The blog It’s a Wonderful Movie has a great list of Christmas movies and when they air if you are looking for a particular show over the Christmas season!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Free Download: A Family Advent
From now through December 31 you can download a free copy of A Family Advent from Women of Faith.
Thanks Money Saving Mom!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Amanda Bennett Unit Studies Cyber Monday Sale!
Starting tomorrow, November 28th from 5 am to midnight (MST) Amanda Bennett Unit studies is having a Cyber Monday Sale! The earlier you shop the more you save! You could save as much as 55%!
disclosure: this post contains my affiliate link. If you shop through my link I earn a small amount on each sale which helps our homeschool budget. Thank you!
10 years ago today at 8:05 pm…..
An airplane landed in Philadelphia with the most precious delivery we had ever received. We waited with excitement and anticipation and a huge amount of nervous energy for that plane to land. The waiting was so hard but oh so very worth every minute of that wait!
Today we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the day our family was born….the day we went from two to three….the day our hearts were filled to overflowing….the day our family and friends gathered to meet a beautiful Korean baby boy whose life was forever changed when he was placed in our arms. A day when our lives were forever changed as we held him and looked into his eyes for the very first time….wondering if we could be the mom and dad he needed? A day when this sweet baby who was so trusting could love us….
Happy 10th family day, Justin! We love you more than you will ever know! We are thankful each day for the opportunity God gave us that a decade ago…to be your forever parents! To be a forever and ever family!
We love you sweet boy!
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:3
Hallelujah
I LOVE this! It is so good and worth your time to watch! This video was created by the Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat 5th Grade - Quinhagak, Alaska. They did an awesome job!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Remembering You~Review
I just finished reading Tricia Goyer’s latest book Remembering You as part of the current Litfuse blog tour.
About the book:
35-year-old Ava Andrews' dream job is interrupted by an unusual request--fulfill her 84-year-old grandfather's last wish by joining him on a battle site tour of Europe. Ava is sure her boss will refuse her request. But, instead, he gives her a directive of his own--to videotape the tour and send it back as mini-segments for the show she produces.
As if juggling these two things isn't hard enough, Ava is soon surprised again ... twice. First, Ava and Grandpa Jack arrive in Europe, only to discover the tour is cancelled. Unwilling to let down her grandfather or her boss, Ava and Grandpa Jack head out on their own. Then, while they're on their way, the pair soon meet up with Paul, her grandpa's best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The same Dennis who just happens to be Ava's first love.
Before she knows it, Ava and Dennis are swept down memory lane as they visit the sites that are discussed in the history books. And even though Ava's videotaping old soldiers, she can see their youth, their hopes and fears, and their pride in their eyes. Soon Ava learns the trip isn't just for them ... it's for her too--especially for her heart.
Read an excerpt, watch a video and find out more at Tricia Goyer’s website.
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed reading Remembering You. World War II is one of my favorite time periods in history. I cannot imagine the hardship of war and the memories many veterans have carried for so many years. Ava is on this trip with her grandfather helping him around Europe. It is also the opportunity to get that great story for the show she produces.
What Ava discovers is something much deeper than just a great story. She realizes these stories are part of her grandfathers life. What he lived through during the war and the memories he has carried with him every single day since. It is about finding peace and the healing of wounds that were opened long ago. This story about the truly important things in life. Not a job but God and family.
Win a Kindle Touch for YOU and a Friend from Tricia Goyer! Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her novel, Remembering You, with a KINDLE Touch Giveaway for you ... and for the friend of your choice. Then on 11/29 she'll be wrapping up the release of Remembering You with a Book Chat Party!
During the first half of the party Tricia will be chatting, sharing a sneak peek of her next book, and giving away a ton of great stuff. Then she'll head over to her website for a Live Chat! Readers will be able to chat with Tricia via video or text.
Don't miss your chance to win a Kindle Touch for yourself ... and to "remember" a friend this holiday with a Kindle Touch for them!
Read what the reviewers are saying here.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Brand New Kindle Touch and a Kindle Touch for a Friend (winner's choice!)
