The Treasures of the Library

We are still figuring out our school schedule and fighting some illness that we managed to pick up last week.  Luckily for me, preschool is mostly play right now.  We have a theme, but most of our activities involve playing, reading, or completing some art project.

The library has been the best source.  I can get books for each theme without having to worry about long term storage or cost.  It's amazing.  Even better, I can put my books on hold at one of the libraries and then collect them from a drive-thru window, without unloading all the kids!

When J is with us, we go inside to let the girls pick out books that have no relation to our theme. This week, Pete the Cat is their favorite find!

There Are Dinos On The Oven!!

We started our preschool homeschooling this last week, so I don't really have a lot of brain cells left to dedicate to the blog this week.

One of the challenges I've found with school stuff is a lack of wall space.  We don't really have space for posters or even smaller objects to reference all week.  We've adapted by using gel clings on the windows, a small calendar that sits against the window, and magnets on the oven.

Right now, we're working on colors, but I'm already planning the next themed unit

J-Bear took an interest in dinosaurs and has been asking to read books about them, so that will be our next theme.   I found a set of 20 magnetic dinosaurs, but the set was 15 dollars.  Instead, I went to Joann Fabrics and Michaels and found painted dinosaur cutouts in their wood section.  For less than 5 dollars, I made a magnetic play set with pairs of 3 different kinds of dinosaurs and some palm trees.  The girls love it.

E-Roo got so excited when I showed them that they stuck to the oven door. "Dad!  There are dinos on the oven!!!" Our refrigerator does not have a magnetic door, so the oven is the only spot accessible to the kids.

The Benefits of RV Living with Children

Just as with any living situation, there are pros and cons to living there with children.  We have 3 children under 4, so I can only offer the perspective of a parent with smaller children.  Those with pre-teens and teenagers will obviously have different challenges and perspectives.

Pros of RV living with children

Fewer toys

This means fewer toys to clean up and store.  You may also want to avoid toys with small parts, as they may litter the floor of your RV on a regular basis.

More motivation to go outside

This gives everyone a chance to spread out and get out of each other's space.  Not only will it make living in close quarters more bearable, it will also allow small children to get out energy so that they aren't driving you crazy by running back and forth in the RV. 

Fewer opportunities to get in trouble

You know those terrifying moments when you realize your kids have been quiet for too long and are probably up to no good?  Yeah, I know those moments.  They often resulted in a trashed bathroom or bedroom.  Now, the girls are almost always in my line of sight.  There aren't many places they can cause trouble and many of the substances they would use are out of reach.

Most of the storage spaces are too high for toddlers to reach or difficult to access.  

Scissors, knives, and glue are stored in cabinets that are so high that I need to stand on a bench to access them.  Cleaning Chemicals are stored in outside storage (except for a spray bottle of vinegar/water solution).  There is more storage under the bunk bed, couch, and our bed that require heavy lifting to access.

Cleaning is quick and easy

It takes me less than 5 minutes to sweep and mop the floor of our whole RV.  Wiping down the shower, toilet, and sink take 10 minutes. I can easily clean the whole RV in less than an hour.  It takes an hour and 40 minutes to do laundry.  For the first time in my life, I can get all of the housework done in one day.  If I clean while the laundry is going, I can spend less than 2 hours a week cleaning and doing laundry, with only a daily sweeping of the RV floors and dishes done in between.

Smaller sink in the bathroom lends itself to early independence

In our rental house, neither of the girls could wash their hands without us lifting them to reach the faucet.  Even the purchase of a stool failed to remedy the issue.  This sink is low enough that both girls can turn the water on and off with the aid of a stool.