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!

I'm not receiving any compensation for this review, either monetarily or through a product exchange. This review was unsolicited by the producer/manufacture and was initiated solely by me. Any books or supplies were purchased through my own pocketbook.

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

Have a Great Weekend!

It's Friday night and I'm up later than I'd like to be, but looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. I had originally planned on getting up at the crack of down to go shopping (alone or with a friend), but the coupons I had intended on using aren't accessible to me, thanks to a stubborn printer. Is there a window I can throw it out of? Maybe a hole I could dig in the back yard?

I have a $10 coupon to a local Kohl's store, that was sent to me in celebration of a store remodel. It's sitting in my email inbox along with a coupon for a free facial cleanser from Target. It's just a little irritating to me that a piece of machinery could stand between me getting a couple great deals. lol I sorta miss the good ol' days when coupons came via snail mail or the newspaper and the world didn't expect you to have a fully functioning office in your home in order to take advantage of a great deal.

So, my only revenge is to sleep in tomorrow and enjoy the comforts of bed and home. Maybe I can get out of the house later in the day, after the library opens so that I can print these awesome coupons before they expire. Maybe?

In the meantime the two new printer cartridges I bought for my printer will sit unused. I'm sooo glad I spent that $23 on ink! Isn't that always the way?

Amazing Savings on Boxed Set DVD's

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

We like most of America, LOVE to watch DVD's at home... Preferring them to regular television in fact... given you don't have to worry about what type of content your kids might be exposed to come commercial time. Ever been there? You're watching your favorite sitcom or a great family friendly movie, when all of a sudden something awful is thrown before you and your children? I'm done with that.

The down side to all of this (for a family wanting to protect their children) is that buying all your favorite shows and/or movies on DVD can be a huge expense. For the past few years I've been buying my husband each season of The Office as it's released... and the price range has aways been somewhere between $27 and $40. On top of that I've been tempted to purchase a slew of other family favorites such as the old Columbo series, Everyone Loves Raymond and All in the Family. My kids love Alf, Leave it to Beaver and the first season of Mork and Mindy. I've lost track of how many times we've checked these favorites from the local library.

I am in SHOCK (in a good way) at what I'm seeing at www.inetvideo.com. They have countless boxed DVD sets deeply discounted 40% and up. The Office season 3 is only $15.77, a savings of 68%! I've been had! lol If I'd only known about this website before!  At least I found it before Christmas shopping ensues. This is going to be a great year and my husband is going to think I'm a genius once I share this with him! lol That's always helpful.

Are you looking for blu-ray movies?  They have those too! You'll also find HD dvd's, games and music. Additionally, iNetVideo.com offers discounts on shipping for orders over $25 and they're committed to bringing you the best prices around. I'm going to visit their website now to look for fitness videos... as I'm on yet another weight loss plan. This time my goal is 23 lbs. I'll let you know how that goes. lol

Finally... be sure to check out their blog at http://blog.inetvideo.com, where they give away a Blu-ray player every month! Are you excited yet?

The Mixed Blessings of Being Busy

I'm sure any mom could write their own post about this. lol Lately I've been too busy for my taste, but I know it's healthy-ish. lol Busy for this mom means I'm always doing something, while at the same time, thinking of at least 3 other things I need to be doing before I forget to do them, which in my economy of things, would mean even more things to do, as letting go of small chores, leads to bigger ones. So... with my head spinning most of the day, by the time I sit here at my laptop to share my day with you I'm feeling a bit deflated! lol

All this and I have to admit to having spent very little quality time with my kids today. So in that sense, today wasn't a blessing to me... or to them. Days when I can keep up with them, and they can keep up with me... and we're doing the keeping up together... rather than in different rooms of the house, with different activities... and yes... chores, are days to celebrate. Even if we'd been doing chores together, I could have put a period at the end of my day with a smile.

There's always tomorrow... so we'll see if we can do better then. I'm planning in the midst of my busyness to take them to a movie. Then maybe... if I can pull a few dollars together, I'll take us all out to lunch. That in turn might just make me even more busy though... as spending money drives me to concentrate harder on trying to earn money. lol It's a vicious cycle I tell ya!

