tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65596396467073459842024-02-07T10:17:44.244-06:00A New Day in My Father's WorldMelanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-11973155501382794832011-05-13T13:33:00.000-05:002011-05-13T13:33:00.651-05:00Homeschooler Meets Debbie Downer...Homeschooler Meets Debbie Downer...<br />
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Recently, I was in a heated debate over the issue of State Registration. I was accused of being overly defensive. I pondered that and realised I <em>was </em>being overly defensive. In an attempt to explain <em>why </em>I was overly defensive, I ended up making this video. It is a good example of what I encounter quite often when talking to people, most of the time it is with complete strangers. I am sure most homeschoolers can totally relate to the conversation in this video...enjoy!<b><br />
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<object height="312" width="504"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars"value="height=312&width=504&allowscriptaccess=always&allowfullscreen=true&skin=http://www.xtranormal.com%2Fsite_media%2Fplayers%2Fjw_player_v54%2Fxn.xml&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/57b16ea6-5db1-11e0-be99-003048d6740d_57.mp4&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/57b16ea6-5db1-11e0-be99-003048d6740d_57.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/11641169&title=Homeschooler Meets Debbie Downer&author=nacci527&date=April 3, 2011&plugins=gapro%2Cfbit-1%2Ctweetit-1%2Cviral-2&gapro.accountid=UA-5134028-2"/><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jw_player_v54/player.swf" height="312" width="504" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="skin=http://www.xtranormal.com%2Fsite_media%2Fplayers%2Fjw_player_v54%2Fxn.xml&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/57b16ea6-5db1-11e0-be99-003048d6740d_57.mp4&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/57b16ea6-5db1-11e0-be99-003048d6740d_57.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/11641169&title=Homeschooler Meets Debbie Downer&author=nacci527&date=April 3, 2011&plugins=gapro%2Cfbit-1%2Ctweetit-1%2Cviral-2&gapro.accountid=UA-5134028-2" /></embed></object><object height="1" width="1"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf" width="1" height="1" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object></b>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-539812531122129842011-04-27T00:48:00.001-05:002011-04-27T02:33:25.869-05:00Twisting Tornadoes<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span><span style="font-size: medium;">One week of hands-on learning adventures for kids from K – 4</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">th </span><span style="font-size: medium;">grade. </span><br />
<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="http://downloadngo.com/images/Thumbnails/TwistingTornadoesCoverSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://downloadngo.com/images/Thumbnails/TwistingTornadoesCoverSM.jpg" width="153" /></a></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;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Spring is such a wonderful season, is it not? Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, the drab, gray, cold, stark, bitterness of winter melts away to bluer skies, warmer days, green grass, and the promise of newness and longer funfilled days. Ah, but then there is that looming green sky and the "W" on the screen of our T.V.'s that remind us to take the good with the bad.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> T O R N A D O E S !!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We all cringe at the word, many of us spelling it out for young prereader ears to not hear and panic. Memories of a youth spent terrified of the beast flood our mind. Children are fascinated with the awesome force. Why not learn about them in a fun, safe, lapbook study?<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><i><span style="font-family: Myriad Pro, Myriad Pro; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Myriad Pro, Myriad Pro; font-size: medium;">Twisting Tornadoes </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">lapbook—building wonderful memories that can be shared for years to come. </span></i></span><br />
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In this study, your child will investigate how tornadoes form, where they typically form, how they work, and how to watch for the signs of tornado weather, as well as what to do in an emergency and how to stay safe. Each day he will explore and investigate, creating and adding more learning components to his lapbook.<br />
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If you have never done lapbook studies before, you are in for a real treat! These are so much fun, and your child will think he is on a break!<br />
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<a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=863175&c=ib&aff=166940&cl=149184" target="ejejcsingle">Click here to view more details</a><br />
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<div align="center">Download N Go™ Series</div><div align="center">By Amanda Bennett and The Old Schoolhouse</div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-81209197073964928462011-04-22T23:40:00.002-05:002011-04-23T02:33:39.712-05:00Homeschool Conferences and Other Wonders of the WorldYes, I feel like I am in blogger confession right now, (or at least what I imagine it's like) It has been October since my last blogfession! I admit, I am great at NOT practicing what I preach! <br />
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So, it happens, I got busy with schooling, holidays, depression (mild) lots of illness (nothing major) It is soooo hard to get back into the swing of things, when you have taken such a long break. We are "behind." Behind OUR schedule, at least. I am rerouting our course to include schooling this summer, and I think from now on we will just break from Dec- Feb. We seem to do that anyway, as it is. No biggee, we have that luxury.<br />
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I had the great privilege to go to a<a href="http://www.apachecentralillinois.org/Default.aspx?pageId=842425&eventId=234683&EventViewMode=EventDetails"> Homeschool Convention</a> this year! WOW! I really needed that! What a great booster! Plus I got next years curriculum there, and that has NEVER happened in all our years of homeschooling. We are usually scrambling at the last minute to get our books in the fall.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzmmKGRXT1U8XbP1v8ZAl-FTIxTJ2Js9rieMD6mojkcxXMHMQVZKU0gB2s5FlJEigY57CHGWR9YkD81Gx3Jkfx2TNNxaKaHgj4FpLk8GBXSPAYfSn5iB5jg-C9wxtk3fZiKHrkIy-XkE/s1600/2011_APACHE_CONVETION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzmmKGRXT1U8XbP1v8ZAl-FTIxTJ2Js9rieMD6mojkcxXMHMQVZKU0gB2s5FlJEigY57CHGWR9YkD81Gx3Jkfx2TNNxaKaHgj4FpLk8GBXSPAYfSn5iB5jg-C9wxtk3fZiKHrkIy-XkE/s320/2011_APACHE_CONVETION.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br />
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I was able to go with my wonderful husband for both Friday and Saturday; a weekend getaway!<br />
It was fantastic! I took some awesome workshops, absolutely LOVED the keynote speaker sessions with <a href="http://www.spiritofelijah.com/aboutem/">Norm Wakefield</a> and <a href="http://www.summit.org/conferences/workshops/john-stonestreet/">John Stonestreet</a>, and thoroughly enjoyed shopping the vendor's booths. I feel renewed and refreshed and ready to get on with it. So, here is what I learned at the conference in top 10 form<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWOO7AybkxjKWH12glUjI5yzETGG_dowXunpGI_W_pNyXNmopgBxuG2jJGb8JzTyyWEGS7Dci8gNXD9naiCPe6AEDdJ-4PsAV_Nz1mCUQwW74f-GK_l17_4-4nRcYf7Q359jBcGVeY-k/s1600/Top-Ten-1769840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWOO7AybkxjKWH12glUjI5yzETGG_dowXunpGI_W_pNyXNmopgBxuG2jJGb8JzTyyWEGS7Dci8gNXD9naiCPe6AEDdJ-4PsAV_Nz1mCUQwW74f-GK_l17_4-4nRcYf7Q359jBcGVeY-k/s320/Top-Ten-1769840.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">10.) I absolutely MUST keep in mind that I am training up children to someday be Heirs of the Kingdom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">9.) No one else is going to give my children a proper Biblical Worldview.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">8.) A proper Biblical Worldview is VERY IMPORTANT.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">7.) As diverse as us homeschoolers are, we are all very odd nonconformists, and I am happy to be one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">6.) I am wild and crazy in love with my husband. <br />
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5.) Never again let years and years pass until the next convention/weekend getaway.<br />
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4.) Never ever again question whether or not to go to any workshop if the speaker is Jeannie Bauer.<br />
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3.) Pray more diligently for my children. <br />
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2.) Do not be so overly critical that when the children are grown, they have any reason to say, "Nothing we ever did was good enough for you."</div><div align="left"> <br />
1.) But I think the best part about being away for the weekend was this, I was able to brush my teeth, go to the bathroom, and put on my make-up with out having to to swat at little hands, tell little people to, "Give me just one minute, PLEASE!" or settle a squabble with toothpaste dripping from my mouth! Someday, I will miss all that, I know. It sure was nice to NOT miss it for a couple of days, though, let me just tell you!<br />
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I really gleaned a lot of great information, and I advise anyone, especially newbies, to go to a convention even if it's just for the day. It can really work wonders on your MEPS! (mentally, emotionally, physically,& spiritually) I hope to post a little more regularly again. Please let me know what you think of the new blog look!</div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-25385212529629544802010-10-25T12:14:00.000-05:002010-10-25T12:14:08.755-05:00Ideal Curriculum Month 1 Preschool Kit Giveaway<a href="http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/"></a> <div id="navbar"></div><ul class="menu"></ul><div class="aligncenter" id="wrap"><div id="bodyleft"><div id="content"><!-- item --><div class="item entry" id="post-783211"><div class="itemhead"><h1><a href="http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783211/" rel="bookmark">Ideal Curriculum Month 1 Preschool Kit Giveaway</a></h1><div class="date"><span style="font-size: x-small;">October 25th, 2010 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/files/2010/10/Ideal-curriculum-logo.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-783285" height="144" src="http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/files/2010/10/Ideal-curriculum-logo-300x144.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>ONE WINNER WILL RECEIVE <a href="http://www.idealcurriculum.com/transportation-theme.html"><span style="color: #4a8797;">TRANSPORTATION UNIT MONTH ONE</span></a> (DOWNLOAD VERSION).</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">“Transportation theme with art, science, dramatic play, and many other hands-on activities.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><big><strong><span style="font-size: large;">All of our monthly kits include:</span></strong></big></div><ul style="text-align: center;"><li>Daily lessons and activities for literacy, math, calendar, oral language, and science/social studies</li>
<li>Teaching guides</li>
<li>Workbook</li>
<li>Music CD</li>
<li>Science, sight words, and concepts about print books</li>
<li>Supplemental activities<strong></strong></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Skills Taught:</strong></div><ul style="text-align: center;"><li>Letters and Sounds -Letter Names</li>
<li>Phonological Awareness -Listening Skills</li>
<li>Concepts About Print -Print is all Around</li>
<li>Sight Words -Name Recognition</li>
