FREE: Math Fact Worksheets

I have created addition and subtraction math fact worksheets to help reinforce these important facts with my children. Included are worksheets for each number from 0-10 as well as cumulative review sheets. If you child needs some extra practice with these important math facts, please enjoy this file for FREE. It is my pleasure to share this with you.

Click here for Traveling Math Facts

I appreciate your feedback. Please let me know what you like/ do not like about this document.

Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God Giveaway Winner

The winner of Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh is Steph. Congratulations Steph, you have 48 hours to contact me with your mailing address.

Be sure and enter my latest giveaway Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont.

Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont; Review & Giveaway

 In Kaleidoscope: Seeing God's Wit and Wisdom in a Whole New Light  Patsy Clairmont takes her reader on an enlightening journey through the book of Proverbs. 33 carefully chosen verses from Proverbs begin each chapter and provide the topical framework for the entire chapter. Along with practical advice Clairmont also adds in her own mix of life experiences and writing humor. Each of the 33 chapters are short year insightful. This book is a very easy read full of advice, humor, and scripture.

I was very excited to receive this book in the mail. I immediately opened the envelope and began reading as my children played outside around me. Within 2 short days I devoured this book and enjoyed every minute of it. The chapters are short but full of advice, real life experiences from the author, and lots of witty humor. Countless times while reading I found myself chuckling as I imagined petite and eccentric Patsy struggling in the airport or mothering her growing boys. Clairmont chose 33 powerful verses from Proverbs which relate to not only her own life but also the lives of women across the country. We all struggle from time to time and this book is a wonderful reminder of how to keep it all in perspective. Patsy's struggles are real and cut to the very core of the history that is buried deep within many of us. She has triumphed through the struggles God put in her life and has used these experiences to write a powerful, witty, and humorous book based on scripture and life. If you ever get a chance to read this book, I highly recommend it.

From the publisher

Acclaimed author and Women of Faith speaker Patsy Clairmont causes womens' hearts to leap and their hopes to lift in this quirky, straight-to-the point look at the Proverbs.

Understanding the Christian life and the Bible can be a daunting task. But maybe God didn't mean it to be so hard. In Kaleidoscope of Proverbs, Patsy Clairmont pieces together some powerful messages from God and reveals new facets of beauty, inspiration, and instruction. Written for busy women, Patsy offers brief, powerful chapters that address the key aspects of their lives, hearts, and relationships.

In the Proverbs, God gives us small gems of hope and truth, and in Kaleidoscope of Proverbs, Patsy Clairmont unveils them for readers with her trademark humor and insightful teaching.

Thomas Nelson publishing kindly provided me with free copy of Kaleidoscope in exchange for my honest review of this book.

If you would like an opportunity to read Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont I am giving away a free copy to one of my readers. To enter this giveaway leave a comment on why you want to read this book.

You will receive additional entries for the following:

* grab my button from the side of my blog

* follow me through networked blogs or a reader; or both :)

* facebook about my giveaway.

* tweet my giveaway, one entry for each daily tweet

* blog about my giveaway

Please include relevant links in your comment when appropriate. This giveaway will end April 1st, 2010, midnight PST.

Can you wink?

There is a running joke in our house that Mom can't wink. And it is true. Honestly, I can't wink. So whenever my family wants a good laugh they ask me to try and wink. I will save you the pain of watching my face contort as I try to make only one eye close. But be rest assured that it is so funny it brings everyone to tears with laughing. Like tongue rolling, ear lobe shapes, and eye color, I suspect my inability to wink is genetic (or at the very least a muscle deficiency). So far my oldest can wink but my daughter is unable. There is still time for her to learn, but I know my boys were winking by her age so I have hope that she will be my partner in non-winking-dom. When asked to wink she will either close both of her eyes or do this:

Isn't she cute!!!

I don't mind being the comic relief for my family, it is fun to see them laugh so hard at my expense. My inability to wink will be one of those things my kids will tell their kids. Even into my old age I will be able to make those around me laugh without even saying a word. Perhaps Little Ms. will join me in the comic sessions and we can bring our family to tears with our contorted "trying" to wink faces.

Low Carb Eating and Type 1 Diabetes

Have you ever stopped to think about how many carbohydrates (in grams) you consume everyday? I didn't think so. Other than the low carb fad diets that pop up from time to time I hadn't given carbs a second thought in my own diet until a fateful day in November 2006. My husband had just turned 31 and I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter. In one week he lost his job and got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. To say the least, our world was turned upside down. After the carb withdrawal dust settled we adapted nicely to our new low-carb diabetes diet.

I whole-heartedly believe that if more people watched their carb loads the obesity epidemic would not exist. My own experience is a testament to that fact. No I have never been obese but I have seen a dramatic difference in my weight since counting carbs. My husband too has seen a dramatic difference in his weight but some of that can be attributed to his diabetes so I will leave his weight loss out of this story.

As I mentioned above I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter when my husband was diagnosed and our eating habits were turned upside down. Rather than changing only my husband's diet our entire family started eating according to his requirements. In the final 4 months of my pregnancy I gained 10 pounds, for a total my entire pregnancy of 18 pounds. Compare that to 35 pounds gained in my first pregnancy. Carbohydrates are notorious diet killers and cause us all to quickly pack on the pounds.  The average American's daily carb intake is in the high hundreds of grams, for some people it nears 800 grams. This is just insane! No wonder everywhere you look people are struggling with their weight.