What about when I'm not busy? Wouldn't you know on days when I'm not overly active, I find it hard to stay awake? lol Yes, I'm typing this in shame... if I don't have activities, chores, people calling, children needing and work piling... and I dare sit still, I'm asleep in a matter of minutes. I'm sure this is a sign of something. lol Just not sure what. I can find a blessing in this... if there's actually freedom for Wendy to be sleeping! lol I mean if it's ok for me to go off the mommy clock, then sure... let me sleep! Honestly though, it reminds me of when I was a young girl, seeing my grandmother who owned and operated her own business falling asleep anytime she took a break. lol She took very few breaks by the way!

Have you Tried Supaswap for Trading Homeschooling Supplies?

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

Are any of you familiar with Supaswap? Recently I was looking for some Summer shorts and skirts for my daughter, but didn't have the money to pay full retail and don't have the freedom during the day to do the yard sale bit. I wonder if I could have found what I was looking for at this online eBayish site? It's like eBay, but offers the added benefit of trading goods, rather than only offering a place to buy and sell. You can buy and sell too... but if you can find someone to trade with, all you'll be responsible for is shipping.

The site has a "Parent Zone", "Teen Zone", and a "Junior Zone"... giving the entire family a place to trade, buy and sell. Rest easy though... your kids will need to register through you before they can offer to give up that GameBoy and you'll be notified if they do! lol

Just think of how useful this site could be if the homeschooling community took advantage of it? We could trade textbooks and materials with one another rather than buying new or even used every year. The potential to save money could be huge.  Supaswap might be one way we could share our resources. It's worth trying anyway! I haven't looked (yet) to see if anyone has homeschooling supplies or books currently listed, but I might just add a few of my own.

I have a lot of materials that I'm not sure what to do with and at the same time, have the need for a few things that could help one of my struggling learners. The lightbulb is glowing above my normally cloudy head. lol

Memorize in Minutes is Working!

As promised,  I wanted to follow up with Memorize in Minutes and our experiences with their fun little method for memorizing multiplication facts. I'm THRILLED to share that it's working! My son and I are reviewing just a couple facts a day, but he's remembering them. Not only that, he's having fun!

Ok... so we're talking about a 9 year old boy who despises numbers and carries an enormous amount of anxiety when it comes to doing anything with numbers. His memory for such things is much like mine... lousy! He can tell you just about anything you might want to know about Star Wars, deep space, or his favorite book series... Animorphs, but ask him to tell you what 6x7 is and you'll find a completely different child. One lacking confidence and without any patience at all for finding an answer.

Well, that might just be changing. Now when I ask him... "hey, tell me... what is 6x7?", he'll remember the story of the chicks (for number 6) surfin' (for number 7) to Fort E. Zoo! lol "Oh, it's 42!" he'll now say with a smile on his face. Thank you Lord! Thanks for that smile, thanks for the correct answer and thanks for leading me to a method for teaching multiplication that actually seems to work!


We're just getting started and have a few more weeks to go, but we have a goal to have all his multiplication facts memorized by August 17th. I'll continue to keep you posted on our progress!

To see my previous posts on Memorize in Minutes... just click on the label below or in my left sidebar. At the time I ordered this book, it was on sale at the Memorize in Minutes website.

I'm not receiving any compensation for this review, either monetarily or through a product exchange. This review was unsolicited by the producer/manufacture and was initiated solely by me. Any books or supplies were purchased through my own pocketbook.

Homeschooling Moms Considering Attending College from Home

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

If you're a homeschooling mom, you're already a student... am I right? lol Ever notice how much you learn just in playing the role of teacher? Learning has always been my favorite part of teaching my children. In fact, my son and I have been reading together at night and I am as intrigued by what we're studying as he is... maybe even more so. I'll be sharing this read with you in a future post btw!

Speaking of learning...  how often do you  toy with the idea of going back to school? Taking real classes from home (just for you)... with the goal of obtaining a real degree? A degree you could put to use in or outside the home, once your days of homeschooling are completed? Maybe you need a degree to work from home now... even before your kids are grown. Either way, I think many of us have considered going back to school. I certainly have, but the expense has always kept me from going through with it.

