Labor Day

Labor Day has typically been quiet around here.  Not today.  Today is all about getting things caught up.  Caught up because some people that live here haven't been doing their chores.  I'm not naming names or anything, I'm just sayin' that it wasn't Steven or I.  What you surmise from that is up to you!

So, we have been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. 

We have been purging and gathering things up for our garage sale.  No, not mine.  Our homeschool group is having a garage sale to raise funds and help support the missions group we choose this year.

I have been painting.  I bought some chalkboard paint and am painting our pantry door.  I plan on using it to keep track of items that we need to buy.  We'll see how it goes!  I like it already though. (pictures will follow when it is done, it just needs to dry more)  I also painted the cabinets in our schoolroom with the chalkboard paint.  It looks so cool!!

Laundry is currently calling my name.  Not sure if I will heed the call or put my earphones in and ignore it.

Have a great Labor Day!

Random pics...

I took this as Steven was driving.  It was so quick but I had to get it!

One of the reasons I love Kansas!

The trees in our front yard. 

How could I resist this one? ;-D

Friday's Fave Five

It's that time again, time to look back on the week and remember the blessings.  It's been kind of a long week here and I'm pretty much done with it!

If you want to read some more Fave's from other bloggers weeks, go to Susanne's at Living to tell the Story and find out how.

1.  On Monday we had our homeschool groups picnic.  It was a great gathering of old and new friends.  We had great fellowship and wonderful food.  ;-D  We had beautiful weather and the kids were able to play outside the whole time.

2.  Our 11yo dd's foot wasn't broken!  Trust me that is a definite favorite.  lol

3.  I was able to have a mom's night with some wonderful friends.  We sat along the edge of a lake and visited while God painted a gorgeous sunset for us.

4.  Soccer season has started again.  I love watching my girls play and have fun.

5.  I think my absolute favorite of the week is that my 5yo dd can now hit the trash sack when she needs to throw up.  She can also make it to the bathroom before it splatters all over the floor.  However, this morning when it took her by surprise she let it go on my bed.  :(

I am tired and worn out today and my stomach is feeling a little icky so it is short and sweet.  Head on over to Susanne's to participate.

TOS Crew SpellingCity Review

I have to admit that I wasn't particularly interested in this product when I saw my name on it because we already have a spelling program that we like and it was working well for us.  But then I got my log in and password and started roaming around the site.



Then I kind of got excited about it!  The more I looked, the more I decided that this was going to be amazing!

The program that we were reviewing was SpellingCity.com.  It is an online spelling site that has tons of lists already entered and ready to choose from to quiz your students.  Or you can add your own lists and set them up for your student to choose from.  Plus, there are games that help teach or reinforce the words.  My girls had a great time playing the games and didn't even realize they were studying!  There are also handwriting exercises and a Teacher Resource Page that is chock full of goodies.  There are so many links that I haven't even checked them all yet!  You can also have your students practice Sentence Writing and Paragraph Writing; all involving the chosen spelling words.

As I kept exploring the site, I visited the How to Get Started Page to see what was available and how to sign up.  This page is full of information and how-to's.  Like how to register for your FREE Membership!  That's right, it's FREE!  How cool is that? 

I think it's pretty fantastic!  Our girls thought it was pretty cool, too!  They could get on the computer at any time, find the next list, play some games, then take the test.  All while having fun.  It was great and no more complaining.  It also freed me up to help the other girls with whatever subject they were working on.

Bonus!

For this review we were given the Premium Membership which includes a grade book and a few other perks for the low price of $24.99 for a license that includes five students.**  So for all my kids, I can get a year's membership and have it grade their tests for me and keep a grade book.  Wow!  I am loving that!! With the Premium Membership I can see what test they have taken, what words they missed, and what games they played; all with the click of a button.

**There are also other levels of Membership to include school districts and classrooms that are priced accordingly.


This is one great deal and we are going to continue with it after our review period is over with.  It is just that cool and worth it.

My oldest daughter had this to say about SpellingCity.com:

"SpellingCity became one of my favorite websites for school, when my mom introduced it to me. My absolute favorite subject is spelling, (ON SPELLING CITY)"  age 12, 7th Gr.


"SpellingCity is good because you can play games to help you learn your words.  And because they will say the words as many times as needed and they will have sentences to help define the words."  age 11, 6th Gr.  (this is also the dd with eye problems that make it hard for her to read!)


"I really, really like SpellingCity!" age 8, 3rd Gr.


Can you tell that they enjoyed reviewing this product?  They are begging me to get a membership of our own so we can keep using it.