- A copy of Remembering You by Tricia Goyer for each
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 29th. Winner will be announced at Remembering You Facebook Party on 11/29. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away copies of her other WWII books and gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com. So grab your copy of Remembering You and join Tricia on the evening of the 29th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about WWII?) and lots of giveaways.
Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!
Disclosure: I received a copy of Remembering You as a member of the Litfuse blogger team. No other compensation was received. All opinions in this post and on this blog are my own.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Our Favorite Thanksgiving Books
This week we are reading some of our most favorite Thanksgiving stories!
We have favorites that we own and a few that we always borrow from the library. Justin was excited to find I had brought home some of his favorites!
One of our very favorites. The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell.
Goody O’Grumpity by Carol Ryrie Brink
In November by Cynthia Rylant
Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin
The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing
‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving book? I would love to hear about it!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Have you met ickle and Lardee?
If you have not had the chance to meet ickle and Lardee you are…well…missing out! Just who might they be? I’m glad you asked!
ickle and Lardee are two little milk tooth characters created by Inhae Renee Lee, who have grand adventures and get into trouble once in a while!
We came across them earlier in the year and have been following along on their adventures ever since!
Anyway if you have children (or even if you don’t!) you might want to go and visit them! They are so much fun!
Justin and Kaden love ickle and Lardee and look forward to their latest adventures! Two of their favorite posts are Bored game and Spelunking. The spelunking post had the boys reenacting the scene over and over again! They loved the part with the sofa!
There is even a book available. The boys have put it on their Christmas list!
You can follow ickle and Lardee’s adventures at My Milk Tooth
Monday, November 21, 2011
Whatever happened to Thanksgiving?
I want to share something that has been bugging me for the last few weeks. Actually it bugs me every year and it seems to be getting worse!
Whatever happened to Thanksgiving?
Why does it seem like we pretty much pass it over in order to get to Christmas? For weeks now I have seen Christmas displays in the stores, at the mall and even at several of my neighbors houses.
This seems to happen every year. We seem to be so intent on getting to Christmas we are overlooking Thanksgiving! Each year it seems that the Christmas decorations go up earlier and earlier.
In September I noticed Christmas items for sale in several stores. Just after Halloween just a day or two after, a couple of my neighbors put up their outdoor Christmas décor. Really? Why? I just don’t get it? Last week I saw several blog posts with photos of Christmas trees up and decorated already.
What about Thanksgiving?
Two of my neighbors have Thanksgiving decorations and Christmas decorations up! Again I ask why?
Please don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas! I love Advent. I love the anticipation and the celebration of the birth of our Savior! I love all the traditions, gift giving and devotions that go along with Christmas! I really do. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year! But it seems to me we just brush Thanksgiving aside.
What happened to Thanksgiving?
I do plan Christmas ahead of time, sometimes in September if you make homemade gifts you have to plan ahead in that regard. I also shop throughout the year for Christmas. I am not a scrooge or a Grinch but….
What happened to Thanksgiving?
Over the last two weeks during our church service as we share our praises and prayer concerns, this very topic was brought up. Yesterday a member of our congregation mentioned that the TV commercials do mention Thanksgiving. Yes they do! They mention that they will be opening late on Thanksgiving night in order to get a jump on Christmas shopping! How sad.
Why not focus on the current holiday? Why not put out just your Thanksgiving decorations? I admit I don’t have a lot of Thanksgiving decorations, just a few things but I want to embrace this season and look forward to the next.
I want my boys to see the importance of Thanksgiving and why it deserves recognition. It’s own day, with no thought to Christmas…yet.
In my family we have a rule. No Christmas decorations, Christmas movies or music until the day after Thanksgiving. Yes I am very hard on my boys! 
They have been asking to watch Christmas movies for several weeks now. They have even been quoting lines from some of their favorite movies! But they know the rule. I myself anticipating turning on those first strains of some of our favorite Christmas music! I cannot wait, but I make myself wait and enjoy this season of Thanksgiving. To reflect on the blessings we have received throughout the year. To read the stories about the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.
