Shoe Shopping and a Setting Scavenger Hunt

We went "shoe shopping" this week, and had a blast learning all about digraph /sh/ with shoes!  At word work, the kids had to sort shoes:

Another popular activity was "Shoelace Spelling"--spelling /sh/ words with shoelaces (or, in our case, yarn--because I didn't have shoelaces.)

They had to read words with /sh/ to earn "shoe dollars" to spend at  the class Shoe Shop.  The picture below shows one cute and "fashiony" example of a purple high-heel purchase {read the describing words--I LOVE it!}  On another note, I did not help her with spelling the word fashion(y)--I am actually very impressed.  

I also added a class journal to our writing area that will remain there the rest of the school year.  My little friends get pretty excited about new shoes, so they now have a journal to draw and write about their new shoes:

We were also learning to identify the setting in stories this week.  At buddy reading, the kids went on a "Setting Scavenger Hunt" through our class library, looking for books that took place in the settings listed on cards.  

This guy did a great job with his Setting Scavenger Hunt:

We also spent a lot of time brainstorming books with famous settings.  They came up with really great examples:  Zuckerman's Farm (Charlotte's Web), The Town of ChewandSwallow (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), the Berenstain Bear's tree house (The Berenstain Bear's books), the Chocolate Factory (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Hogwart's (Harry Potter series), Skippyjonjones' closet (Skippyjonjones books), The Mountain View Inn (The Mouse and the Motorcycle), the North Pole/Polar Express (The Polar Express).  

After brainstorming the famous book settings, the kids designed travel brochures for a famous book setting.  Although this was challenging, I was so pleased with their creativity and critical thinking.  They really worked hard on these!

We set up a travel brochure area in our room to remind us that books can take us places!

Click the picture below to check out the Setting Scavenger Hunt on TpT:

Click the picture below to check out "Shoe Shop" on TpT:

It's a Tradition

Every year (for quite some time now),

we make an effort to 

go to Burnaby Village Museum one evening

prior to Christmas Day.

It's a tradition.

And, a wonderful one at that!  :)

We ran into friends on our way in.

In fact, these are the friends who

originally told us about this fabulous museum.

How fun is that?

We enjoyed going through much of it together.

And, when we parted company,

we reconnected throughout the evening.

We couldn't have planned it better if we had tried!  

Since Calvin is our family photographer,

Howie and I get into more photos together.

It's a new thing.

We're Canadian...can you tell?

Our sweet friends rode with us on

the restored carousel.

And, Calvin took photos.  
In the photo below ~
Fraser and I are standing on the left of the carousel,
Austin, Emma and Howie are seated on their mounts!  :)

Even Austin was able to join in!

What a blessing!!

Here's our favourite house on this site.

It's in its original location ~

built about 100 years ago.

Yes, in Canada, that is old enough to be in a museum!  

Want to come in for some hot chocolate

or hot apple cider?

Emma and I would enjoy hosting you here!  

Ah...there's Calvin!!

He did a self-timed photo and jumped into

it so we could all be together.  :)

We like to end the evening with a stop

at Krispy Kreme on the way home.

Dear me!  It's a dangerous thing to do!!

What are some of the special traditions you have

with your family in the days around Christmas?

It would be lovely if you would share!  :)

Many Blessings,
Camille

**Photos in this post courtesy of Calvin ~

Thank you my love!  XO

After Ten Years...

After ten years of cutting Emma's hair exclusively,

I finally took her to the hairdresser.

The boys are a different story.

No one has ever cut their hair but me.

Up until yesterday, I could say the same for my Li'l Em.

In the spring, after the wedding,

Emma asked to have her hair bobbed.

I complied.

However, it was challenging to do,

and I was forever *correcting* it!

She was planning to grow out her bangs at the same time.

And, that's what she's been doing.

All good, until now.

It needed a little (or, a big) professional touch.

And, that was where this idea came in.

It may be another ten years before we do this again,

so, I thought it necessary to capture the experience in photos.

Our hairdresser kindly consented.

And, she even agreed to let me post them on this blog.

She also taught me ~ A LOT!!

When it came time to pay,

she told me the cut was free,

but, that I would have to pay for the lesson.

Wasn't it sweet of her to teach me?  
I didn't even ask!  :)

Many of the photos captured the hairdresser's hands

flying about...they were blurry so often!  

MUCH quicker than mine when I do Emma's hair ~

Just ask her about it sometime!  ;-)

They both look like they had an

enjoyable time, don't you think?

Two lovely ladies.  :)

Now, if I can just remember what I learned,

it will be a very good thing.  

Many Blessings,
Camille

Money Matters

Let's talk money.

Cash.  Credit.  Plastic.  Budget.

Because it matters.

My husband and I were both raised with conservative

money management ideals.

The credit card was to be completely

paid in full each and every month.

That's what we were taught.

That's what we've always done.

We've lived with a budget for years.

But, I felt there was room for improvement.

And boy, was I right!  

