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Guess What This Is...?
2008-04-19 06:32:00
I'm on vacation visiting family this week, so I thought I would share a photo Friday and Saturday while we are out of town. This is a most interesting plant that we discovered tonight in one of our family-member's yards. Does anyone know what it is? I do, but I'm not telling.Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: plants, photos, fun, quiz, nature, photography, guess, personal, digital, outdoors, foto
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Stuff You NEED to Know
2008-04-17 18:00:00
I found some WMD!!! Go see!!!Wanting this.Made me mad.Don't forget. (today is the 17th!)NOT TO MISS:The HSBA (Homeschool Blog Awards) website has had a makeover. Our talented Dawn of My Home Sweet Home has done a smashing job with the gorgeous template. Stop over and leave her a comment or just leave a comment on any of our super author's posts. Today's post is an interview with Mama Archer. I guess I can forgive her this time for not sending a photo of her blogging desk in with her interview request!Also spectacular is this month's issue at Heart of the Matter Online (HOTM). My long-winded sequel to the last political post in here is in their April issue. Hop over and read my article about Good Citizenship and the GOP delegate meeting we attended. You can also print the magazine off in PDF format to save your eyes. They are having a conference soon that you can sign up for. I'll be one of the speakers for that. If you sign up, tell them I sent you!Here's a great link for girl...
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Early Wordless Wednesday: Observation
2008-04-16 04:50:00
Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: bugs, kids, photography, learning, science, pictures, Wordless Wednesday , photos, outdoors, nature
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Robots Taking Over My Life
2008-04-15 01:14:00
Have you ever had one of those years that was so crammed packed full of stuff that you never had a chance to catch your breath? I'm having one of those roller-coaster years... and I'm not sure I can complain - but I sometimes wonder how I'm standing up on this magic carpet ride I call life.Let me fill you in....Last Friday I planned out our next school unit - a 15 week unit to last until the end of school: from now until July 31st. Then, Saturday we took my son to compete in a competition for robotics. He's only a 5th grader, and it was only his first time to compete - so I wasn't expecting much. I was just glad he got a chance to learn and be involved in something bigger than himself. That is usually the way it goes - we underestimate our kids, don't we? Needless to say, his team WON. The little buggers won First Place! ...and now I'm ditching all plans of a normal routine to plan a trip across the USA some time in the next two weeks for another competition. Plans, shmans. W...
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Field Trip Foto Friday: Audiologist
2008-04-11 16:09:00
Taking a field trip to the Audiologist is a great way to make learning about the ear and sound memorable. The photo isn't my best, but if you look closely, you can see Morgan screaming behind sound-proof glass. The faint red baseball cap is Kaden. Inside are a bunch of other kids from our small co-op in Arkansas. They were screaming at the top of their lungs and we couldn't hear them! [note to self: need to build sound proof room in house!] I think they did a sound test for the kids, but it has been a while - I can't remember. I do know that the doctor was great. She showed us the little tubes that they put in peoples ears, gave us some great books and brochures, talked with the kids about what they knew about ear health and hearing, etc. If you are interested in learning about hearing and sound, be sure to visit my links at the bottom of this post!After the ear doctor our co-op gang all had lunch in the park and browsed a book store together. I miss the mild summers up there in ...
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One of those Martha-Stewart-Betty-Crocker Homeschool Days
2008-04-10 17:48:00
Graphics hat tip to School @ HomeSorry for the lag time in here, but I thought I would throw you an update real quick before I'm sucked into the time-space continuum of this weekend. [I can't believe that I spelled that word right on my first try.]Yesterday was amazingly busy. Aside from the umpteen-million emails I've been sorting through with HSBA [...which is getting a face lift soon - shhhh! Don't tell anyone I told you.], our local co-op, etc... we managed to get a MSBC homeschool day accomplished. Wanna see what we did?Check it out:Bible readingPrayer JournalsPray for our dayDevotional (on Samuel)MathTimeline cardsLanguagePen Pal lettersA Beka PenmanshipScience ReaderVisualize World Geography (current event on Pakistan, map on Pakistan, facts on Pakistan & review)KONOS: Worksheets about Tabernacle, Breastplate, Priest Clothing & Read about/view onlinePaste seasons graphic in journal (on earth's rotation journey)TypingFree readingRobotics for 1.5 hoursHelp mom teac...
