tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23468460048559720192024-03-13T02:16:04.911-05:00Mama Know BestMama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-91311967329673064332011-04-01T08:42:00.000-05:002011-04-01T08:42:43.769-05:00The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 7<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/p/about-homeschool-mothers-journal.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz84/SueQGal/HSMJgraphic.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>In my life this week...</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I've decided to go back to school for my Master's degree in Education and I finally got the ball rolling with sending off for my transcripts and applying to Texas State University. I'm excited and anxious to be back in an academic setting, it's where I felt the happiest.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>In our homeschool this week...</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Sunshyne continues to do very well with her math and reading. She has almost completed the entire 4th grade reader (It's the Scott Foresman "Seeing Is Believing" textbook). I love all of the activities that she gets to do with this textbook and will be sad to see it go. Also, we were going to begin biology for the month of April and Sunshyne had already did a couple of projects on the human brain, however she's had a change of heart and I've decided to respect that. She now wants to research spring flowers. So I've decided to find a botany unit study or possibly do a lapbook. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated:)</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>Places we're going and people we're seeing...</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We decided to go for a simple walk through the neighborhood yesterday so that Sunshyne could photograph some flowers and plants. We ended up at McDonalds for a snack and so that RJ could play a little on the playscape. We met some new friends and after we'd returned home I took a moment to think about the encounters that we had and how they impact education. Learning how to be a good neighbor and interact with people in the community. I thought about how Sunshyne had asked Mrs. Carolyn if she could take a snapshot of her lovely flowers. Mrs. Carolyn escorted Sunshyne over to the front of her yard so that she could get a good shot and taught her name of the flower and how it grows. Afterwards, Sunshyne thanked Mrs. Carolyn and they finally exchanged names. Can you believe that, a complete lesson with activity with a neighbor without even knowing her name. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>My favorite thing this week was...</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Papa Bear took RJ and Sunshyne to the park this week, just the three of them. He told me in the most profound and heartfelt way when he returned, how much he enjoyed spending time with the children. He talked about how the memory would stay with him always and how good he felt that he had the opportunity to do so. Then he thanked God for them and me for having them for him. Needless to say I was deeply touched. It was my absolute favorite thing this week.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>What's working/not working for us...</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Homeschool gym is the best! It's held a local community center and free to homeschoolers. It's a great way for kids to let off some steam, make new friends, and learn how to be team players. I think it's great and did I mention it's free! Totally works for us.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">My thoughts this week are still circling around homeschool graduations and planning my sons. I'm also getting more and more anxious thinking about him moving to Houston to attend school in June. It's exciting but there's this part of me that is afraid to let go. My mother always says that God is not the author of fear so I try to be brave but something in me just keeps questioning...if that makes sense.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>A photo, video, link, or quote to share...</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC541noxCyQPv0E2N8YWnwHx31w39j17aHm5Qn7BLkLyjQISpd5k0XkJXavBx1wkjt3OwDgChoE3g-L7riTeBn5D2i-xsWbHVzKmQkOZ4o9G2WNNCwDp27eckimMpJDLcv0uPNe_m_FZS/s1600/cheesecake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkC541noxCyQPv0E2N8YWnwHx31w39j17aHm5Qn7BLkLyjQISpd5k0XkJXavBx1wkjt3OwDgChoE3g-L7riTeBn5D2i-xsWbHVzKmQkOZ4o9G2WNNCwDp27eckimMpJDLcv0uPNe_m_FZS/s320/cheesecake+2.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div align="center">This is the cheesecake that Sunshyne and I baked Wednesday. It was fabulous! It's<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/aunt-peggys-cheesecake-with-praline-topping-recipe/index.html"> Paula Deen's Aunt Peggy's Cheesecake with Praline Topping recipe.</a> We changed the graham cracker crust to use some of the leftover Dulce De Leche Girl Scout cookies that we had. Sunshyne took these pictures all by herself.</div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YL3xMfwSt0QRudyhyphenhyphensGRAvDQ1GJ3zYacWevRGhA8UnOoCrpDUaajgz46eusltOsT2gAv0Do445LY8w8tdqcBqz46uoz3dJQlu7NyzVZiitqfpPjv4ClbJylgy510ru8Ecy0RAT_sUr5w/s1600/cheesecake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YL3xMfwSt0QRudyhyphenhyphensGRAvDQ1GJ3zYacWevRGhA8UnOoCrpDUaajgz46eusltOsT2gAv0Do445LY8w8tdqcBqz46uoz3dJQlu7NyzVZiitqfpPjv4ClbJylgy510ru8Ecy0RAT_sUr5w/s320/cheesecake+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">We learned a lot together and had a great time making these delicious dessert!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Well that's it for me. How did your week go? Let us know and link up over at <a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/">The Homeschool Chick's The Homeschool Mother's Journal.</a> See you there!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">~Blessings~</div><div align="left">Claudea B. </div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div align="center"></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-65136559168706435612011-03-30T10:55:00.001-05:002011-03-30T11:36:13.628-05:00Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street<div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzUYDIG7uK2Ibp6rJdJyD4Zj6ISlSzfEVh94jwNE6l9AUWaiXf3xZiiVQdTH06H4-ir4faLE_pI0ZOZiDceu4G5uFhEY_YWGdh3IZ44fwCVNMmfCJeSiNx2vO5agxl8J-tuSnADJ6jUpH/s1600/sesame+st.+with+BB.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzUYDIG7uK2Ibp6rJdJyD4Zj6ISlSzfEVh94jwNE6l9AUWaiXf3xZiiVQdTH06H4-ir4faLE_pI0ZOZiDceu4G5uFhEY_YWGdh3IZ44fwCVNMmfCJeSiNx2vO5agxl8J-tuSnADJ6jUpH/s320/sesame+st.+with+BB.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Do you remember being a kid and wanting to actually <em>go</em> to Sesame Street? It seemed like such a magical place, yet so real. It had to be out there somewhere! Unfortunately, no one that I knew actually<em> knew</em> how to get there other than to tune in to PBS (whenever the bunny ear TV antenna's were working or the wire hanger:). I always looked forward to learning something new or just practicing the skills that I'd already learned. As I got older, I just enjoyed watching the show. It was like going to visit old friends.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak9dqI-L0gEaKg-4OL6myTpDNrG1MdGphImNr7l3EdybArqdCWal-ZMyh-1Ct_GtaagdYJa2LXZGUpwv1NOOcweKYLSxstHc0pRM9BFRs_T9z9CLlnX3NbrdOxl8CON0QeYKeZB9kfYxE/s1600/vintage-sesame-street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak9dqI-L0gEaKg-4OL6myTpDNrG1MdGphImNr7l3EdybArqdCWal-ZMyh-1Ct_GtaagdYJa2LXZGUpwv1NOOcweKYLSxstHc0pRM9BFRs_T9z9CLlnX3NbrdOxl8CON0QeYKeZB9kfYxE/s320/vintage-sesame-street.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I decided to share some of those nostalgic learning experiences with my kiddos today, as well as with you!</div><div align="center">First of all, the most memorable moments of the Sesame Street for me, was the opening theme song. I loved the classic version but hadn't seen the very first version before today. Fortunately for me it was on You Tube...You Tube Rocks!!! </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cmcdBnj4ZOg" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe> <br />
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Gotta love this!<br />
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I had many, many favorite songs and characters on Sesame Street but it would take all day to find and post them all, so I'm just going to post a few of my most favorite and memorable segments.<br />
One of them is the number song from the animated pin ball machine.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JZshZp-cxKg" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of these kids is doing his own thing....can you guess which one???</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Do you know how things begin? Lets watch and learn!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VKYwIWZBqgk" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Well it wouldn't be a Sesame Street post if I didn't include the Rubber Duckie song, so here it goes.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mh85R-S-dh8" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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I hope this post brought back some warm and wonderful memories for you the same as it did for me. I enjoyed reliving all of the memories and making new ones with my kiddos. My youngest one, RJ, loved the number song and loved watching him move his body to the music of something I watched when I was little.<br />
Well It's time to say goodbye...have a fabulous Wednesday!<br />
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Let's close with one last video, the ending segment of our beloved Sesame Street!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PTkItOaE_u0" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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My Wednesday Walk Down Memory Lane. To see more please visit <a href="http://the-goodwinfamily.blogspot.com/2011/03/wednesdays-walk-christmas-memories.html">The Goodwin Family Blog</a>, while you're there link up your own memory post...I'd love to read it!<br />
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<center><a href="http://the-goodwinfamily.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq207/abgk007/WednesdaysWalkButtonSmWAddress.png" /></a></center><br />
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~Blessings~<br />
