Review~Presidential Penmanship Zeezok Publishing

As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was given the opportunity to review Presidential Penmanship from Zeezok Publishing. I was given Presidential Penmanship Italic Style to review.

Presidential Penmanship is copywork program for grades 1 through 12. The copywork consists of famous presidential quotes and scripture. It is available on CD ROM or you can download it from the Zeekok site. You can download the entire program in on CD ROM or in ebook form for $39.99 each which includes grade levels 1-12 or you can download each grade independently grade 1-6 for $9.99 each in ebook form. There are also ebooks for junior high and senior high that can also be purchased for $9.99 each. They are all in PDF form both the CD ROM and the ebooks. There are also other penmanship fonts available if italic is not what you are looking for. You can view the different styles here.

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of Wisdom~T. Jefferson

All Men having power ought to be mistrusted~J. Madison

With self-discipline most anything is possible~T. Roosevelt

The above quotes are a sampling of the copy work for second grade. You can see an 88 page sample here.

My thoughts: I like that everything is ready for you. There is no prep work. Just pop in the CD and print the pages I want my children to work on. I really like presidential quotes and scriptures that are used for copywork. I like that I can use this for both of my children and print as many pages as I need. I think this would be an especially great value for a large family.

Be sure to visit my crewmates at the TOS Homeschool Blog to see other reviews from Zeekok publishing.

Disclosure: This product was provided to me free as a member of the The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew 2009-2010. All reviews and opinions expressed on this blog are my own

Just a few flurries.....

At least that is what the weather report said. So far we have about 3 inches. I took the boys out for a bit this afternoon. We shoveled snow and walked around the block. It is too powdery for snowman building but they had fun none the less. (please excuse the picture quality my Canon is injured and I dug out my old Kodak which is barely breathing right now, but I coaxed it to take a few pictures)

A little tip for stretching your printer ink

I don't know about you but the ink for my printer is expensive. I have an HP three in one printer. Being a homeschool mom I use a lot of ink. One way I get a little more use out of my ink cartridges is to shake them. Yeah I said shake them! When my printer indicates that my cartridges are getting low, I pull the cartridge out, shake it about 10 times and put it back in. I have been able to get many more uses out of my print cartridge that way. Currently my black ink is running low. I do have a brand new cartridge ready and waiting but I want to get as much out of a cartridge as I can. Last night I was able to print 12 additonal pages on that cartridge. Now you have to keep in mind that if you let the cartridge sit for awhile you will need to take it out and give it a few more shakes.

On My Heart.....

Heidi Weimer said what has been on my heart in a very concise way ...

REMEMBER: Long after the media quiets down, long after the airlifts are over and the rubble of the earthquake no longer graces our televisions, there are still 150 million orphans in this world who need us to adopt them. Haiti pricked your heart; now carry your passion into the world. Find God's children to bring home.... They were waiting before the earthquake. Their cries measure on the richter scale of justice.

Be still and allow Him to search your hearts - listen - obey - go and do!

Knot's Soft Pretzel Bakery

A couple of weeks ago we visited the Knot's Soft Pretzel Bakery with our homeschool group. It is a small independent company that makes yummy soft pretzels right on the premises. You can watch them make your pretzels while you wait. They offer a variety of pretzels in different shapes and sizes. They also have pretzel breakfast sandwiches and pretzel dogs which are hot dogs baked in a pretzel. On Tuesday's they offer their pretzel dogs for a dollar! The boys tried them and loved them. I had a ham and cheese pretzel sandwich and it was yummy!

There are tables available for you to sit and eat. They also offer a variety of dips for your pretzels and a variety of drinks. You can get water ice for dessert that they serve year round.

During our visit they served the kids one of our favorites, pretzel nuggets. Little pretzels about two inches long. Perfect for little hands. We liked them so much we ordered them for my parents 50th anniversary party.

Each of the children got to shape their own pretzel. They also got to decorate a bag to bring their pretzel home in. It was a fun field trip and the staff was s nice and friendly. We will definitely be going back. Here are some pictures from our visit. If you live in the area stop by and have some great pretzels!

Hershey Bar Snowman

I made this a couple of week's ago for a friend's birthday. Isn't it just the cutest thing It is a candy bar wrapper. I found it over at Laurie Furnell's Blog. She has some really great things on her blog. There is also a life saver snowman wrapper. I plan on making these next year for all my nieces and nephews for Christmas.

