Mozi Esmé

iPhone Apps at Our House

2012-01-23T08:49:00.001-08:00

This week’s Blog Cruise is all about educational apps. Which is a good thing, since Esmé is outgrowing many of the iPhone apps we’ve been using, so I really need some fresh ideas.

For now, here are a few iPhone apps that have occupied the 4yo in our house thus far…

The at-least moderately educational ones:

Bob Books: If you’re a fan of Bob Books, this is definitely worth the cost with its animation walk through reading levels. $1.99

Pet The Animals: Pet the animal and here it purr, pant, etc. This one is educational if you’re teaching animal sounds to itty bitty ones; otherwise, it can just be a fun one… Free.

I Hear Ewe: Another animal sounds game. Free.

FirstWords: Animals: A great intro to words and letters and spelling. There are other FirstWords apps and even a lite version you can try for free. $1.99

iWriteWords: A fun handwriting game. Once again, there is a lite version you can try for free before you buy. $2.99

Paws & Tales: This isn’t an app; just a weekly? podcast that is way cool for kiddos to listen to on an iPod. Free.

Trace: This one drives me nuts, but Esmé enjoys it. You draw platforms and navigate through levels, and I always get stuck, but Esmé perseveres. A good puzzle-type challenge. Free.

Baby Piano Lite: A fun intro to music for little ones. Free.

Speed Bones and Anatomy Lite: These are more for mom and dad right now – a fun way to refresh our memory on bones and more. Free.

Just for fun ones:

Talking Tom Cat: Tom repeats everything you say in a “cat” voice. So far I haven’t figured out anything educational about this one, but it does occupy Esmé (and drive the rest of us crazy) for hours. Free.

Blowfish. Blow up fish as big as you can, keep them from popping, and advance through levels… Free.

Waterslide Extreme: Navigate your way down a waterslide in this racing game – a fun way to explore twists and turns with an iPhone. Esmé’s become a pro at the first couple of levels. Free.

Line Up 2: An app with rows of colored squares that need to be strategically clicked off the screen – nice spatial practice for Esmé.

And of course we can’t forget…

Kindle for iPhone: With all the book freebies out there, this is an absolute necessity. Check out Pixel of Ink – Young Edition for free Kindle books for kids. Free.

Too Much? Too Little? Just Right!

2012-01-15T08:48:00.001-08:00

It’s my Work From Home day. I’ve just spent 4 hectic days in the office while 4yo Esmé spent 2 days with Daddy, two days at Cyndi’s.

I wake up late, heading to the living room to catch up on emails with my iPod Touch. Within seconds, I hear little feet pattering from Esmé’s bedroom. A hug, a cuddle, and she hijacks my iPod and makes a mess of a Sudoku game.

Relieved of my email distraction, I refocus and decide it’s time to confiscate my iPod and hit the books.

Math with Life of Fred comes first – it’s always an easy way to get started. We read a chapter and Esmé works through the problems flawlessly. She demands the next chapter – but I say No, knowing how tough it’s been to manipulate her through two sets of problems in one morning.

Let’s see – Bible time! We are still working through Truth in the Tinsel. Yes, I know Christmas is long over, but we didn’t manage to get thru it by Christmas – we like Christmas – it’s good stuff – our Christmas tree is still up – Jesus probably wasn’t born on December 25 anyway – just roll with it, hey? We finish the clue of the day and everybody’s happy.

Um – what about breakfast? I decide I can afford three minutes to make Malt-o-meal instead of the regular cold cereal. Esmé is tided over with banana cream yogurt (no fruity bits, thank you very much) until the Malt-o-meal is ready. I sneak in a few minutes at the computer during the meal.

I start to set up things for Esmé’s next Kinderbach (online piano) lesson. Before I finish, Esmé hijacks her computer and starts playing JumpStart. I think for a moment. This’ll work. I’ve got some financial reports I need to finish, and I know JumpStart will keep her occupied for a while.

Hours go by, and I feel guiltily grateful. Between JumpStart and Starfall (that counts for reading, eh?), I manage to get the inventory journal entries figured out and the financial reports formatted. Daddy comes in and out, the phone rings several times (once for work), and I get interrupted a few times to watch Miss Esmé demonstrate hopping on one foot, observe how she carefully colored a picture without marking the table, or see how she rearranged the bulletin board. But seriously, the interruptions are few and the toy mess is well contained.

Esmé scores a Clif bar she had stored in her backpack, and I realize it’s well past lunchtime. I put out some pre-washed grapes to balance things. My financial reports are almost ready to be emailed – just hang on a little longer! Finally get them all sent off, Daddy walks in with perfect timing, and I make sandwiches. It’s a good thing Esmé had her Clif bar, because as soon as she realizes I put avocado in her sandwich, she abandons it. What’s with that? Last time she ate avocado just fine.

We are still in our jammies (Daddy excluded – he’s off to work again), and I realize there is blue sky outside. I grab a quick shower and then coerce Esmé to get dressed, also. We trek around our yard, investigating elk poop. I take photos of a robin while Esmé swings. Then she begs to play hide & seek. We play a few rounds – I love the moment, but remember how much I hate kiddy games like this and wonder how I survived childhood – and make our way back inside.

Housework? School? We’ve been using plastic spoons since all our spoons are dirty – and I’ve been rifling through two loads of clean laundry to get dressed each morning (or afternoon) – but the housework just isn’t calling my name. School wins.

I finish getting Kinderbach (online piano) set up, and Esmé flies through a week’s worth of lessons, loving every minute of it. The Dodi song is permanently stuck in my head.

While the computer is out, we do a ride of Math Rider, too. Esmé does brilliantly. We’re nearing the end of the quest, and I’m debating whether we should ramp up the difficulty.

Now, what is in our schoolbox that we haven’t done in a while? Aha! Handwriting with The TV Teacher! I’ve cut WAY back on worksheets in recent months since Esmé’s resistance was making us both miserable. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at her spontaneous writing – but it’s all uppercase. We need some lowercase practice. We start with “q” – watching the DVD clip for “q” first, and Esmé fills out her “q” worksheet without a peep of resistance. She begs for the next letter. Here comes “r” – and once again, the worksheet gets completely filled out. We make it all the way through to “z” and she’s asking for more. It’s a bit of a miracle! Not just 1 worksheet, but TEN!

What else can we do that doesn’t require prep time? I grab the Artistic Pursuits book and read through the next chapter with Esmé. I get her started on the next art project – a shape collage – and notice it’s dark outside.

Time to get supper made. Once again, I go with quick and easy – burritos. I use up the last of our clean plates – but we don’t need spoons, at least!

I check back on the art project – Esmé has made what looks like a window-box of flowers (paper shreds), with a rising sun in the background. She’s already tacked it to her bulletin board. There are tiny scraps of paper littering the table and floor around her. It’ll just have to wait until later.

After supper, Daddy finds a Moses movie on YouTube. Esmé tells me how “E-jupt” is in Africa – see, we touched on geography a little – and then settles in to watch the movie.

The movie over, we start the bedtime routine. Prayer said, lights out, “Moses” Your Story Hour tape playing, the day ends.

I look back on the day and am amazed at what we covered, despite the sporadic, unplanned nature of it all. Esmé was beautifully cooperative and is learning so very much.

And yet – we never really did any geography or health or science or history or Spanish – the more she learns, the more I want to cover with her!

And I think how media-intensive the day was, between computer and TV time. Esmé loves learning that way, but are we overdoing it?

The house is a disaster.

Maybe next time I will do more housework. Home economics? Or leave the computer off and just spend the whole day reading books together.

Moment by unplanned moment, our little girl is growing up…

For more answers to What is a day in the life of your homeschool like?, check out The Blog Cruise…

Review: Z-Guides to the Movies

2012-01-11T08:54:00.001-08:00

Hobo signs have been appearing on our chalk board. This particular one? Incorporates the “danger” sign into a newly contrived “Esmé” sign. Very appropriate, I think.

Thanks to Zeezok’s Z-Guides to the Movies, specifically the guide for Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, our whole family has had some good hours of entertainment and a full immersion into the Great Depression.

We’ve learned hobo signs. You can find Esmé’s 1930s fashion post at Esmé’s Very Own Blog. We’ve talked about FDR and his social reform policies, what it means to be a journalist, and the ethical ramifications of being Robin Hood. And it was fun randomly watching the movie Annie (from the same era) and being able to tie in a lot of the historical details.

Synopsis:

What is a Z-Guide?

If your student enjoys watching movies, we just made it easy for you to incorporate them into your curriculum. We have dozens of guides— each of them falling within a specific time in history. All of the guides contain ten educational activities that build upon the movie. The guides are movie specific. We tell you exactly which movie we used, and almost all are available thru Netflix. Most you can probably get through your local library. So you don’t even need to buy the movie to use our guides!

We recommend the student completes two activities per day, taking a week to complete. The Z-Guides are meant to supplement your current history curriculum. They are not intended to replace your core curriculum for history.

Zeezok Publishing’s Z-Guide to Kit Kittredge is an original way to incorporate media into your study of the Great Depression.

This guide contains a topic overview, movie synopsis, and ten learning activities based on this family-friendly film. Learn more about the hardships families faced in the Great Depression. Decipher coded messages using hobo signs. Design your own Depression era fashion show. Be a journalist, like Kit, and write a newspaper article. Play “Who Am I?” with your family and friends. Learn Depression-related vocabulary. Distinguish irony from foreshadowing. Determine whether prejudice is ever acceptable. Share personal responses to the “For Family Discussion” questions and experience life in middle America during the worst economic depression in American history.

Recommended Age: The Kit Kittredge Z-Guide is for Elementary/Middle School. Z-Guides for other movies are available at the high school level, also.
Price: $12.99 for e-Book or CD format
For More Info/Samples/To Purchase: https://www.zeezok.com/node/94
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

Movies! Esmé has a high preference for and retention rate with video learning. I love the concept of learning history through movies! We hadn’t watched Kit Kittredge before, and it was a great one to delve into more deeply, with some parallels to the US’s current situation.
Ease of use. Not much prep time needed – just buy or check out the movie, print out the guide, and you’re set to go. You do need access to internet or print material for research activities. With 10 activities, you can simply divide them up to fit in a 5-day week, or expand them over a 2-week period.
Variety. I loved the variety: vocabulary, history, filmmaking, writing, fashion/art.
The answers. I appreciate having all the answers available (as applicable) at the end of the book – a great teaching help!
Family involvement. I love how easy it was to incorporated the whole family through watching, discussion, presentations, and more.
Thought-provoking, unbiased questions. The world-view and discussion questions were open-ended and easily allowed one to incorporate a biblical perspective.

This guide was advanced for Esmé – most of the activities had to be tailored to her level, though I was amazed at how well she did on the review section. I would highly recommend the guide for students in middle grades who can do the research and writing with less assistance, though it is adaptable for younger ages and could easily work in a multi-grade setting.
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Thanks to Zeezok Publishing for providing a download for review, and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: REAL Homeschool Spanish

2012-01-06T08:51:00.001-08:00

"Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco..."

That would be the sound of Miss Esmé counting in the bathtub. And given her affinity towards math, is it any wonder that her favorite Spanish words happen to be numbers?

Synopsis:

New and unique to homeschoolers, REAL Homeschool Spanish takes the entire family on the journey of language learning.

Our easy to use curriculum is made specifically for the Home Educator and the home learning environment.

REAL Homeschool Spanish trains you and your child to be able to learn Spanish together and interact together in fun and interesting ways.

You can interact with your children in an immersion environment using REAL Homeschool Spanish’s easy to follow “Home Educator Tips” and our unique “Idea” sections which give you literally pages of suggestions on how you and your child can use Spanish during your day and throughout the week in a home learning environment / lifestyle.

Learn how to continue your language-learning journey outside of the initial learning stage. Play games with your child… bingo, hangman, create albums, have your child design his/her own board game… These are just a few ways for you to be able to create a personalized language-learning environment in your home.

Each Unit is made up of vocabulary clusters with phrases to use to present the material. There are 33 Vocabulary clusters and 15 Idea sections each with 3-4 pages or more of suggested activities.

Recommended Age: 5-13yo (K-8th)
Price: $49.95 download; $89.95 hardcopy
For More Info/Samples/To Purchase: http://www.realhomeschoolspanish.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

The immersion concept. I love the idea of incorporating your Spanish studies throughout your daily activities, not just for a specific time slot. I also like the conversational approach. You can hold a simple conversation in the first week – without learning all the grammar etc. etc.
All the ideas. There are so many ideas given to incorporate Spanish into the day. You can pick and choose what will work best for your particular students. On that note – if you are someone who wants to check off everything on the list, you will find yourself overwhelmed. There is also an activity book that includes fun stuff like crossword, cryptogram, and word search puzzles - these are a bit advanced for Esmé and would probably be good for 2nd grade and up. Our favorite ideas from the first week: using puppets to hold a basic conversation, and singing the Greeting Song to the tune of "Where is thumbkin?"

Fuzzy Muzzy Dolphin learns Spanish...

The age range. With all the ideas given, you can easily adapt the program for a range of ages. It’s perfect for a multi-grade family to work on together.
Audio examples. Audio files are provided to help with pronunciation.
The planning guide. A weekly guide is provided that makes it easy to plan and schedule your activities.
The cultural aspect. I love that the curriculum includes more than just language – it addresses the people whom you can communicate with in the language. A REAL newsletter gave ideas for studying Mexico and its holidays, for example. There are free culture links on the REAL website - you can enjoy these even without buying the package!
The price. Compared to other language packages, I find the price quite reasonable.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

The Mom factor. Success with this program is very dependent on ME – the parent. And I am linguistically challenged. I have lived in other countries – talk about immersion – and have NOT been successful at learning other languages. I can’t even figure out sign language! My hearing loss contributes: I can say “Buenos Dias” 10 times, and it comes out different every time – I struggle with pronunciation and a whole lot more. I am woefully inadequate as a student teacher.

There is much to love about this program! Due to the mom factor (including hearing loss) and Esmé’s visual learning preference, I’ve found it helpful to mix it with a video-based program that visually demonstrates pronunciation.

An FYI – the audio is done by native speakers of Spanish from Mexico. I don’t have a preference as to which type of Spanish we learn – I’m used to adapting my English throughout the world – but some readers may find this important.

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Thanks to REAL Homeschool Spanish for providing a download for review, and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T00:16:00.001-08:00

The little miss and I just had a great welcoming in of the new year up in Portland with LOTS of family…

...and one of my wonderful sisters resurrected this wonderful list of “Things to do with free time” that I had written and sent to her when I was 17. Here’s a sampling…

1. Learn Afrikaans
5. Write a book
7. Memorize a dictionary
9. Cut the split ends off hair
11. Collect quotes
12. Memorize chapters in the Bible
14. Create a record in Rook
15. Make cookies
16. Mend underwear
18. Memorize medical symptoms
19. Buy some monkeys
24. Write an essay on the 1st sentence of every book
26. Make counterfeit money
27. Try to speak like an intellectual
28. Practice different accents

…and I regret to inform you that, decades later, I still haven’t done a whole lot on my list. I don’t think that free time ever materialized?

In fact, I’ve rethunk the whole resolution business, and I like the whole “pick a word for the year” thing. Just a focus, an emphasis, something to strive towards, rather than specifics I will never accomplish.

So, I hereby declare 2012 to be the “Year of Strength.” As in:

And He said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness…” Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ~2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I am rather good at the weakness thing. I make cookies far too little, I’ve never mended my underwear, and my hair has lots of split ends. I am accomplished at failing in my resolutions, my ambitions, my goals, my day-to-day plans. Infirmities plague me each step of the way.

“THEN am I strong!”

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

2011-12-28T16:04:00.001-08:00

2011

2010

2009

2008

Review: The World’s Greatest Stories

2011-12-21T06:28:00.001-08:00

I’m a bit perturbed with Miss Esmeralda* at the moment. I have been looking forward ALL YEAR to listening to my awesome collection of Christmas music. Yet whenever I try to stick in a Christmas CD in the car, the little miss says, “NO! Put in the BIBLE CD!” And when she follows up with “The Bible is always the BEST thing to listen to,” I can’t really argue, and she wins every time.

Seriously, this product probably is Esmé’s absolute favorite review item of 2011 (followed closely by her rock star costume). We have Volume 1 – The Prophets, which has some of her favorite stories (three about Daniel and his friends, as well as one about Elijah and one about Jonah). The other volumes are most definitely on her wish list.

* NOT HER REAL NAME. ~~Since using kids’ middle names is so passé,~~ I simply lengthen the missy’s name whenever she is being a pill. The length signifies the degree of pillyness – “Esmeraldina-belle-oney” means she is is REAL BIG trouble.

Synopsis:

The World’s Greatest Stories are an award winning series of Bible stories that make the actual words of Scripture leap off the page into the hearts of children of all ages. Children love the stories and listen to them over and over again, often memorizing the entire CD.

Actor George W. Sarris brings to life in the mind's eye the characters and events of some of the most treasured stories in all of history. The texts of all of the stories are taken directly, word for word, from the Bible. They are told, however, using the art of a dramatic storyteller, incorporating carefully chosen music and sound effects. The result is a very exciting story that comes straight from the words of Scripture.

The current audio series contains a total of 23 individual stories on six CDs or cassettes. The stories are recorded in both the King James Version and the New International Version. Each volume is approximately 1 hour long.

Recommended Age: Geared towards ages 4-12, but can be enjoyed by all ages.
Price: $7.95 per volume; Six volumes currently available
For More Info/To Purchase: http://www.worldsgreateststories.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

The text. It’s all straight from the Bible. We have the NIV version, which is easy for Esmé to understand.
The dramatization. Can I confess a prideful moment? When we first put the CD in, Esmé stopped me partway and said, “Why does this man sound like you when you read?” Now, I love livening up read-alouds with various voices and such, but rest assured George W. Sarris sounds NOTHING like me. He has memorized the entire text and thought through all the nuances ahead of time (unlike me who keeps mixing up characters and swapping voices halfway through a sentence). In addition to music/sound effects, he does an awesome job jumping between various characters’ dialogue, as well as adjusting narration to fit content (fast/slow, loud/soft). The stories come alive!
The selection of stories/text. The stories are exciting. They flow naturally.
It keeps my 4yo’s attention. She’ll listen to it over and over and over and over and over and over and over... I love that she is soaking up scripture in this way.
The CD format. We spend a lot of time in the car, so this works for us perfectly.
The price. Very affordable for HOURS of entertainment; the price has been kept down as a ministry for listeners.

VERY highly recommended by the four-year-old in this house.

