Fairfield Corner Academy

Sick day

2012-01-31T16:10:00.002-06:00

Please tell me that not all is lost when we have a sick day... we haven't had one in a while, but we did today! Missed Co-op, music lessons, everything... Can we please get better fast!!

Nuts & Bolts: Pulling it all together

2012-01-31T10:19:00.000-06:00

Getting it all done is the main goal in homeschooling... at least around here it is! I think the key in pulling it all together is to know where you want to go and how you want to get there ~ from there, you plan your path! We can't get everything done every day ~ you know why? Because that's not how learning happens! If we start on history and end up chasing rabbit trails for 3 hours, we are obviously not going to be able to get other things completed. But, that's OK.. because chances are those three hours on rabbit trails more was learned than if we would have stayed on task.

Another reason is because life happens, plain and simple. We lost several weeks last year when my Meme passed, because we were there, spending time with her and we were with family and my kiddos were seeing compassion for others. Time with my Meme before she passed was something that I would have never gotten a second chance at... we can always read tomorrow...but we found out we can't always tell someone you love them tomorrow.
Another example of life happening and showing compassion is when the fire department gets called out. If they need us, we go. They work hard and get over heated, we take them drinking water and even meals if needed. We reach out to those in the community who need a hand and teaching my kiddos this by living it is something that no book could teach.

So, with rabbit trails and life, we still manage to pull things together and cover what needs to be covered ~ one of the joys of homeschooling is we can do it when we can!

Going back to having a plan, I have tried several things and keep coming back to the same way of lesson planning. If you find something that works for you ~ hang with it and do it! (I am currently in the process of trying to blog about how I do lesson plans, so watch my blog and you will see my secret!)

Well, this wraps up the last week of the Virtual Curriculum Fair. I am thankful for Susan for pulling this together for all of us and for her allowing me to participate in this. Check out the rest of the ladies who "pulled it all together" for you!

Just for fun ~ blog cruise

2012-01-29T16:57:00.000-06:00

Just for fun is the topic for today ~ what do we do to add fun to our homeschool day?
Well, we do have a rather off week most weeks, because we have Class Day & music lessons. So, during that day when we are out of the house, fun comes in a few different ways... most recently, a surprise trip to Tropical Smoothie!! Impromptu park trips or unplanned quick field trips also add fun to our day when we are out running the town!
When we are home, we do only have 4 days to get all of our schoolwork completed, so we do spend a bit of time working! I guess since I am having trouble remembering the last time we did anything fun, then it's been a while, huh? Some of the things that come to mind are spending time in the kitchen... we love to cook & bake, especially together! We have had some great (funny) times in the kitchen.
Roger's schedule has changed a bit this year. He has had more time home with us, so that automatically translates into more fun! We have had a couple of family dates, plus he has gone with us on a couple of field trips. We also try to play more games for schoolwork when he is home... so he can join in with us!
I'm not really thinking it looks like we have much fun, but we really do! Maybe I need to be more speicifc in making sure we do have fun! (Or maybe it's just that my mind is blank and nothing is coming to me right now). One thing, I do try to post a blog when we do something fun... so I know that I have other blog entries that tell about our fun times!
Visit the Blog Cruise to see how others have fun in their school!

Kinderbach

2012-01-27T11:55:00.000-06:00

Our first review for this new year is Kinderbach! Kinderbach is an introduction to music using the piano or keyboard. There is a free trial, so if you are interested in your child learning music, please go check it out! If you are interested and want to join, it is a simple $7.99 per month.
Samantha has been taking piano for a couple of years, and Riley plays the guitar, so the first few lessons were fairly easy for them, but they seemed to enjoy it.
Here is a screenshot of what their lessons look like...
As for my personal opinion of Kinderbach, I don't really care for it. The webpage is a little confusing for me and it was hard to figure out where I was supposed to go to get them signed up, and it was a little hard to figure out how to sign in. The lessons are neat, simple and the kiddos enjoyed them, but I just don't think it is something we would benefit from paying for.

*Disclaimer: My family was given this product free of charge to use and form our own opinion of and share with our readers. The thoughts and opinions expressed about this item are strictly opinions of myself or my children.*

Hanging out with the fire department

2012-01-26T16:51:00.000-06:00

A structure fire makes for a long evening. The guys got called out on a fire at 3:30 and were on it until well after 8:00pm. And, they got called back out on it twice overnight. It was cold, rainy, and just nasty out, which makes matters worse on scene. Kiddos and I were there for a while helping a little and making sure they had water and all and had to leave for scouts. After scouts, they were still out, so we headed to get pizza and met them at the station with dinner. Roger was Incident Command, but there was so much fire, he stepped up and grabbed a hose for a few minutes to give some of the guys a break...

Seeking Beauty: the Arts and Everything that brings Beauty to our World

2012-01-24T10:18:00.000-06:00

I admit, this is where we struggle when it comes to what all we do around here! We do try, especially when it comes to Art, but it never seems to happen... Good thing, we have our weekly co-op & music lessons! Last semester they were both in art and their teacher did a little bit of artist study. They are taking art again this semester, with the same teacher, so I know it will continue! Last year, they also were part of music and were able to perform at the Open House.

They both take voice lessons and are currently working on a piece to perform at church. Samantha does piano lessons and Riley takes guitar. Something new this year, they have both recently joined Celebration Singers of Central Arkansas Student Choir. They have only been to one practice and I have been to a parent meeting that was discussion of upcoming trips! Riley is excited about this choir, Samantha- not so much. I think it's because she doesn't know anyone... I think she will love it when she figures out how much fun she can have - she loves to sing! She is not crazy about solo stuff, but in a group - she is fine!

Well, that was kinda random, but that is about how our Fine Arts goes around here! Check out the rest of the Curriculum Fair participants and see how they incorporate fine arts into their days ~

Memory Making by Christine @ Crunchy CountryCatholic
LearningArt at Our House by Jessica @ Modest Mama
history,up close by Jennifer @ a glimpse of our life
Fittingin the Arts When Homeschooling by Laura O in AK @ Day by Day inOur World
TheArt of Exploration by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
Appreciatingthe Arts by Cindy Horton @ Fenced in Family
Beautyin Homeschooling? by Cindy @ For One Another
Heartof Dakota- The Fine Details- Part 4 Poetry & Bible by Lynn @Ladybug Chronicles
TheArt of Art by Brenda Emmett @ Garden of Learning
TheBeauty of the Arts - Where Does It Fit? by Joelle @ Homeschoolingfor His Glory
Learningand Art Library by Angie @ Petra School
SeekingBeauty: The Arts and Everything that Brings Beauty to Our Worldby Christa Darr @ Fairfield Corner Academy
Howto Fit "The Arts" in School by Christine @ Our Homeschool Reviews

iPhones & Nooks

2012-01-23T16:56:00.000-06:00

The kiddos LOVE to play on my iPhone, so I am always downloading (mostly FREE) apps for them to play on. A few of our favorite apps are:GENERAL CALS (our local library catalog search)dictionary.com - word of the day & question of the day are both great!SAT QOTD - these are a little harder than the others, but make for some great discussionsMATH: (If you watch, McGraw-Hill will run these for FREE on occasion)MH: FractionsMH: DivisibilityMH: Tric-TracMH: SqueezeMaths AcademyMultiplesTrifectaFactrSamuraiSliceItWORD GAMES:ChicktionaryWords With FriendsSpelling DrillsSCIENCE:3D CellMoleculesHuman AnatomnySkyViewSOCIAL STUDIES:Stack the StatesStack the CountriesUS States Flashcards
Since they each got a Nook Tablet for Christmas, they don't play on my phone as much, and have a few of their own favorite apps -Dictionary, WWF & CALS are all on their Nooks, plus they like Animal Zoo Club, Chess, Minesweeper as well! (Not so much educational, but they still do learn from it, right?)

Art of Brick ~ Lego Display

2012-01-18T16:48:00.000-06:00

We were able to visit and tour the Art of the Brick that was on display at Clinton Presidential Library.

I had heard about it coming here, but had totally forgotten until one of the moms in our local group planned the trip. Kiddos were excited about being able to go! We were given a guided tour of the library (which is OK, but we have been there before, so we were ready to see the Legos!).

The exhibit was really neat. I was very impressed. We didn't take photos of everything, but here are a few of our favorites:

There were also a couple of displays in the area that were given to the library for keeps ~

Woo Pig Sooie!

Lego model of the Clinton Library

Lego model of Clinton Bridge over Arkansas River!

These three were my favorites!!

Goal Planning Monday ~ 2012 ~ week 3

2012-01-17T13:05:00.002-06:00

Here's what last week looked like ~

LAUNDRY AREA: Top wire shelf cleaned off, decluttered, purged and organized. That still didn't happen.. maybe this week?

FAMILY ROOM: go through the DVD's and get rid of VHS tapes - nope, not this either...

KITCHEN: ~~Clean out spice shelves above microwave DONE!~~ And it looks SO nice!!

DINING ROOM: Clean out underneath hutch

SCHOOL ROOM: ~~finish school table~~ DONE (but, how long will it last?)

MAIN BATHROOM: ~~Under sink cleaned out~~ and find a drawer that fits (cleaned out, but still can't find a drawer)

MY BATHROOM: Top shelf in top cabinet ~ didn't happen,

MY BEDROOM: pajama drawer & get top of dresser cleaned off ~ didn't happen

KIDDOS ROOMS: ~~Go through their coats/jackets/hoodies and get rid of ones that do not fit~~ DONE

ERRANDS: ~~Books back to library~~ DONE

PERSONAL: Work on typing recipes to put in my new binder - goal this week 5 typed, printed and in the binder! DONE, but still need to type more, so leaving this

Here is what I have on the list for this week:

LAUNDRY ROOM: Top wire shelf cleaned off

FAMILY ROOM: go thru DVD's and get rid of VHS tapes

KITCHEN: Underneath microwave cabinet

DINING ROOM: Clean out underneath hutch

SCHOOL ROOM: Clean off computer desk

MAIN BATHROOM: bottom shelf of top cabinet

MY BATHROOM: bottom shelf of top cabinet

MY BEDROOM: All laundry put away

KIDDOS ROOMS: Bottom bunks out

ERRANDS: pick up deposit slips for Girl Scouts

PERSONAL: recipes & finish January Lesson Plans & menus/grocery lists

Join us at Mamamanuscript and share what you have going on this week!

Exploring Our World

2012-01-17T10:17:00.000-06:00

Social studies is such a broad term... how do you fit it all in? For us, we decided what was most important and went that route with things! We started in first grade with Story of the World. It is a 4 year history rotation that takes us from beginning of time until now. When we finished up the 4th volume, we started All American History, which is a two year American rotation. Once we finish that up, we will start over and that should take them thru 12th grade. I chose to go this route because SotW and AAH both incorporate one thing that I think is a very important skill ~ MAPS! We have also (when they were younger) worked our way through map workbooks.
My dilemma now, as we are approaching the end of the 2nd year of AAH, is do we start over with Story of the World? Or do we switch to Mystery of History? I really like SotW, and I know that during this next rotation, we would dig deeper into things, but I know MoH incorporates much more Bible than SotW. So, I am currently torn on these two items ~ if you have an opinion on either one, please feel free to share!!

Another thing that is important in the exploring our world area of homeschooling is real life/hands on exploring the world. We are very involved in the community we live in. Roger is very active in the fire department and the kiddos have grown up knowing what it means to be a part of the fire department - what it means to help someone out. We are active in our church, which does some outreach to the neighborhood children. And finally, we are very involved in scouting - which has taught them both a lot about exploring their world!

Visit others who have joined in and see what it looks like when they explore their world:

Scienceand Worldview by Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
NatureStudy as Science by Christine @ Crunchy Country Catholic
VirtualCurriculum Fair Week 3- Social Studies and more Science by LeahCourtney @ The Courtney Six Homeschool Family
CurriculumFair–Exploring Our World by Angie @ Petra School
Pathsof Exploration by Jen @ Forever, For Always
LearningGeography at Our House by Jessica @ Modest Mama
TheFascinating World Around Us by Cindy Horton @ Fenced in Family
MoreHeart of Dakota Praises by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun
OurHistory by Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
PlayfulUS Geography for First Grade by Pam @ Everyday Snapshots
Heartof Dakota-The Fine Details-Part 3 History by Lynn @ LadybugChronicles
ExploringOur World Through History & Science by Brenda Emmett @ Gardenof Learning
TwoHistory Must-haves by Letha @ justpitchingmytent
LearningAbout The World Around Us by Laura O from AK
SocialStudies and Science - What do we do? by Joelle @ Homechooling forHis Glory
HistoryChronologically and with Living Books by Debbie @ Debbie's Digest
WhyHistory? by MissMOE @ Homeschooling While Living the Life ofEasier
ExploringOur World by Christa Darr @ Fairfield Corner Academy

Grapevine Timelines

2012-01-16T13:09:00.000-06:00

Grapevine Studies has come out with, yet another, new fun learning add on! Wall Timelines! If you have followed my blog for any amount of time, you know how much my kiddos and I LOVE Grapevine Studies! We have learned more about the Bible using these studies because they are not only basic, they are fun! Wait, I say basic, but that's not what I really mean... they are not basic, they are set up where they can be used with all age levels. They are fun and easy! I mean, who can't draw a stick figure? The stick figures *stick* with the kiddos and they learn by using these ~ and they remember from one lesson to the next what colors are used for what!

