The Secret is Out... A Marvelous World of Music Education for Kids!

Yesterday was the big announcement - about Quaver's Wonderful World of Music. I like being fashionably late, so my post is going up today.

Actually, I don't really like being fashionably late. I just seem to be late at everything lately. I'm glad I have an excuse (but am hopeful that the excuse will decide to make his debut today).



My homeschooling friends Meghan, Sue, Dawn, Jenn, Cathy - who isn't pictured because she's not a blogger yet... (and blog friend Sami - who isn't homeschooling yet) are all on the Quaver Homeschool Advisory Counsil. They were my partners in crime during the big 'Secret Weekend' get-away, remember? The one in which I, 'Cinderella-Homeschool-Mom' was whisked away to Nashville, treated like a queen, and given an iPad? I'm pretty sure that they all got their Quaver posts up yesterday. So don't just listen to my jabber over here - be sure to visit their sites and see more photos and get more of the scoop!

Being the lazy pregnant blogger that I am right now, I was tempted to just link you over to Dawn's place and say, "What She Said"...



(I know she wouldn't have minded since she's my buddy and she's busy at Blissdom where they are giving away a copy of the Quaver program this weekend - she wouldn't have noticed anyway)

...however, after spending the last few weeks working on homeschool extra-curricular lesson plans to go along with a few of the Quaver episodes, I didn't think that would be fair to Quaver and his team. I want you to hear from me - first hand - about this amazing musical curriculum... because it really IS 'Marvelous'!

And watch out for that theme song. You'll try, but you won't be able to get it out of your head!

You've got to see it to believe how good it is... so watch this quick flick for a taste of the magic:



It's better than HGTV. I could sit and watch it all day.

So what is all this about a Quaver? Well, a quaver is an eighth note. No, really.



THE 'Quaver', however, is an energetic, transplanted Brittish guy named Graham Hepburn - who's passion is teaching kids about music. He's the star of the program - the crazy guy who actually teaches the kids on the videos. [I could listen to him talk all day, but that's completely unrelated to this post. Ask my about that Irish guy I nearly married before I ever met him because of his accent some time.]

Boy, I'm so glad Graham got hooked up with the right team of people that made this project (which has been in the work for many years) possible. It's the best music program I have seen on the market yet. Quaver's Marvelous World of Music is going to ROCK music education in a big way!



Not only is the program a full music curriculum, but it offers a website for kids to CREATE their own music and reinforce what they have learned through cool games (from what I've heard, you might even be able to hook up an electronic keyboard and have the program write your music for you if you compose your own songs!). The program is built for classrooms, but they also are putting together a 'HOMESCHOOL' edition that has extra lesson plan ideas for you to tailor it to smaller groups or just your own set of kids!

Pre-orders for the homeschool version begin on February 1st!

Not long after that, I'll be giving away a FULL set of this musical goodness very soon, so keep popping back in to check on my sporadic posts (and keep praying that I can find a quick groove after little CK baby dude decides to make his appearance).

In the mean time, the QuaverMusic.com site is being quickly completed for your viewing pleasure ... and to get more first hand info on this masterpiece of a music program. You can stop in over there, but they informed us that it isn't at top speed just yet.

You CAN keep track of Quaver at these other links, too:

• Website (site launch soon!)
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube

I'm beside myself with joy for my friends at Quaver's Marvelous World of Music - what a dream come true this program is! I just know it will be a huge success... and better yet, that there will be a multitude of kids who are blessed by it.

Music is the universal language of mankind.  ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Plugging in to a Local Homeschool Co-Op

Homeschooling alone is possible, sure; but why would you when you could have a support group (read: friends) that lifts you and encourages you along the journey?

The above picture are just a few of my homeschool friends who are 'in this boat with me' and who are part of a local co-op (some 40 families strong) which get together each month for different types of activities. We were at a progressive mom's meeting that day - eating breakfast at Lucy's and then popping over to Terri Sue's for lunch and more fellowship. We love hangin' with each other... sans the kids. Sometimes you have to just be yourself and recharge.

