The Cow Queen

A Mile In His Shoes Review & Giveaway

2012-01-18T12:50:00.002-05:00

GIVEAWAY COMMENTS AND ENTRIES ARE CLOSED

I really enjoyed The Christmas Lodge movie. So, when I got the chance to review another of Thomas Kinkade's presentations, I gladly accepted.

A Mile In His Shoes is based on the true story of Mickey Tussler (played by cutie patootie Luke Schroder, look-alike son of Ricky Schroder). Mickey is an 18-year-old farm boy with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. Minor League coach Arthur Murphy (played by cutie-patootie Dean Cain), discovers Mickey's pitching ability by accident.

Coach Murphy convinces Mickey's parents to let Mickey try out for the team. The team is transformed ... not only with their game, but their spirit as well. Mickey's growth as a player and as an individual is only a small part of the changes in the other characters throughout the movie.

This was Luke Schroder's first big roll in his acting career. I thought he did a marvelous job and was convincing in his roll. I found myself on the verge of tears for several scenes. In the whole movie, I found one word that could be seen as objectionable. One scene could be viewed as intense for younger children.

Overall, the movie was wonderful. It gives a gentle introduction to autism and shows it in a favorable light. While Mickey had some issues to overcome, he wasn't limited by them.

You can find more information at:

Website: http://www.watchgmctv.com/video/mile-his-shoes#biography

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Mile-In-His-Shoes/270101973014772?sk=wall

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2T0BFetH4

Dove Foundation Review: http://www.dove.org/reviewmasterframe.asp

I have an extra copy to give away. There are two ways to enter:
1. Leave a comment telling me that you want to win.
2. Follow me on GFC and leave a comment telling me that you do.

Comments close at midnight eastern time on January 31. Remember to leave a way for me to contact you.

edited: I'm also linking to these blogs that feature low entry giveaways: Tightwad in Utah, and Oh So Savvy Mom.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Cooper & Me Winner

2011-12-11T15:23:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to JENNY who won the Cooper & Me and the Winter Adventure giveaway.

Thank you to all who entered.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Cooper and Me Review and Giveaway

2011-11-27T20:31:00.002-05:00

CONTEST CLOSED

One thing about being a homeschool mom is that your children are with you all the time. There isn't much chance that they will get lost on the way to school. But what about in the grocery store or an on outing with friends? I've never talked very much to my children about what to do if you get lost ... until recently.

We had the opportunity to review Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure. This was an adorable story written by Monique & Alexa Peters. Written in rhyming verse, the story features two dogs who go on a sledding adventure. They get caught in a snowstorm and fear that they won't make it home before dark. Through their adventure, the reader learns what you should do BEFORE going on an outing and what to do if you run into trouble. At the end of the story, there is an opportunity for discussion of the story and how it applies to our lives.

You can learn more about Cooper and Me at their website and on their Facebook page. Of special note is that $1 of every Winter Adventures book sold will go to advance research and treatment of pancreatic cancer via the Lustgarten Foundation.

You can also purchase a copy of the book on the Cooper and Me website. Make a purchase of $25 or more on the website and receive FREE SHIPPING through December 15. You must use the code COOPERBLOG at check out.

I have an extra copy to give away. There are two ways to enter:
1. Leave a comment telling me that you want to win.
2. Follow me on GFC and leave a comment telling me that you do.

Comments close at midnight eastern time on December 10. Remember to leave a way for me to contact you.

I'm also linking to these blogs that feature low entry giveaways: Tightwad in Utah, and Oh So Savvy Mom.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Christmas Lodge Winner

2011-11-17T20:26:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Angela Richter who won the Christmas Lodge giveaway.

Thank you to all who entered.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Shameless Plug for Votes

2011-11-06T16:35:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you know that my posts have dropped off. Even my "just photo" posts have been scarce.

Life on the farm has picked up, and I'm homeschooling two children instead of one. Something had to fall by the wayside, and the blog took the hit.

Today, after

letting turkeys out into their run,
checking on the dog that was injured Tuesday,
making sure that the calf that was out at dusk was still on the farm at daylight,
feeding the children,
schooling the children,
feeding the children,
schooling the children some more,
returning the calf to it's pasture,
visiting with the gentlemen who came to help,
feeding dogs, turkeys, two calves in pens, and two goats,
returning turkeys to their predator-proof enclosure for the night, and
preparing to feed the children again,

I checked one of my Facebook groups and found that The Homeschool Mis-fit Blog Award nominees had been announced. I went over to NotSoSuperwoman's blog with all intentions of voting for my friend who commented on the group. Well, I still haven't voted yet.

