yesterday, after a picnic lunch through the washboard dirt roads of a local state game area... we came home and found these two bluejay teenagers... looking in our backdoor. at first glance, it looked liked they were hurt. which is odd...because blue jays are pretty tough birds! looking closer, i noticed they were teenagers. not babies. not yet adults...because of their immature wings. they couldn't fly. tommie spent the good part of the afternoon chasing and playing with them. they kept him very busy. we pulled on our disposable plastic gloves from dollar tree and enjoyed holding them in our hands. they're little bodies were so warm! one of the beautiful things we witnessed, was the communication between the bluejay parents and mac arthur (that's what tommie's named his bird.) the parents were hovering overhead the entire time... and communicating constantly. thumbs up for this instinct from God!

RED HOT READING LIST!

how about a red-hot reading list, today? 1,000 book suggestions supported by classical christian support loop! if you're an avid "read-alouder"...you'll find it fun to review the list of books you've already read! and new ones to find at the library! ready to go over there? click here: READING LIST!

FREE BLUEBERRY ACTIVITY SHEETS PRINTABLE(PDF) AND ORDER FREE POSTER. AND EVEN ORDER FREE PENCIL-PAPER GAMES! FOR GRADES 3-6. I THINK THESE WOULD BE NICE FOR A CO-OP CLASS, DON'T YOU? CLICK HERE: BLUE!

freebie's!

free quart of giddeon paint, tons of sensational colors to choose from! must use real email. sign-up is quick and easy. click here: color! i picked spring green!

free 2-year subscription to parents magazine. i've personally used this site in the past... all legitamate. never rec'd any bills. timely delivery. click here: read!

free yoplait yogurt whips! click: yogurt!

happy thursday...it's sweltering hot here and i love it.

why would these two tweenie-boppers, rather do this?

instead of this?

today's post, on my smile, wink, nod blog...i'll be putting up pictures and an easy-peasy tutorial on this spectacular craft! you for sure, won't want to miss it... it's way more fun then sticking carrots up your nose, pulling on your ears and making them fall out! umm, i think?

"i've dreamed of having a tether ball all of my life!" is what my 11 year old, with drama in his voice mentioned to me while shuffling through Wal-mart. in the sporting section, we found a nicely packaged set: two different balls, heavy cord and a really flimsy pole, which by looking... i knew my husband would say it was "junk." for $11.92, i bought it anyway. my husband, being a child in the 60's and 70's... played this a lot... A LOT, before it became not politically correct in public places. i played it, too....but never won. too afraid of getting bopped with the ball. long story short, brad dug a hole, brought out his level and anchored a big heavy metal pole that he had in his barn and poured cement. the baby's permanent! for $15. (cost for the home depot cement $3. for 80 lb. bag) it is erect in my yard. truth is, by watching brad bounce around with the post hole digger, i'm not really sure now, who's dream it was. brad or tommie's? regardless, i'm sure it will bring out more of the testosterone in them... don't you think so?

homeschooling has been a little bit weak lately. we've not done any great science projects, haven't studied any famous artists, no spectacular fieldtrips. however, the one thing i do require, in our down time is a handful of math problems each day and reading. tommie started a biography on ronald reagan. did you know he saved 27 lives in his younger years when he was a lifeguard? today, tommie drove his dad's pick up around the driveway. taught himself how to sew a potholder on the sewing maching...he sews better then me, and enjoyed making movies on my digital and putting them on his psp. as we speak... we're watching benjamin button and the boys are making popcorn. my first impression is, it seems a little dark. a bit depressing. and, i'm just not getting it.

have you heard of currclick? i've recently discovered it. it looks like there are a ton of free and cheap on-line units and printable's. and, most recently...live classes. all for either free or super-duper cheap. click here: LIVE classes and here for their weekly freebies!

(picture above: lupine's in bloom at my niece Hali's home. aren't they beautiful?)

Looking for an excellent, down-to-earth, no fluff, witty, and brutally honest blog for homeschool inspiration? Make THIS your next stop on the world wide web! It is written by Steve Lambert owner of Five in a Row Homeschool Curriculum. Five in a Row has enriched my life, our homeschool life and the way we see the world. Without this unit study curriculum.. I would of back peddled out of homeschooling. I wish the blog was available when I was first starting out. But for now...I'll for sure be using it to get refreshed and re-energized. I betcha you'll agree!

happy me!

happy me!

i just officially found out that in our homeschool co-op, i'll be teaching two classes this fall!

peter rabbit's world where we'll explore all of Beatrix Potter's stories! This summer, I look forward to creating lesson plans around them! Jemima Puddle Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, Benjamin Bunny and the endless list of other pals!

and

night at the museum! I'm looking forward to gathering and researching activities to go-along with the characters in both movies.

