All-American Sale

I just couldn't resist sharing this one with you!!! Check it out soon! Too good to pass by. If you've wanted to lapbook and haven't done it yet, here's your chance.


Bringing Laughter and Learning Together

It's In the Hands of a Child's



Share your excitement for the upcoming
Presidential Election and SAVE!

Save $3 off each of the All American Lapbook Project Packs listed below.
NO coupon code needed just add the unit in the format (eBook, Printed or CD) you prefer to your cart and you will have saved between 25% and 15%.

And that’s just for the basic members.
If you are a Super Member you will have saved an additional 15% on top of that for any eBook purchases.

But wait…
We Americans LOVE more ways to save RIGHT?
And you still want more RIGHT…
All shipped purchases over $30 receive a free gift with purchase ($1.50-$5.00 value)

Of course that’s NOT all!
Place a $60 order and receive our special
Meet the Candidates 2008 Project Pack eBook***
which includes more than 20 activities for you to Lapbook and covers both the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates.
This unit will NOT be available for purchase!

And because we want to make this a sale you’ll be telling all your friends about, the corresponding Kit Packs and Answer Keys to these All American Units are 40%** off until Oct 31st as well.

Now how American is that?!!
So start spreading the word and get shopping!!! Then start Lapbooking of course!!
And for those big spenders out there, we’ll even throw in a Super Membership discount with all purchases over $80! Place an order over $80 and receive a $20 off coupon code good towards a 1 year Super Membership that you can use for yourself or pass along the savings to a friend.
(Valid towards renewal as well as new memberships!)

All American Units to Choose From:
· HOCPP 1254 Presidential Elections
· HOCPP 1032 American Government
· HOCPP 1105 September 11th, 2001
· HOCPP 1181 The American Civil War
· HOCPP 1061 The American Revolution
· HOCPP 1015 The Declaration of Independence
· HOCPP 1132 The United States Air Force
· HOCPP 1256 The United States Constitution
· HOCPP 1106 The United States Navy
· HOCPP 1238 U.S. Army: The Big Red One
· HOCPP 1104 Labor Day
· HOCPP 1149 Presidents’ Day
· HOCPP 1220 Presidents’ Day Fun

**40% is taken off the base price (eBook price) other formats will be at a slightly lower discount due to the way the cart figures the discount.

***This Project Pack will be added to qualifying orders on or before Oct 15th, 2008
Sale valid thru October 31, 2008.

Cannot be combined with any other offer, special, discount, coupon or sale.
Tax and shipping not included in calculating discount price.
Not valid toward prior purchases.
No rainchecks.

House of Order Week 1 Report

It should NOT surprise anyone when I say that this week has reaffirmed what I learned LONG ago: It always takes SO much longer to get something done than I think it will! And I really thought I was being realistic in my goal-setting.

BUT, having said that, it really has been a good week.

We now have a completely decluttered and reorganized kitchen. We donated the equivalent of three VERY large boxes of perfectly useful household goods - and it sure felt good!

The decluttering and organizing in the "back" of the house has also begun. We're still in the "making-more-of-a-mess" stage, but we ARE making progress. The girls are very much looking forward to doing some donating and having decluttered rooms, and I can't wait to reclaim our schoolroom!!

Also this week:

Jelly had her regular Tuesday night piano class. None for the Doodle this week, as her teacher is on vacation. I (almost always!) love hearing them practice!

Both girls had daily swim lessons. This is the fourth summer we've taken advantage of the aquatics program through Parks and Rec. Reasonable prices for reasonable progress on the girls' water skills. With four lessons still to go this week, Jelly has distinguished herself as the best backstroker in the class, with the best side-breathing freestyler honor going to Doodle. They're both doing very well!

Woody and I have also done some swimming WITH the girls this week. Twice we've availed ourselves of the hospitality of our friends and their beautiful backyard pool! The girls get extra opportunity to practice their strokes and diving, and Woody and I get to work out without sweating! We each did twenty laps on our first swim day, and upped it to twenty-five the second time. The girls love being able to swim with mama and daddy, too!

