Cultivating Kids' Community Service Through Gardening

Hi! It's Jilly. It's been fun getting to know our new hometown. A couple girls I've met started a non-profit organization called Little Hands Can. Their mission is for "service to be an easy, intuitive activity for you and your child. We provide quick, cheap, simple ideas for doing your own service as well as events where we all serve together. We hope that through service our children will become more loving, helpful world citizens." (from their Facebook page.)

A little while ago the kids and I were able to go to one of their events at the GrassRoots Garden.

The GrassRoots Garden is such a neat place. It is a magical 2.5 acre garden in the city, and the produce grown in the garden is donated to the local food bank.

Speed! Multiplication Game Review & Giveaway

Hi! It's Jilly. Things have been pretty quiet here on the blog lately. Between homeschooling, kid activities, hubby job hunting, preparing to move, and LIFE, I just haven't been up to blogging much. I feel bad sitting down and writing a blog post when the laundry is to the ceiling and there's packing to do.

Homeschooling is going pretty well. We're still trying to get into our"groove", but I am definitely glad we made the leap! I asked the kids if they want to continue homeschooling next year and they all gave me a resounding, "Yes!!" 

As part of our homeschooling I like to play games. I think the kids learn more when they are having fun! And, with three kids the same age, it's nice to be able to say, "Okay, you guys play a game while I get some stuff done around the house." 

We've been struggling with learning the multiplication facts. Hubby loves drilling the kids with flashcards, but I hate it! Shhh, don't tell. I wanted to find a fun way to practice their multiplication facts and came across this awesome game called Speed! (Thanks to Highhill Education for providing the game!)

Each boxed set comes with 8 different decks of cards for practicing different fact families. It is a two-player game, and they are racing to see who can get rid of their cards first. You have to be quick with your skip counting to win!

The kids were playing with the time lapse video feature on my phone, and we made this video of us playing the game!

Doesn't it look like a fun game?! I love hearing their skip-counting and multiplication improve as they play the game. And, they love it so much that they ask to take it with them places "in case they get bored and want to play". It's a great game for both homeschooling and public schooling families. Who doesn't need a little boost when it comes to math facts?!

Would you like a copy of Speed! for your family? Well, you are in luck, because I am giving away a set! Woot woot! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Giveaway ends 5/1/15. Good luck!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
What are your favorite ways to practice math facts? Do you enjoy playing card games as a family?

ASTC Travel Passport Program + Roberson Museum Family Membership Giveaway

Hi! It's Jilly. This last year we've been able to visit some amazing museums all over the country...for only $65! How did we pull that off, you ask? Well, I will let you in on a little secret.

Have you ever heard of the ASTC Travel Passport Program? ASTC is the Association of Science-Technology Centers. Over 250 science museums all over the county have banded together to make visiting science centers affordable for families.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Hi! It's Jilly. While on our epic road trip we stopped at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery in Fort Collins, Colorado. We were able to use our Roberson Museum and Science Center membership to get in free because it reciprocates. Woot!

Epic Road Trip

Hi! It's Jilly. We just for back from an epic road trip! My uncle passed away, and we decided to drive from New York to New Mexico to attend his memorial service. Then, the kids and I took our time on the way home, stopping at national parks, museums, and other fun places along the way.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be taking you along on our crazy journey.

Where did we stop?

1) St. Louis

2) Farmington, New Mexico

3) Ft. Collins, Colorado

4) Cheyenne, Wyoming

5) Scottsbluff, Nebraska

6) Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota

7) Sioux Falls, South Dakota

8) Cedar Falls, Iowa

9) Chicago, Illinois

10) Cleveland, Ohio

Phew, right?! It was a long trip, but we had a lot of fun. One of the benefits of homeschool...you can see America, rather than just read about it. I hope the kids remember this trip for a long time.

 Make sure you're following along on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram to see our whole journey!

Things I'm Learning About Homeschooling

Hi! It's Jilly. As a newbie homeschooling mama there is so much I'm learning about homeschool! There are a lot of misconceptions out there and I'm here to dispel some of those myths.

1) Not all homeschoolers are "weird"

"So, how's homeschool going?"

Hi! It's Jilly. School started a couple weeks ago, so people have been asking me the million dollar question...how's homeschool going?

First day of school...at the park

It's...going. I won't lie and say that every moment is rainbows and sprinkles and puppies. There have definitely been some good moments. The kids have said that they like homeschooling better than "regular" school, which is nice. But, it has been haaaaaard.

Why We Decided to Homeschool

Hi! It's Jilly. I told you guys that we decided to homeschool the kids this year, but I didn't tell you why! I think I've put off writing this post because a) there's a lot of information and b) I'm afraid of "haters". Lol!

There are many reasons we decided to homeschool. I've always liked the idea of homeschooling. My Dad was always very supportive of the idea, and I actually did homeschool for part of fifth and part of sixth grade. But, it never seemed like it was the right time to homeschool my own kids before this year.

Here are the main reasons we chose homeschooling:

Letter of Intent: Starting the Homeschool Journey

Hi! It's Jilly. Today I did something huge. I sent in my Letter of Intent to HOMESCHOOL next school year!! Aah! I'm a bit nervous and scared, but also really excited.

I'd been thinking about homeschooling for years, but it never seemed like quite the right time. This summer I decided to do a "trial run" to see if we make it work (and, you know, have the kids listen to me).  I've been researching different curriculums and homeschooling styles, having school with the kids every morning. (Okay, not every morning.) 

I'd been praying and praying to know if homeschooling was the right thing for our family. I was about 87% sure that we would homeschool this Fall, but I wanted to be 100%. (How's that for making up statistics on the spot?!) I was reading through a thread in the LDS Homeschool group on Facebook and something one of the other moms said really struck me.

She said,

I've wanted to homeschool since before my oldest started K. But every year, I felt a great deal of anxiety, and as much as I had the desire, I just never felt it was right.

This year, for the first time, I feel the time is right. I have no anxiety, no regret, no worry, no fear. I feel calm and peaceful. I also have no desire to "get the kids out of the house!".

As soon as I read that I got all choked up and I knew it was my answer! Every year by this point in the summer I have been at the end of my rope and counting down the days until school started again. But this year I have felt very "zen" about it and have been enjoying my time with the kids. As we've been working on their school work there has been a "flow" to everything.

Now, I'm not saying that every minute has been magical (It hasn't), and I understand that everything won't go smoothly all the time, but I do know that this is the right thing for our family at this time. I'm still trying to figure out what curriculum I want to use for each subject. I hear that can take some time as the kids "detox" and get used to learning in a different way.

So, wish us luck as we start on this amazing journey of homeschooling!

WHY are we homeschooling? Stay tuned for another post where I'll talk about all the many reasons we've chosen to teach the kids at home.  Sign up for my newsletter, or follow me on Facebook to catch the next post!