<li>Math -Rote Counting”</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><strong>Be </strong>sure to check out the details on how to enter @ <a href="http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783211/">http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783211/</a></strong></div></div></div></div></div></div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-31418447615361372132010-10-22T21:30:00.001-05:002010-10-22T23:01:37.996-05:00Weeks 7 & 8 Canada, eh?We departed from Mexico and headed by plane , this time, to Canada with our passports in hand. As we crossed the border, we listened to some Canadian music to set the mood. <em>Wee Sing</em> <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/wee-sing-around-the-world-book/pamela-beall/9780843120059/pd/120053?item_code=WW&netp_id=433048&event=ESRCN&view=details">track #10 Going Over The Sea.</a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a border="0" cmimpressionsent="1" href="http://www.christianbook.com/wee-sing-around-the-world-book/pamela-beall/9780843120059/pd/120053?item_code=WW&netp_id=433048&event=ESRCN&view=details#curr" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="Wee Sing Around The World, Book & CD -
By: Pamela Conn Beall, Susan Hagen Nipp
" border="0" height="180" hspace="0" src="http://g.christianbook.com/g/product/1/120053.gif" valign="top" width="180" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It was an interesting study, as we learned about Native Canadians; Inuits. The Eskimo way of life is very intriguing. We decided we would try to build an igloo this winter if we get enough snow! Good luck with that, right?! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Canada has two official languages; English and French. So we learned a few phrases and words in French. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"Comment vas-tu?"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"Je vais bein, merci."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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We also caught a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) while we were there! Fascinating!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PaSFAbATPvk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PaSFAbATPvk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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We learned about the food chain. Carnivores, Herbivores, and Omnivores, oh my! We learned about scavengers, and decomposers, parasites, symbiosis, and mutualism, yep, fun stuff. I skipped animal reproduction- just not ready to go there, yet!<br />
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Our <em>Hero Tales </em>hero's were Catherine & William Booth founders of the Salvation Army. If you have some time to invest in a biography study, do look them up. We also read about George Muller, a man of faith. This book is a great read aloud as the children snack, or work on craft projects.<br />
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We are also reading The Book of Matthew and memorizing verses from chapter 5:11,12. Jesus' own words of blessing and reward for being hated and despised for our belief in Him, just as He was persecuted. <br />
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<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/AVvXsEibxcKy-ERm6yChTd_V1TLwAISnIPCKlc0YjqOalRt-arfrZuwL9HbB5XPRnee2hLya1GxrRh0XAcnhqqG9F8-P_Exzp2OO0Ot46sG9cFU0xukR8L3tMSWgI5uXUuG_daHsYxmWpBte13A/s1600/IMAG0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxcKy-ERm6yChTd_V1TLwAISnIPCKlc0YjqOalRt-arfrZuwL9HbB5XPRnee2hLya1GxrRh0XAcnhqqG9F8-P_Exzp2OO0Ot46sG9cFU0xukR8L3tMSWgI5uXUuG_daHsYxmWpBte13A/s200/IMAG0106.JPG" width="200" /></a>We continued playing the Geography Game in North America. I just love sneaky education ;-)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We had a little experiment to learn how plants and trees take water from the soil and move it up to their branches using stalks of celery, water, and a bit of food coloring for visual effect. We had to remove the Xylem (stringy veins) on one and leave the other intact. The Xylem carries water to the leaves. It was amazing that the celery I used was actually a bit soft, so I was worried it wouldn't turn out right. But it was incredible, the celery stalk intact actually turned out harder, crisper, after leaving it in the water for 24 hrs. We peeled it open to reveal the stained xylem inside had obviously carried water to the leaves. The leaves had red tips. The celery with the Xylem removed became very wilted and soft. Here are the pictures of our results...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoDpMLiZJB_lzAdW4hSd4sHSXhcnvullzAvYoizYYhBUFLQV7iu6pCaaIE6Y-Bvtppm96zSqewABqZDtbarbtLQyUz4Ytr73XvVtWkenaI3Nues_CWQrM_JGtXFI0SV_DuwetUPy-ABk/s1600/IMAG0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoDpMLiZJB_lzAdW4hSd4sHSXhcnvullzAvYoizYYhBUFLQV7iu6pCaaIE6Y-Bvtppm96zSqewABqZDtbarbtLQyUz4Ytr73XvVtWkenaI3Nues_CWQrM_JGtXFI0SV_DuwetUPy-ABk/s320/IMAG0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXYeVWft7BB2WfeidLJilX16xrZ80eIbzzR0Qmh7e6Kx2hwS1C_p_cCMi-fAZ2aCTsmVHt4r-Zxwqa0CBxNiVJUp-0wFOC0lYo2jBsFpBc9golLyVvHinMTM5WhEroDwJjW6UbC9oPoA/s1600/IMAG0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXYeVWft7BB2WfeidLJilX16xrZ80eIbzzR0Qmh7e6Kx2hwS1C_p_cCMi-fAZ2aCTsmVHt4r-Zxwqa0CBxNiVJUp-0wFOC0lYo2jBsFpBc9golLyVvHinMTM5WhEroDwJjW6UbC9oPoA/s320/IMAG0130.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We got silly a bit to avoid going out of our minds at one point! Here is a little glimpse of our random wackiness!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_FQwTpaW5QGyyFXb86iWcMEnIajI7HF3uofgDeSiUlQOudgbvEROKouW8zRSdNdWXhGdZWzX-KGggFIi_QUxFmOBoQc9JgOwHZWQypS-lsgNOD7RJABKjH_J9SfVsOeKkHQetDjHlcQ/s1600/IMAG0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_FQwTpaW5QGyyFXb86iWcMEnIajI7HF3uofgDeSiUlQOudgbvEROKouW8zRSdNdWXhGdZWzX-KGggFIi_QUxFmOBoQc9JgOwHZWQypS-lsgNOD7RJABKjH_J9SfVsOeKkHQetDjHlcQ/s200/IMAG0111.JPG" width="200" /></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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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...trying to teach Luca how to cross his eyes at the School of Hard-knocks! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUCCESS!!</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Unrelated to our studies, we flew back to the US on a field trip to Washington Park after dark with my awesome sister. We enjoyed the splendor of more than 2,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns surrounding the Rees Carillon and Botanical Garden. An hour and a half flew by like nobody's business! It was a great time!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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We will be going to Brazil on Monday. Ah, the life of a world traveler! ;-)Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-47840586640222642422010-10-17T16:04:00.000-05:002010-10-17T16:04:22.957-05:00Free E-Book!! Why Homeschooling Rocks<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A Free E-Book!! </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">From The Homeschool Buyers Co-op:</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-large;">Why Homeschooling Rocks</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=s7u96nbab&et=1103788244361&s=55426&e=001jS1zYYmXhyOmdn4q7vJMONzGT6FEykFh0HXqlc8bUBHEQ8pnw-UervUV_EnEg6DYXHo38Yr_R5E9V6wawiObu13kpj8u-DjGFWyaJJhVbOA-_ONbT320Ch0N7J6GVd0FBGoogYpRf3xVhZrBeKy2PTmqrwFbMlM584ejrxSmZW0=" target="_blank"><img align="center" alt="Homeschool Buyers Co-op" border="0" height="274" src="https://www.quickbase.com/up/bckgns9r3/g/rm6/e3/va/cover-300px-withborder.png" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 18px;"><u></u></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 18px;"><u>A New Homeschooling Classic!</u></span> </div><div align="center">The Homeschool Buyers Co-op is pleased to offer members a FREE copy of "<b><i>Why Homeschooling ROCKS!</i></b>" by the Members of the Homeschool Buyers Co-op. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 18px;"><u>In Their Own Words</u></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: black;">On July 9, 2010, the Co-op posted a simple challenge to our members on the Homeschool Buyers Co-op </span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=s7u96nbab&et=1103788244361&s=55426&e=001jS1zYYmXhyOt-DW9zfc_FQ1kW13xAzpExPO9ubSSADVNSKmhTupyPSKw5ipQKG1ERCrVJy7B9brEJy9fKTM7cWAGmX8i9yzzjpbtgz2dGiWHatWuMl7IFaQmK1IlVhKvktoJVyMBL4k=" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">Facebook wall</span></a><span style="color: black;">: "Tell us why homeschooling rocks, and the Co-op will give a $50 Amazon Gift Card to the member whose post draws the most "Likes" by the end of the month". We indicated that we would compile their posts into an eBook that would be published for all homeschoolers to enjoy. We had no idea what would happen. </span></span></div><span style="color: black;">In the days that followed, we watched with delight as a flood of answers to this simple question poured onto our wall, many of them with photos, and all of them compelling and heartfelt. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Now, as promised, the Homeschool Buyers Co-op is proud and pleased to present this moving testimonial to the joys and rewards of homeschooling. Whether you are considering homeschooling or yourself a homeschool veteran, we think you'll find words and images in this book that will inspire and delight you and your family.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #336699; font-size: 18px;"><u>Available Now to any Member</u></span> <br />
Join the Co-op now, and you'll have access to "Why Homeschooling ROCKS!" within minutes. <br />
Don't keep this offer a secret -- <b><u>forward this email to your friends and homeschool groups!</u></b> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=s7u96nbab&et=1103788244361&s=55426&e=001jS1zYYmXhyOmdn4q7vJMONzGT6FEykFh0HXqlc8bUBHEQ8pnw-UervUV_EnEg6DYXHo38Yr_R5E9V6wawiObu13kpj8u-DjGFWyaJJhVbOA-_ONbT320Ch0N7J6GVd0FBGoogYpRf3xVhZrBeKy2PTmqrwFbMlM584ejrxSmZW0=" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Get your free eBook.</span></b></a><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><div><em>We appreciate you at the Co-op!</em></div><div> </div><div>Brett Walter <div>President <div>Homeschool Buyers Co-op</div><div><em> </em></div></div></div></span></b>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-24784349581717101322010-10-14T09:58:00.001-05:002011-04-23T01:25:48.083-05:00Do You Suffer From Brick Wall Syndrome?<div align="center" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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<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/AVvXsEj5U1ZFgcL2LfyjQPqomRglPOajfkqt1lMoxuYE9-HuxBAdNV5XpACEsUYJ-E7OgFEgG-E01TIsFLwfDd4QUd9SH2kfcAVKS3916eJpi_tWGWNzqxWHwebU8n2fWc-saR4NIB7g5xIkmfk/s1600/brick_wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U1ZFgcL2LfyjQPqomRglPOajfkqt1lMoxuYE9-HuxBAdNV5XpACEsUYJ-E7OgFEgG-E01TIsFLwfDd4QUd9SH2kfcAVKS3916eJpi_tWGWNzqxWHwebU8n2fWc-saR4NIB7g5xIkmfk/s200/brick_wall.jpg" width="200" /></a>I know I am not the only homeschool mother out there with this affliction! I am sure every single one of you has suffered or is currently suffering from what I call Brick Wall Syndrome! My case is chronic, although it does go into remission from time to time. It is painful, and sometimes ugly. Symptoms vary from one person to the next. It is brought on by a glazy eyed child with a faraway look possibly in tears, saying, "I don't get it!" after you have explained "it" for the umpth-teen time! </div><br />
Brick wall syndrome has driven many homeschooled children right into public school. This is an option for treatment much like surgery. A last resort, if you will. However there are no guarantees it will not return in the form of "homework." Yes, it is a serious affliction for which there is no cure, but there are some excellent treatment options available.<br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Connect</span></u></strong><br />