Claudea B.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-20893762665296283652011-03-28T23:59:00.001-05:002011-03-29T00:03:35.703-05:00Breakfast In Bed...On a Weekday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA8f20iMeyZo2sxUzOIfi1QkAQwle_tF9RrVvl3yVntDWuN56fUqB1IrmEIvZLC-Jr3CLHZHldIGNAegm_EWJMdAATL2DQ6TJ8NQukj1VgaUYDfyPB-3d-TNEpezSNt8mDwl8G8YFW9Ti/s1600/Sunshyne+Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA8f20iMeyZo2sxUzOIfi1QkAQwle_tF9RrVvl3yVntDWuN56fUqB1IrmEIvZLC-Jr3CLHZHldIGNAegm_EWJMdAATL2DQ6TJ8NQukj1VgaUYDfyPB-3d-TNEpezSNt8mDwl8G8YFW9Ti/s320/Sunshyne+Painting.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do you see that cute little girl in the picture? Well that is my Sunshyne and she is the sweetest daughter that I could have ever imagined having. I'm going to tell you a little story about a touching event that, despite how small the gesture may seem, was he biggest and best moment of the entire month for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I awoke this morning a little grumbly from a week of broken sleep and overwhelming fatigue. I'd know that the past few weeks have been difficult for my Sunshyne as well. Since we moved into our new home her cat, Saturday, has had to bunk with Sunshyne at night and has not been sleeping well. In fact, Sunshyne has reported to me that he will wake up around 4:00am and want to play. He starts slapping her with his paws and jumping from dresser to bed and then back again, all in the effort to keep himself entertained in the wee hours of the morning. As a result, my Sunshyne has waken up just about every morning, some mornings in tears, from shear fatigue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Saturday by the way</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3J-ets1BBuKk_MGZt7BQ9-3Ti93Irbvn4yVdcEa75Is2-AZL_HLP0r8UHNkGEoDzy318xe2gv2taGB9qx9JZFVC1FOPinOXznpIs2ocUi1oE_TmZVMaB1qu3v31-cuYJGAckwf6hKKgW/s1600/Saturday+close-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3J-ets1BBuKk_MGZt7BQ9-3Ti93Irbvn4yVdcEa75Is2-AZL_HLP0r8UHNkGEoDzy318xe2gv2taGB9qx9JZFVC1FOPinOXznpIs2ocUi1oE_TmZVMaB1qu3v31-cuYJGAckwf6hKKgW/s320/Saturday+close-up.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div align="center">Take a look at those mischievous eye...</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">So imagine my surprise when I received a knock on my door, immediately after I opened my eyes to the world (almost as if timed precisely). It was my Sunshyne with this delicious treat in hands.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEU8N4aTI_OuB8tMS2ywtBPkWNllpagGXAEAxXZnBc31nNoOjHCJt9P_cIQJOjGswQmkP2pj12JriCR5SFSHSrG8zAOldfWzRg1KQk847mV0uuTz2VrhBb8k_45miQHebOB3QWTpoPusr/s1600/My+breakfast+in+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEU8N4aTI_OuB8tMS2ywtBPkWNllpagGXAEAxXZnBc31nNoOjHCJt9P_cIQJOjGswQmkP2pj12JriCR5SFSHSrG8zAOldfWzRg1KQk847mV0uuTz2VrhBb8k_45miQHebOB3QWTpoPusr/s320/My+breakfast+in+bed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center">She said, in the sweetest little voice, "good morning mama, I made you breakfast in bed." As I wiped my sleepy eyes with a big smile on my face I gave her the biggest most appreciative "thank you baby" that I could muster. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">What could I have possibly done to deserve such a wonderfully, thoughtful little girl??? I must have been really good at some point in time:)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPXeRKakXFvQjaK7sualqMxHTx3uVTKZhjIknMjq9WKNapqH_pAXm7dqSxyM7zveiknXn5d712zi_Fr3iKRHDKqxUKYk-32JVDVXkmKbOP7F7ZA2hy0_zXPA1P0vip6ii2RzNFmqGH-nK/s1600/My+breakfast+in+bed+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPXeRKakXFvQjaK7sualqMxHTx3uVTKZhjIknMjq9WKNapqH_pAXm7dqSxyM7zveiknXn5d712zi_Fr3iKRHDKqxUKYk-32JVDVXkmKbOP7F7ZA2hy0_zXPA1P0vip6ii2RzNFmqGH-nK/s320/My+breakfast+in+bed+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Here's a better picture, but as you can see I have three microwave-type pancakes (very delicious) with Mrs Butterworth syrup (my favorite), a nutritious orange, and a refreshing glass of my favorite Minute Maid Fruit Punch juice, which I'd drunk before I had the fore-thought to take these pictures (I was REALLY thirsty).</div><div align="center">She's lined the tray with a woven place mat and set it with my best silverware...How thoughtful!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">How selfless of her to think of me and how rough my mornings have been from broken sleep, to put aside her own grief and think about me. This was such a touching gesture that I just had to share it with all of you. I know that I'm a better person from having experienced this type of love, it makes me want to show the same love for someone else. Mainly my Sunshyne, but to also apply that lesson in my life and try harder to display acts of selflessness to others...you never know who truly needs that act to touch their lives.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Thank you so much for stopping by!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">~Blessings~</div><div align="left">Claudea B. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-9975707445415014072011-03-25T10:14:00.001-05:002011-03-25T10:20:38.272-05:00The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 6<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/p/about-homeschool-mothers-journal.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz84/SueQGal/HSMJgraphic.jpg" /></a> <br />
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<strong>In my life this week...</strong><br />
<br />
I've been a VERY lazy girl! I haven't hung a single picture or organized anything. I cooked though, big shout out to <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/">The Pioneer Woman</a> for her <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/chicken-cacciatore/">Chicken Cacciatore</a> recipe...soooo good! Anyway, we've had several "relaxed" homeschool days. I think I was finally coming down from all the work we've been doing the past three weeks.<br />
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<strong>In our homeschool this week...</strong><br />
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I've began plannng Charlie Brown's graduation ceremony and celebration. Whooohoo, I'm totally excited about it. I've decided to do something for him at home. I'm doing a small ceremony, immediately followed by a reception style party. I'm currently planning the menu and looking for ideas for the cake. I've already set the date and time so I can order the invitations next week. The photographer that I absolutely LOVE is way too expensive for us to hire right now so I'm looking for an alternative solution for this problem. I could possibly take some photos myself and pray I can use Photoshop efficiently enough for them to look professional.<br />
Anybody else have a graduating senior this year? I would love to know what your plans are for your graduates ceremony/celebration.<br />
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<strong>Places we're going and people we're seeing...</strong><br />
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No place special this week...lazy (remember).<br />
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<strong>My favorite thing this week was...</strong><br />
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Watching the kiddos hang out on the back patio with our dog Rahshee (for school purposes I will call it recess). I loved the fuzzy feeling that I had while I prepared our dinner and gazed out of the big picture window at them. Felt like on of those Cambell soup commercials when I was a kid.<br />
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<strong>What's working/not working for us...</strong><br />
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Spelling! I don't know what it is but I can not seem to find my groove to keep up with spelling lately. Spelling is a required subject to teach in Texas so I'm always beating myself up when I fall off track. Thank goodness our state just requires that it's<u> taught</u> and doesn't not mention <u>how often</u>...hehehe.<br />
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<strong>Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...</strong><br />
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Any good spelling programs out there (the obvious questions I should be asking, right?), one that I don't have to stand around repeating spelling words for to give a test?<br />
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<strong>A photo, video, link, or quote to share...</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_7a811LQpzw4V671SFTse-SJWCuUd-EWOKTmkb27FwIoP5GFcGzwyh778ZOhPhL11lmNc9FWr26s_50uUam5NGxHSLl8LtmwKPLSlWYnxpbTPxu7PLBJLINjIG-pbK5p0vjNNO9OY0d-/s1600/The+kids+with+Rahshee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_7a811LQpzw4V671SFTse-SJWCuUd-EWOKTmkb27FwIoP5GFcGzwyh778ZOhPhL11lmNc9FWr26s_50uUam5NGxHSLl8LtmwKPLSlWYnxpbTPxu7PLBJLINjIG-pbK5p0vjNNO9OY0d-/s320/The+kids+with+Rahshee.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br />
Well, that's my weekly wrap-up. To read other Homeschool Mother's Journals please visit <a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/">The Homeschool Chick</a>. Thanks so much for stopping by.<br />
Have a phenomenal Friday!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-62561297922450249852011-03-23T08:40:00.000-05:002011-03-23T08:40:31.066-05:00For the Over 30 Crowd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Jh4eGmL51rq8xuLysRub4-QPsN3offPStntVvoUeMNUoV6vvMvTeeCiqTraI3EUSJL_bkdm8VVRYuip22O7rHkwC-yrJSZqYcpdr6Hb8c86iPaB6CKUXDi1Ib0O7l8rfqCm1gEZTtLBV/s1600/old-school-new-school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Jh4eGmL51rq8xuLysRub4-QPsN3offPStntVvoUeMNUoV6vvMvTeeCiqTraI3EUSJL_bkdm8VVRYuip22O7rHkwC-yrJSZqYcpdr6Hb8c86iPaB6CKUXDi1Ib0O7l8rfqCm1gEZTtLBV/s320/old-school-new-school.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday my husband read an email to me that my Mother-in-Law sent him. It is one of those chain emails that I hate to get, but I seriously could not stop laughing with this one. I found myself constantly saying "yeap, that's right" and "that's how it was when I was coming up." </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided to share it with you this morning but I won't require that you send it to any of your friends;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways...yadda, yadda, yadda </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!</span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">But now that I'm over the ripe old age of forty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">1) I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">2) There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">3) Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our behinds! Nowhere was safe! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">4) There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">5) Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning !!! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby! Dig? </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">6) We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">7) There weren't any cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY GOSH !!