Enjoying the Chaos

1. I tried a new photo sharing program this week. It's easy to do, and it's free! PhotoMambo is really easy to use from the computer or from your phone. They have an iphone/ipad app (which I tried on my husbands phone) however I have an android but I just email the pictures I want to share to a special email address and BOOM, they are sent to the people I have specified. My in-law's live in England and it looks like a really quick way to send pictures directly to their computer from my phone. They seem to like it too! (I was compensated to try the program but I wasn't required to blog about it) 2. My Mom and Dad have been on holiday this week and have not had cell signal. I hate not talking to them for this long...it's really weird. In fact Boo called them this week and got their voice mail, she was confused for a minute and started leaving a message before she realized. 3. Jam is starting his new Life of Fred book Elementary Physics he is excited. Boo is abo...

Our New Beginnings Evening was awesome. The girls did an amazing job. The leaders are great. Everyone enjoyed themselves and the decorations looked awesome!

I love the writings of C.S. Lewis. I was given the chance to read the book A-Z of C.S Lewis by Colin Duriez. I was familiar with C.S Lewis and his many children's books especially 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' so found this book very interesting as it opened my eyes to a lot more of C.S Lewis. This book brings together a lot of the writings and information together into one book. It is a little hard to read and takes a little persevering. I did learn a lot of things but I felt I had to work at it. The main reason it was so overwhelming is because so much knowledge is packed into this little book! This is not a book I could sit and read all the way through at once. However I love having this sat on my bookshelf to turn to as a reference or flick through when interested. It contains quotes and even information on places that C.S. Lewis had visited. It's very interesting.  This is definitely an excellent resource for all C.S. Lewis fans. Colin Duriez is...

Little J and I have had a wonderful time reviewing Science4Us.com . However before I go into the how we used it, let me tell you about it. Science4Us.com is an early elementary online science program designed for ages kindergarten to second grade. The site is designed into four categories Earth/Space, Life, Inquiry, and Physical Science. I was a little concerned how well Little J would manage with this program because he is not a fluent reader yet. However the program reads everything aloud and Little J was able to do most of this program without any help at all. There are a couple of the exercises that he liked me to sit next to him while he completed them, but not really because he couldn't do it, more for moral support. After we logged into the program I read the four areas of science to Little J, he decided he wanted to start with Earth and Space Science. Mainly because he loves everything about space. I mean what five year old doesn't want to be an astronaut....

Little J really wants to play the piano. Jam and Boo have been playing for about five years but their teacher thinks Little J should wait another year before he starts regular lessons. So when I was given the opportunity to review an excellent online piano program called KinderBach I was really excited. KinderBach is an early education piano program designed for children aged 3-7. We used the KinderBach at home plus Teacher corner version. KinderBach uses fun and interactive ideas to teach note reading, rhythm, singing, and composition. Since I had already approached our piano teacher about Little J taking piano lessons at his request he was very excited when I told him he was going to have special lessons he could do at home every day. The online membership we have been using gives you access to 240 sessions of online video - which will keep Little J busy for a really long time. KinderBach starts by teaching the basics of music and rhythm in a way that small children can com...

Jam and Boo are enjoying using  Amblesideonline again. One of the things I love about this website is how easy it has made it to study different poets and poems. This semester Boo is reading poetry from Rudyard Kipling. Her very favorite so far is; The Thousandth Man by Rudyard Kipling One man in a thousand, Solomon says, Will stick more close than a brother. And it's worth while seeking him half your days If you find him before the other. Nine hundred and ninety-nine depend On what the world sees in you, But the Thousandth Man will stand your friend With the whole round world agin you. 'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show Will settle the finding for 'ee, Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go By your looks, or your acts, or your glory, But if he finds you and you find him, The rest of the world don't matter; For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim With you in any water. You can use his purse with no more talk Than he uses yours fo...

Random F ive  I love it when the sun is shining and the weather looks like spring is coming - I hope it's not just teasing me. 1. I need to find a cute dress in grey for three girls aged 8 - 11 any ideas would be welcome. 2. Tuesday this week was beautiful here. We planned a Zoo trip with the cousins and it was perfect. 3.This week my husband and Jam trimmed our trees. Little J helped out for about two minutes and then got carried away playing with the melting ice.  4. I am so excited, I will be posting my first two reviews next week (both for my 5 year old). I can't choose a favorite Little J loved both of them. Come back next week to read more! 5. Saturday morning we cooked our Valentine's breakfast. It was a spur of the moment thing. I cooked a fresh strawberry sauce, and hubby made french toast out of some crusty bread we had. Little J was sad at first because he wanted pancakes. However after taking a couple of bites he decided it was better th...

We have a fun book called Draw 3D by Doug DuBosque . Boo's lesson today was fun!

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Little J was struggling last summer to learn to count to twenty. He could do really well up to 13 and then he got muddled. If I helped him past 13 he did great and was able to finish. It really was a case of unlucky 13. So I tried to think of a little incentive to help him want to practice...It was hot, we had just moved to a town that has a Baskin-Robbins and what 4 year old doesn't like ice-cream. So I told him if he could count to 20 with no mistakes I would take him for ice-cream. Sure enough less than a week later I was buying him a vanilla one scoop. While in the store he looked at me and asked...If I count to 30 can I have another. I smiled and said "Why don't we make it 50". Well last week Little J came up to me one morning and said "I've done it! I can count to 50, when can we go for my ice-cream". Since we had a ton outside I said "Couldn't we wait till it's not freezing outside?" We agreed and then he smiled again and I ...