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Talk to other homeschoolers. They won't bite! Afterall, they have been through their fair share of brick walls, too. They might have some fantabulous tips, tricks, and advice on how to jump all kinds of common hurdles. I know I have a few under my belt, and would love to share. Just ask, you never know how simple the solution may actually be.<br />
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<u><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Learning Styles/Assessments</span></strong></u><br />
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Sometimes it is just a matter of knowing the right angle to approach the lesson. One child might not understand it unless they are standing on their head singing it, while another child might get it after there is a quiet environment for them to read alone. One might need to do a craft on the topic, or another might need it explained to them with vivid pictures. Yes, it can feel like the days of old, adjusting that foil adorned antenna with a wire hanger attached to try to get a clear picture on TV. <br />
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<span style="background-color: #666666; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"> Can you see it, yet? </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are some wonderful assessment tests out there to determine your child's learning style, it just might be that you need to tweak the way the information is presented. Here is a link for a free online test. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.howtolearn.com/freelearningstylesinventory.html">CLICK HERE</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You could also get this book from the library, <span id="btAsinTitle"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Every-http://www.christianbook.com/the-way-they-learn/cynthia-tobias/9781561794140/pd/94147">The Way They Learn</a> by <a cmimpressionsent="1" href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search/1210131035?author=Cynthia%20Ulrich%20Tobias&detailed_search=1&action=Search"><span style="color: #274f72;">Cynthia Ulrich Tobias</span></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, there are many other excellent resources on learning styles out there, as well. It could make a world of difference.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><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/AVvXsEipWdOJzTyzIa0-gYxV-grU7xh_9nNYq1W32xjWpXIgeYSLN3VGBFERfNZyE9o8R3FES93sgYukFohyham3j4jj7XuFzMYLkZOt6nZd9yjzhNgbmk1Wd5gB4nRf1fXhwSLIBx00fp83A5A/s1600/NMP069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWdOJzTyzIa0-gYxV-grU7xh_9nNYq1W32xjWpXIgeYSLN3VGBFERfNZyE9o8R3FES93sgYukFohyham3j4jj7XuFzMYLkZOt6nZd9yjzhNgbmk1Wd5gB4nRf1fXhwSLIBx00fp83A5A/s200/NMP069.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: #ea9999; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Skip It and Move on</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, but how do you dare!! This is SO important! She will need to know how to diagram a sentence to perform brain surgery later on in life! I mean, really. Is it life or death that they know it RIGHT NOW!!! Relax, deep breaths, don't feel defeated, or like a failure. Instead feel liberated from the topic at hand for the moment, and (gasp) dare I say it... skip to a different lesson and move on! Try again in another week, month, next year maybe even. Bottom line is, if they aren't ready, or willing -guess what? You can't make them!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Curriculum Shmiculum!</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Don't be loyal to a certain curriculum. You may need to supplement with manipulatives, or toss the math and keep the rest, but don't be opposed to new material. You can sell it, or whatever, just don't keep it if it's not working, even if you paid good money, even if you had all your hopes and dreams wrapped up in it, and it was your holy grail of curriculums. Toss it, trade it, sell it, give it away.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Get Jiggy Wit It!</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If it feels like perhaps it may be burn-out causing this giant brick wall. By all means take a break! Play hooky, go fishing, meet up with other homeschoolers just itching for a break too. They may have some good tips on what worked for them. It could do you all some good! Bust out in an impromptu music session. Blast it, let them bang on pots and pans. Get jiggy wit it! silliness and humor can erase all mental dark murky clouds hanging around in there. Sometimes just a break in the routine is a huge refresher. I love, love, love me some <a href="http://www.downloadngo.com/">Download & Go</a> lapbook unit studies for just this very thing. For those of you whom cannot stand to just take a week off and do nothing, this is a great way for them to learn while having a blast making lapbooks. You can get a wide range of topics to choose from. I highly recommend!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Don't Take It Personally</span></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Boy is this a hard one for me! My first thought when they just aren't learning is, 'What am I doing wrong?' Self doubt creeps in like a thief robbing me of my joy. 'All those doubters and Home Educator-haters out there are right after all! Just who do I think I am?' </div><div style="text-align: left;">Nope, that's not it. Oh, we can be so downright mean with ourselves at times. Just remember this, if they were in a classroom with 20 other kids, this brick wall you are beating yourself up over would be virtually invisible and nobody would even care. (not always) It would possibly get completely overlooked, and they would never learn it. They for sure wouldn't get the one on one they need, or the care of a teacher willing to do all the things mentioned above in order to help him "get it." No one is to blame, here. Everyone has their stumbling blocks, their brick walls. It can be scaled!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIYnE-nHhBEHJ68zTk_51KtXgmwFysOmzFhE8Qwp3hQEU7b7em88QyDbHeLy1cPS_jEUDP5fGpJWq0x-P40z7Pstz-P6mXRvDjoCvqobRPRsHtq34t1N4f2UzOukPwo6OcYw5SsPcuJQ/s1600/brick.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIYnE-nHhBEHJ68zTk_51KtXgmwFysOmzFhE8Qwp3hQEU7b7em88QyDbHeLy1cPS_jEUDP5fGpJWq0x-P40z7Pstz-P6mXRvDjoCvqobRPRsHtq34t1N4f2UzOukPwo6OcYw5SsPcuJQ/s200/brick.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Take it to the top</span></u></strong><br />
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Last, but certainly not least, take'er to the Maker. This may be the last piece of advice, but it is step number one, because it really needs to come first. Ask for help from the One who knows our troubles and struggles. <br />
"Jesus wasn't a homeschooling mother," you may say? Obviously not, but he IS an expert at overcoming Brick Walls. Just ponder that one.<br />
He may not deliver you out of them, but he will guide you through them. Also, remember to love that child whose driving you mad! God designed our childrens' brains the way they are. He created them with the unique and wonderful personalities they posses, and knows exactly what each child needs. <br />
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Yes, Brick Wall Syndrome can be real and ugly, but after all those walls have been scaled, one day you will look back and see it was all worth it. God bless your homeschool.<br />
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<img height="287" src="http://www.terragalleria.com/images/np-tropics/drto20838.jpeg" width="400" />Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-70621638489373368182010-10-13T13:17:00.000-05:002010-10-13T13:17:41.952-05:00The Story of Slavery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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In a previous post I had mentioned I was looking for a book to help my children understand a little deeper the history of slavery in the US. I should have just looked in my <a href="http://www.readingispriceless.com/">online bookstore</a>, duh! I found an excellent one! For those of you who, like me, would like a wonderful "living" book to teach about slavery, I highly recommend this book. You can peek inside over at <a href="http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=H3074&gid=106317265&hid=HOS176083&title=Story+of+Slavery&sqlwhere=submit%3Dsearch&search=the+story+of+slavery&ref=nf">Reading is Priceless.</a><br />
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</div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-7201999315562919162010-10-11T17:42:00.002-05:002010-10-12T08:40:11.922-05:00Are you busy being too B U S Y ?I recently saw something a friend showed me on Facebook and it was so true. In fact, I have often said the very same things, and been guilty of hypocrisy on the matter. It was a video story basically about Satan keeping Christians busy so they don't make time for Jesus. In the end it described busy as B-eing U-nder <br />
S-atan's Y-oke. This really grabbed my attention. <br />
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Of course, lots of things can keep us busy, especially us homeschool mothers. Besides the demands of our schooling, and daily housework, our children keep us busy with their demanding needs. I am amazed at the schedules of some of my friends, with their soccer practice, music lessons, scout meetings, home businesses, co-ops, swim lessons, church meetings, volunteer work, etc... all in a weeks time! It makes my head spin thinking about it! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomIjWm9lZH9gpBe41oXYzy6gGJobRYVhEcdfO68jm1XVJ9SxKnf3LuiwNNJL6Y0SMrUKzZW09wj4uZ8LGVJUr9cKr4YTPuhOmF36Stw0U27gUKwHqBtFp8faNGWqvAko92k9urveDY-g/s1600/clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomIjWm9lZH9gpBe41oXYzy6gGJobRYVhEcdfO68jm1XVJ9SxKnf3LuiwNNJL6Y0SMrUKzZW09wj4uZ8LGVJUr9cKr4YTPuhOmF36Stw0U27gUKwHqBtFp8faNGWqvAko92k9urveDY-g/s200/clock.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
But what about those of us that aren't busy with extracurricular activities, yet finding ourselves slacking in our Bible reading, or prayers? Worse yet, what about those of us NOT slacking in our Christian duties, yet our hearts and minds are busily distracted anyway? <br />
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Regardless of what category we find ourselves in, it is normal for us to wax and wane in our Christian walk, but is it acceptable?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBfTvVws9uu4RsAKPMlWgyF9ZmIv4L5HRBHJajaRNPKOv6ty0m0gE4-BA4tD3pDwzlXXUwC2pY98AToT0e_N1110_QKA34RaFuhNLmvp-Wlwhc7BoT40SayCvK4ODp-4MnLgW5k-iUbM/s1600/Carrie-Stephens-SD-spotty-dotty-green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBfTvVws9uu4RsAKPMlWgyF9ZmIv4L5HRBHJajaRNPKOv6ty0m0gE4-BA4tD3pDwzlXXUwC2pY98AToT0e_N1110_QKA34RaFuhNLmvp-Wlwhc7BoT40SayCvK4ODp-4MnLgW5k-iUbM/s400/Carrie-Stephens-SD-spotty-dotty-green.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This passage and especially the passages that follow are very sobering. We get so caught up in the fact that Jesus loves us, imperfections and all, that we forget our goal here is to strive for our Master. J.C. Ryle is one of my favorite's and I do believe he says it best in his article <em>Self Exertion;</em><br />
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<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>"Watch against the slightest inclination to be careless about any means of grace. Beware of shortening your prayer, your Bible reading, your private communion with God. Take head that you do not give way to a thoughtless, lazy manner of using the public services of God's house. Fight against any rising disposition to be sleepy, critical, and fault-finding, while you listen to the preaching of the Gospel. Whatever you do for God do it with all your heart and mind and strength. In other things be moderate and dread running into extremes, In soul matters fear moderation just as you would fear the plague. Care not what men think of you. Let it be enough for you that your Master says, "STRIVE."</blockquote>I know I am B U S Y more than I care to admit. If you are feeling a heap of conviction as I am in this area, I challenge you as well as myself, to turn from being too B U S Y (Being Under Satan's Yoke) and be B U S Y about the Kingdom. (Being Under the Savior's Yoke) God bless you in your walk, dear Christian.Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-48383977039238423162010-10-08T16:05:00.001-05:002010-10-09T18:01:41.411-05:00One Lovely Blog Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEP8I5jWu1A3nAi5tbCc5oHluGqawOwmBJCG09UeH5SBmjKLT8IO3ZE9FNi04IqZtxJL9WKpbPP0ASWp5QAp_xsgTTsrRjbGMfslBKOGxh3unSn-iHGjdBLaSgh3RZetHiE4_c6tMW7c/s1600/onelovelyblog%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEP8I5jWu1A3nAi5tbCc5oHluGqawOwmBJCG09UeH5SBmjKLT8IO3ZE9FNi04IqZtxJL9WKpbPP0ASWp5QAp_xsgTTsrRjbGMfslBKOGxh3unSn-iHGjdBLaSgh3RZetHiE4_c6tMW7c/s1600/onelovelyblog%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Wow! I got a blog award! How cool! <br />
