These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I finished reading These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls recently. They have really enjoyed reading this series together; These Happy Golden Years is the eighth book in the series. The only thing they are disappointed about is that we only have one book left and it is a short one.
In this book Laura Ingalls gets her first teaching job, at the age of fifteen, in a school twelve miles away from home. Since it is winter time she will not be able to live at home while she is teaching. She wants to work to help pay for her sister Mary’s tuition at the college for the blind, but the place she is boarding while teaching is unpleasant and she is very homesick. The time spent in another family’s home makes Laura appreciate her Pa, Ma, and sisters even more. Laura begins to look forward to hearing Almanzo Wilder’s sleigh bells ringing as he arrives to pick her up from school on Fridays and take her home so she can spend time with her family. While Laura was not teaching she was spending time with family and friends, studying, taking singing lessons, and going for rides in Almanzo’s new buggy. It is in this book Laura’s friendship with Almanzo blossoms into love.
I am so excited that the girls have loved this series as much as I did as a kid. It has been a lot of fun reading through these books (and others) with them. They look forward everyday to reading the next chapter. Thankful for some time to spend enjoying the simple things in life with my girls.
Greenville Drive Baseball Game & Fireworks
Greenville Drive Baseball Game
The other night as we were talking about summer the girls brought up the Greenville Drive and how much fun they had going to the games. There is just something about watching a game in person that makes it extra fun. It’s a great family summer activity too. Plus, if you time it right on certain nights they do fireworks (that is always a big highlight for our kids)! 🙂
We try to go to at least once (maybe more) to a Greenville Drive Baseball game each summer. Also, the past two summers the girls have earned rewards for doing the summer reading program through the local library which includes free tickets to a Greenville Drive game. Way to go girls!
As I was thinking about our conversation I came across some pictures of our last Greenville Drive Game and thought it was a good time to share. If your starting to think about summer break and planning some fun activities for your kids you should check into your local sports teams! For those of you who live near Greenville, SC you can check out the Greenville Drive’s 2013 Schedule online.
Brina and Karlie pausing for a brief moment from watching the game so I could snap a picture.
Fireworks after the Greenville Drive game are always a hit!
Reading Eggs – FREE Two Week Trial
Reading Eggs is offering a Free Two Week Trial Offer. All you have to do is sign up to try out their reading program, no credit card required. Do you have a little one that is just starting to read or one who wants to increase his or her reading skills? Then this may be the perfect time to check out Reading Eggs program.
You want reading to be fun and easy for your child so why not try out Reading Eggs and see if it is a good fit for your family. Reading Eggs strives to make learning to read interesting and engaging for kids whether they are just beginning to read or increasing their reading fluency. Through the use of reading games, activities, songs, and other resources your child will pick up great learning tools that will help them on the road to becoming a proficient reader.
The kids will work through various maps that on their level and will earn golden eggs, ribbons, trophies, and other rewards to encourage them to continue learning more. Reading Eggs is an interactive program that our family has used in the past for our young readers and our kids LOVED it! They got a kick out of working through the maps, accomplishing goals, and earning rewards. The kids can even customize their own “reading egg” avatar to match their personality.
All you have to do is click the “free trial” button once you get to their homepage and get started!More information about Reading Eggs:- Reading Eggs was developed by an experienced team of teachers, educational writers, animators, and web developers. People who have interacted with children and have taught kids to read.
- Reading Eggs focuses mainly on the core reading curriculum skills and strategies that help readers develop more successful reading skills as well as builds their reading confidence level. The program is perfect for ages 3 to 12.
- Each reader can work through the Reading Eggs program at his or her pace so if you have a young reader and more advanced reader in your home both would be able to focus on their specific skills.
- A more advanced reader would move through the first few maps a little more quickly because it may be more of a review for him or her until they reach a point where the information is newer and more challenging for them, whereas, a new reader would work through the first maps more slowly but steadily as they get more excited about the program and earning rewards.
- Reading Eggs launched in the United States and Canada in 2011. Since launching they have had over 500,000 subscribers and have presented more than 15 million lessons.
Our readers will receive a Free Two-Week Trial Offer! Register now for a two-week trial of the Reading Eggs program. No credit card is required. Help your child learn to read, increase their phonics skills, or increase their reading fluency with Reading Eggs free two-week trial!
A special thanks to U.S. Family Guide and Reading Eggs for offering a free two-week trial to my readers. Any specific product information was provided by Reading Eggs and U.S. Family Guide, however, the opinions expressed in this post are our own. We received a complimentary subscription for sharing information and our family’s experience regarding Reading Eggs.
Stop ‘N Tow Game by MJ Moran
Stop ‘N Tow by MJ Moran is an interesting game that we have played several times. It requires more attention to detail and memorization but it is a lot of fun. I am cannot remember exactly where we picked up this game; it was while we were traveling several years ago. When we first got the game the girls were still too young to play well but since then they have learned how to play it and of course they always enjoy blowing the whistles! One thing I do want to mention with this game is…don’t play if you have a headache (the whistle blowing will probably be too much)! 🙂
- Colorful vehicles and road signs
- Includes 55 cards and 6 whistles
- 3 to 6 players
- Recommended for ages 8 and up
- Object of the game – to collect the most cards by memorizing the order of vehicles and being the first one to blow the whistle when certain road signs pop up
- Learning Benefits – memorization, attention to details, vehicles, signs, reading, and more!
