I'm Going Pantsless!!!

This experiment will be controversial, I'm quite sure, and get some unapproving thoughts and comments from some of my friends. I have friends and family of many beliefs and I love them all and respect their right to believe as they choose. I hope they'll accept me as I come out of the closet about something...It's time to admit that I've been skirting (I couldn't resist) the issue of dresses and skirts vs. pants for quite some time now.

 The Duggar women do it. Whenever I watch their show, I notice that the girls are so well behaved and ladylike and always wearing skirts or dresses. Whenever their like minded friends visit, their daughters are also in skirts or dresses and also seem very sweet and well mannered. 

The Amish women do it. I've been watching the series Amish: Out of Order on National Geographic. This piqued my interest and I've recently read several books on the Amish. (No, we're not building an outhouse...not yet.) I realize that there is more to their behavior than their clothes, but I'm curious if it helps one to keep in a ladylike, feminine mindset. The Amish also believe that their clothing helps set them apart from the rest of the world (They refer to us non-Amish people as "the English").

I have examined (and re-examined, stomped on, made paper airplanes with, crumpled up, and ironed out) my faith, beliefs, and worldview over the past few years...And gone through some rough times because of some of my choices while in this period of re-examination and just recklessness at some points. Having three children removes the luxury (?) of being selfish and reckless and also requires one to get off the fence and have some solid, definable beliefs that guide parenting, child-rearing, and all decisions really.

I want to have authentic answers for my ever-questioning, always-thinking oldest son. I want to live a life that lines up with what I tell my children is true and important. I feel a huge burden to be a good example now that I have a daughter. Since I found out I was having a girl in my last pregnancy, I have been thinking over the ins and outs of raising a girl and the values, attitudes, and habits I want to impart to her. This brings me to the skirts...

The Bible verse used to support women not wearing pants is usually Deuteronomy 22:5-

"A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this."

This is not the driving factor for me, as I believe God desires modesty over a specific attire. I just need all the help I can get and I wonder if something tangible, like my clothing, will affect my attitude and behavior??

How will a simple wardrobe change affect my life? Will I feel and act more feminine? Will it affect my activities? Will it affect the way people perceive me and treat me? Will it remind me of my faith and my role in the family? (That can stir it up!)
I'm going pantsless for a month to try it out!

First step- A trip to Goodwill today to stock up on some skirts! (If this whole thing isn't for me, I'm not out much and can donate some back!)

Busy Bags Swap!!

Here are some of the results from the first bust bag swap! Not a big turn out, but Shayde and I got a playdate and some good things to keep little ones busy :)

Color Sorting...Medicine cups are glued on small piece of cardboard.

Suppose to be "bird" and "worms". I thought it looked more like an alligator, so I made worms and fish. Use fingers or clothespin to insert pom poms or pipe cleaners into container. Open lid to make it easier.

Foam Lacing Cards

Paper Plate Craft Kit

Discovery Bottles. Insert what you like and glue on lid.

Match Numbers, shapes, or colors.

Color Matching

More fun color matching.

Buckle Buddy...(or Fine Motor Friend...or thing with face and buckles)

I have fallen in love with pinterest! SOooo many great ideas and inspirations!! Most recently, I was inspired by a picture of a buckle toy.
Since buckles are one of my 17 month old's current fascinations, I decided to give it a try. (Disclaimer: I am NOT a seamstress...I'm happy to sew a straight line!) I used fabric I had on hand and cut buckles off of a backpack headed for Goodwill. I reused plastic grocery bags for the stuffing- makes a nice crinkly sound! Anyway, it turned out ok, but Shayde cannot undo the buckles himself at this point...Only buckle them back. He does enjoy the keys! Oh, and I thought it needed a head and arms ;)

Baking Bread and Saving $Dough$!

The boys and I like cinnamon raisin bread for breakfast. After seeing the $3.69 price tag at Target and not having any coupons, I just couldn't buy it yesterday. Instead I grabbed a large conatiner of raisins for around $3 and decided I'd try and bake my own. I had all the other basic ingredients on hand. I haven't done an exact price break down, but I know it's A LOT cheaper to bake our own. I got a 5lb bag of flour for $1 in November (recipe uses 8 cups). The recipe used maybe 1/5 or less of the raisins. Add a few eggs, little milk, yeast, etc...Surely under $1 for the ingredients used...And it made 3 LOAVES! Turned out pretty tasty too! :) I used this recipe.

We devoured half of the first loaf this morning (with a bit of butter!), so I'd rate it a success! Changes: I may add some cinnamon to the dough next time...not just in the swirl.

Let Them Play!!

I was inspired by a blog I came across recently :
http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/2011/10/find-it.html?spref=fb


It was water for my early childhood education roots! After reading through some posts, I put in my teacher eyes and began observing my children and looking around our environment with fresh perspective.


For several months now, Shayde whines and cries whenever he sees one of us with a water bottle. Is he oh so thirsty?? No. He wants to take the lid on and off the bottle...which he needs help with and which makes a huge mess unless the bottle is empty. We've had some pretty good fits in the middle of a store...and also a really wet baby a couple times when a weak mommy gave in.


He also loves the Desitin tube. Diaper changing time became much more pleasant once we had an empty tube to give him. He likes to open and close the cap.


It occurred to me the other day that he is showing us an area that he is ready to explore and develop further. Hence, the container box was created!

Putting foam shapes/stickers into the containers is even more fine motor practice! Even big brother got in on the fun! ;) A Welch's squeezable grape jelly container has the perfect lid for older children to practice inserting objects. **Note: We did have a couple glass containers in the box. It seemed safe enough on the carpet...until Shayde threw one of them into the kitchen and it shattered on the tile. RIP salt shaker. We now have only nonbreakables!

I'll be watching for my children to tell me what they are ready for next!