Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Planning and Teaching - For HIM!

As I enter into my 2nd year of homeschooling I'm often overwhelmed at all the work I need to do.  Planning the course work for two kids is hard work.  (Well, 3 kids since we are doing some tot-school this year).  I can't even imagine how traditional classroom teachers do it all. 

On today's list of planning is Health.  I need to figure out lesson plans for the year for the kids.  Oh if they were the same age and in the same class but NOPE!  Not the case. 

Do you get weary planning out your homeschool?  I have found great comfort in the following verse:


"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Deuteronomy 6:7 (KJV)

Knowing this is where The Lord has us as a family really has helped me push through.  I know that if the health lessons are not the greatest it is okay because we will talk about nutrition at the grocery store or brushing their teeth at bedtime.  It will happen.  Just like the verse says - teach them in all we do.   Our homeschool is not just about curriculum but about life-long learning.  

God has blessed us with these three wonderful boys and given me the huge task and responsibility to train them and teach them for him.   The are the heartbeat of our family and our first ministry! 




Thursday, July 25, 2013

Best Pencil Sharpener - from ClassroomFriendlySupplies.com #WIN {sponsored giveaway}

A Rup Life received a product for review purposes. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.
We have gone through so many pencil sharpeners over the years.  Those little plastic ones, several battery operated, a plug-in electric and even a wall mounted traditional school sharpener.  Every one has failed us.  Until NOW!

ClassroomFriendlySupplies.com has what I consider to be the best pencil sharpener you can buy!  No need to wall mount it either!

About:
  • A "must have" for every teacher.
  • A unique and practical teacher gift.
  • Old-school retro look.
  • Quiet sharpening eliminates classroom interruptions. 
  • Automatic stopping once the perfect point is formed. This prevents over-sharpening.
  • Works on standard sized pencils.
  • Clear plastic disposal tray for easy cleaning.
  • Easy to use (as young as 5 years of age.)
  • Sturdy metal frame (approximately 3"x 3"x 5")
  • Portable or mounts to a surface. Clamp included.
  • A true "green" pencil sharpener. Ideal for environmentally friendly schools and classrooms.
My Thoughts:

This sharpener is different than others I have used.  You have to pull the top piece out then insert your pencil.



Then you crank the handle and the sharpener does the rest.  We had to use the sharpener the other day and my 12 year old fought with me to get a chance to use it!  HA!  It really does take the yuck out of the chore of sharpening!




One of my lucky readers is going to win their own Sharpener from Classroomfriendlysupplies.com!


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Smurfs: Smurfs to the Rescue! On DVD!

ARupLife received a copy of this title for review purposes. 
This post contains affiliate links.

Ok I love Smurfs!  I have a whole collection of little resin ones from when I was little (in the attic in my Miss Piggy lunch box!)  I bring them out for different holidays.  So to say I was excited about this DVD might just be an understatement.  I don't watch all that my big kids do anymore - just not enough time.  I did sit down for this one.  Featuring classic episodes it was my childhood on screen!!! 


About:
Get set for “super-Smurfy” fun this summer! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) is set to release The Smurfs: Smurfs to the Rescue! on DVD July 16, 2013. Join Smurf favorites Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Jokey, Handy, Clumsy, Dreamy and others in a delightful set of six entertaining adventures from the classic Saturday morning cartoon series. The Smurfs: Smurfs to the Rescue! will retail for $14.97 SRP.

Get ready for some “Smurf-tastic” adventures in this entertaining collection of six animated cartoons from the hit TV series The Smurfs!  They may be itty-bitty and blue, but the Smurfs are enormously brave when someone’s in trouble. Follow Papa, Brainy, Smurfette, Vanity, Lazy and friends as they escape from being the star attraction in Sideshow Smurf, rescue a visitor from outer space in It Came from Outer Smurf, or look out for one another when a volcano threatens the village in The Sky Is Smurfing! The Sky is Smurfing!  It all adds up to an “abso-Smurfy-ly” good time when the Smurfs share one of their most treasured traits – courage!

Kids and adults will be entertained with this not-to-be-missed collection featuring six “Smurf-tacular” episodes, totaling over 90 minutes of “Smurf-sational” fun!