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Thanks to The World’s Greatest Stories for providing a CD for review, and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: Vintage Remedies for Kids

2011-12-19T08:22:00.001-08:00

Did you notice we were missing? The little Miss and I have been out for the count – with all manner of cold and flu and bronchitis and such. Perhaps we needed to discover this product a little sooner? :) Or at least skipped ahead to the “When I Get Sick” chapter…

Seriously, food has been a topic of struggle in our house ever since four-month-old Esmé was BEGGING for solids while I stoically ascribed to conventional wisdom of starting them at six months. She won the battle when her teeth came in early. Today, I’ve got a carb-loving kiddo who is way too picky for my taste – I mean, what kind of kid doesn’t even like fruit? This book is just perfect for our household!

Synopsis:

Based on the popular Vintage Remedies for Girls and Guys curriculum, this edition is perfect for younger siblings! Vintage Remedies for Kids helps parents teach healthy and natural living to boys and girls ages 2-6. This new workbook is packed with projects covering every aspect of natural living including wellness, nutrition, immunity, natural body care, and the conservative use of valuable natural resources - in terms they will understand and remember!

This curriculum helps you teach little ones how to choose healthy foods, how to prepare some fun and delicious snacks, how to establish prevention based habits, and how they can participate in your family's natural lifestyle. The workbook is flexible and can be used for playgroups or as a fun family project. Children at this age learn best with active lessons, so this isn't a sit and read style picture book! It's a guide for parents that is packed with hands on activities that are perfect for little hands, but fun for all ages. Each of the 18 chapters includes a brief age appropriate lesson on the topic that parents can use to discuss with little ones while they are preparing for the projects, a featured project to teaches the lesson, additional instructions for parents to include these lessons in the family's lifestyle, and a selection of additional projects on the topic for additional fun. The book also contains sample schedules for preschoolers and convenient shopping lists for each project, complete with a resource guide and tips for parents and leaders.

Recommended Age: Ages 2-6; books also available for ages 7-13
Price: $25.00
For More Info/To Purchase: http://www.vintageremedies.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

The subject. It lends some authority and easy logic to the “eat your vegetables” commands when you can talk about the nutrients involved and why they are good for you. Or to the “wash your hands” commands after you’ve discussed different types of microbes.
The read-to-me section. This isn’t a picture book. I was a little concerned about how a kid Esmé’s age would take to the simple reading in each chapter, but an interactive approach – reading with dialogue – suits her fine. If you do have a wiggle worm, you could easily fit the reading in during meals or bathtimes.
The age range. I haven’t seen many health curriculum options targeting preschoolers. This is easily adaptable for the whole age range; in our case, I expanded on some of the readings in terms of vocabulary, etc. It is easy for kids to relate to the examples given; e.g. ladybugs and fireflies as an intro to the chapter on “bugs.”
The hands-on approach. Each chapter has some practical projects. Esmé isn’t one who is more likely to eat something if she makes it, but the rest of us have benefitted from her cooking endeavors! I figure the more exposure she has to REAL food, even if it’s just the making, the more likely she’ll come to her senses some day?
Suitable for vegetarians. The emphasis is very much on a plant-based diet; non-dairy alternatives were given in many cases.
Holistic approach. This is much more than a nutrition book – it encompasses a whole lifestyle and deals with cleanliness, herbs, natural remedies, stewardship of our world, and more.

Another highly recommended product being used in our household – it’s educating both Mom and daughter!

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Thanks to Vintage Remedies for providing a book for review, and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: Artistic Pursuits

2011-12-07T07:57:00.001-08:00

I am not an artist. I’ve always said I LOVE kiddie art with Esmé because it is so forgiving. Tempera paint and stick figures all the way for me!

Enter Artistic Pursuits. Esmé is learning what quality art looks like. Esmé is learning the importance of using quality art materials. And I’m learning that art isn’t so very complicated.

Artistic Pursuits has a variety of books to choose from. The book we reviewed is Grades K-3 Book One: An Introduction to the Visual Arts.

Synopsis:

The ARTistic Pursuits approach to teaching art is a welcome departure from typical art instruction books. This award winning homeschool art program meets the specific needs of homeschoolers at home. A variety of fun art lessons teach both the expressive and technical aspects of art while allowing children to make choices about what and how they will draw, paint, and sculpt.

Books at the K-3 level introduce children to the visual arts and view art through history. Colorful illustrations, art appreciation, and projects designed for young hands and minds delight students and appeal to their interests. Non-consumable. One set serves your entire family!
Written to the student - NO teacher preparation is needed
Complete art history - Examining works of the Great Masters
32 projects in each book include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and more!
Easy organized system for handling materials
Sharp color images printed on bright heavy-weight paper, soft bound

Recommended Age: Books available for Preschool to High School
Price: $42.95 for Grades K-3 Book One
For More Info/To Purchase: http://www.artisticpursuits.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

The reading. Each lesson starts with a reading section that introduces the child to another aspect of art. Our book was broken out into three sections: What Artists Do, What Artists See, and Where We Find Art.
The examples. The lessons include photos of a “professional” work of art and a student example. This combo exposes the child to real art and motivates excellence, while also providing a work the young student can relate to.
The projects. The assigned projects are conceptual rather than specific instructions. They get the student thinking like an artist, identifying subject matter, seeing shapes and colors and edges. They give exposure to different art materials. I love the freedom the child has to create, and so does Esmé!
Ease of use. Once you’ve acquired the list of materials, the curriculum is super easy to use. No prep time; just read and go.
Material recommendations. If you’re a tempera paint kinda gal, the price on some of these might be a little shocking, but I quickly learned they are so worth it. I tried to do the oil pastel work with some kiddie pastels I had on hand, and it was pathetic. Having the right brush, pencils, paper, etc. makes all the difference. Watercolor crayons were a big hit for us.
Student enjoyment. While Esmé is fixated on the first chapter about different types of arts (she is a “ballerina artist,” thank you very much), she does enjoy visual art as well. This curriculum has given her great practice in perseverance - FINISHING her artwork…

Overall, we LOVE this product and highly recommend it if you are looking for an art curriculum.

This review wouldn’t be complete without a few examples of Esmé’s first projects, would it?

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Thanks to Artistic Pursuits for providing a book for review, and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: Name That Dinosaur

2011-12-04T07:43:00.000-08:00

Esmé did a unit study on dinosaurs a while back, and we got in some handwriting practice using “Name That Dinosaur,” a printable ebook with 40 dinosaur names for copywork. It offers a choice of traceable manuscript, traceable cursive, and/or blank lines. A tiny dinosaur picture is shown for each name, so your child can picture the dinosaurs while writing and learning their names.

What We Liked: This was an edifying experience for Mom, too! I have never heard of most of these dinosaurs, and I got to learn how to spell their names along with Esmé

Esmé is not a huge fan of handwriting practice, so it was nice to have a short-and-sweet handwriting option on a topic Esmé enjoys, with the added challenge of trying to figure out how to say the words she was writing.

It’s also nice to have the block, cursive, and blank writing options – we may pull this out again when we’re in need of cursive practice.

What We Didn’t Like: Mom could’ve used some pronunciation help with these names!

Rating: Overall, this gets a 5 out of 5 – a fair price for a straightforward product.

Thanks to Heart of the Matter for coordinating the review file of this product.

You can currently acquire a PDF version of this pack through CurrClick for $1.50.

Moments to Remember

2011-12-03T16:23:00.001-08:00

This week, we focused on Tweety-talk as our second language.

And then we practiced NOT talking as part of our Zechariah day for Truth in the Tinsel.

Bubble-mouthed Zechariah disappeared from the table. Esmé hung him up in her own private corner to remind her “to believe God,” she tells us.

For handwriting, we worked on 40 Christmas cards for kids. Way too many! So we reverted to stickers and stamps and created our own tattoos when Mom wasn’t watching.

Mom discovered Bountiful Baskets…

…and fruits and veggies all over the house as Esmé practiced hospitality with her animals.

Esmé discovered pomegranates…

…not bad in small quantities.

And subsequently decided to take over the cooking chores…

…much to Mom’s relief. Though she still refuses to eat most of what she cooks. And doesn’t wash any dishes.

With her new-found expertise, Esmé has declared chocolate to be a vegetable. So we all rejoice and are exceeding glad.

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. Click on the button to link up or find more memories.

Giveaway: My Favorite Bible

2011-12-03T14:53:00.001-08:00

Esmé has recently taken to carrying my Bible around – it’s got a carry case, and she loves the ease of handling it. Her own Bible with carry case is definitely on her wish list this year.

I’m pleased to share a Bible storybook with one of you this month! Baker Publishing Group has generously offered to give a copy of My Favorite Bible to one of our readers.

Synopsis:

With the vibrant illustrations and engaging text in this Bible storybook, you can enjoy sharing the best-loved stories of the Bible with the children in your life and encourage a life-long love for the Word of God. My Favorite Bible is a book of exciting Bible stories and activity pages that guide children through the foundational truths of Scripture.

Each story is fully illustrated and includes a simple narrative full of things kids love: repetition, rhythm, and energy, along with a key biblical theme, a key Bible verse, and discussion questions to help adults introduce children to the Bible.

The colorful illustrations will capture the imaginations of children ages 4–8, and the stories will help adults to pass along the most important truth in life—the Gospel. Families will cherish this time as they read, listen, learn, and love, growing closer to one another even as they grow closer to God.

About the Authors:

Rondi DeBoer sold her first series at age fifteen and now has more than 430,000 copies of her books in print. After graduating from WSU in Elementary Education and studying at Multnomah Biblical Seminary, she went on to become a classical Christian teacher. Now she spends her time homeschooling her three daughters and eagerly awaits the arrival of a fourth daughter from China. She and her husband, Brian, live in Washington with their family.

Christine Tangvald has been writing for children for more than 25 years, with nearly 100 titles to her name and almost 3.5 million books in print. After earning her Elementary Education degree, she worked with children for more than 20 years. Her passion is to personalize God and make him real and alive to small children. She lives in Washington with her husband Roald.

List Price: $16.99
Publisher: Revell
Recommended Ages: 4-8

To Enter the Giveaway:

Leave a comment on this post.
If you are a follower or subscriber, leave a second comment for a second entry.

Open internationally! Giveaway open until December 12. Winner will be selected randomly and notified via email.
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Thanks to Baker Publishing Group for providing the giveaway copy of this book. We have not received a copy and are simply passing on information from the publisher to our readers.

Fashion Friday

2011-12-02T23:58:00.001-08:00

And we’re b-a-a-a-ck!

Sometimes I wonder where my little girl has gone. Total teen attitude going on in this one.

Then I’m reminded that she’s as monkey-like as a 4yo could possibly be…

Or is it duck-like?

Or just off-the-wall silly with her creative use of packaging materials?

On a sideline topic, is every 4yo girl already planning her wedding on Pinterest? Some classic posts by Miss Esmé on her Wedding board…

Review/Giveaway: Benny’s Angel

2011-12-02T23:25:00.001-08:00

Esmé loves books, loves stories where animals can “REALLY” talk, and loves books about God, so I figured Benny’s Angel by Laura Allen Nonemaker would be right up her alley. And it certainly has led to interesting conversations with our little theologian…

Title: Benny’s Angel: A God’s Secret Garden Adventure
Genre: Religious children’s fiction picture book

Synopsis:

Who stole the flowers in God’s Secret Garden?

When Ella Eagle discovers that the flowers in God’s Secret Garden have wilted, she alerts Mayor Benny Bunny. The main suspect in the case is evil Count Slime, who is jealous of the joy the animals have in the garden. Mayor Benny calls in Oliver Owl, the captain of the Owl Force Wisdom Watchers, but the owls have not seen Count Slime during their patrols of the garden. Mayor Benny suggests the animals pray for an answer. God hears their prayer and sends Marietta the angel to help them solve the mystery.

This delightful tale uses animals, nature, and a visit from an angel to teach children the importance of prayer and the value of trusting God.

About the Author:

Laura Allen Nonemaker’s desire to write took root as a child in Bermuda. Since then, Laura has written in a variety of genres and her work has appeared in Essence Treasury: Celebrating the Season, Alive! and Kentucky Monthly Magazine.

Laura has been involved in short-term missions, including trips to Russia, Poland, and the University of the Nations in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Three years ago, her interest in the arts motivated her to join the planning team for Artful Missions, which conducts juried art shows and donates to outreaches in the U.S. and India to rescue women and children from human trafficking.

Author’s Blog: Digging in God’s Garden
List Price: $8.99
To Purchase: Tate Publishing
For More Info (and some fun kids' materials): http://godsgarden.tateauthor.com/

4yo Esmé’s Synopsis:

How come we can’t see angels? All the animals could see Marietta!

Why did Marietta [the angel] have to pray? She could just talk to God!

How does Count Slime know where God’s secret garden is when it’s a SECRET garden?

I know! The Secret Garden is everywhere – in the fields, our yard, our house, everything that’s gardeny-like! It’s a secret to humans, but not to princesses or children of God. If you’re trustworthy, then you’re God’s little child…

[The lesson] If they acted happy, then they would start to feel happy. And Count Slime would leave because he saw his tricks were not good enough.

[Starts to sing] “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands forever.”

The part I liked most was when the animals were being joyful even though the flowers were dead. That’s what we should do, too.

What Mom Liked:

Unique introduction to theology. Esmé had scads of questions as she tried to differentiate between fact and fiction. Lots of similarities to the serpent and the garden of Eden, but lots of differences, too. We discussed the concept of an allegory and I think she was satisfied with her conclusions at the end, though I had to reign them in a little to keep them from getting too far out there. For a kid who is constantly trying to put puzzle pieces together in her picture of God, this was a uniquely fresh conversation starter.
Interaction between God and angels. The respectful interaction between God and His angels was one of my favorite sections of this book.
Fun read-aloud. With lots of animal parts, this is a fun book to adopt pitches and accents for each character through the book.
Cute animal characters. As I mentioned, talking animals are always a big plus for Esmé. Count Slime (aka the serpent) is an object of fascination for her, and the book did a good job balancing the relationships between the snake, the animals, and the angel.
Bright illustrations. Colorful pictures keep your child engaged throughout the story.

Grand Prize Giveaway!!!!

1 Vivitar Camcorder with Camera and 2X Zoom
1 Benny's Angel Picture Book
1 Benny's Angel 3-D Book
1 Benny's Angel Coloring Book
1 Benny's Angel Audio Book
1 Benny's Angel T Shirt
1 Benny Christmas Ornament
1 Marietta Christmas Ornament
1 96-Count Crayola Crayons

To enter, leave a comment on this post. If you are a follower or subscriber, leave a second comment for a second entry.

US addresses only. One entry from this post will be randomly selected on December 8 and sent to the giveaway host for winner selection.
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Thanks to Kathy Carlton Willis Communications for coordinating a review copy of this book for us. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Holiday Recipe for the Cruise: Butternut Rolls

2011-11-28T08:48:00.001-08:00

In case you think I’ve been baking lately, I haven’t. Though I’ve got lots of shredded zucchini in the freezer, packaged in 2-cup portions, ready to make bread at a moment’s notice.

But, since the TOS Cruise ship is in the holiday recipe port, I thought I’d dig up an old successful recipe – a reminder that I actually CAN cook…

Wanting to add a bit of color to your holiday meal? Trying to sneak veggies into your carb-loving kids’ diets? Or just needing to use up the leftover butternut squash?

Without further ado, here is our recipe for the much-acclaimed melt-in-your-mouth Butternut Rolls:

Put the following ingredients into your bread machine, liquids first

1/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup warm milk
2/3 cup mashed, cooked butternut squash
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast

Run the bread machine on dough cycle. When dough is ready, cut into 32 pieces (keep cutting in half 5 times). Form into rolls and place on greased pan (I use an extra large pizza pan). Let rise 30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.

Review: The Reading Game

2011-11-28T07:01:00.001-08:00

We had a sweet little surprise in the mailbox one evening that had 4yo Esmé chomping at the bit! I told her we’d play The Reading Game in the morning, but alas, she was too busy tearing open the plastic and mixing up the cards to hear a word I said.

So I figured we’d make the best of her enthusiasm and pack in a few games. We made it through the Skunk games and book (the first of six) that same evening.

Synopsis:

The Reading Game is a fast-action memory card game. It includes a series of six beautifully illustrated storybooks. The Cards & Books work together to make learning to read exciting and enjoyable. Game sessions are fun-filled with a winner every few seconds.

After completing the first memory card game, the student has thirty words “hardwired” into memory. The Skunk story, Book One in the series, is told using only those thirty words.

On completing the series, the student has a reading vocabulary of 180 words. Almost half of them are among the one hundred most commonly used words in the English language.

The Reading Game was created by “Wordly Wise” author, Kenneth Hodkinson. Learn more about How The Game Works.

Recommended Age: Ages 4 and up (beginning reader)
Price: $24.95
To Purchase: http://www.thereadinggame.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

Esmé’s Synopsis:

This is a reading game. I have to read the words that the cards spell. You have to get the most matching cards, like if you get a bear and a bear, you get to go again, but if you get a bear and a bolt, then you lose. I am better at the game than my mom. I got more cards than her.

I like when I win totally!

I don’t like when my mom is forcing me around to do what the rules say. Because I like to do whatever cards I want to do first or last or second or third or fourth.

What Mom Liked:

The game approach. This uses a standard “memory” game so kids can jump right in without learning a lot of rules. It’s fun and easy – and while not a stand-alone reading curriculum, certainly adds variety to the reading process.
The animals. To a kid who LOVES all things animal, the animal graphics really made the game attractive.
Fun, rhyming books. The books go beyond the repetitive “Sam sat” type of verbiage to tell a fun, rhyming story using just the words you’ve covered in the card games.
The words. We’ve spend a bit of time on phonics and on sight words, and the collection of words used in these games fits well with what we’ve already covered. As mentioned in the synopsis, almost half of the 180 words are among the one hundred most commonly used words in the English language – a great boost to reading skills.

For those of you following our little non-reader saga, I’ll admit that Esmé isn’t excited about reading the books for herself, though she enjoys having them read. While the game recommends that you only move through the series as the student demonstrates proficiency, I’m dealing with a proficient student who isn’t interested in demonstrating anything. Other than her ability to beat her mom at a game of cards time and time again.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

Come on, folks! Couldn’t you have made the unicorn series first or second at least? You know how hard it is to make your girl child get through FOUR other series before she can get to the UNICORN series she has been dying to read? (PLEASE detect total tongue-in-cheek here! We love the game…)

Overall:

A fun, interactive way to incorporate some reading practice in your child’s day. (Just hide the unicorn set before you get started.)

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Thanks to The Reading Game for providing a game for review, and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: The Donkey’s First Christmas

2011-11-26T18:28:00.001-08:00

Last Christmas I was on the hunt for picture books that told the nativity story in unique ways. Esmé has heard it 1,001 times, and in fact put on her own 20-minute felt production of the story last year that I am STILL trying to cut into a 5-minute video. Anyway, while the story never grows old, I do enjoy finding new perspectives on it.

Enter The Donkey’s First Christmas…

Synopsis:

Armed with a sense of humor and fun, The Donkey’s First Christmas by Susanne T Schroder presents the Nativity in a fresh and exciting way - from the viewpoint of a very unlikely hero...

