Guest Post - Use your Muscles!!!

Today we have a guest post!!  My Friend, Deb is a Homeschool Mom and loves Usborne books!!  Today she writes:

My husband and I just started homeschooling our children a few months ago. Usborne books has helped us to enhance both our History and Science programs.

Today we did an experiment to learn about the muscles in our arms. I was wondering how I could add to our lesson in a way my kids could understand. Then I remembered that we had the Usborne Internet-linked First Encyclopedia of the Human Body! We had so much fun with the book and then went on to look at some of Internet links that Usborne provides.
 

Our favorite link was for The "muscle hustle". You had to figure out how to get the guys leg muscles to work to ride his bike away from a dog. It was HARD because there is a pattern to it. I liked that site because it also has other fun games about the body. The kids and I like hands on activities. That's how we learn, by doing and not just reading about it!
 
There are other great links about Muscles!


I LOVE how Usborne goes above and beyond with their books! Thank you Michele and thank you Usborne!
Deb L.

Is this week over yet?

It has been a crazy long week.  The kids don't have school Thursday and Friday this week.  I am so jealous!!  I wish I could have two extra days off.  Would I sit around watching tv and playing outside like these two will get to?  Nah.... probably not.  My to do list is really long right now.  I'm slowing checking them off as we go though.

It's really crazy how fast time flies and how it slips away from me so easily!!

I wanted to work on some Halloweek make and takes with the kids but it was such a beautiful night Tuesday night.  The kids wanted to play outside and I thought it was a great idea.  We have two Holland Lop Rabbits.  They are really sweet rabbits.  They get so excited when they go outside.  The next time they are outside playing I'll be sure to get a video.  Here are some pictures from their playtime.


Jacob and Amanda

Bun-Bun and Carmel

The Rabbits new play area!

 Jacob and Amanda will be showing these Rabbits for 4H in the Nicollet County Fair next year.  They are quite excited!

This coming Saturday I will be at the Bird Island, Minnesota Craft Show.  It is held at the Island Ballroom.  I love doing this craft show.  I get to see my friend Carol and lots of other fun people.  I'm really looking forward to it!  If you are in the area be sure to stop by!!



Color me Happy!

Back in September when I read to the Kindergarten-2nd Graders at St. Paul's I offered a coloring contest to the Students.

I was thrilled with the entries we received.  Here they are for your viewing pleasure.  Each of the children will receive a copy of Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster.  You can print your own copy of Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster or Gobble Gobble Moo Tractor Book!  I would love to see how you would color them.  In fact, I'll offer the same contest to you!  Print and color you own sheets and email me a picture of your drawing!  You'll receive a copy of Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster for yourself!!   Happy coloring!!

 

 

 



So many good things

We had an amazing weekend.  Saturday I was at the Sleepy Eye Medical Center's Women Expo.  This is the 3rd year I've participated in this event and it was great again.  It's so fun to hear the Ladies come up and tell me how much the children in their lives loved the books they bought last year and watch them select books for this year Christmas Gifts.   This was my second weekend using my Square Up Credit Card reader.  It is so slick! Today the money is being deposited into my account.  I highly recommend it!  I was able to meet so many nice people.  I'm looking forward to getting to know some of them better by helping them host homeshows and earning free books.

Saturday night we ended up getting my neices overnight.  They all had so much fun.  Thankfully they all get along great.

Sunday we went to Church in Nicollet at Trinity and then headed to Arlington for my Uncle Jim's 60th Birthday Party at Good Samaritan Nursing Home.  Some of his friends from High Island Creed Residence were able to join him.  He was in the best mood I've seen him in for a long time.  We played bingo, had an amazing meal and got to visit with family we hadn't seen in a while. 

 

Last night we did a little homework and went to bed early.  After a whirlwind weekend we all needed the extra rest!! 

Jacob and Amanda relaxing with the iPad.  Notice they are sitting next to each other and not fighting!!

Monster of a good time!

Last night I went over to my friend Missy's house to hang out with my little friend Trevor.  He was so excited to see me and asked if I made his Sticker Dressing Spooky Book.  (Sorry Randall, I took the credit! He's 4 and I couldn't break his heart!!) 

