Thrift Schooling

Enter into Easter with Pure Flix this Easter season.  Messiah: A Brickfilm  is recommended for ages five through ten although family members of all ages will be moved by this powerful rendition of the final days of Christ. This animated storytelling uses LEGO brand bricks to help younger audiences visualize what is begin depicted. This Easter perspective is perfect for kids and families to watch together with an emphasis on the Last Supper, Jesus' trial and punishment, the crucifixion, and resurrection. While The Passion of the Christ is available on Pure Flix as well, I prefer this short and biblically accurate telling of these historical events for younger viewers. While The Passion of the Christ and others end at the death of Jesus. The Messiah: A Brickfilm continues to show the resurrection as well, one of the most important reasons for celebration at Easter throughout the year.  Here are just a few of the other available films on  Pure   Flix 's platform th...

The Harlem Globetrotters are traveling the globe with their   SpreadGame tour have they visited your city yet?  Entertaining families is what the Globetrotters do best. They have been doing it for 95 years! Even if you are not a sports fan, the entertainment value alone is worth it.   I brought my youngest two boys to a game recently, and they cannot stop talking about it with their family and friends. They loved it! My first grader said, "this is the most fun I've had in years!" Apparently we don't get out much. I remember having a blast thirty years ago when I saw them as a kid and was so thrilled to take my youngest two who seemed to have just as much fun as I did.  I was slightly thrown by the black jerseys replacing the iconic red, white, and blue but the trick shots were just as good as I remember. My sons' highlight was Globie, the inflatable version. I even had a good belly laugh when he came out on the court.  They also were so excited to see Spiderman...

My husband had three rich great-aunts growing up. None of them ever married. When they all passed on, his Mom inherited their belongings. All of them. From pottery kilns to antique furniture to boxes and boxes of costume jewelry. My husband and his brothers have fond memories digging through the books (did I mention one of them was a librarian?), old paintings, and my personal favorite, old letters and diaries. These diaries were nothing like a diary today, or more appropriately a blog or social media account. Written in the early 1920s, these women shared their daily routines which included ironing bedsheets and curtains. I have a hard enough time making sure all of the beds in my house are made on a daily basis much less time to even think about ironing the linens. Hats off to them! The problem that was handed to my husband's mom was that when they downsized from their mansion into a smaller home, they did not downsize their belongings. Honestly, it could happen to anyone. Have y...

  Is your preschooler bouncing off the walls? The weather in our area is up and down. Some days are outdoor-friendly. Others, not so much. The heat kicked on in our home this week after some nice warm days. My preschooler needed hands-on activity during these home-bound days and  Jump 1  was the perfect go-to game!  Right out of the box I have to say that this is packaged extremely well. After enduring my preschooler (and first grader's) heavy use, the box is still intact, we still have all of the cards (amazing, right?), and it is continually a family gameschooling favorite. My biggest pet peeve with games are the boxes. They always seem to break in our house. This one hasn't and I am impressed. It has a neat little box that slides in and out for easy usage. These cards are larger than a traditional deck, perfect for little hands. I have noticed that when I ask my preschooler to clean up this game and his Uno game, Jump 1 is cleaned up much quicker. It seems that th...

  TYSON’S RUN  is coming to theaters soon! This inspiring tale of a young boy overcoming the odds is set to launch in over 300 theaters across the country. Race to get your tickets to see  TYSON’S RUN when it is shown in your hometown! Opening day is March 11.  Find Your Theater ABOUT TYSON'S RUN When fifteen-year-old Tyson attends public school for the first time, his life is changed forever. While helping his father clean up after the football team, Tyson befriends champion marathon runner Aklilu. Never letting his autism hold him back, Tyson becomes determined to run his first marathon in hopes of winning his father’s approval. Learn More Here Actor Major Dodson was able to approach the character of Tyson with a unique authenticity as he also has experienced life on the autism spectrum. Learn more about his journey as an actor with autism playing a character with autism, and how his own story helped him bring a unique depth and understanding to Tyson’s personality...

I have a confession to make. I used Abeka to teach my first three kids to read. I know, super creative. It was all I knew with my first two and by the time I had my third I figured it worked, so, I was boring. Not that Abeka is terrible, I enjoyed using their methods to teach my kids to read but my perspective has changed. I now only recommend it if you have one or two kids. Once you add more than that to the mix it is basically impossible. Too demanding. Now that I have been homeschooling for over a decade I have learned that Abeka is not the only method out there. I mean, I learned that quickly for other subjects when it was not working out after the first few years but when it came to reading I was afraid to branch out. I am not sure quite sure why. Now that I have a preschooler and first-grader in addition to middle and high schoolers I am ready to explore my options, and I am glad I did! Now enter  All About Reading 1 . Of course, over the years I had heard about this program ...

   HARLEM  GLOBETROTTERS  WORLD  TOUR Are they coming to your town? Check the schedule ! Save 20% with Promo Code: USFAM Coupon available  HERE !  SpreadGame is excellence shown through unique basketball skills night after night — demonstrated through years of commitment to unsurpassed entertainment. The Globetrotters SpreadGame through every slam dunk, killer pass, and surprising fadeaway — and through every smile for a child and every achievement within the communities they visit. Light, laughter, love. Hope. SpreadGame. Don't miss out ! Save up to 20% with Promo Code: USFAM Bringing world-class basketball showmanship to arenas all over the U.S. SpreadGame is what the Globetrotters do best; it's what they've done best for 95 years. Bringing light, laughter, and love on the court that extends off the court in the smiles families bring home or the stories fans tell their friends. I remember seeing the Harlem Globetrotters as a kid and I cannot wait t...