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are. </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">8) And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">9) We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'.. Your screen guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen.. Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">10) You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your behind and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!</span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">11) There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled12) And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">13) And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">And car seats - oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place! </span></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten! You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1970 or any time before! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;">Written by Anika </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did, have an outstanding Wednesday and thanks for stopping by!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center"></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-30131074805783142472011-03-22T08:44:00.000-05:002011-03-22T08:44:57.107-05:00A Day Of Relaxed Homeschooling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5l_t8bxa5KrSsRDEDyxhS8pEVfZEJo0HhXiEHVvoC_ylRpCGd_9tTURlCxtUgtrclCCuTGIIw6NM2CXHuOHjrNWqPPYoIKuqr-uYVr3e1We8ZEqzChnNEJq30q6fCXQgaOv4Xvb-M_af/s1600/Sunshyne%252C+RJ%252C+Rahshee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5l_t8bxa5KrSsRDEDyxhS8pEVfZEJo0HhXiEHVvoC_ylRpCGd_9tTURlCxtUgtrclCCuTGIIw6NM2CXHuOHjrNWqPPYoIKuqr-uYVr3e1We8ZEqzChnNEJq30q6fCXQgaOv4Xvb-M_af/s320/Sunshyne%252C+RJ%252C+Rahshee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got sort of a late start yesterday. I let Sunshyne sleep in, whereas normally she is expected to set her alarm clock and be up by 7:00am to get dressed and complete her morning chores. We usually start formal learning around 9:00am, immediately following breakfast. Well yesterday looked nothing like that. Sunshyne had helped out with RJ at around 6:00am and so as a reward, I let her sleep until she woke up on her own... which was about 10:30am. After a few chores and breakfast, it was almost 11:30am before she was ready to begin any of her studies. I decided that it might be a good idea to head out to the back yard to kinda get our juices flowing. The next thing I knew, I was hauling out soccer balls and scooter toys for RJ.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That was the beginning of our "relaxed" homeschooling day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc4JOtNA9vuVGWA-uSaUyt1mJqCzNHGBU07pi3Us2jrm6LOwPLbWLJgetOcXhuYc-KVhMJQ5PXkgVMPL1upnYOpHQLcMdN3fx7PJsaAu8lJY_Oq0qKpnl-PnMbTwtKFw31gUELbyxqLGF/s1600/Focused+RJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc4JOtNA9vuVGWA-uSaUyt1mJqCzNHGBU07pi3Us2jrm6LOwPLbWLJgetOcXhuYc-KVhMJQ5PXkgVMPL1upnYOpHQLcMdN3fx7PJsaAu8lJY_Oq0qKpnl-PnMbTwtKFw31gUELbyxqLGF/s320/Focused+RJ.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Playing soccer was the highlight of the afternoon. RJ loved chasing after the ball. He doesn't have kicking it down to a science....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAyXjyOp3-cTtqWEmXvcXECyemyBjMM7gC0xUNVmZ9HXVkEqHVBU6a1uSH6eCmKO_W158HkD7AoYwo26ZCQDU4bKoqeS13g7QzFfga5IY6sHXvzmL1CqsSYuSueahQ9d8hSdW5Ecr4Mpt/s1600/Areya+and+RJ+with+soccer+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAyXjyOp3-cTtqWEmXvcXECyemyBjMM7gC0xUNVmZ9HXVkEqHVBU6a1uSH6eCmKO_W158HkD7AoYwo26ZCQDU4bKoqeS13g7QzFfga5IY6sHXvzmL1CqsSYuSueahQ9d8hSdW5Ecr4Mpt/s320/Areya+and+RJ+with+soccer+ball.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">But he's pretty good at throwing it!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryFjYRP55bBkOXvqpyb88K-yMnqPz-mSOWBxnzEklaxRiJcbKJZb__aXQy4lD_E7WfLiJuIFPmsaYqViKMgWt3DEEgrQhA0MDSMSuUP3k8dOhW6zLBMLckat0AOL4avUiqpI996_l2x6G/s1600/RJ+soccer+player.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryFjYRP55bBkOXvqpyb88K-yMnqPz-mSOWBxnzEklaxRiJcbKJZb__aXQy4lD_E7WfLiJuIFPmsaYqViKMgWt3DEEgrQhA0MDSMSuUP3k8dOhW6zLBMLckat0AOL4avUiqpI996_l2x6G/s320/RJ+soccer+player.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I loved watching him in action, chasing after the ball and then throwing it to his sister so that she could kick it back. He was very serious about this game...maybe I should say focused.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UB5T0ic0qNwwcEDkD6jVGSMQidSonEC9XY-aWPwXSpcwB9Va8QyoZcTLRbdNRdXnGdRFt_7XxMS5VU-ga9GZsgqCWKyOvk8SWFdmuSN3S6k8S3Bzg0QgJqNXX-tZKVt7wjxA5fFa5aJT/s1600/RJ+with+soccer+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UB5T0ic0qNwwcEDkD6jVGSMQidSonEC9XY-aWPwXSpcwB9Va8QyoZcTLRbdNRdXnGdRFt_7XxMS5VU-ga9GZsgqCWKyOvk8SWFdmuSN3S6k8S3Bzg0QgJqNXX-tZKVt7wjxA5fFa5aJT/s320/RJ+with+soccer+ball.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">That ball looks as big as he does in this photo, doesn't it???</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX_IW3DWNFTz02Hw8mFl2J_BP6Ese4z9s3kd1Sr_OE6uGgSNDc7C9ZvrS4lAuzsBOTr-mmGXfN0IjT6g1KwaJ-EPP3ltp4ZJik6lEKKeBxbOTYeKaXgGBjS7S4LsG7tNKQRHRbF9PJevL/s1600/RJ+carrying+soccer+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX_IW3DWNFTz02Hw8mFl2J_BP6Ese4z9s3kd1Sr_OE6uGgSNDc7C9ZvrS4lAuzsBOTr-mmGXfN0IjT6g1KwaJ-EPP3ltp4ZJik6lEKKeBxbOTYeKaXgGBjS7S4LsG7tNKQRHRbF9PJevL/s320/RJ+carrying+soccer+ball.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">After they were all tuckered out from soccer and other outdoor games, we all sat down for some quiet time reading.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uVKeemfGV-yUyi-KG_wKrpprMFMXyMv-SloVZPwWAdk41FtD-Sf0Y0xOnoVnvzE-WUQDmN0V9N-feZwk8P3t_YWDVTTo3rb5ZoFKZBiodsdxlyNb-opV3gqE2POcfuKjeu5LM150WMzt/s1600/Sunshyne+relaxing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uVKeemfGV-yUyi-KG_wKrpprMFMXyMv-SloVZPwWAdk41FtD-Sf0Y0xOnoVnvzE-WUQDmN0V9N-feZwk8P3t_YWDVTTo3rb5ZoFKZBiodsdxlyNb-opV3gqE2POcfuKjeu5LM150WMzt/s320/Sunshyne+relaxing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">This is why I love homeschooling, the flexibility and versatility. This is the way I'd envisioned homeschooling my children. Being able to learn naturally, simply because it's enjoyable.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR634-0wZyRX4O4dOBxD-XxNaivpbvfJ-XLoCk2RfUOsRUQ8t5x70MFlO4iiRlOw7khpiSHhkm8pbFTyPtGOJNTL0j4VoOjpNgZkwF28ndHWwpqUYbiMxDVIrRjKf2RDutt33Aiy2tcII4/s1600/Sunshyne+reading+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR634-0wZyRX4O4dOBxD-XxNaivpbvfJ-XLoCk2RfUOsRUQ8t5x70MFlO4iiRlOw7khpiSHhkm8pbFTyPtGOJNTL0j4VoOjpNgZkwF28ndHWwpqUYbiMxDVIrRjKf2RDutt33Aiy2tcII4/s320/Sunshyne+reading+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">It truly doesn't get any better than this!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Are you relaxed in your way of teaching your children? I enjoyed this so much that I think looking into this "method" (for lack of a better term) seems feasible. Please share any views or experiences that you've had with relaxed homeschooling. Thank you so much for stopping by:)</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-9012579650484313832011-03-21T08:54:00.000-05:002011-03-21T08:54:09.857-05:00Tot School~Week Ten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGTElQTqk0sCxPpf8i04Cc9hyybvELlapIezubWcPwFOXhBAlDeoXNsLvloEycPPNRn0e5UC1swcUJADpJ2mTnpSRh3xV0OXCLkdmOIomscS8BseM3bqGpz1Y0RtUnOSdMZZUYDm_J5Gy/s1600/TotSchool2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGTElQTqk0sCxPpf8i04Cc9hyybvELlapIezubWcPwFOXhBAlDeoXNsLvloEycPPNRn0e5UC1swcUJADpJ2mTnpSRh3xV0OXCLkdmOIomscS8BseM3bqGpz1Y0RtUnOSdMZZUYDm_J5Gy/s1600/TotSchool2.gif" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A lot has happened since we last participated formally in Tot School but we have been chugging along just the same. We are pretty much settled in our new-to-us home and have started schooling again. RJ has been spending a lot of time outside and going places with me and his dad, that I don't have pictures of.</div><div style="text-align: center;">However, in the classroom he has wanted to spend most of his time writing lately...and so he has.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpzLTUAFkPIzukygfoPGhETVE-DLpmzKpf6U-lKhCJeV_RyBEhX_Clo5cejIP8MWB1T2du-X6YkiYC7Wk_SNLEXrDm3p7l10PXaEdqw27ti62Hw_RfBTrPSOgA4UtOTOYGGTi-SRe5sJk/s1600/RJ+coloring" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpzLTUAFkPIzukygfoPGhETVE-DLpmzKpf6U-lKhCJeV_RyBEhX_Clo5cejIP8MWB1T2du-X6YkiYC7Wk_SNLEXrDm3p7l10PXaEdqw27ti62Hw_RfBTrPSOgA4UtOTOYGGTi-SRe5sJk/s320/RJ+coloring" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the first day that he showed any real interest in crayons. I sat them out, he climbed up in the chair and took to trying to write.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOC5QFDtyLsJ-SAOsm7V9fGmD0leE_zX-2Xl0axcfgagX1CUZ_hkUoNMLPKFl4hlXqWPFlvdYcLi24FsLZ44f5waVZZt0c0z4VyUnnfIpMig39aJxsM5OcPXyfwav1q50N48dGXZNn2e_/s1600/smartphone+03112011+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOC5QFDtyLsJ-SAOsm7V9fGmD0leE_zX-2Xl0axcfgagX1CUZ_hkUoNMLPKFl4hlXqWPFlvdYcLi24FsLZ44f5waVZZt0c0z4VyUnnfIpMig39aJxsM5OcPXyfwav1q50N48dGXZNn2e_/s320/smartphone+03112011+003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's got some real scribbles on the paper...can you see them?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOVZEluuIxgpP4_IlEZmUP0kGbtPj6nmFiJJ6B3GTb_km8mvokBSIiJ7YoQ2EbJjb0Wyi5jOmttk5i0qf0ux_sntfNa7N66CmM09zrWbeMGY9X9W4C2rcBr_uXnW7iltqXE-szeRkTA25/s1600/RJ+with+his+car" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOVZEluuIxgpP4_IlEZmUP0kGbtPj6nmFiJJ6B3GTb_km8mvokBSIiJ7YoQ2EbJjb0Wyi5jOmttk5i0qf0ux_sntfNa7N66CmM09zrWbeMGY9X9W4C2rcBr_uXnW7iltqXE-szeRkTA25/s320/RJ+with+his+car" width="226" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's also been playing with his cars quite frequently and that's a new development as well.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFEEitfOq97wrgFcLlHyVihSllPdFptCE9ZTDjw3dgnK-IARqBQnvaQuuAOHV0kSkpdiB2bwoVTig5HG2wUgCryZq1EZnu5HUYwcVfbz6qPCw7dNPgYF6Sbrl8eRaQskIc7u5jjnAY9G3/s1600/RJ+looking+out+the+window" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFEEitfOq97wrgFcLlHyVihSllPdFptCE9ZTDjw3dgnK-IARqBQnvaQuuAOHV0kSkpdiB2bwoVTig5HG2wUgCryZq1EZnu5HUYwcVfbz6qPCw7dNPgYF6Sbrl8eRaQskIc7u5jjnAY9G3/s320/RJ+looking+out+the+window" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This time he decided to use a new medium and give the colored pencils a try. Here he's a bit distracted by a truck outside, so he stands up to get a better view. Afterwards it's back to writing with his pencil.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokMupMG_YxwOipS36Go_Z5w27GdfTrlN_M3sYqo-FxqGxQov9Icko2OgC4BLd3Bb_QTDtl4kLRPul1QQrfF43IdTTXfWc9CH49j3c2V8B3dw48XS7tfJD6klNgY3Hrx6TB8cCsyOr4Q_E/s1600/RJ+working+at+the+table" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokMupMG_YxwOipS36Go_Z5w27GdfTrlN_M3sYqo-FxqGxQov9Icko2OgC4BLd3Bb_QTDtl4kLRPul1QQrfF43IdTTXfWc9CH49j3c2V8B3dw48XS7tfJD6klNgY3Hrx6TB8cCsyOr4Q_E/s320/RJ+working+at+the+table" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See that paper in front of him, he didn't write that. He's just about to autograph his sister's work though. He took her mechanical pencil and added a little love note while she was a way from her station.