A big sloppy smooch to my blog buddy Anna @ <a href="http://www.passionatemotherhood.blogspot.com/">Passionate Motherhood </a><br />
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I was so honored to get this award and from a blogger I really respect and admire. For her to pick me as one of the 3 blogs she thinks deserve this award really means a lot to me. So, I gratefully accept. :D<br />
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The Rules: Share 3 things I think are Lovely<br />
1: My Savior<br />
2: My Family<br />
3: Homeschooling<br />
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Now, I need to pass on the loveliness to 3-5 blogs that I find wonderfully lovely....<br />
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<a href="http://www.passionatemotherhood.blogspot.com/">Passionate Motherhood</a> (back atcha babe! ;-)<br />
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<a href="http://www.momentsofclaritybygretchen.blogspot.com/">Moments of Clarity by Gretchen</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mishmashmaggie.com/">Mishmash Maggie</a><br />
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The rules, should you choose to accept it: =)<br />
1: Put the one Lovely Blog award logo on your blog<br />
2: in a new post, share 3 things that you think are lovely<br />
3: pass the award on to 3-5 other bloggers<br />
4: link the nominees in your post<br />
5: let the nominees know they have won the award by commenting on their blog<br />
6: share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award<br />
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Disclaimer: No need to pass the award on if you dont want to or dont have time to. I'll still love ya =)Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-10099761276761256632010-10-03T15:30:00.000-05:002010-10-03T15:30:10.038-05:00Week 6- Some weeks are just a wash!What DID we learn this week?? It seems like we just could not get motivated this week. It's getting colder, so it's harder to get out of the warm covers in the morning. We couldn't keep our focus, and not a lot of info was retained, I am afraid. You'll have that, right? <br />
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I was so busy trying to get all the meat of the schedule done that I skipped the crafts and "extras." <br />
So to sum it up, it was a wash! <br />
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We listened to <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/wee-sing-around-the-world-book/pamela-beall/9780843120059/pd/120053?item_code=WW&netp_id=433048&event=ESRCN&view=details">#7 El Coqui and #8 Chi Chi Bud</a> Gigi LOVES to dance!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We learned some common phrases, colors, numbers, and days of the week in Spanish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh yes, and don't forget the You-Can't-Throw-A-Fit-And Expect-To-Get-Your-Way lesson. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Very important!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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We added Dunes, Deserts, and Badlands to our Geo. cards slideshow. Just click on the tab above to view.<br />
Hopefully next week will be a bit more exciting, although I have a feeling we will not be home much. ;-)Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-2220425157196309372010-09-28T01:06:00.000-05:002010-09-28T01:06:20.993-05:00Week 5 Hola Mexico!Passports? Check!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Train tickets? Check!</div>Excited children eager to learn? Check! Check! Check!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I had to preface that we weren't<em> really </em>going to Mexico! Whew, I know I spared a tantrum there!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wow! What a jam packed week! It seemed like a lot, so I skipped the <em>Global Art</em> crafts suggested and opted instead for the one thing they have been dying to do for like, a year now!</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> <div style="text-align: left;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">SHAVING CREAM & POWDER TEMPURA PAINT ART!!! WOO-HOO!!</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;">We also played a game that came included in our curriculum. This, I just cannot say enough good about. It is AMAZING</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">how much we learned and retained the location of all/most the countries of North America in just one game!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We will have a gameboard of each continent we visit, and by the time we are through with this school year the world will seem a much smaller place. </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 />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTmAbuTZcu5MmBIqS1wpq-SraBL1NcLA8QTTgtrXBM33_UcIqBe_QNBbaJCCdxDr4pvCAFyj0u3O9y9MRJCln1LuDOeXxzAWXhdDkx2AnZLzU3G-_CGCD8pFzLO5FsTJS-QJNzop7zD4/s1600/IMAG0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTmAbuTZcu5MmBIqS1wpq-SraBL1NcLA8QTTgtrXBM33_UcIqBe_QNBbaJCCdxDr4pvCAFyj0u3O9y9MRJCln1LuDOeXxzAWXhdDkx2AnZLzU3G-_CGCD8pFzLO5FsTJS-QJNzop7zD4/s320/IMAG0055.JPG" width="240" /></a></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 />
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</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;">WE LOVE MY FATHER'S WORLD!!</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;">I wish I had started 7 yrs ago with this curriculum, but am thankful we found it in time to start with Exploring Countries and Cultures. I tell you it really makes me want to go be a missionary family. </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;">We listened to <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/wee-sing-around-the-world-book/pamela-beall/9780843120059/pd/120053?item_code=WW&netp_id=433048&event=ESRCN&view=details">#5 Pin Pon and #6 Tingalayo</a> and it's so cute to see Eli and Gigi sing and dance!</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;">Here is a pic of them sharing at snack time</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;"><br />
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</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;">We have moved on from forests and are learning about deserts. Check back for updated pics on the geography cards tab. We got a bit behind on these, so I'll have them all posted soon.</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;">Fascinating factoid: Desert temperatures can get up to 120 degrees in the day and drop to nearly freezing at night. Temps can also be 10-20 degrees cooler in the shade of an oasis. So we had a little experiment of our own to see how fast bags of ice would melt in the sun vs. shade.</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;"><br />
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By lunch time the sun kept ice was melted about 90 % and the shade kept ice was about 60 % melted. Conclusion: It stays cooler in the shade. Duh! LOL!<br />
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So I guess that just about covers our excitement for the week. Unless diagramming compound sentences really does it for you!<br />
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<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;">anyone? ...anyone? ......Beuller??</div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-61837481988703152262010-09-21T09:29:00.000-05:002010-09-21T09:29:56.284-05:00Week 4- Where did you go???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPFv2-YD_RQg2WsqQ-2ANIEkgbbXNYqqUPuKaoiOLQB13yjtENAKRbwOfTsnz53Hoq1nqPGS9LBg3UURCmzSJonYXSq0xx0tiOpPBtNU1oJvwzdDtrp0LOWn5zC0JHWifZDvLFG0GljU/s1600/IMAG0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPFv2-YD_RQg2WsqQ-2ANIEkgbbXNYqqUPuKaoiOLQB13yjtENAKRbwOfTsnz53Hoq1nqPGS9LBg3UURCmzSJonYXSq0xx0tiOpPBtNU1oJvwzdDtrp0LOWn5zC0JHWifZDvLFG0GljU/s400/IMAG0034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Isn't it amazing how a whole week can fly by without a clue as to where it went? That was our week, thank you and goodnight! No seriously, we trudged through the week, playing catch up a bit. Greg had my camera at the shop (woodworking) and I didn't take many pics. We had some colds to contend with and overall it was just a 'bleh' kind of week. You'll have that, right? Boy, we have our share!<br />
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Anyway, we learned about Christian Hero, Harriet Tubman. Wow, it's tough trying to explain slavery in America to the kids! They just don't seem to "get it." Anyone know of a good film to help them see and understand what slaves in the U.S. went through? I think it's important that they grasp this a little better, especially the older kids. <br />
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Luca, my kindergartner, is so excited to do his letters everyday. Last year he could care less, so it's really cool to see him retaining the information this year, and the eagerness to learn. Here is a sample of his work...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have more geography cards on display, <a href="http://readingispriceless.blogspot.com/p/geography-cards.html">click here</a> for a slide show. We are learning all about forests. It's so fun to learn all these awesome things alongside your children. I hope they home school their own children someday, so they can get educated! ;) You appreciate the knowledge so much more as an adult. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, we took a tour around America. Explored the diversity. From the deserts, to the forests, the mountains, lakes, and cities. We explored the bitter cold of Alaska, and the warm tropics of Hawaii. If only...</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;">We learned about our flag from the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Say-Can-You-See-Landmarks/dp/043942450X">"<em>Oh Say Can You See? America's Symbols, Landmarks, and Inspiring Words</em>" by Sheila Keenan</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a really fun book with great illustrations, and tons of really interesting facts about our country. We learned the story behind The Star Spangled Banner. I was prompted to sing it. Why is it that I get choked up a little EVERY TIME I sing that song??? Yep, I do, right around the part, '...and the flag was still there...' </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 />
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</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;">Next stop, Mexico...ALL ABOARD!!!</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;"><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/AVvXsEghCzuWymKKixxa6miZJHHtut0jgOW_talb7zFc1_mzoN7J-k81vC8vIWBZ_RSf5VrZlQy6FvWz4QAfBRA3Q0aaE2Ih8quZCw3fjh753qaia_1AzKfFrczvHqocb6YCDNsr5QhyphenhyphenGMVtUk8/s1600/IMAG0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCzuWymKKixxa6miZJHHtut0jgOW_talb7zFc1_mzoN7J-k81vC8vIWBZ_RSf5VrZlQy6FvWz4QAfBRA3Q0aaE2Ih8quZCw3fjh753qaia_1AzKfFrczvHqocb6YCDNsr5QhyphenhyphenGMVtUk8/s320/IMAG0036.JPG" width="320" /></a></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;"><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;">See you there!</div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-87545229092682183582010-09-19T19:54:00.000-05:002010-09-19T19:54:34.602-05:00A New Day in My Father's World: Keepin' it Real<a href="http://readingispriceless.blogspot.com/p/keepin-it-real.html?spref=bl">A New Day in My Father's World: Keepin' it Real</a>: "Oh no, don't you dare think for one second that my family is perfect, near perfect, or even striving for perfection! Sure on the surface, i..."Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-13790645573073855072010-09-09T17:50:00.000-05:002010-09-09T17:50:50.938-05:00Week 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo3Q848N7KE7ba_YnXT7Pu4MxqMz1LvVSwX43oNQu514Cso9oiKzX6O3cKBJbdImB7AQjMK5odtJPH2BmOE-NRZLDRw2kJ2kTxtnSePDqMENsCeNqmqolI9Qt8sFfZy_e7qh3dqjqLTQ/s1600/week3+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo3Q848N7KE7ba_YnXT7Pu4MxqMz1LvVSwX43oNQu514Cso9oiKzX6O3cKBJbdImB7AQjMK5odtJPH2BmOE-NRZLDRw2kJ2kTxtnSePDqMENsCeNqmqolI9Qt8sFfZy_e7qh3dqjqLTQ/s400/week3+013.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