Children will delight to see the adorable (if a little cheeky) donkey overcome his stubbornness; and marvel at how such a seemingly useless mule can become quite so useful.

As the children watch the donkey unwittingly use his talents to major avail; they will be encouraged to see that what they have, and who they are, can make a significant difference too...

About the Author:

Susanne T Schroder is 41, and married with 2 boys of 5 and 9 years. She has a BA in Art and English Literature, a 4 year course in Pedagogy (roughly translated - ‘How Children Learn’) from Copenhagen, and an MA in Children's Illustration from Wrexham University. She writes and illustrates her own books and has had 4 picture books published since 2003. Memories of her grandmother reading out her countless made-up poems like 'How The Forget-me-not Got His Name' have influenced her recent Christmas books - as have the old Christmas legends like: 'How The Robin Got His Red Breast’.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up
List Price: $9.99
To Purchase/For More Info: Tilli Publishing

Esmé’s Synopsis:

This book is about a donkey. It’s a Bible story. The most meaningful part was about Jesus – when He was born.

I didn’t like the part when it was over.

AND, I didn’t like that Mary was nice to the bad donkey. You should make a donkey be good by pulling it with a rope, not by being nice to it. (leading into a long theological discussion…)

What Mom Liked:

This is a seriously sweet, whimsical, humorous, meaningful book.

A GREAT read-aloud! The rhyming is fun and flows, and we are awesome “e-Or”-ers here!
Fun illustrations. Just adorable (thought gender-neutral). The font fits the illustrations perfectly. And the text/illustration mix (less words on some pages than others, etc.) adds to the read-aloud fun.
Easy to relate to. What kid isn’t a little self-centered, stubborn, and bratty at times, trying to get out of doing chores etc. etc.?!
Sweet message. Yes, it’s the message of Christ’s birth. But the stubborn-donkey perspective adds another dimension. Kindness transforms. God uses the unlikeliest of us. God makes the impossible possible. The lessons aren’t spelled out, but lay the groundwork for meaningful discussion.

“You see now little donkey -
What a special thing you’ve done?
By helping carry Mary -
You helped God’s precious Son!”

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Thanks to the author for providing an ebook for review, and to BookCrash for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Moments to Remember

2011-11-26T16:42:00.001-08:00

Take a deep breath. The last week has been a blur. Who am I kidding? The last year has been a blur.

We’re joining 1+1+1=1 today with Moments to Remember, a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember.

Into Day 2 of Truth in the Tinsel, Esmé is putting together the most beautiful crown ornament.

And we talk about names for God, and she comes up with the name: Princesses’ Father. She gives a spontaneous monologue: “You don’t have to wear a crown or ball gown to be a princess. You’re a princess no matter what you look like. God doesn’t care about your eye color, or what your lips are colored. He only cares about YOU. He cares about everyone. Kings. And queens.” And then we sing “God Loves a Cheerful Giver” (Steve Green version) in parts and crack up with “ha-ha-ha-ha-has.” Though it has absolutely nothing to do with the craft.

For a brief moment, the sun peeks out. And we go outside…

…and collect red leaves, and let daddy longlegs tickle us, and investigate itty bitty mushrooms that are popping up in our yard.

We make igloos with marshmallows and chocolate powder and pistachio pudding that doesn’t set because we used almond milk.

We just hang out, making Flame-cat sandwiches…

…until Flame-cat gets a little agitated and repositions himself with a glare at the world.

And we do easy worksheets with our toes. Because we are really monkeys.

We think about Thanksgiving. And we are thankful.

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Review: Truth in the Tinsel

2011-11-25T08:50:00.001-08:00

It’s a black Friday…

The people who are now living in darkness
      will see a great light.
   They are now living in a very dark land.
      But a light will shine on them.

~Isaiah 9:2

And with those words, our celebration of the Light has begun.

I’ve been a follower of Impress Your Kids (a blog with crafts, tips & fun to impress God's Word on your kids' hearts) for quite a while now, and I was excited to find out blogger Amanda had put together an ebook for the Christmas season: Truth in Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. What a perfect way to not only keep Christ as the focus, but to use the season as an opportunity to delve deeper into God’s Word!

Synopsis:

Spend the first 24 days of December experiencing the Christmas story. Each day I'll lead you through a passage of scripture, a corresponding ornament craft and talking points for you and your kids. It's more than a devotion--it's meditation and hands-on learning for kids. It's more than a craft-book, it's a memory-builder for your family. It's more than an e-book, it's an experience and adventure in God's Word!

Recommended Age: Preschool to early elementary
Price: Today (Friday, November 25) ONLY: $2.99.
Regularly $4.99.
For More Info or To Purchase: http://truthinthetinsel.com/ – you can also find Amanda at http://impressyourkids.com, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

What Mom ~~Liked~~ Loved:

All of It. Oh, where do I start?!
The Focus. It starts with Light and ends with the Cross. It’s all about Him!
The Clue. Each day’s activity starts out with a “clue” – something for little hands to open up and “hunt for” during a scripture reading – to talk about during a craft. What kid doesn’t love the idea of hunting for and solving a mystery? There are two printable versions included: one for use in a fillable advent calendar, and the one we’re using – a paper chain.
The Scripture. This isn’t a devotional reading – though there’s certainly a place for such a book. It references passages to be read straight from the Bible each day – long enough to get the context, but short enough to keep a preschooler’s attention.
The Ornament. The craft to be created each day is an ornament – something that can be hung up and referred to throughout the season.
The Talk. The crafting time allows for plenty of discussion on the topic of the day – that’s perhaps the most meaningful time as your child internalizes the message. Discussion ideas and questions are included.
The Flexibility. While there is a list of supplies given for each craft, Amanda makes the point that many items are interchangeable. Use what you’ve got! There are also some alternate schedules given if you can’t commit to all 24 days. If you’ve got extra time or want to extend a topic, there is a “Do More Together” idea each day.
The Layout and Design. The book is professionally laid out and total eye-candy to look at. There are step-by-step photos for each craft, as well as quality printables where applicable.

Esmé’s Thoughts

At the end of our first session: “Can’t we do the next clue NOW?”

“No! Only one a day, remember?” I reply.

“But it’s NIGHT-time right now. How can we be doing one a DAY when we’re doing it at night?” rebuts my 4yo teenager.

Amidst the shredded tissue paper and sticky fingers, lots of talking happens. Esmé’s synopsis on the first day’s scripture:

“When you see the Light, you know God is there. You don’t have to see God, you just have to BELIEVE that He’s there.”

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Thanks to Truth in the Tinsel for providing the ebook for our review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review/Giveaway: Clubhouse Kidz

2011-11-21T23:41:00.001-08:00

This is a post that has been long in the making, though we’ve been thoroughly enjoying the making of it.

Miss Esmé – who would’ve thought? – is camera-shy.

Yet, after much ado and technical snafu, we’re pleased to share a camera-shy recitation of Psalm 23 with you…

Thank you, Clubhouse Kidz! I LOVE knowing God’s word is being captured in my daughter’s mind, ready to bear fruit when she most needs it.

Synopsis:

We are dedicated to making scripture memorization easy and fun! A video library on our website engages children of all ages and helps " kids inspire kids" to hide God's Word in their hearts. Photos added to the text create mental tags that enhance recall and make the process exciting.

Recommended Age: Ages 2 to teen!
Price: You can download an 18-minute introductory video using Psalm 23 for $5.99, or a selection of scripture slideshows for $1.99 each. PLUS, there are some terrific free Flip-It downloads on the Clubhouse Kidz blog. And be sure to like Clubhouse Kidz on facebook for the latest scripture memory tools.
For More Info or To Purchase: clubhousekidz.com

What Mom Liked:

Slide Shows. The little pictures on these tools DO serve as mental tags. I (Mom) realized that I as often as not have been leaving out the “Thou anointest my head with oil” part of Psalm 23. Now, I just picture a kid dumping vegetable oil on his little sibling’s head, and I get it right every time.
Flip-Its. The Flip-Its are great because they are easy to print out and use anytime, anywhere. Esmé is actually looking at the photo side during the video recording. PLUS – they are currently FREE downloads!
Kids Inspiring Kids. Watching the introductory video was a great motivator for Esmé, as she saw other kids reciting and having fun with Psalm 23.
Multiple Approaches. The introductory video introduces several steps toward memorization: read it, write it, sing it, recite it… Some of these steps work better for Esmé than others, but having her watch other other kids go through all of them has definitely impacted her.

Esmé has memorized scripture verses naturally through listening to scripture songs, but it has been exciting to watch her learn through a new approach, especially something as lengthy as Psalm 23. We’ll be starting the next scripture soon (Mom too), hiding more of God’s word in our hearts!

Giveaway!

Clubhouse Kids is offering to give away a Clubhouse Kidz “Action” DVD or a download of the whole set of slideshows to one of you!

To enter, leave a comment stating whether you’d prefer the DVD or the download of the slideshows.
If you are a follower or subscriber, leave a second comment for a second entry.

Entries will be accepted until December 10, 2011. US only on DVDs, please; downloads are available internationally.

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Thanks to Clubhouse Kidz for providing downloads of their video and slideshows for our review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Miscellany

2011-11-20T23:20:00.001-08:00

Snow. We had SNOW on Friday! And “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” kept coming out of my mouth all day long. Poor family… It didn’t stick, but here’s photo evidence. (And that would be the view of our schoolhouse outside our living room window.)

Veteran’s Day Parade. Yes, I know we already posted about this, but I just love this photo from Auntie Audra’s phone – you can even see the candy flying.

Ingredients Grouping. We recently started a sweet new nutrition curriculum called Vintage Remedies for Kids by Jessie Hawkins. You will definitely be hearing more about this later.

An activity in the first chapter is to have your child group together three ingredients to come up with a real food meal or snack. I thought I’d share the little printable I put together in case you want to try it – just click on the photo.

Miss Esmé decided to make a stew using cheese sauce, tomato sauce, peanut butter, broccoli, and apples. Yummy… ?

Cookies! Thank you, Mel from Cake Walk, for the awesomest package! Esmé went straight for the pink shoe, but all the cookies were gorgeous…

Tweety – It’s What’s For Dinner. I’m thinking Ms. Tweety hasn’t been featured on our blog lately, so let’s remedy that… She regularly makes an appearance on Pappa’s dinner plate, more often than not flinging food every which way.

Flame the cat was spotted on the stove, trying to reach Tweety’s cage when he felt his food needs were not met. After severe consequences, he now won’t even look in the bird’s direction.

So, how’s your week been going?

Review: Math Mammoth

2011-11-18T08:38:00.001-08:00

Last night 4yo Esmé changed her mind about becoming a spider nurse. “When I grow up, I’m going to be a math teacher,” she said. “I’m going to teach people their letters.”

“Algebra already?” I wondered.

“No, I meant numbers. What’s 8x7?” she began.

And she quizzed me. We dissected the number 40 in all kinds of ways using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Math comes naturally to her.

Until you put a worksheet in front of her. And for the life of her, she can’t tell you what 2+2 is. Unless you bribe her with a movie, put her in time out, and take away all bedtime story privileges. Worksheets turn her brain OFF.

I thought maybe she wasn’t being challenged enough. After a year of going systematically through a curriculum, she failed to thrive. I knew she knew the material, but because she kept saying “I don’t know how to do that,” we weren’t moving very fast.

So I decided to up the challenge and jump straight to Grade 2 of Math Mammoth. I knew she was conceptually ready for the syllabus contents.

Synopsis:

Math Mammoth offers affordable, yet quality math worktexts and workbooks for grades 1-8, available as both downloads and printed books. These books concentrate on conceptual understanding and are strong in mental math. The directions in the worktexts are written directly to the student, and are often self-teaching, thus requiring little preparation and involvement from the teacher.

There are four different series of Math Mammoth books that offer a smorgasbord of options for your student:
A full curriculum for grades 1-6;
Worktexts by topic for grades 1-6—you get both instruction and exercises;
Worksheets by topic;
Worksheets by grade ;
Make It Real Learning workbooks—highlighting how math is used in real life.

Recommended Age: Grades 1-8
Price: Price is dependent on the options you choose. The complete Grade 2 curriculum download we reviewed sells for $34.
To Purchase: http://www.mathmammoth.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

We’re going to skip Esmé’s synopsis for this review. Suffice to say, upping the challenge wasn’t a magical panacea for her dislike of worksheets. We struggled through the first 5 or so pages, and she just WASN’T going to GET the way a Tens unit was depicted as a box in the review section (which incidentally shows up later as ten-sticks and ten-pillars if only she would last that long).

So we skipped ahead to the Clocks section for a brief reprieve. This lasted through another handful of worksheets. She DID get the 5-minute interval concept and has mastered counting by 5s rather well by now.

The saving grace? The Helpful Resources on the Internet section. Ahhhh… Now Esmé was in her element.

What Mom Liked:

Price. This is an amazing value for the money. It’s got an incredible amount of well-organized content. And having an electronic version means you can print sheets over and over if desired.
Modular Approach. It was nice to be able to jump right to the Clocks section of the curriculum without feeling like we were missing a lot of steps. Many sections DO build on previous ones, so jumping around should be used with caution…
Customizable Tools. If your child needs extra practice with a topic, use the Worksheet Maker. Editable test and cumulative review files are also available.
Multiple Approaches to the Same Topic. If you go through all the exercises of a topic, you will have approached it forwards, backwards, up, and down. The same type of problem is presented in a myriad of ways.
Word Problems. These are Esmé’s favorite, and there is a nice quantity of them.
Helpful Resources on the Internet Section. This saved the day for Miss Esmé while learning about clocks, specifically the online activities.
Instruction Boxes. Each section starts with blue instruction boxes that students can follow on their own, or that parents can use to provide instruction with little to no preparation.
International Options. Chapter 5 deals with counting money, and I appreciated the alternative currency chapters included for Australian, British, Canadian, and Euros.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

Esmé’s Attitude. Towards worksheets. I am still trying to find the right combination to provide the drill she ~~doesn’t think she~~ needs while feeding her conceptual appetite for math. I was a little disappointed that this didn’t quite do it for her. The sheer volume of problems on a page is a bit much for a highly-distractible 4yo. I will continue to use this text to supplement our math learning, but will cut the pages into sections so she’s only dealing with a handful of problems at a time.

Overall:

This is a terrific value that thoroughly covers elementary math concepts. The vendor is great to work with. If nothing else, I HIGHLY recommend you sign up for a 7-day tour, check out Maria’s Math Newsletter and take a look at her package of 300 free worksheets and sample pages.
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Thanks to Math Mammoth for providing a full curriculum download and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: Keyboard Town Pals

2011-11-14T08:50:00.001-08:00

I wasn’t planning to start Esmé on typing lessons this soon. I figured I’d wait until she was at least five, you know? :)

However, I saw these quirky lil’ Keyboard Town critters and knew immediately she’d love them.

And maybe I could quit my blog transcription job sooner rather than later?

Synopsis:

The Keyboard Town PALS Learn to Type program teaches your child to type in one hour.

Today, typing properly is a lifelong, necessary skill for success in school and at work.

Our Mission: Our mission is to teach young children to type on a Qwerty computer keyboard in the fastest, easiest, and least stressful way. In only one hour Keyboard Town PALS’ “Learn To Type”software is able to achieve that goal.

Stress-Free: We have eliminated the stress normally associated with learning to type and replaced it with adorable puppets who sing songs and tell stories in a relaxed learning environment. Our system has no boring drills or exercises. No mindless games. No nerve-wracking timed-speed tests. We have even deactivated the delete and backspace buttons since mistakes are never counted and scroll right off the screen.

Wholesome: We are dedicated to developing educational software that you can depend on; wholesome products that will help you do your job as a parent – the most important and rewarding job anyone can have.

Self Motivated: Your child will become an eager participant in the learning process and will be self-motivated to learn and complete the program.

6 and Up: Keyboard Town PALS is best for the beginner audience of kids ages 6-12 and those with learning differences. All you need is a kid, a computer and an hour.

Recommended Age: 6-12 years of age
Price: The web-based bundle is currently on sale for $30. Other options are also available.
To Purchase: http://www.keyboardtownpals.com/
For More Reviews: TOS Crew

Esmé’s Synopsis:

Keyboard Town Pals is about typing words.

I like Exercise and Zebra, the Cs, and Dora!

I don’t like typing all the letters they tell me to type. I just want to write my own words and my own thoughts.

What Mom Liked:

Quirky characters. Take the Q guy: “Questions, questions… Are zebras black with white stripes, or white with black stripes?” Seriously, that is perfect K-level humor! That would have to be Esmé’s favorite part.
Methodology. This program has been perfect in acquainting Esmé with the locations of all the letters. As a fairly new keyboard user, now she has a picture in her mind of all these bizarre characters on a keyboard, and she can mentally visualize where a letter will be. She still hunt-and-pecks, but it’s definitely easier. Also, the idea of introducing keys one finger at a time makes perfect sense at this age. She may not always use the right fingers, but she knows there is a correct finger position, and that will come with time.
No Correction. The program has a typing box where the student types as instructed by the video. The student doesn’t have a backspace or delete option, which can be a little frustrating for ME. However, I must say the fact that there is no big X/REDO when something is typed incorrectly is a bonus for Esmé. She’s accidentally mis-hit keys, and that can be really frustrating to a new computer user. For her, the program gives her all the feedback she needs in the form of letters and words showing up in her typing box.
Tie-in to letters, sounds, direction. Esmé knows her letters and sounds and left- and right-hands already, but this definitely reinforces that knowledge. Admittedly, she keeps getting confused with which hand is supposed to be typing – it’s a bit funny to see her reach for the “q” with her right hand. It’s nice to have a tie-in from keyboarding to other basic skills.
Language Options. I’ve thought of switching this to Spanish to give Esmé a little twist when she gets tired of the English… It’s also available in French.
Technical Ease. The web-based version was incredibly easy to start using – once I updated Adobe Flash player. Our pathetic internet speeds didn’t slow it down. It works with Mac or PC.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

The Claim. This is supposed to teach your child to type in an hour. Yes – it covers the basic keys in an hour, and if you read past the tagline, that’s really all it’s claiming to do. It took me a good year to learn to type in high school. There is a lot more to typing proficiently than having an idea of where the main letter keys are. Just be realistic in your expectations.
The Price. Along the same lines, this feels more like a video with an added typing box than it does a full software program. I think $20 would be a fair price for a DVD of this caliber.

Overall:

Though she is on the young side of the recommended age range, this has been a great introduction to keyboarding for Esmé. If it were priced lower, I’d definitely recommend it as an introduction for kids just beginning to use the keyboard.

