back to {home}school

It's been a busy week around here.  Monday was our first full day of school work since summer began.  Our homeschool soccer team has started practices again too.  So the next month and a half or so will be extra-busy for us!  Bubba was none-too-thrilled about doing full-time school again, but he's even getting back into it.  CJ is starting to have a little Preschool time...mostly playing with Play-doh while Bubba is doing school.  :D

We are currently studying the Civil War.  So much about American History that I never really learned.  It just amazes me that not only is my child learning that there WAS a Civil War in this Country, but he's actually learning ABOUT it.  And not just the dates.  He's learning about the people, the issues and how people on both sides of these issues felt and thought!  Incredible.  Why, oh why, couldn't someone have taught me history when I was a kid?  It's taken me teaching my own child in order to learn this stuff.  One of the many reasons I teach my kids at home!  Thanks again, Sonlight, for making my job as a homeschool teacher a tad easier!

It seems that autumn may be coming early this year.  The leaves are already beginning to change and it's not even September yet!  I can't believe the summer is basically over and fall is right around the corner.  But I think it's been a pretty nice summer and we even did a little school work occasionally which is nice when you are in the middle of a Sonlight Core.

Interested in homeschooling your kids too?  I love Sonlight's Cores!  Go ahead and click the link to Sonlight over on my sidebar and see all they have to offer!

reward yourself for shopping online!

Some of my reasons for online shopping are 

1. you can shop in your jammies!
2. online stores are open 24/7
3. you can find anything you could possible want or need online--not so when shopping at local stores in a small town!
4. your purchase is mailed or shipped directly to your home
5. best of all--REWARDS!   

There are many reward sites for online shoppers.  So far, I've used MyPoints and Ebates. 

With MyPoints you earn points that add up to rewards.  You get points for online purchases, reading emails (i.e. clicking links within the email to a featured site), and occasionally by a promotional "game" like their current "Spin N' Win."  Over the years, we've earned quite a few gift cards for different stores we like to shop at!  It's a fun way to get something "free" because you bought something else! 

Lately, I've been using Ebates too.  I like the Ebates program because the site also shows what coupons or deals are available at the site you want to shop at.  I also like the fact that your reward is a "BIG FAT CHECK" every few months.  Okay, so my checks haven't really been all that big, but a little "extra" spending money is still nice! 

Many of the sites I already shop at are available at at least one of these reward sites.  So shopping online can really pay!

socks, socks, more socks!

i just finished this pair last night.  that's 2 pairs finished in less than a week!  this pair was my June/July vacation project...a pair of socks is easy to take along.  but i didn't have enough knitting time on the trip to get 'em done.  i spent a good portion of our 2 week trip out west looking at scenery and trying to take pictures instead of knitting.  ah well.  they're done now!

pattern: Twilight from 2-at-a-time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes
needles: US1 40" circular
yarn:  Knit Picks Essential Kettle Dyed in Bordeaux

since i still haven't posted anything about our trip, i'll just mention that we took a road trip out west with my parents.  our drive took us through Glacier National Park, across Idaho, to the Spokane,WA area where we visited with my cousin and his family and then on to Mount Rainier.  from there we went over to see the Pacific Ocean and then up the coast through the Olympic National Forest with its beautiful rainforests!  fans of the Twilight series will know that the story's main setting is Forks, WA.  that's right...we went right through Forks and even took the drive over to La Push {beautiful!}!  if you haven't already figured it out, I am indeed a Twilight fan--i can't wait 'til they get all the movies done but so far, the books are still better!  so now take a look at the name of this sock pattern and you'll see why i chose it for my trip project.  (besides, it doesn't scream "I'm a crazy Twilight fan!" but i still thought it was fitting!) after touring the northwestern part of washington, we headed down to Yellowstone and after a couple days at Yellowstone, we headed back home to minnesota.  it was a busy, but good trip!  and one of these days i'll go thru my hundreds of pictures and maybe post a few!

VBS family night

it was VBS week at our church. bubba always enjoys VBS and this year was no exception. last night (friday) they had the VBS program and family night. it gives the kids a chance to show their families the Bible verses and songs they learned during the week. we also had a yummy "cowboy cookout" as part of the evening's outdoor fun. hotdogs, baked beans, chips and watermelon were served up picnic style. everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. as for me, this is the first year in quite a while that i wasn't helping out with VBS. it was a nice break and i'm glad to have taken it.

here's a short video of one of the songs...it was so cute and funny! the kids seemed to really enjoy singing and doing the actions!

bubba's the young man in back wearing the big white cowboy hat.

i realize the video's a tad blurry due to the fact that i had to reduce the quality in order to upload it.  you get the picture though!  

isn't he a handsome cowboy?

new socks

at last!  i've been working on this pair since november 9, 2009.  of course, i've done a bunch of other projects in the meantime, but it feels so good to have these on my feet instead of still on my knitting needles!

pattern: Elfine's socks by Anna Bell 

needles: size US2 

yarn: Jojoland Melody Superwash yarn in MS16 (blues/greens)

knitwit knits again

here's a hat and scarf set that i made for my niece's 5th birthday.  i think it turned out pretty cute...i especially like the hat!

cj's none too happy to have his tv time interrupted,
but i needed someone to model the hat for my photo!

i really like the way these self-striping yarns combined in this
mistake rib scarf pattern!  it was easy peasy too!