Cool Stuff About Our Co-Op

* We have classes taught by moms offered each year.

* We have a mom's fellowship each month.

* We have an elementary and pre-school group that meet every week or so.

* Our teens get together for an event or fellowship once a month.

* We put on a graduation each year - and sometimes a talent show.

* We have spelling bees, culture fairs, art fairs, science fairs and holiday parties.

* We have mom business meetings each semester to discuss the direction of the group.

* We have a leadership team that plans for our group.

* We have an email group for prayer and discussion with reminders for gatherings.

* We have a person in charge of sending cards and another in charge of meals for those who are shut in within our group.

* We have a designated treasurer and our dues pay for gym days in the winter and other fees for supplies and parties.

* We have a field trip around once a month for our entire group.

* The moms get away for a retreat once a year (I missed it last weekend!).

* Of course, small groups of us meet for fun all the time - and our kids have sleepovers and hang out together, too.

Honestly, I don't know what I would do without my homeschool mom friends - even when we go for weeks without getting to see them when we're crazy busy. Online friends are wonderful, but there's nothing like sitting down over tea or coffee and talking with a real-live-buddy about whatever issues you are having or curriculum questions you have. I highly suggest finding a support group near you to get plugged in to.

There aren't many people in the world more wonderful than other homeschool moms. And of course... the added plus is that their kids are usually just as wonderful - which is a blessing to my homeschool kids, too!

O is for Orchids... and Opryland...

I took this photo last February at the Gaylord Opryland hotel. The grounds were amazing - check out my Blissdom 2010 photos from last year at the link below or the post about the Gaylord if you want something to compare to this year's opulence. I was so sad when Nashville flooded and these pretty orchids and much of the lower part of this fabulous hotel were ruined. I can't wait to see everyone's photos of the refinished and cleaned up bio-dome - even if it will make me sad I can't be there myself.

You would have thought I could have planned the delivery of this baby better. ::snort::

I thought I was prepared for the "left out" feelings, but then they started... the pangs of sadness over missing Blissdom this year (which will be soon replaced by the pangs of labor and joy of delivery). I knew that I'd be sad to miss it, but as I see all the chatter popping up, it's making me really whiny.

Kind of like those howling dogs outside every time the sirens pass by. Noisy, wailing, complaining dogs. Just like a dog - kicked to the curb.

Pardon me if I whimper a little.

If you read some of these posts about Blissdom from last year... you'll see why I am so grief stricken that I can't be there:

Blissdom Adventures...
Blissdom Flickr Set
Flat Robyn at Blissdom
First Blissdom Recap
Why Go to a Blog Conference?
Thank You to my Sponsors
Gaylord Opryland Memories of Blissdom
Blissdom Baby Carrier Give-Away
First Day at Blissdom
Blissdom Limerick
Business Cards & Holder for Blissdom
Early Sponsor Thank You
What I'm Bringing to Blissdom
A Bloggers Bliss
Business Card Bliss

Maybe next year, eh? 

At least my FLAT HEATHER gets to go to Blissdom. So be sure if you are there, find Dawn of My Home Sweet Home and give me a kiss so I can see your smiling face through pictures!



Oh, and be sure to hug on sweet Alli for me - and thank her for all she does (she's amazing, y'all).

More info about this alphabetical photo meme is below...

Join up for the Homeschool Post has A B See Meme (an alphabetical photo meme) for a chance to win a prize each month. Each week they put FIVE of the best alphabet pictures on their blog each week to showcase them and once a month, a random winner is selected from the best photos of the month. All you do is upload your photos to their Flickr Group - so you don't even technically have to be a blogger to join... you just have to have an alphabetical themed photo and a flickr account! By the way, flickr is free!

The meme is posted on Fridays each week and you don't necessarily have to start on the letter A or go in any particular order or at any particular speed... and you can skip weeks or not - up to you entirely.

