More Like This

I found this today over at Owlhaven. It's good. It's what I was getting at in last nights rant.

A radical concept this Christmas indeed.

Be sure and check out the source: Advent Conspiracy Blog.

Worthy Causes:
Heifer International
MUST ministries
Cobb Christmas
Living Water International

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

AAARRRGGGHHH!

NO - it's NOT talk like a pirate day. I am enraged by THIS article, idea and campaign!

This is NOT an advertising problem. This is a PARENTING problem.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to purchase many of the toys that my sons have asked for; we simply don't have the money," wrote Todd Helmkamp of Hudson, Ind. "By bombarding them with advertisements ... you are placing parents like me in the unenviable position of having to tell our children that we can't afford the toys you promote."

I don't know what's wrong with people - why is stuff more important than education, or character, or integrity, or limits. We wonder why people hate America and Americans - could it be that we're a bunch of spoiled brats who think we're entitled to everything we want just because we want it?

The part that gets me most is the parent whining "It's just not fair - blah blah blah" Yeah well duh! Stop letting your kid watch that cable TV service you seem to always find the money to pay for - or even better - tell your child "No."

I understand that this year (and all the rest for that matter) is hard financially and I am NOT unsympathetic to those who are struggling to give their children Christmas or you know - pay for things like food or shoes, or a safe place to live. These are NOT those people.

Thanks for letting me vent. I usually stay away from topics like this, but sometimes something has to be said!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Just for Fun...

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

100 Down and the Sky's The Limit

It's nearly 3 months into the 'official' homeschool calendar this year and I finally feel like we're getting somewhere.

There are many ways to homeschool and a zillion places to sell you a zillion products you NEED for a proper education. While every method had its merit and most of the products are useful and helpful - taking a cue from the ever wise Matt Damon (Ha!) - we have rediscovered our love for the Library and we read. We read everything.

So far:

1. A Grain of Rice - Helena Clare Pittman
2. Dolphin Treasure - Wayne Grover
3. Dolphin Adventure - Wayne Grover
4. My Father's Dragon - Ruth Styles Gannett
5. The Light a Tern Rock - Julia L Sauer
6. A Big Ball of String - Marion Holland
7. Put Me In The Zoo - Robert Lopshire
8. A Fly Went By _Mike McClintock
9. The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein
10. Beatrice's Goat - Paige McBrier
11. Junie B. Jones 1 - Barbara Park
12. Junie B. Jones 2 - Barbara Park
13. Junie B. Jones 3 - Barbara Park
14. Junie B. Jones 4 - Barbara Park
15. Jame's Herriot's A Treasury for Children
16. The Magic School Bus - Inside a Hurricane - JoAnna Cole
17. Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Author of Anne - Jimmy Lindsey
18. Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See - Eric Carle
19. Sketching Outdoors in Autumn - Jim Arnosky
20. Rooster's off To See The World - Eric Carle
21. Mister Sea Horse - Eric Carle
22. The Happy Lion - Louise Fatio
23. No Laughing, No Smiling, No Giggling - James Stevenson
24. Cowby Ned and Andy - David Exra Stein
25. Dinosaurumpus - Tony Mitton
26. Papa, Please Get The Moon for Me - Eric Carle
27. When Will I Read - Miriam Cohen
28. Maisy Goes Camping - Lucy Cousins
29. Silly Tilly's Valentine - Lillian Hoban
30. Maisy's Snowy Christmas Eve - Lucy Cousins
31. Unique Monique - Marla Rousaki
32. Shark in the Park - Nick Sharratt
33. Beetle McGrady Eats Bugs - Megan McDonald
34. Trouble at the Dinosaur Cafe - Brian Moses
35. Dog Breath - David Pilkey
36. Baloney (Henry P.) - Jon Siezka
37. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves - Laura Ljungkvist
38. Frida Khalo:Painting Her Life - Lila Guzman
39. Hugo & Miles in: I've Painted Everything - Scott Magoon
40. I'm a Manatee - John Lithgow
41. Carnival of the Animals - John Lithgow
42. Down the Back of the Chair - Margaret Mabry
43. Henry's Freedom Box - Ellen Levine
44. The Girl Who Loved Caterpillars - Jean Merrill
45. Moog-Moog Space Barber - Mark Teague
46. Pierre, A Cautionary Tale - Maurice Sendak
47. A Bargain for Frances - Russell Hoban
48. A Pussycat's Christmas - Margaret Wise Brown
49. Red Rubber Boot Day - Mary Lyn Ray
50. A Box Full of Kittens - Sonia Manzano
51. Winners Never Quit - Mia Hamm
52. Changes, Changes - Pat Hutchins
53. The Day The Babies Crawled Away - Peggy Rathmann
54. Smash Mash Crash There Goes the Trash - B. Odanska
55. Russell The Sheep - Rob Scotton
56. The Lotus Seed - Sherry Garland
57. We All Sing with the Same Voice - Phillip Miller
58. The Very Best Bed - Rebekah Raye
59. Howling Hill - Will Hobbs
60. Junie B. Jones #5 - Barbara Park
61. Super Fly Guy - Tedd Arnold
62. Hi Fly Guy - Tedd Arnold
63. The Monkey and the Crocodile - Paul Galdone
64. The Promise Quilt - Candice Ransom
65. Peek! A Thai Hide and Seek - Mingfong Ho
66. Morris The Artist - Lore Segal
67. Russel and the Lost Treasure - Rob Scotton
68. The Tiny Seed - Eric Carle
69. The Very Clumsy Click Beetle - Eric Carle
70. The Reluctant Dragon - Kenneth Grahame
71. Have You Seen My Cat - Eric Carle
72. The Very Busy Spider - Eric Carle
73. Tikki Tikki Tembo - Arlene Mosel
74. WOW! America - Robert Neubecker
75. The Crack of Dawn Walkers - Amy Hest
76. Willie Takes a Hike - Gloria Rand
77. Oscar Otter - Nathaniel Benchley
78. Pancakes Pancakes - Eric Carle
79. Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears - Verna Aardema
80. Flotsam - David Weisner
81. The Purple Pussycat - Margaret Hilbert
82. Tell Me Some More - Crosby Newell Bonsall
83. Rain Flowers - Ann Turner
84. First the Egg - Laura Vaccaro Seeger
85. This is The Stable - Cynthia Cotten
86. Shall I Knit You a Hat -Kate Klise
87. Yoon and the Christmas Mitten - Helen Recorvits
88. The Long Red Scarf - Nettie Hilton
89. The Grouchy Ladybug - Eric Carle
90. The Very Hungry Catterpillar - Eric Carle
91. Dinosaurs Before Dark - Mary Pope Osborne
92. Counting Our Way to Maine - Maggie Smith
93. Otters Underwater - Jim Arnosky
94. With You Always Little Monday - Genevieve Cote
95. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers - Mordecai Gerstein
96. The Memory Cupboard - Charlotte Herman
97. 1621 A New Look at Thanksgiving - C. O'Neill Grace
98. Beauty and the Beaks - Mary Jane and Herm Auchs
99. The Very Quiet Cricket - Eric Carle
100. Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth - Eric Carle

