As you can tell I'm a little late on my week ending post :) We were traveling to my mom's house on Friday and I had planned to write my post that night, but got busy enjoying hanging out with my mom :) Last week was spent mostly getting ready for the trip and we had some special visitors at karate, so I was there two nights last week. We usually only get to see these visitors once a year, so it's always a wonderful night of training when they are there. The students are always looking for ways they can improve their techniques!
I only read a few books last week. I've still got a large pile from the library, 17, that are waiting to be read! I've got to hurry and finish them before school starts :) This week I read Aunt Dimity & the Widow's Curse, The Barefoot Summer, This Is What a Librarian Looks Like. and The Promise of an Angel.
We had a wonderful time with my family this weekend. My mom took me to get some canning tomatoes, $10 a box, so we got three boxes!! Plan to chop them all up and freeze them for the winter. My mom turned 74 on Sunday and it's always nice spending the day with her. We see her every few months, but it's especially wonderful to share cake, ice cream and gifts with her on her special day!
Monday, July 31, 2017
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Review: USA Activity Bundle by The Crafty Classroom
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Thankful Tuesday 7/25/17
Today I'm thankful for books. I can't imagine a world without books or without the choice to read whatever book I want :) For the last few years I've been doing the yearly book challenge on Goodreads. Each year I say I'm going to read 100 books during the year. Most years I've hit that and a few beyond and I think it was last year that I only reached about half. This year I've done a ton of reading this summer. I just finished my 9th book for the year, Harvest of Blessings. This is part of the Seasons of the Heart series and they've all been wonderful.
Review: Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit
The Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit would be a great item to add to your back-to-school list for an afternoon of crafting or a great birthday or Christmas gift. Pretty much any project that comes to mind can be made with one or the other of these items. I would use this kit again and the kids and I had loads of fun making our items and painting them. This is one of those items that can take as little time as you want to spend on it or as long as you want.
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Week Ending 7/22/2017
Seems like summer is rushing by so much quicker than I expected (LOL) I had all these grand plans and it seems as though very few have been accomplished! The last few summers have seemed the same, but I had vowed that this summer I would get things done :) We pretty much have one month left before school starts, so I guess I'd better get jumping if I want to feel that I've gotten anything done this summer :) I do have to say that the heat has been horrible and that really bothers me. I've had so many migraines recently because it's just gotten too hot and my body doesn't deal well with it. I LONG for cooler days and hopefully many snowy days this year! :) I know I'm probably the only one that hopes for that, but I love winter.
I have continued with my reading spree, but haven't read as much this week as a few others. Believe it or not, but I ONLY read TWO books this week! Maybe I'm preparing for when school starts (LOL) I read The Goodbye Bride and Give the Devil His Due. It was a busy week because Issac had another 4-H camp, so that was running back and forth twice a day. I got to meet a homeschooling mom that is fairly new to our area, so that was cool to make a new friend! :) We also had a curriculum swap last night with a local homeschooling group. It's nice to take all your stuff and just put it out on a table and get to walk around and pick up whatever you want from other mom's tables :) I picked up just a few things which is good, so I'm not adding too much to my shelves. Today I worked on going through the games and got rid of quite a few that I think we are done with at this point. I love starting the new school year out with nicely organized shelves and new school supplies :)
I have continued with my reading spree, but haven't read as much this week as a few others. Believe it or not, but I ONLY read TWO books this week! Maybe I'm preparing for when school starts (LOL) I read The Goodbye Bride and Give the Devil His Due. It was a busy week because Issac had another 4-H camp, so that was running back and forth twice a day. I got to meet a homeschooling mom that is fairly new to our area, so that was cool to make a new friend! :) We also had a curriculum swap last night with a local homeschooling group. It's nice to take all your stuff and just put it out on a table and get to walk around and pick up whatever you want from other mom's tables :) I picked up just a few things which is good, so I'm not adding too much to my shelves. Today I worked on going through the games and got rid of quite a few that I think we are done with at this point. I love starting the new school year out with nicely organized shelves and new school supplies :)
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Homeschool Philosophies Quiz-What type of homeschooler are YOU?
I recently took the Homeschool Philosophies Quiz that a friend posted about and these are the scores I received.
