Taking the Plunge to Achieve a Dream

Hello, friends! I have a confession, a dream really that seems to have been placed in my heart around a year ago. It is one that I talk very little about and even stating it now makes my fingers tremble.

My dream is to be a published author.

There... I said it! I have been working to write reviews, blogposts, and educational resources. Each one of these have been such an enrichment in my life. Through blogging, I have met beautiful writers and families around the world. I receive feedback from teachers and homeschool parents that have valued my resources. I treasure them all in my heart! Yet, I know that there is a dream that remains unfulfilled, a purpose that has not yet been achieved.

About one year ago, I was given a story. This story is about a young pastor's daughter and her two best buddies. As the story began to unfold, I found myself completely taken with these characters and the events that I see playing out in their lives. They learn lessons from life and each other while applying Scripture in real situations. The passion to publish has grown but I find that fear and intimidation have become a companion. There are so many questions and road blocks! The more I research about publishing, the scarier and out of reach it seems.

How do we fight the fear as we stand on the precipice? From where can we draw the courage to close our eyes, take a deep breath, and take the plunge into the unknown?

Here are my Scripture companions for this season:

• Psalm 25:4-5  "Show my thy ways, O Lord: teach my thy paths. Lead me in thy truth and teach me: for thou are the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."  I know that God can direct and shine light upon the path that I should take. I choose to pray for His direction.
• Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." I may not know the plan but I know Someone who thinks about me and has a place for me. I choose to trust in Him.
• Psalm 37:4-5  "Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." God must remain the center of it all. I choose to delight in the Lord.

So, here I go my friends! I am officially beginning the journey. I am a firm believer that we are never too old to learn something new and reach for new dreams. We only have to be brave enough to Take the Plunge!

Review: A+ Tutorsoft Math Software

Good morning, friends! It is a rainy day here in the Sunshine state. In fact, my corner of the world has been covered in green on the weather radar for two days and nights. An ark could be in our future. :)

Today, I want to share with you a new Math resource that might interest you in your homeschool. My adorable third grader has had the opportunity to use A+ Interactive Math Software by A+ Tutorsoft, Inc.

Description

A+ Tutorsoft, Inc is a full Math program that utilizes audio and computer animated visuals to make the subject interactive for your student. There are three options available: CD-Rom Standard Edition, CD-Rom Premium Edition, or an Online Subscription. If you would like to see the similarities and differences of all three, click here! For the sake of this review, I will be focusing upon the 3rd Grade CD-Rom Premium Edition; however, there are definite benefits for whichever option you might choose. The most important feature of all three is that this program does the teaching for you! It is like having a Math teacher sitting at your table. For homeschool parents who do not enjoy this sometimes grueling subject, this might be a great option for you!

This software uses three modes (audio, visual, and text) to teach and reinforce Math concepts. The following  resources are included: 

• Lessons complete with audio and visual
• Interactive quizzes after each lesson to check comprehension
• Instant feedback and step by step instructions should a student struggle with a concept
• Lesson Plans
• Printable curriculum book that correlates with media lessons
• Printable worksheets and exams for further practice and skill reinforcement
• Parental Guides with step by step problem solving instructions
• Progress tracking and reporting for assessment files or portfolios
• Parental controls to keep your student on task
• Certificate of Accomplishments to post and file

Routine

Each day, my Nat would sit at the laptop, plug in her earphones and begin her Math lesson for the day. She would begin by logging in and then clicking on multimedia lessons at the top of the screen. The interface is quite easy to use and a child with some computer skills will have no problems running the program. If your child has no computer experience, they will quickly catch on with parental support.

While working through the lesson, Nat would listen to the teacher as she instructed on course content. Throughout the lesson, there would be opportunities to observe the concept through instruction as well as application. At the end of the lesson, she would then be asked comprehension questions or given math problems to solve that utilized the concepts from the lesson. She enjoyed this part as she was able to click the answer and then receive instant feedback. She was always excited to see the little yellow smiley face with a thumbs up sign! 

After completing the lesson and review, I would have her complete a worksheet to reinforce and review the lesson. To save on ink, I would often have her use notebook paper to record her answers. We would then check her answers together and I would note her progress. Once reaching the end of the unit, an exam was available to track her progress. I could enter all of her lesson quizzes and exams in the gradebook to keep a record of her work for her portfolio.

Good to Know

1.) This program is most suitable for auditory learners. The interactive quizzes are very helpful; however, the students that will excel the most with this curriculum will be those who are able to comprehend auditory instruction. Actual manipulatives and opportunities for questions are not available during instruction. If a student has a problem, they are sent back to listen to the same instruction once again. For my little learner, this was difficult for her. I have never considered her an auditory learner; however, some students are thrilled to be able to get alone, listen to instruction and work through their lessons at their own pace. I was one such learner. Consider your child's learning style carefully.

2.)  The audio on the files could be a bit difficult to listen to at times for my sensitive ears. My daughter did not seem to have much issue with it. For a sample of the audio, click here to watch the demo and an idea for yourself.

3.) If you are running the new Windows 8, the software is currently incompatible.

4.)  For the CD version, you must insert the grades yourself to keep track of your child's progress. The online version will do this for you. 

5.) You can have up to 5 students using the software. This definitely helps those who have multiple children on the same level.

6.) The available grades are 1st through 6th as well as Pre-Algebra and Algebra which is noted for use in 7th and 8th.

7.) Standard CD curriculum is $99.99 while the Premium CD edition is $124.99. The online version can be purchased monthly ($19.99), in three month increments ($49.99) or for an entire year ($124.99). 

BUT, for all of you wonderful readers, Tutorsoft, Inc is offering a 50% off discount through the end of March! Just enter the promotion code: SPOFFER50.

My Thoughts

Overall, I thought this program offered a complete, comprehensive package for third grade. The lesson plans were well taught and the interactive quizzes were fun. The instant feedback was encouraging for my daughter and she always enjoyed sitting at the computer for her Math. I do think that her learning style is better suited for more hands-on learning rather than auditory as she would have to go back and rewatch the lessons at times because she simply didn't catch the specifics of what was taught. Her mind has a tendency to stray. :) However, for those learners who work best at their own pace and excels with auditory instruction, this would be a great option!

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Review: "God's Great Covenant"

Hello, friends!! It is time for another Schoolhouse Review Crew blogpost about a new curriculum that you might want to consider for your homeschool, especially if you are looking for a Bible curriculum that will both challenge and excite your kiddos! I had the opportunity to use God's Great Covenant Old Testament I by Classical Academic Press and I have been so looking forward to sharing this resource with you as it has been such blessing in our home!

Description

"God's Great Covenant" Old Testament I is available in three fantastic components. First, a student workbook is available for each child. These workbooks offer lesson memory verses, important definitions from the lesson, a read-aloud, and worksheet style pages about what they have learned from the lesson. The last page of each lesson includes a Quiz that can be given to check their knowledge retention and comprehension. There are a total of 32 lessons that are broken into five different themes. Two installments are available for the Old Testament and the first, which we used, covers the book of Genesis through Ruth as well as the book of Job.

Student Workbook

The second component is the teacher's manual. I would highly recommend this resource as it is a replica of each page in the student manual, complete with answers as well as comprehension questions that can be asked throughout the reading. It is VERY user-friendly and offers great insight into the reading. One of my favorite parts of this program is that it does not offer simple question and answers that they might already know from Sunday School. This is important to me as my children have been involved in church their entire lives. These questions are not laborious; however, they do challenge and encourage critical thinking. It was also very exciting to see how they linked the studies of the Old Testament to the New Testament. These are skills that many books are lacking and I found it exciting to share this kind of thinking in a lesson atmosphere.

Lastly, there are audio files that are available in MP3 format. This makes it incredibly easy to use on whatever device you have available. The narrator will weave the Bible story and scripture in such a way that your children will enjoy following along! They are purchased and downloaded right from the website! Listen to a sample here!

Routine

Teacher Manual

This program was a great blessing to our homeschool. We had been working on Scripture memorization and reading the Bible together as a family. However, this is more of a systematic approach to studying Scripture that proved to be both exciting and engaging for all members of the family. It dealt with theology on a child's level perfectly. Here is how we used it!

I chose to implement this curriculum as the first item of the day. Each morning, my girls would wake up and head to the table where we were preparing breakfast. While eating, we would begin to open up our Bible lesson and completed one lesson each week. Here is the daily routine:
Monday- Read the cover page of the lesson complete with overview, theme and Memory Verse. We would then read the Bible story from Scripture.
Tuesday- Review important terms and memory verse. I would have them take turns reading the read-aloud to retell the Bible story in an interesting and thought provoking way. You can also use the mp3 audio files here; I simply preferred them practicing their reading. We would also work through the questions and information given in the side bars of the teacher manual.
Wednesday- Review the lesson theme and play a game with their memory verse. Allow them to complete the first half of their review worksheet going back to check answers and increase comprehension.
Thursday- Have them say their memory verse. Complete the back of the review worksheet going back to check answers and increase comprehension. Study all review questions to prepare for the Quiz.
Friday- Complete the Quiz and have them share their memory verse for the week. We would also go back and remember memory verses from previous weeks. I was so pleased to see that they had remembered every one.

Good to Know

1.)  The student workbook is $22.95. The teacher manual is $24.95 and the audio files are $9.95. Though the audio files are not essential for the use of the curriculum, the workbook and teacher manual are critical.

2.)  This curriculum is written on a third grade level but it could easily be used from First Grade with some writing assistance through Middle School. This curriculum should be used with parental involvement. My girls' ages range from three to eleven. We successfully used it with them all. Of course, my three year old did not grasp everything but because we did each part of the lesson in about 20 minutes a day (and she was eating her breakfast during this time) we were able to easily integrate it into our day with all three. My third grader and sixth grader looked forward to Bible each morning and it would get their minds engaged for the day.

My Thoughts

I have been thoroughly pleased with this curriculum and it will be a staple at our homeschool table. Each morning, my children were not just reading over a Bible story but they were systematically studying new terms, greek interpretations, memory verses, and key ideas. Questions were offered that would often launch a lengthy discussion on God, His Son, and His Plan. After completing the first installment, I will definitely be ordering Old Testament II as well as the third installment: New Testament I. It was a success with both my children and my husband, who as you know serves as a Pastor. It is a great addition to our home and I am excited to continue our studies.

If you would like to see samples of this great Bible curriculum, just click here! You can also follow the button below to see how other families have used the curriculum and their thoughts as well. Have a blessed day!

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

A Back Stage Tour at Chick-Fil-A!

Our backstage pass!

Hello, friends!!  I hope that you are all having a fantastic day! Today, I would like to share with a great experience my family had last week. I was perusing the web and followed my rabbit trail to Chick-Fil-A's website. In their monthly calendar of events, I noticed a Backstage Pass opportunity. I wasn't exactly sure what all it entailed, but I signed us all up to go!

Oh... my... This was the coolest! The Backstage Pass was an opportunity to be escorted throughout the restaurant to see exactly "how" Chick-Fil-A works! Even my husband was incredibly impressed with this establishment and they now have even more of our support. With all of the news articles about certain places using horse meat in their hamburgers (can I just say... gross!), we have really been hesitant to support some of the fast food chains as we are not exactly sure what we could be eating.

Enter Chick-Fil-A! After enjoying a delicious lunch, we met with a wonderful Marketing Director, Mrs. Richardson, who made my children feel welcomed and honored. She took her time explaining all about the founding of the chain, the family behind Chick-Fil-A and the trailblazer that it has been over the years. As a Christian family, we were so impressed with the way this family has integrated Christian values without pushing religion. They have shown courtesy, care, and charity to many. They are still a leader in benevolence today. Here are few things we were most impressed with on our tour:

Watching the staff at work!

Fast

I had always know that Chick-Fil-A was fast. There are very few times that my bag is not ready to be passed to me by the time I get to the window. However, I did not know just how fast. According to their record at this particular site, they have provided over 140 meals through the drive-thru in an hour! Holy smokes! Break out your calculators friends as this would be a fun calculation with the kiddos. They hour that we spent on site, they had over 112. You are looking at over 2 cars in a minute! O_O

Fresh

Having fun in the kitchen!

This was the coolest part of the trip. As we were escorted around the kitchen, they explained that all of the chicken is fresh and cut up on site. I met the young man who worked at cutting chicken breast all day and he steady sliced up fresh chicken the entire time. Another gentleman explained to us how they take the cut up chicken and prepare it in an assembly line much like you would do at home: egg wash, flour mixture, and and spice if required. They then placed a batch in the fryer which doubles as a pressure cooker to ensure that the chicken is cooked thoroughly while remaining juicy. Biscuits are handmade each morning and lemons are actually squeezed to prepare the lemonade. Vegetables are chopped, diced, and sliced to offer freshness in salads. Cookies are baked and kept in a warmer to offer yumminess for desert. There are no freeze-dried, bags of supplies; only freshness of the highest quality.

