Making Math Fun: Skittles

Come see how much fun we had using Skittles for math!!

Come see what we've been up to!



I've been having loads of fun over at Quirky Momma writing about some of the fun things we are up to!!

Moving On...

I've changed formats & started a new blog for homeschool. Come visit me there!

Eating Our Elephant...

Shutterfly Christms Cards: Easy, Unique, & My Favorite!

For the past 10 years, we have had a variety of Christmas card ideas...some years we wrote a Christmas letter, once we made a DVD with pictures & music for everyone, but lately I've found my favorite idea: sending out Christmas photo cards. I've tried a few companies and so far, Shutterfly has been my favorite.

I do most of my Christmas shopping online, so why shouldn't my Christmas cards be any different? I like being able to shop in my pjs, and I love being able to try various pictures to see which combination works best in our cards.

Most of my Mommy friends will agree...it's is so hard to get a group shot of all the kids together where everyone is facing forward and smiling...all at the same time! Now that Austen is in college, we only see him a few times a year so my group shot photo opportunities are few & far between. With Shutterfly cards, I can choose styles with multiple pictures so I can get good ones of each kiddo and not put all my eggs in one basket for a good group shot.

This year, I'm loving the brown cards:

In the above photo, they used the 1 Photo style, but you can choose to arrange the design any way you want & include more photos, different wording...totally customize it to your likes!

In addition to Christmas photo cards, Shutterfly has been my go-to source for our annual Christmas calendar. One year, when Reese was a baby, I found photo calendars online & made one for each of the Grandparents, Uncle Jeff, & all the Great-Grandparents. Little did I know I was starting a tradition! This is one of the favorite gifts every year...and my Mom never fails to drop the hint that "I hope one of these is my calendar!" when she comes to visit each Christmas.

I have searched the internet high & low, thinking I might find something "better", but every year I come back to Shutterfly...there simply is no better calendar creating tool! First, I love their background options. I customize the backgrounds for each person, knowing that Great-Grandma hangs her calendar in the kitchen and a bright pink background for February won't coordinate with her decorations....so I choose something pretty & subtle to match her kitchen. For our house, I pick wild backgrounds because I like seeing vibrant colors! For Grandpa, I know a beautiful, simple calendar is more his style.

You know another feature I LOVE? You can print, right on the calendar, every family member's BIRTHDAY (or any other event you want)! No more excuses for forgotten anniversaries, birthdays, etc. It's on the calendar!

Some months, I want to put lots of pictures. Other months, I want one, large perfect shot of something. Shutterfly has numerous templates for organizing the photos on each month's page so you can pick & choose how you want your final product to look. This year, I actually tried to design a calendar on another site, but I was limited to a max of 3 pictures per page, and only 3 layouts. BORING! Shutterfly gives me so many options...I've been spoiled. I didn't order calendars from the other company...I'm coming back to Shutterfly (again!).

The prices are very, very competitive and the quality of the finished product has always been top-notch. Head over to Shutterfly & see what you can find!

**Shutterfly has given me 50 photo cards as compensation for writing this review. However, we HAVE used Shutterfly for many years, and I would happily write a glowing review even if I wasn't compensated!!**

Rock Me Gently...Or Not

Homeschool Means...

Homeschool means spending a day telling stories to a baby camel as it rests in your lap...

and sharing a special bond with one of God's wobbly-legged wonders .

Pictures

What to do when your boy wants to wear a tuxedo to dinner but spending the money on a full-out tux doesn't make much sense?

Go with the Tuexedo T-Shirt!

Thanks, Hubby, for the great idea!!

Happy Boy

The Mama and The Daddy....

Practicing the art of relaxation...

Hanging out together on a windy, drizzly night in the middle of the ocean...

being awfully silly together!

Another one bites the dust...

And another tooth has fallen out of my baby's head.

Both front teeth are missing and I can't tell you how much I LOVE the way he talks right now.

I swear I am living with Cindy Brady :)

The Tooth Fairy made a double-visit this time.

Apparently, somebody scared her when she was taking the tooth away the first time & slid the envelope under Mommy's pillow.

Then Mommy forgot about that until Reese found it 2 nights later and woke me up in the middle of the night to show me.

Imagine his surprise when I told him of a tale I have heard, but never seen.

When someone scares the Tooth Fairy and she has to leave quickly,

sometimes she leaves the tooth behind!

So he put the envelope under his pillow for the 2nd time,

and she came AGAIN to get the tooth,

and this time left a quarter (she usually leaves a crisp $1 bill).

So...he got a Double Dip this time...

The Tooth Fairy needs to remember to take the tooth next time!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Reese, 7 months

TWELVE inches baby!

Yesterday, February 11th 2010, the DFW area had an all-time record setting amount of snowfall for a 24-hour period.

Twelve inches

That is amazing!

How about the random picture from a trip to Fossil Rim? I didn't have any other new snow pictures so I liked this guy :)

Poser

I ask for a smile, but this day, he was all about the

pose!

"Here Mom. Take my picture like this!"

:)

Snow Day Again...Dang Global Warming...

We've had a BIG snow day today! After school & lunch with our CoOp buddies, Reese and I came home to play in the snow. There was tons of it all around this time!

Throwing a snowball at Mommy's head...

A Texas child's snow gear:

Mom's purple ski gloves

Pants that aren't waterproof (layered with fleece pants underneath)

Wellies on the feet that are waterproof but not snow-proof (by the end of our playing his socks were soaked!)

We rolled a giant snowball!

Too many wrinkles, but oh well...

Happy to be playing in the snow with my boy!

Shaking the tree to make the snow fall on Mommy...

Love....

Just look at all that deep snow!

According to the news station here, we've had 9.5" since December 1st...and 6 inches of that was just today! LOVE IT!