What a week! It was short, but sweet and jam packed!<br />
<div align="center">We took off Monday for Labor Day, and Friday we start our Homeschool Co-op for the year.</div><div align="center">We began our week with a treasure hunt using a treasure map!</div><div align="center">I got up in the morning and hid treasure for the kids to find, each in a different spot throughout our neighborhood. I had made up some maps, and they each had one, except Luca and Gianna shared one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTklArRI8XANB4yeIh3FxL3pFuidupk_RUSpvpRpYwctIWqkcVmmOns3XAOdW9eaKKl9e4203694sjsHF80fYiOlqmPSBySTv3PG3vClCTodouksGTvFGqMko9lMo7sUoUJSSrKQKIUs/s1600/week3+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTklArRI8XANB4yeIh3FxL3pFuidupk_RUSpvpRpYwctIWqkcVmmOns3XAOdW9eaKKl9e4203694sjsHF80fYiOlqmPSBySTv3PG3vClCTodouksGTvFGqMko9lMo7sUoUJSSrKQKIUs/s320/week3+002.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99TK0czbu9eUlWo2dgIv1NWi9M9fL0sXOwqvK9dav4WQpCq_M8Iq-p0f7tXaP6zLCENNkpXHYCdmefn9f3RT2gs3Er4VWCX4v02l_id7RS_YvfyavjSk_5CQO3jJM5HASC2N5NcqEqGg/s1600/week3+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99TK0czbu9eUlWo2dgIv1NWi9M9fL0sXOwqvK9dav4WQpCq_M8Iq-p0f7tXaP6zLCENNkpXHYCdmefn9f3RT2gs3Er4VWCX4v02l_id7RS_YvfyavjSk_5CQO3jJM5HASC2N5NcqEqGg/s320/week3+003.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN3dNvvbhvtw5oytaPZ1dDXRHn8xrQCt37J93fqxtzcEjfejmqKu1O4eZ6jDurnVeOR88TdmLQtJX5EpnxRJ8wpNHiXdgDR46xORdjd5HqtbwstjVTgPW-19qzXsewmRfM40LJgXJ2Eo/s1600/week3+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN3dNvvbhvtw5oytaPZ1dDXRHn8xrQCt37J93fqxtzcEjfejmqKu1O4eZ6jDurnVeOR88TdmLQtJX5EpnxRJ8wpNHiXdgDR46xORdjd5HqtbwstjVTgPW-19qzXsewmRfM40LJgXJ2Eo/s320/week3+004.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center">So we set off to find the treasure...</div><div align="center"><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58g9fPp1jt_gyF_dwz2n6TPM2FrMqGhhjI8Mizokc4M0gE2Ks4QOwwF8-3DnJmkA57Ouznwf5kWrH_X6jE69Vbwg_Cvi34ugJQosfx7okiMA_NA8c9Rd0Th73oyI-4zKSkLLwPu7g_oA/s1600/week3+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58g9fPp1jt_gyF_dwz2n6TPM2FrMqGhhjI8Mizokc4M0gE2Ks4QOwwF8-3DnJmkA57Ouznwf5kWrH_X6jE69Vbwg_Cvi34ugJQosfx7okiMA_NA8c9Rd0Th73oyI-4zKSkLLwPu7g_oA/s320/week3+005.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSVKRUvLeraoSoc5AlEnXBPDcZ6I8I-AzTvF_rRcKnhGEOK_uIGBYBG8o_ESIEzocZ1py5sJcODvFn5DpGxtmS7i3wXyzP8RWyqsHhwwafuPTY_4h-0wCjfs_O-StdjDqDW5LK-2Sqv8/s1600/week3+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSVKRUvLeraoSoc5AlEnXBPDcZ6I8I-AzTvF_rRcKnhGEOK_uIGBYBG8o_ESIEzocZ1py5sJcODvFn5DpGxtmS7i3wXyzP8RWyqsHhwwafuPTY_4h-0wCjfs_O-StdjDqDW5LK-2Sqv8/s320/week3+006.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Luca & Gianna finding their treasure<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sofia next...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO5bKF86DLJz8SVqbuxfplJT_VaCSWUwW7iZy8t1xZYIPXfrP2DJh9dfdxuDiUn-X_PBBNB_JuUOBDn9XFhPJaTRC7OdVMIOq_I_PqzOaR8u-ZuIWjUvTddC9AcjOh6EyxIrpOrCeln8/s1600/week3+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO5bKF86DLJz8SVqbuxfplJT_VaCSWUwW7iZy8t1xZYIPXfrP2DJh9dfdxuDiUn-X_PBBNB_JuUOBDn9XFhPJaTRC7OdVMIOq_I_PqzOaR8u-ZuIWjUvTddC9AcjOh6EyxIrpOrCeln8/s320/week3+007.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeapFpWcG1ePDh06l62mL4U4dXUR0WCkSZ7HeHFRR8FfHw3kVysk6guXUDpLQPIOj2-axyN4qHbge60_6L1PND5YqwMzH5SloPdGY6zylaWDeR6GVV14Vd1Lwx0Of67_MSwlNdQobGnI/s1600/week3+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeapFpWcG1ePDh06l62mL4U4dXUR0WCkSZ7HeHFRR8FfHw3kVysk6guXUDpLQPIOj2-axyN4qHbge60_6L1PND5YqwMzH5SloPdGY6zylaWDeR6GVV14Vd1Lwx0Of67_MSwlNdQobGnI/s320/week3+008.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sofia finding her treasure</td></tr>
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<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;"><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;">Bella was last and farthest away...</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRb5RY3lLt6-s8egkQsy_yA4NwVEQhuS4Y95agCxbvdvk7Z7oe-nK9lsrZlNIfFQGELVkGSjJmXr2ChK0UJsSYsfH-SsQbHO4ndmxmJ-AYdBI_XI83sAbKE34vohaKrnZ5dZzTj8RU_U/s1600/week3+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRb5RY3lLt6-s8egkQsy_yA4NwVEQhuS4Y95agCxbvdvk7Z7oe-nK9lsrZlNIfFQGELVkGSjJmXr2ChK0UJsSYsfH-SsQbHO4ndmxmJ-AYdBI_XI83sAbKE34vohaKrnZ5dZzTj8RU_U/s320/week3+009.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPVq2Q9aiiYPI-Dl4yyJR0Jh4hYbWgIHJe-UeIUkpqvr33F1cg6jKR7uMuoceOUS4VwXd49cj6O51vRhxf0p5DrCL6y6DxUQmiNp3dbXlCOCZj6f0_9vXYIqjrASlwP137QDJPKV79TE/s1600/week3+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPVq2Q9aiiYPI-Dl4yyJR0Jh4hYbWgIHJe-UeIUkpqvr33F1cg6jKR7uMuoceOUS4VwXd49cj6O51vRhxf0p5DrCL6y6DxUQmiNp3dbXlCOCZj6f0_9vXYIqjrASlwP137QDJPKV79TE/s320/week3+010.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella finding her treasure<br />
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What <em>WAS</em> the treasure??<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>BOOKS!!!</strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemE6Y_ePZMNvaGhNhFcnNvBaxex_iBZILAIE_JpWlBCPtAFBIx6b4ZgC-oKq8ZihOqBfMfCHvbMfRZm6jSbnM1vrgvHiutpSOYLklJm4CbZzh1mT7aaLTZEu6UF_Ev7qoYHvsCoLMyao/s1600/week3+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemE6Y_ePZMNvaGhNhFcnNvBaxex_iBZILAIE_JpWlBCPtAFBIx6b4ZgC-oKq8ZihOqBfMfCHvbMfRZm6jSbnM1vrgvHiutpSOYLklJm4CbZzh1mT7aaLTZEu6UF_Ev7qoYHvsCoLMyao/s320/week3+016.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh0SnAAAkf6ODA71e77O55k4apX8MEA6sYZ3x9jUj4PPfDTvomolCb8jjdyMLuvs0176oUF6Bzl_xI-x17SOyMHKgNYpCgo6ge3J_Bjx8ruRcthNDLAgQLrWAhY38cUe9pBjyO-v9dp8/s1600/week3+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh0SnAAAkf6ODA71e77O55k4apX8MEA6sYZ3x9jUj4PPfDTvomolCb8jjdyMLuvs0176oUF6Bzl_xI-x17SOyMHKgNYpCgo6ge3J_Bjx8ruRcthNDLAgQLrWAhY38cUe9pBjyO-v9dp8/s320/week3+015.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgMeok5O9GMSZQ5EmQKvW9-JYOXkepUX1ioUtstoK98HlTEAwWy1LWqDpqmclUZi51JW7H7ljLvLYz6k6pexmnxBMJS3HdpyTlhYut4Ets48dVL4ezNCXuXzGAOIFnl5ueDqhyphenhyphenD84Y04/s1600/week3+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgMeok5O9GMSZQ5EmQKvW9-JYOXkepUX1ioUtstoK98HlTEAwWy1LWqDpqmclUZi51JW7H7ljLvLYz6k6pexmnxBMJS3HdpyTlhYut4Ets48dVL4ezNCXuXzGAOIFnl5ueDqhyphenhyphenD84Y04/s320/week3+014.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4Kf6FV_79Bv1-pVVj3bOHfTI9PVkZSqwqwYfSH3I8MRw2avR2C8FmBFjHBJNQ0SxRX_0hl3SZM-zVkMChyTzDV4qQ9B9qxsDMXgBjU2XGsA_EayJZqlZsgp_KhgBj6R3o0OYmpV99tE/s1600/week3+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4Kf6FV_79Bv1-pVVj3bOHfTI9PVkZSqwqwYfSH3I8MRw2avR2C8FmBFjHBJNQ0SxRX_0hl3SZM-zVkMChyTzDV4qQ9B9qxsDMXgBjU2XGsA_EayJZqlZsgp_KhgBj6R3o0OYmpV99tE/s320/week3+001.jpg" /></a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><em><a href="http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=H3074&gid=104166341&title=Sticker+Dolly+Dressing+Pop+Stars&sqlwhere=submit%3Dsearch%26search%3Dsticker%2Bdolly">Usborne's Sticker Dolly Dressing Popstars</a>, <a href="http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=H3074&gid=104166341&title=Sticker+Dolly+Dressing+Movie+Stars&sqlwhere=submit%3Dsearch%26search%3Dsticker%2Bdolly">Usborne's Sticker Dolly Dressing Movie Stars</a>, <a href="http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/details.asp?sid=H3074&gid=104166341&title=Gulliver%27s+Travels+CD+Pack+YR2&sqlwhere=submit%3Dsearch%26search%3Dgulliver">Usborne's Gulliver's Travels book and CD</a>, and <a href="http://www.cricketmag.com/ProductDetail.asp?pid=10">Babybug</a>.</em><br />
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After that, it was a little hard to focus on schoolwork! But, at least they learned how to read a map key, and follow a map. <br />
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We are studying the USA this week and next, too, I believe. So, we had a Native American art project from <em>Global Arts</em>. The Sioux Indians would draw pictures of events past on circles of rawhide and tie them to strings hanging from sticks to make Coup Sticks. These were useful for storytelling.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd57-d0V4FSljB6iTysY3qnjb55sSLWfbPIiPNwikYcioRlTXlV8XbivOI7e33nrGFMAprwxRgcI6TT1TADmFSPdgVAxsjrogyxGQJ2OQQKRV8zzgGrqSzcvQOd259LPS4RBy4A5swiU/s1600/week3+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd57-d0V4FSljB6iTysY3qnjb55sSLWfbPIiPNwikYcioRlTXlV8XbivOI7e33nrGFMAprwxRgcI6TT1TADmFSPdgVAxsjrogyxGQJ2OQQKRV8zzgGrqSzcvQOd259LPS4RBy4A5swiU/s320/week3+017.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzMNfiAS2HZ_mUlfOKbiD2WuEakuqWojxQTYLDtcpktFhLbFhkd_zGnilXxhDIy_DNoNWavJcNE5vRAW5-N4Bjzpwu6nBu-G2ywpq-Cny7sjFUJcYfVE1q2w6f6tKZ8APJkaxwW803Lw/s1600/week3+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzMNfiAS2HZ_mUlfOKbiD2WuEakuqWojxQTYLDtcpktFhLbFhkd_zGnilXxhDIy_DNoNWavJcNE5vRAW5-N4Bjzpwu6nBu-G2ywpq-Cny7sjFUJcYfVE1q2w6f6tKZ8APJkaxwW803Lw/s320/week3+019.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKv0ZglBRzzG5dAg4OSKyf-s4A_lSMd4o2GU52Yn_xN2oM4pEytSmgH1DWKaQW1vmFYotHjseOt0PIaFctJKL1JEIB0zXxsHWloyFiTKcDeUry_HLPOqpYwtex-4RL93E8t7XajaF65EI/s1600/week3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKv0ZglBRzzG5dAg4OSKyf-s4A_lSMd4o2GU52Yn_xN2oM4pEytSmgH1DWKaQW1vmFYotHjseOt0PIaFctJKL1JEIB0zXxsHWloyFiTKcDeUry_HLPOqpYwtex-4RL93E8t7XajaF65EI/s320/week3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Gigi was happy to just use her face as a canvas for stickers instead!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She just loves our native American song for the week from <em><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/wee-sing-around-the-world-book/pamela-beall/9780843120059/pd/120053?item_code=WW&netp_id=433048&event=ESRCN&view=covers">Wee Sing Around the World</a></em> <---click here for a sample, it's #3.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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/AVvXsEhuaO7sGFiRyMvRmpfw1qlLj0MOgtLDchWDU1iV8enWCU3rbmDVc6GLBEgw1cysya_HFMhwaWkirusg0P8IeQ5zJZmaFjHZqpdidIP1iyNg3RKpyvXfKGBXHHIkbFUVEIBoH3s91B7HGfI/s1600/week3+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaO7sGFiRyMvRmpfw1qlLj0MOgtLDchWDU1iV8enWCU3rbmDVc6GLBEgw1cysya_HFMhwaWkirusg0P8IeQ5zJZmaFjHZqpdidIP1iyNg3RKpyvXfKGBXHHIkbFUVEIBoH3s91B7HGfI/s320/week3+018.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We added to our Geography Cards slide show, just click on the tab above to view those. <br />
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Also, we are learning about Christian Hero's in a book; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hero-Tales-Treasury-Stories-Christian/dp/076420078X"><em>Hero Tales</em></a><em>. </em>This week's hero: Dwight L. Moody.<br />
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We're studying the different types of forests and waiting on some books from the library for tree identification for the leaves we collected.<br />
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I am writing this on Thursday, and Co-op is tomorrow, YAY! So I have nothing to report on that, yet. We are all looking forward to the classes this year. I do hope we can find a good dependable, affordable van so we don't have to borrow again this year. Prayers, please!!!<br />
