Awhile back, I shared about my love of area rugs and how I think they make my home (with hardwood floors throughout) look so much more homey and comfortable.  To me, a room with hardwood floors and no rugs, tends to look cold and uninviting.  And in the winter when it's cold, I can't stand stepping out of bed onto those cold hardwood floors, so I try to keep rugs near all of our beds as well.

The other week, I told you about Ashley's big plans to move up to the attic.  That's going to be quite the major undertaking, as we're still working on getting all the "attic stuff" out and organized and finding new places to store everything.  The next step will be finding someone to tackle the drywalling project, which could prove a bit tricky since we've got a 4-pitched roof (or whatever you call that).  Ashley is already planning colors for the walls and looking at various bedding options, etc.  She's also shown me a few pictures of contemporary rugs that she likes.  The floors in the attic aren't even finished, but I think just putting down a rug or two will really help it look like home.

I'll be sure to share pictures when it's all said and done (but don't expect it to be anytime soon!)

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1. When I'm sick I'm miserable and depressed (I mean, let's face it, moms don't have time to be sick).

2. When I take a walk, I think about planning things or the things I see.

3. Money can't buy happiness but it can pay the bills.

4. Cotton makes me comfy and leather makes me think of shoes (anywhere above the foot doesn't really work for me).

5. My favorite color these days is purple because it's cheery and makes me smile.

6. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to visiting some friends for supper, tomorrow my plans include staying home with Gracie and Ian while Brian and Ashley enjoy a youth adventure and Sunday, I want to enjoy our special church service and, hopefully, relax (don't I say that every week?!)!

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I am running a contest over in my group at Christian Women Take Root.  The corresponding review will be posted tomorrow, but you are welcome to stop by and leave a comment to win anytime between now and next Friday.

The prize up for grabs is a dvd/cd combo, featuring an awesome talk given by Louie Giglio and a cd with 5 great worship songs. 

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If so, I've got just the opportunity you may be looking for!  My friend Amy, formerly of Kregel Publications, has joined the team at Crossway Books & Bibles.  She is putting together a new book review team.  Please check out the details:

This fall, Crossway Books and Bibles is beginning a brand new book review program open to anyone who likes to read . . . and blog! Here’s how the program is going to work:  

Five times a year, Crossway will mail participating bloggers a complimentary book and newsletter. After you read the book, we welcome you to blog about it! The sky’s the limit with what you can do. Here are some ideas:

    •   Conduct an interview with the author (Crossway can help organize this)
    •   Write your own ending to the book
    •   Write a traditional book review
    •   Post the book trailer (if there is one)
    •   Post a picture of you reading the book in an “interesting” place
    
We’ll give you approximately two months to complete the book and post your review. If you finish your review by the deadline, you will be eligible to win a number of prizes (free books, gift cards, and more!). Most of the books will be for homeschooling parents, but older children are welcome to sign up, too.

If you would like to join the program, or even find out more about it, feel free to e-mail Amy at marketing@crossway.org.

NOTE: Amy says if you try the e-mail and get an error message, do not fret!  Your e-mail IS going through - just ignore the message.

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*Let me just preface this post by saying a few things - first of all, I know I'm late (it's Monday, not Friday) but somehow I managed to miss this meme on my bloglines  - and second, why are all the fun memes on Fridays?!  I may have to change the Destination Disney meme to another day of the week, becuase we've just got to spread out the fun a little, you know?!   Now, onto my post......

Most of what we are planning to use for this year's school is already posted in my sidebar.  We have "lightly" started school this year, having 10 days in so far (7 academic days and 3 field trip days).  Despite my best laid plans, God continues to amaze me by throwing in HIS plans!  Maybe one of these days we'll actually get going with a more "fixed" schedule; but so far, it hasn't worked out.  I keep saying "maybe tomorrow....."