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Thanks to Keyboard Town Pals for providing a free subscription and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

A Tribute to Veterans…

2011-11-14T07:53:00.001-08:00

“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time;
the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.”
~ Thomas Jefferson

Last year’s local Veteran’s Parade was a memorable experience, but this year was Esmé’s first experience on the inside – as an official(?) candy thrower.

Lining up…

Throwing candy to the masses…

With her “battalion” at the end…

Review: The Three Trees

2011-11-14T07:11:00.001-08:00

The tale of the three trees has been a longstanding favorite of ours. Its timeless message that God’s plans are bigger than any dream we could possibly have, even when our lives seems meaningless or despairing, is one we all can benefit from reading, over and over again.

So I was excited to share a new publication of the classic tale with Esmé.

Title: The Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale
Author: Elena Pasquali; Illustrated by Sophie Windham
Publisher: Lion Children’s
ISBN: 9780745961705

Synopsis:

Three forest trees dream of what they will one day become. One dreams of becoming a royal throne; one of being a ship that can withstand any storm; and one longs to stay in the forest and grow as tall as tall can be. When they are felled, it seems their dreams are over. But as each tree is crafted into a new item--a manger, a fishing boat, and a rugged cross--it becomes clear that through the role they play in one important life their hopes are more than fulfilled.

Recommended Age: 5+
List Price: $14.99

Esmé’s Synopsis:

This book is about Jesus and the three trees. The part where Jesus died to take away our sins – that’s the best part of the book.

What I didn’t like is the spider [in the trough illustration]. It might be a black widow. But maybe the cat [in same illustration] is a field mouse cat who will kill the spider, so maybe it is okay.

If I was a tree, I’d love to be made into a trough, because I like babies.

What Mom Liked:

The story. The author tells the story in a flowing, simple manner. It is easy to read aloud with poignancy. The contrasts of the third tree’s story – dark, dawn; death, life – leave me full of emotion each time I read.
The illustrations. The illustrations are somewhat muted, as befitting the topic. However, they are full of little critters that capture a child’s attention. I love the details such as the depiction of the four seasons in one scene…

What Mom Didn’t Like:

Nothing. This is a lovely rendition of a timeless tale.

Thanks to Kregel Publications for providing the book for review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Spiders and Caterpillars and Such

2011-11-14T06:13:00.001-08:00

From the looks of this Woolly Bear caterpillar, are we in for a long, cold winter?

I never could quite figure that stuff out…

And Esmé’s delight in spiders seems to have nosedived following the discovery of a hobo spider in the bathtub. Those things can be nasty, it seems – though not quite as bad as the brown recluse.

(I made my first contribution to Wikipedia by noting that the hobo spider has been found as far south as Roseburg. Who knew it was so easy to update? I think I shall no longer use Wikipedia as irrefutable proof of anything.)

Our lives are now forever changed – we are constantly having to check the sheets and brush off all clothing and towels before use. Ugh…

On the bright side, Esmé’s medical curiosity has been piqued. Her “favoritist” photos of all are of necrosis caused by spider bites. Totally fascinating.

Review/Giveaway: Doodle Roll

2011-11-14T05:43:00.001-08:00

We’re on the go a lot, and I’m always looking for something quick to grab and stash in the travel bag for the moments boredom sets in. For Esmé, that is. I haven’t achieved a state of boredom for ages.

Enter Doodle Roll. It’s a neatly packaged paper/crayon combo with a twist – the paper goes on and on and on “forever!” The paper-tearing edge means you don’t even have to conjure up scissors when the creativity has reached its end.

It’s nice to use at home, too – when you’re wanting to illustrate an indefinitely long story. Or wanting to make a banner that says “I LOVE GRANDMA” in purple polka dots.

Synopsis:

Packaged in a portable dispenser, the Doodle Roll® all-in-one arts & craft kit is just what parents and kids need for anywhere, anytime creativity and fun!

Doodle Roll comes in two sizes: 4” Kit and 6” Kit.

Features:
Portable Roll ‘n Go dispenser for quick, easy dispensing
Convenient crayon storage area for easy accessibility
Roll & Tear Edge
Crayons and paper are ready for doodling in a snap
15’ to 30’ of fun doodling paper kids can tear away any length to share with friends
Roll back into package feature

Recommended Age: 3-8 years old
Price: A trial pack (including a 1x4” Doodle Roll, a 1x6” Doodle roll, and replacement rolls) is $14.00. You can get party packs and 6-packs for party favors or classrooms as well.
For More Info/To Purchase: http://www.doodleroll.com.
You can also find Doodle Roll on facebook and twitter.

What Mom Liked:

Portability. From past experience, we’ve learned not to use crayons in the car, but this makes a quick activity pack to take and use just about anywhere else. We’ve spread it out on the conference table when Esmé had to go with me to work. You could roll out small segments at a time for use on a plane, or cover a picnic table with it while working on an outdoor birthday party banner/project.
Length. The long length of the paper makes it ideal for a variety of projects, such as cutting out a string of paper dolls or gingerbread men.
Uniqueness. I haven’t seen these used as a party favor before. It would be fun to use them for a party activity and then send them home with each child as well.
Double-sided crayons. We also got to try out Doodle Roll’s separately-packaged double-sided crayons. Another fun twist and a compact way to go…

What Mom Didn’t Like:

Nothing! What you see is what you get.

Giveaway Details:
Enter here for a chance to win your very own Doodle Roll fun!

Leave a comment to enter. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you win.
If you are a subscriber or follower, leave a second comment for your second entry.
For a third entry, visit Doodle Roll and then leave a comment telling us your favorite Doodle Roll character.

A winner will be randomly chosen after November 23rd. US entries only.
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Thanks to Doodle Roll for providing a trial Doodle Roll kit and to MamaBuzz for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Random Tuesday

2011-11-08T21:34:00.001-08:00

1. Grape Juice. It is definitely fall and heading into winter. After our first frost a couple of weeks ago, we were inspired to harvest our grape crop and make about 20 quarts of frozen juice.

Here’s our juicing contraption. For some reason I feel like a real pioneer looking at this.

It was COLD in the shop as we sat around waiting for the juice to steam out! (And that would be Great Grandma’s handmade wool blanket keeping Miss Esmé warm – to add to the pioneer effect.)

And here it all is, packed nicely into our freezer. I have an aversion to canning – too many bad experiences. Ask me next year if the frozen thing works well or not… This stuff is pretty strong – we mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with water and add sugar, almost like making lemonade.

2. Gift Vine. And where I was headed with all that – check out our latest Homeschool Village post, inspired by the vine, or the Vine…

3. Harvard Business Review. Speaking of posts, here’s our latest post at Heart of the Matter Online – lessons a homeschooling mom learned from the Harvard Business Review.

4. Microscope. We just got this nifty new microscope in the mail. It’s supposed to last Esmé through medical school, so we are working on not breaking it for now. But I am thinking we need to start a new meme, “Saturday Slide” maybe?, to showcase all the cool stuff we are viewing through it.

5. Kiddie Christmas Card Exchange. Still time to sign up for this at The Toy Box Years – until November 18th!

6. Puppy Cookies. It’s nice to see that Mel is back at the Cake Walk, and that Esmé and I guessed what her cookies were going to be! She’s got the yummiest cakes and baby over at her blog.

7. Girls for Girls! Friends of friends are asking for a vote that really counts – for numerous girls in Kenya. Head over to Girls for Girls and vote for Kajiado! 25,000 Euros are at stake and could make a big difference.

8. Gratitude Challenge. November hasn’t started for us yet. Honestly? But it will soon, and we’ll be joining up over at Garden of Learning and Young Homemakers. From the Glistener blog. Any moment now.

9. 30 Days of Intentional Acts of Kindness with your Kids. It’s happening right now over at I Can Teach My Child. And it fits in perfectly with our Gift Vine concept. I won’t be blogging about it, but we are definitely thinking it.

10. My Own Pet Balloons. Just came across this cool initiative that pairs kids’ natural love of animals AND balloons with the Canines for Disabled Kids organization. You can bring a smile to your own child’s face and support a child with disabilities all at the same time…

11. Give Them Grace – Dazzling Your Kids With the Love of Jesus. Will you join us at The Homeschool Village as we read through this book that puts everything into the perspective of God’s dazzling grace?

I *think* that is it for today’s PSA. Hang tight for more to come…

Magic Marker Monday with Poetry

2011-11-07T22:24:00.001-08:00

Esmé recently embarked on an Artistic Pursuits curriculum (more on that later), and I thought I’d share her first three assignments with you on this fine Monday.

I must say this has been the learning experience for Mom. Who knew there was such a thing as an ebony pencil? And that paint brushes come in numbers, with different tips and specialized for different types of paint? I’m pure tempera paint and sponges all the way!

Anyways, assignment #1, with an ebony pencil, is supposed to be a scene in everyday life. Esmé pinned it with a buck eating grapes – a regular occurrence in our yard over the past few weeks. I think this one is my favorite – I just love the little white tail stripe. And the spider web in the vine.

Second assignment – a watercolor exercise in imagination. This puffy-headed Chihuahua grows on one, I think. I think the imaginary part is that Esmé will ever own one of these while living in our household.

And third assignment – another ebony pencil one, this time on an object from nature. Esmé chose to draw "the beautifulest flower," a daffodil, complete with roots, set against a mountainous backdrop. She was rather annoyed that I suggest she stick with the ebony pencil rather than add yellow, so you’ll see a bit of attitude (in the form of rain) in this one. I told her to go ahead with the yellow if she wanted, but she refused to “break the rule.”

And now, for poetry! Week Five in our poetry series was Poetry Crafts and Games. We decided to play Five Senses: picking an object and describing it using all the senses. Esmé picked the butterfly, and here is what she came up with:

The Butterfly

Backward B, forward B, brilliant blue B

Sounds like nothing

Smells like nothing

Tastes like nothing (EWWW!)

Velvet wings and ticklish feet.

And of course, her illustration to accompany the poem:

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

~Pablo Picasso

Hosted at 5 Minutes for Special Needs

And now joining the Virtual Refrigerator!

Review: Ooka Island

2011-11-07T07:54:00.001-08:00

Now that we’ve set the stage for my little non-reader, I thought I’d let her start this review off for you.

Esmé’s Review:

Ooka Island is a game about learning. You learn reading. I have learned how to read.

The part I like best is reading the books. There are 8 pages to each book. I wish there were 100 pages, because I L-I-K-E books.

What I don’t like is doing stuff over and over again. I don’t like wasting time.

[Insert mother clearing throat here.]

Synopsis:

The Ooka Island Adventure is a downloadable hero-mission in 3D designed to teach young children how to read fluently and well. The Ooka Island Adventure combines the highly engaging components of a state-of-the-art virtual world with the scientifically proven OokaMethod that builds literacy skills.

Carefully embedded within the Ooka Island Adventure are dozens of interactive instructional activities that captivate the child and motivate them as they learn essential pre-reading, reading, spelling, and writing skills. After completing the Ooka Island Adventure, children will be on their way to reading fluently and well for life.

Ooka Island Inc. is an educational company that offers online, independent, reading curriculum for children in Pre-K to 2ndGrade. Ooka Island is for the 21st Century early learner on both the PC and Mac and effectively combines entertaining gaming theory with scientifically proven reading methods. OokaIsland is based on the literacy methods and research of its Founder, Dr. Kay MacPhee. MacPhee's initial literacy intervention program was rated #1 in Reading Comprehension by the US Department of Education in 2008.

Features Unique to Ooka Island:
An online, independent, reading curriculum that blends print concepts, phonemic awareness, phonics and language based reading. The Ooka Island Adventure ends with children reading at a 2.0 reading level.
85 leveled and sequenced Ooka Island books digitally embedded online. These books are also available in print to supplement the Ooka Island Adventure.
Progress reports and detailed dashboards available in real-time. Since the Ooka Island Adventure is connected online, the administrative, district, school, classroom and parent level can monitor every click of the mouse.
Adaptive learning. Each child goes through a unique learning path embedded with learning algorithms that guide the child through MacPhee’s reading matrix in the most effective way.

Recommended Age: Pre-K to 2nd Grade

Price:

To Purchase: http://ookaisland.com/

You’ll also find a 14-day free trial and lots of video clips if you’d like to get a better feel for the software.

For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

Fun graphics and games = fun learning experience. Ask Esmé if she’d rather do a workbook or play Ooka Island, and she’ll pick Ooka Island every time. A relatively effortless way to learn.
Independent learning time. It gives her at least a good 1/2 hour of relatively independent learning time – yeah for Mom!
Different order of learning sounds. The program started covering letter combinations right away: “oo”, “aw”, “sh”, etc. I appreciate this variation from some of the other reading programs we’ve done – it strengthened Esmé’s skills in those areas.
Books. Esmé’s favorite part of the program is the library. Unfortunately for her, you’ve gotta play the games in order to unlock more books, but catching new books is always exciting for her. (Incidentally, she always chooses the option where the book is read TO her.)

What Mom Didn’t Like:

Technical Difficulties. The software took 11 hours to download – in part thanks to CenturyLink – but just a warning that it is a BIG download for those who have lousy internet service. Once it was downloaded, I ran into a few glitches: windows that didn’t open, objects that didn’t show up, etc. These were resolved by running a bunch of updates on various things: graphics driver, etc. Also, the parent dashboard was not available for our use yet. The good news: Technical support from Ooka Island via email was prompt and efficient. Once the software was downloaded, running speed was just fine. And my computer got updated…
Repetition. The first run-thru of the game was grand! Esmé loved it – there were lots of new things to explore and discover. But then you go through the same series of games for each sound – granted, with a couple of variations thrown in or added along the way. You listen to the same detailed instructions before each game. What was once Esmé’s favorite (the cave of sounds) became her most disliked, simply because of repetition. Repetition works for some kids, but not Miss Esmé.
No Skipping Ahead. The program is meant to run from beginning to end and uses an algorithm to plan the learning path. Not only can’t you skip ahead, you can’t even avoid certain games. If your child already knows the basics of reading, or likes to give wrong answers just to see what the computer will do, this may be a problem for you.

Overall:

This is a GREAT program for kids with little reading experience and/or those who don’t mind repetition. And we’ll continue to use it ourselves as we have time (or when Mamma needs independent learning activities) to help build a stronger foundation for reading.

But we WILL supplement it with additional material so she can move at her own pace. After all, she, um, has already learned to read. When she feels like it.
Thanks to Ooka Island for providing a free subscription and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

My Little Non-Reader

2011-11-06T19:37:00.001-08:00

I am somewhat of a connoisseur of beginning reading programs. It started when my daughter was two and magically knew all her letters and sounds. I figured she’d be reading in the blink of an eye – easy peasy. After all, her genius mamma taught herself to read before she turned four – it’s all in the genes, baby!

So I started checking out material on reading, read through the whole debate between whole language versus phonics, decided we are eclectic as with all things, and we started dabbling in reading programs.

Two years later, we are still dabbling in beginning reading programs.

Some programs last longer than others, but the little Miss inevitably tires of them after a while. And I allow myself to be swayed by all the wise who have gone before me, telling me not to force her – reading should be fun – she’s only 4, after all, and has years to learn. So I back off on the reading program. Until another cool reading program shows up and we both get all excited and dabble in it for a while. And then she’s bored again.

She KNOWS how to read. She demonstrates it whenever I pin her down with a headlock and limit her rations to bread (no butter) and water. She can spell “zookeeper” and other odd words at the drop of a hat. Hats drop seldom in our house, though. She quite frankly doesn’t care to read, though she will listen to me read to her all the day long.

Why am I telling you all this? Because we have a number of reading programs we’ve been dabbling into for review purposes, and I just want to set the proper backdrop for the reviews. Most of them would probably work excellently for a segment of the young population.

Please don’t be biased based on my little book-loving non-reader…

Review: George Washington Carver

2011-10-31T08:05:00.001-07:00

“When I was young, I said to God, 'God, tell me the mystery of the universe.' But God answered, 'That knowledge is for me alone.' So I said, 'God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.' Then God said, 'Well George, that's more nearly your size.' And he told me.” ~G W Carver

I love introducing Esmé to positive role models and was thrilled when we “accidentally” received a DVD on the life of George Washington Carver Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc. from for review. His story is an awesome testimony to the power of allowing God to use one’s life through humble service.

Synopsis:

Born into slavery and reared during the Reconstruction years in the South, George Washington Carver struggled through poor health, poverty and prejudice…to become a great benefactor, not only to his people…but to his country as well. Carver is known in history books as the “peanut man” – for his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton. As one of the world’s foremost experts in agriculture and horticulture, Carver, through his research and teaching at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama practically reinvented land management in the South. He is said to have compiled a list of over 300 uses for and by-products of peanuts such as cosmetics, dyes and paints, plastics, gasoline and nitroglycerin.

But his work as a creative scientist stretches far beyond that endeavor. He marveled at the world around him and his ability to inspire those closely associated with him may well have been one of his greatest lifetime achievements. As a living example of the importance of hard work, a positive attitude and a good education, Carver was instrumental in changing the stereotype of the time that the black race was intellectually inferior to the white race.

Here then, is the story of Carver’s life…a life that should not be forgotten, for it is full of hope, meaning and inspiration. To commemorate his life and inventions, George Washington Carver Recognition Day is celebrated on January 5, the anniversary of Carver's death.

For anyone looking for an inspirational story, for historians, teachers and students, and for young and old alike this DVD featuring stunning photography and a superb original music score is certain to be watched again and again.

Recommended Age: Grades 8-12; I think this is perfectly appropriate for middle school.

Price: $24.95; web sale for $19.95

AND here’s a special coupon code for you! Enter TOSC1 at checkout, and you’ll get this for $16.95 (plus S&H)

To Purchase: Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc.

For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

Carver himself. I knew the basic story, but never to the depth of what I saw in the video. A man who had no need for riches because the whole earth was his to enjoy. Who was committed to educating and uplifting others. Who sidestepped the volatile arena of racism to win the admiration of all races. And who saw God’s greatness in the smallest of Creation’s details.
Nature clips. Esmé enjoyed the various shots of water snakes and frogs and flowers.
Clips of Carver. I was fascinated with his humble demeanor on screen. I hadn’t realized the effect of whooping cough on his voice before.
Quotes. The DVD included many quotations of Carvers, which, as much as anything else, revealed his intelligence and strength of character.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

Professional quality. While the flow of this DVD went very nicely and the narration was well done, the images weren’t super crisp on our 54-inch TV screen. And I’m always disappointed when there are no subtitles.
“This is a movie about statues.” Granted, this DVD is geared for an older audience than Esmé, but her observation was shared by her dad. The statues and museum scenes were prominent in the first part of the DVD, and some acting of the early scenes of Carver’s life would have been nice.

Thanks to Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc. for providing the book for review and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: Lots & Lots of Fire…

2011-10-31T07:33:00.001-07:00

What is the fascination kids have with fire and fire trucks? I remember having a little fear and awe, always worried the trucks were headed towards my house. Whatever it is, the fascination hasn’t skipped Esmé.

