tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87595340145901599902012-01-21T17:56:10.710-05:00Leslienoreply@blogger.comBlogger1121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-4613230920787361472011-12-31T17:17:00.000-05:002012-01-21T17:25:41.593-05:00

Aravis has developed quite a gift for an eye behind the lens of a camera. I personally want to thank her for all the inspirational header photos we posted this past year on our family blog. Thank you!

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-86942083017114367902011-10-26T18:31:00.007-04:002011-10-26T20:50:58.903-04:00

This year Jill advanced from BB rifle shooting to Sporter shooting. I wanted her to write up a post about this but her high school work has been too time consuming, so I will do my best. Last year she joined a 4H shooting team. Since she was in 8th grade and had never shot a rifle before she wanted to start on the BB rifle team. Turns out she had a natural gift and she ended up doing really

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-39001342448526660952011-09-19T11:00:00.001-04:002011-10-23T19:34:10.382-04:00

Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, go back into my memory as I sleep. Every hurt that has ever been done to me, heal that hurt. Every hurt that I have ever caused another person, heal that hurt. All the relationships that have been damaged in my whole life that I am not aware of, heal those relationships. But, Lord, if there is anything that I need to do; If I need to go to a

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-24862118854911749902011-09-01T19:30:00.000-04:002011-10-26T20:14:07.008-04:00

This beautiful prayer was given to us by a dear Catholic friend. She recommended we pray it every morning when we wake up and every evening before we go to bed.... God Bless! Dear Blessed Mother, I give my soul to your care. Let me always remember to be pure in thought, word and action. Protect my mind and my will so that all my thoughts and desires will be pleasing to God. Hail Mary full of

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-64623018016739205112011-08-30T12:37:00.000-04:002011-10-26T20:14:35.566-04:00

In my previous two postings I have touched on topics regarding chastity and dating. Today I want to share a few more treasures that I have discovered and found invaluable while teaching and supporting my teenagers during these adolescent years. I plan on using these resources with both our daughters and our sons. For a parent just entering into these years and wondering where to start and how

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-70402786219903652222011-08-23T16:34:00.001-04:002011-10-26T20:19:36.763-04:00

As you may or may not know, our family is part of Joyful Noise Homeschool Band. Joyful Noise is a band for home schooled kids. They have classes for Concert Band, Orchestra, Jazz, Guitar, Chorus, Recorder, and Marching Band. There is 4 levels in each class, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and elite. Beginner is for students who can't read music very well and who have had little to no experience

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-46712622186636223182011-06-11T16:27:00.004-04:002011-06-16T16:51:43.904-04:00

Last week Aravis and Jill were leaders at our church's vacation bible school. Lucy and Reepicheep were participants. Each day after the kids got home Lucy would insist on playing her VBS CD and show the rest of us all her dances she learned. Even our leaders would join in.... :-) Here you can see Polly joining in too.... It was really cute!! They all had such a wonderful week

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-80489942469093864822011-06-02T16:01:00.000-04:002011-06-16T16:05:36.392-04:00

The three oldest have begun their summer swim team competitions....

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-63427344502024038872011-05-16T16:22:00.002-04:002011-06-26T19:48:40.786-04:00

Happy 16th Birthday Aravis... We love you very much!!

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-65127240649341126602011-05-07T15:31:00.000-04:002011-06-16T15:36:49.290-04:00

Today our sweet Lucy had her first holy communion! We are such blessed parents.

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-6324688937333253712011-04-18T18:39:00.000-04:002011-06-16T16:01:06.300-04:00

This past spring, Aravis and I participated in a Jewish Folk Dance called Zechariah Ministries. It is a ministry dedicated to bringing the Christian faith back to its Jewish roots (so that you are able to understand the Christian faith more fully), and giving presentations on the Jewish faith and beliefs. Aravis and I participated in the Zechariah Ministries Dance Team. The dancers perform during

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-29750636153916449882011-04-10T19:32:00.000-04:002011-06-16T15:52:54.255-04:00

For the past two years I have had the privileged to work part time with an amazing wellness company under the support and training of a fabulous team known as Work At Home United. Everyday I get to meet all kinds of fun and interesting people. Giving back to others by helping them to reach their goals has been so unbelievably rewarding.Whenever people mention they are looking to work for a

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-8312394013991764032011-02-14T10:38:00.007-05:002011-06-16T15:27:39.564-04:00

As you may or may not know, our family is part of Joyful Noise Homeschool Band. We started in fall of 2009, and have come quite far since then, in my opinion.My brother, King Peter, has moved out of Beginning Recorder into the Beginning Guitar class. His music reading skills are not the best but he is starting to actually enjoy his classes. He loves his teacher, Mr. Garwood, who constantly mixes

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-74370400345711562992011-01-31T11:41:00.013-05:002011-06-16T16:50:15.610-04:00