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Building the Tabernacle
2008-04-09 06:58:00
Reading in ExodusWe finished up a study of the tabernacle today by building our own model of it while we read the instructions that God gave the Israelites in Exodus. I had been dreading this project because of the supplies I needed to gather and the mess that was sure to break out in my house if I had done it the "KONOS" way. Lately I am a big chicken when it comes to messy projects that are done indoors. Especially since my kids are doing most of the projects on their own now - and as of yet have not become really good at picking up their school messes without me having to badger them constantly.Construction PhaseMy friend Tami told me about a PAPER MODEL of the tabernacle that we could cut out and glue or tape together while we read the story. I was sold. It made my week-long project a two hour project and is light, portable, and can be re-used for Sunday School class!To go along with this project, I highly recommend the devotionals on the following site:The Tabernacle Place...An...
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A Little Perspective
2008-04-07 05:36:00
I got my 'little bit of perspective' that I was after this weekend... although I didn't stay at home like I originally was planning. Sometimes God changes our plans for the better. We got out instead - as a family - and tackled some issues (like that carpet stain) together.God is good. Amazing what some 'togetherness', a good view, a Rug Doctor, a nice bank manager that refunds you some bank fees, and some time out in the sunshine taking photos can do to lift my spirits.See you tomorrow evening! Hopefully I'll be able to say that we had a super 'first day of the rest of our school year'!Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: Texas, family, parenting, personal, life, relationships, Hill Country, Austin, Beautiful, Photos, Christian
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One of Those Weeks
2008-04-05 02:51:00
Going, going, going, .... CRASH. That would explain the last three years week we've had. There were some great moments, but we are fizzling out hard on this extra-curricular-to-the-extreme schedule (that's what I get for over-scheduling my month). In all honestly - we could use a swift kick in the rear for slacking on our weekly routine, too. Too much to do and too little discipline = not a good mix.Our co-op had a meeting this week to plan for next year and I was in no mood for thinking of next year. I was thinking of everything that has gone wrong THIS year. I had been having visions of school buses whisking away my children so I could get some perspective earlier that morning, actually. Of course, I wouldn't "go there", but I do have those thoughts from time to time.Tuesday, we got up at 5am for a field trip in another city and didn't go to bed until 11 that night. Unbeknownst to me, we were low on our funds before the trip. You wouldn't even believe the amount of overdrafts...
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Wordless Wednesday: Crazy
2008-04-03 05:48:00
Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: crazy, kids, Photography, Fun, Family, Pictures, Wordless Wednesday , Photos, Silly, Goofing Off
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HSBA's Tuesday Tour is Up!!!
2008-04-01 22:24:00
I know you are wondering what that is all about... guess you'll just have to click over and go read it!Lots of important stuff! Great links! On your mark, set, go! Click the title of this post to get there!Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: Homeschooling, Homeschool Blog Awards, Cool Links, Movies, Blogging, Teens, Homeschool, Photos, Children
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My Big-Long Political Involvement Soapbox
2008-03-31 22:24:00
I spent this past Saturday in delegation for the Republican party for the 2008 elections. Hearing the local and state representatives as they discussed what is at stake this year for America was quite a sobering experience. My previously jaded views (brought about by the mistrust I have of government based on un-kept promises and the unabashed leftist agenda of the media) have all but vanished. I suddenly realized, sitting in that high-school auditorium with over 500 other conservative voters, that I could either complain and whine about the future while I did nothing to change it... or I could stop talking and start doing something about it. This is probably the most political post you'll ever see on this blog. I am a realist and understand that people aren't perfect and politics are a necessary process, but I am usually one to favor discussion that doesn't divide. I don't like division and long for that heavenly destination where all men truly can come together as equals in a ...
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HSBA in Full Bloom
2008-03-29 05:29:00
Go check out what's up at the HSBA. We have four new team members that we are going to announce next Wednesday! You might find out who they are by peeking in on the site over the weekend as Dawn adds their bio pages to the sidebar!Oh... the flowers? Those were from today's post at the HSBA, too!Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: Homeschooling, Homeschool Blog Awards, Fun, Friends, Blogging, Flowers, Homeschool, Photos, Buddies
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How to Tell if You are a Jesus Freak...
2008-03-28 05:18:00
Isaiah 16:5 ~ "In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it— one from the house of David— one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness."I have had this certain book on my "to-review" list for ages. Since before we moved home from Arkansas, actually. I'm ashamed to admit it, but at least I do have a smidgen of an excuse - since we've had one thing after the other happening in our lives that has prevented me from being the "big reader" that I long to be. That's what my Winter Reading Challenge list was about... and now March 17th has come and gone... and I only have read 1.5 books. So I started this book to add to the homeschool book I'm still working on. The new book? "God's Ultimate Passion". It's by Frank Viola. It came recommended.The cover page is kind of plain, but once I began reading it, I have been completely enthralled. The last time I picked it up was before our 'out of state' move and my life turning upsid...