Continuing your own education not only makes you a wonderful role model for your children, it gives you an increased sense of accomplishment, self-worth and identity. Not that being mom isn't the best identity we can ask for, but it really is ok if you want to seek out some ambitions for yourself that in turn will benefit your families future. I guess I'm a firm believer in having it all! lol

If you're looking to obtain an Online degree, but you've been scared off by the price (like yours truly)... maybe this will help. I just found Ashworth which strives to be as much as half the cost as a typical online college. Tuition even covers all your books and materials. You can pay as you go... with zero interest financing and could even graduate without any debt! Can I just tell you that this is definitely speaking to me as I just paid off my student loans in April? It took me 13 years to pay off my unused BA in Psychology and the thought of going back to school hasn't been one I wanted to seriously entertain (despite my interest) because I didn't want the debt!

Ashworth offers web design, which is what I'd really like to do. The courses are flexible too, meaning I can study online when it's convenient for me... not the rigid schedule I had when I was a university student acquiring thousands of dollars in debt! Ashworth appears to be family friendly in every aspect imaginable... so this means Wendy needs to read more about their programs, then schedule a talk with her husband! lol

What about you? Have you ever taken online courses? Have you considered it? What do you think about what Ashworth has to offer?

Summer Reading

"Ordinary Time" Guest Blogger...


Watching my 9 year old daughter, P., carry a stack of books outside to read one afternoon, made me think about how all of us spend a good chunk of our summer.  As far as our family is concerned, summer was designed for lots and lots of reading.  While we all read a lot any time of year, the lack of structure activities during summer allows for larger, uninterrupted chunks of reading time.

So what are we all reading this summer?  My husband reads to our two 7 year old boys every night.  So far this summer they have read one of the Freddy the Pig books by Walter Brooks, The Phoenix and the Carpet by E. Nesbit, and they are currently in the middle of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.  After lunch, while everyone is still at the table, we have a family read aloud time.  We have just finished reading The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong, but I am still deciding what we are going to tackle next.  We try to read books that are somewhat challenging in the use of language.  Often they are not something the younger children would ever be able to read by themselves, but are able to understand when read aloud.  We can also help clarify what is happening in the story if we sense there is some confusion.

As far as individual reading, I won’t list all the books everyone has read, but will highlight some of the more interesting selections.  B. our 15 year old son is in the middle of several books.  He is very interested in the Civil War and has been reading The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara.  We have had some interesting dinner table discussion as a result.  He is also slowly working his way through The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett, which is the first of her Lymond Chronicles.  She writes really well done historical fiction which is for adults.  I love having my older children able to read adult level books because it gives me more people to discuss books with.  (As a whole, we don’t encourage our children to read young adult fiction.  Much of it is not very well written and is about things that do not elevate our children’s thinking.  We would rather they spend their time on worthwhile adult literature.)

P., the above-mentioned 9 year old, has really taken off with her reading this summer.  She discovered a stash of old Camp Fire Girls books that I had forgotten about and is working her way through them.  They are a lot of fun since they were written in the late 1910’s and early 1920’s.  She is finding it very interesting to see what life was like for girls a hundred years ago.

Of course, the adults do some reading, too.  My husband, J., is currently reading the new biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer:  Bonhoeffer:  Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas.  He is thoroughly enjoying it.  I just finished reading, Keeping House:  The Litany of Everyday Life by Margaret Kim Peterson.  I loved it.  I loved it so much I’m in that difficult between books state where I want the one I just finished to continue and can’t find a new one which is as satisfying.  So I need a book!  (I’m still nursing my twin girls, so I really need a book.)  What have all you been reading this summer?  Anything good?  Anything you want to recommend?  I’m desperate!


~"E."

Visit this guest blogger at:

www.ordinary-time.blogspot.com

When the Dining Room Table is Your Classroom

Isn't life rich beyond measure? Let's count the many blessings of a homeschooling mom, shall we?

You're chosen to raise children.... which in and of itself has no higher honor, on top of that, if you're reading this blog, chances are you're home with your children during the day... do you know how impossible that is for countless American women? Then... you have that added cherry atop your motherhood sundae as you are privileged to not only serve your children as mom, nurse, counselor, taxi driver and playmate, but you also have the distinct honor of playing teacher from the comfort of your dining room table! With books spread from one end of said table to the other, nearly pushing that tired old laptop to the floor... day in and day out, you share your time, heart, sweat and sometimes tears with your children.

As a mom who has played both roles... homeschooling mom and public school drop-off mom, I know that even moms who don't call themselves homeschoolers still play teacher the night before a test, when homework is challenging, and when the science fair deadline draws near... and such moms have had just enough taste for what homeschooling might feel like, to "get it" and know how amazing homeschooling moms (and dads for that matter!) are! These daring parents go that extra mile (even after kids are in bed), can be called nothings short of rare and precious... jewels that sparkle in the night... something from out of this world!

