Ambitious April

Boise Tree Lighting Ceremony

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Boise Tree Lighting

Homeschool Support, Only A Podcast Away

I love using my MP3 player and one of my favorite uses is to listen to Homeschool Podcasts, while I clean, cook, and exercise.

A podcast is like a talk radio show produced by everyday people then uploaded onto the web for sharing. For more information on what a podcast is check out this article from HowStuffWorks.com: How Podcasting Works

I really enjoy listening to the other homeschool mothers share information, resources, and inspiration with me via their podcasts. Below are a few of my favorites:

Blog Talk Radio, type in Homeschool in the search-many are older archived shows

Homeschool.com Podcasts

Cindy Rushton's Mom to Mom Radio Show

A few non homeschool related podcasts:

Satellite Sisters

Vicky and Jen

A Science Experiments You Can Gift!

I get emails from the Home School Enrichment Magazine email list and this fun recipe was in their last one:

Science experiments you can use as gifts:

Fizzy Bath Bombs

This science-gift project, when mixed together with water, creates a chemical reaction. Don't be scared: you will not be blowing your grandma up when she uses her bath bombs. The chemical reaction occurs when the combination of citric acid and baking soda gets wet in the bath and forms carbon dioxide. Grandma will see fizzing and bubbling in the tub, but no explosions.

Items Needed:
• 2 tablespoons citric acid (look in canning supplies or health food stores)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Baking soda
• Fragrance oil (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Waxed paper
• Small cup or bowl
What To Do
Mix all the dry ingredients (citric acid, cornstarch, and baking soda) in mixing bowl. Next, in a small cup, mix the oil, fragrance, and coloring together. Slowly mix the liquid into the dry ingredients. Be sure to mix it very well.

Form 1-inch balls and place them on the waxed paper to dry. They should be semi-hard within 2–3 hours. However, let them dry 24–48 hours before placing them in a storage or gift container.
Label the container: "Add two or three to your bath and enjoy!"

This Enrichment Tip was excerpted from the "Give it a Try!" column by Melissa Pinkley in the Nov/Dec 2009 issue of Home School Enrichment Magazine.

November Homeschool PE

Kaleb Playing Stuff the Turkey-He's the one on the floor.

Ian playing Pilgrims VS Turkeys Tug of War

Where's My Muse?

I glanced at her and took my glasses
off—they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. "I am your own
way of looking at things," she said. "When
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation." And I took her hand.
~William Stafford

Love this quote, reminds me to not be embarrassed if my way of looking at the world is different from someone else's. It shouts to me, be yourself and let your muse speak!!!

There's a point...

I Stumbled this quote and had to blog about it, because this week I reached 'the point'. You get tired of caring about people who really could care less about you when it comes down to it. So really, it's a total waste of your time and energy. If you have to try too hard in a relationship ALL the time, it's not a relationship and you are probably better off without that connection in your life. Maybe this is not true for everyone, but in this one particular instance it is true for me. I feel a huge weight has been lifted just from the purge of that person from my life. So long, been nice knowing you, I'll take what you've given me and move on...have a nice life!