A Stable Beginning

Weekly Wrap Up, wk 20~ Walking pneumonia and concurring Giants

2012-02-10T11:49:00.000-05:00

So, the week started out relatively quiet and then it kicked into overdrive…should I be surprised by this? No! It just the way we roll, so to speak.

Two of my children, who shall remain nameless, have been slacking off a bit in getting their weekly work accomplished. To remedy this we had a big family discussion and I pulled out our “I am Diligent” Virtue Clue Card that says “I start fast, work hard, and finish strong”. I also redesigned each of the four students weekly schedule so that there will be no question as to what is expected to be done and complete by Friday at 3 PM. We discussed that sports and extra activities are just that, EXTRA and will cease to exist if things did not show improvement. I think I got my point across and things are looking up. I hate to be the bad guy, but academics comes first and sports and play second.

On Tuesday, while Montana and I were going over her phonics lessons and reading I heard her wheezing and crackling. Not a good sign. But, Montana did not act sick at all. She just had a cough that has not gone away. I called the Pediatrician and they squeezed us in for the 1130 AM appointment. Like I said, Montana showed no signs of being sick, just the pesky cough so you can imagine my surprise when the Doctor said she has walking pneumonia. She is on a dose of antibiotics and out of gymnastics classes until next Wednesday.

Wednesday we made Monster cookies to bring with us for our church groups snack day on Thursday evening. McKenzie loves cookies…she sat in the kitchen and waited ever so patiently for the first batch to be done so she could eat one. Thursday we went to co-op and had a great time visiting and catching up with our friends. We all look forward to Thursdays and its much needed respite.

This morning came very quickly as Madison and Mikayla had morning practice at 8AM –12PM because the optional girls (Lvl 7’s and up) where heading to Chicago for the big gymnastics meet, Good Luck Girls! The meet was optional for us and we decided not to go because the money was due soon after we switched to the new gym last August and we had to pay for new leos/warm ups, etc. Next season though we will get to travel as an optional. This week Mikayla was able to practice her Giants on the swing bar. I have a video posted on FaceBook if you want to see it. Even though we have to leave at 720AM, I enjoy Friday morning practices because we get our Friday evening to relax and regroup before Saturdays early morning at 8AM.

So, that was our week in a nutshell. We are plugging along with our school work and I am already starting to plan for next school year. The Lt. wants to have the homeschool proposal by mid March so I have been up into the wee hours of the nights researching and plotting. I probably should update our current plan of study since things have changed a bit. I will do that next week so stay tuned.

I am linking this Weekly Wrap Up with Kris over at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Head on over and see how others week went.

TOS Review ~ Math Rider

2012-02-09T21:27:00.000-05:00

Do you have a child who is learning math facts? Are they struggling to get those facts down and it is a daily battle? Then I may have the perfect solution for you. Recently we were given a copy of Math Rider to review which is a fairly new math program designed for ages 6-12 and is all about practicing and mastering basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts.

Math Rider presents mastering math facts in a new and innovative way. The student gets to ride on a horse to "travel on a quest" in fantasy-type lands with missions to find magical flowers, stolen gems, and even the chance to rescue a princess. Throughout the "quest" your student is practicing math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. One thing I love about this program is that your child’s math knowledge is stored in the game and they are only practicing facts they don’t know, rather than drilling needlessly the facts already mastered. Here is how Math Rider explains it on there website:

While the rider is playing, the game learns what the rider knows and what he or she still needs to practice. Every single response (or non-response) is stored in an internal database and statistically analysed by the software. In this way the program is able to custom-tailor to each rider, which questions are asked next. No repetitive drilling of random number facts the rider already knows – but real practice of what actually needs to be practiced!

Plenty of feedback is given on the rider’s mastery of each number fact and operation, including an innovative overview map of mastery for each number table. This is highly beneficial for both the rider and the parent/educator. You can see with one glance where your child is at and where he or she might need further assistance. Top challenges are also listed in a separate list box for further easy reference.

Clicking on a question brings up more information on it, including a visual representation as well as some detailed statistics.

I used this program with Mikayla and Madison played every once in a while too even though she has mastered her facts. It is a great way to get in those facts while still having fun and learning. The price is just right too at$49.95, not too pricey but yet economical because you can have up to 8 slots for your children. The best part is that Math Rider is currently on SALE for $37.00. Guess what?!? Math Rider has a free 7 day trial so you can try it out before you buy to make sure it will be a good fit for your family.

We definitely recommend this program to anyone whose child needs to master the math facts. Mikayla enjoyed the program and I have seen improvement in her recall, which makes this Mama overjoyed! Check out what my Crewmates thought by clicking HERE.

Product ~ Math Rider

Price ~ $49.95, but on SALE until Feb. 15th for $37.00

Ages ~ 6-12 year olds

Platform ~ supported on Windows and Mac OSX

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I received a download of Math Rider, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Wordless Wednesdays

2012-02-08T13:03:00.001-05:00

TOS Review ~ KinderBach

2012-02-02T08:20:00.000-05:00

As part of the Homeschool Crew, Montana and I were given the opportunity to review the on-line version of Kinderbach, which is an at-home music program designed to teach young children, 2-7 years olds, the basics of playing the piano.

Each lesson is led by Karri Gregor, the founder, who uses fun characters like Dodi to engage your child. Within each of the 6 levels there are 10 weeks of lessons to explore. Each lesson is broken down into weekly lessons with 4 short sessions of animated videos with piano playing practice. A 47 page activity book is included with each lesson. You can view the first few lessons here.

Upon completing all 6 levels you will have had 1 to 2 years of music instruction using video instruction, coloring pages, worksheets, and fun physical activities. A very important thing I should note is that you do need access to a piano or electronic keyboard, but a toy keyboard works well with this program so do not sweat it too much.

KinderBach is a fun, creative, and interactive way for young children to enjoy introductory piano lessons. Each short lesson includes watching playful characters as they introduce music concepts such as rhythm, note reading, singing, and composition.

KinderBach is available as a subscription which you can view online or as a DVD series. For on-line learning you have two options, pay $19.99 a month and commit to a year long membership, or get a “day pass” and get in as much learning as you can in a 24 hour period. However, right now it is even more affordable to get KinderBach into your home. Use the coupon code TOScrew2012 and you will get you 30% off through February 2, 2013!

I thought this program was really excellent and worth giving a shot if you are looking to provide piano instruction for your children. Like I said before, just make sure you have access to a keyboard or piano to get the most out of the program. If you or your child is scared of clowns, be warned that the teacher sometimes dresses up as a clown. Montana and I give this program 2 thumbs up! She really had a great time learning the ins and outs of the piano. Check out what my Crewmates thought by clicking HERE.

Product ~ KinderBach at Home

Price ~ $19.99 a month and commit to a year long membership

Ages ~2-7 year olds

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I received a download of KinderBach at Home, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

TOS Review ~ We Choose Virtues

2012-01-23T11:44:00.000-05:00

Like the majority of parents I know, the Lt. and I want our girls to become young women of character. To help us in the lifelong teaching process we were blessed with a review from We Choose Virtues, which was created by mom and teacher Heather McMillan. We Choose Virtues is a curriculum that inspires character in kids.

Our family was given the new Virtue Clues cards, the teacher handbook, and coloring book, along with free downloads from their website: Family Character Assessment, and Kids Memory Verses, Bible Heroes & Truths.

We Choose Virtues focuses on the twelve main character traits with catchy names for the characters like Stop Sign Madeline (I am Self-Controlled):

There are 12 Virtues in the Early Childhood through Elementary set. They are…I am Diligent, I am Kind, I am Helpful, I am Obedient, I am Forgiving, I am Perseverant, I am Gentle, I am Patient, I am Self-Controlled, I am Content, I am Honest, and I am Attentive.

From the website…

We Choose Virtues has everything you need to teach about positive character qualities including posters, clue cards, coloring books, assessments,teachers manuals, classroom kits, homeschool kits, family kits, and more! Products are available in both secular and Christian programs, with or without scripture references. Right now the Virtue Clue Card sets are normally just $7.95 but right now they are on sale for $5.99, and they come in a handy dandy, take-everywhere pouch. The coloring book is a $3.00 PDF download and includes each of the Virtueville Characters. There is a Homeschool Kit that includes flash cards, Kids Virtue poster, three Kids of Virtueville mini-posters, parenting cards, 25 sheet pad of Virtue User Review, 16 sheet pad of Personal Virtue Charts, The Three Rules poster, and Handbook and Coloring Book downloads all for $99.99. For individual pricing on all the products check out the website for pricing.

We wholeheartedly give We Choose Virtues two thumbs up. I love everything about the program and what it does to help me teach character to my ~~daughters~~ young women. I especially love that The Virtue Clues cards are compact and cute. They are the perfect size to slip into your pocket or bag when you are out and about. If you are searching for a character building program give We Choose Virtues a try, I think…I know you will be extremely happy with the choice. Check out what my crewmates thought by clicking HERE.

Company ~ We Choose Virtues

Product ~ We Choose Virtue – Virtue Clues

Price ~ $7.95, but currently on sale for $5.99.

Ages ~ 3-11,there are also tools for ages 12-18.

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I received a copy of the Virtue Clues cards, the teacher handbook, coloring book, downloads of Family Character Assessment, and Kids Memory Verses, Bible Heroes & Truths, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T07:36:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

TOS Review ~ Zeezok Z-Guide: The Red Badge of Courage

2012-01-10T08:56:00.000-05:00

I only briefly heard about Z-Guides in passing early last year. They peaked my interest then so when I was offered the chance to review a guide last December I was excited. The hard part was choosing which Z-Guide to review. I ended up choosing The Red Badge of Courage for Marie because she is learning American History. Zeezok has a wide variety of Z-Guides to choose from with plans to release 25 additional titles in the spring.

If you click over to the Zeezok site you will find the Z-Guides organized by historical time period. On the left sidebar, starting with Ancient Civilizations and going down through the Vietnam War, making it very easy for a parent/educator to find a suitable movie with a guide. It’s as easy as clicking on the time period you are getting ready to teach and the you will see which movie guides fall into that time era. Zeezok offers a free sample guide for The Count of Monte Cristo if you have a Highschooler.

Each 25-35 page Z-Guide contains the following features:

A topic overview that provides the student with additional information about the specific time period of the movie.
A movie synopsis that assists the student in understanding what is going on in the movie and how relationships, situations, and events all relate together.
A useful method of incorporating media into any curriculum.
Review questions that the student answers while watching the movie.
Questions and activities that require the student to research the historical time period in which the movie was based. Students have the opportunity to practice research and writing skills by writing an essay.
At least one hands-on activity for active learners, which vary from guide to guide.
A worldview activity, that encourages students to think critically of the movie’s worldview.
A Filmmaker’s Art activity which helps the student recognize the tools – such as filming techniques, humor, character development, music, lighting,irony, foreshadowing, and even the character names – that were used to influence the viewer.

Z-Guides are priced at $12.99 each and to get the most out of the guides, Zeezok recommends that students complete two activities per day. This makes it possible for the whole guide to be completed within a week. Z-Guides recommend a specific movie version for the student to watch and most of the movies are available from Netflix which makes it easy if you have an account. If not, Zeezok also sells copies of the movies on there site in addition to the guides. Guides can be downloaded or sent by CD, also just $12.99 (but you must pay shipping). There is also a Co-op/Classroom version available for $49.99.

Overall, we enjoyed our experience with the Z-Guides. It was a nice change of pace for Marie during the holiday business. I would wholeheartedly recommend Zeezok and their Z-Guides to anyone looking to add in a movie component to there homeschooling; and it does not even have to be homeschooling, I think Z-guides could serve anyone learning because there are so many guides to choose from. Over the summer I would like to try out the Kit Kitteridge: An American Girl Z-Guide with my younger girls. We enjoyed the movie the first ~~hundred~~ few times we watched it and I think adding the Z-Guide component will bring the movie more to life.

Check out what my Crewmates thought about the Z-Guides they had to review by clicking HERE.

Company ~ Zeezok Publishing

Product ~ The Red Badge of Courage Z-Guide

Price ~ $12.99 download or CD (must pay shipping), Co-op/Classroom $49.99

Ages ~ 9-12th grade *this particular guide*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I received a copy of The Red Badge of Courage Z-Guide, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

January’s 3 in 30

2012-01-03T09:06:00.000-05:00

Whew, 2012 came in with a bang. I had a less than stellar New Year’s Eve and Day due to bingo and nicotine poisoning, but hey that is in the past and I am over it now. So this month I am hoping to get some things marked off my list. You saw my list, right?

The first goals I want to accomplish in January are:

1. Eat breakfast ~ This one seems pretty easy, but I struggle getting “the most important meal of the day”.

2. Paint Madison’s room ~ Madison moved into her new room in late Summer of 2011, I have yet to paint it.

3. Find a new doctor ~ This is long overdue for me. i tend to let things slide for me and take care of everyone else, but no more! I am moving up on the priority list and finding a new doctor is one of the first steps.

Do you have any goals you want to accomplish? Consider linking up with the gals over at 3in30 and get some encouragement and accountability along the way.

