Prairie Primer

We home school year round so we can take breaks during the year, as we please. We love vacationing while school is in session.:) Today the girls and I started reading On The Banks of Plum Creek (Little House on the Prairie series). The Prairie Primer is the curriculum we use to accompany the books and it is wonderful! Today we learned how to classify animals and plants, identify the parts of a tree (including xylem, phloem and cambium), what causes cholera, dysentery and hepatitis, and a bit about bartering, among other things. That was just in the first two chapters!

I love reading with my girls. Mandy is a wonderful reader, too, and puts lots of emotion into the words. The Prairie Primer is a pretty relaxed curriculum, but I want summer to be fun for my girls. Plus, it's hard to squeeze school in with camp, friends and fun!

Summer Berry Swap Partners!

Here are the partners for the Summer Berry Swap:

Olenka and Kimberly

Lindsay and Lori

Fran and Crystal

Yvonne and Missy

Angi and Amy

Tammy and Kim

Have fun getting to know each other and please don't forget to mail your packages by July 20th!:) Let the fun begin!

Mail!

I love holidays, except for the fact that there is no mail. Boo. Today more than made up for the lack of mail on Saturday! Yippee! I got the loveliest stationery from my Night Owl buddy, Jamie! We did a little mini swap from our shops. She chose a Creme Brulee Button Bracelet and I chose her darling fabric notecards! Look at the darling forest critters and birdies! You must stop by Jamie's shop!

Then, my girls looked around the side of the house and saw some packages with their names on them! Oh my goodness! It was like Christmas had arrived! My new and, oh so talented, friend Jill suggested a swap for our girls and I was thrilled at the idea!

Look at all the wonderful and beautifully wrapped goodies! Colored pencils, personalized stationery, paper dolls, a bookmark, darling hair band, candy, a precious note, and a cookbook (to share) for Katie...

Jill even sent me a package! Lovely stationery (that she designed!), button soap- yes, you read that correctly! She found it during her vacation at the beach! and a gorgeous decorative hair clip on top...

Mandy received colored pencils, a sparkly butterfly ornament, personalized stationery (so special!), a personalized tag, Laffy Taffy, a sweet book mark, a lovely hair band, a sweet note, and a cook book to share!

Jill- Let's plan on doing this again at Christmas!:) Thanks for everything!

Nancy Drew on Sale!!

Just in time! I made some Nancy Drew Scrabble tile pendants before the end of my sale! (Everything in my shop 20% off until midnight tonight!!) I don't have time to put them in my shop, but if you are interested in one (or more!) they are on sale for $4.50 each (plus shipping)! Just leave a comment here and I will get back to you...

The Secret of Shadow Ranch... SOLD

The Secret of Red Gate Farm...

The Secret of the Old Clock... SOLD

The Haunted Showboat... SOLD

The Mystery of the Fire Dragon...

The Secret in the Old Attic...

The Password to Larkspur Lane is not pictured, but available!:) Which one is your favorite mystery?

The Watermelon Award

My sweet friend, Missy, gave me this fun award! Thanks Sweets! Oh, how I love watermelon! I am supposed to tell you 6 things that make me HAPPY!:)

#1- Comments from you sweets! I LOVE them! How they make my heart sing and give me warm fuzzies.:)

#2- Watching my girls play together and with friends. When I have a little peek into their world (without them knowing!) I get such a thrill! sigh...

#3- Making my husband laugh! We have the same silly sense of humor.:) Love it.

#4- Reading a book that I can't put down! I'm always searching... I have not been able to top the Twilight series. Have you?

#5- Crafting into the wee hours. It's "my" time.:)

#6- Coming home.:)

I would like to give this award to: Lindsay, Robin, April, Angie, Jill, Heather, and Angi

Harper's Island Finale Contest!

There was no Harper's Island last night. Boo. Which means I have to wait a WHOLE WEEK for the Season Finale. I thought it would be fun to have a little contest to add to the excitement. (Like I need anymore anticipation) So, who do YOU think is helping Wakefield? Missy? Cherry? Amy?? Tristan?? If you are right, I will send you a little prize.:) **If you want to catch up and join the fun, watch an episode or two on Hulu!**

Friends, Food and Fireworks

Happy 4th of July everyone! It certainly has been a wonderful, and quite busy, weekend at our house! We invited some friends over for dinner...

Then we headed out to fireworks and FUN! (I love the look on Katie's face- sheer joy!)

Look at that sweet chocolate smile.:)

Mandy and Brennan chatting in the back seat...

The kids are getting tired of me and the camera (sound familiar?) but when I can get another adult involved it sometimes does the trick.:)

My sweet friend, Jackie, brought me gorgeous flowers from her garden. Love them!

I took a tip from the Four Reluctant Entertainers and set up a table for the kids on the back porch, so they could have their own "space". (Please forgive the wrinkles!)

Then I set up a table for the grown-ups inside. (More wrinkles- sigh...) This worked out perfectly!

I also made a ton of posies (thanks again, Chrissie!) this weekend! This one I made into a hair accessory...

Katie loved it and received so many compliments!

I used these alligator clips which I purchased at Hobby Lobby (half price- yippee!).

Then, on Friday, the girls had some friends over for a play date. Here are the "Katie Twins"! See their matching posies?:)

We served some fun sodas...

and lots of fresh fruit...

of course, there were lots of giggles...

and Wii playing...

crafts...

and smiles!:)

The girls all loved making these! Do you remember Spin Art? Such fun! I thought they were a perfect craft since they look like fireworks!

All in all, we have had such fun! Now, I need a nap.:)

Did you set off fireworks at home or did you go to a show?