A Day at the Fair …. Sort of……

 

 

In our quest to do all things free in Knoxville while trying to keep the cabin fever at bay, we went to the World’s Fair Park yesterday. We started out TRYING to go to the McClung museum on the UT campus…. Yeah, THAT was an experience! We couldn’t find parking ANYWHERE!! Well, there was that one parking lot about 5 blocks from the museum but there was no way I was going to get the kids to hike 5 blocks and then walk through the whole museum…. LOL Soooo, we decided to hit the World’s Fair Park. 🙂

 

 

 

We went up to the observation deck in the Sunsphere. Some of us thought that was really cool and others (Joshua and Deanna) were freaked out by being that high in the air…. Now, these are the kids that rode every roller coaster Kings Dominion has to offer, but are afraid of the Sunsphere….. I don’t get it. LOL

 

 

 

Views of the park from the observation deck.

 

 

 

Oh, look!! It’s a picture of Deanna!! Hee hee hee hee! 😉

 

 

 

 

The park also has a nice playground that the kids enjoyed. Even Deanna. 😉

 

 

 

 

As the day wore on it got quite warm! The only thing to do was to hit the fountains! LOL

 

But remember!

 

 

 

 

There’s another aspect to the park that I will be talking about tomorrow. I think it warrant its own post.

 

 

We are SUPPOSED to hear something about the house today! Wish us luck!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cabin Fever

 

 

Cabin fever, we have it!!!!

They still haven’t moved our 2nd room closer to this one. Apparently they only have so many double rooms. SIGH….. At least there’s an elevator. LOL

 

Here are some of the things we have done this week to try to keep the cabin fever at bay!

 

 

On Tuesday we went to a park that is near the house we are trying to get. We put in an application yesterday. Wish us luck!!!!!

This park was great. Not only did it have a great playground, it also had these huge rocks to climb all over. Better still, the park is right beside a library and a recreation center!! WOOO HOOO!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

This morning we went to the art museum. Like Richmond’s, it was free. Unlike Richmond’s, it was TINY!!! They have none of the masters but they still had some lovely pieces.

 

 

 

 

After the art museum we went across the street to a very cool park. It is one of the largest wooden parks that I have ever seen! Even the big kids got into it! LOL 😉

 

I think we are in for it this weekend, though…. Hopefully we can keep finding new stuff to do to keep from going completely stark, raving mad!!! LOL  There’s only so much TV the kids can watch (especially with only PBS and Cartoon Network) and only so many video games they can play…. They kept out the 2 DSs, 1 PS3, 1 PS2 and the PSP. Right now one is playing PS2 down in the 2nd room while one is reading, 1 is playing a Legos game on my iPhone and the other is playing a spelling game on my Nook in this room! LOL  I don’t know WHAT we would do without all of the gadgets!! I brought a crate of books for myself! 😉 Too bad we only have the one laptop. There’s always a scuffle over it!

We are still doing some school work and Deanna admitted to me today that she is glad of it, it’s something else to DO! LOL

 

 

 

 

6 People, 3 Cats, 10 Kittens and a Dog

 

 

 

 

SHEW!! We made it to Tennessee… 6 people, 3 cats, 10 kittens and a dog… Sounds like the start of a joke! Well, we are talking about MY life so joke fits!! LOL

Seriously, 2 days, 400+ miles all while crammed into a van, it’s a wonder ANY of us are still sane!!!

BUT we’re not done!!! LOL Ooooh, noooo!!!!

We stopped over night in Columbia on Friday and got to see my aunt and uncle. We stayed in one hotel room for all 6 of us (plus animals). We slept 3 to a bed. YILES!!!!

BUT wait, we’re not done yet!!!!!

Saturday night we stayed at a hotel with adjoining rooms. MUCH MUCH MUCH better!

BUT!!!!

Tonight (Sunday night) we are staying at an extended stay hotel. It’s nice enough. It has a kitchenette…

BUT!!!!!

The owner of the company ordered the rooms online. They are NOT adjoining!! They aren’t even on the SAME FLOOR!!!!! YILES!!!!

AND there are only 2 TWIN beds to a room….

We were promised that as soon as 2 rooms beside each open up then we will be moved. As of now we have to split everyone up.

MY GOODNESS!!!!

AND there is no hope of bigger beds. They only have TWIN beds!!!

We are here until we find a house! SIGH…..

HELP!!!!!

 

Pray for me, people!! I am going to need it!!!

Pray that we find a house QUICKLY!!!!!

