Mommytography's 365 Project

 I am participating in the 2011 Mommytography 365 Project! For this year long project I will be posting an image a day, to get me out shooting, using my camera and learning new things with it daily. Anyone interested in photography can join, no need to be a Mommytographer. We have teens to adults, male and female, as well as people from all over the world. Come join the fun!

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Master Clock from Master Innovations-TOS Review

As a member of the Old Schoolhouse Review Crew, I recently received a product called Master Clock from Master Innovations, I also received one of their educational posters and a workbook. 

Master Innovations began with the Master Ruler, but they have outdone themselves with this clock.  With the multi-color overlays and color coded hands, this product has an ease of use that is amazing.  I received the Teacher version, which I would suggest for homeschoolers; it is bigger and easier for little hands to handle.  The accompanying workbook is clear and easy for a child to navigate, covering topics about both a digital clock and an analog clock.

I also received this cool poster.  In our house we are constantly asking each other questions about conversions.  Dakota seems to be the only one that can keep these things straight in his head, which is sort of sad; I bake for a living and should be able to come up with some of these quickly. (Old age, LOL.)

So, onto the nitty-gritty, what did we think?  We loved it!  We will be using it with both the 5 and 7 year old into the future and are looking forward to buying their other products.  The Master Angle, Master Ruler and Master Fraction are all available on their website, I really love the Master Angle and will be purchasing it soon for my Geometry student.

Head on over to The Homeschool Crew blog to see what others thought about these innovative products.

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{Disclosure: I received this product as a member of the Review Crew, free of charge and with no obligation to make a positive review. The opinions within this review are completely my own.}

Gratitude Challenge: Day 30

This is the last day for the Gratitude Challenge over at Garden of Learning. I have enjoyed thinking each day about what I am grateful for and sharing it with so many new friends.

Today I am grateful for so many things, but mainly for having my car back and working beautifully. For the last couple weeks my car has been shaking and shimmying every time I hit the brakes and in the last few days I even felt like the wheel might fly off. Turns out, that feeling of the wheel getting ready to fly off, was because the wheel really was getting ready to fly off. Our mechanic said that it would not have been much longer before the lug bolts sheered off and the wheel went with them. Thank you, God; for keeping us safe. I am also very grateful to have a reliable mechanic that knows me and my family, not cheap; but completely honest and trustworthy. They never suggest unnecessary work and always do the repairs quick and as affordable as possible. They work on my parents cars, my cars and soon my kids cars; if you're in the KC, Missouri area, definitely look up Summit South Auto.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed this month of gratitude. Head over to Garden of Learning to see what others are grateful for.

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Gratitude Challenge: Day 25

Happy Birthday, Hunter!!!!

I know, I know; I skipped yesterday, already looking toward Thanksgiving.  Today, November 25, my oldest son turns 16.  How is that possible?  Was I not paying close enough attention, did I miss anything?  I hope not.  I am so glad to have parented him for the last 16 years and watch the awesome man he is growing into.  As he begins to make important decisions on his own, I pray that he remembers all we've tried to instill in him.  Especially, vote Conservative!  LOL!

He is such a bright, engaging boy.  I have been told more than once how thoughtful and helpful he is, even when I'm not there to force the issue.  I guess that is all we can ask for as parents, for others to notice the manners that you've beaten into their brains.

Hunter is an awesome son, a great brother and a beloved grandson.  Hunter can also be labeled in another way, Taekwondo Black Belt.  He was very reluctant to attend taekwondo when we first took the boys there, but now he is adamant about never missing.  He took it very seriously and still does, he'll be Second Degree blackbelt by Summer 2011 and intends to begin MMA training now that he's 16.

In the above pic, you can see the kids' names and their degree.  What you can't see, is that they each chose a Bible verse to have  as a reminder on the other side of their belt.  Hunter chose, 2 Peter 5-7 and I think it suited him beautifully.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a Blessed Thanksgiving!  Head over here to see what others are grateful for today.

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Gratitude Challenge: Day 23

We went to the doctors office today to get CJ's test results.  He was suspected to have Hemachromatosis, a rare blood disorder; due to his high serum ferritin levels.  Luckily, all of the genetic testing came back negative.  Awesome!  The down side is that they don't know what's causing this ferritin level.  But, I'm focusing on the positive today, he doesn't have a genetic disorder that could be passed to our kids!

We feel really confident that this doctor, will exhaust himself to be sure that CJ's health is not something we need to worry about.  He takes everything and makes informed decisions, he's not just treating the diabetes, hypothyroid, high ferritin, high blood pressure; he's treating Chris and that sets my heart at ease.  Chris is not just a set of symptoms, he's a man with a wife and 4 kids who need him daily, hourly, minutely.  Thank you, God; for leading us to this doctor.

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Gratitude Challenge: Day 22

We're more than halfway through this Gratitude Challenge and I think I've done pretty well.  I've missed a couple of days, not because I wasn't grateful for something; but more that I didn't have time to get to the computer to type it.

Today I am grateful for the gift of choosing the proper way to teach my kids.  We have been a homeschooling family for 6 years and love every second, that is to say most of us do.  My oldest has decided that he wants to return to public school since we have moved and live in a better school district.  I'm not happy about it, but I am grateful that he felt brave comfortable enough to make this request.  Hunter will be returning to PS in January, with the start of the new semester.

While PS is something that Hunter wants to do, Koty is happy to stay home and keep working with Mom.  We realized a couple years ago that Koty has dysgraphia, self-diagnosed; of course.  He struggles with his grip and his hands cramp-up, he can't get his thoughts to translate onto paper and he is constantly frustrated with how his handwriting looks.  I have really enjoyed watching a child who hates something, open up and do his best; knowing he's not going to be judged.  He even hates to draw, I encouraged him today to do his best and his resulting efforts were awesome.  I'm confident that he wouldn't feel this empowered at PS.  Koty is so strong in other areas, mostly doing High School level work in 8th grade; that I won't let him feel less because of how he writes.

Ry and Sissy are both loving Time 4 Learning, combined with Little Hearts for His Glory from Heart of Dakota.  Ry is getting more confident with his phonics, not reading yet; but definitely trying.  Sissy whizzed through Pre-School in a couple of days and is heading towards Kindergarten.  I love that they don't have to be held back or pushed forward just because of what day they were born on.

Well that's what we are grateful for today, head over here to see what others are grateful for.

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Gratitude Challenge: Day 21

I missed a couple of days, weekends are not great for me as I work all weekend.  So I'm just gonna hit the highlight of the last couple days.

This totally awesome boy turned 14!

Dakota is that kid that you just have to love.  He is smart, funny, silly and goofy.  He loves his brothers and sister, his computers and his guinea pigs.

He is a child who is comfortable in his own skin and not afraid to be silly and have fun.

He's always willing to play or bike ride with his brothers and sister.  We are so grateful for the man he is becoming, he is such a compassionate kid.

Happy Birthday, Koty!  We love you and are blessed to be your parents.  Head on over to Garden of Learning to see what others are grateful for.

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