For Ashley, we are using Where the Brook & River Meet unit study.  However, after about the first week, she realized that the history included in this study just wasn't going to be "her thing".  I love the flexibility that is homeschooling!  We decided to continue on with our study through the Mystery of History volume 2.  And, I found that volume 3 is now available, so I went ahead and ordered that as well!  We love the Mystery of History, so she's excited and happy that it worked out this way.  She is also doing Videotext Algebra (starting with module c) and Apologia's Exploring Creation with Biology.  In addition, we're going to add Latin this year (Latina Christiana I) and some electives -  such as Child Development (if all goes as planned.

For Gracie, we are continuing with Abeka for math (Arithmetic 4) and language (God's Gift of Language A).  She is also doing Modern Curriculum Press Spelling D (I just realized there's a misprint in my sidebar!), handwring copywork by Ginny, Christian Kids Explore Biology, Prima Latina, and a mix of things for history and geography.  For reading, we are working through the Little House books this year, and very lightly using The Prairie Primer.

We are really looking forward to this school year and, so far, we're very pleased with the choices that we have made.  I've been known to change mid-year though, so we shall see......I find it interesting to read what everyone else is using - there is just so much available to homeschoolers these days - and I love to hear what people like and dislike. 

 If you would like to read what others are using this year, please check out The Heart of the Matter's Friday meme.

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Destination Disney

This week's theme is

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Please share with us your favorite photos,
your favorite things about Animal Kingdom,
tips to make your time there more fun, etc.
Just anything related to Animal Kingdom!

When I plan a Disney trip, I try to consider which parks are best visited on which days.  It has worked out, on our past two trips and on our upcoming trip, that we visit Animal Kingdom on our first day.  I like it this way, because I enjoy saving the best for last, and Animal Kingdom is not my favorite park.  That being said, though, it IS a Disney park, and I DO love it!

Here is a picture of all of us (our family of 4 at the time and my parents), taken on the first morning of park visiting during our last trip (2005):

One of my favorite things about Animal Kingdom is probably Camp Minnie-Mickey.  This has been one of the quickest, easiest places for the kids to meet characters.  We've never had to stand in long lines here.

(Ashley was 11 and Gracie 4 1/2 on this last trip ~ my how they've changed!)

Right across from the Meet & Greets is the theater for Festival of the Lion King - a 30-minute musical of Broadway proportions that is an absolute must-see at Animal Kingdom. We were amazed by the colors, acrobatics, and just plain fun!

No trip to Animal Kingdom is complete without Kilimanjaro Safaris - this ride, to me, is what Animal Kingdom is all about.  The Tree of Life is amazing in and of itself, though neither of my girls have been too fond of the It's Tough to be a Bug 3-D show (I think it's kinda cute!)  Kali River Rapids is great fun - but I'd only recommend this ride on a very warm day - you will get soaked! Expedition Everest was just being built on our last visit to the World, so we are very anxious to check it out in January.  Looks like fun. 

I knew that Family Fun had Kidcot stops at Animal Kingdom, but we have never really paid much attention to them (I'm not sure why, as we LOVE the passports for Future World at EPCOT).  Anyway, yesterday I found this site, and it's got me excited to try out either the Club Passport or Safari Journal.  Anyone have any experience with these?  If so, I'd love your thoughts, opinions, etc. 

Don't forget to sign the Mr. Linky so that everyone can come visit your blog!
(Remember, link us directly to your Destination Disney post, please.)

Also, be sure to check out the schedule in my right-hand side bar.
Our theme for September 5th will be COOL PHOTO.
I'm looking for ideas for next year's themes, so please e-mail me.

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1. Dancing to the Disney movies while Ian dances along makes me smile.

2. The last time I checked my e-mails I nearly had a nervous breakdown.

3. When I drive I like to sing.

4. I saw corn standing in the field behind my house.

5. Give me chocolate, give me music, give me good books.

6. Next week I am looking forward to getting into a more workable school routine.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to steak on the  grill, tomorrow my plans include doing a bit of shopping and Sunday, I want to rest!

