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Meal Plan Monday

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I’m totally needing this shirt after the past week!  “Sorry, it’s too ‘Peopley’ out there”!

I think I could benefit from a few days at home!  We had a great weekend, though and it went far too fast!  I spent most of the weekend recovering from VBS from the past week!  I had forgotten how exhausting it can be!   We had over 200 children at our church for VBS!  How awesome is that!

Here we go with the meal plan for the week ahead.  I’m hoping to start planing for our next homeschool year.  It will be here shortly.

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Salad

Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner!

Thursday: Chicken fajitas

Friday: Lazy Lasagna

Saturday: Taco Pie, salad

Sunday: Black bean burritos

 

 

Review: Adventures of Rush Revere

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Adventures of Rush Revere

My husband’s grandmother first told our family about the Adventures of Rush Revere Book Series from Adventures of Rush Revere #1 New York Times Bestselling Book Series by Rush and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh. Since then, my kids have been completely enamored with the adventures that they find in each of the 5 books in the series.  We were super excited to receive a set of these books from the Homeschool Review Crew so we can share these adventures with our readers.

About the Books:

Currently a 5 book series, Rush Revere helps bring history alive!  With each turn of the page, you are transformed back into a time when history was made!  The books included in this set are

  • Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Journey aboard the Mayflower and see how the Pilgrims survived their first winter in the new world.  Find out more about Squanto and other historical figures.
  • Rush Revere and the First Patriots: Meet Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry and find out facts about life before the American Revolution.
  • Rush Revere and the American Revolution: In this book, you’ll meet Dr. Joseph Warren, John Hancock, and George Washington and understand what it means to have true freedom.
  • Rush Revere and the Star Spangled Banner: The crew ventures to national landmarks such as the White House and the Washington Monument.  When they travel back in time, more is learned about the writing of the national anthem.
  • Rush Revere and the Presidency: This book tells more about early presidents and first ladies and the election process.

Adventures of Rush Revere

Our Thoughts:

Put simply, my older kids devoured this book series!  They could not put them down once they started!  My 13 year old and 10 year old are already asking if there will be more to this series, and we certainly hope there will.  I feel that any book which enchances understanding of history is worth reading and having history come to life in this form has been very beneficial to our family.

Here are some thoughts from my 13 year old:

I really like the Rush Revere series.  My favorite characters are Liberty and Freedom.  Liberty is a funny and adventurous horse that can go back in time and he also talks.  Liberty is always thinking about food!  Freedom and Liberty have a special connection where they can communicate with their thoughts and minds.  Freedom is a smart student in Rush Revere’s class.  Rush Revere is a substitute teacher who always wears a colonial outfit everywhere he goes.  In each book, the characters travel back in time and meet different founding fathers and attend famous events.  My favorite book in the series is Rush Revere and the Presidency because I was able to learn more about presidency and elections.  The books are very descriptive so it’s easy to know what happened in the past events.  These books make history fun.  I think kids who want to learn more about history would like to read these books.

For More Information:

For more information, you can visit the Rush Revere website.  While there, you can check out the study guides, sign up for special offers, find out more about their scholarship programs, and other interactive activities.

You can also find out more on their social media channels –

Click the banner below to read more reviews on these great books and reviews on other homeschool products.

 

Adventures of Rush Revere Book Series {Reviews}
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Meal Plan Monday

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Sorry for the lack of posts this past week!  We took off for the mountains and then ended up not having WIFI where we were staying, when normally they do!  That’s okay, though, because I needed the time to just relax with my family.  We also had a great time celebrating Father’s Day with my husband.  He LOVED the shirt I got him:

The week ahead is going to be a busy summer week!  VBS at church, friends spending the night, and having some people over this weekend!  I just love the busyness of summer!  This week I’ll be making a bunch of crockpot or grill meals and Trim Healthy Mama friendly meals.

Monday: Eggs, bacon, veggies

Tuesday: Cajun Cream Chicken, salad

Wednesday: Sandwiches, fruit

Thursday: Pizza, salad

Friday: Chicken parmesan, zucchini noodles

Saturday: Cookout with friends

Sunday: Grilled chicken, grilled veggies, salad

What are you making this week?

Meal Plan Monday

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Woo hoo!  It’s a great week ahead!  So much fun planned including a Rodeo!  We are going to go to the Rodeo in Dahlonega at the R-Ranch. That’s one of my favorite places to visit!  Hopefully the weather holds out!  The week ahead, we plan to use our grill more than ever.  In our new house, the kitchen stays warm and gets uncomfortably hot when we turn on the oven.  Keeping this in mind, we will be grilling more and using our crockpot and Instant Pot.  Hopefully we can get the heat issue fixed at some point.

