Not sure if this is the case with all Border's stores, but ours had several of the books on clearance. I am doing a Wizardology class for our learning co-op this time around, and one of the boys' had gotten the books dirt cheap. So I ran over last night to see what they had. So if anyone likes these books, you might want to go see. You can't use coupons or your teachers discount on the sale items, but you can use  your Border's Rewards card.

I bought the following:

Wizardolgy Code Writing Kit (I had just bought this from Amazon 2 weeks ago for $10) - 2.99
Wizardology Guide to Wizards of the World 4.99
Egyptology Code Writing Kit 2.99
Pirateology Guidebook and Model set 4.99

They had the Wizardology Handbooks for either 3.99 or 4.99 and a bunch of the Dragonology books.

Phew! It has been a busy week for us, and let me just start off by saying I'M TIRED!! Alright that was yelling it, but hey.. I know it didn't hurt your ears, so it's ok ;)

So we started the week with our Earth Scouts meeting on Tuesday. This was the first more "formal" meeting since June. (We had one over the summer at the park, but that was very laid back.) This meeting we cotinued with our Respect for Nature principle. So we talked a little about how we can help birds, and things we should avoid that could harm them. Then we made birdfeeders from recycled milg cartons. The kids all painted their carton, and we sat them outside to dry.

While they were drying we moved on to making nesting bags. (This is where we more or less lost the boys, all 4 of them. LOL) The girls really enjoyed this activity though. We took recycled onion bags and stuffed them with lots of yarn scraps, ribbon, shredded paper, raffia, dryer lint, pillow stuffing. Then we tied them shut. The kids can then hang these in a tree for the birds to pull the materials from to help build their nests.

Then we went back to the birdfeeders. But ended up deciding that gluing popsicle sticks on with white glue was too hard, so the kids finished that up at home. They also had to push a dowel rod or stick through below the openings we cut for the birds to sit on. then attach a wire hanger to use to hang in a tree. Then they can fill up the feeder with bird seeds and let them birds have a feast.

So I think they all anjoyed the activities. I had fun at least. :)

So then on Wednesday it was out Annual Not back to School picnic. We had a lot of great food, lots of friends, and a lot of fun. I think we had about 13 or so families again this year, and most likely close to 40 kids running wil through the park. I love when we have our big get togethers like this. The planning and getting there can be stressful, but then once you have done that, it is just relax with friends. There are usually enough older kids to help keep an eye on the younger ones (5 and up). The babes of course are still with mom or other moms that usually carry the babies around a bit.

Then Thursday, thankfully, we had a "day off".

Today, Friday, was the first day of our Fall/Winter semester learning co-op. I am teaching 2 classes this time around. (I think I'm a glutton for punishment.. LOL) But my first class is small. Just 4 boys. I am teaching a Wizardology class using the Wizardology line of books. So today, our class was a little short due to having to go over some co-op rules and such with the entire group. Then the boys and I got to working making wands and a spell book. (You can find the directions for both here at Dad Can Do. Just click on Wizardary and Magic on the left.) We have the wands made but they'll need to be painted next meeting. They also finished their spell books. So next time we'll be painting and reading.

Then I had a "break" during 2nd session, but I helped in the kitchen. Then was lunch and soon time for third session. I am doing Science again, but have decided to focus mostly on Kitchen Chemistry type things. So today, we made Bubble Bombs. Amanda and I made one yesterday to be sure it works. LOL SO the kids all started their Chemistry journal/log book. We'll do the following for each experiement: Name of experiement; materials; hypothesis; results.

So anyways, what did today was so much fun! The kids all were hollering about doing it again. But of course we were running out of time, so I promised them all I would make sure their moms had the instructions. (I'll post them here in another post as well.) So depspite the noise (16 families, about 45 or so kids in a small church basement with non-carpetted floors, LOL) it was a great day. I think all the kids had fun.

Now I am ready for a nap. I'm not doing ANYTHING this weekend. Not. One. Single. Thing! :D

TGodivaIF!!

Today was our monthly Geo-Lunch. Several families get together to make dishes from various countries. The kids can share what they've learned about the country if they choose to. Sometimes we have activities. then we get to sample the yummy foods, the kids play, and the moms chat.

So today 6 families got together. We had friend bananas/plantains & banana bread/cake, Locrio de Pollo (Rice and Chicken), Arroz Del Sol Dominicano (Dominican Sun Rice), Pera-pina (drink) and Coconetes (coconut cookies), and lentil soup. Everything was so yummy.

I made the chicken and rice, and the recipe called for 4 lbs. of chicken. Plus it was only *supposed* to serve 4. So I am guessing the chicken was bone-in. I used 3 lbs of boneless and still have plenty. We ate this for lunch and supper. LOL Here is the recipe I used: Locrio de Pollo

The company I used to host parties for, Bright Minds, is no long doing the home party branch. But my consultant decided to start her own home party plan and made available a lot more products than just the Critical Thinking line. So I am hosting my annual party before everyone gets back into school mode. :) So feel free to check out the products. If you have any questions, let me know. Thanks!

Website to browse/shop: http://www.brainathonemporium.com
Code when shopping: JODIP824 (code is used to identify orders from my party. Plus you'll receive free shipping & free gifts based on your order size)

Yesterday was a very LONG day for me. I had 2 meetings to attend: the first was for our small (but growing!) learning co-op. We met at the local park that we all love to hang out at. We were to get there about 10:30ish and I was running late. The park is just a mile from my house, so I always walk. This time the kids stayed home and came up later since I was going so early, and I was lugging 3 bags of stuff. (I had a 4th bag but the kids brought that for me later.) It was very humid yesterday morning, so I felt terrible by the time I made it to the park. I was there first, LOL so I really rushed for no reason. ;) Everyone got there aby about 11am. We have I think 16 or 17 families now in the co-op, last year we had maybe 10. So it's going to be a fun experience with so many MORE kids.

Anyways, we have some awesome classes on the schedule. I'll be doing science again, this time around focusing on experiments/kitchen chemistry. I've also volunteered to do a Piratology or Wizardology class using the related books. Both have handbook/workbook type books plus code writing books. So I think that will be fun.

My kids really only signed up for 1 class each (there are 3 class/session periods per day). But I have a feeling they'll end up doing something more. Amanda was undecided about whether to hang out with the teens or do the playground games class. So she'll bounce back and forth until she decides on that. Then she is doing science with me, mainly because I'll need her help. She has a following of the younger kids and most of them will be doing science as well.

Jake is of course doing cooking again. Then he figured he'd bounce around, most likely ending with the Lego gang. LOL He might end up coming in to science as well, as he typically like science.

So then our 2nd meeting was our Earth Scouts group. Since most of our members are also in the co-op, we just stayed at the park. Yesterday I had a solar bead activity planned, but it was very cloudy and the beads didn't change as well as i was hoping. But the kids still had fun and were absolutely in AWE over the way they changed colors. So they finished by making bracelets, necklaces, and key chains. The next very sunny day, they'll get another huge surprise when their beads fully change colors. (They are a white/clearish color until the sun heats the pigments in the pony beads. Then they change into very bright colors.)

We won't have anymore ES meetings until Sept. Its been hard this summer trying to hold meetings. But the parents wanted to try thinking we'd be able to but everyone is just always busy in the summer. So we'll resume in Sept.

So we finally got back home about 4:30pm and I was tired! 2 girls had come back home with us, and I just called and ordered pizza. I should have planned something for the crockpot but.. oh well. LOL