15-16/365

 I drive by this barn every weekend on the way to work.  I absolutely love how the red looks against the snow, the only thing that would have been better is if the sheep would have been out today.  I don't know why, but I just love sheep with black faces and feet; maybe they'll be out next weekend.

 (15/365)

 My mom got flowers the other day, they were so pretty and fresh.  I love fresh flowers, especially when the temps haven't been above freezing in multiple days; it reminds you that Spring is always just around the corner.

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 I'm really having fun with this project, I hope y'all don't mind all of the pics.  If you want to join in, it's not too late; just grab your camera and start documenting your days!

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12-14/365

I'm participating in or I should say trying to participate in Mommytography Project 365, the goal is to take a picture a day.  The idea is for you to get more comfortable with you camera and learn something new.  I'm having a lot of fun with it, trying different settings and playing with the post production stuff on Picasa.  It's not too late if you want to join in just click on the button and start taking those pics.

Since I spend so much time at Taekwondo, your probably going to be seeing a lot of pictures taken there.  I think my kids are very photo worthy!!!

 (12-365)

I just can't get over how delicate she looks.  She cracks me up at Taekwondo, she loves to go but spends a lot of time dancing around.

(13-365)

Hunter is just growing leaps and bounds as an athlete.  He will be regularly attending MMA(Mixed Martial Arts) classes in the next couple of weeks.  I'm not in love with the idea, but he wants to go and he's old enough to make that decision.  Yeah, I'm crying a little bit inside that I have to start letting ago.  I'm just not ready!!
(14-365)

This little guy was in the tree outside.  If you look close you can see the nut? that he was attempting to crack open and eat.

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The Life of Christ by Positive Action 4 Christ-TOS Review

As a member of the TOS Review Crew, I received the most awesome product evah!!!!  I'm anxious and excited to share it with y'all.

 

I got home and there was a well bound box on the front stoop, when I opened it; I was pleasantly surprised to find a securely packaged and extremely beautiful Bible study.  We have received a lot of packages and this is probably the most well protected product I have gotten this year.  The package included a Student Manual (softback), Teacher Manual (3-ring Binder) and a CD containing all of the transparencies.

The study is titled "The Life of Christ--From the Gospel of John"

it is one of many studies that Positive Action for Christ has available for Churches and/or Schools.  At first I was worried that the study was more geared for the classroom, but it definitely can be used independently by the student.  My 14 year old son works very independently and has truly enjoyed the study, he finds it very engaging and easy to follow. He really likes it and intends to continue after the review period is finished. 

(His words!Yeah!)

The Student Manual ($19.95) is soft cover, full color, with guided readings, fill-ins and sections for Digging deeper into the units topic. 

The Teacher's Manual ($41.95) or on DVD ($29.95) is very comprehensive.  It includes a full copy of the Student Manual with answers filled in, guides in how to teach the study, scripture memorization, recommended reading list and then of course each lesson individually(35 in all).  The TM also includes Quizzes and Tests.

The Transparencies CD ($99.95) includes 151 transparencies of maps, lesson outlines and charts.

You can download a sample of the Student Manual and Teacher Manual here.

This study is geared towards students in Middle school or High school, I think it is very easy to adjust depending on your student and their personal learning curve.  It might seem a little pricey, but having wasted a lot of money in the past on Bible studies; I really believe that this one is worth every penny.  For the homeschool you probably wouldn't need the transparencies and while the TM is beautiful, the DVD version is probably just as good.  I truly believe that this one is worth the money.

For those that don't have older students, don't be sad, Positive Action for Christ has studies for every age group, including Elementary, Middle School and High School.  They even have studies for small groups and adult Bible study here.  I look forward to continuing a relationship with this company, we will definitely be ordering their studies for our homeschool into the future.  To see what my Crew mates thought about this product, please head over here.

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{I received the Student manual, Teacher's Manual and Transparencies CD for the purpose of writing this review.  I received no other compensation and was not required to write a positive review.}

Virtual Nerd-TOS Review

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew I received access to a new website called Virtual Nerd.  I was a little taken aback by the name until I saw exactly what the website was, you see; I wasn't a virtual nerd in High School, I was the real deal.  I tutored in High School, tutoring both math and science classes, these were my strengths and my love.  20 years later, I'm not convinced I have what it takes anymore; tutoring is hard work.

 Virtual Nerd picks up where my brainpower left off, it is an interesting variety of whiteboard technology with engaging tutors that walk you through a huge amount of info.  I've not had to get tutors for my children yet, but I know that they can be very expensive.  In comparison, I think that for short term help, Virtual Nerd is very affordable, they have a variety of plans that let you choose what price point would work best for your needs and family.