My husband's daily carbohydrate intake is less than two hundred grams. Please keep in mind this is a little higher than recommended for most type 1 diabetics because he is tall, 6'3". On average he eats 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal. Like my husband I too eat around 200 grams of carbohydrates per day. Of course I have had to alter my meal planning, but after over 3 years it has become second nature. It can become habit for you too, if you so desire.

How do you count total carbs? Simple. For packaged foods subtract the fiber (in grams) from the carbohydrates (in grams) to calculate the total carbs per food. For fruits, vegetables, and other common foods consult Carbohydrate Counting for Common Foods (a pdf).

total carbohydrates (g) - fiber  (g) = net carbohydrate amount per serving/food 

In addition to carb counting, here are some simple ways to drastically reduce your carb load for the day:

1. You do not need bread, rice, potatoes, or other starches with every meal.
2. Eliminate desserts. But rather make it a special treat once a week or so.
3. But whole wheat. The fiber count in whole wheat is higher, therefore the total carb for the food will be lower.
4. Substitute an extra portion of veggies for a serving of starch.

Low carb eating is not a diet for my family, it is our way of life.

Are you struggling with your waistline? Count your daily carbs for one week, you just might be sabotaging your diet and exercise efforts.

Stay tuned for low carb meal ideas.

Family Friendly Friday #4

When is the last time you disinfected your child's bath toys?

Because bath toys typically do not have a chance to fully dry out between bath time use they can grow nasty germs very quickly. If your kids are like mine, their bath toys are in their mouth at least once every bath time. I cringe to think about the germs they ingest from their toys. The solution is simple though; regularly clean those toys. I like to clean our toys twice a month. I clean our bathrooms every week so every other time I clean I pop the toys in a disinfecting wash. Also, I have done away with the squirting bath toys, you know the ones that hold water inside a fun animal shape. There is no good way to get those clean and they grow bacteria quickly.

Here is the recipe I use to wash our toys:

1/2 cup white vinegar per gallon of warm water
Submerge the toys, let them soak for 10 minutes or more.
Finish cleaning by scrubbing them with a sponge or soft bristle brush.
Let dry and they can be enjoyed again, nice and clean.

Promoting Healthy Eating in Children

As I sit here eating a late night treat I thought I would write about promoting healthy eating in your children. Oxymoron? Most definitely, but my kids don't know where I stash the girl scout cookies! :)

All too often friends of mine complain about what their kids eat, how picky they are, and a wide variety of other complaints centered around their children eating. One question always pops in my head. . .and exactly where did your kids get the horrible things they are eating? You see where I am going with this post.

Friends, family, and even strangers in restaurants comment on how well my children eat. Everyday my children get varying servings of lean proteins, vegetables, fruit, low fat dairy, and low carb snacks. Why do my kids eat the stuff that other kids their age turn their nose up at? One answer, it is the only option they have. I do not buy processed snacks, frozen dinners, fried quick meals, or anything else that congeals when cold. My children truly know nothing else other than healthy eating. It is normal to them, they know nothing else. But guess what? They don't complain about it either. My kids have all eaten salad starting at age 2, fresh fruit from the time they could chew, and dinner is always made fresh. Of course there is a special night here and there when we order pizza or go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. These are special occasions though and my kids know not to expect them. No, I am not a treat or sweets warden. I am a sucker for chocolate and my dear husband almost always has some stash in the house for me. I share with my kids but they do not expect it everyday. Desert is not a staple in our house. When planning a meal I do not include desert simply because of a personal decision my husband and I have made to raise a healthy family.

So how do you promote healthy eating habits in your own family?
1. First and foremost, you are the example your kids will follow. Make healthy food choices. No more processed junk or fried yuck in the house. My daughter always wants to eat what is in my hand, no matter what it is. So naturally she has grown up eating healthy because she sees and eats what I eat. This has also proved to be an added incentive for my own healthy eating. I know she is going to want what I have, so I have to eat healthy if I want her to eat healthy.

2. Make healthy snacks available to your children. Keep the healthy stuff at their eye level with easy access. Veggies should be placed in a low drawer in the refrigerator. Keep a fruit bowl on the kitchen counter. My kids are always climbing on the kitchen counter to get a piece of fruit. Keep healthy snacks in the pantry at their eye level.

3. Think about your grocery purchases. Do you really need that bag of potato chips? Is there a better alternative to chicken strips and cheez-its? Of course there is. Save money and just don't buy them. You may hear a complaint or two for a couple of weeks. After that though, they will get used to the healthier alternatives.

4. Plan your meals. Stopping rushing around at night trying to scrounge something decent to eat. This leads to foods of convenience and they are generally not the healthiest choice for your family. Plan 1 or 2 weeks at a time, maybe even a month at a time. Use your crock pot as much as possible, they are convenient and will save you a ton of time.

5. Set limits. When your children ask for a snack give them 2 healthy choices and do not waver in your decision. Also, when you are out to eat look over the childrens menu and let your child decide from the 2 most healthy options.

As a parent it is your responsibility to your children to teach them healthy eating habits. No your kid isn't just big boned. No she isn't going to hit a growth spurt big enough to allow her to grow into the pudge around her belly. "He has always been big" can no longer be an excuse for overweight children. Get them moving, exercising, and eating right all day everyday. Don't send your children out into this world with self-confidence issues centered around their weight, do not ill equip them to deal with the fat and sugar laden food that will bombard their senses when they begin to live on their own. Just as you educate them about the 3 R's also teach them about food choices, portion control, and self control. You owe it to them.