Pics of my girls

My Abigail and Arabelle

A household that plays dress up together, stays together.

One of the best gifts we can give to our kids as they grow up is good-fun memories. Recollections of great moments lived together can keep their hearts warm forever. They will make them feel special, appreciated and loved on... This is what halloween is for in my family.

I'm going to be honest, Halloween is not big in my household (no offense if it is in yours). We love costumes and we go crazy over candy, but the spooky, scary, evil part of it is not our thing. However, my husband and I use Halloween as an opportunity to teach our kids to have fun in a healthy, God honoring way, while also having a blast being goofy together. Three years ago, we decided to start a family tradition: family costumes, and we have enjoyed making our children laugh showing them how mom and dad can also be silly.

Halloween 2014. Okinawa, Japan

Halloween 2015- Massachusetts. My husband was on a trip, so the kids and I made the family costume happen!

Halloween 2016- Massachusetts.

Every year you can use these precious memories as decorative accessories in your home. Print your pictures and place them in a frame. Add them to the old ones as years go by and display them during Halloween time. There will be not a single decoration cooler than that!

  

            Stay warm,

                            Angelica

Our Halloween

We had a wonderful Halloween here in TN. Firstly, the weather was AWESOME! Nice and warm after the last two years back in the States have been so cold. We try to keep Halloween very fun and family-friendly, and we have found two wonderful activities that I think will be our yearly traditions!

I've spoken previously about Halloween on my Blog. I didn't really grow up celebrating it. We did things with church. However, our time in the military and overseas Bases meant that this time of year was a fun time for community. We decided we wanted to continue to have fun doing family and community-based things and not celebrating the actual holiday.

First up, we went to the homes of two of our friends from our homeschool co-op. They set up a trunk-or-treat in the backyard. It was such a wonderful time. The only bad thing was that JB had to work. Next year we will make sure he asks off for the weekend surrounding Halloween and not just the 31st itself!

This was the first year I have ever bought a costume. I bought the Anna costume for Abigail since she really didn't have anything to wear. Hannah already had Ariel and decided that's what she wanted to be. But the boys had told me they weren't going to dress up this year. I was a bit sad about that in a nostalgic kind of way. But I was so happy when at the last minute, the boys decided to dress up!!! 

When I asked Hannah to be a mermaid, she promptly decided to do just that!

This girl doesn't take a bad picture!

I get a nice photo by promising they can be silly afterwards.

My friend Shelby suggested a "Fish tail" braid for the mermaid. I hadn't done one of these in ages, but I pulled it off.

There were a ton of people at the Trunk-or-Treat, and they had a donut eating contest. I was so glad I knew about this because I was able to bring a special Krispy Kreme donut for Isaac so he could participate.

Sidge made me laugh so hard. The kid loves food and this was killing him!

The girls gave in quickly and used their hands!

Take a look at that donut tree!

 I felt bad because  just as the three-legged-race took off, Abigail decided she didn't want to do it. Her partner (Princess Jasmine) was bummed as it was too late to find a new partner! But Sidge and his partner won!

Isaac and his three-legged partner.

Sidge getting ready to go!

Finally getting to eat his donut.

Love this snap of Isaac. This kid LOVES donuts. So glad we have found him some that are egg-free!

Jb worked during the party pictured above. He got home at 8am on Saturday morning, went straight to bed, and met us at the zoo around 1pm for "Boo at the Zoo." This is our second year going to this event, and we had a GREAT time. Here is a link to our fun time in 2015. I managed to get a few really great pics of our family while there!

We tried something new this year. After our candy-haul from these two events, we put all the candy in one big pile and let everyone take turns picking. This allows all kids to have an even amount and to have more of the kind of candy they like. 

• Sidge: chocolate
• Isaac: skittles and non-chocolate candy
• Abigail: gum and gobstoppers
• Hannah: fruit snacks

This also meant that little Hannah didn't run out of her candy way before her big brothers because she wasn't as savvy at snagging extra candy as she trick-or-treated.

It was a great October! Two more months in 2015.

Review: Homeschool Legacy

Overview
This will be my very last review of the 2016 school year for the Schoolhouse Review Crew. And my last review is for Once-a-Week Micro-Studies Cooking up History with the Founding Presidents from Homeschool Legacy.

These small units are incredibly well priced. (If you click the link above, you will see that it is only $12!) They are designed to provide your student with a thorough understanding of a study topic in just three, 30-minute assignments each week.