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-01T05:40:00.000-05:00

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

30+

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am a list maker. I like to have things written down in front of me so I can physically check them off when I am done, it’s just how I roll. I admit that sometimes my lists give birth to new lists, but that just keeps things interesting right? Sprittibee says “Lists are living, breathing, always-changing reminders of things that you don't want to forget about... things that are important to you.” and I couldn't agree more.

Today I am linking up my list of 30+ things with Spritiibee’s Big Fat Annual List. I think my list is manageable and compact. So without further adieu here is my list.

30+ Things for 2012

daily time with God
move ME up on the priority list
find a new doctor & go for full physical
read The Well Trained Mind’s Novel list
start running ~ small baby steps and do a 5K
join a church service group
simplify
de-clutter & organize the house ~ donate or giveaway
drop the last of my baby weight
decide if I am going back to school
read at least 52 books this year, not including read-alouds to girls
menu plan weekly
paint/decorate each of the girls room
paint/decorate the master bedroom
makeover house in tidbits (more to come on this)
get caught up with grading/recording/personal portfolios
cut more coupons
read 5 homeschool related books
purge emails/ yahoo groups ~ keep inboxes cleaned and manageable
work on photography skills
plant garden again ~ the right way
sell WA State house
encourage/help Marie create label/creations
save money to go to CA for Thanksgiving 2012
eat breakfast
start and maintain family home management binder
redo floors downstairs
print digital photos ~ put inside albums
have a monthly date with the Lt.
get recommended daily calories
go on more fieldtrips
mail my 2012 Christmas cards by December 5th.
make checkbook registers for the girls
modify budget
build better relationships
follow through

What are some of your goals for 2012? Link up at Sprittibee’s and share your list. I also plan to tackle these tasks with the 3 in 30 challenge.

Our year in review…

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is my second year participating the the Year in Blogging review hosted by Tracy @ Work of Heart and Soul. It’s pretty simple and I hope you will join in on the fun too.

To participate simply: Post the title or first sentence of your first blog post from each month. You can also add a favorite picture from each month, even though it doesn’t necessarily go with that post. Link up in the comments of this POST.

~A Stable Beginning’s Year in Review~

January ~ 52 things

February ~ Get a grip

March ~ 058 –064 ~ 365

April ~ GoGo Kabongo

May ~ 4 short weeks

June ~ Wordless Wednesday~ gymnastics 24/7

July ~ Good Samaritan

August ~Not Back-To-School Blog Hop ~ 2011-2012 Curriculum choices

September ~Weekly Wrap Up, Week 2 ~Hurricane Irene & no power

October ~ Wonder Maps

November ~ Excellence in Literature

December ~Party of 5, week 4

Thanks for taking the trip down memory lane with me. We have had a blessed year! If you don’t already have a blog, I encourage you to start your blog in 2012 so you too can link up at the end of the year. Head on over to Tracy’s and check out how others spent 2011.

From the fullness of His grace

we have all received one blessing after another.

~John 1:16

My word ~ 2012

2011-12-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

*I am reposting this from last year because it’s really a multi-year goal for me. I realized that it would take more than one year to accomplish this word, so I will continue to strive for it daily *

It's that time again…a time to look back at the past year and evaluate our progress. Our successes and our short comings. A time to look forward to a clean slate of the New Year.

I have spent the last few days thinking of one word that will describe what I want to accomplish in the upcoming year of 2011. I wanted to find the perfect word that would summarize my whole theme. Yet, I kept coming back to four areas of my life that I want to improve on. I wrote them down and pondered on them for some time. Then, in the middle of a sleepless night I realized that my theme word was right before my eyes all along.

simpLify

grOw

serVe

lEarn

photo credit

1 John 4:19 ~ We love because He first loved us.

All of these words are strong, tangible, action words that I will go into more depth on within the coming weeks as I start to put my goals into action.

What’s your word for ~~2011~~ 2012?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Favorite photo{s} ~ 2011

2011-12-27T15:30:00.000-05:00

What, I only get one? That could be a real challenge. Today I am linking up with two great bloggers, Rachel @ Finding Joy and Sam @ Sam’s Noggin to pick the best photo of 2011. Like so many others I can’t just choose one, so here are my top three.

I got re-baptized through water immersion in July. It was a Happy Day!

I love this picture of my two little's, Montana & McKenzie. They are two peas in a pod and the best of buds.

This picture is from Thanksgiving that I took of my Auntie and my little sister.

What’s your favorite photo{s} from 2011?

Head crash

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

I thought I was doing everything right? Backing up my files to my external hard drive and keeping up a good system. That is until one day a few weeks ago my main hard drive for my homeschool/life files
CRASHED.
It won't turn on, it won't upload, we tried to plug it into an external uploader device and NOTHING.

My files are gone…

I don't know how to feel, but numb would best describe it.

There is a bright spot in this situation and I am clinging to that right now, my hard drive with my digital photos all the way back from 2005 are safe and I will be taking extra measures to keep them safe. Any suggestions? How do you preserve your photos?

The Lt. gave me a new Western Digital 3TB external hard drive for Christmas, what a great guy! It will give me a great start into the New Year and beyond. Now I must figure out a way to remember what pertinent homeschool files can re-downloaded with our fast approaching school year restarting in January…

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T03:06:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!!! We hope this letter finds you happy and healthy and blessed by the Christmas season. Our family has had yet another amazing year, including the addition of a new member of the family, Mason Oliver. Gotcha there didn’t I??? No, we didn’t have another baby, we expanded the family with the addition of our awesome beagle puppy. The girls are growing way too fast and we are savoring each and every moment. Homeschooling has allowed us to grow closer to each other and allows for flexibility in our busy schedules.

Marie is still the cheerleader of the house and this season she is competing on two teams, Junior 2 and Senior 3. Next season we hope for her to compete individually. She is excelling in school and adjusting to the pace of high school freshman classes and course loads. History is her favorite subject in school and although we got off to a rocky start by switching curriculum we are now back on track with Sonlight and she is learning American History in depth.

Madison just recently turned 11 years and is in the 5th grade and her favorite subject is creative writing. After breaking her toe this summer while vaulting she has made great strides to get back on track with gymnastics. When we switched gyms in August, she had just 4 weeks to learn the skills needed to move up to Level 5 or she would have to stay Level 4. With lots of encouragement and support from us and true Caffey determination she got all the skills she needed and at her first gymnastics she qualified for Sectionals!

Mikayla will turn 9 years old just after the New Year and is in the 3rd grade. Her favorite subjects so far this year have been Art and Math. Mikayla excels in gymnastics and it is even more evident now since we have switched training gyms and in her scores. She was invited to join the TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program) that includes extra conditioning and training for a strength and flexibility test in the Summer of 2012. She has her eyes on the prize of going to TX and training with Bella Karolyi for a week in 2012 if selected.

Montana is 5! She is doing Kindergarten work even though we elected to opt her out of schooling officially with the school district. She is excelling and learning to read and loves school. So much so I have to pace myself with her to keep up. She is also making great strides in gymnastics and was just promoted to the advanced class. Montana enjoys playing outside and with her new puppy.

McKenzie is 2 years old, WOWZERS my baby is getting so big. She is a petite spitfire and let’s just be honest here, has all of us wrapped around her little finger, but we all love her so! Medically she has a clean bill of health for which we are all so thankful for. She had tubes put in at the end of August right before her birthday and they have made a world of difference in her communication skills.

We brought just a little bit more testosterone in the house with the addition of our wonder puppy, Mason. He is an awesome 11 week old puppy that fills our home. He loves being with us and ~~chewing~~ playing with toys, regardless of if they are his or not.

The Lt. has been busy with his new Helicopter command and finishing up his Master’s degree. Our first year of shore duty has been a blast and it’s great that he comes home each night. As for me, I continue to hold the family together with my color-coded master schedule and lots of love and patience. It’s not always easy but God is good and he provides when my energy is low.

We pray your family has a blessed holiday and may your hearts be warm with the blessing of Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Party of 5, wk 6

2011-12-22T21:59:00.000-05:00

Pre-dinner laughs.

(taken with iPhone)

TOS Review ~ The World's Greatest Stories

2011-12-21T08:05:00.000-05:00

I have been trying to find a good reading of the Bible on CD for the girls to listen to for the last few months. Several that I have tried have been dry and boring and not really what we were looking for. That is until we were introduced to The World's Greatest Stories. Goodbye boring, hello exciting, edge of your seat, attention grabbing listening. Bible stories we are all familiar with are vividily brought to life as they are retold by world renown actor, George W. Sarris. With music and sound effects the all the words are taken, word for word, straight from the Bible in either the King James (KJV) or the New International versions (NIV).

Actor George W. Sarris brings to life in the mind's eye the characters and events of some of the most treasured stories in all of history. The texts of all of the stories are taken directly, word for word, from the Bible. They are told, however, using the art of a dramatic storyteller, incorporating carefully chosen music and sound effects. The result is a very exciting story that comes straight from the words of Scripture.
We recieved the NIV set of The Prophets CD and my children were all completely silence and engrossed in the stories they have heard many times before. Even the little tot, McKenzie who sometimes does not enjoy riding in her carseat was quiet and listening intently. The very first time we listened to the CD's in the van we had reached our destination of the gymnastics gym before the story was over and my girls DID NOT want to get out of the van until it was over! Yes, they are that good if my gym crazy kids didn't even want to go to practice until they heard the last of the story!

.Volume 1's CD includes the following stories on it, each of them is thought provoking and attention grabbing stories:

The Blazing Furnace
The Handwriting on the Wall
Daniel in the Lion's Den
Elijah & the Prophets of Baal
The Prophecy of Jonah

I hope I have peaked your interest in these outstanding, amazing, attention grabbing CD's. I wholeheartedly recommend these CD's for anyone looking to share The World's Greatest Stories! We will be adding to our collection at the beginning of the year. There are 18 individual stories on CD for a total of 6 CD's. Each CD is about 1 hour long and costs $7.95 per volume.

~Volume 1: The Prophets

~Volume 2: The Life of Christ

~Volume 3: Beginnings

~Volume 4: Joshua & Esther

~Volume 5: Joseph & His Brothers

~Volume 6: Defeating Giants

~Plus, The Real Story of Easter, from the Gospel of John (NIV only, $9.95)

To see what my fellow crewmates thought of these CD's click HERE.

Company ~ The World's Greatest Stories

Product ~ The World's Greatest Stories, Volume 1, The Prophets

Price ~ $7.95 per volume

Ages ~ everyone

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I received a copy of The World's Greatest Stories, Vol. 1, The Prophets, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T08:47:00.001-05:00

Something worth checking out…

2011-12-13T09:03:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T08:25:00.000-05:00

Introducing…Mason

2011-12-06T08:35:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to introduce to you a new little bundle of joy joining our family on Wednesday. He is 8 weeks old and as cute as can be.

The Lt. and the younger girls went and picked him out this past Sunday while I was at a cheer competition with Marie. He is an early CHRISTmas present this year and we are all so excited to pick him up on Wednesday night.

TOS Review ~ Artistic Pursuits, Book 1

2011-12-05T08:08:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I struggle to incorporate Art into our week. I am happy to say that with Artistic Pursuits it’s not so much of a struggle anymore. Artistic Pursuits offers a wonderful Art program for many different grade levels all the way from Preschool through High School. We have a few other books for the older girls but I used this review mainly for Montana and Mikayla joined along too. They loved it and so did I!

We received Artistic Pursuits K-3, Book 1: An Introduction to the Visual Arts which is a great place to start. With 32 easy to follow and do-able lessons,it makes it easy to get a full year of Art. Book 1 is designed to introduce Art History as well as includes a hands-on art project relating to the particular era and medium being studied. Book 1 teaches what artists do, what artists see, and where we find art in our everyday life.

With books for many different levels you are sure to find one just right for your student(s)...
-Preschool
-K-3 Book One
-K-3 Book Two
-4-6 grade, Book One
-4-6 grade, Book Two
-Jr. High, Book One
-Jr. High, Book Two
-Sr. High, Book One
-Sr. High, Book Two

Artistic Pursuits has won many awards in the homeschooling community, including Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards, 2010 Homeschool Crew Favorite Fine Arts Product, and first place in the art category in the Excellence in Education awards. Each of the books sell for $42.95 each and can be purchased here. The great thing about them is that the pages are non-consumable so you can use the books again and again with your family. Artistic Pursuits also sells the art supplies needed for the projects in the books and prices vary for that. You can however find the items at your local craft store and be fine too. Artistic Pursuits met all of my expectations and more. They will always be my go to curriculum when it comes to Art for my students because of the ease of lessons and the open and go format of the books. It’s no wonder they have won so many awards, the books are fabulous and we will continue to use them in our homeschool for many years to come! Click here to see what other TOS Crew members thought about Artistic Pursuits.

Company ~ Artistic Pursuits

Product ~ Artistic Pursuits K-3, Book 1: An Introduction to the Visual Arts

Price ~$42.95 each

***my camera is not loading the pictures I took of the girls art, stay tuned for pictures***

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I received a copy of Artistic Pursuits, Book 1, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Party of 5, wk 4

2011-12-03T08:11:00.000-05:00

TOS Review ~ The Reading Game

2011-11-27T09:59:00.000-05:00

The Reading Game which was created by Kenneth Hodkinson author of the “Wordly Wise” series has just released a fast-action memory card game that will get your kids reading.