The girls and I worked together on our regular weekly "home blessing" on Saturday morning (while Woody was at a rehearsal) to prepare our hearts and house for the Sabbath. Dusting with the FlyLady feather duster is actually kinda fun! They don't especially enjoy the vacuuming (they trade off weeks doing the dining room, since it involves moving all the chairs), but they are getting pretty good at it. We all LOVE the results!

Saturday night we went to a patriotic concert (where Woody was the heart of the tenor section)and ice cream social sponsored by our community and hosted by our stake. It's an annual tradition that we really enjoy - especially the tribute to the armed forces. Yeah, our country is a mess, but it is still "a choice land" and we're grateful to live here.

Our Sabbath was a wonderful one, though a bit busier than some. The girls and I got ready while Woody (as counselor in the Stake Sunday School) supported a Teacher Inservice Class held for the instructors in our ward at 7:30 a.m. (See the Inner Dad for a bit more church info.) We returned home for a light lunch after ward choir rehearsal, and then I actually slept most of afternoon while Woody and the girls watched a movie.

You KNOW what they say about all work and no play. :o)

I'll let you know how THIS week goes -- better get started.

Giving Thanks

Counting blessings is always encouraged, but at this time of year it seems like it just happens - like spontaneous combustion! I'm on fire with gratitude. Here is my list - I'm VERY thankful for them all:

• My testimony of the Plan of Salvation; a loving Father in Heaven and His Son, our Saviour and Redeemer - supreme examples of giving
• Woody - the best of the best for me; add no. 1 and together we can do anything!
• The Woodyettes - being a mom is a wonderful challenge, but the perks and job satisfaction are so worth it!
• A cozy, comfortable home that is just right for us and where family and friends are always welcome.
• Extended family who are all real blessings to us and whom we keep always in our prayers.
• Friends who feel like family - you know who you are!
• Woody's good job - we often complain about all it requires of him, but appreciate his willingness to do so much to provide for us.
• A free country - even with all its challenges, there is nowhere I'd rather raise our daughters.
• Homeschooling - see the first four items on this list and then note the links in the sidebar to some of the awesome curriculum we use!
• Health - we're doing our part, and know that the Great Physician has greatly blessed as I've overcome some huge obstacles this year. The power of prayer and the priesthood are real!
• Our church family - so many truly Christ-like people!
• Scrapbooking - my creative outlet and family history all wrapped up together.
• Our minivan - it provides opportunities for so many amazing family adventures.
• My laptop - when my arthritis won't let me do anything else, there is still so much I can do and still feel productive.

And, as they say, the list could truly go on and on and on!!

My prayer is that I won't ever take ANY of these incredible blessings for granted, and that I can help our daughters learn to be ever thankful.

Remembering

I'm afraid that Veteran's Day for many has become nothing more than one of those "sale holidays" where you can get special deals on everything from mattresses to big screen TVs. Our own family's remembrance will not be big or fancy, just a special devotional - discussion, patriotic songs, and helping dad raise the flag - but we do appreciate and love our servicemen past and present. We are truly grateful to live in this "choice land" and to enjoy the blessings of freedom.

We are very proud of our 11-year-old goddaughter, SwimChick. She is an amazing girl with a lot to give. Her even-more-proud mama sent us the following poem, which took 3rd place in a schoolwide contest this week.

Our Heroes
By SwimChick

They fight for our nation
They fight for our pride
They fight for our future
They fight far and wide

Five different Branches
All equally strong
Making sure that in our world
Nothing will go wrong

Many are old
Many are young
Many survived
Too many are gone

God bless our Soldiers
Keep them safe from our foes
God bless our Veterans
God bless our Heroes

Thank you, SwimChick, for helping us remember to keep this holiday real.