I had the opportunity to take a closer look at the Founding Presidents. However, there are quite a few other units available including:

• Pirates or Privateers: You Decide 
• Cooking up History with the Founding Presidents
• Victoria and Her World
• Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims   
• Many Nations

Homeschool Legacy also has Once-a-Week Unit Studies available. These include science-related studies like:

• Horsing Around
• Birds of a Feather
• Forest for the Trees
• Weather on the Move

and History related studies like:

• Early Settlers in America
• Native America
• Revolutionary Ideas: The Story of the American Revolution
• We the People, Getting to Know Your Constitution
• Lewis & Clark: From Sea to Shining Sea
• Westward Ho I
• Westward Ho II
• Knights and Nobles
• Christmas Comes to America

Homeschool Legacy offers new studies regularly and encourages you to keep on what has come out visiting this link. Homeschool Legacy was founded by Sharon Gibson, and you quickly get the feeling that this is designed to offer you what you need without having you spend a ton or giving you a bunch of stuff you don't need. 

My particular Micro-Study, Cooking up History with the Founding Presidents, included four weeks worth of information in a 21-page downloadable packet. The study covered George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.

Each unit gives:

• Facts about the President
• A picture of the President
• All kinds of interesting tidbits and details and things you might want to know about the President.
• Supplies you will need for this weeks' unit. Each unit is different. For example, it might have a recipe that fits into the topic or something to draw or a suggestion of an extra book to read. These are extra ideas that will require you to purchase or prepare ahead of time.

What I loved

• I loved that each of these week long units was incredibly digestible and not overwhelming at all. I found them very "possible" which is something I really need!
• I loved that they had fun inclusions (like baking a cherry pie when discussing George Washington.) 
• I loved that there were links in the document that allowed you to jump around to places on the Internet where you could find more information. These took you directly online to places like Webster's Dictionary for facts about the President.
• I loved that this unit could be done in two different ways. 
• One is that I simply sat in front of the document and discussed it with my student. The picture of Abigail is of her listening as I read about George Washington. 
• The other option is to allow the student to sit behind it and jump around in the unit on their own. This would be especially possible for children from about second grade and up.
• I loved that the price was incredibly reasonable. This allows me to pay a very small amount of money and instantly have a great month-long activity at my fingertips

Please take the opportunity to check our Homeschool Legacy and all they have to offer. You can also visit them on Facebook by clicking here.

Wee-wind Wednesday

My friend Rebekah got a new dog and was remarking how it followed her everywhere. Today I flashed back to November 2, 2008 .... and remembered my pup following me everywhere.

Review: Ready, Set, Find Christmas

This book allows your little reader to follow Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. They are in a hurry, and they need your help to find many things along the way. For example on page 1, the scripture: Luke 2:1-5 is presented as "Mary and Joseph traveled far away to Bethlehem. Mary was going to have a baby. This baby was very special. He was God's Son." You are then asked to help them find items in a picture like a lamb, lizard, donkey, bag, water bottle, palm tree, bird, and shepherd. 

This book is sturdy and will take a very good beating from a little child. It is a really fun Christmas activity book for the little one in your life! The illustrations are sweet and fun, and your little one will enjoy hearing the Christmas story with these fun things to do along the way!

There are 48 objects hidden on the pages, and the activity is presented while hearing the Bible story -- accurately retold with scripture references.

Perfect for the 3-6 year old in your life!

I received a copy of this book from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for my honest review.

Tuesday Truth

Tribe Life Tuesday: The Overwhelming Ocean

Happy TribeLife Tuesday!

I invite you today to step out onto the shoreline with me. Take in the beauty of ocean; study its width, length, and depth. Breathe in the salty ocean air and observe the scene around you. What a beautiful gift it is! While the water is beautiful, there is an inherent mystery found within. Each wave created contains a certain amount of randomness, this is due to the momentum of the wind or the depth of the water. Even though we try our best to predict the them and read the signs, waves are unpredictable.

Does that sound a bit like life?

During the calm of the ocean you can see uninterrupted for miles, yet during a storm, that once clear view becomes blurred. And this is where I begin today’s post…

Recently, I have felt a bit taken over by a “life wave”; it's not quite a tidal wave but it’s a wave big enough to make you lose your balance and submerge. Have you ever had a “life wave” hit you? Whether bad or good, their crash is merciless and, if you’re in their path, you are sure to get wet. This recent life wave has forced me to stare some of my unhealthy habits in the face and address them. This face to face has brought numerous emotions with it; grief, struggle, and a tenacity for health (in all areas). You see, life waves can be relentless revealers and graceful growers if you let them.

My life wave led me to take a long hard look at my life and I want to invite you into your own moment of introspection.

Do you feel overtaken or submerged by life? If so, my hope is that you will navigate the storms well, knowing that this too will pass and calmer waters will follow. 

I hope that in every season and through every life wave, you learn to care for yourself first, that you have a tribe or community by your side, and that when you reflect on your life you are proud of who you were and hopeful for who you are becoming! 

See you next Tuesday!

~Carrie Alford

Halloween Awards

Time for my Annual Halloween Awards. This is when I pick, via Facebook posts, my favorite "family" Halloween costumes. Here are my top three favorites. If I had to pick a GRAND winner, I think I am going with the Star Wars theme! :)

The Scott family!

The Pleasant Family!

Yamil, Patty & Troy!