The Reading Game is a supplemental learn-to-read program that correlates with most standard curriculums. It also meets the criteria of the Common Core State Standards for Language Arts, Foundational skills, and Reading skills needed for both kindergarten and first graders. The Reading Game consists of six illustrated storybooks: Skunk, Snake, Bear, Penguins, Unicorn, and Zebra. Each book comes with a color coded word matching card game. The memory games are played in six stages for each book, learning five words in each stage. By the end of your first book your student will be able to read 30 words.

Frequent exposure through play hard-wires these words into long-term memory. The card game requires two players, the student and a tutor. By transforming rote learning into a fast paced game where there is a winner every few seconds, learning to read becomes fun.

The first story is told using just those thirty words. It tells of a skunk without a stripe who is rejected for being different but finds acceptance among a group of cats and becomes their defender. Each subsequent game in the series adds a further thirty words for a reading vocabulary of 180 words by the time the complete series is finished. Of the twenty-five most commonly used English words, twenty-two are on that list; of the forty most commonly used English words –thirty. The multi-sensory teaching approach – through the card game play and the storybooks - works well for retention and student enjoyment. ~ from the website

I used this program with EXCELLENT results with Montana and recommend it wholeheartedly! She is now reading and writing sight words. She is so enthusiastic about it too, I love it! The Reading Game makes it fun and exciting to learn to read. The Stories are great too and build confidence with each new word learned. Montana has a goal she is reaching for. Once she reads her first book, Skunk, she will be able to cash in on her prize. She has already decided that she would like a Baby Alive. She is getting so close too, I love her determination and I owe a big thanks to the creator of The Reading Game for that! Check out what my Crewmates thought by clicking, HERE.

Product ~ The Reading Game

Price ~ $24.95

Ages ~ Pre-readers to 2 grade

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I received a copy of The Reading Game, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Party of 5, wk 3

2011-11-26T11:01:00.001-05:00

No, I didn’t forget to post a picture for this week’s Party of 5. Since my laptop took an untimely departure due in part to a 2 year old who shall remain nameless, I usually use Marie’s laptop when we go on trips. Well, the same nameless 2 year old also got her tiny little hands on Marie’s laptop and it is in the shop after a nasty fall. Thank goodness for Best Buy’s Protection Plan.

I was able to round the girls up for this group shot right before everyone started showing up for Thanksgiving dinner. The lighting was beautiful and I was able to get some great shots of everyone on the deck (stay tuned for the Thanksgiving recap Sunday).

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, great food, and lots of laughter, we sure did!

TOS Review ~ Read Naturally

2011-11-20T05:03:00.000-05:00

One Minute Reader by Read Naturally, is an at home reading program that motivates your young reader to improve their reading speed and comprehension in a fun and exciting way. By using this program just 15-30 minutes a day, a few times each week your student will develop fluency through the modeling step (Read Along), repeated reading step (Read Alone), and a progress monitoring step (Marking Hot & Cold Scores). As part of the TOS Crew, I received the Ready, Set, Orange: Level 1 Starter Kit and the Level 3 Book CD set "Disasters". The set included a "How To" DVD in the Level 1 Starter Kit and everything you need to get started in the One Minute Reader program including a timer, a two tone graphing pencil all in a plastic case.

One Minute Reader has 6 levels of readers, with 7 books available for each level. Each book contains 5 non-fiction stories and includes a CD with each of the 5 stories read at 3 different speeds. I love that!!!

The Process:

~ Get Ready to Read
~ Time Yourself Reading (with the 'One Minute' timer included in the starter set)
~ Mark Your Cold Score in Blue
~ Read Along With the included CD

~ Read Alone, and Raise Your Score
~ Take the Quick Quiz
~ Read for an Adult
~ Mark Your Hot Score in Red

I used this program with Mikayla with great results in her reading comprehension. Montana also used the CD during her evening room time and listened to the stories. Sometimes Mikayla has a hard time getting motivated with her reading but this program has really helped take away some of the apprehension. The price is just right too. A Starter Set is $24.95 and the other books for each level are priced at $12.95. You also have the option to purchase the starter set and the additional 7 book/CD levels all at once for $99. I would recommend this program to anyone who has a reluctant reader or you have a child who needs just a little extra help. It has helped our reader tremendously. Check out what my crewmates thought by clicking, HERE.

Company ~ Read Naturally

Product ~ One Minute Reader

Price ~ Starter Kit $24.95, Book & CD Set $12.95, Bundle (Starter Kit + 7 books) $99.95

Ages ~ Beginning reader to Adult

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I received a copy of One Minute Reader, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Party of 5, wk 2

2011-11-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

Week 2 has us celebrating Madison’s 11th birthday (a post is coming about that soon). I love how Montana & McKenzie ham it up when the camera comes out. Their faces are priceless.

Wordless Wednesday - almost

2011-11-16T08:21:00.000-05:00

poster says…

Dear S,

I am EXTRA thrilled to have you as my sister. You give our family a STARBURST of happiness! I hope you have a WHOPPER of a 11th year. You are a lovely M&M (music maker) and rarely ever a SOUR PATCH kid.

Love T

TOS Review ~ College Prep Genius

2011-11-15T12:59:00.000-05:00

College Prep Genius is a study program to help your child improve his SAT and PSAT scores. This is a self-study program that includes a student workbook, text book and DVDs which explain each lesson in detail. There is also a free downloadable worksheet packet available on the website. College Prep Genius can help you raise your score by as much as 600 pts.

“COLLEGE PREP GENIUS, the test prep course has helped thousands of students from public, private and home schools improve their test scores by colossal numbers. With nearly a decade of seeing results, this unique and pragmatic approach to test-taking has revolutionized the way students all across the United States prepare for the SAT. COLLEGE PREP GENIUS contains original techniques to help discover the logical patterns of standardized exams and continues to emerge as the next big thing in test prep.

How does it work?

Many students simply don’t understand the strategies and logic behind these standardized tests. These exams test more than just a student’s ability to answer questions; they test time-management skills, logical aptitude and much more. COLLEGE PREP GENIUS helps students pinpoint weak areas of the test by emphasizing the strategic and logical approach to taking the SAT.” ~ from the website

To use this program the student is instructed to read through the text book a few times. The DVDs explains each section of the course and then directs the student on how to study and what to do for each section. The workbook is chock full of practice problems that guides your student step by step to master test taking skills in each section. To make it easy on the parents the book also includes a study schedule for each year of high school and also a handy guide of when to take the test.

Wowzers! College Prep Genius is an awesome tool to help with SAT/PSAT tests. My oldest daughter, Marie is just beginning her high school journey and this book is proving invaluable in preparing her. According to the study schedule since Marie is in 9^th grade she should be spending 1-2 hours a week studying for the PSAT. It’s a challenge some weeks but College Prep Genius helps us along the way by taking the guesswork out of what to study. We recommend this book to anyone who needs to improve their score or is just beginning the process. Check out what my Crewmates thought of this program, HERE.

Product ~ College PREP Genius

Price ~ Normally $99.00 but right now College Prep Genius is offering a buy-three-get-one-free offer for the set. Get the set for $38.85, or buy individual books for $12.95 each.

Ages ~ High Schoolers

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I received a download of College PREP Genius, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Why we homeschool

2011-11-14T10:44:00.000-05:00

This weeks TOS Crew’s Blog Cruise question is “Why did you decide to homeschool?”

Well, back in June of 2009 I officially announced on the blog that we would be homeschooling the girls. Here is a recap of what I said…

“You can't ignore what the Lord says to you through prayer and guidance from others who are already on their homeschooling journeys. We want the girls to have a sane and biblically sound education and there is no way right now that we can send all the girls to a local Christian school, it just is not financially possible without us eating beans and weenies morning, noon, and night (we kind of like steak and potatoes sometimes).

Homeschooling might seem difficult at times, but so are a lot of things in life, but in the end it will be a lifetime reward. I am positive that the girls will excel with this new one-on-one learning, why else would the Lord lead us to it? It all comes down to having faith. No, not my baby Faith, but FAITH-Faith is the confident belief or trust in the truth of or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. Got Faith? We do, and the Lord will guide me in teaching the girls, and I just have to be obedient and follow his guidance. That is the only way we will succeed.”

Wow, how true those words are! It has evolved into something much more than that. Well into our 3rd year of homeschooling it has now become our lifestyle. The girls are so much more involved in their respective sports of cheerleading and gymnastics that I am grateful to have them home, especially since my gymnasts are currently putting in 17-20 hours a week at the gym. We’ve had our ups and downs with homeschooling but the good definitely outshines the bad days. We have met so many wonderful new friends, both online and IRL (in real life), and have been introduced to so many new curriculum choices. I just wish I would have had the guts and guidance to start earlier. I am definitely grateful and thankful for the time and memories we are making each and every day!

TOS Review ~ Keyboard Town PALS

2011-11-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

Do you want to get your kiddos typing? How about typing in 1 hour? Is there such a program that can do this? YES! IT’s called Keyboard Town PALS. This fun and exciting program teaches children aged 6-12 to type in as little as an hour. Keyboard Town PALS is a stress free environment with no boring speed drills or exercises and no mindless “filler” games with the help of Sunny who guides you through town. Along the way, you are introduced to new puppet PALS. The Purposeful Associative Learning System is the way in which keyboard skills are taught in this program. There mission is simple and straight to the point.

“Our mission is to teach young children to type on a Qwerty computer keyboard in the fastest, easiest, and least stressful way. In only one hour Keyboard Town PALS’ “Learn To Type”software is able to achieve that goal.” ~ from the website

Mikayla used this program and has improved on her typing skills dramatically. At first she thought it was a little babyish, but then she started to really enjoy it. Montana also joined in and started to learn to type. We recommend this program to anyone looking for a typing program for young children. My favorite part is that they have deactivated the backspace and delete button because in Keyboard Town, mistakes are never counted! You can purchase the program on either a CD Rom version or a Web-based package for $39.95, in English, Spanish, or French versions. Find out what my Crewmates thought by clicking, here.

Product ~ Keyboard Town PALS

Price ~ $39.95

Age ~6 – 12 years

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I received a download of Keyboard Town PALS, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-09T14:21:00.001-05:00

Party of 5, wk 1

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Remember when I decided to partake in the 365 picture taking last year and this year. Well, I failed both times. I enjoy taking pictures of my favorite subjects, my girls. Well, while surfing the blogs this past week I found an interesting idea of taking a weekly shot of your children in a group. I can’t take the credit for this brilliant idea, that belongs to Karli over at The Bonnie 5.

Here’s the gist. Take a group shoot of your Party of X, which in my case is my Party of 5. At the end of your 52 weeks you will have a nice photo journal of your children changing right before your eyes. And what a great gift for family members too. A weekly shot for 52 weeks. I can handle that, can’t I?

TOS Review ~ Ooka Island Adventure

2011-11-07T06:43:00.000-05:00

Ooka what? Yes, that is what I thought when I first heard I was signed up for this review, but let me tell you it’s Fantastic! Ooka Island Adventure is an appealing computer game that will have your children learning phonics-based reading. With attractive colors, characters, and 3D graphics your child will ask to play all the time. Mine did!

Ooka Island is an interactive literacy program designed especially for emerging readers Pre-K through 2nd grade. Their website describes it this way:

The Ooka Island Adventure is a downloadable hero-mission in 3D designed to teach young children how to read fluently and well. The Ooka Island Adventure combines the highly engaging components of a state-of-the-art virtual world with the scientifically proven OokaMethod that builds literacy skills.

Carefully embedded within the Ooka Island Adventure are dozens of interactive instructional activities that captivate the child and motivate them as they learn essential pre-reading, reading, spelling, and writing skills. After completing the Ooka Island Adventure, children will be on their way to reading fluently and well for life.

Ooka Island Adventure was designed especially for the 3-7 year old age group and teaches reading with their phonics-based method called the OokaMethod.

The OokaMethod^TM combines phonological development and language-rich text with comprehension activities so that children have the opportunity to achieve effortless reading.

This link explains it in detail.

Using the Ooka Method, students begin learning and reinforcing letter sounds and through the use of interactive games, they learn to combine those sounds to form words. Sooner than you think your child will be reading the interactive E-books from the Popcorn Library, and who doesn’t enjoy popcorn? The Popcorn Library consists of 85 books that are unlocked one book at a time as your child progresses through the fun lessons. At the end of each lesson, your child will be rewarded 8 minutes of free play to roam around the island to shop or practice skills learned in the game. There is also an Avatar your child can customize for their adventure. Through progressing and completing the various levels in the game your child will earn “mists”, which is money on Ooka Island. The mists, can be used to purchase extra clothes and accessories for your avatar.

My young ones don’t spend a whole lot of time on the computer during the week, but I am happy to say that when they do, Ooka Island Adventure is a requested game to play. I plan on keeping Montana playing this game for reinforcement of our daily phonics lessons at least 3-4 times a week. I have seen improvement in “ear training” since using this program with her, so in my book this fun, exciting game is a keeper! Want to try it out for yourself? There is a free 14 day trial and right now Ooka Island Adventure is offering a 30% discount for new subscriptions. Here is a handy chart for their regular pricing. See what my crewmates thought by clicking HERE.

