I have always been frugal, but this year I am down right serious about it.  I have it in my head that it's not how much money that comes into the home, but how  much goes out that matters.

With that said, I get a kick out  of how this affects the kids.  It is not unusual for the little kids to come running and yelling, "Hey, Mom, look, I found a coupon!"  LOL

~Candy~

We enjoyed reading, "Oliver Twist."  I think we will read, "Swiss Family Robinson".

What is your family reading?

~Candy~

It's Friday!!!!

How did your week go?

I think we will do something  fun for school today.

Let's see, we could play some educational games, watch some educational movies, and use our new Quarter Mile Math cd.

How are you spending your Friday?

~Candy~

My kids have become wonderful musicians.

They can play multiply instruments.

Many people ask us how many hours a day we make our children practice.

Actually, we don't make our children practice.

We have purchased a lot of violins, guitars, key boards, etc. over the years.  A lot of times the kids couldn't care a  less about them.

We were persistent.  If the instruments got broken, we just watched the yard sales and thrift stores.  We let family know that we were looking for instruments.

Our only part was making the stuff available.  The kids eventually started picking them up. 

Here is the tough part!  We had to listen to them play when they couldn't play!!!

Be patient!  Be a prayer!

Today, our children play wonderfully.  They taught themselves via the internet.

I am amazed how God has anointed these children to play.

Pray and ask God which kind of things you should be making available for your children.

~Candy~

I am so sorry for posting the wrong link.

Here is the  right one:

http://www.funfoodadventures.com/estes.htm

I am sure that most of you have been praying for and following the story of Noah Estes.

Now is your chance to be a blessing to this  family, and get blessed yourself in the process! 

http://www.funfoodadventures.com/estes.htm   

~Candy~

This has to be one of our best school years.

I had a certified teacher test their reading levels when we started the school year.  She has come back and tested them every quarter to coincide with the quarterly reports due.

The kids have jumped 2 grade levels in their reading and spelling in just 4 months time!

Praise God!

Don't get overly concerned if your children are not where they are 'supposed to be.'  Homeschooled children can quickly jump in their learning.

I remember when one of my daughter was 9  years old and still  at a first grade reading level.  In two months time, she went from that first grade reading level to a fourth grade reading level!

Today, she is in the 9th grade and doesn't have trouble reading at an 11th grade reading level.

Be encouraged!

~Candy~

~Candy~

It is that time of year.  I will be busy writing quarterly reports this week.  They are due on Friday.

~Candy~

Woohoo!  TEACHMagazine is going to publish another one of my articles!!!

It will be in the summer 2010 issue.

~Candy~

I just sent out the January newsletter.

Are you getting yours???

Sign up at http://www.candyfoote.com/  

~Candy~

No school at the Foote Family Homeschool today.

Today is my oldest baby's birthday.

Judson is 25 today!!!

Wow, 25!!!!

Our homeschool  takes off birthdays. 

~Candy~

I love the start of a new year; don't you?!?

It is like a fresh start every  year.

I am starting my new year by cleaning out the house.

It feels so good to do spring cleaning type of  cleaning at the beginning of the year.

Ahh, a fresh start.

I spent last week focusing on cleaning out papers, books, magazines, and newspapers.  They have a way of just taking over our home.  (Be sure and scroll down to see some books I have for sale.  You can find some great deals!  All you need to do is make me an offer!)

This week's goal is clothing, sheets, blankets, coats, hats and mittens.

Clothing and books are the biggest challenges at the Foote house!

I am going to wash everything, sort through closets and dressers, and organize everything.

Are you getting a fresh start to the new year?

~Candy~

Sadlier-Oxford's "Progress in Mathematics" - 3rd grade & 5th grade textbooks.

Addison-Wesley Mathematics - grade 4 and grade 5

Rod & Staff's, "Building Christian English - grade 3" - Teacher's Guide

Rod & Staff's, "Building With Diligence - grade 4" - Teacher's Guide English

Rod & Staff's, "Building Christian English - grade 8" - set of Teacher's Guide and student's text.

Rod & Staff's English Handbook

Bob Jones University Press' - "English Handbook for Christian Schools".

Rod & Staff's 4th grade reader.  This is not a hardcover version.

