Adventures in Crochet~ Catching Up with Some Baby Stuff

I don't have nearly the time to crochet now that school has started again. Mostly because we are so busy once school is out. But I've tried to work on a few crochet projects to gift to my newly arrived nieces and nephew! Yep, it was a baby year and we added THREE babies to the clan--one in July and TWO in September, only 3 days apart! I LOVE crocheting baby stuff. I've already shared the outfit I made for my July niece. But today I'll show you what I did for my September niece and nephew!

Earlier in the summer, I worked on making this

Art History Comes Alive with HiGASFY! {Curriculum Review}

I love art. I love history. I don't necessarily love art history. We have found that most art history is either too teacher dependent, or it's rather boring. We've tried a variety of programs and books. Some of the top named curriculums. Yet we've never "loved" it enough to keep doing it. Enter the HiGASFY Art History Video Series and their online art history lessons and curriculum bundles. For the last several weeks, we've been reviewing a 3-month subscription to the HiGASFY Art History Video Series and the boys are eager to share their thoughts on the new (to us) program.

About The Product

HiGASFY is an art history program with a “real” teacher via video lessons, hands-on activities, and much more that is designed to introduce students to the world of art history. The teacher (Mrs. Beth) and her assistant (a drop of paint named Gasfy), help the students explore the world of art through personable and interesting lectures that are shared like stories--hence the name "Have I Got A Story For You!".

Farm Science Review ~ An Agricultural Field Trip! {PHOTO HEAVY!}

My husband first went to the Farm Science Review nearly 20 years ago, when he was still in college training to be a John Deere Technician. He's never forgotten the experience, and for the last 13 years has been telling our children how he wished he could take them there. Well, it worked out that this year, everything fell perfect! And so we scheduled a family agricultural field trip to attend the 2019 Farm Science Review near Columbus, OH. 
What is the Farm Science Review?

Online Times Alive from City Creek Press {Product Review}

We first explored Online Times Alive by City Creek Press, Inc. back in 2017 when my youngest was just 6. He was only just starting his math adventures, yet picked up on it pretty quickly. Since then, however, he's gotten a little weak at some of his times-tables, especially the sixes. We recently had the chance to review the program for a second time and I wondered if we would be able to help him catch up and become stronger in those numbers.

About the Product

Online Times Alive is a program providing online lessons with animated songs and stories to learn times tables the fun way.

Easy Grammar: Plus~ The Grammar Curriculum I Didn't Know I Was Looking For {Curriculum Review}

Grammar. We put a high priority on grammar instruction in our studies and I have used several different programs to teach it. We recently decided to leave one of our curriculum we've used for the last several years and I've been exploring other options--and getting rather overwhelmed. Fortunately, we were picked to review Easy Grammar: Plus from Easy Grammar Systems with my oldest son from a program that wasn't even on our radar! Getting to have it and actually use it helps so much in making a decision--so will we use Easy Grammar: Plus this school year? Join me in my review of this open-and-go grammar program geared for middle school students.

About the Product

Easy Grammar Systems provides award-winning grammar curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students

Back-To-Homeschool with 8th and 4th Grade

Even though we have done review products a couple days a week during the summer, we OFFICIALLY jumped back into our full routine this week! It was BACK-TO-HOMESCHOOL and I can't believe that it is my NINTH year homeschooling! I never in a million years envisioned this for my family, but I can't imagine anything different now! 

200 Essential Reading Skills for Fifth Grade by Reading Eggs {Product Review}

Last September, we were able to review the 200 Essential Reading Skills for Third Grade from Reading Eggs. My son's skills have boosted significantly over the last year, and when we had the chance to review the workbooks again, we chose to go up to the 200 Essential Reading Skills for Fifth Grade to match the work that he's been doing on the online Reading Eggs program. The program provides short lessons to review and provide mastery of the common skills of reading. Today I'd like to share with you my review and why this program will be a part of our 2019-2020 curriculum for my nine-year-old. You also will be able to snag free 4 weeks of the online program for your family!

About the Product

200 Essential Reading Skills for Fifth Grade is based on the multi-award winning reading program

Apple Heaven

We have a system in the family that if you get a bumper crop of produce, anyone who helps process the fruit gets to also share in the labors. Needless to say, I was thrilled to help my mom process some apples that she had been given. We made jars of sliced apple slices which can be used for pies or fruit salad. We also used my Ninja blender to turn a second batch into apple sauce.

Music Appreciation for the Middle Grades from Zeezok Publishing {Curriculum Review}

By now most of you know that I'm a music lover. I am a former piano teacher and I teach music appreciation class at my local homeschool co-op. I am always on the lookout for new materials to make teaching this subject more easily to my own children or to others. I recently had the chance to review the Music Appreciation Book 2: for the Middle Grades from Zeezok Publishing with my boys ages 9 and 13. Having already reviewed Book 1 in the series, I was curious to see how this one was laid out for the older students. Join me today as I share my review of this new music appreciation curriculum.

About the Product

Zeekok Publishing is an award-winning publisher of a wide range of materials for music, history,