10 Ways I Admire My Daddy

In honor of Father’s Day, I wanted to share some of the wonderful qualities in my own dad. 

1. Forgiveness – He has this amazing ability to forgive those that have wronged him.
2. Protector – Like any great dad, he is protective of his kids and wife (and family members and friends too!). 
3. Loyal – Once a friend.  Always a friend.  Most of his friends he has now have been his friends for decades.
4. Concentration – This may seem like a strange one, but he can read or watch t.v. no matter what is going on around him and still know what is going on in the book or on the t.v.  This is a trait my mom is not so excited about, but I wish I had that kind of concentration.
5. Selflessness – If a friend or family member needs something, whether it be material or just an ear, he is there in a heartbeat.  Also, if someone wants to do something he doesn’t necessarily want to do, he will usually do what they want.  He just goes with the flow.
6. Loving – He is a very loving Dad.  He will call me if we haven’t talked in awhile, we will talk for a few minutes and then he will let me go by saying, ‘Okay, I just wanted to say hi and hear your voice.  I hadn’t heard my little girls voice in awhile.’  I like it.  Same thing with the grandkids.  He can’t go longer than a few weeks without seeing them, so if it’s been that long or longer, he and mom will hop in the car and visit us (we are 3 hours away).
7. Trustworthy – He is a man of his word and an honest and faithful husband.
8. Trusting – He trusts that people are good and will treat him the way people are meant to be treated.  I think it is because he is so trustworthy, so he expects the same of others.  This is a trait I admire in him, but sometimes people will see how trusting he is and take advantage of that.  As a daughter, I’m not so happy about that!
9. Not Controlling- I couldn’t think of a better way to say that, so let me explain.  There are some fathers that will still try to tell there 30something, 40something, etc kids what to do, how to live their life, how to raise their kids, etc.  My dad doesn’t do that.  He knows that he raised us the best he and mom could and hopes that we will make the right decisions based on the ethics/morals we were taught.  I think that is an admirable trait.
10. Godly – This man respects God and emanates the way He would like us to live.  Nonjudgmental, honest, faithful, and in general just a good person.

My dad with my youngest.

I know how lucky I am to have the Dad that I have and hope all of you are just as lucky as I am to have a Dad (or father figure) like mine!

Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there!

10 ways I want to be like my mommy

A list of characteristics I admire in my own mother, that I hope to emulate.

1. Dedication- When she sets out to do something, she really does it.  She stays dedicated to the end.
2. Selflessness- On a weekly, if not daily basis, she is doing things for others.
3. Empathy- My mom really puts herself in other’s shoes, so to speak.  
4. Giving- She really has down the whole ‘you need to give to receive’ mantra… except she doesn’t expect to receive.
5. Persistence- No matter what it is, she will persist until she gets the result she desires… whether it be getting the right price for something at a store or getting us to come visit her.
6. Loyalty- She is a friend to the end.
7. Prayerful- She knows to turn to God to thank him for wonderful things and ask for help with difficult things.
8. Faith- She also has the faith that once it’s prayed for she can let go of it, because it is in God’s hands.
9. Young- No matter her age (I’m not telling), she still can out-walk anyone at Disneyworld, then be ready to get dessert on the way home!
10. Friend- Okay, so this isn’t really a ‘characteristic’, per say, but I didn’t know how else to put it.  She is a great friend.  To me and all her other friends.  I wish I knew her secret so that I will be as good a friend to my kids, too.  I actually want to talk to her on the phone every day.  I hope my kids will want to do the same.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mommas out there!

Here's my lovely family.  See my pretty momma? :)

E-Book-The Curiosity Files: Blue Diamond

 

I have had the opportunity to review one of the The Curiosity Files E-Books from The Old Schoolhouse.  It is called Blue Diamond and teaches your kids (and you) all about the blue diamond.

