Family Resources

Planning Our Sunflower House

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots  A sweet friend recently gave me this book about gardening with kids.  I love it!  It’s packed with fun ideas and adorable drawings, along with specific instructions for tackling a variety of projects: Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Children

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner.  From the archives, here are some of our favorite {easy} ways to celebrate the occasion…

Tips for Planning a Marriage Getaway Weekend

It Keeps Getting Better We have a great marriage.  Notice I didn’t use the word “perfect”–we definitely have our issues and have had a number of bumps along the way. But the bottom line is that Mr. Native Texan and I both are fiercely committed to our marriage.  It’s been more than ten years since we…

Exploring Nature With Kids: Winter Nature Walk {Animal Tracks}

  Winter may not seem like the ideal time for a Nature Walk, but don’t let the cold snowy weather prevent you from enjoying the great outdoors.  I guarantee you’ll make a few discoveries that will outweigh the effort required to execute a Winter Nature Walk. For more tips and inspiration, check out: Exploring Nature…

7 Books I’m Reading

I love to read.  Lately, my reading time has been a bit inconsistent, but I’m constantly striving to make room in my schedule for reading quality books on a variety of topics. I’m not one to make New Year’s Resolutions, but the New Year seems like a good time to re-prioritize my reading.  My best…

Thanksgiving Resources: Stories, Poems, Hymns & More

Are you looking for a meaningful poem, song or hymn to share with your family in celebration of Thanksgiving?  What about great children’s literature about Thanksgiving?

5 Best Things About Used Books

  Old, used books are one of my very favorite things in life.  Seriously.  I could get lost for hours in a used book shop.  In fact, I hope do just that on our Anniversary Trip to London–I’m really hoping to score some great old English titles. What’s so great about old books? Well, I’m…

Changing of the Guards: Our Rotating Book Display

Well, it’s a new month and almost a new season.   We’ve also got a birthday in a few days.  [Older Brother will be 7–I can hardly believe it!] At the Yankee Homestead, all of this adds up to: A New Book Display.  Several new book displays, actually.

Year Round Nature Activity for Kids: Raising Butterflies

  Raising butterflies is a perfect nature activity for young children–it’s fairly easy to do, and gives everyone a firsthand look at a butterfly’s life cycle.  Reading excellent books on the topic makes the experience even more delightful. Want to give it a shot?  Read on for our favorite butterfly-raising resources.

Family Resource: My Quotable Kid

“I may not be able to snap or whistle, but I’m a fierce fighter.” Older Brother uttered these words one day last December while working on his Nature Calendar. I would have absolutely no recollection of that hilarious statement, had I not recorded it in this fun little journal gifted to me by a friend.…