Featured Episodes Include:

1.      The Goblin of Boulder Woods
2.      Sideshow Smurf
3.      The Three Smurfketeers
4.      It Came from Outer Smurf
5.      One Good Smurf Deserves Another
6.      The Sky is Smurfing, the Sky is Smurfing

The Smurfs are a group of over 100 bluish, three-apple tall creatures who live in the mushroom homes of Smurf Village.  They are led by 543-year-old Papa Smurf (who doesn’t look a day over 530). Their lives would be perfect were it not for their villainous Gargamel, a wizard who spends his days trying to capture them to eat, turn into gold, or for other evil reasons.  Gargamel’s cat Azrael adds to the menace, always looking for a tasty, Smurfy snack. 

Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Smurfs originally premiered as part of NBC’s Saturday morning programming lineup. The Emmy® nominated series ran for nine seasons on NBC earning a 42% share of the U.S. Saturday morning audience. 

“What is wonderful about the Smurfs as characters is that while they entertain audiences, they also manage to present us with important themes like friendship, sharing and having a sense of community. While The Smurfs exude optimism and fun, they also teach us valuable life lessons. That’s part of the reason the show has remained so popular with television audiences throughout the years,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. She added, “We are pleased to release another volume of this delightful series.”


You can find this DVD at your local retailer or online at Amazon! 



George Lopez: The Complete Third Season Now Available!

 ARuplife  was provided a sample to help facilitate this post. The post contains affiliate links.


I have to confess - I love The George Lopez  show!  I used to watch it all the time when I was pregnant, up late and couldn't sleep!  It has that feel good, laugh out loud quality!

About:

Get set for non-stop laughter and good times when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings the third season of the groundbreaking hit television series George Lopez to DVD July 16, 2013. Starring multi-talented entertainer, George Lopez, as the head of the delightfully hilarious Lopez household, George Lopez follows the exploits of an endearing and uproarious blue-collar Hispanic family living in the suburbs of Los Angeles.  Titled George Lopez: The Complete Third Season, this three disc set will include 28 half-hour episodes and will retail for $29.98 SRP.

In Season Three of George Lopez, George’s life hasn’t become any less complicated. Benny starts dating a younger man named Randy. George learns his father is in need of kidney transplant. Max forges his parent’s signatures to cover up that he’s failing in school, and Benny is blamed after the aviation factory George works in is vandalized. Other unexpected surprises that make this season a must-watch include a long lost sister, a trip to “the happiest place on Earth” and a guest appearance by Sandra Bullock. 


Featured Episodes:

1.      Dubya, Dad, and Dating Part 1
2.      Dubya, Dad, and Dating Part 2
3.      The Cuban Missus Crisis
4.      Feel the Burn
5.      Carmen’s Dating
6.      Split Decision
7.      No One Gets Out Alive
8.      Bringing Home the Bacon
9.      Fishing Cubans
10.  Would You Like a Drumstick or a Kidney?
11.  Mementos
12.  Christmas Punch
13.  Why You Crying?
14.  The Trouble With Ricky
15.  God Needles George
16.  Benny and Randy
17.  Weekend at Benny’s
18.  Jason Tutors Max
19.  Angie Gets Tanked
20.  The Art of Boxing
21.  George’s House of Cards
22.  Dance Fever
23.  She Drives Me Crazy
24.  George Goes to Disneyland
25.  Bachelor Party    
26.  Wrecking Ball
27.  What George Doesn’t Noah 
28.  Now George Noah Ex-Zackly What Happened                                          


You can purchase your copy at your local store or online at amazon! 




About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com.

TOM AND JERRY: NO MICE ALLOWED! Available Now!

ARuplife  was provided a sample to help facilitate this post. The post contains affiliate links.


My kids have a Tom and Jerry addiction!  Well not really but they sure do crack up at the on screen antics!  They were excited to be official 'reviewers' of this title!

About:

Prepare to pursue some rollicking fun this summer with cartoon favorites Tom and Jerry when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) releases another rip-roaring collection of entertaining cat and mouse shorts with Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed!  Available in stores July 16, 2013, Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed! will showcase an exciting collection of 30 cartoons featuring the favorite animated duo and their feline friends in a two-disc set. Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed! will retail for $19.97 SRP.