I was distracted by

feeding the children,
bathing the children,
folding some laundry,
washing some dishes,
putting children to bed,
and coming over here to ask you to go VOTE FOR ME.

Yep, The Cow Queen was nominated for The Harried Homeschooler category. I wasn't sure whether to be embarrassed or flattered. I decided that the category fit me well. So, I could not be offended. So, go over to NotSoSupermom and VOTE FOR ME. Voting ends November 3, 2011.

I'll explain it all to my friend later. ;)

A big THANK YOU to Lori at NotSoSupermom for hosting these fun awards.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Christmas Lodge Review & Giveaway

2011-11-02T16:38:00.001-04:00

This giveaway is closed.

Do you know much about Thomas Kinkade's art? He is often called "The Painter of Light."

Now, Thomas Kinkade has entered the movie world with a presentation of Christmas Lodge. I read this synopsis on the back of the box:

During a weekend trip to the mountains, Mary (Erin Karpluk) finds herself at the now-dilapidated lodge where she spent the holidays with her family growing up. She becomes determined to restore the building to its former glory. Inspired by her grandfather and guided by her grandmother in heaven, Mary throws herself into the project, and during the process finds herself drawn to Jack (Michael Shanks), a handsome man who loves the lodge as much as she does. Historically unlucky in love, this chance encounter allows Mary to renew her faith in life and discover her one true love. For an uplifting story about the importance of faith, family and the true holiday spirit, go to the Christmas Lodge.

Anytime, I see "discover her one true love" in a movie or book description I tell myself that I have to watch it without the children ... and Prince Charming probably won't like it. So, I waited for Prince Charming to be out for the evening and watched the movie by myself. Boy, was I surprised!! The G rating actually fit this film!

In the beginning, Mary and her boyfriend are going to the mountains for the weekend. They clearly get separate rooms.
When they break up, it is not for some dramatic reason and there isn't a big fight about it.
There is only one romantic kiss in the whole movie and it is appropriately timed.
There are no "bedroom scenes."
It is a movie about love, faith, tradition and family. There is much multi-generational respect ... Mary for her father and grandparents, Jack calls Mary's father and grandfather, "Sir", and Mary's father concedes to his father's request.

I really liked this movie. Some of it was predicable, but very heart-warming. You can watch the trailer here.

The prince is sitting by me as I'm writing this. He saw the DVD case and wanted to know about it. I told him that I had to watch it first and see if it was o.k. for kids. Then, he asked if it was o.k. to watch. I think we now have a plan for this evening.

Plan to watch this movie in the next month or two. I have an extra copy to give away. Just leave a comment telling me that you want to win. Comments close at midnight eastern time on November 16. Remember to leave a way for me to contact you.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Cereal and Grilled Cheese

2011-10-19T20:19:00.000-04:00

A few days ago, the princess awoke before the rest of us were ready to get up. I convinced her that it was not "wake up time" and she climbed into bed with Prince Charming and myself. We dozed some. We chatted some. We giggled some. When the prince awoke, he joined us. After awhile, we told them that we had to get up and get ready to take Prince Charming to the airport. The whining began.

Princess: I don't want Daddy to leave.

Prince Charming: It's only for a week, and I'll be back.

Me: And when Daddy gets back, I get to leave. (not really, but it sounded good.)

Princess: (with great distress and real tears) NOOOOO!!! We'll starve. Daddy only knows how to make cereal and grilled cheese.

I guess that means I have job security.

Disclaimer: Prince Charming is actually a very good cook and has many dishes in his repertoire.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Carlito C. Caterpillar MathHouse Games Winner

2011-10-15T11:02:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Kristi.

Random.org chose comment #5 as the winner of this giveaway.

Thank you to all who entered.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Carlito C. Caterpillars's MathHouse Game Card Review & Giveaway

2011-09-28T20:31:00.000-04:00

Learning Math has been a challenge in the palace. I have finally learned that the prince is a right-brained learner and doesn't learn in the traditional ways. He needs hands-on activities instead of just rote memorization. The princess learns mostly by osmosis, but enjoys games as well. Anytime that we can disguise school as play, we jump at the chance.