With that said, I just want to say hat's off to anyone reading this blog who has made the sacrifice to educate their kids from home. It's an honor and a privilege, a blessing and let's face it... a huge responsibility. With that said, it's not always easy, not always fun, and can feel very lonely at times.

Selflessness is beautiful and should be acknowledged and celebrated... so I celebrate you today!

Kids at VBS, House is Quiet!

Oh the sweetness of a quiet home! While I don't for one minute miss the days of life without children, having a peaceful morning feels somewhat like winning the lottery. An hour or two of sweet solitude is nothing short of  spectacular!

I'm not exactly child-free at the moment (so for me it's sweet semi-solitude).... as I'm watching my 2 year old niece, who is finishing her breakfast while watching Franklin on Nick Jr. I'm cherishing each and every moment she opts for the "quiet as a mouse" bit, as we call it at my house. When her cousins are home, there are very few mouse moments! Between three kids, despite their differences in age... they find all sorts of ways to entertain one another, few of which can be accomplished without a flurry of activity and yes...noise.

VBS will last throughout this week and these awesome folks for whom I'm sure will receive an extra jewel in their crown one day... even serve the kids breakfast! Does that rock or what? While I don't normally find myself using that expression, I think it's totally appropriate given the situation.:)

Do your kids attend Vacation Bible School and if so, do you volunteer (putting you about as far from relaxation as one can get) or do you use that time to play catch-up, kick-back, and stretch? lol I've got a list! Things to do, phone calls to make, and one on one time with my precious niece who will only be with us for one more month before taking off for pre-school. It's a special time and best of all, when my kids are ready to come home each day, I won't be the frazzled mom they usually see come lunch time! That will come later... say maybe around 8 o'clock tonight? lol

Be happy, enjoy life, and come back and see me here at The Homeschooling Blog!

My Upcoming Review of Time4Learning

I’ve been invited to try Time4Learning’s online curriculum for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own so be sure to come back and read my experience with Time4Learning’s educational program. Click to find out more or if you would like to apply to be considered for a review.

I'll keep you posted on our progress with Time4Learning... be sure to visit me for our opinions of this online curriculum!

Update on Memorize in Minutes... Decision Made!

You may remember that I recently shared an interesting find for teaching children to memorize their times tables. My son has had a horrible time with this and making matters even worse, he hates to study anything having to do with numbers. I suspect he takes after me in that regard... math was never my best subject either.

I actually found Memorize in Minutes by accident... I was looking for math set to music, hoping I'd find something catchy to help specifically with memorizing 6's, 7's, 8's and 9's... but wasn't all that impressed with anything I ran across... then there was this.

I went ahead and ordered the book and will be introducing it to my son tomorrow once I've further familiarized myself with it's content. What I like about the book so far, is exactly what I expected to like... it has goofy drawings set to goofy rhymes, which help the multiplication facts and their answers stick in your child's brain. I'll let you know if it works for us! lol Fingers and toes are crossed so tight I'm starting to feel dizzy.

The only thing I see thus far that I don't love... I was hoping the flash cards were not part of the bound book. I'm not sure whether I should carefully pull them out and have them laminated or what? Seems like flashcards should be loose, but I really don't like removing pages from books. Sorta makes me cringe a little.

That's a small concern though and one I can totally live with should this system help my son tackle his multiplication monster. I'm really praying he can start 4th grade with the facts firmly planted in his head so we can then take on division without the level of anxiety he carried through 3rd grade. Poor guy!

Here's my original post on this resource, should you wish to check it out! Memorize in Minutes 

I'm not receiving any compensation for this review, either monetarily or through a product exchange. This review was unsolicited by the producer/manufacture and was initiated solely by me. Any books or supplies were purchased through my own pocketbook. 

Sprucing Up Your Home Without Spending a Small Fortune

That's been my goal this month. Last week for instance... I borrowed my neighbors Bissell Steam Cleaner and removed 9 years of filth from my carpet... only setting this frugal mom back $20 for the cleaning solution. Today I covered my ancient of days couch and love seat with clearance slipcovers from Macy's and I'm getting ready to dye some super nice white pillow cases I found at an unbelievable price on eBay for less than $2 a piece. I'm feeling pretty awesome!