We are currently working on the Old Testament Wall Timeline, I'm hoping it fits down the hall! When we finish it, we will do the New Testament Wall Timeline below it! Check back, when we get them both complete, I will post a picture of our timelines!

If you go to the website, you will notice these timelines are currently on sale! Also, there is a discount code for FREE SHIPPING ~ JANFS

Enjoy!

What's normal? Is there such?

2012-01-15T12:41:00.000-06:00

A typical day, because there is no such thing as normal, right? We have one day a week that is Co-op, Music lesson, errands... I try to stay home the rest of the week. By doing this, it gives us 4 full days for schooling & chores. We have recently started a new schedule and I think it may work. Here is what our typical day looks like (currently):
I wake between 5:30 & 6am. Try to sneak in a bit of stretching and a little exercise, have my quiet time (I'm starting Ephesians this week with the Good Morning Girls!). After my quiet time, I jump in the shower and take care of readying myself. Once I am ready for the day, I wake the kiddos and start breakfast (usually 7-7:30am-ish). They have until 8:30 to wake, read their Bible, chores & eat breakfast. We are at the table at 8:30 to start school work. We start with Bible (currently we are working on Grapevine Studies Old Testament Timeline- review & discount code coming soon! ), spelling, reading (Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is our current read + their Spectrum reading workbook), Grammar, Writing & Vocabulary. These subjects tend to sometimes blend together, so we try and do them all at the same time! Once we finish with the Language Arts stuff, we move on to math. At 11am we take a break, chores, lunch and some free time. Most days, while we are having lunch, we are also reading history lesson & then after lunch, we are able to do any hands on/worksheets for history. After history, we move on to music - they both are in voice, Sam has piano and Ry has guitar. Sam also has lessons online for music (plus, she has speech two days a week). At this time, we also work on any review items we currently have on our list! We finish up the day with science. We are going through the anatomy book, and it has some projects in it, but we tend to get distracted and science happens the rest of the day (which is why it is last!).
Once we are all done with school work, we make sure chores are caught up and then the rest of the afternoon is free time. They take turns helping in the kitchen, so, when it is their day, they start dinner. Our evenings are pretty busy, scouts, church, scouts...
So, that wraps up our typical day around here.. we always take time for cool field trips, we are part of 4H, and we take full advantage of weather opportunities (like snow days or beautiful days) and head outside when we can! We have been know to load it all up and head to the park for school!

Helping with an Eagle Prjoect

2012-01-14T16:47:00.000-06:00

Riley spent the weekend with Troop #542 working on one of the guys Eagle Project. His project was to expand the fence that surrounds the small playground at the church where the troop meets. Rog went and helped and said the boys worked hard. Riley was excited because it went towards his volunteer hours. It also pepped him up about doing his own Eagle Project... he's got his mind going for that already - even though he still has a bit of time before he gets there!

It's COOKIE TIME!

2012-01-13T16:47:00.000-06:00

Cookie Sales start soon!

(this is being backdated, so if you get this by email, they are over!)

Every year, our Service Unit holds a Cookie Rally to kick off Cookie Sales ~ a night of fun activities and teaching the kiddos safety when it comes to cookie sales. My girls love it and look forward to going every year!

I didn't get them all in a group.. silly me!... but here are a couple of random shots from the night!

Sam (on the right) with a couple of her scouty friends

Not sure if they were dancing or chatting!

Her and I

The two of us with two of our BFF's!!

Skating in a new place

2012-01-13T16:46:00.000-06:00

It's sometimes scary to go to a new place... that's no different with adults either. We had been attending Skate Day at the same place for the past several years and then recently, a rug was pulled out from under us and we had to find a new place... we have to travel a little further, but getting together once a month with friends (both mom and kiddos!) will be worth it! Here are a couple of pics of Cha-Cha Sliding at the latest Skate Day:

Riley is in front of the line and Sam is second...

five hops this time! (love the friend behind Sam who is so far up in the air!)

2012 Bucket List ~ Family Date ~ January

2012-01-12T15:44:00.000-06:00

Instead of doing a resolutions list, the kiddos and I made a 2012 Bucket List. One thing on my list was a family date once a month. For January, we went to Playtime Pizza ~ kiddos second time there, our first. What a great place! (expensive, but great!)

Goal Planning Monday ~ 2012 ~ Week Two

2012-01-09T20:53:00.000-06:00

So, here is my list from last week ~ not too shabby...

LAUNDRY AREA: Top wire shelf cleaned off, decluttered, purged and organized. (didn't get to the wire shelf, but managed to get the top of the washer and dryer cleaned off and changed out the dog food box, so that counts for something!)

FAMILY ROOM: ~~Game shelf cleaned off, decluttered, purged and organized~~

KITCHEN: Clean out spice shelves above microwave

DINING ROOM: ~~Turtle cage cleaned out~~

SCHOOL ROOM/OFFICE: ~~Start on school table~~

MAIN BATHROOM: Under sink cleaned out and find a drawer that fits

MY BATHROOM: Top shelf in top cabinet

MY BEDROOM: ~~Sock drawer(s) ~ I need to weed out some socks~~~

KIDDOS ROOMS: Go through their pants and get rid of ones that do not fit

ERRANDS: Books back to library

PERSONAL: Work on typing recipes to put in my new binder - goal this week 5 typed, printed and in the binder!

Let's see what we can come up with this week:

LAUNDRY AREA: Top wire shelf cleaned off, decluttered, purged and organized.

FAMILY ROOM: go through the DVD's and get rid of VHS tapes

KITCHEN: Clean out spice shelves above microwave

DINING ROOM: Clean out underneath hutch

SCHOOL ROOM: finish school table

MAIN BATHROOM: Under sink cleaned out and find a drawer that fits

MY BATHROOM: Top shelf in top cabinet

MY BEDROOM: pajama drawer & get top of dresser cleaned off

KIDDOS ROOMS: Go through their coats/jackets/hoodies and get rid of ones that do not fit

ERRANDS: Books back to library

PERSONAL: Work on typing recipes to put in my new binder - goal this week 5 typed, printed and in the binder!

Join us at Mamamanuscript and share what you have going on this week!

Souper You Contest

2012-01-09T19:19:00.003-06:00

Are you ready for a new look this New Year? Progresso^® is excited to announce the return of their Souper You^® Contest giving you the change to win an incredible makeover! By telling Progresso why you deserve a makeover and what you love about their soup, you could have the chance to win an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood this Spring!

Now that the ball has dropped and the confetti has settled, it´s time to consider how you will stick to your resolution for the New Year and maintain your weight management plan, without sacrificing on variety or the taste of foods you love. Thanks to Progresso^®, you can have your soup and eat it too!

With 40 delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving, Progresso Soup has a variety of offerings that help you beat diet boredom and satisfy your taste cravings, while helping you stick to your weight management calorie goals. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including it in your meal choices.

o This year, the Souper You^® Contest will provide three lucky winners with an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood; this includes a trip for 2 to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season´s live finale of NBC´s The Biggest Loser

o Progresso is asking fans to visit www.SouperYou.com and submit their photo with a brief essay about why they love Progresso soups and why they deserve a makeover, by no later than February 22nd

o Fans can check back on March 12th for the announcement of the top ten finalists, and to vote for their favorite finalist until March 25th

o In addition, visit http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four (4) cans of Progresso Soup today, and feel free to share with your blog readers so they can take advantage of the savings as well

o Also, tune into The Biggest Loser on NBC Tuesdays at 8/7c

Click here to watch this amazing video of the 2011 winner experience. To share with others, simply embed the code below within your post or include this link, http://bit.ly/ProgressoSY11 in your Tweets, Facebook updates and blog posts.

This was provided to me by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

Discovering Patterns: Math, Logic and some Science

2012-01-09T10:17:00.000-06:00

Math around here happens whenever we can. Up until this past year, we used Math U See, but something wasn't clicking with it/them, so we stopped and have backed up and are doing some review. Curriculum, we are using Spectrum 6, along with another 6th grade math workbook and a word problem book. I chose the word problem book because that is what half of their standardized testing is. Word Problems. And while they are not *hard*, they can still be confusing... especially if you are under any pressure - like state mandated testing!

In addition to the workbooks, we use life as our math... they love finding out that something they are doing and enjoying turns out to be math! Cooking, games, shopping (they can coupon shop with the best of them!) & most recently, I handed over their savings account booklet & took them to the bank. We play Yahtzee, FracTazMic & Toss Up. Oh, and an upcoming review is a math... look for it to appear on my blog this month!

For science, we are Apologia all the way! We have studied through the Botany, made our way through the Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day and flew through the universe with Astronomy. This year we are trying to work our way though the Anantomy book. We are struggling with science... well, not really science, but Anatomy. We have done many other sciencey (is that a word?) things. We have made it through the first couple of lessons, made an edible cell, put together a skeleton & some of the notebook work. Other things we have done ~ cooking (wow, cooking falls into all sorts of curriculum categories), power labs at the library, and I have a few Science Fair project books that are available to them and we have done a few projects from there. Oh, and we can't forget when life happens!

Math and Science are such a part of life that even when we aren't *in the books*, we are still getting it!

MathLapbooks---Virtual Curriculum Fair Week 2 Angie Wright @ PetraSchool
VirtualCurriculum Fair Week Two: Discover Patterns, Mathematics, Logic andSome Science by Leah @ The Courtney Six Homeschool
OurChoices For Math by Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool
AMagnificent Math Manipulative by Letha Paulk @ justpitchingmytent
OurMath Choices - Virtual Curriculum Fair by Tristan @ Our BusyHomeschool
MathLiterature?!?! by Christine @ Crunchy Country Catholic
LearningMath at My House by Jessica @ Modest Mama
MathUsing Hamburger Paper by Debbie @ Debbie's Digest
MathFacts or Fun? Why Not Both! by Beth @ Ozark Ramblings
Heartof Dakota- The Fine Details- Part 2 Science by Lynn @ LadybugChronicles
LearningMath Block by Block by Laura O in AK @ Day by Day in Our World
PluggingAlong with Math by Cindy Horton @ Fenced in Family
What'sWorking and What's Not: Math Edition by Leann @ MontessoriTidbits
MathAnyone? by Cindy @ For One Another
Ahh,Math. by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun
FlyingWithout a Parachute: Math with no Curriculum by Pam @ EverydaySnapshots
Mathin Our Homeschool by Christine T @ Our Homeschool Reviews
Math,Math, and More Math by Dawn Chandler @ tractors & tire swings
ThinkingMathematically- How I Choose Math Curriculum by Kristen @ Sunriseto Sunset
DiscoveringPatterns: Math, Logic, and Some Science by Christa Darr @Fairfield Corner Academy
TheScience of Math by Brenda Emmett @ Garden of Learning
"Mom,did we do math today?" by Chrissy at Learning is an Adventure
Math,Math, and More Math by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory

Cookies & Milk with the Mayor

2012-01-08T16:45:00.000-06:00

It's time to cookie season!! One of the ways that our area kicks off this time of year is by hosting Cookies & Milk with the Mayor. This was our 3rd year having this program. First was with Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman, the with NLR Mayor Hayes. This year we were back in Sherwood with Mayor Hillman. Samantha was excited about it, because she had helped Mayor Hillman out with the gingerbread house.

Cathy, the PR person for the North Hills Service Unit, pulled off a wonderful Cookie Event! She encouraged all the girls/troops to participate in a cookie contest - they could either make a copy-cat Girl Scout Cookie or could prepare a dessert that used Girl Scout Cookies in it. She arranged for local media persons to be the judges for this contest (because they always have cameras with them!). Cathy also set up a cookie eating contest between a few of the local Firefighters and Police. In honor of Girl Scouts 100 Birthday, they raced eating 100 cookies each! I just have to say ~ GIRL POWER! It was a FEMALE volunteer Firefighter that won the contest!

Here is a shot of Samantha and a few of her troop with TV News-Anchor Pamela Smith:

Magid Glove Shoe Covers

2012-01-07T18:23:00.000-06:00

As part of a review team, I received a box of Magid Glove Shoe Covers. At first, I thought ~ what I am going to do with these, but as they sat on my table, I was able to put them to good use!

