12 Days of Christmas~ all unwrapped......

In honor or Epiphany I thought I would share a little bit about how the 12 Days of Christmas look at our house. Initially the thought of 12 days of presents may seem like a lot to some, but since we don't purchase books on a whim, and save some clothing and personal care purchases for Christmas presents, it really isn't as crazy as it might seem. 

My favorite thing is that the kids actually enjoy and appreciate each thing they open, as they focus on that one gift per day. No crazy wrapping paper flurry (I know... some people love it, but I hate it), and no let-down the day after Christmas... plus, they exhibit gratefulness for each present, whether large or small.

Tonight, (Epihany is also our wedding anniversary, another reason we like the 12 Days of Christmas...) we opened our last gifts under the tree. We will enjoy the lights for a another couple of weeks, and then we'll finally take the Christmas Decorations down. 

I thought it might be fun to share what everyone opened this year. I will mention that I don't think that I paid list price for hardly anything (In case there are frugal shoppers out there... retailmenot.com is a great place to look for coupon codes when shopping online, and Amazon had some great deals!). In addition to the retailmenot coupons, I also used gift cards that were "Free with purchase" earlier in the year, and membership discounts from bookstores and book clubs. I may post again, with some of our "hits" and more details, but for now... without further ado, here is what our 12 Days of Christmas looked like from a concrete perspective:

Eldest

Christmas Day~ Stocking and Quilling Books, supplies, carrying bag and cutting mat
1st Day~ 1 small mermaid set Playmobil from Middlest
2nd Day~ Heart Charm~ traditional gift from Daddy~
3rd Day~ Littlest Pet Shop from Youngest
4th Day~ Penguin Pin
5th Day~ Lemon Vanilla B&BW shower gel and body cream
6th Day~ Glow in the Dark "Aura" Thinking Putty
7th Day~ Mattimeo book by Brian Jacques from Middlest
8th Day~ Black long sleeve T-shirt and knee socks
9th Day~ Pajamas
10th Day~ Hallmark Ornament (13th in the series "A Pony for Christmas")
11th Day~ Thomas Kinkaid puzzle
12th Day~ Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising Series" in one volume

Middlest

Christmas Day~ Stocking and Skateboard Ramp and Element Hat
1st Day~ 2 small Playmobil "Wolf Knight" sets from Eldest
2nd Day~ Tech-Deck set with 2 boards & DVD
3rd Day~ Medium Playmobil set~Skateboarder/Biker/Rollerblader from Littlest
4th Day~ Detective's Handbook
5th Day~ Ryan Sheckler Warehouse Tech-deck Set
6th Day~ Hypercolors "Chameleon" Thinking Putty
7th Day~ Collapsible Axe (For camping) :)
8th Day~ "The Art of the Catapult"
9th Day~ Camping tool(Compass/shovel/pick/axe/saw) and Camping book
10th Day~ Hallmark Ornament (10th in the series "Snowball and Tuxedo")
11th Day~ Guitar Praise
12th Day~ Lego Contraptions Book

Youngest

Christmas Day~ Stocking and Viewfinder/Binoculars
1st Day~ Thomas the Tank Engine Turntable/Percy and Gordon
2nd Day~ Melissa and Doug Wooden Cookie Playset from Eldest
3rd Day~ Littlest Pet shop set (8 animals)
4th Day~ Little wooden "Quack-Quack" Call of the Farm Game
5th Day~ Ryan Sheckler Warehouse Tech-deck Set from Middlest
6th Day~ Color-shifting "Scarab" Thinking Putty
7th Day~ Brown Bear-Panda Bear What do you See Board Game
8th Day~ Build-a-Bear Fishing Rod from Middlest
9th Day~ Dinosaur ABC Book
10th Day~ Hallmark Ornament (3rd in the Noel Nutcracker Series)
11th Day~ Carson "Eric Carle Art set" (That I won for free! Love the help with presents!)
12th Day~ Blues Clues Big Musical VHS tape(From his sibs) and a Discovery Store Play tent and Tunnel

Mom

Christmas Day~ Stocking and Pretty White shirt
1st Day~ Velvety Black Pants
2nd Day~Calphalon roasting pan
3rd Day~ Teapot from Middlest
4th Day~ $10 GC to Local knitting store from Eldest
5th Day~ Teal Shirt
6th Day~ Opened presents from SIL families
7th Day~ Josh Groban "Illuminations" CD
8th Day~ Turtleneck
9th Day~ Pin (From yard sale.. savvy shopper!) and handmade bracelet from Middlest
10th Day~ Brown Rose Long Sleeve Shirt
11th Day~ Padded Travel Case for my laptop
12th Day~ Pretty Freshwater Pearl/sterling silver necklace