This spring, I am going to be playing on Crown Athletics Knights Women's Varsity soccer team. I really enjoy soccer and am super excited to get the opportunity to play in a high school league.Crown Athletics is a non-for-profit organization that provides high school and middle school level sports for homeschoolers in Georgia. These are competitive sports and only those who meet the requirements

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-16592788511578432442011-01-09T16:09:00.004-05:002011-01-13T18:55:23.946-05:00

Did you know that dishwasher detergents like Cascade, are made with cheap ingredients like chlorine, phosphates and other caustic substances? My point proven by the childproof caps and the warning label to call 911 IMMEDIATELY if ingested!Did you know that phosphates are terrible for our environment that is why they are banned from all laundry detergents? Did you know 1lb of phosphates creates

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-70229945448820483392011-01-02T12:43:00.000-05:002011-01-10T13:07:59.967-05:00

Key: Picture Book=PBLong Picture Book=LPBColouring Book= CBActivity Book =ABChildren’s Chapter Book= ChBShort Chapter Book=SCBTeenage Chap Bk=TCBAdult Chapter Book= ACBShort Story for Young Ch. =SYCShort Story for Middle Ch.=SMCShort Story for Older Ch.=SOCLiturgical Resources=LRMosaic Book = MBPoetry/Verse=PVSolemnity of Mary, Mother of God January 1Mary the Mother of God-Tomie DePaola, PBCame

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-36609809455074341252010-12-22T18:44:00.016-05:002010-12-23T11:16:14.398-05:00

I never gave much thought to the importance of saying deliverance prayers which are very powerful until a couple months ago after we had our home enthroned under the Two Sacred Hearts, and then even more so after reading An Exorcist Tells His Story by Gabrielle Amorth. What has inspired me to write this post is that unfortunately right now in my life, there are a couple of very dear families that

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-59840961987463943952010-12-11T16:28:00.014-05:002010-12-14T15:17:35.341-05:00

When I was younger, I used to like books and read them all the time. High school makes it harder to have time to read for fun and I don't find it as interesting as I used to. However, there are quite a few that I really enjoy and consider my favorites.Pride and Prejudice - This is one of the best books ever. My mom told me that a lot of people don't like Jane Austen but I think her books are

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-6297779098750220522010-12-11T14:50:00.002-05:002010-12-11T16:33:58.541-05:00

It seems every year there are so many important occasions to celebrate. We have birthdays, wedding anniversaries, liturgical feast days, but other major occasions seem to be left out.One major occasion in my life that I never wanted to forget was the day I was baptized. This was a day I would rank right up there with my wedding day and the births of all my children. Truly, it is one that has

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-34629391478398753922010-12-10T08:20:00.002-05:002010-12-11T15:38:40.284-05:00

"Many women are aware that prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals is a no-no during pregnancy. However, many women tend to overlook their very regular exposure to household cleaners. Because we frequently use disinfectants and bleaches in our homes, it is easy to forget that these chemicals can be toxic. And since women are often the main cleaners in their homes, we are the ones who risk the most

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-2671081227128472972010-12-09T12:21:00.005-05:002010-12-12T15:04:19.316-05:00

I collected these booklists several years ago, and can't remember where I got them. I personally would like to thank the person who gathered all these book titles and organized them by each month. This list has proven to be very fruitful in our family.Key: Picture Book=PBLong Picture Book=LPBColouring Book= CBActivity Book =ABChildren’s Chapter Book= ChBShort Chapter Book=SCBTeenage Chap Bk=

Leslienoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-32255580753661064552010-12-06T11:39:00.003-05:002010-12-07T12:17:33.290-05:00

St. Nicholas PrayerWe call uponYour mercy, O LordThrough the intercessionof St. Nicholas,keep us safe amid all dangersso that we may go forwardwithout hindranceon the road to salvation.AmenToday is our oldest daughter's saint feast day! We love St. Nicholas, so much so that several years ago I gathered a ton of resources from many different cyber-places and put together this wonderful study for

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-58150086746854949032010-12-03T11:32:00.006-05:002010-12-10T14:42:06.465-05:00

If you are looking for children's literature and craft ideas to do each day during the Advent season, this wonderful link just came across my homeschool loop yesterday. I think this is a definite keeper for our preschoolers!!!

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-78870304942606285652010-12-02T12:38:00.009-05:002010-12-07T11:27:01.738-05:00

In a previous post I touched on Dr. Popcak's book, "Beyond the Birds and the Bees", and spoke on some of his invaluable advice to parents, on guiding teenagers through those difficult adolescent years. Today I want to jump ahead to a time when there will be dating adolescents in the home. I plan to use this post as a personal reference someday too. :-)In Dr. Popcak's book, he lists "The Twelve

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-84339552159975285952010-12-01T08:40:00.007-05:002010-12-10T14:47:43.941-05:00

Here is another fabulous post by Jessica on how to create your own St. Nicholas Feast Day coins! I am thrilled with this idea because it is such an inexpensive craft. I will definitely be adding this link to my St. Nicholas Study.