We’ve been enjoying a DVD/book set put out by Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc. The DVD is chock full of songs and safety tips, and lots and lots of clips of fire trucks – all kinds – on the job. The book is a colorful complement to the DVD, once again loaded with a variety of fire photos and facts, including an overview of firefighting equipment, firehouse traditions, a history of fires and firefighting, and words to the songs on the DVD.

Synopsis:

SAVE BIG! GET BOTH THE 128 PAGE FOUR COLOR AWARD-WINNING FIRETRUCKS and FIREFIGHTERS BOOK PLUS THE LOTS and LOTS OF FIRE SONGS and SAFETY TIPS DVD! Big Pictures, fun songs - a great deal for anyone who loves firetrucks and firefighting! Fun learning fire safety in home or school! All Ages!

Recommended Age: Ages 4-10

For More Info: www.firesafetysongs.com

Price: $49.90; web sale for $29.95

AND here’s a special coupon code for you! Enter TOSF1 at checkout, and you’ll get this for $19.95 (plus S&H)

To Purchase: Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc.

For More Reviews: TOS Crew

Esmé’s Synopsis: My favorite song is 911! This is because I can learn what to do when our house is on fire. These are the fire safety rules:

Never play with mattresses.
When you are on fire, stop playing. Drop and roll in a wet towel.
Call 911.
Set all mattresses up high so young kids can’t reach them.
If there is a fire, feel the door. If it is hot, do not open it.

Mom’s note: YES, we are working on the pronunciation of “matches.” Obviously, we don’t have them laying around the house for young kids to play with…

What Mom Liked:

Safety tips. The DVD especially got my daughter thinking about what to do in the event of a fire. She’s totally a master of the Stop, Drop, and Roll technique now.
Lots of variety. The book is loaded with facts and full-color pictures. I love the “Old Time Firefighter’s Alphabet.” You could easily use this as the basis of a full unit study, with fire science, history, literature, museum field trip, and even recipes included in the book.
Website references. Website references are given on both the DVD and to book if you are interested in doing extension activities.
Humanitarian emphasis. Beyond the appeal of fires and fire trucks, there was a segment on the video that alluded to serving others – the heroism involved, not just for fire fighting, but in other occupations of service. I appreciated that.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

Professional Quality. Both the DVD and the book seemed just a little sub-quality to me. The DVD had a great variety of clips, but the images weren’t crisp on our 54-inch screen, and there were no subtitles (always a downside for me). And the book’s full-color glossy layout was appealing, but the graphic design seemed a little amateurish. Let it be noted that this issue did not affect Esmé’s opinion of the product at all!

Thanks to Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc. for providing the book for review and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Review: My First Hands-On Bible

2011-10-26T22:53:00.001-07:00

I’m always looking for ways to integrate Bible study and discussion into our day, and My First Hands-On Bible has been a sweet addition into our school box.

It starts out with some “cuddle-time” reading of actual Bible text, interspersed with some play-acting ideas, discussion questions, quick crafts, and more to engage your child. At the end of the reading is a prayer, discussions questions, and more extension activity ideas – which may take you outside, to the kitchen, or stick with you throughout the week.

Title: My First Hands-On Bible
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Genre: Children’s devotional Bible
ISBN: 978-1-4143-4830-8
Recommended Age: 2-7yo
List Price: $16.99
To Purchase: tyndale.com
Synopsis:

My First Hands-On Bible is the preschooler version of the popular Hands-On Bible, which has sold over a half million copies. Jesus taught with hands-on lessons and illustrations; My First Hands-On Bible uses the same experience-based learning to communicate God’s Word in an active, understandable way. My First Hands-On Bible is a fun and simple yet meaningful way to engage preschool, pre-K, and K children (ages 3-6) with the Bible while helping them build a solid faith foundation. Each lesson focuses on a specific Bible point through a variety of activities in order to reinforce and help young children remember the stories and lessons. Using common household items, you can help your children have a “hands-on” learning experience while engaging them in 85 key stories from the Bible. My First Hands-On Bible doesn’t just retell the Bible stories; it also includes actual Scripture from the easy-to-understand and easy-to-read Holy Bible, New Living Translation. In addition to the stories and activities, there are fun illustrations, prayers, and a special Jesus Connection feature.

What Mom Liked:

Bible text. I love that the text is straight from the Bible (New Living Translation). It is simple enough that a preschooler can understand, but not dumbed down – we’ve had some interesting vocabulary discussions.
Illustrations. Yes, these are cartoon-like (and no, this isn’t a leather-bound Bible). However, I LIKE how this makes the Bible appealing and approachable for little ones.
Variety of activities. While reading the story of creation, we took a quick break to draw the sun and moon, and to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Some activities get you moving, like a ride around the room on the back of a “camel.” Others are just a simple question like “what is your favorite color?” The extension activities can take a bit longer, e.g. an ethnic meal for the Tower of Babel story, or an assignment to look for babies throughout the week as a reminder of Sarah’s miracle.
Nicely organized chapters. This would fit well as the Bible component of a structured curriculum, planning for a chapter or two per week. It could be used as the basis for themed studies – with as much “study” as is appropriate for your little one. Or it could simply be used for daily devotions with your child..
Discussion questions. Some of the proposed questions can lead to very interesting discussions, such as “What makes you mad?” or “If you could change one thing that God made, what would it be?”

Thanks to Tyndale for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a frank and unbiased review, and to MamaBuzz for organizing the review.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T00:48:00.001-07:00

Tiny Talk Tuesday

2011-10-26T00:01:00.001-07:00

Esmé (4yo) has been struggling with an age-old issue:

Esmé: I CAN’T figure out what I want to do with my life!

Mom: Oh? Well, what options have you been considering?

Esmé: I can’t decide if I want to roller skate, or be a ballerina, or play!

Mom: Oh! Tough choices, huh?

Esmé: I think I will roller skate one day, do ballet the next, and play the next. Then I will roller skate again. That way I can do everything.

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Subsequently, she’s decided to go with a more spider~~human~~itarian occupation. That would be AFTER she accidently broke a leg off her *pet* Daddy Longlegs.

Esmé: When I grow up, I’m going to be a spider nurse!

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I love her perspective on things. A store front window had been painted with balloons, and she noticed they were missing.

Esmé: Look! The balloons are gone!

Mom: Oh. They must have washed the paint off the windows.

Esmé: No, Mom! They sprayed the balloons with invisible spray. So now the balloons are invisible!

Ahhh. The invisible spray. I must get some for my housecleaning tasks…

Review: The Snowman’s Revenge

2011-10-25T23:41:00.001-07:00

We had our first frost this morning. Which means our grapes need to be picked immediately.

And that it’s just about time to snuggle up and start reading books about snowmen. So that’s what we did first thing this morning.

Title: The Snowman’s Revenge
Author: Mark Smythe
Genre: Children’s picture book
ISBN: 978-0982270400
Recommended Age: 3+
List Price: $9.99
To Purchase: amazon.com
For More Information: http://thesnowmansrevenge.com

Synopsis:

The snow's piled up high and school's cancelled, so let's play outside and, of course, build a snowman!

Now, what if you were left out in the cold snow all by yourself, like that poor snowman?

Would you be mad?

Of course you would!

Well, this snowman is out for revenge, especially after he sees those kids in the nice warm house, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate!

So, let's see what happens in this delightful story, nicely flowing with rhymed verse, very beautifully illustrated and quite humorous indeed.

So lovable, it's sure to be an instant favorite and a timeless classic with "kids" of all ages.

Esmé’s Synopsis:

The book is about a snowman. At the end, everything is sitting in a puddle after it melted.

The part I like most is the pretty girl in green and purple with pretty boots. I also like eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate, and the sliding snowman part. I don’t like where the shovel is broken.

I think other kids should read this book because it is a fun story.

What Mom Liked:

Original. Yes, there are other books where snowmen take human-like qualities and end up in a melted puddle. But I haven’t read about a snowman with attitude like this one before! A quirky take on a classic concept that kids will love.
Easy-to-read rhyme. This book is a pleasure to read aloud – perfect for the poetry lessons we are doing.
Bright illustrations with fun detail. Great attention-getters for little ones. Details like an icicle on the carrot nose, or the investigation of an umbrella holder when the snowman is looking for a place to hide. My favorite part was how the words graphically fit the illustrations, sliding around while the snowman was sliding, climbing the stairs as the snowman climbed the stairs.
Learning opportunities. You could do an extension activity on seasons and winter. Or on states of water. You could extrapolate on the moral of the story, e.g. the consequences of revenge. Or you could read this just for the fun of it, as Esmé suggests.

Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a frank and unbiased review, and to the Cadence Group for organizing the review.

Magic Marker Monday with Poetry

2011-10-24T07:48:00.001-07:00

This is the post that was supposed to go up LAST Monday, but I’ve saved it up so we can at least get the days in sync. It’s all about maintaining a professional image and all…

So, last week’s art project sounded so cool – a crayon-shaving fall tree!

First we sharpened lots of crayons, including blue since blue is most definitely a color for fall leaves. It was interesting to observe how some crayon brands shaved in neat rolls, while others came off in tiny slivers.

Then, I suggested clumping colors in spots on our wax paper, but Esmé insisted on mixing the colors into a nice happy hodgepodge.

Then we got out the iron, and this is where Mom made mistakes. I left it too hot or too long, and the colors smudged together in spots, creating a ~~nice~~ brown.

All in all, a fun, educational process that we will hang up for a while. And probably not attempt wax paper crayon shaving art again for awhile.

So, let’s talk about poetry! Week Four of Poetry for Kids was about the SOUNDS of good poetry. So we discussed rhyme, alliteration, rhythm, and repetition.

And then we embarked on an alliteration/rhyme project that was WAY harder than I thought it would be. Esmé kept making up words instead of using her vast vocabulary to come up with suitable ones. So her lines sounded great but made no sense.

After dozens of rejections by Mom, here is the final verse. The jury’s out on whether it makes sense, but it DOES use real words…

Lovely lambs lick lollipops;
Doggies dance.
Mamma monkeys chase mice
And penguins prance.

All that effort left Esmé a little weary, so her illustrations are limited to just two characters. Here are Dancing Doggy and Chased Mouse.

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

~Pablo Picasso

Hosted at 5 Minutes for Special Needs

And now joining the Virtual Refrigerator!

Review: Educating the WholeHearted Child

2011-10-24T00:03:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh…

I had to go in to the office to work a few hours today – a Sunday – the joy of having an IT hat. I set up Miss Esmé in the conference room, and she did fabulously.

So we celebrated by heading to the McDonalds with the indoor playground, where she ran the show with other kids for a couple of hours while I indulged in my favorite pastime of reading a homeschool book. I think I’ve mentioned being a homeschool book junkie before?

When we came home, I got out the schoolbooks, but Esmé just wasn’t into it, and as long as she wasn’t bored and begging for a DVD, I figured I’d let it go. So I got some housework done while she:

invented a new move on her swing,
captured a dragonfly,
released the ladybug she caught on Friday,
discussed the differences between dragonflies and flies and butterflies,
looked for ants to feed to her dragonfly,
set up a store and sold me a dragonfly and a bucket of yellow straws for the price of two metal washers,
drew a pumpkin-shaped spider web (amongst other designs) on her chalkboard,
had a baby boy (doll) and mothered it,
scrambled the states on her US magnet board,
took apart a skeleton puzzle and put it halfway back together,
unpacked her “moving away from home” box that she had taped up, ready for her forthcoming adoption by a family who would let her do what SHE wants to do
sang Monkey See Monkey Do over and over, and
sorted letter tiles from her SpellTime game, unmaking words.

All without any initiation on my part.

A perfectly lovely homeschool day…

Which sort of brings me back to the point of this post. That homeschool book I got to read. Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay Clarkson with Sally Clarkson.

Synopsis:

God did not forget to include "school" in his biblical design for raising children – home education is a natural expression of all that God intended for parents and their children. Clay and Sally Clarkson's Educating the WholeHearted Child is about rediscovering God's original design for the family. What you'll find in this book is a homeschooling model that makes sense. It's an approach that is based on sound biblical principles of nurture, discipleship, instruction, and learning. Newly revised and significantly expanded, Educating the WholeHearted Child is about much more than homeschooling; it is about life. Effective Christian homeschooling must begin with the sure foundation of a Christian home, and the Clarksons' uncomplicated, common-sense approach to life and learning will provide you with the tools you need to experience God's abundant blessings for your family.

ISBN: 978-1-932012-95-8

Recommended Age: Parents of children ages 4-14

For More Info: Sample Chapter, Table of Contents

Price: $22.00

To Purchase: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.

For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

Christian approach. I’m of the school of thought that “home education” is not the same as “home discipleship” – I homeschool for academic reasons rather than Christian/moral reasons, so veer a little away from the authors’ premises at times. However, the Christian WholeHearted approach inspires me in many ways and helps me prioritize better.
WholeHearted Learning Educational Model. This is my favorite part of the book. I love how the model interrelates the Discipleship, Disciplines, Discussion, Discovery, and Discretionary Studies. Discipleship is rightly at the bottom, and Disciplined (the 3Rs, mainly) is correctly separate but also connected to the other areas. It all just makes sense.
Comprehensive coverage. This book reads like a college textbook, albeit an interesting one. (I find it mildly ironic that proponents of the whole-book method authored it, but since they are passionate and wrote the entire book themselves, I suppose it does qualify as a “living book.”) It is well-organized and covers EVERYTHING on the subject,though you may need additional resources to get further depth. Homeschooling methods, personality types, advice on subject matter, homeschool supplies, field trip ideas, and even book lists are all included.
Easy to relate. The Clarksons include an “In Our Home” section and give lots of examples that make the text come alive. For instance, one of their 12 pillars is “Children learn from real life,” and they give an example of a child seeing and holding a garden snake versus being told what it is and shown pictures. That’s my girl, all right! Once she’d held it, she was eager to peruse lots of snake books.
Focus on books. I love literature-based study. My ideal ~~school~~ life would be to curl up with good books for hours on end, breaking away for practical stuff like ballet lessons and math discussions with Dad.
The overview of different homeschool methodologies. I’ve read up on most of these myself, but it was interesting to read a new perspective and see how the Clarksons categorized some of them. I think this would be extremely helpful for a new homeschooler.
Advice on a learning room. They strongly encourage a room dedicated to learning, and setting up a learning environment throughout your house. Sounds so much like what I wrote!
Personality section. I’m not a big believer in putting kids into boxes, so I almost skipped this, but the “Shaper” Child characteristics caught my eye. That is SO Esmé. It gave me some ideas on how to motivate and work with her, since I personally am at the opposite end of the spectrum.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

There is a reason I am wholeheartedly eclectic. I love gleaning everything I can from different homeschool books, compiling my own methodology and adapting as we go. Here are a few things that don’t work for our family.

Charlotte Mason methodology. I started listing the specific things that I don’t like, and realized most of them can be traced to the influence of Charlotte Mason. While she has some great contributions to education, there are certain principles of hers that just don’t click for us, like delayed formal academics (we’re into acceleration!), emphasis on narration (why make a big deal of something as natural as breathing?), copywork (not creative Esmé’s cup of tea), and criteria for living books and art (I’ll take pop fiction “twaddle” with good values over certain fairy tales any day of the week, and I’m really not into archaic English). I could probably write a whole post on this subject, so I’ll stop here. Thankfully the Clarksons don’t seem to espouse a sparse selection of well-loved books, because that would REALLY bore Miss Esmé.
Various specifics. Certain specific suggestions are given that don’t work for us. We like the beginning reading “gimmicks,” for example. And for handwriting, I think we’ll skip on italics (the style I use when I’m sloppy) and cursive altogether. Not a significant negative in terms of the larger picture.
Family roles. We’re a little unconventional in our homeschooling roles, splitting things between mom, dad, and day care with a friend. Some of the life section just doesn’t fit us.

Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be using it as a reference for years to come. It makes a great roadmap for new and veteran homeschoolers alike.

Thanks to Apologia for providing the book for review and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own.

Total Randomness

2011-10-21T23:06:00.001-07:00

I was looking online for a Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt to go with our pumpkin patch trip to the today (pics coming soon), but didn’t find any, so quickly made up a preschool edition.

And I thought I’d be nice and share with you, but I have never shared documents before, so I’m not sure exactly what I’m doing. I’d love any feedback on how the Google Documents sharing works for you all. (I’ve got a little global series of printables I’m putting together, so hoping this actually works…)

Without further ado, here is the Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt printable. Double-click the picture, and the pdf should open right up.

And, a little shameless self-promotion!

You can find my nominations under The Harried Homeschooler Award and The Meme Forgotten Award – I think I’m a prime candidate for both!

Speaking of awards, Nikki at Joy in the Journey generously passed on the Versatile Blogger award to us – thank you, Nikki! She is a fellow TOS Crew Member and shares a lot of home education ideas. Check this Weekly Wrap-up post for some very cool pumpkin art!

Now, there are a bunch of rules for this award, but I think I’m going to be breaking a lot of them. I thought I’d at least copy Nikki’s “seven things about me” rule, so here goes:

I’ve done my time in college, but love learning and wouldn’t mind earning lots more degrees. Though I have taken enough statistics and calculus to last a lifetime.
I REALLY want to run a marathon. I am trying to figure out how to fit the running in during daylight hours, and with my current schedule, it is an impossibility. I know - I need to shelve my excuses.
We are a six-vehicle family (counting the motorbike), but we live way out away from civilization and my husband needs a fleet to keep up with his construction business. In fact, he’s been having all kinds of adventure with his latest acquisition – if this counts as a vehicle, that would be seven…
We don’t have TV. I mean, we have a nice 54-inch TV and plenty of DVDs, but no TV reception, and internet speeds are so pathetic out here that we don’t get much in the way of internet TV, either.
Esmé wants a tattoo. She doesn’t care what it says or looks like. Alas, her dad won’t even let her try the temporary ones. I don’t have a tattoo. There are some cool ones out there, though.
I really want a big vegetable garden next year, but I am dreading dealing with the multitude of grapes dropping off our vines right now. Any suggestions for grape products you can freeze instead of can?
I like playing the piano, though I've lost what talent I had through lack of practice. I really wish I had a piano. A keyboard is just not the same, and we have no space for even a keyboard to be permanently set up in our house, so I don’t get it out very often. Esmé enjoys singing along with her guitar; alas, no one in our house knows how to tune a guitar, let alone play chords. My dream house includes a library and a sound-proof music room.

I have been debating whether to post our Magic Marker Monday/Poetry post today (Friday), or wait until Monday, when I will be behind a week. I think convention (and lack of time) will win. We have a zillion and one posts in mind, but not the time to get them up. I am rather behind in reviews, also, so you may see a deluge of them, but we’ll try to stagger them with the more personal ones as well.

Wishing you all a restful, peaceful weekend!