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Kid Creativity: Nature Journal Cover Art
2008-03-26 15:33:00
I gave the kids a simple assignment one day on our last week of school before Spring Break or so. I was busy and had to get something else around the house done, so I let them use their own creative mind to come up with HOW they would accomplish the task. I didn't give them any guidelines at all. "Create a nature journal cover on a sheet of paper." I told them. They were excited to work on the project and quiet for over an hour or two!Here's what they made (and what is now on the front cover of their spiral bound nature journals):Kids are so creative! I love their nature journals. We're going to write in them again today about yesterday's field trip with our co-op. We saw the coolest lizard that I want them to draw. I got a photo of him (and another 149 photos to go with it).Get out your art tools and be creative today! Doesn't matter what age you are. It is good for the soul!Other Quick Links:Nature Links from SprittibeeReasons to do a Nature WalkGreen HourSubscribe to Spritti...
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Plan Bee'n It
2008-03-25 05:15:00
That's Plan B-ing It. You know. Doing Plan B perpetually because Plan A never seems to work out. Does that sound like the story of your life? It does mine.So I was only going to take 3 days off for Spring break last week, right? Then came 'Good Friday' - which I would have noticed, had I broke out the planner before it snuck up on us. So we did the Easter Egg Hunt and the Birthday Party... and only ONE day of school really happened last week: Thursday.So we decided to make it a full WEEK off and take today off, too. You just can't go to school when it is 70 degrees outside in Texas - no matter what season it happens in. Because it is only 70 degrees in Texas three days out of the year, people. I don't care what type of school you go to - private, public, homeschool, charter school - whatever. Today was a playin' HOOKEY day! I think everyone should have called in sick today from work, too, ... in fact. It was GORGEOUS!So we opted for some Spring Cleaning on our 5th day of Sprin...

You are Everything.... THANK YOU JESUS
2008-03-24 01:08:00
I'm sure many of you have seen this movie, but it makes me cry every time I see it. I was cleaning out my email box and watched it again today. What a better day to see it again than Easter. I can't express my thanks enough to my God and Christ for the new life He gave to me. New life isn't just for AFTER you die.Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: Easter, Christianity, Jesus , GodTube, Video, Belief, Religion, Depression, Love, Christian, God, Life, Personal, Faith, Holidays

Easter Wishes
2008-03-23 06:22:00
Follow the link behind the picture and enjoy the very LONG Easter poem I found on the net. My favorite part was this:In the beauty of that desert place,The Savior of mankindFaced all the uglinessHis charges could offer:The pain, the hate,The sin, the sorrow,The waste, the wickedness,The pride, the poverty,The deceit, the ignorance,The doubt, the fear,The betrayal--And even theLoneliness--Alone.cross cross crossAs His immortal, righteous bloodWas spilled, like sweatFrom every poreAnd fell to the thirsty earth below,I cannot hideMy honor and my aweAt His great love for me;Neither can I hideMy shame,Self-reproachAnd regret. ForHow many of those precious dropsAm I responsible for?--As He sufferedThe bitter cup,Alone. I'm praying your Easter is a joyous one and that the savior has you wrapped in love and filled with joy. May you... find time,sigh big,laugh from down deep,spring with your step,and be wrapped by the armsof your beloved ones.May the light of Christ be in you.Subscribe to S...
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What Texans Do For Fun in Spring
2008-03-22 05:11:00
There were a lot of "supposed to"s this week that didn't happen. We had three days of Spring Break visiting with friends, a few doctor appointments, some sinus issues - and LOTS of allergy medication (hello Spring!). Today was no different. We were "supposed to" do some school like we did yesterday; however, the sunshine, pollen, sinus medicine, Easter Egg Hunt, and birthday party kept schoolwork at bay.It was a "Good Friday", though. You can't beat 70's in late March here in Texas. We cowpoke can hardly focus on work when the weather is so fair. So what does a good Texan do when the weather is good and we've got some time to spare between lunch at Chipotle and cake at the park?Feed longhorns, that's what!And so we did. Until the unsocial cutting horse ruined the party and rounded up his bovine inferiors. We sang our little song as we drove away..."Moo Moo Cow Cow,Moo Moo Cow Cow,Moo Moo... Moo Moo, Moo Moo Cow Cow...If I were a cow,I'd like to see,Someone say "Hello" to me.Mo...
