New Book Review!

Against the Tide, by Elizabeth Camden. This is one of the books I had hoped to get in the review pack from Bethany House Publishers, so when it came int he mail yesterday I was thrilled! :)

I started the book with hopeful anticipation. I got bogged down in the first few chapters, trying to determine the setting and characters, but after chapter 4, It really won me over. I couldn't put it down after that.

I loved the fresh, new take on a female heroine. Lydia, is a Greek/Turkish woman who is a linguist and a Navy Yard around the turn of the century. She is strong, self-sufficient and happy to be so, until a man named Alexander Banebridge walks in, with his handsome smile and devilishly charming ways. (Oh why can't there truly be people like that in real life? lol)

I loved the see the story progress, and it definitely wasn't too predictable, which I loved. I highly recommend this book, it was truly enjoyable and a great read! :)

Fall busyness

 Abigail's new favorite thing is watching "Daniel Tiger" (a new PBS Kids show) online. 

She LOVES it and will come to me and ask "Tig-her?" then "Cwackers?" :)

 My fall project is finally done! I have completed my canning and gardening for the year! 

I processed over 220 jars of food! SO blessed and thankful for a great year! 

 Grandma took us on a fall pumpkin patch trip with hayride! 

 SO pretty! 

 Picking their pumpkins!

 Fall cuties! 

 Exploring the farm, Leah found a friend! She LOVES ponies..

Abigail adored the baby cow.. so sweet! 

 Fall at Itasca.. my favorite time to see the park!

Leaf-pile!

Abigail LOVED it!

 Whee! The girls did too..

"Swimming" in the leaves

First Day of School!

 Wow! Another School Year here already! :) SO exciting! 

Leah is in 1st/2nd grade.. she is doing dual levels due to her advanced reading abilities.

Bekah is in preschool. After a long parent-teacher conference (lol) I decided to wait on starting her in Kindergarten until next year. She isn't quite ready for learning how to read yet! 

Abigail, is my needy, mommy's girl, trouble magnet! :) It will be challenging (but not impossible) to work in school around her! She likes to be the center of attention at all times!

 

It was a great first day! We are starting Math next week, which will "ease" us into school. 

We learned about the Pledge of Allegiance, the American Flag and worked on some review in other subjects.

 Leah's writing review

 

Having so much fun!

       Special Patriotic Snack today..

Red, White, Blue Yogurt & fruit! 

Brightstar Christian Academy

 Welcome to Brightstar Christian Academy!!!! :) 

I finally created the perfect name for my homeschool! I love it.. it is based off of Phil. 2:14-16, our school verse! 

Also this summer I converted an unused guest room into my dream schoolroom! I am so excited to have one room devoted to school and school stuff.. I am LOVING it! :) 

So, here's the grand tour..

 

 View from the hallway

 My nice big table and bench for book work

 The "Teacher" desk, as well as the computer for school use.

The couch and desk

 Leah demonstrating our comfy couch for reading

 Educational posters galore!

  My big quilted world map, a gift from my mom!

  Globe, Flags and learning area.

 Shelves built by my man.. ;)

 I labeled the boxes by subject, so it will be easy to find her books!

 Whiteboard/Chalkboard area

Book basket and Mr.Bones on the floor.. ;) 

This pretty much sums it up.. ;)

"Sound of Music" fun

Taking Leah on a special "big girl" date to see the play in Park Rapids

 Our tickets..

 Listening to Debbie Turner's presentation of what it was like to film the movie.. 

(she played "Marta" in the 1965 movie!)

 Getting to meet her and have her sign my book!

She was so sweet! 

Her inscription.. made me smile!

Leah and I LOVED the play.. :) It was rather long, and yet Leah did so well! She told me she liked it better than "Puss in Boots" (her favorite movie) so I guess that is a huge success! ;) 

My grandma, mom and aunt & uncle went too.. it was a great day with family! That's what I love about the "Sound of Music".. every generation LOVES it.. it is timeless. ;) 

(We had 4 generations seeing it together in our family!) 

Short Straw Bride..

A few months ago, I signed up to be a free Fiction reviewer for Bethany House Books, and was SO excited to get to read some great new Christian Fiction for free! But as the months went by, I was never selected. Then, out of the blue I was selected for this one, and was SOOOOOO thrilled!

I recieved it yesterday in the mail and started reading it right away. I finished it that evening, YES.. it was that good! I adored it! It is a story about 4 backwoods brothers and their adjustment to suddenly having "womenfolk" in their family!  It reminded me a LOT of one of my favorite movies, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"... that might be why I liked it so much.

I LOVED Travis Archer's character.. SO easy to fall in love with him and Meri.. the emotion of their relationship was real and so poignant.  Lots of other great characters & drama throughout the book as well.

I truly hope the author will write a sequel.. I fell in love with the Archer brothers and want to see what will happen to each of them!


Soooo.. if you are looking for a good book to read, I encourage you to dive into this great book!

Science Center!!!!

The Girls have always wanted to go into the Science Center to explore, so one slow Friday we did just that! It was a blast! Seriously considering becoming a member, so we can go in all the time! :)

 Abigail loved the train table

Watching the pennies go down

 The Dinosaur!!!!

 Bekah loved the echo machine

Abigail was fascinated by the Nemo fish

I loved the cool anemone! 

 Abigail trying the circle "ride"

Whee! 

Making their own pictures!

And of course, the silly mirrors! 

New Playground!!!!!!!

 My sweet hubby and daddy to my girls along with my dad, "Grandpa Chris" went together and built the girls a HUGE addition to their swingset and playground area. It is amazing! Almost tripled their play area!

 Adding the tree fort above the sandbox

 

The fort all done (save the roof) and the ramp leading to the slide. 

   

Tree fort project: almost done!

Bekah and Daddy show off the picture window in the fort

 

Leah enjoys the fun ramp to the top! 

 

 Beautiful Sandbox benches.. so nice to sit on! 

Adding an extra swingset beam off from the tree fort

  

Completed playground (save the roof on the tree fort) 

 

Daddy also made a wood & rope swing that was a HUGE hit! 

Even Abigail loves it!!!!