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's just been fascinated with writing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Well that's about it for us this week. Hopefully I'll have more pictures for next week.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, I did want to say that we have also been attending our local library for the past few weeks for toddler time. They read stories and we all sing songs related to a theme for the week. It's been great and RJ loves having the opportunity to see other miniature people like himself.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Want to read other learning adventures of amazing toddler's? Head on over to <a href="http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tot%20School">1+1+1=1</a> for this weeks Tot School...there's tons of ideas for you and your toddler.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Claudea B.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQx4SVG-m4SnkhkMWQK2T72_9MqrFAkwdPvoSLO7s-mfpP3p96Ln1Et1ndjWNgoMFgYLVjk6HJfer0817TFGyFlwSSxyQprLr3teDEAqhLV-CiKZ6wM1Fgr0TkqugRYHolWFFuC55P4gH/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQx4SVG-m4SnkhkMWQK2T72_9MqrFAkwdPvoSLO7s-mfpP3p96Ln1Et1ndjWNgoMFgYLVjk6HJfer0817TFGyFlwSSxyQprLr3teDEAqhLV-CiKZ6wM1Fgr0TkqugRYHolWFFuC55P4gH/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-10682382954851472772011-03-18T23:56:00.001-05:002011-03-19T00:04:46.800-05:00The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 5<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/p/about-homeschool-mothers-journal.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz84/SueQGal/HSMJgraphic.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>In my life this week...</strong><br />
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This week has been crazy! We've been trying to settle into our "new-to-us" house, getting pictures and curtains hung, washing woodworks, and organizing and re-organizing. In the midst of all that Sunshyne gets sick and needed to take off from schooling. Charlie Brown started back working at his job, and Rj... well, was just being RJ.<br />
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My mother is feeling better but is having some issues with medical staff at the long-term care facility, which has been stressful and draining for me. That along with a Girl Scout meeting and ceremony, Doctor appointments, and still trying to get RJ to his Toddler time, has been extremely taxing. I can safely say I'm glad this week is OVER!</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>In our homeschool this week...</strong><br />
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The focus this week has been on RJ since he was the only one showing up for class. He chose to work on a lot of puzzles this week and has been fascinated with the outdoors. I've enjoyed spending time taking him places and hanging out with my miniature person:)<br />
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I think he's getting that chairs are to be sat in and not climbed. I caught him several times this week sitting at the table with a pencil or crayon in hand. Now if I could just get him to scribble on paper we'd be into something. On second thought I do sort of like the beauty of art on the classroom table...how festive!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Places we're going and people we're seeing...</strong><br />
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I took RJ along with me on a trip to Lakeshore Learning Center...I love that place. He seemed to love it too! He didn't want to stay in the basket. He toddled through the isle ways checking out different activities and giving some the stamp of approval from his expert opinion. He observed people as they came and went, from the safety of his death-grip to my leg. He even climbed up a stack of classroom dividers to look out the window at some men working construction nearby. He was completely fascinated!<br />
He sometimes gave a bashful smile at ladies as they spoke to him with friendly smiles.<br />
We picked out a new chunky puzzle to add to our work station and went out for a special treat.<br />
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I enjoy moments like these because they are real-life learning situations. Guiding him as he interacts with his community is priceless. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>My favorite thing this week was...</strong><br />
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Definitely spending one-on-one time with RJ. Taking him on little field trips in the community and watching his expressions as he observed something new or interesting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What's working/not working for us...</strong><br />
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All the stress is not working for us right now. I have too many balls in the air and I'm looking forward to putting some of that down and regaining a state of equilibrium.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...</strong><br />
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My friend invited us to a informational session with Classical Conversations. I didn't make it to the meeting but I'm interested in learning more about the group. I guess I'm hoping the curriculum is not to rigid because I like to be creative and I'm spontaneous with my homeschooling as well. I love my flexibility and don't want to give that up with a structured program. Any thoughts would be helpful on the topic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>A photo, video, link, or quote to share...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleQPvdJP6hMoF-W7Komti9SkKV6zO-3DiTbVYmio17sU3m2znXcVSoOp-OrI4s5Ix-GzvQBdSdirEqtGSIBjSEXLYRXRmukbBc9Zdke682tPHC4Or2RPBf5PTtcZ20x54-cay2hs1TNPN/s1600/RJ+purple+tint" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleQPvdJP6hMoF-W7Komti9SkKV6zO-3DiTbVYmio17sU3m2znXcVSoOp-OrI4s5Ix-GzvQBdSdirEqtGSIBjSEXLYRXRmukbBc9Zdke682tPHC4Or2RPBf5PTtcZ20x54-cay2hs1TNPN/s320/RJ+purple+tint" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCYH_L4FcZW-45RsAEDHPRkeT5HaLVuvTMLpf2nt7TOPNDopzUJAtltvnJpdeA2gE9CN7ZpslT3F-6MS_1nwUbYSVgBYsVhYCO1nM-t8kRNbgMSj5IBhQwt2mdPXnw6Q5seycSukop_Sc/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCYH_L4FcZW-45RsAEDHPRkeT5HaLVuvTMLpf2nt7TOPNDopzUJAtltvnJpdeA2gE9CN7ZpslT3F-6MS_1nwUbYSVgBYsVhYCO1nM-t8kRNbgMSj5IBhQwt2mdPXnw6Q5seycSukop_Sc/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-26080264037198230382011-03-17T08:09:00.001-05:002011-03-17T08:11:37.972-05:00Thursday Blog/Twitter Hops<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a border="0" href="http://www.justmarriedwithcoupons.com/search/label/Nice%20To%20Tweet%20You%20Thursday/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6781/tweetthursdaybutton.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hop on over to <a href="http://www.justmarriedwithcoupons.com/2011/03/nice-to-tweet-you-thursday-twitter-hop_16.html">Just Married With Coupons</a> to join in on this Twitter Hop to make new friends with some super cool mama's!<br />
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<a href="http://www.familyfriendlyfrugality.com/" target="”_blank”"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/BarrenMind/thursdayhop.jpg" /></a><br />
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Also, I'll be blog hopping with <a href="http://www.familyfriendlyfrugality.com/">Family Friendly Frugality</a> today, so stop by if you can break free from you St. Patty's Day festivities:)<br />
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~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-50221137032850344422011-03-14T23:35:00.000-05:002011-03-14T23:35:37.981-05:00Early Wordless Wednesday: Junior GS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA3vSenPGdTKx6gxIs_Kz8ubuCnwn1G_VNWpd1krF-Tx0ewgH6HGurJtKecsNJnIb1bok3ler91KHLGLkTPoNCGHh2hNyFyNmh4gllem0rTNGsDVD4ygXAvl3-hlAtP6kGvqmTFrZ9hDh/s1600/Girl+Scout+Promise+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA3vSenPGdTKx6gxIs_Kz8ubuCnwn1G_VNWpd1krF-Tx0ewgH6HGurJtKecsNJnIb1bok3ler91KHLGLkTPoNCGHh2hNyFyNmh4gllem0rTNGsDVD4ygXAvl3-hlAtP6kGvqmTFrZ9hDh/s320/Girl+Scout+Promise+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOk7xioTOfgKYUcyfJhWJnME0zrYu4uR1VUfR_B5ibmCSTKdP5mbq8cy-K993UIgUnFg3lSIV2l4eT0VagtibZO538hoYoeedqyntGniq5hvgWSxtrgTj3tR-eRypQq5-ggsptGd3j-4Qc/s1600/Girl+Scouts+Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOk7xioTOfgKYUcyfJhWJnME0zrYu4uR1VUfR_B5ibmCSTKdP5mbq8cy-K993UIgUnFg3lSIV2l4eT0VagtibZO538hoYoeedqyntGniq5hvgWSxtrgTj3tR-eRypQq5-ggsptGd3j-4Qc/s320/Girl+Scouts+Rock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwbBH8-TrkpRCXtHHHVH5M5tnHzHV8cxoEvFaxs8Pe6zjK9sVtp9X28DQoHpcDksvPh-e6am8Ajw8esHonFaN1TmlTqviUX4VnjQX-GZvgroyO1wqB3-d-QOH3B8cQdePYDUQX_l_0_QZ/s1600/GS+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwbBH8-TrkpRCXtHHHVH5M5tnHzHV8cxoEvFaxs8Pe6zjK9sVtp9X28DQoHpcDksvPh-e6am8Ajw8esHonFaN1TmlTqviUX4VnjQX-GZvgroyO1wqB3-d-QOH3B8cQdePYDUQX_l_0_QZ/s320/GS+Poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
~Blessings~<br />
Claudea B. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div align="center"></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-14950503064236703692011-03-13T10:28:00.000-05:002011-03-13T10:28:54.670-05:00Times Tales St. Patty's Day Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkvlCjIU-HIrkfVlvdNJLKymht852EplqhUCaPlb4iO0PIJ569AyT273pM9-XxA1uBBycHmg3rz4-2KOHcnK0CX9nVv4Y4tNXGev9j12SKCcxoYo7z-tRT9Xka5YBSGWkdweleUkg4FyQ/s1600/FYI+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkvlCjIU-HIrkfVlvdNJLKymht852EplqhUCaPlb4iO0PIJ569AyT273pM9-XxA1uBBycHmg3rz4-2KOHcnK0CX9nVv4Y4tNXGev9j12SKCcxoYo7z-tRT9Xka5YBSGWkdweleUkg4FyQ/s320/FYI+poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><strong>Times Tales St. Patty's Day Special!!!</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a deal that came in my inbox that I just had to share from <a href="http://www.timestales.com/">Times Tales</a>, wish I'd gotten this deal when I bought my copy last month...aaargh! Oh well, I hope this deal can be a blessing to you though:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Take advantage of th St. Patrick's Day special, good the week of March 13-19 <strong>only</strong>. Not only will you save 20% on your purchase of <a href="http://www.timestales.com/">Times Tales</a> (DVD or print versions) but you will also receive a free Memory Trigger. Just use the code IRISH20 to receive your discount and free Memory Trigger. Do not put a Memory Trigger in your cart, they know to include one when you use the code. Save a total of $11.94!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Great Program, my kiddos love it and it works!