First, let me say that they are shoe covers that one would wear over shoes to prevent from tracking dirt in the house, usually seen by repair men when trekking in and out of your home. I guess it goes without saying that we really don't need a product such as these around here, but they are certainly of good quality and I even shared a handful with a friend who works for a pest control company. Curious as to how I know they are of good quality? Would you like to know what else these shoe covers can do? We have put them to several good uses around here! Of course, the kiddos wanted to put them on and see what they could do with the feet ~ they did an OK job of picking up dog hair, great at getting dirt off the hall floor and the one reason I only shared a few with our friend - they fit on my feet and can reach in the corners in the bathroom! Another thing that they have been great for ~ cleaning off the ceiling fan blades! We have used them on our hands as dust rags and they have worked well with many aspects of cleaning around here.

So, even though we didn't use these in the way they were intended, we have used them and feel that they are pretty durable.

Spelling Word Ideas

2012-01-03T14:36:00.000-06:00

As I was cleaning the stacked and piled school room, I came across this list. It is typed by me and printed out, so I do not know where I got it. It may not belong to anyone, and just be a collection of ideas I have found over time. If it is your's, or you know where it came from, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due!

Fancy Letters ~ Use old magazines, catalogs, or newspaper to cut out letters and glue them down to spell your words.

Spelling Baseball - draw four bases on a piece of paper or set up four chairs to be the bases. Pitcher selects a word. If the batter can spell it correctly, he moves forward one base. If the batter can not spell the word correctly, he remains where he is. Child receives a point every time he crosses home base. ( Going to try this one, I think the kiddos will like it ~ especially using chairs and them being able to move around).

Snowman or scarecrow or hangman ~ On a wipe off board, draw a snowman with hat and three buttons. Play like hangman, but erase the parts of the snowman. Object is to guess the word before the snowman melts.

ABC Order & reverse

Connect the Dots - Played like Dots, but must spell a word correctly before you can draw a line.

Colorful words ~ use two different colors to write spelling words, one for constants and one for vowels. Makes it easier for someone who is a visual learner to picture in their head.

Scrabble - use scrabble tiles to spell words

Pyramid ~ use graph paper, write one letter at a time, making the word into a pyramid.

30 second words ~ fold paper in quarters ~ Write the spelling word in one corner and give the child 30 seconds to write the word as many times as they can

Picture words ~ Draw a picture and write the words in the picture

Scrambled words ~ write the words scrambled up and have the child figure them out.

A Clean Heart ~ Trust in HIM!

2012-01-02T17:14:00.003-06:00

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

The key verse for this week. I printed off the verse card and posted it in my bathroom so I will see it at least twice each day! The devotional for the week speaks of the trust fall ~ can you do that? I cannot, not even falling into Rog's arms, no matter how hard I try. I always give that step at the last second. I am not completely convinced it is a lack of trust issue, I think a lot of it has to do with my fear of free falling. That is my biggest fear, not heights or being up high, just falling from them!

Trust is a hard word. Something that is earned, and sadly, sometimes, I trust to easy. I have been burned once, recently, with trusting someone, and now I think my guard is a little higher that it was before. Maybe that's the keep reason for this verse for this study ~ I need to trust in HIM, not in others.

I think this is also a great verse to start this year long study ~ TRUST IN HIM ~ my plan for 2012 ~

Another key word in these verses (this was discussed in my HS Bible Study group, thanks GP for pointing it out) Acknowledge ~ another word for submit! In all your ways submit to HIM, Trust what HE is going to do and then submit to let HIM!

Goal Planning Monday ~ 2012 Week 1

2012-01-02T17:14:00.001-06:00

Found this Meme again and want to join back up with it. Please check out Mamamanscript's blog to follow along!

I think I am going to continue as I was, breaking things down into each room, allowing me to work through the entire house!

LAUNDRY AREA: Top wire shelf cleaned off, decluttered, purged and organized.

FAMILY ROOM: Game shelf cleaned off, decluttered, purged and organized

KITCHEN: Clean out spice shelves above microwave

DINING ROOM: Turtle cage cleaned out

SCHOOL ROOM/OFFICE: Start on school table

MAIN BATHROOM: Under sink cleaned out and find a drawer that fits

MY BATHROOM: Top shelf in top cabinet

MY BEDROOM: Sock drawer(s) ~ I need to weed out some socks~

KIDDOS ROOMS: Go through their pants and get rid of ones that do not fit

ERRANDS: Books back to library

PERSONAL: Work on typing recipes to put in my new binder - goal this week 5 typed, printed and in the binder!

Goodbye 2011 ~ Hello 2012 ~

2012-01-01T22:23:00.000-06:00

New Year's Eve is my birthday, so we have always had a big gathering at my parent's house every year with family, friends, food and fun (usually in the form of board games). Always my parents, sister and various other family and friends. The people who are there sometimes change from year to year, but we always have a great time ~ last night was no exception! I mean, when is Catch Phrase at midnight NOT fun? Everyone had a good time, until Riley got sick... Rog took him home and let me and Sam stay and play games ~ we didn't get home until almost 2am.

So, with Riley not feeling well and Sam and I partying too late, needless to say, our day was spent lounging (ok, sleeping). We all got up and went to church, but came back home and crashed. We spent most of the day resting and watching movies. Nice way to start off the year & wrap up our holiday time ~ back to life as we know it tomorrow!

Playing with Words ~ the Language Arts

2012-01-01T10:14:00.000-06:00

I have joined in a Virtual Curriculum Fair during the month of January. Please click the link to read other's that have joined in!

Language Arts ~ what do you use? We have used a few things over the years, curriculum wise as well as *extras*.
We have flipped curriculum lately because we never could find that one that fit us. When the kiddos were younger, we used First Language Lessons. I loved it for first and second grade and felt it was a pretty good solid start to Grammar for sure. We also used it in 3rd grade, because I liked it so much. The problem with continuing in third grade was there was a lot, I mean A LOT, of sentence diagramming. I think that it's OK for them to learn diagramming, but I just felt like it was too much at that age. Plus, I had (have) one with a bit of learning struggles, so I felt like we needed to spend time focusing on things that were more important. This year, 6th grade, we are using Spectrum. While it is mainly book work we like it. The one thing about Language Arts, it pretty much stays the same - I mean, a noun is a noun when you in the first or the tenth! We currently use all 5 Spectrum Workbooks for Language Arts ~ Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary, Reading, Writing. The lessons are short and mostly painless ~ we usually do just one-two pages in each book each day. I am liking the way this is working for us, so it will probably remain our choice for Language Arts!

I also wanted to share some other things that we do that are extra's that we have fun with!

MadLibs ~ kiddos love MadLibs, not only are they great reinforcement for parts of speech, they are cheap and travel easy!

Dictionary.com word of the day ~ they can look up the word and we try to use it during the day.

Email ~ we email each other all the time ~ great writing practice for them. They also email both of their Grandma's pretty regularly.

Grocery List ~ they help me make my shopping lists

Gram Slam ~ a grammar game I got years ago from CurrClick.

ABC Game ~ always a must when we travel!

Library ~ we go at least once a week and they always have books that they are in the middle of

Words With Friends ~ I purchased it for their Nooks and they each have several games going with family members.

Apps on my phone ~ In addition to them having WWF on their Nook, I also have several apps on my phone that they have access to ~ Chickonary, Word Drop, iAssociate, Spelling Drills & Typing Maniac are a few ~ and I have gotten the all free.

Board Games ~ we play Scrabble and Boggle (I feel like there are a couple of more, but they are not coming to me right now). OK, I cleaned out my game shelf ~ some of the others were ~ Last Word, Pass The Bomb & In a Pickle (good for vocab)

I just added a list of spelling ideas ~ check them out.

Interested in seeing how others work Language Arts into their schooling? Check out the links below!

Reading on Time by Cindy Horton @ Fenced in Family

Playing with Words: the Language Arts by ChristaDarr @ Fairfield Corner Academy

Readingand Beyond: Language Arts in Our Homeschool by Laura O in AK @Day by Day in Our WorldLanguageArts that Work for Us by Melissa @ Grace Christian School

LearningLanguage at Our House by Jessica @ Modest Mama

VirtualCurriculum Fair: Language Arts by Christine T. @ Our HomeschoolReviews

TheLearning of Language by Dawn @ tractors & tire swings

Readingand Spelling: Modifying the Magic by Pam @ Pam and EverydaySnapshots

AnIn Depth Look at All About Spelling by Missouri Mama @ OzarkRamblings

VirtualCurriculum Fair: Let's Talk About Words by Debra @ Footprints inthe Butter

WhyWe Love Classical Conversations Essentials (and how I know that is nota complete sentence!) by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun

VirtualCurriculum Fair---Playing with Words: the Language Arts by Angie@ Petra School

WholeLanguage vs. Phonics by Christine @ Crunchy Country Catholic

It'sAll About the Art of Language by Brenda Emmett @ Garden ofLearning

WatchingMovies for Language Arts Class by Debbie @ Debbie's Digest

Only5 Spelling Tests a Year! (Can we do that?) by LP @justpitchingmytent

Playingwith Words by Chrissy @ Learning is an Adventure

LanguageArt at Our House by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
VirtualCurriculum Fair Week One Playing with Words: the Language Arts byLeah Courtney @ The Courtney Six Homeschool Blog
Playingwith Words, the Language Arts by Cindy @ For One Another

Mom and Me ~ with Sam!

2011-12-30T22:23:00.000-06:00

Riley was invited to Join some friends at JumpZone ~ a place full of inflatables. While he was out jumping the day away ~ I took Sam to a place called Apricot Girls ~ specializes in younger girls -for a mani/pedi makeover. She had fun ~ I enjoyed watching her!

ETA ~ photos ~ this was my first (and last with photos) attempt at blogging from my phone.

Cozi.com

2011-12-29T22:16:00.000-06:00

I know that you all have probably heard for Flylady.net, right? While I think she has some awesome ideas and I do use many of her suggestions, I cannot use her on a routine basis. Two reasons - one, too many emails for me and two, I hate shoes...

Anyways, in my recent attempts at keeping my sink shiny and drinking my water, I learned of Cozi.com. I loaded it to my phone and to hubby's phone. I didn't think much more about it until he called one day to tell me he had entered his work schedule for the next two weeks on the calendar. My first thought was, if he's gonna use it then I guess I better. That has been almost a year and we continue to use it faithfully. The kiddos got a Nook for Christmas and I have downloaded the app for them and they are using it as well. Since it has been such a great tool in our household this past year, I thought I would share it with you all.

There are several components to Cozi.com. First, it is internet based, so when Roger or I update anything in the app - it's already there for the other to see. The different options are Calendar, To Do, Shopping List & Journal (Oh, and Meal Planning - but it's not available through the phone yet - however, I am using it and I do love it!).

CALENDAR: We each have our own color, including one for ALL of us & one for Chunky & Goosey (my niece and nephew). Like I mentioned, the kiddos have access to it so they can see what all is going on, as well as add to what plans we already have. The print feature has a few options ~ this week, next three weeks or month. You can choose where to start on each of these. I use the next three weeks option and sometime during Friday or Saturday, I print out the next three weeks, starting with Sunday. I do this each weekend, allowing for any additions or changes that have been made over the week. This goes on the fridge. It is the middle page between the two magnet strips.

MEAL PLANNING: The bottom page, hanging by a clip is our meal plan for the week. I plan out a week at a time, printing it out on Tuesday morning (Monday's are our usual errand day, so I plan my meals Tuesday-Monday.) I don't plan too far out because it will print all you have planned, and one week is enough! I usually don't worry about the next week until closer to the weekend, so I can work in meals that we planned for but something else came up ~ but I still have all the ingredients to make!

SHOPPING: This allows for multiple lists ~ love it! I have an ongoing Kroger, WalMart, Pet Store, Hobby Lobby, Dollar General list ~ everyone is pretty good about adding to the list (mostly grocery, and I still have to direct them as to which list some items need to go in).

TO DO: This also has a place for multiple lists. I have a few ongoing in there as well ~ ERRANDS (I just add to it as I think of things I need to do on the following Monday - then that morning, I can check it to make sure I have everything I need!). I also have a MAIN to do list for me, as well as a CLEANING LIST for me, a TO DO list for ROGER. Currently, I have a list of things to do in the camper when it gets home from deer camp (Rog's dad brought it home Saturday, so I guess that we will get on that list soon!).

JOURNAL: This feature can be used in many different ways ~ I have used it to journal field trips, because I can do it from my phone, while we are on the trip! You can only add one photo per entry from the phone, but you can make as many entry's per date that you want. I usually do at least 2 - one for Samantha and one for Riley on each of our field trips. I think now that they have access through their Nooks, they can start doing the journaling part, after I add the photo!