Here’s what we are making this week.

Monday: Chicken Fajita Casserole, Salad

Tuesday: Tacos

Wednesday: Burgers, grilled zucchini, salad

Thursday: Grilled chicken, green beans, sweet potatoes

Friday: BBQ sandwiches, chips, beans

Saturday: Burgers, grilled corn, salad

Sunday: Dinner out

Giveaway: World of Coca-Cola

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When we made our family’s summer bucket list, this is one place that my son mentioned wanting to visit again – The World of Coca-Cola.  My children always reminisce about looking at all the Coke memorabilia, visiting with the polar bear, and of course drinking as much Coca-Cola as one can manage!

This summer, the World of Coca-Cola offers 5 ways to savor summer and help you build memories with your family and friends.

  1. ICE COLD Summer Fun. When you arrive at Pemberton Place on July 15 and 16, expect a warm welcome with a cold beverage. During the “Share an ICE COLD Coke” experience, sip on free customized mini cans of Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero before interacting with the Bubble-izer, one-of-a-kind technology that virtually transforms you into an effervescent fizzy form. Be sure to snap a photo and share your new look with your friends!
  2. Pop Culture Paradise. World of Coca-Cola is celebrating 10 years at Pemberton Place with a new Pop Culture Gallery exhibit that is overflowing with creativity and inspiration. “10 Artists, 10 Bottles” features 10 different four-foot sculpted Coke bottles uniquely designed by 10 renowned Atlanta artists. With everything from abstract art to recycled glass bottles, the new gallery offers up a taste of local talent.
  3. #InstaFamous. Visitors have been buzzing about the #ShareaCokeWithATL gallery – so much so that World of Coca-Cola is extending the temporary exhibit through November. Featuring the work of 12 local Instagram artists, the #ShareaCokewithATL gallery celebrates the rich history of Atlanta and Coca-Cola with images pairing popular Atlanta landmarks with the iconic glass Coke bottle. Snap and share your own photos using #ShareaCokewithATL for a chance to be featured online by World of Coca-Cola.
  4. GOOOOAAAALLLL! Whether you call it “soccer” or “football,” we are all excited to welcome Atlanta United to our hometown. To celebrate the team’s inaugural season and Coca-Cola’s longstanding support of soccer worldwide, World of Coca-Cola is unveiling the “Coke and Soccer” exhibit in the Hub this summer. With more than 20 countries represented, fans of all ages will have a ball exploring the collection of soccer memorabilia.
  5. A World of Taste Awaits. Take your palette on an adventure this summer in the Taste It! beverage lounge, where you can sample more than 100 beverages from around the world. Savor new flavors like Indonesia’s Frestea Green Honey or the Dominican Republic’s Country Club Merengue, available for a limited time. Then, head over to the Sampling Bar to try one of the latest products from The Coca-Cola Company, like Honest Sport, which launches nationwide this summer.

Save at World of Coca-Cola:

Plus check out this savings offer! World of Coca-Cola will offer a limited-time Summer Pass, which is valid May 26 through Aug. 31.  This special pass provides unlimited chances to chill with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear for only $25!

Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a four pack of tickets to visit the World of Coca-Cola through the end of the year.  Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.  Good luck!

P.S. Don’t forget to try Beverly 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon: Purchase Sample Boxes = FREE Credit of Equal Value!

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Currently, Amazon has a number of sample boxes available! What’s neat about these is that whatever you spend toward the box, you get that much credit on a future purchase! I’m going to grab the Children’s Snack Sample Box and probably one of the others!

To find out more, simply go HERE and then click on Available Boxes to see what’s available.  I love when they do these!  I’m even happier when it’s stuff we use!  YAY!

Review: Memoria Press Book of Trees Set

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The Book of Trees Set

My kids love learning about nature and trees. Honestly, I’m nearly clueless when it comes to plants and trees.  The kids will ask me what a certain tree is and typically I’m not able to answer them.  I’ve been guiding my 8th grader through The Book of Trees by Memoria Press the past few weeks so that we can learn more about trees together.

About the Product:

The Book of Trees is an introduction to botany through the study of trees.  The Book of Trees is a book set which includes The Book of Trees, the Student Book, the Teacher Guide, The Tree Book For Kids and Their Grown-ups, and the Peterson First Guide to Trees of North America.

The Book of Trees program consists of 9 chapters covering a variety of information about the root system, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, photosynthesis, respiration, and observation of trees.  By the end of the program, students should be able to name the two plant systems, list the four major plant organs and their functions, and label a plant, among others.