I also have the teacher's guides for the 5th, 6th, and 7th grade reader teacher's guides.

See something you like?  Just make an offer.  I am more that willing to work with you!  All I ask is that you remember that I have to pay shipping and handling charges.

Blessings,

~Candy~

I have more books for sale!

Just make me an offer.

Sadlier-Oxford's "Progress in Mathematics" - 3rd grade & 5th grade textbooks.

Addison-Wesley Mathematics - grade 4 and grade 5

Rod & Staff's, "Building Christian English - grade 3" - Teacher's Guide

Rod & Staff's, "Building With Diligence - grade 4" - Teacher's Guide English

Rod & Staff's, "Building Christian English - grade 8" - set of Teacher's Guide and student's text.

Rod & Staff's English Handbook

Bob Jones University Press' - "English Handbook for Christian Schools".

"The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook" by Dr. Raymond & Dorothy Moore

Rod & Staff's "Penmanship for Christian Writing" Teacher's Guides for both 2nd and 3rd grades.

Rod & Staff's "Homelands Around the World" - 4th grade - set of Teacher's Guide and student's textbook.

Rod & Staff's reading and phonics first grade teacher's guides.
They include one book for the first unit, one book for both the 2nd and 3rd units, and another book for the units 4 & 5.

Rod & Staff's first grade readers.  They include a hardcover book for units 2 & 3 and another book for units 4 & 5.

Rod & Staff's 2nd grade readers.  I have 2 of the same book which include the units 1, 2, and 3.  Another book contains units 4 & 5.

I have the Rod & Staff 2nd grade teacher's guides for  reading and phonics.

Rod & Staff's 3rd grade reader.  This is a hardcover book which includes units 1, 2, and 3.

Rod & Staff's 3rd grade reader  Teacher's manuals (2 of the same book available)

Rod & Staff's 4th grade reader.  This is not a hardcover version.

I also have the teacher's guides for the 5th, 6th, and 7th grade reader teacher's guides.

See something you like?  Just make an offer.  I am more that willing to work with you!  All I ask is that you remember that I have to pay shipping and handling charges.

Blessings,

~Candy~

 I have a lot of Rod & Staff books that I am getting rid of.
I will start posting them, but check back often to see new listings.
If you are looking for something, but don't see it, feel free to ask me.
Perhaps I have it, but haven't listed it yet.

As for the prices, just make an offer. 

ROD & STAFF SCIENCE BOOKS:

3rd grade - "God's Protected World" - set of teacher's guide & student's text

I also have 2 more teacher's guides of the 3rd grade science

I'm cleaning out! I have way too many books.
These books are USED. I haven't seen any rips or tears. the bindings are in excellent shape. The only problem is that they are dirty on the inside cover and the first few blank pages that are after the cover. It doesn't affect the pages in the least. I just want to be upfront.

I really want to get these books into the hands of someone who could use them.

Make me an offer. All I ask is for you to remember to take into consideration the shipping and handling costs.

Rod & Staff's 4th grade math books, "Progressing With Numbers."
- Student's text and teacher's guide. *SOLD*

Rod & Staff's 4th grade math Teacher's Guide.

Saxon's Math 3 Home Study Teacher's Edition

Saxon's Math 54 - student's text   *SOLD*

Saxon's Math 76 - Both teacher's guide and student's text

Saxon's Algebra 1/2 - Student's text

Christmas vacation is over, and I feel like I need a vacation to recouperate from our vacation.

I am looking forward to getting back into a nice routine.

How about you?

~Candy~

My books are half off for the After Christmas Blowout over at the old schoolhouse online store.
http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=specials

Check out this review on two of my books!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ElCloud/753413/

~Candy~

I am so excited to have Valerie Neal write up a review on two of my books!!!

http://walkininsunshine.blogspot.com/2009/12/2-new-books-for-review.html

Check it out and let me know what you think.

~Candy~

Would you like to get a free book?

Who doesn't love free?!?

I'm looking for some book reviewers.

I have compiled five books.  These books are simply compiled Scriptures on specific Biblical topics.

The books are:

The Word of God on Being a Woman, a Wife, and a Mother,

The Word of God on Healing,

The Word of God on Prosperity,

The Word of God on the Parables of Jesus Christ,

and

The Word of God on the Words of Your Mouth.