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-71427083250973732442011-03-11T06:54:00.001-06:002011-03-11T07:00:21.642-06:00The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 4<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/p/about-homeschool-mothers-journal.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz84/SueQGal/HSMJgraphic.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>In my life this week...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We finally finished moving and unpacking most of our stuff. This shell of a house now honestly resembles home, and for that I am thankful. We were able to get back to the basic subjects this week and I plan to be in full swing starting Monday with <u>all</u> of the kiddos.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>In our homeschool this week...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunshyne is doing so well with her Teaching Textbooks curriculum, I'm sooooo happy and thankful for this curriculum. I'm trying to get in the graduation mode for Charlie Brown and finalize some of his financial aid information to send to UTI. Also, I took RJ to the Toddler Time program at our local library for the first time this week and I think I'll implement this as a part of his curriculum. It was fun to get a chance to spend some alone time with him at the library. I think he was amazed to see that there are other small people like him...a big herd of them!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Places we're going and people we're seeing...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today we will be going to the Carver Community Cultural Center to see Japanese Storyteller Kuniko Yamamoto as a part of the Youth Matinee Series. It sounds fun and enlightening. Also, I attended a Bronze Award training yesterday for the Girls Scouts. The Bronze Award is the highest award that a Junior GS can earn. My mission was to find out how to divise and execute the HUGE community project that the girls will have to tackle to apply for the award. It seems like it will be challenging but extremely rewarding for the girls. Last but not least, it's football season for Papa Bear and we are planning to attend most of his games this year. They've already won two games...Go SA Knights!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>My favorite thing this week was...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Singing songs with RJ at Toddler Time and watching his reaction to the other kiddos. One of my favorite songs went like this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Itsy Bitsy Monkey (tune of Itsy Bitsy Spider)</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Down came the coconut and bopped him on the knee.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Along came his mama, who kissed away the pain.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What's working/not working for us...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, I found a website called Spelling City which sounded like the answer to my prayers. It's suppose to administer spelling tests for you and generates worksheets and games for the kiddos using word lists that you create yourself. I'm struggling with the site a little, I guess just because it's a new thing for me but I'm hoping it will work out to be everything it says it is because it would truly be a blessing. If anyone else is using this program, please, please share your opinion about it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been thinking a lot about the upcoming homeschool conventions that I would like to attend. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to attend our local convention but I'd also like to expand my scope and attend a national level convention. We shall see:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>A photo, video, link, or quote to share...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVLxkm4tU8df4tLhTMVRT8oZIDNeObyvKe0X9YC2Iw3rHUemj-9iip9Lsq0bBxBLOCga55O9QVIKIVB6391n89znWHWb1dSTB-laDgS5cNRwk9ELGQL38Ca20yLMierYY21055Tv_gCYl/s1600/1960+look+of+Papa+Bear+and+RJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVLxkm4tU8df4tLhTMVRT8oZIDNeObyvKe0X9YC2Iw3rHUemj-9iip9Lsq0bBxBLOCga55O9QVIKIVB6391n89znWHWb1dSTB-laDgS5cNRwk9ELGQL38Ca20yLMierYY21055Tv_gCYl/s320/1960+look+of+Papa+Bear+and+RJ.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was playing around over at <a href="http://www.picnik.com/app#/home/welcome">Picnik</a> and got this great 1960's look of a photo of RJ and Papa Bear before Papa Bear's first football game of the season. (I did the 1960 effect and the cross processing to achieve this look) Love it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To read more Mother's Journals please stop by <a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/">The Homeschool Chick </a>. I love her site and reading what other homeschooling mama's are doing with their kiddos on this meme.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-19498402939446518402011-03-09T10:40:00.000-06:002011-03-09T10:40:48.379-06:00Six Flags Read To Succeed Program Deadline!!!<div align="center">If you are a homeschooler like me, you take advantage of every "free" incentive that you can find to encourage reading (or just anything free). If it's a super fun outing such as an excursion to Six Flags, then I'm all over it! We've been moving and having all kinds of obstacles in our way to keep us out of school the past two weeks. So you can imagine my overwhelming joy when I went over to the <a href="http://readtosucceed.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm">Discovery Education</a> site to see if we'd missed our deadline for submitting our reading log and found that the deadline had been EXTENDED! That's right, the initial deadline was for March 4, 2011 but has been extended til today, March 9, 2011 4pm EST.</div><div align="center">So Please, please, please...if you haven't logged in your homeschoolers reading hours yet, hurry on over to the <a href="http://readtosucceed.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm">Six Flags Read To Succeed</a> site and log them in.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">The log in process is so easy that it feels like cheating. My kiddos keep a reading log but don't write down the hours that they spend reading. So we decided to estimate as closely as we could. When I pulled up our account and began logging in the hours in a frantic panic, there was a drop down box that lets you choose from selections like "book, comic book, newspaper, magazine, and other." I click on my selection and then the next drop down box has time increments of 15 minutes, so you can choose from 15,30,45, and 60 minutes. That's It! Frantic mama turns cool as a cucumber and got the job done.</div><div align="center">It took me all of two minutes to log my kiddos reading hours and they have free tickets to Six Flags Fiesta Texas coming in the mail in mid-May.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Folks, it really doesn't get any better than this. The best part is, I get a free ticket too! It's on to Six Flags for us. Hurry and get your tickets, we just might see you there;)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">~Blessings~</div><div align="left">Claudea B.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-44764056345715963422011-03-08T22:57:00.000-06:002011-03-08T22:57:18.731-06:00My Long Hiatus<div align="center">I have been gone so long from blogging that it feels weird to write...just kidding!</div><div align="center">I thought I'd write something since I haven't written in the past TWO weeks. I've had some family stuff to attend to and I'm finally coming up for air. My mother had to go back in for surgery a few weeks ago to have more of her foot amputated. My two sisters, Aunt Gwen, brother-in-law, and eldest niece, drove in from Michigan to visit and help me with making arrangements for my mother. Their trip had all kinds of unexpected twists and turns... so that was lively (and very, very stressful).</div><div align="center">And as if that wasn't enough drama last week, I was scheduled to move and could not change my plans. Soooo...we moved. We began moving the morning my youngest sister flew out.</div><div align="center">Four days of packing and hauling to our new-to-us house. </div><div align="center">I've been unpacking and organizing since. All with my clingy toddler on my hip (which is a new thing for him).</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Yeah, writing my blog was waaaay at the end of my to-do list.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">But I've missed it so much! I'm happy to have a few moments to myself tonight just so I can type up this little note and send it out into the blogosphere just to let y'all know that I'm still here and can't wait to get back into the swing of things!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a> </div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-71427122674540048792011-02-21T08:20:00.000-06:002011-02-21T08:20:38.724-06:00The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 3<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/p/about-homeschool-mothers-journal.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz84/SueQGal/HSMJgraphic.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>In my life this week...</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been anxiously awaiting my sister's arrival. Both of my sisters, my brother-in-law, my niece, and my aunt are driving in from Michigan (to Texas) to visit my mother and my family.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't seen them in about 2 years and I'm very excited. They have been stranded in Arkansas for two days now and my life has just been an emotional roller coaster. Coupled with the fact that I'm moving this weekend, it's amazing that I'm still sane enough to even write this post:)</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>In our homeschool this week...</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We decided to give Times Tales a try since Sunshyne continues to struggle with memorizing her upper times tables. So far so good with the Times Tales program. She liked the story and seems to get the concept. I'm just wondering if she will retain the information. I taught her times tables using a bead system like in the Montessori method, so she gets how it works. She can figure them out but she just hasn't memorized them. I'm hoping this program works.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Places we're going and people we're seeing...</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunshyne goes to a free PE class for homeschoolers at a local community center. She loves going and getting a chance let off some steam with her friends. Also, she has her Girl Scouts meeting every other Tuesday and this week was the cookie meeting week. She's been excited about her sales so this was a fun meeting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>My favorite thing this week was...