September 1, 2011

Beach Pictures

We had a wonderful vacation, a very much needed little break. I promised a few pictures this week and so today I thought I would post one of my favorite things about the beach...the Ocean. I just love to hear the waves, it is just something about sitting out there that is just so relaxing. The kids had so much fun out there, even with the rough waves knocking them down. These pictures were taken on Wednesday before Irene hit our coast.


As you can see they are holding on tight to daddy!

I just love this picture of the kids hanging on to each other.

August 30, 2011

Our New Friends

We brought home some new friends from the beach. The kids are very excited about them.

Bryannas is on the left and BWs is on the right!

August 29, 2011

Irene

Last week we went on vacation to the beach of North Carolina. Had a great time together. Yes Hurricane Irene forced a mandatory evacuation on us. Of course kids were upset we had to leave and cut our time short there but we came home and made the best of our vacation we had left.

While at the beach the ocean was rough in fact the ocean decided to eat one of BW's water shoes and didnt give it back...hahaha. Poor BW couldnt hardly stand up the waves kept knocking him down but he would get up and go back to it, he had a blast. The kids had so much fun with their daddy and getting to hear them have so much fun just makes this mommy smile.

Hope to have some beach pictures up sometime this week. But for now we have to get back into our routines, work and school and all that comes in between.

August 16, 2011

Pancakes!

This year we started using Total Language Plus for Bryanna. So far we love it! Although she is able to read much harder books I decided to start with something easier to make sure we will like this currriculum. So we picked Pippi Longstocking, and no she has not read this before and I thought she would love this book. Not only does TLP have all the spelling, vocabulary and grammar together together but it also includes projects to do as well.. Also during the course of the study she will be working on writing a tall tale.

Now the projects are great and I can include my son in some of them. The first one we did was flipping pancakes. Yeah after I said we would do it I thought I am crazy this is going to get everywhere. The thought of pancakes on the ceiling and floor crossed my mind. But I love to let my kids cook with me and let me tell you the results were great. BW (my 6 year old) flipped better pancakes than me. They both really did good and believe it or not there was no mess to clean up other than dirty dishes.






August 10, 2011

Butterflies

This year we are studying geography. For the first couple of weeks we have been focused on the World in general. Looking at the continents, oceans, explorers and some different animals of the world. One animal we are talking about was the butterfly. I thought it would be great if the kids could see the how a catepillar forms into a beautiful butterfly. So I went out and bought us a butterfly habitat and ordered our catepillars and we now have Painted Lady Butterflies. These pictures are of the chrysalis and butterflies. If you look closely at the 2nd and 3rd picture you will see one emerging from its chrysalis. Out of six we were able to see one emerge, very neat process. The kids have been very excited about their butterflies and watching them each day.


 

 



August 3, 2011

NOT BACK TO SCHOOL BLOG HOP

Not Back to School Blog HopI am participating in the Not Back To School Blog Hop this week. We started school on July 11th but wow the summer has gone by so fast. We have had so much to come up since we started that this week is actually going to be our first full week of school. As I have posted before last year I felt as if school was not that great, we really didnt enjoy it at all. But can I say so far so good this year. Kids are really enjoying school, and are asking to do it everyday! Can you say happy mommy....

So for our curriculum choices we decided to do some stuff together this year and it is working out great. We are doing science and history together. 7th grader has a few harder things to do but the two work together great.

1st grade:
History--Galloping the Globe
Math--Finishing Abeka K math and then on to either Abeka 1st or Math U See
Science--Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy
Phonics--Explode the Code
Reading--Still working on Bob Books

7th Grade:
History--Trail Guide to World Geography
Math--Math U See Zeta
Science--Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy
English--Total Language Plus(love this has spelling, vocabulary, grammar and reading all in one)

I have a typing software program that I will add to 7th grader soon. Looking to add Bible.. any suggestions?

Of course we are part of a homeschool group and the kids enjoy their time with them too!

June 17, 2011

Birthday, Fathers Day

Do we ever slow down, it sure doesnt seem like it. Last week we had my nieces graduation and then had a big party for her afterwards. I still cant believe it, I am old enough to have a niece that is getting ready to go to college. Man time flies.

Today is my birthday, and in 6 days it will be my daughters birthday, and not to mention Fathers Day is Sunday. We will be celebrating all these events tomorrow with a pool party with the family. I hope tomorrow is a rain free day.