Product ~ Ooka Island Adventure

Price ~ see detailed chart above

Ages~ 3-7 year olds

***High speed internet recommended. This program is a pretty large download. It took several hours to download, but it’s well worth the wait***

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I received a download of Ooka Island Adventure, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

TOS Review ~ Memoria Press – Classical Phonics

2011-11-03T23:50:00.000-04:00

When I began researching for a phonics program early last Spring I ran across Memoria Press’s Classical Phonics program. It looked amazing! I was sold on it at first sight, but then I began to read the reviews that fellow homeschoolers posted on a well known forum. I quickly became discouraged and talked myself out of the whole Kindergarten program and choose another program. What a HUGH mistake! I am kicking myself for the time we lost. By reading my review I hope you don’t make the same mistake I did.

When I saw this review pop up, I immediately sent a request to be considered for it. We needed something quick because we were at a standstill in phonics/reading department. What a blessing First Start Reading and Classical Phonics has been for us! I can now say that my Kindergartener can READ and in only a few short lessons of the First Start Reading program she was reading her first sentence, I am Sam. Let me share her happy dance photos with you.

View Full Album

The First Start Reading Program takes on a traditional approach to teaching phonics and includes a Teacher’s Guide and 3 Student books, A,B, & C. The Teacher’s Guide provides scripted lessons and is a great resource for helping with vowel sounds, b-d confusion, and pencil grip.

“First Start Reading covers consonants, short vowels, 45 common words, and manuscript printing, accompanied by artist-drawn coloring pictures and drawing pages for every letter. Your child will begin reading in the very first lesson as he progresses through three student books and twenty-five phonetic stories, such as "Hogs and Pigs" and "Jog to the Jet." A Teacher Manual guides you through the program and provides helpful assessments and teaching tips.“ ~ from the website

Each lesson covers the following categories:
~ Letter sounds
~ CVC Words (Common Word, which include sight words)
~ Reading skills such as beginning punctuation and plural sounds
~ Beginning Sentences

* After reading the sentence in lesson 8, Montana looked at me and said “ I AM NOT A MAN”!!! too cute

We also received a companion book called Classical Phonics. This book actually works well with any phonics program as it introduces the letters and sounds and shows a corresponding picture. As your child gains letters and sounds, words begin to be listed on the page that correspond to the phonics rules. This gem of a little book can be used from just beginning to read all the way through 2nd grade as it covers nearly all English phonograms.

I will sign praises to Memoria Press to all who will listen! We LOVE there program and I have been recommending and sharing it with friends for the past few weeks whether or not they homeschool! And my little girl can READ! Something she has wanted to do for so long. Memoria Press offers a wide assortment of homeschool material from Latin, Greek, Literature, to whole grade level sets. They graciously offered some members of the Crew to review their First Form Latin while others received the Classical Phonics program. Check out what my Crewmates thought about these programs, HERE.

Company ~ Memoria Press

Product ~ First Start Reading with Teacher’s Guide and Classical Phonics

Price ~ FSR set with Teacher’s Guide $29.95, Classical Phonics $14.95

Ages ~ Beginning readers – 2nd grade

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I received a copy of First Start Reading and Classical Phonics from Memoria Press, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T06:41:00.001-04:00

TOS Review ~ Excellence in Literature, English 1

2011-11-01T05:20:00.000-04:00

For the past few months Marie and I have had the opportunity to review Excellence in Literature - English 1: Introduction to Literature with the Honors option by Janice Campbell. This product came to us at the perfect time. Homeschooling High School can be a daunting task, there’s a lot to cover. We really had not gotten into a groove with our scheduled English program and Excellence in Literature offered a breath of fresh air.
Introduction to Literature is a College Prep literature and composition course consisting of 9 units. Each unit has focus text(s) and also context text(s). With EIL your student(s) will gain an understanding of literature and have practice in the skills of close literary analysis through essay writing, approach papers, and other evaluative writing forms. There is even an honors track for those who want a little extra. To receive honors grades (.5 weighed grade points), the student needs to do read the additional text and complete the additional assignments listed. Unit 1 consists of short stories to ease into the program while units 2-9 include a collection of great books.

Unit 1: Short Stories by- • Sarah Orne Jewett: A White Heron
• Edgar Allen Poe: The Purloined Letter (This one is not scary, if you’re concerned about that.)
• Guy de Maupassant: The Diamond Necklace
• O. Henry: The Ransom of Red Chief
• Eudora Welty: A Worn Path
• James Thurber: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Unit 2: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne Honors: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Unit 3: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
Honors: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Unit 4: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Honors: Shirley or Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Unit 5: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw Honors: Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot
Unit 6: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Honors: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Unit 7: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Honors: 1984 by George Orwell
Unit 8: The Tempest by William Shakespeare Honors: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Unit 9: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Honors: The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

By the end of the course, students will:

Understand the process of writing, including the use of tools such as a writer’s handbook, dictionary, and thesaurus.
Have specific understanding of selected representative texts by major authors of the periods studied.
Have a general understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the works.
Be able to analyze literary texts and present thoughtfully developed ideas in writing.
Demonstrate competence in essay organization, style, and mechanics.

~from website

Wow, I was blown away with this program and more importantly, so was my daughter! The program is entirely written to the student and the assignments are scheduled to teach the all important skill of time-management. Marie enjoyed doing her assignments instead of waiting to the last minute with me ~~nagging~~ highly encouraging her to get the work turned in. In the weeks that we have been using this program I have seen dramatic improvement in her writing. We just needed to find the right program for us and this one definitely fits the bill! I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who is struggling a bit or anyone who is looking for a quality college- prep program. Take a look at the sample printable 5-year reading list that gives you a peak at all 5 courses Excellence in Literature offers. See what my friends on The Old Schoolhouse Crew had to say about this product here.

Company ~ Everyday Education
Product ~ English 1: Introduction to Literature w/ Honors option
Price ~The 8’x11” print book 132 pages is $29 + $4.95 Priority Mail Shipping. The Ebook version is $27 with instant access and is designed to be printed double sided and put in a 3 ring binder.
Ages ~ 8th – 12th grade
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I received an Ebook copy of English 1: Introduction to Literature with Honors Option from Everyday Education, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Love All The Way ~ CD review & Giveaway

2011-10-28T23:42:00.000-04:00

Remember Jump 5, a fun teen dance band from years ago? If so, then you might recognize Brittany Hargest. Well now she has her own debut album release called “Love All The Way” that is an upbeat, get up and go CD filled with songs in which she shares her heart in Christ. Think Christian Rock only a little more toned down. Have a listen to a song right here!

“Brittany’s debut release combines club beats with lyrics that communicate the hope, love and acceptance that are found in knowing Christ. Recognized for her high energy and soaring vocals, Brittany delivers the same vocal ability, and influence on a more mature record. Infectious rhythms and irresistibly catchy hooks gravitate toward a grand finally ending! These 10 dance/pop driven tracks, are exuberant examples of fiery rhythms, which collectively serve up a variety of interesting tempos. From tracks like, “Slow Motion” to “Love All The Way” to “Miracle” and “You Met Me”, the music’s drive comes from its pervasive grooves, exquisite arrangements and passionate singing. This release ranks right up at the top with any feel-good, dance- driven album in the industry! It’s one of the best Christian dance albums ever made and it’s just so easy to get caught up in the music that at the end, it’s hard not to rewind the record and start it over again! Hargest’s self-titled, debut album demonstrates, what good music is supposed to do by providing a positive escape.”

Brittany’s CD is available on I Tunes, Buy the CD on Amazon, or download the MP3 album at Amazon. Want your own copy? Leave me a comment and let me know you were here. The giveaway is open to anyone, even if you know me IRL (in real life). This giveaway will be open until 10 P.M. Thursday, Nov. 3rd. Leave a comment and win a CD, easy peasy!

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"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T07:49:00.000-04:00

TOS Review ~ Wits & Wagers Family

2011-10-25T19:40:00.000-04:00

If your family enjoys playing games consider adding Wits & Wagers Family to your collection. Wits & Wagers is made by North Star Games and has been said to be “the most award-winning party game in history.” I would agree with that description 100% for this fun and exciting family trivia game.

“Wits & Wagers Family simplifies the rules and scoring system of the popular Wits & Wagers. Now families and kids can get into the Wits & Wagers action! First, every player writes down a guess to a fun question. Then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer without going over. That is it!

The game features 300 new family-friendly questions. And even better than that, Wits & Wagers Family includes Meeples-- fun, cute, human shaped wooden pieces that the players use to select which answers they think are correct. Meeples have been a hallmark in European style strategy games for years, but this is the first time they have made an appearance in a party game.

So check out Wits & Wagers Family, the game that combines laughter and learning in a way that all ages can enjoy together!” ~ from website

Wits and Wagers Family contains:

150 question cards
5 dry erase answer boards
5 dry erase pens
5 large Meeples
5 small Meeples
1 dry erase score board
1 full color rules

It’s always fun to be able to include everyone in on game play and Wits & Wagers Family does just that. We had a great time playing this game and I see it becoming a family game night favorite! If your family likes playing games then check out this fun game. See what my crewmates thought of this great game by clicking here.

Company ~ North Star Games

Product ~ Wits & Wagers Family

Price ~ $19.99

Ages ~ 8 and up, for 3-10 players

Where to purchase ~ Amazon or Target

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I received a copy of Wits & Wagers Family from North Star Games, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

TOS Review ~ Apologia - Educating the WholeHearted Child

2011-10-24T10:53:00.000-04:00

Educating the WholeHearted Child is 372 pages of pure goodness for the heart, mind, and soul. I love Apologia products and was so pleased when I found out I was on the review crew for the Educating the WholeHearted Child book. This awesome reference book is divided into 4 sections; Home, Learning, Methods, and Living and gives you Godly guidance through each part. I found myself referring to this book over and over again when we had a sticky part of our homeschool year a few weeks ago. This book and the advice of Godly women helped me so much!

Since 1994, Educating the WholeHearted Child has been a trusted guide for thousands of homeschooling families. This extensively revised and expanded third edition provides a solid biblical foundation for educating and nurturing your children’s hearts, minds, and souls.

You will discover how to:

Make your home and family the heart of your children’s education

Train your children to become creative, self-directed learners

Enrich life and education with living books

Identify and work with each child’s learning style

Help your children love to learn as naturally as they love to play

Gain confidence to teach with practical, commonsense methods

Whether you are a first-time homeschooler or a long-term veteran, this comprehensive guide will equip and empower you for your journey of faith as a family. Discover the joy of bringing relationship-based, book-centered learning back into the natural daily life of your home.”

~from the back cover

The book is large, 8.5 x 11, and is filled with quotes, bible verses and little encouraging stories in the margins of each page. One of my favorite parts of the book included a section called “In Our Home”. In this section Clay and Sally shared stories of their personal experiences in their own home. One of my favorite passages from the book is this:

“Home education, then, is the natural outgrowth of home nurture and home discipleship. our goal is not just an educated child, good SAT score, and college or even a career with a good salary. Those may be fruits of your efforts, but your overriding goal should be to raise spiritually mature children who have both the will and the skill to learn and the desire and ability to keep learning. That is the goal of WholeHearted Learning. Your goal in home education should be to raise well-rounded, spiritually grounded, truth-founded Christian children whose goal in life is to make a difference for the kingdom of God, whatever life path they choose. You’re actually raising future Christian adults.” ~ pg. 21

This book would bless anyone, whether you are just thinking about homeschooling or you are one of those veterans who could use some encouragement. Read a sample chapter here. I strongly encourage you to get your hands on a copy and be blessed by the wisdom the Clark’s offer. I enjoyed this book and I know I will be referring to it for years to come. Check out what my Crewmates thought of this wonderful book by clicking here.

Company ~Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.

Product ~ Educating the WholeHearted Child

Price ~ $22.00

Where to buy ~ Apologia Press, Amazon

My other Apologia reviews ~ Good Morning, God., Who is God?, How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for your Kids

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I received a copy of Educating the WholeHearted Child from Apologia , in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

TOS Review ~ E-mealz

2011-10-21T11:19:00.000-04:00

Have you heard the E-mealz buzz? If not, then let me tell you what a wonderful company this is! I mean really, I decreased my weekly grocery bill down from $225.00 to $130.00. That’s a $95.00 savings a week for my family of 7 for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks! And how can you go wrong when your company has the endorsement from a trusted name in debt relief and money management? Dave Ramsey has his photo on E-mealz website and his endorsement so I knew I wanted to try this company out. Let me tell you how it works.

With our busy sports schedule during the week it has always been complicated for me to figure out a way to feed the girls a healthy meal before practice. A fellow sports mom introduced me to the idea of having Supper for the lunch time meal. That way I know they have a filling dinner and are not eating a full meal at 830 PM and the Lt. has a warm plate of dinner when he arrives home from work. E-mealz makes this possible for me!

I struggle in the area of food planning and grocery shopping. I always have, but now with E-mealz I have help. E-mealz is an internet service that was created by two moms who understand that sometimes there is just enough hours in the day to plan healthy, balanced meals for our families. With E-mealz you get weekly menu plans for 7 days, complete with recipes and a shopping list tailored to your supermarket choice and based on the number of people in your family. There is a plan for family's of 4-6 or an option for a 5 day two person plan. E-mealz also caters to those with special dietary concerns, such as gluten free, vegetarian, portion control, low fat or low-carb. There are several stores to choose from including: Kroger, Publix, WalMart, Aldi, Ralphs, or the Any Store option. They have it all covered! I choose the regular family plan for WalMart.