</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">All the smiles. It seemed like everything we did this week was fun and exciting, I really enjoyed that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">What's working/not working for us...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the things that truly works for our homeschool is reading presentations. I was blessed to get my hands on the Scott Foresman "Seeing is Believing" reader that 4th graders use in the public schools in my area... for Free! Saved me from buying a gazillion single novels and exposed her to some literature that I probably wouldn't have had the insight to purchase this year. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have both of the kids do independent reading in the morning and then do a verbal presentation of what they read, what they think about it, and answer questions about their reading. This way there's two less papers added to my grading pile everyday, they get immediate feedback about their work, and I don't get behind with their grades. Not to mention it increases their oral presentation skills and exposes them to other literature from hearing the other persons presentation. Win-win situation. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm excited about the slew of homeschool conventions that are coming up and trying to decide what I'm going to continue for next year and what I will change. I love going to my local convention and just being around other homeschoolers. I also love the workshops and speakers to help keep me motivated. All of the hustle and bustle of preparing for the upcoming year...exciting!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>A photo, video, link, or quote to share...</strong></span><br />
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I'd been in the mood for some professional development and was surfing around the Internet looking for something free to refresh my creativity and spark for teaching. I found the <a href="http://www.learner.org/workshops/workshop_list.html">Annenberg Learner List</a>, which is more so for public school teachers but many of the same principles apply to any teacher. The Videos On Demand (VoD) are completely free, I watched several helpful clips.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for stopping by, please visit <a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/2011/02/homeschool-mothers-journal-5.html">The Homeschool Chick</a> to read other Mother's Journals.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a> </div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-416329683956667762011-02-16T23:56:00.002-06:002011-02-17T00:06:28.300-06:00Civil Rights Advocate: W.E.B Du Bois<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlsuNLWYhLw7UY_zeo7GtkZ1PSpPumzwsKIxbv-u-bez8BRk3el0lW19oH5nxIusK9GA0u_ZEtZcCUjOoOHQDBqAafqsFzA7UV708JSqPFlAw-JGYb3lIqgutjdbR0_itHqhLn1bbf8g-/s1600/web_dubois_1918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlsuNLWYhLw7UY_zeo7GtkZ1PSpPumzwsKIxbv-u-bez8BRk3el0lW19oH5nxIusK9GA0u_ZEtZcCUjOoOHQDBqAafqsFzA7UV708JSqPFlAw-JGYb3lIqgutjdbR0_itHqhLn1bbf8g-/s320/web_dubois_1918.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div align="center">William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B) Du Bois was born on February 23, 1868 in Great Barrington Massachusetts. He was born to Alfred and Mary DuBois. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Have you ever heard this famous passage from the Forethought of his book The Souls Of Black Folk "The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line." This was one of the most profound statements of the entire book. The Souls Of Black Folk is a collection of essays written by Debois in 1903, discussing and analysing a variety of subjects on the topic of black life. Du Bois also challenged one of the most notable black thinkers of the time in this book, Booker T. Washington.<br />
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W.E.B DuBois was the first African-American to graduate from Harvard University in 1895, which I find to be amazing. He graduated with a PH. D. in history and went on to teach sociology at Atlanta University. Being in the south during the years of 1898-1910, Du Bois could see first hand the effects of the Jim Crow laws and felt compelled to do something about it. He founded a organization called the Niagara Movement to advocate for the rights of blacks. Even though this organization was short-lived, it was the precursor to a famous organization that I'm sure you've heard of, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which was founded in 1909. As a founding member of the NAACP, DeBois also took the lead as the lead researcher and editor of the NAACP journal "The Crisis."<br />
He continued his work with the NAACP until 1934 when he left the organization.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uRRaOlWkMrlZljyYrFiCY1n3D_YjJoE1EkWPM8DsxfVtnEY9vhYrekdAoDE84aSEnSOFq_J0pGKfYY-CO22yY1a2hJP5y0wuwZQair6ovYxLyy9KQxmLSZymJVWknbTmuqeTOQh1ijWx/s1600/dubois2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uRRaOlWkMrlZljyYrFiCY1n3D_YjJoE1EkWPM8DsxfVtnEY9vhYrekdAoDE84aSEnSOFq_J0pGKfYY-CO22yY1a2hJP5y0wuwZQair6ovYxLyy9KQxmLSZymJVWknbTmuqeTOQh1ijWx/s1600/dubois2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After being accused of being a communist, brought before a judge and the case being dismissed, Du Bois officially joined the communist party in 1961 and left the U.S. A year later he gave up his U.S. citizenship and became a citizen of Ghana (that's in Africa). He died in 1963. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can find out more about W.E.B. Du Bois at <a href="http://www.biography.com/articles/W.E.B.-Du-Bois-9279924?part=0">Biography dot com</a>. There is also a pretty cool <a href="http://www.thinkfinity.org/naacp-resources">interactive NAACP timeline at Thinkfinity</a> that would be useful to tie into a lesson plan. It even has lesson plans built into it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div> </div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-27177987547835274872011-02-15T23:53:00.002-06:002011-02-16T00:28:09.807-06:00Black History: Test Your Knowledge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikS4O_tvGLaBMG6sdjAKFdGD40UMev_tZsScDpCWfIWPEPviQVEgXM4BZls3FJyf0OU5zYB5ahQO1SkW1H3ulQd3zmMcJqJaUxxLll3U_TZTeuYIzMk19OsNAiVAtC_M0bMzPB5c8o-9bo/s1600/Black+History+Quiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikS4O_tvGLaBMG6sdjAKFdGD40UMev_tZsScDpCWfIWPEPviQVEgXM4BZls3FJyf0OU5zYB5ahQO1SkW1H3ulQd3zmMcJqJaUxxLll3U_TZTeuYIzMk19OsNAiVAtC_M0bMzPB5c8o-9bo/s320/Black+History+Quiz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center">Okay, I thought it might be fun to have a little trivia today, even though it's not Fun Friday. This is a great opportunity for me to plan out the questions that I will be using on Fun Friday for the kiddos. Thanks for volunteering to let me practice on you...hehehe:)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Okay I'm only going to ask you five questions, that's not bad right??? All of the questions are taken from the Brain Quest Black History Revised Edition. This one targets kids ages 9 and up so it shouldn't be too hard (yeah right). I won't be grading you so don't Google the answers or look them up in your own copy of Brain Quest, just for fun let's see if you can know (or can guess) the answers.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Here we go:</div><div align="center"><br />
1. To whom did Martin Luther King, Jr., address his<em> Letter from Birmingham City Jail?</em><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">2. In what mid-western city did Dr. Daniel Hale Williams establish the first African-American hospital?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. Name the athlete who defied Hitler's theory of black inferiority by winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Name the jazz legend whose signature tune was "Take the 'A' Train."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5. What great 19th-century speaker declared that education means "light and liberty?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well that's it for now, simple enough huh? I'll give the answers to the quiz on Friday 2/18/2011 (My nephew's birthday...yes, I remembered this time sir).</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good luck, I hope you do well on the quiz...remember NO CHEATING, this is just for fun:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-75172136460165071742011-02-14T08:15:00.000-06:002011-02-14T08:15:34.234-06:00Monday Blog Hop 2/14/2011<div align="center">Today is Valentine's Day and that's great but I think I'm going to kick the day off with a blog hop. </div><div align="center">Join me to check out some new blogs and make new friends.</div><div align="center">As always...I FOLLOW BACK!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Here's were I'm going today:</div><div align="center"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kdbuggie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b441/kshisley/minglemondayblogbutton-2.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://justmarriedwithcoupons.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Just Married with Coupons" src="http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8962/giveawaybutton.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://freefrugality.blogspot.com/search/label/Follow%20Us%20Monday%20Morning"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab355/Frugalityisfree/smallfloridaphotosine-1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-68953613589682157112011-02-11T13:33:00.001-06:002011-02-11T13:35:18.572-06:00The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 2<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/p/about-homeschool-mothers-journal.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz84/SueQGal/HSMJgraphic.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>In my life this week...</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My mother is currently in the hospital after having her foot amputated. She has struggled with diabetes most of her life. I've found it difficult to focus this week thinking about the quality of life she has to look forward to now. I worry that some of the things that she still wanted to do in life will not happen. My mother enjoys her independence and I'm concerned about how this will effect that. I live far enough away from her that it's difficult to visit as often as I'd like, and I fear that she will no longer be able to live alone.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">In our homeschool this week...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We continued with our Black History Month theme this week. Sunshyne has also been extremely focused on her Girl Scout cookie sales. I'm proud of her because she's a very playful child and doesn't take much seriously, but she has put a lot of effort into this venture.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Places we're going and people we're seeing...