Score for Charlotte Mason: 12
Score for Classical Education: 9
Score for Montessori Education: 15
Score for Project-Based Learning: 6
Score for Reggio-Inspired:9
Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 9
Score for Traditional Education: 3
Score for Unit Studies Approach: 12
Score for Unschooling Approach: 6
Score for Waldorf Education: 3
I have to admit that I've NEVER heard of Reggio-Inspired. I've got to go look that up :) All this fun has gotten me thinking about starting a new year and what changes I would like to make this year. It prompted me to take some of the other quizzes on the site to get some more information about my homeschooling style :) I also took the What Kind of Homeschool Mom or Dad Are You? and these are my results.
Score for Creative: 6
Score for Curious: 3
Score for Diligent: 3
Score for Free Spirit: 6
Score for Laidback: -3
Score for Neat and Tidy: -3
Score for Out and About: 3
Score for Outdoorsy: -14
Score for Planner: 14
Score for Playful: 6
Score for Project Lover: 9
Score for Storyteller (Read Alouds): 12
Love that the outdoorsy was a NEGATIVE 14 because that is SO me (LOL) I also took the What Kind of Homeschooler Are You? quiz which is an older version of the first quiz. It's interesting to see some of the different results.
Score for Waldorf Education: 3
Score for Traditional Education: 3
Score for Unit Studies Education: 6
Score for Montessori Education: 12
Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: -3
Score for Unschooling: 9
Score for Classical Education: 9
Score for Charlotte Mason Education: 15
I need to work on more hands on this year and would love to hear any suggestions of things you all have done that have been big hits :) Would love to hear what your scores are if you take any of the tests :)
Score for Charlotte Mason: 12
Score for Classical Education: 9
Score for Montessori Education: 15
Score for Project-Based Learning: 6
Score for Reggio-Inspired:9
Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: 9
Score for Traditional Education: 3
Score for Unit Studies Approach: 12
Score for Unschooling Approach: 6
Score for Waldorf Education: 3
I have to admit that I've NEVER heard of Reggio-Inspired. I've got to go look that up :) All this fun has gotten me thinking about starting a new year and what changes I would like to make this year. It prompted me to take some of the other quizzes on the site to get some more information about my homeschooling style :) I also took the What Kind of Homeschool Mom or Dad Are You? and these are my results.
Score for Creative: 6
Score for Curious: 3
Score for Diligent: 3
Score for Free Spirit: 6
Score for Laidback: -3
Score for Neat and Tidy: -3
Score for Out and About: 3
Score for Outdoorsy: -14
Score for Planner: 14
Score for Playful: 6
Score for Project Lover: 9
Score for Storyteller (Read Alouds): 12
Love that the outdoorsy was a NEGATIVE 14 because that is SO me (LOL) I also took the What Kind of Homeschooler Are You? quiz which is an older version of the first quiz. It's interesting to see some of the different results.
Score for Waldorf Education: 3
Score for Traditional Education: 3
Score for Unit Studies Education: 6
Score for Montessori Education: 12
Score for Thomas Jefferson Education: -3
Score for Unschooling: 9
Score for Classical Education: 9
Score for Charlotte Mason Education: 15
I need to work on more hands on this year and would love to hear any suggestions of things you all have done that have been big hits :) Would love to hear what your scores are if you take any of the tests :)
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Thankful Tuesday 7/18/17
Today I'm thankful for rain. I have always loved the sound of rain and even just sitting on the couch watching it. I don't think I realized until I was older and started gardening how thankful I was for that rain. In the summer our water bill can really go up due to watering the garden. I don't want to know have a garden, but sometimes you start to feel like you need to choose between the two. We have had rain almost every evening for the last two weeks, so I haven't had to water and it's filled up my rain barrel :)
Monday, July 17, 2017
Review: Trust Fund Movie by Mapelle Films
I love a good family movie and especially when I can watch it from the comfort of my home! Our daughter recently had her wisdom teeth removed and we knew she was just going to be hanging out on the couch for a few days. Our copy of the movie, Trust Fund by Mapelle Films had arrived a little earlier and I was hanging onto it in hopes that she and I could watch it together. Isaac Alongi, producer, was raised in a homeschooling environment and learned a love of photography through the freedoms of homeschooling. His wife, Sandra, wrote the screenplay as well as directed the movie. I suggested to my daughter that we watch the movie together and she didn't seem too excited about it. Then again she doesn't seem excited about much I suggest at this age (LOL) I was immediately interested and hooked into the story within the first few minutes of the movie. Reese Donahue is a young writer who tries her hardest not to do anything. She seems to want to approach life in the easiest way she possibly can with the least amount of work. I think that is something very common in our