Enter Carlito C. Caterpillar's MathHouse Game Card Set.

This set of 40 games is geared toward children in pre-school through early elementary. The material is presented in 3 stages covering quantity, numeration, and operations. You download the manipulatives used in the game. If you don't like printing things, you can tweak the games to use things you have on hand.

We haven't used many of the games, but have enjoyed the ones we did use.

You can learn more about them at the company website or Facebook page.

If you like them enough to buy your own, you can do it on the company website ... OR ... you can try to win a set here. To win a set leave a comment for each mode of entry:

Leave a comment letting me know that you want to win
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
Tell me what your favorite learning game is

The winner will be chosen on October 14 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time and contacted by email. BE SURE TO LEAVE A WAY FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU. Your prize will be sent directly from the contest sponsor.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Winners!

2011-09-15T14:42:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the following giveaway winners:

Introducing Theo: Amy W. and Robin
The Shunning: Amy W.

Thanks to everyone for entering.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Ugh

2011-09-13T07:34:00.000-04:00

Last week, I wasn't feeling well. We had a head-cold or allergies or something yet undetermined. There were Tornado Watches and Warnings all over our area. I'm sure the weather system that brought them was not helping my sinus issues.

We were trying to get through some schoolwork. The morning started off well. (That means everyone was cooperating and in a good mood.) After lunch, I decided that we would do just a little more school and call it a day. During that time, I was trying to hold my head up and breathe. I made a noise like, "Ugh" with a sigh.

Prince: Are you o.k., Mama?Me: Yes, I just don't feel good.Princess: From all this schoolwork? I know how ya feel.

I'm linking up to Tiny Talk.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

The Shunning -- Review & Giveaway

2011-09-10T13:50:00.002-04:00

The giveaway associated with this review is now closed.

Back when I did a review of The Grace Card, I mentioned how much I enjoyed the previews that were shown with that movie. One of those was The Shunning. So, when I got the chance to review it, I jumped at the chance.

The Shunning, by Beverly Lewis, is a wonderful glimpse into the lives of the Amish. The tight-knit community is protective of their neighbors. When a big-city woman comes poking around, they are reluctant to reveal the home of the lady she is looking for. One older lady in the order helps her make the connection and so begins the story.

More about the movie:

Before she succumbs to cancer, the dying wish of Laura Mayfield-Bennett is to be reunited with the daughter she never knew. Unfortunately, that daughter, Katie Lapp, is a member of the Amish order. Katie is about to be married, but uneasy about the path ahead. Now she discovers the secret her parents have kept from her: she's adopted.

The movie is based on the first novel in "The Heritage of Lancaster County" the series by Beverly Lewis.

I really enjoyed this movie. The drama kept you tuned in to see what happens next. Katie Lapp is already struggling with the rules that define her community. The return of her birth mother after 20 years really adds to that conflict.

You can learn more about The Shunning here:

The Shunning website

Facebook

The Trailer

You can also win a copy of this DVD. For your chance(s) to win, leave a comment for each mode of entry. Make sure that I have a way to contact you if you win. I'll select the winners on September 15 at noon Eastern time. The prizes will be sent from the sponsor.

To enter:
1. Leave a comment that you want to win.
2. Follow this blog using Google Friend Connect (or leave message that you already do)
3. Enter my other giveaway

I'm also linking to these blogs that feature low entry giveaways: Tightwad in Utah, and Oh So Savvy Mom.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Introducing THEO -- Review & Giveaway

2011-09-08T11:51:00.005-04:00

The giveaway associated with this review is now closed.

Children and adults love cartoons. This new DVD recognizes that fact and uses it to teach about God.

This DVD has two parts:

In Good News, the plan of salvation is told in simple terms. It takes all of five minutes ... straight to the point. That's not to say it is dry. The animated character, Theo, is adorable and entertaining. With the help of two mice, Belfry and Luther, he gets the point across in a fun way. (By the way, the prince was quick to point out that the mice look like the ones in Cinderella.)

In Saving Faith, we learn that we can have faith in a lot of things. Not all of those things are worthy of faith. The story of Abraham and Sarah is used to teach that FAITH IN GOD can yield great blessings. This segment is about 9 minutes long -- just right for a bedtime devotional.

