My Projects

I've finally got around to taking some pictures of my bracelets. Here is the one I made today at lunch, it has beautiful red Swarovski crystals. I did much better with the crimping on this bracelet. This one in completely finished, yeah!



Here is my blue double strand bracelet that I made last Friday. I had a minor, well a major mishap - I broke the end toggle! Don't ask me what I did wrong, but the thing just snapped off. So, I will be re-stringing this one.



This one I made Saturday, I still haven't tighten and crimped the end, after I broke the other one I was a little shy about trying to finish this one off. Hopefully I will get around to that before I need to wear it!



My sewing machine arrived today! I've unpacked the box but have tested it out. First I will need to watch the DVD. We've come a long way baby!!!

Recycle Your Old Electronics

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Keep your eWaste out of the landfill and get some quick cash in return!

Free Art Appreciation lapbook

Here is a FREE resource from CurrClick.com.

CurrClick.com Weekly Newsletter

Free Product of the Week

Art Appreciation
by Hands of a Child

What does the word "art," mean to you? Art can be many different things to many different people. It might be a favorite painting, sculpture, or drawing. It might be a favorite building, photograph, or craft. It could be a favorite dance move, play, or favorite song. Discovering art with the Art Appreciation Project Pack will give your student an introduction and understanding to the world of art. This 51-page Project Pack includes a 16-page Research Guide about the different types of art, elements of art, famous artists, principles of design, styles of art, and appreciating art. After reading the guide, your student will use the information found to complete 15 hands-on activities to make a lapbook on Art Appreciation.

A $13.99 Value FREE!

Enjoy!

Bracelets

I've been bitten by the creative bug, and went back to the bead store for supplies to make a couple of bracelets! The creative juices are flowing and I've completed two bracelets since Friday. I'm using the term completed loosely because I've not done the final crimping steps to finish them off. I need to go back and have Jenny at Yummy Bead and Fabric help me with getting the excess wire out before I crimp the end (smile)!

I will take pictures once the bracelets are really finished. I think they are pretty, but I made them so I'm a tad bit biased. I bought material to make Nicole a bracelet as well, the beads look like little flowers, I wanted to find those little alphabet squares to add her initials but I didn't see any. I'm not sure if I will make the bracelet for her or just give her the supplies and have her make it herself. I tried to find purple beads (her favorite color), but didn't see anything that I thought was a good fit for Nicole, everything looked to "grown up" for princess Nicole.

Week 24

This was week one of our next three week session of school, it feels like we have been out of school for two weeks because the week before our break we did our standardized testing and were finished with school before 10:30am each day. We all were slow starting this week, but by Tuesday was back in the swing of things.

I've been pondering on what changes we need to make for the next school year. I know that we will continue with Tapestry of Grace using Year 2, because we already have that. Gene will continue using Teaching Textbooks for math. I'm not sure if Nicole will continue with Excel math or switch to Teaching Textbooks. Decisions, decisions, decisions. One of many that will need to be made in the near future, of course I will be seeking the Lord for wisdom and direction of what to do.

We had our homeschool co-op classes on Friday. I believe we have only two more sessions left for our classes, it is amazing just how fast this school year has gone by. This was our first year with the group, and the kids and I have enjoyed the classes and getting to know the families in the group.

Mother's Day Presents

The kids and I learned how to bead yesterday at Yummy Bead & Fabric. I wanted them to make bracelets for Mother's Day presents for the Grandma's. Of course I just had to make one for me, just cause! The hardest part was deciding just WHAT you wanted to do! The kids both had an inspiration piece to help them in the process, but they came up with the color and spacers, we decided on using this cool clasp because it was big and would be easy for the Grandma's to put on and take off.

This is the one Gene made for Grandma Jane (Eric's mother), the picture does not do it justice, it is absolutely beautiful. Gene did a wonderful job.



Nicole made this for Grandma Agnes (my mother) pink and pearls, I don't think the store had purple beads or Nicole didn't find any because I'm sure she would have done hers in her fav purple! This is so delicate and ultra feminine.



Gene's design again with a black background, the red really pops on this one.



This is a close up of Nicole sporting her bracelet.