And if you've made it this far - thanks! Our Favorites are highlighted in green and I've included some interesting links. What are you reading and what are your favorites?

I'll be adding a list to the sidebar of our favorites and our current 'in-box'. Until then - I have to run. I just got the call that my reserved books are in now.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Menu Planning Monday

The Homeschool Helpers Edition:

This week I've got helpers in the kitchen. The kids are helping from the menu planning to the preparation and clean up. It's a lesson for all of us. The kids will practice their kitchen skills (they help out fairly often) and I will practice my patience (I don't like help in my kitchen whilst cooking). I can't wait to report back next week on the results. Pray for me (really) as I enter a week of shared control which I find REALLY difficult.

The Menu:
Monday: Chopped steak, glazed carrots, peas & rice
(the children will chop carrots, measuring rice, working the microwave, and seasoning the steaks)

Tuesday: Chicken Noodle Soup with green salad & applesauce
(the children will chop carrots and celery, add pasta, season soup, make the salads, and help brown the chicken)

Wednesday: Beans and Ham with cornbread, fruit, and carrot sticks
(the children will sort and soak the beans, measure and make the cornbread, and help chop carrots)

Thursday: Tacos with fruit
(the children will grate cheese, tear lettuce, help brown the meat, and chop olives)

Friday: Make your own pizza night, with fruit and carrot sticks
(the children will grate cheese, and assemble their own pizzas)

Saturday we'll probably go out and for lunches all week we'll have sandwiches or leftovers each day.

It's an adventure everyday right?

Forget luck, wish me patience! Please explore many more fabulous menus HERE.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

It's THAT Time of Year

Time to think about holiday cards (except you Andrea - since you're finished).

If you haven't made your plans already (even if you have) Check out Skip to My Lou's site for some fun contests and for some unique card ideas to make life easier.

I'll Keep You Posted!

AmyDe

Mimi is my Angel

This weekend Casey and I had the rare opportunity (first time in 8 years) to get away for a weekend alone because Mimi, my SIL, came to watch the kids and pets for us.

I struggled with the decision to go. "Where to go? Where to stay?, Can we really afford it?" thoughts like those. Why is it so hard to take time out and enjoy life - EVEN if it means the credit card won't be paid off for an extra month. I'll tell you - this weekend was needed - more than we realized before we left. Time away and alone is a wonderful gift. Mimi is officially our Angel!

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend. Fall finally arrived here in the south and the trees and weather are just gorgeous. We had a wonderful time in Birmingham, AL.

I'd share pictures, but we didn't take any!

Angela - Sam says hello to you and Ray and sends his love (awesome sandwich - thanks!).

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

More Cutie-Patootie Socks...

I love making the baby socks! They are cute and quick and use up leftover yarn. Unfortunately I am out of leftover yarn so I better knit up more actual socks. I have more projects in the works, I'll have pictures soon.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe