Maggie's Party

Saturday we went to a little birthday party for a girl name Maggie. Maggie's Dad played the major role in the play Wes and Greg put on. So they had a cast party at his house and that is where my kids met their kids. They are also homeschoolers.

So Maggie's party was set up like a little carnival. The kids got to throw a soft squishy ball at the teenager, and if they hit him he would fall back into the water. They had a big jumpy moon walk, which the kids always love.

It was a HOT day!

The kids really liked going around to each game. Ashley played each game LOTS and LOTS of times. And while Ashley played---Daddy got to hold Hello Kitty.

Ashley and Aussie got their face painted. Mason never has liked getting his face painted. Ashley got a butterfly on her face.

And Aussie was a green cat. And he was very insistent that he was a BOY. Matter of fact at all the games he only picked up green colored prizes.

Here is Ashley playing the dolphin game. It was actually pretty hard b/c the dolphin kept falling over.

But Aussie thought it was the EASIEST game. "All you have to do is put the rings on his nose?"

At each game they had prizes. Some of them were really cool- that I had to get one. At this one you could win a mini mini flashlight keyring.

And here is Mason throwing the bananas into the monkeys mouths.

They were each given bags to put their goodies in. Ashley like I said earlier played and played and played the games and filled up her bag. (which was fine- they had lots of prizes and they would rather have someone take them, than to be stuck with them.)

So near the end of the party Ashley asked me to go around with her and play the games. So I said OK. And I would play and at each game I said, "Well I would really like to have this prize." And she said, "Oh DON'T worry MOM- I'll tell you later." or "You don't need to get that Mom- I think you know why- but I'll tell you later." So when we were in the car on the way home. Ashley announced that she won prizes for all of us and she handed them out. It was really cute.

I did feel bad though. We got her a littlest pet toy and a Hello Kitty stuffed toy and I feel like all the prizes we brought home probably cost more than the present we bought her. (maybe not but it felt like it.)

_____________

Yesterday- Greg told the kids that today was a holiday. Aussie got the BIGGEST grin on his face and said, "That means no school?" I said, "Well I was going to try to get away with it but I guess I can't now." And he said, "It's a holiday-and everyone is supposed to enjoy a holiday- so we shouldn't have school." Well who could argue with that? So we didn't have school today. And all they did was play and play and play.

Where's Egypt?

Friday- the kids made bean bags in co-op to go along with the letter B.

Today I made a tic-tac-toe game on the floor and we played with the bean bags. We didn't have quite enough so we had to use some stuffed animals.

I made them stand behind a line and try to throw it to the right box, just to make it more challenging.

The other day I started to read a story to the kids and I said, "This story takes place in Egypt. Let me show you where Egypt is on the globe."

Austin said, "Let me show you where it is, Let me show you." I said OK well because 1. I didn't really know where it was and I would have to find it myself and 2. because it's good to get the kids involved. So Aussie whipped that globe around in no time and said, "It's right here next to Libya."

Well OK then... How many of you knew that Egypt was next to Libya? (I sure didn't) Also- How many of you knew that Egypt was in Africa? I didn't know that either.

This is definitely Aussie's thing. He doesn't like any other school, but he sure likes Geography. I really don't know how he knew where Egypt or Libya was, but I do know that he looks at globes and maps and flags quite a bit.

I on the otherhand learn something new everyday. :) That's the good thing about being a homeschooling Mom!

------------------------------------

Oh I bet I have some layouts I haven't shown you.

This was for a challenge of how to alter your photos in 3 different ways. It's not really my style but it was fun and I like how it turned out.

This was a color combo challenge:

This was a challenge to use negative space:

This started out to be a challenge and I ended up using too much stuff so it wouldn't qualify for that certain game.

And this one was the color combos and a shopping challenge. The way the shopping challenge works is there is a list of 10 things and you can "so call" purchase 3 items and use them. So I picked ribbon, a dictionary page and stickles. I didn't have a small dictionary, so I just used the internet to print off the definition of zip.

It's funny how things come and go in scrapbooking. It's just like clothing. This layout reminds of what I did when I was first starting to scrapbook oh so many years ago.

Tutorial vs. Co-op

My Mom asked what is a tutorial. I know there are probably others out there wondering too. So-

A Co-op or cooperation is a bunch of parents who get together who teach their children whatever subjects they decide on. Every parent has a part in teaching or helping in some way.

A Tutorial is where the parent is not involved in helping or teaching. They pay for teachers to teach certain subjects.

We are involved in both a co-op and a tutorial this year. This year the tutorial is teaching Science, PE and has a book club. I really wanted the kids in some type of PE class. Also, this gives me 3 hours to do my grocery shopping each week. The co-op I am very involved in. I help teach the first semester. I was also the substitute teacher for last week 2nd and 3rd grade science.

1st day of Tutorial

Ahhh...my babies! I never thought I would tear up dropping off my children at school. Tuesday was their first day at tutorial.

As I watched my babies cross the street to go to P.E. that's when it happened. Just a little tear came to my eyes. I watched how the teacher stopped trafic and then proceeded to have the little ducklings cross. It went well. But I was scared! All I could do was pray and pray that they would be safe.

Ashley did NOT want me to leave. The boys were fine and met friends right away.

I'll give you one guess who didn't like school today.

The big mouth announced that it was boring and then the other two joined in.

I'm guessing that it was just a first day thing and they will get into more fun things next week. And I am guessing that one will probably still have his attitude. I don't know what to do with him.

After school we went to get lunch at McDonald's.

We actually stayed there quite a long time and did homework there.

Mason is still holding his pencil the wrong way. We are working on that. He is very frustrated trying to hold it the right way.

Today was a very weird day! I didn't sleep well the night before, so I was pretty tired most of the day.

But it started out this morning when a bug flew up my nose! That is the creepiest feeling!!! Anyway you would not believe how many times I had to blow my nose to get it out! I was kind of freaking out because I had just read about someone's Mom swallowing a bug and it layed eggs in the back of her throat. YUCK!!! Anyway- I got it out! I know for sure! It came out in one piece!

Because I was tired we did school on and off today. We got a lot completed but not as much as I had planned.

When Greg came home I was able to nap- and yep now I'm not tired at bedtime!

Tomorrow will be a better day!

First Day of Co-op!

First day of co-op!



My babies are in first grade! They are pretty OK with me calling them my babies. I've already told them that they will be my babies until they're 42. When they tell me they are not, I give them this big boo hoo cry. And they say, "OK MOM we are your babies." It's funny though, because they have NO problem at all telling me they are my babies when I'm looking at one.


So I think overall they enjoyed co-op today. Austin (my disagreeable one) did not like his first class today- because it was all about apples and he doesn't like apples at all! He wouldn't even touch the apple. Good Grief!!! But I think he enjoyed dance and art.

I think Mason enjoyed Spanish class, but he was disappointed that it was over too fast.

Ashley enjoyed all of it. She got to see her girlfriends. The only thing that she got upset about, is that she brought "appy" ( A stuffed apple that I had when I was little) when they were playing a pass the apple game, one of the leaves was torn off. She was devestated. She cried and then 2 other girls started crying too. I think I can fix it.

I wish I remember how old this apple is (Mom do you remember?). I remember loving it and Ashley loves it too. It plays a sweet song.


Tomorrow Aussie starts his 2nd year of Chinese School. I think we talked Ashley out of taking it. She doesn't really like the class. I found out that she only took it as PAYBACK because Aussie was in HER dance class. Now that she has Daisy Girl Scouts, I think she will be OK with it, because there will be NO boys in that class.

Warning!!!

This picture makes me laugh!!!! I've been wanting to get a picture of this for some time. I finally saw one on Saturday and had Greg turn around 2 times so I could get the picture. Actually, Greg got out of the car and took the pictures for me, since I couldn't get it from a drive by.

So anyway- Does this sign make you laugh?

WARNING!!! WARNING!!! There is a CHURCH ahead.

I'm just wondering what kind of harm a Church building could do.

Now I'm giggling over the 2 options I have. Publish post or SAVE NOW.

Since I believe I am saved already- I'll go ahead and publish the post.

Pump It Up!

So I realized that I hadn't posted any pictures of when the kids went to Pump It Up when their cousins were here. My batteries were low on my camera, which made it very difficult to get any pictures. But I did get a few. They all loved the climbing wall. Their cousin Shaina went up it so many times with no fear! Mason is afraid of heights but he tried. He went up about half way with Greg's help.

I thought Aussie would go all the way up, but he too stopped about half way.

Ashley did it! She went all the way up and rang the bell. She was scared but she did it. She tried again, but couldn't go up all the way. She got too scared.

They also had a fun time going down the slide together in groups.

They really had a good time with their cousins.

Monkeys in the tree

I LOVE this picture!

So when does a homeschooler take first day of school pictures? Even though we have already started here. I think their first day of school pictures will be taken when I take them to co-op on Friday.

MORE more more challenges!

Some more challenges! Hey they are actually getting me to scrapbook- so that must be a good thing! I'm having a blast with them!

Challenge 1: Color Combo Challenge #83

I combined Challenge 1 and 2 together.

Challenge 2: Use Wilna's Birds challenge

Challenge 3: Creative Therapy catalyst 19 I also combined challenges 2 and 3 together.

Challenge 4: Wacky Wednesday (Seriously)

RULES:

LO size: 6x12, 8.5x11 or 12x12

2 pictures (not allowed to be slanted at all on the LO)

Use any embellishment of your choice but a minimum of 3

Doodle on your LO

TWIST:Your pictures have to come from a magazine article or newspaper article

Your TITLE has to be in the MIDDLE of your LO (however you choose to do this)

I thought maybe the TWIST was optional, but found out it's not. OH well! I opted not to use magazine pictures. I wouldn't have done the challenge if I couldn't use my own pictures.

-----------------------------------

We had such a busy day today! But schooling was completed and we even did some of it in Target. We ate the $1.50 popcorn combo and I read Charlotte's Web to them. I also got them to do their language lessons and reading there too. I have to say it is a joy to hear them say please read more. That is not common around here unless they don't want to go to bed.

Schools in Session

I'm tired and kind of crabby.

We started school on Monday. The kids like it about as much as they did last year. I just don't know how to motivate them. I'm so tired of hearing..."NO NO I DON'T WANT TO DO SCHOOL!!!!!"

I do know that they like when we read Charlotte's Web because they are allowed to eat popcorn in the Livingroom while I read on the couch. But I can't give them popcorn all day long and I just don't think that would work with Math anyway.

And they like any craft we do, even though I might get an "I don't want to" or two. They usually end up liking it.

I've hit a couple bumps in the road. I found that the Readers curriculum I got for the kids is too advanced. So I had to order a different one. I had borrowed the books- so not much money lost. But I am looking to borrow the books for this curriculum, but it is short notice.

I also just can't get into this Phonics program it is just too different and I don't feel like it is very orderly. I want a curriculum that tells me where to start and what to do each day. I don't want to have to guess where to start. So I had a credit with A Beka and I ordered Language books which will probably come early next week.

I'm finding it extremely hard to keep up the house when school's in session. To do a good job teaching- it really wears me out! I would appreciate prayers.

I'll post pictures next time- it's too late to crop and size them tonight.

I'm back with some Layouts

Oh it's going to let me post! YAHOOO! I guess I've been on probation for a few days. I got an email saying my blog was being reviewed because it was thought to be a SPAM blog. So I wasn't able to get on here.

So I've got a lot to get caught up on!

I think for tonight I will just post the scrapbook pages I've completed.

I have to say I am really getting into challenges! I just love them!

OK so here are the challenges:

1) OLW #32 Use the word BE.

2) Wacky Wednesday Challenge:

Here are the RULES .. :

LAYOUT: 12x12

Title: LIFE HAPPENS

Use: buttons, chipboard of your choice and RED

at least 2 photos minimum size of photo can be WALLET size,

AND have to have hand written journaling around the edge of your LO

TWIST:Use at least something typed in your journaling haha.Use either grid paper or notebook paper someplace on the LO.

And the Project Catwalk Challenge:

Create a 12x12 layout using one of the dresses designed this week on Project Runway for your inspiration!

I wanna see a picture of you on the layout and journaling about who you are as a scrapbooker!Project Runway Gallery

Bonus points if you use the stamp collection in the Classic Collection.

And then last is a layout I did with no challenge in mind.