Here are the links to the past few 'A B See' posts I have done here:
A is for antique.
B is for bugging big-sis.
C is for computer.
D is for digger.
E is for eat... and Elmers.
F is for fried rice.
G is for goofy girl.
H is for Heather.
I is for insect.
J is for joy.
K is for Kreative Spelling and Killer Homeschool Deals.
L is for live music.
M is for matryoshka.
N is for national cemetery.

Tip: Use the dictionary to get ideas if you are stumped on a letter. No excuses! Get clicking!

You have until each Friday morning to load your picture on the Flickr group and be considered for the top five that will be displayed next week. [If you notice - mine is LATE, like most everything else in my life besides this little munchkin in my tummy hopefully.] Don't forget: A prize goes out each month to one random participant!

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A Winner... and a lot of Waiting

Slow like a snow day around here... waiting, watching, anticipating.

The photo above is from last February. Silly cactus in the snow. Just around the corner now, we wait for another miracle to be delivered in February 2011... a tiny WARM gift of life.

As I contemplate and contract... I just wanted to pop in to tell you who the winner was for the nature guides:

Momof3!

Email me and I'll get your info to to Waterford so you can get your prize!

Now, if you'll please excuse me, I have to get up from this chair and go lay down on my side... because it seems that there are little feet lodged in my lungs and my tail-bone can't take the weight of a 37 week manatee unless done in short and spread-apart 15 minute intervals.

Check back in tomorrow. Maybe I'll feel up to actually writing a real post.

N is for National Cemetery

I'll be honest. I went to Arlington because I wanted to see where General Lee had lived prior to the Civil War. I've always been a Civil War buff... and visiting Virginia has been high on my list as far back as I can remember. Of course, we ended up going through the area when Lee's entire home was going through some remodeling and all his furnishings were in storage, but I was thrilled to be there. The view from his front porch was astounding. His land was like heaven on earth - and it must have been hard for him to never be able to return there. Virginia was a lovely state. I'm so glad we got to drive through and linger - instead of fly right over it - when we took our trip to Relevant in Pennsylvania last October.

Hang in there and I'll be posting more about the Relevant trip once I get my photos in order (there were many days that I didn't feel like carrying my heavy camera, so my son took point-and-shoot pictures)... and once I get my groove back.

More info about this alphabetical photo meme is below...

Join up for the Homeschool Post has A B See Meme (an alphabetical photo meme) for a chance to win a prize each month. Each week they put FIVE of the best alphabet pictures on their blog each week to showcase them and once a month, a random winner is selected from the best photos of the month. All you do is upload your photos to their Flickr Group - so you don't even technically have to be a blogger to join... you just have to have an alphabetical themed photo and a flickr account! By the way, flickr is free!

The meme is posted on Fridays each week and you don't necessarily have to start on the letter A or go in any particular order or at any particular speed... and you can skip weeks or not - up to you entirely.

Here are the links to the past few 'A B See' posts I have done here:
A is for antique.
B is for bugging big-sis.
C is for computer.
D is for digger.
E is for eat... and Elmers.
F is for fried rice.
G is for goofy girl.
H is for Heather.
I is for insect.
J is for joy.
K is for Kreative Spelling and Killer Homeschool Deals.
L is for live music.
M is for matryoshka.

Tip: Use the dictionary to get ideas if you are stumped on a letter. No excuses! Get clicking!

You have until Friday morning (early) to load your picture on the Flickr group and be considered for the top five that will be displayed next week. A prize goes out each month to one random participant!

Subscribe to Sprittibee by Email

SO.VERY.SORRY.

I think this past string of days without posts has to be the longest my blog has ever seen since June of 2005 when it was created. The few of you who are left - reading here - please let me apologize to you for the neglect.

And yes. My Christmas tree is still up, too... precariously close to the Jan. 15 deadline I have to get it down.

I can't seem to sit at my desk (or stand up) for very long any more without wanting to go lie on my bed or the couch. My swollen belly is on the brink of explosion. I can't reach my feet. My kids are zipping my boots and putting my socks on. It's rather pathetic.

What is keeping me from blogging?