Last night as I was skimming through the channel guide on the TV, I counted at least four Christmas movies that were on. We did not watch any of them. What did we watch? A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion. I am going to look for a few more Thanksgiving programs this week. I hope I can find some.
Does this bother anyone else? I know I cannot be the only one who feels this way!
If you come to visit me anytime between Halloween and November 30th. You won’t find a single Christmas decoration up at my house. Only Thanksgiving decorations. Our book basket only holds Thanksgiving books.
Oh and I don’t shop on black Friday either (oh the horror) but that is a hole ‘nother topic….
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name
Psalm 100: 4
Fun and inexpensive gifts to make!
Last week I was very busy! Creating! I just love to craft and I look for a reason to making something! I am a member of our volunteer fire company ladies auxiliary and last week was our annual Chinese Auction. I was busy making some goodies for the auction. If you are looking for some fun gift ideas these might be just the ticket!
I made five sets tea cup bird feeders and packaged them up with a small bag of bird seed and tucked them into a basket. If you decide to make these, purchase a large bag of bird seed and make up small bags using a ziplock bag. I neglected to take pictures of these.
The next item I made were three sets of tile coasters! They were so simple to make. All you need are tiles from the hardware store, scrapbook paper or in my case a paper napkin, mod podge, some spray sealant and some felt. You can find complete directions here.
And finally if you are looking for a very inexpensive gift for family, friends, neighbors or your co-workers these game night in a bag kits were super easy to make!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
November is National Adoption Month
These children and waiting for their forever families. Could that family be you?
Holt International Children’s Services
Friday, November 18, 2011
First Wild Card Tour~Truth Tats~The Christmas Story
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 is developed by:
and the Advent idea:
TruthTats: The Christmas Story
B&H Publishing Group
SHORT PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Truth Tats: The Christmas Story
Celebrating the Season of Advent with Truth Tats
Designed just for the season, Christmas Truth Tats present a new way of telling the story of Christ’s birth. Truth Tats are temporarily on your skin, permanently on your heart.
This is a five week program leading up to Christmas day, each packet of Truth Tats includes a family devotional booklet that kicks off each memory scripture of the week. The twenty accompanying Scripture tattoos are a visual way to continually applying and memorize God’s word. Each week opens with a set of four identical Scripture tattoo designs so that each family member can have his or her own tattoo! Week two, there is a new Scripture for memorization and four new tattoo designs, again identical designs so each person is memorizing the same Scripture.
For over 1,000 years Christians worldwide have been celebrating Advent, a time of spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. The word “advent” comes from the Latin adventus meaning “coming toward”. So it is entirely appropriate that the four weeks prior to Christmas we will be preparing our hearts for His Advent. Truth Tats are a unique way to celebrate the season as well as to “show and tell” God’s word to others. This is ideal for the classroom, family devotion time, and in personal Scripture memorization
Product Details:
List Price: $3.99
Unbound
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Language: English
ASIN: B005LDDJ1S
AND NOW...WEEK ONE OF ADVENT (Click on pictures to enlarge):
My Thoughts:
We observe Advent in our family. I was thinking earlier this year that I would like to add something new to our advent devotions. Truth Tats are a unique way to memorize scripture during advent. I love the idea of wearing a new scripture each week as we go through the Advent season. We will be using our Truth Tats as a family beginning the first Sunday of Advent.
disclosure: I received Truth Tats~The Christmas Story as a member of First Wild Card, No other compensation was received all opinions in this post and on this blog are my own.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Travel Game Notebook
A few weeks ago we took a car trip to Sight and Sound to see Joseph in Pennsylvania. It is about a 2 hour car ride from our house.
Side note:If you ever have the opportunity to go and see one of the shows, GO! It is so worth your time!
My boys are pretty good about entertaining themselves on longer car rides. They love to bring along their books, MP3 players and audiobooks.
