Czech Cats, Hungarian Bugs and Haitian Geckos (A Schoolhouse Crew Review)

One has only to look at the what was once white walls in my kids rooms to see that Ashleigh loves to draw.  Her walls are currently covered with drawings of cats and girls and butterflies and whatever other animal strikes her fancy.  She loves to draw and create paper crafts and I've wanted to find her some formal art instruction to help develop her artistic talents.  It worked out perfectly for us that we were asked to review the Entire Level 1 art lessons from ArtAchieve.

ArtAchieve provides a  series of online art instruction classes that uses inspirations from around the world to walk students through creating their own pieces of art.  Each class gives students the options of viewing the lesson via a Powerpoint presentation or a video that provides step by step instructions on how to draw the current project. A drop down menu provides access to all lessons purchased.

The lessons are taught by John Hofland who studied with the late Josef Svoboda, the famous Czech artist. Hofland went on to develop University level drawing courses before developing the ArtAchieve online lessons for homeschool students.

Lessons start using very simple materials that most homeschool families already have in their home:  white paper, a sharpie marker, and washable colored markers.  Later lessons introduce more advanced materials such as watercolor pencils, oil pastels, and acrylic paints.

Lessons are not strictly limited to art instruction either.  One of the great things about the lessons is that they are much like mini-unit studies that provide lessons about the country in which the lesson was inspired.  For example, one of the lessons entitled The Sheep from Wales actually provides lessons in about Great Britain.  These lessons cover the countries that comprise Great Britain and then provide information about Wales itself, such as location, the Welsh language, the Capitol city of Cardiff, the sheep of Wales and the wool they provide.  Lessons also provide suggestions for other resources to incorporate in with the lesson to provide cross-curricular connections for math, science and history such as books about the region, literature suggestions, and writing assignments.

How We Used It:

ArtAchieve was generous and gave us full access to the Entire Level 1 art lessons for a period of one year.  The Entire Level 1 lesson offers a total of eleven lessons - the first two lessons are offered free of charge to allow you to get a feeling if Art Achieve is right for you.  The other nine lessons can be purchased individually or as a bundle.

Lessons always suggest listening to relaxing music while doing the lesson as well as doing a warmup to get you ready.  The kids had already gotten use to listening to relaxing classical music during our school lessons so this was easy for us to incorporate.

We began the lessons for the very beginning at Lesson 1.  Lesson one is a multi-session lesson that teaches basic line drawing and shading both angular and round objects.  The line drawing lesson consisted of three actual assignments for different levels: Easy, Medium and Advanced.  Ashleigh flew through the easy level pretty quickly and also through the medium.  She also did equally well with the Advanced lesson - line drawings weren't much of an issue for her.  However, the shading proved to be a bit harder for her, especially the angular shading lesson.

Other lessons start with a Warmup which includes practicing various parts of the lines that are included in the project.  We used these often, however, I noticed that when it came to her final drawing, Ashleigh tends to improve and make the project her own.  So far, she has completed the Czech Cat, the Hungarian Bugs and the Haitian Geckos.  In addition to creating her own artwork, she had really enjoyed learning about the inspirational piece of art that inspired the art lessons and wants to create similar sculptures later down the road.

When asked what her favorite piece so far has been, she quickly stated the Hungarian Bugs.   Here she is posing with her picture and I think her look says it all.

ArtAchieve offers five different levels of online art instruction, each slightly more advanced than the previous level.  Individual lessons can be purchased for a one year license from $4 to $11, depending on the level, or you can purchase all the lessons for each level bundled together for a discounted price.

I'm looking forward to sharing more of Ashleigh's artwork (and Garrett's too as he has suddenly shown interest in doing the lessons as well) in the future and as she progresses we will probably revisit each lesson at least once while we have access to them to see how she progresses.  We're absolutely thrilled with ArtAchieve and will continue to use their product as part of our art curriculum in the future and who knows, it just might help get us our security deposit back once we repaint her bedroom walls ;)

For more information about ArtAchieve, visit them at their website or at one of these social media platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Artachieve

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/artchieve  @artachieve

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/artachieve/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+artachieve

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnahofland/

ArtAchieve was very generous and allowed 100 members of the review crew access to one of three levels offered on their website. Be sure to click the banner below to read reviews for all three levels.