He was so excited to show me how he had dressed the characters in the book.  His favorite was apparently the Swamp Monster!!  I should have video taped him showing me all the pages.  He did an amazing job dressing each monster and was excited to show me how much of the book he had left. 

Missy had bought this for a birthday gift for him the end of the month but he spied it early. :) Enjoy the pictures of him posing with his Spooky book!! Too fun!! Check out the inside of this book here!!

What a monkey!!

Go West Young Lady!

On Monday I worked a half day as a Geek and then transformed into Crazy Book Lady.  I had an appointment with Katy at the New Ulm Public Library.  It was so much fun! 

When two people that both love books come together with 3 boxes of great books it's..... MAGIC!  I had a great time introducing her to our wonderful Usborne Books.  She oohed and aahhed over all the titles.  Commented that when she thinks of Usborne Books she thinks of Bright colorful illustrations!  I love that and she's right!!  She told me that she orders her books monthly and would be checking to see where her collection needs additions.  She was very excited about all the chapter books.  Me too!  I love them.

After my appointment in New Ulm I.... headed west to Tracy, Minnesota. I love driving the highways during this season. Watching all the harvesting going on. Makes me thankful for the abundant harvests and reminds me of my Grandpa Krohn. I loved harvest time at their farm. All my aunts and uncles helped out. I remember riding in the tractor with my Mom driving. I bet my kids and neices and nephew would never imagine their Grandma driving a tractor but she did!! Grandma Krohn always made a big supper for everyone when they came out of the field. I remember how loud and lively the conversation was around the table. If you know any of these Krohn's you know how loud it can get. I always say you have to speak up if you want your opinion heard! :)

It's about an hour and 10 minute drive from New Ulm to Tracy.  It goes through Walnut Grove.  You know.... Laura Ingles Wilder = Walnut Grove.  Jacob is reading on the Banks of Plum Creek now.  He's really enjoying it.  His class just went on a field trip to the sod house.  He loved it!

My visit with Laurie in Tracy went very well.  She's looking for library bound books to add to her collection there.  They have a beautiful school with a wide open library.  She has a great sense of humor and loves all the Kane Miller Picture books.  I am going to be in contact with the PTC group to see about a bookfair in the spring.  Fingers Crossed.

Take care and happy reading!!

Eating Frogs

Today I'm eating frogs.  You know... Frogs... Those big ugly things that you put off doing.  Maybe you don't know how to do it. Maybe you think you don't know how to accomplish the task so... you just don't do it.  Maybe you think it will be painful or hard.  It's procrastinating and I'm pretty good at it.  I work great under pressure and I know I can usually accomplish things when it comes down to the last minute.  BUT boy does that stress me out.

 

Today I got up early and I went into work at 6:15.  I got some work done without the users there.  It was great.  I felt ahead of the game and enjoyed working without someone asking me "what are you doing?", "Why are you doing that?", "While you're here... Can you look at this?"  It was great!  I got so much more accomplished than I normally do in the morning.  By the time the users came in I was done with my two projects and was caught up on my emails.

 

That momentum carried me through the day.  I was happy and pleased with my progress.  After lunch I continued with the progress and got more done.  Probably more done for the whole day than I've been able to accomplish in a long while.  What an amazing feeling.

 

Last year I lost 43 pounds. Slowly they have been creeping back. Only 13 so far but it's bothering me. My new clothes are fitting a little more snuggly than they were and I'm feeling more self conscious. Mind you... I've still lost 30 pounds. BUT God that 13 pounds is bothering me. So... I ate another FROG! After supper I walked 5 blocks to the gym and worked out. Then walked 5 blocks back home. It felt great! I burned about 300 calories and I'm so happy I did it. I told John that I want to go to the gym 3 times per week and get these 13 pounds back off. I know that if I am going to the gym and dedicating that time to it, that my eating habbits will be better. I know I'll think before eating empty calories and wasting my time at the gym.





 

Michele - Before Weight Loss





Michele - After Weight Loss

I'm working hard to find a delicate balance between my kids, husband, work, Usborne, 4H and working out.  The TV hasn't been on since I got home fromt he gym and the homework is all done.  Both kids are bathed and one is in bed.  I call today a success.  Watch out Tomorrow!! I have big plans for you too!!