Latest Update on Efforts to Learn Multiplication Facts

Well, we’ve not been as dedicated at practicing our multiplication as we had been in the beginning. Yet, would you believe that my soon to be 4th grader who has always struggled with memorizing his multiplication facts is REMEMBERING them? Lol We’ve only made it about half way through all the Memorize in Minutes story cards and he has most of those nailed down. It’s really pretty cool and he’s delighted and shocked every time he remembers one of those facts that just a few weeks ago made him want to pull his hair out!

He officially starts his school year on August 17th and our goal is to have ALL his facts up to 12x12 memorized before that date. Memorize in Minutes only goes up to 9x9, but 10’s and 11’s are something he already knows well, and I’m going to be writing my own multiplication stories for the 12 facts! Lol I’ll be sure to share them here when I do for anyone else using this book.

We had been practicing every night at bedtime, just before devotions… but we’ve been staying up too late and not getting to either one! I’m a loser! I told him tonight that we were going to do devotions during the daytime tomorrow. We’re going to try and fit this in while his 2 year old cousin, (whom I watch during the day) is napping. Hopefully it will work!

So that’s devotions anyway… what about math? Our only issue with practicing during the day is that his sister who is starting 2nd grade knows all her multiplication facts and is not all that good about listening when I ask her to keep quiet. She tends to want to blurt out the answer which really frustrates her older brother. So… we usually try to study math when she’s either asleep or otherwise occupied! Lol It’s really much easier to do math when dad’s home!

A Great Alternative to Bottled Water

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Haws. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you seen the commercial that claims we could circle the globe 6 times with the number of plastic bottles currently in landfills? If true... what a terrible picture that presents. I know bottled water is convenient, and we like to think it's healthier than water straight from the tap, but if we're not recycling those disposable bottles, are we really making the best choice? Additionally, how much money do you suppose we spend on bottled water annually?


My kids are in TaeKwonDo and attend class 4 times a week. We tend to refill a water bottle... the one with the freezer pack insert. This means we aren't paying for bottled water, but we are buying a lot of cartridges for our water purification system, which is nothing more than a fancy pitcher! lol With the kids in TaeKwonDo so often, I've seen a whole lot of children bringing (and buying at the center) bottled water... I have to wonder if the Hydration Station might be something the owner of that center might consider investing in?

Over time, the school could save a lot of people money on bottled water and those students bringing a disposable bottle every class, would be sparing the landfill a good chunk of plastic. Instead of buying a $1 bottle everyday, they could bring a reusable sports bottle to each class, take it the hydration station and fill it with polished tap water... meaning water that's been purified through a state-of-the-art water filtration technology.

Not only is the hydration station equipped to deliver clean, refreshing, and oh so healthy water... but it does it without levers, buttons or switches, so it's completely hygienic. No need for children or adults to touch anything on the system, or risk sharing germs with other students... it's all automatic. At the placement of an empty bottle, the hydration station begins filling! What a great way to encourage hydration too... and not with sodium rich sports drinks or carbonated sodas.
 



This system isn't designed for home use, but is perfect for any office, gym, library, or school. It's something I'd love to see in public areas... so much more inviting than a dirty water fountain or a cooler filled with plastic bottles and nowhere to dispose of the empties. What a great idea for healthier bodies and a healthier planet!

We May be Starting Scouts

My 9 year old son who is on the autism spectrum has wanted to start Cub Scouts for well over a year now, but I didn’t really think we had the time for it. We’re at TaeKwonDo classes between 4 and 5 times a week, which when added with school and just being a kid, accounts for a pretty full schedule as it is. Add to this that mommy (that being me) works from home, via a variety of self-employment angles, I was afraid to commit to anything further…. Can I just tell you I’m zapped at the end of the day? Also… can I further say that I think A LOT of America over-schedules our kids?

Today I discovered that Cub Scouts only meets twice a month and on the occasional Saturday for various events scheduled throughout the year. What’s more, it’s not nearly as expensive as some of the other extra-curricular activities he could be interested in… so hey, maybe this is something we can work in after all. I also like that he can continue with scouts for years to come. It’s not just a club for 9 year olds or something that has to end in a year or two. I like anything that builds upon itself, rather than something that flatlines over time.

I have a friend whose son is also on the spectrum and she’s actually the troop leader for his pack! Apparently he loves scouts and the socialization (something kids with Autism struggle with) has helped him immensely. It’s not that kids on the spectrum don’t want to socialize… they’re just awkward about it. They have a hard time reading other people’s body language, and sometimes don’t know how to engage in normal conversation.

My son isn’t as socially awkward as some kids I’ve met, but he is really quite good at one-sided conversations about subjects that may or may not be of interest to his targeted audience. Lol God is good though and this past year he made his first “best” friend (a HUGE accomplishment for someone with Aspergers), who has many of the same interests, so it all works! This boy is also a scout by the way and would be in the same troop. Another reason I’m thinking to press forward.

I wonder how many homeschoolers have their kids involved in scouting activities? My daughter also wants to join scouts… that would mean Brownies at her age, but I’m thinking it’s probably more important for my son than for my daughter (the social butterfly of the family). Not that I’ll tell her no, but I’ll probably tell her to hang onto her hat for a few months so I can adjust to one new activity at a time.

Given my boy is special needs, I want to be involved with anything and everything he’s involved in… which means I’d be at every meeting and event he would attend. There’d be no dropping off one kid here to deliver another kid there… if that makes sense. I’d be as present at scouts as he would be. It’s that scheduling thing that makes everything worth doing so challenging! Were there’s a will there’s a way though!

