Giveaway over at Reluctant Entertainer

The Reluctant Entertainer always has something great going on! She mades you wish you were invited for dinner!  Anyhow she has a great giveaway going on right now.  She is giving away 2 BOOKS to ONE Winner! 
The books are Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Economy and Healthy Meals for Less: Great-Tasting Simple Recipes Under $1 a Serving! both by Joni McCoy.

If you'd like to enter please visit her at the Reluctant Entertainer!

When I Grow Up I Want to be a Firefighter!

We had the privilege of doing a product review from the WannaBe Series by This Old Schoolhouse called When I Grow Up I Want to be a Firefighter. Let me just first say, we had a great time!   Even my 3 year old was right up in the middle of everything.

The WannaBe Series is very simple to use... just download and print!  I liked how everything was laid out for the teacher/mom.  The study was a good fit for my kids (ages 3, 6 & 9).  It is extremely affordable at only $8.95 for the week long study.  It is very easy to adapt this study into your schedule.  We do not school on Friday and I will die the day I have too! and although this study was set for 5 days I chose to combine days 4 and 5, without any trouble.

We learned a great deal about firefighters. We learned how the first firefighters put out fires, vs. how it is done today.  Ever heard of a bucket brigade? I tell you what, Praise the Lord for fire trucks!  We learned about firefighting equipment and what it takes to be a firefighter.  We learned about fire trucks and how much water they hold.  We also studied the different ranks of a firefighter and what they do.  We praciticed stoping, dropping and rolling!  We practiced STOP, DROP and ROLL.  We also practiced dropping to the floor and crawling to the nearest safe exit.

Our favorite part of the study was when a firefighter was actually explaining what they do all day.  They aren't sitting around watching tv all day that is for sure!  They are constantly learning, training, diligently taking care of their equipment, and cleaning the fire house.

We enjoyed reading about firefighters so much that we got some wonderful books & videos at the library to go along with our theme.  Best of all we actually went to the fire house and got a grand tour!  The kids got to get in the trucks and see all the different equipment that the firefighters use.   One of the firefighters even got all of his gear on to show the kids that there was nothing to be afraid of if a firefighter was coming to help you during a fire.  They explained each part of their gear and even turned on the oxygen tank so the kids would get used to the funny little noises that they make. 

My son brought along his own firefighter uniform.  All the firefighters just loved this!

Cheezin' in the fire truck!

The Fire Chief explained to me that he'd rather not let the kids into the ambulance because of germs (didn't have to tell me twice, LOL!), so they brought the stretcher out for the kids to see.  They were SO good to us!

Getting all dressed up in his fire proof suit.

Explaining the suit to my son so he would not be afraid of a firefighter if he ever had to be rescued from a fire. 

These are some of the book we got from Library:

A Firefighter's Thanksgiving

I am Fire

Dot the Fire Dog

Firefighters to the Rescue

Fire Engine

It's Time to Call 911

Fire Fighters (In My Neighborhood Series)

The videos we watched:

Fire Safety Hits

Fire Station (My Community Series)

Safety Smart Science with Bill Nye the Science Guy: Fire Classroom Edition

As you can see we had a great time!  Needless to say, I highly recommend this study, and ending your week with a visit to your local firehouse is a must!  If you would like to do the When I Grow Up I Want to be a Firefighter unit study, or one of the 9 other interesteing studies to choose from, they are available thru The Old School House.  You can purcahse them individually for $8.95 or the whole series of 10 When I Grow Up I WannaBe a ..... for $89.50.

Saturday Morning Yardsales!

Packed up the 2 boys Saturday morning and headed out for my first yardsale of the season!  I am so excited that yard sale season is upon us yet again!  I love yard sales almost as much as I love crockpots ; ) 

I was headed to this BIG yard sale because they advertised kids clothes.  The man told me he had just GAVE AWAY a huge box of boys clothes.  At first I a little disapointed but then I realized they were just not meant for me. 

I did however get some great new books.  Is it just me or do you just love books!  I got some Magic School Bus books, Stelluna, Is Your Mama a Llama (very cute!), I know a Rhino (also very cute!), 2 Olivia books and several others.  Also, we got several books by Shirley Hughes, never heard of her before but the books looked wholesome and had really nice illustrations. I got them for $.25 to $.50 each, not bad.

I love to get book, househouse goodies and kids clothes!  The Lord has really blessed us with some really great kids clothes at yardsales.  When my oldest was our one and only I found some clothes at a yardsale that were super nice, mostly name brand and exactly 1 year ahead of her.  I talked to the mama and gave her my number and each season she would call me when she had clothes.  I'd go over to her house and buy the clothes that I wanted.  This worked out great for several years until my daughter got taller than the little girl -  that was a big bummer for me at the time. 

I think for 2 or 3 years now I have been pretty much clothing my oldest son from a family up the street.  Whenever I see their yardsale sign go up I try to be there bright and early!  I have gotten my son button up shirts for church, sweaters, unused dress shoes, jeans, pjs and some nice polo style shirts from them.  Most of these clothes are Childrens Place, Polo, Gap, etc.  Most of them look like they have never benn worn.  Yeah, can't wait for her yardsale.  The more I think about it I might just go knock on her door, LOL!

Like I said I just love yardsales!

Christ the Lord Has Risen Today!

by Charles Wesley

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is o’er, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!


But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

4 Years Ago Today....

My mom, Mama Nellie as I used to call her, went home to be with the Lord.  Sometimes I start to say that I lost my mom, but actually I know right where she is.  She, by God's grace and mercy is seated in heavenly places.  My mom was called home by way of lung cancer, and very quickly I might add.  It was only 11 weeks from the time we found out, until the time she was gone.  Really puts things into perspective when you think about how precious and short live really is.   I miss her dearly and still can sob like a baby when I think of her. 
I know and trust that God's way's are better than my ways, but there are times that I wish He hadn't taken her so soon.  She never did get to meet either of my boys, I was pregnant with my first son when she died. 
It grieves me so that my kids do not get to have B-Mom in their little lives anymore.  My mom was one of those involved grandmas, there for everything.  I am thankful that my girls still have some memories of her, since they were both very younger .  I love when they talk the sleep overs they had and how she made homemade waffles, how they'd swinging out back in her hammock and it is real funny when they remind me of her little wooden paddle!
I am thankful that my mom and I had such a great relationship.  I am even more thankful that we are sisters in the Lord, and will be spending eternity together with the Him.


Eph 2:4-8

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(KJV)