I've been busy keeping...
*my sugars monitored
*the laundry in motion (since I'm down to just a few outfits that are comfortable now)
*the kids on task
*the bills and paperwork up on my desk - since I'm bound to slip some after baby arrives
*the menu plan scheduled and making sure we have food to eat (minus all the wonderful fruits and carbs that I'm forbidden)
*my list checked off when there is energy to get up and down the stairs
*appointments - to doctors and homeschool events... before they have to cease for a while

I'm getting anxious about labor and delivery, changes in our routine and family dynamics... the weeks that are to come.... and soon. Doc says she'll induce me a week ahead if my body doesn't do its own thing first. I'd love to deliver on the 21st... but that's only a week from tomorrow! Not sure it would be the best thing for baby if his due date is right, either. We have birthdays on the 20th, 27th, 28th, and 30th in our family... and I'm sure there are some in early February, too. All I know is that the dates are closing in on the grid - and my hospital bag isn't packed yet.

SO. I thought I would drop in for a second and leave you with a link today - to a real article - about homeschooling HIGH SCHOOLERS - or preparing yourself to do so. That, and finding a college to plan ahead for... so you can know what they require and make sure your kids have what it takes to get in. That's next up for us in the coming school years - which makes having an infant all the more ironic!

I've always been one to bite off more than I can chew. Thankfully God isn't encumbered by my abilities... isn't He awesome?

Stop over at the Post today and have a read. And don't forget to take your A B See photos for this week! Tomorrow is the day we pick our next 5!

State Study and a Pocket Naturalist 'State-Specific' Guide Give-Away

We really enjoyed learning about the states. That's why we kind of left it as an open-ended project. I mean, learning never has to end - right? Neither does the fun. The cool thing about geography is that it goes hand in hand with nature, also. My kids enjoyed researching what types of animals, birds, plants and insects lived in the other states - and even drew some of them on their state information pages in their state notebooks we created (there's an example above of Texas).



Waterford Press has a really nice line of state-specific "Pocket Naturalist Guides" for each state that are laminated, handy to use, and fold out with glossy color photos and information. They sent us a sample of the Texas guides for: Butterflies and Moths, Birds, Wildlife, Trees and Wildflowers, and Seashore Life.



If you are out on a nature walk, you can stick one of these in your pocket (and not worry that the weather will bother it) - and pull it out when you spot a creature you can't identify.

Keep reading below to see how you can win your own set from Waterford Press!

While we aren't really doing much work on researching other state info right now, we love getting our books out when we take road trips, go on vacations, or get mail/postcards from people that live in other states.

Below are some tips, teaching tools, and links that will make your state studies fabulous:

* Create a State Notebook:
Here's a link to the post I did about our State Notebooks
Eventually, I'll also link up a free PDF to use for this... after I move to WP!
50 states notebook Squidoo for more ideas

* Include Nature:
Here's my big Nature as a Teaching Tool post link

* Collect State Magnets from the places you go (or buy the set online - cheaper!)
State Magnets
State Stickers

(note: Scrapbooking stickers are the best, but by far the most expensive. Sometimes you can find sets at teacher supply stores, which also aren't always cheap. I have also gotten a tip from my friend Bev that Highlights Magazine occasionally carries them. You can get flags or state shape stickers - even state seals!)

* Include food!
Cook some 'regional' or state-specific dishes while you learn about the other places in the USA you might not have visited. This was one of our favorite activities when we studied "States and Regions" with Konos. You can get the USA Cookbook and other State study supplements at Discount Homeschool Supplies.

* Join a postcard swap
This is something we are doing this year. We joined a homeschool Yahoo Group as did 50 other moms from each state. We all agreed to mail a postcard to each participant and the project lasts for almost the entire year. I just ordered my postcards in bulk online for this assignment - since March is our month and I wanted to be prepared before the baby got here. The kids will help me scribble out all 50 addresses between now and our ship-date!

* Write the state governor of states you plan to visit or move to. Who knows, maybe you'll get a reply letter with a state seal?!

