The Make a Plate Winner is....

Comment #11 (determined by Random.org)

The Cochran Zoo said...

We are now following you! This is a fabulous idea!

Thanks to everyone who entered! 

Cochran Zoo, please contact me at bkeefe98@aol.com so that I can forward your Make A Plate Kit.  Thanks!

Watch Them Grow, Then Let Them Go! - A Butterfly Garden Review

For the last several weeks we've been really been enjoying ourselves.  Ever heard of a Butterfly Garden?  I have really been wanting to do one of these with the kids for a long time, I am so glad that we finally did!  We were given the chance to review the Butterfly Garden by Insect Lore. 

We got a whole butterfly kit - we got the Butterfly Garden, Butterfly Life Cycle Stage Figures and a Beautiful Painted Lady Butterfly Life Cycle Poster (which is laminated).

Remember how I said that I have my UPS man trained to NOT knock on the door (napping kids, barking dogs - you know the drill) when he delivers a package.  Ok, so the hubs comes homes and says "There is a package on the front porch that say LIVE INSECTS - Open Immediately!  What in the world are you all up to now?" So the kids and I ran, yes I ran too, to the front porch to get our catty's!  5 adorable teeny tiny caterpillars in a cute little jar!

 

The catty's had everything they needed - air, light and the special food that Insect Lore provided inside the jar.    For about a week, we got to watch them as they grew and grew and grew some more, this was so AWESOME!   We also got to watch them turn into a chrysalis, again VERY AWESOME!  We have never seen this process, to see the caterpillars spinning and turning into a chrysalis right before your eyes in an amazing thing. 

The hardest thing about having a butterfly garden is having to wait for the butterflies to emerge.  We couldn't wait to see them!  I think it took about a week and then out came the first butterfly.  I have to say, when the Lord creates, He goes all out!  These butterflies were beautiful!

One by one out they came, all five of them.  They were very simple to care for, I placed a paper plate on the bottom of the "garden" and put sliced fruit, fresh flowers and a sea sponge with sugar water on it.  We hooked them up!  We watched them for about 5 days and once it was a nice day we released them. 

This, I think, was the coolest part.  I know that it is not good to touch their wings so I put my finger to their feet and they would climb right on.  I was able to let each of the older kids hold a butterfly until it flew off! 

As you can see, they loved this!  This was a great experience for the whole family and I highly recommend Butterfly Gardens.  Beings that Insect Lore sells them for only $19.95, they would be great for Science, a Birthday gift or for no reason at all!

What's In the Box Wednesday - Pre K Style!

My 3 year old son loves his workboxes, although not always in numerical order.  I generally like to do boxes 1 & 2 with him, that way he feels he has had some school time with mom too.  I try make one a story and one an activity or little craft.

Here are his boxes:

1. This is a craft of a Chinese Junk Ship that we did.  It is from a craft kit that we are currently reviewing (& loving BTW) from Shirley's Pre Packaged Crafts.

2. The A Book and Ten Apples on Top books (these were his chioce).

 

3. The Beginner's Bible - he uses this sometimes during Bible.  I will usually allow them something quiet to do when we are doing Bible, like draw or color.  Sometimes we all jsut snuggle on a coach and read.

4. This is a Bean & Button Sorting Activity Bag.  I participated in a Preschool Activity Bags Swag and was very glad I did, got lots of fun stuff to do!

5. A Very Big Dinosaur Coloring Book

6. Chocolate Fix by Thinkfun.  It is one of those critical thinking kind of games, he really enjoys these!

7. Vtech Preschool Learning Tote 7 Go Laptop.  He has his own "big boy puter."

8. The Great Animal Search (this was included in the MFW ECC).

9. Royal Rescue, another critical thinking game.  This one is really cool, you have to make a "bridge" for the Prince to save the Princess, really cool little game.

10. Peg Board and Pegs.  Got this on clearance from an educational wesite. 

Just In Case You Were Wondering...

Since I am now obsessed really into blogging, my blog is the ocassional the topic of conversation with my hubby and my RLF's (real life friends). Last night the hubs and I were talking about the blog and he thought that Sola Gratia was spanish for something and really wasn't sure why I had chosen this title for my blog considering I speak do not a lick of it.  I was explaining to him that Sola Gratia was one of the five solas.

