Summer Reading

   The girls and I have just finished reading The Secret Garden and it was absolutely delightful!  I think we have all dreamed, at some point in our lives, to discover something magical like a hidden garden or as mysterious as sounds in an old, dreary mansion like Misselthwaite Manor.  We are looking forward to watching the movie and seeing the secret garden for ourselves!

  We just started reading Farmer Boy yesterday.  This book tells the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder's husband, Almonzo, when he was a child.  It is wonderful!  We will be using The Prairie Primer as we read this book.  The Prairie Primer is a fabulous home school resource that really helps children learn and retain what they have read.  It is a study guide for all the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  

A Summer Swap for the Kids!!!

I'm dreaming of a new swap....  I don't know about you, but my girls are getting pretty jealous of all the fun packages arriving with MY name on them!  Actually, they are truly happy for me, but we all like to get a package with our name on it, don't we?:-)  

        This swap involves making/buying a few items that you think your child's partner would enjoy during the summer.  Perhaps a good book, a fun recipe, cute flip flops, bubbles, a bug catcher, etc.  The ideas are endless and I know how creative you are!  Get your kids involved- they will love it!  Please spend no more than $15/person, not including postage.  I will take sign ups until June 11th and you should send your package by July 11th.  This is going to be such fun!!!

****HOW TO SIGN UP:  Please leave a comment and include your blog name and/or e-mail address, so I have a way to contact you.****

***Make sure and sign up for my Button Necklace Giveaway!  You must leave a comment on my Better Later then Never! entry below....   The deadline is next Sunday, the 8th!***

The Mole

  Boy, do I love a good mystery.  I just finished watching the first episode of this season's "The Mole".   Wow!  It really makes you think.  Who is the mole??  Who is this person that is trying to sabotage the team?  A man?  woman?  I can't imagine the pressure that person is under to appear normal and build relationships while working hard to make the team lose.  Monday nights are boring no longer.  

Bible Camp

   Ahhh, summer.  A time to kick back and enjoy the great outdoors.  (I am all for this, just make sure I get a shower at the beginning and end of the day, thank you very much.)  Yes it is hot already, but if you're in the shade, who cares?  Today, Katie enjoyed her first day of Bible Camp.  There were ponies, kittens, pigs, goats, bunnies, guinea pigs, chickens, turtles, frogs, etc.  Plus, there were tire swings, old fashioned teeter totters, crafts, etc.  Not a TV, Nintendo, or Ipod in sight.  Love it.  As you can see, Mandy wanted to stay, too!   Well, we actually will be staying tomorrow, as they need a few extra hands so I am now an official "team leader".  What have I gotten myself into? 

Pinkalicious Swapapalooza!

   I had the best time making this bag of goodies for my friend, Jessica (barefootinthebackyard.blogspot.com), in Tangee's Pinkalicious Swapapalooza!  It also turns out that Jessica just had a birthday, so the timing is perfect!  I plan on giving this to her tomorrow when we take our girls to camp.  If you are looking Jessica, stop right now!!  She will be getting a Summer journal, assorted teas, strawberry lemonade mix (I love how it is packaged with a tiny wooden spoon!), morning glories and moonflower seeds, chocolate covered coffee and espresso beans (her favorite!), a pink button necklace and a bottle cap necklace for her little princess.  I hope you like everything, Jessica!

****Don't forget to sign up for my BUTTON NECKLACE GIVEAWAY!!!  For more info, see Better Late than Never blog entry below.  You must leave a comment on that entry to be entered...

Summer Schedule

   I have been busy getting ready for our new school schedule.  We home school during the summer so we can take breaks/vacations whenever we like during the year.  We will be trying out some new curriculum, just for fun (and because I am addicted to buying new curriculum!).  

Language Arts- Learning Language Arts Through Literature/Explode the Code

Writing- Writing Strands

Geography- 50 States

Science- A Beka/Apologia

World History- Story of the World

Math- Math U See

We will also be doing sketches in our nature notebooks and cooking a few times during the week.

   My girls are signed up for a bunch of camps this summer, so I am hoping we can fit everything into our schedule!  Tomorrow Katie will be going to her first, without me.  It will be interesting to see how that turns out....  She is quite shy, but I was too as a child (still am under certain circumstances...).  The camp is on a farm and she will be learning about animals, making crafts, going fishing, etc.  I may have to stick around for a few pictures.:-)