Nat working the ice cream machine!

Friendly

I can not say enough about the friendliness of all staff. While working diligently and efficiently, each staff member took a few moments of their time to smile, wave, instruct or explain. They were all the height of courtesy and friendliness. They had to work with five extra bodies in the kitchen including a toddler (who remained in mine or her Daddy's arms... lol). Yet, they took time to speak with us as if we were important visitors. We were able to taste some of the different recipes, create our own ice cream cones, and ask questions freely. 

We had a fabulous time as a family. It was such an exciting field trip that was free and available just minutes from our home! 

Would you be interested in checking this out yourself? Go to the Chick-Fil-A website and look at the amazing events, charities, and family days they offer! We have personally been a part of a Father/Daughter dinner that Chick-Fil-A provided and my girls still talk about the free limousine ride. The picture of that night is proudly sitting on my desk today. We have also enjoyed family events that have included face painting, balloon animals and puppet shows. Explore the Chick-Fil-A website and see what is being offered in your area! I can guarantee that you will enjoy the speed, freshness and friendliness of your trip.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this post. I am simply a huge advocate for the quality of this establishment. :)

Review: Flowering Baby Toddler Curriculum

Hi, all!! I have had quite a week since last Monday and it involved a long trip, good friends, time with family, and a weekend of ministry... not necessarily in that order. :) Today, I will be bringing a brand new review to you that covers a preschool program that I worked on with my Lillee bud called Flowering Baby by Flowering Baby, LLC.

Description

Flowering Baby is a preschool curriculum that has five different tracks available based on age. The purpose of this curriculum is to give parents a guide to teach age appropriate skills. For the purpose of my review, I will be speaking mainly to the Three to Four Year Old track as this is where my preschooler falls. 

The program was created by a mother/daughter team who seek to equip parents in instructing their young ones in cognitive, language, fine and gross motor, social, emotional, and self-help skills. This curriculum was written with one very important fact in mind: all children develop at different rates. This curriculum will give you a framework to build on or scale back depending upon the level and educational experience of your child.

Monthly lesson activities are included that begin in January and build on itself throughout the year. This monthly pack includes 20 or more activities. A thematic pack is also included to add to the instruction which is somewhat like mini-units where there are books, activities, and projects that revolve around a central theme.

Routine

This program was a fantastic resource to begin using with my eager young one. She had been wanting so badly to do "school work" and I had not used an actual curriculum to guide her instruction. Each day, I would get her sisters going on their schoolwork before calling her to begin her school time. We chose a specific place for her (an ottoman in the living room) where the materials for the day would be prepared. One bonus to this curriculum is the ease of implementation. It is easily integrated in the day and uses basic materials that you would find in your home with the exception of the book lists. These had to either be searched for in my local library or other books chosen that complemented the area of focus.

For my little one who was already so eager for school, I found that I needed to add books to the list for the day as one read aloud was never enough. Also, I found that I had to sometimes increase the difficulty of some of the activities to add challenge. Although some days would give me plenty to build on, other days would not provide quite enough. For instance, an activity might be to listen to your child throughout the day to correct or reinforce language skills. This would not necessarily be done during "school time." On these days, she would always beg to make instruction longer and I would complete another day to capitalize on her eagerness or do extra in the thematic units. Again, the curriculum is built with these individual differences in mind. This is what makes homeschool curriculum so beautiful! It is all about that one child.

Good to Know

1.)  There are five tracks available to be bought separately or bundled: Birth to One Year, One to Two, Two to Three, Three to Four, and Four to Five Years.  The curriculum cost for one year ranges from $30 to $38 depending on the age level. The entire five year curriculum can be bought as a bundle for $132.

2.)  The curriculum can be purchased in downloadable form or in CD format. You would then print it out to use.

3.)  The simplicity level is up to you! If your child is not ready for sitting down for a time of instruction, the author encourages you to do some of the activities while they are playing with toys or manipulatives. Play the musical style of the month in the background throughout the day to expose them to the genre. Progress at your own speed and understand that children (especially toddlers) develop at different speeds and in different manners. You expose your child to new information and capitalize on those subjects or topics that seem to gain the most interest from your child. 

My Thoughts

I found this curriculum to be a great guide for parents who are searching for a guide in their toddler's instruction. Different developmental skills are noted and scaffolded to give direction. It would be especially helpful to someone with little experience in teaching young ones. It was certainly a pleasure to use as the base building block for my daily instruction.Would you like to see a typical day in the program? Just click here! 