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It was a fun week, but I am glad it's almost over! Hope you all have a blessed weekend!Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-43781628283243967622010-09-03T13:34:00.000-05:002010-09-03T13:34:13.441-05:00Week 2- CAKE!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"Week 2 was a piece of cake?" you may ask. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFwynaRZf_vmgCwfRssyJHojeVHFtakDBwOvX0cIuZxPctBqyro2H3a0XlhEUEy13I7PpmJEiA_5199fX4B9uM51IjPRe37VTbpF8ISg9lPWc92BG1el0z6DrX_FtH6nsMf0-22sqsn8/s1600/week2+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">No, literally, we had to make a cake! A WORLD cake! See?</span></a></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 />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rl7o_g6_7THcLILx94yijExIXxNmZjfMPdCdw1aOcQbqsSSLjYdmudqJCJM0xP48WJzqv4jVGbEwBL49PXpUICFVzNy8UuJCJdctGdYl60hAR3li7lz4x44sYb1tjz7VpthHuZbzZzc/s1600/week2+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rl7o_g6_7THcLILx94yijExIXxNmZjfMPdCdw1aOcQbqsSSLjYdmudqJCJM0xP48WJzqv4jVGbEwBL49PXpUICFVzNy8UuJCJdctGdYl60hAR3li7lz4x44sYb1tjz7VpthHuZbzZzc/s200/week2+016.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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</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/AVvXsEhdv7ncckpNh_s6hvJxgLaBDxsK3CxuleEp9Ojs3Fd5bbvwXnvMa3Qm6UDvZDXb0FIKUI12Td7P47IDE3VVfU7fdrYasCNEnaEMRnfcZwMHG0QkXz_D3j5RGbCIfTKXTGmNO-9qxU0uY5o/s1600/week2+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv7ncckpNh_s6hvJxgLaBDxsK3CxuleEp9Ojs3Fd5bbvwXnvMa3Qm6UDvZDXb0FIKUI12Td7P47IDE3VVfU7fdrYasCNEnaEMRnfcZwMHG0QkXz_D3j5RGbCIfTKXTGmNO-9qxU0uY5o/s400/week2+018.jpg" width="400" /></a>We got to eat it, too!</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;"><br />
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</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;">We read an awesome book from the library called: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Children-Just-Like-Anabel-Kindersley/dp/0789402017#reader_0789402017"><strong>Children Just Like Me</strong></a><strong> </strong>by Anabel & Barnabus Kindersley. Then, we did a craft out of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Global-Art-Activities-Projects-Inventions/dp/087659190X#reader_087659190X"><strong>Global Art</strong></a><strong> </strong> pg. 113 Hands Across the World paper dolls. This craft was very time consuming, but fun. I thought for sure we would be in school all day, but we finished up by noon! Amazing!</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;"><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/AVvXsEha4hbjTHQVhOMm8e1d_Bllif0cvAx1i79TsuIj3PHzOnt6RO8M3rQ6VYuu80M1v70MFvbTFLxruB7UrXxobMNVTjo-6vKQ-mX1mo82ZCqx-NtHf016N6-KRkf08EXaDi5HMos4rU5mo4c/s1600/week2+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4hbjTHQVhOMm8e1d_Bllif0cvAx1i79TsuIj3PHzOnt6RO8M3rQ6VYuu80M1v70MFvbTFLxruB7UrXxobMNVTjo-6vKQ-mX1mo82ZCqx-NtHf016N6-KRkf08EXaDi5HMos4rU5mo4c/s320/week2+006.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWovKM2iUefGP-T3-vq3ZaKdxbsJM-yQaX1lk8KX9NdcC0xSgomAklsESfssna3cAP2rAnhKEyxQk0nHYga2h_PxA73eBqoNEYxQA_tFYas9L-OSsRXO8APowbqoTLEmJMqUCC1Ln3Tg/s1600/week2+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWovKM2iUefGP-T3-vq3ZaKdxbsJM-yQaX1lk8KX9NdcC0xSgomAklsESfssna3cAP2rAnhKEyxQk0nHYga2h_PxA73eBqoNEYxQA_tFYas9L-OSsRXO8APowbqoTLEmJMqUCC1Ln3Tg/s320/week2+007.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpiIajabCvhbOadjpPfTGAy5nb6y2R8A6IJP8nUry0NS4iU8asKF1tN-Bk1Fe7v65KLUPAAMZBZviJnNdSCIbZUCl3zUXNFl9w9x3E_dsGlcAkDm9YbGB2eu2HZMyOL0GCQAzqALbATE/s1600/week2+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpiIajabCvhbOadjpPfTGAy5nb6y2R8A6IJP8nUry0NS4iU8asKF1tN-Bk1Fe7v65KLUPAAMZBZviJnNdSCIbZUCl3zUXNFl9w9x3E_dsGlcAkDm9YbGB2eu2HZMyOL0GCQAzqALbATE/s320/week2+005.jpg" /></a></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;"><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;">We learned that there are people all over the world very different from us, yet very much the same. That our own country is the "melting pot," for people all around the world live here, and make our country truly <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>unique</strong></span>.</span></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;">We prayed for those in need and for the Gospel to be heard throughout the world.</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;"><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;">We had some rainy days, (and on the day we were supposed to go leaf collecting!) so we learned about the water cycle instead! We also had an impromptu study of a chipmunk ( and his niche! ;-)</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;"><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/AVvXsEgY3MlpKVA6m-FIhPsyzNaKrx9ZGgHZ-Ob3j9yr_sZ89QNY1f8YahahdC1waDiJY4nbr00AFtVuBhj8hWh74Jd94JgbH1MVdpx7jjgWsPxFyjc8_bti69bcZlyrGUjAx5VcvWDaBZIOxbE/s1600/week2+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3MlpKVA6m-FIhPsyzNaKrx9ZGgHZ-Ob3j9yr_sZ89QNY1f8YahahdC1waDiJY4nbr00AFtVuBhj8hWh74Jd94JgbH1MVdpx7jjgWsPxFyjc8_bti69bcZlyrGUjAx5VcvWDaBZIOxbE/s320/week2+014.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYxN4H84RdmiaMTSq89lohUMfZ-8ElAik4JpUyUE5vhYp-Xa_skt9jgaLvEdJwLQwsm4Ao0qD8xvKxYkeuWjRWpZsdOQbgRNVoLKWIgwiQ_zs9g7Ctwk9SZcutzJYti4TY7VoImpXfwI/s1600/week2+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYxN4H84RdmiaMTSq89lohUMfZ-8ElAik4JpUyUE5vhYp-Xa_skt9jgaLvEdJwLQwsm4Ao0qD8xvKxYkeuWjRWpZsdOQbgRNVoLKWIgwiQ_zs9g7Ctwk9SZcutzJYti4TY7VoImpXfwI/s320/week2+015.jpg" /></a></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;"><br />
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</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;">Finally, got to take our walk and gather leaves for our collection, (forgot the camera) </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;">Bella had a "field day" and went to work at Antonacci Custom Woodworks with her Dad!</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;">The kids made geo. cards of their addess, which you can view on the 'Geography Cards' tab. We didn't get to do our treasure maps due to the weather, but there's always next week.</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;"><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;">Here are some random pics from week 3:</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;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNm3tOY6KO4_uV9K9LnUDaEyjVGrDz8b84XkwFFo6UFlN7EXWoHT9UNBtzA77oe386gNBL2wwo2Nldl2vL4xyolOeMLm2lkqfy76MScA3TYyu3Mt11tK26TY4OB4h3I41c0pIxKFbtNo/s1600/week2+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNm3tOY6KO4_uV9K9LnUDaEyjVGrDz8b84XkwFFo6UFlN7EXWoHT9UNBtzA77oe386gNBL2wwo2Nldl2vL4xyolOeMLm2lkqfy76MScA3TYyu3Mt11tK26TY4OB4h3I41c0pIxKFbtNo/s320/week2+002.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our "School"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGbxwILeRewiIMSE5iKkUBNNkbzNEJLfCE7f1ne9fjs3eAteYwi3cVY0pBCFYiOfQe2W8Mia9tBrkS5ZVNPjVf3XZ_9PjPm4xthBEO5YD_TmlPHb3gbOhDKodn27KEE9DMj0e9UPIYsE/s1600/week2+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGbxwILeRewiIMSE5iKkUBNNkbzNEJLfCE7f1ne9fjs3eAteYwi3cVY0pBCFYiOfQe2W8Mia9tBrkS5ZVNPjVf3XZ_9PjPm4xthBEO5YD_TmlPHb3gbOhDKodn27KEE9DMj0e9UPIYsE/s320/week2+001.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-70388481466815456732010-09-02T01:04:00.000-05:002010-09-02T01:04:20.161-05:00A Cup of Coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again... <br />
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A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. <br />
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Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.<br />
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She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about 20 minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in another bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. <br />
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Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." <br />
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"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.<br />
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Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted they were soft. Then mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.<br />
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Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. <br />
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The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?" <br />
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Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. <br />
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The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. <br />
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The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened. <br />
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The ground coffee bean were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. <br />
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"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"<br />
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"Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts out with a malleable heart, bust changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside I am bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?"<br />
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"Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, they very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you."<br />
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When the hour is the darkest and the trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle the adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? <br />
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May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. <br />
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The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't move forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyCsvSQw9xjFYPmX5hTO1Z7mJXTLPzBDHBhzxPEM3IXi240q1DRLFY5CDUbDaqA0p0J8-pAOAqZcn2jiHiwgozbfCq0nrNnQxmVmnRp3hNglxLT_Wi4LlKvhusbtWxi71llNfqvSLQXE/s1600/logojpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyCsvSQw9xjFYPmX5hTO1Z7mJXTLPzBDHBhzxPEM3IXi240q1DRLFY5CDUbDaqA0p0J8-pAOAqZcn2jiHiwgozbfCq0nrNnQxmVmnRp3hNglxLT_Wi4LlKvhusbtWxi71llNfqvSLQXE/s320/logojpeg.jpg" /></a></div>May we all be COFFEE!!!!!Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-53085311104125004132010-08-28T13:30:00.001-05:002010-09-02T19:56:32.314-05:00Week 1- SUCCESS!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">YAY!! We made it through our first week of the school year with attitudes checked at the door, willing to learn, eager to do our best, very few tantrums, and minimal tears. Oh yeah, and the kids did really well, too! ;-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_7zXhTxIq1d0-uiYTbV1h_q3IXT_Xe1pKEfl5TfyM_hyoLlsg50sD1O0GShpenzfqeiWO8OmaiCG6H8IswNEp93YFF09yOU_9O8bK2f7n6YSzX3vrXZ9VBv6Jg2rk7aYMTR2NYo8XKc/s1600/explorationday+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_7zXhTxIq1d0-uiYTbV1h_q3IXT_Xe1pKEfl5TfyM_hyoLlsg50sD1O0GShpenzfqeiWO8OmaiCG6H8IswNEp93YFF09yOU_9O8bK2f7n6YSzX3vrXZ9VBv6Jg2rk7aYMTR2NYo8XKc/s200/explorationday+018.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The children learned a very important lesson. They learned to work together, and help one another.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</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/AVvXsEhb9Cg88aqPxO6mBrZEdAKfpx9nrG5CCBMgaqby50_dEOdBNTvxJSOXx_8U3aIOhLfTQ2UiGDhl4dwN3xiL9uWtIUQct3Vy4MPYK1UoSNpcQ9O8BatVGiySN7Xx6uGbUk3sLBGCCWv6ur0/s1600/explorationday+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9Cg88aqPxO6mBrZEdAKfpx9nrG5CCBMgaqby50_dEOdBNTvxJSOXx_8U3aIOhLfTQ2UiGDhl4dwN3xiL9uWtIUQct3Vy4MPYK1UoSNpcQ9O8BatVGiySN7Xx6uGbUk3sLBGCCWv6ur0/s320/explorationday+004.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kB_tm7MmA6LWMzgUGOQHKtH5V6pVdBp6W_pndYsW6Wg3kCx20rN4xC66XeEv_BtiimdsrleRihIjwx7ajAEP281CeQB_S8o_wWDplodLlme4fr2Z555CF42ErpZfWpZgMLQ1UQ7UaKM/s1600/explorationday+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kB_tm7MmA6LWMzgUGOQHKtH5V6pVdBp6W_pndYsW6Wg3kCx20rN4xC66XeEv_BtiimdsrleRihIjwx7ajAEP281CeQB_S8o_wWDplodLlme4fr2Z555CF42ErpZfWpZgMLQ1UQ7UaKM/s320/explorationday+003.jpg" width="320" /></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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Loving our new curriculum! We were supposed to keep an earthworm in a jar...shhh, I skipped this. We have had enough things in jars for experimentation around here, thank you! But, we learned about what a niche is, as we explored our own backyard.