You can learn more about these videos (even download a bonus episode) at the Theo Presents website. You can also purchase the videos there and download a FREE app for the iPhone or iPad. Alternatively, you can purchase the DVDs at Amazon, and Lifeway Christian Store has church curriculum materials.

For every Theo DVD purchased, Whitestone Media and Child Evangelism Fellowship® will send a child in need their very own copy of Theo. You can log onto TheoPresents.com after making your own purchase, and select the region of the world you'd like another copy of Theo to be sent.

You can also win a copy of this DVD. I have TWO to giveaway. For your chance(s) to win, leave a comment for each mode of entry. Make sure that I have a way to contact you if you win. I'll select the winners on September 15 at noon Eastern time. The prizes will be sent from the sponsor.

To enter:
1. Leave a comment that you want to win.
2. Follow this blog using Google Friend Connect (or leave message that you already do)

I'm also linking to these blogs that feature low entry giveaways: Tightwad in Utah, and Oh So Savvy Mom.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tiny Talk on Adopting

2011-09-06T13:12:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, just the prince and princess have the most interesting, insightful conversations. Just this week, they were working on school work when this gem popped up.

Prince: When I grow up I'm going to adopt a boy, but not get married.

Princess: If you get married, you get a gold ring.

Prince: You can buy one of those.

Princess: Well, if you adopt, you have to sign a lot of papers.

Where do they get this stuff?

I'm linking up to Tiny Talk.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

The Grace Card Winner

2011-09-01T05:33:00.000-04:00

Now that Irene has passed, I have been able to confirm the winner of The Grace Card giveaway. Congratulations to commenter #2 -- Debbie. Your prize is on the way!!!

The grass is green. It’s good to be

The Grace Card -- Review & Giveaway

2011-08-19T09:28:00.001-04:00

Grace: It is such a little word, but it carries BIG meanings. Is your heart BIG enough for grace?

Have you ever thought about the word grace?

favor
goodwill
kindness
kindliness
love
forgiveness
charity
mercifulness
mercy
clemency
pardon

Those are more BIG words that require thought as to their meaning. Sometimes the meanings are easy to get. It is the application of those meanings that can sometimes be hard to deal with.

Would you be able to apply those words if you watched your small child be killed by someone's illegal activity? Would you be able to immediately offer grace to that person? Would you be able to offer grace to that person after a matter of time? Or would you be more likely to have the opposite of grace ... animosity and disfavor? Would you carry that emotion over to all people of the race of the one who killed your child? Would you be able to work with a person of that race ... as if YOUR life depended on it?

That is exactly what happened to Mac McDonald in The Grace Card. His small son was killed as a drug dealer tried to elude capture. His reaction to that tragic event shaped the next 17 years of his life. His relationship with his wife, surviving child, co-workers, and God were all impacted by that event.

As a police officer, he was partenered with a man of a different race who had just received a promotion ... the promotion that Mac wanted. This wasn't just any man. He was a man of faith; a man who struggled to build a church; and after this partnership ... a man who struggled with grace himself. The two men were partenered to work on one man's attitude. The partnership worked on both men's hearts.

This movie came out several months ago. A friend at our church recommended it to the entire congregation. I wasn't able to go when our Bible Study group went. So, I jumped at the opportunity to review it in DVD format. I am so glad I did. I watched it the other night with my mom and we both loved it. (We even loved the previews on the DVD for the other films!)

At the beginning of the film, I thought the acting was kind of poor. But it soon got better and the story picked up quickly. There was only one thing that I would change ... Louis Gossett, Jr. I really enjoy his films, but we didn't see much of him in this movie. He only had a few minutes of screen time, but it was a pivotal few minutes.

If you want to know more, you'll have to see the movie, or check out The Grace Card website or The Grace Card on Facebook.

If you want to buy your own copy of The Grace Card, you can find the DVD in stores now.

If you want to WIN your own copy of The Grace Card, you can sign-up here. I have one extra copy to give away. All entries must be received by August 26, 2011, at noon Eastern time. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you.

Leave a comment for each mode of entry:
1. Leave a comment telling me you want to win.
2. Follow this blog using Google Friend Connect (or tell me you already do)

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Andi's Pony Trouble -- Review

2011-05-06T07:01:00.000-04:00

If you are familiar with Circle C Adventures by Kregel Publications, then you are no stranger to Andrea "Andi" Carter. While the Circle C Adventures are for readers ages 9 - 14, the books in the new Circle C Beginnings are for readers from age 6 to age 8. They are completely new stories about 6-year-old Andi, her horse, and her family and friends on the Circle C Ranch in 1874. The books have fun illustrations and easy-to-read text -- for kids who are ready for their first chapter books.