There's still so much left be done, in order to give my home the face lift it so desperately needs. When we moved in, we said we'd be here just 2 years... and since hitting that 2 year anniversary date some 7 years ago, we've planned on moving into our would be dream home each and every year that followed. For the last 7 years we've been talking about moving, doing a bit of light house hunting, studying the reputation of local builders, all the while letting this home sit unchanged or "spruced up" as I like to call it. All the furniture, bedding, even the television sets are the SAME as what we moved in here with! lol

Overstock.com is a great resource for finding incredible deals, which is why I'm there now looking for area rugs to place in our dining room, under our apartment sized dining room table. lol It's a nice table, just sorta small. An area rug would add a lot of color to the dining room and could be put to good use should we ever make that step into a bigger home... some day. I have to say that landing on just one rug will be a huge challenge. There are so many gorgeous rugs to choose from!


Another thing in our home that's just shot to pieces is our master bedroom mattress and I've been dreaming of a new memory foam mattress. I'm wondering why it makes sense to keep waiting for a new home, just to get a new mattress? Some of the memory foam mattresses on Overstock.com's site are more than 80% off suggested retail. Seriously?  Maybe I should start building my Christmas wish list now! Oh... and while I'm add it, I better add new bed sheets to that list. We're still using the sheets we received as wedding gifts. It would feel really good to make the bed with something that didn't have thin spots, loose threads, and the occasional hole!

Ok... would you believe our son's bathroom has NEVER had a shower curtain? lol He has the only bath tub in the house... we have a shower in the master bath, so we just figured we didn't need to use the shower in his bath. Problem is, it doesn't look all that great and now that he's 9 years old and there's no real plans to move anytime soon... might as well look for a nice shower curtain. Just one of those finishing touches you'd expect to see after 9 full years of home ownership. lol

We aren't really ready to buy new furniture yet... hence the slipcovers I mentioned earlier... however, it's great to know that Overstock.com offers affordable and stylish furniture too! Most of our money is being SAVED, so for the time being it's all about getting by with what we have and all me trying to find affordable and stylish ways to make our home feel more homey. Is homey a word? I mean used this way? lol

So, just wanted to share my excitement over sprucing up my humble little home with great deals I've found online... and with the help of a neighbors steam cleaner!  Feels great to be frugal and still find some color and style!

Kraft Foods FREE Product Giveaway!

I just entered, so should you! Head over to Mom Reviews and check out the details of this awesome giveaway... which by the way, doesn't have a lot of entries yet! Your odds of winning won't be like that automobile giveaway you entered last year, or like your odds of winning the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes... you could actually win this! lol

Mom Reviews offers multiple chances for entry, so be sure and take full advantage! You don't have to be a blogger to enter either... so don't let that stop you!

I love a good giveaway, especially when food is involved.  It would be a great day at my house if we won this random drawing and were blessed enough to receive a handful of superior Kraft products and coupons. Oh, but I dream!

Hold Your Next Event at the Branson Convention Center!

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

Just because you're a homeschooler doesn't mean you aren't involved in other things outside the home... am I right? For three consecutive years, and until just very recently, I was the director for an annual women's event producing a 24 hour retreat (gotta love that!). In years past, this event was held at area hotels or campgrounds, and one year through another women's group, we even stayed a full weekend in Branson! Can I just share that the weekend in Branson was by far the most memorable?

Talk about fun, rejuvenating, and a must do for worn out moms. It was just what I needed to feel alive again... and although I desperately missed my kids, I came back a better mom!

If you're organizing an event of your own and you're looking for venue in Branson... (and seriously, Branson is amazing!) have you considered the Branson Convention Center? Promise me you'll visit their website and check out the superior amenities. Your guests won't be disapointed and if you're in charge, they'll find you nothing short of brilliant! lol

You'll find it easy enough to request a booking (RFP) by viisting their site. Even if you've never been involved in a Request For Proposal. Check their site now to learn about special rates for 2011 and check thatbox off your to-do list for your upcoming event! Once you've selected your meeting place, everything else will immediately start to fall into place!

The Branson Convention Center is operated by Hilton hotels and is within walking distance of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. See how that works? lol What's more both are conveniently located in the heart of Branson Landing where you'll be surrounded by shopping and multiple dining options.