Giveaway: Winnie the Pooh

2011-10-21T06:19:00.001-07:00

Hey, Pooh fans! Or Kanga and Roo fans like Miss Esmé!

How would you like a chance to win Disney's Winnie the Pooh on Blu-Ray Combo Pack & DVD - to be released October 25, 2011?

And while you’re waiting, hop or bounce on over the cool Hundred Acre activities and downloads!

To enter:

Comment on this post. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you should you win.
If you are a follower or subscriber of this blog, leave a second comment for a second entry.
For a third entry, take the personality quiz and share which Pooh character you most resemble.

Limited to US residents; no PO boxes. Giveaway ends October 28; winner will be randomly chosen.

Thanks to DBA West/Partners Hub for coordinating this giveaway. We are receiving no compensation for our post.

Review: E-mealz

2011-10-21T05:19:00.001-07:00

I’ve been back in my “hate” relationship with cooking rut. I’ve really been looking for a menu plan with nutritious meals that take 10 minutes or less to prepare, $5 or less for three, no grocery shopping time, considered scrumptious by my 4yo, and while we’re at it, why not just drop the ready-to-serve food at my doorstep and wash the dishes and set the table while you’re here? Mom? Can you come visit?

Anyways…

We recently had the opportunity to try out E-mealz.com, and it was a nice little kick-in-the-pants to step out of the rut on occasion, try some new recipes, and just feel a little more inspired to get the meal on the table already.

Synopsis:

E-Mealz is a simple system to solve your dinner dilemma with easy meals based on delicious recipes and a consistent grocery budget.

e-mealz meal plans...

are written and created by REAL moms with REAL families

are balanced and family friendly

are as easy as possible, but delicious and kid tested!

consist of favorite recipes collected from hundred of moms

come with an organized, aisle by aisle grocery list

are for 4 to 6 people

are based on the current week sales at your grocery

are priced at approximately $75 per week

Two person plans average $35 total per week

E-Mealz has been created to provide a kid-friendly and family-uniting meal planning resource for busy Moms and frugal family cooks. Each meal plan is based on the current sales at the grocery stores, with plan options categorized according to store and/or weight management strategy. The recipes are delicious, simple and easy to follow. Each plan is new every week and has a corresponding aisle-by-aisle grocery list. Almost every week includes a crock-pot recipe and easy dinner ideas. There are meal plans for two people, for a low fat diet, a low carb diet, and for those who are following a portion control system, as well!

Price: You will be billed $15 every 3 months to your credit or debit card. You may cancel your renewal in your member's account.

For More Info/To Purchase: http://e-mealz.com/

For More Reviews: TOS Crew

What Mom Liked:

The shopping list. This printed on one page and was nicely organized by store section, though I had to remember to check out the “staples” section at the bottom of the page, since my pantry isn’t always fully stocked! I also liked the cross-referencing by meal number, so if we decided not to try a specific menu, I could easily eliminate the foods for that menu off my shopping list.
New recipes. I enjoy finding new recipes to add variety to my recipe rotation. (Never would’ve thought of adding cashews to a bean salad, for instance – yummy!) As picky as Esmé is, there were a few recipes that qualified as success for her!
Convenience food for real people. This could be a pro or con for you, but I appreciated the use of convenience items on the menu rather than whole foods all made from scratch. Of course, you could always make your own pizza crust or cook your own beans, but I honestly don’t have the time for that. I loved that easy sandwiches and salads made a regular appearance on the menu.
Plan sizes. I debated putting this under the “Not Like” heading, but decided I do kind of like it. The vegetarian menu options were all for 4-6 people. This meant that many of the meal sizes were sufficient to cover two meals at our house of 3 (including our pint-sized conscientious objector to many foods). Combine that with a couple of nights out, and and a week’s menu lasts us about 2 weeks.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

No vegan options. We’re not strict vegans, but tend in that direction, and the vegetarian recipes use a lot of cheese and eggs. We skipped on a couple of menus because of this. Replacing with vegan substitutes could cost a lot of time or money.
Cost. Of the groceries, that is. There were two vegetarian menu options: one for WalMart, and one for any store. Since we don’t have a grocery store in our WalMart, we went with the any-store option, which means it didn’t take advantage of local sales, etc. I found our grocery bill ran about $100 for 7 dinners. Not terrible, but more than I’d usually spend. Granted – those are dinners for 4-6 people.
Time. This is another feature I wasn’t sure fell under the “Like” or “Not Like” heading. Some meals were quick and easy: toasted sandwiches, etc. Others were a bit daunting to face when you get home at 6:30pm and want to spend quality time with your kid as well as have her in bed by 8pm. From start to finish, most meals took about 45 minutes to an hour to cook.
Nutrition information. Not necessarily a “Not Like” – but it would certainly be a nice feature if nutrition information were added to the menus.

Overall, E-mealz is something I’m likely to purchase again when I need help getting out of a cooking rut. I probably would only get 3 months at a time, since 3 months of recipes will last our family about 6 months. And I need to come up with some easy, low-cost vegan substitutes the next time around.

Thanks to E-mealz.com for providing a 3-month subscription for review and to TOS Crew for coordinating the review. We are not being paid for this review, and all opinions are our own…

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By the way, we are headed to the pumpkin patch today! I just got an email with three pumpkin recipes I’ll be able to put to use. If you’ve got your own pumpkins hanging around, be sure to check E-mealz.com (left column) to get those pumpkin recipes emailed to you for free!

Living Generously…

2011-10-17T01:26:00.001-07:00

My alter-ego is a CFO for a 200-employee nonprofit organization, so you think I’d get the importance of budgeting. And I do – for work. It creates accountability, permits efficient delegation, allows for reasonable oversight. We’ve got budgets within budgets, way up in the middle of the air.

Here at home? Nah. (And most definitely not a specific budget for homeschool supplies and books, aka a wheel within a wheel.)

Why not?

The ~~Moral~~ Sanctimonious Answer. Our family motto is to “live generously.” Following a budget seems to dampen the impulses to give. I don’t want to “plan” my giving – and then feel like I’ve done my duty once I’ve given – like I’m entitled to everything that’s left. It’s ALL God’s, and He is faithful to provide. If He tells us to give, we give. (Ahem… Love the words. Back to our reality.)

Seriously, I far more admire the couple who mortgages their home to sponsor a mission than the couple who has their retirement planned to the T and then some.

The Easy Answer. I’m lazy. Budgeting and tracking expenses accordingly takes work. When I get home from reconciling accounts, the last thing I want to do is reconcile more accounts or try to figure out why Mint.com isn’t working right. I’d rather play with my little girl.

The Real Answer. A bit of both. Plus, budgeting brings out the OCD in me, makes me overanalyze things, visualize the pain and poverty of the world every time I contemplate adding a non-necessity to my shopping cart. I start thinking about what is really a necessity in the global context and have a hard time justifying a haircut, curtains, or a trip to Subway. It’s just easier not to think?

My husband is a deal hunter; he spends hours researching prices without spending anything, and when a great deal is available, he wants to be able to act on it if he has the money. Me? I hate feeling ripped off. I have chronic buyer’s remorse. So, budget or no budget, I tend not to shop much to avoid that feeling.

We always have enough. The secret is letting God define “enough,” I think.

The Homeschool Materials Answer. We have two library cards. We get to review a lot of products. We download all the freebies. We shop 75%-off thrift store sales. When we happen upon something that is just perfect for Esmé, we check around for the very best deal we can find, or we wait for the sale, and we buy it.

We are surrounded by educational materials. Esmé has everything she needs for scholastic excellence.

More important is the development of character.

Esmé doesn’t fully comprehend the value of money yet. We’ve worked on the idea that she needs to save up in order to get some of the things she really wants. Saving is good. Budgeting is good.

More than the gratification of getting something she has been long saving for, however, I want her to experience the joy of giving her entire piggy bank’s contents to someone in need. Not mandated or even encouraged by me, but simply sprouting from a generous spirit.

Esmé definitely does not realize it yet, but she will always have enough.

For other posts on homeschooling budgets, check out the TOS Blog Cruise next week!

Review: A Dog’s Way Home

2011-10-15T23:37:00.001-07:00

Title: A Dog's Way Home
Author: Bobbie Pyron
Genre: Children's book age 9-12

Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins

Physical Description: 336-page hardcover
List Price: $16.99
ISBN: 978-0061986741
For More Info: http://www.bobbiepyron.com/

Synopsis:

One late fall afternoon, a tragic highway accident leaves eleven-year-old Abby and her beloved Shetland sheepdog, Tam, stranded at opposite ends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Though each is determined to be reunited with the other, the days separating them turn to weeks, then months, and dangers and changes fill up Abby's and Tam's lives. Will they ever find their way back home to one another?

Classic in its themes and contemporary in its telling, Bobbie Pyron's A Dog's Way Home is the unforgettable tale of the many miles, months, and mountains that separate two loyal friends—but that can't possibly keep them apart.

About the Author:

Bobbie Pyron calls A Dog's Way Home "my own personal love letter to all the great, classic dog books I've read and loved—and to all the dogs I've loved too." As a part-time librarian, Bobbie enjoys sharing dog stories and books of all kinds with readers. Bobbie is also the author of The Ring, a teen novel about the world of competitive boxing.

When she's not writing, working as a librarian, or volunteering with animal rescue organizations, Bobbie and her dogs Boo, Teddy, and Sherlock can often be found walking in the woods of Park City, Utah, with her husband, Todd.

What I Liked:

The awesome dog. Even if you're not a huge dog fan, little Tam will tug at your heartstrings. His intelligence, perseverance, and loyalty had me rooting for him from the get-go.
Family values. I appreciated Abby's relationship with her parents and her Meemaw. Very real, complete with misunderstandings and conflict, but also full of love. I could so relate to the mom's comment about Abby being her northern star.
Abby's rock-her-world character. Abby didn't allow herself to be classified as a misfit, but rather changed the world of those around her for the better. She stayed upbeat and action-oriented in spite of personal disappointments. A great role-model of a character for middle-schoolers.
The dog's perspective. I've never thought much about all the challenges, human and wild, a dog might face on his own. The author did a great job entwining a range of characters into the dog's story.
Easy readability. This was an easy page-turner, with enough action to keep the reader engaged throughout as Tam's rescue seemed just within reach, only to be thwarted again and again.

Overall, this is a terrific kid-friendly book that I look forward to introducing to my animal-loving daughter when she is just a bit older. The book included references to "the Sight" that, as a Christian reader, I initially questioned, but it left plenty of room for interpretation depending on the reader's paradigm. Thanks to the author for an uplifting, positive children's book to add to my library!

Thanks to the author for the review copy of this book and to Premier Virtual Author Book Tours for coordinating this tour.

Comment on our giveaway post of The Ring, also authored by Bobbie Pyron, by 10/25 for a chance to win!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

2011-10-13T07:14:00.001-07:00

OK, so I’m two days behind now, and I can’t blame Columbus Day anymore. Such is the life, I tell you…

For today’s Tiny Talk Tuesday, here is a glimpse into life with 4yo Esmé, the set-up master. You ALWAYS gotta be on your toes.

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Setting: Family is hanging out in the living room. Esmé is supposed to start getting ready for bed. She has asked for juice, but has been told her only option at this time is water.

Dad: Go brush your teeth, Esmé.

Esmé: No.

Dad: Don’t say “no” to me!

Esmé: If you asked me if I wanted juice, and I really didn’t want any, what should I tell you then?

Mom: “No, thank you.”

Esmé: Well, then, “no, thank you” to brushing my teeth!

---------------

Setting: Dad is driving Esmé home from the park and using the educational opportunity for a spelling drill.

Dad: M-A-R-I-T-Z-M-A-R-I-T-Z-M-A-R-I-T-Z-M-A-R-I-T-Z-M-A-R-I-T-Z-M-A-R-I-T-Z…

Esmé: [with total attitude] Just pay attention to the road, Dad!

Dad: You’re funny!

Esmé: I am NOT funny. [Pause. Blows a raspberry.] Dad, you farted! [Pause.] Was that funny?

Dad: No!

Esmé: See, I told you I wasn’t funny!

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Here are a few Esmé quotes I’ve put on facebook, but not on the blog yet:

"If God made cookies, they would be shaped like us."

"Feeling blue: When you're all bruised on the inside."

Observation on the states of water: "When a snowman gets hot, it becomes a steam-man."

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Last but not least, Esmé has decided to write and illustrate “stories for other children to read.” Her first story is posted over on her blog. I am thinking we need a little work on character and plot development before she gets published, but everybody starts somewhere… :)

Magic Marker Monday with Poetry

2011-10-11T08:40:00.001-07:00

This whole Columbus Day thing has me off a day, so I think I will pass on my date confusion to you. Today we will do Magic Marker Monday with a side of Poetry. Tomorrow we will do Tiny Talk Tuesday. And the weekend will be here ever so much sooner. Got it? Good…

Let’s start with our brilliant fall tree. The trunk was made by tracing Esmé’s arm. Please note the little holes in the trunk where tiny animals live. I confess to painting in the tree trunk a tad bit for Miss Esmé, as she was too busy dotting her leaves to finish up the trunk edges. Is that illegal? It is really bothering my conscience.

On to poetry. Week Three at the Mankato Homeschooling Examiner is on Easy Poetry Forms for Kids. I think they mean kids over 4 years of age. I decided to start with an acrostic. After explaining the concept to Esmé, she came up with this pretty much on her own. I take no credit for any sense you might be able to contrive from it.

House for Jesus

Elephant-sized

Antlike strength

Roller skating

To the water

Since no poem is complete without an illustration, Esmé undertook one for you. Now you can totally visualize the poem, right?

I wanted to tackle a haiku next, but Esmé preferred to write a grocery list, illustrated by a rhino-alligator that was sad because it had been sawn in half. As a huge fan of checklists, I am so proud! Be still, my beating heart!

I totally think checklists should be in a poetry class all their own.

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

~Pablo Picasso

Review: The Story of Noah’s Ark

2011-10-11T08:15:00.001-07:00

Ever since Esmé was teeny tiny and her Grandma played Noah’s Ark with her in a cardboard box with a whole lotta stuffed animals and way stormy seas, Noah has been a favorite story of hers.

Pair that story up with some bright wall clings, and you’ve got a winning combination!

Title: The Story of Noah’s Ark: Wall Clings
Author: Lori C. Froeb
Genre: Christian children’s picture book
ISBN: 978-0-8254-5552-0
Recommended Age: 3-5
Publisher: Kregel Publications
List Price: $9.99
To Purchase: Kregel Publications

Synopsis:

The story of Noah and his ark is one of the most frequently read stories in the Bible. With this deluxe set, kids can use the wall clings to recreate the awesome scene of all the animals boarding the ark. As they read about Noah and his adventure, children are prompted to stick the vinyl clings on any painted wall. The clings safely stick and easily peel right off, so kids can rearrange them however they choose and reuse them for hours of enjoyment!

What Esmé Liked:

The clings! She grabbed them as soon as she saw the book and immediately decoupaged her little stool. Then she went to her easel whiteboard and told the story there.

What Mom Liked:

A new take on a classic. While the story is simply told, there is an emphasis on the role of the animals; e.g. how Noah and his wife reminded comforted them during the storm. Perfect for animal-lovers like my daughter.
Bright illustrations. Great attention-getters for little ones. We probably spent as much time discussing the illustrations as we did reading the words.
Clings. I love the ability to act out and role-play the story with the use of the clings. A great dramatization feature. The clings stick better to some surfaces than others, but in our experience, they leave no residue and are easy to take off.

What Mom Didn’t Like:

For the most part, nothing. There were a few liberties taken that Esmé was quick to catch on to; for instance, the rain starting as the last animals entered the ark when the Biblical account has the rain starting 7 days later. Overall, this was a cheery addition to our Bible story library.

Thanks to Kregel Publications for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a frank and unbiased review.

The Homeschool Misfit Awards

2011-10-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

It’s time for the Homeschool Misfit Awards! I figure I should be up for a handful of them. Like…

The Harried Homeschooler Award- "Good thing I don't neglect my kids like I do my blog." or "Who are all these kids and why are they wanting my attention when I'm trying to blog?". This is the blogger who has every intention of blogging regularly, but life just gets in the way sometime. Her family expects regular meals. What's up with that?

I’ve definitely got good intentions! Skip the meals already, I say. Or…

The Meme Forgotten Award - For those who begin a meme, mentally commit to following through weekly, and then promptly forget or manage it sporadically at best.

Do I have to count how many memes I’m not keeping up with?

Thanks to NotSoSuperwoman for hosting these awards of awesomeness. There are some very cool prizes, so if you are a homeschooler, be sure to take a look, nominate yourself, or nominate ME as we celebrate our misfitness! Nominations are open until October 19, 2011.

GiveawayBlogs Contest!

2011-10-05T08:12:00.001-07:00

Look who is showing up on the GiveawayBlogs photo contest page as a winner!

Miss Esmé wasn’t *supposed* to include her name in the magnetic words, but she just couldn’t help herself. :)

If you are interested in hosting giveaways on your blog, check out GiveawayBlogs…

WW: Uncle Raleigh

2011-10-05T07:52:00.001-07:00

My Uncle Raleigh, married to my mom’s twin sister, was killed in a crash yesterday.

We will see you in the morning, dear uncle!

Love to your family…

Memories of quintessential Uncle Raleigh:

Who is the real bride at this rehearsal?

And the real dog?

Hey, that’s ME holding the leash!

Hmm… wonder who he is here?

Yes, that would be our tent he knocked down, residents inside and all.

The twinny moments will just not be the same.

Missing you already…

Wearing a Smile…

2011-10-03T07:34:00.001-07:00

In this season of masks and disguises, do you have your smile on?

Sometimes I think I need Esmé to just draw one on my face with her Sharpies. She’s been getting lots of practice with that.

We’re discussing positive attitudes over at The Homeschool Village today. What do YOU do to get your smile on? To help your child with hers?

Happy Monday!

Review: A Young Scholar’s Guide to Composers

2011-10-03T07:23:00.001-07:00

Did you know Mozart started learning keyboard and composition when he was just four? I’ve been trying to figure out how to juggle that into Esmé’s schedule now…

Seriously, we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing A Young Scholar’s Guide to Composers: A full year’s curriculum on 32 weekly lessons by Melissa Craig and Maggie S. Hogan. Prodigy or not, there was no way we were going to get all the way through this comprehensive book in time for a review, so I skimmed through and picked out the lesson on Mozart to serve as the basis of a unit study.

Partly because I figured Esmé could relate to a 4yo. Partly because there is just so much supplemental stuff available on this composer. Partly because I like his music – it just flows naturally; when playing it on my flute, it’s like the notes just play themselves.

Mostly, though, because I loved the faith-based elements of this lesson. I liked finding a role-model who, though having no money to give, gave anyway, composing a piece of music for a beggar to sell. A man whose last work on earth, Requiem, spoke of God.

