Schoolhouse Review Crew: Science 4 Us Online

It is a heavy "review" kind of week! So today I am reviewing the Science4Us.com online subscription for the Schoolhouse Review Crew. The Square-in-the-Middles (Bruiser and Buttercup mainly) have really gotten a lot out of kids shows that are geared towards teaching science. I don't have a simple science program for them to work on so really appreciated having the chance to review Science4Us when it came around! This program is geared towards kids in Kindergarten through second grade, and can also be used as an early science review by kids in third through fifth. We used it with Buttercup (K/1) and Bruiser (3rd). The older kids didn't look at it; Mr. Magoo (2 years old) looked on while they worked. And they love this program!!

Homeschool Review Crew: KinderBach Review

So! My first homeschool review post of the year - KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership and Teacher Corner. My hope in applying to review this program was that I would be able to temporarily "replace" the fantastic piano teacher we had when we lived in Baltimore. 

I know that no program will likely ever replace a good live instructor, but I wanted to get something in place to keep them from losing the skills they gained while with Mrs. Diane. In Baltimore we had only an electric keyboard for the kids to practice on; once we moved to Virginia, we had space and ability to get a decent wall piano off of Craigslist… and then had no teacher.

Featured Product Friday: Diffusers

I thought I'd take a bit of time this morning to talk about some of the lesser-known products that Young Living sells. Perhaps I'll make it an every Friday deal, but I don't know yet. For now - it's just Featured Product Friday - and today we're doing Diffusers. 

There are FIVE diffusers and a resin burner that Young Living sells and then you can get others from outside sources. A couple of notes on the diffusers: you don't want to heat your oils because it affects the therapeutic quality of the oils. I have used Thieves in my tea and still gained relief from a sore throat, so it does not completely eliminate the help you may find in using oils, but it does affect the quality somewhat. 

Lego Challenge: Day 5 (Pirate Ships) and 6 (Snow Theme)

Still playing catch up - but enjoying the days nonetheless!

Day 5 - Pirate Ships

We have watched a few of the newer Star Trek movies lately so Chef's ship took on a slightly different appearance:

An inverted theme on this one 

50-day lego challenge: day3 - World Wonders, and Day 4 - Houses

Day 3: World wonders!

11 year old Chef's pyramid ruins.

Bruiser's Apollo 13 - complete with launch tower.

We're doing a bit of catch up, because the blog idea occurred to us after we were several days in already! 

So here is Day 4: Houses

The  inside,a desk,writing tools and paper. 

This is over a pond.

Bruiser's House:

The whole complex - garage to the right, other
luxuries to the left

Outside view of the fireplace and chimney

Garage

5 yo Buttercup got in on the fun and made a house with three horses!

Side view of Buttercup's farm - including three horses -
two are seen at the back left with gray tops and a red piece at the rear leg
and the third one has a bright green tail

50-Day Lego Challenge, Day 2 - Space Structures

Day two:Space stations.

11 year old Chef's Apollo 5. A small lego ship "toughed"up for a trip to the sun!

The whole ship…Ironically solar powered.

50-Day Lego Challenge, Day 1: Castles

Chef and Bruiser have undertaken their own 50-day Lego challenge. So each day for 50 days they'll be creating, photographing and posting their structure of the day. If you have children who want to join in, give a holler and we'll post their pictures too! Make sure to come back and see what's next!

Day 1. Castles, Two boys 50 days over 1,000 legos.

What better way to start than castles?

11 year old Chef's dessert temple.

This is the whole thing. It has a jail, throne room, flag tower,
and more.