Each week,Thursdays for WalMart plan, a new menu is posted. You open it up, download and print out. The menu is laid out in a grid form making it easy to read and to plan which day you will eat what meal. The ingredients and the recipe are listed right next to the meal plan making it easy to read and follow.

On the second page is your customized shopping list with prices planned around the sales at the grocery store. It lists ALL the items needed for the weeks meal including staple items like salt, flour, and oil. My weekly menus for dinner ran on average about $85.00 per week. I did find that not every item on the shopping list was the listed price, but I was told by other Crewmates that it was because food prices range from region to region. But you know what? I am OK with that for the amount I am saving!

I know your probably thinking that the meals could not be that delicious for that price, right? WRONG! We had some really yummy meals and even my picky eater enjoyed them with some clever disguise. Over the last 8 weeks we have enjoyed meals like:

Chicken Dijonnaise with wild rice, and homemade bread

* a family favorite!

Incredible Baked Ziti

Calico Corn & Turkey Bacon Pie

Mango Tilapia with white rice and green beans

Pasta e Fagioli

What I liked about E-mealz

ALL the planning work is done for you.
You are automatically billed for 3 months. You can go into the website and cancel at any time.
The recipes are nutritious with good variety and are simple to follow. You do not have to spend all day in the kitchen to make a delicious meal.
There are Crockpot meals, slow bake, and do ahead meals scheduled.
The E-Mealz program is budget friendly and inexpensive - it works out to $5 per month or $1.25 a week.

I will recommend and sing the praises of E-mealz to anyone who will listen! This company's service is a great tool that takes the chore out of meal planning and grocery shopping, making it as easy as 1-2-3! For that I am especially appreciative. I will be continuing my subscription to E-mealz when my trial runs out. Head on over and check out a sample full meal plan and shopping plan by clicking here. Interested in hearing more reviews of E-meals, click on over to see what my fellow Crewmates had to say.

Product ~ E-mealz

Price ~ $15.00 for a 3 month subscription

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I received a 3 month subscription to E-mealz , in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

2011 – 2012 School pictures

2011-10-20T19:28:00.000-04:00

My talented friend Debbie shot these fabulous photos of the girls last week. I love the way they turned out!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T10:02:00.001-04:00

TOS Review ~ Always Icecream

2011-10-18T21:53:00.000-04:00

So, just what does ice cream have to do with the internet? Well, let me tell you about a great site for girls aged 7-12 called Always Icecream. It is a social media site just for girls that brings “A scoop full of laughter, A scoop full of learning!” plus a whole lot of fun playing educational games. Always Icecream was co-founded by parents of five children, Swenja and Johannes Ziegler.

This great website rewards your daughter with scoops of virtual ice cream for all their learning accomplishments, while allowing them to play, learn and interact in a safe environment. Now, I know what your thinking? Social media for my young impressionable daughter, no way! Honestly, I thought the same thing when I was chosen for this review. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this site gives the parents full control of everything that happens in your child's virtual world. Also, content on Always Icecream is subject to moderation, is blocked to search engines, and contains no advertising.

Dr. Johannes Ziegler came up with the idea for Always Icecream when he was looking for an appropriate internet website for his three daughters. In search of a site that combines safety, fun, educational value and online networking he was unhappy with the existing sites. That’s how the idea for Always Icecream was born.”

Always Icecream has been certified by the Privo Privacy Assurance Program to be in compliance with the rigorous standards defined in the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Want to know what else? This site has committed to not teaching on the touchy subject of evolution. You get to teach your daughters what you believe about the origin of life. I for one appreciate that and give them a high five for that!!!

So, just what do you get with your membership to Always Icecream?

Learning Games and Rewards
Educational Videos
Shops and Games to Spend Rewards
Weekly Progress Report to Parents
Friends and Profiles
Comments and Messages
Entertaining Games and Videos as Rewards
Social Games like Pet Sitting and Arts Shop
Moderation prior to being visible to other members

The Games

You will get your fill of games in a fun educational way. There are different levels of learning so you daughter will be continually challenged. The following subject categories available:

Language Arts

Math Drills

Math Quizzes

Advanced Math (such as exponents, fractions and square numbers)

Religious Education (Christian)

Geography & History

Science

Music & Arts

Computer Skills

Foreign Languages

Rewards

Another great aspect of Always IceCream that I appreciate is that they site provides the girls with praise and recognition. While the girls play they earn “$coops,” an in-game currency. Medals and awards for achievements in games that can be use the $coops to take care of pets or decorate homes. The girls also get to redeem their $coops for any fun game or activities, such as purchasing items in their mini world or purchasing fun stuff for their pets in the Pet World. There is also the social aspect of chatting with other girls about how they liked a game or lesson, but that option is completely up to the parent to allow that feature or not.

Our Thoughts

We liked Always IceCream and we give them 5 $coops for the fun, educational, and safe site that can be moderated to parents desires. I especially enjoyed the fact that everything is educational and if I found something that I didn’t like (which I rarely did) I could disable that feature. Because I used this review with Madison, Mikayla, and Montana sharing an account I did not feel comfortable having them access the Learning Community as we don’t know anyone in “real life” that uses this feature. However, in the future if this should change I would allow them to. If you are looking for a safe, educational, online environment for your daughter definitely check out Always IceCream! It works for our family of girls and it may just work for you too! Try it for yourself right here.

Check out what my crewmates experienced with Always Icecream, HERE.

Company~ Always Icecream

Product ~Always Icecream

Price ~$4.99 per month or $29.99 per year. Life-time membership $99.99

Ages~ geared towards girls aged 7-12

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I received a membership to Always Icecream , in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

TOS Review ~ Visual Latin

2011-10-17T10:44:00.000-04:00

We began journeying into the world of “Classical” education this year and a part of that involves the study of Latin. No, it not a dead language, it’s just frozen according to Dwane of Visual Latin.

We received a Visual Latin 1 DVD a few weeks ago to try out and it has been going well. I used it with Marie to give her a little reprieve from the current Latin Program she is using.

We had great results in the few lessons she has been through! We received the DVD version with lessons 1-10. Each DVD has 10 complete lessons with included worksheets in PDF files form for the worksheets that accompany the lessons. The setup of was simple, just pop it into your CD drive and your off on a fun filled lesson of Latin. The Lessons are broken down into 3 simple steps.

Step 1 ~ Grammar. Latin teacher Dwane Thomas introduces the lesson in an engaging, fun, and quirky way. After the lesson is finished your child will then complete the corresponding worksheet.

Step 2 ~ Sentences. Again, Dwane will give a short lesson with sentences using the Grammar from step 1. A short worksheet will be completed.

Step 3 ~ Reading. Dwane reads a passage from an abridged Latin Vulgate. Again there is a worksheet for the child to translate the passage they just reviewed in the video.

Yes, Latin can be fun! A you want to know a great part? This program makes it feel like you have your very own Latin tutor right in the comfort of your own home.

“Add that to Dwane’s ability to address your children directly and your kids have their own personal Latin tutor right in your home. They will smile, chuckle and even laugh at him as he teaches, whether it’s making a pun or making a mistake.

That’s right – we let the camera roll so every now and then Dwane slips up and corrects himself. It happens in a real class, right? And kids make mistakes themselves, right? This is something kids can relate to that builds great rapport. Furthermore, it relaxes them”

Visual Latin is a great program and I whole heartedly recommend it for anyone just starting to learn Latin or just needing a different approach to learning this great language. The lessons are short and you find yourself laughing at Dwane’s humor. You can try 6 introductory lessons for yourself by clicking HERE. Check out what my Crewmates had to say about Visual Latin by clicking HERE.

Company: Compass Classroom

Product:Visual Latin 1, DVD

Price: DVD $30.00, Download $25.00, Complete series 1-3 $90.00 (on sale for $80.00)

Ages: 9 and up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I received a copy of Visual Latin 1 DVD, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Weekly Wrap Up, Wk 7 ~ The one where Montana Reads!!!

2011-10-14T18:56:00.001-04:00

Montana read her first 3 words this week, I. am. Sam. Yipee!!! I have another reader in the house. She was so excited today she did a little happy dance. Let me share it with you.

View Full Album

We switched Phonics/Reading programs for an upcoming review I am doing, and let me tell you it is going so good! Montana is so excited to learn to read and ready every morning for me, even if it is at 630am. I am so glad I was chosen for this review and can’t wait to share it with you in a few weeks.

It was a smooth week for the older girls. Marie is doing excellent with the Sonlight switch, which makes this Mama happy. She finished up Module 3 this week in Biology and scored an “86” a “B” on her test. I ended up restructuring the way we are learning with Tapestry of Grace. Don’t know if I mentioned it last week but I ended up combining Madison & Mikayla and doing the History portion as a read-aloud instead of individual readings. It’s going well and everything was completed this week. McKenzie has been working on stringing her beads this week. I love the concentration on her face.(Yep, even the baby wears leos on gymnastic days and baby legs for leg warmers).

Gymnastics and cheerleading are going fantastic! Madison was able to ring the bell because she got her skill (the Kip) she needed last Saturday, so we are hopeful this will solidify her a spot on the Level 5 team. I attached the video clip so that family will see what I am talking about, Hi Grandma!!! Marie’s cheer teams (she is on the Junior 2 and Senior 4) are sharpening up there skills because competition season begins December 4th. Upon matching up cheer and gymnastics schedules we have a few conflicts but won’t know for sure how much we overlap until 1-2 weeks before the event. I am looking on the bright side though because at least we are conflict free for the Nationals and State finals and for that I am thankful. Especially since the Level 5 gymnastics meet is near West Virginia this year.

So, that was our week in a nutshell. How was your week?

I am linking up the Weekly Wrap Up over at WUHS.

Review & Giveaway~ Carlito C. Caterpillar’s Math House Games

2011-10-08T20:53:00.000-04:00

Carlito C. Caterpillar’s Math House Games is a great set of 20 laminated cards with large, ~~toddler proof~~ durable activity cards all stored on a convenient O-ring for easy totting and use. The card set showcases 20 easy steps to help kids learn math in a fun, hands-on way. Math can be FUN and Caterpillar Math House helps to make it fun. Each of the 20 steps includes 2 activities, which are further broken down into 3 different stages that increase in difficulty as your child progresses. Any materials for the games are available right on the c3pla site, how great is that?!

“Domenico Marcario, M.S. – The creator of Carlito C. Caterpillar’s MathHouseTM Sensory Math Teaching System, is a retired high school mathematics teacher and full-time passionate grandparent!

The Carlito C. Caterpillar’s Sensory Math Teaching System is the outgrowth of years of research and development. It utilizes the natural way children learn.

From birth, children discover facts through sensory experiences. Fueled by curiosity and imagination, children use their eyes, hands, ears, noses, and mouths to learn about their world. They gain understanding by doing rather than by sitting passively and watching someone else do the thinking for them.”

The younger girls really enjoyed playing and learning with these cards. I especially liked that whenever I needed a specific worksheet, I could just go to the site and print as many as I needed. I recommend this set of cards to anyone who wants to supplement their math program and to think out of the box a bit.

Company ~ c3pla

Product ~ Carlito C. Caterpillar Math House Games

Price ~$23.95 includes free shipping

Ages ~K – 5th

Want to give it a try yourself? I have a copy to give away to one lucky reader. That could be YOU! All you have to do is leave a comment about your least favorite concept to teach in math. Giveaway will close on Friday, October 14th @ 12Noon and the winner will be announced Friday, October 14th @ 3PM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I received a copy of Carlito C. Caterpillar Math House Games , in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Weekly Wrap Up, Wk 7 ~ A refreshing break and changes

2011-10-07T14:28:00.000-04:00

We had a great, relaxing week this week. It was our first break after six sustained weeks of learning, not just in books but life. We found out that our current History curriculum was not a good fit for Marie. It makes me sad a bit, and not because I spent a small fortune on books and curricula, but because I was hoping to have all the girls in one History period. However, I am not up for long, tedious battles of getting work done. So, we are moving back to Sonlight for Marie. My friend, Michele, who has been there, done that for High School has graciously offered to lend us her Core 100. THANK YOU MICHELE, You are such a blessing!!!

So, for now Madison & Mikayla will be staying with TOG but I may be tweaking it in the next few months as Madison has already expressed that she wants to go back to Sonlight also, sigh! Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Sonlight, we still use there readers, etc. but I had a plan for something different, and God is gently, yet firmly letting me know that is not the path we need to be on. I am listening, just a little bit stubbornly. I am a Taurus after all :-)

So, just what did we do with our week off? Not a whole lot of anything. Just the way I like it. So, besides gymnastics and cheer practices and co-op we stayed home. I did have to make a trip to Patient First on Monday when I was having flank pain that turns out I had a bladder infection that spread to my kidneys. Fun, by Monday evening I was in so much pain I had to break down and take a 800Mg Motrin. I normally don’t take any meds, so this knocked me out Monday night. I do remember the Lt. going to pick the girls up at practice but not much after that. I was o-u-t!

I didn’t pick up my camera hardly at all this week, so I am using archived photos. Sometimes those can be the best kind, right? The girls did have school photos at co-op on Thursday. McKenzie would not smile for anything so hers should be interesting. We also got a group photo of them, I can’t wait to see how they turned out.

