The New Stove

After over a week of Crockpot cookin', the new stove has finally arrived! I promised that we would break it in with a big batch of cookies...

Isn't she a beauty?

I think she needs a name...

The cookies will have to wait til after Archery Class:) and packing for vacation!
Mmmm, cookies for the trip! Yay!

Oh, the joy.....is right!

It's been soo long since my last post! I created this originally as a way to share our family's antics with friends & family, but then proceeded to get "too busy". After my recent bout with the the flu -yes, we believe it was the Piggy Flu -God has slowed me down, given me plenty of time to sort out the good, the bad & the ugly.
So! Here I am again :) We'll see what becomes of this...I've decided to combine my 2 blogs -one for homeschooling, the other for family stuff- since it all seems to blur together anyway! Homeschooling is definitely a lifestyle, and it has permeated every aspect of our lives! The Lord has been so good to us & we are so quick to forget it as soon as something "bad" happens (ie, my health!) but with His help that can...no, WILL....change! All glory and honor is HIS! He will make me stronger, He will be my strength!

..."For the JOY of the LORD is your strength." ~Neh8:10

We're getting ready for a much needed vacation. We are leaving Friday for the coast to meet my dad and stepmom for some R&R at the beach and to celebrate our 11th anniversary! I. CAN'T. WAIT!  We're planning to take the boys to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (I found an awesome coupon!)while we're out there, among other places...lots of daytripping! We haven't been there since our honeymoon!

The Gingerbread House

My belly hurts just looking at all this sugar!!! Ohhhh.........

Ancient Egypt

I am sooo late posting these but I still want to share our projects. We jumped right into this since N was so interested in studying about mummies.

And we capped it all off with an Egyptian Feast!

Habitat for Humanity

Charlie and Ryan got to help on a Habitat for Humanity project in Central Point. The Team Depot crew added their youngest crew member and Ryan got to work side-by-side with Daddy and his co-workers.

Camping with Kids

Our homeschool camping trip to Fish Lake was pure fun! We camped (of course!), we fished, we swam, we had smores! And best of all, we were with our friends:)

Homeschool Olympics 2008!

Here's an excerpt from the Front Page of our Homeschool News, Fall Edition:

MEDFORD- On Friday, August 15th, Olympians from around the Rogue Valley came together for a day of track and field events at Holmes Park. On a record-setting day of 108 degrees, 16 homeschool kids were hot to compete for the gold!

And from the Sports Page:

MEDFORD- On August 15th, homeschool kids across the Rogue Valley came together the Medford Homeschool
Olympics. Children were divided into 2 different categories, according to age, and given the opportunity to
participate in 7 events to compete for the gold! Congratulations to our Olympic Champions! Way to go!

Here's all the medals the boys won!

Ryan:

1 Gold (Discus)

2 Bronze (Javelin, Shot Put)

Nathan:

3 Gold (Long Jump, Discus, 100 Meter Dash)

1 Silver (Relay Race)

The day was so much fun and well worth all our hard work!

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:14

I made the local news!

Check out this story from MailTribune.com:
News - Talent holds Friday growers market
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS/808210332&emailAFriend=1

Me and my tiny booth in 108+ degree heat! Yikes!

Other Homeschool Discounts!

This list could go on and on, when you start adding in LOCAL business, but for starters this is good!

Office Depot:
http://www.mystarteacher.com/

Barnes & Noble:
register in-store for in-store discounts (not valid for online purchases)

Joann's Fabrics & Craft Stores:
See store manager for details.

Staples:
http://www.staplesrewardscenter.com/SORC/UserManagement/Login/LearnTeachersRewards.aspx

Borders/Waldenbooks:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/BRLandingView
http://www.borders.com/online/store/GroupSavingsServicesView_gssoverview
from their site: "Borders also offers a Classroom Discount of 20% to preschool through 12th grade teachers and librarians (as well as homeschoolers) in support of children's literacy. To determine which program is right for you, please visit the above pages."

FedEx/Kinko's:
https://psg.kinkos.com/educator/

Pizza Hut's BookIt! Reading Incentive Program (Grades k-6):
http://www.bookitprogram.com/enrollment/homeschool.asp

A Barefoot Story

I had to share this new video from Barefoot Books:)



Visit my website at www.mybarefootbooks.net

Searching for the books

It has been a challenging week of gathering all my school supplies for this new year. We actually had our "official" first day of school on Monday, but we are still missing a few components...
I have been faithfully watching several items on Ebay and Amazon, trying to get the absolute, rock-bottom prices, if possible.....<drum roll, please>....and I think I've done it!!! Believe it or not, I am down to the last three items on my "gotta have it" wish list! Whew!!! What a relief:)
On top of that, I had listed some items of my own on Ebay, sold 2 totaling over $50 and that's covering what I'm getting without dipping into our pockets! Yaaa-hooooo!
Okay, you can tell I'm a little excited:)

Cub Scout BBQ and Swim Party

Sunday we had fun with some of our scout buddies:) What fun! Is it any wonder why Nathan says he "changed his mind" and wants to be a cub scout this year???

So much fun! And if that wasn't enough we went with another family to Dairy Queen for Blizzards & cones on our way home:)

COMING SOON:

Homeschool Olympics 8/15/08
Basketball, Track & Field Events with all our homeschool buddies!

Group Camping Trip 8/22/08~
Camping at Fish Lake with <yes!> our homeschool buddies again!

Vacation! Camping, Fishing & visiting w/ Papa & Grandma Jo:) 9/1/08~
After their long trip up through our old "stomping grounds" in Idaho & Montana, they'll be coming 'round the mountain into Medford for a visit. Can't wait!!!

Check back soon for new pictures! xo

Savings!

As you may already know, Michaels Arts & Craft stores offers a 10% Educators Discount. BUT! I found a way to save even more money:) If you haven't already, go to www.michaels.com/theknackfaculty (check my favorite links) to sign up for a special newsletter just for teachers. About every other week or so, I have been receiving an email with a coupon for 20% off of my entire (reg.priced) order! Plus, last week I also received a coupon in the mail for 20% off:) Between these and the 40% coupons that come out periodically, you'll have no excuses for paying full price on your homeschool crafting supplies!

I had to share:)

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas!

I better post these photos from our Solar System study this summer. The boys and I had such a blast learning about the different planets and the stars. I think their favorite part was remembering planets in order with the ol' "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas!" (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) Yes, we know, there's some big controversy over whether or not Pluto is even a planet, but that doesn't stop us:) Whether it's a moon or a planet, it's there, right?

Note: We bought one of those standard solar system kits (from Michaels), but since it's difficult, not to mention boring, to paint styrofoam balls, we covered ours with a salt dough mixture (See Below for recipe) and let it dry completely before painting it. Big difference from what the box shows to do and what we accomplished! I'm so proud of my boys:)

Salty Map Dough (adapted from the Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions):

1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. salt
1 1/8 c. warm water

1. Mix flour and salt together in large bowl.
2. Slowly stir in water until mixture is the consistency of sticky bread dough. (We ended up adding a little extra water so the mixture was more like a paste to spread onto the styrofoam balls.)
3. Use immediately!
4. Allow to dry completely before painting.

Note: This recipe makes more than you will need for the solar system model, but it's better to have more then not enough! Also, we used acrylic paints to paint ours, plus we added an irridescent glitter to Saturn's rings. Lastly, we recommend using a hot glue gun for adherring the planets to the wire...craft glue was not secure enough to last for any amount of time.