Get to the Garden!

It is time!

It is time!

It is time to get to planting.  The kids and I went and got some seed to plant in the house until we get the garden tilled up.  Some things we will buy that are already grown though.  

So we picked out:

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Broccoli

Squash

Zucks

Corn

Spinach

We all love to garden. It gives us something to do together as a family as well as feeling like we done something great when we pick food WE grew.  Not to mention it is cheaper to feed us during garden time!

I was working hard sitting on that ground in the sun!

Any time she can stick her hands in dirt and not get in trouble this girl is there!

All of them planted!

Now we wait for them to grow!

Do you grow a garden?

ACTIVA Products Review

Vendor: ACTIVA Products
Product:
Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik Sculpting Kit

ACTIVA Products' Favorite Sculpture Kids Craft Ebook
Price: $11.90
Age: School age but parental help maybe more oress depending on age

About: ACTIVA Products gave the wonderful chance to review their Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik Sculpt Starter Kit.  This is a paper mache kit that comes with the rigid wrap cloth and the CelluClay. Also included is 12 ideas on products to make with your kit. You can always choose your own if uyou wish as well. This however helps those less artistic parents or those that are not good with ideas for things off their heads. The CelluClay is 8oz and the Wrap comes with 2 which are 4" rolls. I think this would be a fun family art time. Younger kids can use this with more parental help and older kids can do this all on their own.

The Rigid Wrap is super easy to use and not messy. It is like cheese cloth like material that is already been dipped in plaster so all you have to do is cut it in strips and soak in some warm water and apply into the form that you want it for whatever product you are making. Now the CelluClay is a powder substance that you have to mix water in and make to the desired consistency that you want. This is more of a messy option but you have a bigger range of things you can make with it. The ebook has Loran's of additional ideas on things to make. Like a beat cake which would be fun to try, except in not that artistic haha. The ebook is definitely homeschool friendly as it does give each steps so it can be taught easily or learned easily for the kids.

We made a volcano. My kids can't resist making something we can make into an explosive. We used the Rigid Wrap which was easier for us to form the volcano.  We did use some of the CelluClay at a real thin consistency to go over it to make sure that it was all covered well and thick and sturdy so when we did make a volcano it would last for a few tries. I think you could have made some just out of the CelluClay but we made a prettt big one. We ended up going over it with some basic paints to liven it up some.


I think this would be fun for all. From those not good with art or those that love it and just want to try something new out. I am sure you won't be disappointed. And be sure to check out the ebook as well because it has some pretty neat stuff in it as well.


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YWAM Publishing Review

Vendor: YWAM Publishing
Product: Heroes of History - Benjamin Franklin
Study Guide
Price: $7.50
Age Range: 10 and above


About: YWAM Publishing offered us several choices from their Heroes of History series of books and we chose to review Heroes of History - Benjamin Franklin. YWAM Publishing is a wonderful Christian company that makes lots of amazing activities and books for homeschoolers.

This book is paperback and 108 pages in length. The book is only $7.50 currently. YWAM Publishing also has a Study Guide that goes along with the book, if you wish to further explore the study. This guide is over 80 pages of wonderful topics to dive into. The study guide has some of the following sections:

Key Quotes
Social studies
Display options
Books and Resources
Community Link
Student exploration
As well as 6 related questions to each chapter.

Each section dives further into learning from having essay practice, art, drama, geography, and etc.

The book I read out loud to my 10 year old. She is dyslexic and has issues processing what the book is saying if she tries to read it alone. The book goes over the life of Benjamin Franklin starting from when he was a boy. Full packed with lots of amazing facts this book continues on through the death of Mr. Franklin. Though this is a study book and one packed full of all those facts, it is written in a story format. This helps engage children in the story versus just trying to just them full of a list of fact about Benjamin Franklin.

I think this was a fun and wonderful book. I really think this book and study guide would be great for someone that is going to be doing a report on Benjamin Franklin. There is so much good information in the book and there is some great starter topics in the study guide. Would work well for a homeschool student or a public school child that needed to study more on him.

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Pizza Hut Book It!

I was not homeschooled myself so I remember being in public school and having the joy of reading to get pizza!  We did not eat out a lot as a family because it was not very affordable either.  I also hated reading so it was great to finally have an incentive to actually do it.  Well after some thinking about it and looking it up I finally seen that Pizza Hut also supports homeschoolers!!  How cool is that?!  So if you have children in K-6 grade then you need to head over to http://bookitprogram.com/enrollment/homeschool.asp and sign your kids up for this wonderful program.  My packet should be here anyday and let me tell you my kids are so excited!  Kids love pizza and it is a free treat to give them for doing some school work!  Check it out and get into the program!

Binder love!

So I finally got a binder put together for us this year. I first started out with a list of our main books, even though we use many random workbooks as well. Then I put in our schedual followed by the lesson plans. Next, I put a picture of each kid with their attendance behind it. This will also be where I will put assesments and sample work. I figured that way I won't be tempted to have a huge binder of all work. I do keep most work but in seperate subject labled binders. 

Ichetucknee Springs, FL

This was one of the most beautiful places I have ever swam in.

Are you getting ready for a trip/vacation?

 Normally I am an OCD over packer, I always fear the worst so pack extra.  With so many people (and a furry friend) I know I can not do that.  I do not want to be squished up in my own space on a 14 hour one way journey.  I am also on a budget so I am having to take a cooler and food to save from going out to eat.  So I decided to share some of the things I have found to help me out.


Pack for children day-by-day. Use large zipper food storage bags to pack a complete outfit for a single day. At the end of the day replace the dirty clothes back in the bag. Also you can roll these and squish all of the air out so they are air tight and thinner.

Make check lists. Here is a good one that I found here. This will help from over packing as well as keeping a running toll of what you already have or need to get. Or other options:

Travel check list 

Travel Check List For Kids

Simply Organize

Delegate a place for everything. When packing up the car make sure you put things where you need them.  By starting to think about where everything will go you will also learn where you will have space or no space.  Things like a cooler, you need it handy to grab snacks and drinks.  Then you have the kids activities, they need to be in their reach.

Keep lists in a binder and keep them close.  Make sure to check them as you complete them.  If you are staying in hotels print of confirmations and put those in there too.  Also have directions and maps in the binder as well.  I always like to have a hard copy even though I have a GPS, you never know when it may be wrong or it stops working.