Nicole laid her design out, and is ready to start stringing her beads.



Gene stringing his beads, Gene's bracelet has two strands of wire, and has Swarovski crystals, if Grandma Jane doesn't like this, I have dibs on it!



Here is the bracelet that I made, just like me; plain, simple and brown! I think it is pretty though, I wanted a neutral that I could wear everyday, and I already have a fabulous green one.

Another Beautiful Day

My friend Kelly, a Mary Kay consultant came over yesterday so we could play with make-up. I was amazed at how much I learned and how it doesn't take all that long to clean, moisturize, and "do" my face. It felt good to "do right" by my skin! Kelly organized my products in my handy-dandy carrying case in the order of usage, well I started messing about and got things all out of order - I was able to figure it out on my own; I did e-mail her to make sure that I had it back in the correct order! Hey, I'm new at this stuff.

After my facial pampering the kids and I headed to the park for a picnic with a fellow homeschool family. It was such a beautiful day, the kids had fun running and playing, they even played with some younger children who showed up as well. One little boy had a bag of toys, he told Nicole to hold them because they were really heavy for him! It was too funny. When we were packing up and leaving the boys mother complimented my friend Yvonne and I on how well behaved our children were. You gotta love those "unsocialized" homeschooled kids!

Thank you Yvonne, Meagan and Connor for a great afternoon of fun and fellowship!

Bottles for Babies

Update on the Bottles for Babies service project, we have tallied the coins in the baby bottles and Gene’s bottle contained $27.85 and Nicole’s $27.99! Is that unbelievable or what - $55.84 of coins in two baby bottles!

Service Project

The kids and I take part in a couple of the service projects with our homeschool group. We send care packages and letters to two military servicemen deployed overseas. The latest project is called "Bottles for Babies" for Birthright of Fredericksburg. We just place our spare change in the baby bottles to help women in crisis pregnancies and their babies.



Aren't these cute, if you click on the picture it will enlarge so you can see the bottles a bit better. We stuffed the bottles with as many coins as possible, and the kids are going to count it. This is a small things, but we know the the Lord will bless our little bit and multiply it.

MS

My neice Lindsay is walking for MS on April 19, can you offer support? She is so close to reaching her goal. Read on for more information....

Every hour of every day, someone is diagnosed with MS. That's why I registered for the Walk MS and that's why I'm asking you to support my fund raising efforts with a tax-deductible donation.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS but they can't do it without our help. It's faster and easier than ever to support this cause that's so important to me. Simply click on the link at the bottom of this message. If you prefer, you can send your contribution to the address listed below.

Any amount, great or small, helps to make a difference in the lives of people with MS. I appreciate your support and look forward to letting you know how I do.

P.S. If you would like more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from the Walk MS are used, or the other ways you can get involved in the fight against MS, please visit nationalmssociety.org.

Click here to visit my personal page.

Click here to view the team page for MWV Walking for a Cure

Click here to view the company page for MeadWestvaco Corporation

AWANA Games

The big day has finally come, the AWANA Games were held on Saturday! Nicole was so excited, she and the others on the team have worked extremely hard and had lots of fun competing in the games. The team Nicole was on placed third, she received a ribbon and a AWANA Games patch. Congratulations to the Oakland AWANA team for winning first place!




Not many pictures to share, the majority of the pictures did not come out, and the ones that did all have other kids in the picture with her. After the games we headed to Baskin-Robbins for some ice cream! A fun day was had by all!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Promotion

The Old Schoolhouse is one of my favorite homeschooling magazines, each issue is jammed-packed with useful information, I usually read it cover cover. So if you are a homeschooler and have been thinking of subscribing to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, now is the time. Check out the promotion going on...

The HSB Front Porch is having a contest and you can win a $50 gift certificate just for blogging about The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Spring Promo before midnight April 30, 2008. Subscribe now to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and receive 25 BONUS gifts valued at over $550! The Winter Promo sold out, don't miss out on the free gifts this time!

They are also giving away a $150 gift certificate to the Schoolhouse Store. All print subscribers (new or renewing) between April 3 - 30, 2008 will be automatically entered into a drawing. No purchase necessary to win. To enter without subscribing, please send a postcard with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to:
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Spring Promo Contest
PO BOX 8426
Gray, TN 37615

Homeschool funnies

I thought this was too funny! So with permission, I snagged this from Tirzah. Enjoy!

