Life at Oak Grove

A year ago, the new digital version of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine came in the world.

And I had an opportunity to review the digital version in the past.   At first, I was a bit against the digital part of the magazine.   I'm the kind of person who loves to have the magazine in my hands.  But then I rapidly discovered some advantages of it.   Like being able to forward a specific article to a friend or have instant access on the website of some advertizers.   Also, having a digital copy of a magazine permits to reduce the number of trees that are cut to produce the paper magazine.

To celebrate the first anniversary of the digital version of TOS, the folks at TOS  are offering a special price for whoever who wants to receive it.   The prices will go up from week to week so act fast!   

From January 19th to the 24th, it will cost you 10.95$ for a 1 year subscription and you will get 5 e-books!

From January 25th to the 31st, it will cost you 12.94$ for a 1 year subscription and you will get 4 e-books!

From February 1st to the 8th, it will cost you 14.95$ for a 1 year subscription and you will get 3 e-books!

Finally, after February 9th, the price will be 16.95$ for a 1 year subscription and unfortunately you won't get any e-books... 

The five e-books which could become your bonus gifts are:  Living and Learning On One Income, Valentine's Project Pack by Hands of a Child, Hands-On History Activity-Pack from Homeschool In The Woods,  Jesus - The Life-Giver from Katherine Loop, and What's the Matter: An Introduction to Chemistry (Grades 3-9) frin Treasure Box Press.   All great books that I personally wouldn't mind having too!

So hurry fast!   And you will have a great digital magazine to expect in your e-mail as well as wonderful e-books to read when you have a minute!

Click here for more details or order.

I got a complicated question at supper time from my almost 5 year old...   A hard one for me to be honest.

So we are eating and Dominic looks at me and ask "Are we going to see mamie soon?".

This is a touchy subject...  If you are wondering why just click here to know more about the situation.

So I looked at my hubby and then turned to Dominic and told him.  "I'm not the one deciding you know.  Hopefully soon..."

Then he looks at me again and says "Well, I would like to see her before she dies."

Ouch!   Got tears in my eyes...  Don't know what to say to that.   I had to got in the kitchen so I didn't cry in front of the kids.   It breaks my heart... but I can't do anything about it.

Oh Lord!  Please soften my mom's heart.  Break the walls she had built around her.   Reach out to her.   Bring someone she trusts who would explain your marvelous gift to her in words she would understand... (she rejected it from us a few years ago)   Oh Father, give me strength...  If by any chances, my son is prophetic in any shape or form, I pray that you give a dream to some of our leadership team members about it (not hubby of course - someone outside of the family who have no clue this would be a confirmation...).   Show me what to do...   We do talk on the phone.  No e-mails since she refuse to give me her new e-mail address...  I hurt... feeling alone in this (I don't have any brothers and sisters, my dad left many years ago and dead since 2000).  I'm lost and don't know what should be my next step.   Amen.

One thing for sure... I don't want to be like that for my kids in the future!   I love them too much for that...

My bold answers are the one I did...   which reminds me I do a have a list of things I want to do in my lifetime...  I should dig this up and post it on my blog!

Have fun - try to go through the list and see how much you have done so far...

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars 
3. Played in a band/orchestra
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train - from Romania to Hungary
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon 
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - both
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise 
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies –It was calendars in my time… 
62. Gone whale watching 
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone 
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book 
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (I used to work for an attorney, so I was involved in a lot of them LOL)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Exciting News from TOS! 

Attention writers!

Grab your pencils and get those creative juices flowing!

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is hosting our second Storytime Writing Contest! We have two creative fiction categories: adults (16 and up 2,500 words or less) and children (15 and below 1,500 words or less). Deadline to enter is March 16, 2009. $7.95 fee per entry.

Grand prize winners in both the adult and child categories will receive prize packages valued at over $1,000, publication in the Summer 2009 issue of TOS, and publication in our Storytime 2009 Compilation E-Book. Eleven Honorable Mentions from each category will also be included in the E-Book in addition to receiving gifts from top homeschool companies.

We look forward to reading your entries!

For a detailed list of prizes, official contest rules, to meet our judges, and to upload your story, please visit: www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com/Short_Story_Contest.php.
 
Need help teaching writing? We have over 200 writing products in the Schoolhouse Store!

Well a bit of everything...

OUI (that stands for yes in French), WE got a Wii for Christmas.

And since then, WE are including the Wii for homeschool.   How you may ask?   Simply with the Wii Fit (another thing we got for Christmas).   It is amazing.   Unfortunately I still can't use it because my cast is still on but I am planning to try the Wii Fit as soon as it is gone (which is Thursday btw).    We created a Mii for Alexandre and he is doing his fitness routine regularly.   Mind you I am not sure if it will last but I think it will.    There is another training game we want to get - it's called Personal Trainer and on it there is something like 500 training exercises.    Another one came out called Boot Camp 2009 but between you and me the trainer need to get dress a bit more.   I wouldn't get that one just because of how Jillian is dressed.  

We also discovered Wii games for the young ones who are learning color and shapes and so on with them.   And we bought Endless Ocean to learn about scubadiving and animals from the ocean.   Apart from the Wii Fit, the rest of the Wii will be awarded based on the fact the kids have completed their homework or not.

On another note, I was able to go out with hubby and the kids during a little shopping spree.   At the Wal-Mart, we looked into the games bin and I found the two Nintendo DS BrainQuest game - one for grade 3-4 and another one for grade 5-6  - for 9.96 each instead of the 35$ previously found...    So I am very happy with this discovery.    I use the Nintendo DS as a motivation.   Our games are education once again.   Did you know there were game such as Spelling Challenge, Math Play, even the Flash Focus is something Alexandre can us.    For Dominic, we got a little game for younger kids but he will get it on his birthday only.   

We used to have 2 Nintendo DS but unfortunately, one of them disappeared the day I had surgery back in November.   My husband thinks he might have dropped it and I called the hospital a few times but they don't have it.   So we lost it.   Hopefully, someone will enjoy the games that he had in there - including my Bible Game.   Now if I can only put my hands back on that game....   I was enjoying it!

My friend Heidi has an interesting weekly thing called Destination Disney and this week (well okay maybe last week... I'm a bit late) it was about planning your trip.

It has been 10 years last June since we went to Disney - that was before kids!  On our honeymoon...  I had bought books back then to plan our trip.   I'm a MAJOR planner and I like to figure out what to do when...  know what I mean?

So while going through our stuff to see what would go back in the basement and what we are getting rid off, we found the old planning books...  These we didn't keep because 10 years have gone by since then.   But we were planning to buy other books when we would bring the kids to Disney.

It is possible that we do that in 2009.   It will depends of many things but it is one of our potential trip.   The kids don't know...  so shhhhh!   Don't tell them.   It will be a surprise.

While going to Costco not too long ago, I stumble on a special book there.    I showed it to hubby and we decided to buy it.   You've guessed it!   A planning book for Disney!

The PassPorter's Walt Disney World is packed with interesting information and planning guides.    I can't wait to see if we will be able to go this year and then pick up the book and plan our trip!  What a surprise it would be!!!!

You can find this wonderful book at Amazon.com