Bartholomew’s Passage Advent Book

We have been thoroughly enjoying our advent readings. We are reading Bartholomew’s Passage. It is the book that follows Jotham’s Journey. It is a story of the adventure of a boy set in the time of Jesus’birth. Every chapter is a cliff hanger. We all cuddle on the living room couches under soft fleece throws by the glow of our christmas tree lights and advent wreath candles. If you have an oppotunity to purchase these books I highly recommend them! To learn more about the author and his other books CLICK HERE

 http://www.jothamsjourney.com/

Prep and Landing

Tonight ABC will be showing Disney’s first tv holiday special, Prep and Landing, a 30 minute movie about an elite team of elves that prepare everything for Santas arrival. To view a trailer and lots of funny shorts CLICK HERE

For lots of crafts and activities to do with your family in relation to this movie CLICK HERE

Happy Watching!

Christmas Box: Movie Nights

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” this song is heard throughout the house. The glow of candles and smell of baked goodies fill the air in our home and sets the mood to our Christmas celebrations.

Every year we strive to continue our traditions and add more family fun activities that focus on the of Christmas, our lord and savior Jesus Christ. I hope our holiday traditions and celebrations inspire you.

Have a Merry Christmas!
Monica

Go Make Memories!

  

There are many family fun activities to during the holidays. Check your local community newspapers and your city or county websites. We enjoyed or city’s annual tree lighting celebration. They had many performers on an outdoor stage by the waterfront. It is so nice to see families out in droves sitting on blankets enjoying each other. After the mayor, Rick Baker, lit the tree (which simultaneously lit surrounding light displays all around North Straub water front park we headed over to view an outdoor holiday movie. We thought it was going to be “Miracle on 34th Street” but it turned out to be “The Shop Around the Corner ” We had never seen this movie. It was awesome! We all enjoyed it. It was freezing cold. Luckily, mom was prepared with fleece blankets, popcorn, and hot cocoa. Oh, what a wonderful night we had. Even Flat Stanley got in on the fun too. We introduced him to the mayor and had our picture taken by the tree. Mayor Rick Baker is almost as tall as the tree! It was nice to see him there with his family too. Every Friday and Saturday local merchants and the city of St Petersburg are sponsoring outdoor holiday movies, FREE!

See info below:

Sunscreen Film Festival 2009 Holiday Outdoor Film Series in the Park presents
North Straub Park, Beach Drive and Third St., 7 p.m. Enjoy a different holiday classic beneath the stars on the downtown waterfront every Friday and Saturday during the holiday season. Sponsored by the Merchants of 400 Beach Drive, Progress Energy and City of St.Petersburg.

o Dec. 4 – Polar Express
o Dec. 5 – White Christmas
o Dec. 11 – Prancer
o Dec. 12 – A Christmas Story
o Dec. 18 – Miracle on 34th Street
o Dec. 19 – It’s a Wonderful Life

We have a family tradition we started last year called the Christmas Box. Every few days my husband and I put out a wrapped box with special items inside for a family fun activity or outing. A family favorite is a movie night. We buy a new holiday movie to add to our growing collection or we rent one. We put the dvd in the box along with popcorn, holiday cookies, wassail or hot cocoa, which are a must for your holiday viewing pleasure. Those big holiday popcorn variety tins will make a spontaneous movie night even easier. If you have a portable movie projector light a fire out back and enjoy the cool weather by snuggling up with you hubby and kids under a blanket. Invite friends over and to share in the fun too.popcorn and any other treats we fancy. The kids are always excited to see what fun surprise awaits them inside the Christmas Box. Makes me feel a little like Santa! 

Here is a list of our family favorite holiday movies and some we plan on seeing this holiday season:

   

 

Thanksgiving Family Fun

There is so much to do during the holidays that it is easy to get overwhelmed and miss opportunities for learning and growing together as a family. I hope the following links, ideas, and activities help you to have a fun and blessed Thanksgiving holiday that focuses on God’s love and providence.

Psalm 100

A Psalm for giving thanks.

¹Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. ²Worship the Lord with gladness;come before him with joyful songs.³ Know that the Lord is God.It is He that made us, and we are his we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.⁴Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise His name.⁵For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues throughout all generations.