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-37283957478682646072010-11-28T09:06:00.008-05:002010-11-28T09:30:56.096-05:00

Today is the first day of Advent 2010. As we begin preparing our minds and hearts for the birth of our Savior I wanted to share what our family will be focusing on during this beautiful season.The Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of HumilityFrom the Writings of Bl. Josemaria Escriva1. To think that what one says or does is better than what others say or do2. To always want to get your own way3. To

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-41894348093222308232010-11-18T08:49:00.015-05:002011-06-17T14:28:20.431-04:00

I have many favorite parenting authors like James Stenson, Dr. Ray Guarendi, and Dr. Ross Campbell. However, in the past year, it seems like I have been getting a lot of parenting wisdom from Gregory Popcak and his wonderful book, "Beyond the Birds and the Bees".With teenagers in the house, I find myself recalling those earlier days when I use to tell people: "no one could ever pay me enough

Leslienoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-21090952615182039832010-11-10T20:30:00.000-05:002010-12-02T16:46:31.297-05:00

I have always liked the look of Lazure painted walls. A couple years ago I ordered a PDF manual called "How To Lazure Paint" but the process seemed way too difficult. Then between starting a part-time job and having another baby I never quite found the time to practice the technique.Last year I discovered this wonderful post where these ladies really de-mystified the process and this video helped

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-36055397186150633872010-11-10T13:15:00.006-05:002010-11-18T22:37:54.538-05:00

One question I get asked often is 'how does your family handle chores?' So I thought today I would answer that question.Over the years we have adapted our own method for organizing and getting chores done. Way back when I had a lot of time on my hands I use to print up my own pictures and words on the computer and create stickers then put them on magnets and our chore system was placed on the

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-50723788670000122722010-10-31T08:25:00.001-04:002010-12-02T08:30:01.372-05:00

I ran across this fabulous posting by Jessica on different Pumpkin carvings. I wanted to let my readers know about this too, plus I will have it on file now for next year :-)

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-23520950082995970452010-10-20T17:13:00.008-04:002010-11-18T12:07:30.750-05:00

There is no way to take all the fabulous memories over the past 20 years and place them in just one video, but I do hope you enjoy this condensed recap as much as I enjoyed putting it together for you! I love you very much.... H.B.

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-32725508555024728112010-06-30T11:53:00.006-04:002010-11-18T19:59:57.148-05:00

This book came highly recommended from several resources, and I am sad to say I have had it on my night stand for almost two years before picking it up to read. This summer I promised to take some time in the early mornings to read something for my own enrichment. It could not be about homeschooling or work related. I immediately found myself waking up each morning with a smile and eagerness to

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-5986124022427875532010-04-04T17:54:00.003-04:002010-11-04T22:04:20.378-04:00

Today, was a fun day. We spent the day getting all our nature study supplies organized as we are getting ready to go on a camping trip, which means lots of hikes and discoveries from nature. Also with March just around the corner that means Springtime will soon be here so I really wanted to get a head start.When we first started with our nature study walks four years ago, I chose to use one back

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-16347720782624142872010-03-14T18:42:00.004-04:002010-11-18T20:00:40.590-05:00

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-73470919776206225592009-11-07T13:06:00.009-05:002010-11-28T10:31:06.549-05:00

On Thursday I was jumping on the trampoline with one of my neighbors. We were practicing flips and were trying to stick them. I landed one and then tried to do another. On my second flip, I over-rotated and landed on my nose. Nothing else hit the trampoline mat. Just my nose. It really hurt and I was pretty sure it was bleeding when I stood up. My neighbor, an 11 yr old boy, looked extremely

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-81606966428725497212009-11-01T15:28:00.010-05:002010-11-28T10:36:11.056-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I went to the Vulcan Materials Company for a field trip. Vulcan is a granite quarry. We went there for our geology study of igneous rock.When we got there, we waited around until everyone showed up. Then we went into a building where we watched a video that was about the quarry's history, how the machines in the quarry work, and about rocks. Inside the building are display

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-89660484788343629732009-11-01T12:43:00.005-05:002009-11-03T16:55:58.442-05:00

Every Friday, we go to Joyful Noise Band. Joyful Noise is a band for home schooled kids. They have classes for Concert Band, Orchestra, Jazz, Guitar, Chorus, Recorder, and Marching Band. There is 4 levels in each class, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and elite. Beginner is for students who can't read music very well and who have had little to no experience with their instrument. Intermediate

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-55615357460899718872009-10-31T10:31:00.014-04:002009-11-07T12:34:08.777-05:00

I forgot to mention in my last post that I decided to dress up Bosco for halloween! Aravis wanted to dress up Jen. We took lots of pictures so you can see some of our ideas...