Recently, I challenged myself to use cash 

to see if there would be a difference in my shopping habits.

And, to my surprise, and delight,

it has been successful!

I have not done the *Dave Ramsey* course.

But, I've read enough about it

to make me sit up and take notice.

Cash envelopes.  No credit card use.  Budget.  Emergency Fund.

These were some of the things mulling about in my brain.

Would it really make a difference to use cash?

Would I really spend less?

After all...we were using credit like cash, weren't we?

Apparently not. 

The concept is simple.

Set a budget.

Decide what you are willing to spend

in the month and set that money aside for specifics.

Give each dollar a job to do.

Savings, spending, food, rent, giving, etc.

Determine ahead of time what is reasonable.

Do your best to stick to it!

There will be bumps along the way.

If you've never budgeted before, 

you may have no clue where your money goes.

That's okay.  You'll soon find out!  :)

It can take a few months to get into the 

swing of things with a budget.

Tweaking is allowed.
In fact, it's encouraged.

I'm not going to get into the specifics here.
But, this one thing I will say ~
Absolutely (without a doubt!),
paying with cash helps keep me on track.
It helps to keep me accountable.
At least, that's been my experience!

And...the money?
It goes further.  

Oh, and one more thing.
I'm in control of it, and not the other way around.
It's very liberating.  Freeing.
Try it!  I'm sure you'll be glad you did! 
I can't believe we didn't do this sooner.  :)

Many Blessings,
Camille

**Image in this post courtesy of Calvin ~
Thank you my love!  XO

Challenge 1 - Men at Work

Welcome back to our fortnightly challenges, I hope you all had a lovely break.  Our challenge this time is 'Men at Work' which should hopefully get your ideas flowing.  We were due to be sponsored by The Stamping Boutique but unfortunately they have closed.  They were one of our first sponsors and have regualrly supported Cards for Men over the last three years.  I'm really going to miss them and I'm sure they will be widely missed in the crafting community.

Stepping in at the last minute was my good friend, Carole, who is a Stampin Up demonstrator.

I am an Independent Stampin Up! Demonstrator in Lancashire & surrounding areas. I teach large and small scrapbooking and craft classes. I can arrange parties in your home for crafting and non-crafting friends to suit your requirements, and where everyone is guaranteed to have a great time !  I also run a crop in the Rochdale area. Please contact me for more details at carole.bryson@gmail.com xx

The prize up for grabs is two full size ink pads from Stampin Up.  The winner will get to choose between Subtles, Brights and Regals.

Now for some inspiration from my DT which is now back to full compliment due to the addition of Erin and Viv who joined us for the Christmas Event.  Here's what they all came up with:

Shirley

ALAN

Lisa

Donna

Erin

Michelle

CAZ

Patricia

Viv

Hopefully you're all fired up and ready for a challenge.  Now for the rules:

1. Your card must be new for this challenge and follow the theme set.

2. Your card must be for a Man or a Boy.

3. Your blog post must mention Cards for Men contain a link back to the challenge.

The challenge will run from now until midnight(GMT) on 20 January 2013.  Leave a link to your post (not just your blog) in the link list below.  If the linky is not there for some reason, leave a comment and I'll add you in before the draw.  Good luck.

Going Digital

I've been living in the dark ages.

Technology and I have often been at odds.

The *old* ways are often the most comfortable.

And, so it is.

I got the biggest calendar I could get my hands on.

With the biggest squares.

It lived in my drawer.

It's how it's been for years.

Until recently.

I couldn't take it any more.

Too many things got moved, cancelled, rescheduled ~
A mess ensued.

In case you don't already know this about me ~
I like things to be orderly and neat.
Even my calendar.
And, it was anything but!

It was time for a change.

Welcome to my life Google Calendar!

I think I'm gonna *love* you!  :)

I think I can breathe.

Finally, I am up to date ~

At least in this area.

How about you?

Paper or digital?

Do tell.  :)

Blessings to you!
Camille

Slow Down

A theme for the New Year?

A word?  A thought?

Resolutions?

These are all popular notions ~ popular ideas.

I'm not much into making resolutions

of the material sort ~

lose weight, exercise more, etc.

Not that these things are wrong,

I'm just not in the habit of doing it.

But, thought ought to be given routinely

to the direction our lives are going in.

The path on which we tread.

Yes.  Often.  Not just on January first.

And, so, in light of this ~ a thought.

Quietly mulling around in my mind

is this one thought ~ Slow Down.

Slow Down and rest in HIM.

Slow Down to read and meditate in HIS Word.

And, hide it in my heart.
Slow Down in order to 

spend more time with HIM in prayer and quiet.

Slow Down and really live each moment for HIM.

Enter fully into the moments HE gives.

And, invest in the lives HE has given.
Every. Single. Day.

Is that not enough?

What else is there??

May the LORD help me to truly

slow down and live.

For HIS glory.  By HIS grace.

In HIS strength.

"So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
~ Psalm 90:12 ~

May the LORD bless each one of you
in this coming year!

With Love,
Camille