five minute clean up

One way I try to keep my home less cluttered is a five minute clean up.  I set the iPod timer for five minutes and pick up around my place.  It is only five minutes, but sometimes the difference is striking.   I like doing this before I go to sleep each night or if I have five extra minutes before I need to go to work.  It is nice coming home to a cleaned up apartment.  It also works well when a bunch of my nieces and nephews are over.  Usually the the floor is swept, rooms are vacuumed, and things are put away so we are not stepping on everything.  Another benefit of five minutes of cleaning is that when someone calls to say she is going to stop by, my place is more or less presentable.

Herman's Vacation

Herman's Vacation by Tom Percival is the second book about friends Herman and Henry.  Herman and Henry decide it is time to go on vacation.  Since they do not have a lot of money, they end up going camping.  Herman thinks it is great, while Henry finds it challenging.  When Herman realizes this, he figures how to make it better for Henry so they can both enjoy the vacation.  Like Herman's Letter, there are lift the flap notes.  This is a good book to share with children this summer about friendship and camping.

The Not-So-Faraway Adventure

The Not-So-Faraway Adventure by Andrew Larsen is one the children's books that I read this week that I really enjoyed.  Theo and her Poppa enjoy spending time together.  Poppa's trunk is full of souvenirs from his travels around the world.  Looking through it gives Theo an idea for a great birthday for Poppa.  Together they go to the beach for a special adventure of their own.  After the trip, they have something to add to Poppa's trunk full of memories.

overnight oatmeal

Recently I tried a new oatmeal recipe.  My sister had come across the recipe in the paper, and it is now my preferred way to have oatmeal for breakfast.  What you need is a pint jar with lid, half a cup milk, half a cup old fashioned oats, and whatever toppings you would like.  First, put the milk in the jar.  Add the oatmeal and whatever topping you would like, then cover and put in the refrigerator.  In the morning, all you have to do is take it out and eat it.  I have been putting different toppings on, if I choose raisins or bananas, I add them in the morning.  This is great since I can prepare it the night before.  The other great thing is the oatmeal does not get mushy like it could if you overcook it.

enjoying the outdoors

In April I stopped by a state park and found out that this year is the 125th anniversary of Minnesota State Parks.  To commemorate that, the parks have created a program to encourage using the trails.  Individuals can try to bike, boat, or hike 125 miles in state parks or state trails this year.  So far I am at 15 miles, all hiking.  I hope to do some biking and canoeing, too.  So far, I have been to some of the closer parks...Charles Lindbergh, Lake Carlos, and Sibley.  I hope to get to Fort Snelling, Lake Itasca, Lake Maria, and Crow Wing parks soon.  Click here to see more information about the program.

Whose Hands Are These?

Whose Hands Are These? by Miranda Paul is a new book I got from the library this week.  It is a book that I think most preschoolers or early elementary children would enjoy.  There are pictures and descriptions of 11 different jobs.  Children can listen to the words and look at the pictures to try to guess which job is being described.  I plan to remember this book and share it with my kindergarten and first grade students next year.  It reminds me some of Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do, but has a higher level vocabulary.