* Learn the postal abbreviations for each state (much more handy than Capitals)
My friend Joy at Five J's has some great state stuff:
A free e-book teaching about the states and their postal abbreviations
An interactive practice page for postal abbreviations

* Get free online guides
For Texas, the brochure website of choice is TravelTexas.com - I LOVE this site! Most states have a tourism industry and will send you free visitor information and maps if you request it either online or by the phone. If you aren't in Texas, do a keyword search online or call the chamber of commerce for the state's capital city or state visitor's information bureau. You can also check out what national parks are in different states and visit their websites to see photos of the terrain.

* Don't forget to play:
We have puzzles and flashcards (Target, Chick Fil A, Wal-Mart, Teacher Supply store) that we use to help keep the geography fresh... and it's a great way to start with the little ones, too. If you find a great deal on them, you can even buy extra sets of flashcards to cut up and glue in your state books or other related projects. Big activity books that include state pages and crosswords are fun - you can buy multiples of these to cut and paste, also. Sometimes they have funny facts that you won't get in more serious textbooks.

Some of our Fave Geography Books:


Are you a state-flavored naturalist or a homeschool mom wanting to teach your kids more about the states? Or are you just interested in keeping up with what types of flora and fauna live in your home state?



If you would like a set of your own Pocket Naturalist Guides, here's how you can win them (#1 is mandatory, each number after is optional and only counts once - except for the tweets which count once daily):

1. Visit the Waterford Press Website and tell me what 5 guides you would order if you won.
2. Share this post on your facebook page.
3. Tweet this post once daily. "@sprittibee is giving away 5 Pocket Naturalist Guides for your #homeschool nature/state studies : http://bit.ly/hxTkWH (ends Jan 16)"
4. Blog about this post (counts as 5 entries).
5. Join my Google Friends in the sidebar or sign up for my RSS/email feed.

This give-away will close on the 15th of January. Winner will be chosen on Random.org and must provide a shipping address or a runner up will be picked for the prize.

The Naming - and CLAIMING - of a Year

The happy have whole days,
and those they choose.
The unhappy have but hours,
and those they lose.
~Colley Cibber

A few years back, I began naming my years. I'm pretty sure it was a borrowed idea - probably from Ann Voskamp who has been doing it for much longer than just a few years. I loved the thought of narrowing down your focus to try and learn something - to hide something within your heart - that would change your charachter and bless your life and your family's lives. That's why every year I have picked a name for the year that seems to be a stumbling block to me in my spiritual life... or a habit that steals my effectiveness as a wife, mother, and Christian woman.

In 2009, my year was "Intentional Living". I picked up the term from someone who commented on one of my New Years posts that talked about resolutions or lists - or something of that sort. It seemed to fit exactly what God was working on with me. I was overwhelmed. In 2009 I was pregnant with the little Viking boy that is destroying my house these days. I was homeschooling my older children - the oldest of which was moving from elementary to junior high grades (and the younger, more competitive one is never far behind him). I was ill prepared for how hard it would be to rewind back to baby days while homeschooling and raising big, capable kids.

I'm pretty sure that God taught me some 'intentional living' through the chaos that became of 2009 after baby arrived in March. Still, it all seems such a blur of activity after the bed-rest ended - daipers, nursing, sleeplessness, laundry, bags and gear; not to mention our increasing bad habits with slacking on school work to take care of the urgent. By the end of the year, my heart was heavy with the burden of feeling like a failure at homeschooling - even though our hearts were full of love for the tiny new addition to our family equation. It was a strange, wonderful, DIFFICULT journey through 2009 and 2010 (hard to separate them, honestly, as they just seemed to run together). 2010 became "Simplify" for obvious reasons... even though nothing in my life felt simple for the entire year.