Download Thanksgiving Family Fun Here

GO MAKE MEMORIES!

I have very fond memories of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my parents growing up. It was a thrill to see all the floats, broadway acts, balloons and celebrities kicking off the Christmas season. How exciting it ws whne a balloon had a mind of it’s own. Now with my family I don’t get to sit and enjoy the entire parade because I’m preparing our meal but jsut having it in the background and catching a few acts here and there is enough to warm my heart.

 

Our family is using  the “ThanksLiving Treasure Box” by Family Life Ministries. I have searched high and low for it on the web and it seems to be discontinued. I purchased mine used at homeschool book sale earlier this year. It is a 6 day devotional set that includes six biblically-based lessons on thankfulness and creative ideas to celebrate Thanksgiving.

 Visit my amazon store for some great Thanksgiving books to find at your local library or purchase them from amazon used and keep your Christmas budget in check. Books are a great way to celebrate with. Family read alouds an increasing quality family library adds to the fun of any holiday. Set out a basket with your seasonal favorites and enjoy.

A fantastic book to read with your family is Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving. This entertaining and historical story shows that the actual hero of the Thanksgiving was neither white nor Indian, but God. In 1608, English traders came to Massachusetts and captured a 12-year old Indian, Squanto, and sold him into slavery. He was raised by Christians and taught faith in God. Ten years later he was sent home to America. Upon arrival, he learned an epidemic had wiped out his entire village. But God had plans for Squanto. God delivered a Thanksgiving miracle: an English-speaking Indian living in the exact place where the Pilgrims land in a strange new world.

Must see video with the book’s author! Glory to God!

Here are some of my favorites:

. . . If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 By Ann McGovern

 

Stories of the Pilgrims By Margaret B Pumphrey

Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember (Family Life Books) By Barbara Rainey

 

Thankful Banner

I finally finished my first banner. I was a little lost at first but once I got going it was a lot of fun. I hope to make more banners for special occasions. I hope you like it.

 

Thoughtful Friends

I am blessed with thoughtful, kind and generous friends. Here are some gifts I received at the Thanksgiving Workshop.

  

Fresh lush flowers from Melisa, Christmas tradition book & little girl Christmas craft book from Laura, black easel for my chalkboard from Dawn, a pie plate from and a personalized family autumn wreath made by Sunshine.

Homeschool Evaluation 2009

Here are the kids about to be tested. The truth is it is I who is being evaluated on the job I’m doing. Gratefully we all did amazingly well. Except for spelling for a couple of the kids and math for another couple. Everyone is either on target or well above their age and grade level.

I press on toward the goal with my kids in tow, a joyful and satisfied mom!

 

Look what I bought

I went yard sale shopping last weekend and look at all I got for $20. I also bought some stocking stuffers for the kids (those are a surprise). Stampin Up stamps, 7 embossing powders and a plastic container full of red and grees Chrisstmas embossing powder. Pins cardboard letter/stencils, lots of punches and stamps and two new dvd’s. I love a bargain!

Once Upon A Family Workshop-Thanksgiving 2009

It was an incredible joy to spend time with my crafty girlfriends. We talked, laughed and crafted the afternoon away. We made Thankful Boxes and fall wreaths (thanks Sunshine for bringing those) and I worked on my banner too. We all shared ideas for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I look forward to spending more time with these fabulous ladies.

     

Chatting away while making our Thankful Boxes. It was great to hear everyone’s ideas on their family traditions and craft ideas.

   

The little girls had a blast in AJ’s room playing with her play kitchen and play jewelry. Even Flat Stanley got in on all the fun.

 

The kids played and had as much fun as the moms did. My heart was filled to overflowing.

 

Making my banner & a lil’ momma’s helper

 

 

Making wreaths

My precious Dawn who inspired this fun day!

 

Sweet kids, wild & wacky kids & moms!

Thanksgiving Family Fun!

One of my family’s favorites is Family Fun Magazine. We subscribe to the magazine and frequent their website. Below are some fun treats to make with your kids during the Thanksgiving holiday.