Title: Andi's Pony Trouble

Vendor: Kregel Publications

Target Ages: ages 6-8

Format: paperback book
Price: $4.99

The Queen's Assessment:
We LOVED Andi's Pony Trouble. I was afraid that the prince would not want to read a story about a girl. Reading is generally not his favorite thing to do anyway. Add in that the main character is a girl, and I was prepared for battle.

It was easier than I thought. As soon as the prince found out that a ranch was involved, he was game. He still didn't want to read the whole chapter by himself, so we team read -- he'd read the even-numbered pages and I'd read the odd-numbered pages. This worked especially well for him when he had a page with an illustration instead of words!

The story was engaging, and we wanted to know "what happens next." The illustrations were delightful. The princess was playing nearby as we read. One day, she noticed that I had printouts from the Andy and Taffy website on my desk. She would color for a long time while we read. The prince enjoyed coloring as well, but he had to wait until we were done reading.

These pictures are from a book other than the one we reviewed.
However, they give a representation of the great illustrations in these books.

Other Homeschool Crew Members reviewed this book and others in the series. Be sure to find out what they thought at The Homeschool Crew Blog.

Disclaimer: This was a review of my experience with the product described. I tried to give a complete and honest assessment. In order to review the product, I received a free book with no additional compensation. This in no way influenced my review of the product. The opinions expressed are my own and were not affected or edited by anyone prior to publishing.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Yesterday's Classics eReaders

2011-05-04T22:27:00.000-04:00

I remember that as a child I would watch movies that had the big mansion with the "library" in it. The books were floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. That always seemed like a fancy house.

We just had a bookshelf.

Do you have a library at your house? We do. Up until recently, it was also known as the "throne" room.

Then, we got Yesterday's Classics to review for The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. Yesterday's Classics sent us 225 (yes, 225!!!) ebooks to review. I think that would constitute a library.

Title: Yesterday's Classics

Vendor: Yesterday's Classics eReaders

Target Ages: ages 4+

Format: e-books

Price: ~~$149.95 in EPUB or Kindle format~~ --- On sale through May 31 for $99.00 -- the complete set of 225 eReaders

Now, I am not one for a lot of gadgets. I keep my calendar on the wall. My "To Do" list is a spiral notebook that usually gets lost amongst a bunch of other clutter.

Since I am not into gadgets, I didn't have an eReader device on which to read these files. However, through the great network of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I found that I could download FREE reading software and read these files on my computer.

This set of ebooks includes:

225 titles
with illustrations -- if the original book had quality illustrations, they are here
with table of contents -- not all ebooks have this
in 22 different genres -- including History, Nature, Reading, Poetry and more
without Digital Management Software -- you can use it on as many devices as you want
with ability to print some -- using certain eReader software on your computer
with email support -- who doesn't like that??!!

Find out more about this offer here. You can even download a sample book here (scroll way down to the blue box). While you are there, you'll notice there is a No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee!!!

The Queen's Assessment:

We really enjoyed these books. There were many that we could use in our history lessons this year. We will be learning about countries and cultures next year. These books will fit right in. I can already see that we will be using these through high school.

The Nature books were great for science this year and will be referred to in years to come. Upper level science books will definitely come back out again.

Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends are always a hit around here. Anything that makes books "cool" is always a plus with the prince. Legends usually fit the bill.

The Reader genre in this collection was great for the prince. He enjoys gadgets and really wants us to get an eReader device. After investigating some, I found that reading test scores are improving with students who use technology in learning. So, we may have to look into this more.

So, I don't have the big library with floor-to-ceiling books. But, I'm not complaining. All of these books are in one REALLY small stack, that can't be scattered around, and ... I don't have to dust all those shelves.

Other Homeschool Crew Members reviewed this product. Be sure to find out what they thought at The Homeschool Crew Blog.