society today. While waiting for her father one day she runs across some paperwork and she learns that she and her sister were left a very large sum of money from when their mother passed away. Being who she is at this time in her life she feels that her father has lied and cheated her and that she is due this money. Her sister seems to be the "perfect" one while she never seems to do what her father thinks she should. He is very supportive of her writing, but wants her to work and earn her own money. He hadn't told her about her inheritance because he and his wife always wanted her to find something in life that truly meant the world to her and not fall back on family money. She feels he's being extremely unfair and she makes a decision that changes her life forever. I think we tend to focus most on Reese in this movie and what she is going through. Her sister, Aubrey, also lost her mother. Reese thinks her sister has it made and life is perfect for her, but she doesn't realize that her sister struggles too! It's hard to be the older sibling that everyone counts on to handle things. This story is a modern day prodigal daughter story. Reese pushes her family away for something she thinks will make her life what she wants it to be. This story is truly an emotional journey teaching love, patience, trust and what family really means.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Week Ending 7/15/07
This week has been a running week. At some point I know I need to sit down and plan for the upcoming year :) As of right now I'm still enjoying reading as many books as I can before the new school year starts. These are the books I read this week:
a daughter's dream
seasons in paradise
The Green Teen Cookbook
Eat Cheap but Eat Well
Flat Belly Diet
Fix, Freeze, Feast
The Fully Raw Diet
Home to Paradise
I actually did get to go out and spend time with friends TWICE!! That's so unheard of around here :) I had a late breakfast/early lunch with a friend on Wednesday. I don't want to even say how many hours we spent talking and catching up! (LOL) Friday the two younger kids and I went to a friend's house and just had a wonderful time. It's so nice when the moms can chat and the kids each have someone near their age to hang out with. All in all it was a wonderful week. Got to work on my Mapelle Films review, so keep your eyes open for that next week.
a daughter's dream
seasons in paradise
The Green Teen Cookbook
Eat Cheap but Eat Well
Flat Belly Diet
Fix, Freeze, Feast
The Fully Raw Diet
Home to Paradise
I actually did get to go out and spend time with friends TWICE!! That's so unheard of around here :) I had a late breakfast/early lunch with a friend on Wednesday. I don't want to even say how many hours we spent talking and catching up! (LOL) Friday the two younger kids and I went to a friend's house and just had a wonderful time. It's so nice when the moms can chat and the kids each have someone near their age to hang out with. All in all it was a wonderful week. Got to work on my Mapelle Films review, so keep your eyes open for that next week.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Review: World War II Time Travelers American Series
Here are a few pictures of what we worked on recently. Issac's favorite thing was the Language Bingo. We were using words like leader, prisoner, war, battle & power in the languages of German, Italian, French, Russian & Japanese.
Home School in the Woods has so many wonderful series. The Time Travelers American Series that we were reviewing has quite a few wonderful packs. They have New World Explorers, Colonial Life, The American Revolution, The Early 19th Century, The Civil War, The Industrial Revolution through the Great Depression and World War II. They've also got their Activity-Paks. In this series you can chose from Make-A-State, The Old Testament, The New Testament, Composers as well as Artists. If you are wanting to make a timeline that can last through all your studies or you want to keep your timeline as a keepsake then you need to check out Timeline Trio. If you are interested in Lap-Paks to really delve into a subject then there are some wonderful ones currently available. The following are available now for grades 3-8 with more coming in the future: U.S. Elections, The 20th Century in America and Wonders of the World. If you have a little bit younger students, grades k-2, then currently you can study Benjamin Franklin or Knights.
There is also a NEW item that has just come out called A La Carte projects. These are great for hands on learning when your kids are interested in a specific subject and maybe don't want to do a large project kit. This is so exciting for all those little rabbit trails that our kids find and want to go explore. There are currently 50 different project choices, so something for everyone for sure! If you want to check this new item out head over and you can get the Erie Canal project FREE with code "alacarte". What a great way to check out their new series!
If you'd like to check out these products or get more information check out Home School in the Woods on social media:
My fellow reviewers have reviewed many different items this time, so jump over and check out what they thought of all the different products that are currently available.