        

   

More Thanksgiving Family Fun

Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower

As I searched the web for ideas to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family I came across these videos on YouTube. We will be watching them tonight. Did you know that you can watch YouTube videos on the Wii? I’m glad we won’t have to crowd around the computer monitor. I hope you find them useful for your homeschool and family fun night. I’m certain they will spark great conversations.

 

An afternoon with special friends

What a wonderful Sunday afternoon! We had our dear friends the Rivera’s over for lunch. We met them while doing nursery duty at church 6 years ago. I made Emeril’s Chicken Tetrazzini. Dawn is so sweet she wants to add the recipe to her collection. After lunch Dawn and I worked on our chalkboard project. We just love Aunt Ruthie and following her SugarPie Famhouse Blog  and have been wanting to  make our own chalkboards for a while. We started them and will have them finished this week at My Thanksgiving Workshop.

Their kiddies are so funny and sweet. They make the coolest faces! I am enjoying being an “auntie” of sorts. My highlights of the evening were crafting and chatting with Dawn, watching Pete get owned by my son at poker and singing along to Mr Roger’s with the kids They were quit amazed that I knew the theme song. I’m sure that it’s because I look so young!

We love you Rivera Family!

Visit them at The House of Restoration

*If viewing this post on facebook click on view original post below or visit www.gforceacademy.wordpress.com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook-November 15, 2009

FOR TODAY

November 15, 2009

Outside my window…bright street light

I am thinking…I gotta get to bed

I am thankful for…my patient husband

From the learning rooms…Creating Books with Children

From the kitchen…alphabits cereal

I am wearing…jammies

I am creating…my first scrapbook type banner for Thanksgiving

I am going…to the premiere screening of Vision Forum’s The Mysterious Islands

I am reading…Stories of the Pilgrims by Margaret Pumphrey

I am hoping…for answers

I am hearing…the hum of silence interupted by the clicking of keyboard keys

Around the house…there are many candles

One of my favorite things…God in Stereo

A few plans for the rest of the week: entertaining our “Flat Stanley” having some girlfriends over for a holiday workshop, read aloud time and an Imax movie

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…A quick image I put together of my two oldest sons for their birthday party invitation.

PPEA Ladies Evening Tea

I was in charge this year of decorating the annual tea for our homeschool support. I could not have done it without my gal pal Laura. She helped me talk my vision out and was always available to help. I just love spending time with her. We made bookmarks with a bare tree stamped on white card stock and printed over it the words “Abide in ME” or the verse John 15:5. We hung them on mini”trees” at the center of each table.

Laura and me

The entire board played a special part. We had a funny skit presented by a group of moms and lots of lively and pleasant conversations permeated the evening. Lynn and her daughters are such gracious hostess’ at their church and helped set all the tables and clean up. Cindy coordinated all the table hostess’ and “talent”. Michele made her famous pumpkin spice cookies and dip. These cookies are known to make some people cry their so good. Overall a  nice time was had by all!

The decorating theme for the evening was autumn. It led me to think about bare trees and how I do not want to be a barren woman in my spiritual fruit. I am homeschooling my kids because the Lord has called me to do it. If  He called me He will equip me. My children are my fruit.

 Bare trees in the fall remind me of a time of surrender, rest and renewal. The only times I have found that complete peace and restoration is in surrending to and abiding in Christ. We all go through seasons when we feel as though our kids might not make it to college or we are not doing enough to model and teach godly character. Those are the barren feeling days.   II Peter  1:5-7 says ⁵ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  Trees in the fall don’t just die. They perservere in their role as must I in this high calling of stay at homeschool mom. In  II Peter 1:8 it promises the following “ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

All to soon the spring will come and buds will be evident then leaves and then blooms. A new season will begin when we will finally see the fruit of our labor. Not coincidently does the school year seem to end for most in spring when blooms and fruit are in their grandest display. We can then see that the diligence put forth during the year has paid off if we Abide in Him and perservere in all diligence in the pursuit of godliness in our homes.”  Remember to abide in Him dear sister as you raise your children up for His glory!

“I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who ABIDES in ME and I in him bears much fruit for without ME you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Cozying Up Our Home For Fall

I absolutely love this holiday season! Here are some pics of some special touches of fall around our home.