The claws are out and the fur and fun are about to fly in Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed! Everyone’s favorite mouse pal, Jerry, is outnumbered as Tom is joined by a legion of his catty friends in this two-disc set of 30 cartoon classics.  Family members of all ages will laugh out loud at the timeless antics of this mischievous duo, whether the four-footed guest star is a Smitten Kitten, Timid Tabby or even a 24 Karat Kat. It’s three hours of adventures and purr-fect entertainment in this all-new collection!

Featuring a collection of classic theatricals and contemporary TV shorts, Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed! offers something for every member of family. In Smitten Kitten, Tom falls head over heels over a lady feline named Toots. When little Nancy wants to play house, Tom is forced to pretend he is her obedient little baby in Baby Puss. It’s two against one when Tom’s scaredy-cat cousin George comes to town in Timid Tabby.  In Jerry’s Cousin, Jerry summons the help of his cousin, aptly named Muscles, to show him how to defend himself against Tom.  Tom tries to win his girlfriend back by building a rocket and flying it to the moon in Spaced Out Cat.  Tom and Jerry face off against Butch and Spike, in Beach Bully Bingo. In Power Tom, Tom sports a female superhero costume while trying to subdue three cat burglars. Tom tries to impress a lady cat with his singing and guitar playing on Kitty Cat Blues. These and several other exciting cartoons await Tom and Jerry fans on this must-own release.

Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed!  is a wonderfully varied set loaded with 30 great shorts that will keep kids and adults entertained for hours,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. She added, “For anyone who enjoys owning great cartoons, this is a not to be missed collection. It offers something for every viewer. We are delighted to offer such an extensive Tom and Jerry title.”

Originally created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Tom and Jerry emerged during Hollywood’s golden age of animation and became one of the most popular cartoon series in existence. The shorts focus on the never-ending rivalry between Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse. The plots of each short usually center on Tom’s attempts to capture Jerry. Jerry however, is clever and quick on his feet so Tom hardly ever manages to catch him.

Featured Cartoons:

1.      Smitten Kitten
2.      Baby Puss
3.      Sufferin’ Cats!
4.      Baby Butch
5.      Timid Tabby
6.      Beach Bully Bingo
7.      Cat and Dupli-cat
8.      The Zoot Cat
9.      Blue Cat Blues
10.  Jerry’s Cousin
11.  Springtime for Thomas
12.  The League of Cats
13.  Game of Mouse & Cat
14.  Catfish Follies
15.  Smarty Cat
16.  Joy Riding Jokers
17.  Power Tom
18.  Abracadumb
19.  Piranha Be Loved
20.  Spaced Out Cat
21.  Kitty Cat Blues
22.  Tom and Cherie
23.  Octo Suave aka Bully Binge
24.  The Bodyguard
25.  Solid Serenade
26.  24 Karat Kat
27.  Salt Water Tabby
28.  Over the River and Boo! The Woods (Magic Forest)
29.  Busy Buddies
30.  Tiger Cat


This DVD was a great addition to the boy's movie night.  It has become a tradition to have movies and popcorn several nights a month now.  They particularly love the living room setting since the AC gets very cold in there!  HA!

You can purchase your copy of Tom and Jerry:  No Mice Allowed at your local stores or online at Amazon.  

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

2013-14 Reading List for Homeschool!

This post contains affiliate links 

This is a big list but I know the kids are capable of completing a good chunk of it.  The idea is to have a book going for 1-2 weeks so depending on the size of the book they will read approximately 20-30 pages a day during the school day.

This list also reflects our History choice for 2013-14.  We will be finishing up Mystery of History Vol 1 and beginning Mystery of History Vol 2.  I will have a more detailed post on our curriculum choices for next year for you coming soon.  I also need to tell you that I have a pretty big list of books to go with Mystery of History as well!

This is not in a final order it is just me getting it on the page for now.  Both boys will have their own list in a order for them.  My personal goal is to read all the books on their list as well.  