Then this morning my friend and I were also talking about the blog and she also thought is has something to do with espanol.  Seeing the theme here I thought an explanation might be in order.
Soooo, allow me to explain.  Sola Gratia is By Grace Alone in Latin ,God's Grace that is.  The five solas are from the reformation and they are:

1 Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")

2 Sola fide ("by faith alone")

3 Sola gratia ("by grace alone")

4 Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone")

5 Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")


So, Living Sola Gratia means to live by God's Grace alone, in other words, not of me but of God.  Now that I am looking at the five solas I am thinking any of them would have made a fine blog title but Sola Gratia works for my life.  The things that the Lord has called me to do (be a wife, mother, homeschooler, keeper of my home, doer of the word, etc), the only reason that I can do any of these things is because of the Grace that Christ has given (and continues to give) me!  The scripture that I try to continually cling to is:

2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Making Cards Again!

I used to be VERY into scrapbooking and card making, I even used to be a demo for Stampin' Up!  Somehow, I got away from this little passion of mine.  My sister has started going to these Friday night card classes and she had invited me a few times but I had thanked her and said naa.  This time when she told me she was going I think I might have invited myself to go : )  So glad I did, I had a great little time. 

We had so much fun that she even came over on Saturday and we made more cards while our kids ran wild played nicely together out back.

Here are the few things I accomplished:

Can't wait til the next one, doing this made me realize how much I missed it!  I am  going to be doing a scrapbooking class soon too.

Menu Plan Monday

I did pull out a few cookbooks to plan my meals for this week, they mostly just sat there cheering me on.  I felt a little inspired but not much.  Still haven't fired the grill up - the weather is hot and then cold and back and forth, hopefully soon!  I do think my first grill of the season will be Kabobs! 

Like I said last week, the hubs is a simple kinda food guy.  When I pulled out the hoagies last week,
I could almost hear the Hallelujah Chorus!  So, I am probably going to be having a hoagie night for a little while.  I am not complaining, it is super easy, just not super healthy IPO!  For my health conscience friends, yes the meats are nitrate free!  The kids loved how I made platters and let them assemble their own sammies. 

So this what I came up with for the week...


Monday:
Hoagies w/ Salt & Pepper Chips, Fruit Salad, Veggies w/ Dip

Tuesday:
Rosemary Pork Loin w/ Raspberry Sauce w/ Carrots and Potatoes


Wednesday:
Grilled Chicken Tortilla Soup w/ Tortilla Chips & Sour Cream


Thursday:
Breakfast Night (in the Crocky Pot) Egg & Cheese Bake w/ Bacon and Biscuits & Cantaloupe



Friday:
Papa J's

Saturday:
Tacos & Corn


Sunday:
Chicken Parmesan over noodles w/ Steamed Veggies

In Christ Alone

by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend


In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.


In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.


There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.


No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Our New Additions

We finally decided to get 2 dwarf hamsters.  At first we got a robo hamster (bad idea, for us anyway!) and a chinese dwarf hamster. 

The chinese dwarf has been awesome from the moment we got him.  He is easy to handle and has a very mellow manner about him.  We love him and are so glad we got him.  I never thought I'd see the day that I'd love a little rat like creature - espeically given the fact that they probably carry parasites and a host of other nasties but I gotta tell ya I am constatnly going over and taking Chesnut from the kids.  I keep telling them that he is really is mine!

Now, about that other thing we got.  The kids named him Speedy, because he was.  He was hard to catch and have you ever been bit by a hamster??  Doesn't feel real good, and yes I can say this from first hand experience.  So I made an executive decision to exchange him for another chinese dwarf.  Sorry Speedy, hopefully you won't become rat food!  The kids were not thrilled about this at first, but once we got our new hamster Oreo, all was well. 

Both of these hamsters are so cute, well mannered, LOW MAINTANCE and fun to watch.  I do feel bad for little Chesnut though,  my 3 year old son also loves him and I do believe the critter cringes when he sees him on the prowl.  So far he has been on adventures such as, a ride in the bat mobile, a ride in a Little People dump truck and he has been the owner of his very own lego home. 

Thanks again to everyone that gave their imput and voted.

Their cozy little homes. 

Aren't they cute??! Oreo & Chesnut with the kiddos.

Chesnut

Oreo

Make A Plate Review and Giveaway!

We just finished a really great family project!  We did Make A Plates!  We were blessed with a Make-A-Plate Classroom Kit from The Felt Lady.  In our kit were 50 - 10 inch circular sheets of special paper, a set of markers and a return envelope.  To make your plate you use the markers provided (or any other washable Crayola markers) and color to your hearts content.  This was one of those things where I am not sure who had more fun, the kids or me?! 