So, there is how our life works best with Cozi.com! Like I said, it is internet based, so anyone can use it as long as you have web access ~ but it's even better as an app on your smart phone!

*(Oh, and the top calendar on the fridge in the photo ~ http://www.mysimplerlife.com/2012.htm ~ working on decluttering this year!)

TOP 5 Projects/Goals for your Heart & Home in 2012

2011-12-26T07:16:00.000-06:00

I have recently joined a group on facebook called Devotional for the Disorganized. It is a group that plans to work through Dandelionseeds Clean Heart, Clean Home devotional. In addition to the devotional, the moderators will be issuing weekly challenges. All of this will be starting on January 1st. She has actually issued us an early challenge to list our top 5 projects/goals for our heart and home for 2012. The challenge is for 5 total, but after some thought, I am going to list 5 each.

Personal Goals:
1. Daily Bible reading and quiet time
2. My health. Not just the weight issues, but focusing heavily on getting my Lupus under control
3. More fun and educational learning things with the kiddos
4. Once a month date night
5. Once a month family dates

Clean Home Goals:
1. Get my recipes organized in my new recipe binder
2. Office clean!
3. De-clutter throughout the entire house
4. Kiddos rooms re-arranged and in order
5. Get finances in order

So, there is a start on what my goals are for this next year. Are you feeling a little disorganized? Start by downloading the Devotional from Dandelion Seeds and if you want, join the group on Facebook~ it is a closed group, so email me if you want in and I will figure out how to get you in there!

Kibbles ~ our Elf on a Shelf

2011-12-25T10:16:00.000-06:00

The weekend (Friday morning to be exact) before Christmas, we woke up to a book on the table and an extra set of eyes on the kiddos ~ they named him Kibbles. Appropriate, because if he lands anywhere that the dog can reach him, well... let's not go there...

This is where he showed up Friday morning ~ on the hutch by the kitchen table ~ the book was close by and neither kid paid any attention to the book, until the elf caught their eye...

Saturday and Sunday morning, he was just in various places~ I guess getting comfortable here at our house?

Monday morning, he had erased my baking list and wrote a message from Santa... he sat on the fridge all day Monday...

Tuesday, he got into the pancake mix that I had left out from Monday morning...

What a mess...

He must have been paying attention to us Tuesday night when we cleaned out the turtle cage & thought he wanted to help?

Thursday morning, thankfully he didn't make a mess, just re-arranged my ducks..

He thought he would hang on to the Mt. Dew ~ Roger takes one with him in the mornings...

Waiting on me to light the candle? This was where he was the last morning he was with us.

You know, the kiddos really loved looking for him each morning and thought the things he did was pretty funny ~ as I am finishing this post up on Monday night, they haven't said one thing about him... wonder how long it will be?

Christmas Trees for breakfast

2011-12-24T10:17:00.000-06:00

I don't feel like we have done much this December, I have tried to do some fun things that they would remember ~ but I feel that I haven't been very successful... Anyways, here are a couple of my feeble attempts to make a smile and a memory... (I got both ideas from Pinterest, not sure where because I just saw the photos and went with it)

Roger also made the biscuits in the shape of a tree as well.

Oh, and we make Toad In A Hole all the time, and we have been using our Christmas cookie cutters for that- I think we will be using all of our cookie cutters more ~ amazing how something so small and plastic can make you smile!

Destination Disney ~ the letter Z

2011-12-23T12:24:00.000-06:00

Besides the zebra in the Harambe Reserve, I had NOTHING else for Z, so I decided to go this route... it seems appropriate, right?

Stay tuned to see what Heidi comes up with next!!

Christmas at the Capitol

2011-12-21T10:21:00.001-06:00

Monday night, we I had a ladies outing with the ladies from church. We went to a place called Loca Luna. I met my best-friend-co-leader and we rode together. Dinner was nice, and as we were wrapping up, it was suggested we go to the State Capitol to the manger scene and do our closing prayer and gift exchange. Driving up on the Capitol grounds Mel (best-friend-co-leader) mentioned this was as close to the Capitol she had ever been. My suggestion was next time she was off work with the kiddos that we all take off over there and do a self-guided tour. We got back up to the front of the Capitol just as they were locking the doors and she commented on the pretty tree in the rotunda... We decided we would leave straight after church Wednesday night and head over and see things all decorated...

Outside when we pulled up

All of the kiddos that we took to see Christmas at the Capitol

Samantha and one of her very dear sweetest best friends...

Me and my best-friend-co-leader

Sam and I, as seen through the eyes of a large red ornament

Riley and I

Chunky being an Oompa Loompa?

pretty tree...

JOY to the World..

All the kiddos on the third floor - I'm still on the second

All the kiddos on the 4th floor - taken from the second

Close up of 4th floor

A pretty I found waiting on them to come back down

From the lobby looking up

PEACE from the front steps

Ice skating

2011-12-21T10:21:00.000-06:00

A friend took the kiddos ice skating this morning ~ Samantha's second time, Riley's first...

Next step ~ Second Class

2011-12-20T07:13:00.000-06:00

Riley has been working hard towards his next scout ranking. He has progressed to Second Class Scout (and only like 2 requirements for First Class).

Going to spend some time over the break working to be ready for the next Board of Reviews!

Christmas Piano Recital

2011-12-19T10:15:00.000-06:00

Samantha had her Christmas Piano Recital this afternoon. She played Silent Night.

I wasn't able to get a good photo... I should have moved. Roger videoed it, but this was the same view he got.

She has told me that she wants to learn to play *fur elise* next...

Destination Disney ~ the letter Y

2011-12-16T12:24:00.000-06:00

Ok, this is a stretch, but here goes...

Yes, we have no bananas...

Yikes! A monster!

And finally, You've Got A Friend In Me...

Class Day Christmas Program

2011-12-12T16:47:00.000-06:00

We have participated in a Co-op all semester with our homeschool group. The kiddos have been in Geography, Art and Music. Tonight was their Christmas Open House program and they had their art hanging on the wall in the halls *bad momma moment- I didn't take any pictures of their art* and they put on a small concert for us all.

I make up for the lack of art photos with the video of their song, right?

Samantha is part of the 6th grade girls group that are singing the beginning part... (Well, it should be here, I don't know where it is... I will upload it to my FB page ~ Fairfield Corner Academy)

Stacking bread

2011-12-09T16:46:00.000-06:00

How does that sound for a day full of fun?

A mom in our Homeschool Group arranged for us to do a service project at The Rice Depot. Turns out they get their bread donations on Friday mornings, so we were assigned to boxing bread to be delivered to food banks around the state.

If it makes you feel any better, the group boxed enough bread to make roughly 60,000 sandwiches! Plus, we went out for lunch and then skating for the afternoon!

Destination Disney ~ the letter X

2011-12-09T12:23:00.000-06:00

Having to fudge a little here...
eXpedition everest...

CREW REVIEW: I See Cards ~ Fractazmic

2011-12-09T06:50:00.000-06:00

So, fractions are not really a strong subject for me... especially if I don't have any paper to work it all out on.... (or a dry erase board)

(I'm teaching my kiddos the love for dry-erase as well!)

Ok, so back to me not loving fractions so much... so, we started working on them earlier this year, but I really felt there was a gap with them and their multiplication tables - so we backed up and are really hitting on that - putting the fraction work on hold. We dove into this game knowing basically nothing about fractions. It was a little scary at first, but the more we play, the more they learn! And they ASK to play it!! It has been the game of the week around here the past few weeks!!

I think the thing I like most about it, they are learning fractions in a not so scary way! They have both really taken this game and tried -with little help- to figure out if they have a whole. And their need for my help has gotten to be less and less! YAY! We are getting the hang of this... without a workbook!

You can get your own set of Fractazmic Cards from I See Cards. The deck cost just $6.95... not bad to teach my kiddos math!!

*Disclaimer: My family was given this product free of charge to use and form our own opinion of and share with our readers. The thoughts and opinions expressed about this item are strictly opinions of myself or my children.*

B-17 Bomber stops in NLR

2011-12-07T08:19:00.000-06:00

We got word of EAA's tour with the B-17 Bomber Aluminim Overcast coming to an airport not far from us. The original information that I first saw about it was actual up in the air tours... for $425 per person. Yeah, not going to be doing that one!

The day before, one of the homeschool mom's in our group sent out a message saying they were offering ground tours for $15 per family... we decided we could handle that. So, after our gingerbread adventures, we ran to the house, grabbed Rog and Em and headed to the airport... in barely enough time for the kiddos to crawl through and check things out.

Riley was pretty excited about it... and has talked about it several time since then. Sam and I, not so much... It was a plane... and I'm just not that into things like that. I am excited that we got to go and see something like that, but I couldn't get overly excited about an airplane. (I know it was used in WWII and all, but still - it was just a plane to me). Anyways, between Em and I, we got several photos with my camera (kiddos got tons with their own cameras). Here are a few of the best ones...

Making a Gingerbread House for the Mayor

2011-12-07T08:18:00.000-06:00

Samantha & Riley got a personal invitation from a long ago friend of mine to come to the Mayor's office and decorate a Gingerbread House for her. She had been invited to submit one for Gingerbread Extravaganza, a fundraiser for a foster home in Little Rock. They contact several local celebrities and ask them to do this and they are on display during the event at the State Capitol. We called up another friend and they joined us to decorate the house. Kiddos had so much fun and they did this all on their own ~

Teacher Geek, a weird review...

2011-12-05T16:45:00.000-06:00

Check out this cool arm... If you want info on where I got it, please email me or leave your email in the comments section.

I have to admit when I opened the package and saw all of the pieces, I was a little worried. I was also thankful that the directions were worked out in very basic step-by-step. It took us a few days to get this done, and we were able to come back and pick up where we left off with out any issues.

I struggled putting this together. It was too hard for the kiddos to do on their own, and I had some time where it was really hard for me also. Once we got it together, it was pretty cool... I am going to *try* and upload a video -

(see, I'm easily entertained - this was pretty cool! Kiddos thoughts so also!)

While the arm is *finished*, it's really not. We are struggling with our base, so we are going to try and mount it on a more stable piece of wood, we are having issues with getting the water through the LONG tubing for the 3ml syringe & our fingers aren't matching up to pick something up... So, a little more fine tuning and it will be good to go! Oh, and we need to change out the water and add food coloring - because I think that will make a huge difference!

While this looks fun and like a toy, it is not. This is an educational product that needs to be used with adult supervision. I felt this could probably go without saying, because it was a challenge to put together. I allow my kiddos to do many things on their own, but they would not have been able to assemble this alone.

Please ignore the background - we scooted schoolwork out of the way and worked on the arm during lunch!
Riley was trying to make it pick up our small screw driver- even though I told him it was too heavy!

Close up of the control center...

The entire arm...

We managed to get it to pick up some cotton!

Crew Review: PITSCO

2011-12-02T16:44:00.000-06:00

Seige Machines? I think they are just what we needed here at the house! Seriously, I love finding clay balls all up and down the hall from the most recent battle or flinging contest! We have absolutely LOVED these machines!

And we had LOTS of help...

Pitsco Education sent us both Trebuchet and a Catapult. We put the Trebuchet together first, and I do have to admit, it was a little hard. In fact, as hard as it was for us to get it together, I am a little disappointed in how well it (doesn't) work. Don't get me wrong, it works, as far as flinging items, but I just thought it would work a little better than it does - it may be faulty assembly on our part, but the kiddos still love it!

The Catapult, I had Roger help them put it together and of course, it was easy breezey... the Catapult is my favorite, mainly because it can fling acorns, mini marshmallows, and little army men. Yes, you name it, it has flown down my hall via the Catapult. The Trebuchet has to have more weight on it, so we were not as successful with other things using it.

We also received the Seige Machine book that has many tasks and charts to encouraging using the machines.

For more reviews on these products, please follow the Crew Link above!
*Disclaimer: My family was given this product free of charge to use and form our own opinion of and share with our readers. The thoughts and opinions expressed about this item are strictly opinions of myself or my children.*

Destination Disney ~ the letter W

2011-12-02T12:22:00.000-06:00

Waiting for the monorail

WAY up high ~ we were on the Astro-Orbiter

WAKE UP! Time to go to Hollywood!!

Water ~ Roger was in this scene

White Power Ranger

WhEEEE!!!!!!

B&B Media Group: What do you think of me? What do I care?

2011-12-01T22:11:00.001-06:00

Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency and the Fear of Man

In his latest release, author Edward T. Welch

offers a way of escape for young adults held

captive by the opinions of others

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX—In an increasingly unstable culture, being obsessed with what others think is an escalating struggle among teens and young adults, leading to more serious consequences than ever before. Although everyone—whether they’re sixteen or sixty—works hard to win someone’s approval or ward off someone’s rejection, these issues plague teenagers and young adults with particular intensity. And how teens and young adults answer the big questions of their lives now will affect the direction of their adult lives for better or worse. In his new book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions of Life (New Growth Press, October 2011), Edward T. Welch extends hope to those weary of hiding behind a mask of performance in order to gain love and acceptance.