**2 Hour Free trial

**24 Hours ($5)

**1 week ($19)

**1 Month ($49) recurring

**3 Months ($129)

Compared to private tutoring you can clearly see that Virtual Nerd is a very good alternative, the 2 hour free trial will certainly give you time to look around and try for yourself.

 Here's a peek at what you would see if you give Virtual Nerd a try.

You can choose what subject you want to search, right now you can choose between: Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Intro to Physics.  They are planning on adding Chemistry, Calculus, Geometry and others in the future.

So choose your topic and click, it will open a series of videos that you can watch that will guide you through the steps of that topic.  At the end, it will suggest other topics that will "drill down" to help you get to the root of your problem.  If you don't understand an early concept, you won't be able to move on, so it helps the student to locate the problem area and then walks the student through the process.  Pretty cool, huh??


Koty is working on Geometry, so he wasn't able to utilize Virtual Nerd to its fullest extent but he did play a while on the Algebra 1 topics and really liked the tutors and how the info was presented.

The white board below, gives you a visual of what you would see during a tutorial video.  The tutor works the problem on the main portion of the whiteboard (1), the formulas and diagrams are shown in off to the top right (2), and finally the steps for solving the problem are on the bottom right (3).  You are able to go back and start the video over at what ever step that you didn't quite grasp.  It is really interactive and helpful.




I think that covers almost everything, if you have any other questions that I didn't cover, head on over to our Crew blog to see what other crew members thought about Virtual Nerd.

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{I received a six-week subscription to Virtual Nerd for the purpose of writing this review.  I received no other compensation and was not required to write a positive review}

Snow week?????

Well, here in KC we are looking at day 3 with school canceled. As we are homeschoolers, this normally wouldn't affect us, but since my oldest started back to public school last week; it's kind of hard to work when he is home. Hunter's not bothering anybody, but the others think if he doesn't have to work neither should they. So, we are finding stuff to keep us busy. We recently accessed Netflix through our PS3, it's really cool and super affordable; we're finding lots of stuff we've never seen. Unfortunately, TV and computer time is how we've been spending our time, it's bitterly cold outside and you can only play for a few minutes at a time. This is actually why school is canceled tomorrow, windchills are supposed to be something like -20, painful and dangerous if you have to stand at a bus stop.

We went to McDonald's for lunch and spent a couple hours in the playplace.  It killed a couple of hours outside of the house, pretty nice, I am the kids are starting to get cabin fever.

When we got home from McD's they decided to brave the incline slopes outback for a few minutes, a very few minutes!!

(11-365)

Koty decided to make a snow angel, quickly realizing that he had picked a snowdrift, when he started to sink. He also quickly realized he should have grabbed his coat before he laid down in the snow.

This one of Ry is kinda blurry, he was moving really fast!

I think I mentioned before that I had started Taekwondo with Rylan.  Hunter and Dakota are already 1st Degree Blackbelts and Sissy is still in Basic Training.  Rylan needed a little more encouragement and I needed to get off my butt and workout some.  I had my third class tonight, I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.  I'm certainly working up a sweat and getting sore muscles, so I must be doing something right.  I'm attending class and working out about 4X a week, hopefully; I'll start seeing the results eventually.

I was just playing with settings on my camera with this picture, it is of a necklace I got for Mother's day a couple of years ago.  If you get a chance, head over to Lisa Leonard Designs to see other handstamped silver designs.  She does some truly beautiful work.

(10-365)

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17 years and counting....

Yesterday was mine and CJ's 17th Anniversary.  We really didn't do anything special, just went out to eat and to the movies.  I can't believe that it's been 17 years, it seems like yesterday that we started our family.  It is so funny to see this picture, CJ placed the cake ever so gently in my mouth; so as not to get any on my dress.  I was not so nice, my Mom always says; "Start as you mean to go on!"  If I had been nice, he would have been disillusioned when I showed my true colors. LOL. 

We had such a great day, the Chiefs had won the playoff game, the weather was beautiful and our families had all made it safely into town.  Unfortunately, we weren't a good luck charm for the Chiefs this year, they lost today.  Maybe they would have won if they had played yesterday on our actual anniversary.  Yeah, that's the problem; they played on the wrong day!  Oh well, maybe next year.

(9-365)

I have a great picture of mine and CJ's hands on our wedding day.  Just our hands, I love it, can't find it but love it.  I wanted to recreate something like it with all of our hands.  I think it turned out pretty good, Sissy kept moving that's why her's is a little blurrier than the others. 

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8-365

I don't know what it says about us, but a customer gave us this plaque to hang in the restaurant.  It cracks me up every time I read it. Luckily, they're really good customers; they just caught on to us really quick! LOL!

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