Dec. 11, 2009 - The BEST Christmas cookie dough!
A friend made these cookies at our ladies tea last night and cut them out with tiny Christmas cookie cutters and decorated with icing and sprinkles, they were adorable and delicious! I can't wait to try them with the boys.
The original recipe is for Santa's Whiskers cookies but she simply used the dough from that recipe to make her own cut out cookies to decorate.Best of all, the raw dough is safe to eat because they have no Egg! My chunky monkey can eat them and the boys can eat the raw dough! (the best part)
Easy kid-friendly recipe for slice & bake refrigerator cookies.
1 1/4 cups butter, softened (2 1/2 sticks)
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
In a large mixing bowl, preferably with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add milk and vanilla, beat again and scrape bowl. With mixer on low speed, add flour one cup at a time and beat after each addition. Shape into logs approximately 2" in diameter. Roll the logs in parchment paper or plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silpat liner and give them a light spray with vegetable shortening. Unwrap logs and slice into 1/4" thick slices or roll out to cut out shapes. Place cookies on prepared cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until very light brown and the sides are slightly firm.
Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack. Cool completely before storing in air tight containers.
We are sharing and discussing Christmas Cookies at The Forum on The Homeschool Lounge... come join us!
Nov. 17, 2009 - Reflecting on my boys birth day.
The boys birthdays are always extra special for me. Yep I said me, probably more so then for the birthday boy. It's a day I spend reflecting on the day of their birth, my pregnancy with them and how they are growing. Am I making each day count, am I taking every opportunity to show them how far and wide the love I have for them flows.
Do I take the small moments to create lasting memories. Birthdays are always joyful with a tinge of sadness; they are growing up too fast. My time with them feels like sand slipping through my hands, it runs out fast.
Today is Ashton's 5th Birthday, he is my tiniest boy weighing 5 lbs less than his younger Brother Noah (2). He is my feistiest and funniest of the 4. He is precious in every way if I do say so myself! :-)
We had an early Birthday party on Sunday so that Troy could celebrate with us. Today we had our Birthday breakfast with Ashton's favorite... cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa! :-)
Find more photos like this on The Homeschool Lounge
Oct. 27, 2009 - Homeschool Toolbar Blog Launch Giveaway - Discovery's Planet Earth
To kick off the launch of the Homeschool Toolbar Blog a pretty nifty giveaway is underway!
http://homeschooltoolbar.blogspot.com/
This version is exclusive to the Discovery Channel Store.
- 11 episodes and bonus materials
- A behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, technology and danger that went into the making of this incredible series
- Behind-the-scenes featurettes on each episode
- Bonus disc featuring 'The Future' documentary – a three-part companion series revealing the vulnerability of the natural history of earth.
- Format: DVD
- Number of Discs: 5
- Run Time: 10 hours 3 minutes
- Format: DVD
- Number of Discs: 4
- Run Time: 5 hours 44 minutes
Sep. 26, 2009 - Autumn Swap on The Homeschool Lounge Swap Shop ...Thanks Secret Sisters!!
If you have not yet joined a Swap on The Homeschool Lounge Swap Shop, you really must! It was great fun! A HUGE thank you to my Secret Sisters for all of the sweet goodies they sent me! Elaine .... the sweet angel who took on this HUGE swap (over 75 moms) with Char (thanks ladies) sent me the most beautiful chrysanthemum... Thank you so much Elaine, I treasure you!
Thank you to all who participated and made the Autumn Swap such a great success! Thank you to Elaine and Char for your hard work and sacrifice, I know this was not an easy task! :-)
Aug. 24, 2009 - Homeschool Day In The Life
If you are interested in tips, suggestions or help for working from home you can view the power point hand out in its entirety HERE.
Reminder : Only 8 more days to enter The Homeschool Open House on THL! All you have to do is share your homeschool plans for the coming year and enter to win in our drawing of over $5000 in prizes!
Aug. 17, 2009 - The Youngins
This week Darcy has asked everyone to share their Youngins! I'm going to share some great pics that my friend and fellow blogger / homeschool mom Tracy took of the boys. (Thank you Tracy)
Dominick-my love bug. My 6 yr old in the 1st grade. Guitar player, drummer and the protector of the 4 little Ninjas.
