Hi! Here we chat about everything from homeschooling to knitting to paper crafting to family memories to family memory-making... well you get the picture. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:54:00 -0500 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:54:00 -0500 Obviously not much has been going on here at my blog lately.  That's because I chose a new blogging site.  I'm currently blogging at Homeschool Project Stop by and see me, please! Sara O' http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/682785/ Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/682785/ This comes from the wonderful folks at HOAC.  Let's be praying for them and ALL our small business owners as they deal with this crisis.  And show your support by heading over to www.handsofachild.com January 12, 2009 Dear Valued Customers, Due to the new CPSIA law In the Hands of a Child, for the time being, is discounting our Kit Pack inventory in order to lessen our possible loss in the event that an exemption is not granted.   While we are still praying for this situation to work out for all small businesses we feel that it is in our best interest to lessen our possible loss.  And what better way than to pass the savings on to you, our wonderful customers, who are praying with us through this difficult situation!!   Please help us clear our shelves and enjoy a 35% savings on all Kit Packs!!  Savings will be automatic!  Spread the word and help us empty the shelves!!   This sale will continue until our Kit Pack inventory has been exhausted, so purchases will be on a first-come-first-served basis.    Once they are gone, they are gone!    In the event the law is modified, In the Hands of a Child reserves the right to bring back Kit Packs in the future at full price without any discount, implied or expressed, during this sale.    Cannot be combined with any other offer, special, discount, coupon or sale. Super Member discount DOES NOT apply to this sale. Tax and Shipping not included in calculating discount price.  Not valid toward prior purchases.  No rainchecks. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/647214/ Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:50:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/647214/ Well, it's been a while.... we took a bit of a break over the summer.  We had birthday parties galore and Nanny has moved in! First in August we celebrated Maggie's 4th birthday with a Nemo themed party.  We had a great time and everybody got to 'touch the butt'.... We sang the 'baby shark song'.... And we killed nemo... Then in September we celebrated Zion's 9th birthday with a Super Mario party. This party was about the decorations... We had lots of fun making these guys.  We cut them out and decorated his bedroom with them. For the games, we had Mario and Luigi pinatas We did a scavanger hunt with Mario clues.  The kid's had to find the ? boxes to collect their gold coins.  Which of course they used to 'buy' their boxes. We also had a Yoshi's Egg hunt The kids worked on these two and you can see Luigi's head after the pinata had been destroyed. All in all, it was a pretty fun birthday.  Zion got a zillion gamecube games so they pretty much spent the rest of the day playing games.  = )  Oh!  And I almost forgot.  We took pictures of all the kids in the Mario cutout and some of the kids made perler bead mushrooms to take home. And didn't I mention that Nanny was moving in?  That's right.  We're so excited to have her living with us now.  It's been a process - getting her in and settled but we're almost done. So that's what we've been up to.  School's in full swing and I hope to catch you up on all that soon. till then... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/598309/ Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:47:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/598309/ As in water face relects face, so the heart of man relects the man.  -- Proverbs 27:19 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.  -- Proverbs 28:9 I love reading proverbs.  It's easily my favorite book.  To memorize them all would be like storing up the greatest treasure this earth could produce.   Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. How many people will honestly tell you that?  Would you tell your friend that?  How much easier it is to just 'smile and nod' than to say "hey, I think you're making a terrible mistake here".  But Proverbs... the Proverbs have no trouble stating the truth no matter how rude or insensitive or embarrassing or mean you think it is. How many times have you thought to yourself "why didn't someone tell me?"  It almost makes you wonder if people really care once you're on the other side of the awful mountain.  The Proverbs are that best friend who will tell you when you shouldn't buy that outfit care so much about what the cute new guy thinks.  When you should think twice before just going out for a little fun spending so much time with your 'new friends'.  And will remind you later on how much your family God loves you no matter how hard you fall. In a nutshell, the book of Proverbs is the best friend you want to have and the best friend you desire to be. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/536265/ Thu, 22 May 2008 09:11:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/536265/ Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!  This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian. This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program.  Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking.  Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included!  For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports.    To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/  and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it.  And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it.  And good luck!  The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg.   And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win.   Yay for free stuff! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/503021/ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:41:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/503021/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/465098/ Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:06:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/465098/ So I'm thinking I should lower my goals to 52 pics posted this year.  lol  Oh well, here's my next set of pics.  My creative quirky little Abs enjoying a ride to "God's house" And Beans...   While we're on the subject of Beans and Abs, the two middles..... I like to call this one "enemies, friends at last" So here we are after two weeks off of school I must say it's been a slow go back into the groove.  We've taken this week to ease ourselves back into things.  A little reading, a little math.  Of course it doesn't help any that my school desk is covered in gifts and games from the holidays.  I just can't seem to find the motivation to clean it off.  Especially with a project on my needles.  It's hard to pull myself away from an unfinished project.    Here's one more pic, incase you're interested. I'm sure you've seen the market bags that expand so you don't have to use plastic bags at the grocery store?? yeah, those ones.  Well this is a cotton version that I'm making up for Abs.  I'm thinking she can use it to carry her shoes and stuff for dance class.  Anyhoo, if you happen to be a knitter or a crocheter, please say hi!  And if you haven't yet, head on over to www.ravelry.com and get an invite to join the site.  You'll drool for hours... no days...  well, I'm still drooling.  : )   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/458196/ Wed, 9 Jan 2008 10:44:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/458196/ well it's only day two and i'm already behind. lol  oh well, i do have two pics to post today though Day 1 poor mags, she waited patiently to watch her barney movie but just couldn't hold out Day 2 mom and mags enjoying a late night goody.  because at nanny's house you get to do just about anything http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/454436/ Wed, 2 Jan 2008 23:05:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/454436/ I'm pretty sure that 20-something years from now, when we're in our very last year of homeschooling with our very last child..... I'll still be switching curricula.    Just when I settle into something, I 'realize' that it's not cutting it.  Out goes this system or that workbook and the search is on for something new.  So we've had this on-going language arts issue and it just hasn't gotten much better.  I was trudging on with Zi-bug and Sonlight's LA program.  I finally shelled out the $$ for Abs' grade too.  And 4 weeks later... what do I decide???  Heck, neither one are working for either of them so out they go.   Okay, so not 'out' out.  But on my table, in their binders, never to be opened again.  Ever.  I mean it.       Now before you start smacking me on the wrist for saying what I'm about to say..... let me assure you, I LOVE SONLIGHT!!!!  But that LA program?????  Oh.  My.  Cow!!!  It's the bane of my existence!  Yes I said bane.   Of my existence, yes!   It's like driving screws into my toes..... just having to think about doing a lesson from that program.    (incase you're lost, I can't stand Sonlight's LA program!) So once again the search continued for something else.  And I think I'm on to something.    My children love, love, love workbooks.... specifically, their Horizons Math workbooks.  So I meandered over to Alpha Omega to take a look-see at what they might have to offer.  Then I remembered!    I've got some of this Lifepac business here somewhere?  Yeah, I know I do.... hafta dig......  (a few hours later)  Yep, found it.  So now, I've pulled our the grade 1 LA Lifepac business from ohh....... 1970-something! But you know what?  The love it.  We've had a week of it now and they've learned more in this week that they have the past two months with that other crap!  Then I got to thinking... right.  If this is so great for LA and for Math.... I wonder what it would do for our Bible lessons?  Or how about supplementing History?  And spelling?  And penmanship?  (you see where this is going, right?)  But don't worry all you Sonlight folks... I haven't completely jumped ship.  