Happy Fall Ya’ll

   

Our front porch area

 

Lexie off to catch a Turkey for Thanksgiving. She caught one and we put it in a cage. for safe keeping until then.

Will post more soon. I am working on a banner for the mantle of our faux fireplace.

 

Monica’s 411-Holidays 2009

It’s been a long while since I’ve sent out a 411 and some of you have asked for it.  A little birdie told me about some family fun events that are going on in our area.  With the holidays quickly approaching my thoughts are drawn to family and making memories. Here are some family fun events that are going on in our area. If you know of any family friendly activities that are not listed here please let me know

Go make some memories!

Click to Download the 411- Monica’s 411-Holidays 2009

Flat Stanley Arrives!

Our Flat Stanley has arrived from Oregon! We are so excited to show him around the Tampa Bay area.

  

THE EXCITEMENT BREWED AS DID THE TEA FOR THE WELCOMING OF OUR NEW FRIEND FROM OREGON.

 

The Flat Stanley project stemmed from the children’s book written in the 70’s. It is a story of a boy who was flattened by a bulletin board falling on him while in bed. Being flat allowed him to go on many adventures including traveling by envelope to visit friends.

The book spawned a worldwide educational adventure for kids in schools and now homeschoolers too. All you have to do is sign up on the official Flat Stanley web site or join a yahoo group to exchange names and address’with other schools and families around the world who will host your Flat Stanley and you host theirs in exchange. In my case we are trying out with a Flat Stanley Group on The Homeschool Lounge. This is going to provide our family with creative writing, geography and cultural lessons. Oh yeah and fun!

 

PREPARING OUR FLAT STANLEY FOR TRAVEL WITH A CUSTOM JOURNAL MADE IN MICROSOFT WORD

One Blog Leads to Another

What did I ever do before google or blogs? I have an ever increasing list of blogs that I love following. Some I follow for the downloads and some for tutorials. But for the most part I just love “blog candy”. If a blog has visual appeal,  I’m hooked! Add to that good 411, whether it be on homeschooling, crafts, homemaking, decorating, or devotional shares, I’m there like a bear. I used to have them all inmy favorite file but I found a better way, Bloglines.

Bloglines provides a place where you can store the feeds of your favorite blogs.  I have over 100 blogs in my Bloglines. I try to go once a week to my list and catch up on the latest posts. It’s all in one window but you can click on the blog title and go directly to the page to see more “eye candy”. Click “One Blog Leads To Another” to see my latest favs.

 

My latest add is Our Best Bites. This blog is “eye candy” for the tummy! Friends Sara Wells and Kate Jones are two cute young mommas that love cooking. Their recipes look devine and easy. checkout their blog and whip up some of their autumn favorites. I made a list of some to try this week. Let me know if you do!

Happy Eating! 

The Simple Woman’s Daybook November 8, 2009

FOR TODAY

November 8, 2009

Outside my window…the trees are swaying in the wind
I am thinking…that I gotta get outside when I’m done
I am thankful for…for my kids and husband, and getting the family room finished (sort of, I’m never done!)
From the learning rooms…Lexie’s new book worm, fabric map, Flat Stanley
From the kitchen…Michele’s pumpkin cookies and dip
I am wearing…jeans and a plain gray t-shirt
I am creating…centerpieces for my homeschool support group’s annual tea
I am going…to fly a kite
I am reading…ThanksLiving Treasures by Family Life

I am hoping…for a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving
I am hearing…the wind rustling and the chirping of our bird “Ben K. Nobi”
Around the house…there are many autumn decorations
One of my favorite things…cuddling with my family and watching movies
A few plans for the rest of the week: finishing our “Flat Stanley” and mailing it out, making a Thanksgiving banner

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…I love Mary Engelbreit’s whimsical graphics and quotes. I also love the satisfaction of a finished task and watching my family enjoy the it. Here is a comfy reading spot in our school/family room.

A fun and easy way to bring some cheer to family and friends is to Elf Yourself! In about 2 days you can give it a whirl. Visit http://www.elfyourself.com/ and let the holiday fun begin!