Color Clip Matching + FREE Printable

If I can get something & use it a bazillion ways, I'm thrilled!  This is one of those activities that you can do with your child at any age level, and I've made it into a FREE printable for YOU!  And the best part is, is that you can customize it to your child's interests to make learning more fun and something that they want to do.
The first thing you need to do is go HERE for the free printable.  You will notice that they are blank, and that was not an accident.  When I made these cards I wanted to practice matching with colors; however, you could practice matching other things.  You could print off images, stickers from your child's favorite show, color stickers, shapes, even sight words, or letters/numbers.... basically anything you want.  I used these sticker dots to just stick on the cards and then I laminated them.  I gave my kids these little clothes pins to match the color.  This is such an easy way to customize a task for your child where there is self correction.  Please go print off these cards here and have fun matching :-)

More

February is still the beginning of the year, right?  Everyone has their “word of the year” that they posted about back in January, but I never got around to writing about mine.  Excuse my tardiness, but I’m about to peel back some of my onion layers for you; consider yourself warned ;-)

I typically like to pick a word based on a verse of scripture every year.  The past few years have been challenging words/verses that have pushed me beyond what I thought I could handle with words like perseverance and rerooting (2015, 2016, 2017, 2017 response).  These phrases & verses have required me to make some really tough & uncomfortable decisions over the years.  I have to say, despite being extremely challenging words, they were verses of Truth that were woven through all aspects of my life and guided (and continue to lead me) on a daily basis.  While these have been challenging words, they have truly sharpened me all year long, and I’m grateful for them.  The past couple years have been my absolute toughest (hands-down!), and like most years I have gotten nervous towards the end of the year as I thought about what I might face in the new year.
I felt a pull for my word of focus for 2018 back in October.  And like most years, it has taken some time for me to adjust to a new way of thinking.  This year I am focusing on MORE, based on Ephesians 3:20.  Let me quickly add, that I’m not seeking to add more things to my life or gain more financially or anything like that.  This is not a plea for materialism.  Instead this is a shift in thinking, to seek broader thoughts; that there is always MORE going on than what I can see.  Me, small me, cannot possibly see or understand the scope of what God is doing, or why He allows certain things to happen in my life and in the world around me.  Instead of being disappointed or feeling bitterness or discontent I have to practice understanding that there is MORE going on than what I can see or understand.  And the God of all creation does not owe me an explanation for His work.
Additionally there is MORE to me than what I see in myself.  While I do not know all of the plans the Lord has for me and I often feel like a failure, lacking empowerment, & broken, there is some redeeming quality that the Lord wants me to pursue; that He still has MORE work for me here. And while I cannot wrap my mind around it, the daily struggles I have are for good and His glory.
Sometimes I think that I have been focused on Christ but have still slipped into the water.  But I have to remember, constantly remind myself, that there is MORE in this ocean of life and I can’t see it all right now (Matthew 14:22-34). I just have to keep focused and pray for good and that I can see good in myself.
I got this necklace back in October, and you may have seen me wearing it, as a reminder for myself every time I get a glimpse in the mirror, that there is far MORE going on than I realize or can see in my time.  In years past the beginning of the year with a new word has been challenging but by the end of the year, I have felt stronger in that arena.  This year has been the same.  I have struggled to believe this.  If I used my “friend voice” I of course would say this to others, but it has been a real challenge learning to apply the concept of MORE to myself.  I have done poorly here, & have even bucked at the idea that there are any redeeming qualities in me.  I hope by the end of the year as I work in this area with not narrowing my focus so much on what is lacking that I will learn what isn’t lacking, that there really is MORE going on around me.

Little Firefighter Unit

If you've seen ANY of my pictures on Facebook or Instagram lately or my Honestly Hawley posts, I'm certain that you've noticed that I live with a fireman.  Yep, I do. His name is FIREMAN DUTCH (and yes, this is how he introduces himself to friends, family, & even strangers.  Ellis even refers to him as this now lol).  So when I find something we like I capitalize on that to make learning fun & enjoyable (for everyone lol).  If you want to do a small topical unit on firefighters with your little one, it is a great opportunity to talk about fire safety (how to avoid it & what to do in case of an emergency, & what firefighters look like to prevent fear, etc.) Here are some resources that FIREMAN DUTCH would suggest to you:

FIELD TRIP!!! The easiest, & probably most important, objective to a lesson on firefighters would be "Stop, Drop, and Roll" and "When smoke goes UP, we go DOWN".  Additionally, I would recommend visiting your local station so that your child knows what firetrucks looks like in person (they are bigger & louder than toys) and meet the fire fighters, so that, heaven forbid, anything terrible happen you want your child to see a fire fighter as someone that is trying to help and not scary.  We've been a couple times to our fire station (Thank you Mr. Ben!) and we always check them out at parades & the grocery store.

Our Favorite Firetruck Activities: I knew that my littles LOVED firetrucks so I really used that as a medium for learning.  This past fall I used firetrucks as we learned the letters L (ladder), T (truck), and F (fire).  I could use one topic for several letters & it provided a lot for us to talk about & really use those letters in learning & play.

Firefighter Play Dough People (FREE Printable)- I laminated mine & Dutch plays with these after breakfast some mornings.

Create-A-Scene Firefighter- We have several versions of these play sets and not only are they fun and let my kids work on creativity, but they are also helpful in that one child can play with it while I work on something with another child.  Lots of fun in general, but with a firefighter theme Dutch is all-in!

Fire Fighter Printable- I love this pack & I have printed it several times.  It has so many great topics to teach with a fire fighter theme (numbers, counting, letter recognition, sight words, phonics, patterns, shapes, handwriting, etc).  We use these a lot with our dot markers.  Get a packet here!