Get Ready Wii Owners...Streaming Netflix through Wii

I am so excited! I read this morning over at Unclutterer that Wii will be offering a free disc this spring so you can stream Netflix through Wii. If you have a Netflix account you can sign up for your free disc now and they will ship it later this spring! I was going to buy the Roku box (and still may in the future) but for now we will give the Wii a try. You can sign up for your free disc at Netflix.

Wilton Gingerbread House for 49 cents

Last night we were in Kmart. We stopped in to pick up some ambesol. (exciting I know) As we were walking through the door I spotted a couple coming out with a huge cart load of Christmas decor, wrapping paper etc. Now this year I have decided not to buy anything we do not need and that includes the after Christmas sales. I have bought nothing, in fact I have not even been in a store since Christmas other than Walmart last week to buy some absolute necessities. I decided I would look at the Christmas decor and see if there was anything I really needed.

I was surprised that were was actually an entire isle still filled with Christmas leftovers. Everything was 90% off. I really did not need any of what they had....until I saw the Wilton Gingerbread houses. They too were 90% off! I bought four of them for 49 cents each. They were originally $9.99. So you might want to check out your local Kmart if you are in need of a gingerbread house kit. They will keep until next year and you can use them for more than just Christmas. You could turn them into Valentine houses!

Homeschool Freebie of the Day~Handbook of Nature Study PDF

Do you have a copy of The Handbook of Nature Study? Have you wanted one? This week is your chance to get the PDF version for free! Then head on over to Homeschool Freebie of the Day each day this week for your own copy!


Homeschool Freebie of the Day is a great site with wonderful freebies each weekday. You can subscribe by email(weekly) so you don't miss any great freebies or you can do as I do and subscribe in a reader(I use google reader) so you don't miss out!

Remember Me?

Wow! I just looked back and realized it has been 10 days since I put up a new post on my blog! I've missed you all! I have had a lot going on lately. First, my grandma went into the hospital where she stayed for a week and is currently in a nursing home for some rehab. We are not sure what her future holds.

I was also busy all last week planning my parents 50th anniversary with my brothers which was held yesterday. It turned out to be a very nice day and I think my parents enjoyed themselves. I know I was tired. Other than the party, the best part was spending time with my brothers and spouses while we were planning and prepping for the party. My brother Jake and I went shopping together last week and we had such a fine time shopping and hanging out together. We really need to do more of that!

My Christmas decorations are still up can you believe it? They will be coming down this week and packed away! I am so ready for them to go back into their boxes until next year! I think it is time for some Valentines around here!

I just wanted to check in and let you all know I am alive and well!

The Love Dare~Are you up for the challenge?

If you have seen the movie Fireproof then you know what The Love Dare book is. Larry and I went to see Fireproof in the theatre when it was out and it touched us both deeply. I have wanted to purchase The Love Dare book but have not yet.

Yesterday one of my FIAR sisters(thanks Christy!) posted that K-Love is hosting The Love Dare from Jan 6th through Valentine's Day. 40 Days. Each day they are posting each of the challenges on their blog. They started yesterday. I am doing this 40 day challenge. Is anyone up to joining me? You could even do this with your kids. Yesterday's dare was on patience. Something I really need to practice.

Thank you!

I wanted to take a minute to thank you all for the support, friendship and encouragement after I wrote 2010: A Fresh Start post. You don't know what it means to me to have read your comments and emails. I will be honest with you and say I almost did not have the guts to hit the send button on that post. I am so glad I did thought because I truly felt like I was out here all by myself in feeling this way. Your messages have been such an encouragement to me. I owe many of you emails and I will be emailing you later in the week. I have had so much going on lately. My brothers and I are in the midst of planning my parents 50th anniversary party coming up in a little over a week, my grandma went into the hospital on Tuesday night (I am going to visit her tonight), both boys have been sick (they are much better now) and we had our first field trip of 2010 today. My phone has been ringing off the hook with people rsvping and I am trying to get some school in each day. I will be getting back to you all who emailed me. I just want to give you all a big hug because that is what I felt like I have received from you all. I'll be in touch!

Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge

I told you I was a glutton for punishment in my last post, right? Well while I was over at J. Kaye's Book Blog I came across another reading challenge. Yeah, yeah I know stop rolling your eyes. The 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge. I decided that this is probably more up my alley as far as challenges. First of all we are big library supporters, we go to the library weekly (I LOVE our library system) and second of all there are four levels of this challenge with the first level starting at 25 books. Now there is a goal I could possibly reach. These books must be borrowed from the library. To read about the challenge be sure to visit J. Kaye's blog. (That is why I also decided to do the other reading challenge as some of my books do not come from the library)

I will keep this list here:

1. Lewis, Clark and Me: A Dogs Tale~Laurie Myers
2. Among the Hidden~Margaret Peterson Haddix

3. Among the Imposters~Margaret Peterson Haddix

4. Among the Betrayed~Margaret Peterson Haddix

5. Among the Barons~Margaret Peterson Haddix

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Reading Challenge

Last year I participated in J. Kaye's 100+ book reading challenge. I was to try to read 100+ books. How did I do? Well if you are a regular reader you may have noticed my link on my sidebar for this challenge. Did I read 100 books? No. Did I read 50 books? No. I managed to read.....drum roll please.....Nine.....yes I said Nine (gasp) entire books. NINE! Is that pitiful or what? NINE? Ok you can all stop laughing now...really you can!

Since I am a glutton for punishment and I decided to sign up again! To try to read 100. (stop laughing) I do love to read and I do read alot, unfortunately most of my reading time is taken over by computer time. I really want to increase my reading time in 2010. So here I go again. Will I make 100? I highly doubt it, but I will try to maybe read 50 or 25.....

I have also decided to count all of the chapter books we have read.

 

Our favorites are marked with a **

If you would like to participate in this reading challenge stop by J. Kaye's Book Blog

 

This is where I will keep my lists:

 

1. Same Kind of Different As Me~Ron Hall and Denver Moore  **

2. The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter~Beatrix Potter (read aloud) **

3. Lewis, Clark and Me a Dogs Tale~Laurie Myers (library)

4. Among the Hidden~Margaret Peterson Haddix (library)
5. Among the Imposters~Margaret Peterson Haddix (library)
6. Among the Betrayed~Margaret Peterson Haddix (library)
7. Among the Barons~Margaret Peterson Haddix (library)

8. The Help~Katherine Stockett(library) excellent

9. The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh and the House at Pooh Corner~A.A. Milne (read aloud) **

10. The Painted Veil~ W.Somerset Maugham (audiobook) (library)

11. The Crown of Kuros~Ed Dunlop

12. The Dragon's Egg~Ed Dunlop

13. Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland~Lewis Carol, Helen Oxenbury (library) (read aloud) **

14.The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane~Kate DiCamillo (read aloud)

15. Lily and Miss Liberty~Carla Stevens (read aloud)

16. Among the Brave~Margaret Peterson Haddix (library)

17. Among the Enemy~Margaret Peterson Haddix (library)

18. Among the Free~Margaret Peterson Haddix (library)

19. The Road~Cormac McCarthy (audiobook) (library) excellent

20. Through the Looking Glass~Lewis Carol, Helen Oxenbury (library) (read aloud) **

21. The Doll People~Ann M. Martin (library) (read aloud) **

22. The Meanest Doll in the World~Ann M. Martin (library) (read aloud) **

23. The Runaway Dolls~Ann M, Martin (library) (read aloud)**

24. Peter Pan~J.M. Barrie (library) (read aloud)*

25. Thimble Summer~Elizabeth Enright (library) (read aloud) *

26. The Looking Glass Wars~Frank Beddor (library)*

27. The Magician’s Nephew~C.S. Lewis (read aloud)*

28. Phantom Prey~John Sanford

29.The Lion the Witch and The Wardroble~C.S. Lewis (read aloud)

30. Missing Max~Karen Young (audiobook)

31. Pearl Buck in China: A Journey to the Good Earth~Hiliary Spurling (audiobook)

32. The Horse and His Boy~C.S. Lewis (read aloud)

33. Wicked Prey~John Sanford (library)

34. Pray for Silence~Linda Castillo

35. Prince Caspian

36. The Shunning~Beverly Lewis

37. The Confession~Beverly Lewis (library) (audiobook)

38. The Sacrifice~Beverly Lewis (library) (audiobook)

39. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (read aloud)

40. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream~David Platt (audiobook)