And well Fathers Day, well as most of you know is a very hard occasion for me. This will be the fourth Fathers Day I have not had my dad here with me. Does it ever get any easier, it doesnt seem like it. I miss him so much. I often tell my husband that there are so many times I wish I could just talk to him, hug him and just hear his voice. I miss him picking on me and seeing him with his grandchildren, oh how he loved them. So to my Daddy, I want to say Happy Fathers Day and I LOVE YOU!

To my husband and wonderful father of my children, Happy Fathers Day! Our kids are so blessed to have you as their daddy! WE LOVE YOU BUNCHES!

Hope you all have a great weekend and hopefully I will be back to a normal routine soon!

June 8, 2011

Busy, busy

Things are really busy around here. We have been swimming and enjoying our summer. We have been to award ceremonies, baccalaurete and are preparing for my nieces graduation this weekend. It is a happy but sad occasion. I am so happy for her, she has worked so hard. But sad at the same time, I cant believe she has grown up so fast. Of course there will be a party following graduation.

Not only that but my daughter has a birthday approaching. In fact next weekend we will celebrate her birthday with family. She decide she wanted to go shopping instead of a big party. She has learned well from her mom...haha. I definitely cant believe she is going to be 12. Of course she is excited and is counting down the days.

Plans for the next school year are moving right along. Hopefully I will have the list up soon of our curriculum choices. I can tell you I am so excited about our history selection...did I really just say I was excited about history?  Well I am and I think the kids are really going to enjoy it.

Are you planning for next year yet?

May 23, 2011

Dance Recital

We went ot my nieces dance recital a week ago and I had the opportunity to take some pictures of her.



May 17, 2011

End of School Year, Feeling Old, and Fishing

We have pretty much finished the 2010-2011 school year. This school year has seemed so long. I have to say I dont think I was completely happy with my choice of curriculum this school year, it just seemed like somthing was missing. I have almost finalized the choices for next school year, hopefully to get this posted in the next couple of weeks. I can say I am very excited about the choices made so far. My plan is to start back to school the week after July 4th.

My niece turns 18 this week and by the way is making me feel really old. And in a couple of weeks she will be graduating from high school.Where has the time gone. I remember the day she was born and I couldn't wait for the chance to hold my first niece. She has gone from a beautiful little baby to a beautiful young woman.  I am so very proud of her and all she has done. She is such a sweet girl and I love her so much.

A couple of weeks ago we took the youth from our church fishing and they all had a lot of fun. My kids really enjoyed themselves, not only did they get to fish but they also got to spend time with their friends.



May 16, 2011

When God Created My Toes

When God created my toes, did he make them wiggle? Did he know I'd giggle? Did he have to hold his nose, when God created my toes?

This charming picture book allows children to imagine what it was like when God created them. From the top of their heads to the tips of their toes, they will explore and understand God's delight in their lives.

Through rhyming lines and vivid illustrations children will gain confidence and self-esteem when they begin to fully realize how perfectly, intricately, and uniquely God made them.

My Review:
The book is full of rhymes and colorful pictures. But honestly I am not crazy about the book. Upon finishing this book I felt as if we were not sure of what we just read. I cant figure out where they were going with this book.  I would not recommend this book to others.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

May 2, 2011

Busy Month and Pictures

I havent posted for a whole month, I cant believe that. I have been reading your blogs but I felt I had nothing interesting to blog about. But as I sit here this morning I realized I had a very busy month of April. We went to the beach, my nieces prom, Easter, my nieces 16th birthday, and a funeral. I think we had something every weekend. It looks like May is starting off to be the same way, does it ever slow down?

I thought I would post some pictures from our busy month, there are quite a few of them.







Cousin's from my hubbys side.
 




March 31, 2011

God Gave Us So Much

For this review I was so excited to read this book to BW, I have heard great things about the other books written by Lisa Tawn Bergren. Not only was we getting one book but there are 3 stories included in this little treasure.

This is such a sweet book it starts out with the story God Gave Us the World. In this story Mama Cub tells Little Cub about how creative God is and how he made things different. She goes on to tell Little Cub that God made this amazing world we live in and it is Gods gift to us and we have to protect it.

Our next story was God Gave Us Love. Grampa Cub and Little Cub were fishing and Little Cub gets upset with the otters because they are scaring away the fish.  Grampa tells Little Cub that we are to show everyone love. He explains to him about God's Love for us and how God sent his son to save us.

Finally we were able to read God Gave Us Heaven. In this story Little Cub has lots of questions for his Papa about Heaven. He explains to Little Cub that even though we cant take our earthly things to heaven the things in Heaven will be so much better. No bad things would be in Heaven. Papa also talks about seeing our families in Heaven as well as how we get to Heaven.