Book List:



Dectective In Togas

Star of Light

God King

Mystery of the Roman Ransom

The Phantom Tollbooth

Adam and His Kin

The Golden Goblet

The Door in the Wall

Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings

Adam of the Road

Hittite Warrior

The Canterbury Tales

Old Man and the Sea

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Number the Stars

Jacob Have I Loved

Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena

The Secret Garden

Around the World in 80 Days

Sign of the Beaver*

Imagination Station: Peril at the Palace

Castle Diary: The journal of Tobias Burgess*

Mary Bloody Mary

Catherine Called Birdy

The Castle in the Wall

The Witch at Blackbird Pond *


If time:









 I own all but 5 books (the starred titles)  on the list right now but they are going to be purchased very soon.  I included links to amazon to purchase.  I have purchased many of these books new from there.  Some I found at the homeschool convention's used sale and a few at my library's resale site.  I also encourage you to look on ebay for book lots.  Sonlight core G includes many of the above titles - so you can search that title. 

Hope this helps you with your school planning!  If so please leave me a comment letting me know! 

**Read-aloud list coming soon! **  

Monday, July 8, 2013

Growing Up Too Fast!

Let me tell you about a  crazy day we had a few weeks ago.  We had singing practice for a homeschool graduation that we were participating in and had to meet up at 9.  I can't remember the last time I had to rush out of the house that early .... I'm pretty sure  it was last year when we still went to private school!! (LOL!)  By the time we finished practice I knew I had about 2 hours until I needed to be home to babysit my little cousins.  I figured that was plenty of time to run to Target for a Father's Day Gift and case of water...

Until....



Thankfully my husband has taken time to teach my 12 year old all about filling the air in our tire!! (can we say homeschool teaching moment?)   I was so proud when he said, " I got this Mom!"



Of course life is never dull in Rupland!  The portable air machine sucked the life of my car battery and we ended up with a dead battery!  Thankfully my husband was working only 20 minutes away and was able to come quickly jump me.  He also made sure the tire was good to go.

Of course I was a little late to babysit - but my other cousin grabbed the kids and brought them to me which was wonderful too!  It all worked out. God always takes care of us!

Now - back to the title of this post -  when did my little baby, my first born become a young man?  He will be 13 this summer and I simply cannot believe how fast the time has flown by!  I love how capable he is becoming!  He helps with all chores, mowing the lawn and all.  He is already a good 5 inches taller than me.  I'm thankful that God has brought my boys home for school so that I can spend this last bit of precious time with them.  It really is speeding by.  Soon my first born will be in high school, then driving and then college, marriage.... and on his own! I hope he will know how special he is to me.  Goodness these years are flying by too fast! 

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Liberty's Kids - The Complete Series only $9.99!!!

This post contains affiliate links 


I am super excited about this price for this collection!  I've been searching for it on netflix but it hasn't been on there for sometime so for only $9.99 (free shipping with Amazon Prime!!!!)  That is an awesome deal!!!  It is a pre-order so it will ship July 16th.



Are you a amazon prime member?  I have to tell you that has been a huge blessing to our homeschool.  Almost everything we've ordered ships in 2 days!  So if there was a book we needed and our library didn't have I was able to order fast.  I've also found that the prices are better than the local stores for many products (like pistachios for instance).  I don't have that extra time to shop ten different stores during the school year with homeschooling so it has been a huge help to be able to pull up a product I like and order.


There are several great benefits to Amazon Prime:

2 Day shipping
Free Movie & TV show streaming (like Netflix)
One free book for your kindle a month to rent. 

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Part 2: Spooky Stampede - Now Available!

 I received a product to help facilitate this review.  This post contains affiliate links.




Another title in the Scooby-Doo Series -  Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Part 2: Spooky Stampede.  My kids always enjoy Scooby-Doo movies.  They were excited to see this one come in the mail and get to feature it at movie time.


Available at your local retailers and online at stores like Amazon!

about:

 Those meddling kids and their lovable dog are back to close the final chapter of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Inc., when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) releases the final 13 episodes of the hit Cartoon Network series on DVD June 18, 2013. The latest incarnation of the popular Scooby-Doo! franchise, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated follows teenage pals Daphne, Fred, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo as they investigate strange happenings in their hometown of Crystal Cove. Titled Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Part 2: Spooky Stampede, this DVD release will feature the show’s last 13 episodes and will retail for $19.97 SRP.