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-49104493274772997732009-10-22T19:37:00.007-04:002009-10-31T17:05:54.200-04:00

A violin is a bowed string instrument and is the smallest instrument in the violin family which includes the viola and cello. It is also called a fiddle no matter what kind of music is played on it. It has 4 strings, G, D, A, and E. Music is produced by drawing the bow across these strings, with the fingers of the other hand pressing on the strings to make other notes.The first modern violin was

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-15817157721519763512009-10-09T21:35:00.002-04:002010-01-23T16:14:46.680-05:00

Border Collies are a breed of herding dogs that originally came from Scotland and Wales. They are considered the smartest dogs in the world. They are super-hyperactive and are good for herding livestock. They are affectionate towards people they know and are sometimes protective of certain family members. They need lots of mental and physical stimulation.Border Collies are medium-sized dogs that

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-70305358199594694122009-10-04T17:52:00.020-04:002009-10-26T18:29:49.659-04:00

Discover why it's healthier, more efficient and responsible to go *GREEN* with your home! The typical home uses dozens of cleaning and personal care products which contain chemical ingredients that are harmful to your health and your family. **Please visit our website to learn more about what you can do to protect yourself from these harmful household toxins.Please support our efforts in bringing

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-31768328321145913482009-10-03T19:39:00.001-04:002009-10-04T19:44:05.029-04:00

This year, I applied for a program called Pure Fashion.   Pure Fashion is an international faith based program designed to help young women find their innate value and authentic feminity. Every year, they hold a fashion show where girls, aged 14-18 show off cute clothes that are modest and trendy.          Each year they select 30 girls per city to model.  These models go through a 7 month

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-92224574758636964312009-10-02T09:07:00.002-04:002010-11-18T19:46:52.651-05:00

Prayer to Guardian AngelO Angel of God,My guardian dearTo Whom Gods loveCommits me hereEver this dayBe at my sideTo light and guardTo rule and guide.Amen.

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-41421002188022049142009-10-01T09:13:00.002-04:002010-11-18T19:47:27.596-05:00

Over the years we have learned so much from Lucy's nameday saint. St. Therese's words of wisdom and love are so simple but so deeply powerful. In light of our efforts this month to promote healthier homes and environments we can't think of a better patron saint to intercede on behalf of our small efforts...."St. Therese loved nature, and often used the imagery of nature to explain how the Divine

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-65637025464171956912009-09-30T19:11:00.001-04:002010-11-28T09:56:43.571-05:00

For my Rocks and Minerology block study I had to write a report on a gemstone of my choice and so I chose Emeralds.These stones are the green variety of the mineral beryl. The name comes from the Greek word smaragdos, which was given to most green stones. Emeralds are a green stone, with a hardness of 8, a white streak, and an imperfect cleavage. They are mostly translucent or transparent.Good

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-67820518782137833682009-09-29T17:19:00.003-04:002010-11-28T10:37:36.859-05:00

Limestone to Marble LifecycleOne day while I was studying geology I was tired of trying to learn all those boring facts, so I went on a walk to the old neighborhood quarry. It was a marble quarry. I carefully climbed down the side and in the center there was a huge boulder. I was so tired of attempting to memorize facts that I said to myself out loud while climbing the boulder, "I wish that there

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-28065486845660808812009-09-27T16:45:00.002-04:002009-09-29T17:01:23.615-04:00

Busy weekend... we celebrated Reepicheep's 4th birthday Saturday.  Boy does time fly by....

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-31404926488670104032009-09-26T12:05:00.000-04:002009-09-26T12:05:45.914-04:00

~ A HAIKU POEM~ I LOVE BOOKS BOOKS MAKE ME INTO HEROES, VILLIANS, AND ANYTHING ELSE I CAN IMAGINE BOOKS TAKE ME ANYWHERE FARAWAY PLACES I TRAVEL I LOVE BOOKS ALWAYS

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-31947713809307077002009-09-21T09:02:00.006-04:002010-11-04T21:50:38.569-04:00

Yesterday I posted about putting up the new bird feeders. While we were doing that I had Aravis take down the hummingbird feeder and put in fresh sugar water and attach our new 'bug-out' so those big black ants wouldn't be able to get into the feeder anymore. Nifty little gadget but seriously we could have probably made one ourselves out of the bottom of a 1 liter coke bottle for half the cost..

Leslienoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-35974145991211473562009-09-20T13:42:00.003-04:002009-09-21T08:06:43.223-04:00

Most weekend nights you can find Jill and I playing with the neighborhood kids a game called Manhunt.  It's pretty much hide-and-seek but with teams.  We find that four to eight people on a team works best. More or less players usually means the game will end up in an arguement.  We have found that the best ages for this game are between ten and fifteen years old.  This game is best to play at

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-35236181141243663912009-09-19T19:57:00.000-04:002009-09-19T19:57:36.863-04:00

Here is a poem I created about Gen and Bosco. Great  Energetic Neurotic over her Tennis ball Incredibly Smart Very focused Infatuated with Ice Cubes Enraged at other Dogs (except Bosco) Very Pretty  Extremely good at catching her Tennis Ball in the air Almost Never Divided Big Frisbee Chaser Obedient Still has accidents in the house Charming Optimistic

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-3565600959750790872009-09-17T08:58:00.015-04:002010-12-11T15:38:54.656-05:00

In my previous posting I talked about the season in my life when a new passion for looking to be more natural and organic was born. Today I want to talk about why we are doing the 'GREEN HAPPY DANCE'!!This past Summer I was browsing the internet when I ran across a total wellness company that specializes in creating their own line of nutritional, home & personal care products that are derived

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-64313686523989482942009-09-15T12:11:00.001-04:002009-09-15T13:20:44.294-04:00

I currently volunteer at a stable called Green Acres Equestrian Center, helping with a program called Hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is a form of therapy used with mentally and physically disabled people while riding on top of a horse. In my work the child sits on the horse riding in either a saddle or on a thick saddle pad depending on the severity of their condition. There is always a certified

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-12944369077233611882009-09-14T09:09:00.008-04:002010-12-10T14:42:59.427-05:00

A couple years ago we did this simple craft project for Our Lady of Sorrows Feast Day.In the picture above you will see all the supplies we used. Let me tell you where we got them:Square cork board, pieces felt, bag of flowers, paints and fabric glue all came from WalmartThe Cocktail swords came from my local grocery storeAn outline of the Immaculate Heart came from A Catholic How to DrawWe took

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-81473709982446184542009-09-13T08:23:00.000-04:002009-09-15T12:11:48.525-04:00

Ok here is visual that should scare anyone!

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-18537015278224587472009-09-12T16:01:00.004-04:002010-11-28T09:41:42.594-05:00

If you are one of those that enjoys teaching using block studies or main lessons, but you are finding the actual planning aspect for multiple ages a bit of a stumbling area then I think you will find Melissa's videos extremely helpful.

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-75343842651301156422009-09-09T11:14:00.001-04:002010-11-28T09:55:58.398-05:00

This past Labor Day weekend, we went to visit Me-maw, my Grandma. While we were there it so happened that the springs at Warm Springs, Ga was open to the public. It may not seem like much, but we had just finished studying hot springs, fumaroles, geysers in our Geology block. Warm Springs only opens the springs one time per year on Labor Day weekend to the public, so we signed up. Since it was

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-30548599757243506492009-09-02T08:19:00.004-04:002010-12-11T15:38:13.253-05:00

Honestly this has been a fun summer full of new discoveries here at Knotty Pines Trails, first this and now this :-)Let me back up and explain where this started so that the 'Happy Green Dance' postings will become more understandable. Back right after King Peter was born, I join the La Leche League and that is when my whole life changed for the BETTER!! I learned so much about attached parenting

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-7288962673501703682009-09-01T14:11:00.004-04:002010-11-07T19:18:09.471-05:00

Hello,While our blog has been -- um lets say -- "on vacation", my family has been busy adding new members!!The first two are Genevieve and Bosco. Gen is our six month old, smart, hard driven, constantly working Border collie. Bosco is our 5 month old, gentle, calm, smart, easy-going, chewing monster Border collie. We got Gen when she was 7 weeks old from a breeder in South Carolina. We got Bosco

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-48023113899854074192009-08-30T00:42:00.008-04:002010-10-17T22:29:12.363-04:00

During these poor economical times we were blessed to come across this company and wanted to share it with others. My prayer will be that it might be able to help someone that is either looking for a home buisness or already owns one and is looking to make it more successful. Times like these really call us all to think outside the box. For more information you can email us.

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-83021864663868318962009-08-27T17:08:00.009-04:002009-09-15T11:37:18.357-04:00

If you are a scrapbooker, sewer, hobbyest, homeschooler and or an addicted organizer then you need to check out this new incredible cabinet we discovered!! You won't be dissappointed, I promise it will knock your socks off :-) AMMENDMENT Since this original posting we joined Scrapbox's affiliate program in order to earn credit toward the purchase of the minibox. If you decide to purchase from

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-76910520845988626572009-08-22T17:53:00.010-04:002009-08-22T20:11:24.886-04:00

Today I finished and completed a class for Soccer Referee Certification for the state of Georgia. I am doing it because I will get paid for refereeing games and because I LOVE soccer. I started playing soccer when I was 7 or 8, played up to U-12, took a year break, then started up again. I am playing this year in a U-16 all-girls league. When I started the class I thought, "Well, hey, I know

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-89191844977960385932009-08-22T00:14:00.013-04:002010-11-28T10:20:12.072-05:00

In an effort for to take another step towards being healthier and going green (ecologically friendly) we started our own version of Square Foot Gardens last year. This year we still continue to enjoy reaping the benefits!!We turned this into a wonderful school project! The children were responsible for completing a sun gride for each box from Spring until Fall. They also researched 'companion