Disclaimer: This was a review of my experience with the product described. I tried to give a complete and honest assessment. In order to review the product, I received the files for free with no additional compensation. This in no way influenced my review of the product. The opinions expressed are my own and were not affected or edited by anyone prior to publishing.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Latin's Not So Tough -- Review

2011-04-29T21:47:00.000-04:00

Title: Latin Curriculum -- Latin's Not So Tough!

Vendor: Greek 'n' Stuff

Target Ages: early elementary students, especially ages 6-7

Format: workbook, audio cd, and answer key
Price: The information that I received for review had a $32 retail value. Prices will vary based on levels and options chosen.

Greek 'n' Stuff provided Greek and Latin curriculum for review by The Homeschool Crew. We were fortunate enough to get the Latin's Not So Tough Level 2 curriculum. As the company wrote to me,

"Level 2 focuses on a thorough review of the Latin alphabet, diphthongs, and special consonant sounds (taught in level 1) followed by a core vocabulary of 50 Latin words."

We received the workbook, "Answers Only" Answer Key, and pronunciation CD.

The Queen's Assessment
I had some concerns about receiving this item for review. I thought the prince needed to have a better grasp of the English language before embarking on a foreign language ... just to avoid confusion of the two. I also thought it would add frustration to his learning day because we were starting with Level 2 and not Level 1.

Was I ever wrong!

The prince loved this curriculum. He often asked to do it before his other subjects.

The lessons started with a review of the Latin alphabet, diphthongs and special consonants. By lesson 5, we were learning Latin words! By lesson 7, my "puer" was calling
his dad an "agricola." (That would be my "boy" calling his dad a "farmer.")

The worksheets had matching, fill in the blanks, activities, and puzzles to re-inforce the new words and review the previously-learned words. You can see samples of the workbook pages here. The flashcards were really great for helping the prince to remember the Latin vocabulary words. He loved to see his stack of "correct" cards grow.

Other Homeschool Crew Members reviewed this product. Be sure to find out what they thought at The Homeschool Crew Blog.

Disclaimer: This was a review of my experience with the product described. I tried to give a complete and honest assessment. In order to review the product, I received a free trial of the program with no additional compensation. This in no way influenced my review of the product. The opinions expressed are my own and were not affected or edited by anyone prior to publishing.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

See the Light Shine -- Review

2011-04-22T15:18:00.000-04:00

Title: Art Class -- Volume 1

Vendor: See the Light Shine

Target Ages: Grade K - 8

Format: DVD
Price: $99.00 for the complete set of 9

For this review, we received Volume 1: Art Lessons 1-4 of the Art Class DVDs. This DVD was entitled "The Basics."

The DVD case tells us that

"Each lesson provides kids with progressive, hands-on tools to learn everything from basic art skills like perspective and shape before tackling tougher challenges and more advanced topics and techniques."

The first lesson was about the basic tools needed to draw.

The second lesson taught about the basic line and how lines are different.

The third lesson was on training your eyes and hands to work together to create contours.

The fourth lesson was on drawing what you see, not what you know. Just because you know a table has four legs, it doesn't mean you should show them all in your drawings.

The BONUS lesson was the chalk artist drawing a scene from another DVD from the same company.

The Queen's Assessment:
I really thought the prince and princess would enjoy this product. They have both been tapping into their creative sides for the past three or four months. They were really excited to see that we got an art video for review. We watched the promotional DVD together and they were ready to start!

For the first lesson, they followed along and assembled their tools. The second lesson involved drawing the contour of an apple. They tried drawing the apple during the video session. However, they didn't want to practice enough to perfect their skill. The princess drew some more apples, but not by using the instructions given. The prince just gave up all together.

I think that if your child is really interested in drawing and learning to draw better, this video may be helpful. For the child who likes to draw and just be creative in their own way, it may be challenging to do as the instructor says.

I really liked that the instructor wove Biblical messages into the lessons:

"FOR WE ARE GOD'S MASTERPIECE" Ephesians 2:10

Other Homeschool Crew Members reviewed this product. Be sure to find out what they thought at The Homeschool Crew Blog.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

The Grass Is Green ...

2011-04-20T15:07:00.001-04:00

I'm linking to Wordless Wednesday, Project Alicia, Five Minutes for Mom, Live and Love Outloud, Seven Clown Circus, Dagmar's momsense, and Better In Bulk.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

A Piece of My Mind

2011-04-19T21:20:00.001-04:00

The princess is at it again.

