Reusing Workbooks

This is our first year homeschooling, and already we're going through workbook pages like water.  Alyssa likes doing the same page as Jake. She doesn't care that the work is too difficult or that we have only one of that particular page. She just wants to feel included. Sometimes, we'll get new workbooks at the dollar store as a reward. Both kids love it. And I love that they love it. But, I don't really want to constantly be buying new books or copying (not to mention that it's illegal) books or printing 5 million pages off the computer!

What's a homeschooler to do???

A month or so, I came across this idea: use a plastic page-protector. Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that??? I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. I'm just glad I saw it. You simply cut the end off, slide the plastic over a page (either in a book or a single page), write, wipe, and reuse! Not to mention, the kids think it's fun.

I bought them their own special "school" markers. The Crayola dry-erase markers work great. They are low-odor and are small enough for the kids' tiny hands.

Now, when Alyssa wants to do a page in her big brother's book, I hand her a protector and a marker, and watch her draw random pictures all over the page.

And I smile because he'll fill in the answers later. And so will she, much later.

Leftover Pie Dough

Ever wonder what to do with that leftover pie dough? God forbid you throw it away! Usually, we roll it out, pour sprinkles on, and bake it like a big cookie. It's kinda dry though, and not overly tasty. The other day, when we made lemon meringue pie, I used the leftover dough in my mini tart pan. I finally got to use my mini  tart shaper from Pampered Chef! Once the tartlets were cooled, we filled them with Reddi Whip. So easy. So yummy. No more dry, flaky pie-cookies here!

Flower Hack

Leighton bought me roses. For no reason. Just because he loves me. Yeah, he's romantic like that. I have only one complaint: I've been gone the past two days. I wasn't home to bask in their sweet, heavenly fragrance or soft, delicate petals. I wanted to enjoy the flowers while they were still pink and pretty. And alive. I wanted to bring one with me in the van since I was spending a decent amount of time there. However, I did not want a vase tipping over and spilling water everywhere. And I certainly didn't want to hold it the whole time. The perfect solution was a plastic sports bottle that fits snugly in a cup holder. I was able to appreciate my reminder of love without making a mess.

 A Red, Red Rose

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
O my Luve's like the melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
And fare-thee-weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile! 

~ Robert Burns 1794 ~