Here is a list from The Old Schoolhouse website that shows what is included in the E-Book:

• Bible study and memory verses
• Math, history, and geography investigations
• Literature and suggested book list
• Writing, spelling, and vocabulary activities
• Beautiful copywork pages (manuscript and cursive)
• Science observations, projects, & experiments
• Discussion questions
• Art, crafts, drawing, and coloring pages
• Lapbook/notebook pages and helpful lapbooking links
• Special needs, hands-on discoveries
• Internet resource and video links
• Complete answer key

These books are perfect for ages 8-13.  As some of you know, my oldest are 7 and 9, so we are right at the lower level of ages for these books.  With that in mind, some of the material had vocabulary in it that was a little more than my kids could understand.  I didn’t mind that though, because it just gave me an opportunity to teach them some new words!  I went through the book with them, so anytime a word came along that was a little older than they are used to, I would just reword it so they could understand.  I really worked out perfectly!

I love the way the information is organized in the book.  It starts off just telling you “Everything you never wanted to know about the Blue Diamond”, as the book puts it!  It also tells stories about the history (including Biblical history) of the blue diamond and what it has been famous for and, of course, what makes it blue.  There are a few ‘in the lab’ activities you can do to further teach.  We chose the one called ‘The rock cycle in action’.  It was a big hit.  There were also a bunch of fun crafts to choose from to help teach your children more (or to just have fun).

The Rock Cycle in Action Lab

This is the book that keeps on giving.  Just when you think you are nearing the end, you find more cool things!  What else, you ask?  Well… it lists other books you can check out to learn more and also a list of websites to check out too.  There are also all kinds of workbook type pages that involve, geography, math, spelling, vocabulary and history.  There is even a song about blue diamonds set to the tune of “All around the Mulberry Bush”.  It is really cute!  It really is a complete lesson, not only about the blue diamond, but about everything involved in how a rock or gem is formed.

I know I said this E-Book is for ages 8-13, but the younger ones can definitely get in on the labs and crafts!

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends (and that’s you!).  My kids were a little slow to get interested in it.  I’m not sure why… maybe it was just a change from our normal subject matter; but once we got started they really enjoyed it.  Especially my oldest.  My son, is a little too young for the book, but he still learned some things and seemed to enjoy himself… particularly during the lab!

I know this was meant for my kids to learn about the blue diamond, but I definitely learned a lot too!  And, at $6.95, the price is definitely right!  And, there is a 7 day, money back guarantee.

Here is a recap of all the information about The Curiosity File Blue Diamond E-book:

• What: The Curiosity Files – Blue Diamond E-Book
• Who: For ages 8-13
• Cost: $6.95, with a 7 day, money back gaurantee
• Where to buy: The Old Schoolhouse Store
• What you will learn: All about the blue diamond, plus much, much more.  I was impressed with all the detail involved in the information and how the E-book incorporated science, geography, math, spelling, vocabulary and history into a book about blue diamonds.
• Size: 89 pages and can be done in one week, or one day per week for a month… or whatever schedule works best for your family!
• Why?:  Because you I would never think to do a unit study on the blue diamond and it is actually more interesting than you may think!

If you would like to know more about the product or my thoughts on it, feel free to leave a comment below or go to The Old Schoolhouse and check it out.  And, don’t forget to look at the other Curiosity Files E-Books while you are there!

Thanksgiving 2010 in Pictures

Here are a few pictures of our Thanksgiving for your enjoyment.

My eldest helping me peel apples for the apple pie. (First time I've ever let her use a 'real' knife.  She did great!)

"Mooooommmmmm!  Quit taking my picture!"

The kids are making the pie crust edge pretty!

They did pretty good, I think. :)

She had already eaten... I guess she didn't get enough.  She grabbed this off the counter and helped herself.

The finished apple pie.

My apple pie and home made ice cream.  The apple pie was a little too 'cinnamony' (no, it's not a word, but that's okay).  I still enjoyed the pie though.

After dinner we watched a movie together.  Hubby and kids on the couch...

Samantha and I were on the chair cuddling to watch the movie.  First time in a long time she let me cuddle her.  She thinks she's getting too big for it.  I was in heaven.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  Those last two pictures are what I'm most thankful for this Thanksgiving.

What are you most thankful for?