November 14, 2012

Making A Family Gratitude Journal {A Simple Thanksgiving Tradition}

A Family Gratitude Journal at KeeperoftheHome.org

By Courtney Dunkin, Contributing Writer Throughout history, many cultures have held celebrations of thanksgiving to recognize their gratitude for what they have. Most often, traditional thanksgiving celebrations have been held during harvest time in the fall. In the United States of America, our Thanksgiving has evolved into the start of the Christmas shopping season. You've probably heard jokes about how we give thanks for what we have and then race to the stores to buy more things the very next day. There is certainly some [...]

Filed Under: Children, Faith and encouragement, Family life, Holidays, Mothering Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 7 Comments
November 12, 2012

31+ Fun & Frugal Thanksgiving Activities & Freebies for Kids

31+ Thanksgiving Crafts & Freebies

By Crystal Paine, Contributing Writer Looking for some inexpensive and simple Thanksgiving-related activities for your tots, preschoolers, or grade schoolers? I've culled the internet and put together a list of over 31 of my favorite Thanksgiving-themed activity ideas, plus a number of free downloads and printables. Enjoy! Fun & Frugal Activities Make Turkey Footprints or Turkey Spice Handprints. Play Turkey Color Bingo. Image from Frog Prince Paperie Stitch some Thanksgiving Turkey Finger Puppets. Create your own Pilgrim Hat. Sew turkeys from old socks and felt. [...]

Filed Under: Children, Family life, Holidays, Home Educating, Mothering Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments
September 24, 2012

A Day in the Life: Stephanie (Home Business and Homeschooling with Children Ages 7, 5, 3 and baby)

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My days are full to overflowing. As if being a mom to four little ones didn't keep me busy enough, our household also stays buzzing with: homeschooling our family business, Resound School of Music (the office is based out of our garage) our other family business, this blog that you happen to be reading :) gardening and preserving, as well as cooking plenty of real foods Tonight my husband and I made a video montage of our children to send to the grandparents, and watching [...]

Filed Under: Family life, Getting organized, Home Educating, Homemaking Tagged With: , , , , , , , 63 Comments
September 18, 2012

A Day in the Life: Work-At-Home Mom with 3 Kids (4.5, 3, 1 and pregnant)

This is one way I get my kitchen chores done...the kids join me in The Learning Tower and "help"

Written by Kate Tietje, Contributing Writer I'm a busy mom. Obviously I'm not alone!  Is there really a way to be a mom and not be busy?  Probably not.  I guess if you're rich and you can afford a live-in nanny...but how many of us are in that boat?  I know I'm not! I am the owner of the Modern Alternative family of websites (there are now four -- Modern Alternative Mama, Modern Alternative Kitchen, Modern Alternative Pregnancy, and Modern Alternative Health) as well as mommy [...]

Filed Under: Family life, Getting organized, Homemaking Tagged With: , , , , , 28 Comments
September 14, 2012

A Day in the Life: Natalie (Our First Day of School…With Nine Kids)

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Written by Natalie Klejwa, Contributing Writer Here we are, minus the baby, gathered around the table for lunch. Praying. It's something I do a lot. I need to. I've got nine kids. I started my 15th year of homeschooling on September 4th, and this is the day I've chosen to share with the KOTH readers this month. The Perfect Plan So for starters, here's my hopeful PLAN for our school day: 6:00 Wake up, exercise, Bible study and prayer, shower and dress. 7:00 Fill orders [...]

Filed Under: Family life, Home Educating, Homemaking Tagged With: , , , 33 Comments
September 7, 2012

Day in the Life: Stacy (Preacher’s wife and homeschool mom of an 11, 7, and 2 year old)

Early morning Bible reading

  Written by Stacy K, Contributing Writer I'm a little anxious about this post. You see, I'd really like for you all to think I have it all together. But I don't. There's also the underlying fact that I am a preacher's wife. Aren't preacher's wives really supposed to have it all together? Whatever "it" is? The day I am sharing with you is one in which I stayed up too late the night before. I started out on the wrong foot and was quite [...]

Filed Under: Family life, Getting organized, Homemaking Tagged With: , , , , , 55 Comments
August 28, 2012

Homeschooling: You Can Do It Too

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*This giveaway has ended. Winners to be announced shortly.* This summer I was a part of an ebook project that I wish I could have read when I first began homeschooling. "You can do it too: 25 homeschool families share their stories" is the brainchild of Lorilee Lippincott, who blogs at Loving Simple Living. Along with her family’s journey to minimalism and simplicity in their lives, she is also passionate about encouraging families that homeschooling isn't as daunting as it might seem. Knowing just how different [...]

Filed Under: Children, Family life, Home Educating Tagged With: , , , , , ,
February 17, 2012

Postpartum Rest and Recovery Tips (From a Mama Who Learned the Hard Way)

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Written by Natalie Klejwa, Contributing Writer The following question came in my e-mail box a couple of months ago: I am a mother of a one-year-old girl, and I am due with our second in June 2012. :) After I had my daughter, I was told to rest when I came home from the birthing center. Instead, I was going up and down our stairs, trying to upload pictures of our newborn to email to the grandparents. I was more worried about pleasing other people [...]

Filed Under: Babies, Family life, Mothering, Natural Remedies, Pregnancy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 83 Comments