Very Cute story and BW really enjoyed this book. The pictures are so pretty and colorful. I would recommend this book to others.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

March 28, 2011

A Little bit of what we have been doing

Last week I was getting things back to normal after a trip to Greenville for a 3 day homeschool conference. I enjoyed my time at the conference, and let me just say that Carol Barnier was awesome. She gave so many tips that I cant wait to put to use. The last time I went to a conference I came home with all of the kids curriculum. This time not so much, I only came home with science, Bryannas language arts and BW's next phonics book. So I have quite a bit of research to do to figure out the rest of our next school year. Right now I am looking at doing Galloping the Globe for BW. Seems like I have so much to do, I think we are going to start in July since it is so hot and take a couple of weeks in September and October off. Where are you in your plans for the next school year?

We were invited to attend a study with other homeschoolers about medieval times. Last Thursday was our first time going and the kids had a great time. They talked about for a long time after we left. They talked about castles and made castles last week. This week they get to learn about knights. Cant wait to hear there stories after they finish that day.

This past weekend my wonderful hubby surprised us with a 3 day weekend. We had such a great time with him. We spend 1 of those days out on the town, took the kids out to eat, and went shopping. The other days we celebrated my grandmas birthday (she turned 80) and went to church. Such a great weekend.

March 11, 2011

Hot Water Heater, Conference, and Anniversary

One morning this week our hot water heater gave out and leaked in our floor..ugh. So after I got everything cleaned up out of the floor and found out what the problem was I had to thank the Lord that I was home. Had I not been home we would have had a mess. So we have had to change our daily routine up a little, spending time at my moms some for use of water. The plan is to have this replaced in the morning and hopefully things will be back to normal.

Next week, well in 6 days, me and two other moms will be heading to Greenville, SC for the Southeast Homeschool Conference. Can I tell ya I am so excited about this trip! I am so looking forward to spending time with other homeschoolers, getting some great tips from seminars, and attending the book fair. Looking forward to the fellowship with my friends too! Did I tell you, I am really excited about going on this trip, well if I didnt I am very excited!

Also next week while I am away it will be mine and my husbands 11 year anniversary. I know I wont even be here with him. He has to work the whole time I am gone so we are going to celebrate another weekend. We thought about this weekend but with the water heater issue it may have to be the weekend after the conference.  I cant believe it has been 11 years since we said I do, I love him more today than ever. He is the best and I just love him so much. I couldnt have asked for a better hubby and father for my children.

Wishing everyone a great weekend!

February 25, 2011

Camera Strap

So I was very eager to sew me a cute little camera strap for my camera. And let me say I do not sew very much and this is not by any means perfect. Bryanna picked out the pattern and of course it has pink in it and I added a pink fleece material to it and I love it. I cant wait to sew more and maybe figure out how to make it a little fancier!


February 24, 2011

The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari

The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari
After reviewing the book The Dragon and the Turtle I knew we had to reveiw the sequel, The Dragon and the Turtle Go On  Safari. As expected this book was a very good read. BW enjoyed it so much. The illustrations are excellent.


This book is about two friends who want to spend the night at Mount Sillymanborrow. They enjoy the time they are together but as the night goes on and it becomes darker and the noises start it becomes scary. But even though they are scared they figure out that their friendship is very strong and they take care of each other.


Just as with the first book there is a bible verse at the end of this book too. The verse tells us to not be afraid, God is with us and will never leave us. Such a strong message and a great one to teach our kids. I recommend this book for you to read to your little one.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

February 22, 2011

More Pictures

Yesterday I told you I was going to take some pictures of the kids with the camera. We have an old smokehouse in our yard so I decided to takes some shots of Bryanna there and I hope you like them, I do. BW was not really wanting to take pictures yesterday but I managed to get a few of him outside too.










February 21, 2011

A few Snapshots

I know I have the best hubby ever, I love him so much. This weekend he bought me the camera I have been wanting for a long time. I got the Nikon D3100 and already I really, really like it. I have a lot to figure out in using it but I know I can do it. I told Bryanna I wanted to go outside and take some pictures today and she has already started to say, "Do I have to dress up", Poor kids I guess they know that they are going to be in a lot of pictures. I told them they probably would be tired of me taking their pictures.

I played around with the camera yesterday and took some snapshots and thought I would share a couple with you. Remember I am not a professional, and I have a lot to learn with this new camera.


Close up of my sweet little boy.  Love those eyes!
 
My Bry is always smiling!


This boy loves his daddy!

And of course a picture of BW'S pokemon.