Synopsis:

To fully understand classical music, your children should study each composer's biography, and there is no easier way than with A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers. This trouble-free, thirty-two–week course provides a reflective look at twenty-six famous composers, their music, and the period God placed them in. Of significant importance to those of us who want to know, the authors have also delved into each composer's character traits and Christian testimony (or lack thereof).

Included in A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers are easy-to-use maps, a comparative timeline, quizzes, answer keys, listening suggestions, intricate coloring pages, and much more. It is obvious that the authors have done the work, which means you don't have to. This is ideal for grades 4–8, but is so easily adaptable for younger and older students that it makes a perfect study for the entire family.

Recommended Age: 9-13
Publisher: Bright Ideas Press
List Price: $34.95; on Timberdoodle’s site for $31.50
For Sample Pages and To Purchase: Timberdoodle
For More Reviews: “Because Mom Said!”

What Esmé Liked:

Mozart’s connections to royalty. Making the composer card. And the map! Finding and marking Austria on the map.

What Mom Liked:

Christian Focus. It’s interesting how learning more about the composer’s character traits and Christian testimony (or lack thereof) adds to my experience of their music.
Many Components. This would make a great notebooking project. In addition to lessons and quizzes, it also includes composer info cards, timelines, maps, and coloring pages. A list of listening suggestions, including website addresses, is a great feature as well.
Organization by Time Periods. If you are planning to study history from a timeline perspective, as we are, this fits in nicely. The majority of chapters cover composers from the Baroque Period, or 1600, onward.
Ease of Use. There is a suggested 3-day weekly schedule in the introduction; however, the text itself doesn’t refer back to the schedule, so you can easily modify and adjust as needed. The chapters are well-organized and consistent. There is enough range of material that you can easily adapt the curriculum for multiple children of various ages.

Thanks, Timberdoodle, for providing this amazing product! You can find more Music for Homeschoolers or request a Free Homeschool Catalog from Timberdoodle, You can also find out about cool giveaways or join in homeschool conversations on Timberdoodle’s facebook page.

As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team, I received a free copy of A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers in exchange for a frank and unbiased review.

Breathe. Just Breathe.

2011-10-02T21:54:00.001-07:00

My mind is swirling with unfinished work issues as I switch gears from working mom to homeschooling mamma.

I think I can put off the bank deposit and the grocery store trip until another day?

Maybe I should pick up fast food or pop a frozen pizza in the oven so we can squeeze in a cool science experiment I’ve been thinking about?

Or we should make it a home economics night and cook up that nice healthy dinner on our menu plan, hoping we can have it ready and eaten before bath and bedtime?

Perhaps I should sit Esmé in front of a vaguely educational DVD and tackle the stack of dirty dishes overtaking the kitchen first?

Homeschooling goals? It’s all about survival…

Working full-time has definitely changed my approach to homeschooling:

1. It is unplanned and sporadic. I’m happy to cover anything at all. I don’t need a schedule or plan to make me feel guilty about all we’re not getting to.

2. It surrounds us. I stock up on educational materials when I find them on sale. There is always something to grab and use when we have a free educational moment, like while Esmé is sucking her gummy vitamins to put off bedtime instead of chewing them, thereby remaining quiet ~~and attentive~~ for a significant length of time.

3. It is child-influenced. There’s so little time that I don’t want to spend it in a battle of wills. I’d rather spend a half-hour doing something Esmé is enthralled with than 2 hours figuring out how to manipulate her into completing her assigned math workbook pages.

So, let’s talk homeschool-related goals.

Organization. There’s gotta be a limit to how unplanned and sporadic we are, hey? I want Esmé to ~~get her closet color coordinated~~ figure out how to put her laundry away – and we’ve been working on decluttering together as well. For me: Declutter the unused educational materials? Develop a menu plan of healthy 10-minute meals Esmé will actually eat? Figure out how to clean the house in an hour a week? Find an hour in the week to devote to cleaning house?

Homemaking. I figure this is Esmé’s year to earn her keep with housekeeping. At least start making her bed.

Math. In trying to get past Esmé’s math-worksheet-delay-tactics, I discovered the Life of Fred Elementary Series. At the rate the Miss is going, she’ll be a step ahead of the publisher by school year’s end. Ready for calculus next year, perchance?

Reading. Esmé’s got 1st-grade skills here, but she’s not interested. At the rate she’s going, I’ll have read aloud through the Junie B. Jones series by Christmas, and she’ll have memorized all the snake and frog picture books (sans words) in the library. Big goal – convince her that “ballet” is spelled b-a-l-l-e-t. She thinks I am making this up.

Bible. Esmé will be able to plot every Your Story Hour Bible story on her maps – she’s already got the stories memorized. At least the ones she likes. Like Samson. And Nicodemus. And I will happily answer her many questions that come at the most inconvenient moments. Like “How do you become born again?” while I am trying to find ginger in the grocery store.

Character Building. We’ll have this obedience thing worked out. Or I will have answered every single “WHY?” Esmé can think of by year end, thanks to Google.

Physical Activity. I am going to run a marathon! As soon as I wash the dishes. And Esmé will stop being scared of her Heelys. And will hold her breath underwater.

All the Other Subjects. I will provide fair blog reviews of a diverse range of educational products, on schedule. In the process, Esmé will be exposed to all kinds of topics she might not otherwise come across. Like classical music.

And whenever she decides to adopt a garter snake or build an Eiffel Tower from Legos, I will provide bunches of books on the topics so she can peruse them ad infinitum.

Maybe I should just let Esmé set her own goals. This morning I walked into this assortment of books neatly laid out on her bed. I think she did a better job planning today’s curriculum than I would’ve done…

Check out the TOS Crew Blog Cruise for more on homeschool-related goals…

Review: WonderMaps

2011-10-02T08:54:00.001-07:00

Now that we’ve covered basic map concepts (compass rose, keys, grids, etc.) and reviewed the continents, it’s about time to naturally integrate some geography into our daily studies, methinks.

For example, we were reviewing the story of Ruth and Naomi. While we discussed it, Esmé put together her TP-roll Ruth, and on her map we followed the path Naomi took to Moab, and then back with Ruth to Bethlehem. A great way to put things in context!

Now, where did we get such fabu-ful maps, you ask? Thank you, WonderMaps!

Synopsis:

Choose any one of the 350 different maps and then customize it to fit your child’s level of study. Wonderfully versatile, each map has a variety of layers that you can turn on or off with a simple checkbox. Need a basic outline of a country, it’s there. Want to add cities, borders, terrain, even color? Each is just a click away. Easy-to-use layers even allow you to see how borders changed over time!

WonderMaps is divided into four categories: maps of the world, maps of the USA, historical maps, and thematic maps (including biblical maps). Plus, if your family uses either The Mystery of History or All American History, you will be delighted to know that WonderMaps includes the complete map sets from each entire series! Your options when using WonderMaps are seemingly endless. Using maps in your homeschool will bring needed perspective not only to history, but to literature, science and biblical studies as well.

Recommended Age: A great resource all through the school years and beyond
Publisher: Bright Ideas Press
List Price: $49.95; on Timberdoodle’s site for $44.95
To Purchase: Timberdoodle
For More Reviews: “Because Mom Said!”
To Get a Feel For It: Watch the tutorial on YouTube

What Mom Liked:

Comprehensiveness. You’ve got current world maps at various levels (world, continent, region, nation, etc.), as well as US maps, historical maps, and thematic maps. I’ve been exploring the thematic section, which includes World Wars, Explorers, and Biblical Maps amongst others. So far the Biblical Maps section is my favorite.
Usefulness. If you’d like to use this as part of a curriculum, it ties beautifully with The Mystery of History and All American History. However, it makes a great resource for any type of educational method, I think – from unit studies to unschooling, and more. I anticipate using it regularly in our literature units as we put stories in context. Maps can also be used to locate artist birthplaces, identify natural animal habitats, follow migratory patterns, or serve as a prayer map for missionaries and sponsored kids.
Customizability. Most of the maps come with a set of layers you can turn on or off. This means you can simplify a map for a younger child by unchecking the cities, rivers, and terrains, for example. You can view a historical map with modern overlay for context, or not. You can take off the country names for a child’s memory check, and so much more.
Ease of Use. This program is easy to install. It uses Adobe Reader, a free software most of us are familiar with. The maps are broken out into four categories, each with a clickable index that takes you exactly where you want to go.
Bonus Features. There are several resources in the Teacher’s Guide that I am absolutely loving. Easy mapping projects, salt-dough maps, and a sample unit on Joseph’s Journey that I plan to use very soon, for starters.
Printability. These maps print beautifully on 8.5x11” paper. No hunting down special legal or 11x17” paper, even if your printer could handle it. There is even a color overlay for maps that have a lot of color that you can turn it off for cheaper BW printing.
Value. Considering you can use this for years to come, for a variety of purposes, it is an excellent value for the money. This product makes it on my short “must-have” list for homeschoolers…

Thanks, Timberdoodle, for providing this amazing product! You can find more Hands-on Geography products, Geography Puzzles, or request a Free Homeschool Catalog from Timberdoodle, You can also find out about cool giveaways or join in homsechool conversations on Timberdoodle’s facebook page.

As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of WonderMaps in exchange for a frank and unbiased review.

Fashion Friday: Girl’s Curls

2011-09-30T07:13:00.001-07:00

It feels like eons since we last did a Fashion Friday in this house. I’ve been wondering why.

Maybe Esmé’s tastes have become more normalized?

Maybe I’m starting to view pink flowery pants, orange striped shirt, and red Barbie hoodies as acceptable clothing combinations?

Regardless, it’s time to highlight a very important look of Esmé’s. It can last all of 5 minutes if we’re careful, but it is one she is oh-so-proud of.

Curls!

Do you have any tricks for keeping curls in super-fine straight kiddie hair?

Looking through my Fashion Friday folder, I’m traveling down memory lane! Here are a few shots that never made it to blog press before…

Dressed for an excursion into the backyard jungle – you can never be too prepared!

A rose is always a perfect accessory, especially if you snuck into Mom’s lipstick…

Plus, when you pair your swimming suit with your Sleeping Beauty dress-up gown, you gotta make up your face as well. Markers always do in a pinch.

Just a lil’ old shopping trip brings to light the most awesomest glasses! Yes? Please?

That’s the end of the fashion show for today, folks! Have a lovely, fashionable weekend!

Review/Giveaway: Raising a Daughter After God’s Own Heart

2011-09-29T23:42:00.000-07:00

Title: Raising a Daughter After God’s Own Heart
Author: Elizabeth George
Genre: Christian Family
How to enter: Leave a comment! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: October 10, 2011
Restrictions: Open internationally!

This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.
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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Elizabeth George

and the book:

Raising a Daughter After God's Own Heart

Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri | Marketing Assistant of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth George, whose books have sold more than 6.5 million copies, is the author of A Woman After God’s Own Heart® (more than 1 million copies sold) and Breaking the Worry Habit Forever! She’s also a popular speaker at Christian women’s events. Elizabeth and her husband, Jim, are parents and grandparents, and have been active in ministry for more than 30 years.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Elizabeth George, bestselling author and mother of two daughters, provides biblical insight and guidance for every mom who wants to lead their daughter to a godly life through example, study, and prayer. Elizabeth includes questions to draw moms and daughter closer as together they pursue spiritual priorities and God’s heart.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736917721
ISBN-13: 978-0736917728

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

The Bell Sheep

Part 1 — Earning Your Bell

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
And these words which I command you today
shall be in your heart.

— Deuteronomy 6:5

On a recent Christmas Sunday, my husband, Jim, and I and our family of 14 arrived at a church service extra early to make sure we didn’t end up in the “Standing Room Only” section for this special occasion. With my bulletin in hand and several minutes to spare before the service started, I opened my Bible and looked up the Scripture passage the pastor would focus on during his message. Then I read through some additional teaching notes and commentary in the margin of my Bible. One article was entitled “The Bell Sheep.”

The bell sheep? What in the world is that? I wondered. I read on. The article explained that when a shepherd noticed a sheep who willingly followed him and stayed near him, he hung a bell around the neck of that sheep so the flock would follow the bell sheep…who, in turn, was following the shepherd.

Knowing I would begin writing Raising a Daughter After God’s Own Heart as soon as the Christmas holiday was over, I almost jumped out of my seat when I read this. I was shouting out in my mind, “That’s it! That’s it! A mom should be the bell sheep for her daughter!”

And it’s true! When we as mothers stay close to Jesus—as close as close can be, and when we love Him with all our heart just the way Jesus said to, and when we willingly follow Him and His Word, guess what? We become His bell sheep for our daughters to follow. Our girls observe—and copy—our behavior. They can—and will—follow our example. We become their very own personal walking, living, real flesh and blood, visual example of what it means to be a child, girl, tween, teen, and woman after God’s own heart.

How to Be a Bell Sheep…in Three Verses

Finally Christmas was over, meaning it was D-Day for me—or more accurately, W-Day as in Writing Day. So I sat down to begin and wondered and prayed, “Where does Christian childrearing really begin? And what is Thing 1, Goal 1 for a mom?”

In a few seconds I had the answer! And it came from God’s Word. It was packaged in three verses I had discovered as a young mom, and also as a baby Christian. I flashed back on those early new-believer days of excitement, of newness, of need as I hungered to find out for the first time what God teaches about…everything! And especially “What in the world am I supposed to do with two little toddling girls?”

I’m so glad a wise woman had advised me to read in my new Bible every day. Well, the day arrived when I made it to the book of Deuteronomy. And there I hit gold when my eyes landed on Deuteronomy 6:5-7. I was stunned. Amazed. Thrilled! God was actually showing me His guidelines for raising my own little daughters, then only one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half years old. And in only three verses! How practical is that? Here’s what I read over and over again and finally memorized:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

I adore these verses because they are packed with clear communication to moms. God goes straight to the heart of the matter—the parent’s heart, the mom’s heart. He knows we become what we love. So He is utterly straightforward about where we are to place our love: We are to love Him supremely.

Two Questions to Ask Yourself

Believe me, I thought through this powerful passage—a lot! Then I took it apart word by word and thought by thought. And I came up with two questions I constantly asked my heart during those days with little girls, and still ask even today with two married daughters who are now raising their daughters. (After all, a mom is always a mom!)

Heart Question #1: What—and whom—do I love?

We “love” a lot of things for a lot of different reasons. But God prescribes perimeters and scope for our love. He tells us what not to love: “Do not love the world or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). And He tells us what we are to love and where our love is to be focused—we are to “love the Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

But hold on. The Lord goes a step further and demands all of our love. He wants us to love Him with every fiber of our being—every breath, every ounce of energy, every thought, every emotion and passion, every choice. He wants us to love Him. He wants us to think first of Him and to desire above all else to please Him. And He wants that love to be intense and total, “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” As writer Matthew Henry summarizes, “He that is our all demands our all.”

Matthew Henry continues on to point out that our love for God is to be a strong one that is lived out with great enthusiasm and fervency of affection. It is to be a love that burns like a sacred fire, a love that causes our every affection to flow toward Him.

Now, apply this information about the strength of this kind of love for God and think about the love you have for your daughter, for your children. I’m sure you’ve heard others say, “There is no love like a mother’s love.” And it’s true! From the split second we know a baby is on the way, all our thoughts, dreams, prayers, and goals are channeled toward that little one. We are completely consumed and preoccupied by this tiny being. As the baby grows within us, our love blossoms and our commitment to it grows right along with our expanding body.

Immediately we begin to prepare physically for his or her arrival by meticulously taking care of our health. Healthy mom equals healthy baby, we’re told. We also prepare physically by setting up a nursery area for the new little addition. A bassinet or crib. A blanket. A mobile. Clothes. Supplies. Loads of diapers! Sometimes we even paint or remodel a room.

Then we moms get to work preparing our schedule. Maybe we have to quit a job or arrange for a leave of absence. Oh, and we have to find a pediatrician, as well as make time for our own doctor appointments. And, if we’re smart, we begin to prepare by gathering wisdom and information from our own moms, other moms, and from classes, books, and the Internet.

But as much as we obsess and focus on an approaching child, God wants us to obsess and focus even more on Him. That’s because the more we love Him, the more we will know about love. And the more we know about love, the more we will know about how to love. And the more we know about how to love, the more we will love our baby, our child, our daughter. I like what C.S. Lewis wrote about his love for God and how it affected his relationship with his wife: “When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.” Mom, your love for God will prepare you to love your child. The more you love the Lord, the better you shall love your earthly dearest daughter.

So…God’s first assignment to any and every mother is to love Him above all else. If you are a sold-out, on-fire, hot-hearted, committed-to-God woman, you will be infinitely further down the road to being the kind of mom who, by His grace, can raise a daughter after God’s own heart. Because all your love centers upon God, and because you follow Him with all your heart, you will qualify to lead your daughter to follow God too—to be…well…God’s bell sheep for her.

Heart Question #2: What’s in my heart?

I don’t know what’s in your heart, and I’m working on what’s in mine! But God tells both of us what is supposed to be there, what He wants to be there. Here it is: He says, “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart” (verse 6).

And here’s the scene surrounding these words: In Deuteronomy 6, Moses is in the final weeks of his life. It has been 40 years since God’s people left Egypt, 40 years of homeless wanderings in the desert. At last a new generation was poised to enter into the Promised Land. But before they move out, Moses restates the Law one more time to this new generation that had been born in the wilderness. Because this next generation had married and now had—and would have—children, he addresses their spiritual responsibility as parents. As Moses speaks, he doesn’t want these moms and dads to merely hear the words of the Law and the Ten Commandments. No, he wants more, way more! He wants the words of the Law to go beyond their ears and reside in their hearts.

You may want to look again at Deuteronomy 6:6, but it tells us that God’s Word, the Bible, is to be in our hearts. Other passages in the Bible send us this same message:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night (Joshua 1:8).

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11).

My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you…bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 7:1,3).

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16).

The message is repeated…and loud, isn’t it? And clear! God’s Word is to be in our heart. He asks this of you and me as moms. Why? Because when truth resides in your heart, then you have something to pass on to your daughter. She benefits! And you benefit too: As a mother you have something to guide you when you need help, strength, wisdom, and perseverance in your role as a mom, as a bell sheep. Don’t get me wrong—having and raising a child is perhaps the greatest earthly blessing you will ever enjoy. But, at the same time, it is the greatest challenge. But take heart, mom! God’s Word will always be there in you, with you, and for you as you guide your daughter in the ways of the Lord.

So…God’s second assignment for you as a mom is to be committed to His Word. You are to do whatever it takes to embed the teachings of the Bible in your heart, soul, and mind. As the saying goes, “You cannot impart what you do not possess.” The same is true of moms. To teach and guide, lead and raise a daughter after God’s own heart presupposes and requires that God’s truth be in your heart first. Then you possess something to impart. Then you have the most important thing to pass on to your precious daughter—the truth about God and the grace He extends through His Son, Jesus.