Thankful Tuesday 7/11/17h
Today I'm thankful for deals and a thrift store I almost NEVER go into (LOL) I don't care for this store because I never find anything I like. The clothing all seems older and I just don't normally go there. Today we were in the store beside it and didn't find what we were looking to buy. We had gotten Issac a Grow-a-Frog for his birthday and wen wanted a larger container for "Bob" :) My husband suggested we go in this store, so I said it can't hurt.We walk in and I immediately see a pretty nice washer/dryer set. We have been having issues with our washer for months and I've been without for over 2 weeks. My husband was given one by a friend, but he hasn't been able to fix it. I'm looking in the washer and one of the workers walks by and tells me it's HALF price. We looked at it and decided it was worth it. I'm praying it works as well as it looks and that it ends up being the wonderful by and blessing that it seems to be :)
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Week Ending 7/8/17
This week was busy with appointments and such. That seems to be our every week anymore (LOL) The biggest thing that happened this week was our daughter got braces. I don't know that I've ever seen a child so excited to get braces! She got them on Thursday and then went and ate a sub sandwhich :) She was sore the next day, but says today isn't so bad. She's had a busy few weeks with getting her wisdom teeth removed and now braces. I would be surprised if she wasn't sore (LOL)
I thought about school for next year, but haven't really done any planning. I really want to sit down with each of the two kids and find out what they would like to do this year. I want to have us work together a little to plan our year. My daughter pointed out that we don't have much more than a month to go before school starts. Every summer this seems to happen to me where I don't get anything done (LOL) I can say I've read a few good books this week though. That seems to be top priority for me lately! These are the books I read this week:
A Promise of Hope
$3 Meals (While I don't think these meals are $3 in this day there were a few good recipes I'm planning to try :) )
Plain Proposal
Return to Paradise
Plain Paradise
With Love
I did a little work in the yard/garden this week. One of the most exciting things was a super huge haul of green peppers out of the garden. I picked 22 green peppers this week. We have a ton of plants b/c my husband didn't realize the number I gave him was total plants and he bought 4-packs (LOL) I wasn't too upset because peppers are super easy to freeze, so that's our plan. I froze 8 peppers ready to stuff and the rest were cut up for things like chili and spaghetti. I'm hoping our tomatoes do well because I try to freeze enough until the following summer. Somehow my husband got the little tomatoes instead of the larger ones, so I'm not expecting much this year. It's still nice to have something though :)
I thought about school for next year, but haven't really done any planning. I really want to sit down with each of the two kids and find out what they would like to do this year. I want to have us work together a little to plan our year. My daughter pointed out that we don't have much more than a month to go before school starts. Every summer this seems to happen to me where I don't get anything done (LOL) I can say I've read a few good books this week though. That seems to be top priority for me lately! These are the books I read this week:
A Promise of Hope
$3 Meals (While I don't think these meals are $3 in this day there were a few good recipes I'm planning to try :) )
Plain Proposal
Return to Paradise
Plain Paradise
With Love
I did a little work in the yard/garden this week. One of the most exciting things was a super huge haul of green peppers out of the garden. I picked 22 green peppers this week. We have a ton of plants b/c my husband didn't realize the number I gave him was total plants and he bought 4-packs (LOL) I wasn't too upset because peppers are super easy to freeze, so that's our plan. I froze 8 peppers ready to stuff and the rest were cut up for things like chili and spaghetti. I'm hoping our tomatoes do well because I try to freeze enough until the following summer. Somehow my husband got the little tomatoes instead of the larger ones, so I'm not expecting much this year. It's still nice to have something though :)
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Week Ending 7/1/17
This week has been a very laid back week! Issac was gone to my mom's house this week, so it was mostly Brianna and I home during the day. She had gotten her wisdom teeth removed last Thursday, so for several days she didn't feel like doing anything. We watched the movie Trust Fund together, so keep an eye out for a review coming up soon :) I did do the kids attendance records for the year, so that's one thing I've done to finalize her year (LOL) I really love reading Amish fiction type books and this week I read the following books:
Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World (Have been working on this for a few months, but finally finished it :) )
Lydia's Charm
Summer of Secrets
Breaking up with Barrett
The Proposal at Siesta Key
Brianna and I drove to Statesville this morning to meet my mom and pick up Issac. I let Brianna drive from Sanford to Greensboro and then from Greensboro back to Sanford to get some driving time in. I can definitely see where she has improved in her driving. We came home and I binge watched House Hunters International and took a nap. I didn't accomplish much this week, but it was an enjoyable one!
Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World (Have been working on this for a few months, but finally finished it :) )
Lydia's Charm
Summer of Secrets
Breaking up with Barrett
The Proposal at Siesta Key
Brianna and I drove to Statesville this morning to meet my mom and pick up Issac. I let Brianna drive from Sanford to Greensboro and then from Greensboro back to Sanford to get some driving time in. I can definitely see where she has improved in her driving. We came home and I binge watched House Hunters International and took a nap. I didn't accomplish much this week, but it was an enjoyable one!
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