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With my mother being in the hospital, that's pretty much where we have been. It's such a blessing to enjoy the flexibility of homeschooling. Sunshyne LOVES her grandmother and was able to go with me to visit her before her surgery. It's times like that when I am so grateful to our decision to homeschool. My mother was so happy to see Sunshyne and vice versa, it just really made those bleak circumstances feel like everything was going to be okay.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Also, a friend of mine is now the director of a branch of Classical Conversations and invited Sunshyne to visit one of the classes this week. I'd never heard of CC until my friend started up a location nearby. It was nice to visit and I really liked the history curriculum that the program utilizes. I've never been a person that uses one single curriculum for everything so it doesn't appeal to me from that aspect but I like that the class meets just once per week and that I am still able to homeschool my child the rest of the week. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll probably do a review of our visit in more detail for folks that are not familiar with CC, in the near future.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>My favorite thing this week was...</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunshyne sung Swing Low, Sweet Chariot as a part of our Black History activities. Her little voice singing that song was just the cutest thing. I love to hear her sing anyway, but that song touches me so deeply because it has meaning. It was a memorable moment...my favorite thing this week.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">What's working/not working for us...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've just wanted to add more liveliness to our homeschool and that has yet to happen. I continue to tell myself that I'm going to sit down on the weekend and prepare some new and fun activities for certain subjects but I still haven't found the time. Also, I struggle with distractions of all types during my classroom time. My phone ringing, changes with schedules, last minute stuff that seems to pop-up all the time...it seems never ending. Lastly, I'd also like to point out that I haven't given Sunshyne any new spelling words in two weeks, so I guess that is officially not working for us now. I've got to pull it back together.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This week I have just wanted to focus more on our classroom, unfortunately that hasn't really happened but I'm hopeful for next week. </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">A photo, video, link, or quote to share...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnA6zcdETMbriP9wrIKIlEPsAnaLXo9-McGsNX670P2uDwE3OI_aT129_cfS6Qgi96DexGzuMMM_thCFa8dui8dYBwfL-SYwCLXCkTajTCi-fOi38WLzP8LfoxRxFmK4HtbuvdxxVmYg_/s1600/RJ+and+puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnA6zcdETMbriP9wrIKIlEPsAnaLXo9-McGsNX670P2uDwE3OI_aT129_cfS6Qgi96DexGzuMMM_thCFa8dui8dYBwfL-SYwCLXCkTajTCi-fOi38WLzP8LfoxRxFmK4HtbuvdxxVmYg_/s320/RJ+and+puppy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">RJ visiting with a neighbors adorable little puppy...cute!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for stopping by, please visit <a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/">The Homeschool Chick</a> to read other mother's journals.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36AslKxSN_KERgh1zBxXF6MqQDAIysWoAHe-WYbnIg63bnMCXDSOIi38w_XjRX_NMcVe13QMaG53loFVr52ksf1MAFwzKxnKSXSGHWfy0TVNJuXP14BQnKCAwvJ_tZ9uFl4JsYdNhXQTJ/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-63860932415919938822011-02-10T15:31:00.000-06:002011-02-10T15:31:21.483-06:00Black History: Follow The Drinking Gourd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWanK_rNFizuY-JmTBfW_mdPpObXbSB-zz8iEhGPOJ0ssUCHk87qNTTvQ-6_yeC5882v5eu3Vb3tE4GZX4PcZeWIKp43TDE3WT92XHG6KJ9WaVKqDng7LKVlSMqLo8U_RihRYsUiw3upd/s1600/bigdipper.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWanK_rNFizuY-JmTBfW_mdPpObXbSB-zz8iEhGPOJ0ssUCHk87qNTTvQ-6_yeC5882v5eu3Vb3tE4GZX4PcZeWIKp43TDE3WT92XHG6KJ9WaVKqDng7LKVlSMqLo8U_RihRYsUiw3upd/s1600/bigdipper.gif" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center">During slavery, music and song was as important to African-Americans as any other necessity of life. Folks used song to ease the burden of long, hard days of working from dusk til dawn, and to hope for better days to come. Song was also used for practical reasons as well like to communicate something to others in the field, or more importantly, to tell each other how to escape to freedom.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6pqW9kY3nfk8qT8aCmfkRlW2eO8i6PJiFkef_H7lF5pQizoZDGh-CayyPNLC1IAi_QM6CfLA_dJC77rTgW5rM8FmzB00Hxit_Db8S6xXDR31wFcc6f4OArj1MYcCb13O5kDbwEbkcMlK/s1600/gourd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6pqW9kY3nfk8qT8aCmfkRlW2eO8i6PJiFkef_H7lF5pQizoZDGh-CayyPNLC1IAi_QM6CfLA_dJC77rTgW5rM8FmzB00Hxit_Db8S6xXDR31wFcc6f4OArj1MYcCb13O5kDbwEbkcMlK/s1600/gourd.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Follow The Drinking Gourd was exactly that, a map to freedom disguised in a song. Although a drinking gourd is a hollowed out gourd that was used for passing around drinking water to slaves, it's meaning in the song was the Big Dipper. This group of stars would guide slaves to freedom in the north.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Here are the words to this famous slave song:</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><u>Follow The Drinking Gourd</u></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,</div><div align="center">Follow the drinking gourd.</div><div align="center">For the old man is a-waiting for to </div><div align="center">carry you to freedom</div><div align="center">If you follow the drinking gourd.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Follow the drinking gourd,</div><div align="center">Follow the drinking gourd,</div><div align="center">For the old man is a-waiting for to</div><div align="center">carry you to freedom</div><div align="center">If you follow the drinking gourd.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">The river ends between two hills,</div><div align="center">Follow the drinking gourd.</div><div align="center">There's another river on the other side,</div><div align="center">Follow the drinking gourd.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Follow the drinking gourd, </div><div align="center">Follow the drinking gourd, </div><div align="center">For the old man is a-waiting for to </div><div align="center">carry you to freedom</div><div align="center">If you follow the drinking gourd. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I was looking around on You Tube and found this awesome rendition of the song by the Ishmel Sisters, it's a little long, but well worth six minutes of your time. These girls are amazing!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Have an outstanding Thursday and thanks for stopping by!</div><div align="center"><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/loS4rqjRXBE" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-15302176702196679162011-02-10T12:31:00.001-06:002011-02-10T12:45:33.642-06:00Thursday Blog Hops 2/10/2011<div align="center">Here's where I'm hanging out today for the Thursday Blog Hops</div><div align="center">Don't forget, I ALWAYS FOLLOW BACK...even if it takes me a few days :)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://menonewmom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><br />
<img src="http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae209/tberbells/dreamstime_12196999-1-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bassgiraffe.com/category/bassgiraffe-linkups" target="blank"><img alt="Bassgiraffe's Thoughts Thursday Blog Hop" border="0" height="125" src="http://www.bassgiraffe.com/buttons/200x200button-thursdaybloghop.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-22618417157157547032011-02-09T08:46:00.000-06:002011-02-09T08:46:36.008-06:00Henry "Box" Brown<div align="center"></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjAFUPu0oKvkEq9z6MtZ85mZO8f1MGK9DLYFQiIz4KNhXgIRBTJYKXrb1sdOUNoIGp64UzRIGwsM-bae5KcrYRZv9zUCO7Sucs1Xied-9wp6CQnT2J91-0YiITMjZdAmYaaD_aN9ZGIj3/s1600/henry%2527s+freedom+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjAFUPu0oKvkEq9z6MtZ85mZO8f1MGK9DLYFQiIz4KNhXgIRBTJYKXrb1sdOUNoIGp64UzRIGwsM-bae5KcrYRZv9zUCO7Sucs1Xied-9wp6CQnT2J91-0YiITMjZdAmYaaD_aN9ZGIj3/s1600/henry%2527s+freedom+box.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Have you read the story of Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levin and illustrated by Kadir Nelson? This is one of the many captivating and emotional stories that we are reading this month. It is the story of Henry Brown's ingenious escape to freedom. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Henry Brown was born a slave and lived with his mother working in their master's house until the age of about 10 (Henry did not know exactly how old he was), when he was given to his master's son. At that point he worked in a tobacco factory until he was a young man. Eventually, he met a young woman and was given permission to marry her. They lived together and had three children. One day a friend came to Henry with some horrifying news that motivated Henry to make a critical decision. He needed to decide how to make his escape to freedom. A random crate would give him the perfect idea to join the ranks of having one of the most infamous escapes to freedom in (American) slavery history.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5qri5yxxI0ORggryt2vppcIssmKDTtV_lXp98GAzRijw6wriyA8DfIUTLnRAjM2LlhkxkBBJSwdcIQv1tSjvYABNTUiVvP04-yZhSb3Kr8RLfA91qVA-dsE8Ssn8OMy5q-A7LP2TgCho/s1600/boxbrown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5qri5yxxI0ORggryt2vppcIssmKDTtV_lXp98GAzRijw6wriyA8DfIUTLnRAjM2LlhkxkBBJSwdcIQv1tSjvYABNTUiVvP04-yZhSb3Kr8RLfA91qVA-dsE8Ssn8OMy5q-A7LP2TgCho/s320/boxbrown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Henry "Box" Brown escaped from Virginia to Philadelphia in 1849 in his freedom box. The account of Henry's escape is recounted in "The Underground Railroad" by William Still, first published in 1872. The illustration above is the lithograph created by Samuel Rowse in 1850, which inspired the incredible artwork by Kadir Nelson for this book.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">A must read in my opinion, it's not only informative but moving, and it truly encompasses the emotions of heart-break and triumph of Henry "Box" Brown's story.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I hope you're having an informative and enlightening Black History Month!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcwfPlJaqu3CccQBcukjIlBVqtTJZ5iNpwV04jWS5vpsQjYkO1NBs-Mk41mOXTkldOcZ40tYidA5YJKm-ORqqAmfVH2GFRhLOopLuI5-IyWz7ggWh7ugWJwXZxV-WaLgqzQVc7SlLTOxC/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcwfPlJaqu3CccQBcukjIlBVqtTJZ5iNpwV04jWS5vpsQjYkO1NBs-Mk41mOXTkldOcZ40tYidA5YJKm-ORqqAmfVH2GFRhLOopLuI5-IyWz7ggWh7ugWJwXZxV-WaLgqzQVc7SlLTOxC/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a> </div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-79762103227489568622011-02-04T09:40:00.003-06:002011-02-04T09:59:44.037-06:00The Homeschool Mother's Journal<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/p/about-homeschool-mothers-journal.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz84/SueQGal/HSMJgraphic.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">In my life this week...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">We have been down to one vehicle for a few weeks and it truly took it's toll on me this week. Having to wake up extra early to drop my husband off at work, which was a 45 minute drive each way. Only to return home and have to get my son to work within 15 minutes. It was such a trying ordeal. The experience was a reminder to appreciate all the things that I have...conveniences such as having two cars, washing machines, and dish washers... All Blessings!!!</span></div><span style="color: #444444;"></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><strong>In our homeschool this week...</strong></span><br />