Homemade Dog Food

As I have previously blogged about, we got Kenny, our Cocker mix, after finding him on Petfinder and adopting him from a shelter. Unfortunately, almost immediately he started coughing and unfortunately, it became apparent that Kenny was suffering from Kennel Cough, a very common infliction of dogs who come from shelters.  We were told that it would take about 3 weeks to run its course, keep him hydrated and watch his breathing and he should be okay.  It was a fun few weeks as Kenny quickly became a full on snot machine but this also meant that his sense of smell was affected.  We really became worried as he wouldn't eat and started quickly losing weight. We were told to boil some chicken and rice in low sodium broth and see if he would eat that, which we were thrilled about, but I just couldn't afford to feed him chicken breast twice a day.

After researching online, I found a homemade dog food that made a nice amount of food for a much more manageable price tag. Kenny would eat the food but I was still having to throw away half of his food. However, after some tweaks, it quickly became something he looked forward with and would clean his bowl at each meal.  After just a few days, he had gained back the weight he had lost and his coat looked really good and all the wonderful vitamins seemed to help him get over the Kennel Cough much quicker than the 3 weeks. 

Once we had perfected the recipe to Kenny's liking, it has been a staple since.   For roughly 6 bucks, I can make a batch of this food each week, divide it up into 7 quart size freezer bags which I stack flat in my freezer.  Each night, before bed, I grab a bag and toss it in the fridge to thaw overnight.  Then, I warm up half of the mixture for 20 seconds in the microwave and then mix it with 1/2 cup of Blue Buffalo Basics providing Kenny with a full cup of food twice a day.  This seems to be optional for us, but as Kenny is a smaller dog (less than 20 lbs), this recipe would need to be adjusted for a larger dog. 

Start by browning 2lbs of ground turkey.  I also start making 4 servings of long grain brown rice in my rice cooker at the same time. 

I also add 2 tablespoona of extra virgin olive oil (EEVO) to the meat mixture to provide a healthy monounsaturated fat source.  Just like in humans, the monounsaturated fats in olive oil helps to prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes in dogs. It also helps to make a healthy coat. I usually add the oil after the meat is browned. 

While the turkey is browning, I star preparing the vegetables.  For this recipe, I decided to use fresh bagged spinach, zucchini and carrots.   

After cleaning, the carrots and zucchini are cut into chunks and placed into a food processor and pulses until cut into very small pieces.  

This gets added to the turkey mixture and mixed well. 

At this point, I add 1 cup of reduced sodium chicken broth.  This provides more flavor, which Kenny likes, as well as helps to steam the spinach that we're about to add to the mix.  I also found that by adding the broth, it adds just the right amount of liquid to the mix when I mix it with the dry dog food at meal time and keeps the mixture from being too dry. 

Add the spinach.  I use the full bag of spinach.  

Cover and cook down for about 5 minutes, stir, cover and cook another 3-5 minutes to allow the spinach to wilt down. 

Once the rice is cooked, add it to the meat and vegetables and mix well. 

The completed mix..  Doesn't that look so much better than anything out of a can??  And you know exactly what's in it and can pronounce it all too.  I end up dividing this mixture into 7 quart size freezer bags which I stack neatly in my freezer. Since Kenny is a smaller dog, I typically mix a half a cup of this mix with a half a cup of his Blue Buffalo kibbles twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening.

Kenny says Nom Nom Nom!!!

Looking for other healthy food alternatives for your pooch?? Or maybe you want to know if a particular household item is safe to use around your pets? Check out the website PetConsider which has many articles to keep your furry friend safe and healthy. Curious if your pooch can have bananas? Start with this article here to find out:  Can Dogs Eat Bananas?

The Life We Never Expected

From the moment that there's a second line on the home pregnancy test, we dream about having the perfect baby.  We dream about how they smell, about counting ten fingers and ten toes, what color eyes will they have, will they have Dad's smile or Mom's nose. Nobody ever sits and imagines what it will be like to have a special needs child during those 10 months.  Many times, we're clueless to what the future holds even as we hold our precious newborn in our arms. It's not til a few months later when something is just "not right" that we have our first clue that all those dreams we had might not work out the way we expected.

Because sometimes, life throws you a curveball in the form of Autism.

This is the lesson Rachel and Andrew Wilson share with their readers in the book The Life We Never Expected: Hopeful Reflections on the Challenges of Parenting Children with Special Needs.  The parents of a son and daughter both diagnosed with Autism spectrum, they also felt as if those dreams were down the drain.  They understand the pain of watching your child regress or the fear of having a child sneak out of the house and disappearing and they understand the complete emptiness a parent can feel as they weep uncontrollably over all that was lost.  

