LAST DAY :: July Book Give Away

Today's the last day to add your name to the list for this month's Give Away.  This time it includes three great books by Usbourne (they put out some awesome titles and are very thorough in their information).  Click here to go to the original post to get more information about each book and add your name to the list.  Comments will be closed at 10pm.  Winner will  be announced August 1st.

Funny Face Friday

Decided to play along with Tooje @ Circling the Square Table today.  It's simple enough and we've been working on some funny faces anyway! lol  Plus, after taking some silly shots, I can get them to give me a 'nice' one!  As Tooje says, a 'win-win!'

Happy Friday!!! :D

Building Blocks

I'm sure you've seen these kind of blocks before.  They're the ones you usually find in a preschool or Kindergarten classes at a 'Blocks Center.'  They're smooth, heavy and very sturdy.  You can build towers, houses, roads, whatever pops into your head/hands.  Years ago, when I in college, I worked in a daycare center and so enjoyed the blocks center.  I thought, "I'd like my kids to have a set of these."  When I checked into that a few years later as a second grade teacher and saw the cost I thought, "Never gonna happen!"

Well, low and behold, a dear woman in our community, who had a dream of opening a preschool of her own 'one day', gave us a complete set of them.  Brand spanking new blocks!!  I am so thankful.  The kiddos are having a blast building and creating.  Unlike their plastic counterparts there is nothing they (my kids) can do to break them (they're good at deconstruction)! :D

[I love that these blocks will last a good long while, and are NOT plastic!!]

I am also grateful that there have been other thoughtful people here who have added to our overall homeschooling experience by giving us books, games and other creative-making things.  They've added to the 'building blocks' of our learning experience!!

Here are a few shots of what's been happening here...

Book Give Away :: July Reminder

Just wanted to remind those of you who haven't added your name to the list, we're giving away some great books.  Deadline to enter is July 31st at 10pm.  Add your name here.  (You can also find out more details on the books.)

Have a great Thursday!

State Fair

We got to hang out with some friends and enjoy a State Fair (one of my favorite things).  We enjoyed a lot of good food, a circus, seeing different competitions, viewing the awards in crafts, photography, produce, viewing the livestock and other animals (they had a giraffe!) and ended the day with some rides.  Lots of fun and memories...

Horses

There is just something about being around a horse that I love.  Their beauty, their strength, the way they nod their heads and nuzzle up against you.  We got to see some horses up close the other day.  We were even able to sit on one.  I've always wanted a horse.  Maybe one day my wish will come true.  Until then...I'll continue to admire them!

...and the rain came!!

FINALLY!
With all the heat. It's been almost unbearable!
But the rain came.  So did the cool air.

We had to celebrate!!!

Substance:: Blog Award

So on Tuesday morning Alex of Serendipity Home School let me a comment giving me a "Blog with Substance" award.  While enjoying the surprise of it and gathering my thoughts and blog roll later that evening, I received another comment from Sravani of Library of Books, Links and More in which she passed the same award on to me as well.  I am speechless.  Thank you Alex! Thank you Sravani! for seeing something here that reasonates with you.  It's so nice to be recognized in this way! :D

Here are the Award Rules, if you find yourself the recipient of this award. 

I hope you will pass it along!

•Thank the blogger who awarded it to you.
•Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using ten (10) words.
•Pass it on to 10 other blogs which you feel have real substance.

My 10-word philosophy:

I enjoy sharing the sights, sounds, wonders of my life!

My 10 Picks (this is gonna be hard...i read so many!!) in no particular order:

Debbie at The Loving Path: I so enjoy reading about her days.  She shares great recipes and is mothering in a similar way.  She shares from her heart.

Kristen at Tulsi Leaf: She's a wonderful mama & wife.  Is new to the world of blogging, very insightful.  Makes beautiful jewelry! (wink, wink)

Tooje at Circling the Square Table: So enjoy her blog.  She's a mother of four (just added the most beautiful baby girl to her family!!).  Love her perspective and humor.

Stephinie at Gypsy Forest: She is so inspiring.  I tried making my own preserves because of her!

Angelina at Homegrown Naturally: I was immediately drawn to her blog because of it's name!  She's a mama to seven and is growing her kids in a naturally loving way.  Very inspiring!

Jesse at Spiral Pathways: She's an earth centered mama who unschools, gardens and creates with her hands.  I love looking at pictures of her garden!!

Kelly at The Fittest Survive: She's a mama of 2 and shares from her life experiences of motherhood.  She's learning how to see the best in every situation which encourages me to do the same!

Neely at Unschooling...Let the Earth be our Classroom: Neely shares her unschooling adventures with her children.  It's interesting and I see more and more how easy I could do this! :D

Jennifer at Milk & Honey Mommy: Jennifer does so much with her three and her blog really shows off how well things are coming along.  She's a very inspiring, down to earth mother!