Ashton - Who we call Mighty Mouse. He may be tiny but he is a little power house! Fun loving 4 yr old in Kindergarten. Ashton also plays the drums and the piano. He is the fighter of the 4 little Ninjas.
Noah - my chunky monkey! Into everything and proud of it! Noah plays the drums and is our little Ninja in training.
Our Ninjas with Mr. Vincent.
The boys tonight with their cousins Mark and Davis.No, this blog is not going anywhere but I thought it was best to have the two distinctly different blogs at this time.
Aug. 15, 2009 - Back to homeschool...
It is sunny and not horribly hot today. We are going to spend the weekend decluttering one room and relaxing here at home. We have been running , running, running and it is time to be still.
We have started our more formal lessons back up as of Monday and we have had a good week so far. :-) We had our Back to Homeschool Bash yesterday and the boys had a great time! I have pics on my Facebook page. I can easily upload pics from my iPhone to my Facebook profile so I tend to add lots of pics there since I have many relatives that check in. I will try to get some pics on here too.
Well, I hope you all have a very blessed homeschool year with your blessings, may we always keep our eyes on the Lord and allow him to lead and guide us through our days!
Below is a wonderful song I wanted to share with you. Enjoy and have a great weekend!
Aug. 10, 2009 - Our Homeschool Room / Space
This week Darcy has asked everyone to share their school areas in her "Not Back to School Blog Hop"
We do our lessons here, there and everywhere! Inside, outside, kitchen, living room, playroom, playhouse, in the car or even at the Dojo!
Our playroom / schoolroom 
Troy teaches music lessons in the living room.
Work Station - Holds our "Workbox System" adapted for my 3 little ninjas, ages 4. 6 & 8. We use folders instead of drawers.
The boys are eating lunch in the clubhouse; they can be found doing lessons in here too.
On the deck outside.
In bed!
This is where most lessons are done...our kitchen!
Mr. Dominick... teaching letter sounds.
Hope you all enjoyed our little tour of our homeschool spaces.
Don't forget about our Homeschool Open House on THL ... it's the same Homeschool Open House I hosted on my blog in 2007 but with many more prizes!
Happy Blog Hopping!
Aug. 4, 2009 - Homeschool Open House 2009
Homeschool Open House 2009
Hosted by The Homeschool Lounge
It's that time of year again... time to share all of the great plans you have laid out for the coming homeschool year!
What better way to learn more about homeschooling than by reading and learning about others and picking and choosing from suggestions, tips and styles that appeal to you?
Share your homeschool plans, tips and resources. Connect with fellow homeschool moms and make new friends through Blogs, Facebook and THL.
We have over $5000 in giveaways to give out to participating homeschool moms. Every participant will receive a FREE gift and the first 100 participants will get a FREE one year subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine!
Click Here For Homeschool Open House Details
Homeschool Open House Giveaways & Sponsors
We currently have over $5000 worth of giveaways!
To be eligible for the random draw…
Bloggers / Facebookers or THL Moms— Share your homeschool plans for the coming year via a post on your blog, put the HOH Button on your post or your blog’s sidebar . Lastly list your name on “MckLinky” along with the exact URL directing to your post and visit other participants!
We will draw the winners from the “MckLinky” list of participants on Septmeber 1st. Winners will be posted on our homepage Sept. 1st. We will email and or notify via blog, if you do not reply within 5 days we will choose a new winner.
How To Win The Prize You Really Want
We’re going to let you choose which prize you want!
Here’s how it works:
In your ‘Homeschool Open House post’ include at the bottom a list of you top prize picks (you can even list the entire set of prizes in your preferred order.)
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Families With Purpose is offering 4 - $25 gift certificates as well as a special offer to all THL moms! Families with Purpose is an organization dedicated to helping busy parents create a meaningful family life for themselves and their children.Special Offer – All Homeschool Lounge members can save 20% on everything in the Families With Purpose store now through the end of August with the coupon code "homeschool".
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Rainbow Resource Center has donated a $50 Gift Certificate good for any item in their online store! Rainbow Resource Center carries over 40,000 quality educational products in all subject areas, for grades PK-12 and beyond!