Mikayla started her TOPs training in gymnastics on Wednesday evening. She had fun, but said it was too easy. I told her if they made it hard the first day she would not want to come back. She was asked to practice with the level 7/8 girls two times a week and last night she connected a back walk-over with a back-handspring on the balance beam. Madison is making great strides too, she is so close to getting her Kip on the bars. Not that there’s pressure or anything but she has 22 days left to get that skill before the routines clinic happens on the 30 Oct. I know she will get it and I really hope it’s on a Wednesday (the day I stay at the gym for all 4 hours of practice) so I can see her ring the bell. That will be a Kodak moment. Oh, we also got our Meet schedule {jumping for joy}. I am a planner and I have been ~~pestering~~ asking ever so sweetly when it would be out so that I could match up gymnastic meet with cheerleading competitions. So far, we only have 1 or 2 that conflict but depending on times we may be able to make it work out. There is an optional meet listed in Chicago in February that Mikayla wants to go to so she can get her picture in front of this:

chicagonow.com/garden

So, that was our week in a nutshell. How was yours? I am looking forward to getting back at the in-depth learning next week. I am linking this post up with the Weekly Wrap Up over at WUHS. Stop by and link up too!

Wonder Maps ~ Timberdoodle review

2011-10-03T11:58:00.000-04:00

Are you map savvy? I am not and GPS is my best friend! But I am not talking GPS I am talking paper maps like the kind every child, home or public schooled, needs for studying history and geography. Wonder Maps is made by Bright Ideas Press who also carry The Mystery of History and All American History line.
Timberdoodle contacted me to do a review on Wonder Maps and I was not disappointed in this product, not one bit! I have heard of Wonder Maps but since our current History curricula comes with a maps resource I couldn’t justify purchasing this one. I am so glad we were afforded the opportunity for this review!

Wonder Maps does everything you could ever image a mapping program of your dreams to do! Have you ever needed a World Map, United States Map, Historical Map, or a Thematic Map. Wonder Maps has it! Perhaps you need a specific historical map? Wonder Maps has it! There is a section that is broken down into four categories, The Ancients (Creation to 33 A.D.), The Middle Ages (33 A.D. to 1456 A.D.), The Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of Nations (1457 A.D. to 1707 A.D.), Revolutions to Rising Times (1708 A.D. to present).

Wonder Maps has a total of over 350 customizable maps, including over 60 maps of the world, over 60 maps of the U.S.A., 125 historical maps and 25 biblical maps available for your use. There are political, outline, reference and, topographical maps – in both black and white or color. Once you locate the map you want in the appropriate section, you then have the flexibility of turning on and off various layers, depending upon your particular needs.

It’s Maptastic!

Wonder Maps has all your bases covered plus more in the map department. We recommend this program hands down, you will not be disappointed! We are so thrilled to be able to have this valuable resource to use in our everyday schooling. The flexibility of this program allows it to be used for many years. I know it will be in my house.

Company ~ Bright Ideas Press
Product ~ Wonder Maps
Price ~ $49.95 from Bright Ideas Press , but you can buy it from Timberdoodle for $44.95 and you can earn 45 Doodle Dollar points.
Ages ~ all ages
Platform ~ works on both PC and Mac
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I received a copy of Wonder Maps from Timberdoodle, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

TOS Review ~ Aletheia Writing Magazine

2011-09-29T23:45:00.000-04:00

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I received the Aletheia Writing Magazine in the mail. Aletheia is Greek for TRUTH and is a quarterly published magazine for Creativity in Christian Teens aged 13-19.

ABOUT ALETHEIA MAGAZINE:
Aletheia Magazine was created as a platform for teenagers to express themselves. Each issue features stories, poems, and book reviews written by fellow teens. There is also a photography selection that I have to say was really impressive.

Submissions to the magazine are accepted for genres such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Artwork, Photography, and Book Reviews. Every month there is a writer's challenge with a deadline date for submissions. October’s Challenge can be viewed by clicking, HERE.

While I thought Aletheia is a well thought out magazine, I am just not sure it is right for our family. I have a 14 year old that does enjoy writing but just not the particular genre featured in the magazine. I think it would be a great opportunity if your child enjoyed fantasy etc., but it is just not for us. Check out what my fellow Crewmates had to say by clicking HERE.

Company ~Aletheia Writing Magazine

Product ~ Aletheia Magazine

Price ~ $26.00 for 4 issues per year, $29.00 Canadian pricing *Price includes shipping and handling*

Ages ~ 13-19

Available to Purchase~ To purchase a subscription visit, HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2011-2012 Crew and as such received a copy of Solve It! 3rd: Problem-Solving Strategies + CD from AIMS, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Weekly Wrap Up, week 5 ~ character training

2011-09-24T15:52:00.000-04:00

Week 5…WHEW! We had another long week, but we made it through with God’s grace. Without airing everything, but in the spirit of keeping it “real” we had some character issues with a few members of this household. So we spent a few days really dealing with and getting things lined up the way they are supposed to be. I was lovingly reminded by my Aunt Janice not to try to be a Super Mom by rather an Abiding Mom.

But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful nature to his cross. They don’t want what their sinful nature loves and longs for. Since we live by the Sprit, let us march in step with the Spirit. Let us not become proud. Let us not make each other angry. Let us not want what belongs to others. ~Galatians 5:22-26 (NIrV)

As far as schooling goes, I have lowered my expectations of what the girls need to get done without sacrificing the quality of their education. I recognized I was expecting too much, trying to plug in too many classes so we dropped a few classes and it is going well. I had to really examine myself and what I really wanted the girls to accomplish this year and just focus on that.

We started Science for Madison & Mikayla and learned all about cells. We looked at onion and celery cells under the microscope. We didn’t get to make the edible Jell-o cell…but you know what? THAT’S O.K.!

Madison got a lesson on writing paragraphs and wrote about a personal experience as part of her Rod & Staff composition assignment. She chose to write about when we moved from WA State to our current location in 2009. I have to say she wrote a very well detailed paragraph and included highlights of our trip, including when Montana’s car seat got stuff in the airplane seat.

CREDIT

Wednesday the girls had their dental cleaning. Out of the four girls that got their teeth cleaned we only had one cavity. Next cleaning in March I am hoping for NO cavities. Madison will be getting her braces in the beginning of the year, and she is really excited. We also made it to the library after the dentist. McKenzie kept her shoes on so we didn’t get the evil eye from the librarian :-) She is starting to enjoy looking for books and sitting at the little toddler tables reading her books.

Thursday brought co-op and much needed encouragement. It is a long day because Marie’s class is not over until 4P.M. and Madison’s starts at 1030A.M. Because we live so far out we have to leave our house by 945A.M. to get there with a little cushion time to get settled, but it is worth it. I just need to be better prepared on my part Wednesday nights so that things can run more smoothly and so I can make it to Group night at church.

That was our week, how was yours? Check out how other homeschoolers weeks went over at WUHS.

TOS Review ~ AIMS- Solve It! 3rd Problem-Solving Strategies

2011-09-23T09:51:00.000-04:00

Have you ever heard of AIMS? I hadn’t until this review opportunity came up. AIMS is an acronym for Activities Integrating Math and Science. The company was founded on the principles that children need hands on opportunities to develop problem solving skills.

About the Book

“A Collection of activities designed to introduce students to nine problem-solving strategies. The tasks included will engage students in active, hands-on investigations that allow them to apply their number, measurement, computation, geometry, data organization, and algebra skills in problem-solving settings.

The strategies addressed are: use manipulatives, write a number sentence, draw out the problem, guess and check, organized the information, look for patterns, use logical thinking, work backwards, and wish for an easier problem. Also included are practice problems that can be used for assessment.

These activities give students the opportunity to develop a toolbox of problem-solving tools that they can draw from when approaching problems. These skill will serve them well not only in mathematics, but in other academic subjects and their everyday lives.” (from the cover)

This book provided some much needed problem-solving skills for my 5th and 3rd graders to work on. While some of the activities are geared for bigger groups we still managed to get the most out of the activities. I especially found it helpful to have the included CD for easy printing of activity sheets. Overall we would recommend this product to anyone looking for help in problem solving skills. It is a great find with many activities to keep you busy learning throughout the year!

Check out what my Crewmates had to say about this and other books we reviewed from AIMS Education Foundation, HERE.

Company: AIMS Education Foundation

Product: Solve It! 3rd: Problem-Solving Strategies + CD, 29 activities

Price: $24.95
Ages: Grades 3-5
Available to Purchase: AIMS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2011-2012 Crew and as such received a copy of Solve It! 3rd: Problem-Solving Strategies + CD from AIMS, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

THEO winner!

2011-09-22T17:00:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Monique, you are the winner of the THEO giveaway. Thanks to all who entered!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

TOS Review ~ Before Five in a Row

2011-09-20T21:33:00.000-04:00

Do you have a preschooler wanting to “do” school like there older siblings? I definitely do! I jumped at the offer to review Before Five in a Row because I thought it would be a perfect fit for Montana and McKenzie. Let me tell you we were not disappointed!

Jane Claire Lambert designed Before Five in a Row for preschoolers roughly two to four years old. Instead of formal academics for this age group, Before Five in a Row helps to build special memories with your child by introducing important pre-learning skills needed later in academics.

The vision statement for Before Five in a Row is this:

"Dedicated to protecting and nurturing the early years of childhood, Before Five in a Row opens up the world of learning through great books and creative play, and builds a solid foundation for more formal education to come."

This Volume, and all volumes, are divided into two parts. The first part of the Before Five in a Row book includes twenty-three mini-units based on beloved picture books. Some of the great books include Corduroy, Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?, Caps for Sale, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Blueberries for Sal (one of our favorites), and many more treasures.

The second half of this book is subtitled, “Parents Treasury of Creative Ideas for Learning Readiness.” This awesome section contains activities for building reading readiness and for developing both fine and gross motor skills. The activities listed include fun play activities that can be used anytime. Play is a very important part of a child's development and ideas are included for for in the kitchen, things to do at the store or while out and about town, and even bath time suggestions.

Before Five in a Row met all of my expectations and then some!!! Like many young children my girls love to be read to. We spent many days cuddled on the couch or on the floor reading great classic stories over and over again. I think we read Blueberries for Sal over 15 times in one week. But you know what, my little girls loved it and Montana and McKenzie were able to and act out some of the scenes in their playtime and Montana is able to narrate the story to me. I would most definitely recommend Before Five in a Row and any of the Five in a Row products to anyone with young children. We give this product 6 thumbs up! I look forward to heading into Volume 1 next year and digging a little deeper into the stories and activities.

Check out what my Crewmates thought about Before Five in a Row.

Product: Before Five in a Row

Price: The parent's guide is reasonably priced at $35.00. The corresponding books are sold separately or available at your local library (but check your bookshelves you may already own some).

Company: Five in a Row

Ages: 2-4 year olds

Available to purchase: Rainbow Resource and Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2011-2012 Crew and as such received a copy of Before Five in a Row from Five in a Row, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Weekly Wrap Up, Week 3 ~ Birthdays and set backs

2011-09-17T20:56:00.001-04:00

Whew! We had 2 birthdays to celebrate this week, one on the 13th for Montana, 5th and one on the 17th for the Lt. With McKenzie’s birthday just two weeks ago I have had enough cake to last me until November (when it’s Madison’s birthday)!

We spent Tuesday at Chuck E. Cheese and had the whole facility to ourselves, love that! Montana had a great day and was spoiled with all of her gifts she received. Madison won 125 tickets from the Wheel of Fortune machine, she was screaming and jumping around so excited. The Lt.’s birthday was low key since he was out with an engagement Friday night and most of Saturday. We had an ice cream cake from Cold Stone and Chinese food for dinner.

McKenzie has decided that she is going to potty train this week. She has been doing quite fabulous and she is nearly day trained. She is so cute wearing her 5-ply training panties. You know how most toddlers have no hips, well she really has no hips whatsoever!

School wise things are going well. We started co-op on Thursday and on Wednesday the girls were so excited for it to start. That is all they talked about at “recess” with our neighborhood homeschool friends. It was really great to see so many old and make new friends too. What a great encouragement booster just to be surrounded by so many seasoned homeschool moms.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up ~ Galatians 6:9

I do wonder some days if I am expecting too much or if I have assigned too much… but things are going along. We had a bit of a set back early in the week with Marie in Biology but we got back on track by Friday and she scored a “B” on her science test. After our week, I will take that! She is wanting to be totally independent in her studies and be hulled up in her room all day. I don’t feel she is quite yet ready for complete independence. I don’t want our High School studies to be so secluded and independent as a Freshman.

How do you handle High School in your house?

I am linking this post up with the Weekly Wrap Up @WUHS. Head on over and see how everyone week went.

THEO ~ Teaching Children God’s Word (& giveaway)

2011-09-16T15:24:00.000-04:00

What a great little gem this is! I was recently given the opportunity to review THEO: Teaching Children God’s Word from Whitestone Media. The short 9 minute episodes are just the perfect length to grabbing little ones attentions.

About THEO

“Theo Presents is centered around the adventures and teachings of the main character, Theo, a student of Godʼs Word. Theo lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village, in the heart of the Cotswolds, and entertains many guests, including two mice, Belfry and Luther.