However even bringing along those items and after playing punch buggy Often times leads to a bit of fighting
for those not familiar with this game, you keep a lookout for a VW Beetle car and when you see one you shout Punch Buggy-insert whatever color the car happens to be and proceed to punch your opponent in the arm. Kaden insists on calling punch bunny no matter how many times we explain it to him. lol!
I thought it would be fun to create a car notebook with some fun activities for a change of pace. Kaden just loves to color and create. He has gotten so he will bring along a coloring book and his colored pencils. I knew he would love this.
I used a couple of binders I had on hand and thankfully I had two different colors. Avoids that whole he has my notebook squabble!
I found some really neat printables at Prepared Not Scared. There are some great printables to be found there!
I found the scavenger hunt page shown on the right side at Moms Minivan There are over 100 travel and road trip games to be found here!
I printed pages from Education.com. I found these in their geography section.
The state license plate game came from Prepared Not Scared. I scaled these down to fit on one page and laminated them so they could be used again and again.
Since it was October and Kaden loves Halloween I added a find the difference Halloween themed sheet from Family Fun.
The I Spy game came from Prepared Not Scared. Again I laminated it so it could be used over and over.
The binders I used have pockets on the front and back cover. I slipped the I Spy into one of them.
There are tons of blogs and sites that have free road game printables and ideas.
Here are a few more I discovered that you might enjoy.
Battleship, Dots & Boxes and Tic-Tac-Toe in homemade folders
DIY your own travel board games
Happy Traveling!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Hugo Cabret
Last year we read The Invention of Hugo Cabret. We loved it! It is one of our favorite stories. We loved how the author Brian Selznick told the story not only with words but with beautiful pencil illustrations! We loved how the written story and the story in pictures intertwined! It is such a wonderful story!
We are patiently waiting for the release of the movie that is coming out on November 23rd, Hugo! The boys cannot wait to see it! (me too!) I am hoping the movie follows the storyline! We borrowed the book while we were at the library on Friday to read it with Daddy and to refresh our memories before we see the movie!
The boys were very excited to find these very cool keys at Michael’s craft store the other day! They were in their $1.50 bins. Aren’t they neat?! They are metal too!
Since we loved Hugo so much we decided to borrow Brian Selzinck’s newest book Wonderstruck. We finished it on Friday! It was very good! I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that is about one of Justin’s favorite places! He wants to buy the book!
I did not realize that there are other books written by the same author. I now have The Houdini Box and The Boy of a Thousand Faces saved on my amazon wish list! I can’t wait to read these with the boys!
Do you have a favorite book or author? I would love to hear about what you enjoy reading!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Operation Christmas Child
It is that time of year again! Time to fill those shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child! We look forward to participating each year!
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The boys and I have fun shopping for items for our shoeboxes to send to children in other parts of the world.
We will be packing our shoe boxes later today to deliver to our church tomorrow!
November 14-21 is Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week. You and your family can participate! Just visit the link above for more information. There are suggestions on what to pack (and what not to pack), how to pack a box and how to find a drop off location.
You can even follow your box to see what country your shoe box is delivered to! We have been following our boxes each year for the past couple of years and it is so exciting to see where our boxes end up!
Go here to read about the Journey of a shoe box
If you are unable to pack a box there are other ways you can help.
- pray for Operation Christmas Child and the work they do to spread the word of Jesus to children all over the world
- donate items for the shoe boxes
- Volunteer during National Collection Week
We use the coloring pages found on this page. (the coloring page download) each year to put into our shoe boxes. We hope each year that we will hear from one of the children who receive our boxes.
Here are two wonderful stories we like to read while we pack our shoe boxes: Miracle in a ShoeBox and Boxes for Katje
This is a truly worth cause and wonderful opportunity to share God’s love with a child in another country!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Hat Trick
Kaden and Larry got ahold of Justin’s hat from his ghost of Abraham Lincoln costume. I had to snap some pictures!
The Three Trees~Book Review
The Three Trees A Traditional Folktale by Elena Pasquali, Illustrated by Sophie Windham. This story is a classic folktale told from the perspective of three trees and their dream of what they want to be one day.