Teaching Children About Fire Safety

Children attending brick and mortar schools are taught fire safety on an annual basis. If you're homeschooling, be certain you don't overlook this ever important lesson. It could save a life!

Remember fire safety includes everything from conveying to your children the danger of playing with matches and outlets, to knowing how to escape a home upon hearing the blare of a smoke alarm at 2 in the morning. It's about remembering (a lesson for us!) to change the batteries in our smoke alarms, having them on every floor of our house, having fire extinguishers on every floor, in our kitchen and in our garage and teaching our family when and how to use them. So much to learn!

Here a few online resources to help get you started! 

Fire safety fact sheet: ( a 1 page PDF) for teaching children about fire safety, offered by the USFA (U.S. Fire Administration)

USFA Kids: Provides information for kids on fire safety along with games and puzzles.

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Cute site for young kids with fire safety activities, crafts, and fact sheets  you can print at home.

FEMA for Kids: Several PDF's on fire safety for kids

Have fun, be safe, and come back and see us at The Homeschooling Blog!

Introducing Our New Guest Poster... Author of Ordinary Time

I'd like to introduce our first guest blogger... author of Ordinary Time, and parent to 9 children! She's a homeschooler and homemaker... and she'd like to kick off her new arrival to The Homeschooling Blog with a little information on how her family started their homeschooling adventure!

How we started:

"What made us decide to start homeschooling?  This is a question we are often asked when others discover that we educate our nine children at home.  I’m never sure if the question is asked out of genuine curiosity or because the inquirer is anxious to know what to do to avoid what is perceived as outrageous lunacy.  My reply is often that we sort of “forgot” to send our oldest daughter to school when she was old enough for kindergarten.  This response often puts the other person at ease, since it confirms in their mind that we are obviously different from themselves, and therefore there is no fear of contagion from associating with us.

And it’s true; that we really didn’t ever get around to sending our oldest to kindergarten, that is.  When we were young(er) and had our first baby, visions of homeschooling never danced through our heads.  We bought a house in a “good” school district in the attendance area of a “good” school.  The school my husband attended as a child, incidentally.  But as our daughter grew we realized that while the rest of our community sent their very young children off to preschool (and paying through the nose for the privilege, I might add), we didn’t want to.  I was having too much fun watching my little girl explore and learn about her world and I didn’t want to share that experience with anyone else.  Besides, why does a three year old really need to be separated from her mommy for multiple hours each week?  Instead, I happened across a pair of mothers who planned on doing their own preschool with their daughters, switching each week who would plan and execute the activities.  I expressed interest and they agreed to let me join them. 

After jumping off the acceptable track the first time, it became increasingly easy not to get back on.  Since we weren’t enrolled in a traditional preschool, we never heard about the kindergarten information nights or registration days.  I suppose if I really had wanted to know when these events were, I could have found out, but I was enjoying raising my daughter and it never really occurred to me to find out until afterwards.  This combined with the fact that kindergarten in our city is a full-day program only helped us to make our decision that we wouldn’t send our daughter to kindergarten.  How hard could kindergarten be, anyway?  It wasn’t as though trigonometry and chemistry would be a part of the curriculum.  So we began, telling nervous grandparents that we were taking it a year at a time.

That one year has now turned into twelve and that one child has turned into nine and we are still homeschooling.  Very happily, I might add.  We also have many, many more reasons for choosing homeschooling now, though if I am honest, number one on my list continues to be that I am jealous of the time I have with my children.

But to the details and numbers of who we are…  I am E., married to J., and we blog at www.ordinary-time.blogspot.com  Our 9 children are:  M (girl, 17, and is currently on a mission trip with Teen Missions International in Samoa), B (boy, 15), A (girl, 12), P (girl, 9), TM (boy, 7, adopted from Vietnam at the age of 3 ½), D (boy, 7), K (boy, 4, adopted from Vietnam at the age of 2), and G and L (twin girls, 1 year old)."

Thanks so much "E" for sharing a bit of your story with us! If you've enjoyed reading her introduction, please either let her know here with a comment, or follow the link provided in this post and visit her blog directly. You'll also find her button in the upper right sidebar.  :)

If you'd like to apply to be a guest blogger on THB, follow my contact email under our THB header and let me know! You'll get a free spot on THB to place your site's button or badge and permission to share your link within the content of each guest post.