A New Year Ahead...

Well it is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. When I was little, it seemed as though the days would take forever to end, now it seems they are over in an instant. I wonder if it just the fast pace that we live in these days, or if the days just speed up as you age.

One thing I can say for sure, the days of making it until midnight are long gone! I wish you all blessing in the new year! Next post will be in 2007!

Super Day After Christmas Sale!!!!!

We hope you had a very blessed and merry Christmas! Tomorrow kicks off our Super Day After Christmas Sale! Just click the sale coupon to go directly to our sale page! Up to 25% off selected products!

Sale ends January 2nd, so don't wait!

A Super Fabulous Christmas Book for Children!

This week I am featuring one of my favorite Christmas books.

From Heaven Above: A Christmas Carol by Martin Luther

A favorite hymn by Martin Luther, From Heaven Above to Earth I Come, forms the foundation for this classic illustrated picture book. Reading the hymn while viewing the beautiful illustrations is a wonderful way to gain deeper meaning of this glorius hymn. Hardcover, 20 pgs., Ages 4-8.

From heaven above to earth I come
to bear good news to every home;
glad tidings of great joy I bring,
whereof I now will say and sing.

To you this night is born a child
of Mary, chosen mother mild;
this little Child, of lowly birth,
shall be the joy of all the earth.

Were earth a thousand times as fair,
beset with gold and jewels rare,
she yet were far too poor to be
a narrow cradle, Lord, to thee.

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
make thee a bed, soft undefiled,
within my heart, that it may be
a quiet chamber kept for thee.

'Glory to God in highest heaven
who unto man his Son hath given,'
while angels sing with pious mirth
a glad new year to all the earth.

Welcome to earth, thou noble Guest,
through whom e'en wicked men are blessed!
Thou com'st to share our misery;
what can we render, Lord, to thee?

Oh Christmas Tree!

We picked out our tree on Sunday, just like I said we would. And we argued over square footage, just like I said we would. And I was warm, just like I said I would be, however, I did not predict that we would get lost on the way. Yes, I did say lost.

“How do you get lost on the way to a place you have gone for the last twelve or so years?” you might ask. And I would answer, “I forgot to get gas because I was singing Christmas carols and acting silly. So after noticing the needle was approaching empty, I pulled off the highway at an unfamiliar exit that only had an *exit* and no *entrance*. I then proceeded to drive the back road that parallels the highway looking for the entrance ramp, with the big misconception that there had to be and entrance ramp. Silly me, what was I thinking?

After driving 25 miles more, we made it. And miraculously before dark! I guess all’s well that ends well.

Yes it is tiny, but notheless exciting!

Tree Envy

For many years, our family has made a trek to a little town 20 miles away to pick out our Christmas tree. After arriving and walking up a very steep hill, for what seems like miles, we finally find just the right one, haul it down the hill, (thank heavens they have tree carts) and have them wrap it in plastic netting, while we visit their little store, quaintly called The Sugar Plum Gift Shop.

We never buy a large tree just a petite little tree, which usually stands no taller than 6 feet or so, from base to tip. This year however I have a bit of a dilemma.

My children have been pestering me all week to make the trip to pick out the tree. However, since the arrival of our little one, our common area is completely taken over with baby items. Not things that you can just pack away for a couple of weeks. Items that we use daily, such as the playpen and swing, you know, those life saving items that keep you from complete insanity.

So in hopes of saving what little bit of sanity I have left, I have informed the children, our Christmas tree this year may be something of a Charlie Brown Tree. Hopefully not as sparse but certainly tiny. They were a bit disappointed and gave me all kinds of suggestions as to where we could put our fragrant evergreen. I heard so many ideas, I was half expecting they might even suggest the bathroom.

So I have decided to bite the bullet and get it over with today. An expected balmy 50 degrees in the northeast. As long as I have to stand in a field of trees debating over available square footage, as least I'll be warm!

Our feature book this week is How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman.

This is one of my absolute favorite children's books! How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World takes you takes you on a journey to gather ingredients to make an apple pie. You will go to Italy for semolina wheat, France for eggs, Sri Lanka for cinnamon, England for milk and so on. A recipe for apple pie is provided at the end of the book. A geography and baking lesson all in one! The colorful illustrations will captivate any child. I guarantee How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World will be a favorite for you also! Our price $ 6.64

My Miniature Foodie

Isabelle has decided she will be cooking dinner tonight. Thank heavens. I needed a rest!