First, the kids and I made a family plate, I did most of the drawing on this one.  I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, but I really enjoyed it.  The kids told me how to draw each member of the family and I did. 

After I was done hogging the markers  The kids each got to make a plate of their own, it was really neat 

to see each child's personalitiy come out as they did their plates.  They traced their hands, colored and my 3 year old even used a dinosaur stencil.

 

So far we received the "family plate" back and it is really COOL!  I was amazed at how good it turned out.  The kids can't wait to get their plates back, they really want to eat on them but I of course think they are too nice and want to hang them on the kitchen wall.  What to do, what to do??!!

They are really excited about these plates and we are thinking about making a special birthday plate.  We also have the idea of making a special dinner plate, maybe with a scripture and a crown or something for the child that had the best manners that day.  

The kit (which includes the 50 special 10in. plate papers, markers, and the return envelope) is very reasonably priced at $6.95 and then you pay $5.95 per plate to have them processed (Please note this does not include shipping, but it is very reasonable).  This is great for a family night project or for a homeschool group, and it makes a great keepsake.  These would even make great gifts for Mother's or Father's Day!

Currently, The Felt Lady is offering you free shipping on any of the following kits. This offer includes:

• Make A Plate Classroom Kit
• Make A Tray Classsroom Kit
• Make A Mug Classroom Kit
• Make A Bowl Classroom Kit
• Make A Calendar Classroom Kit
• Or Any Individual Kit

To take advantage of this special offer please make sure to enter the code MP09 into the special offers and discounts page.

The Giveaway:
Michelle, AKA "The Felt Lady" has graciously offered a Make A Plate kit free to one of you (please note: this does not include the per plate processing fee)! I will be running the contest until April 30th (next Friday).  Here is how you can enter...

• If you are a follower or a subscriber, leave me a comment.
• If you become a new follower, please leave me a comment.
• Blog about the Giveaway

The Felt Lady also has some really neat educational & just for fun felt kits that I hope to review soon.  You all you should check them out!

Sue Gregg Cooking Giveaway and Review

Over at Raising Olives there is a giveaway for one of Sue Gregg's cookbooks, which focuses on healthy whole food cooking. 

Thought ya'll might want to check it out!

What's In The Box Wednesday!

Here is my what we had in my 4th  & 2nd Graders workboxes from yesterday.  I have the girls do their "seatwork" while I am starting a load of laundry, tidying the kitchen and doing a few fun things with my 3 year old.  Then we all sit down for Bible, History, Science and any other reading we are doing.  Usually, we read in the playroom and Little Boy Blue is in the playpen or playing something right by us.  I have gone back and forth with doing Math and Language 1st but I really like to do Bible as the first thing we all do together and it is just easiler to keep reading : ) 
As a rule, I try to do as much as we can together.

4th Grade
1. Abeka - Handwriting & Spelling
2. Math Drill - we switch this up, sometimes it is copywork, computer game or a worksheet
3. Bible - We all do Bible together.  I am currently doing MFW Exploring Countries and Cultures.  We also  do Keys for Kids.  We also read Discovering Jesus in Genesis for our Read A loud and we LOVE it!
4. Geography/Science - Today I was reading to them from an The Illustrated World Atlas , so I let them do a floor map puzzle.
5.  Math - Math U See
6 . Language A from Abeka
7.  Independent Reading - usually she is into a chapter book but today I gave her Mistakes the Worked , A is for Abigail,  Remember the Ladies, and  Great Inventors .  Believe it or not she loves this stuff!
8.  Silly Sentences
9.  Let's Go Shopping - this is a cool little money game that I found at a yardsale Saturday.
10. For PE - Tae Bo with good old Billy Blanks. 

 

2nd Grade

1. Abeka - Handwriting & Spelling

2. Math Drill - Abeka

3. Bible - We all do Bible together. I am currently doing MFW Exploring Countries and Cultures. We also do Keys for Kids. We also read Discovering Jesus in Genesis for our Read A loud and we LOVE it!
4. Geography/Science - Today I was reading to them from an The Illustrated World Atlas so I let them do a floor map puzzle.
5.  Language 1 from Abeka
6.  Math - Arithmetic 1 from Abeka
7. Independent Reading - Fancy Nancy, P is for Polliwogs, The Popcorn Book & Christian Libery Press Nature Reader 1
8. Boggle Jr.
9. Let's Go Shopping - this is a cool little money game that I found at a yardsale Saturday.
10. For PE - Tae Bo