and the book is so well paced. It's also really clean and I can't recommend it enough!

The Enemy by Sarah Adams 

This is a sweet adult romcom. She describes her books as steamy and clean, which I think is the perfect description. There's enough attraction that it's fun, but kept very clean. I also love her characters, they have a lot of depth that makes the romance more than just fluff. And her humor is exactly my kind of humor, I laugh out loud reading her books.

Eleanor Oliphant is Perfectly Fine by Gail Honeyman 

This was one of the last books I read in 2020 and I loved it. I fell in love with Eleanor's character. She is different from others and I loved seeing her thought process as she interacted with others. She also had so much to work through and her growth was amazing to witness. There is language and sexual references.

My other 5 star reads: 

Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (reread) 

Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (reread) 

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson (reread)

 Snapshot by Brandon Sanderson (reread)

 Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (reread) 

The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis (reread) 

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (reread)

Love Your Life Not Theirs by Rachel Cruze (reread)

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (reread) 

Harry Potter 1 by JK Rowling (reread) 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (reread) 

Atomic Habits by James Clear (reread) 

Avatar: The Search by Gene Leun Yang (reread) 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (reread) 

A Face in the Shadows by Susan Evans McCloud (reread) 

Holes by Louis Sachar (reread) 

Small Steps by Louis Sacher 

The Borden Murders by Sarah Miller 

Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller

The Storm Descends by Gerald Lund 

The Shadow Falls by Gerald Lund 

The Proud Shall Stumble by Gerald Lund 

Into the Flames by Gerald Lund 

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 

His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle 

One of us is Lying by Karen M. McManus 

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller 

TMNT Change is Constant by Kevin Eastman 

Front Desk by Kelly Yang 

Murder Most Unladyike by Robin Stevens 

Inside out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai 

An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington 

Across a Star Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund 

The Match by Sarah Adams 

A Ceiling Made of Eggshells by Gail Carson Levine 

Hum if You Don’t know the Words by Bianca Marais 

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon 

Snape: A Definitive Reading by Lorrie Kim 

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty McDonald

Renegades by Marissa Meyer 

My Kids' Thoughts on Love!

Happy Valentine's Day! I thought today, I would ask the kids some questions about love and Valentine's Day, just for fun.  

What is your favorite part of Valentine's Day? 

Ashtyn: I get Valentine's from people that I love. 

Parker: When you give me candy 

Rylee: I ate treats!

How do you show love to other people? 

Ashtyn: I give them Valentine's. 

Parker: Marrying 

Rylee: I show something to them. 

How do other people show love to you? 

Ashtyn: They give me Valentine's. 

Parker: Get a rose to me 

Rylee: We drive our car and then go back out and see people to give me candy and hugs. 

Who are some people you love? 

Ashtyn: Lizzie, Tommy, and Grace. Melissa. And Adam. 

Parker: Dad and Mom and Rylee and Ashtyn

Rylee: I love you, Mom! 

What is marriage? 

Ashtyn: When you kiss someone and get married. 

Parker: Tickling and kissing 

Rylee: Who are the parents and sweeties. 

How do you decide who to marry? 

Ashtyn: That's a good question, but I already know who I'm going to marry. 

Parker: Someone that I love 

Rylee: I marry not my dad. 

What age is it okay to kiss someone? 

Ashtyn: 29. That's just a guess. 

Parker: 7

Rylee: I kiss my Dad! 

What do people do on dates? 

Ashtyn: Different things.

Parker: Swim when they're at the beach on a date 

Rylee: I jump on dates. 

How did Mom and Dad meet? 

Ashtyn: Mom was going to go on her mission and then she saw Dad. 

Parker: I don't know 

Rylee: Ashtyn! 

How can you tell when two people are in love?

Ashtyn: They go on dates.

Parker: They marry 

Rylee: They make me happy! 

What does love feel like?

Ashtyn:  I guess shy and happy. 

Parker: When you marry someone 

Rylee: People love me and they love me so very much! 

What is love?  

Ashtyn: Love is when you marry someone. 

Parker: Doing something that you love with someone you love

Rylee: I don't know. 

Ben's Birthday and Some January Highlights

Boy, January was a hard month, following a hard year. And honestly, February isn't going much better so far. BUT we did have some good moments together throughout the month.