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-20297737315836721532009-08-20T08:41:00.010-04:002009-08-21T08:31:52.769-04:00

.... wow it has been a l-o-n-g time since I last posted. To be honest I have been on another tremendous learning curve and I needed to take the time off to immerse myself and regroup before I could begin focusing on blogging again.I am almost finished with my preK-8th grade curriculum planning for Knotty Pines Academy, and even though I am not ready to start back to school next week returning to

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-30202218512953737022009-08-09T18:09:00.023-04:002009-08-22T17:32:24.728-04:00

This summer after a hectic schedule in San Diego with our Great-Grandma (96 years young), Jill was treated to a day of fun at Sea World by her Aunt and Uncle. This is where God is sooooo good!!! Anyone who has gone to Sea World knows that it's every child's dream to be chosen to be part of the show with Shamu. Well this time our precious Jill was chosen out of the crowd to be part of the show!

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-84418380197934763262009-06-17T23:02:00.001-04:002010-11-04T23:11:52.620-04:00

Look what we found in our Hydrangea bush....Absolutely beautiful!Adorable (3 days later)

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-14316532931209593042009-01-15T17:12:00.004-05:002010-11-28T09:49:56.108-05:00

One of the reasons I like using Montessori with my younger children is their use of hands-on objects to get concepts across. Montessori does a great job of teaching to the five senses.This past year to appease Lucy's strong desire to 'read' we started another fun project here at Knotty Pines Academy which involved making 'ABC sound pouches'. I wish I could take credit for coming up with this neat

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-39963952064913577632008-12-20T09:39:00.000-05:002010-11-28T10:05:48.520-05:00

Good question! Homeschoolers that are familiar with or utilize the Waldorf-inspired approach to education will know well what block studies also known as main lessons are. If you prefer the immersion approach to learning / teaching versus the spiral method then you might be intrigued by block studies or main lessons. Many people mistaken block studies for unit studies, while there are

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-10565585994071384272008-10-22T01:12:00.000-04:002009-08-22T01:15:03.321-04:00

We had the opportunity to organize an amazing field trip to a honey bee farm.

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-4372634091537198832008-04-04T22:28:00.001-04:002010-11-04T22:37:29.915-04:00

Here are some rare sights to be able to see up close....And...

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-75063014485654591622008-03-19T17:21:00.004-04:002009-09-03T15:13:40.738-04:00

Have you ever watched the predictable but funny movie, 'The Replacements' directed by Howard Deutch? With the exception of a rather risque (definitely not for children's eyes) scene involving the cheerleaders it really is a cute movie. The storyline involves a group of men, who are each given a second chance to finish the NFL football season when the original team goes on strike. This is how I

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-72689761393141758292008-01-07T18:11:00.000-05:002009-08-19T11:09:44.344-04:00

On the fourth Sunday of Advent our family was asked to light the Advent wreath right before Mass. So there we were all eight of us on the altar and only by the grace of God did everyone behave themselves. Well apparently our crew made quite an impression.... The following Sunday a lady came up to us after Mass and asked if we were the family that lite the Advent Wreath because she had something

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-71944333309465999412007-12-20T17:18:00.004-05:002010-12-11T16:30:18.290-05:00

Today I want to talk about how we made our 'Christ Candle'. If you click on any of the pictures you will see an enlarged image. In order to make our Christ Candles the resources we used were a white pillar candle (we made our own out of beeswax hence the yellowish color), Jesse tree symbols, crayons, engraving tools, wood burning tool, acrylic paint and some fine point paint brushes. A helpful

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-50698932168673819122007-12-06T18:31:00.011-05:002010-12-04T17:00:13.851-05:00

LIVING BOOKSThe Miracle of Saint NicholasThe Baker's DozenSaint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas LegendSaint NicholasA Gift from Saint NicholasThe Real Santa Claus: Legends of Saint NicholasThe Legend of Saint NicholasRead Aloud Chapter BooksThe Real St. Nicholas: Tales of Generosity and Hope From Around the WorldSt. Nicholas: The Wonder WorkerLITERATURE / POETRYSelect any of the

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-47807735218890760602007-12-04T18:09:00.000-05:002009-08-19T11:09:44.335-04:00

On several of the blogs this year I have been reading great posts about simplifying our Advent and Christmas season. These postings have really caused me to stop and ponder on our own family's traditions.I am currently re-reading this fabulous book The Year & Our Children: Catholic Family Celebrations for Every Season, and in my older edition Mrs. Newland articulates so perfectly what I have been

Leslienoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-51127303537718824182007-12-03T17:14:00.002-05:002009-08-19T23:29:58.175-04:00

We are half way through our second quarter here at Knotty Pines Academy, and things have become very very busy for us. This posting has been waiting in my draft box for almost three weeks, and I have promised a couple homeschool friends that I would post about our improved lesson plans! In Catherine Levison's book 'More Charlotte Mason Education' she has a chapter on 'segment planning' where she