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Sunhyne has been so excited about her Girl Scout Cookie Sales. She's a Junior this year and ironically it's her first year to participate in cookie sales. She's been going door to door taking orders and has had a such a wonderful experience. She even had a few of her friends come out to help. Her excitement and enthusiasm has been my favorite part of the week:)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Places we're going and people we're seeing...</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We made it to our weekly PE class this week and Sunshyne had a blast, as usual. I think it's imperative for her to participate in PE because balance and coordination is challenging for her. Poor baby, she LOVES playing sports but she constantly falls.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </span><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">My favorite thing this week was...</span></strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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This week, we are focusing on Black History in celebration of Black History Month. We are discussing historical figures, slavery, the civil rights movement, African-American traditions...food, games, songs, etc. All of which I'm highlighting on my blog this month.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><strong>What's working/not working for us...</strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are loving several aspects of our homeschool schedule this year. First, we are using lapbooks for science and it's working out SO well. I love seeing them come together and knowing that the kids have something to look back on and review later on. Also, we LOVE Teaching Textbooks for math this semester. This is our first year trying the TT curriculum and it is awesome!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><strong>Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="color: black;">I would like to do some things different with our history curriculum. We are currently using the Abeka U.S History book for 4th grade. I just think it gets boring at times and doesn't really bring history to life. I'd like to add more to history some how. I have tried adding videos to portions of our studies from the History channel, but do not always find the time to do so. I've thought about Brain Pop as an option for history as well...I guess I just need to find the time to sit down and re-vamp that portion of our curriculum.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">A photo, video, link, or quote to share...</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x3mPVPOQgtUp8yqKvGPaK-Rqw4LWBsqESj-8cXILt1TkfWhAeVTckMJSfphjIu3eKoqe0zuC2O6L8XnN1NvU7L9SBDUcYrgY2gNv1JQSL25ESuhPLIxVv_b1m7JVMao2_BhcsDD9AZLM/s1600/GS+Sunshyne+and+Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x3mPVPOQgtUp8yqKvGPaK-Rqw4LWBsqESj-8cXILt1TkfWhAeVTckMJSfphjIu3eKoqe0zuC2O6L8XnN1NvU7L9SBDUcYrgY2gNv1JQSL25ESuhPLIxVv_b1m7JVMao2_BhcsDD9AZLM/s320/GS+Sunshyne+and+Friends.jpg" width="320" /></strong></a></div>Sunshyne and Friends going door-to-door for Girl Scout Cookie sales.<br />
Thanks for stopping by!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>~</strong>Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcwfPlJaqu3CccQBcukjIlBVqtTJZ5iNpwV04jWS5vpsQjYkO1NBs-Mk41mOXTkldOcZ40tYidA5YJKm-ORqqAmfVH2GFRhLOopLuI5-IyWz7ggWh7ugWJwXZxV-WaLgqzQVc7SlLTOxC/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcwfPlJaqu3CccQBcukjIlBVqtTJZ5iNpwV04jWS5vpsQjYkO1NBs-Mk41mOXTkldOcZ40tYidA5YJKm-ORqqAmfVH2GFRhLOopLuI5-IyWz7ggWh7ugWJwXZxV-WaLgqzQVc7SlLTOxC/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
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</span> </div></div></div><span style="color: #444444;"></span></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-30182049871322989802011-02-04T07:28:00.001-06:002011-02-04T07:57:23.373-06:00Follow Me Friday Blog Hops<div style="text-align: center;">***I ALWAYS FOLLOW BACK***</div><div style="text-align: center;">TGIF...These are the blog hops that I'm participating in today, come join in the fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ontheverge6.blogspot.com/"><img alt="badge" border="0" current="followmefriday.jpg" src="http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l453/lydbruno/followmefriday.jpg" target="_blank" /></a></div><br />
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<center><a href="http://momroad.com/"><img alt="Follow Along Fridays" border="0" src="http://www.dsaffo.com/blog/followalongfridays.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://designitchic.blogspot.com/search/label/Boost%20My%20Blog%20Friday" target="_blank"><img alt="BoostMyBlogFriday" border="0" src="http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt262/designitchic/Boost-My-Blog-Friday.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Hopping!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcwfPlJaqu3CccQBcukjIlBVqtTJZ5iNpwV04jWS5vpsQjYkO1NBs-Mk41mOXTkldOcZ40tYidA5YJKm-ORqqAmfVH2GFRhLOopLuI5-IyWz7ggWh7ugWJwXZxV-WaLgqzQVc7SlLTOxC/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcwfPlJaqu3CccQBcukjIlBVqtTJZ5iNpwV04jWS5vpsQjYkO1NBs-Mk41mOXTkldOcZ40tYidA5YJKm-ORqqAmfVH2GFRhLOopLuI5-IyWz7ggWh7ugWJwXZxV-WaLgqzQVc7SlLTOxC/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a></div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2346846004855972019.post-50844726251532677612011-02-03T07:30:00.001-06:002011-02-03T07:37:15.380-06:00Black Inventor: Garrett Morgan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JNMlMfaZNv_wGG5bsrrMsXMHG7YdxUzBRlmrhk0Ew-g2WclMMQh3WDDEGEWmwsgp1JlhX0OKxiit4fWj247-j-GKAUaPRkX8_vtiWGQUP9fzY4mPD2IBqTUUfxhWlnA37DULP-Smn0Fs/s1600/20100304-Garrett_Morgan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JNMlMfaZNv_wGG5bsrrMsXMHG7YdxUzBRlmrhk0Ew-g2WclMMQh3WDDEGEWmwsgp1JlhX0OKxiit4fWj247-j-GKAUaPRkX8_vtiWGQUP9fzY4mPD2IBqTUUfxhWlnA37DULP-Smn0Fs/s320/20100304-Garrett_Morgan.gif" width="255" /></a></div><div align="center">Today we will be taking a look at the famous African-American Inventor Garrett Morgan. Born March 4, 1877 in Paris, Kentucky, Morgan was the 7th of 11 children. <br />
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One of Morgan's most profound inventions was the Safety Hood or Gas Mask.</div><div align="center">The Gas Mask looked very different than today's gas mask in it's early beginning. It truly looked like something out of a science fiction movie. Despite it's Sci-fi inspiring look, Morgan won a first prize placement at the Second International Exposition of Safety and Sanitation, complete with a gold medal.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFL1Momcze9TAcOy9zcA2WMGlzRAa9wElQeQFNDs3a1lxDobQj1HgjuIZ1RT8WxypBBj1CjDXrv4kf8lUGygaeXl6Smfya-2OSmdYOSebLQflMS2HYtL2_zE04tcLPADs9_EbVFkS_iUQ/s1600/GM+with+gas+mask.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFL1Momcze9TAcOy9zcA2WMGlzRAa9wElQeQFNDs3a1lxDobQj1HgjuIZ1RT8WxypBBj1CjDXrv4kf8lUGygaeXl6Smfya-2OSmdYOSebLQflMS2HYtL2_zE04tcLPADs9_EbVFkS_iUQ/s1600/GM+with+gas+mask.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In addition to Morgans already astounding accomplishments with the Gas Mask invention, that was used in World War I and saved thousands of lives, Morgan also invented the Traffic Signal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Morgan designed the Traffic Signal after witnessing a collision between an automobile and a horse and carriage. The horse had to be put down and the driver of the automobile was knocked unconscious. Morgan created and patented the Traffic Signal and then sold the rights to the General Electric Company for $40,000.00 dollars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Morgan went on to get involved with the Civil Rights movement with starting a newspaper, Call & Post and getting involved with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) as treasurer. Morgan died July 27, 1963.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To read a full bio on Garrett Morgan please visit <a href="http://www.blackinventor.com/pages/garrettmorgan.html">Blackinventor dot com</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Activity ideas: Create a paper gas mask replica of Morgans model using construction paper and toilet/paper towel tubes, Create a<a href="http://www.parentsconnect.com/do/red_light_green_light.jhtml"> Tissue Box Traffic Light craft</a>. Check out this super cute traffic light snack idea at <a href="http://www.twigglemagazine.com/September-activities/traffic-light-sanck.html">Twiggle Magazine</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are two new links for Black History Month Fun: <a href="http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/black-history-month/">The Teachers Corner</a> and <a href="http://fun.familyeducation.com/black-history-month/holidays/32871.html">Family Education</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please let me know if you're doing or have done any of the activities, I'd love to see pictures! Thanks for stopping by!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~Blessings~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Claudea B. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcwfPlJaqu3CccQBcukjIlBVqtTJZ5iNpwV04jWS5vpsQjYkO1NBs-Mk41mOXTkldOcZ40tYidA5YJKm-ORqqAmfVH2GFRhLOopLuI5-IyWz7ggWh7ugWJwXZxV-WaLgqzQVc7SlLTOxC/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcwfPlJaqu3CccQBcukjIlBVqtTJZ5iNpwV04jWS5vpsQjYkO1NBs-Mk41mOXTkldOcZ40tYidA5YJKm-ORqqAmfVH2GFRhLOopLuI5-IyWz7ggWh7ugWJwXZxV-WaLgqzQVc7SlLTOxC/s1600/Claudea+B.+Signature.png" /></a> </div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Mama Know Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964685569947198892noreply@blogger.com0