These are e-books, so you would receive them in your email.

You will be given the book free of charge in exchange for a written review posted somewhere online.  This could include your blogs, facebook, twitter, etc.

Thanks!

~Candy~

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Unknown Author

Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school each day,
T'wasn't even in the rule.
It made the children laugh and play,
To have a Lamb at school.

And then the rules all changed one day,
illegal it became;
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name.

Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We heard gun shots and tears.

What must we do to stop the crime,
That's in our schools today?
Let's let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray!

Give your homeschooled kids the gift of an education that is FUN – Ignite the Fire is back! http://bit.ly/5fHTkD

Give your homeschooled kids the gift of an education that is FUN – Ignite the Fire is back! http://bit.ly/5fHTkD

This is our 17th year of homeschooling.

I still love it!

Even though learning doesn't stop for the week-ends, I am excited that tomorrow is Monday!!!

Are you???

~Candy~

Our little preemie, Sarah, turns two today!

Happy birthday, Sarah Jane!!!

I am so excited about just starting my own shop over at etsy.com!!!!

Please take time to check out the crafts I have made.

Be sure to come back and leave me a comment so I know what you think!

~Candy~

I know that I have said this before, but I absolutely love John Hudson Tiner's science books!

If you want an awesome, easy, and completely understandable view on science, you need these books!

Check them out!

~Candy~

If you haven't been using SwagBucks as your search engine, now is the time to start!

I have already earned 4 $5.00 Amazon gift certificates from them.  I have just about enough for another one!

It's so easy!  Just search through SwagBucks and earn points.  The points add  up and you can choose a  prize.

Hey, you are on the computer anyway, so you might as well get paid to be online.

If you are interested in starting to earn while searching, please use my SwagBucks link at the top of this page.  That way I can earn too!!!

Thanks,

~Candy~

Check out these Godly magazines offered by http://www.wisdomsgate.com/

I love their magazine, "An Encouraging Word."

Do any of you ladies receive this magazine?

If you do, maybe you have seen the picture of my beautiful daughter, Jaimie, advertising my book,

"The Word of God on Being a Woman, a Wife, and a Mother."

Well, anyway, I am now an affiliate with Wisdom's Gate.

If you decide to order their magazines, please consider buying it through me.

My code is wgap20.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

~Candy~

We are planning on having a week off from our regular school work next week.  We keep calling it our week off, but I don't think that is quite right. 

Here's a list of the things we are planning for our "week off."

1. field trip to the apple orchard

2. field trip to the zoo

3. field trip to the fire department

4. a day at the library and a huge box full of borrowed books to take home

5. a nature walk to collect things to put into our nature notebooks

6. I'm going to pull out the awesome microscope that I bought and tucked away for our "week off."

7. Not to mention, our son, Jordan will be taking a trip from our New York home to Georgia with our pastor during this week.

Hmm, sounds like a full week "off!"

~Candy~

My newest favorite phonics/reading program is,

Sing, Spell, Read, & Write.  This is such an awesome program!  An oldie, but a goodie!

~Candy~

I love to read books written by John Hudson Tiner.

I just finished reading, "Isaac Newton."  It is from the Sowers series.

It's an awesome book!

Check it out!

~Candy~

I really have to get back into blogging. 

I thought that I would list a few of my favorite books:

Simply Grammar

Spelling Power

Any Child Can Write

The Write Stuff Adventure

The McGuffey series

and anything written by John Hudson Tiner.

There are so many more I could list!  Rhea Perry is right - so many books so little time!

~Candy~

Well, it's time to get back into a school schedule.

I love this time of year!  The kids are excited too!  It's always so nice to get back into a routine.

Are you back into the swing of things yet?

~Candy~

I am always so excited this time a year.  I love getting back into school.  I know, in truth, we are always learning, but I love to get back into a routine.  I love buying all of the new school supplies.  I love to see how excited the kids are when I hand out those school supplies on our official first day back to school. 

It is always exciting to plan out all of the ideas that have been rolling around in my mind all summer. 

I have many unit studies and lapbooks planned.

I am hoping to do a lot more projects and have more fun these year.  Learning can be such fun!

I want my kids to enjoy school even after the first day!  :D

~Candy~ 

I love how no matter how much fun you have somewhere, it's ALWAYS so good to return home.  The old adage is so true - there's no place like home!

We had such a wonderful time on our annual three-day camp-out trip to my sister-in-law's!

Does your family enjoy camp-outs?  Don't let finances keep you from camping out with your family.

Every year we go "camping" to my sister-in-laws.  She only lives about ten miles from us.  We set-up camp right in her back yard.  We usually have tents, although this year we had a camper.  Yeah!  We have a campfire each night.  We sit around the fire talking while the kids run, play and make s'mores.

My sister-in-law has a four foot pool, trampoline, horse shoes, Texas horseshoes and numerous toys and other games.

The only money spent is on groceries.  We always have a blast!  It's so relaxing and down right fun.

You should try it!  We use to spend a whole week camping at my mother-in-law's house when she was alive

You can have an awesome family "vacation" for little to no money.

Hey, tell me about your frugal family fun ideas!

~Candy~

I just bought Streams of Civilization Vol. 1 for only $2.26!!  That's right - $2.26!

I purchased on Amazon.com and used my Swag Bucks.

Woohoo!!!

~Candy~

My newest grandson arrived last night.

Matthew Nicholas Foote, Jr.

9 pounds 1 ounce

20 inches long

Did you see me in the summer issue of TEACHMagazine?

What did you think?

Sign up for our family's monthly newsletter and receive a free sample of one of our books!

candyfoote.com

~Candy~

We are back home from South Carolina.

It was our first family trip.

We had such a wonderful time.

I even got to see the ocean.

Most of my kids had already seen the ocean because daddy likes to take a couple of them and head out to different places.

They finally talked mommy into going along.

What a great time!

I hadn't seen my sister in over a year and a half, so that was the best part for me.

God is so good to us!

~Candy~

This is good-bye....um, for now.

We are heading to South Carolina on Monday.  Yea!

Our monthly newsletter won't be sent out until after I return in two weeks.

Hey, that gives you time to sign up for it! :D

candyfoote.com

See you in two weeks!

~Candy~

Today was our last day of school.

We are officially on summer vacation.

I laugh when I use the word 'vacation' though.

The kids anxiously await their 'vacation', then they spend their time doing school work!

They love school.  They are able to pursue their work without any pressures of having to get it done.  I love it!

~Candy~

Hey, what better way to teach geography?!?

We are headed to South Carolina in 6 days!  Yea!

~Candy~

The kids are counting down until "summer vacation".

I always laugh at them because they truly love school.

Many "first day of summer" days, my kids could be found somewhere reading a good book.

We tend to do school through-out the year.  We just change up what we are learning and how it is being taught.

We are finishing up our ocean study by actually going to the ocean!

Technically, we are going on 'vacation' on May 28th.  Then, on June 1st we are headed to South Carolina!!  Yea!!!!!!!!!!

How are you spending your 'summer vacation'?

~Candy~

I've been spending the day reading over Karen Andreola's book, "Charlotte Mason Companion".

I could just read it over and over; couldn't you?

~Candy~

If you haven't used up those BOOK-IT coupons from Pizza Hut, you had better hurry up.  They expire on May 1st!!!

~Candy~

We only have four and a half weeks of our regular school year left!  Wow!

The funny thing is that we never actually stop learning, we just switch up the way we learn.  We also focus more on science and nature studies.  We get to spend a lot more time on learning crafts too.  The kids are getting pretty good at crocheting!  Read alouds never stop!  We actually do so much learning during the summer that we shouldn't even call it summer vacation.  Oh, well, it makes the kids feel better thinking they are on vacation.   lol

We are preparing to go to the ocean in June.

What a great way to complete our ocean unit study!

I have never been to the ocean before.  Many of the kids have been to the ocean, but this will be my first trip.  Yahoo!

What are your summer time plans?

~Candy~

We just got three new Drive Thru History DVDs!!

I love them!

Have you seen any of them?

~Candy~

One of my all time favorite kid's book is the story of Peter Rabbit.

What is one of your favorites?

~Candy~

Here is another awesome site.

There are a lot of free worksheets available for multiply grade levels.

It's a wonderful resource.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.tlsbooks.com/miscellaneousworksheets.htm

~Candy~