  Happy Valentine 's Day 1. My husband normally buys me a dozen roses and one for Boo every year. This year we got a treat. M ini rose bushes!!! They are so sweet. I love that I will be able to look at them f or more than just three o r four days. 2. I s it wrong that my kids think that Valentines day should be a major holiday ! 3. Little J bought a notebook at the D ollar Tree this week and has been putting it to good use.     4. Boo posted her favorite poem this week on her blog Lavagirl Rocks . The Thousandth Man by Rudyard Kipling. 5. As you know I am from England. Now and again it's fun to hear the accent. I have been watching a fun series called Hetty Wainthropp Investigates. It's considered a TVPG I love hearing the Yorkshire accent. It is also available on Youtube - which is great. Check out what other people are saying by clicking on the link below...it will take you over to The Pebble Pond . ©2011-2014 Chickensbunniesand...

Enter Today | 2/10 - 2/27! I recently had the opportunity to review A Road Unknown by  Barbara Cameron . Barbara Cameron is a best-selling author who has a heart for writing about the spiritual values and simple joys of the Amish. She is the author of more than 38 fiction and nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies, and the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Barbara is a former newspaper reporter. Some of her non-fiction titles include the “Everything Weddings on a Budget Book” and “Her Restless Heart: A Woman’s Longing for Love and Acceptance.” Cameron currently resides in Edgewater, Florida. Find out more about Barbara here. I know I know another Amish fiction review but I couldn't help it. I loved this story from beginning to end. Elizabeth is struggling, she has a decision to make. The book starts with Elizabeth on a bus making a drastic change in her life. We all come to a time in our life when we have to make a deci...

Valentines

Barbara Cameron  is celebrating the release of  A Road Unknown  with a $200 Visa cash card giveaway and a fun "Amish Roads" Facebook party. One winner will receive: A $200 Visa cash card A Road Unknown  by Barbara Cameron Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 27th. Winner will be announced at  Barbara's "Amish Roads" Facebook Party on February 27th .  Connect with Barbara for an evening of book chat, Amish trivia, laughter, prizes, and more! So grab your copy of A Road Unknown  and join Barbara and friends on the evening of February 27th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!) Don't miss a moment of the fun;  RSVP today .  Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or  TWITTER  and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th! + The Secrets of Happy Families by...

  Random 5 Friday 1. I am finding it hard to be random today. I am going to a friend's daughter's funeral. She was 20. Faith is a funny thing, you never know how much you have until you need it.  2. This week I really appreciated the joy of homeschooling my children. The weather has been yucky. Snow and ice everywhere. I can't count how many school days the local school district's have called. I know some of them have missed this whole week for starters. We however have had no break in our schedule it's been great. The kids are looking forward to playing in the snow this weekend for longer that 'break-time or lunch'.  3. I am not a play in the snow kind of person. I would love to be, but if I am honest I'm not. I hate it. I hate all the effort that it takes to get everyone bundled up, and outside. Almost always someone needs to come back in for an emergency pit stop and everything has to come off...Why not just look at it from next to the...

  Wordless Wednesday Where have the years gone... ©2011-2014 Chickensbunniesandhomeschool. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author Chickensbunniesandhomeschool.blogspot.com

  HOPEFUL by Shelley Shepard Gray | Win a copy! Enter Today - 2/4-2/23! Welcome to the blog tour for  Hopeful , the first book in Shelley Shepard Gray's new series, Return to Sugarcreek .   Critics have already given their thumbs up for Hopeful : “Lovable characters and a good story, full of romance and suspense . . . a must read." (Library Journal) Enter to win one of FIVE copies of the book.  Five winners will receive: Hopeful by Shelley Shepard Gray Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 23rd. All winners will be announced February 24th at Shelley's blog . Enter today and be sure to visit Shelley's blog on the 24th to see if YOU won one of the books! I jumped at the chance to read this Amish fiction book, and read it I did...in less than 24 hours. I loved it. The main character Miriam Zehr from Sugarcreek is lonely. What she wants is a man to want to marry her. It looks fo...

Wednesday was the 18th birthday of our oldest daughter Heather. Like all of our children we celebrate our daughter's birthday every year. The difference with Heather is that she only spent her first three birthdays celebrating them with us. Heather was 3 years 9 months and 6 days old when she passed away. Heather wasn't sick, she died from a fluke accident. The climbing frame she was swinging on collapsed and a tiny corner of her head was hit by the cross-bar. She never regained consciousnesses and passed away a few hours later despite being life-flighted to one of the best Children's Hospitals. Our world fell apart that day and I can honestly say we have never been the same since. Every year since then we have tried to make her birthday a happy day. A day to remember her and celebrate her life. The joy she brought into it. I have learned that we only suffer grief and loss because we love. I would go through it all again for the opportunity of having her in my life, even ...

Last month I participated in a First Day linky hosted by Journey to Josie.        Good Night... ©2011-2014 Chickensbunniesandhomeschool. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author Chickensbunniesandhomeschool.blogspot.com