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Third and Fourth Grade Homeschool Curriculum
2008-03-20 06:01:00
I keep records of the curriculum books/resources we use for each year that we homeschool and add the records to an ever-growing Homeschool Series post. Although my style has been eclectic, my purpose is very solid - to train up my children in the Lord. You'll find a lot of things on my list of curriculum that can be used by homeschoolers in various different methods of teaching. My advice to you is not to go off of someone else's 'list of favorites', but to get out and GO to the book fairs and SEE for YOURSELF. TRY IT and see if it works AT HOME - with YOUR family.We have always homeschooled on a tight budget and have used the library and field trips with our unit studies as a main source of curriculum. I'm not big on a heavy amount of packaged curriculum, but as you can see - we do use some A Beka and have had success with it. Even with the packaged stuff, there is often a lot of good if you pick and choose what works for you and don't load yourself down with "busy work" or "...
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Almost Wordless Wednesday: In the Pink
2008-03-19 17:51:00
Morgan took this shot Monday and I doctored it in Fast Stone Image Viewer for your viewing pleasure. She's getting to be a regular little photographer lately! We are on Spring Break (visiting with out of town friends) until tomorrow in case anyone was wondering why it was so quiet in here. See you then!Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: Pink , Driving, Photography, Sky, City, Pictures, Wordless Wednesday , Photos, Image Alteration, Road Signs

My Own Personalized Planner Pages
2008-03-17 05:42:00
I have had this little graphic on my desktop since January. Shows you how "ahead of the game" I am with blogging 'to-do-list', eh? I was sooo proud of myself when I created these little dandies. I figured that with my new black ink cartridges only costing me 9$, printing my own personalized calendar inserts would save me money. Not only that, but making them myself finally give me the ability to customize my planner to fit my needs as a homeschool mom.My favorite planners have the "week at a glance" when open on your desk. I like room to keep notes about my day so that I can create my endlessly long Christmas letter that all my friends and family members dread every year. What spam does to email boxes, my Christmas letter does to IRL (in real life) mailboxes each holiday! Merry Christmas!So... my new and improved planner pages include Mon-Wed on one page with a bonus "notes" section, and Thurs-Sun on page 2. Each day includes a menu box for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... because ...
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Last Day to Sign Up for the March-April Homeschool Swap!
2008-03-15 19:00:00
The HSBA had only 3 sets of swappers last month. They are changing the procedures for the swapping so that the swaps are now 2 months apart... to give more people time to join, mail their gifts, post photos of the presents on their blogs, and email their links. The swap has been a really fun thing for those who have participated. Check back at some of the links below to see the gifts that have been showcased! If you have been thinking of participating, today is the day to sign up! To sign up you just have to: 1. be a blogger, 2. be a homeschooler, 3. agree to play by the rules in the sign-up post, and 4. comment on the post to say you want to join (with a valid email address).Here’s the schedule:SIGN UP: By March 15th (Sat.)PAIRED UP: By March 20th (Wednesday)MAIL SWAP: By April 17th (Thursday)POST PHOTOS: By April 30th (Wednesday)EMAIL LINKS TO ME: By May 7th (Wednesday)NEXT SWAP: May 10th (Saturday)Here is the link to the sign up post: March and April Saturday Swap !Here are past...
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Green Hour... in the Back Yard.
2008-03-14 06:23:00
Green hour has turned in to a tree-planting frenzy around here in Texasville. This past week we have planted two small red oaks, one ash, a cypress tree, three Texas lilacs, and two redbuds (the redbuds could hardly count as sticks, much less trees!). The ash was the biggest. We had to pay someone to pick-ax the rock in my back yard to plant that sucker. I'm hoping Mr. Ash will shoot up like a rocket and provide me some serious-blockage-of-view (the neighbor behind me has dogs that chew and teens that smoke).You wouldn't believe how much fun digging and planting has been for my 9 and 11 year old. You would have thought I bought them a Star Wars Video Game and let them eat an entire bag of Mint Chocolate Milano Cookies. After we were done with that last blasted rock-filled hole, my son said, "I could dig all the way to China!" And that he probably could! "Youth is wasted on the young." Hopefully he'll feel the same way when we tackle the flower bed out front. I think we may make t...
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Blogging Bad for Your Health? Humph!