Teaching children to cook as soon as possible has multiple benefits. Cooking can give them purpose and confidence in their ability to help out. It can be educational. A math, reading, or science lesson just waiting to be learned. Cooking teaches team work and responsibility. It teaches them valuable life skills, preparing them to cook for themselves someday. Cooking can give you priceless time together as a family. And most importantly, when kids are old enough to cook by themselves, it will give mom the extra set of hands we all know she desperatly needs!

Here is a super child friendly recipe for older children. My daughter made these last year for our home school group Christmas party and they were a big hit.

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

• 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-pound box confectioners’ sugar
• 4 cups chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  
  1. Place peanut butter and butter into large bowl. With hand-held electric mixer, beat until completely smooth. Add vanilla and beat, scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula, as necessary.
  
  2. Slowly add confectioners’ sugar and beat until combined. (The mixture should be thick.)
  
  3. Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Roll peanut butter mixture into 1" balls. When they are all rolled, cover sheet pan with plastic wrap and place into refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  
  4. Have a grown up help you place chocolate-peanut butter chips and unsalted butter into bowl and melt by placing chocolate chips in a microwave-safe container and microwave at MEDIUM (50% power) for 1 1/2 to 4 minutes, until the chocolate turns shiny. Remove the container from the microwave and stir the chocolate until completely melted OR place chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over hot, not simmering, water. Melt the chocolate, stirring until smooth
  
  5. Use a fork to lower balls into melted chocolate and roll around. Coat entire ball. Place on wax paper covered baking sheet. Have an adult help you reheat chocolate, if necessary. Place in refrigerator to harden. Store in cool location in airtight container.

Here is a super children's cookbook by Five in a Row to get you started! The Five in a Row Cookbook by Becky Jane Lambert

You'll find more than 180 recipes to share with your children, recipes relating to each of the 55 units found in Five in a Row and Beyond Five in a Row.

The Five in a Row Cookbook is far more than just recipes, however. This book is an interactive learning experience with areas for your children to record their own thoughts through drawings, photographs, writing and art. Your children will also be able to name each of the recipes themselves - uniquely titled for your family and the story unit you've studied together. Your Five in a Row Cookbook will become a unique, personalized family treasure filled with memories.

You'll also find sections on cooking, table manners, kitchen safety and much more. These aren't children's recipes like "Ants on a Log" (raisins on peanut butter-covered celery). These are interesting, delicious recipes to prepare with your children - recipes you'll enjoy as a family and want to share with friends.

The kitchen is where so much learning takes place within a family. From planning through preparation to cooking and cleaning up afterwards, family meals offer a delightful opportunity to share, to teach and to enjoy the wonderful benefits of the homeschool lifestyle. Reinforce the wonderful Five in a Row and Beyond Five in a Row lessons each week as you gather your children around you and enjoy these extraordinary cooking experiences. Our Price $20.65

A Homeschool Recommendation for Dr. Phil

I was not going to say a word. Not a peep. But, I can't bite my tongue any longer. After watching the Dr Phil episode that aired about two weeks ago, the second of such shows on this topic, I have decided two put in my two cents worth.

As I watched the show, I was not at all surprised to see that Dr. Phil had picked such radical guests to represent the home school community at large, after all, what better way to get your personal bias across to millions of viewers.

I would think that Dr. Phil would realize after seeing some of his own guests, that school these days seems to have much more to do with keeping order amongst unruly children than education. Ironically, airing this very week, a show titled Teacher Troubles. An episode about students that have harassed teachers on the internet. Since I have not seen this show, I will not comment further. My point is this kind of socialization is not what my child needs. I have heard Dr. Phil say, and I'm paraphrasing, that exposing children to adult issues is detrimental to a child. Children are not mature enough intellectually to handle adult situations. Well Dr. Phil, what do you think the children that my child would be socializing with have been exposed to?

Socialization is defined as a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.

A large percentage of children in public school have tried street drugs and or alcohol. Many are engaging in sexual activity, which we all know can be a life threatening choice these days, at any age. Oh and lets not forget bullying, violence, lack of accountability and a setting void of any moral standards. All in the name of socialization? I don't think so. Not for my child.

When children are in a public school setting, you are surrounding them with other children whose home life may not be as pristine as yours. Children who may have real problems from dealing with serious family or other issues that no child at any age should be exposed. These children live what they learn and then come to school and teach it to others. For me, who had one child enrolled in public school through high school, this is a very real and dangerous situation. Three years ago, twenty-eight new security cameras were installed at my local high school. The arrest rate for students was as high for the year as the number of students that had graduated. That is the scary reality, like or not.