I've worked out the plan for next year and this is how we're shaping up: 2008 – 2009 Zion and Abigail Math: Horizons Math 2 Bible: Lifepac Bible 2 Science: Sonlight Science 2 (supplement w/ AO Science2, the ancient version, of course) History: Sonlight Intro to world history, pt. 2 (Sonlight); (supplement w/ AO history2) Lang. Arts: Horizons Phonics & Reading 2, Horizons Spelling, Horizons Penmanship 2 Grade 3 readers, wordly wise b (Zion) Grade 2 readers ETC 4, 5, 6 Wordly Wise A (Abby)    Caleb Math: Horizons Math K Bible: Sonlight Bible Program C Science: Sonlight Science C History: Sonlight Intro to World:Cultures (C) Lang. Arts: Horizons Phonics & Reading K, Sonlight C Readers So this is the plan.  And figuring in only what I have to buy new, it's only gonna cost me $1145.75!  Not too bad for three kids!  What about you?  Have you used AOP in the past?  Are you using it now?  Tell me what you think of it.  I'd LOVE some opinions on this.    Talk soon. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/447309/ Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:40:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/447309/   Thought you might want to see my new topiaries for the holidays.... I was pretty happy with the way they turned out.  Though I wasn't able to make as many as I originally intended. Instructions follow.... Supplies:  small clay pots (these were the 2" variety) if you want a bigger topiary, use a bigger pot too 2 1/2" styrofoam balls (1 and 1/2 for each pot) deep forest green natural excelsior moss sticks of bamboo, about 12" long (one for each topiary) or you can buy them in very long lengths and cut them down yourself if you have a saw to do it. small to medium flowers with about a 1" stem clipped off their bunches These really are super, super easy.  My husband even made some. : ) When you are picking out your flowers make sure they have a bit of strength in the stems.  You don't wanna be wrappin' picks around all those puppies.  This is supposed to be easy not torture.  Get all your bunches and start clipping away.  Leave about 1" to 1 1/2"  so you can be confident they won't fall out of the styrofoam.  If you're unsure, leave extra rather than cutting too much.  More than likely your stems will have a wire in them.  You can cut this with a regular old pair of scissors and not cuss yourself every two minutes for pinching your hand, if you're careful.  All you have to do is give a little turn around the stem with the blades, then snap it off by hand.  This works soooo much better than squeezing with all your might, pinching your hand in the process and smacking your husband in the head with a renegade stem.  Trust me, he won't think it's as funny as you do. Okie doke so now that your flowers are all cut I recommend just piling em all up in one big bunch.  Mix all the colors if you are using different flowers.  Grab a styrofoam ball and start poking.  Your first mistake will probably be putting your flowers too close together.  Leave about 1/2 to 3/4 inch between any two stems.  This will certainly depend on how much your bloom 'spread' too.  After you have done about 4 or 5 together in a section, hold it away from you a bit and see what you think.  This isn't rocket science ; you can tell if they need to be adjusted.  Just poke em in all over and leave a flower out at the bottom. Next, take the other styrofoam balls and cut em in half with a steak knife.  Or whateve else you have.... a steak knife was the quickest thing for me.    Take one have and place it down into the pot.  Give it a good shove so you know it's not going anywhere.  Now grab one of those bamboo sticks and shove it right down the center of your pot.  Make sure you take a peek at it from the side so you know it's standing straight up and down.  You don't want your topiary lookin like it shoulda had a V8!    Take the flower ball, find the bare spot you left and shove that puppy down into the bamboo stick.  Now for the messy part.  Be sure you're not on carpet when you do this..... take some of that moss and start stuffing it in the pots.  I've found that to get this down, I just have to poke and jab until it's not all hanging out.  You could also try some sort of adhesive I suppose.  But I was too excited to think of that at the time.    That's it, you're done!  Except for the other 9 or so you plan on making.  This really is an easy project  that is great for kids since it doesn't require any hot glue.  Now I know some of you are thinking, "You mean to tell me that all them flowers are gonna stay without glue?"  Yep, that's what I'm telling ya.  I made a much larger one with about a 5" ball the exact same way and it's been fine for about 3 years now.  And this thing has been knocked over I don't know how many times!  A hint for making it more kid friendly.... paint your styrofoam balls with a green spraypaint first.  That way if the kids leave a little too much room, no one will notice.    Happy crafting! Wanna see more fun things you can do with your family this holiday season?  Hop on over to Lilliput Station for some great ideas and Christmas fun! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/438802/ Tue, 4 Dec 2007 16:57:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knittingprose/438802/