2008-03-12 22:41:00
I made it from 1304 back to 1200 today. During Math time. Mom was here to help with the little schoolies. We had soup for lunch. Like you needed to know that.Sorry for the randomness of this post, but I'm feeling distressed by an overwhelming number of things I really need to be doing right now... and I'm not. I'm stuck on this blog party like white on rice, baby. This stuff really isn't good for your health. Blogging , I mean.I know this. You wanna know how? I went to the doctor yesterday. They told me I needed to take medicine for GERD. Great. There went those enchiladas, and the rest of the hot and spicy foods I love the most. I heart jalapeños. The doctor said that a "sedentary lifestyle" (ie: butt in chair) is not good for your digestive tract. Age doesn't help, either - nor does gaining some weight (which is brought on by age and slowing metabolism... vicious cycle!). Another culprit besides blogging, of course - would be GREASY FOODS. WHAT??? You mean that I can't eat a...
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Resolution 2008: My Homeschool Schedule Revamped
2008-01-20 22:13:00
One of the most difficult things for me with homeschooling has been sticking to a schedule and getting everything I plan accomplished. Even though I have homeschooled for over six years, I have found that the more I learn, the less I feel I know. Sadly, there is no perfect way - no magic pill - that will fix all your issues and make teaching at home EASY. There are lots of reasons why I struggle with my schedule... perfectionism (lists too long and goals too high), distraction (hyperfocusing/rabbit trails and not staying on task), lack of preparation (not gathering books or materials in a timely fashion or failing to look at the bigger picture to limit time on unit studies), etc. Of course, you also have to factor in moving, hardships, financial woes, and any other major life-situation you might find yourself in while homeschooling. Even over-scheduling outings, field trips, sports, play dates, and extra curricular classes or lessons (that are GOOD for the kids) can kill a well-plan...
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Fun Fun Friday
2008-01-18 16:06:00
I'm having a fun Friday ... follow me to the HSBA and find out why (click the photo)...See you tomorrow!Subscribe to Sprittibee by EmailBuzz Words: Party, Fun, Children, Birthday, Parenting, Motherhood, Friends, Weekend, Friday, Life, Photos, Homeschooling, Pictures, Kids, Christianity, Happy, Joy, Play

My Other Son
2008-01-16 21:39:00
For years I have been a Compassion International sponsor. I sponsor a little boy in India. His mother is a maid and they can barely afford to eat. Compassion feeds him and helps him with the cost of clothing and school supplies. They give him a Christmas gift each year and a birthday gift. They ensure his success by providing him with a Christian education and summer/field trip opportunities. They nurture him in his own environment... they love him in a way that is hard for someone on the outside (like me) to do. The only involvement that is required of me is to write to him as often as I can and to send less than 35$ a month towards meeting his educational and physical needs.The great thing about Compassion is that I get letters from my sponsored child. He calls me his auntie. He loves to get notes from my kids and always calls them his brother and sister. He treasures our photos and draws us pictures. He enjoys getting educational information about America and learning about our c...

Winter Reading Challenge
2008-01-15 07:12:00
When Trish told me about her Winter Reading Challenge , I thought... why not? It couldn't hurt to take my brain out of the children's reading section and use it some, right? I feel like I have been in a bubble for the past few years as far as adult reading goes. I won't even tell you how long it has been since I finished a book. For shame, for shame! I have a long list of outdated volumes on my bookshelves at home collecting dust that I haven't finished - or have forgotten and need to read again. They are happy to finally be out of storage and back on the shelves in our house... but if no one reads them, that back-breaking manual labor will all have been in vain. I might as well get them out and read them since they caused us to wear the Icy-Hot patch, eh?It couldn't hurt to win a gift certificate, either. Trish is giving away 25$ at Amazon to a random participant! You can always count me in when there is a gift certificate involved.It isn't just mom who needs to be reading mor...

Coming Out of the Political Closet: Who I'm Voting For
2008-01-13 07:11:00
I avoid politics on my blog because frankly... I don't have time to argue and I feel that it is a dividing point. I'm not in to division. I have lots of great Christian friends and I want to build them up and grow in the Lord with them. I have a few liberal friends, too - and I really don't want to fight about our differences.I have been really glad to see that a few of my favorite bloggers are on the same page with me. Here is a post I ran in to just last night by Amy of Amy's Humble Musings that made me chuckle. BE SURE to go to the link and see the Ron Paul video she mentions!!!I commented on Principal Discovery about this issue after Spunky shared her views on Huckabee.From Spunky's article (a VERY short summary):Thanks David Brody, for helping us all see that a Huckabee presidency will NOT be good choice for conservative Christian homeschoolers or any conservative who believes in a limited government where there is no federal role education policy. That's what Ronald Reag...
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