Peer pressure, codependency, shame, low self-esteem—these are just some of the words used to identify how young people can be controlled by the perceived opinions of others. Stand out in the right way to the right people, and you’re on top of the world. But experience failure in front of those same people and prepare for a sinking sensation in your stomach and a night of tossing and turning.

Why do you care? Why do we all care? These are questions that can’t be answered without listening to God, the One who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves.In What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?Welch takes the big questions of life and shows that freedom from what people think of us comes as we learn who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. Only then will we be able to let go of our masks, stop trying to fill our leaky love cups and begin to live for something bigger than ourselves.

An interactive book, What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?includes questions throughout the text for individual or group study and is especially aimed at teenagers and young adults. A corresponding website rich with controversy and dialogue, My-Big-Life-Question.com, will also offer readers a place to discuss personal needs as well as to find other resources for life’s journey and places to go for help.

“I want to draw people to the path of becoming truly human, where you are controlled by God more than other people and where you love others more than you need them to love you,” says Welch. “The result? Genuine loving relationships and the ability to make a lasting impact on the world around us. It’s a hard process, but it’s wonderful and the results are worth it.”

Author Bio: Edward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for over twenty-five years and is the best-selling author of many books, includingWhen People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness;Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest;and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren.

_________________________

Since 1987, The B & B Media Group, Inc. has used its broadcasting, marketing and advertising experience to provide the specialized and strategic publicity necessary to achieve the public relations goals of each client. The Barnabas Agency, a division of The B & B Media Group, Inc., is a proven provider of exceptional public relations and personal management services for authors, speakers, ministries and organizations.

This was quite an eye-opening book. I am glad I have read it and I will be hanging on to it to read with my kiddos as they get a bit older.

It did make me think... What Do I Care? I pray that it makes others think the same!

*Disclaimer: My family was given this product free of charge to use and form our own opinion of and share with our readers. The thoughts and opinions expressed about this item are strictly opinions of myself or my children.*

FIRST: Truth or Dare Devotional by Ann-Margret Hovespian

2011-11-30T16:14:00.000-06:00

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Ann-Margret Hovsepian

and the book:

Truth and Dare Devotional

David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ann Margret Hovsepian is a published author, freelance writer and editor and amateur artist. She has published more than 210 articles for dozens of Canadian and U.S. print periodicals and has become a sought-after author of pre-teen girls’ devotional books. She has published Blossom: The Complete New Testament for Girls (Thomas Nelson, 2006) and The One Year Designer Genes Devo (Tyndale, 2007). She speaks at conferences and events and is actively involved on the board of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Hovsepian resides in Montreal, Canada.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Is your pre-teen daughter ready for more—more excitement, more adventure, more joy? Then dare her to discover the secret to a life that sparkles for God. Show her she’s got what it takes to make an impact on the world. Ann Margret Hovsepian’s newest book, Truth and Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls, is designed for girls 9 to 12 and filled with powerful wisdom on everything from godly friendships to worshipping God.

It can be easy for young girls to neglect their Bible reading. Perhaps they feel Scripture doesn’t directly relate to them. Maybe they may lack encouragement or accountability, or they may just have too many distractions in their everyday lives. This lack of spiritual food can stunt girls’ spiritual growth and make them vulnerable to the temptations and ungodly influences around them. It can also prevent them from developing a love for Scripture early in life, making it even harder to get into God’s Word when they get older.

Truth and Dare encourages tween girls to discover how exciting God’s Word can be. They will see it make a difference in their daily lives and experience the blessings that come from doing it and not just hearing it. Daily challenges (dares) based on Scripture (truth) will provide opportunities for them to make their faith come alive as they learn to serve others, build character and make a difference.

Scripture will be transformed from something learned to something lived. Girls will delight in discovering how God’s Word can become real in whole new ways as they learn to apply it with each day’s dare. It ideally suits anyone looking to inspire a young girl to boldly live out her faith. So encourage the tween girl in your life to take the dare and discover the truth! It’s her time to shine as a girl who knows what it means to live a fierce and fearless life of faith.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434702081
ISBN-13: 978-1434702081

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER (To enlarge, click on the images):

LOVE IT! I originally thought I would sit down with the kiddos and we would do these devotionals each day, but I LOVE the format - yearly - so I skimmed through the book and decided that these were going under the tree!! I am so excited for them to have a good devotional to work through this next year!

FIRST: Triple Dog Dare by Jeremy V. Jones

2011-11-29T16:12:00.001-06:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Jeremy Jones

and the book:

Triple Dog Dare Devotional

David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jeremy V. Jones is an award-winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor of Breakaway magazine. He has authored several books, including Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story and The Keeper: The Tim Hoard Story. He also writes for magazines such as Clubhouse and Christianity Today. He resides with his wife and two children in Colorado.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Boys want action. They don’t want to sit around and talk—that’s for grown-ups and girls. They engage life and relationships by doing something: skateboarding, playing games or re-creating favorite movie scenes. So why should faith be any different? That’s why Jeremy V. Jones created Triple Dog Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys—to provide the action boys need in order to grow their faith.

The Bible is full of action. Remember how David slew Goliath, Daniel faced those lions, Paul survived a shipwreck and Jesus stood up for a woman about to be killed? God made boys to take His truth and do something with it, to man up and change the world. These action-packed devotions for boys ages 9 to 12 are filled with godly truth and bold spiritual challenges that transform time with God into the adventure of the day.

Triple Dog Dare connects God’s Word to boys’ hearts and hands with real-life scenarios and activities. Each day is filled with short Scriptures, concise biblical truth and a daily dare, all challenging them to put their faith into practice. Scripture readings from every book of the Bible open up the action-packed Word of God. Whether it’s drawing comic strips of biblical battles, dreaming up a life list of goals, making snack packs for the homeless or producing Bible-based movies, boys will go on daily dynamic experiences with God, taking faith off the page and setting it into motion. Themes cover the daily realities of pre-teen males, including bullying, peer pressure, girls, sibling rivalry, honesty and more.

These exciting devotions will inspire boys’ hearts toward godly characteristics such as integrity, generosity and kindness. Parents will appreciate watching Christ-like traits emerge as each dare is undertaken. It is a manual that will deepen boys’ friendships with Jesus as they look forward to spending time with Him every day. So if you know a boy who is up for the challenge, triple dog dare him!

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0781404576
ISBN-13: 978-0781404570

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER (Click on images to enlarge):

Christmas Family Traditions ~ one of ours...

2011-11-28T12:44:00.000-06:00

Family traditions... I loved having the ones my family had growing up ~ and I am loving the ones we are making for our family. I didn't really think about it until this year, that we had started our own. The first tradition of each year that we have ~ Christmas Tree Farm! I say it's the first, because we go Thanksgiving weekend!

When we first got married, we had a fake tree... several of them to be exact... after the kiddos were born, we couldn't find a good tree.. they kept falling apart and were just not worth anything. When they were three, we decided to see about cutting our own. Fun times and even though it was a bit messy, it was completely worth it! No hassle, no clean up, nothing - take the ornaments off and drag it to the burn pile! We didn't give it much more thought until the following year when the kiddos actually asked about going and cutting a tree down... been every year since!

This year, the kiddos were able to get the tree down completely alone - Rog didn't have to help cut on it at all!

Load up on the tractor and head out to the middle of the farm...

Pick out the perfect tree...

Yep, that's the one!

Take turns working on getting it to come down...

Time to load up and take it home to make our own!

Both kiddos have their own Christmas box that we started for them when they were younger. Each year, they are able to add their own ornaments and Christmas decorations to it and whenever they leave home, they will have a start up kit for their trees! We never put anything else on the tree, just the kiddos ornaments... and they get to decorate it! This year, they even put the lights on it and all! Rog and I just sat back and watched!

Attack of the lights... this is what happens when kiddos get to decorate the tree...

Final product!

We interrupt this marriage ~

2011-11-26T07:02:00.000-06:00

to bring you
HUNTING SEASON!

Actually, it is a family affair around here! We always go down for Youth Hunt the weekend before Opening Day. The kiddos love to be in the woods...I'm sure it will only intensify when they bring something home.

We arrived Thursday evening (so we could go to Civil War Days) and this <-- was arrival looked like!

The kiddos were so full of energy and eager for the weekend... thought they would NEVER calm down!

Samantha headed out with Gramma, Ry went with Rog and I got to stay at the camper ALL BY MYSELF and read! It was nice...until I heard the shot and Gramma whisper across the walkie-talkies that Samantha had shot. They waited a bit to go look for it and best they could figure, she must have missed it.

Once they all returned, Gramma let me know that Samantha was so scared after she pulled the trigger that she started crying... Poor baby... she told me it scared her! (She went out with Grandpa another time during the weekend and had a great shot but refused - maybe it's not for her? But doesn't she look so cute in camo/hunter orange?)

What a better way to wrap up youth hunt than with popcorn over the fire pit? It was so good!

Roger and I took the kiddos and went back down for Opening Day, and stayed for the week. Roger got to hunt alone during the weekend, but he had to take the kiddos out during the week.

He took Samantha out first, and once again, she had opportunity, but didn't shot.

Riley talked me into going out with him while Rog and Sam were out...

We had fun, but didn't see anything...

Rog and Riley went out again on another afternoon, but didn't see anything. Sam and I stayed back, because if she wasn't going to pull the trigger, then I wasn't going to sit out there with her...

Destination Disney ~ the letter V

2011-11-25T12:21:00.000-06:00

Well, I don't know that I have anything for this one either!!! Let me go look...

Viking!!
But, that's all...

Destination Disney ~ the letter U

2011-11-18T12:20:00.000-06:00

Uuhhhh....
I have nothing....
Wait, this one was taken in United Kingdom at Epcot... I think...

Oh, and look what I found while searching for V ~

Destination Disney ~ the letter T

2011-11-11T12:20:00.000-06:00

TinkerToys!

Topiary

Toontown

Train

and... THUNDERSTORM!

Veteran's Day ~ 2011

2011-11-11T07:04:00.000-06:00

At church, we had our Annual Veteran's Day breakfast to honor the local Vet's and their families. We invited my Pepaw out, he and one of our church members are WWII Vets.

After the breakfast, Chelle, Em, Sam and I headed to Jacksonville Military Museum for their Annual Veteran's Service. They have the Arkansas Traveling Memorial displayed during this time and they honor the recent fallen at this service...

After the service the museum is open for free tours, so we went through it. My kiddos enjoy going and Em and Chelle had never been before, so it was a nice time.

CREW: Vocab Cafe'

2011-11-09T13:45:00.000-06:00

College Prep Genius sent us their complete Vocab Cafe series. This series was designed to teach SAT level words while reading though the stories. Each story has over 300 advanced words that are taught throughout the story. The definition of each word is included right there in the chapter.

These books are geared toward older middle school - high school aged students. I knew that my kiddos were still a little young by the title of one - I.M. for Murder. Not just because of the murder part, but they don't even know what I.M. means.
I did read through Operation High School, and while it was *high school* level, I did like the approach of sharing the vocabulary words. I do think this is a good product, and have placed them on a shelf here at the house and when the kiddos get a little older and are more familiar with things like I.M. and High School, then I will definitely pull them back out and use them for vocabulary.
Please visit the Crew link about and see what others have to say about this series!

*Disclaimer: My family was given this product free of charge to use and form our own opinion of and share with our readers. The thoughts and opinions expressed about this item are strictly opinions of myself or my children.*

Power Labs at the Library

2011-11-09T07:04:00.000-06:00

So, once a month a local library does this thing called Power Lab where they do some kind of science experiment with the kiddos. We have gone before, it was Miss Molly who first introduced us to Mentos and Diet Coke, but we are not regular in attendance.

This month, the newest Children's Librarian showed us Exploding Cobras. This was pretty cool and Riley is BEGGING me to get a box of craft sticks *sounds like a good Christmas present*! Anyways, here are a few photos and the not so hot video I was able to capture of it.

This video doesn't begin to explain the coolness of this project (for 11 year old boys anyways) so be sure to search youtube for Cobra Weave Exploding Stick Bomb to see how neat it really is!

Hmm, maybe we should make more of an effort to put this on our calendar and attend Power Labs!