But that is not all that the Wilsons care to share with their readers.  

Instead of hopelessness, they offer hope using scripture as a basis for inspiration.  

The book is divided into five cycles, each cycle addressing the topics of Weeping, Worshiping, Waiting, Witnessing and Breathe.  The authors describe their thoughts and feelings as they progress through these five cycles, starting with their feelings of hopelessness and asking "Why did God allow this?" and ending with acknowledging that while being a challenge, special need children are their own blessings from God. To quote Horatio Spafford: " The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.". 

The Wilson's do not pretend to be an expect on having special needs children. They do not offer advice on the proper way to parent a special needs child, telling you to do it this way or that way.  Instead, they share their own experiences while offering a hope through Christ to find joy even in the frustration. 

I'm currently about halfway through this book and I am finding myself savoring many of the passages. I've also found myself highlighting things that I relate to.  Like the author, I have cried over my son's Autism diagnosis. I've had my heart nearly stop when I discovered my son had snuck out of the house at 3am when he was 4 years old. I've felt the helplessness in watching the hand flapping knowing it wasn't normal, and I've found myself ask God "why?".  Yet, I wouldn't trade my son for anything and I thank the Lord every day to feel I was special enough to be his mother. 

I love some of the comparisons that the authors make in explaining that while maybe our children

aren't the perfect package we were expecting, they are just as important to God as any other of his creations.  From discussions of Chocolate Oranges and Dung Gates, Andrew and Rachel show us that parenting these children is an important job given to us by the Lord. But they also explain why the act of lamenting, really soul wrenching sorrow that we feel with the loss of that "perfect" child of our dreams, is a very important part of the process of acceptance. 

I highly recommend this book for anyone with a child with special needs, especially parents who have just recently been told their child's diagnosis.  

However, ONE of my lucky readers will receive a copy of this wonderful book.  This giveaway is open to residents of the continental United States as well as Canada.

  

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Entry-Form

Laurelwood Books (A Schoolhouse Crew Review)

Once upon a time, there was no chance ever of me thinking about teaching the kids Latin.  My husband had learned Latin in High School and I had learned some Latin in my Medical Terminology class in College, but I just couldn't see myself teaching the kids Latin at such an early age. After all, it's considered one of those "Dead languages" that nobody speaks.  However, when I looked over Laurelwood Books  Latin curriculum for young children I thought it looked pretty interesting.  For the last few weeks, I've been using the Olim, Once Upon a Time Reader II as well as the accompanying Olim, Once Upon a Time Workbook II with Ashleigh and suddenly teaching Latin isn't such a scary endeavor anymore.

This Latin curriculum is targeted for students in 2nd through 5th grade and requires no previous Latin education. A very simple curriculum, it consists of a series paperback books - currently there are 6 readers and their companion workbook available on the Laurelwood website.  By using repetition and familiar stories and parables, students are gently introduced to Latin vocabulary using the readers and then focus on retention of the material with the workbooks.

The Reader II book contains three stories (The Lost Sheep, The Ant and the Chrysalis and the Good Samaritan) presented first in English and then again in Latin.

Similar illustrations are used on each page that help to trigger students to associate what is on the Latin page with what they have already seen in the English page.  The Latin pages also contain a gray sidebar that contains vocabulary used on the page to help students to find the English translation.

The Workbook includes activities involving the vocabulary found in the reader and the activities correspond with the pages found in the reader.  Students are directed to complete an exercise in the workbook at the bottom of pages in the reader.  These activities include translations both from Latin to English and English to Latin as well as matching Latin words to their meanings.

How Did We Use It?

Because we only had one consumable workbook (I opted not to order a 2nd workbook for Garrett), I decided to use this curriculum with Ashleigh.  Ash will be starting 3rd grade in a few weeks so she was in the lower targeted group for this curriculum. Because of this, we worked a bit slower through the curriculum than an older student might and we would work on 1-2 exercises per week. We found the easiest method for us was to work on reading through the Latin page and comparing it to the English on the first day, working through the workbook exercise on day 2, and then reviewing the rest of the week.

I also found it extremely helpful to made flashcards for each page.  This was very easy to do as the reference key on each Latin page provided the vocabulary necessary.  As we were introduced to more Latin words, I would include those flash cards into our stack.