The animation series of Theo guides children and adults through a careful study of systematic theology. Theo discusses doctrines about sin, Godʼs character, the Bible, salvation and godly living with easy-to-understand illustrations that make children want to learn more about the Christian faith.

Theo Presents recognizes a universal fact: children and adults alike love cartoons. Theo captures the attention of young minds with liberal amounts of humor and high quality animation to present the Gospel of the Christian faith through the teachings of Theo and with the use of his two object lessons, Belfry and Luther.

Theo Presents is designed to serve as a multi-media resource tool that will help men, women and children fulfill the Great Commission of Christ, to go into all the world and make disciples and to teach those disciples God's Word. The multi-media outlets include a DVD series, curriculum, books and iPhone/iPad app. Each of these facets are designed to work with one another or individually.” (From the website)

We really enjoyed this little DVD program and we recommend it for everyone! Want to hear the best part? Well, For every “Theo: God’s Love” DVD purchased, Whitestone Media and Child Evangelism Fellowship® will send a child in need their very own DVD! How awesome is that! And you even get to choose what part of the world you would like your DVD sent.

Check out the Bonus Episode “Good News” HERE (because I am having issues embedding it) and tell me what you think to be entered into a giveaway for you very own copy of THEO. That’s the mandatory entry and you are entered to win. The drawing will close Wednesday, September 21 @ 8PM and the winner will be selected by random drawing and announced Thursday morning. Anyone can enter so hop to it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I received a free copy of THEO ~ Teaching Children God’s Word, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

TOS Review ~ Wise Alec ~ Nature Nut

2011-09-08T22:09:00.000-04:00

We are games nuts around here so this was right up our alley when this review was offered. It was a fun game to play during our 6 day power outage due to Hurricane Irene when there was not much else to do.

"Explore the marvels of nature with the trivia game based on the award-winning Wise Alec Family Trivia Game! There are 300 questions to test your knowledge of animals, plants, and the Earth. Two levels of questions, on each card, let everyone from the nature novice to the eco-expert play together. Plus, Wise Alec cards will get you going with clever challenges and fun activities!"

Wise Alec Nature Nuts Travel Game & Expansion Set by Griddly Games is geared towards children 8 and up, but my 4 year old enjoyed the game too by being on a team with Daddy. She had fun guessing at some of the questions and especially loved the Purple Wise Alec cards. We had to fight to keep the die away from McKenzie. At one point she had swiped it and in the low light we could not find it for a bit. Gotta love 2 year olds!

This trivia game is geared towards two to six players and to be played either in points value or time increments. All you need to get started is a piece of paper and pen or pencil and then your off to test your skills in three different categories including, Earth (yellow), Animals (red), Plants (green), and the wild card Wise Alec (purple). Taking turns rolling a die determines which card/category your question comes from. Each card includes two questions, a 3 point one for the younger crowd and 7 point option for the older group. The purple Wise Alec cards were the best hands down. Some of the fun activities on these cards include making a fish face, acting like a monkey, doing Yoga tree pose, or saying a twisty tongue twister like “One hedgehog hedged up the hedge, whilst another hedgehog hedged down.”.

We thoroughly enjoyed playing this game and learning new things at the same time. We chose to stagger the points, with the older players having to score 50 points to win while the younger players only needed 35 to win. Because of our low light we also chose to make each question worth 5 points each instead of the 3 or 7 points like the game was written. A good time was had by all and the girls have requested we play more rounds and to purchase the Wise Alec Trivia game set. We recommend this game with two thumbs up for great family fun!

Find out what my crewmates had to say about this game by clicking HERE.

Product: Wise Alec Nature Nuts

Price: $14.99

Company: Griddly Games

Ages: 8 and up

Available to Purchase: Amazon and local game shops

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2011-2012 Crew and as such received a copy of Wise Alec ~ Nature Nuts from Griddly Games, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

TOS Review ~ How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for your Kids

2011-09-04T20:33:00.001-04:00

I am happy to say that I am starting off my 2nd year on TOS Review Crew with a bang! Now that we have power back from Hurricane Irene and things are starting to get back to normal I am excited to share my first review with you from Apologia. I was given a little gem called How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for your Kids by Rachael Carmen. This little 5x7 gem of a book came into my life just in the nick of time as we where just about to start our new school year. It's compact size makes it easy to to transport for those on the go life moments. The primary message is summed up on the back cover.

How well do you really know your kids? What has God shown you about who they are and who they will become? He has sent these children into your home at this specific time for His glorious purposes. Indeed, you have been invited on the adventure of a lifetime, God and hold tight to His mighty hand! As with so many things, the first step to having a journey on which you will see walls fall, seas parted, and giants slain. You don’t need special skills or training for this journey—you need only to seek heart for your children is knowing your heavenly Father. As you seek daily to share His heart for your children, keep this inspirational book close at hand.

It is a great read and I was impressed right from the get go with the introduction. I especially loved the way Rachael used an acrostic to get the H.E.A.R.T. message across. Each letter has its own chapter and without it the book would be lacking.

H ~ Have a Heart for the Things of God

E ~ Enrich your Marriage

A ~ Accept your Kids

R ~ Release Them to God

T ~ Teach them the Truth

With a highlighter in hand I marked up my book and made notes in the margins on all the little insights that Rachael Carmen packed into the book. One of my favorite passages from the book was on page 32 and goes like this:

“‘Intentional parenting"means that we are thoughful and purposeful in our actions and words. As intentional parents we do not react, but we respond. We do not panic; we pray. We do not give sermons; we give scripture. And we are prepared to do so through our own pursuit of God, for His glory and by His grace. By seeking God first, we are going before our families, paving the way for our kids. We are clearing a path through the undergrowth that is everyday life and showing our children how to put Him first in all things.”

Wow, Amazing!!! What a great quote to strive for as we go about our daily lives and raising our children. It definitely gives me something to think about each and every day.

I highly recommend this book, hands down. You don't have to be a homeschool mom to benefit from the insights in this book. I recommend you order this book for yourself and one for your best friend, yeah, it's that good!!!

Product: How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids by Rachael Carmen

Price: $13.00

Company: Published by Apologia Press

Ages: Written for parents for encouragement

Available for Purchase: Apologia Online Store

Check out my other reviews of Apologia products, Who is God? , Good Morning, God, and Read for the Heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2011-2012 Crew and as such received a copy of How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids from Apologia, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Weekly Wrap Up, Week 2 ~Hurricane Irene & no power

2011-09-04T09:59:00.000-04:00

This post will have no pictures, as I do not have my camera cord with me. First let me just say it is good to be back to "normal" around here, well as normal gets that is. Hurricane Irene barreled her way off the coast of VA last weekend and took out our power on Saturday around 5P.M. We did not get power back until Thursday, September 1st!!! While it wasn't so bad, there were days when not having electricity was almost unbearable. But we survived and had some very nice undistracted/uninterupted family time.

.We did manage to get some school work done. Week 2 has been going good with our core curriculum, although I feel like we are just skimming the surface. I have already decided that changes need to be made in our TOG studies for Marie and Madison. Currently, I have Marie doing all Rhetoric level work, but honestly it is not working on the literature level. I read the reviews about how year 1 is like taking a college class for literature, but being the stubborn girl I am decided to give it a whirl. Well, it is NOT working, she is just not quite ready for that level of thinking, no fault of her own. Madison, is having a hard time focusing and staying on task. I am moving her to strictly Upper Grammar work in History and Literature.

Mikayla has been having those lightbulb moments when things are starting to click in History, her least favorite subject. We have yet to get to our salt map or our pyramid replica, but it is on my list of things to accomplish in week 3. Montana is speeding along in her phonics studies. She recited the complete Vowel Poem, from the Ordinary Parents guide to Reading. I am thinking of skipping ahead a bit and just reviewing the consonant sounds. She sounded out and wrote "C-a-t" and drew a picture all by herself while I was working with one of the other girls. It is like night and day with McKenzie and her communication now that she has her ear tubes in! She is talking in sentences and trying new words each and every day, Amazing what a little tube can do.

The Lt. worked very hard preceeding the hurricane to get his Helo's out of the area. For two straight days last week he did not get home until after 9P.M. and then had to turn around and leave in the morning at 530A.M. Because of the Hurricane his conversion package was delayed in getting back to him and we had to make a mad scramble to get it postmarked and overnighted before September 1st. With God's provision we made the deadline and should know whether he will convert sometime later this year. The conversion will provide greater growth and job opportunities for him.

Next week we start at our new gymnastics gym and we are all excited for what's to come. I am linking this post up to the Weekly Wrap Up over at Weird Unsocialized Homescholer, head on over and check out how others weeks went.

Happy 2nd Birthday McKenzie!

2011-08-28T07:22:00.000-04:00

While these are not her official 2 year old photos, I thought I would post something in case we don't have power Sunday due to Hurricane Irene. Today, my baby, McKenzie turns 2. Wow, that went buy so fast…it seems just like yesterday that our little bit was born. She arrived with a surprise a few weeks early and she keeps us on our toes, daily! I will post her stats on Tuesday after her check up. I am hopeful that she has finally reached 20 lbs!!!

Two years have gone by,
How time has flown,
We can't believe
how you’ve grown!
You’re such a joy
and much fun too,

You're as cute as a bug
So precious to hug
A darling child
Who's nice to be near.
So.. hope turning two
Is happy and fun
And takes you along
To a third great year!

just born

1 year old

2011-2012 Weekly Wrap Up ~ week 1 Ear tubes, earthquakes, and hurricanes…oh my!!!

2011-08-27T14:40:00.000-04:00

To say we have had a busy, exciting week would be an understatement. Monday, Kenzie bug had ear tubes put in. She enjoyed playing in the playroom before her procedure with the two little boys before her. The process was so quick that I was only in the waiting room like 10 minutes. Kenzie did really well and was recovered enough by Monday evening to make the gymnastics run.

The Lt. was the teacher of the day on Monday as I took Kenzie to her appointment. He taught the girls while I was away and did a fantastic job!

Monday evening, our gymanstics head coach at our gym put in her notice of resignation. While it was not a total shock to me, as I knew it was coming, it still was a sad evening leaving our family with a hard decision to make. Do we stay at our gym or follow our coach to a new gym??? After a lot of prayer and weighing our options, the Lt. and I decided it was time for us to move on to a new gym, World Class Gymnastics. The advancement opportunities will be greater for the goals the girls have.

Tuesday was just a normal day, trying to get back in the swing of things as far as school goes. We made it through all of our lessons and that made this Mama happy! I found this note on my computer Tuesday morning from Madison.

Those are the colors of the new team. The Lt. and I told her, it’s not the color of the leo it’s how you represent the team and stick the landing. She’s a funny girl!

Madison & Mikayla went to a placement practice with the new gym we’re considering. I was able to meet with the owner of the gym and she explained a whole lot of things and opportunities that will be able to happen for the girls at the gym. Including Mikayla being able to train for the TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program) for 2012 testing. Madison & Mikayla were placed in levels Advanced 4 and Level 5/6 respectively. Mikayla will also be training with her same coach from our current gym once the move is made in September.

Wednesday, I thought I was seriously losing it when we had an 5.9 earthquake. I was sitting at my desk reading Marie’s competition schedule and all of a sudden I felt like I was rocking and rolling. Immediately I thought, Oh No, the washer is rocking and ran to it only to find it not shaking. Then I ran to the breakfast nook and looked outside, the water in the pool was moving and that’s when I put 2 and 2 together and thought Earthquake. Marie came running downstairs and said her room was shaking. So, we then had a impromptu earthquake drill and the girls learned to duck and cover. Well, everyone but McKenzie, she didn’t want to be bothered, she was playing babies and didn’t have time to worry about an Earthquake drill.

Thursday and Friday we spent preparing for Hurricane Irene. Prepping for a natural disaster is S-T-R-E-S-S-F-U-L times 10! At least we have warning though, but I am not sure of the reasoning why people clear the shelves of everything from bread to bananas and eggs. Ok, I get the bread but eggs, not quite sure about that. Friday, we spent the day finishing weekly laundry and general prepping of the outside cleaning gutters, draining the pool a bit, tying the trampoline down, and just generally getting things done. While I was putting away groceries McKenzie decided to get nice and moisturized, All by HERSELF!

Did I mention she will be 2 years old tomorrow?!? She definitely keeps me on my toes…they all do!

I am linking this up with Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers Weekly Wrap Up. Check it out and be inspired!

NBTS week 3 ~ Meet my students

2011-08-19T18:52:00.000-04:00

While these are not our official School photos, I wanted to get something up so you can meet my students. Without further ado here they are.

Marie

Grade: 9th

Favorite subject: Math

When I grow up I want to be: An Actress

Madison

Grade: 5th

Favorite subject: Spelling

When I grow up I want to be: A mineral or chemical Engineer or a gymnastics coach

Mikayla

Grade: 3rd

Favorite subject: Science

When I grow up I want to be: A doctor or a gymnastics coach

Montana

Grade: K

Favorite subject: playing after school is done

When I grow up I want to be: A gymnastics teacher

McKenzie

Grade: Tot School

Favorite subject: being 2

Check out more families over at The Heart of the Matter Online during the Not Back to school Hop.