Dad

Christmas Day~ Stocking and Digital Video Camera
1st Day~ Adagio Teas
2nd Day~2 Pocket knives... one for work and one for home from Middlest
3rd Day~ Screw-driver set from Middlest
4th Day~Max Lucado Study Bible
5th Day~Turtleneck
6th Day~Opened gifts from his sisters
7th Day~Memory Card for Video Camera
8th Day~ Flannel shirt and T-Shirt
9th Day~ More Adagio Teas
10th Day~ Snare Drum Ornament
11th Day~ Steven Curtis Chapman "Cinderella" CD
12th Day~ Waffle Cone Ice Cream Cups from Eldest

My only pet peeve was the kids' shopping at our local toy store (Learning Express in Salem, NH). Eldest did  a fair amount of online research, and figured out prices, and decided to purchase there. However, AT the store, they had added on what looked like $2 to every Playmobil item. Not a big deal percentage-wise if you're purchasing a larger item, but when it's added to what should be $6, and you have a $10-$12 budget, well.. that stinks! (WOM marketing works both ways.. this time in the negative... :\  Eldest chose to use $ from her savings, but Middlest opted to only purchase one item there, and used the little he had left buy her a book. All in all not a bad plan, but not his original desire.)

So there you have it.... the 12 Days of Christmas, all unwrapped! 
Blessings!

Black Friday Homeschool/Family-Friendly Style (Shop from your seat!)

I thought I would post a bunch of the homeschool related Black Friday sales that are actually current NOW! Hope that they are helpful!  

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine~

By now you probably know that I like this magazine, the support and encouragement received quarterly from the likes of Ruth Beechick. I also appreciate "Chapel" time, as well as the variety of articles included in each magazine. Although I don't spend quite as much time scrutinizing the new product reviews, now that I get some of them to review myself, that was one of my favorite features when I first subscribed to TOS. I like to see what new things the homeschool community is producing (since many of these products are the brainchild of current and/or former homeschoolers).

So... on with the deal~

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is extending an extraordinary subscription offer to homeschool families. U.S. and Canadian residents can receive

• a one-year print subscription and a
• FREE Homeschooling with Heat tote bag,
• FREE Schoolhouse Planner of your choice, and
• FREE E-Book: Cranberry Christmas for just $19.95.

One-year subscriptions start with the winter issue. It makes a perfect gift for yourself and a friend. There are a limited number of tote bags available from November 24 through midnight on November 29-once they're gone, they're gone! Hurry and grab this tremendous value today! It's over $80 in free gifts--one of them the gorgeous Cranberries & Cream tote bag.

While you are at the store, make sure to check out their Black Friday "Sales" and doorbusters (They will be changing regularly, with savings from 10%-70%). 

• Lapbooks from "In the Hands of  Child"
• Language software  from Auralog
• Books from Creation Ministries International 
• Draw and Write through History(These look neat!)  
• and heaps and scads of e-books. 

BTW, if you are wondering about the ebook phenomenon, here is... well.... a free  ebook that will "educate you on the many advantages of E-Books". I'll mention one last great Freebie offered by TOS (There are more...)~ The 176-page 2010 Digital Holiday Supplement!  It is packed with all new content for 2010 and takes you around the world to explore Christmas in other lands. Inside you'll discover festive ideas, fun crafts, special recipes, and activity pages for your children. Plus, as a special bonus, they've included articles full of homeschooling advice and encouragement from their 2010 Fall Schoolhouse Expo speakers(Linking to the "Expo To Go" page in case you want to check it out)

Plus, one family is going to win a getaway package to Great Wolf Lodge! Join in the savings and fun-- Check it out! 

Currclick Is not offering their amazing Black Friday Freebies as in years past, but they ARE having a "Season of Giving Sale" with items discounted up to 70% off, and 5% of proceeds being donated to World Vision. 

Homeschool Library Builder has all items on their entire site on sale for 25% off through November 30. This is a great place to pick up used books for a variety of curriculum, and you can even search by curriculum.These ladies give great service, and I've been happy with all the books I've purchased from them (And they've saved me a bundle!).

Vision Forum has a sale going on from now through midnight, Saturday, November 27~ mix and match any two items*  and receive a third item of your choice absolutely free!* Your free product can be any item* that is equal to, or less than, the lowest price of your two purchased products. There is no limit to the number of free items you can receive during this mix-and-match sale — every third item is free!*

Salem Ridge Press is offering  a sale through Tuesday, November 30~ Buy 5 books, get the 6th book free as well as free shipping. on orders over $30. They mostly reprint books from the late 1800's to early 1900's, with Philippians 4:8 being the standard they use to choose (And lightly edit) their books. 

Franklin Springs' Black Friday sales start now! For your holiday shopping needs, they are making available a special 35% off coupon code  ALLFILMS35  good toward any purchase at Franklin Springs*. In addition to that they are also offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $50 or more.* (Note: Our HAH Library owns George Washington Carver and the Stonewall Jackson story)
 
Timberdoodle has a 5 day sale going on (Ends November 27) with some great deals to be had, and some FUN stocking stuffers! 