So once again, why would I want to send my child to a place where my child’s values are under attack and or minimized? Good question. Therefore on that note, I recommend Dr. Phil do a little reading. He might just learn something about an issue he is unfamiliar with.
But What about Socialization? Answering the Perpetual Home Schooling Question by Dr. Susan A. McDowell This encouraging book uses hard research, facts, and home schoolers’ experience to answer questions and counteract myths about home schooling and socialization. Dr. Susan McDowell presents a comprehensive look at this key issue in home education, and addresses many topics, including:
•Just What Is Socialization? Looking at the Multiple Meanings Behind the Question.
•Voices From the Front: What Home Schooling Parents, Authors, Leaders, and Home Schooled Children Have to Say About the Socialization Issue.
•What Does the Research Have to Say?

A Detailed Look at More Than 20 Research Studies.

I highly recommend this book, especially to those of you have been battered by questions from relatives or neighbors doubting your decision to home school your children. This book will strengthen your resolve and give you help to answer these questions with confidence.

Tornado Where?

I guess I can be a bit hysterical when it comes to things that scare me. Like tornadoes for instance. We live here in the northeast where we don’t hear the word tornado very often. The last time when I was about 11 or so, much to my relief. So, to those seasoned tornado folks, hats off to you. My ticker couldn’t take it. There is just something extremely unnerving about hearing a loud, repetitive buzzing noise come over the TV and an unpleasant, computer generated, mechanical voice telling me to take cover.

So of course all of this happened right after my daughter called from dance class and said they would have to stay an extra 15 minutes. To a novice, such as myself, it did not matter that the storms were still several miles from us, or in the next county. All I knew was that it was headed my way at 50mph and that was much too fast for me

I looked at my father who was chatting on the phone and said “Did you hear that? Tornado!” With the phone to his ear, chatting to a friend about the latest price of bananas at the local Price Chopper, he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. I looked at him with the “Didn’t you just hear me?” look on my face. He replied, “I heard you.” I was mystified. Apparently, the bananas were a much more interesting topic.

So I rushed out the door, stopping only to tell him that if any twisters came our way, to make sure he brought the baby downstairs to a safe place. “Huh?” he replied. Great. The bananas again.

After retrieving my daughter and making a mad dash for home, I sat watching the news with the flashlight in one hand and the number to the power company in the other. Fortunately, the storm passed on by without as much as an outage. Thank God.

All I can say is it is a good thing I live where I do. I’m sure my heart would kill me before any tornado had a chance.

Anyhow, on to other things. Our feature book for the week is Amber on the Mountain by Tony Johnston. This wonderful story about two young girls who form a friendship will warm your heart.

Amber lives a very lonely life with her family in the mountains. One day she meets Anna, who has come to the mountain with her family, while her father helps to build a road. The two girls become fast friends and Anna is determined to teach Amber how to read and write. Amber learns to read but does not learn to write before Anna must leave. A story of friendship and determination, Amber on the Mountain is a great choice for young readers. Robert Duncan’s luminous oil paintings capture this beautiful mountain setting. Softcover, Ages 4-8.

Age 13, And the Key to Immunity......

Can you say sick? Not just the sick and tired kind, but the sore throat, runny nose, want to stay in bed and watch I Love Lucy re-runs kind of sick. Funny thing is, I knew it was it was about to hit. The baby was sneezing and shortly thereafter came the runny nose and whining. I know, it's not rocket science.

So true to my mothering, don't come near me if your feeling ill self, I start popping extra vitamin C and E, washing my hands like the Plague has just infected my entire town and carrying around the Purell bottle in it's own holster. My soon to be 13 year-old did not find any common sense in my precautionary measures and took the usual chances that all invincible children of her age find so much joy in taking. Meanwhile, my illness came and went very quickly even though I knew the germs were far from gone.

I can still hear my own voice echoing in my own head, "Do you know how many germs are on that doorknob?", "Don't put your hands near your eyes!", "Did you wash your hands before you put them in that bag?", "Don't get in the babies face, you'll get sick." Just to hear her response, "I'll be fine mom." Oh and don't think I have forgotten my glimpse of the eye roll.

Within a day or two, our conversation went something like this:

"My throat hurts."
"I knew it, your sick."
"No I'm not, I just slept with my mouth open."
"Yeah Right."

Second day....

"My throat hurts again"
"That's because you are getting a cold."
"No I just slept with my mouth open again. It will go away when I get something to drink."
"Uh hum."

Third day....

Well, I'm sure you know what happened on the third day. Amazing that you can live such a short time and know so much! Gotta love em'.

Mental note, next purchase, shopping cart cover for germ control!

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