Crystal Cove, the most “hauntedest” place on earth is about to get creepier! Join Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred and Velma in a set of all-new adventures as they continue their thrilling and terrifying tour of their hometown in the final episodes of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.  As the series draws to a close, the gang races against time, encounters sinister creatures and competes with other interested parties in order to solve the long buried secrets of their hometown. The sleuthing teens are also faced with having to solve one of their greatest mysteries yet – saving Earth from destruction! Viewers won’t hesitate to jump into the Mystery Machine for one wild ride after another along with Scooby-Doo and the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang in this must-own double disc set.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Part 2: Spooky Stampede promises to be a season filled with engaging mysteries and non-stop action! The gang teams up with the Blue Falcon and Dynomutt to stop a giant dragon robot in Heart of Evil. In Theater of the Doomed, a historical re-enactment goes horribly wrong when the cast and crew are scared off by a specter during rehearsal.  Scooby-Doo and his pals are haunted by a herd of mutated skull cattle at a ranch in The Horrible Herd. In The Devouring, a monster appears in the middle of a cooking show. In Aliens Among Us, the gang is chased through a cave by extraterrestrials. Joining them along the way, are a variety of popular Hanna-Barbera classic characters including Dr. Benton Quest, Roger “Race” Bannon from Jonny Quest, Dog Wonder and many others.

“This adaptation of Scooby-Doo allows viewers to delve deeper into the personalities and lives of the series’ five central characters. The overall look and feel of the show is richer and more sophisticated than ever, with gorgeous animation and multifaceted storylines that are sure to draw in both kids and adults,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. She added, “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 2 Part 2: Spooky Stampede is a must-have for Scooby-Doo collectors.”

The first season finale of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated was Cartoon Network’s most watched program of the day and ranked #1 with Kids and Girls ages 2-11 and 6-11, while also ranking in the top 3 with all Boys.* Additionally, the animated series’ first season finale delivered over 2.5 million total viewers.*

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated centers on Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, who solve mysteries in the spooky town of Crystal Cove, a sleepy coastal village that boasts a long history of ghostly sightings, werewolves and glowing deep sea divers. Because of all the paranormal activity, Crystal Cove has become a tourist hotspot that capitalizes on its haunted reputation and the gang's meddling is therefore not appreciated by the people of Crystal Cove. Executive produced by Sam Register, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated draws on the iconic look and feel of the original Scooby-Doo! series and is presented in a modernized visual style created by some of today's leading animation artists.

Featured Episodes:

1. The Heart of Evil
2. Theater of the Doomed
3. Aliens Among Us
4. The Horrible Herd
5. Dance of the Undead
6. The Devouring
7. Stand and Deliver
8. The Man in the Mirror
9. Nightmare in Red
10. Dark Night of the Hunters
11. Gates of Gloom
12. Through the Curtain
13. Come Undone

The Credits

About Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, with an innovative and talent-rich roster boasting some of the most accomplished writers, producers and artists working today. The studio is on the cutting edge of animation technology and has both CG and traditionally animated projects in current production and development. For TV, WBA produces series such as Green Lantern: The Animated Series, The Looney Tunes Show, MAD, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, ThunderCats and Young Justice, for Cartoon Network. WBA will also produce series and additional original content for Cartoon Network’s multiplatform branded DC Nation programming block, which debuts in 2012. In addition to TV series, WBA produces theatrically released CG cartoon shorts featuring iconic Looney Tunes characters, rendered in stereoscopic 3D. The first three shorts premiered in 2010, the most recent short — I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat — was released in November 2011, and two additional cartoons will debut in 2012. WBA also creates the highly successful series of DC Universe Original Animated Movies for DVD. Producing for multiple platforms including TV, digital and home entertainment both domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the Studio’s rich cartoon heritage. It is also the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has been honored with six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).    

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com.

About Warner Home Video
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.

For more information on this and other titles distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., visit www.whvdirect.com.