The following are a list of manipulatives & hands-on activities we have used to talk about firetrucks:

Stacking emergency vehicles ~ Lunchbox ~ Megaphone & Helmet ~ Dry erase & tape workbook

Our Favorite Firetruck Books: I have said it before, and I will say it again, I will NEVER stop buying books.  In my opinion, there is no such thing as too many books when you're trying hard to help your children develop a passion for reading and learning.  In this case, less is not more ;-)

A Day At The Fire Station ~ The Fire Engine Book ~ Smokey The Fireman

Big Red Fire Engine ~ How Can I Help? God's Calling for Kids

The Fire House Book ~ You Can Be Anything! ~ Muddle & Match Jobs

I'm Brave! ~ Big Frank's Fire Truck

Mickey & Minnie Storybook Collection

Little Critter Fall Storybook Collection (or just the single story here)

Firefighters to the Rescue! ~ Curious George and the Firefighters 
Sesame Street: A Visit to the Firehouse

Ready, Set Rescue! ~ Noisy Fire Truck

Fire! Fire! ~ Firefighters ~ Emergency!

Our Favorite Firetruck Toys- If you know  me at all, or you have followed LTWH for a while, you know that I will always pick a wooden toy without lights or sound every. single. time.  I can't resist the opportunity to invite the imagination to play & I love to watch it blossom.  This wooden fire station was a hit as a Christmas gift. 
I'm sure y'all saw this set back in October from Halloween, well we're still wearing this set on the reg around there lol



Santa brought this firetruck, and it actually got stuck in the chimney because it was so big! Can you believe that?! ;-) HUGE hit in our house Christmas morning.  This was the "Major Award" in our house this Christmas (name that movie!!)
We also have been playing with these smaller trucks:
 Wooden firetruck with firefighters ~ Green Toys Firetruck ~ Lock & Key Emergency Vehicles
Between field trips, activities, manipulatives, books, & play we have learned so much and developed such an appreciation for firefighters.  It's no wonder our oldest has renamed himself FIREMAN DUTCH lol  I hope I've given you a lot of ideas on things that you could use for a unit on fire fighters with your little ones!  If you come across something that I need to bring into our classroom *PLEASE*  let me know.  I know a little boy, I mean firefighter, that would love it!

Surprise Salmon

Ever have a "brain fart" & forget about dinner?! Just me? I sure hope not!  I came up with this last spring when I forgot I had to make dinner one night (why do we HAVE to have dinner every day?!?!) All I had left in the fridge was some salmon, so I had to get creative with it.  I came up with this and it was so good I text my bestie and told her that she HAD to make it! Since then we have texted each other back and forth and made it several times.  This is what we've come up with:Ingredients:

1 lb salmon filet

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

1/4 cup EVOO

1/4 cup Carolina BBQ Sauce

Broccoli & rice (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Mix all ingredients & then dump onto your salmon.  Cook in the oven for 30 minutes, & then crank up the oven to 450 degrees and cook for 10 more minutes, until the salmon is flakey.  I like to serve mine over rice with steamed broccoli.

3. Enjoy!

Scripture Fortune Cookie

I've purchased FIVE of these in the last 6 months.  I think this is the prettiest Bible I've ever seen; it is filled with beautiful calligraphy & images! I have loved using this with my kids like a fortune cookie every morning at breakfast, though this was completely ACCIDENTAL scripture practice! 
I have always put post-it notes in places in the Bible to mark verses I like to read over & over again for myself.  And I always read the Bible over breakfast every morning with my kids, but one morning Dutch asked if he could pick a tab for a verse to read.  Of course I honored that initiative & let him pick a verse to read.  Now every morning I let both kids pick their own tab to select their own verse for the day.  They look forward to this every morning and it is something that they get so excited about.  This has been a great way to let my kids play a role in what we read & let them get excited about reading the Bible and hearing what God has for them to hear each morning.  I love discussing the Word with them & this makes it extra exciting.
Isn't this Bible just gorgeous?! Between the Living Word & the illustrations, how can you not be propelled into His word?! Try this at home and let me know what your kids think :-)

Obligatory Blogger Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I just really like this Bible

Beet & Zucchini Spaghetti

It's rare, but I love it when this happens.  This recipe was a complete accident.  It was one of those "use what you got" nights in our house for dinner that turned into a repeat offender.  This meal is a 30 minute meal from kitchen to table and only dirties one dish!  And get this- it gets better!: this recipe is great for everyone starting off the year healthy, but is also tastes good.  EVERYONE is happy!
Ingredients:
1 lb chicken tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces
sea salt
ground black pepper
2-3 tbs bacon fat
1 tbs grass-fed butter (optional)
3 beets, diced small (I use gold & purple beets just because I think it looks pretty but it all tastes the same)
10 oz zucchini noodles (I buy these already cut in the produce section to save time)
Boursin cheese with shallots
I usually double this recipe, just because I know that we like it & we will want it for left-overs.
Directions:
1. Season chicken with salt & pepper.  Melt bacon fat in a skillet (y'all know I always use my trusty cast iron skillet) over medium-high heat, & add chicken.  Sauté until golden brown, and then remove and set aside.
2. Add 1 tbs butter (optional) to the same skillet you used for the chicken, & then add the beets.  Cook until soft but still have a slight crunch (about 5 minutes), and then toss in the zucchini noodles to warm and soften.
3. Add the chicken you set aside back into the skillet (with the juices on the plate) and toss together.  Taste-test to see if you need to add any more salt or pepper.
4. To serve, place everything in a bowl and top with boursin cheese.
5. Enjoy!