Ever heard of Tangoes?

In addition to games, my kids love puzzles.  I started putting these Tangoes in Humpty Dumpty's (HD) workboxes and they are a big hit.  We have several different pictures and you place the shapes on the picture, kinda like a puzzle. 

HD became quite engrossed in his rocket ship as you can see.  These are great fun and really help build

critical thinking skills. 

All done!  5,4,3,2,1, Blast off! 

Little Boy Blue decided to join in the fun!  What you don't see are the 55 other tangoes on the floor!

The tangoes would also be great for sorting - coloring, size, shape.

A Valentine for my SweeTart

Let me first say that I usually DO NOT condone the humongous sweet tooth that my husband has.  For Valentines Day I did however decide to endulge him just a little.  I decided that instead of a card, I was going to go all out.  I had remembered seeing a Candy Bar Card years ago and decided that was the ticket.

Instead of a poem, I decided to do a Top 10 List, which turned into a Top 12 List.  I got some ideas for the sayings online and some I came up with on my own.  It was actually pretty fun coming up with the little sayings.  I thought you all might get a kick out of seeing it so here is what the card looks like....

In case you can't really read it this is what it says...

The Top 12 Things I Think of When I Think of My SweeTart (sweetheart)

1. I love that you love me to Reese's Pieces (pieces).

2. You bring me Almond Joy (joy).

3. You are better than a 100 Grand.

4. Even if you get a little Chunky, I'd still love ya!

5. You make me Laffy Taffy (laugh).

6. I am thankful for the 4 little Sugar Babies (kids) that you have given me.

7. Even if I searched the whole MilkyWay, I'd never find a Mr. GoodBar like you.

8. I love that after your Payday you let me go on Shopping Spree's.

9. Even though you've told some Whopper's, I still love you.

10. Your my BabyRuth (baby) and I am thankful that our life has been filled with Good & Plenty.

11. Your my knight in shining armor, your better than the 3Musketeers.

12. I will never understand what a whatchamacallit is?? (My husband says whatchamacallit ALL the time, so this was a perfect fit for him)
Lots of Love from your Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (buttercup),
Brandi

Wanna Chocolate Fix??

If your family is like ours, you probably have a love for chocolate too.  So when you combine our love of games with our love of chocolate, what do you get??  Chocolate Fix of course.  For the holiday the kids each got a ThinkFun  game.  ThinkFun are the makers of RushHour, which I think is more well known than Chocolate Fix.  These are fun little one player games, although sometimes we do play together, they teach logic and critical thinking.   The Chocolate Fix game comes with 9 "chocolate candies," the board, cards and a travel bag.  The cards give you clues about how to set up your "box of candies," by shape and by color.  The cards are on a little spiral stand and when you think you've got it, you flip the over and check to see if your correct. 

I really appreciate games that make my kids exercise their little brains. My kids really seem to enjoy this one, and I must say that I do too!
 

Snowmagedon 2010

This is what weve been enjoying for the past week.....

I have never seen so much snow in all my life.  I truly thought I'd died and moved to Vermont.  This winter has been the most snow that our area has EVER gotten.  I think we got like 28 inches the first storm and the another 8-10 on the second storm. Oh did I tell you we are getting more snow on Monday!!!

I can't even begin to tell you how much I am ready for Spring.  I think I might start a Spring Count down.  My kids on the other hand are loving it! 

Our Playroom/ Schoolroom

I have to admit that over the years I have tried many, many ways to keep some form of order for the toys that seem to make a neverending beeline to our house!  I have tried different shelves and different containers trying to find the right system for us and by golly I think I finally got it.  I also have to admit that I have, in the process, driven my dear husband amost insane.  Every so often I go on a whim, as he calls it, to try yet again the find some other way to house the kids stuff.  I enjoy change and he well just doesn't.  Moving on...  I just wanted to share the "current" system that is "currently" working for us.

This is one of our 4 big shelves.  The top shelf holds our manipulitives for math and phonics, which I am glad to have out and easily accessible.  The top stripes baskets have craft kits, clay, stamps, ink, etc.  The 3 smalled baskets some instruments, card and logic games and group work for school.  The bottom 2 striped baskets have paper in one and flashcards in the other.

These are the kids bookshelves which I have tried to keep organized.  I have them organized by board books, letter and number books, dinosaurs, math books, readers, chapter books, art books, science books, and then we try to keep books in a series together.  One of my oldest daughters chores each week is to organize the book shelves.

 The table is for coloring, art and games, the occassionally do school there but most of the time we are at the kitchen table. 

These are the other big shelves.  I used laundry baskets from Target to store our toys in.  I have the bins labeled and most things end up in the right container.  I do a quick reorganized about once a week because I am, as my wonderful hubby says OCD : ).

As you can see I am a collector of games, all most as much as I am of books, LOL!  I love finding games, reasonably priced of course, for the kids.  I love getting games from yard sales, consinment shops, TJ Maxx and I do try to make sure we give them a few for the holiday.  I love being able to add games and puzzle into our studys just to add an extra bit of fun. 

Workboxes.  I think by now most homeschoolers have atleast heard of them, right??  Well, this is my 2nd, oh wait a minute, make that my 3rd attempt at using workboxes.  I have loved the concept of them from day one, except the large shelves that Sue Patrick recommends.  I have so much going on in the playroom already, I just don't have the room for those large shoe shelves.  Anyway, I first tried magazine holders and that worked for a bit.  Packed them up for a while and then a few months later I pulled them out again this time I actually used the schedule stripes, nope that didn't work for us either.  3rd (and FINAL) try, I ordered

the 10 drawer organizing carts from Joann Fabrics.  So far, love it!  I am really trying to just keep it super simple.  I fill their boxes with school work and a few extra fun goodies and off we go.  For some reason we always seem to end up at the kitchen table so I am glad that these carts are on wheels, the kids just pull their cart to the table and start their work.
(Please note:  these pictures were taken while the little one was napping and the 3 bigger kids were outside playing.  This play room only looks this way twice a day, once first thing in the morning and second before they all go to bed : )