</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/AVvXsEiUqU-7lKd8e7Ylbl0ML2V3XvI3b-naAOUJz0F1SduZdV9OUi0TjfinXoHHjeN2dsVNa-xWzKYOI_hugeduG-C0SegN073ZSDuCHyWUyW71sKAMUNuZuAYuAnzRwToE4iJpJQDfrGDn6us/s1600/explorationday+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqU-7lKd8e7Ylbl0ML2V3XvI3b-naAOUJz0F1SduZdV9OUi0TjfinXoHHjeN2dsVNa-xWzKYOI_hugeduG-C0SegN073ZSDuCHyWUyW71sKAMUNuZuAYuAnzRwToE4iJpJQDfrGDn6us/s320/explorationday+007.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnZJOeWnfkoslmLvyrZVE6Wdt9R6RsSocvPZnMQQzEzOwA20TygermMByhhqNeeNz0cMPRnwj4wRLcbOQJPZtj1IWIZU3RxWAsdOPwxZ4__nONEmyV7vUUhjTPzlS2Swolom8RVcT22M/s1600/explorationday+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnZJOeWnfkoslmLvyrZVE6Wdt9R6RsSocvPZnMQQzEzOwA20TygermMByhhqNeeNz0cMPRnwj4wRLcbOQJPZtj1IWIZU3RxWAsdOPwxZ4__nONEmyV7vUUhjTPzlS2Swolom8RVcT22M/s320/explorationday+005.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Luca really got into this exercise! He explored ants, and bugs on the sidewalk and inside the barks of trees, while Bella recorded our observations...</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/AVvXsEjs_wCfz8HhAqPaBuf_e-b8CjXdNrSJVtrKZ50U6de15GUhGIUEJ9_jJdwyAqxAHdvqRZA1hWI4R_93B4Y2qxWECP5x_VWsadzYHVP4gmKqLu6ruGmGREfIBs-Qx91gU5cZJcoWXfUMj94/s1600/explorationday+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_wCfz8HhAqPaBuf_e-b8CjXdNrSJVtrKZ50U6de15GUhGIUEJ9_jJdwyAqxAHdvqRZA1hWI4R_93B4Y2qxWECP5x_VWsadzYHVP4gmKqLu6ruGmGREfIBs-Qx91gU5cZJcoWXfUMj94/s320/explorationday+009.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1U1OODlmHPmDZ6jh7RT4o5A3Lgvf6lFHYylNSujqLIcYVz6cPxzRyOp1FY9BImUD9SdyPTbWi8UUZaW8zSsdmFpHq2S_seuZg3lz5HvLdkopcxDvbCBoZY-lcwivchQu-S8O4gwVOdw/s1600/explorationday+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1U1OODlmHPmDZ6jh7RT4o5A3Lgvf6lFHYylNSujqLIcYVz6cPxzRyOp1FY9BImUD9SdyPTbWi8UUZaW8zSsdmFpHq2S_seuZg3lz5HvLdkopcxDvbCBoZY-lcwivchQu-S8O4gwVOdw/s320/explorationday+010.jpg" /></a></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;"><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;">Sofia was having a little trouble seeing through the glare in her magnifying glass and decided to chuck it across the yard! Only Emma (our dog) could console her!</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;"><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/AVvXsEiUVuxujO_3FVCK8iNRbiYdPKDL285y8yXAciYvpD9DxhV72ZViMU9_1jXoGnVm3yGpMcQdRwRt5WQ04eXjv-xopFdGgwNkoj3abx1Ejif8Lzk9WhmsS5G3sho2YwMsvtT1-wF_Rl4r_iI/s1600/explorationday+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVuxujO_3FVCK8iNRbiYdPKDL285y8yXAciYvpD9DxhV72ZViMU9_1jXoGnVm3yGpMcQdRwRt5WQ04eXjv-xopFdGgwNkoj3abx1Ejif8Lzk9WhmsS5G3sho2YwMsvtT1-wF_Rl4r_iI/s320/explorationday+006.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We observed a lot of rotting apples on the ground...</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 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/AVvXsEiN918WUT5t-gqTnCSHWPZhzmRJNmnEGU7outNiKakTvWHoWrwUZ0yGM7qurJ2j8sdxooSd6ybyJu4viOLIuIN1j9HQLgOUnHuAKP3eEIEnX6wBscxLYbQ9qF9pF-_Ej-ElU_x2NBxOpV8/s1600/explorationday+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN918WUT5t-gqTnCSHWPZhzmRJNmnEGU7outNiKakTvWHoWrwUZ0yGM7qurJ2j8sdxooSd6ybyJu4viOLIuIN1j9HQLgOUnHuAKP3eEIEnX6wBscxLYbQ9qF9pF-_Ej-ElU_x2NBxOpV8/s320/explorationday+012.jpg" width="320" /></a></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;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rotting apples + a bucket full of water can only mean one thing...</div></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 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/AVvXsEhQY1erVrAfLsBHmJ68okQcJRjvr9eTQJSlS5p0R5iKFIOqBzkKJg4WMT2HL_MEopNEQcZNTh3j9_t0MPMn8Az1G6m8Q4Xoq_cVg9d4DDDsmWZWieqiIznUk5T-8x60vvn06J6_6VcWs4k/s1600/explorationday+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY1erVrAfLsBHmJ68okQcJRjvr9eTQJSlS5p0R5iKFIOqBzkKJg4WMT2HL_MEopNEQcZNTh3j9_t0MPMn8Az1G6m8Q4Xoq_cVg9d4DDDsmWZWieqiIznUk5T-8x60vvn06J6_6VcWs4k/s200/explorationday+022.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcPdusBW14eVK8A6LdWL53sugNQwYpmqOWIi_vR2fXUNEiSBFcKOAl-JdrL_z_l9Iv2BKfTxhqTL0Htv1trY5NkIRswZz9-1TRi7Y_CL5cnSRXRuSFMRk5RvGpU0bOBvU9HnAnDCrXNo/s1600/explorationday+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcPdusBW14eVK8A6LdWL53sugNQwYpmqOWIi_vR2fXUNEiSBFcKOAl-JdrL_z_l9Iv2BKfTxhqTL0Htv1trY5NkIRswZz9-1TRi7Y_CL5cnSRXRuSFMRk5RvGpU0bOBvU9HnAnDCrXNo/s200/explorationday+013.jpg" width="200" /></a></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;"><br />
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</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;"><span style="font-size: large;">APPLE SOUP!!!</span></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;"><br />
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</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;">Unfortunately, no proper exploration is without some pain. </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;">Poor Gigi :-(</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/AVvXsEgKyXovhcqjLBFQMZ-qR3FzeKd5w3_gi6qizVT4fvkN_au9RXL_YOq7eqS0DwCQuUSevLExyoUpC05nVoPN1TMzlQfEg9inv2GprtSN3mGu25wL4_wRbsXEn-xWY6gUMaRaYT78hskCcIg/s1600/explorationday+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyXovhcqjLBFQMZ-qR3FzeKd5w3_gi6qizVT4fvkN_au9RXL_YOq7eqS0DwCQuUSevLExyoUpC05nVoPN1TMzlQfEg9inv2GprtSN3mGu25wL4_wRbsXEn-xWY6gUMaRaYT78hskCcIg/s200/explorationday+017.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We learned how to use the scale on a map. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">From our house to Mimi in Las Vegas, is is approx. 1,200 mi.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">From our house to Diane in NC, it is approx. 600 mi.</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;">Then, we made a map to scale of our dining room.</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;"><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/AVvXsEiqWAF8soRkr9aSYYV5C_mtKiupFWnJY-TqrPZDXW9u0NBX_GDYNgpymutwUu0ZtGx-lyg5w-0kWywCU3-0Pf-WuiUMfq7wqh3QKEs2jQIoXiV4uEOPFuqwye87R1WzkxTh8uCxQKl0j5E/s1600/scale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWAF8soRkr9aSYYV5C_mtKiupFWnJY-TqrPZDXW9u0NBX_GDYNgpymutwUu0ZtGx-lyg5w-0kWywCU3-0Pf-WuiUMfq7wqh3QKEs2jQIoXiV4uEOPFuqwye87R1WzkxTh8uCxQKl0j5E/s320/scale.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">not too sure it is accurate!</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;"><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;">We started our Geography From A to Z Vocabulary Cards of which I will make a slide show and keep them in there each week. </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;"><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;">We also read a book called <em>God</em> <em>Speaks Numanggang</em> <em>by David Hazell</em></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/AVvXsEg5I8PPvXkFPi_43DFYFQbjQ2EW78FNQ-1wRVNFymNHYgg8lJdGms5fC1i-gj5EzbfR7HP4csolHiusZXwxEp-VWncifnGGeUDQCie8uY3t5TaeJ72fhDOSXqbT1ztrnPy-pbqcr_axSm0/s1600/numanggang.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I8PPvXkFPi_43DFYFQbjQ2EW78FNQ-1wRVNFymNHYgg8lJdGms5fC1i-gj5EzbfR7HP4csolHiusZXwxEp-VWncifnGGeUDQCie8uY3t5TaeJ72fhDOSXqbT1ztrnPy-pbqcr_axSm0/s320/numanggang.png" /></a></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;">It's a book about a missionary family who moved to a remote village in Papau New Guinea, and for 30 years they lived there translating the Bible into their language. First, they had to learn the language. Then, turn it into a written one, teach the people how to read and write it, and translate the Bible into the Numanggang language. This was an awesome read, rich with photos of this family's experience. It was great to show the kids how important God's word is in people's heart language. Our curriculum, <a href="http://www.mfwbooks.com/">My Father's World </a>donates a large portion of the money they receive to <a href="http://www.mfwbooks.com/missions.htm">Bible translation</a>. I really feel that is a huge blessing, and I'm happy to contribute. The children really enjoyed this story and the pictures.</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;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKb9YBAOrZch8ZrbUzJJsZwQQC17P2Om3OEpu-iGIdgTY8gnScmkxmWb90-KmBru5n40GrwoBM7_MJGnCEBKnBF1U88iOoVdRtKg9YlILz9IqZEX7CuhPOVOrJ70_hla0OL1kyVI44cm8/s1600/explorationday+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKb9YBAOrZch8ZrbUzJJsZwQQC17P2Om3OEpu-iGIdgTY8gnScmkxmWb90-KmBru5n40GrwoBM7_MJGnCEBKnBF1U88iOoVdRtKg9YlILz9IqZEX7CuhPOVOrJ70_hla0OL1kyVI44cm8/s400/explorationday+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli's favorite spot to play!</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So, that concludes our week 1 progress. Next week looks like even more fun. Come on back and see us again!</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 />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhE8rGA6wzOtdbmrGAirvihvibNJHvQ_xw6CtNmUNArD4bnA4rManjUWu68Wegx2l95O2rRPZEoLlFNP7aChvkEZd4TbyBbr9wI0uN-iLNTa2kxZW0dtb2NDGw2qMqX76CYQ4hc_6CYo/s1600/explorationday+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhE8rGA6wzOtdbmrGAirvihvibNJHvQ_xw6CtNmUNArD4bnA4rManjUWu68Wegx2l95O2rRPZEoLlFNP7aChvkEZd4TbyBbr9wI0uN-iLNTa2kxZW0dtb2NDGw2qMqX76CYQ4hc_6CYo/s400/explorationday+019.jpg" width="400" /></a></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 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/AVvXsEh_n05LRyjW4Dbp6DEa5UNzN0ZDRpPRMKDJjBlpJmwaTr9697VbPqA85FcMXG9X_NsDkn2TLzoLTyLNkmDun-r1szi989HxsEFYCWusg-6Rf-RGJafrQUjBa2_7w5JJ-MyDFnH3UKXqoVs/s1600/explorationday+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n05LRyjW4Dbp6DEa5UNzN0ZDRpPRMKDJjBlpJmwaTr9697VbPqA85FcMXG9X_NsDkn2TLzoLTyLNkmDun-r1szi989HxsEFYCWusg-6Rf-RGJafrQUjBa2_7w5JJ-MyDFnH3UKXqoVs/s320/explorationday+020.jpg" /></a></div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-25606873226394414532010-08-24T15:52:00.001-05:002010-09-02T20:29:44.035-05:00Day 2- The annoying orange!<div style="text-align: center;">Today, we had to draw the continents on an orange, then peel it to see how difficult it is to take a sphere and make it into a flat map. Of course, this exercise was not without annoying orange jokes!</div> (if you've never seen an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcRguMhpQPQ">Annoying Orange</a> video on YouTube, they're pretty funny.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji71n21XNfQkXP5qcaaFUYESX0MSUm34P9sTWa5sRXCwXtprlWSyIrYUs1SuY-qrSIWnlx8LZ7MAXC01_QU4nBtXoNIeq_o0T2WInndTqwzic-M8-KNrcEk2aPtccVrDgGQGYgOxSpf2w/s1600/day2+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji71n21XNfQkXP5qcaaFUYESX0MSUm34P9sTWa5sRXCwXtprlWSyIrYUs1SuY-qrSIWnlx8LZ7MAXC01_QU4nBtXoNIeq_o0T2WInndTqwzic-M8-KNrcEk2aPtccVrDgGQGYgOxSpf2w/s200/day2+001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knife!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div 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;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSnGZCIGG34sHVlzU7IzJrPjC1IJMXgp0BczpXxh3LE3voKOBCq07Xyg-CYmS2wI7lWjUa91z7AsIC0mtNTHwhWrQETyrS-bfAEYSKaaetiETXS_HzpaHMFiao5pznZpNU_PSaKSob4Q/s1600/day2+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSnGZCIGG34sHVlzU7IzJrPjC1IJMXgp0BczpXxh3LE3voKOBCq07Xyg-CYmS2wI7lWjUa91z7AsIC0mtNTHwhWrQETyrS-bfAEYSKaaetiETXS_HzpaHMFiao5pznZpNU_PSaKSob4Q/s320/day2+006.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We learned that on a flat map, the sizes of the continents are not proportioned accurately. Greenland is much bigger on a map, than on a globe, for example. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am amazed that we can do all of our subjects, AND have time to cut up a bunch of magazines and make a huge mess and get it all done by noon! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS-V34c-yxn-C_Hdnu5Rd5F_qeSjfERjnoGgskIRhs754akccJASqA8otjErSURGrS9QgdpANg4uzaNTU29icQJuZVAQURnGnoW89ZoQ78L6YGdBeYF_1R_dBZ27X-Dl5rMpvK0Wbfl4/s1600/day2+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS-V34c-yxn-C_Hdnu5Rd5F_qeSjfERjnoGgskIRhs754akccJASqA8otjErSURGrS9QgdpANg4uzaNTU29icQJuZVAQURnGnoW89ZoQ78L6YGdBeYF_1R_dBZ27X-Dl5rMpvK0Wbfl4/s320/day2+007.