Fun Find: Africa Maps for Geography Songs

If you're looking for a fun (and easy!) way to learn the names of all the countries in the world, I highly, highly suggest checking into Kathy Troxel's Geography Songs. Wow! They are all fantastic! We have the book that goes with it, but Balancing Everything has made coloring maps that go with the individual songs about Africa. Yay!

I know that Africa is studied is Cycle 1, but print these babies out, file 'em, and you'll have them ready to go in a couple of years. Or, you could tackle this as a summer project!

Speaking of summer projects, I think we're going to start blobbing the world soon using Brandy's maps at Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood. Do you have any fun summer ideas in the works?

Fun Find - The Brinkman Adventures

Does your family love listening to stories together? If so, you've got to give The Brinkman Adventures a try! Mary and I have LOVED listening to this Christian family audio drama with a heart for missions. Wow! They are SO great!

I found out about The Brinkman Adventures from Free Homeschool Deals, which has a review and a link to the first three episodes for free! I was blown away by how awesome these recording are; seriously, go check them out!

If you do listen to them, I'd love to hear what you think!

Have a great weekend, friends!

Fun Find - Child Training Bible

Have you seen this yet?

It's the Child Training Bible!

I think I just found my summer project! 

Check out their video tutorial here. I love how we can show children that the answers to all of life's questions really ARE in the Bible (and then find those answers quickly!). We'll definitely be doing this, so I'll give a more detailed post when my project is underway. Excited!

If you've already made a Child Training Bible, I'd love to hear what you think about it!

Fun Find - Instrument Printable Pack

If you have littles, you're SO going to want to download this FREE printable pack from Mudpies and Make-Up! It goes along with a fantastic book, Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, but it can easily be used without the book to help introduce instruments of the orchestra in Week 19. Too cool!

I had to download it before I could print, but that was no big deal. This pack is ideal for younger kiddos, such as preschool or (very) early elementary. I'm going to let Mary go through it first, and then let her help Anna with it.

I've got lots of other ideas that I want to share with you, but there just isn't enough time in the day. I've already told the hubs that I'm going to stay up late tonight to get some things done, so hopefully I can fill you in soon. Oh, I'm making a game! Like a board game for reviewing! I know, crazy, right?! So, I'm right in the middle of that, but when I'm done I'll try to post it so you can grab it if you want it. Mary wanted a review game with fairies, so that's what I'm working on. I know, I know, some of you don't do fairies. Got it. To each his own. But, if your little girl is a fan of Tinkerbell, maybe this review game will spark her interest! (and now that I've blogged about it, I have more motivation to actually get it done - ha!)

Happy Funday Monday!

Fun Find: New Year Resolution Printable

Everyone's napping (yes!), so I'm having my Pinterest time (double yes!). I ran across this fun and easy New Year Resolution printable for kids from thirtyhandmadedays.com.

What a great keepsake! 

Do you make New Year resolutions? I typically never do, however, this year is different (and I'm learning that change is good). We gave ourselves a family Christmas gift of YMCA membership. So, yes, like countless others around the world, my NYR is to shed a few pounds. I wouldn't say that I'm overweight, but I'm just not in shape. I used to workout pretty often before getting married five years ago and having the girls. And, since we can't just go outside and play when we want to (no sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. with Gorlin Syndrome), we need someplace indoors to be active during the day. I'm very happy to report that Anna's going to take swim lessons starting next week - a Mommy & Me class! Oh, I'm going to be sad when she outgrows the Mommy & Me's. Mary doesn't want lessons, but she's agreed to take them starting this summer. We all just need to get up and move around; do you know the feeling? 

In case I don't get a chance to write again this year (but we'll see... I've got some ideas in my head),

Happy New Year, friends!

Fun Find: Country Fact Cards

My girls are actually napping! Woot! They haven't taken a nap during the day in about two weeks. So... mama's been busy scouring Pinterest in preparation for my CC planning day (can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!). While browsing through all the incredibly creative pins, I ran across these amazing free printable country fact cards. How cool are these?! I have absolutely no idea what World Thinking Day is, and I haven't proofread all the cards, but the ones I've seen look legit. I'm going to planning to create some kind of passport book for these cuties and let Mary collect them as we study the different countries in CC.

Just wanted to pass this along. I'm actually thinking of starting a facebook page for the blog so I can share goodies like this a little easier and not have to do a whole post. . . but then I have something else to keep up with. Decisions, decisions. Y'know, this is the THE definition of a 'first-world problem.' Ha! So, moving on...

I'm starting to feel a little back-in-the-groove now that things with Anna are settling down. Be on the lookout for some more posts soon!

Fun Find: End-of-the-Year Tradition

Isn't this a great book!

I ran across this idea while looking for an image for another little project that I've recently started, which I'll share soon. Here's the general idea:

As the parent, you sneak this book into your child's teacher/tutor/coach, etc. at the end of the year and let him/her write a short note. Be sure to have them put the year and grade/sport. You keep doing this for each year, and then at graduation you present this book to your little one, which will now be a big one. 

Isn't that awesome?! I'm totally doing it!

I only have a minute to write, and my minute is up. I'll post about my other little project very soon. My wonderful, fabulous hubs has agreed to watch the girls one Saturday coming up so I can start making my weekly CC plans, which I'll post as soon as they're ready. Yay! I feel like I'm starting to get back in the swing of things now. Balance, balance. By God's grace, I'm starting to feel a little balance coming back! Woot!

Fun Find - Review Voices

If you're looking to spice-up your memory work review, maybe you should try saying the prepositions like a pirate! Or a robot! This link will take you to 16 (wow!) fun ways to say the same thing (and it's a free printable!).

We have the Education Cubes, so I'll be putting these in the cubes and letting Mary roll it for review.

Volcano Words is my favorite!

Happy reviewing!

Fun Find - Playdough Mat Books!

I got up waaay too early this morning to make out the grocery list (groan), and I ended up spending waaay too much time on Pinterest looking for crockpot recipes (we live or die by the crockpot around here). While I was searching, I just so happened (cough, cough) to run across some fantastic stuff! So, I've decided to begin a new little category on the blog for fun finds. I may post one once a week, once a month, or this may just be the only one, ha! If you like posts like these, be sure to check out Tawnee's Pinterest Find of the Week over at Adventures in Homeschooling, who I stole this idea from who inspired me to share this kind of post. ;) Without further ado, here's my super-cool fun find:

Playdough Mats! How cool are these?! My girls LOVE Playdough, so this will just be a fun little extra for them. Check out all the details, ideas on how to use them, and get the FREE pdf download by clicking here.

Now, back to my grocery list!