 

At least I ought to have plenty of material for next month’s Fly on the Wall!!!  LOL

 

 

Birds Animal Study

 

 

Here’s a little animal study for you! I hope it’s helpful! 🙂

 

 

 

BOOKS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KINDLE BOOKS

 

 

That is the free version. The other versions have wonderful illustrations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTABLES 

 

Birds Lapbooks, FFGs, etc – Homeschool Share

Bird Notebooking Pages – HS Launch

Bird Lapbook – Squidoo

Bird Coloring Pages – Squidoo

Bird Worksheets – Education.com

Bird Crafts – DLTK-Kids

Bird Coloring Pages – Coloring.ws

Bird Printables – First-School

Printable Bird Cards for Burgess Bird Book for Children – That Resource Site

Printable Bird Cards – Tired, Need Sleep

Bird Printables – Montessori Materials (scroll down towards the bottom)

Bird Beaks and Feet Printables – Biology Corner

Bird Lesson Plans and Printouts – The Teacher’s Guide

Bird Printables – abc Teach

Bird Preschool Pack – Homeschool Creations

Bird Printables – Busy Bee Kids Printables

Cornell Birds Coloring Book

Bird Pack – 3 Dinosaurs

Robin Lapbook – Dynamic 2 Moms (scroll down)

Printable Bird Journal – New Bee Homeschooler

Parts of a Bird Diagram 

Baby Birds Preschool Pack – Our Little Monkeys

Bird Observation Page – Notebooking Fairy

Bird Diagram Puzzle – The Adventures of Bear

Nature Study – Birds – Notebooking Pages – Currclick – FREE

Happy Scribe Copybook – Wild Birds – Currclick – 90 cents

Happy Scribe Copybooks – Backyard Birds – Currclick – 90 cents

Parts of  Birds Cards – Montessori Services – $1.75

Bird Unit Study – Currclick – $3

Bird Lapbook – Hands of a Child – $6

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

 

Hands on Bird Activities – Squidoo

Bird Unit Study – Squidoo

Who Laid THAT Egg? – Squidoo

Birds & Beaks – Squidoo

All About Birds – Kid Zone

Montessori Inspired Bird Unit – Living Montessori Now (I LOVE this site!!) (Lots of printables, too)

Bird Crafts – All Kids Network

Bird Biology Quiz – Biology Corner

Bird Info – Biology Corner

Learning About Birds – Spell Out Loud

Bird Unit Study Resources – Kathy’s Cluttered Mind

Bird Virtual Field Trip

NestWatch.org

Life of Birds – PBS

Audubon.org

Amazing World of Birds

Sign Up for Bird Cams (free)

Bird Cams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have fun!!! 😀

 

 

 

 

Flight / Aviation Unit Study

This was an interesting unit to put together. There really wasn’t a lot of printables that I could find. I am thinking of making my own when we do this theme. If I do, I will put them on Google Docs and share them with you. 😉 It has been quite a while since I made my own notebooking pages and minibooks! LOL

I hope that what I did find will be useful to you! 🙂

As with all my units, I try to incorporate resources for a variety of ages!

Everything is either free or cheap! 😉 The books can be found at your local library, on Amazon, or on Paperback Swap.

 

 

SCIENCE KITS

 

Magic School Bus – Soaring into Flight – Amazon – $13.79

Young Scientist Kit – Flight – $16.77

I have used kits from both sets. I like them both but prefer the Magic School Bus kits. You get more for your money with them.

The Young Scientist sets have 3 different subjects to a kit if you order them from Amazon. I used to belong to the monthly club until I figured out it was MUCH cheaper to buy them from Amazon. 😉

 

 

 

BOOKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KINDLE BOOKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTABLES

 

Airplane Parts Printable

Airplane Printables and Activities

Airplane Parts Cards

Printable Airplane Craft – Learn Create Love

Airplane Coloring Pages – Raising Our Kids

Flight Lapbook – Homeschool Share

Flight Activities and Printables 

Flight Activities, Lesson Plans and Printables

Flight Worksheets

Flight Lesson Plans

Airplane Parts Worksheet

Flight Printables – HS Launch

Leonardo da Vinci: Flight Mini Unit Study – Currclick – $1.50

The Wright Brothers & The History of Aviation Unit Study – Currclick –  $3.50

Airplanes Lapbook – Hands of a Child – $9

Flying the Skies Lapbook – Hands of a Child – $5

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

 

Crossing the Atlantic by Air

How Airplanes Work

Airplane Cockpit Virtual Field Trips

Flying Machines

Flight

Flight Aerodynamics Video

Aerodynamics Info

Flight – Science Kids at Home

Flight and Airplanes – A to Z Home’s Cool Homeschooling

Aviation for Kids

Fun Paper Airplanes

Aviation Lesson Plans, Activities and Ideas

How Things Fly

Stories of the Wrights’ Flights 

Aviation Activities 

Flight – Cyber Sleuth Kids

Aviation Unit Study – Easy Fun School

History and Forces of Flight – Squidoo

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you find this helpful.

 

 

 

Fly on the Wall – April

 

 

Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 13 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.

 

Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:

http://www.BakingInATornado.com

http://www.justalittlenutty.com/

http://followmehome.shellybean.com

https://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com/

http://sadderbutwiser.wordpress.com

http://menopausalmother.blogspot.com/

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com/

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/

http://smn0409.blogspot.com/

http://www.tinystepsmommy.com

http://www.outsmartedmommy.com

www.therowdybaker.com

 

 

 

OMGosh!! Do I have some good ones for you this month!!! ROFLMBO!!!!!

 

 

 

I have been having Joshua and Deanna help out with supper a lot lately. The fibro has NOT been kind to me….

ANYWAY, I am resting in my room when the following happens.

Deanna opens the door and walks in. She has a beater from the mixer STUCK IN HER HAIR!!!!

Deanna – Momma, Momma!!! Help me get this out!!!!

Me – *hysterical laughter* Can’t breath!!! *more hysterical laughter* I’ll help you….. Just give me a second. *more hysterical laughter*

Deanna – This is going on your blog isn’t it?

Me – You better believe it.

I almost grabbed my camera…. LOL 😉

 

 

 

Deanna and I are in my room chatting when Joshua walks in.

Joshua – Did you know if you smack a bonkey’s mutt…

Deanna shoots Sprite out of her nose.

I collapse in a fit of laughter with tears streaming down my face.

We never did find out what happens if you smack a monkey’s butt…..

 

 

 

While we were at The Wilderness at the Smokies we had to get on the elevator about a thousand times.

Deanna – You can run out of air in an elevator!!!

Me – Ummm… NO, you can’t!

Deanna – Yes!! You can!

Me – Ummmm… NO, YOU CAN’T! It’s isn’t air tight or anything!!  Air can still get in!

 

 

 

Cailey to Deanna – I am just so unappreciated.

 

 

 

 

SIGH……

The Hubby’s friend talked him into playing Farmville 2. Then the rest of us were roped in. SIGH…. And now we are all addicted.

At least a few times a day you can hear The Hubby on the phone with his friend having serious conversations about crops and livestock. Trust me, it’s freakin’ hilarious!!!!

 

On more Farmville 2 news……

The Hubby to me – Your farm is a mess! There are animals everywhere! You know what that means…. Animal sh*^…..

Me to The Hubby – You realize it isn’t a real farm, right???? There is NO animal crap!!!!

 

 

 

We are watching The Voice on DVR when The Hubby starts fast forwarding.

Me – What are you doing? I want to hear the stories!!

The Hubby – I don’t! I don’t want to hear about some “unique, 2 armed, one legged man”. They will only get by because the audience feels sorry for them. (There was actually no story of the kind. He was just being facetious.)

A few days later we are watching The Walking Dead with Joshua and Deanna. Hershel comes on the screen and Deanna busts out laughing!!

Deanna – OMGOSH!! It’s a unique, 2 armed, one legged man!!!!!

The Hubby was not amused…. But the rest of us thought it was hilarious!! 😉

 

 

 

Colin and Deanna are playing Harry Potter Legos together.

Colin lets one rip.

Colin to Deanna – That wasn’t in the game!

He then starts laughing hysterically.

 

 

Deanna – Oh! Hey! I can lick my armpit!!!

 

Cailey – I can make my neck fart!!!!!!

 

Colin to Cailey – Cailey, just look at the predicament you got us into!!!

 

Colin – She means that wigglerly. (He meant literally.)

 

There’s more but dumby me forgot to write them down!!

 

Don’t forgot to check out the other blogs!!!

 

 

Mad About Mad Men

I’ve recently gotten caught up in and caught up on Mad Men. I am absolutely obsessed with this show!!! Oh, the 60’s style, fashions, decor!!!!!

Who else watches???

I thought that I would show you some interesting things that I found floating around the web.