Check out Friday Fill-ins here.

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Last week, I posted about our unusually cool summer.  It is so cool lately that we haven't had to run our air conditioners in the house at all, but there's just something about the car - it doesn't seem to matter what the outside temperature is.  If the sun is shining, I like my auto air conditioning.  I cannot stand the noise of having the windows open or the way it blows my hair around - I know some people like that feeling, but I'm not one of them!

I was recently reminded of last summer......hot, hot, hot and we had a broken a.c. in our van!  So not fun!  (We have since had that ac compressor fixed and sold the van).  Our new van is cool, cool, cool!  If you've ever suffered through hot summer days without your auto a.c., then I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  It's very important to make sure you have these things checked and in good working order - especially if you live in a warmer climate. 

What about you?  Do you like your auto a.c., or do you prefer that warm breeze?  Be sure to check out Discount AC Parts.com for all your auto a.c. needs.

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I'm going to *try* to participate in the Homeschool Memoirs meme being hosted at the Homeschool Blog Awards website.  This week's theme seems like a fairly easy one to get started with.  My regular readers will already know most of this about me, so just skip over this post!  If you're new to my blog, however, here is my introduction:

My name is Heidi.  I'm married to Brian, my hubby of 16 years.  We have 3 children - Ashley (14), Gracie (8), and Ian (2).  Other than 2 1/2 years in the local public school, Ashley has  been homeschooled all along, and Gracie has never been schooled anywhere but home.  Homeschooling has  been a wonderful blessing to me, not only in being able to stay home with my children and train them up in the way they should go, but in so many other ways.

Through homeschooling, I have met a great group of online friends.  Some of these are a part of my MSN message board, while many are right here in the blogosphere - what an amazing place!  I have treasured my time here at HSB, and have made so many wonderful friends and had some excellent opportunities.

In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, I'm also employed with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine as the E-Book Reviews Specialist for the Schoolhouse Store and as a Marketing Assistant to the publisher.  This job has been a real Godsend in my life and I just love it!  I also am a product reviewer, and have recently started writing my own column at Take Root & Write (where you will find all my current reviewers - link in right-hand sidebar).

I've recently been published - in both the Spring and Summer issues of TOS magazine.  In these articles you will learn about the postiive aspects of E-Books in your homeschooling (Spring) and my family's experience with international adoption (Summer).  If you are a subscriber, I hope you will take the time to read these articles and learn more about my family and my passions.  In case you are not a TOS subscriber, here is a picture of my family (shared in the summer issue):

I hope you've enjoyed your visit to my blog.  If you see anything of interest to you, great.  Feel free to ask questions - I'm always here to help!

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I just saw this on Karen's blog and thought it looked like fun.  Wow, this has been going on for 85 weeks and I've been missing out.  I'm a day late (and probably a few dollars short), but I'm going to play along anyway, and hope to make this a fun addition to my blog.  It's good for blogging ideas/topics, for sure!  You can check out this meme here. (Even though today is Saturday, I'm going to fill this in as though it's Friday, so as not to mix things up too much! LOL)

1. The last meal I had at a restaurant was the Honey Mustard Crispy Chicken Salad that I blogged about - at Perkin's - Thursday night - yum!.

2. Political talk is something I intensely dislike.

3. The full moon is an absolutely beautiful site.

4. We're hicks around here, so some of these probably aren't blog-appropriate, but here's one I learned from my bf (hi, Sue!) and I find myself using it at times - "_____ is all over like dog poop" (it means that you see that person everywhere! LOL) is one of my favorite local expressions.

5. Sometimes it's best to just give in.

6. The Man from Snowy River is the best movie I've seen so far this year! (I used to love this movie and we recently rented it from Netflix.  I know I've seen more good ones, but we've seen so many it's hard to keep them all straight!)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to going to the mall with Ashley, tomorrow my plans include seeing "The Sound of Music" at a dinner theater with my mom and the girls, and Sunday, I want to go to church and get some rest!

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