Circling Through This Life

It seems such a short time ago I was freaking out because she taught herself to read and was asking me all kinds of embarrassing questions about the headlines on magazines in the check out lane.  Boy I was grateful for the family friendly check out lane but I do wish it didn't have to replace magazines with candy.   Unlike her older sister, Turtlegirl, didn't want a big huge celebration. She's a quiet introvert.  Our church has a tradition of honoring graduates.  It was the perfect way to acknowledge Turtlegirl's achievement without forcing her to be in the spotlight alone. After liturgy, Father called the graduates forward.  He prayed for them, spoke a short mini-sermon and gave them each prayer book.  It was beautiful.  I have no idea what happened the day church honored graduates with BooBear as that is the infamous heart attack day. The parish house was decorated and there was cake! It was very sweet to see four graduates! No they were n...

 {This review made possible by Forbrain -  Sound For Life LTD and the Schoolhouse Review Crew} When I found out that the Crew would be reviewing a bone conduction headset from Forbrain - Sound For Life Ltd I was more than just a little curious. Having worked with a neurodevelopmentalist and speech therapists with Supergirl, I am familiar with the importance of audio memory to brain organization and optimal function.  Forbrain - Sound For Life Ltd states that this device can improve memory, attention, and speech.  The more I looked over the website the more convinced I was that Tailorbear and Turtlegirl would benefit just as much as Supergirl. Forbrain is a device that maximizes the natural audio-vocal loop that every person uses to analyze, assimilate, perceive and adjust information received and produced through sound.  For details on this loop and how Forbrain works check out these links: The Auditory Process , and Forbrain's Audio Technology. Ta...

How did it get to be June already?  And nearly half way through at that! I have lots of things I want to write about but today I want to talk about reading.  About what I've been reading actually.   At some point I want to talk about reading aloud and how important it is and how reading aloud to older children and teens is just as important as reading aloud to your toddler, preschooler, and early elementary kids. I suspect that reading aloud to other adults and being read aloud to as an adult has benefits as well.  Benefits beyond being able to use an audiobook to multi-task. Speaking of audio books and adult multi-tasking let's talk about the fact that I am making time for reading by listening!  I have three books on audio right now that are in my  "currently reading listening" pile: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ~  Yes, I have read this book before and yes I have seen the Colin Firth version of the movie (mini-series!) multipl...

If you are a long time reader of my blog you may remember that we are a game loving family.  We play games just for fun as part of our family holiday traditions but I also like incorporating games into our home school. Learning math facts can be boring. Math drill can be boring.  It doesn't have to be that way! Sunya Publishing has two games that make mastering your facts fun.  Members of the Schoolhouse Review crew were sent their choice of Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Adding & Subtracting or Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Multiplying & Dividing.  As a crew leader, I received both games. About the Games Both games state they are for 1-5 players.  The games come with a Teacher/Parent guidebook, two decks of cards and a special number line.  One deck contains 55 number cards, 2 wild cards and 3 operation cards (e.g. + - =  ) and the other contains 30 Riddle cards. The basic premise of the game ...

I know it isn't May 20th but Friday is the day I aim for.  Remember several weeks ago I said I would be posting sometime Friday-Sunday. This actually a Five Things from the past few weeks since I haven't posted a Five Things for a couple of weeks.  (Have I even posted one in May???!!!) 1.  We finally got our van back.  We did not have it back in time for Pascha but we got back in time for Mother's Day.  Thanks to some wonderful, giving, sweet friends though we were all able to make it to the services. We didn't get a a family photo but Boobear and did this selfie on Pascha! 2.  Boobear has finished all her requirements for being a music minor. She will be focusing on her senior year on her new major and a second minor in Religion.  She won't be taking private piano, piano ensemble, or even choir next year.  I'm bummed but I'm glad I got to see her in all the recitals that she did for Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years. 3.  Ar...

{Thank you to Zeezok Publishing LLC for providing the Music Appreciation: Book 1 for the Elementary Grades for this review} Music has always been an important part of my life and I wanted to share my love of music with my daughters.  We focused more on being exposed to different music types and just appreciating the variety of styles of music.  I never used a formal curriculum.  That is, I didn't until now.  Thanks to Zeezok Publishing LLC I have found the most amazing homeschool music curriculum ! With Music Appreciation: Book 1 for the Elementary Grades you get far more than just a music education.  As you study each composer you also study geography, culture, language arts, history, and more! Each composer has his own 4 week unit.  You do not even have to start at the beginning of the book.  I let Supergirl choose which composer we should start with.  She choose George Frederick Handel. When we finished Handel she insisted we start ...

Today is Holy Saturday.  For this edition of 5 Random Things this Week I want to share about Holy Week! 1. Three years ago I wrote a post about Holy Week called Going to Church (a Lot) .   What I wrote 3 years ago still applies to me today. Why do we g o to church so much this week? Well, these are special services that are only offered during Holy Week. For me they help me to focus on Christ’s mission here on earth and in a way that I can not explain with words, the services allow me to join with Him . It starts for me on Palm Sunday. Liturgically we are outside of time and we experience the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem. 2.  The Bridegroom Matins service remains one of my most favorite of all the services I have ever been too.  One of these years I might surprise myself and not cry but this was not the year. 3.  This Holy Week has been very difficult as we do not have our van and we are borrowing the car of dear friends....