While waiting for my video to upload, I googled it for you! Here are the instructions on how to make this -

http://www.instructables.com/id/Cobra-Weave-Exploding-Stick-Bomb/ and here is a link to a youtube video that is pretty cool ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiWxU3jXOFc&feature=relmfu

2011 Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 5

2011-11-05T10:49:00.000-05:00

Today, I am making this thankful for post an extension of yesterday's.
I am thankful for my children's friends. Mainly due to homeschooling, they have made some like-minded friends that I approve of them hanging out with! (This is an extension of the friends that I have made through homeschooling!).
They also have friends from scouts and the fire department and other places that I am grateful for. There are not any of their friends that I wouldn't take in as my own...

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 4

2011-11-04T15:27:00.000-05:00

Today I am thankful for my friends. I have a few friends that I have been friends with FOREVER (Amy, Amy!) and they are the BEST!! No matter where we go, what happens in our lives, our friendship never fades!
I have made some really special friends through our homeschool group over the past few years. I would have never thought that being a homeschool family would mean that I would have friends like I do now!
I can't forget my friends that live in my computer! I would have never thought that I could have such a strong bond with people I have never met!
I am also thankful for friends in my past, that I have lost touch with, those who's life has taken them a different direction than where mine was going... I know I am who I am today because of them.
I fully believe that saying about A Season, A Reason or A Lifetime.

Destination Disney ~ the letter S

2011-11-04T12:18:00.000-05:00

As you know, it rains at least once a day at Disney ~ we actually gotSTORM!

And we were SOAKED!!

There were SODAS from all over..

some were SOUR!

SUGARS!!

And we can't forget ~ SOARIN!

Old Washington State Park ~ Civil War Days

2011-11-04T07:01:00.000-05:00

I am somehow on our State Parks email list and most of the good stuff is usually a couple hours away, so I usually just delete it. One email, however, caught my attention and I investigated it further and it turned out to be a doable trip, so we went!

We were planning to go down to deer camp either Thursday night or Friday morning to get ready for youth hunt. I read about Old Washington State Park - Civil War School Days that was happening that Friday. Old Washington is in Hope, which is just about an hour from deer camp!! We loaded up and headed down Thursday night.

Up early Friday morning, we loaded up and set out to see what this was about. Turns out, they were having Civil War re-enactment days over the weekend, so while everyone was setting up, they allowed school groups in for a tour. Everyone was really friendly and the kiddos got to do tons of things!

The Nina, The Pinta &

2011-11-03T08:56:00.000-05:00

The Santa Maria (that was too big for the Arkansas River).

Little Rock was one of the places that was chosen this year for the Nina and Pinta tour. They are only in town for 5 days, so we joined the homeschool group and took off to LR and went on the tour!

This was an absolutely awesome tour! There are several crew members that travel with the boat and have such cool trivia about the original voyage, as well as their travels on board these ships. We were down there about an hour, but it is set up to spend as long as you want there, once you get in!

It was all hands on, as long as you don't untie any ropes! The crew mates were great to answer any questions that the kiddos may have had as well!

You can visit www.thenina.com and learn more about this tour and if it may be coming somewhere close to you!!

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 3

2011-11-03T04:24:00.000-05:00

Today, I am thankful for the rest of my family ~ my parents, my sister, my aunts & uncles, cousins, and all the extended folks!
I know I am super blessed that I had all 4 of my grandparents many years longer than most. I lost my first gramma in December of 01, almost 10 years ago. My granpa passed in 09, then I lost my Meme this past May. I am thankful for my Pepaw, who is a blessing in my & my kiddos life! Not only was I blessed with grandparents for so long, but my kiddos got to know 3 of their 4 great grandparents!
My family has always been close. I have 4 cousins that are all within a couple of years age range from me and we have always been close. Life has changed us and we are all at different places right now, but I know they are there for me. Same for my aunts and uncles, great aunts & great uncles. My kiddos have been blessed with not only great aunts & uncles, but great-greats that they have been able to get to know.

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 2

2011-11-02T12:32:00.000-05:00

Another pretty common thing that I need to start off with being thankful for ~ my immediate family.

Roger and I just celebrated 15 years of marriage. I could never express my gratitude for him and for all he does for me and the kiddos. He works two jobs so I can stay home, something that is good for my health and my kiddos! Not only does he work double hard so I can stay home, he helps out around the house & he calls me a brat! He can only call me that because he spoils me!

And, my kiddos ~ God knew what He was doing when He gave me twins! After several years of trying, then getting sick and being told that getting pregnant was a bad idea - look at what we have:

I know that everyone says treasure them at each stage because the stages go so fast~ but each year older they get, the more I enjoy them! I reserve the right to revoke that statement, we are quickly approaching teen years! I have an awesome relationship with each of them and I wouldn't change it for the world!

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 1

2011-11-01T04:23:00.000-05:00

I'm going to start this challenge off the way we all should.
I am thankful for my relationship with the Lord and my Salvation!
I was not raised in church (long story & my parents are now actively involved with our church). I went to Sunday School a lot with my Meme, but it was just going to be with her & she always stopped afterwards and bought us candy!
We were married in a church (our church, by our pastor). We talked about going, but never did. I knew about Jesus, and believed in Him, but had never accepted Him.. I didn't know. When the kiddos were about three, we passed a church and there were people mingling in the parking lot. Riley asked was was that building and why were all the people there..I told him it was a church. His response - I want to go to church. So, Sunday morning, we went to church. We were visitors for about 2 years or so and learned quite a bit. In January of 2007, Roger and I spent some time with our pastor and accepted Jesus into our hearts and lives. We were baptized together in March of that year.
We continued to attend Kellogg, but there was not much for the kiddos. We visited other churches and never felt welcome like we did at Kellogg. We even stopped going all together for a while. Finally, the kiddos wanted to go again, so we started back at Kellogg and have been going ever since.
In May of 2010, Samantha wanted to talk to Brother Paul about being baptized. She accepted Jesus into her heart and life and has been very involved in church and the youth group ever since.
In March of 2011, Riley made the decision and talked to Brother Paul and accepted Jesus and was baptized as well.
Somewhere between these two things, my parents joined the church as well.

My next attempt at a Bible Challenge

2011-10-30T11:51:00.002-05:00

I didn't complete the 90 Day Challenge. In fact, I am about half way through Psalms. Perfect timing to join in with Amy @ Mom's Toolbox again for her next challenge -

Learn More HERE

I am going to finish Psalms between now and Tuesday morning and flow right into this challenge with whoever else joins in! Visit Mom's Toolbox to learn more!

Destination Disney ~ the letter R

2011-10-29T12:17:00.000-05:00

Roger and Riley on the Rapids ~

Harambe Reserve

Rafiki!

And REALLY? A walking tree?

Going for relaxed this year!

2011-10-28T20:51:00.000-05:00

Crew Blog Cruise ~ What does your lesson planning look like?

Lesson planning... isn't it every teacher's worse enemy AND best friend at the same time? I am a planner by nature... so, one would think that lesson plans would be more of my friend than not... but... not so.

When I was a preK teacher at the day care center, lesson plans were essential and you followed through with them, usually no matter what. Same thing when I had the older kiddos in the summer - you planned it and you did it... whatever 'it' was! Coming home, I tried to follow that as well, but over the years, I am finding out life just happens...

I have always, ALWAYS, made out detailed lesson plans. I have gone through tons of planners, calendars and pages to find that *perfect* one! A couple of years ago I found it. It was a monthly/weekly 8x10 planner that had vertical weekly instead of horizontal... loved it! Used it the last half of their 3rd grade year, all of their 4th grade year and most of their 5th grade year. When LIFE started happening during the spring of their 5th grade year, it ended up being easier for all of us (me, kiddos & my in laws - who were helping out) for them to keep up with what they were doing.

After the spring we had, full force into a busy summer, the pre-planning just wasn't there. They went with me and picked out their own calendar and we started out their 6th grade year without written lesson plans... I had looked over all of their books and lessons and knew what we needed to be doing, but I didn't write anything down.

With some of their lessons, we aim for a lesson a day - like with our Language Arts - we are using Spectrum & there are 5 books - one lesson in each of these a day (don't freak, they are only one page!). Same with Math. If we are home, then I expect these at minimum completed each day, if we have field trip or if something else comes up, then they get what they can done. These are workbooks, so they travel easy, so they get Math done no matter what & usually most of their LA books as well. They just have to keep up with what lesson they have done in their calendar. Sometimes they end up on the same lesson- but this way, they are able to work at their own pace.

Science & History, we are working through together, so we just work on things a little each day. I know where we stop and where we pick up the next time we get to that subject. They are also responsible for keeping up with this in their calendar!

With Roger's schedule, we are finding days are no longer normal around here... we love being able to just go with the flow of things and not worry about what's on mom's lesson plans for the day or having to work extra hard to make things up or catch up. It really makes for things to be much less stressful around here and they are getting to spend time with their dad-do! In addition to going with the flow, they have been learning just how much they are learning. I try to catch them each day, but it is usually a couple times a week, and ask them - what did you do today. This goes in their calendar - they get to decided what subject whatever they have done - fits in! This has been pretty beneficial to us, I have them coming to me all the time now and discussing what they have done and where that would fit into a subject and why.

By doing this, it does give them the freedom to learn what they want to learn, to work in scout stuff and to chase more rabbit trails - because we know that there's nothing on the calendar that we have to get back to! I am thinking I like this relaxed route much better!

Family photo time

2011-10-27T19:33:00.000-05:00

On our own..

Branson Trip ~ October 2011

2011-10-27T12:43:00.000-05:00

Started off early Monday morning loading the car and then headed to Class Day... it was photo day and Miss Ginger made arrangements to get the kiddos group done first so we could be there and still head out fairly early... it worked out great and we were on the road by 9:30 that morning... The drive up was beautiful ~ trees have changed colors and are so pretty driving through the mountains. We stopped at our favorite stop on the way up ~ the Buffalo River ~

Monday afternoon, we arrived at the cabin and unloaded and headed into town. We hit the blacklight 3D mini golf and played a round ~ Roger won... Spaghetti for dinner and then the World Series game!

Tuesday morning, we got up and headed into Springfield- mainly to go to Wilson's Creek & Bass Pro Shops, but also to hit a couple of thrift stores for Halloween Costumes ~ $7 later, we are ready to go! Bass Pro was fun for the kiddos as always, we were there for the fish feeding time and they love hanging out and watching the turtles!

After a long day out, we headed back to the cabin for grilled chops and roasted taters! Yumm-o!

Wednesday ~happy 15th Anniversrary to us ~ we dressed up in matching clothes and took some family portraits on the grounds at Big Cedar... that will be a whole nother post! Kiddos surprised us with a couples manicure- done by them... and that will be a whole nother post! Dinner out at Charlies Steak House for us ~ kiddos went with Gramma to eat and then swim!

Thursday ~ breakfast, nap by fire, lunch, nap by fire, dinner & then get ready to come home... that was my day! Kiddos went with Roger and Gramma to the arcade on the grounds & then after lunch, Gramma took them swimming... I hung out at the cabin in front of the fire ALL DAY LONG and did nothing (well, updated my blog!). We are headed home tomorrow and back to crazy busy life as we know it!

Anniversary Pedi's ~

2011-10-26T19:19:00.000-05:00

A surprise from the kiddos!!

For our 15th Anniversary, the kiddos (with Gramma's help) surprised us with a couples pedicure. They practiced hard the night before - pedis on Gramma, then on each other. They were so excited and it was so fun!

CREW: Excellence in Literature

2011-10-26T13:32:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, this is a tough review for us... but it's not because of the product...it's my kids! Well, not really my kids, but their age. Excellence in Literature is a program that is geared toward 8th-12th grade. Since we are only 6th grade, this was a bit above their level. We did attempt the first short story lessons and I do think it will be an awesome thing for us - in a couple of years! I will be hanging on to it and we will revisit it when they are older.
I love the way the classics are used. I love that it is a student led program. I love that it breaks down the steps in writing & I love that it gets them, not just reading great books, but writing in that mindset. I also love that it has an honors part of the program, for those that are real go-getters when it comes to literature!
Introduction to Literature is available on Excellence in Literature's website in ebook for for $27.
Please visit the Crew blog and check out what my crewmates have to say about this product as well...

*Disclaimer: My family was given this product free of charge to use and form our own opinion of and share with our readers. The thoughts and opinions expressed about this item are strictly opinions of myself or my children.*

Wilson's Creek Battlefield

2011-10-25T17:02:00.000-05:00

Since we have been studying the Civil War this year, we decided to head to Springfield and visit Wilson's Creek Battlefield.

In addition to the 4.9 mile battlefield tour, there was also a pretty neat museum. Here are few pics from the trip there:

CREW: Marshall Publishing

2011-10-24T13:31:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me know just how excited I was to see this item come up for review! I bet you know how excited Riley was when it came in the mail. First thing he said was "I love Lots & Lots stuff - they have other videos that I have checked out at the library. I didn't know there was a Fire Truck one though!"

Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks is a really cute! video. The kiddos put it in while I was cooking dinner and sat glued to it the entire time. I personally thought it was more appropriate for younger kiddos - maybe 6-8 or do, but they watched and enjoyed it. The book is pretty awesome as well. It has some pretty neat photos in it. I used it at our FD Open House last week, just had it there on the table. Quite a few people picked it up and flipped though it. More adults than kiddos!
Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks is available from Marshall Publishing for $14.95. While your there, you can check out all the other Lots & Lots DVD's Riley was referring to.
Oh, as an added bonus, Marshall Publishing included George Washington Carver DVD in our package as well. We put it in and the kiddos were not too interested in it. I think it's because we haven't really studied him and they are not sure who he is or why we were watching it. I have put it on the shelf and will come back to it when the time comes.. I am sure it is great video and it did make me check out what else is available... There is a Gettysburg that is on my purchase list!!

As always, go check out the Crew blog and see what my Crewmates have to say about these items!

*Disclaimer: My family was given this product free of charge to use and form our own opinion of and share with our readers. The thoughts and opinions expressed about this item are strictly opinions of myself or my children.*

I Am In Here

2011-10-23T22:20:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth M. Bonker is a thirteen-year-old young lady with autism who cannot yet speak, but who writes deeply revealing poetry, which was featured on PBS's Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. She excels in mainstream public school with an educational aide.

Virginia G. Breen is the mother of three beautiful children, two of whom are profoundly affected by autism. Besides working to heal her children, Virginia is a venture capitalist investing in high-tech companies, and she sits on both corporate and nonprofit boards. Previously she studied computer science at Harvard, business at Columbia, and eastern philosophies in Singapore. She now studies relentlessly at the School of Autism.

I wanted to read this book because I wanted to see into Elizabeth's mind and thought process... I want to know what I can to communicate with Mr. Chunky Monkey.

I requested to review this book for several reasons. One, is because I have worked with autisutic children - many years ago- before Autism was as common as it is now. I have always been entrigued by Emily* a firey little red head that taught me A LOT! Another is because a dear friend of mine, Amanda @ Surviving the Testosterone. I have had the joy of her Mr. Chunky Monkey in the preK class I am teaching at our Class Day co-op. I really enjoy working with him, and he would rather just play with my hair!

This was a really good book. I am sad because of this horrible issue that takes the normalcy away from precious kiddos. I encourage anyone who has any contact with an autistic child or even has any questions about it, read this book.

“Available October 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

The Stranger in your house

2011-10-23T09:29:00.000-05:00

Today's Wild Card author is:

Gregg Jantz

and the book:

(When Your Teenager Becomes…) The Stranger in Your House

David C. Cook; New edition (October 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Gregg Jantz is the best-selling author of numerous books, including Hope, Help, and Healing for Eating Disorders. He is the founder of The Center for Counseling and Health Resources, a leading healthcare facility near Seattle that specializes in whole-person care. Jantz has appeared on numerous shows, including CNN’s Headline News and the 700 Club. He has been interviewed for CNN.com, as well as the New York Post, the Associated Press, Family Circle, Women’s Day, Yahoo.com and MSNBC.com.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

He’s in his room for days at a time and barely responds when I talk to him. She’s teary every day, one minute demanding I tend to her needs and the next minute demanding I leave her alone. What’s going on with your teenager? Is it just the ups and downs of adolescence, or is it something more? In Dr. Gregg Jantz’s new book, The Stranger in Your House, parents will learn to distinguish between normal adolescent behavior and clinical depression.

Few things strike fear into the hearts of parents more than the approaching adolescence of their children. They have heard horror stories from family and friends about what it was like with their kids and dread the unknown. Will their happy-go-lucky child turn into some sort of a sullen monster? Will the childhood skirmishes of yesterday turn into open teenage warfare?

The roller coaster of adolescence is so prevalent, so stereotypical in some ways, that it has developed into a sort of cultural shorthand. Just say the words “teen angst” to a group of parents of adolescents and heads will nod. It’s a universal catch-phrase for anything from explosive anger to all-is-lost despair. Even kids who weather their teenage years with relative calm still undergo their seasons of adolescent squalls. With all of that swirling around in our heads, how can we know if our teen’s season of discontent is just that or something more?

Depression has the ability to derail a teenager’s progress toward healthy adulthood while confusing and frustrating parents. With years of experience, Dr. Jantz will answer the hard questions about the most critical season of your child’s life:

Is this “just a phase,” or is it clinical depression?
How do hormones affect my teen’s behavior—and what can I do about it?
How can I get help when I see the warning signs of suicidal thoughts?
Why does my teenager seem to need me some days and hate me other days?
How can I be a source of peace in my child’s life, especially when I feel stormy too?

The Stranger in Your House will help parents to push beyond the closed door that is adolescence and open the door to hope.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434766225
ISBN-13: 978-1434766229

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Who Are You, and What Have You Done with My Child?

He’s in his room for what seems like days, emerging periodically and answering questions with sullen, monosyllabic responses.

She’s moody, teary, and irritable, one minute demanding you drop everything to tend to her needs and the next minute demanding you just leave her alone!
He’s not going out for tennis this year, even though he did well last year. When you ask him why, he can’t really give you an answer, other than he’s not interested anymore. As you think about it, there are a lot of

things he just doesn’t seem that interested in anymore. He seems to fill up his time somehow, but you’re not sure with what. When he was younger, his life was an open book; now, he’s closed the cover and locked you out.
She’s constantly negative—about everything. Nothing ever goes right; she never looks right; you never act right. She used to be a fairly happy kid, but now she’s just difficult to be around, which kind of works

out because you hardly ever see her anyway.

He complains about headaches and not feeling well. It’s hard to get him up in the morning to go to school. If he could sleep until noon every day, you think he would, and suspect he does when you need to leave early for work.
She’s rarely at the dinner table anymore. Instead, she says she’s already eaten, grabs a bag of chips and a soda, and goes to her room. When you ask her about it, she says she’s too busy to spend time with the family and prefers to work in her room, but you’re not exactly sure what she’s doing in there.

He used to spend hours chattering away about all sorts of things; you used to spend time together. Now, having a root canal seems higher on his priority list than spending any time with you.

As sure as she is that she’d really rather not spend time with the family anymore, that seems to be all she’s sure about. It takes her what seems like hours to get dressed in the morning, her chair piled high with discarded outfits. She doesn’t know what she wants to do or what she wants to eat, and getting her to sit down to do her homework is almost unbearable.
You know he’s got clean clothes because you do the laundry, but he seems to constantly wear the same clothes you could swear he went to bed in. His hair is never combed, and you’re worried about how often he’s doing things like brushing his teeth and wearing deodorant. He never seems to stand still long enough for you to really tell. Instead, you see more of his backside leaving than anything else about him.
You’re living on pins and needles, wanting to maintain family rules and responsibilities for the sake of the younger kids, but it’s sheer torture to get any sort of commitment from her to do her chores. She always

promises to do them later, but, somehow, that later never seems to happen. It’s often more tiring to keep asking her to do her chores, so you end up just doing them yourself.

Sunday mornings are even worse than weekday mornings. Getting him up and ready for church hardly seems worth it. He used to go willingly, but now there’s always a reason why not. Just getting him in the car is a thirty-minute argument.
All of this wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t get that sense in your gut that your teen is unhappy. It’s as if he or she walks around in a swirling cloud of discontent, frustration, and irritation. Sometimes it’s so thick you have trouble making out the person inside. It hurts because that person is still your child, no matter the age.
Rough Ride
Few things strike fear into the heart of parents more than the approaching adolescence of their children. They’ve heard horror stories from family and friends, and they dread the fear of the unknown and how

it’s going to go with their own kids. Will that happy-go-lucky child turn into some sort of a sullen monster? Will the childhood skirmishes of yesterday turn into open warfare? Will the days of having

their friends over all the time turn into years of going out to be with friends somewhere else?
Most of us can remember feeling awkward, unattractive, anxious, and overwhelmed as teenagers. We remember living under our own swirling cloud of discontent, especially with our parents and with our own bodies. Sometimes it seemed like we lived in a box, with all four sides pressing inward, squeezing us. Other times, we just wanted to explode out of that box. For several years, our lives were a roller coaster: It was a wild ride, terrifying and exhilarating. As parents, it’s not something we necessarily look forward to repeating with our own kids.

The roller coaster of adolescence is so prevalent, so stereotypical in some ways, it’s developed into a sort of cultural shorthand. Just say the words teen angst to a group of parents of adolescents, and heads will nod. It’s a universal catchphrase for anything from explosive anger to all-is-lost despair. Even kids who weather their teenage years with relative calm still undergo times of double loops with gut-wrenching climbs and terrifying falls because no one is totally immune to adolescence—or life, for that matter.
You knew this ride was coming. Most of you willingly got in line years ago, when you took that sweet, beautiful baby home from the hospital. It’s been years in the making, but now you’re once again in the midst of that tumultuous phase of life known as adolescence. But this time it’s not you in the driver’s seat; you’re along for the ride, but how high you climb and how far you fall are no longer merely

dependent upon you. Just when you thought you were supposed to be carefully “letting go,” your child’s behavior does nothing but make you want to hang on tighter—or sometimes it makes you seriously

consider letting go altogether from sheer exasperation. It was hard enough, frankly, to survive your own teenage years; how are you supposed to help your child survive his or hers?

It’s a weird time of life for a parent. You’re still responsible for your teenager physically, morally, and certainly financially; but your teen is taking on, trying on, and experimenting with more and more of his or her own responsibility. How far should that experimentation go? How far is far enough, and when it is too far?

But what if your teen is experiencing more than just the normal ups and downs of adolescence? How can you tell? More than likely, all you’ve got to go on is what you experienced yourself as a teen, but is that really the baseline you should use with your own teen? What if there are fewer and fewer ups and more and more downs? Is your teenager in a “phase,” or has that “phase” spiraled into something more serious? As a parent, you’re expected to know the difference—without any training and while you’re in the midst of the moment yourself. You’re supposed to be able to diagnose a teenager who makes it his or her life mission to give you as little personal information as possible. This doesn’t appear to be a recipe for success.

None of us want our kids to be miserable as they’re transitioning from child to adult. And none of us, frankly, want to be miserable ourselves, weathering an incessant barrage of teenage moods and behaviors. Navigating this time of life can be complicated, and it’s perfectly reasonable to reach out for some answers and some help. That’s what this book is designed to do. It’s written to provide you with information so you can better understand
• what your teenager’s behavior means;

• when to relax and ride the wave of a teenage phase without pushing the panic button yourself;
• how teenagers get off track and how to help them get back on the right track;
• how to know if behavior reflects “just being a teen” or if it’s something more serious like clinical

depression;
• what behaviors you can work with and which ones you can’t;

• how to help your teen understand the Goddesigned future and promise waiting at his or her cusp of adulthood;

• when it’s time to get your teen professional help and how to choose the option best for your family

and situation.
As a professional counselor for well over twenty-five years, I’ve devoted a good portion of my practice to working with teenagers. I’ve found them to be amazingly forthright and courageous, while at the same time vulnerable and confused. Often, they are doing what seems best to them to address their situation. Unfortunately, they often turn to risky and destructive behaviors as coping strategies through this turbulent time. When these coping behaviors end up taking on an ugly life of their own, the roller-coaster ride turns very dangerous. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Teenagers are on the cusp of their future. They’re still grounded in childhood but can easily see adulthood just off in the distance. They’re chomping at the bit to grow up and dragging their feet at the same time. Teenagers are on a mission toward that adulthood in the distance; they just need help navigating the path. You can’t take the steps for them, but you can help make the way clearer. It’s important to their development that they navigate this journey well and on their own, supported by you.
Detours at this age have long-range consequences. Closing the bedroom door—either as the teen or as the parent—on the problem isn’t going to make it go away. As a parent, you need to be ready to assist, even if your teen insists he or she absolutely does not want your help. This isn’t meddling; it’s parenting.

Because teenagers see themselves differently and consequently see parents differently, your commitment to your teen’s future is more complicated. When he stubbed his toe on the sidewalk curb at four and a half, a kiss, a hug, and a cartoon Band-Aid did the trick. When he stubs his heart on his first romantic rejection, it’s a little more complicated. When she refused to like the outfit you picked out for her at five, you had others to choose from. When she refuses to like herself at thirteen, it’s a little more complicated.

When it became a contest of wills with him at eight, you could win and still get a hug at the end of the evening. When it’s a contest of wills at fifteen and there’s no way he’s prepared to give in to you at

all, it’s a little more complicated. When she was ten and you wanted to spend time together, there was nothing she wanted to do more. When she’s sixteen and you want to spend time together and she just

looks at you with shocked disbelief and adopts a when-hell-freezesover expression, it’s a little more complicated.