Last week, we were running our regular errands ... library, bank, and grocery store. As we approached a light that intersected with the interstate off-ramp, I spotted another driver that I thought I recognized ... a farmer friend who lives in another town.

ME: I think that was Mr. Lee.

PRINCE: (Who notices every farm truck and trailer en-route) Mama, remember the man who thought our goat was a dog?

ME: Yes. That was Mr. Lee.

PRINCE: That was him.

PRINCESS: I wanna give him a piece of my mind.

She has grown quite attached to said goat and doesn't want anyone having ill-words against it.

****

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Winners! Winners! Winners!

2011-04-11T07:46:00.000-04:00

WOW!!! What a great response to my recent giveaways. Thank you to all who entered.

Before I give announce the winners, I wanted to let you know that some of my friends are doing this giveaway too. So, if you didn't win from me, go to these other blogs and enter for more chances to win.

For the Rebecca St. James CD, the winner is:

comment #6 -- Heidi

For more chances to win, visit:

ending 4/11
A House Upon A Rock
Walking Home
The Berry Patch

ending 4/12
Glimpse of Our Life
Acorns or Nuggets of Gold
Joy In Our Journey
The McClanahan 7
Day By Day In Our World

ending 4/13
Our Homeschool Reviews

ending 4/14
The Legacy of Home

ending 4/15
Marine Corps Nomads
Reed Party of 6

ending 4/18
Guiding Light Homeschool
Our Village is A Little Different

The winner of The Crossmaker DVD is:
comment 31 -- JADAVIS

If you didn't win, visit:

ending 4/12
Day By Day In Our World

ending 4/14
A House Upon the Rock
Footprints in the Butter
ending 4/18
Guiding Light Homeschool

A special thanks to Catherine at Our Village is a Little Different for compiling these lists.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Science Weekly -- Review

2011-04-08T07:09:00.000-04:00

Title: Science Weekly

Vendor: CAM Publishing Group, Inc.

Target Ages: Grade K - 6

Format: hardcopy worksheets
Price: Individual Rate: 15 issues - $19.95 per student per year (less than 20 subscriptions)
Classroom Rate: 15 issues - $4.95 per student per year (minimum order 20 subscriptions)

From the Science Weekly website:

Science Weekly is a curriculum supplement that offers an interdisciplinary and inquiry approach to enhance teachers' knowledge and skills in teaching science and literacy.

Each issue of Science Weekly ascribes to the national science standards. Each topic is written at six reading levels (K–6) in diverse science content that provides the opportunity for students to exercise their curiosity about the world around them.

The Queen's Assessment:
We received a Composting edition of Science Weekly for this review. We received Levels Pre-A through Level E which correlates to Grades K-6. The princess completed lessons Pre-A and A. The prince did Levels B and C.

Each unit had age-appropriate lessons in math, vocabulary, language arts and science. The labs in the units for older children was more involved than those in the lower units. The teaching notes made it easy to give students background information and work through the lessons.

The prince and princess really enjoyed this review. They spent several days talking about what could go in the compost and what could not.

I liked that everything was together. The materials to be read were not far from the materials on which to be written. (That can sometimes be a problem around here.) In addition to the materials presented, there were internet links for further study.

We enjoyed this lesson. You can take a peek at a sample and see what you think.

Other Homeschool Crew Members reviewed this product. Be sure to find out what they thought at The Homeschool Crew Blog.

Disclaimer: This was a review of my experience with the product described. I tried to give a complete and honest assessment. In order to review the product, I received a free trial of the product with no additional compensation. This in no way influenced my review of the product. The opinions expressed are my own and were not affected or edited by anyone prior to publishing.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Bucked Off

2011-04-06T09:11:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I have posted a Wordless Wednesday picture. I've taken quite a few photos, but can't seem to get them posted.

The other day, I had some things to do outside. The princess came with me and brought two baby dolls that she got for Christmas. She went straight to her favorite, neglected flower bed to play. When I looked up, this is what I saw:

Ride 'em flamingo-girl (?)

It wasn't long before I saw this:

Bucked Off!

O.K. So, maybe it wasn't so wordless. It wasn't word-ful either, but I'm still linking to Wordless Wednesday, Project Alicia, Five Minutes for Mom, Supermom, Live and Love Outloud, Seven Clown Circus, Dagmar's momsense, and Better In Bulk.

The grass is green. It’s good to be