3
CurrClick - Curriculum in a click! Your one-stop shop for electronic lapbooks, affordable curriculum, and homeschooling resources. Currclick is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate to one of our winning participants!
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Our friends over at Doorposts - providers of Bible-based parenting and character training materials have offered to give a few winning participants their new chart called The Put On Chart . Does anyone in your household ever have trouble being patient? How about compassionate? Or forgiving? As much as we love the members of our own family, it seems like home is where our ability to truly love is put to the greatest test. The "Put-On Chart” and its companion study book are designed to help your family “put on” the character qualities of God’s children.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Revive Our Hearts have once again partnered with us to offer some wonderful and encouraging gifts! ROH is giving away 5 sets of Lies Young Women Believe plus the Companion and 5 sets of Lies Women Believe / plus the Companion. In addition Carrie Gaul of ROH is also giving away 5 copies of her new Philippians Bible Study Joy In The Midst.
Home Educating Family Magazine is generously offering our first 100 participants -a 1 year subscription to Home Educating Magazine $15.95 value each. HEF is for families who want their children to be able to think and thoughtfully engage the culture. Homeschoolers have the advantage of avoiding some of the worse elements of our world, but we also have the responsibility of changing our world. HEF hopes to give you the encouragement, inspiration, and information to do just that!7
Homeschool Boutique is a hip and trendy online boutique for homeschoolers. Their goal is to be your #1 source for homeschool apparel and to provide great-looking homeschooling items at an affordable price. Their shirts and accessories are in good taste-- they offer “homeschool spirit” without offending those who have chosen a different path. Homeschool Boutique is offering a whole family of shirts! The winner will receive t-shirts for the entire family!8
The Itty-Bitty Bookworm is giving away both Bo's Curriculum and Bailey's Curriculum. The magic of The Itty-Bitty Bookworm is in the simple, organized, teach-it-yourself curriculum. It’s a literature-based program on CD that does all the planning for you, so you can focus on what's important ~ your children. The program is specifically designed for children ages 18 months - 5 years of age, and tailored to meet the unique needs of in-home preschools, family child-care centers, child development centers and home-schooling families.
Literature Discovery Guide & Book by Blackbird & Company Educational PressLet Blackbird & Company guide your children into the deep practice that breathes life and purpose into reading. Help them grow in the ability to appreciate and respond to a range of literature, and to practice what matters over time to discover the significance of great stories. Choose any title from our Level 1, 2 or 3 guides and also receive the book with it. (Retail $17-20)
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Author Susan Marlow is giving away a set of Circle C Adventure books to a winner.Andrea "Andi" Carter never tries to get into trouble, but somehow it always manages to find her. Living on the Circle C ranch near Fresno, California, in the 1880s--the heyday of the Old West--provides Andi with more than her fair share of adventures. Whether nearly trampling her schoolmaster on her palomino horse, Taffy, or outwitting an escaped convict, Andi's life is never boring. Her hair-raising escapades always end up teaching her valuable lessons about life, friends, and family
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Blast Off on a Writing Adventure! Students can work at their own pace and on their own in this 144-page workbook for grades 3-8. Reach for the Stars also works great in home school co-ops and in classrooms because it includes a parent/teacher guide with hints for expanding the lessons if desired.Author Susan Marlow is giving away her latest book Reach for the Stars writing workbook.
FREE Gifts for all participants from the following - details on THL!
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Jun. 15, 2009 - Tons of Free Math Videos
Salman Khan, the founder of the website, has made YouTube videos for many math topics, from basic addition to calculus. These are basic chalk on blackboard style lectures, but the concepts are clearly explained and follow ordered lessons that are labeled by topic.
These videos would make a great supplement to a math program and might help students understand concepts they are struggling with. You might be able to use these as a basis for a custom-tailored math program along with other resources and practice problems. However, I am not a math expert. If anyone uses the videos this way, I would be interested to know how it works for you.
There are also SAT Prep videos that offer explanations of the problems in the practice tests of "The Official SAT Study Guide!" You will need the book. The Khan Academy SAT Prep page gives suggestions for using the book and videos.
Enjoy!
Please go to this post on my new blog to comment. Thank you!
~Andrea
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