Each phase of life has its own challenges. Parenting has never been for the weak-stomached (especially during the early years), the fainthearted, or the halfway committed. It can be tempting to take a backseat when your kid hits the teen years, figuring you’ve done the bulk of your work and you can just coast into his or her adulthood on all your previous parenting momentum. You’re older, more tired, and your less-than-active participation in their lives pretty much seems what teenagers want anyway. It’s tempting, yes, but don’t give in. You’re still the parent; you’re still the adult, and you still have work to do. Even if it doesn’t seem that way, your teenager desperately longs to be connected to you. He or she needs (notice I didn’t say wants) your acceptance, acknowledgment, and approval. No matter how much they argue to the contrary, teenagers—including yours—do not have life figured out yet. They don’t need you to live their lives for them, but they do need your guidance and your support, even when that’s the furthest thing from their minds and hearts.
And when that roller coaster goes off track, teenagers need someone to notice and take immediate steps to get things on the right path. Partnering together with your teenager to successfully navigate adolescence is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. It also has the outrageous potential to be the most rewarding.

Bringing It Home
When you think about your child becoming or being a teenager, what three words or phrases come mostly quickly to mind?

1.
2.
3.

For each one, identify a specific incident or event that gives this feeling such validity in your mind. Please keep in mind that this could be something from your own adolescence that you’re

projecting onto your teenager.

If the attitude of parents of teenagers could be culled down to a single word, it could be concerned. Do any of the three words you’ve written above fall into a concerned or fear category? If they do, what are you concerned or fearful about?

In order to help remind you that all of this work and effort is worth it, I’d like you to create a photomontage of the teen in question, using at least five photographs of your child, ranging from infancy to the present. How you create the montage and where you put it is up to you, as long as it’s easily accessible. Here are some ideas, or you can come up with your own: a framed collection on your nightstand, a rotating screen saver on your computer, downloads on your cell phone, or simply individual photos in your purse or wallet. How you access them isn’t as important as looking at them regularly. You need to remember and remind yourself that all of this is worth it and that you love your adolescent, even when his or her behavior seems specifically designed to call that love into serious question.

Well, since I don't have teenagers, just yet, this book kinda frightened me! LOL... no, really, I am kidding! But, you know, it is a scary thing. Teenagers themselves can be scary, and then when they are moody and withdrawn, even more so. I was glad to be able to read this book, to have as a reference for the future. I am hoping I don't need it, but it will be nice to know that I am not the only one who is going through having a teenager.

Last Fall Ball Game....

2011-10-22T16:02:00.001-05:00

After a sleepover with the girls, Riley had his last Fall Ball Game ~ had fun this season, but glad it's over! I give it a week or so and we will all be ready for Spring Season!

Racin for the Cure

2011-10-22T16:02:00.000-05:00

My Girl Scout troop has decided to participate in the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure again this year. A few of them participated in it last year, but are doing it as a group this year. We spent Thursday evening tyeing them up:

And dying them:

Then, Friday morning, Sam and I finished them up:

Here is Sam's:

Friday night, we meet back at the church for a sleepover and then they were up and going at 5:30am to head to the race:

My girls at the race with one of our dearest survivor friends ~

Destination Disney ~ the letter Q

2011-10-21T21:46:00.000-05:00

Q? At Disney World? Sit tight.. I need to go scroll through my photos and see what in the world I can come up with...
OK, how about -quick?

And queen? (That is the Queen of Hearts, right?)

Homemade pretzel bites

2011-10-21T15:59:00.000-05:00

YuMMy!!

My new found love it Pinterest! I have pinned many food dishes and hope to try them all, soon! I actually have tried a few, and most were keepers for my crew...

The kiddos and I tried Homemade Pretzel Bites today from Modern Day Moms and we LOVED THEM!!

They were so easy to make, that the kiddos did it by themselves- with little instruction from me. A few more times and they could do these without even thinking about it! They even took the photos of each other!!

CREW: Say Anything by North Star Games

2011-10-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

So, you see how much we LOVED Wits & Wagers from NorthStar Games... Say Anything was as much loved as Wits was!!

The kiddos and I have had so much fun playing this... it really makes them think!! I love hearing some of the things they come up with... The kiddos and I talked Roger into playing a couple of times, but I don't think he enjoyed it as much as we did. I also pulled it out when it was dinner here at our house with my parents and sister... LOVED this with other adults!!
With Say Anything, the questions state I think or I feel, so it really does leave you open to say anything... Say Anything had meeple tokens, which were cute, but not as fun as the actual meeples. Some of the questions really make you think!
You can get your own Say Anything game by visiting NorthStar Games and searching for a dealer near you. The age range on the box states 8+ and I think that is pretty accurate... Please also follow the link and check out what the rest of the Crew has to say!

*Disclaimer: My family was given this product free of charge to use and form our own opinion of and share with our readers. The thoughts and opinions expressed about this item are strictly opinions of myself or my children.*

Pumpkin patch & Corn Maze

2011-10-20T16:02:00.000-05:00

Roger took off work and we headed out with our homeschool group to one of the local Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes ~ too much FUN!! The place is called Schaeffer & Collin's Pumpkin Patch & Farm. It is a large farm with a nice play area, a picnic area, a petting zoo & great places for photos! (It was cold, so I didn't get many pics!). There is a hayride out to the patch where there are tons of pumpkins to choose from!

After the trip out to the pumpkin patch, we let the kiddos just roam around the play area. The adults stood around and chatted & then, after lunch and some play time, we headed to Schaeffer's Corn Maze across the dirt road...

(me and one of my new found great friends!)

There was no one there but our group, so we let the kiddos run loose and the adults just strolled and chatted! We had such a relaxed day ~ loved it SO much ~ cannot wait to do it again next year!!

Fall is in the air!!

2011-10-20T15:20:00.008-05:00

Crew Blog Hop ~ Bringing in the Sheaves!

Fall is my favorite time of year! When I taught preK, and even up until the past year or so with my kiddos, fall was my favorite teaching time!! Fall is the BEST time for unit studies!! Once you get past the beginning of the school year, the days are packed with learning.

I always started the beginning of September with apples! So much you can do with apples. Start with a trip to the apple orchard and learn about the various types of apples. Once you get a big bag of them to take home, the possibilities are endless, cooking with them, painting with them, graphing, taste test - the list is truly endless. (don't believe me? Google apple lesson plans!)

From apples, we go to pumpkins. Same thing with all the pumpkin options... pumpkin patch field trip, pumpkin cooking (just search pinterest right now - FULL of pumpkin recipes), art with pumpkins and pumpkin seeds, various types of pumpkins and gourds! IF you celebrate (well, celebrate is not really the right word - maybe take part?) If you take part in Halloween activities - there is another few days of stuff - carving the pumpkins, along with any other Halloween items that you want to learn about.

If you skip over the Halloween, there are still a few things Halloween related that are not *scary*, but fallish - bats are fall, lots of things to learn about bats. Scarecrows are a fun fall thing as well. From pumpkins/Halloween, we next flow into fall leaves. Lots of art activities with fall leaves, plus SCIENCE galore!!

From leaves, we go into Thanksgiving... I haven't gotten to that part of our planning and processing for this year yet, but I know that there are tons of learning activities for this as well! The one thing that I do have down to do this year- Scholastic's virtual tour. We watched some of this last year and it was pretty cool... plus they have tons of other things on their website for Thanksgiving!

Don't forget when you start planning, to hit the library - we always have a variety of related books spread out on the coffee table. Even though the kiddos are older, I still put out some of the easy readers - mainly ones we own, I don't check out too many of those anymore!

CREW: Wits & Wagers by Northstar Game

2011-10-19T10:00:00.003-05:00

This game came during the day while we were out running around. When we finally got home, tired, after a long day - starting with an early field trip ending with church, the last thing I wanted to do was open a new game and try to figure it out. I was tired, the table was a mess, just wasn't into it. The kiddos told me they would clean the table and get completely ready for bed if we could just play the games! I agreed (and they did a great job with the table, I might add!).
We pulled out Wits & Wagers Family. Directions were very easy. Easy to read and easy to follow! We had SO MUCH FUN with this game!! Played it twice!

I have to admit, when I first heard the name, I was a little worried.. We have other games that we play that we bid or make a wager on and the kiddos still don't quite understand them. This was easy for them to get. The little meeples were worth the points and they placed them correctly. We played it the first day and I used it as a reward for the next week to encourage them to get them to quickly and correctly - without fuss - get their school work done.

The little meeples are really cute and we all got to use our favorite color ( a plus at my house). I think this game will be a hot one around here for a while. You can get your own game by visiting NorthStar Games and finding a dealer near you. If your still unsure about it, check out what my Crewmates had to say- follow the Crew link:

***Disclaimer - As part of the Homeschool Crew, we were given this product free of charge in exchange for our honest opinions. ***

Goal Plan Monday ~ week #7

2011-10-17T19:59:00.001-05:00

I have tried to keep up with this, but I somehow always get behind! Visit Mamamanuscripts.com to join in with your week's plans!!

So, since my kiddos were gone out of town this past weekend, we spent a few days before they left doing a super clean on the house so I could have a break also! It was actually pretty nice to hang out at the CLEAN house, alone, catching up on my blog and my DVR! I have no idea what I had listed last time I participated in this, so I don't know where I left off or what I have already done. Here are a few things on my plans for this week:

Laundry room: sweep the floor, general pick up

Family room: bring in load of wood

Kitchen: Defrost small freezer

Dining room: clean out pet cages

Bathroom: Clean out bottom shelf in top cabinet

Bedroom: clean off book shelf

My bath: top shelf in top cabinet

School room: clean off computer desk

Fairfield Corner Academy

Sick day

Nuts & Bolts: Pulling it all together

Just for fun ~ blog cruise

Kinderbach

Hanging out with the fire department

Seeking Beauty: the Arts and Everything that brings Beauty to our World

iPhones & Nooks

Art of Brick ~ Lego Display

Goal Planning Monday ~ 2012 ~ week 3

Exploring Our World

Grapevine Timelines

What's normal? Is there such?

Helping with an Eagle Prjoect

It's COOKIE TIME!

Skating in a new place

2012 Bucket List ~ Family Date ~ January

Goal Planning Monday ~ 2012 ~ Week Two

Souper You Contest

Discovering Patterns: Math, Logic and some Science

Cookies & Milk with the Mayor

Magid Glove Shoe Covers

Spelling Word Ideas

A Clean Heart ~ Trust in HIM!

Goal Planning Monday ~ 2012 Week 1

Goodbye 2011 ~ Hello 2012 ~

Playing with Words ~ the Language Arts

Mom and Me ~ with Sam!

Cozi.com

TOP 5 Projects/Goals for your Heart & Home in 2012

Kibbles ~ our Elf on a Shelf

Christmas Trees for breakfast

Destination Disney ~ the letter *Z*

Christmas at the Capitol

Ice skating

Next step ~ Second Class

Christmas Piano Recital

Destination Disney ~ the letter *Y*

Class Day Christmas Program

Stacking bread

Destination Disney ~ the letter *X*

CREW REVIEW: I See Cards ~ Fractazmic

B-17 Bomber stops in NLR

Making a Gingerbread House for the Mayor

Teacher Geek, a weird review...

Crew Review: PITSCO

Destination Disney ~ the letter *W*

B&B Media Group: What do you think of me? What do I care?

FIRST: Truth or Dare Devotional by Ann-Margret Hovespian

FIRST: Triple Dog Dare by Jeremy V. Jones

Christmas Family Traditions ~ one of ours...

We interrupt this marriage ~

Destination Disney ~ the letter *V*

Destination Disney ~ the letter *U*

Destination Disney ~ the letter *T*

Veteran's Day ~ 2011

CREW: Vocab Cafe'

Power Labs at the Library

2011 Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 5

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 4

Destination Disney ~ the letter *S*

Old Washington State Park ~ Civil War Days

The Nina, The Pinta &

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 3

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 2

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 1

My next attempt at a Bible Challenge

Destination Disney ~ the letter *R*

Going for *relaxed* this year!

Family photo time

Branson Trip ~ October 2011

Anniversary Pedi's ~

CREW: Excellence in Literature

Wilson's Creek Battlefield

CREW: Marshall Publishing

I Am In Here

The Stranger in your house

Last Fall Ball Game....

Racin for the Cure

Destination Disney ~ the letter *Q*

Destination Disney ~ the letter Z

Destination Disney ~ the letter Y

Destination Disney ~ the letter X

Destination Disney ~ the letter W

Destination Disney ~ the letter V

Destination Disney ~ the letter U

Destination Disney ~ the letter T

Destination Disney ~ the letter S

Destination Disney ~ the letter R

Going for relaxed this year!

Destination Disney ~ the letter Q