We are in the process of finishing our basement to be a game/movie room. It will be great for the family but also to host youth group events. We have really been spending a lot of time trying to get it done so... Tot School was limited this past week.

"Precious" enjoyed coloring one morning. She initiated this herself so I got things out for her. She held up different colored pencils and called out a color. She usually was NOT right but she was trying and when she did name a color right, we cheered for her. We corrected her the other times and she would repeat it. It was purely spontaneous on her part and was great for working on colors!

Another day, she had a lot of fun with an assortment of blocks. Most of these are foam blocks. I keep them in a basket and they can get them out when they want to. She enjoyed this for quite awhile!

We had a summer picnic for our Homeschool group (co-op). The family that hosted it has a gorgeous outdoor environment. Isn't it beautiful?

 In the top part of their yard, they had a samdbox under a playground set. My little ones loved this.

 I recently bought play sand and hope to get our turtle sandbox set back up for them. Since we moved, I didn't get sand in it yet but they had such a wonderful time, I hope to surprise them this week with their own sandbox (again).

Also this past week, "Peanut" got to go to his first (minor league) baseball game. He went with his older sisters and daddy. ("Pilgrim" went with daddy earlier in the season). I am hoping that our whole family goes next to a game! They had a BALL! They got cotton candy and he even came home singing "Take me out to the ballgame!" He was so VERY excited about this outing!

I think we will have more Tot School activities this coming week but sometimes it is nice to have a little break... It doesn't mean they didn't learn things this week. Life is just a HUGE learning experience even when we are adults. We learn so much everyday! I wonder what each of us will learn today?!

Have a great day!

Check out the other Tot School participants Here!

Hi everyone -

I've been keeping an art illustration blog and have found that I just don't have time to maintain two sites.   So, if you'd like to know what's up with our family or check-out some of my artwork, you'll have to visit me at Illo Talk .

Blessings to all!

I just read this article and I wondered why the Obama campaign feels it is necessary to keep his original birth certificate out of the public eye? Why did they lie about the forged document and say it was real???

Seems a bit ominous to me  ... ( cue twilight zone music ;0)

Here's the link so you can check this out!

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/07/forgery_revealed_in_kos_public.html

Happy Independace Day !!!!

The Crayola Company certainly has some really great products. With preschoolers in the house, we love the Color Wonder stuff. The markers/paints only work on the special paper! This gives the kids freedom to be creative without the worry that they will destroy the whole house!

Here is a homeschooling mom that is giving away a chance to win this:

Stop by HER BLOG and leave a comment for a chance to win!

Also- I will be hosting a small giveaway soon for a great summer book! Stop back soon to check it out!

Happy 4th of July!  Wow, it's hard to believe it's already this time of year!  As I sit here and reflect back, I think of all that is going on in the world today.  So much sorrow, so much grief, so much heartache.  Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, wildfires, floods, innocent men, women, and children being killed just because they don't believe in certain people or principles set forth by their governments, global warming, drugs and violence rampant on the streets, the situation with fuel prices (even though there isn't a shortage), and so much more.  It can be mind boggling!  And yet, as I turned on the news a couple of days ago, they were actually reporting something good--something wonderful--something miraculous!  Yes, 3 of our nation's men were being rescued from a South American prison of sorts where they had been held for more than 5 years.  Hallelujah!  It was through the efforts of many, and a bit of trickery involved I think, but the drug kings lost out and now these young men are now home here in America--safe, healthy, and with their families once again.  It's amazing that they survived their ordeal, and yet, we serve a mighty God, and I know He kept His hand upon them during these many years of their imprisonment.  Glory to His Name!

We take so much for granted here in America.  We have so much freedom, and yet, we tend to forget those who fought and died for us to have this freedom.  We can choose to go to any church we want to, we can send our children to public or private school or choose to homeschool them, we can wear what we want to wear, we can shop for what we need and want from any store, we have the freedom to speak our own minds--yes, we have many freedoms that much of this world has never known. 

We should each be falling to our knees every day and thanking God for the freedoms that we have.  Don't allow yourself to become caught up in the negativity that runs rampant quite often--who's running for President, who made the latest spoken blunder, what John Doe down the street said to Mr. Brown--all of that will take your focus off what is really happening. 

