A Busy Full Week

Life gets hectic at times. I feel like all I've done is run, run, and run. Sundays are always full because of church - typical for a pastor's family. Monday held our homeschool co-op and AIM practice. Tuesday we had a day with Dad at the zoo. Wednesday was at the Safari Park (Dad joined us then too). I took Thursday and Friday at home to regroup and catch up on some deep cleaning in the bathrooms and laundry. Now, here it is Saturday, and I spent the morning at church; the family handed out flyers for the Easter services while I manned the building and changed the turn signal bulb in the van which wasn't working. We came home and had our spaghetti dinner. I followed that up with more laundry, scrubbing the van windows and applying Rain-X, and finally making soft pretzels. Add to all that doing the dishes I don't know how many times. I'm tired and sore. This past week was supposed to be part of our spring break. How come I don't feel relaxed?

my tray of pretzels

Tomorrow starts another week and we're off running again. Maybe I'll go have another pretzel to boost my energy!

Then Sings My Soul

Join Amy and others at Signs, Miracles, and Wonders!

Reading Eggs

I've been looking around for a phonics/reading program for my 5 year old son. After many years teaching Kindergarten and using ABeka, I wanted to try something different - more for my sake than for his.

I have been given the opportunity to review Reading Eggs and felt that it might help my son who loves anything video related. He is in kindergarten. I also registered our daughter (6th grade) for the Reading Eggspress.

I found it easy to create accounts (one for me and one for each of the children). My account helps me to track and monitor their progress. As my son finished a level, an email was sent to me stating what letters he has learned and how he is doing. The parental pages also offer age and grade level suggestions.

On the first entry, an assessment is given. For our son, he began at the very beginning level one. L on the other hand answered many questions and was able to begin at her reading level.
M, our son, found the program fun, entertaining, and workable. He really enjoyed the graphics and completing the paths. Here's one page of his complete path. what I liked most about his level was the variety of learning opportunities. Each lesson has ten different activities and reading words starts early (without knowing all 26 letters). I did find at times that he was just "playing the game" - clicking on anything to get the answer - instead of really trying to do the work. That mostly happened when I left him alone on the computer.

For L, she had four different areas to work in: the Comprehension Gym, the Mall, the Library, and the Stadium. In the comprehension gym, the obvious work was comprehension. The mall was used to purchase items earned; the library offered books to read and the Stadium area offered games like spelling sprint and grammar skating.

It was a great opportunity for my children to do something different that our usual work and a great reinforcement for reading. Although I wouldn't use it as my only source of teaching phonics and/or reading, it is a great supplement and encouragement for my children.

I tried to post pictures with Print Screen; however, Blogger was having trouble saving them and kept freezing up on me.

I received a free trial subscription through The Homeschool Lounge Review Team in exchange for my review.

Frumps to Pumps Review

As a former educator who dressed professionally at least six days a week, I dreamed of becoming a stay at home mom wearing my shorts and t-shirts or jammies if I choose. I have been living my dream for five years and admit that I have fallen into the cozy trap. I am often found still in my jammies at 11am and sipping coffee. I came to the realization about 6 weeks ago that I've become a frump. I recognized it when one Sunday morning I got dressed for church in my skirt and sweater and said to myself, "So there I am; haven't seen myself in a while." I've made an effort to "dress up" more than just Sundays. Then I began reading Sarah Mae's text.

Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae is a delightful motivational series of brief devotions. She has written 20 brief vignettes to encourage stay at home women to "get dressed and stay that way." I can attest that what she has written is true - life happens and if we're not dressed for it, we're not ready. Each devotion is short, easy to understand, and meaningful. There were many instances where I saw myself.

Sarah Mae writes in such a manner that I felt like I was sitting down have coffee together. She uses Scripture and quotes to support her material. I am now motivated even more to be the woman God calls me to be!

I received a complimentary copy Frumps to Pumps for my review. All opinions and thoughts stated are my own.

Overcommitment

Yes, I have a problem: overcommitment. I want to do a variety of things and have a huge to do list. Be watching the blog for some reviews that I'm writing as well as pictures of homeschool items. Church is keeping us busy and I feel like there is no time for blog writing or reading. I'm just having trouble saying no, so please don't ask me to do anything for a while...... Just kidding, feel free to ask, but know that I might say no.

My list of priorities needs re-evaluated and ranked in order. Better get off the computer and get cracking on my list of things to do. I hope everyone understands and joins me in getting things done.