Our Plan of Study

Our Schoolroom

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-17T07:26:00.001-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-10T07:20:00.000-04:00

Miscellany Monday

2011-08-08T10:24:00.001-04:00

Monday, Monday…we are going to make this a FUN day! There is so much to do on this day…

1. lesson planning ~ we start school on Friday, 19 August. McKenzie is having ear tubes put in on Monday, Aug. 22 so that will be a non-school day for us. Have any of your kids had ear tubes? This is a first for us.

credit ~ Moms Need to Know

2. grocery shopping ~ sigh…I think I will put this off until tomorrow. I have enough in my pantry to get creative for one day.

3.Glad Press’n Seal is a girls best friend when water is involved. Thanks for the tip Nurse Lilly!

4. figuring out how I am going to get 3 girls to different practices today with overlapping start and end times…Hmmm.

5. enjoying the day in the pool with my girls.

Have a Blessed day!

Not Back To School ~ School room

2011-08-07T20:26:00.000-04:00

Welcome, thanks for stopping by! This week on the Not Back To School Blog Hop everyone is showing off where they do school. . I like to take a peak inside everyone else’s houses and see how things are set up. Okay, enough suspense already, let’s take a look around our house…

When you walk in the front door into the foyer you see our hutch that I have repurposed as our supply cabinet. Inside here you will find glue sticks, glitter, crayons & markers, construction paper, manipulatives, and a whole lot of craft supplies.

See that little toddler to the right? She likes doing this…

I may need to figure out a way to lock those cabinets or things could get messy real quick.

To the right of the entry foyer is the formal school room / home library. This room is where the majority of the school work and art & crafts are are done.

That old dresser in the corner that holds extra supplies and whatnot has a date with some paint sometime soon. I am thinking of a bright pretty blue that I saw at Lowe’s (can’t remember the name of it off hand). I will keep you updated though.

2010-2011 schoolroom

2011-2012 schoolroom

Here’s the full view of the school room. Up on top of the shelves is where I store the Sonlight Core binders and the girls yearly work binders. We also have science kits, Saxon Math kits, our cd/radio, and magazines. At the top to ~~fill~~ maximize the empty space I plan on hanging up Montana's alphabet creations. I saw this idea over at Heathers from Timeless and Treasured, be sure to go check out her basement schoolroom, LOVE IT!

Behind the front door is our All About Alphabet wall. The littles enjoy this activity time and McKenzie is learning new words each week.

We do our Morning Time Recitations and read-alouds in here on the couch. This is the playroom that used to be the formal dining room. My dining room table is too big for the space so I turned it into a playroom for the girls and moved the table to the sunroom. My goal is to get McKenzie to play in here while we school across the way. On the wall behind the couch I plan on hanging and framing out my World map. I just haven’t gotten too it yet with the 10 other projects I have going on simultaneously.

So, that’s it…thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the tour. If you want to see more ideas, head on over to the Heart of the Matter Online and check out some more rooms. You can check out our 2011-2012 curriculum choices on this post. Make sure you come back next week to see my students all dolled up for picture day!

New cast

2011-08-04T18:29:00.000-04:00

A new cast, finally! Madison wore off the bottom of the blue one in 8 days and it took 3 days just to get in to see the Ortho doc. Taking a cast off is hard work. It involves a little saw that makes a lot of noise.

Then Madison tested out the leg after the old cast was off. She pranced around the room saying that it felt weird to walk.

Time for the new and improved cast in day glow orange. Madison remarked that she was going to tape a white piece of tape around the top so it looks like a traffic cone.

13 more days until we are done with this treatment phase.

test

2011-08-04T18:17:00.001-04:00

test

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-03T20:51:00.001-04:00

Singled out

2011-08-02T08:16:00.000-04:00

Success ~

Some people dream of success,

while others wake up and work hard at it.

-Unknown

Something significant took place yesterday…a stepping stone in a little girls dream. We found out about it on Saturday afternoon and she counted the hours down until practice time. She even wanted to leave at 130PM, when practice didn’t start until 230PM, just to be at the gym…ready.

Mikaylya, my Level 5 gymnast, was invited to train with the Level 7/8 girls. The Lt. and I are so excited and proud of her and all her hard work and dedication she puts in and out of the gym.

I will not let the negativity of others steal her thunder. After all, we are supposed to be ONE Team ~ ONE Dream!

Not Back-To-School Blog Hop ~ 2011-2012 Curriculum choices

2011-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

It’s that time again…school supplies are out and minds are shifting back to starting school again. We don’t officially start back until August 22 so I have a few more weeks to put the final touches on lesson planning and such.

The Heart of the Matter Online is hosting their 3rd annual Not Back-To-School Blog Hop this month. Want to take a peak at what other homeschoolers are doing in their classrooms? Head on over and be inspired. Pace yourself…there is a lot to see!
Click HERE to see our curriculum choices for the upcoming year.

Free edition of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

2011-07-27T13:09:00.000-04:00

Guess what? The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is giving away a free edition of their magazine.  Take a look at the brand new Summer digital edition of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. TOS is offering this digital issue of the magazine totally free with no strings attached. Enjoy this free gift from TOS—no registration or email address required to view the magazine! Take a peek here. Then share the link with your friends by clicking on the share button at the top of the magazine pages.

Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary my love

2011-07-25T06:46:00.000-04:00

When years are passing by like days,
and in my hand your hand is placed,
a knowing smile crosses your face,
a simple touch can still make my heart race.

When I can see my soul in your eyes,
and you see your soul in mine we realize,
that a love so deep can harbor no lies,
where our only tears shed were happy tears we've cried.

I love you as much now as I ever did before,
if possible, I may even love you more,
all starting from a feeling we did not ignore,
a feeling of connection we chose to explore.

I don't know what it is that you saw in me,
what I saw in you was the utmost happiness
that can ever be,
even more so on the day when you and I
became "We",
I can still smile and say with love and
truth

Honey, I love you...Happy 14th Anniversary!!!

anniversarypoems.net

Robert Pierre ~ I’m All In review & giveaway

2011-07-25T06:31:00.000-04:00

A new CD by an up and coming Christian artist arrived at our house a few days ago for me to review. It is called “I’m All In” by Robert Pierre. I was hoping that this CD would meet my expectations and it totally did and more! The music is up beat and you can definitely feel Robert’s love of our God. When I popped the CD in the player I felt like I have tuned into my favorite Christian Station on the radio, love that!

“All of the songs have something to do with things I was going through my senior year,” Robert said of I’m All In, “preparing to say goodbye to friends and not really knowing what would come next, but finding comfort and peace in the Lord’s plan for my life. The Bible talks about how the eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro throughout the earth, searching for someone whose heart is wholly His, someone He can strongly support. This CD is me saying, ‘I’m all in.’”

Robert’s album releases on Tues, July 26 but I have an extra CD to give away with this review. If you want to enter just leave a comment below. I will pick a winner on Tuesday evening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I received a free copy of Robert Pierre’s CD, I’m All In, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided .

A great big cast for a little bitty toe

2011-07-22T18:35:00.000-04:00

So, it’s definitely broken right at the tip, ouch! Did you know they now have waterproof casts? Who knew!?! Thanks for the suggestion Amy but it wasn’t available at the Orthopedics we went to. I am hoping she will be fine for the 4 weeks until recheck. Madison is as happy as a clam with her light blue cast and already has it nearly filled with signatures.

Her nickname now has greater meaning, Heal up Toes!!!

Broken

2011-07-20T20:08:00.000-04:00

Our families 1st broken bone award goes to:

Madison!!!

We’re not too sure how it exactly happened, but we do know that she was vaulting on Tuesday at gymnastics camp and hit her toe on the springboard. She says she felt like she stubbed her toe. However, she did it, she also cut the cuticle area of toe pretty good that it was bleeding well enough to soak through several rounds of bandages. *I will spare you the un-bandaged photo*

*cute little fat sausage toe*

She has a fracture on the growth plate and we have an emergency referral in so I hoping to get into the Orthopedics tomorrow. Madison is hoping to get a blue cast but I am not sure they put casts on toes. I will keep you updated.

Wordless Wednesday ~ my sister & I

2011-07-20T06:24:00.000-04:00

Timberdoodle review ~ First Hundred Words in English

2011-07-18T18:39:00.000-04:00

Recently we were able to review the book, First Hundred Words in English for Timberdoodle.

It’s a great big book and both Montana and McKenzie enjoy looking through it. I tried to just focus on McKenzie learning new words with this one but they had more fun sharing the book together.

McKenzie is in that sponge phase of development where she is learning so much daily. With the help of this colorful book she was able to learn to recognize 2 colors, 3 different fruits, and all her body parts.

The drawings in the book where well drawn and included everything you would expect to see in your daily life and home, from the kitchen to the bathroom.

Included with this book Timberdoodle also sent me their planning folder for toddlers which comes with all of their Core Curriculum Kits. This planning folder is included with all the Core Curriculum Kits and also includes a planning page to help track your learning as well as homeschooling articles and tips.

I would recommend this book hands down to anyone with a toddler or young child. It is a great way to expose them to new words and to help build their vocabulary. The price is just right too at $5.75! You can learn more about Timberdoodle’s Core Curriculum Kits here and check out what is included in the Toddler Core Curriculum, here. Need a catalog? Request a free catalog and see what else this amazing company has to offer.

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As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of First Hundred Words in English, in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided .

Weekend recap

2011-07-18T11:27:00.000-04:00

one ~ we had visitors this weekend, my Aunt Joyce and little sister, Allie came in town for my baptism on Sunday.

two ~ Aunt Joyce doesn’t like frogs…

three ~ but she can make delicious egg rolls!

four ~ McKenzie and Sebastian (Bash as she calls him) wore each other out.

five ~ Montana had her Daddy Daughter shopping day on Saturday and came back with lots of new clothes and pretty yellow nails.

six ~ wing nuts!

seven ~ we made caramel corn and nearly ate the whole bowl.

eight ~ just because

nine ~ now I am off to start planning our homeschool year, enjoy your day!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T21:32:00.000-04:00

Pen Pal Kids Club ~ review & giveaway

2011-07-12T20:10:00.000-04:00

Did you ever have a pen pal? I did as a child and it was a great experience. I used to love to get mail from my pen pal that lived on the East Coast. Now your children can have that same experience in an online format from Pen Pal Kids Club.

Now, I know you are probably thinking that online activity is not safe. But rest assure the author and founder of Pen Pal Kids Club, Shelley Aliotti, has made every attempt to make sure that this is a safe global, virtual community! Parents are able to monitor their child’s account because they are hooked up directly to the parents account. Communications, friend requests, video postings, and account settings are all in the control of the parent. There is also a safe question version for younger kids that may have trouble figuring out what to write to their pen pals.

Pen Pal Kids Club is geared children as young as 4 years old and up. Economically priced at $4.99/month for up to 5 household members it’s a great way for kids to get connected. Pen Pal Kids Club has no outside advertisers, members or hidden traps - this is a completely safe site. None of your information is ever sold.

While I am not too keen on my girls spending hours on the computer or delving into social networks we did enjoy this site fully. My girls enjoyed making their avatars and exploring the educational games, encyclopedia library, and postcards to send to new friends. We have put out a few friend requests to different countries and are awaiting response.

Sound like something your child would be interested in? If so, then I have great news for you! During the month of July the site is completely free for everyone. Plus one of my readers will be able to win a 3 month membership for free just for leaving a comment below.

Giveaway Information

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment

For extra entries:

***Please leave a separate comment for each entry***

~Like PenPal Kids Club on Facebook

~Like A Stable Beginning on Facebook ~ button to the right

Giveaway ends Friday, July 15th at Midnight EST.

Winner will be announced Saturday, July 15th @ 8 A.M EST

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I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Weekly Wrap Up ~ Ear infections & Cellulitis – week 3

2011-07-08T20:34:00.000-04:00

We had to visit our Pediatrician two times this week. Wednesday morning, McKenzie was diagnosed with yet another ear infection. Same left ear. This is ear infection number 4 in less than 3 months. So, we have a referral in for the ENT Dr. Today, I had to take Montana in to the doctor because she was bitten by who knows what and she has 3 spots of red, swollen skin, Cellulitis. So, I now have two girls on antibiotics.

The Dr. drew outlines around the marks so we can make sure they do not spread further. No, she is not wearing a bathing suit, it’s a gymnastics leo…she wears one most everyday.

As far as schooling goes, not much happened this week. Well, I take that back, we did read a few chapters from Caddie Woodlawn aloud and the girls did read their books. The majority of our TOG school books arrived mid-week. I was pretty excited about it, now to get them entered into the book database and to start the “dotting” of them. Most of all our curriculum has arrived, just waiting on the last stragglers then I will start putting pen to paper and get my planning done.

That was our week, how was yours?

I am linking this up with the Weekly Wrap Up over at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Moving on…

2011-07-02T20:58:00.000-04:00

I took the plunge this week and purchased our new History curriculum, Tapestry of Grace. I have had my eye on this particular program since last school year when I figured out early on that teaching 3 different time periods just wasn’t going to cut it for our family. I am excited for what this program has to offer our family and the fact that we will all be studying The Ancients, year 1 in the four year classical rotation.

Now, I am just trying to avoid the “fog” as many people refer to. I think once the training video’s come and I read a few more TOG blogs I should be good to go. I am excited for this new adventure, it’s going to be a great year!