Amanda Bennett is offering a  $5 Unit Study Sale (3 different unit studies on sale each day through Friday). I have enjoyed using the units that we have purchased from her, (Today...Thursday, she has the Digital Photography unit that I purchased, and plan to have Oldest use as we go through "School Light" in December)

Blessings~

Some Potentially Overlooked Good Children's/Young Adult Fiction Reads

OK, So I haven't made good on my promise to create our own "Top 100 Children's Books" list yet , but We'll be working on it. In the meantime, in honor of "Works For Me Wednesday", here are some books that I pulled out from the library bookshelves for RJP to read in the past few months , that subsequently received good reviews from her...(Although they aren't written for the most part... sorry)
       Christopher Mouse, the Tale of a Small Traveler by William Wise  ~  The story of a mouse who begins his life in the home of a woman who breeds mice for scientific research and pet stores. His adventures range from a pet store to being a pet to running loose at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is probably a great read-aloud for boys or girls aged 7 and on up to "Filler" for your pre-teen/voracious reading teen.



Hope these work  for you this Wednesday, to give you some new ideas for good wholesome  tween/teen reading... I'll add more as I get to it~

Blessings~

Note: I used affiliate Amazon images because it was super easy to add the books this way. I appreciate any purchases made through the links, but please note that at least one of the books is not available for purchase... Check out your public LIBRARY! :)

Top 100 Children's books from the School Library Journal

With Summer-time upon us, and lazy reading days ahead, I thought that this was an appropriate time to post this~   A few friends have posted this list on their blogs, and I thought I'd join the fun~ 

I'm going to list them  with this "code"

*****Read 1st time as a Kid and Loved it

****Read 1st time as an Adult and Loved it

***Read 1st time as a Kid ~ Bleh

**Read 1st Time as an Adult~ Bleh

*Started, but never finished 
*****(Children read and loved) **(Child did not care for)


**********#1 Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
*****#2 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
#3 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
**********#4 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
*********#5 From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
**#6 Holes by Louis Sachar
*****#7 The Giver by Lois Lowry
**********#8 The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
*********#9 Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
*********#10 The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
#11 The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
*#12 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
***#13 Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
#14 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
#15 Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
#16 Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
#17 Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
#18 Matilda by Roald Dahl
****#19 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
*********#20 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
#21 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riodan
****-****#22 The Tale of Despereaux: by Kate DiCamillo
**********#23 Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
#24 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
**********#25 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
#26 Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
**********#27 A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
**********#28 Winnie-the Pooh by A.A. Milne
**********#29 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland /Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
*****#30 The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
#31 Half Magic by Edward Eager
*********#32 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
#33 James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
#34 Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
#35 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire JK Rowling
**#36 Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
*********#37 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
#38 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
#39 When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
**********#40 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
*****#41 The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
**********#42 Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
**********#43 Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
***#44 Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
#45 The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
***#46 Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
#47 Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
*********#48 The Penderwicks:  by Jeanne Birdsall
#49 Frindle by Andrew Clements
***#50 Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
*********#51 The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
*****#52 The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
**********#53 Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
#54 The BFG by Roald Dahl
#55 The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
****#56 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
**********#57 Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
#58 The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
#59 Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
**-****#60 The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
#61 Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
#62 The Secret of the Old Clock (The Nancy Drew mysteries) by Caroline Keene
*********#63 Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright
#64 A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
*********#65 Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
*********#66 Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
#67 Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
**-****#68 Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
*****#69 The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
*********#70 Betsy Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
****#71 A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
**********#72 My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
*********#73 My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
*********#74 The Borrowers by Mary Norton
#75 Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
#76 Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
#77 City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
**********#78 Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
*********#79 All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
#80 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
#81 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
*****#82 The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
#83 The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
#84 Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
**********#85 On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
#86 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
#87 The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
*****#88 The High King by Lloyd Alexander
**********#89 Ramona and her Father by Beverly Cleary
****#90 Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
#91 Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
**-****#92 Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
****#93 Caddie Woodlawn by C. R. Brink
*********#94 Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
**********#95 Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
#96 The Witches by Roald Dahl
*****#97: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

#98 Children of Green Knowe by L.M. Boston
*********#99 The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
#100 The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder 

Hmmmm... not too bad~ Out of 100 I have read 56. There also needs to be an extra single * on one of the Harry Potter books, but I don't recall the name of the 1st one. I just know that I started it as an adult, but had no desire to finish it ~ so that would be 6 books that I wouldn't include on MY top 100, and I think I would add to that "The Golden Compass".  By that token, I've read 56/93. ;) And at least my eldest has read 39 of the 93... not too shabby! :)


Some books I would add to the list... (to make up for the ones that I didn't care for ^)


Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Redwall by Brian Jacques
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
Rascal by Sterling North 
The Wheel On the School by Meindert DeJong


Ok... so this makes me think that I need to write up another post with my own list of MY top 100 Children's Books, and then possibly my top 100 Picture Books as well! :) 


I hope you enjoyed reading this, and maybe you'll be inspired to go pick up a book, and READ! :) 


Blessings~