ONE HUNDRED posts!

Wow! I didn't even see number 100 coming. That's pretty good! Thanks to all my blogging friends for the inspiration and fun times!

Tag You're It!

I've been tagged--and now,if you're reading this, you get to do it, too--you're tagged. Post it on your blog!

Two names you go by:
1. Tam
2. Mommy

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Adidas workout capris
2. hot pink tee

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. scrapbook
2. plan homeschool lessons

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. a clean house
2. a month with nothing to do so I can catch up

Two favorite pets you have had/have:
1. Tasha, my childhood dog--a Golden Retriever
2. Miss Banner, my first Hereford breeding cow I won champion with several times--the start of my herd--very docile and an 'easy-keeper', which, in cattleman terms, refers to how she stayed well-conditioned without much feed (I can relate)

Two things you ate(or drank) today:
1. blackberry-sage tea
2. caramel corn (because October is National Popcorn Poppin' Month, remember?)

Two people you last talked to:
1. of course, Jac & my 3 children--there are days when they are the only people I talk to...
2. ...but, as a surprise today, a neighbor, Alice, called

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. homeschooling
2. taking kids to choir, soccer, and a 4-H meeting

Two longest car rides:
1. Oregon to San Diego
2. Oregon to Alaska

Two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving

Two favorite beverages:
1. espresso drinks
2. iced tea

A Reading Challenge

Fall Into Reading 2007 is a casual challenge to provide motivation to read. We each set our reading goals, make our lists, and check them off as we go. The purpose of this challenge is for us to establish some goals for our reading this Fall and then work toward them. Click on the graphic to join in the challenge. The host is also doing some drawings/giveaways (details below).

"One participant, chosen at random, will receive a $10 gift certificate from Amazon.com - to support your love of reading, of course! To be eligible for this prize, you'll have to post a list (on your blog) of the books you'd like to read this Fall (the cut-off for posting your list and adding your link here is this Wednesday, September 26th, at midnight) and then post your results at the end of the challenge (the challenge ends December 21st). That's it![Note: Although there are cut-offs in order to be in the drawing for the prize, there is no cutoff for joining in the challenge. So spread the word, and sign up whenever you're ready!][Another Note: I'll also be giving away one book from Bethany House every week throughout the fall. Check back Thursdays to be part of the giveaways!]"

Jessica--Chapter Books:
Stuart Little, by E.B. White
More Perfect Than the Moon, by Patricia MacLachlan
The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes
Meet Molly--An America Girl in 1944
(Book 1 of 6 book series), by Valerie Tripp
Story of the Pilgrims, Christian Liberty Press History Reader

Andrew--Early Reader Books:
Dick and Jane Storybook Collection
sight word books box set
other early readers

Books for Read Aloud:
*Boxcar Children series
The Kingfisher Atlas of the Ancient World
Stoy of the World
Sing a Song of Popcorn (Children's Poetry Collection)
*The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury
The Child's Story Bible
Lions, Tigers, and Bears selection for co-op class
*a variety of other library picture books
*Thanksgiving, Ancient Egypt books from library

*(for Storytime)

Books for Mom:
1 Corinthians, Revelations, Psalms
The Mom You're Meant to Be, by Cheri Fuller
Revolutionary Parenting, by George Barna

Library Books for Research/Planning:
Family Celebrations at Thanksgiving, by Ann Hibbard
Advent Begins at Home--Family Prayers and Activities
The Family Treasury of Great Holiday Ideas

Blogger Friend School Assignment #3--"ABC's"

1. Using letters of the alphabet, describe yourself or things that are important to you using only one word per letter.
2. Share Scripture that is upon your heart this week.
   

Autumn
Believer

Creative
Dreamer

Education

Family
God
Homemaker
Intentional
Jac
Kids
Lists
Motherhood
Nostalgic
Overwhelmed
Perfectionist
Quiet
Reading
School
Teacher
Utopian
Vegetable Garden
Writing
eXuberant
Yahweh
Zinnias and Zucchini

"For the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth to find and strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

I Chronicles 16:9a

Virtual Flat Stanley Project

We are doing a homeschool project based on the Flat Stanley book series by Jeff Brown. In his humorous first book, Stanley awakes one morning to find he has been accidentally flattened by a large bulletin board in his room and many adventures ensue him as a flattened boy. He is slipped down a drain to retrieve a lost item, is rolled up like wall paper so he doesn't get wet in the rain, is flown like a kite, and is even mailed in the mail. Many more adventures await him as we read/listen on...

Many school groups have done Flat Stanley projects by mailing a flat, paper Stanley around the globe and recording his travels and adventures. Mailing takes time, so we're using the internet for our virtual Flat Stanley project. Here's how it works, we printed a paper Flat Stanley (above) that has been sent to us and other participating students, cut him out, read the book and listened to the books on tape, discussed adventures our Stanley could take, and are busy photograping Stanley on his adventures with us. At the end of the project period, we post our photos, write our story, and the host family will be compiling the Flat Stanley adventures in an e-book for all participants.

This project is hosted by another homeschool family, so to begin your own Flat Stanley adventure visit their project page to join in the fun before October 1st.

Training Hearts Blogger Friend School

I have registered for the Training Hearts Blogger Friend School--a year of weekly online assignments to post on topics related to our daily activities and blessings as Christian Homeschooling Moms. The homework is Bible-based with the purpose of uplifting one another and strengthening our faith. Class begins Wednesday, September 5th, 2007, and runs through June 2008. To join in the fun, click on the blogger school graphic above.

Pass the Button

"Pass the Button is a family tradition of the past where a family member would secretly bless another family member by doing a chore or deed, and then leave a pillow with a button sewn on it as a token of the deed. The principle of this is to then Pass the Button to another family member by doing a secret chore or deed and leaving the button pillow to keep the blessing going."

Training Hearts is Passing the Button with this giveaway of favorite products her family enjoys. Click on the link above to join in the giveaway.