I truly believe that much of our country has turned their back on God.  Ouch!  I heard some statistics on the television the other day, and while many Americans said they pray and go to church (if that's so, why are there so many empty pews in so many churches?), they don't believe that there's only one way to heaven.  Oh, my goodness gracious--that's just wrong.  The Bible says that there is only one way to the Father and that's through the Son--to get to God, you must accept Jesus as your personal Saviour!

So as we begin another year of celebrating the freedom we have, let us all remember where our freedom came from.  Let us remember the good men and women who sacrificed their lives for us and our children, the good men and women continuing to lay their lives on the line every day--those in the war zones, and those on the streets of our homeland fighting terrorists and criminals to keep us safe.  Let us remember that no freedom comes freely--there's always a cost.  Let us ask God to protect our nation and bless our nation with His hedge of protection, and that He will have mercy on us and forgive us for the many times we've turned our backs on Him.  Let us correct that horrible mistake and once again turn to Him as a nation and seek His Will in all things--both corporately and individually.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful, blessed, and safe Independence Day today.  I will be home with my family and we will spend a simple day of celebration.  I'll go over the Gettysburg Address and some of the Constitution (in a simple way the children can understand), and we'll pray together as a family for our country and leaders.  We'll have a cookout (which may turn into a *cook-in* due to rains forecasted for the day), and hopefully be able to go to the Riverfront for the fireworks display tonight (if the rain doesn't cause a cancellation).  A day of simplicity--yes, what a wonderful way to celebrate our freedom!

Cynthia Robin

A few days ago we celebrated my oldest child's birthday, today is my birthday  and tomorrow is our great country's birthday! Lots of celebrating in our house!

I hope you all have a wonderful celebration this 4th of July! Here is a FUN drink to make up and surprise your family &/or guests!

It's very simple! You will need the following drink/juice products:

Layer one: red drink: I used cranberry juice (you could also try Mountain Dew Code Red) This drink should have all sugar content. This is the heaviest so will be at the bottom of the glass!

Layer Two: Blue: Blue Gatorade

Layer three: White : DIET 7Up (Must be diet or use water). This is the lighter drink so it will stay at the top.

(Note: I used an off-brand gaterade drink that was a bit of a lighter shade. I didn't need the white layer as I like the look with just the two drinks.)

Add some fun & festive picks (optional) and serve!

Have a wonderful 4th of July celebration!

Last weekend, we celebrated our oldest daughter's 12th birthday! It's hard to believe my baby is 12! She is growing up and making mom old!  She is really growing into a lovely young lady though, she loves the Lord and is very creative and helpful, a true sweetheart!  I am very thankful to be her mom!

She had a black & white birthday party! Can you guess why black & white? Well..... she has always liked zebras and pandas (as her favorite animals.) I don't think it is just because they are black and white- she just likes them. So... we went with a black and white birthday party and decorated with pandas and zebras! Everyone was to wear black and white!

We played some group games (Zebra team vs. the panda team)! We had black and white drinks (made like the 4th of July drinks I am posting here!) We also had dark and light tortilla chips with salsa, some black and white jelly candy, and the cakes and ice cream that were all black and white. The other things were just foods we needed to make a well rounded meal/menu.

Here are the cupcakes I made. (The idea was in a magazine but don't know which one as my mom tore out the article and gave it to me! Thanks Mom!) ...and the birthday girl!

The cupcakes were made with one regular sized cupcake and a mini cupcake. The mini sat on its side on top of the reg.-sized cupcake. Oreos, black cake icing and Junior mints were used to create the pandas!

Look at all the black and white gift bags and wrappings!:

Here are some of her Black & white gifts:

Wildly Cool Slippers:

A few Webkinz: the cow and the cat! (Our children just love Webkinz!)

plus... the Webkinz Panda figurine:

She received many other wonderful gifts,too. (Thanks to all of you who made her feel special!)

Then they all changed into swimwear and we had a water slide down on big hill in our front yard! It was GREAT fun!!

Here is a line-up of most of the kids at the top of the slide.... then at the bottom!

Sweetheart! We  You!