Here is a list of some of the things you will find at SpellingCity.com

• Over 42,000 spelling words and customizable sentences
• A REAL person who says each word and sentence
• Free home pages for teachers and parents to save lists
• Teacher training videos to show teachers and parents how to use SpellingCity.com
• Customizable sentences for words with multiple meanings (e.g., a scale for weighing, to scale a mountain, the scale on a map)
• Free printable handwriting worksheets for handwriting practice with your saved lists
• Free teaching resources with lists and lesson plans for teaching high frequency words, compound words, sound-alike words (their, there, they're), contractions, possessives, and more. There are also lists for learning state capitals.
• Twelve games to play online or to print: Spelling, Word Meaning, Vocabulary, Alphabetical Order
• A free forum and newsletters with more vocabulary and spelling resources

With each spelling list, students can choose one of three options:

• Test Me repeats each spelling word with a live voice and uses it in a sentence.
• Teach Me spells and displays the word in ways that stimulate memory for visual and verbal learners.
• Play a Game uses your spelling list in educational games that teach spelling, word meaning, vocabulary, and alphabetical order.

After taking an online spelling test, students can print out a report, retake the entire test, or get tested only on the spelling words they got wrong the first time.

Teachers:  try our new Spelling City Parents’ Letter, available as PDFs for you to print and send home with your students' spelling word lists. It is also available in Spanish. 

SpellingCity also offers a Premium Membership for teachers and parents who want more. Premium Membership features:

1. Automatic test grading and student gradebook
2. Complete activity tracking of all student activities
3. Access to the Premium Games for your lists: SpeedySpeller and LetterFall

This is a great website whether you choose the Free Membership or the Premium Membership.  SpellingCity.com would be a great asset for your school.

Check it out and be prepared for your kids to love spelling!




**I was given a Premium Membership to SpellingCity.com in exchange for an honest review through The TOS Crew.

Twice in One Week

Guess where we got to go this Monday morning?  The doctor's office.  Are you surprised?  You shouldn't be.  My children get hurt-a lot.  They play hard and a good amount of time they get hurt! 

So off we went on Monday morning the busiest day in the clinic. :(

It looks so pretty doesn't it?  I paid for the landscaping! lol

Thankfully they have toys and I always make them take school!

She was a little wigged out at my taking pics at the doctor's office. heehee

A poster we are all too familiar with.

Who was the culprit this time?  The same one that hurt her arm a few weeks ago.  Yup.  The same child.

Why did we go, you ask?  This right here is the reason.  It just looked wrong. 

See the bump in the middle of her foot on the side?  It's not normally there!

After two hours out of our day, it was just a sprain.  I am glad of it, really I am.  At least that's what I keep telling myself when I think about the bill for nothing more than a sprain.

Random Dozen

1. What insect are you most afraid of? Feel free to post a picture.  Well spiders aren't insects but they FREAK ME OUT!!!  Not in the funny, silly kind of way; but in a serious mental distress kind of way.

Do you see the light reflecting off one of his many eyeballs?  Creepy!

2. What is the greenest/most organic thing about you or that you do?  *sheepish grin* I use cloth grocery bags?  I mean, I do use them but that's about it.  No wait, I recycle paper through our craft stash.  That counts, doesn't it?

3. Tell me about a recurring dream that haunts you.  That I die before my youngest will be able to remember me.  There are others but that is the worst.


4. Have you ever missed a flight? What were the circumstances?  Well, since I have only flown two times in my entire life I would have to answer no!


5. What do you consider your best feature?  hmmm  I think, maybe, my sense of humor?  is that a feature?  I'm not sure.  I think I like my eyes, too.  I used to hate my dimples but now I kind of like them.


6. What was the last concert you went to?  Michael Buble!!!  And it was AWESOME!!

7. Describe the most embarrassing church moment you ever experienced.  There are actually too many to choose from!  But, the first year I went to Royal Family Kids Camp I came home and had to sing with the choir in front of the whole church.  We sang God will Make a Way and I blubbered the whole time.  Not just the simple tear streaming down my face...NO it was the ugly cry with the quivering chin and snot running down my face.  I was hysterical!  The choir director couldn't even look my side of the choir!!


8. Are you a whistler, hummer or singer?  Singer.  I sing just about all the time.  :)


9. George Washington Carver said, "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." What is God saying to you through nature today, or this very minute?  Relax.  Breathe.  Enjoy.  Be at Peace.


10. On September, 1, 1752, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. What memorable event will take place in your life on September 1, 2010?  I survived! lol  I took my 5yo for her Kindergartner shots, she is the last one I will do that with.  :(


11. Taco Bell or the Liberty Bell? (You must choose.)  Liberty Bell as in THE Liberty Bell?  Or is it some place to eat that I have never heard of?  hmmm Not sure how to answer this question.  I guess I would choose the Liberty Bell because I have never seen it.  ;-)


12. Do you believe men and women can have purely platonic friendships? Not really.  I have friends that are guys but they are friends of my dh's.  I used to think that they could, but I am convinced that it is not healthy or advisable.  This is after long conversations with my dh about it.


If you want to participate in this fun meme go visit 2nd cup of coffee and join in!
**pictures added later!