Kimberly Farmer

 by Kimberly Farmer

Observing the Weather

Little Meteorologist

My daughter is really interested in what the weather is doing. She makes a really big deal about the sun, rain, and of course, rainbows! So I decided that as part of our morning routine we would begin finding out the day’s forecast and discussing it. What better way for her to be involved than for her to get to draw each day’s weather herself. Whether it’s sunshine, rain, snow, lightning, or a rainbow, she can draw it on the glass of our picture frame, we can discuss it throughout the day, and then the next day we can wipe it off and do it again!

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 by Kimberly Farmer

Easter Deliveries

I had planned for us to make small Christmas gifts and take them to our neighbors, but it never happened. So we did something better – we made Easter cards and gifts for them. We focused on sharing the message of Jesus Christ, and Ava really enjoyed giving them away. These would also be nice to give to family members, pastors, and teachers. Candy Butterfly (I found this idea in FamilyFun magazine)
– clothes pin
– paint or felt for the body (we used stiff felt so I could cut the antennae with the body of the butterfly)
– embellishments & glue
– snack-sized plastic bag
– candy or other food (we used Easter-colored M&Ms)

Easter Card
I drew the pictures on heavy paper and then Ava painted or colored them. Next, I cut out the pictures and she glued them on colored construction paper. Here is the poem I wrote to include on the inside of the cards…

Happy Easter!
Jesus loves us!
Let’s all praise His Name!
He lived, He died,
He rose to save us,
He is the only Way!
He holds my hand,
He is in my heart,
I know He lives today!

 by Kimberly Farmer

Alphabet Book

The Lesson
Ava has been learning her alphabet since she was 1 1/2, but just recently I started introducing her to the lower case letters and making an attempt to stress the sounds the letters make. Well, she caught on very quickly, so I decided to take off with it.

The Concept
Together, over the past several weeks, Ava and I have been creating her Alphabet Book. We have been working on and creating a letter every day or every other day. We talk about the letter and the sound it makes and then we go searching through magazines, stickers, and household items to find the letter and pictures of words that begin with that letter. We cut them out or gather them and then Ava glues them to the paper. She enjoys showing her book to friends and family, and we revisit it together at home to reinforce what she has learned and is building upon.

The Materials
– Magazines
– Construction Paper
– Scissors
– Stick Glue
– Snack-sized plastic bags/envelopes
– Photo Album

I bought a $1.00 photo album from Walmart (Target also sells them for $2.00). These albums have clear pockets on the front and back, which are ideal for creating your own cover.

We cut construction paper into 4×6 sheets for the pages to glue our letters and pictures on.

While searching for pictures that begin with the letter D, for example, I often found a great picture of a zebra, keys, or socks. I wasn’t about to pass these up and risk never finding them again when it came time for the letter Z, K, or S. So, I cut the pictures out when I came across them and stored them in their own plastic bag or envelope labeled with the appropriate letter to keep things organized.

My mom knew about our book, while we were working on it, so from time to time she would mail pictures she had found for letters she knew we hadn’t made yet. This was a fun way for her take part in the fun, and it helped broaden the pictures we could choose from for Ava’s book.

 by Kimberly Farmer

Fun Wallet

My mom bought this cute photo-wallet and then filled it with interesting pictures (many of which she sketched and colored herself) for Ava. Ava carries it around and looks at it and talks about the pictures in it. Very cute idea. Thanks, Mom.

 by Kimberly Farmer

Craft Ideas Notebook

I am not a big magazine finatic, but I do have two favorite magazines in which I find neat craft ideas I can do with Ava and one day with Landon. I was saving the magazines thinking that one day I’d flip back through them and find the ideas I liked; but after two years, I have never once gone back to find an idea (that I forgot about), and the magazines were taking up a lot of room. So, finally last week, I got smart. I grabbed a 3-ring binder, some clear protector sheets, all my magazines, and I started ripping out the pages I wanted to keep and throwing away the magazines. I placed all the craft articles in the protector sheets within the binder. Most of the articles were full pages or half-pages, so they fit well back-to-back or occassionally cut and taped together. I could have just hole-punched them, but then I wouldn’t have been able to place some pages back-to-back. Well, the binder is working for me. I have already been back to my Craft Ideas Notebook three times in the last two weeks – it takes a lot less time to find an idea and it takes a LOT less space!
 by Kimberly Farmer

