Are You Bored?

Someone sent me an email with the title Are You Bored?

And, it reminded me of when my kids were young...and they said that they were "bored". :)

Well, they found out quickly that you weren't allowed to say that in our home.

We should never be bored!

My remedy?

I made up a list of Productive Activities and posted it on the frig.

If all of their school work and chores were done, they could choose something off of

this list to do.

If they didn't do this--and slipped and said that they were bored--they got a really crummy job to do instead. I had a list for those also for me to choose from. :)

Like...cleaning the grout with a toothbrush :)

Some ideas from the list:

• Write/make a card for a grandparent
• Read a book
• Gardening
• Memory Verse
• Play with Legos or Lincoln Logs
• Walk the Dog
• Play the Piano

I had quite a few items on the list, so that there should be plenty to choose from even over a period of time.

It solved our problem, and helped them to develop a good habit of using their time wisely.

I try to apply this to myself too. I try to have plenty of things "waiting in the wings" for me to do, so that I never feel bored.

Hope this inspires you today to find some new, creative things to use your time.

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More about our A MAZING September!

My play on words in the title is...we went on a spur of the moment field trip

 to Cherry Crest Corn Maze last week with some friends!

First thing we saw was this adorable topiary pony of flowers!

He was "pulling" this covered wagon

Here are our friends posing with the pony :)

Here they are getting ready to do some serious mazing lol

This is what we were up against...see the picture in the maze?

The upper right corner is the guy with binoculars...stars above his head...on the left-a wolf howls

bottom left the campfire

We did make some fun stops inside the maze

Bri exits "the cave" (does she look like a growling bear?)

Brad...your legs have shrunk!

The Conquerors

On to the finish...

Here they are finding a clue

This was our view from the bridge...a sea of maize!

And then finally...we made it!

We triumphed here on Victory Bridge having completed the maze and all the clues!

We stopped to eat our lunch...when this train chugged by

Snapped this shot w/the tractor...

And then, on to the petting zoo!

Holding baby chicks is so fun

Which end of this thing do you milk anyway? lol

We were amazed at this smart llama!

Here he eyes the petting zoo food dispenser...

Next thing you know...he's turning the knob!

THEN, he lifts the dispenser to check for any "leftovers" lol

Our Critters

I'm not sure we claim this 'un

Cute gift shop!

What a fun day spent with friends!

Swan Song

This fall I'll be entering my last year of homeschooling!

In the next few weeks I'll fill out my final plan book

It will be a bittersweet time for me--and I'll be "out of a job"! :)
(I think that this is my 15th year)

I spent some time with a sweet friend of mine who has already graduated her children, and we were talking about this...

I decided during our conversation that I will spend this year "wool gathering" by writing

down some things I would love to work on, learn about etc...if I had the time

Then, next year I'll have my ideas all ready!

Then maybe instead of being sad, I'll have anticipation for this next, new phase!?

But for now, I'll just try and enjoy this final year.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Eccl. 3:1

I LOVE FREEBIES!

I just love, love, love freebies! And so, going to the Teacher Appreciation Days at Staples and Office Depot are one way to get me revved up about starting a new school year...because I always come away with cool freebies!

The picture above is the load I brought home this year!

Everything from pencils, to markers...tablest...bulldog clips (that were so cute!)...pushpins and lots more!

So much fun! AND, they gave us Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches for breakfast, along with yummy pastries and muffins too! Gotta love that!

AND, if God didn't bless me enough with all of that, He also allowed my ticket to be pulled in the drawing (each teacher gets one when you pick up your freebie)--I won this very, cool electric stapler! woo hoo! Probably valued at about $35-40!

Dig this cool blue power indicator light? Wow!

Anyway, I'm just sharing the praise that I was blessed by God through these two companies--thanks for the goodies!

Back to School

You will probably see my posts slack off as we have begun our new school schedule! I have spent the last couple of weeks finishing up the canning, and also doing the school planning.

I am so thankful that we have the freedom to homeschool!

We're looking forward to a wonderful homeschool year--hope you have a great school year too!

Finishing Up Last Year...or, only for the Hale and Hearty!

Does that make any sense? Of course not! :) Actually, what I meant about finishing up last year--is last school year!

What I meant about Hale and Hearty...is that this is not for the squeamish! LOL

Brad needed to complete his dissections to complete his Biology, and he did them last week...

We only got pictures of the worm, but there was also a crayfish and a perch.

He looks like he's doing brain surgery or something with the mask etc...LOL

For you Mom's who have not attempted this yet... a little advice:

Get the dissection instruction booklet!

The specimens never look exactly like the book says--the booklet helps!

If you get into the more difficult dissections--find an online dissection that you can watch as you do it
Our kids have done: worm, perch, crayfish, cow's eye, sheep's heart, fetal pig and who knows what else! :)
I will admit though, my hubby helped Bri through her Biology, Bri did Advanced Biology with a friend, and Bri helped Bradley with his!

What is my job in all of this you ask?
I am the specimen purchaser, and have the VERY important job of cookie baker.
What does baking cookies have to do with dissections you may ask?

(Baking cookies during dissection masks the icky smells of course!)