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our weekly memory verse.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Again, we sang hello, in 9 different languages. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </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/AVvXsEiPwGFikD6WYHK3hM1SxjdvLm3ab9MUQ_3aS_4Cep_umTYhYi6kOc35mPT8f-mjGcAXdOS1Bh5ni4pyn_WDIHSrLUi5f1Itue0Y-_vy84KPm0-vSL33MTebJTiatIrYnm12WdGaNlc8Pks/s1600/day2+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwGFikD6WYHK3hM1SxjdvLm3ab9MUQ_3aS_4Cep_umTYhYi6kOc35mPT8f-mjGcAXdOS1Bh5ni4pyn_WDIHSrLUi5f1Itue0Y-_vy84KPm0-vSL33MTebJTiatIrYnm12WdGaNlc8Pks/s200/day2+003.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7_nZBN44M5TnacJ9IzXCD7Xr8Gk6sAt-eRR5mZYxeG7NMJO_LzuujOTymlgByYsmvbUyw-VzFzhZdeiksV5iKfAfbsymBtn4b5flhP9xtQjwwCnON102uSBOkSNQHvm72VHIRvM2g1E/s1600/day2+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7_nZBN44M5TnacJ9IzXCD7Xr8Gk6sAt-eRR5mZYxeG7NMJO_LzuujOTymlgByYsmvbUyw-VzFzhZdeiksV5iKfAfbsymBtn4b5flhP9xtQjwwCnON102uSBOkSNQHvm72VHIRvM2g1E/s200/day2+005.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><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;">This is a huge hit with all the kids except Bella... <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/wee-sing-around-the-world-book/pamela-beall/9780843120059/pd/120053?item_code=WW&netp_id=433048&event=ESRCN&view=covers">Click here for a sample.</a> </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;"> I think it just might grow on her by the end of the week! LOL!</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;"><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;">Of course there's lots more we learned today, but I won't bore you with the details of sentence structures and addition /subtraction review. </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;">I am excited for our assignments at the end of the week. We'll see you then...</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;"><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/AVvXsEhdTl-hh9ddP8kNkDaFX9IggUyvkkhGfDGtw5vVy2LR9i4C74AL57FgHxheAzvPb9zUuq1uITw_TykseCW8i3fq742JTR9PemfYqFpuSZbw5PWetZput70eiQqFEma-HNrV4OCHT01QvaQ/s1600/1stdayofschool+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTl-hh9ddP8kNkDaFX9IggUyvkkhGfDGtw5vVy2LR9i4C74AL57FgHxheAzvPb9zUuq1uITw_TykseCW8i3fq742JTR9PemfYqFpuSZbw5PWetZput70eiQqFEma-HNrV4OCHT01QvaQ/s320/1stdayofschool+010.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiWBviGWsm_W9LT_f0Qjb_YjFAMThhzl6mAjDLD_cqdvbVusYiQUlniwsIPa-pIiQOT5RVIERiChMwNh3Zvj39GLHavo5ypw9zgr8y70DB92NMGkAhAzYfhhhja8Zx7UpPVHxRoysNbI/s1600/day2+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiWBviGWsm_W9LT_f0Qjb_YjFAMThhzl6mAjDLD_cqdvbVusYiQUlniwsIPa-pIiQOT5RVIERiChMwNh3Zvj39GLHavo5ypw9zgr8y70DB92NMGkAhAzYfhhhja8Zx7UpPVHxRoysNbI/s320/day2+004.jpg" /></a></div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-20527344186169705452010-08-23T17:16:00.000-05:002010-08-23T17:16:43.035-05:00First Day of School 2010/2011We started out with prayer, and a little photo session...<br />
<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/AVvXsEgiWS4FIgcaLlp7PCjwthbXL__PScYI0jATWL86yhyhTJLDnYN-6D2l01XsAb7HbTMbjA3b146i31orbqBMtm-JLkH9BnJtz7tImdIuIzTkXGuGunGC2drn5SX6fFRKVKI0wOcuWR1YMIA/s1600/1stdayofschool+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWS4FIgcaLlp7PCjwthbXL__PScYI0jATWL86yhyhTJLDnYN-6D2l01XsAb7HbTMbjA3b146i31orbqBMtm-JLkH9BnJtz7tImdIuIzTkXGuGunGC2drn5SX6fFRKVKI0wOcuWR1YMIA/s320/1stdayofschool+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiUac6t-ck8QlDNW65zFnOMVxCMqjRrBsLHKbgfscO0PWB8S-COFU_Ubf279qwzYEd1HfQNRGVIKWMA6j4F6uKvl1_7dUSFoueea-MnOu0_L2LqhhjjV9EQoKDSrA-g72zB93J2tlGECkw/s1600/1stdayofschool+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUac6t-ck8QlDNW65zFnOMVxCMqjRrBsLHKbgfscO0PWB8S-COFU_Ubf279qwzYEd1HfQNRGVIKWMA6j4F6uKvl1_7dUSFoueea-MnOu0_L2LqhhjjV9EQoKDSrA-g72zB93J2tlGECkw/s320/1stdayofschool+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></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;"><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/AVvXsEjyfQpSg_yPhPPzRoZaqFV__S3_Z7rqtrvafRpXQHAjp1p30p0BUbF62U3iE1D5s-w83FV__vVmit0PuM1vXjoOE6oyAYrYj_KQGrR9jGntmuwsaroAf54wgkx4xAh6TMqFC2jxKmABn8Y/s1600/1stdayofschool+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfQpSg_yPhPPzRoZaqFV__S3_Z7rqtrvafRpXQHAjp1p30p0BUbF62U3iE1D5s-w83FV__vVmit0PuM1vXjoOE6oyAYrYj_KQGrR9jGntmuwsaroAf54wgkx4xAh6TMqFC2jxKmABn8Y/s320/1stdayofschool+001.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjGRA0W9OmE4eOMRvWwqFsqIUlGp1EEVX9a-jve3QGzvLZupHYNtXzfl7NEVZfSxNYBUntbwTEqU0XmDp7rLAdbnEO_oSNy_t8D07vFcJusZtgr7iVNbo-yKpJXMvPjz5h8i4F4wWuNs/s1600/1stdayofschool+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjGRA0W9OmE4eOMRvWwqFsqIUlGp1EEVX9a-jve3QGzvLZupHYNtXzfl7NEVZfSxNYBUntbwTEqU0XmDp7rLAdbnEO_oSNy_t8D07vFcJusZtgr7iVNbo-yKpJXMvPjz5h8i4F4wWuNs/s320/1stdayofschool+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></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;"><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/AVvXsEgHqHZD93YjgOgdgjoZUwja6dYBx4MB-iu0h7dQhWOVnz6RmpWsTW_S6vvhE5VR3fXnPOtvIwPgtMTACK-RfctSH2wMShOn-pO7V7X86llqeX6nhndrENn2PkRqmYtZSVa_RFHsAz9aPow/s1600/1stdayofschool+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqHZD93YjgOgdgjoZUwja6dYBx4MB-iu0h7dQhWOVnz6RmpWsTW_S6vvhE5VR3fXnPOtvIwPgtMTACK-RfctSH2wMShOn-pO7V7X86llqeX6nhndrENn2PkRqmYtZSVa_RFHsAz9aPow/s320/1stdayofschool+009.jpg" width="320" /></a>We couldn't think of a more suitable title for our littlest student!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsWg0CnQ7mPFjpv-W-kCUp3e8HkGOfQu9Iu31z32CbcYEPIHBzPPwD0Lm2jj3E_dMR5ySdZrxmJiG7TNOWW_rDKz_TYeUIvdIsDl6OyXJN6eofONzjfAVQKTavQgk7Cq3dI-hgB0EcuU/s1600/1stdayofschool+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsWg0CnQ7mPFjpv-W-kCUp3e8HkGOfQu9Iu31z32CbcYEPIHBzPPwD0Lm2jj3E_dMR5ySdZrxmJiG7TNOWW_rDKz_TYeUIvdIsDl6OyXJN6eofONzjfAVQKTavQgk7Cq3dI-hgB0EcuU/s320/1stdayofschool+008.jpg" width="320" /></a>They just HAD to get me in there!</div><br />
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It went really well, for our first day. Everyone was eager to get started. We filled out passport applications, and fake checks in the amount of $20.00. We mailed them to: The Passport Office c/o Antonacci Custom Woodworks. We expect to get our passports in a few weeks, and are very excited about it!<br />
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<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/AVvXsEjJKnADdZMyAQfpOUBXXvswop3b3hQhSP3X3jNlOLSBaq9DqEk547owuxxQ9iJkjJLFcOGeNg8L8CBOunNTPNgFda1XaKkon4ZwR_mmNsz5ZmvK-D5GvA82KAlOYX_r4J9VCGyhCooAuRo/s1600/passport.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKnADdZMyAQfpOUBXXvswop3b3hQhSP3X3jNlOLSBaq9DqEk547owuxxQ9iJkjJLFcOGeNg8L8CBOunNTPNgFda1XaKkon4ZwR_mmNsz5ZmvK-D5GvA82KAlOYX_r4J9VCGyhCooAuRo/s200/passport.png" width="150" /></a>We learned that there are 230 countries in our world, and that many of them have never heard about God's love, or that He sent Jesus to be their savior. We learned that we must pray for them. (Luke 10:2 Jesus told his disciples, "Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field."</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;">We learned that Gigi can and WILL throw a huge fit if she doesn't get the "pink book!" </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;"><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;">We learned how to say, "Hello" in 8 different languages through a song from the CD -<em> </em></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;"><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Around-World-Pamela-Beall/dp/0843120053#_">We Sing Around The World.</a></em></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;"><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;">We also learned about an Ecosystem and somewhere between biosphere and flora/fauna- I totally lost them! Oh well, there's always tomorrow!</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;"><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/AVvXsEg-AII9rx7GK8fYJ3AQokDbMksELAAfxxX2SiU1IwPGXXndzbCVduNT9tFPhwdZWzZ8-7XucEM-mUL7Cqfr9CUmEw_h-xWiV1g5zcsgKrWttld5VFoGZGCQ9O1C2tCJY_y2ABaaIPij0_8/s1600/1stdayofschool+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AII9rx7GK8fYJ3AQokDbMksELAAfxxX2SiU1IwPGXXndzbCVduNT9tFPhwdZWzZ8-7XucEM-mUL7Cqfr9CUmEw_h-xWiV1g5zcsgKrWttld5VFoGZGCQ9O1C2tCJY_y2ABaaIPij0_8/s200/1stdayofschool+004.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0GvYM62a8M0ULlLcRdgFLl9JXa9kl5xb6BOv_iurIaTLOWh6S50PD_Fz_UV2UCQLzAveN1CB3kHvn0_Q7xnzch9-ufa31BIswj_sh8JLMN82xIZlYUL5uCYLEJa3VSxj5Y1NEyYIRZk/s1600/1stdayofschool+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0GvYM62a8M0ULlLcRdgFLl9JXa9kl5xb6BOv_iurIaTLOWh6S50PD_Fz_UV2UCQLzAveN1CB3kHvn0_Q7xnzch9-ufa31BIswj_sh8JLMN82xIZlYUL5uCYLEJa3VSxj5Y1NEyYIRZk/s200/1stdayofschool+003.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtqegPISflIB6z04zp8NuLEIe320Iq_uujHbWtycLmByyVBk8SlzP4ckG00LuxuvA46Py9kfiuPaExJzv4R4neRaxYER5XsWpGXdp1UakdrPvZOSZR3yoH2yxkwmLaOgKR9RUXcNDGno/s1600/1stdayofschool+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtqegPISflIB6z04zp8NuLEIe320Iq_uujHbWtycLmByyVBk8SlzP4ckG00LuxuvA46Py9kfiuPaExJzv4R4neRaxYER5XsWpGXdp1UakdrPvZOSZR3yoH2yxkwmLaOgKR9RUXcNDGno/s200/1stdayofschool+007.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559639646707345984.post-88908741280888752992010-08-22T00:49:00.000-05:002010-08-22T01:14:36.249-05:00Getting Prepared...Well, I am sitting here thinking about how much fun this year in homeschooling has in store for us, yet seriously trying hard not to forget how every year I romanticize the start of the new school year. <br />
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Perfect little well behaved children sitting at their desks, focused, quiet, well groomed, sitting up straight, eager to learn, willing to cooperate, baby playing quietly and very content, at my feet. Can you hear the record scratch yet? Far from that, the reality is more closely resembled to, uh...well...something out of an old Calgon commercial! <br />
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Reluctant children slouched over their desks, one complaining that she's tired, another screaming because the baby is dumping her crayons all over the floor and proceeding to eat them, another loudly calling, "Mom, Mom, Mom..Mom...MOM!!" Perhaps one is already starting to work in his workbook, trying to yell over the commotion that he's ready and begging for me to help him. Yep, all the while I am thinking, 'There is no way I will be able to make it through the next 5 minutes, let alone the entire school year, I surely have lost my mind! Why, that school bus should be here any minute, maybe I should load them on it after all!'<br />
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Yes, I recall now, the first week or two is really more about character training, and discipline, and heavy review of the rules. After that it is smooth sailing, for the most part. Deep breaths! 'I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.' -Phil 4:13<br />
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I think though, that this year will be different, because unlike years past, we are starting on a different path. A different method altogether. <a href="http://www.simplycharlottemason.com/">The Charlotte Mason</a> method. We are starting year 1 of a 5 year plan in a curriculum called <a href="http://www.blogger.com/''www.mfwbooks.com">My Father's World</a>. Exploring Countries & Cultures. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtwiIc15pOL64O6ILIzNW9TWM2QuBnfTpd2TaBGfq2-S-Zw_tCVOkU6couuxpvOT68tiwpAkh7YKaeAm6Ff4Wu26Zb0nprbix-i3nuEDL_AgcgaLyiyWwAqbmUDSTI7dSFA21uGPA5c4/s1600/ECC_TM2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtwiIc15pOL64O6ILIzNW9TWM2QuBnfTpd2TaBGfq2-S-Zw_tCVOkU6couuxpvOT68tiwpAkh7YKaeAm6Ff4Wu26Zb0nprbix-i3nuEDL_AgcgaLyiyWwAqbmUDSTI7dSFA21uGPA5c4/s320/ECC_TM2.gif" /></a></div>I am hopeful that we will survive the first week or two, and maybe, just maybe, we will even have fun!Melanie Antonaccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13361296530919434742noreply@blogger.com3