I bet I won't get any sleep tonight, because my mind will be spinning with ideas!

A homeschool FReeBie!

How about a freebie today? NO GREATER JOY Magazine is offering a free subscription! Click here!



(picture above, taken at my aunt's house)

Such a rainy Monday yesterday...we decided to go with my mom to see the movie, "Up." Watching the movie in our 3D glasses and chomping on a medium size popcorn..without butter.... I've learned to identify the profound wisdom and life's messages that many writers weave into the storyline. This story revealed to me, to enjoy everyday, not to wallow in the past and to keep moving forward. Seems like Disney Pixar movies have subliminal messages like this in all their movies. Which I don't mind one bit. Of course, my 11 year old doesn't care about profound meanings of life... he just loved the non-stop action and his coke slushie.

can't grasp the concepts!!!

just wanted to share these interesting pictures of our bee's. well, they're not exactly ours... we're just landlords to my brother-in-law's bee box. we're really getting a kick out of watching "him," take care of them. i'm trying to learn about the process...but i just think it's too complicated for me. there's a lot, a lot, a lot of work to maintaining these. sure makes me look at bees in a whole new light. and, i have a new respect for honey.

it reminds me of the metric system...which i was suppose to teach tommie last year and this year. i can't grasp that concept either. i've promised myself to buckle down and teach myself, sometime this summer and then bang it out with him in the Fall. i'm sure i'm opening up myself for debate here...but in all of my 45 years i've never needed to convert our math into metrics of vice-versa. other then how many liters of pepsi should i buy??? and if i need to know centimeters, i just grab the ruler out of our junk drawer and figure it out. i know, i know.... i shouldn't have that attitude.....but it's the truth. i did find this US/METRIC conversion chart... i plan to print it off... feel free to do the same.

not just another brick in the wall!

homeschooling:

not just another brick in the wall!

On and off, throughout the history of my homeschool...I've found myself wondering exactly WHAT is a "good- education?" Is it the ability to score well on standardized tests? Is it nailing down antonyms and homophones like no one else? What does a "good-education," mean to you? Not what the encyclopedia says...not Wiki either.


Yesterday, I was doing a bit of garden work in my backyard. A friend, who is a first grade teacher- our sons were in Cub Scouts together, saw me and stopped to chat. She was on her way to her son's school up the road... the school was having "Casino Day." Apparently, the kids were awarded tickets for good grades, reading, etc. throughout the year...and Casino Day was their reward. Sounds fun, the loud excitement of the kids (ugh, yeah...I do know this for a fact, because the buses come down our road and the kids scream like maniacs...)the standing in line to play games, receiving tacky rewards from Oriental Trading...the kind us mom's pitch out when the kids aren't looking. Truth is, we- discourage all types of gambling in this house. Sometimes I wonder if Tommie is missing something in public school? The organized competion? The drill and kill method of useless information? Being educated by someone or perhaps many...without Christian values or political views. Hearing about days like this... well...I need no further validation. For today, anyway.




Homeschooling: our kids are NOT just another brick in the wall - picture above taken by me at my aunts cottage last Friday.

MY
COMPUTER
IS
IN
THE
REPAIR
SHOP.
SHOULD BE
BACK ON
LINE
WITHIN 4-6 DAYS.

PLEASE DON'T GO AWAY... I SHALL RETURN.

the newest book in tommie's hands is this newberry award winner, "on my honor," by marion dane bauer. i've read ahead in it, myself...and think this will be a novel that will be very thought-provoking for him. it deals with the main character witnessing his friends death. i found this site, which has comprehension, vocabulary and discussion questions.

homeschool freebie!

Have you heard about this freebie? It's from the Arbor Day Foundation. I haven't placed my order yet, so I'm not exactly sure how easy the sign-up is. But, I'm planning to do so soon. I'm hoping to be able to order enough for our Homeschool Co-op classes in the Fall. If you're interested... click HERE!