Rana at Free to Learn an Lovin it: Rana is a mother to twins.  She does so much--I'm always amazed at just what is happening over there.  She's very fun-loving, a great online friend and shares a lot of interesting resources, ideas, links, recipes, etc. that I've found very helpful.

I hope that if you don't know about these wonderful blogs, you'll take a moment to blog-hop on over!  I have been blessed to of found each of these blogs.  As different as they each are, one thing they share in common--blogs with substance! :D

much warmth to each of you!

300th Post :: July Book Give Away

As I was about to write this post, I looked and saw that this is my 300th post on this blog.  Wow!  I've had a lot of say....lol.  Hopefully it's been meaningful to you, in some regards.  I find this journaling, this chronicling of our lives relaxing and very needed!  Even though I haven't taken a lot of time to sit at the computer over the past few weeks (enjoying being outside of doors this summer) I'm always thinking about my blog and those of you who frequent it!

I have to tell you that I'm very excited about the books I've found for this Give Away.  For those of you who don't know, I'm a BIG lover of books.  I also think it's important to reuse books that are in good condition (these books are in great condition).  Well, I've found some more and am giving all three of them away!!!  What a great set to add to your library.  Here they are and you can find more information about the individual books further below (table of contents).

So, if you're interested in winning these books, please leave a comment below.  Yep, that simple.  If you'd like to increase your chances to win, blog about it and leave a comment and link below.  If you're a follower of this blog, I'll add your name again (to the drawing).  Also, if you're a part of the 100 Books-a-Month Challenge, I'll add your name as well.  One more way, if you link your 100 Books-a-Month post for July, I'll enter you once more.  See, aren't those odds pretty good? :D

This Give Away will close on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 10 pm.  I will announce the winner on Sunday, August 1st.  Good luck to each of you!  Please spread the word! :D

The Usborne Book of Kings & Queens
From Tutankhamun to Elizabeth II
Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Crowing a Monarch
3. Palaces
4. Life at a Royal Court
5. Gods, Kinds and Queens
6. Warrior Kings
7. Warrior Queens
8. Royal Builders
9. Royal Patrons
10. Tragic Monarchs
11. Pious Monarchs
12. Royal Scandals
13. Royal Romances
14. Mad Monarchs
15. Unsolved Mysteries
16. Regents and Child Monarchs
17. Self-made Monarchs
18. Pretenders
19. Close to the Throne
20. Burying a Monarch
21. Monarchy Today
22. Mythical Kings and Queens
23. Date Chart
24. Index

The Usborne Book of Scientists
From Archimedes to Einstein
Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Early Scientific Ideas
3. Science in Ancient Greece
4. Medicine in the Ancient World
5. Islamic Science
6. Science in Medieval Europe
7. The Earth and The Sun
8. Understanding the Human Body
9. Science during the Renaissance
10. Scientific Societies
11. The Rise of Experiment
12. Classifying the Natural World
13. The Age of the Earth
14. Evolution
15. The Growth of Modern Chemistry
16. Studying Electricity
17. The Fight Against Disease
18. Waves and Radiation
19. The Science of Life
20. Opening up the Atom
21. The origin of the Universe
22. Women in Science
23. Key Dates in Scientific Discovery
24. Index

The Usborne Book of Explorers
From Columbus to Armstrong
Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Ibn Battuta
3. The Green Sea of Darkness
4. Searching for the River Niger and Timbuktu
5. The Source of the Nile
6. Exploring the heart of Africa
7. East goes West
8. Marco Polo
9. Vasco da Gama and the Route to India
10. The Search for the Northeast Passage
11. The Vikings reach America
12. Christopher Columbus
13. Cortes
14. The hunt for the Northwest Passage
15. The building of New France
16. Across the Continent
17. Scientists and Dreamers
18. The Quest for a Southern Continent
19. Into the Interior
20. The Forbidden Land
21. Around the World
22. The Race for the Poles
23. The roof of the World
24. Exploring the Oceans
25. Beyond the Earth
26. Key Dates in World Exploration
27. Index

Book Sharing Monday

Good Morning and Happy Book Sharing Monday!

We haven't participated in a few weeks but wanted to take the time to share this week!  We've gotten several great books from grandparents (Grandpa, specifically) last week.  The one we'll share today is A Child's Introduction to Ballet.  The stories, music and magic of classical dance by Laura Lee, Illustrated by Meredith Hamilton.

Not only does this book thorough discuss the history and techniques of ballet, it also tells the stories of some famous ballets--Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet, to name a few.  But that's not all,  it also has an accompanying CD that coincides with  each chapter so we can hear and enjoy the music of each specific ballet.  We have just started reading it but have already learned a lot.  Haven't check to see if this book is available at the library, but definitely one we're recommending!

Happy Reading!

Nature Walking with Family

 A simple look into our weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Smiling through her tears!