 If you would like a 10% discount, simply purchase from the Flowering Baby website and use the code "Blog10" when ordering!

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Guest Blogger: At the Fence

Hello, friends!! I am letting you know that you can find me sharing my story at another blog: "At the Fence." I hope you will swing by and leave some comment love!Just click on the picture below. See you there!

The Great Valentine Hunt: Crafty Valentine Ideas

Hello, everyone! Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and to be honest, I have not really planned for it! I thought I would check around for cute ideas from other marvelous bloggers and you will love what I found! Here are a few projects that I really liked!

Crafts

Just click on the pictures for great tutorials!! I love these ideas!

Hugs and Kisses jar by Joy Unexpected

Shaving Cream Marbled Hearts by The Chocolate Muffin Tree

Heart Shaped Borax Crystals by Club Chica Circle

Have a fantastic weekend everyone! :)

Schoolhouse Review: Apologia

Hello, friends! I am so excited to bring you my first Review Crew post for 2013! There are so many great resources out there but homeschooling families are simply unaware of them. Over this next year, I will be using some of these great resources and then sharing them with you so that you will be made aware of a few options available!

Today, I will be sharing one of my faves: Apologia Educational Ministries. I had the pleasure of reviewing the Exploring Creation with Zoology II textbook and Exploring Creation with Zoology II notebooking journal. This book focuses on Day 5 of Creation: The Swimming Creatures and let me say that my girls were ecstatic when we received the new resources. Sea creatures, whales, dolphins... you name it filled the pages and my girls were eager to jump right in!

Description:

Apologia Science is a faith-based curriculum that focuses on Science through a Biblical worldview. Zoology II begins with a week's worth of reading and activities about the ocean itself before jumping into the different animals found in the ocean. A sample schedule is given to assist homeschool teachers in easily integrating Science into their schedules. However, the beauty of this program is the ability to adapt the books to your particular educational method. For instance, we wanted a steady routine of Science each day. So instead of following the sample schedule of completing Science twice a week, we did it four days a week. This enabled us to complete a lesson a week. Should you want to take a slower pace, you could easily stretch this lesson into 2-3 weeks depending on the level of your student.

Ocean Minibook

Each of the Zoology books flow seamlessly from one to another; however, each book is stand alone and can be completed independently from one another. The textbook is filled with hands-on projects that reinforce the lessons being taught and the journals include not only opportunities to write but to also complete mini-books, matchbooks, or other neat comprehension tools.

Routine:

As I mentioned before, we chose to use the curriculum in such a way that each lesson could be completed in a week. This schedule was labor intensive as there was much reading required in one sitting. However, we used it in a group setting so we had a great time reading it together! One advantage of this program is the ability to teach both my 3rd grader and 6th grader with the same curriculum. This will change next year as I will have a new track for my middle schooler; however, this year's science has become a great time of read-alouds, discussions, projects, and journaling activities. 

Here is how we used Apologia Zoology II:

Apologia Notebook Journal

Monday- Read half-way though the reading assignment for the lesson. As we came upon experiments or questions, we would complete them. 

Tuesday- Complete the reading by reading aloud as a group. (Again, we would complete any projects or experiments from the textbook as we came to them.)

Wednesday- Begin work in the journaling notebook. I chose to have them do the writing activities and projects in one journal... together. I was so pleased with this decision as they were much more eager to work through each page with a Science "buddy" so to speak. Much of this first journal day was answering comprehension questions and filling out journal prompts about their reading.

Thursday- My girls would complete their journals by creating a mini-book of some sort, completing a vocabulary crossword puzzle, as well as working on their handwriting with copywork. (Loved that feature by the way!)

 Good to Know:

1.) The textbook is reading intensive and the reading is at a higher elementary level. If you have a child that doesn't enjoy reading or is unable to read well, you will need to adapt the curriculum to your child. For instance, use the Science book as a read-aloud and break it into smaller pieces. You can also have your child working on their journal WHILE you are reading the textbook aloud. When they hear or see something interesting, allow them to draw and write about it in their journal! If they don't like to draw, allow them to print pictures off of the computer and paste them into their journal like a scrapbook!