I'd love to say that Ashleigh loves this curriculum. She was honestly pretty excited about learning Latin at the beginning but that enthusiasm has quickly waned.  The exercises are pretty cut and dry and not really something that holds her attention, even though she does really like reading the stories themselves. Ashleigh expects everything to be bright and colorful and those are two things this curriculum are not but she will get over it.   There are a few "Digging Deeper for Treasure" sections in the workbook that she really enjoys where additional vocabulary words are printed at the bottom of random pages which are then filled into a Fill in the Blank activity at the end of each stories section in the workbook.

However, just because Ashleigh isn't thrilled with this curriculum,  Mom is more than happy with it. Ashleigh has learned so much in the course of our lessons.   She is indeed retaining the information she's learning and she's impressed her dad by telling him what she's learning.  I have had to resort to making Ashleigh do "Workbook day" in my bedroom with the door closed to separate her from any and all distractions and then she seems to do much better - one of the perks of homeschooling rather than a classroom setting.

Overall, I really like this curriculum and I plan to stay with it and work our way though the series of books.   My only suggestions would be: 1.) Laurelwood Books might consider their own Flash cards to sell along with the books as I found them to be invaluable with Ashleigh and 2.) maybe include access to a webpage that would have audio clips of proper pronunciation of the Latin words covered.  While a printed pronunciation guide is included in the front of the reader (which was helpful), I did find myself either wishing I knew a definite pronunciation and looking online in hopes of finding an audio clip to listen to.  However, these are just slight annoyances and do not take away from this wonderful curriculum.

Members of the Crew were given the opportunity to review not only different copies of the Olim, Once Upon a Time Latin curriculum but also many of the other books Laurelwood Books publishes and sells. Be sure to click the banner below to check out what they thought. 

Freedom Fest 2016 (Wordless Wednesday)

Freedom Fest 2016

9 Years and Counting

Wow does time fly!!!

9 years ago, as the country celebrated it's Independence, Charles and I were married in a small and private ceremony at sunset to the sounds of the waves and the ocean breezes.  We had elected to marry at Wrightsville beach in  Wilmington, North Carolina. We hired an ordained minister over the internet (we were living in Louisiana at the time) who was willing to do the service for us for $250 and 30 minutes later, we were Man and Wife and a family of 4.  (Well, actually a family of 5 but we didn't know Ashleigh was going to make an appearance til about a month later).

Our Vows:

Dearest loved ones: We are gathered here in the presence of God and this company that Charles and Brenda may be united in holy matrimony. May it be with extreme thoughtfulness and reverence that you enter now into this sacred relationship. The essence of this commitment is the taking of another person in his or her entirety as loved one, companion and friend. It is therefore a decision that is not to be entered into lightly, but rather undertaken with great consideration and respect for both.

Marriage symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives, yet this sharing must not diminish but enhance the individuality of each partner. A marriage that lasts is one that continually develops and in which each person individually develops, while growing in understanding of each other. Deep knowledge of another human being is not something that can be achieved in a short time, and real understanding of the other’s feelings can develop fully only with years of intimacy. This wonderful knowledge of another person grows out of caring for the other so much that one wants to understand as completely as possible what the other is feeling. Thus, it is possible to share, not only joys and successes, but also the burden of sorrows and failures. To be known in this way is a priceless thing; because such understanding and acceptance increases life’s joy. But again, while marriage is the intimate sharing of two lives, it can yet enhance the indifferences and individuality of each partner. We must give ourselves in love, but we must not give ourselves away.

Brenda and Charles, you could not have chosen a more sacred or more majestic place for your wedding. As humans, we have always been drawn to the seashore. This is the place where the earth, the sea, and sky meet in beauty and wonder. Here these elements are joined to remind us of the power and majesty of creation. In marriage we find the coming together not only of a man and a woman, but their families, their friends, the lives the have lived separately that are now joined as one. And just as the seashore, a place of beauty and serenity can know tumultuous times, so in marriage there will be days of great challenge, yet love has the power to so in marriage there will be days of great challenge, yet love has the power to overcome all things. So in times of difficulty, allow the power of your love to bring you back to each other even as the sea returns to the shore.

Now each of you take a handful of sand and pour it together into the common vessel representing your marriage, and repeat these words. Our love is as strong as the earth, the sea, and the sky, and shall endure as these elements endure.