Becoming the Bell Sheep

I hope your heart is responding fervently to our initial glimpse at this primary role in the life of a mom after God’s own heart—that of being your daughter’s very own bell sheep. But maybe you are feeling like you need a little help. Well, read on to find out how to become the bell sheep. Practical help is on the way!

Part 2 — Ringing Your Bell

You shall teach them diligently to your children,

and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,

when you walk by the way, when you lie down,

and when you rise up.

— Deuteronomy 6:6-7

When my girls were young, I didn’t know about the bell sheep. But if I had, I would have wanted with all my heart to be one. And I would have been praying, “Oh, dear Father! You know how much I desire to be a bell sheep for my daughters. My greatest goal in life is to lead them to Jesus and teach them His ways.” I’m imagining this same heart-cry is being lifted heavenward from your soul’s core too.

As you’ve probably learned, knowing there is something God wants you to do is crucial. And wanting to do what God wants you to do is vital. But if you don’t know how to do what it is God wants you to do, you can become extremely frustrated.

So now we come to the big issue of how do I do this thing God wants—and expects—me to do? Well, here we go!

Yes, but How?

How does a mom help her daughter develop a heart for God? Deuteronomy 6:7 comes to the rescue and answers this question for you and me. God says, “You shall teach them diligently to your children” (verse 7). A mom who wholeheartedly loves the Lord and holds God’s words in her heart is to teach them to her sons and daughters.

— “To teach” There are two key ways to teach—by model and by mouth. And there are some basic practices you can follow for teaching effectively. I have a degree in education and have taught preschoolers, students from grades seven through twelve, and adults taking night school classes. Teaching was a job and I took it seriously. I developed my lesson plans for each day, week, month, semester, and school year. And I studied and prepared in advance for each day’s classes.

I also have a daughter who homeschools. I am in constant awe of her commitment. She plans out each year. She searches for materials for five children and their respective grade levels. She orders curriculum to arrive well before back-to-school day so she can preview it. Then she plans in advance the best way to teach, lead, and guide the five of them through each day of study.

Now picture this: I taught subjects that had nothing to do with God or with being a Christian, and so does my daughter. Imagine the effort we both put into teaching information and facts. And here in Deuteronomy 6:7, God is telling both of us—and all moms—to teach our children His Word, His ways, His truth. Now, this is life-changing stuff! The Bible is wisdom that will guide their lives and their choices. It is truth that will pierce a heart and bring a daughter to Christ. So be aware that every time you teach God’s Word you, the bell sheep, are ringing your bell! You are signaling to your daughter the priceless value of the treasure of the Scriptures.

This is exactly what happened in the New Testament to Timothy. As the apostle Paul said of Timothy, his trusted associate in ministry, “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). God’s Word is dynamite! And Timothy’s mom and grandmom, a mother/daughter tag team after God’s own heart, were faithful to ring their bells! They were faithful to teach him the sacred truths of the Bible, which paved the way for Timothy’s salvation. Mom and grandmom did their part—they fulfilled their mission to teach God’s saving truth. And God certainly did His part!

Time out for a second. I’m thinking as we pause here, shouldn’t a mom after God’s own heart who wants to raise a daughter after God’s own heart take her teaching of Scripture seriously? If you are in this position, shouldn’t you be committed to…

…instructing your daughter in God’s ways?

…planning to some extent how you will accomplish this goal?

…scheduling a time each day for some kind of formal Bible time with her?

…encouraging her to have some time alone with God, a quiet time?

…coaching her in ways to have daily devotions?

…searching for age-appropriate materials and talking with other moms about how they teach their children biblical truth?

…praying daily about this mission from God, this teacher role He has personally given you?

— “To teach diligently” Next God tells us in verse 7 to “teach them diligently to your children.” The “them” is what you are to teach—God’s Word and His commands. And “diligently” is how you are to teach—being purposeful and conscientious in a task or duty.

Think about this for a minute: What are you diligent about? Some women diligently floss their teeth. Others are so diligent they would never miss their daily exercise or walk, or be late to work, or fail to pay a bill on time. I know women who are so serious about every bite of food they put into their mouths that they diligently record what they eat in a daily log. On and on goes the list of life instances in which women choose to be diligent instead of careless, or lazy, or negligent.

Now switch your thoughts to doing what God says, to being diligent to teach spiritual truth to your daughter…versus leaving this all-important assignment to someone else, such as a church leader or a Christian school or a grandparent. Don’t get me wrong! These are wonderful and needed resources. But they are to be your partners in imparting truth, not your substitutes. You as a mother are to be the bell sheep who rings the bell of truth like crazy! You, mom, are to be the primary model and teacher of truth to your daughter.

Well, thank the Lord He doesn’t leave moms on their own. This isn’t mission impossible. No, it’s mission possible. God knows most moms don’t have a degree in education or training in teaching. And, whew, God doesn’t expect this or demand it! Aren’t you glad? Instead, He tells us how to teach and what this teaching involves. He says, “You…shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (verse 7).

No matter who you are, or what you do or don’t know about teaching—or how busy you are!—God expects you to pour God’s Word out of your heart and into your daughter’s heart. All you have to do is:

Step 1, love the Lord with all your heart;

Step 2, have God’s Word in your heart; and now

Step 3, teach His truths diligently.

By…what? Talking?! You mean that’s all? That’s it? Yes, that’s it—by talking.

Now I ask you, you’re a woman. How hard can talking be? Why, we girls are the world’s experts when it comes to talking!

And note where all our mother-to-daughter talking and teaching is to take place—at home. Nothing could be easier or more natural or more convenient than home sweet home! You don’t need elaborate plans. You don’t need to dress up or go anywhere. You don’t need to start the car. And you don’t need to spend any money. No. God simply says that “when you sit in your house,” you are to talk about Him.

Whew again—this one’s easy! You sit to relax. You sit to eat. You sit to visit. You sit to read. You sit to work on a craft together. And you sit whenever you’re in the car together. No matter what your daughter’s age is, these natural, low-key, sitting instances provide prime opportunities to talk about the Lord and His love and His promises…and His Son.

And “when you walk by the way” you are to talk about the Lord. From babyhood, to toddler times, to little girl, to schoolgirl, you’ll be walking with your daughter. That’s your special time for talking about the Lord. So…

Got a newborn? You will walk…and walk…and walk each time you calm your crying, ill, or restless baby. And you’ll put in miles pushing her stroller. And you’ll find yourself talking baby talk to her. I laughed out loud when I read this true-to-motherhood quip: “Being a mom means talking to your baby all the time.” So go ahead and talk all you want. It will develop the habit in you—and tune your baby girl’s heart to your voice.

How about a school-age daughter? If you walk your young daughter to school or to and from the school bus stop, you get to talk about the Lord. Tell her how He will help her through her time at school, with her test or report, with making friends. If you walk to the mailbox down the road, take your daughter along and chat about the wonders of the Lord and what it means to know Him. Let her know how she can trust Him and talk to Him anytime, anywhere, and ask for His help. When you walk together through the grocery store or the mall, again, make that an opportunity to talk about God and His provision and blessings. If there’s a breathtaking sunrise, sunset, rainbow, or wonder of nature—a bird’s nest, blooming flowers, even something as small as a dandelion, go outside and marvel at God’s handiwork together. And while you’re at it, do as the psalmist did and “talk” of His doings. “Praise” the Lord for His mighty acts and His greatness. “Declare” His faithfulness.

And then come the teen years. Hopefully you and your daughter have developed the habit of talking to each other about any and every thing, and especially about the Lord. So during her teen years, when things can get a little weird, and she may even see you as a little weird, you can still talk because of your history of talking. Believe me, if you are available, and care, and give her your love and attention, she will spill all!

And if you haven’t developed this early habit of talking, don’t worry and don’t give up. Just be sure you start now. Start talking, even if your daughter doesn’t seem to be listening. She is hearing, and what you say in loving wisdom will be filed away in her mind and heart. And it won’t go away. She won’t be able to shake it or forget it. Draw your strength from the Lord and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). And if your daughter won’t talk to you, that’s okay. Just know before God that you talked, just like He asked you to do. You faithfully rang your bell. You shared truth from His Word. And take comfort in the fact that God promises His Word will not go forth in vain but will accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 55:11).

And to end each day and start the next, God tells you what to do in Deuteronomy 6:7: “When you lie down, and when you rise up,” talk! Talk about the Lord, and keep on talking about Him. You can help even your tiny young daughter start her days and end them with thoughts of God in her mind. You can greet your waking girl with, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Or you can call out, “There you are, my precious blessing from the Lord! Good morning!” And at night, prayer is the perfect way to put a little—and big!—girl to bed. It puts her day and all that happened to rest. It calms all sorrows and soothes every hurt from the day. And it quells her fears. Like David testified, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me,” and “I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 3:5 and 4:8).

So…another of God’s assignments to any and every mom is to constantly be teaching and talking to your daughter about the Lord you love. Teaching and talking. And talking and teaching. Or put another way, ringing your bell! I hope you are grasping that being a Christian mom is more than taking your children to church. Home is a sort of church too. Home is the natural 24/7, morning-to-evening place to impress truth upon your daughter. Home is where she gets to see and hear every day how important the Lord is to you. Wherever and whenever the two of you are together is God’s opportunity for you to tell her about Him. So take advantage of the gift of such times. And if they are too few and far between, make it happen. Create the times together. In his book Shepherding a Child’s Heart, author Tedd Tripp gives this challenge to parents:

You shepherd your child in God’s behalf. The task God has given you is not one that can be conveniently scheduled. It is a pervasive task. Training and shepherding are going on whenever you are with your children. Whether waking, walking, talking or resting, you must be involved in helping your child to understand life, himself and his needs from a biblical perspective.

But What If…

I realize this ideal scenario does not happen in every mother/daughter relationship. Maybe the family you grew up in was not a Christian family. God knows that. He knows all about it—all about what you missed, and all about what you know and don’t know about being a Christian family and mom. So know that your mission is to begin where you are to follow the Lord. It’s never too late to receive Christ as Savior, to begin loving the Lord and growing in grace and in the knowledge of Him and His Word. You can choose any day—today, if you haven’t already—to begin diligently teaching the daughter you love, and talking to her about the God you love and who loves her. Point her to God. Encourage her in the Lord. Teach her what you know about Him from experience and from study. Pray for her with your every heartbeat. See her spiritual growth into a daughter after God’s own heart as your calling, your mission assignment from God. Commit to doing your part, and trust God to do His.

Perhaps you are thinking, This woman is crazy! Well, I wouldn’t blame you. But I will tell you I am crazy about God, crazy about my two daughters, and crazy about my four granddaughters. I will also tell you that I am passionate and passionately sold out to my role as a woman, mom, and grandmom after God’s own heart. It’s just so clear what God wants His moms to be and do. Your daughter has no other mother. You are the one He has chosen to teach her. And if you don’t, what if no one does?

Here’s a powerful description of what an all-out, all-or-nothing love for God and our daughters looks like. Let it encourage you today and in the decades of mothering to come:

…my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity…I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or slow up.

You Can Do It!

Each of the following suggestions is something you can do to contribute toward becoming the mom you dream of being. And each one betters your life…and your daughter’s too. Here we go:

Analyze your day.

Think through the rhythm of your day and pinpoint your discretionary time, the time when you have a choice about how it is used, when you can choose how it’s spent. There is always time to do what’s important to you. You’ll need to find the time to get to know God—to put first things first.

Design a quiet time.

Once you’ve carved out a special time to be with God, begin reading your Bible—even for just ten minutes. It’s been calculated that if you simply read your Bible for ten minutes a day, you will read through all of it in one year. That’s a doable task for you as a bell sheep whose life goal is leading your daughter to Jesus. There are scores of activities that fill your day. So steal ten minutes from a nonimportant activity like time on the Internet, time talking on the phone, time watching TV. Make a daily appointment with God and allow Him to speak to your heart from His Word.

Memorize Scripture.

Here’s a statistic for you: People remember about 40 percent of what they read. Wouldn’t it be nice to remember 100 percent? Well, you can if you memorize verses from the Bible. That’s what someone told me as a new Christian, and I followed their advice. As I shared earlier, as soon as I read Deuteronomy 6:5-7, I learned it by heart. I also picked out some verses that would help me with my daily life, including the daily challenge of being a mom after God’s own heart. Like “I can do all things [including be a mom!] through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Once you store up some verses in your heart, you’ll find that wherever you are and whatever is happening, you can remember God’s words to you. And just think—as a bell sheep, you can draw your daughter to Jesus as you speak His words to her.

Read about parenting.

In my mentoring ministry, one of my assignments for the women I meet with and give my time to is that they read five minutes a day on a variety of topics. They can pick the topics and the books. They can buy them, borrow them, or check them out of the church library. I do this because I’ve been reading on my own topics for five minutes a day for decades! For instance, I’ve been reading five minutes a day on marriage and family for what seems like forever. The same goes for time and life management. And health.

If you do this too, you will amaze yourself as you become an expert on your subjects by merely reading five minutes a day on them. You will also be super motivated because the topic and your new knowledge is fresh in your mind. Instead of dreading something, you’ll look forward to approaching it differently and trying some new techniques or methods. Your reading will serve as a reminder and an instructor to pay attention to the areas of your life you targeted for growth. Pray, and then choose your subjects. Just be sure as a mom that childrearing is one of them.

Write a letter to God about your daughter.

Then read the letter to Him as a prayer. Prayer involves God. So now there are two of you taking on the challenge of raising a daughter after God’s own heart. It will seal your commitment to becoming God’s kind of mom so, Lord willing and by His grace, your daughter grows to be God’s kind of girl. File your “My Prayer to Be a Mom After God’s Own Heart” away where it is handy and can be prayed often, even daily. Your prayer is another good reminder each day to keep on keeping on in your goals as a mom and your goals for your daughter. And here’s an idea: Each year on your daughter’s birthday, slip a copy of your prayer into her birthday card. Be sure to tell her where you were and what you were feeling when you wrote it. What a gift!

Mom’s Think Pad

Before you move on to your next Mom Mission, take a minute or two to think about what you can do to track with God as a mom. Make some plans of your own to take a few small steps that make a big difference.

I’m awfully busy, but I want to be the mom God wants me to be! What are several things I can do—or not do—to create some time to get into God’s Word? I want to be a mom after God’s own heart!
I want to set a goal to memorize Deuteronomy 6:5-7. Here’s my checklist:
Write these verses on an index card and carry it with me.

Pick a daily five-minute time slot that works for my schedule, during which I can memorize these verses.

Write out each verse ten times.

Copy these verses on several more index cards and post them on the refrigerator door, bathroom mirror, computer, car dashboard.

Ask my daughter to help me memorize these verses, to listen to me recite them, to be my audience, my checker, my best helper!

What are some ways I can “teach” my daughter about God and His Word by “talking” about Him…
…when we are sitting together?

…when we are walking together?

…when she is going to bed or going down for her nap?

…when she gets up?

What are some ways I can be more faithful and “diligent” in passing on God’s truth to my daughter?
Do I need to be mentored in my own spiritual growth? Who could help me? Or is there a class I can take? A group I can join? A book I can read?

What Mom Liked:

Title. Doesn’t that just say it all? It’s exactly what I want. Not a perfect, well-behaved child, but a daughter after God’s own heart.
Imagery. If you haven’t already read the first chapter, do so! I love that picture of the bell sheep. Imagery and examples help convey the message of the book.
Comprehensiveness. OK, I admit I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by everything in the book. How can I possibly fit all these roles of motherhood into my schedule?! Bell Sheep, Prayer Warrior, Seed Sower, Coach, Church Lady, Social Secretary, Teacher, Homebuilder, Cheerleader, Shepherd? And then I get to the final chapter – being a Marathon Runner – and find suggestions on working over my schedule, evaluating my priorities, etc. :) This book covers a lot of topics, but also gives tools to work through them, such as “You Can Do It!” and “Mom’s Think Pad” sections.
Role of Discipline. Discipline is a part of coaching. It is important, but I like the supportive role it plays in this book, versus being a central focus of parenting.
Challenge. This isn’t a feel-good parenting book. It’s convicting and challenging, encouraging moms to strive for greater heights in their parenting roles. There are so many areas I need to work at.
Priority. The book starts in the right place – know God, pray, sow seed. If you start from the back, your efforts will be meaningless!

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We are giving our review copy away! Just leave a comment for your entry!

WW: A Butterfly Net

2011-09-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

It’s an idyllic autumn day…

Little girl is on the hunt with a pink butterfly net…

“Look, Mom! I caught something!”

Now, that is just lovely…

“See, I can hold it!”

“It’s a friendly snake!”

“You hold it!”

“Can we keep it? Please???”

Uhn uh…

I Need Help With Bail!

2011-09-27T07:43:00.001-07:00

Esmé has been counting all the money in her three piggy banks, and it comes out to $55.06. That could get some good stuff at the Dollar Tree, but it’s not enough to cover the $1,600 I need to make bail!

Yep, I’m going behind bars for “good”… On October 6th, I’ll be arrested by a representative of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and held while I try to raise bail money.

Esmé could really use some help to get her mamma out.

There’s a child out there who could have the experience at a lifetime at MDA summer camp. Or whose life might be changed through that extra minute of research.

Contributions to MDA are directly responsible for providing help with day to day care for people with neuromuscular diseases, while funding far-reaching research and, most importantly, providing hope for the future. It may be your donation that helps find a cure! Donations are tax-deductible.

For more information or to donate (and help with my bail), see my MDA Lock Up page.

Poetry: Knocking Those Clichés Out of the Park!

2011-09-26T22:36:00.001-07:00

Since we are such poetic folks and all (actually, since we need a lot of help), we decided to check out the 10-week Poetry for Kids course over at Mankato Homeschooling Examiner. Lesson One: Cliché Busting!

First we covered the concept of what a cliché is: a saying as outdated and overused as Platypus’s toys (gotta know Platypus by Chris Riddell to catch that Esmé-original)… This was a little tough, seeing as Esmé’s only got a 4-year use on all the standard clichés.

The fun part was making up some “fresh” phrases and analogies. Here are a few we came up with:

As resonant as the ocean in a seashell
As slimy as seaweed
As rough as dad’s beard
As white as the stripes on the road
As long as Rapunzel’s hair (as in, “Are we almost there? We’ve been driving as long as Rapunzel’s hair!)
As white as Flame’s fur on black pants
As necessary as cake at a birthday party
A down-the-drain ending
As senseless as an echidna playing with balloons
As cold as the dark side of the moon
As dry as the heel of my foot
As good as chocolate (e.g. way better than gold)
As dilly-dallying as a child at bedtime (by Mom)
As dilly-dallying as a sidetracked mamma on her computer (retorted by Esmé, though I say it’s not allowed because “sidetracked” is cliché)

What fresh phrases can you come up with?