- Whistles are dishwasher safe
This game is for a little older kids because they have to remember what each card means and recall from memory the stack of cards played before their card. After a few times of playing it the girls started really picking up on it. Since the players have their particular whistle in their mouths it is best to wash the whistles at the end of the game. Typically I wash the whistles with soap after the game and let them air dry before putting the game away. It is a super fun game, entertaining, and small (so you can take it with you on vacation).
We love games! We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons. It gives us quality time together as a family. The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game. It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together. Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.
Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro
The girls have had the Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro (Playskool) for several years now. They love it! It is a unique game with a picnic blanket board, a picnic basket, games pieces, a story they can read, and a cd to listen too. Many times as we are setting up the game someone will read the story and after playing the game the girls like to listen to the cd. It is a cute game about using your manners, being kind, and polite.
- Colorful with neat game pieces (how many games come with a cool picnic basket)
- Book to read during story time with fun character who are learning their manners
- Audio CD with more about the story and songs regarding using manners
- Easy to play (recommended for ages 4 and up)
- 2 to 4 Players
- Object of the game – use your manners and be the first to collect all the items you need at your picnic!
- Learning Benefits – social skills (say “please” and “thank you”), taking turns, listening, reading, and more
We love games! We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons. It gives us quality time together as a family. The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game. It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together. Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.
Starting to Plan the Kids Summer Break
Even though we have only just hit the Spring Season and entered into the month of April we are already making plans for this summer. I was looking back through our schedule last year. It was packed full of fun, adventures, and a lot of great memories.
As I get ready to plan for this summer I am remembering all the good stuff we were able to do last year. Although, I cannot know for sure what this summer may bring I am moving forward with the planning. The picture above shows the girls brief version of our calendar for July 2012. The calendar was simple but it helped them keep track of the big events and activities that were coming up. We kept it on the fridge so they could see it whenever they wanted, typically they would cross out the days as they ended.
What we would like to do:
- Travel – last summer we visited Charleston, Florida, Kansas, and Colorado. We are not entirely sure what it will look like this summer but we are hoping to go to at least Charleston and Kansas again. Thankful that the girls travel well! 🙂
- VBS – the girls love VBS and have a great time. It also provides great opportunities for learning too. We would like to attend at least one VBS program this summer.
- Camp – last summer the girls attended Swim Camp as well as Horse Camp. We would like for them to go to at least one camp this summer. They are currently signed up for WeDo Robotics Lego Camp at Roper Mountain Science Center and Swim Camp.
- Participate in the Library Summer Reading Program – the past 3 years the girls have participated in the Summer Reading program and have enjoyed it (as a bonus they usually earn rewards & free tickets to special events which help motivate them even more). We plan to participate in the program again this summer!
- Learn & Explore – we went to several educational places over the summer like Roper Mountain Science Center, Battery Park, took a Historical Carriage ride in Charleston and more. We plan to do more educational adventures this summer, some may be the same or similar, but we are hoping to branch out and try some new activities too!
- Relax – all the activities above are important but it is also valuable to have some time built in to rest, free time, play, and relax whether that means swinging, playing in the yard, drawing with chalk, hanging out with family, friends (and pets), riding bikes, roller skating, riding scooters, etc…
It doesn’t seem like a lot of activities but if you figure in the traveling and the fact that we only had two months of summer vacation we really did pack a lot into it. We hope to make the most of our summer break this year by planning some of our adventures in advance. It will be nice to catch up with some family, spend time learning, and make some great memories. What are your summer plans?
Travel & Vacation: Dolphin Show at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)
So beautiful and graceful
One of the other highlights at SeaWorld was the Dolphin Show. It was really neat watching the dolphins gliding through the water, jumping, and interacting with the people. Amazing creatures and fascinating to watch!
Another show at SeaWorld
This show is with Dolphins!
Part of the Dolphin Show, pretty neat!
The Dolphin came up for his treat
Standing up on two dolphins, that’s neat!
These dolphins are well trained
This Dolphin looks like it is having fun
Awesome!
Beautiful animals
Travel & Vacation: SeaWorld (Orlando, FL – Part 2)
Yes, those are sharks swimming above our heads!
We had a blast at SeaWorld! 🙂 There were so many amazing things to see and explore. The kids had a grand time and are still talking about all the neat stuff they got to do at SeaWorld. Thankful for friends and an opportunity to hang out with them for a few days.
WWatching Stingrays swimming above our heads
Giant starfish
There are four strange fish in that fish tank!
Ice cream break!
Sweet girl
A cold and delicious treat!
Going for another ride
Everyone had fun on that one!
Travel & Vacation: Seals at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)
A seal sitting up on the tank. The seals were very entertaining!
The seals were loud and amusing to watch. We watched people feeding the seals. The birds kept trying to steal the fish treats before the seals to could it or would quickly grab a treat if it was dropped. They were very entertaining to watch!
This bird was hanging out near the seals area and would try to grab a snack whenever people tried to feed the seals
Looking for a treat
Catching some sun
Hanging out on the edge to catch a few sun rays (and maybe a snack or two)
A couple seals barking and begging for some treats!
Both the bird and seal are waiting for a snack
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Shamu Killer Whale Show at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)
Kids on the move at Sea World
The kids were super excited to go to the Shamu Killer Whale Show at SeaWorld. Of course, they all wanted to sit in the “splash zone” so that they could get sprayed by the whales. I think the adults got the most spray, but we all have a blast. It was amazing watching them glide through the water. They are so big and beautiful!
Beautiful creatures!
Amazing killer whale show at Sea World!
The girls were absolutely fascinated by the Shamu show
Shamu orca killer whale show at Sea World
Shamu the killer whale show
These killer whales were mesmerizing to watch