If you click on the image it will enlarge for better viewing.

What's Going On...

We are doing our standardized testing this week. The kids are also working on their Tapestry of Grace lapbooks. Here are a couple of pictures of the kids working on the lapbooks.






Last night we went to my favorite restaurant, Famous Dave's! Yummy! Then shopping afterwards, yes my dear hubby went shopping with me! I have been searching for a watch for some time now, it drives Eric crazy to see me all dressed up and have my very functional sport watch on! So last night he found the perfect watch for me, plain, simple but elegant - and another plus they had a his and her version of the watch, so now Eric and I have matching watches, our anniversary present a few months early!

Friends

A friend is:

A push when you’ve stopped

A word when you’re lonely

A guide when you’re searching

A smile when you’re sad

A song when you’re glad.

- Author Unknown



Saturday I had dinner with a few girlfriends. We have been trying to get together every other month to catch up and just strengthen our friendship. At this gathering we had six in attendance and meet at O’Charley's for fellowship, fun and laughter.

I did remember to bring my camera but forgot to ask the ladies if I could share the photos here. Here are two of the desserts that were enjoyed!

Lapbooking

I did a lapbook presentation for my homeschool group back in February, and while preparing for it I found myself really getting into lapbooks again. The kids and I have done a couple, but I was really inspired to continue using these awesome learning tools.

Here is a picture of my presentation board with various folds:



The more kids (or adults for that matter) “handle” information the better they are in retaining the information. I am not creative or crafty, so I need all the help I can get when it comes to adding a sparkle into our schooling. Lapbooks are a great way to get in not only arts and crafts but learning disguised as fun!

I wanted to share the special that is going on over a Hands of a Child. They have a coupon for 35% off, this includes membership! These are ready-to-assemble lapbooks that you can download and start learning - no waiting on the mailman! I love their motto: Helping You Bring Learning and Laughter together in the Hands of YOUR Child! I trying to narrow down my wish list! Be sure to check them out.

Here is a link for lapbooking 101 that I found when doing research for my presentation.

Nicole's Writing -Week 22

The Ancient World
By Nicole

Sumer, with pleasant, charming rivers,
Magnificent, astonishing gardens
Towering, colossal ziggurats.

Egypt, with wicked, hard-hearted Pharaohs
Gigantic, massive pyramids,
The elegant, glorious Nile.

Israel, with God’s powerful law,
The immense, monumental temple,
And the plentiful promised land.

Greece, with dishonest, immoral gods,
Brilliant, kind, athletes,
Fascinating, philosophers.

Rome, with great, mighty emperors,
Strong, clever armies
Mighty, terrific gladiators.

The Ancient World
Intriguing, incredible, amazing.

How Do You Like That?

I am a huge Washington Wizard's fan. I download the yearly schedule onto my iPAQ, I watch every game possible, I cheer them on even when things are not looking so pretty.

Last night I was so happy to see the franchise player, Gilbert Arenas return to the hard court after missing 66 games due to injuries and recovery. I was thrilled to see Caron Butler and Antonio Daniels back in the line-up as well, they both sat out the previous game due to injuries. I'm always grateful for my guy Antawn Jamison, who has been the constant this entire season. The Wiz kids have been plagued with injury after injury, but Antwan has keep this team not only treading water, they are swimming!

A win against the Milwaukee Bucks could have clinched the Wizards Playoff berth. The Wizards had the lead for most of the game, they had a few bad calls, but that is to be expected. They allowed the Bucks to get back into the game, sloppy or no defence, things are getting really ugly at this point.

With 1.1 seconds left on the clock, the Bucks have the ball. In bound, pass two times and still manage to shot and make the basket. How do you like that! Wizards lose by one point at the buzzer. At the end of the game, Antawn Jamison, DeShawn Stevenson - hurt, plus Caron Butler is holding his wrist. Goodness!

The Wizards play the Miami Heat Friday, hopefully we can beat them . The Heat are dead last in the Eastern conference - but you never know.