I still have our Sand - Black for him - White for Me. Along with Shells we found on the beach that day.

Let us join in prayer:

Heavenly Father, whose nature is love, bless this man and this woman who make these vows before You. Grant that this be a true spiritual union, a rich and full blending of hearts, souls and purposes. Bless them each with the inner gifts of trust, compassion, forgiveness and truth, that they may live and grow together in your love and peace. We give you thanks for Brenda and Charles, and for the example of love they embody in our midst. In gratitude, we all say, amen.

Brenda and Charles, marriage is a supreme sharing of experience, an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is the joyful union of two people whose friendship and mutual understanding have flowered in romance. Today you proclaim your love and commitment to the world, and we gather here with you to rejoice in the new life you now undertake together.

As you take your vows of marriage, I would remind you to treat yourselves and each other with respect and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. In this way you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives, remembering that even if you lost sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

The union into which you are about to enter is the closest and most tender into which human beings can come. It is a union founded upon mutual respect and affection. Your paths will be parallel, your responsibilities will increase, but your joy will be multiplied if you are sincere and earnest with one another.

Please join hands and face each other:

Charles, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, and forsaking all others, keep you only unto her for as long as you both shall live?

Brenda, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, and forsaking all others, keep you only unto him, for so long as you both shall live?

Charles please repeat after me:

I, Charles, take you, Brenda, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish until death do us part.

I, Brenda, take you, Charles, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, to love and to cherish until death do us part.

Please place the ring on her finger and say: Brenda, I give you this ring as a pledge of the sincerity of my vows, the strength of my devotion to you, and the promise of our lives together. With this ring, I thee wed.

Please place the ring on his finger and say: Charles, I give you this ring as a pledge of the sincerity of my vows, the strength of my devotion to you, and the promise of our lives together. With this ring, I thee wed.

Let these rings be given and received as a token of your love, sincerity and fidelity to one another.

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and your days together good and long upon the earth.

Now for as much as you, Charles, and you, Charles, have consented together in wedlock and have witnessed the same before this company and have given and pledged your love to each other through your sacred vows and declared the same by joining hands, by the authority of the laws of the State of North Carolina, it is my honor and my delight to pronounce that you are husband and wife. God bless you both.

You may kiss your bride.

Often marriage is viewed as the union of two individuals. In reality however, marriage is much broader. As we celebrate the love that brings Charles and Brenda together, so, too we recognize, the merging of families taken place and the additional love and responsibility family and friends bring to this relationship.

With the union of this new family we recognize Alyssa and Garrett and the importance of the role they play in this marriage that we celebrate today.

We recognize that you are a very special part of this family, and we pledge to you our love and commitment that you will always be a very important part of our family life. We promise that your interests and your needs will always be honored. We pledge these things with our words, even as we surround you with our love.

Family and friends, it is my pleasure to present to you, Charles and Brenda Prince as husband and wife.

After we were married, we enjoyed the multiple firework displayed that were going off all around us. 

We knew the odds were against us.  We had a 10 year age difference between us - He was 22, I was 32.  That was Strike 1.   This was my second marriage and since second marriages have a higher divorce rate than first marriages, that would be strike 2.  We would also become a blended family which often times causes so much stress that many relationships fail - Strike 3..  But against all odds and through many hardships, we made it.. Heck even our wedding day itself was so wrought with bad luck, from flat tires, tripping on my dress and falling flat on my face, and broken vases, it's a wonderful we didn't take it as a hint that we were making a mistake but we still got through it.

It hasn't been easy.  We've had ups and downs.  We've had some serious issues that have arose during our marriage that could have broken us apart - a special needs child, a custody battle for my daughter from my first marriage, multiple moves across the country, financial struggles.  But again, we made it though.

It seems cliche to say "I married my best friend" but it is the truth.   There's not a day we don't laugh together or tell each other that we love each other.  He never fails to kiss me every time he walks out the door and we always kiss each other goodnight.

Almost 10 years later, my dress sits in a vacuum bag and his sports jacket sits in a garment bag in the back of our closet.  Alyssa's flower girl dress was a rental and was sent back that following week.  And while the bouquet and tiara were lost in our multiple moves and our wedding video destroyed by my son, here we are celebrating 9 years of memories and love and family.

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband. I love you more and more each day.

And to everyone else, Happy 4th of July.