Mad Style for Mad Men – Life in Sketch

Throw a Mad Men party – Coldwell Banker

Home Decor Mad Men Style – Mom.Me

 

 

 

 

SCDP  iPhone Case

 

Life in Sketch 

 

 

 

Justine at Sew Country Chick – Mad Men Dress

 

 

Mad Men style clock – DENY Designs

 

 

 

DIY  Mad Men Swag Light – Apartment Therapy

 

 

 

Mad Men DIY Round Up – Mad in Crafts

 

 

DIY Tufted Headboard – Dream Book Design

 

 

 

 

Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection 

 

 

SIGH….. I want EVERYTHING!!!! LOL  I am definitely going to try some of the DIYs and try to figure out a way to make some of the other things DIY! LOL

 

 

 

Earth Day Study Unit

 

 

I decided at the last minute to put together some ideas for an Earth Day unit study! Earth Day is April 22nd. 🙂

 

SCIENCE KITS

Magic School Bus Going Green – Amazon – $14.16

Young Scientist Club – Recycling – Amazon – $22.66

 

 

BOOKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KINDLE BOOKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTABLES & ACTIVITIES 

 

Earth Day Printables and Activities – DLTK – Kids

Earth Day Printables – ABC Teach

Earth Day for Kids – Activity Village

Recycling Worksheets – Squidoo

Earth Day Activities – A to Z Teacher Stuff

Earth Day Activities – 3 Boys and a Dog

Recycled Crafts – Momma’s Fun World

20 Fun Earth Day Ideas – A Night Owl

Earth Day Resources – The Home School Mom

Earth Day Printable Pack – Blessed Beyond a Doubt

Earth Day Printable Pack – Royal Baloo

Earth Day Crafts – Kaboose

Earth Day Crafts – No Time for Flash Cards

 

 

There you go! Just a few ideas to get you started!

Have fun! 🙂

 

 

 

Explorers Study Theme

 

 

I’m trying to get some posts written and scheduled before the big move! LOL Unit studies are soooo time consuming but I have a notebook where I keep a running list of resources for each theme. 😉

As always, I try to list things for all the different ages.

Most of the books can be easily found at your local library, on Amazon, or Paperback Swap.

 

 

BOOKS  (All book covers should be clickable links.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KINDLE BOOKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTABLES 

 

Explorers Unit Study – Homeschool Share

Explorers Printables (minibooks, notebooking, lapbook, etc) – HSLaunch

Explorers Notebooking – Homeschool Helper Online (scroll down)

Explorers Trading Cards – Ginger Snaps

Explorers Printables – MrNussbaum.com

Explorers Worksheets, Lesson Plans, etc – Tab Start

Explorers Theme – EdHelper

Explorers Word Search – Family Education

Explorers – Teacher Vision

Explorers Flash Cards – ProProfs

Explorers Pre K Pack – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Explorers Printables – Free – Teachers Pay Teachers

Explorers Lapbook – 4 parts – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Explorers Notebooking Page – Notebooking Fairy

History Scribe – Age of Discovery Notebooking – Currclick  – 99 cents

History Scholar – Age of Discovery – Notebooking – Currclick – 99 cents

Happy Scribes – Age of Discovery Copywork – Currclick – 99 cents

Explorers of the World Lapbook – Hands of a Child – $9

 

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

 

Explorers and Explorations – Social Studies for Kids

Explorers – Cyber Sleuth Kids

Explorers Study Unit – 5 Parts – Squidoo

Explorers A to Z – All About Explorers

Explorers Lesson Plans – Mr Donn

World Explorers – Ducksters

Explorers Activities

Explorers Games and Activities – Wartgames

Explorers Info – Kids OLR

 

 

I know this is a very large resource list but I think it’s a great start and I hope it helps! 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada – A Country Unit Study

I decided to put up a few small units while we are waiting to move. Our schooling is actually on hold while the house is all crazy with boxes and packing and ensuing chaos! LOL

As with all my units, I try to incorporate things for all ages. Most of the books can be found at your local library, on Amazon, or Paperback Swap.

 

BOOKS  (All book covers should be clickable links.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KINDLE BOOKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTABLES   (Starts with free and goes to cheap.)

 

Canada Lapbook – Homeschool Share

Coloring pages – Colour Canada

Canada Printables – DLTK-Kids

Canada Printables, Lesson Plans and Crafts – Crayola

Canada Printables and Crafts – Activity Village

Canada Worksheets – Education.com

Canada Printables – ABC Teach

Canada Lesson Place, Worksheets, etc – Teacher Planet

All Across Canada – Currclick – 50 cents

Canada Mini Lapbook – Currclick – $1

Countries of the World Activities and Copywork – Canada – Currclick – $2

Canada Unit Study – Currclick – $3.50   (also on Amazon for Kindle – $2.99, free for Prime members)

Canada Notebooking Pages – Currclick – $4.95

Expedition Canada – Amanda Bennett  – $8.95

Canada Lapbook – Hands of a Child – $9

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

 

Learn About Canada – Squidoo

Facts About Canada – Squidoo

Canada – Time for Kids

Canada – Nat Geo Kids

Canada Facts – Kids World Travel Guide

Canada – Kids Konnect

 

 

There you go!! It’s not a large unit but it ought to be enough to get you going! 😉