Back to work I go- VIPKID style

That's right.

 I am back to teaching! 

(happy dance)

About a year ago I heard about VIPKID, did a lot of research, started the application process, but then put everything on hold. At the time they had a minimum amount of hours a week you had to put into the job and I was not sure I would be able to meet those requirements...

Well, rules change sometimes! 

They no longer require those minimum amount of hours. I jumped back into the hiring process a little over a month ago, was hired and have been loving every minute of it.

For those of you who are not familiar with VIPKID- it is a company that hires teachers to teach English to children in China. The company is based in China, but they hire teachers from the US and Canada. I get to teach in a skype-like experience for 25 minutes 1 on 1 with these children. Most of the children I have been working with are between the ages of 4 and 6. I work in the morning or at night while my girls are sleeping and sometimes work a few hours on the weekend while my husband takes care of our girls. I seriously cannot believe I get to have the best of both worlds- teaching and staying at home with my girls!

If interested yourself follow the link below:

https://t.vipkid.com.cn/?refereeId=5618452&refersourceid=a01

Wooden Nativity Set

Yall.

I don't know if I've shared this before, but a couple of years ago I started tooling around with one of my dad's machines. He let me borrow it for a while...by borrow I mean I still have it.

I have had so much fun creating things with it. 

I go through spurts where I have all of these ideas, get a few done and then I go on a hiatus.

Hopefully I'm not the only one like that.

One of my favorite things that I have created is a Wooden Nativity set.

And it is a favorite of others as well.

 Not a lot of people know about them yet and I've never done a vendor booth or art show of any sort- it is all by word of mouth and random searches on Etsy to find it.

I am super happy to share these with people when they ask.

I think they make a great gift and it is fun to see what others choose to do with their set.

www.etsy.com/shop/thecreativebeaver

I don't try to promote any of the stuff I make too much because I enjoy doing it just for fun and am not looking to become super busy with making things, but if you ever have an idea send it my way and I'll try to create it for you. Try is the key word.

Our Favorite Traveling Must Haves

We love to travel when we can.

We have specific trips that we do every year that are a tradition with family, then we have other trips we try to add in to our year. Mini trips. Day trips. Expensive trips. Cheap trips.

We try to do what we can.

Traveling with 2 kids we try our best to keep our sanity as well as keeping it a bit fun and entertaining for them.

 

 

Here are some of our travel favorites:

1. Some type of technology device- a phone or tablet loaded with games that do not need a WIFI connection. A movie player. Anything!

Our littlest is entertained with just pushing buttons on an extra phone we have; the oldest likes to play games on it. We also have a movie player that we let the oldest pick one movie to watch on most trips (depending on length). The youngest will usually be entertained for a good 20-30 minutes, sometimes longer if we put in a Baby Einstein movie.

We love Baby Einstein Neptune's Oceans Discovery Kit

 

2. Books! Make a trip to your local library and check out books galore. Free and gives quiet entertainment! We put them in a bag right on the seat of the car next to my daughter's car seat so she can picks books to look at or read on road trips.

 

3. A kids road atlas- we love National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Atlas

 

4. Updated music on your phone or music player as well as some downloads of a Podcast you are listening to or would like to listen to. One of my favorites is Serial. I get car sick very easily, so these two are on the top of my list!

 

I have many other tips and tricks and favorites when it comes to road travel. I will try to share those in another post soon, as well as list some of my favorite WIFI free games!



Thanksgiving at the Beach

Our yearly trip to the beach for Thanksgiving did not disappoint this year!

We had beautiful weather. Ate a lot of food. And spent many days together as a family.

 This car ride was so much more enjoyable than our last car trip!

 

 Just steps from the beach.

 Not even 10 minutes into our arrival Madelyn is already wet from head to toe and sandy.

 

 Lots of cousin time!

 Ophelia is NOT a fan of the sand.
She does not want to touch it, step on it or have anything to do with it.

 

Still chooses to be stuck on a blanket.

 

 

 

 

Hermie the Hermit Crab

 

 

 Finally!!! First steps in the sand.

 

 Many walks to get icecream.

Thanks Nan and Pop for always treating us for Christmas with a Thanksgiving trip to the beach.

It makes our hearts happy to be together and to soak up the sun.

Until next year...