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-7804776350056806942007-11-06T17:09:00.003-05:002010-12-10T14:50:07.974-05:00

A commonly asked question I hear every year from homeschool friends is 'What do you do for school during the holiday season?' Typically here at Knotty Pines Trails, we take a break from our regularly scheduled school subjects and go on an Advent and Christmas season "rabbit trail" or unit study.In past years we have done variations of this integrated literature unit for Advent and Christmas with

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-11617858878555164332007-10-19T18:06:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.918-04:00

Today we weren't sure what the weather was going to do. The weather station on TV kept saying we were suppose to have 70% chance of rain today. After a beautiful sunrise as seen in our Vacation 2007 photo album it did start to rain lightly but we opted to go ahead and head out to the pier and go fishing. Dave was optimistic we would not get rained on for long and I am very happy we decided to go!

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-79345783032623897752007-10-09T17:04:00.001-04:002009-08-19T14:03:33.450-04:00

Today for our History project we made an adaptation of Locust cookies. Apparently locusts were a staple back in Ancient times. Originally we had a recipe for locust biscuits which we were planning on baking until late last night I found this recipe over at Crafty In Coffeeland. After finishing our map-work today we made a quick inventory of the pantry and refrigerator shelves and created our own

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-61843032954185104692007-09-21T08:54:00.001-04:002010-11-04T23:12:54.006-04:00

This afternoon was an "open" learning center day and the weather was so beautiful we decided to go on a nature walk. Our first surprise -- Last year my good friend had told me that the Carolina House Wren could be very adaptable and resourceful. She warned me they would build their nests any where. Keeping that in mind just before going on our nature walk the kids noticed our cable box lid was

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-38191418267052258432007-09-06T18:02:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.911-04:00

Gotta love those intense toes and adorable fat rolls!!

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-35224154571348950312007-08-18T18:03:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:44.269-04:00

Hey "Gama" are you going through Elmer withdrawals?During Grandma's visit here this summer we had such wonderful times filled with lots of laughter. There is one very fond memory that I wanted to share today...My parent's have started a tradition that whenever they come out to visit they will bring a new book for the kids to enjoy. Well during this last visit my mom brought a book called Elmer's

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-19519715659144935412007-06-14T21:12:00.001-04:002009-08-19T23:25:14.656-04:00

In my second posting sometime ago I mentioned several resources I discovered regarding Charlotte Mason's methods and philosophies. Today I want to mention other resources that we have been integrated into our homeschool over the years.In addition to reading For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Macaulay and Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-910283953142368462007-05-28T17:58:00.004-04:002010-11-28T11:19:02.704-05:00

If you will notice we are now in 'Ordinary Days' in our liturgical calendar and the vestment colors have gone from white to green. This unspoken use of visual colors that our Church's liturgical calendar wisely uses has opened up many unspoken secrets within our own family. Today I want to briefly touch on this silent secret of using colors!! I have read in many cases where people use 'colors'

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-43944840758727625142007-05-24T16:47:00.002-04:002010-11-28T09:53:23.510-05:00

Today, I want to talk about our new approach to Language Arts at table time. The method I am about to describe will not be new to many home-schoolers, but for us, having finally implemented this approach, it has brought such a breath of fresh air to our studies. I am discovering that if I intersperse this new approach with an occasional week or two of curriculum workbooks, the children are

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-46812887266012871222007-05-23T19:56:00.011-04:002009-09-15T20:08:15.308-04:00

I have always been fascinated with living a healthier lifestyle and actually welcome the challenge with our growing family.  For many years now I have been very interested in the benefits of graining my own flour, but two factors kept me at a distance cost and time.  Then last year for Mother's Day, my wonderful husband finally gave me the go ahead to purchase one of my dream kitchen upgrades,

Leslienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-15155024236255473042007-05-12T18:26:00.003-04:002010-11-28T09:47:05.692-05:00

Biographies:Primary (1-3grd)Mr. Blue Jeans: A Story about Levi Strauss by Maryann WeidtPicture Book of Sitting Bull by David AdlerShooting Star: Annie Oakley the Legend by Debbie DadleyLittle Sure Shot: the Story of Annie Oakley by Stephanie SpinnerBuffalo Bill by Ingri and Edgar d'AulaireElementary (4-6grd)Annie Oakley: Wild West Sharpshooter by Elaine LandauAnnie Oakley (Childhood of American

Leslienoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-89093320719357751652007-05-02T18:29:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.902-04:00

LIFE SKILLSAravis: Home Economics: Breakfast Chores (clean table, sweep floor), Dinner Chores (set and clear table) / Pet care: Assisted with feeding, litter change and administration of medication for healing cat / Child Care: Baby sitting younger siblings while mom went to vet. Jill: Home Economics: Breakfast Chores (wash dishes, baby high chair tray, clean counter tops), Lunch Prep, Dinner