The big day in January for us is Ben's birthday, clear at the end of the month. For his birthday, he did a small Smash Bros party the weekend before. On his birthday, I made him cinnamon rolls in the morning and chicken nuggets for dinner. We relaxed during the day and then had family over (Danny and Lindi, plus some of Ben's cousins that live in Vernal) for ice cream. It was a fun, relaxing day. 

Ashtyn, Parker, and Rylee love getting out their handhelds 

when Dad gets his out.

Ashtyn made Ben a matching card game and a card that she let Rylee help her make. Parker made Ben a puzzle (and it's a HARD puzzle, let me tell you) and a card as well. I got him the game Splendor, a game I knew he had wanted for Christmas but that was out of our Christmas budget. 

The rest of the month was mostly quiet. I didn't get to all the homeschool activities I had planned and we didn't finish The Hobbit yet, but we were able to some things together. 

Ashtyn's "buddy" in Pokemon Go.

We did a lot of Pokemon this month (Pokemon movies for movie night, Pokemon games, drawing Pokemon, and the girls pretending to be Pokemon).

We did some goal setting. Ashtyn wants to play with Elsee, read everyday (she has a calendar where she is tracking her streak), say prayers before bed, and brush her hair in the mornings.

Parker wants to make new friends, learn her letters, be like Jesus, and pick flowers.

Rylee is often Pikachu these days, going around saying, "Pika pika!"

She's also often Princess Sofia or Captain Barnacles. 

Dot painting is a favorite around here!

We did a lot of free play, a lot of blocks, and a lot of Legos this month.

We also snuggled a whole bunch!

We did an activity where they could make snowmen out of marshmallows. 

Ashtyn decided she wanted to make constellations instead and ended up making a lot of different 3D shapes as well. 

Parker and Rylee liked the activity as well, especially since they got to eat the marshmallows afterward.

We tried to make a snowstorm in a jar with baby oil, water, and alka seltzer. 

It was fail, it didn't do anything.

We just ended up adding baking soda and vinegar to the jar, 

so that it would at least do something for the girls. 

Ben's cousin has a little girl who turned 2 this month! We went to her party (which was really cute!) and Ben's other cousin taught Ashtyn how to blow up balloons by herself. She was very proud of her balloons. 

And we finally were able to get Ashtyn a nightstand this month! 

She was so excited when Ben set it up and has filled it to the brim with books. 

She loves reading at night after we put her down, with her own little lamp.

She's currently reading through the Magic Tree House series. 

When Ben had his Smash party, we made the girls a fort and had a movie night.

Parker wanted to watch "the movie with the silly chicken and two foxes."

I finally figured out she meant Robinhood!

Ashtyn also worked on building some more games this month.

She was really proud of herself when she finished one of the harder tutorials.

It was a hard month, so we had lots of snuggle time!

A couple different Saturdays, we went over to Danny and Lindi's. 

Ben and Danny took the girls out on the four wheelers for snow fun.

They had so much fun, until Ben ended up rolling them on the sled. It was traumatic for them, but they both want to do it again (the sledding part, not the rolling part).

One day for homeschool, we made these cute little snowmen.

The girls loved it! We've kept them on the wall all month.

This was one of our science experiments and it was a fun one.

The girls especially loved blowing on it afterwards, since the bubbles would move.

Ashtyn and Parker snuggling in my bed with my books.

We did some painting activities they got from Santa.

I'm not sure Santa will ever bring these again 😂

And Parker needed some "makeup". 

They sneaked their lunch into our room one day.

They were too cute to get mad at!

Bubble bath day!

One of our favorite things to do in the evenings is let Parker and Rylee play in the tub while Ben does something with Ashtyn, like making games or playing chess.

Ashtyn has taken off with her reading this month and it's been fun for me to silent read with her. 

They got some fun snowmen at night workbooks from the library.

They turned Rylee into a snowman with the stickers. 

This was a fun but really simple activity where the girls got to pick different cards that had animals on them, and then act like that animal. It turned into an hour long game afterwards!

So there was our January 2021! We are honestly glad to have it behind us and hopefully things start to get a little easier here soon.