I’m fully trusting God will provide us the flexibility to do whatever it is we need to do to help our son be all that God has planned for him to be!

My Awesome Shopping Experience with CSN Stores

I love kitchen gadgets, appliances, and new pots and pans like no one else I know. Recently I found a great source for filling my kitchen with new toys and wanted to share it here! I believe in sharing positive shopping experiences with my readers. After all, most of us have had our fair share of negative experiences and I believe good work shouldn’t go unnoticed!

I recently bought a new Rachel Ray "Patty Pal" Frying Pan Set that came with a turner from CSN stores, which offered me FREE SHIPPING! WooHoo! The price was awesome too… in fact I saw this same pan (after I ordered… thank goodness) at a local department store for $12 more than what I paid for it. That’s a pretty good feeling!

I’ve needed a few new non-stick pans for the longest time and this is a great start. I could still use a griddle and a regular non-stick skillet for things like scrambled eggs, but this cool flat pan will work great for our favorite turkey bacon and my son’s pancakes. Plus, it’s Rachel Ray so I feel rather hip using it. lol
The coolest thing about CSN stores is that there are 200 of them! They offer a lot of their products at prices lower than you’ll find in department stores, and many of their items come with free shipping. They delivered my skillet quickly and in perfect condition and I had a lot of confidence in my choice before proceeding to checkout because of the rating system they offer. Customers can come back after their purchase and rate the item after receiving it… so I knew exactly what I was getting and how it performed for other customers. That’s just one of the perks with shopping at CSN.

This is a photo of my skillet, but for some reason (unknown even to me) I photographed the backside rather than the front??? lol If I'd bothered to turn it around you'd be able to see the turner than came with the skillet. Too late for a new photoshoot! The skillet is out of the box and ready for auction!

Finally I wanted to share that CSN sells much more than just kitchen goodies. They sell anything you can imagine. Just picture yourself at the mall, and you’re at CSN… just think… a virtual mall! What could be better than that?

Have fun and happy shopping.

My Little Sponges Want to Watch Big Time Rush and iCarly

These little sponges of mine are only 7 and 9 years of age, yet they've decided these shows, (which in the opinion of me and my husband are geared towards children in jr. high school), are "totally fine, mom", "definitely aren't warping our minds" and "they're the best shows on television".

I agree that they can be cute shows, but all the references to "making out" with a girl or getting the attention of a boy just don't seem elementary school-age appropriate. I also don't exactly love the attitude I see in kids on television. Attitude towards their parents, their friends, all the sarcastic humor, and the sometimes questionable attire (especially on the girls).Come on people.... these kids on television are just KIDS!

Since I see EVERYONE as a sponge, I tend to question everything my kids are exposed to. I don't even like a lot of the "stuff" I'm exposed to on television. Prime time tv for example is out... even when watching something innocent and fun, you just never know what a commercial might slam in your family's faces. My daughter, even with the mommy filter in our home, sometimes dances in a way I know she's had to of seen on television. It's a provocative type of move that I'm now trying to find a way to deprogram her from. My sweetie... that's just not appropriate and it sends the wrong message about who you are. Sigh.

What are your thoughts on this? I'm not wanting to sound like a complete nut, but I just don't know that these shows... even though (and especially because) they're marketing them to our very young children, should be viewed by our very young children. I guess I don't want Nickelodeon and Disney raising my kids for me, or deciding what they should hear and see, or when they should hear and see it. That's my job. With that out of my mouth, I've had some thoughts against a lot of the cartoons that air these days too. I think it goes back to that attitude and sarcastic humor I mentioned before. It really is funny... that is until you hear the same expressions and sassyness spill from the mouth of your own child. Then, it's quite the opposite. Ever been there?

Did You Meet Your Spouse Online?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of MeetLocals.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm assuming most of my readers are married, but just in case... I wonder how many of you have ever used an online dating service? Maybe you're married and this is how you became so? lol  I have a couple of friends who met their spouses this way. They were tired of being set up by friends, and a lot of them didn't really know how to meet people who shared common interests, beliefs, and who were looking for serious relationships... finding the right person who also happens to be single and looking to settle down can be hard!

I think there's something to be said for being paired up based on personality, religion, political affiliation, financial responsibility, and general common interest. Also... knowing that the someone you've been paired with might actually be in the same stage of life as you find yourself... ready for a commitment.... rather than recreational dating is priceless. Additionally, not all of us are party goers or social butterflies. I didn't meet my husband online, but it took me a long time to find someone because I didn't bar hop or even drink and given that I was at a secular University... well... it was hard finding a man who got that! lol

There are a lot of online dating sites... I've never tried any of them! lol So... I can't exactly speak from experience, but tonight a friend of mine from across the street went walking with me and said even her mom has recently registered with one! It's apparently just that popular that even a friend of mine has a mom who is looking for love online. lol If you're a lady looking for your soulmate... you might try Shop4Guys.com, which basically says it all. You can shop for a guy! lol Make sure he's the right guy... not just a guy. Be picky and be safe too... meaning, if you're meeting someone online... maybe double date with a friend.

Another site you might try is Meetlocals.com to see if you can find that compatible someone. If I weren't married, I would  consider an online dating service. Especially if I felt like the service took into account all the major areas of compatibility... weeding out the definite NO's! lol I'm super picky... always have been, which is probably why I didn't have a whole lot of dates before I met my husband and why I didn't get married until I was 28! Picky is good though... right? lol