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-21563242655122337592007-04-27T16:37:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.888-04:00

Oh my goodness I've been tagged for The Thinking Blogger Award by my dear friend Marjorie. Thank you so much for the compliments as a biased mom I am going to have to agree that my children are really great and make me grateful everyday!! In analyzing what motivates me to think and reassess and continually return to tried and true methods of homeschooling -- the CM way, I have to say it is my

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-77801497379463234742007-04-21T18:25:00.004-04:002010-11-28T09:47:49.220-05:00

RESEARCHEnchanted Learning WebsiteUnited Streaming (movies)One square book on 'Backyard'Creepy Crawlies Book for experimentsPilgrims of the Holy Family - EntomologyLibrary 'subject' researchGoogle 'insect' lesson plans for ideasREADINGLook for biographies on entomologistsFictional books on InsectsLiberty nature readersFabres InsectsJack's insectsPicture books from libraryRECORDINGWebgraphs (

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-13967630227990235792007-04-15T17:54:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.872-04:00

Today is the Feast of Mercy. Since my conversion to the Catholic Church twelve years ago I have always felt a strong connection to this particular devotion. The story of Saint Faustina and her revelations with Jesus have always fascinated me. I highly recommend her biographical book listed under my favorites basket. In a nutshell here is the history of today's feast day. In a vision to Saint

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-32563752574046732132007-04-04T16:45:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.860-04:00

Whew we made it through day three and I can say we are all exhausted tonight! Fortunately, a couple of our general checklist items will have to be differed until later so we were able to get finished before the carpet cleaners came today. We took advantage of the downtime to make up for some good reading aloud that we missed earlier this week ;-) Here is our checklist for today.MAIN LEVEL

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-81189622849390377292007-04-03T16:42:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.839-04:00

Today we focused our annual deep cleaning efforts on the Kitchen and a little on the Living / Dining room. Again we began around 9am, and didn't get done until just before 5pm. Everyone's sacrifices and efforts are definitely being felt and seen!! Please keep in mind this is just our list.KITCHEN Checklist[ ] Clean and organize pantry. Alphabetize spice racks[ ] Collect all unused

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-85222820809308236802007-04-02T16:40:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.830-04:00

This week is Spring break for our county school system but here at the Academy it is Holy week. You can see a listing of our plans for the week here. "Hebrew women spent the first part of the week before Passover thoroughly cleaning their homes in preparation for that feast. The tradition continues in the homes of Christians as we make ready our homes for the feast of feasts, the celebration of

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-85456393547136577132007-04-01T17:51:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.820-04:00

Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy week here at Knotty Pines Cottage. Although we started a new schedule at the Academy we will be taking a slight detour this week to prepare for the single most important occasion in Christian history - the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior!!! Two or three years ago during my search for ideas on what traditions I could begin during the

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-51940946834646189892007-03-28T16:38:00.002-04:002010-11-18T20:08:57.892-05:00

Since blogging about our learning centers this has been one of my most asked questions. I will try to shed some light on how we go about planning for each of our learning center topics of study. I am paraphrasing poorly here but to make a strong point, Charlotte Mason spoke a lot about how children learn best when they develop a relationship with their subject matter. When this is allowed to

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-8481684458282177662007-03-27T15:58:00.002-04:002010-10-17T22:38:48.518-04:00

In my last posting I talked about some of the changes we were implementing to create a more learning environment here at Knotty Pines Academy. Well, we have finally finished our transformation, and the basement, formally known as the dungeon, has now been converted into a new and improved learning room.Last week we began a modified version of the new schedule, and it was wonderful to see such a

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-141215347259351612007-03-18T17:48:00.000-04:002009-08-19T11:09:43.811-04:00

Today begins the fourth week of Lent. For the past two years I have been looking without much luck for some pink table linens for these special weeks that occur during the Lenten and Advent seasons. Well yesterday much to my surprise while out shopping for some curtains to enhance our new and improved learning room there was a sales table sitting out in the front of the store at Linen 'n Things

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-59817367025456987232007-03-15T16:33:00.001-04:002009-08-30T16:16:40.715-04:00

For the past two weeks we have been making a lot of changes in how to set up Knotty Pines Academy so that it can be a more of a learning environment. As our family has grown and hence the number of children we are homeschooling we are finding that our old habits and ways that worked well for a few children were not working real well for the larger crowd. Our primary goal for homeschooling which

Leslienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8759534014590159990.post-6522891938881847942007-02-26T18:20:00.002-05:002010-11-28T09:48:30.919-05:00

Biographies:I Varina, A Biography of the girl Who Married Jefferson Davis and Became the First Lady of the South by Ruth Painter RandallAbraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar d'AulaireUlysses S. Grant, Encyclopedia of Presidents by Zachary KentAmerica's Robert E. Lee by Henry SteeleInvincible Louisa by Cornelia MeigsNon-Fiction:Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War

Leslienoreply@blogger.com2