Included in the Student Book, there are reproducible Trees Observation Worksheets that students can fill out while they observe trees.  There are 21 lessons total and activities range from answering questions to labeling and even some outdoor activities.

The Teacher Guide includes quizzes and tests along with their answers and answers for the Student Book.

If you’re not quite sure how to pace the program, the option to purchase lesson plans in either a print or digital format for this program and other Memoria Press programs is available.

Memoria Press

Our Thoughts:

We received 3 out of the 5 books as part of the set that Memoria Press offers.  We received just The Book of Trees, the Student Book, and the Teacher Guide.  I think the other 2 books mentioned above would be very helpful to have, but we had other tree books and the internet to help find what we needed.

Since I have been working with my daughter through The Book of Trees the past few weeks, I find both of us noticing trees more than ever before.  Her knowledge of trees and their functions have greatly improved.  The work doesn’t take long at all to complete, so we do brief periods of time 2-3 times a week to get through the material.

I like that she has been encouraged to outside and study nature instead of just having to be inside to work.  The tree observations have been her favorite part.   In the workbook, she’s encouraged to find a tree to observe, collect specimens of leaves, flowers and fruit, and then fill out a worksheet about the trees structure and location, details about the tree, identifying the tree, and then using the Peterson Guide and The Tree Book to research the tree.  Lastly, she’s instructed to sketch the tree, along with it’s flower and fruit.

I think I have had as much fun helping her to work through the book as she has, however I think it would be a fine program to work through without a parent’s help since it’s geared toward grades 6-8.  The instructions are pretty easy and self explanatory.

 

For More Information:

Memorial Press has a ton of ways where you can find more information.  First up, you can always view more on the Memoria Press website for the most accurate and up to date information.

You can also reach out for more information via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Also, you can read more reviews on this product and others, such as their  Latin Curriculum, available from Early Elementary to High School.  Simply click the banner below to check these out.

Latin, Nature and Trees {Memoria Press Reviews}
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Meal Plan Monday

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It’s Monday again!  The hubs and I were able to sneak away for 2 days without kids, so that was a blast.  Big kudos to Grandma for taking on the feat of watching our 5 children.  She rocks.  The week ahead, we are getting ready for birthday parties that we are attending this weekend and some family and friend time.  We will be spending lots of time at the pool, for sure.

I’ve finished the other books that I’ve been reading and have now added 2 more that I’m going through with friends.  Both are Christian books.  One is called  You are Free and the other is Side by Side.  Both have been very thought provoking so far.

On to the weekly meals.  Still trying to eat according to Trim Healthy Mama, although I’m far from perfect.  That’s what is great about this plan.  There is grace.

Monday: Steak, salad, zucchini

Tuesday: Black bean burritos

Wednesday: Salsa Chicken and brown rice

Thursday: Taco Pie, salad

Friday: Brats, okra, salad

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Picnic with friends

What are you making this week?

Tracing Practice for Preschool and Kindergarten

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Tracing Practice Ideas for Preschool and Kindergarten

I have a hard time keeping my littler 2 busy while I do school with the big kids.  My sister in law shared an idea that she had and we have put it into practice with great success!  It’s super easy to do as well!

First up, find some printable tracing pages.  I did a search on pinterest and came up with a ton!  Here are some of my favorites:

You can search on pinterest to find some that you are wanting for your kiddos as well.  They are easy to find.

Tracing Practice

Once you have your printables, I hole-punched mine and put in a three ringed binder and  labeled it “Tracing”.  Each day I can pull out a new worksheet or repeat an older one and put in the clear folder for tracing.  Using an overhead marker or dry erase, my daughters can practice their letters or numbers.  When they are done, I simply pull it out and put it back in the binder to be reused another day.  They love having a variety of tracing options available and I love that it keeps them busy for a bit.

For the folders, I bought the Shop Ticket Holders, Assorted Neon Colors, 9 x 12 Inches, 10 per Pack.  They were $13.99.  Much cheaper and pretty much the same as the Learning Resources Write And Wipe Pockets.

What ideas do you have for your preschooler?

Amazon: Funny Father’s Day Shirts

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I love getting my husband shirts for Father’s Day.  I was browsing on Amazon and noticed they have quite the selection of funny father’s day shirts. Depending on your husband or father’s personality, I’m absolutely positive you’ll find something for everyone.  Check a few of these out!  Now to decide what to get my hubby!

I’m leaning toward this one to show his 5 children 🙂  Although these ones are pretty great, too!

 

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