Cyber Monday Deal

This Cyber Monday, 12/2, we will be offering 50% OFF all orders (with special promo code) and FREE SHIPPING!

This is a deal you won't want to miss, so spread the word!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a fun little activity sheet for your kids. You can even use these as placemats for the kid's table.
CLICK HERE for free download. Enjoy!

We have so many things to be thankful for this year.
Giving thanks to our Lord for our family, children, friends and you our readers.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for?
Eva & Zi

Twins Topics: To Separate Or Not

Today I would like to throw out there a twin topic that has been an ongoing discussion for my husband and I--"Should we separate our twin girls when they start kindergarten?"

They are currently in the same preschool classes and at the beginning of the school year we were pretty confident that we would keep them together next year as well. But now I'm having second thoughts, which in part started after I went to the girls Fall review with their teacher recently.

To help myself and you our dear readers work through this topic, here are the pros and cons that we have come up with:

Pros of girls staying in the same class:

• They would have always have a friend: Our girls have been together since the womb and have a tight bond. But they don't always stick together even though they are in the same class, so we believe they will still have their independence. 
• They would be on the same schedule: Our local elementary school runs on a 6 day cycle, example Day 1 is Art, Day 2 is Music, and so on and so forth. Each class has their own special assignment as to what each day is. And they do this to make sure that each "special" class is given the same amount of attention with the kids and things like holidays and school closings won't mean that kids are always missing a certain class. Does that sound confusing? It sure was when E1 first started school. So can you imagine having to keep track of 3 of these 6 day cycles? We are already having quite the juggling act keeping track of 2 schedules this year.

Cons of girls staying in the same class:

• Not treated independently: During the girls' recent school review, there were a few observations that their teacher brought up that was surprising for us because it didn't seem to fit the girls' personalities as we knew them. And we started to wonder if maybe during certain instances at school that their teacher may have confused the two of them. Heck, even we get them confused at home from time to time. So this got me thinking if it might be better to put them in separate classes, so they can be assessed/treated independently and not always be lumped together or confused with their sister.
•  Loneliness: As a mother I wonder if they would be lonely when separated. When the girls have their special days with us, they often ask about each other and their siblings. I worry if it would be a hard emotional adjustment for them to not be in the same class.
• Having to keep track of 3 different schedules (see above)

Do you have twins that are school age? Did you keep them together or separated? Are you a twin? What happened when you were in school? Any other pros and cons you can share with me?

Zi

Learning how to tie your shoes

Lately H has been wanting to learn how to tie her shoes, since this will help her earn a feather in school.  Your probably wondering why a feather? In Social Studies she is learning about the first Thanksgiving. As part of their learning, the kids will be earning feathers for their headbands as the Native Americans did. What a clever idea, right? They could earn feathers by knowing their phone number, address, birthday, writing their name correctly using upper and lower case, zipping their coats, etc.

This gave me an opportunity to work on a fun project and homework with H. :) I know there are a couple ways to tie shoes but I was taught the bunny ear method. And this seemed to be the one that was easiest for H as well.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Card stock/heavy weight paper (Tip: If you don't have card stock then just draw on paper, and paste onto cardboard)
• Hole puncher
• Shoe laces or ribbon
• Scissors
• Crayon, markers and/or stickers to decorate. (Optional)

Draw sneaker. Cut and punch out holes.

Design your shoe. (Optional)

Add the laces and your child is ready to practice tying his/her shoe!
(Tip: tape shoe onto table so it makes it a little easier to learn at first)

This is how I taught H:

Take the laces and cross them over to make an "X".

Take the one on the top to go through the hole and pull tight.

Now make two bunny ears by looping the laces. 

Make an "X" with the bunny ears.

Then pull the ear on the bottom..."Look the bunny is running to you and into his hole."

Pull the ears tightly. 

Practice makes perfect!

What method were you taught as a child? How do you tie your shoes?
Have a great weekend!
Eva

Halloween 2013 Picture Review

Here is a little picture review of how Halloween went for us here at BOJ.

Zi's family had 2 cats, a mouse and a small slice of cheese as originally talked about, thank goodness nobody changed their minds last minute.

And it was quite a whirlwind few days for Zi's family that attended Autumn Fest at church, a neighborhood party and parade (in which they won best family costume, YAY!), parades at schools, and a fun night trick or treating with friends!

Eva's family had the most adorable bunny and Yoda around! See the pics below for proof:

Hope all of you had a wonderful Halloween this year and still sneaking candy out of your child's stash every now and then!

Eva and Zi