Learning about Echolocation

2.) Some materials will be required for the projects and experiments; however, much of it you will already have around your home! I haven't bought anything so far and the experiments have been so much fun for my girls. I would highly recommend taking the time to complete the projects for each chapter. A convenient listing of materials is included in the book so that you can prepare for each week's lesson. It really does improve their learning retention which is always our goal!

3.)  There are two journaling options available. We chose to use the older option as I wanted to use it with both my 3rd grader and 6th grader. But there is a Notebook Jr. option for early learners.The Jr. Journal has coloring options and cut/paste activities that would be enjoyable for early learners.

4.) The textbook is $39 and the journal is $24. Again, I used one textbook and journal for both of my girls so that is an option if you are looking to save a penny.

5.)  This particular series is designed for Kindergarten through Sixth grade. Titles are also available for Middle and High School which I will be looking into for next year. Would you like to look at sample pages of Zoology II? Just click the pictures below:

My Thoughts:

I have searched far and wide for a Science curriculum that taught from a Biblical perspective that relieves the worry of evolutionary theories creeping in to our lessons. I also wanted a curriculum that focused on ONE topic for a year rather than jumped from one to another all year. I found both desires in Apologia resources. I enjoy the activities they include to make learning fun and the in-depth study of the topics. My girls have been learning with excitement and that alone makes it an A+ for this teacher.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

New February Resources!

Hello, friends! I have been working on a few new packs and they are hot off the press! :) I am so excited about them but I think I say that about everything. LOL I truly never get tired of creating resources and there is a never ending supply of ideas.

I have been working on a few packs for February that you might like. First, I have a Sweet Treats Math Pack for Kindergarten!

Kindergarten Math Common Core Pack

This pack deals with numbers 1-20, counting, writing, addition, comparison, decomposing numbers, and making 10! Each activity is common core aligned for those that require it but it would be great for a homeschool or classroom. There is a puzzle game, two centers, and 23 printables with a fun candy shop theme! Here is a peek:

Kindergarten Math Common Core Pack

Also available is a new History Makers Pack for Black History Month. 

Black History Month Activity Pack

It includes activities and posters for the following: Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson and Thurgood Marshall. Just click on the picture above and download the preview to see all that is in this pack. You will find full color posters, writing activities, and projects!

I hope you are all having a fantastic week! Friday is coming and I am especially excited about tomorrow as it will be my first review for the Review Crew. I will be sharing with you about Apologia Science! See you tomorrow!

Four Lessons from a Field Trip

Yesterday was a pretty easy going day for Little Angels. Mom had been feeling a bit under the weather all weekend and so we took an easy day on Monday. School was completed but a schedule was not kept and we floated through the day. Or should I say, THEY floated? Mom busied herself with a few important deadlines that were coming up as a stomach bug had been a bit of a hindrance up till then.

Anyhoo, after their school day was completed and Dad got home from the office, we decided to take the kiddos to do something fun... out of the ordinary... brand new. We loaded up and headed to a place in town that is full of blown up bounce houses.

Here are a few of the important lessons learned from this educational field trip. ;)

1.) Sisters can really be your best friends in the whole world.

2.) Dad is a great driving instructor.

3.) Yes, you can conquer any mountain.

4.)  Mom and Dad love you so much they are willing to climb into bounce houses even when their bodies are screaming they shouldn't.

Have a great day everyone!

Fabulous Homeschool Resource!

Hello, friends!! I have taken a break from perusing TPT (a bit of a sale going on over there) to share with you a fantastic homeschool resource. No matter your approach, methodology or technique, you will find something in this awesome online magazine. Want to see for yourself? Check it out by clicking on the link below:

Have a beautiful Sunday!

It's a Sale and a FREEBIE!

Hello, my friends!! Has your wishlist at TPT been growing over the past couple of weeks? Sunday will be a great day to empty them out as we will be having a SITE WIDE SALE!! Woohoo!!

I will be having a 20% off sale on everything in my store!! EVER- RY- THING! :) But make it extra special, TPT will be giving another discount just by entering the code SUPER during checkout! There are so many wonderful resources that you can get for a steal! Just to make it extra SUPER, I will be extending my sale into Monday! This won't include the TPT code but all of my items will be 20% off.

Here are a few things you might could use this month!

(These are available for Kindergarten, First and Second) 

Plus much more!!

This February 1st, I want to give you a FREEBIE for First Grade and Second Grade Math. I hope you enjoy!

Included are a few of the printables included in my new February Print and Go Pack! I hope you "love" using them. ;)