About Val

Valerie Rose, creator of the blog Collecting the Moments… one by one spends her days cooking, gardening, and homeschooling her 4 children on her urban homestead in rainy western Washington. With camera in hand, she is constantly collecting the moments of life and encouraging others to do the same with activities and inspiration for a simple, creative household. You can find her on Pinterest, Facebook and on her homeschooling blog where she documents all the fun learning her kids do day to day.

How to Make a Lei with Real Flowers

Making leis from real flowers may seem daunting at first, but those blooming flowers in your backyard may be the perfect way to bring a little “aloha” into your school day! One of the many joys of homeschooling is the freedom to travel. When we travel during the school year, we just take our studies […]

Simple Spring Science Projects for Kids

These simple Spring science projects can be done whether there is snow still on the ground or if Spring has already sprung! These science projects are ready and waiting in your fridge and recycle bin. The kids will learn about plant growth, water movement, seed germination, and more! Here are three simple Spring science projects […]

A Fun Game for President’s Day

Add a little learning to your long President’s Day weekend with this fun twist on an old game. It’s so fun, your kids may not even notice that they are learning! One year I came across the Gettysburg Address read by Jeff Daniels. It happened to be the day before President’s Day about a decade […]

Awesome Stocking Stuffers for Teens and Tweens

These ideas for stocking stuffers for teens or tweens are sure to delight! Stockings have always been my very favorite part of Christmas morning.  My kids are allowed to open them while my husband and I are making coffee. I love listening to them exclaim over their tiny treasures as we spend time waking up. […]

Nature Study Dos and Don’ts

A nature study does not have to be challenging or difficult. Read below for all the tips and tricks I use for designing a nature study in an authentic way with my sweet, spirited, and LOUD little boys! DON’T – Get Frustrated I had spent the morning preparing my boys, just turned 7 and almost […]

Tree Nature Study

This time of year is like magic.  Trees are changing fast and every day there seems to be something new to learn about the process of being a tree.  Below are a few easy activities to do with your kids and recommended books to explore how trees live and grow for a simple tree nature study! In […]

How to Make Seed Bombs in Eggshells

Ever wonder how to make seed bombs? Did you know you can make seed bombs in eggshells? I have a secret.  I like to hide gifts in real eggshells.  Sometimes it is beads for a new bracelet or a crystal for the nature table or even a candle shaped like the shell itself.  This year, […]

Butterfly life cycle lesson plans. (With free printable!)

For the littlest of learners, they will remember the lesson better if their whole bodies are involved in the learning.  Read on to learn about our butterfly life cycle lesson plans for preschoolers!  We decided to fully immerse our whole bodies into the butterfly life cycle, and it was a lot of fun.  Earlier in the week I […]

St. Patrick’s Day Treats — Rainbow Fruit Pizza!

Here are some St. Patrick’s Day treats that kids are sure to love!  This dye-free Rainbow Fruit Pizza is part cookie, part short bread, part fruit salad, and all yummy. It is the perfect non-candy treat for St. Patrick’s day or, well, any day!  This Rainbow Fruit Pizza is a great way to encourage kids to […]

DIY Memory Game Gift

Toys that you make yourself can be the most rewarding gifts to give.  This super simple memory game you can make for your toddler can make a perfect stocking stuffer for the youngest kid in your family.  In this post, I will show you how to make your very own DIY memory game! Each year, […]

Homeschooling with Toddlers – Montessori Trays

These Montessori trays can cover any subject you would like.  They are the most versatile and also the least expensive Montessori idea to set up, as you often have these things laying around your house.  Homeschooling with a toddler in tow can be the biggest homeschooling challenge we face day to day.  Trying to find […]

Homeschooling with Toddlers — Sensory Bins

Moving on to the next item in our Montessori inspired classroom with toddlers in mind.  This one takes a little bit of discipline for the child and a little patience for the homeschooling mama because it can be messy until they understand the rules.  Homeschooling with toddlers in tow can be the biggest challenge we face […]

Homeschooling with Toddlers – Magnet Board

Homeschooling with a toddler in tow can be the biggest homeschooling challenge we face day to day.  Trying to find things for kids too young for school but far too awake to be quiet (or if they are, it is cause for alarm and not peace) is a huge challenge.  In this series I will […]

Slow Down Your Summer

Summer vacation can just fly by, especially with the pressure to enroll them in so many activities.  As with a lot of things, doing less can be more.  Read on for tips on how to slow down your summer, giving your children fond memories of well-spent family time! I was a kid just before the information […]

Creating an Ocean Sensory Table

Sensory tables are incredibly popular with preschoolers.  They bring a tactile experience to a lesson that is often remembered long after the book smarts have made their way in one ear and out the other.  Creating an Ocean Sensory Table is easy and inexpensive to do at home. Here is how we created an Ocean […]

Five Amazing Hikes to Take With Kids

These five amazing hikes to take with kids weren’t a conscious thing at first… it just started with a walk in the woods, which then turned into a weekly walk in the woods, which then turned into a hike with friends out beyond the confines of cellphone reception and into the world of “leave only footprints, take […]

Birthday Breakfast – The Healthy German Pancake

My family is just like any other family on a budget.  We get into a breakfast rut.  Oatmeal, eggs, toast, repeat.  But every year, on my children’s birthdays, they wake up to a special breakfast.  A breakfast JUST for them.  And it includes whipping cream. When I was little, my mom started this tradition of […]

5 Tips to Grow Your Own Garden

Planning to grow your own garden for the kitchen doesn’t take a lot of time,  but it can save you a tons of hassle during the gardening season.  Here are a few things I do each year to ensure that I am getting the most out of my suburban garden.  The first day of spring […]