Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 13

Today I am grateful that Friday and Saturday we were able to go purchase some much need clothing. I am also grateful that we are able to give away all the clothing that we've outgrown to others who need it!

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 12

Today I am grateful for our public servants.
Especially for these awesome Queen Creek, AZ firefighters who took a few minutes out of their day in the Chick-fil-A parking lot to make Monkey, Ladybug and Unicorn's day! These guys pulled into the parking lot (to go have some lunch) as we were walking to our car. Monkey was crying because he didn't get to play in the play place. I pointed out the fire truck as it pulled in and his fact lit up. The firemen asked if the kids wanted to climb inside the truck. They also gave them a sticker. 

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 11

Gratitude Challenge ~ Day 10

Today I am Grateful for my Siblings (including step- and in-laws).
My Siblings:
J~my little brother: Today is his birthday. I am grateful for all the times we have had to sit down and talk (ok not the times we talk politics). 
J~my little sister: I am grateful that we are finally friends. With a 6 year age difference this took awhile! :) I am grateful that her job has brought her to Arizona and that we will get to spend more time together...my kids love their Aunt J.
M~my little (step) sister: I am grateful she is my sister. I am grateful she is a good mother to her children.
M~my oldest (step) brother: I am grateful he is my brother. I am grateful for the example of patience he is.
S~my next oldest (step) brother: I am grateful that I got the chance to know him and that he accepted me as his sister right from the beginning. I am grateful that I have an angel as wonderful as him watching over me daily. I miss you, S.
P~the next oldest (step) brother: I am grateful he is my brother. I wish we knew each other better. I am grateful he is such a good father.
R~my older (step) sister: I am grateful that she is my sister. I am grateful for her enthusiasm for life and her ability to see past the trials and to have Faith in God.
Hubby's Sibligs:
I am grateful for his brother E, and his sisters A, S, M & E. I am grateful for the rolls they played in helping my husband become the wonderful man he is today.

Homeschool Brag Time Thursday ~ Linky

Come link up your Homeschool related posts to 'brag' about the great things you and your kids are doing! Browse around and see what others are up to as well!

(Please link up the direct URL of the post you are 'bragging' about!)

Please Follow your hosts and Grab our Brag Time Button 

to display in your post or on your blog so others can join in the fun as well!

Link-up is live from 11:00 PM Wednesdays  EST to 11:59 PM Saturdays EST each week!

Brag Time Thursday ~ Family Goals Check-in

I hard time coming up with something to "brag" about so I decided to look back at the goals our family made at the beginning of the year. You know, the ones everyone makes at the beginning of the new year and then promptly forgets about. Well, I don't know how we've done (because we have kind of forgotten about most of them) but maybe something "brag worthy" will come of it!
Monkey {3yrs 6mo} ~ One of the goals I had for Monkey at the beginning of the year was to go to the Nursery at church without crying. It took a couple months but he did it! Now he loves nursery...in fact I can't even get him to say good-bye to me...he just runs in and starts playing! 
Ladybug {5yrs 6mo}  ~ One of her goals was to learn to read. She is doing VERY well with this. As a former kindergarten teacher she is way beyond the majority of her public school peers. She is probably on par with kids who are just finishing kg or just starting 1st. 
Unicorn {11yrs 8mo} ~ A goal she has is to get her "Faith in God" award before her birthday. {Faith in God is a program the Mormon church has for children 8-11 years old. They complete a variety of activities that help them Learn & Live the Gospel, Serve Others, Develop Talents, and prepare to become Young Men/Women in the Church.} She has completed all the required activities except memorizing the Articles of Faith (she has 3 more to go).
Me ~ I have a goal to read the Complete Standard Works {Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price} in 365 days.  Much to my own surprise I am on track to finish on time!
Dad ~ Well, I won't share any of his goals (or how he's doing on them) but I will brag that he his former principal (hubby is a High School Math teacher) called him and offered him a job at the high school that is in the town that we are trying to move to (we have an offer in on a house there). This was unexpected (hubby didn't apply for the job) but a great blessing. 
Want to brag about your homeschool family? Click the button at the top of this post to find out how!

TOS Review ~ Keyboard Pals

Keyboard Town Pals is a NO Stress typing program for kids. There is no testing, scoring or racing against a clock. There is however a lot of repetition. The premise of the program is that these cute (although somewhat childish) puppets teach proper finger-placement through cute little stories. There are eight (6-7 minute) mini-lessons that comprise the program. Repeating the lessons builds typing fluency.The Details:~$39.95~Web and CD versions available~Ages 7+ (can be used for younger children if they know their letters and have fairly good fine-motor control)~Excellent for Special Needs Children~Go at your own pace~Repeat lessons until typing is fluent~Stories help students remember finger-placement~Mistakes not shown~Not timed~No tests~No scores~Available in English, French and Spanish~There is also a Virtual Journal built in to the online version where student can practice what they are learning by "e-mailing" the puppets jokes, riddles, poems, etc. The e-mails are built into the system and are answered by Keyboard Town Pals staff.~Other Products
Our Thoughts:~Ladybug (5.5 years old) really liked the puppets and the stories. However, she is petite and her hands just barely fit the keyboard. She has excellent fine-motor skills so she did fine but she would do better if her hands were just a bit bigger.~Unicorn (almost 12) didn't mind the program. While she thought the puppets we a little "babyish" she liked how the stories helped her remember where the letters are. She completed a typing program last year and was already typing decently but she has refined her typing skills with Keyboard Town Pals.~Before purchasing this program I would have the child try the demo. I would watch them and make sure that their hands are big enough to move around the keyboard properly and I would ask them what they think of the puppets. Older children may be put off by the "babyish" puppets but they may also see the value of looking past the puppets to become better at typing. If your children love puppet shows (watching them or putting on their own) they may really like this program. The method is effective if your child can get past the "babyishness" of the puppets.
Click here to see what my Crew Mates are saying about Keyboard Town Pals!
{Disclaimer: I received a 6 week trial of Keyboard Town Pals in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.}