The first tree dreams of being a wonderful chest that will hold a great treasure. The second tree dreams of being a great ship that will carry a great king and the third tree dreams of staying just where it is and pointing to heaven.
What happens to these trees is much different than their expectations but they each realize that what they end up being serves a much greater purpose then they could ever imagine.
The Three Trees is a wonderful story. The illustrations in the book are just beautiful! This story is a wonderful example of no matter how plain or how humble we are that God can use us to glorify His kingdom. The Three Trees would make a wonderful gift for children and adults alike!
disclosure: I received this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A Lasting Impression~Book Review
About the book:
A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander is the first book in a new series set in the beautiful Belmont mansion in Nashville, Tennessee. The story takes place just after the end of the Civil War and tells the story of Claire Laurent a young artist who has recently lost her mother and is being forced to paint forgeries to sell in her father’s art gallery. Claire’s dream is to paint in her own right not copy someone else. After an unexpected turn of events she is forced to leave Louisiana and ends up in Nashville. Claire applies for a job as a liaison to the owner of Belmont, Mrs. Adelicia Acklen. Claire is excited to start a new life, but can she leave her past behind her?
About the Book
A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?
Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.
The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.
My Thoughts
I have never read anything by Tamera Alexander before and I must say that I was not disappointed in this story! It is fully of twists and turns right up until the very end! I love to read historical fiction and I have never read much about historic Nashville so this new and fresh for me. Tamera is a wonderful storyteller! You feel as if you are right there in the story! The characters come to life on the pages! You feel the characters struggles and get a true feeling of the time period you are reading about. This story will not disappoint! I am looking forward to reading more of Tamera’s stories!
Enter to win one of Tamera's fabulous prizes and RSVP for Facebook Party on 11/15!
Read what the reviewers are saying here.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
- A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)
Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!
disclosure: I received a copy of A Lasting Impression as a member of Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions in this post and on this blog are my own.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Wetlands Institute~ October visit~All About Bats
The Friday before last we had our monthly field trip to the Wetlands Institute. This months theme was bats!
We had a great class with our educator Kaitlin. She is so fun!
We learned that bats are very neat animals and what their purpose is in nature.
- Did you know that bats pollinate plants? It’s true! Bats that live in tropical areas help to pollinate plants such as that banana you may have had for breakfast!
- Bats are nocturnal
- Bats help control the mosquito and bug population. A bat can eat up to 300 bugs an hour!
- Bats eat bugs that destroy crops
- Less than 3% of the bat population carry rabies.
- Bats hibernate in the winter months
- There are no vampire bats in the united states. They live in South America
- It is illegal to kill a bat. Not even an exterminator can kill a bat as many bats are endangered.
- There are many myths about bats. For example bats do not attack people and they do not get caught in your hair.
- Many bats in the northeast are dying from a disease known as white nose syndrome. A white fungus that grows on the nose and wings of bats.
The kids played a trivia game to see how much they knew about bats. The group was broken into two teams and each team had to come up with a name. The team Justin and Kaden were on named themselves The Rabies Spreaders and the other team decided on Kind Monsters. Notice myths going on with their choice of names! lol!
After Trivia we headed outside to learn how bats use echolocation~the use of sound waves and echoes to find prey.
We played a game where one student was blindfolded and was the bat. The other student was the bug. The rest of the group formed a circle and held hands to keep the bat and bug in close proximity to each other. The bat would call out “bat” and the bug would reply “bug” and the bat would try to find the bat by sound. It was a very fun game!
Justin had a very difficult time trying to catch his bug, Kaden!
We also met our new educator Allie (above in the blue shirt/black jacket) that will be taking over for Kaitlin this month. After our game we headed around the building to see the bat house that the institute put up to attract bats. We were given directions to make our own bat house which we want to make in the spring!
You can build your own bat house. There are tons of directions online. Here is one set of plans.
You can learn more about bats here and here.
Homeschool Share has a fun unit for the youngers on the book Stellaluna
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