Valentines

It’s time for special valentines again (click here to see last year’s valentines). Ava is into painting with watercolors these days, so we mostly stuck with that. She painted these completely by herself, and then we stamped “I Love You” messages and added ribbon. We made one card by glueing a collage of magazine pictures of flowers onto a notecard.

 by Kimberly Farmer

The Ultimate Valentine

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, I am reminded of the ultimate valentine – Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful time to celebrate and meditate on God’s love for us and our love for Him. “What Held You On the Cross” by Michael O’Brien is a beautiful song that explains how Christ’s love for you and me is why He endured absolute agony and torture on the cross so we may know true and everlasting life through Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He loves us with a love that only He can give…

 by Kimberly Farmer

Library Book Bag


This idea is one that you have probably already figured out for yourself, but in case you’re like me and hadn’t yet thought of it, here you are…

Last week, I was trying to figure out how I was going to make a successful, enjoyable trip to the library with my 2.5 year old and 4 month old. While consolidating diaper bag stuff, outerwear, and my own personal items, I began to wonder how I was going to manage “the stuff,” carry a baby, enjoy my time with my little girl, and still find a way to carry books all over the library. So, it came to me – the most obvious solution – take a bag with us for toting the books. Better yet, let Ava be the one who carried it.

So, I began searching closets and found this bag which conveniently happens to be clear (for easy viewing inside) and horizontally structured (so Ava could carry it easily without it dragging the ground). Since it didn’t have a pocket, I added a carabiner to the handle and attached our library card, so we wouldn’t have to go searching for it.

Since we’ve been home, we have stored the books, videos, and return list in the bag so we won’t lose or forget what needs to be returned. Plus, it’s easy for Tim or whoever happens to be returning the items to just grab the bag and go.

 by Kimberly Farmer

Quite a Mess

This evening, while I was busy in the kitchen, Ava had a hay-day with her toys. They were scattered everywhere. Usually, I monitor her activities closely enough that I am able to keep her picking up toys as soon as she finishes playing with them, but this time I was just not paying attention. Her room, in particular, was an absolute mess.

I knew I should make her clean up her own toys, but it was already past her bedtime and I was more desperate to just finish the day than to turn the moment into a learning opportunity. So, as I knelt down to begin picking up random toys as quickly as I could, I said to Ava, “Oh, Ava, where are the rest of the pieces to this puzzle?” She promptly responded, “It’s a super big problem, Mommy!” I couldn’t help but laugh.

There have been other times, as well, when toy clutter got out of control, and I made Ava put them all away herself. I have to handle those times carefully by breaking it down into small parts for her, so she doesn’t become overwhelmed. While I could easily knock it out in a few minutes, Ava feels like it’s an impossible task.

I can’t help but ponder how much that is like the almighty power of the Lord in comparison to our own small strength. Sometimes we find ourselves in predicaments and situations that seem overwhelming and even impossible, but to the Lord, it is not a difficult matter to handle or problem to solve. When we don’t know what to do, God is not at all dismayed. In those times, we must take our needs to the Lord, and rest in the knowledge that He sees our situation or mess from a higher vantage point, and knows just what to do. Nothing is too difficult for God!

Psalm 31:2,3
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my Rock of refuge, a strong Fortress to save me. Since you are my Rock and my Fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.

 by Kimberly Farmer

Bookmarks


Ava made these bookmarks for her grandmas, uncle, and friend. Some were colored, some were painted with watercolors, and some were just decorated with stickers. It was easy to pop them in the mail, and a bookmark is a practical way for “displaying” Ava’s artwork.