I noticed, though... through the hardships of this old dog learning new tricks, that I had left behind a key element in my heart. Most people talked about being burned out a few times during each school year, but I was always burned out. I read every book I could to encourage myself. I read blogs. I talked with friends. I started a series on how to get your priorities in line. I even offered to co-host a talk on "How Not to Homeschool" with my good friend Dawn hoping that in teaching the session, it would give me the shot in the arm I was seeking so desperately. I attended THREE homeschool conferences with a nursing infant in one year - three different cities - with strollers and bags to tote. I prayed earnestly ... but never could remain consistent in a daily pattern. I felt defeated. And so I was. Entirely. The talk about public school busses whisking away my children who had long since let bad habits and laziness embed themselves in to their daily behavior became more and more frequent. They were empty threats (the kids knew this) and did no good other than making the situation worse. By the beginning of fall in 2010, I knew that we needed help - change was necessary or "Total Disaster" would be the name for 2011.

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. ~Frederick Keonig

I considered giving up blogging as one of my first 'answers' to the problem. I have to be honest, if I weren't already committed to a lot of people that had offered money towards conferences and products for review, I probably would have quit last year. Giving up my support system (online prayer warriors and friends) was not something that would be easy (homeschool moms are a bit more isolated than most adults without their 'iBuddies') - but if it prevented total meltdown, so be it. I knew that I needed to limit distractions... and to "intentionally live", "simplify" and get my priorities perfectly aligned if I was going to overcome the 'failure' I was experiencing.

There was a vague picture in my mind of how I would let go of the blogging slowly after the conferences and awards had ended - and all of my commitments had been fulfilled. Then Relevant came: a women's blog conference that really was about the heart of who we are, Who we serve, why we write, how we live out our roles as wives, mothers, teachers, story-tellers. I heard from kindred hearts about WHY what we say and do is so important - things my soul had obviously forgotten in all the strife of 'keeping up'. Finally, I had my shot in the arm. I even got a hug from Sally Clarkson who encouraged me to not give up. It was the band-aid I needed.



It's amazing what a word of encouragement can do for your heart.

[Like when Ann pleaded with us to "not stop writing our stories".]

A simple heartfelt word... or a long, prayerful string of intentional and relevant ones. Healing began somewhere deep inside.

I spoke with my children about their thoughts and they told me they felt like nothing was ever good enough, the laughter was gone, that mama never smiled and was always upset about something. They saw me distressed over undone lists, unmade beds, unwashed or unfolded laundry, and unfinished assignments. In simple terms: my joy was gone. I knew this all along deep down. Lost joy was the crisis that my perfectionism and inability to transition from 'mom of two tweens' to 'mom of two tweens and a baby' had caused. It was a long, hard, two-year lesson. There were many tears... and more frustration than I care to admit or remember.

My two years became by default the years of "EPIC FAIL".

They that sow in tears shall reap joy. ~Psalms 126:5

As 2010 ticked its last few seconds down last night, I sat there, rubbing my huge pregnant belly, wondering why God would give a broken (hard-headed) woman another precious soul to raise... another chance, another gift, another new year - and new life.

My eyes opened to the ways He held me in my chaos... the way He blessed me in the valley of 2009 and 2010. Somehow, despite me, there was goodness - blessing - beauty - cohesion. We are still here. We are OK.

Who cares if the laundry got done perfectly, anyway? Who cares if every page in the Math book got done?

My children are wonderful. My God is wonderful.

2011 will be wonderful because He is in it. It doesn't depend on my ability at all. Stripping away the self-reliance and perfectionism was the goal of 'intentional living' and 'simplification' - In Christ. I only saw the failure, but He was giving me success by breaking me of my bondage. He was the melody in all that noise... making sense of the madness.

What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner. ~Colette

I want my children to have this Joy. I want them to feel appreciated and loved. I don't want my kids to be defined by their accomplishments - but to know who they are in Him... cherished children of a God that longs to lift them up and hold them close.

I don't want us to just survive. I want us to be filled with JOY.

Joy is purpose plus contentment - delight, peace, cheerfulness, gladness. This is what was missing. This is what 2011 will bring.

I've dedicated my new year to claiming the "Joy of the Lord as my Strength" (Nehemiah 8:10) - no more fretting over lost time, loose ends and things left undone. God makes no mistakes and my purpose is tied up in His able hands. That's enough to smile about.

2011 will be the year of "Joy".

Amen.