41. Dead Until Dark~ Charlaine Harris (library) (audiobook)

42. Living Dead in Dallas~Charlaine Harris (library) (audiobook)

43. Club Dead~Charlaine Harris (library) (audiobook)

44. The Invention of Hugo Cabert~Brian Selznick (library) **

45. The Silver Chair~C.S. Lewis

46. The Waiting~Suzanne Woods Fisher

47. Ben and Me-The Astonishing Life of Ben Franklin~Robert Lawson (library)

48. Dead to the World~Charlaine Harris (library) (audiobook)

49. Nightingale~Susan Mae Warren

50. The Bells~Richard Harvell (library)

51. The Last Battle~C.S. Lewis

52. One Wintry Night~Ruth Bell Graham

53. An Amish Christmas~Cynthia Keller (library)

54. Uncle Eben’s Christmas~Stephen Alan Slater

55. An Angels Story~Max Lucado (library)

56. Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball~Donita K. Paul

57.  Five Minute Bible Stories

58. The Jesus Storybook Bible~Sally Lloyd-Jones **

59. Sarah’s Key~Tatiana de Rosnay (library)

60. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever~Barbara Robinson

61. Tabitha’s Travels~Arnold Ytreeide 

2010 A Fresh Start

Here we are at 2010. A new year, the start of a new decade. As I sit here and reflect on 2009, (which I have done for the last several days), I am glad to put this year behind me. I am going to be real here. In many ways it was a difficult year for me. A year of loneliness and feeling sad. I haven't told many people how lonely I have felt, how isolated and sad. I have been very unhappy this last year. I think sad is a word I would use to sum it up. Sad that I feel alone much of the time. Sad because I have feel I have failed my kids, sad because I feel I have no one to talk to. Sad because I am so unhappy with my home in all it's cluttered mess. Sad because of the large amount of debt we are carrying. I feel I have let my family down. Lonely because I feel isolated at times even when I am with others. Worried is another word I would use, worried about our debt and how to pay it off, worried about my health and needing to take better care of myself. Worried I am not a good enough mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend. All of these negative feelings. They are not good. They need to go! Many days I feel I am on the verge of tears. I smile and try to be positive, but inside I feel much differently.

Immobile is another word I would use to describe 2009. I have been so overwhelmed, I just do nothing. I sit immobile. Not sure where to start, how to start, why I should do anything? It is easier just to let things go, not bother, not even try.

Don't get me wrong, I have had very many wonderful days, fun with the boys and Larry. I just feel on the verge of spiraling downward and having such a hopeless feeling. Not feeling I have anyone to reach out to and I have felt that way many times this year. This has been the first Christmas I have wanted to take the Christmas tree down the day after Christmas. I didn't because the boys protested too much, but I wanted to. Really badly. It is still up and will stay up until at least next weekend when we have family coming to celebrate a late Christmas.

So far this does not sound like a fresh new start does it? Well I have decided that this is going to be a big year of change for me. I have felt this way for the past few weeks. A new start, a clean slate. I feel that this year I can make the changes I need to. Will it be easy? No in fact I am sure it is going to be very hard. Change is always hard in some ways isn't it?

I've mentioned in the past I never make resolutions, but I do try to set goals. Calling it a goal instead of a resolution seems like something more attainable to me. I don't know why it just does.

Here are the big changes I want to make in my life this year:

Have a better relationship with God. I am working on this goal by signing up for Reading the Bible in 90 days Challenge. (which starts today) This is a start and I think I am up for this challenge. By relying on God I think this is the only way I can achieve the following goals.

Pay down our debt. This is another huge, huge goal. We have so much debt. You would be shocked. I know we will not pay it all off this year but I want to make a dent in it. This will be another difficult challenge. I have been encouraged though and have a sense of peace that we can achieve this goal. I have had to change my mindset from: It's only a dollar! You see I am the spender in the family, I freely admit it. Later today I will start with a fresh new spiral notebook to list every single debt and every single bill/expense we have. (I'm not looking forward to this but I need to know where we stand) I will be reading Dave Ramsey's book once again to encourage me as well as Mary Hunt's books I have been a Mary Hunt fan for over 15 years and I think it is time to re-read her books as well.

Declutter my house. This is something I have been working on and off over the past year. I have taken countless bags and boxes of items to the thrift store. Of course we tend to bring things back in. I belong to a declutter thread on one forum and another forum I also belong to has just started one so I will be participating in that one as well. I am going to start doing the challenges and last night sat and made an extensive master list of what I want to do in each and every room of this house over the course of the year. I was shocked to see it all on paper and yet having the visual will help since I am a visual person.

Become more healthy. This is another huge challenge for me. I have tried in the past(not the recent past that is for sure) but this is something I need to do this year. I really do. I need to change the way I eat, how I use food and how I relate to food. I need to start exercising each day.

I have many smaller goals I want to achieve but I think this encompasses the majority of them and will start here and work in the smaller ones as I go.

I covet your prayers as I set out to work on and accomplish these goals. I know I can do it. I know with prayer and sacrifice I can. It is not going to be easy but I if I take it one day at a time I know I can reach these goals. With God's help I am going to turn things around.

So there you have it. Me being real. One thing I did learn this year is that many of us seem to have it together on the outside and yet on the inside there is much struggle and turmoil.